PHONES W E A R A BLES AUDIO T VS L A PTOPS `130
VOLUME 06 ISSUE 05 DECEMBER 2020
The World’s Leading Gadget Magazine!
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Tomorrow’s Technology Today www.t3india.com
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ES INCLUD
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OPTOMA P2
REVIEWED
MICROSOFT XBOX SERIES X
NAD 3020 HYBRID DIGITAL AMPLIFIER
ISSN 2454–9703
The next-gen gaming console is here and it’s glorious
APPLE WATCH 6 VS SE Which smartwatch is best for your needs? U JOEJBNBH
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SHOWSTOPPER Gadgets that showcase the very best that design and technology have to offer A WHEEL WINNER
Thanks to its maximum tyre clearance of 700c x 2-inches, the eTreviso offers excellent grip and comfort on slippery, uneven city streets
PINA R E L LO ETR E V I S O If 2020 has made one thing abundantly clear, it’s that our commute has changed forever. Most of us are working closer to home and even those who have a distance to travel are eager to avoid stepping into places like tube carriages. Fortunately, Pinarello has pedalled in to save the day with its first ever urban ebike. The sharp silhouette of its hydroforming alloy frame is perfect for slicing down city streets, while its pannier and mudguards help carry your laptop bag and protect your smart togs from splashed grime on rainy days. Meanwhile, its Fazua evation power system is one of the best in the business: discreetly concealed in the downtube, weighing just 4.6kg and topping out at 250 watts, it provides a natural feeling ride even when zipping up hills. Finally, its Shimano Deore 1x drivetrain allows for fuss-free maintenance, while its front and rear lights come as standard, drawing energy direct from its battery and keeping its rider safe as the winter nights draw in. `TBA, pinarello.com
4 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today DECEMBER 2020
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Welcome
Editor’s letter All play and little work… Well, not exactly, but it was an important month for gamers. Sony is unclear about PS5’s release date in India, but Microsoft rolled out its powerful new consoles for Indian gamers. We played our heart out on the Xbox Series X trying out all the new and optimised games. Make sure you read our review on pg 62. We have also got a special feature on the accessories that you can buy to complement your new gaming console.
new Spider-Man game, along with Ubisoft’s massive open-world games - Watch Dogs: Legion and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. All from pg 66. Now that we are spending most of our time indoors, it’s time for some upgrades, don’t you think? Our cover story highlights just that on pg 38. Finally, for drone enthusiasts, our detailed feature talks about how a new sub-category is taking over the conventional drones. Do give it a read.
Kunal Gangar, Executive Editor k.gangar@nextgenpublishing.net
Views and opinions expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of Next Gen Publishing Pvt Ltd. Views expressed by external contributors are their own and not those of the organisations they work for. Next Gen Publishing does not take the responsibility for returning unsolicited material sent without adequate postal stamps for return postage. No part of the magazine may be reproduced in part or full without the prior express written permission of the publisher. All readers are recommended to make their own independent enquiries before sending money, incurring expenses or entering into commitments in relation to any advertisement appearing in the publication. T3 India does not vouch for any claims made by advertisers for their products and services. The editor, publisher, printer and employees of the publication shall not be held liable for any consequence in the events of such claims not being honoured by the advertisers. All disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent courts and forums in Mumbai only.
OUR AWARDS THE DESIGN AWARD
Executive Editor Kunal Gangar Consulting Editor Girish Mallya Correspondent Gautam Doshi Contributors Lysander Fernandes Editor (UK) Matt Bolton Contributors (UK) David Nield, Michelle Rae Uy, Louise Blain, Publisher Girish Mallya Mentor & Special advisor Hoshang Billimoria Head Design & Production Ravi Parmar Senior Designer Prakash Gavnang Photography Mahesh Reddy Production Supervisor Dinesh Bhajnik Product Manager Perseus Master General Manager North and East - Ellora Das Gupta General Manager South - Girish Shet Circulation Manager Circulation North and East - Kapil Kaushik BRANCH OFFICES
Games that kept us busy this month include the
PLATINUM AWARD
T3 is…
BEST FOR BATTERY LIFE
This award, and others We give this only to Only a five-star review like it, are given for tech that stands out for earn a product our prestigious Platinum stunning aesthetics or a exceptional performance in a key feature clever build Award
BEST ON TEST
The winners of our group tests earn this accolade, showing them to be top tier
Mumbai 105-106, Trade World, B Wing, 1st Floor, Kamala Mill Compound, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel West, Mumbai-400013. Tel: +91 22 43525252 Ahmedabad Devendra Mehta - Mob No.- 09714913234 Bengaluru Unit No. 509, 5th Floor ‘B’ Wing, Mittal Towers, MG Road, Bangalore -560001, India Tel: +91 80 66110116/17 Fax: + 91 80 41472574 Chennai Salma Jabbar Cenetoph Elite,No.5,1st street, Teynampet, Chennai-6000018 Tel: + 91 044 421-08-421, 044 421-75-421 New Delhi Ellora Das Gupta 26-B, First Floor, Okhla Industrial Estate, Phase-III, New Delhi - 110020 Tel: +91 11 4234 6600 / 6678 Fax: + 91 11 4234 6679 Pune S.No.261/G.L.R.No.5 East Street,Camp, Pune-411001 Tel : + 91 20 26830465 Hyderabad Srinivas Gangula -Territory Sales Incharge (Circulation) Mobile no. 09000555756 Kolkata Vidyasagar Gupta -Territory Sales Incharge (Circulation). Mobile no. 09804085683 Subscription Enquiries Tel: +91-22-43525220 Apple Newsstand & Magzter Queries: help@magzter.com All rights reserved. Published with the permission of Future plc. Reproduction in any manner in any language in whole or in part without prior written permission from Future plc & Next Gen Publishing Pvt Ltd. with regard to their respective content is prohibited. Printed by Girish Mallya. Next Gen Publishing Pvt Ltd., 105-106, Trade World, B Wing, 1st Floor, Kamala Mill Compound, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel West, Mumbai-400013. Published by Girish Mallya on behalf of Next Gen Publishing Pvt Ltd., 105-106, Trade World, B Wing, 1st Floor, Kamala Mill Compound, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel West, Mumbai-400013. Printed at Kalajyothi Process Pvt. Ltd, 1-1-60/5 RTCX Roads, Hyderabad - 20. Published at Next Gen Publishing Pvt Ltd., 105-106, Trade World, B Wing, 1st Floor, Kamala Mill Compound, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel West, Mumbai-400013. Editor: Kunal Gangar
6 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today DECEMBER 2020
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Contents BEST OF THE BEST 073 INTRODUCING THE BEST BUYER’S GUIDE KNOWN TO MAN
HORIZON
TESTED
012
056
HORIZON TOP LAUNCHES
APPLE WATCH SE
It was a quiet month but we saw LG and Google launch their new phones, VPDUWZDWFK IURP 'LHVHO DQG D YHU\ high-end project from Optoma
Sans a few sensors, this wallet-friendly Watch offers a premium experience
020 STYLE
From phones to tablets, and camera to cars, our selection of the very best tells you what to buy
HI-FI
060 APPLE WATCH 6 With a brighter display and blood O2 VHQVRU WKLV ćDJVKLS LV EHWWHU WKDQ HYHU
Watches that suit your style
030 BUYING LOUDSPEAKERS
021 AUTO 7KH DOO QHZ +\XQGDL L LV H[SHQVLYH but it packs a lot of tech
061
022
CANON EOS R6
GADGET GURU
This full-frame mirrorless cam is perfect for the experienced amateur
Own the best drone for roaming, calm your homebound canine and pick the slickest non-stick lining
062
028 THE MUSIC OF KASAK
MICROSOFT XBOX SERIES X Make way for Microsoft’s latest and greatest gaming console
066 GAMES 5HDG\ WR ĆJKW IRU JORU\ DQG VDYH WKH ZRUOG" 7KLV PRQWKèV JRW HYHU\WKLQJ
SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE BIG MONEY
Essentials 004
SHOWSTOPPER
081
SUBSCRIPTIONS
082
LUXURIES
10 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today DECEMBER 2020
081 W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
TRUE MULTIMEDIA POWERHOUSE
24.5M
Z 6II Body only: Ɵ 1 64 995.00
EXPEED 6
Dual
12-Bit
Card Slots
ProRes RAW
14
Eye-Detection AF
Dual Processor
Pixels
FPS
Still & Video
Z 6II Body with Z 24-70mm F/4 S lens: Ɵ 2 09 995.00
The Z Series Range - 45.7M Pixels
- 45.7M Pixels
- 24.5M Pixels
- 24.3M Pixels
- 20.9M Pixels
- Eye AF - Still & Video
- 493 AF Points
- ISO 100-51200
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- ISO 100-51200
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- 4K at 60p
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- 11 Frames Per Second
- Dual Card Slots
- 8K Time-Lapse
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MRP (Body Only): Ɵ 2 30 450.00
MRP (Body only): Ɵ 1 56 450.00
MRP (Body only): Ɵ 1 13 995.00
MRP (Body only): Ɵ 2 49 995.00
MRP (Body only): Ɵ 72 995.00
Price quoted is for one unit of product. MRP inclusive of all taxes. Accessories shown above are only for reference and are not provided with the product. Corporate/Registered Office & Service Centre: Nikon India Pvt. Ltd., Plot No. 71, Sector 32, Institutional Area Gurgaon - 122001, Haryana, (CIN – U74999HR2007FTC036820). Ph: 0124 4688527, Service Ph: 0124 4688514, Service ID: nindsupport@nikon.com, Sales and Support ID: nindsales@nikon.com TO LOC
N YOUR AREA
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approx. `48,000, store.google.com The Pixel range tends to set the tone for the next generation of Android phones. As mid-range becomes the new normal, so the specs (and price) of the Pixel 5 have fallen right in line. This is, for a Pixel, a phone of quite restrained power, one with 8GB RAM, 128GB storage, and the 5G-compatible Snapdragon 765G chipset, a decent processor that’s a half-step behind the top end today. Google has employed a cheaty workaround to give it both-ways wireless charging despite the Pixel 5’s recycled aluminium shell, and there’s a very solid camera package with an ultra-wide lens replacing the previous telephoto. There’s even an in-screen top speaker, which enables the Pixel 5 to do away with the top bezel – but that does mean a fingerprint scanner in place of the Pixel 4’s 3D Face Unlock tech. T3 SAYS: There are so many cool features here but unfortunately will skip the Indian market.
TECH-O-METER
'6+*'*-. 9 4 From `99,999, fujifilm.in
The lightweight X-S10 is Fujifilm’s latest mid-range addition in their flagship X-series range of mirrorless cameras, which is available with a variety of kit options. The X-S10 features a 26.1MP X-Trans CMOS 4 sensor and a newly-developed in-body image stabilisation (IBIS) mechanism, specifically designed for its compact body. The X-S10 weighs only 450g and it delivers up to 6.0-stops of five-axis image stabilisation. The X-S10 is also the first of its kind – in the mid-range series – to employ the use of a motion sensor retention mechanism, which is a mechanical shock absorber for the shutter unit, thus ensuring the superior image quality. The X-S10 can achieve a high-speed burst shooting of 8fps through the mechanical shutter and 30fps through the electronic shutter. The LCD monitor is capable of rotating up to 180 degrees, which is very useful for today’s creators. The X-S10 supports the recording of 4K/30p 8-bit videos on the SD card and can output a 4K/30p 10-bit video via the HDMI port. It can also record full-HD videos at 240p. T3 SAYS: With a new and large magnesium-alloy grip favouring better grip and handling, along with a superior autofocus system, the X-S10 is a bold new mirrorless camera for the large number of serious enthusiasts out there.
TECH-O-METER
12 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today DECEMBER 2020
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ZOTAC GAMING GeForce RTX™ 3080 AMP Holo • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 GPU • BOOST: 1.770 MHz • 8.704 CUDA Cores • 10 GB GDDR6X • 19.000 MHz Memory
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• 320-bit • 3x DisplayPort 1.4a, 1x HDMI 2.1
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Distributed by
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©2020 ZOTAC Technology Ltd. All rights reserved. All company and/or product names may be trade names, trademarks and/or registered trademarks of the respective owners with which they are associated. ZOTAC International (MCO) Limited does not warrant the accuracy, completeness or reliability of information, materials and other items contained on this website or server. No liability is assumed with respect to the use of the information contained herein. 3FHJTUSBUJPO SFRVJSFE .PSF JOGPSNBUJPO BU PVS XFCTJUF
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Horizon 0150." $*/&."9 1 130 "/% 1 From `4,99,000, optoma.com
The CinemaX P1 Pro and P2 are Optoma’s latest 4K Ultra Short Throw laser projectors. Both these projectors offer smart and advanced features, with the main one being its ability to offer a True 4K UHD resolution. Harnessing the power of the DuraCore Laser technology and an ultrashort throw lens, both the P1 Pro and P2 projectors deliver up to 120-inch projection from a short distance. They are also integrated with the Dolby Audio 2.0 soundbar to provide an immersive viewing experience. The P1 Pro offers a brightness of up to 3500 ANSI lumens, while the P2 offers 3000. The P1 Pro and P2 also deliver a contrast ratio of 2,500,000:1 and 2,000,000:1, respectively. Both offer 120% Rec. 709 gamut coverage and support HDR10 and HLG. The P2 also features a new 6-segment RGBRGB colour wheel. The projectors sync with the TapCast app that enables users to utilise a variety of smart features like sharing their photos and videos on the big screen, and more. The P1 Pro and the P2 are also compatible with other smart home devices and support Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. T3 SAYS: The Optoma P1 Pro and P2 have been designed with a purpose to deliver a renewed and rich viewing experience through a projector.
TECH-O-METER
%*&4&- 0/ '"%&-*5& `21,995, diesel.com
Diesel’s newest unisex touchscreen smartwatch features a smaller 43mm case size, and along with its emphatic design, this smartwatch is designed to be worn at all times. The On Fadelite come with translucent coloured straps giving off an energetic vibe, and the smartwatch is powered by the superior Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 3100 platform. The On Fadelite runs on the Wear OS built by Google. Seemingly lightweight, the translucent hardshell nylon casing enclosure provides durability. The smartwatch comes with 4GB of storage and a battery life of 24+ hours that can be extended to up to two days on battery saving mode. The On Fadelite offers a host of smart features such as smartphone notifications, Google Assistant compatibility, weather updates, activity and fitness tracking, altimeter, accelerometer, GPS, NFC payments, the ability to display two additional time zones, and more. The On Fadelite connects to Bluetooth and Wi-Fi and can charge up to 80% in just 50 minutes through a magnetic USB charger. It is also water-resistant up to 3 ATM and it features a LED flashlight and microphone as well. T3 SAYS: Diesel has gone above and beyond to make the On Fadelite a complete utilitarian watch that is meant for everyone.
TECH-O-METER
14 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today DECEMBER 2020
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Horizon 48"5$) o 4*45&. `12,045, swatch.com
The SISTEM51 is Swatch’s latest addition to their ‘1983’ collection, with the most unique aspect of the watch being that it is built using materials sourced from nature itself. A first of its kind, the SISTEM51 boasts of a superior build of bio-sourced materials, with cases made out of a material extracted from the seeds of the castor plant. The SISTEM51 is a fully automatic watch, with a 41mm case size and an impressive power reserve extending up to 90 hours. The watch features a minimal dial design integrated with the strap for a secure fit. The water-resistant strap enables the watch to be worn at all times, even during workouts. This analogue watch, in its unique way, brings back the vintage design of the Swatch watches, which seems to be forgotten in today’s smartwatch era. T3 SAYS: Through a mix of nostalgia and class, these bio-sourced watches are truly a revelation but they’re in for a difficult time in a market where the consumers are looking for utilitarian features to maximise their health and wellness.
TECH-O-METER
.*$30."9 */ /05& From `10,999, micromaxinfo.com
Micromax makes a dramatic return to the smartphone market with the launch of two new smartphones and the IN Note 1 being one of them. Featuring a 4GB RAM, the IN Note 1 is powered by MediaTek’s Helio G85 processor with MediaTek HyperEngine Gaming Technology that enables a smooth gaming experience. Coming in storage options of 64GB and 128GB, the Note 1 features a 6.67” holepunch FHD+ display, an AI-powered quadcamera system with a 48MP main camera and a 5000mAh battery that can be quickly charged through the 18W fast charger. T3 SAYS: Versatile and highly affordable. Micromax knows how to appeal to the masses.
TECH-O-METER
16 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today DECEMBER 2020
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`36,990, lg.com/in
The LG Velvet is one of its kind a smartphone that has a 6.8” FHD+ P-OLED screen, and another 6.8” display (available separately at `13,000) can be attached, making it a dual-screen phone. Impressively, through a free stop hinge, the smartphone allows users to use it in a stand mode or do a full 360° flip and place it in tent mode for a versatile viewing experience. The LG Velvet is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset with 6GB RAM and 128GB of storage space which is expandable to 2TB through microSD card. The phone runs on the Q OS which is built on Android 10 and has a 4300mAh battery. The LG Velvet sports a triple camera setup in the rear with a main 48MP f/1.8 camera, an 8MP f/2.2 wide lens, and a 5MP f/2.4 depth sensor. It also has a 16MP f/1.9 front camera. The LG Velvet weighs just 180g and in addition to an in-display fingerprint sensor, it also has features such as the Google Lens, Google Assistant, Stereo Speaker, LG 3D sound engine, FM Radio, and the Qualcomm Quick Charge 4+ technology. T3 SAYS: A truly unique smartphone, LG is stepping up the bar with its premium but eccentric smartphones that offer much more than the usual.
TECH-O-METER
;000, 456%*0 40-0
`3,499, zoook.com
The sub-5k soundbar market is intense and Zoook has expanded its soundbar offering with the Studio Solo. This is a more affordable version and comes with a built-in subwoofer compared to the previous one that came with an external one. Nevertheless, the Studio Solo promises to deliver foot-tapping audio with a peak power of 50W, thanks to dual drivers and a subwoofer. It is complemented with an LED light bar at the bottom that changes colours based on the audio and can be changed with different light effects or turn it off completely for a more serious look. The Studio Solo comes with a remote control so that controlling the audio at a distance is easy and supports multiple connectivity options, including Bluetooth, USB, aux-in and optical-in. Disappointingly, Zoook does not bundle an optical cable for better fidelity but comes with a 3.5mm aux cable. T3 SAYS: Studio Solo also features an integrated battery that lets you use it as a big Bluetooth speaker with up to 3 hours of battery life.
TECH-O-METER
18 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today DECEMBER 2020
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Horizon -*/,4:4 & "$ 8* '* 3065&3 `3,499, linksys.com
Fostering work from home solutions in such uncertain times, the Linksys E5600 is a dual-band AC1200 router that it is capable of providing speeds of up to 866Mbps at 5GHz and up to 300Mbps at 2.4GHz frequency band. The Linksys E5600 has 4 internal antennas and is equipped with the OFDMA technology, and supports Wi-Fi 4 and Wi-Fi 5. This router is rated to cover up to 1000 square feet of space and can handle up to 10 devices at a time at speeds of up to 1.2Gbps. The E5600 is powered by a dual-core processor with 128MB RAM and 128 MB flash memory. Connectivity-wise, the router is equipped with 5 Gigabit Ethernet ports which are essentially one WAN and four LAN ports. Utilitarian features such as Guest Access and Parental Control ensure that the network stays secure. T3 SAYS: At an affordable price, the Linksys E5600 makes a compelling option for an entry-level router who are seeking for a reliable option to work from home.
TECH-O-METER
504)*#" $"/7*0 1035"#-& 4503"(& From `5,000, toshiba-storage.asia
Launching new additions to the Canvio Portable Storage line up, Toshiba has announced four new ranges for the same, namely, the ‘Flex’, ‘Gaming’, ‘Advance’ and ‘Ready’. The Canvio Flex range of storage devices feature a capacity of up to 4TB and is compatible with USB-C and the USB-A ports. This enables users to use the Flex with Macs, Windows PC, iPad Pro, and other devices. The Canvio Gaming range, similarly, offers a capacity of up to 4TB and these are ideal for storing and playing games. The portable case is stylishly designed for popular gaming consoles and PC systems. These range of storage devices are also integrated with an ‘Always On” mode to support responsive gameplay. The Canvio Advance range of devices are designed for photographers and other content creators and they come with unique textured designs, new colours, and data security software. The Canvio Ready range of devices is made for students and other entry-level users who want simple and intuitive storage options. Featuring the USB-plug-and-play option, these devices come in a new two-tone design. T3 SAYS: A healthy range of storage options for all makes Canvio a good alternative against the popular WDs and Seagates.
TECH-O-METER
W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
DECEMBER 2020 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 19
Style
WHICH WATCH
THE HOTTEST TIMEPIECES RIGHT NOW
ROLEX, LEX SUBMARINER 8SGDWHG IRU WKH ĆUVW WLPH VLQFH QRZ D VLQJOH PLOOLPHWUH ODUJHU WKDQ LWV SUHGHFHVVRU DQG SRZHUHG E\ 5ROH[èV QHZ FDOLEUH ZKLFK has a 70-hour power reserve and a proprietary Chronergy escapement. rolex.com
BAMFORD X G-SHOCK, 5610 A stylish nod to the original G – this watch features incredibly accurate radio-controlled timekeeping, a slim, shock resistant, resin case, and a few stylish embellishments from Bamford. bamfordlondon.com
20 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today DECEMBER 2020
TUD DOR BLACK BAY 58 NAVY BLUE The hottest watch of the year? It could be! The insanely popular BB58 KDVbEHHQ JLYHQ WKH QDY\ EOXH WUHDWPHQW ,WèV UREXVW UHOLDEOH DQG LV LQFUHGLEOHbYDOXH IRU PRQH\ tudorwatch.com
BELL & ROSS, BR 03-92 DIVER ORANGE Limited to 250 pieces, this new version of the BR 03-92 will certainly not go unnoticed. The orange dial is inspired by professional diving gear. Grab your snorkel and get exploring! bellross.com
W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
Horizon Auto
PREMIUM HATCH
HYUNDAI i20
Hyundai’s new hatchback packs a lot of tech One of the questions during the i20 briefing was why would anyone consider a pricey i20 variant when they could own a compact SUV at a similar price. It’s the right way to look at i20’s pricing dilemma, but one also needs to consider the amount of features Hyundai packs in this premium hatchback. The 2020 i20 offers variants at different price points with varying features but if you consider the top-of-the-line Asta (O) variant, only a car more premium and expensive would offer such a rich feature set. Hyundai i20 is one of the better-looking hatchbacks in the market, and the newest edition takes it further. The new i20 has a sporty design with sharp cuts yet meaningful that add to the utility of the vehicle. A new jewel pattern grille adorns the front complemented with LED projector headlamps and chrome door handles with puddle lamps to illuminate the ground in the dark. There’s an electric sunroof as well, one of the few hatchbacks to come with. The spacious cabin is nothing short of a tech carnival. In
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addition to the premium upholstery and superior legroom and thigh support, drivers can enhance their driving experience with a digital cluster with multi-information display, smart entry with push-button start/stop, on-steering wheel multimedia controls and BlueLink connectivity that enables voice assistance, car health monitoring and real-time navigation. It also comes with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support. Moreover, there are safety features like six airbags, hill assist and tyre pressure monitoring system. On the entertainment side of things, the i20 comes with a 10.2-inch infotainment system and 7-speaker Bose system. Oh, and there’s wireless charging support for Qi-enabled devices and an integrated air purifier. When it comes to performance, it depends on the variant you choose, but as a customer, you get three engine options with four different transmission options with the 1l Turbo GDi petrol engine reaching up to 120ps of horsepower. The all-new i20 ex-road pricing starts from `6,79,900.
DECEMBER 2019 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 21
Horizon Gadget Guru
T3’s high-flying tech dude soars to ever greater levels of helpfulness
RAVI SINGHANIA
ILLUSTRATIONS: STEPHEN KELLY
What’s the best drone for a hike? around 30 minutes, and can Ho ho ho: drones don’t A walk, silly! They fly! transmit video from up to six
Once Guru has served his full life sentence in dad joke jail, he will recommend you something that does automated person-stalking, because presumably you want a device that’s going to film you huffing and puffing your way along a trail for some kind of ill-advised posterity, you narcissist you. You actually have a choice between person-recognition tech or drones that latch on to a GPS signal. There’s a vaster selection in the former bracket, with DJI’s latest Mavic Air 2 leading the pack. It’ll fly for
miles away if you’re just looking to check the trail ahead for bears or unruly youths. For GPS following, try the significantly cheaper Holy Stone HS700D, which is enough of a bargain that you won’t even care too much if it spangs itself into a tree. You’ll get about half the
ABOVE It’s important to get the proof that you hugged the beast on the mountain top
THE HOLY STONE HS700D IS ENOUGH OF A BARGAIN THAT YOU WON’T EVEN CARE TOO MUCH IF IT SPANGS ITSELF INTO A TREE
22 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today DECEMBER 2020
flight time of the Mavic, though; the Holy Stone HS720, a foldable drone which looks copyrightinfringingly close to the Mavic Air in design, ups the life to more like 26 minutes, so it might be a better choice. “But Guru,” you whinge, as usual. “What if I want both GPS and person recognition?” Well, reader, either you empty your bank account buying two drones, or you empty your bank account buying one drone. Import the Skydio 2, and you’ll have the option of using either function, as well as the ability to send it up to a CivilAviation-Authority-worrying 15,000 feet. W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
Now read your favourite magazine wherever you go...
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Horizon Gadget Guru )"34) ,6,3&+"
My dog hates it when I go out. What can I do? The first trick is to stop caring about any other living thing, something Guru mastered some years ago. A nice box of chocolates or a bottle of wine now and then goes some way to bribing neighbours to put up with the racket. Barkers gonna bark, right? Sadly Guru’s editor reminds him, via pointy stick, that not every question can be answered with a sociopathic soliloquy. So let’s think about this logically. Your dog wants two things: it wants company, because you are not there, and it wants food, because it is a dog and that is basically the only thing dogs want ever. A treat-dispensing pet camera can provide both those things, and Guru recommends the Furbo over all others for a variety of reasons. First, the camera itself: it’s a 1080p number with a 160-degree lens and night vision, so you can watch your dog chew through the arm of the
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sofa when it thinks it can’t be seen. Second, the treat dispenser, which doesn’t just pathetically dribble treats onto the carpet (looking at you, Pawbo) but pings them across the room with a Pavlovian click instead. There’s two-way talk (or, y’know, one-way talk, one-way yelp) and a very decent app to go along with it. It even does bark alerts, so you can log on when you know your dog is hollering and tell them, in no uncertain terms, to button it or else. The only problem, really, is the price. If you can do without the treat dispenser and just want to see what your dog is up to, you can cover the camera and two-way talk function with any number of budget smart cameras, so try any of the readily available ones. It’s better than it has any right to be at that price, and you can configure it to send you alerts when things get loud at home.
ABOVE 5P TUPQ IPXMJOH FJUIFS HFU TPNF IFMQGVM UFDI TUPQ HPJOH PVU PS TIPPU UIF EPH
("%(&5 (636 4 ."(*$ *$ #09 GaGu Jr has, through some financial miracle, managed to save up enough pocket money to buy himself the Lego Super Mario starter set. There’s very little building involved, and what ‘game’ there is to it feels entirely arbitrary. But what it has really proven is that GaGu has completely lost touch with his imagination, because the kids love rearranging stages and taking Mario on wacky adventures. It’s so nice to see them play together without any throttling or scratching involved, although the fact that powering Mario up means taking his trousers off is the teensiest bit uncomfortable. Mario might be able to upgra ade himself, but can he pre edict the future? Guru’ss recent upgrade adv ventures have been oddly prrescient. Your favourite uncle bought an Echo Plus, reduced to an a absolute steal, and
24 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today DECEMBER 2020
Amazon went and released a whole new line up of Echoes. He picked u really very expensive Geforce 2080 to give his PC a kick in the rear, and ent Nvidia immediately we and made the bottomend next-gen card perform far better for far fewer sheckels. So if there’s anything in the tech world you think might need an upgrade, let Guru know and he’ll crack out the credit card while having a little cry. Back to toys now, and Christmas plastic tat. Yes, it’s been a weird old year, but there seems to be no sell-out-in-seconds fad toy dominating the market – probably because every kid wants a new console? Well, GaGu has seen one thing, the Gotta Go Flamingo. You shovel dust into its mouth, and it poops into a little toilet. Brilliant. Even better: scoop its leavings out of the bog and you can feed them to the flamingo again and again, because that’s totally normal.
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How do I make my old VHS tapes usable? do you mean? They " What are perfectly usable
already: never again will you want for a length of shiny ribbon covered in rust. If you really must unearth the contents of those precious cassettes rather than just running up and down the street attempting to discover the true length of a 240-minute tape, Ion’s aged USB-connectable VCR 2 PC player seems like the least stupid option. If you can find it – last Guru heard it had been discontinued, so you’ll need to do a bit of searching and potentially spending too. Chuck some in the right direction, though, and you’ll likely be able to get a half-decent, non-USB VHS player; all you’ll need then is some way to capture its output on your PC, Mac or iPad. That would be the Elgato Video Capture, an entirely serviceable snake of wires that connects everything simply – don’t expect a huge amount of fidelity, though, because you’re capturing a 0.16 MP analog source invented almost 45 years ago. W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
Gadget Guru
NEW MEDIA
IMRAN
NOW PLAYING Which nonGuru finds the finest media you need on your various devices
OVER THE TOP Canadian rockers TWRP make electronic funk so palatable that even Guru’s father-in-law approves; as we all know, Nigel’s opinion is the one that matters when it comes to music.
stick: ceramic or Teflon? Ceramic is more A environmentally friendly, and it can come in fancy colours. Teflon has been around longer and is so badass they put it on spaceships. Some say ceramic has a shorter lifespan, but that depends on how you treat it and the thickness of the ceramic layer. Guru isn’t going to choose for you, because the fact is that they’re very close in just about every metric.The key, beyond soft tools, is care with oil use. Either don’t use it, or be sure to strip it all off (carefully) after every use, lest a layer build up and destroy the non-stick properties of your pan.
NEELIMA D.
Can tech help me with my nails?
TECHNOLOGY CONNECTIONS While GaGu knows all things tech, even he has learned things from host Alec’s YouTube deep dives into niche subjects. He also appreciates the snark.
BILL & TED FACE THE MUSIC Has this taken Guru back to a childhood of shouting “Sixty nine, dude!” without actually understanding what it meant? No. But this return to the Bill & Ted canon is brilliant fun. W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
Guru frequently checks on the progress of Coral (trycoral.com) which is ‘the world’s first smart home manicure’, because the thought of letting a robot loose on his fingernails is as delicious as it is terrifying. The company has been through a crowdfunding phase and seems to have a prototype ready, so we’ll see what comes of it. For now, that sort of thing seems to be reserved mainly for salons. You could buy a nail art printer yourself – the O2 Nails V11 seems to be the main culprit – though you’re looking at a hefty outlay if you really want that image of RoboCop on your middle finger. Your move, creep.
ABOVE Tech can help you with your nails but not that awful case of sunburn
DAVID D’MELLO
How do I get started with Eurorack synths? Mrs Guru’s Facebook A As relationship status so frequently reads, it’s complicated. You’ll need a 3U-height rack, you’ll need power rails, and you’ll need some kind of adapter. Expect to pay around `10,000-`20,000 for a very basic kit. Now you’ll want something which can generate sound, perhaps a basic VCO, or something fancier like the Doepfer A-111-6 Miniature Synthesiser Voice. Next, something which can process that sound, like the Dreadbox Eudemonia Filter or an FX unit. Plus an envelope to shape the sound, like the ALM Pip Slope MK2.
A SMART HOME MANICURE? THE THOUGHT OF LETTING A ROBOT LOOSE ON HIS FINGERNAILS IS AS DELICIOUS TO GURU AS IT IS TERRIFYING DECEMBER 2020 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 25
Horizon People
Vijay Sharma Country Head, Optoma Corporation, India Q) What has been the impact of COVID-19 on your business? The general market for projectors has been impacted by COVID-19 pandemic significantly this year. However, Optoma has managed to grow in India and other countries in APAC region especially in the home segment since people are turning to home entertainment during the lockdown. And we believe this trend, as the pandemic is yet to decline at this moment, is expected to continue for some time.
A
Q) What is Optoma’s focus in the Indian projector market? As Optoma has a very strong parentage with Coretronic, the world’s leading manufacturer of projectors and large displays, we are keen to bring more innovative and high end solutions to the India market, apart from serving entry level education market as we have done for many years. As the world’s number one brand in 4K UHD and DLP technology, we will translate this leadership position in India as well.
A
Q) Are there any new product launches planned in the near future ? Optoma, as the pioneering brand in projectors and large displays, will keep bringing innovative solutions as we have been doing for the past 20 years. We have been consistently achieving many firsts, including bringing voice assistant supported projectors, upscaling the projection refresh rate to 240Hz, and so on. We will continue to dominate 4K Laser Ultra Short Throw segment with our premium home models from the CinemaX series, and we will continue to expand our home entertainment range with enhanced gaming features.
A
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As for professional applications, in addition to our high end projectors, we will also be launching the Interactive Flat Panel (IFP) range products soon. Q) What are your thoughts on portable smart projectors? We see smart features as an essential part of the next-gen portable projectors. With Optoma’s leading smart technology, we are confident to develop the same in the portable segment in the near future.
A
Q) Projectors are still seen as a niche product. What would you suggest or do to increase adoption? Projectors have grown out of the niche market for quite a while now. For home segment especially, it has significantly grown since 4K solutions have been implemented. In Optoma, there has been continuous endeavour to bring better products in both consumer and commercial segments, by adding smart features, enhancing colour performance, reducing latency, providing flexible installation options, and so forth. We have led the way to introduce the voice assistant supported projectors, high refresh rate gaming projectors, and premium ultra short throw 4K laser projectors, and we will continue to deliver innovative products to increase adoption in every segment.
A
Q) When can we see Optoma branded audio products in India? We are keeping our focus on display solutions for now, and we are soon introducing the new IFP product line to the India market.
A
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Hi-Fi
ISSUE 65/ DECEMBER 2020
Hi-Fi
Here at T3 India we appreciate the high-fidelity reproduction of the sound and keeping that in mind, the Hi-Fi section aims to bring everything related to Hi-Fi audio, including tips & tricks, interesting Hi-Fi products and a lot more.
Inside
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28
Classic Artistes
30
NAD 3020 Hybrid Digital Amplifier
DECEMBER 2020 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 27
THE MUSIC OF KASAK
THE MUSIC OF KASAK (1992) Words: H. S. Billimoria
When ‘Kasak’ was announced , it was with great fanfare. The word ‘Kasak’ is actually derived from Urdu and is meant to describe an irritation, itch or prickling. The film was to be a remake of a hit Mani Ratnam film in Tamil called Mouna Ragam. K. Bapaiah of ‘Sargam’ fame was brought in as the director. The star cast consisted of Rishi Kapoor, Neelam and Chunky Pandey. Rajesh Roshan was signed to provide the music. Indeevar did the lyrics. The project had everything going for it. The music was released and became an instant success. That however was the end of the story. On release the film tanked miserably. Hindi film audiences rejected the theme of the movie. What has now survived is Rajesh Roshan’s melodious music. If the film had been a hit, the music would have taken off like a rocket. However, that was not to be. Let us look at the songs. The first is a rain number picturised on Neelam and her friends. The song, ‘Barsa paani barsa’ has been beautifully rendered by Sadhana Sargam. In the eighties, Sadhana was a favourite with the Roshan camp. Later on, for some reason, Roshan did not use her at all. The second song is a love duet rendered by Anuradha Paudwal and Mohammed Aziz. The number, ‘Dekha jo husna aapka’ is a catchy , racy number picturised on Neelam and Chunky Pandey. Picturisation is also nicely done in floral surroundings. ‘Ek baar pyar ka’ , the third number is perhaps the theme song of the movie. Recorded by Amit Kumar and Anuradha Paudwal in three separate versions, this duet is a triumph for Rajesh Roshan. Rishi Kapoor and Neelam perform the various versions on screen. Playback singer Anwar was introduced by Rajesh Roshan in Janta Hawaldar. In Kasak, he delivers a soulful number, ‘Ek Taj Mahal Dil Mein ‘ in his inimitable style. The song has been picturised at the
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THE MUSIC OF KASAK
Anuradha Paudwal
Amit Kumar
Sadhana Sargam
Mohd Aziz
Rajesh Roshan 7DM 0DKDO DQG SOD\V LQ WKH EDFNJURXQG ZKLOVW 5LVKL Kapoor and Neelam traverse through the Taj gardens. 7KH ĆQDO QXPEHU LV D VHPL FODVVLFDO QXPEHU ç0LOL WHUH pyar ke’, a duet by Kumar Sanu and Anuradha Paudwal, is a showcase for Rajesh’s versatility. The sitar and the tabla have been used to telling effect in this number. )LYH WHUULĆF QXPEHUV EHDXWLIXOO\ WXQHG DQG H[TXLVLWHO\ performed. They risk being forgotten because of the ĆOPèV IDLOXUH ,I \RX KDYH QRW KHDUG WKHP \RX FDQ FDWFK them on You Tube. A score like Kasak would have ranked amongst the best RI $ODV WKH ĆOP GLGQèW PDNH LW DQG WKH PXVLF JRW forgotten. You can imagine how heartbroken the music director would be. The producer of Kasak was Ratan Irani, brother of actress, Aruna Irani.
Just in case this article enthuses you to watch Kasak on YouTube, don’t bother. Not only is the print bad, even the audio is missing in many places.
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Kumar Sanu
DECEMBER 2020 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 29
Hi-Fi NAD 3020 Hybrid Digital Amplifier
NAD 3020 HYBRID DIGITAL AMPLIFIER WORDS H. S. Billimoria
W
hen introduced in the mid 1970s, the NAD 3020 was NAD’s first amplifier. The engineers of NAD focused only on sound quality and the results were obvious. Although not the last word in appearance, it rapidly rose to become the best selling amplifier of the time and sold more than one million units. This month, T3 India had the latest version of the NAD 3020 christened ‘ hybrid digital amplifier’ on its review bench. The word ‘digital’ in the name signifies that it will connect with all digital devices. The new 3020 hybrid digital amplifier sports an unusual design. It is meant to be stacked vertically, thus saving space which is always at a premium in city apartments. The amplifier follows a minimalist approach and has very few controls. Apart from having a separate phono input, the amp has only one auxiliary input. Uniquely, a socket for connecting a sub woofer has been provided. There are no controls for bass or treble and no dedicated sockets for tape or CD. The 3020 is rated at 30 W per channel into 8 ohms. It can also function as a streamer and stream music from your smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth aptX. A headphone socket is provided on the front panel. A built-in 8 channel DAC completes the feature list. We auditioned the NAD 3020 with the following types of music: 1) Chopin Piano Concertos Nos 1 & 2 (Deustche Grammophon) 2) Hot Chocolate – Their Greatest Hits 3) Bappi Lahiri Greatest Hits Vol 1 First things first. Straight out of the box, the NAD does not impress. Like many amps, the NAD needs to be run in. About 10 hours of operation should do the trick. Matched with the right speakers, the NAD sounds detailed with a sweet mid band. We also liked the low end bass. Matching speakers would include the Q Accoustics 3010i or 3020i or the Dali Spektor 1s. The Wharfedale 220s would also be a good match. Combined with the right speakers, the NAD 3020 would be the kingpin of a very good beginner’s system. The NAD 3020 lists at a price of `58,900. Discounts are available. Overall, if you are short of space and a beginner, the NAD should be at the top of your shortlist.
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PLUS Small & light; can be stacked vertically Transparent sound Excellent for linking digital devices MINUS Design may not appeal to all Restricted features Remote fiddly
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Amazing PS5 and Xbox add-ons
AMAZING PS5 AND XBOX ADD-ONS Holiday 2020 is almost upon us. Prepare your room for the next generation with the ultimate TVs, headsets and other accessories for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S Words: Louise Blain
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Amazing PS5 and Xbox add-ons
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Sony’s console has launched in many markets globally and should reach the Indian shores soon
Fina ally. after months of teasing, Sony laun nched the PlayStation 5. At ``49,990 for the full fat version and `39,990 `39 990 for the disc-free Digital Edition, the new generation is surprisingly affordable. It’s unclear quite how much Microsoft’s competitive pricing reveals the week before Sony’s announcement made a difference but, regardless, the result is a level next-generation playing field. Well, other than the Series S but we’ll get onto that in a bit. If you’ve moved your PlayStation library into the binary realm over the past few years then the Digital Edition is an especially enticing prospect at under `40,000. The only difference is the absence of that 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray drive. In short, if you’re not fussed about all that dust-gathering physical media, there’s no sacrifice in performance. Sony’s Jim Ryan has confirmed that both consoles share the same custom processor, ultra-fast
SSD, 4K visuals and ray-tracing support. It’ll just have a slightly slimmer form television factor under your television. And we finally have a launch line up too. While third-party games like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Cyberpunk 2077 will be playable on PS5 on day one, there’s also a slate of PlayStation exclusives. The Demon’s Souls remake, shown off in crunchily beautiful form at the latest PS5 event, will be a day one title, as will Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales. This follow up to Peter Parker’s 2018 adventures is, according to game director Brian Horton, “an important, heartfelt, emotional and essential experience”. Destruction All Stars is also a launch day release, as well as a fresh adventure for everyone’s favourite hessian hero with Sumo Digital’s Sackboy: A Big Adventure. Plus, fellow lovers of Sony’s adorable robot pals can rejoice as Astro’s Playroom
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comes installed do on PS5. While this exclusive lin ine up initially seems thin on n the grou und it’s ground, it s important to remember that PS5 is backwards compatible with PS4 games and will also now include what Sony is calling the PlayStation Plus Collection. In a clear move to compete with Xbox Game Pass, all PlayStation Plus subscribers will be able to digitally download 18 triple A titles from PS5 launch day. These include Sony first party heavy hitters such as Uncharted 4, Bloodborne and Days Gone, as well as Resident Evil 7 and Fallout 4. It’s not quite up to Xbox Game Pass’ lofty heights but is an exceptionally solid free add-on for a day one release. There will be no shortage of games to play but remember you’ll want to load up Demon’s Souls or Spidey to truly test the PS5’s beefy mettle.
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PlayStation 5
PS5 ACCESSORIES Soup things up for the ultimate experience
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2
PULSE 3D WIRELESS HEADSET 7KH RQO\ RIĆFLDO SODFH WR KHDU 6RQ\èV QHZ 7HPSHVW Engine in all its 3D audio glory, the Pulse headset is ready for all those long-promised 360-degree soundscapes. And because one microphone clearly LVQèW HQRXJK IRU WKH QHZ JHQHUDWLRQ WZR EXLOW LQ noise-cancelling mics are ready to make sure your IULHQGV QHYHU PLVV \RXU çLQVSLULQJè Warzone UDQWV sony.com
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2 SONOS ARC 36 èV ' DXGLR DELOLWLHV ZLOO DSSDUHQWO\ EH DYDLODEOH on other devices than just the Pulse headset but ZH GRQèW KDYH DOO WKH GHWDLOV MXVW \HW 7KH 6RQRV $UF soundbar with Dolby Atmos is still a worthwhile investment regardless. Without the need for additional speakers, this impressive solution delivers multi-layered sound perfect for basking in the audio of those 4K Ultra HD Blu-Ray releases. sonos.com
3 NANOLEAF 9 PANEL KIT :LWK QR RIĆFLDO QH[W JHQ SDVVWKURXJK VXSSRUW MXVW yet for the Philips Hue Play Sync HDMI box, a set of Nanoleaf panels can brighten your gaming space without worrying about HDMI 2.1 features. &XVWRPLVH \RXU RZQ GHVLJQ ZLWK WKH RIĆFLDO DSS DQG WKHQ FUHDWH \RXU RZQ SHUIHFW FRPSDQLRQ FRORXU SURĆOHV IRU \RXU IDYRXULWH JDPHV 2UDQJH LV IRU Crash Bandicoot…? nanoleaf.me
4 DUALSENSE CHARGING STATION 1RWKLQJ VFUHDPV NLGèV EHGURRP TXLWH DV ORXGO\ DV ZLUHV WUDLOLQJ DFURVV WKH ćRRU IURP \RXU sofa to your console. This charging station has VSDFH IRU WZR 'XDO6HQVH FRQWUROOHUV DQG FDQ ĆW neatly on a side table or out of sight. Just remember to pop them on charge when you go to bed. 2020 VWLOO FDQèW UHPLQG \RX WR GR WKDW sony.com
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Amazing PS5 and Xbox add-ons
XBOX SERIES X The surprise reveal of a second digital next-generation console and a competitive pricing plan make Microsoft’s boxes an enticing prospect
In a long-rumoured ed but nonetheless surprising move, Microsoft effortlessly turned the new generation console battle into a three-horse race with the announcement of the Xbox Series S. Yes, on 10 November, two Xboxes were unleashed on the world. The Xbox Series X with its much-anticipated 12 teraflops of power is priced at `49,990, while the speaker-like Xbox Series S is an eyebrowraising `34,990. The big difference between these two consoles other than how much cash you’ll be handing over is the power under the hood. While the Xbox Series X will be outputting happily at 4K resolutions, the S is limited to 1440p. But the S is still a next-gen console, even with a third of the teraflops. It still has a custom Zen 2 eight-core processor running at 3.6Ghz and an SSD, although this is 512GB
compared to the X X’ss 1TB. 1TB Both consoles will run at 60fps natively and are both capable of up to 120fps. The Series S then is a less powerful machine but for those without a 4K TV or the relentless desire for more pixels in their eyes, the price point is a perfect sweet spot for a new machine without spending the earth. What’s also important to note is that Microsoft has potentially transformed the console purchase landscape with its Xbox All Access Scheme. Instead of shelling out for either the X or the S outright, this lets you pay in instalments over a 24-month period (unavailable in India). Given the pricing structure of new generation games, and Microsoft’s intimidating collection of titles that now includes the entirety of EA Play, this prospect might be enough to push the unsure into Microsoft’s camp. And, while Microsoft has no day one
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exclusive ve games games, it has one not exactly small ace up its sleeve. In a purely coincidental reveal the day before Xbox pre-orders started, it was announced that Microsoft bought Bethesda’s parent company ZeniMax Media for $7.5bn. This doesn’t necessarily mean that all future Elder Scrolls and Fallout games are going to be console exclusives – Minecraft is a prime example of a multi-platform Microsoft title – but it does mean that Xbox Game Pass is now an even more tantalising prospect with the inclusion of Bethesda titles. With two very different machines and a mouthwatering array of included games in Microsoft Game Pass, Xbox’s console offerings are very tempting.
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Xbox Series X
XBOX SERIES X/S ACCESSORIES You know you’ll y not be able to resist some of these…
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1 TURTLE BEACH STEALTH 700 GEN 2 While cooling gel-infused memory foam ear cushions should always be top of any wishlist, 7XUWOH %HDFKèV ODWHVW ćDJVKLS ZLUHOHVV KHDGVHW is an impressive e audio powerhouse with virtual surround sound. Even better is the fact that the promised 20 ho ours of battery life is no lie and there’s no need ffor an easily loseable USB dongle as it connects directly to the Series X. tturtlebeach.com
2 SEAGATE STO ORAGE EXPANSION CARD FOR X XBOX SERIES X/S Unlike Sony, Micrrosoft has opted for a proprietary solution for upgraades to that precious 1TB of SSD storage. Seagate’’s 1TB plug-in card fully supports the Series X aand S’s Velocity Architecture, meaning there’ll be no recognisable difference between games you load up from internal or the additi d t on o al a storage option. You can even hot swap EHWZHHQ FDUGV LI \RXèUH SDUWLFXODUO\ ćXVK ZLWK games and cash. microsoft.com
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3 YAMAHA V4A AV RECEIVER Even AV receivers are having to up their literal game for the new generation. Yamaha’s latest 5.1 offering comes with four HDMI 2.1 connections o ffor multiple next-gen consoles and supports 4K at 120Hz, as well as that oh-so-vital Auto Low Latency Mode or ALLM. The V4A also boasts 'ROE\ 9LVLRQ DQGb+'5 SDVVWKURXJK DV ZHOO VWDQGDUG +'5 IXQFWLRQDOLW\ <RX QHHGHG DQ upgrade anyway, right? in.yamaha.com
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4 XBOX ELITE WIRELESS CONTROLLER SERIES 2 There are no extra bells and whistles on the Xbox 6HULHV ; FRQWUROOHU VR LI \RXèYH JRW YHU\ VSHFLĆF thumbstick desires, you’ll want the sequel to Microsoft’s Elite pad. Whether you want to switch up paddles or twiddle with analogue tension, this is a perfect, if expensive, accessory. There’s even wireless charging via the included dock because, let’s face it, wires are so last generation. xbox.com
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DECEMBER 2020 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 35
Amazing PS5 and Xbox add-ons
TVs The perfect way to top off your ext-gen gaming setup
1 SAMSUNG QLED Q80T What if you could go big and go home? Samsung’s Q80T range goes all the way up to 65 inches and comes with everything g you need to make the most of PS5 and Xbox Series X. With h LPSUHVVLYH $//0 YDULDEOH UHIUHVK UDWH 955 DQG +] support, this colourful QLED screen is ready for as much lag gfree Spider-Man as your thumbs will allow. samsung.com/in
2 SONY X90H Unlike the other two TVs here, Sony’s LED X90H doesn’t co ome with HDMI 2.1 features out of the box but these ZLOO DUULYH YLD DQ XSGDWH 7KH ĆUVW UHYHDOHG ê5HDG\ IRU Z 3OD\6WDWLRQb ë 79 WKH ; + ZLOO KDYH VXSSRUW IRU +] DW . G GHSHQGHQW RQ WKH 36 WLWOH DQG %5$9,$ *DPH 0RGH WR fully support low latency gaming. so sony.co.in i
3 LG CX Now available in an exceptionally attractive 55-inch paackage, LG’s CX range is the perfect go-to next-gen TV. Tickin ng off PS5 demands like a to-do list, it includes ALLM, HDM MI 2.1 support, and eats 4K at 120 frames per second for bre eakfast. Plus, AMD FreeSync support is coming later this yeaar to deliver even smoother Xbox Series X performance. lg.com/in
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Uplifting home upgrades
UPLIFTING HOME UPGRADES Get your home in better shape for entertaining guests, treating yourself and surviving the holidays Words: David Nield Photography: Neil Godwin
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Uplifting home upgrades
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Uplifting home upgrades
LIVING ROOM Put the ‘living’ back into your most used room
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LIFX Z LED STRIP
PHILIPS HUE IRIS
GOOGLE NEST AUDIO
SPHERO SPRK+
The Z LED Strip from smart OLJKWLQJ H[SHUWV /LI[ FDQ EH ĆWWHG just about anywhere and gives you an endless array of colour options through its app. There are actually eight different zones in each two-metre strip, so you can get your living room looking exactly the way you want. As always with Lifx bulbs, they connect straight to your Wi-Fi, no hub required. lifx.com
New from Philips Hue is the redesigned Iris, perfect for adding mood to a room (by bouncing light off a wall, for example). The mains-powered lamp gives you an almost limitless combination of brightness and colour settings, DQGbDV XVXDO ZLWK WKLV UDQJH RI smart lights, everything can be remote controlled very easily via the Hue mobile app. philips-hue.com
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The newest smart speaker to You’re guaranteed hours of join the Google Nest line of entertainment, education and products, you can think of this as fun with the Sphero SPRK+, the a bigger, more powerful version programmable robot ball that will of the Google Nest Mini. All of ZKL]] DURXQG \RXU ćRRU WDNLQJ the same Google Assistant tricks on mazes, obstacle courses and are here, so you can use it for anything else you want to put it up weather forecasts, alarms, timers, DJDLQVW <RXèOO ĆQG WKDW WKH GHYLFHV SRGFDVWV bPXVLF QHZV DQG VR last longer than most toys though on, but there’s more of an audio – and it’s the perfect way to get oomph from this larger unit. youngsters into coding. ćLSNDUW FRP VSKHUR FRP W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
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PANASONIC HZ2000 If you’re thinking about a TV upgrade try the Panasonic HZ2000 – a gorgeous-looking 55-inch OLED TV that offers a fantastic 4K picture, Dolby Atmos sound, HDR support and four HDMI ports for all your devices. It’s essentially the flagship 4K OLED TV right now. panasonic.com
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SAMSUNG S60T
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AUDIO TECHNICA AT-LP60XBT
Give your TV sound an upgrade with the Samsung Get the tunes on at any S60T soundbar – supertime with the Audio level audio developed by Technica AT-LP60XBT, the Samsung Audio Lab and which mixes the traditional made from Kvadrat acoustic vinyl music format with the material. You get stylish newer Bluetooth codec. aesthetics, support for The end result is sound Amazon Alexa and Spotify, that will always make your and, of course, room-filling, ears prick up, and a device high-fidelity audio. anyone can enjoy. samsung.com audio-technica.com
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RUARK MR1 Get a pair of Ruark MR1 Bluetooth bookshelf speakers installed and entertainment is pretty much guaranteed – whether it’s karaoke, movies, or a mini livingroom disco, the Ruark MR1 speaker system will deliver impressive audio fidelity every time. ruarkaudio.com
SAMSUNG TAB S7 PLUS The Tab S7 Plus from Samsung is equally happy browsing the web, streaming video, playing your music or keeping the kids entertained – and if you attach a keyboard cover to it then you can actually use it for some serious work too. samsung.com
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Uplifting home upgrades
HOME OFFICE
Great distraction-free gear for working from home – even with a full house
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CREATIVE LIVE CAM SYNC 1080P
VARIDESK PRO P PLUS 30
SURFACE PRO 7
POWERPO ORT SPEED 5 PORTS
A full standing desk can cost a lot, Part of the appeal of the Surface but the VariDesk series lets you Pro 7 is that it can switch between Many laptops and desktops come a laptop (with the keyboard with a webcam built in, but don’t convert your current desk instead – you can split your time between attachment) and a tablet – equally settle for what you have – the sitting and standing as you feel good for writing up reports or Creative Live Cam Sync 1080p will comfortable. The adjustable watching movies. It’s fantastically almost certainly boost the video portable and lightweight, as and audio quality of your calls. The contraption is straightforward to set up, and comes with plenty of well as coming in a choice of clip-on webcam can point in any room for a monitor as well as a FRQĆJXUDWLRQV DV IDU DV LQWHUQDO direction, and it also comes with an mouse and keyboard. power and performance goes. integrated lens cover. YDUL FRP PLFURVRIW FRP FUHDWLYH FRP 42 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today DECEMBER 2020
Make sure everyone in your household can get their gadgets charged up around the clock with this PowerPort Speed 5 Ports hub from Anker. It supports quick FKDUJLQJ DQG KDV ĆYH 86% VORWV IRU multiple devices, so you don’t need WR ZRUU\ DERXW HYHU\RQH ĆJKWLQJ over the same charger. DQNHU FRP W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
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PHILIPS 346B1C
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COMHOMA CONFERENCE EXECUTIVE WORK CHAIR
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Not all monitors are Make sure you get precious created equal, as the Wi-Fi all the way around Philips 346B1C proves. It your house, and guarantee offers 34 inches of curved, that everyone can get For reliable support for ultrawide goodness, plus connected, with a Nest your back and arms, this the ability to act as a USB-C Wi-Fi package from Google. Comhoma model is a hub. It also provides plenty It uses one or more satellite dream. The mesh fabric of connectivity options, looks good but is also hard- nodes as well as the main making it an excellent router to keep coverage wearing and durable, and upgrade for your computer there are plenty of built-in strong across a wider area or gaming display. and multiple floors. adjustment options. philips.com store.google.com amazon.com W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
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DELL XPS 15
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SONY WH-1000XM4
The Dell XPS series gets The WH-1000XM4 even better, and the from Sony are the latest 15-inch model for 2020 in a series that have set gives you more screen the standard for noisespace than the 13-inch, cancelling cans. They’re while adding slightly more perfect for blocking out bulk. Beautifully crafted, the outside world, whether packed with power, and you’re listening to music, capable of handling all your movies, podcasts or home office needs, it’s a audiobooks – and they can polished package. work without wires too. dell.co.in sony.co.in DECEMBER 2020 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 43
Uplifting home upgrades
CHILL OUT
E Escape from f the h ghastliness h li off 20 020 in your special space
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4 POD The age ng a e eurer s a s ress Chromecast into the television in releaser that you can make your chill out room is that anyone available in your home for anyone connected to your Wi-Fi can to use as needed: it’ll actually then beam just about anything teach you a variety of relaxation to it – photos, music, movies and techniques, with low-frequency more. Most Android and iOS apps vibrations and heat effects to help support the Chromecast standard, you realise that maybe the world so this inexpensive dongle is isn’t such a bad place after all. perfect for adding smarts to any There’s a companion app to help TV with a spare HDMI input. get you in the right headspace. ćLSNDUW FRP EHXUHU FRP 44 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today DECEMBER 2020
KOBO NIA
a e e eom e lbeing You don’t necessarily have to think Pod part of your chill out room Kindle when it comes to ebooks, experience and you’ll be able to and the Kobo Nia is an affordable treat yourself to a variety of smells alternative ereader that comes and scents – which will helpfully with plenty to recommend it – not ease some of the stresses of OHDVW WKH FRPSDFW WH[WXUHG ĆQLVK seeing so many of your family and and the bright and sharp screen. friends at once. You can buy the You get access to millions of compact, easy-to-operate diffuser ebooks in the Kobo Store, which with some oils to begin with, and means your holiday season reading then add more as needed. is all sorted. QHRPRUJDQLFV FRP NRERERRNV FRP W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
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SIMBA ORBIT BLANKET
DODOW
You really ought to try a weighted blanket, and the Simba Orbit is one of the best around. It’s like being kept in a permanent hug – sort of – and this particular one comes packed with custom nanobeads to help you relax more quickly and for longer. simbasleep.com
If there’s going to be some actual sleeping going on in your chill out room, then the Dodow will facilitate it: it uses a light metronome cast on your ceiling to slow down and manage your breathing, and it promises (with some scientific backing) to have you asleep in minutes. mydodow.com
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MUSE 2
OCULUS QUEST 2
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SEGA MEGA DRIVE
The Muse audio headband Facebook has upgraded RETRO CONSOLE is a meditation aid that its hugely popular Oculus What better way to chill monitors your brain and Quest headset with the out than to blast through body and gives you realOculus Quest 2 – it’s some classic 1990s video time feedback – alongside perhaps the best way for games, which this mini selected soundscapes – to you and your family to dip retro console allows you get you rested mentally into the world of virtual to do with ease. It comes and physically. Its built-in reality. Everything works preloaded with 40 great technology can help improve independently with the games and just needs your sleep, boost your mood Quest 2, so there are no connecting to your TV. and lower your stress. computers to connect to. megadrivemini.sega.com choosemuse.com oculus.com
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Special Feature
THE RISE AND RISE OF THE ‘CINEWHOOPS’ Breaking the barriers of aerial cinematography with tiny drones WORDS LYSANDER FERNANDES tiny drone flies through a neighbourhood in Los Angeles, zips through precarious gaps of an archway, over houses, in between palm trees, through a small gymnastic ring to eventually reveal a glorious sunset over a California beach - all in one fluid aerial shot. This awardwinning video ‘Muscle Up’ was shot by American drone pilot and video effects specialist Robert McIntosh back in 2017, not on a fancy stabilised drone, but a tiny ‘whoop drone’ mounted with a zip-tied de-cased GoPro Hero 4 and a LiPo battery. The best part? It weighed just 120g and Robert built this drone himself. This marked the beginning of the trend of Cinewhoops, allowing
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drone pilots and cinematographers to capture stunning visuals that are otherwise impossible with the likes of a stabilised drone like the DJI Mavic Mini or Spark. In the last eighteen months globally, Cinewhoops have been gaining immense popularity among drone enthusiasts. These tiny drones, especially those weighing less than 250g, are stretching the creative possibilities of aerial videography, content creation, and professional aerial cinematography. We caught up with some of the biggest names in the international FPV circuit and budding professional Indian FPV cinematographers who emphasised how Cinewhoop use is growing exponentially and punching way above its weight. W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
Special Feature
SO, WHAT’S A CINEWHOOP AND WHY IT’S TAKING OFF?
CINEWHOOP VS STABILISED DRONE
A Cinewhoop traditionally is a type of a First Person View (FPV) drone used for capturing stable cinematic video footage in locations otherwise difficult to shoot and nimble enough to manoeuvre closer to the subject at slow and high speeds. They are much smaller, around 2-3 inches in size, and come equipped with propeller ducts, an HD or a 4K camera, and can be custom built by a user. Some can weigh up to 500g depending on the type of camera mounted atop. It gets its name from ‘whoop’ aka ‘Tiny whoop’ drones. The concept of a Cinewhoop was pioneered and made popular by Robert McIntosh, whose video ‘Muscle up’ won him awards at GoPro and the New York City drone film festival back in 2017.
Stabilised drones from established manufacturers like DJI, Autel or Parrot are built to be autonomous, which means these drones can hover in the same place without requiring any command from the radio controller. They come with several sensors and have capabilities such as GPS, high-resolution gimbal cameras and you can connect your mobile device to view the live feed from the camera. In a larger perspective, they have their own use case to shoot pictures and videos but the shooting flexibility is very limited with standard types of shots. Moreover, it is not advisable to fly these drones indoors. In the event of a crash, repairing these drones is expensive and they’re not designed to be repaired by the user. Cinewhoops, on the other hand, offer creative freedom from an aerial perspective that stabilised drones cannot. You have an FPV view through your drone’s camera via FPV goggles giving you the feeling of sitting inside the cockpit of the drone. Unlike stabilised drones, with Cinewhoops you can fly freely in the air, dive, roll, flip or even rip down mountains, buildings and tracks, pass-through windows, fly under tables, and through the tightest of gaps. The agility of the Cinewhoop and fluidity of the movement is unmatched. They are made to fly indoors and outdoors and are perfectly safe to fly at home and around people. Andrea Zega aka Rimzler, a 23-year-old Italian Cinewhoop enthusiast and a notable aerial cinematographer tinkering with drones since 2013 says that Cinewhoops are perfect to create fluid shots. He along with his friend Bruno Sisti part of the Insta360 team has worked on the first custom sub-250g drone capable of shooting full 360 unobstructed video footage. “Cinewhoops just like the bigger FPV brothers have a very Andrea Zega distinct way of flying, creating a smooth
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Special Feature
rollercoaster-like point of view. They are perfect for creating long takes and movements are fluid, compared to commercial drones (DJI) that move in a more linear kind of way, another advantage of Micro Cinewhoops is that they are super agile and safe, you can fly indoors and hit all the gaps, something that is impossible with standard solutions,” he says. Rimzlers Instagram handle (@rimzler) brims with footage shooting in narrow and precarious places such as churches, shops, towns, gyms, factories, offices, and around people. Benoit Finck aka Fincky, one of the biggest names in aerial cinematography, has shot for brands like Oakley, Adidas, covered the Drift Masters European Championship and has even shot music videos. Having toured the world capturing breathtaking and immersive aerial experiences on his Cinewhoop, Fincky is betting big on the Cinewhoop trend, which he says is here to stay. “I use a Cinewhoop when I have to fly pretty fast around people on foot, skateboarding, or even biking, or when I need to go through extremely small gaps. The Cinewhoop trend is definitely here to stay as it brings a really different perspective to the table. You can fly them in places you can’t fly bigger drones, the experience is unique. For sub-250g Cinewhoops to record 1080p or 4K footage, you’d require a very small camera like the Insta360 Go, or a de-cased GoPro. The brands I have worked with have been initially sceptical and prefer cinema-grade cameras, but are immediately convinced once they see the footage I’ve shot with the Cinewhoop,” he says. One major reason why Cinewhoops Benoit Finck have become so popular is that they are 48 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today DECEMBER 2020
smaller, extremely agile and a majority of them weigh below 250g offering you the flexibility to record HD to UHD seamless video footage. Until last year, users didn’t have too many custom drone options to record cinematic or 4K footage while staying under the threshold of 250g. Since May 2019, many famous custom drone companies like Eachine, BetaFPV, iFlight, Flywoo are offering RTF Cinewhoops (Ready-to-Fly) where the entire kit to get you started which includes the drone, FPV gear, a radio controller and LiPo battery, and BNF Cinewhoops (Bind-N-Fly) where only the drone is on offer and you can use a receiver of your choice and bind it to your existing radio controller. In fact, Kim Tang, a professional drone builder (sub-250g) and cinematographer based in Hong Kong has been building and selling BNF/RTF sub-250g Cinewhoops with de-cased GoPros Hero 6, 7 & 8 since June 2020. Kim has sold over 160 units of Cinewhoops priced between $550-$750 with buyers mostly in the USA and is confident that the nature of this trend will only increase. “Who knows, in 2021 we may see de-cased Blackmagic (industry-grade video cameras) designs on whoops.” quips Kim Kim Tang jokingly.
WORTH THE WEIGHT Since the weight of the Cinewhoops ideally is categorised under the Nano class of drones (under 250 grams), in India, they are exempted from registering the drone with the aviation regulator DGCA, and you wouldn’t require an Unmanned Aerial Operator Permit (UAOP) to fly it either. W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
Special Feature However, you will require necessary local permissions and inform the authorities if you fly over public property or sensitive locations.
INDIA AND THE CASE OF CINEWHOOPS The trend has feverishly latched on, albeit late amongst hobbyists and professional cinematographers in India. Commercially, a few brands and OTT platforms have ventured hesitantly to explore the opportunity, but are yet to fully understand the full potential of utilising FPV to drive their marketing and advertising collateral as against global counterparts. The reason behind this is the idea of Cinewhoops and FPV is still fairly new and raw to production and advertising firms to inculcate over the existing aerial solutions. Also, there is not enough of a skilled pool of FPV pilots in India just yet. Piyush Parmar, an Aerial Cinematographer & FPV Pilot at Orbiter Films says that the popularity of Cinewhoops has been growing in India with more and more people getting into the hobby of FPV. He credits the surge in interest to the video reels of JohnnyFPV, NurkFPV, and others on YouTube that have made the prospect of FPV cinematic flying exhilarating and fun. “I can safely say I’ve been the first to introduce the usage of FPV drones in the Indian Film Industry. I’ve used Piyush Parmar Cinewhoops to shoot professional ads for brands such as Skechers, along with a few Bollywood projects in the pipeline. Mihir Bhatt, a DOP and aerial cinematographer in the Indian film industry, recently incorporated FPV in a real estate shoot and for a web series for ALTBalaji using a Cinewhoop he built in early 2020. “The FPV market is lucrative and is clearly pegged to grow but maintenance and reparability of these whoops can be daunting for a lot of new FPV fliers. What makes it more interesting is that you can start from the widest frame and go into the smallest of gaps in the same shot. That is something the current commercial drones available in the market cannot do,” Mihir Bhatt Mihir says.
DELAYED TAKE OFF Despite looking like a promising market, the cost, maintenance and repairability of these whoops can be daunting for a lot of new FPV fliers. A common underlying challenge for FPV fliers in India is the availability and sourcing of parts/hardware at retail cost. “While education remains the biggest challenge in India with respect to the growth of the market for Cinewhoops, availability and pricing of spare parts to build and repair is also a pain point that can deter new users in this hobby,” Piyush says. From a commercial standpoint, Mihir says that the Cinewhoop market will evolve when there is awareness about the strengths and limitations of the equipment. “People who want to pursue this hobby commercially need to be patient and hone their skill set,” he adds. Currently, there are only a handful of vendors and P2P sellers in W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
India that are selling FPV/drone related supplies. But they do not provide adequate after-sale service, which can be a deal-breaker for many. Ordering the same products from international websites may attract heavy customs duty, sometimes even resulting in confiscation. It is more like a hit and miss with a wait time of 15-50 days dampening your progress of building a drone along with your enthusiasm till you receive the parts. Kim Tang too sees India as a huge market and has even sold a few units to customers in the country. However, he says that owing to the cost of the Cinewhoops, and high customs duties levied in India, Indian buyers are not confident of ordering FPV equipment from overseas. On the bright side, the situation could get better in the near future as the government formalises norms and the law around operating drones in the country.
COST AND WHERE TO BUY A Cinewhoop built on an analogue system will cost you approximately `11,000-`15,000, while a Cinewhoop on a digital system like DJI will put you back by about `25,000-`30,000. In addition, with a complete FPV kit, for people getting into the hobby, the analogue will cost approximately `30,000-`40,000 and for a digital FPV system like DJI would be `70,000 and upwards. Currently in India, you can buy Cinewhoops or parts to build one on websites like rcmumbai.com, tujorc.com, and quadkopters.com. DECEMBER 2020 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 49
The complete guide to…
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Mid-range phones
THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO…
MID-RANGE PHONES It’s getting harder to justify spending premium prices on premium smartphones – maybe your next buy should be something from the mid-range. So here’s what to look for Words: David Nield Photography: Phil Barker
n relative terms, smartphones haven’t been around for very long at all really, if you count the arrival of the first iPhone in 2007 as a rough starting point. In nearly a decade and a half, screen sizes have almost doubled, handsets have become as powerful as some laptops, and battery life... well, battery life is still mostly average. As the smartphone approaches its teenage years, there’s one trend that’s unmistakeable: the rise of the mid-range phone. More and more of us are opting for a phone that’s good enough rather than the best there is, and as a result we’re seeing more and more devices jostle for space in this particular value-for-money part of the market. It’s not difficult to see the reasoning behind the shift. Phone components have become cheaper as well as more powerful, which means buying at the budget end of the market no longer means poor screens, sluggish performance and bad battery life. The top-end iPhones and Samsung Galaxy
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phones still have an extra quality and premium edge to them – but is it worth paying twice as much for? That’s the key question, and the majority of phone makers are now focusing on the mid-range market. Take a look at Google as one example: last year its affordable Pixel 3a was much more successful than the flagship Pixel 4, and this year the rumour is that the Pixel 5 won’t cost all that much more than the newly unveiled Pixel 4a. The Pixel 3a proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that a good camera and a good software experience goes a long way, and Pixel phones are coming down in price as a result.
THE FALL OF FLAGSHIPS
Flagship phones are still around, but there’s fewer of them than ever before – and we may have to redefine the term before too long. It’s now really only Apple, Samsung and Huawei that are making truly high-end handsets that will cost you four-figure sums, and with the world’s
economy regrettably the way it is, it’s getting increasingly difficult to justify that expense on a gadget (even if it’s one you use all day every day). These top-tier flagship phones are still objectively better than mid-rangers, there’s certainly no argument about that. They feature gorgeous, expensive, high-resolution screens, are packed with the latest, cutting edge components, and come with advanced, multi-lens cameras, which take fantastic photos in low light and offer optical zooms to get you closer to the action without any annoying loss in quality. The likes of the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and the iPhone 11 Pro Max are undoubtedly fantastic phones then, but do you really need a phone that’s faster than your laptop? Is it really worth a couple of extra camera lenses for photos you’re only sending to Snapchat? And are premium materials actually worth the investment for a device that’s probably going to spend most of its time in one of your pockets?
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The complete guide to… The top three…
AFFORDABLE FLAGSHIP PHONES This lot are between mid-ranger and flagship, offering more premium features at a still reasonable price
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APPLE iPHONE 11 7KH OHDVW H[SHQVLYH L3KRQH ćDJVKLS without the extra cameras of the Pro and Pro Max models, but with plenty of power and polish nevertheless. Watch out for even better deals on this Apple phone now that the iPhone 12 is out. From `54,900, apple.com
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SAMSUNG GALAXY S20 Samsung launched three Galaxy S phones in 2020 – this is the most affordable. It’s smaller than the S20 Plus and the S20 Ultra, and has a slightly inferior camera, but also shares a lot of the same internal components. From `59,499, samsung.com
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ONEPLUS 8 PRO While the Nord has been grabbing the headlines lately, the OnePlus 8 Pro is an even better phone – albeit a pricier one. It has a faster processor, a bigger screen, a better camera and wireless charging. From `54,999, oneplus.in
For a growing number of us, the answers to those questions are no. Apple and Samsung are well aware of this shift of course. Samsung has been making budget and mid-range phones for years, and last year introduced the smaller, more affordable Samsung Galaxy S10e alongside the rest of the flagship Galaxy S10 range. Apple has its own smaller, more affordable handset with the iPhone SE too – a phone that first appeared in 2016 and got a refresh earlier in 2020. It’s no coincidence that today iPhones and Galaxy phones cover a bigger range of price points than ever before, because Apple and Samsung know full well that flagships just don’t hold the same appeal any more. Saving a few extra seconds on game loading times and squeezing a few more pixels into the display resolution aren’t worth the price premium for most people picking up a new handset.
MID-RANGE VALUE It goes without saying that customers always prefer to spend as little as possible if they can, but there’s a balance to be struck: from hotel rooms to motor vehicles, keeping to the tightest of budgets isn’t always advisable. It’s exactly the same with smartphones, where there’s a sliding scale – the more you pay, the better the phone you’re going to end up with. What’s helped to cause the mid-range boom is that you can now get an awful lot of phone for not much money at all. By using slightly older or slightly inferior components, manufacturers are able to put together handsets that are almost as good as the flagships but that cost significantly less, with competition from Chinese manufacturers like Xiaomi and OnePlus putting even more pressure on prices.
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This is happening across all the key areas you would weigh up when you think about buying a new phone – the speed of the handset, the quality of the photos it can take, the amount of time you get between battery charges, the size and aesthetics of the screen, and so on. The rapid pace of smartphone innovation has meant that the very best phones are more than a lot of people need, which means an opportunity further down the ladder. Some compromises have to be made in order to hit a lower price point, as you would expect. Mid-range phones often do without full IP68 waterproofing, for example, or don’t support wireless charging – optional extras that are nice to have but that aren’t really essential when it comes to day-to-day smartphone use. The materials are often cheaper too, whether it’s a display that’s slightly less tough and resistant to scratches, or a plastic backing on a phone rather than glass. Even in terms of the design and feel of the phones though, mid-rangers are now able to do very passable impressions of the bigname flagships – squint your eyes and you probably wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. When it comes time to upgrade your phone, you’ll have to decide what’s most important to you in terms of what you really need and what you can live without.
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Mid-range phones T3 recommends...
THE MOST IMPORTANT MID-RANGE PHONES These four excellent handsets should be high up on your shortlist in 2020
SE CHANGE
IPHONE SE 2020 With a strong second-hand market and the iPhone XR, you’ve got several choices for an affordable iPhone, but the iPhone SE 2020 could be the best option of the lot. Perfect for smaller hands as well as smaller budgets,
this compact phone can do things like shoot 4K video at up to 60fps, and runs on the very same superfast Apple A13 Bionic chipset as the flagship iPhone 11 devices do – it just costs a whole lot less. From `39,900, apple.com
POWER NORD
ONEPLUS NORD This is the first time OnePlus has taken aim at the mid-range market, and it’s hit the bullseye – the Nord scores highly in just about every department, from the aesthetics and the 6.44-inch 90Hz display, to the speedy software and quadW W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
lens rear camera. It does have its weaknesses, but they’re only minor, and it’s certainly the midranger most likely to turn heads when you’re showing it off down the boozer. From `24,999, oneplus.in
The mid-range section of the smartphone market has never been busier: if you’ve got, say, £350 to £600 to spend, then there are a wealth of phones to pick from. The four mid-range devices mentioned here should offer something for everyone – they differ in size, features, software and camera quality, so you can compare them carefully against your own personal list of key considerations. Whatever you’re looking for, don’t rush yourself. New phones are appearing all year round, which knocks down prices further as the current handsets get older, so keep a careful eye on deals and special offers from the usual retailers.
PIXEL PERFECT
GOOGLE PIXEL 4A Google saw what worked with the Pixel 3a, and stuck to it: as long as you’ve got an excellent camera in an affordable phone, the rest will follow. Aside from that camera, the rest of the Pixel 4a is unspectacular but solid –
though it’s worth noting that Pixel handsets also carry the best, most Google-focused version of Android, and are first in line for OS updates too. We also thought that battery life was pretty decent. `31,999, flipkart.com
5G WHIZZ
MOTO G 5G PLUS Motorola has been putting out decent mid-range Android phones for years, and this is one of the best yet (if you can forgive the tongue-twisting name). 5G is on board, of course, and the large, vibrant, 6.7-inch 90Hz refresh
rate screen instantly impresses. You don’t get any waterproofing or wireless charging, but there’s a hefty 5,000mAh battery packed in, which should be enough to get you through a day and beyond. `TBA, motorola.in
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The complete guide to… You do of course also have the choice between Android and iOS – you may well have already made this decision a long time ago, but in terms of guaranteeing future updates for several years, Apple usually has a better record than Google. If you’re picking Android, check with the manufacturer how long you can expect updates for (and if you want the best Android software before everyone else, choose a Pixel). Otherwise picking a mid-range phone is a lot like picking a flagship phone: look at how much you’re having to spend versus what you get in return, be aware that product refreshes usually happen about once a year (price discounts on current models are a good
CHOOSE YOUR PRIORITIES
and greatest HDR standards. Smartphone specs can be a bit If you can’t or don’t want to spend bewildering, but don’t buy anything until enormous sums of money on a flagship you’ve found out where the trade-offs are smartphone, then picking the right being made. Remember that as 5G spreads, mid-ranger is all about deciding on what this is something else to look out for, you do want – these more affordable though it’s not really essential for a handsets offer sleek looks, excellent battery life, fantastic cameras and speedy smartphone at the moment – 4G will still serve you very well for the next few years, performance... but not usually all in the same phone. You’re going to have to make whether you’re streaming movies or downloading games while away from some compromises to spend a little less. As well as taking a look at the headline Wi-Fi. We’ve already mentioned Apple, Google features, examine the small print closely and Samsung, but brands such as Nokia when you’re picking out a mid-range phone for yourself. Manufacturers usually and Motorola have been putting out reliable, affordable mid-range phones for won’t advertise the areas where they’ve years: these are well worth adding to your cut corners: it might be a lack of support mid-range phone shortlist, offering a for the latest Wi-Fi 6 technology, for variety of specs and features across a example, slower charging speeds, or a display that doesn’t support the very latest variety of price levels.
Don’t buy anything until you’ve found out where the trade-offs are indicator of this), and make sure you read plenty of reviews – starting with those in T3 of course! – before putting down money for your chosen handset. Speaking of product refreshes, new iPhones and Pixel phones are out, as well as plenty of other handsets – though it’s those Pixel phones (the Pixel 5 and the Pixel 4a 5G) that are likely to be of more interest to the mid-range shopper. As for what’s to come in 2021, the rise of the mid-range smartphone doesn’t look like it’s going to be stopping anytime soon.
BUYER BEWARE: THE BUDGET PHONE OPTION Budget phones can offer a good deal – but they’re not for everyone
If mid-range phones are so appealing, then what about budget phones? Do they offer an even better balance of price and performance? Well, in a word: no. There’s no fixed definition or price point for what constitutes a budget phone and what doesn’t, but we’d say that anything below around `20,000 or so counts as budget. For the occasional smartphone user and those who really have very little to spend, budget phones are fine – they’ll work okay, and run all your apps, and keep you connected. Down at this end of the market though, you will start to notice laggy performance and serious slowdowns in your apps, so much so that the most
demanding games and apps might struggle to run properly at all. Phone camera quality is usually significantly poorer once you get to the lowest price points as well. Budget phones will still take photos, of course – but they’ll show more noise and blurring than mid-range phone cameras do, and they’ll really struggle with dark scenes where light is at a premium. We’re generalising a bit here, but do be careful before buying one. The extra money that you need to spend to get into the mid-range is usually well worth it, whether that’s reflected in the speed of the internal processor, the amount of RAM you get, the
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quality of screen, or how well the phone is able to capture photos and videos. You’re definitely not going to get features such as wireless charging or waterproofing at these lowest price points, and nor will you see upgrades like faster refresh rates on the screen or DolbyAtmos-compatible sound. Google actually makes a lightweight version of Android called Android Go, especially for low-powered phones: it’s mainly aimed at users in developing countries, but it simplifies apps such as Gmail, Google Maps and YouTube to make them less demanding on your phone’s hardware as well as its network connection. W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
TESTED
56
APPLE WATCH SE
Get the lowdown on the latest gadgets before you buy
60
APPLE WATCH SERIES 6 61
CANON EOS R6 62
MICROSOFT XBOX SERIES X 64
ONEPLUS 8T 65
BENQ GV1 66
ASSASSIN’S CREED VALHALLA 68
MARVEL’S SPIDER-MAN: MILES MORALES 70
WATCH DOGS LEGION
HOW WE TEST In T3, we feature only the finest gadgets out there, and we believe that you – our loyal reader – deserve only the best tech in your life. We don’t want you to waste time, and money, on inferior products, and that’s exactly why our Tested section exists. In here you’ll find only the latest and hottest tech. Each product has been handpicked and tested by T3’s experts.
We only choose people with special knowledge for each test, so you know you’re going to get an outcome based on many years of experience in their respective field. As well as our traditional five-star rating system (right), we also give out awards to particularly exceptional gadgets, using the line-up below - so when you spot one of these, you’ll know you’re onto a good thing.
THE SCORES EXPLAINED Forget it Below average Good for the price Very good all round An exceptional, best-in-class product
OUR AWARDS Only the best products – those that score five PLATINUM stars – receive our AWARD Platinum Award
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This is given to winners BEST ON of our group tests, so you can see which is TEST the best at a glance
This accolade, and BEST FOR others like it, show you BATTERY which gear is best for LIFE specific features
THE DESIGN AWARD
For kit with exceptional industrial design and refinement, in addition to being a great buy
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Tested
Processor S5 SiP with 64‑bit dual‑ core processor Screen 324x394 pixel / 368x448 pixel Retina OLED Storage 32GB Battery up to 18 hours OS WatchOS Connectivity GPS / GPS + 4G, Wi‑Fi 4, Bluetooth 5 Dimensions 40x34x10.4mm / 44x38x10.4mm Weight 30.7g / 36.4g
THE LITE WATCH
Apple Watch SE A premium smartwatch for less, bringing some great fitness and health features From `29,900 apple.com he Apple Watch SE is the first time Apple has introduced an Apple Watch model specifically to be lower-priced – normally, older models stay around and get price cuts. But in this case, Apple has cherry-picked features from previous
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Watch models to create a mid-range Watch option, at a price half-way between the ultra-low price of the Watch Series 3 and the more premium Apple Watch Series 6. The idea is to create something with the latest and greatest design, and all the most commonly used headline features, with a few more ‘premium’ options reserved for the Apple Watch Series 6. However, that includes some major health features, and we’ll talk about that omission later.
But overall, we think the Apple Watch SE nails its brief of bringing the convenience and gentle fitness features of the Apple Watch to more people, and right at a time when being able to keep a low-key eye on your health is more valuable than ever.
Deluxe design
The Watch SE has the same new-style design that all Watches since the Series 4 have included, with a nearly edge-to-edge screen with rounded W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
Tested Apple Watch SE BRIGHT SPARK Barring the always-on functionality, the Watch SE comes with as good a screen as the 6: both have Retina OLED displays capable of 1,000 nits of brightness.
ON THE CASE While there’s no stainless steel or titanium case (nor red or blue finishes) as there is with the Watch 6, the SE does offer the basic aluminium case in Gold, Silver and Space Grey.
corners that’s very much of a piece with current iPhone design. The screen is about 30% larger than the display on equivalent Watch Series 3 models, despite the body of the watch not really being noticeably larger. The 40mm model has a 324x394-resolution display, while the 44mm model has a 368x448resolution screen. The screen is OLED, rated for the same 1000 nits of brightness as the Apple Watch Series 6 – in fact, in most cases, the screen seems to be the same as the more premium model. That means it’s lovely and clear, and easily visible in sunlight. However, while they’re mostly the same, the Apple Watch SE lacks the always-on display that the Apple Watch Series 5 and Series 6 have featured. With other smartwatches, such as the Fitbit Versa 3, including the option of an always-on display at a lower price than the Watch SE, we can understand if some find this a frustrating omission, but we don’t mind, ultimately; it’s definitely nice to have, not essential to have. W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
The Apple Watch SE comes with an aluminium case only (there’s no stainless steel or titanium case option), in Gold, Silver or Space Grey finishes. The glass is toughened Ion-X glass, and though not as indestructible as the sapphire used on more expensive models, we’ve found it tough enough for the job of surviving scrapes and bashes. The back, where it touches your wrist, is sapphire and ceramic, meaning it’s as comfortable and hypoallergenic as you can get, really. Other than the always-on display, there’s really nothing to tell the Watch SE apart from the aluminium Series 6 visually, or in feel. As Apple does with its phones, it really feels like you’re getting the premium treatment.
All well and good Apple has put health and fitness right at the heart of the Apple Watch, but it’s never tried to pitch it as a full rival to the likes of Garmin’s higher-end Forerunners when it comes to being elite-level running watches.
Ion-X glass is used, which isn’t as strong as sapphire but is still pretty darned tough
It’s aimed at a more basic level, starting with just giving you some activity tracking to help you hit core baselines, but also with the ability to easily activate tracking of a particular kind of workout. The Watch SE knows what kind of motion to look for in each type of exercise, analysing your movements and tracking your heart rate while you exercise, and putting some limited key information on-screen. In these, it keeps things as simple as possible – great for people who don’t know much about their workout data. But when you dig into the Fitness and the Health apps on iPhone, you quickly find that there’s much more information available if you want to get into it, from VO2 Max to average walking and climbing speeds, to resting heart rate, and more. And the app freedom of the Watch, as well as some recent sensor improvements, make it much more impressive as an outdoor/adventure watch these days: the always-on altimeter can track your height live, and even includes an indicator of your
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Tested
CROWNING GLORY When stripping features out for a cut-price Watch, it would have been easy for Apple to remove the Digital Crown. Fortunately, the smartwatch’s most userfriendly control remains.
SMOOTH OPERATOR Powered by the same processor as last year’s Watch 5, the SE is always smooth to use, no matter the task.
angle of ascent (or descent), which is a fun touch. A solid and accurate compass and GPS, plus the ability to load maps to the Watch with a compatible app, make it a great hiking watch too. The fall detection feature is the one thing we really hoped Apple would include, and it’s here. If you take a hard fall, the Watch SE’s sensors can detect this, and a message will pop up asking if you’re okay. You can tell it that you are, or you can choose an option for it to call the emergency services. If you don’t respond at all, it will call the emergency services
If you take a tumble, the Watch will ask you if you’re okay!
automatically after a set amount of time. Particularly for anyone who’s physically vulnerable, this could be a literal life-saver. One new feature of watchOS 7 is the Sleep app, and sleep monitoring, which is well overdue on Apple Watch, to be blunt. But it’s here now, and it’s… okay. Given how much information the Apple Watch can obtain, it’s surprising how un-smart the sleep tracking is. In the morning, you can see a simple, easy-to-understand chart showing when you slept and when you woke up during the night,
and how much sleep you got. But we were surprised not to see more depth here. Other trackers will aim to track the quality of your sleep, including how much time you spend in deep REM sleep, which can make a big difference to how good you feel in the morning. Now let’s talk about the two missing health features of the Apple Watch SE, though: the ECG, and the blood oxygen sensor. The Apple Watch Series 6 has both of these, with the ECG able to take a highly accurate heartbeat reading and the blood
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APPLE WATCH MAGNETIC CHARGING DOCK If you like to be able to easily see your Watch at night – or just like displaying your latest purchase at its best – this is the perfect wireless charger for topping up your Watch SE. apple.com/in W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
Tested Apple Watch SE SENSORY DEPRIVATION The SE has an optical heartsensor and fall detection. But if you want the fancier ECG and blood oxygen sensor, you’ll need to opt for a 6.
Android users need not apply. ever since the very first version – it’s It’s cheaper than posher models, but We’ve mentioned our much nicer to use. You might worry it still feels like a full disappointment that it doesn’t include Apple would drop it when it wants to Apple Watch the advanced health sensors that rivals streamline the design, but we’d really experience do at similar (or cheaper) prices, but miss it. It’s a great part of making the what Apple has included will still Watch user-friendly. cover the needs of most people. More In terms of battery life, the Watch than that, Apple has made it so easy to SE really impresses. In fact, when use what’s here – including for people compared to the Apple Watch Series 6 who have no idea what they’re doing with the always-on feature of the – that maybe it’s better to have the screen activated, it has the best battery extent of sensors that the Watch SE life we’ve seen on an Apple Watch so offers with excellent software, rather far! Performance art than even more sensors and more In a typical day of use (using it from The Watch SE is powered by the same information that you do less with. morning to bed, and with an hourprocessor as the Apple Watch Series 5 If you’re looking at your first Apple long workout tracked in the middle of from last year, which is a dual-core Watch, the SE gets a really strong the day), we had 57% battery chip that’s more than fast enough for recommendation from us. remaining at bed time. So for similar anything you might do on the Watch use, it looks reasonable to actually get – opening and scrolling within apps two days of use out of the Watch SE if is smooth, and we’ve never had you were to turn it off over night. anything resembling a major slowAll things considered, the Apple down or crash. Watch SE is truly excellent, and where The Apple Watch’s software, WE’RE IMPRESSED Fast and smooth; bright screen; watchOS, continues to be a big part of Apple has cut back for the more budget IDE ĆWQHVV DQG FRUH KHDOWK WUDFNLQJ price, you won’t really notice it in its success. It’s friendly, and designed WE’D IMPROVE No always-on screen; basic sleep general use. It feels like a full Apple well for the small screen of a Watch tracking; no blood oxygen or ECG sensors. – everything is clear and easy to tap no Watch experience, with all the THE LAST WORD Offers the key features and then advantages that brings in convenience, matter which screen size you get. We some. But rivals have more health sensors. also like that Apple has kept the Digital fitness tracking and health and safety Crown control on the side of the Watch features… for iPhone users. As ever,
oxygen sensor able to detect how well saturated your blood is with oxygen. Each of these requires an additional set of sensors that the Apple Watch SE doesn’t have. Now, we don’t consider this a dealbreaker for the Watch SE. However, the Fitbit Versa 3 is significantly cheaper than the Watch SE and includes a blood oxygen sensor. And the Fitbit Sense includes both blood oxygen and ECG.
VERDICT
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Tested Apple Watch 6
QUALITY TIME
Apple Watch 6
More evolution than revolution, new sensors and better health tracking still make this the best yet From `40,900, apple.com iven you’ve already read our Apple Watch SE review (p56), here we’re focusing on what makes the Watch 6 unique. And there’s plenty to justify its price, with a boosted screen and more health sensors than you can shake a stick at. Starting with the screen, the main development is that the always-on display is now 2.5 times brighter than on the Series 5, which is a pretty damn significant increase. When you turn the Watch to face you, the always-on OLED display pushes itself to full brightness, which, as with the SE, is around 1,000 nits. In terms of design, this new watch is marginally thinner and is in four new colours. You can now get the aluminium case in both blue and red, and both are pretty fetching. The stainless steel version comes in a new gold finish that replaces the old one, and a new ‘Graphite’ finish that replaces the old ‘Space Black’. When it comes to new health and fitness features, only the pulse oxygen sensor is a major addition in the Series 6. Additional LED lights on the back of the Watch can sense how well-fuelled with oxygen your blood is. This can be of interest to those especially into fitness training, for tracking how quickly your body regains its
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oxygen. For the non-hardcore, it’s potentially useful as a way to check your health. As we’ve already mentioned in our Watch SE review, watchOS 7’s sleep tracking works reasonably well but is rather basic. The oxygen sensor again does take a couple of readings overnight, which could theoretically be beneficial for helping to spot sleep apnea, but this seems like too few to tell you much. The health support in the Watch isn’t just limited to this, of course. The regular heartbeat sensor runs throughout the day, and can warn you if your heart rate is especially high or low, and can spot an irregular heartbeat, which you can more accurately check with the ECG. The type of stats the heartbeat sensor records is enough for most people, but won’t be deep enough for those looking to really hone their triathlon time. This means that the Apple Watch is a do-anything fitness watch, but not a highly specialised one, and we’re good with that. Ultimately, the Apple Watch Series 6 feels like more of a premium price than its predecessors, but the overall quality of its design, plus its screen quality and smooth operation, all leave it feeling worth the cost.
VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Great health tracking, like new blood oxygen sensor; brighter alwayson screen; great new colour options. WE’D IMPROVE New sleep tracking is basic; won’t satisfy hardcore fitness fans. THE LAST WORD The Watch 6 is light on new features, but refines what came before, giving you a better package overall than previous models, and producing an amazing experience overall.
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Tested
CAM DUNK
Canon EOS R6
Canon’s full-frame mirrorless line finally packs a strong punch `2,15,995 (body only) in.canon
nnounced at the same time as its more-expensive sibling, the Canon EOS R6 is aimed squarely at the advanced enthusiast. In essence, what we have here is an R5 light, giving you much of the benefits of the more expensive system, but in a more affordable, easier to obtain body. Of course, to get that, there are some sacrifices to be made. The R6 promises a lot with its impressive range of specifications. It mostly delivers. Let’s start with image quality the camera is capable of producing lovely, warm and well-saturated colours that stay on the right side of accuracy without losing vibrance in most situations. The Canon R6’s full-frame sensor has 20.1 megapixels, which although plenty for most ordinary situations, perhaps feels a little on the ‘low’ side. It gives you less scope for cropping after-the-fact, but it does help with keeping file sizes manageable. Of course, it also helps to keep the price lower than the R5. Perhaps what impresses us the most about the R6 is its performance in other areas. If you shoot moving subjects, then the R6 has some very enticing specifications. There’s up to 20fps shooting, or 12fps if you need to use the
A
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mechanical shutter. Another useful spec is inbuilt image stabilisation, which offers up to 8 stops advantage – making it best in class. And autofocusing is nothing short of fantastic, with special mention going to its tracking prowess when photographing animals. It locks on to the target and follows it around the frame, shooting at fast frame rates and producing hit after hit. For that reason, it’s ideal for wildlife and action shooters. In terms of video, the R6 really is a pared back version of the R5. You get 4K video, but it’s UHD, with no DCI support. On the plus side, you can use the whole of the sensor, unlike some other Canon models, so you get uncropped footage. You may have heard about the overheating issues the camera has: this seems to happen if you shoot 4K for longer than 30 minutes – problematic for some videographers, but less so for users capturing short clips. There’s a lot to like about the Canon EOS R6. It is more expensive than some other models on the market but generally you get what you pay for. And overall, the EOS R6 is an ace camera: it’s well worth a look, particularly if you’re after something perfect for fast shooting.
VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Superb autofocusing; great all-rounder; fast shooting. WE’D IMPROVE 4K video overheating issues; fairly low resolution; pricey. THE LAST WORD This represents a coming-of-age for the EOS R system and shows what Canon is capable of. It offers a lot of best-in-class capabilities, but has some 4K video issues and it’s quite pricey right now.
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Tested
EXTREME POWER
Microsoft Xbox Series X The new gaming console from Microsoft is a beast `49,990, xbox.com WORDS KUNAL GANGAR t was back in 2019 when Microsoft shed first details on their next-gen gaming consoles. A year on and right on time, Microsoft launched their new consoles. Xbox Series S offers a scaled-down performance but at an attractive price whereas the Xbox Series X is the one that offers true next-gen experience. We have been playing on the Xbox Series X for the last few weeks, and this is what we think.
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Design
The Xbox Series X’s design is a complete contrast when you compare it with its more affordable sibling - Xbox Series S. While the Series S’ striking design is a conversation starter, the Series X’s black box does not crave for that kind of attention, and can be placed vertically or horizontally. But as the adage goes simplest things are the hardest... - this holds for the Xbox Series X as well. Despite looking like a modest chunk of plastic, it is an engineering marvel. The exploded tech picture shows how Microsoft engineers crammed all of this in such a compact form factor. The vertical stand at the bottom is non-removable, which is a pity, but the little elevation it creates helps the console to suck in cold air from the bottom and the back and throw hot air out from the cleverly designed vent at the top. The design is as clean as you’d expect from a gaming console with a Blu-ray drive on the front, power button at the top-left while a USB 3.1 Gen 1 port and controller pairing button at the bottom right. The back hosts two more USB 3.1 Gen 1 slots, an HDMI 2.1 port, a gigabit Ethernet, power port and a storage expansion slot.
Performance
Users can do the initial setup on the Xbox itself or use their smartphone for a quicker setup. Either way, it’s a breeze and are greeted with the familiar Xbox user interface. Now I would have preferred for Microsoft to shake things up a little in the UI department, but why fix what’s not broken, right? Xbox users should feel right at home. The evident thing is how the interface is snappier and responsive, considering Microsoft going the whole nine yards to claim it as the “fastest, most powerful Xbox ever”. 62 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today DECEMBER 2020
Sure, it has got 12 teraflops of processing power, but the biggest performance booster is the introduction of Xbox Velocity Architecture. With the help of a custom NVMe SSD and internal optimisations, the result is faster loading times and my favourite, Quick Resume that lets you cycle between recently played games and jump back from where you left. Playing Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, I jumped to the exact moment in Forza Horizon 4 when I had last played the game a couple of days ago. The Xbox Series X comes with a 1TB SSD but gives 802GB space back for the user, which is good enough to install about 15-20 games. The only caveat with this is that all optimised Series X games will need to be on the SSD when you are playing or on the proprietary Expansion Cards, currently sold by Seagate. The Expansion Cards W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
Tested Microsoft Xbox Series X
are not yet available in India, but we are not banking on them either, considering the associated additional cost. Game performance is as you’d expect from a true next-gen console. The number of optimised games are limited, but the list is expanding. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is a joy to play at 4K and with the recent update, at 60fps and revel in the English landscape or hacking through the dystopian London in Watch Dogs: Legion. Lighting is more realistic, thanks to ray tracing and other improved details like the ultra-realistic sweat on the player’s brow when you are playing NBA 2K21. Some games like the platformer Ori and the Will of the Wisps delivers 120fps of goodness at 4K. The optimised games are limited but just like the previous gen, the Xbox Series X is backward compatible, which means you can play Xbox 360 and Xbox One games and a subscription service like Game Pass lets you instantly download many new and old games. What about the heat though? Coming from PS4 Pro, I was thoroughly impressed with the heat dissipation. The top of the console gets hot, but the large 130mm fan handles it with ease and that too, in complete silence. The final piece of the next-gen gaming console puzzle is the controller, and although it is still one of the best when it comes to ergonomics, it is not as revolutionary as Sony’s PS5. One gripe I have is that it still uses removable AA batteries. Sure, one can go with the Xbox rechargeable battery accessory by paying extra but it would have been nice if Microsoft threw in a couple of rechargeable AAs instead of disposable ones in the premium console.
Conclusion
A couple of shortcomings do not take away from the fact that Xbox Series X is a solid gaming console. It delivers promised performance and will only get better with future software updates and improvisations. Also, in Microsoft’s favour is the unavailability of PS5 in India, at least officially, which makes Xbox Series X an easy recommendation for those who are on the fence to buy the latest gaming console. W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Performance WE’D IMPROVE Bland design, Controller still uses AA batteries THE LAST WORD Xbox Series X is what everything Microsoft promised with improved graphics and super-fast performance.
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Tested
TREMENDOUS
OnePlus 8T The ‘T’ variant of the OnePlus 8 is h here with fast charging and improved display From `42,999, oneplus.in t’s been a different kind of a year for all of us and for OnePlus too. Their phone launches increased this year but it focused on the sub-30k range. Now to wrap up 2020, OnePlus has launched the OnePlus 8T that sells alongside the OnePlus 8 but bests the predecessor in some ways. The OnePlus 8T is a good looking phone but there are subtle design changes that makes it a little different from the OnePlus 8. The curvy display is gone and instead, we have a flat display with the selfie camera on the top left and an integrated fingerprint sensor. There’s a new camera placement and clear glass finish at the back. We got an Aquamarine Green variant to test and while we had some doubts on the colour, it is a well-designed colour. However, if you are looking for a more serious option, there’s Lunar Silver as well. The key and port placements remain the same with the power button and alert slider on the right while the volume key on the left. The SIM card slot and USB Type-C port are at the bottom. Overall, the OnePlus 8T has a more practical design when compared to the OnePlus 8. Despite the screen size matching its older sibling at 6.55-inches, the OnePlus 8T display comes with a higher refresh rate. It has a 120Hz refresh rate for smoother scrolling along with improved gaming experience. The Fluid AMOLED panel supports Full HD+ resolution (2400x1080), HDR10+ and a peak brightness of 1100 nits. OnePlus phones have been better performers, and the OnePlus 8T is no different. Although since the 8T is still an affordable flagship, it comes with Snapdragon 865 and choice of 8GB or 12GB RAM. The overall performance and games are buttery smooth. This is also helped by the new UFS 3.1 storage and optimised OxygenOS based on Android 11. The latest OxygenOS brings in new features, including the always-on display, for the very first time on OnePlus. The OnePlus 8T has a quad-camera setup with a 48MP lens handling the main camera duty along with a 16MP ultra-wide-angle lens, 5MP macro and a 2MP monochrome lens. The camera is capable of capturing well-balanced shots with decent colours and details. The low-light performance is surprisingly good that captures a lot of details. The ultra-wide-angle and macro do the job,
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but there is not much to write home about. The monochrome lens only works when you are shooting in B&W. The camera supports 4K video recording, and the front-facing 16MP camera handles selfies. OnePlus 8T’s 4500mAh battery easily gives a day’s worth of battery life with moderate use. However, it’s the new Warp Charge 65 with its 65W charging support steals the show that charges the phone in around 40 mins. The OnePlus 8T feels like a marginal upgrade over the regular OnePlus 8, but it does give you an improved display, slightly faster storage and faster-charging speeds.
VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Performance, Warp Charge 65 WE’D IMPROVE Need more colours THE LAST WORD OnePlus 8T is a worthy DIIRUGDEOH ćDJVKLS SKRQH ZLWK DQ H[FHOOHQW GLVSOD\ solid performance with super-fast charging speeds.
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Tested
MINI PROJECTION
BenQ GV1 The new BenQ projector is travel-friendly and comes with smart features `30.990, benq.co.in ustomers now understand the advantage of installing projectors at home versus going with a large-size television. But when it comes to portable projection, there’s still some ground to cover. We have seen some solutions from ViewSonic, Sony and Asus in the past and now BenQ has launched its offering, the GV1. Off all the portable projectors we have seen recently, GV1 is the most portable. As compact as a small soft drink bottle, the GV1 is tiny and well-designed. Equipped with a travel case, the 708g GV1 goes for a dual-tone design with the top quarter of the device housing the projector essentials like the controls at the top, focus ring at the side and the lamp on the front whereas the remaining three-fourth of the device goes with a mesh grille design that conceals the back-firing speaker and a USB Type-C and power port at the bottom. Overall, the design is slick and premium-looking. Being a smart projector, GV1 is as easy as setting up an Android smartphone but this is where the similarities end. It runs a custom version of Android and since it does not have a Google certification, there’s no access to Google Play Store and related services. Instead, it comes with Aptoide TV app store. The app store allows downloading popular entertainment apps, but the library is sparse. If you use Netflix, Prime Video or Disney+ Hotstar, the projector can play the content but going through the menu and settings are laggy, given the slow Snapdragon 210 processor and meagre 1GB RAM that powers the forked Android OS. There’s a delay in registering the commands while using the remote control. Connecting an external device is one way to watch content on this projector, but you will have to use the bundled Type-C to HDMI port since the projector does not come with a full-sized HDMI. Another way is to wirelessly project, which works well with PC and Android but was a hit-and-miss with iOS. GV1 can project images to up to 35-inches from a distance of 1m, which is good enough for such a small projector, but it can project up to 100-inches in size. However, the experience is underwhelming considering the FWVGA (854x480) resolution support and 200 ANSI lumens brightness that goes dimmer if you use the projector with the integrated battery. The 15-degree
C
W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
tilting lens is a nice touch along with the auto keystone that ensures the projection is straight, irrespective of the angle. Users can adjust manually, as well. The 5W back-firing speakers offer good crisp audio, good enough to fill a small room and even has a dedicated Bluetooth mode allowing the GV1 to function as a Bluetooth loudspeaker. GV1 is an interesting device. While BenQ has nailed the portability factor with its compact and handy design, this same compactness compromises on the picture quality. Adding insult to injury is the laggy user interface.
VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Design, portability, audio WE’D IMPROVE Performance THE LAST WORD A decent attempt by BenQ to appeal to customers looking for portable projection but falls short in terms of its smart features and picture quality.
DECEMBER 2020 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 65
Game
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Live like a Viking in the new Assassin’s Creed action-adventure `3,999; PS4, PS5, Xbox One, PC, Xbox Series X|S
T
he Assassin’s Creed Origins and Odyssey breathed a new life in the 13-year old franchise. The games not only gave us beautiful regions to explore with a meaningful story but also strengthened its RPG foundation. It is evident in the all-new Assassin’s Creed Valhalla where you explore the vast lands of Norway and England and take decisions that matter. Set in the Viking Age, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla lets you assume the role of Eivor, a Viking from Norway. Although we don’t have Alexios or Kassandra, like in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, the new game lets the player choose between a male or a female Eivor. If you are unsure, the game will even decide it for you. I started with female Eivor since Kassandra was better in Odyssey but changed to the male counterpart a few hours in, realising he feels apt for the story. However, since the storyline remains the same, as well as character’s abilities, it all comes down to personal preference. The prologue set in Norway shows Eivor’s parents getting killed and how he avenges them before setting sail for England for fame and riches along with his Viking clan and adoptive brother Sigurd. The initial Norwegian arc feels like a mishmash of how we are introduced to the ancient order, assassins and the events before reaching the English shores but the storytelling is vastly improved after that. Once in England, Eivor is tasked with pledging alliances with other leaders in the region for clan’s safer 66 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today DECEMBER 2020
and a prosperous future, and this is when the game opens up allowing to explore the world as you want to. Finish various region arcs to gain their alliance or just roam around trying to find the hidden treasure, artefacts and mysteries. Ubisoft has done a stellar job to bind everything together as you progress and also make you feel responsible for the actions. The dialogue choices have an impact on how the story advances. For instance, finding a traitor based on the clues you have gathered can separate a real traitor’s head from the body or kill someone innocent. Involved in a forbidden romance? Well, you should be ready for repercussions with other NPCs in the future. The decision-making in the game makes the narrative more immersive and also give you, as a player a moment or two to think if we have made the right choice.
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Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
An assassin is someone who works stealthily picking off enemies in the shadows, and while Assassin’s Creed Valhalla lets you do it, it just doesn’t feel right. A Viking is known for faceto-face battles, and this is where the game shines. Melee combat is excellent along with the gory animations. Raids and castle sieges have been introduced where you and your clan use the collective might to kill and loot the wealth. Gameplay-wise, the combat has been refined where one needs to take into consideration the different type of weapons and outfit. Wielding a heavy weapon or armour will make the bulky Viking less agile compared to someone wielding an axe and a light shield. If that’s not enough, there are abilities to acquire or special powers that can be used during combat and can be acquired by finding “books of knowledge” spread across the map. The skill tree, on the other hand, does not feel as useful. Earning XP lets you earn skill points but except the main skill that unlocks after adding some random skill like “3.1 melee resistance” or “5.2 health”, the constellation-like skill tree W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
structure looks like a way to increase Eivor’s power level. If bloodshed is too much to handle, the game also helps to scale back by sparring in flyting (poem battles) or revel in drinking and dice games. Furthermore, one can indulge in the beautiful English landscape. Ubisoft has outdone themselves and playing on the Xbox Series X shows off the detailed visuals and lighting. Playing on the latest console also shortens the load time, and even lets you enjoy the game in 60fps. However, the game is not without its share of quirks. The game is buggy, even on the recently released 1.0.4 title update. Sure, it’s less than what it used to be, but it’s still far from being perfect. Most of the glitches I experienced were graphical, but there were a couple of them that didn’t let me progress an ongoing raid by not allowing to loot the wealth chest or an NPC not moving, thus not allowing me to finish the mission. Luckily, the issues were fixed after re-loading the game again. Despite these hindrances, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is still an enjoyable game. The main story is engaging, but it’s the combat, raids, massive open-world and innumerable things to do that keeps you entertained for hours, irrespective if you’re a seasoned Assassin’s Creed fan or a newcomer.
NEW SPIN
FOR PC GAMING
VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Story, gameplay, visuals WE’D IMPROVE Bugs THE LAST WORD Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is yet another strong entry in the AC franchise with an immersive story, massive open-world and combat.
For more details visit www.asus.in
DECEMBER 2020 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 67
Game
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales Miles Morales makes an exciting case for another Spider-Man From `3,999; PS4, PS5 ith great power comes great responsibility” were the famous words of Uncle Ben to Peter Parker, aka the original Spider-Man who stays committed to the words by fighting crimes in New York City. However, the battle with Rhino at the start of the latest Spider-Man adventure and the fact that there’s Miles Morales, the new Spider-Man, Parker gives himself a well-deserved break as he jets off to Europe with his girlfriend, Mary Jane Watson. Even a superhero needs his downtime, but this transfer of responsibility of protecting New York from a seasoned hero to a teenager feels like the training wheels are taken off for Morales and he is competing in a citywide race with champions.
W
This is how Morales feels too, which the first few missions depict. He’s constantly trying to match his role model, only to be reminded that he needs to create his distinct SpiderMan identity and Marvel’s SpiderMan: Miles Morales does it beautifully. As you progress through the story, Miles gets comfortable being recognised as the new SpiderMan and his ego gets a big boost when an NPC after one of the missions calls him the “Harlem’s Spider-Man”. Although major plot events in both the Spider-Man games are interconnected, Spider-Man: Miles Morales branches out to keep the game focused in and around Harlem. A new company called Roxxon has arrived in town with a new form of energy that is cleaner and safer, but
68 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today DECEMBER 2020
we know how tall claims turn out to be, right? It’s the same here, and between finding the actual truth about Roxxon’s new energy claims, saving fellow citizens and fighting a new supervillain, Tinkerer, the story is more or less predictable. There aren’t any twists that will keep you at the edge of the seat but still good enough to keep you engrossed with its fast-paced action. The campaign lasts around 6-7 hours of web-slinging action or a little more if you are a completionist who takes off the time to finish the side missions like saving a cat or gas explosions, to name a few. The thing I like about Marvel’s SpiderMan: Miles Morales is how it introduces new things to do on the map. There are collectibles, thug crimes to fight and other challenges, W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
all laid out on the unlocked map. There’s a lot to explore and find some easter eggs, which is best to experience yourself instead of spoiling it here. Insomniac nailed the first Spider-Man game with impressive traversal mechanics, and Miles Morales matches up to it. You can see the lack of fluidity when Miles slings across the city because of his inexperience but makes up for his visually impressive air tricks and confident jumps from rooftops. Players can fast-travel to locations, but frankly, it’s faster and easier to sling around the city from one skyscraper to another. Also, a great way to enjoy the breathtaking views. Speaking of views, the city looks beautiful as it did in the original SpiderMan, but the major difference is the time at which the events in the new game takes place. The game is set around Christmas and you see the shimmering lights to snow-filled streets, making the city of New York a visual treat during winters, irrespective if you are playing on a PS4 or a PS5. However, if you play it on the PS5, you will be able to take advantage of features like ray tracing, DualSense haptics and more. Another thing that separates this game from the previous is combat. While the buttons are the same for basic attacks and dodge, Miles Morales’ distinctiveness comes from the fact that he’s got two special powers up his sleeve. First is the W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
Venom Punch that Miles uses to apply lethal force in an intense fight or use the invisibility power when needed to act discreetly. This balance of aggression or handling things delicately gives players the freedom to approach an enemy, however, they want, even if it is for a limited time. The incredibly detailed Spider-Man suits are not as expansive as the first game, but the selection is still pretty solid that can be unlocked via missions or purchased with the points you collect throughout the game. Many suits come with an added advantage, which can be customised with visor and suit mods to make them more useful during a fight. Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales is yet another feather in Insomniac’s cap that feels like an apt introduction to the new Spider-Man. Although I would have liked the game to be a little longer, this game delivers on a few things one looks for – a good story, gameplay mechanics and visuals.
VERDICT
WE’RE IMPRESSED Visuals, combat WE’D IMPROVE Story length THE LAST WORD Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales expands the SpiderVerse with a short but good story, great graphics and gameplay.
DECEMBER 2020 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 69
Game
Watch Dogs: Legion The new game is an ambitious tech-filled open-world adventure by Ubisoft `3,999; PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC
W
atch Dogs franchise has come a long way since the release of the first Watch Dogs game in 2014. It took a few things that worked from the first game and integrated into the San Francisco-based Watch Dogs 2, and now Ubisoft brings the learnings of both the games, adds new elements and binds it together in the Watch Dogs: Legion. Moving from North America, events in Watch Dogs: Legion take place in London city that has classified DedSec hacking group as a terrorist organisation leading to Albion, a private army, taking over the city in the guise of maintaining law and order. This sets the tone of the game, and it’s in DedSec’s hands to free London from the clutches of Albion and eventually clear its name. Aiden Pearce and Marcus Holloway were the leads in the first and second
Watch Dogs games, but Watch Dogs: Legion takes a novel approach. There’s no single protagonist. It focuses on DedSec as a team, and your aim is to bring together a mix of operatives that will help you complete different missions with ease. But wait, there’s more. Instead of introducing new characters through story progression, the game gives players the liberty to recruit anyone in London. Almost any character you see on the screen can potentially be recruited for DedSec. This means you can recruit a janitor, an ex-spy, police officer, construction worker, doctor, politician, or even someone from Albion to complete missions for DedSec. The possibilities are endless, and every operative you recruit comes with a unique skill set along with a possibility of their choice of vehicle or a weapon. This varies from person to person, making the entire process to
70 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today DECEMBER 2020
get the right person more interesting. For instance, uniformed operatives like a construction worker or an ex-Albion employee can pass through a construction site or an Albion stronghold with little suspicion compared to a politician or a journalist trying to complete the same mission. This unique gameplay mechanic makes every mission unique and gives players something to think to select the best person for the job. Don’t want average Londoners fighting for the resistance? The game also offers an opportunity to hire skilled operatives that pop up in the game after you complete certain tasks. However, getting a recruit onboard requires completing a related side mission and while most of them are unique, I encountered a few missions that were the same as before but were given by different potential operatives. This is kind of frustrating knowing W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
Watch Dogs: Legion
you completed the mission once, only to repeat it for another potential recruit. Having said that, the dystopian London feels alive, like the real world where citizens have a schedule to follow and things to do. Some of them are even friends and family, which means if you do something to a particular citizen, they will support your cause or try to avenge them. The Permadeath mode also makes recruited operatives more valuable, which means you lose them and their abilities permanently if they die. Besides character freedom, Watch Dogs: Legion also gives freedom to choose the mission approach. You can complete the mission with lethal force, or you can observe the area and then enter it or let the hackable electronics do the dirty job. Hacking is second nature, and this game allows to hack every machine - be it vehicles, cameras, phones, drones, etc. More often than not, I summoned a spider bot to finish tasks in enemy territory raising no alarms, or hack a combat drone to shoot at enemies while my operative stood at a safe distance in the sky on the cargo drone. Getting bots to do the dirty work keeps your operative safe and alive, but if that’s not your style, the game also brings in a new melee system along with stealth and varied choices of weapons. Ubisoft captured the essence of San Francisco in Watch Dogs 2, and they have done a superb job with London. It’s an absolute joy to roam the streets of London and even get up close with famous landmarks like Big Ben, Tower Bridge, Piccadilly Circus, and more. You can even ride the London Eye to revel in the visually detailed world! W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
As beautiful as London is, the same cannot be said about the voice acting. You’ll hear dialogues in different accents, given how culturally diverse London is, but the dialogues feel as if the character is trying too hard to fit in. The only respite is Bagley, an AI voice assistant making up with his sharp quips. Adding to the list of complaints are bugs I experienced during my playthrough. During one session, the game shut down but apart from that, other issues were on the graphic side like you can see vehicles and roads spawning when you move in closer or janky AI driving. Minor inconveniences and mediocre story aside, Watch Dogs: Legion is a neatly packaged game. The ‘play as anyone’ is not perfect, but it is one of the most innovative gameplay systems in recent times and coupled with the freedom of different playstyles, Watch Dogs: Legion is enjoyable and worth your time.
VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Recruiting system, graphics WE’D IMPROVE Bugs, story THE LAST WORD Watch Dogs: Legion makes the open-world alive with its innovative gameplay and impressive visuals. Add to it the unique playstyle the latest Watch Dogs game will entertain you for hours.
DECEMBER 2020 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 71
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BEST OF THE BEST The world’s best tech, all in one place
INSIDE
,I \RXèUH ORRNLQJ IRU WKH YHU\ EHVW WHFK DYDLODEOH WRGD\ \RXèYH GHĆQLWHO\ FRPH WR WKH right place. %HVW RI WKH %HVW LV WKH PRVW XVHIXO JDGJHW EX\LQJ JXLGH \RX ZLOO HYHU HQFRXQWHU To create it, we’ve extensively tested the best tech the world has to offer, to bring \RX URFN VROLG UHFRPPHQGDWLRQV IRU \RXU KRPH OLIH GDLO\ FRPPXWH DQG WKH WHFK \RX XVH DOO WKH WLPH In 21 different categories, we’ve chosen the top three products, so you can choose RQH WKDWèV MXVW WKH ULJKW PL[ RI IHDWXUHV DQG EXGJHW IRU ZKDW \RX QHHG 7KHVH UDQNLQJV FRPH IURP UHDO WHVWLQJ E\ RXU WHDP RI H[SHUWV å WKH\èUH WKH SURGXFWV ZHèG FKRRVH IRU RXUVHOYHV DQG ZH FDQèW UHFRPPHQG DQ\ KLJKHU WKDQ WKDW
W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
Smartphones Mid-range Smartphones Value Smartphones Smartwatches Premium TVs Value TVs Streamers Game Consoles Truly Wireless Headphones Laptops Gaming Laptops Tablets DSLR Cameras Mirrorless Cameras Compact Cameras Action Cameras Drones Fitness Tracker Running Watch Smart Speakers Smart Bulbs
74 74 74 75 75 75 76 76 76 77 77 77 78 78 78 79 79 79 80 80 80
DECEMBER 2020 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 73
Best of the best
SMARTPHONES
MID RANGE SMARTPHONES
APPLE IPHONE 11 PRO
XIAOMI MI 10
From `99,900, apple.com/in
From `49,999, mi.com/in
From `54,999, oneplus.in
GOOGLE O PIXEL 4A From `31,999, store.google.com
A simply jawdropping handset that delivers across the board. It is, simply SXW WKHbEHVWbSKRQH on the market for those shopping IRUbDbSUHPLXP Android handset.
SAMSUNG GALAXY S20+
POCO X2 From `16,999, poco.in Poco X2 features The Mi 10 boasts speed 64MP main camera and power thanks to which is all-the-more t e Snapdragon 865 powerful with Sony’s p and a 108MP main large IMX686 sensor. ca ra, capable of But besides that, the X2 shootting 8K videos. It is is a powerhouse with Q DI DIIRUGDEOH ćDJVKLS DQ 120Hz FHD+ display, tthat packs in high-end Snapdragon 730G features like a superior chipset and 8GB RAM cooling system, LPDDR5 HQVXULQJ HIĆFLHQF\ RAM and much more.
Packing the best screen and camera on any phone, plus the fastest processor and a beautiful highquality build, and you’ve got a phone that earns its Pro name. It’s a totally polished package.
ONEPLUS 8 PRO
VALUE SMARTPHONES
The Pixel 4a is Google’s latest mid-range phone and while the design may not win any awards but it’s the overall performance, excellent camera and all-day battery life in a small body makes the phone one of the best in the segment.
APPLE IPHONE SE 2020
XIAOMI REDMI NOTE 9 PRO From `13,999, mi.com/in Assuring reliability and power, it’s hard to believe that the Note 9 Pro is so affordable. Even though it features a similar design, it comes with Snapdragon 720G, a large 6.67” display and a 48MP sensor, which is the largest of the quadcamera system.
REALME 6 PRO
From `77,999, samsung.com/in From `39,900, apple.com/in From `17,999, realme.com/in Built around a Having the power of With a 90Hz 6.6” revolutionary camera the latest A13 Bionic screen, and realme’s system with a larger chipset that powers improved UI, the sensor, the Galaxy S20+ heavyweights like the realme 6 Pro offers also features a 120Hz iPhone 11 Pro, the good value for money. Quad HD+ screen, iPhone SE is one of the It features a total of with an Exynos 990 most affordable iPhones six cameras and comes processor and superior out there. With a 12MP with Snapdragon features, the S20+ is a f/1.8 camera, 4K video 720G processor and head-turner. at 60fps, the iPhone SE an Adreno 618 GPU. is worth every penny.
SAMSUNG GALAXY S20 ULTRA From `86,999, samsung.com Samsung has really gone to town here, from the 100x digital zoom on the rear camera to the huge 6.9-inch AMOLED display around the front. It’s the priciest of the S20 models, and it shows.
ONEPLUS NORD From F m `24,9 `24 9 999 99, onep oneplus.in A fantastic mid-ranger, with a S Snapdragon 765G processor, at least 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, and 5G. That’s not to mention the sharp, bright 6.44-inch A AMOLED display.
74 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today DECEMBER 2020
SAMSUNG GALAXY M31 From `16,999, samsung.com/in The M31 features an excellent quad at the back, with a 64MP main camera offering ultrahigh-res images with stunning details. There are other things going for the phone with a large 6000mAh battery, octacore processor and more.
W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
Best of the best
SMARTWATCHES APPLE WATCH SERIES 5 From `36,900, apple.com/in This truly straddles the line between tech and fashion; it’s not just the bestlooking smartwatch, but its health and ĆWQHVV IHDWXUHV always-on screen and good apps PDNH LW HVVHQWLDO
SAMSUNG GALAXY WATCH ACTIVE2
From `28,490, samsung.com
Sleek and powerful, this is the best smartwatch for Android users. The screen and design are on par with the Apple Watch, while a collection of new watch faces give it DbPRGHUQ HGJH SAMSUNG GALAXY WATCH ACTIVE
From `19,990, samsung.com/in Sleek and powerful, this is the best smartwatch for Android users. The screen and design are on par with the Apple Watch, while a collection of new watch faces give it DbPRGHUQ HGJH
OPPO WATCH From `14,990, oppo.com/in The Oppo Watch may give Apple Watch vibes but it is one of the premium looking Android Wear smartwatches you can buy right now and is packed with features.
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PREMIUM TVS
VALUE TVS
SAMSUNG 75Q950TS
XIAOMI MI LED TV 4X PRO
`10,49,990, samsung.com
`39,999, mi.com/in
Samsung’s 2020 ćDJVKLS 79 LV RXU new pick for the best TV you can buy even though 8K content is rare, thanks to the way it takes 4K video and boosts it to make use of its . UHVROXWLRQ
The TV has gone pro with the all-new Android OS giving users the goodness of Android interface and PatchWall. The 4.9mm thin TV comes with a 55inch 4K HDR display and Dolby Audio.
LG OLED65CX
SAMSUNG NU6100 UHD TV
`2,98,990, lg.com
From `41,990, samsung.com/in Samsung’s answer to the intense competition. It comes in three different size options and brings UHD playback, Live Cast support, screen mirroring and support for video streaming apps.
The blockbuster of LG’s 2020 range: it’s got the same image quality as TVs double its price, but delivers them at a price more people can afford, especially now that there’s a new 48-inch that costs even less.
SAMSUNG QE65Q95T
VU PIXELIGHT ULTRA HD LED SMART TV
`2,59,990, samsung.com
From `30,999, vutvs.com
With a brightness of over 2,000 nits and localised dimming, the HDR picture from this pair of sets is incredible. It’s vibrant and lush, but still maintains realism for skin and grittier scenes.
Vu’s Pixelight range brings 4K playback at an affordable price. It comes with its own version of Smart OS but supports access to widely watched video services like 1HWćL[ <RX7XEH DQG even Prime Video.
SONY BRAVIA X9000H
SANYO XT-43S7300F
`104,490, sony.co.in A full-array LED TV that boasts a lot of features for an improved picture and gaming experience. It’s got Dolby Vision, 4K support and has a ‘Ready for PS5’ tag with its HDMI 2.1 support.
`19,999, www.sanyoappliance.in/ The IPS LED panel outputs a crisp Full HD picture and comes equipped with 16W box speakers that are decently loud. Additionally, the TV comes with a 3.5mm output jack.
DECEMBER 2020 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 75
Best of the best
STREAMERS CHROMECAST
GAMING MICROSOFT XBOX ONE X
`3,499, store.google.com/in
`44,990, microsoft.com
The Chromecast is a receiver for phones and laptops and depends on them for control and content – but it’s simple, versatile and compatible with iOS, Android, Windows and Mac.
AMAZON FIRE TV STICK 4K `5,999, amazon.in
With 4K, Dolby Atmos, Ultra HD Blu-ray and a fairly FRPSDFW SURĆOH this is the best Xbox ever. It’s even more powerful than the PS4 Pro and also a great home entertainment hub.
SONY PS4 PRO
APPLE TV 4K
It’s still overkill if you don’t have a 4K TV, but with 2160p HDR gaming, the PS4 Pro delivers incredible visuals and is smoother and faster than its nonPro siblings.
MICROSOFT XBOX ONE S
`15,900, apple.com/in
`29,990, microsoft.com
iTunes has the biggest source of 4K HDR and Dolby Atmos movies, and lots of other services have DSSV KHUH WRR <RX can also easily stream to it from Macs and L26bGHYLFHV
The S is smaller, whiter and much cheaper than its big brother, and while you don’t get its sibling’s super-powered specs you still get Ultra HD %OX UD\ $ ĆQH KRPH entertainment hub.
XIAOMI MI BOX 4K
ASUS TUF VG279QM
From `3,499, mi.com/in The Mi Box supports 4K and operates on Android TV OS 9.0. It also has a built-in Google Assistant and Chromecast, making life easier for users, in addition to Chromecast-enabled apps and USB 2.0 and a Cortex-A53 Quad-core CPU.
`37,999, asus.com/in
76 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today DECEMBER 2020
JABRA ELITE ACTIVE 75T `12,999, jabra.in If the Beats are just too bulbous for your tastes, you can’t ĆQG ĆQHU WKDQ WKHVH Jabra buds. Sound quality could be described as a little DUWLĆFLDO EXW LWèV DOVR pleasingly pumping.
RHA TRUECONNECT `14,999, headphonezone.in
`38,710, sony.co.in 4K HDR for under `6,000 isn’t to be sniffed at. It’s best suited to Prime subscribers and Google apps are absent, but it’s a very capable and affordable streamer IRUb79 DQG PRYLHV
TRUE WIRELESS HEADPHONES
A full HD monitor that’s comes with an ultra-fast 280Hz refresh rate. Designed for professional gamers, it has a 1ms of response time, motion EOXU V\QF * 6<1& IRU tear-free gaming, HDR and more.
Even more comfy, though perhaps slightly less secure, than the Jabras, these also offer best-in-class audio. Aside from a slightly odd carry case, these are textbook true wireless buds.
APPLE AIRPODS `12,900, apple.com/in Apple’s wireless ’phones may not sound as good as some of the newer rivals, but they still beat them all for battery life, ease of use and often comfort. They work best with iOS, of course.
SAMSUNG GALAXY BUDS `9,990, samsung.com/in Samsung’s latest truly wireless earbuds have been tuned by AKG to deliver improved audio, adaptive dual mic tech helps keep the background noise at bay and up to 6 hours of playback and wireless charging support.
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Best of the best
LAPTOPS ASUS VIVOBOOK S15 `66,990, asus.com This slim and super light laptop hits a wonderful sweet spot. With an Intel Core i5, 4GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD and a touchscreen ScreenPad, it represents wonderful mid-range value.
DELL XPS 13 `1,44,790, dell.co.in The Dell XPS 13 is thinner and more powerful than ever. Up to 1TB of SSD storage, 16GB of RAM, and powerful Intel Core i7 processors help make it a high quality all-rounder.
ACER SWIFT 5 `92,990, acer.com
TABLETS
ASUS ROG ZEPHYRUS G14
APPLE IPAD AIR (2019) From `41,900, apple.com
From `92,990, asus.com A game-changer that delivers buckets of performance despite being compact and light. It does this thanks to its use of AMD’s hot new Ryzen CPUs and Nvidia’s RTX *38
With a sharp, vibrant 10.5-inch screen, Apple Pencil support, powerful A12 Bionic processor and thin, light body, this is a Pro in all but name, for a bargain price. The best all-rounder tablet.
MSI GS65 STEALTH THIN 8RF
APPLE IPAD PRO 12.9 (2018)
From `3,25,999, msi.com This gaming laptop manages to pack an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 GPU, Intel Core i7 CPU and 16GB of RAM into a very portable package. Its Full HD, wide-view 144Hz panel is top rate, too.
From `89,900, apple.com The biggest iPad Pro is unbelievably powerful and slick, with an excellent screen, thin and compact design, great battery life and support for the Apple Pencil. Pricey, but worth it.
ACER NITRO 5
APPLE IPAD 10.2 (2019)
`89,990, acer.com Made for professionals looking for higher HIĆFLHQF\ 6ZLIW is powered by the latest Intel Core i7 processor, Intel’s Iris Plus GPU, and with 16GB RAM. The Swift 5 comes with a 14” IPS display and offers a storage of 512GB.
APPLE MACBOOK PRO 16-INCH From `2,39,900, apple.com As you would expect, the MacBook Pro 16-inch is sleek and powerful, with a EHVW LQ FODVV ĆW DQG ĆQLVK DQG D EUDQG new keyboard that’s leaps and bounds better than previous incarnations.
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GAMING LAPTOPS
From `38,900, apple.com With a powerful 10th-gen Intel Core i7 processor and a GeForce GTX 1650 GPU, along with DTS X: Ultra Audio and a FHD IPS display panel, the laptop produces an immersive and high-performing gaming environment.
ALIENWARE AREA-51M From `2,99,590, dell.co.in The Area-51m is not only one of the most powerful gaming laptops till date but also supports upgradeability with a removable processor and GPU. Although the Core i7/i9 and Geforce RTX GPU will not get outdated.
A whole lot of Apple tablet for not much money, it offers Apple Pencil support and the latest iPadOS software. Perfect if you want top tablet performance on DbEXGJHW
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S6 `59,900, samsung.com 7KH ĆQHVW $QGURLG tablet, this delivers DbV\VWHP ZLWK a sharp OLED screen, S Pen stylus, excellent audio credentials, powerful internals, and a neat laptopaping DeX mode.
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Best of the best
DSLR CAMERAS
MIRRORLESS CAMERAS
COMPACT CAMERAS
NIKON D850
NIKON Z 6
SONY RX100 VII
`2,34,950, nikon.co.in
`2,08,950, nikon.co.in
`1,02,990, sony.co.in
With a highresolution 45.4 megapixel sensor, 4K video capture, a 153-point AF system, and a sturdy body, you’ll never be disappointed with what the D850 can create for you.
NIKON D500
With a full-frame 24.5 megapixel sensor, 12fps continuous shooting, phenomenal low-light performance and fantastic handling, this creates incredible images for a reasonable price.
CANON EOS RP
`1,36,950, nikon.co.in
`85,995, in.canon
NIKON D5600
SONY A7R IV
From `66,750, nikon.co.in Designed for beginners and midlevel photographers, Nikon’s light-weight (465 g body with battery) APS-C sensor 24.78 megapixel D-SLR is a good choice to carry along the whole day.
FUJIFILM X100F ` IXMLĆOP LQ
Excellent full-frame image quality, but with a few drawbacks, such as a low frame rate (5fps). There’s also the annoying problem of there still being scant native RF lenses available.
This solidly built camera is the SHUIHFW FKRLFH IRU those who like to shoot a little bit of everything, thanks to a brilliant autofocus system and glorious image quality from its 20MP sensor.
For the best image quality in a pocketfriendly body, look here. The RX100 VII continues to build on Sony’s reputation for high-quality premium compacts, and does so without breaking the bank.
7KH )XMLĆOP ; ) is as beautiful as it is capable. If the retro ORRN ćRDWV \RXU ERDW then the X100F is a thing to behold. It’s compact, but packs a large APS-C sensor and a lovely 35mm f/2.0 lens.
CANON G7X MARK II
From `2,99,990, sony.co.in Perfect for landscape photographers looking for the minutest detail in their large prints. In spite of its massive 61MP rating, it can shoot up to 10 frames per second with autofocus and auto exposure tracking in its Continuous Hi+ mode.
`40,395, canon.co.in Canon’s compact cameras are a great alternative to your DSLR when travelling light. This is the sweet spot in the range, with a great balance between small size and a range of features.
CANON 5D MARK IV
FUJIFILM X-T3
PANASONIC TZ200
From `2,90,995, canon.co.in
` IXMLĆOP LQ
`50,500 (approx.), panasonic.com
The 30.4 megapixel D-SLR from Canon is one of its most sought-after models. Using a full frame sensor and Dual-Pixel CMOS AF for video, the 5D IV is the bread-andbutter camera for most photographers today.
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There’s plenty of things to like about the X-T3, including great autofocusing, fast frame rates, an impressive array of 4K video features and, this being )XMLĆOP EHDXWLIXO retro looks.
This might be the ideal travel companion, with a versatile zoom lens up to 15x, and a fantastic one-inch sensor that captures bright, sharp images. It’s also stylish and pocket-friendly.
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Best of the best
ACTION CAMERAS GOPRO HERO8 BLACK `30,150 gopro.com
DRONES DJI MAVIC MINI
`27,999, gopro.com The waterproof Hero7 Black makes capturing pro-looking shots easier, thanks to HyperSmooth electronic stabilisation. 4K image quality is excellent, and there’s slick 60fps recording.
DJI OSMO ACTION `22,850, amazon.in With a cool front display but missing SuperView mode and live streaming, DJI’s cam is ideal for extreme sports types and vloggers. Image stabilisation is excellent, and it’s easy to use.
GOPRO MAX `42,999, gopro.com Addresses the issues that marred GoPro’s original 360-camera – the Fusion – and boasts some of the Hero8 Black’s excellent video capture facilities and intuitive user interface.
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FITBIT CHARGE 4
approx. `36,000, dji.com
` ĆWELW FRP
$UJXDEO\ WKH ĆUVW high-quality cameracarrying drone for the masses, the Mini is surprisingly fast, nimble and stable LQ ćLJKW DQG ZHLJKV 1g shy of the CAA’s 250g registration regulation.
GoPro’s latest sees updates everywhere. Four virtual lenses get \RX WKH LGHDO ĆHOG of view for what you’re shooting, and next-gen video VWDELOLVDWLRQ NHHSV LW stable and crisp.
GOPRO HERO7 BLACK
FITNESS TRACKER
A big step forward for Fitbit, adding features such as GPS and a new exercise tracker alongside the stepcounting. There are plentiful sleeptracking features too.
DJI MAVIC AIR 2
FITBIT VERSA 2
approx. `75,000, dji.com Everything about this GURQH VKRXWV %8< ME. The camera is a cracker capable of shooting 4K footage at 60fps, while a completely redesigned controller is another major improvement.
` ĆWELW FRP 7KH EHVW ĆWQHVV tracker-cumsmartwatch you can buy. It has Alexa built in, its heartbeat and step counting are reasonably accurate, and it’s been well designed in terms of looks and usability.
RYZE TELLO
GARMIN VIVOSPORT
`12,990, amazon.in This is a bargain – it uses DJI tech inside IRU ćLJKW VWDELOLW\ KDV a camera that takes HD video or 5MP snaps, and hovers VWLOO IRU VHOĆHV ,W FDQ ć\ LQGRRUV RU RXW though is too light for windy days.
DJI MAVIC 2 PRO
`16,990, garmin.com Garmin’s rival to the Charge 2 boasts GPS for a similar price, but it also has a dodgy interface and some pointless extra features. The core functionality is good, and it’s waterproof.
POLAR IGNITE approx. `18,000, polar.com
`1,10,000, dji.com This pro-spec drone is almost impossible to crash, and has a stunning three-axis gimbal-mounted Hasselblad camera. As rock solid and FRQĆGHQFH LQVSLULQJ as we’ve come to expect.
Though mainly aimed at runners, the Ignite can track other activities, and monitor your sleep and heart rate too. <RX JHW LQVWDQW VWDWV after exercise, with deeper analysis in the app.
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Best of the best
RUNNING WATCH GARMIN FORERUNNER 245 MUSIC `32,490, garmin.com
SMART SPEAKERS GOOGLE NEST HUB `6,999, store.google.com
The ultimate phone-free GPS running watch for the price-conscious runner. The battery can last up to seven days in smartwatch PRGH DQG VL[bKRXUV in GPS mode with music.
GARMIN FORERUNNER 945 `59,925, garmin.com
SMART BULBS PHILIPS HUE From `2,900, meethue.com
The digital frame that will show off photos and double up as dutiful voice assistant. The Nest Hub can control smart home appliances and play videos and music.
AMAZON ECHO PLUS `6,499, amazon.in
The Forerunner 945 has retained the look and feel of the 935, but inside it has been completely revamped. There are new GPS chips and heart-rate sensors, plus onboard maps.
Hue dominates the smart lighting sector for good reason: it’s a superb system with the widest range of bulbs and a simple, useful app. Rivals may be cheaper but they can’t compete with Hue’s variety.
TP-LINK LB130 `1,999, tp-link.in
Thanks to its integrated Zigbeecompliant smart home hub, the Plus is a great smart home starter. Never pay the RRP, though: Amazon discounts Echos every WLPH LW KDV D VDOH
POLAR VANTAGE V
BOSE HOME SPEAKER 500
approx. `45,000, polar.com
`39,000, bose.co.in
$ SHFXOLDU ćDJVKLS smartwatch, this has some unique features that might arouse the runners out there, especially the running power metric, measured on the wrist.
This Bose speakers offer the widest soundstage available in a smart speaker with a wall-towall stereo sound. It supports Amazon Alexa, which means you can ask questions to Alexa or control the device via voice.
Known for its routers but TP-Link offers decent smart bulb solutions and LB130 is their latest solution that does not require a hub to operate, It can be controlled over Wi-Fi and supports multi-colour, circadian mode, voice control.
MI LED SMART BULB `1,299, mi.com/in The Mi LED Smart Bulb is the newest entrant in the smart bulb segment that works with both Alexa and Google Assistant without the need of a bridge and offers a colour space of up to 16 million colours.
GARMIN FORERUNNER 45
AMAZON ECHO DOT
SYSKA SMART LIGHT
`17,490, garmin.com This lower mid-range watch from Garmin gets the basics right: it has an optical heart rate sensor, built-in GPS, supports smart QRWLĆFDWLRQV DQG the Garmin Coach feature too.
`2,249, amazon.in
From `1,799, syska.com Syska’s main USP is that it uses a normal B22 cap and doesn’t require a hub to operate. After connecting, the bulb can be connected DQG PRGLĆHG IURP anywhere with the help of the app.
80 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today DECEMBER 2020
The latest refresh of the Dot ups the audio quality and adds options like a clockpacking bedroom YHUVLRQ DQGbD VQD]]\ kids’ edition too. An excellent entry point to smart speakers.
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LUXURIES Exclusive gifts to seriously spoil yourself
4000C R E C R E ATE D L IM I TE D E DI T ION The Venn diagram of turntable owners and fans of classic audio equipment is essentially a perfect circle. Which means Bang & Olufsen is likely on to a winner with the Beogram 4000c Recreated /LPLWHG (GLWLRQ LWV UHMXYHQDWLRQ RI LWV LFRQLF V WXUQWDEOH )RU WKH ĆUVW H[DPSOH RI LWV &ODVVLFV initiative, B&O has tracked down 95 pre-owned Beogram 4000s and upgraded them with the latest technology. First off, it’s added a high-performance stylus to the original’s tangential tone arm, EULQJLQJ VW FHQWXU\ DXGLR TXDOLW\ WR WKH ĆUVW WRQH DUP RI LWV W\SH 2Q WRS RI WKLV WKH DXGLR EUDQG KDV LQVHUWHG DQ 5,$$ SKRQR SUH DPSOLĆHU LQWR WKH WXUQWDEOH DOORZLQJ LW WR ZRUN LQ SHUIHFW KDUPRQ\ with any modern B&O speaker. Finally, the 4000c has been given an aesthetic upgrade: its DOXPLQLXP VXUIDFH KDV EHHQ EXUQLVKHG DQG DQRGLVHG WR JLYH LW OXVFLRXV FKDPSDJQH ĆQLVK ZKLOH LWV new hand-crafted oak frame will put it right at home in modern living rooms. approx. `9,00,000, bang-olufsen.com
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