Reviews
Samsung Galaxy S23 Review.
This year, I’ve been using the Samsung Galaxy S23 as my smartphone, and I can confidently say that of all of Samsung’s phones, this regular-sized version is the most balanced one I’ve used. So why would I recommend it over its bigger and more expensive counterparts? Let me explain.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 is Easy to Use
The physical design of the S23 is not distinct from the S21 and S22, aside from the camera bump corner. This is not bad, as it’s still one of the few single-handed devices available. With a 6.1 inch AMOLED screen, it is relatively small by today’s standards, and its 1080 x 2340 p resolution, 120 Hz refresh rate and 19.5:9 aspect ratio make it comfortable to use with one hand.
Viewing videos on the S23 in either portrait or landscape mode is straightforward and comfortable when used for extended periods. Though it is not Samsung’s most advanced display, the 425 pixels-per-inch still makes for an enjoyable visual experience. Dark colors are particularly vivid on the AMOLED panel, and it is an excellent match for space-inspired wallpapers like the one I have installed from Wallpaper Engine. As with other contemporary Samsung devices, the S23 maintains the company’s high standards for excellent viewing experiences.
The fingerprint scanner beneath the display is extremely accurate when it comes to recognizing my thumbs. I’m satisfied with its performance 95% of the time, as I’m aware it’s as good as it’s going to get with this technology. The face scanner is also a viable option to unlock the screen, and I use them both together. I’ve seen other scanners that are far slower and not as reliable.
Not the most outstanding, but…
I was quite content with the display of the S23, but the triple camera setup truly shines. I was really impressed with the pictures especially the ones I took from a skyscraper. The 50 MP f/1.8 wide sensor easily captures a great deal of scenery without distortion. The 12 MP f/2.2 ultrawide also provides a great angle without producing an exaggerated, fisheye effect. Which is something I have encountered with other phones. The S23 is able to accurately capture the scene as my eyes see it.
The Samsung S23 generally handles light well no matter the environment. At sunset, it captures the light source accurately and maintains good contrast in the shadows. Even in bright conditions, it rarely oversaturates the photo. Furthermore, it doesn’t wash out the background when taking pictures in the sun. The 10MP f/2.4 telephoto lens also provides good quality when used for zooming. Surprisingly, the sharpness of the image remained high even when the wide aperture was used at 3x.
The S23 has great low light capabilities and produces solid photos for sharing on Instagram. It has been observed that the phone increases its exposure to ensure details are picked up from a distance. At its price point, grainier photos can be seen in better lighting scenarios, so Samsung did well here. I’m still undecided as to whether I think the Pixel 7 or iPhone provide better low light shots than the S23, but all three of these phones are competitively equal for 2023.
For a flagship phone, I’m content with the speed at which I was able to take a picture and keep going. I think this is why Samsung’s S series phones have been so successful. Even though these models don’t have the best specs or results, they are ideal for people who don’t want to spend time tweaking their camera to get the ideal shot for social media. If that describes you, then the S23 is more than capable of meeting your photo taking needs.
Doing Excellently Well
The battery in the S23, with a capacity of 3,900 mAh, is not as large as the Ultra, but it’s been very impressive to me in terms of performance; at the end of a full work day, I’m usually left with over 50% battery life. Running Android 13 with One UI 5.1, the phone runs efficiently and handles background processes well. I have no doubt that the S23 can last through any given day and it’s also equipped with wireless charging, making it even easier to keep it powered.
The S23 stands apart from the other phones in its class due to its use of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, along with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. It is incredibly fast, and I have only experienced occasional hiccups. It also has a very good battery life, which makes it great for mobile gaming. Since launch, I have been playing call of duty with no issues and have not felt any discomfort in my hands, even during longer gaming sessions. The S23 also does not heat up excessively during gameplay.
The audio emanating from the bottom-firing speaker and the earpiece is quite loud, yet still maintains a respectable quality even when the levels are cranked up. Although the projection is not as rich and full as some of the new phones, it still does a good job if there is no Bluetooth earbud connected.
The S23 is an easy phone to review. It is built with an aluminum frame and glass body that makes it feel expensive. The flagship chipset keeps it competitive with the best in the industry and the camera setup is up to par with industry leaders. What makes it stand out is that it offers a great value for its price and is easier to hold in one hand than many of its pricier counterparts. It is an excellent option for all types of buyers.
Gadgets Buying Guide
Oppo Find X8 Ultra vs. Vivo X200 Ultra
Design & Build Quality
Oppo Find X8 Ultra: With its sleek 7.9mm thickness and weight of 193g, the Find X8 Ultra strikes a balance between form and function. The aluminum alloy body with Gorilla Glass 7i provides durability while maintaining a premium look. Its IP68 rating ensures it is both dustproof and waterproof up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes.
Vivo X200 Ultra: A slightly bulkier device at 8.0mm and 197g, it features a glass body that is also protected by Gorilla Glass, offering good resistance to scratches and drops. The X200 Ultra shares the IP68 rating, making it equally resistant to dust and water. Both phones use high-end materials, though the Vivo feels a bit more substantial.
Verdict: Both devices offer premium designs, but the Oppo has a slight edge with a more compact form factor and similar build quality.
Display
Oppo Find X8 Ultra: It sports a 6.59-inch AMOLED display with an impressive 1256 x 2760 pixel resolution, offering vibrant colors, deep blacks, and high contrast ratios. The display supports HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, making it great for high-quality video streaming. It also features a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling and responsiveness.
Vivo X200 Ultra: The Vivo features a slightly larger 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 1260 x 2800 pixels, also supporting HDR10+ but without Dolby Vision. Its 120Hz refresh rate ensures smooth interaction, though the absence of Dolby Vision means it may not offer the same cinematic experience as the Find X8 Ultra.
Verdict: The Oppo Find X8 Ultra edges out slightly in display quality with Dolby Vision support, ideal for media consumption. The Vivo X200 Ultra, while excellent, lacks this feature.
Performance
Oppo Find X8 Ultra: Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9400 chipset, it offers an octa-core CPU with a 3nm architecture. Coupled with 12GB RAM and UFS 4.0 storage, the Find X8 Ultra provides fast and smooth performance for everyday tasks and intensive applications.
Vivo X200 Ultra: The Vivo X200 Ultra is equally equipped with the Dimensity 9400 chipset and offers the same RAM and storage configurations. Both phones are highly efficient in handling multitasking and heavy apps. However, Vivo’s optimizations in the OriginOS contribute to smooth performance, with slightly better thermal management reported.
Verdict: Both phones are very similar in performance, offering top-tier processing power. The Vivo may have a slight advantage in thermal efficiency due to its software optimizations.
Software & OS
Oppo Find X8 Ultra: Runs on ColorOS 15, which offers a refined, feature-rich interface with customization options. It comes with extensive privacy controls, performance optimizations, and a user-friendly experience.
Vivo X200 Ultra: Utilizes OriginOS 15, which has a similar feature set but with a more pronounced focus on efficiency, streamlined multitasking, and system fluidity. Both OS versions are based on Android 15, providing users with a clean, modern experience.
Verdict: Both operating systems are excellent, with ColorOS offering more customization options, while OriginOS is lauded for its efficiency and smoothness.
RAM Management and Virtual RAM
Effective RAM management ensures smoother multitasking.
Oppo Find X8 Ultra: Offers 12GB/16GB of physical RAM with an option for up to 8GB virtual RAM expansion.
Vivo X200 Ultra: Provides similar physical RAM configurations but supports up to 12GB virtual RAM, allowing greater flexibility for resource-intensive applications.
Verdict: Vivo provides slightly more headroom for heavy multitasking with additional virtual RAM.
Camera Systems
Oppo Find X8 Ultra: Features a triple-camera setup with a 50MP primary wide-angle lens (f/1.8), a 50MP ultra-wide lens, and a 50MP telephoto lens (f/2.6). It offers superb photo and video quality with features like Dolby Vision support for videos.
Vivo X200 Ultra: The Vivo X200 Ultra also boasts a triple 50MP camera array, including similar wide, ultra-wide, and telephoto lenses, but with slightly different apertures (f/1.57 for the wide lens). It supports advanced Zeiss optics for superior image processing, particularly in low light.
Verdict: Both cameras are top-tier, with the Vivo offering slightly better low-light performance and optical processing, while Oppo’s Dolby Vision support offers a richer video experience.
Battery Life & Charging
Oppo Find X8 Ultra: Comes with a 5630mAh battery, offering decent endurance. It supports 80W SuperVOOC fast charging but lacks wireless charging.
Vivo X200 Ultra: Features a larger 5800mAh battery, providing a bit more longevity. It supports 90W fast charging and 50W wireless charging, plus reverse wireless charging for added convenience.
Verdict: The Vivo X200 Ultra offers better overall battery performance, with faster wired and wireless charging options, as well as reverse charging.
Connectivity
Oppo Find X8 Ultra: Supports 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, and USB Type-C 3.0, ensuring high-speed connectivity and future-proof networking.
Vivo X200 Ultra: Similarly equipped with 5G, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.4, but with a USB Type-C 3.0 port. Both devices offer the latest in connectivity.
Verdict: Both phones excel in connectivity, offering similar features and future-proof technologies.
Speakers & Audio
Oppo Find X8 Ultra: Features stereo speakers with enhanced Dolby Atmos support for an immersive audio experience.
Vivo X200 Ultra: Also equipped with stereo speakers, offering a comparable audio experience, though it lacks Dolby Atmos.
Verdict: Oppo’s Dolby Atmos support gives it a slight edge in sound quality.
Security & Biometrics
Oppo Find X8 Ultra: Offers an in-display fingerprint sensor and face unlock for security.
Vivo X200 Ultra: Similarly equipped with an in-display fingerprint sensor and face recognition.
Verdict: Both offer comparable security features, with in-display fingerprint sensors being a standard for both.
Price & Value
Oppo Find X8 Ultra: Priced around €550-560, offering a premium experience with Dolby Vision and excellent camera features.
Vivo X200 Ultra: Priced similarly, but with the added benefit of reverse wireless charging and slightly better camera optics, providing excellent value.
Verdict: Both phones provide excellent value at their price points, with the Vivo slightly edging out in battery and camera features.
Final Verdict
Oppo Find X8 Ultra: Best for users prioritizing display quality, video features, and overall design.
Vivo X200 Ultra: Best for users who value better battery life, reverse wireless charging, and superior camera performance.
Reviews
Realme GT 7 Pro Specifications
Build and Design
Materials: Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus front and back
Dimensions: 163.2 x 75.9 x 8.8 mm
Weight: 210 g
IP Rating: IP69 dust and water-resistant
Display
Type: 6.78-inch AMOLED
Resolution: 1.5K (approx. 3040 x 1440 pixels)
Refresh Rate: 120Hz adaptive refresh rate
Peak Brightness: 6000 nits
Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Processor and Software
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm)
GPU: Adreno 830
OS: Realme UI 6 based on Android 15
Storage and Memory
Configurations:
-256GB with 12GB LPDDR5X RAM
-512GB with 16GB LPDDR5X RAM
Storage Type: UFS 4.1 Pro
Camera System
Rear Cameras:
-Main: 50 MP wide with OIS
-Ultra-Wide: 8 MP
-Telephoto: 50 MP periscope with 3x optical zoom
Front Camera: 32 MP under-display camera
Battery and Charging
Battery Capacity: 6500 mAh silicon-nitride
Charging: 120W wired fast charging
Audio and Connectivity
Audio: Stereo speakers, 3.5mm headphone jack
Connectivity:
-5G, Wi-Fi 7
-Bluetooth 5.4
-USB-C 3.2
-Dual GPS, NFC
Reviews
Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro Specifications
Build and Design
Materials: Aluminum body
Dimensions: 254 x 165.3 x 6.8 mm
Weight: 515 g
Color Options: Gray, Blue
Display
Type: 11.2-inch LCD
Resolution: 3.2K (3072 x 1920 pixels), 3:2 aspect ratio
Refresh Rate: 144Hz
Brightness: Peak brightness of 800 nits
Processor and Software
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3
OS: Android 15 with Xiaomi’s HyperOS 2.0
Storage and Memory
Configurations:
-8GB RAM with 128GB storage
-12GB RAM with 256GB storage
-16GB RAM with 512GB storage
Camera System
Rear Camera:
-Main: 50 MP primary
-Depth Sensor: 2 MP for bokeh effects
Front Camera: 32 MP
Battery and Charging
Battery Capacity: 8,850 mAh
Charging Speed: 67W wired charging
Audio and Connectivity
Audio: Quad stereo speakers
Connectivity:
-Wi-Fi 7
-Bluetooth 5.4
-USB-C
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