In the premium Android flagship category, Samsung’s Galaxy S-series lineup has always been at the top of the recommendation list. With all the bells and whistles one can expect, these smartphones have consistently impressed. This year with the Galaxy S24 series Samsung has elevated the game integrating AI into the mix. The ultra-premium Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review is already out. 

Here we will touch upon the most affordable smartphone in the lineup, the vanilla Samsung Galaxy S24, and tell you why it should be your top pick if you are in the market for a powerful, compact Android flagship.

Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S24 is a must-have for anyone looking for a compact yet powerful smartphone with some smart features. This premium flagship boasts a vibrant screen, advanced camera setup, reliable performance, and several AI features, which are available for free use until at least the end of 2025 to enhance your productivity.

Design and display

For anyone coming from a smartphone with a display size north of 6.1 inches, the Samsung Galaxy S24 design will come across as a breath of fresh air. The handset maintains its compact, thin, and lightweight profile, akin to its predecessor. However, the ergonomics has been enhanced with flat edges, which fall 90 degrees, instead of curved ones. As a result, the device fits snuggly into the hands so much so that I didn’t feel like altering its dimensions by adding a case.

Needless to say, the handset provides a premium in-hand feel. The framing of the smartphone is all aluminium, while the front and back of the phone are encased in Corning Gorilla Glass, providing robust construction. The rear cameras are vertically aligned in three individual rings, which jut out from the frame, causing the device to wobble when lying flat on a surface. The power and volume buttons are aligned on the right spine of the phone and are easily accessible without resorting to any finger gymnastics. 

It would be unfair if we didn’t talk about the Galaxy S24’s in-display fingerprint scanner. The scanner is nicely positioned where your thumb would generally rest while holding the device, and it is unlike what I have seen in any other smartphone. Even a deft touch securely unlocks the device in a jiffy.

Moving on, the Samsung Galaxy S24 boasts the same Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with FHD+ resolution, HDR 10+ support, and adaptive 120Hz refresh rate as its predecessor. However, the panel is 0.1 inches bigger, now measuring 6.2 inches compared to the previous 6.1 inches. Additionally, the bezels are a hair slimmer, and the peak brightness now reaches up to 2,600 nits, a significant improvement from the 1,750 nits on the Galaxy S23 (review). Apart from the better outdoor visibility, there is no real-world difference in the viewing experience.

The picture quality is simply impeccable with a high contrast ratio, deep blacks, and vibrant colours, even when looked at from an angle. The handset may not boast the anti-reflective coating like the S24 Ultra, but it features Samsung’s new Vision Booster technology which is rated to preserve colour accuracy even under the harshest sunlight. The smartphone is equipped with stereo speakers that deliver crisp, loud sounds.

Cameras

The camera setup on the Samsung Galaxy S24 is the same as its predecessor. The handset sports triple rear cameras comprising a 50MP primary sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, and a 10MP 3x telephoto lens. Up front, the phone is equipped with a 12MP shooter for selfies and video calling. However, the company has added some additional features and improved imaging algorithms. While I didn’t have the S23 to check how much of an improvement the new image algorithms bring, the image quality of the S24 is generally excellent, reaching the standard of the flagship.

Typical of Samsung, the colours look slightly boosted, but they don’t deviate from reality much. The images look crisp and vibrant, with plenty of details across lighting scenarios. While the ultra-wide shots may not be as detailed as the regular camera, they still look plenty rich and appealing. There is no shift in colour while switching from the primary camera to the 3x telephoto sensor, and whether it is being used for close-ups or portraits, the results look impressive in favourable lighting conditions. However, the quality begins to deteriorate with digital zoom, and the smartphone’s maximum 30x zoom offers little to boast about.

Performance and software

After experimenting with the Snapdragon chipsets last year, Samsung has gone back to its in-house Exynos chipsets for the regular S24 and S24 Plus. Both devices rock the Exynos 2400 chipset, equivalent to Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, under the hood. The vanilla S24 gets 8GB of RAM and up to 512GB of non-expandable storage. The performance is commendable for the device of its calibre. The smartphone is swift with everything thrown at it, be it multitasking, browsing, social media scrolling, or streaming. The handset can even manage gaming without breaking a sweat, although due to its small screen, the gaming experience might not be as impressive.

As for the Samsung Galaxy S24 AnTuTu, Geekbench, and other benchmark scores, they remain around the same ballpark as its elder sibling S24 Ultra. Check it out:

1 of 2

Software-wise, the Samsung Galaxy S24 runs on the all-new Android 14-based OneUI 6.1 out of the box. The UI remains largely the same as the previous iteration of OneUI, with several pre-installed apps from Google, Microsoft, and Samsung. However, there are a few iterations under the hood, including redesigned quick settings, clutter-free weather apps, new customisation options, performance enhancements, and more. All these changes make the software more user-friendly than ever before. The company has also extended its extended its software support for the device, from five major updates to seven, aligning it with the latest Google Pixel smartphones. This ensures that your Samsung Galaxy S24 will remain relevant until 2031.

Additionally, the smartphone is integrated with several AI features, including Live Translate, Circle to Search, Chat Assist, Transcript Assist, and more. You can read more about them in detail in our S24 Ultra review. In essence, these AI tools are here to enhance productivity, make communication more seamless, and add some fun to the captured moments. These features can be monetised starting in 2026.

Battery and charging

The Samsung Galaxy S24 houses a 4,000mAh battery, with 25W wired fast charging and 15W wireless charging support. While the fast charging may seem slower compared to its competitors, it doesn’t feel as sluggish due to the smartphone’s compact battery pack. The handset takes roughly over an hour to achieve a full charge from 0-100 percent with a compatible charging brick, which needs to be purchased separately. The smartphone is only bundled with a Type-C charging cable.

After a full charge, the Samsung Galaxy S24 provides a decent battery backup that should comfortably last you through the day with regular usage. Slightly heavier usage, such as navigation and recording high-res video, may require you to charge the device at least once during the day. On the PC Mark battery test, the handset returned with a respectable score of 14 hours and 43 minutes. While the battery life looks fine for a compact phone, it could have been better.

Final verdict

Samsung Galaxy S24’s base variant with 256GB storage is priced at Rs 79,999, while the top-end 512GB variant is priced in India at Rs 89,999. Apart from the iPhone 15, the handset also competes against Android offerings like the OnePlus 12 (review) and Vivo X100 (review). However, its true rival has to be the Pixel 8 (review). Although limited, the Pixel 8 also boasts several AI photo and video editing features, and unlike Samsung, Google hasn’t announced its plans to end free access to these features yet!

Nevertheless, the Samsung smartphone emerges as a better overall smartphone. The Samsung Galaxy S24 doesn’t throttle as much as the Pixel 8. Additionally, the handset delivers a crisp visual experience, commendable cameras, and a premium feel without compromising on functionality. While the battery life may not be the most impressive, the Samsung Galaxy S24 emerges as a top contender in its category.

Editor’s rating: 8/10

Reasons to buy

• Compact and lightweight design, ideal for one-handed use.
• Vibrant Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with improved peak brightness.
• The camera quality is excellent, reaching the standard of the flagship.
  
• The phone delivers smooth performance with useful AI features to enhance productivity.

Reasons not to buy

• Slightly slower wired fast charging compared to competitors.
• The handset isn’t bundled with a charger in the box.

Key Specs

Samsung Galaxy S24 5G

RAM	8 GB
Processor	Samsung Exynos 2400
Rear Camera	50 MP + 12 MP + 10 MP
Front Camera	12 MP
Battery	4000 mAh
Display	6.2 inches (15.75 cm)

See Full Specs

Samsung Galaxy S24 5G Price

View All

	Rs. 66,030.00	Go To Store
	Rs. 79,999.00	Go To Store
	Rs. 79,999.00	Go To Store

Competitors for Samsung Galaxy S24 5G

Samsung Galaxy S24 5G

vs

Google Pixel 8

Samsung Galaxy S24 5G

vs

OnePlus 12

The post Samsung Galaxy S24 review: compact powerhouse with smart features first appeared on 91mobiles.com.

I love a good pirate game. I even have a list of my favourites. At the third spot is Tales of Monkey Island. A gem of a game that is the face of old-school point-and-click adventure titles. Then you have the 2004 remaster of Sid Meier’s Pirates! A fantastic game that is the epitome of what a pirate game should be. Finally, there is Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. It isn’t exactly a pirate game per se, but it that bit extremely well. The naval combat was great and the ship-to-ship melee combat made you feel like a true swashbuckling pirate.

So when Ubisoft decided to expand upon the pirate aspect of Black Flag and make a dedicated pirate game, I was all in. Skull and Bones was first teased in 2017, and it has taken a while to get to us. So let’s see if it is a pirate’s life for me.

Before that, let me get this out of the way. Skull and Bones is a live service game. That does not do it any favours. This was the same case with Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League (review). So do not come in expecting a deep single-player experience here.

Story

The game starts with you dropped into the middle of a sea battle where the basics of naval combat are explained to you. However, you are scripted to lose this battle. Soon, your player characters find themselves shipwrecked and this is where you get to create your character. Once that is done, you are rescued why by NPCs, one of whom will become your crew’s first mate. You better get used to hearing her voice because you cannot change her and she does not stop talking.

Anyway, the first thing you have to do is meet up with the pirate Chief Captain who starts by berating your work and then immediately gives you more work. You complete the task, and they are suddenly full of praise. Soon enough, you are tasked with heading to the pirate haven of Sainte-Anne to meet up with Pirate Kingpin, John Scurlock. Once there, you can continue the main campaign via missions given by Scurlock, or take on any other side quest.

To be honest, I genuinely cannot remember the story beyond this point. Something about regaining power? There is so much exposition and all missions are so repetitive that it is all smooshed up in my head. After a while, you just stop caring.

Graphics

Skull and Bones looks pretty good. It may not be the best-looking game I have seen, but it looks like a modern-generation game. The details on the ships and the characters are nice and the water looks good, especially during storms. It is quite cool to see a lightning bolt hit a few hundred meters from your ship.

However, not everything is great. The texture of the land as well as trees isn’t that great. However, I am not going to judge it too much as you can’t leave your ship. (Will talk about this in a bit)

Gameplay

There are good things and bad things about the gameplay experience that Skull and Bones have to offer and let’s start with the good.

The naval combat is excellent. Think of it as a simplified version of the combat system employed in Black Flag. Players can choose the different guns on their ship and where they want them placed. Players get a sort of ‘first-person’ view with a targeting reticle when shooting. Players can either completely sink ships and then loot the remains or board the ship once the health is sufficiently low for some bonus loot. (we will talk about that in a bit)

The sailing aspect of this game is well done. Manipulating your sails to get the best out of the wind is great. It does feel that you are in control of a big cumbersome ship that you have to wrestle into submission and that is a good thing. Further, the combat can get intense at times, especially when the storms roll in and you’ll have to time your shots between the waves. It’s frantic and fun and reminds us a lot of the best bits of Black Flag.

When not in the open sea, players have a hub city that they can visit. There they can accept missions, purchase items or craft new ships or weapons. There are also outposts dotted on the map that are smaller versions of the hub city. These outposts feature a trader and a Pirate Bonfire that bestows a temporary buff. More importantly, it can be used as a fast travel point. Before they leave, players can edit the name of their ship, repair it, or customise multiple different facets of it.

As you might have noticed in the above paragraph. The game features a crafting component. To make improvements or get a new ship, you will need to gather the required materials. Players can gather these by either looting ships or by gathering resources at certain points. Since you cannot leave the ship, you will have to sort of ram your ship to the resource and then start a mini-game to collect it.

Well, I guess it’s time to talk about the elephant in the room. Let’s bring up the bad.

Except for the main hubs or the outposts, you don’t get to leave the ship. I mean, not at all. Do you want to interact with a settlement to buy resources? You do it from the ship. Want to mine resources? Do it from the ship. Chop wood? From the ship! There is no hand-to-hand combat at all. So you do not even get to board enemy vessels. You just damage them enough to launch grapple hooks and then you just get a cut scene. That’s pretty much it. Your player character can’t even swim. I dunno about you guys. But when I play a game about pirates and ships. I expect a bit of swashbuckling action. Even a relatively ancient game like Sid Meier’s Pirates lets you engage in a bit of fencing action, albeit a basic one.

Another bit that annoys me is the fact that the game only has 10 ships that a player can craft. No Dutch Fluyts, Man-of-Wars, Galleons, etc. I know Ubisoft has deliberately done this and will slowly drip-feed the other ships over time. Not cool.

Then there is the gameplay loop. All you do is pick up a mission – go there – destroy ships/towns – and then come back to get loot. This loot is then used to build bigger and better warships to do the same thing. I’m not saying this can’t be fun. But it will start wearing you down after a while. The missions are usually some variation of the fetch quest and when combined with the pointless story, you don’t feel any compulsion. I found it best to find your fun such as aiming to get the best ship or trying to get a lot of money.

Now for the ugly bits. I had the game crash on me twice, which while annoying, wasn’t that much of a problem. A major issue I came across when playing Skull and Bones. The first was a few missing into it wherein the game stopped loading my ship when I tried to leave port. Since I could not do anything else I was kinda stuck unable to do anything else. Do note that the game does not let you create a new profile or reset their profile. So if things didn’t change, I was going to be stuck. Thankfully, the issue fixed itself after a few hours.

Verdict

Skull and Bones could and should have been a great pirate game. But it is not. You get some pretty good graphics and some excellent naval combat as well. Ship customisation is also pretty good and as this is a Live Service game, the options will grow.

However, I cannot help but feel that the game is one giant missed opportunity. The addition of more third-person gameplay would add more mission variety. After all, there is only so much one can do on a ship. Speaking of which, I would love to see more ships in the game.

As it stands right now, Skull and Bones can only be enjoyed by die-hard fans of ship combat. The game has a long way to go before it can be considered a great pirate game.

Those interested in multiplayer-based pirate action can consider Rare’s Sea of Thieves to get their fix. Those who are looking for a comprehensive pirate experience, but are OK with some dated graphics and gameplay might want to check out 2004’s Sid Meier’s Pirates! However, if you prefer more modern graphics and gameplay, then you might be better off with Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag.

Editor’s rating: 6.5/10

Pros

• Engaging naval combat
• Good sailing mechanics

Cons

• Limited gameplay variety
• Lack of on-foot opportunities

More Info:

Developer: Ubisoft Singapore
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Amazon Luna
Reviewed on: Xbox Series X

We played a review copy of Skull and Bones provided by Ubisoft

The post Skull and Bones review: it shivered me timbers first appeared on 91mobiles.com.

iQOO’s premium smartphones are generally perceived as performance-oriented devices, while cameras may not be its biggest strength. At least, that was the case with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC-powered iQOO Neo 7 Pro (review) of last year, which also won 91mobile’s Phone of the Year (under Rs 35,000). However, iQOO is seriously revamping its position in the market. The recently launched iQOO 12 (review) proved to be a formidable player when it comes to cameras. Now, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro aims to keep up the legacy by focusing on performance and cameras. Mind you, this is all while maintaining affordability.

Some of iQOO Neo 9 Pro’s key features include a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, 50MP primary camera (IMX920 sensor) with 8K video recording, 5G, Android 14, and 120W charging (charger included).

But iQOO Neo 9 Pro’s biggest challenge is that it sits in India’s most competitive smartphone segment. The same category includes smartphones, such as the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ (review), which boasts a stylish design and better durability. There’s the OnePlus 12R (review) as well, rocking the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC.

Verdict

The iQOO Neo 9 Pro keeps up the iQOO Neo 7 Pro’s legacy as a reliable performance-oriented smartphone with a not-so-high sticker price. The upgraded 50MP primary camera works well in both daylight and low-light conditions, though the ultra-wide camera can use some improvements. If a good battery and fast charging matter to you, the Neo 9 Pro won’t disappoint again. But for a clean Android experience and immersive Android ecosystem, the OnePlus 12R, which also rocks Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, will be a better bet.

Design and display

While the iQOO Neo 9 Pro does not reuse the iQOO Neo 7 Pro’s boxy design, the finish on the Black variant, which I am reviewing, remains similar to the predecessor. The build is mostly plastic, which explains the aggressive pricing. The rear panel leaves a satin-like finish and does a reliable job of hiding fingerprint smudges and scratches. Also, there’s no headphone jack.

If you prefer a sporty appearance, iQOO offers a Red-White option that the company calls Fiery Red colour. It incorporates vegan leather patches, aligning this variant with competitors such as the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ and Motorola Edge 40. I find the Red-White colour scheme a bit too loud for my taste, but then the design can be subjective.

Overall, both variants look bland to my taste. In that case, I might go with the OnePlus 12R or Redmi Note 13 Pro+ purely in terms of design. It’s worth mentioning that the iQOO Neo 9 Pro boasts a slimmer profile compared to its counterparts, measuring just 7.99mm in thickness.

iQOO Neo 9 Pro’s display now offers 1.5K resolutions (2,400 x 1,260 pixels) instead of Full-HD+ resolution (2,800 x 1080 pixels). The phone still boasts a flat 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a maximum refresh rate of 144Hz. While the viewing experience is slightly punchier on the OnePlus 12R, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro won’t disappoint either. Apps, including Netflix, are well-optimised and offer HDR playback. Its dual speakers also provide a loud and balanced output, but the audio lacks bass.

Even for gaming, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro’s flat screen offers a better touch response than the OnePlus 12R’s curved display.

Cameras

The iQOO Neo 9 Pro focuses on a basic yet refined camera experience. The rear camera module includes a 50MP primary and an 8MP ultra-wide camera. There’s no periscope-style telephoto camera, which remains limited to the flagship iQOO 12.

Photos captured during my review include a mild sepia-like effect, which can look pleasing but at the cost of accurate colours. The primary camera captures crisp details without increasing the noise in the image. I compared the primary camera’s results with the OnePlus 12R, and iQOO Neo 9 Pro exhibited better performance in both day and low light. The 50MP camera also excels at capturing portrait shots, delivering a rich bokeh effect. However, portrait shots may exhibit excessive saturation, which can be cumbersome to fix during editing.

Photos with the 8MP ultra-wide camera are average at best. There’s a degree of consistency between photos with wide and ultra-wide lenses, which is a good feature. But ultra-wide images can often lack sharpness.

The iQOO Neo 9 Pro still utilises a 16MP front camera, capable of capturing fantastic selfies in daylight. The front camera may occasionally oversaturate skin tones, although details remain crisp. Portrait shots with the front camera also exhibit clarity, but edge detection can be inconsistent. While the overall performance of the selfie camera in daylight is reliable, images taken at night may lack consistency in both accurate skin tone detection and details.

As mentioned, the phone can record 8K videos, which can be tricky to use. While colours in controlled lighting may look good and balanced, the file size may be difficult to manage. For instance, a 20-second 8K footage is around 135MB, while the same file in 4K would be around 60MB. The phone also tends to heat up faster in 8K than in 4K, and there’s very poor stabilisation. I advise you to take videos in ultra stabilisation mode (Full-HD, 60fps) as the results will be more than satisfactory.

The front camera sadly still gets full-HD recording at 30fps.

Performance and software

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC on the iQOO Neo 9 Pro offers a big performance leap over the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC-powered iQOO Neo 7 Pro. The variant I am testing includes 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB of UFS 4 storage.

In the Geekbench single-core and multi-core tests, iQOO Neo 9 Pro showed roughly 20 and 28 percent gains, respectively. Even the AnTuTu score improved by approximately 24 percent. The CPU Throttling test also showcased impressive stability, though the result seemed too good to be true. One explanation could be iQOO Neo 9 Pro’s larger 6,043mm sq vapour chamber cooling. Better stability could also be due to the dedicated Q1 performance chip. It could also be due to a bug in the app.

At least the phone ran without stutters and lags in real life. Even the gaming experience is refined, thanks to 4D haptics (via gaming mode) and flat display. I compared the gaming experience by playing BGMI and Call of Duty on iQOO Neo 9 Pro and the OnePlus 12R, and the former provided a relatively more refined experience.

But when it comes to a clean Android experience, the OnePlus 12R is a step ahead. The iQOO Neo 9 Pro is eligible for three years of major Android OS, which is decent, though this could be better to compete with the likes of Samsung and Google.

Battery and charging

The iQOO Neo 9 Pro now houses a relatively bigger 5,160mAh battery, which can provide all-day battery with standard usage. With performance mode enabled, I was getting around 8.5 hours of screen time, which is quite good. Unfortunately, we were unable to conduct the backup test on PCMark’s battery test due to a bug in the app. We will update this section later.

With the bundled 120W charger, the iQOO 9 Pro attained full charge in around 35 minutes.

Final verdict

Similar to its predecessor, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro remains your best bet in the sub-Rs 40k segment if gaming and performance matter to you. The upgraded 50MP primary camera delivers reliable performance, although the inclusion of a telephoto camera or an improved ultra-wide camera could have given it an edge.

Alternatively, if you seek a clean Android experience and an immersive Android ecosystem, the OnePlus 12R may be the ideal choice. However, for stutter-free performance and ample 256GB storage at a comparatively lower budget, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro proves to be a compelling option that won’t disappoint.

Editor’s rating: 8 / 10

Reasons to buy

• Smooth and lag-free performance. Plus, Android 14 out-of-the-box.
• Offers a better gaming experience, thanks to a tall and flat display.
• The primary camera offers good performance in ideal lighting conditions.
• Long battery backup with reliable charging speeds.

Reasons not to buy

• The overall design can be a bit bland.
• The ultra-wide camera needs improvements.
  
  

Key Specs

iQOO Neo 9 Pro

RAM	8 GB
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
Rear Camera	50 MP + 8 MP
Front Camera	16 MP
Battery	5160 mAh
Display	6.78 inches (17.22 cm)

See Full Specs

iQOO Neo 9 Pro Price

View All

Rs. 36,999.00

Go To Store

Competitors for iQOO Neo 9 Pro

iQOO Neo 9 Pro

vs

Nothing Phone 2

iQOO Neo 9 Pro

vs

Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus 5G

The post iQOO Neo 9 Pro review: a blend of power and affordability first appeared on 91mobiles.com.

I was in a heavy firefight with a hoard of alien creatures. My randomly matched online friend and I were the only ones defending ourselves. The odds were not in our favour. Suddenly, a third man joins the team, dropping a turret to aid in our battle and also, giving my comrade and me some time to breathe and reload our guns. Just as I was about to share in the victorious battle with my newfound teammates, a friendly fire bullet from the turret gets me square in the chest and I am taken out. While the conclusion to this match may sound frustrating, it’s one of the most hilarious things that can happen during a session of Heldivers 2; provided you can log in.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard that Helldivers 2 has had one of the most successful live service game launches in a while and rightfully so. It has one of the most engaging core gameplay loops that is not only fun but keeps you coming back for more, provided you can log in. Ok, fine, I’ll get the worst out of the way – yes there are log in issues and random crashes and disconnects, but this isn’t a Helldivers problem it is a live service games problem. So while you wait to log in to the game, check out our detailed review below!

Gameplay

There isn’t a story to write home about in Helldivers 2 apart from the fact that you are fighting Terminator-style robots with chainsaws for arms and aliens straight out of Starship Troopers to save “Super Earth” and spread democracy.

After going through a brief tutorial and taking control of your ship, you dive straight into the action. You have a map where you can choose your mission and deploy. One great thing about Helldivers 2 (and this is something I appreciated about Outriders as well), is that you can jump in and play a few missions alone and they are fun. Some of them are too challenging as the difficulty doesn’t scale to the number of players, but they are fun nonetheless. The game truly gets into action when you have a bunch of friends or even random strangers online to play with.

There’s usually more than 1 objective

The beauty of the game is that there is usually more than one objective. Sure you can go for the main objective which is to kill all the bugs on screen, destroy their burrows, kill the big bad boss, retrieve some intel, raise a flag, etc. but the core loop is the same – kill the aliens or the robots and, as I said above, that core gameplay loop is key to why the game is so much fun. 

You have a bunch of side objectives as well that you can complete like finding a bunch of random sites on the map or loading missiles into cannons and so on and you get extra points for this which can be used to unlock better gear and equipment.

Friendly Fire and loss of ammo

Yes, there is friendly fire and on more than one occasion I found myself killing a team member or getting killed by one by accident. Your team loses a life, but you get back into the action almost immediately. Another thing I learned the hard way is that if you reload your gun and discard a half-full clip, YOU LOSE THAT AMMO!! So if you have a precious few rounds left in your auto-firing shotgun, I suggest you use them! It’s these small nuances that keep you at the edge of your seat and an eye on your ammo during the heat of the action. Not to mention that if you empty a clip, your character will not reload automatically. You have to reload manually.

The planets you visit also have a fairly diverse set of environments be it a snow-laden surface making it hard to walk to short grassy landscapes and in some cases, tall grass. It’s a decent mix, but nothing too diverse.

Calling for a specific gun, turret or simply more ammo feels like a minigame in itself adding to the tension. You will need to press a combination of d-pad buttons something like – up, up, right, left, down, up, down to get a new gun or ammo or call for an airstrike and in the heat of batter, this didn’t get annoying, more like I had to strategically plan to get away from my foes before calling for support. Needless to say, I died many times while looking at the complex combo on screen. Ok, fine, it got frustrating sometimes!

The weapons in the game are diverse too. From the standard shotgun and assault rifle to an automatic shotgun, rail gun and a sort of armour-piercing sniper rifle that worked wonders on aliens and robots alike. You may find some of these weapons lying around on the map, but remember, you don’t unlock them simply because you’ve used them. You need to earn points to unlock them.

Overall, the core gameplay of Helldivers 2 makes me want to jump in just for another round either to rejoice in a victory or laugh at my untimely death because ammo resupply landed directly on me!

Graphics and sound

Helldivers 2 is no God of War or Horizon Forbidden West but it is a good-looking game nonetheless. The explosions have a nice range of particle effects and the guns have a satisfyingly detailed look especially when you are unlocking them. Your character also limps fairly realistically when shot in the leg. The aliens look like they were lifted straight from Starship Troopers and at times it is tough to tell one from the other, but there is enough variety here for a couple of weeks of engagement. Moving to the robots they look inspired by Terminator and it’s obvious to see the references to the Star Wars All Terrain Scout Transport, but I’m not complaining. When these robots get aggressive you are more concerned with neutralising them!

Moving over to the sound, the orchestral score that plays when you are deployed on a mission is akin to what you hear in Pacific Rim when a Jaeger is deployed to take on a Kaiju! It gives you goosebumps.

The weapons on the other hand sound pretty standard with the band and thugs audible be it an assault rifle or a shotgun. What’s great is some of the voice acting from the Helldivers who have a different voice each time you play. It’s a fun little way of saying each Helldiver you control is someone new. But I only noticed this when someone pointed it out to me. So, if you missed it, you are not alone.

Verdict

If you love single-player games, then there is little mileage for you in a game like Helldivers 2. For those invested in the game, I’m waiting for the developers to give a post-launch roadmap. But if you are someone who loves multiplayer games (live service to be precise), then Helldivers 2 is a treat. It’s a lot of fun with random people, and friends alike, even if it’s the 2 of you against an army of aliens and robots. Server login issues aside, Helldivers proves that a strong core gameplay loop is more important for a live service game than anything else.

Editor’s rating: 8 / 10

Pros:

• Fun gameplay
• Immersive sound design
• Some missions can be enjoyed alone as well

Cons:

• Matchmaking and server issues

More Info:

Developer: Arrowhead Game Studios

Publisher: PlayStation Studios, Sony Interactive Entertainment

Platforms: PS5, PC

Reviewed on: PS5

We played a review copy of Helldivers 2 provided by Sony

The post Helldivers 2 review: Once you `dive` in, there is no coming out! first appeared on 91mobiles.com.

TWS earphones have taken over the consumer audio segment in a big way, but headphones still have a market. Headphones cater to buyers seeking superior sound quality, solid battery life, and comfort over compactness. The Sennheiser Accentum Plus are one such pair of headphones. The pair comes with hybrid ANC, supports a range of audio codecs, and is rated to deliver up to 50 hours of playtime between charges, among other things.

The Sennheiser Accentum Plus headphones are priced in India at Rs 15,999. Keep reading to find out whether the headphones justify their cost.

Design and comfort

The Sennheiser Accentum Plus headphones might not give you a very premium vibe, but they look sturdy. From the headband to the cans, the headphones are fashioned out of durable plastic which can flex quite a bit and does not creak. There is cushioning on both the cans and the headband to provide maximum comfort. The cans are moderately wide and should cover most ears out there without causing any discomfort or fatigue. With a weight of 227 grams, the headphones should be comfortable to wear for prolonged usage as long as you don’t wear glasses. I had to readjust the headphones periodically to prevent temple tips of my glasses from digging into my skin. 

Moving on, the Sennheiser Accentum Plus is available in a couple of colour options: white and black. I received the black variant for review, which has a matte finish on top to keep fingerprints and smudges at bay. Furthermore, the headphones come in a nicely woven case, which also fits the charging and 3.5mm cables. However, I wish the case also had a lanyard to conveniently carry it around.

Features

The Sennheiser Accentum Plus boasts 37mm dynamic drivers and Bluetooth v5.2. The headphones support multipoint connectivity for seamless pairing with more than one device simultaneously. Additionally, they are equipped with a range of audio codecs, including SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX adaptive, mSBC, and CVSD, providing a diverse listening experience. The audio accessory also offers Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), Hybrid Adaptive ANC, and transparency mode.

There is a 3.5mm headphone jack on the Sennheiser Accentum to listen to music through supported devices using an aux cable. This works even when the battery runs out of the headphones. Furthermore, the device supports built-in 5-band EQ and a customisable sound profile. The touch controls are present on both cans to seamlessly pause/ play music, change track, adjust volume, answer calls, and more, without reaching out to the smartphone. They are pretty intuitive and responsive.

The Sennheiser Accentum Plus also boasts wear detection, automatically pausing/ playing music when the headphones are removed or put back on the ears.

App support

Smart Control is the companion app for the Sennheiser Accentum Plus headphones, available for download on both Android and iOS devices. The app doesn’t require a login to proceed. You can simply connect the headphones to the app after they are paired via Bluetooth to jump to their settings. The app is pretty intuitive, with most of the controls right there on the home screen.

It lets you customise EQ settings or personalise sound and enable/ disable Adaptive ANC, which adjusts the noise cancellation based on the environment. Additionally, the app offers Sound Zones, which can automatically apply your sound settings when entering or leaving a particular area like your office or home. The feature requires a login and access to your location.

Sound quality and ANC

When it comes to sound quality, the Sennheiser Accentum Plus headphones keep things balanced out of the box. The pair will require some tweaking via the app if you are a bass enthusiast. I’m the kind of person who likes to groove to the beats without sacrificing the clarity of vocals and other elements in songs. While I did enjoy the default sound profile of the headphones, it was only after adjusting the EQ settings from the app I was able to find my ideal listening experience.

The headphones did justice to almost every song I played across genres, including Do I Wanna Know? by Arctic Monkey, ‘Pumped Up Kicks’ by Foster The People, ‘Thinking Out Loud’ by Ed Sheeran, ‘Lut Put’ by Arijit Singh, and ‘O Maahi’ by Arijit Singh. Even though the soundstage seems to be lacking a bit, it is still quite impressive the way the headphones handle sounds across frequencies. Furthermore, the headphones deliver movies or series dialogue with utmost clarity even at maximum volume. There was hardly any wireless latency, but you still have the option to listen to high-res wired audio through the headphones. While this feature is appreciated, good luck finding a smartphone with a 3.5mm headphone jack in 2024.

The Sennheiser Accentum Plus ANC is good, but not quite effective cancelling out the background noise. I was still able to hear the sounds in the background while working out at the gym with headphones on. Nevertheless, I must mention the transparency mode of Accentum Plus, which makes the environment sound as it should be without any obstructions. As for the adaptive ANC, it doesn’t work as I anticipated since the noise cancellation on the headphones is not that impressive.

Battery life and call quality

The Sennheiser Accentum Plus is rated to provide up to 50 hours of battery life with ANC with its 800mAh battery. While I didn’t time it, the battery life was quite like it during my time with the headphones. I went on for more than 10 days with an average usage of 3-4 hours daily. The audio product also supports fast charging, adding up to 5 hours of playback time with just a 10-minute charge.

The call quality of the Sennheiser Accentum Plus is decent, if not remarkable. Your voice comes through clearly to the other person in a relatively quieter environment. The microphones also do well to restrict the background noise to an extent.

Verdict

The Sennheiser Accentum Plus headphones provide good value for their asking price, even though the design may not scream premium and ANC seems underwhelming in noisy environments. That said, the headphones offer a versatile set of features and sound quality. While their default sound profile might lack the thump some of the bass-heavy headphones deliver, it can be tweaked and personalised with the companion app, which is relatively easy to use. This is nicely complimented by the headphones’ solid battery life and comfort.

Editor’s rating: 7.5 / 10

Pros

• Comfortable fit and finish
• Versatile sound quality
• Impressive battery life

Cons

• Uninspiring design
• ANC could have been better

The post Sennheiser Accentum Plus review: good sound quality, even better battery life first appeared on 91mobiles.com.

Itel has become a formidable player in the Indian smartphone space, especially in the offline budget segment. After launching the 5G-enabled Itel P55 under Rs 10,000, the company is back with the new iteration, dubbed Itel P55+, but without 5G.

The new phone is priced in a similar range, Rs 9,999 to be precise. But the new iteration has some nifty upgrades, including increased memory bandwidth to 256GB. It also features a vegan finish, adding freshness not only to the Itel P-series but also to the sub-Rs 10K segment.

Verdict

Itel P55+ proves that good 4G phones can still exist in 2024 without a high sticker price. It offers a solid battery backup, fast charging speeds, and 256GB inbuilt storage – all under Rs 10,000. The display is also satisfactory, considering the competition in the segment. However, its cameras are average and you shouldn’t have high hopes if that matters to you. Overall though, it’s a decent buy for entry-level users.

Design and display

At first glance, the Itel P55+ looks premium and doesn’t feel like a sub-Rs 10K smartphone. It boasts a sleek design with a vegan leather finish. The rear panel has two large cutouts for the dual cameras. The build is plastic, but it doesn’t feel substandard by any metric.

I am reviewing the green unit that comes in a faux leather finish. The quality is hard to verify, but the in-hand feeling is good. It is possible that the leather may develop cracks over time and may even accumulate dirt and smudges. So it is advisable to use the protective case provided in the box. The Itel P55+ is also available in purple and black colours, though they lack the leather finish.

As mentioned, the Itel P55+ boasts a sleek design, a rarity in smartphones of this category, which tend to be bulky. It measures nearly 8mm in thickness and weighs 187 grams. That’s roughly the same size as the Realme C53 (review) – a popular choice in the sub-Rs 10K segment. On the other hand, the Redmi 13C 4G (Rs 7,999 onwards) is relatively bulkier, measuring 8.1mm in thickness and 192 grams in weight.

Buttons and ports on the Itel P55+ include a power button (with a fingerprint scanner embedded), USB-C for charging, and an audio jack. There’s also support for dual SIM and microSD cards.

The Itel P55+ also comes with a tall 6.6-inch HD+ (720 x 1,612 pixels) LCD display with 90Hz refresh rate. Those who are upgrading from their old feature phones may like the tall screen for reading or watching videos. The 90Hz refresh rate also offers a smooth scrolling experience. The screen has thick bezels on all sides.

The display includes a punch-hole cutout instead of the antiquated waterdrop-style notch. However, the protective film on the screen is designed for smartphones with a waterdrop notch. While it’s not a big deal, it may bother those particular about details. Itel also flaunts an iPhone 14 Pro-inspired Dynamic Island notch for notifications, but it has limited functionalities.

Overall, the display experience on the Itel P55+ is decent for reading and watching short videos. However, there’s only L3 widevine clearance, meaning you can enjoy movies and videos on YouTube and OTTs in standard definition (SD) quality. There are no stereo speakers, and the native audio quality is also average.

Cameras

The Itel P55+ carries two cameras on the back (50MP + 2MP) and an 8MP front camera for selfies. The rear panel includes two large cutouts to provide an impression of a larger sensor size.

While the Itel P55+ impresses with a modern design, cameras are not its biggest strength. Most photos in daylight and dim lighting conditions exhibit the same problems of clarity and colour balance. There’s also a very minimal amount of processing happening, therefore, in some sense, you capture what you get sans sharpness.

It also struggles to recognise the right shades of red. There can be inconsistencies in the output too. During our testing, the phone turned light orange into dark red and vice versa. On the other hand, the primary 50MP camera detects green palettes nicely.

The 8MP selfie camera is also average at best, as it exhibits inconsistencies in skin tone detection. At times, the phone struggles to reduce noise in the image to maintain sharpness. Conversely, in attempts to minimise noise, say in low-light conditions, the phone may over-soften details on the subject’s face, resulting in a somewhat artificial appearance.

At night, the Itel P55+ struggles to perform. Firstly, the phone has to be stationary for an extended period to capture a stable photo. Even then, details get missed. The phone also struggles to balance out areas exposed directly under light.

Performance and software

The Itel P55+ rocks Unisoc’s T606 octa-core chipset, which powers a host of devices in this segment. It is not the most powerful chipset in this category, but it offers sufficient grunt to run apps, including WhatsApp, YouTube, Gmail, and Instagram. You may notice some lags and mis-touches occasionally, but those are common issues with many smartphones in the segment.

For gaming, you can play popular titles like Subway Surfers and Candy Crush without facing heating issues. However, playing (and enjoying) demanding titles like BGMI may require more juice. The mistouch issue may make it more difficult to play demanding titles. While the Itel P55+ offers 8GB RAM, which seems substantial on paper, there aren’t leaps in performance.

The internal storage has been expanded to 256GB, all while maintaining a price under Rs 10,000. Despite utilising old standards for storage, the Itel P55+ deserves credit for expanding inbuilt capacity to new heights in the segment.

The phone runs on Android 13-based custom skin, and also comes loaded with pre-installed apps. Thankfully, the Android OS offers a ton of customisation. For individuals transitioning from a feature phone or for those new to smartphones, any form of personalisation typically enhances the user experience.

In terms of benchmarks, the Unisoc T606-powered Itel P55+ performs relatively better than the Realme C53. However, the 5G-enabled Itel P55 (review) and Lava Blaze 2 (review) are ahead, thanks to the MediaTek chipsets powering them.

Battery and charging

The Itel P55+ boasts a 5,000mAh battery that offers a solid battery backup, even with a 90Hz refresh rate enabled. It can last for an entire day even with mild gaming. The phone also scored a decent score in the PCMark battery test (nearly 9 hours).

However, its charging speed is easily the best in the segment. The phone comes bundled with a 45W charger that can fully charge the phone from 0 to 100 percent in around 60 minutes. 30 minutes of charging offers around 58 percent charge.

Final verdict

The Itel P55+ is a solid choice for productivity-focused users looking for an affordable option. The phone particularly excels in departments such as in-built storage, battery, and charging speeds. The display is satisfactory, but a Full-HD screen would have taken it to the next level.

However, if cameras matter to you, don’t have high hopes for phones in this segment, let alone the Itel P55+. And if you want to enjoy 5G internet and a clean Android experience, the Lava Blaze 2 5G is a decent option for an additional Rs 1,000. If you’re happy with 4G, the Itel P55+ won’t disappoint.

Editor’s ratings: 7.5 / 10

Reasons to buy

• The Itel P55+ boasts a sleek design and features a nice leather finish.
• The internal storage is 256GB, which is very good considering the price.
• The phone supports 45W charger. You get a 50 percent charge in 30 minutes.
• The battery capacity is also good, thanks to a 5,000mAh battery unit.

Reasons not to buy

• The cameras are average at best, especially in low light.
• The display supports only HD+ resolution. There’s only L3 Widevine clearance.

Key Specs

Itel P55 Plus

RAM	8 GB
Processor	Unisoc T606
Rear Camera	50 MP
Front Camera	8 MP
Battery	5000 mAh
Display	6.6 inches (16.66 cm)

See Full Specs

Itel P55 Plus Price

View All

	Rs. 9,999.00	Go To Store
	Rs. 9,499.00	Go To Store

Competitors for Itel P55 Plus

Itel P55 Plus

vs

Lava Blaze 2 5G

Itel P55 Plus

vs

Xiaomi Redmi 13C

The post Itel P55+ review: a good start for entry-level users first appeared on 91mobiles.com.

The Honor X9b comes as the latest offering from the brand in the Indian smartphone market. It might take some time for you to get accustomed to its name, but its design and other key features are instantly captivating. The handset is touted to be the most durable and reliable smartphone across segments. The smartphone features an “ultra-bounce 360-degree anti-drop resistance and cutting-edge cushioning technology”, making it the first such device to receive a Five-Star Overall Drop Resistance certificate. The Honor X9b also boasts a cutting-edge 120Hz refresh rate 1.5k AMOLED display, a 108MP primary camera, and a 5,800mAh battery.

Are these reasons enough to buy the Honor X9b or is there more to the smartphone than meets the eye? Keep reading to find out.

Verdict

The Honor X9b might fit your bill if you are in the market for something durable, stylish, and with a big battery for under Rs 30,000. The smartphone also provides a respectable viewing experience. However, when it comes to aspects like performance, cameras, and charging speeds, it might leave you wanting more.

Design and display

For the Honor X9b design, the company seems to have taken a leaf out of Realme’s playbook. However, the OEM has taken a step by keeping the phone both sturdy and stylish. The handset is five-star overall drop resistance certified by Switzerland’s SGS. This seems to have been possible with the shock-absorbing material, called cushioning technology, which provides the display structural integrity against drops from up to 1.5 meters. The display is said to be protected 360 degrees on all six faces and four corners even on hard surfaces like marble, and without tempered glass. While I didn’t test that claim during my review period, we will be evaluating the smartphone’s structural integrity soon. So, stay tuned to 91mobiles social media channels for updates.

Despite the promised sturdiness, the handset doesn’t compromise on the looks. The Honor X9b exudes premiumness with its ‘luxury’ watch and jewellery-inspired circular camera module and vegan leather back. That said, the vegan leather back is exclusive to the Sunrise Orange colour variant. The phone also comes in a subtle Midnight Black hue, which features a matte finish instead of vegan leather. Nevertheless, the camera module on both variants is surrounded by two golden rings. The outer ring has ridges that enhance the prominence of the camera module, while the inner ring highlights the text ‘Matrix AI Vision Camera’ etched on the smartphone.  

Additionally, the handset flaunts a curved screen and a plastic frame. The phone is also quite sleek and lightweight, despite packing a beefy 5,800mAh battery. The smartphone weighs just 185 grams and measures 7.98mm in thickness. This makes the device comfortable to wield and hold for prolonged usage. The handset is protected against minor splashes, thanks to the IP53 rating.

Up front, the Honor X9b sports a 6.78-inch AMOLED display with 1.5k resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, 1920Hz PWM dimming, and 1200 nits peak brightness. There is a centre punch-hole for the selfie camera, but it doesn’t impact the viewing experience all that much. The handset comes with visibly thin bezels, but I have seen thinner bezels on smartphones within the segment. Nevertheless, you get an immersive viewing experience with crisp and vibrant colours, high contrast ratio, and good dynamic range. The viewing angles also remain respectable, and the outdoor visibility of the smartphone is acceptable. The 120Hz refresh rate works fine across UI and supported apps.

Sadly though, the Honor X9b only features a single bottom-firing speaker, which performs adequately but falls short of the immersive experience offered by phones with stereo speakers. If it helps, the X9b ships with wired earphones that are plugged into the USB Type-C charging port using the Type-C dongle provided in the box, for an enhanced listening experience. The earphones’ sound quality is passable.

Cameras

The primary camera on the Honor X9b is a large 108MP sensor, paired with 5MP ultra-wide lens and a 2MP macro unit. For selfies and video calling, the handset sports a 16MP snapper. The image quality is acceptable in areas with ample lighting conditions, especially from the main 108MP camera which outputs 12MP images by default. There is slight oversaturation, but the details are substantial. That said, the dynamic range could have been better. The primary camera is also capable of clicking portraits with good edge detection; however, it smoothens out the facial detailing and presents skin tones with high contrast.

As for the 5MP ultra-wide camera, it fails to capture crisp shots due to its low resolution. The colours also appear faded and there is a noticeable warping across the frame. Additionally, it only offers a 110-degree field-of-view (FoV), which is narrower than what most others offer. Lastly, the 2MP macro sensor disappoints as it’s challenging to avoid blocking light while taking shots from a mere 4cm distance. Consequently, it leads to hazy results, affecting the fine details of small objects.

Performance and software

The Honor X9b is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 SoC, which debuted in India earlier this year with Realme 12 Pro. It is a mid-range octa-core chipset with up to 2.2GHz clock speed, Adreno A710 GPU, and a built-in 5G modem. The SoC is paired with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of non-expandable storage. That said, the RAM is expandable virtually up to 8GB using a portion of the phone’s storage.

Starting with the benchmark scores, the Honor X9b achieves 4,84,172 points on AnTuTu. On Geekbench, it attained a score of 855 in the single-core test and 2,828 in the multi-core test. Regarding handling intense loads, the handset can perform at 83 percent of its peak performance per the CPU Throttle test. While these scores are marginally lower than those of the Realme 12 Pro, I’m pleased to report the handset performed satisfactorily in real-world usage.

Mind you, the handset is not being marketed as a performance-focused smartphone, yet it can handle most things. I did not face any app crashes or awkward freezes while using the smartphone for my basic activities involving streaming, browsing, navigation, and some gaming. I tested the phone’s gaming ability with the popular battle royale game BGMI. It ran the game well without becoming uncomfortably warm, albeit with some compromises. To maintain smooth performance, you’ll need to keep the game at moderate graphics and frame rate settings.

Software-wise, the Honor X9b runs Android 13-based MagicOS 7.2 out of the box. It is a slightly dated software, but the company claims a new update is coming. The handset is expected to receive two years of major software upgrades and three years of security updates. As things stand, the software is heavily customised and comes with some proprietary apps, including Honor App Market, Game Center, and Honor’s Email app, alongside the usual suite of Google apps. There are a few third-party apps as well, which can be uninstalled if they are of no use to you after the initial device setup.

Be that as it may, the software looks intuitive and easy to navigate. A top-down swipe from the right brings the control centre, while a similar swipe from the left brings the notifications panel. There is also an AI suggestions widget, among other things, on the home screen that suggests apps based on your activity for quick actions.

Battery and charging

Coming to one of the key USPs, the 5,800mAh battery on the Honor X9b is rated to last up to three days between charges depending on the usage. However, with my usage, I found myself looking for a charger by the end of the second day. If you are a slightly heavy user, you might have to charge the device at least once after a day and a half of usage. The screen-on-time I was getting was roughly around nine hours, which is impressive. What might not look impressive though is the PC Mark battery result and the charging speeds of the smartphone.

On the PCMark battery test, the handset could only score 13 hours and 34 minutes. This is lower than some of the smartphones with 5,000mAh battery in the same segment. When it comes to charging, the handset supports 35W fast charging. Sadly, there is no charger bundled in the box. The company will be shipping a 30W charger separately but only for a limited time.

That said, the charging speeds are quite slow on the smartphone. Even with the official 30W charger, the Honor X9b takes two and a half hours give and take to achieve a full charge from 0-100 percent. Slightly faster charging speeds would have been appreciated here.

Final verdict

The Honor X9b presents itself as an enticing smartphone, thanks to its durability, style, and formidable 5,800mAh battery. The handset also excels with its 120Hz AMOLED display and a 108MP primary camera, which shines in daylight. However, if you prioritise top-notch performance, faster charging speeds, and versatile camera setup, you may want to explore other options.

Some of the alternatives to consider are the POCO X6 Pro (review), Motorola Edge 40 (review), and Realme 12 Pro+ (review). The latter shines as a camera-focused device, while the Motorola Edge 40 offers clean software and some nifty features like an IP68 rating and wireless charging capabilities. The POCO X6 Pro, meanwhile, may not have the contemporary curved screen panel, but it stands out as one of the most powerful and feature-packed smartphones within the segment.

Having said that, the Honor X9b comes across as a suitable choice if you prioritise durability, battery life, and a commendable viewing experience. The handset is retailing in India at Rs 25,999. 

Editor’s rating: 7.5 / 10

Reasons to buy

• It’s a premium-looking smartphone with a ‘shatter-proof’ display.
• The display offers an enjoyable experience regardless of your activity.
• The battery life on the smartphone is quite promising.

Reasons not to buy

• The handset takes more than two hours to achieve a full charge.
• The cameras are not the best in class.

The post Honor X9b review: room for improvement, but very promising first appeared on 91mobiles.com.

When I first saw the trailer for Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, I was really excited as the game’s concept looks nothing less than a blockbuster formula. With Rocksteady Studios, which has previously delivered gold in the form of the Arkham series, at the helm and some of the most popular superheroes of the modern era, what could go wrong, right? Well… sometimes, even the best chef can’t make a good dish if the recipe isn’t right, despite having perfect ingredients. Before I dive deep and explain more, I would like to share the disclaimer that the game’s review code was provided to us by the publisher for PlayStation 5.

Campaign story

As you might have guessed from the name itself, the Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League campaign story revolves around the Suicide Squad – Harley Quinn, Captain Boomerang, Deadshot, and King Shark. The primary antagonist here is Brainiac, who manages to brainwash most of the Justice League members – Superman, The Flash, Green Lantern, and Batman. The Suicide Squad has been assembled here by A.R.G.U.S. director Amanda Waller to tackle this brainwashed Justice League. As the story progresses, the Suicide Squad searches for ways to kill the members of Justice League and the story ends up presenting some interesting plot points and characters.

For comic book fans, the story is a delight, and I genuinely found it to be interesting. While this is not a masterclass in storytelling, plot twists keep you on the edge of your seat and you are constantly entertained. The voice acting is consistently good, especially the posthumous performance from Kevin Conroy as Batman is a standout. Without giving away any spoilers, certain aspects of the plot seem a bit arbitrary and those could have been handled in a better way. But overall, the story campaign is worth playing.

Gameplay and combat mechanics

When I first started playing the game, I was genuinely excited as it showcased how the different characters possessed different abilities. Even while shooting, each character was provided with a different kind of default weapon and I was already thinking about how the game would leverage the unique powers to offer unprecedented gameplay. However, this excitement was short-lived as eventually, the game turned mostly about acquiring better weapons than making use of the unique abilities of the characters.

Once you get a grip on how each character moves around, the gameplay feels fluid and you can attack enemies in different creative ways, though there is a sense of repetition that lingers around. If you like hitting combos, you can go up to a whopping 50 (hard to achieve but doable). However, the anchor here is that the game focuses more on characters getting hold of better weapons rather than providing meaningful upgrades to their abilities. This creates a fundamental issue as most players playing this game would be interested in playing it because of the characters with their unique superpowers, but what you get is an experience that tries to level the playing field.  

Rocksteady earned its reputation in the industry with its melee combat in the Arkham series and here, it has switched to third-person shooting. With standard weapon choices, the developer doesn’t add anything new to this combat system and as a result, you could soon lose interest in continuing. If the game offered crazy weapons, which would have even been impacted by the character you are playing with, it had the potential to offer something extraordinary. But unfortunately, it doesn’t do that.

The only effort in this direction is the inclusion of Affliction Strikes, which add a new layer to melee attacks by offering unique properties. While such features can potentially make the game a bit overwhelming for some players, once you get the hang of them, these are fun to use and could set the direction for the game going forward.

World design and graphics

Set in Metropolis, the game looks drastically different from the Gotham portrayed in Arkham series and unlike the previous dark and gloomy approach, this time we are treated to a brighter cityscape. Now that the game has been out for some time, you might have already heard the criticism around the graphics in this game. Many players have posted comparison videos online featuring Gotham in Arkham City vs Metropolis in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, showcasing how the game released nine years later has inferior graphics and interactive elements. While this comparison does have some weight, it is important to keep in mind how different the approach to these two games has been. Arkham City was designed to be a much more compact experience, while the latter has been designed to be a game with live-service elements.

I think Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League has decent graphics, although I wouldn’t say it can compete toe-to-toe with some other recent games. As we are talking about a game with fast-paced action, the attention to detail has been invested more towards gameplay than graphics and interactive elements, but that’s something most players wouldn’t mind.

Live-service component

Single-player games, despite having a huge fan following, are a dying breed. Game developers have realised that in order to remain relevant for a longer time, a live-service component has to be a crucial aspect of their games. Following suit, Rocksteady has also added a live-service aspect to this game to encourage players to come back time and again for a long time after finishing the mainline story. Unfortunately, if we draw a comparison scale, it is closer to Marvel’s Avengers than Fortnite while delivering on this front.

As a looter-shooter, the game behaves exactly like any other game in this genre and that’s where it falls short of distinguishing itself through its amazing set of characters. In its current state, you might not feel compelled to come back every other day to this game but if Rocksteady decides to make certain changes with an update, this game could go a long way.

Verdict

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League comes with an engaging single-player campaign that could still leave the fans divided due to certain creative choices. However, the game’s massive potential is impacted due to the fact that the individual abilities of the characters are not used to their full potential. Currently, it feels like it is in a confused state of being where it is trying to play like other looter-shooter games and failing to distinguish itself with its amazing set of characters. I won’t go as far as to say it could be another Marvel’s Avengers as Rocksteady can still push updates to improve this game’s online component massively, but it needs to act fast.

Editor’s Rating: 7.5 / 10

Pros:

• Amazing set of characters
• Good story campaign
• Decent world design

Cons:

• Combat gameplay relies heavily on weapons
• Live-service mode feels bland

The post Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League review – a blockbuster that falls a bit short first appeared on 91mobiles.com.

The Realme 12 Pro series are the first phones in the numbered series from the brand to feature a telephoto camera lens. We’ve already reviewed the Realme 12 Pro+ (review) but as the standard Pro variant comes with an entirely different set of features, it is imperative that we now shift our focus to the Realme 12 Pro. Having spent more than a week with the new handset from Realme, I can now share my experience to help you guys figure out if this phone is worth your consideration. So, buckle up and dive into the detailed review below.

Verdict

Realme 12 Pro does a lot of things right and can easily be described as the best-designed phone in its price segment. The phone’s telephoto camera lets you click impressive shots and in terms of display and charging speed, the phone is as good as the competition. However, if performance is a vital aspect for you, it faces strong competition from the POCO X6 5G, which comes with a better processor.

Design and display

In terms of design, the Realme 12 Pro is not your run-of-the-mill mid-range smartphone by any stretch of the imagination. Improving on the foundation laid down by the Realme 11 Pro, the handset comes with a head-turning ‘Luxury Watch Design’ that has been developed in collaboration with International Luxury Watch Designer Ollivier Savéo. The Submarine Blue colour variant that we received looks gorgeous from all angles and comes with a golden fluted bezel around the camera setup, which gives it a distinct look. With a vegan leather back, the phone is easy to grip and doesn’t accumulate fingerprints, which is a huge relief in comparison to phones with plastic or glass back panels. With a thin curved frame, the handset is easy to hold and carry around too.

Moving on to the display, the 6.7-inch FHD+ (2,412 x 1,080 pixels) OLED panel comes with a punch-hole cutout and a smooth refresh rate of up to 120Hz. Thanks to a 240Hz touch sampling rate and an instantaneous sampling rate of up to 2000Hz, the phone feels quite responsive. While the display panel itself is quite vibrant and ensures you get an immersive experience while watching content, the peak brightness of 800 nits lets you down when you try to use the phone outdoors.

However, it is important to point out that using the phone indoors was quite enjoyable. Playing games such as Battlegrounds Mobile India and EA FC Mobile on the handset was a fun experience with its high refresh rate screen. The phone’s display also supports HDR10 and HLG, which allows streaming video content with a wide colour gamut from OTT platforms. Notably, in low-brightness conditions, the Realme 12 Pro 5G employs high-frequency 2,160Hz PWM dimming, which offers a 4.5 times increase in dimming efficiency compared to conventional 480Hz methods. In effect, this ensures colour accuracy in low light and works towards eliminating flickering. The PWM dimming mode is activated automatically when the screen brightness falls below 90 nits.

Overall, if we keep the peak brightness issue aside, I found the display quality to be quite impressive and despite its curved nature, the phone’s panel provided decent viewing angles.

Cameras

The Realme 12 Pro comes with an IMX882 50MP primary camera with OIS support. Its 1/2-inch sensor features a focal length equivalent to 26mm and an f/1.8 aperture. The brand says this lens is ideal for capturing expansive shots under both daylight and low-light conditions. With the large aperture, the primary sensor is said to permit ample light, improving image clarity. In my experience, the handset clicked some impressive shots in both daylight and low-light conditions. The handset captured details well and the colour reproduction was on point too. While I think the edge detection could have been better, the overall image quality was pretty decent.

The 32MP IMX709 telephoto camera with a 1/2.74-inch sensor on the phone enables 2x optical zoom, which allowed me to click detailed shots despite being some distance away from the subject. There is also a 4x Lossless zoom (In-sensor) feature on the phone but this feature didn’t work for me as well as advertised. The phone also comes with an 8MP ultra-wide camera sensor with a 112-degree field of view. In my experience, I found the shots clicked with this sensor to be slightly on the underwhelming side. 

Notably, the phone comes with three exclusive movie filters curated by Claudio Miranda, an Oscar Winner for Best Cinematography. These filters have been inspired by his work in popular movies. These are Journey Filter – ‘Life of Pi’, Memory Filter – ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’, and Maverick Filter – ‘Top Gun: Maverick’. While these filters do sound cool on paper, the eventual results were not drastically different than the filters that are most commonly available on other phones and on apps like Instagram. 

Realme says that with the OIS support, the phone improves videography output by providing stability. In my usage, I didn’t find that the videos shot with the phone were noticeably stable as there was considerable shake when the video was shot with hand.

The phone comes with a 16MP selfie camera and although it is capable of taking good shots in decent lighting, I wouldn’t say it offers anything that gives it an advantage above other phones in this price segment.

Performance and Software

Realme 12 Pro comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 chipset, fabricated on a 4nm process. This octa-core processor comes with four high-performance A78 cores, clocked at 2.2GHz and four efficient A55 cores, clocked at 1.8GHz. In our testing, the phone managed to get an AnTuTu benchmark score of 5,64,897, as you can see in the screenshot shared below.

In the Geekbench test, the Realme 12 Pro managed to get a single-core score of 930 and a multi-core score of 2,724. While these are decent results, it is important to note that the POCO X6 5G is available at a lower price point despite shipping with the more capable Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset, compared to the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 on the Realme offering.

Moving on to the CPU throttling test where the app runs 50 threads for 30 minutes on the phone, the Realme 12 Pro CPU throttled to 87 percent of its max performance in the test, which is impressive. 

Now that we have discussed numbers, let’s talk about real-world usage. I played several demanding titles on the phone and didn’t face any stutter issues or app crashes at any point. My gameplay experience was fairly smooth and with the support for a high refresh rate, using the handset was an absolute breeze. I didn’t even face any major heating issues despite playing demanding games on the phone for more than an hour.

While benchmarks are an objective way of telling whether a particular phone can perform better than the other provided the same set of tasks, I can easily say that you won’t face any issues with the performance offered by the Realme 12 Pro in real-world usage. 

Moving on to the software, the handset runs Android 14-based Realme UI 5.0 out of the box. The phone does come with some pre-loaded apps, but also some neat features. For example, Smart image matting lets you easily isolate and share subjects from your photos with other apps. Phonelink lets you seamlessly connect with Microsoft LTW (Link to Windows), simplifying device connectivity with just one click. There’s also File Dock, which lets you recognize and extract content like text, images, and links with a single click. Overall, the OS has some useful features that will increase your productivity.

Battery and charging speeds

The Realme 12 Pro comes with a 5,000mAh battery that supports 67W SUPERVOOC charging. I managed to charge the device from 0 to 100 percent in less than 45 minutes, which meant that I could simply plug it in before getting ready for the office and by the time I was ready, the device was fully charged. This made the process of charging extremely convenient for me, and the 5,000mAh battery capacity ensured that the phone lasted a normal day’s use with ease as it gave me around 6-7 hours of screen-on time.

However, if you play games on the phone, keep in mind that you will have to charge it by the evening. In the PCMark battery test, the phone lasted an impressive 15 hours and 13 minutes.

Final verdict

While the Realme 12 Pro offers good performance, it faces heat from the POCO X6 5G (review), which comes at a lower price point and a better processor. The 12 Pro’s telephoto camera also lets you click some incredible pictures. In most other departments – display, battery, and others, the phone fares well, but doesn’t offer anything that makes it particularly extraordinary. However, its highlight feature is its design, as this is easily the best-looking phone you can buy in this price segment… and that definitely makes worth a closer look.

Editor’s rating: 8 / 10

Reasons to buy

• The phone has a premium design with a vegan leather back and a luxury watch-inspired camera module.
• Realme 12 Pro comes with a vibrant curved display, which is great for binge-watching content.
• The 32MP telephoto camera clicks some impressive pictures.
• The phone can be charged up fully in less than 45 minutes with 67W fast charging.

Reasons not to buy

• The processor could have been better for the price.
• The display’s peak brightness is a letdown.

Key Specs

realme 12 Pro

RAM	8 GB
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1
Rear Camera	50 MP + 8 MP + 32 MP
Front Camera	16 MP
Battery	5000 mAh
Display	6.7 inches (17.02 cm)

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realme 12 Pro Price

View All

	Rs. 23,999.00	Go To Store
	Rs. 25,999.00	Go To Store

Competitors for realme 12 Pro

realme 12 Pro

vs

POCO X6 5G

realme 12 Pro

vs

Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro

The post Realme 12 Pro review: best-designed phone in the segment with some neat tricks up its sleeves first appeared on 91mobiles.com.

It seems like so far, AI has been like the elusive beast that everyone has been talking about but very few have seen. Samsung has taken the onus to tame this beast upon itself, so to speak, and that effort comes in the form of the Galaxy S24 Ultra, touted to be the first AI-first phone, along with its other siblings in the S24 series. Samsung being Samsung, has branded its bouquet of AI features as Galaxy AI, and promised that the same will be made available on 100 million devices this year. For the here and now though, the Galaxy S24 series, and its torchbearer, the Galaxy S24 Ultra, is where the focus is.

Such is the emphasis on AI this time that Samsung isn’t talking much about the specs at all, and instead, focussing on the AI features. Let’s put its intelligence, artificial or otherwise, to the test and see how it fares.

Verdict

AI features

Design and display

Camera

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs iPhone 15 Pro Max camera comparison

Software and S Pen

Performance and battery

Final verdict

Editor’s rating: 8.5 / 10

Reasons to buy

• The AI & productivity features make the Galaxy S24 Ultra a powerhouse
• The flagship offers strong performance and long battery life
• The display is among the best, while cameras are excellent
• The S Pen is super useful

Reasons not to buy

• Big and heavy
• Pricey
• AI features won’t appeal to everyone

Key Specs

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

RAM	12 GB
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
Rear Camera	200 MP + 12 MP + 10 MP + 50 MP
Front Camera	12 MP
Battery	5000 mAh
Display	6.8 inches (17.27 cm)

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Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Price

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	Rs. 112,500.00	Go To Store
	Rs. 129,999.00	Go To Store
	Rs. 139,999.00	Go To Store

Competitors for Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

vs

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

vs

vivo X100 Pro 5G

The post Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review: taming the AI beast first appeared on 91mobiles.com.