By Jaime Misalucha
Choose your wands … Phones, I mean! We may not be living in the wizarding world of Harry Potter. Still, if you think about it, we live in a world where people own a magic wand. But instead of being made out of wood and parts of mythical plants and animals, it is made of metal, plastic, and glass... Smartphones!
It wields magic as well! Be it in communicating, enhancing videos/images & accessing information. It can even magically get you food or a car/ motorcycle to bring you to your destination! But unlike the wands in Harry Potter, the wand in the real world does not choose its owner. It's the other way around.
So, for those of you who are on the hunt for a new real-world wand, here are some of the latest Smartphones in town:
Ruggedly handsome
The REALME 8 PRO is one slim and ruggedly handsome smartphone. At first, you might think it is fragile due to its thinness, but once you get used to holding it, it will be fine and would feel perfect in your grip.
Its back is what makes it handsome first because the back is not a fingerprint magnet at all! Second, its texture suggests that it is ready to join you in whatever crazy antics you plan on doing next. This includes the phrase "Dare to leap" written on the right side, back of the phone, as if daring you to take that risk.
Its camera also packs a robust set of lenses that will surely help you capture your life's adventures. Thanks to its 180 MP primary lens, even the slightest detail is captured clearly. Its video capture capability also offers many options. It even has Ultra Steady and Ultra Steady Max options to ensure that you can enjoy every footage you make.
Specs:
Phone Model: Realme 8 PRO
Network: GSM/ HSPA/ LTE
Display: 6.4in Super AMOLED
OS: Android 11, Realme UI 2.0
Memory: 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM w/ microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Chipset: Qualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G,
Camera:
Back: 108 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.3, 119˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP, f/2.4, (macro)
2 MP, f/2.4, (depth)
Front: 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.0", 1.0µm (located at the upper left corner)
Battery: Li-Po 4500 mAh
K-Pop Smartphone with a Heart
Of course, everyone will associate a Samsung phone with K-Pop since it is made in Korea! But one thing noticeable in the SAMSUNG GALAXY A72 is that the colors and even the make of the phone scream K-POP. Even the default color of the wallpaper and icons reminds you of it.
But what stands out the most about the SAMSUNG GALAXY A72 is that you can donate funds to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) just by charging your phone! Now that is a smart move for Samsung as everyone charges their phones at least once a day.
Specs:
Phone Model: Samsung Galaxy A72
Network: GSM/ HSPA/ LTE
Display: 6.7in Super AMOLED
OS: Android 11, One UI 3.1
Memory: 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM w/ microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Chipset: Qualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G (8 nm)
Camera:
Back: 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.7X", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS
8 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto), 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom
12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm
5 MP, f/2.4, (macro)
Front: 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm (located at the upper center of the screen)
Battery: Li-Ion 5000 mAh
Content Creator's Dream
Content creators will surely fall in love with the REDMI NOTE 10 PRO with its whopping 108 MP primary camera. It also has various movie effects to choose from to elevate your video content.
Its 6.7in screen with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 gives it enough screen to view your shots meticulously.
Its main camera can capture 4K video at 30fps and 1080p video at 30 or 60fps.While the front camera can capture 1080p video 30fps and 720p video at120fps. This will surely make your videos of high quality and super clear!
Specs:
Phone Model: Redmi Note 10 Pro
Network: GSM/ HSPA/ LTE
Display: 6.7in Super AMOLED
OS: Android 11, MIUI 12
Memory: 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM w/ microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Chipset: Qualcomm SM7150 Snapdragon 732G (8 nm)
Camera:
Back: 108 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, dual pixel PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
5 MP, f/2.4, (macro), AF
2 MP, f/2.4, (depth)
Front: 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm (located at the upper center of the screen)
Battery: Li-Ion 5020 mAh
Bringing sexy back
Stunning and sexy! This is what you will see when you look at the OPPO A94, specifically its fantastic purple variant, as it gives spectacular aurora borealis-like colors depending on how light hits it. Apart from that, its slim body reminds you of those supermodels strutting their stuff on a red carpet or a runway.
Specs:
Phone Model: OPPO A94
Network: GSM/ HSPA/ LTE
Display: 6.43in AMOLED
OS: Android 11, Color OS 11.1
Memory:128GB 8GB RAM w/ microSDXC
Chipset: Mediatek MT6779V Helio P95 (12 nm)
Camera:
Back:
48 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP, f/2.4, (macro)
2 MP, f/2.4, (depth)
Front: 32 MP, f/2.4, 24mm (wide)
Battery: Li-Ion 4310 mAh
Back to basics
If you want a more basic phone, then probably you will like the INFINIX HOT 10 PLAY.
But despite being a basic phone, its audio quality is something that stands out. This is because of the DTS Sound technology that even includes an accompanying app to set the audio to your liking further.
It also packs a 6000 mah Li-on battery that can be charged via a micro USB cable. But despite that, its 6.82in display gives it stunning viewability.
Specs:
Phone Model: Infinix Hot 10 Play
Network: GSM/ HSPA/ LTE
Display: 6.82in IPS LCD
OS: Android 10 (Go Edition), XOS 7
Memory:32GB 2GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM w/ microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Chipset: MediaTek Helio G25 (12 nm)
Camera:
Back: 13 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm, AF
Secondary unspecified camera
Front: 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide)
Battery: Li-Ion 6000 mAh
Nightcrawler's must-have
Love night photography? The TCL 10 5G is perfect for you. With its super night mode, images are crisp and clear, even in dark places. Here's a helpful tip: when taking a photo in a low light site, take a deep breath and exhale as you press the shutter button. That way, you are more steady and avoid camera shakes while keeping entirely still.
It also has a light trace feature for those light painters out there. This is a nice feature because this trick can typically be done if you know how to tinker with the pro mode of your phone's camera. With the light trace, you can capture movement (blur movements), Capture light (light trace, e.g., the light trail of cars), and Draw light like drawing your name in the dark.
Specs:
Phone Model: TCL 10 5G
Network: GSM/ HSPA/ LTE/ 5G
Display: 6.53in IPS LCD, HDR10
OS: Android 10, TCL UI
Memory: 128GB 6GB RAM w/ microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Chipset: Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm)
Camera:
Back: 64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
5 MP, f/2.2, (macro)
2 MP, f/2.4, (depth)
Front: 16 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
Battery: Li-Ion 4500 mAh
So, have you found your new wands from this list?
Smartphones nowadays are no longer just for status symbols. It has become a necessity for communication, entertainment, and more. Much like wands in the wizarding world, it is an essential tool in making magic and more.
Happy wand, I mean, phone hunting, everyone!