Let's Talk Tech
Razer Edge vs Steam Deck! Let’s GO!
A mobile gaming showdown is ALWAYS fun. Steam Deck is winning the hearts of PC gamers. Can the Razer Edge convince YOU to switch platforms? It’s time for a showdown! Continue reading “Razer Edge vs Steam Deck: Can Android Topple PC Gaming?”
Following another RAGING ear infection, I’m finally back and healthy. Time to shove MORE EARBUDS IN MY EARS!
And I finally get to revisit a surprising premium True Wireless bud. My friend Jeff at ElJefeReviews sent the NuraTrue Pro my way, and this elicited a really surprising reaction from me on first listen.
You can LITERALLY see that reaction in my podcast, where I set them up live.
Then my ear infection flared, and I spent two months keeping IEMs and tips out of my ears.
Finally getting that inflammation to calm down, I was really excited to take the NuraTrue for a spin again. They do not disappoint. Continue reading “NuraTrue Pro True Wireless Earbuds: I said “Wow” out loud…”
Vivo iQOO 11 performance review!
The new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is here! iQOO has one of the first phones out with this new SOC, and it’s a CRAZY performer! Let’s see how the iQOO 11 compares to the iQOO 9T and iQOO 9 Pro! It’s the 8 Gen 2 vs the 8 Gen 1! Spoiler alert, the 8 Gen 2 wins!
2023 is going to be a great year for enthusiast phones! Continue reading “Vivo iQOO 11 SHOWDOWN! Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 App and Gaming Performance! It’s the real deal!”
SOC SHOWDOWN!
Let’s get nerdy with some silicon announcements! Qualcomm vs MediaTek vs Google! We have a better idea of what chips will be in our phones for the first half of 2023. What makes them different? How will we grade them for performance? Will it matter to consumers what chip is in their phones?
Let’s dig into the specs and take a look! Continue reading “Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 vs Dimensity 9200 vs Tensor 2! What we know so far…”
We’re more than halfway through 2022, and it’s time to take a look at premium phone performance!
The Snapdragon 8 Gen1 has been a controversial chip for expensive Android phones. Qualcomm used ARM reference designs to build a powerful System on Chip. Samsung was responsible for producing the chip on Qualcomm’s designs. Then, manufacturers build phones around those power and thermal specifications.
That thermal conversation has been a challenge to track this year. The Snapdragon 8 Gen1 is a powerful chip, but it’s a finnicky performer if thermals and battery life aren’t handled appropriately.
This SOC arrived at the same time as some significant changes to Android. The way Android 12 handles storage reduces performance for numerous apps and services. Years of my benchmarking results on older phones are no longer directly comparable to current phones with Android 12 and newer.
Phones released in the first half of 2022 are a unique group of devices.
More powerful (but hotter) CPU and GPU, balanced against performance sapping software.
The refreshed Snapdragon 8+ Gen1 is starting to ship in new phones for the second half of the year. ARM is improving the power efficiency, Qualcomm is refining the design, and TSMC is replacing Samsung for the chip fabrication.
We’ll see where these companies are improving later in the year. We’ll get to see if the 8+ Gen1 runs cooler. We’ll get to see if app developers are taking better advantage of this SOC performance.
Let’s look at some benchmark scores! Continue reading “Summer 2022 Snapdragon 8 Gen1 Performance Round Up!”
I’m always going to be excited by better competition.
In 2019, the mobile landscape was dominated by Qualcomm and Apple SOCs at the premium tier of phones and tablets. HiSilicon’s Kirin was facing issues due to political pressures placed on Huawei. MediaTek maintained a respectable reputation as a mid-range and entry-level chip provider.
We didn’t have much choice in what powered more expensive gadgets.
Flash forward two years, we’re starting to get some insight on what will power devices in 2022, and this market is a LOT more exciting.
MediaTek took the wraps off a premium tier competitor. We’re about to hear more from Qualcomm’s Snapdragon team. Apple’s A15 is solidly refined over the A14. Google launched their first custom chip with the Pixel 6.
A stale landscape has exploded, and more companies are rumored to be designing their own solutions over the next several years.
When it comes to pocketable portable performance, we just have one small issue…
Power. Continue reading “Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, Dimensity 9000, and the Problems with POWER”
This video is sponsored by Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.
What is Snapdragon Sound? I sat down with Sarah McMurray, Sr Mgr, Product Marketing, Qualcomm Technologies International, Ltd. to talk about high fidelity, major improvements coming to Bluetooth, and when new headphones will be available. From true wireless to active noise cancellation, Sarah talked us through the next phase of audio certifications from Qualcomm. Plus we answered questions from Snapdragon Insiders around the globe! You want the scoop on next gen audio? We’ve got it!
It’s been great to collaborate with Qualcomm and their new Snapdragon Insiders community, created for tech enthusiasts who deserve something extra. They’re among the first to celebrate, engage with, and experience the latest in what Snapdragon has to offer. This includes news, announcements about Snapdragon-enabled devices, and access to small-group interactions with content creators and Qualcomm experts.
Learn more about Snapdragon Insiders: https://www.qualcomm.com/snapdragoninsiders Continue reading “Snapdragon Sound Explained! An interview with Qualcomm about next gen wireless audio!”
Two phones of the same name!
The T-Mobile version of the Velvet uses a different processor than other 5G versions of the phone, but what does that mean? MediaTek? Qualcomm? Snapdragon? Dimensity? Let’s see how these two phones REALLY compare!
It’s time for a showdown! Continue reading “Is the REAL LG Velvet on T-Mobile? MediaTek vs Qualcomm!”