Let's Talk Tech
The Pixel 6 Pro is finally in my hands!
I’m literally MINUTES into setting it up, and getting the phone out of the box. I have some thoughts to share about this phone already. There’s a TON of pressure on Google to deliver. Let’s chat quick about what we should expect from a new phone launch… Continue reading “Pixel 6 Pro: So much is riding on this one phone…”
Vivo X70 Pro+ Camera Review!
Vivo delivers one of the most ambitious smartphone cameras of the year. Despite some irritating software issues, the pure hardware advantages here are formidable. Phones are quickly becoming the starter cinema cameras for upcoming generations of film makers.
Can this phone satisfy content creators and story tellers?
Let’s take a look! Continue reading “Vivo X70 Pro Plus Camera Conclusion: Ambitious”
Infinix Note 11 Pro first look!
It’s a LOT of hardware for the cash! BIG screen with 120Hz. BIG battery with a low power SOC. BIG camera numbers. Let’s take a look at a phone that has the BIG numbers for not a lot of cash! Continue reading “Infinix Note 11 Pro: Budget Beauty”
There’s an interesting thing happening in phones, a quiet trend of product differentiation. Likely a factor influenced by component shortages, and at the same time, a more competitive market than many enthusiasts might assume.
In the gadget lab, I have two phones from Vivo. They’re both called “X70 Pro”, but one is a “Pro” and the other is a “Pro+”. There are numerous small differences between the two phones, but one significant difference, SOCs from two completely different chip suppliers. The Pro+ is using the best Qualcomm has to offer, a Snapdragon 888+. The Pro is equipped with the best chip available from MediaTek, the Dimensity 1200.
Vivo has accomplished something impressive, that these two phones “FEEL” like members of the same family. That said, we do get to take a look at how these kinds of hardware differences can impact performance.
Here are the Vivo X70 Pro and X70 Pro+ by the benchmarks! Continue reading “vivo X70 Pro+ and Pro By the Benchmarks: An Exercise in Restraint?”
Smartphone camera gimbal or a gimbal INSIDE your phone?
An impressive feature to include on a phone camera, let’s see how smooth we can shoot when on the go!
vivo includes sophisticated hardware, so let’s see how that footage stacks up against an LG gimbal camera! Continue reading “DO YOU Need a Gimbal INSIDE Your Phone? vivo X70 Pro vs LG Wing!”
MY FIRST vivo PHONES!
X70 Pro and Pro+ are in the GadgetLab! We’re doing this!
I LOVE premium phones that deliver a specific focus. Vivo’s partnership with Zeiss delivers one of the most feature complete camera platforms I’ve ever used on a smartphone.
It’s a video FULL of firsts! My first vivo! My first phone with a Snapdragon 888+! My first phone with a Dimensity 1200!
Thankfully, no matter which SOC you choose, you’re going to get a monster performer built for content creation. We’re only just starting. Let’s dig in! Continue reading “vivo X70 Pro+ vs X70 Pro: Zeiss Cameras LET’S GO!”
I’m not going to buy the iPhone 13.
I won’t be reviewing the iPhone 13.
If you’re curious why, let’s chat.
A camera isn’t the same thing for every consumer.
Even though standalone cameras have become less popular for consumer point and shoot use, we still see an incredible variety of hardware and form-factors. There is no universal agreement on what a camera “is”. People still have entirely unique needs where those differences matter to the individual.
This isn’t just some oblique idea of specialty or “pro” use. At a basic level, someone’s specific needs will be better fulfilled by a tool designed for those needs.
Yet in the world of smartphone camera reviewing, we crouch a significant portion of the conversation behind some idea of “The Avuraj CunZoomer™”. We build phone camera conversations around a fallacy that there is some common or objective agreement on what a camera SHOULD be.
It’s only at the most regressively basic level that we might find some agreement.
You should be able to push a button that results in an image being captured.
Beyond that, cameras should specialize. We should see different pros and cons. That’s what makes cameras exciting. Continue reading “How techies get phone camera reviews wrong…”