Smartphone

Xiaomi had a goal in mind with the release of the new Mi A2 Lite. That goal was simple, to reach new markets beyond those that are classified as its official focus, but it also meant retiring the MIUI. Xiaomi first entered the market with an android one smartphone, and as they work to replace it, they will be replacing it with two new models.

One of those is the Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite, and the other is the Mi A2. The Mi A2 Lite is perfect for those on a budget but want to have a high-quality smartphone that operates with the vanilla Android OS operating system, which is the latest offered. It includes a high-resolution screen and a dual-camera, and its notched screen is one of its best features and gives it a modern appearance. The Mi A2 Lite also includes the Snapdragon 625, and while it may be somewhat dated, it is still a powerful chipset and very capable hardware that is suitable for the cost conscious consumer.

Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite Specs

When looking at its specs, there is plenty to get excited about. This includes the use of an aluminium body and plastic strips on the back of the phone that act as its antenna. Its display is 5.84” in size and its 1,080 x 2,280px resolution is more than enough to offer clear and high-def images.

Added to the Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite is a rear camera that provides high-resolution images thanks to its 1.25µm pixel size and 1080p@30fps video quality. The front camera also features the same 1080p@30fps video quality, its battery offers long-life thanks to its 4,000mAh Li-Po, and it further includes a rear-mounted fingerprint reader for security.

While its overall design was put together to maintain a lower cost, those features that are included are well thought out. The main drawback, especially for those wanting the latest and most significant is the Snapdragon 625 as this is two-year-old technology. However, for many, this is not overtly relevant and not a determining factor when purchasing a new device, so it really not an issue to be concerned about.

What is important to know is that the Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite was initially released in China, and for many in other parts of the world, the Xiaomi name is one not known. However, they should not deter you from choosing it or investigating if this is the right and affordable smartphone for you. The Redmi 6 Pro was Xiaomi’s first release, and the company clearly focused on the Chinese market. The Xiaomi Mi A2 on the other hand, for those with little knowledge of this company, has Google backing it and will be released worldwide, and that is a substantial achievement for a relatively new player in a packed market.

It’s commonplace that smartphones have an impressive camera and camera quality. The quality of the camera is one of the top determining factors in what cellphone that you are going to choose, and that is understandable considering the average time of keeping a smartphone ranges from a year to three years and the act of taking selfies and photos of your daily life is just as commonplace in today’s generation.

On the one hand, tech-savvy people are probably well off and know exactly what they are looking for in a smartphone camera. Those are the people that understand the terminology perfect and could prebaby talk to you about the specs for hours. However, many are completely clueless about what factors they should look for in a camera in your smartphone. Which is why we listed a few of the key things to keep in mind while choosing your next smartphone and rating the camera.

The Aperture

Many of the top names in the smartphone industry, mainly Apple and Samsung are known for their wider than average lens apertures, which is why the photos typically come out better and in an HD quality. To put it in a way that more people would understand, the lens aperture is responsible for things such as the blurred background that can be created in the iPhone 8 or the Samsung Galaxy S9. This could be especially beneficial for photographers who need their phones to have a string camera as well.

Screen Size

Since this is a smartphone camera, the size of the screen is basically your entire viewfinder. Though this is a simple concept to understand, the larger the screen, the more of the photo you will be able to capture and see. There is one thing to look out for in particular, that being if the smartphone’s glass if crafted from Gorilla Glass. If it is, it will be way more resistant to the scratches that can occur daily. You should also check out the resolutions as the higher the number, the clearer the photo.

The Lens and Zoom Capabilities

Nowadays in smartphones, having a high-quality lens and zoom is just as vital as the IOS on the phone itself. Plus, with having the goal of a sleep phone design, the zoom does take a hit, which means that many smartphone developers are focusing on the usage of wide-angle lenses. One downside that is nearly impossible to miss is that the zoom capability on most phones is subpar and will not result in a clear photo needed.

Video

Having a phone that can record clear videos is another plus. The video capabilities can usually be seen with the overall specs, though the higher the video quality, the better the videos will come out. The ideal which is seen in more phone is having somewhere between 720 and 1020 – 1020 usually be found on the most expensive smartphones.

Finally, a phone that demonstrates everything a mobile of the future can be and with Vivo’s Nex it all starts with the full HD+, bezel-less Super AMOLED 6.59-inch display and resolution of 1,080 x 2,136 pixels. It offers a clean look with no front speaker grill cluttering the front, while a powerful 845 Qualcomm Snapdragon processor powers it and the fingerprint reader is assimilated into its screen.

It is simply sensational to look at, and therefore the Vivo Nex is a great conversation starter as people love the idea of a pop-up camera that won’t break. The drawbacks of the Vivo Nex is the fact that it is available in only a few countries and that it is a clumsy clone of the iOS operating system. The Nex is currently available in Russia, China, Hong Kong, India and will soon arrive in Taiwan although an official date has been announced. The Vivo Next is priced at 3,898 yuan that converts to AU$775, £440 or $575. It is not cheap yet when placed next to the Oppo Find X, the Nex impress hugely and demonstrates what the phones of the future could look like with its speaker grill a moving camera. It is not one of the mainstream mobile devices, and therefore the Vivo Nex is perfect for anyone who wants to stand out in a crowd.

Vivo Nex Hardware Specs

• Display: 6.59-inch
• Resolution: 1,080 x 2.316 pixel
• Pixel Density: 388 ppi
• Dimensions: 6.38 x 3.03 x 0.31(in)
• Dimensions: 162 x 77 x 8 (mm)
• Weight: 7.02 (oz)
• Weight: 199 (g)
• Software: Android 8.1 Oreo
• Camera: Dual 12- Megapixel
• 5- Megapixel
• Front Facing Camera: 8-Megapixel
• Video Capture: 4K
• Processor: 2.75GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
• Storage: 128GB, 256 GB
• RAM: 8 GB
• Expandable Storage: None
• Battery: 4,000 mAh
• Fingerprint Sensor: under the screen
• Connector: USB-C
• Headphone jack: Yes
• Special Features: Pop-Up Camera for selfies, gesture control

For many, the 8-megapixel camera that pops up when a selfie is a need is the main attractions, especially since the sturdy mechanism makes it unlikely to break. The under-screen fingerprint sensor is yet another piece of brilliant engineering although the scanner is a bit slower that could become frustrating. To offer users a full-screen experience, the Vivo Nex removed the front speaker and voice calls is made via the screens linear vibrator that transmits sound via the screen. While having a motorised camera is fantastic the Vivo Nex phone is a bit heavier and could feel a bit clunky, and the voice assistant named Jovi only understands Mandarin. The battery life lasts for up to 22 hours easily while the phone apps load fast, and its photo quality never fails to impress.

It’s undeniable, we have encountered the common issue of dealing with your mobile device when it’s slowly dying. When you’re at home, its never an issue as you can easily just grab a new cord, plugin, and save your device from dying. Although once you’re out and about it becomes a new challenge of dinging an outlet, a cord, and hopefully avoiding the back screen of death that every mobile devises user hate. Since smartphones have become the norm, the battery life of these devices has always been in question and manufacturers are finally listening and are changing the game to increase the battery life hopefully.

Why Has This Area Been Lagged In?

This is typically not done on purpose as you must take into consideration a few other factors. Such as design for example. Apple and Android devices have always tried to push the sleek, sexy, and thin device body which makes your mobile feel as if it can fit anywhere without hassle. A thicker smartphone simply has the space to handle a powerful battery while thinner phones are forced to make do with a thinner battery.

Secondly, smartphones have been made to be as efficient as possible, meaning that they are laced with all sorts of features to enhance the usage of them. For example, IOS devices have a plethora of additional features on to pf the needed apps, which takes up battery life even faster when you are constantly using it. Plus, having a display that is vibrant and fast responses takes up even more battery life than originally thought. Lastly, the battery’s that are used in smartphones have not seen a major upgrade in the last three decades. While the technology does get upgraded to fit newer models, the capacity is always going to be limited due to the size and its capabilities – which doesn’t really fault the smartphone creators.

What are manufactures Trying to do?

No matter the provider of the smartphone. Apple, Android, Windows or some other third-party option. Solving the battery issue is always going to prove to be a challenge due to the previously mentioned reasonings above. Smartphones and batteries will always have a complex relationship as the bigger battery means a thicker phone must be created. Or keeping the sleek look means that the battery will always be limited in some way.

Although, this is not limited to your smartphones, as tablets and laptops face the same issues at times. It isn’t likely that one provider is going to magically come up with a solution to the problem in the next few years. You can make simple changes to help increase the longevity of your battery life. The main one is to look at which apps and services are taking up the most power and slow down your usage of them while you’re out and about. Plus, turning on any additional power saving modes may prove to be useful as they automatically will have the same effect. Or simply just bringing a portable charger that has enough power to charge a laptop can prove to be helpful as you won’t have to worry about the issue too much in the first place.

Mobile devices are far from phones these days, they phenomenal all-in-one devices consisting of the best camera’s, storage devices, entertainment hotspots, your office in your pocket and can even allow a virtual visit to casinos at any time of the day or night. Due to how much mobile phones have changed the world, there are many brands in competition to create the perfect mobile phone and one of the strong market competitors is the Google Pixel 2.

In an attempt, to create a true iPhone competitor, Google’s Pixel 2, is also well equipped to give other smartphones a run for their money, including the Samsung Galaxy S9. Google centres more on the delivery of the purest, instead of top-tier specs. It’s a sophisticated Android experience fitted with one hell of a camera. There are still some of the areas of the phone that could improve according to experts, although this phone has earned a lot of praise.

Google Pixel 2 Design

When it comes to the design of the Pixel 2 device manufactured according to Google’s design by HTC, with a hint of the Taiwanese firm’s DNA present. The Google Pixel 2 is and feel quite different from any other Android. The Pixel 2 constructed in aluminium, while its back textured, provide the ultimate grip, which is far grippier than the shiny aluminium or glass back used by others and not slippery at all. The phone has one major advantage and that is that it does not pick up fingerprints, and even though it looks like the effect might scratch off, it will remain a matter of time to find out if it is the case indeed.

The main question on everyone’s mind is whether the Google Pixel 2 would become the ultimate smartphone to suit users budget. A glass shade, just like the first Pixel, fitted above the metal camera, which covers the flash and sensor. Aside from adding contrast to the metal, it is where all the Wi-Fi and cellular antennas live, which gives plenty of space for connectivity and all hope is based that the glass panel won’t be as prone to scratching as the first.

Like other flagship mobile phones, the Google Pixel 2 is water-resistant and IP67 rated, with the headphone jack removed users are ensure waterproofing. One reason to get excited about is the screen, the Pixel 2 uses a 5-inch, 1080p AMOLED panel that is stunning offers perfect black, saturated colours and excellent contrast over LCD. The Pixel 2 offers warm shades, so the whites could have a slight orange to it, while it offers no option to adjust the colours of the display and might be a problem for mobile users who prefer cooler colours. There are some great deals available on the Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL and while it is not a deal breaker these do no support the ability to playback content from Netflix.