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New smartphone allows users to shoot sharper selfies and binge watch shows

LESS than six months ago, we checked out Samsung’s Galaxy M30S for this column. It stood out in the sub Rs 15,000 segment with a vibrant display, a dependable camera (in most scenarios) and a robust battery — probably its biggest win. Samsung has just unveiled the Galaxy M31, the successor to the M30S; the big update here is the camera.

New smartphone allows users to shoot sharper selfies and binge watch shows
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Chennai

The M31 adds an extra lens (it’s now a quad cam; the M30S featured a triple rear cam) and also bumps up the primary lens to 64 MP (up from 48 MP). It makes this one of the better cams in the sub Rs 15,000 price band. The rear cam also includes an 8MP ultra-wide angle lens (with a 123-degree field of view), a 5MP Macro lens and a 5MP depth lens. We’re fans of the macro lens and the possibilities it opens up for photo buffs. It’s not just the rear cam that is enhanced, the selfie cam now features a 32MP lens and shoots sharper selfies.

If you like to play catch up on your favourite shows on the move, the 6.4-inch FHD+ Infinity U display is a good option. This vibrant display boasts of a peak brightness of 420 nits and is backed by a solid 6000 mAh battery. This is our favourite feature of the M31, battery life is stellar and might last most average users up to two days. It makes the phone a tad heavy; but if battery life is your biggest purchase consideration, then this might be a worthy trade-off. We checked out the Space Black variant, there’s also an Ocean blue colour option. 

The device looks elegant but the plastic back loves smudges and fingerprints. In terms of hardware, the device is powered by the same Exynos 9611 processor as the M30S but gets an extra 2GB of RAM. This should please most average users. It’s the battery, the rear cam and the display that make the Galaxy M31 one of the better devices in its price band. (Rs 14,999 onwards)

Pioneer DMH-Z5290BT: If you’re looking at upgrading your car audio system, Pioneer’s newest launch for the Indian market is worth checking out. It features a 6.9-inch wide display with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. Other connectivity options include smartphone videos via WebLink, Full HD video playback via USB and compatibility with Spotify. The DMH-Z5290BT features a 13-Band EQ for advanced audio settings, three-way network mode, and an advanced sound retriever for superior sound output.

Casio PRO TREK Smart WSD F20: Casio’s new hybrid smartwatch is targeted at outdoor enthusiasts. There are two variants that both find the balance between style and outdoor performance and are water resistant (up to 50m). The watch uses an advanced GPS function to display the current location on a colour map. Maps are available for offline use, perfect if you’re on a trek at a remote location. Miniature sensors that measure altitudes, atmospheric pressure and directions are combined with a variety of versatile apps to support a host of outdoor activities.  (Rs 30,000 onwards)

(Ashwin Rajagopalan is a lifestyle writer and consumer technology expert. Catch the latest digital and tech updates in this weekly column.)

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