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5G in India: everything you need to know Jan 28, 2022

Show notes

When will 5G come to India? And what should I expect?

COAI director general Lt. Gen. Dr. S.P. Kochhar and Deloitte India telecom sector leader Peeyush Vaish join Gadgets 360 reviews editor Jamshed Avari and host Akhil Arora to offer their expert insight.

Expect an initial rollout by August 2022, Kochhar says, though it won’t be at the same time for everyone. After all, India needs 8 lakh new towers for 5G, in addition to 1.5 lakh we have today. Moreover, the approach must be different for rural vs urban areas.

Along the way, we delve into how 5G is a lot more than an upgrade to 4G. It allows for dozens of B2B applications (revenue for operators), and new government rules afford more freedom with B2C applications.

5G is set to change cars, gaming, weapon systems, telemedicine, and the Indian Railways. Fire up the episode to discover why. What you pay hence will depend on what you want out of 5G.

Beyond the obvious B2B and B2C, there are a lot of acronyms in this episode. Here’s a quick guide to the most used ones:

COAI = Cellular Operators Association of India
DoT = Department of Telecommunications
TRAI = Telecom Regulatory Authority of India
mmWave = millimeter wave spectrum (30 GHz to 300 GHz, between microwave and infrared waves)
eNB = eNodeB, type of radio base station
ARPU = average revenue per user
OTT = over-the-top (streaming services such as Netflix and Disney+ Hotstar)
TSP = telecommunications service provider (such as Jio and Airtel)

Follow Gadgets 360 on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Write to us at podcast@gadgets360.com

Chapters

Intro (00:00)
Rollout and hype (01:06)
What to expect (09:58)
Different models (16:46)
Tariff = apps (21:08)
5G use-cases (27:42)
And beyond (34:03)
Conspiracies (39:32)
Outro (45:10)

Cover credit: Z z. Photo credits: Ben Vaughn, Frederik Lipfert, Jakub Pabis, Lipfert, Ryland Dean, Vishnu Vardhan, Robert Gale

Headphones 101: what to know before you buy Jan 21, 2022

Show notes

Looking to buy new headphones? You have come to the right place.

Gadgets 360 audio guru Ali Pardiwala and Headphone Zone founder and CEO Raghav Somani join host Akhil Arora to offer up their expert advice.

We discuss the minimum you need to spend to get good earphones and headphones, why the Rs. 10,000 price bracket is really interesting, and what you get when you pay for top-end cans.

Read: The best active noise cancelling headphones and earphones in India

We dispel layman misconceptions along the way, from the promise of hi-res audio to why headphones that reproduce sound well aren’t always the best.

We also briefly dive into the world of drivers — don’t worry we won’t put you to sleep.

Along the way, we tell you what you should avoid, and what you can get at different price points, as we namecheck several models that are the pick of the lot.

Read: The best true wireless earphones in India

Follow Gadgets 360 on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Write to us at podcast@gadgets360.com

Chapters

Intro (00:00)
What our experts want (00:22)
The entry level (04:21)
The next level (09:46)
Something for everyone (18:01)
Talk drivers to me (21:49)
The best you can buy (25:54)
Hi-res audio? (30:34)
What to avoid (34:52)
Outro (36:59)

Cover credit: Luke Peterson. Photo credits: Yu Hai, Ali Pardiwala/Gadgets 360, Nothing, Hostaphoto, HifiMan, Pardiwala/Gadgets 360, Apple, Lee Campbell

OnePlus 9RT, Samsung Galaxy S21 FE, and the trend of stop-gap budget flagships Jan 14, 2022

Show notes

The Galaxy S22 and OnePlus 10 series are nearly here. Why then are we getting new entries in the old series?

Gadgets 360 deputy reviews editor Roydon Cerejo and senior reviewer Sheldon Pinto join host Akhil Arora to discuss the Galaxy S21 FE and OnePlus 9RT.

Read: Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G first impressions: riding the wave

We put the new Samsung phone up against the S20 FE — Samsung is switching from Snapdragon to Exynos here — and talk about why that might be a better option.

Later, we wonder how the launch of 9RT will impact the OnePlus 10 series, why the OnePlus 9 is effectively dead, and touch upon OxygenOS being taken over by ColorOS.

Read: OnePlus 9RT 5G first impressions: a beautifully crafted powerhouse

Along the way, we delve into why these new Samsung and OnePlus phones are launching now — and the alternatives you might wish to consider.

Follow Gadgets 360 on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Write to us at podcast@gadgets360.com

Chapters

Intro (00:00)
Shared thinking (00:27)
S21 FE vs S20 FE (05:01)
Where the fans? (11:18)
A complete package (14:26)
Destroying the 9 (19:07)
Made for India (25:04)
Less Oxygen (28:39)
Outro (33:12)

Photo credits: Roydon Cerejo/Gadgets 360

Inside Xiaomi 11i HyperCharge 5G and Xiaomi India’s 2022 plans — Orbital exclusive Jan 05, 2022

Show notes

Xiaomi is kicking off 2022 with the 11i HyperCharge 5G that offers 120W fast charging. Wait, what?

Xiaomi India chief business officer Raghu Reddy, senior marketing manager Sandeep Sarma and product marketing manager Rahul Dubey join Gadgets 360 reviews editor Jamshed Avari and host Akhil Arora to take us behind the scenes.

We discuss why Xiaomi is pushing for the bonkers 120W figure, how fast charging — sorry, HyperCharge — works on the 11i, concerns around battery safety and longevity, and why wireless charging is lagging behind.

Along the way, we delve into what Xiaomi India learnt from 2021, how user demands and component price increases are changing the phone industry, and whether Xiaomi India will continue to offer 4G phones.

Follow Gadgets 360 on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Write to us at podcast@gadgets360.com

Chapters

Intro (00:00)
Xiaomi’s 2021 in India (00:31)
What sells, what’s desired (04:34)
5G vs 4G phones (10:23)
The 11i HyperCharge (13:24)
120W fast charging (18:37)
Charging curve (22:32)
Safe, for long (27:18)
Where did wireless go? (30:26)
Looking ahead (34:05)
Outro (36:27)

Photo credits: Xiaomi

Best Games of 2021 Dec 31, 2021

Show notes

It’s been a big year for gaming, be it the next-gen consoles, industry malpractice revelations, or the games themselves.

Gadgets 360 chief sub-editor and gamer Shayak Majumder and industry insider and Orbital veteran Rishi Alwani join host Akhil Arora to talk about the year of 2021 in gaming.

Read: Gadgets 360’s favourite games from 2021

We discuss our favourite games from the year that was, the struggles to get your hands on a PS5 and Xbox Series X in their first year of launch, and how that’s likely to change in 2022.

We also touch upon the various reports of sexual harassment and abusive workplaces at major gaming studios. And we close out by discussing our hopes and dreams for 2022.

Follow Gadgets 360 on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Write to us at podcast@gadgets360.com

Chapters

Intro (00:00)
Our favourites (00:44)
Cross-play still lag (07:34)
Next-gen consoles (15:01)
Demand is there, but… (20:21)
Bombshell issues (26:28)
Exciting for 2022 (33:52)
Outro (48:21)

Photo credits: Aneesh Arora, Square Enix, Rockstar, Akhil Arora, Bloomberg, Xbox. Cover composite: Akhil Arora/Gadgets 360

How Oppo Find N improves over Galaxy Z Fold 3 Dec 24, 2021

Show notes

A new foldable is in the house, though sadly it won’t be in stores anytime soon.

Gadgets 360 deputy reviews editor Roydon Cerejo and senior reviewer Aditya Shenoy join host Akhil Arora to talk about the Oppo Find N.

We discuss how the Find N compares to the foldable leader, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3. The hinge sits flush and offers multiple angles, the battery is bigger, and the display is shorter but wider (less annoying black bars in video).

Read: Oppo Find N first impressions

But it lacks an IP rating, ample software optimisation, and under-display camera (though that is good). Some of that is because the Find N is only launching in China. That said, it does have gestures and intuitive tricks like the Fold 3.

Along the way, we delve into its many cameras, and speculate why Oppo is not bringing the Find N to India.

Follow Gadgets 360 on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Write to us at podcast@gadgets360.com

Chapters

Intro (00:00)
vs Galaxy Z Fold 3 (00:24)
Hinge and heavy (07:06)
UI and UX (12:40)
Premium and solid (17:02)
The cameras (20:55)
Why it’s not in India (24:22)
Outro (30:32)

Photo credits: Roydon Cerejo/Gadgets 360

The Best Phones of 2021 Dec 17, 2021

Show notes

The end of 2021 is nearly here, and it’s time to take a look back.

Gadgets 360 reviews editor Jamshed Avari, deputy reviews editor Roydon Cerejo, senior reviewer Sheldon Pinto and techARC founder Faisal Kawoosa join host Akhil Arora to talk about the best phones of 2021.

We discuss if phones have become boring: 5G chips are leading to feature compromises, supply chain constraints mean brands have to play it safe, and the industry has become increasingly commoditised.

Read: The best smartphones of 2021

That said, there is innovation happening in foldables, with Samsung leading the charge. And despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, buyers inched upwards the premium ladder in 2021, Kawoosa notes.

Along the way, we touch upon the best phones that didn’t make it to India, and delve into what we want and expect from smartphones in 2022.

Follow Gadgets 360 on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Write to us at podcast@gadgets360.com

Chapters

Intro (00:00)
Are phones boring? (00:28)
Trends, trends (03:37)
Older is better (08:42)
Best budget (10:31)
Why so similar? (12:55)
Premium shift (16:53)
Moving upwards (19:09)
The missing (21:47)
Incremental iPhones(25:08)
The best Android (28:42)
2022 expectations (30:26)
Outro (34:10)

Cover credit: Roydon Cerejo/Gadgets 360. Photo credits: Aditya Shenoy, Cerejo/Gadgets 360, Google, Samsung

Why does Redmi Note 11T 5G exist? Dec 10, 2021

Show notes

It’s only been five months since the Redmi Note 10T, and its successor is already here.

Gadgets 360 senior reviewer Aditya Shenoy and deputy reviews editor Roydon Cerejo join host Akhil Arora to talk about the Redmi Note 11T 5G.

We discuss why Redmi — along with its parent Xiaomi and the likes of Realme — refresh their phones so soon, how different models of different phones overlap one another, and hence why there isn’t much to set them apart.

Read: Redmi Note 11T 5G review

But the Note 11T is also hobbled due to other factors. With chip shortages and supply chain constraints driving the price of components up, Redmi has had to compromise on features here.

For one, we’re going from a 120Hz AMOLED to 90Hz LED display. And while the Note 10T could record 4K video, the Note 11T can’t. And it only has dual cameras at the back, which can be enough but they aren’t here.

Is this what happens when manufacturers go all out on a new-age 5G chipset?

Follow Gadgets 360 on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Write to us at podcast@gadgets360.com

Chapters

Intro (00:00)
10T to 11T in months (00:18)
T for technology?! (02:46)
Overlaps, compromises (04:36)
Refreshing too soon (08:22)
Dual cameras (12:36)
Older is better? (18:29)
5G cutbacks (20:25)
It’s all marketing (26:17)
MIUI 12.5 (27:21)
Outro (28:15)

Photo credits: Aditya Shenoy/Gadgets 360

Snapdragon’s new 2022 chips Dec 03, 2021

Show notes

Qualcomm Snapdragon is now simply Snapdragon, as the company looks to new frontiers and rebrands itself in more than one way.

Gadgets 360 reviews editor Jamshed Avari and senior reviewer Sheldon Pinto join host Akhil Arora to talk about Snapdragon’s new 2022 chips.

We discuss why Snapdragon is shifting to the 8 Gen 1 nomenclature (it ran out of numbers?), what its new 18-bit ISP camera tech means for most users, and whether it can deliver on some suspect AI-based features it’s touting.

We touch upon Snapdragon’s renewed push for Windows on ARM with 8cx Gen 3. While Apple is now all in, it hasn’t worked out historically on Windows. The 5nm chip — available in the first half of 2022 — looks promising though, as always.

We delve into Snapdragon’s new (handheld) gaming ambitions with the G3x. This seems like a response to Nintendo Switch (Nvidia) and Steam Deck (AMD) where Qualcomm clearly missed the boat. First, it needs to create a market for itself among developers.

And we close out by addressing the elephant in the room — if you’re going to talk about chips today, you have to talk about the great chip shortage. When will it end?

Follow Gadgets 360 on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Write to us at podcast@gadgets360.com

Chapters

Intro (00:00)
8 Gen 1?! (00:21)
Camera tech (06:56)
It’s in the chip (14:31)
8cx Gen 3 (18:19)
5 nanometer (22:38)
G3x for gaming (23:46)
Chip shortages (30:25)
Outro (32:55)

Photo credits: Qualcomm

Black Friday + Cyber Monday 2021: all you need to know Nov 26, 2021

Show notes

The American holiday season is in full swing — and it’s time for deals galore. Gadgets, clothes, subscriptions, you name it.

Gadgets 360 community manager and deals expert Harpreet Singh joins host Akhil Arora to talk about all things Black Friday 2021.

We discuss how you can shop Black Friday deals while sitting in India, the things you should know about shipping and customs, and the best product categories that are worth exploring.

Read: The best Black Friday 2021 deals

We touch upon the early Black Friday deals we have seen at Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, and Target — and the plethora of video gaming offers from Xbox, PlayStation, Steam, and Epic Games that are also available.

Along the way, we look at why you shouldn’t hang around too long on a good deal this year, and what you can expect from Black Friday’s counterpart Cyber Monday.

Follow Gadgets 360 on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Write to us at podcast@gadgets360.com

Chapters

Intro (00:00)
What is Black Friday? (00:22)
How can India shop? (02:14)
The varied routes (03:58)
Customs, customs (06:10)
Ship with travellers (08:12)
Deals, deals, deals (09:54)
Best for India (13:12)
Cyber Monday! (15:52)
Tips and advice (17:29)
Outro (20:19)

Photo credit: Karolina Grabowska from Pexels

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