Dwayne Johnson, his wife Lauren Hashian and daughters test positive for COVID-19

Taking to Instagram to inform his followers, Dwayne said in the video, "I wanted to give you guys a little helpful update on things that have been going on on my end for the past two-and-a-half to three weeks now. So the update is this: my wife Lauren as well as my two baby girls and myself, we have all tested positive for COVID-19."

"I could tell you that this has been one of the most challenging and difficult things we have ever had to endure as a family, and for me, too, personally as well," he continued. "And I've gone through some doozies in the past."

"Testing positive for COVID-19 is much different than overcoming nasty injuries, or being evicted, or even being broke, which I have been more than a few times," he said adding that his, "No.1 priority is to always protect my family. And protect my children, my loved ones."

"I wish it was only me who tested positive, but it wasn't, it was my entire family, so this one was a real kick in the gut. But I am happy to tell you guys that we as a family are good. We're on the other end of it, we're on the other side. We're no longer contagious, and we are — thank God — we are healthy."

We are counting our blessings right now because we're well aware that it isn't always the case that you get on the other end of COVID-19 stronger and healthier. I have had some of my best friends have lost their parents, their loved ones, to this virus that is so incredibly relentless and unforgiving, and it is insidious. So for our babies, Jazzy and Tia, they had a little sore throat the first couple of days, but other than that, they bounced back and, and it's been life as normal, happy babies running around and playing," the actor further said.

"The other thing is to wear your mask, we have been in quarantine for months, we wear our masks every day," Johnson said. "This baffles me that some people out there, including some politicians, will take this idea of wearing a mask and make it a political agenda of a political agenda, politicizing. It has nothing to do in politics."

"So wear your masks. I'm not a politician. I am a man though, who cares about my family deeply and will do everything I can to protect them. But I'm also a man who cares about all of you guys. I don't care what political party you're affiliated with. I don't care what part of the world you're from. I don't care what your skin color is, what your job is, what your bank account says. I don't care. I do care about all of them. And I do not want you or your entire family to get COVID-19," he further said in the video. "Remember these takeaways that I shared with you and stay healthy, my friends, and I'll see you down the road."

He captioned the video message, "My message to all of you around the world -

Stay disciplined.
Boost your immune system.
Commit to wellness.
Wear your mask.
Protect your family.
Be strict about having people over your house or gatherings.
Stay positive.
And care for your fellow human beings.

Stay healthy, my friends."

Dwayne Johnson and Lauren Hashian celebrated their one-year wedding anniversary in August.

How to Turn Your 'Dumb' Television Into a Smart TV

Unless you're a steadfast supporter of regular cable and direct-to-home TV programming and services, you would've have noticed that a lot of new content depends on the Internet. Although you do have access to a wide variety of programming through your regular set-top box, you're missing out if you don't get on board the streaming revolution. Many of the best TV shows and movies are now found online, and often available exclusively via streaming services like Netflix, Hotstar, and Amazon Prime Video.

Even if you're sold on the concept, the problem now arises with your screen. Sure, your smartphone supports popular streaming services, and the reducing cost of mobile data means its affordable as well. But what if you don't want to watch your video content on a small screen? What if you could use your TV?

You can indeed, thanks to smart TVs. These connect to the Internet to give you access to streaming services through apps, in much the same way that a smartphone, tablet or computer would. But not everyone owns — or can afford — a smart TV. How do you get access to these services on your big screen then? Our guide will help you with just that.

ALSO SEEEverything You Need to Know About Smart TVs

 

The best way — a streaming stick or dongle

The easiest and most effective way to add smarts to your dumb TV is a good streaming stick or dongle. There are numerous options in this category, all offering different features and abilities that let you connect to online services.

Listing out your specific requirements will help you choose the best streaming stick or dongle for you. For this, you should figure to what kind of content you want, which will help you pick the best device for you. For example, if you watch a lot of content on Amazon Prime Video or Netflix, the Amazon Fire TV Stick range might be ideal for you. On the other hand, if you have a lot of Apple devices, you might prefer the Apple TV range for its seamless ability to interface with your iPhone or Mac computer. Similarly, if you have an Android phone to use as a controller, you could use a Chromecast.

ALSO SEEThe Best Media Streaming Devices for Your TV

Some of these high-end devices may be able to draw power from one of the USB ports on your TV itself, while others may need to rely on a wall adapter to draw enough power. You'll therefore have to make sure you have either a free USB port or a wall socket for the adapter.

If all you need is a device to cast content or mirror the screen of your Android smartphone, you could potentially make do with one of a number of Chromecast ‘clones' available both online and offline. These plug into the HDMI port on your TV and add Miracast support, letting you directly mirror the screen on your Android smartphone or cast the screen from a number of apps, including Netflix and VLC Media Player.

Some of these devices can be purchased for under Rs. 1,000, turning your smartphone or computer into the controller and provider of internet connectivity to your TV. And if you can buy devices from abroad, you have various options such as the Roku Streaming Stick+ and Xiaomi Mi TV Box to choose from as well.

The most affordable way — good-old cables

The most affordable way to add smarts to your dumb TV is one that not a lot of people think of straightaway, but it seems rather obvious in hindsight. However, it isn't the easiest or most clutter-free way to do things. At a very low cost — or free, if you already have the necessary cables lying around at home — you can add basic smarts to your TV. The easiest way is to use an HDMI cable to connect your laptop to your TV, and mirror or extend the laptop screen onto the TV this way.

The advantages of this method are that it is extremely affordable, and gives you the full power of your computer on the large screen. If your laptop has an HDMI-out port, all you need is a standard HDMI cable; decent options cost as little as Rs. 300. If you use a laptop that doesn't have an HDMI port — a MacBook Air, for example — then you may have to spend a bit more on the right cables or adapters. Ease of use is another key advantage; you only have to plug the cables in and switch to the right source on your TV to mirror your screen.

With this, your TV is effectively connected to the Internet (through your laptop, of course). You can now use your laptop as a controller and fetch whatever content you want, which can be downloaded, through specific apps or even an Internet browser. The same technique can work with many smartphones as well, assuming that you have the right cables and the device itself allows its display to be mirrored over HDMI.

Cables and adapters are also available for connecting USB Type-C/Thunderbolt or Lightning-compatible devices to TVs through the HDMI port, which offers the ability to connect compatible smartphones and laptops to the TV. The cable you use entirely depends on the device you intend to use as a source, since you'll have to ensure it adheres to the ports you have available and the compatibility of the feature.

The biggest disadvantage of this method is the cable itself; it can be messy, inconvenient and cluttered. In an age where technology is increasingly finding ways to do away with wires, using long cables will come across as a rather low-tech method of doing things. And of course, having your laptop or smartphone screen mirrored on the TV can be inconvenient in different ways — everyone looking at your TV will be able to see your notifications and private conversations. Not to mention you won't be able to control your laptop while sitting on the couch unless you throw in really long cables or additional accessories into the mix.

The most feature-filled way — game consoles

Here's another method that might also seem obvious in hindsight: use a modern gaming console. If you have a Sony Playstation 4 or Microsoft Xbox One (or any of their different variants), you can use these as smart streaming devices. These consoles connect to the internet and have apps available for many of the streaming services. These include Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Spotify, YouTube, Plex, and Twitch, to name a few.

Of course, the biggest advantage of using a gaming console is the gaming, which makes it a much more feature-filled device. If you already have one, we suggest you simply install the right apps on it and make your TV smart, rather than look at any other method to do so. If you're starting from scratch, a game console is a rather expensive way to add smart features to your TV. If you aren't a gamer at all, it might be better for you to have a streaming device or use cables, as mentioned above.

The flip side — when you shouldn't bother making your dumb TV smart

While we've covered the process of explaining what a smart TV is and how you can make a dumb TV smart, it's also worth exploring whether you really even need a smart TV. The answer to this depends on your viewing habits, and what you're looking for from your TV.

Most of the best content today — including popular TV shows, movies and other programming — can be found online, to the point where a lot of new shows and movies are being produced by online streaming services and are released exclusively online. Furthermore, the internet is the best way to access 4K content, with set-top boxes largely limited to full-HD content. Popular shows such as Sacred Games, Jack Ryan, Narcos and The Grand Tour are examples of content that can only be accessed in India using streaming services. If this is what you're looking for, you should make your dumb TV smart.

ALSO SEEEverything You Need to Know About Smart TVs

On the other hand, if you have a small TV, don't find too much time to watch TV, or usually stick to regular programming available on cable or DTH connections, you may not need a smart TV at all. For example, if all you really do is watch the news or sports, you'll find a cable or DTH connection adequate. Even if you do have the occasional need for a smart TV, it may make sense to use the cable option for those occasions, rather than invest in a dedicated streaming stick or console.

Furthermore, there are a couple of reasons to not make your TV smart. The first applies to the actual smart TVs themselves; software updates are often slow or non-existent on many smart TVs. This will cause the TV to have performance or security issues over time, and it's perhaps a better idea to not invest in a smart TV at all.

The second is about privacy. Connecting any TV to the Internet opens up the possibility of your viewing data being used in ways you may not like. This can include selling your data to advertisers, which can then use your viewing habits to target specific ads to you. It can also be worse, where a TV with a webcam or attachable camera can then be used to spy on you in your home. The safest way to protect your privacy with regards to your TV is to keep it disconnected and functional only as a screen with local content sources.

The Best Media Streaming Devices for Your TV (September 2020)

 A lot of people might be happy with watching regular TV programming using a set-top box, and indeed the quality of content on most TV channels is much better today than it was a few years ago. Movies, sports, music and the news are all there, but the biggest problem with this method of accessing content remains the schedule. You need to tune in at the right time, or make do with whatever is playing when you do tune in.

However, many are now opting for a more convenient way to watch video content — streaming. The easiest way to access video content is through an app on your smartphone, which can either use mobile data or connect to Wi-Fi to access the content you want. But the biggest issue with that is the screen —it's too small and doesn't make for a great viewing experience.

That's where streaming devices come in. These small gadgets only need power and a Wi-Fi connection to fetch online content from free and premium streaming services, letting you access a massive catalogue of quality video content that includes TV shows and movies, while enjoying the viewing experience on your big-screen TV.

Update: We've updated this list in September 2020 to add the Mi Box 4K and Mi TV Stick, which were recently launched in India and are now our top picks among Android TV-based streaming devices. The rest of our picks remain the same as in our previous update, as no other noteworthy options have launched since then.

Why should you buy a streaming device?

The best reason to buy a streaming device is to enjoy on the big screen the wide variety of content on offer on streaming services right now. While a lot of really good TV shows and movies can be viewed on traditional cable or DTH TV, some of the best new TV shows are being released by streaming services that double-up as production houses; shows such as Narcos, the innovate interactive film Black Mirror: Bandersnatch and The Grand Tour, as well as movies such as Bird Box and Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle were released exclusively on streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

Furthermore, popular shows such as Game of Thrones can be watched first on streaming services, even before they are aired on TV in our country. Apart from these, there are also numerous other popular shows and movies that are available to watch on-demand on streaming services, so you can choose when to watch whatever you want to watch. The shutting of movie theatres due to the Covid-19 pandemic has also seen major releases such as Gulabo Sitabo go straight to streaming platforms.

You can even pause when you need a break, or watch an entire series in one go rather than wait and watch an episode every week. The idea of streaming suits anyone with a busy and unpredictable lifestyle.

Streaming devices only need a good Internet connection at home and the right TV to make the most of the features of whatever device you buy. If you have a 4K HDR TV, it would make sense to opt for a device that supports 4K streaming. It's also worth picking your device based on the streaming services you intend to access; make sure the services you use most often have proper apps on the streaming device you pick.

The best streaming device: Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K

With an excellent interface, good apps for most popular streaming services, and the ability to stream 4K and HDR content, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K has practically everything you need at what we consider to be a very reasonable price tag of Rs. 5,999.

Although the Fire TV Stick 4K does tend to promote content from Amazon Prime Video for obvious reasons, you do have access to other services as well. This includes Netflix, JioCinema, Hotstar, Gaana, Sony Liv, Voot, Zee5, NDTV, Huffington Post and Washington Post, to name a few.

Some of these services allow users to access to content for free, while others may need you to be subscribed to a paid plan. Amazon Prime Video, the primary content platform on the Fire TV Stick, is itself a paid service as part of the Amazon Prime subscription.

Once you've subscribed, you also have access to Amazon Prime Music, and can stream music directly on the Fire TV Stick to be played on your TV. Additionally, the Fire TV Stick includes an excellent remote that is Alexa-enabled, letting you give voice commands to fetch video and audio content quickly.

There is a growing catalogue of 4K and HDR content, including popular shows such as The Grand Tour, Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Electric Dreams, as well as content made for India such as Mirzapur and Comicstaan, along with lots of regional movies and TV shows. You can also install a play games on the Fire TV Stick range.

Perhaps the biggest weakness of the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is the lack of a proper YouTube app. There is an app that functions as a web browser and loads up a web version of YouTube optimised for TV viewing, which works for the basics. However, if you tend to view most of your online content on the free and extensive YouTube platform, the Fire TV Stick 4K may not be the best option for you.

If you don't have a 4K or HDR TV, you might prefer the regular Amazon Fire TV Stick. It's slightly older, a fair bit more affordable and offers the same interface and apps as the 4K version. Of course, you can't stream 4K and HDR content with resolution limited to full-HD, but this is a non-issue if your TV doesn't have the capabilities. The regular Fire TV Stick is priced at Rs. 3,999 and has one advantage over its more expensive sibling - you can directly mirror your smartphone's screen onto your TV using Miracast, if the feature is supported by your phone.

UPDATE: The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K also now supports screen mirroring through Miracast.

 

We recommend

• Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K with All-New Alexa Voice RemoteUHD and HDR streaming across various platforms at a great price

  ₹5,999 
  

 

Runner-up: Apple TV 4K

Many argue that the Apple TV range performs better than the Amazon Fire TV Stick range, and we tend to agree. Picture quality, stability and smoothness of the interface are superior on the Apple TV in our opinion, but the high price of the Apple TV range is what brings it down to runner-up status. The Apple TV 4K is priced at Rs. 15,900 for the 32GB version, going up to Rs. 17,900 for the 64GB version, making it close to thrice the price of the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K.

If you have other Apple devices, this pricing premium could be worth it for you. With support for Airplay, you can quickly and smoothly mirror your Mac or iOS device's screen on your TV using the Apple TV. Furthermore, with the Apple TV 4K, you can access 4K and HDR content from providers that support it, which includes iTunes Movies, Netflix and Amazon Prime Video in India. If you depend on YouTube, the Apple TV range does have an official app; 4K streaming isn't supported, though.

Others apps are supported as well, including Hotstar, JioCinema, The Washington Post, NDTV, Sony Liv and Zee5, among others. Like the Fire TV Stick, you can also play games on the Apple TV, with a bigger and better catalogue of games available as compared to the Fire TV Stick. And just as the Fire TV Stick lets you stream music from Amazon Prime Music, the Apple TV lets you access your Apple Music subscription to stream audio tracks.

If you don't have a 4K TV, you can also opt for the Rs. 12,900 Apple TV 4th Gen, which streams at up to full-HD resolution and offers largely the same experience as the 4K variant. However, the general high pricing of the product range makes the Apple TV ideal only if you are highly invested in the Apple ecosystem and don't mind spending a bit more on the device itself.

 

We recommend

• Apple TV 4K (64GB)Best performing streaming device overall, but very expensive

  ₹19,480  ₹19,480 
  

 

Also consider: Xiaomi Mi Box 4K and Mi TV Stick

We've seen a bunch of Android TV-powered streaming devices launch in recent months, the best of which is the Xiaomi Mi Box 4K. This Rs. 3,499 streaming device plugs into an HDMI port on your TV and runs Android TV 9 Pie, giving you access to various apps and games from the Google Play store on the big screen. Unlike Google's own Chromecast series, this is a standalone streamer that functions independently and is controlled using its own remote; you don't need to use a smartphone or tablet as a controller.

If you want something a bit more affordable, smaller, and better suited to full-HD televisions, the Mi TV Stick is a worthwhile device. Priced at Rs. 2,799, the Mi TV Stick tops out at full-HD resolution, and is ideal if you have a smaller television. Like the Mi Box 4K, it runs Android TV 9 Pie and gives you access to apps and games in the Google Play store.

Most popular streaming services are accessible through the Mi Box 4K and Mi TV Stick, with 4K and HDR content supported only on the former. Both are affordable and capable devices that not only serve to make a dumb TV smart, but can also improve the smart TV experience if your TV doesn't support certain apps or is no longer receiving firmware updates. Priced at Rs. 3,499 and Rs. 2,799 respectively, the Mi Box 4K and Mi TV Stick are both great ways to get started with streaming.

 

How we picked the best streaming device

There aren't too many streaming devices available in India, with the three options above being the only noteworthy devices that you can officially buy in the country. Between these options, most popular streaming services are available through official apps or compatibility.

We've also extensively used these products ourselves, and have crafted our recommendations based on our experiences with the products and what we believe are the best in terms of value-for-money and functionality

Alternatives to these streaming devices

There are various streaming devices available, with many of the most affordable options essentially enabling screen mirroring from smartphones or computers. If you have the option to shop outside India, options such as the Roku range or NVIDIA Shield TV might also be worth considering.

Recent months have seen the launch of affordable compact streaming devices such as the MarQ by Flipkart Turbostream and Airtel XStream Stick. Both of these devices run on Android TV, with the Airtel device further offering access to the Airtel XStream platform. Such devices will come in handy if you don't have a smart TV, or aren't very happy with the smart interface of your existing TV.

You can also use a gaming console to stream, with modern consoles such as the Sony Playstation 4 and Xbox One X coming with dedicated apps for streaming services. You can also buy a smart TV with a good operating system, and not have to buy a streaming device at all.

Finally, using an HDMI cable to connect your laptop or computer to your TV is the most affordable and arguably easiest way to add smarts to the big screen. You can simply load up content through dedicated apps or a browser on your laptop, and watch it on your TV.

Phone Under 30000: The Best Mobile Phones You Can Buy In India [August 2020 Edition]

 The sub-Rs. 30,000 smartphone segment just got a lot more exciting, as we've had two big additions from Realme and OnePlus. The Realme X3 series, which includes the standard Realme X3 and the Realme X3 SuperZoom, offers powerful specifications and impressive telephoto cameras for the price. OnePlus finally launched its much-hyped Nord smartphone, making it the company's second attempt at selling a more affordable model (the OnePlus X being the first). Vivo also recently introduced the V19, which received a favourable rating in our review. These new phones join an existing list of great offerings under Rs. 30,000, which we have updated as well, taking into account any price changes.

Best phones under 30,000

Phones under Rs. 30,000	Gadgets 360 rating (out of 10)	Price in India (as recommended)
OnePlus Nord	9	Rs. 24,999
Realme X3 SuperZoom	9	Rs. 27,999
Vivo V19	8	Rs. 24,999
Realme X2 Pro	9	Rs. 29,999
Redmi K20 Pro	9	Rs. 24,999
Asus 6Z	8	Rs. 27,999
Oppo Reno 3 Pro	8	Rs. 29,999

OnePlus Nord

The OnePlus Nord is a new budget offering from OnePlus, which manages to deliver a similar Android experience as the OnePlus 8, but at a more affordable price. OnePlus has kept all the staples such as the AMOLED display, Warp Charge fast charging, and a big battery in the Nord. However, it has made some cuts when it comes to the SoC and the build quality. The OnePlus Nord still has glass on the back, but instead of a metal frame, it's plastic.

The SoC used is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, and not an 800-series chip as we're used to seeing. However, the Nord does support 5G, which is a cool bonus. As an overall package, it's really hard to find fault with the OnePlus Nord. App and gaming performance is good, it captures good photos and videos in daylight, and the display supports HDR10+.

Low-light image quality suffers a bit, but that's pretty much this phone's only major weakness. Battery life is very good and the single speaker gets decently loud. One impressive feature of the OnePlus Nord is its ability to shoot selfie videos at 4K 60fps, which is something even the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro can't do.

OnePlus Nord

• REVIEW
• KEY SPECS
• NEWS

• Design
• Display
• Software
• Performance
• Battery Life
• Camera
• Value for Money

• Good
• Built well, comfortable design
• 90Hz AMOLED display
• 5G-ready processor
• Good daylight camera performance
• Solid battery life

• Bad
• Average low-light image quality

Read detailed OnePlus Nord review

Also See

• OnePlus Nord (8GB RAM, 128GB) - Gray Onyx - SOLD OUT
  ₹27,999
• Samsung Galaxy A70s (8GB RAM, 128GB) - Prism Crush Red - 
  ₹25,540
• Samsung Galaxy A51 (8GB RAM, 128GB) - Blue - 
  ₹25,999
• Oppo Reno 3 Pro (8GB RAM, 128GB) - Midnight Black - 
  ₹27,490

Realme X3 SuperZoom

The Realme X3 SuperZoom is a powerhouse of a smartphones. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ is more than capable of handling anything thrown its way. It has a sharp display, a big battery, and a quick fingerprint sensor embedded in the power button., The highlight feature of this model is of course its telephoto camera.

The Realme X3 SuperZoom can do 5x optical zoom and a total of 60x digital zoom, which is impressive for a phone priced under Rs. 30,000. The rest of the cameras perform well under good light too. Realme has also added a lot of night shooting modes to play with, which is a great value-add for night photography lovers. The Realme X3 is identical to the SuperZoom model in every way except for the cameras. The standard model can only do 20x hybrid zoom and has a 16-megapixel main selfie camera, instead of 32-megapixels on the SuperZoom model. Apart from these differences, both phones are identical.

Even though we haven't reviewed this more affordable model yet, the rest of its features and performance should be very similar to what we experienced with the X3 SuperZoom, so we can say it's worth considering if you're on a tight budget.

Realme X3 SuperZoom

₹27,999

Buy

• REVIEW
• KEY SPECS
• NEWS

• Design
• Display
• Software
• Performance
• Battery Life
• Camera
• Value for Money

• Good
• Great zoom performance in daylight
• 120Hz display
• Excellent app and gaming performance
• Solid battery life
• Good build quality

• Bad
• Cameras struggle in low light
• No stereo speakers

Read detailed Realme X3 SuperZoom review

BUY AT

• Realme X3 SuperZoom (8GB RAM, 128GB) - Arctic White
  ₹27,999
• Realme X3 SuperZoom (8GB RAM, 128GB) - Glacier Blue
  ₹27,999
• Realme X3 SuperZoom (12GB RAM, 256GB) - Glacier Blue
  ₹32,999

Vivo V19

The Vivo V19 is a new addition to Vivo's V-series this year, and it boasts of good features such as a modern design, AMOLED display, and a big battery. It also takes very good selfies during the day, and in low light, it can use the brightness of the screen to help illuminate your face for better looking selfies.

The only real bottleneck is the SoC. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 712 SoC is not bad but at Rs. 24,990 for the base variant, it's quite underpowered. Other than this, the V19 is a good-looking smartphone. It has dual front-facing cameras, an in-display fingerprint sensor, and a large 4,500mAh battery. The version of Funtouch OS that you get on the V19 is a big improvement over previous versions, as it fixes many of the interface niggles we've noticed for a while.

Overall, if you're not into gaming or a heavy multitasker, then the Vivo V19 is still a good buy as it does well in other areas such as photography and multimedia playback.

Vivo V19

₹24,990

Buy

• REVIEW
• KEY SPECS
• NEWS

• Design
• Display
• Software
• Performance
• Battery Life
• Camera
• Value for Money

• Good
• Solid design
• Crisp AMOLED display
• Good selfies
• All-day battery life

• Bad
• Weak processor
• Preinstalled bloatware
• Expensive
• Low-light video performance

Read detailed Vivo V19 review

BUY AT

• Vivo V19 (8GB RAM, 128GB) - Mystic Silver - 
  ₹24,990

Realme X2 Pro

The Realme X2 Pro does a little bit of everything right at a fraction of the price of a real flagship. It has a big 6.5-inch full-HD+ AMOLED display with an in-display fingerprint scanner and a 90Hz refresh rate. It is well designed and feels a lot more expensive than it actually is. Realme has also tossed in a 4,000mAh battery that delivers excellent battery life. That's not all, this phone comes with a 50W fast charger that is capable of topping the device up in about 31 minutes.

It also gets the flagship-grade Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ SoC and has three variants: 6GB of RAM with 64GB of storage, 8GB of RAM with 128GB of storage, and 12GB of RAM with 256GB of storage. The 6GB/64GB variant was introduced post-launch and is now retailing for Rs. 29,999. Earlier, the 8GB/128GB variant was priced at Rs. 29,999, but following the GST hike, it has gone up to Rs. 31,999.

The Realme X2 Pro has a quad-camera setup and is capable of taking good photos in different lighting conditions. We had an issue with the low-light video quality of this device, and we also found that it heats up a little when subjected to load.

Realme X2 Pro

₹28,899

Buy

• REVIEW
• KEY SPECS
• NEWS
• VARIANTS

• Design
• Display
• Software
• Performance
• Battery Life
• Camera
• Value for Money

• Good
• Premium build quality and design
• Stereo speakers sound good
• Smooth app, gaming performance
• Good battery life, super-fast charging
• Vivid 90Hz display

• Bad
• Heats up under load
• Low-light video quality isn’t great

Read detailed Realme X2 Pro review

BUY AT

• Realme X2 Pro (6GB RAM, 64GB) - Neptune Blue - 
  ₹28,899
• Realme X2 Pro (6GB RAM, 64GB) - Lunar White - 
  ₹29,998
• Realme X2 Pro (8GB RAM, 128GB) - Lunar White - 
  ₹31,000

Redmi K20 Pro

The Redmi K20 Pro is one of a few smartphones launched with flagship-grade processors for under Rs. 30,000. A Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 SoC powers this device, and it also packs in a 4,000mAh battery. The Redmi K20 Pro has a pop-up selfie camera which means the big 6.39-inch display doesn't have a notch. The 20-megapixel selfie camera pops up for selfies and face recognition. The mechanism is a little slow and might need some patience on your end.

The battery life of this phone is good and it could easily go on for one and a half to two days. There is support for 27W fast charging but Xiaomi only bundles an 18W charger in the box. The Redmi K20 Pro has a triple camera setup at the back and takes good photos. We found that 4K video wasn't great though.

The Redmi K20 Pro recently received a promotional price drop for the base model, to Rs. 24,999. This price cut was supposed to be in effect till July 13, but the phone is still selling for that much on Mi.com, which is good to see.

Xiaomi Redmi K20 Pro

₹23,849

Buy

• REVIEW
• KEY SPECS
• NEWS
• VARIANTS

• Design
• Display
• Software
• Performance
• Battery Life
• Camera
• Value for Money

• Good
• Excellent performance
• Very good battery life
• Versatile cameras
• Great value for money

• Bad
• 4K video quality could be better
• Slow front camera pop-up mechanism

Read detailed Xiaomi Redmi K20 Pro review

BUY AT

• Xiaomi Redmi K20 Pro (6GB RAM, 128GB) - Carbon Black - 
  ₹23,849
• Xiaomi Redmi K20 Pro (6GB RAM, 128GB) - Glacier Blue - 
  ₹23,900
• Xiaomi Redmi K20 Pro (6GB RAM, 128GB) - Pearl White - 
  ₹24,279

Asus 6Z

The Asus 6Z is the successor of the Asus ZenFone 5Z and brings a rotating camera module to the table. This camera module is unique to the Asus 6Z and lets you use the same dual-camera setup to take regular photos and selfies. Since it does not have dedicated selfie cameras, there is no notch on the front and you get a big display without any obstructions. The Asus 6Z also sports a big 5,000mAh battery which isn't very common on flagship smartphones.

Powering the Asus 6Z is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 SoC. There are three variants of the Asus 6Z: 6GB of RAM with 64GB or 128GB of storage, and 8GB of RAM with 256GB of storage. The Asus 6Z gave us a 14 hour 22 min loop test time which isn't great, but the phone can offer a day and a half of use.

The Asus 6Z only has two cameras and they are quite capable. Daylight performance was impressive, and since the camera flips for selfies, these were just as good. Low-light performance was slightly disappointing. At Rs. 27,999, the Asus 6 does offer a flagship experience at a bargain.

Asus 6Z

• REVIEW
• KEY SPECS
• NEWS
• VARIANTS

• Design
• Display
• Software
• Performance
• Battery Life
• Camera
• Value for Money

• Good
• High quality notchless screen
• Excellent performance
• Useful software features
• Good quality selfies

• Bad
• Disappointing low light camera performance
• Face recognition is slow

Also See

• Asus 6Z (6GB RAM, 64GB) - Matte Black - SOLD OUT
  ₹27,999
• Samsung Galaxy A70s (8GB RAM, 128GB) - Prism Crush Red - 
  ₹25,540
• Samsung Galaxy A51 (8GB RAM, 128GB) - Blue - 
  ₹25,999
• Oppo Reno 3 Pro (8GB RAM, 128GB) - Midnight Black - 
  ₹27,490

Oppo Reno 3 Pro

Oppo Reno 3 Pro is the newest smartphone on this list. It sports a 6.4-inch AMOLED display along with an in-display fingerprint scanner. Oppo has picked the octa-core MediaTek Helio P95 SoC to power this smartphone. It also has 8GB of RAM and there are two storage options, 128GB and 256GB.

The Oppo Reno 3 Pro has a 4025mAh battery and support for 30W VOOC charging. At the back, it sports a quad-camera setup with a 64-megapixel primary sensor. At the front, this phone has a 44-megapixel selfie shooter along with a 2-megapixel depth sensor. We found photo quality to be good in daylight conditions and average in low light although there's a night mode that helps you take better shots. Low-light video recording was a little disappointing.

Battery performance on the Oppo Reno 3 Pro was good, and the phone lasted us for about a day and a half easily before needing a charge.

Oppo Reno 3 Pro

₹27,490

Buy

• REVIEW
• KEY SPECS
• NEWS

• Design
• Display
• Software
• Performance
• Battery Life
• Camera
• Value for Money

• Good
• Good camera performance in daylight
• Decent selfie camera
• Good design
• Solid battery life

• Bad
• Preinstalled bloatware
• Disappointing low-light video performance

Read detailed Oppo Reno 3 Pro review

BUY AT

• Oppo Reno 3 Pro (8GB RAM, 128GB) - Midnight Black - 
  ₹27,490
• Oppo Reno 3 Pro (8GB RAM, 128GB) - Sky White - 
  ₹27,490
• Oppo Reno 3 Pro (8GB RAM, 128GB) - ​Auroral Blue - 
  ₹27,990