Innehållsförteckning för December 2024 från T3 India

TCL NXTFRAME Samsung’s The Frame televisions are well-known for transforming the humble TV into a literal piece of art to adorn your wall, but they’re not the only game in town. Rival company TCL has just launched its own take on the TV-as-wall-painting with the NXTFRAME and NXTFRAME Pro ranges, both of which can display a variety of artistic pieces when not in use. Both range in size from 55 inches to 85 inches across and, thanks to the artistic gimmick, don’t obnoxiously dominate the room despite their impressive dimensions. Beyond the expansive display, these TVs aren’t just about visuals: they pack in Bang & Olufsen soundbars for premium audio, too. Throw in a slimline 1.1-inch thickness, QLED display tech with a 144Hz refresh rate (up to 240Hz for gaming)…

BEST MULTISPORT WATCHES GARMIN FORERUNNER 965 The Garmin Forerunner 965 is an exceptional multisport watch. It is lighter and thinner than its predecessor and has a stunning AMOLED display. Ideal for enthusiasts and pros, it offers accurate performance and readability. ₹60,000, garmin.com POLAR PACER PRO A more affordable alternative, the Polar Pacer Pro boasts a bright, easy-to-read display and lightning-fast processing. It measures running power on the wrist and offers fantastic value for money for triathlon enthusiasts. ₹30,000, polar.com SAMSUNG GALAXY WATCH ULTRA The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra excels as a multisport watch, offering rugged durability, precise tracking and advanced metrics for serious athletes. However, it lacks some adventure-specific features like navigation and mapping. A premium watch for premium athletes. ₹60,000, samsung.com TIRED OF DRAG? TITANIUM DREAMS TAKE FLIGHT No…

When 5G was launched in Britain five years ago, it was hailed as a revolutionary technology that would transform our lives. Although on the face of it the technology didn’t differ in principle from its predecessors – using radio waves to transmit data – the figures representing the bandwidth, latency and upload and download speeds were spectacularly improved. To take just one example, 4G supports 2,000 connections per square kilometre but 5G a million. All manner of exciting applications were enthusiastically predicted. I particularly liked the automotive ones. Cars would routinely communicate with each other. You’d be able to see through the car or truck ahead, seamlessly connecting to its on-board camera to enjoy a safety enhancing view of hazards in your path, projected onto your windscreen. In other areas…

1 REDMAGIC 9 PRO A lightning-fast phone both in terms of its responsiveness and charging capabilities (80W). Just like the Asus it has an AMOLED screen and Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor; however, it adds in Redmagic’s cooling system to help with extended sessions. This device has been created with videogames in mind with 520Hz shoulder triggers, a 960Hz multi-touch sampling rate and a 120Hz refresh rate. Two decent 50MP camera lenses that possess anti-shake tech are thrown in for good measure. And it’s half the price of its main competitor from Asus. ₹58,000, redmagic.gg 2 iPHONE 15 PRO Apple’s latest model manages to do everything you’d expect from a modern-day smartphone pretty well, including games. The design is fantastic. Specifically, the aerospace-grade titanium shell and a 6.1-inch OLED display that utilises…

We reviewed the latest phone from Oppo, the Find X8, Space Black unit (Dual Physical SIM, 16GB RAM & 512GB). The box is sturdy and simple with the mirror finish print adding some shine. Inside the box we find the phone, a sturdy USB-C Cable, a 80W SUPERVOOC Charging plug, a beautiful sim ejector pin and a transparent protective case. The Find X8 boasts a minimalist design with flat sides and contoured edges, making it comfortable to hold. It’s slim at 7.85mm and light at 193g, featuring a refined Cosmos Ring design to minimize the camera bump. The 6.59-inch AMOLED display is immersive, with ultra-slim 1.45mm bezels and brightness up to 4500 nits, supporting Dolby Vision and HDR10+. Its compact size makes it suitable for both one-handed use and immersive…

Sonos is well known among audiophiles who appreciate high-end speakers. Now they have made a pair of headphones that costs Rs 40,000, placing it among brands like Bose and Sony. For those who travel a lot, the travel case is crucial and we like this one. It has a clean, elegant design with minimal branding and a reasonable size. Sonos’ choice to make it from recycled material is a point in its favour. We also appreciated the small cable pouch inside. It has a magnetic back which leaves it stuck to the case; extremely thoughtful because it potentially saves one from the embarrassment of dropping it by accident. However, the zipper design could have been better because it snags frequently. The Sonos Ace is available only in two colours; Soft…

This time I will break convention and talk about branding, instead of pure technology and innovation. This month we saw some really bold and innovative move from Jaguar the automotive brand, it’s aiming to not just rebrand or contemporarize, but to completely overhaul its positioning for the future, as it transitions into becoming an EV-first automotive company, soon. Most of social media has not liked or accepted this change for various reasons which is quite expected for a powerful legacy brand, but the brand has generated lot of conversation and recall, something which this legacy brand has not seen for the last 50 years. In December we will know, how this EV transformation will play out, as we get ready to expect something truly transformational from the brand side on…

FLANNEL OVERSHIRT This classic overshirt with cutaway collar and four spacious pockets is biodegradable and made from 50% eco cotton. Proof indeed that you can style it out with menswear that is ethical. ₹16,000, neemlondon.com KNIT OVERSHIRT This knitted overshirt is not just dovetailing a shirt and a jacket, but it’s thrown in some cardigan vibes too. A ‘shackigan’ if you will. Perfect for autumn layering. ₹4,500, marksandspencer.com CHECKED SHACKET Former Spandau Ballet bassist, actor and presenter Martin Kemp has collab’d with Sainsbury’s everyday men’s range, Union Works. This cream-checked cord shacket will fast become a casual-wear staple. ₹2,500, tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk TRUCKER SHIRT Deep, rich burgundy is an ideal shade for autumn. Cord is also perfect for cooling temperatures as it keeps warmth in without losing the relaxed fit. ₹7,000, johnlewis.com…

HOME COMFORTS MEATER PRO XL Featuring four probes and one centralised digital charging hub, the smart new Meater Pro XL allows you to cook multiple dishes at once using different temperatures and cooking methods to take your hosting and barbecues to the next level. ₹32,900, meater.com EZVIZ RS20 PRO The new EZVIZ RS20 Pro offers an exceptional cleaning performance and its AI camera easily avoids obstacles and detects 65 types of objects around the house. Plus, it can double as a security camera so you can check in while away from home. ₹80,000, amazon.com AMAZON ECHO SPOT Amazon is back with its all-new Echo Spot. This smart alarm clock has clear crisp audio so you can play music, podcasts or the radio. With Alexa voice commands, it can also connect…

One of the joys of this job is prodding various new bits of tech well before they’re released – which I’ve had the privilege of doing for 15 years now. Often facilitating that are various industry shows going on behind the scenes. IFA, a consumer show that takes place annually in Berlin, is one of the longest-standing, with 2024 marking its 100th anniversary. IFA was the first show I ever attended – not a century ago, mind, I’m not that old. It was actually my first-ever overseas assignment, so I’ve got a real soft spot for it – despite the Berlin Messe’s cavernous halls being so perilous to navigate. Usually with a hangover. But while IFA used to be the place where brands launched their key products, these days the…

Google’s flagship feels like the most accomplished Android handset to take on Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro, and Samsung’s Galaxy S24. Plenty has changed in this latest iteration, including the design, display, chipset, cooling and charging. The XL option is also back, its bigger 6.8-inch display the only differentiator between them. Visually, the Pixel 9 Pro might divide opinion. In this latest design, the ‘camera bar’ no longer wraps into the edges of the phone – it’s now like a free-floating island, hiding the trio of lenses within it behind a curved, blackened shade. It looks modern yet unique and stands apart from the competition, though those steeply-angled edges love to collect pocket debris. The metallic edges of the phone also love a fingerprint, so you’ll be cleaning it more often.…

The Honeywell Aviator Hi-Fi Speaker, launched in India with a blend of luxury and high-performance audio, marks its significant entry into the audiophile market. Priced at C39,999, this speaker isn’t just about delivering music; it’s about crafting an audio experience. From the moment it’s unboxed, the Aviator’s design speaks of elegance, available in stylish Grey and Dark Grey, which not only promises but delivers an aesthetic that could fit seamlessly into any modern living space or audiophile’s den. The core of the Aviator’s appeal lies in its audio performance. It boasts a True-Lossless 1MBPS+ Audio Codec, a feature that audiophiles would appreciate for its promise of pristine sound quality. This isn’t just about playing music; it’s about recreating the live concert experience within your home. The 240 watts of power…

Sony’s WF-C510 earbuds are the latest in its entry-level lineup, aimed at budget-conscious users seeking reliable, no-fuss high quality earbuds for everyday use. As successors to the popular WF-C500, the C510 brings several upgrades, including a more compact, lightweight design, extended battery life of up to 10 hours, and a multipoint connection feature, allowing pairing with two devices simultaneously. However, some key features are absent, such as active noise cancellation (ANC) and in-ear detection for auto-play and pause. Priced at INR 8,990, the C510 offers dependable sound from a trusted brand, but it faces stiff competition from similarly priced alternatives. The C510s prioritise comfort and portability, with each earbud weighing just 4 grams, allowing for prolonged, comfortable wear. The minimalist design is compact, fitting snugly without protruding, and includes responsive…

The Gabit Smart Ring is a sleek, titanium-built wearable designed to seamlessly integrate health tracking into your daily life. Weighing just 3.1 grams, it offers a comfortable fit and is available in matte black, matte silver, and the newly introduced rose gold finish. The ring tracks various health metrics, including heart rate, sleep patterns, stress levels, VO2 Max, SpO2, skin temperature, nutrition and activity data. It provides insights into sleep stages and offers a sleep score to help users understand their rest quality. It presents health metrics through clear visuals and easy-to-understand trends, making it simple to track progress. Though the app’s UI and UX are good, we wish that it is made clutter free and simpler to use. The Gabit smart ring comes with a compact charging case (it…

SLOPESTYLE PICTURE ORGANIC CLOTHING WELCOME 3L XPORE JACKET Stand out on the slopes (or anywhere else) with Picture’s hi-tech jacket, which features a damp-busting Xpore membrane and a PFC-free water-repellent treatment. ₹46,000, snowleader.co.uk MONTANE WOMEN’S PROTIUM LITE HOODED FLEECE JACKET This lightweight fleece uses Polygiene, a hi-tech treatment which prevents the growth of odour-causing bacteria. Nasty niffs begone! ₹9,000, montane.com OSPREY FIRN 18 BACKPACK With pockets for goggles, crampons and GPS devices, this ultra-tough backpack (it’s made of 70D nylon) is perfect for skiers and snowboarders. ₹14,000, osprey.com SEASONAL ORDER WINTER GETAWAYS Seasonal stays and winter retreats perfect for a pre-Christmas escape There’s no denying it – Christmas is just around the corner, which means it’s time to start thinking about Yuletide plans, and for many this will involve a…

What can I do about my fingernails? Help make them lovely, Guru A GaGu will admit that this is one of his few areas of non-expertise, as much as he likes donning a fancy colour here and there. Thus he will have a rummage around on Mrs Guru’s ‘special shelves’ and see what he can find. Classic flake-off nail varnish, it would appear, is right out. The UV curing lamp, beneath its layer of dust, suggests that salon-style bake-on gel nails have also had their day. The new thing, and Guru has had this explained to him in excruciating detail for your benefit, is some kind of five stage process, marketed by companies like Glamrdip and Sassy Saints. You put on a base coat, dip your digit in a little…

When it comes to shopping for your next batch of tech upgrades, you’ll often find yourself looking for best-in-class, money-no-object flagship gear, or budget-level, value-for-money kit that’s going to give you as much bang for your buck as possible. But what about everything in between? There’s a middle ground where you can find some genuine hidden gems, and this is a feature dedicated to some of our favourites. We’re talking gadgets that are just below the top tier in their category, giving you a premium experience and feature-set while still coming in at more affordable price points. We’ve also highlighted some products that may have flown under your radar up until now. Sometimes it can be easy to forget that there’s more to modern tech than phones, TVs and laptops.…

1976 AUTO RACE (MATTEL) Auto Race was the first-ever handheld game as well as the first-ever all-electronic handheld. 1979 MICROVISION The first handheld console played black-and-white games on ROM cartridges. It lasted two years before discontinuation. 1980 GAME & WATCH Sixty games over 11 years pushed the Game & Watch to 40 million-plus sales. 1982 DONKEY KONG (G&W) DK’s arcade classic became the best-selling Game & Watch with over one million copies. 1989 GAME BOY Nintendo changed everything with Game Boy, staying on the market for 14 years. 1989 ATARI LYNX Finding moderate success (two million sales), the Atari Lynx was the first to include a colour liquid-crystal display. 1989 TETRIS (GAME BOY) Alexey Pajitnov’s puzzle phenomenon became the Game Boy’s first mega-hit by being bundled with certain versions. 1990 GAME…

Sleek. Minimal. Super attractive package - this is what I thought when I unboxed the Beats Studio Pro - Kim Special Edition headphones. Inspired by Kim Kardashian’s signature aesthetic, these headphones come in muted tones like Moon, Dune, and Earth, making them stand out as more of a fashion accessory than just a tech gadget. For someone like me who appreciates products that combine functionality with style, these headphones are an instant head-turner, though the lighter colors may not be suitable for dusty Indian outdoor conditions! The sound quality on the Beats Studio Pro is good, especially for genres like pop, hip-hop, and R&B, which Beats traditionally excels at. The bass is punchy but not overwhelming, and the mids and highs are clear enough for casual listening. However, as someone…