
Ratwebtech
Posts by :


Top 5 Affordable 5G Phones Under 300 USD to Buy in 2023
If you are on a budget and 5G means the world to you, then you are definitely in the right place. It’s 2023, and no one wants to miss out on the advantages that come with 5G. Learn more here. Or if it’s all about the hype, then you are in the best place possible. Here are the Best 5G Phones Under 300 USD In 2023
There was a time (not that long ago) when a $300 smartphone was just not up to any task. You know, it was bad and, after buying it, you felt bad. Those days are over. 5G comes with some advantages, and at the same time, it has some crazy disadvantages. Either way, read till the end to learn more.
What is Artificial Intelligence (Ai)? – Machine Learning Explained! -2023
With the growing demand for Artificial Intelligence, it is time to get some facts and separate the facts from the rumors.
To understand Artificial Intelligence commonly known to us (AI) needs some patience, but for those interested in getting a definition, then this can do.
- Artificial Intelligence is the ability of a digital computer or computer-controlled robot to perform tasks commonly associated with intelligent beings.
Table of Contents
Machine learning
This is an AI subset and consists of techniques that enable computers to recognize data and supply AI applications. Different algorithms (e.g., neural networks) contribute to problem resolution in ML.
more on this coming up
Deep Learning
Deep learning, often called deep neural learning or deep neural network, is a subset of machine learning that uses neural networks to evaluate various factors with a similar framework to a human neural system. It has networks that can learn from unstructured or unlabeled data without supervision.
To Start as off lets also define these 2 terms;
Intelligence In Relation to Artificial Intelligence
Everything but the simplest human behaviors is ascribed as intelligence, although even the most complex insect behavior is never taken as an indicator of intelligence. What is the difference?
Find the action of the wasp digger, Sphex ichneumonids. When the female wasp returns to her burrow with food, she first places it on the threshold, scans for intruders inside her burrow, and then then, when the coast is open, takes her food inside.
The true essence of the instinctive action of the wasp is exposed if the food is pushed a few inches away from the entrance to its burrow when inside: as it emerges, it repeats the entire process as soon as the food is displaced.
Intelligence—conspicuously absent in the case of Sphex—must include the ability to adapt to new circumstances.
Employers typically do not characterize human intelligence by a particular trait, but by a mixture of several unique skills. AI research focuses mainly on the following elements of intelligence: learning, reasoning, problem-solving, understanding, and use of vocabulary.
Learning in relation to AI
There are several various ways of learning applied to artificial intelligence. The easiest is trial and error learning. For example, a basic computer program to solve mate-in-one chess problems will attempt to move randomly before a mate is found. The machine should then archive the solution with a position such that the solution would be recalled the next time the machine found the same position. This basic memorization of individual objects and procedures—known as rote learning—is reasonably straightforward to execute on a computer.
The issue of applying what is considered generalization is more difficult. Generalization means adapting previous experience to current comparable circumstances.
For example, a program that learns the past tense of regular English verbs by rote will not be able to produce the past tense of a word such as jump unless it previously had been presented with jumped, whereas a program that is able to generalize can learn the “add ed” rule and so form the past tense of jump based on experience with similar verbs.
To understand this better let us get the history of artificial intelligence.
History of artificial intelligence
The idea of inanimate objects coming to life as intelligent beings has been around for a long time. The ancient Greeks had myths about robots, and Chinese and Egyptian engineers built automatons.
The beginnings of modern AI can be traced to classical philosophers’ attempts to describe human thinking as a symbolic system. But the field of AI wasn’t formally founded until 1956, at a conference at Dartmouth College, in Hanover, New Hampshire, where the term “artificial intelligence” was coined.
MIT cognitive scientist Marvin Minsky and others who attended the conference were extremely optimistic about AIs future. “Within a generation […] the problem of creating ‘artificial intelligence’ will substantially be solved,” Minsky is quoted as saying in the book “AI: The Tumultuous Search for Artificial Intelligence” (Basic Books, 1994). [Super-Intelligent Machines: 7 Robotic Futures]
But achieving an artificially intelligent being wasn’t so simple. After several reports criticizing progress in AI, government funding and interest in the field dropped off – a period from 1974–80 that became known as the “AI winter.” The field later revived in the 1980s when the British government started funding it again in part to compete with efforts by the Japanese.
The field experienced another major winter from 1987 to 1993, coinciding with the collapse of the market for some of the early general-purpose computers, and reduced government funding.
But research began to pick up again after that, and in 1997, IBM’s Deep Blue became the first computer to beat a chess champion when it defeated Russian grandmaster Garry Kasparov. And in 2011, the computer giant’s question-answering system Watson won the quiz show “Jeopardy!” by beating reigning champions Brad Rutter and Ken Jennings.
You cane check the full history on Forbes click here
But the field of AI has become much broader than just the pursuit of true, humanlike intelligence.
There are 3 major types of artificial intelligence / Machine learning
Narrow or weak AI. (ANI)
General or strong AI. (AGI)
Artificial superintelligence (ASI)
Narrow / Weak AI
Weak AI refers to any AI mechanism that works on doing one very great job. That is, in terms of what it can do, it has a limited reach. The concept behind poor AI is not to imitate or duplicate human intelligence. Rather, it’s to mimic human actions.
In the last decade, Narrow AI has undergone several breakthroughs, propelled by advances in machine learning and deep learning. For example, AI systems are currently used in medicine to diagnose cancer and other diseases with extreme precision by emulation of human cognition and reasoning.
The machine intelligence of Narrow AI emerges from the use of natural language processing (NLP) to execute tasks. NLP is apparent in chatbots and related AI technology. By understanding speech and text in natural language, AI is designed to communicate with humans in a natural and personalized way.
Weak AI is nowhere near matching human intelligence, and it isn’t trying to.
A common misconception about weak AI is that it’s barely intelligent at all — more like artificial stupidity than AI. But even the smartest seeming AI of today are only weak AI.
In reality, then, narrow or weak AI is more like an intelligent specialist. Highly intelligent at completing the specific tasks it is programmed to do.
We have currently only achieved narrow AI. As machine learning capabilities continue to evolve, and scientists get closer to achieving general AI, theories and speculations regarding the future of AI are circulating. There are two main theories.
One theory is based on fear of a dystopian future, where super intelligent killer robots take over the world, either wiping out the human race or enslaving all of humanity, as depicted in many science fiction narratives.
The other theory predicts a more optimistic future, where humans and bots work together, humans using artificial intelligence as a tool to enhance their life experience.
Artificial intelligence tools are already having a significant impact on the way we conduct business worldwide, completing tasks with a speed and efficiency that wouldn’t be possible for humans. However, human emotion and creativity is something incredibly special and unique, extremely difficult – if not impossible – to replicate in a machine.
Share in the comment section which theory do you opt will work?
Examples of Narrow AI:
- Rankbrain by Google / Google Search
- Siri by Apple, Alexa by Amazon, Cortana by Microsoft and other virtual assistants
- IBM’s Watson
- Image / facial recognition software
- Disease mapping and prediction tools
- Manufacturing and drone robots
- Email spam filters / social media monitoring tools for dangerous content
- Entertainment or marketing content recommendations based on watch/listen/purchase behaviour.
- Self-driving cars
Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) / Strong AI / Deep AI
Artificial general intelligence (AGI), also referred to as strong AI or deep AI, is the concept of a machine with general intelligence that mimics human intelligence and/or behaviours, with the ability to learn and apply its intelligence to solve any problem. AGI can think, understand, and act in a way that is indistinguishable from that of a human in any given situation.
Researchers and scientists of AI have not yet accomplished a strong AI. To survive, they will need to find a way to make machines intelligent, programming a complete range of cognitive abilities. Machines will have to push experiential learning to the next level, not only enhancing performance on single tasks, but also having the opportunity to extend experiential experience to a broader variety of diverse challenges.
Strong AI uses the mind AI paradigm hypothesis, which refers to the capacity to distinguish the desires, feelings, values and thought patterns of other intellectual beings. Mind level AI Philosophy is not about emulation or simulation, it’s about teaching robots to better understand humans.
The immense challenge of achieving strong AI is not surprising when you consider that the human brain is the model for creating general intelligence. The lack of comprehensive knowledge on the functionality of the human brain has researchers struggling to replicate basic functions of sight and movement.
We don’t yet have strong AI in the world; it exists only in theory.
Fujitsu-built K, one of the fastest supercomputers, is one of the most notable attempts at achieving strong AI, but considering it took 40 minutes to simulate a single second of neural activity, it is difficult to determine whether or not strong AI will be achieved in our foreseeable future. As image and facial recognition technology advances, it is likely we will see an improvement in the ability of machines to learn and see.
Add to this that currently, AI is only capable of the few things we program into it, and it’s clear that strong AI is a long way off. It is thought that to achieve true strong AI, we would need to make our machines conscious.
How optimistic are you about this?
leave a comment
Artificial Superintelligence (ASI)
But if strong AI already mimics human intelligence and ability, what is left for the last of the types of AI?
Super AI is AI that surpasses human intelligence and ability. Also known as artificial superintelligence (ASI) or superintelligence. It’s the best at everything — maths, science, medicine, hobbies, you name it. Even the brightest human minds cannot come close to the abilities of super AI.
Of the types of AI, super AI is the one most people mean when they talk about robots taking over the world.
Now you know the difference!
The potential of having such powerful machines at our disposal may seem appealing, but the concept itself has a multitude of unknown consequences. If self-aware super intelligent beings came to be, they would be capable of ideas like self-preservation. The impact this will have on humanity, our survival, and our way of life, is pure speculation.
In the next article, we will be getting to understand the benefits of AI its challenges and also get something about your career being replaced by machines
To get notifications when we post new articles make sure to subscribe to our newsletters. We promise not to send spam messages.
Also follow us on
To get notified when we upload videos on YouTube
Subscribe to our YouTube channel here.
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Review: Is it Better?
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 is in for review. And the most immediate question is does it have the ability to outperform its predecessors? Especially after the superb performance of the Redmi Note 9 in 2020, followed by the stunning performance of the Redmi Note 10 in the midrange sector last year. The Redmi Note 11 Review
Join me on this ride to determine if it has enough guts to carry the crown of the best midrange phone (under 250 USD) in 2022
This is a full Review
and will take an indepth look into
1. Design , Build Quality and display
2. Software , Performance and Batery life
3. Camera, Photos and Video Quality
4. Competiton, alternatives, and Verdict
Since 2020 Xiaomi has held the best budget phone under 250 USD on our lists. And this for basically the simple reasons. They have great processors, Substantial Battery life, Reasonable Pricing, and exceptional Camera, All accompanied by Xiaomi MIUI. Which has its own issues but is completely feature-rich.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnN6AQ_Jo4Yu0026t=8s
Check out our latest posts
- The Ultimate Laptop Guide 2023: Finding the Perfect Tech Companion
- Top 5 Affordable 5G Phones Under 300 USD to Buy in 2023
- 5G vs Starlink: A Comprehensive Comparison of Internet Technologies in 2023
- What is Artificial Intelligence (Ai)? – Machine Learning Explained! -2023
- The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Review: Is it Better?
Build Quality, Design And Display – Redmi Note 11 Review
Design
The moment you get the Redmi Note 11 out of the box one thing is clear the phone is super light. Weighing 179 grams and 8.1mm thick, the Note 11 has an IP53 rating to protect from dust and light water sprays. On the front, the Redmi Note 11 follows the Redmi Note 10 impressive design with a punch-hole 13Mp camera which has a destructive silver-like ring around it making it more proportional. compared to its predecessors.
On the back is a matte plastic back which is a little bit of a fingerprint magnet. In terms of design, the Redmi Note 11 feels right in the hand. The camera has a slight bump which sits a 50Mp main lens which is a downgrade from last year’s 64MP, an 8MP ultra-wide, and obviously the gimmick 2Mp depth and Macro lenses. The Camera bump has a cool finish making it classy. except for lots of writing on the back.
The Redmi Note 11 easily scores a 7 out of 10 in terms of design especially considering it downgraded to gorilla glass 3 on the front from gorilla glass 5 in the Redmi Note 9 Pro and plus it has a plastic back compared to the Redmi Note 9 gorilla glass 5 back. The frame is plastic which is not a surprise but really looks cheap and might easily scratch just like in the note 10 and 9 series.
on the top side, is a 3.5 mm jack pretty hard to find these days on certain phones. Though it’s worth noting that Xiaomi doesn’t include earphones in the box. next is the top stereo speaker and eventually IR sensor. The bottom part has a USB type C port which supports 33W fast charging and stereo speakers.
Display Redmi Note 11 Review
The Redmi Note 11 really isn’t messing about when it comes to display. The use of AMOLED at this price point is not always a given – helping ensure punchy colors and rich blacks – while the 90Hz panel delivers a decent refresh rate at this end of the market. At 6.43-inch display size, the note 11 has a chunkier bottom bezel, and only offers a 60Hz or 90Hz refresh rate not variable. But all this is to be expected. the Redmi Note 11 comes close to the Motorola moto G31 visually. The display is obviously top tier for this price range.
SOFTWARE, PERFORMANCE, AND BATTERY LIFE – Redmi Note 11 Review
Software
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11, like the rest of the Redmi Note 11 quartet, comes with Android 11 and on top sits the most current MIUI 13 version. Most of the new MIUI features are under the hood and should make for a smoother, smarter, and more secure experience.
This version of MIUI 13 is based on Android 11, and it does not include any of the Android 12 features like the revamped widgets and their new widget page in the app drawer. There is no advanced Privacy Dashboard either with options like a protected clipboard, approximate location, updated Face Unlock algorithm. The updated File Manager and Clock app with Bedtime mode is nowhere to be found either.
in other words, the Redmi Note 11 runs on the same software as the 2-year-old Redmi Note 9 Pro.
Still, Xiaomi claims that MIUI has been reworked completely, even if you cannot tell that by the interface and its design alone – it looks and feels just like MIUI 12. But the new version reportedly focuses on much better resource distribution and should handle processor, RAM, and storage usage better and smarter.
Performance
The Redmi Note 11 runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 680 4G chip, a relatively new mid-range System on Chip (SoC), backed by either 4- or 6GB of RAM.
It’s a solid performer for this end of the market, with average Geekbench 5 multi-core scores that are similar to the Poco X3 NFC and way ahead of the Moto G31.
Its GPU isn’t quite as impressive, with GFXBench results that fall far short of the aforementioned Poco X3 NFC and the Realme 8, and are roughly equivalent to the Moto G31.
After having the phone as a daily driver for a month now I kinda got a few hiccups that are worth noting
Quite often when letting an app go idle, the screen automatically switches off so the phone can reserve battery life (perfectly normal), it can be an issue to get the Note 11 to reactivate as you’d expect (not so normal)
Multiple fingerprint strokes especially with sweaty fingers
Inconsistency in performance some games run soo smoothly other demanding games like call of duty literally get overheating issues and high battery consumption
The wallpaper carousel that has xiaomi slected images at times display very unpleasant images some even embarassing. we suggest turning this off.
Anyway, if you don’t press the Redmi Note 11 with too much to do – avoiding heaps of multiple browser tabs, multiple apps being open, and so forth – it’s more amicable.
Battery Life
With a 5000MaH Battery, the Redmi Note 11 Supports 33W fast charging, No wireless charging though it comes with an adapter and a USB C cable. So you don’t have to worry about getting it from third parties. In my experience, a long 14 hour day of intensive usage that involved 6 hours and 50 minutes of screen on time left me with around 40%. That’s an excellent result and means that the phone is good for two full days of ‘normal’ usage.
In our regular PCMark Work 3.0 battery benchmark the Redmi Note 11 managed a decent 11 hours and 35 minutes. This places it above the Moto G31 and the Realme 8 on 10 hours and 36 minutes, but below the Poxo X3 NFC at 15 hours and 48 minutes.
Redmi note 11 review – CAMERAs
Main Cameras
When it comes to cameras we’re not surprised to see four lenses on the rear of the Redmi Note 11, as it’s the go-to number for most manufacturers who want to oversell their system as a “quad-camera”. Here you can ignore the macro and depth sensors, which are a waste of space, and think of it as a dual-camera setup instead. check out my video on Gimmicks mid-range phones should stop.
The main camera is a 50Mp wide sensor with an f/1.8 aperture, which is backed by an 8Mp ultra-wide. and while the wide-angle isn’t anywhere near as good quality, it’s still really useful to have that extra-wide view at your fingertips. There’s also a 2x digital zoom that’s adept enough to be of use. So this core two-camera unit certainly has enough to shout about.
The main camera doesn’t handle high dynamic range (HDR) all that well, though, its images are somewhat grainy, too, and you can see sharpening from processing being pushed rather strongly. But at least there’s some grain in there, giving it a sense of filmic reality, rather than total overly smoothed processing. Interestingly, even low-light shooting is perfectly plausible thanks to a decent wide-open aperture – and that despite no optical stabilization here.
If you were to put this camera side-by-side against the Moto G31. Then it’s really quite similar in terms of the overall offering. Although the Redmi is slower for the app to load, we feel. There also aren’t higher-end features such as optical stabilization (OIS), but you do get phase-detection autofocus (PDAF) for easy tap-to-focus, plus the app will bring up an exposure slider on screen for quick and easy adjustments if you want to make any.
front camera
The 13Mp selfie camera is adequate, but it did smooth my skin out to a slightly distracting degree. Meanwhile, the portrait selfie mode created that disconcerting forcefield effect around my outline. most of the time it’s a hit or miss for selfie photos
All in all, the Redmi Note 11 camera achieves a comfortable par for a $250 phone. But it’s not a stand-out phone by any means.
Redmi note 11 review – VERDICT
In 2021 if someone asked me which phone under $250 should they buy a Redmi note would never miss on the first 3 phones I would suggest. But this sort of changing and after spending a month with this phone. I am left perplexed as Its specifications are super for its anticipated affordable price point, which sets it off on a strong start.
However, in use, the experience doesn’t match the expectation. Sure, having a decent AMOLED screen is nice, as is the decent battery life. But when running into occasional lagging, and overheating then that’s something to really consider.
I want to believe a software update might be of importance but with limited updates promised. the middling camera setup that is just average for the price is the only caveat on this budget phone.
Still, at its price point, it’s almost impossible to resist it.
Redmi note 11 review – COMPETITION
It’s an attractive price, but there’s a lot of competition around this mark including Xiaomi’s own devices mentioned earlier. And the likes of Realme and Motorola. If 5G is a must then look to phones such as the Oppo A54 5G.
Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G
Samsung Galaxy A22
Best Affordable Phones Under $250 – 2022
Flagship phones are getting more expensive, and with the current economic conditions, they might become exclusive. However, budget phones are getting better, with more features, more software updates, and upgrades. Today you can buy a $250 phone to handle anything you throw at it. So here are the 8 Best Affordable Phones Under $250 – 2022
- The minimum RAM for this category is 4GB. Thou some of the phones go as high as 8GB of RAM.
- Price not higher than 250USD
- The Minimum Storage is 128Gb
- The battery size minimum to fit in this list is 4500mAH, as that’s enough for full-day use.
- Acknowledging these phones for at least two Android upgrades plus up to 5 years for security updates is important.
- All phones have a USB Type-C port.
- Things like minimum video capabilities are 1080p @30fps for selfie and back cameras.
With that out of the way, here are the Best Affordable Phones Under $250 In 2022.
Table of Contents
1. Best Affordable Phones Under $250 2022 – Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro
If you don’t need 5G and prefer a great OLED display over 5G, the Poco M4 Pro 4G will exchange one for the other when compared to the M4 Pro 5G, which we have reviewed.
The Dimensity 810 chipset is replaced in the 4G version by Helio G96, another Mediatek design that is just slightly less powerful and lacks next-generation networking. On the other hand, it receives a 6.43-inch OLED display, which is somewhat smaller than the 6.6-inch panel in the 5G, maintains the 90Hz refresh rate, and offers significantly higher brightness, on top of OLED’s other inherent benefits.
Light changes can also be seen in the camera area, where the primary unit now includes a 64MP sensor instead of the 50MP sensor found in the 5G edition, and a 2MP macro camera has cropped up where there previously was none. “the true definition of midrange phone” The ultrawide camera on the rear and the selfie camera remain unaltered.
The Poco M4 Pro retains the 5,000mAh battery capacity as well as the 33W charging capabilities that has been a standard in the Xiaomi series. Other standard features include an infrared emitter, a headphone port, and a dedicated microSD card, rounding out the feature set.
Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro specs at a glance:
- Body: 159.9×73.9×8.1mm, 179g; Gorilla Glass 3 front, plastic back, plastic frame; IP53, dust and splash resistant.
- Display: 6.43″ AMOLED, 90Hz, 1080x2400px resolution, 20:9 aspect ratio, 409ppi.
- Chipset: Mediatek Helio G96 (12 nm): Octa-core (2×2.05 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55); Mali-G57 MC2.
- Memory: 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM; UFS 2.2; microSDXC (dedicated slot).
- OS/Software: Android 11, MIUI 13 for POCO.
- Rear camera: Wide (main): 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm, 0.7µm, PDAF; Ultra wide angle: 8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚, 1/4″, 1.12µm; Macro: 2 MP, f/2.4.
- Front camera: 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06″ 1.0µm.
- Video capture: Rear camera: 1080p@30fps; Front camera: 1080p@30fps.
- Battery: 5000mAh; Fast charging 33W, Power Delivery 3.0, Quick Charge 3+.
- Misc: Fingerprint reader (side-mounted); NFC; Infrared port; 3.5mm jack.
The Poco M4 Pro has a few shortcomings, and they’re neither major nor unusual in the throng with which it competes. More advanced video recording will be more expensive in 2022, and Night mode-capable ultrawide cameras in Xiaomi’s portfolio aren’t a certainty at the lower end of the pricing spectrum.
Some updated MIUI 13 features are considered outdated on this Poco release, not to mention that we should be seeing Android 12-based MIUI across the board by now, which isn’t the case here. The issue of design and appearance is subjective, and just because we don’t like the camera island doesn’t imply you have to.
The rest of the Poco M4 Pro is primarily a list of accomplishments. We enjoy both of the significant differences between the LTE and 5G versions. The OLED display is somewhat smaller but far superior. The primary camera is a noticeable upgrade, the ultrawide is comparable, and the selfies are also improved.
Other things haven’t changed, but they’re for the better. The IP53 certification has been seen on an increasing number of Xiaomi phones, and while it is not genuine waterproofing, it is better than nothing. The battery life is excellent, charging is really rapid for the market position, and no little convenience feature is lacking in the hardware.
PROS
- IP53 rating is nice to have, even though that doesn’t make the phone greatly water-resistant.
- Excellent AMOLED display – bright, color-accurate, with a 90Hz refresh rate.
- Long-lasting battery, some of the fastest charging for the money.
- The very capable primary camera, ultrawide is good in daylight too, selfies are also competitive.
- The full set of nice-to-haves – 3.5mm jack, FM Radio, NFC, IR blaster, microSD slot.
CONS
- Overdesigned camera bump, the black colorway is dull and picks up fingerprints.
- The MIUI 13 build is still based on Android 11 and is missing some features.
- No 4K or 1080p60 video recording.
- No Night mode on the ultrawide camera
2. Best Affordable Phones Under $250 2022 – Realme 9 – 4g
Realme has one main strategy: bombarding the budget segment with tons of phones. Sure, it provides consumers with a variety of alternatives to pick from, but it does so at the expense of increased confusion. That is the case with Realme’s 9 series, which has already seen six phones (all at competitive prices) in only a few months, including the recently announced Realme 9 — a 4G-only counterpart of its 5G sibling. Without the 5G cost, Realme is able to improve numerous other features of the phone, including display quality and charging speed. However, these enhancements may not be enough to compete with competing phones like Xiaomi, Samsung, and even Realme itself.
Realme 9 SPECIFICATIONS at a glance
- Storage: 128GB UFS 2.2, dedicated microSD card slot
- CPU: Snapdragon 680 with Adreno 610
- Memory: 6/8GB
- Operating System: Android 12 with Realme UI 3.0
- Battery: 5000mAh, 33W Dart charger included
- Ports: USB Type-C, 3.5mm audio jack
- Display (Size, Resolution): 6.4-inch OLED, 2400 x 1080, 20:9, 90Hz
- Camera (Front): 16MP
- Cameras (Rear): 108MP Samsung HM6 sensor, f/1.75 (main); 8MP, f/2.2, 119.9º (UW); 2MP (macro)
- Price: Starting ₹17,999 (~$235)
- Connectivity: 4G, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.1
- Others: In-display fingerprint reader
- Dimensions: 160.2 x 73.3 x 7.99mm
- Colors: Yellow, white, black
- Weight: 178g
Compared to its 5G sibling, the Realme 9 4G adds a nice OLED panel, an in-display fingerprint reader, Android 12, and a faster 33W charger. These are some solid reasons to get the 4G model, especially considering it costs just ₹500 (~$7) more and 5G connectivity is nowhere near fruition in India. However, all the other aspects of the phone are holding it back. The lack of a stereo speaker pair already puts it behind the competition, and Realme’s decision to use a middling processor (when its own 9 Pro uses a beefier chip for the same price) doesn’t seem right.
While providing consumers with a plethora of alternatives makes logical, Realme must draw the line someplace. In the current form, the business has numerous phones in the sub-$250 market, with the Realme 9 4G being the most confusing of them all. It’s not designed for entertainment (it lacks stereo speakers) or gaming (due to the CPU), and its low-light camera performance is among the worst of any phone at this budget.
So, for whom is this phone intended? If you want a no-nonsense phone with cutting-edge software that can handle your basic social networking and business applications, the Realme 9 4G is a no-brainer.
- The 90Hz OLED screen looks good
- Comes preloaded with Android 12
- Decent performance
- The in-display fingerprint reader works well
- Excellent battery life Good daylight shots
- Realme UI comes with a lot of bloatware
- Lowlight camera performance is bad
- No stereo speakers
- No NFC
3. Best Affordable Phones Under $250 – Xiaomi Redmi Note 11:
Xiaomi’s current Redmi Note lineup naming is a shambles, and that’s just being polite. As things stand, don’t mistake the model we’re looking at with last year’s Redmi Note 11 for China or the Redmi Note 11 4G, even though the phone we’re reviewing today is also 4G-only.
At the time of writing this review, a Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 will set you back about EUR 200 in Europe. An entry 4GB/64GB unit is currently going for $177 on Amazon, which is a bit cheaper still. Not a bad price, but not necessarily the best deal either in today’s highly-competitive budget market.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 specs at a glance:
- Body: 159.9×73.9×8.1mm, 179g; plastic body; IP53, dust and splash protection.
- Display: 6.43″ AMOLED, 90Hz, 700 nits, 1000 nits (peak), 1080x2400px resolution, 20:9 aspect ratio, 409ppi.
- Chipset: Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 680 4G (6 nm): Octa-core (4×2.4 GHz Kryo 265 Gold & 4×1.9 GHz Kryo 265 Silver); Adreno 610.
- Memory: 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM; UFS 2.2; microSDXC (dedicated slot).
- OS/Software: Android 11, MIUI 13.
- Rear camera: Wide (main): 50 MP, f/1.8, 26mm, PDAF; Ultra wide angle: 8 MP, f/2.2, 118-degree; Macro: 2 MP, f/2.4; Depth: 2 MP, f/2.4.
- Front camera: 13 MP, f/2.4, (wide).
- Video capture: Rear camera: 1080p@30fps; Front camera: 1080p@30fps.
- Battery: 5000mAh; Fast charging 33W, 100% in 60 min (advertised), Power Delivery 3.0, Quick Charge 3+.
- Misc: Fingerprint reader (side-mounted); Infrared port; 3.5mm jack; Virtual proximity Sensor.
MY Thoughts
On paper, the Redmi Note 11 looks like a decent budget device that even manages to offer a few small upgrades over its predecessor without breaking the back. Notably, its excellent 90Hz AMOLED display, as well as its improved battery efficiency. The latter is a particularly impressive side of the Redmi Note 11. While it deserves credit for delivering in both of these aspects. The Redmi Note 11 is unfortunately not a well-balanced device.
When you go a little further, you’ll notice that the Snapdragon 680 soils a significant portion of the whole experience. It lacks power, notably in the GPU category. It frequently falls short of keeping up with the Snapdragon 678 inside the Redmi Note 10. The superb MIUI 13 mainly compensates for this out of the box and works perfectly great. However, some performance-related features, like as split-screen, appear to be missing. Xiaomi makes a big deal about storage and under-the-hood long-term performance enhancements. But we have to question how smooth the Redmi Note 11 will feel after a few months of running dozens of more demanding apps.
PROS
- Stylish dual-glass design with a matte finish and a premium look, IP53-rated.
- Excellent AMOLED screen, bright, 90Hz, great color accuracy.
- Great battery life with fast 33W charging.
- Loud stereo speakers, good audio.
- 3.5mm jack, FM Radio, NFC, IR blaster, microSD slot.
- Solid if unimpressive main camera performance. Great portraits and macro shots.
CONS
- MIUI 13 implementation is lean on new features and based on the old Android 11.
- The Snapdragon 680 is lacking in performance, particularly in the GPU department.
- Disappointing ultrawide camera.
- Underwhelming Night mode, and it’s only available on the main cam.
- No 4K video capture with any camera.
4. Best Affordable Phones Under $250- Nokia G21 review
The Nokia G21 launched in early 2022, a digit behind the times, seeking to give an inexpensive all-around package with an emphasis on battery life. Taking on Xiaomi and Realme at their own game is never simple, and Samsung has been launching aggressive entry-level options as well, for people who still look askance at the traditional Chinese companies. So how competitive is the $200 Nokia G21?
Nokia G21 specs at a glance:
- Body: 164.6×75.9×8.5mm, 190g; Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back.
- Display: 6.50″ IPS LCD, 90Hz, 400 nits (typ), 720x1600px resolution, 20:9 aspect ratio, 270ppi.
- Chipset: Unisoc T606 (12 nm): Octa-core (2×1.6 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6×1.6 GHz Cortex-A55); Mali-G57 MP1.
- Memory: 64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM; eMMC 5.1; microSDXC (dedicated slot).
- OS/Software: Android 11.
- Rear camera: Wide (main): 50 MP, f/1.8, 28mm, 1/2.76″, 0.64µm, PDAF; Macro: 2 MP; Depth: 2 MP.
- Front camera: 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide).
- Video capture: Rear camera: 1080p@30fps; Front camera: 1080p@30fps.
- Battery: 5050mAh; Fast battery charging 18W, USB Power Delivery 3.0.
- Misc: Fingerprint reader (side-mounted); FM radio, RDS; 3.5mm jack.
My Thoughts
The Nokia G21 isn’t a dud; it gets a lot of things well. Battery life is one of its strongest points, and Android One implies a simple UI and quick upgrades. Selfies are decent, and there’s a slew of extras like a card slot and an FM radio. We also like the conservative appearance.
We’re not crazy with the primary camera, and the lack of an ultrawide lens irritates us even more. The basic video recording capabilities are also insufficient. The processor is unsuitable for gaming, and other little flaws like the low-ish maximum brightness delayed charging, and easily scratched camera bump add up in the end.
Nokia’s budget-conscious G21 is facing some stiff competition – from classic value-focused brands like Realme and Xiaomi’s Redmi, but also from Samsung and Motorola (if you’re into brands with heritage).
PROS
- Understated yet stylish design, Nokia badge on the back.
- Extra-long battery life.
- Android One is an OS purist’s dream.
- Very good selfies.
- 3.5mm jack, NFC, FM radio, DualSIM with a dedicated microSD slot.
Cons
- The camera island is prone to scratching.
- The display’s maximum brightness is unimpressive.
- Relatively slow charging, particularly with the bundled adapter.
- Underpowered chipset, especially in the GPU department.
- No ultrawide camera.
- No 4K video, no stabilization for 1080p.
5. best phones under 250 USD – Vivo iQOO Z6
High-performance smartphones on a budget are always enticing. When you have a limited budget, however, not everything you desire is possible; there must always be some concessions. However, iQOO, Starting at Rs. 15,499, the iQOO Z6 5G not only claims to give an ultra-gaming performance but also has a long battery life and a competent camera. But that’s only a saying! And we’ve been putting it through its paces for the past two weeks to see if it excels in all areas. And here’s what I’ve discovered.
INTERNAL
Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) |
CPU | Octa-core (2×2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6×1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver) |
GPU | Adreno 619 |
Card | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
Builtin | 128GB 6GB RAM |
DISPLAY
Type | IPS LCD, 120Hz |
Screen Size | 6.58 inches, 104.3 cm2 (~83.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
Resolution | 1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~401 ppi density) |
BUILD
Dimensions | 164 x 75.8 x 8.3 mm (6.46 x 2.98 x 0.33 in) |
Weight | 185 g (6.53 oz) |
Color | DynamoBlack, ChromaticBlue |
REAR CAMERA
Triple | 50 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), PDAF 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro) 2 MP, f/2.4, (depth) |
Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
Video | 1080p@30fps |
SELFIE CAMERA
Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide) |
Video | 1080p@30fps |
BATTERY
USB | USB Type-C 2.0, USB On-The-Go |
Battery | Li-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable |
Fast Charging | Fast charging 18W |
MY THoughts
The iQOO Z6 5G is an excellent phone that tries to tick all the right boxes. A phone that supports 5G technology, runs on Android 12, and provides decent performance, battery life, and cameras at an affordable price is something to consider. Especially if you enjoy gaming, the iQOO Z6 5G is an excellent choice.
PROS
- Gaming performance
- Good battery life
- Decent camera
CONS
- Outdated design (subjective)
- Slow charging
6. Best phones under 250 USD – Samsung Galaxy A13
The Galaxy A13 is the latest entry-level phone to join the Galaxy A series. We got the 4G version, which is already available in India and Europe, for evaluation. There is also a Galaxy A13 5G, which has a 90Hz screen and a MediaTek Dimensity 700 processor but is otherwise quite comparable to our 4G model.
It should be noted that the Galaxy A13 is not the lowest-priced member of the Galaxy A family, since it is still priced more than the Galaxy A03. Samsung has been beefing up its offering recently. Unfortunately, this results in a vast number of gadgets that are quite identical.
The body of the Galaxy A13 is essentially identical to that of the A13 5G, albeit it does include Gorilla Glass 5 display protection, as does the Galaxy A23. The same size 6.6″ PLS LCD, but at 60Hz, as opposed to the A13 5G and A23, which can both do 90Hz.
Except for the loss of OIS on the main camera and the unfortunate 1080p video recording constraint imposed by the 8nm Exynos 850 chipset, the camera system on the A13 is essentially identical to that on the A23. The Galaxy A13 5G is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 700, while the A23 is powered by the Snapdragon 680, and both can record 4K video.
All three phones feature 5,000 mAh batteries, however, the A13 pair can only charge at 15W, whilst the Galaxy A23 can charge at up to 25W. As previously stated, the differences in various portions of Samsung’s lineup are minor.
Samsung Galaxy A13 specs at a glance:
- Body: 165.1×76.4×8.8mm, 195g; Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back.
- Display: 6.60″ PLS LCD, 1080x2408px resolution, 20.07:9 aspect ratio, 400ppi.
- Chipset: Exynos 850 (8nm): Octa-core (4×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55); Mali-G52.
- Memory: 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM; eMMC 5.1; microSDXC (dedicated slot).
- OS/Software: Android 12, One UI 4.1.
- Rear camera: Wide (main): 50 MP, f/1.8, PDAF; Ultra wide angle: 5 MP, f/2.2, 123-degree, 1/5″, 1.12µm; Macro: 2 MP, f/2.4; Depth: 2 MP, f/2.4.
- Front camera: 8 MP, f/2.2, (wide).
- Video capture: Rear camera: 1080p@30fps; Front camera: 1080p@30fps.
- Battery: 5000mAh; Fast charging 15W.
- Misc: Fingerprint reader (side-mounted); 3.5mm jack; Virtual proximity sensing.
My Thoughts
At the time of writing the Samsung, Galaxy A13 is listed for $200.
When creating a phone, especially one on a tight budget, there is a lot that may go wrong. The issue is that most of these gadgets appear to be extremely comparable on paper. You have to spend some time with them to unearth any faults hiding beneath the surface, and regrettably, the Galaxy A13 had a few major ones.
While the A13 is physically sound, it was clearly built cheaply with soft plastics that are prone to damage. In-person, it also seems and feels fairly cheap. The same is true for the display. While its FullHD resolution produces a crisp image, its pixel reaction time is slow, resulting in smearing and ghosting. It also has poor lighting consistency and since Samsung did not include a proper proximity reader or an ambient light sensor, you have to do a lot of manual adjustments.
It’s a real shame since the Galaxy A13 still delivers in other key aspects. It has stellar battery life, and its cameras, while not exactly impressive, benefit from mature processing and deliver decent results.
The Best Budget Camera Phones in 2022
The most significant selling point of a smartphone today is the camera. And this doesn’t matter whether the phone costs $100 or $1500. From large companies like Sony which sell pro camera Smartphones for over $1600 to the Redmi’s, Poco’s, Realme’s, and Nokia’s that are budget centric. Before we get to the Best Budget Camera Phones in 2022. Let’s take a look at the key features to consider and what exactly influences the camera quality of a Smartphone in 2022.
Table of Contents
Understanding Camera Specifications – What each Terminology means
Terminologies such as megapixels, OIS, HDR, and others are often thrown around when referring to smartphone cameras. And it can be very frustrating to understand all this or to even relate to it. Except for what most of us have come to believe and that is. Higher or more Megapixels Means Better Camera Quality. Which is ideally correct and wrong at the same time. And here is Why,
MegaPixel:
- Megapixels: Refers to the number of small picture elements in a photo called pixels. These are usually really tiny dots or squares that make up a complete digital image. A million pixels are known as a megapixel.
Remember that one megapixel contains a million pixels. As a result, a 16-megapixel picture has sixteen million pixels. This is referred to as the ‘resolution’. The better the resolution of the photographs produced by a smartphone camera, the more megapixels it possesses.
There are smartphone cameras with high megapixel counts, up to 108MP. However, don’t be fooled by high megapixel numbers. Megapixels by themselves DO NOT guarantee improved camera performance. There are several more aspects that influence image quality. And that brings Us to…
Sensor Size:
- Sensor Size: The image sensor in a smartphone camera is a device that converts the light that enters the camera into a digital picture. It is essentially a substitute for photographic film. The sensor’s size is significant since the larger the sensor, the more light it may possibly receive.
The greater the picture quality, the more light it can get. Because of the size constraints of smartphone cameras, this is extremely crucial.
Pixel Size:
- Pixel Size: This refers to the size of each pixel found on the sensor.
When buying a phone for its camera, one of the most crucial factors to consider is the pixel size. A camera having a sensor with large pixels is more desired. Since the larger the pixels, the more probable the camera will produce high-quality images. Measured in microns ‘µm’ or just ‘µ’
Aperture:
Aperture is often defined as the adjustable opening between the lens and the sensor. That determines how much light reaches the sensor. The aperture’s width or narrowness is indicated in f-numbers. A lower f-stop (e.g., f/2) indicates a larger aperture than a higher f-number (e.g., f/16).
The lower the f-stop, the more light your smartphone camera can capture. And, obviously, more light means better pictures.
To learn more about camera specifications click here: this includes specifications such as;
- Lenses and Focal Length
- Image Stabilization
- Zoom
- Periscope
- HDR
- Flash
- Depth Sensor
- Panorama
- Video Resolution and Frame Rates
To learn more about these here is a link. covering everything about Smartphone camera specification
So with that out of the way here are the best budget camera phones in 2022.
Best Budget Camera Phones in 2022 will contain a list of phone pricing ranging from 170USD to 500 USD.
1. Best Budget camera Phones in 2022 – Realme 9 pro plus
The photochromic design, responsive AMOLED screen, flagship-grade camera, and super rapid charging set the Realme 9 Pro+ apart. Realme’s strength is offering powerful phones at low prices. And the Realme 9 Pro+ is shaping up to be one of the finest mid-range options right now.
Launched on 21st Feb this year, and priced below 300 USD. The only major downside is the lack of a microSD card slot.
Key Specifications: Realme 9 pro plus
- Body: 160.2×73.3×8.0mm, 182g; Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, glass back.
- Display: 6.40″ Super AMOLED, 90Hz, 430 nits (typ), 600 nits (HBM), 1080x2400px resolution, 20:9 aspect ratio, 411ppi; Heart rate monitor feature.
- Chipset: MediaTek Dimensity 920 5G (6 nm): Octa-core (2×2.5 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55); Mali-G68 MC4.
- Memory: 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM; UFS 2.2.
- OS/Software: Android 12, Realme UI 3.0.
- Rear camera: Wide (main): 50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm, 1/1.56″, 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS; Ultra wide angle: 8 MP, f/2.2, 119˚, 16mm, 1/4.0″, 1.12µm; Macro: 2 MP, f/2.4.
- Front camera: 16 MP, f/2.4, 27mm (wide), 1/3.09″, 1.0µm.
- Video capture: Rear camera: 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/480fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS; Front camera: 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS.
- Battery: 4500mAh; Fast charging 60W, 100% in 44 min (advertised), USB Power Delivery 3.0.
- Misc: Fingerprint reader (under display, optical); 3.5mm jack.
Best Budget Camera Phones in 2022: Camera
On the rear, the Realme 9 Pro+ boasts a triple camera arrangement with a 50MP OIS main, an 8MP ultrawide, and a 2MP macro. There is also a 16MP front-facing camera for taking selfies. The absence of a depth sensor on the rear is striking, but we’d gladly exchange it for OIS.
The Realme 9 Pro+’s primary camera is a 50MP Sony IMX766 1/1.56″ sensor with 1.0m pixels and a Quad-Bayer filter. This sensor is combined with a stabilized 6-element 24mm lens with an f/1.8 aperture. This camera has a Night Mode feature.
Best Budget Camera Phones in 2022: Photo Quality
By default, the main camera saves 12.5MP photos, which is excellent for this class. There is plenty of resolved detail, high contrast, mostly accurate white balance, and no visible noise.
Despite the Auto HDR, the dynamic range is about average. Despite the clipped highlights, the images appear natural, though we would have traded some contrast for a slight dynamic boost if we could.
The sharpening process does not sit well with us because the photos appear over-sharpened in areas of high detail such as grass, car plates, decorations, branches, and buildings. Aside from that, the primary camera takes excellent photos.
There is an AI option that will adjust settings based on automated scene identification. The majority of the images we’ve taken are of blue skies, greenery, and buildings, and they have bright hues that appear unreal. But if that’s what you want, then, by all means, keep the AI on.
Here are a bunch of 50MP photos. These are not simple upscales either, but some high-quality 50MP images. They are a bit soft, the detail is average, and the noise is higher, but, on some occasions, shooting in 50MP and then resizing those down to 12.5MP may or may not give you slight sharper results. We are not sure if the minor difference is worth that hassle, though.
Although the Realme 9 Pro+ lacks a depth sensor, it can still shoot portrait photos with its primary camera. And they’re amazing – the subjects are always detailed and well illuminated, the colors and contrast are excellent, and the noise is kept to a minimum. The artificial blur is also pleasant.
2. Best Budget camera Phones in 2022 – Samsung Galaxy A33 5G
The Galaxy A mid-range series from Samsung has received its yearly redesign, and it looks fantastic. The Galaxy A33 retains the Galaxy A32’s 90Hz Super AMOLED screen, but it has a far more powerful Exynos 1280 chipset with a newer GPU and gaming-friendly graphics. There is now an inbuilt 5G modem, so you no longer have to select between 4G and 5G models.
The camera has also been upgraded. The 48MP primary now has optical stabilization and can capture up to 4K video. The 13MP selfie camera can also record 4K videos.
It’s not all updates, though, as two things have changed for the worse since the Galaxy A32. The Galaxy A33 has no audio jack, and the microSD bed is now shared with the second SIM option.
KEY FEATURES: Samsung Galaxy A33 5G
- Body: 159.7×74.0x8.1mm, 186g; Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back; IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 mins).
- Display: 6.40″ Super AMOLED, 90Hz, 1080x2400px resolution, 20:9 aspect ratio, 411ppi.
- Chipset: Exynos 1280 (5 nm): Octa-core (2×2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55); Mali-G68.
- Memory: 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM; microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot).
- OS/Software: Android 12, One UI 4.1.
- Rear camera: Wide (main): 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm, 1/2.0″, 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS; Ultra wide angle: 8 MP, f/2.2, 123˚, 1/4.0″, 1.12µm; Macro: 5 MP, f/2.4; Depth: 2 MP, f/2.4.
- Front camera: 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.1″, 1.12µm.
- Video capture: Rear camera: 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps; Front camera: 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps.
- Battery: 5000mAh; Fast charging 25W.
- Misc: Fingerprint reader (under display, optical); Stereo speakers; Virtual proximity sensing.
Best Budget Camera Phones in 2022: Camera
The Galaxy A33 5G uses the same cameras as the Galaxy A32 5G, but with a number of improvements: the main camera now supports OIS, and both the primary and front cameras now allow 4K video capture.
The Galaxy A33 5G, has a 48MP OIS main camera, 8MP ultrawide, 5MP macro, and 2MP depth cameras. There includes a 13MP front-facing camera for selfies.
The primary camera uses a 48MP Sony IMX 582 1/2″ sensor with 0.8µm pixels and a 26mm f/1.8 optically stabilized lens. It is quite rare to see OIS in this mid-range class, and we appreciate it. The camera has a Quad Bayer color filter, which means this camera normally does 12MP photos with 4-in-1 binning, though a high-res 48MP shooting mode is available (within the aspect ratio options, go figure). Phase-detect autofocus is supported.
The ultrawide camera uses an 8MP Sony IMX 355 imager with a 1.12µm pixel pitch. The sensor is behind a 13mm f/2.2 lens, and the focus is fixed.
The macro camera uses a 5MP GalaxyCore GC5035 sensor with an f/2.4 aperture and focus fixed at about 4cm.
The depth sensor uses a 2MP GalaxyCore module with an f/2.4 aperture and focus fixed at infinity.
Best Budget Camera Phones in 2022: Photo Quality
We chose to capture photos with both Scene Optimizer, and Auto HDR turned on as intended by Samsung. The Scene Optimizer option rarely makes a difference, though the HDR does help in certain scenes, and the tonal extremes are usually well developed.
So, the default 12MP photos from the primary camera are superb for the mid-range class. They are sharp and offer more than enough resolved detail, good contrast, and are pleasantly dynamic. There is no noise either.
You can’t but notice the usual Samsung processing – all the photos show eye-popping colors, and the foliage presentation, while okay, is not ideal, especially across the grass.
We know many people like the saturated colors, and they will be more than happy to post these overprocessed photos on social networks. But if these over-saturated images are not your cup of tea, turning off the Scene Optimizer and the Auto HDR might help. This way you will reduce the image processing involvement, though it still may not get you the natural look you were hoping for.
Best Budget Camera Phones in 2022: Video Quality
The primary and selfie cameras of the Galaxy A33 5G capture 4K@30fps footage. The standard 1080p mode at 30fps is accessible on all cameras, however, 1080p at 60fps is only available on the main camera.
Electronic stabilization is available for the primary, ultrawide, and selfie cameras, but only at a resolution of 1080p. Of course, the main camera’s optical stabilization is always on.
The video bitrate is ample in 4K, at 48-49Mbps, and in 1080p, at 17Mbps. The audio is captured stereo with a bitrate of 256Kbps, and the sound quality is consistent throughout all videos.
So, the 4K videos from the main camera are superb – there is plenty of resolved detail and good sharpness, and there is absolutely no noise. The dynamic range is noticeably wide, but it didn’t hurt the contrast, and we are happy with what we saw. The colors are a bit punchier than they should have been, as usual.
3. Best Budget camera Phones in 2022 – Vivo iQOO 9 SE
In many ways, the iQOO 9 SE resembles its brothers. Sure, the design is a little unusual. That is true of the entire iQOO 9 trio, but the iQOO 9 SE is certainly not a completely distinct phone slapped onto the iQOO 9 family.
While it is not the “cream of the crop” in terms of specifications and features, it is also not your average “mid-ranger.” In terms of specifications, iQOO has practically recreated a true flagship from a year or two ago. An approach that has a lot of promise in our opinion since, more often than not, flagship hardware is still “flagship hardware,” if that makes sense.
Key Features: Vivo iQOO 9 SE
- Body: 163.2×76.4×8.4mm, 196g; plastic frame and back; Splash and dust resistant.
- Display: 6.62″ Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak), 1080x2400px resolution, 20:9 aspect ratio, 398ppi.
- Chipset: Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm): Octa-core (1×2.84 GHz Kryo 680 & 3×2.42 GHz Kryo 680 & 4×1.80 GHz Kryo 680); Adreno 660.
- Memory: 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM; UFS 3.1.
- OS/Software: Android 12, Funtouch 12.
- Rear camera: Wide (main): 48 MP, f/1.8, 25mm, 1/2.0″, 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS; Ultra wide angle: 13 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 120-degree, 1/3.1″, 1.12µm; Depth: 2 MP, f/2.4.
- Front camera: 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3.0″, 1.0µm.
- Video capture: Rear camera: 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps; Front camera: 1080p@30fps.
- Battery: 4500mAh; Fast charging 66W, 50% in 14 min, 100% in 39 min (advertised).
- Misc: Fingerprint reader (under display, optical); NFC.
Best Budget Camera Phones in 2022: Camera
The iQOO 9 SE boasts a very common triple camera configuration, consisting of a 48MP primary camera, a 13MP ultrawide camera, and a 2MP depth sensor.
That’s a step down from the iQOO 9 Pro’s 50MP primary shooter with gimbal OIS, 16MP telephoto, and 50MP ultrawide with autofocus. With its gimbal OIS and telescopic camera, even the basic iQOO 9 is out of reach. The iQOO 9 SE, on the other hand, only sports OIS on its primary camera.
We did manage to find out some information on the camera hardware within the iQOO 9 SE. The primary 48MP camera has a Sony IMX598 sensor. It is a Quad Bayer unit with a 2×1 on-chip lens PDAF, a 1/2″ size, with individual pixels measuring 0.8 m. In this setup, it is mounted behind an f/1.8 lens and features OIS. The Sony IMX598 was designed exclusively for Vivo and can be found in devices such as the Vivo X50, X50 Pro, X60, X60 Pro, and the iQOO 7.
Best Budget Camera Phones in 2022: Photo Quality
Let’s start with some footage from the primary camera. Because it is a Quad-Bayer device, it automatically records 12MP stills. Overall, these appear terrific, with plenty of resolved detail, almost little noise, and vibrant colors.
In fact, the saturation of the colors is undoubtedly the distinguishing feature of these stills. Great if you like that look or want to show off the “pop” on your OLED monitor, however, the saturation is turned up to 11 and the colors are far from realistic.
Furthermore, there is a lot of apparent sharpening done across the frame, mixed with some flattening of specific surfaces, which results in a plasticky look up close with a lack of substance.
These photos have been taken with the AI option ON, as we like to shoot with all options in their default state as they come out of the box.
Switching to full-resolution 48MP mode truly highlights how excessive the processing is in ordinary photo mode. Colors aren’t quite as saturated, there isn’t nearly as much sharpening, and more surface roughness is visible in the 48MP images.
Both cases have a limited dynamic range, but it’s not a deal-breaker. By choosing 48MP mode, you’ll have to cope with significantly slower capture times and much higher file sizes, but you’ll receive some more fine detail in return. While we don’t usually encourage utilizing high-resolution settings on Quad-Bayer cameras, employing this one offers advantages – at least in daytime.
The iQOO 9 SE lacks a dedicated telephoto camera, but it can still crop and zoom from the main cam. At 2x, shots look nearly identical to 1x ones and are perfectly usable.
Best Budget Camera Phones in 2022: Video Quality
The iQOO 9 SE can capture video at up to 4K@60fps on its main camera and 1080p@30fps on the ultrawide. Pretty standard considering its hardware. In terms of additional video capture features and options, you can choose between the h.264 codec or the higher compression of h.265 (HEVC) if you want to save space. The iQOO 9 SE also offers a few motion autofocus options like tweaks to Eye or Body autofocus, which is not something you typically see on phones.
It can also do 3D soundtracking, or try to synchronize audio and video focus. For low-light footage, the frame rate is automatically reduced to 24fps. This mode is used when the scene is extremely dark, and it allows the iQOO 9 SE to reduce the shutter speed and apply further processing to the photos.
The video from the primary camera looks fantastic in 4K. Colors and detail are both nice and natural-looking. The severe saturation applied to stills appears to be absent or greatly reduced here.
The most serious fault here is undoubtedly a lack of dynamic range. Highlights, in particular, are nearly completely removed. And it’s not only that the iQOO 9 SE overexposes the scene.
1080p videos from the ultrawide camera have noticeably different colors and contrast. The detail is decent, though unimpressive and dynamic range is even more of an issue here.
The iQOO 9 SE has a couple of stabilization modes. A regular one works across both the main and ultrawide cameras and does not necessitate a lower capture resolution. It does a great job smoothing out most big shakes and bumps and doesn’t crop too much away from the frame.
4. Best Budget camera Phones in 2022 – OnePlus 10R
The OnePlus 10R is the newest entrant in OnePlus’ mid-range R-series. Known as the OnePlus Ace in China, the 10R is essentially the Realme GT Neo 3 but with minor changes.
The OnePlus 10R is based on the MediaTek Dimensity 8100 platform. It features a large 120Hz display and a triple camera system on the back. The phone is also launching in two variants, one with a 5000mAh battery and 80W charger and the other with a 4500mAh battery and 150W charger.
KEY SPECIFICATION: Oneplus 10R
- Body: 163.3×75.5×8.2mm, 186g; plastic back, plastic frame.
- Display: 6.70″ Fluid AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1080x2412px resolution, 20.1:9 aspect ratio, 394ppi.
- Chipset: MediaTek Dimensity 8100-Max (5 nm): Octa-core (4×2.85 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55); Mali-G610 MC6.
- Memory: 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM; UFS 3.1.
- OS/Software: Android 12, OxygenOS 12.1.
- Rear camera: Wide (main): 50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm, 1/1.56″, 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS; Ultra wide angle: 8 MP, f/2.2, 15mm, 120˚, 1/4.0″, 1.12µm; Macro: 2 MP, f/2.4.
- Front camera: 16 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/3.09″, 1.0µm.
- Video capture: Rear camera: 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS; Front camera: 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS.
- Battery: 5000mAh; Fast charging 80W, 1-100% in 32 min (regular version), Fast charging 150W, 1-30% in 3 min, 1-100% in 17 min (150W version).
- Misc: Fingerprint reader (under display, optical); NFC.
Best Budget Camera Phones in 2022: Camera
The OnePlus 10R is equipped with a triple camera system on the back and a single camera on the front. The rear camera system has a 50MP Sony IMX766 quad-Bayer wide sensor, an 8MP Sony IMX355 ultra-wide sensor, and a 2MP GalaxyCore GC02M1 macro sensor. The front-facing camera is a 16MP Samsung S5K3P9SP quad-Bayer.
The camera app is the same as that seen on most Oppo and Realme phones. There is no Hasselblad branding here, and many of the functions have been removed, but the essentials remain.
Best Budget Camera Phones In 2022: Photo Quality
The images from the main camera have decent resolution and detail. Unfortunately, the white balance was consistently off on our review unit, producing overly warm images. The dynamic range was also quite weak, as the camera has a tendency to underexpose shadows.
The ultra-wide camera strangely has better white balance in most situations. However, the image quality is significantly worse, with colors occasionally looking washed out and the detail being very low due to the low-resolution sensor and lack of autofocus.
5. Best Budget camera Phones in 2022 – Apple iPhone SE(2022)
KEY FEATURES: iPhone SE 2022
- Body: 138.4×67.3×7.3mm, 144g; Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame; IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 mins), Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified).
- Display: 4.70″ Retina IPS LCD, 625 nits (typ), 750x1334px resolution, 16.01:9 aspect ratio, 326ppi; Wide color gamut, True-tone.
- Chipset: Apple A15 Bionic (5 nm): Hexa-core (2xX.XX GHz Avalanche + 4xX.XX GHz Blizzard); Apple GPU (4-core graphics).
- Memory: 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM; NVMe.
- OS/Software: iOS 15.4, upgradable to iOS 15.4.1.
- Rear camera: 12 MP, f/1.8 (wide), PDAF, OIS.
- Front camera: 7 MP, f/2.2.
- Video capture: Rear camera: 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, OIS, stereo sound rec; Front camera: 1080p@30/120fps; gyro-EIS.
- Battery: 2018mAh; Fast charging 18W, 50% in 30 min (advertised), Qi wireless charging.
- Misc: Fingerprint reader (front-mounted); NFC.
Best Budget Camera Phones In 2022: Camera
The iPhone SE (2022) has the same 12MP rear and 7MP front cameras as the iPhone 8 and the iPhone SE (2020). They both use the same old sensors and same lenses. This is probably the reason why they don’t get night mode despite the vast amounts of processing power available. Still, Smart HDR and the Deep Fusion are enabled to boost image quality.
There is no ultrawide camera, nor is there a telephoto one. Macro photography is not among the iPhone SE (2022)’s capabilities and generally any of the contemporary niceties we’ve come to expect from even mid-range smartphones these days are not possible with this one. What it does have, however, it uses well.
The rear camera relies on a 12MP sensor with 1.22µm pixels and a 28mm f/1.8 stabilized lens. PDAF is available, and this camera can capture up to 4K videos at 60fps.
The front camera utilizes a 7MP sensor and can use the screen as a flash. It has a 32mm f/2.2 lens and the focus is fixed.
Portraits are supported on both cameras.
Best Budget Camera Phones In 2022: Photo Quality
The photos taken with iPhone SE (2022)’s rear camera are good in many ways – there is enough detail, noise is low, the white balance is spot on, the contrast is high, and the dynamic range is just right.
But there are two flaws that have been part of Apple’s image processing for years. First – is the color saturation. It is trying too hard to stay true to life and ends up looking dull. Everyone needs a little color in their life, and we think the default image processing would benefit from a boost in color saturation. Luckily, changing the default Photographic Style now offers an easy fix.
And second, the inconsistent results in areas of random detail like foliage. Sometimes foliage is great, other times it’s an awful smudge fest akin to an oil painting.
We’d say the photos are great, in spite of their two flaws, especially for an iPhone on a budget.
Best Budget Camera Phones In 2022: Video Quality
Apple iPhone SE (2022) main camera supports all popular resolutions and frame rates – it can do 4K at 60fps and 1080p at 240fps. – all of them are optically stabilized as usual. All modes also feature cinematic video stabilization and expanded dynamic range thanks to the Smart HDR.
The video bitrate is about 45Mbps in 4K at 30fps and 100Mbps for 4K at 60fps. Audio is recorded in wide stereo with a 160Kbps bitrate.
The 4K videos from the rear camera are simply outstanding. The resolved detail is plenty, the sharpness – is just right, the noise is low, and the white balance and color presentation are spot on. The dynamic range is wide, while the contrast doesn’t suffer, and everything looks good. The foliage could be a hit and miss as seen in the photos, but other than that – these are some really good 4K videos.
conclusion
If you reached this last part then you understand that the number of Megapixel alone is never enough to validate a good camera. This can be seen in the flagship segment too where the likes of Samsung have used the same number of Megapixels since S20 to date and each has a new look and feel.
And on your next Budget try get a better camera or a good deal here or check the budget segment phones
Best Laptops for Undergraduate Students – 2022
Students have a budget but also need the most durable laptops to survive the harsh college or campus conditions. Here are the Best Laptops For undergraduate Students in 2022 that I would recommend. All the laptops are available at BESTBUY link in the description. If you are going to buy a laptop as a student, these are key features to consider to maximize your budget.
- RAM – Minimum of 8GB
- Storage – minimum of 250GB SSD
- OS- support for windows 11/ MacOS
- Graphics – minimum 4GB integrated or 2GB dedicated
- CPU – at least 10th gen intel or at least 6 cores for AMD 2.5GHz with Turbo boost
- Cache – 8MB
- Battery – 51Wh minimum
- USB ports – at least 2 USB 3.0 and a USB C Port
In the event you want a cheaper laptop for light use then I would recommend a chrome book. Click
Here for 5 best affordable chrome books.
Table of Contents
1. ASUS ZENBOOK 14″ 2022 – Best Laptops For Undergraduate Students 2022
The Asus Zenbook 14 UM425 2022 is purely designed for portability. And as a student, you really don’t need something that is bulky. I have used the Zenbook 14 for about a month and these are my thoughts.
Key Specifications
OPERATING SYSTEM | Windows 11 Home |
CPU | AMD Ryzen 5 5500U 6-core |
GRAPHICS CARD | NVIDIA GeForce MX450 (Dedicated) |
SCREEN SIZE | 14 inches 1920 x 1080 (Full HD) |
RAM | 8GB LPDDR4X |
STORAGE | 256 GB SSD (PCI-e) |
CACHE SIZE | 8MB |
BATTERY | 51Wh |
NUMBER OF USB PORTS | 2 – USB 3 Ports, 1 – Type C Port |
WEIGHT | 1.13 Kgs (2.5lbs) |
MY THOUGHTS
It’s worth noting that the Zenbook 14 has a decent battery life capable of full-day use. Approximately 7 to 8 hours of use. Accompanied with My Asus app that thrives on lots of features including but not limited to battery charging levels. The Ryzen 5, thanks to nAMD comes with tons of performance and reliability features have edited my video on this laptop and the only problem I ran into is it gets warm under intense use cases. And this may be due to it only having a single fun inside. also for student who do play the games the Zenbook can handle that except for more demanding games the it becomes very difficult to use.
At its current price of $470 on best buy (link in the description), I find it easy to recommend. The major downside is the Key Board color combinations. As it makes it more difficult to type as its grey keys on light grey. Also, the Power on key is close to delete hence might easily mistake it when deleting something.
Pros
- Great Battery Life
- Thin and high-quality design
- great display and colors
- 92% sRGB coverage has a greater color accuracy
- High-Performance Ryzen Processor
N/B soldered Ram is not upgradeable.
Cons
- noisy on the Performance mode
- RAM Soldered to the motherboard
- no Thunderbolt 3 connectivity
- The keypad combination of colors Isn’t favorable
2. Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 – Best Laptops For Undergraduate Students 2022
The Best Surface Laptop and The best laptop for writers with one of the very best keyboards ever. For students portability and useability is key. The Surface 4 thrives in Performance, good battery life, and audio output.
Key Specifications
OPERATING SYSTEM | Windows 11 Home |
CPU | AMD Ryzen 5 4680U 6-core |
GRAPHICS CARD | AMD Radeon Vega 9 |
SCREEN SIZE | 13.5 inches 2256 x 1504 Touch Screen |
RAM | 16GB LPDDR4X |
STORAGE | 256 GB SSD (PCI-e) |
CACHE SIZE | 8MB |
BATTERY | up to 19hrs 65Watts |
NUMBER OF USB PORTS | 2 – USB 3 Ports, 1 – Type C Port |
WEIGHT | 1.26 Kgs (2.7lbs) |
MY THOUGHTS
After Spending Close to 3 months trying to exhaust and maximize the Surface 4. its clear that for what its meant to do it does perfectly well. Priced at 899$ on BestBuy. The Surface 4 is a pretty nice deal. As stated earlier the surface 4 has a great design and very comfortable keyboard but easily gets dirty. Performance is outstanding and Accompanied with the AMD processor this laptop is a super beast lets just say it, With a super quite fun the Surface 4 is worth buying.
obviously, It has its own imperfections. For instance, their is no thunderbolt 4 ports, which is a possible problem for some. Also, irrespective of having a good keypad, the glossy screen is too reflective, and honestly found it too annoying. especially under bright conditions. Such as outside sunlight.
3. HP – ENVY 2-in 1 2022 – Best Laptops For Undergraduate Students 2022
In a nutshell, the HP envy has a professional look, sleek design, and is classy. want something you can carry to class and still doubles as a tablet especially when you want to handwrite notes when the professor is talking too fast? then this is the gear for you.
Key Specifications
OPERATING SYSTEM | Windows 11 Home |
CPU | Intel Evo 12th Gen Intel Core i7-1250U 4.7GHz speed 10 cores |
GRAPHICS CARD | Intel Iris Xe Graphics |
SCREEN SIZE | 13.3 inches 1920 x 1200 Touch Screen |
RAM | 8GB LPDDR4X |
STORAGE | 512 GB SSD (NVMe) |
CACHE SIZE | 12MB |
BATTERY | up to 17hrs 65Watts |
NUMBER OF USB PORTS | Thunderbolt 4 – 2 ports, USB 3.1 – 2 ports |
WEIGHT | 1.38 Kgs (3.05lbs) |
MY THOUGHTS
The 2022 HP envy which starts at $800 which is a budget friendly segment. The 2in 1 laptop functions as a high performer laptop and also as a easy to carry tablet. The Performance of the HP envy x360 is top notch spent sometime using it and its satisfactory, especially for a student. well as a gamer or a video editor this I cant recommend, that’s because the Envy isn’t built to handle video editing or heavy gaming. But for simple tasks its Superb. Display is Great and inclusion of thunderbolt 4 ports makes it a better deal.
Audio quality is a 8 out of 10, the touch pad also has precision TouchPad which is a big thumbs up. All in All the Envy is a easy to recommend laptop But has its own limitations, weighing more than 1kg or rather 3.05 pounds, making it one of the heaviest laptops in this category. Its worth noting for those who spend time in online classes the camera in the envy is not appealing at all.
PROS
- Long battery life
- Easy-to-use keyboard
- Plenty of ports
- great battery life
- Awesome display
CONS
- Large, bulky size
- Mediocre camera quality
4. MACBOOK AIR M2 2022 – Best Laptop For Students 2022
The Most popular laptop is back and with it comes unique features and refreshed design.
Key Specifications
OPERATING SYSTEM | macOS Monterey 12 |
CPU | Apple M2 8 core |
GRAPHICS CARD | Integrated Apple |
SCREEN SIZE | 13.6 inches 2560 x 1664 |
RAM | 8GB DDR4 |
STORAGE | 256 GB SSD |
CACHE SIZE | 12MB |
BATTERY | 52.6 Wh Lithium polymer battery |
NUMBER OF USB PORTS | Thunderbolt 4 – 2 ports, USB 3.1 – 2 ports |
WEIGHT | 1.22 Kgs (2.7lbs) |
MY THOUGHTS
Its important to understand that the Macbook air M2 doesn’t replace the M1 option. For any MacBook air Buyer , the M2 is the ultimate choice. its more elegant, improved performance, incredible audio, and better display. in simpler terms the M2 is slightly better than M1. as it addson the already game changing M1 MacBook Air. While interms of Pricing one can be tempted to get the M1 due to pricing, the M2 variant is a better laptop around.
One thing worth noting is the M2 is not meant for gaming hence with no fans and dedicated GPU, it does handle the Apple Arcade titles pretty well and a few light weight games. Beyond that the M2 is not great for gamers. The issue with slower SSD is still on M2, also the display is fixed to 60Hz and has limited number of ports.
PROS
- Refined design
- Efficient performance
- Outstanding battery life
- Bright Liquid Retina display
- Quality keyboard and trackpad
- Improved webcam and speakers
CONS
- Slow SSD on the base model
- Limited ports
- Display only 60Hz
- Single external monitor only
- More expensive than MacBook Air M1
5. DELL XPS 13.3 inch 2022 – Best Laptop For Students 2022
When you buy a Dell XPS laptop, you’re buying some of the best that money can buy. You’re getting a premium aluminum laptop and an immersive InfinityEdge display. Ultimately, you’re buying the best that Dell has to offer. With the Dell XPS 13 Plus, you’re still getting that, but the company is getting a bit more experimental.
Key Specifications
OPERATING SYSTEM | Windows 11 Home |
CPU | Intel 12th Gen core i7 4.7GHz 12 Cores Evo platform |
GRAPHICS CARD | Intel Iris Xe Graphics |
SCREEN SIZE DISPLAY | 13.4 inches 3456 x 2160 (3.5K) Touchscreen |
RAM | 16GB LPDDR5 5200 Megahertz |
STORAGE | 512 GB SSD |
CACHE SIZE | 18MB |
BATTERY | 60 Watts Lithium ion battery |
NUMBER OF USB PORTS | Thunderbolt 4 – 2 ports, USB 3.1 – 2 ports |
WEIGHT | 1.27 Kgs (2.8lbs) |
MY THOUGHTS
Powered by the latest 12th Gen intel Core i7 processor, integrated iris Xe graphics card, the notebook is a sweet powerhouse to recommend. closing in is 12 hours battery life, the performance of the dell meets my expectation for the price tag.
Its worth noting that the integrated graphics card is an entry level and cant expect much from it. The Design is Attractive just as its performance, The laptop is smaller in size , lightweight, a large track pad greater keyboard for typing in class. Looking for a long term portable windows laptop here is where the search ends.
The dell isn’t perfect especially if you are someone interested in video calling and online classes as Dell stuck with the 720p Webcam which is mediocere for its price point.
PROS
- Attractive, premium chassis
- Powerful performance
- No bezels whatsoever
- Excellent battery life
CONS
- NO Legacy PORTS
- 720P WEBCAM
- 28W processor uses more battery life
FINAL THOUGHTS
IN 2022 there is lots of competition, in the laptop segment and in the event you are a student and need a more budget friendly laptop click here
In case you need a Chrome book click here.
The Best Refurbished Laptops Under 30K in Kenya – 2023
Hey, Ratwebtech here. Let’s dive into the best refurbished laptops under 30k in Kenya and where you can buy them.
Here are 5 affordable XUk or rather Certified Refurbished laptops you can buy in Kenya or East Africa in 2023
When looking for a laptop, there are things that you as an individual always want. These are Your Personal Preference and can range from needing large storage, or Maybe More RAM to satisfy your needs, some focus on the build Quality, and others will focus on battery life, Display size and even Graphics.
Either way, 2 things will for sure determine what you get 1 is warranty cover and the other is the PRICE
Well, I have considered all these and compiled a list you can use this link to make your order that way you support the website’s growth.
All Refurbished laptops do have a 6 months warranty.
The key factor that determines what you buy is your budget or rather how much are you willing to spend
So without further ado let’s get started
Table of Contents
Minimum Specification Considered for The Best Refurbished Laptops Under 30K in Kenya
- Processor – Intel Core i5, 6th Generation Onwards
- Processor Speed – 2.3GHz Upwards
- RAM – 8GB Minimum
- Storage – 256GB SSD and Not Hdd
- Display – 12.5 inches minimum Full HD
- Operating System – Windows 10 or 11
With that out of the way, let’s get the best laptops you should consider buying under 30k in Kenya or east Africa
1. HP Elitebook 840 G4 – Best Refurbished Laptops Under 30K in Kenya
Specs at a Glance
- The 840 g4 is equipped with
- Intel core i5 7th generation processor 2.5 GHz, up to 3.1 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost technology
3 MB cache, 2 cores - 8GB RAM upgradeable to 32GB and 256 NVME SSD for storage
- As well as a full HD 14-inch touchscreen display. 1920 X 1080
- Integrated Intel HD Graphics 620
My Thoughts
The EliteBooks from the 800-series are premium business notebooks from HP. The 840 G4 combines magnesium alloy and painted aluminum, and only the bottom is made of dark plastic. Therefore, palm rests are cool and fingerprints are no problem. The EliteBook 840 G4, Uses modern Kaby Lake ULV processors with integrated GPU. The two SODIMM memory slots support up to 32 GB DDR4-RAM. Storage options include conventional 2.5-inch HDDs as well as M.2 SSDs.
The 14-inch business laptop does not disappoint in terms of performance. The laptop is quiet and does not get overly warm, and the Intel Core i5-7200U can greatly utilise its performance potential. The battery capacity has a practical runtime of almost 7hrs. The keyboard is pretty good plus the backlight makes it a great deal usability is incredibly easy to type on
In simple terms this a worthy laptop and provides value for money, thou the back casing is plastic and which can be a no for some though that’s a compromise some might go with
You can check it out here
The next laptop on the list is
2. Lenovo Yoga 260 – Best Refurbished Laptops Under 30K in Kenya
The Thinkpad Yoga 260 is a 12.5 inch convertible Ultrabook with 360-degree rotation, touchscreen, intel Skylake 6th gen dual core i5 CPU with 1366 X 768 HD display.
8GB of Ram upgradeable to 16 GB and 256 NVME SDD storage currently selling for 27000 KES
Weighing 1.3Kgs
The Lenovo Yoga 260 is a slim yet durable laptop and easily portable the keyboard is a super great trackpad and the fingerprint sensor works seamlessly. Yet the yoga 260 is powerful enough to be a main machine if you are a student or business person who does productivity work in MS office photo editing web streaming and occasional video editing. This can only handle straightforward editing as it uses the integrated Intel HD 620 graphics. The Yoga 260 Laptop enjoys up to 5 hours of battery life which is great for its price.
The laptop is great in all aspects except for the 768 HD display which might be limiting to some
Either way, if you need a bigger screen then opt for the Lenovo Yoga 460 which has a better 1080 Full HD display and a bigger screen
Key Specifications At a Glance
Brand | Lenovo Yoga 260 |
CPU | 2.3-GHz Intel Core i5-6200U |
Card Slots | microSD |
Display Size | 12.5 |
Graphics Card | Intel HD Graphics 520 |
Hard Drive Size | 256GB |
Hard Drive Type | SSD |
Native Resolution | 1920×1080 |
Operating System | Windows 10 Pro |
Ports (excluding USB) | OneLink+, HDMI, Mini DisplayPort |
RAM | 8GB RAM Upgradable to 16GB |
Size | 12.20″ x 8.66″ x 0.70″ |
USB Ports | 2 |
Weight | 1.3kgs |
Third, on the list is
3. HP ProBook 430 G4 – Best Refurbished Laptops Under 30K in Kenya
My Thoughts
Leveraging the i5-7200U processor two core model of laptop processor from the 7th Generation Intel Core i5 line of processors, the HP ProBook 430 G4 packs a processor frequency of 2.50 GHz, which leverages a frequency boostable up to a max of 3.1 GHz, with 3 MB of processor cache, with an alternate name of the processor being a Kaby Lake processor.
The memory offers the Laptop a maximum of 8GB of DDR4-SDRAM memory, and there’s a 2133 MHz ram clock speed on the internal memory. To Add on to this is 256GB SSD Storage.
There is only one screen size available and that is a backlit Full HD 13.3″ screen with a screen resolution of 1920×1080 pixels.
Priced At KES 30,000 the Probook 430 G4 is A good deal for the buck.
Key Specifications At A Glance
- DISPLAY – 13.3″ (33.78 cm) display, 1366 x 768 px
- STORAGE – 256 GB SSD
- PROCESSOR – Intel Core i5 (7th Gen) Processor
- RAM – 8 GB DDR4 RAM
4th on the list
Dell Latitude 7389 2-in-1 – Best Refurbished Laptops Under 30K in Kenya
My Thoughts
The corporate world demands productivity in all sorts of circumstances, so it only makes sense that you would want a business convertible that can keep up with those expectations. The 13-inch Dell Latitude 7389 2-in-1 goes from laptop to tablet and back again, and it pairs that flexibility with strong performance and battery life that will take you through your workday without requiring you to plug in to charge. Though competitors offer more style and endurance, the Latitude 7389 is a compelling and versatile choice for productivity workers on the go. Priced at 35,000 The Dell Latitude 7389 2 in 1 Qualifyies Perfectly to be among the Best Refurbished Laptops Under 30K in Kenya.
Pros
- +Rock-solid performance
- +Decent battery life
- +Lots of port
Specs At A Glance
CPU | Intel Core i5-7600U |
Company Website | http://www.dell.com |
Display Size | 13.3 |
Graphics Card | Integrated HD Graphics 620 |
Hard Drive Size | 256GB |
Hard Drive Type | M.2 SSD |
Highest Available Resolution | 1920 x 1080 |
Native Resolution | 1920×1080 |
Operating System | Windows 10 Pro 64-bit |
Ports (excluding USB) | USB 3.1, Microphone, Headphone, HDMI, DisplayPort |
RAM | 16GB |
Size | 12 x 8.26 x 0.7 inches |
Weight | 1.3kgs |
Wi-Fi | 802.11ac |