Orbital

Will the iPhone 13 be a full-fledged upgrade, or more like an iPhone 12S? Gadgets 360 reviews editor Jamshed Avari and deputy reviews editor Roydon Cerejo join host Akhil Arora to discuss next week’s iPhone 13 launch and Apple event. We talk about the leaks and reports we’ve seen so far, much of which have been focused on the Pro models. They are expected to get iPad Pro-like ProMotion displays that support 120Hz refresh rates. And every new iPhone 13 is expected to have an always-on display. You can expect the phones to be thicker as well, thanks to larger batteries. The iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max are also said to get new camera features, including portrait video (that focuses on the subject and blurs the background) and the ability to record high-quality ProRes video. Meanwhile, the regular iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini might have their cameras arranged diagonally. Read: iPhone 13, Apple Watch Series 7, AirPods 3 key specifications and features leaked Due to the new (Pro) features and ongoing

How will India’s new liberalised drone rules impact the industry? And where are they left wanting? Skye Air Mobility co-founder Swapnik Jakkampuddi, Internet Freedom Foundation associate counsel for surveillance and transparency Anushka Jain, and Tech for Wildlife founder-director Shashank Srinivasan join host Akhil Arora to discuss just that. We talk about how the Drone Rules 2021 do away with unnecessary and time-consuming security clearances, and are much easier to parse than the old ones — but it’s worth noting that these are still early days, and there’s a lot they leave out, including basic stuff such as the legality of DJI drones (the most popular in the world) or counter-drone measures (can you shoot down a drone if it flies over your property?). Read: Drone Rules 2021 announced Additionally, the new eased regulations have made misuse of drones much easier, be it on an individual peeping-tom level or via the police who are taking to new technology more and more. There are major questions over priv

Realme has retired “X” — and introduced the GT series with two new sub-Rs. 30,000 and 40,000 phones. Gadgets 360 senior reviewers Sheldon Pinto and Aditya Shenoy join host Akhil Arora to talk about the Realme GT 5G and GT Master Edition. We discuss Realme’s counterintuitive approach with the naming and the design. The GT Master Edition is the more afforadble phone, while the plainly named GT 5G is the more expensive one. They have a vegan leather option (sounds premium), but it’s only on the cheapest variant. Read: Realme GT Master Edition first impressions We delve into their performance — the GT 5G has a Snapdragon 888 that calls for compromise elsewhere — the many cameras on offer, and the Realme UI software that emerged out of Oppo’s ColorOS which has now been merged with OnePlus’ OxygenOS. If you know, you know. Speaking of OnePlus, we also touch upon their competitors that includes the Nord 2, as well as the gaming-focused Poco F3 GT. Oh hey, is that where Realme got the idea for “GT”? The new Real

Are the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 still made for enthusiasts — or are they good enough for everyone? Gadgets 360 reviews editor Jamshed Avari and deputy reviews editor Roydon Cerejo join host Akhil Arora to talk about Samsung’s new foldables. We discuss the India pricing of the two new Galaxy Z devices (and the cashback and offers you can avail), and how Samsung has improved on their respective previous iterations (120Hz display and S Pen support among them). Read: Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 launched in India We delve into the downsides of an under-display camera (and the potential upsides), the multiple use cases of their multiple cameras (the Flip 3 is its own tripod), and how Android works on foldables (and what Samsung brings to it with One UI). Along the way, we pick our favourites between the Fold 3 and Flip 3, and wonder why there aren’t many companies in this exciting category (hello Moto). Follow Gadgets 360 on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Write to us at podcast@gadgets360.c

A double delight for John Cena fans this week, purely by happenchance, as Orbital dives into two of his latest movies: the DC supervillain get-together The Suicide Squad, and the heist family saga Fast & Furious 9. Gadgets 360 chief sub-editor and comic book fan Shayak Majumder joins host Akhil Arora to talk about The Suicide Squad. We discuss James Gunn’s shock-and-awe tactics and how he makes use of the giant ensemble, led by Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, Joel Kinnaman, and Cena. We touch upon Gunn’s mannerisms that contribute to a bonkers over-the-top movie, the multiple Guardians of the Galaxy cameos he stuffs here, and why we enjoyed everything about King Shark. Lastly, we look at where The Suicide Squad lands in the DC Extended Universe canon. Read: The Suicide Squad Review Later, Gadgets 360 senior reviewer Ali Pardiwala and sub-editor Jasmin Jose — both Fast & Furious fans — join Akhil to discuss F9. We delve into the sheer craziness of the film, with returning director Justin Lin putting a

OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei is back, with Nothing. Its first product is Ear 1, a pair of true wireless stereo (TWS) earphones like the AirPods. Gadgets 360 audio guru Ali Pardiwala, Headphone Zone founder and CEO Raghav Somani, and MySmartPrice editor-in-chief Ershad Kaleebullah join host Akhil Arora to talk about Nothing and India’s TWS market. We discuss why Nothing is making its debut with wireless earbuds, what it’s offering in terms of features (including active noise cancellation), and how it’s undercutting competition in India. The Ear 1 cost just Rs. 5,999 as opposed to $100 (~Rs. 7,500) and £100 (~Rs. 10,400) elsewhere. Read: Nothing Ear 1 first impressions Along the way, we delve into the big problems with TWS earphones — owing to tiny (custom-made) batteries, they don’t last very long and in turn, are generating a lot of e-waste — and what Indians generally want when they are in the market for new wireless buds. Follow Gadgets 360 on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Write to us at p

Is OnePlus cannibalising itself with the Nord 2 5G? Gadgets 360 deputy reviews editor Roydon Cerejo and reviewer Aditya Shenoy join host Akhil Arora to talk about all things Nord 2. Read: OnePlus Nord 2 5G first impressions We discuss how it fits into OnePlus’ ever-expanding line-up, how it fares against its competition, and the switch to a MediaTek chipset — a first for OnePlus. Read: OnePlus Nord 2 vs Poco F3 GT: battle of the affordable flagships Along the way, we delve into the OxygenOS-ColorOS UI bleed that is happening thanks to OnePlus’ merger with Oppo, and what that could mean for the future of phones from both manufacturers. Follow Gadgets 360 on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Write to us at podcast@gadgets360.com Chapters Intro (00:00) vs Nord and Nord CE (00:22) Competition (04:35) Good all-rounder (08:50) Qualcomm -> MediaTek (11:39) Oppo bleed (16:09) Who is it for? (24:56) vs OnePlus 9R (28:00) Outro (32:16) Photo credit: Aditya Shenoy/Gadgets 360

Amazon’s annual shopping extravaganza and giant advertisement for its subscription service is back — for a two-day event on Monday, July 26 and Tuesday, July 27. Gadgets 360 community manager and deals expert Harpreet Singh joins host Akhil Arora to talk about all things Prime Day 2021. We discuss what you should expect (the best discounts are always on Amazon products) and how to prepare (set up wishlists and notifications). We also give you tips on deal hunting and tell you what to stay away from. Read: How to get the best Prime Day deals Lastly, we touch upon why you might want to wait for festive period sales (that are closer to Prime Day this time), and when you shouldn’t. As always, we will highlight the best deals on Gadgets 360, so stick around. Follow Gadgets 360 on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Write to us at podcast@gadgets360.com Chapters Intro (00:00) What is Prime Day? (00:19) What to expect (03:13) Amazon is always on sale (05:02) How to prepare (06:37) What to do on sale d

p>This week on Orbital, it’s time for Loki, the Marvel Cinematic Universe series that ended its six-episode run Wednesday on Disney+ and Disney+ Hotstar. Gadgets 360 chief sub-editor Shayak Majumder and deputy news editor Veer Arjun Singh — both Marvel fans — join host Akhil Arora to talk about the Tom Hiddleston-led TV show. Major spoilers ahead. Read: Loki Season 1 Review We discuss the fitting nature of Loki (Hiddleston) falling in love with another Loki aka Sylvie (Sophia Di Martino), Hiddleston and Owen Wilson’s dynamic that powered early episodes, and Marvel’s recurrent problem with killing off characters — or rather, its inability to. We analyse Jonathan Majors’ introduction as Kang the Conqueror/ He Who Remains, and what his multiverse monologue means for what’s to come in the MCU. And along the way, we see how Loki compares to its predecessors: WandaVision, and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Follow Gadgets 360 on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Write to us at podcast@gadgets360.

What is the best smartphone in India right now? Gadgets 360 deputy reviews editor Roydon Cerejo and reviewer Aditya Shenoy join host Akhil Arora to discuss the crème de la crème. We talk about the obvious lakhpati kids in the room (hello, Apple and Samsung), the premium flagship killers (from Xiaomi and OnePlus), and a specialist device for mobile gamers (hi, Asus). Along the way, we touch upon what you get for paying through the nose, and look at upcoming phones (from Google and beyond) in the second half of 2021. Follow Gadgets 360 on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Write to us at podcast@gadgets360.com Chapters Intro (00:00) What to expect >Rs. 50,000 (00:36) Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra (04:59) iPhone 12 (Pro / Pro Max) (11:05) S21 Ultra vs iPhone 12 (21:25) Mi 11 Ultra (24:37) OnePlus 9 Pro (28:36) A specialist choice (36:41) What’s coming in rest of 2021 (44:50) Outro (51:19)

Six years on from the launch of Windows 10, Microsoft has unveiled the next-generation of its flagship operating system. This time, it didn’t skip a number though — and hence, we have Windows 11. Gadgets 360 senior reporter and Orbital producer Jagmeet Singh and video producer and Windows settings critic Shubham Raheja join host Akhil Arora to discuss what’s on offer here. We talk about the headline feature: you can run Android apps on Windows 11, though you will need the Amazon Appstore via the Microsoft Store. It’s complicated. But at least, Microsoft is playing nice with others. Read: Windows 11 announced We delve into the UI and UX changes, from the glassy Windows Vista-like look to the deep integration for Microsoft Teams, its Zoom and Slack competitor. And of course, that central Start button shift — literally. Along the way, we touch upon the (odd) hardware requirements for Windows 11, the powerful new (Xbox) gaming features, and how Windows at times gets too big and overwhelming for itself. Read

Rechristened as Battlegrounds Mobile India, the country’s favourite battle royale title has returned — albeit in early access for now — to its largest market after a nine-month-long government-imposed ban. Gadgets 360 deputy news editor Veer Arjun Singh and deputy video head Cyrus John — both PUBG Mobile veterans — join host Akhil Arora to discuss the new avatar of PUBG Mobile. We talk about the lack of India-specific introductions, the problems with being India-only, the broken friend lists, and how Battlegrounds Mobile India is essentially old wine in an existing (green) bottle. Read: Battlegrounds Mobile India first impressions We also delve into what made PUBG Mobile such a rage in India, the early success of Battlegrounds Mobile India, and why it has (likely) triumphed over global battle-royale king Fortnite. Lastly, we touch upon controversies new and old — and how Krafton could have handled the launch better, and why the ban (naturally) helped PUBG Mobile’s competition in India. Read: BGMI pinged

The all-virtual E3 2021 — video gaming’s biggest annual extravaganza — had a lot to offer, with presentations from the likes of Xbox, Ubisoft, Nintendo, and Square Enix. Gadgets 360 chief sub-editor Shayak Majumder and deputy video head Cyrus John — both gaming nerds — join host Akhil Arora to discuss all things E3 2021. We talk about our favourite games: the “Skyrim in space” Starfield, the Mexico open-world racer Forza Horizon 5, and Guardians of the Galaxy that only lets you play as Star-Lord. Guardians of the Galaxy is out October 26, Forza Horizon 5 follows on November 9, but Starfield isn’t due until November 2022. Read: Everything Xbox announced at E3 2021 Beyond that, we dive into Master Chief’s belated entry into the free-to-play space with Halo: Infinite (late 2021), why we are excited about the first-person Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora (2022) and co-op open-world Contraband, and get nostalgic over Age of Empires IV (October 28). Along the way, we touch upon highly-anticipated sequels and follo

iOS 15, iPadOS 15, macOS Monterey, watchOS 8, and iCloud+ — they are all official. Apple unveiled the next iteration of software updates for the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch at its developer conference earlier this week, alongside a range of new and improved apps and services. Gadgets 360 reviews editor Jamshed Avari and deputy reviews editor Roydon Cerejo join host Akhil Arora to discuss all things WWDC 2021. Read: iOS 15 with new FaceTime, iMessage, sharing, Focus, and privacy features announced We talk about why iOS 15 isn’t as major an upgrade as previous builds. It’s focused on the core and system apps, with a new notifications summary, new customisable Focus modes, Live Text à la Google Lens, and spatial audio and SharePlay in FaceTime. Read: macOS Monterey 12 with Universal Control, Shortcuts announced All of that is available in iPadOS 15 as well, which further benefits from a widgets system akin to iOS, and Universal Control with macOS Monterey that allows for drag and drop across Apple sy

Cryptocurrency prices have skyrocketed in the past year, with the likes of Bitcoin and Ethereum growing several times over, despite the global COVID-19 pandemic. Naturally, it’s turning a lot of heads. WazirX founder and CEO Nischal Shetty and WeekendInvesting founder Alok Jain join host Akhil Arora to discuss the world of cryptocurrency. We touch upon the regulatory landscape in India, from the back and forth between the RBI and the Supreme Court, to the lack of a clear legal definition for cryptocurrency that creates hurdles for crypto exchanges such as WazirX. Read: Why does Bitcoin mining consume ‘insane’ energy? We talk about what investors should know before jumping in, given the volatility in Bitcoin prices, the influence of Elon Musk’s actions, and the market’s immaturity in comparison to gold, equity, and real estate. And we sign off by delving into its future, including the wide-reaching potential of blockchain technology that allows for the creation of a decentralised world. For now though, th

The likes of Xiaomi and OnePlus have forever changed expectations for TV buyers, with 4K resolution, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos available at prices never seen before. How is this changing the television market in India? Gadgets 360 senior reviewer and in-house TV expert Ali Pardiwala joins host Akhil Arora to discuss that — and a lot more. We talk about how these smartphone manufacturers have achieved stunning specs, why the likes of Sony cannot be beaten at their game, and why consumers shouldn’t be too focused on the pixels. Well, sort of. We also offer some buying advice, as we touch upon ideal screen sizes for viewing distances, the various LED display technologies out there, and why no one needs 8K resolution. Read: The best TVs you can buy Follow Gadgets 360 on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Write to us at podcast@gadgets360.com Chapters Intro (00:00) Invasion of the Phone Makers (00:24) Hey, it’s me, compromise! (02:28) It’s all in the panel? (04:03) Why phones > TV screens (

Android 12 with Material You design and new privacy features, Wear OS merging with Samsung’s Tizen and powered by Fitbit, and more — this is the Google I/O 2021 episode. Gadgets 360 reviews editor Jamshed Avari and senior reviewer Sheldon Pinto join host Akhil Arora to discuss the highlights from Google’s annual developer conference that was virtual and free to everyone this year. We talk about how manufacturers might deal with the new Android design language, how serious the ads-driven Google is about data privacy, and why we are excited about the new Android TV remote app. Read: Everything announced at Google I/O 2021 Later, we jump over to Army of the Dead, Zack Snyder’s zombie heist thriller movie out now on Netflix. Gadgets 360 chief sub-editor Shayak Majumder and senior reviewer Ali Pardiwala — both zombie nerds — join Akhil to discuss what they liked and what they didn’t. We touch upon Dave Bautista’s acting skills (or the lack of them), the film’s many failures (and how it wastes Huma Qureshi

What is the best phone under Rs. 30,000 in India right now? Gadgets 360 deputy reviews editor Roydon Cerejo and reviewer Aditya Shenoy join host Akhil Arora to discuss what buyers should expect from India’s hottest new smartphone segment. We talk about why manufacturers are targeting the sub-Rs. 30,000 band, what the jump offers to budget-conscious buyers, and what features you can’t get at this price. It’s more than you might expect, thanks to some market realities. And naturally, we answer the question you have come for. We also look at upcoming phones that might further shake up the Rs. 30,000 segment. Read: The Best Phones Under Rs. 30,000 Follow Gadgets 360 on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Write to us at podcast@gadgets360.com Chapters Intro (00:00) Heating up in Rs. 30,000 (00:54) Going up from budget (02:53) The contenders (06:02) CPU vs battery (13:36) The newcomers (15:10) Best Rs. 30,000 phone (19:44) Upcoming ones (23:31) What you can’t get here (26:17) Outro (29:45)

Is Xiaomi’s new Mi 11 Ultra the best phone you can buy at Rs. 70,000? Gadgets 360 deputy reviews editor Roydon Cerejo and reviewer Aditya Shenoy join host Akhil Arora to discuss Mi 11 Ultra — the most expensive phone Xiaomi has ever brought to India. Xiaomi is going after a new crowd with the Mi 11 Ultra, those who have an eye on OnePlus 9 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, and iPhone 12 Pro Max. But crucially, will Xiaomi deliver Android updates for the next few years? We also talk about the Mi 11 Ultra’s three cameras (and that camera bump), and the MIUI software that has always held Xiaomi back in the premium segment. Read: Mi 11 Ultra Review Follow Gadgets 360 on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Write to us at podcast@gadgets360.com Chapters Intro (00:00) Xiaomi’s most expensive phone (00:41) Hello, premium crowd (04:31) Mi 11 Ultra cameras (08:22) Highest DxOMark rating (12:54) Beating competitors at price (15:05) That camera bump! (18:31) Mi 11 Ultra software (22:06) New (ultra) flagship k

Is Xiaomi's new Mi 11X the best phone under Rs. 35,000 in India? Gadgets 360 reviews editor Jamshed Avari and reviewer Aditya Shenoy join host Akhil Arora to discuss Mi 11X — the cheapest offering in Xiaomi's Mi 11 series that also includes Mi 11X Pro and Mi 11 Ultra. We touch upon the cameras, its competitors, what sets it apart, and Xiaomi's penchant for ads and bloatware. Read: Mi 11X Review Later, we jump over to The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, the Marvel Cinematic Universe series that ended its six-episode run last Friday on Disney+ and Disney+ Hotstar. Gadgets 360 chief sub-editor Shayak Majumder and deputy news editor Veer Arjun Singh — both Marvel fans — join Akhil to talk about that new Captain America suit, how it compares to WandaVision, and its narrative failings with Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan). We also dive into the Marvel series' motley of villains: Baron Helmut Zemo (Daniel Brühl), Power Broker/ Sharon Carter (Emily VanCamp), US Agent/ John Walker (Wya