Realme is the fastest-growing smartphone company in the world right now, and it doesn’t seem to have any intentions of losing pace in 2021. The Realme X7 Pro 5G is the latest smartphone to roll off the company’s production line, and at INR 29,999 (~$413), it’s an exciting proposition for anyone looking to get a premium smartphone experience without breaking the bank.
It has some of the bells and whistles more commonly associated with flagship devices — a 120Hz AMOLED display, 65W fast charging, and dual standby 5G. But how does it fare when we look beyond the bling? Does it manage to deliver the well-rounded experience that it promises? Well, almost.
Design, hardware, what’s in the box
Realme phones across price segments have similar design elements, relying on the material and the finish of the back to differentiate them. The same is the case with the Realme X7 Pro, but I’m not quite sure how I feel about the chrome-ish Fantasy colorway. The matte glass is smooth to the touch and does a great job of repelling fingerprints, but the “Dare to Leap” brand mantra on the back is divisive — you’ll either hate it or love it. Irrespective of how I feel about the design, the phone’s slim profile, and its relatively-light weight are impressive. It’s also reassuring to know that both the front and the back are protected by Gorilla Glass 5, which should resist scratches.
The 6.5-inch OLED display is one of the strongest selling points of the device, and it’s the only one to boast a 120Hz refresh rate at such a low price. It’s sharp, viewing angles are great, and the high refresh rate makes scrolling and animations buttery-smooth. It also gets plenty bright — bright enough to not worry about sunlight legibility in a tropical country. The choice of panel allows for an optical in-display fingerprint sensor that works almost as well as traditional capacitive sensors. Though, it does fumble when dealing with oily or wet fingers.
The power button sits on the right side, and the volume rocker finds a home on the left. The bottom side features the USB Type-C port, a speaker grille, and the dual-SIM slot tray — unfortunately, no support for a microSD card or a 3.5mm jack. The earpiece at the top doubles-up as the second speaker for stereo sound, and while it doesn’t offer rich audio (especially at higher volume levels), the setup offers a satisfactory experience. This time around, Realme has bundled a great haptic feedback motor, and while it may not be as refined as the ones found in flagships, it’s among the best in its segment.
At a time when smartphone companies are shipping lean boxes, Realme is still being pretty generous with accessories. The phone ships with a 65W fast charger, a USB Type-A to Type-C cable, a transparent protective case, and a USB Type-C to 3.5mm adapter. The phone also comes with a pre-applied screen protector.
Software, performance, battery
The X7 Pro ships with Android 10-based Realme UI, which is inapt given that Android 11 has been out for almost five months. The company says the update will arrive sometime in Q2 2021, and further confirms that the phone will only ever get updated to Android 12 — bummer!
This doesn’t change the fact that Realme UI is one of the most customizable Android skins out there. It’s filled to the brim with features that introduce functionality that’s still missing on stock Android. Some of my favorites include screen-off gestures, smart sidebar, partial/scrolling screenshots, and game space.
This is not to say that Realme UI is perfect. It has its fair share of bloatware and spam notifications from system apps (they can be disabled). But, all in all, it’s well-optimized and won’t get in your way after a few tweaks.
Moving on to performance, the phone is powered by the 7nm Dimensity 1000+ SoC, which is coupled with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of UFS 2.1 storage. Since MediaTek hasn’t really catered to the premium midrange segment before in recent times, I wasn’t sure about what I was getting into when I started using the phone.
The Realme X7 Pro 5G performs admirably — I noticed almost zero stuttering or lag during everyday usage. Opening apps is quick, memory management is not too aggressive, and jumping between apps is seamless. Games like Asphalt 9 and Call of Duty Mobile also performed well at maxed-out graphic settings. It was only while playing Genshin Impact that I saw occasional stutters. But even then, the game was playable. The phone also employs a vapor cooling system that Realme claims can reduce the core temperature by up to 10°C. The company even okays charging while gaming.
You won’t have to worry about battery life as the phone. With its 4,500mAh unit, the X7 almost always lasts me an entire day. This is not to say that it’s exceptional. In fact, an hour-long gaming session and a photo walk may require you to hug a wall before the end of the day. But this isn’t a deal-breaker because the proprietary 65W adapter the X7 Pro ships with is insanely quick at replenishing the battery. The battery goes from nada to full in about 40 minutes! Without the proprietary plug, the device maxes out at 18W over USB-PD.
Camera samples
The Realme X7 Pro 5G is equipped with a quad-camera setup, but not all cameras are equal. The setup is headlined by a Sony IMX 686 64MP f/1.7 wide and an 8MP f/2.4 ultrawide. There are also a pair of 2MP sensors, one for monochrome and the other for macro shots, but they’re just spec-sheet fillers that don’t help much.
The primary camera is the only one that’s suitable for shooting in challenging lighting conditions. The images have good dynamic range, not-so-exaggerated colors, and plenty of details.
The night shots, however, don’t seem to fare as well. The dedicated night mode makes things worse, and while it does crank up exposure for a more comprehensible image, it introduces a lot of noise that makes dark areas look patchy. This could improve with a software update, but the way it is now, you’ll need sufficient artificial light to take social media-worthy images.
Auto mode vs Nightscape: The Realme X7 Pro’s cameras don’t fare well in low-light conditions.
The macro lens is abysmal — you’re much better off taking images with the primary camera and then cropping in. The 8MP ultrawide lens is nothing to write home about, but it takes usable images unlike the macro and monochrome cams. It’s best in broad daylight, but the images don’t offer much detail, and there is little color parity with the primary camera. The 32MP selfie camera can take good shots, however, and portraits look clean.
As for videos, the primary lens can shoot up to [email protected], but the output is just as disappointing as images in low-light scenarios. There is a dedicated night video mode that cranks up ISO at the cost of details, though. Further limiting the videography appeal is the lack of EIS support for 4K videos and the [email protected] limitation for the selfie camera.
Should you buy it?
Realme X7 Pro 5G
7.5/10
Yes, if great cameras aren’t your top priority. The Realme X7 Pro is a well-balanced smartphone, and it offers some flagship bling at a much more palatable price. The OLED display is a treat to look at, and its support for a 120Hz refresh rate is something no other similarly-priced phone with an OLED panel can boast of. The Dimensity 1000+ chip may not give the Snapdragon 865 a run for its money, but it’s definitely a worthy contender that won’t let you down — unless you decide to play resource-intensive games like Genshin Impact or render complex, layered videos.
As for the design, it boils down to your preference. While I may not dig the printed brand mantra, I’m a fan of the matte finish and the slim build. Battery performance was satisfactory too, and the 65W charging keeps battery anxiety at bay.
For me, the only real let-downs were the mediocre performance of three out of the four cameras, and the fact that it ships with Android 10. Mind you, camera performance isn’t terrible, but it’s a constant reminder you’re not using a flagship phone.
All in all, if you’re looking for a premium midranger that doesn’t sacrifice functionality, the Realme X7 Pro is surely a phone you should consider. Depending on your software preferences and the need for a better camera setup, you may want to look at alternatives such as the OnePlus Nord and the Samsung Galaxy M51.
Buy it
If you’re looking for a midranger that offers some flagship features.
If you want a high refresh-rate AMOLED display without breaking the bank.
Don’t buy it
If you want a versatile camera setup that performs well under all lighting conditions.
The federal government is ordering the dissolution of TikTok’s Canadian business after a national security review of the Chinese company behind the social media platform, but stopped short of ordering people to stay off the app.
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne announced the government’s “wind up” demand Wednesday, saying it is meant to address “risks” related to ByteDance Ltd.’s establishment of TikTok Technology Canada Inc.
“The decision was based on the information and evidence collected over the course of the review and on the advice of Canada’s security and intelligence community and other government partners,” he said in a statement.
The announcement added that the government is not blocking Canadians’ access to the TikTok application or their ability to create content.
However, it urged people to “adopt good cybersecurity practices and assess the possible risks of using social media platforms and applications, including how their information is likely to be protected, managed, used and shared by foreign actors, as well as to be aware of which country’s laws apply.”
Champagne’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment seeking details about what evidence led to the government’s dissolution demand, how long ByteDance has to comply and why the app is not being banned.
A TikTok spokesperson said in a statement that the shutdown of its Canadian offices will mean the loss of hundreds of well-paying local jobs.
“We will challenge this order in court,” the spokesperson said.
“The TikTok platform will remain available for creators to find an audience, explore new interests and for businesses to thrive.”
The federal Liberals ordered a national security review of TikTok in September 2023, but it was not public knowledge until The Canadian Press reported in March that it was investigating the company.
At the time, it said the review was based on the expansion of a business, which it said constituted the establishment of a new Canadian entity. It declined to provide any further details about what expansion it was reviewing.
A government database showed a notification of new business from TikTok in June 2023. It said Network Sense Ventures Ltd. in Toronto and Vancouver would engage in “marketing, advertising, and content/creator development activities in relation to the use of the TikTok app in Canada.”
Even before the review, ByteDance and TikTok were lightning rod for privacy and safety concerns because Chinese national security laws compel organizations in the country to assist with intelligence gathering.
Such concerns led the U.S. House of Representatives to pass a bill in March designed to ban TikTok unless its China-based owner sells its stake in the business.
Champagne’s office has maintained Canada’s review was not related to the U.S. bill, which has yet to pass.
Canada’s review was carried out through the Investment Canada Act, which allows the government to investigate any foreign investment with potential to might harm national security.
While cabinet can make investors sell parts of the business or shares, Champagne has said the act doesn’t allow him to disclose details of the review.
Wednesday’s dissolution order was made in accordance with the act.
The federal government banned TikTok from its mobile devices in February 2023 following the launch of an investigation into the company by federal and provincial privacy commissioners.
— With files from Anja Karadeglija in Ottawa
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 6, 2024.
LONDON (AP) — Most people have accumulated a pile of data — selfies, emails, videos and more — on their social media and digital accounts over their lifetimes. What happens to it when we die?
It’s wise to draft a will spelling out who inherits your physical assets after you’re gone, but don’t forget to take care of your digital estate too. Friends and family might treasure files and posts you’ve left behind, but they could get lost in digital purgatory after you pass away unless you take some simple steps.
Here’s how you can prepare your digital life for your survivors:
Apple
The iPhone maker lets you nominate a “ legacy contact ” who can access your Apple account’s data after you die. The company says it’s a secure way to give trusted people access to photos, files and messages. To set it up you’ll need an Apple device with a fairly recent operating system — iPhones and iPads need iOS or iPadOS 15.2 and MacBooks needs macOS Monterey 12.1.
For iPhones, go to settings, tap Sign-in & Security and then Legacy Contact. You can name one or more people, and they don’t need an Apple ID or device.
You’ll have to share an access key with your contact. It can be a digital version sent electronically, or you can print a copy or save it as a screenshot or PDF.
Take note that there are some types of files you won’t be able to pass on — including digital rights-protected music, movies and passwords stored in Apple’s password manager. Legacy contacts can only access a deceased user’s account for three years before Apple deletes the account.
Google
Google takes a different approach with its Inactive Account Manager, which allows you to share your data with someone if it notices that you’ve stopped using your account.
When setting it up, you need to decide how long Google should wait — from three to 18 months — before considering your account inactive. Once that time is up, Google can notify up to 10 people.
You can write a message informing them you’ve stopped using the account, and, optionally, include a link to download your data. You can choose what types of data they can access — including emails, photos, calendar entries and YouTube videos.
There’s also an option to automatically delete your account after three months of inactivity, so your contacts will have to download any data before that deadline.
Facebook and Instagram
Some social media platforms can preserve accounts for people who have died so that friends and family can honor their memories.
When users of Facebook or Instagram die, parent company Meta says it can memorialize the account if it gets a “valid request” from a friend or family member. Requests can be submitted through an online form.
The social media company strongly recommends Facebook users add a legacy contact to look after their memorial accounts. Legacy contacts can do things like respond to new friend requests and update pinned posts, but they can’t read private messages or remove or alter previous posts. You can only choose one person, who also has to have a Facebook account.
You can also ask Facebook or Instagram to delete a deceased user’s account if you’re a close family member or an executor. You’ll need to send in documents like a death certificate.
TikTok
The video-sharing platform says that if a user has died, people can submit a request to memorialize the account through the settings menu. Go to the Report a Problem section, then Account and profile, then Manage account, where you can report a deceased user.
Once an account has been memorialized, it will be labeled “Remembering.” No one will be able to log into the account, which prevents anyone from editing the profile or using the account to post new content or send messages.
X
It’s not possible to nominate a legacy contact on Elon Musk’s social media site. But family members or an authorized person can submit a request to deactivate a deceased user’s account.
Passwords
Besides the major online services, you’ll probably have dozens if not hundreds of other digital accounts that your survivors might need to access. You could just write all your login credentials down in a notebook and put it somewhere safe. But making a physical copy presents its own vulnerabilities. What if you lose track of it? What if someone finds it?
Instead, consider a password manager that has an emergency access feature. Password managers are digital vaults that you can use to store all your credentials. Some, like Keeper,Bitwarden and NordPass, allow users to nominate one or more trusted contacts who can access their keys in case of an emergency such as a death.
But there are a few catches: Those contacts also need to use the same password manager and you might have to pay for the service.
___
Is there a tech challenge you need help figuring out? Write to us at onetechtip@ap.org with your questions.
LONDON (AP) — Britain’s competition watchdog said Thursday it’s opening a formal investigation into Google’s partnership with artificial intelligence startup Anthropic.
The Competition and Markets Authority said it has “sufficient information” to launch an initial probe after it sought input earlier this year on whether the deal would stifle competition.
The CMA has until Dec. 19 to decide whether to approve the deal or escalate its investigation.
“Google is committed to building the most open and innovative AI ecosystem in the world,” the company said. “Anthropic is free to use multiple cloud providers and does, and we don’t demand exclusive tech rights.”
San Francisco-based Anthropic was founded in 2021 by siblings Dario and Daniela Amodei, who previously worked at ChatGPT maker OpenAI. The company has focused on increasing the safety and reliability of AI models. Google reportedly agreed last year to make a multibillion-dollar investment in Anthropic, which has a popular chatbot named Claude.
Anthropic said it’s cooperating with the regulator and will provide “the complete picture about Google’s investment and our commercial collaboration.”
“We are an independent company and none of our strategic partnerships or investor relationships diminish the independence of our corporate governance or our freedom to partner with others,” it said in a statement.
The U.K. regulator has been scrutinizing a raft of AI deals as investment money floods into the industry to capitalize on the artificial intelligence boom. Last month it cleared Anthropic’s $4 billion deal with Amazon and it has also signed off on Microsoft’s deals with two other AI startups, Inflection and Mistral.
