Best DSLR cameras of 2018: Top 10 cameras for any budget in India

For decades, the DSLR (digital SLR) has been the top choice for anyone who wants to take their photography to the next level. Whether you're a beginner or a pro, a DSLR offers three key ingredients: manual controls, excellent picture quality and interchangeable lenses.

Mirrorless cameras are another option of course. They're smaller, mechanically simpler and, like DSLRs, they take interchangeable lenses. If you want to know more about how they compare, read this: Mirrorless vs DSLR cameras: 10 key differences. Or, if you want to know more about different camera types in general, check out our step-by-step guide: What camera should I buy?

Don't want to spend a lot on DSLR and need a basic entry-level camera, then you can head over to the list of best DSLRs under Rs 50,000.

In between entry-level and full-frame DSLRs are a whole range of models aimed at different users, different levels of experience and different budgets. But if you are not concerned about the budget and need the best DSLR at your service, check these out:

The Nikon D850 is the ultimate DSLR right now. We know its pricey, but this full-frame monster is as stunning as they come. It's huge 45.4MP sensor delivers images with stunning detail and noise performance, while the sophisticated 153-point AF is borrowed from Nikon's flagship D5.

In addition to this, a 7fps burst shooting and a host of advanced features all fitted in a durable magnesium alloy body gets you a camera that's pretty much at the top of its game. 

Read our in-depth Nikon D850 review

Canon's EOS 5D series of cameras has a rich heritage – the original EOS 5D bought full-frame photography to the masses, the Mark II unleashed Full HD video capture for the first time on a DSLR, and the Mark III became a firm favourite amongst photographers. 

The 5D Mark IV pretty much tweaks and improves on everything before it. With a new sensor that delivers pin-sharp results, a 61-point AF system that's incredibly advanced and some very polished handling, the EOS 5D Mark IV has to be one of the best DSLRs we've seen. It is a serious investment, but you won't be disappointed.

Read the full review: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV

Nikon has taken their flagship D5 DSLR and most of its high-end features and distilled all of this into a smaller, but still very durable, metal body. The full-frame sensor is replaced by an 20.9MP APS-C sized chip. That means the D500 can shoot at a rapid 10fps and the high ISO performance is that much better, while the 153-point AF arrangement is perhaps the best autofocus system out there right now. 

A brilliant all-rounder, it excels at fast action like sports and wildlife photography, but still has the chops to shoot landscapes and portraits. If the cost is a bit steep, then Nikon's just announced the D7500 that sits below that D500 and inherits much of its tech, including the 20.9MP sensor.

Read the full review: Nikon D500

Cheaper than the D500 and while it doesn't offer quite the same pro-spec performance, the Nikon D7500 packs in the same excellent 20.9MP sensor, but in an even more compact and affordable body. The new camera may not get the 153-point AF system from the D500, but the enhanced 51-point system in the D7500 still puts a lot of rival systems in the shade. The 4K video capture, tilt-angle touchscreen display and 8fps burst shooting are some of its other highlights. 

The D7500 is bound to be a tempting prospect for both new and existing users. Alternatively, take a look at the 24.2MP D7200 - it may have been surpassed by the D7500, but it's still one of the best DSLRs for the photo-enthusiasts out there.

Read our in-depth Nikon D7500 review

The recently-launched Canon EOS 200D II is a nice upgrade to the well-loved 200D. It is one of the easiest DSLRs to use thanks to its intuitive UI and the touchscreen. But don't let that fool you into thinking that it's a beginners' camera, as it has enough hardware and performance capabilities to go head-to-head with the best, thaks to the new Digic 8 image processor, Dual Pixel AF with eye-tracking.

This is also one of the more affordable DSLRs with 4K recording, albeit with a crop. It continues the trend of being extremely compact and light-weight while retaining the ability to change lenses. Other strong points include great battery life and swift processing.

Read our in-depth Canon EOS 200D II review

At the opposite end of the spectrum to some of the full-frame DSLRs here, the D3400 is cheap as chips, has one of the sharpest APS-C sensors there is and a neat retracting kit lens. It's proof that you don't have to pay a fortune to get a great camera, and we say its sheer value for money makes it just as impressive as much more advanced (and much more expensive) alternatives. It has a great 24MP sensor and although the controls are designed to be simple for novices, in the right hands the little D3400 is a match for cameras costing far more. A great DSLR for the first-time user. 

Read our in-depth Nikon D3400 review

Costing a bit more than the Nikon D3400, but offering quite a bit more in the way of features, the Canon EOS 800D is a great entry-level DSLR. The new sensor impresses, as does the 45-point autofocus system backed up by excellent live view AF, while the newly designed graphical interface will certainly make this camera even more appealing to new users. The absence of 4K video and the quality of the exterior materials disappoint, but this aside, if you're looking for a well-rounded and easy to use camera for your first DSLR the EOS 800D is certainly a very good bet. 

Read our in-depth EOS 800D review

Like the look of Nikon's D850 further up the top, but don't want to shell out quite that much, then look no further than the 24MP full-frame D750. It doesn't have that magnificent 45.4-megapixel sensor that the D850 does, but its 24-megapixel alternative still delivers top quality results, especially at high ISO settings. The D750 also features a decent 6.5fps continuous shooting speed, a handy tilting screen and a pretty attractive asking price.

Read our in-depth Nikon D750 review

Just like D500, the EOS 7D Mark II borrows many of its features from its big brother, the EOS-1D X (that's now been replaced by the EOS-1D X Mark II), bringing 10fps shooting and a professional autofocus system to the amateur market. Now you can shoot action and sports like the pros, but at a price within the reach of enthusiasts. The EOS 7D Mark II isn't just a high-speed specialists, it's a terrific all-round camera. It's tough, with an alloy body and weather-sealed controls, it has a great sensor with an advanced dual-pixel hybrid autofocus system, and it's a powerful video camera too.

Read our in-depth Canon EOS 7D Mark II review

The K-1 offers a rugged build and a full-frame sensor at a relatively affordable price. It's not cheap, but it compares favourably with the likes of the Nikon D810, Canon EOS 5D Mark III and Sony Alpha 7R II. Pentax's Pixel Shift Technology is clever, and it's great that the company has managed to produce a mode that can be used when the camera is handheld, although the impact is subtle. Less of an all-rounder than the 5D Mk III, the K-1 makes an excellent camera for landscape, still life and portrait photography, or any genre that doesn't require fast autofocus and which benefits from a high pixel count for detail resolution.

Read our in-depth Pentax K-1 review

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Utility sector will drive adoption of IoT this year and next year

Utility sector will remain the highest user of the Internet of Things (IoT) endpoints globally this year and next year, due to the growth in smart electricity meters, according to a new report by Gartner.

The overall IoT market volume will grow by 21.5% to 4.81b units this year compared to 3.96b last year. Next year, the market will grow by 20.790% to reach 5.81b units.

Out of the 4.81b units this year, utilities will reach 1.17 billion endpoints, and increasing 17% in 2020 to reach 1.37 billion.

Peter Middleton, senior research director at Gartner, said that electricity smart metering, both residential and commercial, will boost the adoption among utilities.

“Physical security, where building intruder detection and indoor surveillance use cases will drive volume, will be the second-largest user of IoT endpoints in 2020,” he said.

Greater China and Western Europe to fuel demand

Building automation, driven by connected lighting devices, will be the segment with the largest growth rate in 2020 (42%), followed by automotive and healthcare, which are forecast to grow 31% and 29% in 2020, respectively.

In healthcare, chronic condition monitoring will drive the most IoT endpoints, while in automotive, cars with embedded IoT connectivity will be supplemented by a range of add-on devices to accomplish specific tasks, such as fleet management.

Residential electricity smart metering will be the top use cases in Greater China and Western Europe and will represent 26% and 12% of total IoT endpoints respectively.

North America, in comparison, will see its highest IoT endpoint adoption in building intruder detection, such as door and window sensors, which will represent 8% of total IoT endpoints.

In 2020, revenue from endpoint electronics will total $389 billion globally and will be concentrated over three regions: North America, Greater China and Western Europe.

These three regions will represent 75% of the overall endpoint electronics revenue. North America will record $120 billion, Great China will achieve $91 billion and Western Europe will come in third totalling $82 billion in 2020.

In 2020, the two use cases that will produce the most endpoint electronics revenue will be consumer connected cars and networkable printing and photocopying, totalling $72 billion and $38 billion, respectively.

How to succeed in the crowded arena

Connected cars will retain a significant portion of the total endpoint electronics spending resulting from increasing electronics complexity and manufacturers implementing connectivity in a greater percentage of their vehicle production moving forward.

While printers and photocopiers will contribute significant spending in 2020, the market will decline slowly and other use cases such as indoor surveillance will rise as governments focus on public safety.

 “Overall, end-users will need to prepare to address an environment where the business units will increasingly buy IoT-enabled assets without policies for support, data ownership or integration into existing business applications,” said Alfonso Velosa, research vice-president at Gartner.

 “Product managers will need to deliver but also to clearly and loudly communicate their IoT-based business value to specific verticals and their business processes if they are to succeed in this crowded arena,” he said.

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Etisalat second-quarter profit remains steady at AED 2.2b

The UAE-based telecom operator Etisalat’s net profit remained steady at AED 2.2b in the second quarter of this year compared to a year ago despite tough market conditions.

Etisalat operates in 15 markets across the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

The operator’s revenue fell 1.53 per cent in the second quarter to AED 12.9b compared to AED 13.1b a year ago but has announced a distribution of an interim dividend of 40 fils per share for the first half of the year.

“Etisalat Group’s solid financial performance in the first half is a result of our sincere efforts in building and investing in future networks while focusing on enabling innovation, and accelerating digital transformation across our operations,” Saleh Abdullah Al Abdooli, Etisalat’s group chief executive, said in regulatory filing with the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange.

UAE subscriber base reaches 12.4m

The operator’s consolidated earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA), a measure of a company's operating performance, increased by 2% to AED 13.3b while earnings per share (EPS) increased by 3% to AED 0.51 in the first half.

In the UAE, the subscriber base reached 12.4m in the first half while aggregate subscriber base reached 143m compared to 144m a year ago, witnessing a fall of 0.7%.

However, Etisalat is investing more than AED 4b in rolling out 5G network base stations this year in a bid to stay ahead of its Middle East peers.

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UAE consumers can experience 10Gbps speed and 1ms latency on 5G network in 2020

Customers in the UAE will be able to experience speeds of 10Gbps and above and will be able to download larger files in milliseconds in 2020 through fifth-generation cellular technology [5G].

Telecom operators in the UAE are offering speeds of 1Gbps speed now with the non-standalone (NSA) network infrastructure.

Operators across the globe are beaming 5G over the existing 4G infrastructure as the final frequency for 5G is not yet fixed.  NSA means beaming 5G over the existing 4G infrastructure while standalone (SA) means beaming 5G over the dedicated spectrum and infrastructure.

“Our next milestone for next year will be 10Gbps speed with the deployment of millimetre wave [26GHz-84Ghz] and achieve one millisecond but it is not possible with the current C band [3.4GHz-3.8GHz],”  Saleem Al Blooshi, Chief Infrastructure Officer of EITC,  parent company of telecom operator du, said in an exclusive to TechRadar Middle East.

Industry focuses on speed

The spectrum for narrow-band IoT  [700MHz, 800MHz and 900MHz] is fixed in the 5G space while 2,600MHz and C band is fixed for mobile network in the UAE.

Moreover, Al Blooshi said the industry is focused on the speed rather than the latency.

“The current standard for 5G is NSA and is focusing only on the speed. The standard and the full equipment for SA with IoT capabilities is expected by the end of 2020 or early 2021,” he said.

For NSA, du is using the existing 4G infrastructure and adding 5G components such as radio network and antennas.

“If my 4G is a Huawei or any other company, the hardware has to be the same company. Huawei and Nokia are supplying the NSA 5G infrastructure needed but we haven’t finalized the network suppliers for SA,” he said.

 “Du’s network is ready for millimetre wave deployment but the international standard bodies haven’t finalised the final spectrum allocation for SA,” Al Blooshi said.

Latency offered currently in 5G is same as 4G

Because the network is NSA, Al Blooshi said the latency offered currently in 5G is the same as 4G of 15-25 milliseconds.

“5G is relying on the 4G for the signaling and uplink. Du’s network offers a speed of 1.25Gbps on 5G. Today we are building the ecosystem and it will grow depending on the demand. Right now, there is no killer app that requires 1Ghz or higher throughput.  Acceleration of the roll out depends on the availability of ecosystem – handsets, network and applications,” he said.

Al Blooshi is confident and expects the adoption of 5G to gain traction after 2021.

For watching a HD on YouTube or Netflix, a customer needs only 20Mbps speed.  The advantage of 5G for customers right now is the download speed and they can download a big size file in minutes.

“We are in the same case as with 4G. When 4G was upgraded to 250Mbps, there was a debate which apps need that high throughput but the pipe was filled with the demand from customers and entrepreneurs with killer apps.  YouTube and Netflix came up with HD content and other applications boosted the demand for 4G.

“During events, customers were interested in uploads rather than downloads and we used to change the network resources more for upload than download. Right now, 4G can offer a speed of 1Gbps but the advantage of offering 1Gbps in 5G is less expensive,” he said.

Du to cover 15% of UAE this year


In 4G, Al Blooshi said that du needs three carrier aggregation and massive MIMO [multiple-input and multiple-output] implementation to get 1GHz but in 5G, the operator can get 1GHz with one carrier aggregation.

Du is expected to have 700 5G NSA base stations and cover 15% of the UAE through 5G network this year with an investment of AED 1.5b and the plans for 2020 will be decided in September.

Dubai Future Foundation has become the first 5G government entity in the region to adopt the 5G indoor coverage from du.

“5G will bring more value to home users, especially in the smart home space. ZTE routers for 5G are already available in the market. There will be no special plans and packages for 5G customers now and it will depend on the use cases,” he said.

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Du adds YzerChat to internet calling pack

Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (EITC), the parent of Dubai-based telecom operator du, has added YzerChat app to the internet calling pack.

By subscribing to du’s package for AED 100 per month for home, and AED 50 per month for mobile, consumers can unlock access to high-definition YzerChat – in addition to Botim  – to get unlimited access to video calls, voice calls and SMS messaging to friends and family, both in the UAE and across the world.

The telecom operator’s internet calling plans are considered one of the legal alternatives to Skype, Apple’s FaceTime, Google’s Duo and WhatsApp’s video in UAE .

The app also features a language translation system which supports 16 languages, including Arabic, French and Chinese to name a few.

Get more details about du’s internet calling pack at www.du.ae/ICP

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TechRadar 2019 Mobile Network Survey – it’s time to have your say

The last year has been full of exciting developments in the mobile phone market. It's now harder than ever to decide on a carrier for the device most of us can't live without, and that's why TechRadar is launching its latest survey to learn what you think is hot right now.

We want you to let us know which carrier you're rooting for in 2019, what you'd most like from your operator and the things you're really looking forward to reading about in the next 12 months. 

What brand do you believe will stay at the top of the tree? Who are the new disruptive players in the mobile phone space? Is your phone signal delivering what it should be?

What's more, it will take no more than five minutes to complete.

As a thank you for taking part we'll automatically enter you into a prize draw to win a $300 Amazon voucher. So the only question left for our lucky winner will be what to spend it on?

Have your say today

The survey is only available to complete until July 26 (T&Cs apply*, US readers only), so there's not long to take part. 

If you want to be in with a shout of winning the prize as well as sharing your opinion on the future of mobile carriers, make sure you take part today before the survey closes on July 26. Good luck!

*Read our full terms and conditions

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TechRadar 2019 Mobile Survey – have your say

This year has seen a bumper crop of mobile phone releases - making it even harder to decide on a device that most of us can't live without, which is why TechRadar is launching its latest survey on what's hot right now. 

Our new survey is a chance to tell us your opinions about the world of smartphones, telling us what you think works (and doesn't) now and looking towards the future. What's more, it will take no more than 5 minutes to complete. 

We want you to let us know which brands you're rooting for in 2019, what you'd most like from your next model and the things you're really looking forward to reading about in the next 12 months. What brand will stay at the top of the tree? Who are the new disruptive players? How many cameras attached to a smartphone is too many?

As a thank you for taking part we'll automatically enter you into a prize draw to win a £250 Amazon voucher. So the only question left for our lucky winner will be what to spend it on?

Have your say today

The survey will be available until July 26 (T&Cs apply, UK readers only), so there's not long to take part. 

If you want to be in with a shout of winning the prize as well as sharing your opinion on the future of the smartphone, make sure you take part today before the survey closes on July 26. Good luck!

Read our full terms and conditions

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UAE telco du starts pre-orders for 5G-enabled Huawei Mate 20 X

Following the release of the ZTE Axon Pro 10, which was the first 5G-enabled phone to be officially sold the UAE, du is now starting pre-orders for the Huawei Mate 20 X 5G. The phone is expected to be on sale on the July 18 but you can pre-order one today.

The phone is being offered by du on a 24-month contract at AED 145 per month which brings the total price of the phone to AED 3,480. That cost is without any data plan, however you can chose the device with a data plan starting at AED 415 per month all the way up to AED 1,290 per month. Customers who sign up between July 4 and 17 also receive a free Huawei Watch GT.

That is substantially cheaper than the ZTE Axon Pro 10 which costs AED 5,832.75 when purchased outright or, with data plans at monthly installments starting AED 595.

The Huawei Mate 20X 5G is powered by the 7nm Balong 5000 chipset that supports both 4G and 5G radios and dual-SIM capabilities. Besides 5G capabilities, the Mate 20 X is based on the Huawei Kirin 980 processor and comes with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage.  It features a massive 7.2-inch screen and a 4,200mAh battery that is expected to keep the phone powered all day.

Keep in mind that you don't need a new data plan to use 5G. As long as your phone supports 5G, you should be able to connect to the 5G network and use your existing data plan. 

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Huawei warns against politicizing IP issues

Huawei Technologies has warned against the politicization of innovation and intellectual property (IP) and said that it will threaten progress across the world. The Chinese telecom giant has been prevented from buying parts or technology from US suppliers without government approval as its equipment is considered potential tools for Chinese espionage which Huawei has openly denied. 

Song Liuping, Huawei’s chief legal officer, said in a statement that IP is the cornerstone of innovation and “if politicians use IP as a political tool, they will destroy confidence in the patent protection system. If some governments selectively strip companies of their IP, it will break the foundation of global innovation.”

In its latest white paper on innovation and intellectual property, Huawei has been granted 87,805 patents in 2018, of which 11,152 are US patents. Since 2015, Huawei has received over $1.4b in licensing revenue and also paid more than $6b in royalties to legally implement the IP of other companies, with nearly 80% of that paid to American companies, according to the document.

In the past 30 years, Song said that no court has ever concluded that Huawei engaged in malicious IP theft, and Huawei has never been required by the court to pay damages for this. Even though some countries do not buy products directly from Huawei, Song said that they still use the essential patents of Huawei in 3G, 4G and 5G, and share in the benefits of the technology Huawei creates.

Song also addressed Huawei’s stance on its use of patents, saying the company will not weaponize its portfolio of patents. Rather, he said, Huawei will adopt an open and cooperative attitude and follow the FRAND principle, or “fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory,” when engaging with relevant parties in the industry on patents licensing.

“As always, Huawei is ready and willing to share our technology with the world. That includes 5G. It includes US companies and US consumers. Together, we can drive our industry forward and advance technology for all mankind,” said Song.

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RHA T20 Wireless audiophile buds now available in India for Rs 22,999

RHA has cut the cord on the popular RHA T20 earphones to bring us the RHA T20 Wireless headphones. The headphones were launched globally last week, and now they've made their way to the Indian market. 

The new earphones are connected by a neckband, and use RHA's proprietary DualCoil drivers, which are designed to reproduce "refined, high-resolution audio," according to the company. Also, they boast 12 hours of battery life and fidelity aptX Bluetooth.

Like their wired predecessors, the T20 Wireless headphones include three different tuning filters, which adjust the sound signature of the buds to suit the genre of music you're listening to, and your personal tastes when it comes to audio. 

The Reference filter is designed for crisp, balanced listening, and will probably suit audiophiles best, while the Bass filter is made to highlight the lowest frequencies in rock and hip-hop tracks. 

Lastly, there's the Treble filter, which is designed to "highlight details in the upper frequencies – ideal for jazz, acoustic, or classical tracks".

Image credit: RHA

Hi-Res comes at a price

The RHA T20 Wireless headphones also come with an optional 3.5mm wired connection, which the company says can deliver Hi-Res Audio and a frequency range of 16Hz - 40,000Hz. 

Without the wired connection, the neckband offers 12 hours battery life, as well as a universal remote, which allows users to "switch between music, calls, and digital assistant functions at the touch of a button". 

The wireless earphones come with silicone and foam eartips, in a range of sizes to suit every ear. 

With an IPX4 rating, the RHA T20 Wireless headphones should be able to withstand sweaty workout sessions and spots of rain alike – and with sports and clothing clips included, you can use the headphones with a wired connection without the cable getting caught in your zipper as you run.

The RHA T20 Wireless headphones retail at Rs 22,999 in India. 

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Mobile gaming sensation Lords Mobile is now available on Steam

Lords Mobile has been downloaded well over two hundred million times on Android and iOS. It’s a mobile gaming sensation, and you can now download the game for your PC. It came to Steam in early June. 

You need more than a cute app icon and an asking price of zero pence to engage over 250 million active players. How did publisher IGG manage it? Lords Mobile is a particularly tasty gameplay masala.

It’s a free-to-play MMO in which you build an empire. It merges RPG and RTS elements with a breezy casual style. Lords Mobile is a great way to get a quick fix if you don’t have the time to spend hours glued to a traditional world-builder strategy title. 

Image Credit: IGG

Lords Mobile: A gameplay feast

You start off with a lone castle, and build up your kingdom and army. Conquer lands to expand your empire, train your heroes, and scout out enemies to fine tune your battle tactics.  

Become allies with real-world friends, or ones you met through Lords Mobile’s baked-in chat system, and head to war together.

It’s not all epic battles and kingdoms clashing. Heroes’ quest is the other side of Lords Mobile. You pick five heroes to take to battle in quests. Each fighter has their own style in the classic RPG blueprint. There are tanks, spell slingers, healers and ranged warriors. 

Image Credit: IGG

As you progress through the huge campaign, your characters level up, and you’ll meet new ones to train. Each quest earns you treasure, and items your warriors can equip.

RTS, RPG and world-builder: Lords Mobile combines the best elements of them all. And if you play for half an hour, no 10 minutes needs to feel the same as the last. It’s a selection box that keeps you engaged.  

There’s very little sense this is a phone game in how it looks either. Lords Mobile’s character-packed 3D visuals will look just as good on 32-inch monitor or 65-inch TV as they do on a 6-inch phone.

Image Credit: IGG

A brief history of Lords Mobile

Lords Mobile has already been available on phones for over three years. But its 2019 arrival on Steam also marks the 13th birthday of its creator, IGG. That’s right, this mobile gaming master has been around longer than iPhones. 

Since then IGG has become a global powerhouse. Lords Mobile has spent two years as the top-grossing war strategy game in the world, and is a top 10 earner on both Google Play and the Apple App Store. It is not only notable for its incredible popularity either. 

Lords Mobile won the Best Competitive Game gong in the 2016 Google Play Awards, and cemented that reputation in 2017 with an Android Excellence nod.

Try out Lords Mobile on Steam today. It’s free to download and play.

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Go beyond the connectivity with Reno 5G available now at EE

The world is about to go 5G. It’s the successor to the 4G mobile internet the phone in your pocket has, and is the most important tech advancement in many years.

Incredible speed grabs a lot of the headlines: 5G makes on-the-go Gigabit speeds possible. You can wave bye-bye to those video stream buffering screens. But we’re just as excited to see what 5G’s ultra-low latency does for futuristic game streaming services like Google Stadia, and how its turbo-charged connectivity opens up our homes’ smart devices. 

The Oppo Reno 5G is one of the first devices that lets you experience 5G first-hand. When Switzerland’s Swisscom launched Europe’s first 5G service in April, it was right there in the launch line-up. 

And now EE offers 5G in the UK, the Reno 5G is one of the only phones that lets you use it. You can buy one at EE today. 

Oppo has worked on bringing 5G to its phones since 2015, when it built up its dedicated 5G team. It partnered with Qualcomm, Ericsson and many others to engineer all the tech required into a phone just 9.3mm thick. 

5G is not the only area in which the Oppo Reno 5G is a pioneer, though. There are a handful of them.

Beyond 5G

The phone's selfie camera raises out of the top of the frame, using an Oppo-design motorised "Pivot Rising" structure.  It’s slickest cheese wedge of tech you’ll find in a phone, if you ask us.

Oppo has tested it to withstand at least 200,000 uses. That’s over five years of real-world use, or 100 selfie sessions a day for a half-decade.

And it’s not just there to provide some James Bond-style gadget charm. The Pivot Rising camera frees-up the Oppo Reno 5G’s screen so all 6.6 inches of it can be used for your movies, games and apps. 

5G and a mesmerising "full view" OLED display make the Oppo Reno 5G show you how a phone ready for cinematic streaming should be designed.

Worry not if you’re a bit clumsy, and tend to drop your phone every other day. You won’t damage the camera as the Oppo Reno 5G has a clever anti-drop system. It uses the motion sensors to quickly retract the Pivot Rising housing when it senses the phone is in free-fall. 

It's 10x better to see you

The Oppo Reno 5G rear camera array is just as advanced as the front one. There are three sensors on the back, with wide and ultra-wide views, and a powerful "periscope" zoom.  

Our favourite feature is 10x hybrid zoom. It lets you bring the world closer to you, to capture photos you’d miss with another phone. They might be of a surfer cutting through waves while you’re on holiday, or the cute baby ducks at the local park on your lunch break. We’ve been surprised by how often a zoom camera in a phone comes in handy. 

The Oppo Reno 5G’s 10x zoom uses the periscope camera, which has the same view of the world as an extra-long DSLR lens. But here all three cameras sit flush with the rear toughened Gorilla Glass. It looks super-slick. 

Just below the camera trio there’s a raised ceramic "O Dot". This looks good in its own right, and protects the camera lenses from damage should you put the Reno 5G down on a rough surface.

The Oppo Reno 5G’s rear camera is also a master of night photography. Its primary and zoom cameras are both stabilised, making it easier to keep your photos tack-sharp in low light.

There’s also Ultra Night Mode 2.0. This "ultra" clever low-light photography mode uses AI-assisted multi-exposure merging and HDR to make sure your night images look great, and that any moon-lit portraits you take have natural-looking skin tones.

The tech that matters

The Oppo Reno 5G is also tooled-up with the powerful Snapdragon 855 processor. Android’s most demanding games will run smooth as silk, and 5G provides the supreme low latency required for slick online gameplay.

The Oppo Reno 5G is tech-packed. But each techy element is there to enhance the way we use our phones, not just for future-gazing bragging rights. That’s what we like to see at TechRadar. 

It nails the first impressions aspect too. The Oppo Reno 5G is made of toughened Gorilla Glass and aluminium, and comes in matt or glossy glass finishes to suit all tastes. 

Oppo’s Ocean Green variant has dark green overtones that appear when the Reno 5G catches the light. And the more subdued Jet Black has hints of blue and grey only clear when you are drawn closer to this groundbreaking 5G phone. Trust us, you will be. 

The Oppo Reno 5G is now available online and in store nationwide at EE.

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Etisalat launches 5G service and smartphone in UAE

UAE-based telecom operator Etisalat becomes the first in the Middle East and North Africa region to commercially launch 5G service and the device in the UAE. The operator has tied up with Chinese smartphone manufacturer ZTE to offer the service.

Subscribers using the ZTE Axon 10 Pro, the first available 5G device from Etisalat, can now enjoy the blazing speed of the 5G network up to 1Gbps and lower latency around 1 millisecond.

The 6.47-inch device is priced at AED 5,555 plus 5% value-added tax and will be delivered in three days.

The 5G cellular network will enable subscribers to enjoy and unleash highly connected technologies blending physical and digital realms from AR and VR to IoT, AI, autonomous vehicles, 3D printing, wearable technology and more.

At around 20 times faster than 4G and with ultra-low latency, 5G service will allow users to stream live 4K resolution video anywhere at any time, with virtually no lag.

Etisalat customers now have the opportunity to experience 5G and purchase ZTE Axon 10 Pro from Marina mall in Abu Dhabi and Dubai Mall. Additionally, customers may also opt to buy with flexible Smart Pay plans on a 12, 18 or 24-month contract starting from only AED 241.

5G network will be available for all Etisalat postpaid, prepaid, consumer and business customers using a 5G devices. All customers will be able to use existing data packs on the 5G network. 

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Du offers new roaming bundle for summer

UAE-based telecom operator du is offering roaming bundle for travelers valid for seven days. The summer bundle features unlimited calling and 2.5GB of data to 174 destinations - all from their own UAE number.

Priced at AED 300 (per week) this latest addition to du’s roaming bundles will be available for customers travelling to 174 countries, including GCC countries, UK, US, European destinations, and Egypt, starting from May 30.

The postpaid mobile subscribers can subscribe to the roaming bundle by sending the SMS U to 5102.

Fahad Al Hassawi, Deputy CEO – Telco Services at EITC, the parent company of du, said that the roaming bundle will enhance the subscribers’ connectivity while travelling overseas and minimise their current pain points.

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YuppTV coming to du

Dubai-based telecom operator du, a subsidiary of Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (EITC) has announced that it will be offering South Asian OTT content  through its strategic partnership with YuppTV.

Subscribers can get access to more than 150 premium South Asian TV channels, including Colors, Zee, Sun, Asianet and Star, and over 3,000 on demand movies in 10 languages through the operator’s Home plans and packages.

Zahra Zayat, Vice-President for Middle East and North Africa at YuppTV, said that the collaboration comes as part of its plan to increase its market share in the UAE and the rest of the Gulf where over 55% of the population is South Asian.

Subscribers can now watch their favorite content on four devices simultaneously in languages such as Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Bengali and more.  

YuppTV has more than 25,000 hours of entertainment content catalogues in its library across all genres including movies, series, Cricket Sports, TV shows, Kids, and News. 

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