Tech Next: Android users in for treat with upgraded ‘smart’ gadgets

Samsung Galaxy Watch: Samsung’s 2018 flagship watch works seamlessly with Samsung Galaxy smartphones and other Android devices. We’ve liked the Tizen OS’ design approach with its unique navigation pattern driven by the dial. The user interface is remarkably simple too. The watch’s standout feature is its striking 1.3-inch circular AMOLED display that is vibrant even under harsh sunlight. I’d recommend the 46mm variant for its robust 472 mAh battery that gives it a huge edge over the competition — should last you four days with a single charge. At its heart is an Exynos 9110 dual-core (1.15 GHz processor) that keeps things ultra-smooth and ultra-quick. You can swap straps without a fuss — standard 20mm or 22mm watch straps (depending on whether you choose the 42mm or 46mm variant ) work with the Galaxy Watch. (Cost: Rs 24,990 onwards)

Fitbit Versa: Fitbit’s third generation smartwatch after the Blaze and Ionic is the brand’s finest. It marks Fitbit’s successful transition from fitness tracker to a fully functional smartwatch. The Versa boasts of an elegant form factor with lightweight construction and a premium build. My favourite is the special edition with its textured grey strap. Fitbit’s fitness features — like step counts and sleep and calorie tracking are the Versa’s biggest draw. Fitbit’s App store still has to play catch up with the Apple Watch but the never-ending choice of watch faces makes some amends. The four-day battery life makes it an ideal travel companion and it works equally well with iPhones and Android devices. (From Rs 19,999 onwards)

OnePlus marked its fifth anniversary with a strategic partnership with McLaren. The OnePlus 6T McLaren edition brings together two brands who are united in their pursuit of speed. McLaren’s tryst with speed began on the race track over five decades ago while OnePlus’ smartphones have always packed heavy duty hardware. The McLaren edition is embellished with a papaya orange streak that evokes images of a McLaren F-1 car zipping past on a race track. But the big changes are under the hood. It’s the first smartphone in India with 10GB of RAM. That’s more than the average laptop and just what you need if you’re an intensive gamer or do the occasional bit of photo editing on your smartphone

The 6T McLaren edition also features a new fast charging technology that OnePlus calls Warp Charge 30. It takes just 20 minutes to take your battery level to 50% and doesn’t slow down even if you’re using the device while you charge it. Other hardware highlights include 256GB of Internal memory and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor. This limited edition device features the same 6.41-inch display with a teardrop notch and the dual cam we saw on the OnePlus 6T. (Cost Rs 50,999)