Smartphone aces lowlight photography to let you shoot in the dark

As we step into a new decade, smartphone shooters have become even more indispensable. This trend has also become to impact mid-range devices and smartphones that don’t necessarily wear the flagship badge. Vivo’s all-new V17 is a case in point.

Lowlight photography is the V17’s standout feature. The device touts its Super Night mode that delivers great images even in the dark. This is made possible by a unique frame-merging technology that combines HDR and Vivo’s own portrait algorithm whether you’re using the selfie or the primary cam. 

The V17’s camera story doesn’t end with the Super Night Mode. There’s also a Super Macro Mode that allows you to get more creative and explore a whole new facet of smartphone photography. The quad rear cam set up comprises of a 48MP AI Quad Rear cam, an 8MP super wide-angle lens, 2MP macro camera and a 2MP bokeh camera. A 32MP selfie lens completes the entire camera set up.

The V17 is elegantly designed and comes in two colour options — Midnight Ocean and Glacier Blue. We also dig the 6.44-inch punch-hole Super AMOLED display with a 20:9 screen aspect ratio. Other display highlights include a 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut for vibrant colours and special filters that shut out 42% of blue light, allowing you to enjoy the display without the additional eye strain. The Vivo V17 display gets extra protection with the tough ‘Schott Xensation’ UP display protection.

A Qualcomm 675 processor is at the heart of the V17 and teams up with 8GB of RAM coupled with 128GB of internal memory. There’s a robust 4500 mAh battery under the hood that should please most users. 

Vivo bolsters the battery package with an 18W dual-engine fast charger. But ultimately the Vivo V17 is worth checking out for its lowlight cam, one of the best in the sub Rs 25,000 segment and glosses over our usual crib about Vivo’s proprietary Fun OS (the brand’s spin on Android) with its bloatware.  (Rs 22,990)

Lenovo Carme: If you’re looking for an affordable smartwatch under Rs 4,000, Lenovo’s square-shaped Carme (HW25P) that works with both iOS and Android devices is a decent option. Lenovo has just made this available on Amazon. It’s waterproof and dustproof (IPS 68 certified), while the 2.5D curved surface design offers clear visibility even under broad daylight. Carme comes in two colours — black and green, and boasts of a 1.3-inch IPS colour display. Lenovo promises 7 days of battery life on a single charge, convenient if you’re planning a short holiday or work trip without an additional charger. In terms of wellness features, Carme comes with a pedometer, sleep monitoring and 24-hours heart rate monitoring. Smartwatch features include text, email, call and social media notifications while the other highlight is 8 sports modes to track your workouts that include swimming cycling and running. (Rs 3,499)