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  • Best budget condenser microphones in India 2021

    Best budget condenser microphones in India 2021

    If you’ve ever recorded a vocal, a guitar or a bass part in your home studio, chances are you have used a condenser microphone. Condenser microphones are the industry standard for recording vocals and acoustic instruments due to their versatility and natural sound qualities. They are a critical piece of equipment for vocalists, podcast hosts, and anyone else who needs to make a high-quality audio recording.

    They’re also an incredibly crucial part of any recording studio. Condenser mics can pick up sounds from greater distances than dynamic mics, which makes them perfect for picking up sound from vocals and instruments during live performances. There are many brands of condenser microphones available online and offline, but not all of them meet the standards expected by professionals. In this article we will take a look at the best condenser microphones in India that you can use in any home or professional recording environment!

     

    Condenser or dynamic microphone: Which one should you buy?

     

    When it comes to live or studio performance mics, you have two main options: condenser and dynamic. But what are the differences between them—and which is right for you?

    You can basically think of dynamic mics as being more rugged and condenser mics being more delicate. Dynamic microphones are used in live settings because they can capture sound in loud settings without distortion, whereas condenser microphones are used in studio setups because they are able to pick up higher frequencies and more subtle sounds with better precision.

    A dynamic microphone contains a metal coil attached to a diaphragm, which is moved by the incoming sound wave. The movement of the diaphragm creates a current that flows through the coil, thus creating an electrical signal that can be amplified and turned into sound. Dynamic microphones can withstand high sound pressure levels. Therefore they are ideal for recording loud sounds or for use in a live setting. They also cost very little and can handle a lot of wear and tear. This is one of the reasons they are the most frequently used microphone outside of the studio in live performances.

    Unlike dynamic microphones condenser microphones are capable of picking up the quieter sounds in a room with a high degree of accuracy. They differ from dynamic microphones because they don’t use moving parts to capture sound. Instead, they create an electric field between their diaphragm and backplate that captures incoming sound waves. So electricity is involved when using a condenser microphone whereas you don’t need electricity for a dynamic microphone.

    So buy a dynamic microphone for use in a loud environment or for use in live performances, these are generally cheap as compared to condenser mics and don’t need a power source.

    Go for a condenser microphone for use in studio recording involving vocals and acoustic instruments, these can be quite expensive but are good at capturing sensitive and accurate sounds.

     

    Consider this before buying a condenser microphone:


    1. Polar patterns

    A polar pattern describes a microphone’s directional sensitivity. It refers to the sensitivity of any given microphone to sounds arriving from different angles, as compared to its central axis. It also determines how a microphone sounds. 

    Two of the most common patterns are 

     

    Cardioid

     

    Cardioid mics have a focused pickup pattern, which means they are good for isolating the singer or instrument being mixed. The most commonly used polar pattern is 0° (cardioid). The cardioid pattern blends out a bad sounding room and other noises like a noisy fan in the background, etc.

     

    Omnidirectional 

     

    An omni microphone has a sensitivity that is the same for all directions. This pattern results in a bass response that is flat, and a frequency response that does not change based on the direction of the sound source. This pattern is also less sensitive to handling noise than any other polar pattern. The omni polar pattern picks up very high frequencies with greater directivity. This pattern used in a bad sounding room may result in an overall bad recording as it picks sounds from all directions.

     

    2. Size of diaphragm

    Condenser mic diaphragms come mainly in two sizes: large and small. Large-diaphragm condensers are almost always cardioid (i.e., you perform into the side of them). This design feature improves noise performance. Large diaphragms make the sound source appear larger and are ideal for recording vocals and other instruments.

    Small diaphragm condensers are the most popular choice for recording today. They provide a natural, balanced sound with little to no coloration, you can use them to capture instruments as they sound. This makes them ideal for vocals, acoustic instruments and drum overheads. Because of their neutral sound, you can use high quality small diaphragm microphones for almost anything.

    Large diaphragms are better at capturing lower frequencies whereas smaller diaphragms can better capture higher frequencies. So if you mainly want to record vocals or more bassy sounds then a large diaphragm is usually best. But if you want to capture a high pitched flute or violin then a small diaphragm is the best choice.

     

    3. Frequency range

    The frequency response of a microphone refers to the range of frequencies it picks up, from low to high. This range is measured by its lowest and highest frequencies, which are referred to as its frequency extremes. If you are looking for a microphone to use to record vocals, then you should go with one that has a frequency response range of around 80 Hz to 15 kHz. For recording instruments such as bass drums look for anything below 50Hz.

     

    4. Sensitivity

    The sensitivity of a microphone refers to the level of sound it can detect. This is expressed using different measurement systems, but generally the lower the number, the more sensitive the mic is. You should also check the SPL of the mic. SPL stands for sound pressure level and is expressed in decibels (dBs). SPL is used to describe the maximum volume that a mic can withstand.

     

    5. Connectivity

    Microphones are available in both wired and wireless formats. The choice totally depends on the type of usage. Wireless mics will be best for on stage usage where movement is necessary whereas in studios a wired one will do. As the condenser microphones are mostly used for recordings, you can just use a wired one.

     

    6. Proximity Effect

    Proximity effect is the exaggeration of low-frequency sounds in a directional microphone when the microphone is located very near the sound source. You can observe it when you are speaking into a directional mic that is too close to your mouth. It creates an unpleasant, mushy voice quality. The proximity effect can mess up the frequency response of a microphone. While you can use this anomaly to your advantage with some practice, it will still create problems of tonal balance. 

    If you need to completely avoid the proximity effect you can go for an omnidirectional microphone instead of a directional one.

     

    1. AKG P120

    The best affordable option!



    Diaphragm size: Small           Pattern: Cardioid

    Connector: XLR Connector   Frequency response: 20hz to 20khz

    Connectivity: Wired               Price: ₹5,749.00


    The AKG P120 Project Studio Condenser Microphone is one of the best affordable condenser microphones on the market. It comes from a line of top-notch studio microphones that are known for their exceptional sound and build quality. The fact that they can be bought at an affordable price makes them even more desirable. A lot of budget microphones aren’t as durable because of the poor electronics but AKG P120 stands the test.

    It comes with an Attenuation Pad, which limits the input signal from loud sources and prevents overloading the electronics. This is extremely helpful when recording loud sources like drums or amplified instruments. On top of this, the rugged metal body of the mic offers a durable experience. The small diaphragm makes it great for recording vocals and acoustic instruments. The mics cardioid pattern allows for usage beyond just recording, you can even use it for streaming too. The overall shape, design and features make it a perfect  choice for your studio.

    Reasons to buy:

    Great build quality with all metal body

    Affordable price

    Reasons to avoid:

    Loud self-noise level

     

    2. Audio Technica AT2020

    A rugged mic for all needs!



    Diaphragm size: Small          Pattern: Cardioid

    Connector: XLR Connector   Frequency response: 20hz to 20khz

    Connectivity: Wired               Price: ₹8,793


    Audio-Technica’s AT2020 is a side address studio condenser microphone. This cardioid pattern, side address studio condenser microphone is designed for professional audio applications where superior sonic performance and rugged reliability are required. The AT2020 features a low-mass diaphragm that delivers an extended frequency response with superior transient response. The microphone has an all metal body with a metal grille as well, you can use it just anywhere without worrying about the wear and tear.

    AT2020 also features a SPL of 144dB that means it can easily record loud sounds with minimum level of distortion. The microphone comes with a stand mount that can be pivoted to any position, this makes it easy to use in a variety of different environments. The cardioid pattern and excellent SPL levels make it perfect for studio use but it will excel on stage too thanks to its versatile mounting options!

    Reasons to buy:

    Versatile design and features 

    Great SPL level

    All metal body

    Reasons to avoid:

    No XLR wire is provided; you’ll have to buy it separately.

     

    3. AKG P220

    A mic with high SPL levels!


    Diaphragm size: Large                      Pattern: Cardioid

    Connector: 3 pin XLR Connector   Frequency response: 20hz to 20khz

    Connectivity: Wired                          Price: ₹8,999.00


    The P220 is a large-diaphragm, cardioid condenser microphone with outstanding price-performance ratio. It offers a perfect balance between sound quality and price, making it attractive for recording instruments, voices and vocals. The capsule is made of hard metal – the same material used in professional studio microphones – ensuring optimum protection from mechanical shocks even under extreme conditions. It also comes with a spider shock mount that helps to reduce unwanted vibrations or noise while recording. The microphone will accommodate a high SPL of 155dB with its -20dB attenuation pad. It will eliminate any rumble or external unwanted noise with its bass-cut filter. This bass cut filter and the high SPL levels make it great for loud sounds.

    Reasons to buy:

    Great SPL levels

    Good for loud sounds

    Includes a spider shock mount

    Reasons to avoid:

    No XLR cable included

    It is quite hefty

     

    4. Audio Technica AT2035

    Fit for stage and studio as well!



    Diaphragm size: Large                      Pattern: Cardioid

    Connector: 3 pin XLR Connector   Frequency response: 20hz to 20khz

    Connectivity: Wired                           Price: ₹8,999.00


    Audio Technica AT2035 Large-Diaphragm Studio Condenser Microphone is an upgraded version of its predecessor, the highly acclaimed AT2020. The mic features a low-mass diaphragm that delivers an extended frequency response and increased sensitivity. It also has a switchable 80 Hz highpass filter and -10 dB pad to attenuate very high sound pressure levels (up to 137 dB SPL), providing maximum flexibility in any recording. The mic has high SPL levels of upto 158dB, so it can handle loud noises without distortion. As its predecessor AT2035 also has a rugged road ready body, so it can be used both on stage and in studio. The microphone also ships with a custom shock mount and a pouch.

    Reasons to buy:

    Low self noise

    Includes a shock mount 

    High SPL levels

     Switchable 80 Hz high pass filter 

    Reasons to avoid:

    Does not include a XLR cable

     

    5. RODE NT1A

    Best seller since 2003!


    Diaphragm size: Large                      Pattern: Cardioid

    Connector: 3 pin XLR Connector   Frequency response: 20hz to 20khz

    Connectivity: Wired                          Price: ₹20,499.00


    The NT1A is RØDE’s most popular mic. It’s an industry standard vocal microphone for broadcast, podcasting and videography. The NT1A has been used to record vocals on over 50% of the Top 40 songs in the last 10 years.

    RØDE NT1A is a high-quality large-diaphragm side address microphone with a cardioid directional characteristic. It has been designed to meet the rigorous demands of production and broadcast applications where accurate audio reproduction, low noise and extended frequency response are critical. It is well designed and has a sleek stainless steel construction that’s very tough. The microphone has only 5dB of self noise level and includes a premium shock mount with integrated pop filter and a high quality 6m (20’) XLR cable as well. The title of best seller is well earned the Rode NT1-A, every feature of this sleek mic makes it a perfect choice for all kinds of studio recordings!

    Reasons to buy:

    Premium all metal build

    Low self noise levels

    Includes a shock mount

    Reasons to avoid:

    Heavy due to all metal body

     

    6. Blue Snowball iCE USB Mic

    With a plug and play USB connection!



    Diaphragm size: Large   Pattern: Cardioid

    Connector: USB                Frequency response: 40Hz –18 kHz

    Connectivity: Wired       Price: ₹2,995.00


    Blue Snowball iCE USB Mic is the improved version of Blue Snowball with enhanced features. The main selling point of this mic is its USB connectivity. Just plug it into your computer and you are good to go! You can use it for recording audio, voice-overs or even videos. It features an adjustable desktop stand and a durable metal casing, which makes it ideal for podcasting, voice-overs and field recording. The large diaphragm condenser capsule provides crystal clear audio quality. While the small frequency range sets it back when it comes to recording instruments, it still is a great choice for recording videos and vocals. Snowball ice is a perfect choice for streamers and youtubers as well. You can also go for the original snowball which has both cardioid and omni directional patterns. But it is priced slightly higher than the snowball ice.

    Reasons to buy:

    Plug and play USB connectivity

    Great mic stand

    Reasons to avoid:

    Short frequency range

     

    7. Behringer C-1 Studio Condenser Microphone

    A mic with little to no distortion!



    Diaphragm size: Large          Pattern: Cardioid

    Connector: ‎XLR Connector   Frequency response:  40 Hz – 20 kHz

    Connectivity: Wired               Price: ₹5,476.00


    The C-1 is a large-diaphragm condenser microphone that delivers superior audio quality for voice and instruments. The C-1’s transformer less FET input circuit provides outstanding electrical performance and eliminates the harshness associated with capacitor microphones. The microphone has a large diaphragm capsule for excellent sensitivity and superior transient response. It also has a tough metal body that ensures safety while travelling or during rigorous recording marathons. The switchable 80 Hz high-pass filter can be used to reduce unwanted low frequency noise such as air conditioning rumble or mechanical vibration, which often plague the studios. Overall it’s a great affordable choice for studios and stage as well.

    Reasons to buy:

    Very low self noise

    switchable 80 Hz high-pass filter

    Reasons to avoid:

    Doesn’t come with cables included

    The microphone clip it comes in is a little flimsy 

     

    8. Maono AU-A04 Condenser Microphone Kit 

    An affordable recording kit!



    Diaphragm size: Large    Pattern: Cardioid

    Connector: USB                 Frequency response:  30 Hz – 16 kHz

    Connectivity: Wired        Price: ₹2,999.00


    The AU-A04 is a perfect microphone for your home recordings, podcast, voiceovers and more. Maono AU-A04 is a condenser microphone with the internal high resolution sampling rate, it can record sound at 44.1KHz/16bit or 48KHz/16bit. With the USB 2.0 data port, it is easy to connect with your computer and you can do voice recording, podcasting and home recording without any fuss. 

    The microphone has an internal professional sound chipset with high resolution sampling rate, the versatility of this condenser microphone is more than ideal for your home or studio recording sessions. This microphone includes a foam windscreen and a pop filter for crystal clear sound recording. The shock mount holds the microphone steady with damping capability. If you’re looking for recording equipment that’s easy on your budget then Maono AU-A04 is perfect for you.

    Reasons to buy:

    A whole recording kit at an affordable price

    Plug and play USB connectivity

    Reasons to avoid:

    The brackets and stand need extra care while moving around.

     

    Frequently asked questions


    1. Why is one pin of the XLR connector longer than the other two in my RODE mic? 

    This is completely intentional. The ground pin on an XLR connection is slightly longer than the other two pins. This is to ensure that when a microphone with an XLR connection is plugged into a mic input, it will make contact with the ground first. This helps protect against static electrical shocks which could damage the microphone’s circuitry. You will find this feature in all RØDE microphones.

     

    2. Which microphone is best for streaming?

    You can go for Blue Snowball iCE USB Mic or Maono AU-A04 Condenser Microphone Kit  as both are very affordable and come with great utilities like stands which are necessary while streaming. The plug and play USB connection also allows you to set them up easily without any hassle.

     

    3. Where should I place my microphone for singing?

    To get a great sound when singing, you want to have your microphone about three inches away. The closer you get, the more likely you’ll notice the proximity effect. This leads to a lot of boominess and distortion.

     

    4. How do I connect a XLR microphone to my computer to record?

    In some circumstances, you can use a XLR to USB connector to connect your mic to your computer. While this might work for dynamic microphones, it might not always work for condenser mics. 

    A more reliable solution is to use an audio-interface like the RØDE AI-1, RØDECaster Pro or an adapter like Shure X2u which will act as the bridge to your computer for recording.

     

    5. Are condenser microphones good for live stage performances?

    Condenser mics are more sensitive and will pick up more handling noise and instrumentation on the vocal in spite of their cardioid pattern. A side address condenser microphone is a decent pick for live performances. 

     

    6. How do you connect a speaker to a condenser microphone?

    You can do this by using an amplifier. The microphone needs some sort of power to work. Most mixers and acoustic amplifiers have “Phantom Power”, a 48 volt power feed that powers the condenser element in the microphone. You have to plug the mic needs into an amp with an XLR cable. The speaker goes into the output of the amp via a 1/4″ cable.

     

    7. My condenser microphone requires phantom power, what product can I buy that will allow my microphone to work and connect to my laptop?

    You can use an audio interface like the RØDE AI-1, RØDECaster Pro or an adapter like Shure X2u that will provide phantom power. Phantom power, in the context of professional audio equipment, is DC electric power transmitted through microphone cables to operate microphones that contain active electronic circuitry. It is best known as a convenient power source for condenser microphones, though many active direct boxes also use it. 

    The audio interface or the adapter will act as a bridge and will provide appropriate power to your microphone.

     

    Conclusion


    While there are plenty of condenser microphones in India available to buy, not all are created equal. The microphones listed above are the best ones available on the Indian market at the moment according to their price range and overall value for money. If you’re looking for a new microphone, you can use this selection as a reference point while shopping around.

    Here’s a quick rundown of the best condenser microphones!

    Go for AKG P120 as it works well for all your needs and is super affordable. If you want a high quality mic for studio use you can go for RODE NT1A, Rode NT1 has been an industry standard when it comes to recording audio. If you need a mic just for streaming and making youtube videos Maono AU-A04 Condenser Microphone Kit  and Blue Snowball iCE USB Mic would be your best bet as both are affordable and come with great utilities.

     

  • Best Budget Gaming Controllers for PC and Android in India for 2021.

    Best Budget Gaming Controllers for PC and Android in India for 2021.

    Keyboard and mouse are the standard controllers for PC games. They have been designed specifically for gaming, which makes them great at it. However, they are not perfect. When you play a racing or sports game with a keyboard and mouse, it feels very awkward because your hands are too far apart. This is where a game controller comes in. A good controller is not just an alternative to your touchscreen or keyboard and mouse, sometimes it is the only way to completely experience what a game has to offer. 

    Whether you are a PC gamer or an Android gamer, the two things that matter most to both of you is performance and affordability. So if your controller’s budget is limited, it is very important to choose wisely. Luckily for us, there are plenty of great controllers out there that aren’t terribly expensive. There are so many different types of gamepads available in the market today that it can get really overwhelming trying to find the best controller for yourself. But look no further! We at techoids have scoured the market for popular budget gamepads to find out which ones are worth your money. Check our list of top picks below!

     

    Best controllers for PC gaming

     

    1. Logitech F310 Gamepad


    Connectivity: 6 feet USB cable

    Compatible with: PC

    Rumble feature: No

    Price: Rs.1895

    Reasons to buy:

    ✔️Programmable buttons

    ✔️Both DirectInput and XInput compatibility

    Reasons to avoid: 

    ❌No Rumble feature


    The Logitech F310 Gamepad is the perfect controller for PC gaming. It’s fully compatible with many of today’s top games, giving you precise control over your game play. The programmable D-pad allows you to switch between up to 4-way movement or 8-way directional movement on the fly, so you can always take advantage of your skills! Other than this there are 10 programmable buttons which can be tweaked by using the free logitech profiler software. The rubber coated analog sticks have a great grip and will provide no issue during long gaming sessions. 

    F310 is easy to set up, you just have to plug and play! No software installation needed. It even supports both XInput and DirectInput modes, you can easily switch input modes using the slider button at the bottom. The only feature that f310 lacks is Rumble feature which really sets it back from others on the list. But if Rumble feature isn’t on the top of your list then F310 is a great Pc controller for enjoying casual gaming sessions. 

     

    2. Ant Esports GP300


    Connectivity: Wireless 2.4GHz USB dongle

    Range: 8 meters

    Run time: 10 hours at a charge of 2 hours

    Compatible with: PC, Android

    Rumble feature: Dual Vibration Motors

    Price: Rs.1149

    Reasons to buy:

    ✔️Great Rumble feature

    ✔️Great grip on joysticks

    ✔️Both XInput and DirectInput support

    ✔️LED battery indicator

    Reasons to avoid:

    ❌Battery life is not that great


    Ant Esports GP300 is a high precision wireless game pad for PC and android. There are two modes for the controller: Xinput/DInput PC mode and Android mode. In Android mode, gamers can play games on their Android devices via OTG cable connection. You can just plug and play without installing any drivers. It has an ergonomic design with great grips on all buttons including the two joysticks. You can use the micro USB cable at the back to charge the controller, you can expect a run time of 10 hours with a charge of around 2 hours. 

    The Rumble feature is great because of the powerful vibration motors, note that Rumble feature is only available in games supporting XInput mode. On top of this you also get a turbo mode to slide through those button mashing game sequences. Overall the gamepad is a great affordable wireless option for PC gaming. 

     

    3. Cosmic Byte Callisto 


    Connectivity: Wired (Wireless version is also available)

    Compatible with: PC, Android

    Rumble feature: Dual Vibration Motors

    Price: Rs.999

    Reasons to buy:

    ✔️Great design for long gaming sessions

    ✔️Two programmable macros at the back

    ✔️back lit keys

    Reasons to avoid:

    ❌Toggle radius of analog sticks is super short


    Cosmic Byte Callisto is an ergonomically designed controller for PS4, PS3 and PC. It has a textured grip on the controller’s surface with a rubber finish to ensure your hand does not slip while playing. This allows you to have better control over your character without having to worry about the controller slipping out of your hands. Cosmic Byte have designed the Callisto considering optimisation for FPS games. The sensitive triggers and accurate analog sticks allow gamers to play comfortably, accurately and faster than ever before. The ergonomic design enables you to focus on the game at hand without losing control due to fatigue.

    The two macro keys on the back of the controller provide you with quick access to your favorite commands and macros. The vibration of the controller gives you a great tactile feel. On top of that all of the keys are LED backlit adding to the overall look of the device. This controller is perfect for all pc games including competitive titles. The controller also has a wireless version which is priced at Rs.1448.

     

    4. RPM Euro Games


    Connectivity: Wired (Wireless version is also available)

    Compatible with: PC, Android TV

    Rumble feature: Dual Vibration Motors

    Price: Rs.699

    Reasons to buy:

    ✔️Super affordable

    ✔️You get rumble feature at an inexpensive price

    ✔️Both Xinput and DirectInput support

    Reasons to avoid:

    ❌Not great for FPS titles

    ❌Doesn’t have great quality plastic

    ❌Analog sticks don’t have a great grip


    RPM euro games controller is a super affordable controller for PC. This controller is perfect if you want to enjoy casual games on your pc with a good Rumble feature. The controller has a standard button layout without any extra macro keys. It is fully compatible with both XInput and DirectInput games, you can easily switch the modes using the home button. Even though it has vibration motors its form factor and weight remains low, it is super lightweight to carry making it easier for your hands to hold. It has USB connectivity, the wire length is around 1.7 meters. While it is not recommended for competitive FPS titles you can still enjoy games like fifa or racing titles on it without any issue. The controller is also available in a wireless version which is priced at Rs.999.

     

    5. Quantum QHM7468 


    Connectivity: Wired 

    Compatible with: PC

    Rumble feature:Dual Vibration Motors

    Price: Rs.433

    Reasons to buy:

    ✔️Super cheap

    ✔️Rumble feature at an affordable price

    Reasons to avoid:

    ❌Triggers are not sequential, they are buttons(No acceleration or deceleration they just act as normal buttons) which will affect gameplay in racing games


    The QHM7468 is a controller for PC which has a similar design to that of a dualshock 2. It provides a total of 10 buttons and two analog function keys with four triggers, which covers all the functions you need in most games. The controller doesn’t offer any fancy features but gets the job done perfectly. You even get a Rumble feature which is a rarity at this price range. The controller is made up of good quality plastic, you can expect a good grip while playing games. Note that you will have to install the drivers of the controller before use, you get a CD with driver loaded but you can also download them from the product’s website. Overall it is a great budget controller for casual gaming experience on PC, it is not recommended for competitive FPS titles or racing games with high precision.

     

    Best controllers for android gaming

     

    1. CLAW Shoot Bluetooth 


    Connectivity: Bluetooth and 2.4GHz USB dongle 

    Range: 10 meters

    Run time: 10 hours

    Compatible with: PC, Android

    Rumble feature: Dual Vibration Motors

    Price: Rs.1949

    Reasons to buy:

    ✔️Great for smartphones due to the mobile bracket

    ✔️Great button mapping features

    ✔️Convenient button layout

    Reasons to avoid:

    ❌No Rumble feature for android games


    The CLAW Shoot is a Bluetooth game controller that uses the Playstation 4 DualShock style ergonomic design. The CLAW Shoot allows you to play games by attaching it directly to your mobile device, tablets or PC via bluetooth or the USB dongle. The included PC mode uses the 2.4Ghz wireless USB dongle which is included in the box together with a detachable smartphone bracket capable of holding mobiles between 4 -7 inches. The CLAW Shoot Controller uses pre-configured buttons or you can configure your own buttons using the ‘ShootingPlus V3’ app from Google Play. The app allows you to map the on screen controls to your gamepad buttons. The controller also features Rumble feature, but it is only compatible with PC games. It has a powerful 400mAH battery which gives you a good runtime of up to 10 hours with a full charge of 2 hours. Overall the controller performs really well when it comes to android phones thanks to its convenient mobile bracket and button mapping features. You can even use it for PC games if you want, the controller also has a wired version and a wireless version without the smartphone bracket which are priced slightly less than this one, you can opt for those if you want it for PC games.

     

    2. Live Tech GPW01 


    Connectivity: Bluetooth 

    Range: 10 meters

    Run time: 10 hours

    Compatible with: Android and IOS

    Rumble feature: No 

    Price: Rs.1349

    Reasons to Buy:

    ✔️A great smartphone bracket

    ✔️The controller has an anti slip texture

    Reasons to avoid:

    ❌No support for smartphones with mediatek processors


    Live Tech GPW01 is a wireless gamepad for mobile devices, which can be connected to Smartphones, Tablets and Android TV Boxes via Bluetooth. It supports most mobile games in the App Store/Google Play by default. The controller uses Bluetooth 4.0 technology to connect with your devices within 10 feet without any delay. The whole controller has an anti slip texture, so it won’t slip out of your hands while playing. It also has a smartphone bracket that you can use to mount your phone. Note that the controller doesn’t support smartphones with a mediatek processor.

     

    Best controllers for both

     

    1. Redgear pro 


    Connectivity: Bluetooth dongle

    Range: 10 meters

    Run time: 2 hours in a charge of 30 minutes

    Compatible with: PC and Android 

    Rumble feature: Dual Vibration Motors

    Price: Rs.1699

    Reasons to buy:

    ✔️Great build quality that will last for years

    ✔️Good battery life

    ✔️Backlit buttons

    Reasons to avoid:

    ❌The analog sticks don’t have a great grip


    Redgear Pro Wireless Gamepad is a gamepad that allows you to play games on your PC and android devices. It comes with 2.4 GHz wireless technology and supports up to 10 metres range. The gamepad also features an integrated dual intensity motor which allows for great Rumble, while the key illumination provides visibility even in low light conditions. The controller has an all plastic body that doesn’t feel hollow and even has a rubberized grip for a good hold. It has a micro USB port for charging, the powerful battery can give you a play time of over 2 hours with just a charge of 30 minutes. You won’t have to worry about game compatibility issues as the controller has both XInput and DirectInput modes. Overall it is a great wireless controller that provides a good experience in both PC and android games.

     

    2. Cosmic Byte C1070T 


    Connectivity: Bluetooth dongle

    Range: 10 meters

    Run time: 12 hours in a charge of 2 hours

    Compatible with: PC and Android 

    Rumble feature: Dual Vibration Motors

    Price: Rs.1699

    Reasons to buy:

    ✔️Great Rumble feature

    ✔️Backlit keys 

    ✔️Great rubberized grip

    ✔️Great compatibility options

    Reasons to avoid:

    ❌Noisy buttons 

    ❌The analog sticks do not have a great grip


    Cosmic Byte C1070T is a premium wireless controller with 2.4Ghz technology, offering long-range connectivity of up to 8 meters. It features an integrated 600mAh battery that allows you to play up to 12 hours on a single charge. With its high precision D-pad, this controller guarantees accurate control for all your favorite games. The C1070T has an integrated dual mode: X-input and Direct-input for greater games compatibility which means it can support Windows XP/ Vista / 7 / 8 / 10; Xbox 360; Xbox and android games too. The whole controller has a rubberized finish giving a good grip and hold. It even has dual vibration modes that ensure a great Rumble feature experience. The A,B,X,Y keys are backlit and ensure a comfortable experience even in dark. Overall its a great controller for both Pc and android gaming!

     

    Some premium controllers

     

    1. Logitech G F710


    Connectivity: 2.4GHz wireless USB dongle

    Range: 10 meters

    Run time: Couple of weeks on two AA batteries

    Compatible with: PC and Android TV

    Rumble feature: Dual Vibration Motors

    Price: Rs.2995

    Reasons to buy:

    ✔️Great build quality

    ✔️Premium feel to buttons

    Reasons to avoid:

    ❌Runs on two AA batteries


    Logitech G F710 is an upgraded version of the wired Logitech F310 with additional features like wireless support and dual vibration motors. The controller is unrivaled when it comes to design and build quality. It has a retro look with a silver finish that reminds of the original playstation controllers. You get a standard layout with a 8 directional d-pad, four action buttons, 4 triggers and 2 analog sticks. It even has a dedicated mode switch button at the back to switch between Xinput and DirectInput modes. The controller runs on two AA batteries and you can expect a run time of weeks before you need to switch the batteries. The triggers and the action buttons feel premium and the vibration feedback is perfect for all kinds of games. Overall it is a solid and robust controller that justifies its price.

     

    2. Xbox controller


    Connectivity: wired and bluetooth

    Range: 6 meters

    Run time: Couple of weeks on two AA batteries

    Compatible with: PC and Android

    Rumble feature: Dual Vibration Motors

    Price: Rs.5390

    Reasons to buy:

    ✔️Fully compatible with Pc and android games

    ✔️Wireless and wired configurations

    ✔️Textured buttons

    Reasons to avoid:

    ❌Needs AA batteries for wireless connection


    The Xbox controller is one of the best controllers out there when it comes to multi platform gaming, you can use it with your xbox, android and your PC too! The 8 way d-pad, analog sticks and the triggers are on point when it comes to design. Another great thing about the controller is that you can use it both wireless and in wired configuration. You can use the USB type C port at the back for wired configuration and the bluetooth functionality on wireless. The controller runs on two AA batteries that can last upto two weeks. The custom mapping allows you to play games with varied control schemes with ease. It even has a 3.5 mm audio jack which you won’t find in many of the other commercial controllers. Doesn’t matter if you are a pc gamer or an android gamer this controller will fit all your needs. 

     

    3. Dualshock 4 controller


    Connectivity: wireless adapter and bluetooth

    Range: 10 meters

    Run time: 8 Hours on a full charge of 2 hours

    Compatible with: PC, Android and PS4

    Rumble feature: Dual Vibration Motors

    Price: Rs.6999

    Reasons to buy:

    ✔️Great design and build quality

    ✔️Has motion sensing technology

    ✔️Supports all steam games

    Reasons to avoid:

    ❌Needs third party software for PC games out of steam


    Dualshock 4 is another great controller for PC, android and PS4 that falls on the expensive side. It has sensitive analog sticks, clicky buttons and a great grip. The controller also has motion sensing technology that is compatible with many games on PC, you can take full advantage of it in racing games to steer or in a FPS to aim. You also get a handy trackpad! you can use the micro usb port on the controller for charging and it will give up to 8 hours of playtime with a charge of 2 hours. The controller even has a 3.5mm audio jack to plug in headphones. It has inbuilt speakers but those are mostly used by PS4 games to increase the immersion by playing different sounds. The controller is supported by all of the steam library and has great android support too, so you won’t have to worry about compatibility. Overall it is a great controller for PC and android with great design and comfortable features.

     

    Things to consider before buying a controller:

     

    Connectivity

    While buying a controller you can choose between a wired or a wireless controller. Wired controllers will have a USB wire for connection and wireless controllers will rely on bluetooth or WiFi dongles for connectivity. The connection configuration is important because it determines the input lag. Wired controllers will have less input lag as compared to the wireless ones, so choose according to the kind of games you will be playing. Some controllers like the Xbox controller can be used both in wired as well as wired configurations.

     

    Rumble feature

    Most of the controllers have in-built vibration motors that help in giving vibration feedback. This vibration makes the gaming experience more immersive and engaging. Make sure to check if the controller has the rumble feature or not!  

     

    Size and Comfort

    You need to make sure the controller is comfortable for your hands. An ergonomic design will get you a better grip on the controller and would significantly improve the experience. Also make sure to check the weight of the controller, this will depend upon your preference whether to choose a heavy or a light controller. Weight can make a difference during long competitive sessions, the optimal weight for a controller sits around at 300-400 grams but in the end it’s about your preference.

     

    Build quality

    Most of the controllers are made up of plastic, make sure that the controller has a good build quality that will withstand any impacts. A loose grip or an accidental fall are pretty common accidents, a strongly built controller will be able to easily counter such mishaps.

     

    Compatibility

    You can find controllers for PC, android/IOS and consoles. Make sure that the controller is compatible with the device of your choice.

     

    Input type

    Controllers come in two different types of input formats namely XInput and DirectInput. The type of input depends upon the games, most of the older games used DirectInput library while the newer ones use the XInput. You won’t be able to play XInput games with a Directinput controller. Most of the latest controllers support both XInput and DirectInput, you can easily switch between them while playing the game.

     

    Special features

    Apart from all of these standard features some controllers come with additional features like haptic feedback, audio jacks(dualshock4 and Xbox controller have one), speakers(dualshock4 has built in speakers). Some controllers like dualshock4 also have motion sensing capabilities, so look out for those!

     

     

    Frequently asked questions

     

    1.How to use the USB adapter of the controller with a phone?

    You can use a OTG cable to attach a USB adapter to your phone. Just plug in the OTG cable and plug the adapter to its end.

     

    2. What is the difference between normal rumble and haptic feedback?

    The difference is the way vibrations are fed to the user. In rumble controllers the vibration is only on one level, doesn’t matter if you are driving a car or getting hit the vibration will always be at the same level. Haptic feedback is all about simulating the in game activities by subtly changing the levels of vibration. A controller with haptic feedback will give you a more immersive experience than a normal one.

     

    3. What are analog triggers and joysticks?

    There are two types of triggers and joysticks that you will find in controllers, analog and digital. Digital triggers or joysticks are just normal switches, that is they are either on or off. While they are useful they prove to be inefficient when it comes to racing games where you have to gradually accelerate or decelerate. This is not possible with digital buttons. Analog buttons record a varying input than just on or off. These buttons register how far you press them allowing for functions like throttling or braking in games. Most of the joysticks on the controllers are analog but not all of the triggers are analog so make sure to check that.

     

    4. Will a Xbox or a PS4 controller work with a PC?

    Most of the PC games are compatible with both of these controllers, you can just plug and play most of the titles. While the PS4’s dualshock 4 is compatible with all of the steam games you might have to use a third party software for games out of steam. 

     

    5. Will an android controller work with Android smart TV?

    Android controllers are made for devices that run the android operating system. As long as the TV is running on Android and has Wifi or bluetooth, the controller will work fine. Note that it will work just with the games downloaded from play store, any third party games on your android Tv might require separate button mapping. 

     

     

    Conclusion

     

    As you can see, there are many factors that go into choosing the best controller for PC and Android gaming. Thankfully, we’ve already done all the hard work for you! But if you are still not sure which controller to go for then here’s a quick rundown!

    For PC a Redgear pro is a great choice. It is a great budget pick that is compatible with a great range of titles on PC. The controller even has a slightly less expensive wired version, you can cut down your budget and go for that one too! It is even compatible with android so you get to enjoy titles on mobile.

    If you have a slightly higher budget you can go for the Xbox controller as it is the absolute best for pc gaming. You get wired and wireless connectivity in one and it also has great ergonomics and great grip on the buttons. It has become one of the most sought out controllers due to ist great compatibility and design.

    For android devices you can go with the claw controller. The smartphone bracket makes it a great choice for mobile devices!

    If you just want a casual device to enjoy pc games without any fancy features you can opt for Quantum QHM7468. It is a great inexpensive choice and it even comes with a rumble feature.

  • Best Monitors Under Rs.10000 In India: A Complete Buying Guide

    Best Monitors Under Rs.10000 In India: A Complete Buying Guide

    The monitor is one of the most important parts of a computer setup. Doesn’t matter if you’re rocking an RTX3080 build with high-end specs, a bad monitor will suck away all the charm. They range from various shapes and sizes from ultrawide to ultrathin, there’s something for everyone. If you want the best experience possible when working on your computer, having a good monitor can really help. But you might think that these monitors will come bundled with a heavy price tag,  but that’s not the case anymore! If you’re looking for a bargain in the monitor market, then there are plenty of choices out there that won’t cost you an arm and a leg. Nowadays we are seeing high spec monitors rolling out on prices as low as Rs.10,000!  But even at that price point, proper research is necessary to get the best for your money.  Fortunately, we at Techoids have done the research for you and found the best monitors selling for 10k. Doesn’t matter if you are heading back to school or getting your grind on, this list got you covered!

     

    Things to keep in mind while buying monitors:

     

    Ports: An HDMI and a USB port will get the job done

    An HDMI and a USB type C ports are the most common ports that you will find in most of the monitors. However, they might also include older ports like DVI and VGA ports that you can use to connect to older hardware. But an HDMI port and a USB type C port are more than enough for modern systems. There are 4 different types of HDMI cables to connect to your monitor’s HDMI port

    HDMI Standard: For resolutions up to 1080p. This is the most common option.

    HDMI High Speed: For 4K resolution.

    HDMI Premium High Speed: For HDR-enabled devices.

    HDMI Ultra High Speed: For HDMI 2.1 features, which include uncompressed 8K video display.

    Most modern monitors opt for a USB type C port over a traditional USB port for feeding power. Another great thing about USB type C is that it’s reversible, allowing you to plug it either way. This makes a very convenient monitor port type, especially when you plan to use it with different devices since it provides you with the option to connect your smartphone, tablet, and more to your monitor.

    You can also find a port called display port(DP) in some premium monitors. It is mostly reserved for high-end graphics cards and is mostly used when gaming or doing graphic-intensive tasks.

     

    Display size: between 21-25 inch 

    The right size of the monitor will depend on your need and use. In this price range, you will find monitors between 21 inches and 25 inches. These fall under the widescreen category and are great for small setups.

     

    Display technology: LED or LCD?

    In this price range, you will find a LED or LCD monitors. A light-emitting diode (LED) display is a flat panel display, based on the LED producing light. This type of display has gained in popularity in recent years due to its ability to provide bright images with low power consumption, in contrast to liquid crystal displays(LCD) which consume large amounts of power. All LED displays are just LCDs. The difference is in the backlights. While a standard LCD monitor uses fluorescent backlights, an LED monitor uses light-emitting diodes for backlights. LED monitors usually have superior picture quality, but they come in varying backlight configurations. And some backlight configurations create better images than others.

     

    Panel type: determines the image quality and the refresh rate

    The display type is further divided into different panels, the difference between different types of panels is mostly in how the in-between liquid crystal part works. Different panels offer different advantages. Your choice will depend upon your usage.

    TN panels: Best for gaming because of high refresh rate

    The Twisted Nematic (TN) panel is the most widely used display technology in today’s LCD monitors. This panel supports a high refresh rate, so you will find monitors with 144Hz or higher refresh rates with TN panels. TN panel monitors are the only 240Hz monitors available right now. Due to the higher refresh rate, these are great for competitive gaming. But they suffer from poor color contrast and also have poor viewing angles.

    IPS panels: Best for editing because of great color accuracy

    In-plane switching (IPS) panels produce accurate colors and have great viewing angles. They produce great colors making them ideal for video editing purposes. But these panels are not as fast as the TN ones, They have a bad response rate and refresh rate. You won’t see an IPS monitor having a refresh rate of more than 144Hz.

    VA panels: A balanced experience 

    Vertical alignment (VA) panels provide a balanced experience as compared to IPS and TN panels. In VA panels crystals are perpendicular to the polarizers, this allows for good color contrast and a decent refresh rate. They also provide better viewing angles than TN panels, but still, they are not as fast as TN panels.

     

    Higher the resolution, more detailed the picture quality

    Resolution refers to the number of pixels produced on-screen by a computer monitor. The level of picture quality is measured by the number of pixels within an image. The more pixels you have, the more detailed or higher the resolution your image will be. This is the most important aspect to check while buying a monitor. A resolution of 1920×1080 would be a common find in monitors with this price range, you will get a full HD 1080p experience with this resolution. Some other common resolutions are:

    1280 x 720 – 720P HD 

    1920 x 1080 – 1080P FHD

    2560 x 1440 – 1440P QHD

    3840 x 2160 – 4K UHD

    7680 x 4320 – 8K UHD

     

    Aspect ratio: 16:9 is the most common

    Aspect ratio is the relation between the width and height of the monitor. Two of the most common aspect ratios that you can find are 4:3 and 16:9. 16:9 is the native resolution of most HD displays. You can also go for 16:10 as they are more or less the same.

     

    Refresh rate: bigger the better

    Refresh rate is the speed at which a display updates its screen. This is measured in Hertz (Hz) and relates to how fast an image can be redrawn. The higher the Hz, the more frames per second are displayed on the screen.

    The refresh rate of a monitor determines how quickly it can update what’s shown on-screen. For example, if your computer shows you a video of somebody walking around you would expect them to appear smooth and fluid as though they are walking. 

    Refresh rates can make a huge impact while gaming, it is recommended to go for refresh rates above 75Hz for gaming purposes. But in monitors under Rs.10000 you will mostly find a 60Hz refresh rate.

     

    Response time: shorter the better

    Response time in monitors refers to the time taken by a monitor to change from one color to another. The response time of a monitor is measured in milliseconds (ms) and it describes how fast pixels can change colors. So, the faster the better. As technology continues to push forward, manufacturers are including features like 10-bit panels and 1ms response times into their monitors. In 60Hz monitors, it is common to have not more than 20ms response time, if you want to go lower than that you can opt for monitors with higher refresh rates. 

    Monitors with TN panels tend to have a shorter response time as they are made for gaming. 

     

    Adaptive Sync Technology (AMD FREESYNC and NVIDIA G-SYNC):

    Adaptive sync technology solves one of the major problems facing PC users – image tearing. It’s a problem that occurs when the rate at which frames are rendered by the GPU differs from the refresh rate of a monitor or display, causing visual artifacts that can greatly impact the overall experience. With Adaptive Sync technology, the display will always refresh at a rate which matches the output of your graphics card. Whether it’s 60Hz or 144Hz, Adaptive Sync ensures you get the smoothest and most responsive gaming imaginable.

    Gsync technology is exclusive for nvidia cards while Freesync works on all AMD cards and some Nvidia cards, tooFreesync works on all AMD cards and some Nvidia cards, too. So more monitors are available with freesync support.

     

    What to expect from monitors in this price range?

     

    Resolution: In the price range of Rs.10000 you can expect to get a monitor with FHD resolution with a 60Hz display. While you won’t be able to get a 4K display at this price point, you can still have a good experience with an FHD 1080P monitor. 

    Size: You can find monitors up to 25 inches in this price range, but going for a 21-inch build with good build quality and good specs is recommended.

    Ports: The most you will get in this price range is an HDMI and a USB port. Look for monitors with USB type C ports as that one port can provide many functionalities than just feeding power. You might also find monitors with legacy ports such as VGA.

    Refresh rate: You can expect refresh rates as high as 75Hz, though you won’t notice much difference between 60Hz and 75Hz. Do not settle for anything less than 60Hz.

    Response time: 5ms is a common response time for the monitors in this range, but you will also find monitors with response time as low as 1ms. These monitors use VRB, which is a new technique to reduce response time by strobing back-light. But using VRB might induce some strain on your eyes.

    These monitors might not be the best when it comes to gaming or editing but they still provide a decent balanced experience for some casual work and lightweight gaming.

     

    List:

    BenQ(24″) GW2480 (The best for all needs)

    Samsung LS24R356FHWXXL

    Philips E series 22inch

    LG 22MP68VQ

    Acer HA220Q

    Acer Nitro QG221Q (Best for casual gaming)

    LG 20M39H (Best for office use)

    ASUS VP228H 21.5-inch

    Zebronics 21.5 inch (54.6cm) LED Monitor (Most affordable full HD monitor)

    Lenovo thinkvision S22e-19

     

    1. BenQ(24″) GW2480

    The best overall!

    Screen size: 24 inches

    Panel type: IPS

    Resolution: Full HD (1920 X 1080)

    Ports: 1 VGA Port, 1 HDMI Port, 1 Display Port, 1 Headphone Port, 2 Speakers (1 Watt each)

    Refresh rate: 60Hz

    Response time: 5ms

    Aspect ratio: 16:9(widescreen)

    Price: Rs.10,790

    BenQ’s GW2480 is a 23.8in (60.4cm) Full HD (1920 x 1080) monitor with an edge to edge frameless screen and WQHD resolution for enhanced viewing pleasure. The ultra-high dynamic contrast ratio (5,000,000:1) delivers blacks richer than black and bright colors brighter than white. It has the exclusive Eye-Care Technology with Low Blue Light & Flicker-Free Screen which enhances color vision comfort. With 100% panel uniformity at 178° angle between stand and base, brightness control can be set manually or dynamically using either of seven preset modes, including saturation and brightness control. The 60Hz monitor has a quick response time of 5ms that ensures no ghosting and trailing in games or movies. While you can buy this monitor on Amazon, the price might go up sometimes by a couple of thousand bucks. But you can still opt for platforms like Croma for prices more or less near 10000. Overall the BenQ(24″) GW2480 is a great budget pick for office as well as home use all thanks to its affordable price and great eye care features.

    Reasons to buy:

    ✔️Good refresh rate and low input lag.

    ✔️Great eye care features.

    ✔️Thin bezels.

    ✔️A display port which is a rarity in this price range.

     

    2. Samsung LS24R356FHWXXL

    A great bezel less pick!

    Screen size: 24 inches

    Panel type: IPS

    Resolution: Full HD (1920 X 1080)

    Ports: 1 HDMI,1 D-Sub

    Refresh rate: 75Hz

    Response time: 5 ms

    Aspect ratio: 16:9(widescreen)

    Price: Rs.13,000 

    The Samsung 24″ FHD monitor with bezel-less design ( LS24R356FHWXXL) features a full HD display and 75Hz refresh rate. This ultra slim monitor comes in an ultra thin design, making it perfect for multi-monitor setups. The IPS panel allows for a quick response time of around 5ms. The IPS panel also manages to preserve the color quality and reproduces the colors almost accurately. You won’t notice screen tearing while playing games or watching movies all thanks to the AMD freesync that eliminates screen tearing and choppy frame rates to give you smooth game play. There is no backlight bleeding or glares due to the matte finish of the panel. The 178-degree viewing angles enable clear visibility from any angle. Overall the Samsung’s 24″ LED-backlit monitor delivers a high standard of performance and comfort, with a contemporary design that complements your home or office. You can often find this monitor’s price around 10,000. If you have a slightly higher budget you can go for the newer model Samsung LF24T350FHWXXL which costs around Rs.15,000.

    Reasons to buy:

    ✔️Ultraslim bezeless design.

    ✔️75Hz refresh rate.

    ✔️The panel has matte finish. 

     

    3. Philips E series 22inch

    A great VA panel choice!

    Screen size: 22 inches

    Panel type: VA

    Resolution: Full HD (1920 X 1080)

    Ports: 1 HDMI, 1 VGA

    Refresh rate: 75Hz

    Response time: 5 ms

    Aspect ratio: 16:9(widescreen)

    Price: Rs.10,900

    Philips E Series 22inch LED display is a Full HD display with 178/178 degree viewing angle. It has super-high static contrast ratio for extra vivid and bright images. Philips makes it easy to enjoy lifelike pictures with six preset picture modes optimized for different game genres, including FPS, RTS, RPG, Racing, Cinema and Sports. This display features enhanced Full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution. This model comes equipped with an HDMI input port which allows you to connect the monitor directly to your gaming system or other devices like Blu Ray players, DVD player etc. You can even use this unit as a second screen by connecting your PC via VGA cable. A wide range of video inputs offer flexibility when using multiple sources at once. The VA panel gives you great contrast ratio(4000:1), all the colors are super vibrant. Even though it has a VA panel you still get a refresh rate of 75Hz. You also get a VESA mount at this price range which is a really useful addition. Overall The monitor is an absolute steal at this price point!

    Reasons to buy:

    ✔️VA display provides great color contrast.

    ✔️Refresh rate of 75Hz.

    ✔️A thin bezel design.

     

    4. LG 22MP68VQ

    Sleek design with excellent features!

    Screen size: 22 inches

    Panel type: IPS

    Resolution: Full HD (1920 X 1080)

    Ports: 1 VGA Port, 1 HDMI Port, 1 DVI Port, 1 Audio-Out Port, 1 Headphone Port

    Refresh rate: 75Hz

    Response time: 5 ms

    Aspect ratio: 16:9(widescreen)

    Price: Rs.11,990 

    The LG 22 inch 22MP68VQ comes with a variety of features that are meant to enhance the overall viewing experience. The monitor has a contrast ratio of 1000:1, which ensures that blacks look black and colors look vibrant. It also has a response time of 5ms, which is one of the fastest response times currently available for IPS panels. The monitor can display 16.7 million colors and has a maximum refresh rate of 75Hz. By default the monitor will be on 60Hz but you can turn it up to 75Hz by switching on the freesync.On top of all this, it’s built in a stand so you don’t have to worry about any wires getting tangled up or falling off the desk while your watching movies and playing games! This model also comes equipped with an HDMI port (version 1.4) and VGA input as well as a DVI, audio and headphone port. This monitor has a sleek design that looks great on any desktop setup. You’ll find yourself staring at its cool lines for hours on end just because they’re so attractive. If you want something that will last longer than other monitors without breaking the bank, then this could be the perfect choice for you.

    Reasons to buy:

    ✔️75Hz display with freesync.

    ✔️Thin bezel design.

    ✔️Great port selection.

     

    5. Acer HA220Q

    A solid monitor with a modern look!

    Screen size: 22 inches

    Panel type: IPS

    Resolution: Full HD (1920 X 1080)

    Ports: 1 VGA Port, 1 HDMI Port, 1 Audio-In Port

    Refresh rate: 75Hz

    Response time: 5 ms

    Aspect ratio: 16:9(widescreen)

    Price: Rs.11,399

    Acer HA220Q is a 21.5-inch Full HD monitor that features an ultra-slim design to perfectly fit in your modern home or office space. The ultrathin frameless design makes it stand out among the crowd. The Acer eColor Management offers various modes like Reader, Darkroom and Cinema for optimized viewing experience. The BlueLightShieldTM lets you view your screen for longer periods while reducing eye fatigue. It offers the ultimate connectivity with VGA and HDMI ports along with built-in speakers to give you clear and loud audio output.  The 75Hz refresh rate with AMD Freesync technology reduces stuttering and tearing for fast moving action sequences in Full HD. The IPS panel provides ultra wide viewing angles, vivid colors and crisp details with clarity. I highly recommend this monitor to anyone who wants a solid gaming or everyday experience.

    Reasons to buy:

    ✔️The blue light shield and other eye care features provides a comfortable viewing experience.

    ✔️AMD freesync and 75Hz of refresh rate.

    ✔️Ultrathin frameless design.

     

    6. Acer Nitro QG221Q 

    A great pick for gaming and content consumption!

    Screen size: 22 inches

    Panel type: VA

    Resolution: Full HD (1920 X 1080)

    Ports: 1 X VGA 2 X HDMI (1.4) Ports

    Refresh rate: 75Hz

    Response time: 1 ms

    Aspect ratio: 16:9(widescreen)

    Price: Rs.9,999

    Acer Nitro QG221Q is a 21.5″ Full HD monitor with FreeSync technology and 75Hz refresh rate, which eliminates screen tearing, while minimizing lag and latency during gameplay. The display delivers outstanding performance that lets you enjoy fast-paced action scenes in smooth, true-to-life quality. The monitor has a frameless design that makes it look sharp. It also features Acer EyeProtect technologies to reduce eye strain and provide a comfortable viewing experience. QG221Q boasts its 1ms response time but it’s just another marketing gimmick, you will get close to 3-4ms response time which is still pretty impressive. The short response time is achieved due to the VRB , which is a new technique to reduce response time by strobing back-light. The monitor also comes with a great utility software, you can easily change the setting by using the display widget no need to fiddle with the buttons!

    Reasons to Buy:

    ✔️Great utility software.

    ✔️No back bleeding and great refresh rate.

    ✔️Great eye protection features.

    ✔️A great V-stand frameless design.

     

    ‎7. LG 20M39H

    A great budget pick for office use!

    Screen size: 19.5 inches

    Panel type: TN

    Resolution:  HD (1366 x768)

    Ports: 1 HDMI & 1 VGA Port

    Refresh rate: 60Hz

    Response time: 5 ms

    Aspect ratio: 16:9(widescreen)

    Price: Rs.9,499

    LG 20M39H is a 19.5″ HD (1366 x768) Monitor with TN Panel and LED Backlit that provides the best performance in energy efficiency and cost savings. LG’s Eye protection technology gives you flicker-free screen, Anti Glare Screen, Reader Mode for comfortable viewing environment. Its matte finish also provides extra eye. With HDMI & VGA/D-Sub Port, this monitor allows you to connect your PC or laptop easily without any hassle. It provides a decent 60Hz refresh rate and a 5ms response time. While the monitor doesn’t have a super great specsheet, it still gets the job done. The monitor can act as a decent extended display, it’s a great budget choice for office or everyday use.

    Reasons to buy:

    ✔️TN panel with great eye care features.

    ✔️Great pick for office use.

     

    8. ASUS VP228H 21.5-inch

    A great monitor with Asus exclusive features!

    Screen size: 22 inches

    Panel type: TN

    Resolution:  Full HD (‎1920×1080)

    Ports: HDMI, DVI-D and D-sub ports 

    Refresh rate: 60Hz

    Response time: 1 ms

    Aspect ratio: 16:9(widescreen)

    Price: Rs.11,399

    The VP228H 21.5-inch Full HD(1920×1080) monitor that features a 1ms (GTG) quick response time to eliminate ghosting and tracers for more fluid video playback. This approach extends to the backlight as well, reducing dark trailing of moving images giving it the appearance of a 2ms (GTG) panel. The TN panel provides vivid colors and great contrast, the ASUS-exclusive SplendidPlus and VivdPixel technologies is optimized for the finest image and color quality. The monitor is also features the TOV Rheinland-certified ASUS Flicker-Free technology designed to reduce flicker for a comfortable viewing experience. The monitor also includes inbuilt speakers which sound decent considering the price range, but they aren’t good to be the only primary source of audio. Overall the monitor is a great budget pick considering its great resoposne time and asus exclusive features.

    Reasons to buy:

    ✔️Great response time.

    ✔️Great color contrast and quality.

    ✔️Asus exclusive features like the flicker free tech and SplendidPlus.

     

    9. Zebronics 21.5 inch (54.6cm) LED Monitor

    The most affordable full HD monitor!

    Screen size: 22 inches

    Panel type: VA

    Resolution:  Full HD (‎1920×1080)

    Ports: 1 VGA, 1 HDMI, 1 Audio In port

    Refresh rate: 60Hz

    Response time: 5 ms

    Aspect ratio: 16:9(widescreen)

    Price: Rs.8,253

    Zebronics 21.5 inch (54.6cm) LED Monitor with a crisp view of 1920x1080p resolution, is the perfect choice for office work, gaming and home entertainment. It has a high contrast ratio that delivers deep blacks and bright whites in a stylish slim design. The monitor also provides you with flexible connectivity options such as VGA, HDMI and inbuilt speaker input audio jack to connect speakers or headphones for better sound quality. You can use it as a TV too, since this monitor supports TV mode (VGA mode).  It has a high glossy stand and is wall mountable, making it easy to install anywhere in your home or office. With a  screen size of 54.6cm(21.5″), this monitor offers you a seamless viewing experience that allows for maximum productivity and efficiency while working on projects at home or work. If you want a full HD monitor but at an affordable price then this monitor might be your best bet.

    Reasons to buy:

    ✔️Full HD resolution at an affordable price.

    ✔️Great mounting options.

     

    10. Lenovo thinkvision S22e-19

    A great monitor with a professional look!

    Screen size: 22 inches

    Panel type: VA

    Resolution:  Full HD (‎1920×1080)

    Ports: 1 VGA, 1 HDMI, 1 Audio out port

    Refresh rate: 60Hz

    Response time: 5 ms

    Aspect ratio: 16:9(widescreen)

    Price: Rs.10,999

    Lenovo’s ThinkVision S22e-19 is a borderless monitor with a 3-side NearEdgeless VA panel that offers excellent viewing angles and resolution. The 1920 x 1080 Full-HD resolution panel redefines visual clarity, while the TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light, Flicker-free, and anti-glare certification helps to protect your eyes from potential harmful blue light emissions during long working hours. Moreover, the FreeSync technology allows the screen refresh rate to be synchronized with your AMD GPU for an improved viewing experience and reduced stuttering. The monitor has a VGA port and an HDMI port for connections. It also has 100x100m VESA mount that gives you a good control over the positioning of the monitor screen. Overall the monitor is a great pick for office use as well as for home use.

    Reasons to buy:

    ✔️VESA mount allows for great control over positioning.

    ✔️A bezeless professional look.

    ✔️AMD freesync technology.

     

    Frequently asked questions:

     

    1. What’s the best monitor for offices?

    Whether you’re a manager seeking to buy 50 monitors or a small business owner who needs just one or two, choosing the right model can have a significant effect on employee comfort and productivity. From this list we would recommend the Zebronics 21.5 inch (54.6cm) LED Monitor. It’s a full HD monitor with great eye care features that too at an affordable price.

     

    2. Which one should i go for TN, IPS or VA panel?

    Your choice depends on your need, if you want a gaming monitor then go for TN panels as they offer better refresh rates and response time. If your work demands proper color reproduction then go for IPS panel as they offer the best color accuracy.

     

    3. What is a VESA mount?

    VESA mount is a standard developed by the Video Electronics Standards Association and used for mounting LCD and LED monitors and TVs. VESA mounts are designed to be installed on a wall, desk or stand, allowing you to choose your preferred viewing position and angle. A wall mount is essential for hanging up a big screen TV, while arms and desk mounts are more common for monitors.

     

    4. Can a monitor be used as a TV?

    Yes you can but not all monitors will function properly. If your monitor has an HDMI port or a VGA port you are good to go but if your monitor lacks inbuilt speakers then you will have to hook up external speakers and not every monitor has audio ports.

     

    5. Can you see a difference between 60Hz and 75Hz?

    Yes, the difference is significant between 60Hz and 75Hz. The difference becomes less significant when you go above 144Hz.

     

    Conclusion:

     

    We hope we’ve helped you find the best budget monitor for your needs! These monitors may not be top of the line, but they are definitely some of the best budget monitors you can buy. If you are still confused here’s a quick rundown!

    BenQ(24″) GW2480 is the overall best monitor that will fit all your needs!

    Go for  ‎LG 20M39H if you need a cheap secondary display.

    Zebronics 21.5 inch (54.6cm) LED Monitor would act as a great full HD display for office uses.

    Acer Nitro QG221Q would be a good pick for casual gaming and media consumption.

  • Best ring lights in India for 2021

    Best ring lights in India for 2021

    If you make youtube videos or instagram reels you know that having a good camera quality is not enough. You need to have proper lighting that will allow your camera’s quality to shine.  Excess shadows in the environment can ruin the shot. Ring lights are the devices that you can use to reduce the shadows and to illuminate your face. Usage of a ring light will significantly improve the quality of your image or video. 

    The covid-19 lockdown has introduced sites like youtube and instagram to a huge wave of new content creators and you might be one of them. But you can’t just sit in front of your webcam and hope that you will look the best, this is where ring lights come in. A ring light is a circular shaped fluorescent bulb or multiple LED bulbs connected together in the shape of a circle. They emphasize the subject in front of them by eliminating unwanted shadows. Whether you are shooting a cooking video or a makeup tutorial, a ring light is a must! We at Techoids have curated a list of best ring lights that you can buy right now, dive in!

     

    Factors that you need to look out for!

     

    Size 

    Ring lights come in various sizes ranging from 8 inch to 18 inch. If you just want a ring light to make videos on your phone or to take photos on your phone, go for a smaller size. Make sure that the ring light has a proper mount for your phone. If you are working on a youtube video,  you can go for ring lights with a size of 11 or 18 inch. With the larger size you can cover a larger area.  Buying a bigger sized ring light will also allow you to capture the light inside the subject’s eye, which looks really cool!

     

    Color temperature

    Many ring lights allow you to customize the color temperature of the light. Go for these as you can set the color temperature according to your environmental setting to get a perfect combination. The color temperature settings will vary between 3000k – 6000k. Temperatures above 5000k will give you a cool bluish look and colors below that will give you a warm yellowish look.

    Some might even have temperature setting light modes, natural, warm or cold. You can use them to conveniently switch between the temperatures.

     

    Brightness

    Go for a ring light that allows you to adjust the brightness levels, most of the ring lights will come with a wheel or a knob that you can use to set the brightness between 0-100%

     

    Power

    Most of the ring lights will have rechargeable batteries. You can expect a run time of 3 to 10 hours with a full charge. While rechargeable batteries provide a hassle free experience, you can go for wired ring lights if you have a stationary setup. Most of the professional ring lights of size 18 inch have wired functionalities.

     

    Weight

    Weight can be an issue if you want a ring light for your phone. The heavier the ring light, the difficult it would become to handle the phone. Go for something light that would mount on your phone easily. But when it comes to stationary workstations, weight isn’t that big of an issue.

     

    Color errors

    Some ring lights are meant to work at a specific angle, if used at a different one they can cause slight chromatic errors, some colors might not appear as they should. Check the reviews to make sure that the ring light does not have any sort of color deviation problems or else you will have to correct them by yourself while editing.

     

    Mounting medium

    You have to mount a ring light on a tripod or a stand. Some ring lights will often come bundled with a tripod or a stand, go for these as they will save you tons of cash. As for mobiles, ring lights will come with clips or some brackets that you can use to mount the ring light on your phone.

     

    Warranty

    Go for a ring light that has some sort of warranty or a replacement policy. Although some cheap ring lights won’t come with a warranty period.

     

     

    LIST

    1. DIGITEK 18 inch Professional LED Ring Light
    2. Venganza 10 Inches Big LED Ring Light
    3. Osaka 10 Inches Big LED Ring Light
    4. OCTOVA Ring Light 18 inch with Stand
    5. Tygot LED Ring Light
    6. COOLMOBIZ 18 inch Selfie LED Ring Light
    7. Teconica BR-01 Rechargeable Selfie Enhancing Portable Ring Light 
    8. OLICOM Ring Light
    9. YOZTI 10″ LED Ring Light
    10. ehook 18 Inches Big LED Ring Light

     

    1. DIGITEK 18 inch Professional LED Ring Light

    The overall best!

    Outer diameter: 18 inch

    Color Temperature (K) Range:  3200k to 5600k

    Suitable for: Smartphone, DSLR, mirrors

    Weight: 1kg 100 grams

    Mounting medium: Tripod stand (not included)

    Price: ₹3,499.00

    Digitek drl-18 is a powerful 18 inch LED ring light. It features 240 pieces of LED bulbs mounted on the ring. It is perfect for youtube videos or even for professional photography.  Digitek is a well known brand in the world of photography, so you can expect an overall great quality. The light comes with two dials for adjusting the intensity and the color temperature. You can easily adjust the brightness intensity to get a nice mix of dark and light areas. The lights are bi-color so you can choose between the warm yellow and cool bluish colors. You can mount the light on a tripod or a stand, but you have to buy the stand separately.

    The ring light is also compatible with smartphones, you can just use the included smartphone mount to easily mount your phone onto the ring light. This smartphone mount is 360 degree rotatable, you can easily adjust to the perfect angle without moving the light. You can also use the hot shoe adapter to easily mount your camera too.  The device comes loaded with two lithium ion batteries and runs on both AC and DC, you can use the included AC adapter to provide the power. It even has 6 months of manufacturer warranty.DRL-18 is the perfect choice for every need.

    PROS:

    ✔️High quality 240 LED lights

    ✔️360 degree smartphone rotation

    ✔️180 degree light rotation

    ✔️Runs on both AC and DC

    CONS:

    ❌No stand included

     

    2. Venganza 10 Inches Big LED Ring Light

    An affordable pick for smartphones!

    Outer diameter: 10 inch

    Color Temperature (K) Range:  3200k to 5600k

    Suitable for: Smartphones

    Weight: ‎350 g

    Mounting medium: 7 feet long tripod stand 

    Price: ₹999.00

    Venganza’s LED ring light is a super affordable 10 inch ring light for smartphones. If you are a beginner and want a ring light that just gets the job done, then this ring light is the best pick for you! It comes bundled with a 7 feet long tripod, this tripod is adjustable so you can set the tripod level according to your need.

    The light gives you control over the brightness as well as the color temperature, you can choose between white, natural and warm colors. The temperature as well as the brightness can be adjusted by using the control pad on the USB power cable. The 3 light modes and 11 brightness levels give you good control over the lighting. It comes with a smartphone holder with 360 degree rotation, with the retractable tripod and a 360 degree rotatable holder you get full control over the positions.  The light needs to be plugged in via a USB cable to function. Overall the Venganza ring light is great for beginners who want an affordable smartphone ring light experience. 

    PROS:

    ✔️Affordable

    ✔️360-degree rotating phone holder

    ✔️7 feet long retractable tripod

    CONS:

    ❌Only 11 levels of brightness

    ❌Always needs to be plugged in

     

    3. Osaka 10 Inches Big LED Ring Light

    A made in India product!

    Outer diameter: 10 inch

    Color Temperature (K) Range:  3400k to 5600k

    Suitable for: Smartphones

    Weight: ‎3.62 Kilograms

    Mounting medium: 9 feet long tripod stand 

    Price: ₹1,599.00

    Osaka 10 inch ring light is a made in India product from a local brand called Osaka. The ring light features 220 high power 10W LED bulbs mounted on a 10 inch ring. The ring light offers great intensity with low power consumption because of the 10W bulbs.

    The ring light offers 9 levels of brightness. You can also choose different lighting modes by choosing between the natural, warm and white settings. The color temperature can be adjusted from 3400k to 5600k to get the desired effect. All of these settings will allow you to take great shots irrespective of the environment.

    The ring light comes with a 9 feet tripod stand and a smartphone holder. The tripod stand has adjustable height, so you can experiment with shots from different angles with ease. You can also use a different tripod stand as the ring light is easily mountable. Your smartphone can easily be mounted on the smartphone stand, you can also change the orientation of the stand. The light needs to be plugged in to function, you can use the included USB cable with an AC adapter to feed the power to the light. The device offers 3 months of warranty.

    PROS:

    ✔️Great 9 feet stand

    ✔️220 10W LED bulbs

    CONS:

    ❌No rotation options for the phone bracket

     

    4. OCTOVA Ring Light 18 inch with Stand

    With powerful LED lights!

    Outer diameter: 18 inch

    Color Temperature (K) Range:  3200k to 5600k

    Suitable for: Smartphones, DSLR

    Weight: ‎8 Kilograms

    Mounting medium: 9 feet long tripod stand 

    Price: ₹8,990.00

    Octova ring light is a great 18 inch ring light for professional as well as casual use. It is loaded with 240 pieces of powerful 55W LEDs. These LEDs make it an ideal choice for outside use as well as inside use like makeup tutorials or creating videos. The LEDs emit both cool and warm tones of light, you can also set the temperatures manually ranging between 3200k and 5600k. You can use the two dial knobs on the light to adjust the temperature and the intensity of the light. This gives you good control over the shadows and the toning of the frame.

    It comes with a 9 feet long tripod stand. The stand is made up of aluminium alloy, so you can expect great durability. The stand is retractable, it is adjustable from 3 feet to 9 feet. The included hot shoe adapter is compatible with most of the DSLRs, so you can easily mount your camera on the light. It also comes with a great smartphone holder. The light also allows for complete 180 degree rotation, with the rotation capability you can experiment with different angles to get perfect lighting and tone! The device comes with a 6 month warranty. With all of these great features, octova is an ideal choice for professions like makeup artists, content creators as well as for professional photography!

    PROS:

    ✔️Durable stand

    ✔️Powerful LED lights

    CONS:

    ❌Heavy

     

    5. Tygot LED Ring Light

    A super lightweight ring light!

    Outer diameter: 18 inch

    Color Temperature (K) Range:  3200k to 5600k

    Suitable for: Smartphones, DSLR, mirrors 

    Weight: 350 Grams

    Mounting medium: Light stand not included 

    Price: ₹2,499.00

    Tygot is a super lightweight and portable 18 inch ring light. It comes with 240 pieces of high quality LED SMD design lights. The lights support bi color modes with temperatures ranging from 3200k to 5600k. You can also adjust the intensity of the 10W LED bulbs giving you complete control over the toning and feel of the footage.

    The light can easily be mounted on a tripod, it is also 180 degree rotatable. The smartphone brackets and the hot shoe mount are also 360 degree rotatable, so you can experiment with different angles easily. Another great feature about the tygot ring light is that it can work on both AC and DC power supply! It comes loaded with two lithium ion batteries which can be charged and used when needed. You can also just use an AC adapter to power the light. This super light weight and affordable ring light is ideal for all situations.

    PROS:

    ✔️Works on both AC and DC

    ✔️High quality LED lights

    CONS:

    ❌No stand included

     

    6. COOLMOBIZ 18 inch Selfie LED Ring Light

    An affordable 18 inch ring light!

    Outer diameter: 18 inch

    Color Temperature (K) Range:  3400k to 5600k

    Suitable for: Smartphones

    Weight: ‎1.9 Kilograms

    Mounting medium: 7 feet long tripod stand 

    Price: ₹999.00

    Coolmobiz ring light is another affordable pick with a 18 inch size. The ring light utilizes dichromatic LEDs that allow you to change the color temperature and the intensity of the light as well. The light features three color modes white, natural and a warm mode, you can easily swap between them to achieve the desired look. You also get 10 levels of brightness control.

    The ring light comes with a 7 feet long retractable tripod stand, you can easily try out different height levels to get a perfect shot! The inbuilt smartphone holder is also 180 degree rotatable, so you don’t have to change the lights position for getting a different angle. The light is powered using the included USB cables, it needs to be always plugged-in in order to function. The great thing about this device is that it gives you a truck load of features at an affordable price. You get an 18 inch ring light with a tripod stand only at 1000 bucks which is a rarity at this price point. If you are a self enthusiast or a content creator on a budget then coolmobiz is the best pick for you!

    PROS:

    ✔️Super affordable

    ✔️18 inch size

    CONS:

    ❌Only 10 levels of brightness control

    ❌No temperature control other than the 3 light modes

     

    7. Teconica BR-01 Rechargeable Selfie Enhancing Portable Ring Light 

    A pocket ring light!

    Outer diameter: 4 inch

    Color Temperature (K) Range:  5000k-7000k

    Suitable for: Smartphones

    Weight: ‎ 50 Grams

    Mounting medium: No tripod stand included 

    Price: ₹299.00

    If you are a youtube content creator or an instagram influencer and are in need of a portable ring light then look no further than teconica BR-1! This is a 4 inch ring light loaded with 36 powerful LED lights. These 36 bulbs are enough to illuminate a subject’s features for that perfect tone. The light provides 3 levels of intensity settings, you can use the button provided on the inside of the ring to easily shift between the levels. The white light emitted by the bulbs is highly luminous as it ranges between 5000k to 7000k , so you can easily use it in super dark areas and still get a great result.

    The light is also super lightweight, durable and shockproof even though it’s made up of plastic. The small form factor allows you to carry it everywhere without worrying about the space and the weight. It is loaded with two rechargeable lithium ion batteries so you can use them anywhere once charged without any external power source. Due to the high luminosity you can also use it as an emergency light or a portable torch!

    PROS:

    ✔️Super affordable

    ✔️Compact and pocket friendly

    CONS:

    ❌No color temperature control

    ❌Small runtime

     

    8. OLICOM Ring Light

    A great ring light with a metal stand!

    Outer diameter: 18 inch

    Color Temperature (K) Range:  3400k to 5600k

    Suitable for: Smartphones

    Weight: ‎ 6 kilogram

    Mounting medium: 9 feet tripod stand 

    Price: ₹899.00

    Olicom ring light is an 18 inch light with 480 pieces of LED bulbs, so you get an intense light to illuminate your subjects! All of these are 10W powerful LEDs. The light makes it easy to set the color temperatures ranging between 3400k and 5600k without using any filters. You can easily switch between white light or warm light by using the controls on the wire. The light also has three different light modes, so you can switch between white, natural or warm modes. You can adjust the intensity of the light with the 9 different brightness levels.

    It has a great metal finish 9 feet long tripod stand, you can easily rotate or adjust the height to get the desired angle. The stand has a high quality metal finish, you can expect it to last long without corroding. It also includes a smartphone holder which is compatible with most of the smartphones. The ring light needs AC power supply to function, you can plug it in using the included USB cable. Overall it is a great choice that gets the job done without relying on any fancy features.

    PROS:

    ✔️18 inch light at an affordable price

    ✔️High quality metal tripod stand

    CONS:

    ❌The tripod stand is a bit heavy

     

    9. YOZTI 10″ LED Ring Light

    Made up of high quality ABS plastic!

    Outer diameter: 10 inch

    Color Temperature (K) Range:  3400k to 5600k

    Suitable for: Smartphones

    Weight: ‎ 1.3 Kilograms

    Mounting medium: 7 feet tripod stand 

    Price: ₹899.00

    Yotzi ring light is a 10 inch ring light with 120 8W powerful LED pieces. This ring light stands out from the rest because of its build quality. The 7 inch tripod and the ring light itself is made up of high quality ABS plastic material. This significantly improves the heat and the impact resistance which will protect the lights inside.

    The ring light features 3 light modes light, natural and warm and 11 levels of brightness in each mode which totals upto 33 different combinations. It gives you great control over the toning and lighting. The 7 inch tripod is retractable with 3 height settings, it also has a handle that allows you to pan the light in three different angles. This makes sure that the light focuses on the subject properly. Along with the stand you also get a flexible smartphone holder which is compatible with most of the smartphones. The light needs to be always plugged in order to function. You can use a standard AC adapter to feed power to the light.

    PROS:

    ✔️33 levels of brightness

    ✔️The stand and the ring are made up of high quality ABS plastic

    ✔️Handle for panning the light

    CONS:

    ❌No warranty

     

    10. ehook 18 Inches Big LED Ring Light

    With a wireless selfie remote!

    Outer diameter: 18 inch

    Color Temperature (K) Range:  3200k to 5500k

    Suitable for: Smartphones

    Weight: ‎ 1.3 Kilograms

    Mounting medium: 5 feet long tripod stand 

    Price: ₹999.00

     

    Ehook ring light is an 18 inch affordable ring light that can be used for professional purposes too as it offers a great control over the toning and lighting. The light comes with 3 light modes, white, natural and warm along with 11 brightness levels for each mode. So you get 33 brightness levels to experiment with.

    It comes with a 5 feet long retractable tripod stand, you can easily carry this tripod to shoots or any location you want. The stand also allows for 3 way tilt and pan with a handle. The ring light itself can move 360 degrees, all of this gives you good control over the position of the light. You also get a flexible smartphone holder that is compatible with most of the smartphones, the flexible arm of the holder allows you to adjust it to any angle. The light needs to be plugged in to function, you can use the USB cable with an AC adapter to feed power. Another great feature about the ehook ring light is that it comes with a wireless selfie remote. You can easily pair it with your smartphone via bluetooth and use the shutter from a distance up to 30 feet away.

    PROS:

    ✔️33 levels of brightness

    ✔️Wireless selfie remote

    ✔️v3 way tilt and pan

    CONS:

    ❌No warranty

    ❌Only 5 feet long stand

     

    FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

     

    1. What are ring lights good for?

    Ring lights are mainly used to emphasize a subject or to emphasize detailing in a photo. This is easily achieved as the circular design of the ring light means that you can set up your camera right in the middle of the ring. This then lets you focus on those details, which are essential to get into the image. But ring lights are multipurpose devices, people also use them in the makeup industry as well as in the streaming business.

     

    2. Fluorescent bulbs or LED bulbs which are better?

    Fluorescent bulbs were used in old ring light models, in most of the modern ring light devices you will find LED bulbs which are way better than the fluorescent ones. LED bulbs have a greater life span than fluorescent ones. Fluorescent bulbs get hot after a long period of use and you will have to replace them if one of them breaks. LED lights are much better at handling the heat. You might also face issues while handling the fluorescent bulb ring light as they tend to get hot from time to time.

     

    3. Are ring lights harmful to health?

    Ring lights do not emit any harmful radiations nor they generate any pollutants so they are completely safe to use.

     

    4. What ring light size is the most appropriate?

    Ring lights come in a wide variety of sizes ranging from 4 inch to 18 inch. Ring lights below 6 inch are considered to be small ring lights and those above 16 inch are considered big ring lights. The best sized ring light will depend upon the type of usage. Make sure to have enough space for your light, a large ring light in a cumbersome space will just mess up the toning. The bigger the ring light the more intensity it will have. Go for a 18 inch size if you will be using the light in a studio for photoshoots. A medium sized light should do for makeup artists and for outdoor shooting. If you are a selfie enthusiast then anything less than 6 inches should do the trick!

     

    5. Can a ring light be powered by a power bank or a laptop?

    Most of the ring lights need constant AC current to keep functioning. These ring lights often come with a USB cable which you have to attach to an AC adapter which feeds the power. You can easily attach this USB cable to your power bank or a laptop to feed power temporarily.

     

    6. Are ring lights good while streaming with a webcam?

    While ring lights might not be the best option but they will get the job done. You need to properly mount the webcam to get decent lighting. Ring light effect works if active camera is placed right behind ring , make sure that the ring light you are purchasing has a proper mount for your camera.

     

    7. Should i use a ring light with a laptop webcam?

    Ring lights are designed to be placed right in front of the camera – the camera looks through the center of the ring. So the placing of your laptop and the ring light is quiet tricky and would be a hassle to set up. There are many LED camera light panels that will make you look so much better on Zoom. They give a bit of directionality to the shadows to prevent a flat look, and catch light in the eyes looks like window light. Go for a LED light panel instead of a ring light for laptop webcams.

     

    8. How do you use a ring light with glasses?

    When you are using a ring light with a subject having glasses you will see a glaring effect that can ruin your shot. The nature of a ring light is to shoot through it and so ensuring that people wearing glasses will have nice round highlight glaring in the reflection of the light. Tilting the lenses, either by facing the subject at an angle to either side, up or down might help too, but ring lights don’t offer much modeling except in terms of fall off, so angling the subject might not be result in a flattering portrait.

     

    CONCLUSION

     

    This is it! these were our picks for the best ring lights that you can buy right now! If you are still confused which one to go for then here’s a quick rundown:

    Go for DIGITEK 18 inch Professional LED Ring Light as it is the overall best when it comes to functionality. The 18 inch size allows you to use it professionally and casually as well. The brightness and color settings give you a good control over the shadows and the toning of the shot. The only thing that it misses out on is the stand which you have to purchase separately.

    If you are bound by budget and want something that will just get the job done then go for COOLMOBIZ 18 inch Selfie LED Ring Light as it gives you a great ring light just at the price of Rs.1000. You also get a stand for mounting the ring light. It may not have any fancy eye catching feature but still it is a great choice for a ring light.

    Go for Teconica BR-01 Rechargeable Selfie Enhancing Portable Ring Light  if you need a ring light just for enhancing your selfies. It is super compact and lightweight so you can carry it anywhere you want. It scores points when it comes to affordability too!

  • Best e-book readers in India 2021

    Best e-book readers in India 2021

    If you are an absolute bibliophile, you know the struggle of managing your precious collection of hundreds of paperbacks and hardcovers. Fortunately devices called as e readers bring all of those paperbacks and hardcovers to your fingertips without compromising a lot of space in your household! While many people are die hard fans of the traditional paperback books, the ebook readers offer loads of convenient features and a distraction free reading experience. These ebook readers don’t lure you away from your book with constant notifications like your phone. Many of these ebook readers use E-Ink technology that allows you to read in direct sunlight unlike your phone and they are water resistant too! So you can read on a sunny day under a tree and also while relaxing by a pool!  

    While these e readers might look like normal tablets, these are simple devices made for just reading. Some models don’t even include internet connectivity to offer a completely distraction free experience. The market right now is dominated by e-readers from Amazon(kindle range) and Kobo. But the corona virus lockdown resulted in an increase in demand that in turn has provoked many new competitors to jump into the market. Due to the increase in competition, the process of finding a good e reader could seem like a daunting one. Worry not! We at Techoids have curated a list of best ebook e readers that you can buy in the market right now!

     

    WHY SHOULD YOU BUY AN E-READER?

     

    E-readers have lots of advantages over your traditional tablet when it comes to reading books.  Here are a few features that give an e-reader an edge over other reading devices. 

    E-ink technology

    All of the ebook readers use e-ink technology, this allows you to read your books even in bright sunlight unlike a normal tablet or phone screen which have shiny reflective screens. In a normal display light from a backlight is projected through the display towards your eyes but in an E-Ink display no backlight is used, rather ambient light from the surrounding is reflected from the surface back to your eyes. So the more ambient light, the more your screen’s brightness.

     

    Battery life

    Eliminating the backlight significantly increases the battery life of the ebook reader. You can expect an e-reader to last days and in some cases even weeks before running out of charge.

     

    Environment friendly 

    E-book readers are environment friendly. Every year around 2.2 million books are published which require approximately 3 million trees. Using an e-book reader completely eliminates the paper printing process, so if you go for an e-book reader you’ll be contributing to the environment as well!

     

    Almost unlimited storage!

    You can store millions and millions of books on your ebook reader and still have space for more!  Some ebook readers have cloud functionalities so you can just store your books in the cloud without worrying about space on your local device. This is especially great for students who won’t have to carry those heavy bulky books everyday if they opt for a lightweight ebook reader. 

     

    Cheaper books

    Ebooks cost significantly less than your normal printed books. There is no shipping, packaging or printing involved, so it becomes much cheaper than its printed counterpart.

     

    Interactive features

    Ebooks offer a lot more than printed books when it comes to interacting with the content. You can customize the fonts, search for words and you can even listen to pronunciations of a word that you don’t know! All of these features make the reading experience more fun and seemingless. 

     

    FEATURES YOU NEED TO LOOK OUT FOR

     

    Screen size

    An e-reader screen size usually ranges between 6 to 8 inches diagonally, these are compact sizes but there are devices smaller than these standard values offering an ultra compact experience.

     

    Storage 

    Ebooks don’t take tons of space so you will find 8GB to 32GB of storage in the most common devices. Some lower end devices might go for 4GB. While 8GB is enough to store all your books, you might want to ramp it up if you will be storing graphic novels or comics. 

     

    Physical buttons

    Physical buttons for turning pages are super convenient but not a necessary feature to have in an e reader. Most of the e readers have touchscreens that can be used to turn pages or to interact with the device. But the physical buttons are always welcome, with physical buttons you don’t have to reach out to the screen every time you need to turn pages.

     

    Battery life

    E-readers come with great battery life, they can last for days with consistent use and some can even last for weeks with a single charge! You can get dozens of hours of reading with a single charge. The long battery life makes them a perfect companion for travel.

     

    Ebook format

    All of the kindle ebooks purchased from amazon will be in .awz format. Most of the e-reader will support either .awz or .mobi format with the exception of kobo devices. Kobo devices support all formats except .awz you can even read graphic novels and epubs on Kobo devices. You can easily convert epub or files in other formats into .awz or .mobi using any online converter tool.

     

    Weight

    An e-reader should be lightweight as you will be carrying it around most of the time. Usually their weight can range between 600-800 grams. Don’t settle for anything more than that.

     

    Internet facilities

    Almost all of the modern e-reader come with wifi connection as it is essential to download books. The Internet is also necessary to download firmware or software updates for your device. Some models even offer LTE connectivity where you need to insert a SIM card to access the internet. 

     

    IPX Rating

    Ipx rating denotes the device’s resistance against factors like water, dust etc. IP stands for Ingress protection and the X after IP denotes that the product is water resistant. There are various levels of protection from 0 to 8 against the ingress of solid particles. If the number after IP is 7 then it denotes complete protection from water submersion up to 1meter of depth. Greater the IPX rating, greater the resistance.

    IPX0-  Zero/ no protection

    IPX1-  Protects against Dripping water

    IPX2-  Protects against vertically dripping water

    IPX3-  Protects against sprays up to 60°

    IPX4-  Protects against splashing water

    IPX5-  Protects against water jets

    IPX6-  Protects against powerful water jets

    IPX7-  Protects in water up to 3 feet

    IPX8-  Protects when immersed in water over 3 feet

     

    TOP 10 EREADERS:

    1. Kindle Oasis 
    2. Kindle (10th Gen) 
    3. Kindle Paperwhite (10th gen) 
    4. Kobo Libra H2O
    5. Kobo Clara HD
    6. Onyx Boox Note Air
    7. Onyx Boox Note2
    8. Kobo Forma 
    9. Barnes and Noble Nook 10”
    10. Barnes & Noble NOOK GlowLight 3 eReader

     

    1. KINDLE OASIS (10TH GEN)

    Definition of luxury!

    2019’s 10th Gen Kindle oasis is one of the expensive devices on this list, but its features justify the heavy price tag. If you want an absolute best reading experience then it doesn’t get better than this!

    Adding to the Kindle lineup, Oasis builds upon its predecessors and adds a bunch of new convenient features like auto-brightness, a blue light eliminating feature, auto rotation and a dedicated set of buttons. The device has a warmth feature which is quite similar to night mode on our phones, it increases the warmth of the colors on the screen in low light so it gets easier for the eyes to read. 

    It has a massive 7 inch screen which uses the E-Ink technology. Having a bigger form factor allowed Oasis to add a handy set of dedicated keys. These keys are conveniently lined up on the right side of the device, you can use them to scroll pages easily without reaching for the screen. You can even switch between the reading mode and the listening mode seamlessly with the whisper sync feature.

    The device can last up to six weeks with moderate usage on a full charge of around 3 hours. 

    It comes in two versions, 8GB version and the 32GB version. Both of the versions have WiFi functionalities. Being an amazon product, you can access the massive library of ebooks with amazon prime subscription. The device is also waterproof with an IPX rating of IPX8, so you can literally read everywhere! 

    SPECS:

    • Screen size: 7-inch
    • Screen type: Carta E Ink
    • Storage: 8GB/32GB
    • Resolution: 300ppi
    • Weight: 188g
    • Battery life: up to six weeks
    • Supported formats: Kindle Format 8 (AZW3), Kindle (AZW), TXT, PDF, unprotected MOBI, PRC natively; HTML, DOC, DOCX, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP through conversion; Audible audio format (AAX).
    • Price: ₹21,999.00

    PROS:

    • Big screen
    • Auto Warmth control
    • Dedicated buttons
    • Waterproof IPX8

    CONS:

    • Expensive

     

    2. Kindle (10th Gen) 

    A Budget pick!

    Amazon’s latest Kindle 10th Gen e-reader is an entry level device that is a great budget pick. Being an entry level device it has no fancy features and just focuses on providing basic functions for reading. The device comes with a glare free backlit screen which has no blue light filter. The screen has a compact size of 6 inches. You can use the device for indoor reading but it lacks when it comes to outdoor reading because of the backlit screen. The device offers up to two weeks of runtime with a single full charge of 4 hours. So you get dozens of hours of reading time with a small 4 hour charge. It has an adequate storage of 8GB, so you can store thousands of books easily. You will have to be careful when taking the kindle outside as it is not waterproof. You can connect to the internet via wifi functionality.  The 10th Gen kindle is an absolutely great choice if you want a device that won’t completely empty out your pockets and will still give you a nice reading experience. 

    SPECS:

    • Screen size: 6-inch
    • Screen type: Carta E Ink
    • Storage: 8GB
    • Resolution: 167ppi
    • Weight: 174g
    • Battery life: up to four weeks
    • Supported formats: Kindle Format 8 (AZW3), Kindle (AZW), TXT, PDF, unprotected MOBI, PRC natively; HTML, DOC, DOCX, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP through conversion; Audible audio format (AAX).
    • Price: ₹7,999.00

    PROS:

    • Value for money
    • Great battery

    CONS:

    • No water proofing
    • Backlit screen

     

    3. Kindle Paperwhite (10th gen) 

    The overall BEST!

    Building upon the previous kindles, Kindle paperwhite brings all great features together packing them into one. It is one of the best and affordable kindles till date. You get a decent 6 inch HD screen display with 330ppi pixel density. You can read the words even in bright sunlight because they are always sharp and clear. Paperwhite is rated IPX8, so you can read it while on a beach, in a pool or in a bath! It is protected against immersion up to 2 meters of water for up to 60 minutes. Paperwhite offers wifi as well as cellular connectivity, the 4g version costs more than the base wifi version. It comes in a 8GB version as well as a 32GB version, which is enough to store thousands of books. A single charge of just three hours can last up to 6 weeks, so you get dozens of hours of reading without worrying about the battery. Kindle paperwhite encapsulates all of the necessary features of an e-reader and provides a great and affordable reading experience. 

    SPECS:

    • Screen size: 6-inch
    • Screen type: E Ink
    • Storage: 8 GB, 32GB
    • Resolution: 300ppi
    • Weight: 209g
    • Supported formats: Kindle Format 8 (AZW3), Kindle (AZW), TXT, PDF, unprotected MOBI, PRC natively; HTML DOC, DOCX, JPEG, GIF, PNG, PMP through conversion.
    • Battery life: up to six weeks
    • Price: ₹11,299.00

    PROS:

    • Great battery 
    • IPX8 waterproofing
    • Comes with flush front design

    CONS:

    • No page turn buttons
    • No warmth control

     

    4. Kobo Libra H2O

    Premium reading experience for affordable price!

    Kobo libra nails the perfect balance between a modern design and an affordable reading experience. It has a large 7 inch glare free HD screen. The glare free screen allows you to read even in bright sunlight just like real paperbacks. Kobo Libra H2O has a conveniently placed set of buttons on the right side of the screen, these can be used to turn pages without reaching for the screen. There’s a power button smartly placed at the back too. The device is also IPX8 rated so you can read literally everywhere without worrying about the device’s safety. It has an onboard storage of 8GB, which is enough to store thousands of books. The e-reader has adaptive lighting, which gradually reduces the blue light as it gets dark to reduce the strain on your eyes. You can connect to the internet via wifi. Being a kobo device you can run files other than the standard .mobi formats. The device can run epub files too. You can get up to six weeks of runtime with a single charge of 4 hours. Overall it is a great competitor to the kindle paperwhite but it has an edge when it comes to supported file types.

    SPECS:

    • Screen size: 7-inch
    • Screen type: carta E Ink
    • Storage: 8 GB
    • Resolution: 300ppi
    • Weight: 192g
    • Battery life: up to six weeks
    • Supported formats: EPUB, EPUB3, FlePub, PDF, MOBI, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, TIFF, TXT, HTML, RTF, CBZ, CBR
    • Price: ₹12,999.00

    PROS:

    • Adaptive brightness
    • Light weight and water resistant
    • Comes with physical page turn buttons

    CONS:

    • No library subscription option.
    • No audiobooks.
    • Can’t read Kindle(.awz) books.

     

    5. Kobo Clara HD

    A mid budget competitor to kindle’s paperwhite!

    Priced lesser than the Kindle paperwhite, Kobo clara HD gives it a tough competition when it comes to features. It has a 6 inch HD carta e-ink touchscreen. The responsiveness of the screen is fast and precise when compared to the other kobo devices. The device has an integrated blue light filter that automatically detects the time in your timezone and sets the brightness and warmth accordingly. You can store thousands of books in the onboard storage of 8GB. You can use the device for weeks with a single charge of around 3-4 hours. It also has an overdrive feature that allows you to access your local library’s epub collection on your e-reader. With all of these features, Kobo Clara Hd is a best in class e-reader at this price point. 

    SPECS:

    • Screen size: 6-inch
    • Screen type: Carta E Ink
    • Storage: 8 GB
    • Resolution: 300ppi
    • Weight: 166g
    • Battery life: up to eight weeks
    • Supported formats: EPUB, EPUB3, FlePub, PDF, MOBI, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, TIFF, TXT, HTML, RTF, CBZ, CBR
    • Price: ₹3,499.00

    PROS:

    • Affordable
    • Feature packed
    • Comes with great battery life

    CONS:

    • Not so impressive UI and UX.
    • You may experience jitters and lags.

     

    6. Onyx Boox Note Air

    Bridging the gap between ipads and Ereaders!

    Onyx boox note air is a hybrid between a normal tablet and an e-reader. It runs Android 10 OS so you can do much more than just reading books on it. Even though it leans on the tablet size, it uses E-ink technology to give an eye-friendly experience when it comes to reading. As it runs on Android, you can just download the kindle or the kobo app and access the books from both the stores! Other than that you can also run other supported formats such as .mobi or epub. It runs a qualcomm snapdragon 636 processor with 3GB of ram which is pretty enough when it comes to reading books and taking notes with the bundled stylus. There are no hardware buttons on the device other than the power button. You can use the USB type C port at the bottom to charge the device. There is no port to connect headphones but you can use the inbuilt wifi or bluetooth to use wireless headphones. The onyx boox note air lacks when it comes to battery, you can use it for upto 1 day with a single charge. The play store access is the best feature of Onyx boox, it can equal as a normal android device even after being an e-reader. Onyx boox is perfect for students and teachers a like who will be using the device for reading and for taking notes as well!

    SPECS:

    • Screen size: 10.3-inch
    • Screen type: carta E Ink
    • Storage: 32 GB
    • Resolution: 227 ppi
    • Weight: 420g
    • Battery life: up to one day
    • Supported formats: PDF(reflowable), PPT,EPUB, TXT, DJVU, HTML, RTF, FB2, DOC, MOBI, CHM…
    • Image Formats: PNG, JPG, TIFF, BMP
    • Price: ₹44,999.00 (approx.)

     PROS:

    • Premium metal build and design
    • Comfortable stylus with magnetic attachment
    • Runs android 10 OS

    CONS:

    • expensive 
    • Low battery life.
    • Doesn’t comes with physical page turn buttons

     

    7. Onyx Boox Note2

    A complete tablet with E-ink display!

    Onyx boox note2 has a whooping 10.3 inch screen making it the biggest device on the list. In the same Onyx fashion, this device too runs an android OS. It has an E Ink Carta HD display with a resolution of 1872×1404 with 227 DPI. The usage of e-ink makes it perfect for reading. You can use the device as a drawing tablet with the accompanying stylus and the palm rejection technology. It has a qualcomm octa-core 2 GHZ A53 processor with 4GB of ram. It has an onboard storage of 64GB which is humongous  when compared to other devices on the list. It also has a 4300mAH battery that can give weeks of usage with a single charge. The USB type C port on the bottom provides quick charging. This port is also compatible with OTG, so you can use it to transfer files to your PC or you can even connect external devices like a mouse or a keyboard to the tablet. It also has a fingerprint scanner at the back making it a complete tablet with e-reader functionalities. Onyx boox note2 is an excellent e reader with the functionalities of a tablet!

    SPECS:

    • Screen size: 10.3-inch
    • Screen type: carta E Ink
    • Storage: 64 GB
    • Resolution: 227 ppi
    • Weight: 378g
    • Battery life: up to one day
    • Supported formats: PDF, EPUB , TXT, DJVU, HTML, RTF, FB2, DOC, MOBI, CHM,PNG, JPG, TIFF, BMP,WAV, MP3
    • Price: ₹44,999.00 (approx.)

     PROS:

    • Impressive note taking app
    • Works exactly as an android tablet
    • Contains a fingerprint scanner for security

    CONS:

    • Expensive
    • Poor speakers quality on the back
    • No water resistance

     

    8. Kobo Forma 

    High end spec sheet!

    Kobo forma is another great e reader in the kobo lineup. It is a lightweight device with an 8 inch glare free screen. It even has physical buttons conveniently placed on the right hand side of the screen to turn pages. It has a nice curved design which makes it easy and comfortable to hold for hours. It is available in two versions, a 8GB and a 32GB one. It even has a dropbox feature where you can add your own ebooks and documents wirelessly. The device has adjustable lighting that automatically sets the warmth and brightness depending upon the time of the day.  Kobo Forma has an IPX rating of IPX8, so you can use it in wet conditions as it is waterproof for up to 60minutes in 2 meters of water. You can use it for upto 2 weeks with a single charge. As every other kobo device, this e reader supports the overdrive function. With overdrive you can access or borrow books from your local libraries epub collection. Overall the Kobo forma is a decent e reader that comes with all the Kobo goodness!

    SPECS:

    • Screen size: 8-inch
    • Screen type: carta E Ink
    • Storage:  8/32GB
    • Resolution: 300ppi
    • Weight: 197g
    • Battery life: two weeks
    • Supported formats: EPUB, EPUB3, FlePub, PDF, MOBI, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, TIFF, TXT, HTML, RTF, CBZ, CBR
    • Price: ₹35,999.00 (approx.)

     PROS:

    • Have physical page turn buttons
    • Slim and lightweight product
    • Contains color changing backlight
    • IPX8 RATED

    CONS:

    • Feels expensive for E-Readers
    • No stylus which can be seen in this price range
    • No audio book support

     

    9. Barnes and Noble Nook 10”

    Read colored comics on this e reader!

    Barnes and Noble are no strangers to the world of books. They collaborated with lenovo to create an android tablet made for reading books. Nook 10 is a well built tablet specifically designed to be used as an e reader. The tablet runs on android and comes preloaded with the Nook reading app, but you can use any other app that is available in the play store for reading. It has a 10 inch colored display which is great for reading books as well as for colored comics and graphic novels alike. But the colored display comes with a sacrifice, the device uses a normal tablet screen with e-ink technology and not a complete e-ink display. It has no physical buttons near the screen but has a power button and volume control buttons on the side which can be configured to turn the pages. It has 32GB of onboard storage, you can expand the storage to up to 265GB by using the sd card slot. The USB type C port allows for fast charging, you can get up to 12 hours of usage with a single full charge. Unlike other e reader tablets on this list, Nook has a dedicated 3.5 mm headphone jack to connect your headphones to. Overall its a well built android tablet with good e reader features!

    It’s a well-built but bottom-rung Android tablet capable of showing books, playing videos, and not much else.

    SPECS:

    • Screen size: 10.1-inch
    • Screen type: carta E Ink
    • Storage: 32 GB 
    • Resolution: 149 ppi
    • Weight: 420g
    • Battery life: up to 12 hours
    • Supported formats: ePub, PDF, TXT, DOCX, XLX, PPTX, MP3, MP4, WAV, PEG (JPG), GIF, PNG, BMP, MP4, 3GP, 3G2, M4V, and MPEG-4
    • Price: ₹9,999.00 (approx.)

     PROS:

    • Can access Google Play Store
    • Works as a capable Android 10 tablet
    • Impressive design

    CONS:

    • Comes with a slow processor 
    • Some usual text blur could be noticed
    • Poor display quality

     

    10. Barnes & Noble NOOK GlowLight 3 eReader

    Another great E Reader by Barnes and Noble!

    Nook glowlight 3 is another great ereader from Barnes and Noble that just focuses on reading functionalities. It has a great 8 inch carta e-ink screen. Even with a 6 inch display it is pretty lightweight and has a small form factor. The screen uses a resolution of 1448×1072 which is the same as the Kindle paperwhite. One of the best features of Glowlight3 is the color changing “glowlight”. It shifts from a blue color to a warm yellow color depending on the time of the day which makes reading easier in low light. There are dedicated page turning buttons on both the sides of the device, this is a nice feature that most other ereaders lack, most of them have both the page turning buttons located at the same spot. It also has a power button at the bottom of the screen. The device has an onboard storage of up to 8GB. You can use the barnes and nobles store to buy and download books, you can optionally transfer books from your pc to the reader by using a sd card. It can last up to six weeks with a single charge. Overall Glowlight 3 offers a basic reading experience with some unique and great features like glowlight. It lacks when it comes to collection of books as the barnes and nobles library isn’t that huge, but you can still import books with a sd card.

    SPECS:

    • Screen size: 6-inch
    • Screen type: carta E Ink
    • Storage: 8 GB
    • Resolution: 300ppi
    • Weight: 346g
    • Battery life: up to six weeks
    • Supported formats: ePub, PDF, TXT, DOCX, XLX, PPTX, MP3, MP4, WAV, PEG (JPG), GIF, PNG, BMP, MP4, 3GP, 3G2, M4V, and MPEG-4
    • Price: ₹8,999.00 (approx.)

     PROS:

    • Physical page turning buttons
    • Good battery performance
    • Comes with Warm and color changing lights

    CONS:

    • No water resistance
    • Limited store selection

     

    FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

     

    1. Can a person who have non-Kindle e readers buy and read ebooks from Amazon?

    If you are using a kobo device then the answer is no.  Amazon uses a proprietary format(.awz) that is incompatible with other e readers.  But if you have an e reader that runs on android and can access google play store, then you can just download the kindle app from the play store and purchase ebooks from there. You can even convert the books purchased from amazon to other formats such as .mobi or epub using online converters, which will make them compatible for your device. But not all of the ebooks purchased from amazon have the awz format, it depends on the publisher to decide which format to opt for. 

     

    2. Can e readers be used for web browsing?

    E readers use e-ink technology in their displays. These displays have a slow refresh rate, so streaming videos and smooth scrolling is difficult. But when it comes to e readers like Nook 10 you can browse web as they are a hybrid between a tablet and an e reader.

     

    3. Are tablets a suitable alternative to e readers in terms of reading comfortability?

    The main advantage of e readers over tablets is its battery life. You can expect a tablet to run for 8 to 9 hours before needing a top up but with e readers you can use them for weeks before needing another charge. E readers long battery life make them a perfect choice for travel. Another factor to consider is the display, e readers have e-ink displays that allow you to read even in broad daylight but with a tablet you are going to get a reflective screen which performs poorly outside.

     

    4. Is reading from e readers bad for your eyesight?

    Many people confuse e readers with tablets, but they are two completely different devices.  A tablet is almost a miniature computer, it has a colored display that can be compared to a monitor. So it has the same potential problems as looking at any monitor has. E readers, however, are completely different. They use e-ink technology. Everything is in black and white. They actually bear some similarity to an Etch-a-Sketch. Every time you turn the page, the e-ink is erased and then formed into the new letters. In contrast, they’re just as easy to read in bright sunlight as a paperback. Reading from an e reader is almost exactly like reading from a paperback book.

     

    5. Is the Kindle Paperwhite the ultimate e reader?

    The Kindle Paperwhite is definitely the top e reader on the market right now. The Nook Simple Touch with Glow Light is a close competitor, but Amazon offers a variety of services, like Whisper Sync, to go along with the hardware that make the Kindle very compelling. The pricing for both devices is the same, but the battery life for the Kindle Paperwhite is estimated to be slightly better than the Nook.

     

    CONCLUSION

    There you have it! these were our top picks for the best e-readers that you can purchase right now! if you are still not sure which device to go for here’s a quick rundown!

    Go for Kindle Paperwhite (10th gen) which is the overall best and will suit all needs. The IPX 8 rating allows you to use it in any environment be it a wet one or a dry one! it even has a great battery life and also has a vibrant looking display. And to top it off, the kindle store! which has a great library of books, new and old alike.

    If you are cut short on budget and need a device without any fancy features that gets the job done, then go for Kindle (10th Gen)  It gives an experience similar to the kindle paperwhite but without features like IPX8 waterproofing. But still overall its a great choice considering its battery life and the great glare free screen.

    You can also opt for a device like  Kobo Clara HD if you want access to files other than just .awz and.mobi formats. Clara HD is extremely affordable and gives a similar experience like the kindle 10th gen. But you won’t be able to access the kindle library if you opt for a kobo device.