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New Delhi, As global layoffs deepen, Indian startups are not far behind and have sacked thousands of employees in the past 3-4 months, with many more to be given pink slips in the coming months amid deepening funding winter. In <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword>, more than 21,000 employees have been laid off by more than 70 startups to day, including from unicorns like BYJU'S, <keyword id="6354720" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="ola" source="Orion">Ola</keyword>, MPL, Innovaccer, Unacademy, Vedantu, Cars24, <keyword id="2808667" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="oyo" source="Orion">OYO</keyword>, Meesho, Udaan and many more. The edtech sector has laid off the most employees, with 16 edtech startups laying off more than 8,000 employees to date. With the onset of January, more and more Indian companies are slashing jobs across the spectrum. The new year has already seen more than 16 homegrown startups sack employees in the country. Social media company <keyword id="3358959" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="sharechat" source="Orion">ShareChat</keyword> (Mohalla Tech Pvt Ltd) has laid off 20 per cent of its workforce due to uncertain market conditions. Backed by Twitter, Google, Snap and <keyword id="526777" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="tiger-global" source="Orion">Tiger Global</keyword>, ShareChat has about 2,300 employees, and the layoff impacted about 500 people at the company, Healthtech unicorn Innovaccer has sacked nearly 245 employees, or about 15 per cent of its workforce, across teams in India and the US. Innovaccer cofounder and CEO Abhinav Shashank cited an "uncertain macroeconomic environment" as the reason behind the job cuts, according to an internal mail sent to employees and accessed by leading startup news portal Inc42. This was the second layoff at the company in around 4-5 months' time amid the deepening funding winter and recession fears. In September last year, Innovaccer laid off nearly 120 employees, or less than 8 per cent of its workforce. Online food delivery platform <keyword id="6358977" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="swiggy" source="Orion">Swiggy</keyword> confirmed that the company is laying off 380 employees as food delivery growth slows. MediBuddy, an end-to-end digital healthcare platform in India, has laid off 8 per cent of its workforce, around 200 people, across all departments as a restructuring exercise. Homegrown online vehicle repair platform GoMechanic, backed by <keyword id="563136" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="sequoia-india" source="Orion">Sequoia India</keyword>, has laid off 70 per cent of its workforce as the startup struggles to raise funds amid serious concerns of accounting troubles. The company has asked the remaining staff to work without pay for three months, according to reports. Software-as-a-service (SaaS) voice automation startup Skit.ai has asked more than 115 employees to go, mostly from its India team, as part of the "restructuring process" amid the deepening funding winter. Even IT giant <keyword id="10862" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="wipro" source="Orion">Wipro</keyword> has laid off more than 400 fresher employees for poor performance in internal assessment tests. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/budgeting-for-climate-change/articleshow/97378027.cms">Budgeting for the fifth C</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/an-app-that-wants-to-turn-fear-of-stock-markets-into-fun-raises-75-lakh-from-sharks/articleshow/97378121.cms">An app that wants to turn fear of stock markets into fun raises ₹75 lakh from sharks</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/steps-taken-in-subsidence-hit-joshimath-inadequate-declare-himalayas-eco-sensitive-zone-say-experts/articleshow/97411665.cms">Steps taken in subsidence-hit Joshimath inadequate, declare Himalayas eco-sensitive zone, say experts</a>

70-plus Indian startups show exit door to 21K techies, more pink slips coming

Home-grown regional language social media platform <keyword id="3358959" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="ShareChat">ShareChat</keyword> on Wednesday announced that it had to let go of 101 of its employees, or about a fourth of the company's total workforce, due to the COVID-19-induced uncertainties in the advertising market. The Bengaluru-based company's cost-saving measures were announced in an email to employees by Ankush Sachdeva, Cofounder and CEO of the five-year-old firm which competes against the likes of Facebook and TikTok. "... today with the market uncertainties due to COVID-19, we are compelled to take a relook at our business. We have had to make a few decisions that would allow us to become leaner and position the company better for the future," Sachdeva said in the email. A ShareChat spokesperson later confirmed the decision to lay off 101 employees. "The global pandemic along with various local market uncertainties have had an impact on our business plans. This has pushed us towards certain tough decisions including a revised leaner structure while we continue to grow," the spokesperson said in a statement. "We've had to let go of 101 of our employees who've been part of our start-up journey. This was not an easy decision to make." ShareChat said it will provide a comprehensive severance package and extend assistance to the impacted associates with their outplacement support. The Twitter-backed firm started monetisation through advertisements only last year. But the COVID-19 brought uncertainties to the ad market. "We have to focus on our core product and feed recommendation driven growth levers while scaling back on the others. We need to go back to our fundamentals in terms of only picking bets that move the needle for growth," Sachdeva said. "We believe the Ad Market would remain unpredictable this year. We are streamlining our revenue teams to these new expectations yet will keep working towards building the necessary technology infrastructure," he said. In another big change, which is in line with Twitter's decision to allow some employees to work from home forever, ShareChat said that it would be partially remote at all times in the future. "We have adapted well to the remote working environment. Hence, we have relooked at the requirement of physical office spaces. We would be partially remote at all times in the future," Sachdeva said in the email. ShareChat, which has over 60 million monthly active users, raised $100 million in a new round of funding in last August. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/ms-dhoni-backed-khatabook-adds-to-its-line-up-of-star-investors-sequoia-and-tencent-get-more-stake-in-indias-largest-small-business-app/articleshow/75842295.cms">MS Dhoni-backed Khatabook adds to its line-up of star investors ⁠— Sequoia and Tencent get more stake in India's largest small business app</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/faisal-siddiquis-tiktok-acid-attack-video-is-adding-to-the-growing-list-of-problems-for-the-platform-in-india/articleshow/75800571.cms">Faizal Siddiqui’s TikTok acid attack video is adding to the growing list of problems for the platform in India</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/tiktok-gogole-play-ratings-fall-to-1-3-stars-after-4-million-comments/articleshow/75842653.cms">Tiktok got 4 million comments on Google Play Store dragging down its rating to 1.3⁠ — but it may not disappear yet</a>

ShareChat sacks 101 employees due to  'market uncertainties' amid COVID-19

<ul><li><keyword id="132652" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="cleartrip" source="Orion">Cleartrip</keyword> to increase its workforce to 700 employees, a three-fold increase from October last year.</li><li>Earlier this quarter, the <keyword id="7254678" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="travel-aggregator" source="Orion">travel aggregator</keyword> had increased its workforce by 60%.</li><li>The hiring will be done in technology and product teams and across various destinations in India.</li></ul>Cleartrip, a Bengaluru-based travel aggregator website, is looking forward to ramping up its workforce by 400 employees by December 2022. Hiring of 400 employees will take the workforce to a total of 700 employees, a three-fold increase from 240 employees in October 2021. The hiring will be done in technology and product teams and across various destinations in India — Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Punjab. Earlier this quarter, the travel aggregator had increased its workforce by 60%. Large number of hiring was dedicated towards its plans to scale up its hotel category business. When asked about the reason behind this massive hiring spree, Ayyappan Rajagopal, chief executive officer (CEO) of Cleartrip said, “Cleartrip is actively hiring for their upcoming tech park in Chennai where all the technology-related backhand work will be handled so that we can reach the target of 400 employees by the end of this year.” He further said, “By hiring top talent from the industry across levels, we are infusing fresh energy and ideas into our teams, setting us up for success. As we move forward in 2022, one of our key goals this year is to bring more offerings, scale up our existing verticals to bring more digitally-enabled travel experiences for our customers to boost their confidence while travelling during what has been a difficult time.” The announcement comes after Cleartrip’s acquisition by the Flipkart Group, part of US-based Walmart Group, which has accelerated the brand’s growth strategy to make an end-to-end travel app for the company by the end of 2022. In 2021, e-commerce giant Flipkart had <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/flipkart-acquires-cleartrip-in-an-effort-to-cement-its-position-in-the-travel-booking-segment/articleshow/82081931.cms">acquired</a> a 100% stake in Cleartrip, making it a Flipkart Group company. Cleartrip has raised a total of $56.4 million in funding over 7 rounds, as per data from Crunchbase. Their latest funding was raised on October 29 last year in a secondary market round. Founded in 2006, Cleartrip is an online travel firm for booking flights, train tickets, hotel reservations, and activities in India and the Middle East countries. It holds offices across India, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/sharechat-to-acquire-short-video-platform-mx-takatak-for-around-4500-crore/articleshow/89479244.cms">ShareChat to acquire short video platform MX TakaTak for around ₹4,500 crore</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/international/news/two-indian-cities-are-in-global-top-10-of-the-most-congested-places-to-drive-through-take-a-guess/slidelist/89476030.cms">Two Indian cities are in global top 10 of the most congested places to drive through – Take a guess</a>

Online travel booking portal Cleartrip to increase its workforce by 400 by the end of this year

More than 1,600 tech employees are being laid off per day on average in 2023 globally including in India, and the sacking episodes have gained speed amid <keyword id="16083439" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="global-economic-meltdown-and-recession-fears" source="Orion">global economic meltdown and recession fears</keyword>. In 2022, over 1,000 companies laid off 154,336 workers, as per the data from layoffs <keyword id="16083440" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tracking-site-layoffs-fyi-" source="Orion">tracking site Layoffs.fyi.</keyword> The <keyword id="16083430" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mass-tech-layoffs" source="Orion">mass tech layoffs</keyword> of 2022 are continuing into the new year, and Indian companies and startups are among the leaders in firing staff. Homegrown social media company ShareChat (Mohalla Tech Pvt Ltd) laid off 20 per cent of its workforce due to uncertain market conditions, affecting more than 500 employees. Backed by Twitter, Google, Snap and Tiger Global, ShareChat has about 2,300 employees. In December 2022, ShareChat laid off less than 5 per cent of its employees after it shut down its fantasy sports platform called Jeet11. Companies like Ola (which fired 200 employees) and voice automated startup Skit.ai also dominated the headlines for laying off employees this month. Homegrown quick-grocery delivery provider Dunzo has laid off 3 per cent of its workforce amid cost-cutting measures. The year 2023 has begun on a bad note for tech workers globally and 91 companies have laid off more than 24,000 tech employees in the first 15 days this month, signalling worse days ahead. Amazon announced to lay off 18,000 employees globally, including nearly 1,000 in India. Meanwhile, LinkedIn is full of job hunts, offers of support for laid off friends and colleagues, and advice for coping with career hurdles as several companies trim their workforce to navigate through an uncertain macroeconomic environment. According to market research firm Sensor Tower, the LinkedIn app was downloaded an estimated 58.4 million times in 2022 globally across Google Play Store and Apple App Stores -- up 10 per cent from 2021. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/banks/news/paytm-payments-bank-gets-final-nod-from-rbi-to-operate-bharat-bill-payment-system-services/articleshow/97032913.cms">Paytm Payments Bank gets final nod from RBI to operate Bharat Bill Payment System services </a><a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/indian-ceos-see-a-difficult-year-but-most-say-they-wont-go-for-job-or-salary-cuts-pwc-survey/articleshow/97046963.cms">Indian CEOs see a difficult year but most say they won’t go for job or salary cuts: PwC survey</a>

Over 1,600 techies being fired a day on average in January says tracking site Layoffs.fyi

<ul><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/trendsfestival" data-type="tilCustomLink">Global Trends Festival</a> is one of the world's most prestigious events which will be live from Oct 19-23.</li><li>While nobel laureates, some of the biggest political and corporate icons will provide thought leadership, it's a great platform to network with CXOs from around the world.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/trendsfestival" data-type="tilCustomLink">Global Trends Festival 2020</a> is presented by <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/trendsfestival" data-type="tilCustomLink"></a><a href="https://aws.amazon.com/" data-type="tilCustomLink">AWS</a>.</li><li>Get your tickets now from <a href="https://in.bookmyshow.com/events/business-insider-global-trends-festival/ET00137578" data-type="tilCustomLink">BookMyShow</a>.</li></ul> With over 5.5 million subscribers on Youtube and 2.6 million Instagram followers, this internet sensation has warmed her way into our hearts with her classic and relatable comic sketches. <keyword id="3703117" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="prajakta-koli">Prajakta Koli</keyword>, also known as MostlySane is one of India’s leading content creators. In 2015, a 22-year-old girl showed India’s cultural and linguistic diversity using the most spoken language in our country, Hindi. Her quirky video was on ten words (in Hindi, no doubt) that Delhiites use and how it would shock Mumbaikars. One of the words is sandasi, in the north refers to the kitchen tool (pincer) used to hold hot vessels. But, in Mumbai, it’s used to describe a commode. Needless to say, it went viral, and Prajakta Koli, who was a Radio Jockey (RJ) then, quit to become a professional YouTuber. From a RJ to becoming a social media sensation This young trailblazer is also known for her campaigns on youth-centric issues. She has been invited by the Obama Foundation to raise awareness on social campaigns, including the importance of girl education. Fondly dubbed as the Queen of content, her journey started while she was doing the job she always dreamed of, radio jockeying. However, she soon realized that it lacked facetime and did not compliment her many talents as a performer. And serendipity played its part. While making an Instagram video, she was spotted by the VP of One Digital Entertainment, who convinced her to start her own YouTube channel, MostlySane. And as they say, the rest is history and a lot of hard work. She gained over a million followers in no time and has also done some collaborations on Girlyaapa with PA Girls the web series. She is a celebrity in her own right, and what sets her apart is how she approaches and produces her content. Koli believes that videos' format should be simple without using fancy cameras and remain grounded. At the Global Trends festival, the influencer will share the stage with Farid Ahsan, the co-founder of ShareChat and Kavin Mittal, the CEO of Hike Messenger, on bringing the next 200 million Indians to shop online. After all, Koli knows the pulse of many young Indians and what they want. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/trendsfestival" data-type="tilCustomLink"></a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/watch-ubers-apac-head-pradeep-parameswaran-open-up-about-sustainable-mobility-for-all-at-the-global-trends-festival-2020/articleshow/78493912.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Watch Uber’s APAC head Pradeep Parameswaran open up about sustainable mobility for all at the Global Trends Festival 2020</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/trendsfestival" data-type="tilCustomLink"></a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/sadhguru-jaggi-vasudev-at-global-trends-festival-2020-simplifying-sustainability/articleshow/78271251.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Sadhguru at Global Trends Festival 2020: Simplifying Sustainability</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/trendsfestival" data-type="tilCustomLink"></a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/watch-out-for-oyos-billionaire-founder-ritesh-agarwal-talking-tech-at-global-trends-festival-2020/articleshow/78141486.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Watch out for OYO’s billionaire founder Ritesh Agarwal talking tech at Global Trends Festival 2020</a>

Watch out for Prajakta Koli, the social media queen at the Global Trends Festival 2020

The infamous North Korean <keyword id="279456" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lazarus">Lazarus</keyword> group is back and this time, the hackers belonging to the group are targeting cryptocurrency organisations by sending phishing emails via Microsoft-owned LinkedIn. According to the researchers at global cyber security firm F-Secure, a system administrator from the target organization received a phishing document via their personal LinkedIn account. "The document masqueraded as a legitimate job advert for a role in a <keyword id="6355684" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Blockchain">blockchain</keyword> technology company that matched the employee's skills," F-Secure said in a statement. Though the document on the target's host had been altered to remove malicious content after execution, F-Secure assessed that the original document was the same, or similar to, a sample publicly available on internet security website VirusTotal. According to data by VirusTotal, the original malicious content was created in 2019. In 2019, F-Secure uncovered technical details on Lazarus Group's modus operandi during an investigation of an attack on an organisation in the cryptocurrency vertical. "Lazarus Group's activities are a continued threat: the phishing campaign associated with this attack has been observed continuing into 2020, raising the need for awareness and ongoing vigilance among organisations operating in the targeted verticals," the cyber security firm said. Earlier this year, the hacker group stole cryptocurrency from Mac and Windows users. Lazarus was also involved in stealing nearly $600 million worth of crypto between 2017 and 2018. "There is evidence in recent reporting of Lazarus Group leveraging similar techniques to those observed in this campaign, such as the preference of LinkedIn as a delivery medium, to compromise organisations in other verticals," F-Secure said. "It is F-Secure's assessment that the group will continue to target organisations within the cryptocurrency vertical while it remains such a profitable pursuit, but may also expand to target supply chain elements of the vertical to increase returns and longevity of the campaign". In July this year, reports surfaced that North Korea-based hackers have engaged in a large scale digital skimming activity since May 19, breaking into online stores like international fashion chain Claires to insert malicious code that steals payment card details of the users in the US and Europe. In June, a ZDNet report said India was among six nations that may see a large cyber attack in the form of Covid-19 themed phishing campaign from North Korean state hackers. "The attack is part of the Lazarus Group's large-scale campaign targeting more than 50 lakh individuals and businesses, including small and large enterprises, across six countries: India, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, the UK and the US, according to the report. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/personal-finance/news/indians-are-borrowing-heavily-against-gold-but-it-may-have-been-wiser-to-borrow-money-to-buy-the-precious-metal-instead-of-homes/articleshow/77757126.cms">Indians are borrowing heavily against gold⁠— but it may have been wiser to borrow money to buy the precious metal instead of homes</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/oxford-astrazeneca-covid-19-vaccine-phase-ii-trials-will-begin-in-india-today/articleshow/77757085.cms">Oxford-Astrazeneca COVID-19 Vaccine: Phase II trials will begin in India today</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/after-facebook-saregama-deal-sharechat-and-t-series-partner-up-for-a-music-licensing-deal/articleshow/77757088.cms">After Facebook-Saregama deal, Sharechat and T-Series partner up for a music licensing deal</a>

Lazarus is using LinkedIn to send phishing emails and attack crypto firms

<ul><li><keyword id="6485927" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="realme" source="Orion">Realme</keyword> 9i 5G Starts at ₹14,999</li><li>The smartphone is powered by MediaTek Dimensity 810 5G SOC</li><li>Realme 9i 5G packs in a 5000 mAh battery with 18W flash charging</li></ul>Realme launched the 9i 5G - the 5G ready variant for the existing budget smartphone <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/realme-9i-smartphone-review/articleshow/89659079.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Realme 9i</a> . The brand's success with its numeric line-up is strong in its portfolio. After all, it’s the under ₹20,000 price bracket where you see the most action. The 9i 5G is an attempt to reintroduce a successful product with better SoC and other cosmetic changes. But is it enough to garner your attention? I tell you that in my in-depth review. Price &amp; Availability The Realme 9i 5G is available in 2 variants. A base variant with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage is available for a price ₹14,999. Then there is another variant with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage available for ₹16,999. You can buy the Realme 9i 5G from Flipkart &amp; Realme’s D2C website. Design <div type="image" title="Realme 9i 5G has a premium in-hand feel" msid="93641396" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Realme 9i 5G has a premium in-hand feel&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Realme 9i 5G doesn’t take a leap from the original 9i’s design, but there are some cosmetic changes that differentiate it from its predecessor and make it stand out. Like the flat-edged sandwich design. The curves are gone that we saw on the original 9i, and the 5G variant looks more premium. I personally like flat-edged designs, not only does it provide a better grip, but looks better as well. The 9i 5G is also fairly lightweight at 187 grams, and despite its big size, the phone is easy to carry. It’s also very slim at 8.1mm, given it packs in a 5000 mAh battery. <div type="image" title="The 9i 5G sports a flat edged design which makes it easy to hold" msid="93641350" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The 9i 5G sports a flat edged design which makes it easy to hold&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Realme is playing on the colour treatment on the 9i 5G. This new CD design is inspired by the theme of this year's MET Gala. Fashion is not my strong suit; maybe that’s why I am not a big fan of this Metallica Gold colour. It’s a bit over the top for my taste. But as they say, looks are subjective, so I took an opinion from my peers. It was a 50-50, with half of them liking it, and the rest were not very impressed. The back is plastic and registers a serious amount of smudges combined with the gold colour scheme that sometimes spoils the look of the smartphone. 9i 5G is also available in a soulful blue and rocking black colour, which I found to be much more subtle and appealing. That will be my suggestion if you are planning to get this device. <div type="image" title="Metallica Gold color retains noticeable smudges" msid="93641449" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Metallica Gold color retains noticeable smudges&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Where the brand has truly succeeded is in the treatment of the camera modules. There is no protruding camera bump here, instead, it’s a clean and minimalistic layout with the three sensors. Other design characteristics check all the boxes you expect from a device in this price range. On the right side of the device, you will find the power button doubling up as a fingerprint sensor. It’s worth mentioning that it is very snappy for a budget phone, as it registers and unlocks the phone in a jiffy. So far, I haven’t found a need to press the power button to unlock the device, a simple tap does the job. On the left side, you will find the volume rockers. <div type="image" title="There is a 3.5mm headphone jack on the device" msid="93641475" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;There is a 3.5mm headphone jack on the device&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> On the bottom, you will find a USB Type-C charging port, a speaker grill, and a microphone. Right next to them is a headphone jack. Yes, the beauty of this price segment is the having these endangered features. On the top left, you will also find the SIM card slot. This is a 3-in-1 unit that supports 2 Nano SIMS and a Micro SD card. Unfortunately, the device has no official IP rating, which is not surprising given the price point. So yes, you need to be careful with the device around water. Display <div type="image" title="There is a 6.6-inch FHD+ display on the 9i 5G" msid="93641493" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;There is a 6.6-inch FHD+ display on the 9i 5G&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Realme 9i 5G features a 6.6-inch display with FHD+ resolution (2400x1080p). While the display is big, I am not a big fan of the teardrop notch. More so because we get a punch-hole treatment on the regular Realme 9i. This is a bit of a downgrade, in my opinion Apart from this, the display performs like a standard LCD panel, as one might expect. It is adequately bright with 400 nits of peak brightness, but viewing the display outdoors can be a struggle, especially with text. Otherwise, it’s a good screen if you like to watch videos on your smartphone as it produces vivid colours and ample details - a favourable setting for watching movies on it. It’s worth noting that it doesn’t support HDR content on streaming applications. Yet, I would say that this is a good display at its price and will not disappoint you. Unfortunately, there is no always-on display option here. Where Realme truly surprised me was the refresh rate on the panel. It peaks at 90Hz, but that’s not it; it features an auto-select feature. This feature allows the smartphone to switch refresh rates between 60 and 90Hz as per what’s happening on the screen. I switched between gaming, web browsing, and social media apps and did not feel any sudden shift in visuals like animations. Realme UI software <div type="image" title="9i 5G runs on Android 12 with Realme UI skin" msid="93641639" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;9i 5G runs on Android 12 with Realme UI skin&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> The Realme 9i 5G edition runs on Android 12 with Realme UI skin out of the box. My previous experience with Realme UI had prepared me for what to expect. Yes, the bloatware. The usual suspects like MX TakaTak, Josh, and ShareChat are here. These apps can be uninstalled, but removing them is just one extra step you need to do when you boot up a brand-new device. After getting rid of them, the actual user experience is intuitive. Realme UI is one of the better skins in the market today. The colours and app icon designs pop out and should pander to a minimal and flashy audience. <div type="image" title="bloatware on the UI stands out like a sore thumb" msid="93641655" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;bloatware on the UI stands out like a sore thumb&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> There are basic options, like switching to dark-colour themes. You can also go full custom by choosing from the set of themes available on board. There is a buffet of options from cookie dough to a party. For me, however, the default skin did the job. Then there are other usual features like multi-window that comes in handy on the 6.5-inch panel. Additionally, there are also flexi-windows on the phone, which are basically floating windows. You can pin an application on the display while working on another application. I often pounded the calculator and calendar on the floating window, which added to my productivity. There is also a smart sidebar, giving you a shortcut for apps. This is also customisable. Realme has also promised two years of Android updates and three years of security updates on the 9i 5G. This actually does add to the longevity of the phone. Performance Realme 9i is powered by MediaTek Dimensity 810 5G chipset. This is what differentiates this device from its 4G avatar. The 5G variant definitely outperforms the 4G sibling powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 chipset. If we strictly go by the Geekbench (benchmarking software) numbers, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 SOC’s single-core score is 372, while the multi-core score is 1552. The performance in the 5G variant is increased, with a single-core score of 601 and a multi-core score of 1781. This is not a substantial increase with respect to performance but it does put things in perspective. <div type="image" title="Geekbench score for Realme 9i 5G" msid="93641701" hostid="261" sizebytes="8142" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Geek bench score for Realme 9i 5G&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Coming to my user experience now. In my four days of usage, the 9i has been satisfactory. The device has cut through almost all the tasks I have thrown at it. Starting with everyday duties like emails, calls, and social media - this device can handle most of it. Since my unit is still fresh and not loaded with tons of files, there are no lags, but these devices tend to lose the freshness after a few months of usage, especially if you are an aggressive user. The variant with me packs in 6GB of RAM, which is more than enough to handle all the tasks if you are a light user. Coming to performance-hungry tasks, the phone takes a soft blow. Case in point gaming - you can’t expect a device of this nature to give you blown-out performance in gaming. And it does not. During my sessions of call of duty, the game was set on a respectable - HD setting for the best performance. There were no serious frame drops, and the device does its job well for a fun half-hour gaming session. But if you are a serious gamer who spends at least an hour, you will notice heating and, eventually, frame drops. To churn out better performance, you can tap on the RAM expansion. 9i 5G lets you expand the internal RAM by 5GB. There is a notable performance boost for gaming memory, but the graphic capabilities remain the same. The internal storage on my review variant is 128GB which is enough for most consumers. I strongly recommend this variant if you plan to go for the 9i 5G. It offers you more internal storage and better RAM. Battery performance on the 9i 5G is satisfactory. The 5000 mAh battery should last a day and a half if you are a light user. On working days, when I wasn’t on Youtube or watching short videos, the phone would not die. As expected, the battery life drops with constant content consumption. In this situation, you would have to plug the device in by the end of the day. <div type="image" title="9i 5G supports 18W flash charging" msid="93641741" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;9i 5G supports 18W flash charging&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> With the 18W fast charge support 9i 5G takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes to go from 0 to 100%. This is with active internet connection. This might feel like a long time, but then devices in this price bracket usually don’t go beyond 18W fast charging. Camera There is no on-paper change in the camera setup for the Realme 9i 5G from the original 9i. A 50MP primary camera with phase detection autofocus is paired with a 2MP macro sensor and a 2MP depth sensor. <div type="image" title="primary camera performs decently under natural lighting conditions" msid="93641828" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;primary camera performs decently under natural lighting conditions&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> The camera output has not substantially changed, but the processing speed has a significant bump thanks to the new SOC. <div type="image" title="HDR in images is well maintained for brighter frames" msid="93641942" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;HDR in images is well maintained for brighter frames&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> The daylight shots from the camera retain great amounts of detail, and it does tone down on the post-processing I noticed on other Realme offerings. Like the Realme 9 Speed edition. <div type="image" title="Lack of an ultra-wide sensor pains when trying to cover a bigger room" msid="93641999" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Lack of an ultra-wide sensor pains when trying to cover a bigger room&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> I noticed some over-saturation in images, especially when clicked in low or artificial lighting conditions. But nothing that would spoil your picture. The night mode on the camera puts out better results than regular clicks. It retains a tad bit better details and makes the images less grainy. Unfortunately, there is no ultra-wide sensor on the 9i 5G. Which I feel would have added some serious value to the device. What we get in its place is a 2MP depth sensor. Portrait shots on the smartphone are decent, with satisfactory edge detection. They don’t feel super crisp, though, something we see on Samsung Galaxy F23 available in the same price range. <div type="image" title="The dedicated depth sensor provides neat edge detection" msid="93642445" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The dedicated depth sensor provides neat edge detection&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> <div type="image" title="Night mode increases the brightness of the frame but loses out on details" msid="93642159" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Night mode increases the brightness of the frame but loses out on details&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> The 2MP macro sensor is the weakest link. Macro shots from the sensor are bad, failing to retain detail. So it feels more like a gimmick of having this. If you are patient with it, this might get some usable photos in daylight. <div type="image" title="Macro shots lose detail and there is a change in color tone" msid="93642414" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Macro shots lose detail and there is a change in color tone&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> In terms of video performance, the 9i 5G can record 1080P &amp; 720P videos. It holds up well for casual videos, but if you are a content creator, then the quality might not suit your requirement. Here I would like to mention that the audio recorded on the video feed is crisp. In the front, we get an 8MP AI selfie camera. This is not the 16MP sensor we get on the regular 9i. The performance was in-line, though. Images were under-saturated, and skin tone was a miss. As expected here as well, you get multiple filters. The AI beauty selfie retains its classic features. It lets you retouch your facial features. From nose size to cheeks. So if you like such features, you are in for a treat. <div type="image" title="Portrait selfies have decent edge detection but the shadows are off" msid="93642193" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Portrait selfies have decent edge detection but the shadows are off&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Verdict Realme 9i 5G does not come with substantial changes compared to the regular 9i. However, if I look at it strictly as a 5G device, it is a solid choice in this price bracket. It’s priced lower than its siblings, the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/realme-9-speed-edition-smartphone-review/articleshow/90145143.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Realme 9 Speed Edition</a> and regular Realme 9, yet offers a similar experience. If you are on a tight budget and want a future-proof device with 5G compatibility, then you can consider the 9i 5G. You will get a device with a premium build, a catchy eye design, stable everyday performance and enough power for some light gaming or prolonged instagram sessions.

Realme 9i 5G Review - 5G Upgrade With Cosmetic Changes

<ul><li>The amount of debt that Indians have taken on has nearly doubled over the past five years. </li><li>Most of the borrowing has been done in the name of buying up more real estate even though it offers the worst returns. </li><li>Gold offers the highest returns yet accounts for only 11% of a household’s total wealth and they borrow against it. </li></ul>The average Indian household has been taking on more debt for nearly half a decade now. In fact, debt has nearly doubled with loans becoming cheaper to pick up over the past five years. This includes everything from <keyword id="35519" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="home-loans">home loans</keyword> to vehicle loans — and even <keyword id="185013" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="gold-loans">gold loans</keyword>, where gold is given up as collateral in exchange for money. <div type="javascript" title="Custom" contenttype="Image"><cdata><![CDATA[<div class="flourish-embed flourish-chart" data-src="visualisation/3469458"></div>]]></cdata></div> This year alone, loans against gold have increased sharply even as banks are left craving for borrowers. <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none; width: 468pt; table-layout: fixed;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Company </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Growth in gold loans </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Muthoot Finance </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">32% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Manappuram Finance </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">33.40% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Overall bank credit growth </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">5.50% </td></tr></tbody></table>*Data as of July-end except for Manappuram, which is as of June-end <keyword id="1912236" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="household-debt">Household debt</keyword> is rising but where is the money going? Indians are famous for their love of gold but the biggest chunk of their investment is still real estate. While Indians still have a lot more gold than the average household in peer economies, their investments in real estate also race ahead — funded mostly by home loans. <div type="image" title="Exhibit 18" msid="77757237" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Most of the average Indian&amp;#39;s household wealth is stored in real estate&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> India outpaces China, Thailand and other countries around the world both in buying gold and property. But, the return of real estate has not even managed to beat the average inflation rate of the last five years. Whereas gold has given better returns than any other asset. <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none; width: 468pt; table-layout: fixed;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td colspan="4" style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Returns on various asset classes </td></tr><tr><td colspan="4" style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">(% of returns from 2008 till...) </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;"> </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Till 2014 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Till 2016 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Till 2019 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Real estate </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">4.9% </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">4.7% </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">4.3% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Gold </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">11.7% </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">9.5% </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">10% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Equity </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">6.8% </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">5.1% </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">7.2% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Debt </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">7.8% </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">7.7% </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">7.6% </td></tr></tbody></table> Home loans may be cheap, but they’re harder to pay off Owning property remains an aspiration for the average household in a developing economy like India. However, to buy more real estate, one needs a home loan. And, right now, home loan interest rates are at an all-time low. It makes them attractive but hardly adds to the household net worth. While cheap loans have, to some extent, supported the demand for real estate, they have also kept property prices from falling. So much so that, despite the struggles of the property developers in the last few years, homes have only become less affordable. This affordability ⁠— measured by the amount of EMI compared to the monthly income of a household ⁠— would have only gotten worse in 2020 as the pandemic took away jobs and slashed salaries. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/oxford-astrazeneca-covid-19-vaccine-phase-ii-trials-will-begin-in-india-today/articleshow/77757085.cms">Oxford-Astrazeneca COVID-19 Vaccine: Phase II trials will begin in India today</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/after-facebook-saregama-deal-sharechat-and-t-series-partner-up-for-a-music-licensing-deal/articleshow/77757088.cms">After Facebook-Saregama deal, Sharechat and T-Series partner up for a music licensing deal</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/ola-electric-plans-to-hire-2000-co-founder-bhavish-aggarwal-says-electric-two-wheeler-launch-soon/articleshow/77755149.cms">Ola Electric plans to hire 2000 — co-founder Bhavish Aggarwal says electric two-wheeler launch soon</a>

Indians are borrowing heavily against gold⁠— but it may have been wiser to borrow money to buy the precious metal instead of homes

<ul><li>In <keyword id="6354321" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bengaluru">Bengaluru</keyword>, long queues were seen at various polling stations. </li><li>Ola has partnered with the Election Commission to provide free cabs for Persons with Disabilities. </li><li>Startups in Bengaluru hope for better policies and access to capital from the government as they head out to vote.</li></ul>After a night of heavy rains, the city of startups – Bengaluru – has been voting today as India conducts phase 2 of polling for its general elections. And the startups are doing their part to stay involved in the process. Indian ride-hailing unicorn Ola Cabs, for whom Bengaluru is home base, has allotted 270 cabs to the Election Commission. These cabs will help Persons with Disabilities commute to the polling booths in Bengaluru, Mysuru and Mangaluru. Ola has also made it possible for Nodal Officers to check on the status of the scheduled pick-ups of PwD voters through calls to the driver partners. “In the recent past, we have seen that availability of convenient transport options has resulted in positive voter turnout and we will continue to back initiatives that support the constitutional machinery of the country. We are glad to partner with the local authorities and facilitate hassle-free mobility for every voter in Bengaluru,” said Vishnu Bommareddy, Regional Head – South at Ola. Meanwhile, Bengaluru-based Sharechat has weeded out 487,000 posts on its platform which violated community guidelines because of abusive content. Sharechat, which is India's own social media platform had earlier signed the 'Voluntary Code of Ethics’ to make way for fair elections. But as they go out to vote, entrepreneurs have a lot to ask from the government. From access to funding to angel tax issues and better policies, <keyword id="138263" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="startup">startup</keyword> founders had a list of reasons as they set out to vote. “Startups expect support from an extended eco-system, which includes the government. The biggest hurdle to bring such ideas to the fore is access to capital. In this light, the angel tax should be abandoned with immediate effect. It goes against the ethos of supporting innovation,” said Mayank Bidawatka, co-founder of Vokal, which is an information and knowledge sharing app to bridge the digital knowledge gap among non-English internet users by enabling peer-to-peer knowledge sharing using voice. Another point raised by startups is the possibility of internet monopolies in India and the required action that the government has to take to stop it from happening. “Our government should also have policies around creating a fair playing ground for home grown companies to take on global competitors that have a capital advantage because of existing international operations,” said Bidawatka. When it comes to policies, it's not just about the introduction of new ones but also more work on the current ones. “The most important problem to solve is that startups need a lot more clarity on what are the regulations and compliances in black &amp; white. The ambiguity slows down the innovation more than anything,” said Rajan Bajaj, founder and CEO, Slicepay. With the Twitter hashtag #VoteMaadi, Bengalureans persuaded each other to go out and vote. Harish Bijoor, a brand consultant, voted at the polling booth at the Seventh Day Adventist High School on Old Airport Road, Bengaluru. “The opening crowds in the queues were robust, I only hope we beat our voting turnout number of last elections,” Bijoor told Business Insider, right after he cast his vote. See Also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/job-losses-will-haunt-bengaluru-indias-silicon-valley-as-it-goes-to-polls-today/articleshow/68930893.cms">Job losses will haunt Bengaluru, India’s Silicon Valley, as it goes to polls today</a>

Elections 2019: From Angel Tax to better policies, here’s why the city of startups headed out to vote

<ul><li>Samsung's latest F-series smartphone, the Galaxy F23 5G has been launched in India.</li><li>Featuring Android 11 and a 5,000mAh battery, the Galaxy F23 5G is aimed at the budget segment.</li><li>Usually, Samsung has aimed the Galaxy F series at those who want budget and mid-range phones with a specific focus on cameras.</li><li>Read on to find out if you should consider the Galaxy F23 5G for your next smartphone upgrade.</li></ul>Samsung recently launched the F23 5G. With no big announcements and visibly reduced influencer promotions, this phone did go under the radar for many. However, I got my hands on a review unit and have been spending some quality time with it. After my thorough testing and usage, I can say that this smartphone is an outcast in its own clan, but it’s not outdated. I explain this paradox to you in my full review. <div type="image" title="Samsung Galaxy F23 5G" msid="91106479" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Samsung Galaxy F23 5G&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Price &amp; Availability <keyword id="13273671" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="samsung-galaxy-f23" source="Orion">Samsung Galaxy F23</keyword> 5G starts for a price of ₹17,499 for the 4GB RAM and 128GB storage variant. With an additional ₹1000, you can upgrade to 6GB of RAM, providing you an option at ₹18,499. The smartphone is available for you to buy from Samsung’s own D2C website, Flipkart, and chroma retail stores. Unboxing - We don’t get a charger! I was surprised when I had the F23 5G’s box in my hand. It was compact and I knew what it meant. Surprisingly, the F23 does not get a charger inside the box just like its premium siblings in the S series. The unboxing experience is underwhelming since we only get some basic paperwork, a Type-C charging cable, and of course the phone. <div type="image" title="You get an earphone jack on the Galaxy F23 5G" msid="91106506" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;You get an earphone jack on the F23 5G&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> While I do appreciate the motive behind these reductions, Samsung needs to understand that a consumer buying a product at this price point expects these accessories inside the box. Thanks to it’s massive R&amp;D unit, the brand should be the first one to understand that this might move consumer preference toward other brands as they might not want to spend more for a charger. <div type="image" title="Galaxy F23 5G has a plastic back" msid="91106562" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Galaxy F23 5G has a plastic back&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Design &amp; Build Quality - Back to Basics Samsung has opted the tried and tested formula when it comes to F23 5G’s design. A minimalistic upgrade from the F22 in terms of looks, the only striking difference is the new camera array on the back. Now we see a triple camera set-up on the phone compared to the quad-camera set-up on the F22. Aesthetically, the aqua blue colorway with me is appealing to the eyes, even though it looks more like a lighter shade of minty green. If you like your phones with a bolder color then you can go for the forest green color option. The build quality and material used are also familiar to F22, with the phone sporting a plastic body and back. Fortunately, the quality of the plastic is stellar and it doesn’t seem compromised by any means. The plastic body also helps in reducing weight since the smartphone is anyway carrying a massive 5000 mAh battery. All though it weighs 198 grams, a perfect blend of semi-flat edges and even weight distribution makes it easy to hold. <div type="image" title="Galaxy F23 5G is chunky but easy to hold" msid="91106570" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Galaxy F23 5G is chunky but easy to hold&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Other design aspects are what you expect from a Samsung Galaxy. On the right side, we get to see volume rockers and a power lock &amp; unlock button. The power button also incorporates the fingerprint sensor, which is not as snappy as you’d expect it to be in 2022. It does unlock the phone, but only after placing your finger at a correct angle. A light tap on the sensor does not do the job, and I had to consciously press the power button for the phone to recognize my fingerprint. This was a turn-off for me since its counterparts like the Redmi note 11 Pro+ and the Realme 9 5G can unlock with just a tap. At the bottom, we get to see a 3.5mm headphone jack which is a bonus these days. It also works really well and delivers crisp audio. Right next to it is a USB Type-C charging port along with a speaker grill. <div type="image" title="Galaxy F23 5G has a side-mounted finger print sensor" msid="91106589" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Galaxy F23 5G has a side-mounted finger print sensor&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> The SIM card slot situation is also favorable with 2 dedicated slots for nano SIM and a slot for a micro SD card. Display - Best in the segment Before we touch upon the quality of the display, it’s important to point out that upfront the F23 looks outdated. With a teardrop design combined with considerably thick bezels and a chin, I felt as if I am using a smartphone from 2018. Samsung’s recycled design choice takes away from what the brand has achieved in terms of the specs on this panel. The 6.6-inch display is an LCD screen, and it looks great. The screen produces rich colors that ensure you enjoy watching your content. It is also well lit and you can look at it under direct sunlight as well, given you set it to maximum brightness. The screen is also protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 5, ensuring an aid against scratches. <div type="image" title="Galaxy F23 5G comes with 90 Hz refresh rate" msid="91106653" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Galaxy F23 5G comes with 90 Hz refresh rate&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> What made the F23’s display stand out for me was the smooth execution of the adaptive refresh rate feature. The phone can switch and adapt between 60 and 120 Hz depending on the app you are using. So far, the experience is smooth and I enjoyed the easy switch between a web page and a game. The display’s quality and higher refresh rate definitely make it stand out in the mid-range segment. Issues like not having a punch-hole display and an always-on feature might not affect the general consumer, but I feel Samsung undermined its own product with this decision. When I had just started enjoying the display Samsung’s cutbacks came back to haunt me, the convict this time was the speaker. Samsung Galaxy F23 features a single speaker set-up which by itself is a fairly loud unit, however, even after a week of usage I still miss a stereo set-up. If you are someone who watches content on their phone, without earplugs then this is a point to note. Samsung Galaxy F23 5G UI - Same old, same old By now, I have accepted Samsung’s move of providing a more robust OS experience, which seems familiar across all its devices. While it does add a sense of reliability, it also makes the usage boring. Just like other Samsung devices, the F23 5G also runs on Samsung’s own One UI skin paired with Android 11. With familiar animation and app icon designs, you won’t really feel a difference if you are coming from a Samsung phone. Familiarity also means the convenience of generic Samsung features like lift to wake, navigation gesture switch, and one-handed mode. You can also use Samsung’s good old widgets to improve your workflow like calenders, reminders and even emails. Aesthetically, I could change themes, but I would suggest sticking with the classic Samsung One UI skin, it's subtle and less cartoonish than other options. Booting up the device there is some bloatware onboard which was surprising. Apps like Byjus, Josh, Mx Takatak, Moj and even Sharechat are pre-installed. This is a first for me in a Samsung device. Thankfully this package can be uninstalled. Before closing this section I have to talk about the security of the device. Both in terms of hardware and data privacy. Samsung provides you with both fingerprint sensor and face unlock feature on the F23. Unfortunately, both of them are sloppy in their job. While I have explained about the fingerprint sensor earlier, the face unlock is even more unreliable. It takes two steps to set up one with your glasses and another without them. Yet, I have not been able to unlock the phone seamlessly even once. Maybe this will improve with future updates but as of now the situation is abysmal. From the data privacy perspective, a highlight of the device is the availability of Knox security which protects your data against unfortunate intrusions. While data safety as a concern is still picking up in our country, it is commendable on Samsung’s part to provide this feature at this price point. Performance Samsung Galaxy F23 5G is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G 5G chipset, which is decent for this price range given we see it on the Nord CE and Mi 10i. While I can’t test the 5G prowess of the smartphone yet, Samsung says it comes with 12 5G bands which do make the phone future proof. Performance-wise, the F23 5G performs decently well across multiple strata. Be it calling, or web surfing the phone does not lag and provides peak output without breaking a sweat. Memory management is a bit sloppy though, with the phone occasionally missing out on booting up basic apps like chrome from the point where I left them. The variant with me comes with 6GB of RAM and yet I faced this issue. If you are planning to buy the F23 then I strongly recommend ditching the 4GB RAM variant. As for storage, the 128 GB internal capacity will be enough for most of the users, but in case you still want more, you can always use an SD card. Things get complicated for performance-hungry tasks like gaming. I had an hour-long session of BGMI on F23. It runs the game smoothly on HD settings but after the games were done, I could feel considerable heating. So in case you are buying it for serious gaming, then here’s a heads up. With a 5000 mAh cell, the F23 should last well over a day for a generic user. This involves mostly calling messaging and casual social media browsing. For a heavy user like me, mileage does get affected but not so much. After a long day of testing, the phone would stand at a solid 10%. Since we don’t get a charger in the box, finding the right brick is important. The F23 supports 25W fast charging, so the usual Samsung wall adapter worked for me. I used the 20W Samsung brick and the phone charged from 10-100% in about 1 hour 20 minutes. Now even if you don’t charge to a complete 100, the F23 won’t give up on you, thanks to the chipset’s efficiency and the big battery. F23 5G Camera The Galaxy F23 5G has a triple camera set-up at the back featuring a 50MP primary sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide sensor and a 2MP macro sensor. <div type="image" title="Galaxy F23 5G&amp;#39;s wide-angle sensor" msid="91106681" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Galaxy F23 5G&amp;#39;s wide-angle sensor&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> The primary sensor performs fairly well in bright outdoor environments with crisp images and commendable color reproduction. The image quality is clean and does not look burnt out. <div type="image" title="Galaxy F23 5G macro sensor performs well" msid="91106695" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Galaxy F23 5G macro sensor performs well in natural lighting conditions&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> The portrait shots are just about okay, providing you with acceptable edge detection in favorable lighting conditions. The ultra-wide sensor performs its job well and creates more room for you to click pictures. With 10X digital zoom, you can also close up on your subject however you will be compromising on details. <div type="image" title="Main camera set-up works well in natural lighting" msid="91106705" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Main camera set-up works well in natural lighting&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> The macro sensor when used can deliver surprising results, which are worthy of your social media feed. There are other photo options like night mode which do bring upon a change however the results are grainy, lacking details. <div type="image" title="Night mode on Galaxy F23 5G is not impressive" msid="91106768" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Night mode on Galaxy F23 5G is not impressive&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Video performance is decent for casual shooting, but if you are a content creator then this is not the device for you. While the camera can shoot 4K at 30 fps, the results are not desirable. The videos look saturated and the final product is not worthy of your social media feed. The front camera is an 8MP shooter and gives you an option to go wide as well. The image results are decent, and generally quite nice. The portrait selfies have satisfactory edge detection and the output is worth the clicks. <div type="image" title="Selfies from Galaxy F23 5G are satisfactory" msid="91106778" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Selfies from Galaxy F23 5G are satisfactory&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Verdict Samsung Galaxy F23 5G is an everyday phone for the folks who don’t like experimenting with their devices. It brings in every possible feature Samsung can deliver at this price point and chooses to ignore the one’s that a consumer of this price bracket won’t really care about. As my hypothesis said, the phone is an outcast when compared to its counterparts, but it’s not outdated. In a way, this is not a device for the young, but it is a perfect smartphone for people looking for an option for their elderly. With Samsung’s trusted brand image, a solid UI and future proof 5G chipset, and a massive battery life, this makes it to be a great gifting option. See also - <h1 style="line-height:1.44;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 8pt 0pt;"><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/nokia-launches-new-g21-smartphone-with-nearly-3-day-battery-life-and-50mp-camera-along-with-other-features/articleshow/91098016.cms">Nokia G21 smartphone with nearly 3-day battery life and 50MP camera launched today</a></h1><h1 style="line-height:1.44;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 8pt 0pt;"><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/ola-pure-ev-and-okinawa-recall-nearly-6700-electric-scooters-after-nitin-gadkaris-warning-and-continued-fire-accidents/articleshow/91067732.cms">Ola, Pure EV and Okinawa recall nearly 6,700 electric scooters after Nitin Gadkari’s warning and continued fire accidents</a></h1><h1 style="line-height:1.44;border-bottom:solid #eeeeee 0.75pt;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt;background-clip:padding-box;padding:0pt 0pt 11.25pt 0pt;"><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/5g-in-india-who-what-when-why-and-how-much/articleshow/91004188.cms">5G in India – who, what, when, why and how much?</a></h1>

Samsung Galaxy F23 5G review

<ul><li>Google just announced the 10 startups that have been shortlisted for the second calls of its Launchpad Accelerator program in India.</li><li>All of the startups on the list have used artificial intelligence and machine learning to formulate their products.</li></ul> Google just announced the second wave of startups selected for their Launch Accelerator program in India. And, all the startups on the list feature use artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in one or the other component of their businesses. The program kicks off today with a one week mentorship programme boot camp organised by Google in Bengaluru which will be followed by more classes in April and May to address more specific issues — lasting a total of three months. Aside from guidance, Google will also provide support for AI and ML, cloud computing, developing user interfaces, using the Android platform, online presence, product strategy and marketing. And depending on the startup, they will be receiving Google Cloud Credits between $20,000 (₹1.3 million) to $100,000 (₹6.9 million). Meet the 10 startups that were shortlisted for Google’s second class of the Launchpad Accelerator program in India: 1. Opentalk Opentalk is an app that allows users to reach out to other users all over the world to hone their language skills. So users can meet new people that speak the language that they’re looking to learn. They also have the options for users to follow trending topics in case their looking to engage on a particular issue. OpenTalk already has a 100 languages, 150 countries and 1500 colleges using their app. 2. THB THB stands for Technology, Healthcare and Big Data Analytics and a pretty accurate description of the what the company does. Using technology they standardise data on healthcare to help healthcare providers and medical practitioners with different use cases like PEP (Personalised Patient Care), medical sales force productivity booster and clinical decision support. Based out of Gurgaon, the clinical intelligence company is currently present in 50 cities across 12 states in India. 3. Perceptiviti Data Solutions Having started out in 2017, Perceptiviti Data Solutions focused on finding solutions for fraud and risk management in insurance, financial services and digital payment services. Their flagship product called ‘Sherlock’ is a fraud detection platform that claims 90% accuracy after having assessed over one million insurance claims using AI. 4. DheeYantra DheeYatra is already in use by the Syndicate Bank and Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad. It’s an AI platform that currently helps businesses operate across 8 different Indian languages. With the help of AI, the company has developed chatbots and solutions in natural language processing (NLP), optical character recognition (OCR), and Indic transliteration. Brand names, scanned images and even a whole website can be translated into various Indian vernacular languages using their application programming interfaces (APIs). 5. FinancePeer Just like there are peer-to-peer (P2P) online marketplaces for cars and used goods, FinancePeer is a P2P lending company that connects lenders with borrowers online. Users can sign up as borrowers or lenders after the platform analyses their borrower credit score using AI that taps into multiple parameters including social profiles. The company claims that it only takes 10 minutes to set up a profile online and since it’s an open marketplace, borrowers will only face competitive and low interest rates. Lenders, on the other hand, can allegedly get returns upto 37% per annum. 6. SmartCoin Gunning for financial inclusion in India, SmartCoin is another lending app that uses AI and machine learning to assess the risk profile of a borrower. The app main goal is to provide short-term credit to the underserved and low-income households in India. So far, SmartCoin has a 100,000 users and has shelled out over 300,000 loans. 7. HRBOT Finding new candidates for a job can be excruciating process without a filtering mechanism in place. HRBOT, using AI and machine learning to scan the 120,000 job seekers on its platform to find applicants that would be best suited for a particular post according to the requirements that recruiters share. It company’s main selling point is that it has access to candidates in tier-2 and tier-3 cities in India. 8. Savera.ai The use of solar panels to reduce the burden of electricity requirements and its positive environment impact are no secret. But since the technology is still relatively new in India, Savera.ai helps users decide whether or not their roof is ready for a solar panel by issuing a ‘Sun Score’. The ‘Sun Score’ is the final ranking of how ready an individual’s house is for a solar panel after analysing the location of a users’ house, identifying the rooftop, running a weather analysis and taking individual state’s solar policy into account. And, should a user choose to set up a solar panel, savera.ai has chatbot support to get them setup with local service providers. 9. Kaleidofin This is essentially a financial management tool. Users can set their financial goals and Kaleidofin will suggest how much user should saved each month while taking financial volatilities into account. Since the profile is tailored for each user, how a user’s savings should be used is also diversified over different financial products including ways to invest using a data driven model to estimate the income level, saving capacity and financial health of customers. It’s already being used by many mutual funds in India like Aditya Birla Capital, Franklin Templeton Investments, HDFC Mutual Fund, ICICI Prudential Life Insurance, and SBI Mutual Fund. 10. Adiuvo Diagnostics The company isn’t just an app or a platform — but has an actual physical device which can detect and classify skin infections in under 2 minutes. It’s easy for doctors because the ‘Skin-Scope’ is a handheld medical device and the pro for patients is that the whole diagnostic process is non-invasive. Kaleidofin and Adiuvo Diagnostics are the only two startups selected that have women entrepreneurs at the helm. Google initially started the Launchpad Accelerator Program globally back in 2016. The very first batch of the Launchpad Accelerator that was originally a 6-month mentorship at the Google headquarters in California included Nestaway, a Ratan Tata investment that helps users find homes without a broker. Another well known startup, ShareChat — a social networking chat platform that uses local Indian languages — was also a part of the Launchpad Accelerator in the second batch. The Launchpad Accelerator India was only introduced by Google in July 2018 that saw startups like Multibhashi, OliveWear and Genrobotics. Aside from India, the program also operates in Sao Paulo, Tel Aviv, Nigeria, Tokyo and Singapore. So far, it has mentored 30 startups in India through its global accelerator programme. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/Heres-how-to-make-it-to-Googles-Launchpad-AcceleratorProgram/articleshow/52359183.cms" style="">Here’s how to make it to Google's Launchpad Accelerator Program</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/heres-what-is-in-store-for-these-7-indian-startups-selected-for-googles-launchpad-accelerator-program/articleshow/55682687.cms" style="">Here's what's in store for these 7 Indian Startups selected for Google's Launchpad Accelerator Program</a>

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