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Moto Z Play first look

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Modularity has become a topic of interest lately, with LG giving us the G5 and its snap-on accessories and Google just stopping short of announcing its modular smartphone project is dead.

Good execution is perhaps the ultimate asset, and among modular handsets on the market today, we think the Lenovo-made Moto Z series is a shining example.

The entry point to the Z series and its promising ecosystem of add-ons is the $449 Moto Z Play. As the price suggests, it is a midrange Android phone backed by an octa-core Snapdragon 625 chipset with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of expandable storage. The rest of the specs aren’t too shabby either: 16-megapixel rear camera with f/2.0 lens; reversible Type-C connector; and 3,510mAh battery.

Of course, the real highlight here is the variety of accessories that snap on the back of the Play and other Z devices and consist of a choice between cases, a battery back, a JBL stereo speaker, a Hasselblad zoom camera, and a handheld projector, which is great for movie night at home.

The Moto Z Play is already being sold to customers in the US, the UK, and Latin America. The Indian market will get it sometime in October.

First Look

OnePlus 11 Concept First Look

The future of smartphone cooling?

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Back at CES 2020, the OnePlus Concept One introduced us the possibility of having disappearing cameras when not in use.

More than three years apart, they have unveiled the OnePlus 11 Concept at MWC 2023 in Barcelona, Spain.

This took the internet (mostly tech nerds) by craze.

Some tell it might just be another Nothing Phone (1) by OnePlus’ ex-CEO Carl Pei — but nope, that’s where you’re wrong.

It serves more function over its cool form (literally and figuratively).

Here are six things you need to know about the OnePlus 11 Concept!

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God of War Ragnarok Early Impressions

Familiar and new at the same time

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God of War Ragnarok

Sony PlayStation has graciously provided GadgetMatch with a review code of God of War Ragnarok. This article, however, isn’t a review yet. This is only our early impressions after spending roughly around 10 hours with the game. 

So, no, there will be no spoilers whatsoever here. In fact, there’s a lot we’re not allowed to discuss – for good reason. But here’s what we can tell you: 

Playing the first game is encouraged… 

God of War Ragnarok

Playing the initial installment (God of War 2018) is encouraged but not required. There’s a brief story recap option on the menu and it covers the more important plot points. There’s also several recap videos on YouTube that serve this purpose. 

But PlayStation has made the 2018 game available in so many different ways that, if you can get your hands on it, we suggest you do so first before diving into Ragnarok. You still have three (3) weekends to do so as of writing.

It’s not overwhelming

God of War Ragnarok

That said, if you’d rather jump into this game right off the bat, that should be fine too. The game does a good job of easing you into all the weapons, skills, and whatnots that you’ll encounter. 

The first game ended with Kratos having more than one weapon. Ragnarok throws you into action but staggers the weapons available in a way that makes sense for the story. 

New traversal and puzzle-solving

A lot of the early platform puzzles feel the same but there are a few additional moves that help keep things interesting. Specifically, these involve the Blades of Chaos. 

Some of it has been shown in the trailers. Kratos can use the Blades to Hook and Grapple himself towards higher areas. The Blades can also be used to yank off certain obstacles. 

Combat is fun and challenging

Easily one of the best things about the new God of War is its combat. Ragnarok retains everything you know and love about combat. But it keeps things interesting by mixing in a new blocking mechanic as well as introducing new enemy types early on. 

You will feel the weight of every axe swing, every blade cut, and every weapon clash. Fighting as Kratos feels as good as ever and is easily one of the most satisfying battle experiences in any video game ever made.

The story is engaging

Perhaps even more so than the first game, Ragnarok, even in its early hours, will have you hooked on the narrative. The story picks-up three years after the events of the first game, with Atreus looking to find out more about himself. Atreus’ curiosity and how Kratos reacts to it is at the heart of everything that will transpire. 

The presentation is stunning

God of War Ragnarok is still a one-shot like the first game. That means no loading screens whatsoever. And it looks as visually stunning as it ever did. If you can, do yourself a favor and play this on a 4K TV with support for at least 60fps. 

The visual presentation is jaw-dropping. Everything from the environments, the animations, the character models, and how they interact and show emotion during key moments. 

The dialogue is also top-notch. It gets cheeky and on the nose at times, humorously referencing events from the first game. 

Lastly, the music and overall sound is divine. Nothing ever feels out of place. And each scene is enhanced and elevated by the absolute masterpiece that is the score in this game. 

Should you pre-order? 

God of War Ragnarok

We’re only 10 hours in and we’re absolutely elated with how things are going so far. As early as now, we can say with absolute certainty that this is easily one of the best games you will play in your lifetime. Stop dilly-dallying and pre-order it now.

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Google Pixel 7, 7 Pro, and Pixel Watch First Look

Finally after many months of teasers

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After Michael Josh sipped his much-needed caffeine, he met some TechTuber friends before he finally went back for the new Pixel devices.

Teased as early as May 2022, the Pixel 7, 7 Pro, and the much-awaited Pixel Watch should be a surprise to most of you.

But surprisingly, they offer more than what was announced.

Wanna know more about ’em?

Take a look at our First Look of the Google Pixel 7, 7 Pro, and the Pixel Watch!

 

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