Alienware 310H Gaming Headset

Priced at Rs 8,249, the Alienware 310H offers decent value for money. It has a robust build and comfortable fit, allowing gamers to play for hours on end without any overbearing discomfort. The headset isn’t the best-sounding for FPS games since the gunshots sound too boomy, however, for other genres of games the headset is pretty competent, with good imaging and dynamic sound.

Gaming headsets are a dime a dozen today, with brands pushing to bring their own offerings into this lucrative market. Additionally, gaming headsets are being produced across a wide range of price points, to ensure that every demographic has one adequate for its needs. Alienware is a brand that is renowned in the gaming world and the company has a good lineup of gaming headsets, across several price points as well. A good gaming headset would be classified as one with a robust build, to be able to endure even rage-inducing gaming sessions; a comfortable fit, to allow for hours of gaming; a good microphone, to converse with teammates on Discord or Teamspeak; and immersive sound, to plunge you into the fictional gaming world. Here we are reviewing the Alienware 310H stereo gaming headset which is a mid-range, wired gaming headset, priced at Rs 8,429, but available for Rs 7,999 on Amazon. Let’s see if the headset offers the basics of what makes a good gaming headset.

Build and comfort

The Alienware 310H gaming headset isn’t a flashy one when it comes to the aesthetics. The headset is all-black and has a matte texture which feels uncannily like the outside of an eggshell. The Alienware logo is embellished on the back on the headband extenders on either side and has a glossy finish, which adds a tad bit of contrast. 

The earcups are a hybrid of plush memory foam, sports fabric, and leatherette. These materials are meant to optimise cooling and comfort while maintaining noise isolation. In our tests, we found that the material was adequately breathable and was extremely comfortable to don. The ear cups are well-padded and the clamping force isn’t too tight as well. The cups can also be rotated 90-degrees to sit flat on your chest or on a surface.

The headband can be extended on both sides to quite a degree, so most heads should find the headset comfortable to wear. The extenders aren’t exposed and are tucked away neatly within the plastic build. The headband is padded as well and sits comfortably on the head. The padding was a bit too hard for our liking, but it doesn’t get overly uncomfortable at any point. 

The cups isolate external noise pretty well, however, due to the noise isolating fit they do get hot at times, especially when you’re in a non-air-conditioned room in a humid city like Mumbai. The left ear cup houses a retractable boom microphone, which slides in and out with ease. The mic can be bent and adjusted as needed, to produce the best sound possible. 

The Alienware 310H is a wired headset which comes with a 3.5mm audio cable. The company has also provided a Y-splitter cable in the box as well. According to Alienware, the headset comes with cross-platform compatibility and can be used with PCs, laptops, Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch and mobile devices. We used the headset with a PC for this review. 

The headset also has a small in-line remote control with a volume controlling scroll wheel. There’s also a pretty discreet microphone mute switch on the back on the module that can be flicked down to mute the mic and flicked up to unmute.

Overall, the headset is comfortable and robust, however, it is certainly lacking a gaming aesthetic that is prevalent on a lot of gaming headsets these days. There’s no RGB or accents that make the headset stand out visually. Still, it serves the purpose of comfort, which is pretty adequate for us.

Features

The Alienware 310H isn’t feature-rich, by any means. It is a simple, yet functional wired, stereo gaming headset without frills such as 7.1 surround sound, USB or wireless connectivity, software support, and game sound modes. However, it does come with a Discord-certified microphone, which in our testing, proved to be pretty commendable for the price point. The voice was relayed clearly and it didn’t sound distorted or distant as some entry to mid-range gaming headset microphones do. However, a fair amount of external sounds are picked up by the microphone and relayed to your teammates, so ensure to sit in a relatively quiet room to get the best experience.

As mentioned before, there’s also cross-platform compatibility, which is pretty common now but is a nice feature to have nevertheless. The quick mute switch on the inline remote is also pretty useful and works well, in a jiffy. All in all, the Alienware 310H ditches the frills and sticks to the basics.

Performance

Equipped with custom-tuned 50mm drivers for Hi-Res Audio, the Alienware 310H have a frequency response from 20Hz to 40kHz. The headset employs Alienware’s Immersive Audio Technology to power its gaming performance. The headset has pretty decent sound quality for gaming, however, there are some issues. 

First, let’s talk about the positive. Soundtracks and songs within games sound pretty good on these headphones. Sounds such as explosions are impactful as well. The imaging on these headphones is pretty stellar, and you’ll be able to pinpoint the direction the enemy is coming from based on cues such as footsteps. Do keep in mind that these are stereo headphones, so you won’t get a surround sound effect.

However, the bass response is pretty exaggerated on these headphones, so in FPS games gunshots sound slightly boomy and due to that it can be slightly difficult to pinpoint the location. Being closed-back headphones, the soundstage is slightly limited and the immersiveness is cut down because of this shortcoming. We played Valorant using this headset. The experience was decent, however, we wish that the gunshots sounded a bit more impactful.

Listening to music and watching TV shows or films with this headset is a decent overall experience. The sound is dynamic and lively, however, the exaggerated bass response can make the headset sound a bit too dark and broody at times. Overall, it is a decent sounding mid-range headset, especially if you don’t play a lot of FPS games.

Verdict

Priced at Rs 8,249, the Alienware 310H offers decent value for money. It has a robust build and comfortable fit, allowing gamers to play for hours on end without any overbearing discomfort. The headset isn’t the best-sounding for FPS games since the gunshots sound too boomy, however, for other genres of games the headset is pretty competent, with good imaging and dynamic sound. The soundstage is a bit narrow, but that is expected due to its closed-back design. If you want a mid-range gaming headset with a minimalist look, this headset is a decent option. Another compelling option at this price range is the JBL Quantum 400 which comes with slightly better sound quality and software support.

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Strategy guide to Call of Duty: Mobiles new Reclaim map

Call of Duty: Mobile’s Season 1 New Order update is here. With it comes a brand new multiplayer map called Reclaim. The new map is a relatively small urban map designed around an abandoned shopping area. It should also be noted that, like Cage, this map is original to Call of Duty: Mobile and hasn’t appeared on any other game in the series before.

Initially, the new can be quite intimidating as the player can come under fire mere seconds after a game starts. Don’t worry though, as we have compiled a list of five things you should know to win in Reclaim.

Understand the layout of Reclaim

The entire map can be divided into two parts. There is the path of the ground floor, and an elevated walkway on the level above. Both the team’s Spawn areas feature advertising boards that allow for cover. However, the open sections allow for a straight shot to the enemy spawn, making it a sniper’s dream. There are some kiosks in the middle that offer some cover to players. In the middle, there are shops on each side where players can duck in and catch their breath. But do keep in mind that 

Both teams can access the upper floor by way of a ladder or stairs. The upstairs section offers extremely tight combat, but also gives a bird’s eye view of the whole map. It also gives players the chance to get a drop on the enemy. As such, controlling this section is very important, which is why fighting here can be fierce. Thankfully this place as plenty of cover and players also have the option of going prone to get a breather.

Get those grenades

The urban nature of the map makes Tactical grenades a very good option as placing those at key locations like at the top of stairs or around corners. Area Denial grenades like Cryo grenades or Molotov Cocktails can also be used to impede enemy access to the key upper floor areas. In order to combat these grenades, perks like Flak Jacket and Hard Wired might be quite useful. Speaking of perks…

Get the right Perks

The frenetic action in Reclaim makes it very important to have the right perks in order to get that all important edge over opponents. We have already mentioned the benefits of the Flak Jacket and Hard Wired perks, that will help you avoid getting blown up by grenades. The Tracker perk will help you see enemy footprints and sneak up behind them. Fast Recovery and Quick Fix are ideal for rushers as they can maintain their health better. Another useful perk would be Persistence as dying in Reclaim is inevitable. Do keep in mind with Persistence, you will have to push extra hard in order to reach the high score requirements for each scorestreak.

Be smart with Scorestreaks

The small nature of the map make the use of certain Scorestreaks quite tricky. For example, The XS-1 Goliath mech suit and the Care Package require players to stand still for a few seconds. In a map like Reclaim, that is pretty much a deathwish. It also raises the possibility of enemies stealing the Scorestreak. You also have The VTOL and the MQ-27 Dragonfire that leaves the player vulnerable, but can be devastating if used correctly. As such, automated scorestreaks like the Cluster Strike, Stealth Helicopter, and Sentry Turret can be quite useful. Even something as simple as a UAV or Counter-UAV can be quite handy.

Use Operator Skills wisely

A small map like Reclaim will see enemies quite close to one another. As such, Operator Skills that can do damage to a lot of enemies at the same time can be devastating. If you can get the drop on the enemy, then the Purifier and Shadow Blade can be deadly. For a more direct approach, try the Equaliser that can hit enemies at range. If you have reached Tier 14 in the Season 1 New Order Battle Pass, then you can get the Gravity Vortex Gun than can be devastating to tightly packed groups of enemies.

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Airtel gained more new users than Reliance Jio for four consecutive months: TRAI

Bharti Airtel continues to get more new subscribers over market leader Reliance Jio for the fourth consecutive month in November 2020. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India released a report on Thursday, revealing that the telco has added 4.37 million new users, while other telcos including Vodafone Idea (Vi), BSNL, and MTNL - saw a decline in the number of new subscribers.

As per TRAI's data, Bharti Airtel's subscriber base rose to 334.65 million after adding 4.37 million new users in November, while Reliance Jio stood at 408.29 million users after adding 1.93 million new users in the same month.

Reliance Jio, despite holding the largest share of users, ranks third in the number of active users. Out of Jio's 408.29 million subscribers, the active user base stood at 79.55%, while Airtel and Vi's active users were at 89.01% and 96.63%, respectively.

A decline in subscribers for other telcos

While the market leaders recorded a rise in the number of subscribers, Vi and state-owned telcos MTNL and BSNL struggled in November 2020. TRAI data shows that Vi lost 2.89 million users reducing its subscriber base to 289.94 million. Although BSNL added 556 new mobile users, MTNL lost 6,016 users.

Although Airtel has surpassed Jio to get more new users, Jio still remains the market leader with 35.34% market share with the highest number of users. Airtel holds 28.97% share at the second spot while Vi's market share shrunk to 25.10%, while BSNL and MTNL had 10.3% and 0.3% share, respectively.

That means the private players held 89.41% market share whereas the two PSU access service providers - BSNL and MTNL had a market share of only 10.59 per cent as of November 30, 2020, as per TRAI data.

In other news, Airtel is taking on Jio in terms of operational success in 5G networks. Airtel announced that it has successfully demonstrated its Airtel 5G networks in Hyderabad.

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Realme X7 pricing leaked ahead of February 4 launch in India

Realme X7 is slated to launch on February 4 in India alongside the Realme X7 Pro. Ahead of its launch, a new leak has revealed the pricing of the Realme X7, and it could start at Rs 19,999 for the base variant with 6GB RAM. Realme has been teasing the launch of the X7 series from quite some time now and the phones are scheduled to debut with MediaTek Dimensity processors.

According to a tweet by tipster Debayan Roy, the Realme X7 could be priced starting at Rs 19,999 for the base variant with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. Similarly, the 8GB+128GB variant of the Realme X7 is expected to be priced at Rs 21,999. Moreover, the tweet also reveals the retail box packaging of the Realme X7 series.

Realme is hosting the launch of the X7 and X7 Pro starting from 12:30 PM on February 4 in India. The product pages of Realme X7 and Realme X7 Pro have also gone live on the official Realme website teasing the key features of the upcoming phones. Interestingly, the key features of the Realme X7 are a bit different from the China variant. The Indian version of the Realme X7 has more in common with the Realme V15 and the company is also bringing the Nebula colour option that is offered with the V15.

Realme X7 Pro specifications

Realme X7 Pro features a 6.55-inch Full HD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels) resolution AMOLED screen with a punch-hole cut out for the selfie camera. The display supports 120Hz high refresh rate, is topped with a layer of Gorilla Glass 5 and is also home to a fingerprint reader under the screen. It measures 8.5 millimetres in thickness and weighs 184 grams.

The X7 Pro is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 1000+ processor with an octa-core CPU and Mali-G77 GPU. This is paired with up to 8GB RAM and 256GB storage options to choose from. 

Realme X7 Pro comes with a quad-camera setup on the back that consists of a primary 64MP camera with an f/1.8 aperture, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle camera with 119-degree field-of-view, a 2MP macro camera and a 2MP depth sensor. On the front, there is a 32MP selfie camera housed within the punch-hole cutout. The rear cameras can record in up to 4K UHD at 60FPS with support for EIS. 

The X7 Pro is equipped with a 4,500mAh battery with support for 65W fast charging out-of-the-box. Realme claims that the phone can go from 0-100% in 35 minutes.

Realme X7 expected specifications

Realme X7 features a 6.4-inch Full HD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels) resolution display that uses an AMOLED panel with a punch-hole cut out for the selfie camera. The screen is topped with a layer of Gorilla Glass for additional protection and there is a fingerprint reader underneath. It measures 8.1 millimetres in thickness and weighs 176 grams. 

The X7 is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 800U processor with an octa-core CPU and Mali0G57 GPU. This is paired with up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB storage options to choose from.

Realme X7 has a quad-camera setup on the back that consists of a primary 64MP camera with an f/1.8 aperture, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle camera with 119-degree field-of-view and a 2MP macro camera. There’s a 16MP selfie camera on the front and the rear cameras can record in 4K at 30FPS.

The Realme X7 has a 4,310mAh battery that also supports 50W fast charging. Realme claims that the phone can be fully charged in 47 minutes.

 

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Honor plans on releasing a folding phone line called the Magic series this year

Honor, which was the former subsidiary of the Huawei conglomerate, is now all set to enter the market with its foldable device lineup called “Magic”. All the folding devices from this brand will be released under the “Magic” series.

A tipster on Weibo shared a post earlier this week stating that Honor is planning on launching a new foldable smartphone. The device is part of the Magic lineup. The phone is tipped to be a premium grade flagship foldable phone. The previous CEO of Honor, Zhao Ming, had delivered news about the company launching a flagship series like Huawei Mate and Huawei P series under the Honor brand.

Honor could launch foldable phone under the Magic series

Honor had always been a budget device manufacturer since its inception. And now, after the change in ownership of the company, they are all set to release a premium flagship smartphone lineup for the first time. Huawei has already released a foldable phone in the market called the Huawei Mate X. Given the recent acquisition, it may be possible that the new Magic series might just be its counterpart.

Honor, after its separation from Huawei, had also released the first phone called V40 in the market. The V40 is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 1000+. It also comes with 8GB RAM as a base, making it one of the flagship phones from the company. The phones under the Honor brand now support Google Play Services as the ownership of the company has changed and does not list under the scrutiny of the US government.

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Xiaomi confirms Mi 11 global launch on February 8

Xiaomi Mi 11 is confirmed to launch on February 8, courtesy of a media invite sent to TechRadar by Xiaomi. The Mi 11 was launched as the first phone powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor in December 2020. Now, the phone is heading for a global unveil and will soon launch in India as well.

According to a report by TechRadar, the media invitation they have received confirms the global launch of Mi 11 on February 8. The launch event is scheduled to begin at 1 PM CET (5:30 PM IST) and will likely be live-streamed across different social media channels. The company had been teasing the launch of the Mi 11 from quite some time now. Earlier today, Xiaomi also revealed that the MIUI 12.5 will launch on February 8.

Xiaomi is also rumoured to launch the Mi 11 Pro and Mi 11 Lite but neither of the phones has officially been announced yet. We will update this post as we receive more details on the global launch of the Mi 11.

Xiaomi Mi 11 specifications

The Xiaomi Mi 11 features a 6.81-inch QHD+ (3200x1400 pixels) resolution display that uses an AMOLED panel with support for 120Hz refresh rate. It has a new design with curved edges and a squircle camera module. The screen is also topped with a layer of Gorilla Glass Victus for added protection.

The Mi 11 also has a triple camera setup on the back that consists of a primary 108MP camera with an f/1.85 aperture, a 13MP ultra-wide-angle camera with 123-degree field-of-view and a 5MP macro camera. On the front, there is a 20MP selfie camera housed within the punch-hole cutout. Xiaomi has equipped the Mi 11 with a 4,600mAh battery that supports 55W fast charging and 50W fast wireless charging.

 

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Motorola unveils air charging technology that charges multiple phones wirelessly

After Xiaomi officially announced the Mi Air Charge technology earlier today, Motorola also showcased its prototype for remote wireless charging called Motorola One Hyper. However, Motorola’s system is different from that of Xiaomi, in that, the phones and the wireless charging dock should not have any kind of interference in between.

A video demonstrating the charging technology was posted on Weibo by Chen Jin, General Manager at Lenovo China. In the video, it can be seen that the charging system can charge smartphones at upto one meter but there is a safeguard built on for when a person gets in between the charging unit and the phones. The charging process immediately stops after a person puts their hand in front of the dock.

Moreover, Jin called Motorola’s air to air charging system better than the current Qi wireless charging system as multiple smartphones can be charged simultaneously. Jin also asked users on Weibo whether the company should add this charging technology in the future Edge series.

Motorola showcases its own air charging system

In a separate post, Jin highlighted that the safeguard in place has been developed keeping in mind the health of users. “It is a safety protection provided when the human body is detected at the transmitting end of the charger with higher power,” Jin added (machine translated).

Other than the video, Motorola has not officially released any further details about its wireless charging technology. This could indicate that the technology is still under development and not yet ready for commercial use.

Meanwhile, Xiaomi’s over-the-air charging technology is capable of delivering wireless power to devices over a distance of a couple of meters from the isolated charging pile. This charging pile has 5 phase interference antennas to accurately determine the position of your mobile device. The 144 antennas transmit the millimetre-wide waves through beamforming. The receiving device has a built-in beacon antenna that converts it into electric energy through a rectifier circuit. You can read more about it here.

 

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