Tag Archives: vegan leather

Origami-inspired Bluetooth mouse turns a mundane device into a fashion statement

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As odd and unnatural as the computer mouse might be, it has become the standard input device second only to the keyboard. For decades, however, the design of the mouse has changed very little except when modified in the name of ergonomics. There has been a recent spate of concepts that try to breathe new life into mouse design, but many of those remain in the conceptual realm only. This peculiar design almost looks like one of those, but it’s surprisingly a product you can really get your hands on, figuratively and literally. It’s definitely unlike any Bluetooth mouse you’ve ever laid eyes on because when it’s not in use, it can fold so perfectly flat that you can even slip it into your pocket and make it look like a part of your fashionable attire.

Designer: Horace Lam

We’ve actually seen quite a few mice that can fold or lay completely flat, but few have ever made it into production because of the surprising complexity of mouse design. Origami, the ancient Japanese art of paper folding, might be great for paper, but not for something that needs to withstand the wear and tear of daily use, not to mention being carried around in bags or even pockets. That’s the rather impressive feat that the myAir.0 OriMouse claims to have achieved, offering a wireless mouse that is flat, functional, and fashionable.

In its flat and deactivated state, the OriMouse has a “V” shape with a faceted surface. Covered in vegan leather or textile, it doesn’t even look anything like a mouse. Weighing only 40g and less than 5mm thin, it looks and feels more like an art object that you carry in your pocket or in your bag. But with a simple pinching gesture that joins the two divergent ends together, the OriMouse rises to the occasion, literally, to become an essential tool for productivity.

Using the same principles that give origami designs innate stability, this foldable mouse can withstand a lot of pressure from your hand without buckling from the weight. At the same time, however, a simple push at a specific and strategic spot disengages the two neodymium magnets and collapses the structure back to its flat state. In addition to this shape-shifting trick, the OriMouse promises a more ergonomic design thanks to the polygonal structure inspired by the folds and facets of an origami object.

Although the various options available make use of textured materials to give the mouse an even more tactile experience, the OriMouse’s foldable design also lends itself perfectly to more artistic expressions. In fact, one model even has a graffiti graphic printed on its surface, and it’s not hard to imagine branding opportunities for such a design. Granted, the actual ergonomics of such a mouse will probably be a matter of debate, but if you are looking for a highly portable Bluetooth mouse, it won’t hurt to take a hard look at something that’s also so unique and beautiful that you will easily become the envy of the crowd around you.

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Moto G Power 5G (2024) is a budget phone with surprising tricks up its sleeve

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Although a lot of the attention, and probably sales, are poured on high-end premium smartphones, the range of devices and designs is far wider than what you might see represented in media. There are, of course, products designed to be more affordable, though they unsurprisingly have to cut some corners when it comes to features. Sometimes, however, there are a few that seem to rise to the challenge of providing more for less, incorporating designs and features you wouldn’t expect from their price tags. The new Moto G Power 5G (2024) seems to be one of those, packing a few pleasant surprises that could put the device on people’s maps.

Designer: Motorola

The Moto G has been Motorola’s budget line for many years, and that family has a few members designed to cater to very specific needs. The Moto G Power, as its name suggests, is focused on delivering solid battery life, at least more than your average smartphone. The 2024 iteration of this phone isn’t any different, bearing a 5,000 mAh pack you’d only see on more expensive models, but that’s only half of its appeal.

A large battery would normally mean longer charging times, which is why a 30W TurboPower charging feature is more than just a nice-to-have; it’s a necessity. This year, however, Motorola went the extra mile and added 15W wireless charging for convenience. It’s definitely not the fastest wireless charging technology, but how many $300 smartphones can you name that even have any wireless charging support at all? That immediately makes the Moto G Power 5G (2024) more notable than any of its peers, but it doesn’t stop with the hardware features either.

This new Moto G Power also comes with a faux leather back, an attempt to make it look stylish despite its price point. Granted this synthetic leather can sometimes look tacky, though it seems to be simple and elegant, at least based on Motorola’s marketing materials. Again, it’s not exactly a groundbreaking feature, but one that is rarely seen on budget designs.

That said, the phone doesn’t have much to boast about when it comes to performance, though it’s not exactly an underdog either. It packs a 2.2GHz MediaTek processor with 8GB of RAM, a 50MP main camera paired with an 8MP ultra-wide shooter, and perhaps to audiophiles’ delight, a 3.5mm headphone jack. And if the Moto G Power 5G (2024) is still a bit too much for your wallet, Motorola is also launching the $200 Moto G 5G (2024) with slightly less powerful features, no wireless charging, but the same fancy faux leather design.

The post Moto G Power 5G (2024) is a budget phone with surprising tricks up its sleeve first appeared on Yanko Design.

This slim laptop sleeve doubles as a portable desk mat and wireless charger

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Working from home might no longer be a buzzword these days, but sitting down anywhere with your laptop has always been a thing even before 2020. That is also why there will always be a thriving market for accessories that help make working anywhere more pleasant, even if you don’t have all the comforts and conveniences that your office or home desk may offer. But if you can’t be at your desk, why not bring your desk with you? That’s the proposition that this slim and minimalist laptop sleeve tries to make, allowing you to set up your personal working zone anywhere while also letting your phone and earbuds charge as you type your way to productivity.

Designer: Journey

No matter how durable laptops may be, you are undoubtedly tempting fate if you don’t put some protection around it before you stash it in your bag or carry it in your hand. That’s especially true for laptops with elegant covers and finishes that will undoubtedly get scratched one way or another. A laptop sleeve is a simple yet effective solution to that problem, but it serves no function other than to take up space once you’ve started using the laptop.

NEXA is a laptop sleeve that offers value beyond just protecting your laptop, although it also does that well with multiple layers of protection for those heart-stopping accidental drops and bumps. Even with that kind of durability, however, the sleeve remains slim and sleek, sporting a vegan leather outer skin that gives it a stylish character even when it’s doing nothing. You might even be tempted to just carry your laptop by hand instead of putting it inside your bag, just to flaunt the beautiful sleeve that holds it.

NEXA’s function, however, doesn’t stop there. Once the laptop is out of the sleeve, you can rest it on the table and put your laptop on it, transforming it into a stylish desk mat not unlike what you might have on your desk. Not only does it give added protection to your laptop’s bottom, it also helps demarcate your working area, which is especially useful in public spaces. And whether you’re at your desk or outside, you can still use the sleeve in some manner, functioning as a large mouse pad for buttery smooth movement.

That’s not the end of its bag of tricks, though. The flap discreetly hides two wireless chargers, a 15W MagSafe-compatible one for phones and a 5W charger for earbuds like the Apple AirPods. All of these features come at no expense to the product’s simple and lightweight design, making the NEXA laptop sleeve a dream for laptop users who always find themselves settling down in coffee shops and public places to get work done.

The post This slim laptop sleeve doubles as a portable desk mat and wireless charger first appeared on Yanko Design.

Infinix NOTE 30 VIP Racing Edition Review: In Pursuit of Speed and Excellence

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PROS:


  • Eye-catching racing-inspired design with great attention to detail

  • Premium features like wireless charging and IP53 rating

  • Includes rare microSD card slot

  • Great price value for performance and features

CONS:


  • Odd camera combination

  • Limited availability

RATINGS:

AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

Excelling in both looks and overall features, the Infinix NOTE 30 VIP Racing Edition is an unexpected yet impressive surprise that is hampered by its odd camera choices and limited availability.

With so many smartphone brands and models available today, it’s not an easy task to stand out from the crowd, especially when you’re not one of the big five. Some companies employ visual gimmicks or technical buzzwords just to catch people’s attention, only for those products to fall flat once they land in users’ hands. It takes no small amount of effort and careful thought to create a design that not only looks great but also checks all the other boxes of an excellent user experience. The Infinix NOTE 30 VIP claims to be one such item, so we took its fancy Racing Edition for a spin to see if it really matches up to the expectations of a smartphone that was made to blaze a trail in the market.

Designer: Infinix

Aesthetics

As its name clearly says, the Infinix NOTE 30 VIP Racing Edition’s overarching theme is one of speed, taking inspiration from heart-pounding and thrilling street races. And when it comes to race cars, who better to know the spirit and design of speedsters than BMW’s design powerhouse, Designworks. But unlike some smartphones that boast of BMW branding, Infinix goes beyond just using themed colors or stripes to make the NOTE 30 VIP epitomize the spirit of speed that these cars exhibit, both in looks as well as in feel.

Right off the bat, this racing-inspired version of the Infinix NOTE 30 VIP is nothing like any other smartphone you’ve seen before, including those that also claim spiritual camaraderie with race cars. The way it uses a special vegan leather material doesn’t simply slap on a cover on the back of the phone but fully envelopes the surface to create a unique aesthetic and tactile experience. Even the camera bump is fully covered by the organic texture, giving the phone a more unified appearance with no metal or glass awkwardly sticking out. The embossed check-flag pattern creates a subtle nod to the racing culture, demonstrating Infinix’s meticulous attention to the smallest details.

As if the vegan leather treatment wasn’t already unique enough, Infinix and BMW Designworks go a step further by adding a feature that gives a little bit of flavor to the phone. In line with the trend of bringing decorative lights to the back of phones, the Infinix NOTE 30 VIP Racing Edition presents what the brand calls “3D Lighting Leather,” an innovative design that lets strips of light shine through the leather material when it is turned on. The three colors of these light strips not only represent BMW Motorsports’ iconic branding but also represent speed, performance, and power. It’s a small yet tasteful detail that adds to the phone’s character and cements its image as an extension of a street race car.

It isn’t just the phone’s back that catches one’s attention in a pleasing manner. The sharp red edges contrast beautifully with the softer black rear, lending it an elegance that you’d expect to find in more expensive designs. The flat screen, whose bezels gently curve to the sides, also complements this aesthetic, delivering a design that exudes both speed and class in a single product.

To really complete both the VIP and the Special Edition experience, Infinix ships the NOTE 30 VIP Racing Edition with a ton of freebies all designed around that same theme. Small gestures like these give a product that extra level of attention that truly sets it apart from ordinary, mass-produced phones.

Ergonomics

The most beautiful phone will simply be a pretty face if it turns out to be an unusable slab of glass and metal in your hand. Fortunately, the Infinix NOTE 30 VIP Racing Edition isn’t that, and it manages to look stunning while also giving you confidence when you hold the smartphone in your hand. Part of that is thanks to the textured surface of the vegan leather material that delivers a better grip, but the design also has another small yet critical detail that improves the phone’s ergonomics.

The minuscule embossed triangle in the palm grip takes inspiration from racing car steering wheels to offer the necessary traction for your hand, increasing your grip on the phone. With this anti-slip wrapping, the NOTE 30 VIP Racing Edition gives you confidence that you’ll be able to hold it in a stable and safe manner, which is probably going to be necessary considering how light the phone feels in your hand at only 190g. Just like how race car designs not only give speed but also stability, the Infinix NOTE 30 VIP Racing Edition embodies this duality in a beautiful and satisfying manner.

Performance

Of course, this special Infinix NOTE 30 VIP’s racing chops don’t stop with its looks. Infinix has stepped up its game by endowing the Racing Edition with some of the best hardware for performance, making you feel like breezing through tasks and games with aplomb. The new MediaTek Dimensity 8050 might not sound familiar compared to something that has “Snapdragon” in its name, but its performance isn’t exactly sub-par. You might find yourself adjusting settings in heavier games like Genshin Impact or Honkai: Star Rail, but for all intents and purposes, it is able to handle most mobile tasks without breaking a sweat.

The phone comes with 12GB of RAM out of the box, but it’s possible to extend that to 21GB by borrowing some memory from the 256GB internal storage. The latter might sound a bit measly until you hear about a feature that you’ll rarely find in smartphones these days. The Infinix NOTE 30 VIP actually has a dedicated slot for a microSD card slot to expand that storage, giving it an edge over other phones in both mid and premium tiers.

Uptime with the 5,000mAh battery is decent as well, which is surprising given how powerful the phone is. Charging at 68W, however, sounds a bit disappointing considering how many of its peers are already boasting 100W speeds. Then again, few of those can also boast of supporting wireless charging and fast 50W wireless charging at that. Even better, Infinix ships with a specially themed wireless charger as part of the VIP Racing Edition box so you don’t have to go hunting for one on your own.

The Infinix NOTE 30 VIP Racing Edition’s hardware selection seems almost perfect, at least until you get to the cameras, one of the things that most buyers check first. Yes, there are three cameras there led by a mighty 108MP main shooter that definitely lives up to expectations. It takes good photos with plenty of detail when there’s plenty of light around. What’s more impressive is that it can shoot 4K videos, though without OIS, something that’s still uncommon at this price point. The 32MP selfie camera is decent, but it’s made more notable thanks to dual LED flash lights that hide in the phone’s top edges, bringing much-needed lighting to your face.

Things get weird with the other two cameras on the back of the phone, a 2MP ultra-wide and a 2MP macro shooter. While the asymmetry between cameras isn’t uncommon, it’s almost unheard of to have an ultra-wide camera that low these days, even on mid-tier devices. As you might expect, they don’t produce good results, so you’re better off sticking to the main camera anyway. It might not be a deal-breaker for some people, but it does show at least one area where Infinix chose to cut corners.

The Infinix NOTE 30 VIP runs the company’s custom XOS 13 Android experience that’s thankfully already based on Android 13. It’s specifically themed to match that same racing motif, especially when it comes to the tri-color combination, and has a boatload of pre-installed apps you will have to uninstall one by one. One special feature of this Android skin is the “Magic Ring”, practically Infinix’s version of Apple’s Dynamic Island that changes the UI flanking the front camera cutout, depending on the context, like which app is being used. While not exactly original, we can expect other manufacturers to implement their own version of this UI flourish to help mask the presence of the hole at the top of the screen.

Sustainability

Although it has already started building a reputation for itself, Infinix is younger and smaller compared to other smartphone brands. So if it took giants like Samsung and Apple decades to establish their sustainability efforts, it shouldn’t be a surprise that it isn’t yet a focus for the fledgling company. That said, it’s not without any attempt at reducing its negative impact on the environment, like the use of this special vegan leather material for the Racing Edition. It might not be a 100% sustainable material, but it’s still significantly better than plastics.

More importantly, however, the Vivo V29 is designed to at least delay meeting its end from accidents. It has an IP53 dust and water resistance rating, which is almost unbelievable considering its price point. That simply means that it is less likely to die from a splash of water, prolonging its life for as long as it is still in good operating condition. The longer it stays in your hands, the longer it and its non-biodegradable parts stay off landfills.

Value

The Infinix NOTE 30 VIP Racing Edition comes as a completely unexpected surprise. The combination of premium features and an accessible price tag might be more than enough to get buyers considering this option, but it really changes the game with its high-quality design that you might have not expected from a phone on this price tier. The 3D Lighting Leather material is more than just a gimmick, delivering a luxurious look and feel with some colored light accents to drive home that street racing image.

It’s hardly perfect, of course, and there’s a list of quirks and flaws that leave us scratching our heads. One of those is the choice of cameras aside from the 108MP main shooter, which is just mind-boggling in this day and age. The biggest drawback, however, is its limited availability to very specific markets, which means fewer people will get to experience this surprisingly impressive package. That’s quite a shame, considering how everything else about the phone is worth more than what Infinix is asking for, especially with all the accessories that come with it.

Verdict

It’s not easy for a smartphone to stand out these days, especially when you consider just how many designs there are available in the market today. It’s even harder when you try to hit the sweet spot of aesthetics, performance, and price, something that even industry giants don’t get right all the time. So there’s definitely a good reason to be amazed at how Infinix managed to pull a rabbit out of its hat, with some help from BMW Designworks, of course.

The Infinix NOTE 30 VIP Racing Edition definitely embodies the spirit of street racing with intricate design details that easily remind one of the cozy interiors of sports cars. Infinix’s attention to detail leaves no stone unturned, with every side, corner, and surface matching that overarching theme. That extends inside the phone, of course, with specs that would leave you wondering why bigger manufacturers don’t follow suit. Who would have thought, for example, that we’d meet an old microSD card slot friend here, or that it would boast fast wireless charging and an IP rating at this price point? There are, indeed, some noticeable missteps, especially with the camera, but the overall package might still make you want to get your hands on one, especially for its mouth-watering $315 price tag.

The post Infinix NOTE 30 VIP Racing Edition Review: In Pursuit of Speed and Excellence first appeared on Yanko Design.

Realme 11 Pro+ 5G Review: A mid-range stunner

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PROS:


  • Luxurious design

  • Excellent battery life and fast charging

  • Impressive main camera

  • Slim and lightweight

CONS:


  • No official IP rating

  • Uncertain display durability

RATINGS:

AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

With its stunning design, imaging capabilities, and powerful features, the Realme 11 Pro+ 5G punches above its price bracket and is a great option for budget-conscious consumers.

The mid-range smartphone segment used to be filled by dull designs, subpar build quality, and sluggish performance. Gone are the days when budget-friendly vanilla smartphones would save you money but also leave you disappointed. Today, you can find plenty of mid-range smartphones that are nearly indistinguishable from top-of-the-line devices costing twice as much, offering a satisfying user experience without breaking the bank. While they may lack some standout features such as a big camera sensor or super sharp display, these smartphones strike a favorable balance between features and affordability.

The newest number series from Realme is one of the best-looking mid-range smartphones we’ve seen on the market so far. The Realme 11 Pro+ 5G offers more than just the looks, though, boasting a 200MP main camera, a 6.7-inch 120Hz refresh rate curved display, and a 5,000mAh battery, among other things. We took a close look at this fashionable mid-range phone to see what other boxes it checks and if it’s worth your hard-earned money.

Designer: Realme

Design

Designed in collaboration with Matteo Menotto, a former print and textile designer for Gucci, the Realme 11 Pro+ 5G sets itself apart with its unparalleled style. Drawing inspiration from the streets of Milan at sunrise, Menotto designed the Realme 11 Pro+ with a circular camera module symbolizing the rising sun. The yellow and white vertical line running through the middle represents a road extending into the distance, according to the brand. The 3D woven texture vertical line is sealed with transparent plastic, and while it does not provide tactile satisfaction, adds a charming accent to the design of the device. The prominent circular camera module houses a 200MP main camera highlighted by a golden ring design. The main camera is accompanied by an ultrawide camera on its right, a macro camera on its left, and an LED flash on top of it.

The phone has a vegan leather material on its back with a lychee-like texture that delights the fingers, while the stitching in the middle and around the camera reminds you of luxury handbags or car interiors. These design elements are seamlessly integrated, evoking a sense of luxury and sophistication. The Realme 11 Pro+ is definitely one of the most striking mid-range phones I’ve ever come across to date.

In addition to the Sunrise Beige variant, the Realme 11 Pro+ also comes in Oasis Green and Astral Black color options. The Oasis Green variant maintains the same design as the Sunrise Beige, featuring the same distinctive elements but with a different color. On the other hand, the Astral Black variant shares only the circular camera module with the two other colorways, instead distinguishing itself in terms of overall appearance with a plain matte finish that has no vertical line running through the middle of the device, leaving a clean and unbroken surface.

Ergonomics

For a 6.7-inch smartphone, you’ll be surprised how thin and light the phone is, measuring just 8.7mm thick and weighing only 189g (or 8.2mm thick and 183g for the Astral Black variant). The phone manages to impress with its lightweight build, making it feel comfortable to hold in your hand.

The leather finish of the phone not only adds a touch of luxury but also provides a better grip, preventing the phone from easily slipping from your hand or sliding off of surfaces. Additionally, the textured back panel prevents smudges and fingerprints. You can snuggle 11 Pro+ nicely in your hand thanks to the vegan leather back and the slightly curved – 61 degrees to be precise – back panel and display.

The plastic frame has a glossy finish at the sides and accommodates the power button and volume button on the right side. In contrast, the top and bottom plastic frames have a matte finish. The top houses a speaker and a microphone while the bottom houses a speaker, microphone, USB-C port, and a dual-SIM tray.

The in-screen fingerprint scanner works flawlessly, delivering consistent and accurate performance. However, one aspect to note is its placement close to the bottom edge of the screen. While it effectively unlocks the phone, it occasionally requires you to adjust your grip afterward, which can become a somewhat bothersome experience over time.

Performance

Aside from its design, another standout feature of the Realme 11 Pro+ 5G is the 200MP main camera, the highest megapixel count for the mid-range segment, that sits in the center of the circular camera module on the back. The phone boasts a triple-camera setup on its back and a single selfie camera at the front. The main 200MP camera features a Samsung ISOCELL HP3 with a 1/1.4” sensor size, 2.24um pixel size, a f/1.69 aperture, and OIS. Realme promises lossless 2x and 4x zoom, achieved by sensor cropping the massive 200MP main sensor. This enables you to shoot telephoto-like digital images. Accompanying the 200MP main camera is an 8MP ultrawide camera with f/2.2 aperture. Finally, a 2MP macro camera with f/2.4 aperture makes up the device’s triple camera setup. On the front side, there is a 32MP selfie camera with f/2.45 aperture.

Full 200MP

By default, the main camera takes 12.5MP, 16:1 binned photos for enhanced quality. In daylight or under good lighting conditions, the Realme 11 Pro+ takes excellent photos at 1x magnification, capturing good details, contrast, and dynamic range. The colors are nicely saturated, occasionally resulting in slightly too vibrant for lighter greens, but not over-the-top at all.

12.5MP, 16:1 binned

The daylight 2x zoomed photos are great as well. Although the images taken with 4x zoom are not lossless, they capture a fair amount of details with a nice dynamic range. The main camera captures great low-light photos at 1x magnification. 2x photos, while not completely lossless, still offer enough sharpness and retain some detail with good dynamic range. When zoomed to 4x, the photos remain acceptable, although some noticeable noise may be present.

1x (AI Mode)

2x (AI Mode)

4x (AI Mode)

Ultrawide (AI Mode)

The 8MP ultrawide takes excellent images in good lighting conditions, while the low-light photos on ultrawide are satisfactory. For low-light images, there is a tendency to overexpose bright spots, and at times photos may appear somewhat undersaturated. However, overall, the results are still good. Macro photos taken with the 2MP camera are subpar, not capturing much detail. However, this will not be a dealbreaker for most people unless you have a specific interest in macro photography. The selfie camera takes good photos, but it has a tendency to render a slightly orange tone to the skin color.

1x Night Mode

2x Night Mode

4x Night Mode

Ultrawide Night Mode

You can choose HI-RES mode to shoot 200MP or 50MP photos. However, keep in mind this is achieved at the expense of loss in detail and dynamic range. There is street mode with different focal lengths. The street mode comes with a neat auto-zoom feature where you can tap on the subject that you want to zoom in on and it automatically adjusts the zoom level and try to achieve the best framing.

1x

Macro

As for the video, you can shoot 4k 30fps stabilized video with the main camera. Dropping the resolution down to 1080p will let you take 60fps video. The ultrawide and selfie cameras, however, are limited to shooting 1080p 30fps videos. The Realme 11 Pro+ does offer a pleasant video shooting experience across the main and ultrawide camera for what you paid for.

The Realme 11 Pro+ 5G is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 7050 5G chipset backed by 8GB or 12GB RAM and 128GB or 256GB of memory. RAM can be expanded an additional 4GB using the Dynamic RAM Expansion. It is quite capable of handling any tasks, including watching videos and light gaming. In terms of software, Realme 11 Pro+ boots Android 13 with Realme UI 4.0, which offer pretty solid customization options.

The mid-range smartphone features a 1080p 120Hz OLED display with HDR10+ capability and 950 nits local peak brightness. The flagship-grade display is smooth, vibrant, and bright enough to use under broad daylight. The stereo speakers of 11 Pro+ deliver good audio quality with a good amount of volume.

As for the battery and charging, the Realme 11 Pro+ houses a 5000mAh battery despite its slim body, and it comes with a 100W superVOOC charger. While it lacks wireless charging capabilities, its super-fast charging requires a mere 3 minutes to boost the phone’s battery up to 17%, and a full charge can be achieved in just 26 minutes. The battery life of the Realme 11 Pro+ is indeed impressive, and the phone can easily last a full day with moderate use.

Sustainability

The glass protecting the display from scratches and damages is what Realme calls double-reinforced glass. Realme does not provide any specific details regarding the durability of the double-reinforced glass, and we can only hope it is tough enough to safeguard the screen in the event of accidental drops on rough surfaces like concrete.

Another thing you have to be careful about with this sleek phone is that it comes with no official IP rating for water and dust resistance. So you want to be mindful of using the phone outside when it’s raining or at the beach.

While the vegan leather back is a nice touch, it barely steps away from the typical plastic materials used on this tier of smartphones. The plastic frame is also an unfortunate choice in terms of sustainability, though it does save up on the build costs that consumers eventually have to pay for. Unlike some of its higher-end models, the Realme 11 Pro+ doesn’t exactly make a conscious effort to be more eco-friendly, which is still something that mid-range phones like it have to grow out of.

Value

The Realme 11 Pro+ is currently available in China and India only. Its price ranges from roughly equivalent to 300 USD to 390 USD, depending on RAM and storage. Global availability doesn’t seem to be on the table, though that could still change in the near future.

While there are some great mid-range phones available on the market, the Realme 11 Pro+ has some unique features that could set it apart from the competition. With a remarkable 200MP main camera, a sizable battery, and 100W fast charging, this device undoubtedly offers exceptional value for its price. Its stylish design adds a significant bonus to its overall appeal, especially for people who want a smartphone with a personality right out of the box.

Verdict

The Realme 11 Pro+ definitely punches above its price bracket. Its stylish design, capable main camera, and excellent battery life make this mid-range phone a great choice for budget-conscious consumers. Sure, it doesn’t come with the fastest chipset, water and dust resistance rating, or wireless charging, but you cannot expect to have it all at this price point.

If you are looking for an affordable yet powerful smartphone with stunning design and imaging capabilities, the Realme 11 Pro+ 5G is a great option. With its remarkable features and competitive pricing, this smartphone offers excellent value for money. That is, if you can actually get your hands on one.

The post Realme 11 Pro+ 5G Review: A mid-range stunner first appeared on Yanko Design.

A desk mat that charges your phone and hides papers is perfect for a tidy workspace

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While some people will insist that they need to “lively” desk to keep them from getting bored to death, few will argue that a cluttered space is a poison to productivity. Unless you have perfect memory, remembering where your tools are hiding under which pile of paper is sure to eat a few seconds or even minutes of your precious time. It doesn’t take much to suddenly find yourself surrounded by clutter; just a few misplaced pieces of paper or tools is a surefire to get started. Simply placing things in their designated spots can help prevent them from overrunning your desk, and this modular and reversible desk mat gives you that simple organization system for your phone, earbuds, and notes, and it does so in a stylish manner that accommodates people with different tastes and dominant hands.

Designer: Journey

Admittedly, not everyone probably needs or even uses a desk mat, but not because they simply dislike it. Most mats simply provide a flat patch of material, usually rubber or fabric, that serves no other purpose other than decoration. Some do help prevent keyboards from sliding off, and some even extend to accommodate a mouse, but that’s pretty much it. Some might even see them as wasted space since you probably can’t use the rest of the mat’s area for anything else.

Journey’s new desk mat addresses those limitations in two important ways. For one, it includes a wireless charging component that supports Apple MagSafe tech, meaning that you can place a compatible iPhone or any Android phone that supports the Qi standard to charge it while keeping it within arm’s reach. The charging panel magnetically attaches to the sides of the mat, so you can actually move it to the left for those who prefer to pick up their phones with their left hand. Alternatively, you can even detach it completely and use it as a standalone charging mat. There’s also a groove for compatible AirPods cases, though that might not work with any other earbuds cases.

The desk mat itself is more than just something to place things on top of it. The two different layers of materials can actually separate, creating a space to stash loose pieces of paper like single-page documents and sticky notes. All you need is to peel off the top layer from the “free” edge and quickly place a temporary note that you’ll need to work on later without it taking up precious space on your desk in the meantime.

One side of the mat is made from plushy felt, while the opposite is made from premium water-resistant vegan leather. You can easily switch between the two at any point by simply flipping the mat over. Whether you’re going for a classic leather look or prefer a more cushiony surface for your wrists, the ALTI Wireless Charging Desk Mat will deliver a handsome desk accessory that also helps keep your desk a bit more organized to boost your productivity.

The post A desk mat that charges your phone and hides papers is perfect for a tidy workspace first appeared on Yanko Design.

Huawei Mate 50 Pro delivers an elegant and powerful tool for content creators

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Smartphones today are more than just gadgets reserved for more tech-savvy people. They have now become lifestyle choices and tools for making social connections. As the perception of these devices change, so do the appreciation of their designs or lack thereof. Going beyond mere utility or ergonomics, many smartphones have started to boldly embrace aesthetics as an important part of their DNA. It’s still a work in progress, though, with very few notable brands and models making that courageous leap. The Huawei Mate 50 Pro is the latest to join that growing roster, leading the way with an advanced flagship that looks exquisite as it is powerful, offering a content creation powerhouse that will match a designer’s aesthetic tastes.

Designer: Huawei

It is only recently that design and aesthetics have become important selling points for a smartphone. While it is always possible to embellish a phone with cases, stickers, and accessories, its innate design speaks volumes about a company’s attention to detail and dedication to a holistic user experience. More often than not, a smartphone that looks good also comes with the hardware to match.

The Huawei Mate 50 Pro is definitely an example of that. In stark contrast to the common trend of smartphones today, Huawei opted for a symmetrical design throughout the phone. In particular, the large camera array is placed in the middle, with four circles arranged in a uniform 2×2 grid. These cameras are enclosed in a Space Ring with an embossed Clous de Paris pattern, similar to what you’d find on luxury watches. Rather than obnoxiously calling attention to itself, this balanced camera design brings a touch of elegance and class to the smartphone.

Huawei’s choice of materials also points to the company’s design acumen. In addition to the classic Silver and Black glass finishes, the Mate 50 Pro also comes in an orange vegan leather that adds a unique identity to the phone. It is inspired by the orange rays of the sun, which seems appropriate for the Space Ring design of the camera at its center. And despite its luxurious looks, the smartphone isn’t a delicate snowflake. A new Kunlun Glass material protects the phone’s screen from drops ten times better, according to the company. In addition to its IP68 dust and water resistance rating, owners will be assured that their faithful companions will survive the test of time and accidents.

The Huawei Mate 50 Pro isn’t just a pretty face, though. In addition to some of the best hardware available to smartphones today, it boasts one of the most advanced camera systems in the market. The 50MP Ultra Aperture XMAGE camera, in particular, offers ten different aperture sizes ranging from F1.4 to F4.0, putting you in control of your blurs and depths of field. Together with the large and fast 6.74-inch 120Hz display, the Mate 50 Pro offers mobile photographers, videographers, vloggers, and designers one of the most powerful tools in their digital arsenal.

With the Huawei Mate 50 Pro, Huawei is proving that advanced technology doesn’t have to look cold and impersonal. Combining elegant design and high-end hardware, it offers digital creatives a tool that not only meets their needs but also matches their lifestyles as well.

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Realme GT2 Explorer Master Edition tries to remind you of the joys of travel

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After being cooped up indoors for so long, many people have already made or even executed their “revenge travel” plans. Of course, not everyone might be interested in crossing borders, but many people still like to imagine themselves in some Savannah or tropical island, kicking their feet up while enjoying a refreshing drink. For the rest of us, however, all we have are memories, dreams, and reminders of our more adventurous and more expensive days. Realme, one of the more fashion-conscious brands in the smartphone market, has always had a thing for travel, and its latest Realme GT2 Explorer Master Edition tries to bring back those memories yet again. This time, however, it is doing it in a subtler but even more fashionable manner.

Designer: Realme x Jae-Jung

Last year, Realme surprised the market with a bold and unusual design for a smartphone. Working with famed industrial designer Naoto Fukasawa, the Realme GT Master and Explorer Master Editions resembled travel suitcases with their ribbed surfaces that were unorthodox for a smartphone. The goal was to evoke emotions and longing for travel, especially after almost two years of COVID-19. The effect was a quirky yet attractive smartphone that almost felt bespoke because of its unique appearance and structure.

This time, the smartphone maker’s Realme Design Studio teamed up with fashion designer Jae-Jung from The North Face and formerly Ralph Lauren. The goal is still the same, but the expression is significantly different. The theme revolves around a Travel Trunk rather than a rugged suitcase, which means it looks a bit classier and stylish. In fact, Realme describes it as a “Fashion-Forward” flagship.

There are three color variants available, with Snowfield and Black Beach being fancy names for white and black colorways. Both feature what the company brands as “IceSkin AG Process,” giving the phone a matte texture that feels cool to the touch. The headlining model, however, is Wilderness, and its design will make you dream of taking a safari vacation. If the high-class vegan leather isn’t enough to remind you of old-school trunks, the metal rivets on each corner will. Completing the trunk look are the flat edges and matte cover that surround all edges of the device.

In terms of hardware, the Realme GT2 Explorer Master is a flagship in every sense. Powered by a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, it has more than enough muscle to get you through your day-to-day adventures. The phone also brings virtual triggers from popular gaming smartphones to a stylish handset, and the large 5,000 mAh battery promises fun and productivity for hours on end. In the camera department, the large 50MP Sony IMX766 with optical image stabilization sits on top of two smaller lenses, creating a symmetrical arrangement that looks more pleasing than the obnoxious camera designs of many smartphones today.

Compared to last year’s model, the Realme GT2 Explorer Master Edition is less eccentric but still remains distinctive. It’s a phone that grabs attention without being showy and wouldn’t look out of place in a gala or boardroom meeting. It is also another example of how smartphones can become more than just hi-tech gadgets and be the fashionable extensions of ourselves that they have already become anyway.

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Bellroy Slim Sleeve wallet embraces a new kind of plant-based leather

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Designers of all kinds just love leather, whether in theory or in practice. Genuine leather is naturally warm and soft to the touch, generating pleasant sensations on our skins and in our brains. It also ages gracefully, developing scuffs and patina that are unique to each product and largely depend on how it has been used. For all these desirable traits, leather is still controversial because of its source, and current alternatives aren’t completely free from sin either. That’s where Bellroy’s latest eco-friendly wallet comes in, making a rather bold statement that tries to push plant-based leather into a completely sustainable and circular future.

Designer: Bellroy

Simply looking at the new Bellroy Slim Sleeve “MIRUM Edition” wouldn’t clue you in that it isn’t using genuine leather. It looks and presumably feels like the real thing, especially considering the brand has built its name and its business around high-quality leather. To deviate from this path is almost heresy for Bellroy, but it admits that it also has a bigger responsibility to ensure the longevity of the planet while not compromising the quality of its products.

The problem is that the current stock of “vegan leather” carries an almost deceptive image. While it is true that it doesn’t source the material from animal skin, it actually also does damage to the environment in the long run. Most of these “pleather” materials do use some amount of plant materials, but they’re always mixed with plastics, often polyurethane (PU) or polyvinyl chloride (vinyl or PVC), which are derived from petroleum. Even the very processes used to manufacture these leather alternatives can cause harm to the environment.

It’s because of this that Bellroy partnered with Natural Fiber Welding to utilize its new MIRUM material, which is 100% made from natural inputs, with no plastics or toxic chemicals involved. It utilizes the natural chemistry of these natural substances to create a material that is a dead knocker for genuine leather. Even better, the material doesn’t become plastic pollution and can be recycled or decomposed into something that will feed the plants that, in turn, will become future MIRUM leather.

The problem with many alternative leathers, including those vegan leathers, is that they are unable to faithfully recreate the look, feel, and unique traits of genuine leather. Bellroy’s use of MIRUM is pretty much a big stamp of approval for the material as enough to pass up as the real deal. The accessory brand is so confident in it that it is even offering its typical three-year warranty for a plant-based leather that might still sound experimental for many designers.

As for the wallet itself, the Bellroy Slim Sleeve MIRUM Edition includes cotton lining to protect cards and is stitched with cotton threads. There’s room for easy access to two cards, but there’s also a pull tab that reveals infrequently used plastics. The slim and small profile makes it convenient to quickly slip in and out of pockets, which you might find yourself often doing just to enjoy the feel of this guilt-free material.

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Meng Du x Oddbird Unwasted bag collection is made from grape skin leather

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Oddbird Meng Du Grape Skin Design Hero

Sustainable fashion is more than just a movement as we believe it is here to stay. It should be if we want a better future and planet for the next generation. We’re on the lookout for stylish footwear, clothing, and accessories so expect more eco-friendly and “green” products on the horizon.

There is a sudden increase in brands and designers starting campaigns for more sustainable products. Nike has its Move to Zero campaign. We also remember the Hana sneakers made from fruit waste like pineapple leaves, apple skin, grape skin, and seeds. A similar line of bags has recently been introduced and this time, the products are made from grapes. We know leather from fruits or vegetables is already possible. It’s much more sustainable compared to animal leather and is guilt-free.

Designer: Meng Du for Oddbird

Oddbird Meng Du Grape Skin Design Where to Buy

Chinese designer Meng Du has teamed up with Oddbird to design leather bags. The leather is made from recycled grape skins, which means grape waste now serves a purpose. Winemaking dates back to some 4100 BCE, and it’s not yet a lost craft. However, winemakers still need to be pro-active in making sure the industry is future-proof. We’ll never know what will happen, but we can prepare to improve the wine’s lifecycle and production.

Oddbird Meng Du Grape Skin Leather Design

Oddbird, a producer of quality wine in the Scandinavian region, knows there are obstacles in ensuring winemaking lasts. However, they can be overcome by partnering with companies and designers with the same goal in mind. Wine production waste is a reality, but good thing grape marc can now be transformed into leather. Instead of just throwing away grape skin, they can be used for next-generation leather.

Oddbird Meng Du Grape Skin Leather Planet of the Grapes

Oddbird Meng Du Grape Skin Leather Planet of the Grapes

More companies are looking for more innovative ways and sustainable methods when it comes to fashion, furniture, and accessories. This collaboration between Meng Du and Oddbird also brings Planet of the Grapes into the equation. The French leather maker has helped discover ways to produce vegan leather.

The leather bag collection is called Unwasted. The grape leather bag is a bottle holder that you can carry as a waist bag. It’s art with a purpose and is a perfect example of a zero-waste effort by Meng Du–a young Chinese designer from Parsons School of Design, New York, who is now gaining popularity for her sustainable designs. She has also come up with a virtual concept design adapted for the metaverse.

Oddbird Meng Du Grape Skin Design 2

Oddbird Meng Du Grape Skin Design

Oddbird Meng Du Grape Skin Leather Material

Oddbird Meng Du Grape Skin Leather Designer

The shape of the Merlot bag is like a squashed milk carton. The inspiration was a squashed carton the designer saw on the road. The other bag shaped like a can is called the Chardonnay. Meng Du called this project ‘Incognito’ because in her own words, “many things appear to be hidden in this project.” It looks like leather, but it’s really made from grape skin.

Oddbird Meng Du Grape Skin Leather

Oddbird Meng Du Grape Skin Design 2

Oddbird Meng Du Grape Skin Design Price

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