Realme is unveiling the 15 and 15 Pro on July 24, which is incredibly soon after the 14 series - the Pro and Pro+ launched in January, the 'vanilla' 14 in March. We're not sure what's going on here, perhaps sales of that range haven't been great?
Anyway, the brand keeps teasing the 15 and 15 Pro ahead of their unveiling. It's already confirmed that the 15 Pro will have all the features of a Pro+ model that isn't coming this time around. Today, the brand has let us know that the upcoming devices will introduce "a fresh wave of AI innovation and mobile photography", with the 15 Pro...
Realme is unveiling the 15 and 15 Pro on July 24, which is incredibly soon after the 14 series - the Pro and Pro+ launched in January, the 'vanilla' 14 in March. We're not sure what's going on here, perhaps sales of that range haven't been great?
Anyway, the brand keeps teasing the 15 and 15 Pro ahead of their unveiling. It's already confirmed that the 15 Pro will have all the features of a Pro+ model that isn't coming this time around. Today, the brand has let us know that the upcoming devices will introduce "a fresh wave of AI innovation and mobile photography", with the 15 Pro...
It’s not often that a lens grabs you by the scruff of the neck and demands attention, but that’s exactly what the Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 FE does. This unassuming lens, which doesn’t benefit from Viltrox’s Pro or LAB series labels, is one of the most impressive lenses I’ve used in a long time. It’s not the best, it’s not the most expensive, but it is unbelievably impressive for several reasons.
That’s a bold statement if ever I’ve made one; but this lens, which is perfect for landscapes and astrophotography, is incredibly well-priced, produces excellent image quality, and offers professional-level build quality and features. How Viltrox has managed to pull off creating a lens of this quality at this price point is beyond me.
The Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 FE costs just $464 / £533 / AU$899, which is an incredible price for such a well-built, weather-sealed lens offering professional performance and excellent image quality. Sony's own Sony FE 16mm f/1.8 G is a direct competitor, and it costs a whopping $848 / £849 / AU$1,799, so the Viltrox undoubtedly offers excellent value for money – and the Viltrox is a far superior lens in almost every way, despite being larger and heavier than the Sony.
What’s more, the Sony version relies heavily on lens corrections, while the Viltrox is optically excellent without the need for corrections. I appreciate that many modern lenses rely on lens corrections to achieve their excellent image quality (and compact size), but you simply cannot beat near-perfect images in terms of sharpness, distortion, and aberrations straight out of camera.
The Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 is one of the best Sony lenses designed for full-frame cameras, plus it is also available for Nikon Z mount. There's no word on future versions yet, such as for L-mount.
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Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 FE specs
Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 FE specs
Type:
Wide-angle prime
Mount:
Sony E / Nikon Z
Sensor:
Full-frame
Focal length:
16mm
Max aperture:
f/1.8
Minimum focus:
10.6 inches / 27cm
Filter size:
77mm
Dimensions:
3.35 x4.06 inches / 85.2 x 103mm
Weight:
19.4oz / 550g
Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 FE: Design
Compact yet heavy design
Weather sealed
Excellent handling
We’ve already covered the price of this lens, and you’d normally expect build quality to take a hit at such a competitive price point, but that's certainly not the case here. The 16mm f/1.8 features an all-metal body and weather-sealing, giving it an undeniably premium look and feel. This is emphasized further by the color digital screen that displays lens information – more about that later.
The 16mm f/1.8 is quite a hefty beast in terms of weight due to its construction at 19.4oz / 550g, but it’s fairly compact at 3.35 x 4.06 inches / 85.2 x 103mm, and balances well with Sony full-frame and APS-C mirrorless cameras.
This is in contrast to the Sony FE 16mm f/1.8 G, which is much smaller and lighter at 2.91 x 2.95 inches / 73.8 x 75mm with a weight of 10.7oz / 304g, but it’s an optically inferior lens alongside being much more expensive.
That construction comprises 15 elements in 12 groups, including four ED glass and three aspherical lenses. The optical design aims to deliver sharpness, detail and high contrast while minimizing distortion, and it achieves this as we’ll discuss in the performance section.
The front element is standard in its design rather than bulbous, which is great, and it features an HD Nano multilayer coating including water-resistant antifouling coatings.
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The filter thread is 77mm, which is average for wide-angle lenses, which typically range from 67mm to 82mm. This means you can use both circular and square filters for astrophotography and landscape photography.
The minimum focusing distance of the lens is 10.6 inches / 27cm, which is great for landscape photographers who want to use focus stacking to achieve pin-sharp images from front to back.
In terms of controls, you get a nice wide manual-focusing ring, a manual aperture ring that can be set to stepped or stepless operation via the switch on one side of the lens, two customizable Fn buttons and an AF/MF switch.
There’s also a USB-C port on the lens mount so that you can connect it to the Viltrox Lens app via Bluetooth to update firmware, customize the Fn buttons, and customize the digital screen’s welcome screen.
Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 FE: Performance
Fantastic image quality
Impressive sharpness at f/1.8
Excellent corner sharpness
This is a fast and wide prime, which means it has excellent light-gathering capabilities for astrophotography. The combination of such a wide field of view and a fast f/1.8 aperture draw in huge amounts of light.
Of course, f/1.4 would be better, but that would require the lens to be much larger and heavier. The focal length is also great for landscapes, which can benefit greatly from the image quality the 16mm f/1.8 is capable of producing.
The image quality produced by this lens is fantastic, with excellent sharpness across the frame, even in the corners, wide open at f/1.8. This aperture produces the most vignetting as you’d expect; this almost disappears as you stop down to f/2.8 and is completely gone at f/4.
There is an Adobe Lightroom Lens Profile that can deal with this and the tiny, pretty much negligible amount of barrel distortion that’s present. There’s also only minimal chromatic aberration, so this is an optically impressive lens.
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Sharpness is great wide open and increases incrementally up to the sweet spot of the lens, which is f/8. Sharpness drops slightly at f/11, and at f/16 you begin to see diffraction coming into play, and while f/16 is perfectly usable for landscape photography, diffraction is too high at f/22, so this setting is best avoided.
The color digital screen is a feature we’re seeing more on Viltrox lenses, and it’s a unique and pretty neat feature. It simply shows the focus distance, aperture setting and the active Fn control, and I find it most useful when I’ve manually focused on a point and need to replicate that focus distance quickly.
Autofocus isn’t the fastest. It takes the lens around 0.5 seconds to lock onto subjects when stopped down, and about 0.25 seconds wide open. This isn’t great, but since this is a lens that you wouldn’t typically use for action subjects, it’s not a huge issue.
Autofocus is driven by an SMT stepping motor, which is quiet but just about audible. AF is absolutely fine for landscape photography, while astrophotographers will exclusively use manual focus for precise focusing on stars.
Should you buy the Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 FE?
Buy it if...
You’re on a budget
The professional-quality lens comes in at an enthusiast-level price, making it the perfect choice for anyone on a budget.
You shoot astrophotography
With an ultra-wide-angle field of view for capturing more of the night sky and a fast maximum aperture, this is a great lens for astrophotography.
You want excellent image quality
The image quality produced by the Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 FE is fantastic – arguably amazing considering the competitive price of the lens.
Don't buy it if...
You’d like a faster lens
While f/1.8 is perfectly adequate for astrophotography, there are wide-angle lenses available with faster maximum apertures.
You’d prefer more versatility
Primes are known to offer the best image quality and faster maximum apertures for astrophotography, but zoom lenses are more versatile due to their variable focal lengths.
You don’t shoot with Sony or Nikon cameras
This lens is only available in Sony E and Nikon Z mounts, so if you use any other camera system, there’s no option available for you.
How I tested the Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 FE
I tested the lens over a couple of months
I used it to capture landscapes and astrophotography
I tested it with a Sony A7R V
I tested the Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 FE over several weeks attached to an unforgiving Sony A7R V, shooting landscapes and astrophotography. I took photos at a range of aperture settings to test sharpness, distortion and aberrations.
I shot most images simply to see how the lens performed in different situations, while others were shot specifically to be able to compare the results to those from other lenses.
With 30 years of photographic experience and 17 years working as a photography journalist, I’ve used many of the cameras and lenses that have been released in that time. As a working photographer, I aim to test cameras and lenses from a photographer’s point of view.
The X Fold5 and X200 FE from vivo were announced for the Indian market earlier today.
X Fold5 is the maker's slimmest and lightest book-style foldable to date. It packs a big 6,000mAh Si/C battery with 90W charging, triple 50MP cameras, an 8.03” inner display and a 6.5-inch cover panel (both LTPO OLED).
The vivo X Fold5
It is considerably slimmer than its predecessor at 9.2mm folded and 4.3mm unfolded and uses Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip. For more details on the X Fold5 in our announcement recap.
X Fold5 comes in Titanium Grey and a single 16/512GB trim. Pricing...
Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S25 FE has recently been rumored to come with support for 45W wired charging, a marked increase from its predecessor's 25W capability. Now, thanks to a TÜV Rheinland certification, this has been confirmed. Naturally, don't expect the phone to come with a charger in the box.
TÜV Rheinland has also certified the Galaxy Tab S10 Lite, and unfortunately this tablet didn't get the same treatment as the S25 FE, thus it will only go up to 25W charging.
Samsung Galaxy S25 FE (left) and Tab S10 Lite (right) certifications
All the other members of the Tab S10...
A story from Finnish outlet Suomimobiili reports that Sony is pulling its smartphones from the local market and turning its focus to online channels.
Sony's latest phones, including the Xperia 1 VII, are currently unavailable on Sony Finland's website and those of its partners, and are expected to remain unavailable.
Sony confirmed that the Xperia 1 VII won't be sold in Finland and that the company is focusing on “online shopping channels to provide customers with a smoother shopping experience”. Sony says its flagship is available from its own online store and via Amazon in selected...
Our series on identity theft protection apps will evaluate the features, pricing options, competition, and also the overall value of using each app. However, these are not full hands-on reviews since evaluating identity theft protection apps is almost impossible. It would require several months of testing, purposefully hacking accounts to see if the protection app works, handing over personally identifiable information, performing multiple credit checks, and risking exposure of the reviewer’s personally identifiable information.
It happens suddenly, catching you off guard like a thief in the night. Picture this chilling scenario: you stroll into the local bank, casually swiping your card at the ATM to deposit a check, and your heart sinks as the screen flashes an error — your account is inaccessible. An anxious pit forms in your stomach as you pull out your phone and scroll through your Twitter feed. To your horror, you see that someone has hijacked your account, spewing links to malicious sites to your unsuspecting followers. Panic sets in as you realize the magnitude of the situation.
Determined to regain control, you rush to your bank, where you find a comfortable chair in the office of your banker, hoping for answers. But instead, she delivers the crushing news: your loan application has been denied because your credit score is in shambles. The sense of violation and confusion is overwhelming; where do you even begin to untangle the mess of identity theft?
Identity theft is one of those unfortunate realities of modern life, an experience that makes your stomach drop and anxiety soar. However, there is a silver lining amidst this dark cloud: a reliable name in the insurance industry — yes, that Allstate with the comforting “Good Hands” ads — offers a comprehensive identity theft protection app that shines with remarkably unique features.
Allstate Identity Protection stands out with its proactive approach, providing you with real-time alerts for social media monitoring. If your account is hacked, you receive an immediate notification, enabling you to act swiftly before a small breach becomes a full-blown crisis. With a safety net of up to $500,000 in insurance protection, you can navigate the murky waters of identity theft with a bit of peace of mind (though some competitors offer up to $1 million).
But what sets Allstate apart is its coverage of not just your credit cards or checking accounts, but also your student loans and retirement accounts. This all-encompassing protection shows that they understand the multifaceted nature of modern finances. While it may not boast the most powerful features compared to other identity theft solutions, the value for the price makes it an enticing option. In fact, you'd find it a worthy investment even at a higher monthly fee, granting you the confidence to reclaim your identity and restore your peace of mind. In a world where cyber threats loom large, having Allstate by your side is like having a trusted guardian, ready to protect what matters most: your good name.
(Image credit: Allstate)
Allstate Identity Protection: Plans and pricing
Allstate Identity Protection, which is offered and serviced by InfoArmor, Inc.—a subsidiary of The Allstate Corporation—provides a comprehensive suite of identity protection plans designed to safeguard your personal information and assist in the recovery process in the event of identity theft. With an understanding that each individual and family has unique needs, Allstate Identity Protection offers both individual and family plans available across several tiers, each tailored with distinct features and pricing to cater to a variety of requirements.
Among the options available, the Essentials Plan is an excellent starting point for individuals and families looking to secure their identities. Typically priced at about $9.99 per month for individuals and $18.99 per month for families, this plan features essential identity monitoring services along with financial fraud protection. Customers benefit from one-bureau credit monitoring and access to 24/7 full-service remediation support, ensuring help is always available when needed. Additionally, the plan includes lost wallet assistance and significant reimbursement coverage, offering up to $1 million in identity theft expense reimbursement and up to $50,000 in stolen funds reimbursement.
For those seeking enhanced protection, the Premier Plan offers a step up with a monthly cost of around $17.99 for individuals and $34.99 for families. This tier builds upon the Essentials Plan by adding features such as financial account transaction monitoring and social media monitoring, which are crucial in today’s digital landscape. Furthermore, users benefit from stolen tax refund advances and increased coverage for stolen funds reimbursement, which can go up to $500,000, giving families added peace of mind.
The most robust option available is the Blue Plan, usually priced around $19 per month for individuals and $36 per month for families. This comprehensive plan includes family digital safety tools and a cybersecurity toolkit featuring antivirus software and a virtual private network (VPN). Additional benefits include robocall and ad blockers, three-bureau credit monitoring with credit lock/freeze assistance, and an amplified stolen funds reimbursement of up to $1 million, as well as up to $1 million coverage for stolen 401(k) funds. Such extensive features make the Blue Plan an exemplary choice for those who demand maximum protection.
All plans share common features designed to provide proactive monitoring and support. Customers receive dedicated 24/7 remediation specialists who can assist with identity theft issues, along with identity theft expense reimbursement and privacy management tools to help individuals maintain control over their personal information.
It's important to keep in mind that discounts may be available for Sam's Club members, and potential price increases may occur after the first year of service. Additionally, these identity protection plans are often offered as employer benefits, making it convenient for employees to access these essential services.
For the most current and accurate information regarding features and pricing, it is always recommended to visit the official Allstate Identity Protection website, where you can find detailed descriptions of each plan and make an informed decision that best suits your identity protection needs.
(Image credit: Allstate)
Allstate Identity Protection: Interface
We hope you have a strong appreciation for the color blue, as Allstate Identity Protection prominently features a deep, calming shade of blue on both their website and mobile app. This color choice not only enhances brand recognition but also conveys a sense of trustworthiness and security, which is crucial in the realm of identity protection.
The interface adopts a no-frills approach, reminiscent of TurboTax, prioritizing straightforward navigation over elaborate design. Users will find essential categories such as credit monitoring, Dark Web monitoring, and alerts for financial transactions clearly laid out, making it easy to access the most important features.
The mobile app places a significant emphasis on alerts, actively engaging users with questions about potentially suspicious transactions. This proactive stance is beneficial, but it could be improved. For those unfamiliar with identity protection, the app might benefit from more guided experiences. In contrast, we believe that incorporating wizards and status indicators, similar to those offered by Norton LifeLock, would provide a smoother experience. Such features can help users navigate the complexities of identity protection with ease, offering step-by-step guidance and a clearer understanding of their security status, particularly for beginners.
Overall, while Allstate Identity Protection has a solid foundation, enhancing the user experience with more intuitive design elements and interactive tutorials could make it an even more valuable tool for safeguarding personal identity.
(Image credit: Allstate)
Allstate Identity Protection: Features
The comprehensive identity protection platform, Allstate Identity Protection, provides a carefully designed suite of tools for safeguarding families and individuals against evolving identity theft and cybercrime threats. The sophisticated nature of modern fraud techniques makes having a trustworthy identity protection service essential for everyone.
The key benefit of this feature includes Identity Monitoring, which thoroughly examines multiple sources across the dark web along with public databases for your Social Security numbers, driver’s licenses, and financial account information. Through this proactive system, you receive instant alerts when your sensitive information appears anywhere without authorization. Your swift action, enabled by this system, becomes crucial to stop fraud attempts from becoming serious security threats.
The security framework of Allstate Identity Protection includes Financial Transaction Monitoring and Credit Monitoring, which provide constant oversight of bank accounts, credit cards, and credit reports through its higher-tier plans that cover all three major credit bureaus. Such monitoring features enable you to detect quickly any suspicious transactions or unauthorized account openings that indicate potential financial fraud. Through its careful approach, you can easily track your financial condition.
The restoration process for identity theft victims receives full support from Allstate Identity Protection through its Full-Service Identity Restoration service. If identity theft strikes you the company provides a dedicated Privacy Advocate to oversee the complete restoration process. The process involves working with creditors to freeze your credit and resolve any fraudulent accounts that have been opened. The expert management of identity theft recovery processes through the dedicated Privacy Advocate helps you avoid excessive emotional strain while simplifying the recovery process.
The financial security of Allstate customers is strengthened through Identity Theft Expense Reimbursement, which offers coverage exceeding $1 million based on plan selection and Stolen Funds Reimbursement benefits. These essential features protect your out-of-pocket expenses from identity theft incidents by covering legal fees and lost wages during the resolution process and financial losses from stolen funds. Such extensive financial protection ensures you will recover better from identity theft incidents.
The digital environment requires cybersecurity tools, which higher-tier plans provide as essential features that include Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), password managers, antivirus protection, and browsing safety tools. The security resources operate to defend your devices and online actions from malware attacks, phishing attempts, and data breaches, which helps decrease the chances of your information being stolen.
The Family Digital Safety features of Allstate provide web filtering, screen time management, and location tracking tools for family protection. The features prove most beneficial to parents who want to build safer digital spaces for their kids. Parents can use the system to detect cyberbullying and block inappropriate content while having better control over their children's digital activities. Many plans include Senior Family Coverage, which provides specialized support through an Elder Fraud Center because older adults face higher scam vulnerability.
Through Allstate Digital Footprint, you gain the power to see where your personal data exists across the web and how different companies use this information. The available transparency allows you to handle your privacy settings effectively, which enables you to regain control over your online presence while reducing data exploitation risks.
Allstate Identity Protection provides users with multi-layered security through its combination of monitoring and cybersecurity tools, along with expert restoration services and complete financial reimbursement to protect against identity and cyber threats in the modern world. Through Allstate, you gain peace of mind because your personal information now holds greater value than ever.
Allstate Identity Protection: The competition
Allstate Identity Protection operates within a highly competitive landscape, characterized by several strong contenders vying for market share through the provision of robust identity theft protection and comprehensive cybersecurity services. Among the most notable competitors is LifeLock, a subsidiary of NortonLifeLock. LifeLock is well-regarded for its extensive monitoring capabilities, which span across major credit bureaus, the dark web, and various personal data sources. It boasts high insurance coverage limits for stolen funds, often making it a preferred choice for consumers seeking peace of mind. Additionally, LifeLock offers expert restoration services to assist users in rectifying identity theft issues. However, potential customers should consider the pricing structure, which can become steep following introductory offers, making it essential for users to evaluate the long-term cost against the benefits provided.
Another significant player in the identity protection arena is Aura. Aura has carved out a niche for itself with a holistic, all-in-one approach to security. In addition to identity and credit monitoring, it frequently includes features such as a virtual private network (VPN), password manager, and antivirus software, delivering comprehensive protection for digital assets. A standout feature of Aura is its family plans, which can accommodate multiple adults and offer unlimited coverage for children at competitive prices, providing significant value compared to some rivals. Aura also features substantial identity theft insurance, enhancing its appeal for families and individuals alike.
IdentityForce, a company under TransUnion, is another formidable competitor, especially recognized for its advanced fraud monitoring capabilities and dedicated attention to social media risk. Their services encompass exhaustive credit monitoring across all major bureaus, along with comprehensive restoration services that help clients restore their identities. IdentityForce also places a strong emphasis on alerts and proactive measures to minimize risks, making it a wise choice for consumers who lead an increasingly digital lifestyle.
IDShield, often associated with LegalShield, distinguishes itself by offering unlimited consultations with identity theft experts and focusing on legal support in the event of identity theft. This service is particularly appealing for individuals seeking legal guidance and resolution options should their identity be compromised. IDShield is praised for its transparent pricing model and a strong emphasis on social media scanning, ensuring that clients receive vigilant protection across various digital platforms.
Other noteworthy contenders include Experian IdentityWorks. Leveraging its status as a major credit bureau, Experian provides robust credit monitoring features, giving users an added layer of assurance regarding their credit health. Identity Guard utilizes advanced artificial intelligence to deliver enhanced monitoring and alerts, hoping to proactively safeguard users against burgeoning identity theft threats.
In addition, less prominent but still viable options like ID Watchdog Premium cater to those affected by pre-existing identity theft issues, providing specialized assistance in remediation. Zander Insurance is highlighted for its affordability, providing essential identity protection services without breaking the bank.
Allstate Identity Protection: Final verdict
If your primary objective is to find the best identity theft protection app available, regardless of price, then Allstate Identity Protection may not be your top contender. However, when you consider the overall value it provides—especially with added features like social media monitoring and Dark Web oversight, along with comprehensive identity theft insurance—Allstate Identity Protection presents a compelling option.
While it might not eclipse the capabilities of industry leaders like Norton LifeLock or IdentityForce in terms of sheer strength and breadth of features, it still offers a well-rounded package that can effectively safeguard your personal information. Its focus on monitoring social media platforms allows for timely notifications in case of any suspicious activity, while its Dark Web monitoring can alert you to any potential threats lurking online. This holistic approach to identity protection is indeed noteworthy.
Moreover, Allstate Identity Protection includes identity theft insurance coverage, which adds an extra layer of security and peace of mind for users. Even if you ultimately opt for one of the more robust services, trying out Allstate Identity Protection could provide valuable insights into whether you need this type of coverage and what specific features matter most to you.
In summary, while Allstate Identity Protection may not have the power or extensive capabilities of some of its competitors, it remains an attractive option, particularly given its feature set at this price point. It’s a practical choice for individuals who value proactive monitoring and comprehensive support without breaking the bank.
A Google executive officially confirmed the rumors that Android and ChromeOS are merging into a single operating system. Sameer Samat who is the President of Android Ecosystem at Google acknowledged that Android and ChromeOS will be combined into a single platform.
… we’re going to be combining ChromeOS and Android into a single platform, and I am very interested in how people are using their laptops these days and what they’re getting done.” - Sameer Samat, President of Android Ecosystem
This is not the first time we’ve heard about Google’s plan to merge Chrome OS into Android, but...
We’ve already seen several leaks for the iPhone 17 and 17 Air’s color options and Sonny Dickson has now shared a collective look at them alongside the iPhone 17 Pro series. The new images showcase the different colored lens protection covers for the upcoming phones, which will match the phone’s color.
It seems Apple will finally bring more color to its iPhones with bold new colors across the vanilla, Air and Pro models. iPhone 17 will feature the largest pool of color options, including black, gray, silver, light blue, green and purple.
iPhone 17 camera lens protectors
This is...
Introduction
This year, Sony released a new addition to the high-end active noise-canceling (ANC) WH-1000X series, following a three-year hiatus. The new WH-1000XM6 model comes with a promise of "the best noise cancellation" (according to Sony's official website), but also a $50 price hike.
I've been an avid user of the series since the WH-1000XM2, so it was a joy to test out the new XM6 and see how well they're performing in comparison to Sony's older models.
Design and comfort
The Sony WH-1000XM6 are a full-sized pair of over-ear headphones. They come in three colors: Black,...
