About Karthik Iyer
A senior evergreen writer at XDA Developers serving up reviews, buying guides, deals, and more on laptops, PC hardware, and smartphones that you care about. He's been covering the computing and smartphone industry for over seven years now and has worked with various brands to establish an authority in the technology space. Before joining XDA Developers, Karthik was a senior reviewer at Digit, a popular tech magazine in India. You will likely find him yelling at his monitors while playing an online shooter in his free time.
What tech products or categories are you most passionate about?
Everything that remotely falls under the umbrella of technology gets me excited, but I've been directing my attention more towards the day-to-day computing devices like laptops, desktops, and smartphones that are shaping the future.
How long have you been interested in technology?
I may have started covering the technology space "officially" in 2016, but I've been obsessed with technology and gadgets for as long as I can remember. I was lucky enough to get my hands on a Motorola Razr V3 in 2006, shortly after which I started writing about technology on my blog.
What was your first computer?
I've been dabbling with computing devices for as long as I can remember, but it wasn't until 2010 that I built my first computer. It coincided with the launch of Intel's 2010 Core processor family, and I vividly remember how excited I was to finish the build and install a copy of GTA IV. The good old days when choosing the right component or finding a stable game to run wasn't a chore.
Latest Articles
Best voice recording apps in 2024
Don't like the built-in recorder in your phone? Try these alternatives instead.
Voice recording is one of the most underrated features of a smartphone. From recording hour-long lectures to capturing conversations and interviews, a voice recording app can make your lives easier in more meaningful ways than you can imagine. Even the sheer convenience of recording your flashes of inspiration with a voice note instead of jotting them down on a piece of paper or typing on your phone can't be understated. Not to mention, they can also be a great alternative to the best note-taking apps if you're tired or simply not in the spirit of typing.
Best Lenovo Legion Go power banks in 2023
Grab these power banks to ensure nothing gets in the way of your long gaming sessions
The upcoming Lenovo Legion Go is a pretty exciting device. This Windows-powered handheld gaming device will let you run most PC games on a huge and bright 8.8-inch QHD+ screen. It also sits between its detachable controllers and is powered by an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor. It also has a bigger battery compared to the Steam Deck and its alternatives, but that, unfortunately, still won't be enough to keep up with long gaming sessions, especially if you're running more demanding titles. And that's exactly why a portable power bank is almost a must.
Enthusiast gaming PC guide: The best parts to pick for no-compromise gaming
In this enthusiast gaming PC guide, we'll be recommending some of the best PC hardware you can buy right now to build a solid gaming rig.
If you want to play your games at the highest graphical settings or work on complex workloads that are taxing for all but the most powerful hardware, then a prebuilt desktop computer won't cut it. Instead, you'll probably want to build a new PC using carefully chosen components to crush every hardware-intensive task you throw at it. For this guide, we've picked some of the best components from our carefully curated collection of parts including the best CPUs, and more. Since you'd want to go for parts that provide an uncompromising gaming experience, our guide prioritizes the overall performance of the rig over pricing.
Best Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 cases in 2023
Keep your Galaxy Tab S8 in tip-top shape with these cases.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 remains one of the best Android tablets you can buy in 2023. It's the smallest member of Samsung's Galaxy Tab S8 family, so it's perfect for those looking for a compact tablet for everyday use. But don't underestimate its performance or feature set going by its size because it punches above its weight class thanks to its top-tier hardware. It's powered by the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor as the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra, and it sports 120Hz, expandable storage, and stereo speakers, among other things. It also goes easy on your wallet as it's frequently discounted now and can be had for less than $600 in the U.S.
Best smart glasses for gaming in 2024
Take your gaming experience to the next level with these smart glasses.
The nascent smart glass industry is finally picking up some pace now, as we have several new options on the market in 2023. These wearable devices have been in use at an enterprise level for quite some time for various purposes, such as education, communication, entertainment, and productivity, but one of the most exciting applications of smart glasses we're witnessing lately is gaming.
Premium Intel gaming PC guide: The best parts for a high-end Intel-based build
Want a premium Intel gaming PC? Here are some great parts you can buy to begin building.
Despite the launch of AMD's new Ryzen 7000 CPUs, Intel is managing to keep up and offer enticing options for the entire PC market. While Intel's high-end Core i9-13900K and Core i7-13700K are certainly fast CPUs and are great for top-end PCs, they're not really required to make a PC that's worthy of being called premium. In this guide, I'll show you what kind of components you're going to want when building an Intel gaming PC using the company's latest 13th-generation hardware.
Lenovo Legion Go vs. Steam Deck: Which gaming handheld to buy in 2023?
Let's compare two of the best gaming handhelds in this ultimate face-off
So far, 2023 has been a great year for handheld gaming consoles, and it feels like everyone and their mother has an eye on one of these devices. It's not really a surprise, though, considering how various brands have put out their version of handheld gaming consoles. Although it wasn't the first handheld on the market, Valve's Steam Deck started the whole portable gaming revolution by putting people's Steam library in the palm of their hands. But it's no longer the only player on the field, seeing tough competition from the likes of Asus ROG Ally and, now, the Lenovo Legion Go.
Best portable chargers and power banks in 2023
Want to buy a portable charger but don't know which one to pick? Here are the best options out there.
There's really nothing worse than watching your phone, tablet, or pretty much any gadget run out of battery, especially when you are nowhere near a charging outlet. We've all been there, right? But you can avoid putting yourself in that situation again by simply carrying a portable charger with you when you are stepping out of your house. Portable chargers, commonly referred to as power banks, can help you charge your smartphone and other gadgets like laptops and Steam Deck when you are away from a charging outlet. I recommend carrying one around even if your devices have pretty good battery life because, well, you never know when you'll need more power, right?
Three changes in Samsung One UI 6 beta update that got me excited about the Galaxy S23 again
Plenty of visual changes for a breath of fresh air.
Samsung's One UI 6 beta has landed, and it brings a handful of exciting features and some improvements over the One UI 5.1. It wasn't the smoothest rollout, but the update is finally available for all Galaxy S23 series devices across a few countries. I've been using the One UI 6 beta on my Galaxy S23 for about a week now, and my overall experience has been mostly positive. Switching to One UI 6 has made me use my Galaxy S23 a lot more than the Pixel 7 and the Galaxy Z Flip 5 running One UI 5.1, which is a good indication of my overall experience. There are a few things about the software that I like more than the others, so I decided to highlight some of my favorite One UI 6 changes and improvements below. Let's dive in!
Best chargers for the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 & Galaxy Watch 5 Pro in 2023
Samsung's WPC-based wireless charging limits the chargers you can use with the Galaxy Watch 5 series. Here are the ones that'll work.
Samsung's Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro may not be the latest Samsung wearables out there, but they remain two of the best smartwatches you can consider right now. Both bring a lot of meaningful upgrades over their predecessors, and they're worth considering if you're in the market for a premium Wear OS watch right now. The updates brought more durability, bigger batteries, and even some additional health-tracking features. They don't leave much room for complaints, but I wish Samsung had changed how you charge these smartwatches. The Galaxy Watch 5 series supports WPC-based wireless charging, which, in a nutshell, limits the chargers you can use with these watches.
Best Spigen cases for Samsung Galaxy S23 series in 2023
Spigen is one of the top case brands on the market. Here are some good Spigen cases for your new Samsung Galaxy S23 series phones.
Samsung's Galaxy S23 series phones have been out for a while now, and some of them have already made it to our roundup of the best flagship phones you can buy in 2023. There are three phones in the lineup, and you can check out our Galaxy S23 vs Galaxy S23+ vs Galaxy S23 Ultra to find out how they stack up. Once you've decided which of the three phones to get, you should consider getting a case to protect it from accidental drops and scuffs. We've already rounded up the best cases for each in separate posts, but I wanted to highlight some Spigen cases in this one.
4 reasons I am more excited about the regular iPhone 15 than the Pro models
The regular iPhone 15 is shaping up to be a solid step up this year.
Apple's annual iPhone event is right around the corner, meaning all eyes are set on the Cupertino tech giant to see what kind of iPhones it has in store this year. The company is all set to introduce the latest iPhones alongside the Apple Watch Series 9 and even an Apple Watch Ultra 2.
Best stylus for the Apple iPad Air 5 in 2023
There's, of course, the Apple Pencil 2, but other styli on the market will work well with your iPad Air 5.
Apple's iPad Air 5 remains one of the best iPads you can buy right now in 2023. One of the highlights of the iPad Air 5 (2022) is that it brings a lot of great features from pricier iPads at a relatively affordable price, making it a solid choice for those who don't want to spend top dollar on a Pro model. It's a great tablet by itself, but it can deliver a much better experience with the right accessories, especially a stylus. Pairing an iPad — or just about any tablet — with a stylus can significantly improve your overall experience. So if you're searching for a good stylus to pair with your iPad Air 5 tablet, then I've got some solid options for you to consider. Here are the best Apple iPad Air 5 (2022) stylus options you can check out in 2023.
Best Android TVs in 2024
Planning to buy an Android TV? Here are some good options to consider!
Android TVs are a great alternative to the usual smart TVs. They're more reliable and often have better features and app support. They come with almost all the video and music streaming applications you can think of, and you can always install more from the Play Store. Notably, Android TVs also come with built-in Chromecast support, which can help you stream from your phone or PC easily. Many manufacturers have also started making Android TVs, so you're bound to find some solid options from the likes of Sony, TCL, Hisense, and more while shopping for the best TVs. These manufacturers also ship their TVs with the updated Google TV interface out of the box, which uses Google's A.I. to offer a more personalized TV viewing experience.
The Moto 360 came out 9 years ago and set the standard for Wear OS devices today
The Moto 360 arrived on Sep. 05, 2014, as the first of many Android Wear smartwatches that followed soon after.
Wear OS watches come in multiple shapes and sizes now, but the one that laid the groundwork for Wear OS and took off in a big way was released almost a decade ago. I am talking about the original Moto 360 smartwatch that arrived nine years ago on September 5th, 2014. It was a pioneer in the smartwatch market and set the standard for many of the devices that followed. The Moto 360 was not without its flaws, but it truly set the pace for the development of Android Wear watches and became one of the best-selling smartwatches of all time.
Best Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ cases in 2023
Here are some of the best Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ cases you can buy to keep it in pristine condition.
Samsung's Galaxy Tab S8 lineup may not represent the best of what Samsung has to offer in the tablet space in 2023, but they remain some of the best Android tablets you can buy. They're very similar to the current-gen Galaxy Tab S9 tablets, meaning you're less likely to notice a significant difference between them. The Galaxy Tab S8 devices are also frequently discounted now, making them an easy recommendation for those looking to buy a reliable and affordable slate.
Best TVs in 2024
Finding the best TV for yourself can seem daunting but we're here to help. Here's a list of the best TVs you buy can right now in 2023.
Finding the best TV for yourself means selecting one that satisfies your needs by offering great visuals and user experience. Your budget obviously also plays a big role, but thanks to advancements in TV technology, even affordable TVs can provide a pretty good experience. It's up to you to decide whether you want the absolute best visual experience or settle for almost the best.
Best budget mechanical keyboards in 2024
If you are in the market to buy a new keyboard on a budget, then here's a list with some of the best budget mechanical keyboards you can buy.
While most of the best mechanical keyboards come with a hefty price tag, that’s not always the case. The technology has become mainstream, and plenty of budget-conscious keyboards are available these days. For not much money at all, you can find a mechanical keyboard to enjoy, and some even have premium features like hot-swappable switch sockets for modding. Regardless of your preferences, I’ve rounded up some of my favorites for 2023 to make your buying decision easier.
Best Samsung Galaxy S21 cases in 2023
Your Galaxy S21 deserves the best case at the lowest price — here are our picks.
Samsung's Galaxy S21 is a few years old now, but it still holds up quite well against all the modern flagships, including the Galaxy S23 series. It arguably looks better than even the Galaxy S23 with its contour-cut design, and it's easily one of the best-looking phones in 2023. It's still qualified to receive Android OS and security updates directly from Samsung, so there's no reason to upgrade unless you really want to upgrade to a new phone.
I've used both Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Galaxy Z Fold 5, and I prefer the Flip
They're both really good in their segments but there's one that I've been using more than the other.
Samsung's foldable phone lineup has come a long way from the original ones that were released a few years ago. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 and the Galaxy Z Fold 5 both represent the best of what the company has to offer right now in the foldable phone space, and they are — in many ways — superior to their peers in the same segment. They have drastically different designs, but their differences go beyond just their folding mechanisms.