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BLU Bold N4: Sub-$300 Phone With a Rear OLED Display and 120Hz Screen

Most smartphones under $300 make you choose between style, performance, or a standout feature that sets them apart from the competition and justifies the purchase. For anyone who wants a phone that looks and feels premium without the flagship price tag, the options are usually full of compromises that leave you wishing you’d spent more money on something better or just settled for less capability.

The BLU Bold N4 changes that dynamic entirely with a unique approach to value smartphones that challenges expectations. With its rear OLED touch display, 120Hz curved AMOLED screen, and a powerful MediaTek Dimensity 7300X chip, it’s a device that brings flagship features to the value segment without requiring you to sacrifice quality, capabilities, or visual appeal.

Designer: BLU Products

The N4’s Glacier White matte finish and anti-glare glass give it a modern, fingerprint-resistant look that stays clean throughout daily use and handling. The 6.78-inch 3D curved AMOLED display offers 120Hz refresh, 1200 by 2652 resolution at 429 pixels per inch, and up to 1200 nits brightness, making games and videos pop with exceptional clarity and vibrant color reproduction.

The 1.74-inch OLED rear touch display is the real showstopper here. It puts notifications, camera previews, and quick tools at your fingertips without ever waking the main screen or draining battery unnecessarily. The rear display doubles as a high-quality viewfinder for the main camera, making selfies and creative shots easier than fumbling with front-facing cameras.

Under the hood, the N4 runs on a MediaTek Dimensity 7300X 4nm octa-core processor with four Cortex-A78 cores at 2.6GHz, paired with 8GB DDR5 RAM expandable to 32GB through virtual memory and a massive 512GB of internal storage. The Mali-G615 GPU and 120Hz screen deliver console-quality gaming and smooth multitasking.

The 5,000mAh battery and 66W ultra-fast charging mean you can go from zero to 100 percent in just 20 minutes, keeping you powered for all-day use with minimal downtime or interruption. This combination of battery capacity and charging speed addresses one of the biggest pain points for heavy smartphone users who constantly run out of power during important moments or extended sessions.

The triple rear camera system includes a 50MP AI Super HDR main camera, an 8MP ultra-wide with a 112-degree field of view, and an 8MP telephoto macro lens for versatile shooting options. The 16MP front camera handles selfies and video calls. Pro Mode with RAW capture, Night Mode with multi-frame noise reduction, and electronic image stabilization give you creative control.

The N4 is 5G-ready across multiple bands, supports NFC for contactless payments and device pairing, and features Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.4 for fast, reliable connections wherever you go or work. Security is handled by an in-display fingerprint sensor unlocking in under 0.4 seconds and AI Face ID for quick access. BLU includes a clear case, wired earphones, and a 66W charger in the box.

The post BLU Bold N4: Sub-$300 Phone With a Rear OLED Display and 120Hz Screen first appeared on Yanko Design.

Oppo Find X9 Pro Review: A 200MP Telephoto Beast With Massive Battery Life

It is a busy time for China’s flagship camera phone launches, with several brands racing to capture the spotlight. Announced in China about ten days ago, Oppo has now brought the Find X9 series to the global stage. For two consecutive generations, Oppo has committed to launching its flagship devices beyond China, giving global consumers direct access to its latest technology and evolving design language. This broader availability is a welcome move, especially as competition among top-tier brands grows ever more intense.

With a brand-new look, the Oppo Find X9 Pro introduces capabilities that are sure to capture the interest of mobile photography enthusiasts. The optional telephoto extender, which was previously popularized by the vivo X series, shows Oppo’s willingness to experiment with creative tools and advanced features. Alongside its sleek new design, the Find X9 Pro is positioned to deliver a thoroughly modern flagship experience for users who expect both style and substance in their everyday device.

Designer: OPPO

Aesthetics

Oppo’s Find X series has undergone several design transformations throughout its nearly decade-long journey. Each generation has brought its own unique visual character, reflecting changing tastes and advances in smartphone craftsmanship. With the arrival of the Find X9 series, Oppo introduces yet another significant shift that sets a fresh tone for the family.

This time, the circular camera module that once sat in the top center, first introduced with the Find X6 series, has been retired in favor of a more sculpted and modern arrangement. The rounded rectangular camera housing now sits confidently in the upper left corner, sharply defined and rising boldly from the surface. Inside this module, the round main and telephoto cameras are stacked vertically on the left, while the ultra-wide lens and sensor complete the look in a slender oval formation. Just beneath, the Hasselblad logo is etched with subtle precision, lending a touch of photographic heritage and quiet sophistication.

For global audiences, Oppo keeps the palette refined and timeless, offering the Find X9 Pro in Silk White and Titanium Charcoal. These finishes are understated and sophisticated, perfect for those who appreciate a minimalist aesthetic and a sense of quiet luxury. If you’re drawn to more expressive colors, Oppo does offer a striking Velvet Red. This bold statement, however, is reserved exclusively for the Chinese market, adding a sense of rarity to the global editions.

For my review, I received the Titanium Charcoal version. In person, this finish reveals far more nuance than its name implies. The color presents as a sophisticated dusty taupe, gently shifting with the light and unveiling delicate undertones of mauve. This interplay of shades gives the device a quietly luxurious presence, setting it apart from the standard slate grays and deep blacks so common in today’s flagship lineup. The matte texture adds an extra layer of refinement, making the phone not only beautiful to see but also delightful to hold.

Ergonomics

The Oppo Find X9 Pro presents itself as a substantial, confidence-inspiring device, immediately feeling premium in hand. Measuring roughly 161 x 76 x 8 millimeters, it sits firmly in the larger category of flagship phones. Its flat frame and generous width give it a bold, contemporary presence, but this also means the device can feel a bit too large for comfortable one-handed use, especially when snapping vertical photos or reaching across the screen with your thumb.

Weighing in at 224 grams, the Find X9 Pro brings a solid heft that reinforces its impression of quality and durability. The weight is well-balanced, never feeling top-heavy or awkward, but it is definitely noticeable after longer periods of use. The smooth matte finish on the glass back resists fingerprints and smudges, though it can feel a bit slippery, making a secure grip especially important with a phone of this size.

Oppo has paid close attention to ergonomics by placing the ultrasonic fingerprint scanner in an intuitive spot on the display, allowing your thumb to naturally find the sensor for effortless unlocking. The alert slider found on the previous models has been replaced by a customizable “Snap Key,” echoing the “Shortcut button” introduced on the Oppo Find X8 Ultra and offering quick access to your chosen functions. 

Performance

The Oppo Find X9 Pro delivers a flagship experience powered by the Dimensity 9500 chipset and up to 16GB of RAM, making multitasking and demanding tasks feel effortlessly smooth. Whether you’re gaming, streaming, or quickly switching between apps, the device maintains a consistently fast and responsive feel. Running on ColorOS 16 atop the latest Android OS, the phone offers a polished interface with thoughtful features and a visually cohesive design, enhancing both usability and daily enjoyment.

The Find X9 Pro boasts a 6.78-inch LTPO OLED display with a crisp 2772 x 1272 resolution. The adaptive refresh rate smoothly transitions from 1Hz to 120Hz, combining ultra-fluid motion with energy efficiency. The display also features 2160Hz PWM dimming for reduced flicker and greater eye comfort in any lighting. Bezels are impressively symmetrical and extremely thin at just 1.15mm, maximizing screen real estate and creating a truly immersive, edge-to-edge look. The display is bright and vibrant, making everything from videos to photos truly pop.

In the camera department, the partnership with Hasselblad continues on the Find X9 series, bringing refined color science and imaging expertise to Oppo’s latest flagship. With the Find X9 Pro, Oppo has moved away from the dual periscope telephoto design of its predecessor, instead embracing a powerful three-camera setup crafted for both versatility and image clarity. The new array features a 50MP main camera, a striking 200MP telephoto camera, and a 50MP ultra-wide camera. A notable addition is the “True Color Camera,” a dedicated sensor designed to deliver accurate, natural color reproduction across all lenses, even in challenging lighting conditions.

The main camera features a 23mm-equivalent focal length and a large 1/1.28-inch Sony LYT-828 sensor with a bright f/1.5 aperture, capturing images with strong dynamic range, rich color, and impressive sharpness. The telephoto camera stands out with its 70mm-equivalent focal length and a high-resolution 200MP Samsung HP5 sensor, measuring 1/1.54 inches with an f/2.1 aperture. Both the main and telephoto cameras deliver excellent photos that are vibrant and detailed, sometimes edging into being a little too sharp. While skin tones are generally rendered beautifully, eyes can occasionally appear overly crisp, which may lead to an unnatural look in portraits.

Completing the trio on the rear is the 15mm-equivalent 50MP ultra-wide camera, built around a 1/2.75-inch Samsung JN5 sensor with an f/2.0 aperture. Interestingly, the same sensor powers the 21mm-equivalent 50MP front-facing camera. Both the ultra-wide and front cameras perform admirably, producing clear, lively images that are well-suited for group shots, landscapes, and selfies alike.

Oppo has followed in the footsteps of Vivo and brought a fresh option to its lineup with the introduction of a telephoto extender for the Find X9 Pro. The Hasselblad teleconverter kit includes a lens mounting ring, a 3.28x lens, and a sturdy lens bracket that allows you to mount the phone to a tripod using a thread. To make the most of this system, you’ll need Oppo’s Photographer Magnetic Case, a black aramid fiber case equipped with a MagSafe-like feature.

There are, however, a few limitations and annoyances that come with Oppo’s telephoto extender. When you switch to the dedicated Hasselblad telephoto converter mode on the camera carousel, you are locked into this specific mode. Other creative modes, such as Portrait or Xpan are not accessible while the extender is in use, which means you’re limited to standard telephoto shooting. The biggest drawback is that the lens mounting ring physically blocks both the main and ultra-wide cameras. If you encounter a scene that calls for a different lens, you’ll need to remove both the lens and the mounting ring before you can switch, interrupting your shooting flow and reducing spontaneity.

When it comes to video, the Find X9 Pro has fewer limitations and annoyances compared to other smartphones. It can shoot videos up to 4K at 120 FPS on both the main and telephoto cameras, with 4K at 60 FPS available on the ultra-wide and front-facing cameras. Video quality from the main and telephoto lenses is excellent, showing strong dynamic range, crisp detail, and very low noise, even in difficult low-light conditions. Although the phone does not offer 8K video recording, it makes up for this with creative flexibility. You can seamlessly switch between all four cameras, rear and front, even while shooting in LOG format. This feature gives content creators added control for color grading and allows for smooth scene transitions in post-production.

It’s common across the smartphone industry for global versions to receive smaller batteries compared to their counterparts in the Chinese market. With the Find X9 Pro, Oppo breaks from this trend and gives global users the same substantial battery as the Chinese model. The phone is equipped with a massive 7500mAh battery, delivering outstanding endurance that easily lasts all day and often stretches beyond. Charging is fast and flexible, with 80W wired charging for rapid power-ups and 50W wireless charging with Oppo’s proprietary AirVOOC charger. This approach ensures the Find X9 Pro is ready for heavy use, wherever you are in the world.

Sustainability

The Find X9 Pro is built with durability in mind. It offers IP66, IP68, and IP69 ratings for protection against dust, water, and high-pressure water jets. It also achieves a five-star SGS Drop Resistance certification, indicating strong performance in drop and impact tests.

Oppo does not mention the use of recycled or sustainable materials in the construction of this device. On the software side, the Find X9 Pro comes with five years of major Android updates and six years of security patches. While the hardware may not feature eco-friendly materials, extended software support helps encourage longer device use, which is a practical step toward reducing electronic waste.

Value

The Find X9 Pro starts at CNY 5,300 (roughly $730 USD) for the base 12GB/256GB model in China, with the 12GB/512GB version available for CNY 5,699 (about $785 USD) during pre-sale promotions. For global buyers, leaked details suggest the 12GB RAM and 512GB storage variant will be priced around €1,299 (approximately $1,380 USD). This higher global price is consistent with what is typically seen for international releases.

This premium pricing places the Oppo Find X9 Pro squarely among other flagship devices like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and the iPhone 17 Pro. The Find X9 Pro stands out as a compelling choice for those who prioritize top-tier photography, long battery life, and consistent day-to-day performance in a premium smartphone. For buyers seeking standout hardware and camera versatility, it remains a strong contender in the flagship space.

Verdict

The Oppo Find X9 Pro is a thoughtful evolution of the Find X series, striking a balance between bold new features and refined design. Its camera system, developed in partnership with Hasselblad, delivers impressive results for both photography and video, while the optional telephoto extender brings creative flexibility to mobile imaging. The display is a visual highlight, and the large battery provides reliable endurance for heavy users.

There are still some compromises to consider. The device’s large size and weight may not suit everyone, and the premium global price puts it in direct competition with established heavyweights like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and Apple iPhone 17 Pro. For those who prioritize standout photography, a massive battery, and a comprehensive flagship experience, the Find X9 Pro remains a strong and appealing contender in today’s top-tier smartphone landscape.

The post Oppo Find X9 Pro Review: A 200MP Telephoto Beast With Massive Battery Life first appeared on Yanko Design.

The Ring-Shaped DJ Controller That Shrunk a Deck Into a Donut

Forget everything you think you know about DJ equipment. Those massive decks, the fortress of knobs and sliders, the setup that practically requires its own zip code? Designer Chaewon Lee just shrunk it all down to something you can hold in your hands, and honestly, it’s kind of brilliant.

Meet Tuno, a concept device that reimagines what it means to DJ in 2025. This isn’t about replacing the club setup or taking over professional stages. It’s about bringing that same creative energy into your everyday life. Imagine mixing tracks on your commute, blending beats while hanging out at the park, or creating spontaneous sets wherever inspiration strikes. That’s the world Tuno is designed for.

Designer: Chaewon Lee

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At first glance, Tuno looks nothing like traditional DJ equipment. It’s a ring-shaped controller, roughly the size of a CD, designed to be held with both hands like a steering wheel. The donut form isn’t just aesthetic; it’s functional, expanding the control surface while keeping every button, dial, and slider within natural thumb and finger reach. Two symmetrical sides mirror the traditional two-deck DJ setup, letting you blend tracks by simply moving your hands across the circular interface. Controls are embedded along the ring’s surface, with a spring-loaded spinning button on top that mimics the feel of a classic jog wheel. It’s compact enough to toss in a bag, yet substantial enough to feel like a real instrument in your hands.

The concept itself is fascinating. Lee, who happens to be both an industrial designer and a DJ, approached this from a deeply personal place. As someone who experiences music through the lens of performance, she noticed a gap between listening and creating. Music is everywhere, constantly accessible through our phones and streaming apps, but actually mixing it? That still requires lugging around equipment or being tethered to a laptop. Tuno asks a simple question: what if it didn’t have to be that way?

What makes this concept particularly smart is how it builds on existing DJ knowledge rather than trying to reinvent the wheel. If you’ve ever used CDJ equipment (the industry standard turntables), Tuno will feel instantly familiar. But Lee took those interactions and condensed them into something radically more portable and intuitive. The result looks less like traditional DJ gear and more like a sculptural donut you can hold in both hands.

The functionality packed into this compact form is genuinely impressive. Tuno handles everything essential for mixing: EQ controls, effects processing, and beat matching. But here’s where it gets clever. Instead of six separate knobs like traditional CDJs use, Tuno simplifies everything through a click wheel and scroll button. Click to select your frequency range (high, mid, or low), then scroll to adjust levels. It’s the kind of interface refinement that makes you wonder why it wasn’t always this way.

Then there are the delightful details that show Lee really thought about the user experience. Built-in wireless earbuds connect to your music app and activate the device the moment you put them in. Want to monitor one deck like DJs do with their headphones? Just tilt your head to one side, and the motion sensor handles the rest. Need to switch tracks? Flip the device. Want a song recommendation with similar BPM? Give it a shake. These gesture controls feel playful and intuitive, turning technical tasks into natural movements. The visual feedback is equally thoughtful. Lighting UI shows real-time beat flow, giving you the information you need at a glance. And that spring-loaded button on top? It spins to help you beat-match tracks, delivering the tactile satisfaction of a traditional jog wheel in a completely new form factor.

Of course, Tuno is still a concept at this stage. It exists in that exciting space between vision and reality, where anything feels possible. But that’s part of what makes it compelling. This project isn’t just about creating another gadget. It’s about questioning how we interact with music creation and asking whether the tools we’ve been using are really the best solutions or just the ones we’re used to. Whether it ever makes it to production or remains a beautifully executed concept, it’s already succeeded in making us imagine a different future for music creation. And sometimes, that’s exactly what great design is supposed to do.

The post The Ring-Shaped DJ Controller That Shrunk a Deck Into a Donut first appeared on Yanko Design.

Solos AirGo A5 Just Ditched the Camera for Something Better

The next time you notice someone talking to their glasses, they might not be losing it. Solos has announced that its AirGo A5 smart glasses, first revealed earlier this summer, are now officially available to buy. And unlike practically every other pair of smart glasses fighting for your attention right now, these ones took a different approach. They left the camera out on purpose.

In a world of increasingly complex tech, the AirGo A5 stands out by doing more with less, bringing rich audio, intuitive AI, and effortless functionality into a familiar, lightweight form‪‪‬. At $249, the fifth-generation A5 frames more closely align with the minimalist look of traditional eyewear instead of cramming in features you might never use. If you’ve felt a little creeped out by the idea of cameras constantly recording everything (or just don’t want to deal with the bulk), these might actually make sense.

Designer: Solos

Designed for users who want everyday glasses and intelligent features without the bulk or distraction of traditional wearables, A5 refines Solos’ audio-first experience into something you can wear all day‪‪‬. That means you’re getting upgraded directional speakers that minimize sound leakage for a more private listening experience, while enhanced bass delivers richer, deeper sound quality across music, calls, and voice responses. No more worrying about blasting your podcast to everyone sitting next to you on the train.

What really sets these apart is how effortless the interaction feels. The A5 features automatic power-on/off for effortless activation and hands-free wake-up word functionality, letting you simply say “Hey Solos” to engage AI tools like SolosChat without reaching for a phone‪‪‬. Whether you’re queuing up a warm-up routine before a workout, finding a dinner recipe while your hands are covered in flour, or replying to a message while walking the dog, the A5 integrates real-time assistance into everyday routines without breaking your flow. Natural, fluid interactions are now even more seamless, allowing you to jump in with follow-up questions, just like talking to a friend. You’re not stuck repeating commands like you’re talking to a confused robot. It actually gets context and responds naturally.

The design itself keeps things refreshingly simple. This generation features an ultra-lightweight design engineered for all-day comfort, utilizing the brand’s SmartHinge modular system‪‪‬. Here’s where things get really interesting: the AirGo A5 is compatible with all frame fronts in the existing AirGo 3 lineup, offering an easy upgrade path for current users who can blend advanced smart features into the style and comfort they already love. So if you already own AirGo 3 frames, you can just upgrade the smart temples instead of buying an entirely new pair. That’s a pretty consumer-friendly move in a world where tech companies usually want you to replace everything every year.

Users can access SolosChat (powered by ChatGPT) for on-demand information and assistance and use the new SolosTranslate platform for real-time, hands-free language translation in up to 25 languages, all without fumbling for your phone in your pocket‪‪‬. For travelers or anyone working in multilingual environments, that’s genuinely useful tech that solves real problems. For those who already bought into the Solos ecosystem, the A5 smart temples are available as a separate upgrade kit for $174‪‪‬, which is a decent deal if you’re happy with your current frames and just want the tech refresh.

The real question is whether skipping the camera was the right call. The A5 presents a stark contrast to the recently announced glasses from EssilorLuxottica and Meta, such as the Ray-Ban Display and Oakley Vanguard. While Meta Ray-Bans dominate headlines with their camera capabilities, Solos seems to be betting that plenty of people just want convenient AI access without the baggage of being a walking surveillance device. That’s not a bad bet, honestly. But if you really want cameras integrated into your eyewear, they do have the Solos AirGo V2.

These are now available directly from solosglasses.com, and for anyone who’s been eyeing the smart glasses trend but felt like most options were overkill, the AirGo A5 might finally hit that sweet spot between useful tech and something you’d actually want to wear every day.

The post Solos AirGo A5 Just Ditched the Camera for Something Better first appeared on Yanko Design.

German engineer 3D prints real-life X-Wing drone that hits top speeds of 200 km/h

Spaceships from the Star Wars universe have inspired many of us, and DIYer Luis is no exception. His fascination, however, has gone far beyond mere admiration. He has actually built a model that can fly just like the ones in the movies. Introducing the incredible Star Wars X-Wing drone, capable of flying at speeds of over 200 km/h.

A creation of YouTuber and DIYer Luis (a.k.a. German Engineer), the drone was perfected after about six different iterations. The flying prototype has been achieved, the builder informs, after countless crashes. However, now that it is functional, the engineer has made the 3D printing files of the build available for other users to replicate.

Designer: German Engineer

The idea of the X-Wing drone came to Luis after he saw a similar idea developed by Red Bull. It was a First-Person View drone (shaped like a slender rocket) designed to fly at speeds of over 310 km/h. This ingenious design got him into mulling the possibility of replicating a T-65 X-Wing Starfighter from Star Wars capable of real-world flying, which many DIYers have tried before but failed, because the basic wing structure of such a drone is unstable in high-speed flying.

It may have been a hindrance, but not an idea killer for Luis, who has combined 3D printing, carbon fiber, and ingenious engineering to design an X-Wing that can actually fly. He took the flyer for a trip to Lake Como, Italy, for the flight test of the final prototype, which turned out fast–flying at over 200 km/h, though not as fast as Red Bull, its inspiration. The 3D printed drone was, according to the creator, able to reach a top speed of 216 km/h (134 mph) in a total airborne time of about 10 minutes.

According to the details in the video detailing the build process, the initial iterations of the drone comprised a flimsy carbon fiber frame that had vibrations, and the drone crashed mid-flight after the controls shut down. Through repeated crashes and amends, Luis thought of 3D printing structural components of the drone with carbon fiber reinforced filament, which was a faster process of creation, and eventually a drone with 3D printed body panels was conceived, which finally had the structural integrity required for high-speed flying.

The flying is as much made possible with the placement of the engines as with the structural integrity. Instead of putting them close to the flyer’s body (as in the Star Wars movies themselves), Luis has used 4 FPV motors on the wingtips. This may not be movie-level accuracy, but the tweak makes flying possible, resulting in a drone capable of hitting top speeds of 216 km/h. Besides this, most of the actions are pretty close to those in the movies.

The post German engineer 3D prints real-life X-Wing drone that hits top speeds of 200 km/h first appeared on Yanko Design.