It's no secret that modern Android phones often pack unnecessary specs - I'm looking at you, 108MP cameras and 4K screens - and the new Nubia Red Magic 7 Pro brings some more.
This is a new gaming phone from a company that's made quite a few at this point (hence the '7' in the name), so you'd think it'd know exactly what gamers need. Well, what they apparently need is more RAM than your average gaming PC .
That's right, the newly-unveiled Red Magic 7 Pro comes in a few configurations, and they top out at a whopping 18GB of RAM. Or, if you want to stick to a measly 16GB of RAM, you can go up to 1TB of storage space. That's a lot.
When I took the phone out of the box, and saw the high specs on the side of the box, I was pretty startled. But it was only when I was playing on my gaming PC later that I really twigged those specs.
It tops my gaming PC
My gaming PC, built in 2021 to be able to handle high-end gaming, as well as whatever DaVinci Resolve and Adobe After Effects could throw at it, has 'only' 16GB of RAM.
This was an amount that, when I was buying the parts, was sold to me as enough for these intensive processes. And, after having used the PC for months, it seems enough for games or video making. So 16GB is just fine for tasks that you wouldn't even do on a smartphone.
The PC 'only' has a 1TB SSD too, the same amount of storage space as the Nubia phone goes up to. Admittedly this wasn't the best decision on my part, and I've just ordered a 6TB HDD, but it goes to show that the Red Magic 7 Pro matches my gaming PC for storage space as well.
Obviously when you move on to the other specs, my gaming PC has the Nubia beat - but even when it comes to RAM, I just don't understand why the phone needs so much.
I should point out that neither the 18GB or 1TB models of Red Magic 7 Pro are going on sale in the US. But the two versions that are both have 16GB of RAM - the same as my PC - so my point remains.
The state of the game
When it comes to mobile gaming, there's a simple fact that undercuts lots of the marketing fluff around gaming phones.
Mobile phones aren't like consoles; there aren't just two or three versions that all gamers have. There are hundreds of different types of mobile phone, and to ensure that all mobile owners can play games together, most titles are optimized to play on all devices.
You don't need a super-powerful mobile to play PUBG, or Call of Duty, or Fortnite, or Genshin Impact. Any fairly modern device can do so, though maybe not at the top graphical options.
That's one curious, but appreciated, difference that mobiles have with PCs - lots of PC developers are happy to just shrug their shoulders and say 'well, some gamers can't play our game', locking out users who don't have top-end specs.
Perhaps because they're designed as portable and readily accessible, or perhaps because mobile developers are trying hard to compete for your attention, any old phone can play all the most popular games.
With that in mind, 18GB of RAM is just completely unnecessary. I'd go so far to say that you don't really need more than 8GB, and some won't even need that.
So why do phone companies, especially Nubia, push so hard into additional RAM like this? Well, it's hard to know for sure, but there's one reason that I can think of: I wouldn't be writing this article if the phone had a normal amount of memory.
The best PlayStation 4 controller deals in May 2022
Not yet upgraded to the PS5 and are still after a cheap PS4 controller? Whether you're grabbing an extra gamepad for more multiplayer options or picking up a controller to use with compatible PS4 titles on PS5, past deals show there are plenty of chances to save throughout the year.
That said, we haven't seen the price of a PS4 controller permanently drop since the PS5 launched. That's likely due to the fact that they can still be used with certain games on the new console and because there have been so many difficulties finding a PS5 restock since release that many still play on the PS4.
It's worth noting, however, that these PlayStation 4 controller deals aren't significantly less than the PS5 DualSense controller . That means if you are playing on a PS5 you might as well look for a cheap PS5 controller and get an upgraded experience on the next-generation gamepad.
If you're after more bargains, we've got all the latest PS5 deals for you to browse, as well as cheap PlayStation Plus deals and cheap PS5 game deals .
Cheap PS4 controller deals by color
One of the highlights of the DualShock family is that a wide variety of awesome colors are available. We've curated a list of the more tempting DualShock 4 deals for the various color variations below so you can pick out your favourite.
DualShock 4 Back Button Attachment deals
If you're looking for extra ways to jazz up your new PS4 controller, you might want to take a look at the relatively new DualShock 4 Back Button Attachment . The small device clips onto the back of your controller and provides access to two new mappable buttons for extra functionality in your games. So far, the new add-on has proven incredibly popular, especially across the US. That means if you spot a price below that you like, grab it - it may well slip back out of stock soon.
How much does a PS4 controller cost?
The PS4 controller price does depend on the color you're choosing. The standard 'Jet Black' model can drop as low as $25 - $30 / £25 - £30 in sales events, but is usually found closer to $49.99 / £49.99. In general, other colors follow this suit, but the more premium limited or special edition designs can reach into the $70 / £70 price range.
Is a cheap PS4 controller worth it in 2022?
Even though many have taken the leap to the PS5 now, cheap PS4 controllers still have their place on your shelf. The current generation device is, after all, still extremely difficult to find - so you might still need to put in some more time with your PS4 over the next few months while you hunt for stock. With many of the latest releases and PlayStation exclusives heading straight to PS4 as well as PS5, there's plenty of content out there to keep you going as well.
Not only that, but PS4 controllers will still work with previous-gen titles running on PS5 so having a spare handy will come in useful for older multiplayer games as well. You can also use a PS4 controller for PS5 Remote Play on your phone, tablet or laptop as well.
DJI Mini 3 Pro leak shows chunky drone has traded looks for features
Another huge DJI Mini 3 Pro photo leak has revealed the incoming drone's design from almost every angle – and the snaps show that its new features have come at the expense of sleek looks.
The Mini 3 Pro is expected to be a more advanced follow-up to the DJI Mini 2 , which is currently DJI's smallest model and, in our book, the best beginner drone you can buy. But its successor has had to cram in new features, like obstacle avoidance sensors, without increasing its footprint – and this has seemingly resulted in a somewhat bulbous design.
The leaked photos from @DealsDrone (above) confirm that the drone will have the design we saw on leaked packaging in March , which includes two large front-facing obstacle sensors. If the new photos are genuine, then it appears these bumps will also include rear-facing sensors.
It's the side-on photo of the Mini 3 Pro that really shows its rotund girth, particularly when its arms are unfolded. But a drone's looks aren't high on the priority list for many fliers and there are likely good reasons for its design, with previous leaks pointing to the inclusion of a larger battery and bigger camera sensor on the drone.
Crucially, it seems the Mini 3 Pro will still, like its predecessor, dip under the crucial 250g weight barrier. In many territories, drone that weigh under 250g are exempt from the need for registration, and these photos again show a marking on the Mini 3 Pro's underside that says "ultra light, 249g".
What isn't yet clear is if the Mini 3 Pro has some additional leeway in that weight for adding accessories like ND filters and propellor guards, while keeping it below the 250g mark. That could be important for some fliers, like those in the US, whose "category 1" drones need to have "no exposed rotating parts" when flying over people.
Another of the leaked photos, showing a close-up of the camera, appears to confirm rumors that the DJI Mini 3 Pro will be able to shoot video in portrait, which will popular among those looking to create aerial videos for Instagram or TikTok. Given the size of this leak, it seems likely that DJI's next drone will launch soon, with a full take-off likely later this month.
Analysis: A few questions still remain
The DJI Mini 3 Pro's design has seemingly been revealed in full, but a few questions still remain about the drone.
Firstly, we still don't know what its sensor size will be. Previous rumors have pointed towards a 1/1.3in CMOS sensor, which would be larger than the 1/2.3in chip in the DJI Mini 2, but that's an important detail we may not hear about until the official launch.
There's also the question about exactly how many versions of the Mini 3 Pro we'll get. So far, there haven't been any leaks or rumors about a standard DJI Mini 3 drone, aside from some possible pricing that came from Chinese social media.
This means it's possible we'll only see a DJI Mini 3 Pro land later this month, with various bundles offering different price points. The most expensive bundle is expected to include the new DJI RC controller that we've also seen leaked recently, which could take the price tag above the DJI Air 2S – an all-rounder that we consider to be the best drone you can buy.
But it's likely that we'll also see a cheaper DJI Mini 3 Pro without that controller, with a more affordable bundle including a standard controller that works with your smartphone. For those on a stricter budget, an even bigger question is what might happen to the price of the DJI Mini 2 after the Mini 3 Pro arrives – while there's no guarantee of a discount, it's certainly worth holding on to find out.