Are today’s sophisticated smartphone camera features turning you into a budding photography enthusiast? You’re not alone. Users today are actively seeking devices that promise the most advanced photography features — those with the power to bring striking life to images. Vivo’s V25 series, particularly the V25 and V25 Pro, are among them.
With both devices’ 64MP ultra-sensing camera, 8MP super wide-angle camera, and 2MP super macro camera, the possibilities (and angles) are near endless for those who want the power in their pockets to capture life’s best moments.
If you’re on the hunt for a new device and consider photography a priority, here are six features of the vivo V25 series that will make you feel like a pro.
AI HD Algorithm
Another feature of the front-facing camera, the AI HD algorithm will transform your portrait photography game. It is engineered to improve face clarity and image quality through an intelligent AI algorithm that enhances your natural features.
The AI HD algorithm, having captured and analysed key details from a large number of facial photos, also adapts to changing light conditions. Don’t be surprised if your selfie turns out bright and clear even in low light.
Photography tip: Shoot portraits with HD mode on to see the difference in quality. Additionally, shoot in different lighting conditions and notice the crisp details of the face, hair and color of portraits.
Real-Time Extreme Night Vision
A challenge users commonly face with night photography is insufficient brightness, dim light over the face, poor definition, and more noise compared with better-lit conditions. Vivo addressed this challenge through its V25 series’ Super Night Video feature, which improves brightness and reduces unwelcome noise.
What’s even more powerful among the V25 night camera features is the Real-Time Extreme Night Vision. Here, exposure intensity and brightness can be manually adjusted, allowing users to enjoy even more freedom as they edit their night photos.
Photography tip: This mode is turned on by default. So, test it by taking photos at night or in extremely low-light conditions. You will see how night shooting has many more possibilities with this feature.
Bokeh Flair Portrait
This dynamic portrait feature on the rear camera allows users to capture and smoothen facial features, while retaining clarity and crispness of the image. When outdoors, users can select this feature to take stunning portraits even at night or in situations with low light.
To make the feature more fun for those wishing to play around with their photos, Vivo has added filters such as falling cherry blossoms, starbursts and more, allowing a welcome touch of personalisation.
Photography tip: Shoot portraits across various light sources and use different filters for extra fun and even more creative portraits.
Multi-Style Portrait (Motion Blur)
This feature, along with the bokeh portrait effect, allows for even greater creativity as it separates the subject from the background through radial blurring. This means no more cluttered backgrounds filled with people, vehicles, and other kinds of movement.
The feature places the main character on a clean background, which is especially handy for users wanting to take aesthetic images in crowded places.
Photography tip: Turn on Motion Blur and attempt to take pictures in high traffic areas to understand the feature’s ability to separate other characters from the background, while retaining a sense of movement.
Eye AF Selfie
One of the sharpest front camera features you will find, the Eye AF Selfie allows users to shoot crisp portraits thanks to high-level pixels of the 50MP ultra-sensing camera in the V25. These high-level pixels allow zoomed-in or cropped photos to still retain clarity, sharpness and detail.
The V25 Pro, with its 32MP Eye AF Selfie, takes equally sharp clicks during day and night. Meanwhile, the front-facing cameras of the V25 series feature an ‘eye focus’ feature, which ensures blur-free selfies even in a state of motion.
Photography tip: Test the camera focus by moving in and out of the frame while taking a few clicks to determine clarity and definition
Double Exposure
For high-end users and professional photographers, this feature is typically difficult to find and apply effectively on a smartphone. Luckily, the vivo V25 series has included it across both smartphones ― the V25 and V25 Pro.
Double Exposure allows users to add an artistic layer to their shots in the form of an attractive scenario set behind the image of the subject. This superimposing effect of including two or more exposures in one image provides another layer of creativity for users wanting to experiment with what’s possible from their device.
Photography tip: You can use double exposure to blend two shots of the same subject, creating a compelling juxtaposition.
With all devices in the V25 series having effortless usability, there’s much more to discover simply by experimenting with the camera app.
Take your smartphone photography further. The vivo V25 and V25 Pro are priced at Dh1,499 and Dh2,199 respectively and available across the UAE.
'The Batman'
Stars:Robert Pattinson
Director:Matt Reeves
Rating: 5/5
Race card
6.30pm: Handicap (TB) $68,000 (Dirt) 1,200m
7.05pm: Meydan Cup – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (Turf) 2,810m
7.40pm: UAE 2000 Guineas – Group 3 (TB) $125,000 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm: Firebreak Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (D) 1,600m
9.50pm: Meydan Classic – Conditions (TB) $$50,000 (T) 1,400m
9.25pm: Dubai Sprint – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,200m
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.
Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League quarter-final, second leg (first-leg score)
Porto (0) v Liverpool (2), Wednesday, 11pm UAE
Match is on BeIN Sports
Watch live
The National will broadcast live from the IMF on Friday October 13 at 7pm UAE time (3pm GMT) as our Editor-in-Chief Mina Al-Oraibi moderates a panel on how technology can help growth in MENA.
You can find out more here
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
The biog
Hometown: Cairo
Age: 37
Favourite TV series: The Handmaid’s Tale, Black Mirror
Favourite anime series: Death Note, One Piece and Hellsing
Favourite book: Designing Brand Identity, Fifth Edition
The Birkin bag is made by Hermès.
It is named after actress and singer Jane Birkin
Noone from Hermès will go on record to say how much a new Birkin costs, how long one would have to wait to get one, and how many bags are actually made each year.
The lowdown
Bohemian Rhapsody
Director: Bryan Singer
Starring: Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee
Rating: 3/5