Technical Glossary (1935 terms)

Standardized hardware and benchmark definitions across smartphones, laptops, CPUs, GPUs, SoCs, and tablets.

app drawer — The screen that lists every installed app on the device. [ SOFTWARE ]
app drawer lock — A setting that locks the app drawer to prevent changes. [ SOFTWARE ]
app library — An iOS screen that automatically organises all installed apps. [ SOFTWARE ]
app lock — A feature that requires authentication to open specific apps. [ SOFTWARE ]
app permissions — The access rights an app requests, such as camera or location. [ SOFTWARE ]
app size — How much storage an installed app occupies, including its data and caches. [ STORAGE ]
app standby — System management that limits background apps to save power. [ SOFTWARE ]
app switching — Moving between open apps using recent-apps or gestures. [ SOFTWARE ]
aptX Adaptive — aptX Adaptive is a variable-bitrate Bluetooth codec that balances quality and latency. [ AUDIO ]
aptX HD — aptX HD is a high-quality Bluetooth codec for better-than-standard audio. [ AUDIO ]
aptX Lossless — aptX Lossless is a Bluetooth codec that can carry CD-quality sound losslessly. [ AUDIO ]
aspect ratio camera — The proportional relationship between an image's width and height. [ CAMERA ]
astrophotography — A long-exposure mode for capturing the night sky and stars. [ CAMERA ]
audio balance — The relative volume of left and right audio channels. [ AUDIO ]
audio chip — An audio chip handles sound processing and amplification on a device. [ CHIPS ]
audio experience — The overall impression of a device's sound quality and features. [ AUDIO ]
audio latency — The delay between an action and its sound, important for games and video. [ AUDIO ]
audio output — The path through which a device sends sound to speakers, headphones, or audio gear. [ AUDIO ]
audio quality — How good audio sounds, set by codecs, bitrate, and hardware. [ AUDIO ]
audio score — A Audio score is a 0-100 DeviceBenchmark rating for that aspect of a device. [ GENERAL ]
audio tuning — Adjusting a device's sound signature to suit a brand or genre. [ AUDIO ]
auto HDR — A feature that upgrades SDR content to HDR dynamically. [ DISPLAY ]
auto-brightness — A feature that adjusts screen brightness using an ambient-light sensor. [ DISPLAY ]
autofocus — Automatic adjustment of focus to keep the subject sharp. [ CAMERA ]
autofocus speed — How quickly a camera locks focus onto a moving subject. [ CAMERA ]
availability — Availability describes where and when a product can be bought. [ GENERAL ]
average FPS — Average FPS is the mean frame rate over a run, a headline smoothness figure. [ GAMING ]
award — An award is a recognised honour given to a notable product. [ GENERAL ]
background app — An app that keeps running in the background when not on screen. [ SOFTWARE ]
background memory — RAM reserved for apps that are paused but kept ready to resume quickly. [ MEMORY ]
backlight — The light source behind an LCD panel that illuminates the pixels; OLED displays have no backlight. [ DISPLAY ]
backlight bleed — Light leaking unevenly from an LCD backlight around the edges, visible as bright patches on dark screens. [ DISPLAY ]
backup — A copy of a device's data kept to restore it later. [ SOFTWARE ]
badge — A small indicator on an app icon, usually showing unread counts. [ SOFTWARE ]
balanced driver — A headphone driver that uses a balanced armature for precise mids and highs. [ AUDIO ]
band — A frequency range used for cellular communication. [ CONNECTIVITY ]
bandwidth network — The data-carrying capacity of a network connection, in bits per second. [ CONNECTIVITY ]
base model — The base model is the lowest-priced configuration in a product line. [ GENERAL ]
bass — The low-frequency part of audio, felt as depth and punch. [ AUDIO ]
bass response — How well a speaker or headphone reproduces low frequencies. [ AUDIO ]
battery aging — The gradual loss of battery capacity and power delivery as a cell is cycled and ages. [ BATTERY ]
battery indicator — The on-screen icon or percentage showing how much charge a device has left. [ BATTERY ]
battery optimization — System settings that limit apps to extend battery life. [ SOFTWARE ]
battery percentage — Battery percentage shows remaining charge as a number out of 100. [ GENERAL ]
battery saver — A power-saving mode that limits background activity and screen power to extend runtime. [ BATTERY ]
battery score — A Battery score is a 0-100 DeviceBenchmark rating for that aspect of a device. [ GENERAL ]
battery temperature — The heat level of a battery, which affects both lifespan and safety. [ BATTERY ]
battery test — A battery test measures real-world endurance under a repeatable workload. [ BENCHMARK ]
battery warning — An alert shown when charge is critically low or the battery reports a problem. [ BATTERY ]
battle royale — A genre where many players compete until one remains. [ GAMING ]