Goodbye spring, hello summer — and 👋 to a new Snapdragon Insider of the Month. Meet Chad Torres (@chadptorres on Twitter and Instagram), a photography enthusiast from the US.
Let’s see what Chad has to say about being a member of the global Snapdragon Insiders community.
What sparked your interest in technology?
Back when the first Google Pixel came out, I bought it and was amazed by the photos it took. I was so into it that I joined a photography group that was strictly for people with Pixels. A lot of the people in the group would talk about technology, really getting into the features and what makes it tick, and that got me excited to get into it more. I started buying more smartphones and it snowballed from there.
How did you get involved with Snapdragon Insiders?
I post a lot of my photography on Twitter and Instagram and one day Ryan Cleary (@spintheweedawg on Twitter) messaged me. He said that he saw how much photography I do on my Samsung devices and let me know about Snapdragon Insiders and invited me to join. I’ve done everything with them since.
What’s your go-to device with a Snapdragon® mobile platform?
My current device is the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. I typically purchase several phones throughout the year, but I’ve been sticking with the S23 Ultra as my main device lately because it seems to be the best for photography.
Why are you a fan of Snapdragon?
I love Snapdragon chips and everything they enable me to do on a device. Especially with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy — the battery life is the best I’ve ever had in a phone. The photography is incredible, and gaming is extremely smooth. I know it’s only going to get better from here.
What’s the best photo you’ve ever taken with a smartphone camera powered by Snapdragon?
I would say the picture of the San Francisco Bay Bridge I took when I went to Samsung Unpacked with Snapdragon this year. It’s probably the most recognizable photo I’ve ever taken, it's awesome.
If budget wasn’t an issue, what's your ideal photo shoot location?
I’d have to say Europe. I’ve never been there and I’d love to do a tour of several countries — Germany, France, Italy, everywhere. I’d love to spend a month or two taking pictures of the buildings and architecture. That’s always been a dream of mine.
We know you love your smartphone with a Snapdragon mobile platform, are you interested in trying more devices with Snapdragon?
I was in the market for a new laptop recently and, coincidentally, I was selected to receive a Dell Inspiron 14 with the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 Compute Platform as part of the Snapdragon Insiders Access Program. I’ve been so happy with my phones powered by Snapdragon and being a part of the Snapdragon Insiders community has made me want to use more technology with Snapdragon, so receiving this laptop was perfect.
What’s it like to be part of the Snapdragon Insiders community?
It’s been life changing. I’ve made friends from all over the world. I chat daily with about ten people I never would have known without Snapdragon Insiders. Even the people from the Snapdragon Insiders team have been incredible — they’re the greatest leaders you could have in a group.
Who is your favorite Snapdragon Insider to follow?
There are so many, but I can give you a top three: Ryan Cleary (@spintheweedawg on Twitter), Devin Arthur (@Lexcyn on Twitter), and Piotr Bartkowiak (@piotrbartkowiak on Twitter).
What do you like most about being a Snapdragon Insider?
It’s got to be the community and the connections you make with other Snapdragon Insiders. I also really like how this program is put together. The fact that the social media team really puts themselves out there keeps us all engaged with each other and we get incredible opportunities with Snapdragon.
Who is your favorite Snapdragon Insider to follow? Let us know on Discord.
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