Xiaomi Mi A2 launched in India: From price to specs, all you need to know

The Xiaomi Mi A2 gets a major design overhaul in comparison to the predecessor, along with several new improvements in terms of specifications and features.

 

Technology News: Xiaomi, a Chinese mobile phone manufacturer, launched a Google Android One operating system-based Xiaomi Mi A2 smartphone in India on Wednesday, priced at Rs 16,999 for 4GB variant with 64GB internal storage model. Pre-order for the smartphone will begin at 12pm on August 9, 2018, and the first sale will be at 12pm on August 16. The 6GB variant with 128 GB internal storage model will be launched later in the market.

 

Xiaomi Mi A2 comes with a data and cashback offer from Jio. It features a familiar design that the company introduced with the launch of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro. The phone sports a bigger 5.99-inch in-plane switch (IPS) screen in a form factor almost identical to the predecessor. The screen features fullHD+ resolution that stretches in an 18:9 aspect ratio, protected by a 2.5D curved Corning Gorilla Glass 5. While most other midrange phones are moving towards all glass design, the Mi A2 retains the metallic body design of its predecessor, but now boasts more colour options.

Xiaomi Mi A2

First unveiled in Spain on July 24, the device is a successor of the Mi A1, which was the first Xiaomi smartphone to run stock Android out of the box.

In terms of specifications, the Xiaomi Mi A2 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 system-on-chip, paired with 4GB RAM and 64GB internal storage. Being an Android One smartphone, the Mi A2 runs vanilla Android Oreo 8.1, and the company had promised to upgrade it to Android P sometime later this year. The phone also gets unlimited high-quality photos storage on Google Drive.

Mi A2 features a 12MP Sony IMX486 with f/1.75 aperture and a 20MP Sony IMX376 secondary sensor with f/1.75 aperture on the back. The front camera is a 20MP one with LED flash. The phone packs a 3,010mAh battery and the Indian variant supports Qualcomm’s QuickCharge 4.0. However, there’s no special fast-charger in the box. Finally, Mi A2 does not have a microSD slot or...continue reading

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News Source : BS

Asus Zenfone Ares with 8GB RAM, 128GB internal storage launched: Know more

The Zenfone Ares and Zenfone AR has a lot in common, including the artificial reality and virtual reality platforms — courtesy Google Tango and Daydream projects.

 

Technology News : Asus, a Taiwan-based electronics major, has announced the launch of Zenfone Ares in its home country. Based on the blueprints of Zenfone AR, which was unveiled at the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) 2017, the Zenfone Ares has a lot in common with respect to predecessor, including the artificial reality and virtual reality platforms — courtesy Google Tango and Daydream projects.

In terms of specifications, Asus Zenfone Ares sports a 5.7-inch WQHD super AMOLED display that has a traditional 16:9 aspect ratio. The phone is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor, paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. Fulfilling Google’s Project Tango requirements, the smartphone features a 23-megapixel primary sensor, coupled with Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) and Electronic Image Stabilisation (EIS).

The camera supports motion-tracking and depth-sensing for AR and VR utilities. The smartphone boots Android 7.1 Nougat out of the box. It boasts a five-magnet speaker that supports Hi-Resolution audio and DTS surround sound.

The Zenfone Ares display comes covered with fingerprint and oil repellent antifouling coating. Asus also integrated company’s Tru2life technology to improve screen outdoor visibility. For multimedia enthusiasts, Zenfone Ares comes with native SonicMaster 3.0 support, along with Hi-Res Audio 384kHz and DTS Headphone:X 7.1 channel surrounding sound.

In terms of connectivity, the phone supports dual SIM, 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS/ A-GPS and NFC. The phone features an accelerometer, electronic compass, proximity sensor, gyroscope, barometer and a fingerprint sensor. It measures 158.67 x 77.4 x 8.95 mm and weighs 170g.

Read More → Asus Zenfone Ares

Huawei P20 Pro Review: Worthy challenger to Samsung Galaxy S9, iPhone X

The Huawei P20 Pro might be on the pricier side, but the smartphone impresses as an all-rounder on all parameters, including photography.

 

Technology News : Chinese smartphone manufacturer Huawei has had a sketchy presence in India: The previous Huawei-branded smartphone to come to India was the Huawei P9, launched in August 2016. Now, after more than a year and a half, the world’s third-largest smartphone brand has launched in the country its flagship Huawei P20 Pro at Rs 64,999, soon after the smartphone’s international unveiling in Paris on March 27.

The Huawei P20 Pro boasts a tri-camera set-up on the rear, a modern notch-based screen on the front, premium glass and metal build, and system-wide artificial intelligence capabilities. The flagship smartphone has a lot in store for everyone, but the phone is primarily directed to the niche audience of shutterbugs.

On paper, the Huawei P20 Pro competes, even surpasses, the flagship Samsung Galaxy S9-series and Apple iPhone X. However, is this the device that can bring some fresh air to the premium flagship segment, dominated at present by Samsung and Apple? Let’s take a look:

Design

• The Huawei P20 Pro boasts a glass-metal-glass sandwich design, similar to the Galaxy S9-series and iPhone X. The curved glass back in the P20 Pro shows different colour hues when looked at from different angles, unlike the bland single colour that competitors have. However, the protruding camera module and a glass prone to fingerprints, similar to the iPhone X, might not catch everyone’s fancy.
• The front is dominated by a notch-based 18.7:9 aspect ratio fullHD+ AMOLED screen and a fingerprint scanner that also doubles up as a gesture-based navigation key. The addition of a fingerprint scanner on the front might not look appealing, but it makes unlocking the device or navigating more convenient, especially when the phone is placed on a flat surface like table.

Screen

• The Huawei P20 pro sports a 6.1-inch fullHD+ OLED screen with a notch on top to accommodate the selfie camera, earpiece-cum-secondary speaker and a host of sensors. While the notch-based screen set-up is still not optimised for immersive experience on the Android operating system, Huawei has customised the OS to best suit the screen format, so the screen automatically adapts to content and offers seamless transition from notch-based to without notch. Also, the notch can be enabled or disabled from settings, based on user preference. This gives the user complete control over the notch. That makes Huawei’s iteration of notch in the P20 Pro the most polished yet.

Camera

• The Huawei P20 Pro boasts the world’s first Leica-branded triple-camera set-up on the back. The phone has a 40-megapixel main shooter paired with a 20MP monochrome lens and an 8MP telephoto lens. There is also a 24MP selfie camera on the front.
• The rear tri-camera module used in the P20 Pro is an imaging powerhouse, especially in low-light conditions. The monochrome lens of f/1.6 aperture size gets ample light to brighten even the dull scene exponentially. Whereas the 8MP telephoto lens enables up to 5x zooming capabilities (up to 3x optical zoom), the 40MP primary sensor helps stack the additional information received by every megapixel to bring out photos that are full of details.
• The front camera, on the other hand, sports a 24MP shooter that takes equally satisfactory shots in any light condition.

 Battery

• Powering the P20 Pro is a 4,000 mAh battery, which keeps the phone working for more than a day. Interestingly, the battery charging time is also short and the phone goes up from zero to 100 per cent in less than 2 hours. The power-efficient screen with fullHD+ resolution, AI-based background task monitoring and optimised software help the phone beat competition in battery life.

Verdict

• Priced at Rs 64,999, the Huawei P20 Pro might be on the pricier side, especially as it is primarily a camera phone more than anything else. However, it would be undermine its all-round capabilities as a smartphone. The phone performs equally well on all other parameters – from screen to performance and multimedia. In its segment, the phone could prove a tough competitor to the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus.

Xiaomi Redmi S2 leak shows Redmi Note 5 Pro-inspired design: Details here

The India-bound budget-centric smartphone is reported to sport dual rear cameras and feature face-unlock mechanism. Here are all the details you need to have for the upcoming Xiaomi smartphone.

Technology News : Touted as the Redmi S2, the budget-centric smartphone is reported to sport dual rear cameras and feature the face-unlock mechanism, according to a report by online technology-based forum XDA-developers.

Now, the phone’s purported image renders, shared by a Czech-based online publication SvetAndroida, show Redmi S2’s front and back views. Based on renders, the phone would sport a tall 18:9 aspect ratio screen on the front and dual cameras on the back, along with a fingerprint scanner. The phone’s back seems identical to the Redmi Note 5 Pro, which was launched in India on February 14. However, the dual antenna lines on top and bottom have a different design and, therefore, the phone seems to bring some design element changes too.

In terms of specifications and features, the report in XDA hinted that the Xiaomi Redmi S2 would sport an 18:9 aspect ratio screen of HD+ (1440×720) resolution. It would be powered by a Qualcomm MSM 8953 system-on-chip (SoC), which is a Snapdragon 625 processor. In terms of storage, the phone would have a 16GB variant, though other storage models are also likely, and there would be a microSD card slot for storage extension. As for memory, the phone would likely come in 2GB and 3GB RAM variants.

Talking of imaging, the phone would have a dual-camera set-up on the back, which will either have the 12-megapixel primary sensor of Sony IMX486 or OmniVision OV12A10, and the 5MP Samsung S5K5E8 as the secondary sensor. On the front, there would be a 5MP Samsung S5K5E8 sensor.

The Xiaomi Redmi S2 would have a 3,080mAh battery and boot Android Oreo 8.1 out-of-the-box.

Based on most of the specifications and features, the Xiaomi Redmi S2 seems like a mixture of the Redmi 5 and Redmi Note 5 (Redmi 5 Plus) with added dual cameras on the back. While most of the specifications, such as HD+ screen and storage and RAM variants put it in line with the Redmi 5, the Snapdragon 625 processor would give the Redmi S2 a huge boost in terms of processing power.

Read more about  → Xiaomi Redmi S2

OnePlus 6 to have glass design, nanotech coating: Details here

The OnePlus 6 will depart from the present trend of an aluminium build in favour of a glass body but retain the horizontal lines and curved design, OnePlus CEO Pete Lau has confirmed in a blog post.

Technology News : OnePlus is gearing up to unveil the fifth iteration of its flagship smartphone, called the OnePlus 6. The smartphone will make a departure from the current trend of an aluminium build in favour of a glass body, but it would retain horizontal lines and curved design, OnePlus CEO Pete Lau has confirmed in a blog post.

Little has so far been officially said about the notch screen-based OnePlus 6, except that the phone will be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 system-on-chip (SoC) and have a 256GB storage variant paired with 8GB of RAM. But OnePlus has been teasing the features of the smartphone in the form of tweets and as part of other social media promotion activities – ingress protection (IP) rating for water and dust resistance, for example.

Now, talking about the design of the OnePlus 6, Pete Lau wrote a long blog explaining OnePlus’ approach to adopting new industrial designs. In the post, the CEO explained the rationale for the company’s move from a sandstone design in the OnePlus 1 to an aluminium design in the OnePlus 3, and now the glass design for the upcoming OnePlus 6. Lau also shared that the new glass build would contain five printed layers of Nanotech coating, which would give the device a stronger impression of depth.

The smartphone is expected to sport a dual-camera set-up on the back, utilising 16-megapixel and 20MP sensors placed vertically at the upper centre, instead of the horizontal set-up found in the current generation. The cameras on the back are followed by a rectangular shaped fingerprint sensor placed just below the camera unit. As for the front, the selfie camera is reported to feature a 20MP sensor of f/2.0 aperture size.

Nothing much has been officially confirmed, except that the OnePlus 6 would be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 system-on-chip (SoC) and the top-end variant would get an 8GB RAM and 256GB internal storage. However, the recent wireless certification also hints at the 64GB and 128GB internal storage variants with 6GB and 8GB RAM configurations.

As for the price, the OnePlus 6 would be the costliest smartphone from the stable of the Chinese smartphone maker. The OnePlus 6 with 64GB internal storage is reportedly going to cost between Rs 33,999 and Rs 36,999, while the 128GB storage variant may cost between Rs 38,999 and Rs 42,999, and the premium variant with 256GB storage between Rs 44,999 and Rs 48,999.

→ Oneplus 6 Features ←

Motorola unveils Moto G6, G6 Plus and G6 Play: Know specs, features, price

Motorola has announced the Moto G6, G6 Plus and G6 Play smartphones. Though the devices in this Moto series share the design theme, each has different specifications, features and prices. Details here.

Technology News : Lenovo-backed smartphone manufacturer Motorola has unveiled the sixth-generation Moto G-series smartphones – the Moto G6, G6 Plus, and G6 Play. The trio of smartphones runs on Google Android Oreo 8.0 and sports 18:9 screens, a first for Motorola devices, along with a fingerprint scanner, LED flash on the front and free subscription to store high-quality photos and videos on Google Photos.

Though the Moto G6 series of smartphones share their design theme with one another, each is different in terms of specifications and features. Here is what the Moto G6, Moto G6 Plus and Moto G6 Play offer:

Moto G6

The Moto G6 is placed in between the premium Moto G6 Plus and Moto G6 Play. As a result, the device maintains balance between the two and comes with a mix bag of premium and cost effective features.
The phone features an all-glass design using the Gorilla Glass 3 on the front and back, sandwiching a metallic chassis in between. It sports a 5.7-inch IPS screen of fullHD+ resolution. The device is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 system-on-chip (SoC), coupled with 3GB/4GB of RAM and 32GB/64GB of storage variants, respectively. In terms of imaging, the phone boasts dual cameras on the back -- 12-megapixel and 5MP – of f/1.8 aperture. There is an 8MP selfie camera on the front, coupled with LED flash. For multimedia enthusiasts, the phone features dual front-facing stereo speakers powered by Dolby audio.
The Moto G6 is powered by a 3,000 mAh battery. The phone comes bundled with a 15W TurboCharger in the box.

Moto G6 Plus

The Moto G6 Plus, as the name suggests, offers the most premium features in the Moto G6 family.
The phone sports a 5.9-inch IPS screen of fullHD+ resolution. It is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 SoC, paired with 4 GB or 6 GB of RAM and 64 GB and 128 GB of storage, respectively.
In terms of imaging, the phone sports a 12 MP and 5 MP dual camera on the back. The camera boasts Dual Pixel autofocus and is capable to record ultra-high-definition 4K videos. On the front, the phone sports an 8MP selfie camera with face filters feature and LED selfie flash.
The phone is powered by a 3,200 mAh battery and comes with a 15W TurboPower charger.

Moto G6 Play

The most affordable of the Moto G6 series, the Moto G6 Play sports a 5.7-inch HD+ screen. It is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 SoC, paired with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. The phone is powered by a 4,000 mAh battery, which can last up to 36 hours on a single charge – according to company’s claims. The phone also gets 15W TurboPower charger, similar to the one bundled with the Moto G6 and Moto G6 Plus.
In terms of camera, the phone features a single 13MP unit on the back and an 8MP selfie shooter on the front.
As for the availability, the Moto G6 family is currently moving to Europe and US, and there is no official confirmation around the India launch. As for the prices, the Moto G6, Moto G6 Plus and Moto G6 Play cost euro 250, euro 300 and euro 200, respectively.

Want to learn coding? Google Grasshopper app can teach you on your mobile

Google launched Grasshopper app, created by a team of coders known an 'Area 120', to help beginners learn programming languages on their smartphones. Here is all you need to know about Grasshopper app.

Technology News : Global search engine and technology giant, Google has launched Grasshopper app, a platform to help budding coders learn programming languages on the go using their smartphones. The app, created by a team of coders known by the name ‘Area 120’ from Google's workshop for experimental products, is available for free on Android and iOS devices and can be downloaded from Google PlayStore and Apple App Store, respectively.

Here is everything you need to know about the importance of coding and how you can use the Grasshopper app from the comfort of your home to ace the art of coding:

What is coding?

Coding, also known as programming, is the way to communicate with computers. It tells a computer what actions to take; writing a code is like creating a set of instructions for the computer to follow. By learning how to write a code, you can tell a computer what it has to do and how it has to behave in a much faster way. If you know coding languages, you can make websites and apps, process data, and do many other things.

Why Grasshopper?

The 'about' section of the Grasshopper app states: “Coding is becoming an essential skill, and we want to make it possible for everyone to learn even when life gets busy. We made Grasshopper to help folks like you get into coding in a fun and easy way. And, we put Grasshopper on a phone so you can turn your commute or waiting in line into a learning moment. We hope you like it and that it helps you embark on or continue your journey in learning to code.”

Setting up

Setting up the Grasshopper app is fairly easy. It requires your Google account to set up the app before taking you through basic coding definitions and a quiz at the end, which sets the tone for easy use of the app for learning coding. The app also asks for a reminder setting, which can be set either to daily or a couple of times in a week, based on your preference. The app is designed in a way that it does not require extended hours to learn anything. Instead, it has several lessons, each divided into small-sized introductions, practice sessions and quizzes that can be taken on the go.
By the end of using Grasshopper’s current curriculum, you should be familiar with core programming concepts and feel confident playing around within this playground to build interactive animations.

How to Use → Google Grasshopper App

Oppo F7 Review: Notch screen-based smartphone designed for selfie admirers

Priced at Rs 21,990 for the base model (64GB/4GB), the Oppo F7 seems to be a modern-day device designed for the millennials and social media enthusiasts with a knack for selfies.

Technology News : Chinese smartphone manufacturer Oppo, known for its selfie-centric devices, has become one of the first companies to introduce a notch screen-based Android device in India by launching the Oppo F7. The smartphone’s key features centre around its ultra-wide notch-based screen, a 25-megapixel selfie camera and artificial intelligence-backed scene optimisation.

The Oppo F7 seems to pack some punch on the specification sheet, especially with its 6GB RAM and 128GB storage in the top-end version. However, this selfie-centric smartphone delivers primarily on the imaging front more than any other aspect.

The Oppo F7 on several parameters to test its overall capabilities, and here are our observations:

The Oppo F7 packs a 6.22-inch fullHD+ screen in a glass-metal-glass sandwiched design. It feels light in hand, and its compact body, measuring almost equal to the conventional 5.5-inch 16:9 aspect ratio screen-based smartphones, is comfortable to hold and operate.

Talking about the screen, the glass on top of it seems to resist the touch response. The touch response seems like a mixed bag of hits and misses. The glass does register the touch but the screen shows some signs of lag, especially while scrolling a lengthy web page or YouTube videos playlist.

Coming to the imaging part, the Oppo F7 boasts a 16-megapixel sensor with f/1.8 aperture on the rear, and a 25MP sensor with f/2.0 on the front. The selfie camera has several software enhancements that aid the smartphone’s face-unlocking mechanism, and enhance the image output using artificial intelligence-based scene-selection modes.

Both the rear and front cameras offer satisfactory output. However, the strong post-processing tends to make images look artificial. For millennials and social media enthusiasts, the imaging in the Oppo F7 offers almost a complete package – including beautification, filters, etc. However, serious photographers might not appreciate the image output for its unnatural output.

Verdict → Oppo F7 Review

Priced at Rs 21,990 for the base model with 64 GB of internal storage and 4 GB of RAM, the phone seems to be on a pricier side and lacks the overall dynamism. However, if cost is not the constraint, the Oppo F7 could be a modern-day device designed for millennials and social media enthusiasts with a knack for selfies.

OnePlus 6 is expected to launch sometime this month or early next month. While nothing has been made official, the phone is expected to feature a new glass design and come in multiple colors.

Technology News : The upcoming OnePlus 6 smartphone from the stable of Chinese mobile phone manufacturer OnePlus is reported to come in at least three colour variants – black, white and blue – according to a leak reported on the China-based online technology portal GizmoChina.

The leak around the OnePlus 6, making rounds of the internet, hints at the possible design, imaging set-up, specifications, features and price of the upcoming midrange device.

While the OnePlus 6 screen’s notch and redesigned glossy back have been revealed in the past, suggesting a possible glass design, the new leak from the phone’s case maker brand Olivar showcased the phone’s complete front side, along with a glimpse of a new camera placement on the back.

According to image renders, the back side of the OnePlus 6 seems to get a major upgrade with new glass-based design, instead of the metallic build that the current generation boasts. However, a teaser image shared by the company on Twitter hints at an aluminium chassis, similar to the one found in the current-generation model, the OnePlus 5T.

In terms of imaging, the smartphone is expected to sport a dual-camera set-up on the back, utilising 16-megapixel and 20MP sensors placed vertically at the upper centre, instead of the horizontal set-up found in the current generation. The cameras on the back are followed by a rectangular shaped fingerprint sensor placed just below the camera unit. As for the front, the selfie camera is reported to feature a 20MP sensor of f/2.0 aperture size.

Nothing much has been officially confirmed, except that the OnePlus 6 would be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 system-on-chip (SoC) and the top-end variant would get an 8GB RAM and 256GB internal storage. However, the recent wireless certification also hints at the 64GB and 128GB internal storage variants with 6GB and 8GB RAM configurations.

As for the price, the OnePlus 6 would be the costliest smartphone from the stable of the Chinese smartphone maker. The OnePlus 6 with 64GB internal storage is reportedly going to cost between Rs 33,999 and Rs 36,999, while the 128GB storage variant may cost between Rs 38,999 and Rs 42,999, and the premium variant with 256GB storage between Rs 44,999 and Rs 48,999.

→ OnePlus 6 Price

Nokia 7 Plus First Impressions: Affordable performer, challenger to mighty

The smartphone’s first impressions suggest the Nokia 7 Plus is a capable performer that feels light in hand and looks plush from all sides.

Technology News : In time, when most smartphone makers are adopting iPhone X-inspired notch screen, Nokia seems to be catching up on yesteryear’s trend by launching the Nokia 7 Plus – the first smartphone with the modern 18:9 screen from the stable of HMD Global, the Finnish company behind the Nokia-branded phones.

While there is no dearth of ultra-wide aspect ratio screen devices, the Nokia 7 Plus seems to be the most polished version, at least in the Nokia portfolio. In terms of look and feel, the device’s build quality seems solid, thanks to the aluminium back, copper-layered chassis and Gorilla Glass on the front. Despite having a tall instance, the device feels comfortable in hand and is easy to operate. The ceramic-type coating on the back adds to the overall aesthetics while making it less prone to accidental falls.

Powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 system-on-chip (SoC), coupled with 64 GB of internal storage and 4 GB of RAM, the phone seems to work smoothly and shows no signs of lag anywhere. Even the heavy processor-intensive apps such as graphic-intensive games — Need for Speed No Limits and Asphalt Nitro – the phone manages to perform without heating up or slowing down the performance. The phone boots Android 8.0 Oreo out-of-the-box and supports Google Android One initiative, assuring timely updates and vanilla Android experience with no bloatware pre-installed.

Coming to the imaging part, the phone is aimed at content creators, so it boasts Nokia’s dual sight camera feature, which allows using the front camera and back camera simultaneously to capture both the ends. Talking about camera, the phone boasts dual rear-cameras with ZEISS Optics. The dual sensors use an ultra-sensitive 12-megapixel wide-angle lens and a 13MP telephoto lens that supports 2x optical zoom.

The rear cameras have a decent performance in low-light conditions and normal light shots seems satisfactory. That apart, the smartphone has a 16MP lens on the front that seems to fair well for selfies and video calls. Battery seems to be the key highlight of the Nokia 7 Plus. Powered by a 3,800 mAh battery, the phone easily lasts for up to 2 days under normal usage conditions, which includes 3-4 hours of gaming or movies. The phone features a USB type-C port, which support fast-charging and replenishes the battery power from zero to 50 per cent in almost half an hour.

Overall, the Nokia 7 Plus seems to be a capable performer with an attractive price tag of Rs 25,999. The phone feels light in hand and looks plush for all sides. The 18:9 aspect ratio screen adds to the aesthetics and we appreciate it over notch-based screen – in terms of utility.

Also Read  → Nokia 8 Sirocco

Samsung Galaxy S8 launched in burgundy red colour; priced at Rs 49,900

The smartphone is now available in five colour options i.e. midnight black, coral blue, maple gold, orchid gray and burgundy red.

Technology News : Samsung India announced the launch of its last year’s Galaxy S8 smartphone in a Burgundy Red colour. The South Korean giant had launched the Galaxy S8 series in April 2017 as its flagship smartphones. Initially, the handsets were available in Maple Gold and Midnight Black colour variants and, later in July, the company unveiled an Orchid Grey coloured model of the Galaxy S8.

The Burgundy Red colour variant of the Galaxy S8 comes just a month after Samsung launched its latest flagships – Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ – in the market. The company says that the Galaxy S8 “continues to be a bestseller” even one year after its launch. “The Burgundy Red edition of Galaxy S8 will wow consumers and allow them to express their own personal style,’ said Aditya Babbar, General Manager, Samsung India

The Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ received a price cut earlier this month. Now, the Samsung Galaxy S8 64GB model is priced at Rs. 49,990, which will be the price of the Burgundy Red edition too. Also, Samsung is offering an additional Galaxy S8 Cashback Offer of Rs. 10,000 if buyers pay via Paytm at the retail stores. Notably, the Burgundy Red variant of Samsung Galaxy S8 will be available for sale starting from April 13. Meanwhile, Galaxy S8+ 64GB model is priced at Rs. 53,990, while the 128GB storage option costs Rs. 64,900.

To recall some of the specifications, the Galaxy S8 is powered by the Samsung Exynos 8895 SoC and it had started receiving the Android 8.0 Oreo update earlier this year. The Galaxy S8 sports a 5.8-inch QHD+ (1440×2960 pixels) Super AMOLED Infinity Display, which is a dual-edge curved display with an 18.5:9 aspect ratio, complete with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection. The smartphone comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of inbuilt storage that’s expandable via microSD card (up to 256GB) in a hybrid dual-SIM configuration.

The Galaxy S8 features a 12-megapixel ‘Dual Pixel’ rear cameras with optical image stabilisation and a f/1.7 aperture. On the front, the smartphone bears an 8-megapixel front camera with autofocus, and also bear an f/1.7 aperture. The handset is fuelled by a 3000mAh battery, and supports wireless charging and fast charging.

→ Galaxy S8 Offers

OnePlus 6 Indian price, colour themes leaked: Specs, features & more

OnePlus 6 might be out soon and its 64GB, 128GB and 256GB variants may cost between Rs 33,999 to Rs 36,999, Rs 38,999 to Rs 42,999 and Rs 44,999 to Rs 48,999, respectively.

Technology News : OnePlus is gearing up to unveil notch screen-based OnePlus 6 sometime this month or early next month. However, the leaks of the smartphone have been making rounds on the internet hinting at the possible design theme, imaging set-up, specifications, features and price of the upcoming midrange device.

While the OnePlus 6 notch-based screen and the wooden back cover has been revealed in the past, the new leak showcases the phone’s new colour variants hinting at possible glass-based design, instead of metallic build that the current generation boasts. However, based on leaks, it is assumed that the phone would sport an aluminium frame, similar to the one found in current generation model – the OnePlus 5T.

In an interview with an online technology portal The Verge, OnePlus co-founder and CEO Carl Pei hinted that the upcoming flagship would sport a bigger display. He, however, did not mention the exact screen size and, based on leaks, it is expected that the OnePlus 6 would boast a 6.28-inch screen.

The OnePlus 6 would be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 system-on-chip (SoC). The top-end variant would get 8GB RAM and 256GB internal storage – as confirmed by the company in an official teaser. However, the 64GB and 128GB internal storage variants with 6GB and 8GB RAM configurations are also expected to be part of upcoming phone’s variants line-up.

The OnePlus 5T’s dual rear-cameras and modern 18:9 aspect ratio screen have been the core marketing features. However, for the OnePlus 6, the focus is solely on the notch-based screen and the information around camera is scarce – both from company’s side and through leaks. The silence around imaging hints at no major breakthrough in the front and back camera. Based on leaked specifications, however, the upcoming midrange smartphone is expected to sport 20-megapixel and 16MP resolution rear sensors with f/1.7 aperture on both the lenses. On the front, the phone is reported to get a new 20MP sensor with bright f/2.0 aperture lens.

Talking about the price, OnePlus has been raising the price of its devices with every successive generation. And, based on Indian price leak, the OnePlus 6 would be the costliest smartphone from the stable of Chinese smartphone maker. The OnePlus 6 with 64GB internal storage is reportedly going to cost between Rs 33,999 to Rs 36,999 while the 128GB storage variant may cost between Rs 38,999 to Rs 42,999 and the premium variant with 256GB storage may cost between Rs 44,999 to Rs 48,999.

Based on these prices, it can be assumed that OnePlus might unveil 6GB and 8GB RAM configurations with internal storage variants. Therefore, it is expected that the OnePlus 6 base model with 64GB internal storage, along with 128GB and 256GB variants, might also get 8GB RAM configuration.

Honor 10 teaser shows Huawei P20-inspired design, dual camera: Details here

The Honor 10 is expected to feature Kirin 970 SoC, coupled with up to 6 GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal storage. It is reported to feature an iPhone X-inspired 5.8-inch notch-based fullHD+ screen.

Technology News : Honor, the online subsidiary of Chinese smartphone manufacturer Huawei, is gearing up to unveil the Honor 10 smartphone on May 15 in London. The Honor-branded smartphones, as seen in the past, take cues from Huawei P-series and Mate-series flagship devices, so the Honor 10 is expected to be inspired by the Huawei P20-series phones.

According to an alleged official banner leaked on Chinese social media platform Weibo, the Honor 10 is reported to feature a glossy multi-colour back panel, similar to Huawei P20. The alleged phone image also shows a dual rear-camera unit placed horizontally on the top left corner. However, the fingerprint scanner is not visible on the back, so it is assumed to have been put on the front side below the screen.

Just like the Huawei P20-series, the Honor 10 is expected to feature Kirin 970 system-on-chip (SoC), coupled with up to 6 GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal storage. The phone is reported to sport an iPhone X-inspired 5.8-inch notch-based screen with fullHD+ resolution.

Being a cost-effective substitute to the premium Huawei P20-series smartphones, the Honor 10 might shed the Leica lens in favour of the company’s in-house imaging solution.

The phone’s camera is also expected to feature artificial intelligence-based scene selection and other camera modes. However, the AI-based camera feature in the Honor 10 might be limited in comparison with the Huawei P20-series smartphones.

Super-slow-motion videos at 960 frames per second (FPS) are another camera feature that might not be there in the Honor 10. However, the phone is expected to capture 480FPS slow-mo video at a 720p resolution.

The Honor 10 is expected to feature Android Oreo-based EMUI 8.0, with system-wide AI integration for enhanced user experience. As for the price, Honor phones usually get an affordable price tag when compared with the Huawei P-series and Mate-series smartphones. Therefore, the Honor 10 is expected to be priced in the mid range, rather than premium, especially in India.

→ Honor View 10 Review ←

Samsung Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+ now get cheaper by up to Rs 7,000: Details

The price reduction on Galaxy S8-series smartphones came soon after the company launched the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus, bundled with cashback and exchange offers in India.

Technology News : South Korean electronics major Samsung has reduced the price of its flagship smartphone from last year – the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus. The Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ with 64GB internal storage now cost Rs 49,990 and Rs 53,990, respectively, down from Rs 57,900 and Rs 64,900. The power-packed variant of the Galaxy S8+, which has 6GB RAM and 128GB internal memory, has also got a price reduction and now costs Rs 64,900, down from Rs 70,900.

The price reduction on Galaxy S8-series smartphones came soon after the company launched the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus, bundled with cashback and exchange offers in India. The Galaxy S9-series has been built on the blue print of the Galaxy S8-series smartphone. The changes in S9-series are mostly on the hardware side, especially the rear camera unit.

With a price reduction of up to Rs 7,000, are the Galaxy S8-series smartphone now value for money? Let’s find out:

Galaxy S8 over Galaxy S9

In terms of design, both the smartphones look similar and feature all-glass build on the front and back, sandwiching the metallic chassis in between. As a matter of fact, both the devices look extremely close and can only be differentiated by looking at the finger print scanner placement on the back. In terms of innards and features, the changes are nothing radical and, therefore, the Galaxy S8 can perform tasks on-par with Galaxy S9.

Galaxy S9 over Galaxy S8

Apart from minor design changes, the Galaxy S9 sports a new camera unit on the back that features 12-megapixel sensor with variable aperture lens – f/1.5 – f/2.4. The rear camera also supports super slow-mo videos at 960 frames per second (fps). Along with a new camera module, the Galaxy S9 also houses stereo speakers, custom-tuned by AKG.

→ Galaxy S8 Offer , Galaxy S9 Plus Offer ←

OnePlus 6 to have a screen notch, but smaller than Apple iPhone X

In an interview, Pei made references to iPhone X, its notch-based screen and what OnePlus has learnt from Apple’s notch-based screen set-up to enhance the user experience in its upcoming OnePlus 6.

Technology News : Some important insights on the still unofficial OnePlus 6 that had been doing the rounds of the internet for a while have now been made official by the company’s CEO and co-founder Carl Pei. In an interview with technology portal The Verge, Pei confirmed that the upcoming smartphone would embrace the notch screen, but with more thought and care than the other Android-based manufacturers that have adopted it.

Throughout the interview, Pei made references to iPhone X, its notch-based screen and how OnePlus took lessons from Apple’s notch-based screen set-up to enhance the user experience in its upcoming OnePlus 6.

Pei also made a reference to Essential PH1, which is among the first smartphones to sport a tiny circular display notch in the Android space. However, Pei believes that incorporating such a small notch could not be done without making some modifications to the device’s earpiece, selfie camera, sensors and notification lights, which might compromise the overall quality of the device.

On the other hand, Pei also stated that the notch size in the iPhone X was bigger due to its Face ID module; the notch in the OnePlus 6 would be smaller than iPhone X but bigger than the one found in Essential PH1. Pei also provided the precise measurements for the notch in OnePlus upcoming device; it will be 19.616mm x 7.687mm.

Talking about software enhancements, Pei said the company was working on enhancing the user experience by employing gesture-based navigation – again, something similar to iPhone X – to allow the phone to do away with Android navigation keys while allowing enhanced user experience based on gestures.

According to Pei, the company had to manually test the top 1,000 Play Store apps to understand how to make them compatible with the notch. To accommodate the notch, the company is shifting its clock to the left side of the screen, releasing more room for status icons.

Xiaomi Redmi 5 Review: Premium-priced all-rounder with a modern 18:9 screen

The Redmi 5 costs a tad higher when compared with the earlier Redmi-series smartphones. But the Redmi 5 notches up the smartphone game with its modern 18:9 aspect ratio screen.

Technology News : After a successful run in 2017 with its value-for-money smartphones, Xiaomi started 2018 with the launch of its budget-centric devices. Soon after the launch of the Redmi Note 5 and the Redmi Note 5 Pro, the Chinese mobile phone maker has launched the entry-level Redmi 5 in India at a price of Rs 7,999 for the base model.

Unlike what has been seen in previous-generation devices, the succeeding generation of Redmi-series smartphones costs a tad higher than the predecessor — be it the Redmi 5 Pro or the Redmi 5. However, the Redmi 5 notches up the smartphone game with its modern 18:9 aspect ratio screen wrapped in a metallic-plastic chassis which looks premium.

The smartphone is built on the blue print of its elder sibling, the Redmi Note 5, which gives it an edge in terms of design. However, the innards have been kept in line with previous generation, besides some minor improvements, to keep the price in check.

The Redmi 5 takes design cues from the Redmi Note 5 and, therefore, looks similar. However, the younger sibling has a few elements of difference. The front of the Redmi 5 is dominated by a 5.7-inch HD+ 18:9 aspect ratio screen, covered by a 2.5D glass. It does look plush; but for an 18:9 screen device, the smartphone has huge bezels on the top and bottom.

The screen is bright and vivid. However, the HD+ resolution in the 5.7-inch screen looks pixelated. For a budget smartphone, the screen works satisfactorily to render multimedia content such as photos and videos. The touch response is smooth and the phone registers the touch without lag.

Coming on to the back side, it is covered with a metallic sheet, but the chassis is made out of plastic that extends towards the back from top and bottom. The colour of the metallic sheet and plastic chassis has different shades; it comes to notice in bright light conditions. As for the build quality, it is top-notch and the edges blend well into the chassis with no gaps, either on the front or back.

→ Redmi 5 Review ←