OnePlus 6T to ditch 3.5mm jack for in-display fingerprint, bigger battery

The OnePlus 6T is expected to be a major upgrade over the current-generation flagship OnePlus 6, at least in terms of features; it will also drop some to accommodate new upgrades.

 

Technology News: OnePlus is gearing up to launch the OnePlus 6T sometime in the last quarter of this year. Like every previous launch, the company is divulging details on key features of the upcoming smartphone. The OnePlus 6T is expected to be a major upgrade over the current-generation flagship OnePlus 6, at least in terms of features. And, it will also drop some to accommodate new upgrades.

Speaking of upgrades, the OnePlus 6T would have an in-display fingerprint sensor technology, where the sensor is placed beneath the display panel. The in-display fingerprint module will free up the space on the back of the the OnePlus 6T without compromising on the overall design theme.

OnePlus 6T Price India

The OnePlus 6T is also reported to get a new screen format, with a tiny notch on top. Though the notch area in the OnePlus 6 is among the smallest when compared with other notch screen-based smartphones, it would be trimmed even more and reduced to the a size of a big dot, enough to accommodate just the front camera.

The rear camera module is another area that is expected to get an upgrade, apart from the new screen format and in-display fingerprint sensor. Though there has been no confirmation about the camera configuration, the OnePlus 6T is expected to get a tri-camera module on the back, with a new 3D depth-sensing lens, along with two regular lenses.

OnePlus 6T Offer

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News Source: BS

Xiaomi Mi A2 Review: A capable midrange smartphone with a sleek camera

The Mi A2 offers a power-packed performance, clutter-free user interface and top-notch camera. While the Mi A1 was an all-rounder, the Mi A2 seems more of a balancing act.

 

Smartphones Review: Xiaomi has refreshed its Android One platform-based Mi A-series with the launch of the Xiaomi Mi A2. Priced at Rs 16,999, this smartphone features a new design when compared with the predecessor, along with a better hardware, upgraded camera modules and stock Google Android Oreo, which would soon be upgraded to Android Pie, according to the company.

The Xiaomi Mi A2 is a midrange smartphone which has a design language identical to the one Xiaomi introduced with the Redmi Note 5 Pro. The new phone boasts an aluminium unibody covering the back and sides, and glass on the front. The back features a vertically aligned iPhone X-inspired dual-camera module that bulges out from the body, making the phone uneven on flat surfaces like table. It also makes the glass covering the camera module more prone to scratches and smudges. Like other Xiaomi devices, the Mi A2 also sports a circular fingerprint sensor at the upper centre on the back that is easy to reach and operate.

Xiaomi Mi A2

The Mi A2 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 system-on-chip (SoC), paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. Unlike the predecessor, the Mi A2 does not support storage expansion via microSD card slot. However, the phone is expected to get a 128GB internal storage variant soon with 6 GB of RAM. Coming back to the 4GB variant, the phone gets free unlimited storage on Google cloud to store photos and videos as part of Android One benefits.

On the front, there is a 20MP selfie camera that also supports AI enhancements in portrait mode for enhanced bokeh effects. The camera's performance in the Mi A2 seems to be one of the best in the midrange segment. It can even be on a par with some midrange flagships.

Read my full Review → Xiaomi Mi A2 Review

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News Source: BS

Intex Infie 33 review: Feature rich device for first time smartphone users

The Infie 33 boasts modern features such as 18:9 aspect ratio screen and face unlock. Priced at Rs 5,049, the phone is available across retail stores.

Technology News: Unlike most of the Chinese smartphone manufacturers, home-grown electronics manufacturer Intex targets the offline market, therefore has a healthy presence that caters to smartphone users in tier-II and tier-III cities. Expanding the line-up, the company launched the Infie 33 with modern features, such as 18:9 aspect ratio screen and face unlock, at Rs 5,049.

The Infie 33 sports a 5.34-inch screen of FWVHA resolution stretched in 18:9 aspect ratio. It boots Android Nougat-based Intex user interface loaded with lots of bloatware. However, some of them are quite useful such as face unlock, privacy system and app freezer. The face unlock is not as fast and accurate as seen in other budget smartphones. However, considering the fact that the smartphone is an entry-level budget device, this feature adds to the phone’s overall utility. The privacy system allows the user to keep apps, images, files and other data in a password-protected space. The app freezer is a performance booster feature that allows the phone to close background apps that are consuming resources while being idle.

Intex Infie 33

The phone is powered by a MediaTek 1.3GHz quad-core processor, paired with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage. Basic functions such as calling and messaging are smooth. However, due to low internal storage, the phone starts to hang when loaded with apps and data in internal storage. Thankfully, it features a microSD card slot for storage expansion up to 128GB.

In terms of imaging, the Intex Infie 33 sports a 5-megapixel camera module on the front and back. The camera performance is satisfactory and it comes loaded with several modes such as panorama, watermark, time lapse, slow-mo, beautification, portrait, bokeh and night. The image quality is satisfactory in daylight condition. However, the overall image quality is sub-standard.

Read my full review → Intex Infie 33 Review

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News Source: BS

LG unveils it's new 'Q series' smartphone in India at Rs 15,990

Expanding its Q series, South Korean tech Major LG Electronics launched a new smartphone "Q7" in India at Rs 15,990.

Technology News: Expanding its Q series, South Korean tech Major LG Electronics on Tuesday launched a new smartphone "Q7" in India at Rs 15,990.

The 5.5-inch FHD+ smartphone with 18:9 aspect ratio will be available across leading retail stores from September 1.

The device is powered by 1.5 GHz Octa-Core chipset coupled with 3GB RAM and 32GB internal storage that can be expanded up to 2TB.

LG Q7 Offer

"We are confident that the consumers who are looking for a balanced smartphone with the premium features will find the LG 'Q7' very hard to resist," Advait Vaidya, Business Head- Mobiles, LG India, said in a statement.

The device runs Android Oreo and houses 3,000mAh battery -- equipped with Qualcomm's "Fast Charge" technology.

The smartphone sports 13MP with PDAF rear camera and 8MP front camera. It also comes with an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based...continue reading

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News Source: BS

Cashback, Buyback, more: Know Oppo Realme 2 (Price, Specs and Offer)

However, compared to predecessor, it would feature a new format screen, better internals and an improved camera module.

Technology News: Realme, a sub-brand of Chinese smartphone manufacturer Oppo is launching the second iteration of its value-for-money smartphone in India today ( August 28). Named the Realme 2, the smartphone would have a gradient design, similar to the first-generation device. However, compared to the predecessor, the upcoming smartphone will feature a new format screen, better internals and an improved camera module, according to a device listing page on the e-commerce platform Flipkart.

Realme 2 Offer

The Realme 2 would sport a 6.2-inch HD+ resolution screen with a notch, accommodating a front camera, earpiece and sensors. On the back, the phone would get a dual camera module placed horizontally on top left centre, along with an LED flash. The back would also feature a fingerprint sensor, which was missing in the predecessor.

However, like the predecessor, the Realme 2 would feature a diamond-shaped gradient design on the back and on the frame.

Oppo Realme 2 Offer

In terms of specifications, the Realme 2 would be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. However, there is no confirmation on the details of processor and RAM/ROM configurations. Imaging would be taken care of by a dual-camera module on the back that is expected to feature a 13-megapixel primary sensor, mated with a 2MP depth-sensing lens for bokeh and portrait shots. Selfie camera is expected to feature an 8MP lens of f/2.0 aperture size. Powering the smartphone would be a 4,230 mAh battery.

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News Source: BS

New iPhone to stick with iPhone X design, have new colors, bigger screens

Perhaps the most significant phone will be a new, cheaper device destined to replace the iPhone 8.

Technology News: Apple Inc is not only doubling down on the iPhone X, it's tripling down.

The world's most valuable company plans to launch three new iPhones soon that keep the edge-to-edge screen design of last year's flagship, according to people familiar with the matter. The devices will boast a wider range of prices, features and sizes to increase their appeal, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing unannounced products.

However, none of the three iPhones will be wholly new designs like the iPhone X was last year or the iPhone 6 in 2014, with some inside Apple labelling the launch as an "S year", a designation the company has given to new handsets that retain the previous design but add new internal features. The company is planning more significant changes for next year, they added.

The iPhone X wasn't as big a hit as some Wall Street analysts hoped for before it was released last November. However, it still sold strongly and helped Apple gain share in a smartphone market that has almost stopped growing.

The upcoming iPhone, planned to be unveiled in September, show the company is adjusting its strategy. Rather than luring millions of new iPhone users, Apple's goal these days is to steadily raise average prices, while expanding the total number of active devices to support sales of accessories and digital services like streaming music and video.

There'll be a new high-end iPhone, internally dubbed D33, with a display that measures about 6.5-inch diagonally, according to the people familiar with the matter. That would make it the largest iPhone by far and one of the biggest mainstream phones on the market. It will continue to have a glass back with stainless steel edges and dual cameras on the back. The big difference on the software side will be the ability to view content side-by-side in apps like Mail and Calendar. It will be Apple's second phone with a crisper organic light-emitting diode, or...continue reading

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News Source: BS

Nokia 6.1 Plus Review: Sleek design, smooth performance at affordable price

The Nokia 6.1 Plus is one of the most balanced budget midrange smartphone. It ticks almost all the right boxes and shows some strength in all areas.

 

Technology News: The Android One smartphone is the first Nokia offering to feature notch screen, along with dual camera module on the back and premium glass design. Priced at Rs 15,999, this edition is cheaper than its predecessor, the Nokia 6.1. In comparison to the predecessor, it also offers better hardware, premium design, bigger screen estate and enhanced camera modules.

Nokia 6.1 Plus Design

• Design wise, the Nokia 6.1 Plus looks plush in its glossy outlook. It features a glass-metal-glass design in a compact form factor, which is easy to hold and operate. The phone is light in weight, which makes it easy to use and carry around in hand or pocket. It is among a few smartphones to have a perfect body size, which is neither big nor small. Granular detailing in design such as silver accent lining around keys and fingerprint sensor also accentuates its overall premium appeal.

Nokia 6.1 Plus Display

• The phone sports a 5.8-inch fullHD+ notch-based screen stretched in 19:9 aspect ratio. The screen is covered with curved Gorilla Glass 3 for protection against accidental scratches. Though the protective glass is not from Corning’s latest breed, it is still sturdy and protects the screen surface from day to day damage from coins, keys and other pointed items.
• In terms of display quality, it is a bright unit that makes it legible under bright sunny conditions. However, the contrast ratio and the colour output is not up to the mark. The black looks greyish and the colours show shift in contrast when looked from angles. At times, the touch above the screen also fails to recognise input. It could be a software glitch, but the failed attempt certainly diminishes the phone’s overall utility.

Nokia 6.1 Plus Battery

• The phone is powered by 3,060 mAh battery, which keeps the show going for almost a day. The phone also supports quick charging. However, it still takes almost two hours to fill up a completely exhausted battery to 100 per cent. Importantly, the phone features USB type-C port for charging and data transfer jobs, and features a dedicated 3.5mm audio output port, which is a welcome feature considering the fact that most phones are losing it just to bring down the waist size.

Read the my review → Nokia 6.1 Plus Review

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News Source: BS

Infinix Smart 2 Review: 'Value for money' smartphone with tall 18:9 screen

The Infinix Smart 2 is a feature-rich entry-level smartphone worth of its price. In its price segment, the phone competes with Xiaomi Redmi 5A.

Technology News: Under its premium Infinix brand, the company recently launched the Infinix Smart 2, an entry-level budget smartphone with 18:9 aspect ratio screen and a large 3,050 mAh battery.

Priced at Rs 5,999 for the base model, the Infinix Smart 2 is a feature-rich proposition in entry-level budget smartphone segment. It is targeted to consumers moving from feature phones to smartphones. The Android-based smartphone features dualSIM slots and 4G VoLTE-capabilities. Interestingly, the phone comes in two RAM and storage configurations – 2GB/16GB and 3GB/32GB. The premium 3GB RAM variant is priced at Rs 6,999.

Infinix Smart 2 Review

In terms of design, the Infinix Smart 2 offers no-frill design with a removable plastic back, which reveals a non-removable battery, and a glass-covered front. The phone has tall stance and a compact form factor, which makes it easy to hold and operate with one hand. It has a good grip to it, but the plastic back and glass front is prone to smudges and scratches.

The Infinix Smart 2 sports a 5.45-inch HD+ screen. Thanks to tall 18:9 aspect ratio, the screen does not falter in its overall form factor, which is no bigger than a 5-inch smartphone with conventional 16:9 aspect ratio screens. The glass on top of the display is curved from edges, which makes it easy to use and operate. The touchscreen calibration is not up to the mark, but it works well for basic tasks such as calling, messaging, etc.

Powered by 3,050 mAh battery, the phone keeps going for more than a day. However, the charging times are unreasonably long and the phone takes more than 3 hours to charge the battery from zero to 100%...continue reading

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News Source: BS

Google admits it tracks users, but says it's 'to improve experience'

The Associated Press ran a story saying an many Google services on Android devices and iPhones store users' location data even if the users explicitly used a privacy setting forbidding that.

Technology News: After facing criticism over reports that certain Google apps track users' whereabouts even when they turn off location data, the tech giant has revised its Help Page, clarifying that it does track location data in order to "improve Google experience".

Previously, the Help Page stated: "You can turn off Location History at any time. With Location History off, the places you go are no longer stored."

The page now says: "This setting does not affect other location services on your device, like Google Location Services and Find My Device.

"Some location data may be saved as part of your activity on other services, like Search and Maps".

Google Tracks your Movements

The new language confirms that location data is, indeed, being tracked by some Google apps.

"We have been updating the explanatory language about Location History to make it more consistent and clear across our platforms and help centres," CNET reported on Friday, quoting a Google spokesperson.

The Associated Press earlier this week ran a story saying an investigation found that many Google services on Android devices and iPhones store users' location data even if the users explicitly used a privacy setting forbidding that...continue reading

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News Source: BS

 

Honor 9N Review: Mid-range device with premium design, average performance

The Honor 9N shares its technical specifications with other Honor budget smartphones. However, in terms of design and features, the phone offers a refreshing new experience.

 

Technology News: The Honor 9N sports a premium glass design, dual rear cameras and a modern 19:9 aspect ratio notch-based screen. Importantly, the phone comes in three RAM and storage configurations – 3GB/32GB, 4GB/64GB and 4GB/128GB. It shares its technical specifications with other Honor budget smartphones, but in terms of design and features, it offers a refreshing new experience.

Design & Display

• The Honor 9N takes design cues from its flagship sibling, the Honor 10. The phone’s front and back are covered with glass, with subtle curved sides that move into a metallic chassis. The back glass is reflective in nature and takes some of the colour-changing properties from the Honor 10. However, it is not as profound as seen in the premium sibling.
• The front of the smartphone is dominated by a 5.84-inch notch-based fullHD+ screen. However, even with a big screen, the phone’s form factor is compact and it feels light in hand and comfortable to carry in pocket. The phone’s back has a fingerprint scanner at the upper centre and dual cameras, with an LED flash, on the extreme top left. Interestingly, the camera unit does not bulge out much – it did in the Honor View10 – and fits right inside the frame, improving the phone’s design quotient.

Camera - Honor 9N

• The Honor 9N sports a 13-megapixel lens, mated with a 2MP secondary lens on the back, and a 16MP selfie camera on the front.
• The rear camera output is more or less how it was in Honor’s other budget smartphones, such as the Honor 9 Lite, Honor 7X, etc. But the front camera has an improvement with modes like portrait and Apple iPhone X-like 3D light that give a lot to explore and experiment.

Battery

• The Honor 9N houses a 3,000 mAh battery that keeps the show going for almost one full day. Even after heavy usage with multimedia playback, online audio streaming, gaming and camera usage, the phone manages to go on for 8 hours without asking for battery juices to be replenished.

Read my review → Honor 9N Review

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News Source : BS

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

BlackBerry Key2 Review: Legacy keyboard design gets a fresh, useful twist

The BlackBerry Key2 features an enhanced design, slightly powerful processor, more RAM, latest Google Android operating system and a dual camera set-up on the back.

Technology News : Canadian smartphone brand BlackBerry, licensed to India-based Optiemus Infracom, on July 23 launched the BlackBerry Key2, a successor to the BlackBerry KeyOne, which had a full-QWERTY keyboard. Compared to the predecessor, the Key2 not only features an enhanced design but also gets a slightly powerful processor, more RAM, latest Google Android operating system, and a dual-camera set-up at the back. The Amazon-exclusive touch and type smartphone goes on sale today i.e. July 31.

In current times, when almost all smartphones have begun to look almost the same, the BlackBerry Key2, with a rectangular touchscreen-cum-physical-keyboard design, offers a fresh new experience. But, is it worth going back to legacy keyboard design, which one ditched in favour of the all-screen mobile phone format? Let’s find out:

BlackBerry Key2

Key Features

The BlackBerry Key2 is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 system-on-chip, paired with 6 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal storage – expandable to up to 256 GB using a microSD card. The dualSIM smartphone boots the Android Oreo 8.1 operating system out of the box, custom-tuned by BlackBerry. The customised OS features the BlackBerry Hub, a unified messaging inbox, which combines all emails, texts and messages from social media accounts at one place. It also allows managing multiple email accounts without switching between apps, with support for Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Exchange accounts, etc. As for security, the Key2 comes with the BlackBerry DTEK app that enables users to check and manage app permissions.

The BlackBerry Key2 offers almost vanilla Android experience, so it feels free of clutter and operates swiftly. The phone shows no lags or stutters anywhere and responds well to touch and keyboard inputs. Writing long articles, uploading attachments and sharing multimedia content also show no problem for the BlackBerry Key2, and the phone works optimally in all situations.

Battery

The phone’s small screen, power-efficient processor and optimised operating system make it go for more than a day on a fully charged 3,500 mAh battery. The device supports the Qualcomm quick-charge technology, yet it takes almost 2 hours to go from zero to 100 per cent.

Read the Verdict → BlackBerry Key2 Review

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News Source : BS

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 with S-Pen to launch on August 9: Things to know

In a series of teaser videos posted on Twitter, Samsung hinted that the Galaxy Note 9 would have a bigger capacity battery, ample internal storage and better internet connectivity.

 

Technology News : South Korean electronics giant Samsung is gearing up for the launch of the Galaxy Note 9 on August 9. Purported details of the upcoming Note-series flagship smartphone with S-Pen for digital inking capabilities has been making rounds on the web. However, the latest piece of information has come from the company’s official social media channels where Samsung posted a series of teaser videos hinting that the phone would have a bigger capacity battery, ample internal storage and better internet connectivity.

In the first teaser video shared on July 26 on Twitter, the company showed an iPhone-like user interface with a low battery message popping up forcing user to lower brightness, disable WiFi and GPS, and close the recently opened apps to save some power. The tweet carries a message, “On August 9 2018, power will no longer be a problem” hinting that the Note 9 would pack a bigger capacity battery. The Galaxy Note 9 is rumoured to come with a 4,000 mAh battery, which would be good 700 mAh more than its predecessor and 500 more than the Galaxy S9+.

Samsung Galaxy Note 9

The next teaser video shared on July 27 focusses on internal storage issues. The video shows a user trying to download a presentation, but could not due to no internal storage. To free up some space, user starts deleting memories in the form of videos and photographs and also removes apps to make room for new download. The teaser video comes with a message, “From August 9 2018 onwards, you won't have to choose” hinting that the Note 9 come with higher storage options. The phone is reported to get 256GB and 512GB internal storage variants, along with 64GB and 128GB models.

The last video teaser focusses on phone’s internet connectivity highlighting how a sluggish phone can hamper overall internet speed. The video teaser shows user trying to send a file to someone but couldn’t upload the file even after switching between 4G and WiFi, and closing background processes access to data connection. The video has been shared with a message, “Time for a change of pace,” hinting that the Note 9 would feature some sort of enhancement to improve internet speed. In the Galaxy S9+, the company introduced carrier aggregation technology and promised an increased internet speed by up to....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

Vivo X21 Review: A worthy mid-range flagship to challenge OnePlus dominance

Priced at Rs 35,990, the Vivo X21 is a premium mid-range device strong in almost all areas; the phone’s modest processor seems a downside, but it shows no signs of weakness in real-life scenario.

Technology News : After showcasing the prototype of in-display fingerprint sensor technology at the Consumer Electronic Show, 2018, Chinese smartphone maker Vivo on May 29 launched the Vivo X21 with a fingerprint sensor under the display. For a mid-range smartphone, the X21 boasts premium features like dual rear cameras, artificial intelligence capabilities, face-unlock mechanism, Hi-Fi sound with dedicated AMP and modern notch-based screen. These features propel it in the league of mid-range premium smartphones – at least on papers.

Vivo X21 Design

The Vivo X21 glass-metal-glass sandwich design looks similar to other mid-range smartphones. The design, especially the frame, looks close to the OnePlus 6, but the front is dominated by a notch-based screen stretching almost edge to edge on three sides and leaving only a thin chin on the bottom. On the back, the reflective glass design with horizontally aligned dual camera set-up on top left is in line with the current trend and looks similar to the Honor 10.

Vivo X21 The thin frame that holds the front and back glass feels pointed, something similar to the Nokia 8 Sirocco. While the frame makes it easy to hold and operate the phone, the razor thin volume rocker keys and a power button on the right side of the frame are somewhat uncomfortable to use.

On the bottom, the phone sports an outdated microUSB port for charging and data transfers, coupled with a mono speaker on the right and dual-SIM slot on the left. The left side of the frame is vacant and the top side features a 3.5mm audio output port and secondary microphone.

Overall, the design looks modern, but not refreshing. The metallic frame gives to the convenience to hold the phone with confidence, but the thin volume rocker keys and power button reduce the utility overall.

Vivo X21 Battery

The Vivo X21 is powered by a 3,200 mAh battery that keeps the phone going for almost a day. Interestingly, the phone boasts a dual charging technology, which improves charging time and takes the battery level from zero to 100 per cent in less than one-and-a-half hours.

Read the Verdict → Vivo X21 Review

Honor 7C Review: Another budget smartphone with decent camera, performance

For a budget smartphone, the Honor 7C comes loaded with premium features like metallic design, 18:9 aspect ratio screen, Android Oreo-based EMUI 8.0 OS, face unlocking capabilities, etc.

 

Technology News : Honor, an online subsidiary of Huawei, is on a roll in India. After launching the budget Honor 9 Lite, followed by a mid-range Honor 10, the Chinese smartphone manufacturer recently launched the Honor 7C. For a budget smartphone, the Honor 7C comes loaded with several premium features like metallic design, 18:9 aspect ratio screen, Android Oreo-based EMUI 8.0 operating system, face unlocking capabilities, etc.

In terms of design, the Honor 7C looks like another modern day smartphone with 5.99-inch fullHD+ IPS 18:9 aspect ratio screen, which is bright and colourful, covered under curved glass. The phone belongs to Honor 7x lineage, therefore it has an aluminium back that feels sturdy. The phone’s tall stance, coupled with a mammoth screen on front, looks good for a budget proposition.

The Honor 7C is one of the very few Honor devices to boast the Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. Honor has been using the in-house developed Huawei Kirin system-on-chip (SoC) in almost all the models. However, the Honor 7C trades in the Kirin 659 SoC for the entry-level Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 SoC to power the device.

As for the performance, the Honor 7C sails through most daily tasks without any hiccups. However, it does feel underpowered, especially while handling processor-intensive tasks like multitasking and online video streaming. The performance, though, is at-par with other budget smartphones in the segment, except for the recently launched Xiaomi and Asus smartphones, which boast a much powerful Snapdragon 660 SoC.

Though the performance is nothing exemplary, the phone handles graphic intensive apps better than Kirin 659 SoC-based counterparts do. The browser-based gameplay is consistent and smooth, app-based video streaming services work satisfactory and games work fine at moderate settings.

In terms of imaging, the Honor 7C sports a 13-megapixel primary sensor, paired with a 2MP depth-sensing lens. There is an 8MP sensor on the front for selfies and face unlock feature. The camera in Honor 7C takes satisfactory shots, however, it is a mixed bag of hits and misses. The auto focus is instant but the touch to focus seems a bit out of calibration. The shots look detailed and the colour reproduction is natural. In low light conditions, the camera is not great, but still better than what other budget smartphones’ cameras turn out to be. It takes decent shots, but the noise is prominent.

Read the Verdict → Honor 7C Review

Micromax Bharat Go with Android Oreo (Go Edition) announced at Rs 4,399

The Bharat Go comes bundled with a cashback offer of Rs 2,000 from Airtel that brings down the effective cost to Rs 2,399.

Technology News : Home-grown electronics brand Micromax Informatics on May 22 announced the Bharat Go, an Android Oreo Go edition-based smartphone, in collaboration with India’s leading telecom operator Bharti Airtel. Priced at Rs 4,399, the smartphone comes bundled with a cashback offer of Rs 2,000 from Airtel that brings down the effective cost to Rs 2,399.

The key highlight of the Bharat Go is the operating system it boots — Android Oreo Go edition — which was announced by Google last year. The operating system is a trim-down version of the Android Oreo, optimised to run efficiently on devices utilising much of phone’s hardware resources. As a result, the operating system works efficiently even on devices with 1 GB of RAM or less.

The Android Oreo (Go edition) comes with a dedicated suite of apps designed to run faster while using less data.

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Also Read : Comio X1 Note

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As for the other features and specifications, the Bharat Go features dual-SIM functionality, both of which support voice over long term evolution (VoLTE) calling. The phone comes pre-loaded with Google apps optimised for Go edition, such as Gmail Go, Maps Go, Files Go, Chrome, YouTube Go, Assistant Go, Play Store and GBoard.

The Bharat Go sports a 4.5-inch screen and boasts a smart key that allows users to take screenshots, click pictures and switch the phone into silent mode. On the camera front, it uses a 5-megapixel camera on the back and front. Powering the device is a MediaTek quad-core processor, paired with 1 GB of RAM and 8 GB of internal storage.

It is powered by 2,000 mAh battery and the phone supports USB on the go (OTG) functionality, which allows users to connect the phone with mass storage devices, serial communications, keyboards/mice, game controllers, Ethernet and camera controller.

Read More About → Micromax Bharat Go Features

Vivo V9 Review: A value-for-money device with good camera, notch screen

The Vivo V9 smartphone, with 6.3-inch full HD+ notch display, lets you have a big screen experience, though slow charging might dampen your enthusiasm.

 

Technology News : Chinese smartphone maker Vivo recently launched the Vivo V9 in India. Priced at Rs 22,990, the phone has a 24-megapixel front camera with enhanced face beauty features that can brighten up and take sharp selfies.

The V9 is powered by Snapdragon 626 octa core processor, along with 4GB RAM and 64GB internal memory, expandable up to 256 GB through microSD card. The phone runs smoothly with minor lags even after opening 10-15 different applications ranging from social media to gaming. Even though there is decent internal memory, users can still choose to expand with the help of a microSD card, a designated slot for which has been provided in the SIM tray.

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 Also Read : Vivo V9 Youth

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Vivo V9 The handset comes with the Android 8.1 Oreo operating system out-of-the-box, based on Vivo’s Funtouch OS 4.0 user interface. The interface is smooth and there are no lags when switching windows. It also has a 3260 mAh battery which can last a day smoothly on regular usage comprising around 2 hours of gaming, 1 hour of social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram) and 1.5-2 hours of video streaming (Youtube/Amazon Prime videos/ Airtel TV). However, the phone lacks rapid charging and in this era of high-end rapid charging devices, a normal charging system is surely a drawback.

The device supports a dual-SIM set-up along with dual standby, and the SIM tray has the provision to accommodate both SIMs and a memory card. The smartphone also features a 3.5mm headphone jack, and you get in-ear headphones in the box, too. The device sports a notch screen. The display is a 6.3-inch full HD+ capacitive touchscreen with a 2280 x 1080 pixel resolution, and 19:9 aspect ratio which is pretty impressive. The screen-to-body ratio is around 90 per cent.

The Vivo V9 comes pre-installed with bloatware, such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Flipkart, Amazon Shopping, Prime Video, UC Browser, NewsPoint, and WPS Office. However, these apps can also be uninstalled easily if the user so wishes. In terms of imaging, the V9 boasts a vertically stacked dual-camera setup at the back with a 16MP primary sensor and a 5MP secondary sensor which can click some really good photographs, both in normal day light and low-light conditions. The Bokeh mode is not bad, either. The Live feature is up to the mark as well.

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 Also Read : Vivo V9

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That apart, the 24MP sensor on the front clicks good selfies and adds to the video calling experience. The face beauty feature brightens up the photograph and might hinder the natural toning of your selfies. The fingerprint sensor is located at the back and works just fine. The face-unlocking mechanism works without a glitch, but it may ask you to use fingerprint in low-light conditions.

Verdict

While a price of Rs 22,990 might feel a bit high, the Vivo V9 is one of the better phones in the mid-range segment and can provide a good value for money. In the bizarre era of hybrid-SIM slot, Vivo has given the option to expand the device’s memory while using dual SIM cards — that is commendable. That said, had the phone also provided the option of rapid charging, it would have been the most sought-after in the market. A sub-Rs 20,000 range, however, could have been a better deal for customers.

Read More → Vivo V9 Review

OnePlus 6 unveiled, price starts at $529; India launch today: Details here

The OnePlus 6 India launch is set for May 17. The phone would go on sale starting May 21, exclusively for Amazon Prime members. Here are all the details you need to know.

Technology News : OnePlus, a Chinese smartphone manufacturer, on May 16 held an event in London to unveil the OnePlus 6. Followed by an international unveiling in London, the phone would be launched in India on May 17 and go on sale starting May 21, exclusively on Amazon India. OnePlus also launched the company’s first wireless earphones “Bullets Wireless.” It will be priced at $69, which is approximately Rs 4,674. Bullets Wireless will be available starting June 5, 2018.

The OnePlus 6 India launch event will also be live-streamed on the OnePlus India official web portal and YouTube channel.

OnePlus 6 Price

• OnePlus 6 price starts at $529 for 6GB RAM+64GB storage version. Indian pricing is unclear at the moment and we could expect it to be revealed when the phone makes debut on May 17 in Mumbai. Based on leaks, OnePlus 6 price could starts at Rs 36,999 and go up till Rs 40,000 plus.

OnePlus 6 Glass Build

• The OnePlus 6 features a glass-metal-glass design, unlike an aluminium build of the predecessor. However, it retains the signature horizontal lines and curved design of the current generation flagship.

OnePlus 6 Camera

• The phone sports dual-camera set-up on its back featuring a 16-megapixel sensor, paired with a 20MP sensor. The primary 16MP lens is mated with optical image stabilisation and electronic image stabilisation for improved low-light imaging. The selfie camera sports a 20MP sensor. The OnePlus 6 features slow motion video recording feature, but not the ultra slow-mo as was expected earlier based on various teasers company shared on social media platform.

OnePlus 6 Features and Specifications

• The phone is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 system-on-chip (SoC) and have a 256GB storage variant paired with 8GB of RAM. The mid-range smartphone also comes in 64GB and 128GB variants, paired with 6GB of RAM. The device is now water resistant. However, the company did not share exact ingress protection (IP) rating details.

Read More on  → Oneplus 6 Launch Event

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.