Author: Bharat Nagpal

Zuk Z1 Unboxing

With almost every smartphone company forking out into a “budget online only model”, Lenovo too seems to have jumped on the boat. Zuk is a Lenovo owned brand targetted solely at the online space. The Zuk Z1 is their first handset and has been launched for Rs. 13499, Although is presently only up for preorder with sales starting 19th May.

The Zuk Z1 brings some old hardware like the Snapdragon 801, with some new improved cameras and a good looking, robust, metal shell with a glossy back panel. The phone also comes with 64 GB of Storage (53 GB Available) and 3 GB of RAM with no expandability, Dual SIM slots and Cyanogen OS 12.1. Reminds us of OnePlus and their launch strategy.

This also means that Cyanogen OS is no longer exclusive to YU, or even if it will be on the next YU handset is unknown.

Specs	ZUK Z1
Display	5.5 inches Full HD
Resolution	1920 x 1080p
Dimensions	TBA / 173gm
Processor	Qualcomm MSM8974AC Snapdragon 801
GPU	Adreno 330
RAM	3GB
Storage	64GB flash storage
Rear Camera	13 MP, f/2.2 autofocus, OIS
Front Camera	8 MP
Expandability	NA
Battery	4100mAh , Fast charging
Connectivity	4G+, Wi-Fi , hotspot, Bluetooth v4.1
OS	Cyanogen OS 12.1
Price	Rs. 13499

May 13, 2016

3D Touch Delayed, Android N Launch to Continue Without It

Google has put off implementing an Android variant of Apple’s 3D touch at the launch of their next big OS, Android N. A lot of people were excited about this feature, said to be implemented in Android N, providing support to hardware manufacturers to use 3d touch type functionality throughout Android OS.

Google’s next Nexus phones which are supposedly being manufactured by HTC will come with the hardware capabilities of 3D Touch, however, may not use this feature from the get-go.

According to a report in Recode, insiders in Google said

the feature will not be part of the initial Android N release and will have to wait for a later release of the operating system, most likely as part of a maintenance update to the software.

While this may be a let down to excited patrons, this also confirms that Google is indeed working on a 3D touch Android variant which has been loved by iPhone 6s and 6s Plus users alike.

There are already a few manufacturers that have used pressure-sensitive screens and have a more nimble version of 3D touch support on their phones. Googe has already seeded a pre-release dev beta version of Android N and is currently holding a poll to decide the name of this variant of Android.

May 13, 2016

Micromax Canvas 6 Unboxing

Micromax’s Canvas 6 comes in after a mega revamp of the company, a new logo and new management. But is it enough to get a new outlook towards the brand? Or will Micromax need to do more?

The new canvas features a 5.5 inch display and a full metal body. The sharp edges are not very comfortable and pinch the hand. The phone is 173 gms in weight and 8.7 MM thick. Check out the unboxing video below. The phone is available for pre-order (here) and will start shipping 18th May.

Specs	Micromax Canvas 6
Display	5.5 inches Full HD
Resolution	1920 x 1080p
Dimensions	TBA / 173gm
Processor	MT6753 1.3GHz Octa coreMT6753 1.3GHz Octa core
GPU	Mali-T720
RAM	3GB
Storage	32GB flash storage
Rear Camera	13 MP, f/2.0, phase detection autofocus
Front Camera	8 MP
Expandability	microSD, up to 64 GB
Battery	Li-Po 3000 mAh
Connectivity	4G+, Wi-Fi 802.11ad, VoLTE, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot, Bluetooth v4.1, A-GPS, GLONASS, NFC, VoLTE
OS	Android 5.1
Price	Rs. 13999

May 13, 2016

YU’s Next Phone Yunicorn Will Launch 19th May

Micromax subsidiary Yu Televentures will launch their next flagship the YU YUnicorn on the 19th of this month according to the official invite the company just sent out.

The phone is expected to be the YU 5330 and may not run Cyanogen due to the recent launch of Lenovo Zuk Z1, which is the current exclusive for India.

According to rumours the phone is expected to have a metal body and run on the Helio P10 chipset just like the Meizu M3 Note launched today. The Yunicorn is also expected to have 4 GB of RAM and a Full HD display of a possible 5.5 inch screen size.

Stay tuned for updates.

May 12, 2016

Meizu adds another Note , M3 Note for Rs. 9999

To add to all the confusing Note handsets in the 10k and below price category the new Meizu M3 note has been launched for Rs. 9999.

The M3 Note has 3GB RAM and 32GB Storage along with a 4100mAh Battery with Dual SIM capability on 4G networks.

The phone features a 5.5 inch 192- x 1080p display with a 2.5d curve and it runs on the Helio P10 chipset, making it the first device in India on the P10 chipset. The chipset features a Cortex-A53 1.8GHz x4 + ARM Cortex-A53 1.0GHz x4. Along with a Mali T860 GPU.

Meizu claims that the handset is built using 6000 Series Aluminium alloy and features a new mTouch 2.1 fingerprint sensor. The phone weighs 163g and is 8.2 mm thick.

The main camera is a 13MP snapped with PDAF and the front camera is a 5 MP shooter.

Specs	Meizu M3 Note
Display	5.5 inches Full HD 2.5D Display
Resolution	1920 x 1080p
Dimensions	153.6 x 75.5 x 8.2 mm
Processor	Helio P10
GPU	Mali T860
RAM	3GB
Storage	32GB flash storage
Rear Camera	13 MP, f/2.2, phase detection autofocus, dual-LED, 5-element lens
Front Camera	5 MP
Expandability	128GB via microSD
Battery	Li-Po 4100 mAh
Connectivity	4G+, Wi-Fi 802.11ad, VoLTE, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot, Bluetooth v4.1, A-GPS, GLONASS, NFC, VoLTE
OS	Android 5.1.1 Lolipop
Price	Rs. 9999 buy here

May 11, 2016

Unboxing Samsung Galaxy J5 (6) and J7 (6) : 2016 Variant

Samsung has today announced the Samsung Galaxy J5 (6) and J7 (6) for India. The company had previously launched the phones in other markets including Korea and China, however in India they have been launched for prices much lower than their overseas siblings.

The Galaxy J5 (6) has been launched in India for a price of Rs. 13990 and the Galaxy J7 (6) for Rs. 15990. The are several differences in the phones including battery, screen and the chipsets that power them. You can get more details on the handsets here.

The boxes of the J5 and J7 2016 variant are similar and have the 4G branding on them meaning that they are primarily followups of the the popular J series from 2015. Inside you will get the following:

Handset
Wall Charger
USB Cable
Earphones
Battery
User Manual

Both phones now have a metal frame which improves the build and feel of the Galaxy J5 (6) and J7 (6). The back panels on both the phones have also been switched up for brushed metal finish, while they remain to be plastic in material, this new look adds a matte finish and good grip in the hand. The back panel also becomes less prone to fingerprints.

The phones now come with impressive f1.9 aperture cameras which is basically the same aperture on last years flagship Galaxy S6, so Samsung is trifling down specs quite quickly onto newer handsets. The rear camera shoots 13 MP stills and full HD video on both phones and the front camera shoot 5MP stills.

Both the J5 and J7 for 2016 have dual sim card capabilities, with 4G speeds where supported and 128 GB expandability via Micro SD cards. Both have 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of storage. The J5 is running on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 whereas the J7 is based on a Exynos 7780 Chipset

The handsets are running on Android 6, Marshmallow, which makes them extremely responsive and snappy. The UI is still Touchwiz laden and full of Samsung’s Apps which will eventually trouble people. However, apps can be disabled which is a good thing.

Stay tuned for our full review out later today.

Specs	Galaxy J7 (6)	Galaxy J5 (6)
Display	5.5 inch HD Super Amoled Display	5.2 inch HD Super Amoled Display
Resolution	1280 x 720 px	1280 x 720 px
Dimensions	151.7 X 76 X 7.6 mm	145.8 X 72.3 X 8.1 mm
Processor	Exynos 7870	Qualcomm \| MSM8916Snapdragon410
GPU	Mali T830	Adreno 3016
RAM	2GB	2GB
Storage	16GB flash storage	16GB flash storage
Rear Camera	13 MP, f/1.9 FullHD video	13 MP, f/1.9 FullHD video
Front Camera	5 MP	5 MP
Expandability	128GB via microSD	128GB via microSD
Battery	Li-Po 3300 mAh	Li-Po 3100 mAh
Connectivity	4G Dual Sim / dual stand-by, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot	4G Dual Sim / dual stand-by , Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot
OS	Android 6	Android 6
Price	Rs. 15990	Rs. 13990

May 9, 2016

Samsung Launches Galaxy J5 (6) and J7 (6) 2016 Variant With Metal Bodies and F1.9 Camera in India

Samsung has just launched the new Galaxy J5 (6) and Galaxy J7 (6) in India. These are revisions to popular Galaxy j5 and J7 from last year which did really well for the company. The new phones add a whole host of features although many may argue with the specs being not up to requirements.

Samsung Galaxy J5 2016

The phone features a 5.2 inch display with a 1280 x 720p resolution and a Super AMOLED display. The Galaxy J5 (6) runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 chipset along with 2 Gigabyte of RAM and 16 Gigabyte of storage out of which 11 Gigabyte will be available to the user. The J5 (6) will also accept 128 GB microSD cards.

The J5 is a dual sim phone, with 4g capabilities on both SIMs. The handset also features the popular data saving mode, which is more enhanced according to Samsung and features better data and battery management. The battery on the J5 for 2016 is a 3100 mAh battery.

The cameras on both the J series phone shave been upped with an aperture of f1.9 which will be appreciated and will offer better low light performance. The rear camera is a 13 MP shooter where-as the front camera will capture 5MP stills. Video is limited to 1080p.

Samsung Galaxy J7 2016

The Galaxy J7 for 2016 is a bigger brother of the J5 seen above it features a 5.5 inch Super AMOLED display with a 1280 x 720p resolution. You will get the Exynos 7870 chipset, 2 Gigabyte of RAM and 16 Gigabyte of storage out of which 11 Gigabyte will be available to the user. The J7 (6) will also accept 128 GB microSD cards. The J7 features a larger 3300 mAh battery and the same camera setup as the J5 (6).

The J7 (6) too is a $G capable phone with dual-SIM capabilities. Both phones run Android 6 and feature Samsung touchwiz style user interface with Samsung and Microsoft apps preloaded.

The phones feature a more robust metal construction, for the frame which adds rigidity and premium feel, while keeping the removable back panel and battery intact in the Samsung traditional fashion.

The Phones go on sale at midnight on Flipkart, we will keep you posted with the links.

For an Unboxing and Hands on Video click here.

Specs	Galaxy J7 (6)	Galaxy J5 (6)
Display	5.5 inch HD Super Amoled Display	5.2 inch HD Super Amoled Display
Resolution	1280 x 720 px	1280 x 720 px
Dimensions	151.7 X 76 X 7.6 mm	145.8 X 72.3 X 8.1 mm
Processor	Exynos 7870	Qualcomm \| MSM8916 Snapdragon410
GPU	Mali T830	Adreno 3016
RAM	2GB	2GB
Storage	16GB flash storage	16GB flash storage
Rear Camera	13 MP, f/1.9 FullHD video	13 MP, f/1.9 FullHD video
Front Camera	5 MP	5 MP
Expandability	128GB via microSD	128GB via microSD
Battery	Li-Po 3300 mAh	Li-Po 3100 mAh
Connectivity	4G Dual Sim / dual stand-by, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot	4G Dual Sim / dual stand-by , Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot
OS	Android 6	Android 6
Price	Rs. 15990	Rs. 13990

May 9, 2016

Moto X leaked, will be an all metal device

While the Moto G 2016 is just around the corner and a lot of information for the handsets is now available, little was known for the Moto X for 2016 until now. Evleaks and HelloMotoHK have posted pictures of a new Moto phone which coincide with past information of the Moto X.

Who woulda thunk it? Turns out this is 100% real. #motox https://t.co/xRNox3fYmF pic.twitter.com/Eu7tGMSvOv
— Evan Blass (@evleaks) May 7, 2016

The All-Metal design is already looking good, and may leave a supremely positive impact for the Lenovo take over. The improvement in the build quality and materials means that the Moto X may join the ranks of high-end smartphones. While the Moto G for 2106 will be the first Lenovo-branded Moto phones to hit the market, the Moto X will be the defining handsets. Lenovo owned Moto also seems to be taking a liking to the Square fingerprint scanner in the front which has also been spotted in the leaks of the Moto G4

While an image from HelloMotoHK clearly shows the Droid branding, it could simply be the return of the Droid X or it could be the Droid Turbo as Evan claims that they are two separate handsets. While earlier leaks have pointed to a Qualcomm 820 chipset with 1.6 GHz on the clock along with 4G of RAM, not factual information exists for the handsets.

PSA: These are actually two different handsets. Details tomorrow. [pics: https://t.co/icAS0JcHso] pic.twitter.com/yt2NTbZX5x
— Evan Blass (@evleaks) May 8, 2016

Based on information leaked in the past the launch seems to be on 9 June 2016.

May 9, 2016
Samsung Note 6 to Feature 6GB RAM and 256 GB Storage

Samsung is expected to release the Note 6 earlier than usual to eat up some of the market share of the upcoming Apple iPhone 7. Usually launched end-August or early September the Note 6 is expected to have a June-July launch in 2016. Samsung Galaxy Note 6’s configuration were leaked out again on Weibo.

The smartphone is expected to outdo expectations of the consumers by adding 6 GB of RAM and 256 GB of onboard storage, a storage option that analysts claim will be available in the iPhone 7.

Samsung is apparently also working on two variants of the Note 6 one with the Snapdragon 823, which is a beefier version of the Snapdragon 820, for the US markets. The other one will have the Exynos 8890 chipset and will launch in markets like India, Korea and China.

Samsung is loading the Note 6 up with a 4200 mAh battery which is rated for two days use. Reports are also pointing to a Edge variant as in the case of the Note 4 (Note Edge) to add a more premium Note 6 to the lineup much like the Galaxy s7 and S7 Edge. These also may coincide with rumours that Galaxy S7 Edge Plus may actually be launched alongside the Galaxy Note 6, and that the “edge variant” may just as well be the larger S7 Edge plus.

Samsung has already proved that it is listening to the consumers with the Galaxy S7 by allowing microSD and dual sim capabilities. The Note ^ will also feature a similar setup along with IP68 Rating to make it water resistant, just like its younger siblings the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge.

VIA

May 8, 2016
Apple iPhone 7 May Not have a Home Button

The iPhone 7 to be launched this year is expected to bring about a significant design change for the Cupertino-based technology giant. With Apple revising the design of the iPhone with each new number, the iPhone 7 is expected to improve its looks drastically in comparison to the iPhone 6s.

Adding to the rumors of the new all glass design is the recent announcement by LG. The company announced that they have developed a new display technology which will allow manufacturers of smartphones to place a fingerprint scanner right on the display glass.

It is not new information that LG is one of the biggest display providers to Apple, and with the next iPhone due in September 2016, LG’s announcement comes right on time. The new display by LG allows the user to scan their finger anywhere on the glass of the screen, making the need for a button or a panel to scan the fingerprint redundant. LG said its new module has a false acceptance rate (FAR) of 0.002 percent. Because the module is sealed under a layer of glass, it remains protected from splashes and scratches.

Back in June 2015 reports pointed to Apple working on an integrated fingerprint scanner display :

Apple is internally developing touch and display driver integration (TDDI) single-chip solutions for its iPhones, according to sources in Taiwan’s IC design industry.

The TDDI single-chip solutions will also come with integrated fingerprint sensors, said the sources. The integrated design would fit into future iPhone designs – models with ultra-thin and ultra-narrow displays, and with a whole plane design eliminating the Home button.

In fact, Apple also has a patent for the same.

Other reports point to a flush home button made of liquid metal, which would be recessed when pressed but would return to original shape after recovery.

LG’s solution, which is 0.3mm thick, is inserted on the lower backside of a smartphone’s cover glass. LG has also designed its own adhesive to allow this module to be stuck to the glass of the smartphone.

With 3D touch, the need for the home button may also be directly replaced by making the screen 3D touch capable. With LG’s new fingerprint technology, and Apple’s 3D Touch released with the iPhone 6s combined with rumors of a seamless glass design, it is highly likely that Apple may drop the home button on the iPhone 7.

Via

May 4, 2016

HTC Desire 830 Launched With Helio X10

HTC has launched the Desire 830 smartphone in Taiwan with the Helio X10 Chipset. The Desire 830 is a revision to the popular Desire 820 and has been launched for a price of TWD 9,990 (Rs. 20,000)

The Desire 830 sports a 5.5 inch 1920 x 1080p display along with BoomSound Speakers. Users will get 3 GB or RAM and 32 GB of Storage expandable further via microSD card. A 13 MP main camera and a 4 ultrapixel front camera complete the optics, both have f/2.0 lenses.

Running the latest Sense UI on Android 6.0 Marshmallow the Desire 830 will pack 2800 mAh of battery and will work with LTE along with EVDO Networks meaning you will be able to use both GSM and CDMA sim cards on this dual sim handset.

Specifications	HTC Desire 830
Display	5.5-inch full HD display with 1920x1080p resolution Pixel density: 401 ppi (pixels per inch)
OS	Android Marshmallow-based Sense UI
Chipset	MediaTek Helio X10 (MT6753T)
CPU	1.5GHz octa-core CPU
GPU	ARM Mali-T720
RAM	3GB
Storage	32GB
Expandable	Yes, microSD
Main Camera	13MP camera with LED Flash OIS, BSI sensor f/2.0 aperture, 28mm lens full HD video
Secondary Camera	Front: 4µp (UltraPixel) camera with f/2.0 aperture, 26.8mm wide-angle lens
Battery	2800mAh
Add-ons	BoomSound stereo speaker with Dolby audio technology
Dimensions	157.5 x 78.9 x 7.79 mm
Colours	White/orange and white/blue combination
Price	NTD9,990 (around $309/€269/Rs. 20,590)

May 4, 2016

OnePlus 3 To Support Dash Charge and Cost Rs. 20,400

The OnePlus 3 launch is just around the corner and the phone is highly anticipated. While many have put a lot of faith and trust in OnePlus and expect a fantastic phone, many are waiting for the company to reveal the handset before commenting.

OnePlus has filed a patent for a technology called “Dash Charge” while little is known about the tech, many assume that the name suggests a fast charging technology. Something that was missing in the OnePlus 2 and was considered unacceptable by many.

Other reports are mentioning two models of the OnePlus 3 one with 4GB of RAM + 32GB of storage and one with 6GB of RAM + 64GB of storage. A price of CNY 1,999 (roughly Rs. 20,400) is quoted for the base model of the OnePlus pointing towards a roughly Rs. 24000-25000 launch price in markets like India. It was earlier reported that OnePlus 3 will be launched in three variants. Other specs leaked also point towards a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chipset with the Adreno 530 GPU.

VIA / 2

May 3, 2016
Schematics Reveal iPhone 7 will Have Smart Connector

Think of the Smart Connector on the iPad Pro and it has mostly been used by case makers to power up the cases which come with keyboards. Until recently when Logitech released a dock which allows you to charge the iPad Pro using the Smart Connector.

iPhone 7 plus version drawings have been shared by Japanese site Mac Otakara, and they show a purported “pro” variant with a 5.5-inch display which will also have the smart connector just like the iPad Pro. The handset is set to measure in at 158.22mm x 77.94mm x 7.3mm. Along with a large cutout in the schematic that shows a possible dual-camera setup.

The addition of the smart connector would mean that you will still be able to charge up your iPhone 7 while listening to music via headphones connected to the lightning connector. (See: Apple Set to change history)

On the flip side, it could be used to charge headphones, as Apple is apparently working on new Beats Headphones to be released alongside the new iPhone 7.

People also suggest that the iPhone smart connector could be connected to other peripherals, including external microphones, lenses and camera cases to make for a nice portable camera kit.

Who knows what Apple has up its sleeve and if the final iPhone 7 will have the smart connector in the first place. Previously MacFan has been accurate about Apple’s devices, sharing design details of the iPhone 6/6 Plus and 12.9-inch iPad Pro ahead of launch.

Source

April 29, 2016
ThinCharge : Thinnest iPhone 6s Case Review

We quickly review the thinnest iPhone 6s Case aka the ThinCharge .

Product Dimensions: 11mm x 5.6 in x 3.2 in – Weight: 70 grams
Compatibility: Apple iPhone 6/6s
Package Dimensions: 205mm x 105mm x 16mm – Weight: 5 ounces
Battery capacity: 2600mAh – Type: Lithium-polymer

April 29, 2016
Apple Wants to Remove iPhone Distribution Chain in India

Apple is all set to launch official Apple stores and the online Apple store in India. With the company steadily moving forward towards that goal, they intend to remove the current distribution layer in the market.

Sources close to iGyaan from within Apple have clarified that service and sale of all iPhones may fall back under Apple’s own command as the general approach towards service has been poor in India when compared to global standards of service.

Traditional distribution model which was adopted by importers of iPhone in India, Ingram and Reddington, end up decreasing the sale prices of the iPhone considerable within one year, which is not the case with Apple’s global sales model. Apple wants to ensure that the price protection for the customer who buys the phone at launch is equal for the customer who buys the phone six months from launch.

The Recent launch of the iPhone SE is the biggest example of Price problems faced by the company. The iPhone SE was launched at Rs. 39000 while the iPhone 6s was available at the time for around Rs. 40000 down about Rs. 16000 from initial launch price. Apple then steadily moved to regulate the price of the iPhone in India, even though denying it, to ensure the sale of their new mid-tier iPhone SE.

Apple sees India as a large opportunity for sales, only after the US and China, and expects to be able to provide equivalent pricing as the US markets and also ensure that price does not fall by taking reins of the sales and service model in India. In a scenario like that the iPhone SE, which costs $ 399 in the US would cost Rs. 26500 in India and not Rs. 39000.

April 28, 2016