Author: Vipul Vij

Unboxing The Nokia 7 Plus
HMD Global has officially launched the Nokia 7 Plus in India at a price of Rs 25999. The smartphone will be up for preorders from the 20th of April via Amazon exclusively. Subsequently, the Nokia 7 Plus will go on sale on the 30th of April. Unlike a lot of other smartphones, the Nokia 7 Plus is only available in 4GB RAM/64GB storage variant. However, it will retail in two colours, Black with Copper and White with Copper, both of these look extremely premium and well built.

Nokia has had a rocky start ever since making its return to the smartphone industry under a new management. In 2017, the company launched quite a few but, pricey budget smartphones in India. The brand Nokia picked up momentum when the Nokia 8 was launched in India at a very competitive price.

With the launch of the Nokia 7 Plus, the once celebrated phone brand has entered untested waters. At a price of Rs 25999, the Nokia 7 Plus will try to fill the gaping hole in a segment where the Moto X4 is a lone warrior. The company has moved on from an older-looking design and refreshed its highly successful (in China) Nokia 7 for the global market.

[section label=”Unboxing”]

Inside the box of the Nokia 7 Plus :
- Nokia 7 Plus
- Clear Case
- Documentation
- Sim Ejector Tool
- Earphones
- Wall Charger (Fast Charging compatible)
- USB Type C Cable
[section label=”Initial Impressions”]

The Nokia 7 Plus is a welcome refresh from HMD Global and that is visible the moment you hold the device. It has a metallic unibody design with a matte finish to the back which does not look cheap at all. On the contrary, it looks extremely premium and should give others in this range a run for their money.

Another significant change in the Nokia 7 Plus is the placement of the fingerprint sensor. Up until now, HMD Global either placed the fingerprint sensor on the front or decided to have a phone sans fingerprint sensor. However, with the bezels considerably shrunken on the 7 Plus, the fingerprint sensor resides on the back. However, it is very centrally positioned which means it is easy to reach and is distinguishable.

While the 7 plus sports a taller display with thin bezels, they aren’t the thinnest by any stretch, in fact, the phone has a significant forehead and chin. The Nokia 7 Plus has a 6 inch IPS LCD display with a 2160 x 1080 px resolution. The bezels are visible on all the sides of the device but, after a few minutes of usage, your eyes and mind get used to the black space around the display. Thanks to its taller 18:9 aspect ratio the 7 Plus, even with its 6 inch display is easy to use and unless you have tiny hands, the one-handed usage should not be an issue.

The Full HD+ IPS LCD display is bright and vibrant. It has great viewing angles and the 18:9 aspect ratio means the display can fit more content while the overall size of the smartphone has not changed drastically. The single bottom firing speaker is a let down hence, we suggest using external speakers or headphones for any sort of media consumption.

The Nokia 7 Plus runs stock Android 8 Oreo OS and also supports the Android One program. This means the smartphone will receive timely software and security updates for at least a couple of years. Just like the previous Nokia devices, it runs stock OS which means no bloatware. However, there are a few people who prefer a custom skin like MIUI over stock OS. For them, apps like the Nova Launcher is the only way to heavily customise their UI.

Under the hood, the Nokia 7 Plus has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 chipset. In fact, it is the first ever smartphone launched in India that is powered by the chipset. The 2.2 GHz octa-core processor handles day-to-day tasks extremely well. The stock OS and lack of any sort of bloatware also help its cause. The smartphone feels snappy to use and handles gaming quite well.

The Nokia 7 Plus has a dual-camera setup on the back. The primary wide-angle sensor is a 12MP camera with an f/1.75 aperture coupled with a 13MP telephoto lens with an f/2.6 aperture. In our brief testing, we found the camera app to be a bit laggy and even while recording videos, the app stutters a bit.

With an impressive build and stock Android out of the box, the Nokia 7 plus promises to be an exciting seller in the market. However, India being extremely price sensitive, sales might change that opinion. Stay tuned for our full review!

[section label=”Unboxing Video”]

Unboxing Video
April 6, 2018
Finney Is A Blockchain-Powered Smartphone For Cryptocurrency Enthusiasts

Smartphones, over the years, have become quite stagnant. We see a similar design, specifications and features in the majority of phones. That doesn’t mean there is no innovation, Huawei launched the P20 Pro with a triple-camera setup while Vivo launched the first-ever smartphone with an in-display fingerprint sensor. However, in October, we won’t see a launch of an engineering marvel but, a rather quirky smartphone to say the least. Sirin Labs, the Switzerland-based firm will launch the first-ever blockchain smartphone.

In September 2017, the company unveiled a blockchain-powered smartphone and PC for cryptocurrency nerds. These devices would act as secure wallets for all the cryptocurrency wealth the user possesses. Now, the company has roped in Foxconn to manufacture the smartphone. Interestingly, Foxconn is the same firm that manufactures the iPhones for Apple.

Sirin Labs has conceded that it plans on launching the Finney in October 2018. The company has already received 25000 pre-orders and hopes to sell between 100,000 and a few million units in 2018. A rather ambitious number, we must say. According to Sirin Labs, the company has plans to further launch blockchain-powered smartphones in an association with other OEMs. The company is already in talks with Huawei, world’s third largest smartphone maker.

Finney Phone

The Finney phone will retail for a price of US$ 999 (Rs 65000 approx.) or about 0.15 Bitcoin. The smartphone will be readily available to buy at physical stores in eight cities where cryptocurrency is currently striving, in countries like Vietnam and Turkey. This means that the chances of the smartphone launching in India are slim.

According to a report by Bloomberg, the smartphone will have a physical switch will activate coin-related services. Additionally, it will have a feature similar to Apple Key wherein users will be able to secure the devices with an iris scan, fingerprint, or a simple password. This feature will be useful for people who have multiple wallets with different passwords. The Finney will run on open source Android-based Sirin OS. Interestingly, users will be able to earn tokens by sharing their mobile data connection with people around them.

The specifications mentioned on the company’s website include a 5.5 inch display, 64GB of onboard storage coupled with 6GB of RAM. The device will also sport a 12MP rear-facing camera and a 13MP front camera. The website also has a small asterisk next to the specs which mean these are not the final specifications.

Last year when Samsung launched the W-2018 flip smartphone, we iterated that it was a device for a very specific audience. The Finney phone takes that to another level because not a lot of people would shell out a thousand dollars for this smartphone.

April 5, 2018

Nokia 6 2018 Vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro: Specs Comparison

The budget segment of smartphones in India has seen an influx of some great devices. In 2017, the Xiaomi Mi A1, Moto G5s Plus and the Honor 7X were some of the best budget Android devices. 2018 did not have a bad start either, the Honor 9 Lite with its all-glass design and quad-camera setup turned some heads. However, in February, Xiaomi launched the smartphone to beat in this segment, the Redmi Note 5 Pro. Now, HMD Global has launched the Nokia 6 2018 in India at a price of Rs 16999 which will be sold offline only.

In our review of the Redmi Note 5 Pro, we expressed that this was the true successor to the Redmi Note 4. However, Xiaomi also launched the Redmi Note 5 which has been selling well in the previous flash sales. The Nokia 6 2018, on the other hand, succeeds the Nokia 6 from 2017 which left a lot to be desired thanks to its extravagant pricing.

With the Nokia 6 2018, HMD Global has provided better specifications while retaining the 16:9 aspect ratio. This means that despite its new colour accents, the Nokia 6 2018 will look like an older smartphone when compared with the likes of Redmi Note 5 Pro and Honor 7X. It is also worth noting that these two devices cost less than the Nokia 6 2018. The new Nokia 6 also retains a single camera setup on the back while its competitors sport a dual camera setup.

Specifications

Specifications	Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro	Nokia 6 2018
Price	Rs 13999 (4GB RAM) Rs 16999(6GB RAM)	Rs 16999
Display	5.99 inch IPS LCD	5.5 inch IPS LCD
Resolution	2160 x 1080 px 403 ppi	1920 x 1080 px 403 ppi
Battery	4000 mAh	3000 mAh
Chipset	Snapdragon 636 1.8GHz Octa-core	Snapdragon 630 2.2 GHz Octa-core
GPU	Adreno 509	Adreno 508
RAM	4GB/6GB	3GB
Storage	64GB	32GB
Expandability	Hybrid MicroSD Card Slot Up to 256GB	Hybrid MicroSD Card Slot Up to 128GB
Primary Camera	12MP f/2.2 5MP f/2.0 1.25-micron	16MP f/2.0 1-micron
Primary Camera Video	1080P @ 30fps	1080p @ 30 fps
Secondary Camera	20MP Sony IMX376 Beautify 4.0 LED flash	8MP f/2.0
Add-Ons	Fingerprint Sensor Face Unlock	Fingerprint Sensor

April 5, 2018

Apple iPhones With Curved Displays To Launch In 2-3 Years

Apple may never be the first to introduce a feature but, it usually sets an industry-wide trend. In 2017 again, Apple was not the first one to introduce a notch (not a feature but, still). However, it is not rocket science to figure out the overall design shift across Android smartphones ever since the iPhone X was launched. Now, Apple appears to be working on launching a few iPhones with a curved display. However, this reality is still a few years away.

According to few people close to the matter at Apple, these panels will curve inward gradually from top to bottom. This implementation is different from Samsung’s for its recent flagship smartphones. Now, so far we have seen smartphone makers choose the same route for curves, like Samsung. So, it is unclear why Apple would go a different way. It could be because Apple’s research team identified ergonomic advantages with this method. The other reason could be to potentially prevent people from saying that they copied Samsung.

Another interesting feature in future iPhones will be touchless gestures. Since the launch of the iPhone X, other smartphone makers have also identified gestures for navigation as a viable replacement to the same old navigation buttons found on Android since its inception. However, Apple wants to that a step further with touchless gestures. Users will be able to perform certain tasks by just hovering their fingers over the display. But, since the technology will be built into the display, users will have to bring their fingers very close to the display.

These features, as of now, are in early stages of R&D. As we know, Apple never puts out something until the technology is perfected which means we will have to wait a while for the new iPhones. However, the features are very interesting and could, potentially, set another industry trend in the years to come.

April 5, 2018
Samsung Galaxy Note9

To be launched in the third quarter of 2018, the Samsung Galaxy Note9 will succeed the highly successful Samsung Galaxy Note8. So far, there have been rumours about the flagship device to feature an in-display fingerprint sensor. A Samsung patent has revealed that the smartphone might also feature truly wireless charging capabilities although, it seems a bit far-fetched as of now.

[section label=”Latest News”]

Latest News

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April 4, 2018
OnePlus 6 Will Have An Option To Hide The Notch

“To notch or not” appears to be the most asked question in the smartphone industry. OnePlus 6, the next big smartphone to launch has been in the news for its iPhone X like notch. Recently, many Android smartphone makers have come under the firing line for blatantly copying the iPhone X design. Companies like Asus, Huawei have already launched devices with the infamous notch and OnePlus is next in line. The company received a huge backlash on social media recently for promoting and justifying the presence of a notch.

However, it looks like the social media outcry has made the company rethink a few things. While removing the notch altogether is not feasible at all, the company will introduce a nifty software trickery. Just like the Huawei P20 P20 lineup, the OnePlus 6 will have the option to hide the notch. What this will basically do is black out the top of the display, essentially leaving users with a OnePlus 5T-like design. Although a feeble feature, it might be appreciated by users who can’t stand the notch. Smartphone users appear to have very strong opinions about this whole notch business.

Carl Pei recently tweeted “learn to love the notch” after The Verge reported the OnePlus 6 will have a notch. After a collective disdain from OnePlus fans, he deleted the tweet. However, he did clarify OnePlus’ stance on the presence of the notch and why a thin chin is necessary. Carl Pei explained that the only reason the iPhone X doesn’t have a chin is that it has a curved display. At the bottom of each display is a ribbon for connecting it to the device’s logic board, which means a thin chin becomes necessary. Apple decided to curb that with a flexible OLED, which, even though is a great solution, it is also an expensive one.

The software tweak is a welcome step by OnePlus, proving that the company is not rigid in its decisions.

April 4, 2018
Nokia 7 Plus Launched In India At Rs. 25999

HMD Global has officially launched the Nokia 7 Plus in India for a price of Rs 25999. The smartphone will be an Amazon exclusive and will be available for preorders from the 20th of April. Good news for potential suitors of the Nokia 7 Plus, the smartphone will not be sold via any flash sales. At the Mobile World Congress 2018, HMD Global launched a plethora of smartphones. It unveiled the first-ever Android Go device, the Nokia 1 and revived a classic phone, the Nokia 8810 Banana Phone. However, the most exciting of the lot was the Nokia 7 Plus.

At this price, the Nokia 7 Plus competes with the likes of the Moto X4 in India. Apart from the Moto X4, there are not many new smartphones in the price category. However, this is a very peculiar decision by HMD Global. The Nokia 8, company’s 2017 flagship recently received a huge price cut and is now available for Rs 28999. Keeping the price sensitivity of Indian consumers in mind, the difference in price of the Nokia 7 Plus and Nokia 8 might be significant for many people.

However, it is worth noting that the Honor View10, a modern-looking flagship smartphone also retails in India for Rs 29999. While the Nokia 7 Plus might be the only option for some, it is fair to assume that many consumers would rather invest some more money in a flagship-grade smartphone since an average Indian consumer barely makes a generational upgrade in smartphones.

The Nokia 7 Plus looks great, at least in the images. The colour accent of the device is good and the new 18:9 aspect ratio means it is up to speed with modern smartphones. Since the Nokia 7 was never launched in India, for many Indian consumers, this could be a first Nokia smartphone for them.

Another interesting aspect of the Nokia 7 Plus is its chipset. It is the first-ever Android smartphone to launch with the Snapdragon 660 chipset. The Moto X4, its closest competitor is powered by the Snapdragon 630 chipset. However, the Moto X4 has a 6GB RAM variant priced at Rs 25999, while the Nokia 7 Plus only has 4GB RAM.

The Nokia 7 Plus has a 6 inch display with an 18:9 aspect ratio hence, the “Plus” moniker. The Nokia 7 plus also features a dual-tone design thanks to a few gilded bits and pieces. The fingerprint sensor is placed on the back of the device. It also has the similar colour accents found on the Nokia 6.

The Nokia 7 Plus has a Zeiss Optics powered dual-camera on the back. The primary wide-angle sensor is a 12MP camera with an f/1.75 aperture coupled with a 13MP telephoto lens with an f/2.6 aperture. The telephoto lens will allow for bokeh shots which have now become very trendy. On the front is a 16MP fixed focus camera with an f/2.0 aperture, 1-micron pixels, and Zeiss optics.

April 4, 2018
Google To Revive Nexus Brand For Mid-Range Pixel

Google as a smartphone manufacturer, became popular for its Nexus devices which were known for being alpha devices approved by Google for their Stock Android OS. This was, until the Mountain View-based company launched the Google Pixel in 2016, to much dismay of Nexus fans. Nexus smartphones and tablets were designed by OEMs like Samsung, HTC, Huawei and LG while they ran stock Android in their respective years, post-Android 2.1 (Eclair). In 2016, however, Google decided to remove any third party OEM branding with the Google Pixel lineup. Google heavily refined the software experience for the Pixel phones while these devices were still supposedly manufactured by OEMs.

According to a recent news report, Google is apparently working towards launching a mid-range Pixel smartphone in India. According to sources close to iGyaan, these devices may carry the Nexus branding, resurrecting the once loved smartphone brand. The unique proposition for Nexus smartphones was their premium specs, look and feel at an affordable price, a flagship killer so to speak, much like many flagship killers of today from brands like OnePlus, Honor and Xiaomi. This means that a new Nexus smartphone will carry a certain perception that previous Nexus devices built during their existence.

A Nexus Take on the iPhone SE 2

Google is expected to launch the new smartphone in June 2018 along with the new Pixelbook. This will pretty much be Google’s answer to the iPhone SE, and the possible iPhone SE 2 which is expected to launch in India during the same time. If we look at the numbers, Google sold 3.9 million Pixel smartphones globally in 2017 while Apple sold 214.9 million devices. The existence of offline stores and affordable iPhone models like the iPhone SE has, in fact, helped Apple to achieve these sale figures in countries like China and India which are highly price sensitive.

As is with every smartphone launch in India, the pricing will play a huge role here. Google will have to keep the price of the new device as low as possible without defeating their own Pixel brand. The likes of OnePlus, Honor and Xiaomi already dominate the affordable flagship category. In the budget segment, Xiaomi, Nokia and Motorola have solid offerings. However, the mid-range segment of Rs 20,000-25,000 has a gaping hole.

Another important aspect is the accessibility. A majority of users in markets like India still prefer offline shopping for smartphones. A report claims that Google will address this by focussing on the offline market through brick and mortar stores. How this strategy will impact the sales of the upcoming Nexus device/s, will be a prediction as good as any other. But if the company manages a solid offering with a great value, much like the original Nexus devices, it may give companies like OnePlus a run for their money.

April 4, 2018
OnePlus Confirms 256GB Variant Of The OnePlus 6

Out of the blue, the OnePlus 6 launch seems to be closer than ever. Up until a week ago, it looked like the new flagship smartphone will launch in June. However, that has changed, and now, the smartphone will launch in mid or late-April. The Chinese smartphone maker has also started teasing the launch on social media. Now, it has confirmed an important detail about the OnePlus 6.

6et ready! pic.twitter.com/bmvI75xphm

— OnePlus (@oneplus) April 2, 2018

A few days ago, a sketchy-looking image of the possible pricing details of the OnePlus 6 served up an interesting detail. It revealed that the device will launch in a 256GB storage variant and OnePlus has now confirmed the existence of it. For the first time in its brief history, OnePlus will unveil its smartphone in a 256GB onboard storage. The OnePlus 6 will obviously not have expandable storage but, it does give OnePlus 6 suitors a new option to choose from.

As far as RAM is concerned, the smartphone will only have two variants with 6GB or 8GB of RAM. We are still a couple of years way from 10GB RAM in smartphones becoming the new normal. Another interesting ramification of the new storage variant will be the increase in price. If history is anything to go by, OnePlus users do not respond well to hiked price tags. According to a recent report, the 64GB storage variant will be priced at around Rs 34000 in India.

April 4, 2018
Apple Has Released The Biggest iOS Update Since iOS 11

Soon after the launch of the iPhone X, Apple started rolling out the new iOS 11 update to all compatible iOS devices. Keeping up with its reputation for extensive software support for its older devices, the iPhone 5s received the iOS 11 update. For context, the iPhone 5s was launched in September 2013. However, everything wasn’t rosy for iOS 11 as it was marred with many bugs. Initially, it had the slowest adoption rate when compared to previous iOS versions.

After multiple software updates, the iOS 11 experience has become much better but, still leaves a lot to be desired in some aspects. But, the new iOS 11 update is much more significant than the previous ones so far. As promised by Tim Cook, the new iOS 11 update has brought about a major change.

Battery Health And CPU Throttling

In late-December 2017, it was unearthed that Apple was deliberately slowing down older iPhones. The company came out and laid down the reasons for which it took those measures. Apple admitted that it capped the peak demands of the processors of older iPhones to battle battery degradation. This lead to a huge uproar and Apple faced multiple class action lawsuits as well.

Tim Cook then conceded that an iOS 11 update would let users choose between battery health and unadulterated performance. With iOS 11.3, users can head to the battery settings to check the battery health of their iPhone and whether it has been slowed down via software or not.

This was a necessary step for Apple and now gives a lot of control to the user. Some users would choose battery health in order to avoid replacing the old battery. However, there is a majority of people who’d rather use their iPhone to its full potential. The new feature, right now, is in its Beta mode. Once you click on Battery Health (Beta), the window displays the iPhone battery’s maximum capacity. This is a measure of the battery capacity relative to when it was new.

The lower section of the screen is labelled “Peak Performance Capacity,” and has two types of sub-headings. If your phone has never experienced an unexpected shutdown, it will say, “Your battery is currently supporting normal peak performance.” However, in the opposite case, the message will read:

Your battery’s health is significantly degraded. An Apple Authorized Service Provider can replace the battery to restore full performance and capacity.

How to check battery health: Settings>Battery>Battery Health (Beta)

New Animojis

It is hard to fathom that the most famous feature of a brilliant smartphone like the iPhone X is dancing animated characters. Apple showed off Animojis on stage during the launch of the iPhone X and the craze has fizzled away since. Companies like Samsung and Huawei have come up with their own rendition of Animojis but failed to impress.

With iOS 11.3, Apple has added more characters to Animojis. The update adds a skeleton, a lion, a dragon, and a bear, not to be confused with the existing panda bear Animoji. It is worth noting that these new Animojis don’t add any functionality to the existing system, they’re just new skins to play around with.

ARKit 1.5

At the World Wide Developer Conference 2017, Apple introduced ARKit. This is Apple’s AR application programming interface. Its main function is to handle the lower-level processing so that developers can focus on the experience of the app. Up until the new update, ARKit could only place objects on flat surfaces or horizontal planes. But, with ARKit 1.5, developers can place objects on surfaces like a wall or any other vertical plane. Also, accuracy is now increased while mapping objects on a vertical plane.

Another interesting feature is image-recognition. For example, the ARKit can project a full-size robot if a poster for an associated robot movie is seen by the phone’s camera. These developments prove that Apple has a lot of focus on AR and will come out with even more functions in the future updates.

This also means that we could see great developments in AR at the upcoming WWDC 2018.

April 3, 2018
Sony Xperia XZ2 To Launch In India On April 16th

UPDATE: The event is for an audio product not the launch of an Xperia smartphone.

Sony could launch its new flagship smartphone, Xperia XZ2 in India. The company has sent out press invites for an event on the 16th of April. The Xperia XZ2 has also been listed on Sony India’s official website which means that the company could indeed launch the device in India.

This is a great move by Sony which launched its previous flagship, the Xperia XZ1 back in September 2017 in India. The new Sony Xperia XZ2 has top of the line specifications and a much-needed design shift to a modern 18:9 aspect ratio. The price of the smartphones will be of utmost importance in a price-sensitive market like in India. Globally, the Xperia XZ2 retails for US$ 799 (Rs 51000 approx.). Now, the Xperia XZ1 was launched in India at price of Rs 44990, and a similar price will be expected for the new flagship smartphone.

Apart from an 18:9 aspect ratio, Sony has made a few significant design changes with the Xperia XZ2. The Xperia XZ2 has a curvier back as opposed to the block design found on the previous Sony flagship phones. The fingerprint sensor also has a new placement this time around. Instead of housing the sensor inside the lock button, the company has moved it to the back of the smartphone. Sony has retained a single camera setup on the back like Google did with the Pixel 2 devices.

Sony Xperia XZ2 Specs

The Sony Xperia XZ2 has a 5.7 inch IPS LCD display with a 2160 x 1080px resolution.

The smartphone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage. The storage is expandable up to 400GB via a microSD card. Sony has used 3D Gorilla Glass shielding for the back panel. This also means that the Xperia XZ2 comes with support for wireless charging. The smartphone is also IP68 rated for water and dust resistance.

The Xperia XZ2 has a 19MP primary camera with an f/2.0 aperture. In the world of Huawei P20 Pro and its triple camera setup, the Xz2 might seem a bit archaic. But, it could perform well like the Google Pixel 2 smartphones so, we will leave it to that until we test out the device. Interestingly, it has a feature that even the mighty Samsung Galaxy S9 doesn’t have. The XZ2 is capable of recording 1080P video at a whopping 960fps, while the Galaxy S9 only records 720P videos at 960fps. On the front of the smartphone is a 5MP shooter with an f/2.2 aperture.

The phone has a slightly bigger 3180 mAh battery with fast charging capability.

April 3, 2018
Xiao Ai Is Xiaomi’s Virtual Assistant And It Is Very Similar To The Google Assistant

When Google launched the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, it talked a lot about the tight integration of Google Assistant within the OS. Many believed that AI and machine learning would be the next big trend in the smartphone industry. However, that doesn’t seem to hold up so far in 2018. The iPhone X notch has taken over the smartphone industry in the first few months of 2018. However, Xiaomi has strayed away from the herd so far. It launched the Mi MIX 2s without a notch and has now introduced its own virtual assistant, Xiao Ai.

Now, there is a huge chance that Xiao AI will never make its way to India. But, recent launch activity by Xiaomi India suggests the company has identified the great potential Indian market possesses. So, it is not completely ludicrous to expect an India-friendly version of Xiao Ai making its debut with the Mi MIX 2s. Then again, don’t hold your breath for the launch of the Mi MIX 2s in India.

Xiaomi has released a video showcasing the skills of its new AI assistant, Xiao Ai. The video is mostly in Chinese but, there are English subtitles and we couldn’t help but notice similarities with Google Assistant. In the video, colourful bars pop up when the assistant is listening, similar to the Google Assistant. Also, it shows that Xiao Ai can set reminders, control smart lights, tell the weather and other tasks that Google Assistant and the likes of Alexa, Siri can do as well.

However, it is worth noting that Xiao Ai is programmed based on the Chinese language. This means that, in China, at least, this will be the most productive virtual assistant. This bodes well for the company’s other smart home offerings as well.

April 3, 2018
OnePlus 5T Goes Out Of Stock As The OnePlus 6 Launch Looms Large

On the 16th of November, OnePlus launched its second flagship of 2017, the OnePlus 5T. Its surprisingly same pricing as the OnePlus 5 was met with a collective disapproval by OnePlus 5 owners, a smartphone that was launched in June 2017. The launch of the OnePlus 5T meant the OnePlus 5 became an old phone within six months of its launch. Now, the launch of the OnePlus 6 looms large as the OnePlus 5T goes out of stock in India.

One can no longer buy the OnePlus 5T from the official OnePlus India website. Amazon, the official OnePlus 5T seller has also removed the 128GB variant of the device. Only the 64GB storage variant is available to buy and that too, not for too long. This usually happens before a OnePlus launch event. Last year, the OnePlus 5 went out of stock in North America before the OnePlus 5T launch. This week, the OnePlus 5T went out of stock in North America.

Along with that, OnePlus has also started teasing the smartphone on social media. The company posted a small teaser video with the caption “6et Ready” suggesting the OnePlus 6 launch is imminent. We already know that the OnePlus 6 will sport an iPhone X-like notch but, the size of the notch will be much smaller. According to the image released by The Verge, it has the same size as the one found on the Huawei P20 Pro.

However, unlike the P20 Pro, the OnePlus 6 will have a non-functioning chin. Carl Pei recently clarified why all Android smartphones with a notch also have a chin, unlike the iPhone X. At the bottom of each display is a ribbon for connecting it to the device’s logic board, which means a thin chin becomes necessary. Apple decided to curb that with a flexible OLED, which, even though is a great solution, it is also an expensive one. At least, with the Huawei P20 Pro, you get a very good front-facing fingerprint sensor.

The OnePlus 6 will be powered by the Snapdragon 845 chipset. This time around, the OnePlus 6 will launch in a 256GB storage variant as well.

April 3, 2018
LG G7 ThinQ

LG G7 was expected to be launched at the Mobile World Congress 2018 in Barcelona. However, a few days before the event, reports surfaced that LG CEO had asked his team of engineers to work on the LG G7 from the ground up. He also conceded that LG will no longer follow a fixed launch pattern and introduce its flagship smartphones if and when necessary.

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Latest News

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April 2, 2018
OnePlus 6 Will Be Priced At Around Rs. 34000 And Could Launch In Late-April

Arguably one of the most anticipated smartphones of 2018, the OnePlus 6 has been in the news lately. It has garnered a lot of media attention for its iPhone X inspired design. While the company’s co-founder Carl Pei took it upon himself to justify the decision of putting a notch on the display, new information about the smartphone’s price and a launch date have surfaced.

According to a report, the OnePlus 6 will be slightly pricier than the OnePlus 5T. In China, the 64GB base variant will be priced at 2999 Yuan which translates to Rs 34000, while the 256GB variant will be priced at 4399 Yuan (Rs 45,000 approx). The 128GB storage model will retail for 3799 Yuan (Rs 39,500 approx.). This hike in price could be due to the presence of a notch and features like wireless charging. However, if true, it is still much more affordable than other flagship devices like the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+. In China, the OnePlus 6 will launch by the end of April.

The OnePlus 6 will not have a design similar to the OPPO R15. Carl Pei’s confirmation means the initial leaked image could be our best look at the device so far. The “official case” of the OnePlus 6 also corroborates with the design in the leaked photo. The OnePlus 6 will have a vertically-placed dual camera setup along with a rear-facing fingerprint sensor that might have an oval shape.

April 2, 2018