So far, a lot of the attention has been focussed on one Xiaomi device, the Mi Mix 2S. While the Mi Mix 2S is expected to be unveiled at MWC 2018, the Mi Max 3 will be launched in mid-2018. So far, there have been a few leaks regarding the Mi Max 3 but, some interesting information has been revealed about the device.
XDA Developers came across a firmware that has a revealed a few features of the upcoming device. According to the leaks, the Mi Max 3 will be powered by the Snapdragon 660 chipset. The firmware also reveals that the device will support wireless charging which means it will have a more premium build.
Xiaomi Mi Max 3 Early Leaks
Other than that, it revealed that the smartphone will have an 18:9 aspect ratio. Powering the phablet will be a massive 5500 mAh battery that will probably support fast charging as well. The Mi Max 3 will run Android 8 Oreo out of the box with MIUI 9 on top. The Mi Max 3 will have either Sony’s IMX363 camera sensor, or, Samsung’s S5K217 + S5K5E8 sensors on the back. On the front, there will be a single Samsung S5K4H7 sensor.
Xiaomi Mi Max 3 Specifications
The Mi Max 3will succeed the Mi Max 2 from 2017. It is exoected to move on from the 16:9 aspect ratio and thick bezels. It will have a 6.99 inch IPS LCD display with a 2160 x 1080 px resolution. The smartphone will have a glass back since it is expected to support wireless charging. This could be a game changer since the Mi Max series has always been priced under Rs. 20,000 in India.
Graphical Representation Of Wireless Charging On A Xiaomi Smartphone
Under the hood, the device will either have the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 or the 630 chipset. That is expected to be coupled with up to 6GB of RAM and expandable storage options. The Mi Max 3 will be powered by a massive 5500 mAh battery and run Android 8 Oreo out of the box.
Conclusion
While the leaked details look impressive, nothing is for certain right now. The launch of the Mi Max 3 is a bit far away and it seems too early for such comprehensive leaks. Also, wireless charging for a smartphone under Rs. 20,000 could be unprecedented if true.
After a long wait, Samsung will finally launch a high-end tablet at MWC 2018. Along with the much-awaited launch of the Galaxy S9 and S9+, the company will launch the Galaxy Tab S4 as well. The Galaxy Tab S3 was launched at MWC 2017 and it appears that its successor will debut at MWC 2018.
A new leak has confirmed an interesting detail about the Tab S4. While the Galaxy Tab S3 had a 4:3 aspect ratio, the Galaxy Tab S4 will have a 16:10 aspect ratio. However, it is worth noting that the HTML5 test never shows the accurate resolution of the devices in question. As expected, all the Samsung devices launched at MWC 2018 will run Android 8 Oreo out of the box. The HTML5 test confirms that for the Tab S4 as well.
Specifications:
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 recently showed up on GeekBench the model number SM-T835. The last year’s Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 came with a model number SM-T835. Which suggests that this could indeed be the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Tab S4.
The Galaxy Tab S4 is expected to retain most of the aesthetics with a large 10.5 inch 2560 x 1600 pixel resolution Super AMOLED display. Under the hood, the device will be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 Octa-core chipset with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage. The tab is also expected to offer dedicated micro SD card slot, which can accept micro SD cards up to 256 GB.
In terms of camera optics, the tablet offers a 12 MP main camera and a 7 MP front-facing camera. As per the leaks, the video recording might be limited to 1080p on both the cameras. The tab S4 is also expected to feature next-generation S-Pen, to increase the productivity of the tablet.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 features a single SIM card slot with support for 4G LTE and VoLte, with voice and video calling capability. The device will be powered by Android 8 Oreo with Samsung’s own Experience UI with additional customisation for S-Pen.
Mobile World Congress 2018will kick off on the 26th of February in Barcelona. Apart from exciting smartphone launches, a lot of concept gadgets will be launched as well. One such interesting gadget that will be launched at MWC 2018 is a smart scooter. This smart scooter will be the first-ever Android-powered smart scooter. French electronics company Archos announced the launch of Citee Connet, the smart scooter.
Features, Price and Specifications
The Citee Connect will first launch in the European market and slowly make its way to other countries. However, there is a very little chance of it being launched in India. It will be priced at EUR 499.99 (Rs. 40,000 approx.). Archos claims the Citee Connect has a top speed of up to 25kmph and a range of over 25 kilometres.
The Archos Citee Connect has a 5 inch IPS touch panel on top of the handle. This touch panel runs Android 8 Oreo which is interesting since a lot of Android smartphones still run Android 7 Nougat. Under the hood, this display is powered by a quad-core chipset, has 1GB of RAM and 8GB of onboard storage.
The company claims that the display panel will offer resistance to bad weather and shocks because of the presence of Corning Gorilla Glass. However, the version of glass hasn’t been disclosed yet. The Citee Connect weighs 13kg and comes with 8.5-inch puncture-proof wheels and rubberised handles. Powering the scooter is a 250W motor and a 6000mAh (36V) Lithium battery which allows for a range of over 25km in urban areas. However, we are talking European urban areas here.
There is a proprietary charging dock, however, the battery life can also be extended by up to 15% using the custom braking mechanism.
Conclusion
While the prospect of smart scooters sounds interesting, it isn’t practical in countries like India. However, with a bit more investment in infrastructure, at least the metro cities of India can be conducive for smart electric vehicles.
Huawei sub-brand Honor launched the Honor 9 Lite in India in January. Priced at Rs 10999 for the base variant, the Honor 9 Lite is one of the few devices in the price category to offer an 18:9 aspect ratio. In fact, the Honor 9 Lite has an all-glass design with a metal frame and offers a dual-camera setup on the back as well as on the front. No other smartphones in this price offer these features.
However, Honor has no plans of stopping there. The company has announced that by 5th of March, all Honor 9 Lite devices will receive the infamous Face Unlock feature via HOTA (Huawei Over The Air) update.
Sanjeev, Vice President, Sales, Huawei Consumer Business Group said:
At Honor, we believe in delivering superior and innovative smartphone experiences and the Face Unlock rollout for Honor 9 Lite is in line with our commitment. Honor 9 Lite will be the most affordable smartphone in the Indian market to support Face Unlock feature.
The Honor 9 Lite already runs on Android 8 Oreo while the Redmi Note 5, which goes on sale tomorrow, is on Android 7 Nougat right now.There are no claims that the Redmi Note 5 will eventually receive Face Unlock. Hence, the Honor 9 Lite remains the only device in this price range to offer such a feature.
Honor 9 Lite Specifications
The smartphone has a 5.65-inch IPS LCD display with a 2160 x 1080 px resolution which translates into an 18:9 aspect ratio. The design of the device is different from what other companies offer in this price range. The device has a glass sandwich design with a metallic frame.
Under the hood, similar to the Honor 7X, the Honor 9 Lite has the HiSilicon Kirin 659 chipset, an octa-core processor, the Mali-T830 MP2 GPU, 3GB or 4GB of RAM and storage options of 32GB and 64GB. It is worth noting that the onboard storage will be expandable up to 256GB via a microSD card.
The fingerprint sensor is placed at the back and the bottom bezel on the front houses the Honor branding. However, the company could have housed the fingerprint sensor in the bottom bezel, similar to the Honor View10.
Powering the device is a 3000 mAh battery which also supports the Super Charge technology.
The device has four cameras. To the front and back, it has a 13MP camera along with a 2MP depth sensor. Both the camera setups record 1080P videos at 30fps.
Ever since the turn of the year, there have been plenty of rumours about the iPhone SE 2. While early rumours claimed that there will be a radical change in the design language of the ‘SE’ series, lately, the leaks have been a bit subdued. A few reports claimed that Apple won’t launch the iPhone SE 2, however, it will launch the iPhone X SE with an LCD panel.
A new report from China claims that Apple will take to stage at WWDC 2018 and launch the iPhone SE 2. The iPhone SE 2 won’t feature a new design and won’t look anything like the iPhone X. It will have a design similar to the iPhone SE with flat sides, top and bottom bezels and Touch ID.
iPhone SE
However, it will feature a larger 4.2 inch display which seems a bit off. The main purpose of the iPhone SE was to cater to the consumers that prefer small form factor along with flagship-like specifications. If Apple does include a 4.2 inch display, it is likely to reduce the size of the bezels to maintain the overall size of the phone. The screen resolution will remain the same as the iPhone SE. However, the report claims that Apple will concentrate on under the hood improvements.
The iPhone SE 2 will be powered by the A10 Fusion chipset. This is the same chipset that powered by the Apple iPad Pro as well. The smartphone is expected to have 2GB RAM and the base variant will now have 32GB of storage. This could change as well since Apple has bumped up the base storage for its new iPhones. We could see the iPhone SE 2 launch with a minimum 64GB onboard storage.
iPhone SE 2 Concept Via: Concept Creator
The sketchy bit about the report is its prediction of the launch date. Apple has not launched an iPhone at WWDC since the iPhone 4 in 2010. However, going by the past record, the iPhone SE 2 could be unveiled at a media event in March.
Conclusion
While the iPhone SE 2 and these leaked specifications seem close to the truth, it cannot be confirmed yet. The source doesn’t have a great track record hence, it raises some suspicion. While the iPhone SE 2 launch seems to be happening sooner rather than later, a launch at WWDC seems unlikely.
Sony is expected to launch two smartphones at MWC 2018 that commences on February 26th. While it was speculated that the company would skip MWC to avoid clashing with the Galaxy S9 launch, recent rumours have suggested otherwise. The Sony Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact will be unveiled at the upcoming event and their pricing has been leaked.
Pricing
The Sony Xperia XZ2 (earlier known as XZ2 Pro) will carry a price tag of US$ 987 (Rs. 64000 approx.). The smaller of the two will be the XZ2 Compact which will have the same specifications as the XZ2. Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact will be priced at US$ 740 (Rs. 48000). Both the devices will go on sale on the 6th of March in Europe, possibly.
Xperia XZ2 Compact
However, there are no dates confirmed for the device’s launch date in India.
Sony Xperia Xz2 Pro:
The Xz2 Pro is expected to have a 5.7-inch 4K OLED display with dual front-facing stereo speakers. Under the hood, the smartphone will be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Oct-core chipset with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. However, this could be untrue and the company could launch the XZ2 Pro with a Snapdragon 835 chipset. Although not public, there is a possibility of Samsung having early access to Snapdragon 845 chipsets.
Hence, the launch of the Xiaomi Mi 7 has also been pushed to later. Since the company confirmed that the Mi 7 will be powered by the Snapdragon 845 chipset.
Xperia XZ2 Pro Renders
This might be the first Sony smartphone to feature dual camera at the back with a 16 MP + 13 MP camera setup. There will be a 12 MP front-facing camera at the front.
Sony Xperia Xz2 Compact:
The Xz2 Compact might have a 5 inch display with a 2160 x 1080 px resolution. Just like the Xperia XZ2 Pro, it could either be powered by the Snapdragon 845 or 835 chipset. The Xperia Xz2 Compact might feature thin bezels along with an 18:9 aspect ratio display.
The Xz2 Compact is expected to run on Android 8.1 Oreo with Sony’s Xperia Interface. As of now, there are no other details about the Xperia Xz2 Compact.
Conclusion:
While the price of the Sony smartphones might seem a bit higher, the industry trend could be the reason. However, Sony has priced its flagship devices competitively in India and expect the same this time around as well.
On the 26th of February in Barcelona, Spain, MWC 2018 will kick off. Companies from around the globe are expected to announce and showcase all kinds of smartphones. One of the most anticipated launches is that of Samsung devices. The Galaxy S9 and S9+ will be launched a day before MWC 2018 commences. However, companies like LG are expected to not host a marquee event. This is mainly because of the presence of the Galaxy S9 devices and the media frenzy that surrounds them.
Xiaomi is also expected to make an important announcement pertaining to the Mi Mix 2S. HTC, which appeared to give MWC 2018 a miss, might launch a couple of important smartphones as well. However, the most exciting lineup, after Samsung, appears to be of Nokia. HMD Global is expected to launch at least three devices at MWC 2018.
So, here is a list of the top smartphones launching at MWC 2018!
The Galaxy S9 and S9+ will be the marquee launches at MWC 2018. As always, Samsung’s flagship devices are always hyped and same has happened in 2018 as well. There have been numerous leaks of the two devices over the past two weeks. However, Samsung might have a couple of surprises planned even though we know almost everything about the devices.
The Galaxy S9 and S9+ are expected to retain the display sizes of their predecessors. The design of the Galaxy S8 devices was highly appreciated and it looks like the company won’t tinker with it too much. The bezels will be slightly smaller but, nothing too major.
Under the hood, the smartphones will either run on the Snapdragon 845 chipset or Exynos 9810. The storage variants of the Galaxy S9 and S9+ have leaked a while ago and a recent image corroborated that. Fortunately, Samsung has worked on the fingerprint sensor and this time around, it will be placed in a more ergonomic position.
The Galaxy S9 will have a single camera while the S9+ will have a dual-camera setup. This is different from the previous generation where the only differences between the regular and ‘Plus’ devices were battery and display sizes. This time around, Samsung will pack extra features in the S9+ to justify the steeper price tag.
Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S
Unlike the Galaxy S9 and S9+, this launch isn’t that obvious, yet. There are a few days to go for MWC 2018 which means Xiaomi has time to confirm a launch event. Up until a few weeks ago, the Mi Mix 2S looked like a result of someone’s wild imagination. That weird notch on the top right corner did not seem real and there were rumours of the Mi 7 flying around.
However, the Mi Mix 2S rumours have picked up since then and it looks more likely to be launched. There are reports that the company will launch the Mi 7 later. The Mi Mix 2S will have thinner bezels and the Mi Mix 2 along with a notch on the top right corner. That small notch will house the front camera.
Xiaomi has already used radical methods to tackle with the front camera. It placed the front camera on the bottom bezel in the Mi Mix and Mi Mix 2. Under the hood, it is expected to run on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset along with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The Mi Mix 2S will also have a dual-camera setup on the back. Also, it might feature Clear ID technology as well. Although, that seems highly unlikely right now.
Nokia 7 Plus
Nokia 7 Plus Renders Courtesy: @evleaks
A continuation of the Nokia 7, the Nokia 7 Plus might be the international variant of its predecessor. The Nokia 7 did really well in China and HMD Global might launch the Nokia 7 Plus internationally. It is expected to have a new design with an 19:9 aspect ratio and thin bezels. The Nokia 7 Plus, according to the renders, appears to have a stunning design and will impress a lot of people.
The fingerprint sensor along with the dual Zeiss branded cameras are located on the back, with a hint of an orange accent around the camera ring. According to the renders, it could sport an all-glass design, similar to the Moto X4 and Nokia 7.
It is worth noting that the Nokia 7 Plus will run on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 SoC, coupled with 6GB RAM and 64GB storage. The “Android One” branding on the back of the phone guarantees that the device will launch with Android 8 Oreo out of the box. Hence, you can expect regular software updates for the next two years.
Renders suggest that the company has decided to retain 3.5 mm headphone jack and a USB type C port charging and data syncing. At least on paper, the Nokia 7 Plus looks like a well-balanced smartphone, with a smart set of specifications.
There is still a lot of confusion regarding the name of this device. But, what is for certain is that Huawei will launch a new smartphone at MWC 2018.The Huawei P11/P20 Lite was recently leaked in 3D renders which revealed a very interesting design. The Huawei P11 Lite, along with the P11 and P11 Plus, is expected to have an iPhone X-like notch.
Not just that, even the dual camera setup on the back is placed vertically, resembling the iPhone X. The Huawei P11 Lite is expected to be launched globally.
With bezels getting thinner, the standard size of a smartphone has increased from 5.5 inches to 6 inches. The Huawei P11 Lite is expected to have a 6 inch display with a 2880 x 1440 px resolution. Just like the Mate 10, Huawei could use an OLED panel as well. As seen in the renders, the corners are curved which means an OLED panel is expected on the Huawei P11 Lite as well.
Under the hood, it will have the HiSilicon Kirin 970 chipset along with 6GB or 8GB of RAM. The dual-camera setup might be similar to previous Huawei phones with an RGB+Monochrome combination.
Conclusion
MWC 2018 will play host to a lot of great smartphones. iGyaan will keep you posted on all the exciting launches! What are you most excited about?
HTC is expected to launch its 2018 flagship, the HTC U12 at MWC 2018. Along with the flagship smartphone, there have been rumours of an entry-level device as well. HTC might launch the HTC Desire 12 at MWC 2018 with an 18:9 aspect ratio and entry-level specifications. However, a new image of the retail box has revealed the key specifications of the HTC Desire 12. This also seemingly confirms that the device is real and will be launched at MWC 2018.
HTC Desire 12 Specifications
According to the leaked image of the box, the HTC Desire 12 will have a 5.5 inch display with a 1440 x 720 px resolution. This translates into an 18:9 aspect ratio. The industry has certainly moved on from the 16:9 aspect ratio and it won’t be long before even entry-level devices start launching with this aspect ratio.
Under the hood, the smartphone will have a MediaTek chipset with a quad-core chipset, 3GB of RAM and 32GB of onboard storage. The storage will be expandable up to 2TB via a microSD card. Powering the device will be a 2730 mAh battery. The box doesn’t reveal the version of Android it will run out of the box. However, it is possible that the HTC Desire 12 will run Android 8 Oreo out of the box.
The Desire 12 will have a 12MP camera on the back. It will record 1080P videos at 30fps. On the front will be a 5MP BSI sensor which will, in all probability, record 720P videos.
However, these are still leaks and nothing can be absolutely certain right now. Hence, until HTC launches the Desire 12 at MWC 2018, these are all speculations.
Conclusion
It is yet to be seen whether the HTC Desire 12 will be launched in India. The Indian smartphone market extremely price sensitive where companies like Xiaomi has shone. If HTC does launch the Desire 12 in India with a MediaTek chipset, it will have to be priced very competitively. However, the HTC Desire 12 might bring something else to the table with its 18:9 aspect ratio. Therefore, the price will be really important for it to succeed in the India market, at least.
Samsung will launch the Samsung Galaxy S9+ and S9 on the 25th of February. Both the smartphones have been heavily leaked and there is barely anything left that Samsung can surprise us with. We know that devices will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset in the US and South Korean markets. However, in the other markets, the devices will run on the Exynos 9810 chipset.
A new benchmark listing reveals that the Galaxy S9+ could be the fastest Android devices yet. The Galaxy S9 showed up on GeekBench and had a good result, with a single-core score of 3648 and a multi-core score of 8,894. However, the Galaxy S9+ just took it a notch higher. The listing has revealed an incredible score of 3773 and 9024, respectively.
For context, the image below shows the most recent GeekBench scores. The Galaxy Note8 and the Galaxy S8+ have very good single-core results of 1960 and 1953, respectively. However, the Galaxy S9+ almost doubled that with 3773 in the single-core test. In the multi-core test, the device the Galaxy Note8 and S8+ score6474 and 6427, respectively, Again, the Galaxy S9+ blows that out of the park with a score of 8894.
Samsung Galaxy S9+ Expectations
The device will be launched along with its smaller sibling. While back in 2017, there was a difference of screen and battery size between the two phones, the case won’t be the same this time around. Samsung will be adding a few extra features in the Galaxy S9+ to justify the higher price tag.
The Galaxy S9+ will have the same 6.2 inch Super AMOLED display with slightly thinner bezels than its predecessor. The aspect ratio will remain the same at 18.5:9.
Under the hood, the smartphone will run on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 or the Exynos 9810 chipset. This will depend on the country you buy the device from. It will run Android 8 Oreo out of the box with Experience 9.0 UI on top.
Xiaomi recently launched the Redmi Note 5 Pro in India at a starting price of Rs. 13999. Keeping up with the industry trends, the Redmi Note 5 Pro has an 18:9 aspect ratio and a dual-camera on the back. Unlike a lot of other smartphones with a dual camera setup, the Redmi Note 5 Pro has two RGB sensors.
Dual-Camera Redmi Note 5 Pro
At this price tag, the Note 5 Pro directly competes with the likes of the Honor 7X and Xiaomi’s own Mi A1. The Honor 7X and Mi A1 also have the best cameras in this price segment. Despite the 18:9 aspect ratio, the Redmi Note 5 Pro has thicker bezels than the Honor 7X which are even more prominent in the Gold colour variant. The Mi A1 has a 16:9 aspect ratio and definitely looks archaic when put next to the Note 5 Pro and Honor 7X.
Where the Mi A1 one-ups the other two devices is the software. It runs stock Android OS and is part of the Android One program. Hence, it will get the latest software update for the next two years at least. However, the same cannot be said about the Honor 7X and Redmi Note 5 Pro since they run custom UI on top of Android. In fact, the Honor 7X and Note 5 Pro still run Android 7 Nougat, while the Mi A1 has been updated to Android 8 Oreo.
With the three devices priced similarly, we decided to put them through their paces. Let’s see which one came out on top:
With MWC 2018 just a few days away, the anticipation around potential launches is increasing. One of the most anticipated devices after the Galaxy S9 is the Mi Mix 2S. Xiaomi is expected to launch its 2018 flagship device at MWC 2018 which will be one of the first few devices to run on Snapdragon 845. Leaks also suggest that it will have a nearly bezel-less design.
A new video has surfaced only which apparently shows off the bottom part of the Mi Mix 2S. In the video, someone is seen handling the Mi Mix 2S with support for gestures. Now, this doesn’t come as a surprise as Xiaomi recently introduced gestures in a Beta build of MIUI 9. Apparently, the Mi Mix 2S will come with gesture support out of the box.
The video, unfortunately, doesn’t reveal the top half of the device. Hence, it is not possible to confirm whether the Mi Mix 2S will indeed come with a notch on top. However, this also means that we can’t confirm whether the device in question is the Mi Mix 2S. The bottom bezels of the phone are unlike any other Xiaomi phone and definitely resemble the renders of the Mi Mix 2S.
However, this could well be the Mi Mix 2 upside down. The company has already introduced gesture support for the device and once rotated, the smartphone’s UI also rotates. So, we would suggest that you take this leak with a pinch of scepticism.
Mi Mix 2S Expectations
The back of the Mi Mix 2S is expected to be the same as the Mi Mix 2. It will be made of ceramic which means it’ll be a fingerprint magnet. However, that is a price you have to pay for a device that looks as premium as the Mi Mix 2S. The significant change will be in the camera department. This time around, the Mi Mix 2S will have a dual-camera setup, which could be similar to the one found on the Mi A1, albeit of better quality.
On the front is where Xiaomi will look to one-up the much-famed Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+. The leaked image confirms that the smartphone will have a different take on the notch. The bezels all around the display will be uniform but, the top right corner will protrude a bit and that will house the front-facing camera.
It will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset coupled with 8GB of RAM and 256GB onboard storage.
Mi Mix 2s Renders
Conclusion
The Xiaomi Mi Mix 2s will be launching a day or two after the Galaxy S9 and S9+. The alleged design of the phone, along with these new gestures will surely grab a few headlines. After the iPhone X, Android smartphone makers like OnePlus and Xiaomi have dug deep into the possibilities surrounding gestures for navigation. While the shift for iPhone users to gestures was more organic, it could be a bit tough for Android users since the OS has used only buttons so far. iOS, on the other hand, had gestures inside the UI before the iPhone X came along.
The launch of Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ is just a few days away. In the weeks of leading up to the official launch, we have had enough leaks to reveal almost everything about the device. However, the leaks don’t really stop until a phone is officially launched. Similarly, there has been another revelation in the story of the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+.
Galaxy S9+ Case Renders
An anonymous Reddit user claimed that he/she used the Galaxy S9+ for about 20 minutes. They hosted an AMA and answered a lot of questions pertaining to the Galaxy S9+ in particular. While there have been enough renders to reveal what the devices might look like, a few key details were still missing. Ever since the AMA was hosted, a few of the comments have been deleted. However, enough information was revealed to shed more light on what to expect from the devices.
The user has revealed that the Galaxy S9+ looks and feels very similar to the Galaxy S8+. The user said that “I was really so [surprised] at the fact that it looked like I was holding an s8. It’s really that similar.” The fingerprint sensor has been moved to a more central position, similar to the Galaxy A8+. The user claimed that the Galaxy S9 has stereo speakers, one in the earpiece and a second at the bottom of the phone. This is similar to what is found in recent Apple iPhones.
Intelligent Scan
One of the most talked-about features of the iPhone X is its Animojis. There were reports that claimed the Galaxy S9 and S9+ will come with its own rendition of talking emojis. According to the user, it is not an exact copy of Animoji. In fact, it offers a different user experience that is better in some ways, but worse in others.
Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ Overview
The smaller sibling will have a 5.8 inch Super AMOLED display while the Galaxy S9+ will have a 6.2 inch display. Both the devices will have a 2960 x 1440 px resolution.
Press Renders
Similar to its predecessor, the Galaxy S9 will have a single 12MP SuperSpeed Dual Pixel camera. This time around, however, the camera will have an f/1.5 aperture and record super slow motion videos at 480fps. The Samsung Galaxy S9+ will become the second phone from Samsung to feature a dual-camera setup on the back after the Galaxy Note8. The Galaxy S9+ will have a 12MP camera with an f/1.4 aperture along with another 12MP camera with an f/2.5 aperture
Owing to the launch of the Samsung flagship phones, a lot of companies have restrained from making significant announcements. The Galaxy S9 is expected to be priced at Rs. 69,000 in India.
Donal J. Trump is the President of the United States. He won the 2016 Presidential Elections by beating Hilary Clinton. On November 8, 2016, Trump received 306 pledged electoral votes versus 232 for Clinton. The victory was unforeseen by many experts and over the course of the past year, lots of information about the campaign has been unearthed. On the 16th of February, the Justice Department indicted 13 Russian nationals and 3 companies for interfering in the 2016 presidential election.
The Russians stole the identities of American citizens and posed as political activists to deviate the public opinion against a certain Presidential candidate. However, there was no accusation that President Trump or his associates were knowingly part of the conspiracy.
The Story
The Russian nationals used the power and reach of social media to sway public opinions. In today’s world, where the majority of the public gets their news from social media, this is a dangerous proposition. The fact that a few individuals with malice intentions can influence one of the biggest events in the world is quite frightening. This also proves that so many people believe whatever is on social media without fact-checking.
The Russians carried out a campaign called “Project Lakhta”. It began in early-2014 and targeted a few individuals while siding with others. In early-2016, they intended to attack Hillary Clinton, Senator Ted Cruz, and Senator Marco Rubio, while supporting Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump. After that, they attacked Hilary Clinton and focused on supporting the campaign of Donald Trump.
The accused Russian nationals created fake social media accounts and bought ads to promote their agendas. These advertisements ran between April 2016 and October 2016 and targeted Hilary Clinton. One of the ads mentioned equated Hilary to Satan and Trump to Jesus. This indictment also goes against President Trump’s claims that Russia did not meddle in the elections and that it was all “fake news.”
While President Trump has not been mentioned as a complicit, same cannot be said about Vladimir Putin. American intelligence officials have publicly said that President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia directed and oversaw Project Lakhta. Two of the three companies hold Russian government contracts.
Such is the power of social media that if not single-handedly, it can at least sway the public reaction. The use of social media by Russian nationals prove that we believe memes and videos over trusted news outlets. Therefore, we need to take a hard look at what we see on social media and what is really worth believing.
Launched in September 2017, the iPhone X was a big design shift for Apple. One of the most eye-catching features of the iPhone X is its display notch. Unlike a lot of phones that might launch with a notch this year, the iPhone X’s notch has a purpose. It houses the front camera, earpiece and all the hardware required for Face ID.
At the time of its launch, the iPhone X received mixed reviews for its notch. However, people soon realised that the notch blends into the UI pretty soon. For the majority of people, the notch doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb. For the minority of people that are annoyed with it, Apple might have good news for you.
The next generation iPhone X will have a smaller notch. This was claimed in a research note issued by analysts Andrew Gardiner, Hiral Patel, Joseph Wolf, and Blayne Curtis at investment bank Barclays. While they believe that the 2018 iPhones will only have a slightly improved Face ID, this could result in a smaller notch. Along with that, the note also claims that Face ID will be introduced in the upcoming iPad Pro:
We remain confident that Apple is set to deploy its TrueDepth 3D sensor across the iPhone range in 2018 and to also add it to the pending iPad Pro refresh as well.
Given the complexity and multiple years spent developing the current generation of module, combined with supplier comments over the past month regarding multi-year customer commitments, we do not envisage a major change to the architectural make-up in 2018 […]
We do expect the sensor to evolve slightly, potentially reducing in size (i.e., smaller notch) and improving in specificity […] helping to further drive very strong growth [for some Apple suppliers] in 2H18 as the second generation of sensor ships in this year’s new iPhones.
2018 iPhone Lineup: What To Expect
2018 will see three new iPhones being launched at the Apple annual launch event. One of them will be the 2018 iPhone X, iPhone X Plus and an iPhone X SE. Interestingly, the naming of the upcoming smartphones suggests that the successor to the iPhone SE will indeed be a large iPhone that has design elements similar to the iPhone X.
iPhone X Plus Concept
Kuo claims the 2018 iPhone X will again start at US$ 1000, the iPhone X Plus will be priced higher (likely US$ 1200-US$ 1350) while the iPhone X SE will be priced at around US$ 700-US$ 800.
The iPhone X 2018 (tentative name) will have the same 5.8 inch OLED display found on the current iPhone X. It will have a 2,700 to 2,800mAh battery, supplied primarily by Unimicron. The 2018 iPhone X will also be powered by a new chipset and is expected to feature advanced Face ID.
The iPhone X Plus will have a 6.5-inch OLED display in a body that might not be much bigger than the iPhone 8 Plus’. It is expected to have a 3,400 to 3,500 mAh battery supplied Unimicron.
iPhone X SE?
The cheapest iPhone of the lot will be the iPhone X SE. It will be the successor to the iPhone SE and feature considerable upgrades over the predecessor. Although, these updates might end up costing the essence of the ‘SE’ series. The iPhone X SE will have a 6.1 inch LCD display with a design similar to the iPhone X. This means that Face ID will be introduced in this smartphone as well.
The iPhone X SE will be powered by the latest chipset, just like the iPhone SE was. However, unlike the 2018 iPhone X and iPhone X Plus, it won’t feature wireless charging. It will also miss out on 3D Touch.
As for investor reaction to the 2018 iPhone lineup, Kuo says that there is an air of “conservative sentiments due to concerns about a lack of major spec upgrades.” However, Kuo predicts the market will appreciate the 6.1 inch iPhone X SE, which he says will account for around 50% of the new iPhones sold in the second half of 2018.
More smartphones in 2018 are expected to drop the headphone jack. It is a sad reality we have to live in. However, it is also true that more and more budget Bluetooth headphones are becoming better by the day. So, if you have a smartphone without a headphone jack, or just want to try out a pair of great sounding Bluetooth headphones, read on. We take a look at the top five Bluetooth headphones (in-ear and over-ear) that cost less than Rs. 2000!
Zakk Air
If you work out, or like the occasional jog, the Zakk Air are ideal for you. These in-ear type Bluetooth earbuds cost Rs. 1899 and are available on Amazon right now. The earbuds have a playback time of up to 5 hours and are also sweat resistance. So you don’t have to worry about spoiling them when you’re at the gym.
Coupon Code: Igyaan10
Start Date- 16/03/2018 7:00 AM
End Date- 16/04/2018 9:00 PM
Boat Rockerz 510
These are for people who prefer over the ear headphones. Boat headphones are bass heavy and these headphones are no different. The Rockerz 510 has a comfortable fit, and ideal for long listening hours. It has an inline microphone as well as a host of buttons to control your music and headphones without reaching out for your phone. Also, it comes with a 3.5mm cable for times when your headphones run out of battery.
Moto Pulse Wireless Headphones
Probably the most minimalistic headphones on the list, the Moto Pulse headphones sound great. They are on ear type headphones instead of over the ear. This means that the sound bleeds out a bit. However, at a price of Rs. 1500 and the assurance of Moto brand, the Moto Pulse make a great pair of headphones. One downside is the lack of support for wired playback. This means that if you run out of battery, there is no way to use the headphones.
Zakk Flex
The Zakk Flex are in-ear type earphones with a neckband reminiscent of the Sony h.ear in earbuds. The neckband is flexible resulting in a very comfortable fit. A good thing is that the flexible neckband doesn’t add a lot of weight to the earphones. They sound great and are priced at Rs. 1799. Just like the Zakk Air, these earbuds are also sweat resistant. The neckband comes into play when we talk about the battery life. The Zakk Flex has a playback time of up to 8 hours which is extremely convenient.
Portronics Harmonics 204
The Portronics Harmonics 204 have a build and style similar to the Zakk Flex. There is a neckband that holds the earbuds together and is also very flexible. A nifty feature it has is the magnetic latch to prevent accidental falls. Similar to the Zakk Air, the Harmonics 204 have a playback time of up to 5 hours.
