Author: Vivek Umashankar

Google Is Planning For A Faster Mobile Internet Experience

Most of the websites are designed for a desktop user experience. However, the number of people who access the internet through their smartphones is increasing by the day. In 2015, 55% of the Google searches came from a smartphone, which has been increased to 77% in 2016. This tells us that, 2 out of three users are accessing the internet through mobile devices.

To improve the mobile internet experience, Google came up with the concept called project Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP). It loads pages quickly on smartphones. Similarly, Facebook also uses Instant articles, which loads the stories on Facebook in quicker than a usual browser.

What is project AMP?

Project Accelerated Mobile Pages is a special initiative from Google, which offers a web-page in a mobile-friendly page. For instance, the articles on the Google news feed and Twitter load much faster compared to the standard loading speeds. However, the organisation which hosts the source article has to be a part of the AMP network.

AMP is an open source framework, so publishers don’t have to pay for the AMP implementation on their websites. The Accelerated Mobile Pages version of a website just displays the content without other elements. In fact, AMP engaged pages can load in less than 1.5 seconds, which helps to bring in more traffic.

However, AMP is also known for reducing the revenue, due to difficulty in ads implementation.

The next step

Google is happy with its progress so far and is planning to improve the complete internet experience. The company is visioning for the “User-First” mobile experience using the Accelerated Mobile Pages’ capabilities. However, this does not mean that Google is planning to own the entire internet, but, the company is planning to improve the smartphone internet user experience.

Google will provide the tools to several web standards organisation and help to do the research on the technology for setting new standard guidelines. Similarly, the mobile-friendly web will help Google’s Business-model. Google will start giving more insights about AMP to third-party developers, which answers the question of Google being greedy about owning the internet.

March 9, 2018
Facebook Messenger Lite Gets Video Calling Feature
Facebook Messenger Lite now supports video chats. One has to update the app to version 27.1.0.6.185 to enable video chat. The update weights at 3MB and it is free to download. However, after the download, the app consumes around 35MB of storage space.

Originally, the Messenger Lite application was launched to serve users with slow internet connectivity in the countries like India and Sri Lanka. However, later on, the app was made available Globally.

Usually, video chat applications require a lot of high-speed data. However, the Messenger Lite application works even with slow internet connectivity. Facebook claims that 17 million video chats have been made on Messenger. In fact, the number has been doubled compared to the 2016 statistics.

The original launch didn’t have either voice or video calling feature, which was later added with the updates. In fact, it has all the features like stickers, group chat and Find People like the standard version.

How to use video chat on Facebook Messenger Lite
- Open the messenger
- Click on the user
- Click on the video button to start the conversation
Note:

Both the parties should be running on the latest version of either the regular or the Lite app to make video calls.
March 9, 2018
Top Five Budget Dual Camera Smartphones In India
Dual cameras are one of the features, that the majority of consumers will consider when buying a smartphone. The trend of two cameras started with the Apple iPhone 7 Plus in 2016. Similarly, flagship Android smartphones adopted the feature, which later started trickling down to budget smartphones as well. In fact, a dual-camera setup has become staple for most budget smartphones today.

So, if you have a budget of around Rs. 15000 and need a smartphone with a dual-camera setup, what do you pick? Let’s have a read!

Xiaomi Mi A1
- 5.5 inch IPS LCD 1920 x 1080 px display
- Snapdragon 625
- 4GB/64GB
- 12MP wide-angle + 12MP telephoto
- 4K video recording
Xiaomi Mi A1 is an allrounder smartphone, which retails for Rs 13,999. The smartphone has a premium metal unibody design with a USB type C port. The device has a dual camera setup, which is similar to the iPhone X with a 12 MP wide angle lens and a 12 MP telephoto lens with lossless zoom. However, the camera misses out on any kind of image stabilisation. The smartphone also has an added advantage of the Android One programme, which guarantees regular software updates.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro
- 5.99 inch 2160 x 1080 px IPS LCD display
- Snapdragon 636
- 4GB/6GB RAM, 64GB storage
- 12MP+5MP depth sensor
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro is the latest smartphone to join the dual camera clan. The smartphone has an 18:9 aspect ratio with a 5.99 inch FHD+ display. This is also the first smartphone to use the Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 chipset. The dual camera setup on the device consists of a 12 MP primary sensor and a 5 MP depth sensor, which helps take the depth of field/bokeh effect. The smartphone is priced at Rs 13,999 for the 4GB RAM variant and the 6GB variant will cost Rs 16,999. However, the only caveat this great device has is its Flash Sales.

Moto G5s Plus
- 5.5 inch 1920 x 1080 px display
- Snapdragon 625
- 4GB/64GB
- 13MP RGB + 13MP Monochrome
The Moto G5s Plus is one more smartphone, that offers a great value for money. The device runs on stock Android OS and retails for Rs 14,750 on Amazon. The device has a full metal unibody design with a matte finish. The smartphone is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 Octa-core chipset, that also powers the Mi A1. The smartphone has a 13MP RGB and a 13MP monochrome sensor, which helps to produce selective black and white photos.

Honor 7x
- 5.99 inch 2160 x 1080 px IPS LCD
- Kirin 659
- 4GB, 32GB/64GB
- 16MP +2MP depth sensor
The Honor 7x is available on Amazon for Rs 12,999 for the 4GB RAM and 32GB storage variant. The device has a 6 inch 18:9 display, powered by the Kirin 659 Octa-core chipset. The dual cameras on the smartphone consist of a 16MP RGB sensor and a 2MP depth sensor. The device has an 8MP front-facing camera and expected to support Face Unlock via future software updates.

Honor 9 Lite
- 5.65 inch 2160 x 1080 px IPS LCD
- Kirin 659
- 3GB/32GB, 4GB/64GB
- 13MP + 2MP depth sensor
The last but definitely not the least is the Honor 9 Lite. In fact, this is the only smartphone that has a premium glass design with a quad camera setup. The pricing starts at Rs 10,999 for the 3GB RAM and 32GB storage. The device has a 5.65 inch FHD+ 18:9 display, powered by Kirin 659 chipset. The phone has a 13MP primary shooter and a 2MP depth shooter both on the front as well as on the back.
March 9, 2018
Huawei P20 Pro Porsche Design Leaked
A few smartphone OEMs are known for launching limited edition devices and Huawei is one of them. The company is known for launching Porsche Design variants of its flagship Mate and the P series smartphones. However, Huawei is not the only one since Blackberry has also launched Porsche design phones in the past.

BlackBerry Porsche P9983

As Huawei is getting ready to launch the P20 series, the company is also expected to launch a Porsche Design of the P20. Similarly, a render of the Huawei P20 Porsche Design has been leaked. The company will be launching the Huawei P20 Pro, P20, and the P20 Lite on the 27th of March. Similarly, we can also expect the launch of the Porsche Design P20 and the P20 Pro as well.

The specifications remain identical to the standard edition. However, the retail package of the Porsche edition is known to include additional accessories and retail at a premium price tag.

Huawei P20 Pro Porsche Design

Specifications of Huawei P20 Porsche Design

The phone is expected to have a 6 inch 2160 x 1080 px IPS LCD display with a notch on the top. Under the hood, the smartphone will be powered by the Kirin 970 chipset with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. However, we might also see a plus version with OLED display and 8GB RAM.

Huawei P20

The smartphone is likely to house a dual lens primary camera setup with RGB + wide angle lens combination. On to the front, the smartphone is likely to have dual camera setup. In fact, the dual front-facing camera can aid the facial recognition system as well.

The device will run on Android 8 Oreo with custom EMUI. However, the smartphone will have specially developed themes with premium elements.
- Kirin 970 Chipset
- 6 inch IPS LCD Display
- 6GB RAM and 128GB storage
- Leica branded dual camera setup
March 9, 2018
Xiaomi Berlin Leaked Running On Unannounced Snapdragon 632
Xiaomi is getting ready to launch its premium Xiaomi Mi MIX 2s in China. Similarly, the company is silently testing out a new smartphone with the codename Berlin. The Xiaomi Berlin is powered by Snapdragon 632 Hex-core chipset. However, this is an unannounced chipset from Qualcomm.

Xiaomi is known for launching the smartphones with the newest chipsets in the past. In fact, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro is the first smartphone to feature Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 chipset. This could be a wrong report, as the Geekbench clearly mentions that, the chipset has 6 cores with a base frequency of 1.02 GHz. In fact, the chipset is expected to have octa-core CPU.

Specifications of Xioami Berlin

The smartphone has been spotted on the latest Geekbench 4.2.0, which does not say anything about the display size or resolution. Under the hood, the device will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 632 Hexa-core chipset with 3GB RAM. Similarly, looking at the benchmark, the device scores 1155 points on the single-core and 2738 points on the multi-core performance. This means the chipset might be based on the custom Kryo 280 CPU.

The smartphone runs on Android 7 Nougat. Similarly, the device is expected to feature MIUI skin on the top. However, looking at the specifications we can consider that, the Xiaomi Berlin will be Redmi series smartphone.

Summary:
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 632 chipset
- 3GB RAM
- Android 7 Nougat
March 9, 2018
Vivo V9 With An iPhone X Like Notch Expected To Launch In India On March 27th
Vivo, the smartphone brand that is known for its selfie-centric smartphones is all set to launch a new device in India. The Vivo V9 could be the first Android smartphone to launch here with an iPhone X style notch. The smartphone is expected to be priced at Rs 25,000, which makes it costlier than its predecessor. However, there has been no confirmation of a launch event yet. In fact, the Vivo V9 has only been spotted on billboards in Indonesia.

Specifications of Vivo V9

The smartphone is expected to have a 2160 x 1080px IPS LCD display with 18:9 aspect ratio. The phone will feature bezel-less design, with a tiny notch on the top, which is expected to house the earpiece and front-facing camera.

Under the hood, the device will be powered by an Octa-core chipset. However, there is no information regarding exact chipset. The smartphone is expected to feature at least 4GB RAM and 64GB storage. Similarly, the smartphone is also expected to have a dedicated micro SD card.

The Vivo V9 will have a 16MP primary camera and a 24MP front-facing camera. Similarly, the front-facing camera is expected to support face unlock. The device will run on Android 8 Oreo with custom UI on the top with a 3500 mAh battery. The smartphone will have dual SIM card slot with 4G LTE and VoLte capability.

Summary:
- FHD+ 18:9 Display
- 24MP front-facing camera
- Bezel-less design
- Notch
March 9, 2018

Samsung Galaxy Note8 Android 8 Oreo Update To Be Rolled Out By End Of March

Samsung launched the Galaxy S9 and S9+ in India for a starting price of Rs 57,900. The smartphone comes with a new dual aperture camera with the latest software update. The company has already updated the Galaxy S8 and S8+ smartphones with Android 8 Oreo. However, the Galaxy Note8 is yet to receive Android 8 Oreo update, which was, in fact, is the newer model compared to the S8.

Samsung’s official Turkey website lists the upcoming devices that will receive Android 8 Oreo update. According to the website, the Galaxy Note8’s update is scheduled to go live on the 30th of March. Similarly, the website also lists few other devices, which will receive the Android 8 Oreo update.

Smartphone	Date
Samsung Galaxy Note8	30th of March
Samsung Galaxy S7	13th of April
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge	13th of April
Samsung Galaxy A7 2017	25th of May
Samsung Galaxy A5 2017	25th of May
Samsung Galaxy A3 2017	25th of May

The above-mentioned smartphones will receive the Android 8 Oreo update. However, this does not mean that these are the only devices that are eligible for the Android 8 Oreo update.

March 8, 2018

Top Instant Messaging Apps For Android
Not a long time ago, we used to send wishes through postcards, which was later replaced by SMS. However, the rise of the internet has made SMS services redundant. Instant messengers have evolved into more than just text messaging mediums. Users can do things like international video calling to sending money, all in one single app. While these apps are free to use, the internet is the only prerequisite.

The instant messengers help for all kind of stuff. From making an international video call to sharing a presentation. However, usually, the only requirement of these apps is the internet. Almost all the instant messengers work fine in either cellular data or a Wi-Fi network. So, here are the top three instant messengers available for Android. However, these three apps are universally compatible, which means they work fine on iOS as well.

WhatsApp

Without a doubt, WhatsApp has become the most famous instant messaging apps in the world. While there are a few anomalies here and there, almost everyone with a smartphone has WhatsApp nowadays. The free to use business model with no in-app ads make this one of the best messengers in the business. One can create groups and add up to 256 members.

Pros:
- Free to use
- Ad-free user experience
- Free voice and video calls
- Simple UI
- WhatsApp Pay
Cons:
- Requires an active SIM card for activation
Facebook Messenger

The Facebook Messenger was something that was forced on to us. Facebook made the Messenger a standalone app and removed the option of chat from its main app. Hence, anyone with a Facebook app, had to move on to the Facebook Messenger as well. But, it has turned out to be a great messaging app, especially for people extremely active on Facebook. However, it has the option of replacing the standard SMS app as well.

The messenger has two sections, where it differentiates the messages and the active users. The active users are highlighted using a green dot. One can also initiate voice and video calls with a single touch of a button.

Pros:
- Free to use
- Material UI
- Free voice and video calls
Cons:
- In-app ads
- App consumes a lot of space
- Complex user experience
Hike

This is also an interesting instant messenger. Though it resembles WhatsApp, it has its own added advantage. The app comes with a hidden mode, where users can hide their secrete chats. This app also offers free stickers, which can be used instead of words to express a certain feeling. In fact, the app has stickers based on Indian celebrities and their famous dialogues as well.

Pros:
- Groups chat with up to 1000 members
- UPI based Hike wallet
- Gift packs
Cons:
- Small user base
- In-app ads
[poll id=”60″]
March 8, 2018
Asus ROG Strix GL702ZC Launched In India For Rs 1,34,990

Asus launched the Asus ROG Strix GL702ZC in India, which is the world’s first AMD Ryzen powered gaming notebook. It has a 17.3 inch FHD display with AMD’s Freesync Technology. Similarly, the notebook uses Asus Splendid visual optimization technology to enhance the quality of the content.

The notebook has ROG gaming centre feature, which offers game specific settings in the control menu. The keyboard supports anti-ghosting technology to ensure simultaneous and instantaneous keystroking. In fact, one can press up to 30 keys in a single stroke.

Pricing and availability of the Asus ROG Strix GL702ZC

The Asus ROG Strix GL702ZC will be available in India from the 20th of March. Similarly, the notebook is up for pre-order on Flipkart for Rs 1,34,990.

Arnold Su, National Business Development Manager (PC and Gaming), ASUS India said:

ROG is dedicated to the pursuit of extreme performance and the delivery of ultimate gaming experiences to champions worldwide. With the addition of the all new ROG Strix GL702ZC, the gaming beast & in collaboration with AMD, we are extremely excited to offer the most powerful gaming experience to the gaming community in India.

ROG Strix GL702ZC with AMD Ryzen changes the gaming hardware dynamic. We’re excited to partner with AMD, to bring together the world first and most powerful 8 Core AMD based gaming machine for smooth and shutter free gaming experience.

Specifications of Asus ROG GL702ZC

The Asus ROG Strix GL702ZC has a 17.3 inch FHD 1920 x 1080p IPS LCD display.Similarly, the display has 60Hz refresh rate and AMD FreeSync technology. Under the hood, the notebook is powered by AMD Ryzen 7 1700 processor, clocked at 3.7 GHz with 8-cores and 16 multi-threads. This processor is coupled with 16GB DDR4 2400MHz SDRAM with 256GB SSD and 1TB hard disc.

The 4GB by AMD Radeon RX580 graphics card handles the graphics. In fact, this GPU supports VR content. The company has not skimped on any ports, as it has three USB 3.0, one USB type C, RJ-45, and an HDMI 2.0 compatible. Similarly, there is a mini display port.

The notebook weights at 3.2 KG, which puts it on a heavier side. However, considering the 17.3 inch screen, the weight is acceptable.

Conclusion

The Asus ROG GL702ZC has all the reasons to be called as the gaming-notebook. However, the 17.3 inch display might not be suitable for those who are looking a travel-friendly gaming notebook.

March 8, 2018
Huawei Y9 2018 Looks A Lot Like The Honor 7X
Huawei is getting ready for its biggest launch of 2018 on the 27th of March to unveil the P20 series. However, it is not stopping the brand from launching other smartphones like the Huawei SE in the US. A new device from the company has passed the FCC certification, which is expected to be launched at in the US.

The Huawei Y9 2018 looks similar to the Honor 7x with a few cosmetic changes. In fact, the company has started teasing a new smartphone launch with the quote “best 4G smartphone”, which is expected to be launched on the 15th of March. The company recently launched Huawei Mate 10 Pro in the US. In fact, the company also made an exclusive deal with AT&T to offer its devices on a contract basis. However, AT&T pulled out of the deal at the last minute due to anonymous security concerns.

As a result, Huawei smartphones are available in the US in an unlocked or off-contract model. However, most of the smartphone buyers in the US prefer contract based models, which is stopping the company from being a successful smartphone brand.

Expected specifications of the Huawei Y8

The smartphone has a 5.93 inch FHD+ 2160 x 1080px IPS LCD display with 18:9 aspect ratio. The device will be powered by Kirin 659 Octa-core chipset with 3/4GB RAM and 64GB storage.

The phone has a rear dual camera setup with a 16MP primary sensor and a 2MP secondary depth sensor. Similarly, the phone has a dual front-facing camera with a 13MP primary sensor and a 2MP depth sensor, which helps to capture depth effect. In fact, the primary camera setup is similar to the Honor 7x and the front-facing camera setup is similar to the Honor 9 Lite.

Honor 9 Lite

The device will run on Android 8 Oreo with custom EMUI on the top with face unlock. The device still has a micro USB port and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The volume rockers and power button are on left side and the SIM tray is on the right side.

Summary:
- 5.93 inch FHD+ display with 18:9 aspect ratio
- Kirin 659 Octa-core Chipset
- Dual primary camera setup
- Dual front-facing camera
- Android 8 Oreo with custom EMUI skin
March 8, 2018
Google Ends Software Support For Nexus 5X, 6P

Google released the first developer version of the Android P, which will be the successor of Android 8 Oreo. However, less than 1.5% of Android phones run on Android 8 Oreo right now. To improve this, Google introduced Project Treble which enables the faster Android updates, without interfering with the OEM.

Google follows the 2 years update policy, where the smartphones and tablets will receive two major OS upgrades. However, this changed with the launch of the Pixel series of smartphones. To keep up with Apple (which offers four major OS upgrades), the Pixel devices will receive three major OS upgrades. Similarly, the Pixel will update to Android P and Android Q and the Pixel 2 will also be updated to Android R.

However, this is not applicable to the Pixel C tablet, Nexus 5X and the Nexus 6P. These devices have received two major software update and they are no more eligible to receive Android P. However, all three devices are eligible to receive monthly security updates until September 2018.

As these devices are very popular amongst the developers, the devices might receive unofficial build of Android P via third-party developers.

Android P Features

The Android P is expected to overhaul the user interface completely. In fact, the biggest change is the native support for the infamous notch. In fact, one can test these features by installing the developer version on a supported device.

The dock in Android P will also look like a dock now. The four app icons along with the Google Search bar will have a cloudy background, distinguishing it from the rest of the screen. A microphone icon has been added to the Google Search bar to access Google Assistant or do a quick voice search. The volume slider has been moved to the side of the screen and shrunk in size.

Another feature added is something that has been there in custom skins for a while. A user can now take a screen from the power menu, that pops up by long pressing the lock/unlock button. This will come in handy during one handed usage. Visually, there are not many changes in the first developer preview of Android P. However, this can change by the time the official version rolls out. Google might introduce a few visual changes or keep it the way it is. Time will tell.

March 8, 2018
Huawei P20 Pro, P20, And P20 Lite Press Renders Leaked
The flagship smartphones from Huawei are known for the camera capabilities. In fact, Huawei is the only smartphone maker that works with the Leica, which manufactures optics for the high-end cameras. This year, smartphones like the Pixel 2, iPhone X, and Galaxy S9 have proven their camera capabilities.

Huawei P20 Pro

The upcoming Huawei P20 series smartphones are also expected to concentrate a lot on their camera performance. A series of leaks have revealed that the Huawei P20 Pro will have a triple Leica branded camera setup. Similarly, these newly leaked renders from a tipster corroborate the same.

The leaked renders of the Huawei P20 series are in line with most of the speculations. The Huawei P20 Pro has a notch and a triple Leica branded camera setup. The Huawei P20 has a notch and a dual Leica branded camera setup and the P20 Lite has a dual camera setup. Similarly, the Huawei P20 Pro and P20 have a front-facing fingerprint sensor while the P20 Lite has a fingerprint scanner on the back.

Specifications of Huawei P20 Pro

The smartphone is expected to have a 6 inch 2880 x 1440 px OLED display with a notch on the top. Under the hood, the smartphone will be powered by the Kirin 970 chipset with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. In fact, the smartphone is expected to support native face unlock algorithm similar to the iPhone X.

The device is also expected to offer a wide range of AI capabilities, which is expected to improve the smartphone photography.

The smartphone is likely to house a triple lens primary camera setup with RGB + wide angle + telephoto lens combination. On to the front, the smartphone is likely to have dual camera setup. In fact, the dual front-facing camera can aid the facial recognition system as well.

Summary:
- 6 inch OLED Display with a notch
- Kirin 970 Chipset
- 6GB RAM and 128GB Storage
- Leica branded triple camera setup
Huawei P20

Specifications of Huawei P20

The phone is expected to have a 6 inch 2160 x 1080 px IPS LCD display with a notch on the top. Under the hood, the smartphone will be powered by the Kirin 970 chipset with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. However, we might also see a plus version with OLED display and 8GB RAM.

The smartphone is likely to house a dual lens primary camera setup with RGB + wide angle lens combination. On to the front, the smartphone is likely to have dual camera setup. In fact, the dual front-facing camera can aid the facial recognition system as well.

Summary:
- 6 inch IPS LCD Display with a notch
- Kirin 970 Chipset
- 6GB RAM and 128GB storage
- Leica branded dual camera setup
Huawei P20 Lite

Specifications of Huawei P20 Lite

The smartphone is expected to have a 6 inch display with a 2160 x 1080 px resolution. Under the hood, it will have the HiSilicon Kirin 970 chipset along with 4GB or 6GB of RAM. However, as this is a Lite edition, we expect the company to go with a Kirin 600 series chipset, instead of Kirin 970.

While the smartphone will be thin, it is expected to house a big battery that will support SuperCharge. The Huawei P20 Lite is expected to have a 16 MP + 2 MP primary camera setup and a 16 MP front-facing camera.

Summary:
- 6 inch IPS LCD Display with a notch
- Kirin 970/600 series Chipset
- 4/6GB RAM
- Dual camera setup
March 8, 2018
OnePlus 6 With 19:9 Aspect Ratio Spotted On AnTuTu

OnePlus is expected to launch the OnePlus 6 in mid-2018. While the launch of the smartphone is still a few months away, leaks about it have been in full swing. Recently, an image of the OnePlus 6 revealing the shiny glass design was leaked. Similarly, it was leaked that the OnePlus 6, just like many other Android devices, would support a notch.

According to a leak, a new OnePlus smartphone with the model number A6000 has been leaked. In fact, the device was spotted on AnTuTu scoring 276510 points. The OnePlus 5 carried the model number A5000, hence, it makes sense for the OnePlus 6 to be A6000. The device has broken the previous record set by the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2s. The device has a 19:9 aspect ratio display, which suggests the existence of the notch on the top similar to the Asus ZenFone 5z.

OnePlus 6 sporting a notch should not be that surprising. The OnePlus 5 looked uncannily similar to the iPhone 7 Plus at the time of its launch. However, the company did change things up a bit with the OnePlus 5T.

Credits: Android Central

OnePlus 6 Specifications

The device will have a 6.2 inch 2160 x 1080 px Optic AMOLED display with a higher screen to body ratio. The device will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset with up to 8GB RAM and 256GB, similar to the OnePlus 5 and 5T.

OnePlus 5T

There will be a tiny notch up front, which will house the front-facing camera and the earpiece with an LED flash unit. In fact, the smartphone is expected to have a Face ID like feature, which uses the front-facing camera. Hence, we could see some extra sensors in that notch to enable a much more secure facial recognition system. That will also sort of justify the notch, just like on the iPhone X.

The device will have a dual primary camera setup, similar to the OnePlus 5T, were, the secondary sensor will be used for low light photography.

Conclusion

In the last few years, the company didn’t have any contenders in the affordable flagship market. However, now the market has many interesting smartphones like the Asus ZenFone 5z and the Honor View10, which costs much less than the OnePlus 5T. Similarly, this year will be a real challenge for OnePlus and its devices.

Over the years, OnePlus devices have taken “inspiration” from OPPO devices. The OnePlus 5, for instance, looked similar to the OPPO R11 while the 5T looked uncannily similar to the R11s. With the OPPO R15 launch expected soon, it won’t be surprising if the OnePlus 6 turns out to be a more powerful R15.

March 8, 2018

Xiaomi Redmi 5 Vs Honor 9 Lite: Specifications Comparison

Xiaomi Redmi 5 is expected to launch in India on the 14th of March. Considering the price of the Redmi Note 5, the Redmi 5 is expected to be cheaper in India. In fact, the 2GB RAM version is expected to retail for Rs 6,999 and the 3GB RAM version for Rs 8,999. For this price tag, the smartphone offers some of the best-in-class design and specifications. The Redmi 5 has a 5.7 inch 1440 x 720 px IPS LCD display with 18:9 aspect ratio, powered by Snapdragon 450 chipset. Even the 12 MP primary camera is exactly similar to the one used on the Note 5 and the Note 5 Pro.

The Honor 9 Lite takes a different route. In fact, this is the only smartphone to feature premium glass design with a quad-camera setup under Rs 15,000. The device has a 5.7 inch FHD+ 2160 x 1080 px display, which has more pixels than the Redmi 5. In fact, the smartphone does support face unlock using the front-facing camera, which is like the cherry on the cake. However, do note that the entry-level model of the Honor 9 Lite retails for Rs 10,999, which could be at least Rs 4000 more than the price of the Redmi 5.

Specifications	Honor 9 Lite	Xiaomi Redmi 5
Price	Starts at Rs 10,999	Expected to start at Rs 6,999
Display	5.65 inch IPS LCD 18:9 Aspect Ratio	5.7 inch IPS LCD 18:9 Aspect Ratio
Resolution	2160 x 1080 px 428ppi	1440 x 720 px 282ppi
Chipset	HiSilicon Kirin 659	Snapdragon 450
RAM	3GB 4GB	3GB 4GB
Storage	32GB 64GB Expandable up to 256GB	16GB 32GB Expandable up to 256GB
Battery	3000 mAh	3300 mAh
Primary Camera	13MP 2MP (depth sensor)	12MP
Primary Camera Video	1920 x 1080px @ 30fps	1920 x 1080px @30fps
Secondary Camera	13MP 2MP (depth sensor)	5MP
Add-ons	Fingerprint Sensor Face Unlock	Fingerprint Sensor

March 7, 2018

Xiaomi Teases Redmi 5 Launch In India On The 14th Of March

Xiaomi India launched the Xiaomi Mi TV 4A 32 inch and 43 inch on March 7th. However, the launch video of the television ended with a twist. At the end of the video, Xiaomi teases a new smartphone, which will be announced on the 14th of March. Hence, it seems like the Redmi 5 could be launched in India.

The video shows a phone’s side profile, which looks similar to the recently launched Redmi Note 5. The Redmi Note 5 is basically the Redmi 5 Plus which was launched along with the Redmi 5 in China back in early-December 2017.

The Xiaomi Redmi 5 is a miniature version of the Redmi Note 5. The smartphone has an identical design with a slightly compact form factor and inferior hardware.

Xiaomi Redmi 5 Specifications

The Xiaomi Redmi 5 has a 5.7-inch 1440 x 720 px display with an 18:9 aspect ratio. However, the bezels are still very visible, especially in the Gold colour variant.

Under the hood, the Redmi 5 has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 chipset, a 1.8GHz octa-core processor, Adreno 506 GPU, 2GB, 3GB or 4GB of RAM, 16GB or 32GB of onboard storage which will be expandable via microSD card. In fact, the Snapdragon 450 is an underclocked Snapdragon 625 chipset, which is used in the Note 5.

There is a fingerprint sensor placed at the back of the phone just below the camera. However, that is mainly a signature Xiaomi decision and not due to the lack of bezels on the front. Powering the device is a 3300 mAh battery which, Xioami claims has a standby time of up to 12 days. The battery is charged via a micro USB slot which means no fast charging. There is a 3.5mm headphone jack placed next to the charging port as well.

The Redmi 5 has a 12MP camera at the back with 1.25-micron pixel size. The camera surprisingly only records 1080P videos at 30fps. To the front of the device is a 5MP camera with Beautify 3.0, which is Xiaomi’s software for enhanced selfies.

Conclusion

The Redmi Note 5 is priced at Rs. 9999 for the base variant. The Redmi 5, if launched, will have to be priced below that. However, at a lower price, this could be a better option than the likes of the Redmi 5A priced at Rs 6999. Hence, it looks like the conundrum of the Redmi 5 and its position in the India market will only be solved on the 14th of March.

March 7, 2018

Author: Vivek Umashankar

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Note:

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Moto G5s Plus

Honor 7x

Honor 9 Lite

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Summary:

Smartphone

Date

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Facebook Messenger

Hike

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Expected specifications of the Huawei Y8

Android P Features

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Specifications

Honor 9 Lite

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Xiaomi Redmi 5 Specifications

Conclusion