Samsung is known for its signature TVs with the OLED panel. However, the company is slowly shifting towards the Quantum Dot technology. In fact, the company announced a couple of Smart TVs based on QLED technology at CES 2018. On March 7th, 2018, the company is expected to launch few more models of mainstream TVs using Quantum Dot technology.
Samsung is all set to launch the next generation Smart TV series in New York at the American Stock Exchange in Manhattan. The company is expected to launch 8K resolution smart TVs. In fact, Samsung showcased a TV with 8K resolution at CES 2018.
Features of 2018 QLED Samsung TVs
A report from Korea stated that the 2018 QLED TVs features will be centred on the Bixby. The TVs will be AI driven based on Samsung’s SmartThings technology. The Bixby will be used for the effortless content discovery and sharing. However, we are yet to see the implementation of Bixby on a TV platform.
Conclusion
The Samsung 2018 QLED TV series will showcase the power of the smart TV with an AI-enabled operating system. However, these TVs will be priced at a premium price tag.
The recently concluded MWC 2018 was devoid of a Xiaomi spectacle. This was, however, expected since the company announced a March event for the launch of the Mi MIX 2S. Over the past few weeks, we haven’t seen a lot of leaked images of the Mi MIX 2S but, a few specifications have been revealed. However, a new image of the device has surfaced which reveals a very interesting feature of the Mi MIX 2S.
The leaked image shows an “Always On” display with a fingerprint image. This suggests an in-display fingerprint sensor, similar to the Vivo X20 Plus UD. The always on display might seem Un-Xiaomi like but, considering this device will have an OLED display, it is believable. Thanks to it being an OLED panel, an always-on display mode won’t consume a lot of battery.
However, the most talked-about feature of the Mi MIX 2S so far has been the notch. Unlike new Android smartphones, Xiaomi will have a different implementation of the infamous notch. The front camera will be housed in a small protrusion on the top right corner. The leaked image shows a smartphone with black bezels and the display is turned off. Therefore, it is hard to gauge whether this a genuine image.
This leak corroborates with a recent report that suggests that the Mi MIX 2S will have Samsung’s OLED panels. If true, the Mi MIX 2S could be one of the best smartphones of this year. It has already been confirmed the Mi MIX 2S will be powered by the Snapdragon 845 chipset.
Xiaomi Mi MIX 2S Specs
Most of the specifications of the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2S are already known. In fact, the company announced that the Mi MIX 2S will be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845. The smartphone will be launched in China on 27th March. Similarly, the smartphone will have a notch on the right corner, which houses the front-facing camera.
Mi MIX 2s Leaked Specs
As this is a premium smartphone, we are anticipating 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. This time around, the MIX 2S is expected to offer superior camera performance compared to the Mi MIX.
Unlike the Xiaomi Mi 7, the MIX 2S has a rear-facing fingerprint sensor. The device will have a massive 4400 mAH Li-ion battery with fast charging. However, we are unsure about the wireless charging, as the last two Mi MIX models featured ceramic panel, which doesn’t support wireless charging.
Update: Xiaomi India has removed the listings from the website.
Xiaomi India is expected to launch the Xiaomi Mi TV 4A in India in the next few days. The company might launch the 32 inch and 43 inch version of the TV in India. Subsequently, the prices of these TVs have also been leaked online. In fact, the televisions are expected to look like the Xiaomi Mi TV 4.
According to the listing found on the Xiaomi, the 32 inch model is priced at Rs 12,999 and the 43 inch model is priced at Rs 21,999 respectively. However, nothing can be said with 100% surety as of now.
Xiaomi Mi TV 4A 32 inch
The Xiaomi Mi TV 4A 32 inch has a 13366 x 768px LCD screen. The panel offers up to 3000:1 contrast ratio. Similar to the Mi TV 4, the TV runs on custom PatchOS based on Android OS powered by Amlogic 1.5 GHz Quad-core chipset with 1GB RAM and 4GB storage. The TV does support WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, dual HDMI port and a USB 2.0 port. However, do note that this specific model does not have Bluetooth connectivity. So, one cannot use Mi smart remote.
Xiaomi Mi TV 4A 43 inch
The Xiaomi Mi TV 4A 43 inch has a Full HD 1980 x 1080 px LG panel with 178-degree viewing angle. Similarly, the TV is powered by Amlogic Quad-core processor with 2GB RAM and 8GB Storage. The TV is powered by Xiaomi’s custom PatchOS based on Android OS. The 43 inch model gets Bluetooth support, which will be missing in the 32 inch model. In fact, this TV has all the smart features like the original Mi TV 4.
Features
Xiaomi Mi TV 4A 32 inch
Xiaomi Mi TV 4A 43 inch
Display
1366 × 768px LCD Display with 3000:1 contrast ratio
Barcelona, Spain hosted yet another edition of MWC 2018 in February. While smartphones like the Galaxy S9 and Xperia XZ2 were heavily leaked, there were a few surprise launches that caught a lot of attention. Nokia, for instance, launched as many as 5 devices. So, what are the top five smartphones that launched at MWC 2018? Let’s find out!
Samsung Galaxy S9, Galaxy S9+
Galaxy S9, S9+ Colour Variants
This is an obvious entry on the list. The Galaxy S9 and S9+ were the most anticipated smartphones of MWC 2018. Follow up to 2017’s successful flagship duo, a lot was expected from the Galaxy S9 and S9+. As was expected from the numerous leaks, the Galaxy S9 and S9+ did not look too different from their predecessors.
However, there are a few important upgrades that could be interesting. First one is in the camera department. The Galaxy S9 and S9+ now feature a variable aperture. The Dual Pixel 12 MP sensor has a dual f/1.5 and f/2.4 aperture. In bright lighting conditions, the camera will use the f/2.4 aperture, while the wider f/1.5 aperture is used in dark lighting conditions. It also captures 720P videos at 960fps and 4K videos at 60fps, similar to the Apple iPhone X.
Also, the fingerprint sensor is finally placed below the camera module, something we saw on the Galaxy A8+ as well. The S9 has a single camera setup while the S9+ now has a dual-camera setup similar to the Galaxy Note8. Both the smartphones will be launched in India on the 6th of March and go on sale on March 16th.
This smartphone is not a consumer-ready product yet. However, it is still one of the coolest devices displayed at MWC 2018. Over the years, MWC has been a witness to some amazing concept phones. Even this year, Nokia was expected to unveil the Penta-lens concept phone. However, that did not happen. But, Vivo did turn up and one-upped its CES 2018 unveiling.
The Vivo Apex has an in-display fingerprint sensor that covers almost half the display. While the Vivo X20 Plus UD only had a regular-sized fingerprint sensor underneath the display. In fact, this is not even the most interesting feature of the Apex. To accommodate probably the thinnest bezels on a smartphone, Vivo came up with a very different implementation of the front camera. The Apex has a hidden front camera which pops out every time it has to be used.
Although it is still a concept phone, the implementation is very interesting here. Let’s hope more companies come up with consumer-ready products with such intricate and satisfying design elements.
HMD Global launched not one, not two, but five devices at MWC 2018. Apart from the smartphones, it also announced that all Nokia devices will now be Android One devices. The Nokia 7 Plus, another heavily leaked device was one of the five phones to be launched. Along with the Nokia 8 Sirocco, the Nokia 7 Plus is the only Nokia smartphone with an 18:9 aspect ratio and thin bezels. A follow up to the China-only Nokia 7, the 7 Plus has a great design and build quality.
Under the hood, the 7 Plus has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 chipset and 2.2GHz octa-core processor. That is coupled with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage which will be expandable via microSD card. The fingerprint sensor is now placed on the back and has the similar colour accents found on the Nokia 6 (2018).
If the European price of the smartphone is anything to go by, it will have a steep price in India. However, for it to work in the Indian market, HMD Global will have to price below Rs. 25000 to keep the Honor View10 at bay, which has flagship specifications and costs Rs. 28999. At under Rs. 25000, the 7 Plus will compete with the likes of the Moto X4.
At MWC 2018, companies like Sony and Samsung were expected to launch Snapdragon 845 powered smartphones. However, the most interesting device powered by the flagship chipset was unveiled by Asus. Apparently, this smartphone flew under the radars of leakers online and Asus had a worthy unveiling in its hands. From the moment you look at it, the Zenfone 5Z looks like an iPhone X lookalike.
Although Asus claims the notch on the Zenfone 5Z is smaller than that of the iPhone X, it is still a notch. Also, one thing that the iPhone X achieved was uniform bezels around the display, thanks to the notch. However, the Zenfone 5Z kind of defeats the purpose of a notch as it also carries a thicker chin. That being said, the flagship Asus device has a lot going on for it.
If and when Asus launches the Zenfone 5Z in India, it could nullify the effect of the OnePlus 5T if launched at a price of Rs. 40,000 or less. That is until the OnePlus 6 is launched.
For the past couple of years, Sony smartphones have failed to capture the imagination of many consumers. Even in 2017, when many smartphone makers made a shift to bezel-less design, Sony continued to launch its signature boxy style devices. However, that finally changed at MWC 2018. Sony unveiled the Xperia XZ2 and Xperia XZ2 Compact with an 18:9 aspect ratio and thin bezels. However, still not the thinnest bezels you’ll see this year.
The Sony Xperia XZ2 and the smaller sibling also run on the latest and greatest Snapdragon 845 chipset. Apart from the Galaxy S9 and Zenfone 5Z, they are the only devices to run on the new flagship chipset. Sony still has a single camera setup on the front and back. So, it has still clinged on to a few Sony signature features.
Even for the Sony Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact, the devices will have to be priced competitively in India.
Xiaomi’s Mi TV 4 is one of the best smart TV that one can get for the budget of Rs 40,000. However, the 55-inch size with 4K resolution is not everyone’s cup of tea. In fact, the 55 inch TV from Xiaomi is too much for an average Indian house. To bridge this gap, the company might launch a new TV with 42 inch screen size with 1o80p resolution. Similarly, the TV is likely to be called as Xiaomi Mi TV 4 Lite.
The Xiaomi Mi TV 4 Lite will have all the features of the Original model with a smaller footprint. The TV will have a 1080p panel, which will be similar most of the TVs. Not only that, it will have all the smart TV functionalities as well.
In terms of pricing, the Xiaomi Mi TV 4 Lite is expected to be priced around Rs 20,000 price mark. If they can launch a smart TV the price tag similar to the speculated one, then this will be a blockbuster.
Samsung started the OLED trend in the early smartphone days. Now, most of the premium smartphone makers including Apple and LG have shifter to OLED screens.
OLED screens are known to produce better colours, better contrast ratio and consume low energy. Similarly, they are also known for the premature burn-in issues as well. According to a leak, Xiaomi might be the next smartphone maker to make LCD to OLED technology shift on its upcoming smartphones.
A Recent report suggests that Xiaomi ordered 1.1 million 6.01 inch OLED displays in December and 2.2 million in the second month from Samsung. This means the upcoming Xiaomi Mi MIX 2S and the Xiaomi Mi 7 might feature 6.01 inch OLED displays.
Expected features of Xiaomi Mi 7
The Xiaomi Mi 7 will be the successor of the Xiaomi Mi 6, which is expected to go official in the Q2 of 2018. Considering the fact that, the smartphone features an OLED display, the smartphone might also feature an In-display fingerprint sensor like the Vivo APEX.
The Xiaomi Mi 7 will be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset with at least 4GB RAM and 64GB Storage. We might also see models with higher RAM and storage as well. The recent partnership with the Xiaomi and Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) indicates that the smartphone might support Qi-based wireless charging.
Expected features of Xiaomi Mi MIX 2S
Most of the specifications of the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2S are already known. In fact, the company announced that the Mi MIX 2S will be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845. The smartphone will be launched in China on 27th March. Similarly, the smartphone will have a notch on the right corner, which houses the front-facing camera.
As this is a premium smartphone, we are anticipating 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. This time around, the Mi MIX 2S is expected to offer superior camera performance compared to the Mi MIX.
Unlike the Xiaomi Mi 7, the MIX 2S has a rear-facing fingerprint sensor. The device will have a massive 4400 mAH Li-ion battery with fast charging. However, we are unsure about the wireless charging, as the last two Mi MIX models featured ceramic panel, which doesn’t support wireless charging.
Samsung introduced fingerprint scanner on the Samsung Galaxy S5, it made into stock android on Android Marshmallow. Samsung introduced multi-window mode on the Galaxy Note 4, it made into native Android on Android Nougat. Now Google is all set to adopt the support for Iris scanner in the Android P natively.
What does it mean?
This means that the Google Pixel 3 lineup from Google is expected to feature Iris scanner. Companies like OnePlus, Honor, and Xiaomi have already come up with the phones with face recognition. However, the technology used on these devices is not foolproof like the Iris Scanning.
In fact, the Samsung Galaxy S9 uses both Iris scanner and Face scanning to improve the over experience. Do note that, Samsung is the only mainstream smartphone maker to offer Iris scanner.
Is Iris scanner a safe authentication method?
For the most part yes. It scans different parts of the eyeball, which are very distinct even on twins. However, as of now, the one has to look at the phone from a specific distance to unlock the smartphone. Similarly, it takes an additional second more than the fingerprint scanner.
In fact, one cannot fool it using a 3D model or an identical twin like the Face ID. So, it is safe but not the fastest thing in the world. Even the hardware requirement for the Iris scanner is not as complex as Face ID, so it will be easy to mass produce.
Conclusion
The implementation of Iris scanner has been spotted on the alpha build of the Android P. Google should officially announce this new feature at the Google I/O 2018. The Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL could be the first set of non-Samsung smartphones to feature this new technology.
LG is rebuilding its flagship smartphone for 2018. In fact, the company might completely ditch the G series. However, that does not mean that the company didn’t have a plan for the LG G7.
Last year LG launched the LG G6 with a year old processor. Though the smartphone had a lot of potentials, it didn’t do well in terms of business. Since LG doesn’t want to repeat the mistake, it is taking its time to shape up a new smartphone with exciting features and specifications.
An Israeli publication has posted a hands-on video of the alleged LG G7 that could have been.
Details of the LG G7
The LG G7 looks like a refined version of the LG V30+, which is the current flagship smartphone from LG. As the name suggests, this would have been the flagship device from the South Korean smartphone manufacturer. However, this concept didn’t make the cut thanks to LG’s revamped plans.
As it is clearly visible, LG directly copied the notch from Apple iPhone X and pasted on to the LG G7. However, like the Asus ZenFone 5, the notch might be used just for styling. The specifications of the smartphone are also on-par with the latest Android flagship smartphones of 2018.
The device has a 6 inch pOLED QHD+ 3,120×1,440px display with a notch. Under the hood, the smartphone was powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset with 4/6GB RAM and 64/128GB storage. Like every other LG smartphone, the G7 does have a micro SD card slot.
The smartphone has a dual 16 MP cameras at the back with f/1.6 aperture. However, the primary lens has OIS and the secondary lens didn’t. The front-facing 8 MP wide-angle sensor is hidden in the notch.
The LG V30+ has glass on the back
Finally, the phone has a 3000 mAh battery, which fast charging and wireless charging support. The OS was based on Android 8 Oreo with custom LG skin on the top.
Expected changes on the upcoming LG flagship
LG has given the code name for the flagship smartphone as Judy. The company has planned to go with MLCD+ display technology instead of OLED for added brightness and battery conservation. Similarly, the smartphone is also expected to offer premium DTS:X and boom box feature for the improved stereo experience. However, just like the LG G7, the Judy will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset.
Samsung is expected to launch a new series of entry-level smartphones in the coming weeks. On 27th February, we covered a leak on the Samsung Galaxy J6 2018. Similarly, a new Samsung smartphone is now listed on Geekbench, which is expected to be the Galaxy J8 2018.
The interesting thing about the Galaxy J8 2018 is the fact that, the only difference between the Galaxy J6 2018 and the Galaxy J8 2018 is the amount of RAM. The J6 2018 offers 2GB RAM and the J8 2018 offers 3GB RAM. Similarly, we might see a similar design with a different screen size and resolution on the J6 and the J8.
The smartphone scores 728 points on the single core performance and 3683 points on the multi-core performance, which is similar to the other smartphones with the same chipset. In fact, the Galaxy J6 2018 scores 726 points on a single core and 3643 points on the multi-core performance.
Specifications:
The Samsung Galaxy J8 2018 is listed under the model number SM-J800FN. The device is powered by the Exynos 7870 Octa-core chipset with 3GB RAM. In fact, this chipset has been used on several smartphones including the Galaxy J6 2018 and the Galaxy J4 2018. The smartphone runs on Android 8 Oreo with expected Experience UI skin on the top.
The Exynos 7870 chipset is manufactured by 14 nm FinFET architecture with eight Cortex A-53 cores. Similarly, the chipset is equipped with Mali-T830 GPU.
Considering the chipset capabilities, the Galaxy J8 2018 might feature up to two 16 MP cameras with 1080p @30fps video recording capability. The chipset can drive displays with a max resolution of 1980 x 1200px. On that point, the smartphone might feature either 720p or 1080p full HD display unit.
Conclusion:
Samsung might launch the Galaxy J4, Galaxy J6, and the Galaxy J8 2018 in India in the next few weeks. However, we don’t expect features like 18:9 aspect ratio display and dual camera setup on these devices, as the chipset might have certain limitations on the hardware that it can support.
Xiaomi has recently confirmed that its first device to run on Snapdragon 845 will be the Mi Mix 2S. However, it is fair to assume that the launch of the Mi 7 is not too far away. Many expected the Mi 7 to be launched at MWC 2018 but, the company has decided to keep its flagship smartphone under the wraps for a few more months.
However, that has not stopped more rumours to surface about the Mi 7. The Mi 7 could be launched with one of the most anticipated features of 2018 devices, an in-display fingerprint sensor. Vivo launched the first-ever smartphone with an in-display fingerprint sensor at CES 2018 and one-upped its own feat with the Vivo Apex. Apart from a futuristic “pop out camera,” the Apex has an in-display fingerprint sensor spread across half of the device’s display.
Vivo X20 Plus UD
The Xiaomi Mi 7, on the other hand, might have an implementation similar to the Vivo X20 Plus UD. If this turns out to be true, the Mi 7 might see an increase in price. The Vivo X20 Plus UD, for its specifications, is very pricey, mainly due to the technology it possesses.
Another interesting feature the company might debut in the Mi 7 is wireless charging. This was also rumoured back in September 2017 when Xiaomi joined the Wireless Power Consortium. Wireless Power Consortium was formed back in 2008. It’s sole purpose is to promote wide market adoption of the Qi wireless charging technology.
This means that the Mi 7 will have a glass build, similar to the likes of the Galaxy S9 and iPhone X. Again, the price of the Mi 7 could be defining factor in the success or failure of the device.
Conclusion
The buzz around the launch of the Mi Mix 2S won’t die out soon. However, the Mi 7 is expected to have a few features that will be a first for Xiaomi. The pricing and launch date will be interesting, considering devices like the OnePlus 6 and Asus Zenfone 5Z will be on the market as well.
Despite the recent controversy, there is no denying that Apple iPhones age very well and you won’t have to worry about Apple’s software tweaks kicking in at least a couple of years after you buy a new iPhone. The Flipkart Apple Days sale offers great discounts on the latest iPhone models. In fact, this might be the right time to upgrade from an older smartphone.
Here are the top offers from Flipkart on various Apple iPhone X models.
Apple iPhone X
Apple iPhone X is the latest flagship smartphone from the California tech giant. The smartphone was launched in India for Rs 89,999 and Rs 1,02,000 for the 64GB and 256GB storage variant. Now, on the Flipkart sale, the same model is available for Rs 82,999 and Rs 89,999 respectively.
Apple iPhone 8 and 8 Plus
The Apple iPhone 8 and the iPhone 8 Plus share similar hardware with the Apple iPhone X. However, these two offerings from Apple are more affordable. The iPhone 8 is now available for Rs 54,999 and Rs 69,999 for the 64GB and 256GB storage variants. Similarly, the iPhone 8 Plus will be available for Rs 64,999 and Rs 79,999 for the 64GB and 256GB storage variants.
Apple iPhone 7 and 7 Plus
The Apple iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus are the last generation flagship smartphones from 2016. However, these smartphones still pack a punch and give tough competition to the Android counterparts. The iPhone 7 is now available for Rs 41,999 and Rs 55,999 for the 32GB and 128GB version. Similarly, the iPhone 8 Plus is now available for Rs 56,999 and 65,999 for the 32GB and 128GB storage variants.
iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus Do Not Have The Hardware Updates
Apple iPhone 6 and 6s
These models of iPhone will suite for those who are looking into the affordable iPhone model. Unlike Android counterpart, one will not experience any unresponsive experiences what so ever. In fact, these two have an added advantage of 3.5 mm headphone jack. The Apple iPhone 6 with 32GB is now available on Flipkart for RS 24,999 and the iPhone 6s 32GB model is available for Rs 32,999.
Apple iPhone SE
The Apple iPhone SE is a compact version of the original iPhone 6s. In fact, this is the most affordable iPhone available in India. The 32GB variant of the iPhone SE is now available on Flipkart for Rs 18,999.
On the 25th of February, Samsung launched the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ in Barcelona. In India, the devices will be launched on the 6th of March and go on sale on the 16th of March. While the prices of the smartphones will be unveiled at the launch event, they are already up for pre-orders on the official Samsung India website.
However, days before the official launch, the price of the devices was leaked yesterday. The Samsung Galaxy S9 will start a price of Rs. 62,500 and the 256GB variant will be priced at Rs. 71000. The Galaxy S9+, however, will start at Rs 70,000 and the 256GB model will retail for Rs 79000. In fact, the Galaxy S8 was launched at a price of Rs 57900 and the S8+ for Rs 64900. The smartphones will be sold online via Flipkart and the official website of Samsung India.
Samsung Galaxy S9, S9+
From the Galaxy S8 to S9 devices, the physical changes are very minimal. The fingerprint sensor is now at a much better placement and the smartphones have a dual stereo speaker system tuned by AKG. The Samsung Galaxy S9 has a 5.8 inch Super AMOLED display with a 2960 x 1440 px resolution. The Galaxy S9+ sports a 6.2 inch Super AMOLED display with a 2960 x 1440 px resolution.
The Galaxy S9 and S9+ will be the first-ever smartphones launched in India with the new Exynos 9810 chipset. Coupled with the chipset is 4GB of RAM and 64GB/256GB storage for the Galaxy S9. The S9+, however, will be available in 6GB RAM/64GB storage and 6GB RAM/256GB models in India.
The Galaxy S9 has a single Dual Pixel 12 MP sensor with dual /1.5 and f/2.4 apertures. Unlike its predecessor, the Galaxy S9+ has a dual-camera setup on the back. The Galaxy S9+ has one wide-angle 12MP camera with an f/1.5 aperture and the other is a 12MP telephoto lens with an f/2.4 aperture. On the front of the smartphones is an 8MP camera with an f/1.6 aperture and records 4K videos.
Asus has launched its new flagship smartphone, the Asus Zenfone 5Z at MWC 2018. While at first glance it might look like an iPhone X knockoff, it has a lot more going on for it. In fact, the smartphone was launched along with three other Zenfone devices. The most interesting aspect of the Asus Zenfone 5Z is that it runs on the Snapdragon 845 and is priced at EUR 479 (Rs. 38,000 approx.).
Before MWC 2018 began, many expected Samsung to rule the Snapdragon 845 roost with its Galaxy S9 and S9+. However, smartphone makers like Sony and now Asus, have launched devices powered by the Snapdragon 845 chipset as well. The Asus Zenfone 5Z is the latest one before Xiaomi launches the Mi Mix 2S in late-March.
At this price point, the Zenfoone 5Z is much more affordable than the likes of the Galaxy S9 and Xperia XZ2. However, it will be interesting to see if and when Asus decides to launch the device in India, what the pricing will be like. If the company manages to keep the pricing under Rs. 40,000 the Zenfone 5Z will directly compete with the OnePlus 5T and Xiaomi Mi Mix 2. However, both of these smartphones run on the now older Snapdragon 835 chipset.
While the design of the Asus Zenfone 5Z and its UI might not be everyone’s cup of tea, there is no denying the potential of its chipset. The Galaxy S9, however, will be powered by the Exynos 9810 in India, will launch at a price of Rs. 62500. So, how does the Asus Zenfone 5Z hold up against the likes of the OnePlus 5T and Mi Mix 2? Let’s find out.
Comparison
Specifications
Asus Zenfone 5Z
OnePlus 5T
Xiaomi Mi Mix 2
Price
Starting at EUR 479 (Rs. 38,000 approx.)
Starting at Rs. 32999
Rs. 32999
Display
6.2 inch IPS LCD
6 inch Optic AMOLED
5.99 inch IPS LCD
Resolution
2246 x 1080 px
18.5:9
402 ppi
2160 x 1080 px
18:9
401 ppi
2160 x 1080 px
18:9
403 ppi
Chipset
Snapdragon 845
Snapdragon 835
Snapdragon 835
RAM
4GB
6GB
8GB
6GB
8GB
6GB
Storage
64GB
128GB
Expandable up to 400GB
64GB
128GB
Non-Expandable
128GB
Non-Expandable
Battery
3300 mAh
QuickCharge 4.0
3300 mAh
DashCharge
3400 mAh
QuickCharge
Primary Camera
12MP Sony IMX363 sensorf/1.8 aperture
Unspecified MP 120° wide-angle camera with 6p lens
Amazon’s Prime Music service now available in India. The Amazon Prime music app can be downloaded from Android or iOS App Store. Similarly, users can also use the service using a standard web browser.
Amazon was testing the Amazon Prime Music In India from last 4 months. However, it was only available for the Amazon Echo users.
The Amazon Prime Music is an ad-free music streaming service from Amazon with more than 10 million songs. If you are an Amazon Prime customer, then you can use the service right away without any additional cost.
Features:
The Amazon Prime Music has a curated music playlist in 12 Indian languages. The overall UI looks clean and the song selection is also impressive. The company has also integrated Amazon Alexa into the music player.
If you have a favourite song, then the song can be saved in offline mode to reduce data usage. The Prime Music offers complete ad-free experience.
Conclusion:
With the launch of Amazon Prime Music, the company is offering a lot of a lot of services for just Rs 1000 subscription. In the first few hours of using this streaming service, it has impressed me with the choice of song selection. This might convince me to continue the subscription to the Amazon Prime.
Asus launched three new ZenFone 5 smartphones at MWC 2018. The Asus ZenFone 5 Lite, ZenFone 5, ZenFone 5Z are the latest offerings from Asus, which boasts the modern design philosophy with an 18:9 aspect ratio. In fact, some of the models deliver up to 90% screen to body ratio.
Like Apple and Samsung, Asus introduced its own version of iPhone X’s Animojis called Zenimoji. However, the ZenFone 5z with flagship specifications costs half the amount of the iPhone X. With these three flagship series, the company launched the Asus ZenFone Max (M1) which is a smaller variant of the Asus ZenFone Max Plus (M1).
Price and availability:
The Asus ZenFone Max (M1) will be available in DeepSea Black, Sunlight Gold, and Ruby Red. Similarly, the Asus ZenFone 5 Lite will be available in Midnight Black, Rouge Red, and Moonlight White. The Asus ZenFone 5 and the Asus ZenFone 5z will be available in Midnight Blue and Meteor Silver from June. The Asus ZenFone 5z’s prices will start at 479 Euros.
Jerry Shen Asus CEO said:
We embarked on the ZenFone project four years ago with the idea to create empowering luxury for everyone to enjoy. Today, the ZenFone 5 Series is the most intelligent ZenFone series ever, utilizing advanced AI algorithms and big-data analytics to provide users with a unique slate of intelligent camera, communication and convenience features.
Asus ZenFone Max (M1):
The Asus ZenFone Max (M1) is the most affordable model from the company with the modern design. The smartphone has a 5.5 inch IPS LCD 1440 x 720p 18:9 aspect ratio display. Under the hood, the phone is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 Quad-core or Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 Octa-core chipset with 2/3GB RAM and 16/32GB storage. Similarly, the storage is expandable up to 256GB using a micro SD card.
The smartphone has a dual primary camera setup with a 13 MP primary sensor and an 8 MP wide angle lens with the electronic image stabilisation. For the front-facing camera, the smartphone offers an 8 MP sensor. The video recording is limited to 1080p due to chipset limitations.
The smartphone is fitted with a 4000 mAH sealed battery with a micro USB port. Additionally, the smartphone also supports NFC and Bluetooth. Finally, the smartphone runs on Zen UI 5.0 based on Android 7.1 Nougat.
Asus ZenFone 5 Lite:
The Asus ZenFone 5 Lite offers a 6 inch FHD+ 2160 x 1080px IPS LCD display with 80.3% screen to body ratio. Under the hood, the smartphone is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 or Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 Octa-core chipset with 3/4GB RAM and 32/64GB storage. Similarly, the storage is expandable using micro SD card up to 2TB.
The smartphone has a dual camera setup at the back. The primary 16 MP sensor is a normal lens and the secondary 8 MP sensor is a wide angle lens with 120-degree field of view. The primary camera setup offers features like PDAF and EIS. In fact, the smartphone also has a dual front-facing camera setup with a 20 MP + 8 MP sensor setup.
The smartphone runs on Android 8 Oreo with custom Zen UI 5 skin on the top. Finally, the smartphone packs in a 3300 mAH battery with a micro USB port.
Asus ZenFone 5 and ZenFone 5Z
The Asus ZenFone 5 is probably the most affordable smartphone with a notch. On the front, the smartphone has a 6.2-inch FHD+ 2160 x 1080px IPS LCD display with a notch on the top. The device offers a staggering 90% screen to body ratio with 19:9 aspect ratio. In fact, unlike the ZenFone 5 Lite, these devices offer a premium glass shimmery design.
The only difference between the Asus ZenFone 5 and the Asus ZenFone 5Z is the chipset and amount of RAM. The Asus ZenFone 5 is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 Octa-core chipset with 4/6GB RAM and 64GB onboard storage. Similarly, the Asus ZenFone 5Z is powered by the top of the tier Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset with 4GB and 64GB or 6GB and 128GB or 8GB and 256GB RAM and storage models.
The smartphone has a dual primary camera stacked up vertically like the Apple iPhone X. The primary lens in the primary camera is a 12 MP sensor from Sony with f/1.8 aperture and 83-degree field of view and the second lens is an 8 MP sensor with a 120-degree field of view. The primary camera setup is something similar to the LG V30+’s camera setup.
For the front-facing camera, the phone uses an 8 MP sensor with an 84-degree field of view. The primary and the front-facing cameras are optically stabilised using 3-axial optical image stabilisation method. In fact, the camera setup is similar to the Asus ZenFone 5 Lite.
The Asus ZenFone 5 and the Asus ZenFone 5z also features dual 5-magnets speaker setup with dual NXP smart amplifiers. There is a PMIC internal dual amplifier, triple internal microphones with noise reduction, Hi-Res Audio with DTS Headphone X support. In fact, both the models support 3.5 mm headphone jack.
