Category: Samsung

Best Smartphones of 2015 Under Rs. 10,000

The tech world had its hands full with enough going on in 2015. Here’s a list of our favourite budget phones under Rs. 10,000 that came out this year. Let us know about your favourites in the comments below.

Micromax Canvas A1:
Micromax Canvas A1 has a 4.5 inch FWVGA (854 x 480 Pixels) display and is powered by a 1700 mAh battery. The processor is a MediaTek SoC with a 1.3GHz quad-core processor and Mali 400 GPU paired with 1GB of RAM. On the back, there is a 5 MP camera with LED Flash. For selfie convenience, the phone provides a 2 MP camera.The Canvas A1 has a beautiful wooden-like platform for the main camera on the back of the device. The device is priced at Rs. 5,069 on Amazon.

<br />

Moto E (2nd Gen) / Moto G (Gen 2)

Moto E (Gen 2) has a 4.5-inch qHD (540×960p) screen and a 1.2 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 410 processor. The handset features 1GB of RAM and 8GB of inbuilt storage capacity, expandable up to 32GB. A rear camera of 5MP is fitted onto Moto E, while the front has a 0.3MP shooter. Running on Android 5.0 Lollipop, the device comes with a 2,390 mAh battery. It comes with 8 GB of storage which is expandable up to 32 GB with a microSD card, and 1 GB of RAM.

<br />

Moto G (Gen 2) also requires a mention here. The device that came out late last year features a 5 inch, 720p screen with Corning Gorilla Glass 3, 294 ppi, 1 GB of RAM and 16 GB of storage. The device runs on Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 chipset and includes an 8 MP rear and 2 MP front. The device is currently unavailable on Flipkart, but it could come back. You can check out our unboxing and hands on of the Moto G (Gen 2) here.

Xiaomi Redmi Note Prime:

The Redmi Note Prime is an enhanced version of the Redmi Note 4G. The Note Prime features a 5.5-inch HD IPS display (1280 X 720 resolution, 267 PPI), a Snapdragon 410 Quad-core 64-bit processor, 16 GB internal storage and 2 GB of RAM.

On the camera front, the Note Prime sports a 13MP rear with f/2.4 aperture and a 5.5MP front. Finally, the device runs on a 3,100mAh battery pack. The device is being manufactured in Sri City, Andhra Pradesh, in partnership with Foxconn Technology Group. The device is available on Amazon India for Rs. 8,499.

<br />

Coolpad Note 3

Priced at Rs. 8,999, the Coolpad Note 3 sports a 5.5-inch (13.97 centimeters) TFT IPS capacitive touchscreen with 1280 x 720 pixels resolution. Under the hood you have a 64-bit 1.3GHz Cortex-A53 MT6753 Mediatek octa-core processor with 3GB RAM and 16GB internal memory expandable up to 64GB and dual SIM.

On the camera front you have a 13MP primary camera and 5MP front facing camera. The device is fitted with 3000mAh battery and a fingerprint sensor at the back.

<br />

Yu Yuphoria

Yuphoria boasts an all-metal design with a matte finish at its back. It sports a 5-inch IPS HD display with 1280×720p resolution and 294ppi. The screen has a protective coating of Gorilla Glass 3. Inside is a 64-bit 1.2GHz Quad-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 along with Adreno A306 GPU. It packs 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage capacity, which is expandable up to 64GB.

The device features an 8MP rear shooter paired with a 5MP front. Battery capacity is sufficient at 2,230mAh. It offers 4G LTE connectivity, which allows faster internet browsing. All of this comes at a handsome price of Rs. 8,499.

You can check our our unboxing and hands on video of the Yu Yuphoria as well our benchmark tests.

<br />

Samsung Galaxy On5:

The dual SIM Galaxy On5 sports a 5-inch (126.7mm) HD touchscreen display and is equipped with a 1.3GHz quad core processor under the hood. It features a 1.5GB RAM and an 8GB storage, a portion of which is occupied by the OS. On the camera front, the On5 has an 8MP primary camera with auto-focus and a 5MP front.

The device comes with an Ultra Data Saving mode that compresses data and saves up to 50% data charges for greater networking and browsing. The handset also comes with RadioMix which is an Apple Music-like streaming service that lets you stream millions of songs and also offers curated music based on your preference. The Galaxy On5 is priced at Rs. 8,990. Check out our unboxing and hands on with the Galaxy On5 to know more about the handset.

Meizu M2/ M2 Note

The Meizu M2 comes with a 64-bit MT6735 Quad-core processor, four advanced 1.3 GHz Cortex A53 cores and the Mali-T720 GPU. On the camera front, it is equipped with a Samsung 13 megapixel CMOS camera, and an upgarded 5MP front camera with the FotoNation beatifying system.

The device runs on the Flyme OS 4.5 based on Android 5.1 and also has the new 64-bit CPU. The M2 comes with a 5 inch display and 720 pixels resolution. Other features include, TD-LTE FDD-LTE 4G, supports two Nano-SIM cards, and microSD card with a storage capacity of 144 GB. The Meizu M2 is priced at Rs. 6,999 and is currently sold out on Snapdeal.

Meizu M2 Note

The M2 Note is another device launched by Meizu that falls under the 10K bracket. This device comes with a 5.5 inch full HD display with 1920 X 1080 pixels resolution, powered by the MediaTek MT6753 octa-core 64-bit processor and 2GB RAM. Other features include a 16GB internal storage with an extendable microSD card slot, a 13MP f/2.2 primary camera with a dual – tone flash and a 5MP wide-angle selfie camera and supported by a 3,100mAh battery.

The M2 Note is available for a price of Rs. 9,999 on Amazon India.

<br />

December 19, 2015
Phone Cases Reveal Design of Samsung Galaxy A3 and A5 Second-Gen

Krushell, maker of phone cases, has begun pre-orders for cases and glass protectors for Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy A3 and A5 second-gen models. The updated devices are set to launch in China this month and will see a European launch in January.

The cases for both the devices reveal what could be the final design of the Galaxy A3 and A5. The images show a pretty clear camera hump on the back of the device, which the cases try to level with. The front looks pretty much similar to the previous models, although the screen looks bigger with the display almost touching either sides.

The A5 upgrades to 5.2-inch AMOLED screen with 1080p resolution. 2GB RAM and 16GB storage, quad-core processor and bumps the battery to 2,900mAh as well, 13MP primary camera with OIS and a 5MP front. The device will also feature a fingerprint scanner.

The Galaxy A3, comes with a 4.7-inch AMOLED screen and 720p resolution. The device also features 1.5GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. The A3 will not feature a fingerprint scanner. The device also bumps up the rear camera to 13MP with a 5MP front, with both having f/1.9 apertures (no OIS here, though).

December 18, 2015
Samsung and LG Smartphones to Not Have 4K Displays in 2016

There have been a lot of talk around whether Samsung and LG are planning to embrace Ultra HD (4K) panels for its smartphones in 2016. Latest reports from iNEWS has stated that Samsung in particular will stick with QHD (2560 by 1440) panels due to lack of 4K content in the market. Another report suggests that LG is pulling out too.

Another reason behind this decision is perhaps the overheating issues and power efficiency with 4K panels from LG Display and Samsung Display. Samsung would have benefited from 4K displays for its smartphone as would have worked well its Gear VR headset. However, the population for Gear VR users is still mighty low as of now, which is why Samsung deemed it unnecessary.

What these companies are planning to do instead is try to improve on its existing displays in power draw and outdoor visibility, especially the 1440p panels that are expected in next year’s flagships. Currently, Sony is the only phone manufacturer with 4K display resolution in the market.

December 18, 2015
Samsung Galaxy A9 Passes FCC, Likely to Launch in January

Samsung is not just busy with the flagship Galaxy S7 devices. We know that Samsung likes to equally focus on its low-end and mid-range devices too. Just a few weeks ago, Samsung’s Galaxy A7 was spotted on FCC, which meant that an official announcement was imminent. Now, the upcoming Galaxy A9 device has been spotted on FCC as well. This means that the device will soon be available to the public.

Yesterday, Samsung announced that it would be present at the CES press conference in January. The company’s blog mentioned that some announcements will take place at the event, but mostly centred around TV and home appliances. While it’s almost certain that Samsung will not unveil its flagship S7 devices at the event, it is now highly likely that the Galaxy A9 will debut at the CES.

A couple of days ago, leaked images from China emerged revealing that the Samsung Galaxy A9 is going to sport a 6-inch 1080p Super AMOLED display. It will also have a battery marked at 4000 mAh to match the huge screen.

Other specs are expected to include a 13 MP main camera, 8 MP front camera, 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage. Additionally, the phone would also have a fingerprint scanner, will run on octa-core Snapdragon 620 and come equipped with Samsung Pay. The Galaxy A9 is expected to be priced around $450 or close to Rs. 30,000.

December 18, 2015
Samsung Might Not Unveil Galaxy S7 at CES in January

The annual CES event is ready to kick off 2016 in style, promising some great new products and showcases by some of the biggest names in the industry. The event, which will take place in early January, will see Samsung unveiling some new products, too. And while many were eagerly expecting a new flagship smartphone in that list, that might not happen just yet.

Samsung released an invitation that confirms the Korean company’s presence at the CES along with a statement that read, “Samsung Electronics will once again kick off its CES with a major press conference, unveiling its latest innovations in TV, home appliances and more on January 5.”

It looks like the company’s main focus at the CES will be in unveiling a new TV and some home appliances, while there is no mention of smartphones. So, it looks unlikely that the Galaxy S7 flagship devices will be revealed in January, though Samsung has expressed its desire to have an early 2016 launch.

It is likely that the company will stick to a March launch for the upcoming devices like it did with the Galaxy S6. Samsung may still push the event forward, but we’ll know more as we approach closer to Samsung’s event.

December 17, 2015
Top 5 Power Banks of 2015

2015 is coming to an end and tradition tells us to cap it off by looking back at some of the best gadgets of the year. So, today we look at some of the best power banks that came out this year.

Xiaomi Mi Power Bank (10,400 mAh)

Xiaomi’s power banks have changed the way consumers in India look at power banks. They did exist before Xiaomi came into the picture, but one needs to credit the Chinese company for coming out with great looking power banks at a very reasonable price. The Mi Power Bank balances portability with capacity.

Asus Zen Power (10,050 mAh)

The Asus Zen Power is pricier than the Xiaomi Mi Power Bank and has a lower capacity compared to the latter. Light Weight aluminum outer casing gives a smooth and premium finish to the gadget and stays true to the Zen aesthetics. It also features fast charging capabilities with up to 2.4 A output which is the USP of the device. However, the cost remains a dampener here at Rs. 1,670.

<br />

Honor Powerbank (13,000 mAh)

The Honor Powerbank has enough juice to charge your device up to four times. Not only is this power bank big on capacity but it also comes with two ports which means you can simultaneously charge two devices like your phone and tablet. It has an aluminium unibody construction that is resistant to dust, can withstand light splashes of water and is protected from sweat corrosion. The device is priced at Rs. 1,399.

OnePlus Power Bank (10,000 mAh)

Chinese makers love to create beautiful devices. The OnePlus Power Bank is curved and has a delicately crafted design that feels comfortable in the hand. You get two OnePlus signatures textures to choose from: Silk White & Sandstone Black. The device requires only 5-6 hours for power bank to charge to full capacity. It also contains 2 USB ports, 5V/2A, allowing fast charging of more than one device at the same time. The Power Bank is currently sold out but keep your eyes open for when it comes back.

Sony CP-V10A Power Bank (10,000 mAh)

Not only does this power bank charge your smartphone and tablets, but it’s also compatible with other devices including XperiaTM, Cyber-shotTM, Handycam and Walkman players which can be charged via computer’s USB port or AC-USB adapter. The device is priced at Rs. 2,328.

<br />

December 17, 2015
Samsung to Have Snapdragon 820 Exclusivity Until April

As we all know, Qualcomm is ready to start off the new year with its new and powerful Snapdragon 820 chipset. And it has also been rumoured that many of 2016’s flagship devices will sport the new chipset. However, word around the rumour mill is that Samsung is planning to keep the chipset to itself for the first three months.

Here’s why that is. As you may also know that Samsung is planning to unveil its next flagship Galaxy S7 devices. These devices will come in two versions. One will sport Qualcomm’s newest chipset while the other will feature the Exynos 8890 chipset. And Samsung wants exclusive rights to the Snapdragon 820, at least initially. The company wants to show off the new SoC with the Galaxy S7 before anyone else gets there.

So what does this mean for other companies like Xiaomi which is ready to launch the Mi 5 flagship smartphone with the Snapdragon 820 chipset? The Chinese company had already delayed the launch that was initially supposed to take place in December due to the launch of the Snapdragon 820 chipset. Now, if rumours are true and Samsung does indeed hold exclusive rights to the next-gen SoC until April, then this would mean that other flagship devices like the Mi 5 and LG G5 won’t see a launch in the first quarter.

Samsung’s next flagship smartphone has been rumoured to come with a pressure sensitive screen (like Apple’s 3D Touch), a retina scanner, a USB Type-C port, and an improved camera, among other things.

December 17, 2015
Samsung Galaxy S7 to Have a Pressure Sensitive Display

Expected to make its debut during the Mobile World Congress in February 2016, Samsung Galaxy S7 is likely to arrive with a pressure sensitive display.Though Samsung is tight-lipped about its new smartphones, its silence hasn’t done much to keep speculations and rumours in check as Wall Street Journal reports that the display of S7 will be pressure sensitive.

Looks like Samsung is all set follow in the footsteps of Apple which cannot stop talking about the 3-D Touch of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus.

Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge

Additionally, Galaxy S7 will have a Type C USB Port which means the device will charge significantly faster. WSJ quotes sources that say that a single round of charging would “allow for a full day’s charge in under 30 minutes and in some cases significantly faster than that.”

There are rumours of a retina scanner as well to be included in the smartphone, but things are quite uncertain at this point. Like the Galaxy S6, Galaxy S7 will arrive in two variants, that is, S7 and S7 Edge. Once unveiled in February, it would take another couple of weeks before the smartphone is finally up and ready for shipping hopefully in March. Hold your breath until then.

December 15, 2015
Samsung Drags Apple to Supreme Court Over Patent Lawsuit

Looks like the two tech-giants have taken it upon themselves to take care of the drama front of the tech world. As lawsuits and courtroom scenes between Samsung and Apple continue to persist, here’s the latest update.

Samsung had agreed to pay Apple $548 million this month after negotiating an initial penalty of $1 billion over a patent copyright infringement lawsuit. While many saw this as a stroke of luck for Samsung to be able to pay only half the amount of the initial fine, Samsung clearly disagrees.

The company requested the verdict to be over-turned by the Supreme Court by filing a motion with the highest court in the United States. Samsung believes the previous jury was not given enough material to understand the patent thoroughly.

Since the cases in the American Supreme Court are chosen by the justices, there is no surety that Samsung will get a chance to fight it out with Apple there. But if it does indeed land up there, both companies will be required to make 30 minute long oral-arguments each, along with file briefs. Time to bring out the popcorn and sit-back, folks. Team Samsung or Apple?

December 15, 2015
New Samsung Galaxy A9 Leaked Images Reveal a 6-inch Display and 4000 mAh Battery

Leaked images from China have emerged revealing that contrary to what we know so far, the Samsung Galaxy A9 is going to have a 6 inch 1080p Super AMOLED display. It will also have a battery marked at 4000 mAh to match the huge screen.

The other specs are expected to include a 13 MP main camera, 8 MP front camera, 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage. Additionally, the phone would also have a fingerprint scanner, will run on octa-core Snapdragon 620 and come equipped with Samsung Pay.

Galaxy A9 will be part of Samsung’s Galaxy A line-up for 2016 and therefore is expected to arrive by January next year, first in China and later in rest of the world. It would be priced around $450 or close to Rs. 30,000.

December 15, 2015
Samsung Patents Phone With Interchangeable Camera Options

Samsung seems to be on a roll with 18.4 inch tablets to phones that unfold into a tablet. Now reports have emerged about a new Samsung patent. This patent shows different camera options for a phone-like device that include a regular camera, one with a bump and another that seems equipped with optical zoom and an exchangeable lens.

The phone is also drawn in a number of different shapes, suggesting how each phone’s size and shape will be determined by the camera paired with it.

There is another device-design as well which shows something thin like a phone with a thick camera module and a camera-like grip on one end. A shutter-key which is equipped with another button also prefigures on the design.

It is unsure what the future of these devices will be, however it gives us a fair idea of what is keeping Samsung busy these days.

Source

December 11, 2015
Samsung Galaxy S7 Design Leaked in New Video

A new short video leaked online by popular leakster @onleaks and uSwitch shows off what could be the design for the upcoming Galaxy S7 flagship devices.

The video shows a very S6-like design for the S7 only with more rounded sides that works well with the 2.5D glass on the front and back. The render also shows just one card slot for the SIM, which means that it is likely that the S7 will not support MicroSD card.

You also see a protruding camera lens on the back similar to its predecessor. The camera is also rumoured to house a 20 MP ‘BRITECELL’ camera sensor technology.

The S7 Plus shown in the video measures 163.32 x 82.01 x 7.82mm. The 6-inch device pushes the front-facing camera to the top right end. One must take the rendered video with a pinch of salt. The actual device may look a little different but @onleaks has so far had a near 100% accuracy when it comes to leaked renders.

That being said, renders have a way of showing some added thickness and bulge in certain areas (as was the case with the Nexus 6P camera bar, which didn’t protrude as much as the renders suggested). You can expect the finished product to look slimmer and cleaner.

The Galaxy S7 devices are rumoured for a 21 February unveiling. We’ll have more details about the flagship devices as we get closer to the date.

Source

December 11, 2015
Is Samsung Finally Calling A Truce By Paying Apple $548 Million?

It has been almost five years since Apple sued Samsung for infringing smartphone patents. Finally, Samsung has decided to pay up an amount of $548 million before the 14th of December 2015. This decisions was reached up on, after a joint court statement from both companies that agreed on it. However, the statement notes that Samsung “continues to reserve all rights to obtain reimbursement from Apple,” if the invoice is not received before the weekend; while Apple has disputed these rights in the same document.

According to reports, Samsung said that it is only paying the money because an appeals court refused to block a judgement ordering it to pay. They intend to continue pursuing reimbursement if the U.S Patent and Trademark Office invalidates the patents and if the U.S Supreme Court takes up the request for review. Both companies are said to have dropped all the non-US cases while leaving only two main disputes that still have a way to go in courts.

“I don’t think it’s over, but hopefully we’re getting close,” said Robert Stoll, a patent lawyer with Drinker Biddle in Washington

This particular sum of money ($548 million) is allegedly part of a case that dealt with Apple’s “pinch to touch” technology; that the company claims has been copied by Samsung. The patent on this has been invalidated by the PTO, but Apple is still challenging that decision.

Honestly, though we’re all sick of this fight. Both mega tech companies fighting about one copying the other. It is high time they learn to co-exist with one another regardless of who is copying whom. At the end of the day, we all know who is getting the real credit. So, if Samsung is copying Apple, the latter should only feel flattered.

December 5, 2015
Top 5 Best Looking Phones of 2015

Technology never ceases to surprise us and 2015 just proved this right. The year saw some brilliant smartphones being introduced to the market. Devices with high end specs, snazzy designs and all kinds of technological breakthroughs previously unencountered entered the tech circuit. Some handsets, however, were prettier than others, and we cannot help but talk about them in this top 5 of the most stylish smartphones this year.

1. Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge and S6 Edge+

<br />

<br />

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ is the company’s first big S series phone, as an add-on to the Galaxy S line of devices. The Galaxy S6 edge+ was designed to one up the iPhone 6 Plus in terms of specifications and hardware. But it did not simply stop there -the device is not only high on specs but the Galaxy S6 Edge and Edge+ with their curved screen and glass back are both a beauty to behold.

2. iPhone 6s and 6s Plus (Rose Gold Variant):

<br />

<br />

With iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, Apple did not make major design changes. In fact the only design change was that the new iPhones were heavier and thicker than their predecessors. Looks like the entire Bendgate-controversy did make Apple sit up and listen. The one design change that Apple did introduce, however, was a new colour variant -the rose gold.

Though the Apple device is not the only device to offer a rose gold variant, another example being that of Huawei’s Mate S, it’s definitely one of the most popular. Before the Apple haters get started -it is not us but the market which affirms this -the rose gold variant was the most pre-ordered version of the new iPhones.

3. Moto X Style and Moto X Pure:

The versions of these two smartphones that launched in India did not fare too well on the looks front. But the Moto Maker available outside India allows you to customise you device in great detail. From the back to the front, to the colour and texture and feel -pretty much all of it can be altered and modified depending on the taste of the user. Moto Maker has not arrived in India yet, but if sources are to be believed, it should be here soon. Looks like the day when you get to lay your hands on a customised Moto X Pure or Style in India is not far.

4. OnePlus X

<br />

OnePlus X was the company’s second device launched this year, closely preceded by OnePlus 2. OnePlus X was a bit of a downer in terms of performance and user interface, but that did not keep it from becoming one of the best phones in the price bracket. It’s also a very pretty looking phone with its slim and light body, very reminiscent of iPhone 4s. Despite its glitches with SD card and camera software, OnePlus X manages to do well solely based on looks.

5. HTC One A9

This device received a lot of hate and became a topic of great discussion owing to its iPhone-‘inspired’ design. Having said that, One A9 is indeed a very impressive looking smartphone for the metal unibody frame is a winner no matter which brand sports it. The curved edges and glass screen gives the device a premium look. The team behind the design of the One A9 have stated that great amount of time and attention has gone into its design, which does feel true.

December 4, 2015
Samsung Unveils Updated Galaxy A7, A5 and A3 Devices with Metal Bodies

Samsung is back with its updated A-series of devices. The Korean giant unveiled its mid-range Galaxy A7, A5 and A3 devices, which feature OIS and fingerprint sensor.

The updated devices will come with a bunch of new features and specs.The A7 sports a 5.5-inch AMOLED screen with 1920 x 1080p resolution and a 1.6 GHz octa-core processor, 3GB of RAM and 16GB internal storage and 3,300mAh Fast Charging battery.

On the camera front, the A7 features a 13MP primary camera with f/1.9 aperture and OIS. The front camera also features an f/1.9 aperture.

The A5 upgrades to 5.2-inch AMOLED screen with 1080p resolution. 2GB RAM and 16GB storage, octa-core processor and bumps the battery to 2,900mAh as well, 13MP primary camera with OIS and a 5MP front.

Finally, the smallest of the lot, the Galaxy A3, comes with a 4.7-inch AMOLED screen and 720p resolution. The device also features 1.5GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. The A3 is the only device among the three that won’t feature a fingerprint scanner.

The device also bumps up the rear camera to 13MP with a 5MP front, with both having f/1.9 apertures (no OIS here, though). Follow this space for more on Samsung’s A-series launch. Follow this space for more on Samsung’s A-series launch.

December 3, 2015