Category: iGyaan

Everything Exclusive to iGyaan

Unboxing The Asus Zenfone 5Z
Asus has launched its new flagship smartphone, the Asus Zenfone 5Z in India. Astonishingly enough, the smartphone will retail for a starting price of Rs 29999, which is considerably cheaper than the OnePlus 6. The Zenfone 5Z has all the features for a 2018 flagship smartphone and will go on sale in India via Flipkart on 9th July. It is worth noting that there is a flat Rs 3000 discount upon using an ICICI Credit/Debit card, bringing the price down to Rs 26999 for the base model.

Asus recently launched the Zenfone Max Pro, a budget smartphone which runs on the Snapdragon 636 chipset. The smartphone has done well in India and the company would expect the same from its flagship device. So, let’s unbox the Asus Zenfone 5Z and see what we get inside the box!

[section label=”Unboxing”]

Inside the box of the Asus Zenfone 5Z
- Asus Zenfone 5Z
- Wall Charger
- USB-C Cable
- ZenEar Pro Earphones
- Documentation
- Sim Ejector Tool
- Clear Case
[section label=”First Impressions”]

The trend of an all-glass design has really caught up in 2018. Even budget smartphones like the Honor 9 Lite, Moto G6, Nokia X6 sport an all-glass design and the Asus Zenfone 5Z is no different. The device will be available in Midnight Blye and The glass on the back has a unique finish which reflects the light in a very different manner. This is common with Asus smartphones and the Zenfone 5Z looks like a premium smartphone. The aluminium frame means that the device has a solid build.

The dual-camera is placed vertically on the top-left corner. This design choice, again, has become very common ever since the iPhone X was launched in September 2017. There is a small camera bump which can be negated using the clear case found inside the box. Talking about accessories found inside the box, Asus talked a lot about the ZenEar Pro earphones that will retail with every Zenfone 5Z unit in India. We will be testing the earphones out and talk about it in detail in our full review.

The Asus Zenfone 5Z has a 6.2 inch Super IPS+ display with a 2246 x 1080 px resolution. This translates into a 19:9 aspect ratio, just like the OnePlus 6 which also has a 19:9 aspect ratio.

Under the hood, the smartphone runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset. The flagship chipset is coupled with either 6GB or 8GB of RAM. In India, the Zenfone 5Z will retail in three models, one with 64GB of storage, the second one with 128GB storage coupled with 6GB of RAM. The third variant has 256GB of onboard storage and 8GB of RAM. The onboard storage will be expandable up to 2TB via a microSD card which will use up the second SIM slot. The fingerprint sensor is placed on the back of the device in a central location.

As is with a flagship device these days, the Asus Zenfone 5Z has a dual-camera setup on the back. It consists of a 12MP primary sensor with an f/1.8 aperture and 4-axis OIS. The secondary 8MP sensor has a wide-angle lens with a 120º field of view. This implementation is different from a lot of other flagship devices which usually have a telephoto or a monochrome lens. The OnePlus 6, for example, has two RGB sensors. The notch houses an 8MP camera with an f/2.0 aperture and an 84º field of view.

[section label=”Conclusion”]

At the first glance, the Zenfone 5Z appears to be a worthy affordable flagship smartphone. The price of the device sweetens the deal for sure but, does it hold its own against the OnePlus 6? We will find out in our full review which will soon be up on our YouTube channel.
July 4, 2018
Unboxing The OnePlus 6 Red Edition
OnePlus has launched the OnePlus 6 Red Edition in India. The new limited edition colour variant will only be available in the 8GB RAM/128GB storage model and retail for Rs 39999. This essentially means that consumers won’t have to pay extra money for the swanky new red colour. The device will go on sale on 16th July via Amazon and OnePlus.in.

This is not the first time that OnePlus has launched a new “limited edition” colour variant of a flagship smartphone. The company launched a Soft Gold OnePlus 5 in August 2017. A few days after launching the OnePlus 5T, the company unveiled the OnePlus 5T Lava Red which went was sold worldwide as well. The new OnePlus 6 Red is another marketing tactic in order to bolster sales which are bound to slow down after the initial burst.

[section label=”Unboxing”]

Inside the box of the OnePlus 6 Red Edition
- OnePlus 6 Red Edition
- Wall Charger
- USB-C Cable
- Documentation
- Sim Ejector Tool
- Clear Case
[section label=”First Impressions”]

The OnePlus 6 Red looks really good. That is how you sum up this smartphone. The device has a distinct red colour, unlike the Lava Red OnePlus 5T or even the iPhone 8 Product RED. The dark red colour blends in with the black front and maintains the premium look and feel of the OnePlus 6. The silver chrome around the camera module and fingerprint sensor is a nice touch as well.

As is with a special edition colour variant, everything inside the OnePlus Red Edition remains the same as the other variants. The new Red Edition joins Midnight Black, Silk White, Mirror Black, and Avengers Edition in the list of OnePlus 6 variants sold in India. We have checked out all the colour variants of the OnePlus 6 so far except Midnight Black. Fair to say that the Red Edition of OnePlus 6 does not disappoint.

The OnePlus 6 has a 6.28 inch Optic AMOLED display with a 2280 x 1080 px resolution. The aspect ratio is 19:9 which means it is slightly taller than the OnePlus 5T.

The 6 runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset which has an octa-core processor clocked at 2.8GHz. Coupled with the flagship chipset is either 6GB or 8GB of RAM with three storage options of 64GB, 128GB and 256GB. The storage is still not user-expandable just like every other OnePlus device. The fingerprint sensor is still placed on the rear but, it has a more oval shape this time around.

Powering the device is a 3300 mAh battery with Dash Charge support. Dash Charge continues to be one of the fastest charging technologies and could be the reason why OnePlus did not think that wireless charging was necessary here. Out of the box, the OnePlus 6 runs Android 8.1 Oreo with OxygenOS on top. The smartphone has gesture support. The company has announced that users will be able to download Android P Developer’s Preview from the OnePlus website soon.

The dual-camera on the OnePlus 6 includes a 16MP Sony IMX 519 sensor and a 20MP Sony IMX 376K sensor. Both are RGB sensors and have an f/1.7 aperture with OIS, another first for a OnePlus device. The cameras also record 4K videos at 60fps which is a great feature for content creators. To the front of the smartphone is a 16MP Sony IMX 371 sensor with an f/2.0 aperture and EIS which records 1080P videos.

[section label=”Conclusion”]

The OnePlus 6 Red Edition is just another option for OnePlus 6 suitors. With devices like the ASUS Zenfone 5Z and Xiaomi Mi 8 expected to launch in India soon, OnePlus would hope for this new colour variant to reinstate the OnePlus 6’s position as a top flagship smartphone in India. However, it’ll be interesting to see how the smartphone will fair once its potential competitors are launched in India.
July 3, 2018

OnePlus Bullets Wireless Earphones Unboxing And Review

OnePlus launched its first-ever Bluetooth earbuds along with the OnePlus 6 in May. Just like its smartphones, OnePlus claims that its Bullets Wireless earbuds will be a value for money proposition for consumers across the world. Priced at US$ 69 or Rs 3990, the OnePlus Bullets Wireless earbuds will go on sale in India on June 19th via the company’s official online store.

[section label=”Unboxing”]

Let’s unbox the new earbuds and see what all we get inside the retail unit!

OnePlus Bullets Wireless
USB Type C Cable
Carrying Case
Documentation
3 x Earplugs
3 x Fins

[section label=”Initial Impressions”]

The OnePlus Bullets Wireless earphones are not truly wireless earbuds like the AirPods. The left and the right earbuds are connected via a wire that goes around the user’s neck. Interestingly, the earbuds have fast charging, and can be charged using a type C cable. OnePlus claims that just 10 minutes of charge can provide up to 5 hours of battery life. The earbuds have a range of up to 10 meters and are powered by the Google Assistant. Just like the OnePlus 6, the OnePlus Bullets Wireless earbuds are splash resistant but, do not have an IP rating.

The battery of earbuds rests on the neck and there is also an inline control for music and call-taking. OnePlus also announced that the earbuds are magnetic, and once connected together, the earbuds switch off automatically to save battery life. Interestingly enough, users can pick up incoming calls by simply detaching the earbuds. These features are backwards compatible with the OnePlus 5 and OnePlus 5T. Interestingly, this feature is disabled by default, however, users can head to Settings > Sound & vibration > Earphone mode and toggle Auto Play to enable it.

Must Read: OnePlus Explains Why OnePlus 6 Doesn’t Have Wireless Technology

The Bullets Wireless earbuds auto-pair with any modern OnePlus device but, Google’s Fast Pair is missing. Adding this little feature would have the made the experience of using the OnePlus Bullets Wireless seamless with non-OnePlus Android devices as well. However, OnePlus decided to give that feature a miss, probably to maintain some sort of exclusivity for its own smartphones.

[section label=” Specifications”]

Specifications

Specifications	OnePlus Bullets Wireless Earbuds
Price	Rs 3990
Effective Range	Up to 10 meters
Battery	Continuous music playback time: 8 hours Talk time: 10.5 hours
Driver	9.2mm
Colours	Black

June 14, 2018

Moto G6 Full Review

The sixth generation of Motorola’s highly acclaimed Moto G series has launched in India. The Moto G6, initially launched back on Apilr 19th in Brazil has made its way to India for a starting price of Rs 13999. The Moto G6 is the successor to the Moto G5s which was launched in August 2017 and it will go on sale via Amazon exclusively.

Buy The Moto G6 Here

The Moto G6 is a significant upgrade over the Moto G5s in terms of design and build quality. During the Moto G5s launch, there were premium smartphones with the 18:9 aspect ratio but, not many budget devices had adopted the feature. Since then, however, the 18:9 aspect ratio has become the norm across the board. The Moto G6 follows the norm as well and has thin bezels around the display with an 18:9 aspect ratio.

June 11, 2018
Unboxing The HTC Desire 12, Desire 12+
HTC launched two new budget smartphones in India this month. The HTC Desire 12 and Desire 12+ were launched in the sub-20K category where the Indian market already has devices like the Huawei P20 Lite and Redmi Note 5 Pro. The Desire 12+ is also the first budget HTC smartphone to sport a dual-camera setup on the back.

The HTC Desire 12 is priced at Rs 15800 while the Desire 12+ will retail for Rs 19790. Pre-order will be done exclusively on HTC India E-Store. Both the smartphones are available in retail since the 11th of June. With the competition quite steep, can the two HTC smartphones hold their own? Let’s unbox the two devices first and do a quick one-over before we dive deep into a review.

[section label=”Unboxing”]

Inside The Box Of HTC Desire 12, Desire 12+
- HTC Desire 12/Desire 12+
- Documentation
- Wall Charger
- Micro USB Cable
- Earphones
[section label=”Initial Impressions”]

The moment you hold the two devices you feel that they’re built well. The Desire 12 and Desire 12+ have an all-glass design which is on par with devices like the Huawei P20 Lite. The Desire 12 has a way more glossy finish on the back which is almost like a mirror. The finish on the Desire 12+ is a tad more subtle and at the end of the day, preferences are subjective.

Both the smartphones sport a shoddy HD+ resolution which was bad even in 2016, let alone 2018. We already have devices like the Realme 1 or Zenfone Max Pro which cost way less and have a FullHD+ resolution. The fingerprint sensor on the Desire 12+ is placed on the back in a central position which is ergonomic. At a price of Rs 15800, the Desire 12 does not even have a fingerprint sensor.

The HTC Desire 12+ has a 6 inch IPS LCD display with a 1440 x 720 px resolution. This translates into an 18:9 aspect ratio and is the first budget smartphone from HTC to adopt the new aspect ratio.

Under the hood, the device has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 octa-core chipset with 3GB RAM and 32GB storage. The storage is user expandable up to 2TB using a micro SD card. It is worth noting that the Redmi Note 5 Pro, priced at Rs 14999 in India, runs on the Snapdragon 636 chipset while the Huawei P20 Lite is powered by the Kirin 659 SoC. The fingerprint sensor is placed on the back of the device due to thin bezels.

HTC Desire 12+

Powering the smartphone is a 2965 mAh battery which charges via a micro USB port. It runs Android 8 Oreo out of the box with HTC SenseUI on top. The custom skin from HTC has bettered over the years and allows a ton of customisation options to the users.

The smartphone has a dual primary camera setup with a 13MP RGB sensor and a 2MP depth sensor. To the front, the device has an 8MP front-facing camera. Both the camera units can record videos at up to 1080p at 30fps. Before the HTC U12+ was launched, this was the only HTC smartphone with a dual-camera available in the market.

The HTC Desire 12 is a miniature version of the Desire 12+ with a few other changes. Unlike the ‘Plus’ variant, the Desire 12 misses out on a fingerprint sensor and dual camera setup. The HTC Desire 12 has a 5.5 inch IPS LCD display with a 1440 x 720 px resolution. Under the hood, it runs on the MediaTek 6739 Quad-core chipset with 3GB RAM and 32GB storage. Similarly, the storage is user expandable up to 400GB using a micro SD card.

Powering the smartphone is a 2730 mAh battery which charges via a micro USB port. It runs Android 8 Oreo out of the box with HTC SenseUI on top. The smartphone has a 13MP primary camera but misses out on the depth sensor. The front houses a 5MP camera with an f/2.4 aperture that records 720P videos at 30fps.

The HTC Desire 12 and Desire 12+ needed to be priced under Rs 10000 to have any sort of hope in the Indian market. A majority of Indian consumers have grown out of brand consciousness and really want a good device for their money. The HTC devices falter on paper, but, only an in-depth review will give us the full picture. Stay tuned for that!
June 11, 2018
Top Tech: 10 Tech Accessories Under Rs 2000

There is no end to Amazon’s “tech listing” page. There are a ton of tech gadgets that don’t cost a lot but, can be useful. Then there is stuff that barely works is a sure shot way to disappointment. So, instead of going through thousands of products, it’s better to just watch iGyaan’s pick of the top tech and accessories under Rs 2000 which won’t disappoint you!

Running Alarm Clock

This one is for everyone who’s favourite button is “snooze.” This alarm clock doesn’t have any fancy technology but, does one thing pretty well. If you’re not quick enough in the morning to shut the alarm, this clock starts moving and more often than not, it’ll run away from you and even fall off the table and keep moving away. This essentially means that you have to get out of bed to shut the alarm hence, you’re up.

Bulldog Speaker

This quirky desk accessory has a powerful speaker built-in. It’s a Bluetooth speaker at its core but, has the looks of being a very handy accessory in a desk setup. The bulldog speaker is available in a plethora of colours on Amazon but, we picked up the red one. The device charges via micro USB port and also an AUX input. Buy this if you’re looking for an accessory that does more than just looking pretty.

Helmet Cooler

This one might be the best accessory for a rider. Summers can be tough on everyone but, especially if you are a bike rider. Wearing a helmet at all times can be suffocating and extremely hot inside. This clever tech accessory from Bluarmor is a cooler for helmets. It constantly lets in air to keep riders from feeling claustrophobic. While it retails for Rs 2299, for Team iGyaan especially, it is available for Rs 1999 for a limited time. Use the code GYAAN300 at the time of checkout.

Mi Body Composition Scale

Priced at Rs 1999, this body composition scale from Xiaomi is a must-have for fitness enthusiasts. Even those watching their weight and or suffering from a disease that makes them keep a check on their weight should have this tech accessory. It connects to your smartphone using the Mi Fit app and tells you more than just your weight. It has a white LED which lights up three seconds after someone stands on the scale. It shows muscle mass, BMI, visceral fat, bone mass, body score, body fat, weight, basal metabolism, water content, and more.

Buy the Mi Body Composition Scale here

RoadGod Zeon R1 Bag:

Another one for the riders! This bag is ideal for daily commuters or even people who like taking out their bikes for expeditions. It fits on to a bike’s fuel tank and gives users easy access to their smartphones. Now, it is very dangerous to use your phones while riding and we condone it. However, this can come in handy when you have Google Maps or Apple Maps (if you use that) on. It is even possible to use the phone while it is in the front pocket.

Crossbeats Connect

It is fair to say that not everyone has a Bluetooth speaker. A lot of people still use wired speakers and even have car stereo systems that aren’t Bluetooth enabled. This is where the Crossbeats Connect comes in handy. This Bluetooth receiver plugs into a 3.5mm port and converts a music system into Bluetooth music system. It is as easy as plug-and-play.

Tizum Laptop Stand

This laptop stand from Tizum is sturdy and good-looking. The stand gives a nice elevation to the laptop which can make it easier to work on for long hours. The stand is large enough to fit any sort of laptop without making it wobble. A must-have accessory for people who spend long hours typing on their laptop.

Moarmouz Headphone Adapter with DAC

The beloved headphone jack is being phased out. It’s a harsh reality that we have to face and we honestly can’t do much about it. Other than, of course equip ourselves with the right accessories to continue using our wired headphones. This is where this headphone jack adapter with a DAC comes into play. Unlike cheap adapters, this one will enhance the sound quality and allow you to still use your wired headphones if your new and shiny smartphone does not have the headphone jack.

AmazonBasics Camera Bag

Every video content creator needs a travel bag for their tools. This bag from AmazonBasics holds and protects 2 smaller SLR camera bodies, 3-4 lenses, and additional small accessories. For a short shoot just outside the city where you don’t need to carry your heavy-duty accessories, this Rs 1999 priced bag from AmazonBasics is the right fit.

ZAKK Twins

Usually retailing for close to Rs 3000, the ZAKK twins are a great pair of Bluetooth earbuds that won’t break the bank. However, the reason these are on our list is that for a limited time and only for Team iGyaan, the ZAKK Twins will retail for Rs 1999 on Amazon. At the price, these are pretty much unbeatable. Hurry up before they are sold out because that tends to happen when the deal is this great.

X-Mini Nano-X (Bonus)

This mini Bluetooth speaker from X-Mini is surprisingly loud. It literally fits in the palm of your hand and is extremely portable. Make sure to keep it separately in a pocket because it might be easy to lose it in the large pocket of a backpack. For a short trip or to even fill a small room, Nanp-X from X-Mini is a great choice.

June 11, 2018
Unboxing The Xiaomi Redmi Y2
Xiaomi has launched the Redmi Y2 in India at an event in New Delhi today. The smartphone succeeds the Redmi Y1 which was launched in late-2017 along with the Redmi Y1 Lite. The Redmi Y2 is a part of Xiaomi’s selfie-centric lineup of budget smartphones. At a starting price of Rs 9999, the Redmi Y2 will go on sale on 12th June via offline retailers. The 4GB RAM variant is priced at Rs 12999.

[section label=”Unboxing”]

Inside The Box Of Xiaomi Redmi Y2
- Xiaomi Redmi Y2
- Documentation
- Sim Ejector Tool
- Wall Charger
- Micro USB Charger
[section label=”Initial Impressions”]

The Redmi Y2 takes a lot of design cues from other Xiaomi smartphones launched in 2018. It has the same vertically place dual-camera setup found on the Mi MIX 2s and Redmi Note 5 Pro. The design is also familiar along with a circular fingerprint sensor placed on the back of the smartphone. The horizontal lines on the top and bottom of the device give it a distinct look compared to devices like the Redmi Note 5 Pro or Redmi Note 5.

The Xiaomi Redmi Y2 has a 5.99 inch IPS LCD display with a 1440 x 720 px resolution. This translates into an 18:9 aspect ratio which has become the norm for even budget smartphones.

Under the hood, the Redmi Y2 runs on the Snapdragon 625 chipset, a tried and tested SoC for Xiaomi. That chipset is coupled with either 3GB or 4GB of RAM along with either 32GB or 64GB of storage which is expandable via a microSD card. Powering the device is a 3080 mAh battery, which will charge via a micro USB port.

To the back of the smartphone is a 12MP primary sensor with an f/2.2 aperture along with a 5MP depth sensor. To the front is a 16MP AI-powered camera which is capable of clicking portrait mode selfies using just the software. There is also a front-facing LED flash for better low-light images which has a 4500K brightness.

The Xiaomi Redmi Y2 at a price of Rs 9999 will make sense for people whose primary function is to take a lot of photos. The front-facing camera is the device’s highlight and the company believes this is what differentiates the Redmi Note 5 and Redmi Y2 users. How the smartphone does against devices like the Honor 9 Lite and Redmi Note 5, only time will tell.
June 7, 2018
Unboxing The Moto G6
The sixth generation of Motorola’s highly acclaimed Moto G series has launched in India. The Moto G6, initially launched back on Apilr 19th in Brazil has made its way to India for a starting price of Rs 13999. The Moto G6 is the successor to the Moto G5s which was launched in August 2017 and it will go on sale via Amazon exclusively.

Buy The Moto G6 Here

The Moto G6 is a significant upgrade over the Moto G5s in terms of design and build quality. During the Moto G5s launch, there were premium smartphones with the 18:9 aspect ratio but, not many budget devices had adopted the feature. Since then, however, the 18:9 aspect ratio has become the norm across the board. The Moto G6 follows the norm as well and has thin bezels around the display with an 18:9 aspect ratio.

[section label=”Unboxing”]

Inside the box of the Moto G6
- Moto G6
- Documentation
- Sim Ejector Tool
- Wall Charger
- USB-C Cable
[section label=”First Impressions”]

A few years ago, most budget smartphones were flimsy and had a plastic build. That slowly transitioned into a metal unibody which is much more sturdier, if not the best-looking. 2018 appears to be the year of embracing the glass build quality. Honor did it with Honor 9 Lite and now Motorola has also adopted the all-glass design. The Moto G6 features Corning Gorilla Glass3 on the front and back with an aluminium frame. With the new design, the G6 will be a fingerprint magnet which means a skin or a case is highly recommended for people who like to keep their smartphones clean and pretty.

The G6 has a 5.7 inch LCD display with a 2160×1080. This translates into an 18:9 aspect ratio and thankfully for many, it doesn’t have a notch. Even though it has an 18:9 aspect ratio, the bezels are not the thinnest and it has a 74.4% screen-to-body ratio which is not very high.

Under the hood, the smartphone runs on the Snapdragon 450 chipset which has eight 1.8GHz Cortex A53 Cores (14nm) and is basically the rebranded Snapdragon 625. The Adreno 506 GPU adds the graphical prowess with either 3GB or 4GB RAM option bundled with a 32GB or 64GB storage option. The storage is expandable via a microSD card which will use up the second SIM slot.

The Moto G6 does get the USB C charging capabilities along with a 15W charger, which is bundled with a 3000mAh battery. The G6 will run close to stock Android 8 Oreo out of the box in typical Motorola fashion. There were talks of Motorola adopting Lenovo’s custom skin for the G and E series in 2018 but, it turned out to be a hoax.

At the back is a dual camera setup, consisting of a primary 12MP RGB sensor with an f/1.8 aperture along with a 5MP depth sensor with an f/2.2 aperture. Much like previous smartphones from the company, users can apply a depth-of-field effect to a photo after it is shot, thanks to the saved depth information. Users will also get effects like a selective black-and-white mode, a time-lapse feature, face filters, motion photos and visual search for objects and landmarks. The front houses a 16MP camera with an f/2.2 aperture and an LED flash.

The Moto G6 feels like a worthy upgrade over the Moto G5s. At this price point, however, the consumers also have the options of going for the Redmi Note 5 Pro or the Zenfone Max Pro which are powered by the Snapdragon 636. The G6 does have a better design with its a–glass build but, it’ll be interesting to see how the smartphone is received by the Indian consumers.
June 4, 2018
Top Tech: 10 Products By Xiaomi Not Easily Available In India

For anyone who has followed the new in recent years knows about Xiaomi. The Chinese tech giant has been highly successful in India thanks to its budget smartphones. While India mostly witnesses Xiaomi’s smartphone prowess, the company has a much more diverse portfolio in its native country. One look at the Xiaomi China website and you’ll know all the crazy consumer products the company offers in China. From smart scooters to smart shoes, Xiaomi pretty much has it all. Gearbest, an international e-commerce website sells a lot of Xiaomi products and we have a list of top ten Xiaomi products that are not easily available in India!

Xiaomi Candle Light

This smart light from Xiaomi has a minimalistic design and a few smart features. The cylindrical shape of the light allows it to be compatible with all sorts of setups in a room or an office. The transparent top can be rotated to increase or decrease the brightness of the light. In case the light is away from a user, the light can be connected to the Mi Home app and the settings can be changed remotely using the app.

Buy The Xiaomi Candle Light Here

Mitu Robot Kit

For everyone wondering what a robot is doing on this list, read on. This is Mitu Robot Kit by Xiaomi that can be connected to your phone and controlled. The blocks can be used to make all sorts of robots and then indulge in either robot fights or just some fun playing around a with a robot you built yourself!

Buy The Mitu Robot Kit Here

Xiaomi Induction Cooker

Xiaomi’s product portfolio is diverse indeed! The Xiaomi Induction Cooker is meant to give the user granular level of control over the heat that cooks the food. It has 99 different fire levels to precisely control the cooking temperature. The cooker can even be controlled using Mi Home app, making it even easier for users to control the cooking time and temperature remotely.

Buy The Xiaomi Induction Cooker

Amazfit Bip

Smartwatches have very quickly become the tech accessory to own in today’s world. A smartwatch allows users to track their fitness and even access mobile notifications without really searching for their smartphones all the time. While the Apple Watch Series 3 even has cellular feature now, it is also very pricey. The Amazfit Bip is a smartwatch that does a lot of things correctly. It has a heart rate sensor to give users an accurate data of their fitness and health. It connects to your smartphone using the Mi-Fit app which helps users access their notifications using the watch.

Buy The Amazfit Bip Here

Mi Band With ECG

The US$ 128 Mi Band does a lot more than your average fitness band. While smartwatches are useful, not everyone prefers the feel of a watch. That gap is filled by fitness bands that are light and relatively more affordable. The Mi Band with ECG, as suggested by the name, has the ability to measure the ECG of a user. This can be very helpful for users who have to constantly keep a track of it due to the health reasons.

Buy The Mi Band With ECG Here

Smart Coffee Tumbler

It’s all about smart products and touch screens everywhere. Xiaomi makes a tumbler that incorporates both! The tumbler has a display on top to keep a track of the temperature of whatever it is that you’re drinking. The tumbler looks good with a leather band and is made of stainless steel.

Buy The Smart Coffee Tumbler Here

Xiaomi Electric Shaver

The Chinese tech giant even makes grooming products and that is not even surprising anymore. The electric shaver from Xiaomi is made of stainless steel and has a 360-degree cutting movement. Interestingly, the shaver charges via a USB C port (not even available in most smartphones these days) and can last for up to 30 days.

Buy The Electric Shaver Here

Multi-Port Charger

Multi-port USB chargers are the need of the hour for most users these days. With a lot of consumers owning more than one mobile device, it becomes imperative to use multi-port chargers. However, the only thing worse than no charger is a slow charger. Xiaomi’s 5-port USB charger fixes that by providing QC 3.0 charging speeds along with a USB C port as well.

Buy The Multi-Port Charger Here

Smart Plug

A lot of people in India are adopting the smart home technology. Smart plugs are affordable, convenient and an easy step into the world of smart home. The Xiaomi Smart Plug connects to a user’s Mi Home app and lets users remote switch on or off the plug. Users can even set timers, which can come in handy to people who still fear that they’ll overcharge their smartphones or other mobile devices.

Buy The Xiaomi Smart Plug Here

Car Inverter

These car inverters from Xiaomi convert the lighter socket into a charging hub for all sorts of devices. While car chargers only allow for phones to be charged (via USB), these car inverters do much more. They have a socket to charge anything with a plug, like a laptop. This can come in handy for users who work a lot on the go and don’t necessarily drive themselves around town.

Buy The Car Inverter Here/Buy The Alternate Car Inverter Here

June 1, 2018

Air Nano By CrazyBaby Full Review

[section label=”Video”]

Ever since Apple got rid of the headphone jack on the iPhone 7, the interest in Bluetooth earbuds has increased a lot. To counter the lack of the headphone jack, Apple launched the AirPods, a pair of truly wireless earbuds which have been well-received. Many companies followed that up by launching their own take on truly wireless earbuds. Air Nano By CrazyBaby is truly wireless earbuds that are priced at US$ 99 (Rs 6700 approx.) and are available in a bunch of different colours.

We have had the Air Nano By CrazyBaby for about two months. The earbuds are comfortable and come with a carrying/charging case of the same colour as the earbuds. With 5 minutes of charge, the case can provide up to 90 minutes of battery life for the earbuds which can be useful during crunch times. After a full charge, the earbuds provide up to 3 hours of music playback or 4 hours of talk time.

Unlike a majority of wireless earbuds, the setup process for Air Nano is very simple. You don’t have to pair the two earbuds with each other, which is a case for many earbuds in the market. The earbuds have Bluetooth 5.0 and a user has to simply turn them on and pair them with their smartphone. iPhone users will be able to see the battery life of the earbuds in the notification bar on top.

Buy the Air Nano here

[section label=”Specifications”]

Specifications

Specifications	Air Nano
Price	US$ 99 (Rs 6700 approx.)
Size	Capsule: 27.5mm in diameter, 88mm in length Headphone: 14mm in diameter, 23.5mm in length
Driver Diaphragm	998 Carbon Nanotube
Driver Unit	0.22 inch (5.5 mm) Custom-made Hi-Fidelity Micro Drivers
Frequency Response	8Hz to24kHz
Impedance	16 Ohms
Sensitivity	98dB SPL/1mW
Colours	Black/White/Red/Purple/Pink/Matte Gold/Austin Yellow/Morandi Blue/Atlantis Green/Volt Green

May 31, 2018

Unboxing The OnePlus 6 Avengers Infinity War Edition
On December 14th, almost a month after launching the OnePlus 5T, OnePlus unveiled the OnePlus 5T Star Wars Edition. It was a limited edition smartphone in association with the Star Wars: The Last Jedi film. On May 17th, one day after globally launching the OnePlus 6 in London, the Chinese smartphone maker launched the OnePlus 6 Avengers Infinity War Edition in India. The limited edition smartphone is in association with the recently released Avengers: Infinity War film.

OnePlus 5T Star Wars Edition

The smartphone will be available in variant only, with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. In India, the device will retail for Rs 44999 via Amazon from May 29th. The special edition smartphone will also come in a different style of box.

[section label=”Unboxing”]

Inside the box of the OnePlus 6 Avengers Infinity War Edition
- OnePlus 6 Avengers Infinity War Edition
- Wall Charger
- Type C Cable
- Sim Ejector Tool
- Documentation
- Special Avengers Case
- Medallion
[section label=”Initial Impressions”]

OnePlus has gone out of its way to make this smartphone a special buy for Marvel fanatics. Every OnePlus 6 Avengers Infinity War Edition will retail with a special Avengers case, in our package was an Iron Man case. Every retail box will also have a gold coloured medallion. The company has announced if you collect 6 medallions, there is a special prize in store for you. The company has, however, not announced what the prize will be.

The build quality, specifications are exactly the same as the regular OnePlus 6. However, with the OnePlus 6 Avengers Infinity War Edition, the back of the device has a carbon fibre finish underneath the glass. This look is reminiscent of the Carbon Fibra back panel which was available for the OnePlus One and OnePlus 2. The OnePlus continued to sell a snap-on case for its other devices with the carbon fibre finish. Like what OnePlus did with the OnePlus 5T Star Wars Edition, we expect the OnePlus 6 Carbon Fibre to be launched in other countries without the Avengers branding.

It has a 6.28 inch Optic AMOLED display with a 2280 x 1080 px resolution. The aspect ratio is 19:9 which means it is slightly taller than the OnePlus 5T.

It runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset which has an octa-core processor clocked at 2.8GHz. Coupled with the flagship chipset is 8GB of RAM and 256GB onboard storage. The storage is still not user-expandable just like every other OnePlus device. The fingerprint sensor is still placed on the rear but, it has a more oval shape this time around.

Powering the device is a 3300 mAh battery with DashCharge support. DashCharge continues to be one of the fastest charging technologies and could be the reason why OnePlus did not think that wireless charging was necessary here. Out of the box, the OnePlus 6 will run Android 8.1 Oreo with OxygenOS on top. The smartphone will have gesture support which we tested on the OnePlus 5T during its Beta test. There is a special Avengers theme which is a dark theme with gold accents. There are also exclusive Avengers wallpapers pre-installed. It would have been really cool to have an Avengers font as well but, that is not available yet.

The dual-camera setup on the back includes a 16MP Sony IMX 519 sensor and a 20MP Sony IMX 376K sensor. Both are RGB sensors and have an f/1.7 aperture with OIS, another first for a OnePlus device. The cameras also record 4K videos at 60fps which is a great feature for content creators. To the front of the smartphone is a 16MP Sony IMX 371 sensor with an f/2.0 aperture and EIS which records 1080P videos.

The OnePlus Avengers Infinity War Edition is a collector’s dream and looks really good as well. It has the sturdiness of the OnePlus 6 and the carbon fibre underneath the glass gives it a distinguished look among the increasingly similar-looking flagship smartphones.
May 17, 2018
Unboxing The OnePlus 6
OnePlus has finally lifted the curtains off of the OnePlus 6 at an event in London. The OnePlus 6 will launch in India on May 17th where the pricing details will be announced. The OnePlus 6 follows up the successful OnePlus 5T, which was launched in November, about five months after the OnePlus 5 launch. Makes you wonder whether the OnePlus 6T is just around the corner!

The base model of the OnePlus 6 is priced at US$ 529 (Rs 35,800 approx.), the 8GB RAM/128GB model will retail for US$ 579 (Rs 39200 approx.) while the 8GB RAM/256GB storage variant will cost you US$ 629 (Rs 42500).

OnePlus has really made the OnePlus 6 a feature-packed smartphone, addressing the main complaints that users had with previous OnePlus smartphones. Even before the launch, OnePlus confirmed that the new flagship device will have an all-glass design and even have some sort of water resistance.

[section label=”Unboxing”]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLXzejzQM8Y[/embedyt]

Inside the box of the OnePlus 6
- OnePlus 6
- Documentations
- Sim Ejector Tool
- Wall Charger
- USB C Cable
[section label=”Initial Impressions”]

Just like every other OnePlus smartphone, you do not get any earphones inside the box. OnePlus has, however, launched a new pair of Bluetooth earbuds which should be available in India soon. The moment you take the OnePlus 6 out, you realise that this isn’t anything like a previous OnePlus device. The smartphone has a glossy finish thanks to an all-glass design. The aluminium frame gives it a solid build, maintaining a superior build quality we have known OnePlus smartphones to have. The back of the device is a fingerprint magnet and it is strongly suggested that you use a case or a skin.

The 3.5mm headphone jack retains its place on the bottom of the smartphone next to the USB C port. The OnePlus 6 is now water resistant as well but, the exact rating has not been confirmed yet. The alert slider has been shifted on the right-hand side with the power button, while the volume rockers sit on the left-hand side.

The OnePlus 6 has a 6.28 inch Optic AMOLED display with a 2280 x 1080 px resolution. The aspect ratio is 19:9 which means it is slightly taller than the OnePlus 5T. The notch has also become very common among Android smartphones but, users will have an option to hide the notch via software.

The 6 runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset which has an octa-core processor clocked at 2.8GHz. Coupled with the flagship chipset is either 6GB or 8GB of RAM with three storage options of 64GB, 128GB and 256GB. The storage is still not user-expandable just like every other OnePlus device. The fingerprint sensor is still placed on the rear but, it has a more oval shape this time around.

Powering the device is a 3300 mAh battery with DashCharge support. DashCharge continues to be one of the fastest charging technologies and could be the reason why OnePlus did not think that wireless charging was necessary here. Out of the box, the OnePlus 6 will run Android 8.1 Oreo with OxygenOS on top. The smartphone will have gesture support which we tested on the OnePlus 5T during its Beta test.

The OnePlus 6 has a dual-camera setup on the back similar to the OnePlus 5T. The setup includes a 16MP Sony IMX 519 sensor and a 20MP Sony IMX 376K sensor. Both are RGB sensors and have an f/1.7 aperture with OIS, another first for a OnePlus device. The cameras also record 4K videos at 60fps which is a great feature for content creators. To the front of the smartphone is a 16MP Sony IMX 371 sensor with an f/2.0 aperture and EIS which records 1080P videos.

We will be testing out the OnePlus 6 in details for our full review. The Honor 10, launched on May 15th, also has a glass back and a dual-camera setup. Would like to see a comparison between the two smartphones? Let us know in the comments!
May 16, 2018
Unboxing The Honor 10
Honor has launched the Honor 10 at an event in London. The Honor 10 will be available in two variants. The Honor 10 will be available in only one variant in India. The smartphone will have 6GB RAM and 128GB storage and will be priced at Rs 32999. The Honor 10 will be available via Flipkart exclusively.

Succeeding the popular Honor 9, the Honor 10 has flagship specifications and an all-glass design. The smartphone also features a notch on the display like a lot of other modern-day Android smartphones. The colour variants are also very interesting with the Honor 10. Two of the colour variants have a dual-tone colour of blue and pink and in the images at least, looks pretty fantastic. The fingerprint reader like expected is not embedded inside the display, instead, it is an invisible ultrasonic fingerprint sensor that can also detect a wet finger.

[section label=”Unboxing Video”]

[section label=”Unboxing”]

Inside the box of the Honor 10
- Honor 10
- Documentation
- Sim Ejector Tool
- Wall Charger
- USB C Cable
[section label=”Initial Impressions”]

The Honor 10 takes a lot of design cues from the Huawei P20 Pro. The notch on the display is the same size as the P20 Pro and the all-glass design is reminiscent of the Huawei flagship smartphone. Right off the bat, you’ll realise that this a slippery phone thanks to its build quality. The glass finish means that the back of the device is also a fingerprint sensor. It is best adviced to either use a case or a skin for a better grip.

The front of the smartphone is dominated by the 5.84 inch IPS LCD display with a 2280 x 1080 px resolution. The notch can be hidden using software which will turn the display into an 18:9 aspect ratio.

Running everything under the hood is the company’s own flagship SoC, the HiSilicon Kirin 970. That is coupled with 6GB of RAM and 128GB storage. The flagship chipset can handle anything you throw at it and day-to-day usage is a breeze. The Honor 10 runs a highly customised version of Android 8.1 Oreo. For users who crave an app drawer and stock Android, there is always the Pixel Launcher.

Powering the smartphone is a 3400 mAh battery which charges via a USB C port. It is worth noting that despite having a glass back, the smartphone does not support wireless charging. It is SuperCharge compatible which should charge the phone faster than usual.

Honor has also touted AI capabilities of the Honor 10. AI seems to have become a very marketable term for smartphone makers these days. According to Honor, AI 2.0 can detect dynamic pictures more accurately. The phone’s AI 2.0 can also process Prisma-like image effects twice as fast as the iPhone X.

The smartphone has a dual-camera setup on the back, consisting of a 16MP RGB sensor with an f/1.8 aperture and a 24MP Monochrome sensor. The rear cameras record 4K videos at 30fps. The notch on the display, along with the sensors and an earpiece, also houses a 24MP camera with an f/2.0 aperture. The front-camera only records 1080P videos at 30fps.
May 15, 2018
Unboxing The OPPO Realme 1
Realme is an OPPO sub-brand which will launch its first smartphone in India, the Realme 1 on May 15th. The device will be an Amazon-exclusive and its product page has a few details about the smartphone listed already. The smartphone has a starting price tag of Rs 8990 for the 3GB RAM variant.

[section label=”Unboxing”]

Inside the box of the OPPO Realme 1
- Realme 1
- Wall Charger
- Documentation
- Sim Ejector Tool
- Micro USB Cable
[section label=”Initial Impressions”]

The most striking feature of the Realme 1 is its back panel. The smartphone has a “Diamond Black” back which looks quite impressive as it reflects light differently from a different angle. This is thanks to the diamond-like cuts on the metal. It is worth noting that the back has a plain texture and that the cuts are not physical. The smartphone definitely feels hefty and won’t be the most lightweight smartphone you pick up.

To keep up with the competition, the Realme 1 has an 18:9 aspect ratio even though the bezels are quite visible and not the thinnest you’ll ever see. However, the smartphone does not have a fingerprint sensor, which is truly astonishing considering smartphones that cost Rs 7000 also have a fingerprint sensor these days.

The Realme 1 has a 6 inch display with a 2160 x 1080 px resolution. The smartphone runs on the MediaTek MT6771 Helio P60 chipset coupled with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. The onboard storage is expandable via a microSD card in case you run out of the 128Gb storage provided. Powering the smartphone is 3410 mAh battery which charges via a micro USB slot.

The Realme 1 runs Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box with ColorOS 5.0 on top. The custom skin is very similar to skins by Chinese smartphone makers, there is no app drawer and you’ll barely notice the version of Android because of the heavy customisation. There OPPO Cloud for people to store their data on the internet instead of their devices. Clone Apps will let consumers use two separate accounts of the same app, which can come in handy for a lot of people.

Must Read: Unboxing The Huawei P20 Lite

The smartphone also misses out on a dual-camera setup, again, a feature that has become the norm. It has a 13MP camera on the back along with an 8MP front-facing camera.

The OPPO Realme 1 looks apart from the competition but misses out on a few key features. Stay tuned for a full review of the Realme 1!
May 15, 2018
Apple Watch Series 3 Goes On Sale In India On May 11th: How To Setup

Apple unveiled the Apple Watch Series 3 along with the iPhone X back in September 2017. In India, the smartwatch goes on sale on the 11th and will be compatible with Airtel and Jio postpaid connections. The highlight of the 3rd generation of Apple Watch is that it has cellular support, which means that users can leave their iPhones behind and still be able to make calls, send texts and surf the web. The pre-registration for Apple Watch Series 3 began on the 4th of May.

How To Set Up Apple Watch Series 3:

You need an Airtel or Jio postpaid connection for this to work. Head to the Settings and go to About section. Users will get a carrier update and once updated, simply open the Watch app (pre-installed in iPhones) to set up your Apple Watch Series 3. The app will prompt you to set it up and after logging in to the necessary accounts, you will receive a confirmation SMS from your carrier.

The new Apple Watch Series 3 has an improved heart rate sensor and a SIM card slot. This has resulted in a 0.2mm thickness increment which is commendable. Apple also claims that the new Watch Series 3 is swim-proof, which means athletes can track their activities even when they’re swimming.

With the new and advanced heart rate sensor, the watch will notify an increased heart rate if you’re not active. Interestingly, in the new Apple Watch, the cellular number will remain the same as your iPhone and users can perform tasks such as iMessage directly from their watch without having their smartphone connected to it. The Apple Watch Series 3 will also stream 40 million songs from the iTunes and the Music App. The Siri on the smartwatch is also be voice-enabled for communication with the watch without looking at the screen. The display of the watch acts as an antenna and an electronic SIM card which is smaller than a nano-SIM card is used in the smartwatch.

Must Read: OnePlus 6 Will Have Galaxy S9-Like Heart Rate Sensor

The smartwatch has a dual-core processor to carry out all the tasks. The smartwatch will run Apple Watch OS 4 out of the box and has a battery life of up to 18 hours, Apple claims. The new W2 chip inside delivers 85 percent faster Wi-Fi while also being 50 percent more power efficient, which will be crucial because of the cellular connectivity feature using up more battery than usual.

The Apple Watch Series 3 is priced at Rs 39080 for the 38mm size variant and the 42mm variant will cost Rs 41120. The Apple Watch Series 3 is certainly a very pricey accessory to own in India. However, it has its own advantages and users who really need an Apple Watch, should not look beyond the Series 3 model.

May 10, 2018