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Best Smartphones in 2015 Between Rs. 10,000 – 15,000

Continuing with our 2015 roundup, here’s our pick of some of the best smartphones launched this year priced between Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 15,000. Let us know your favourites in the comments below.

Samsung Galaxy On7

The Samsung Galaxy On7 sports a 5.5-inch (138.6mm) HD display. It runs on a 1.2GHz quad core Sanpdragon 410 processor and a 1.5GB RAM. The storage is the same as the On5 at 8GB and both are expandable up to 128GB via MicroSD card slot. Bith the devices are dual SIM. The On7 houses a 13MP primary camera with auto-focus and a 5MP front.

The device is touted as youth friendly and comes an Ultra Data Saving mode that compresses data and saves up to 50% data charges for greater networking and browsing. The devices also come 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 On7 is available at a price of Rs. 10,990. Check out our unboxing and hands on with the Galaxy On7 to know more about the handset.

Yu Yureka Plus

The Yureka Plus comes with a 1920x1080px display vs the 720px on the original Yureka. The Plus version also gets the Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection layer added to the top of the display. All this is on the same size 5.5-inch display which bumps up the pixel density to 400 ppi.

The device is powered by a 1.5GHz octa-core processor with 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB internal storage. The device was originally priced at Rs. 9,999 and was the phone that started it all in that price bracket, but is now available for Rs. 11, 278 on Flipkart.

Xiaomi Mi 4i

Xiaomi applied its powerful design and engineering capabilities to create the Mi 4i, which was launched globally at a premiere in New Delhi in April this year. The Xiaomi Mi 4i has a 5-inch Full HD OGS IPS display with 441ppi pixel density. The processor powering the phone is a 64-bit octa-core Cortex-A53; the four cores clocked at 1.7 GHz and the other four at 1.1 GHz. It features 2GB of RAM and 16GB of non-expandable storage space. The Mi 4i runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop with the company’s MIUI 6 on top.

Other features include a 13MP rear and a 5MP shooter. The dual-SIM device is powered by a 3120mAh battery. Connectivity options include Micro-USB 2.0, Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi. The device is available at a price of Rs. 11,999 for the 16 GB variant.

 

Micromax Canvas 5

Micromax’s latest flagship device, Canvas 5, is priced at Rs. 11,999 and sports a 5.2-inch FHD screen with 480ppi. It is powered by a 1.3GHz octa core MediaTek MT6753 ARM Cortex-A53 chipset. It also features 3 GB RAM and 11 GB internal storage expandable up to 128 GB via MicroSD card slot.

The device features a 13MP rear camera and a 5MP front with flash. The images taken by the primary camera are fairly decent and is quick at capturing images. The added professional modes like ISO, exposure compensations and white balance help you take that perfect shot. Have a look at our full review of the Canvas 5 for a better look at the device and specs.

 

Moto G (3rd Gen)

The Moto G (3rd Gen) It comes with the Android Lollipop 5.1.1, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 (MSM8916) processor with 1.4 GHz quad-core CPU, Adreno 306 with 400 MHz GPU.

The display boasts of a 5-inch, 720p HD (1280 x 720), 294 ppi with a battery of 2,470 mAh, mixed usage up to 24 hours. It provides a 4G LTE network connection with a rear camera of up to13MP f/2.0, Field of view (FOV) 76 degree, and a front camera of 5 MP f/2.2, Field v (FOV) 72 degrees Display flash with fixed focus.

The device is available on Flipkart at a price of Rs. 11,999 for the 8 GB variant and for Rs. 12,999 for the 16 GB variant. Here’s our comparison of the Moto G (3rd Gen) with Yu Yureka Plus and Xiaomi Mi 4i and check out our unboxing and hands on video as well.

Moto G Turbo

The Moto G (Gen 3) Turbo went on sale in the country last week and is exclusively available on Flipkart for order, at a price of Rs. 14,499. The phone comes in two variants, namely, Black with Deep Sea Blue back and White with Slate.

On the specs front, the Moto G Turbo comes with a different chipset, Qualcomm MSM8939 Snapdragon 615, with Adreno 405 and a quick charge capability that Motorola calls a turbo charge. Everything else remains identical to the 16GB storage variant of the Moto G 3rd Gen which comes with 2GB RAM.

Xiaomi Mi 4

A device from last year still continues to draw the attention of smartphone buyers today. Xiaomi’s Mi 4 comes with stainless steel styling elements which sets it apart from its predecessor, the Mi 3. The 5-inch 1080p smartphone gets its processing powers from the 2.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 SoC. The phone has 3GB of RAM and comes with 16/64 GB internal storage options.

The camera on the phone is a 13 megapixel rear with a wide f/1.8 aperture. The selfie camera is a massive 8 MP; a major upgrade in the MI series. The phone also gets an LTE radio and is juiced up by a 3080 mAh battery. Xiaomi fans may still prefer this over the rest, so if you’re in the market for the Mi 4, hit the link below and ready your wallet.

 

Samsung Galaxy J7

Samsung’s Galaxy J7 runs on 1.5 GHz Octa-Core Exynos processor. It has 16GB of storage which can be expanded upto 128 GB and sports a 5.5 inch HD AMOLED display.

It is a dual-SIM device that supports 4G LTE. It features a 13 MP rear camera with LED Flash and a 5 MP front camera with LED Flash. The phone are capable of full HD recording. It runs on Android 5.1 Lollipop and features 1.5 GB of RAM. The device is available at a price of Rs. 14,999.

 

Huawei Honor 6

Another 2014 device worth adding to the list is the Huawei Honor 6. The device may be average in terms of design but does have hardware to boast of. It’s the first smartphone with the HiSilicon Kirin 920 SoC, an octa core processor coupled with 3GB RAM and 3100 mAh battery. The handset features an octa-core processor made of four Cortex A 15 cores and similar number of Cortex A7 cores.

The Huawei Honor 6 offers a 13 MP rear shooter with a Sony BSI sensor along with a F2.0 28mm wide angle lens and a dual LED flash, and a 5 MP front. The handset is available at a price of Rs. 14,999 of Flipkart. Check out our review of the Honor 6 for more on the device.

December 20, 2015
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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

December 19, 2015
This is Possibly the Best Time to Buy the iPhone 6s in India

Apple fanboys and fangirls rejoice. Those who have been checking online retailers regularly hoping for the price of the new iPhone 6s to drop can now check once again. A few days ago we mentioned that the iPhone 6s had received a major price cut in India. The devices were launched with a starting price of Rs. 62,000 and going up to a Rs. 92,000 and were much costlier than the same products in the American and European markets.

The prices have now come down significantly, especially after a decline in the demand in the country. This makes it the perfect time to buy the iPhone 6s especially before the holidays. The iPhone 6s shows a whopping price drop of Rs.11,000. There is a fall in prices of the iPhone 6s Plus as well but this isn’t as drastic as the 6s.

Currently, the 16 GB iPhone 6s (Rose Gold and Space Grey) is available at Rs. 49,900 on Amazon India.

This year’s iPhone has an improved outer shell which offers resistance against the “bendgate” issue of last year’s iPhone. The new reinforced and strong series 7000 Aluminium adds strength to the outer structure.

The new iPhone 6s and 6s Plus add an improved Apple A9 chip along with an M9 co-processor. Enhanced cameras both on the rear with a 12 MP shooter which now does 4k video. On the front with a 5 MP snapper, which however is still restricted to 720p.

Finally, the introduction of the 3D Touch functionality is the highlight of the new iPhones and he peek and pop UI of iOS 9 makes this feature infinitely fun. If you’re still unsure about the iPhone 6s, you can read our full review of the devices here.

December 19, 2015
Huawei Mate 8 Passes FCC, Could Launch at CES 2016

Late last month, Huawei made the Mate 8 official. The company also expressed its desire to launch the device in the U.S and has received the green light to do so. Latest word is that the Mate 8 has passed the FCC. This means that its release in the U.S market is imminent.

The Mate 8 sports a 6-inch 1080p touchscreen display and will be powered by Huawei’s new Kirin 950 chipset and an ARM Mali-T880 GPU. Furthermore, the handset will be available in 3GB and 4GB of RAM with 32GB and 64GB and 128GB storage variants. The Mate 8 has a large 4,000 mAh battery and will run on Android 6.0 Marshmallow.

As you know by now, the CES press conference is scheduled to take place in January where the biggest names in the business are set to unveil new products. Now that the Huawei Mate 8 has passed the FCC, it is highly likely that the device will be launched at the CES 2016.

December 19, 2015
YU Yutopia: Benchmarks, Gaming and Questions

Micromax’s subsidiary Yu Televentures launched the Yutopia smartphone yesterday. At a price of Rs. 24,999, the device has some solid features like an all-metal body and Snapdragon 810 chipset along with 4 GB of RAM. We put the device to test and checked its hardware and graphic capabilities.

Have a look at our benchmark, gaming and heating test:

The device sports a 5.2-inch quad HD IPS display, powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 chipset, with 4 GB of RAM and 32 GB storage. There is a 3000mAh battery pack with Quick Charge 2.0 feature, which means that the phone will be equipped with charging capabilities up to 75% faster than conventional charging mechanisms. The device runs on Android 5.1 Lollipop with Cyanogen OS 12.1.

We ran AnTuTu and Vellamo on our device and here are its scores along with OnePlus 2, and Nexus 5X:

Test

Yutopia

OnePlux 2

Qiku Q Terra

AnTuTu 60369 54929 65164

Vellamo (Metal) 1346 1678 2226

So, as you can see above, Yutopia scored 60,369 in the AnTuTu test and does better than OnePlus 2 but falls short of Qiku Terra’s score. However, a score of 60K is decent in our opinion. The Yutopia does poorly in comparison to the other two devices in the single core Vellamo test.

Questions Answered

The fingerprint scanner on the back is fast and responsive, and unlocks the phone quickly. The response time is right up there with the HTC One A9 and iPhone 6s.

There have been several queries regarding the OTG support on the device. We checked out this aspect and found that Yutopia does support OTG.

The device surprisingly does not heat up and after playing games like Asphalt 8, the phone stayed under 40-degree celsius, which is a sigh of relief for a device sporting a Snapdragon 810 chipset

We will have the full review of the Yu Yutopia soon. Meanwhile, you can click here to watch our unboxing and hands-on video.

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
iPhone 6C: Everything We Know So Far

It’s sort of a tradition now for Apple to release a cheaper variant of its flagship devices. it was the case for the iPhone 5C and so will be the case with the iPhone 6C. For weeks now we have been hearing rumours that Apple is working on a 4-inch iPhone. The device is likely called the iPhone 6C and here’s everything we know so far from the various rumours that have been going around. Let it also be known that Apple has not confirmed any of this.

Design

Ming-Chi Kuo, a prominent and reliable Apple analyst, has predicted that the company will indeed bring out a new 4-inch model. On the design front, it remains unknown whether the iPhone 6C will follow the aluminum iPhone 5S design or the candy-colored polycarbonate iPhone 5C, though we’re leaning towards the latter as some colourful polycarbonate frame will be a welcome sight rather than the usual colours of silver, space grey, gold, and rose gold.

Other rumours have suggested that the miniature iPhone will not come with a physical home button and will also ditch the 3D Touch feature, which makes sense if Apple is going for a cheaper device.

Display

One rumour in particular that has been making the rounds for a while is that the device would sport a sapphire display, which is highly scratch and shatter resistant. In fact, some of the higher-end Apple Watch models have sapphire display as well as OLED technology, which Apple is rumoured to bring to its next flagship device, but will not likely be seen in the iPhone 6C.

Processor

The iPhone 6C will come as an entry-level device, which means that it will not feature current-gen processor. That being said, the new iPhone 6C will likely move on from the A7 chip found in the iPhone 5S to the A8 chip in the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.

Camera and Storage

On the camera front don’t expect a major bump. The iPhone 6C will likely stick with an 8MP rear from the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus and might even let go of OIS. Apple rarely changes the storage options with its iPhones and is not likely to do so with the iPhone 6C as well. You can expect the device to be available in 16 GB and 32 GB variants.

Apple may be planning to launch the 4-inch iPhone 6C in the first half of 2016. We’ll know how much of the rumours come true as we approach the launch. Follow this space for more on the iPhone 6C.

December 17, 2015
Do You Use Your Smartphone While Driving?

A poll conducted in the US revealed that a vast number of people use smartphones while driving. The survey was conducted with 1300 people and about 80% of the participants confessed to using their smartphones while driving. However the frequency of the usage varied across users.

It seems technology is only getting more and more life-threatening every day. You may think your latest selfie is cool enough to be posted on Facebook immediately, but it’s definitely not cool enough for you to risk your life over it. Surprise, surprise.

[poll id=”36″]

December 17, 2015

Yu Yutopia Unboxing and Hands-On

Micromax spinoff , Yu televentures, launched the YUtopia today, this also marks Micromax/Yu’s first entry into the high end flagship scene for a price of Rs. 24999 .The handset ties in a lot of firsts for the company and also a good overall hardware package.

The Yutopia comes with an all metal construction from a single shell of alloy. Manufactured completely in India, the handset resembles and appears to be a premium version of the Yuphoria.

The phone is just 7.2 mm in thickness and around 155 grams in weight. It is well balanced and has a very lumia like camera protruding from the back.

The phone comes with good in-box accessories, including a screen protector, and house of Marley earphones The final box is expected to ship with an included back case.

The company has launched the phone on preorders on the website Amazon.in, and is expected to go on sale in late December.

While the Qualcomm snapdragon 810 chipset is surrounded by woes of heating, it seems adequate steps have been taken to ensure that heat is dissipated from the device and vents are seen around the back of the phone, disguised as microphone grills. The chipset runs on 2.0GHz octal core CPUs ensuring good in-hand feel especially when tied in with Cyanogen.

The 5.2 inch QHD display is also a first from the company and may be a first in the segment this year, with Oneplus leaving it out on the OnePlus 2. Leaving out the traditional Corning Gorilla Glass, the phone comes with CORNING CONCORE GLASS which is already fused with the display made by Sharp and considered the same as Gorilla Glass 3.

The 21 MP camera made by Sony seems promising, and is capable of capturing 4K video. The camera is fast and responsive and captures a lot of detail.

Check out our full Unboxing and hands on Video below.

pecification	YU Yutopia
Display	5.2 -inch Sharp WQHD IPS display, 2K
Resolution	2560×1440 pixels, 567 PPi
Chipset	64 bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 810
CPU	2.0 GHz Octa-core
GPU	Adreno 430
RAM	4 GB
Front Camera	8 MP FF
Rear Camera	21MP AF camera, 4K video recording
Storage	32 GB
Expandability	Using Micro SD card 128 GB
Battery	3,000 mAh battery with 2.0 Quick Charge
Operating System	Android Lollipop 5.1 with Cyanogen OS 12.1
Price	Rs. 24,999

December 17, 2015

Spec Battle: YU Yutopia vs OnePlus 2 vs Qiku Q Terra vs Nexus 5X vs Moto X Play

Yu Televentures launched its flagship smartphone, Yu Yutopia, today and the smartphone, called “the most powerful phone ever” according to the company packs a bunch of high-end specs for a device priced at Rs. 24,999.

The device sports a 5.2-inch quad HD IPS display, powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 chipset, with 4 GB of RAM and 32 GB storage. There is a 3000mAh battery pack with Quick Charge 2.0 feature, which means that the phone will be equipped with charging capabilities up to 75% faster than conventional charging mechanisms. The device runs on Android 5.1 Lollipop with Cyanogen OS 12.1.

On the camera front, the Yutopia packs a massive 21MP AF rear with 4K video recording, Full HD video recording, with OIS and PDAF. There is an 8MP front-facing camera for selfie lovers. Other features include a fingerprint sensor that not only provides security but can also be used to take selfies. The device is launched at a very competitive price of Rs. 24,999 and is exclusively available for pre-booking on Amazon.in.

To find out just where the Yutopia device stands, we pit the smartphone against the OnePlus 2, Nexus 5X, Qiku Q Terra and the Moto X Play. Check out the specs of the devices and let us know what you think in the comments below.

Specification	YU Yutopia	OnePlus 2	Nexus 5X	Moto X Play	Qiku Q Terra
Display	5.2-inch Sharp WQHD IPS display, 2K	5.5-inch, LTPS LCD capacitive touchscreen, Corning Gorilla Glass	5.2-inch Full HD IPS display	5.5 inch, Capacitive touchscreen, Corning Gorilla Glass 3	6-inch full HD display, Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution	2560×1440 pixels, 567 ppi	1080 x 1920 pixels, 401 ppi	1920 x 1080 / 423ppi	1080 x 1920 pixels, 403 ppi	1920×1080 pixels, 386 ppi
Chipset	Qualcomm Snapdragon 810	Qualcomm Snapdragon 810	Qualcomm Snapdragon 808	Qualcomm Snapdragon 615	Qualcomm Snapdragon 808
CPU	1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 and 2.0 GHz Cortex-A57 octa-core processor	Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & Quad-core 2 GHz Cortex-A57	Quad-core 1.44 GHz Cortex-A53 & dual-core 1.82 GHz Cortex-A57	Octa-core 1.7 GHz Cortex-A53 & Quad-core 1.0 GHz Cortex-A53	2.3 GHz Quad-core processor
GPU	Adreno 430	Adreno 430	Adreno 418	Adreno 405	Adreno 430
RAM	4 GB	3/4 GB	2 GB	2 GB	3 GB
Front Camera	8 MP	5 MP	5 MP		8 MP f/2.4
Rear Camera	21 MP AF	13 MP	12.3 MP AF	21 MP rear, auto-HDR, dual-LED flash	13 MP f/2.2
Storage	32 GB	16 GB/ 64 GB	16 GB/ 32 GB	16 GB/ 32 GB	16 GB
Expandability	MicroSD card slot	NA	NA	MicroSD expandable up to 128 GB	Up to 128 GB via MicoSD
Battery	3000 mAh battery	3,300 mAh battery	2,700 mAh	3630 mAh battery	3,700 mAh battery
Connectivity	–	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot, dual SIM Bluetooth v4.1, A2DPGPS with A-GPS, GLONASS,	Wi-Fi 802.11 a, b, g, n, ac / Bluetooth 4.2 / NFC / Type-C USB	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-bandBluetooth v4.0, Micro USB v2.0	Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz b/g/n WCN3680 / Bluetooth 4.0/ 4G LTE
Operating System	Android 5.1 Lollipop with Cyanogen 12.1 OS	Android 5.1.1 Lollipop	Android 6.0 Marshmallow	Android 5.1 Lollipop	Android 5.1.1 Lollipop-based 360 OS
Price	Rs. 24,999	Rs 22,999 (16 GB)/24,999 (64 GB)	Rs. 24,000 (16 GB)/ Rs. 33,990 (32 GB)	Rs. 18,499 (16 GB), Rs. 19,999 (32 GB)	Rs. 19,999 (invite)/ Rs. 21,999 (without invite)

December 17, 2015

YU Yutopia Launches with 21 MP Camera For Rs. 24,999

YU Yutopia launches at a price of Rs. 24,999 at an official event in Delhi today. Along with Micromax co-founder and CEO, Rahul Sharma, the event was attended by Kirt McHare, CEO of Cyanogen, Sunil Lalvani, President of Qualcomm India, and Tokuji Hayakawa, Managing Director of Sharp.

Yutopia is company’s first flagship and is manufactured entirely in India. The phone has a super-slim 7.2 mm body, comes with a 5.2 inch Quad HD display and runs on Qualcomm Snapdragon 810. Some of the other highlights of the YU Yutopia include:

Camera: Speculations regarding the camera of the device have been proven true as Yutopia is equipped with a whopping 21 MP camera with 4K video recording. The camera is manufactured by Sony.

Fingerprint Sensor: Yutopia also boasts of a fingerprint sensor -which can be used not only for security purposes but also for clicking a selfie. It’s very low on power consumption, claimed Rahul Sharma at the event.

Battery: The phone has a a 3000 mAh battery with Quick Charge. This also means that the phone will be equipped with charging capabilities up to 75% faster than conventional charging mechanisms.

https://www.facebook.com/iGyaanIn/videos/vb.138708732815524/1103280906358297/

Around YU: YU has become the first mobile brand to integrate a host of services under one name and it’s called Around YU. It ensures that the user no longer requires multiple apps for different things like shopping, ordering food, booking tickets etc.
Around YU would let you book cabs, flight and check PNR status; railway ticket booking will come soon, promises YU. This integrated service will get customised and become user-specific as it is used over time. Like HTC BlinkFeed, it is present on the left-most corner of the screen and is described by Rahul Sharma as, “new way to discover your services, to discover your life”.

Find all other specs of Yu Yutopia below.

Specification	YU Yutopia
Display	5.2 -inch Sharp WQHD IPS display, 2K
Resolution	2560×1440 pixels, 567 PPi
Chipset	64 bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 810
CPU	2.0 GHz Octa-core
GPU	Adreno 430
RAM	4 GB
Front Camera	8 MP FF
Rear Camera	21MP AF camera, 4K video recording
Storage	32 GB
Expandability	Using Micro SD card
Battery	3,000 mAh battery with 2.0 Quick Charge
Operating System	Android Lollipop 5.1 with Cyanogen OS 12.1
Price	Rs. 24,999

There is a Fast Charger in the box along with House of Marley earphones. Pre-orders for Yutopia begin exclusively on Amazon starting at 2 PM today. It will be ready for shipping 26th December onwards.

Stay tuned for our unboxing and hands on.

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
YU Yutopia: Everything We Know So Far

With the launch of the YU Yutopia only a couple of hours away, here’s a quick round-up of everything we know about the device.

#Yutopia will be unveiled in the next 24 hours. Who’s excited? Know more: https://t.co/4bQqQPjLWY pic.twitter.com/L4Em719YNX

— YU (@YUplaygod) December 16, 2015

There have been lots of rumours about the specs of Yutopia doing the rounds lately. Some of the most interesting ones include the following:

Camera:

The smartphone is rumoured to arrive with a whopping 21 MP main camera. Of late, YU has been releasing images on the internet taken by Yutopia’s camera. We took a look at some of them and they seem pretty neat.

A teaser picture taken by the #yutopia

The front camera would be marked at 8 MP.

Battery:

YU has released a number of teasers for its upcoming smartphone, and many of them take a jibe at OnePlus and Apple. YU took a dig at specifically the new iPhones in terms of battery claiming to outdo them with Yutopia’s 3,000 mAh battery. Let’s see if the company actually manages to fulfill its promise.

Chipset:

The YU Yutopia is expected to be powered by a 64 bit class Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 chipset, backed by 4 GB of RAM. With an expected price close to 20K, this makes it the cheapest phone to be equipped with this chipset.

Cyanogen:

The tech world is rife with speculations of trouble in paradise between YU and Cyanogen, the open source operating system. Thought Kirt McMaster, the CTO of Cyanogen has explicitly denied any trouble between the two in the past couple of months, it still looks like it might just be the end of the road for them.

Additionally, the launch tomorrow was initially supposed to happen on the 7th of this month, but it was delayed because YU has another product lined up to release with Yutopia. It could perhaps be an OS, a replacement of sorts for Cyanogen. Only time will tell.

Yutopia could also include a 5.2 inch display and 32 GB of expandable internal memory. As the phone makes some big promises with regards to its high resolution camera, powerful battery, enhanced display and metal body, let us hope it’s not all just empty talk.

December 16, 2015
First of its Kind Sapphire Display to be Part of Bluboo’s Upcoming Smartphone

Bluboo, the Chinese manufacturer, may not exactly belong to the same league as OnePlus, Xiaomi or Huawei, but it’s definitely trying its best to make it there. The company is now reportedly working on Picasso, its new smartphone, and is trying to make it the first of its kind device.

Sources suggest that Picasso has an entirely sapphire display and is undergoing security and reliability tests right now. Sapphire is the second hardest element in the world after diamond and therefore is quite a fancy choice for the screen of a gadget.

A sapphire screen is highly resistant to scratches and breaking. Because sapphire is very costly, screens made out of the material have been restricted to small, premium and luxury devices in the past like high-end watches and some Vertu smartphones.

Bluboo incorporating sapphire in the screen of Picasso is definitely a first of its kind move. However, let’s see what this does to the price tag of the smartphone. Do you think smartphones need a sturdier screen, and if yes, could Bluboo may have found an (albeit super-expensive) answer?

December 16, 2015