Smartphone News and Reviews, Latest Cellphones, Accessories, New Launches, Specifications, Details with Image and Video from Apple, Samsung, Lenovo, Moto, HTC, Xiaomi, Oneplus, Meizu, Sony, Lava, Micromax Yu Mobile and More.
Motorola has just launched the long-awaited Moto G. And like many other competitive handsets around, Moto G, too, has seen its fair share of rumours and leaks.The device is available in two variants and will be available on Flipkart by midnight, today.
The device boasts of a 5-inch 720p display with 1280×720-pixel resolution and 294ppi. It is powered by a 1.4GHz Quad core CPU and the processor has been upgraded from Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 to Qualcomm Snapdragon 410, along with an Adreno306 GPU. It is juiced by a 2,470 mAh battery that can last roughly up to a day. The handset is available in two variants- 8GB storage with 1GB RAM and 16GB storage with 2GB RAM.
Camera specifications include a 13MP rear camera with f/2.0 aperture, Field of view (FOV) up to 76 degrees. The 5MP front camera consists of a f/2.2 aperture and Field v (FOV) 72 degrees Display flash with fixed focus.
We have pitted the Moto G against the smartphones in the similar price bracket. Let us see how it fared.
As we can see above, Yu Yureka Plus is apparently leading the way to be the first choice of the market due to the same, or better specs in each category at a much cheaper price. But, Moto G should not be undervalued in this race. We think that by adding features like being waterproof for up to 3 feet for 30 minutes, or just shaking the handset for the camera to start automatically, should take the Moto G (Gen 3) a step forward. And, how can we forget the choice between 10 different coloured shell covers and 5 flip covers that leave us spoiled for choice.
Read more about the Hands On of the Moto G 3rd Gen here
Watch the video of iGyaan’s founder Bharat Nagpal in conversation with Motorola India’s General Manager, Amit Boni below.
Motorola announced the launch of its new smartphone the Moto G (Gen 3) today. The phone is part of the Moto G series, which became a huge success in India when its first installment released in November 2013. Their mantra is to give their user the pure Android experience, priced reasonably.
For the launch of Moto G (Gen 3), iGyaan’s founder Bharat Nagpal sat down with Motorola India’s General Manager, Amit Boni for an exclusive interview.
Watch the full interview here:
The unique feature about the Moto G (Gen 3) is that it is one of the few exclusive devices with a waterproof system supported by an IPX7 software. Hence, it can stay in three feet of water for up to 30 minutes. Apart from that, the phone caters to regular smartphone users and claims to be sturdy.
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 phone will be available in two variants – the 8GB storage + 1GB RAM and the 16GB storage + 2GB RAM. Both variants are expandable upto 32GB.
A more detailed specification is given below:
Check out the specifications and our hands on video for the Moto G (Gen 3):
The smartphone will be able on Flipkart tonight onwards, at midnight and you can expect to have various offers on Flipkart and Mintra, thanks to this collaboration. The 8GB version priced at Rs.11,999 and the 16GB at Rs.12,999. According to the company, the Moto G (Gen 3) has been custom made for the Indian monsoon season and for day to day users. It may not be the perfect phone for gamers, but with a price of Rs. 11,999/12,999 and the upgraded specifications, the Moto G Gen 3 should be up for a good start.
The Moto G (Gen 2) will be discontinued on Flipkart from today and you have the option of exchanging your old Moto E and G (Gen 2) phones, for the new Moto G (Gen 3), which you will get a heavy discount for. So do give it a good thought.
In an earlier article, we showed you the rumoured leaked images of the iPhone 6C, and according to other reports and rumours, Apple was meant to launch 3 iPhones this year. But, on 27th July 2015, an update by digitaltrends said that the 4-inch phone had been scrapped and that a picture of what might have been the iPhone 6C’s battery pack had also been removed.
This rumour began when sometime in January, Timothy Arcuri, of Cowen and Company hinted that he saw signs of a smaller iPhone being in production. Later, in July, he stated that plans for a 4-inch iPhone 6C have since been scrapped, attributing one of the reasons to the successful sales of the iPhone 6 and stating that the launch of a new phone would be self-destructive. However, another leaked image of a smaller 1715 mAh battery, that appeared on a website called nowhereelse.fr, sparked rumour mills again.
Image Source: nowhereelse.fr
Most sources deny the launch of a new iPhone 6C, however, reports have found, that along with the launch of the Apple 6 and 6 Plus, Apple revealed a brightly coloured phone that looked exactly like the 5C, but had one small difference. If one looked at the Home Button, one would see a chrome surround and an absence of a square icon, that gave the impression of a Touch ID sensor. Since then rumours have been afloat, as to whether, Apple might have leaked its own phone. These rumours could be false, since the images could also have been a poorly constructed press render.
Motorola is expected to launch two of its anticipated products today in New Delhi, New York, London & San Francisco, simultaneously. By the look of their invitation that reads “Your relationship status is about to change”, signed, ” XGX Moto”, it seems like they are going to launch the Moto X (Gen 3) and the budget-friendly Moto G (Gen 3) smartphones. There are added rumours that Motorola will also launch a new product, for which there seems to be barely any information, called the Moto 360 (Gen 2)
Although, most of the specs for the Moto G (Gen 3) are available, Flipkart accidentally leaked the 8GB white Moto G (Gen 3) priced at Rs 11, 999. Below are the rumoured specifications for the Moto G (Gen 3):
Specification
Moto G (Gen 3)
Display
5 “(12.7 cm) TFT, Gorilla Glass
Resolution
1080 x 1920 HD
Chipset
NA
Processor
MSM8916 1.4 Ghz Quadcore
GPU
NA
RAM
1GB
Storage
8 GB
Expandability
32 GB
Rear Camera
13 MP
Rear Camera Video
1080p
Front Camera
5MP
Front Camera Video
NA
Battery
Non-removable Li-ion 2470 mAh battery
Operating System
Android 5.1 Lollipop
Connectivity
Wi-Fi 802.11 b / g / n, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot, Bluetooth v4.0, A2DP, LE,
GSM 850/900/1800/1900, HSDPA 850/900/1900/2100, LTE band 1 (2100),
3 (1800), 7 (2600), 20 (800)
Miscellaneous
Fingerprint sensor
Price
Rs.11, 999
Apart from this, the Moto G (Gen 3) is also rumoured to be waterproof!
The Moto X (Gen 3), however is a better kept secret and the price of the product, due to the launch today, is still unknown. However, the speculated specifications of the phone are rumoured to be as follows:
– Fast battery charging: 60% in 30 min (Quick Charge 2.0)
– Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic
– MP3/AAC+/WAV/WMA player
– MP4/H.264/WMV player
– Photo/video editor
– Document viewer
Colours
Black, White
The third product, which is being highly anticipated, is Motorola’s smartwatch Moto 360 (Gen 2). Although, it is rumoured to be releasing today, there have been leaks about it that revealed the Moto 360 (Gen 2) to be like the Moto 360 in design but slimmer. The Moto 360 (Gen 2) is rumoured to have inserts where the watchband is supposed to be, rather than arms and the physical button seems to be placed in the center, as displayed in the leaked pictures .
Image Source: Weibo
Despite leaked images and information, the Motorola devices still seem to be creating a buzz. According to sources, the launch date has been set for today at 3:30pm (New Delhi). With the launch of the OnePlus 2 this morning, it is to be seen whether the Motorola devices will be able to stand the competition.
It’s out and how. Already creating a buzz by being the first to introduce their newest addition to the One Plus family on VR, Co-founder, Carl Pei insisted on letting everyone live their experience of launching the highly coveted One Plus 2. Now that it’s formally out, here is everything you need to know about the One Plus 2:
1. Pricing
The VR launch that took place, had founders Carl Pei and Pete Lau teasing viewers with the speculation of the price. Even till the very end, they didn’t formally announce the numbers but instead took to Twitter to announce the cost. The 16GB variant costs Rs. 22,999 and the 64GB costs Rs. 24,999. With the minor difference in price, one wouldn’t consider buying the 16GB at all, don’t you think? While most phones that they have as competition, cost exorbitant amounts, the OnePlus 2 comes at a reasonable price for the specs its offers and the upgradation it has been through.
2. It’s Available from 11th August
The One Plus 2 will hit the markets of US, China, Canada and India, on August 11th. A few months back the company had admitted that India is one of their priority markets. Reservations and invites for the purchase of the phone can be done on https://oneplus.net/invites. In addition to this, Pei has announced that there will be nine pop up stores all over the world that allow you to experience the One Plus 2 before purchasing it.The pop up stores will also have invites as well as goodie bags that you can take back. The experience zones will open in India, in Bangalore and Delhi. The address for the stores are as mentioned below:
New Delhi Cafe Coffee Day Square 44, Janpath
Bangalore Cafe Coffee Day Square, Vittal Mallya Road, Opposite UB City, Lavelle Road.
Read more about how to score a OnePlus 2 invite here.
3. Processor
With the OnePlus 2, we have something bold to say. We believe that great products come from great ideas, not multi-million dollar marketing campaigns. We believe “that’s just the way things are” is almost always the wrong answer. Most of all, we believe that great things should be shared.
The makers of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 claim that this is “the most advanced chip they have ever made.” Naturally then, this has to be fitted onto the most advanced phones of its time. This is a huge improvement from the OnePlus One as it will be able to take both front and back camera pictures without a drop in superior quality, the 4G LTE connectivity will be smooth and the gaming experience will also be pleasurable. Pei stated that OnePlus has focused on and built their phone around the processor, instead of gimmicky features.
4. Built and Display
People who have had the opportunity to fiddle with the One Plus 2, before its launch, said that the built was good with a Magnesium Aluminium alloy frame running around the phone, that gave it a classy look. It has polished steel buttons, and you can customise your Home and Back buttons to your liking. When it comes to the display, with a 5.5″ display, and a really bright screen that allows you to use your phone in the brightest of sunlight, the display of the OnePlus 2 will surely not disappoint. One can reduce the brightness with the Dark Mode option too. For the complete spec sheet click here.
4. Finger Print Sensor
This is touted as the most convenient feature and the company claims that the fingerprint sensor is actually faster than the iPhone. It can register 5 fingers and is an excellent security feature that is easy to use.
5. Alert Slider
We usually find it embarrassing when our phone starts ringing in a meeting and we have to turn the Home screen on, in order to activate the Silent mode. However, the One Plus 2 has an Alert Slider at the side of the phone itself, which allows you to slide between the options of no notifications, some notifications and all notifications. So, you can toggle between the three, at your own convenience.
6. USB Type-C Port
This is the first major company to have include feature in their phones. And in addition to this, the USB port will also have a patented reversible side that will allow you to plug it into any device you want.
7. Style Swap Covers
The OnePlus One had received mixed responses in relation to the black sandstone finish cover that it had. However, this time around, OnePlus 2 gives you four other options in addition to the basic black that they were offering. Therefore, you can change the back cover in a matter of seconds and completely customise your phone from the outside as well as inside. Fancy, right?
8. Software
The phone is supported by OxygenOS that isn’t purely Android and carries some minor changes. With additional features like Dark Mode, Customisable LED options, you can control your apps with the notifications you want and silence the ones you don’t want to be bothered by too. It also has a newly embedded Camera app that includes the slow motion option that allows you to take 120 frames per second and is also fit with an automatic Time Lapse Mode.
9. Camera
Lastly, everyone wanted the camera to be better and OnePlus 2 has lived up to its expectations. It has a 13MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera that makes picture taking, easy and crystal clear. One very important addition to the camera is OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) that allows you to take pictures despite having a shaky hand as its focus point becomes strong. The camera is also fitted with a Laser Focus System that scans the screen for the perfect focal point and also takes less than 0.3 seconds to shift the focus point, without causing a blur. Thus, the company claims that the OnePlus 2 is ready to conquer anything from a scenery to night photography, with utmost ease. Carl Pei and Pete Lau are proud of their endeavour to ‘Never Settle,’ by attempting to create a future-proof phone.
Do you have faith in the OnePlus 2, as well? Let us know.
The day has finally arrived. OnePlus has released their highly-anticipated follow up to their 2014 OnePlus One, the OnePlus 2. The launch event was showcased exclusively through Virtual Reality technology via specially designed OnePlus VR headsets. All this while, the Chinese start-up had been releasing teasers and trailers to keep their fans occupied ahead of the launch today. These, served the purpose, and managed to create the desired hype.
First, let us see have a quick look at how the OnePlus 2 fares against its elder brother, the OnePlus One.
Specification
OnePlus One
OnePlus 2
Display
5.5-inch LTPS LCD, Corning Gorilla Glass 3
5.5-inch TPS LCD in cell, Corning Gorilla Glass
Resolution
1080×1920 pixels, 401 ppi
1080×1920 pixels, 401 ppi
Chipset
Qualcomm MSM8974AC Snapdragon 801
Qualcomm MSM8994 Snapdragon 810 v2.1
Processor
Quad-core 2.5 GHz Krait 400
Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 and Quad-core 2 GHz Cortex-A57
GPU
Adreno 330
Adreno 430
RAM
3 GB
3/4 GB LPDDR4 RAM
Storage
16/64 GB
16/64 GB
Expandability
N/A
N/A
Rear Camera
13 MP Sony Exmor IMX214 camera with f/2.0 aperture
13 MP with OIS, 1.35 sensor size and fast laser focus and f/ 2.0 aperture
Rear Camera Video
2160p at 30fps, 2160p(DCI) at 24fps, 1080p at 60fps, 720p at 120fps, HDR, stereo sound recording
2160p at 30fps, 2160p(DCI) at 24fps, 1080p at 60fps, 720p at 120fps, HDR, stereo sound recording
Front Camera
5 MP
5 MP
Front Camera Video
1080p at 30fps
1080p at 30fps
Battery
Non-removable Li-Po 3100 mAh battery
Non-removable Li-Po 3300 mAh battery
Operating System
CyanogenMod 12
Android 5.1 Lollipop-based Oxygen OS
Connectivity
SIM: MicroWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspotBluetooth v4.1, A2DP with A-GPS, GLONASSNFC, microUSB v2.0, USB Host
SIM: DualWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot
Bluetooth v4.1, A2DPGPS with A-GPS, GLONASS, Radio FM,microUSB v2.0, Type-C reversible connector
Miscellaneous
Available in Silk White, Sandstone Black colours;
Fingerprint sensor, Reversible USB Type-C Charger
Price
Rs 21, 999
Rs 22,999/24,999
As we can see in the spec sheet above, there is not much difference between the One and 2. Most of the specs including the screen size, resolution, storage and camera. The OnePlus 2, although, stands out in the terms of its processor and RAM. OnePlus 2 is also the first OnePlus device to feature a Type-C USB port and a fingerprint sensor, that can store five unique fingerprints.
Camera-wise the megapixel number may not have budged, however the company has added an array of useful sensors. The OnePlus 2 comes with a sensor pixel size of 1.3 microns that makes it up to 35% larger than standard smartphone cameras. The new Laser Focus feature also helps to take clear shots in less that 0.3 seconds. It also features the coveted OIS (Optical Image Stabilisation), which has been previously seen in the iPhone 6 Plus.
Just like the specs, the price also barely sees a change. The company had announced that the new handset will not cross more than the price of Rs. 28,500 ($450). Honoring that promise, OnePlus revealed the final launch price of the new OnePlus 2 as Rs. 22,999 for the 16GB variant and Rs. 24,999 for the 64GB variant.
We think the upgraded design and the new camera, RAM, reversible chargerm and fingerprint scanner may be worth the amount, but we’ll only give our final verdict after our full review. Watch this space for more on the new OnePlus 2.
Microsoft is busy gearing up for the launch of Windows 10. However, latest reports by Windows Central suggest that the company is working towards a total make-over of its range of smartphones with Windows 10.
The rumoured devices, codenamed as Cityman and Talkman, will possibly be launched at IFA Berlin in September this year. As far as the specs are concerned, the Talkman is touted to have a 5.2-inch display with 2560x1440p resolution. Under the hood, one can expect a hexa-core Snapdragon 808 processor coupled with 3GB RAM, 20-megapixel rear snapper, 5-megapixel front-facing camera, 32GB storage and a 3,000mAh battery.
The big brother, Cityman, will come with a 5.7-inch display, and almost a similar set of specs. Apart from the larger screen, some other differentiating specs may be an octa-core Snapdragon 810 processor and a 3,300mAh battery.
Although, there is no official word from Microsoft yet, Windows Central suggests that the devices will come with support for Qi wireless charging and an infrared scanner that will unlock the device in seconds. Iris scanner is a not-so-common feature and may turn the tides towards Microsoft’s favour, considering the fact that the Indian market is dominated widely by Samsung, OnePlus, Xiaomi and many other competitive companies. Microsoft is also reportedly bringing its Surface Pen technology to both of the expected Lumia handsets.
Both the devices are assumed to make their debut at IFA in September, followed by a release in October or November. Both will be offered in a choice of black and white polycarbonate, but there’s no word on their pricing yet.
The coming week will be handful as we will witness the launch of three highly anticipated smartphones, plus a new phone that might be the next best thing to have come out of Micromax in a while.
Check out the top four phones coming out next week:
One Plus 2
OnePlus 2 is the most anticipated phone on this list for obvious reasons – success of the OnePlus One phone, Virtual Reality launch event and embracing quality features for a minimal price – the phone will be a bonafide hit.
The OnePlus 2 will sport a display ranging between 5.5 and 5.7 inches and a Type-C USB port, making it the first flagship phone from a mainstream company to use this USB port. The phone will come with Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 v2.1 processor with 4GB of RAM. The phone’s launch can be seen through a VR event on July 28th at 7:30 a.m. IST. In case you’re missing cardboard, here’s how you can watch the event live.
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot
Bluetooth v4.1, A2DPGPS with A-GPS, GLONASS
NFC, Radio FM,microUSB v2.0, Type-C reversible connector
Miscellaneous
Fingerprint sensor
Price
Not more than Rs, 28000
Moto G (Gen 3)
A leaked store dummy of Moto G (Gen 3). Source: Mobilesyrup
The Moto G (Gen 3) will boast a 5-inch HD display and a quad core processor. The phone has been certified IPx7, so it will be water resistant. It will have a 13MP rear camera with LED flash and a 5MP front camera. The device will run on Android Lollipop 5.1 and will offer expandable storage via a MicroSD card upto 32 GB. The Moto G (Gen 3) can be customised using Motorola shells, like in the first Moto G. The dual SIM phone will support both 3G and 4G. The phone will be announced on July 28th.
Specification
Moto G (Gen 3)
Display
5 “(12.7 cm) TFT, Gorilla Glass
Resolution
1280 x 720 HD
Chipset
NA
Processor
MSM8916 1.4 Ghz Quadcore
GPU
NA
RAM
1 GB/2 GB
Storage
8 GB/16GB
Expandability
32 GB
Rear Camera
13 MP
Rear Camera Video
1080p
Front Camera
5MP
Front Camera Video
NA
Battery
Non-removable Li-ion 2470 mAh battery
Operating System
Android 5.1 Lollipop
Connectivity
Wi-Fi 802.11 b / g / n, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot, Bluetooth v4.0, A2DP, LE,
GSM 850/900/1800/1900, HSDPA 850/900/1900/2100, LTE band 1 (2100),
3 (1800), 7 (2600), 20 (800)
Miscellaneous
Fingerprint sensor
Price
Not more than Rs. 13,700
Moto X (Gen 3)
Source: Peru Android
Moto X (3rd Gen)
The new Moto X will supposedly have a 5.64-inch QHD display and will run on Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 chipset with 3GB of RAM. The phone will have USB Type C port, 21GB of storage with a 16MP main camera with an f2.0 lens, a 5MP front camera and 3,280 mAh non removable battery. Like Moto G, it will run on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. According to some reports, the new Moto X will also feature a font facing flash and fingerprint scanner located at the lower front speaker.
Micromax Ultra
Rumoured to be launched this week, Micromax Ultra is touted to be the next big thing since the company’s Canvas series. Although much hasn’t been revealed about the phone, it is said to be priced under Rs. 10K. The device will sport a 13MP rear camera and a Snapdragon 615 chipset and may possibly run Cyanogen OS. We will be on the lookout for more details about the phone.
Despite an initial dip in sales, Samsung emerged as the top smartphone seller in the second quarter, while Apple and other Chinese companies also saw an increase. A quarterly survey by IDC shows the rise in demand and usage of the smartphone from 11.6 percent a year back to to 337.2 million units, recently.
“The overall growth of the smartphone market was not only driven by the success of premium flagship devices from Samsung, Apple, and others, but more importantly by the abundance of affordable handsets that continue to drive shipments in many key markets,” said Anthony Scarsella, research manager with IDC.
Samsung ranks first, with a 21.7 percent market share, followed by Apple with 14.1 percent. In the third place we have China’s Huawei with an 8.9 percent market share, followed by Xiaomi (5.3 percent) and Lenovo + Motorola.(4.8 percent). The rest of the 42.5 percent market being captured by other vendors.
Vendor
2Q15 Shipment Volumes
2Q15 Market Share
2Q14 Shipment Volumes
2Q14 Market Share
Year-Over-Year Change
Samsung
73.2
21.7%
74.9
24.8%
-2.3%
Apple
47.5
14.1%
35.2
11.7%
34.9%
Huawei
29.9
8.9%
20.2
6.7%
48.1%
Xiaomi
17.9
5.3%
13.8
4.6%
29.4%
*Lenovo
16.2
4.8%
15.8
5.2%
2.4%
Others
152.5
45.2%
142.2
47.1%
7.3%
Total
337.2
100.0%
302.1
100.0%
11.6%
Lenovo + Motorola
16.2
4.8%
24.3
8.0%
-33.3%
With smartphone sales beating PC sales this year, the competition among smartphone brands are constantly rising. Will Samsung be able to keep up? Time will tell.
Today Yu Televentures announced a new handset, the Yu Yureka Plus. The phone is a revision to the existing Yureka, with added benefits. The revised specs also called for a revised price of Rs. 9,999.
Registrations for this handset have started again today and the handset will go on sale on the 30th of July exclusively on Amazon.in.
Overview
The Yu Yureka Plus is a phone that the Yureka should have been, in the first place. However, it is the company’s way of letting their consumers know that they are listening. The Yureka Plus improves on key features without drastically increasing the price. Is it worth the extra moolah? Let us find out in the iGyaan review.
Alabaster White and Moonstone Grey
Hardware
Spec wise, the phone is more or less the same with some improved features. A higher resolution display with Gorilla Glass 3, a new Sony sensor in the camera and a stronger chassis.
Design wise, you really cannot tell one Yureka from the other (even if the other is a Plus). The only real design change is the availability of the the alabaster white colour, which is great to look at. Since it is a matte finish, it won’t attract fingerprints, but it will attract stains and pen marks just like the Silk white OnePlus One. For our other inputs on the design you can revisit the original Yureka review.
Build-wise, Yu claims that there is a brand new chassis which has been reinforced for additional rigidity in the frame. The phone is more resilient to drops and dings and just like the first gen Yureka, should last you a long time. The addition of Gorilla Glass 3 as a top layer of the display will make the phone slightly more tougher.
The Yureka was pretty tough as it is, and we showed that off in our review of the handset. Pop on a case and the included screen protector and you are good to go. However, the new white colour, despite being resistant to smudging and fingerprints, gets dirty easily and will attract ink stains and food stains.
Performance and Gaming
Just like on the design front, the performance of the Yu Yureka Plus is the same as the Yureka. The Hardware is identical and a few software improvements are apparent. The phone does not heat up despite excessive usage, and the plastic shell of the phone aids in keeping the heat at bay. Although the Yureka was in big trouble with heating issues, after some usage, it appears to be resolved.
We, just like everyone else who waited for a new device, expected a big bump in specs and that was not the case with the Yureka Plus. The company launched a modest update and the performance hasn’t been entirely impacted. The benchmark scores are higher due to software optimizations, but this might not be the case after weeks of usage.
Gaming seems better too, we did face few drops and jitters while playing games like Asphalt 8 and we are not sure if the full HD display will impact the GPU performance enough to make a difference in gaming.
Network, Calls and Battery
The Yu Yureka Plus will handle two LTE enabled SIM cards, however, you can have data running on one SIM at a time. LTE speeds are good as we managed over 20 Mbps downloads on Airtel Delhi Network. The network remains strong through most areas, which also impacts the battery less, hence improving the battery life.
Calls remain good too, the proximity sensor issue also seems to have been addressed. Sometimes however, during the calls the screen turns on, on its own, which can get rather frustrating. Dropped calls are negligible and can also be due to network limitations in certain areas.
Battery will last you a day with moderate usage. The Full HD display will impact the battery life a little extra, but optimisations from the company improve performance, considerably. We did hear mixed opinions about the battery last time, where some experienced good battery life while others had heating and battery drain issues. If that will be the case with the Yureka Plus or not, is presently unknown.
Talk Time : 5-6 Hours. (LTE)
Music : 10 Hours
Internet Usage : 5.5- 6 Hours
Multimedia and Gaming : 4 Hours.
Cyanogen
Yu Yureka was the reason that OnePlus had to drop Cyanogen OS usage on the One when it was launched in India. Their Cyanogen OS exclusivity partnership is one of the biggest reasons that makes the Yu franchise stand out. Cyanogen 12 OS comes out of the box on Android 5.0.2 along with many of the new features on the OS. The newer user interface has a highly improved experience. Transitions and page changes are fluid too. Cyanogen customization options make the usage very personal, and the tweaks and quick toggles make usage, easy.
Alabaster White and Moonstone Grey
Yu Brand Value and Promise
Negative chatter still remains high on the lack of service quality from Micromax. The Yu franchise also has the same response. With a lack of spares, service from the brand is slow and tedious and somewhat expensive in case of things like cracked display replacement.
The forums are active and a large community has adapted the brand and endorse it thoroughly. We don’t see many updates from the company when compared to the activity of companies like OnePlus and Xiaomi on their respective forums. However the discussion boards are full of consumers and prospective buyers communicating within themselves, which is in itself, a great thing. There are also YU team members who answer queries, in the usual, robotic manner.
Display and Camera
The increase in resolution is always welcome, especially when it brings along added Gorilla Glass 3 protection. The outdoor visibility is poor and at its brightest setting, it is barely visible. The increased resolution improves ppi to 400ppi which will improve the usage experience. The display has good colour reproduction and viewing angles.
The camera sensor has been improved from a previous gen Sony sensor to a newer sensor which will capture colours better and work well in low light conditions. The megapixels remain the same at 13MP, however images are sharper and contrast is better. Some samples are given below. Video is still shot at 1080p and thanks to better low light performance and colour saturation, the video quality is much better.
Yureka
Yureka Plus
Yureka
Yureka Plus
Conclusion
While the price difference is negligible and so are the improvements, the Yureka Plus adds a Full HD display and a better camera, with a supposedly better build. All of which are worthy of the Rs. 1,000 price increase. There is no loss in performance, in fact, it is a tad bit better. If Yureka was your choice before, the Yureka Plus should be your choice now. There are however some other options in this price bracket, the ZenPhone 2 and the new Moto G (3rd Gen) is just around the corner. Check out our video review below.
Click here to register for the Yu Yureka Plus : [tw-button size=”medium” background=”#07ABE2″ color=”” target=”_blank” link=”http://www.amazon.in/b/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&camp=3626&creative=24822&linkCode=ur2&node=6690337031&pf_rd_i=yureka&pf_rd_m=A21TJRUUN4KGV&pf_rd_p=656691227&pf_rd_r=1R4GV1T0M1A7TNVFECFT&pf_rd_s=desktop-auto-sparkle&pf_rd_t=301&qid=1437731665&ref=spks_0_0_656691227&tag=igyaan-21″]Register Now[/tw-button]
We have all been recently experiencing something that has been termed as ‘call drops’, and as of June 30th 2015 Airtel has received the the most number of complaints (31) followed by Vodafone, Idea Cellular and BSNL as written by telecom minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. The TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) has also received complaints from Reliance, Aircel, MTS and Tata users too.
The Airtel CEO had written an open letter to its customers asking for their help. He mentioned that the two most important things necessary for a good service or network were sites and spectrum. He also requests customers to identify nearby mobile sites to reduce call drops in a particular locality.
But what is the government doing about this, since customers are still paying for inefficient services?
“TRAI has been monitoring the performance for service providers against the quality of service benchmarks for the various parameters through quarterly performance monitoring reports.” – Ravi Shankar Prasad
Ideally, the call drop rate should be less than 2%. Although, service providers have cited various reasons such as equipment faults, frequent load shedding in some circles, difficulty in site acquisition, shutting of existing mobile towers due to radiation concerns and restrictions near international borders. These don’t seem to be excuses but facts of this situation.
The government promises to meet telecom service providers in April as well as the second week of July, 2015 regarding the call drop issue, wherein, they have been asked to take immediate measures to address issues of call drops by radio frequency optimization, installation of new sites and in-building solutions.
However, the results of these measures are yet to be experienced.
Source: [tw-button size=”medium” background=”#07ABE2″ color=”” target=”_blank” link=”http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/tech-news/Airtel-subscribers-suffer-maximum-call-drops-TRAI/articleshow/48184843.cms?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=TOITech”]Times Of India [/tw-button]
Yu Telecommunication’s first product, the Yu Yureka, was an instant hit when it was released in January this year. Later on, the Yu Yuphoria worked out really well for the Indian audience. Now, the company bought Yu Yureka’s brother, the Yu Yureka Plus, a few days ago and will go on the company’s trademark style of flash sale today.
The handset will be up for sale from 12 pm Indian time on Amazon India. But, this sale is valid only for registered users, which began on 21st July and expired yesterday.
The Yu Yureka Plus consists of small and significant changes. The Yu Yureka Plus comes with a 1920x1080px display, as compared to Yu Yureka’s 720p display. Since the screen size remains the same with both the handsets, the pixel density of the Plus version is bumped up to 400 ppi. The screen is also protected by a Gorilla Glass 3.
Yu Yureka Plus
The Yu Yureka Plus also has a new camera sensor made by Sony. The Plus also boasts of improved chassis and better build qualities.Other than this, both the handsets are the same, overall.
The Yu Yureka Plus comes in two colour options, the Moondust Grey and Alabaster White.
Hardware Specs
Yu Yureka Plus
Display
5.5-inch FHD Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution
1920 x 1080px 400ppi
Chipset
Qualcomm Snapdragon 615
Processor
1.5GHz Octacore | 64 Bit
GPU
Adreno 405
RAM
2GB
Primary Camera
13MP Sony Sensor
Front Camera
5MP
Video Recoding
1080p Full HD
Storage
16GB
Expandable Up to
32 GB
Battery
2,500 mAh
Operating System
Android 5.1 Lollipop with Cyanogen 12
Bluetooth
4.0
Price
Rs. 9,999
Check out the unboxing and hands on of the device below:
We had recently mentioned to you that Samsung is all set to take the markets with the new S6 Edge Plus. However, the coming of this new device might see the exit of the 128GB variant of the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge that have been taken off the shelves of Indian and Dutch markets.
Earlier, these devices were available in three variants: 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB in countries like Singapore, UK, Australia etc. But now, it is likely that the 128GB will exit these countries as well.
While the actual reasons for taking the 128GB off shelves are unclear, it could be due to the exorbitant price tag it had. That’s right. The 128GB Galaxy S6 model costed a whopping Rs.61,900 (970$) while the Edge variant costed Rs.70,900 (1110$). Keeping these rocketing prices in mind, bidding farewell to this variant, won’t be such a bad decision, after all.
The announcement for the launch of the Apple Watch was met with great optimism and reviews encouraging the users to adapt to the product despite certain glitches. Fashion experts were also looking forward to its launch as it was hoped that Apple would finally launch a fashionable smartwatch that would be wearable.
Despite these reviews, the critical opinions seemed to overpower them, even post release. For instance, Brad Hargreaves initially predicted an 11 million sale in the third and fourth quarter which he later slashed down to 10.5 million. Most reviews seemed to tag the product as ‘destined for failure’ and no one would ever know since Apple rarely reveals sales numbers or internal statistics.
However a new report is said to show the Apple sales as “exceeding internal expectations” despite the pessimistic aura. Numbers never seem to fail Apple Inc. and as reported they have sold four million watches in the second quarter, giving them 75.5% of the global smartwatch market shares.
Global Smartwatch Vendor Shipments (Millions of Units)
Q2 ’14
Q2 ’15
Apple
0.0
4.0
Samsung
0.7
0.4
Others
0.3
0.9
Total
1.0
5.3
Global Smartwatch Vendor Marketshare (%)
Q2 ’14
Q2 ’15
Apple
0.0%
75.5%
Samsung
73.6%
7.5%
Others
26.4%
17.0%
Total
100.0%
100.0%
Total Growth: Year-over-Year (%)
~
457.3%
Source: Strategy Analytics
In direct comparison we have the Samsung smartwatch that sold only four hundred thousand watches giving them a 7.5% share in the market. Other brands like Motorola, LG etc. have sold around nine hundred thousand watches giving them a total of 17% of smartwatch sales. In total, Samsung plus the other smartphones own 24.5% of the market, with Apple far ahead of it with 75.5%. Hence, proving that Samsung and the rest have a long way to go before catching up to a Cupertino product.
The iPhone 6 is touted as being different from all the other iPhones especially since it catered to the ‘large screen’ demand. However, the rumours about the iPhone 6S do not mention a larger screen and it is precisely this reason that has made many analysts and firms wary about it’s success and appeal.
Macquarie, a global investment banking and diversified financial services group, writes:
Since the new phone will not be a size upgrade, we are concerned that the growth simply won’t be there. We are well aware that this is incredibly simplified, but because it is simple doesn’t mean it won’t impact the growth and stock.
The ‘comp issue’ mentioned above refers to the hypothesis that – if the iPhone is already doing so well then it would be difficult for the future creations to compete with what is already available.
Piper Jaffray, an investment bank and asset management firm also has similar worries and writes that the iPhone growth is expected to go flat in CY16. It is said that because of the level of excellence that the iPhone 6 surpasses, it will continue to be successful even after the announcement of a new device. Especially because the price of the iPhone 6 will drop.
Apple is expected to release their reports earnings later today and announcements for a new iPhone is anticipated.
