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.
Unveiled back in April, the latest flagship from LG’s stable, LG G4, is finally out in India today. As scheduled, the Korean electronics maker today released the premium handset in the country, while pre-bookings have already kicked off on the LG India website. The handset is available with a price tag of Rs. 51,500.
We got a chance to get our hands on the device and here’s our first experience:
The LG G4 looks premium with its leather-clad backplate. It serves a dual purpose – the smartphone looks amazing, and at the same time it provides a better grip. The leatherback is resistant to water, to help prevent staining and to allow it to wear naturally over time.
The G4 features a 5.5-inch Quad HD IPS LCD display (2560x1440p resolution) that uses quantum dot technology. The screen is protected by Gorilla Glass 3.
LG hasn’t provided touch capacitive buttons on the botton, instead they are on the screen itself. The company says that it is a first on the phone and results in higher brightness and contrast.
At the bottom of the handset is a 3.5mm headphone jack, a microphone hole and a charging port. The top has a secondary noise cancellation microphone and an IR (Infrared Blaster). Surprisingly, there aren’t any buttons on either the left or the right-hand side. The back boasts the massive camera, power button as well as the volume rockers.
The processor fitted on the device is a 1.8GHz Hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor with Adreno 418 GPU. LG says that the Snapdragon 808 churns out power similar to Samsung’s octa-core Exynos chip.
With 3GB RAM, the internal storage space of the G4 is 32GB, which can be expanded via a MicroSD card up to 2TB. As teased, the smartphone runs on Android 5.1 Lollipop.
One of the most highlighted features of the device is its powerful camera. It boasts a 16MP camera with f/1.8 aperture (widest aperture on any smartphone camera) equipped with Optical Image Stabilization 2.0, color spectrum sensor, and Laser Auto Focus functionality.
The camera on the phone offers a manual operation mode which brings in a variety of options like exposure, white balance, color temperature, ISO, aperture, RAW mode and many more. The front facing camera is 8MP also with f/1.8 aperture. The handset is powered by a removable 3,000 mAh battery.
SPECIFICATION
LG G4
Display
5.5-inch Quad HD LCD display 2560 x 1440 resolution
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 with X10 LTE
RAM
3GB
Primary Camera
16MP
Front Camera
8MP
Storage
32GB
Expandable Up to
2 TB
Battery
3,000 mAh
Operating System
Android 5.1 Lollipop with LG UX 4.0
Bluetooth
4.1 LE (APT-x)
In terms of connectivity, it comes with Bluetooth 4.1, USB 2.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, A-GPS, Glonass, NFC and HDMI SlimPort (4K).
Buyers of the handset will get 100GB of free space on Google Drive for two years. The phone will be available in four colour options – Black, Blue, Yellow, Beige. The back plates of the phone are carved out of leather and will come in multiple shades.
Post the launch of iPhone 6 and its bigger sibling, Apple fans have awaited the release of the improved iPhone 6s. The handset is speculated to bring major changes including an upgraded RAM, enhanced 12MP camera and the newly introduced Force Touch. Although the innards have been beefed up, the tech giant continues to push the envelope by making slimmer smartphones. Going by this approach, the upcoming addition to iPhone 6 series will be thinner than the previously launched iterations.
Now we hear that a battery breakthrough that failed to attain the much-deserved hype at the previous Apple Event will fuel the next iPhone, making it last long between two subsequent charges. The innovative battery was patented by Apple in 2012, but came into practice in 2015 with MacBook.
The next-gen battery goes beyond the barrier of the conventional rectangular slab type and can take any shape. This battery consists of thin electrode sheets stacked on one another. These electrodes are cells of different sizes and are installed in the specific contours of the enclosure. This way, developers would be able to utilize the reserved battery space to embed an LTE chip.
This arrangement gives 35 percent more battery cell capacity, using every single millimeter of space available in the enclosure. The technology is currently powering the super-slender 13-inch MacBook that has been engineered to give 9 hours of standby on web browsing and up to 10 hours on iTunes Movie Playback. By incorporating the same battery technology, the Apple iPhone 6s is expected to provide better battery cycles.
With the redesigned batteries rooted in iPhone 6s and the 6s Plus, the future products will be slimmer than the latest model with 6.9mm thickness. More reported specifications of the device include a 2GB RAM and a 12MP dual-lens camera. A new design using an improved casing material is expected on the handset. One more microphone is said to be added near the new handset’s speakers in an attempt to improve sound quality.
As every year, Apple’s upcoming flagships would be released in the month of September.
Micromax’s new entrant into the smartphone rat race, is not really new. The Micromax Canvas Sliver 5 is the Indian manufacturer’s slim device to take on the other slim phones. The upside, the Canvas Sliver 5 is 5.1mm end to end with no bumps or depressions. The frame is made from Aircraft grade aluminium and the front as well as the back is glass.
Specs wise, a few disappointments can be made out easy. For the price of Rs. 17,999, Micromax has included a Snapdragon 410 chipset, 2 GB RAM, 16 GB non-expandable storage and an 8 MP camera.
The front has a paltry 720p display along with Gorilla Glass 3, the battery is a mere 2000mAh. There is not a lot on offer here apart from the slim profile and the lightweight design.
The software is mostly stock Android 5.0.2 with some installed software, most of it is easily uninstalled. A flagship was expected from Micromax today, but the Rs. 17,999 price is might be the reason Canvas Sliver 5 remains on shelves. At a time where the world’s smartphone makers are battling to offer maximum at minimum rates, the Canvas Sliver 5 seems to fall short with average specifications. Besides, users have the choice to spend Rs. 2,000 extra and buy the OnePlus One (64GB) at Rs. 19,998. For that small amount, you would get a better camera, processor and a massive (multimedia-friendly) display.
Micromax’s Jailbreak event kicked off in New Delhi and the firm brought before us the world’s slimmest smartphone. Adding to its Canvas line-up, Micromax introduced its flagship device, the Canvas Sliver 5, holding a thickness of 5.1mm end-to-end. The handset joins the list of the world’s till-date “slimmest phone” title holders – Oppo R5 (6.9mm), Elife 5.1 (5.15mm), and Vivo X5 Max (4.75mm).
Not only is it slim, it’s lighter than any phone released till date. Micromax claims that the Canvas Sliver 5 weighs a mere 97 grams. It accommodates Aircraft grade aluminum that helps maintain its feather-like weight. Along with that, touch sensitivity is integrated onto the screen, helping it acquire the thinness.
CEO Vineet Taneja on Stage at the launch.
That was all about its exterior specifications. The phone is powered by a 64-bit quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor with 2GB DDR3 RAM. Canvas Sliver 5 is 4G/LTE enabled, which means overall, it might be a smooth and fast device. The display size stands at 4.8-inch with 720p resolution. The device, running on Android 5.0.2 Lollipop, comes with 16GB internal storage space with no expandability option.
Going by the camera specifications, the new Canvas flagship will hold an 8MP Sony IMX219 sensor on the back with Blue Glass Filter, Professional Mode and Night mode. The Blue Glass Filter offers better pictures by restricting infrared. Micromax has provided a 5MP front camera. A Dirac HD Sound system takes care of the audio quality. A battery of 2000mAh is fitted to the device, which according to Micromax is sufficient for the smartphone. The phone will be available in two colour options – white and black.
Besides this, the homegrown company announced additional offers. With Airtel connection, users will get double the data pack. Also, one of the major highlight of this smartphone, all buyers will get a guaranteed 7-day after-sale service, in case of any issue with the phone. Micromax has priced it at Rs. 17,999.
Amazon India is offering the 2014 flagship killer at a discounted rate. The OnePlus One is available on the e-commerce website at Rs. 2,000 off, making its cost Rs. 19,998 for the 64GB model. You can also accessorize your One with products like earphones and protective cases, which need to be bought additionally.
This change can be considered as a tactic to clear stocks and make room for its next flagship, the OnePlus 2, which is expected to debut in the third quarter of this year. A while back, the Chinese company had already dropped the price of the OnePlus One in the US and other markets, while Indians were awaiting the sale.
Talking about the upcoming OnePlus 2, the device is expected to boast a 5.5-inch 2K display to offer an improved viewing experience of the user. It is highly possible that the OnePlus 2 will run on Cyanogen OS, as the differences between Cyanogen and the Chinese smartphone firm have been settled, and the cases have been withdrawn by mutual approval. It is confirmed to come with Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 v2.1 processor that will include the capability of streaming 4K Ultra HD video, impressive image processing and more. The OnePlus 2 is speculated to be priced approximately 1,999 Yuan (Rs. 20,644).
If you don’t wish to wait for the OnePlus 2, we’d recommend you go for the OnePlus One today.
In a post on OnePlus forums, Pete Lau (CEO, OnePlus) has confirmed that the OnePlus 2 will come with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 v2.1 processor. OnePlus stresses that key reasons that this particular chipset was selected include the capability of streaming 4K Ultra HD video, impressive image processing and more.
OnePlus also claims that they have taken all the necessary steps to make sure that the chipset, which otherwise is known to heat up considerably, will not mimic this behaviour on the OnePlus 2. They have done this by adding both thermal gel and graphite paste on top of the CPUs as well as in key areas inside the phone to dissipate heat.
According to the Chinese manufacturer, they have optimised OxygenOS to run in sync with the Snapdragon 810 v2.1. The newly designed OS will take advantage of the chipsets advanced architecture using the large cores for performance intensive tasks like gaming, while using the smaller cores for basic usage like texting.
Pete Lau claims in his post that the company has spent a long time in building the handset and is very excited about the OnePlus 2. In India, however, launch details are sketchy at best. With no signs of OnePlus One price drop in India, One can only expect the launch of the OnePlus 2 to be delayed.
Read Up Here : [tw-button size=”medium” background=”” color=”blue” target=”_blank” link=”https://forums.oneplus.net/threads/oneplus-2-cpu-qualcomm-snapdragon-810-v2-1.316786/”]OnePlus Forum[/tw-button]
Samsung’s upcoming phablet flagship, Galaxy Note 5, is the current hot topic. The device is expected to be a cut above the last version, overcoming the lags and tapping on constructive points of the Note series. Amid rumours and reports, we brought to you the arrival date of the Note 5, i.e. September 4, and now we have learnt that the 32GB Galaxy Note 5 variant will launch at Rs. 64,999 in India.
A source close to iGyaan disclosed the pricing of the new device saying it will cost Rs. 64,999 for 32GB inbuilt storage. It is anticipated to come in higher variants as well – such as 64GB and 128GB – which Samsung seems to have made a norm for high-end devices with the recent Galaxy S6 release. This means Rs. 64,999 is the minimum amount one has to shell out for owning a Note 5 (at launch). The higher versions can go Rs. 10,000 max. in addition to the base price. Samsung will also bring out an ‘Edge’ variant, which will cost Rs. 9,000 above the regular edged one.
Although there are still two months for the Note 5 to launch, we already know quite a bit about what’s coming ahead. We hear that the Note 5 will be featuring a 5.9-inch Super AMOLED display. The Edge variant will feature curves on both the sides of the display. An improved version of Samsung’s Exynos 7422 is speculated to administer the computing operations.
A latest report also suggests that the Note 4 successor might sport a USB Type-C, which we recently saw incorporated on the Apple MacBook. The Note 5 might even be powered by a mammoth battery of 4,100mAh, which is necessary for a phablet with these specifications. The features might sound exciting, however there is a good reason we recommend you shouldn’t pick up the device at launch.
Panasonic hasn’t refreshed its premium smartphone range from quite a while, but the Japanese firm is now retrieving the lost position, catching up with high-end offerings by other brands. The consumer electronics giant gained some spotlight with the launch of Lumix DCM-CM1 in the US, introduced last year in September. The CM1 is a smartphone/mirrorless camera encompassing some of the best features of camera and smartphone. The device is priced at a whopping $1,000 (approximately Rs. 64,300), more than the high-end phones such as the Samsung Galaxy S6 128GB and iPhone 6.
Considering the build and overall look of the crossbreed, the Lumix DMC-CM1 is considerably thick at 21.1 mm with a flat touch capacitive screen on the front and a 20 MP, a 1-inch sensor embedded on its back. It is said to be the largest sensor to sit on a smartphone with 28mm f/2.8 Leica lens. The lens makes sure you get the best images out of a 20MP camera. The upper side of the device has buttons to activate both camera and the phone. In addition to that, the gizmo supports features of a DSLR, like manual controls for focus, aperture, shutter speed, ISO and white balance.
Coming onto its front, the Lumix DMC-CM1 features a 4.7-inch full HD LCD display with 1080p resolution. Powering the handset is a 2.3GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor with 2GB RAM. Don’t bother about the 16GB internal storage capacity as it can be expanded up to 128GB. It runs on Android 4.4 KitKat, but can be upgraded to Lollipop. Unfortunately, there is no camera on the front. With a battery of 2600mAh, the phone offers connectivity options like LTE Cat 4 and NFC.
The company hasn’t given any details of it arriving in other countries, but we are expecting its global rollout soon.
In the past few days we’ve heard several rumours about the unannounced Samsung mid-range smartphones. The two handsets in the Galaxy line-up – Galaxy J5 and Galaxy J7 – have leaked almost entirely, and just an official launch is awaited, which will confirm their price and arrival date. According to insider sources, we won’t have to wait for long.
We’ve now heard that both the Galaxy J5 and J7 will release next week in India. However the date is not specified, the phones are expected to make a debut between June 22 and June 28.
The Galaxy J5 seems to be a regular J1-like device with the Android operating system powering it. From the design aspect, Samsung hasn’t made any alterations and we might see the traditional curved edges from all four sides, just like on the Galaxy S1, S2 and Galaxy Duos. The images leaked online give a sense of Samsung Galaxy J5 being thick, just like the Duos series. Considering the performance factor, the Galaxy J5 is said to house a 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 410 under the 5-inch screen. Rumours speak of it embedding 1.5GB RAM and 8GB internal storage space, with a microSD card slot.
The front features a 5MP camera for selfie enthusiasts, with primary 13MP snapper at the back. The phone will be accompanied by a 2600mAh battery, which can last for a day.
The Galaxy J7, on the other hand, is a bigger sibling of the Galaxy J5 with a 5.5-inch screen at 720x1280p resolution. Under the hood is a 1.7GHz octa-core Marvel PXA1936 processor with 1.5GB RAM and 16GB in-built storage space, with expandability option via a microSD card slot. The phone holds similar specifications to the Samsung Galaxy J5 in terms of camera, but differs slightly in battery capacity – which is 3,000mAh.
More details on pricing will be disclosed at the launch. Keep checking back for updates.
It seems to be the sale season in the tech world. Recently Motorola reduced the price of its line of smartphones, which has been followed by OnePlus (albeit not for India.) Now Xiaomi has announced that they’re following suit. That’s right, the Xiaomi Mi 4 will now be available for 4,000 rupees lesser. The price will now be Rs.19,999 instead of Rs. 23,999. Which is a substantial drop.
These companies are now getting ready to bring in their fresher 2015 line-up of devices. OnePlus will be launching the OnePlus Two soon, and the 3rd Gen of Motorola devices are also on their way. That brings up the question, which smartphone is Xiaomi planning on bringing to India now? The company is evidently clearing out stock to make room for another smartphone’s arrival. We’d vote for the Xiaomi Mi Note, the company’s current flagship.
Coming back to the Mi4. The smartphone known for its exemplary features and boasts a sleek look. Hence, fans will be happy to hear that the Mi 4, that too 64 GB, is going to be become even more affordable. The specifications includes Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 2.5 GHz, a 3GB RAM and 64GB Flash. The phone also possesses a 5″ IPS full HD display at 441 PPI. It has a battery life of 3080 mAh and includes quick charge 2.0 support. The phone lastly, boasts of a 13 MP rear camera and an 8 MP front camera (both with f/1.8 aperture)
If you’ve been planning to buy a new smartphone; now would be the best time.
Samsung’s Galaxy S6 when launched earlier this year lacked a few features that people actually liked about the Galaxy S5. The S6 is not water resistant nor did it have a replaceable battery. Samsung had also left out a microSD card slot aiming for a more Apple-like approach towards storage.
The Galaxy S6 Active is a more rugged version of the Galaxy S6 from Samsung and it has been presently launched in the US exclusively for AT&T. The S6 Active is an IP-68 rated dustproof and water and shock resistant handset from Samsung.
AT&T confirms the phone has a 5.1-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED screen, a 16-megapixel camera and a 5-megapixel wide-angle front-facing camera. It also packs a large 3,500mAh battery, an Exynos 7420 processor and Android 5.0.2 Lollipop.
Like many other handsets in the US the galaxy S6 Active will go on sale starting this Friday for a price of US $ 199 on a two year contract. The handset will be available in two colours : Black and Camouflage white.
Since the launch of the One M9, the whole world has been conflicted on whether HTC did enough of an upgrade from the One M8 to the One M9. The HTC One M9+ made things more confusing for the buyers and eventually led to unhappiness all round. While the original HTC M9 was launched in the European and American markets, there was more demand in the Asian region and vice-versa with the M9+, which was launched in the Asian market, and had more takers in Europe.
HTC One M9 (Original ) Unboxing:
Apart from the name, there are quite a few differences between the One M9 and the One M9+. For starters you have a completely different chipset. While the global M9 is packing Qualcomm Snapdragon the M9+ packs a MediaTek MT6795T. The M9+ does have DUO cameras at the back, just like the M8. However a mix of 20MP+2MP vs the Ultrapixel combo on the M8 or the single 20MP on the M9 makes for better photographic options.
Another difference is the way HTC M9+ handles storage, allowing upto a 2 TB microSD to be inserted into the handset and used as storage.
Build Quality
HTC keeps up to tradition with the new HTC M9+ and it’s quite identical in design with the HTC One M9. A brushed two-tone finish with the same all Aluminium back as seen earlier on the M9. The gold trim is easy on the eyes, and even though not everyone has shown a lot of appreciation towards it, the material trip is unique. The front has new-gen Gorilla Glass 4 and a centrally located fingerprint scanner, which may be confused for a main button.
Although, when the phone is unlocked an activated finger would allow you to jump back to the home screen. So it is touch button that looks like a real button with a fingerprint scanner embedded in it.
Hardware
Hardware wise the HTC One M9+ truly brings it to the table; great cameras, excellent display, ample storage and a large battery. However the Mediatek chipset was a real surprise to consumers and to us alike. This new chipset is actually much better than we anticipated, and puts the M9+ right back up in the flagship league.
The questions around the One M9+ are bang on. Is the Mediatek chipset a mistake? Should HTC have stuck with Qualcomm? Is the performance getting affected?
However the answers are even simpler. HTC found the new Mediatek MT6795T to be refined and powerful enough to power their flagship. We find it difficult to disagree. The processor does not tire, it’s efficient and highly performance driven and allows the user to truly take advantage of the handset.
Also, unlike the dual setup of the Qualcomm Snapdragon, the Mediatek chipset comes with an 8 Core CPU.
The HTC One M9+ scores positive results on benchmarks, with a happy 48000+ on AnTutTu 64 bit. The performance report pitches it against all market flagships and gaming performance is better than 85% of the other devices at hand.
Gaming is not a problem on the HTC One M9+, the chipset is quick at CPU calculations and load times are highly improved. GPU renders 2D and 3D graphics with easy and most games perform well at high graphics.
Display and Multimedia
It’s a pity that the original HTC One M9 didn’t get a high resolution display. A 2k display makes sense on a handset with over 5 inches to spare, and HTC has managed to get it all well within the sweet spot. As with most HTC displays in the past, this too gets a SLCD panel with Gorilla Glass 4 and great brightness indoors or outdoors.
Gorgeous 2K Display
Boomsound is much better on the M9+ when compared to the audio quality of the HTC One M8, larger speaker cavities improve the native sound and an enhanced audio chip improved audio from the headphones. The Boomsound speakers are possibly the industry’s best and they have seen significant improvement on the M9+.
Camera
HTC has also majorly overhauled their camera strategy. From saying “Megapixels don’t matter” to stuffing a 20 MP sensor in their latest flagship, HTC has truly gone with what the market wants. A wide f2.2 enables good low light shots, however, the Samsung Galaxy S6 takes the cake on low light with their f1.7 aperture lenses.
The images from the HTC One M9+ are sharp and the colours are well balanced. The contrast is good and the light compensation in low light is excellent. Native image stabilization is hugely missed on this handset.
The Camera app is a lot more simplified and easy to use. While certain things that came naturally on the HTC One M8 are now slightly difficult to operate, like the Dual-Camera capabilities. The addition sensor on the dual setup measures the field of view and allows the user to capture images with defined and adjustable depth. It’s mostly gimmicky, however in a perfect light and area setup, it works flawlessly. An idea example would be a landscape shot with a subject in the foreground. These type of shots will work best and will also allow customisations using HTC’s inbuilt features.
Duo Camera 20 MP + 2 MP
ZOE, now independent of the camera app on HTC devices, is more of a cross platform photo sharing app. Important filters and features make it fun to use and allow the user to experiment a lot more with the camera on the HTC One M9+.
Front Ultrapixel Camera
The front camera is an Ultrapixel camera from HTC, the same sensor we saw on the back of the M7 and the M8 last year. This drastically improves the front facing camera’s quality as well as low light capabilities.
OS and Blinkfeed
One of the best things HTC has done on the M9 and the M9+ is reduce their control of the Android OS space. The new HTC Sense 7 is a lightweight skin vs what it used to be in the past. Less customisations by HTC also mean that Android Lollipop and Android M (in the future) get to display their full glory.
If you do miss customizations, like HTC’s flip clock, they are now included in the widgets section and are just a simple long tap away. You also, still get themes which you can further customize, by changing colours, images and layouts.
Blinkfeed has also upped its game, with a faster re-hash of feeds and a better layout. The higher resolution display of the M9+ helps in highlighting the content.
The OS and the UI elements are highly optimized, this helps improve productivity and reduce battery consumption.
Phone Network & Battery
The HTC One M9+ supports LTE networks as well as all bands in India. It has a fantastic antenna and excellent voice quality, something that has become synonymous with HTC in the past. No dropped calls and hit network in places with poor reception, are great things to have.The reduced search for strong network also improves battery life on the handset.
Both the speaker and microphone are loud and responsive, allowing parties on both sides to communicate effectively.
The 2840 mAh battery is more than sufficient in getting through the day and then some. The chipset along with the optimizations on the software front make the battery-drain end up on the lower side of the spectrum. The battery life could have been better and things like fast charge are missing from the mix, we honestly don’t mind.
Type
WiFi
Cellular
Talk Time
N/A
6 Hours
Standby
150 Hours
48 Hours
Music
12 Hours
10 Hours
Internet
5 Hours
5 Hours
Video and Gaming
4-5 Hours
4 Hours
Conclusion
With the One M9+, HTC has put all its cards on the table. Their experiment with a relatively newer chipset manufacturer may have paid off well. Consumers in Europe are craving the One M9+ while being served the One M9, and there is good reason for that. The M9+ turns out to be a much better handset than many already in the market, it also is a much better handset than the company’s own M9. Excellent build quality, great design and aesthetics, premium materials, great hardware and excellent cameras make the HTC One M9+ a better device. The camera improvements will satisfy those that missed it last year, and the OS improvements will really push the envelope on making the One M9+ ownership worthy.
The One M9 was a huge disappointment, failing to play catch up with what was happening in the industry. However, with the new M9+, HTC not only caught up, they set precedent.
Taiwanese manufacturer, HTC, introduced a new offering that will outdo premium flagships by other smartphone labels in several aspects. The firm brought out the One ME in China, becoming the first smartphone to embrace Mediatek’s new Helio X10 chipset. The handset features a somewhat similar set of specs as the previously launched One M9+. HTC hasn’t spoken about its availability and pricing details.
HTC One ME sports a 5.2-inch Quad HD (1440x2560p) display with 565ppi pixel density. The processor of the phone is its USP. It holds a 64-bit octa-core Helio X10 processor clocked at 2.2GHz, along with 3GB RAM and 32GB internal storage capacity. Users can expand the memory up to 2TB via MicroSDXC. The device runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop with HTC’s Sense UI on top.
The dual-SIM One ME with fingerprint scanner touts a 20MP rear camera with LED Flash. A 4MP UltraPixel secondary camera sits up front together with BoomSound speakers. The phone gets its juice from the 2,840mAh battery. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1, NFC, LTE and Micro-USB.
MediaTek is estimated to outshine Qualcomm and Samsung with the launch of Helio range of chipsets. The company has upped the level with the Helio X10 that has a 64-bit architecture and eight Cortex-A53 cores clocking at 2.2GHz. The Helio X10 refreshes a display at the rate of up to 120Hz and records slow-mo videos at up to 480fps. From Apple’s roaring offerings, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, it can be estimated that the ME can record videos at the rate of 240 frames per second.
While heat waves this summer are causing the temperatures to escalate, Flipkart has some cool deals that will give you a sigh of relief. The e-commerce player has announced some exclusive deals on smartphones where you can get popular products on discounts of up to Rs. 10,000. Every brand from Asus, Motorola to Apple are on sale, so you choose from your favourite handsets.
We have picked out some of the best deals for you:
There is a huge Rs. 7,000 off on one of the best-sellers, Nexus 6. Today, users can grab one at Rs. 36,999 with 32GB internal memory support. The Nexus 6 boasts of a 5.96-inch QHD (2560×1440p) AMOLED display. It is powered by a 2.7GHz Snapdragon 805 quad-core processor coupled with 3 GB of RAM. It runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop out of the box. On the camera front, it sports a 13MP rear and 2MP front snapper.
It is available in two colour options – midnight blue and cloud white.
It may be the best time for iPhone lovers to buy the new and improved iPhone 6 Plus. The 16GB variant of the bigger iPhone 6, launched at a price of Rs. 62,500, is now up for grabs at Rs. 56,044 for the gold version, 53,999 for the space grey and Rs. 53,499 for the silver version. The 5.5-inch device sports 1.4GHz dual-core A8 chipset with 1GB RAM and 16GB internal storage. The back of the phone holds 8MP shooter, while the front is a 1.2MP snapper. The phone runs on iOS 8.
The premium Motorola series is also covered in the Flipkart sale. The second-gen device in the Moto X series has received a price drop of Rs. 8,000, coming down to Rs. 21,999 from its original cost of Rs. 29,999. The handset boasts of a 5.2-inch (1080x1920pl) AMOLED display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection. It features 2.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, 2GB RAM and 16GB memory. Running on the Android 4.4 KitKat, the phone can be upgraded to Lollipop.
The 2013 edition of the Apple iPhone has seen a major price cut in today’s smartphone sale. iPhone 5s, coming at a price of Rs. 44,500 is now listed on Flipkart at Rs. 35,800 for the 16GB Gold variant. The Space Grey and Silver models have received comparatively lower discounts. The phone features A7 chipset and also has a M7 motion co-processor. The new fingerprint identity scanner is also equipped to the device.
The 2nd Gen Moto G launched at a price of Rs. 12,999 last year is now available on Flipkart for Rs. 10,999; a price cut of Rs. 2,000. It boasts of a 5.0-inch 720p HD IPS display with an 8MP rear and 2MP front snapper. It features a 1.2GHz Snapdragon 400 processor, 1GB RAM and 16GB memory.
There are no surprises that the first lot of the Yuphoria sold out within seconds. The inception of YU as a brand is relatively recent. However, Micromax, its parent company, has been around for a while. Yu was started as an online exclusive spinoff resulting in deeper competition for the likes of Xiaomi and others who mastered this domain. The success of the Yureka has proved that Indian brands are ready to change their old decaying methods
The Yuphoria is YU’s new handset. However, the company is not pegging it as a sequel, more like a different segment hero. The Yuphoria is their budget end of the spectrum, but YU as a company have ensured that people don’t think of this handset as a budget handset.
Overview
The Yuphoria is priced at a low Rs 6999/- however it packs in a big bang for its buck. Good construction is what YU and Rahul Sharma played off well while launching this device. Packed with more than you can expect from a budget handset. However, the market is now saturated, with the likes of Honor, Xiaomi, and Lenovo. So what makes the Yuphoria different and why is it getting attention? For Starters, in its entirety the Yuphoria handset will be assembled in India. It was made clear at the launch that the initial lot would come from China, however, post the first few thousands, the Yuphoria will be assembled in their local plant in India.
Hardware
The Yuphoria promises a lot and packs a decent set too. No, it is not game changing in performance, but its got a good lineup.
For a price of Rs. 6999/- one begins as thinking of this handset from YU as a no-brainer.
Specification
YU Yuphoria
Display
5-inch IPS HD
Resolution
1280×720 pixel (294ppi)
Additional
Protected by Gorilla Glass 3
Processor
1.2GHz Quad Core, ARM Cortex- A53
Chipset
Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 | 64bit
GPU
Adreno A306 3D Graphics Core | 400 MHz
RAM
2GB
Internal Memory
16GB
Expandable Up to
64 GB
Sim Cards
2 x LTE Enabled Sim Card Slots
Primary Camera
8MP
Secondary Camera
5MP
Connectivity Options
4G LTE
Battery
2,230mAh
Operating System
Cyanogen 12.0 (Android 5.0 based)
Price
Rs. 6,999
Build and Design
[pullquote_left] The included screen protector is a great freebie [/pullquote_left]
The YU Yuphoria may be a budget handset, but it feels like a lot more. The phone has fantastic construction for its price, an all metal frame, made from stamped parts, which have been laser welded into place. The edges give the phone a lot of rigidity and strength, which in turn gives a reassuring feeling to the holder. The back has a soft touch rubberized back panel, which is not prone to fingerprints. The fat lens cap, however, is like an oil slick ; slippery and constantly smudgy.
The design is very Lumia-like and resembles good-old Nokia Lumia handsets with the metal frame shape and fat lens in the back centre. There is a very slight, almost negligible, lip on the front glass of the handset that may attribute to some protection for the front glass. However the included screen protector is a great freebie, especially for a device that may not see case manufacturers running after it.
Performance and OS (Cyanogen)
The Yuphoria is not a benchmark king, but then again it costs Rs 6999. We ran several benchmark tests, and the results were average. We weren’t surprised by the performance because the Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 is fairly limited in capability. However the way cyanogen is built, and the use of Android 5.0.2 on the inside will make day to day operations a breeze. Expect no lag in the usage of the device, while switching from and to backgrounded apps, making calls, browsing the internet.
The 64-bit architecture comes into play here, and while you won’t get the best “extreme” performance scenarios, the handset can handle high-end games at lower graphics.
No special points for guessing that Cyanogen 12 works well on the Yuphoria. The Lollipop version of Android with Cyanogen’s custom tweaks have made sense for this budget device, eliminating daily bothersome lags. Post many days of use, the operating system on the device remains smooth.
Many things are easier thanks to Cyanogen. You get tap to wake and sleep, but you don’t get screen-off gestures that let you turn on the flashlight or jump into the camera.
Benchmark results were off the usual expectations, and low. If you are expecting a performance workhorse, this truly is not your price segment, nor is the Yuphoria your device. This device runs smoothly through the day and will keep up with almost all sorts of usage as long as you are not going to work it too hard. It tends to heat up, however, the plastic back panel doesn’t let you bear the brunt of it. The metal frame appears to have been insulated to prevent it from getting hot.
Multimedia and Camera
YU’s promotions prior to the launch of the Yuphoria included a music demo which showed off the loudness of the speakers. No, do not expect that at all. However, the AAC Technologies manufactured speakers are loud and clear and placing the Yuphoria flat on the table causes them to muffle out.
The camera is an interesting mix while the Yuphoria has a smaller MP size it has a wider aperture lens. You also get a big 1.4-micron pixel size that drastically improves low light performance. However, when the images are viewed on a larger screen, noise is apparent.
The front facing camera is equipped with a 5 MP sensor that allows for higher resolution imagery however images are still noisy. Contrast is pretty good, and colour saturation is more accurate than many in this segment, but still off.
Cyanogen’s camera app is the same as what you saw in the previous version and adds just a few changes. Functionality remains simple, and you can swipe down to add effects/filters and jump to the settings to enable face detection etc. The camera is fast and snappy especially for a shooter in this class. YU paid special focus to the camera at the time of launch, however, it may not be a magical clicking machine that they promised, but it does overtake many in the region.
Phone and Networks
What good is a smartphone that makes no calls? The Yuphoria does not have that problem. The phone has been designed to accept 4G Sim Cards, which might be an excellent option. However, considering the rollout speeds of India’s 4G capabilities, you might be many models down by the time you get to use it.
The LTE band support makes the phone great for travel, again something that may only be useful depending on how much you travel. The connectivity is good, and dropped calls appear to be a non-issue with the Yuphoria.
Battery
Unlike the Yureka, the Yuphoria has great battery life and there are no signs of the heating issues mentioned before.
Talk time standards were good when tested with 3G network, giving an average of 6 hours of talk time in a day of use.
The battery also charges quickly, giving you a full charge in about 1.5 hours. However, it’s not the fastest we have seen. The supplied “fast charge” charger would be the best way to charge this handset.
Battery Test
2G
3G
WiFi
NO Connection
Phone Calls
8 Hr
6 Hr
N/A
NA
Gaming
N/A
N/A
7 hours
8.5 hours
Music Playback
10 Hr
10 Hr
9 Hr
13 Hr
Internet Only
10 Hr
6 Hr
4.5 Hr
N/A
Conclusion
In a market that is a mess, with all kinds of phones from all kinds of companies, there seems to be some hope. The YU Yuphoria illustrates that you don’t need to pack loads of money to get a good smartphone experience. That’s what the Yuphoria is; A Good Smartphone Experience. But, it also just stops there, leaving a large void for improvements. As technology becomes more and more affordable, you might see what you call today “high end” trickle down to this price bracket sooner than you expect.
[pullquote_left] The Yuphoria will not impress the true geeks, the power hungry or even the benchmark crazy [/pullquote_left]
The Yuphoria makes for a good first smartphone, a good built premium feel smartphone, a good gift, a great new Android phone if you are replacing something in this price bracket, or even a second phone to already have a special device. The Yuphoria will not impress the true geeks, the power hungry or even the benchmark crazy. The Camera is good, the battery is good and phone call capabilities are excellent. Cyanogen makes for the best experience of “Raw Android,” and the Yuphoria gives it at a mighty impressive price tag.
Just like any other domain, you do have alternatives from Lenovo and Xiaomi. But none of them run Cyanogen, and none of them are made of metal.
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