Category: Mobile

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.

Reports Claim Apple’s AR Glasses Will Launch In 2020

Apple showed off its ARKit at the company’s annual Worldwide Developer Conference in the year 2017. The new software development tool was able to run Augmented Reality (AR) apps without requiring any specific hardware for it. The company then unveiled the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and the iPhone X the same year with AR capabilities natively present in the smartphones. Fresh reports claim that Apple will launch AR Glasses in the year 2020. These may be released as an accessory for the iPhone.

Apple AR Glasses

Noted Apple analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo claimed that the company is working on a pair AR Glasses which may release in the year 2020 as an optional accessory for the iPhone. The analyst states that the anticipated device will take the role of a display which will wirelessly facilitate computing and networking from the iPhone. Augmented Reality is defined as “an enhanced version of reality created by the use of technology to add digital information on an image of something”. Reportedly the glasses will be lightweight and portable as they would use the computing power of the iPhone to process data. Unfortunately, this suggests that they won’t work independently and will be compatible will products from Apple’s ecosystem.

Earlier reports about Apple AR headset alleged that the company is developing an all-new Operating System (OS) for it. It is rumoured to be called rOS which stands for reality Operating System. This OS is also expected to be featured in Apple’s Virtual Reality (VR) ventures, which are suspected to be under development. The Apple AR Glasses may go into production in the fourth quarter of this year or by the second quarter of the next year.

Also read: Facebook Messenger Bug Can Leak Sensitive User Information

The idea of AR Glasses by a company as significant as Apple is expected to bolster the development of the technology substantially. Apple is usually marked as a leader in terms of technology trends which are later followed by other OEMs globally. Consequently, companies except Apple will also develop their variants of visionary technology.

March 9, 2019
New Motorola Patents Suggest Thinner Bezels On Future Devices

Motorola launched the G7 series last month with an all-new design. The smartphones were first from the company to sport a waterdrop notch. In a fresh patent listing, the parent company of Motorola, Lenovo has filed for new designs that might make its way into future devices from the company.

Motorola Patent Listing

The patents were registered on the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO) website on the 5th of March. These show the all-new designs Motorola is working on. All the designs show a waterdrop notch like the one last seen on the Moto G7 and Moto G7 Plus. But unlike G7 devices, some of the images show a smartphone with minimal or no chin. There is also a new, more trimmed notch size which will increase the screen to body ratio substantially. The camera placement on the devices seems to be the same as the current generation, two cameras placed horizontally with an LED Flash underneath. The fingerprint sensor seems to be located in the rear mounted Motorola Batwing logo.

More images from the Motorola patent show different camera placements in the smartphones. There is a vertically aligned camera sensor which is reminiscent of the Moto One Power launched last year. The second image shows a horizontal dual camera placement, but unlike the G7 it is placed on the top left corner at the back of the device. The third variation shows a single camera sensor and what possibly could be a Time of Flight (ToF) sensor underneath it. This may be used to capture 3D and depth information. Below it there is a standard LED Flash followed by a fingerprint sensor.

Also read: Best Wired Earphones In India Under Rs 1,000

The designs discovered in the latest Motorola patent may make its way into the next generation of smartphones by the company. It is expected to announce the next generation of its flagship Moto Z device in a few months, which may end up exhibiting a few of the design characteristics.

March 9, 2019
Black Shark 2 Gaming Phone To Launch On March 18
Xiaomi launched the gaming-centric Black Shark brand last year in a bid to capture the ever-growing market of smartphone gaming. For the delight of Indian consumers, the company has started its operations in the country and will soon launch its first device. All this while, it was also set to reveal the next flagship smartphone that would succeed last year’s Black Shark and Black Shark Helo. Xiaomi has confirmed that the Black Shark 2 will be launched on March 18 in an event in Beijing, China.

Black Shark 2 Specifications

The Black Shark 2 was referenced as Black Shark Skywalker in a leaked Antutu listing. The listing also confirmed the key specifications of the device. It will feature a similar design to its predecessor, meaning a dark grey coloured panel with green lines running vertically along the back and the Black Shark logo in the middle. The smartphone is expected to have a 6.3-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2340 x 1080 px. The leaked Antutu listing revealed a whopping score of 359,973 points. This score places it in the second place, below the company’s own flagship Mi 9 which has a score of 371,849 points.

Xiaomi Black Shark 2 (Skywalker) visits Antutu with Snapdragon 855 & 8/128.#Xiaomi #BlackShark2 pic.twitter.com/Qq6TRvy2j2
— Sudhanshu Ambhore (@Sudhanshu1414) March 8, 2019

To achieve the high score on Antutu, the Black Shark 2 will pack top tier specs. Under the hood, it will run on the Snapdragon 855 SoC which is manufactured using 7nm fabrication process. The chipset consists of an octa-core CPU and Adreno 640 GPU. The company previously confirmed that the device will feature a new form of cooling technology called Liquid Cool 3.0 to keep its temperature under check while running intensive applications. For memory and storage, the smartphone will be available in the following variants:
- 6GB RAM and 128GB ROM
- 8GB RAM and 128GB ROM
- 12GB RAM and 256GB ROM
The Black Shark 2 is expected to be powered by a 4000mAh battery like its predecessor and is confirmed by the company to support 27W fast charging. It will also be bundled with accessories for gaming which will launch alongside the smartphone.

Price & Availability

Also read: PUBG Mobile Banned In Cities Of Gujarat

The Xiaomi Black Shark 2 will launch on March 18 and is expected to go on sale soon after in markets like Europe and China. As the company has now started operations in India, the device may be launched in the country a few months after its China launch.

Unfortunately, the price of the device isn’t known yet, but it is expected to be priced around Rs 40,000 in India.
March 8, 2019
Samsung Official UK Website Confirms Galaxy A90, Galaxy A40 And Galaxy A20e

Samsung launched a range of smartphones in the Galaxy A lineup last month. These devices include the Galaxy A10, Galaxy A30 and the Galaxy A50. They were not just new launches for the company but also signified a change in product strategy in order to compete with the ever-increasing hold of Chinese OEMs in countries like India. A few days ago, unreleased Samsung smartphones which were alleged to be the Galaxy A90, Galaxy A40 and Galaxy A60 were hinted in leaks. Samsung’s UK website has confirmed the existence of the Galaxy A90, Galaxy A40 and the Galaxy A20e. The dedicated pages of the smartphones were listed on the aforementioned website.

Samsung Galaxy A90

The Galaxy A90 is expected to be the most premium device in the current A series of smartphones. While most details of it aren’t known yet, it is expected to feature a similar design to its siblings. The device was previously leaked to have a mechanical pop-up camera or a rotating mechanical camera to achieve a high screen to body ratio. If the latest smartphones are anything to go by, the Galaxy A90 will have a Super AMOLED display and will run on the OneUI on top of Android 9 Pie. The company may use an entirely new type of Infinity Display on the handset. Like the last year’s Galaxy A9, it is also expected to have a quad-rear camera setup, details of which are unknown at the moment.

The Galaxy A90 will most likely have an in-display fingerprint sensor. The device may run on the Snapdragon 710 SoC which is manufactured using 10nm fabrication process. The chipset has an Octa-core CPU and Adreno 616 GPU. For memory and storage, the smartphone may feature 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage.

Samsung Galaxy A40

Samsung Galaxy A40 will be an affordable offering from the company which will sit between the newly announced Galaxy A30 and Galaxy A50. Reports suggest that the smartphone will have a similar design to its siblings, complete with a polycarbonate body and a ‘glasstic’ back. The display will sport an Infinity-U, 6.2 inch Super AMOLED panel with a resolution of 2340 x 1080 px. Like the Galaxy A30, it will have a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner and will support face unlock technology.

Under the hood, the Galaxy A40 is expected to run on the Exynos 7885 SoC which is manufactured using 14nm fabrication process. The chipset has an Octa-core CPU and a Mali G71 GPU. In terms of optics, the smartphone will feature a dual rear camera setup. In terms of memory and storage, the device will be available with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage.

Samsung Galaxy A20e

The Samsung Galaxy A20e will be the most affordable device out of the three. The alphabet ‘e’ in the name suggests a lighter version of the regular Galaxy A20, as Samsung did the same with the Galaxy S10e and the Galaxy Tab S5e. It will be likely that the smartphone features the ‘Glasstic’ design on a polycarbonate back that the Galaxy A10 has. In terms of display, the device will have a Super AMOLED display with a resolution of HD+ and an Infinity-U notch on the top.

The leaks hint that the Galaxy A20e will be the Android Go edition of the regular variant and thus feature Android Oreo Go edition out of the box. The smartphone will not have a fingerprint sensor and instead will rely on face unlock technology for quick access to the device. Under the hood, the device will run on the Exynos 7870 SoC. For memory and storage, the device is expected to pack in 1GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage.

Price & Availability

Also read: Is The Future Of Wearables With Or Without Smartphones?

The leak by Samsung on their official website suggests that the launch of the Galaxy A90, Galaxy A40 and the Galaxy A20e is imminent. The devices may launch in the following months. Unfortunately, the pricing of the smartphones aren’t confirmed yet, but the Galaxy A90 is expected to start around Rs 29,999; the Galaxy A40 may cost Rs 17,999 and the Galaxy A20e is expected to be priced at Rs 6,999.

March 8, 2019
High-End iPhones To Be Soon Manufactured In India
According to a fresh report, the IT ministry of India has authorised a contract manufacturer Wistron’s Rs 5,000 crore plan to manufacture high-end Apple devices in the country. This project marks a significant achievement for the government’s ‘Make In India’ movement which it has been promoting heavily. The initiative intends to make the country a hub of production as it will generate employment and boost the nation’s economy.

As previously mentioned Wistron is a contract manufacturer for the Cupertino based technology giant, Apple. The company currently manufactures two older iPhone models in India which include iPhone SE and iPhone 6S. These devices are still expensive taking Indian wages into consideration. Noteworthy, they would be about 40% pricier if they were imported, due to the government tariffs.

The Indian IT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad stated that another contract manufacturer Foxconn had submitted an application for a Rs 2,500 crore project which will further increase the production of iPhones in India. He also added that the government is not unsettled by the added incentives that China is currently providing in order to maintain its position as a leader in electronics manufacturing.

Advantages Of Setting Factories In India

The key advantages highlighted by the Indian minister to choose India over China for manufacturing are as follows:
- India has a rapidly increasing skilled taskforce, therefore the difficulty to find workers is almost non-existent.
- The country is currently the fastest growing market for smartphones in the world. Hence, international companies must keep a close eye to maintain their lead against the competition.
- Another vital factor that makes India a lucrative destination for setting up factories is English fluency. This is one factor where India clearly beats China as the population of Englis speaking workers is considerably low.
Which High-End Devices Will Be Manufactured In India?

Also Read: Is The Future Of Wearables With Or Without Smartphones?

It is not yet announced but the Wistron factory is expected to be used for manufacturing the iPhone 8 model. On the other hand, the Foxconn factory once approved and finalised will be used to manufacture units of iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max. The high-end iPhones manufactured in India will be significantly cheaper. Therefore, the reduced price of Apple iPhones in India is likely to give its sales a massive boost.
March 8, 2019
Top Smartphones Under Rs 15000 In India, March 2019
Over the past few years, the competition in the smartphone market has gotten so tough that it has become overwhelming for customers to choose the best option depending on their need and usage. In this article, we will take a look at top smartphones under Rs 15000 which excel in their own way.

The Powerful Slayer – Redmi Note 7 Pro

The newly launched Redmi Note 7 Pro is a stellar smartphone accrediting to its powerful chipset and praiseworthy camera. It is kitted with the Snapdragon 675 chipset which is unheard of in this price segment. The second highlight of the device is its 48 MP rear facing Sony IMX586 sensor which is usually seen on high end devices like the Honor View 20. All in all, it is one of the best smartphones that are currently available at this price point.

Specifications Summary:
- Price: Rs 13,999
- Display: 6.3 inch IPS LCD, 409 ppi
- Rear Camera: 48 MP + 5 MP, Front Camera: 13 MP
- SoC: Snapdragon 675, Octa-Core CPU, Adreno 612 GPU
- Battery: 4,000 mAh, 18W Fast Charge Support (Charger sold separately)
- Storage: 4 GB + 64 GB, Expandable upto 256 GB, uses SIM 2 slot
Click Here To Pre-book The Redmi Note 7 Pro

The One With The Best Display and Battery – Galaxy M30

Like the Redmi Note 7 Pro, the Galaxy M30 has been newly launched. It sports a 6.4 inch Super AMOLED display which has never been seen on a device in this segment. Furthermore, it is powered by a massive 5000 mAh battery which supports 15 w fast charging. Pleasingly, Samsung ships the smartphone with a fast charger. Noteworthy, the Galaxy M30 features a triple rear camera which consists of a 13 MP PDAF sensor, 5 MP depth sensor and a 5 MP sensor with 12 mm lens that can capture ultrawide pictures and videos. Another feature that the M30 offers is expandable memory upto 512 GB via a dedicated microSD slot.

Specifications Summary:
- Price: Rs 14,990
- Display: 6.4 inch Super AMOLE, 394 ppi
- Rear Camera: 13 MP + 5 MP + 5 MP (ultrawide), Front Camera: 16 MP
- SoC: Exynos 7904, Octa-Core CPU, Mali G71 MP2 GPU
- Battery: 5,000 mAh, 15W Fast Charge Support (included in box)
- Storage: 4 GB + 64 GB, Expandable upto 512 GB, dedicated slot
Memory Monster – ZenFone Max Pro M2

The ZenFone Max Pro M2 is the successor to the ZenFone Max Pro M1 which was warmly received by the Indian consumers. The device has a premium build with Corning Gorilla 6 protection on the front. It runs on stock Android OS which is fast and stutter-free. Like the Galaxy M30, it packs a massive 5,000 mAh lithium battery. It is the only device in our list whose 6 GB RAM variant is priced under 15k making it a good choice for performance enthusiasts and gamers.

Specifications Summary:
- Price: Rs 13,999
- Display: 6.26 inch IPS LCD, 403 ppi
- Rear Camera: 12 MP + 5 MP, Front Camera: 13 MP
- SoC: Snapdragon 660, Octa-Core CPU, Adreno 512 GPU
- Battery: 5,000 mAh, 10 W Charging
- Storage: 6 GB + 64 GB, Expandable upto 512 GB via dedicated slot
Click Here To Buy Asus ZenFone Max Pro M2

The Looker – Honor 8x

The Honor 8x is a well balanced smartphone that is generally overlooked by consumers. It has a top-notch build with an aluminium frame and glass on both the front and back. It packs a large 6.5 inch display with Full HD+ resolution which is protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 3. It features the Kirin 710 SoC which is manufactured using 12 nm fabrication process.

Specifications Summary:
- Price: Rs 14,499
- Display: 6.5 inch IPS LCD, 397 ppi
- Rear Camera: 20 MP + 2 MP, Front Camera: 16 MP
- SoC: Kirin 710, Octa-Core CPU, Mali G51 MP4 GPU
- Battery: 3,750 mAh, 10 W Charging
- Storage: 4 GB + 64 GB, Expandable upto 400 GB via dedicated slot
Affordable Beast – Redmi Note 7

The Redmi Note 7 is the less feature rich and more affordable variant of the Note 7 Pro. It has a 6.3 inch dewdrop notch display with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection on the front. Under the hood, it packs the Snapdragon 660 SoC which consists of an Octa-Core CPU and Adreno 512 GPU. It packs a large 4,000 mAh battery which supports QuickCharge 4.0. For photography, it has dual rear cameras and a single selfie camera.

Specifications Summary:
- Price: Rs 11,999
- Display: 6.3 inch IPS LCD, 409 ppi
- Rear Camera: 12 MP + 2 MP, Front Camera: 13 MP
- SoC: Snapdragon 660, Octa-Core CPU, Adreno 512 GPU
- Battery: 4,000 mAh, 18W Fast Charge Support (Charger sold seprately)
- Storage: 4 GB + 64 GB, Expandable upto 256 GB, uses SIM 2 slot
Click Here To Pre-book The Redmi Note 7
March 7, 2019
Chinese Display Manufacturer Visionox Patents Foldable Device

2019 is looking to be a huge year for foldable smartphones, with companies like Samsung and Huawei already standing strong in the arena. Brands like Motorola, LG and Apple also have their foldable smartphones in development, as per reports. Xiaomi also reported that it is working on a foldable device in collaboration with another Chinese company. The company’s information wasn’t disclosed by Xiaomi, but recently, the name of the organization was discovered by sources, and it is Visionox Technology.

About Visionox

The company has been manufacturing OLED screens for various brands across China, and it is reportedly developing a flexible AMOLED display for Xiaomi’s next foldable smartphone. A subsidiary of Visionox, Yungu (Gu’an) Technology filed a patent for design with the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO), which was published in the Global Design Database on March 1, 2019.

About The Patent

The patent shows a foldable smartphone with the display on the outside of the device. However, the display does not seem to be flexible, since two different screens are clearly visible with a gap in between for the hinge. The design of the phone is similar to the ZTE Axon M. The main difference between both the smartphone designs is the presence of rounded corners on the ZTE device, which seems to be non-existent on Visionox’s display. Furthermore, Visionox’s screen is completely straight in the middle section, which gives it some resemblance to a tablet of sorts. Top and bottom bezels are prominent in the device, and a camera appears to be present on both the right and left side in the top bezel, right next to the earpiece.

Also Read: Samsung Is Readying Two More Foldable Phones

Visionox may or may not collaborate with Xiaomi on this device, considering that the patent for the foldable smartphone has been published for Visionox, not Xiaomi. Since ZTE is also one of Visionox’s partners, the ‘foldable display’ design may be witnessed on a ZTE offering. Regarding the availability of the device, no details are present as of now.

The patent for the foldable device can be viewed here

March 7, 2019
ZTE Is Working On A Foldable Phone With A Clamshell Design

ZTE is a Shenzhen based company that manufactures smartphones and telecommunication equipment. In the year 2017, the company launched an innovative smartphone, the Axon M that had dual displays which folded into a compact form factor. Although it cannot be truly termed as a foldable smartphone due to two separate displays, it definitely had a contribution in laying the foundation of modern foldable smartphones. Some of the modern-day foldable smartphones include the Samsung Galaxy Fold and Huawei Mate X. A freshly granted patent to ZTE indicates that the company is developing a distinctive smartphone with a foldable display.

ZTE Foldable Smartphone Design

ZTE filed a patent for a clamshell-style foldable smartphone with WIPO (World Intellectual Property Office) in the month of April last year which it was granted on 5th March 2019. The patent exhibits that the foldable smartphone being developed by ZTE is completely different from Samsung and Huawei’s offerings. In fact, it has a similar form factor to the unreleased foldable Moto RAZR.

As previously mentioned, the foldable ZTE phone has a clamshell style design which folds vertically. Distinguishingly, the display has an asymmetric fold with the top part being slightly shorter than the bottom. When the device is in its folded state, a small portion of the larger screen remains visible which might be used to display important notifications like phone call alerts.

The rear of the foldable ZTE smartphone is as unconventional as its front. The bottom half of the rear accommodates dual cameras along with an LED flash. Inversely, the top half is free from any components except for two unexplained circular cutouts. The right side of the device is occupied by volume rockers and power button while the bottom is occupied by a connector port which is flanked by grilles on either side.

Also Read: Nvidia Announces New GPU Driver, Game Bundle & G-Sync Compatible Monitors

The foldable ZTE smartphone surely seems promising, however, it is hard to predict the launch date of such a device. Though we expect more information to be available when the company openly talks about it.

March 7, 2019
Huawei P30 Pro Will Feature a Periscope-Style Camera With Optical Zoom
Huawei is all set to launch the P30 and P30 Pro in Paris on March 26, 2019. The company teased the smartphone by showing off its lossless zoom technology in its teaser video on Twitter. The smartphone will succeed the P20 Pro as the next flagship of the company. From what has been revealed about them, the devices seem to focus on photography, an aspect the series has been known to concentrate upon. The P30 Pro will have a Periscope camera to provide it with remarkable zooming capabilities.

Huawei P30 Pro

The Huawei P30 Pro is expected to feature top-tier specifications matching its flagship tag. The leak reveals it will have a similar design to its successor, complete with glass on the front and the back. What will be different though, is the size of the notch on the device. The P30 Pro will sport a waterdrop notch surrounded by minimal bezels on all sides of the display. While most of the specifications aren’t known yet, the smartphone is expected to pack the latest HiSillicon Kirin 980 SoC which is also present on the Mate 20 Pro. The chipset is based on 7 nm architecture and comprises of an Octa-Core CPU and Mali G76 GPU. In terms of memory and storage, the device will be available in the following variants:
- 8GB RAM and 128GB ROM
- 8GB RAM and 256GB ROM
- 8GB RAM and 512GB ROM
Huawei P30 Pro Periscope Camera

The highlight of the Huawei P30 Pro will be its quad rear cameras. Besides a 40MP main sensor and a 20MP ultra wide-angle sensor and the periscope camera which is expected to sport a whopping 10x optical zoom. This is likely to be achieved with the help of an innovative camera sensor which is similar to the one shown by Oppo at MWC 2019. The company claims the sensor will also offer extreme low light capabilities along with the zoom. The fourth camera is expected to be a Time of Flight (ToF) sensor to capture depth.

Huawei P30 Pro: Pricing & Availability

Also read: Samsung Is Readying Two More Foldable Phones

The Huawei P30 Pro will be launched alongside the P30 and the P30 Lite in an event in Paris on March 26. It will be available for sale in Europe and China soon after the unveiling, with an India launch to follow soon. Unfortunately, the pricing of the device is not confirmed yet. But reports claim the smartphone will be priced similar to the Mate 20 Pro, meaning a price tag of US $1000 (around Rs 70,200) is expected.
March 6, 2019
Samsung Is Readying Two More Foldable Phones

Korean electronics giant, Samsung launched a revolutionary foldable smartphone called the Galaxy Fold last month. As the name suggests, the newly launched smartphone and tablet hybrid sports a foldable inner display. Except for Samsung, two other companies, Royole and Huawei have also launched foldable smartphones, the FlexPai and Mate X. Although the market for foldable smartphones is considerably new, analysts have high hopes from the device with this new form factor. According to a freshly published Bloomberg report, Samsung is developing at least two more foldable smartphones which have dissimilar designs in comparison to the Galaxy Fold. The two upcoming devices will provide a headstart to Samsung in the market that is expected to explode soon.

Upcoming Foldable Galaxy Smartphones

Samsung Galaxy Fold

The Bloomberg report claims that out of the two upcoming foldable Galaxy devices, one will have a vertically folding display while the second type will have an outer folding display. The vertically folding smartphone is also reported to have a cover display which reminds of the unreleased foldable Moto Razr. On the other hand, the smartphone with an outer folding display is expected to similar to the Mate X. The former will only have one display. Therefore, it will be thinner than the Galaxy Fold.

Noteworthy, the report points out that Samsung is currently trying several types of foldable smartphones. As of now, nothing has been set in stone. The vertically folding smartphone is reported to go on sale by the year of this year while the outward folding Galaxy smartphone will be released early next year. Samsung had previously claimed that it expects to ship 1 million units of a foldable smartphone in the year 2019. The upcoming smartphone will help reach the company to reach its anticipated target.

Samsung Galaxy Fold

In addition to the two unreleased foldable smartphones, Samsung is also working to improve the durability of the Galaxy Fold’s display. The previously launched device develops a crease on its display after it has been unfolded up to 10,000 times. Praiseworthy, Samsung is also considering to offer free screen replacement on the Galaxy Fold after it is launched in the month of April.

Price Of Upoming Foldable Galaxy Phones

Also Read: Hyperloop: All You Need To Know About The Fastest Mode Of Public Transport

Unfortunately, the price of upcoming foldable phones from Samsung is currently unavailable. Though the devices are reported to cost lesser than the Galaxy Fold which costs US $ 2000. As, the lower price can contribute to their higher sales.

March 6, 2019
Meizu Note 9 Launched With 48MP Rear Camera

Meizu announced the successor of the Note 8 in China, which is the Note 9. The company’s mid range smartphone has a modern design and aims towards targeting the sub 20k segment of the smartphone arena.

Specifications

The Meizu Note 9 sports a 6.2 inch FHD+ display with a waterdrop notch. It has an 89.2% screen to body ratio, owing to the 3 mm top, 3.1mm side and 5.35mm bottom bezels. The smartphone runs on the Snapdragon 675 SoC, which comprises of a Kryo 460 octa-core CPU and the Adreno 612 GPU. The handset is available in 4GB RAM and 6GB RAM, with 64GB and 128GB of internal storage.

The Meizu Note 9 features a dual camera setup on the back, which consists of a 48 MP (f/1.7) primary camera with the Samsung GM1 sensor and a secondary 5 MP depth sensor. The smartphone also has a front 20MP camera with face recognition 3.0.

The Meizu Note 9 has a pleasing G3 curved design, and the back cover has a glass texture which the company claims to be a ‘high-gloss porcelain’ design. The Meizu Note 9 sports a rear mounted fingerprint sensor, and the company claims that it is capable of unlocking the phone in just 0.2 seconds. It is equipped with Hyper Gaming Optimization and Game Mode 3.0, which will help in regulating smartphone temperature by prioritizing the running game.

Features And Availability

The Meizu Note 9 is powered by a 4000 mAh battery with 18 W fast charging support. It features a 3.5 mm headphone jack which is placed at the bottom of the handset, right next to the speaker grille and the USB Type-C port. In terms of OS, the Note 9 will run the Flyme 7.2 UI which is based on Android Pie.

Also Read: Meizu’s New Smartphone Will Have A 48 MP Sony Sensor & Snapdragon 855

The device is launched in China for 1398 Yuan (around Rs. 14,700) for the 4GB+64GB version and 1598 Yuan (around Rs. 16,800) for the 6GB+128GB variant. The smartphone will be available in three colour options, Black, White and Sparkling Blue. It will go live on sale in China starting March 11. As of now, the smartphone’s availability in India is not confirmed.

March 6, 2019

Samsung Launches The Galaxy S10 Lineup In India

Samsung has launched its lineup of 2019 flagship smartphones in India today, March 6. The devices launched today are the Galaxy S10e, Galaxy S10 and the Galaxy S10+. All the smartphones feature a modern design and have the company’s new Infinity-O display to house the front camera.

Galaxy S10: Price & Availability

All the three models in the Galaxy S10 lineup will be available starting March 8 from the major online and offline retailers. For people who pre-booked the smartphones, will start getting deliveries from today, March 6. The price of all the three variants have been listed below.

Model	Galaxy S10e	Galaxy S10	Galaxy S10+
Price	Rs 55,900 (6GB + 128GB)	Rs 66,900 (8GB + 128GB)	Rs 73,900 (8GB + 128GB)
		Rs 84,900 (8GB + 512GB)	Rs 91,900 (8GB + 512GB)
			Rs 1,17,900 (12GB + 1TB)

Galaxy S10 Series

All three newly launched smartphones are similar in most ways while differing in certain aspects like screen size, battery capacity, cameras and obviously, pricing. All smartphones feature a glass sandwich design and have the new Infinity-O displays. The devices feature Samsung’s new Dynamic AMOLED displays with support for HDR10+ content. All the smartphones run on the Exynos 9820 SoC in India, which is manufactured using 8nm fabrication process. It contains an Octa-core CPU and Mali-G76 MP12 GPU.

Notably, the Galaxy S10 lineup differs in a few features, like the Galaxy S10e featuring a side-mounted fingerprint scanner and dual rear cameras; while its two elder siblings have an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanner and triple rear cameras. The screen size also varies on all devices, with the Galaxy S10e sporting a 5.8-inch display; while the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+ have 6.1-inch and 6.4-inch display respectively. The front cameras of the Galaxy S10e and the Galaxy S10 is limited to just one sensor, while the elder sibling has two front-facing cameras.

The Galaxy S10e is powered by a 3100mAh battery; while its elder siblings have a 3400mAh and a 4100mAh cell respectively. All the three smartphones have IP68 certification for water and dust resistance, support Wi-Fi 6, NFC, fast wireless charging and also support reverse wireless charging.

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March 6, 2019

India Has The Most Affordable Mobile Data In The World, According To A Study
A study conducted by a UK based broadband comparison website reveals that India has the most affordable mobile data rates in the world. The cost of 1GB data in the country is Rs 1.41 at its lowest and Rs 98.76 at its peak. The average cost of 1GB data in the country was calculated to be around Rs 18.34. The news arrives a few years after the arrival of Reliance Jio, the telecom operator that is credited for bringing down mobile data costs in the country.

Mobile Data Rates Across The World

Data from 6,313 mobile plans in 230 countries were gathered and analysed by Cable.co.uk between 23 October and 28 November 2018. The goal of the research was to find average rates of 1GB of mobile data in different countries. While India held the number one spot, it was followed by Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan for the number two and three rankings respectively. Interestingly, Asian nations make up half of the top 20 cheapest countries for mobile data, with India top and Sri Lanka, Mongolia and Myanmar also in the top ten. The global average was found to be $8.53 (around Rs 601).

The most expensive mobile data was found to be in Zimbabwe, with an average price for 1GB of data $75 (Rs 5,292). The average data plans for a few countries are highlighted below:
- USA – Rank: 182; Average Price $12.37 (around Rs 872.91)
- UK – Rank: 136; Average Price $6.66 (around Rs 469.97)
- South Korea – Rank: 201; Average Price $15.12 (around Rs 1,067)
- Japan – Rank: 154; Average Price $8.34 (around Rs 588)
- China – Rank: 165; Average Price $9.89 (around Rs 697.90)
How To Make Mobile Data Affordable?

Also read: Redmi Note 7 To Go On Sale For The First Time In India

A senior executive at Cable explained how the countries make mobile data this affordable. He says “Many of the cheapest countries in which to buy mobile data fall roughly into one of two categories. Some have excellent mobile and fixed broadband infrastructure and so providers are able to offer large amounts of data, which brings down the price per gigabyte.” He also claimed that other countries with lesser advanced broadband networks were heavily reliant on the usage of internet through their mobile phones. This would make the rates of the said data low, in order to make them affordable.
March 6, 2019
HTC Will Soon Make A Comeback In India

Taiwanese smartphone maker, HTC has seen better days in the past accrediting to its software and hardware innovations. Noteworthy, it was the worlds first company to launch a dual camera smartphone, the EVO 3D. However, in an economy like India which is majorly driven by the specification to price ratio, HTC failed to persist and ceased its operations in the country last year. Reportedly the company is planning to make a comeback in India but in a completely different convention. The company is in talks with three Indian OEMs, Micromax, Lava and Karbonn which will license its brand name and will pay a royalty in return.

Why Would Indian Companies Want To License HTC’s Brand Name?

In the last couple of years, the market share of Indian smartphone companies has fallen drastically. According to reports, Indian companies had a 40% market share in the year 2015 which had fallen to single-digit last year. Clearly, this is due to fierce competition from Chinese companies like Xiaomi and Oppo. The aforementioned Indian brands are currently focusing on feature phones and entry-level smartphones in order to thrive this deluge.

Products offered by HTC in the past were mostly targetted towards the premium and mid-range segment. Assuredly the company had the brand value which pulled the customers to its offerings. Hence, Indian brands with the help of HTC’s brand name can tap into these segments which they are currently incapable of.

What To Expect In Terms Of Products?

Also Read: Redmi Note 7 To Go On Sale For The First Time In India

It is unannounced what products will be sold under HTC’s brand name in India. Nevertheless, the portfolio will certainly include smartphones and it can also incorporate tablets and smart home products. One smartphone that the company can launch in the country is the HTC Exodus which is the world’s first blockchain smartphone. Another product that the company can launch is the 5G hub which as the name suggests is 5G compatible device. It is an attractive looking smart home gadget that has a built-in screen and runs on Android OS. Information about other products is expected to follow soon which we will keep you posted on.

March 6, 2019
Redmi Note 7 To Go On Sale For The First Time In India

The Redmi Note 7 is all set to go on sale in India for the first time today. The smartphone was launched alongside the Redmi Note 7 Pro on February 28. It is the first phone that Redmi has launched in India after separating from its parent company Xiaomi. The device features a modern design and ambitious specifications with a lucrative price tag.

Redmi Note 7: Where To Buy?

The Redmi Note 7 will be available at a price of Rs 9,999 for the version with 3GB RAM and 32GB of onboard storage. The variant with 4GB RAM and 64GB of internal storage has been priced at Rs 11,999. The smartphone will be available to order via flash sales on Flipkart and Mi.com from 12 noon on March 6. It will also be available offline from Mi Home outlets starting today. Reputably, the device also supports memory expansion upto 256 GB via a microSD card.

Click here to buy the Redmi Note 7 on Flipkart

Redmi Note 7: Specifications & Features

To recall, the Redmi Note 7 is a budget offering from the company and features a modern design with Gorilla Glass 5 on the front and the rear. The smartphone has a 6.3 inch LCD display with a small waterdrop notch up top. The display panel has a 19.5:9 aspect ratio with a resolution 2340 x 1080 px and pixel density of 409 ppi. There is a fingerprint scanner on the back of the device and it also supports face unlock technology.

Under the hood, the Redmi Note 7 runs on the Snapdragon 660 SoC which consists of Adreno 512 GPU and an Octa-Core CPU. Out of the eight CPU cores, four Kryo 260 cores are clocked at 1.8 GHz for better battery efficiency and four Kryo 260 cores are clocked at 2.2 GHz for maximum performance. For optics, the smartphone has a dual rear camera setup consisting of a 12MP main sensor with an aperture of f/2.2 and a secondary 2MP depth sensor. The front camera on the device has a 13MP sensor which is housed in the notch on top of the display.

Also Read: Best Portable Power Banks You Can Buy Right Now

The Redmi Note 7 is powered by a 4000mAh battery with support for Qualcomm Quick Charge 4. It allows the device to charge with a maximum input of 18W via the bottom mounted USB Type-C port. Connectivity options on the device include 802.11 ac Wi-Fi, 4G VoLTE, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, and FM Radio. It also has a whole host of sensors which include an accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, and a compass.

Click here to buy the 3GB + 32 GB Variant Of Redmi Note 7

Click here to buy the 4 GB + 64 GB Variant Of Redmi Note 7

March 6, 2019