Category: Tech

Latest Technology News, Alternative, Bio-Tech, Medical, R&D and Innovations

Google Home Smart Speakers Will Launch Exclusively On Flipkart

Google India is hosting an event on the 10th of April for the launch of the Google Home smart speakers. Flipkart has now made a dedicated page for the Google Home speakers. The Flipkart page features a Google Home and Google Home Mini with a hashtag #MakeGoogleDoIt. Additionally, the page also mentions different capabilities of these devices like hands-free play and pause gestures.

The Google Home and the Google Home Mini are the first set of smart speakers from the company which will also be powered by the Google Assistant. These smart speakers need to be connected to a Wi-Fi network. The speakers act as great music players but once connected they can be used to also control different smart home accessories like a smart bulb. Additionally, these speakers can also be used to schedule a task, set an alarm, ask for trivia or the latest news.

As of now, the only competition the Google’s smart speaker lineup is the Amazon Echo series of smart speakers. Amazon had launched the Echo Plus, Echo, and Echo Dot in India for a price of Rs 14,990, 9,999, and 4,499 respectively. Considering these prices, the Google Home and Google Home Mini are likely to be priced at Rs 9,999 and Rs 4,499 respectively. However, the official price might vary a bit.

Google Home Specs

Available in two color variants one with White, while the other a Slate fabric finish. The larger smart speaker has a 2 inch driver with dual 2 inch passive radiators. The speaker requires 16.5 Volts and 2A current, which is why the speaker is needed to be connected to a power source at all times. One can connect to these speakers using an iOS or Android smartphone using the Google Home app. The speaker supports both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi Bands . Additionally, these speakers can be connected to run as a single set of speakers or for multi room playback.

Weight (g)	477
Supported Audio Formats	HE-AAC, LC-AAC, MP3, Vorbis, WAV (LPCM), FLAC, Opus
Wireless network	802.11b/g/n/ac (2.4GHz/5Ghz) Wi-Fi
Speaker	2in driver + dual 2in passive radiators
Connections	DC power jack, Micro-USB port (for service only)

Google Home Mini Specs

The Mini has a similar functionality in a compact form factor. The speaker will launch in three different finishes, which includes Chalk, Charcoal, and Coral. Due to smaller form factor, it requires 5 Volts and 1.8 Amps power. However, it packs in a smaller speaker, which might not be able to fill out even a small room.

Weight Approximate	173 g
Height	4.2 cm
Colour	Chalk
Sound System	360° Circle Sound
Wireless Speakers	Yes
Power Source	Power Adapter

April 6, 2018

OnePlus 6 Will Have Advanced iPhone X Like Gestures For Navigation

OnePlus 6 is expected to launch by the end of April 2018. The prominent specifications of the smartphone have been already confirmed by the company’s CEO Pete Lau via social media posts. The company has now released a new teaser video of the OnePlus 6 on Facebook, which hints towards an iPhone X like gestures for navigation.

The trend of gesture-based navigation has picked up ever since the iPhone X was launched. In fact, companies like Xiaomi and OnePlus have already introduced gestures for navigation on their smartphones. The OnePlus 5T is the only smartphone from OnePlus, as of now, to support gesture-based navigation albeit, via Open Beta ROM. However, Xiaomi has started introducing gesture-based navigation in their new MIUI 9.5 update. The gesture-based navigation has an added advantage on devices which have a taller display, allowing users to eliminate the software navigation keys to offer a larger screen real estate to users.

https://www.facebook.com/officialoneplusitalia/videos/1446771945426727/

OnePlus 6 Specs

The OnePlus 6 will have a 6.28 inch Optic OLED display with 2280 x 1080 px resolution. The notch will house the earpiece, front camera, and other sensors. However, we cannot rule out the possibility of a much more advanced facial recognition technology which will require extra sensors. In such a case, not a lot of people should have an issue with the notch. Considering OnePlus’s previous devices, the OnePlus 6 will have Corning Gorilla Glass 5 for protection on both the sides.

Under the hood, the device will have the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Octa-core chipset with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. Going by the previous leak, there might be a model with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage as well. Additionally, there will be no support for SD card.

The device will have a dual camera setup with a 16MP sensor and a 20MP low light sensor with an f/1.7 aperture on both lenses. For the front-facing camera, the device will have a 20MP sensor with an f/2.0 aperture with support for Face Unlock.

The OnePlus 6 will run on Android 8.1 Oreo with custom OxygenOS on top. The device might also support gesture-based navigation similar to the iPhone X. Finally, the smartphone will have a 3450 mAh Li-ion battery with Dash Charging and possibly, wireless charging capabilities as well.

April 5, 2018
Top Free IPL Streaming Apps For Smartphones

The 11th edition of Indian Premier League is just around the corner. There will be a grand inaugural ceremony on the 7th of April. This season, we have 8 teams battling for a single trophy. If you are an IPL enthusiast, then here are the top three free IPL streaming apps available for Android and iOS. However, some of these apps are carrier specific and work only with a certain telecom operator.

Hotstar

Hotstar is our first pick of the lot. In fact, Hotstar has been offering free streaming for different Star-only cricket tournaments since its inception. With Hotstar, the user will be able to enjoy other regional content, cinemas and Hotstar exclusive titles. However, there will be a few seconds of delay in the streaming and one can overcome that by subscribing as a paid member. Do note that Hotstar offers free one month of premium for free of cost.

Download link: For Android and iOS

JioTV

Reliance Jio Network now has 100 million subscribers and the company is offering free IPL streaming for the entire customer base. One has to download the JioTV application on iOS or Android device. If the user is connected via Jio network, the JioTV logins automatically using My Jio credentials. Jio TV offers free IPL streaming not only in English and Hind but, also other regional languages including Kannada, Telugu, and Tamil. The company has also announced new Jio Cricket Season packs for Rs 251, which comes with 102 GB 4G data for 51 days (2GB/day).

Download link: For Android and iOS

Airtel TV

Airtel TV is the latest addition to the free IPL streaming services. Download the Airtel TV app and register using your Airtel number. If you are a first time Airtel TV user, then the company is offering free 1GB 4G data for the first 3 days. Along with the IPL season 11, one can also follow the ongoing Common Wealth Games 2018. Like Jio TV, this app is limited to Airtel subscribers and works well for both prepaid and postpaid users.

Download link: For Android and iOS

April 5, 2018
Honor Could Launch The Honor 10 On The 15th Of May

Huawei recently launched its flagship Huawei P20 series of smartphones in Paris. Now, Huawei’s sub smartphone brand Honor will launch a new smartphone in London on the 15th of May. According to a leak, the company will launch the Honor 10, which will be a much more affordable alternative to the Huawei P20. The Honor 10 will have a glass back, glass front, and a metal unibody design, similar to the Huawei P20 series. Additionally, this will be the first Honor smartphone to sport a notch as well.

Whether the Honor 10 will launch in India is still uncertain. But, Honor has had success in India in the recent past. Hence, the Honor 10 could launch in India as well. Pricing has been the biggest advantage for Honor. In fact, the Honor View10 was launched in India for Rs 29,999, at a much lower price than the global price of 449 Euros.

The Honor 10 will have a 5.7 inch IPS LCD display with a 2260 x 1080 px resolution. This translates to a 19:9 aspect ratio, similar to the P20 Pro. As this is will be an affordable model, we do not expect Honor to go the OLED route. Under the hood, the device will have the HiSilicon Kirin 970 Octa-core chipset with 4/6GB RAM and 64/128GB storage.

Leaked Honor 10 Images

The device will have an AI-powered dual camera setup, similar to the Huawei P20. However, the company is likely to use different camera sensors. Additionally, the device will have a bigger battery with SuperCharging capability. Since Huawei removed the headphone jack with the Mate 1o Pro and now the P20 series, Honor might follow suit, starting with the Honor 10.

April 5, 2018
Finney Is A Blockchain-Powered Smartphone For Cryptocurrency Enthusiasts

Smartphones, over the years, have become quite stagnant. We see a similar design, specifications and features in the majority of phones. That doesn’t mean there is no innovation, Huawei launched the P20 Pro with a triple-camera setup while Vivo launched the first-ever smartphone with an in-display fingerprint sensor. However, in October, we won’t see a launch of an engineering marvel but, a rather quirky smartphone to say the least. Sirin Labs, the Switzerland-based firm will launch the first-ever blockchain smartphone.

In September 2017, the company unveiled a blockchain-powered smartphone and PC for cryptocurrency nerds. These devices would act as secure wallets for all the cryptocurrency wealth the user possesses. Now, the company has roped in Foxconn to manufacture the smartphone. Interestingly, Foxconn is the same firm that manufactures the iPhones for Apple.

Sirin Labs has conceded that it plans on launching the Finney in October 2018. The company has already received 25000 pre-orders and hopes to sell between 100,000 and a few million units in 2018. A rather ambitious number, we must say. According to Sirin Labs, the company has plans to further launch blockchain-powered smartphones in an association with other OEMs. The company is already in talks with Huawei, world’s third largest smartphone maker.

Finney Phone

The Finney phone will retail for a price of US$ 999 (Rs 65000 approx.) or about 0.15 Bitcoin. The smartphone will be readily available to buy at physical stores in eight cities where cryptocurrency is currently striving, in countries like Vietnam and Turkey. This means that the chances of the smartphone launching in India are slim.

According to a report by Bloomberg, the smartphone will have a physical switch will activate coin-related services. Additionally, it will have a feature similar to Apple Key wherein users will be able to secure the devices with an iris scan, fingerprint, or a simple password. This feature will be useful for people who have multiple wallets with different passwords. The Finney will run on open source Android-based Sirin OS. Interestingly, users will be able to earn tokens by sharing their mobile data connection with people around them.

The specifications mentioned on the company’s website include a 5.5 inch display, 64GB of onboard storage coupled with 6GB of RAM. The device will also sport a 12MP rear-facing camera and a 13MP front camera. The website also has a small asterisk next to the specs which mean these are not the final specifications.

Last year when Samsung launched the W-2018 flip smartphone, we iterated that it was a device for a very specific audience. The Finney phone takes that to another level because not a lot of people would shell out a thousand dollars for this smartphone.

April 5, 2018

Nokia 6 2018 Vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro: Specs Comparison

The budget segment of smartphones in India has seen an influx of some great devices. In 2017, the Xiaomi Mi A1, Moto G5s Plus and the Honor 7X were some of the best budget Android devices. 2018 did not have a bad start either, the Honor 9 Lite with its all-glass design and quad-camera setup turned some heads. However, in February, Xiaomi launched the smartphone to beat in this segment, the Redmi Note 5 Pro. Now, HMD Global has launched the Nokia 6 2018 in India at a price of Rs 16999 which will be sold offline only.

In our review of the Redmi Note 5 Pro, we expressed that this was the true successor to the Redmi Note 4. However, Xiaomi also launched the Redmi Note 5 which has been selling well in the previous flash sales. The Nokia 6 2018, on the other hand, succeeds the Nokia 6 from 2017 which left a lot to be desired thanks to its extravagant pricing.

With the Nokia 6 2018, HMD Global has provided better specifications while retaining the 16:9 aspect ratio. This means that despite its new colour accents, the Nokia 6 2018 will look like an older smartphone when compared with the likes of Redmi Note 5 Pro and Honor 7X. It is also worth noting that these two devices cost less than the Nokia 6 2018. The new Nokia 6 also retains a single camera setup on the back while its competitors sport a dual camera setup.

Specifications

Specifications	Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro	Nokia 6 2018
Price	Rs 13999 (4GB RAM) Rs 16999(6GB RAM)	Rs 16999
Display	5.99 inch IPS LCD	5.5 inch IPS LCD
Resolution	2160 x 1080 px 403 ppi	1920 x 1080 px 403 ppi
Battery	4000 mAh	3000 mAh
Chipset	Snapdragon 636 1.8GHz Octa-core	Snapdragon 630 2.2 GHz Octa-core
GPU	Adreno 509	Adreno 508
RAM	4GB/6GB	3GB
Storage	64GB	32GB
Expandability	Hybrid MicroSD Card Slot Up to 256GB	Hybrid MicroSD Card Slot Up to 128GB
Primary Camera	12MP f/2.2 5MP f/2.0 1.25-micron	16MP f/2.0 1-micron
Primary Camera Video	1080P @ 30fps	1080p @ 30 fps
Secondary Camera	20MP Sony IMX376 Beautify 4.0 LED flash	8MP f/2.0
Add-Ons	Fingerprint Sensor Face Unlock	Fingerprint Sensor

April 5, 2018

OnePlus To Launch Wireless Earphones Along With The OnePlus 6

The launch of the OnePlus 6 is just around the corner. The company will launch the next flagship smartphone some time in April. Now, a newly leaked Bluetooth certification page confirms that the company will also launch the OnePlus Bullet Wireless Earphones. OnePlus has launched the Silver Bullet V1 and V2 along with the launch of the OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 5. And now, the company is going the wireless way, by launching its first ever in-house wireless earphones. It is worth noting that the company has confirmed the OnePlus 6 will retain the 3.5mm headphone jack.

The listing states that the OnePlus Bullet Wireless Earphones will go by the model number BT31B. These earphones have a custom Qualcomm chipset with Bluetooth V4.1. Which suggests that the earphones might have an additional functionality similar to the Apple AirPods. As of now, there is no information on the pricing or the launch date of the accessory. However, these earphones might launch in India along with the OnePlus 6.

Considering the company’s pricing philosophy, these earphones are likely to be a budget pair of earphones, which are expected to be priced less than Rs 5,000. In fact, the OnePlus Silver Bullet Earphones V2 currently retail in India for a price of Rs 1,199. The Bullet Earphones V2 has a metal head with a 1.2-meter long cable. Additionally, these weigh in at 14 grams and also have an in-line microphone.

April 5, 2018
Motorola Could Launch The Moto G6 Series On April 19th

Lenovo has sent out a press invites in Brazil for an upcoming launch. According to the invite, Motorola is holding a launch event on the 19th of April, where the company is expected to unveil the Moto G6 series of smartphones. Like a typical press invite, it says ‘save the date’ and doesn’t specify any products. However, the invite has a green background, which is similar to the wallpapers of the leaked G6 series of smartphones. Considering the success of the G series in India the company might launch the smartphones in India soon as well.

Along with the Moto G6 series, the company might also launch the Moto E5 series as well. The upcoming Moto G6 and E5 series will be very important to the company’s portfolio. In fact, these mid-tier devices will account for the majority of the sale numbers in the company’s portfolio.

The Moto G6 series has three phones, the Moto G6, G6 Plus, and G6 Play. All three phones have a premium full glass unibody design, similar to the Moto X4. Additionally, these are the first set of Moto smartphones to have an 18:9 aspect ratio display.

In the G6 lineup, the Moto G6 Plus will be the priciest of the lot. The smartphone has a 5.93 inch FHD+ 2160 x 1080 px IPS LCD display, powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 SoC. Similarly, the Moto G6 has a same 5.93 inch FhD+ display with 2160 x 1080px IPS LCD display, powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 chipset. These devices have a dual primary camera setup with a 12MP RGB sensor and a 5MP depth sensor.

The Moto G6 Play will be a budget offering, which has a 5.7 inch HD+ 1440 x 720 px display. Under the hood, the device has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 Octa-core chipset. However, unlike the G6 and G6 Plus, the play moniker has a single 13MP camera.

April 5, 2018
Apple iPhones With Curved Displays To Launch In 2-3 Years

Apple may never be the first to introduce a feature but, it usually sets an industry-wide trend. In 2017 again, Apple was not the first one to introduce a notch (not a feature but, still). However, it is not rocket science to figure out the overall design shift across Android smartphones ever since the iPhone X was launched. Now, Apple appears to be working on launching a few iPhones with a curved display. However, this reality is still a few years away.

According to few people close to the matter at Apple, these panels will curve inward gradually from top to bottom. This implementation is different from Samsung’s for its recent flagship smartphones. Now, so far we have seen smartphone makers choose the same route for curves, like Samsung. So, it is unclear why Apple would go a different way. It could be because Apple’s research team identified ergonomic advantages with this method. The other reason could be to potentially prevent people from saying that they copied Samsung.

Another interesting feature in future iPhones will be touchless gestures. Since the launch of the iPhone X, other smartphone makers have also identified gestures for navigation as a viable replacement to the same old navigation buttons found on Android since its inception. However, Apple wants to that a step further with touchless gestures. Users will be able to perform certain tasks by just hovering their fingers over the display. But, since the technology will be built into the display, users will have to bring their fingers very close to the display.

These features, as of now, are in early stages of R&D. As we know, Apple never puts out something until the technology is perfected which means we will have to wait a while for the new iPhones. However, the features are very interesting and could, potentially, set another industry trend in the years to come.

April 5, 2018
Samsung Galaxy Note9 With A Possible In-Screen Fingerprint Sensor Leaked In Live Images

Considering the fact that, the Galaxy Note8 was launched in September 2017 the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Note9 is not due until the end of 2018. Rumours about the Galaxy Note9 suggest that the smartphone will have new features like truly wireless charging and an In-Screen fingerprint sensor. Now, a leaked image appears to corroborate with the rumours of an In-Screen fingerprint sensor. The photo has been apparently taken in Shenzen (China) and is being compared with the Samsung Galaxy S9.

On the front, the device has a wider display, compared to the Galaxy S9. Additionally, the bottom bezel looks much thinner than the one found on the S9. However, unlike most smartphone makers, the company has decided to retain the top bezel instead of opting for a notch. On the back, the phone has a dual camera setup with a couple of sensors.

If this image turns out to be legitimate, then the smartphone is likely to have a bigger display in a smaller footprint. The Note9 will also have a 3850 mAh battery, which is much larger than previous Samsung flagships. The S-Pen looks similar to the previous one found on the Note8. The phone has a large OLED display, with a probable screen size of 6.5 inch. Like most of the Samsung flagship devices, the device will have a QHD+ resolution display.

The Galaxy Note9 will either be powered by the Snapdragon 845 or the Exynos 9810 chipset similar to the Galaxy S9/S9+. The Geekbench listing confirms some of the key specifications of the device. According to the listing, the smartphone will have 6GB RAM which runs on Android 8.1 Oreo. The smartphone will have a dual camera setup similar to the Galaxy S9+.

April 4, 2018
Samsung Galaxy Note9

To be launched in the third quarter of 2018, the Samsung Galaxy Note9 will succeed the highly successful Samsung Galaxy Note8. So far, there have been rumours about the flagship device to feature an in-display fingerprint sensor. A Samsung patent has revealed that the smartphone might also feature truly wireless charging capabilities although, it seems a bit far-fetched as of now.

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Latest News

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April 4, 2018
Nokia 8 Sirocco Launched In India At Rs. 49,999

Nokia has launched its first flagship smartphone of 2018 in India, the Nokia 8 Sirocco for Rs 49,999. The Nokia 8 Sirocco is a successor to the 2017 Nokia 8. For all its bells and whistles, the Nokia 8 was criticised for its design and camera capabilities. The Nokia 8 Sirocco has taken its design inspiration from the original Sirocco moniker. For context, Sirocco is a reference to the Nokia 8800 Sirocco edition which was launched in 2006, which had a metal unibody design with a scratch-resistant sapphire glass.

The device has a 5.5 inch pOLED display with a 2560 x 1440 px resolution. The display offers a dual curved design with the vacuum moulding technology with Gorilla Glass 5. In fact, it looks similar to the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge. Nokia has started to follow the industry trend by removing 3.5 mm headphone jack on the Nokia 8 Sirocco.

Under the hood, the device has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset with 6GB RAM and 128GB onboard storage. However, the devices misses out on memory expansion. The phone has a dual Zeiss camera setup with a 12MP primary sensor with an f/1.75 aperture and a 13MP telephoto sensor with f/2.6 aperture. The smartphone also has a pro camera app, with manual controls. However, unlike most flagship smartphones, the phone misses out on OIS.

The phone has a 3260 mAh Li-ion battery with support for fast charging via USB type C port. Additionally, the smartphone also supports wireless charging and is the first Nokia Android phone to do the same. This is a true design flagship phone from Nokia. The smartphone has a glass back with a stainless steel frame. The device runs on pure Android 8 Oreo with Android One programme. However, it still runs on last year’s chipset with prominent bezels on the top and bottom part of the device.

The smartphone has a one of a kind design, which makes this device looks premium. At this price point, the Nokia 8 Sirocco directly competes with the likes of the Galaxy S9. However, the phone has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset with an old style 16:9 aspect ratio display. The upcoming OnePlus 6 will have a similar glass design with a taller 19:9 aspect ratio screen and a notch could boast a threat to this device. In fact, the OnePlus might retail for a price of Rs 34,000, which is much less the Nokia 8 Sirocco’s Rs 49,999 price tag.

April 4, 2018
OnePlus 6 Will Have An Option To Hide The Notch

“To notch or not” appears to be the most asked question in the smartphone industry. OnePlus 6, the next big smartphone to launch has been in the news for its iPhone X like notch. Recently, many Android smartphone makers have come under the firing line for blatantly copying the iPhone X design. Companies like Asus, Huawei have already launched devices with the infamous notch and OnePlus is next in line. The company received a huge backlash on social media recently for promoting and justifying the presence of a notch.

However, it looks like the social media outcry has made the company rethink a few things. While removing the notch altogether is not feasible at all, the company will introduce a nifty software trickery. Just like the Huawei P20 P20 lineup, the OnePlus 6 will have the option to hide the notch. What this will basically do is black out the top of the display, essentially leaving users with a OnePlus 5T-like design. Although a feeble feature, it might be appreciated by users who can’t stand the notch. Smartphone users appear to have very strong opinions about this whole notch business.

Carl Pei recently tweeted “learn to love the notch” after The Verge reported the OnePlus 6 will have a notch. After a collective disdain from OnePlus fans, he deleted the tweet. However, he did clarify OnePlus’ stance on the presence of the notch and why a thin chin is necessary. Carl Pei explained that the only reason the iPhone X doesn’t have a chin is that it has a curved display. At the bottom of each display is a ribbon for connecting it to the device’s logic board, which means a thin chin becomes necessary. Apple decided to curb that with a flexible OLED, which, even though is a great solution, it is also an expensive one.

The software tweak is a welcome step by OnePlus, proving that the company is not rigid in its decisions.

April 4, 2018
Nokia 6 2018 Launched In India At Rs. 16,999

HMD Global has officially launched the Nokia 6 2018 in India for a price of Rs. 16,999. The company had launched this smartphone in China in January 2018. However, unlike the Chinese variant, the Nokia 6 2018 launched in India supports Android One Programme, which offers faster software and security updates. The smartphone will be available from the 6th of April via Nokia Mobile Shops and select mobile outlets.

The Nokia 6 2018 has a 5.5 inch 1920 x 1080 px IPS LCD display with 16:9 aspect ratio. However, unlike most smartphones in this segment, the device misses out on an 18:9 aspect ratio screen. Under the hood, the smartphone has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 Octa-core chipset with 4GB and 32/64GB storage. Like the original Nokia 6, the storage is expandable up to 256GB using a micro SD card.

This smartphone also has a Zeiss certified single 16MP camera with an f/2.0 aperture and an 8MP front-facing camera with an f/2.0 aperture. The primary camera can record native 4K videos, whereas the front-facing camera maxes out at 1080p @ 30fps. The has a 3000 mAh sealed battery with support for fast charging via USB type C port. The fingerprint sensor now sits on the back of the device. This is a peculiar decision by the company since it has retained the 16:9 aspect ratio. Smartphone makers usually revert to a rear-facing fingerprint sensor when they shrink the bezels and don’t have enough space to place the sensor on the front.

Though the device has a wide array of features, it is slightly overpriced for the Indian market. In fact, phones like the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro, Honor 7X have a dual camera setup with a taller display and retail at a lower price. However, the Nokia 6 2018 does have an advantage of stock Android OS and a USB type C port. But, whether these features are enough for an average Indian consumer to shell out the extra cash, is a guess as good as any other.

April 4, 2018
Nokia 7 Plus Launched In India At Rs. 25999

HMD Global has officially launched the Nokia 7 Plus in India for a price of Rs 25999. The smartphone will be an Amazon exclusive and will be available for preorders from the 20th of April. Good news for potential suitors of the Nokia 7 Plus, the smartphone will not be sold via any flash sales. At the Mobile World Congress 2018, HMD Global launched a plethora of smartphones. It unveiled the first-ever Android Go device, the Nokia 1 and revived a classic phone, the Nokia 8810 Banana Phone. However, the most exciting of the lot was the Nokia 7 Plus.

At this price, the Nokia 7 Plus competes with the likes of the Moto X4 in India. Apart from the Moto X4, there are not many new smartphones in the price category. However, this is a very peculiar decision by HMD Global. The Nokia 8, company’s 2017 flagship recently received a huge price cut and is now available for Rs 28999. Keeping the price sensitivity of Indian consumers in mind, the difference in price of the Nokia 7 Plus and Nokia 8 might be significant for many people.

However, it is worth noting that the Honor View10, a modern-looking flagship smartphone also retails in India for Rs 29999. While the Nokia 7 Plus might be the only option for some, it is fair to assume that many consumers would rather invest some more money in a flagship-grade smartphone since an average Indian consumer barely makes a generational upgrade in smartphones.

The Nokia 7 Plus looks great, at least in the images. The colour accent of the device is good and the new 18:9 aspect ratio means it is up to speed with modern smartphones. Since the Nokia 7 was never launched in India, for many Indian consumers, this could be a first Nokia smartphone for them.

Another interesting aspect of the Nokia 7 Plus is its chipset. It is the first-ever Android smartphone to launch with the Snapdragon 660 chipset. The Moto X4, its closest competitor is powered by the Snapdragon 630 chipset. However, the Moto X4 has a 6GB RAM variant priced at Rs 25999, while the Nokia 7 Plus only has 4GB RAM.

The Nokia 7 Plus has a 6 inch display with an 18:9 aspect ratio hence, the “Plus” moniker. The Nokia 7 plus also features a dual-tone design thanks to a few gilded bits and pieces. The fingerprint sensor is placed on the back of the device. It also has the similar colour accents found on the Nokia 6.

The Nokia 7 Plus has a Zeiss Optics powered dual-camera on the back. The primary wide-angle sensor is a 12MP camera with an f/1.75 aperture coupled with a 13MP telephoto lens with an f/2.6 aperture. The telephoto lens will allow for bokeh shots which have now become very trendy. On the front is a 16MP fixed focus camera with an f/2.0 aperture, 1-micron pixels, and Zeiss optics.

April 4, 2018