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OnePlus 6 Officially Launched Starting US$ 529

After months of leaks, the OnePlus 6 has been unveiled. The young Chinese smartphone maker took to stage in London, one day after the Honor 10 launch to reveal the new flagship smartphone which will launch in India tomorrow on May 17th. The OnePlus 6, as expected, will be available in three variants, one with 6GB RAM and 64GB storage, one with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage and the third with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. The base model is priced at US$ 529 (Rs 35,800 approx.), the 8GB RAM/128GB model will retail for US$ 579 (Rs 39200 approx.) while the 8GB RAM/256GB storage variant will cost you US$ 629 (Rs 42500 approx.).

The OnePlus 6 has a lot of ‘firsts’ for OnePlus flagship smartphones. Even though the OnePlus X had a glass back, the OnePlus 6 is the first flagship smartphone from the brand to have an all-glass design. One thing worth noting here is that the OnePlus 6 doesn’t support wireless charging, despite the glass back. The dual-camera setup is now placed vertically as opposed to the iPhone 7 Plus-style horizontal placement on the OnePlus 5/5T. Then there is the infamous notch which can be hidden through software but, already has a polarising opinion among reviewers and consumers alike.

The OnePlus 6 has a 6.28 inch Optic AMOLED display with a 2280 x 1080 px resolution. The aspect ratio is 19:9 which means it is slightly taller than the OnePlus 5T.

The 6 runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset which has an octa-core processor clocked at 2.8GHz. Coupled with the flagship chipset is either 6GB or 8GB of RAM with three storage options of 64GB, 128GB and 256GB. The storage is still not user-expandable just like every other OnePlus device. The fingerprint sensor is still placed on the rear but, it has a more oval shape this time around.

Powering the device is a 3300 mAh battery with DashCharge support. DashCharge continues to be one of the fastest charging technologies and could be the reason why OnePlus did not think that wireless charging was necessary here. Out of the box, the OnePlus 6 will run Android 8.1 Oreo with OxygenOS on top. The smartphone will have gesture support which we tested on the OnePlus 5T during its Beta test. The company has announced that users will be able to download Android P Developer’s Preview from the OnePlus website soon.

OnePlus has stuck to its guns in terms of optics. The company dropped the telephoto lens with the OnePlus 5T and replaced it with another RGB sensor. The same is the case with the OnePlus 6. The company believes that its software can take good enough portrait modes (a feature that has become popular over the past two years). The dual-camera setup includes a 16MP Sony IMX 519 sensor and a 20MP Sony IMX 376K sensor. Both are RGB sensors and have an f/1.7 aperture with OIS, another first for a OnePlus device. The cameras also record 4K videos at 60fps which is a great feature for content creators. To the front of the smartphone is a 16MP Sony IMX 371 sensor with an f/2.0 aperture and EIS which records 1080P videos.

The OnePlus 6 is marginally pricier than the OnePlus 5T. It will be interesting to see how the pricing in India is affected at the launch event on May 17th. Stay tuned for all the India-specific details about the OnePlus 6!

May 16, 2018
OnePlus Launches OnePlus Bullets Wireless Earbuds For US$ 69

OnePlus kicked off its OnePlus launch event in London with the launch of the OnePlus Bullets Wireless. The Bullets Wireless will retail for US$69 (Rs 4700 approx.) from June 5th. The price and availability details for India could be unveiled tomorrow at the OnePlus 6 India launch.

The OnePlus Bullets Wireless earphones are not truly wireless earbuds like the AirPods. The left and the right earbuds are connected via a wire that goes around the user’s neck. Interestingly, the earbuds have fast charging, and can be charged using a type C cable. OnePlus claims that just 10 minutes of charge can provide up to 5 hours of battery life which sounds incredible.

The battery of earbuds rests on the neck and there is also inline control for music and call-taking. OnePlus also announced that the earbuds are magnetic, and once connected together, the earbuds switch off automatically to save battery life. Interestingly enough, users can pick up incoming calls by simply detaching the earbuds. These features are backward compatible with the OnePlus 6 and previous OnePlus smartphones.

The earbuds have a range of up to 10 meters and are powered by the Google Assistant.

At a price of US$ 69, the OnePlus Bullets Wireless look promising. It will be interesting to see if OnePlus launches these earbuds in India and what the price will be.

May 16, 2018
Xiaomi Mi 7 Will Have iPhone X Like 3D Facial Recognition Technology

The Xiaomi Mi 7 has been in the news ever since the company decided to not launch it at MWC 2018. Xiaomi instead launched the Mi MIX 2s and it appears that the Mi 7 won’t launch very soon. Numerous reports have claimed that the Xiaomi Mi 7 will have Face ID-like 3D facial recognition hence, also sport a notch very similar to the iPhone X. A new image posted on Weibo gives a glimpse of what technology Xiaomi will use to attain the accuracy that Face ID has.

The image was uploaded by a prominent Chinese tipster who claims that this is an official image revealing all the sensors that will be housed inside the Mi 7 notch. Coincidently, the image looks very similar to Apple’s promotional images of the notch. The module is designed by Xiaomi itself and will include an Infrared (IR) sensor, a dot projector, front-facing camera, earpiece, ambient light sensor, and a proximity sensor. For context, the iPhone X notch houses an Infrared camera, flood illuminator, a dot projector, and a front-facing camera along with necessary sensors.

Must Read: Lenovo’s Next Flagship Smartphone Will Be Tailor-Made For Notch Haters

If Xiaomi pulls it off and these reports have any weight of truth, the Mi 7 could be a very interesting Android smartphone. The Mi 7 could be what the Mi MIX was for Android devices in 2016 with its nearly bezel-less design. Companies like Samsung, Huawei, Google will also look to implement a similar technology sooner rather than later if the Mi 7 is launched with 3D facial recognition technology.

Another interesting thing to note in the Weibo post is that the smartphone has the Mi 8 moniker. This is speculated because 2018 is Xiaomi’s 8th anniversary and there are rumours that the Mi 7 will be launched as Mi 8 to celebrate the anniversary. This would again be similar to what Apple did with the iPhone X, skipping the iPhone 9 moniker to celebrate ten years of iPhones.

The launch of the Mi 7 could happen soon, and the smartphone will go on sale later in the year. How Xiaomi goes about the whole launch and sale situation is yet to be seen.

May 16, 2018
Nokia X6 With All-Glass Design And A Notch Launched

HMD Global has launched another budget smartphone in China, the Nokia X6. The new budget smartphone will be available in China exclusively for now but, we do expect the company to launch it in countries like India where budget smartphones always have an audience. We already have smartphones like the Redmi Note 5 pro, Zenfone Max Pro and now the Realme 1 vying for the top budget smartphone spot. The addition of the Nokia X6 will be a welcome one.

HMD Global will have to get the pricing right in India, though. In China, the Nokia X6 will be available in three variants. One with 4GB RAM/32GB storage is priced at CNY 1,299(Rs 13,800 approx.), second with 4GB RAM/64GB storage at CNY 1,499 (Rs 16,000 approx.) and the most premium model with 6GB RAM/64GB storage will retail for CNY 1,699(Rs 18,100 approx.).

The Nokia X6 has a 5.8 inch TFT display with a 2280 x 1080 px resolution. This translates into a 19:9 aspect ratio, the same as the P20 Lite. There is also a notch on the display, which is the reason why the smartphone has a taller aspect ratio.

The smartphone runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 chipset along with either 4GB or 6GB of RAM coupled with either 32GB or 64Gb of onboard storage. The onboard storage will be expandable via microSD card. The fingerprint sensor is placed on the back which has a glossy finish thanks to an all-glass design. The Snapdragon 636 chipset has been quite successful in devices so far. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro was the first smartphone to run on the chipset and has been well-received in India for its performance. The Redmi Note 5 pro competitor, the Asus Zenfone Max Pro also runs on the Snapdragon 636 chipset.

Powering the device is a 3060 mAh battery which charges via a USB C port. We are still a couple of years away from budget smartphones adopting the USB C port altogether but, this is a great step by HMD Global. Out of the box, the Nokia X6 will run stock-ish Android 8.1 Oreo with little customisations done by HMD Global.

The vertically placed dual-camera setup is in the usual Nokia position but, the “Carl Zeiss” branding is missing. The back has a 16MP primary sensor along with a 5MP secondary sensor. The dual-camera setup will be able to take portrait shots, a feature that has become very popular recently. The front houses as a 16MP camera with an f/2.0 aperture.

The Nokia X6 can be a solid offering in India if HMD Global gets the pricing right. So far, all Nokia smartphones have been a tad bit overpriced which can be monumental in a price sensitive market like India.

May 16, 2018
LG Is Giving Away A Free 43 Inch 4K TV With Every LG G7 ThinQ Pre-Order

On the 2nd of May, LG launched its new flagship smartphone, the LG G7 ThinQ. The smartphone’s unusually long name might put some people off. Nevertheless, the smartphone has high-end specs, build and design as the company plans to resurrect its smartphone business. It is fair to say that a lot is riding on the success or failure of the LG G7. To promote the smartphone in Canada, LG is giving away a 43 inch 4K smart TV to people who preorder the LG G7 ThinQ.

Colour Variants

The promotion will run from May 18th to May 31st. This gives users a lot of time to decide whether they want to buy the smartphone. The offer is available to users who pre-order the smartphone through a qualifying carrier and retailers like Best Buy, Walmart, Rogers, Bell, and Telus. A couple of months ago, Sony was giving away a PS4 or PSVR with every order of the Xperia XZ2. So, it isn’t unusual for brands to give away extravagant products. However, a 4K smart TV from LG and the G7 ThinQ is a great deal for LG-loving Canadians.

The G7 ThinQ has a 6.1 inch IPS LCD display with a 3120 x 1440 px resolution. The device has a 19.5:9 aspect ratio which will come in handy when the user decides to hide the notch.

Under the hood, the smartphone runs on the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset coupled with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage. The storage will be expandable via a microSD card. Powering the G7 ThinQ is a 3000 mAh battery with QuickCharge 4.o and wireless charging. The G7 ThinQ+ will have 6GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage.

The new flagship smartphone will run Android 8 Oreo out of the box LG’s AI Pack 2.0. LG has announced that it plans to push out an update for Android P as soon as Google launches it.

The fingerprint sensor placed on the back of the smartphone no longer doubled up as a power button. The power button now sits on the right side of the device in a more conventional position. Interestingly, there is a Google Assistant button placed below the volume rockers on the left side. The button is not remappable right now and can only be disabled if a user is not a fan of the Google Assistant. AI is a theme well spread out throughout LG’s UI here. The camera app has an AI Cam button wherein the camera can sense a scene and automatically tweak certain settings for, theoretically, a better shot.

To the back of the smartphone is a vertically placed dual-camera setup. The primary 16MP wide-angle sensor has an f/1.9 aperture while the secondary 16MP RGB sensor has an f/1.9 aperture. To the front of the device is an 8MP camera with an f/1.9 aperture.

LG is clearly trying to push people into buying its new flagship. A lot is riding on the G7 ThinQ and LG would hope that this lucrative offer convinces a lot of consumers (in Canada, at least) to buy the LG G7 ThinQ over devices like the OnePlus 6 or Galaxy S9.

May 16, 2018
Lenovo Z5 Will Be The Truly Bezel-Less Smartphone Everyone Wants

Every year, the smartphone industry is dictated by a trend. 2017 was all about the 18:9 aspect ratio and shrinking the bezels. In September 2017, Apple launched the iPhone X which had a different take on a “bezel-less” design and featured a notch. While the iPhone X was ridiculed in the beginning, it has since become the bestselling smartphone in the world and also inspired an industry-wide trend of 2018, notches. However, it appears that Lenovo won’t be a part of the herd and launch a truly bezel-less smartphone, the Lenovo Z5 this year.

A few days ago, Lenovo’s Vice President Chang Cheng shared a teaser image of the company’s upcoming flagship device on his Weibo page. The image revealed the top-left side of the smartphone which hinted at the fact that the device won’t have a notch. The bezels were also extremely thin. He then posted a sketch of the smartphone which revealed extremely thin uniform bezels around the display. Cheng has again posted a teaser of the Lenovo Z5, revealing the bottom half of the smartphone.

The screen of the smartphone is off in the image so it is hard to make out the size of the chin. However, even in the image, the bezels look extremely thin and somehow, too good to be true. But, with such bold claims by the VP of Lenovo, it is certain that the company will deliver to those claims.

There are rumours that the smartphone will have a flip-up front camera, something we saw at MWC 2018. The fingerprint sensor could have easily been placed at the back but, rumours claim the smartphone will have an in-display fingerprint sensor. However, considering how expensive that tech still is, we expect a rear-mounted fingerprint reader on the Lenovo Z5. The sketch also revealed the USB C port located at the bottom while the headphone jack is missing. It is possible that the company could place it on the top but, considering the industry-wide trend, we could see headphone jack-less Lenovo Z5.

The launch of the Z5 is still over a month away. It’s becoming more likely that this could be the truly bezel-less smartphone we’ve all been waiting for. However, we can’t 100% sure until the smartphone has launched.

May 16, 2018
Unboxing The Honor 10
Honor has launched the Honor 10 at an event in London. The Honor 10 will be available in two variants. The Honor 10 will be available in only one variant in India. The smartphone will have 6GB RAM and 128GB storage and will be priced at Rs 32999. The Honor 10 will be available via Flipkart exclusively.

Succeeding the popular Honor 9, the Honor 10 has flagship specifications and an all-glass design. The smartphone also features a notch on the display like a lot of other modern-day Android smartphones. The colour variants are also very interesting with the Honor 10. Two of the colour variants have a dual-tone colour of blue and pink and in the images at least, looks pretty fantastic. The fingerprint reader like expected is not embedded inside the display, instead, it is an invisible ultrasonic fingerprint sensor that can also detect a wet finger.

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Inside the box of the Honor 10
- Honor 10
- Documentation
- Sim Ejector Tool
- Wall Charger
- USB C Cable
[section label=”Initial Impressions”]

The Honor 10 takes a lot of design cues from the Huawei P20 Pro. The notch on the display is the same size as the P20 Pro and the all-glass design is reminiscent of the Huawei flagship smartphone. Right off the bat, you’ll realise that this a slippery phone thanks to its build quality. The glass finish means that the back of the device is also a fingerprint sensor. It is best adviced to either use a case or a skin for a better grip.

The front of the smartphone is dominated by the 5.84 inch IPS LCD display with a 2280 x 1080 px resolution. The notch can be hidden using software which will turn the display into an 18:9 aspect ratio.

Running everything under the hood is the company’s own flagship SoC, the HiSilicon Kirin 970. That is coupled with 6GB of RAM and 128GB storage. The flagship chipset can handle anything you throw at it and day-to-day usage is a breeze. The Honor 10 runs a highly customised version of Android 8.1 Oreo. For users who crave an app drawer and stock Android, there is always the Pixel Launcher.

Powering the smartphone is a 3400 mAh battery which charges via a USB C port. It is worth noting that despite having a glass back, the smartphone does not support wireless charging. It is SuperCharge compatible which should charge the phone faster than usual.

Honor has also touted AI capabilities of the Honor 10. AI seems to have become a very marketable term for smartphone makers these days. According to Honor, AI 2.0 can detect dynamic pictures more accurately. The phone’s AI 2.0 can also process Prisma-like image effects twice as fast as the iPhone X.

The smartphone has a dual-camera setup on the back, consisting of a 16MP RGB sensor with an f/1.8 aperture and a 24MP Monochrome sensor. The rear cameras record 4K videos at 30fps. The notch on the display, along with the sensors and an earpiece, also houses a 24MP camera with an f/2.0 aperture. The front-camera only records 1080P videos at 30fps.
May 15, 2018
Honor 10 Launched In India For Rs 32999

Huawei’s sub-brand Honor launched the Honor 10 in China on April 19th. At an event in London on May 15th, the company globally launched its new flagship smartphone. The Honor 10 will be available in only one variant in India. The smartphone will have 6GB RAM and 128GB storage and will be priced at Rs 32999. The Honor 10 will be available via Flipkart exclusively.

Like a lot of Android smartphones in 2018, the Honor 10 also has a notch on the display. The notch is smaller compared to the iPhone X and resembles the notch found on the Huawei P20 Pro and LG G7 ThinQ. The smartphone has an all-glass build with an aluminium frame giving it a premium and modern look.

Must Read: Lenovo’s Next Flagship Smartphone Will Be Tailor-Made For Notch Haters

The colour variants are also very interesting with the Honor 10. Two of the colour variants have a dual-tone colour of blue and pink and in the images at least, looks pretty fantastic. The fingerprint reader like expected is not embedded inside the display, instead, it is an invisible ultrasonic fingerprint sensor that can also detect a wet finger. It is also front-facing since it is housed inside the chin of the smartphone.

The Honor 10 has a 5.84 inch IPS LCD display with a 2280 x 1080 px resolution. The 19:9 aspect ratio will come in handy when users decide to hide the notch, forcing the display into a conventional 18:9 aspect ratio.

The new flagship smartphone runs on the HiSilicon Kirin 970 chipset, the same chipset found on the Huawei P20 Pro. The chipset is coupled with 6GB of RAM with 128GB of non-user expandable storage. There is a dual SIM slot but, no space for a microSD card. However, 128GB storage should suffice for most people, if not 64GB. Powering the smartphone is a 3400 mAh battery with SuperCharge compatibility.

Honor also claims that the Honor 10’s dual-camera setup has a lot of AI capabilities. The company is betting big on the device’s AI capabilities, which Honor is calling “AI 2.0.” According to Honor, AI 2.0 can detect dynamic pictures more accurately. The phone’s AI 2.0 can also process Prisma-like image effects twice as fast as the iPhone X.

The smartphone has a dual-camera setup on the back, consisting of a 16MP RGB sensor with an f/1.8 aperture and a 24MP Monochrome sensor. The rear cameras record 4K videos at 30fps. The notch on the display, along with the sensors and an earpiece, also houses a 24MP camera with an f/2.0 aperture. The front-camera only records 1080P videos at 30fps.

The Honor 10 has a great build quality and design with impressive specifications. The smartphone will take on the OnePlus 6 in the Indian market.

May 15, 2018
Honor 10

Huawei’s sub-brand Honor has launched the Honor 10 at an event in London.

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Latest News

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Videos

May 15, 2018

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Vs Realme 1

OPPO has unveiled its new sub-brand in India, Realme. Under the brand, the first smartphone, Realme 1 was launched on May 15th. The smartphone will be available in three variants, one with 3GB RAM/32GB storage, second with 4GB RAM/64GB storage and the third with 6GB RAM/128GB storage. It is an Amazon-exclusive device and the first sale will be on the 25th of May and commence at 12 noon. The smartphone has a starting price tag of Rs 8990 for the 3GB RAM variant.

At the launch event, the Realme 1 was constantly compared to a few Redmi devices such as the Redmi Note 5 and Note 5 Pro. The company’s name itself sort of resembles Redmi and that cannot be a coincidence. At a starting price of Rs 8990, the Realme 1 is cheaper than the likes of Honor 9 Lite and Redmi Note 5. However, the company has decided to give a few features a miss for the Realme 1 which can be damming for many consumers.

The Realme 1 has a unique finish on the back which looks much better than the Redmi Note 5. The Note 5 continues to have a similar build quality and design as previous Redmi note devices. Both the smartphones have a single camera setup on the back. The Redmi Note 5, however, has a fingerprint sensor as well while the Realme 1 does not have a fingerprint sensor.

Neither of the two smartphones runs stock Android. The Realme 1 runs ColorOS 5.0 on top Android 8.1 Oreo while the Redmi Note 5 Pro has the MIUI 9 on top of Android 7 Nougat. At least, the Realme 1 runs the latest software here.

The Realme 1 has a 13MP camera on the back along with an 8MP front-facing camera. The Redmi Note 5, on the other hand, has a 12MP primary camera with an f/2.2 aperture and a 5MP secondary camera with beautify 3.0 software.

Specifications

Specifcations	Realme 1	Redmi Note 5
Price	Rs 8990 (base variant)	Rs 9999 (base variant)
Display	6 inch	5.99 inch IPS LCD
Resolution	2160 x 1080 px 18:9 aspect ratio	2160 x 1080 px 18:9 aspect ratio
Battery	3410 mAh	4000 mAh
Chipset	MediaTek MT6771 Helio P60 Octa-core 4 x ARM Cortex-A73 up 2.0 GHz 4 x ARM Cortex-A53 up to 2.0GHz	Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 2.0GHz Octa-core
RAM	3GB/4GB/6GB	3GB/4GB
Storage	32GB/64GB/128GB	32GB/64GB
Primary Camera	13MP	12MP f/2.2
Primary Camera Video	1080P	4K @ 30fps
Secondary Camera	8MP Portrait Mode	5MP LED Flash
Add-Ons	Face Unlock	Fingerprint Sensor Face Unlock

May 15, 2018

OPPO Realme 1 Launched In India Starting Rs 8990

OPPO has unveiled its new sub-brand for India, Realme. Under the new brand, the company has launched the Realme 1 in India at a starting price of Rs 8990. The smartphone will be available in three variants, one with 3GB RAM/32GB storage, second with 4GB RAM/64GB storage and the third with 6GB RAM/128GB storage. It is an Amazon-exclusive device and the first sale will be on the 25th of May and commence at 12 noon.

The OPPO Realme 1 is an interesting device with a few peculiar decisions taken by the company. Two of the most popular features of a budget smartphone, dual-camera setup and fingerprint sensor are both missing from the smartphone. This can be a deal breaker for many as a fingerprint sensor has become a norm for any smartphone these days.

The Realme 1 has a 6 inch display with a 2160 x 1080 px resolution. This translates into an 18:9 aspect ratio which has become increasingly common these days.

The smartphone runs on the MediaTek MT6771 Helio P60 chipset coupled with 3GB/4GB/6GB RAM and 32GB/64GB/128GB storage. The onboard storage is expandable via a microSD card in case you run out of the onboard storage provided. Powering the smartphone is 3410 mAh battery which charges via a micro USB slot.

The Realme 1 runs Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box with ColorOS 5.0 on top. The custom skin is very similar to skins by Chinese smartphone makers, there is no app drawer and you’ll barely notice the version of Android because of the heavy customisation. There OPPO Cloud for people to store their data on the internet instead of their devices. Clone Apps will let consumers use two separate accounts of the same app, which can come in handy for a lot of people.

Must Read: Unboxing The Huawei P20 Lite

The smartphone also misses out on a dual-camera setup, again, a feature that has become the norm. It has a 13MP camera on the back along with an 8MP front-facing camera.

At a starting price of Rs 8990, the Realme 1 is a great competitor for the Redmi Note 5. However, you do miss out on a fingerprint sensor on the Realme 1. The sale of the smartphone begins on May 25th via Amazon.

Buy The Realme 1 Here

May 15, 2018
Unboxing The OPPO Realme 1
Realme is an OPPO sub-brand which will launch its first smartphone in India, the Realme 1 on May 15th. The device will be an Amazon-exclusive and its product page has a few details about the smartphone listed already. The smartphone has a starting price tag of Rs 8990 for the 3GB RAM variant.

[section label=”Unboxing”]

Inside the box of the OPPO Realme 1
- Realme 1
- Wall Charger
- Documentation
- Sim Ejector Tool
- Micro USB Cable
[section label=”Initial Impressions”]

The most striking feature of the Realme 1 is its back panel. The smartphone has a “Diamond Black” back which looks quite impressive as it reflects light differently from a different angle. This is thanks to the diamond-like cuts on the metal. It is worth noting that the back has a plain texture and that the cuts are not physical. The smartphone definitely feels hefty and won’t be the most lightweight smartphone you pick up.

To keep up with the competition, the Realme 1 has an 18:9 aspect ratio even though the bezels are quite visible and not the thinnest you’ll ever see. However, the smartphone does not have a fingerprint sensor, which is truly astonishing considering smartphones that cost Rs 7000 also have a fingerprint sensor these days.

The Realme 1 has a 6 inch display with a 2160 x 1080 px resolution. The smartphone runs on the MediaTek MT6771 Helio P60 chipset coupled with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. The onboard storage is expandable via a microSD card in case you run out of the 128Gb storage provided. Powering the smartphone is 3410 mAh battery which charges via a micro USB slot.

The Realme 1 runs Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box with ColorOS 5.0 on top. The custom skin is very similar to skins by Chinese smartphone makers, there is no app drawer and you’ll barely notice the version of Android because of the heavy customisation. There OPPO Cloud for people to store their data on the internet instead of their devices. Clone Apps will let consumers use two separate accounts of the same app, which can come in handy for a lot of people.

Must Read: Unboxing The Huawei P20 Lite

The smartphone also misses out on a dual-camera setup, again, a feature that has become the norm. It has a 13MP camera on the back along with an 8MP front-facing camera.

The OPPO Realme 1 looks apart from the competition but misses out on a few key features. Stay tuned for a full review of the Realme 1!
May 15, 2018
Google One Brings Expanded Storage, Live Support To Google Drive

Ever since the Google I/O 2018 concluded, the company has been hard at work introducing new features to its services. YouTube got a new feature called ‘Take A Break’ recently while Gmail has also received some exciting new features. The company has also decided to rebrand its cloud storage service and call it Google One as well as introduce new plans. It is worth noting that it isn’t the Drive that is being rebranded but, the storage plans.

As part of the new moniker, Google has unveiled new expanded storage plans, access to live support and more storage sharing plans. The company has added a new, 200GB plan that costs US$ 2.99 per month in the US. This plan will be available along with the existing plans that start at US$1.99 for 100GB and goes all the way up to US# 299.99 for 30TB. Interestingly, Google also dropped the price of its 2TB plan from US$ 19.99 to US$ 9.99.

These storage plans are already live in the US along with other new features. In the coming months, everyone in the US will be automatically upgraded to Google One plans. The company has claimed that Google One will roll out globally in the coming months which includes India as well. As of now, the plans in India have not been upgraded and the 100GB plan remains the cheapest at Rs 130 per month.

The live support feature is also very interesting. Google already offered 24/7 support for paying business users with a G Suite account, but this is the first time the live support is offered to consumers. It is worth noting that this is an access to Google Experts for help with any Google consumer product and service. You won’t be connected with an AI bot, but a human being with the necessary knowledge and communication skills.

Going forward, users will also be able to share their storage with up to 5 family members. The company says:

Everyone gets their own private storage space as well as the additional benefits of Google One.

The new features are very useful for people who have subscribed to Google Drive. The new plans also make monetary sense for consumers and the 24/7 live support will be appreciated by many. It will be interesting to see when these features are rolled out to the rest of the world.

May 15, 2018
Nokia X Will Run On The Qualcomm Snapdragon 636

HMD Global is preparing to launch its new budget smartphone, the Nokia X in China. It is possible that it will be launched as the Nokia X6, reviving a popular moniker from the days when Nokia was the most successful phone maker. The Nokia X or Nokia X6 has been leaked in abundance so far and the new Geekbench listing confirms an important aspect of the device.

According to the Geekbench listing of the Nokia X6, the upcoming smartphone will run on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 chipset. The variant listed here has 6GB of RAM but, a 4GB RAM variant is also expected to launch. Nokia is known to keep the OS close to stock Android so it isn’t surprising that the X6 will run the latest version of Android OS, Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box.

The Snapdragon 636 chipset has been quite successful in devices so far. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro was the first smartphone to run on the chipset and has been well-received in India for its performance. The Redmi Note 5 pro competitor, the Asus Zenfone Max Pro also runs on the Snapdragon 636 chipset. The Nokia X6, like the Zenfone Max Pro, will also run close to stock Android OS for an even better performance of the SoC.

Must Read: Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 Vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro

The X6 will sport a 5.8 inch TFT display with a 2280 x 1080 px resolution. This translates into a 19:9 aspect ratio, the same as the P20 Lite. There is also a notch on the display, which could be the reason why the smartphone has a taller aspect ratio. The vertically placed dual-camera setup is in the usual Nokia position but, the “Carl Zeiss” branding is missing.

Must Read: OnePlus 6 In White And Black Colour Variants Leaked In Live Image

It is also rumoured that the Nokia X6 will be priced at CNY 1499 (Rs 15,700 approx.), which is a great price for the specifications that the Nokia X6 has. If the X6 is launched in India and HMD Global prices at about Rs 15000, the Nokia X6 could be a great smartphone, especially with its all-glass build and design.

May 15, 2018
Xiaomi Redmi S2 To Launch In India On June 7th

The Xiaomi Redmi S2 was launched in China on the 10th of May. In China, the base model is priced at RMB 999(Rs 10500 approx.) and the other one is priced at RMB 1,299 (Rs 13800 approx.). The Redmi S2 appeared to be another China-exclusive device but, it might soon launch in India. Redmi India has taken to Twitter to announce that another selfie-centric Redmi device will launch in India on the 7th of June.

Every step in your life is defined by a selfie. Find yourself, #FindYourSelfie

The BEST selfie smartphone is arriving soon. pic.twitter.com/OeQaSAI4TZ

— Redmi India (@RedmiIndia) May 14, 2018

The teaser confirms that the soon to be launched smartphone will be a part of Redmi’s Y series. The Xiaomi Redmi Y1 and Y1 Lite were launched in November and were the first “selfie-centric” devices from the company. The Redmi S2, which is expected to launch as the Redmi Y2 will be the third iteration in the series. We expect the RedmS2 (Redmi Y2) to be priced at about Rs 9000. The smartphone will slot between the Redmi 5 and Redmi Note 5.

The Redmi S2 takes a lot of design cues from other Xiaomi smartphones launched in 2018. It has the same vertically place dual-camera setup found on the Mi MIX 2s and Redmi Note 5 Pro. The aluminium unibody design is also familiar along with a circular fingerprint sensor placed on the back of the smartphone.

The Xiaomi Redmi S2 has a 5.99 inch IPS LCD display with a 1440 x 720 px resolution. This translates into an 18:9 aspect ratio which has become the norm for even budget smartphones.

Must Read: Xiaomi Redmi 5 Launched in India For Rs 7,999

Under the hood, the Redmi S2 runs on the Snapdragon 625 chipset, a tried and tested SoC for Xiaomi. That chipset is coupled with either 3GB or 4GB of RAM along with either 32GB or 64GB of storage which is expandable via a microSD card. Powering the device is a 3080 mAh battery, which will charge via a micro USB port. The Xiaomi Redmi S2 runs Android 8 Oreo out of the box with MIUI 9 on top.

To the back of the smartphone will be a 12MP primary sensor along with a 5MP depth sensor. To the front is a 16MP AI-powered camera which is capable of clicking portrait mode selfies using just the software.

The Redmi S2 will be a peculiar launch by Xiaomi. It appears that the company is flooding the sub-10K category with its own smartphones. After the Redmi 5, Redmi 5A and the Redmi Note 5, the Redmi S2 will try to impress the average consumer.

May 14, 2018