Tag: budget phone

Microsoft Lumia 650 Likely to be the Only Lumia Phone this Year

The official announcement of the Lumia 650 budget smartphone is just around the corner. Reports suggest that Microsoft is planning to unveil the device on the 1st of February. But that’s not all the rumours are suggesting. Word is that the Lumia 650 might be the only Lumia device from Microsoft this year.

This news contradicts earlier reports that Microsoft will also launch the Lumia 750 and 850. While some believe that the two devices are still on the cards, there are many who believe that the launch has been cancelled citing the reason that Microsoft wants to focus more on its Surface phone. Microsoft is planning to launch a Surface phone that will sport Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 chipset later this year.

The 5-inch 720p display Lumia 650 is likely to come bearing the Snapdragon 210 chipset clocking at 1.1GHz. A 2,000mAh battery pack in the 650 is small, especially when compared to the Lumia 640 (2,500mAh) and the Lumia 550 (2,100mAh).

Furthermore, it is the single-SIM variant that has been cleared by FCC with the model number RM-1152 suggesting the device will first launch in the United States. Microsoft will also offer a dual-SIM variant for the device.

From what the unconfirmed specs tell us, the Lumia 650 lacks both juice and power but does well with the exterior design, and a pricing of under Rs. 10,000 (similar to the Lumia 550) will be needed for this device to tempt the masses.

January 17, 2016
Samsung Galaxy J1 Launched in Dubai

Just until yesterday, the Samsung Galaxy J1 2016 edition was merely a device with a few rumors and speculations attached to it. Today, Samsung quietly launched the budget handset in Dubai without any major show or noise. Indeed, it looks like Samsung did not want to wait for its launches and is perhaps saving the big events for its upcoming flagship devices.

The launch of the new Galaxy J1 smartphone comes with confirmed specs and price tag. The device sports a 4.5-inch display with a resolution of only 480 x 800 pixels, but still using Super AMOLED technology. Powering the handset is a quad-core chipset, clocked at 1.3 GHz, possibly Samsung’s Exynos 3475 SoC.

Other specifications include 1GB of RAM and 8 GB of internal storage. The rear camera is of 5 MP while the front houses a 2 MP shooter. Like its predecessor, the J1 comes with a 2,050 man battery. The device is 4G-enabled and runs on Android 5.1 Lollipop. It will be available in three colour variants -black, white and gold. The Dubai pricing of the J1 is at 499 AED (approximately Rs. 9000).

January 13, 2016

Lenovo Lemon 3 Launched with Snapdragon 615 SoC

Looks like Lenovo has a launched a direct competition to Xiaomi’s Redmi 3. The Lenovo Lemon 3 budget smartphone has been launched in China. The device sports a 5-inch Full HD (1080×1920 pixels) resolution IPS display with pixel density of 441ppi and is powered by a Snapdragon 616 chipset and Adreno 405 GPU.

Other specifications include 2GB of RAM and 16GB internal storage which is expandable via MicroSD card slot. On the camera front, the handset sports a 13 MP rear camera with LED flash and a 5 MP front. The device comes packed with a 2,750mAh battery, which is much smaller than the 4,100mAh battery found inside the Redmi 3. Connectivity options include 4G LTE, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS and Micro USB. The device also features dual audio speakers.

The specifications are similar to the Redmi 3 except for battery and display (the Redmi 3 sports a 720p display). The Lenovo Lemon 3 is available for RMB 699 (approximately Rs 7000). No word yet on when the device will reach international markets.

Specs	Lenovo Lemon 3
Display	5-inch Full HD IPS
Resolution	1080×1920 (441 ppi)
Processor	octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 616
GPU	Adreno 405
Storage	16 GB
Rear Camera	13 MP with LED flash
Front Camera	5 MP
Expandability	Yes
Battery	2,750mAh battery
Connectivity	4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, hotspot, Bluetooth v4.0, GPS with A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS, microUSB v2.0
OS	Android 5.0 Lollipop
Price	CNY 699 (about Rs. 7,000), Price in India unannounced

January 13, 2016

5 Reasons To Go For Micromax’s Canvas 5

Micromax unveiled the Canvas 5 yesterday and we’ve provided all the technical details as well as a hands-on with the device. But if you’re still a little uncertain about whether you should buy Micromax’s latest flagship then have no worries. We’ve made a list of everything that is going for the Micromax Canvas 5, and if you find your needs mentioned then we suggest you have your wallets ready.

Design

Right off the bat then, the Canvas 5 looks amazing. It has improved a lot since the Canvas 4 in terms of looks. The moment you see the Canvas 5 after unboxing, you’ll notice a shiny and attractive Gorilla Glass 3 on the front that has a 2.5D Curve Touch panel. The glass doesn’t leave smudges and stays pretty clear. This along with a metal side and rounded edge gives the device an iPhone-like feel. In the back you have a removable plastic panel that has a faux leather texture to it. Because it’s extremely flexible, it’s not likely to break any time soon. So if you want a phone that looks and feels great in your hand, you should definitely look to the Canvas 5.

Display

On switching on the device, we found that the 5.2-inch 1920×1080 Full HD display is crisp, clear and bright. The colours are attractive and makes you want to switch on the device even if you have nothing in particular to do. A graphic-intensive game like Asphalt 8 looks great on the device and works pretty smoothly. The details of the game look crisp and also give decent sound clarity.

Performance and UI

First use of the device right after unboxing will generally give a fast performance. So, it is a little early in the day to know exactly how the device will run. But our initial response to the Canvas 5 is that it gives a solid performance for a phone that is priced at Rs. 11,999. The phone will respond quickly to all your basic day-to-day needs and with no app drawer, you can access your apps a lot faster, as is the case with the iPhone. Though, those who prefer an app drawer may find the screen cluttered with bloatware.

Sliding through the phone quick and fluid and you will love the ease of it all within 5 minutes of usage. A 3 GB RAM for a device under 12K bracket is a rare sight and the Canvas 5 comes with just that. This allows you to multi-task with greater ease and also improves gaming performance. In terms of competition, the Canvas 5 wins over the Moto G (3rd Gen) and the Xiaomi Mi 4i for sure.

Camera

The Canvas 5 actually has a great camera app with loads of modes and pro features like those found on flagship Samsung Galaxy phones. You also get an app that lets you retouch images and give the desired makeup that it needs.

The device features a 13MP primary camera and a 5MP front with flash. The images taken by the primary camera are fairly decent and is quick at capturing images. The added professional modes like ISO, exposure compensations and white balance help you take that perfect shot. So, for a mid-range device, the Canvas 5 gives you a lot to play around with.

Price

Pricing is always key for a successful smartphone (unless it’s an iPhone). The Canvas 5 with all the above mentioned pros would be worth it if it is reasonably priced. And luckily it is. At Rs. 11,999, the Canvas 5 is a terrific phone that gives Motorola and Xiaomi a run for their money. The performance, display and design are premium material. The Canvas 5 along with the OnePlus X show us that it is possible to make a great looking device for a mid-level market. Should you go for it? Well, your interests are ticked in the list above then you definitely should buy the Canvas 5.

November 5, 2015

Xiaomi Redmi 2 Vs Moto E (Gen 2) : Newly Arrived Budget Smartphones Battle it Out

Xiaomi has launched the Redmi 2 (4G) in India, and it is a mere upgrade over its predecessor, the Redmi 1S. But even with the slight bump in the specs, the device is still unconquerable in its segment. The device that comes closest in competing with the Redmi 2 is the Moto E (Gen 2). So let’s take a look at how the two budget badasses fare against each other.

Specs	Xiaomi Redmi 2 4G	Motorola Moto E (Gen 2)
Display	4.7 inch 720 x 1280 pixels	4.5 inch 540 x 960 pixels
CPU	1.2 GHz, Quad-core, Snapdragon 410	1.2 GHz, Quad-core, Snapdragon 200
RAM	1 GB	1 GB
Main Camera	8 MP	5 MP
Front Camera	2 MP	0.3 MP
Internal Storage	8 GB	8 GB
External Storage	32 GB	32 GB
Battery	2200 mAh	2390 mAh
Operating System	MIUI 6.0, based on Android 4.4.4 Kitkat	Android 5.0 Lollipop
Price	Rs. 6999	Rs. 6999

The Redmi 2 definitely holds a lead in the specs sheet with its HD display and superior camera offering. The 4G ready Redmi 2 is priced the same as the 3G variant of the Moto E which would help it to attract the potential customers towards itself. The Moto E, on the other hand, can use its updated operating system and the bigger display in comparison to its predessesor to attract the buyers to itself.

The Redmi 2 also requires the troublesome effort of waiting for the flash sale whereas, the Moto E (Gen 2) is available right now for purchase which might work in Motorola’s favour.

March 12, 2015

Xiaomi Officially Confirms, Redmi 2 is Arriving in India on March 12

Every time you think the Xiaomi mania has cooled down, the Chinese smartphone powerhouse drops a new product in the market that restarts the waiting line. Xiaomi is expected to launch the successor to its budget superhero, Redmi 1S in India. The company has sent out the invitation to the launch event of a new device scheduled on March 12, 2015.

The device is named Redmi 2 and was launched at CES this year. The device has a 4.7 inch 720p HD display like its predecessor and is now protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 2. The device runs on MIUI 6 which is based on Android 4.4 Kitkat.

Redmi 2 is powered by a 1.2 GHz, Snapdragon 410 processor. In some markets it is available in two variants, one with 8 GB memory and 1 GB RAM whereas the other variant flaunts 16 GB internal memory and 2 GB RAM. It is not sure of yet if Xiaomi will be bringing both the variants in the Indian market, but the options do sound great.

On the camera front, the device still sports an 8 MP camera on the back while the front camera is updated to 2 MP. The battery also gets bigger at 2200 mAh.

It is an exciting device and considering the success of the Redmi 1S, you can expect the handset to find a lot of takers. The pricing of the device would be essential in taking on the competition as the market has many contenders in the budget segment such as the Lenovo A6000 and the Moto E (Gen 2).

We’ll get you hands-on and full review of Xiaomi’s latest offering for India soon, keep checking back with iGyaan for more.

March 11, 2015
Lava L661 a Budget CDMA Feature Phone Launched for 1199 INR

MTS (telecom operator) has launched a new feature phone in association with Lava, the Lava L661. The device comes bundled with MTS unlimited talk plans, the company has not detailed the talk plans for the handset. Lava L661 has been priced at Rs. 1,199.

The device has a 1.8-inch TFT screen, a micro SD card slot with expandable memory of upto 4 GB. The device supports speaker phone and has some utility features like Alarm, Calculator, Calendar, Predictive text T9, Vcard, Group SMS, Scheduler and can also be used for call conferencing. The device is powered by a 1000 mAh battery.

The company claims that the Lava L661 CDMA phone is one of the most affordable phones in the Indian market. It will be available in three colors Black, Blue and White.

September 19, 2013
Exclusive : Gionee to launch E3 in India – 7.9mm, Quad Core, Android 4.2 & 16 GB Storage

iGyaan has got hold of exclusive information that, Gionee will launch a 7.9mm slim smartphone in India soon, according to leaked images and specs. Dubbed “Gionee E3” the phone will be powered by a Mediatek 6589 Quadcore 1.2 GHz CPU and a PowerVR Series 5XT GPU.

The Gionee E3 will carry a 4.7 inch 720p display and will be loaded with 16 GB of inbuilt storage along with 1 GB of RAM. Of course you also get MicroSD expansion upto 32 GB. The Gionee E3 will also have traditional Dual Sim, Dual standby capabilities and 850/900/1800/1900 MHz frequencies for 2G and 900/2100 MHz frequencies for 3G.

Among the features will also be an 8 megapixel camera at back with full HD video capabilities, a 2.0 MP front facing HD camera ( we are guessing 720p). The specifications are quite similar to another device from competition, apart from the internal storage which is evidently different. WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0 will come included in the usual set of connectivity features, with GPS and A-GPS.

You can find more details at the companies website link below.

[source]

May 20, 2013
Sony Xperia Tipo coming on 16th September 2012 for Rs. 9850
Sony Mobile Communications India will launch their next Xperia phone the Tipo, targeted at the budget buyer, on the 16th of September 2012. The Xperia Tipo may not be the cream of the crop when it comes to specifications, but surely adds another to the list.

Specifications Include :
- 800MHz Qualcomm Scorpion processor
- 512MB of RAM
- 3.2-inch TFT display with a HVGA resolution
- 3.2-megapixel rear camera
- 2.5GB of internal storage
- microSD card slot with 32GB of storage expandability
- 50GB of free Box.net cloud storage account
- 1,500 mAh battery pack
- Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich
The phone is expected to retail for a Price of IN Rs. 9850.
September 10, 2012
Micromax A45 “Punk” launched at Rs 5,499

The A45 is basically a music smartphone.

Micromax’s newest offering to the entry-level Android smartphones, the A45 “punk”, was made available for purchase on Wednesday at a price tag of Rs 5,499. The device, like it’s predecessor the A50 “Ninja”, comes pre-loaded with Micromax’s voice assistant “AISHA” which helps you with simple tasks such as finding the nearest restaurants and weather forecasts and is mainly a music phone.

The A45 Punk runs Android 2.3.6 (Gingerbread), and comes engineered with a 650 MHz processor, a 8.89 cm full touch capacitive screen with a resolution of 320 X 480 pixel. The phone reportedly provides a talk time of 4.5 hours powered by a 1300mAh Li-ion battery. It is a dual SIM phone, and sports a 2 megapixel camera, with a memory is expandable up to 32GB. The device offers a new way to explore, discover and enjoy music and thus revamp your music listening experience through a set of funky looking headphones (with HD surround), provided along with the handset. It comes with all essential apps such as Facebook, Whatsapp etc and the rest are available for download from the Play store.

The pricing makes this device a value-for-money deal and is expected to challenge Samung’s Galaxy Y.

June 6, 2012

Samsung Galaxy Y Full Review

Times have changed over the years, but never did we see the smartphones reach the consumer market with such a blow that feature phones would almost disappear.

The new Samsung Galaxy Y offers a complete package for a fairly low budget, But is it actually a full smartphone ?

Lets find out in this iGyaan review :

Build Quality and Hardware

The Galaxy Y is well built to an extent where you wont be disappointed by any thing in terms of the exterior of the device. The screen is not tough so a screen protector is essential for the device. Every-thing else is built to last and will not need any extra care, solid built, tactile buttons and no rattle or noise from the body of the device.

In terms of the Hardware Specs:

Price	Rs. 7,830 (MRP)
Network	Edge + HSDPA upto 7.2 Mbps
Phone Style	Touchscreen Capacitive
OS	Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread
Thickness	11.5mm
Length	104mm
Width	58 mm
Weight	97.5 g
Built-in Memory	160 MB Rom Ram Unknown
Additional Memory	microSD, up to 32GB
High-speed Data	3G
Connectivity	Bluetooth, Wifi ,
Screen Size	3-inch, 240×320 pixels
Secondary Screen Size	N/A
Screen Colours	256k
Camera	2-megapixel ff
Camera Resolution	1600×1200 pixels
Flash	NO
GPS	Yes
Wifi	802.11 b/g/n
Music Formats	MP3
Radio	Yes
Speaker	Yes
Processor	832 Mhz Processor
Browser	Android Browser, Full Flash Enabled
Games	Android MarketPlace Games
Battery	1200mAh

Screen and Multimedia

The screen on the device is a 3 inch 320×240 px capacitive display, its a relatively low res display, but its leaps and bounds better than the one found on the Pop and Fit. Why ? You ask. There is a massive difference in the pixellation levels of the Galaxy Y and the POP, on the Pop you aslo only get Android 2.2, this device comes preloaded with 2.3.5 and a display that does not bother you at all with reading webpages etc.

The screen is decent for movie playback and the speakerphone is loud enough to get the message across. This device will feature as a portable media player for many a youth, but don’t expect it to replace a TV or even an iPod. Audio quality is good but is only limited with the hardware chip used. The maximum throughput of sound is limited hence will not deliver performance compared to even the Wildfire S. The Audio is not really an issue because an everyday user will not notice it, as the device produces a loud sound with or without the earphones, whcih is mostly enough for a consumer.

Phone, Network and Messaging

The device is an excellent phone, with robust network connectivity and a solid signal strength. We noticed no dropped calls in the extensive network tests conducted. Audio (incoming and outgoing) on both channels was crisp and loud, with no feedback issues. The “Y” gets a great rating because it does a good job of what its basic purpose is: to make and receive calls.

Messaging on the device is also easy and is demonstrated in our video review. Typing is simple thanks to an error correction algorithm by Samsung, which utilizes a most common error path and auto corrects the text errors. Pretty fancy for a sub 7k phone. You also get SWYPE inbuilt on the keyboard making it very useful indeed.

Data, Internet and Battery

By now we have learnt that Android devices are no too data friendly. Turning data on and off when required will boost your battery life enormously. That being said this device also features 3G data connectivity and HSDPA upto 7.25 Mbps. The connections are stable and not too power consuming, the Wifi Hotspot feature works great and does not suck the life forces from your device, like it used to on previous devices.

Internet connectivity is stable on both Wifi and 3G and the browser loads all sorts of Flash content, with a bit of hiccups. Browser is easily readable and on a screen this size you cant expect much more. The basics can be accessed from this browser, but its not a replacement for your computer.

Battery Life

Companies talk about battery life in their own mood, we do some extensive real life tests to get out the best from the device.

Talk Time 2G : 6 Hours
Talk Time 3G : 4.5 Hours
Standby Time : 36-72 Hours
WiFi Surfing : 4-5 Hours
3G Surfing : 3.5 Hours
Music : 7 Hours
Video : 2 Hours

Conclusion:

The Galaxy Y is now available for a price of 6800 INR on most online portals, possibly at a cheaper price at local vendors. At that price to get a 800+ MHz processor with native Android 2.3.5 capacitive touchscreen Wifi , 3G and Hotspot, we have no complaints from this device. Why should we? This is a complete device and offers anything you would need as a first time Android user on a budget, and also basics for somebody looking for a secondary device. It looks great, is manufactured by a trusted brand and has great service and support for a budget.

We say get it!

We Rate the GALAXY Y : 4 on 5

Unboxing Video

Review Video

Image Gallery

October 31, 2011

Samsung Galaxy y GT S 5360 Unboxing and Quick Review

The Samsung Galaxy Y has been the most requested device by iGyaan Readers and here it is in the form of an Unboxing and Quick Review.

The device is a budget Android targeted at the youth of the country, a slap on the face of local brands we presume. Check out the Tech Specs followed by images and the Video for pleasure

Tech Specs

Price	Rs. 7,830 (MRP)
Network	Edge + HSDPA upto 7.2 Mbps
Phone Style	Touchscreen Capacitive
OS	Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread
Thickness	11.5mm
Length	104mm
Width	58 mm
Weight	97.5 g
Built-in Memory	160 MB Rom Ram Unknown
Additional Memory	microSD, up to 32GB
High-speed Data	3G
Connectivity	Bluetooth, Wifi ,
Screen Size	3-inch, 240×320 pixels
Secondary Screen Size	N/A
Screen Colours	256k
Camera	2-megapixel ff
Camera Resolution	1600×1200 pixels
Flash	NO
GPS	Yes
Wifi	802.11 b/g/n
Music Formats	MP3
Radio	Yes
Speaker	Yes
Processor	832 Mhz Processor
Browser	Android Browser, Full Flash Enabled
Games	Android MarketPlace Games
Battery	1200mAh

Images

Video

October 21, 2011

Nokia Launches super affordable dual sim phone the Nokia 101 (PR)

Nokia has launched a super cheap dual sim phone in the country to target competition. The new Nokia 101 , aptly named, is going to be stiff competition for the likes of non brand vendors.

The phone comes with integrated MP3 player, FM radio, a 103 phon loudspeaker and 16 GB expandable memory. The device also boasts a sim manager which allows you to store and retrieve data from upto 5 Sim cards.

Nokia also launched the Nokia 100, which is a single sim color phone. The device has an easy to read grid based menu along with an FM radio.

Pricing and Availability

The Nokia 101 will be available in India in the next few weeks at INR 1699/-. The phone will come in Black and Red colors.

The Nokia 100 will be available in India starting October for INR 1399/-.

[toggle title_open=”Press Release” title_closed=”Press Release” hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”]

Continuing with its commitment to connect the next billion consumers to mobility, Nokia today announced the launch of its most affordable Nokia 101 dual SIM music and Nokia 100 single SIM phones in India. The Nokia 101 is Nokia’s fifth dual SIM phone launched in the last few months and the most affordable to date.

Strengthening its entry portfolio with feature rich and durable mobile phones which offer consumers great value for money, these latest offerings are targeted towards the first time users, who are price conscious and seek simplicity in their mobile phones.

“Increasingly mobile phones are perceived as an investment by the entry consumers in India. People are looking for a phone that offers simplicity, functional features, durability and great value for money,” said Mr V Ramnath, Director, Sales Nokia India. “When paired with powerful and locally relevant services such as Nokia Life Tools and Nokia Money, the Nokia 101 and Nokia 100 offer a unique experience that is simply unmatched in India at these price points.”

Giving first time mobile customers an opportunity to derive maximum value from their investments, Nokia 101 and Nokia 100 come with an attractive offer from Airtel – which will provide customers with 100 minutes of free Airtel to Airtel talktime for the first month. As part of this Airtel offer, customers will also get 400 national and local SMS free every month. Customers subscribing to this Airtel offer may continue to avail its benefits in the second month with a minimum recharge.

Nokia 101

With its dual SIM capability, the phone makes it convenient for consumers to access calls and texts over two different networks. Additionally, consumers can stay entertained with the integrated MP3 player, FM radio, a 103 phon loudspeaker and carry their entire music collection in the 16 GB expandable memory.

The Nokia SIM manager allows users to select which SIM card to use to make a call or send a text message while helping them manage costs and maintain network coverage without needing several phones. In addition, the SIM manager allows users to store settings of up to five SIM cards on the phone, and to personalize them by assigning names and logos for each SIM setting.

Nokia 100

The Nokia 100 is perfect for people looking for durability and simplicity as well as affordability when making calls and sending text messages. The Nokia 100 is Nokia’s most affordable color display phone, and people can enjoy its new attractive grid-based menu system with fun and easy-to-read icons. Furthermore, the Nokia 100 features an FM radio, enabling users to tune into their favorite music stations, whether on-the-go or at home and turn up the inbuilt speakers to share the music with friends.

Both the Nokia 101 and Nokia 100 offer Nokia Life Tools and Nokia Money in India, providing instant access to locally-relevant information on healthcare, education, agriculture and entertainment.

Pricing and Availability

The Nokia 101 will be available in India in the next few weeks at INR 1699/-. The phone will come in Black and Red colors.

The Nokia 100 will be available in India starting October for INR 1399/-.

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September 19, 2011
Micromax Bling 2 Official – Website up – Unboxing Soon

We have confirmation on the previously – leaked by iGyaan– Micromax Bling 2. The official website of the phone is now up at micromaxbling.com So check it out.

We have also asked for an official unit for unboxing and full preview, Hopefully we get it soon.

Click here to see our leaked coverage.

May 6, 2011
Exclusive : Update: Leaked Micromax Bling 2 Hands On Images and Videos

The Micromax Bling 2 is the upcoming Handset from Micromax that is exclusively targeted at the ladies. This one has Android 2.2 directly to boot. Here are the remaining images with more information and a video preview coming shortly.

iG Tech.

UPDATE Video Added

April 13, 2011