Nokia 6.1 Plus launched in India: Price, specifications and more
Almost every smartphone company this year rolled out a device that sports a notch on its display. HMD Global – that manufactures Nokia smartphones – couldn’t have lagged behind. So it came out with Nokia X6 – its own smartphone with a notch – in China in May this year. Today, HMD Global’s Nokia 6.1 Plus – the global version of Nokia X6 — has been launched in India. Till now, the only other market where Nokia 6.1 Plus has been launched is Hong Kong.
Among the key features of Nokia 6.1 Plus is that it is an Android One device. For those who don’t know, smartphones under Google’s Android One programme provide an optimized stock Android experience to the user and receive quick updates from the company.
Apart from this, all other specifications of the smartphone are the same as Nokia X6.
Specifications
The Android 8.1 Oreo based smartphone can support dual SIM cards and sports a 5.8-inch full-HD+ display that comes with an aspect ratio of 19:9. The screen of the Nokia 6.1 Plus is protected by 2.5D Gorilla Glass 3. Powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor, the smartphone comes with 4GB of RAM and packs 64GB of internal storage. It can hold a microSD card of up to 400GB to provide more storage to the user.
Nokia 6.1 Plus houses a 3060mAh battery that supports Quick Charge 3.0 technology. For imaging duties, the device supports a dual rear camera setup with 16MP primary sensor and a 5MP monochrome sensor. It also has a 16MP front facing camera for selfies and video calls.
The smartphone’s camera app is also touted to come with AI features including depth of field, portrait lighting effects, optimized colour contrast, face recognition and HDR support. The Bothie feature that we saw in Nokia 8 and Nokia 8 Sirocco is also present. For those unaware, with Bothie feature, one can click a picture from the rear camera and selfie camera of the smartphone simultaneously.
The connectivity options of the smartphone include 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, USB type C port and a 3.5mm jack
Price and availability
Priced at Rs 15999, Nokia 6.1 Plus competes directly with the likes of Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro, Huawei P20 Lite and Vivo V9 Youth. It will be available exclusively on Flipkart and Nokia’s web store. Few Airtel offers are also there on the phone available on the website.
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ASUS Zenfone 5Z review: Powerful performance at an affordable price
OnePlus 6 isn’t the only budget flagship smartphone that is being spoken about this year. ASUS Zenfone 5Z – which comes at a lower price and offers more features has taken its fair share of limelight too. The smartphone is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, comes with dual rear cameras and has a premium design with a glass body. But is it too good to be true, or is it as good as it sounds to be? Read the rest of our review to find out.
Design and Blueprint
We have always liked smartphones that come with a glass body. And Asus Zenfone 5Z is no exception. It is available in Meteor Silver and Midnight Blue colour variants and the one that we got for review was dressed in silver. While the front and back panels of the smartphone have 2.5D glass, the frame between them is made of aerospace-grade aluminium. With glass and metal coming together, there’s nothing about ASUS Zenfone 5Z that doesn’t look premium.
With a 6.2-inch display dominating its front panel, the Asus Zenfone 5Z is tall, but it also narrower than other smartphones that we have used recently. This isn’t a downside at all because using it with one hand was far easier. The screen of the smartphone comes with 19:9 aspect ratio and has a notch at the top of the display. The notch houses the selfie camera, the earpiece and sensors. On flipping over, you will see a dual rear camera setup with an LED flash, a fingerprint scanner and ASUS branding.
The edges of the smartphone house the power and volume rocker buttons. A USB Type C port, a speaker grille, a 3.5mm jack, and a SIM tray are also there.
The screen that is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3. The display showcased bright and vivid colours that were accurate. We were impressed by the viewing angles and were also satisfied with sunlight readability – something we have always considered to be a big plus in any smartphone.
The smartphone comes with the ability to adjust the screen according to the current ambient lighting. However, there is an option of manually adjusting it too. The phone also has a smart screen feature that keeps the display on when you look at it. Another interesting feature is glove mode. This can be used to increase the sensitivity of the display in case you are using it with gloves on.
To sum it up, we would say that we were impressed with both design and display of Asus Zenfone 5Z. The smartphone looks premium, is apt for one handed usage and comes with a display that shows accurate colours and has good viewing angles. However, the device isn’t dust proof or waterproof, so one must be careful while using it.
Performance, cameras and other features
Asus ZenFone 5Z is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor and is available in three storage variants — 6GB RAM/64GB storage, 6GB RAM/128GB storage and 8GB RAM/256GB storage. Also, the Asus ZenFone 5Z can accommodate a microSD card of up to 1TB. The unit that we got for review was 6GB RAM/64GB storage one.
The smartphone runs Android Oreo skinned with ZenUI and houses a 3,300mAh battery that supports quick charging. It is notable, however, that the phone lacks support for wireless charging.
With Snapdragon 845 on boards, we obviously did not feel any lag while we performed day to day tasks on the smartphone. Launching various apps, switching between them or even leaving a number of apps unused the entire day did not make our device stutter even once.
As we just mentioned, the smartphone runs Android Oreo skinned with ZenUI. This adds a number of tweaks to the operating system powering the Asus Zenfone 5Z. The company has touted a number of AI driven features with ASUS Zenfone 5Z. For instance, the smartphone adjusts the charging speed based on established patterns. This feature is said to be better for battery health. Besides this, there is also an option of Scheduled Charging that uses time that is manually set by the user.
There is also a BeautyLive mode that we have earlier seen in Asus Beauty Live. As the name suggests, the feature adds beautification while you are streaming a live video.
There is also ZeniMoji – which is ASUS’ rival to Animoji, and ZenUI Safeguard – which enables users to send an SOS message and location to emergency numbers or certain contacts. They can do this just by pressing the power button thrice.
The mobile also supports a number of gestures including launching apps by drawing certain alphabets on the screen when it is off, muting or receiving an incoming call by flipping the phone over or by placing it on your ear. The smartphone also supports face unlock – which during our time with the smartphone – worked quickly and effectively.
The smartphone did disappoint us a bit when we used it for gaming. We expected it to handle even games as heavy as Asphalt 8 with perfect ease – given the processor it uses. While there was no problem in launching most games, the smartphone started heating up when we played them for some time. So even though the game ran smoothly on the device, we had to close it down.
In fact, we faced a similar problem when we used navigation on the device for a prolonged time. At the given price, this was certainly not acceptable.
There is another performance area that we found only satisfactory – the battery life of the smartphone. With usage that involved social media, watching YouTube videos, listening to music and navigation, we needed to charge our smartphone for the second time by 5 or 6pm.
While this is not bad, we have seen other phones in the same price range do much better than this. Having said that, there is one upside too. The device offers a number of battery modes to choose from including Normal, Power Saving, Super Saving, Performance and a Customised Battery Saver mode. With Customised Battery Saver mode, you can choose how the smartphone uses its battery life. Another plus is that the smartphone doesn’t take too long to get charged completely. In a little over an hour, ASUS Zenfone 5Z’s battery is completely charged.
The call quality of the device is as good as it can be. We didn’t face any issue with it at all regardless of the place where we received phone calls.
Coming to the imaging duties of the smartphone, ASUS Zenfone 5Z sports a dual rear camera setup with a 12MP Sony IMX363 sensor with f/1.8 aperture, auto focus and phase detection and an 8MP sensor that is wide angle ready and supports Bokeh effect. There is also an 8MP selfie camera. The camera app of the smartphone supports Pro, Super Resolution, Beauty, Slow Motion, GIF Animation and Time Lapse modes. It also lets users switch between the two cameras easily. The app also supports AI Scene detection and AI Photo Learning. While AI Scene detection identifies objects and scenes while taking pictures, AI Photo Learning suggests edits for photos once they are taken.
The photos taken by the dual rear cameras were really good. They had enough details, the colours were accurate and bright, and all turned out to be sharp and clear. The performance remained consistent even in lowly lit areas. However, we can’t say the same thing about the selfie camera of the smartphone. Even in areas that were well-lit, we noticed a lot of noise in the pictures. But we must add that the ones taken outdoors were better than the ones taken indoors. The ones taken in dimly lit areas lacked clarity. It always took a couple of shots to get one that can actually be uploaded on social media. At the given price, we have seen other smartphones do exceptionally well in this particular category.
We ran some benchmark tests on the device. While it scored 2407 and 8924 in single and multi-core scores of Geekbench 4, in Antutu its score was 2,47,560.
Verdict
At a price of Rs 29,999 the smartphone is a decent buy. It has its own share of pros and cons. While the design and display are amazing and the performance is superb, the heating up of the smartphone was not acceptable. We wouldn’t count battery life as a downside because it can be dealt with thanks to the customization options, but the selfie camera could certainly be better. Lack of wireless charging, and not being water or dust proof were disappointing too.
But then, these are not exactly deal breakers. If you are not too much into selfies and gaming, the device is a perfect buy for you at the given price.
Pros
Premium design, Vibrant display, Smooth performance, AI integration
Cons
Heating issue, average selfie camera
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With a 6.2-inch display dominating its front panel, the Asus Zenfone 5Z is tall, but it also narrower than other smartphones that we have used recently. This isn’t a downside at all because using it with one hand was far easier. The screen of the smartphone comes with 19:9 aspect ratio and has a notch at the top of the display. The notch houses the selfie camera, the earpiece and sensors. On flipping over, you will see a dual rear camera setup with an LED flash, a fingerprint scanner and ASUS branding.
The edges of the smartphone house the power and volume rocker buttons. A USB Type C port, a speaker grille, a 3.5mm jack, and a SIM tray are also there.
The screen that is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3. The display showcased bright and vivid colours that were accurate. We were impressed by the viewing angles and were also satisfied with sunlight readability – something we have always considered to be a big plus in any smartphone.
The smartphone comes with the ability to adjust the screen according to the current ambient lighting. However, there is an option of manually adjusting it too. The phone also has a smart screen feature that keeps the display on when you look at it. Another interesting feature is glove mode. This can be used to increase the sensitivity of the display in case you are using it with gloves on.
To sum it up, we would say that we were impressed with both design and display of Asus Zenfone 5Z. The smartphone looks premium, is apt for one handed usage and comes with a display that shows accurate colours and has good viewing angles. However, the device isn’t dust proof or waterproof, so one must be careful while using it.
Performance, cameras and other features
Asus ZenFone 5Z is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor and is available in three storage variants — 6GB RAM/64GB storage, 6GB RAM/128GB storage and 8GB RAM/256GB storage. Also, the Asus ZenFone 5Z can accommodate a microSD card of up to 1TB. The unit that we got for review was 6GB RAM/64GB storage one.
The smartphone runs Android Oreo skinned with ZenUI and houses a 3,300mAh battery that supports quick charging. It is notable, however, that the phone lacks support for wireless charging.
With Snapdragon 845 on boards, we obviously did not feel any lag while we performed day to day tasks on the smartphone. Launching various apps, switching between them or even leaving a number of apps unused the entire day did not make our device stutter even once.
As we just mentioned, the smartphone runs Android Oreo skinned with ZenUI. This adds a number of tweaks to the operating system powering the Asus Zenfone 5Z. The company has touted a number of AI driven features with ASUS Zenfone 5Z. For instance, the smartphone adjusts the charging speed based on established patterns. This feature is said to be better for battery health. Besides this, there is also an option of Scheduled Charging that uses time that is manually set by the user.
There is also a BeautyLive mode that we have earlier seen in Asus Beauty Live. As the name suggests, the feature adds beautification while you are streaming a live video.
There is also ZeniMoji – which is ASUS’ rival to Animoji, and ZenUI Safeguard – which enables users to send an SOS message and location to emergency numbers or certain contacts. They can do this just by pressing the power button thrice.
The mobile also supports a number of gestures including launching apps by drawing certain alphabets on the screen when it is off, muting or receiving an incoming call by flipping the phone over or by placing it on your ear. The smartphone also supports face unlock – which during our time with the smartphone – worked quickly and effectively.
The smartphone did disappoint us a bit when we used it for gaming. We expected it to handle even games as heavy as Asphalt 8 with perfect ease – given the processor it uses. While there was no problem in launching most games, the smartphone started heating up when we played them for some time. So even though the game ran smoothly on the device, we had to close it down.
In fact, we faced a similar problem when we used navigation on the device for a prolonged time. At the given price, this was certainly not acceptable.
There is another performance area that we found only satisfactory – the battery life of the smartphone. With usage that involved social media, watching YouTube videos, listening to music and navigation, we needed to charge our smartphone for the second time by 5 or 6pm.
While this is not bad, we have seen other phones in the same price range do much better than this. Having said that, there is one upside too. The device offers a number of battery modes to choose from including Normal, Power Saving, Super Saving, Performance and a Customised Battery Saver mode. With Customised Battery Saver mode, you can choose how the smartphone uses its battery life. Another plus is that the smartphone doesn’t take too long to get charged completely. In a little over an hour, ASUS Zenfone 5Z’s battery is completely charged.
The call quality of the device is as good as it can be. We didn’t face any issue with it at all regardless of the place where we received phone calls.
Coming to the imaging duties of the smartphone, ASUS Zenfone 5Z sports a dual rear camera setup with a 12MP Sony IMX363 sensor with f/1.8 aperture, auto focus and phase detection and an 8MP sensor that is wide angle ready and supports Bokeh effect. There is also an 8MP selfie camera. The camera app of the smartphone supports Pro, Super Resolution, Beauty, Slow Motion, GIF Animation and Time Lapse modes. It also lets users switch between the two cameras easily. The app also supports AI Scene detection and AI Photo Learning. While AI Scene detection identifies objects and scenes while taking pictures, AI Photo Learning suggests edits for photos once they are taken.
The photos taken by the dual rear cameras were really good. They had enough details, the colours were accurate and bright, and all turned out to be sharp and clear. The performance remained consistent even in lowly lit areas. However, we can’t say the same thing about the selfie camera of the smartphone. Even in areas that were well-lit, we noticed a lot of noise in the pictures. But we must add that the ones taken outdoors were better than the ones taken indoors. The ones taken in dimly lit areas lacked clarity. It always took a couple of shots to get one that can actually be uploaded on social media. At the given price, we have seen other smartphones do exceptionally well in this particular category.
We ran some benchmark tests on the device. While it scored 2407 and 8924 in single and multi-core scores of Geekbench 4, in Antutu its score was 2,47,560.
Verdict
At a price of Rs 29,999 the smartphone is a decent buy. It has its own share of pros and cons. While the design and display are amazing and the performance is superb, the heating up of the smartphone was not acceptable. We wouldn’t count battery life as a downside because it can be dealt with thanks to the customization options, but the selfie camera could certainly be better. Lack of wireless charging, and not being water or dust proof were disappointing too.
But then, these are not exactly deal breakers. If you are not too much into selfies and gaming, the device is a perfect buy for you at the given price.
Pros
Premium design, Vibrant display, Smooth performance, AI integration
Cons
Heating issue, average selfie camera
For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube [Video] Top Upcoming Smartphones Of 2018
![[Video] Top Upcoming Smartphones Of 2018](https://www.gadgetbridge.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/maxresdefault-3-768x432.jpg "[Video] Top Upcoming Smartphones Of 2018")
Top Upcoming Smartphones Of 2018
1) Samsung Note 9
2) Apple iPhone 2018
3) Google Pixel 3
4) Nokia Edge
5) Xiaomi Redmi Note 6
6) OnePlus 6T
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A smart 7-inch car entertainment system. Tete-a-tete with Pranshu Gupta, founder and CEO Trak N Tell
Car entertainment and its aspects have become increasingly popular especially when it is becoming smart. Maps integrations, apps connectivity and more can be seen inside the car. We caught up with Mr Pranshu Gupta, founder of Trak N Tell to tell us more about the new device Intelli play that has just come out of his tech stable.
1) What was the idea/inspiration behind making Intelli Play?
I wanted to make a “connected car” option for the mass market cars in India. Currently, only the premium cars have that option. It is also observed that most people globally first spend on entertainment and convenience and then on security. By combining infotainment with telematics, we can now offer a built-in security feature when people opt to upgrade their in-car entertainment systems.
2) Who is the target audience of Intelli Play and can you elaborate its features?
We will be launching the product in the automotive after-market with a special focus on cars in the 5L and upwards category.
Intelli Play is a communication technology system that allows for seamless media-play, voice and data connectivity, which collectively grants its users comprehensive and round-the-clock access to their vehicles. Loaded with a 7-inch HD touchscreen, the double DIN car infotainment system supports popular media formats including MP3, WAV, MP4, AVI, and WMV.
The audio system can play audio and video media through the auxiliary port (aux cable), USB and through Bluetooth. The system also enables hands-free calling, as well as Google Maps-based real-time navigation. However, the trendy AV system is just the tip of the iceberg.
The system is fully-loaded with security features such as real-time tracker, network-agnostic two-way calling and eavesdropping feature (a popular requirement in the logistics industry), a 4G Wi-Fi hotspot, built-in odometer, onboard flash memory, and an in-built battery backup.
Intelli Play features reverse camera and dash camera support (non-inclusive of cameras), which can enable vehicle owners to see exactly what is happening around their vehicle – even from miles away.
3) What is next after Intelli Play, will you add more features to it?
We will be offering variants with different screen sizes and qualities (for example, high definition scratch-proof screens). Beyond that, there are other products in the pipeline for which we’re in the midst of filing patents and can not disclose at this time.
4) What is your current revenue model of Intelli Play and would you be expanding to other countries as well?
At the time of launch, we will be focusing purely on product sales. In the next phase, we will start offering services that our customers can subscribe. We are also in talks with international brands for launching in other counties.
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JioPhone 2 to go on sale at 12pm today: How to buy
Reliance Jio’s upgraded version of the JioPhone is finally hitting the shelves today. Dubbed as JioPhone 2, the new phone by Reliance Jio will be available for purchase online starting today. Those who have been waiting for high-end model of JioPhone can today get their hands on one in a flash sale that will begin at 12pm on Jio.com. The phone can also be bought from MyJio app.
Priced at Rs 2,999, Reliance JioPhone 2 was announced by the company in July this year. JioPhone 2 is an improved version of JioPhone that comes with a full QWERTY keypad, features a 2.4 inch horizontal screen display and sports a four-way navigation pad. JioPhone 2 also comes with voice command features to make calls, send messages, browse the web, and operate all other applications that are present on the device.
Reliance Jio is also offering special tariff plans for JioPhone 2 users including a Rs 49 plan that offers 1GB data and 50 sms, Rs 99 plan with 14GB data and 400 sms and a Rs 153 plan that comes with 42GB data with unlimited sms. The validity of all three plans is 28 days and all three come with free voice calls and subscription to Jio apps.
Here are the steps you need to follow to buy the JioPhone 2:
1. Visit Jio.com or MyJio app.
2. Select JioPhone 2.
3. Enter the pin code of the shipping address.
4. Proceed to checkout.
5. Fill in your required personal details.
6. Choose the method of payment and then proceed to pay Rs 2,999.
Following this, you will receive an email and/or SMS to confirm the order.
On August 15, Facebook, Google Maps and YouTube have been made available to JioPhone customers. WhatsApp too will soon come to JioPhone. Besides this, JioPhone users enjoy free calls and have access to a number of applications like JioTV, JioCinema, JioMusic and JioChat.
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Top Notch: 10 hot smartphones that sport an iPhone X-like notch
The hottest trend in the smartphone industry since last year has surely been the notch. After it got popular with Apple iPhone X, we have seen a number of smartphones sport displays with a notch on the top. The narrow bordered smartphones have become increasingly popular and the notch at the top of the display is where the manufacturers house the front camera, earpiece and sensors. Here are 10 hot smartphones that come with the notch design:
One of the most popular devices to feature the notch design this year is OnePlus 6. It sports a 6.28-inch full-HD+ Full Optic AMOLED display with 19:9 aspect ratio. It is powered by the most powerful processor in the world — Qualcomm Snapdragon 845. OnePlus 6 is available in three storage variants — 6GB RAM/64GB inbuilt storage, 8GB RAM/128GB onboard storage and 8GB RAM/256GB of internal storage. On the camera front, it comes with a dual rear camera setup with a 16MP Sony IMX519 sensor and a 20MP Sony IM376K sensor. It has a 16MP Sony IMX371 sensor for selfies and video calls and houses a 3,300mAh battery. The 6GB RAM version of the phone is priced at Rs 34,999 and the 8GB RAM/128GB variant costs Rs 39,999.
Launched recently in India, LG G7+ ThinQ sports a notch on top of its 6.1-inch QHD+ FullView Super vivid display that supports an aspect ratio of 19.5:9. It is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor coupled with 6GB RAM and 128GB internal storage. It can hold microSD cards of up to 2TB. For imaging duties, it sports a dual rear camera setup with 16MP sensors and also features an 8MP front facing snapper for selfies and video calls. It houses a 3,000mAh battery and is priced at Rs 39,990.
The latest smartphone from Huawei — Nova 3 — also sports a notch on its display. The smartphone comes with 6.3-inch screen of FHD+ display with 19.5:9 aspect ratio and is powered by the company’s own octa-core Kirin 970 processor. Huawei Nova 3 comes with 6GB RAM and 128GB internal storage and runs Android 8.1 Oreo skinned with EMUI 8.2. Huawei Nova 3 is priced at Rs 34,999.
Finally, we have a smartphone from the budget segment in our list too. And it’s from Huwei’s sub-brand — Honor. Recently, Honor 9N was launched in two variants in India — 3GB RAM/32GB inbuilt storage and 4GB RAM/64GB of onboard storage. It is powered by an octa-core Kirin 659 processor and a notch is placed on top of the smartphone’s 5.84-inch full HD+ display. Honor 9N runs Android 8.0 Oreo with an EMUI layer on top and houses a 3,000mAh battery. While the 3GB RAM variant is priced at Rs 11,999, the 4GB RAM version costs Rs 13,999.
We have seen Vivo take inspiration from Apple more than once. And it wasn’t surprising to see them incorporate an iPhone like notch in their flagship Vivo V9 too. The smartphone features a 6.3-inch IPS LCD ‘FullView’ display with an aspect ratio of 19:9. Powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 626 processor, the smartphone comes with 4GB RAM and 64GB internal storage. Priced at Rs 22,990, Vivo V9 sports a 24MP selfie camera and a dual rear camera setup with 16MP and 5MP sensors.
Oppo is another smartphone company whom we have seen taking from iPhone in the past. And after iPhone X, Oppo F7 also came with a notch placed on top of its 6.23-inch full-HD+ display. It is powered by a 64-bit octa-core MediaTek Helio P60 processor clubbed with either 4GB or 6GB RAM. While the 4GB RAM variant comes with 64GB internal storage and is priced at Rs 21,990, the 6GB RAM version is clubbed with 128GB inbuilt storage and costs Rs 26,990. Oppo F7 comes with a 25MP selfie camera with AI Beauty 2.0 and a 16MP primary camera.
Huawei P20 Pro — which is the first smartphone in the world to sport a triple rear camera — also comes with a notch on its 6.1-inch full HD+ OLED display. Powered by an octa-core Kirin 970 processor clubbed with 6GB RAM, the smartphone comes with 128GB inbuilt storage. The smartphone is priced at Rs 64,999 and its main highlight is the triple rear camera setup with 20MP monochrome, 40MP RGB and 8MP telephoto sensors.
Asus this year launched its Zenfone 5Z smartphone as a direct competitor to the OnePlus 6. The smartphone display has a 6.2-inch full HD+ IPS screen that supports a aspect ratio of 19:9 and comes with a notch on top. Powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, the smartphone comes in three storage variants — 6GB RAM/64GB storage, 6GB RAM/128GB storage and 8GB RAM/256GB storage. While the 6GB RAM/64GB storage version is priced at Rs 29,999, the 6GB RAM/128GB storage variant costs Rs 32,999 and the 8GB RAM/256GB storage option bears a price tag of Rs 36,999.
Another smartphone from Vivo on our list that comes with a notch on its display. Vivo X21 features an edge to edge 6.28-inch FHD+ super AMOLED touchscreen display that comes with a notch on the top and a fingerprint sensor beneath it. Powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 chipset, the smartphone comes with 6GB of RAM and 128GB internal storage, Vivo X21 comes with a price tag of Rs 35,990.
Another smartphone by Huawei’s sub brand Honor that comes with the popular notch design is Honor Play. It sports a 6.29-inch screen of FHD+ display with a notch on its top and 19.5:9 aspect ratio. Powered by an octa-core Kirin 970 processor, the smartphone comes with either 4GB or 6GB RAM and has 64GB internal storage onboard. While the 4GB RAM variant is priced at Rs 19,999, the 6GB RAM version costs Rs 23,999.
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In This Article
OnePlus 6
One of the most popular devices to feature the notch design this year is OnePlus 6. It sports a 6.28-inch full-HD+ Full Optic AMOLED display with 19:9 aspect ratio. It is powered by the most powerful processor in the world — Qualcomm Snapdragon 845. OnePlus 6 is available in three storage variants — 6GB RAM/64GB inbuilt storage, 8GB RAM/128GB onboard storage and 8GB RAM/256GB of internal storage. On the camera front, it comes with a dual rear camera setup with a 16MP Sony IMX519 sensor and a 20MP Sony IM376K sensor. It has a 16MP Sony IMX371 sensor for selfies and video calls and houses a 3,300mAh battery. The 6GB RAM version of the phone is priced at Rs 34,999 and the 8GB RAM/128GB variant costs Rs 39,999.
LG G7+ ThinQ
Launched recently in India, LG G7+ ThinQ sports a notch on top of its 6.1-inch QHD+ FullView Super vivid display that supports an aspect ratio of 19.5:9. It is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor coupled with 6GB RAM and 128GB internal storage. It can hold microSD cards of up to 2TB. For imaging duties, it sports a dual rear camera setup with 16MP sensors and also features an 8MP front facing snapper for selfies and video calls. It houses a 3,000mAh battery and is priced at Rs 39,990.
Huawei Nova 3
The latest smartphone from Huawei — Nova 3 — also sports a notch on its display. The smartphone comes with 6.3-inch screen of FHD+ display with 19.5:9 aspect ratio and is powered by the company’s own octa-core Kirin 970 processor. Huawei Nova 3 comes with 6GB RAM and 128GB internal storage and runs Android 8.1 Oreo skinned with EMUI 8.2. Huawei Nova 3 is priced at Rs 34,999.
Honor 9N
Finally, we have a smartphone from the budget segment in our list too. And it’s from Huwei’s sub-brand — Honor. Recently, Honor 9N was launched in two variants in India — 3GB RAM/32GB inbuilt storage and 4GB RAM/64GB of onboard storage. It is powered by an octa-core Kirin 659 processor and a notch is placed on top of the smartphone’s 5.84-inch full HD+ display. Honor 9N runs Android 8.0 Oreo with an EMUI layer on top and houses a 3,000mAh battery. While the 3GB RAM variant is priced at Rs 11,999, the 4GB RAM version costs Rs 13,999.
Vivo V9
We have seen Vivo take inspiration from Apple more than once. And it wasn’t surprising to see them incorporate an iPhone like notch in their flagship Vivo V9 too. The smartphone features a 6.3-inch IPS LCD ‘FullView’ display with an aspect ratio of 19:9. Powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 626 processor, the smartphone comes with 4GB RAM and 64GB internal storage. Priced at Rs 22,990, Vivo V9 sports a 24MP selfie camera and a dual rear camera setup with 16MP and 5MP sensors.
Oppo F7
Oppo is another smartphone company whom we have seen taking from iPhone in the past. And after iPhone X, Oppo F7 also came with a notch placed on top of its 6.23-inch full-HD+ display. It is powered by a 64-bit octa-core MediaTek Helio P60 processor clubbed with either 4GB or 6GB RAM. While the 4GB RAM variant comes with 64GB internal storage and is priced at Rs 21,990, the 6GB RAM version is clubbed with 128GB inbuilt storage and costs Rs 26,990. Oppo F7 comes with a 25MP selfie camera with AI Beauty 2.0 and a 16MP primary camera.
Huawei P20 Pro
Huawei P20 Pro — which is the first smartphone in the world to sport a triple rear camera — also comes with a notch on its 6.1-inch full HD+ OLED display. Powered by an octa-core Kirin 970 processor clubbed with 6GB RAM, the smartphone comes with 128GB inbuilt storage. The smartphone is priced at Rs 64,999 and its main highlight is the triple rear camera setup with 20MP monochrome, 40MP RGB and 8MP telephoto sensors.
Asus Zenfone 5Z
Asus this year launched its Zenfone 5Z smartphone as a direct competitor to the OnePlus 6. The smartphone display has a 6.2-inch full HD+ IPS screen that supports a aspect ratio of 19:9 and comes with a notch on top. Powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, the smartphone comes in three storage variants — 6GB RAM/64GB storage, 6GB RAM/128GB storage and 8GB RAM/256GB storage. While the 6GB RAM/64GB storage version is priced at Rs 29,999, the 6GB RAM/128GB storage variant costs Rs 32,999 and the 8GB RAM/256GB storage option bears a price tag of Rs 36,999.
Vivo X21
Another smartphone from Vivo on our list that comes with a notch on its display. Vivo X21 features an edge to edge 6.28-inch FHD+ super AMOLED touchscreen display that comes with a notch on the top and a fingerprint sensor beneath it. Powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 chipset, the smartphone comes with 6GB of RAM and 128GB internal storage, Vivo X21 comes with a price tag of Rs 35,990.
Honor Play
Another smartphone by Huawei’s sub brand Honor that comes with the popular notch design is Honor Play. It sports a 6.29-inch screen of FHD+ display with a notch on its top and 19.5:9 aspect ratio. Powered by an octa-core Kirin 970 processor, the smartphone comes with either 4GB or 6GB RAM and has 64GB internal storage onboard. While the 4GB RAM variant is priced at Rs 19,999, the 6GB RAM version costs Rs 23,999.
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[td_smart_list_end] Samsung Galaxy Note 9 vs Samsung Galaxy S9: Comparison
South Korean technology giant Samsung has launched its Galaxy Note 9 today. Samsung flagship of the year comes with extremely high-end specifications and premium design. Just a few months back, the company had also launched its Galaxy S9 smartphone – which also comes with top-notch specifications. If you can’t decide if you should buy the Galaxy Note 9 or Galaxy S9, we are here to help you. We list down all the specifications of both the smartphones by Samsung so that you can decide which one among the two is the perfect buy for you:
In This Article
Display
Samsung Galaxy Note 9: 6.4-inch Super AMOLED Infinity display with Quad HD+ resolution. Samsung Galaxy S9: 5.8-inch Quad HD + Curved Super AMOLED display with 18:9 aspect ratio.Processor
Samsung Galaxy Note 9: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Samsung Galaxy S9: Globally available with Qualcomm Snapdragon 845. It was launched in India with Exynos 9810 processor.Primary camera
Samsung Galaxy Note 9: Dual rear cameras with 12MP wide angle and telephoto sensors Samsung Galaxy S9: Super Speed Dual Pixel 12MP autofocus sensor with optical image stabilizationSelfie camera
Samsung Galaxy Note 9: 8MP autofocus camera Samsung Galaxy S9: 8MP selfie cameraRAM and storage
Samsung Galaxy Note 9: 6GB RAM/128GB internal storage and 8GB RAM/512GB inbuilt storage Samsung Galaxy S9: 4GB RAM coupled with either 64GB or 256GB internal storageSupport for microSD card
Samsung Galaxy Note 9: Up to 512GB Samsung Galaxy S9: Up to 400GBBattery
Samsung Galaxy Note 9: 4000mAh Samsung Galaxy S9: 3000mAh batteryOperating system
Samsung Galaxy Note 9: Android 8.1 Oreo Samsung Galaxy S9: Android 8.0 Oreo skinned with the TouchWiz UISpecial features
Samsung Galaxy Note 9: Water resistant (IP68); wireless charging; S-Pen with Bluetooth connectivity; Iris and facial scanning. Samsung Galaxy S9: AR emojis, iris scanning, facial recognition and the fingerprint sensor, Bixby vision. For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTubeSamsung Galaxy Note 9 vs OnePlus 6 vs Apple iPhone X: Comparison
Samsung Galaxy Note 9 has finally been launched. Being the technology giant’s flagship of the year, it comes with top notch specifications including the world’s most powerful processor, an improved S Pen and a bigger battery. Here, we compare it with two other smartphones that have ruled the smartphone market this year – OnePlus 6 and Apple iPhone X. Read our spec to spec comparison of the smartphones to decide which one is the perfect buy for you:
In This Article
Display
Samsung Galaxy Note 9: 6.4-inch Super AMOLED Infinity display with Quad HD+ resolution OnePlus 6: 6.28-inch FHD+ Full Optic AMOLED display with 19:9 aspect ratio Apple iPhone X: 5.8-inch Super Retina Display with an OLED panelProcessor
Samsung Galaxy Note 9: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 OnePlus 6: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Apple iPhone X: A11 Bionic processorPrimary camera
Samsung Galaxy Note 9: Dual rear cameras with 12MP wide angle and telephoto sensors OnePlus 6: 16MP+20MP dual rear cameras Apple iPhone X: 12MP+12MP dual rear cameras with quad-LED TrueTone flashSelfie camera
Samsung Galaxy Note 9: 8MP autofocus camera OnePlus 6: 16MP front facing snapper Apple iPhone X: 7-megapixel front-facing cameraRAM and storage
Samsung Galaxy Note 9: 6GB RAM/128GB internal storage and 8GB RAM/512GB inbuilt storage OnePlus 6: 6GB RAM/64GB inbuilt storage, 8GB RAM/128GB on-board storage and 8GB RAM/256GB of internal storage Apple iPhone X: Two storage variants – 64GB and 256GBSupport for microSD card
Samsung Galaxy Note 9: Up to 512GB OnePlus 6: No microSD card slot Apple iPhone X: No microSD card slotBattery
Samsung Galaxy Note 9: 4000 mAh OnePlus 6: 3,300 mAh Apple iPhone X: Lasts up to 2 hours longer than iPhone 7Operating system
Samsung Galaxy Note 9: Android 8.1 Oreo OnePlus 6: Android 8.1 Oreo topped with OxygenOS 5.1 Apple iPhone X: Apple A11 BionicSpecial features
Samsung Galaxy Note 9: Water resistant (IP68); wireless charging; S-Pen with Bluetooth connectivity; Iris and facial scanning OnePlus 6: Dash charging, Face Unlock feature, screen gestures, Dark Theme Apple iPhone X: Water resistant (IP67); wireless charging; TrueDepth front-facing camera adds Face ID and front-facing AR effects For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube [td_smart_list_end]Samsung Galaxy Watch with Tizen-based OS launched
South Korean technology giant Samsung unveiled its new smartwatch at an event in New York on Thursday, where they also showcased Samsung Galaxy Note 9 smartphone. Dubbed Galaxy Watch, the smartwatch comes with 3G/LTE connectivity and can be charged wirelessly. It will be available in two models — a 46mm silver variant and a 42mm rose gold and black variants. With Galaxy Watch, Samsung has finally let go of its Gear branding.
Price and availability
According to the company, the Galaxy Watch will be available in the United States starting August 24th and in its home country — South Korea — starting August 31st. The smartwatch will reach additional markets only by September 14. While 42mm variant is priced at $329.99 (roughly Rs 23,000), the 46mm version bears a price tag of $349.99 (roughly Rs 24,000). However, the pricing of the LTE version has not been disclosed yet.
Specifications
The Galaxy Watch features either a 1.3-inch or 1.2-inch Super AMOLED touch display protected by Corning Gorilla Glass DX+. While the 1.3-inch version comes with 472mAh battery, the 1.2-inch variant houses a 270mAh battery.
Running on Tizen OS 4.0, Galaxy Watch is powered by 1.15 GHz Exynos 9110 dual core processor and offers 5 ATM water resistance and IP68 dust resistance. It comes with a heart rate monitor, ambient light sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, and barometer. While the LTE version of the watch comes with 1.15GB RAM and 4GB of storage, the Bluetooth version includes 768MB RAM and 4GB of storage.
According to Samsung, the improved battery life of Galaxy Watch can provide ‘several days’ of usage on just a single charge. The smartwatch also includes some health and wellness oriented features. The heart rate monitor on the device not only records your heartbeat, when it detects that your heart is racing, it will also notify you to relax. Besides this, it tracks fitness and records sleep patterns. It will also determine the quality of your sleep.
Samsung also said that the smartwatch now supports 21 indoor activities and lets users track 39 workouts. It can also track calories and send personalised alerts based on nutrition.
The new smartwatch by Samsung is touted to come with a wide range of straps and watch faces — including straps by Braloba. Also, it is for the first time that a wearable by Samsung comes with an Always On Display.
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Samsung Galaxy Note 9 with all-new S Pen, 4,000mAh battery launched: Price, specifications & more
Samsung fans, your wait for the technology giant’s flagship of the year is over. The South Korean technology company has finally taken wraps off its Samsung Galaxy Note 9 smartphone. This year, it comes with a bigger battery and a stylus that can do so much more than earlier. Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is also the first smartphone by the company to come with 512GB of in-built storage. That’s not all. It also supports microSD cards of the same capacity. Other high-end specifications of the smartphone include the most powerful processor in the world – Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 and an 8GB of RAM. Furthermore, the smartphone will be available in four colour variants — Midnight Black, Metallic Copper, Ocean Blue and Lavender Purple.
Price and availability
Samsung Galaxy Note 9 comes in two variants – 6GB RAM clubbed with 128GB internal storage and 8GB RAM coupled with 512GB of inbuilt storage. While the 6GB RAM variant is priced at $999, the 8GB RAM version bears a price tag of $1,250. It will be available in the United States starting August 24.
However, there is no word on the price or the availability of the smartphone in India as of now. So you’ll have to stay tuned till we update you on the same.
Specifications
Samsung Galaxy Note 9 sports a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED Infinity display with Quad HD+ resolution and an aspect ratio of 18.5:9. As we have mentioned earlier, it is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor clubbed with either 6GB or 8GB RAM. There are two storage variants of the device – 128GB and 512GB. For more storage, users can add microSD cards of up to 512GB.
Samsung Galaxy Note 9 mobile houses a 4,000mAh battery and comes with an all new S Pen that supports Bluetooth Low Energy module. Besides performing all the functions that it did earlier, the S Pen that comes with Galaxy Note 9 can be used as a remote control for presentations and to manage apps like YouTube. That’s not all. Users can also use it to click selfies and switching between the primary and secondary cameras.
The S Pen gets charged automatically when you place it inside the smartphone. The company claims that with just 40 seconds of charging, the S Pen can be used for 30 minutes.
The smartphone now also comes with Dex – which enables the users to get a desktop-like experience from their phone. They can do this just by plugging in their smartphone to a desktop via a Type-C to HDMI adapter.
For imaging duties, Samsung Galaxy Note 9 comes with dual rear camera setup at the back. The Galaxy Note 9 comes with a 12MP wide angle autofocus sensor and a 12MP telephoto autofocus sensor. Both the sensors of the smartphone come with optical image stabilization. For selfies and video calls, the smartphone houses an 8MP autofocus sensor in the front.
The Android 8.1 Oreo based smartphone comes with dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v5.0, USB Type-C, a 3.5mm headphone jack, WiFi, Ant+, NFC, MST, and Gigabit LTE as connectivity options. It also features AKG Harman speakers.
Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is also IP68-rated waterproof and supports wireless charging and comes with iris, face and fingerprint sensors.
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The smartphone now also comes with Dex – which enables the users to get a desktop-like experience from their phone. They can do this just by plugging in their smartphone to a desktop via a Type-C to HDMI adapter.
For imaging duties, Samsung Galaxy Note 9 comes with dual rear camera setup at the back. The Galaxy Note 9 comes with a 12MP wide angle autofocus sensor and a 12MP telephoto autofocus sensor. Both the sensors of the smartphone come with optical image stabilization. For selfies and video calls, the smartphone houses an 8MP autofocus sensor in the front.
The Android 8.1 Oreo based smartphone comes with dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v5.0, USB Type-C, a 3.5mm headphone jack, WiFi, Ant+, NFC, MST, and Gigabit LTE as connectivity options. It also features AKG Harman speakers.
Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is also IP68-rated waterproof and supports wireless charging and comes with iris, face and fingerprint sensors.
For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube Ultimate Ears Wonderboom Freestyle speakers launched in India at Rs 6,995
Ultimate Ears or UE is a brand by Logitech which has been producing some really good speakers in the recent past. Today the Indian leg of the company has gone ahead and launched Ultimate Ears Wonderboom Freestyle Bluetooth speakers in the country. They were globally showcased few months ago and today they have been launched in five different colour combinations in India. The speaker styles have been given innovative names like Concrete, Avacado, Patches Raspery and Unicorn.
The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom Freestyle speakers are waterproof with IPX7 rating and drop proof. The company claims to have tested them from a drop height of 1.5 meters. That is roughly 5 feet and nothing has happened to them. The device features rubber and cloth exteriors. The power and Bluetooth buttons can be found on the top of the device. The logo on top also doubles up as a play and pause button. The same can be used to skip songs as well.
Sumanta Datta, Managing Director and Cluster Head, South West Asia and Indonesia, Logitech, said, “The new collection by Ultimate Ears is all about expressing yourself. You curate your playlist and personal style – why not have a speaker that reflects that style too? WONDERBOOM Freestyle Collection gives you big sound and the freedom to express your style in a trendy, tough and worry proof speaker. The new collection strengthens the Ultimate Ears portfolio for the Indian market with industry leading speakers across entry, mid and premium range.”
The volume buttons in the form of plus and minus are located on the front of the device and users can use the supplied charging cable with any USB charger to charge Ultimate Ears Wonderboom Freestyle speakers. The wireless range of the speaker is 100 feet and two such speakers can be paired together as well. The speakers weigh 425 grams and come with 2-year limited hardware warranty. The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom Freestyle speakers are priced at Rs 6,995 and will be available in Croma and other leading retail chains starting august 2018.
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Vivo Nex video review: A smartphone worth every penny
Vivo has led the innovation this time. All eyes are now on Apple to know what will they produce in the coming months. This is our review of the notch-less display driven Vivo Nex Smartphone launched at under Rs 45K in India.
You can read the full review of vivo nex here.
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Microsoft Surface Laptop and Surface book 2 with Windows 10 launched in India
Finally, the Microsoft surface line-up has been refreshed in India. On Tuesday, at an event in New Delhi the company unveiled Microsoft Surface Book 2 and its Surface laptop. These were showcased to the world last year and now have finally come to India. Both the machines come in quite a few options and will feature Intel’s 7th gen iCore processors.
Microsoft Surface laptop technical specifications
The Microsoft Surface laptop features a full HD 13.5-inch PixelSense touchscreen combined with their Alcantara fabric keyboard. There are quite a few combination of specs available for this one starting from the Intel Core i5 with 128GB SSD and 8GB RAM to the Intel Core i7 with 1TB SSD and 16 GB RAM. In total there are 5 such combinations available, depending upon the kind of usage you have.
All models come with on board Intel graphics unit and support Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac and Bluetooth v4.0. The Microsoft Surface laptop also comes with USB 3.0 port as well a mini display port. Windows 10 is the OS on this machine.
Microsoft Surface Book 2 tech specs
With the surface laptop, the company also launched Microsoft Surface Book 2. This is the flagship machine by the company and is claimed to have top-of-the-line performance. Available in two screen sizes of 13-inches as well as 15-inches, this notebook can display resolution of up to 3,240×2,160 pixels. Microsoft Surface Book 2 is available in seven configurations types starting from the Intel i5 CPU to Intel i7 CPU with multiple RAM and storage combo. NVIDIA has supplied the graphics in this machine on most counts. The lowest end one features intel graphics, rest have dedicated graphic cards for better graphical grip. As for the OS this notebook runs Windows 10.
Both machines will be available through all the major online as well as offline stores in India.
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| Configurations of Microsoft Surface Laptop | Price | ||
| Intel Core i5, 128GB SSD, 8GB RAM, Intel HD Graphics 620 | 86,999 | ||
| Intel Core i5, 256GB SSD, 8GB RAM, Intel HD Graphics 620 | 114,999 | ||
| Intel Core i7, 256GB SSD, 8GB RAM, Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640 | 144,999 | ||
| Intel Core i7, 512GB SSD, 16GB RAM, Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640 | 196,999 | ||
| Intel Core i7, 1TB SSD, 16GB RAM, Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640 | 233,999 |
| Configurations of Surface Book 2 | MRP* (in INR) | ||
| 13.5” Intel Core i5, 256GB SSD, 8GB RAM, Intel HD Graphics 620 | 137,999 | ||
| 13.5” Intel Core i7, 256GB SSD, 8GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 | 185,999 | ||
| 13.5” Intel Core i7, 512GB SSD, 16GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 | 222,999 | ||
| 13.5” Intel Core i7, 1TB SSD, 16GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 | 257,999 | ||
| 15” Intel Core i7, 256GB SSD, 16GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 | 222,499 | ||
| 15” Intel Core i7, 512GB SSD, 16GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 | 258,999 | ||
| 15” Intel Core i7, 1TB SSD, 16GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 | 295,999 |
Google Maps updated to display the Earth as a globe
Most of us rely on Google Maps whenever we are going to a place we have never visited before. It’s the most widely used app for directions. And now, the technology giant has added an interesting new update to its popular Maps app.
If you now zoom all the way out on Google Maps, the Earth will be displayed as a globe and not as a flat surface. With this update, Google Maps will be able to depict places more accurately.
The technology giant announced the update via Google Maps Twitter feed. The tweet said that with the Google Maps’ new 3D globe mode, “Greenland’s projection is no longer the size of Africa.” However, it is notable that the update is only available on desktop as of now. On mobile, you’ll have to still keep up with the flat surface. Till now, Google Maps used Mercator projection – which displayed the Earth like a flat surface. Although it is a highly popular style that makes it simple to print, what it projects is a highly distorted image of the Earth. For instance, with Mercator projection, the size of Greenland and Africa appear to be the same. Whereas in reality, Africa is 14 times larger than Greenland. Wondering why Mercator maps are being used in spite of displaying a distorted image of the Earth? A Google employee answered this for us in 2009 saying it helps them in preserving the angles of the roads. In an answer to a query on Google Maps & Earth Help forum, Joel H wrote, “The first launch of Maps actually did not use Mercator, and streets in high latitude places like Stockholm did not meet at right angles on the map the way they do in reality. While this distorts a ‘zoomed-out view’ of the map, it allows close-ups (street level) to appear more like reality. The majority of our users are looking down at the street level for businesses, directions, etc… so we’re sticking with this projection for now.” For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTubeWith 3D Globe Mode on Google Maps desktop, Greenland's projection is no longer the size of Africa.
— Google Maps (@googlemaps) August 2, 2018
Just zoom all the way out at https://t.co/mIZTya01K3 😎🌍 pic.twitter.com/CIkkS7It8d
LG G7+ThinQ smartphone with Snapdragon 845 processor launched in India: Price, specifications & more
It looks like OnePlus 6 has one more competitor in India. Till now, the device was competing with Vivo Nex and Asus Zenfone 5Z. And the latest device to give it competition is LG G7+ThinQ.
The smartphone was announced globally in May and is the successor to LG G6+ that was launched last year. It has a dedicated button for Google Assistant and also comes with AI powered dual rear cameras. Here, we list down the specifications, pricing and availability details of the newly launched smartphone.
Specifications
The Android 8.0 Oreo based LG G7+ThinQ features a 6.1-inch QHD+ FullView Super vivid display that supports an aspect ratio of 19.5:9. The display also supports brightness of up to 1,000 nits and has 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut. Powered by Qualcomm’s latest processor – Snapdragon 845 – the smartphone comes with 6GB RAM. LG G7+ThinQ also has 128GB of internal storage and can hold a microSD card of up to 2TB.
For imaging duties, the smartphone sports an AI powered dual rear camera setup with 16MP primary sensor that has an f/1.9 aperture lens and a 107 degrees’ field of view coupled with a 16MP secondary sensor that has an f/1.7 aperture, 71-degree lens. The rear cameras supports Bokeh effect and Live Photo mode. For selfies and video calls, there is an 8MP front facing snapper. The AI camera features 19 shooting modes along with three preset effects.
The smartphone houses a 3000mAh battery and comes with 7.1-channel DTS:3D Surround Sound support clubbed with a Boombox speaker and Hi-Fi Quad DAC for enhanced sound. The connectivity options of LG G7+ThinQ include 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v5.0, GPS, NFC, USB Type-C, FM radio, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
As we mentioned earlier, the mobile also comes with a dedicated button that triggers Google Assistant and Google Lens. Its special features also include Super Far Field Voice Recognition that enables the phone to recognize voice commands from up to five meters.
Price
LG G7+ThinQ is priced at Rs 39,990 – which pits it directly against the likes of OnePlus 6 and Asus Zenfone 5Z. It will be available exclusively on Flipkart starting August 10.
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Epson L6190 review: Inexpensive printing around the office
In the age of laser printer Epson is banking hard on its ink tank printer technology. The Epson L6190 is duplex type office ink tank printer, which we got to our test table. Since, the Gadget Bridge team has used and tested quite a few ink tank printers by Epson in the past, we already had high expectations from this one too. So what is this new printing machine all about? Read the rest of our review to know all about it.
Alright, let’s begin with the form factor. The Epson L6190 looks like any other multi-function printer available today. The front has the 2.4-inch colour touch display in the middle, which gives its user the ability to manage most functions of the device including direct scan and print options without the need of a PC. On its side are the home and power buttons. Under the touch display panel is the paper holding tray that can hold up to 250 sheets in the input tray and 30 sheets in the output tray (A4 size).
Above the touch panel is the A4 size scanner and the automatic document scanner. The four ink tanks (CMYK) can be accessed by opening the middle part of the multi-function device. You can also see the inside machinery and how the printer works in real time. The ink bottles are supplied with the printer and one can easily fill the tanks thanks to its spill proof design. At the back you will find the power port, USB port, 1 Ethernet port and a phone line in port. This is there because you can receive fax on the Epson L6190 as well. The machine is all-black and we did find it simple yet modern.
Now coming to the fun part – the print and performance. The Epson L6190 is great to have around the office or home as the per print cost for black and white prints is just 12 paise and 20 paise for colour. This is cheaper than most laser printers in the market, which consume a lot of power. Talking about which, the Epson L6190 consumes only 12 wats while operating. The setup process is simple and one can connect to the printer over Wi-Fi, Ethernet or direct USB. USB cable, power cord and the setup CD come in the box.
We were able to get a speed of 27 pages per minute for BW draft. We tested the colour prints as well as high definition graphics in edge to edge mode as well. The print times are not as super as the ones we got it while in draft mode, but are pretty decent. The edge to edge A4 sheet got printed in just a little over a minute, which is not bad at all when compared to other printers in the category.
The print quality in both the modes, colour as well as black and white is very good. We got sharp text and graphics, however the colour vividness could have been better on the plain paper. On photo quality paper it was much better. The scan function also works nicely and we did not face any problems here. The scans were crisp with good detail, especially the coloured ones. The Epson L6190 is priced at Rs 24,099 and with the option of low cost ink refills available by Epson, this printer will not burn a hole in your pocket every time you run out of ink. Also, it comes with a 1-year warranty or 50,000 prints, whichever comes first.
Pros:
Low cost printing
Does not consumer lot of power
Sharp scans
Cons:
Colour vividness
Home users might find the price expensive
For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube
Above the touch panel is the A4 size scanner and the automatic document scanner. The four ink tanks (CMYK) can be accessed by opening the middle part of the multi-function device. You can also see the inside machinery and how the printer works in real time. The ink bottles are supplied with the printer and one can easily fill the tanks thanks to its spill proof design. At the back you will find the power port, USB port, 1 Ethernet port and a phone line in port. This is there because you can receive fax on the Epson L6190 as well. The machine is all-black and we did find it simple yet modern.
Now coming to the fun part – the print and performance. The Epson L6190 is great to have around the office or home as the per print cost for black and white prints is just 12 paise and 20 paise for colour. This is cheaper than most laser printers in the market, which consume a lot of power. Talking about which, the Epson L6190 consumes only 12 wats while operating. The setup process is simple and one can connect to the printer over Wi-Fi, Ethernet or direct USB. USB cable, power cord and the setup CD come in the box.
We were able to get a speed of 27 pages per minute for BW draft. We tested the colour prints as well as high definition graphics in edge to edge mode as well. The print times are not as super as the ones we got it while in draft mode, but are pretty decent. The edge to edge A4 sheet got printed in just a little over a minute, which is not bad at all when compared to other printers in the category.
The print quality in both the modes, colour as well as black and white is very good. We got sharp text and graphics, however the colour vividness could have been better on the plain paper. On photo quality paper it was much better. The scan function also works nicely and we did not face any problems here. The scans were crisp with good detail, especially the coloured ones. The Epson L6190 is priced at Rs 24,099 and with the option of low cost ink refills available by Epson, this printer will not burn a hole in your pocket every time you run out of ink. Also, it comes with a 1-year warranty or 50,000 prints, whichever comes first.
Pros:
Low cost printing
Does not consumer lot of power
Sharp scans
Cons:
Colour vividness
Home users might find the price expensive
For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube Honor Play smartphone launched in India with a notch touch screen: Price, technical specifications and more
Honor play was announced in China in June 2018. Two variants of the smartphone were showcased at the event. One with 4GB RAM and the other with 6GB RAM. Today, at an event in New Delhi, both the variants of the smartphones have been launched in India. This is an Amazon exclusive deal to begin with, but speaking with Gadget Bridge Exclusively Honor did confirm it has plans to bring it to offline stores in sometime. The neat thing about the launch is that the Honor Play will start selling today itself at 4PM (IST) in India.
Honor Play technical specifications
The company has packaged the phone really well, in our opinion. Honor Play comes with a 6.3-inch FHD+ (2,340×1080 pixels) resolution touchscreen sporting 19.5:9 aspect ratio. The display also features a notch similar to the one found in other Honor smartphones. Underneath, the Honor Play features a top-of-the-line Huawei HiSilicon Kirin 970 chipset with an up to 2.36GHz Quad-core CPU. This comes in a combo of 4GB/6GB RAM with 64GB on board storage.
The memory is expandable by up to 256GB using a microSD card. Available in two colours, black and blue the Honor Play has a dual rear camera setup. This includes a 16-megapixel primary sensor with an aperture size of f/2.2 and a secondary camera sensor next to it (vertically placed) that has a 2-megapixel sensor and aperture size of f/2.4. Features like Phase detection autofocus and LED flash are also there. The front of the smartphone has a 16MP selfie camera with aperture size of f/2.0.
Android Oreo 8.1 with EMUI 8.2 is what this smartphone has right out of the box. Connectivity options includes 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 ac, USB type C charging, GPS, Bluetooth v4.2 and a 3.5mm audio port. The Honor Play comes with 3,750 mAh battery and is fast charge compatible. Weight-wise the Honor Play balances 176 grams and is 7.48mm thin. Sensors like accelerometer, ambient light, compass and gyroscope have been added to the device.
Honor Play price in India
As said before, there are two versions of the smartphone available in India as well. The Honor Play with 4GB RAM and 64GB memory can be picked up for Rs 19,999 and the one which has 6GB RAM and 64GB memory can be bought for Rs 23,999. It is Amazon exclusive and sales start today. Vodafone bundle offer is also active where users can avail 10GB of data per month for a year, along with free Amazon Prime subscription.
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Top 5 Netflix shows to binge watch (August 2018)
This one is for all those Netflix binge watchers out there, who have liked and shared our previous videos and to all the new comers we are sure you will give us a shout out too. If you still have not subscribed to our Youtube channel, then go ahead and press that subscribe button and jab that bell icon.
Here are top 5 Netflix shows you need to binge watch in August, 2018.
- Orange Is The New Black: Season 6 is here and all the episodes are out. Yes, ladies and gentleman. For those who don’t know about this series, it’s about a privileged woman from New York who is sent to prison. It is an epic-epic season so go ahead and stream it!
- Switched: The Japanese series is about a high schooler, Ayumi, whose life becomes a mess when her body is switched with her classmate Zenko. The series is about how Ayumi’s life turns upside down when her boyfriend and her dear ones move away.
- The Epic Tale Of Captain Underpants: So what is the show all about? Two Fourth Grade buddies turn their annoying headmaster to Captain Underpants, the superhero who saves the day.
- Samantha!: The Brazilian series is about how the child star in the 80s has now grown up and struggles to come back in the spotlight.
- Ghoul: If you are craving for some real scary and creepy this is the show for you. The story is about an army officer who goes to interrogate a terrorist at the detention centre. But what she finds out, is something more…
BlackBerry Evolve, Evolve X smartphones launched in India: Price, specs and other details
BlackBerry had recently launched Key2 smartphone in India and today they have gone ahead and launched two new smartphones here. Called BlackBerry Evolve and Evolve X, both the smartphone lie in the mid-segment. Optimus Infracom who is the licensee of the brand in India announced at an event that both smartphones were designed and manufactured in India. Built on series 7000 aluminium frame these smartphones feature Corning Gorilla Class 5 over the beautiful touchscreen and come with rubberised rear panel. The Quick charging features is available on both the smartphones along with face unlock capability.
BlackBerry Evolve X specifications
The BlackBerry Evolve X features an 18:9 aspect ratio driven 5.99-inch FHD+ (2160×1080 resolution) IPS LCD display. Under the hood this smartphone has a 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon octa-core 660 CPU. This is paired with 6GB RAM and 64GB memory that is expandable using a microSD card of up to 2TB. For graphics the BlackBerry Evolve X has Adreno 510 graphics unit inside, too.
As for the cameras the BlackBerry Evolve X has a dual rear camera setup with 12MP primary sensor with aperture size of f/1.8 and secondary 13MP sensor with aperture size of f/2.6. These are coupled with a dual tone LED flash. Upfront this one has a 16MP fixed focus sensor with aperture size of f/2.0. The battery is 4,000mAh and the device comes with Android 8.1 Oreo as its native OS. The fingerprint sensor makes space at the back and the BlackBerry Evolve X supports 4G VoLTE functionalities. For wired connectivity this mobile comes with USB type C charging port and 3.5mm headphone jack on it.
BlackBerry Evolve specifications
While the BlackBerry Evolve has the same type of touchscreen, battery size, fingerprint sensor placement, operating system and front camera as found on the BlackBerry Evolve X. The major difference is on the inside. The BlackBerry Evolve sports a Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 chipset with 4GB RAM and Adreno 506 GPU. The storage is also same at 64GB as found on the BlackBerry Evolve X.
There is a dual rear camera arrangement on BlackBerry Evolve too, but with twin 13MP sensors with aperture size of f/2.0 on both. This also comes with dual tone LED flash. Both the smartphones come with BB power centre app that uses AI skills to analyse the consumer’s usage patterns and optimises performance and battery accordingly. The usual BB security features have also been added to both the smartphones like BB Password keeper and Privacy shade feature.
BlackBerry Evolve and BlackBerry Evolve X price
The BlackBerry Evolve is prices at Rs 24,990, while the BlackBerry Evolve X is priced at Rs 34,990 in India. BlackBerry Evolve will start shipping by August-end and the other will start its sales by mid-September. Amazon is its exclusive partner initially and it will then trickle down to offline retailers as well. Cashback offer of 5% from ICICI bank and Rs 3,950 benefits to JIO users is also on offer right now.
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[Video] Comio X1 Unboxing, First Impressions And Camera Shots
![[Video] Comio X1 Unboxing, First Impressions And Camera Shots](https://www.gadgetbridge.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/maxresdefault-768x432.jpg "[Video] Comio X1 Unboxing, First Impressions And Camera Shots")
COMIO X1 is out and available in the Indian market. It has a 5.5-inch HD+ display and Face unlock feature. It is powered by 3,050 mAh battery and comes with Android 8.0 oreo on board. 4GB RAM and 16GB memory has also been thrown in the mix. Check out the video for box contents and camera shots of this smartphone.
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Facebook to make money from WhatsApp
Just last week, Facebook reported weaker than expected Q2 earnings. So it isn’t surprising to see today that it has taken a serious step towards monetizing WhatsApp. The instant messaging app owned by Facebook has rolled out three new ways in which customers can connect to businesses via WhatsApp. Here’s what will be different:
- Getting helpful information: Now, businesses will be able to send information like shipping confirmation or boarding pass to customers on WhatsApp.
- Option of starting a conversation: Users will be getting a click-to-chat button that will make it easier for them to quickly message the business they wish to get in touch with. The button will be visible either on the website or Facebook ad.
- Real-time support: Businesses will have the option of providing real-time support on WhatsApp for their customers. This will enable customers to get answers to various queries on WhatsApp itself.
Samsung Galaxy On8 with 6-inch touchscreen launched in India: Price, specs and more
Samsung must be on cloud 9 ever since they re-took the lead of the smartphone market in India, pipping Xiaomi to the number two spot. Today, the company with the largest smartphone manufacturing plant in the world has launched yet another smartphone in the country. Samsung Galaxy On8 is what the company has named it and this mobile device falls in the lower mid-segment of the smartphone market in India.
Samsung Galaxy On8 specifications
The Samsung Galaxy On8 is built for the youth and people who want a better display on their mobile. This device features a 6-inch super AMOLED infinity display with 18.5:9 aspect ratio. Overall, the front provides additional 15% of display area without increasing the size of the mobile. Under the hood the Samsung Galaxy On8 sports a Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 chipset with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage. This can be further expanded using a microSD card by up to 256GB.
Moving on to the cameras, this smartphone has a dual camera setup at the back with 16MP primary sensor and 5MP secondary sensor. This is embedded vertically along with a LED flash by its side. The cameras come with AI enhancements and also has live focus feature which enables the user to sharpen or blur the objects in the image, in real time. The front of the smartphone has a 16MP selfie camera with aperture size of f/1.9.
As for the operating system, the Samsung Galaxy On8 comes with Android Oreo 8.0 out of the box and packs a 3,500 mAh battery inside. The smartphone comes with ‘Make For India’ feature that lets its user watch uninterrupted videos while chatting over it. Other features include 4G, Wi-Fi, GPS, 3.5mm audio jack and accelerometer. It also sports a fingerprint reader at the back.
Samsung Galaxy On8 Price and availability
The Samsung Galaxy On8 mobile is priced at Rs 16,990 in India and is exclusively available on Flipkart and Samsung’s own online shop. The sales start August 6 in India and couple of offers like the no-cost EMI option and data bundles are also part of it right now.
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WhatsApp rolls out group voice and group video calls feature
Instant messaging app WhatsApp has today got a much needed feature and it now enables users to make group voice and group video calls. If you can’t wait to have a group video call with your friends already, you must know that as of now the app only lets a maximum of four users get on a group call.
WhatsApp — which happens to be the most popular instant messaging app — has over 1.5 billion active monthly users. According to the company, over two billion minutes of calls are made on its service every day.
And now, users will be able to add more people to their voice and video calls by clicking on the ‘Add Participant’ button that appears on top right corner of their screen. The option of making these calls is coming to both Android and iOS and the company has said that these calls will be end-to-end encrypted.
While voice calls came to WhatsApp in 2014, video calls were introduced on the platform just two years back in 2016. The support for group voice and video calls was first announced at Facebook’s flagship event — F8 — this year.
The messaging app has also been in news for curbing the spread of misinformation on its platform. It recently started labeling forwarded messages on its platform. The label automatically gets added to any message, image, video or audio message that the user chooses to forward. In addition to this, it has also set a limit to number of people one can forward a message to.
These steps have been taken by WhatsApp after some serious issues reportedly cropped up because of fake news spread by users on the platform. According to reports, rumours of child abductions led to deaths in India and some media reports also claimed that false information about yellow fever vaccine caused the disease to resurge in Brazil.
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OnePlus accounts for 40% of premium smartphones sold in Quarter 2 in India
OnePlus, the Chinese smartphone manufacturer, has taken the lead when it comes to smartphone sales in India. The company has overtaken Samsung and Apple when it comes to premium or high-end smartphone sales in the country. According to the Hong Kong based Counterpoint research report OnePlus has surpassed its competition and is leading the pack when it comes to smartphones with price tag of Rs 30,000 or more.
Yes, the research agency describes the premium segment of smartphones in India, which has a selling price of Rs 30,000 or more. This is the first time that OnePlus is leading the high-end segment in the country and has captured over 40% of the market thanks to the extremely good sales of its latest flagship device, the OnePlus 6. While OnePlus’s shipments increased year on year in Q2, during the same period shipments of Samsung and Apple went down in the premium sector of mobiles.
Overall, the top three brands Samsung, Apple and OnePlus constitute for 88% of the premium market in India as compared to 95% a quarter ago. Samsung S9 is still a strong contender in the premium segment and is said to capture 33% of the premium market share in Q2. Which makes us wonder where Xiaomi is, who is still claiming that they are the India number 1 brand even after several reports have stated that Samsung has retaken the lead. Well, Xiaomi is not there on this chart, as they are only at the fag-end of the India smartphone market.
But, the budget-end of smartphone market works for them, as they are selling strongly there at the number 2 spot. It is a good strategy by the company keep selling hard where people are buying, let the big boys battle it out in the premium segment. Where we do reckon, when the new version of Apple iPhones and Samsung’s Note 9 come out in the next few months, these two will again retake the top spot from OnePlus.
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[Video] Top cool new features of Apple iOS 12
![[Video] Top cool new features of Apple iOS 12](https://www.gadgetbridge.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/maxresdefault-1-768x432.jpg "[Video] Top cool new features of Apple iOS 12")
Apple iOS 12 will officially be available to users in the coming months. We have used and seen couple of its new features. Here is the list of the top cool ones from the new operating system.
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