Samsung Galaxy A6+ seems to be a flagship-inspired midrange phone: Hands-on

To stay competitive in budget and midrange segments and stave off threat from Chinese smartphone majors like Xiaomi, South Korean electronics manufacturer Samsung launched the Galaxy J6, Galaxy J8, Galaxy A6 and Samsung Galaxy A6+ on May 21.

The Galaxy A6+ boasts premium features like super AMOLED 18:9 aspect ratio screen, Samsung Pay Mini, Bixby, dual rear cameras and metallic build. However, being a midrange phone, the Galaxy A6+ cuts down on some features like Bixby personal assistant capabilities, curved screen, powerful processor and complete Samsung Pay capabilities – these features are still limited to Galaxy Note and Galaxy S-series.

Based on our early hands-on, the Samsung Galaxy A6+ seems to have taken inspiration from the Galaxy A8+, launched last year at Rs 32,990. Here are the observations based on the Galaxy A6+ first impressions:

The Galaxy A6+ has a tall instance and metallic unibody that look plush. The front is dominated by a 6-inch super AMOLED 18.5:9 aspect ratio screen that boasts always-on feature for ease of use. Though the phone sports ‘Infinity Display’, there are thick bezels around it that diminish the design language.

Samsung takes on Xiaomi, launches Galaxy J6, J8, A6, A6+: Details here

Samsung, a South Korean electronics manufacturer, on May 21 launched four smartphones – the Galaxy J6, Galaxy J8, Galaxy A6 and Galaxy A6+. The smartphones sport super AMOLED 18.5:9 aspect ratio screen, dubbed as Infinity screen by Samsung, and features utility tools such as chat-over-video, which enables quick reply mode within the video playback screen.

The Galaxy J6 sports a 5.6-inch HD+ 18.5:9 aspect ratio super AMOLED screen. Made of polycarbonate unibody, the Galaxy J6 is the most affordable J-series device in the newly launched smartphones. It is powered by Exynos 7-series octa-core processor, paired with either 3GB/32GB or 4GB/64GB RAM and storage configurations. In terms of imaging, the phone sports 13-megapixel primary camera and 8MP selfie camera, both assisted by LED flash. Powering the device is a 3,000 mAh battery. The phone is priced at Rs 13,990 and Rs 16,490 for 3GB/32GB and 4GB/64GB variants, respectively

Honor 7C hands-on: Budget proposition with impressive camera, build quality

Chinese smartphone manufacturer Huawei on May 22 launched the Honor 7C in India. Priced at Rs 9,999 and Rs 11,999 for 3GB/32GB and 4GB/64GB RAM and storage configurations, the smartphone seems to be a great proposition in sub-Rs 12,000 budget segment. At these price tags, the phone would compete with the Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 (Review), Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 (Review), Xiaomi Redmi 5 (Review) and Oppo Realme 1 (First Impressions).

The Honor 7C features metallic design, 18:9 aspect ratio screen, Android Oreo-based EMUI 8.0 operating system, Qualcomm 450 processor and face unlocking capabilities. Honor has been using the company’s in-house developed Huawei Kirin system-on-chip (SoC) in almost all the current models. However, the Honor 7C is one of a few Honor-branded smartphones that take power from Qualcomm processors. While the Kirin 659 SoC, which powers most budget Honor devices, seems to have an advantage to have more powerful cores than Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 SoC that powers the Honor 7C, the Qualcomm SoC has better graphic handling capabilities over Kirin 659.

The Honor 7C manages to pull out basic tasks at ease. However, it does feel underpowered, especially while handling processor-intensive tasks such as multitasking and online video streaming.

Vivo V9 Review: A value-for-money device with good camera, notch screen

Chinese smartphone maker Vivo recently launched the Vivo V9 in India. Priced at Rs

22,990, the phone has a 24-megapixel front camera with enhanced face beauty features that


can brighten up and take sharp selfies.

The V9 is powered by Snapdragon 626 octa core processor, along with 4GB RAM and 64GB internal memory, expandable up to 256 GB through microSD card. The phone runs smoothly with minor lags even after opening 10-15 different applications ranging from social media to gaming.

Even though there is decent internal memory, users can still choose to expand with the help of a microSD card, a designated slot for which has been provided in the SIM tray.

Vivo V9 The handset comes with the Android 8.1 Oreo operating system out-of-the-box, based on Vivo’s Funtouch OS 4.0

OnePlus 6 event live streaming to start at 9:30 PM; India launch on May 17

Chinese smartphone manufacturer OnePlus will be holding an event in London on Wednesday to unveil the most anticipated smartphone of this year, the OnePlus 6. Followed by an international unveiling in London, the phone would be launched in India on May 17 and go on sale starting May 21, exclusively on Amazon India.

The OnePlus 6 unveiling event will be live-streamed on the OnePlus official web portal and YouTube channel. The OnePlus 6 live stream will begin at 9:30 PM (IST).

Here is what to expect from the OnePlus 6

OnePlus 6 notch-based screen

The phone would sport a notch-based screen of more than 6-inch, as earlier confirmed by the company’s co-founder Carl Pei in an interview with technology-based online portal The Verge. The screen is expected to be of AMOLED breed and would sport fullHD+ resolution. It is also reported to feature iPhone X-inspired gesture-based on-screen navigation.

OnePlus 6 glass build

The OnePlus 6 will make a departure from the current trend of an aluminium build in favour of a glass body, but it would retain horizontal lines and curved design of the current generation flagship.

Samsung Galaxy A6, Galaxy A6+ unveiled with infinity screen: Details here

South Korean electronics major Samsung on May 1 announced the Galaxy A6 and A6 Plus budget smartphones. The two smartphones boast ultra-wide 18.5:9 aspect ratio infinity screen, a large-capacity battery, and bright camera modules on the front and back. Designed to compete in the budget segment, the phones offer midrange specifications and features.

Samsung Galaxy A6 specifications

The Galaxy A6 sports a 5.6-inch super AMOLED HD Plus screen in 18.5:9 aspect ratio. The phone features a 16-megapixel camera unit on the front and back with of f/1.9 and f/1.7 aperture, respectively and LED flash light. It is powered by an octa-core processor clocked to operate at a maximum frequency of 1.6 GHz, paired with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage or 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage options. The phone also supports storage expansion using microSD card slot, which can take up to 256GB cards.

The A6 boasts a 3,000 mAh battery and boots Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box.

Samsung Galaxy A6 Plus specifications

The Galaxy A6 Plus, on the other hand, sports a 6-inch super AMOLED fullHD Plus screen in 18.5:9 aspect ratio. Unlike the A6, the A6 Plus sports a dual rear camera setup on the rear featuring a 16MP primary sensor of f/1.7 aperture mated with a 5 MP sensor of f/1.9 aperture size. On the front, there is a 24 MP sensor of f/1.9 aperture for the selfies. Like Galaxy A6, there is a dedicated LED flashlight on the front and back. The is powered by an octa-core processor clocked to operate at a maximum frequency f 1.8 GHz, paired with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage or 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage options. The phone also supports storage expansion using microSD card slot, which can take up to 256GB cards.

Xiaomi Redmi S2 with dual cameras being developed, to come to India: Report

Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi is closely working on a new Redmi device, which is expected to make its way to India – according to a report by online technology-based forum XDA-developers. Touted as the Redmi S2, the budget-centric smartphone is reported to sport dual rear cameras and feature the face-unlock mechanism.

Based on the report, the Xiaomi Redmi S2 would sport an 18:9 aspect ratio screen of HD+ (1440×720) resolution. The phone would be powered by Qualcomm MSM 8953 system-on-chip (SoC), which is a Snapdragon 625 processor. In terms of storage, the phone would have a 16GB variant, though other storage models are also likely, and there would be a microSD card slot for storage extension. As for memory, the phone would likely come in 2GB and 3GB RAM variants.


Talking of imaging, the phone would have a dual-camera set-up on the back, which will either have the 12-megapixel primary sensor of Sony IMX486 or OmniVision OV12A10, and the 5MP Samsung S5K5E8 as the secondary sensor. On the front, there would be a 5MP Samsung S5K5E8 sensor.

Oppo F7 review: Notch screen-based smartphone designed for selfie admirers

Chinese smartphone manufacturer Oppo, known for its selfie-centric devices, has become one of the first companies to introduce a notch screen-based Android device in India by launching the Oppo F7. The smartphone’s key features centre around its ultra-wide notch-based screen, a 25-megapixel selfie camera and artificial intelligence-backed scene optimisation.

The Oppo F7 seems to pack some punch on the specification sheet, especially with its 6GB RAM and 128GB storage in the top-end version. However, this selfie-centric smartphone delivers primarily on the imaging front more than any other aspect.

Business Standard reviewed the Oppo F7 on several parameters to test its overall capabilities, and here are our observations:

The Oppo F7 packs a 6.22-inch fullHD+ screen in a glass-metal-glass sandwiched design. It feels light in hand, and its compact body, measuring almost equal to the conventional 5.5-inch 16:9 aspect ratio screen-based smartphones, is comfortable to hold and operate.

Samsung Galaxy S8 launched in burgundy red colour; priced at Rs 49,900

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On April 9, Samsung launched a burgundy red colour variant of its yesteryear’s flagship the Galaxy S8. The smartphone is now available in five colour options i.e. midnight black, coral blue, maple gold, orchid gray and burgundy red. The announcement of the new colour variant's launch came soon after Samsung’s direct competitor Apple launched the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus Red edition.

The new burgundy red colour variant of the Galaxy S8 has been priced at Rs 49,990. Samsung, in partnership with Paytm which is also offering a cashback of Rs 10,000. This brings down the effective cost to Rs 39,990. The new colour variant would go on sale starting April 13.

In terms of specifications, the Galaxy S8 is powered by Exynos 8895 system-on-chip (SoC), coupled with 4GB RAM and 64GB internal storage – expandable using microSD card. The phone was launched with Android Nougat operating system however and would soon be upgraded to Android Oreo 8.0. It sports a 5.8-inch super AMOLED QHD+ screen in 18.5:9 aspect ratio. The screen is curved from the sides and comes with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection.

OnePlus 6 Indian price, colour themes leaked: Specs, features & more

OnePlus is gearing up to unveil notch screen-based OnePlus 6 sometime this month or early next month. However, the leaks of the smartphone have been making rounds on the internet hinting at the possible design theme, imaging set-up, specifications, features and price of the upcoming midrange device.

While the OnePlus 6 notch-based screen and the wooden back cover has been revealed in the past, the new leak showcases the phone’s new colour variants hinting at possible glass-based design, instead of metallic build that the current generation boasts. However, based on leaks, it is assumed that the phone would sport an aluminium frame, similar to the one found in current generation model – the OnePlus 5T.

In an interview with an online technology portal The Verge, OnePlus co-founder and CEO Carl Pei hinted that the upcoming flagship would sport a bigger display. He, however, did not mention the exact screen size and, based on leaks, it is expected that the OnePlus 6 would boast a 6.28-inch screen.

Nokia 8 Sirocco is as elegant as original Nokia 8800: First impressions

HMD Global, a Finnish company behind Nokia-branded phones, finally has a flagship – the Nokia 8 Sirocco – that can take on the competition. The device has top-tier specs, sturdy stainless steel body, curved plastic-OLED screen and Android Oreo operating system, which comes with Android One promise of guaranteed timely updates.

In terms of design and features, the Sirocco edition is a completely new device with major improvements and, therefore, is nowhere close to the original Nokia 8, which was launched last year. The phone’s curved sides grabs the attention and looks plush. The compact form factor improves usability, but the glossy stainless steel back and curved side profile make it prone to accidental drops.

Things get interesting once the device is powered on. The front is dominated by a curved pOLED screen that results in zero side bezels and limited top and bottom bezels. The screen looks vivid and touch response is top-notch. However, due to curved profile, the sides of the screen registers accidental touch, which results in unstable phone’s behaviour.

Reliance Jio now brings banking on mobile: Know benefits of payments bank

Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio Infocomm is leaving no stone unturned to enhance the experience of its users and make lives easier for them therough the use of its services. Known for its disruptive data services and free data plans, Reliance Jio has now forayed into the banking business with a payments bank service, Reserve Bank of India has confirmed.

Jio Payments Bank is a joint venture between Reliance Industries and the country's biggest lender, State Bank of India. While Jio has a 70 per cent in the JV, SBI has the remaining 30 per cent.

Mukesh Ambani-promoted Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) was one of the 11 applicants for setting up payments bank in August 2015. Jio received the licence to start operation in March 2017, according to media reports.

What is a payments bank?

A payments bank is like any traditional bank but operating at a smaller scale. The only difference is that payments banks do not have any credit-providing service. 

Samsung Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+ now get cheaper by up to Rs 7,000: Details

South Korean electronics major Samsung has reduced the price of its flagship smartphone from last year – the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus. The Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ with 64GB internal storage now cost Rs 49,990 and Rs 53,990, respectively, down from Rs 57,900 and Rs 64,900. The power-packed variant of the Galaxy S8+, which has 6GB RAM and 128GB internal memory, has also got a price reduction and now costs Rs 64,900, down from Rs 70,900.

The price reduction on Galaxy S8-series smartphones came soon after the company launched the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus, bundled with cashback and exchange offers in India. The Galaxy S9-series has been built on the blue print of the Galaxy S8-series smartphone. The changes in S9-series are mostly on the hardware side, especially the rear camera unit.


With a price reduction of up to Rs 7,000, are the Galaxy S8-series smartphone now value for money? Let’s find out:

Galaxy S8 over Galaxy S9

In terms of design, both the smartphones look similar and feature all-glass build on the front and back, sandwiching the metallic chassis in between. As a matter of fact, both the devices look extremely close and can only be differentiated by looking at the finger print scanner placement on the back. In terms of innards and features, the changes are nothing radical and, therefore, the Galaxy S8 can perform tasks on-par with Galaxy S9.

OnePlus 6 launch soon, confirms official teaser: Details of the device here

Chinese smartphone manufacturer OnePlus is set to unveil its next flagship smartphone soon. In a tweet, the company has confirmed that the upcoming mid-tier smartphone would be called the OnePlus 6. In a way, the company has also confirmed that the phone would be launched soon.

In terms of features and specifications, nothing has been officially confirmed about the OnePlus 6, except that it would have a notch-based screen, something that was confirmed by OnePlus CEO and co-founder Carl Pei in an interview with online technology portal The Verge.

OnePlus 6 official image The iPhone X-inspired notch-based screen, touted as one of the key change that the upcoming smartphone would embrace, faced severe backlash from the OnePlus community. However, Pei was quick in responding and he wrote a blog on official OnePlus forum explaining company’s rationale for choosing a notch over any other form of screen.

Based on Pei’s interview with The Verge and his blog post on OnePlus forum, it is confirmed that the OnePlus 6 would sport a notch-based screen of 19.616 x 7.687 mm. Although, the screen size is not officially confirmed, Pei said that the smartphone would sport a bigger screen, biggest in the history of OnePlus smartphones.

Xiaomi rolls out MIUI 9.5 stable ROM for Redmi Note 5: Full changelog here

Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi has started rolling out in India the MIUI 9.5 update for the Redmi Note 5 smartphone. The new operating system update is still based on Google’s Android Nougat operating system, but with some major improvements and customisation.

The MIUI 9.5 is currently rolling out as an over-the-air (OTA) update, and the Redmi Note 5 users can download and install it through the software update option available in the phone’s settings menu. The OTA version installs the update files without deleting the phone’s content and settings.

However, for advance users who want to fresh install the MIUI 9.5 ROM, the full update file is also available and can be downloaded from the official MI forum. You can install it using the fastboot ROM flash option. In fresh install, however, the phone’s storage would be wiped out, so it is advised that you take a full back-up before installing.

Nokia 1 with Android Oreo Go OS launched at Rs 5,499: Know specs, features

Nokia 1 in India at Rs 5,499. The Android Oreo (Go edition)-based smartphone had first been unveiled at the Mobile World Congress, along with the Nokia 7 (2018), Nokia 8 Sirocco and Nokia 8110.
The Nokia 1 would be available on both online and offline platforms starting March 28. The phone would be available in red and blue colour variants which could be customised with Nokia Xpress On covers available for Rs 450.

In terms of features, the Nokia 1 runs Android Oreo (Go edition), which is a light-weight version of Android Oreo compatible with devices with limited hardware prowess, such as 1GB RAM or less, etc. The Android Oreo (Go edition) also comes with a dedicated package of Google apps, which take less space and are optimised to use less hardware resources.
Coming to specifications, the Nokia 1 sports a 4.5-inch display with 480 x 854 pixels resolution.

It is powered by a MediaTek MT6737 quad-core processor clocked at 1.1Ghz, coupled with 1GB RAM and 8GB internal storage. The smartphone features a 5MP primary camera and a 2MP selfie camera. The 4G phone supports dual SIM and a microSD slot for storage expansion. Powering the device is a 2150 mAh removable battery.

Xiaomi Redmi 5 review: Premium-priced all-rounder with a modern 18:9 screen

After a successful run in 2017 with its value-for-money smartphones, Xiaomi started 2018 with the launch of its budget-centric devices. Soon after the launch of the Redmi Note 5 and the Redmi Note 5 Pro, the Chinese mobile phone maker has launched the entry-level Redmi 5 in India at a price of Rs 7,999 for the base model.

Unlike what has been seen in previous-generation devices, the succeeding generation of Redmi-series smartphones costs a tad higher than the predecessor -- be it the Redmi 5 Pro or the Redmi 5. However, the Redmi 5 notches up the smartphone game with its modern 18:9 aspect ratio screen wrapped in a metallic-plastic chassis which looks premium.
The smartphone is built on the blue print of its elder sibling, the Redmi Note 5, which gives it an edge in terms of design. However, the innards have been kept in line with previous generation, besides some minor improvements, to keep the price in check.
Business Standard reviewed the Redmi 5 to test its overall performance. Here are our observations:
Design and display

The Redmi 5 takes design cues from the Redmi Note 5 and, therefore, looks similar. However, the younger sibling has a few elements of difference. The front of the Redmi 5 is dominated by a 5.7-inch HD+ 18:9 aspect ratio screen, covered by a 2.5D glass. It does look plush; but for an 18:9 screen device, the smartphone has huge bezels on the top and bottom.
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OnePlus 6 launch in Q2: What we know of the mid-range flagship so far

Chinese smartphone manufacturer OnePlus is working on its next-iteration of the flagship OnePlus 6, which is expected to be launched in the July-September quarter this year. Before the official launch, however, the device's purported specifications, features and price have been leaked and are doing the rounds of the internet.

Here is what we know of the mid-range flagship so far:
OnePlus 6 specifications and features
While nothing has officially been confirmed, online technology portal Techslize claims to have got hold of the upcoming smartphone's technical specification sheet, which hints at a larger display, updated processor and new camera sensors.
According to the specification sheet listing, the OnePlus 6 would sport a 6.28-inch AMOLED screen of 2280 x 1080 resolution. The screen size and resolutio hints at a notch-based screen, similar to the Apple iPhone X and the recently launched Vivo V9.
 OnePlus 6 leaked specsOnePlus 6 leaked specs The upcoming smartphone is expected to use Qualcomm top-of-the-line Snapdragon 845 system-on-chip (SoC), clocked at 2.7GHz. In terms of imaging, the phone would come with dual rear-cameras of 20-

Alcatel POP4 10 tablet review: At Rs 10,999, great choice for budget buyers

Alcatel recently launched its new 10.1-inch tablet, which supports 4G LTE in India. Priced at Rs 10,999, the POP4 10 tablet is available exclusively on Flipkart. With only 7.95mm thickness, the company claims that the Alcatel POP4 is one of the thinnest tablets available in the world.
The Alcatel POP4 10 tablet was first unveiled in CES 2018, where the company announced its global partnership with Flipkart for better consumer engagement and retail availability at a time when the tablet manufacturing industry is on an apparent decline. This is a notched-up variant of the previously released A3 10, priced at Rs 6,999.

Business Standard reviewed the Alcatel POP4 10 to test its overall performance. Here are our observations:
Design:
The POP4 10 tablet is a lightweight tablet that looks very sleek. The company claims this 10-inch Full-HD tablet is the best that a consumer can buy for latest features at such a price range in the market.
The POP4 10 has a non-mettalic body that although looks nice, collects a lot of fingerprints. The rear camera lies at the corner of the right-hand top corner. The USB port and the 3.5mm jack also sits on the top while the dual speakers are in the front of the tab.

Vivo V9 with notch display appears on Amazon before its March 23 launch

China-based smartphone manufacturer Vivo is gearing up to launch the Vivo V9 in India on March 23. Amazon India, however, has published a dedicated page of the smartphone, confirming that the phone would be an Amazon-exclusive. The page also shows a picture of Aamir Khan, who has replaced Ranveer Singh as the brand’s official ambassador.
Based on Amazon India’s listing page, the Vivo V9 would sport a modern design with a ‘notch’ display. The smartphone would also sport a dual-camera set-up on the back, powered by artificial intelligence.
The specifications and features of the V9 are not official yet, but some leaks in the past have hinted the details mentioned below:
Vivo V9 specifications
The Vivo V9 is expected to sport a 6-inch fullHD+ (1080x2160 pixels) AMOLED, 19:9 aspect ratio screen with an iPhone X-inspired notch on top.

The phone is reported to use Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor, coupled with 4GB RAM and 64GB internal storage. The dual rear cameras are expected to have 12-megapixel and 8 MP sensors, powered by a dedicated AI chip. On the front, the smartphone is reported to feature a 24MP wide-angle selfie camera, which also integrates AI for beauty mode and bokeh effect.