Friday 18 December 2015

Micromax launches their new Yu Yutopia flagship smartphone

Is it going to be the world’s most powerful phone? With the tagline of ‘The world’s most powerful phone’, Micromax’s subsidiary Yu has just launched its Yutopia smartphone. The phone is priced at Rs 24,999 (app. 400 USD) and packs in it a 4 GB DDR4 RAM, 32GB internal storage expandable to 128GB.


Yutopia packs a 5.2” screen with WQHD IPS display technology. It runs on 1.5GHz octa-core, Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor and also sports a fingerprint scanner. According to the makers of the device, Yutopia is a revolutionary phone since it features the compelling ‘Around Yu’ services. The ‘Around Yu’ offers services in travel, food, entertainment etc. all packed into one window for the users.

The dual SIM, 4G enabled phone runs on Android 5.1.1 and is powered by 3000mAh battery which also has Quick Charge 2.0 feature that charges 60 per cent in 30 minutes. It comes with a 21 megapixel rear camera and an 8 megapixel front snapper. Additionally the smartphone also features an alert slider for easy and quick access to custom notifications.

“Yutopia was really about proving that we can create a flagship smartphone. We are not in the race to be number one or number two or how much are we going to contribute to Micromax. It’s about our vision as a brand, can we give the customer a special experience. We don’t want to be another version of a similar hardware company,” says YU Advertiser Rahul Sharma.

“We are proud that this flagship is completely designed and made in India. Manufacturing for components is done by Compal in Taiwan, but the rest of the process is done in India in our factory in Rudrapur in Uttarakhand,” YU’s Spokesperson says that the Phone is a made in India, even though the box for the review unit notes that the phone is made in China.

Considering that we have witnessed a really competitive smartphone market this year, where in, the phone makers have tried to provide the best in the most economical way possible, Yu surprises us by overpricing its flagship Yutopia. As per the specifications of Yutopia, except for the 4GB RAM on which Yu claims its powerfulness, one has to hunt for what better and more it offers.

Some of Yu’s competitors are Obi Worldphone SF1, One Plus2, Asus Zenfone 2, Lenovo Vibe S1 etc. some of which offer a similar RAM at a lesser price. However, Yu also comes with a promise of future upgrade to Yutopia 2 with its ‘Assured Upgrade Program’. Pre booking for Yutopia began on Amazon this week and the phones will be shipped from 26th Dec’15.

Sunday 29 November 2015

NDTV Gadgets 360 to release Obi Worldphone SF1

NDTV Gadgets 360 to release Obi Worldphone SF1 Obi Worldphone has finally released its first flagship device, SF1 in India, through NDTV Gadgets 360. SF1 is named after the city San Francisco, the place where it was designed, and it is also the first in its series. Its sibling SJ1.5 is soon to follow. The much talked about design endeavour of the company sounds convincingly innovative when we take a look at the device. It is rich, dark, and handsome and is now available at an attractive price too. SF1 is available in two variants, 2GB RAM/16GB and 3GB RAM/32GB internal storage at INR 11,999 and INR 13,999 respectively. Both the variants offer expandable storage up to 64GB.


The San Francisco based design studio Ammunition Group partnered with Obi in designing the phones right from its unique UI called Lifespeed, to its every curve and detail. This is reflected in the raised floating glass 5” screen intended to give a distinct look and also a more engaged experience with the phone. Besides, the glass is further protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 4 and metallic accents at both top and bottom. The Oleophobic coating also prevents from fingerprint smudges and marks. The high Young’s Module makes the device prone to bending and breaking. SF1 comes in the classic black hue which stands rich in contrast to its orange-pink UI.

SF1 comes as a unibody device where the battery is non-removable. The device measures 146x74x8.1mm and weighs 147g. The display is HD with in-cell JDI technology and has 1080x1920, 443ppi resolution. It runs on Android 5.0.2 Lollipop, powered by Qualcomm MSM 8939 64-bit Snapdragon 615 with 1.5GHz Octa-core clock speed. It has 3000mAh battery power with the Quick charge feature. On the multimedia front, SF1 comes with Dolby Surround sound. The rear snapper is 13MP and has a Sony IMX214 sensor with f/2.0 aperture. The front snapper is 5MP and the camera is further supported with Ubi Focus, Opti Zoom and Chroma Flash.

The device is dual SIM and supports most of the connectivity options like WLAN direct Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Dual Band, Bluetooth (v4.0 A2DP) and GPS with GLONASS. Also one can use it right out of the box as it comes equipped with AVG Antivirus software. Also the design theme of the company extends to its custom designed see through packaging. Considering that Apple Alumni John Sculley and Robert Brunner have together envisioned Obi Worldphone, Indian consumers can surely expect something exceptional here.

Friday 13 November 2015

Infocus M260, Another Entry Level Phone for Basic Use

These days, the smartphone world is witnessing high end gadget launches one after the other. Amidst all this frenzy, we still have many companies that are focusing on producing entry level budget phones. One such company is InFocus, which is known for giving high value for money. InFocus recently launched M260, which intends to attract the young students’ crowd with its vibrant colours. In this precise review, we will look into what more the device has in store for the young.


Overall, InFocus M260 has a neat and interesting look. It has a dual coloured body, where the main colour is black. Black is teemed with three other vibrant colours like orange, pristine white and fluorescent green. The phone cover is made of plastic, but has a matte finish which keeps the device relatively smudge proof. The device is certainly a little bulky and heavy, but overall it gives a firm grip with the curved edges in place.

M260 is not so satisfactory when it comes to display, but then at this price, can we expect more? However, InFocus could have probably given a smaller screen size with better resolution. The screen here also includes the navigation buttons that are usually found on the bezel. It is also difficult to read the phone under direct sunlight, as the viewing angle is not so good. However, the touch response of the screen works pretty well.

M260 allows you to do multiple tasks at the same time very smoothly. This sounds good for the youngsters who usually have multiple web pages, videos and applications running at the same time. The multiple cores come handy here, also, it has the most common and recent Android software with custom skin of InFocus. What is impressive is the battery and memory capacity that M260 gives at this price. As a few currencies up this segment also, most phones offer similar storage. The camera of the device delivers decent pics but lacks auto focus and is not useful in low light. While it offers most connectivity options, it misses out on 4G, the very pulse of the youngsters.

Monday 2 November 2015

Vivo Y35 vs Obi Worldphone SF1: The winner is clear

While Vivo has been around for sometime, Obi Worldphone is a relatively new entry in the smartphone market. The teasers we have seen so far indicate that both Vivo and Obi Worldphone are targeting youth with their beautiful designs and high-end specifications in a reasonable price range. In this review we are particularly comparing Obi Worldphone SF1 with Vivo Y35 that fall in somewhat comparable price segment to see which one of the two still makes up for a better deal.


Vivo Y35 is elegant, but Obi SF1’s raised glass makes it look premium
Let us start with what strikes the eyes first, the color. Obi SF1 is available in standard black color, where as Vivo Y35 offers multiple options such as white, black and gold color range. In overall physical terms, Obi SF1 measures 146x74x8 mm (7.8 mm body with 0.2 mm floating display) and weighs 147 grams, where as Vivo Y35 measures 143.3x71x6.78 mm and weighs 153 grams. Even though SF1 has a bigger body, it is lighter in weight that Vivo. Obi SF1’s unibody with metallic accents and raised glass display gives it a quite distinctive and premium look, while its rounded edges make it even more comfortable to hold. Although Vivo Y35 looks elegant but apart from that it does not offer anything new in terms of design.

Obi’s SF1 takes a definite lead in display quality and glass protection
Both the devices come with a 5inch display screen, however there is a huge difference in the display quality. While Obi SF1 has an astonishing Full HD (1080x1920 pixels) display with 443 ppi, Vivo Y35 lags behind with HD (720x1280 pixels) with 294 ppi. No doubt Obi SF1 offers much better visual experience whether it is reading or watching graphics. When it comes to screen protection Obi SF1 again moves ahead with the latest Corning Gorilla Glass (CGG) 4 compared to Vivo’s CGG 3. Here it is imperative to note that CGG 4 comes with native damage resistance technology that makes it stronger than CGG3 in terms of resisting scratches and overall durability. Needless to say that Obi SF1 is a clear winner when it comes to display quality and protection.


Obi SF1 maintains the lead at the performance front too 
Obi SF1 is powered by 1.5 GHz Quad-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 (MSM8939) processor and Vivo Y35 runs on 1.2 GHz Quad Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 (MSM8916) processor, indicating that Obi SF1 has an edge over Vivo Y35 with faster processor as well higher clock speed. With its Operating System (OS) Android Lollipop 5.0.2, Obi SF1 retains the slight edge over Vivo Y35 which comes in slightly older version of Android Lollipop 5.0. Furthermore, Obi SF1 comes in two variants including 2GB RAM (16GB storage) and 3GB RAM(32 GB storage) which can be expanded up to 64GB via microSD card. On the other hand Vivo Y35 offers only 2GB RAM option with 16GB in-built memory but it can be expanded up to 128GB via microSD card.

Cameras are somewhat comparable, but SF1 comes with a better battery
Both Obi SF1 and Vivo Y35 offer 13 MP primary/rear cameras for an outstanding photography experience. However, Obi SF1 gives user more features with Ubi Focus, Chroma flash and Opti zoom. These features just take the overall camera experience to the next level. For selfies, both devices have a 5 MP secondary/front camera. But, in Obi SF1, there is a LED flash that enables capturing bright and clear selfies even in dark. At the battery front, Vivo Y35 has a 2300 mAh Li- Po battery which clearly lags behind Obi SF1 3000 mAh battery. Also, Obi SF1 supports quick charge 1.0 technology. While the cameras may be somewhat comparable, Obi SF1 jumps ahead in battery capacity too.
The winner is clear
We have noted that SF1 has a clear advantage in terms of resolution, pixel density, CGG4 protection, a slightly higher version of the OS, better processor and superior battery. On the other hand, in comparison, Vivo Y35 offers the singular advantage of higher expandable memory option, which is not all that critical as SF1 too offers the option to expand. If we add in price as a factor, we find out that while Vivo Y35 is available at around USD230, the equivalent Obi SF1 (2GB/16GB) variant is marked at USD199 (Obi’s 3GB/32GB variant costs USD 249), essentially indicating that Obi Worldphone has managed to offer better specifications and premium design at relatively lesser price than Vivo. It is obvious that Obi Worldphone SF1 has clearly established itself as a much better device than Vivo Y35.

Monday 19 October 2015

Gionee Elife E8 has more to it than its 24MP camera

With phones becoming smarter by the day, it has become possible for us to replace most of our other gadgets with this 5-6 inch small device, the smartphone. One of the most vied achievements of the phone makers has been to be able to replace a camera’s presence with a smartphone in our lives.


The latest to enter this race is Gionee, which announced its flagship killer, Gionee Elife E8, with a 24MP primary camera. The slide below gives us some idea of the device in terms of what all it comes with, including specifications, indicative price and other key offerings.The camera is sure the highlight. One might wonder whether Gionee is being too ambitious by offering a camera brimming with so many pixels. Well, we do want the smartphone makers to be ambitious and raise the bar every time they release a device, however it should not be without substance. What guarantees those perfect clicks in a camera is not just the number of pixels it captures but also the size of the pixel which is determined by the camera sensor.

Here Gionee hasn’t revealed much about its sensor, which again makes us wonder about the quality of images that the 24 MP would produce. However, other features of its optical system, like the dual LED flash, six element lenses with Sapphire glass, image stabilization, phase detection, autofocus and 3 times zoom facility, do add to its credibility. Also, a glance over the specifications makes us realize that, at this price range, Gionee has much more to offer than just great clicks. Moreover, a large phablet size screen, which though makes the device a little heavy, is presented in a classy sleek colour. The CPU, OS and battery of the device have remarkable potential to provide smooth functioning of the system.

Furthermore, the device delights us with a good internal storage capacity, which is further expandable. Another main highlight of the device is its finger print sensor, which in a way also justifies the cost. Considering the above factors, we realize that Gionee is offering a lot more than its peers in the same range, hence making it totally worth giving it a try.

Friday 9 October 2015

Obi Worldphone SF 1 vs Samsung Galaxy E5

In this concise comparative review we take two mid range Android smartphones that entered the market this year, the recently launched Obi Worldphone SF1 and Samsung Galaxy E5. In an increasingly commoditized market, all emerging smartphone brands are vying to claim some differentiation and provide their best without challenging our pockets. In this contest, Obi Worldphone proudly claims a ‘Designed in San Francisco’ model with the best in line technology, while the veteran Samsung is already popular as a global smartphone leader that runs behind Apple. The slide below provides us with a quick comparative view on what the two devices have to offer.


If we look at the specifications, it is clear that Samsung’s E5 falls way short of Obi’s flagship SF1 on several counts. Both the devices are of moderate size, but Samsung E5 is a bit smaller and lighter. The two devices have the same screen size, however, it seems SF1 optimizes the screen better by providing a sharper view due to higher resolution and pixel density. Here Obi Worldphone has sincerely put up a great challenge in terms of innovation in gadgets. On the top, Obi also provides the protection of the latest Corning Gorilla Glass 4.

Also, beside making a difference through its Silicon Valley design, Obi SF1 has a well planned, latest in range OS and CPU backed by a good battery support and Quick Charge 1.0 that saves about 40% of the charging time. The multimedia experience in SF1 is also superior with Sony Exmor sensor camera (UBI Focus, Opti Zoom, Chroma Flash), 4G network, better resolution in display, Dolby Audio sound quality etc where surprisingly the old hand Samsung lags behind. Furthermore, both the devices are dual SIM. 

Considering the differences, it comes as a surprise that Obi SF1 costs lesser than Samsung E5. On the whole, Obi Worldphone SF1 can certainly win many hearts by proving that, if planned well, great design and high-end technology do not necessarily have to be expensive.

Friday 18 September 2015

Moto G (Gen 3) vs Lava Iris X5 4G: CGG3 Protection vs Superior Selfies

If Lava Iris X5 4G highlights the power of 4G in its communication, Moto G (Gen 3) makes a special mention to its water resistance advantage. However, despite different value propositions, both the smartphones share one thing in common, and it is their effort of offering high-end features at affordable price points. What merits this comparative review is their comparable price points and also nearby launch time. In this review, we compare the two devices to see how they stand up to each other.

Design
Let us start with what strikes the eyes first, the colour. Moto G (Gen3) is available in standard black and white colour variants, where as Lava Iris X5 tries to be a little different with its icy white and royal black colour range. In overall physical terms, Moto G measures 142.1x72.4x6.1-11.6 mm and weighs 155grams, where as Lava IrisX5 measures 141.6x70.8x7.6mm and weighs 128grams. In hand if Moto G feels a bit fattish, curvy and a bit heavier device, Lava Iris invokes somewhat flattish and lighter feel. The sleek appearance of Lava Iris X5 looks elegant but the variation in the curves of Moto G’s entire body looks different and unique.

Display
The 5 inch display screens of both the devices come with HD resolution (720x1280) and pixel density of 294 ppi, making the visual experience at par with each other. However, the display of Moto G stands out with the Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection. Lava Iris X5 on the other hand has entrusted the display safety to Asahi Dragontrail Glass, which has a pristine finish. Here it is imperative to note that CGG 3 comes with native damage resistance technology, which makes it 40% stronger in terms of scratches and durability.

Performance
Moto G (Gen3) is powered by 1.4 GHz Quad-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 (MSM8916) processor and Lava Iris X5 runs on 1.3 GHz Quad Core (64 bit MediaTek) processor, which indicates that Moto G has an edge over Lava Iris at this front. With its Operating System (OS) Android Lollipop 5.1.1, Moto G retains the slight edge over Lava Iris which comes in slightly older version of Android Lollipop 5.1 technology. Also, Moto G comes in two RAM variants i.e. 1GB (8GB storage) and 2GB (16 GB storage). However, Lava Iris X5 offers only 2GB RAM option with 16 GB in-built memory. In both the devices, you can expand the memory up to 32GB with the facility of a separate micro SD card slot.


Additional Features
Both Lava Iris X5 and Moto G (Gen3) offer 13 MP primary/rear cameras for an outstanding photography experience. The f2.0 aperture in their back cameras ensures the entry of more light, resulting in brighter images. For your selfies, Lava Iris gives you a better deal with its 8MP secondary/front camera in comparison to Moto G which has 5MP secondary camera. But, in Moto G, you also get High Dynamic Range (HDR) that enables the capturing of brightest and darkest shades in a particular frame, which looks quite similar to what you see in real life. At the battery front, Lava Iris X5 has a 2500 mAh Li- Po battery to give you a talk time of more than 24 hours, where as Moto G is not far behind with its 2470 mAh battery.

X Factor
Identifying the needs of the current generation, both the smartphones have come up with something unique to flatter their target audience. Moto G boasts of its water resistant feature under IPX7 technology, which means, you can use the phone even in a rainy weather. On the other hand, Lava Iris X5 highlights its compatibility to the 4G network; with that internet speed in your hand, you can get an amazing experience of surfing, uploading, downloading and a lot more on the internet.

Conclusion
Going by the specifications, we note that the differences between the two devices are minor. They have comparable display screen size, resolution, RAM, expandable memory option, and primary cameras, and both are 4G network compatible. However, Moto G (Gen3) has the advantage of CGG3 protection, slightly higher version of the OS and processor. On the other hand, Lava Iris X5 has the advantage of superior secondary camera, which means better selfies, and slightly higher battery capacity. Moreover, in the Indian market, while Lava Iris X5 4G is available at around Rs.10,750, Moto G (Gen 3) smartphones start at around Rs.12,000 onwards.

In the end, the choice is between more expensive, slightly bulkier Moto G with CGG3 protection and sleeker looking Lava Iris that promises better quality selfies.

Saturday 12 September 2015

Asus Zenfone Selfie (ZD 551KL) promises to show the best of you

Asusthe Taiwanese multinational computer hardware and electronics company, has successfully marked its presence globally and found its way into Business Week’s “InfoTech 100” and “Asia’s Top 10 IT Companies” rankings. Asus entered into smartphone business few years back with their Zenfone series to “Inspire Innovation”. The series has made a mark in big markets like India, China and other Asian Countries. In this review, we look at Asus Zenfone Selfie (ZD 551 KL) to get some insight about the way Asus may have tried to inspire innovation. 
The first look at the device will amaze you with its Ergonomic Arch design. Asus with no fuss gets easily adjusted in your palm and look good. Its body has a slim profile. While over all it measures 156.6x71.0x10.8 mm, it is just 3.9mm at the edge. With 170g  of total body weight, Asus is a bit heavier device than most though. But, users can feel free to keep this device in bag or pocket without a fear of getting scratches or crack, because it has the protection of the latest Corning Gorilla Glass 4. Zenfone allow its user to flaunt their style and move like stud with shades such as pure white, chic pink and aqua blue.

On display front, Zenfone Selfie is 5.5 inch long. The device is equipped with Full HD IPS display that offers 1920x1080 high-screen resolution. With 403 Pixels Per Inch and Asus TruVivid technology, the device provides excellent picture intensity and color clarity. To enhance the overall visual experience Asus has added new features to its User Interface called ZenUI. The upgraded UI includes Zen Motion, Snap View, Trend Micro Security and ZenUI Instant Updates that ensure security and privacy and enhance usability.

Zenfone Selfie has Android 5.0 lollipop on board including Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 MSM8939 chipset with Octa-Core processor that make the device work fast. It comes in two variants 2GB RAM/16GB Memory and 3GB RAM/32GB memory that can be further expanded up to 128GB through MicroSD card, which is certainly a huge storage capacity. On the whole the device allows you to explore, choose, download and use lag free.
Camera is the USP of this device. It particularly grabs your attention when you note that both primary and secondary cameras are 13MP. It will most certainly bring smile on the face of selfie lovers. To make you “See the perfect you”, Asus compiled back camera with five-prism Largan Lens with 88- degree, wide-angle framing, and dual LED real tone flash. Moreover, for the selfie lovers, it has added HDR and Laser auto-focus to the front camera. Interestingly, along with all those looks, great specs and a powerful front camera, Asus has equipped Zenfone Selfie with an equally powerful battery of 3000 mAh battery.

Considering all the specification, it is clear that Asus Zenfone Selfie (ZD 551 KL) has a way to get attention of smartphone lovers, particularly selfie loving youth. In the last but not the least, the price of the device is equally attractive. In the Indian market, the price tag is around INR 18000, which seems pretty good for the kind of specifications and superior technology that this device comes with.

Tuesday 8 September 2015

Micromax Yu Yuphoria has an edge over Lava Iris Alfa L

The smartphone market is only getting competitive. Each smartphone maker is eyeing to grab a larger share of the ever-growing market by finding new ways of differentiation in its devices. Two recently launched devices Micromax Yu Yuphoria and Lava Iris Alfa L are similarly competing to get the attention of customers. Therefore, we have decided to compare the two devices to make it easier for the customers who may be considering either of the two devices.

Micromax Yu Yuphoria (142.38x72.96x8.2mm; weight 143g) is all new pocket friendly device that has a sleek buffed steel body and is available in back colour and champagne gold with white colour. It has a full HD 5 inch display screen with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection and screen resolution of 1280x720. The mobile device spec detail includes 64 bit 1.2 GHz Qualcomm MSM8916 Snapdragon 410 processor that is paired with 2GB RAM and Adreno 306 GPU. It comes with 16 GB in-built storage with the possibility to expand the memory using micro SD card (32GB).

Yu Yuphoria runs on Android Lollipop 5.0.2 based Cyanogen Mod 12 OS and comes with app themer that permit the user to customize the display of the device. It has a 2230mAh battery that offers a Talk Time up to 7 hours which might not sound sufficient for heavy mobile phone users. The Smartphone is 3 times scratch resistant and has a 67 percent screen to body ratio. In the Indian market the device is available at around Rs.7000 and offers a good package deal for any mobile user looking for a good smartphone.

On the other hand, Lava’s newly launched Iris Alfa L is an ‘app’ packed device. With a dual-SIM and FOTA (firmware over the air) support, this Android Lollipop 5.0 based smartphone comes with 1GB RAM, is powered by a 1.3GHz quad-core mediatek processor and has IPS Capacitive Touchscreen. The user of Lava Iris will get 8GB of built-in storage that comes with expandable feature via microSD card (up to 32GB). The battery capacity of the phone is 3000 (mAh) that offers talk time on standard battery of up to 22hrs 6min (2G) and 13hrs 15 min (3G).

Lava Iris Alfa, priced at around Rs.8000 onwards, is for those looking for smartphone with a bigger screen (5.5 inch; resolution- 960x540) and in-built app features. It comes with an offer to download music from Hungama Music app free of worth Rs.2000. Along with this there is Truecaller premium app and the phone is loaded with Adaptxt keyboard app that is compatible with 11 Indian local languages. The smartphone is made for those looking for a phone with larger screen size and longer battery.

Micromax Yu Yuphoria has a 1080p video recording along with an 8MP primary camera with LED flash, Omni vision sensor with f2.2 aperture and 5MP front snapper with 4P lenses, 86 degree wide angle lens and f/2.0 aperture. Lava Iris, on the other hand, has 8MP primary camera LED flash and a 2MP front-facing camera.

Both the smartphones are android devices that support dual SIM and have Bluetooth features. They both have audio connector ranging 3.5 mm. When it comes to connectivity options those looking to buy Lava Iris Alfa L can get features such as 3G, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Micro-USB, A-GPS, 3.5mm audio jack, and FM radio. On the other hand, Yu Yuphoria supports all the connectivity the user is expecting from a flagship device such as dual SIM with dual standby, 4G LTE, 3G HSPA+, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and a lot more.

Lava Iris has built-in application like Google Talk, YouTube, Gmail, Google Search and Google Play. But this phone does not have a FM Radio, a feature that Yu offers to its user. Lava on the other hand supports music formats such as MP3, 3GP, AMR, WAV- Video formats: 3GP, MPEG4, AVI. Yu comes with limited support with music formats such as AAC, AMR, MID, MP3, OGG and WAV.

It can noted that Micromax Yu Yuphoria offers bigger RAM, larger storage, GG3 protection, higher resolution, and more powerful front camera. On the other hand, Lave Iris Alfa L comes with larger display screen, higher battery capacity, and a processor that offers slightly better clock speed. In addition, Lava also packs in many Apps. At the price front, both the devices are almost comparable, with Micromax having slight advantage. In overall terms, we think Micromax Yu Yuphoria has an edge over Lava Iris Alfa L.

Monday 31 August 2015

Obi Worldphone SF1 steps into world's leading smartphone markets

Silicon Valley is the meeting place of world's most innovative technology and breath taking art. From the heart of the valley, Obi announces it’s unique range of smartphones under the master brand Obi Worldphone. Considering that the global legends like John Sculley and Robert Bruner of Apple fame have come together to envision, design, build and launch this range, we most certainly have to check Obi's flagship, the Obi Worldphone SF1, where SF stands for San Francisco and number 1 represents the first in series. This flagship device of Obi Worldphone had its global launch in San Francisco followed by regional releases in East Asia (Vietnam, Thailand), Middle East (Dubai, Saudi Arabia) and lately in India as well.   
Obi Worldphone SF1
In today’s hyper competitive smartphone market, the company claims that its mission is to bring beautifully designed, technologically superior smartphones, priced at an exceptional customer value. If this sounds like what you need, let's find out what this device really brings.

A design to stand out from the rest

With our phone becoming part of what we wear and carry, we also want it to reflect our unique style, choice and comfort. Even then, how easy is to discover and mould an original, unique design in a small utility device like smartphone? Well, Obi seems to have raised the bar here. A custom User Interface (UI) with original and authentic silhouettes as expected of Ammunition Group, where every detail and curve is carefully crafted to make the piece a class apart and instantly recognizable as Obi Worldphone.



Particularly, SF1 comes in the timeless classic black hue, with metallic accents and a unibody compose, with “Designed in San Fransisco” stamped right behind. The fiberglass-reinforced body has accents made of an alloy of Titanium and Aluminium. The High Young's module makes it less prone to bending. The premium of having an oleophobic, anti fingerprint and UV coating saves our time on keeping it new, clean and scratch free. It has an elevated floating screen experience, emphasizing on a more engaged interaction with what we see and do with our smartphone.

However, if you happen to be a smart, busy and, somewhat, clumsy person like me, your eyes would go looking for strength and durability. Thankfully, SF1 is built with Corning Gorilla Glass (GG4), the toughest in category to protect the display (It is important to note here that even iPhone6 has CGG3). The raised screen is placed with a special gasket for protection. The architecture is such that the metal end plates at the top and bottom are more likely to hit the ground before the glass and they have been designed to take the impact, so that we are ready to take knocks better, and explore life in style!

Read More: iPhone6 vs Obi Worldphone SF; It's specifications vs brand

SF1 comes with a rich and sharp display

With an eye for detail and expression, the smartphone screen gives a good 5 inch display, as is common and demanded in smartphones now a days. The dimensions are 146*74*8.1mm, giving it a sturdy look. The screen is equipped with High Definition (HD) 1080 X 1920 pixels, which means richer colour and sharper details with 443ppi in cell Display. To make you feel right in the middle of your movie experience, the device has Dolby 5.1 discreet channels of high fidelity surround sound. Having a secondary microphone helps in noise cancellation, so that you can communicate neat and be heard clear-cut no matter where you are.

A phone that runs on eight engines

Coming to the roots of the device, Obi’s SF1 processes on Qualcomm MSM8939 64 - bit Snapdragon 615 with 1.5 GHz Octa-core clock speed. This is a good speed, but there is more to it, especially considering that not only your smartphone should perform matching your pace but also save on power where you are taking it easy. Although the Snapdragon 615 is octa-core, it is not just eight cores. It is actually four fast (1.7GHz) plus four not-so-fast (1GHz) cores. As a result, the system shifts to the slower, less power-hungry, cores when there is no load, and back again smoothly when there is. The benefit is both performance and power saving. This is not yet common in smartphones, therefore, Obi’s SF1 sure comes with an advantage. The Adreno 405 GPU 64 bit in turn provides first class HD gaming experience due to its support for both 2D and 3D games, giving you both compatibility and performance. The phone operates on Google's, Android 5.02 (lollipop) software, hence all Google Play store supported applications run on Obi Worldphone.

SF1 comes loaded with softwares and storage choices

Beside Obi custom user interface, other softwares include Swiftkey, Accuweather, Clean Master, MS Office, AVG Anti virus and a lot more to come! To support all these there is a well planned option for either 16GB internal storage with 2GB RAM or 32 GB internal storage with 3GB RAM. Along with this it has a micro SD slot for an expandable memory upto 64 GB, hence we are never short of space. The DDR3 RAM and eMMC 4.5 ROM is the fastest possible option for the given processor, plus 15GB cloud storage on Google. The quick charge feature in 3000 mAh battery power supports phone life for 20 days standby time, upto 28 hours talk-time, 10 hours video playback time and a delightful 100 hours of music playback.

A camera that is supported with authentic hardware

Most importantly, with 13 Mega Pixels rear camera, 5 Mega Pixels front camera with LED flash on both sides powered by Sony Exmor IMX214 Sensor, SF1 is actually a professional camera in the palm of your hand. Not only it ensures superb lowlight photos, but in high density resolution too. The f/2.0 Aperture allows a good amount of light to fall on the lens to capture a sharper image. One can capture a scene with everything in focus or refocus the image taken as it is never too late, zoom to read text, click photos in low light as layered flash will not ruin the photo's brightness, texture, color or take split second perfect focus even in the sun. Capturing RAW images always allows higher quality photo, as it does not compress the photo like in JPG, BMP etc. formats. Touch focus, face/smile detection, panorama HDR. Video 1080p@30fps, Ubifocus, Chrome flash and optical zoom assist us to capture timeless memories and selfies, perfectly forever.

SF1 covers most of the networks

The network reach and communication features GSM (850/900/1800/1900 MHz) /WCDMA (850/900/1800/1900 Mhz)/HSPA+ /4G LTE (FOD B3 1800 MHz and TDD B40 2300 MHz). The device supports Dual SIM (Micro and Nano, WLAN direct Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Dual band. Blutooth (v4.0 A2DP) and GPS with GLONASS. GLONASS is known to provide faster and accurate fixes, especially in EMEA, Asia and North America. The phone comes with a custom designed charger and a micro USB data cable (v2.0) to connect further. The brand upholds a standard one-year warranty in most markets. The phones are built by CK Telecom Limited, a leading mobile phone ODM/OEM provider in Heyuan, China.

Obi Worldphone SF1 takes smartphone experience to next level

Ammunition has designed Obi Worldphone from concept to completion. SF1’s industrial design, user interface (UI), superior features and packaging, everything is aimed at user experience, as if this stylish device is built to bring out the connection between the smartphone and its owner. With this combination of beauty and power, Obi aims to serve customers around the world. However, the most interesting aspect is the price tag (App. USD200-250), which actually makes one think as if the company is tactically underrating the device, as if this beauty deserved to cost more. Moreover, Obi promises to push the limits of smartphone experience by working to bring in more softwares and plans to sell its own line of accessories soon.

Well, SF1 most certainly brings some fresh air of Silicon Valley in the global smartphone market in terms of class, originality, display, camera, sound and battery life at an exceptional price. With its mission to fuel the dreams of those young and upbeat, we see every reason that the device would be able to attract attention across the markets. On the whole, to the great customer delight, Obi Worldphone SF1 seems to have raised the overall quality bar for the price point it comes in.




Thursday 20 August 2015

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ and Note 5: What is the Difference?

On 13th August 2015, Samsung pulled back the curtains on its Galaxy S6 Edge+ and Note 5 smartphones. Earlier the company had effectively split its S-line in two with Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge. Now they have split their phablet range into two new flagship models: Galaxy S6 edge+ and Galaxy Note 5. Since both the devices are priced about the same, it is but natural that customers are keen to know the differences between the two. Therefore, we have decided to undertake a detailed spec to spec review of the two devices to find out how exactly they differ from each other.

Design 

In terms of overall dimensions, Galaxy S6 edge+ measures 154.4x75.8x6.9mm as compared to Note 5 which is 153.2x76.1x7.6mm, meaning the S6 edge+ is slightly thinner and fractionally longer. Furthermore, S6 edge+ hits the scale at 153gm compared to 171gm of Note 5. There is an extra pack for stylus that has been the key highlight of Samsung’s Note series but it also adds on some weight to the device. Both S6 edge+ and Note 5 as predicted follow the footsteps of their predecessors with a metal and glass construction. Also, both devices come with built-in fingerprint scanner. Most certainly, we find S6 edge+ is more exciting in terms of design with its dual edge display. However, the Note series has always had its fan following for its powerful features and sturdy built. Now that Note 5 is embracing aluminum over plastic for its rear, it is very likely to please its devotees.

Display
Both Galaxy S6 edge + and Galaxy Note 5 have 5.7 inch super AMOLED display which produces terrific video and image viewing experience. Both of them also have QHD 2560x1440 resolutions with a pixel density of 515 ppi that adds on to sharp and crisp viewing experience. As such, the quality of visual experience is going to be the same in both the devices.

Performance
Both the devices have exynos 7420 chip under their hoods which is powered by 1.5 GHz processor and a 4 GB RAM. Both the devices are available in 32GB and 64GB internal storage variants, but there is no option for expandable storage in either. Furthermore, both S6 edge+ and Note 5 are powered with latest Android Lollipop 5.1 with Samsung TouchWiz Interface on the top. Although both the devices serve similar software experience, but there are differences too. In S6 edge+ there are specific apps that enhance the relevance of dual-edge display while Note 5 has specific apps that fit to its Stylus pen.
Software
In spite of similarity, the major difference between the two devices lies in their software. In Note 5, Samsung has retained most of its previous productivity software and smart UI to make it a perfect business-focused device. Moreover, the stylus has been tweaked to be more responsive too. On the other hand, in case of S6 edge+, Samsung has focused more on edge screen functionality that makes it more of a consumer device. The screen edge technology offers Information Stream where headlines scroll on the screen edge, Night Clock which shows time on the edge at night, People Edge which has the favorite contact list selected by user and Edge Lighting which means color specific edge lighting when favorite contacts call. In addition, S6 edge+ also has enhanced people edge so that images and emoticons can be sent directly to the favorite contacts. Soon it might be upgraded on S6 edge as well.

Camera and Battery
The two devices, S6 edge+ and Note 5, have the same cameras, i.e. a 16MP rear camera and a 5 MP front camera with an aperture of f/1.9. There is no difference even in the optics, lenses and features of the two handsets. As far as the battery is concerned both devices disappoint with 3000 mAh which surely isn’t the best in the phablet market.

Connectivity
Both devices have common features like Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, and NFC, and they support 4G and are compatible to nano SIM cards. In addition, both S6 edge+ and Note 5 support ‘Sidesync’ which is somewhat similar to Apple Continuity. SideSync allows users to handle phone tasks on their computers such as seamlessly transferring phone calls, files and even playing mobile games on PC, but this is available only on Windows OS for PC.

Conclusion
In India, Samsung launched the 32GB variant of Galaxy S6 edge+ priced at Rs 57,900 while the 64GB is not available at the moment. The exact price of Galaxy Note 5 will be available only after its launch in India but it is likely to be priced around Rs 60,000. As such, the two devices have identical specifications. The only differentiators are design and some software features. Therefore, the customer choice may be influenced by the price factor and their preference for overall design and software.

Tuesday 18 August 2015

Sony Xperia E4 Dual vs Xiaomi Mi 4i: The Winner is Clear

Calling Xperia range as ‘designed to inspire and built to last’, Sony presents the devices in hand as powerful tools to explore, discover and learn. On the other hand, Xiaomi emphasizes the high quality and performance of its devices and introduces an element of exclusivity by adding ‘just for fans’.Irrespective of the way two companies want their devices to be perceived, it is clear that both of them aim to deliver the best at moderate prices. Therefore, it is important to compare Sony Xperia E4 Dual and Xiaomi Mi 4i to find out which of the two makes for a better deal.

Look & Feel
We begin with the design features of the two devices. Sony Xperia E4 Dual measures 137x75x10.5mm and weighs 144g, whereas Xiaomi Mi 4i measures 138.1x69.6x7.8mm and weighs 130g. In general, Xperia is a relatively broader and thicker looking device and with its rounded shape and textured surface gives a sturdier look. Xiaomi, on the other hand, has a relatively sleeker body that may be more comfortable to hold in hand. Also, Xiaomi has used finely textured and matte-sprayed material for resistance to fingerprints and grease. It matte back cover is smooth to the touch and feels great against skin, and fits just right and bendsseamlessly across the sides to meet the front display. Furthermore, while Xperia is out in only black and white, Xiaomi is available in black and white including various other trendy shades like orange, light blue and pink.

Display
On the display front, both the devices come with a screen size of 5 inches, but there is significant difference in pixel resolution that has implications for the quality of images. The Xiaomi device produces 1080x1920 pixel resolution and has a pixel density of 441 pixels per inch whereas the Xperia device comes with only 540x960 pixels resolution and a pixel density of 220 pixels per inch. It is obvious that in terms of crispiness and sharpness, the quality of images produced by Xperia would be somewhat lesser in quality than that of Xiaomi.

Performance
Xperia E4Dual is powered by Mediatek MT 6582 1.3Ghz Quad-core processor, where as Xiaomi Mi4i is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 1.7GHz Octa-core processor. Xiaomi has definite leg up over Xperia on several counts. Firstly, Mi 4i runs on Android 5.0.2 OS whereas Xperia E4 runs on a slightly older version Android 4.4. Secondly, Mi4i comes with 2GB RAM, which is double of Sony E4 that has 1GB RAM. Thirdly, with 16GB internal storage, Xiaomi is clearly ahead of Xperia E4 that comes with 8GB internal storage. However, it is note worthy that out of the two devices only Xperia provides expansion of storage through MicroSD card up to 32GB. Still, on the whole, Xiaomi leaves Xperia way behind at the performance level.



Additional Features
Camera has become an integral part of smartphone users lives. Moreover, given the love of people for selfies, a good camera can become a key to success easily. Once again, Xperia E4Dual, with its 5MP (rear) and 2MP (front) cameras, lags behind Xiaomi mi 4i that boasts of 13MP (rear) and 5MP (front) cameras. Furthermore, on the battery front, while Xperia has 2300 mAh battery capacity, Xiaomi takes a lead with its 3120 mAh battery capacity. Other add-ons like WiFi, FM, Bluetooth and GPS are available on both the devices. In terms of connectivity, both the SIM cards of Xperia support only 3G Network, while Xiaomi’s dual SIM supports 3G, 4G and 4G LTE networks depending on the market.

Concluding Remarks
We note that Xioami Mi 4i out shines Xperia due to its more advanced OS, bigger RAM, larger internal storage, superior cameras and longer lasting battery. There are distinctive design elements to consider too, such as overall size, shape and the color options to choose from, however, they could be a matter of individual preference.

Last but not the least, we also looked at the price tag on leading Indian e-commerce sites, where Xiaomi Mi4i is priced at around INR12,999 and Sony XperiaE4 Dual is at INR11,290. In spite of slightly higher price, we think Xiaomi offers a much better deal than Sony Xperia E4.

Tuesday 11 August 2015

Micromax Unite 3 Q372: Wow, it is Mother-Tongue Friendly !

Micromax, the Indian smartphone company, has shown a remarkable growth. It is gaining popularity for delivering superior technology on affordable prices.The company also tries to establish personal connection with its target groups by promising to make life easier through its devices. One of its recent models Micromax Unite 3 Q372 aims at connecting its users to their mother tongues which is available in ten different Indian languages. “Bhasha ke methai badi lajwab hai”, says Micromax, the sweetness of the mother tongue is matchless. In this review, we try to find out what else this device brings besides the sweetness of the mother tongue.

The very first look tells that the device is a standard one. It is rectangular in shape and has curved edges, with not much to add on to users fashion statement. It is available in solid blue and white colors. On the display front, the device comes with 4.7inch screen and has a resolution of 480 x800 pixels and 16.7 M color depth. Considering that 5inch screen size is kind of becoming normal these days, it is slightly smaller, which could limit the experience of those keen on a theater feel while watching a clip on the device.

Micromax Q372 is powered by MTK, MT6582, 1.3 GHz Quad-Core processor. This device runs on latest Android lollipop 5.0 which can make multi- tasking easier. Also this device has 1GB RAM and 8GB inbuilt memory that is expandable up to 32GB with a micro SD card. So, one can explore the world of cinema, music and literature hassle free as the devices have updated version of android with enough storage space. The device comes with 2200 mAh battery that gives 8hours of talk time and 220hours of standby time that is reasonably good.

Unite 3 comes up with 8 MP back and 2 MP front cameras with 720 pixels and features like flash and autofocus. Looking at the connectivity,Unite Q372 is a dual-SIM smartphone that supports 3G network only on one SIM. It contains basic features like Bluetooth, FM, WiFi and GPS. Furthermore, the device is pre-loaded with applications like App Center, Ask me, Chaatz, Clean master, Dr safety, Facebook and Facebook messenger, Hotstar, MAD, Newshut, Paytm, Quiker etc. Micromax Unite supports 3GP and MP4 video format with 720p video resolution. It also supports MP3,Amr, Wav and AAC audio formats.

Looking inside the box, the device comes along with a charger, battery, warranty card, USB cable, User guide and a very impressive headset that is hands-free. Along with the impressive accessories, the device comes at an impressive price tag of INR 6000 approx. It is a reasonably good product that is not equipped with complex technologies and can easily cater for users of all age groups.


However, the standout feature of Micromax Unite 3 is the possibility of using multiple languages that makes the device suitable for those who prefer communicating in their mother tongue, and most certainly helps those who do not know any other language. Not only you can have the keypad in your preferred language, but also the menu can be changed in your desired language. Interestingly, the device can predict 2 lakh words for each language.

Friday 31 July 2015

OnePlus2 Says Something Bold, But Without A Headset

OnePlus started in 2013 with a vision of launching a superior device, a device that could enhance users’ experience of technology. With OnePlus 1, the company experienced success and created for itself a mass following. In its endeavor to become a leading player in the smartphone market, the company has come up with a slogan - Never Settle - and has launched another device, OnePlus 2. Given all the guesswork that was on before the launch, in this review we try to find out how closely the new flagship phone from OnePlus has lived up to peoples’ expectations.



The One Plus2 features indicate the urge of its makers to innovate. Considering the outer body, Plus2 measures 151.8 x 74.9 x 9.85 mm and weighs 175g. Well, for some the device may be a bit heavier and thicker, considering that getting slimmer is the larger trend. Still, for others, a device that marks its presence in the hand is a great idea. To catch the eyes, the company has come up with the style swap range that allows you to play with the looks without altering the form factor of Plus2. So with its sandstone black variant one can add different textures offered by the company.

OnePlus 2 has a 5.5 inch display screen that comes with the added protection of Corning Gorilla Glass. With 1080p Full HD (1920 x 1080) pixels resolution and the pixel density of 401 pixels per inch, the device promises great viewing experience to its users with sharp and clear images. Furthermore, the device is energized by 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor with 1.8 GHz Octa-core CPUs and GPU Adreno 430. Plus two runs on Oxygen OS based on Android 5.1 which is meant to improve the user experience.

 
Source: bit.ly/1Ubywm1
T
he device is accompanied by 13 MP primary and 5MP secondary camera which is distortion free. The camera is enhanced with 6 lenses and laser focus to avoid distortion and color aberration. The device is loaded with features like autofocus, Optical image stabilization,and an f/2.0 aperture, which gives your picture a power to showcase your craft. Well, a device with contemporary technology might have appeared handicapped if it wasn’t supported with equally powerful battery. One Plus2 comes equipped with a 3300 mAh LiPo battery.

Furthermore, this china-based company had made their device an easy to carry computer where storing data has no limits. The device comes in two variants – 4GB RAM/64GB Memory for INR 24,999 & 3GB RAM/16GB Memory for INR 21,062 approx. Considering that smooth performance and viewing experience is becoming increasingly the choice, OnePlus2 is likely to get the attention of many.



To ensure hassle free data storage and exchange, the device comes with Bluetooth 4.1, WiFi and USB type - C charger that will not only power up the device but also help exchanging data from PC. The device supports two nano SIM cards. To go well with their OnePlus cardboard, the company has loaded sensors like Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity and Ambient Light to bring the theater experience closer to the smartphone users.

As the company leadership has been saying, the OnePlus2 does have something bold to say, especially the OnePlus cardboard that adds on to the experience of looking at the device. However, if one is looking for the same pleasure for the ears, one needs to buy the headset separately. Considering that headset is a must for every smartphone user, OnePlus somewhat disappoints by not delivering the headset along with the device. All that you will find in the box is one USB type-C Cable, OnePlus2 USB power adapter and OnePlus2.

Interestingly, we note that the device is out with almost the same features that were being predicted in the gossip circles before the launch. The device will be out in market from August 11 on Amazon.

Thursday 30 July 2015

Obi's Alligator is Leaving A Mark in Africa

Obi Mobiles, co-founded by John Sculley, had launched its first range of smartphones on the name of animals in India 2014. Over couple of months, Obi moved to Middle East and then subsequently entered Africa, where several of Obi devices have succeeded in making their presence felt. In this brief review, we have particularly taken a gander at the Obi model called Alligator S454.




The gadget captures the mood with its good camera quality. The devices is a complete blend of hardware and software that gives it a slight edge at the value that it comes. On the off chance that you have quite recently begun to wander into the cell phone classification of telephone moving out from your feature phones, Obi Alligator S454 may very well awe you. Pull out all the stops on the off chance that you are searching for all the more in less.

Wednesday 29 July 2015

Gionee Marathon M3 vs Lenovo A5000: The battle of battery and memory

In spite of fast paced innovation in the smartphone technology on all fronts, there is one front where innovation has been rather slow, and this is battery. Moreover, with millions of apps and so much more to do in a smartphone, it is really hard to figure out what battery size would be ideal for a smartphone. Two Chinese brands are battling out in Indian market with their devices, Gionee Marathon M3 and Lenovo A5000, that boast of having 5000 mAh and 4000 mAh battery size respectively. In this comparative review, we examine what all these two high-battery devices come with.

Source: bit.ly/1OBiePQ
Design
The style and design is not much distinctive with a simple candy bar design. While Gionee M3 comes with dimension 144.50x71.45x10.40mm and weighs 180g, Lenovo A 5000 has slightly slimmer and lighter body with dimensions 140x71.4x9.98 mm weighing 160g. Largely made of plastic, Gionee Marathon carries a massive non removable battery inside and is available in black and white variants. On the other hand, Lenovo A5000 is madeof polycarbonate plastic and non-sticky fingerprints materials and is also available in black and white variants. However, a relatively slimmer design and light body with rounded edges makes this device comfortable to hold.

Display
The display screen size of both Lenovo A5000 and Gionee Marathon M3 is 5 inch, which allows for better visual experience. Both devices have IPS LCD capacitive touch screen with 16M colours and offers a resolution of 720x1280 pixels HD with 294 ppi pixel density which is very sharp, clear and detailed. The viewing angles are pretty decent and the sunlight legibility is also fine. Therefore, on the display front, the performance of both the devices is pretty much the same.

Performance
Both Marathon M3 and Lenovo A5000 run on Android 4.4 Kitkat. However, Gionee has tried to give their device a distinctive look by creating their own skin Amigo UI layered on top of the OS. Both devices have a MediaTek MT6582M 1.3 GHz Quad-core processor, coupled with a 1 GB RAM. However, nowadays with the bombardment of mobile apps 1 GB RAM is considered to be a ediocre feature. In daily use, both device works fine and do respond to tap and swipe instantly. Both the devices are configured with 8GB of internal memory, which is expandable upto 32 GB in Lenovo A5000 and 128 GB in Gionee M3 via MicroSD card, which provides Gionee an edge over Lenovo.
Battery and Camera
Battery life is the USP of these products where Lenovo A5000 comes with 4000 mAh battery and Gionee Marathon M3 with a whooping 5000 mAh battery. Lenovo gives a talk time of 35h (2G) and 17h (3G). On the other hand, Gionee M3 gives an outstanding talk time of 51 h (2G) and 32 h (3G). Both devices have an 8 MP primary camera and a 2 MP secondary camera. The camera quality for both devices is decent capturing HD videosand images. Even the 2 MP front cameras perform well when it comes to taking selfies. Both the devices areequipped with features like geo-tagging, face detection and Panorama Shot.

Connectivity and other Features
Both Gionee Marathon and Lenovo A5000 are dual-sim phones, which support 3G. Addition to that both the smartphones have Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, FM, 3.5mm audio jack, accelerometer and proximity sensor.

Conclusion
We note that both the devices are pretty much comparable on most of the indicators. Nevertheless, Gionee takes a definite lead on two counts i.e. expandable memory and battery. This reflects in price, where Gionee Marathon M3 is available at around Rs.10,500 and Lenovo A5000 at around Rs.10,000. However, Lenovo has been in Indian market for a longer period and has built some brand image. Therefore, it would be a challenge for Gionee to beat Lenovo in this segment.