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

The 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.

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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.

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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.

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Micromax Bolt D320: Reflecting the Art of Becoming A Mass Smartphone Brand

Micromax is one of the top 10 largest handset suppliers globally. They pioneered the democratization of technology in India by offering affordable phones and are now the 2^nd largest smartphone seller in the country. It is the brand that has slowly and significantly created its space in the heart of the youth and had empowered lives. Therefore, we have decided to review one of their devices Micromax Bolt D320 to get some insights about the way Micromax has come to become a mass brand.

The Bolt series was designed to thrill the customers with blazing Internet speed. With D320 the company moves another step forward by making most of the features offered by the company for the budget category of smartphone users. This device is currently available in black colour only. Bolt D320 has a 4.5 inch display screen, which seems a bit smaller considering that even 5 inch screen size is normal these days, and comes with 480x 854 resolution. A larger screen is always a plus point for making the days entertaining as you can play games and movies.

Apart from the bigger screen a stronger power system is needed that can support your applications and games. Bolt D is powered by MediaTek MTK6572M 1.2 GHz Dual core processor. This is a more advanced version that enhances multi-tasking environment because there are two complete execution cores.

Also, bolt is empowered with an advanced version of OS, Android KITKAT 4.4.2. Furthermore, the device has 512 MB RAM, which may be a constraint if you are keen on running many apps and games smoothly. Also, Bolt comes with 4GB internal storage that is expendable up to 32 GB.

The device is equipped by a reasonable battery capacity of 1600 mAh that gives 200 hrs of standby time and 5.5 hrs of talk time. On the camera front, Bolt D320 comes with 3.2 MP (rear) and 0.3 MP (front) cameras with resolution recording and play of 640x480. However, the camera power may disappoint selfie lovers.

The device is pre-loaded with apps such as the App Centre, Ask Me, Clean Master, Dr Safety, Games Club, Hotstar, Housing, M! Games, M! Insurance, M! Security, M! Live, MAD, Paytm, Quikr and Giga Jump. Furthermore, it is a dual SIM device that provides for 3G connectivity.

Micromax Bolt D320 is priced at around INR4000 (approximately USD65) on e-commerce sites. Moreover, the device also comes with two months free data plan for the Vodafone users. Considering the price, we think Micromax has done a great job of providing the aforementioned specifications and features.

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Lenovo S60 Shoots Ahead of Panasonic Eluga L 4G in the Spec Battle

Lenovo and Panasonic entered the smartphone market about the same time. They have faced lot of ups and downs to attain a certain position in the market and continue to compete with each other. Therefore, in this comparative review, we have picked Lenovo S60, which was launched in January 2015, and Panasonic Eluga L 4G, which was launched in May 2015. Let us find out how the two devices fare in the spec battle.

Design & Display

Lenovo S60 measures 143.3x72x7.7mm and weighs 128g, whereas Panasonic Eluga L comes in relatively higher dimensions of 147.1x73.6x9mm that makes it bulkier as well as heavier 155g. Furthermore, Lenovo is available in three colours including Pearl White, Graphite Grey and Yellow, where as Eluga is only available in Silver. Both the devices have same 5inch display screen with IPS capacitive touch screen and a resolution of 720x1280 pixels.

Processor & OS

Both Lenovo S60 and Panasonic Eluga work on 1.2GHz quad core 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor. However, the difference lies in operating system (OS) where Lenovo runs on Android OS v4.4 (kitkat) where as Panasonic runs on relatively more advanced OS Android OS, v5.0 (lollipop). However, Lenovo S60 with 2GB RAM outshines Panasonic Eluga which has 1GB RAM, extra RAM ensures multitasking smoothly. Other than that both the devices have same internal memory, which is 8GB, which can be expanded up to 32GB via MicroSD card.

Camera & Battery

S60 Lenovo has 13MP primary (rear) camera with full HD video recording, flashlight and auto focus features and 5MP secondary (front) camera. Panasonic Eluga L, on the other side, has 8MP primary camera with flashlight and auto focus, and a 5MP secondary camera. It is obvious that Lenovo has the primary camera advantage. Moreover, Lenovo S60 has battery capacity of 2150mAh, which works up to 30hours with 2G, 16.5 hours with 3G and 17 hours with 4G. On the other hand, Panasonic Eluga L is on a bit lower side with 2000mAh. The difference is not much, but Lenovo has a slightly advantage over Panasonic Eluga on the battery front too.

Connectivity

Both devices support 3G, wireless LAN available, GPS, V4.0 Bluetooth, micro USB port and tethering which cover all the features of connectivity of modern smartphone. Both have a dual SIM phone, where Lenovo S60 supports regular SIM, Panasonic Eluga L supports micro SIM.

Bottom Line

Lenovo S60 has an edge over Panasonic Eluga L on account bigger display screen, bigger RAM, higher battery capacity and superior primary camera. The disadvantage is that Lenovo is not available on 4G. On the other hand, Panasonic Eluga L takes a leg up over Lenovo S60 on account more advanced OS and its availability in 4G. In terms of price, while Lenovo S60 costs around INR12,500, Panasonic Eluga L costs around INR11,000. Given the differences, the price difference is justified. As such, Lenovo S60 makes for a better deal.

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Lenovo K80 Simply Outshines Asus Zenfone 2

Asus and Lenovo moved many eyelids across the globe when they announced smartphones with 4GB RAM. Lets’ find out how the two first 4 GB Devices i.e Asus Zenfone 2 ZE551ML and Lenovo K80 compare with each other. 

Starting with dimensions Asus Zenfone size is 152.5x77.2x10.9mm and it weighs around 170gm, where as Lenovo K80 is 150.0x77.2x8.50mm and weighs 158gm. However, there is no difference in the display screen size and quality as both the devices come with 5.5” Full HD (1080p) IPS LCD capacitive touch screens. Both the devices run on Android 5.0 Lollipop operating system (OS). The most important feature is the 4GB RAM that allows both device for faster switching between various applications. In the sea of similarities the only distinguishing factor is the slight difference in the processor where Asus Zenfone acquires a slight edge in processing capacity as it powered by Intel Atom 2.3 GHz Quad-Core processor that offers a slightly better clock speed than Lenovo K80 which is powered by Intel Atom 1.8 GHz Quad-Core processor. Both devices have 13 megapixel rear cameras with LED flash and 5 megapixel front cameras with a fixed focus.

As far as connectivity is concerned both have Wi-Fi capabilities (802.11 a/g/b/n/ac), Bluetooth v4.0 and dual SIM slot. In terms of connectivity, both devices are available in 2G, 3G and 4G, depending on the market. In the Indian market, Asus Zenfone is priced at around INR23,000, where as Lenovo K80 is around INR17,000.

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Obi Hornbill Beats Samsung Galaxy S3 with Specifications

Obi Mobiles, a smartphone company establish by John Sculley, previous CEO of Pepsi Co and Apple, has entered East Africa, beginning Kenya and Tanzania after tasting success in East Asia. On the other hand, it is as of now confronting rivalry from set up brands, for example, Samsung, Tecno Mobiles, Huawei, HTC, and so forth. With yet another player guaranteeing the predominance of its cell phone in the business sector adds to the test of picking the right item. Through this comparison, we have analyzed the relative qualities of Samsung Galaxy S3 and Obi Hornbill S551 with the aim to empower buyers to settle on an educated decision.

Obi’s Hornbill in display screen size, operating system technology, cameras and battery life including more advanced processor and the ability to function on multiple networks (2.5G, 3G and 4G), leaves Samsung’s Galaxy S3 behind. Looking at the price tag, Samsung’s Galaxy S3 is priced around KSh 40,000, where as Obi Hornbill is pleasantly priced around KSh 18,000. Obviously, Samsung has the brand quality to legitimize the cost, however a smart buyer would beyond any doubt consider a few discriminating features while settling on choice.

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With Four Detachable Lenses, India's iBall is Force Moving Eye Balls

iBall, an Indian company, entered the smartphone business in early 2000 and has acquired a name for its quality products in the budget segment. The company has launched another interesting product last month. iBall mSLR Cobalt 4 is a device that has been applauded for having some distinctive features, particularly 4 detachable lenses, only for INR 8500.

As the name suggests, mSLR, the mobile SLR, allows its user to capture better quality images with better zoom and LED Flash that makes the picture clearer in dim lights. The device comes with different lens attachments like an 8x zoom lens, macro lens with magnification (10x), fish eye lens and wide-angle lens (130 degree). Each lens comes with a distinctive quality that helps in enhancing the quality of the photos taken.

To make the life easy the gadget is accompanied by a lens clip and back panel for lenses that makes clicking tension free. The clip has a screw mount on one side, while the other side has a rubber casing to ensure that the screen does not get damaged. The additional lenses accompany a front top for security from dust, organism, fingerprints and smirch. But, iBall neglected to feature a similar lens cap for the back, so you have to supplant and convey the lenses deliberately.

In general the device is accompanied by enhanced 8MP primary camera with LED flash and an enhanced 3.2MP secondary camera with soft Flash. Other than the distinctive lens feature, iBall mSLR Cobalt 4 is powered by Octa Core 1.4 GHz Cortex A7 advanced processor and runs on Android 4.4 KitKat OS. Furthermore, the device has 1GB RAM and 8GB internal storage capacity expandable up to 32GB with microSD card. Cobalt 4 comes with 5 inch display screen size with resolution qHD 960x540 pixels and 220pixel density, has capacitive touch screen. Also, the device comes with battery capacity of 2000 mAh. The device is available in black color, with a metallic bronze strip on both the sides that enhances its aesthetic appeal. The good built quality of polycarbonate makes it comfortable to hold the handset in hand and adds to the style statement of the user.

In terms of connectivity the handset supports Wi-Fi Direct, GPS, Bluetooth, USB Internet and FM with recording facility. The device comes with a data cable that will not only charge the handset but trading data from PC and charging other gadgets will become hassle free. The Audio jack provides the facility of changing radio channels, controlling volume and connection and disconnection of calls without touching the device that makes it easier for those who talk for long hours on phone and enjoy jingles of life.

This dual SIM device support GSM with 3G HSPA with a speed of 21Mbps Downlink and 5.7 Mbps Uplink. Also the device comes with sensors like G - sensor, Proximity sensor, and Light sensor. Taking all the above details in account the device fit in for those who love to see the world in still mode where even the minor detail of the image is visibly neat, clean and sharp. On the whole, iBall mSLR Cobalt 4 is a reasonably decent product that can give competition to others in the same price segment.

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Obi Wolverine S 501 Challenging HTC Desire 210 in Kenya

HTC has made a strong market base in Kenya by introducing mid-range smartphones to high-end smartphones. On the other hand, Obi Mobiles, a company co-founded by John Sculley, ex-CEO of Apple and Pepsi Co set its foot in the Kenyan market in March this year. In spite of being new Obi Mobiles stands a good chance to give HTC a tough competition. To be specific, in this review we are comparing HTC Desire 210 with Obi Wolverine S501 to see what they have to offer in the price tag, say around, KSh 9,000.

Look & Feel:

The biggest difference that we note in the first look is the style and the design. While HTC Desire 210 comes with dimension 125.7X65X10.5mm and weighs 130g, Obi Wolverine S510 has relatively bigger body with dimensions 144X73X9.6mm and weighs 167g. On the whole, HTC 210 is smaller, lighter but also relatively thicker looking device than Obi’s Wolverine. Desire 210 has a metallic body with color variants like black, white and red, on the other hand, Obi Wolverine comes with elegant white and striking black, leather-like cover thus protecting your device from cracks and scratches and adds value to your personality.

Display:

The display screen size of Wolverine S510 is 5.0 inch, offering significantly larger visuals than Desire 210 which has a 4.0 inch screen. Even though the screen type of both the devices comprises of TFT technology with capacitive touch screen, Obi Wolverine has an edge over HTC as it has TFT IPS which provides better color reproduction and greater viewing angle. Furthermore, Obi Wolverine takes a slight lead on the screen resolution with 480X854 pixels providing better display clarity in comparison to HTC’s 480X800 pixels screen resolution. On the whole, Wolverine has a definite leg up over Desire on the display front.

OS and Processor:

HTC Desire 210 runs on Android 4.2.2 Jellybean paired with MediaTek MT6572M 1GHz dual-core processor, whereas Obi Wolverine runs on relatively more advanced Android Kitkat 4.4 operating system packed with MediaTek MT6572M 1.2GHz dual-core processor that gives an accelerated performance. On the performance front too, Obi’s Wolverine acquires an edge over HTC’s Desire 210.

RAM and Storage:

RAM and internal storage is a matter of concern if you are looking forward to many apps and games. Both the devices are configured with 4GB of internal memory, which is expandable upto 32 GB externally. However, Obi Wolverine might impress you more with its 1 GB of RAM in comparison to HTC Desire 210 which comes with 512 MB RAM, about half of the former device. Double the RAM means Obi’s Wolverine will ensure faster performance and run applications relatively more smoothly.

Camera and Battery:

HTC Desire 210 has been designed with 5MP primary camera and a VGA secondary camera which over time has gone out of fashion. On the other hand, Obi’s Wolverine comes with a 5MP primary camera with a LED flash ad is placed in the middle of the device and a 0.3MP secondary camera for selfies. Both the devices are equipped with geo-tagging feature, however, Wolverine additionally comes with features like face detection and Panorama Shot. On the whole, Obi once again has a slight leg up over HTC. On the battery front, both HTC Desire210 and Obi Wolverine S501 have removable batteries with 1300mAh and 1500mAh battery limit respectively. However, Desire 210 offers talktime upto 9 hrs and standby time upto 260 hrs whereas Obi Wolverine gives you talktime upto 6 hrs and standby time upto 180 hrs. While Wolverine has a larger battery capacity, the claim of talk and standby time puts HTC Desire ahead of Wolverine.

Connectivity and other Features:

Both HTC Desire 210 and Obi Wolverine S501 are dual-sim phones, and both the SIM supports 3G in both the devices. Both the smartphones have WiFi, GPS, Bluetooth, FM, 3.5mm audio jack, accelerometer and proximity sensor in common.

Conclusion:

We note that while both the devices are comparable on several accounts, there are some differences too. Obi’s Wolverine has a relatively more advanced OS and processor, secondary camera, larger display and double the RAM, whereas HTC Desire claims longer talk and standby time. The price in the Kenya market also works in favour of Obi Wolverine which is around KSh9000 in comparison to HTC Desire 210 marked around KSh10,000.

However, with a certain brand value, HTC Desire 210 may appeal to those looking for a more handy, smaller looking device, and are not constrained by funds. Where as Obi Wolverine would appeal to those keen on better visual experience while watching videos and playing games, better quality selfies and some style statement. On the whole, we note that other than specific brand priority and design preference, Obi’s Wolverine is a better investment considering the specifications and the price tag.

Features / Specifications	HTC Desire 210	Obi Wolverine S501
Dimensions (mm)	125.7 x 65.00 x 10.5 mm	144.00 x 73.00 x 9.60mm
Battery capacity (mAh)	1300	1500
Battery Talk Time(hrs)	Upto 9 hrs	Upto 6 hrs
Battery Standby Time(hrs)	Upto 260 hrs	Upto 180 hrs
Colours	Black, White, Red	White, Black
Screen size (inches)	4	5
Resolution	480x800 pixels	480x854 pixels
Processor	1GHz  dual-core	1.2GHz   dual-core
RAM	512MB	1GB
Rear camera	5-megapixel	5-megapixel, Autofocus
Flash	No	Yes
Front camera	VGA	0.3-megapixel
Operating System	Android 4.2	Android 4.4.2
Price	Around KSh 9,999	Around KSh 9,000

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Motorola Google Nexus 6 vs Sony Xperia Z3

Although once a pioneer in cell phones, Motorola, together with Google, has begun almost like a fresher in the smartphone business. On the other hand, Sony too join the smartphone business a bit late, but now has an impressive Xperia smartphone line up. Therefore, we have picked up two handsets from these companies, namely Motorola Google Nexus 6 and Sony Xperia Z3, for this comparative review.

BUILD
Motorola Google Nexus 6 measures 159.3x83x10.6mm and weighs 184g, whereas Sony Xperia Z3 is a visibly much smaller device that measures 146x72x7.3mm and weighs about 152g. Besides, Google Nexus6 is accessible in two distinct hues, midnight blue and cloud white, where as Sony Xperia offers four color options to choose from including dark, white, copper and gold.

DISPLAY 

Motorola has a screen size of 5.96inch with a capacitive touch screen accompanied by Corning Inc’s Gorilla Glass 3, where as Sony comes with a relatively smaller display screen size of 5.2 inch with a capacitive display followed by Triluminos display. Moreover, Nexus6 has a significant leg up with 1440 x 2560 pixels over Xperia Z3 that has 1080 x 1920 pixels. Both the devices come with waterproof and dust tight display. On the whole, at the display front, Xperia Z3 with bigger screen and sharper pixels acquires a leg up over Google Nexus6.

PROCESSOR & OS 

Both the devices have 3GB RAM and run on Android v5.0 (lollipop) OS. Considering the processor, Google 6 is powered with 2.7 GHz Quad-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 805, which is slightly more powerful than Xperia Z3 powered by 2.5 Ghz Quad-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801. In spite of the fact that both the contraptions run on the same OS, Google Nexus6 gives a relentless rivalry to Z3. Furthermore, Sony Xperia Z3 provides 16GB internal storage, which is expandable up to 128 GB with a microSD card. Nexus 6, on the other hand, provides much higher 32 GB internal storage, but provides no option to expand, which is a relative weakness.

CAMERA & BATTERY

On the camera front, Sony’s Xperia Z3 takes a lead with a whopping 20.7 megapixels (rear) camera that in case of Motorola’s Nexus 6 is only respectable 13 megapixels. However, the front camera in both cases is 2.2 megapixel. However, the battery capacity advantage lies with Google Nexus 6 that has 3220 mAh battery, slightly more powerful than Xperia which comes with 3100 mAh battery.

OTHER FEATURE & PRICE 

In terms of connectivity, both the gadget bolsters 802.11 a/b/g/n/air conditioning Wi-Fi guidelines. They also support 3G/ 4G, NFC and GPS. However, Motorola can disappoint buyers by not supporting FM, something that Sony does. Considering the Bluetooth facility Google came up with v4.10, which is a slightly advanced version than Xperia v4.00. Both the gadgets are accessible on a few India-specific e-business sites and cost about the same, around INR 38000-40000.

BOTTOM LINE 

Both the devices are comparable on most accounts. On one hand, Motorola Google Nexus 6 has a favorable position because of wider screen size with sharper pixels, higher battery capacity and a propelled processor, which offers better viewing experience and faster data processing. On the other hand, Sony Xperia Z3 takes the attention because of its much stronger rear camera, expandable storage option and FM facility, which could work better for people with larger data storage requirements.

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Coolpad Dazen looks cool, but Nubia Z9 Mini has a storage punch

Several Chinese players like Xiaomi, Huawei, Meizu etc. have entered the Indian market and are competing for a slice of the Indian market share. Joining the league are two new Chinese players called Coolpad and Nubia that have recently launched their devices in India. The models are respectively named as Coolpad Dazen X7 and Nubia Z9 Mini respectively. This brief review presents how the two models compare with each other on various standard indicators.

After a careful review, it is noted that both the smartphones are pretty much comparable on display and processor (Android 5.0). The two devices also come with similar 2GB of RAM and 5MP secondary camera. However, there are some definite differences too, particularly related to storage, battery capacity and primary camera. In addition, there is design aspect which is essentially a matter of personal preference. The following slide highlights the key differences between the two devices.

We note that while Coolpad Dazen stands out for its sleeker look and a slightly larger display screen, Nubia acquires a definite edge for having superior OS, more powerful primary camera and, most of all, a much larger storage.

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Videocon Z51 Nova is a better deal than Intex Aqua Q4

Of late, two Indian companies, Videocon and Intex, have ventured into smartphone industry, with a particular focus on producing budget smartphone devices. To help budget smartphone seekers, this comparative review focuses on Videocon Infinium Z51Nova and Intex Aqua Q4 to see what they bring to the table for the similar price tag they carry, about INR 5,000. 

DESIGN & DISPLAY:

While Infinium Z51 Nova is available in blue and grey, Intex Aqua Q4 comes in more colour variants including black, white, grey and champagne, thereby, providing more colour choices. While Z51 Nova, measuring 133.5x65x8.5mm, is a bit longer than Intex Aqua that measures 133x67.5x9.7mm, it is lesser in width and thickness than Aqua that makes Nova look sleeker than Aqua. Moreover, Nova (131g) also weighs lesser than Aqua (140g). Furthermore, while both the devices come with capacitive touch screen and produce 480x854 pixels resolution, Videocon’s Nova takes a lead due to its larger display screen size, that is 5inch in comparison to Intex Aqua’s 4.5inch display screen. On the whole while Nova stands out for its sleeker look and larger display screen size, Aqua attracts with more colour options.

PERFORMANCE:

Both the gadgets run on Android 4.4.2 Kitkat operating system (OS) and are powered by 1.2Ghz Quad Core processor. However, the devices have an alternate chipset. While Videocon’s Nova accompanies Quad Core chipset, Intex Aqua Q4 comes with Spreadtrum SC7731, which gives Nova a slight leg up. However, major differences are at the level of RAM and internal storage. Firstly, with 1GB RAM, Nova Z51 has an edge over Aqua Q4 that has 512MB RAM. If you are looking forward to have many apps and games, lesser RAM is a constraining factor in running applications smoothly. Secondly, Videocon Z51 Nova comes with 8GB internal storage, where as Intex Aqua Q4 has only 4GB internal storage, though both are expandable to 32GB. Therefore, Vidiocon Nova has definite leg up in both RAM and internal storage.

BATTERY & CAMERA:

Both the devices are practically identical on the camera out of this world, with 5 megapixel (Rear) cameras and 2 megapixel (Front) cameras with LED Flash and autofocus. But still Infinium Z51 Nova takes an edge due to additional features like face detection, Geo tagging and Panorama Shot. Besides, another critical marker is the battery capacity. Once again, Videocon Infinium Z51 Nova, with its 2000mAh battery capacity, offers longer talk time than Intex Aqua Q4 that comes with 1800 mAh battery limit.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES:

Other facilities like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, FM, 3.5mm audio jack and so forth are all accessible in both the devices that have Proximity Sensor and Accelerometer in common. As far as integration, both gadgets are accessible in 3G. Furthermore, Z51 Nova is pre-loaded with apps like Opera Mini, Email, V-Safe and V- Secure which is anti-virus software is given for free for 90 days. On the other hand, Aqua Q4 is pre-loaded with apps like Intex Zone, Opera Mini, OLX, Intex Service, Clean Master, Ask Me, Newshunt and Empire Defence.

CONCLUSION:

We note that both the devices are comparable on display technology and resolution, operating system, cameras and several other additional features. However, Videocon’s Z51 Nova acquires a leg up over Intex’s Aqua Q4 on account of larger display screen-size, greater RAM, bigger internal storage and higher battery capacity, besides being relatively sleeker looking device.

There are unmistakable outline components as well, which incorporate general size, shape and shading variations that are a matter of individual inclination. In the last but not the least, we also looked at the price tag on leading shopping entries like Flipkart, Amazon and Snapdeal in view of India, where both the gadgets are marked at around INR 5,000.

Considering the definite advantages, Videocon Infinium Z51 Nova emerges as a more sensible choice over Intex Aqua Q4, unless one has particular preference for a given shape and colors that Aqua offers.

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OnePlus 2 gets the gossip circles going

After a long wait, OnePlus has finally announced that its second leader smartphone, OnePlus 2, will be releasing on July 28. In an official discussion post titled OnePlus 2: The World's First Product Launch in VR, Carl Pei, co-founder OnePlus, stated that the organisation needed to break barrier with the dispatch in a virtual reality occasion. The occasion will commence at 7pm PT (7:30am IST) and will be live gushed the world over. The company will be launching the device in 3D VR.

Unlike never before, OnePlus 2 will be dispatched in a manner where the world will not view the release but actually experience it. For this virtual launch, OnePlus applauds Google Cardboard for advancing the dream of bringing VR to homes far and wide. Imitating the Google Cardboard item, the Chinese smartphone maker has thought of OnePlus Cardboard, which is based on Cardboard 2.0, but with some notable improvements.

With the intention to push VR technology and make it more accessible, OnePlus is giving away these cardboards for free. The device will be wrapped in this cardboard and sold at the price of the gadget, without any extra charges. Beside the excitement created by 3D VR, the company is revealing the details of OnePlus 2 a tiny bit at a time to build the curiosity among the potential customers.

It is worth noting that OnePlus 1 continues to be an intense rival to several steady brands in the smartphone industry. Therefore, a lot of guesswork is going on in the market about OnePlus 2. As such, the company has confirmed that the forthcoming device will have USB Type-C integration, Fingerprint scanner and v2.1 of Qualcomm's top-end versatile processor, Snapdragon 810. The USB Type-C is a reversible charger that can be utilized both for exchanging information from PC and for charging different devices. This was feature not in OnePlus 1.

If we go by the pictures leaked by GizChina and Fonearena, the device appears elegant and feels solid with somewhat larger screen that may run between 5.5" and 5.7". The device may have the same shades of OnePlus 1, sandstone black and milk white. There is also buzz about OnePlus 2 having higher resolution than OnePlus 1, whose resolution is full HD 1080x1920 pixels. It may jump to QHD 1440x2560 pixels in OnePlus 2, with the pixel density improving from 401 to 445 pixels.

Furthermore, Snapdragon 810 onboard OnePlus 2 might be coupled with 4GB of RAM and a 3300mAh battery capacity. The new device is expected to address the issues raised with Plus 1, which had come with 64 GB inbuilt storage with no scope for expansion. Therefore, OnePlus 2 is expected to provide a slot for SD Card. Moreover, it may retain the Cyanogenmod 11S operating system, but run on company's own Android 5.0 Lollipop-based build. Moreover, International Business Times has reported that the new device may come loaded with 16MP primary (rear) camera and 5MP secondary (front) camera.

Furthermore, to enhance the 3D VR experience the device will be combined with Compass/ magnetometer, Proximity Sensor, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Ambient Light Sensor and Barometer followed by pre-loaded games and applications supporting the OnePlus Cardboard. However, all these are speculations, only waiting to get officially confirmed by OnePlus. Guess we’ll have to wait for the virtual reality launch scheduled for 28^th July.

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Micromax vs Intex: Will you prefer battery capacity or advanced OS?

Micromax has been a rather consistent player, operating in low-cost phone segment within the Indian Market. Intex, on the other hand, is a relatively new addition to the smartphone market, but has made its mark by being the first to release a Firefox OS smartphone. Therefore, we have chosen two handsets from these companies namely Micromax Canvas Nitro A311 and Intex Aqua Xtreme for this comparative review. 

BUILD: Micromax’s Canvas Nitro measures 141.3x71.9x8.9mm and weighs 154g, whereas Intex’s Xtreme is 144x69.7x7mm and weighs about 120g, indicating that Intex’s Xtreme is relatively sleeker looking and lighter weight device than Micromax’s Nitro. Furthermore, Canvas Nitro is available in two different colors, pristine white and mystic blue, whereas Xtreme offers three options i.e. gray, black and red. Both the models have rectangular bar shaped plastic body with rounded edges. 

DISPLAY: Micromax Canvas A311 has a screen size of 5.0’’ with an IPS LCD capacitive screen and oleophobic protection. Intex Aqua too has a display screen size of 5.0’’ with an IPS LCD capacitive display, but it comes with Dragonglass Trail protection, which is similar to Corning Inc’s Gorilla Glass. Both models have an HD resolution of 1280x720 pixels with a pixel density of 294 ppi. Therefore, on the display front, both the models run neck to neck.

PROCESSOR & OS: Both the devices are powered by Octa-Core, MediaTek MT6592 central processing unit clocking in 1.7GHz of processing power, have 2GB RAM and 16GB internal memory that is expandable to 32GB through an external SD. They also run on Android OS, though while Micromax’s Nitro A311 runs on v4.4.2 (KitKat), Intex’s Xtreme runs on a more advanced version v5.0 (Lollipop). Since android updates usually take really long to come to android phones, it is better to opt for a device that comes with v5.0. Therefore, Intex Xtreme acquires a leg up over Micromax’s Nitro on the OS front. 

CAMERA & BATTERY: Both the devices have similar cameras, i.e. 13MP primary cameras and 5MP secondary cameras and provide auto-focus, geo-tagging, LED flash. However, Micromax’s Canvas Nitro does pack in a few additional features like CMOS image sensor, digital image stabilization that provide Micromax’s Nitro a slight leg up over Intex’s Xtreme. Battery-wise, Micromax has a 2500mAh Li-PO battery giving up to 10hrs of talk-time on 3G, where as Intex comes with battery capacity of 2000mAh with a talk time of 7hrs on 3G. The battery capacity often plays a crucial role in determining the customer choice. 

OTHER FEATURES & PRICE: In terms of connectivity, both the models have 2G/3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth connectivity, GPRS and USB, which are more of less standard. Both the devices are available on several India-specific e-commerce websites with slight price variations. Just to give an indication, we noted that Intex Aqua Xtreme costs around INR11,000 and Micromax Canvas Nitro A311 around INR10,000.

BOTTOM LINE: Both the devices are comparable on most indicators. However, Intex’s Nitro has an advantage on account of more advanced operating system (OS) and additional camera features, besides being a sleeker looking and lighter weight device. On the other hand, Micromax offers the advantage of higher battery capacity. Considering that design is a matter of personal preference, in this case, customers will have to make a choice between a more advanced OS and battery capacity.

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