Vivo Nex review: Setting stage for future generation bezel-less smartphones

The Nex's performance is top-notch, but the native user interface and cameras to an extent subdue its overall flagship appeal

Chinese smartphone manufacturer Vivo seems to have taken a lead in the smartphone industry by coming up with innovations to address the legacy issues faced by devices of the current generation, including the premium phones. After launching in India the first in-display fingerprint sensor-based smartphone, the Vivo X21, the company has now brought another technologically farsighted device, the Vivo Nex.

With screen becoming the centre for innovation in smartphones, it is about time most of the hardware traditionally kept on phones’ front – ambient light sensor, earpiece, front camera and notification LED, for instance – were moved elsewhere. Xiaomi, another Chinese smartphone manufacturer, has been striving to beat the puzzle: Its latest iteration of bezel-less smartphone, the Mi Mix 2S, relocates most of the front components to new places, but they remain on the front and somewhat obstruct the phone’s all-screen outlook.

The Vivo Nex is a step further in the all-screen smartphone game. The phone boasts a bezel-less design on the front, with no visible obstructions like notch or front camera on the lower chin. Instead, the phone brings a mechanical motorised module with the front camera that pops up from the top, and the fingerprint sensor is placed under the screen. It is the second Vivo smartphone in India to boast this technology. The company claims the Nex will be the next wave of innovation in the smartphone industry. But, how innovative is it really? Let’s find out:

Design

The Nex features a classic Vivo design, but in a bigger and taller form factor. The phone’s front gets a major redesign in terms of looks. But the back looks bland with a reflective glass prone to fingerprints. Speaking of the front, it is covered by a 6.59-inch screen that stretches from edge to edge, thereby allowing a bezel-less design; there are negligible bezels on the top and sides, and a thin one at the bottom. The front looks neat, thanks to the all-screen visage, with no notch, camera or any other visible hardware component.

Holding the glass build is a metallic chassis, which houses the motorised camera module on the top, along with a 3.5mm audio port and secondary microphone. The bottom side of the chassis covers the charging-cum-data transfer USB type-C port, along with a dualSIM tray, speaker and primary microphone. The power key and volume rocker keys are placed on the right side, whereas the left side sports a dedicated key for Google lens.

Overall, it is just the pop-up front camera module that looks interesting and adds to the phone’s design quotient. Otherwise, the phone has a bland look with a big stature, which some might find difficult to hold and operate.

Article Source : BS

Samsung to bring Galaxy S9, Galaxy S9+ in India on Tuesday

Although prices are yet to be announced, Galaxy S9 may cost around $720 and S9+ nearly $840

The much-awaited Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ -- unveiled at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2018 last month -- are set to be launched in India on March 6.

Pre-bookings for the Samsung flagship devices began in the country on February 26.

Pre-booking for the 64GB variant of Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ -- available in black, blue and purple colours -- was done for an advance payment of Rs 2,000. The 256GB variant of both the devices will be available only in black.

In the US, Galaxy S9 is priced at $720 (about Rs 47,000) and S9+ at $840 (nearly Rs 54,000).

Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ will go on sale globally on March 16.

Although prices are yet to be announced, Galaxy S9 may cost around $720 and S9+ nearly $840.

In terms of specifications, Galaxy S9 and S9+ are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor.

The S9 houses 4GB RAM whereas the S9+ has 6GB RAM. The S9 comes with 3,000mAh battery while the S9+ houses 3,500mAh battery.

The Galaxy S9 and S9+ cameras have a "Super Speed Dual Pixel" sensor with dedicated processing power and memory to take high-quality pictures.

Samsung's "Dual Aperture" (F1.5 / F2.4) -- the world's first such feature in any smartphone -- automatically lets in more light when it's dark and less light when it's too bright, taking photos that are crisp and clear.

The "Super Slow-mo" video captures 960 frames per second. The "Slow-mo" videos can also be turned into GIFs.

The Galaxy S9 and S9+ also offer automatic "Motion Detection", a feature that detects movement in the frame and automatically begins to record -- all users have to do is set up the shot.

The devices now support expandable memory of up to 400GB with a Micro-SD Card.

Google Pixel 2 camera sets new record, beats Apple iPhone 8 & Samsung Note8

According to DxO review, the Pixel 2 smartphones score an impressive 98 points out of 100, which is 9 points more than yesteryear's Google Pixel and 4 points more than dual camera clad iPhone 8 Plus

Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL devices might lack the luster of flagship smartphones but they possess some major enhancements that not only give them an edge but also help them race past over the competitors in some of the departments.

Notwithstanding absence of dual camera lens set-up, which has been a common feature followed by Apple and Samsung in their flagship iPhone 8 Plus and Samsung Galaxy Note8, both the handsets sport singular 12-megapixel shutter.

The 12-megapixel camera in Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL is one of the key feature among many others that has been getting a lot of attention. The camera not only outshines in terms of performance, it also takes away the title of ‘best camera in mobile phone’ from Apple iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus.

According to DxO mark review, the Pixel 2 smartphones score an impressive 98 points out of 100, which is 9 points more than yesteryear’s Google Pixel and 4 points more than dual camera clad iPhone 8 Plus. With this score, the Google Pixel 2 sets a new record for overall smartphone camera quality.

Boasting the success of Pixel 2 camera performance, the Google team shared a bunch of videos and photographs allegedly taken from the device to showcase the imaging capabilities of the smartphones and provided below are some of the samples:

Rs 2500 JioPhone @ just Rs 1500! How RIL is planning to recover losses

Jio has amassed more than 128 million subscribers since its launch last year

Reliance Industries' telecom upstart Jio is footing at least 40 percent of the cost of its basic 4G phone, two sources familiar with the matter said, as it bets on recovering the investment by luring in millions of new customers.

The Jio Phone, rolling out this week for a refundable deposit of 1,500 rupees ($23.05), will cost at least 2,500 rupees ($39) to assemble, the sources told Reuters.

That means Jio will likely carry more than $150 million in costs for every 10 million JioPhones it sells.

And the company aims to build a subscriber base of between 250 million and 300 million users in the next two years, said one of the sources.

Reliance Industries did not respond to a request for comment.

Some Reliance investors may flinch at the cost of subsidies, but the scale of the outlay is a clear signal of the level of Jio's ambition, as it targets an audience of some 500 million who still cannot afford smartphones in India.

Also Read : Nokia 8 with dual rear camera launched in India at Rs 36,999

Jio's advanced voice over LTE (VoLTE) network only works with 4G enabled devices, inaccessible to many even at subsidised rates. The significantly cheaper JioPhone, however, will open the Internet to a less affluent segment of Indians for the very first time.

"The 3,000-rupee smartphone was not cutting it," the second source said. "Reliance is making a bold attempt with this phone and data will be the key driver for them."

Analysts estimate a majority of Indian feature phone users have an average revenue per user (ARPU) of rupees 50 or lower. JioPhone's 153 rupees monthly plan for so-called pre-paid users aims to drive up this ARPU, the first source said.

Jio, backed by India's richest man Mukesh Ambani, has amassed more than 128 million subscribers since its launch last year, by offering free voice and cut-price data for months.(more)

Will iPhone X hurt iPhone 8 and 8 Plus sale? Here's what experts say

Apple unveiled both iPhone X and iPhone 8 models, with the "super-premium" iPhone X starting at $999

As Apple gets ready to ship iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus before it opens iPhone X for pre-orders, a top analyst with Taiwanese business group KGI Securities has warned that iPhone X will cannibalise iPhone 8 orders.

According to Ming-Chi Kuo, the most famous analyst with KGI Securities when it comes to Apple, it is very likely that iPhone X demand will cannibalise iPhone 8 pre-orders.

"While it takes three to six weeks or more to ship new iPhone models after they are available for preorder, they see the iPhone 8 taking less than one to two weeks. This is due to the iPhone X cannibalisation," StreetInsider.com quoted the analyst as saying late on Monday.

Apple unveiled both iPhone X and iPhone 8 models, with the "super-premium" iPhone X starting at $999.

Ming, however, said the new Apple Watch Series 3's (GPS + Cellular version) could be a runaway hit.

"We estimate the preorder weighting of the GPS + Cellular version is 80-90 per cent. While not available in all countries, most users have pre-ordered the GPS + Cellular version because it offers phone and internet access functions without an iPhone and given the low premium of $70 over the GPS version," the analyst predicted.

According to the Verge, while Apple Watch shipments are well below iPhone shipments, investors should start keeping tabs on this new product, with shipments expected to surge much higher than previous generation models.

Apple would launch iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, starting Rs 64,000, in India on September 29 while pre-bookings will start on September 22.

The iPhone X will come to India on November 3, starting Rs 89,000. (more)

Dual-camera Lenovo K8 Note launched in India, priced at Rs 12,999

This device has first stock Android (7.1.1), 13MP selfie camera, 5MP sensor with flash

Chinese smartphone maker Lenovo on Wednesday launched the much-awaited ' Lenovo K8 Note ' in India at Rs 12,999 (3GB RAM and 32GB storage version) that comes with a dual-camera setup (13MP+5MP sensor with flash).

The 4GB RAM and 64GB ROM variant will cost Rs 13,999. The device with first stock Android (7.1.1) has 13MP selfie camera that supports professional mode and flash (full-light LED flash) as well.

Lenovo 'K8 Note' will retail in venom black and fine gold colours on Amazon India, starting August 18.

Also Read : 'Arbo' powered Panasonic Eluga A3, A3 Pro launched in India

Ziox to invest Rs 200 cr in mobile assembly units; plans 4G feature phone

"This is the first global launch of a Lenovo product in India. 'K8 Note' comes packed with everything that our consumers would expect from a smartphone today - an eye-catching design, dual cameras, 10-core processor, great sound and, of course, the 'TheaterMax' technology that is the hallmark of the Note series," Sudhin Mathur, Country Head, Lenovo Mobile Business Group, India, told reporters here.

'TheaterMax' allows users to view the content on your phone on a much larger virtual screen once they put on a VR headset and 'Dolby Atmos' ensures high-quality sound.

The dual camera set-up has a 13MP primary and 5MP depth sensor for better pictures and enhanced depth of field.

Reacting to rumours that the company was superstitious and didn't launch the 'K7' series, Anuj Sharma, Head of Product Marketing (Smartphones) at Lenovo, said: "There was a K7 Note but that wasn't killer enough. We skipped a generation, took a leap and made 'K8 Note'". Read more

Xiaomi Redmi 4 sale begins on Amazon: All you need to know about the device

The Redmi 4 is a capable smartphone with a perfect screen size and resolution. Watch hands-on review

Xiaomi's latest budget offering, the Xiaomi Redmi 4, went on sale at 12 noon on Tuesday, exclusively on Amazon India. In the first flash sale that had taken place on May 23, the smartphone had seen a huge interest from buyers and registered a record sales number of a whopping 250,000 units within the first eight minutes.

According to Amazon. in, the Xiaomi Redmi 4 had recorded more than 10 million hits per minute on the site, after having received some 2.3 million ‘notify me’ alerts from customers since the launch announcement on May 16.

The dual-sim budget smartphone with VoLTE capabilities is the latest offering from Xiaomi and offers an all-round performance. The Xiaomi Redmi 4 smartphone is available in three storage and RAM options – 16GB/2GB, 32GB/3GB and 64GB/4GB -- which makes it a perfect smartphone option for people moving from feature phones to smartphones or those preferring budget smartphones with ample storage and RAM.

The base model of the device, with 16 GB of storage and 2 GB of RAM, is priced at Rs 6,999.

Business Standard reviewed the device to check how it matched against its tall claims. Here is a detailed review of the device:

The made-in-India Redmi 4 smartphone is the latest addition to Xiaomi’s entry-level Redmi series and succeeds the popular Xiaomi Redmi 3S and 3S Prime, the smartphone that has recorded the highest ever online sales numbers in India – 4 million units in just nine months – according to the company. Read more

OnePlus 5 launch imminent; company halts 'flagship' OnePlus 3T production

OnePlus 5 is due to be launched soon and it will feature Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 835 processor

OnePlus has announced that its latest flagship OnePlus 3T, will soon be discontinued. The production of OnePlus 3T has already reached the end of its production life, and sale of the devices will continue till the stock lasts.

The latest development comes days after the company’s CEO revealed that the next flagship smartphone OnePlus 5 will be launched soon and will feature Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 835 processor.

Recently, the China-based smartphone manufacturer OnePlus teamed up with DxO, a software company with expertise in image processing software, to enhance the photography capabilities of the upcoming OnePlus 5 smartphone.

Also Read : Smartphones, TVs with new colour-changing surface offer 3 times resolution

In a blog post on the OnePlus official forum, the company said: "We are happy to announce that we have teamed up with DxO to enhance your photography experience with our upcoming flagship, the OnePlus 5. DxO is perhaps most well-known for creating the defining photography benchmark, the DxOMark. They’ve got years of imaging experience and expertise, both for professional cameras and for smartphones."

"But we can only go so far in telling you that we’re excited to be working with DxO. Our friend Etienne Knauer, SVP Sales & Marketing at DxO, had this to say: “OnePlus has always been one of the leading innovators in the smartphone industry, and we are proud to partner with them and support their exciting mobile photography strategy.” (more)

Sony Xperia X: Falls short on performance

Sony Xperia X: Falls short on performance

When I first got my hands on the Sony Xperia X, I was filled with a sense of deja vu - the reason being the uncanny similarity the phone shares with the Xperia Z series.

The phone has a metallic back with a 2.5D curved glass front. The corners are more rounded which makes it comfortable to hold. The power button is located in the middle on the right side, just above the volume rocker. The power button doubles up as a fingerprint sensor and setting the sensor up was easy. The sensor is pretty responsive and for people who favour one-handed usage, the sensor placement comes in handy.

specification of sony xperia X

The Xperia X comes with a 5-inch Full HD display. The colours are vivid and sharp and with the correct brightness level, using it in sunlight isn't a problem either.

The phone runs Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow and is devoid of excessive pre-installed apps. The app drawer is akin to that of a stock Android.

Though the Xperia X falls in the premium segment, the hardware doesn't quite match up. Under the hood it houses a hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 650 processor with 3GB of RAM. I would have expected such a processor in mid-range smartphones. With a price tag of Rs 48,990, Sony could have easily gone for an upgrade. Read More.

OnePlus 3 smartphone with fast charging technology now in India

OnePlus 3 smartphone with fast charging technology now in India

Chinese smartphone maker OnePlus on Wednesday launched its flagship device OnePlus 3 with 6GB RAM and a unique dash charge feature that gives 60% of battery in a flat 30 minutes.

Threat to several flagship devices, the Rs 27,999 smartphone is available on Amazon .in starting from June 15. The device is also available on the pop-up stores located at The Collective in New Delhi (June 15) and Mumbai (June 17) and Indelust stores in Bengaluru (June 18).

"OnePlus 3 delivers the ultimate experience that our customers already love about our products," Pete Lau, Founder and CEO, OnePlus, said in a statement.

The dash charge feature charges the smartphone even when a user is gaming or working on it. The feature shifts the heat generated while charging back to the adapter, thus keeping the device cool.

"Dash charge has set a new standard for the fast-charging technology. It's a flagship smartphone inspired by -- and made for -- our fans," Pete added.

The device has Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820 processor clocked at 2.2 Ghz, 6GB LPDDR4 RAM, a 16MP rear camera with optical stabilisation and a smart capture feature. It sports an 8MP selfie camera with Smile Capture feature.

The smartphone incorporates a fingerprint scanner that unlocks the device in 0.2 seconds, the company said. Read More.

IoT to overtake mobiles by 2018: Report

IoT to overtake mobiles by 2018: Report

The Internet of Things (IoT) is set to overtake mobile phones as the largest category of connected device by 2018, according to the latest edition of the Ericsson Mobility Report.

Between 2015 and 2021, the number of IoT connected devices is expected to grow 23 per cent annually, of which cellular IoT is forecast to have the highest growth rate. Of the 28 billion total devices that will be connected by 2021, nearly 16 bn will be IoT devices.

Western Europe will lead the way in adding IoT connections. The number of IoT devices in this market is projected to grow 400 per cent by 2021. This will principally be driven by regulatory requirements. The report said mobile data traffic in India would grow 15 times by 2021. India expanded the most in terms of net addition during the first quarter of 2016 (calendar year), adding 21 million, followed by Myanmar (5 mn) and Indonesia (5 mn).

For example, for intelligent utility meters, and a growing demand for connected cars including the European Union’s e-call directive to be implemented in 2018. E-call is an automatic emergency call system for motor vehicles.

Rima Qureshi, senior vice-president and chief strategy officer, Ericsson, says: “IoT is now accelerating as device costs fall and innovative applications emerge. From 2020, commercial deployment of 5G networks will provide additional capabilities that are critical for IoT, such as network slicing and the capacity to connect exponentially more devices than is possible today.”Read more.

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Airtel strikes gold with 4G girl Sasha Chetri

Sasha Chettri, Airtel’s 4G girl, is the ad world’s newest poster girl. Chettri has gone viral on social media, ever since Airtel kicked off its 4G campaign last July, and, in the process, has delivered for brand Airtel what no other campaign has - high recall value. With her unconventional and provocative approach, 21-year-old Chettri has firmly put brand Airtel on the country’s 4G landscape.

Today, 4G in India means Airtel just the way years ago Coca-Cola staked claim on the entire soft drinks category through its Thanda Matlab Coca-Cola campaign with Aamir Khan.

Read more from our special coverage on "AIRTEL"

• Airtel to sell more than 5% stake in telecom tower unit

Given that the next generation of mobile broadband, or 4G, is about speed, the television commercial showing two girls racing their phones on a terrace in Lucknow was an unusual way to break the clutter on television. Given that other telcos have not come up with such high-decibel campaigns, Chettri has become a shorthand for 4G as a category.

In advertising parlance, the success of a campaign is measured through top-of-the-mind awareness and Chettri has helped Airtel increase this score by 13 per cent compared to other campaigns such as Har Ek Friend Zaroori Hota Hai.

It isn't just the brand recall value that has shot up, Airtel's revenue market-share touched a six-year high of 31.4 per cent in December 2015. In the five key data markets - Mumbai, Delhi, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala - Airtel increased its marketshare by 140 basis points in the nine months ending December 2015. According to CLSA, Airtel is upping the ante on data offerings. On the ground, Bharti Airtel has stepped up its 4G data offering through a slew of industry firsts on product as well as distribution. The company has deployed long-term evolution, or LTE, using carrier aggregation in Kerala, enabling speeds of up to 135mbps on its 4G network.

The campaign has many firsts to its credit. For starters, Airtel went with an unknown face to launch a big shift in broadband technology and secondly, it showed the gumption to use a young woman for this.

Explains Chettri, “In India, women are still used to endorsing soaps and shampoos but not technology as stereotypes still exist.” Agnello Dias, chairman and co-founder of Taproot, the agency behind the campaign, says: “Sasha is right and she is both loved and trolled at the same time for breaking stereotypes, but there is little doubt that the campaign has embedded Airtel's ownership of 4G in the public consciousness. While the campaign has resonated strongly right through several SECs, it has allowed the brand to own 4G like no one else.”Read More.