Monthly Archives: March 2018

Vivo V9 Listed on Amazon India Ahead of March 23 Launch

Vivo V9 has now been listed on Amazon India. The new development comes days ahead of the launch of the new Vivo smartphone that is scheduled for Friday, March 23. The online listing doesn’t reveal any details about the price of the Vivo V9. However, it confirms that the pre-bookings for the smartphone will go live at 3pm on March 23 along with some special offers. The listing also highlights some of the key features of the Vivo V9.

As per the listing on Amazon India, the Vivo V9 carries a tagline that reads, “Perfect Shot, Perfect View.” The handset will come with a dual rear camera setup, accompanying an LED flash, and a selfie camera with artificial intelligence (AI) features. An early appearance of the Vivo V9 on Vivo’s official site confirmed some AI features, including AI face beauty, gender detection, and AR Stickers. These are likely to not just enhance your selfies but will also give new experiences.

The Amazon listing also shows the thin-bezel display of the Vivo V9 with an iPhone X-like notch. This is rumoured to be a 6-inch full-HD+ (1080×2160 pixels) AMOLED panel. Further, the smartphone is teased with a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, which is likely to be the Snapdragon 660 SoC.

ALSO SEEVivo V9 Price in India, Specifications, Design and Everything Else We Already Know

If we believe some previous reports, the Vivo V9 will go on sale in India at a price of around Rs. 25,000. It was notably listed in Indonesia earlier this month at IDR 4,999,000 (approximately Rs. 23,700). On the part of its specifications, the handset is rumoured to include 4GB of RAM, 64GB of onboard storage, a dual-rear camera setup with 12-megapixel and 8-megapixel image sensors combo, and a 24-megapixel wide-angle selfie camera. It is also said to run Android 8.0 Oreo-based FunTouch OS 4.0 and pack a 3250mAh battery.

Sony Xperia XA1 Smartphone Series Starts Receiving Android 8.0 Oreo Update: Reports

Sony has started rolling out Android 8.0 Oreo updates to its Xperia XA1 family of smartphones, comprising the Xperia XA1, Xperia XA1 Plus, and Xperia XA1 Ultra, as per user reports. The update also brings along the February 5 Android security patch – a bit of a disappointment considering the availability of the March security patch. The Xperia XA1 and Xperia XA1 Ultra smartphones were launched with Android 7.0 Nougat at MWC 2017, while the Xperia XA1 Plus was launched with Android Nougat at IFA 2017.

Users report the Sony Xperia XA1-series Android 8.0 update brings build number 48.1.A.0.116, as notedby Xperia Blog. Sony’s track record with Android updates has been hit-and-miss, but users will certainly be grateful their non-flagship smartphones are receiving version updates, albeit after the Android P Developer Preview was released.

The Japanese company released its Oreo update for its last generation flagship, the Xperia XZ Premium, in October – which is significantly earlier than its scheduled December arrival. The Xperia R1 and Xperia R1 Plus mid-range handsets, launched exclusively in India in October last year, received their Android 8.0 updates earlier this month. Sony updated its two-year old Xperia X and Xperia X Compact last month.

This year, Sony has launched five handsets thus far – the Xperia XA2, Xperia XA2 Ultra, and Xperia L2 at CES 2018, apart from its Xperia XZ2 and Xperia XZ2 Compact handsets at MWC 2018.

Apple is reportedly developing its own screens for future iPhones

Apple is developing its own screens, which could make their way into future iPhones, according to a report by Bloomberg. The company is said to be using a secret manufacturing facility in California near its headquarters to make a limited run of microLED screens for testing purposes. These initial tests could lead to more widespread manufacturing in the coming years, to cope with the demand for future iPhone devices.

MicroLED (mLED) screens are different to the current organic LED screens that are widely used in flagship Android devices as well as the Apple iPhone X. These screens use different light-emitting compounds, which make them more power-efficient than OLED screens while also being brighter and thinner. This will enable slimmer devices in the future, and due to the benefits of the technology, are aimed at smaller devices such as smartphones and smartwatches. Apple could leverage its development in the technology to eventually produce screens for both iPhone and Apple Watch devices.Such a move will have an obvious impact on the bottom-line of Apple, which will be able to produce the large number of screens needed for its phones more economically. Currently, Apple relies on third-party manufacturers to source screens for its devices. Manufacturers such as Samsung, Japan Display, LG and Sharp are all believed to be suppliers of screens to Apple for its various products. All of the companies will see a drop in revenues if a big client like Apple decides to take up screen manufacturing on its own.

Bloomberg further reports that Apple’s plans are still nascent at this stage. Getting into the business of screen manufacturing will require significant capital and investment in manufacturing equipment. While Apple could be in a position to take the lead on microLED technology before other manufacturers are able to make it viable for mass production, newer technologies could well take over the market before Apple is able to get a hold of the technology. The California-based company could also ultimately outsource production altogether, while continuing to develop the technology.

What in-house development could certainly help Apple with, is in removing its dependence on existing technology that isn’t developed specifically for Apple products. Apple uses Samsung screens for the iPhone X and LG screens for the Apple Watch, and developing its own screens to its own specifications will help it develop better phones that are entirely built around the company’s strengths. For the time being though, Apple will continue to back OLED-based screens, and the 2018 range of iPhones are likely to feature externally-sourced screens rather than in-house developed microLED options.

Redmi 5 sale from March 20 in India: A comparison with Redmi Note 5, Redmi Note 5 Pro

 Xiaomi ‘s Redmi 5, successor to last year’s Redmi 4 goes on sale in India on March 20, which is tomorrow. Unlike the Redmi Note 5 and Redmi Note 5 Pro which sport a slightly bigger display coupled with better processors on board, the Redmi 5 series is the more budget friendly one. It has a starting price of Rs 7,999 in the Indian market. So how does the Redmi 5 compare to the Redmi Note 5 and Redmi Note 5 Pro? We explain below.

Redmi 5: Specifications, Features and Price in India

Redmi 5 might be a budget smartphone with a starting price of Rs 7,999, but that does not mean the specifications are poor. Xiaomi has stuck with the metal unibody design similar to the Redmi Note 5 and Redmi Note 5 Pro. Just like the higher-end Redmi Note 5 series, Redmi 5 also comes with a bigger 5.7-inch display with an 18:9 aspect ratio. However, the display resolution is still HD+, which is 1440 x 720 pixels. The older Redmi 4 phone also came with a HD resolution display. The 18:9 aspect ratio means that Redmi 5 has thinner bezels on the side coupled with in-display buttons, unlike last year’s Redmi 4, which had a standard 16:9 aspect ratio.For those who want a Xiaomi phone under Rs 8000 with the newer display, Redmi 5 is one such option in the market. Redmi 5 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 processor, which is an octa-core one with 14nm FinFET technology design. Xiaomi is claiming superior performance and battery life on this. Whether Redmi 5 delivers on these is something we will have to wait and see after we test out the device.

Redmi 5 will come in three variants, unlike the Redmi Note 5 and Redmi Note 5 Pro which have been introduced in only two versions. It will have 2GB+16GB, 3GB+32GB or 4GB+64GB RAM and storage combinations and prices for the three variants are Rs 7,999, Rs 8,999 and Rs 10,999 respectively. The microSD slot support is 128GB, but Xiaomi has gone for a hybrid dual-SIM slot with the Redmi 5 series.

Battery on the Redmi 5 is 3300 mAh with Xiaomi claiming a day’s worth of usage on this. However, the Redmi Note 5 and Redmi Note 5 Pro sport bigger 4000 mAh batteries, so it remains to be seen if the Redmi 5 performs just as well or not. Coming to the camera, Redmi 5 has 12MP rear camera and 5MP front camera with selfie LED flash.

Read more: Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro review: Faster performance coupled with better cameras

In terms of OS, Redmi 5 is on Android Nougat 7.1.2 with Xiaomi’s MIUI 9 on top. The Redmi 5 series continues with a micro-USB port for charging. The company is also including a free plastic cover for the phone in the box. The USP with the Redmi 5 is the price and the improved display. However, for those who want faster performance or a dual-rear camera, Redmi Note 5 series is the one to consider.

Redmi Note 5: Specifications, Features and Price in India

Redmi Note 5 comes with a slightly bigger 5.99-inch FHD+ display (2160×1080 pixels in resolution). Redmi Note 5 looks very different from the front compared to the previous Redmi Note 4. This is because Redmi Note 5 also has an 18:9 aspect ratio display with thin bezels on the side, and in-screen buttons similar to Redmi 5.

Also read: Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 review: At Rs 9,999, the new budget smartphone to beat

However, Redmi Note 5 continues with the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor as last year’s Redmi Note 4 smartphone. The phone comes in two variants only this time: 3GB RAM+32GB and 4GB RAM+64GB storage. The microSD card slot support is 128GB. The rear camera on the Redmi Note 5 is  12MP and an improvement over last year’s, though low-light performance is not that exceptional as we noted in our review. The front camera remains 5MP, but there is a Selfie LED light.

Battery on Redmi Note 5 is 4,000 mAh battery. The phone runs MIUI 9.2 with Android Nougat 7.1.2. Xiaomi has not confirmed when it will roll out an Android Oreo update for the newer smartphone. Redmi Note 5’s price in India is Rs 9,999 for 3GB RAM base variant and Rs 11,999 for 4GB RAM version. Redmi Note 5 is for those who can pay more and expect a little extra from their smartphone when it comes to performance. Redmi Note 5 goes on sale on March 21 on Mi.com and Flipkart at 12pm.

Redmi Note 5 Pro: Specifications, Features and Price in India

Redmi Note 5 Pro is the most expensive in the list of Redmi phones that the company has ever launched in India. It also comes with an improved processor and dual-rear camera feature that has become popular in the smartphone world. This is also the first Redmi phone to come with a 6GB RAM option.

Redmi Note 5 Pro also comes with a new dual rear camera. Xiaomi has used a 12MP+5MP camera setup though both are RGB sensors. The front camera is 20MP with LED flash. The smartphone supports bokeh/Portrait mode on both the front and rear camera. The company has also rolled out Face Recognition feature to unlock the Redmi Note 5 Pro. However, the phone also comes with a fingerprint scanner at the back.

On the battery front, Redmi Note 5 Pro continues with the same 4000 mAh one see on the regular Redmi Note 4. There is no fast-charging or Type-C port on the Pro variant either. The OS on the Redmi Note 5 Pro is MIUI 9 with Android Nougat 7.1.2. Redmi Note 5 Pro is on sale on Flipkart and Mi.com and next sale takes place on March 21 at 12 pm. The phone has also been made available in offline stores. This smartphone is meant for those with a budget of under Rs 15,000, and want all the latest features that Xiaomi has to offer.

Samsung Galaxy S9+ 256GB variant with 70% Buyback offer at Reliance Digital, Jio store, Jio onlineS

Samsung S9 Plus 256GB storage option is now exclusively available at Jio.com, Reliance Digital and Jio Store. Samsung’s new flagship smartphone can be bought from Reliance Digital with 70 per cent Buyback offer. To avail this offer, Jio users will have to do a cumulative recharge of minimum Rs 2500 within 12 months from any of the company’s plans. The 256GB storage variant of Galaxy S9 Plus is priced at Rs 72,900. Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus buyers can also opt for the company’s ‘Galaxy club’ offer, a special annual plan of Rs 4,999 that offers 1 terabyte of 4G data as well as unlimited voice and SMS for one year. Users can also access Jio streaming apps for a period of one year from activation. Samsung Galaxy S9+ 256GB version can also be bought at up to 12 months EMI from Reliance Digital.

Samsung Galaxy S9, Galaxy S9 Plus in both 64GB and 256GB storage options can be bought from Reliance Digital, though the Buyback offer is only available for 256GB model of Galaxy S9 Plus. The price in India starts at Rs 57,900 for the 64GB storage version of Galaxy S9, whereas the 256GB storage model of the phone is priced at Rs 65,900. Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus 64GB storage model can be bought at Rs 64,900. Samsung Galaxy S9, Galaxy S9+ will be made available in Midnight Black, Coral Blue, and Lilac Purple colour options.

Samsung Galaxy S9, Galaxy S9+ are the company’s latest flagship smartphones that come with big improvements on the camera front when compares to the Galaxy S8 series, Exynos 9810 chipset, and a new AR Emoji feature. Both the smartphones support super slow motion videos video at 960fps at 720p resolution. Samsung Galaxy S9, Galaxy S9+ do not look too different from last year’s Galaxy S8 and S8+ in terms of design. Both the smartphones feature a metal and glass design with Infinity display, which comes with an aspect ratio of 18:9.

Samsung Galaxy S9+ review: The best Android flagship, best camera too

Samsung Galaxy S9 comes with a 5.8-inch Super AMOLED display, while the Galaxy S9 Plus has a bigger 6.2-inch Super AMOLED display. Samsung Galaxy S9 has 4GB RAM and a single rear 12MP rear camera with dual variable aperture of f/1.5 and f/2.4. The front is 8MP, while the battery is 3000 mAh.  Samsung Galaxy S9+ features 6GB RAM and 3500 mAh battery. Galaxy S9+ has a dual rear camera, a combination of 12MP+12MP sensors, with dual OIS. The 12MP wide-angle sensor comes with dual variable aperture of f/1.5 and f/2.4. The telephoto lens is also 12MP with f/2.4 aperture. The front camera is 8MP with f/1.7 aperture. Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ will both be powered by an Octa-core Exynos 9810 chipset. Both phones are on Android 8.0 Oreo with TouchWiz UI on top.

S9+ review: Best Android phone with a major focus on rear camera

Dubai: The first flagship of the year — Galaxy S9+ — is an excellent Android smartphone and the best from Samsung so far.

It hasn’t changed the design when compared to last year’s S8+ model but it is the hardware, camera and software that makes it stand out from the crowd.

The 6.2-inch Quad HD and curved super AMOLED infinity display with 18.5:9 screen ratio is the best in the industry. It has 529 pixels per inch density and weighs 189 grams compared to 173 grams of S8+.

By reducing the top and bottom bezels a bit, S9+ is a bit shorter than the S8 Plus.

The device sports 6GB of RAM and 64GB of ROM and the microSD card supports up to 400GB. It is powered by home-grown 2.7GHz Exynos 9810 chip set and runs on Android Oreo 8.0 out of the box and not with 8.1 version.

Samsung introduced the biometric logins last year with S8 and S8+ but with S9 devices, it is calling it intelligent scan which means that the device can be unlocked by two methods instead of forcing the user to choose either one. If iris scan needs help, facial recognition will come into play and vice versa.

Samsung has improved iris and facial scan and it is quite faster and more accurate.

There are six ways to unlock the device — iris, face, fingerprint, pattern, password and PIN.

The good thing Samsung has done and heard users’ complaints is that the fingerprint sensor is moved from the side of the camera to bottom of the camera for better reach. It has also stuck to the 3.5mm headphone jack and microSD slot.

The stereo speakers are now tuned by AKG and Dolby Atmos surround sound to have a more immersive experience than previous handsets.

The AI voice assistant — Bixby — has improved this time with translation, location-based landmarks, QR code scan and calorie of the food you shoot. Some features are hit and miss. It still needs fine-tuning.

The camera is where the S9+ excels. This is the first Galaxy phone with dual cameras on the rear and the first with the wider aperture to excel in very lowlight conditions.

The 12MP wide-angle lens with a dual aperture (F/1.5/F2.4) and telephoto 12MP autofocus sensor (F/2.4) has dual optical image stabilisation, phase detection autofocus, 2x optical zoom and LED flash.

The lens behaves like a human eye with F/2.4 for daylight pictures and F/1.4 to capture more light and details for low light images.

The camera produces very good shots in any conditions with bright and vivid colours and good exposure, with a very wide dynamic range.

In a comparative study with iPhone X and Google Pixel 2 XL, S9 had better noise-free photographs in low light than iPhone X and matches with Pixel 2 XL, even though it has a single lens. Samsung’s zoom images are much cleaner also.

It can record 2160p (4K) at 60 frames per second, 1080p at 240 frames per second, 720p at 960 frames per second and HDR.

The super slow-motion capture, first on a Samsung phone captures 0.2 seconds of recording at 960 frames per second and plays back in six seconds of each shot but the feature is limited to 20 shots per video. It automatically detects the object in the frame of the camera and starts recording automatically. The slow-motion video can also be recorded manually but the user needs to press the button. It records slow-motion videos in 720p.

The 8MP front-facing autofocus camera with f/1.7 aperture takes decent snaps even in lowlight conditions. It can record 1440p at 30 frames per second, and auto HDR. It is similar to S8+.

The other added feature is the Augmented Reality Emoji, similar to Animated Emoji on iPhone X. It is a fun feature but it does not have the depth as iPhone X.

It uses the 8MP front-facing camera to turn the selfie into an emoji by scanning your facial expressions in 3D and creates 18 different emojis of the person. When I scanned my face with a beard, my avatar was totally a different person without a beard.

The user can change the gender, colour of the face and clothes, with or without specs and hairstyles. The user can use the avatar to record videos with talking, singing and share it with friends. It supports third-party messaging and not like Apple for only iMessage. In my view, AR Emoji is unpolished and needs work.

Regarding connectivity, Bluetooth 5.0, 1.2GBPs LTE speed, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hot spot, NFC and GPS.

The battery size of 3,500mAh is the same as last year’s S8+, which means it is difficult to get a full day of use for a heavy user but for moderate users, you can get one full day. It gave just more than six hours of videos on 4G LTE at full brightness.

It comes in midnight black, coral blue, titanium grey and lilac purple. The S9 with 64GB is priced at Dh3,099, 128GB for Dh3,299 and 256GB for Dh3,499. The S9+ with 64GB is priced at Dh3,499, 128GB for Dh3,699 and 256GB for Dh3,899. It will be available from March 16.

Verdict

For Galaxy S8 and Note 8 users, the changes made on S9 may not be much but for people who are using two-year-old Galaxy devices, it is a dramatic jump. At the same time, the prices of S8 and S8+ models will also get a price cut.

How does it score?