Lenovo Vibe K4 Note Gets Android 6.0 Marshmallow Update

Lenovo, the Chinese mobile manufacturer, has started to roll out a major software update for its Vibe K4 Note smartphone. The mid-range handset that was launched earlier this year in January is getting the Android 6.0 Marshmallow based software interface, starting today. It is being touted by the company as their best selling smartphone after the K3 Note successor, which was launched last year.

Talking about the changelog, the first and foremost change you’ll notice is that system settings and notification window have been tweaked in terms of looks and functionality. The update also brings features like support for revamped app permissions, which makes your device much secure as every app you install needs to go through this permissions. In earlier Android version, it was quite different, as there was no separate app permissions system.

The other Marshmallow goodies include as Google on Tap, Doze mode for battery and adaptable storage, which allows you to explore the internal storage on your device, it means you basically get a file manager in your System settings. Note that this update would be large, so we recommend you to download the file using stable Wi-Fi connection.

In the past couple of months, the brand has rolled out a major software update for handsets like Lenovo A7000, K3 Note, Vibe S1, Vibe P1 and Vibe X3. This says a lot about company becoming dedicated to offering latest software experiences to their users. If you haven’t received this update yet, then you can head over to the Settings app, and try to check manually for the update. So, you should get a popup noting the update is available for your handset.

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LG X Power & X Style Smartphones with HD Display & 16GB Storage Launched

After launching the LG X Screen and X Cam smartphones in the new X series, today the company also launched the LG GX Power and X Style smartphones in Ukraine. Both the device comes with basic specifications and sports a polycarbonate body. As the name suggests, the LG X power comes with a 4,100mAh battery that can last more than day of usage.

It comes with a 5.3-inch IPS display with HD (1280 x 720 pixels resolution). Under the hood is the MediaTek MT6735 quad-core processor clocked at 1.14GHz. It has 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage.

Developing…

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OnePlus 3 with 6GB RAM & 64GB Storage Listed on TENAA, to Launch Soon

OnePlus 3 will be officially launched in the next couple of weeks. With the TENAA listing of the device, we already came to known most of the specifications along with first look of the device. Now the updated device page on TEENA confirmed the OnePlus 3 to launch with 6GB of RAM. Yesterday, ASUS also launched the Zenfone 3 Deluxe with 6GB RAM while already a handful of Chinese manufacturers are offering the same. The Vivo XPlay 5 is the first smartphone to come with 6GB of RAM.

The live streaming of the OnePlus 3 launch event will be streamed via 360-degree video support for experiencing through VR headset. OnePlus is also offering 30,000 free Loop VR headsets for experiencing the launch event in Virtual Reality. Apart from the bump in RAM capacity, all the other specifications remain same. It comes with an all metal body with a physical home button on the front which also houses fingerprint sensor.

It features a 5.5-inch AMOLED display with Full HD resolution and is powered by Snapdragon 820 quad-core processor along with Adreno 530 GPU. It includes 64GB of internal storage and there is no MicroSD card slot for storage expansion. The OnePlus 3 sports a 16MP rear camera with dual tone LED flash and an 8MP front camera. It is backed by a 3,000mAh battery and might also support Quick Charge 3.0.

The device comes with dual SIM card slots and runs on latest Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow OS. The Alert Slide, which was present on OnePlus 2 and OnePlus X, is also present on this device. Connectivity options include 4G LTE, VoLTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, GPS, and a USB Type-C port. It measures 152.6 x 74.6 x 7.3 mm and weighs 160 grams. Along with Black and White color variants, the OnePlus 3 will be also available in Gold color. Stay tuned for more updates!

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Best Budget Smartphones below Rs 7000 (May – June)

In the month of May 2016, we have seen many entry-level smartphones launched in India. Most the smartphones launched even under Rs. 7,000 are now offering 4G LTE connectivity. The most affordable 4G LTE smartphone is also launched in the Indian market in this month. If you are shifting from a featured phone or looking for an affordable device with better specifications, where are sure that you can find the best device from the below list.

• Intex Aqua Lions 3G – Rs. 4,990

Intex, one of the India’s largest smartphone manufacturer, launched a new entry-level smartphone called Aqua Lions 3G. It comes with dual SIM supports and runs on Android 5.1 Lollipop. At a price of Rs. 4,990 the device lacks the 4G LTE support while there are other which offers the same at this price range. The device is backed by a 3,500mAh battery that is rated to deliver 8 hours of talk time and lasts upto 20 days on standby.

It sports a 5-inch display with HD (1280 x 720 pixels) resolution. Under the hood is an unknown quad-core processor clocked at 1.2GHz. The device includes 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage that can be expanded additionally upto 32GB via MicroSD card slot. In the camera department, it has a 5MP sensor on the back and 2MP sensor on the front. It measures 145 x 71.5 x 9.5 mm and weighs 172 grams. The device can be purchased across India via online and offline stores.

• iBall Andi 5N Dude – Rs. 4,099

Along with some mid-range devices with aggressive pricing, we have also seen some affordable devices with basic specifications. The iBall Andi 5N Dude is the latest affordable smartphone launched in the Indian market at a price of Rs. 4,099. It runs on years old Android 4.4 Kitkat out-of-the-box. The device features a 5-inch FWVGA (854 x 480 pixels) IPS display and is powered bu MediaTek quad-core processor clocked at 1.2GHz.

It includes just 512MB RAM and 4GB of internal storage along with a MicroSD card slot for storage expansion upto 32GB. The device supports dual SIM dual standby but misses the 4G LTE. It has a 5MP rear camera with autofocus and LED flash, and a 0.3MP front camera. The device is kept powered on by a 2,000mAh battery. Connectivity options include 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS/A-GPS, and a MicroUSB 2.0 port. The Andi 5N Dude will be available only in Gold color.

• LYF Flame 3 & Flame 4 – Rs. 3,999

Reliance’s smartphone brand LYF had launched two new most affordable 4G LTE smartphones Flame 3 and Flame 4 priced at just at Rs. 3,999. These are also the most affordable devices to offers 4G LTE with VoLTE support. Both the devices come with a 4-inch display with a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels. Under the hood is the same 1.5GHz quad-core processor along with just 512MB of RAM. The devices run on Android 5.1 Lollipop and comes with dual SIM dual standby.

The Flame 3 comes with 4GB of storage while the Flame 4 has 8GB of onboard storage, there is also a MicroSD card slot for expanding upto 32GB. While the Flame 3 comes with a 1,700mAh battery, the Flame 4 is backed by a 1,400mAh battery. The Flame 3 comes with a 5MP rear camera and a 2MP front camera, but the Flame 4 offers only a 2MP rear camera and a 0.3MP front camera. Connectivity options include 4G LTE with VoLTE & VoWiFi, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, and a MicroUSB port.

• Lava A59 & Lava A79 – from Rs. 4,199

The Indian smartphone manufacturer Lava launched two new entry-level smartphones Lava A59 and Lava A79. Both the devices run on Android 5.1 Lollipop and come with dual SIM support but lacks the 4G LTE connectivity. The Lava A59 is priced at Rs. 4,199 while the A79 is priced on a slightly higher side at Rs. 5,699. The display on these devices is limited to just WVGA (800 x 480 pixels) resolution. While the Lava A59 comes with 512MB RAM and 4GB of storage, the Lava A79 includes 1GB RAM and 8GB of internal storage.

Both the devices come with a 5MP rear camera with LED flash, but the A59 features a VGA front camera and A79 packs a 2MP sensor. The front camera on both the devices is assisted by an LED flash. Connectivity options include 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and a MicroUSB 2.0 port. A 1,750mAh battery keeps the Lava A59 powered on while the Lava A79 packs a 2,200mAh battery. Even with a smaller battery and just 4.5-inch display, the lava A59 weighs 140 grams.

• Intex Cloud String HD – Rs. 5,599

The Cloud String HD from Intex is one more Flipkart exclusive device launched last week. The device is priced at Rs. 5,599 and offers dual SIM dual standby with 4G LTE and VoLTE support on both the SIMs. This is also most affordable device in the Indian market to offer fingerprint sensor. It comes with a 5-inch HD display and is powered by Spreadtrum SC9832A quad-core processor clocked at 1.3GHz. The device packs 1GB of RAM and 8GB of expandable storage.

On the camera front, the Intex Cloud String HD offers an 8MP rear camera with LED flash and a 5MP selfie camera on the front. It is backed by a 2,200mAh battery that can give upto 7 hours of talk time and lasts upto 190 hours on standby. Connectivity options offered are Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, MicroUSB port along with 4G LTE. Just last week, the company one more affordable device Intex Aqua Secure with Fingerprint sensor and 4G LTE support for Rs. 6,499.

• Alcatel Pop Star – Rs. 6,999

Alcatel is a Chinese owned brand that has some recognizable market share in the Western markets. Last week, the company had launched a new entry-level smartphone called Alcatel Pop Star priced at Rs. 6,999 in India. It comes with a polycarbonate shell and features a 5-inch HD IPS display on the front. The device runs on Android 5.1 Lollipop and includes dual SIM slots. It is powered by an unknown quad-core processor clocked at 1GHz along with 1GB of RAM.

It has 8GB of onboard storage that can be expandable upto 32GB via provided MicroSD card slot. On the camera front, the device comes with an 8MP autofocus camera with LED flash on the rear and a 5MP front camera for selfies. The 2,000mAh battery is what keeps the device powered on. The connectivity options on this device are 4G LTE, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, and a MicroUSB port. It measures 142.5 x 71.5 x 8.6 mm and weighs 145 grams.

• Micromax Bolt Selfie – Rs. 4,999

After announcing the Bolt Selfie along with other 15 devices at Canvas 6 and Canvas 6 Pro launch event, last week the device was officially launched in the market. It comes with a price tag of Rs. 4,999 and offers decent specifications that justify its price. As the name suggests, the device offers 5MP camera on front and back of the device, where the rear camera is assisted by LED flash. The Bolt Selfie is one of those smartphones that are announced to offers 4G LTE.

The device runs on Android 5.1 Lollipop and comes with dual SIM card slots. It sports a 4.5-inch FWVGA (854 x 480 pixels) IPS display and comes powered by MediaTek MT6735 quad-core processor clocked at 1GHz. The Bolt Selfie offers 1GB RAM and 8GB of internal storage that can be further expanded upto 32GB. It is backed by a 1,750 maAh battery that can last upto 260 hours on standby. Apart from 4G LTE, the device comes with other basic connectivity features.

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Hands-on review: Computex: Asus ZenBook 3

There's a saying that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery – but not for Asus. The ZenBook 3 is the Taiwanese electronics firm's latest 12.5 inch MacBook-killing Ultrabook. It doesn't just so much imitate as it does completely destroy Apple's ultrathin laptop in specs and price.

Weighing in at a scant 2 pounds and 11.9mm (0.46-inches) thick, it's both thinner and lighter than 0.51-inches (13.1mm) and 2.03 pounds (0.92kg) Apple MacBook. And while Apple had to sacrifice key travel and performance components to make its laptop as thin as possible, Asus says nay to all of that and goes with the full might of Intel Core i7 processors and a lower price to boot.

Design

If you've seen a Rose Gold MacBook before, this particularly colored ZenBook should look awfully familiar. Both machines share an almost identical silhouette, that said there are some distinct differences if you look closely enough.

For one thing the ZenBook 3 is thinner, but it's also a bit wider and not as deep thanks to its 16:9 screen ratio as opposed to the 16:10 Apple MacBook. Asus has also reversed the position of its ports, moving the charging/data USB-C Thunderbolt 3 port to the right and headset jack on the left.

The ZenBook's distinctive spun metal finish makes a return and you'll also find a radial pattern concealing two of the laptop's four speakers – the other two are located on the machine's underside.

The model 3 also takes Asus' diamond cut chamfered edges to the nth degree. You'll find the chamfered edge starts on the inside at the top of the screen lid, it rolls onto the outside as it makes its way to the hinge.

MacBook imitations aside, the ZenBook 3 is a sharp little Ultrabook. It features an all-metal body, but Asus used a specially blended form of aerospace-grade aluminum alloy, which it claims to be 40 percent stronger than the material used in other Ultrabooks.

Specs

Aesthetics aren't what really set the ZenBook 3 apart, it's hard core specs that do. Despite also being thinner and lighter than the ZenBook UX305, this ultra-slim system is a powerhouse starting with Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB of RAM and 256GB SSD for $999 (about £687, AU$1,379).

Users can also get a richly specced machine with an added Core i7 processor, 1TB SSD and 16GB of RAM and an added fingerprint scanner built into the corner of the touchpad for $1,999 (about £1,374, AU$2,760).

While, other notebooks this thin have often gone with Intel Core M-series chips, Asus managed to get away with Core I-series CPUs thanks to integrating a newly developed 3mm fan. The 12.5-inch display has also been fitted with a sheet of Corning Gorilla Glass 4 for extra durability, though, screen resolution is limited to Full HD only.

Asus claims users can expect nine hours of usage and they should be able to top off an empty machine back to 60% in 49 minutes thanks to fast charging through the USB-C port.

Early verdict

The Asus ZenBook 3 sounds like a winner on paper. How can you go wrong with Intel Core I-series power in a two-pound laptop? I'm chiefly wary of battery life and how much Asus really managed to squeeze into such a thin design and it's something I look forward to finding out in my full review.

Additional reporting and photography by Lucy Wang

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Sirin Lab’s Solarin Priced at £9,500 is the Most Secure Smartphone in the World

Sirin Labs, the Israeli-based tech startup launched Solarin super smartphone with military grade security. The side edges of the device are made up of premium Titanium metal. Unlike the other luxury smartphones, the Solarin packs the latest specifications. The Solarin priced at £9,500 (approx $13,850 / Rs. 9.3 Lakhs) will be one of the most premium smartphones available in the market.

The device comes with built-in mobile security protection by Zimperium. Sirin Labs partnered with KoolSpan to make 256-bit encryption for protecting the voice calls and messsages, this is the same technology used by the military army. All the communications can be encrypted by activating the Security Switch on the back. It sports a 5.5-inch Quad HD (2560 x 1440 pixels) display with curved edges and is protected by the Gorilla Glass 4.

The device is powered by Snapdragon 810 octa-core processor coupled with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. On the camera front, the Solarin comes with a 24MP rear camera with laser autofocus. It also has the front facing LED flash for capturing better selfies with the 8MP front camera in the low light conditions. It will be available starting from June 1st in London.

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Hands-on review: Computex: MSI Backpack PC

Virtual reality gaming and experience have finally been full realized with headsets like the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift. However, there are still a few things that can pull you out of the immersive experience with the biggest one that damned cable tipping you up.

Well MSI wants to do away with that problem with a gaming PC that you wear on your back. The entire system is self-contained from processor to the graphics and even internal batteries making it more portable than any PC case designed for LAN events.

And that really is the central idea behind the Backpack PC. It's meant to be a portable gaming desktop you can take anywhere to experience virtual reality wherever you are. Beyond eliminating the worry of tripping over power cords in VR, it also opens up the opportunity to free roaming experiences such as the Void VR theme park.

Design

The Backpack PC takes strong inspiration from motorcycle backpacks, but it has a bit of space age flair to it. Alternatively, I could easily imagine the Tony Stark pulling an Iron Man suit out of this pack thanks to the hot rod red paint job MSI decided to go with.

That said, there's definitely a coolness factor to the way the Backpack PC's aesthetics. That's a good thing because you'll definitely look like the biggest (and happiest) dork while wearing it.

Although MSI claims its Backpack PC weighs less than five kilograms (about 12 pounds), it's not the most comfortable thing to put on your back and it hangs a little lower than I prefer. This could be easily fixed with harder and sculpted shoulder straps that distribute more of the weight on your shoulders.

That said, MSI has made some smart decisions with the Backpack PC's design. Behind the straps you'll find a metal frame to help keep the PC from burning a hole onto your back. This metal frame also extends above and below the main case to act as a carrying handle elevated foot for the Backpack PC to stand on when placed on the floor.

The only other noteworthy piece of the design is there are two motion controller holsters sewn into the hip belt – which will hopefully play into some fun western-styled gun duels in VR soon.

The beast within

The Backpack PC almost seems deceptively small. Despite being loaded up with and mobile-based Intel Core i7 K-series processor, desktop-grade Nvidia GTX 980, all the other essential PC bits and two big old batteries to power the whole thing, the system is smaller than both the Xbox One and PS4.

On paper, MSI's system meets the recommended spec requirements – and you'll be able to upgrade it too – to power a smooth VR experience and it absolutely delivered during my short time with a working demo at Computex 2016. During my demo time I was able moved freely while playing the Arcade Space Ship Shooter game from the The Lab.

After experiencing so many Vive demos in the past I've gotten used to dancing around the power cords even without seeing it. But by completely removing it, you can move around without a care in the world and are much more maneuverable in the VR world.

Portable and powerful (for a time)

You can also have a decently long VR experience with the Backpack PC thanks to two large battery packs stuffed inside of the case. MSI claims users can get up to five hours of viewing 360 videos or an hour and a half of usage while playing demanding VR games.

That said, the batteries aren't hot swappable as they are on HP VR gaming backpack concept. Instead you'll have to jack out of your VR experience and open up the case to swap out battery packs. A MSI spokesperson explained the company doesn't really see this as an issue as even an hour in VR is intense enough.

Aside from being a wearable VR-ready system, MSi also sees its Backpack PC as an excellent solution for gamers who want to bring their PCs to events. Given that it's much easier to lug around than a Mini-ITX system with a handle, there could definitely be interest here.

Early verdict

There are some appealing aspects to MSI Backpack PC. It's attractive, smaller than most consoles and fully delivers on the promise of powering an untethered VR experience. However, there are some big things MSI needs to work on including comfort and the chipset hasn't been finalized yet, as the electronics firm hopes to integrate Nvidia's new GTX 1080 graphics card and other Pascal-based GPUs.

Battery life also seems a bit to short to warrant the inevitably high price of this portable gaming PC. That said, I came away really liking my first experience with the Backpack PC and look forward to how the system will turn out in the coming months.

Additional reporting and images by Lucy Wang

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ZUK Z2 with Snapdragon 820 SoC & 4GB RAM Launched in China

Lenovo’s subbrand ZUK had debuted the smartphone market by launching the ZUK Z1 in 2015; the same device was made available in India this month. Today, the company has launched the ZUK Z2 as the successor for Z1. Earlier this year, it also launched the ZUK Z2 Pro with Snapdragon 820 processor and 6GB of RAM in China. Now the ZUK Z2 is also powered by Snapdragon 820 chipset but comes in a smaller form factor. It sports a 2.5D 5-inch display with Full HD resolution and is also mentioned to feature anti-fingerprint protection.

The ZUK Z2 is limited to just 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. It has a 13MP rear camera with PDAF and f/2.2 aperture. On the front is an 8MP sensor with an aperture of f/2.0. The device is backed by a 3,500mAh battery that also supports fast charging which charges from 0% to 80% in 60 minutes. It comes with dual SIM dual standby support and runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow based ZUI 2.0 laid on top. As seen with the earlier ZUK devices, the ZUK Z2 also comes with a fingerprint sensor integrated into the physical home button on the front.

Connectivity options include 4G LTE, VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.1 LE, GPS/A-GPS, and aUSB Type-C port. Interestingly the ZUK Z1 came with a USB 3.0 Type-C port, but the Z2 includes only USB 2.0 Type-C port. It measures 141.65 x 68.88 x 8.45 mm and weighs 149 grams. The device comes only in White and Black color options. It is priced at 1799 Yuan and will be available starting from June 7th in the China. As of now, there is no information about the international availability.

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Best Mid-Range Smartphones below Rs 15000 (May – June)

If you are looking for a best mid-range smartphone that sports best in class specifications, then below are the list of devices that offers good value for money. Most of the smartphones are only available via online stores and are sold through flash sales. Unlike the entry-level smartphones, these devices come with good built quality and better user experience. Also, have a look at our best upcoming smartphones for the month of June, if you can wait for few more weeks.

• Micromax Canvas 6 – Rs. 13,999

The largest Indian smartphone manufacturer, Micromax had announced 15 new smartphones including Canvas 6 and Canvas 6 Pro. The device was launched in the market through Flipkart at a price of Rs. 13,999, same as Canvas 6 Pro. The major difference is that the Canvas 6 Pro comes with a fingerprint sensor and few additional improvements in specifications. It sports a 5.5-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) IPS display. Under the hood, the Canvas 6 is powered by MediaTek MT6753 octa-core processor clocked at 1.3GHz.

The device includes 3GB of RAM and 32GB of onboard storage that can be expanded additionally upto 128GB. It sports a 13MP rear camera with LED flash and an 8MP front camera. The Canvas 6 comes with a metal body and supports 4G LTE connectivity. The 3,000mAh battery on this device can last upto 305 hours on standby. There are many bloatware apps come pre-installed on this device. While the Canvas 6 Pro is a better, sadly it wasn’t yet available.

• LYF Water 5 – Rs. 11,699

The Water 5 is the latest mid-range smartphone from the Reliance’s smartphone brand LYF. It is priced at Rs. 11,699 and is exclusively sold online through Amazon India. Earlier the company two other devices in the Water series called Water 1 and Water 2 priced at Rs. 14,699 and Rs. 13,599 respectively. Though there are better devices at this price range, with the purchase of Water 5 the users will get a JIO SIM card with unlimited 4G Data for free the first three months. It sports a polycarbonate body and features a 5-inch HD (1280 x 720 pixels) display.

Under the hood is the Snapdragon 410 quad-core processor clocked at 1.2GHz along with 2GB of RAM. It includes 16GB of storage and a MicroSD card slot for storage expansion. On the camera front, the Water 5 comes with a 13MP autofocus camera and a 5MP front camera. The device is backed by a 2,920 mAh battery that can last at least a day of usage. It runs on Android 5.1 Lollipop and offers 4G LTE with VoLTE and VoWiFi support.

• Samsung Galaxy J5 (2016) – Rs. 13,990

Samsung had launched both the Galaxy J5 2016 and Galaxy J7 2016 as the successors for 2015 launched Galaxy J5 and Galaxy J7. The Galaxy J5 2016 comes with 5.2-inch HD (1280 x 720 pixels) Super AMOLED display and is powered by an unknown quad-core processor clocked at 1.2GHz. It includes 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage that can be expanded via provided MicroSD card slot. It supports dual SIM dual standby and offers 4G LTE on any one SIM.

Coming to the camera department, it includes 13MP rear camera with an aperture of f/1.9 and laser autofocus. There is also a 5MP front camera for selfies and video calls. Bot the rear and front cameras are assisted with LED flash. It is backed by a 3,100mAh battery and offers connectivity options like 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth, GPS, and a MicroUSB 2.0 port. It runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow based customized TouchWiz UI out of the box.

• Lenovo Z1 – Rs. 13,499

Just before launching the Moto G4 and Moto G4 Plus in India, Lenovo brought the 2015 launched ZUK Z1 to India. The device is priced at Rs. 13,499 and comes with high-end specifications. It runs on Android 5.1 Lollipop based Cyanogen OS 12.1 out-of-the-box. The company had already rolled out the Marshmallow update via Cyanogen OS 13 update. It is powered by Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor announced in 2014. The device features a 5.5-inch Full HD (1920x 1080 pixels) display with a pixel density of 401ppi.

The ZUK Z1 includes 3GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage without MicroSD card slot. It packs a 13MP primary camera with OIS and an 8MP front camera for selfies and video calls. The Z1 is backed by a whopping 4,100mAh that easily last more than a day of usage. The Home button on the front also houses the fingerprint sensor. This dual SIM device supports 4G networks on both the SIMs. It exclusively available on Amazon India and sadly it is sold through flash sales.

• Meizu M3 Note – Rs. 9,999

Just a month after launching the Meizu M3 Note in China, this month the Meizu announced the device for the Indian market.While the company launched the device in two variants with 2GB RAM and 3GB RAM, only the 3GB variant with 32GB storage is available in India. The device comes with a 5.5-inch Full HD display (1920 x 1080 pixels) and is powered by Helio P10 octa-core processor clocked at 1.8GHz. There is also a MicroSD card slot for storage expansion upto 128GB.

The M3 Note runs on Android 5.1 with the Flyme OS overlaid. In the camera department, there is a 13MP rear camera with f/2.2 aperture and PDAF for fast focusing, and a 5MP selfie camera with an aperture of f/2.0 on the front. The physical home button on the front also come integrated with the fingerprint sensor which can be unlocked in just 0.2 seconds. Like the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 and Redmi 3, the Meizu M3 Note also comes with a massive 4,100mAh battery.

• LeEco Le 1S Eco – Rs. 10,899

LeEco relaunched the Le 1S as Le 1S Eco with same design and specifications but a slightly underclocked processor. The device is priced at Rs. 10,899 and comes with one year of “Supertainment” membership worth Rs. 4,900 for free. While in the first sale, around 1,00,000 units are sold for just Rs. 9,999. It comes with a 5.5-inch In-cell display with Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) resolution. The Le 1S Eco will be powered by Helio X10 octa-core processor clocked at 1.85GHz.

It includes 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage but lacks the MicroSD card slot for storage expanding. However, the Supertainment pack includes 5TB of cloud storage along with Live TV, Music Streaming, and Movies-on-Demand services. It has 13MP rear camera, a 5MP front camera, and a 3,000mAh non-removable battery. On the back is the mirror surfaced fingerprint sensor for making the device a bit more secure. The device still runs on Android 5.1 Lollipop based EUI laid on top.

• Lenovo Moto G4 & Moto G4 Plus – Rs. 13,499

Lenovo launched the 2016 Moto G devices – Moto G4, Moto G4 Play, and Moto G4 Plus earlier this month. The Moto G4 and Moto G4 Plus are announced for Indian market while only the Moto G4 Play is currently available in the market. Both the Moto G4 and G4 Plus comes with the similar design, but the differences lie in the specifications part. Both the device comes with 5.5-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) display with Gorilla Glass protection. The device runs on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow out-of-the-box with no major customizations.

Under the hood, the devices are powered by Snapdragon 617 octa-core processor. Both the devices include 2GB RAM and 16GB of storage and Moto G4 Plus additionally comes with 3GB/4GB RAM with 32GB/64GB of internal storage. It is backed by a 3,000mAh battery which also supports Turbo Charge for fast charging. On Moto G4 Plus, there is a 16MP rear camera while the Moto G4 comes with 13MP sensor. On the front, both the devices feature 5MP sensor. The nano coating on the devices at least makes them splash proof.

 

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Best Mid-Range Smartphones above Rs 15000 (May – June)

There are few interesting mid-range smartphones launched in May with competitive specifications and better build quality. Below you find the devices that are priced between Rs. 15,000 – Rs. 25,000. Unlike the budget devices, these devices come with superior build quality and offers lag-free user experience. This month we also have a smartphone from Indian manufacturer which offers high-end specifications listed alongside the global brands. While there aren’t many options to choose from, below are the list of those few devices.

• Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016) – Rs. 15,990

The Galaxy J7 (2016) is the successor for the Galaxy J7 that launched in 2015. It comes with 5.5-inch HD Super AMOLED display while in China, it was launched with Full HD resolution. Under the hood is an octa-core processor clocked at 1.8GHz. It comes with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of onboard storage along with a MicroSD card slot. Coming to the cameras, it includes 13MP rear camera with an aperture of f/1.9 and laser autofocus. There is also a 5MP front camera that comes assisted by LED flash.

The device supports dual SIM and runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow with TochWiz UI overlaid. It is kept powered on by a 3,300mAh battery that can give at least a day of usage. Connectivity options include 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth, GPS, and a MicroUSB 2.0 port. The device includes the S Bike mode that was introduced with Galaxy J3 2016. It will be available in Gold, Black, and White colors and is priced at Rs. 15,990. It measures 151.7 x 76 x 7.8 mm and weighs 170 grams.

• Coolpad Max – Rs. 24,999

After launching the three popular Note 3 series device under Rs. 10,000 price range, Coolpad now came up with a Rs.24,999 priced Coolpad Max. The device comes with an all metal build and feels slim in hand by measures just 7.6mm thickness. It will be available exclusively on Amazon India and comes in Royal Gold and Rose Gold colors. It runs on Android 5.1 Lollipop with highly customized CoolUI 8.0 laid on top. The device offers dual SIM dual Standby with 4G LTE connectivity.

The device features a 5.5-inch Full HD display along with 2.5D Gorilla Glass 4 protection. It is backed by Snapdragon 617 octa-core processor clocked at 1.5GHz along with 4GB of RAM. There is 64GB of internal storage that can be expanded additionally upto another 128GB. It comes with 13MP primary camera and a 5MP front camera. The Coolpad Max is powered by 2,800mAh battery along with Quick Charge 3.0 supported 9V/2A power adapter.

• Nextbit Robin – Rs. 19,999

Last year, Nextbit had launched the Nextbit Robin in the U.S after successful Kickstarter campaign for $400. Now in May 2016, the device was launched in the Indian market exclusively through Flipkart and is priced at Rs. 19,999. The device runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow with the customized UI. Though it is completely built out of plastic, the device doesn’t feel cheap. The device can automatically store the least used apps in cloud thus clearing the onboard storage.

It comes with 5.2-inch IPS display with Full HD resolution. The device comes powered by the Snapdragon 808 hexa-core processor along with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. It has a 13MP rear camera with dual LED flash and a 5MP selfie camera on the front. It is backed by a 2,680mAh battery that also support Quick Charging. The device comes with dual speakers and dual amplifiers for better sound output. It has a single SIM slot that supports 4G LTE along with other basic connectivity features including NFC.

• Smartron tPhone – Rs. 22,999

After launching the Windows 10 powered Smartron tBook tablet last month, the company had officially launched its first ever smartphone Smartron tPhone. It comes with a Gorilla Glass 3 protected 5.5-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) AMOLED display. The device is powered by the last years Snapdragon 810 octa-core processor. It has 4GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage. The device offers dual SIM dual standby and runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow out-of-the-box.

Talking about the camera, the tPhone includes 13MP rear camera with dual tone LED flash and a 5MP selfie camera on the front.  It comes with USB Type-C port which supports Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 2.0. The 3,000mAh battery on this device might give at least a day of usage. It will be available in Orange, Grey, Blue and Pink colors. Coming to the pricing, it is priced at Rs. 22,999 which seems to be slightly overpriced. There even better alternatives like Xiaomi Mi 5 that comes with flagship specifications at slightly higher price.

 

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Phone Radar Weekly Giveaway – Win a Yu Yunicorn Smartphone

Have you ever wanted to get a chance to own a handset that is just launched and that to at free of cost? Well, now you can. We at Phone Radar giving away the smartphone launched by YU Televentures. It’s not Yureka Plus, Yutopia, Yunique, or Yuphoria, it is the latest flagship from the Micromax independent subsidiary.

In a short period since its inception in December 2014, Brainchild of Rahul Sharma (Micromax Chairman), the YU Televentures has established its name in Indian market for offering variety of handsets at affordable pricing. Today, the brand announced its all-new flagship smartphone, the YU Yunicorn. The brand has been known for naming its handsets with quirky words to set them apart from the competition.

Let’s talk briefly about the specifications of the Yunicorn smartphone. The device sports a 5.4-inch 1080p display with a pixel density of 406 PPI. It is powered by a Helio P10 processor, which is Octa-core MediaTek chipset. Accompanied by a 4GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage, which is expandable up to 128GB via microSD card slot. It runs on the Android 5.1 Lollipop OS out of the box with some tweaks by the company, although, you’ll see a stock like UI. In terms of camera, the rear module boasts a 13MP sensor while the front module has a 5MP sensor.

In this Giveaway, we are going to announce 5 winners. The first two would win a Yu Yunicorn Smartphone, followed by three winners who win a Yubix Speaker each. To get started, you will have to go through the following steps.

PhoneRadar Week #6 Smart Phone Giveaway

Features:
5.43-inch 1080p Display
MediaTek Helio P10
4GB RAM
32GB Internal Storage
Front Fingerprint Sensor
13MP Rear Camera
5MP Selfie Camera

Note: To get started you need to remember that the giveaway will start Every Monday & end on Sunday. We are the most active on Twitter @PhoneRadarBlog hence, you need to follow there to know more about the upcoming Announcements & winner names.

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Yu Yunicorn Smartphone First Impressions – 5 Things we like (and dislike)

In the Startup world, A Unicorn is a Startup company that has a value of over a Billion Dollars. In the Smartphone Industry, for the first time, we are hearing a brand naming its Smartphone as Yunicorn that’s close to the unicorn name, that could make it big for the brand? We are referring to Yu Televentures, which is a subsidiary of Micromax, founded by Rahul Sharma, who owns 99% of the stake in this company. We have already seen the brand launching many devices including health related products under this new brand that has been promising a different lineup and a service when compared to Micromax.

Today the brand has launched the Yu Yunicorn Smartphone that’s the first phone that impresses us, not just regarding the package but also the build when compared to the devices we had seen in the earlier times.

Let us get into this based on a few points & do make a note that this is not a review of the phone but the first impressions based on a few days usage.

Good:

1. Build Quality:

   While we would have loved to see Yunicorn sporting fresh new device, developed specifically for the Indian audience, it does feel like the new YU flagship device from company looks strikingly similar to the Meizu M3 Note, which is a mid-range handset launched by Chinese manufacturer sometime this month in India. In fact, the same handset is available for sale starting today, i.e. May 31st. Talking about the build quality, it is quite a sturdy handset and feels like it may be the best build Yu has offered in their small line of handsets. The handset looks fantastic with its white and gold color combination.

   
2. Stock Like UI:

   YU Televentures has been in partnership with Cyanogen Inc. when it launched its first handset in the December 2014. The brand has been planning to launch its own UI, which would be far more interesting than any UI based on the stock Android look. And it finally looks like the company is moving forward with its in-house software, as the Yunicorn sport a stock like an interface with tweaks that can be seen with different icons. Unlike, many companies such as Samsung, LG, and HTC, who have customized the Android to its core, which is why many don’t prefer TouchWiz, Flat UI, or even Sense UI.

3. Yu Cloud: Pushing the limits in software experience, the YU brand has finally launched its Cloud service, which not only allows you to save the photos and videos but also makes it easier to backup the SMS, Call Logs and other system Settings that you might have added. While we have many reliable options to seamlessly backup the photos and videos such as Google Photos, Dropbox and One Drive, there aren’t any reliable options for backing up contacts and call logs.

   

4. Open Source Development:

   While the Android OS that we see on the Yunicorn is the Lollipop 5.1.1, but hope that to be upgraded pretty soon, as the brand has already announced its open source development program for older devices like Yunique, Yureka Plus, and Yuphoria. The Yu Open OS that is touted to be a groundbreaking project by the company head, Rahul Sharma, will surely bring this OS to the latest flagship. Though the dates haven’t been promised by the brand; we believe it might be earlier than one expect. This new OS by the company will truly be a developer based OS, but note that company will be curating the features to make them reliable and more streamlined with their offering.

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Bad:

1. Design:

   Taking inspiration from another brand is one thing, but using their design aesthetics is totally different. If you put the three devices; Meizu M3 Note, OPPO F1 Plus and Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 with Yunicorn, then you can clearly see some striking similarities. Talking about the front design, it highly resembles the M3 Note and even to F1 Plus handset from OPPO. Whereas the rear side reminisces of the Redmi Note 3 design, subtracting the fingerprint sensor, it is placed on the physical home button just like on the M3 Note.

   
2. Camera:

   The rear camera that you see on the back is of 13-megapixel resolution, which isn’t the best 13MP module out there, but it certainly takes good captures. Though, I’m more concerned with the part that it doesn’t support a 4K Video recording. It might be a deal breaker for most of the consumers out there, but omitting a high resolution recording feature is a big deal for a camera enthusiast like me. Moreover, there are many handsets with 13MP module like Le 1S Eco that offers 4K content recording capability. So, the brand would have to think about adding that feature in future updates.

   

First Impressions: This phone could be the one that could not just save the company but also bring it back into the market share reports with good sales depending on the pricing & also the sales partners. If the brand moves to offline distribution where we had already seen OPPO getting success with aggressive offline push it could also taste more success. Keeping it online exclusive does help the brand control the price and save money but sometimes learning from other strategies could also help.

With this device going in the right direction, we just hope that the brand focusses first on better products rather than just pushing on competitive products because it’s the product that ultimately matters & consumers who value that would continue buying the future lineup. We have had heard a lot of complaints in terms of the service issues from the brand & do hope that there a major change in this aspect because the trust could be built from this area.

Overall a Smartphone from Yu that does Impress us from a few days of usage but also hope that they would soon push a software update to fix few of the issues we have mentioned in the above story.

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