Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro comes with a dual-camera setup at the back
During this Diwali, Xiaomi is giving away its most selling smartphone, Redmi Note 5 Pro for just Rs. 749. While the base variant of the smartphone sells for Rs. 12,999, the 6GB RAM variant comes with a price tag of Rs. 14,999. Flipkart's Big Diwali Sale can help you to get your hands-on the Redmi Note 5 Pro for way less.
As a part of Flipkart Big Diwali Sale, the e-commerce giant is offering 10 per cent cash back to users who checkout using an SBI credit card. Further, PhonePe and Axis Bank Buzz credit card users can get an instant discount of Rs. 400 on their purchase. Customers can also pay a sum of Rs. 99 and assure a 50 per cent buyback value when they exchange their Redmi Note 5 Pro on Flipkart later.
As you might have noticed that the above-given discounts are not bringing the price down to Rs. 749, there is something else you need to do as well. Yes, you will need to exchange an older smartphone in order to the get a hefty discount. With the Redmi Note 5 Pro, Flipkart is offering an exchange value of up to Rs. 12,250 off. However, to reach that price point you will need to exchange something like the Samsung Galaxy Note 8. Also, do keep in mind that the exchange program only works if you have a phone that is in working condition and it is not screen damaged.
As for the specifications, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro features a 5.99-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1080x2160 pixels and an aspect ratio of 18:9. It is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 SoC coupled with Adreno 509 GPU. Redmi Note 5 Pro comes in three two variants, one with 4GB of RAM and the other one with 6GB of RAM. Both the variants come with 64GB of onboard storage. All of this is backed by a 4,000mAh battery.
Asus has a variety of laptops targeting different types of customers. The VivoBook series concentrates on people looking for a laptop for school or work who need a portable laptop, which they can carry everywhere and get their work done. The Asus VivoBook S14 (S406) is not meant for everyone and here's why we think so.
Specifications
In terms of specifications, the review unit we got comes with a 14-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. It is powered by the Intel Core i5 8250U processor coupled with Intel’s integrated UHD Graphics 620. The device comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD storage.
Price: Rs. 44,990
Design
Asus S14 comes with a very minimalistic and sleek design that offers great portability. The laptop has a spun metal finish on the outside, which looks great and keeps fingerprints away. However, when you open the lid the plastic build might disappoint you a bit. The build has quite a bit of flex to it, especially at the palm rest area.
It comes with a FullHD screen which is great for media consumption
We were impressed to see Asus shrinking down the side bezels of the display to a minimum. This has allowed the company to put a 14-inch display in a chassis of a 13-inch laptop. The chicklet keyboard is backlit and the brightness level can be adjusted easily using a key combination. The laptop sports a fingerprint scanner which is a welcome feature as it makes unlocking the laptop very easy.
The Asus S14 comes with two USB Type-A ports, a USB Type-C port, a micro HDMI port, a 3.5-mm headphone jack and a microSD card slot.
Display
Smaller bezels make the laptop look more elegant
The Asus S14 sports a 14-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels and has a refresh rate of 60Hz. It is an antiglare panel and offers a 172-degree wide-viewing angle. The display is great for media consumption for a long duration. The display gets bright enough and should be fine for most use case scenarios.
Performance
1 of 3
GeekBench
Cinebench
The Asus S14 comes with a U-series processor from Intel and lacks a dedicated GPU, which is acceptable considering the company is marketing this as a portable laptop for professionals. Performance from the i5 CPU coupled with 8GB of RAM should be sufficient for most day-to-day tasks.
The laptop remained cool most of the times during our review process. However, when using the laptop extensively on an uneven surface, the thermals reach a level where it gets quite uncomfortable to use.
Keyboard and Mouse
Fingerprint scanner makes life easier
One of the best things I liked about this laptop is its backlit keyboard. The lighting makes the laptop comfortable to use during night time and the trackpad is quite good just like most other Asus laptops. The trackpad comes integrated with a fingerprint sensor, which when combined with Windows Hello, works very well.
Similar to Apple's MacBook Air, the power button is included within the keyboard area. The button is quite close to the backspace key which means you might accidentally hit the power key instead of hitting the backspace key on most occasions.
Battery
One of the key highlights of the Asus S14 is its long battery life. During the review period, we were able to use the laptop continuously for around 7-8 hours before it required to be plugged in. You can suck some more juice from the laptop by turning off the keyboard backlight and turning down the Windows performance settings. Also, if you do drain the battery, the included charger can charge it back quite rapidly.
Verdict
It competes directly against the MacBook Air
Asus S14 (S406) is a great choice for people who prefer mobility over performance. The laptop is lightweight meaning you can carry it around with you most of the times. The battery life is good enough to make you forget where you kept your charger. These perks do come with a tradeoff, which in this case is performance. The lack of a dedicated graphics card means that you cannot edit your videos or play games on the go. However, considering the market Asus is targetting with this device, it isn't a huge deal.
Honor has just launched the much awaited Honor Magic 2 smartphone in China. We have had enough leaks and rumours about the device and most of them come out to be true. While the highlights here are the in-display fingerprint scanner and sliding mechanism, the phone has a lot more up its sleeve.
In-Display fingerprint scanner
After Vivo, many smartphone manufacturers are ditching the physical fingerprint scanners in exchange of an in-display one. Currently, the race is all about who does it better. The in-display fingerprint scanner on the Honor Magic 2 has allowed the company to keep the fingerprint scanner at the front without the need of any sort of bezels.
Camera slider
Honor Magic 2 comes with a slider for the selfie camera
Following the footsteps of Xiaomi, Honor has also introduced a sliding mechanism for Magic 2's selfie camera. Unlike the Oppo Find X and Vivo Nex, the slider on this one is manual which is great for durability and longevity of the device. However, it is still less durable when compared to phones without such mechanisms.
Triple Camera setup
While the trend of dual-camera setups is about to fade off, companies are now shifting towards three cameras. The Honor Magic 2 comes with a triple camera setup at the back consisting of a 16-megapixel RGB, 24-megapixel Monochrome and a 16-megapixel wide-angle sensor.
Yoyo Assistant
Samsung has tried it with Bixby and Vivo with Jovi. Now its Honor's turn to introduce their own virtual AI assistant. The Yoyo assistant from Honor comes pre-installed with Magic 2 and has got some really cool tricks up its sleeve.
Magic Charge
Honor Magic 2 comes with a new fast-charging technology which Honor likes to call, Magic Charge. The technology uses a 40 Watt power brick to charge the smartphone. It is quite similar to Oppo's VOOC charge and Dash Charge by OnePlus. Honor claims that Magic 2 can reach from 0% to 85% in less than 30mins.
Apple has recently launched a new refreshed MacBook Air at the October 30 event in New York. The old MacBook was introduced back in 2011 and the internals were last updated in 2017. If you are looking to get a MacBook Air, here's a quick comparison between the new and old one so you can decide which one to get.
Display
One of the major things that will make you lean towards the new MacBook Air is the Retina display. The display on the new one is leaps and bounds better than its predecessor. While the older one had a resolution of 1440 x 900 pixels, the newer one gets a 2560x1600 panel. Not only the resolution is improved, but also the quality of the display has been vastly improved.
Performance
New MacBook Air comes in three different colours
Don't get fooled by the fact that the new MacBook Air has a dual-core processor like the old one. Yes, it has a dual-core processor but it is now much better than the one found on the older MacBooks. The new 5W chip inside helps in less power consumption and keeps the laptop cool. It means that the new MacBook Air can give much better battery life than most laptops. Also, the new one now comes with up to 16GB of RAM and 1.5TB of SSD storage.
Some of the features like the existence of TouchID and better-sounding speakers might bring an urge inside you to get the new one. Even the keyboard of the MacBook Air has been significantly improved. One of the major changes is the selection of ports. The new Air only has two ThunderBolt 3 USB Type-C port and a 3.5mm jack. While the ThunderBolt 3 Type-C port is much appreciated, the lack of USB Type-A port and magnetic charge port might disappoint many.
Price
The new MacBook Air is available in the US for a starting price of USD 1,199 (roughly Rs. 88,500). The older one was launched at a similar price but over the years it has seen enough price drops. It is available in India for a starting price of around Rs. 55,990.
Honor Magic 2 comes with a slider for the selfie camera
After much leaks and rumours, the Honor Magic 2 is finally here. The new smartphone from Honor comes with an in-display fingerprint scanner and a slider to reveal the selfie camera. While the back looks quite similar to the Huawei P20 Pro, the front reminds us of the recently launched Xiaomi Mi Mix 3. Here are some alternatives you should consider.
OnePlus 6T
OnePlus 6T has an in-display fingerprint scanner
OnePlus has recently launched their latest flagship, OnePlus 6T in India. The new smartphone comes with a smaller notch and an in-display fingerprint scanner. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 coupled with up to 8GB of RAM. The phone is available at a starting price of Rs. 37,999.
If you really want an in-display fingerprint scanner and a full-screen display, the Vivo Nex should be your choice. It features a 6.59-inch Super AMOLED display with a FullHD+ resolution. The smartphone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC and comes with 8GB of RAM. It also features an in-display fingerprint scanner and a pop-up selfie camera and it is priced at Rs. 45,999.
LG G7 ThinQ
LG G7 ThinQ comes with the company's new AI features
In case you are willing to sacrifice on the beautiful design, the G7+ ThinQ from LG can deliver a better flagship experience. The G7+ ThinQ features a 6.1-inch notched display with a resolution of 1440x3120 pixels. The smartphone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC coupled with 6GB of RAM. The device runs on Android 8.1 Oreo and it is priced at Rs. 39,990.
Asus ZenFone 5Z is powered by the flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor coupled with up to 8GB of RAM. The device comes with up to 256GB of onboard storage. It runs on Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box with Android Pie on the way. It is available at a starting price of Rs. 29,999.
Huawei P20 Pro
If cameras are your highest priority, the Huawei P20 Pro has some of the best cameras in the market. The smartphone comes with a 40-megapixel f/1.8 aperture sensor along with a 20-megapixel f/1.6 aperture and an 8-megapixel f/2.4 aperture sensor at the rear. The P20 Pro is available in India for a price of Rs. 64,999.
Asus VivoBook S14 and S15 come in a total of five colours
Asus has just launched two new laptops under its VivoBook series. The all-new VivoBook S14 (S430) and S15 (S530) laptops are lightweight and offer great battery life. With these new laptops, the company is competing directly against Apple's lightweight offering, the MacBook Air.
Specifications
Asus VivoBook S14 (S430) and S15 (S530) can be configured to come with up to Intel 8th Gen Core i7 CPUs which can be paired with up to 16GB of RAM. The laptops come with dedicated Nvidia GeForce MX150 graphics card which is quite enough for casual gaming. While VivoBook S14 sports a 14-inch FullHD screen, the S15 comes with a 15.6-inch FullHD display.
Both laptops come with features like dual-storage design, Wi-Fi master, fast charging and much more. These features and specs allows the Taiwan-based company to target these laptops towards users who want easy multitasking, multimedia editing and a casual gaming experience.
Asus S14 (S430) will be available via both online and offline platforms starting November 1. People interested in the S15 will have to wait for a few more days as it goes on sale starting November 15. Asus VivoBook S14 (S430) and S15 (S530) will be available for a starting price of Rs. 54,990 and Rs. 69,990 respectively. Both the laptops will be available in five colours including, Silver Blue, Star Grey, Gun Metal, Icicle Gold and Firmament Green.
Apple recently launched three new iPhones, iPhone Xs, Xs Max and the more budget-friendly, iPhone Xr. After 10 years of smartphone manufacturing, the company has finally provided dual-SIM capabilities on its latest offerings. With iOS 12.1 update, users having the latest iPhones can start using two SIMs on their device. Here's how it works.
How to activate eSIM
Head over to the Settings app on your iPhone
Tap on Mobile Data and then on "Add Data Plan"
Now you will need to scan a QR code. Scan the code that your service provider sent you via E-Mail.
You can now add a data plan and set the eSIM as personal, business or anything you want.
In case you do not have a QR code, you can also select the option “Enter Details Manually” to, well, enter the details manually. These details or the above-mentioned QR code will be provided by your carrier once you request for the same. Currently, only two carriers including Airtel and Reliance Jio support eSIM with support for Vodafone on the way.
Interestingly, users can add as many eSIMs as they want. However, they will be able to use only one eSIM and one physical SIM card at a time. To switch between SIMs, you can tap on "Cellular Plans" under the Cellular section of the settings of your smartphone. You will get an option to turn on the line you want.
For those who do not know what is an eSIM, it basically omits the need of a physical SIM card. This technology has its own perks and has its own set of cons as well. Now as Apple has introduced eSIM, many other smartphone manufacturers are going to bring a similar technology with their next generation of smartphones.
While OnePlus was busy launching their OnePlus 6T in India, Apple hosted an event in New York. Apple has launched a bunch of whole new products including the much awaited refreshed MacBook Air. Here's everything you need to know about Apple's October 30 event.
MacBook Air
One of the most anticipated announcements made was the launch of a refreshed MacBook Air. Now, the new MacBook Air comes with a 13.3-inch Retina display with a resolution of 2560X1600 pixels. The display is one of the biggest changes in the new laptop. Also, the bezels are now smaller than the older version. The sad part about the upgrade is lack of full-sized USB port as they are now replaced by USB Type-C ports.
Alongside the new refreshed design, the MacBook Air has also received upgrades on the inside. MacBook Air now comes with an 8th gen Intel Core i5 processor coupled with up to 16GB of RAM. The base variant comes with 128GB of storage which you can opt to upgrade to up to 1.5TB.
Mac Mini
After a long time, Apple has also updated the Mac Mini. Mac Mini now comes with Intel 8th processors coupled with up to 64GB of RAM. The storage can reach up to 2TB. For connectivity, the Mac Mini comes with Gigabit Ethernet port, 4 Thunderbolt 3 USB Type-C ports, an HDMI port and two USB-A ports.
iPad Pro
iPad Pro now has smaller bezels
Just like the rumours claimed, Apple has also launched a new iPad Pro. The major difference that any iPad user will notice here is the new design. The new iPad Pro comes with thinner bezels which resulted in the removal of the Home Button and TouchID. They are now replaced by gestures and FaceID respectively.
Apple iPad Pro comes in two sizes, 11-inch and 12.9-inch. Due to the new design, Apple was able to fit in an 11-inch screen on a footprint of the 10.5-inch previous generation iPad. Interestingly, Apple has decided to provide a USB Type-C port for charging as well as connecting accessories.
Apple Pencil
Apple Pencil can charge wirelessly
Apple has also upgraded the Apple Pencil. The new pencil now charges wirelessly when you attach it magnetically to the new iPad Pro's side. This means that there is no hassle for users struggling to connect it to the lightning port. Also, the battery life has been improved with the new Pencil.
OnePlus 6T is powered by the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC coupled with Adreno 630 GPU.
After a ton of leaks and rumours, the much awaited OnePlus 6T is finally here. While some of the rumours have come true, we really wished some of them had just stayed rumours. Never the less, OnePlus has come up with a new smartphone, which we might end up calling one of the best smartphones of 2018 and here are our first impressions.
Specifications
In terms of specifications, the OnePlus 6T features a 6.4-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080x2340 pixels and a 19.5:9 aspect ratio. It is powered by the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC coupled with Adreno 630 GPU. The base variant now comes with 6GB of RAM 128GB of storage. Customers can also grab an 8GB+128GB or 8GB+256GB variant. It runs on OxygenOS based on Google’s Android 9 Pie out of the box. All of this will be backed by a 3,700mAh battery.
OnePlus 6T runs on OxygenOS based on Google’s Android 9 Pie out of the box.
On the camera front, the OnePlus 6T gets the same sensors found on its predecessor. While the front is equipped with a 16-megapixel selfie snapper, the back gets a dual-camera setup. Dual-camera setup at the back consists of a 16-megapixel primary and a 20-megapixel secondary sensor.
First Impressions
As soon as I picked up the OnePlus 6T, it reminded me of the OnePlus 6 which is quite obvious as these devices share a lot in common. The first difference you get to notice is the notch up front. The notch is now way smaller and allows for more screen real estate. This means that the display is now even better for media consumption. The AMOLED panel allows for deeper blacks and better viewing angles.
OnePlus 6T features a 6.4-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080x2340 pixels and a 19.5:9 aspect ratio.
Flipping the phone over, it looked exactly like its predecessor but this time without a fingerprint scanner. Now, the fingerprint scanner has been moved to the front, right into the display. The in-display fingerprint scanner of the OnePlus 6T is faster than Vivo V11 Pro but quite slower than a physical one.
Now, the fingerprint scanner has been moved to the front, right into the display.
Alert slider, one of the best things about a OnePlus device, is still here with their latest flagship. Just like OnePlus 6, the power button and alert slidder are to the right while the volume buttons sit on the left.
Bottom of the phone now lacks a 3.5mm headphone jack which is quite of a bold move by the company. Considering OnePlus was was quite proud to have a headphone jack, the missing 3.5mm jack might disappoint many fans. However, the company is trying to move towards the future and bring people to the wireless audio generation.
The in-display fingerprint scanner of the OnePlus 6T is faster than Vivo V11 Pro but quite slower than a physical one.
We would have loved to see wireless charging and an IP rating with the OnePlus 6T. Not having to put such features on the phone allowed the company to keep the prices really competitive. Also, it is worth noting that the phone now gets a relatively larger battery which is a much welcome change. However, we will need to test out its real-time performance once we lay our hands over our review unit.
OnePlus, on October 29, took the wraps off the much awaited OnePlus 6T smartphone in New York. Now, the Chinese smartphone manufacturer has announced the launch of the smartphone in India at an event in New Delhi. Though the specifications were already revealed, the pricing details for the Indian market is also here now.
Specifications
As far as the specifications are concerned, the OnePlus 6T sports a 6.4-inch FullHD+ Super AMOLED display with a 19.5:9 aspect ratio. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC coupled with 6GB or 8GB of RAM. The dual-sim handset is available in 128GB and 256GB storage options. It runs on Android 9 Pie-based OxygenOS out of the box. Under the hood, there is a 3,700mAh battery powering up everything.
As for the optics, the OnePlus 6T features a dual-camera setup at the back consisting of a 16-megapixel primary and a 20-megapixel secondary sensor. Up front, there is a 16-megapixel selfie shooter. The company has also introduced a new Night Scape mode in the software which will enhance the quality of low light images.
Price and Availability
The base variant of the OnePlus 6T comes with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage and it is priced at Rs. 37,999. The 8GB RAM variant which comes with 128GB of storage will be available for Rs. 41,999. Customers who want 256GB of internal storage will have to pay a premium of Rs. 45,999.
Offers
OnePlus 6T buyers can avail quite a few offers if they purchase the smartphone via Amazon India. To begin with, customers can avail a cashback of Rs. 5,400 via Jio in the form of vouchers. ICICI and Citi bank cardholders can enjoy an instant discount of Rs. 2,000. If you do not have these cards, you can avail a cashback of Rs. 1,000 by paying via Amazon Pay. Moreover, there are also offers like free damage protection and no-cost EMI.
Disclaimer: The author is currently in New Delhi on behalf of OnePlus India to attend the launch of the OnePlus 6T
