The South Korean giant, LG is now gearing up to launch their next smartphone, the LG V40 ThinQ. The LG V40 ThinQ will be the direct successor to the LG V30+ which was launched last year. The company is hosting an event in New York on October 3 where they will announce the launch of their next smartphone
LG has already started rolling out the media invites for the upcoming event. The event is set to begin at 5 PM EDT (2:30 AM IST) on October 3. The company is also hosting another event at the LG Science Park in Seoul's Magok district at 10 AM KST (6:30 AM IST) on October 4.
If you just cannot wait for the LG V40 ThinQ to launch or just looking for a few more options in the price range, here are some alternatives you can buy right now.
In case you do not like how LG customises the UI on its smartphone and looking for something close to stock Android, OnePlus 6 deserves a look. The OnePlus 6 sports a 6.28-inch FullHD+ Super AMOLED display. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset coupled with up to 8GB of RAM coupled with up to 256GB of onboard storage. OnePlus 6 is available in India at a starting price of Rs. 34,999 while the top of the line variant would cost you Rs. 43,999.
Vivo Nex
Vivo Nex comes with a pop-up selfie camera
In case you want to stand out from the crowd and want all the greatness of a flagship, the Vivo Nex is your best bet. The features like an in-display fingerprint scanner and a pop-up selfie camera sets this phone apart from any other phone in the market right now. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 and 8GB of RAM are just icing on the cake. You can get all this at just Rs. 45,999.
If you want to experience LG's AI technology which they like to call ThinQ but you are on a tight budget, then look for the LG G7+ ThinQ. 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.
RealMe is gearing up to launch the RealMe 2 Pro this month
RealMe recently unveiled the much awaited RealMe 2 in India. The smartphone left many RealMe fans disappointed as it was more like a downgrade over the RealMe 1. However, the company claimed that the RealMe 1 is yet to see its true successor, the RealMe 2 Pro. The company is now gearing up to launch the latter.
RealMe has already rolled out the media invites for the RealMe 2 Pro and the smartphone is set to launch in India on September 27. The invite reads "We are back 2 surPrise you" with the letters "2" "Pr" and "o" highlighted with red to indicate the launch of the RealMe 2 Pro. the red colour here might be giving us a hint on a red colour variant of the upcoming smartphone.
As far as the specifications are concerned, a recent report by GizmoChina claims that the RealMe 2 Pro will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 chipset coupled with up to 6GB of RAM. For storage, the smartphone will come with up to 128GB of onboard storage which will be expandable using a microSD card.
The new smartphone is said to be exclusively available via the e-commerce website, Flipkart in India. The pricing of the device is expected to be somewhere around Rs. 16,000 and it will compete against the likes of the Xiaomi Mi A2, Redmi Note 5 Pro, Asus ZenFone Max Pro M1 and the Nokia 6.1 Plus.
OnePlus 6 successor OnePlus 6T will not have a 3.5mm headphone jack
OnePlus has just made an announcement that they will soon be launching a new pair of Bullets earphones which will sport a USB Type-C port. The earphones are said to be launched in the Q4 2018, soon after the launch of the OnePlus 6T. This piece of news raised a lot of eyebrows as it hints on a OnePlus smartphone without a 3.5mm audio jack.
The launch of the OnePlus 6T is just around the corner and we get to see a new pair of earphones by the company that sports a 3.5mm audio jack. By not keeping a lot of us under the dark, Carl Pie, Co-founder of OnePlus, confirmed that the OnePlus 6T won't have a headphone jack. Pie stated, “Making a great phone doesn't mean putting every component available into the device.”
OnePlus also conducted a survey recently which claimed that more than half of OnePlus users are currently using wireless headphones. The lack of the headphone jack on the OnePlus 6T will allow the company to make the device a tad thinner than the previous models.
Also, Carl Pie suggests that the lack of the headphone jack will be used for other useful features like improved battery life. We have also witnessed rumours stating that the next OnePlus flagship will come with an in-display fingerprint scanner.
As for the specifications, leaks suggest that OnePlus 6T will feature a 6.4-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2340x1080 pixels. The new display is said to feature a water-drop style notch and an in-display fingerprint scanner. The smartphone will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC and will come with up to 8GB of RAM. It is also being said that the 6T will come with a triple camera setup at the back.
The newest earphones by OnePlus will sport a Type-C connector.
Electronics manufacturer OnePlus is one of the biggest names in the mid-segment smartphone market. With the OnePlus 6, they introduced their bullets V2 wireless, a cheap affordable and great wireless earphones. The company now has announced that they will be introducing a USB-C version of the company’s acclaimed Bullets V2, dubbed the Type C Bullets.
The new earphones will be available along with the new smartphone that the company will introduce in Q4 2018. The new earphones will cost Rs. 1,490 will be available across online and offline channels along with the new OnePlus flagship.
They sport a similar design to the Bullets V2 Wireless
The new Type-C Bullets will be aimed toward delivering superior soundscape while effectively balancing design with utility and versatility. The sound quality is expected to be a step up from the Bullets V2. The Type-C Bullets will keep the metal build of the OnePlus Bullets V2. The earphones pack a Type-C connector to run on phones like the Pixel 2 without an adapter as well as the OnePlus smartphones. It sports an aramid fiber cable to make the Type C Bullets more durable and also resistant to stretching.
The Type C Bullets will offer improvement in sound quality. They will also pack a built-in high-end, professional DAC by Ciruss Logic. The upgraded Bullets will have a higher dynamic range, higher signal-to-noise ratio, and low noise floor. Comparing to the 3.5 mm jack that uses analog, Type C headphones ensures minimal loss of quality for a superior audio outcome. This will enable the Type-C Bullets to be more compatible as well as better sounding.
The Type-C connector not only improves sound but also makes it compatible with phones without a headphone jack
The company also said that the OnePlus devices are designed to work seamlessly with the new Bullets making the experience smooth.
Xiaomi Poco F1 comes with flagship grade hardware at a relatively lower price
Xiaomi recently shook the whole smartphone industry by launching the Poco F1 under their new brand Pocophone. The smartphone offers flagship grade specifications at a much affordable price. The features like LiquidCool Technology, FullHD+ display at a price of Rs. 20,990 was enough to surprise a lot of consumers. However, Poco feels that the surprises should no end there and tells customers about some hidden features.
In a recent tweet, Poco India has revealed that the Poco F1 is Splash Resistant and gets a certification from P2i. P2i is popular for its liquid repellent nanotechnology. This does not mean that the phone is waterproof and we highly recommend not dump your Poco F1 into the water. The splash resistance here means that if you use your phone outside in rain or splash some water on it accidentally, it should work fine.
At the time of the launch, the company announced that the Poco F1 comes with support from Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0. The smartphone also comes with a Quick Charge 3.0 charger bundled in the box which is quite a necessity considering that the phone has a massive 4,000mAh battery. In a recent tweet, Poco has confirmed that the Poco F1 also supports Quick Charge 4.0. However, if users want to take advantage of faster-charging speeds, they will need to go out and buy a Quick Charge 4.0 compatible charger.
Xiaomi has also announced that the Poco F1 will now be available in Open Sales. however, only the 6GB+128GB variant will be available via the open sale. So, if you are looking to buy the 64GB or the 256GB variant, sadly, you will still have to wait for the flash sales.
The surprises do not end here, as the Product Head of Poco, Jai Mani, recently tweeted that the Poco F1 users will soon receive an OTA update. This update will enable Face Unlock in some regions while also activating the 2x small power amps that were already present in the phone.
Oppo F9 comes with a water-drop style notch and a gradient back design
The Chinese smartphone manufacturer, Oppo has launched a new mid-range smartphone in India. The all-new Oppo F9 is a toned down version of the recently launched F9 Pro. however, it does take the design inspiration from its elder sibling which is why the F9 also comes with a water-drop style notch. Here are some alternatives to the Oppo F9 available in India.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro is one of the best budget smartphones
If you want to save some money and you can bear some more bezels, the Redmi Note 5 Pro should fulfil most of your needs. The Redmi Note 5 Pro is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor coupled with 4GB or 6GB of RAM. It runs on MIUI 9 which is a custom skin slapped on to Android Nougat. The Redmi Note 5 Pro is available at a starting price of Rs. 14,999.
Xiaomi Mi A2
Xiaomi Mi A2 is available in a variety of colours
If you do not like Oppo's custom UI ColorOS, you can look for the Xiaomi Mi A2. The Mi A2 runs on stock Android and provides a much better software experience when compared to the Oppo F9. The smartphone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 SoC. It comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage. The Mi A2 is available in India with a price tag of Rs. 16,999.
Nokia 6.1 Plus
Nokia 6.1 Plus sports a notch up front
The Nokia 6.1 Plus is worth a look if you are looking for a smartphone from a tier one brand and a great build quality. It features a 5.8-inch 19:9 FullHD+ display and it is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor. The dual-SIM handset packs in 4GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage. It is available in India with a price tag of Rs. 15,999 which is quite cheaper than the Oppo F9.
Honor Play
Honor Play comes with a notch up front
In case you are looking for a good build quality and a flagship-grade performance, the Honor Play deserves a look. The Honor Play is powered by the company's flagship processor, the Kirin 970. It comes with up to 6GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage at a starting price of Rs. 19,990.
Poco F1
Xiaomi Poco F1 comes with a dual-camera setup at the back
Spending around 20,000 on a smartphone with mid-range specifications looks like a compromise today as the Poco F1 is available for just Rs. 20,990. The Poco F1 is powered by the flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor paired with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. It delivers a much better performance when compared to the Oppo F9.
Microsoft is trying to make Edge your primary browser
Microsoft is currently working on a new update for Windows 10 which will start to warn users when they will try to install third-party browsers. With the help of this warning, the company is trying to pull more people towards its Microsoft Edge browser. The feature is currently available on the latest Insider Preview build of Windows 10.
Without a doubt, Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox are two of the most popular browsers across multiple platforms. Microsoft's Intenet Explorer received a lot of hate since its introduction which is why the company introduced Microsoft Edge. Though the Microsoft Edge delivers a much-improved browsing experience now, users who have their things synced with either Chrome or Firefox decide to stick with the browsers they love.
The new feature was first reported by developer Sean Hoffman. He tweeted about the issue when he was trying to install Mozilla Firefox on his Windows 10 machine with the latest version of Insider Preview installed. Tweets from other users started rolling out soon when they noticed the same warning when trying to install Chrome, Opera or even the Vivaldi browsers.
Warning shows up when trying to install a third-party browser
According to the images shared by the Twitter users, when trying to install another browser, a dialog box pops up which reads "You already have Microsoft Edge - the safer, faster browser for Windows 10." It is followed by two options, "Open Microsoft Edge" and "Install anyway."
The feature is currently available only in the Windows 10 version 1809, build 17758.1. The warning feature will be available for other users after the October 2018 update rolls out.
Apple has just unveiled three new iPhones, the iPhone Xs, iPhone Xs Max and the more affordable iPhone Xr. The launch of the new iPhones also means that a few older generation iPhones will be killed. Here's a list of iPhones that will not be available any more and why Apple decided to do that.
Apple iPhone SE
The company has killed the iPhone SE which was launched back in March 2016. This makes the iPhone SE nearly 3 years old. However, the iPhone SE will still hold a special place in my heart as I personally loved the way it looked. The iPhone SE's design was inspired by the iPhone 5 and the 5s which were also one of the better-looking iPhones. Also, the design made it easy for single-handed use even for a person with small hands. In 2018, the iPhone SE was one of the last flagships that offered such a small form factor and there are still a plenty of iPhone 5s and SE users who just prefer the latter over the iPhone 7, iPhone 8 or even the iPhone X.
iPhone 5S and SE look a lot similar
However, if you have been looking out to buy an iPhone but do not want to spend a fortune, you can look out for some deals on the iPhone SE. The stores will try to clear their stocks which is why they will offer hefty discounts and you might get an SE for around Rs. 15,000. The iPhone SE will be getting the iOS 12 and even the iOS 13 update so you should be covered for the coming 2 years.
Apple iPhone 6S and 6S Plus
iPhone 6S and 6S Plus are no longer available at the Apple store
The Apple iPhone 6S and the 6S Plus have also been discontinued which was actually expected as they are now pretty old. The devices were unveiled back in 2015 which make more than 3 years old now. Also, the iPhone 6S and the 6S Plus were the last iPhones to sport a 3.5mm headphone jack. However, just like the iPhone SE, you should be able to find some good deals on the iPhone 6s and the 6s plus now.
Apple iPhone X
Apple iPhone X brought a revolution with that notched display
Though the above-mentioned iPhones were expected to go down after the launch of the 2018 edition iPhones, the iPhone X being discontinued was more of a shock than a surprise. The Apple iPhone X is just a year old and it is already discontinued. Apple has done this to increase the sales of the iPhone Xr. If Apple keeps selling the iPhone X, they have to bring its price down. bringing the price down will make the iPhone X a more viable option over the iPhone Xr as it comes with an OLED display and does not skimp on features like a dual-camera setup and 3D touch.
Apple has just launched three new iPhones, the iPhone Xs, iPhone Xs Max and the affordable iPhone XR. the company made the announcement at an event which they hosted at the Steve Jobs Theater, California on September 12. Here are our thoughts on the new range of iPhones.
Apple iPhone Xs
Apple iPhone Xs is not a huge upgrade when compared to the iPhone X. The company has introduced the all-new A12 Bionic chip but the A11 bionic found on the iPhone X is already pretty fast and responsive. So, if you are currently having an iPhone X, upgrading to the iPhone Xs does not make much sense.
However, if you are coming from an older version of the iPhone then the iPhone Xs makes a lot more sense. The new and improved FaceID is a much welcome change. Also, if you store a lot of photos or media content then with the iPhone Xs, Apple now gives you a 512GB option as well.
Apple iPhone Xs Max comes with a massive display up front which measures in at 6.5-inch. To take things into perspective, it just tad smaller than the Nexus 7 which is a tablet. However, it is just 0.1-inch larger than the recently launched Samsung Galaxy Note 9. So, if you feel that you can handle such a large display then the Xs Max should serve most of your purposes.
Personally, I felt that the company should not have gone with the name Apple iPhone Xs Max here. It reminds me of cheap smartphones like the Asus ZenFone Max Pro M1 and the Samsung Galaxy J7 Max.
Apart from the naming scheme, one more feature I hated the most here is the Dual SIM feature. No, I do not mean that the feature should not have come to the iPhone but what I mean here is that the company should have implemented it properly. Instead of accepting two physical SIM cards, the new iPhones can only accept one physical SIM card and one eSIM. For an eSIM, Apple has to collaborate with the carriers which means you can only get a SIM to work if your carrier is supported. Also, this eSIM thing reminds me of the days when we had Reliance CDMA phones.
Apple has finally launched an affordable variant of their latest iPhone offering. The new iPhone XR goes through a bunch of compromises which is why it lacks wireless charging, comes with an LCD display and has more bezels than the iPhone X. Though the company is trying to market it as the affordable iPhone, in a country like India it is still going to cost more than Rs. 70,000.
The Pricing
Apple has priced the iPhone XR in the US for USD 749 and it will retail in India for a starting price of Rs. 76,900. The Apple iPhone Xs and the iPhone Xs Max will be available at a starting price of Rs. 99,900 and Rs. 1,09,900 respectively. This means if you are looking out for the iPhone Xs Max 512GB variant you will end up paying around Rs. 1,35,000. The pricing of these smartphones is just unacceptable. However, Apple is one of the best companies which is why even at such a high price it will manage to sell millions of units worldwide.
Apple iPhone Xs looks quite similar to the iPhone X
Apple hosted an event on September 12, 2018, at the Steve Jobs Theatre in California to announce the launch of new iPhones. The company has launched three new iPhones this time around. Alongside the new iPhones, the company also unveiled the Apple Watch Series 4. here's everything you need to know about the Apple Event.
Apple iPhone Xs and Xs Max
One of the much-anticipated announcements was the Apple iPhone Xs and the surprise was the iPhone Xs Max. The iPhone Xs and the iPhone Xs Max feature a 5.8-inch and 6.5-inch OLED displays respectively. Both the displays are Super Retina and come with 120Hz touch sensor technology. The new displays now support Dolby Vision and HDR 10. These displays also come with up to 60 per cent higher dynamic range.
iPhone X and Xs Max now support Dual SIM Dual Standby
Powering up both of these smartphones is the company's latest Apple A12 Bionic chip which is built on an industry first 7-nanometer architecture. It is a combination of a 6-core CPU and a 4-core GPU and comes with 6.9 billion transistors for better performance and connectivity. The company claims that the A12 Bionic chip can deliver 15% faster performance while consuming 40% less power. One of the most interesting part about the new iPhones is that now they can support Dual SIM with the help of one physical SIM and a one eSIM.
On the optics front, both the flagship smartphones come with a dual-camera setup at the back. The dual-camera setup consists of 12-megapixel wide-angle lens and a 12-megapixel telephoto lens. Both the sensors come with better OIS for better video stabilisation. up front, there is a 7-megapixel selfie shooter with f/2.2 aperture. Apple has also added a bunch of new features including Smart HDR which brings in Zero Shutter Lag.
Both the iPhone Xs and the iPhone Xs Max will come with 64GB, 256GB or a whopping 512GB of onboard storage. The iPhone Xs will be available at a starting price of USD 999 (Rs. 72,000) while the larger variant will come at a starting price of USD 1,099 (Rs. 79,000). The new iPhones will be available in Gold, Silver and Space Grey colour variants. The smartphones will be up for pre-orders starting September 14. The shipping will start on September 21 for some countries while the other countries like India will have to wait till September 28.
Apple iPhone XR
Apple iPhone XR is new budget option for those looking for an iPhone
One of the most exciting announcements at today's Apple event was the introduction of the iPhone XR. The iPhone XR is basically a cheaper iPhone with a bunch of compromises. Instead of an OLED panel, the iPhone XR sports a 6.1-inch IPS LCD Liquid Retina display with a resolution of 1792x828 pixels.
Though being a cheaper iPhone, the iPhone XR still retains Face ID and the 7-megapixel front-facing camera. However, the story is not the same when you flip the phone. The back of the iPhone XR gets a single 12-megapixel wide-angle camera with a f/1.8 aperture.
Apple iPhone XR will be available in 6 different colours at a starting price of USD 749 (roughly Rs. 54,000). There will be a 64GB, 128GB and a 256GB variant available starting October 26.
Apple Watch Series 4
Apple Watch Series 4 has curved edges
Apart from the new iPhones, the company has also launched the latest Apple Watch Series 4. The most noticeable change on the new watch is the display. The display is now 35 percent larger than its predecessor and it is also curved from the edges to give a better overall look and feel. The smartwatch also comes with new watch faces and a 50 percent louder speaker.
The Apple Watch Series 4 is powered by the latest Apple S4 chipset which is a dual-core 64bit processor which delivers twice the performance when compared to the Watch Series 3. For health, the Apple Watch Series 4 introduces Electrocardiogram or more commonly known as ECG. This will allow users to have a better track of their heart. Also, the watch can trigger the SOS mode automatically if it detects a fall.
Apple Watch Series 4 comes with a new set of watch faces
As for the pricing, the Apple Watch Series 4 will retail for USD 399 (Rs. 29,000) for the GPS only variant. The cellular variant will be available in limited regions at a price of USD 499 (Rs. 36,000). With the introduction of the new series, Apple has decreased the price of the Series 3 watch to USD 279.
Apart from the products mentioned above, Apple has announced the rollout of software updates on major platforms. The compatible Apple iPhones and iPads will be updated to iOS starting September 17. MacOS Mojave is now set to roll out on September 24. An update for the Apple Watch, the WatchOS 5 will be rolling out on September 17. Even the Homepod and Apple TV will receive updates in the coming weeks.
