Top 3 alternatives for Xiaomi Mi 8

By

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May 23, 2018

Xiaomi Mi 8 to launch at an event in Shenzhen, China

Xiaomi, the Chinese tech giant, has finally announced that it will be launching its next flagship, the Xiaomi Mi 8 soon. We have seen a lot of rumours and leaks about the upcoming device and now its official that Xiaomi will pull of the curtains on May 31, 2018, in Shenzhen, China.

Mi Fans, amazing news! ?

To celebrate our 8th year anniversary, we'll be launching Mi 8 at our annual flagship product launch in Shenzhen on May 31. ❤

Stay tuned for more details!#Xiaomi #Mi8 #flagship #launch #shenzhen pic.twitter.com/O7Lh3MJAqw

— Donovan Sung (@donovansung) May 22, 2018

Specifications

As far as the specifications are concerned, the speculations suggest that the smartphone will be powered by the latest and greatest Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset. The Xiaomi Mi 8 is expected to come with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of onboard storage. Rumours also suggest the smartphone will feature a 6.01-inch display with an under display fingerprint scanner.

As for the pricing, the Xiaomi Mi 8 is expected to price at CNY 2,799 (roughly Rs. 29,900) for the 6GB+64GB variant while the 8GB+128GB variant will retail for CNY 3,199 (roughly Rs. 34,200).

Xiaomi will unveil the smartphone on May 31 and we still don't know whether the company will be launching the smartphone in other markets or not. However, here are some alternatives you can buy in India right now.

OnePlus 6

Xiaomi Mi 8, if launched in India, will directly compete against the recently launched OnePlus 6. The OnePlus 6 features a 6.28-inch Optic AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080x2280 pixels and 19:9 aspect ratio. The device comes with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. The OnePlus 6 starts at a price of Rs. 34,999 for the 6GB variant.

Xiaomi Mi MIX 2

In case you are really interested in a Xiaomi flagship, the best you can get in India is the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2. The Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 features a 5.99-inch IPS LCD display with 18:9 aspect ratio. The smartphone is powered by the last year's Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC. The device packs in 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage at it is priced at Rs. 29,999.

Samsung Galaxy S8

If you are looking for something from a tier-one brand, the Samsung Galaxy S8 can be your pick over the Xiaomi Mi 8. It does have last year's chipset and does not have an on-screen fingerprint scanner, but it has got a lot up its sleeve. The Galaxy S8 sports a 5.8-inch Super AMOLED display. The smartphone is currently priced at Rs. 45,990 and using PayTM's cashback offer, you can grab it for as low as Rs. 37,990.

Here is what to expect from Apple WWDC 2018?

By

Lalit Wadhwa

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May 23, 2018

Apple is going to hold its World Wide Developer Conference(WWDC) of 2018 starting soon. The conference will start on June 4th, 2018. As usual, the conference will unveil new software improvements, sneak peak of iOS 12 with new MacOS and watchOS. While the WWDC is meant for software releases. We might see some new hardware to be launching also.

So let's see what all we can expect from WWDC 2018?

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3. iOS 12

iOS 12 is expected to fix all the bugs in iOS 11.

The main highlight of the WWDC will be the new iOS version. Considering the number of iPhones and iPads there are in the market. The new iOS update will be the most demanded and popular software improvement. Considering how buggy iOS 11 is, it is a good idea to launch the iOS 12 update soon.

A new iOS update usually brings in new features, however, there are rumours of Apple fixing the bugs in iOS 11 for the iOS 12 instead of pushing new features. However, there will be some new features.

First order of new few features should be towards Siri. It is highly expected to get some much-needed functionality improvement. It was one of the first to hit the market back in 2011, however, it is one of the most inefficient ones nowadays. Apple's recent poaching of Google's ex-chief of search and artificial intelligence, John Giannandrea indicates the same.

Also, Siri said to some users that it will be getting a new voice at WWDC 2018.

2. watchOS & Apple Watch improvements

Apple Watch is the most popular smartwatch in the market.

Apple Watch is one of the most popular Smartwatches around in the market. Given its popularity, it will be apt to introduce some new features into the watchOS. It is presently running watchOS 4.3. So we can expect a WatchOS 5 unveil.

There can be a steamKIT that enables apps to push notifications directly to Apple Watch if they are paired with the phone. This will make Apple Watch cellular a more independent device. Also, Spotify could launch their Apple watch app.

1. A more affordable HomePod speaker

HomePod wasn't received well due to how bad Siri is.

Apple HomePod was the Apple's entry into the smart home speaker. However, considering how bad Siri is shelling out $349 for the Siri-powered smart gadget was not something people liked. Rumours are there will be a $199 beats branded smart speaker with Siri support.

Honor 7A and 7C launched in India: Price,Specifications and Alternatives

By

Lalit Wadhwa

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May 22, 2018

Chinese Smartphone Manufacturer, Huawei’s sub-brand Honor launched two new smartphones in India. The Honor 7A and Honor 7C are the company's budget segment devices. Both of these smartphones are Exclusive to Online Retailers (Flipkart and Amazon). Both Honor 7C and Honor 7A were unveiled in China in March and April respectively.

Honor 7A

Specifications

The Honor 7A sports a 5.7-inch HD Plus IPS LCD display with an 18:9 aspect ratio. The smartphone sports an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 SoC coupled with 3GB RAM and 32GB of Storage.

It also has a microSD card for expandable storage for up to 256GB. For the optics, Honor 7A sports a dual camera setup with a combination of a 13MP sensor and a 2MP sensor. For the selfies, the smartphone sports an 8MP camera with a f/2.2 aperture. The smartphone runs on Android 8.0.0 with EMUI 8.0 skin on top. All of this is backed by a 3,000mAh battery.

Price

The Honor 7A costs Rs 8,999 and is a Flipkart exclusive. It will be available on sale from MAy 29th. You can also buy the smartphone from HiHonor online store in Black, Gold and Blue colour variants. There is a launch offer for Honor 7A. It includes Rs 2,200 cashback from Reliance Jio along with 100 GB of free data.

Honor 7C

Specifications

The Honor 7C sports a 5.99-inch HD Plus IPS LCD display with an 18:9 aspect ratio. The smartphone sports an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 SoC coupled with 3GB RAM and 32GB of Storage or 4GB or 64GB of Storage.

It also has a microSD card for expandable storage for up to 256GB. For the optics, Honor 7A sports a dual camera setup with a combination of a 13MP sensor and a 2MP sensor. For the selfies, the smartphone sports an 8MP camera with a f/2.0 aperture. The smartphone runs on Android 8.0.0 with EMUI 8.0 skin on top. All of this is backed by a 3,000mAh battery.

Price

The Honor 7C costs Rs 9,999 for the 3GB variant and Rs 11,999 for 4GB variant. This smartphone is an Amazon exclusive. It will be available on sale from MAy 31st. You can also buy the smartphone from HiHonor online store in Black, Gold and Blue colour variants.

Alternatives

10.or G

The 10.or G comes with a dual rear camera and almost the same specifications. However, the 10.or G comes with an almost stock Android experience which makes it faster in practice than the Honor 7A and 7C.

Also Read: 10.or G Review: A budget smartphone with a dual-camera setup

Redmi 5

The Redmi 5 is one of the best selling smartphones in this price segment. It lacks the dual camera. Rest is almost the same. However, it is cheaper than the Honor 7A and 7C.

Also Read: Top Five alternatives to the Xiaomi Redmi 5

Micromax Bharat Go launched in India: Price, Specifications and Alternatives

By

Brahmjot Singh

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May 22, 2018

Micromax has finally launched its first Android Oreo (Go Edition) smartphone in India. The Micromax Bharat Go comes with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of storage which is enough for the Go Edition Android. Google introduced Android Oreo (Go Edition) to bring a fluid Android experience even on entry-level devices like the new Bharat Go.

As far as the specifications are concerned, the Micromax Bharat Go features a 4.5-inch display. The smartphone is powered by a quad-core MediaTek chipset. The device packs in 1GB of RAM and 8GB of onboard storage. The Micromax Bharat Go runs on Android Oreo (Go Edition) out of the box. Under the hood, there is a 2,000mAh battery powering up everything.

On the optics front, the Micromax Bharat Go sports a 5-megapixel rear camera with a LED flash. Up front, there is a 5-megapixel selfie shooter with a soft flash.

The Micromax Bharat Go is priced at Rs. 4,399. Bharti Airtel is offering Rs. 2,000 cashback on purchase of the smartphone bringing its effective price to Rs. 2,399.

Lava Z50

Lava Z50 was one of the first smartphones in India to come with Android Oreo (Go Edition). The Lava Z50 is priced at Rs. 4,399 and just like the Micromax Bharat Go, the smartphone can be grabbed for as low as Rs. 2,399 using Airtel's cashback offer. Lava Z50's specs are pretty similar to the Bharat Go. Lava is also offering free one-time screen replacement to customers who purchase the Z50 on or before June 30, 2018.

Nokia 1

Nokia 1 is a little expensive but if you want an Android Oreo (Go Edition) smartphone from a tier one brand, the Nokia 1 should be your pick. The Nokia 1 features a 4.5-inch IPS LCD display. The smartphone is powered by the MediaTek MT6737M SoC coupled with 1GB of RAM. Nokia 1 is currently priced at Rs. 5,499.

10.or D

If you are willing to spend a little bit more, then you can opt-in for the 10.or D at just Rs. 4,999. The 10.or D features a larger 5.2-inch HD display and comes with Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 chipset. The device packs in 2GB of RAM and 16GB of onboard storage. The smartphone runs on a full-fledged Android 7.1.2 Nougat and will soon be updated to Android Oreo.

Moto G6 to launch on June 4 in India: Here's all you need to know

By

Tech Desk

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May 21, 2018

Motorola launched the Moto G6 series last month in Brazil, after which the company went mum about its plans for the rest of the countries. Now, the company has started teasing the Moto G6 and G6 Play smartphones in India. Amazon India has even made a product page for the Moto G6 which will be exclusive to the platform and on the page, the company has mentioned that the device will be launching on June 4 in India. On the product page, the company has even made the notify me button live for users to pre-register and show interest in the smartphone. It is not sure if the company will be launching both the Moto G6 and G6 Play at the same event or not. Rumours suggest that the company is planning to launch the G6 Play at an earlier date which will be a Flipkart exclusive.

Moto G6 specifications:

Moto G6 Launch — The G6 will be an Amazon India exclusive

The Motorola Moto G6 sports a 5.7-inch FHD+ Max Vision IPS display with an aspect ratio of 18:9. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 chipset paired with Adreno 506 GPU and runs on Googles Android 8.0 Oreo operating system. There are two variants of the device - 3GB RAM/32GB internal storage and 4GB RAM/64GB internal storage. As for the camera, it features a dual camera setup on the back consisting of a 12-megapixel primary shooter along with a 5-megapixel secondary shooter. On the front, it features a 16-megapixel selfie camera. All of this is backed by a 3,000mAh battery.

Moto G6 Play specifications:

The Motorola Moto G6 Play sports a 5.7-inch HD+ Max Vision display with an aspect ratio of 18:9. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 427 chipset paired with an Adreno 308 GPU. It comes in two variants: 2GB RAM/16GB internal storage and 3GB RAM/32GB internal storage. Similar to the G6 it also runs on Google's Android 8.0 Oreo operating system. As for the camera, it features a 13-megapixel primary camera on the back and an 8-megapixel camera on the front. All of this is backed by a 4,000mAh battery.

Also Read: Moto G6 Plus, G6 and G6 Play launched: Price, Specifications and more

Expected Pricing

Motorola is expected to start the price of Moto G6 at Rs. 12,999 or at Rs. 13,999 considering all of the current rumours surrounding the phone. Whereas, the G6 Play is expected to start at Rs. 10,000. We recommend that you take these prices with a pinch of salt as the products haven't launched in India, and the company can make a pricing strategy to better suit the market at any point of time.

Samsung has launched the Galaxy J6, J8 and Galaxy A6 and A6+ in India

By

Devesh Arora

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May 21, 2018

Samsung has introduced some new budget and mid-range smartphones in India. The Samsung Galaxy J6, Galaxy J8, Galaxy A6 and Galaxy A6+, all come with an 18.5:9 aspect ratio display which Samsung likes to call Infinity Display.

Samsung Galaxy J6

The Galaxy J6 sports a 5.6-inch Super AMOLED HD+ display with an aspect ratio of 18.5:9. The smartphone is powered by the Exynos 7870 processor, which is a two-year-old chipset. The device packs in 3GB or 4GB of RAM coupled with either 32GB or 64GB of onboard storage which is further expandable using a microSD card. The smartphone runs on Android 8.0 Oreo and it is backed by a 3,000mAh battery.

On the optics front, the Galaxy J6 features a 13-megapixel camera at the back with an aperture of f/1.9. Up front, there is an 8-megapixel selfie shooter with a soft LED flash.

Samsung Galaxy J8

Galaxy J8 features a larger 6-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1480x720 pixels and an 18.5:9 aspect ratio. The smartphone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 SoC. The dual-SIM handset comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage which is further expandable up to 256GB using a microSD card. The device runs on Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box.

In terms of cameras, the Galaxy J8 sports a dual-camera setup at the back consisting of a 16-megapixel and a 5-megapixel sensor with f/1.7 and f/1.9 aperture respectively. Up front, there is a 16-megapixel selfie snapper with f/1.9 aperture.

Samsung Galaxy A6 and A6+

Samsung Galaxy A6 and A6+ not only have a difference in screen size but also have a different set of cameras and different processors. The Galaxy A6 features a 5.6-inch Super AMOLED display while the A6+ features a larger 6-inch Super AMOLED display. The A6 is powered by the Exynos 7870 SoC while its elder sibling comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 processor.

Just like the flagship Galaxy S9+, the A6+ also sports a vertical dual-camera setup

Both the smartphones come with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage with an option for further expandability. However, the Galaxy A6 is also available in a 3GB+32GB variant. Both the devices run on Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box. As for the battery, the A6+ comes with a 3,500mAh battery while the smaller A6 comes with a 3,000mAh battery.

Huawei Y5 Prime (2018) launched: Here are some alternatives available in India

By

Brahmjot Singh

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May 20, 2018

Huawei Y5 Prime (2018) is an entry-level smartphone by Huawei

The Chinese smartphone manufacturer Huawei has added another smartphone to their popular entry-level Y-series. The company has silently listed the Huawei Y5 Prime (2018) on their official website. However, the company has not disclosed any pricing and availability details.

Specifications

As far as the specifications are concerned, the Huawei Y5 Prime (2018) features a 5.45-inch display. The device packs in 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage which is further expandable using a microSD card. The processor details were not listed on the website.

However, as per a few reports, the Huawei Y5 Prime (2018) will be powered by a quad-core 1.5GHz processor which could be the Qualcomm Snapdragon 450. The smartphone will run on Android 8.1 Oreo-based EMUI 8.1 out of the box. Under the hood, there will be a 3,020mAh battery.

Huawei Y5 Prime (2018) features Face Unlock

Also Read: Honor Play 7 launched in China: Best Alternatives available in India right now

According to the specifications, we can guess that the Huawei Y5 Prime (2018) will be priced somewhere between Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 7,000. Here are some alternatives with similar or better specifications available to purchase in India right now.

Xiaomi Redmi 5

Xiaomi Redmi 5 is the perfect alternative to the Huawei Y5 Prime (2018). The smartphone features a 5.7-inch HD+ 18:9 display. Under the hood, there is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 chipset coupled with either 2GB or 3GB of RAM. The Xiaomi Redmi 5 starts at a price of Rs. 7,999.

10.or G

The 10.or G does not sport an 18:9 panel like the Xiaomi Redmi 5. However, the 10.or G features a 5.5-inch Full HD (1920x1080) IPS LCD display. The smartphone is powered by the much powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 626 SoC. The device is backed by a 4,000mAh battery and runs on Android 7.1.2 Nougat which can be soon upgraded to Android Oreo. The 10.or G starts at a price of Rs. 7,999 for the 3GB+32GB variant while 4GB+64GB variant retails for Rs. 9,999.

Honor Play 7 launched in China: Best Alternatives available in India right now

By

Devesh Arora

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May 19, 2018

Huawei's sub-brand Honor has launched a new budget smartphone, the Honor Play 7 in China. The Honor Play 7 comes with an 18:9 aspect ratio display and a 24-megapixel selfie shooter. All this fits into a price bracket of just CNY 599 which roughly converts to Rs. 6,400.

As far as the specifications are concerned, the Honor Play 7 features a 5.45-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 720x1440 pixels and an 18:9 aspect ratio. The smartphone is powered by the MediaTek MT6739 SoC. The device packs in 2GB of RAM and 16GB of onboard storage. The storage is further expandable up to 256GB using a microSD card. The smartphone is backed by a 3,020mAh battery and runs on Android 8.1 Oreo.

On the optics front, the Honor Play 7 sports a 13-megapixel camera at the back with a dual-LED flash. Up front, there is a 24-megapixel selfie snapper with a selfie flash.

The Honor Play 7 is currently available only in China. So, if you are looking for a similar smartphone in the same price range in India, here are some great alternatives.

10.or E

The 10.or E is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 SoC. The smartphone sports a 5.5-inch display with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. The dual-sim handset comes in two variants, 2GB+16GB and 3GB+32GB. The 2GB+16GB variant is priced at Rs. 5,999 whereas the 3GB+32GB version retails for Rs. 6,999.

Xiaomi Redmi 5

Impressed by the 18:9 display on the Honor Play 7? The Xiaomi Redmi 5 is a great alternative that also sports an 18:9 panel up front. The smartphone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 SoC. The Xiaomi Redmi 5 is a bit more pricey than the Honor Play 7 starting at Rs. 7,999 for the base variant. However, the better processor and a fingerprint sensor make up for the price difference.

10.or G and 10.or E to receive Android Oreo update: Here's how to install

By

Devesh Arora

-

May 18, 2018

10.or G vs 10.or E — 10.or G and 10.or E currently run on Android 7.1.2 Nougat, whereas the 10.or D has already been updated to the Android 8.1 Oreo operating system.

10.or launched its first two devices, the 10.or E and the 10.or G back in September last year. At the time of launch, the company announced that the smartphones will receive the Android Oreo update soon. Which were followed by the 10.or D smartphone, the competitor to the Xiaomi Redmi 5A. The 10.or D has already started receiving the update, and the company has assured its customers that the update for the other two devices is within the pipeline.

The company has now officially announced that they will be rolling out the Android Oreo update to the devices in the month of July this year. The company made this announcement via a push notification sent using their own "10.or Care" app that comes pre-installed on every 10.or smartphone.

Also Read: 10.or (Tenor) G vs 10.or E: Is it worth the extra money?

The company also sent out text messages to the user's registered mobile number. We have received the push notification on all our 10.or devices and we have also received the text message from the company and they are shown in the screenshots below.

Push Notification from 10.or Care

Text message received on registered mobile number

10.or actually makes some really great devices and the one thing we have always talked about is the near stock experience the phone provides. The company promised timely updates and could not keep up to its promise. Now that the Android P is already out as Developer Preview with the final version coming out shortly, 10.or is still struggling to roll out the Android Oreo (2017's update) to their devices.

However, it is great that instead of keeping the users waiting, the company at least sent over text messages and push notifications to ensure them the update is on its way. Now the 10.or users who lost their hope on getting Android Oreo can finally have faith on the company again. We really hope this time the company keeps up to its promise and delivers the update to the 10.or G and the 10.or E in July.

Top 5 reasons to buy the OnePlus 6

By

Devesh Arora

-

May 17, 2018

OnePlus 6 will be available in Mirror Black, Midnight Black and Silk White colour variants

OnePlus has finally launched the much-awaited OnePlus 6 in India. The new OnePlus flagship brings a better design and a better set of cameras to the table. If the new flagship's new design is not enough to convince yourself, here are the Top 5 reasons why you should consider the OnePlus 6 as your next smartphone.

Display

The OnePlus 6 features a large 6.28-inch Optic AMOLED display in a relatively small form factor resulting in a new aspect ratio of 19:9. The notch up front gives the smartphone a more 2018'ish look and feel. Also, the notch offers more screen real estate to the user. The AMOLED display helps in showing deeper blacks by turning of those pixels, resulting in a really great image quality.

Cameras

The OnePlus 6 comes with a dual-camera setup at the back consisting of a 16-megapixel and a 20-megapixel sensor, both with f/1.7 aperture. The rear cameras on the smartphone also come with Optical Image Stabilization. In order to compete against the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+, OnePlus has also introduced Super Slow Motion video recording that records at 480fps at 720p and 240fps at 1080p.

Software

OnePlus 6 runs on Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box

OnePlus smartphones have always received love due to the software. OnePlus 6 runs on OxygenOS 5.1 based on Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box. The software is well-optimised and does not come with any sort of bloatware giving a stock Android feel. Also, the new flagship is one of the few smartphones to get the Android P developer preview.

Unlocking methods

The OnePlus 6 comes with water resistance

OnePlus 6 sports a fingerprint scanner at the back right below the vertical camera setup. With the OnePlus 5T, the company also introduced Face Unlock which is one of the fastest on any smartphone. The feature is carried forward to their 2018 flagship as well. Both, the Face Unlock and Fingerprint scanner on the new device work insanely fast.

Dash Charge

When we talk about OnePlus, the one thing that strikes our mind first is Dash Charge. Dash Charge on the OnePlus 6 is faster than most of the smartphones out there. OnePlus also states that with the Dash Charge, you can get "A day's power in half an hour."

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Specifications

OnePlus 6

Xiaomi Mi MIX 2

Samsung Galaxy S8

3. iOS 12

2. watchOS & Apple Watch improvements

1. A more affordable HomePod speaker

Honor 7A

Specifications

Price

Honor 7C

Specifications

Price

Alternatives

10.or G

Redmi 5

Lava Z50

Nokia 1

10.or D

Moto G6 specifications:

Moto G6 Play specifications:

Expected Pricing

Samsung Galaxy J6

Samsung Galaxy J8

Samsung Galaxy A6 and A6+

Specifications

Xiaomi Redmi 5

10.or G

10.or E

Xiaomi Redmi 5

Display

Cameras

Software

Unlocking methods

Dash Charge