Here's how to watch the Samsung Galaxy S9 India launch event

By

-

March 5, 2018

Samsung, the South Korean giant has finally unveiled the much awaited Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+. The company is now set to launch both the smartphones in India on March 6. Though the company has unveiled all the features and specifications, interested buyers in India are waiting for the price tag. Samsung will announce the pricing details of both the smartphones at the launch event.

Samsung India will be live streaming the whole event via their official YouTube channel.

Specifications

The Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ feature a 5.8-inch and 6.2-inch display respectively. Displays on both the smartphones are Super AMOLED with a resolution of 1440x2960 pixels and an 18.5:9 aspect ratio. Both the smartphones are powered by the Exynos 9810 SoC. The Galaxy S9 packs in 4GB of RAM while the S9+ comes with 6GB of RAM. In terms of storage, both the smartphones come with 64GB of onboard storage which is expandable up to 400GB using a microSD card.

The Galaxy S9 comes with a 3,000mAh battery while the Galaxy S9+ has a 3,500mAh battery under the hood. Both the devices run on Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box.

On the optics front, the Samsung Galaxy S9 sports a 12-megapixel camera at the back. The Galaxy S9+, on the other hand, features a 12-megapixel dual-camera setup. Cameras on both the smartphones come with a dual aperture technology where the camera can switch between f/1.5 and f/2.4. The rear cameras also support Super Slow Motion video recording at 960fps (720p). Up front, there is an 8-megapixel selfie shooter on both the smartphones.

Xiaomi Mi TV 4C with 43-inch screen size to cost Rs 27,999 in India

By

Lalit Wadhwa

-

March 4, 2018

Chinese Electronics Manufacturer, Xiaomi is gearing up to launch a new Smart TV in India. It is being speculated to be cheaper and smaller than the Mi TV 4. The company has officially unveiled that the new Mi TV will launch on March 7th. Interestingly, ahead of the official launch, the TV has been listed on the company's website. The TV is a Mi TV 4C. The 43-inch Mi TV 4C is listed at a price of Rs 27,999 on the official Indian website.

This is one of the models that is expected to be launch on that date. Xiaomi is also expected to launch a 32-inch Mi TV 4A. Also, the company can also launch a 40-inch Mi TV 4A which they launched in China on Saturday.

What do we know about the Mi TV 4C so far?

The new 43-inch Mi TV 4C by Xiaomi has been spotted on the company's Indian website. However, the listing was soon taken down. The Mi TV 4C was first launched in China last year. In China, the television was priced at CNY 1,849 (~ Rs. 19,000). Hence, the Indian price of Rs 27,999 is a complete rip-off. There was a 15-percent discount label on the website. However, we don't know that the Rs 27,999 price includes that discount or not. Also, the listing said the model to be out of stock temporarily. Also, a 55-inch Mi TV 4C model was also spotted on the website. The device was priced at CNY 2,649 (~ Rs. 26,000) when it launched in China the last year.

Also Read: Here’s how to get the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 via offline stores

The Mi TV 4C smaller 43-inch model sports a full-HD display. This is coupled with 1GB RAM, 8GB storage, and a quad-core Amlogic T962 64-bit processor. It also supports connectivity options like Wi-Fi 802.11ac (2.4/5 GHz dual band Wi-Fi), Bluetooth 4.2, Dolby, and DTS Audio. The Mi TV 4C also supports HDR 10 and HLG.

The other TV it the Mi TV 4A is the cheapest by the company yet. The television has been priced at CNY 1,699 (~ Rs. 17,400). It sports a 40-inch full-HD (1920x1080 pixels) display. It is coupled with a 64-bit Amlogic L962-H8X (1.5GHz quad-core Cortex-A53 SoC) with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of storage. The display sports a 60Hz refresh rat. the connectivity options include Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, 2 HDMI ports, one component port, 2 USB ports, 1 Ethernet port, 1 S / PDIF port, Dolby Audio, DTS- HD audio dual decoding, 2x8W speakers.

Instagram to soon introduce Voice and Video calling features: Report

By

Devesh Arora

-

March 4, 2018

Instagram is another popular Facebook-owned social media platform. The social media application has become popular over the years and has a ton of users. The app which is known for sharing pictures online is now investing in to bring the voice/video calling feature. Instagram already has a Direct message feature which replaces the purpose of WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.

A recent report by TechCrunch claims that Instagram's recent APK file has codes and icons for “Call” and “Video Call” functions. This means that in the near future Instagram will roll out an update with the Calling feature. As the feature was spotted on an APK, this might mean that Android users will get the feature first.

The calling feature on Instagram comes with not much of a surprise. The social media platform also introduced the Stories feature some time ago in order to rival Snapchat. As Snapchat also has a calling feature built-in, to keep up with its rival, Instagram is also coming up with the calling functionality. Now we will have to look forward to the social networking app's calling function in order to compare it with Snapchat.

Facebook-owned WhatsApp messenger application also has a calling functionality. Facebook's own Facebook Messenger App also supports voice and video calls.

Also Read: Reliance Jio offers up to Rs. 700 cashback if you opt for these prepaid plans

This report can be taken as a pinch of salt until we wait for any confirmations by Instagram. However, when the feature rolls out, the calls can be made via the Direct Message option in the application.

Notably, in markets like India where most telecom operators are now providing unlimited calls, this feature might not become a hit.

Samsung offers massive cashback on these smartphones under the Samsung Carnival sale

By

Devesh Arora

-

March 4, 2018

Samsung often likes to partner up with e-commerce websites in order to bring some discounts for its customers. The company has now announced the 'Samsung Carnival' which is not only available on Amazon India but also via the Samsung Stores. The Samsung Carnival sale brings in cashback offers of up to Rs. 8,000 on its smartphones. The carnival begins from March 5 and will go on until March 8.

“We are happy to announce the Samsung carnival on Amazon with never before Amazon Pay cashback offers. This will provide the consumers a simple and seamless experience in purchasing and receiving their offer value on the same platform,” said Sandeep Singh Arora, Vice President, Online Business, Samsung India.

“We are thrilled to be hosting the Samsung Carnival on Amazon.in with exciting cashback options through Amazon Pay balance and No-cost EMI & exchange offers. Samsung products have been bestsellers on Amazon.in and we are confident that this carnival combined with quick and reliable doorstep delivery will give customers a delightful shopping experience,” said Noor Patel, Director – Category Management, Amazon India.

Whats the Offer?

Samsung's current best Note series smartphone, the Galaxy Note 8 is also available on the offer. The Galaxy Note 8 which is priced at Rs. 67,900 is available at a cashback of Rs. 8,000 bringing its price down to Rs. 59,900. The cashback will be credited to the customer's Amazon Pay Balance.

Also Read: Airtel brings in Rs. 995 prepaid plan, Here’s why you should ignore this one

The offer is also applicable on some of the mid-range and budget smartphones by Samsung. The recently launched Galaxy A8+ is available at a cashback of Rs. 4,000. The smartphone was launched at Rs. 32,990 and with the cashback, it is now available for just Rs. 28,990. The South Korean giant also launched the Galaxy On7 Prime recently at a price of Rs. 14,990. The smartphone is now available at just Rs. 12,990 after the Rs. 2,000 cashback.

Here's how to get the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 via offline stores

By

Devesh Arora

-

March 4, 2018

Xiaomi recently unveiled the much awaited Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 and Note 5 Pro. Both the smartphones are on a high demand right now due to the flash sale system. Many are left disappointed as they could not get their hands on the Redmi Note 5 due to the stocks clearing out in seconds. However, there is now a good news for people looking for the all-new Redmi Note 5 or Note 5 Pro.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 and Note 5 Pro are now making their way to the offline markets. Interested buyers will need to pre-book the smartphone by paying a sum of Rs. 2,000. Customers who pre-book their devices will start receiving the deliveries starting March 8. As per a report by Gadgets 360, both the variants of the smartphones will be available at a slightly higher price than the online stores. Most stores will price the phones at around Rs. 500 higher than the normal price.

Specifications

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 SoC. Redmi Note 5 Pro, on the other hand, comes with the Snapdragon 636 chipset under the hood. Both the smartphones feature a 5.99-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1080x2160 pixels and an 18:9 aspect ratio.

Also Read: Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro vs Xiaomi Mi A1 vs Honor 7X: Battle of the beasts

The Redmi Note 5 packs in either 3GB or 4GB of RAM coupled with 32GB or 64GB of storage. Redmi Note 5 Pro comes with 4GB or 6GB of RAM with 64GB of storage. Storage on both the devices is expandable using a microSD card. Both the smartphones are backed by a 4,000mAh battery. The Redmi Note 5 and Redmi Note 5 Pro run on Android Nougat based MIUI 9.

Xiaomi to launch a new Mi TV series in India, could be Mi TV 4A

By

Lalit Wadhwa

-

March 3, 2018

Chinese Electronics manufacturer, Xiaomi recently teased to launch a new TV series in the country. The company is gearing up to launch the new Mi TV on March 7th in India. The company has announced this by launching a page on its website. The product launch will start 3 PM. Those interested can register for watching the live stream. This can be done on the Mi.com website using MI account.

Although details such as the name of the new Mi TV series or price or specifications are unknown at the moment. However, speculations suggest the company might announce Mi TV 4A series. the Mi TV 4A was launched in China in March last year.

Also Read: Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S with Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 teased in an official video

What we know about the new Mi TV

Manu Kumar Jain the company's Indian head, last week took to Twitter to tease the upcoming Mi TV series. The Tweet said “Mi fans! Something new is coming to India! It’s time to switch to something smarter, slimmer and sleeker. Coming soon! Stay tuned”. Also, Xiaomi Product Manager Sudeep Sahu hinted at the pricing of the new Mi TV. The said that the second TV set for India could be affordable. He tweeted “Innovation should be accessible to everyone. We are bringing a new series enabling more people to #SwitchToSmart TV experience. Stay tuned for more info”.

Also, as we said, the company's new Mi TV series is rumored to be a smaller and cheaper compared to the Mi Smart TV 4. The Mi Smart TV 4 has a 55-inch 4K HDR display. And it costs Rs 39,999 in India. The company's new Mi TV will have a 32-inch Full HD at an attractive price point. The company has confirmed to launch TV on March 7.Launching an affordable smartTV would really help the company to expand the smart TV segment in India.

The Mi Smart TV 4 is a 55-inch TV with a 4K resolution and HDR10 (High Dynamic Range) support. The device measures 4.9mm, which is one of the more slimmer smart TV's out on the market right now. The next sale for Mi LED Smart TV 4 is coming soon. It will be held on March 6 on Mi.com and Flipkart starting 12 PM.

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S with Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 teased in an official video

By

Devesh Arora

-

March 3, 2018

Xiaomi during the MWC 2018 announced that the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S will be unveiled on March 27. The announcement was made by the company’s global spokesperson Donovan Sung. There have been rumours stating that the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S will carry a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chip under the hood. The company has confirmed that with an all-new teaser video.

The teaser video released by Xiaomi shows the numbers 8,4,5 in sign language. The 22-second long video only focuses on these numbers. The video was posted by Xiaomi on its official Weibo account with the caption, “How fast is your Snapdragon 845”.

According to previous reports, the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S was spotted on AnTuTu with Snapdragon 845. The benchmarking website gave the Mi Mix 2S a score of 273741. The Snapdragon 845 processor is currently available only on the Samsung Galaxy S9, S9+ and the Sony Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact.

Also Read: Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S and Mi 7 to feature OLED panels manufactured by Samsung

Further, the Mi Mix 2S is expected to feature a 6.01-inch OLED display with an 18:9 aspect ratio. The new display will be called the FullVision 3.0 display by Xiaomi. With the Mix 2S, Xiaomi has decided to place the selfie camera in the upper right corner. If this is to be believed, the users will no longer need to flip the phone upside down in order to click great selfies.

As for the optics, the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S is said to feature a dual rear camera setup at the back. The camera setup will house two 12-megapixel lenses with 2x zoom.

Reliance Jio offers upto Rs. 700 cashback if you opt for these prepaid plans

By

Lalit Wadhwa

-

March 3, 2018

Reliance owned Jio recently launched its more than 100% cashback offer. Now the company has decided to extend it. It is being said to have extended its offer until March 15. In this offer, Jio is offering a cumulative cashback of up to Rs 700. To avail it users need to do a recharge of Rs 398 or more. Reliance Jio's more than 100% cashback offer is available for Jio Prime members only.

How to Avail the Jio Cashback

Users can avail a total cash back of Rs 700 by two different methods. Users in this offer will get Jio tariff plan recharges worth Rs 400. The cashback is partnered through digital wallets and will offer recharges up to Rs 300. This raises the total cash back value to Rs 700.

According to the company's official website, Reliance Jio is offering cashback vouchers worth Rs 400. However, the cashback vouchers will be in the form of eight vouchers of Rs 50 with every recharge of Rs. 398 or more. The Rs 50 voucher will be credited immediately to the user's account. This will be visible under my vouchers in the My Jio app.

Also Read: Airtel brings in Rs. 995 prepaid plan, Here’s why you should ignore this one

However, there is also another way. The company has partnered with many of the leading digital wallets. These include companies like FreeCharge, Mobikwik, PayTM, Amazon Pay and PhonePe. This will bring instant cashback of up to Rs 300. When the users will recharge through MobiKwik they will get a cashback of Rs. 300. This offer is valid for both new and existing Jio Prime members. Users using Paytm can also get Rs 80 as cashback to new customers. If you are an existing customer using Paytm, you will only get Rs 50 cash back. Amazon Pay is offering its users Rs 50 cashback. PhonePe is also offering Rs 90 to new users and Rs 50 to existing users as cash back. Freecharge is offering Rs 75 to new users and Rs 30 to existing users as cash back.

Oppo R15 to come with iPhone X-like Notch and Helio P60 processor

By

Devesh Arora

-

March 3, 2018

Oppo, the Chinese tech giant, is working on bringing another smartphone to its R-series. Rather, the company will bring two new smartphones this time, the Oppo R15 and R15 Plus. R15 Plus being the larger variant of the two having a larger display and a larger battery. Interestingly, the R15 and R15 Plus will be two more smartphones adding to the Android smartphones with Notch category.

Apple has started the trend of having a notch up front. Companies like Asus and Oppo are following up on that. In this era of bezel-less displays, OEM's need to find a location for the front-facing camera. These companies are taking the notch approach while Samsung leaves a bit of bezel on the top as well as the bottom. Even Essential Phone, an Android smartphone, has a notch for just the front-facing camera.

Recent rumours also suggest that the next OnePlus flagship, OnePlus 6 will carry a notch up front. This might mean that in the near future, many more Android smartphone manufacturers will have a notch on their smartphones.

Coming back to the Oppo R11, the leaked pictures of the smartphone was spotted on Weibo, a Chinese microblogging website. In these images, the smartphone is having minimal bezels and has a notch up front carrying the earpiece, camera and some sensors. The Weibo listing further claims that the Oppo R15 and R15 Plus will first launch in China. As the R11 never made it to India, it is difficult to say weather R15 will make its way to India or not.

Another report claims that the Oppo R15 and R15 Plus will be powered by the MediaTek Helio P60 SoC. The Helio P60 processor featrues four Cortex-A73 cores clocked at 2 GHz and four A53 cores also at 2 GHz. Graphics will be run by the Mali-G72 MP3 GPU.

Airtel brings in Rs. 995 prepaid plan, Here's why you should ignore this one

By

Devesh Arora

-

March 1, 2018

Bharti Airtel likes to have a tough competition with its competitors. The telecom company rolls out new plans every now and then to compete against its rival Reliance Jio. Jio has a pretty attractive set of unlimited data packs. To counter that, Airtel comes up with something new or a similar plan. The telecom operator has now released the Rs. 995 pack with unlimited calls and much more.

With this new Rs. 995 prepaid plan, Airtel is offering unlimited calls throughout the country including national roaming. Further, the plan also brings 100 SMSes per day. Interesting the plan comes with a validity of a whopping 180 days. Things look so great till here especially seeing the 180 days validity. Now what if we tell you, you will get only 6GB of 4G/3G data. Yes, you get only 1GB 4G/3G data for 6 months.

It's 2018 and those days are gone when we used to talk about 1GB data per day at least at this price point. We at Beetelbite have analysed a few other packs and we came to a conclusion that the Rs. 995 pack makes no sense.

Here's what we have calculated:

Airtel has a Rs. 509 plan available all over India. The Rs. 509 plan brings unlimited calls, national roaming and 100SMSes per day to the table. The prepaid plan also offers 1.4GB of 4G/3G data per day. Now comes the validity part and to the surprise, the plan is valid for 90days. So, you get a total of 126GB of 4G/3G data in the whole period of your plan. Now if you double up to reach the 180days validity mark, you pay Rs. 1018.

Also Read: Airtel and Google plans to bring Android Go Edition smartphones in India

Now Rs. 1018 might sound a bit expensive to you at first. Look at it like this, you are just paying Rs. 23 extra when compared to the Rs. 995 plan. By just paying Rs. 23 extra, you are getting 42 times the data. In simple terms, in 180days you are getting 252GB of data instead of just 6GB offered in the Rs. 995 plan.

Beetel BiteTech News, Reviews, PC Mobile Phones, Tablets and more

Specifications

What do we know about the Mi TV 4C so far?

Whats the Offer?

Specifications

What we know about the new Mi TV

How to Avail the Jio Cashback

Here's what we have calculated: