Here is what to expect at MWC 2018

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January 28, 2018

After, the Consumer Electronics Show(CES), all the manufacturers are gearing up for the next big thing. That is the Mobile World Congress (MWC). MWC is set to happen between 26th February and March 1, 2018. The event is primarily focused on smartphones instead of more consumer-focused CES. The event will take place in Barcelona, Spain.

Like every year, big companies are going to release new smartphones. These are mainly their offering for this year. We can expect new smartphone offering from Samsung, LG, Sony and more. Samsung has already confirmed its plans. It will be having an event a day before MWC, on February 25 to unveil its latest flagship smartphones. The Samsung Galaxy S9 and the S9 Plus will be unveiled.

MWC will also see announcements by important players like Sony and newbies like Xiaomi and Nokia. So let's see what can be expected from MWC this year.

Samsung

Samsung has already confirmed their plans during MWC. They will release their latest flagships a day before MWC. They have an event planned for 25th February. The company will officially announce the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus in that event.

According to previous reports and leaks, the Samsung Galaxy S9-series will not be an incremental upgrade. It will rather be slight design updates and refinement. The new smartphones will also sport the lastest processors for upgraded performance. Samsung will also improve their iris scanner and bring software improvements.

Also Read: Samsung is all set to launch the Galaxy S9 on February 25, media invites rolled out

Powered by Exynos 9810 or Snapdragon 845, Samsung Galaxy S9 could come in an 8GB and 512GB storage variant as well. Other rumours suggest an infinity display as it was seen in the S8 with a thicker bezel for more durability. Also, the plus model will sport a dual 16-megapixel camera setup at the back.

Xiaomi

Xiaomi is expected to launch a successor to its Mi Mix series of smartphones. A recent leak suggests the Mi Mix 2S will be the latest smartphone in the series. It will come with an all-glass body with a ceramic back like its predecessors. There are also rumours of the Mi 7 be unveiling at the MWC. But latest reports suggest that won't be happening. Reports also suggest that the company will launch the Mi 7 along with the Mi Max 3.

Also Read: Xiaomi to launch the Mi Mix 2S with an almost 100% bezel-less display before MWC, Here is what you need to know

Nokia

Nokia is expected to globally launch their Nokia 6 (2018). Along with that, it may launch the Nokia 7 Plus and 4G version of Nokia 3310. Rumors suggest, that there will be at-least 4 android smartphone by the company to be launched at MWC.

There were rumours of the Nokia 7 Plus from the official camera APK from Nokia. Also, the smartphone pop-ed up on Geekbench which confirmed the launch to be happening soon. So we suspect the smartphone will launch at MWC. The smartphone is powered by Qualcomm’s 66 chipset. This implies it is a mid-range smartphone.

Also Read: Nokia 6 (2018) vs Nokia 6: What has changed in a year?

Also the company might be launching their latest flagship, the Nokia 9 at MWC.

Others

Traditionally LG launched manny smartphones at MWC. The company has unveiled the LG G5 and the LG G6 at MWC in the past years. However, new reports say they will launch a new version of the V30. LG also said at CES that they will release smartphones only when they are needed. So we might not see the G7 at MWC.

Lenovo-owned Motorola is expected to launch Moto G6 and G6 Plus. On the other hand, Sony is likely to unveil Xperia XZ Pro. Chinese manufacturer Huawei is also likely to unveil its new P-series.

Also Read: LG to launch the V30 with AI functions at MWC 2018

Once at the top, BlackBerry is also expected to make a comeback at MWC 2018. Reports suggest, TCL will launch two smartphones under the Blackberry name.One of them is highly likely to be the KeyTwo aka KeyOne 2.

Here's how you can grab the Xiaomi Redmi 5A for as low as Rs. 4,000

By

Devesh Arora

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January 28, 2018

Xiaomi recently lunched the Redmi 5A in India. The smartphone comes under the ultra-budget segment. The Redmi 5A is made in such a way that it delivers a lot for the price. It has created a tough competition since it has launched. The company priced the smartphone at Rs. 4,999 for the 2GB+16GB variant for the first five million customers. Now the company is expanding the phone's availability. The Xiaomi Redmi 5A is now available via Big Bazar for an even cheaper price point.

What's the offer?

As a part of the Republic Day, Xiaomi is now offering the Redmi 5A for less than Rs. 4,000 via Big Bazar. Customers who pay using the Future Pay wallet application can avail a discount. The smartphone's base variant with 2GB of RAM can be grabbed for as low as Rs. 4,000 making it Rs. 1999 cheaper than its original Rs. 5,999 price tag.

Also Read: Xiaomi to launch the Mi Mix 2S with an almost 100% bezel-less display before MWC, Here is what you need to know

Moreover, customers using an Axis Bank Debit or Credit card are eligible for an additional 10 percent discount. These offers on the Redmi 5A are available until January 28, 11:59 PM or until the stocks last. The availability also depends on the region of sale.

Specifications

As far as the specifications are concerned, the Xiaomi Redmi 5A is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 SoC. The smartphone features a 5-inch IPS LCD display with 720x1280 pixels resolution. The device packs in 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage. There is also a higher-end variant with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. The device is backed by a 3,000mAh battery.

What budget smartphones to expect in 2018?

By

Lalit Wadhwa

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January 28, 2018

With the first month of 2018 almost gone, we now have an idea of whats coming in smartphones. Various companies are gearing up to launch their latest smartphones. With rumors of full bezel-less smartphones like the Mi Mix 2S to foldable ones like the Galaxy X. However, not everyone can afford those $999+ smartphones. With the technology getting better and better, and cheaper smartphones getting better, you could easily snag up an affordable smartphone under Rs 15,000 with does the job perfectly. Yes, it won't have the best of the specifications and the best of the features. Considering it won't also break your bank and empty your pocket, they are worth the consideration. Here are few smartphones coming out this year which won't break your bank and offer you bang for your buck.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 was one of the best selling smartphones in the country. It's successor, the Redmi Note 5 is expected to hit the shelves soon enough. It is expected to come with a dual-camera setup at the back. Also, it is rumored to sport an 18:9 almost bezel-less design. The smartphone will probably sport a Qualcomm Snapdragon 630. In typical Xiaomi fashion, the devices will come with 3GB RAM and 32 GB storage and 4GB RAM and 64GB storage variants. However, there are rumors the Xiaomi will put a bigger processor in the 4GB smartphone variant this year.

The smartphone is also expected to have 16-megapixel and 5-megapixel shooter at the back. For the front optics, it is expected to sport an 8-megapixel camera. It is expected to be priced starting at Rs 14,000 for the lower variant and Rs 15,000 for the bigger variant.

Honor 8X

Honor 7X was one of the best budget smartphones of 2017. However it was launched at the end of 2017, so don't expect its successor soon. Honor 8X will probably be the successor of the 7X. The Honor 8X is expected to come with an upgraded version of HiSilicon Kirin 659 chipset used in its predecessor. It is also expected to sport 6GB of RAM along with 128GB of storage. The Honor 8X is also expected to come with a quad-camera setup. With dual front and rear camera setups for max photography. However, don't get your hopes high. It is expected to hit the market sometime in Q4. Still, if you don't wanna wait, you can check out the Honor 7X.

Also Read: Honor 7X Review: Best smartphone under Rs. 15,000 with 18:9 display?

Xiaomi Mi A1 (2018)

The Mi A1 is the phone which came with Google's Android one project. This means the device will run on stock Android. These devices will also receive latest software updates without any OEM's addition to the software. This makes buying a stock Android devices with guaranteed updates cheaper. This also makes sure that more devices get upgraded to latest Android os on time. The Mi A1 was launched with the same idea in mind and was easily one of the best phones in the budget segment.

The upgraded version of the Mi A1 is expected soon with Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 and 4GB of RAM. With a 16-megapixel dual camera setup at the back and an 18:9 resolution display. The smartphone is expected to cost starting Rs 16,000.

10.or G (2018)

10.or G pronounced Tenor G is the best smartphone by the company. The company is expected to launch an updated version of the smartphone soon. The 10.or G (2018) is expected to sport an updated Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 with 4GB of RAM. It is also expected to sport an 18:9 resolution display with minimal bezels.

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

For the optics, it is expected to come with a 16-megapixel sensor upgraded from the previous one. It is also expected to sport the same 16-megapixel sensor on the front. It will come with 4,000 mAH battery. The device is expected to launch at a starting price of Rs 13,999.

Samsung Galaxy A8+ vs OnePlus 5T: Which one to buy at Rs. 32,999?

By

Devesh Arora

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January 28, 2018

Samsung recently launched the Galaxy A8+ in India. The smartphone is launched at such a price point that it directly competes against the OnePlus 5T. Samsung brought the smartphone into the market as an answer to the OnePlus's flagship killer. To make the competition tougher, Samsung even brought some of the features from its flagship smartphone to the A8+. So here's how these smartphones compete against each other and which one will be the best bet.

Specifications

Starting off with the specifications, the Samsung Galaxy A8+ is powered by the Exynos 7885 processor. OnePlus, on the other hand, has put the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 at the heart of the 5T. Both the smartphones pack in 6GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage. However, OnePlus 5T adds in another option with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Both the smartphones currently run on Google's Android 7.1.1 Nougat. Samsung Galaxy A8+ runs on Samsung's Experience UI while the OnePlus 5T is based on OxygenOS.

Design and Display

The Samsung Galaxy A8+ features a 6-inch Super AMOLED display. The display sports a resolution of 1080x2220 and an aspect ratio of 18:9. The OnePlus 5T sports a 6.01-inch Optic AMOLED display. 5T's display comes with a resolution of 1080x2160 pixels and 18:9 aspect ratio. Though both the smartphones use AMOLED panels, we have always witnessed that Samsung produces one of the best displays on the market. Most people might not notice the difference, but Samsung Galaxy A8+ has a better display when compared to the OnePlus 5T.

Samsung also takes advantage of the SuperAMOLED display to provide Always-on-Display feature. OnePlus's, on the other hand, does not provide such feature.

Also Read: Samsung Galaxy A8+ Hands-on Review: Is being Selfie Focused enough?

Coming to the design, the Samsung Galaxy A8+ looks to be a clear winner. The Galaxy A8+ carries a similar design as seen on the flagships like Note 8 and S8. The smartphone uses a glass back which provides a premium in-hand feel. The smartphone also offers dust and water resistance which OnePlus 5T fails to offer.

Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy A8+ and OnePlus 5T, both the smartphones are really good for the price. The simple verdict here stands as the people who prefer the design and build over performance can opt-in for the Galaxy A8+. If performance matters the most to you the OnePlus 5T is the way to go. Samsung also offers features like Samsung Pay which OnePlus can simply not offer.

Google Chrome now lets you stop websites from auto playing videos, Here is what you need to know

By

Lalit Wadhwa

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January 27, 2018

Technological Giant, Google just released a new version of Chrome. Google Chrome is the company's web browser, one of the best. In their latest version, they have added a slew of new features. One of them is the ability to mute the websites which autoplay videos. Autoplaying videos can be annoying, so Google decided to mute them forever.

The new version of the Chrome called the Chrome 64 has added this feature. The new version is available on Windows, Mac, and Linux. The update is available on all the software versions. Users can update their Chrome to make it work.

How to enable the new Chrome feature?

To enable the new feature, users first need to update their Google Chrome version. It should happen automatically. If it doesn't you will see a red options menu and in there will be the update button. Once, that's then users can enable this feature. Users need to click the "View Site Information" symbol on the left-hand edge. Users can find it with a security certificate on the "omnibar" or the address bar combined with the Google search box. There will be an option to mute a site that automatically plays videos.

This, however, replaces the previous "mute tab" feature. That feature was only temporary. Meaning that feature muted the video once. Now it will mute the videos always. This will help a lot of users and maybe bring an end to automatically playing videos.

Also Read: Xiaomi to launch the Mi Mix 2S with an almost 100% bezel-less display before MWC, Here is what you need to know

The search engine giant is also adding High Dynamic Range (HDR) imaging support to Chrome 64. This feature will be added to the browser for Windows users only. The feature will require a PC with the Fall Creators Update. Also a HDR-compatible monitor and graphics card.

The latest version of Chrome, the Chrome 64 also protects Mac and Windows. This update will bring the device users against the "Meltdown" and "Spectre" processor vulnerabilities.

Xiaomi to launch the Mi Mix 2S with an almost 100% bezel-less display before MWC, Here is what you need to know

By

Lalit Wadhwa

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January 27, 2018

Chinese smartphone giant Xiaomi is expected to launch an upgraded version of the Mi Mix this year. The Mi Mix 2S or the Mix 3 is expected to feature even smaller bezels and an even bigger resolution. The device is expected to be unveiled at MWC (Mobile World Congress) at Barcelona this year. But according to new reports, the device may launch ahead of the MWC.

Whats on the Mi Mix 2S?

There is a leaked image of the new device. The Mi Mix 2S has a front camera on the top right corner of the smartphone. This creates an effect of the notch on the top right corner of the smartphone. The back of the device is almost the same as its predecessor. It features a fingerprint scanner surrounded by a gold-plated ring. The device also retains a ceramic back on the device.

Earlier it was expected to have a top center notch just like the Phone X. But looks like the rumor has been busted with the new image leaks on the website. According to a report by GizmoChina, a tipster on Chinese social media Weibu leaked it. The tipster also says that the device will launch ahead of MWC 2018. According to the leaked images, the smartphones comes with a nearly 100 percent bezel-less display. The smartphone has even lesser bezels than the Mi Mix 2 which already had very fewer bezels. With almost 100% screen to body ratio, its the biggest screen to the body ratio.

Also Read: Here’s a list of India’s top selling smartphones of 2017: Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 tops the list

The company is also expected to launch its next flagship. The Mi 7 is expected to launch at MWC 2018 this year. Xiaomi has confirmed that the Mi 7 will feature a wireless charging as well as a slew of other features. According to previous reports, the company was expected to ditch the fingerprint sensor in order to bring Face ID to the smartphone. That means a total iPhone X copy.

Nokia 7 Plus spotted on GeekBench with Snapdragon 660 SoC and Android 8.0 Oreo

By

Lalit Wadhwa

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January 27, 2018

HMD Global owned, Nokia is all set to launch a few new smartphones. According to earlier leaks, the company is set to launch an upgraded version of the Nokia 7. The Nokia 7 Plus has been spotted on benchmarking site Geekbench. This hints at a lunch date quite close by. Not only that, but the listing also reveals quite a few details about company's new smartphones.

The Nokia 7 Plus will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor. That's an upgrade from Snapdragon 630 SoC in Nokia 7. The processor will be coupled with a 4GB RAM and run Android 8.0 Oreo out-of-the-box. The device was earlier leaked in the apk of the official Nokia Camera app.

About the Nokia 7 Plus

The Nokia 7 Plus as the name suggests is an improved version of the original Nokia 7. The Nokia 7 was launched only in China. Not much is known about the device apart from the fact it will launch at an event at MWC with at least four new Nokia devices expected in Barcelona.

Alongside the Nokia 7 Plus, HMD Global could launch the Nokia 9, which is the company’s upcoming flagship. They can also launch the Nokia 3310 (4G), and a new Nokia 4G feature phone. The new phone with feature a QWERTY keyboard. Also, the company is expected to globally launch the Nokia 6 (2018) and Nokia 7.

Also Read: Nokia 6 (2018) vs Xiaomi Mi A1: Battle of the mid-rangers

Nokia 7

The Nokia 7 is a mid-end smartphone. It price starts from 2,499 yuan (~Rs 24, 731) for 4GB RAM model. The upgraded 6GB RAM model costs 2,699 yuan (~Rs 26,710). The phone has what the company calls a “3D glass curvature back” design. It also features a 5.2-inch 1080p LCD display. The Nokia 7 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 processor coupled with 4GB/6GB RAM, and 64GB storage. It runs Android 7.1.1 Nougat and is backed up by a 3,000mAh battery.

Nokia 7 also comes with Dual-Sight technology. Also known as Bothie, it enables you to take pictures and video at the same time. Or take photos from the front as well as the back camera at the same time. The Nokia 7 has a Carl Zeiss lens and sports a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor.

Here's a list of India's top selling smartphones of 2017: Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 tops the list

By

Brahmjot Singh

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January 26, 2018

India received a lot of smartphones in the year 2017. The Chinese smartphones had an edge over the other smartphones in India. These smartphones captured over 54 percent of the market share which has significantly grown when compared to 2016's 36 percent. A recent report by Counterpoint Research suggests that Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 was the most selling smartphone in India in 2017.

Tarun Pathak, associate director at Counterpoint Research, said in a statement, "Xiaomi ended CY 2017 in India on a very strong note. Not only the brand grew 259% YoY but also saw three of its models within the top five bestselling smartphone list of CY2017. Samsung had the most number of models in the top 10 selling list of CY2017 leveraging its advantage of a strong presence across all the price bands."

"Online sales and promotions remained strong even after Diwali till the end of December 2017 as some of the brands were clearing their inventory. However, new launches by brands like OnePlus, Nokia HMD, Huawei, Micromax, Xiaomi drove shipments. Over 60 new smartphone models were launched after Diwali alone," the Counterpoint Research report said.

Which were the top 10 selling smartphones in India in 2017?

When looking at the list of top 5 selling smartphones list, it clearly shows how Xiaomi dominated the market. The company has three phones on the top 5 list. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 is on the top followed by the Redmi 4 while the Redmi 4A sits at the fifth position. The third and fourth positions are occupied by the Samsung Galaxy J2 and Oppo A37 respectively.

Source: Counterpoint Research

Also Read: You can now grab the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 for as low as Rs. 999, Here’s how

Moving on further, Samsung's Galaxy J7 Nxt and Galaxy J7 Prime secured sixth and seventh position followed by the Galaxy J2 (2016) at eighth position. The Vivo Y55L and Y53 also managed to get into the top-selling smartphones list at the ninth and tenth position.

Hackers can see your Tinder photos without your wish, Here's how to stay protected

By

Lalit Wadhwa

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January 26, 2018

Dating app Tinder is one of the biggest dating app present in the world. Its used by most of the people interested in Internet dating. Although its popularity is huge, it still lacks the basic HTTPS encryption. It means a malicious attacker could easily see user’s photos. They could also add their own photos in their photostream. Tel Aviv-based security research firm Checkmarx discovered the vulnerabilities. There are two vulnerabilities in the dating app. These can be used to see users’ profiles as well as the profiles they’ve viewed.

Checkmarx blog post says. “The Checkmarx Security Research Team found disturbing vulnerabilities in a highly popular dating application used by people across the globe – Tinder”. The security research firm created an app to demonstrate the process. Called the TinderDrift the application can recreate the actions from a user's account. However, the hacker and attacker needs to be on the same network to do so. Checkmark also showcased this in a YouTube video. They demonstrated that they could potentially see users actions, photos and make changes to it.

What does it mean for Tinder Users

This kind of sensitive information can be used for various purposes. It can be used by the attackers to blackmail victims by threatening to expose private information. Though swipes and matches remain encrypted on Tinder. The hackers can track specific bytes. It will help them to determine the user’s action like left swipe, right swipe, Super Like, a match and more.

Also Read: Twitter now uses machine learning to bring smart auto-cropping for your photo posts

The blog post from Checkmarx also added. “The vulnerabilities, found in both the app’s Android and iOS versions, allow an attacker using the same network as the user to monitor the user’s every move on the app. It is also possible for an attacker to take control over the profile pictures the user sees, swapping them for inappropriate content, rogue advertising or other type of malicious content (as demonstrated in the research)”.

Oppo A71 gets a price cut in India: Here's what you need to know

By

Devesh Arora

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January 26, 2018

Oppo A71, company's mid-range offering gets a price cut. The smartphone was launched in September 2017 and one year later it gets a price cut. The Oppo A71 was launched with a price tag of Rs. 12,999. The price has been dropped since then and is currently available for Rs. 10,999 via various stores. However, if you try finding in your nearest retail stores, you might get the A71 for as low as Rs. 9,999.

Specifications

The Oppo A71 features a 5.2-inch IPS LCD display. The display carries a resolution of 720x1280 pixels. The smartphone is powered by the MediaTek MT6750 SoC. The MT6750 is an Octa-core processor clocked at 1.5GHz coupled with the Mali-T860MP2 GPU. The device packs 3GB of RAM and 32GB of onboard storage. Storage is expandable up to 256GB using a microSD card. The Oppo A71 runs on ColorOS 3.1 based on Android 7.1 Nougat. Under the hood, there is a 3,000mAh battery powering up the internals.

Also Read: Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 to launch later next month, Here’s what we know so far

On the optics front, the Oppo A71 features a 13-megapixel camera at the back. The rear camera comes with an aperture of f/2.2, phase detection autofocus and a LED flash. Up front, there is a 5-megapixel front-facing camera with f/2.4 aperture.

However, the price drop is not applicable at e-commerce websites. The Oppo A71 is listed on Amazon and Flipkart for Rs. 11,999 while PayTM mall still sells it for Rs. 12,290. The price drop at the retail stores took effect from January 24, 2018.

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Samsung

Xiaomi

Nokia

Others

What's the offer?

Specifications

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5

Honor 8X

Xiaomi Mi A1 (2018)

10.or G (2018)

Specifications

Design and Display

Verdict

How to enable the new Chrome feature?

Whats on the Mi Mix 2S?

About the Nokia 7 Plus

Nokia 7

Which were the top 10 selling smartphones in India in 2017?

What does it mean for Tinder Users

Specifications