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Top 5 LG Q60 alternatives: Realme 5 Pro, Mi A3 and more

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LG Q60 is finally available in India.

LG India has just launched the LG Q60 alongside the flagship LG G8s. The smartphone comes with a MediaTek Helio P22 processor and sports a decent HD display. It features a triple camera setup at the back and comes with a 3,500mAh battery. LG Q60 is priced at Rs. 13,490 and here are some alternatives at that price range.

Redmi Note 7 Pro

redmi, redmi note 7 pro, xiaomi
Redmi Note 7 Pro features a 48-megapixel camera at the back.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Pro sports a 6.3-inch fullHD+ display with a waterdrop style notch. It comes with a more powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 processor. It also features a 48MP+5MP dual camera setup at the back. The dual-SIM handset comes with up to 6GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage. It is currently available at a starting price of just Rs. 13,999.

Samsung Galaxy M30

Samsung M30, galaxy m30, launch in india, price in india
Samsung Galaxy M30 sports a Super AMOLED Infinity U display.

If you are looking for a smartphone from a tier one brand, then the Galaxy M30 is a better option than the LG Q60. It sports a 6.4-inch fullHD+ Super AMOLED display and it is powered by the octa-core Exynos 7904 processor. The device runs on Samsung Experience v9.5 built on top of Google's Android 8.1 Oreo. It is available at a starting price of Rs. 11,999.

Realme 5 Pro

realme, realme 5, realme 5 pro, realme 5 specifications
Realme 5 Pro features a triple camera setup at the back.

Realme 5 Pro is one of the best smartphones under Rs. 15,000. The device is powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 712 processor. It features a 48MP + 8MP + 2MP + 2MP quad-camera setup at the back and a 25-megapixel camera at the front. It packs in up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage. All of this comes at a starting price of Rs. 13,999.

Xiaomi Mi A3

xiaomi, mi a3, android one
Xiaomi Mi A3 comes in three colour variants.

If you want a pure stock Android experience then you should go with the Mi A3 from Xiaomi. The device is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 AIE processor coupled with up to 4GB of RAM. It also sports a 48-megapixel camera at the back and an AMOLED display with an in-display fingerprint scanner at the front. It is currently available for a starting price of Rs. 12,999.

Also Read: World Tourism Day: Must have gadgets while traveling

Honor Play

Honor, Honor Play, Honor Play Smartphone
Honor Play comes with flagship-grade hardware at a relatively lower price.

While the Honor Play is almost a year old now, it is the only smartphone that offers flagship-grade specifications at this price. It is powered by the company's in-house Kirin 970 processor coupled with up to 6GB of RAM. The smartphone is currently available at a starting price of Rs. 12,999.

Candy Crush vs PUBG Mobile: Here's what women prefer

candy crush, women, pubg
Women prefer playing Candy Crush over PUBG.

Over the last couple of years, the mobile gaming industry has been growing by a huge margin. People not only play these games to pass their time but also for competitions. A recent survey involving 2000 smartphone users claims that there are more women active mobile gamers in India than men.

According to the survey, almost 95 per cent of women who have smartphone plays mobile games on their phones. Men, on the other hand, are comparatively low at just 86 per cent. Further, the survey claims that 75 per cent of the people play mobile games for at least 2 hours daily.

While 78 per cent of the women agree that they play games for 2 hours or more, men playing games for 2 hours count at just around 72 per cent. The report also suggests that 40% of female gamers play games while they are just sitting ideal whereas 30% of them play games while watching TV.

“Ranging from professionals playing mobile games in between breaks at work, or while on the commute, to women playing games at home amidst breaks from chores, to elderly women keeping up with technology, the demographic profiles of female gamers spans across age groups,” said Satya Mohanty, Head-User Research Practice, CMR.

Also Read: PUBG Mobile to soon get 90Hz and 120Hz refresh rate options

The main question still remains that which game is mostly prefered by men and women. The majority of women mobile gamers do not enjoy battle-royale games like PUBG Mobile. They are more into casual games like Candy Crush, Word Puzzle and Clash of Clans.

OnePlus 7T vs OnePlus 7 vs ROG Phone 2: Specifications compared

oneplus, oneplus 7, oneplus 7t, rog phone 2, comparison
Asus ROG Phone looks more exciting than the other two.

OnePlus has just launched its all-new OnePlus 7T smartphone in India. The device brings a 90Hz display and triple camera setup at the back. The company is still selling the OnePlus 7 and it makes sense to buy that over the new 7T for a lot of reasons. Also, the OnePlus 7T directly competes against the Asus ROG Phone 2. So, here is a specifications comparison between the OnePlus 7T, OnePlus 7 and the ROG Phone 2.

OnePlus 7T vs OnePlus 7 vs ROG Phone 2: Display

All these flagship smartphones come with a fullHD+ AMOLED display. The major difference comes in at the refresh rate. While the OnePlus 7 comes with a traditional 60Hz refresh rate, the new OnePlus 7T gets a 90Hz panel. ROG Phone 2 takes it one step further by including a 120Hz high refresh rate panel, which is buttery smooth. So, here the clear winner is the ROG Phone 2.

OnePlus 7T vs OnePlus 7 vs ROG Phone 2: Design

asus, rog, rog phone, rog phone 2
ROG logo gets RGB lighting on the back.

OnePlus 7 looks quite outdated since it shares the same design language that we have seen on older OnePlus phones like the OnePlus 6 and 6T. However, the new 7T brings a new design at least on the back. It still carries the same old waterdrop style notch upfront. ROG Phone 2, on the other hand, brings an appealing design with RGB logo at the back. It stands out in the crowd and it is surely gonna turn a lot of heads. Hence, this round also goes to ROG Phone 2.

Also Read: Asus ROG Phone 2 First Impressions: The dream phone?

OnePlus 7T vs OnePlus 7 vs ROG Phone 2: Processor, Storage and RAM

oneplus, oneplus 7 review, oneplus 7 price
OnePlus 7 is the cheapest device in this comparison.

While the OnePlus 7 comes with the flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor, the ROG Phone 2 and the OnePlus 7T are powered by the all-new Snapdragon 855 Plus chip. All three smartphones come with 8GB RAM and 128GB UFS 3.0 onboard storage. This means that the OnePlus 7 loses this round whereas it is a tie for the OnePlus 7T and the ROG Phone 2.

OnePlus 7T vs OnePlus 7 vs ROG Phone 2: Battery

OnePlus 7, OnePlus 7T and ROG Phone 2 come with 3,700mAh, 3,800mAh and 6,000mAh battery respectively. While the ROG Phone 2 is a clear winner here, the charging speeds are faster on the OnePlus 7T.

Also Read: OnePlus 7T First Impressions: What OnePlus 7 should have been

OnePlus 7T vs OnePlus 7 vs ROG Phone 2: Cameras

oneplus, oneplus 7t, oneplus launch
OnePlus 7T sports a triple camera setup at the back.

While the OnePlus 7 and the ROG Phone 2 feature a dual-camera setup on the back, the OnePlus 7T gets a triple camera setup. All three phones get a 48-megapixel sensor as a primary camera on the back. However, since the OnePlus 7T comes with an extra lens it takes the lead in this round.

OnePlus 7T vs OnePlus 7 vs ROG Phone 2: Verdict

OnePlus smartphones and the ROG Phone 2 are marketed towards a different kind of audience. However, if you have been confused about your buying decision, let's come down to a verdict.

oneplus, oneplus 7, oneplus 7 review, price, price in india
OnePlus 7 will soon get the Android 10 update.

Also Read: OnePlus 7 Review: Is it just an upgraded OnePlus 6T?

The OnePlus 7 is the cheapest smartphone of the bunch and for someone on a tight budget, it is a more viable option. Also, if you want a fast performing phone for day-to-day tasks, you should save the extra money and go in for the OnePlus 7, whcih is currently available for Rs. 29,999. The extra 8,000 on the OnePlus 7T or the ROG Phone 2 will get you a high refresh rate display and slightly better camera, but I don't think that will be worth it for everyone.

However, if you are looking to spend a sum like Rs. 37,999, I would highly recommend going in with the ROG Phone 2. The phone comes is simply an overall winner in this comparison and it offers a lot for your money. Also, with the ROG Phone 2, you will be able to stand out of the crowd.

Top 5 accessories for your Apple iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max

apple, iphone 11
Here are some accessories for your all-new iPhone.

Apple recently announced the new iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and the giant iPhone 11 Pro Max. The smartphones are finally available for purchase now. If you are using an iPhone for the first time or just unboxed you all-new iPhone 11, here are the top five accessories that will make your life much easier.

Cover and Screen Gaurd

Apple iPhones cost a fortune, especially in India. The iPhone 11 series starts at Rs. 64,900, which is a lot. So, you should make sure that your new iPhone stays protected by all means. As soon as you take the phone out of the box, head over to the nearest mobile store and get a tempered glass installed. Also, you should buy a case if you want to save your phone from breaking.

Apple Airpods

Apple Airpods
Apple Airpods connect seamlessly with Apple devices.

Apple removed the 3.5mm headphone jack back with the launch of the iPhone 7. Even though there are lightning earphones inside the box, one often finds themselves in a situation where they want to charge their phone and listen to music at the same time. So, we recommend getting a pair of wireless earphones that will make your life much easier. Apple Airpods are the best for people using iPhones as they connect seamlessly and they just get the job done.

SanDisk iXpand USB Drive

Sandisk iXpand
SanDisk iXpand is a great accessory for people with base model iPhones.

If you have got the base variant of the iPhone 11 that comes with just 64GB of onboard storage, you should get an external drive to backup all your important media. The best option is the SanDisk iXpand drive as it comes with plenty of storage and a lightning port to directly backup your content from your iPhone.

Lightning to 3.5mm Adapter

Apple has stopped including a lightning to 3.5mm Adapter inside the box. So, if you plan on using a pair of good wired earphones, you should get the lightning to 3.5mm Adapter. While there are a lot of them available in the market, we would suggest getting one from Apple as there is no compromise in quality.

Wireless Charger

Since all the new iPhones support wireless charging, we would also recommend getting one for your home. It is much more convenient than wired charging. We would recommend getting one from a reputed brand like Samsung, Belkin or Anker.

Android 10 stops using Google Chrome to render web pages

Android 10, Android Easter Egg, Android Nonogram
Android 10 uses something known as Trichrome.

Google Chome has been a major part of your Android user experience. The app is not only a browser that comes pre-installed on most of the smartphones, but it is much more than that. Android uses something called WebView for rendering web pages inside applications. WebView was introduced back with Android Lollipop and with Android Nougat, the company made it separate from Chrome. Now, with Android 10, the comapny is again planning to make changes to these apps.

According to a Google engineer, Android 10 has something called as Trichrome. The engineer wrote, "Chrome is no longer used as a WebView implementation in Q+. We’ve moved to a new model for sharing common code between Chrome and WebView (called “Trichrome”) which gives the same benefits of reduced download and install size while having fewer weird special cases and bugs."

The Google engineer came forward with all these explanations after an Android 10 user raised a complaint stating that is is not able to find the Chrome option in the WebView picker anymore. This is usually found inside Developer Options.

Also Read: Google announces Android 10 (Go Edition) for entry level smartphones

While this might mean big news for the developers, the normal users just need to know that the Google Chrome browser will not act as a Web View interface anymore. However, the new WebView will be based on the Chromium project.

Chromium project page states, “Like with Monochrome, users can find each of these four channels of WebView on the Play Store and install them simultaneously on a single device. Also like Monochrome, users can use the “WebView implementation” menu to choose which installed WebView the system should use.”

World Tourism Day: Must have gadgets while traveling

skullcandy, skullcandy jib+
Skullcandy JIB+ are neckband style wireless earphones.

World Tourism Day has arrived and it is a day for all the people who love to travel. While the basic needs while travelling includes clothes, tickets and other documents, people nowadays also need a lot of gadget accessories to keep their trip comfortable. So, here are the must-have gadgets while travelling.

Tile Mate Bluetooth Tracker

tile
Tile can be handy in tracking your luggage at the airport.

Tile, the popular Bluetooth tracker brand has recently entered the Indian market.  The company brings a product that is not only helpful when you are travelling but also comes in handy in your day to day life. The Tile Mate tracker can be attached to anything and you can find your lost products immediately by just a touch of a button on your Android/iOS smartphone.

Skullcandy JIB+

No matter how long the journey is, if music is there to accompany you, you can be lost in your own world while your destination arrives. Now, to get in such an immersed experience, you will need a great pair of wireless Bluetooth earphones. So, this is where the Skullcandy JIB+ come into the play. They offer great sound quality alongside a decent battery life making them the perfect pair of earphones to carry on your trips.

Also Read: Tile launched in India: what is it, how does it work and more

Realme Power Bank

realme, realme powerbank
It sports a USB Type C port.

We always pass our time on our journey by watching a movie on our phone or working on a tablet. So, to stay ensured that you do not run out of juice anytime soon, you should carry a power bank with you at all times. For this, our pick has to be the recently launched Realme Power Bank. It has a 10,000mAh battery, which should be sufficient to fully charge any smartphone more than two times. Also, it has fast charging support alongside a USB Type-C port.

OnePlus 7T First Impressions: What OnePlus 7 should have been

oneplus, oneplus 7t, oneplus launch
OnePlus 7T features a triple camera setup at the back.

OnePlus has finally launched the much-awaited OnePlus 7T smartphone in India. While the OnePlus 7 was quite disappointing as it was very similar to its predecessor, it is not the same case this time around. The company has finally changed the design after the OnePlus 6. Even though the phone looks the same from the front, it has a lot going under the hood.

Since I was at the launch event, I got a hands-on experience with the OnePlus 7T and here are my first impressions.

OnePlus 7T: Specifications

OnePlus has made significant improvements to the OnePlus 7T over its predecessor. The smartphone now comes with a 6.55-inch AMOLED display with fullHD+ resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. The display sports 20:9 aspect ratio, 1000nits of brightness and supports HDR10+ for a better content consumption experience.

oneplus, oneplus 7t, oneplus launch
The phone sports a tall 20.5:1 aspect ratio.

The device is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ processor coupled with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of onboard storage. It runs on OxygenOS 10 based on Google’s latest Android 10 operating system. All of this is backed by a 3,800mAh battery, which also supports Warp Charge 30T fast charging.

On the optics front, the OnePlus 7T comes with a triple-camera setup at the back consisting of a 48-megapixel primary, 12-megapixel telephoto and a 16-megapixel ultra-wide sensor. The company has also added Nightscape mode from the previous generations alongside a new Macro mode. Upfront, there is a 16-megapixel selfie shooter.

OnePlus 7T: First Impressions

oneplus, oneplus 7t, oneplus launch
The back gets matte finish this year.

OnePlus 7T is a direct successor to the recently launched OnePlus 7. While it looks quite similar from the front, there is one thing that you might only notice when you keep both the phones side-by-side and that is the new tall aspect ratio. The OnePlus 7T sports a 6.55-inch AMOLED display with 20:9 aspect ratio. This means that the new flagship is slightly taller and narrower.

Since the OnePlus 6, the company has been using a similar style for the rear camera setup. After almost two years, the company has finally upgraded the look of the device a bit. One can discern between a OnePlus 6/6T/7 and a OnePlus 7T be simply looking at the back, thanks to its huge circular triple camera module.

Also Read: OnePlus 7 Review: Is it just an upgraded OnePlus 6T?

I personally liked how the back felt in hand due to the longer aspect ratio and the matte finish. I somehow feel that the company could be brought more colours for the people to choose from.

oneplus, oneplus 7t, oneplus
OnePlus 7T comes in two colour variants.

In terms of performance, the device performed well in the time I was able to use it. I personally have liked OnePlus devices for their performance in real life. Using Android 10 based OxygenOS on the OnePlus 7T made me feel comfortable and like I was using a phone which I have been using for a long time.

OxygenOS is the cleanest Android skin I have seen till date. And is one of the only skins I prefer using over stock Android. With the new OxygenOS, the skin feels much better and usable.

Also Read: OnePlus 7T, OnePlus TV launched in India: Everything you need to know

Overall, OnePlus 7T is a smartphone that I would recommend you purchase If you are still stuck on a OnePlus 6. But, If you have a later smartphone, I would recommend for the next OnePlus smartphone. But this is not my final decision, I still have to test out a lot of other aspects of the device, after which I will provide you with my final decision if you should purchase the device or not. We will soon be publishing our full review of the OnePlus 7T.

OnePlus 7T, OnePlus TV launched in India: Everything you need to know

oneplus, oneplus 7t, oneplus 7t launch, price
OnePlus 7Tcomes in two colour variants.

OnePlus India has finally launched the much-awaited line-up of products which include the latest flagship smartphones, the OnePlus 7T and 7T Pro and the OnePlus TV. While the company has left quite a few teasers in the past few weeks, we finally have the device in front of us and here's everything you need to know.

OnePlus 7T

OnePlus 7T is the direct successor to the OnePlus 7. However, it brings significant improvements over its predecessor. The OnePlus 7T now features a 6.55-inch fullHD+ AMOLED display with 90Hz refresh rate. While the display still carries a waterdrop style notch, it can now crank up to a 1000nits of brightness. The panel is also HDR10+ supported and brings the tall 20:9 aspect ratio.

OnePlus 7T is powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ processor coupled with the Adreno 640 GPU. The dual-SIM handset comes with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of onboard storage. The OnePlus 7T comes with the company's latest Warp Charge 30T technology.

On the optics front, the OnePlus 7T features a triple-camera setup at the back consisting of a 48-megapixel primary, 12-megapixel telephoto and a 16-megapixel ultrawide lens. Upfront, there is a 16-megapixel selfie shooter.

OnePlus TV

OnePlus has launched two variants of the OnePlus TV, the OnePlus TV Q1 and Q1 Pro. While they both share the same specifications, the only difference here is the soundbar, which only comes with the Pro model. Both the TVs sport a 55-inch QLED display with Dolby Vision technology. According to the company, these TVs offer the highest colour gamut at NTSC 120%.

oneplus, oneplus tv
OnePlus TV brings 120% NTSC colour gamut.

Apart from that, they also bring Gamma Color Magic that brings the highest level of performance with MEMC and De-Contour and phenomenal image quality. The OnePlus TVs also offer smart features like Wi-Fi Sharing, Trackpad Control, Smart Volume Control, OnePlus TypeSync, Quick App switch and more.

As for the content, OnePlus brings something known as the Oxygen Play. It offers a wide range of content via YouTube, Prime Video, Eros Now, Hungama, Jio Cinema, Zee 5 and more. Alongside Oxygen Play, the company has also introduced Oxygen Video where OnePlus will local features and international content and exclusive content.

Price, availability and launch offers

OnePlus 7T will be available in two variants, 8GB+128GB and 8GB+256GB. Both these variants will be priced at Rs. 37,999 and Rs. 39,999 respectively. OnePlus TV, on the other hand, comes with a starting price of Rs. 69,900 for the Q1 while the Q1 Pro will be sold for Rs. 99,900.

OnePlus 7T will be available across OnePlus India website, Amazon India and the OnePlus Experience stores starting September 28.

Disclaimer: The author is currently in New Delhi on the invite of OnePlus India.

Google announces Android 10 (Go Edition) for entry level smartphones

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Android 10 (Go Edition) is more secure.

Since the introduction of Android Oreo (Go Edition), Google has been launching two versions of its popular mobile operating system. While the main Android version is for most of the smartphones ranging from budget to flagship models, the Go Edition is a toned down version for the entry level smartphones with 1GB or lesser RAM.

With the latest version of Android, Google is focusing on speed by faster and more memory-efficient app switching. The company promises a 10 percent faster app launch time when compared to Android Pie (Go Edition). Additionally, the company has improved the reliability of the operating system making it more stable than before.

Apart from the performance, the company has also worked on security. Since Google has made Android 10 more secure already, it is quite obvious that the Go Edition will borrow some traits here. With Android 10 (Go Edition), Google has adopted Adiantum, which is a form of encryption built for a lower power device. This allows entry-level devices to encrypt data without compromising performance.

Android 10 (Go Edition) will come pre-installed on entry-level Android Go devices launching next year. OEMs like Nokia, who already have Android Go phones might roll out an update for the users.

Also Read: Xiaomi rolls out MIUI 11 update: List of devices getting the update

For those who are unaware, Go Edition is Google’s initiative in bringing a lightweight operating system that can run smoothly on entry-level devices that come with less than 2GB of RAM and 16GB of onboard storage. The company has announced that in the past 18 months, they over 500 manufacturers have launched more than 1,600 Android (Go edition) devices. These devices are available in more than 180 countries today.

Camscanner comes back to Google Play Store with a set of new features

camscanner, ocr, apps
Camscanner is back on Google Play Store.

Camscanner is a popular mobile application available on both Android and iOS platforms. The app was accused of various security issues and it was thrown out of the Google Play Store. However, upon listening to user feedback the company has now tailored its app and has improved the privacy and security significantly. Camscanner also brings a set of new features onboard.

In order to make a major comeback, the company added a set of useful features to the application. These features include the following.

1.) Image to spreadsheet
As the name suggests, this feature allows users to click a photo and immediately convert it into a spreadsheet without any hassle.

2.) Book to e-book
While this is a feature not many people will use, it can still come handy in some instances. Users can click pictures of the pages of a book and the app will automatically split the left and right pages.

3.) Print certificates
Users can now scan their certificates and keep them print ready as Camscanner will automatically crease out the bent text and make other necessary adjustments.

4.) Search and translate
Camscanner has added a new smart OCR that allows users to search any text from their scanned documents and translate it into more than 60 languages.

Commenting on the new features, Mr. Miller, Marketing Director, CamScanner said, “CamScanner always strives to provide a world class, smart document management solution. As India embarks on a steep digital curve, CamScanner ensures that people have a simple, seamless mobile scanner solution which instantly digitizes their documents, sync across multiple devices, and collaborate by sharing with others on popular communication platforms. I am certain that the new features will expedite the digital journey of our Indian subscribers.”

Also Read: Top 5 password manager apps: LastPass, 1Password and more

The above-mentioned features will be immediately made available to the VIP account users. VIP users will also be allowed to sync documents to the cloud with up to 10GB of available storage. Apart from this, the company has made changes under to hood in order to make the app more secure.