Monthly Archives: February 2018

Flipkart Sale on Apple Devices Till March 2: Deals on iPhone X, iPhone 8, and More

Flipkart on Tuesday kicked off another round of its Apple Days sale, giving consumers a chance to buy new iPhone, iPad, and MacBook models at discounted prices. The Flipkart sale also includes cashback offers for purchases made through SBI debit and credit cards and additional discounts on EMI transactions. The iPhone models that are a part of the new Flipkart sale include the iPhone X, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6, and iPhone SE. Likewise, there are discounts on various iPad, MacBook, and Apple Watch models. Flipkart is also offering additional exchange discounts against Android devices. The sale will run until Friday, March 2.

Flipkart sale offers on iPhone models

Under the Flipkart Apple Days sale, the iPhone X is available with a starting price of Rs. 82,999 (MRP Rs. 89,000). The iPhone X 256GB variant, on the other side, is listed on Flipkart at Rs. 97,999 (MRP Rs. 1,02,000). Customers looking for iPhone models other than the iPhone X can pick the iPhone 8 under the new sale with a starting price of Rs. 54,999 (MRP Rs. 64,000), while the iPhone 8 Plus is starting at Rs. 64,999 (MRP Rs. 73,000). Also, the iPhone 8 256GB variant is available at Rs. 69,999 (MRP Rs. 77,000) and the iPhone 8 Plus 256GB variant comes at Rs. 79,999 (MRP Rs. 86,000) under the new sale.

The iPhone 7 Plus 32GB version is available as a part of the Flipkart sale at a price of Rs. 56,999 (MRP Rs. 59,000), whereas the iPhone 7 Plus 128GB is discounted at Rs. 65,999 (MRP Rs. 68,000). For customers preferring a cheaper model over the iPhone 7 Plus, the iPhone 7 32GB variant is available at Rs. 41,999 (MRP Rs. 49,000). Flipkart is also offering the iPhone 6s Plus 32GB model at Rs. 40,999 (MRP Rs. 49,000), iPhone 6s 32GB at Rs. 32,999 (MRP Rs. 40,000), iPhone 6 32GB at Rs. 24,999 (MRP Rs. 29,500), and iPhone SE 32GB at Rs. 18,999 (MRP Rs. 26,000).

Customers buying the latest iPhone using SBI debit and credit cards can avail five percent of cashback that will be credited to their respective accounts on or before June 10, 2018. Similarly, the online marketplace is offering an exchange discount of up to Rs. 18,000.

Flipkart offers on Apple Watch, iPad, and MacBook models

Alongside the bouquet of iPhone models, the Flipkart sale includes the Apple Watch Series 1 42mmmodel at Rs. 18,900 (MRP Rs. 23,900), iPad 32GB Wi-Fi only at Rs. 22,800 (MRP Rs. 28,000), and MacBook Air base model (including 8GB RAM and 128GB SSD storage) at Rs. 57,999 (MRP Rs. 77,200).

Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ First Impressions

Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ at the Galaxy Unpacked 2018 event in Barcelona on Sunday, grabbing headlines a day before the Mobile World Congress (MWC) kicks off. While the smartphones look virtually identical to their pSredecessors, they do pack in some significant upgrades in the camera department. We managed to spend some time with the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ ahead of the launch event and here are some things that caught our eye.If it’s not broke, don’t fix it – that clearly seems to the principle behind Samsung’s design decisions for its newest flagships. From the front, the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ look no different than the Galaxy S8and Galaxy S8+, though Samsung claims to have further reduced the size of the bezels at the top and bottom. We really liked what Samsung had done with the previous Galaxy S flagships in terms of design, and Samsung has gone and fixed the one complaint we had with them in terms of design/ ergonomics – the placement of the fingerprint scanner.The quest for edge-to-edge displays has relegated the fingerprint scanner to the back of many smartphones, but instead of placing it below the camera module near the middle where it’s easily reachable, Samsung made the strange decision of putting it besides the rear camera module and flash on its previous generation flagships. This made the fingerprint scanner much harder to reach for most people and, often, indistinguishable from the camera module since you are reaching for it blind. With the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+, the fingerprint scanner is back where it should’ve been all along.With no real upgrades in terms of the looks, Samsung designed to mix things up by introducing a brand new colour with the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ – Lilac Purple. The colour will certainly grab attention and our initial impression is that Samsung has done a decent job executing a finish that will grab eyeballs without feeling over the top. The smartphones will also be available in Midnight Black, Coral Blue, and Titanium Grey colours, though at launch, not all colours may be available in all markets.Another small but potentially significant change is the addition of stereo speakers. In addition to the downwards-firing speaker, the earpiece will now double up as an additional channel to offer you stereo experience while listening to music, watching movies, or listening to your favourite podcasts. What’s more, Samsung has thrown in Dolby Atmos on the new Galaxy S9 as well as Galaxy S9+ and in the limited time that we spent with the devices, it seemed they were able to do a decent job of replicating the surround effect, given the obvious limitations of a smartphone. Of course this was as part of a controlled demo, so we will reserve further judgement on the  feature until we have a chance to test out the smartphones in detail as part of our review process.Like we said earlier, potentially the most significant upgrades the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ bring are in the camera department – super-slow mo recording at 960fps, dual aperture capability on the rear camera sensor, which is capable of shooting at f/2.4 when there’s plenty of light, but can switch to f/1.5 when the phone detects low-light conditions. This is supplemented by a secondary 12-megapixel sensor on the Galaxy S9+ for a dual rear camera setup. Needless to say, the time we spent with the Galaxy S9 duo on Sunday wasn’t enough to make any definite comments on their camera capability, and we look forward to testing them out in detail soon.

Nokia 7 Plus Gets Leaked in Fresh Round of Press Renders From China

Nokia licensee brand HMD Global‘s keynote is scheduled for February 25, just ahead of Mobile World Congress 2018in Barcelona, and we can expect the Finland-headquartered phone maker to unveil several smartphones at the event. One of the rumoured handsets is dubbed the Nokia 7 Plus. We have seen renders and leaks around it in the past; the latest leak reveals more press images of the upcoming smartphone.

In a post on Chinese social media platform Baidu Tieba, spotted by NokiaPowerUser, fresh image renders of the Nokia 7 Plus have been leaked in Black and White colour variants. The renders show a dual camera setup with a Carl Zeiss lens and dual LED flash on the back; a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor is seen below the camera lens. There is also a seemingly 18:9 display with thin bezels on the front. Both colour variants of the phone appear to have a gold lining around the camera cutout, fingerprint sensor, and the edges.

Recently, prolific tipster Evan Blass had posted similar-looking renders of the Nokia 7 Plus. According to him, this will be Nokia’s first phone to run Android One, possibly based on Android Oreo.

From previous rumours, we can expect the Nokia 7 Plus to sport a 6-inch 18:9 display, a QualcommSnapdragon 660 SoC, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of inbuilt storage, a USB Type-C port, and an aluminium unibody design.

Apart from the Nokia 7 Plus, rumours have suggested that an entry-level Nokia 1 and a flagship Nokia 9will also be announced at the HMD Global’s keynote at MWC 2018 later this month. Stay tuned to Gadgets 360 for detailed coverage around the event.

Samsung Galaxy S9, Galaxy S9+ prices leak ahead of February 25 launch, starts at Rs 67,000

Samsung is set to launch Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ on Feb 25 right ahead of MWC 2018, to be held in Barcelona. Ahead of the official launch, we have seen both the flagship phones leak a number of times which have already given us a fair idea about the specifications that the handsets may come packed with. Overall, we can expect both the Galaxy S9 and S9+ to be an upgraded version of last year’s Galaxy S8 and S8+ in almost all aspects including the design, camera, software, and hardware. Alongside the specs details, pricing of both the phones have also been leaked now.

Evan Blass on Thursday revealed that both the Galaxy S9 and the Galaxy S9+ will be much costlier than the S8 and S8+, which is obvious. According to Blass, Galaxy S9 — which is the base model of the series, will be priced around 841 (roughly around 67,000), while the Plus model or the Galaxy S9+ may be a lot more expensive than and could cost around 997 (roughly 80,000). Note that, these prices are most likely for the Snapdragon 845 variants. Blass has always been very accurate at his claims, so we can expect the Snapdragon 845 model of both the Galaxy S9 and S9+ price somewhere around as mentioned above.

Galaxy S9 and S9+, much like S8 series are expected to come in two variants one with the Snapdragon 845 processor, while the second variant is expected to be powered by Exynos 9810 chipset. Samsung most likely will bring the Exynos 9810 model to the Indian market. In comparison to the Snapdragon version, Exynos 9810 model should be much cheaper. It should be noted that the prices are yet to be confirmed by Samsung, which the company will do at its “Unpacked” event on Feb 25, and hence are subjected to change.

Going by the past rumours, Samsung may launch the Galaxy S9 packed with 4GB RAM, while the Galaxy S9+ may come with 6GB of RAM. According to another rumour which has been making rounds on the internet starting earlier this week Samsung may also bring about 256GB storage variant for the Plus model. The prices tipped by Blass are most likely for the base models of both the flagships, which is 4GB RAM for the S9, while 6GB RAM for the S9+. The 256GB model of the Galaxy S9+, if at all Samsung launches it, will be priced much higher.

Samsung together with Flipkart has already started teasing the Galaxy S9 and S9+ in India by creating a dedicated page for the handsets. Because Flipkart is now teasing the phones in question, chances are that the India launch is just around the corner, which is soon after Samsung takes the wraps off of them at its Unpacked event on Feb 25. Past rumours suggest that the Galaxy S9, S9+ will be available for pre-orders starting February 26 globally and will start shipping on March 16 onwards. However, Flipkart’s promotional banner don’t indicate any timeline as such. Samsung is generally quick to bring its Galaxy S high-end phones to India, soon after their global unveiling so things won’t likely be different for the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ duo as well.

Sony Xperia Flagship and Mid-Range Phones Leak Online Ahead of MWC 2018

Japanese electronics giant Sony will be holding its keynote on the first day of MWC 2018, February 26, and we can expect the company to announce new smartphones in its Xperia lineup. Several new leaks have surfaced online describing specifications, performance details, and pricing information for the upcoming Xperia XZ2 flagship and Xperia XZ2 Compact. Three upcoming Sony Xperia mid-range phones have also been spotted on Geekbench, with most internals listed in the database entry.

Starting off with the flagship range, Swedish blog SweDroid claims that the Xperia XZ2 will sport a 5.7-inch 18:9 aspect ratio display. The phone is expected to be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC, coupled with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of inbuilt storage. The report states that the phone will have a proprietary music feature that will make use of its vibration engine, details of which are currently unclear.

On the other hand, the Xperia XZ2 Compact is rumoured to sport a smaller 5.0-inch full-HD+ (1080×2160 pixel) display with an 18:9 aspect ratio. Even the Compact variant is expected to come with the flagship Snapdragon 845 SoC along with 4GB of RAM. Additionally, it is said to be packed into the form factor of a 4.6-inch smartphone due to its thin bezels.

This report also reveals pricing details for the two smartphones. Price in Sweden for the Xperia XZ2 is expected to be SEK 7,990 (roughly Rs. 63,900) and for the Xperia XZ2 Compact is said to be SEK 5,990 (roughly Rs. 47,900). Availability for both of them is expected to start from March 6, however the information needs to be taken with a pinch of salt considering there is no official source for the same.

Another report by AndroidSoul notes that Sony is all set to announce three new smartphones in the mid-range segment. Variants were spotted on Geekbench with model numbers Sony H3113/ Sony H3123 for the first smartphone, and Sony H4113/ Sony H4133 for the second smartphone. All of the models are said to be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 SoCs. The four variants will have 3GB RAM, Android 8.0 Oreo out-of-the-box, and Bluetooth 5.0. The report claims that the phones will opt for a full-HD (1080×1920 pixels) display instead of the full-HD+ (1080×2160 pixels) option for the flagships.

Two variants, H4213 and H4233, of the third smartphone will sport the same Snapdragon 660 SoC, albeit with an increased 4GB of RAM. This Sony smartphone is also expected to run Android Oreo out-of-the-box. It is currently not clear whether these mid-range phones will be launched at MWC 2018 or not.

Moto Z2 Force vs OnePlus 5T: ShatterShield meets minimal bezels

Lenovo owned Motorola has launched the Moto Z2 Force in India for quite a competitive price of Rs 34,999. The aggressive pricing clearly indicates that Motorola has the OnePlus 5T – which starts at Rs 32,999 for the 6GB RAM variant – in their crosshairs.

Even though the Moto Z2 Force is quite late to the party in India (it was launched globally more than six months ago), it is quite a capable smartphone. It comes with top of the line internals, a unique shatter proof display, dual cameras, a sleek and svelte metal design and a near stock build of Android 8.0 Oreo.

Motorola’s first flagship handset in India in a long time faces tough competition from the OnePlus 5T which has a modern bezel-less design, dual cameras, flagship grade internals and an edge-to-edge 18:9 display.

HOW DOES THE MOTO Z2 FORCE STACK UP AGAINST THE MIGHTY ONEPLUS 5T? LET’S FIND OUT:

1

When it comes to design, both smartphones are as different as chalk as cheese. While both look sleek premium and classy, the OnePlus 5T has a modern bezel-less design while the Moto Z2 Force looks slightly dated with its substantial top and bottom bezels and run of the mill 16:9 display. Having said that, the Z2 Force feels incredibly premium thanks to its series 7000 aluminium construction. At just 6mm thick, it is incredibly sleek as well. There is very little to choose between the two smartphones in terms of build quality – both are built extremely well with no creaks and rattles to be found anywhere.

2

Both smartphones have their own set of pros and cons in the display department. Not only does the Moto Z2 Force’s display have a higher resolution (QuadHD vs FullHD on the 5T), it is also shatter proof – which means it will not shatter or crack from every day falls. The Z2 Force is one of the few smartphones under Rs 40,000 – barring the Nokia 8 – to come with a QuadHD display. As a result, text as well as multimedia content look razor sharp. However, the plastic ShatterShield display scratches and dents extremely easily making a plastic screenguard almost a necessity. The OnePlus 5T strikes back with an 18:9 panel. While the Z2 Force’s panel has a bog standard 16:9 aspect ratio, the OnePlus 5T’s 18:9 display flows from edge to edge. Both smartphones use AMOLED panels which ensure deeper blacks and vivid colours.

3

With similar internals (Snapdragon 835 + Adreno 540 GPU + 6GB of RAM), there is very little to choose between the OnePlus 5T and Moto Z2 Force when it comes to performance. Both smartphones tackle both day to day use and intensive workloads with aplomb. Gaming is a similar experience as well – both handle anything from casual titles like Subway Surfers and intensive games like Asphalt 8 without any prominent dropped frames or judders.

4

While the Moto Z2 Force runs on a near stock build of Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box, the OnePlus 5T runs on OnePlus’s own Oxygen OS based on Android 8.0 Oreo. Oxygen OS is a very light skin that is almost as streamlined and easy to use as stock Android. The Z2 Force comes with a few Motorola software additions such as as gestures like twist for opening the camera, an always on display which Motorola calls ‘Moto Display’, Moto Voice and a nifty Night Display mode. While android purists would prefer the Motorola’s software package, Oxygen OS offers slightly more customizability.

5

While the OnePlus 5T has better battery life out of the box than the Z2 Force, the latter has an ace up its sleeve. Motorola India is bundling a Moto TurboPowerPack Mod worth Rs 5,999 with every Moto Z2 Force. With the TurboPower Pack on, the Z2 Force becomes an endurance champion and delivers more than two days of battery life – even with moderate to intensive use.

6

While both the OnePlus 5T and Moto Z2 Force come with dual camera setups at the rear, the implementation varies greatly. The Z2 Force has a dual 12MP RGB+ Monochrome setup which not only captures images with depth of field effects but (theoretically) improves low light shots. The OnePlus 5T one the other hand has a 16MP regular sensor paired with a 20MP secondary sensor tuned specifically for low-light images. On the front, the OnePlus 5T has a 16MP sensor while the Moto Z2 Force has a 5MP sensor with a dual-LED flash.

7

The biggest problem with the OnePlus 5T is the fact that the secondary sensor does not really help in low-light. Images shot in low-light conditions have a considerable amount of noise and grain. The Z2 Force also struggles in low light. Low light performance – while not as bad as the OnePlus 5T – is far from flagship grade. In well lit conditions, both smartphones produce good images with adequate detail and minimal noise. While the 5T has better colour reproduction, the Z2 Force’s camera is extremely fast – with almost zero shutter lag.

8

All in all, both smartphones offer tremendous value for money. If you want a no-nonsense smartphone with superb performance, a modern bezel-less design and fluid software, the OnePlus 5T definitely makes for a great (and sensible) buy. However, the Z2 Force, thanks to Moto Mods, the genuinely nifty ShatterShield technology and its razor sharp QuadHD display, makes for an admittedly left-field yet more special buy.