Monthly Archives: February 2018

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:

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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.

Here’s why Samsung unexpectedly stopped Android Oreo rollout for Galaxy S8, S8+

Just a week after rolling out the Android Oreo update for Galaxy S8 and S8, Samsung unexpectedly stopped the service. The reason behind the halt, until now, was unknown. But, Samsung on Thursday, addressed the matter, and said that the company decided to stop the rollout after some users reported of unexpected reboots after updating their devices to Oreo.

Several Galaxy S8 and S8+ users, as reported by SamMobile complained of unexpected reboots after updating their handsets to Oreo. Soon after Samsung heard about users facing the issue, the company addressed the problem and is apparently investigating it. Samsung on Thursday, via an official statement confirmed the reason behind stopping the rollout and said that they are looking into the matter and will come out with a new update soon.

“Following a limited number of cases where Galaxy S8 and S8+ devices have rebooted unexpectedly with the Android 8.0 Oreo, we have temporarily stopped the rollout of the update,” notes Samsung while addressing the unexpected halt of the software rollout. Going forward the South Korean smartphone manufacturer said that they are currently investigating the issue. “We are investigating the issue internally to ensure that the impact to the affected devices is minimized and the rollout of the update can resume as quickly as possible,” notes Samsung.

So, in case you have downloaded the update on your Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+, but haven’t installed it yet, then the downloaded update files will be deleted automatically. On the other hand, users who have already updated their devices to Android 8.0 Oreo need not worry or do anything, and can continue using their phones as they have been ever since the update started rolling out.

Samsung did confirm that the company is working on the matter and will soon resume the update, but the company, as for now, didn’t give any estimation on when the update process will resume. However, we can expect the rollout to recommence in the next couple of days.

To recall, the Oreo update came along with a new version of Samsung Experience UI, aka the Samsung Experience 9.0 on top and also the February security patch. The update included several features, including — the new launcher shortcuts, colourful media notifications, improvements to biometric functions and Samsung keyboard, Dual Messenger, and also revamped the “About” section in Settings to the Galaxy S8 and also S8+. In addition, the Oreo update also included features like — Notification dots, Autofill, contextual app shortcuts, Picture-in-Picture, and faster boot time. The Oreo update also brought along improvements to the overall performance of the devices, and also the battery life.

Why Android Is Copying the iPhone X’s Most Hated Feature

Sometimes imitation is just a baffling form of flattery. Nowhere is that more often the case than with Android and iOS, dueling mobile operating systems that have been “borrowing” features from one another for years. Many of these moves have made sense: The iPhone slowly adopted popular Android phone elements such as wireless charging and edge-to-edge displays, while Google has learned from Apple’s App Store and quick settings menu. But in the next version of its mobile operating system, Google plans to emulate one of the iPhone X’s least favorable features: the notch at the top of the display.

According to a report from Bloomberg, Google is working on an “overhaul” of its Android platform that will include the iPhone X’s signature notch at the top of its displays. For many phone owners and reviewers, that notch was one of their least-liked features: At the polite end of the spectrum, CNN Tech’s Heather Kelly felt that Apple went “a little too far to push its screen to the very edges of the device.” Daring Fireball’s John Gruber, meanwhile, said that the notch offends him, calling it “ungainly and unnatural.” Developers have since created apps that mask the unsightly affectation. Why then, would Google want to cop this iOS feature in the next version of Android?

The reason Google would implement the notch isn’t so much because it’s a popular design element—since it’s not—but rather because of what it enables. Behind that black notch is an infrared sensor and emitter that Apple uses to scan your face. Paired with the phone’s front-facing camera, it can capture infrared images, 2-D images, and 3-D images, thanks to the sensor’s ability to capture the depth and angle of each point of infrared light—30,000 of them, in this case—that hits your face. With this technology Apple gets an exceedingly accurate picture of your unique facial dimensions, which it can use for biometric authentication, for augmented reality, and for fun, silly applications like Animoji.

Already, some Android handsets have opted for notched designs. Bloomberg notes that a handset from Essential, former Android chief Andy Rubin’s company, also features a notched display, while an upcoming Huawei handset will also sport the notch. Not all Android phones will have or need this notch though, even if Google builds it into the next version of the operating system. A patent published in mid-January revealed that Samsung was already exploring ways to include additional Face ID–style sensors at the very top edge of the device. Other hardware manufacturers unable to position the sensors that high up on the display could instead opt for elongating the top bezel to hide it.

The “notch,” while not attractive, does add a tiny bit more real estate at the top of the phone’s screen, though, and by including notch compatibility into its OS, it could mean that Google will build on top of what Apple has done—perhaps Android will use that extra, awkwardly sized space at the top of the screen as a display space for settings or notifications. Phones like the LG V20 have taken a stab at this with a smaller, customizable secondary display at the top of the screen where you can add shortcuts to frequently used apps or phone settings. It turns what might otherwise be an overly large bezel or an ugly notch into a valuable, unique utility. Google could also use the space as a permanent spot for the Android search bar, or a way to easily access Google Assistant. The upcoming OS, dubbed Android P, is said to heavily emphasizeGoogle’s voice-based virtual assistant.

Google reportedly hopes that adding such a notch to its handset—along with an overarching design update—will entice iOS users to switch to the Android side, either because of the features it provides, or because it makes the phones look more iPhone-like. At this point, though, it seems that Google at least, among Android phone-makers, has moved beyond simply trying to make phones that are iPhone copycats. The Google Pixel 2—the company’s latest flagship—is an excellent phone in its own right. As long as Google continues to bolster its seamless integration with Google Services and improve Google Assistant’s capabilities and Google Home compatibility—and Android phone-makers continue to make devices with excellent cameras and battery performance—the platform will draw iOS users looking for a change or frustrated by Apple’s recent fiascos. Adding a notch shouldn’t really be necessary, as long as Android hasn’t been secretly throttling phone performance.

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 may not come with under-display fingerprint sensor: Report

Samsung is set to launch the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ on February 25, right ahead of Mobile World Congress 2018. Alongside the two flagship devices, the South Korean smartphone manufacturer is also planning to bring a new wireless charger, which will somewhat resemble the existing one, as far as the design is concerned, hint reports. Apart from these products, Samsung is also working on the successor of the Galaxy Note 8, aka Note 9, which the company may launch this fall. Earlier it was rumoured that Samsung may launch the Galaxy Note 9 with under display fingerprint sensor, but now, the new reports reveal a completely different story.

According to a report by Mobile Syrup, Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Note 9 may have the fingerprint sensor placed at the back panel of the device, under the rear camera and not under the display as rumoured earlier. This means that we may see the Galaxy Note 9 with a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor.

 It is back in October last year that reports of Note 9 coming with fingerprint sensor under the display surfaced online. However, now a new rumour coming from Samsung’s home country of Korea claims that won’t be the case. It seems that the project that was supposed to bring the embedded fingerprint sensor to Note 9 has been stopped recently due to some technical difficulties.

ALSO READ: Samsung Galaxy S9 Exynos 9810 variant spotted on GeekBench with Android Oreo, 4GB RAM

Several suppliers have been working with Samsung for the past two years to bring the under-display sensors. Some sources in the industry claim that the accuracy and durability of such (under display) sensors are both lower compared to a traditional unit.

To recall, as of now, we have only one device that comes with Synaptics-made optical sensor under its screen, it is the Vivo X20 Plus UD.

Explaining how these under display sensors work, the report notes that the accuracy of such sensors suffer when an optical sensor is employed, this is because the fingerprint input is received through a semi-transparent display — the OLED touchscreen. On the other hand, if a capacitive model is used then there will durability concerns this is because it is mounted on top of the display. While, on the other hand, the ultrasonic sensors don’t suffer from any of these problems, however, are expensive and also takes longer to recognize the fingerprint compared to that of the conventional scanners.

Samsung LSI, Qualcomm, Synaptics, Taiwan’s IGES TEC, and Korea’s Beyond Eyes are all reportedly working with the South Korean smartphone manufacturer to develop these sensors. Chances are that all of these above-mentioned issues will be resolved by the forthcoming year and we may see the future flagship devices by Samsung, after the Galaxy Note 9 come with under-display fingerprint sensors.

iPhone SE, 9.7-Inch iPad Now Available for Rs. 15,000 With HDFC EMI Cashback Offer

HDFC Bank has partnered with Apple to offer cashback on several iPhone and iPad models in India. Gadgets 360 has learnt that a cashback of Rs. 10,000 on iPad variants and Rs. 7,000 on select iPhone variants will be applicable on EMI transactions done with HDFC Bank debit and credit cards. The offer is valid from February 9-14 via Apple authorised offline retailers only.

The Apple iPad 9.7-inch (32GB, Wi-Fi-only) will be available at an effective price of Rs. 15,000, down from its current MOP of Rs. 25,000. Additionally, all other iPad models (available in India) will be applicable for the same cashback of Rs. 10,000.

Talking about iPhone variants, a Rs. 7,000 cashback is applicable on the iPhone SE as well as the iPhone 6. The Apple iPhone SE (32GB) can be bought at an effective price of Rs. 15,000, down from its current MOP of Rs. 22,000. The iPhone 6 is available for an effective price of Rs. 20,000, down from its current MOP of Rs. 27,000.

Do note that some retailers may apply the offer casthe devices at MOP and some at MRP, so your mileage may cashback may vary. The MRP of the iPhone 6 is Rs. 31,900, the iPhone SE is Rs. 26,000, and the iPad 9.7-inch (32GB, Wi-Fi only) is Rs. 28,000.

HDFC Bank had recently partnered with Apple to offer a cashback of up to Rs. 12,000 on several iPhone models including the iPhone X, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and more. This offer is currently live and valid till March 11 across offline retailers. All variants in the offer, except iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 6s, and iPhone 6s Plus, are subject to interest depending on the EMI period.

Samsung Galaxy S9+ Spotted in Coral Blue Colour Ahead of MWC 2018 Launch

Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ are expected to arrive in four colour options at launch, of which the second one has been leaked in a fresh set of press renders. After Lilac Purple, the Coral Blue variant has been outed on Twitter. This render shows the Galaxy S9+ in the mentioned colour variant. The Samsung Galaxy S9 duo are set to be unveiled at the sidelines of Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona later this month.

Reputed tipster Evan Blass took to Twitter to reveal renders of the Coral Blue colour variant is expected for both the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+. While Blass has previously claimed that the lineup will get four colour variants – Lilac Purple, Midnight Black, Titanium Gray, and Coral Blue – the photo shows only the bigger Galaxy S9+ in the specified colour option.

As previously rumoured, the latest Galaxy S9+ leaked render flaunts a dual camera setup at the back along with a new vertical placement of the fingerprint sensor that appears bigger than the one seen on the Galaxy S8 range. Apart from that, the phone is shown to have black bezels on both colour variants revealed till now.As mentioned earlier, the Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ will be announced at the Galaxy Unpacked 2018 event in Barcelona on February 25. Except the new fingerprint sensor placement and dual camera setup (only on Galaxy S9+), the two phones are expected to look a lot like their Galaxy S8 counterparts. Additionally, we can expect an upgraded camera experience (variable aperture), faster chipsets (Snapdragon 845 and Exynos 9810), more RAM (4GB on Galaxy S9 and 6GB on Galaxy S9+), and other features that will be revealed at the launch event later this month.