Samsung Galaxy S9, Galaxy S9+ dominating India’s premium smartphone segment, say analysts

The Samsung Galaxy S9 and the Galaxy S9+ were the most sought-after premium high-end phones in the Indian market, in Q1 2018, according to data released by research firm CyberMedia Research (CMR). According to CMR, Galaxy S9/Galaxy S9+ shipments were 180 per cent higher than Google Pixel 2/ Pixel 2 XL and Apple iPhone 8/iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X during the first quarter of 2018 in the Indian smartphone market.

Apple was right up the charts in Q4 2017 with the launch of the iPhone X and iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, but during Q1 2018, shipments of its premium high-end smartphones declined by 74 per cent, according to the research firm. Apple, in fact, seems to have been hit the most this quarter, with its market share declining from 82 per cent to a paltry 25 per cent. Google, meanwhile, sank from 11 per cent to 2 per cent during the same quarter,, suggesting hype around its Pixel 2 phones may be dying now even as it looks to launch its next-generation Pixel phones in the days to come.

The numbers are particularly encouraging for Samsung since it was pretty quick to launch the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ in India, soon after their global launch. The phones were globally announced in February, and launched in India in March: the fastest ever for a Galaxy S-phone.

The company had initially launched only the 64GB and the 256GB versions of the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ phones in India. While the 64GB version of the Galaxy S9 sells in India at Rs 57,900, the top-end 256GB version of the phone is available for Rs 65,900. The Galaxy S9+ meanwhile starts at Rs 64,900 for the 64GB version, going all the way to Rs 72,900 for the top-end 256GB version. Soon after, Samsung also launched the 128GB version of the phones, giving buyers one more option to choose from. The Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ 128GB version are available for buying from across online and offline stores at Rs 61,900 and Rs 68,900 respectively.

The Galaxy S9 and the Galaxy S9+ are incremental upgrades to last year’s Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ — largely in design and core hardware — but both the phones offer different set of specifications. In simple terms, while the Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy S8+ were more or less the same deal differing only in screen size and battery capacities, the Galaxy S9 and the Galaxy S9+ are a lot different from each other.

Source:https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/news/story/samsung-galaxy-s9-galaxy-s9-dominating-india-s-premium-smartphone-segment-say-analysts-1222256-2018-04-28

Nokia X With iPhone X-Like Notch Launching on May 16, Nokia N8 Relaunch on the Cards Too

Nokia X6 was expected to unveil yesterday in China, but HMD Global did not make a splash with its iPhone X-lookalke. Apparently, the Nokia X6 launch will be held roughly 2 weeks from now, with the company posting a photo of the handset, showing the notch above the display. The handset, however, may be called the Nokia X instead of the X6, going by a HMD Global post. Apart from this, the company seems to be working on a relaunch of the Nokia N8-00 smartphone.

Two posts on Weibo by HMD Global confirm that the company will be unveiling its next smartphone – the Nokia X – at an event scheduled for May 16, going by the loose translation. The photo shown in the post reveals Nokia’s first smartphone will sport a notch and an edge-to-edge display. Apart from that, there is a slight chin on the bottom that comes with Nokia branding.

As per previous reports, the upcoming Nokia X (or Nokia X6) is expected to run Android One-based Android 8.1 Oreo out-of-the-box. It will most likely sport a 5.8-inch full-HD+ (1080×2280 pixels) display with a 19:9 aspect ratio. In terms of internals, the smartphone might arrive with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 or a MediaTek Helio P60 SoC, coupled with 4GB/ 6GB RAM and 64GB/ 128GB inbuilt storage. On the back, the phone might get a dual camera setup with a 12-megapixel Carl Zeiss lens.

Apart from this, a teaser posted on Weibo, HMD hinted towards the launch of a modernised version of a phone from the N series. The teaser states that the Nokia N series made its debut on April 27 in 2005, exactly 13 years back. The image shows the Nokia N8 so it wouldn’t be entirely wrong to assume that this is the phone that will be relaunched between April 27 and May 2.

Source:https://gadgets.ndtv.com/mobiles/news/nokia-n8-teased-for-launch-nokia-x-confirmed-to-launch-on-may-16-1844166

Apple iPhone SE 2 rumor round up: Everything we know so far

Like its predecessor, the iPhone SE, the iPhone SE 2 is expected to have a good showing in markets like India. And while reports suggest that it will have an iPhone X-inspired edge-to-edge display, there are also some conflicting reports that suggest otherwise.

Some early reports suggested the phone will retain the same 4-inch display size of its predecessor, but that was challenged when an image from Chinese social network Weibo showed up, revealing a radically different iPhone SE 2 with a full-screen notched display and no Home Button like that of the iPhone X.

This also indicated that the iPhone SE 2 might not feature Touch ID and shift completely to the iPhone X’s Face ID facial recognition for security and authentication. However, later reports suggested that Apple may not include Face ID in the new handset.

Source: https://www.ibtimes.co.in/apple-iphone-se-2-rumor-round-everything-we-know-so-far-767952

Moto Z3 Play sports two rear cameras and glass back in leaked renders

Moto Z3 Play has been in news a lot lately owing to the frequent design leaks that keep making the headlines. However, these images have mostly been in the form of concept images that are based on design specifications, features or case renders and can sometimes bear little resemblance to the device that makes to the launch. But finally we have got an official render of the upcoming Moto Z3 Play.

As the rumours about Moto Z3 Play continues to fuel our curiosity, Android Headlines has released what is it purports to be the phones first official render. The image, which has been provided to the website by a reliable source, shows the phone sporting a dual rear camera setup. This is the first time that Motorola will be introducing a dual camera setup to its Play series. Apart from this, the leaked press render has also confirmed that the phone will sport an aspect ratio of 18:9 along with a gorgeous glass back and that it would feature support for Moto Mods.

While the image does not reveal much about the phone, it does provide a detailed view of the front and back end of the Motos upcoming device. From what we can see so far, Moto Z3 Play will feature the fingerprint scanner, which is traditionally placed either on the front or on the rear side of the phone, on the right side of the phone along with the power button saving more space. You can also see a USB Type-C port at the bottom of the phone.

Source:https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/news/story/moto-z3-play-sports-two-rear-cameras-and-glass-back-in-leaked-renders-1220576-2018-04-26