Xiaomi may soon be following Motorola in putting a 200-megapixel camera in an upcoming smart phone, as it seems that the former is working in the tech too. Reports claim that there is another phone that will launch with a 200-megapixel sensor. Said phone will also feature a 120Hz display, 5,000 mAh battery, and a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset.
While the leak didn’t name the brand, some speculate that it is a Xiaomi phone. More specifically, the Redmi K50S Pro or the Xiaomi 12T Pro. Both may end up being the same phone, just different names for different regions.
The sensor is going to be from Samsung, either their ISOCELL HP1 or ISOCELL HP3. Both are 200 megapixels, with the difference being the pixel size and optical format – 1/1.22” and 0.64µm and 1/1.4” and 0.56µm, respectively (before 4-in-1 binning).
Motorola is using the larger HP1 sensor, recently posting a camera sample of it. The sample shows what the sensor can do with its 4-in-1 pixel binning enabled, which is still a 50-megapixel picture.
It’s not quite clear which sensor Xiaomi will go for. However, given the flagship spec 8+ Gen 1 chipset, The HP1 makes more sense.
Xiaomi 12S Ultra
Xiaomi’s latest flagship, the recently launched 12S Ultra, currently features a 50-megapixel main camera. Compared to this, the HP1 sensor sounds better on paper. It will be interesting to see how the sensor will perform in real world testing. The Xiaomi 12S Ultra features an ultra-wide and telephoto lens, which are both 48-megapixel. The telephoto camera has a periscope lens, giving it up to 120x zoom capabilities. Furthermore, will the current partnership between Xiaomi and Leica continue for the upcoming device? We will have to wait and watch to find out.
A 200-megapixel ultra premium smartphone sounds quite exciting. But, as smartphone prices creep further upwards, how many people will actually buy one? A 200-megapixel flagship is not going to be cheap. Let us know your thoughts below.
Asus has finally announced the launch date of its flagship, the Zenfone 9. The company announced that the smartphone will be released in global markets on July 28. The launch event will take place in Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, and will be live-streamed as well. Globally, the smartphone will be launched as the Zenfone 9, but in India, it will be known as the 9z.
Asus has teased that the Zenfone 9 will be “Compact Size”, hinting at its size. Last year’s Zenfone 8 was a delight, compact and one-hand usable, like the android equivalent to the iPhone 13 mini. Unlike last year, Asus may not launch two phones, with the Zenfone 9 launching only as reports suggest.
Asus Zenfone 9: Specifications
Specifications of the Asus Zenfone 9 are yet to be confirmed. However, a leaked video from last week revealed a number of features and specs. Powering the Zenfone 9 will be Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor. The display is a 5.9-inch AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate while the battery is a 4300 mAh unit with 65W fast charging support.
Video Via GSMArena
The two biggest talking points from the leak are the cameras and Zentouch. The Asus Zenfone 9 will use Sony’s 50-megapixel IMX766 sensor as the main shooter. Though the sensor is used by a lot of other smartphones, its Asus’ integration of a 6-axis hybrid gimbal stabilizer that makes it unique. Gimbals are mainly used to give increased stability to cameras. It will be interesting to see how it performs in the Zenfone 9.
The other big feature is what Asus has dubbed the Zentouch. It allows the power button (itself dubbed the Smart Key) to essentially work as a scroll wheel to slide up and down webpages. It has been ages since scroll wheels on phones went extinct, and this could be the best way to make a comeback. The power button also works as a fingerprint sensor.
Other features include a 3.5mm jack (always welcome), dual speakers, and an IP68 water resistance rating.
Asus Zenfone 9: Price
Though prices for the Asus Zenfone 9 haven’t been revealed yet, a tipster suggested the Zenfone 9 could cost between EUR 800 (INR 64,700) and EUR 900 (INR 72,800. The leaked video also showed off the colour choices for the Zenfone 9, red, white, blue, and black. What do you think of the Zenfone 9? Would you be interested in buying it? Tell us in the comments below.
Tech giant Google has officially confirmed that it will be bringing the Pixel Buds Pro to India this month. The TWS earbuds will be up for pre-order starting July 21, with retail sales starting a week later on July 28. Google hadn’t revealed the availability of the Pixel Buds Pro when it was revealed globally back in May. The Buds Pro are Google’s first earbuds to come with Active Noise Cancellation. It will join the Pixel Buds A series that’s already on sale in the country.
The Google Pixel Buds Pro come with custom-designed hardware, algorithms and sensors that allow the earbuds to automatically adjust both the fit and sound output. It allows support for hands-free Google Assistant and offers real-time translation of 40 languages.
Like the original Pixel Buds, the Buds Pro comes with features like Fast Pair and Volume EQ. New features other than ANC include transparency mode, and IPX4 dust and water resistance. Google has also confirmed that the Pixel Buds Pro will get Spatial audio head tracking at a later date via OTA updates.
Pixel Buds Pro price in India (tentative)
Prices for the Pixel Buds Pro in India haven’t been revealed yet. However, with the Buds being priced at $199(INR 15800) internationally, expect them to be priced between INR 15,000 – 20,000 here. The Pixel Buds A series was priced at $99 internationally and was launched in India at a price of INR 9,999.
Google Pixel 6a Release Date
At the same Google I/O, the company also revealed the Pixel 6a. Google stated that the mid-range offering will be more widely available compared to its premium siblings. The Pixel 6a is going to be available for pre-orders globally from July 21 as well. Google already confirmed that the Pixel 6a will be launched in India. This will be the first time since the Pixel 4a, that launched two years back, that Google will launched a Pixel phone in India.
Apple released the latest iOS 16 developer beta last month during WWDC 2022. However, since developer betas require an Apple Developer Program membership and the OS is not considered stable, not many download it. Beta software is also not recommended for daily use as it can be super buggy and problematic. Apple has just launched the public beta for iOS 16, which is free and should be a bit more stable, since it is designed for public testing. All one has to do is sign up to the Apple Beta Software program, enrol your device and install the config file to get iOS 16 on your device.
Here’s how you can update your iPhone to iOS 16.
Do note that you should take the necessary precautions before updating like backing up your device if you want to roll back to iOS 15.
Step 1: Sign up for Apple Beta Software Program
After backing up your device, here are the steps you should follow
Tap on the Sign-Up button at the bottom of the page.
You can use either Touch ID or Face ID to login into the Apple ID attached to your iPhone.
Read and accept the Apple Beta Software Program Agreement.
On the next page, scroll to the bottom to Get Started enroll your iOS device, which should be hyperlinked. This will take you to another page, where Apple will give you everything you need to do to download and install iOS 16 public beta on your iPhone.
Step 2: Installing the iOS 16 public beta configuration profile
Once you scroll down the page, you’ll reach a section called Install Profile. You will need to install a configuration profile on your iPhone if you want to download and install the iOS 16 public beta to your device.
A configuration profile basically allows a third party to manage your device, Apple in this scenario. While one can have valid concerns about whether this is a privacy breach or not, this configuration profile simply allows Apple to deliver and manage the iOS 16 public beta on your iPhone.
To install the profile, click on the blue Download profile button and then tap Allow in the following pop-up prompt. After that, go to the Settings app and click Profile Download at the top of the page, after which it should you a window for the iOS 16 public beta configuration profile. Click install, enter your passcode and further follow onscreen instructions. Finally, restart your phone to get the OTA iOS 16 public beta update.
Step 3: Download and install iOS 16 public beta
After your iPhone boots up, go to Settings > General> Software Update,hit Download and Install and enter your passcode to begin the process of updating to iOS 16 public beta. If for some reason you do not see the Download and Install option, try waiting for a short while or clear some of your memory to make space.
You won’t be able to download and install iOS 16 on your device if you don’t have enough internal memory. Once everything is sorted, you should be seeing a loading bar that will show the estimated time of download. After the download is complete, reboot your device and wait for iOS 16 public beta to install. Once your iPhone is booted up, you should be seeing the new iOS 16 public beta running on your device.
Samsung is gearing up for the global launch of the Galaxy Z Flip 4. It will be releasing alongside the Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Watch 5 Series. All three devices are expected to be revealed at the August Unpacked event with launch dates to be announced at the same event. Now, ahead of the release, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 has been spotted on the FCC’s(Federal Communications Commission) website in the US. The smartphone’s network, Wi-Fi details, and more has been revealed in the listing. We are going to have a look.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4: FCC Certification Details
On the FCC website, few the Galaxy Z Flip 4’s (model number SM-F721U) specs can be seen. The website confirms that the device will be supporting multiple global 4G and 5G bands. Other features like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi 802.11a/n/ac/ax, GNSS, NFC, and wireless charging have been listed as well. he device was also used with a wireless charging pad during the certification process. The Galaxy Z Flip 4 will have its antenna on the left. These are the only features that have been confirmed by the site.
What We Know So Far
Back in may, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 was spotted on Geekbench. According to the listing, the device will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, Adreno 730 GPU, Android 12 operating system, and 8GB of RAM. The Z Flip 4 will come with a 12 megapixel and 10 megapixel dual camera setup. As per reports, the front camera of the Z Flip 4 will be an under the display unit.
The display itself is speculated to be a 6.78-inch Full HD+ AMOLED screen with 120Hz refresh rate. The outer display is expected to be a 2.1-inch AMOLED screen. The Galaxy Z Flip 4 is expected to pack in a larger battery compared to the Z Flip 3, 3,700 mAh to 3,300 mAh. The device will support 25W fast charging compared to the 15W charging on the Z Flip 3. Expect the smartphone to launch with the Android 12 based OneUI 4.1 out of the box.
Motorola didn’t launch a new Razr in 2021, with reports and leaked details strongly suggesting a new model to be launching this year. Yesterday, the upcoming Motorola Razr (codename Maven) was officially showcased in China. Though it was more of a sneak peek than a full reveal, the pictures give us a glimpse at the foldable’s design.
Chen Jin, Lenovo Mobile Chia GM showcased the next Motorola Razr at a press event. The handful of pictures taken shows the device in both folded and unfolded form. As seen in the images, the new Razr ditches the “chin” design of the earlier models that emulated the original 2000s Razr.
Pictures of the new Razr, when closed, give us a look at the new dual-cameras at the bottom right corner. The new Razr design actually looks quite similar to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3.
A teaser video posted on Weibo further shows off the new Motorola Razr. The new hinge looks inspired by Samsung’s design, as well as the new larger outer display, the main USP of the Galaxy Z Flip.
Previous leaks have already confirmed that the new Motorola Razr will be powered by a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset. The latest spec leaks suggest that the new Razr will feature a 6.7-inch P-OLED folding screen, 120 Hz refresh rate, and a redesigned hinge. The outer display is expected to be bigger than before at 3-inches. Camera duties will be handled by a 50-megapixel main camera and a 13-megapixel ultra-wide.
Nothing Techis the latest venture from Carl Pei, Ex co-founder of OnePlus. Nothing’s first product was the Nothing Ear (1), a pair of TWS earbuds with a transparent design. And now, after months of slow reveals and teasers, Nothing has finally launched its first phone. Aptly named the Nothing Phone (1), the phone has been one of the most anticipated launches in recent memory. We at iGyaan take a look at the latest smartphone in the market.
Nothing Phone 1 Design
Nothing founder Carl Peihad promised that its first smartphone will stand apart from its competitors, and it is safe to say they have succeeded. The Nothing Phone (1) comes with a bezel-less display, giving it a uniform width across the screen. The frame is made from completely recycled aluminium.
However, the most striking and talked about aspect of the device is the back, which features a transparent design. The phone “shows off” its internals, something that no other manufacturer has done with their products yet. The back of the Nothing Phone (1) also features a number of LED lights, dubbed the Glyph Interface. The LEDs have unique light patterns depending upon the scenario, for example, the LED lights on the bottom of the phone acts as a charging indicator. There are also preset ringtones that uses the Glyph Interface which lights up the LEDs in a set pattern in sync with the ringtone. Furthermore, users can add their own sounds, which the LEDs automatically sync to.
Nothing Phone 1 Specifications
The Nothing Phone (1) is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 778G+ chipset while the Adreno 642L handles GPU duties. The device will be launching in three variants, either with 8GB ram and 128 GB internal storage space, 8GB and 256 or with 12 GB and 256 GB. Unfortunately, there’s no expandable storage. On the software side, the device features Android 12 out of the box, with the company’s own Nothing OS 1 UI skin making its debut. Nothing is providing 3 years of OS updates, and a further year of security patches.
The display of the Nothing Phone (1) is a 6.5 inch, 2400 x 1080 flexible OLED unit. The screen features an adaptive refresh rate of 120 Hz and supports HDR10+. Due to the phone’s flexible OLED panel, the screen bends round the sides, giving the screen a uniform width across all corners. The display is a flat unit, unlike some of its competitors. Also unlike some of its rivals, the Nothing Phone (1) comes with a dual-rear camera setup. Both the main shooter (f/1.8) and the ultra-wide(f/2.2) are 50 megapixels. The rear cameras can record videos at 4K/30Fps and features OIS. The Glyph LED lights also act as a fill flash, there is a standard flash LED apart from the Glyph. The front camera is a 16-megapixel unit that can also record videos at 1080p/30fps.
Pricing And Availability
Sales for The Nothing Phone (1) will start at 7 PM IST on 21st July 2022, exclusively on Flipkart in India. It will be available in two colour options, black or white, and three variants to choose from, 8GB/128GB (INR 32,999), 8GB/256GB (INR 35,999), and the 12GB/256GB (INR 38,999). The Nothing Phone (1) will be initially available in an invite-only basis. You can go to their official website and register to join the invite list. The registration costs INR 2000, which is non-refundable but will be adjusted when you buy the device. Customers who pre-ordered will get a further discount of INR 1000.
HDFC Bank is providing an Instant discount of Rs 2000 which can be clubbed together with their 3 and 6 months easy EMI option. All other banks are offering 3 months Easy EMI. Since the Nothing Phone (1) is following the current smartphone trend of not proving a charger in the box, you can buy the 45W adapter for INR 2499(INR 1499 for pre-order customers). Pre-order customers can also buy The Nothing Ear (1) TWS earbuds at a discount of INR 1000, bringing the price down to INR 5999.
The Nothing Phone (1) enters a hot contested category in the smartphone business. It will be interesting to see if Carl Pei’s latest hype product disrupts the market as much as the original OnePlus 1. What do you think about Nothing Phone (1)?
Stay tuned for iGyaan’s full review the Nothing Phone (1) in a few days.
Nothing to see here yet, but the company has announced that it is working on the Nothing Smartphone. Dubbed the Nothing phone (1), the nomenclature pays homage to the acquisition of Essential, whose first phone was named the Essential Phone 1.
There is little known of the phone (1) for now, except that it will run on Qualcomm hardware, S8 Gen 1 most likely. If Nothing uses the same design philosophy as its current product the ear (1), then we can expect the phone (1) to also have a transparent design. Transparent designs are not new for smartphones, Xiaomi previously launched a transparent design phone the Mi 9 Explorer Edition, which was later found to be spoofing the internal design with a middle vanity cover.
Nothing co-founder Carl Pei also confirmed that the focus of the brand will be to build an ecosystem and focus more on user experiences which they aim to enable with the Nothing OS. Nothing claims :
Nothing OS captures the best features of pure Android, distilling the operating system to just the essentials, where every byte has a purpose. It is designed to deliver a fast, smooth and personal experience. A coherent interface, the hardware seamlessly integrates with software through bespoke fonts, colours, graphical elements and sounds. A first preview of Nothing OS will be available via its launcher that will be available to download on select smartphone models from April.
As claimed above, an Android launcher for a preview of the Nothing OS will be available in April, allowing users to experience the initial and basic potential of the Nothing OS.
Building an original “Oneplus” like strong community will be important for Nothing at this stage. To move towards that goal, the company made some further announcements. Nothing will open its doors to US$ 10 Million crowdfunding, so that its users and community can invest in the brand. The company has already raised US$ 144 Million and created partnerships with brands like Qualcomm, which seems to be good PR for now.
However, the strategy seems to be targeted towards a ground up approach for technology integration. A jab at the Apple way of doing things, if you may.
The Nothing phone (1) will generate enough hype, there is no question. However, what matters is the end result. A disruption in the saturated Smartphone market or yet another “flagship killer”?
LG G1 OLED tv is the flagship tv for the company in 2021. It features a new OLED EVO panel which is extremely bright and features a high dynamic range. The tv runs on webOS and has support for all OTT streaming apps. The magic remote works like an air mouse and makes inputting text and navigating the UI super easy. The design of the tv is premium with extremely thin bezels, and a flush wall mount. check out our video to find out more about the LG G1
Samsung launched the Galaxy S21 series on 14th of January 2021. While the S21 will be a popular device all eyes are on the Galaxy S21 Ultra which apart from being a flagship, shows off what the company is not only capable of, but, also what direction it is heading in.
The Galaxy S21 Ultra starts at a price of Rs. 105999 for the 12 GB variant with 256GB storage and costs Rs. 116999 for the 16 GB variant with 512 GB storage. There are discounts however, during preorder a Rs. 6000 instant discount and Rs. 10000 discount using HDFC cards.
Unboxing Experience
The box of the Galaxy S21 Ultra resembles the iPhone 12 series boxes. Its a slim box and it is missing a charger. But the box is also missing earphones and the standard back protection case. Apart from the phone box has some documentation, the USB C to USB C cable and a sim tool .
Galaxy S21 Ultra
Documentation
USB C – C Cable
Sim Tool
Design and Build
Samsung has focused a lot on making the design of the Galaxy S21 series a lot more refined. The new color choices paired with the new Gorilla Glass Victus finishes allows for the “phantom” colors to have a leather like effect. The Phantom black is a matte black finished back panel that simulated a very soft letter like feel in the hand. The phone is durably built and has a IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.
Samsung had already done away with the headphone jack so all you see is a water sealed USB C port which is used for charging and data. The display has subtle curves on either side making the rather large and unwieldy Galaxy S21 Ultra comfortable to hold with side grip.
The camera bump is now a part of the frame and looks more natural. overall first impression from the design and build are good.
Display and Cameras
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has a massive 6.8 inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display which has a WQHD+ 3200 x 1440 px resolution. This gives the device a 515 ppi pixel density. The display also has a peak brightness of 1500 nits and is protected by the same Victus glass that is seen on the back of the phone. The display has an ever so slight curve that makes it look premium and also improves the viewing experience as it simulates an edgeless display.
120 Hz on the display has been a standard for a while but the Galaxy S21 Ultra is capable of that at maximum resolution. even though on Samsung’s adaptive refresh rate mode.
Samsung has included 4 cameras on the back of the S21 Ultra . The main 108MP camera which has an f/1.8 aperture. will shoot 12 MP shots in the auto mode. two telephoto cameras with 3x and 10x zoom allow for a more versatile zoom experience. while the 3x has an f/2.4 aperture the 10x has an f/4.9 aperture which means that low light performance will be abysmal on the 10x.
There is an ultra wide 12 MP sensor which has an f/2.2 aperture. The rear camera is also capable of 8K video 24fps and 4K video at 60fps. The S21 Ultra is also capable of slow motion video at 1080p at upto 240fps and at 720p at upto 960fps.
The front facing camera sits in the centre punch hole on the top of the display and is a 40 MP sensor with an f/2.2 Aperture and is capable of 4k video at upto 60fps.
Hardware and Performance
The Galaxy S21 Ultra will not disappoint with respect to performance. And even though India still gets the Exynos based devices. The Exynos 2100 is pretty well matched with the Snapdragon 888 chipset. Both are built on the 5 NM process and offer up an octave core CPU experience. However Samsung’s Exynos 2100 is clocked much higher with a 2.9 GHz top clock. The GPU lacks behind on the Samsung chip, but they are well matched for AI computation capabilities and ISP performance with the 888′ spectra 580 providing computational HDR video capabilities which the Galaxy S21 Ultra misses out on.
Benchmarks are up there and performance from the device for the couple of days we have tested is irrefutably smooth. However, the Exnos 2100 when pushed seems to be getting the top back corner of the Galaxy 21 Ultra uncomfortably hot. We are using a pre release device with pre release software. So the clocks may be adjusted for the final release.
Battery and Connectivity
The 5000mAh battery does justice to the phone. Samsung continues to include 25W charging as that seems to be sweet spot for battery charging speeds. No charger is included however, Samsung will happily sell you one for Rs. 2000.
The phone supports USB PD3 and wireless charging upto 15W. You can also reverse charge in case of emergencies for upto 4.5W.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Series is 5G capable whether you get the Snapdragon 888 or the Exynos 2100 variant. Both have Sub 6 and mmWave 5G bands. However, India is yet to fully roll out 5G for the next year or so and by that time S22 series will be out.
The phone has 2 sim slots and no microSD expansion. Bluetooth 5.2 along with A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO for location mapping. The fingerprint sensor is located under the display and is an ultrasonic sensor which makes for super quick unlocks.
If you are a business user the Galaxy S21 Ultra also offers Samsung DeXand Samsung Wireless DeX for on the go productivity.
Samsung seems to have ticked all the right boxes, however our testing has just begun and if first impressions are something to go by, The Galaxy S21 Ultra will be tough competitor for upcoming phones of 2021.
Xiaomi has launched their first line of Notebooks in India, The Mi Notebook 14. The Notebook 14 is available in two models, a standard edition which features a Core i5 CPU and a Horizon Edition which has the Core i7 CPU.
The Mi Notebook 14 as the name suggests features a 14″ Full HD 1920x1080px Anti-glare Display. This in an all aluminium unibody style design that resembles a MacBook.
The Notebook weighs in at 1.35 kilogram and bears no branding on the top case. The chiclet style keyboard features a scissor mechanism with an ABS texture. Each key has a 1.3mm of key travel and able spring making it comfortable to type.
The base variant of the Mi Notebook 14 features a 10th generation core i5-10210U CPU which has a 1.6GHz quad-core setup with a boost clock up to 4.2GHz. this is paired with 8GB 2666MHz DDR4 RAM and 256GB of SATA 3 SSD storage. The second variant bumps the storage to 512GB of SATA 3 SSD.
The Horizon Edition two options for the CPU, the same Core i5-10210U and a Core i7-10510U CPU with a 1.8GHz quad-core setup and a boost clock up to 4.9GHz. You still get 8GB 2666MHz DDR4 RAM, however, the storage has an optional m.2 NVME PCI Express Gen 3 SSD upgrade with 512GB of space. This has a rated 3000 MB/s sequential read and a 1800 MB/s sequential write speed. Drastically boosting I/O and Read Write operations.
The Horizon edition with the i7 also adds a USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type C port, along with the standard ports which include 2 Type-A USB 3.1 Gen 1 and a single USB 2.0, 1 HDMI port a Combo Audio Jack and the Charging Port.
The Mi Notebook 14 Horizon edition also has a GeForce MX350 2GB GDDR5 VRAM equipped DGPU. This makes it more suitable of open ended tasks like limited gaming and photo video editing.
The Laptops don’t charge via USB C and only one variant has the port which is limited to data. The Mi Notebook 14 has 2x2W Stereo speakers with DTS audio, although in first impressions the volume seems low.
The display brightness also caps at 250nits which when paired with the anti glare coating on the screen makes visibility of the otherwise good display limited. The anti glare coating works in well lit environments to block reflections and glare, along with smudges and fingerprints for people who like to tap their screens when they point.
The Mi Notebook 14 also misses a webcam which in the current world climate seems like a necessary inclusion. Xiaomi does include their USB Webcam in the box, which has a max 720px 30fps mode.
The Mi Notebook 14 starts off at Rs. 41999 for the base variant with a 256 GB SATA SSD. The upgraded variant with 512 GB SATA SSD costs Rs. 44999. If you opt for the NVIDIA MX250 discreet GPU you will pay Rs. 47999.
The Mi Notebook 14 Horizon edition with a 512GB SATA SSD will cost Rs. 54999. If you choose the upgraded NVME SSD the price is bumped up to 59,999. All variants offer Rs. 2000 cash back to HDFC cards.
Motorola’s recent launch of the Moto Edge+ propels the once mi-range champion back into the flagship race. The Moto Edge+ shows what a major known brand is capable of.
The Motorola Edge+ while filling the void in the flagship market, slots above the OnePlus 8 Pro and below Samsung’s Galaxy S20 lineup. Finding a sweet spot with respect to hardware and performance.
Display
The Motorola Edge+ features a 6.67 inch AMOLED display with a 21:9 aspect ratio. The display has a 2340 x 1080px resolution with 90 degree edge on both sides. A 90Hz refresh rate which features an automatic switch to 60Hz refresh rates on low battery. The 10 bit display is also HDR 10+ rated and the phone utilizes the edge in several ways. The most interesting of which is the ability to add trigger buttons to the edge of the screen. These will act as tactile buttons during gaming on games like PubG Mobile and COD Mobile. The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5.
The edge also is used to navigate through the UI. can be used to pull down the notification shade, pull up the apps, jump into multi tasking and also access shortcuts.
The Edge has lighting effects which also appear during charging or can be customised for notifications.
Hardware
The Motorola Edge+ features a impressive mig of hardware under the hood. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 ties in the main compute with the Adreno 650 GPU for graphics. This is packed with 12 GB RAM and 256 GB of storage. this combination puts serious hurt on smartphones like the Galaxy S20+ which feature exynos chipsets and lower RAM and storage.
The Moto Edge+ also ties in a massive 5000 mAh battery although charging is limited to 18W. Despite the largest battery in segment the Edge+ loses out on rapid charge which can be seen in other devices.
Camera
The Motorola Edge+ has an impressive mix of cameras. Starting with the main 108 MP, f/1.8 Sony sensor. The main sensor also capture 6K video and is also capable of ultra smooth video thanks to software and hardware based video stabilisation.
The second camera is a 16 MP, f/2.2 ultra wide camera which also doubles up as a macro camera. This is one of the best uses of the camera space much better than the 2 MP or 4 MP macro sensors seen on other devices. The third camera is an 8MP telephoto camera. The cameras are paired up with a TOF sensor to improve depth mapping.
The front camera has a 25 MP, f/2.0 sensor which is capable of portrait shots and slow motion video.
Other Aspects
The Motorola Edge+ is a return to flagship device for Motorola. While the company has focused it’s efforts in the US and EU the brand has stayed away from launching premium handsets in India. The Motorola Edge+ changes that.
The company promises updates for 2 generations of Android at a minimum. So it runs on Android 10 and will be at the least updated to Android 12. The UI also plays in with Motorola’s previous devices. Stock Android no custom skins or UI, no bloatware and no advertisements. The one Moto app to control some smartphone features like the Edge and Moto Gestures.
The Moto Edge+ is priced at Rs. 74999 with a permanent discount of Rs. 7500. Effective pricing the phone at Rs. 67500.
Motorola Edge+ Does miss out on some key things like any kind of water resistance rating. Even though the phone has a water repellent nano coating. The phone also limits charging to 18w while some phones offer upwards of 30W.
Motorola has finally entered the flagship smartphone race with the Motorola Edge+ and has also launched a sub-flagship Moto Edge.
Motorola has often stayed away from the flagship market, especially in the last few years. This changes with the Edge devices as Motorola steps up its game.
The Motorola Edge+ features a 6.67 inch AMOLED display with a 21:9 aspect ratio. The display also has a 90Hz refresh rate which features a auto switch to lower refresh rates on low batteries.
The 10 bit display is also HDR 10+ rated and the phone utilizes the edge in several ways. The most interesting of which is the ability to add trigger buttons to the edge of the screen. These will act as tactile buttons during gaming on games like PubG Mobile and COD Mobile.
Motorola is also using the Edge for notifications and animations during charging. Speaking of which the phone offers 15W Wireless charging, 18W Wired charging and also reverse wireless charging. The Moto Edge+ also features a 5000mAh battery.
Motorola is also pushing camera capabilities with the devices. The main camera on the Edge+ is 108 MP 1/1.33″ Sensor with an f/1.7 aperture. The camera also offers 27 MP shots using the Quad Pixel tech to improve low light performance and dynamic range. This is paired with an 8 MP 3 times optical zoom telephoto sensor with f/2.4 aperture.
Motorola claims that the cameras offer 6K video with the best in Industry Video Stabilization. The cameras also get a video portrait mode which is becoming more and more popular. Motorola also offers its popular Night Vision photo modes on both front and rear cameras.
Motorola has managed to use a single sensor for both Wide and Macro shots which sits at 16 MP with an f/2.2 aperture. The Edge+ also packs a TOF sensor with dual LED Flash.
The innards of the Motorola Edge+ also competes with the latest flagships. The Moto Edge+ has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset with an Adreno 650 GPU. The phone is also capable of 5G with the X55 chip and will work on all bands including those in India when 5G becomes available. On the memory front the Motorola Edge+ has 12 GB RAM and 256 GB UFS 3.0 Storage.
Motorola claims to also have worked on improving the Android interface on their devices starting with the Edge phones. Motorola has launched My UX which will be accessible from the Moto App. The interface on the phone remains as close to vanilla Android as before on Motorola devices with a few additions. Including Moto Game time which will also allow the customization on the trigger buttons among other things, like avoiding disturbances during gaming.
Motorola will also allow for completely customized themes which will also be accessible from the MyUx mode in the Moto App. Motorola also includes the new Moto Audio app which will allow users finer control on their audio including that from the Dual Stereo speakers, which Motorola claims are loudest in the industry. These are also tuned by Waze audio. Moto Edge+ is also one of those rare devices that continues to provide a 3.5 mm headphone jack.
The Moto Edge, a more affordable phone from Motorola maintains all of the same features of the Moto Edge+ except a few. For one the chipset is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765. The main camera also is reduced to 64 MP instead of the 108MP seen on the Edge+.
Moto Edge
The Moto Edge also has a 4500 mAh battery and removes the wireless charging seen on the Edge+. The MotoEdge will be available in a 6GB+128 GB variant and will offer expandable storage via microSD.
The Moto Edge+ is priced at US$ 1000 and available immediately, where as the Moto Edge availability and price is yet to be announced. Motorola plans to launch the Edge+ and Edge in India post the lockdown period and according to the company the device will be priced aggressively. We expect the flagship Moto Edge+ to be Priced at Rs. 59,999.
Amidst the global standstill, Oneplus has take its wraps off of the New Oneplus 8 series of phones. The highlight however remains the new OnePlus 8 Pro.
The OnePlus 8 Pro is the new current flagship for the company and manages to finally push the OnePlus name into a Flagship category.
The highlight of the phone is the 6.78 Inch QHD display which also has a 120 Hz refresh rate. It remains a Fluid AMOLED display with a 19.8:9 aspect ratio. A resolution of 3168 x 1440 px along with a 513 ppl pixel density make it compete with top smartphones. The display has HDR10+ and remains notch free but adds a left bias punch hole to mount the front camera.
Another new update to the OnePlus 8 pro is the Warp Charge 30 Wireless. A long name given to the OnePlus 8 Pro’s fast wireless charging technology. This will enable a 1-50% charge wirelessly in 30 minutes for the phones big 4510 mAh Battery. The OnePlus 8 Pro also offers up a reverse wireless charge natively.
The 8 pro will also get the Warp Charge 30T which will give a 50% charge in just 23 minutes.
The innards on the OnePlus 8 Pro also get a 2020 push. A Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset with a X55 5G Network chipset. Graphics are handled by a Adreno 650 GPU. The phone will be sold in options of 8 GB or 12 GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 128 GB or 256 GB of UFS 3.0 storage.
The camera also gets big focus this year with a 48 MP IMX689 sensor which will work with a pixel size of 1.12 ?m for 48MP and 2.24 ?m [4 in 1] for 12MP. The camera has an Aperture of f/1.78.
The tele camera gets an 8MP sensor with a 1 ?m pixel and an f/2.44. The ultra wide camera has a 119.7° field of view and a 48 MP sensor with an f/2.2 aperture. The 4th sensor is a 5 MP colour filter sensor with an f/2.4 aperture.
The primary and the tele camera gets OIS and the phone will capture 4K video at 30/60 fps, 1080p video at 30/60 fps Super Slow Motion 720p video at 480 fps, 1080p video at 240 fps. And will generate Time-Lapse at 1080p 30fps, 4k 30fps.
The OnePlus 8 Pro is protected by 3D Gorilla Glass on the front and the back. For security you will get Face Unlock and an in display fingerprint sensor. The OnePlus 8 pro weighs in at 199gms and is 8.5 mm thick. 165.3 mm tall and 74.35 mm wide. color options include Onyx Black, Glacial Green and Ultramarine Blue.
Oneplus has taken a huge gamble in launching their phone amidst a global crisis. This is bound to impact interest and sales of their new devices. With lockdowns all over the world pushed further back. Oneplus’s new powerful phones may not get their fair share of boost for the promising packages they offer.
