Wednesday 20 January 2016

LeEco aka LeTV sets foot in India with Le 1S smartphone


China’s premium smartphone manufacturer, LeEco (earlier known as LeTV) has set its foot in the Indian market. The company has launched the Le 1s smartphone. This is surely gonna make the battle of Chinese smartphones much more intense in India. The Le 1S will be up for sale at Rs.10,999, and as we reported earlier, it will be sold exclusively through Flipkart flash sales. The registration for the sale will go live from today.

The device comes with a metal unibody and features a 5.5-inch full HD display. The device runs Android 5.1 Lollipop with custom EUI on top, and is powered by a MediaTek Helio X10 processor clubbed with 3GB of RAM. In the imaging department, it sports a 13-megapixel primary camera along with a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. In terms of connectivity, the phone supports 4G LTE, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and GPS. It also features a fingerprint scanner on the rear.

LeEco Le Max with Snapdragon 810 and 4GB RAM launched in India for Rs. 32,999

LeEco, which was previously known as LeTV, has launched its flagship smartphone in India today as promised earlier. The LeEco Le Max, is a large-screen phablet with high-end internals, and is priced at Rs. 32,999 in the country. It features a 6.33-inch QHD display, a Snapdragon 810 processor, 4GB RAM, and a fingerprint sensor on its back.

The LeEco Le Max will be available in two storage variants – the 64GB variant for Rs. 32,999 and the 128GB variant for Rs. 69,999 – and both will be available exclusively through Flipkart. The company will sell the Le Max through flash sales, which will be conducted on February 16, and the registrations for the sale will start soon.

The 128GB storage variant of the Le Max, which will be available in pink colour, will also come with a sapphire protection for the display, hence the extremely high price tag.


LeEco Le Max Specifications:

  • Android 5.0 Lollipop-based EUI
  • 6.33-inch IPS LCD display, 1,440 x 2,560 pixels, Corning Gorilla Glass 3
  • 21-megapixel primary camera (1/2.3-inch Sony IMX230 sensor), phase-detection autofocus, phase-detection autofocus, OIS, ƒ/2.0 aperture, dual-tone LED flash, and 4K video recording
  • 4-megapixel secondary camera (OmniVision OV4688 sensor), 2µm pixel size, wide-angle lens, and 1080p video recording
  • LeHiFi audio chip by AKG
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 with 64-bit octa-core CPU and Adreno 430 GPU
  • 4GB LP-DDR4 RAM and 64GB/128GB internal storage
  • Accelerometer, ambient-light sensor, fingerprint sensor, proximity sensor, gyrosensor
  • Dual-SIM, 4G LTE, 3G HSPA+, 2G, dual-band Wi-Fi ac/a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, Miracast, Bluetooth 4.1 (with Apt-X and LE), USB Type-C port (with MHL and USB OTG), and 3.5mm headphone jack
  • 3,400 mAh battery; 167.1×83.5×8.95mm; 204g

Thursday 14 January 2016

Xiaomi launches Redmi Note 3 Pro with Snapdragon 650 SoC and 4,050mAh battery, expected to reach Indian shores soon


Xiaomi has unveiled the Redmi 3 smartphone recently, and now it has announced yet another device in the Redmi series. The latest one to join the series is the Redmi Note 3 Pro, which is a successor to the Redmi Note 3 that was launched in November, last year. The announcement was done in China, and the device is limited to China as of now. However, there are fair chances that Xiaomi will be bringing the Redmi Note 3 Pro smartphone to India.

The Redmi Note 3 Pro (2GB RAM/ 16GB storage) variant has been priced at 999 Yuan in China, which converts to approximately Rs. 10,170 in Indian currency. The device features a 5.5-inch 1080p display in a metal body with a fingerprint sensor on the rear. It is powered by a 64-bit Hexa-Core Snapdragon 650 processor. It will come in two variants, one with 2GB of RAM with 16GB internal storage, and other with 3GB of RAM with 32GB internal storage. In the imaging department, the device sports a 16-megapixel primary camera with dual-tone LED flash, f/2.0 aperture, and phase detection autofocus (PDAF), with a quick focus of just 0.1 seconds. It features a 5-megapixel front-facing camera with f/2.0 aperture, and runs MIUI 7 based on Android 5.0 Lollipop.

In terms of connectivity, the dual-SIM device supports 4G LTE, 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS+, GLONASS. It measures 150x76x8.65 mm and weighs 164 grams. Backing the Redmi Note 3 Pro is a 4,050mAh battery with fast charging support which is touted by the company to fuel up the battery up to 50% in an hour. The device will be available in Dark Grey, Silver and Champagne Gold color options.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro specifications:

  • 5.5-inch Full HD IPS display, 178-degree viewing angle
  • 64-bit Hexa-Core Snapdragon 650 ( 4x 1.2GHz ARM A53 + 2 x 1.8 GHz ARM A57 ) 64-bit chipset
  • 2GB RAM with 16GB storage / 3GB RAM with 32GB storage variants
  • MIUI 7 based on Android 5.0 Lollipop
  • 16MP primary camera with PDAF, dual-tone LED Flash, and 5MP front-facing camera
  • 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS + GLONASS, Infrared sensor
  • 4,050mAh battery with fast charging

Monday 11 January 2016

Xiaomi Redmi 3 officially announced for RMB 699

Xiaomi finally unveiled the Redmi 3 in China. The smartphone has been priced at 699 Yuan (approximately US$ 107 / Rs. 7,140). As of now, it is listed on the company’s official website, and we expect Xiaomi to reveal the global availability details soon. Given the price, the Redmi 3 is most likely to rival other feasible devices such as the Lenovo Vibe K4 Note and Meizu M2 Note.

The smartphone is embodied in a metal magnesium alloy unibody design. It comes with a 5-inch HD IPS display, and is powered by a 64-bit octa-core Snapdragon 616 chipset clubbed with 2GB of RAM. It runs Xiaomi’s in-house MIUI 7 based on Android 5.0 Lollipop and sports a 13-megapixel primary camera with LED flash, phase detection auto-focus (PDAF), which delivers a focus speed of 0.1 seconds. It also features a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. The device is 8.5 mm thick and weighs 144 grams. Backing the Redmi 3 is a 4,100mAh battery. Like most of the devices these days, this one too comes with a Hybrid dual-SIM slot, which means that one slot can be used as microSD card slot too.

In the connectivity department, it supports 4G LTE, 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS, and GLONASS. There is 16GB internal storage on, which can be further expanded up to 128GB with microSD. It will go on sale in China from tomorrow in Dark Grey, Silver, Gold and Classic Gold color variants.

Xiaomi Redmi 3 specifications:

  • 5-inch HD IPS display with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels
  • 64-bit octa-core Snapdragon 616 chipset clubbed with 2 GB of RAM
  • 16GB internal storage, expandable up to 128GB with microSD
  • MIUI 7 based on Android 5.0 Lollipop
  • 13MP primary camera with PDAF, LED Flash, and 5MP front-facing camera
  • 4G LTE, 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS, and GLONASS
  • 4,000mAh battery

Tuesday 5 January 2016

Lenovo K4 Note launched in India for Rs. 11,999, features a fingerprint sensor and a 3,300 mAh battery


The Lenovo K4 Note, which was teased multiple times by the company, has been finally
launched in India. It is a successor to the massively popular Lenovo K3 Note, and comes
with improves specifications and performance. Priced at Rs. 11,999, the K4 Note comes with
an improved octa-core processor from MediaTek, a fingerprint sensor, and a larger 3,300 mAh
battery. It will be available in Black and White colours exclusively through Amazon.in, and
will be sold through flash sales starting from January 19.

There’s a 13-megapixel primary camera with phase-detection autofocus, ƒ/2.2 aperture, and
dual-LED flash. It is coupled with a 5-megapixel wide-angle front-facing camera to complete
the imaging experience. Unlike most other smartphones in this price range, the K4 Note
features a metal body, a fingerprint sensor on its back, and dual front-facing stereo
speakers. Powered by Dolby’s ATMOS audio technology, these stereo speakers are said to help
users in experiencing immersive audio.

Lenovo’s ‘TheatreMax’ technology is claimed to convert any video or game content into
virtual reality experience. In partnership with ANT VR, the company has also launched a
virtual reality headset for just Rs. 1,299. The Chinese smartphone giant will also offer
five wood-finished backs for this phablet. Moreover, the company is also bundling
Skullcandy earphones with the smartphone. The Lenovo K4 Note VR bundle costs Rs. 12,499.

Registrations to participate in the flash sale will start from 3PM today. The Lenovo K4
Note competes directly with the likes of the Xiaomi Mi 4i, the Samsung Galaxy On7, the YU
Yureka Plus, the ASUS Zenfone 2, and the Motorola Moto G (3rd Gen).

Lenovo K4 Note Specifications:

  • Android 5.1 (Lollipop) with Lenovo’s Vibe UI
  • 5.5-inch IPS LCD display, 1920 x 1080 pixels (401 ppi), 450 nits brightness, and Corning 
  • Gorilla Glass 3
  • 13-megapixel primary camera, phase-detection autofocus, ƒ/2.2 aperture, dual-tone LED 
  • flash, and 1080p video recording
  • 5-megapixel front-facing camera
  • MediaTek MT6753 processor (1.3GHz octa-core ARM Cortex-A53 CPU and ARM Mali-T720MP3 GPU) 
  • and 3GB LP-DDR3 RAM
  • 16GB internal storage, microSD card slot (upto 32GB)
  • Dual 1.5W front-facing stereo speakers (with Dolby ATMOS audio) and 3 microphones
  • Dual-SIM, 4G LTE/3G HSPA+, Wi-Fi b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth v4.0, GPS (with A-GPS and 
  • GLONASS), NFC, and microUSB v2.0 port (with USB OTG support)
  • 3,400 mAh battery; 153.6 x 76.5 x 9.15mm; 158g

Monday 4 January 2016

Asus launches Zenfone Max with massive 5,000mAh battery for Rs. 9999, to take on Gionee Marathon M5 and Lenovo Vibe P1

Asus has unveiled the Zenfone Max, a smartphone with a 5,000mAh battery in India.It is now up for pre-ordering on Amazon and Flipkart, with regular selling to start from January 15. It will be available in Pure Black and Ceramic colors.

The Asus Zenfone Max is just 5.2mm thick which makes it one of the slimmest devices around. The fact that Asus managed to put in such a large battery in a really thin frame is noteworthy. It comes with dual SIM 4G and both the SIM card slots support Indian bands. It is powered by a Snapdragon 410 chipset clubbed with 2GB of RAM. It features a 5.5-inch display with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels. It sports a 13-megapixel primary camera with real-tone LED flash, Laser autofocus, and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. Asus is touting that the Zenfone Max can also work as a power bank for charging other devices. The Zenfone Max features a non-removable battery, which can deliver up to 914 hours of standby time and up to 38 hours of talk time.

With its massive 5,000mAh battery, the ZenFone Max is going to face a tough battle from other smartphones with similar battery power. Last year, the Gionee Marathon M4 was unveiled in India for Rs. 15,499 with a 5,000mAh battery. Recently, Gionee launched the successor to it, named as the Marathon M5 for Rs. 17,999 (6020mAh battery). Next in line is the Lenovo Vibe P1 (4,900mAh battery), which was launched for Rs. 15,999. From pricing point of view, the Asus Zenfone Max fairs higher than its competitors as there is a big price gap between and other devices with such massive battery capacity.


Asus Zenfone Max specifications:

  • 5.5-inch display, 1280 x 720 pixels, Corning Gorilla Glass 4 protection
  • Android 5.0 Lollipop with Zen UI 2.0
  • Snapdragon 410 chipset, 1.2 GHz quad-core chipset clubbed with 2GB of RAM
  • 16GB internal memory, expandable up to 64GB via microSD card
  • 13-megapixel rear camera, real tone flash, f/2.0 aperture, laser auto focus
  • 5-megapixel front camera, f/2.0 aperture, 85-degree wide lens
  • dual-SIM, 4G LTE, 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 and GPS
  • 5,000 mAh battery

Saturday 2 January 2016

Lava launches 8-inch Ivory M4 tablet to take on XOLO Play Tab 7.0 and Dell Venue 7

Lava has come up with yet another tablet, named as Ivory M4. This time around, the company seems to be focusing on the sub 10k segment of buyers, and has priced the device at Rs. 9,299. Going by the specifications and features, the Lava Ivory M4 will be competing with tablets such as the XOLO Play Tab 7.0, Dell Venue 7, and the Lenovo Idea Tab A1000.

The Lava Ivory M4 features an 8-inch HD IPS display with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels, and is powered by a 1.3GHz quad-core MediaTek MT8321 chipset paired with 2GB of DDR3 RAM. It runs on Android 5.1 Lollipop, and an 8-megapixel autofocus primary camera with LED flash along with a 3.2-megapixel front-facing camera. There is 16GB internal storage onboard, which can be further expanded up to 32GB via microSD card. In terms of connectivity, it offers single-SIM support, 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, and GPS. Backing the Lava Ivory M4 tablet, is a 4000mAh battery.

The device will be available in Silver and Dark Grey color variants across all physical stores, multi-brand outlets and online platforms. It would be interesting to see how well the tablet performs in the market as the specifications do not look very impressive.

Lava Ivory M4 specifications:

  • 8-inch HD IPS display with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels
  • 1.3GHz quad-core MediaTek MT8321 processor coupled with 2GB of RAM
  • 16GB internal storage, expandable up to 32GB via microSD card
  • 8MP auto focus primary camera with LED flash, and 3.2MP front-facing camera
  • Measures 211.2×122.7×7.9mm
  • single-SIM, 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, and GPS
  • 4000mAh battery