Nubia might be launching a bezel-less smartphone in India

Earlier part of Chinese multinational telecommunications company ZTE Corporation, nubia is rumoured to unveil a new smartphone with a "bezel-less" display in India soon.

nubia, which launched Z11 mini last month, claims that the new, near-edgeless device will be different from "Frameless Industrial Design" of other brands.

Other than nubia, only Xiaomi has unveiled "bezel-less" devices.

As per industry sources, the device, which is speculated to be the brand's flagship device, features "Frame interactive Technology 2.0" (FiT 2.0) with a Handheld Electronic Aperture.

The smartphone adopts aircraft-grade aluminium alloy. As per the leaked images, the black and gold device has circular edges.

nubia's new device is rumoured to sport a 16MP rear camera which uses a Sony IMX298 sensor which has three focus and four shutter modes.

The smartphone will run on Android 6.0 Marshmallow-based nubia UI 4.0 which will allow users to customise the phone with special black and gold theme and is expected to have 6GB RAM and 64GB internal storage. 

Lenovo ZUK Edge spotted in new certification listing

Chinese certification database, TENAA, has just revealed the existence of the Lenovo ZUK Edge, which is believed to be a device with really thin bezels. With Xiaomi recently launching the Mi Mix, we expected this to be something similar, although the images suggest that this might merely have slimmed down bezels.

The name can be a bit confusing as Edge suggests a dual-edge display, but that’s clearly not the case here. Lenovo has already launched three ZUK branded smartphones with much success, and we expect this device to follow in its footsteps.

It is said that the ZUK Edge will sport a 5.5-inch 1080p display, which is not the best going around, but will work if priced correctly. Another highlight here is the addition of the latest Snapdragon 821 quad-core processor, which is a slightly overclocked version of the Snapdragon 820.

Hardware specifications of the ZUK Edge:

Display: 5.5-inch Full HD (1920x1080)
Dimensions: 142.9 x 74.5 x 7.68 mm, weight of 160 grams
Processor: Quad-core Snapdragon 821
Storage: 32/64GB
RAM: 4/6GB
OS: Android 6.0 Marshmallow with ZUI 2.0
Battery: 3,000mAh
Connectivity: 4G LTE 

Vivo unveils Vivo X9, X9 Plus, and Xplay6 in China

Vivo has made giant strides in the mobile segment over the past two years or so. Although the company was predominantly focused on China, Vivo gradually branched out in potentially lucrative markets like India. The manufacturer has now unveiled three new handsets in China, namely the Vivo X9, X9 Plus and the Xplay 6.

The Vivo X9 and the X9 Plus come with massive front facing dual-cameras with a 20MP and 8MP sensor running in tandem. The Xplay6 also has a dual-camera setup, but on the back.

The 64 and 128GB models of the Vivo X9 have been priced at 2,798 CNY (Rs 27,700) and 2,998 CNY (Rs 29,600) respectively. The Xplay6 will cost 4,498 CNY (Rs 44,500). Vivo hasn’t shared the pricing details for the X9 Plus at the moment. We hope the smartphones eventually make their way to India as camera-centric phones usually see decent demand in the region..

Read on for a detailed list of the hardware specifications of the three handsets.

Hardware specifications of the Vivo X9:

Display: 5.5-inch Full HD (1920x1080)
Dimensions: 152.6 x 74 x 6.9mm, weight of 154 grams
Processor: Octa-core Snapdragon 625
Camera: 16MP rear camera, 20MP + 8MP front camera
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 64/128GB
OS: Android 6.0 Marshmallow with FuntouchOS 3.0
Battery: 3,050mAh
Connectivity: 4G LTE

Hardware specifications of the Vivo X9 Plus:



Display: 5.88-inch Full HD (1920x1080)
Dimensions: 162 x 79 x 7.4mm, weight of 199 grams
Processor: Octa-core Snapdragon 653
Camera: 16MP rear camera, 20MP + 8MP front camera
RAM: 6GB
Storage: 128GB
OS: Android 6.0 Marshmallow with FuntouchOS 3.0
Battery: 4,000mAh
Connectivity: 4G LTE

Hardware specifications of the Vivo Xplay6:



Display: 5.46-inch Quad HD (2560x1440) Super AMOLED
Dimensions: 153.8 x 73.5 x 8.4 mm, weight of 178 grams
Processor: Quad-core Snapdragon
Camera: 12MP + 5MP rear camera, 16MP front camera
RAM: 6GB
Storage: 128GB
OS: Android 6.0 Marshmallow with FuntouchOS 3.0
Battery: 4,080mAh
Connectivity: 4G LTE

Panasonic unveils Eluga A2 with 4G VoLTE and 4,000mAh battery at Rs 9,490

Panasonic has added another budget smartphone to its portfolio with the launch of 4G-enabled Eluga A2 smartphone. The handset packs in a large 4,000mAh battery and will retail at Rs 9,490 through offline stores in the country. 

The 4G VoLTE enabled smartphone sports a 5-inch HD IPS display and is equipped with 3GB of RAM and 16GB of internal memory with an option to expand it by a further 128GB via microSD card.

ELUGA A2 is powered by a 1GHz Quad-core processor and runs on Android 5.1 Lollipop with Panasonic FitHome UI. There is no mention of the processor that powers up the device, but we believe Panasonic is using a MediaTek processor.

We played around with the UI for a while and found it to be a bit clumsy, however Panasonic has tried to give the user interface a new look, which we have not seen earlier on any other devices.

As far as imaging goes, the smartphone sports an 8MP rear camera with LED flash and 5MP front shooter for capturing selfies.

Considering its price point, the smartphone will compete with Xiaomi Redmi Note 3, Asus Zenfone Max and other sub Rs 10,000 smartphones. However, looking at the above specifications, we can say that Panasonic is going to face a tough competition from Chinese smartphone makers who are offering better value for money deal. 

Panasonic is also offering a protective screen guard as a free accessory, which the company claims is priced at Rs,399 with the device.

HTC 10 vs Xiaomi Mi 5

The HTC 10 has officially been unveiled in India and we're looking forward to knowing how its competition fares. With a price tag of Rs 52,990, the smartphone is not the cheapest offering available in the country today, but that was always on the cards considering the kind of hardware packing underneath the device. 

However, when we have a quick look at the competition, we realize that it's not the only flagship worth its salt in the market today. Keeping this in mind, we are comparing it with one of the best budget flagships available in India today, the Xiaomi Mi 5. 

So let's see how the two fare, shall we? 

Key features: 

The HTC 10 has more than one highlight feature and the same can be said about the Mi 5. One can safely say that both handsets have been very blessed in terms of performance (Snapdragon 820 processor) as well as the camera, although the camera on the HTC 10 pips practically everything on its path. Even the front facing camera on the handset has optical image stabilization, which puts it leagues ahead of anything we've seen in the market today. 

The HTC 10 has a leg up over the Mi 5 in terms of display performance as well. While Xiaomi has stuck to a 5.15-inch Full HD (1920x1080) display, the HTC 10 is sporting a marginally bigger 5.2-inch Quad HD (2560x1440) display. So no marks for guessing the winner in this area. 

Design: 

Both the HTC 10 and the Mi 5 can be considered to be on level pegging here as they pack a premium metal/aluminum design. The Mi 5 comes with a glass back panel as well, which adds to the overall appeal of the handset. At the end of the day, it comes down to what the customer wants from a flagship, so liking/hating the design is a subjective matter. There's no real winner or loser here, at least in my opinion. 

Camera: 

There's no doubt that the HTC 10 has Mi 5 in a corner as far as camera performance is concerned. The smartphone is simply the best in the business today and will be the cameraphone to beat this year. The HTC 10 comes with a 12MP rear camera with an f/1.8 sensor and OIS. The Mi 5 in comparison sports a 16MP rear camera (f/2.0) and a 4-axis OIS sensor, which is a bit of a game changer on its own as Xiaomi has shown off in its demonstrations. 

In the selfie department, the Mi 5 is sporting a 4MP sensor (f/2.0) while the Mi 5 packs a 5MP unit (f/1.8) with OIS on board. This is unheard of for front cameras and goes to show that HTC has done its homework. 

Performance: 

The two handsets should be on even terms here as they're packing the Snapdragon 820 processor underneath. However, real world usage might differ as it is dependent on the kind of software optimization that has been done by the manufacturer. HTC recently revealed that it has significantly skinned down the Sense UI to enhance performance, while Xiaomi's MIUI has a reputation as one of the lightest custom interfaces out there. While benchmark scores might differ in this area, we don't think the real world usage will show much of a daylight between the two. 

Battery: 

Unlike Xiaomi's Redmi Note 3, the company has utilized a 3,000 mAh sensor here. This is slightly strange as a flagship offering would usually demand more battery. But we're guessing Xiaomi did this to keep the thickness and the overall weight at bay. The HTC 10 is also sporting a 3,000 mAh unit under the hatch, which is pretty decent and a prerequisite for modern day flagship phones. 

Other features: 

The HTC 10 is available in a solitary 32GB storage + 4GB RAM variant in India. The Mi 5 on the other hand is available with 32GB of internal storage, but only 3GB of RAM. Is that much of a hindrance? Well, we can't tell for sure, but on paper at least, this is definitely a point for the HTC 10. 

The Mi 5 also lacks a microSD card slot, while the HTC 10 can take cards of up to 2TB (if you can manage to get one). 

Pricing and availability: 

This is something that could change the equation completely for some buyers. You've already seen and compared the hardware attributes of both flagships, but the price difference between them is more than 2X. While the HTC 10 has been freshly announced for Rs 52,990, the Mi 5 is available for just Rs 24,999. 

When you really put things in perspective, this seems like a bit too much. Sure, the HTC 10 has a better camera and a better display, but is it really worth the nearly Rs 28,000 surplus that HTC is charging? The answer is a resounding no. The HTC 10 has a very good display, a set of industry topping camera sensors, but the Mi 5 has all those things too, albeit not on the same level as the HTC 10. So while the HTC offering has a distinct hardware advantage over the Mi 5, we don't think it's really a winner here. The Mi 5, for its premium design, the Snapdragon 820 chipset and an extremely affordable price tag, takes the cake. 

Smartphones coming in June 2016

LG G5 (2016)

Let’s start with the smartphone, which is a potential trendsetter for the upcoming flagship devices around the globe. LG G5 is the first true modular smartphone and is all set to launch on June 1, 2016. The smartphone is loaded with top-notch hardware and is up for pre-order on Flipkart at Rs 52,990.

Le Eco Le 2 and Le 2 Pro

Chinese tech giant Le Eco is set to play its second innings in the Indian market with the launch of company’s second generation Le smartphones. Le Eco is holding up an event on June 8 where the company is expected to launch Le 2 smartphone. Le 2 features a 5.5-inch 1080p display and is powered by Mediatek’s new Helio X20 deca-core processor paired up with 3GB of RAM. It has 32GB storage inbuilt storage and sports a 16MP rear camera along with an 8MP front camera.

The Chinese tech major is also expected to launch a powerful version of the smartphone- Le 2 Pro, which is powered by Helio X25 processor and features a 21MP rear camera. It is likely to come in 32GB and 64GB storage variants.

Le Eco Le Max 2

At the same event on June 8, Le is also going to launch the successor of the phablet- Le Max. The Le Max 2 sports a 5.7 inch 2K display, is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 SoC paired up with mammoth 6GB RAM and 64GB storage space.

Moto Z

The Lenovo owned Motorola is reportedly all set to launch its new flagship series- Moto Z, which is going to replace the company’s existing Moto X line-up. The company is holding up an event on June 9 where it is expected to launch Moto Z smartphone. Moto Z is likely to feature modular back plates and snap-on accessories just like the LG G5.

Moto Z Play

At the same event (on June 9), Motorola will also launch Moto Z Play, which will replace the current Moto X Play smartphone from the manufacturer. It is expected to price under Rs 20,000.

HTC 10

Earlier this week, LG announced a number of devices including the company’s 2016 flagship smartphone- HTC 10 and a refreshed HTC Desire line-up. The HTC 10 brings a new design, an all metal body and everything you would expect from a high-end flagship smartphone. The handset is also priced at Rs 52,990 and will be available from June 5, 2016.

HTC One X9

If HTC 10 fights the top guns in the smartphone world, HTC One X9 takes care of upper mid-range smartphone category. The smartphone features a 5.5-inch 1080p display, MediaTek’s Helio X10 CPU, 3GB RAM and 13MP rear camera with OIS, packed inside an attractive metal unibody design. It is priced at Rs 25,990, will go on sale from June 20 in the Indian market.

HTC Desire 628 Dual SIM

HTC Desire 628 Dual SIM smartphone will go on sale by June 5 at a price tag of Rs 13,990. It comes with a 5-inch HD display, a 1.3GHz octa-core processor paired up with 3GB of RAM and 32GB inbuilt memory. The smartphone sports a 13MP rear camera with a f/2.0 aperture. There is also a 5MP selfie camera. The 4G LTE enabled smartphone is powered by a 2,200mAh battery and also support microSD card of up to 2TB. HTC Desire 628 Dual SIM will sell in Cobalt White and Sunset Blue colour varinats.

Lenovo Vibe C could break cover in India soon for Rs 6,999

The retail packaging of the Lenovo Vibe C (A2020) smartphone has just leaked out, revealing that the device will be priced at Rs 6,999 in the region. That seems relatively steep given the kind of hardware it's said to be packing. But knowing that the price mentioned on the box isn't usually the final selling price, we're hopeful that the handset will be much cheaper than mentioned here.

It is said that the Indian version will have a 5-inch FWVGA (480x854) display while the original Vibe C comes with a HD (1280x720) display panel on board. So the Indian model appears to be significantly downgraded, which is not good news for hopeful buyers.

One bonus here is that the storage has been doubled to 16GB as compared to 8GB on the original model. So even though the display is slightly underpowered, users will get more storage than on the regular model.

The device will be available in Black and White color combinations from the seller, apparently.

Lenovo Vibe C hardware specs include:

5-inch FWVGA (480x854) display
9.9mm thickness
128 grams
Quad-core 1.1 GHz Snapdragon 210 processor
5MP rear camera
2MP front camera
1GB RAM
16GB storage (expandable via microSD)
Android 5.1.1 Lollipop
2,300 mAh battery
4G LTE with dual-SIM support

Samsung teases its 4K, VR-ready phone display

Samsung may not be the first on the market with a 4K mobile display (that honor goes to theSony Xperia Z5 Premium), but it looks like the Korean phone maker is readying its own 4K screen in an upcoming phone.

Samsung showed off its new display at the Display Week conference in San Francisco this week, as spotted by UploadVR.

The display measures 5.5 inches and boasts a resolution of 2160 x 3840, which is an insane 806 pixels per inch.

Samsung's current Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge flagship phones boast quad HD resolutions (1440 x 2560), but an upcoming Samsung device may get the 4K treatment, like the next Galaxy Note.

A 4K future

While most phone users won't notice the difference between quad HD resolution and 4K when poking around the web, it starts making sense when you take the Samsung Gear VRinto account. Samsung's mobile VR headset is powered by its phones, so having a 4K display will help make VR content look more realistic.

Currently, there's a slight "screen door" effect when using the Gear VR, as you can see the individual pixels of the display. That's because VR requires the display to be divided into two, one for each eye.

If Samsung put a 4K display into a forthcoming phone, it'd better be packing some serious power. Having a 4K display sounds great, but it will have to ensure its phones are fast enough, and have big enough batteries to compensate for the increased screen resolution.

HTC One X9 hands on review

Pros: Premium design, 5.5.-inch 1080p display works well for videos, HTC's BoomSound speakers offers decent audio 

Cons: 3,000mAh battery unit seems a bit underpowered on papers, average low-light camera performance, not the best fit for one-hand operation

Taiwanese smartphone maker HTC introduced company's2016 flagship device- HTC 10 along with an upper mid range handset- One X9 in the Indian market. The company also refreshed its Desire smartphone line-up with new HTC Desire 628, Desire 825, Desire 830 and Desire 630. The smartphones will be made available to Indian market starting June 5.

While, HTC 10 competes with the big guns in the market such as Samsung Galaxy S7/S7 Edge, LG G5, iPhone 6S, etc. the HTC One X9 is the affordable flagship device that competes with some of the popular smartphones priced under Rs 28,000 such as Xiaomi Mi 5, Nexus 5X, Motorola Moto X Style, Coolpad Max, etc.
I was present at the launch event when HTC announced the new smartphones and here is my first impressions of the company's latest upper mid range smartphone- HTC One X9.

Massive: Asus Zenfone 3 phones launch with 6GB of RAM and 6.8-inch display

ASUS Zenfone 3 is another sign that phones with 6GB of RAM are becoming the new trend for the second half of 2016, following last week's ZTE Axon 7 launch and Galaxy Note 6rumors.

There were actually three ASUS Zenfone 3 series handsets just announced at Computex 2016, and each one is bigger than the next. Its largest display tops out at a hand-winching 6.8 inches.

All three Zenfone 3 configurations are made of metal, but have widely different specs. It can be a little confusing: the oversized Zenfone 3 Ultra model doesn't have a top-of-the-line chip like you'd expect.

Instead, the 5.7-inch Zenfone 3 Deluxe is the one that has Qualcomm's latest and greatest Snapdragon processor. Here's the ironic skinny on these big-and-beastly phablets.

ASUS Zenfone 3 Deluxe specs

The ASUS Zenfone 3 is the "Goldilocks" phone within the newly announced trio, striking the right screen size balance with a Samsung Note 5-rivaling 5.7-inch display size.

Screen size isn't everything, though. It won't be as pixel-dense as Samsung's Super AMOLED phablet, which sports a quad HD panel. All three ASUS Zenfone 3 phones have a 1080p resolution.

Where the ASUS Zenfone 3 Deluxe really challenges the best phones in the world is with its internal specs: it has the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor and, remarkably, up to 6GB of RAM.

This Android 6.0 Marshmallow phone is also launching with a configuration that has 256GB of internal storage, further defining its "Deluxe" moniker. And yes, it supports microSD cards, too.

It has an always-on display, and, on the back, a rear fingerprint sensor and 23MP camera. Its 3000mAh battery supports QuickCharge 3.0 via a USB Type-C port and it's a dual SIM phone, with one nano SIM slot (if the microSD slot goes unused) and one micro SIM card slot.

Zenfone 3 and Zenfone 3 Ultra specs

Zenfone 3 is being defined as the mainstream phone model from ASUS, and it's evident from its more mid-range specs, design and not-as-fancy name.

It carries a Snapdragon 625 processor, yet a healthy 4GB of RAM and up to 64GB of internal storage. It's paired with a 5.5-inch IPS LCD display, 16MP main camera and 3,000mAh battery.

Zenfone 3 Ultra is the smartphone juggernaut that we may or may not see in the US and UK. It stands out with a face-dominating 6.8-inch display (still just 1080p at that pixel-stretching size).

It takes advantage of that massive surface area with an equally impressive 4600mAh battery capacity and reverse charging capabilities. It's all kind of ridiculous for a smartphone.

It's big, but may not be the best for power users. It has a Snapdragon 652 chip with latest-generation Snapdragon 810-like speeds and 4GB of RAM.

There's 128GB of storage inside and 23MP camera on back (same as the Deluxe), while the fingerprint sensor is on the front (unique among the three Asus handsets).

More to come from Computex

I wasn't immediately (or even eventually) impressed with the Intel-powered ASUS Zenfone 2or its many variants. It felt incredibly cheap and had a dimly lit screen on the outside despite its power on the inside.

The Zenfone 3 series promises to correct the cheapness issue with metal designs and the latest specs, but still keep the cost down. We're still waiting on final Asus Zenfone 3 release date and price information.

To see if Asus strikes the right balance with its new Zenfone lineup, we'll have a hands on review of these three phones from Computex 2016 this week.

YU’s flagship Yunicorn will be a Flipkart exclusive

Micromax is all set to launch the YU Yunicorn smartphone tomorrow in India. The flagship device of Micromax's sub brand - YU, will be exclusively available via Flipkart and will feature a metal body, a USB Type C port and a fingerprint scanner.

Micromax released the first TV ad of the upcoming smartphone last night, teasing us with a few details. The ad shows a device with a metal body, chamfered edges, a fingerprint scanner embedded in the home button and a USB Type C port.

Further detais are sketchy, but a few days ago, a smartphone codenamed YU5530 was spotted online, which is most likely to be the Yu Yunicorn. The leak showed the device having an octa-core MediaTek Helio X10 processor, 4GB RAM and Android 5.1 Lollipop.

The company via the YU Forum, teased ahead of the launch- "Excited to tell you all that our next device is round the corner and its nothing short of Incredible. It's insanely beautiful and it will break some hearts. It will break records, it will break the conventional, it will break the rules...WAIT, it will break the flagships,"

YU smartphones originally had an exclusive partnership with Cyanogen, but the Yunicorn is expected to run a stock build of Android. All the earlier smartphones from Yu brand were exclusively to Amazon India. It is noteworthy that the company had earlier announced that they will be launching the phone on May 19, but that had to be postponed.

You can watch the YU Yunicorn advertisement below -

This is how you can watch Yu Yunicorn launch live

We are few minutes away to witness the launch of the second Yu flagship smartphone- Yunicorn from Indian smartphone maker Micromax. The launch event kicks off at 12:00PM IST today in New Delhi, and Micromax is also hosting a live stream of the event on YU's website.

Alternatively, you can also watch the live stream video of the launch event embedded below.




The flagship device of Micromax's sub brand - YU, will be exclusively available via Flipkart and will feature a metal body, a USB Type C port and a fingerprint scanner.

Micromax released the first TV ad of the upcoming smartphone last night, teasing us with a few details. The ad shows a device with a metal body, chamfered edges, a fingerprint scanner embedded in the home button and a USB Type C port.

Further detais are sketchy, but a few days ago, a smartphone codenamed YU5530 was spotted online, which is most likely to be the Yu Yunicorn. The leak showed the device having an octa-core MediaTek Helio X10 processor, 4GB RAM and Android 5.1 Lollipop.

The company via the YU Forum, teased ahead of the launch- "Excited to tell you all that our next device is round the corner and its nothing short of Incredible. It's insanely beautiful and it will break some hearts. It will break records, it will break the conventional, it will break the rules...WAIT, it will break the flagships,"

YU smartphones originally had an exclusive partnership with Cyanogen, but the Yunicorn is expected to run a stock build of Android. All the earlier smartphones from Yu brand were exclusively to Amazon India. It is noteworthy that the company had earlier announced that they will be launching the phone on May 19, but that had to be postponed.

Xiaomi Redmi 3 and Redmi Note 3 successors spotted on Chinese website

Two new Xiaomi devices have surfaced on Chinese certification website- TENAA, which are believed to be the successors of the recently launched Redmi 3 and Redmi Note 3 smartphones.

The images on the TENAA site go by the codename- 2016030 and 2015115 and show that the upcoming devices look identical to the current Xiaomi Redmi 3 and Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 respectively.

The website also reveals the specifications of the new smartphone. The device with the codename 2016030- Redmi 3 successor comes with a 5-inch LCD 720p display. It is backed by an octa-core processor clocked at 1.4GHz and is paired with 2GB of RAM. Also on offer is 16GB of onboard storage, and supports expandable storage. As far as imaging goes, the smartphone features a 13MP rear camera and an 8MP selfie camera. It is supported by a 2,800 mAh battery and runs Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow out-of-the-box.

Looking at the specifications and the pricing of the Xiaomi Redmi 3, we expect Xiaomi to launch the smartphone under Rs 8,000 in the Indian market.

Talking about the second rumored device, which is believed to be the successor of the Redmi Note 3, it features a 5.5-inch full HD display and runs Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. The website reveals that the smartphone is powered by a 1.8GHz hexa-core processor paired with 2GB of RAM. There is 16GB of internal storage with microSD card support. On the imaging front, the device packs in a similar 16MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera. The smartphone will boast a metal body and is backed by a 4,000 mAh battery unit. The images also show a fingerprint sensor at the back just like the Redmi Note 3.

Xiaomi has not come out with an official statement for the new smartphones but going by the TENAA certification, we expect the new devices to launch very soon.

The Chinese tech giant has so far launched two smartphones in the 2016- Redmi Note 3 and Mi 5, which are selling at Rs 9,999 and Rs 24,999 respectively in the Indian market.

YU Yunicorn is a good looking phone that packs in 4GB of RAM The newest YU

YU Televentures has just unveiled the Yunicorn, which is the company's new flagship smartphone with a metal body and an impressive hardware specs sheet. The smartphone is available for an attractive price of Rs 12,999, but only for the first month. Beyond that, the pricing will be bumped to Rs 14,999. Also for this first month it will retail exclusively on Flipkart. Further, you can get a 10% cashback if you purchase the handset using your SBI card. This offer is valid only for the first flash sale, which will be held at 2PM on Tuesday, June 7, with the device already being up on pre-registration. 

The Yunicorn comes with plenty of perks, with the users getting Rs 400 on the YU Wallet which can be used for online purchases. This wallet is a new addition to YU's devices and will enhance the overall experience for the customers. 

The key highlight with the device is that it comes with 4GB of RAM, which is only available on flagships right now. Further, there's a Mediatek made octa-core processor underneath, which will help the device perform pretty greatly. 

The handset will be available in Rush Gold, Silver and Graphite, so there are ample choices for prospective buyers. At Rs 12,999 the smartphone is a potential game changer and could shake things up in the Indian mobile segment. The only downside we see is that the handset is running Android 5.1 Lollipop, although an update to Marshmallow has been promised by the manufacturer. 

The Yu Yunicorn also comes with an updated version of the Around Yu services. 

YU Yunicorn hardware specs include: 

5.5-inch Full HD (1920x1080) display
8.5mm thickness
Octa-core Mediatek Helio P10 processor
13MP rear camera
5MP front camera
4GB RAM
32GB storage (expandable via microSD)
Android 5.1 Lollipop
4,000 mAh battery
4G LTE with dual-SIM support
Fingerprint scanner 

OnePlus opens first of many Exclusive Service Centers in India

OnePlus has announced a new ESC (Exclusive Service Center) in Bangalore, with five more to follow over the coming months in New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad and Chennai. This service center will allow users to get their phones serviced in no time with OnePlus promising a turnaround time of just one hour, which is an industry record in terms of service. 

If you live a bit away from the ESC, you can use the company's pickup and drop service for your OnePlus product that needs repairing. These service centers are operated by B2X in India. 

In addition to getting your phones repaired or serviced, the store will also allow customers to check out the products before making the purchase. OnePlus mentions that the showrooms will be strategically placed in the city, well within the reach of the average user. This is an excellent initiative by OnePlus and could finally increase the exposure for its products. With the company following an online only model since its inception, the offline presence will go a long way in appealing to the masses. 

Vikas Agarwal, General Manager, OnePlus India said, "We are thrilled to launch our first Exclusive Service Centre in Bangalore. With this launch, we embark on a journey of a renewed commitment to resolve customer issues within an hour. Our promise to our fans is to offer exceptional smartphone experience while complementing it with world-class support and infrastructure. This is yet another step in fulfilling that commitment." 

ZTE Axon 7 to cost $449 in the US, €409 in Europe

Yesterday ZTE took the wraps off the Axon 7, its new flagship smartphone. And while we got the full list of its specs, and quite a few official images, the company remained mum on the pricing of the handset.

However, a report from its home country of China now comes to settle things in that regard too. According to this yet-unconfirmed claim, the Axon 7 will start at $449 in the US and €409 in Europe, in unlocked form of course.





For those prices you'll get the version with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. You'll obviously have to pay more for the top of the line model that sports 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, but it's still unclear how much of a premium that will set you back.

Apparently the high-end iteration of the Axon 7 also comes with 3D Touch-like functionality, thanks to a pressure-sensitive display. A release timeline for the phone in the US and Europe hasn't been provided yet, officially or not. That said, we assume it will be out at some point in the coming weeks, since it's already been unveiled.

Two new Xiaomi phones pass through TENAA

Xiaomi has really been working hard latel as evident by the recent announcement of the Mi 5flagship, as well as the Mi Max in an ongoing effort to expand to new foreign markets. To keep the proverbial wheels turning, two new Xiaomi devices were just spotted over at TENAA, both bearing the Mi logo on the back, as well as the company's current design language.



The devices are yet to be squarely identified and named, but the units numbered 2016030 and 2015115 do look quite a bit like the Xiaomi Redmi 3 and the Redmi Note 3, respectively. So, it is a good guess that we are looking at their successors.

The 2016030 has a 5-inch LCD display with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels. It is powered by an octa-core SoC, clocked at 1.4GHz and 2GB of RAM plus 16GB of expandable storage, overall, a typical mid-range offer. It comes with a rather compact metal body in silver or silver and gold, measuring 139.3 × 69.6 × 8.5 mm and weighing in at 143 grams. The camera setup consists of a 13MP main shooter and a 8MP selfie one. The phone boots Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow and a 2850 mAh battery powers the show.



As for the Redmi Note 3 successor, marked as the 2015115 on TENAA, it features a 5.5-inch FullHD display, a 1.8GHz hexa-core SoC and the same memory configuration - 2GB of RAM plus 16GB of expandable storage. The camera setup offers a higher-res 16MP shooter on the back and a 5MP one on the front. The metal body comes in the same set of color options and measures 149.96 × 76.06 × 8.69 mm, with a total weight of 165.91 grams. The battery pack is 4000 mAh this time around and, oddly enough, the phone appears to boot Android 5.1.1 Lollipop at least, the early TENAA unit does.

LG G Pad III 8.0 launched with octa-core CPU, 8-inch display

LG has launched a new tablet. Dubbed G Pad III 8.0, the device is powered by an octa-core processor, and sports an 8-inch (1920 x 1200 pixel resolution) display. It offers 16GB of storage (expandable up to 2TB), and features a 5MP rear camera.





Measuring 210.7 x 124.1 x 7.9mm and weighing in at 309g, the tablet runs Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. The LG G Pad III 8.0 is available for purchase in Canada, where Rogers and Fido are currently offering it for CAD 240, or around $185.

As per Rogers, the tablet is targeted towards "youth and young adults looking for the best value device that encompasses the latest productivity."

Mystery Sony smartphone spotted on GFXBench

Sony has been busy with a lot of re-imagining within its smartphone lineup lately. With the "Z" series now officially in the history books and the introduction of the new "X" moniker in its place, with devices like the Xperia X and X Performance, as well as another new Xperia XAlineup, hearing about new and mysterious Sony devices is hardly an isolated occurrence.

However, that doesn't make these discoveries any less exciting and the same goes for the Sony 24UJ95LH34QX77B1, recently spotted in the GFXBench database. The model bears quite a lot of similarity to the Xperia X Performance. It uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 and also has 3GB of RAM, making it a close sibling to the current Sony flagship. Its display also has a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, but, oddly enough, its size is listed as 5.1-inches, instead of the 5.0-inches on the X Performance.



Bear in mind that GFXBench specs reading are taken from the handset's internal variables and are therefore prone to some errors, which might account for the small 0.1-inch difference. However, there are a few other more distinct differences between the two devices as well. For example, the camera setup on the unidentified handset consists of a 21MP main shooter and a 12MP selfie one, in place of the 23MP, plus 13MP combo on the Xperia X Performance.

All things considered, we might be looking at an entirely new device, however, there is also the distinct possibility that this is a small modification on the Xperia X Performance that is yet tot enter the lineup or perhaps even a regional modification.

Asus Zenpad Z8 leaks with SD650 SoC, 8-inch display

A new Asus tablet - dubbed Zenpad Z8 - has leaked courtesy of the usually reliable leakster @evleaks who posted an image of the device along with some of its key specifications on Twitter.





The leak says the tablet is powered by a Snapdragon 650 chipset, and sports an 8-inch (1536x2048 pixel resolution) display. It has 2GB of RAM and 16GB of expandable internal memory. The camera department is handled by an 8MP rear unit and a 1.8MP front shooter.

According to @evleaks, the tablet is headed to Verizon. There was, however, no word on when it would be launched and what price tag it would carry.

Samsung Galaxy S7 edge getting June security update already

While June hasn't even begun, the Android security update for the month has already started hitting the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge smartphone. Specifically, the update is being rolled out to units on carrier Orange in Spain.





This is not the first time a Samsung device has started getting a monthly security update in advance - the Galaxy Note 4 started receiving the May security update towards the end of April. There's currently no information on what else (if at all) the latest Galaxy S7 edge update includes.

As is usually the case with OTA rollouts, it may take some time for the update to hit your device. Meanwhile, if you're feeling impatient, you can manually check for it by heading to theSettings menu on your handset.

New devices of the week

Galaxy C5 

The past week was jam-packed with new device announcements. Samsung's even added a brand new Galaxy "C" family to its lineup.

The Korean giant kicked things off within its new metal lineup with the Galaxy C5 and shortly after, the Galaxy C7. Both can be considered mid-range offers and the only difference between the otherwise indistinguishable "C" pair is the size (5.2-inches and 5.7-inches), as well as a small processor upgrade.

ZTE Axon 7 Quartz Grey

Moving on to another exciting release - ZTE Axon 7. With all the bells and whistles, like a 5.5-inch AMOLED QHD display, Snapdragon 820 SoC and up to 6GB of RAM, it is definitely going after the big boys. Coupled with the newly announced ZTE VR headset and plans for a quite a few new brick and mortar stores, ZTE seems to be going in full on assault mode this year.

LG Stylus 2 Plus press renders

LG showcased two new devices this week, although, not particularly high-end ones. First, there is the LG G Pad III 8.0 - an 8-inch tablet with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixel and an octa-core SoC on board. The other newcomer is the LG Stylus 2 Plus - a 5.7-inch FullHD phablet, powered by a Snapdragon 430 chip, 3GB of RAM and a 3,000 mAh battery. It also has a 16MP primary camera, LTE, dual-SIM support and boots Android Marshmallow. It even has a stylus and all that for $340.

 

Acer Liquid Zest Plus

Further down the list, we find the Acer Liquid Zest Plus. With a 5.5-inch HD display, 2 GB of RAM, MediaTek's MT6735 and a spacious 5,000 mAh battery, it seems to offer quite a bit for its $199 price tag.

Jolla

And last, but not least, Jolla - the young Finnish company founded by ex-Nokia and MeeGo employees, has launched its second smartphone - the Jolla C.

HTC One M9+ Prime Camera Edition goes official with MediaTek Helio X10 SoC, 5.2-inch display

After announcing the One M9 Prime Camera Edition earlier this month in Germany, HTC has made official a new variant of the device - dubbed One M9+ Prime Camera Edition. The new phone is currently listed on HTC's India eStore.





Specs-wise, the One M9+ PCE is powered by a MediaTek Helio X10 SoC, and sports a 5.2-inch full HD display. It comes with 2GB RAM and 16GB expandable internal memory, and packs in a 2,840mAh battery.





The camera department is handled by a 13MP rear unit and an HTC UltraPixel front shooter. Measuring 15.09 x 7.19 x 0.96cm and weighing in at 168g, the handset runs Android (said to be version 5.0) with Sense UI on top, and also features a front fingerprint sensor.





The One M9+ PCE carries a price tag of INR 23,990 (around $355), but isn't officially available for purchase yet. Apparently, it's on sale at third-party retail stores in India.

Windows 10-powered Alcatel Idol4 Pro receives wifi certification

he Alcatel Idol4 Pro, which has been the subject of a handful of leaks already, has now received Wi-Fi certification from the WiFi Alliance (WFA), suggesting that the Windows 10-powered phone will launch soon.





What's worth mentioning here is that the device that has been certified is a T-Mobile variant. This could mean that the handset will only be available in the US, at-least at launch.





It's rumored spec-sheet currently reads SD820 SoC, 6-inch full HD display, 20MP rear camera, and 64GB storage. There's currently no information on how much it will cost.

Asus ZenFone 3 series specs leak ahead of today's announcement

We already know that Asus will unveil the ZenFone 3 series today (May 30), and it will consist of three devices namely the ZenFone 3, ZenFone 3 Deluxe, and ZenFone 3 Max. But before that happens, some key specs of these devices have been leaked.

The leak comes in the form of an alleged internal document which was shared by tipster Roland Quandt on Twitter.





The doc reveals that the Zenfone 3 is powered by a Snapdragon 625 SoC, and sports a 5.5-inch full HD display. RAM is 3GB, while the camera department is handled by a 16MP rear unit and an 8MP front shooter. The phone packs in a 3,000mAh battery.

Moving on, the Deluxe variant is powered by a Snapdragon 820 SoC, and sports a 5.7-inch display. The handset comes with a whopping 6GB RAM and a 23MP rear camera unit.

And finally, the third device whose specs the doc reveals is the ZenFone 3 Ultra, which is powered by SD652, features a 23MP rear camera, and packs in a large 4,600mAh battery. RAM is 4GB, and the phone also features a fingerprint sensor. There's currently no information on whether or not the ZenFone 3 Ultra and the the ZenFone 3 Max are same devices.

Quandt notes that the document is from February and because it's old, final specs could be a bit different.