The Huawei Honor 7 has just been announced for the Indian markets with a price tag of Rs 22,999. This makes it comparable to the 64GB OnePlus 2 which is selling for Rs 24,999 exclusively via Amazon India (invite only).
Given the similarity in pricing between the two, it's only fair that we compare the hardware of the smartphones and give you a better idea of which one is the better device overall.
The Honor 7 will be an exclusive via Flipkart, so purchasing options are relatively limited. So without further ado, let's have a gander at the hardware specs sheet of both the smartphones.
As we can see, the hardware of both the devices are quite even. Huawei has gained points with the crisper and pixel dense display, while the OnePlus 2 comes with a slightly beefier battery and RAM.
One major bonus with the Huawei Honor 7 is the presence of a microSD card slot (using SIM card slot 2). This could peg things in Huawei's favor significantly. Not to mention that it's more freely available compared to the OnePlus 2, which requires you to procure an invitation beforehand.
Microsoft Lumia 950 release date and featuresIt's been well over a year since the last Lumia flagship smartphone was launched, back when the Nokia name was still just about alive and kicking.Microsoft has come a long way since the launch of the Nokia Lumia 930, and its newest golden boy in the mobile market is the Microsoft Lumia 950.Along with the larger Lumia 950 XL, the Lumia 950 and its big brother are the first handsets to launch with Windows 10 Mobile - the freshest installment of Microsoft's mobile platform. That means these handsets should work a lot more seamlessly with your Windows tablets, laptops and PCs as the Redmond company looks to rival Apple's ecosystem.Microsoft said it wants "to put Windows 10 in your pocket" and is labeling the Lumia 950 "the most productive phone you've ever picked up." Is that true? Let's find out.Read our hands on review of Windows 10 MobileCut to the chaseWhat is it? Microsoft's new flagship smartphoneWhen is it out? November 2015What will it cost? Starts from $549 (around £360, AU$770)Microsoft Lumia 950 release dateThe Microsoft Lumia 950 release date to set for November, but exact details are yet to be confirmed.
Microsoft Lumia 950 displayThe Lumia 950 packs a 5.2-inch display with a 2560 x 1440 resolution, which gives you an eye popping 565ppi pixel density - putting it right up there with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S6 and LG G4.There's OLED technology inside the screen, which should allow colors to pop, and it's covered in Gorilla Glass 4 to help protect it from bumps and knocks.Microsoft Lumia 950 powerMicrosoft has stuffed a hexa-core Snapdragon 808 processor inside the Lumia 950 - that's not the newest chip on offer from Qualcomm, but it will still offer a decent slug of power.It rocks up alongside 3GB of RAM and an Adreno 418 GPU, to ensure everything runs smoothly on screen.Phones these days also have a habit of heating up during extended use, but the Microsoft Lumia 950 comes with liquid cooling technology under the hood. Hopefully that will keep temperatures down during our intense gaming sessions.There are two antennas packed inside, and the Lumia 950 will auto select the best antenna depending on how you're holding the handset which will reduce chances of a 'death grip' - which is nice.
Microsoft Lumia 950 cameraLumia handsets have always had standout cameras, and Microsoft has continued this theme on the Lumia 950 with a 20MP rear facing camera. As well as snap high-res photos, you'll also be able to capture 4K footage with the Lumia 950.There's a tripe RGB flash alongside the 20MP sensor, to remove red eye and keep natural skin tones and colors. There's also a 5th generation OIS (optical image stabilization) engine to help reduce blur and improve low light performance.For the photography purists out there, the Lumia 950 also has a dedicated shutter key. Round the front you'll find a 5MP snapper for all your selfie needs.Microsoft Lumia 950 operating systemAs we've already mentioned, the Microsoft Lumia 950 runs Windows 10 Mobile out of the box. That means you get Microsoft's full suite of apps too, including Office, Cortana, OneDrive, Skype, Edge browser and Outlook.Glance screen returns, giving you instant information on the lock screen without having to unlock and navigate to specific apps.
Microsoft Lumia 950 batteryThere's a USB-C connector on the base of the Lumia 950, which provides quick data rates when connected to your computer and in 30 minutes you'll get 50% battery back thanks to fast charging.It also means you'll be able to plug your charging cable in either way round, which helps when it comes to those late-night bedside fumbles in the dark.Microsoft Lumia 950 costThe Microsoft Lumia 950 starts at $549 (around £360, AU$770), but it's not clear whether there will be various storage options just yet. That means it'll be undercutting its Android and iOS rivals, but has Microsoft done enough to convince people to switch?
U.S. based manufacturer InFocus will release the budget ranged M370 smartphone in India on the 9th of October. This is a 4G LTE compatible smartphone, which when combined with the pricing of Rs 5,999, makes for a very good combination. As expected, InFocus' love affair with e-commerce site Snapdeal continues as the M370 will be an exclusive from the retailer. While there are budget 4G LTE smartphones for even cheaper, there's no denying that the InFocus M370 will see decent demand in the country given the price tag. The pre-registrations for the smartphone are already live and will officially close on the 8th of October at 8PM, with the device going on sale the very next day. Pre-registration sales usually mean that not everybody will be able to get the device on launch day, but there will always be another chance to snatch up the device the following week. Talking about the launch, Sachin Thapar, Country Head, InFocus India said, "Today's tech-savvy youth are glued to their smartphone, engaging in endless chats and conversations. However, with generic emoticons that come pre-loaded with the device, chatting becomes impersonal, ambiguous and often loses the real expression. Traditionally, our faces has been the source of all expressions and with the new feature on InFocus M370, users can turn their faces into stickers, adding a completely new dimension to this phenomenon, making chat more fun, personal and lively." Hardware specifications of the InFocus M370: · 5-inch HD (1280x720) display · 8.1mm thickness · 125 grams · 1.1 GHz quad core Snapdragon 210 processor · 8MP rear camera · 2MP front camera · 1GB RAM · 8GB internal storage (expandable up to 64GB) · Android 5.1 Lollipop · 2,230 mAh battery · 4G LTE with dual SIM support
Talk of OnePlus looking to release a 'mini' device has been making the rounds for quite some time now. Word first broke out when co-founder Carl Pei mentioned that the company would release another device before the end of the year. This was followed by a couple of leaked renders of the device, while also revealing the possible name of the device - OnePlus X. A newer report is now suggesting that the OnePlus X will be launching as soon as this month and that the device will be made with Indian consumers in mind. This handset is said to be sporting a smaller 5-inch Full HD display and probably a Snapdragon 801 processor underneath, so the pricing shouldn't be too high. Other details such as RAM, storage, battery capacity etc are not known, but it is said that the device will feature a USB Type C port much like the OnePlus 2. The renders have suggested that the OnePlus X would use dual-cameras on the back, which could be an interesting addition on the device. Pricing could be somewhere close to or under Rs 15,000, which is not a surprise given that the flagship ranged OnePlus 2 is priced at Rs 24,999. Expect more word to follow on the OnePlus X over the coming weeks. Vikas Agarwal, general manager of OnePlus India recently said the following in an interview "We're introducing a new device by the end of this year. Diwali would be the ideal time, but next quarter for sure. It would be a global launch, but India will be the biggest focus."
We've already heard rumours that next year's Samsung Galaxy S7 will be powered by the Snapdragon 820 processor from Qualcomm, and a new Reuters report based on an article in The South Korea Electronic Times seems to confirm it.
However, the "unnamed industry sources" said that Samsung's own Exynos CPUs would also be used in the handsets sold outside of the United States and China: is Samsung hedging its bets?
Going with the Snapdragon 820 makes sense - next-generation processor technology for the next generation of flagship smartphones - but as you'll remember, Samsung ditched Qualcomm chips for the Galaxy S6.
Leak district
Alongside the processor talk we've heard 4GB of RAM is on the cards, as well as a 16MP rear camera and a 5MP one around the front. Android Marshmallow is most likely to be the mobile OS on board.
One of the more interesting S7-related whispers to make it out of Samsung and its suppliers concerns the release date: some think the phone is going to arrive a lot earlier than the usual March release date.
If the old adage of there being no smoke without fire is true, then Qualcomm chips are back in the Galaxy smartphone range - and company executives will be hoping they stay as cool as possible when they make it to consumers.
The LG V10 is a intriguing phone thanks to its sliver of a second screen at the top and dual front camera. The real benefits are the removable battery, microSD slot and 4GB of RAM, but the design isn't refined and it's going to be expensive.
PROS:
Novel second screen
Useful wide selfie camera
Extra durable design
Slight specs boos
CONS:
Gimmicky for some
Design a little too rugged
Android 5.1.1
More expensive
I'm convinced Dr. Ram-chan Woo and his LG design team are really mad scientists determined to bend and shape unique smartphones, and LG V10 is their latest monster.
This Android phone would then be a two-headed monster, in their effort to radically disrupt traditional phone features, due to its second screen and dual front camera.
The LG V10 takes a lot of cues from the flagship LG G4, but but the look and feel of this device is completely different. It's bigger, more rugged and has a little bit of extra power.
My time with this Android Lollipop 5.1.1 phone was further proof that while LG isn't bending its latest phone, like it did with the LG G Flex 2, it's still determined to try bold, new ideas, while Samsung and Apple play it safe.
Design
LG V10 is more durable, with an interesting mix of stainless steel sides and a silicone skin back. Its bumpy texture and rubbery feel really contrast with the smooth leather back of the LG G4.
The benefit to this new concoction is that it can survive drop tests like no other phone, according to LG. It's almost as if that case you're going to (or really should) by anyway is built in. Adding to that is a much appreciated double panned Gorilla Glass 4 for extra protection around front.
That means it doesn't need to need to sport the same slight curve as LG's flagship device, and the LG V10 dimensions are 159.6 x 79.3 x 8.6mm and a weight of 192g.
Though the LG G4 was a bit thicker at its curved apex, everything else about this new phone is bigger, with the clear intention that it's to rival the iPhone 6S Plus and Samsung Galaxy Note 5.
While Apple and Samsung are trending toward aluminum and glass designs, LG is going with a more practical finish, emphasizing durability, a microSD card slot and a swappable battery.
It's going to be able to sell a lot of phones based on that microSD card slot and removable battery, now that Samsung has phased out these features on the Galaxy S6 and Note 5.
LG V10 comes in Space Black, Luxe White, Modern Beige, Ocean Blue, Opal Blue. I got to test the Space Black with silver highlights, and scope out the Luxe White with a gold finish today.
Display
The real eye-catching feature here is the second screen on the front. It's not at all like the rear, e-ink second screen of the YotaPhone 2, though it has the same battery life-saving same goal.
Its 5.7-inch quad HD IPS display expands the screen size of the 5.5-inch LG G4 in a noticeable way. Touching the corners of 2560 x 1440p resolution and 513ppi takes a phablet-sized reach.
Then, and here's where the LG V10 becomes a true Frankenstein marvel, it tacks on a 2.1-inch display at the very top, taking the display size to 5.9 inches, in effect.
It all looks like one seamless display, even though the 160 x 1040 and 513ppi strip at the top has a separate backlight component to it. Get ready to stretch those fingers a bit further.
The extra reach is worth it for faster navigation. The second screen served as a quick way to glance at the time, weather and notifications, or switch out to my favorite apps for contacts.
LG V10's a nearly always-on top display shines this information and settings, even when the main screen is off. Don't worry, it can be turned off like a smartwatch, which I realized upon palming the front of the device.
Multitasking is a bit easier with my most recent apps always present on the top, and incoming calls, text notifications and calendar appointments won't take up any of the room of the main display to annoyingly interrupt what I'm doing.
There's no other phone out there with a dedicated display like this, so the LG V10 is in a class of its own. It adds to the normal, quad HD display I'm used to seeing, yet remains practical.
A new OnePlus handset is reportedly on the way, but it will unlikely be a true flagship successor to the OnePlus Two.
Instead, it looks like we'll be getting a mid-range handset, rumored to be called OnePlus X, and if a new report from Gizmochina is correct, it'll be here next month.
Not too much is known about the handset, but according to the report, it will come sporting a 5-inch display and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, which is the same as can be found in the OnePlus Two.
But the report also claims it will be a less powerful handset, and so rumors are suggesting the OnePlus X will carry a cheaper price of about $250.
'Daily driver'
Unfortunately, the rumors come from "factory sources," so we suggest taking the above news with a grain of salt.
Earlier this year, Carl Pei, the co-founder of OnePlus, said "there's going to be a second phone this year, before the end of the year. Hopefully for Christmas."
However, he also added, "When I saw the prototype for that phone, I was like 'holy s*** that's going to be my daily driver'," so we are surprised to hear that the next handset from them would be targeted to the mid-range.
So while we you should take the above with a grain of salt, if the rumors of the launch month are true, and with October just around the corner, we'll find out what OnePlus has in store for us soon enough.
