Microsoft Lumia 950 review

Redmond's back in the phone game with its best foot forward

Microsoft
VERDICT

• Microsoft has drafted the blueprint for how to build a Windows phone going forward, with Lumia 950 being a serious contender for the iOS and Android faithful.

PROS:

• Super sharp, vibrant display
• Windows Hello is rad
• Lots of storage
• Capable camera

CONS:

• Thick, plastic shell
• Limited availability to start
• 
  

Microsoft may be batting a thousand when it comes to category-crushing computing devices, but it's been on the receiving end of the crushing when it comes to phones for, well, a long time.
But those days could be over, as its flagship Lumia 950 challenges some of the strongest phones around with some powerful hardware and compelling features. This is the posterchild for Windows 10 Mobile, and it already does a stellar job of showcasing the operating system (OS).
The Lumia 950 uses every end of the updated mobile OS to great effect - at least at first glance. There's Cortana integration throughout, Office support, Windows Hello iris-based security and the option to use the phone as a PC through the Continuum feature, to start.
But before I get into all of that, let's take a closer look at the phone itself.

Pretty in plastic with plenty of pixels
What you'll notice first about the Lumia 950 is that, like all the others before it, it's clad in a matte white or black polycarbonate shell. For a phone that starts at $549 (£450, about AU$766) unlocked, it's not exactly the most premium casing.
But hey, that didn't stop Samsung's phones from selling like hotcakes before they went all glass and aluminum.
Measuring 8.25mm thin and weighing 150g, this certainly isn't the slimmest phone around, far outclassed by the iPhone 6S and Samsung Galaxy S6. If you're looking for a supreme sense of chic from your smartphone, look elsewhere.
That said, the plastic shell does feel quite substantial, and it's curves only help keep grip of the thing when using it one-handed or take photos. I'd feel much more comfortable using this phone one-handed - without a case - on the subway than, say, an iPhone.
The phone's right edge is lined with your standard run of volume rocker, lock button and camera shutter button from top to bottom, with its other edges devoid of buttons. Other than that, the phone's USB-C port is found on the bottom - surprise.
The casing wraps around the phone's 5.2-inch, 2,560 x 1,440 AMOLED display underneath a sheet of Corning Gorilla Glass 3. That resolution amounts to 564 pixels per inch (ppi), essentially matching the 5.1-inch Galaxy S6 and simply crushing either new iPhone. (Though, that last feat isn't a particularly tough one.)
It's an incredibly sharp screen, one that can actually depict the detail within the 20-megapixel (MP) photos that the phone can take. There's no doubt that this will be a fine phone for movie watching and game playing on those boring commutes.

Speaking of the camera...
The Lumia 950 sports a 20MP PureView shooter with a triple LED flash, optical image stabilization and Zeiss optics in the rear. Not only is this camera capable of shooting 4K video, but Microsoft's (originally Nokia's) Living Images.
Around since before Apple's Live Photos were cool, what this does is has the camera record one second of video before firing the shutter. The result is an image that comes to life just before entering a still state, a neat trick that's a little more versatile than Live Photos.
For instance, if someone you know owns a phone that doesn't support Live Images, you can choose to send that file as an .mp4 video file. Otherwise, it's simply sent as a slightly larger .jpg than normal - about 20%, I'm told.
Another cool feature about the Lumia 950 camera is that, when shooting subjects in motion, the sensor can pinpoint exactly with pixels to focus on to avoid blur. A demonstration of the phone shooting a card trick expert fanning a deck put this into perspective for me. Oddly enough, Microsoft may have one of the few phones ideal for sports photography.
The 5MP snapper in the front features a wide-angle lens, so you can get more buddies into those selfie shots, as well as 1080p video capture capability.

Spec sheet
While it likely won't matter one bit in your daily use of the Lumia 950, take comfort in knowing it packs one of the latest Qualcomm processors: the 64-bit, hexa-core Snapdragon 808. Remember when Panos name-dropped "liquid cooling" in presenting the new Lumia phones? That feature isn't here simply because it isn't needed. (But don't tell that to the heatmiser Snapdragon 810.)
The phone comes with 32GB of onboard storage, which can be bolstered by as much as 200GB of expandable storage through a microSD card. The rumors were that this phone comes equipped with 3GB of RAM, but that has yet to be confirmed.
On the connectivity front, the Lumia 950 is houses not one, but two antennas inside - one near each of the bottom corners. When speaking with a Microsoft representative, it became clear that this is purely designed to offer the best signal for both righties and lefties, depending on which is holding the phone. Rounding out that package are LTE support, 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.1.
Powering all of this is a 3,000mAh battery that Microsoft claims can last for up to 9 hours and 30 minutes of Wi-Fi web browsing, 18 hours of talk over 3G and 10 hours of 1080p video playback. Now, that's a phone that can last all day - at least on paper.

Availability
However, I was told to expect this to change in the coming weeks as more carriers come out in support of the new phone. Perhaps, by the time our full review publishes, that exclusivity will change.
Early verdict
Microsoft's re-entry into the smartphone market is an incredibly focused one, concerned more with how its customers use these phones than whether they're ready for the phone fashion show.
And frankly, the Lumia 950's feature set speaks far louder for why you should buy one than if it were clad in an anodized aluminum shell. The screen is super sharp and vibrant, the camera looks to be one of the better phone snappers in 2015 and it's got gobs of storage.
Features like Windows Hello - its IR-powered, iris scanning technology used to unlock the phone - help set Microsoft apart from the herd. Meanwhile, Continuum allows the Lumia 950 to do what no other can: power a pure PC experience from just one (albeit powerful) USB-C port.
Will the Lumia 950 singlehandedly save Microsoft from obscurity in the phone space? That's unlikely. But this isn't just the Redmond Campus putting its best foot forward, it's Microsoft laying out the blueprint for its partners to follow. And that is possibly more important than the Lumia 950 itself.

Huawei Honor 7 vs OnePlus 2: Battle of the Budget Flagships

Competitively priced offerings

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, news and features

Finally, a new flagship phone from Microsoft

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?

InFocus M370 arriving in India on Oct. 9 for Rs 5,999

LTE offering on a budget

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

OnePlus X with a 5-inch display could be released this month

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."

Snapdragon 820 again tipped to be powering some Galaxy S7 handsets

But sharing duties with Exynos processors

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.

LG V10

An Android phone with twice the screen and double the front cameras

LG

VERDICT

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.