Thursday, September 17, 2015

Are these Amazon's new Kindle Fire tablets?

After hearing word of a new, super cheap Amazon Kindle Fire tablet, it seems the world's online flea market will have a few more models in store for us.

An AFTVnews reader recently discovered thumbnail images of four new tablets hosted on Amazon's server. On top of a six image, it seems Amazon also has plans to announce slates with a spectrum of screen sizes including seven to eight, eight to nine and a 10-inch device to likely rival the iPad Air 2 and Nexus 9.

Unlike the rumored 6.7-inch Kindle Fire, which was first revealed in a set of leaked Geekbench 3 benchmarks, it appears Amazon's other tablets will stick to the 16:10 screen resolution seen on earlier devices.

But before you put too much faith in these supposed official images, they're all incredibly tiny and low-resolution. This significantly lowers the validity of these rumors as there's not enough detail to tell if these are indeed part of Amazon's new slate family.

Pure Android?

That said, EV Leaks was able to dig up a much higher-resolution image of the rumored 10.1-inch Kindle Fire.

Assuming the images are authentic, the 10.1-inch Kindle looks like a blown up Kindle Fire Phone with a flatter back compared to the beveled sides of Amazon's more recent HDX Kindle Fire refresh. What's more, it appears Amazon has instituted a new user interface that drops the bookshelf approach for a more traditional set of Android app tiles.

At the rate these leaks are going, it seems like Amazon could announce its new tablets any day not even though the web-retailer has yet to announce an official reveal event.

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Yu Yunique First Impressions

Yu Yunique

Design

There is nothing unique about the design of Yunique. If anything, it reminds us of the Yu Yuphoria that waslaunched about three months ago. The handset sports a similar square-shaped design along with a camera ring on the rear that resembles with the one on Yu Yuphoria. But in terms of frame, the Yunique doesn’t come with the metal frame that the earlier device is equipped with.

Mind you, even without the metal frame, the Yu Yunique has a decent finish and the build quality does not look cheap.

Display

Most of the front is taken up 4.7-inch HD display that comes with Gorilla Glass 3 protection. During the launch presentation, the company was quick to highlight that it is the only phone in that price segment to offer this protection. Yu further added that there are only handful other brands that offer an HD display. With whatever time we got to spend with the device, the display seemed to be good. The colours looked bright and vivid and the viewing angles were decent.

Physical buttons

There are no physical or touch-sensitive buttons on the front panel. On the other hand, the right panel houses the volume rocker key and the power button. These buttons were fairly responsive, but we were not too happy with the fact that the power button has been squeezed in between the volume rocker.

Battery

Yunique is a dual-SIM smartphone that houses 2000mAh battery, which is not removable. As per tThe company claims that the battery will deliver a talk time of 7 hours and standby time of 271 hours.

Under the hood

Powering the device is Qualcomm Snapdragon 410, which is clocked at 1.2GHz along with Adreno 306 GPU. In addition to this, the phone carries 1GB RAM and 8GB of on-board storage, out of which over 4GB is available to the user. The device also supports microSD card of up to 32GB.

Out of the box, the Yu Yuniverse is running on stock Android 5.1. After finding no sight of Cyanogen on the device, even we were slightly surprised initially. But the company claims that the phone is upgradable to Cyanogen OS 12.1. In our initial run, we found the phone to be nippy and the transition to be smooth.

The other details

Just like the other phones under the Yu range, this smartphone too comes with Yuniverse browser, along with Chrome. Also, there is a customised video player pre-installed in this device.

Camera

As the devices at the demo zone had no Wi-Fi/data connectivity, we were unable to put them to any form of test but be assured that we shall be telling you more on the same in our review soon.

Coming over to the camera, the Yu Yunique is graced with an 8MP rear camera, which managed to strictly average shots in an outdoor setup during the evening. There is a 2MP rear camera onboard, which manages to do an Okayish job of clicking selfies.

The best 4G LTE-enabled smartphones under 5k

Affordable future-ready devices

4G connectivity has become the new competition parameter among the smartphone manufacturers in the affordable price segment. Last week, Micromax sub brand Yu Televentures launched Yunique; its 4G enabled smartphone with an HD display at a price tag of Rs 4,999. And now, Chinese brand Phicomm has also stepped into the ring with its 4G LTE dual SIM smartphone 'Energy 653'. It is also priced at Rs 4,999 and comes with a better set of specifications.

But the story does not end here. There are other options to choose from in the sub 5k category. We have created a slideshow of all the smartphones available in the price bracket to help you make a right choice.

Micromax Yu Yunique

4.7-inch HD IPS with Corning Gorilla Glass 3, Cyanogen OS 12.1 based on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, 1.2GHz Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 410, 1GB RAM, 8MP Auto Focus rear with LED Flash, 2MP front, 8GB (microSD upto 32GB), 2000mAh, Dual-SIM, 4G LTE, Bluetooth 4.0, 134.50 x 67.50 x 8.30, 128 grams

Yunique features a crisp 4.7-inch HD display and a Qualcomm Snapdragon Soc. You can also root the smartphone and install Cyanogen OS without getting concerned about voiding warranty.

Price: Rs 4,999

Phicomm Energy 653

5-inch HD IPS, Android 5.1 Lollipop, 1.1GHz Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 210, 1GB RAM, 8MP Auto Focus rear with LED Flash, 2MP front, 8GB (microSD upto 64GB), 2300mAh, Dual-SIM, 4G LTE, Bluetooth 4.0 ,144x70x8 mm, 125 grams

Phicomm Energy 653 is the lightest, has the largest display, and can be expanded upto 64GB via microSD card.

Rs 4,999

ZTE Blade Qlux 4G

4.5-inch qHD IPS, Android 4.4 KitKat (upgradable to Android 5.0 Lollipop), 1.3GHz quad-core MediaTek MT6732M, 1GB RAM, 8MP Auto Focus rear with LED Flash, 5MP front, 8GB (microSD upto 32GB), 2200mAh, Dual-SIM, 4G LTE, Bluetooth 4.0, 134.5×67.4×10.3mm, 154 grams

ZTE is not offering HD display on its cheapest 4G-enabled smartphone and ships with Android 4.4 KitKat but can be upgraded to 5.0 Lollipop.

Price: Rs 4,999

Lenovo A2010

4.5-inch qHD IPS, Android 5.1 Lollipop, 1GHz quad-core MediaTek MT6735M, 1GB RAM, 5MP rear, 2MP front, 8GB (microSD upto 32GB), 2000mAh, Dual-SIM, 4G LTE, Bluetooth 4.0, 130.5×66.6×9.95 mm, 137 grams

Sadly, Lenovo A2010 also ships with a qHD display and comes equipped with a 5MP rear camera, while the others mentioned in the list feature an 8MP rear camera.

Price: Rs 4,990

Friday, September 11, 2015

10 best mobile phones in the world today (2015)

Helping you choose the best smartphones since 2008

10. Nexus 6

Google's best ever phone is also its biggest ever

Google's latest Nexus is a phone that moves away from the usual 'super cheap superphone' and into phablet territory with its latest offering. The good news is the screen is also supercharged: massive at 6 inches, it's also got a stunning QHD resolution.

You'll always be getting the latest updates to Google's Android OS with this one, and while it's certainly something you'd have to use two handed (make sure you're fine with that before buying, as it's put a lot of people off that we've shown it to) it's tremendous display, premium specs and great use of Android 5.0 Lollipop make one of the best phablets to date.

It's not cheap, but it's the best Nexus ever made. And, when you think about it, you're not going to need to hold onto your money, as you'll require both hands to grab onto this two-handed monster.

9. Sony Xperia Z3

A solid phone with a good screen and excellent battery life

The Xperia Z3 is a phone that offers the best of Sony with some really polished tweaks thrown in for good measure. The screen is one of the brightest around and really benefits from Bravia technology, and the longer battery life embarrasses a number of other big smartphones around at the moment.

We do expect more from the camera, and the black bezels above and below the display ruin the aesthetic somewhat, but the ability to Remote Play your PS4 more than makes up for it - it's a really cool feature and means you can keep gaming while someone else is hogging the TV.

The Z3 is a brilliant phone with a few rough edges - but Sony's also great at bringing the cost of its handsets down, so this represents really good value for money for a flagship

8. iPhone 6 Plus

Apple's first bigscreen phone is a stunner

Put simply, this is the bigger version of the smaller iPhone 6. But Apple's done a bit more with its first phablet, with some increased specs to offset that higher price.

The screen is Full HD and really packs some stunning colour reproduction. The camera on the back host optical image stabilisation, so pictures looks sharp and also brighter, thanks to more light being let in.

The iPhone 6 Plus also has something that's eluded iPhone fans for years: a really good battery, with Apple using that extra space to cram in a few more mAh units.

It's one of the most expensive phones around, and is bettered on spec by a few others - but if you're an Apple fan looking for a 'bigger' experience, this is the phone for you.

7. Samsung Galaxy Note 4

Samsung's latest phablet is the best bigscreen phone available

Samsung created the phablet category and continues to lead it, cramming in so much technology into the Note 4 while bringing the S Pen stylus that many love to use.

The main thing we love is the screen though: Super AMOLED technology combined with QHD resolution means a pin sharp display, and one that we just can't take our eyes off, with the bigger size actually working to show off the extra pixels.

It's not cheap, and the interface isn't as clean and clear as on the Samsung Galaxy S6 range, but that could all change soon - in which case, this is one of the most fully featured phones that rewards those willing the pay the premium and put the time in to learn its powers.

6. Sony Xperia Z3 Compact

A small Android phone packed with big features

Less powerful with a lower-res screen than its bigger brother, the Z3 Compact still uses most of the high-end specs, fuses them with things like Remote Play and the 20.7MP camera, and does it all at a really low cost for a phone of this power.

The 4.7-inch display makes this one of the best phones to hold and use in day to day life, and it's also got a brilliantly long-lasting battery too, so if you're not a fan of the gargantuan models on show, there's a lot to love with Sony's mini flagship.

The best of Sony in a smartphone - if that's what you're after, this is the phone to go for. It's the ergonomics and the price that impress, and while it's not quite got the spec sheet of the main Z3, it feels a lot more polished.

5. HTC One M9

Not quite up the 5 star standard, but HTC still has the most beautiful phone around

HTC's been used to living at the top of our charts for the last couple of years, and while it's not quite managed it in 2015, it's still a phone with the best build quality out there.

None of the old favourites are missing, so BoomSound enhancement still really turbocharges the audio and the Sense overlay remains one of our favourites, thanks to being sophisticated and really powerful.

The camera has been boosted to 20.7MP, although doesn't have the impressive snapping power of some of the other phones on the market, and the design language still means this is one of our favourite phones to stick in the pocket.

It's a touch more expensive than before, and doesn't take a huge leap forward from last year's model - but then again, that was nearly perfect, so where was HTC to go?

4. Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge

Curving into the future with impressive specs

The Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge has all the power and features of the table-topping S6, but does it with a little extra too, thanks to the curved edges on each side.

They're pretty much aesthetics, as they don't add a huge amount of functionality, but if you're going on looks alone, the S6 Edge has them in spades.

The price is a lot higher though, which is why it doesn't join its twin (non-identical) brother at the top of the chart, but if you're after a phone that's wildly different from anything else with a great feature set and tip-top camera, this is your choice.

3. LG G4

Luxury leather on a smartphone that tries to please everyone

LG has tried to focus on what everyone actually wants out of a smartphone, a great looking design, colour rich display and the great camera for photos - but it doesn't quite deliver as impressively as we'd hoped.

Don't let that put you off though. There's a lot going on with the LG G4, and for the most part it's rather positive indeed. The leather back is much nicer than the plastic option, and it will make your phone stand out among the swath of glass and metal offerings.

Its large, expansive screen is one of the best on the market, the 16MP laser auto-focus camera takes some cracking shots and the rear buttons are easier to hit on a handset this size.

As a complete package, it offers more than the Xperia Z3 and One M9, but it doesn't quite match the slickness and design of the iPhone 6 and Galaxy S6.

2. iPhone 6

Bigger, better, sleeker and faster than the iPhone 5S

The iPhone 6 - a real step forward for Apple and a phone that's a real joy to use, hold and feel. It's got all the same ingredients that make iPhones special: while it doesn't excel in any given part of the smartphone recipe, it just works, promoting simplicity over fiddly menus..

The camera has a lower megapixel count than others, but it's fast, bright and easy to use. The screen is too low-res compared to the phones around it, but pops and fizzes with colour and brightness. And that design - we have to keep coming back to it as it feels beautiful in the hand.

The sticking point is it's still one of the most expensive phones on the market, and spec-fiends will note it's not quite got the technology inside to truly back up the cost.

But don't let that put you off: if you're in the market for a handset from Apple, or just been tempted by one in the past: buy the iPhone 6. It's excellent, a pure joy to use.

1. Samsung Galaxy S6

A brilliant phone that shows Samsung still has what it takes

While last year's Galaxy S5 was nothing special, this year Samsung's started from the ground up to make a truly wonderful smartphone.

The camera is superb, the audio and video quality brilliant and the QHD display crammed into the 5.1-inch screen is the sharpest on the market - although it does suck down the battery rather a lot.

The design is finally something we're pleased to hold in our hand, rather than the plastic cheapness of last year, and the refined TouchWiz overlay is a lot nicer to use.

It's pretty expensive mind, so make sure you're after a truly A-grade experience before buying as you'll be paying handsomely for it - but if you do take the plunge, you've got the best phone on the market.