This week, HTC introduced a long list of new devices in India including the flagship HTC 10. Other contenders in list include HTC 10 Lifestyle, Desire 628, Desire 630, Desire 825, Desire 830, and One X9.
The flagship HTC 10 was first announced last month. It packs a 5.2-inch Quad-HD screen, is powered by a quad-core Snapdragon 820 SoC, runs on Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) with HTC Sense 8.0 UI, has a 12 Ultrapixel camera with Laser auto focus,OIS, f/1.8 aperture and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera with f/1.8 aperture and OIS. Check our hands on below.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3iJL0l8zOo
The HTC 10 comes in Carbon Grey and Topaz Gold colors and is priced at Rs. 52,990 in India. It will be available from June 5th 2016. HTC has also launched the stripped down variant dubbed HTC 10 Lifestyle with Snapdragon 652 and 3GB RAM. It will also go on sale on the same day, but the pricing has not been announced yet.
The HTC Desire 628 dual sim was also announced last month. It packs a 5-inch HD screen, is powered by an Octa-Core MediaTek MT6753 64-bit processor and runs on Android 5.1 (Lollipop) with HTC’s own Sense UI on top. It has a 13-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera.
The HTC Desire 628 dual sim comes in Cobalt White and Sunset Blue colors and is priced at Rs. 13,990. It will be available across India from June 5th. Check Desire 628 hands on below.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfQ6vvO8Qho
The HTC Desire 825 boasts of a very interesting design at the back with a micro splash effect. The basic shape and aesthetics remain quite similar to the HTC devices of the past but the new paint job and colours bring in a fresh appeal.
The device has a large 5.5″ 720p display which is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass. It is powered by a quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor along with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage that can be expanded by upto 2TB if you have one or can find one as big. The device comes with Android Marshmallow 6.0 with HTC Sense UI on top.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSvhFix0OMk
The primary camera is a 13-megapixel BSI sensor and there is a 5-megapixel camera on the front. The battery is rated at 2700mAh. The device will be available for purchase starting from June at a price of Rs 18,990 through htc.com as well as other online and offline retailers.
The HTC Desire 830 has a 5.5″ display like the Desire 825 but has a higher 1080p SLCD display which is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass. It is powered by a Mediatek MT6753 octa-core processor as well as 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. It can be expanded by upto 2TB using the dedicated microSD card slot. The 13 Megapixel camera and an Ultrapixel camera with 4MP resolution.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7eL_HxhcX8
The Desire 630 is the little brother of the Desire 825. It features the same micro splash paint effect on its polycarbonate body but with a smaller 5″ 720p display. The display seems to lack Corning Gorilla Glass for protection. It is powered by the quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor and has 2GB of RAM, 16GB of memory that can be expanded by upto 2TB using microSD cards.The device supports 4G LTE using its dual NanoSIM card slots. There is a 13-megapixel BSI camera and a 5-megapixel front facing camera.
The HTC One X9 dual sim packs a 5.5-inch 1080p display, is powered by an Octa-Core MediaTek Helio X10 processor, runs on Android 6.0 (Marshmallow), has a 13-megapixel rear camera with dual-tone LED flash, BSI sensor, optical image stabilization (OIS) that can detect shake in 0.125 milliseconds, 4K video recording and RAW image capture.
httpv://youtu.be/bZj5-8UMVlc
The HTC One X9 dual sim comes in Topaz Gold and Carbon Gray colors and is priced at Rs. 25,990. It will be available through retailers from June 20th, 2016.
Nextbit launched company’s cloud-first smartphone in India dubbed Robin. By merging cloud and on-board storage, the Robin backs up apps and photos and intelligently archives the stuff that are not frequently used and easily restores items when you need them. It packs a 5.2-inch 1080p display, is powered by Snapdragon 808 chip with 3GB RAM and runs on Android 6.0.1 (Marshmallow). It has a 13-megapixel rear camera with dual-tone LED flash, phase-detection auto-focus (PDAF) and a 5-megapixel front facing camera.
Whenever the phone is plugged in and connected to Wi-Fi, it syncs with the cloud to create space on the device. there are Four tiny lights on the back that let you know that Robin is syncing. It has a fingerprint sensor on the home button comes with USB Type-C port, has 4G LTE connectivity and a 2680 mAh built-in battery with Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0. Check our unboxing video below. Also check out the review here.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eS8XDK2v3h4
The Nextbit Robin comes in Mint and Midnight colors and is priced at Rs. 19,999. It is now available for pre-order will be available exclusively from Flipkart starting from May 30th.
Jolla announced a new Sailfish OS device, the Jolla C and its Sailfish Community Device Program initiative. The company offered 1,000 units for developers, which sold out quickly on the first day. Selected Jolla C users will be also invited to test Beta OS releases. People who have registered will also receive invitations to live online community sessions after the Finnish summer holiday season.
The Jolla C comes in Red color and is priced at 169 Euros (US$ 188 / Rs. 12,660 approx.), including VAT and free shipping in Finland as a part of the community program. Final price will vary, depending on the country.
Asus launched new variant of the Zenfone Max that was launched earlier this year. This is powered by an Octa-Core Snapdragon 615 SoC, comes in 2GB and 3GB RAM variant and runs Android 6.0 (Marshmallow). The internal storage has also been increased to 32GB. Other specifications such as the 5000mAh battery, 5.5-inch HD display and 13-megapixel rear camera with dual-tone flash and Laser auto focus.
The Asus Zenfone Max comes in black, orange and blue colors and is priced at Rs. 9999 for the 2GB RAM variant and Rs. 12999 for the 3GB RAM variant. It will be available through Flipkart, ASUS Exclusive Stores and retail outlets across India.
Reliance Retail this week launched two 4G smartphones with VoLTE – the Lyf Flame 3 and Lyf Flame 4.The Flame 3 has a 4-inch WVGA screen, is powered by a 1.5GHz quad-core processor, runs on Android 5.1 (Lollipop), has a 5-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera. It has dual SIM support, similar to most other Lyf smartphones.
The Reliance Lyf Flame 3 comes in grey color and is priced at Rs. 3,999. It is now available exclusively on HomeShop18.
The Lyf Flame 4 has a 4-inch WVGA screen, is powered by a 1.5GHz quad-core processor and runs on Android 5.1 (Lollipop), similar to the Lyf Flame 3, but this has a 2-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and a VGA front-facing camera.
The Reliance Lyf Flame 4 comes in black color and is priced at Rs. 3,999, same as the Lyf 3, but it is available through offline retailers.
Garmin India launched Fenix 3 HR, the company’s latest multisport smart watch with Garmin Elevate wrist-based heart rate technology, all new additional activity profiles and a black silicon band. “The watch has updated software with new activity trackers for golf, stand up paddle boarding and rowing, as well as the latest advanced running dynamics and physiological measurements,” said the company.
Access to the Connect IQ platform allows customization of watch faces and data fields and provides downloadable widgets and apps. The Garmin Fenix 3 HR comes in Grey color, is priced at Rs. 52,999 and is available exclusively from Amazon.in
Zebronics launched its latest portable Bluetooth speaker dubbed Galaxy. It has 1.5-inch drivers and 3W RMS output offering clear highs, mids, and strong bass. It also has built-in microphone for taking calls when it is connected to a phone. It has a spectrum of colors and the body has soft touch rubber material, and its rounded, compact shape fits easily into a bag or backpack.
It supports several such as call function with answering facility which allows you to switch simultaneously from music to calls, and also has color changing technology with rhythmic beat LED lights with 3 modes. The Zebronics Galaxy comes in Black and Blue colors and is priced at Rs. 1,111, but it is available at an offer price of Rs. 910 from Snapdeal.
Portronics also launched a portable speaker with IPX4 ratings dubbed POSH. It also has a built-in microphone that lets you take calls easily when connected to a smartphone. The body of the speaker has leather-like finish and it weighs just 284 grams so that it is easy to carry.
The Portronics POSH comes in Black and Grey colors and is available through Flipkart, Amazon.in and other retailers for as low as Rs. 1649 (MRP Rs. 2499).
Lava launched A79, the company’s latest smartphone in the ‘A Series’ It has a 5.5-inch FWVGA screen, is powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core processor and runs on Android 5.1 (Lollipop). It has a 5-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera that also has LED flash. It has dual SIM support and 3G connectivity.
The Lava A79 gold and grey colors and is priced at Rs. 5,699 (MRP).
The company also launched IvoryS 4G, company’s latest 4G tablet in the Ivory series with support for FDD Band 3, FDD Band 5 & TDD Band 40. It has a 7-inch (1280 x 800 pixels) display, is powered by a 1GHz quad-core processor and runs on Android 5.1 (Lollipop). It has a 5-megapixel auto focus rear camera with LED flash and a 3.2-megapixel front-facing camera. It has voice calling capabilities and has dual SIM support.
The Lava IvoryS 4G comes in blue with black and white with silver colors and is priced at Rs. 8,799. It will be available across retail stores, multi-brand outlets and online platforms.
Samsung also launched a tablet this week, dubbed Galaxy Tab Iris with iris-recognition technology that is Aadhaar-compliant and STQC-certified under ‘Make for India’ initiative. It is not targeted at regular consumers but for government benefit programs, enterprises, banks, education and financial institutions.
This will enable users to access services remotely by embedding Aadhaar iris-biometric authentication capabilities. The Samsung Galaxy Tab Iris comes in Black color and is priced at Rs. 13,499.
Panasonic launched Eluga A2, the company’s latest 4G smartphone in the Eluga series with support for 4G VoLTE. It has a 5-inch (1280 x 720 pixels) HD IPS display, is powered by a 1 GHz Quad-Core processor and runs on Android 5.1 (Lollipop) with with Panasonic Fit Home UI.
It has a 8-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. It has dual SIM support and weighs 167 grams even though it packs a 4000mAh battery. The Panasonic Eluga A2 comes in Metallic Gold and Metallic Silver colors and is priced at Rs. 9,490.
Lastly, LG launched its ultra-slim light-weight laptop in India called the LG Gram 14. Even though it has a large 14-inch Fulll HD screen, it is barely larger than a conventional 13-inch laptop. It has Carbon Magnesium and Magnesium Alloy body offering a sturdy build and weighs just 980 grams. Check full specifications and different variants here.
The LG Gram 14 is priced at Rs. 79,990 (MRP) for the 4GB RAM with 128GB SSD version that comes in Black color and the 8GB RAM with 256GB storage version in Golden color is priced at Rs. 94,999 (MRP), but it is available for Rs. 84,499 exclusively from Paytm.
Weekly Announcements
Xiaomi introduced Mi Drone in China. It is made by Mi Ecosystem’s company Flymi and the CEO of the company is Cai Wei who has 7 years of experience dealing with drone. The high-end version has a 12-megapixel Sony Exmor R BSI sensor, f/2.8 aperture, 6P lenses, 94-degree field of view, three-axis image stabilization with the gimbal and has 4K video recording at 30 fps and RAW image capture and has transmission distance of up to 2 kilometers. The other version has a 16.35MP CMOS sensor with f /2.6 aperture, 104-degree field of view, up to 1080p video recording at 60fps and has transmission distance of up to 1 kilometer.
It comes with a remote control so that you can take photos and videos easily. Auto take off, hover, return, descent and auto landing are also controlled via the controller. You can also place the smartphone on the controller’s built-in dock to see what the drone sees.
It has a 5100mAh battery from LG or Grepow and it can fly continuously up to 27 minutes. It has a microSD card slot that takes up to 64GB cards. The Xiaomi Mi Drone is priced at 2499 Yuan (US$ 380 / Rs. 25,640 approx.) for the 1080p model, which will be available for order through crowdfunding from May 26th. The 4K model is priced at 2999 Yuan (US$ 457 / Rs. 30,770 approx.) and will be available through crowdfunding by the end of July.
HTC also introduced the HTC One M9+ Prime Camera Edition, a new smartphone in the ‘HTC One’ series. It is expected to be launched soon in India too. It has a 5.2-inch 1080p display, is powered by an Octa-Core MediaTek Helio X10 processor, has 13-megapixel rear camera with dual LED flash, optical image stabilization (OIS), Laser auto focus and an UltraPixel front-facing camera.
The HTC One M9+ Prime Camera Edition comes in Gold, Gunmetal Grey and Silver colors and is priced at Rs. 23,990.
Samsung announced a new all-metal ‘C Series’ in China and two smartphones dubbed Galaxy C5 and Galaxy C7. The Galaxy C5 has a 5.2-inch 1080p Super AMOLED display, is powered by an Octa-Core Snapdragon 617 SoC and runs on Android 6.0.1 (Marshmallow) with Samsung’s own UI on top. It has a 16-megapixel rear camera with f/1.9 aperture, LED flash and a 8-megapixel front-facing camera. It also has a fingerprint sensor on the home button.
The Galaxy C7 has a 5.7-inch 1080p Super AMOLED display, is powered by an Octa-Core Snapdragon 625 14nm SoC and runs on Android 6.0.1 (Marshmallow) with Samsung’s own UI on top. It has a 16-megapixel rear camera with f/1.9 aperture, LED flash and a 8-megapixel front-facing camera. It also has a fingerprint sensor on the home button.
The Samsung Galaxy C5 comes in Gold, Pink Gold, Silver and Grey colors and is priced at 2199 yuan (US$ 335 / Rs. 22,520) for the 32GB version and 2399 yuan(US$ 366 / Rs. 24,555) for the 64GB version. The Samsung Galaxy C7 comes in Gold, Pink Gold, Silver and Grey colors and is priced at 2599 yuan (US$ 396 / Rs. 26,575) for the 32GB version and 2799 yuan (US$ 427 / Rs. 28,630) for the 64GB version. No word on the availability yet.
The firm also announced Galaxy S7 edge Injustice Limited Edition smartphone in collaboration with Warner Bros and DC Entertainment to commemorate the third anniversary of the popular mobile game, Injustice: Gods Among Us. The phone is designed based on one of the game’s central characters, Batman.
It also comes with a free black color Gear VR in some territories, along with Injustice game credit worth $100 and Oculus VR content vouchers. The limited edition Galaxy S7 edge Injustice Edition will roll out starting from June 13th in China, Singapore, Korea, Latin America, Russia and more countries.
Acer has announced two affordable 2-in-1 devices Windows 10 – Switch V 10 and Switch One 10 that are aimed at students. Both the devices sport 10 inch display withIPS technology for wide viewing angles and vivid color. It also launched two notebooks in the Travelmate P2 series – TravelMate P249 and TravelMate P259.
The 2-in-1 devices are powered by the latest quad-core Intel Atom processors and support Windows 10 Precision Touchpad gestures. There are camera as well at front and back. It comes with a built-in fingerprint reader, comes in 32GB and 64GB options and has a dock for an additional 500GB of HDD data storage.
The Acer Travelmate P2 series notebooks are available in 14 inch and 15.6 inch variants and are powered by Windows 10 and come equipped with the latest Intel 6th gen Core CPU, NVIDIA GeForce 940M graphics. The Switch V10 starts at a price of $249 and will be available in Q3 2016 in the US. while the Switch One 10 starts at $199. and will be available in July also in the US. The TravelMate P2 series will be available in America later this year starting at $599.
Lastly, ZTE announced its latest high-end smartphone in the Axon series dubbed Axon 7. It packs a 5.5-inch Quad HD AMOLED 2.5D curved glass screen, is powered by an Quad-Core Snapdragon 820 64-bit SoC and runs on Android 6.0 (Marshmallow). It has a 20-megapixel rear camera with dual LED flash and a 8-megapixel front-facing camera.
The ZTE Axon 7 comes in Ion Gold and Quartz Gray colors, is priced at 2,899 yuan (US$ 442 / Rs. 29,630 approx.) for the 4GB RAM with 64GB storage version, 3,299 yuan (US$ 502 / Rs. 33,690 approx.) for the 4GB RAM with 128GB storage version and the 6GB RAM with 128GB storage variant is priced at 4099 yuan (US$ 625 / Rs. 41,850 approx.) that also comes with force touch. It is available for pre-order through Jd.com in China and will go on sale from June 2nd.