www.mymobile.co.in
APRIL 2015 ď Ź Rs 100 tm
for a connected lifestyle
MWC 2015 The best, brightest and craziest
phone of the month xiaomi redmi 2
the 6,999 battle
Xiaomi redmi 2 vs Lenovo A6000 vs moto e (2nd gen)
Tested
micromax canvas selfie, HTC Desire 526 G+, Lumia 532, Samsung Galaxy A7 and more
@mymobilemag
Editorpage
firstcall Barcelona.
E
very year sees the mobile faithful converge on this beautiful Spanish city and convert it
E D I T O R I AL
into the closest thing geeks have to the Holy
Pankaj Mohindroo |
Land for mobile technology. Yes, I am referring to the annual Mobile World Congress (MWC), which provides
Nimish Dubey | Associate Editor
a platform for different players in the mobile world
Mukesh Kumar Singh | Assistant Editor
to showcase their best and brightest products and
Abhijit Ahaskar | Correspondent
innovations, providing us with a glimpse not only of
Trisha Dey | Content Writer
the best in the industry at the moment, but also of
Renu Yadav | Reporter
the future.
Saumya Nigam | Reporter
And this year was no different. For four days, we were dazzled by an array of devices, services, apps and
DESIGN
concepts at Barcelona. And we have cherry picked the
Ajit Kumar Parashar | Sr. Graphic Designer
ones that we think are the best of the show for you. And
Pooja Papnai | Assistant Graphic Designer
that’s not all - we have also taken a look at the crazy side of the show, with some innovations that seem too
MARKETING
unreal to be true.
Puja Mohindroo | Manager - Business
If there was an event that matched the MWC in terms of curiosity and attention, it was Apple’s launch of its Apple Watch. We now know it will arrive in late
Sandeep Kumar | Manager – Marketing
OPERATIONS
much better idea of what it can and can not do. Will it
K. Rajagopalan | Advisor-Legal, Accounts & Admin
Meanwhile, in India, two events took place that could have a massive impact on the mobile world - the Union Budget and the spectrum auction. We take a closer look at both. For many people, social networking is synonymous with Facebook and Twitter. But out there are a number of social networks, which might not match these worthies in terms of popularity but command a loyal and highly participative following. We take a look at some of the most interesting of these. Of course, no issue of My Mobile would be complete
Deepak Kohli | Manager – Accounts Sneha Sahu | Web Co-ordinator Pooja Sachdeva | Manager – HR
C I R C U LA T I O N Lalit Sharma | Sr. Manager – Circulation
ADVISORY BOARD Prithipal Singh S.C. Khanna S.D. Saxena Rajan Mathews
without an array of reviews of the latest in tech town.
T.R. Dua
Among the devices reviewed this month are the new
T.V. Ramachandran
Moto E, HP Stream 11, the Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro, the
Shiv K. Bakhshi
Xiaomi Redmi 2, and the Micromax Canvas Selfie. We
Sonu Halan Bhasin
also have reviews of the latest applications and games
Bejon Misra
as well as the opinions of key members of the industry in the pages that follow. Happy reading, then. And do keep the feedback and letters coming - they spur us on like nothing else does.
Follow Us: Pankaj Mohindroo
04 | april 2015
Apoorv Bhatnagar | Sr. Manager – Marketing
April in some countries (not India, alas), and have a spark wearables into life? Read our analysis.
editor-in-chief
Editor-in-Chief
Facebook facebook.com/mymobilemag Twitter twitter.com/MyMobileMag
Edited, published, printed and owned by Pankaj Mohindroo, Published from Flat No. 25, First Floor, Shankar Market, Connaught Place, New Delhi – 110001. Printed at HT Media Ltd. B-2, Sector 63, Noida. Distributed by My Mobile Infomedia Pvt. Ltd. Copyright 2005. My Mobile is a registered trademark of My Mobile Infomedia Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form– electronic, mechanical, or otherwise, without prior permission.
The publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for errors and omissions contained in this publication, however caused. The opinions and the views contained in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Readers are advised to seek specialist advice before acting on information contained in this publication, which is provided for general use and may not be appropriate for the reader’s particular circumstances. The ownership of trademarks is acknowledged.
Volume XI, Issue III, april 2015
MYMOBILE
content
24
32 20 40 Style Notes
Band, a smart band that does
10 letters
low price.
12 News 16 mobile Doctor 18 consumer
not cost the earth. Staggeringly
40 Chief speak Rahul Sharma, the man behind Micromax and YU on his journey and future plans.
26 mobile sensex The Samsung Galaxy S4 and
B urn Tests
Yota Phone C9660 just be-
44 lemon ocean 101
came more affordable!
forum
45 htc desire 526G+ 46 microsoft lumia 532
73 My Guide
28 etcetera Kingston MicroSDXC card,
20 versus Each of them costs Rs. 6,999,
Quantum QHM6602-M
47 bloom 4.0 lite
power bank, Sigma
48 samsung galaxy A5
and comes with impressive hardware and performance. We
dp2 Quattro camera and more..
compare the Lenovo A6000, Xiaomi Redmi 2 and Moto E (2nd Generation). Guess who won?
32 Lead Story It rained stunning products and concepts at the Mobile World Congress at Barcelona.
24 exclusive We check out the Xiaomi Mi 06 | april 2015
And we have cherry-picked the best. And craziest.
50 micromax canvas selfie 52 hp stream 11 54 moto e 2nd Generation 56 xiaomi redmi 2 58 samsung galaxy a7 MYMOBILE
What's Inside
contents 60 exclusive The awesome duo that could
redefine notebooks - the
beyond Facebook and Twitter.
Shorts, The Disney Side
Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro and the
And these five are worth a
changes your look, Selfie
new Apple Macbook
look.
magic with Selfiegram and more
spot light
66
42
We take a look at the latest
spectrum auction
62
What did the Union Budget
2015 offer the mobile industry?
64
apptastic Yes, there are social networks
apple watch Apple has finally released the
94 smart Apps News summarised in News in
96 just in The surprisingly priced InFocus
Apple Watch. But what are its
M2 and Lenovo A7000, the
prospects?
amazing Xiaomi Mi Pad and the
68 boredom buster Find items with Agent Alice,
Samsung Galaxy E7 have arrived.
Swing a racquet with Stick- man Tennis 2015, and more...
98 vantage point The Online and Offline retail battle
66
73 68 Total number of pages = 100 08 | april 2015
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TESTED
THE PHONE FOR AJAY DEVGN
LENOVO A6000, ASUS PADFONE MINI, MICROMAX CANVAS HUE, HP STREAM 8, SONY SMARTBAND TALK AND MORE
PHONE OF THE MONTH XIAOMI MI4
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10 | april 2015
e ave th
dh nes an
ream in a d ellpho c y e t k u o o st zy ab ew lines? an als n the late e a r c c d u n f o u hav o a Are y al to pen a for news our hands u think yo o y ti se poten have a no rave to lay t them? If y CV to r u le, c u Do yo e? Do you world abo . Rush you My Mobi in e in ou headl and tell th king for y your name o s o e o l to se gizm u, we are .co.in ine. o e y l i n b i o it az mym e mag team@ best mobil India’s
MYMOBILE
What’s Up
newsbits Pebble comes out with a new smartwatch
Samsung with 16 per cent. XOLO LAUNCHES WIN Q1000 AT RS. 8499 XOLO has launched a Windows Phone, the XOLO Win Q1000 , which will be available at a price of Rs. 8499. The device has a personalized user
Pebble has launched their new
interface with live tiles, built-in
smartwatch called the Pebble
cloud storage, and whole
Time which features a week
collection of apps that include
long battery life, slimmer and
MS Office and MS Outlook. The
sleeker design and a full colored
phone runs on Windows Phone
display. The smartwatch is 20
8.1 and comes with a screen
per cent thinner than the
Size of 5.0 inches and also has
original Pebble and has even
a 2,200 mAh battery. It is
included features like sending
powered by a 1.2 GHz quad
text messages through voice
core processor, with 1GB
command, health tracking and
RAM, and 8 GB internal
notifications.
memory which can be expanded upto 32 GB. The smartphone
Xiaomi top 4G handset vendor in India?
has a 8.0-megapixel rear
Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi,
front facing one.
camera and a 2.0-megapixel
and Samsung and becoming the top 4G handset seller in the
the Canvas Pep at a price of Rs.
-0.13%. The overall tele-
5,999. The Micromax Canvas
density in the wireless category
Pep is available across online
is 76.02 million and 2.14
and offline stores. The
million in the wired line
smartphone is powered by 1.3
category. The total share of
GHz quad-core processor and
urban subscriber in wireless
runs on Android KitKat 4.4.2.
and wired line category is
It also has a 4.5 inch screen
58.11%
80.38%
and 1,700 mAh battery and 1
respectively and the share
GB RAM and it also has 8 GB
of rural subscriber in wireless
internal memory which can be
and wired line category is
expanded upto 32 GB and a 5
41.89%
MP rear camera.
and
and
19.62%
respectively. Garmin launches new Vivosmart wearable
Indian telecom subscriber base reaches 97 crore: TRAI
Indian market in January this
Vívosmart, a stylish activity tracker with smart notifications. The device will help users stay on track with health and wellness goals while providing alerts for texts, calls, calendar from a smartphone. It is easyto-operate as it has a touchscreen that displays time of day, steps, calories, distance, move bar, goal countdown and
year, according to sources. As
more. The Vívosmart will be
per the latest CMR data, Xiaomi
exclusively available from
has been leading the 4G LTE
Snapdeal.com at a price of Rs.
device market with 30.8 per
12,990 and at the time of
cent market share in January.
writing, was coming at an offer
The company is followed by
MICROSOFT LAUNCHES LUMIA 435 AND LUMIA 532 AT RS. 5,999 AND RS. 6,499
Garmin India has launched the
reminders, e-mails and more
has pulled off a surprise by upstaging the likes of Apple
January has decreased to
price of Rs. 10,990 in black,
Microsoft launched its two Lumia devices, the Microsoft Lumia 532 priced at Rs.6,499 and Microsoft Lumia 435 priced at Rs. 5,999. Both the smartphones will be available in bright orange, bright green, white and black, and in single and dual SIM variants. The Microsoft Lumia 435 runs on Windows Phone 8.1 with Lumia Denim and has a Screen Size of
Apple with 23.8 per cent, with
The Telecom Regulatory
Samsung at 12.1 per cent,
Authority of India (TRAI) has
HTC with 10 per cent and
revealed
Micromax at 8.3 per cent.
subscription data in India as on
Sources further reported that in
31 January 2015. The total
the fourth quarter of 2014,
number
telephone
has a 2 MP rear camera and a
more than one million devices
subscribers is 979.21 million,
VGA front camera. Also the
with 4G support were shipped
which is more than 97 crore.
Microsoft Lumia 532 runs on
to the Indian market which
The total telephone wireless
same Windows Phone 8.1 with
included tablets, smartphones
subscriber base is 952.34
Lumia Denim with 4-inch
and data cards. Apple had
million, with the net addition in
screen and 1.2 GHz dual-core
led with a 45 per cent market
January 2015 being 8.37
processor. The device has
share at the last quarter of
million, whereas wired lines
1,560mAh battery the same
2014, and was followed by
were down to 26.87 million
Micromax announced the
memory and RAM- 1GB but
HTC with 19 per cent and
where the net addition in
launch of its new smartphone
has a 5 MP rear camera.
12 | april 2015
the
of
telecom
berry, purple, blue and slate in a small and large band size. MICROMAX LAUNCHES CANVAS PEP at RS. 5,999
4-inch with 1,560mAh battery and a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor. It has 1 GB RAM and 8 GB internal memory that can be expanded upto 128 GB and
MYMOBILE
What’s Up
newsbits TOURISM MINISTRY LAUNCHES HOLIDAYIQ’S OFFLINE MOBILE GUIDE HolidayIQ, one of the largest holiday information portals in India announced the launch of the ‘Offline mobile guide’. Each destination guide has details on sightseeing options that will let the user to download and access traveller reviews and maps for on-the-go access,
are 3 GB RAM and 64 GB
subscribers can avail it at
internal storage. And ensuring
Rs.5,900. The boxes can be
that you never run out of power
booked through the official
is a massive 3,900 mAh fast
website of the company,
charging battery. When users
through the dealers and from
need to charge the battery
the Tata Sky 24X7 helpline.
quickly, the Motorola Turbo
Apart from 4K content, the STB
Charger will provide up to seven
will also display Standard
hours of power on just 15
Definition (SD) and High
minutes of charging.
Definition (HD) channels to the subscribers along with Dolby
be available in Silver and Red colour variants. G Flex 2 has a 5.5 inch Full HD Curved P-OLED display with 2.0 GHz octa core
Digital Plus 7.1 surround
offline mobile guide answers
Bharti releases new version of My Airtel app Bharti Airtel has given its ‘My
the five key questions before
Airtel’ mobile application a very thorough makeover. The
reach, where to go, what to do,
application has been redesigned
Google unveils 31 Indian heritage sites on Google Maps
The device has 2 GB RAM and
each holiday that is how to where to stay and where to
for Android users to allow the
People around the world will
has a 13.0 megapixel rear
book. The offline feature also
customers to discover, access
now be able to explore over 31
camera and a 2.1 megapixel
offers the largest storehouse of
and self-manage Airtel services
more Indian heritage sites on
front facing camera. For
travel information, which is
across mobiles, fixed lines
Google Maps and Google
connectivity front, the
almost 37,000+ hotels,
through and DTH platforms.
Cultural Institute. With the
smartphone
50,000+ sightseeing options
Customers can use ‘My Airtel’
support of the Archaeological
4G LTE, Bluetooth, GPS, USB
across 1300+ destinations,
app to recharge any mobile
Survey of India (ASI), Delhi
and Wi-Fi with 3,000 mAh
which comprise homestays,
number, and can get ‘Airtel
Tourism and Transport
battery.
resorts, serviced apartments,
Surprises’ coupons with offers.
Development Corporation,
tented camps etc for each
In association with Mydala,
Karnataka State Archaeological
destination.
India’s coupon and discount
Department and Maharashtra
marketing platform, ‘Airtel
Tourism, Google has released
Surprises’ will offer coupons for
360-degree online imagery of
popular brands like Café Coffee
India’s architectural marvels
Day, PVR Cinemas, Archies,
and monuments that include
Flipkart.com, Ebay.in, Amazon.
the Gateway of India, Mysore
in, Myntra.com and VLCC.The
Palace, Sun Temple, Nalanda
new ‘My Airtel’ application is
University, the Group of
now available for select users,
Monuments at Pattadakal, and
and will be rolled out for all
the Thanjavur Temple amongst
customers in a short time.
others. This launch of 31 new
even while offline. HolidayIQ’s
Moto Turbo released on Flipkart And Motorola continues its comeback in India. The company has released the Moto Turbo smartphone which will be available for Rs. 41,999 for a 64 GB version on Flipkart. Designed with premium ballistic nylon the Moto Turbo comes with a 5.2-inch Quad
sites will bring the number of
resolution. It is powered by a
Tata Sky Launches 4K Set Top Box Tata Sky, a Direct-To-Home
powerful
HD display with 2560x1440
sound.
Qualcomm
(DTH) operator provider has
Snapdragon quad core
launched their first 4K set top
processor and runs on Android
box in India. The new customers
Lollipop 5.0 operating system.
can subscribe the 4K set-top-
The device comes with a 21.0
box at Rs.6,400. The existing
ASI locations now online to 127, including the heritage sites that launched in February and June 2014 such as Safdarjung’s Tomb, the Taj Mahal, and Ellora Caves.
Snapdragon 810 processor and runs on Android Lollipop OS. has 16 GB and 32 GB variants for the internal memory. G Flex2
has
Akshay Dhoot takes over as Technology Head at Videocon Videocon has brought Akshay Dhoot on board as the Head of Technology in the company. He is expected to bring fresh vision and energy towards the futuristic technology in the field of consumer electronics and home appliances. The company said that in his new role, Akshay will be active in formulating technologically advanced products at Videocon and will oversee transformation of the consumer electronics segment into a next-gen enterprise. A University of Warwick graduate, Akshay has worked from corner to corner in the Videocon Group
movie-quality video and also
LG launches G Flex 2 at Rs. 55,000 LG has launched G Flex2
has a 2.0 megapixel front
smartphone in India at
manufacturing and R&D for
facing camera. Also on board
Rs.55,000 and the handset will
Videocon D2H and CE&HA.n
megapixel rear camera with 4K
14 | april 2015
companies and has played a key
role
in
service,
MYMOBILE
Q&A
MobileDoctor Huawei Honor 6 and the Lenovo
to have a phone with great
Sir, I really like My Mobile
Vibe X2, both of which come
display and a very good camera.
magazine. Suggest me a good
with 5.0-inch full HD displays,
From Samsung Grand 2 or
selfie phone under Rs. 20,000.
very powerful processors and
Samsung Note 3 Neo, which
My requirement is a big display
excellent cameras, and fit into
one will be a good option for
and awesome battery backup.
your budget.
me? Besides these two, which
-Jayant Kumar
one will be a good device under
If selfies are important to you,
this price range?
then we would suggest that you
Sir, I am using Samsung E7
I want to buy a new Android One handset. What about Micromax A091? -Dinesh Suthar
right now. I would like to know
-Sachin Deshkari
try the Micromax Canvas Selfie
if Acer E700 is worth
Of the two devices that you
which comes with an excellent
purchasing. Kindly advise as
have shortlisted, we would go
13.0-megapixel front facing
the product is lying for transit
with the Galaxy Note 3 Neo as
camera and is well within your
and your suggestion is highly
it has a better camera. We also
budget (it is priced at
recommended.
think that the S-Pen stylus
Rs.15,999). However, it does
functionality that comes with
not come with a very large
-Navjit K. Chopra
I don’t think the Micromax
display. If you want a good selfie
A091 is an Android One device.
camera with a relatively large
The Android One device from
display then we would suggest
the company is called the
the Xiaomi Mi 4 which has a
Canvas One. And I think it
very good 8.0-megapixel front
would be a very good idea to
facing camera and also has a
invest in it as it comes with
full HD 5.0-inch display, and
decent hardware and is assured
also very good battery life. The
Android updates for a while.
challenge with the Mi 4,
Mind you, you could also check
however, will be getting it, as it
out the new Moto E, which
sells out very fast. Lenovo’s Vibe
costs about the same but has a
X2 is another very good selfie
better quality display and
camera device that comes
processor to offer.
within your budget, but its battery life is not as good as that
I want to buy an Android
of the Mi 4.
smartphone in the range of Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 20,000. The handset should have a good
-Harshraj Jadhav
The Acer E700 is a very decent
the Note 3 Neo will actually
You should consider grabbing
device, but we think that the
give you a better image
the Xiaomi Mi 4, which comes
Galaxy E7 scores over it in
editing experience than you
with a full HD 5.0-inch display,
terms of display (Samsung has
would get on the Grand 2. If you
3 GB RAM, 16 GB storage and
an excellent super AMOLED
are open to other options, we
Is your mobile phone acting strange? Email your queries at team@mymobile. co.in and our mobile doctor Arshdeep Singh will suggest remedies for your ailing device.
a very 13.0-megapixel rear
display) and camera quality. So
would also suggest you consider
Disclaimer: The
camera and a 8.0-megapixel
we would advise you to stay
the OnePlus One which is
front facing camera, and is
with the Galaxy E7 at this
available for Rs. 21,999 from
available for Rs. 19,999. It
time.
Amazon and comes with a very
rear camera and should support good Internet connectivity. Please suggest.
runs on MIUI 6, which is a very
good 5.5 inch full HD display
feature rich version of Android.
My budget is between Rs.
and a very good 13.0-megapixel
You can also consider the
20,000 to Rs. 22,000. I want
camera.
16 | April 2015
views expressed by Arshdeep Singh are his own and do not necessarily coincide with those of My Mobile.
MYMOBILE
Your Voice
consumerforum Complaint-1
I bought Lava Tab E702 and now it is out off warranty. I took my Tab for repair in service center at Mobile Care, Nashik. The representative at the repair center took my handset for repair of the Touchpad. When I went to collect it back they told me that company informed them that the part is not available. They returned the handset to me without repairing. When I called on their help line number, they said that “the part is not available. We can’t do anything.” They asked me to take back my device and even rejected to give a DOA (Dead on arrival). Now My tab is at service center only. I am ready to pay the cost of replacement or cost of the touchpad. I thought that an Indian manufacturing company is working well, but now I think I was wrong. I request you to help or else I will take a legal action against Lava. - Abhinandan Bedmutha Lava response: Awaited
Complaint-2
I purchased a Micromax Funbook Talk Tab P360 on 24th November 2013 with a warranty of 1 year. Just after 1 month, it started hanging and the battery used to end up too soon within an hour of usage. We gave it to the service centre and it was returned after 2 months. Again, after sometime it started having the same problem. As usual, we went to the service centre. After keeping the tab for atleast 1 month they informed us that we
FORM IV (see rule 8) My Mobile 1.
Place of publication
:
New Delhi
2.
Periodicity of its publication :
Monthly
3.
Printer's Name
:
Pankaj Mohindroo
Nationality
:
Indian
Address :
#25, First Floor, Shankar Market, Connaught Place, New Delhi – 110001.
4.
Publisher's Name
:
Pankaj Mohindroo
Nationality
:
Indian
Address :
#25, First Floor, Shankar Market, Connaught Place, New Delhi – 110001.
5.
Editor's Name
:
Pankaj Mohindroo
Nationality
:
Indian
Address :
#25, First Floor Shankar Market Connaught Place, New Delhi – 110001.
6. Name and addresses of individuals who own the newspaper and partners or shareholder' holding more than one per cent of the total capital: OWNER Pankaj Mohindroo, #25, First Floor, Shankar Market, Connaught Place, New Delhi – 110001. I, Pankaj Mohindroo, hereby declare that the particulars given above are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.
have to pay money to get it repaired, even under the warranty period. Anyway, we agreed. After keeping it for almost 3-4 months they refused to repair it, saying that it was non-repairable and they returned us the gadget when the warranty period was over, in 2014. Due to this casual attitude from the service centre, my warranty period got over without my gadget getting repaired. I want the company to return my money or replace the gadget.
Every time I went to the service centre, they informed me that the device is not available and will be available by the next week. I am sick of visiting the centre and calling them again and again. This is an unprofessional attitude which was never expected from HTC. The warranty of the above device will be over soon and till now I do not have any clue regarding its replacement. Please give me some relevant feedback when the motherboard replacement of the unit is possible.
-Akanksha Singh Micromax’s Response: Awaited
Complaint-3
I have been following up the HTC Repair Order Status – 14INA330016495 – for the last two months and visited the HTC Centre at Ameerpet in Hyderabad many times but I did not get any positive revert from their customer support team.
18 | april 2015
-Karishma Jain HTC’s Response: Awaited Are you being harassed by a Telco that doesn’t hear your plea? Email your issues to consumer-forum@mymobile.co.in and we will take up your cause with the concerned company. Kindly mention your contact number at the end of the Email so that we can get in touch with you. Whenever possible, also provide us complete details of the correspondence with the Telco.
MYMOBILE
Face-Off
versus
The Budget Phone Battle Want a very good phone for less than Rs. 7,000? You have not one, not two, but three very good devices to choose from. But which of the three – the Lenovo A6000, the Xiaomi Redmi 2 and the Moto E (2nd generation) meet your needs the best? We attempt to find out. By Nimish Dubey
T
wo years ago,
exactly the same: Rs. 6999.
department by two phones
is a very impressive 8.2 mm.
getting a good
All three deliver very good
from China, then we would
In terms of materials used, all
phone for under
hardware and software and
have laughed at the very idea.
three devices use plastic, but
Rs. 7,000 was
price. But which of them is
However, when you clap eyes
we think the A6000 steals
well nigh impossible. It
the one for you? Well, we pit
on the three phones, there is no
a march with its slicker look
speaks volumes to just how
the three against each other to
doubt that it is the Moto E (2nd
and the fact that in spite of
much mobile technology has
find out.
generation) that cuts the most
being the biggest of the three
modest figure of the three. No,
devices, at 128 grammes, it is
we are not saying that it looks
actually the lightest (ironically,
bad, but at 12.3 mm, the Moto
the smallest of the three, the
progressed that today users that budget. And all three come
Looks and appearance
from companies with very good
If you had told us a decade ago
E is easily the thickest of the
Moto E, is also the heaviest at
track records – the new Moto
that a phone by Motorola, a
three and actually looks a bit
143 grammes. The Redmi 2 is
E, the Lenovo A6000 and the
company known for its design,
bulky – the Redmi 2 is 9.4
133 grammes). The Redmi 2
Xiaomi Redmi 2. All three cost
would be beaten in the looks
mm while the Lenovo A6000
comes second with its metallic
have three very good options for
20 | APRIL 2015
MYMOBILE
Face-Off
versus
buttons on the side, while the
a hammering from both the
and the Redmi 2. Add to that
to protect it from scratches
Moto E, rather surprisingly
Redmi 2 and the Lenovo
the fact that both the Lenovo
while the A6000’s display
brings up the rear.
A6000. For honestly, the
and Xiaomi devices support
is unprotected. On the other
Ranking: 1. Lenovo A6000,
Moto E’s quad core Qualcomm
4G, while the Moto E version
hand, the A6000 has dual
2. Xiaomi Redmi 2, 3. Moto E
Snapdragon 200 processor,
released in India is a 3G device,
speakers while the Redmi 2
(2nd generation)
960 x 540 display and 5.0
and the difference between
has just one and some might
megapixel rear and VGA front
them gets embarrassing. The
also prefer its larger display.
Hardware
camera combination are totally
hardware battle then turns into
Honestly, we must confess it is
The Moto E pioneered the
and utterly outclassed by the
a slugfest between the A6000
a tight finish between the two,
concept of a good smartphone
64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon
and the Redmi 2. The Redmi
so much so that we are going
that does not cost the earth.
410 processor, 720p display
2’s smaller display means
to call this a tie.
So it is not a little ironical
and the 8.0-megapixel rear
it has better pixel density
Ranking: 1. Lenovo A6000
that in the hardware stakes,
and 2.0-megapixel front facing
and it also comes with a
and Xiaomi Redmi 2, 3. Moto
its second generation takes
cameras on the Lenovo A6000
laminated Dragontrail coating
E (2nd generation)
www.mymobile.co.in
APRIL 2015 | 21
Face-Off
versus
22 | april 2015
Software
Multimedia
After taking a lot of punishment
Yes, we liked the “twist to
General performance
in the first two parameters,
shoot” capability in the new
There is no doubt that of the
this is where the Moto E
Moto E, a feature that was
three, the Moto E works the
(2nd generation) comes to
a part of the flagship Moto
smoothest. Move into heavier,
the fore. It is the only one of
X. But truth be told, the
high definition territory however
the three devices to be running
Moto E’s 5.0-megapixel
and chinks begin to appear in
on Android Lollipop. On the
camera does not fare too
its armour – the Redmi 2 and
other hand, both the Lenovo
well when compared to the
A6000 both handled games
A6000 and the Xiaomi Redmi
shooters on the Redmi 2 and
like FIFA 15 much better
2 run on Android KitKat (4.4).
the Lenovo A6000. Both have
than the Moto E. That said,
However, the Xiaomi Redmi 2
better selfie cameras too – the
multi-tasking worked the best
comes with the latest version
VGA camera of the Moto E
on the Moto E, as long as one
of Xiaomi’s MIUI 6. The
is a very token presence. In
sticks to routine tasks like Web
A6000 comes with a number
camera quality, the Redmi 2
browsing, social networking
of handy apps, but lags
outclasses the Lenovo A6000
and mail. But the Redmi 2 and
behind the feature-rich
by a distance, being far more
the A6000 score heavily in
MIUI 6 and the pure Google
consistent and capturing
gaming and videos. Battery life
experience on the Moto E. We
much more detail and
was best on the A6000, while
think this is a close call between
representing colours better.
call quality was the best on the
the pure, Android on the Moto
The Lenovo A6000 however
Moto E. It is a very very close
E and the feature laden MIUI 6.
hits back with its bigger display
battle here and we will go with
The geeks will prefer the former
and better audio, courtesy
the Moto E here.
but the mainstream consumer
those dual speakers. It is a
Ranking: 1. Moto E (2nd
is more likely to head to the
close battle but we will hand
generation), 2. Xiaomi Redmi
latter. We are calling this one a
this one to the Redmi 2 by a
2, 3. Lenovo A6000
tie between the two.
whisker.
Ranking: 1. Moto E (2nd
Ranking: 1. Xiaomi Redmi 2, 2.
Conclusion
generation) and Xiaomi Redmi
Lenovo A6000, 3. Moto E (2nd
From our tests, it is clear that in
2, 3. Lenovo A6000
generation)
terms of camera and interface,
the Redmi 2 holds a clear edge over the competition. The Moto E on the other hand scores in terms of sheer smoothness of operation. The Lenovo A6000 for its part, is easily the best looking of the threesome, has the largest display of the three and also picks up points for its superb dual audio speakers. At the end of the day, which one works best for you is going to be entirely a matter of your needs. Those who want a very good camera and a feature rich interface will love the Redmi 2, the nerd crowd will prefer the plain and pure Android available on the Moto E as well as the promise of assured future updates, while those looking for a big display and good sound, with consistent performance will opt for the Lenovo A6000. One thing we can assure you of: no matter which of the three you purchase, you are likely to get more than ample value for money. n nimishdubey@mymobile.co.in
MYMOBILE
Special
exclusive Xiaomi Mi Band Fitness Band on a Budget!
T
he wearable revolution might
smartband business, it launched the
options, such as unlocking the phone
not have taken off in the manner
Mi Band at a staggeringly low price – a
by simply holding it in the hand
in which many people had expected
mere USD 13. Although not officially
holding the phone. The Mi Band
it to, but what cannot be denied is
launched in India, it is available on
can also tell you of incoming calls
that it has opened the market to a
a number of e-commerce portals,
and vibrates gently when you set an
whole new series of devices, the
such as Amazon which are selling it
alarm on your phone and when you
most notable of which is the fitness
at higher prices in the region of Rs.
achieve your targets. Data sent to the
band. Unlike smartwatches which
1,900, but even at that price, the
phone includes walking and sleeping
have displays, most fitness bands
Mi Band is a bargain as compared to
(provided you wear it to bed), and you
are simple modules that are placed
other smart bands.
can also get it to count sit ups and
inside a band, which is generally
Mind you, it does not look cheap at
the number of times you jump rope.
worn on the wrist and collates and
all. It comes with a solid component
It is water resistant so yes, you can
sends data back to a device (usually
that can be slipped into a band (we
wear it in a pool or in the shower too.
a phone) over Bluetooth, based on
got the black coloured one), and
And best of all, its battery lasts close
which the phone display information
well, after one charge, you just need
to a month on a single charge. All of
like distance covered, amount of
to place it on your wrist. You can pair
it makes it easily the best value for
time spent sleeping and so on. Most
it with most Android KitKat devices
money wearable out there. We only
smartbands in the market cost in
using the Mi Fit app, but those who
hope Xiaomi launches it officially in
the vicinity of Rs. 5,000, so it was
use it along with Xiaomi devices like
India soon. n
surprising when Xiaomi got into the
the Mi 3 and Mi 4 get some handy
nimishdubey@mymobile.co.in
Price: USD 13(Rs. 820 approximately)
24 | april 2015
MYMOBILE
mobilesensex
bazaar bargain Samsung Galaxy S4
Yota Phone C9660
When it was launched in India in 2013, the Galaxy S4 was considered the prince of Android flagships. And so good was its hardware that even today it cuts an impressive figure. It boasted a 5.0-inch full HD Super AMOLED display and was powered by an Exynos octa core processor, with 2 GB RAM and 16 GB of expandable storage. Although currently running Android KitKat, it is upgradeable to Lollipop and its 13.0-megapixel camera remains one of the best we have used. Yes, the TouchWiz interface with all its gimmickry might not appeal to everyone, but what cannot be denied is that it remains a fantastic phone. And at its current price, a fantastic bargain. n
The Yota Phone was one of the most innovative phones in the Indian market last year. It featured a dual screen – a regular 4.3 inch HD one in front and an e-paper display of a similar size on the back. In essence it meant that you had two screens, and the e-ink display on the back virtually consumed very little battery. It takes some getting used to, but with 2 GB RAM and a very decent 1.7 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and a good 8.0-megapixel camera, the Yota Phone was a very good performer. Yes, we thought it was a bit expensive when it was launched, but at almost half its price now, it is quite a deal for those who like to do things differently. n
Launched at: Rs. 41,500 Current Price: Rs. 17,999 (on Amazon) Price fall: 56.63 per cent
26 | april 2015
team@mymobile.co.in
Launched at: Rs. 24,999 Current Price: Rs.12,986 (On Flipkart) Price fall: 48.05 per cent
MYMOBILE
Gadget Corner
ETCETERA
Kingston MicroSDXC (128 GB) Stacks of storage
I
f you really doubt that phones are beginning to attain computer like
dimensions and importance, just take a look at the amount of data stored on them these days. A few years ago, 16 GB was considered more than adequate for most people’s needs. Today, phones like the BlackBerry Passport come with support for up to 128 GB of expanded storage. And it is to cater to these needs that Kingston has released the class 10 microSDXC. As its name indicates, it is a microSD card, but what makes it special is a staggering 128 GB of storage on it. It is a class 10 card so you can be assured of brisk write and read speeds on it as well, and in a very clever touch, Kingston has also bundled a microSD card adapter with it, so you can not only use the card in your phones and tablets but also in computers and cameras if need be. The price is not
Price: Rs. N/A
confirmed yet, but it is certainly a great option for mobile data hogs.
Quantum QHM6602-M The charger with a torch!
S
martphones might be getting more powerful but their battery lives keep diminishing – those HD displays and
mighty processors need a lot of juice. Which is why the battery charger market is on a upswing these days. And the latest to come to the market is well-known electronic devices manufacturer, Quantum Hi Tech, which has come up with a power bank called the QHM6602-M. The power bank has a 7,800 mAh Lithium-Ion battery, which can charge 2-3 device in a full single charge. The device comes with two USB slots which let two devices get charged simultaneously. The QHM6602-M can be charged by a micro-USB cord. The device contains an LED indicator which indicates the charging status of the device and also comes with a Torch feature which can be accessed by pressing the power button twice and can be switched off by repeating the process. The device was solidly built and easy to operate, although its appearance could have been better and some might find it a bit on the heavier side. And at Rs. 1,490, some might find it too expensive when you consider that Xiaomi is selling
Price: Rs. 1,490 28 | april 2015
10,000 mAh power banks at lower prices.
MYMOBILE
Asus EeeBook The return of the netbook
A
sus was one of the pioneers of
11.6-inch display with 1366 x 768
the keyboard and trackpad a bit too
the netbook revolution which
resolution and is powered by a quad
cramped for our looking and as the
took place in 2007, with its famous
core Intel Bay Trail processor clocked
display is not a touchscreen, we
EeePC range of notebooks that were
at 1.83 GHz, and backed up by 2
think that those accustomed to using
lightweight but were very affordable
GB RAM. Storage might seem a bit
Windows 8.1 on a touchscreen will
and easy to carry around. There had
on the lower side at just 32 GB but
struggle to come to grips with it for
been fears that the iPad and other
the notebook has two USB ports and
a while. But once you get the hang of
tablets had ended the market for these
a card reader, so you can store extra
matters, the EeeBook is a very useful
devices, but recent events seem to
gigs there if need be. Also present
device for the mobile professional.
indicate a resurgence in the netbook
are a micro HDMI port and a 3.5 mm
It weighs under a kilogram and its
segment, and once again, Asus is
jack, and making sure all this runs for
battery life is close to eight hours,
leading the charge, this time with
a while is a two-cell battery.
both of which are very impressive
the EeeBook. And just as the EeePC
And as long as you do not burden
figures. And at Rs. 14,999, it delivers
stood out from the netbook crowd,
it with any heavy duty applications or
fantastic value for money. No, it is not
so does the EeeBook. It comes in a
games and stick to basic tasks like
perfect – we would have liked a better
variety of colours (blue, white, red and
browsing the Web, word processing,
keyboard and USB 3.0 ports rather
gold) and is sleekly designed (a mere
social networking and the odd casual
than USB 2.0 ones, but at that price,
17.5 mm thick). The specifications
game, the EeeBook turns in a very
the EeeBook could well herald the
are respectable too – it comes with a
good performance indeed. We found
return of the netbook. In style.
Gadget Corner
ETCETERA
Price: Rs. 14,999
www.mymobile.co.in
april 2015 | 29
Gadget Corner
ETCETERA
Price: Rs. 79,990
Sigma dp2 Quattro Super DSLR back up for the pros
C
ompact cameras are catching
shooters, of which the Quattro dp2
point n shoot and sometimes even
up as an alternative to DSLRs
is the first member. It doesn’t fit
getting the focus right can be a
as they too can offer a lot of the
the conventional description of a
challenge. It lacks a viewfinder but
features and quality that some of
compact camera as it stretches
there is a 3-inch LCD screen that
the DSLRs can muster. But, while
longer than two point n shoot
gives a fair idea of how the shots
that may sound fine on paper, it
cameras put together, yet it is built
would eventually look like. The UI
doesn’t hold true for the entire
more solidly than some DSLRs.
is simple and easy to operate and
compact looking cameras and
The supple exterior, matte finish
the controls are comfortably lined
it can be really difficult to find a
not only it gives it an unusual aura
up on the body. The battery is not
point n shoot that can fill in as a
but makes it an apt companion for
that great but Sigma offers a spare
secondary camera for high-end
rugged outings. It stocks a 30mm
battery with the camera. It is priced
DSLR users. You have to venture
lens, offers as many modes as a
at Rs. 79,990, which is a little on
into the mirrorless camera territory,
DSLR, and although it lacks video
the higher side for a camera that
which is growing quite popular these
recording, it can turn out high
doesn’t even offer video recording.
days, or if you want something more
quality shots especially on the RAW
It is best suited for the professionals
spectacular you can try out Sigma’s
format. Handling it can be difficult
who need a simple camera to fall
new range of high-quality compact
as it is not as simple to master as a
back on from time to time.
30 | april 2015
MYMOBILE
A54
8 1.3 Ghz, Quad Core Processor 8 12.7 CM (5.0") FWVGA IPS LCD Display 8 8.0 MP Rear Camera, Front 3.2 MP 8 G/P/L- Sensors (optional) 8 4GB+1GB Memory up to 32GB TF Card 8 WiFi, USB, Bluetooth, FM & GPS
First Time in India
A47 8 1.3Ghz, Quad Core Processor 8 11.43 CM (4.5") FWVGA IPS LCD Display
a-Note 8 1.5 Ghz, Quad Core Processor 8 13.97 CM (5.5") QHD IPS LCD Display 8 8.0 MP Rear Camera, Front 3.2 MP 8 8GB+1GB Memory up to 32GB TF Card 8 G/P/L- Sensors (optional) 8 2500 mAh Long Battery
Free Cloud Storage
8 5.0 MP Camera, Front 2.0 MP 8 4GB+512 MB Memory up to 32GB TF Card 8 WiFi, USB, Bluetooth, FM & GPS
4 tb
With Pre loaded Apps
8 WiFi, USB, Bluetooth, FM & GPS Customer Care & Support
ADCOM Fun
Ready for World Cup
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A1+ Octa Core 8 1.7Ghz, Octa Core Processor 8 11.43 CM (4.5") QHD IPS LCD Display 8 8.0 MP Rear Camera, Front 2.0 MP 8 G/P/L-Sensors 8 8GB+1GB Memory Up to 32GB TF Card 8 WiFi, USB, Bluetooth, FM & GPS
For trade enquiries please contact: Pancham : +91 - 9910519494, email: info@adcomhitech.com
Limelight
lead story
The Best of MWC 2015
The 2015 edition of the Mobile World Congress saw some amazing products and concepts being unveiled and showcased by big brands as well as relative newcomers. Here is our look at the products that rocked Barcelona between March 2 and 5 this year. By Nimish Dubey
F
or most technology followers all over the world, the Spanish city of Barcelona becomes the holy land of mobile technology for a brief period every year. This is because
the city hosts the Mobile World Congress, arguably the biggest event in the mobile tech business. Thousands throng the city as the best and brightest of the industry showcase their best. This year was no different. From March 2-5, the mobile faithful packed the Fira Gran Via and rare indeed was the hour that passed without a major announcement of some sort or the other. It was a hectic time indeed. Companies launched
32 | april 2015
MYMOBILE
Limelight
lead story
new products, showcased concepts and expressed their opinions on issues pertaining to the mobile world. When the dust had settled, one was left with memories of a wonderfully innovative, if sometimes insane five days in Spain. It would not be possible to report on every product that was shown at the event, so we have restricted ourselves to twenty - fourteen that we think will be making news in the coming days and six that have a hint of the ‘crazy’ about them, showing just what technology is capable of, well beyond the ‘normal’ pale of everyday life. Read on to find out more...
www.mymobile.co.in
march 2015 | 19
lead story
Limelight
MWC 2015: The Stars Lenovo Pocket Projector
M
ention the word “projector” and people conjure up mental images of something that is large and bulky
and not the easiest to set up. Well, Lenovo unveiled a projector that literally could fit into your pocket. It can be snapped on to an Android device and then will project images, videos and presentations on to a surface of upto 110 inches. It automatically corrects for distortion and comes with a 50 lumens high contrast engine. It supports most media formats and can also take a 32 GB memory card. But what really makes it rock is its sheer pocketability.
BlackBerry Leap
L
ike Microsoft, BlackBerry too used Barcelona as a platform to
launch a mainstream device rather than a flagship. The BlackBerry Leap shown at MWC seems to be the successor of the Z3 and is aimed squarely at those looking for a good smartphone without busting
LG Watch Urbane LTE
L
G proved it was capable of upping the wearable design ante when it delivered the very good looking
LG G Watch R. And at MWC this year, it got right into
their bank accounts. The phone’s
the luxury wearables with the classy Urbane range. Of
specifications (5.0-inch HD
particular interest was the Urbane LTE which looked
display, Qualcomm Snapdragon
awesome but did not run Android Wear but instead
S4 Plus processor, 2 GB RAM, 8.0-
ran on LG’s own wearable platform, based on the
megapixel camera, 16 GB storage)
Web OS. It’s largely metallic build is gorgeous
might not sound cutting edge but
as is the 1.3 inch display. It might take some
then if the past is any indication,
getting used to with the new interface and
it is likely to comfortably hold its
buttons, but in terms of appearance at least,
own against the opposition in the
it compares very favourably with anything in the
messaging and browsing world and
market, including the Apple Watch. And well, LTE
of course, it comes with the latest version of the BB 10 OS.
34 | april 2015
connectivity means you can make and receive calls without Bluetooth pairing with a handset.
MYMOBILE
lead story
Alcatel Onetouch Idol 3
A
lcatel may not have been making as many waves as some of the better known brands but it has been
grabbing attention constantly with innovative products at decent prices and this time at the MWC, it turned heads with its Onetouch Idol 3. Turned heads literally. For while the tech specs of the device itself were solid rather than spectacular, what really grabbed attention was the fact that the phone could be used perfectly even when held upside down, thanks to its reversible interface. The phone comes in two variants – one with a 4.7 inch HD display and another with a 5.5 inch full HD one, which also packs in a more powerful processor. And no, neither is expected to cost the earth.
LG FxO
HTC One M9
F
I
f Barcelona this year saw Samsung change its design philosophy,
irefox OS devices made some waves in the market last year but were criticized
for coming with low-end hardware. Well, that
it also saw HTC sticking with its existing one. Pun intended. The
is not a charge you can level at the LG FxO,
new flagship from HTC, the One M9 was not the radical makeover that
which comes with a 4.7 inch HD display,
some had predicted, but retained the svelte looks of its predecessor,
powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400
the One M8, which adding some serious hardware muscle under the
processor with 1.5 GB RAM, 16 GB storage
hood: a better processor, a 20-megapixel camera and an Ultrapixel
and boasts an 8.0-megapixel camera. But
front facing camera. HTC also reworked its HTC Sense UI to make
more than the hardware and the OS, it is the
it more customizable and retained the front facing speakers that
appearance of the FxO that is likely to make
place it in a zone of its own, but what people will remember most
the most waves – some say it is the world’s
of the phone is its dazzling dual tone body.
first totally transparent smartphone. You can literally see its innards from the back cover.
HTC Vive
E
It could well be the high profile hit that the Firefox OS platform needs.
veryone expected a new One from
HTC at MWC. What they did not, however, expect was that the company would come out with a virtual reality headset in collaboration with gaming giant, Valve. Which is what made the HTC Vive perhaps the biggest surprise of this year’s MWC. While we have seen such concepts in the past, both HTC and Valve upped the ante a bit by actually allowing users to walk around in a virtual room and interact with a simulated environment (picking up objects and so on), instead of just sitting in one place. The headset is expected to be released by the end of the year and many observers felt that it was more mainstream oriented than the older Oculus Rift.
www.mymobile.co.in
april 2015 | 35
Limelight
lead story Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet
I
t was a rather quiet MWC for Sony by its own very high standards, but that did not mean that the company did
not show off some impressive products. The most impressive of the lot was the Xperia Z4 tablet. At 6.1 mm, the 10.1 inch tablet is one of the slimmest around, and packs in a lot of hardware firepower as well, including a 2K display and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor. In fact, you can even play PlayStation 4 games on it using Remote Play.
It weighs just 393 grammes but still packs in a battery so powerful that it can deliver 17 hours of video playback. Oh and it remains water proof and dust-tight. Android has a new flagship tablet, we think.
Microsoft Lumia 640 and 640 XL
M
Huawei Watch
H
uawei surprised everyone at Barcelona by unveiling the gorgeous Huawei Watch. With a sapphire crystal display
and a stainless steel case, the watch is perhaps the finest looking
icrosoft did not unleash a new flagship
Android Wear wearable around. And it packs a fair deal of hardware
at Spain as some had predicted but
punch too – the 42 mm
its Lumia 640 twins are likely to generate
AMOLED display has a
just as much interest. Aimed squarely at
400 x 400 resolution and a
the mid-segment which is getting a lot of
pixel density of 286 ppi, it
traction these days, both are powered by a
comes with 512 MB RAM and
Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, and come
4 GB onboard storage. But we
with 1GB RAM, 8 GB storage (expandable)
suspect that the reason why
and of course, run Windows Phone 8.1. The
it will attract a lot of users
difference comes in the matter of display and
is because of its extremely
camera – the Lumia 640 has a 5.0-inch 720p
attractive design, which to
display and a 8.0-megapixel rear camera, while
us seemed a notch above even
the Lumia 640 XL has a larger 5.7 inch 720p
the Moto 360.
display and a 13.0-megapixel camera with Zeiss optics. Both will have 4G LTE options and will also be upgradeable to Windows 10. And neither is expected to cost a bomb!
Lenovo Vibe Shot
L
enovo has been paying particular attention to the cameras on its devices and at MWC, the company
showed off a phone that looked like a classic point and shooter, from the placement of the lens to the sleek build. And it packs in a very powerful 16.0-megapixel camera too with infrared autofocus and tricolor flash. As a phone, it is decent too, with a full HD display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and 32 GB of storage which can be expanded. We can see many people falling in love with this device for its looks, and Lenovo is betting that its imaging muscle will make it one of the most successful camera phones around.
36 | april 2015
MYMOBILE
Limelight
lead story Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard
N
o, we would not have believed it if you had told us that one of the stars of this year’s MWC would be a keyboard made by Microsoft. But the Universal Foldable
Keyboard shown off by the Redmond behemoth was just that. The biggest attraction of the keyboard was its sheer portability – fold it down the middle and carry it along, unfold it and start working. The keyboard comes with good, large keys and can be paired with just about any device and even two devices at one time. And well, it will slip into most handbags easily. The crowds clamouring to see it at MWC proved that the age of the keyboard was certainly not over. Not yet.
Gionee Elife S7
G
ionee has been setting benchmarks for slim phones that turn in a decent performance,
and at Barcelona it continued this tradition with the beautifully crafted Elife S7. The S7 is 5.5 mm thin and is made of glass and aluminium magnesium alloy. And unlike other slim phones which tend to compromise on performance on the altar of slimness, the S7 packs in some very serious hardware – it comes with MediaTek’s 64-bit octa core processor, 2 GB RAM, 16 GB storage, and a 5.2 inch full HD AMOLED display, a 13.0-megapixel camera on the rear and a 8.0megapixel camera on the front, and surprisingly, a large 2,750 mAh battery. A super slim phone that actually performs and is not just about good looks? The Elife S7 could be it.
Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge
A
s expected, Samsung released
its
new
Galaxy S flagship devices at Barcelona. Gone was the plastic of the past and in its place was glass and metal, and in the case of the S6 Edge, a display that flowed over one side. What had not changed was the sheer hardware muscle packed in – both come with brilliant 5.1 inch Super AMOLED quad HD displays and are powered by powerful processors and sport fantastic 16.0megapixel cameras. Add the latest Android, a reworked TouchWiz and we have reason to believe that Samsung was back to its best.
www.mymobile.co.in
April 2015 | 37
lead story
Limelight
MWC - The Crazy Side The Eye Tribe Tracker
F
irst there was the keyboard. Then came touchscreens. And next will be, well, your
eyes. Yes, the folks at The Eye Tribe showcased a technology at Barcelona that will allow you to control a phone with your eyes. This includes scrolling, navigating and selecting items on your phone with your natural eye movement. And this is not some wild concept - there is already a software development kit out there for those who want to try it. The Eyes have it.
Ikea Wireless Charging
W
ant to recharge your phone? Well, just place it on the table lamp or
your bedside table. And no need to bother about wires or anything. That’s furniture expert Ikea’s idea of charging your gadgetry. The company showcased a host of wireless charging options that came built into table lamps, bedside tables and even a wireless charger that can be placed in furniture as per your preference. And of course, all designed with typical Ikea brilliance.
Bluesmart Smart Suitcase
W
e have smartwatches, smartphones, smart televisions, and well, if Bluesmart have their way,
smart luggage too. The Bluesmart suitcase comes with a host of sensors that allow you to control it from your phone via an app. You can lock and unlock it, find out its weight (so convenient at airports), get notified if you go too far away from it, and well, you can even charge your phone from it using an inbuilt battery. The most connected suitcase around, we reckon.
18 | april 2015
MYMOBILE
U-Wake
T
he U-Wake is not your run of the mill wearable. No, it won’t alert you about incoming mail, calls or social
network alerts. What it will however do is just as important: it will let you know every time you doze off while driving. The U-Wake is a wearable brainwave sensor that can be worn like a headband and measures brainwaves, information about which is then sent to a smartphone, and which lets people determine whether you are too tired to drive. Friends and family can get alerts about this and can then either ask
Click ‘N’ Pizza
N
Limelight
lead story
you to rest or call you to wake you up. Now, that’s the kind of tech tired minds and bodies need!
o, it is not a phone. Or an app. But Click ‘N’ Pizza was certainly one of the most popular products
shown at Barcelona. In essence it does only one thing. It orders pizza. It is a big magnetic button that you attach to your refrigerator, and whenever you need pizza, well, you just push it and your favourite pizza order is sent to the nearest pizza place. The device connects to your home’s Wi-Fi and works based on the information about pizza locations and orders that you enter. And yes, it will notify you also that pizza is on its way. Yum!
Runcible
Y
es, that is not a pocket watch but a phone. San Franciscobased startup Monohm came up with what was easily
the most different looking phone at Barcelona. Shaped like a pocket watch or compass from the Victorian era, and even has a wooden back panel that adds a touch of class to it. It runs Firefox OS and is designed to show notifications and updates discreetly without disturbing the user. A delightful blast from the past in terms of design. n
www.mymobile.co.in
nimish@mymobile.co.in
april 2015 | 39
In Conversation
chief speak
“One can’t win on the basis of price” From being a relative unknown to being the founder of one of the biggest phone players in the country, Rahul Sharma, the man behind Micromax, has pretty much seen it all. But he is in no mood to settle, as can be seen from the launch of YU in collaboration with Cyanogen. We caught up with him to find out more. By Nimish Dubey & Mukesh Kumar Singh Let’s start at the very beginning. Why did you get into phones? We
what a consumer wants. It is just about a deep understanding of the
started off as a software company and worked on a lot of platforms.
consumer. Till the time you are innovating and reinventing, you are
We started with ERP around 1999 and by the end of the year moved
in the market, and that is true for everyone and every industry.
on to e-commerce. It was a dynamic industry where technology changed very fast. Since, we always wanted to be product company
Let’s move on to YU then. Why did you tie-up with Cyanogen and start
we started working on embedded technology with the University
a new brand, when you already had an established one? We realized
of California. This desire to work on products led us to tie up with
we cannot go on upgrading the hardware so the differentiation
Nokia on SIM card technology, on machine to machine technology
had to come from some other area. We felt the differentiation will
and fixed wireless phones. When we decided to come up with our
come from software and services and so we decided to work more
own mobile phones people asked us who would buy a phone with
on software and services on a product and try and differentiate
Micromax written on it. So, we decided to change the name and our
there and give a customized service to the geeks. People asked us
first phone was named Extreme, but it never came to the market.
why target a niche community. We feel it is not a niche community.
Then we decided to go with the Micromax brand and slowly started
They are the opinion makers. The first step is to have our own ROM
working on all innovative verticals.
solution and have control over the software. We had two options - to create our own solution or partner with somebody. We found
When you entered the market it was dominated by multi-
Cyanogen to be an excellent product and to develop something like
nationals yet you became popular. What was the reason for your
it would have taken us 2-3 years. So, we decided to partner with
success? I think our understanding of the consumers and their pain
the best. We came with a separate brand because we needed
points helped us. A number of other brands with deep pockets
to have a different flavor as our segmentation is different.
came and decided to offer one or two handsets in every price
There is nothing in common between Micromax and YU,
segment. But, one can’t win in this business on the basis of price.
which people will slowly realize. YU will eventually build
You have to have deeper understanding of the consumer, make
its own identity.
products accordingly and keep on evolving. Motorola had invented mobile phones but they went out of business because they could
Are you involved in Cyanogen development also
not make a great product after the Moto RAZR. Similarly, Nokia
or is it entirely handled by the Cyanogen team?
was one of the best companies but they failed to recognize the
The Cyanogen team is based in Seattle and
change around them.
we have a team in Bangalore, where we have our development centre. This development centre in
Yes, but how do you gauge what a consumer wants?
Bangalore is completely dedicated to Cyanogen
It all depends on your understanding and I think it becomes
and is working side by side with Cyanogen team.
inherent to your DNA. We have a core group to track the trends in
We are also working on India centric features.
the market and what are the requirements of consumer. That is why I still visit the stores every month to sell phones so I can understand 40 | april 2015
What more can we expect from YU? YU is not
MYMOBILE
Calling Rahul Sharma
about a mobile phone, it is about an ecosystem. A primary access
First phone Nokia phone (don’t remember the model name)
all the points of consumers where we can connect with them. The
Current smartphone YU Yureka Favourite app Zomato
device is important but in terms of ecosystem we want to touch idea is to converge as many features and industries on a phone by virtue of technology. YU handsets will have decent specs so you don’t have to worry about their getting obsolete in 9 to 10 months. The YU Yureka is available only on Amazon. Why did you opt for them? Amazon has a proven track a record and they are one
Favourite game Temple Run, Subway Surfer, Candy Crush, Hay day
of the best global brands. In terms
Ringtone Depends on what is trending, using Summer by Calvin Harris right now
had a relationship with them for Android
of technology and user experience Amazon is really good and we already One. So by going to Amazon we were just extending this relationship. What is next on your agenda? We want to innovate
In Conversation
chief speak
in health, which we consider a big segment. You will see a lot of innovation in terms of services in a big way as well, and of course you will see different accessories that will enable multi-tasking. n nimishdubey@mymobile.co.in mukesh@mymobile.co.in
www.mymobile.co.in
april 2015 | 41
Infocus
spotlight
Spectrum Auctions 2015:
Before and After The latest round of spectrum auctions ended just as we went into print. Here is our summary on the events that led up to it and what transpired. By Abhijit Ahaskar
In 2015-16, spectrum licenses of four major telecom operators-
Reliance
Communications, Vodafone, Bharti Airtel and Idea Cellular is going to expire. Renewal through auctions was decided by the Government. Operators had no option but to take part in it or lose lakhs of subscribers to rival operators.
2100 MHz band
is
considered to be highly efficient for offering 3G services and can be used as an alternative to 900 MHz band. 900 MHz is more cost effective as its coverage is more than the 1800 MHz
TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) stressed on utilisation of unallocated
band, which is basically used for 2G and 4G services. 800 MHz is used for CDMA
spectrum and asked DoT to persuade state backed operator BSNL and the Defence Ministry to vacate 1.2 MHz spectrum in the premium 900 MHz band in 18 circles and 15 MHz spectrum in 2100 MHz band in all circles respectively.
enough spectrum is available
EMD is a bank
in all bands. The proposal
guarantee paid by
was rejected by the Telecom
operators and its
Commission, set up by the
amount determines the
Government, in November
number of circles and spectrum
2014.
bands an operator can bid for.
DoT rejected TRAI’s
It is around 16-25 percent of
recommendations on the
the fixed reserve price.
ground that asking BSNL to vacate spectrum can have legal implications as DoT had not authority to take back the spectrum assigned under a license agreement. To end matters there, DoT argued that auctions should not be tied to the availability
42 | april 2015
TRAI said that the auction should be postponed until
of spectrum.
Right before the auctions, operators came up with huge amounts as EMD (Earnest
The reserve price fixed by the
Money Deposit), filling the
Government for the spectrum
government coffers with Rs.
licenses was Rs. 3,646 for
20,000 crore. This is the
the 800 MHz band, Rs.
highest amount of EMD till
3,980 for 900 MHz band, Rs.
now.
2,191 crore for 1800 MHz band, and Rs. 3,705 crore for 2100 MHz band.
MYMOBILE
spotlight Out of the 385.75MHz spectrum being sold at the
by Airtel (6 circles), Vodafone
auctions, 5 MHz was
(7 circles), Idea Cellular (9
available in 2100 MHz band,
circles) and Reliance
177.8 MHz in 900 MHz
Communication (7 circles).
band, 103.75 MHz in 800
Reliance Jio, Tata Teleservices,
MHz band and 99.2 MHz in
Aircel and Uninor were also in
1800 MHz band. This the
the fray for additional
first instance when so many
spectrum.
bands are being auctioned at the same time.
The auction started on March
Operators whose licenses were expiring reportedly moved various High courts across the country asking for an automatic extension of licenses for another 10 years on grounds that if it was allowed, they were ready to pay the suitable price for the
If the Court rules in favor of the
license instead of going
Government, the operators
through the uncertain process
will have to part with the
of bidding.
committed amount. They
might then pass on the high
4, 2015 in 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2100
According to estimates, even
MHz bands with eight telecom
if the auction went at the
cost of spectrum on to The Government cannot
operators participating in it.
base price, the total earnings
declare the results of the
Although, some telecom
for the Government would be
auctions due to a Supreme
operators were seeking
Rs. 82,000 crore which
Court ruling, which also
deferment of the auction for a
might even go beyond Rs.
prohibits them from making
few days, the apex court
1,00,000 crore. CRISIL
collections from the bidders
decided to let the auctions
reportedly estimates that
until the final ruling. This
proceed on March 4 the
operators will part with more
might affect the financial
stipulated date
AppyFizz
Most of the spectrum available at the auction is currently held
than Rs. 90,000 crore at the
benefits the Government was
auctions and after the
expecting this fiscal from the
payment their debt will grow
auctions. If the Court gives a
to Rs. 70,000 crore.
judgment in favour of the operators, it might negate the entire auction.
subscribers, resulting in higher tariffs, something which has happened in the past. They are also likely to intensify their demands for making VoIP service providers to pay for using their services.
Government’s gains are expected to be impressive but experts feel that this will affect the overall health of the sector, as many of the operators owe huge amounts
At the time of writing the auction was in its thirteenth day and the operators had coughed up Rs. 1,08,000 crore for the licenses after 80 rounds of aggressive bidding.
of debt to various banks. The combined debt of Indian telecom operators was Rs. 2,24,896 crore in the financial year 2013-14. abhijit@mymobile.co.in
By the end of 80 rounds, 89 per cent of spectrum available at the auctions was provisionally allocated to the participants.
The auctions were conducted by a Kolkata based IT company called Mjunction services, which conducted them on a Simultaneous Multiple Round Auctions (SMRA) platform. SMRA allows every license to be available
for
bidding
simultaneously.
www.mymobile.co.in
April 2015 | 43
Tried & Tested
burntest
Affordable, Stylish Ocean The Lemon Ocean 101 offers good
value for money
Lemon Ocean 101 tech specs Dimensions | 145 × 73.5 × 11.4 mm Weight | 182 grams
lines with gently curved
the handset stand out from
OS | Android OS v4.4
edges, and the back is
all the smartphones is the
Display | 5.0-inch, 854x480p
removable, below which
Firstouch regional keyboard
lies a surprisingly big
that supports different
Processor | Quad-core 1.3 GHz
3,000 mAh polymer
regional language including
RAM | 1 GB
battery. The battery
Hindi, Bengali, Punjabi,
Storage | 8 GB
is removable and the
Gujarati, Marathi, Oriya,
Battery | Li-Ion 3,000 mAh
two SIM slots and the
Nepali, Kannada, Malayalam,
3G/4G | Yes/No
memory card slot are
Tamil, Telugu, Urdu and
BT/WiFi | Yes/Yes
placed at the back.
Bhojpuri. Users will be able
Rear Camera | 8-megapixel
Lemon has added a cover
to write messages in their
Front Camera | 2-megapixel
and screen guard to the
own language by just a single
Dual SIM | Yes
sales package which we
swipe. Word translation
Price: Rs. 8,299
think is always a good
could have been better but
idea at this price point.
this feature will be useful for
The smartphone has
many Indian users. The phone
attractive features and
also comes with two Android
runs on Android KitKat
theme launchers – a general
4.4 operating system. It
Android one and the Firstouch
comes with a powerful 1.3 GHz quad core
has been trying to
processor, backed up by 1 GB
find the Firstouch launcher
make its presence
RAM for fast performance.
that can easily be switched
felt in the highly
Internal storage stands at 8
to Android launcher. The
competitive India market by
GB, which can be expanded
Firstouch launcher has large
trying to serve up innovative,
up to 32 GB via a microSD
stylish and feature rich phones at affordable prices. The
verdict Looks
07 /10
launcher. When you will
Looks good with its shiny back
switch on the phone you will
Features
08 /10
Performance
08 /10
icons, making them easy to
Average performance
card. The phone also comes
spot and also attractive to the
Ease of Use
with an accelerometer
eye, especially for first time
07 /10
new Lemon Ocean 101 is
and proximity sensors for
Android users.
the latest of these, a budget
automatic screen rotation
Value For Money
08 /10
smartphone with decent specs
and screen lock. The device
Conclusion
and good looks, and regional
has an 8.0-megapixel rear
The Lemon Ocean 101 is
language support.
camera and a 2.0-megapixel
priced at Rs. 7,100 and is
OVERALL
78%
front facing camera. The main
available online. While it is a
L
emon Mobiles
A bit bulky, really
camera comes with LED flash,
decent enough phone, we can
The Lemon Ocean 101 has
auto focus, geo tagging, digital
see it getting some very stiff
decent looks but is definitely
zoom, touch focus, panorama
competition from the likes of
on the bulky side. The front
and video calling features. For
the Lenovo A6000, the Moto
is dominated by a 5.0-inch
connectivity the users will get
E (2nd generation) and the
display and the device has
Wi-Fi, A-GPS and Bluetooth
Xiaomi Redmi 2, all of which
a glossy exterior which gives
4.0.
are available for Rs. 6,999
the device a stylish look but also makes it a bit slippery.
Language matters?
The phone is built on solid
The one feature that makes
44 | april 2015
and come with much better hardware. n
Language support is amazing, specs could have been better
A bit heavy but handy There are better phones in this price
PROS Cons Decent A bit appearance, expensive for Regional the specs, language Smudgeprone support glossy exterior
team@mymobile.co.in
MYMOBILE
Desirable as Ever? The HTC Desire 526G+ tries to be that
I
HTC Desire 526 G+
tech specs
n the affordable range,
Dimensions | 139.8 x 69.8 x 9.9 mm
HTC has always been
Weight | 154 grams
a brand on the fringes,
OS | Android OS v 4.4
rarely trying to match
Display | 4.7-inch, 960x540p
specs with specs, and instead trying to ride on design. The
Processor | 1.7 GHz Octa Core Processor
Desire 526 G+ is another
RAM | 1 GB
device that seems to adhere to
Storage | 16 GB
the same principles, coming
Battery | Li-Ion 2,000 mAh
with a 4.7-inch qHD display
3G/4G | Yes/No
at a price point where HD
BT/WiFi | Yes/Yes
displays are common. That
Rear Camera | 8-megapixel
said, it cannot be counted out
Front Camera | 2-megapixel
yet as it is by far the best foot
Dual SIM | Yes
put forward by HTC.
Price: Rs. 11,400
Good-looking but compact
verdict
The Desire 526G+ is by far the best looking handset in
slightly elevated display which gives the impression that the front-facing speakers are set separately and are not part of the same frame. Yes, it looks good and is built on solid lines but the glossy exterior is highly vulnerable to smudges and scratches. It weighs 154 grams, which is far from light but the compact form factor evens it out. The handset comes with some typical budget smartphone features, such as a removable back panel, a removable 2,000mAh battery and dual SIM slots and a micro SD slot.
Power of eight cores The phone comes with a 4.7-inch display with screen resolution of 960x540 and pixel density of 234ppi. The
www.mymobile.co.in
Looks
08 /10
Features
08 /10
Performance
09 /10
Ease of Use
07 /10
So far the best looking HTC handset in this range
HTC’s inventory of affordable smartphones and comes with
Tried & Tested
burntest
touch is smooth and the
good. The phone runs on
display looks passable, but
Android 4.4 and features
at this price point we have
HTC sense UI with Blinkfeed
seen better displays. However,
service and does not slap
when it comes to running
too many pre-loaded apps on
daily errands, the device is
users.
quick and works brilliantly.
High on storage, comes with octa-core processor Runs fluently, decent battery backup, camera is good outdoors
It is powered by a 1.7 GHz
Conclusion
octa-core processor, has 1
The Desire 526G+ is by far
Smudge-prone exterior, also slightly bulky
GB of RAM and comes with
the best bet from HTC in this
Value For Money
07 /10
a decent 2,000 mAh battery.
range but with the kind of
It boasts of 16 GB internal
options available to users, it
memory, which is impressive
will not find the going easy.
at this price-point. The 8.0-
Priced at Rs. 11,400, the
OVERALL
78%
megapixel camera is best
Desire 526 G+ is up against
used outdoors in good light
the likes of Moto G (2nd
conditions - when used
genearation) (Rs.12,999), Yu
indoors it doesn’t compare
Yureka (Rs. 8,999), Xiaomi
favourably against some of the
Redmi Note 4G (Rs 9,999)
phones in this price point. The
and Asus ZenFone 5 (Rs.
2.0 megapixel front camera
9,999), all of which offer
is nothing special. The call
comparable and often even
quality and the front-facing
better hardware than it does. n
PROS Works brilliantly, Lots of onboard storage
Cons Smudge prone finish, Low resolution display
speakers are however, very
team@mymobile.co.in
Other devices offer better features at the same price point
april 2015 | 45
Tried & Tested
burntest
Lumia with Asha looks! Lumia 532 tries to unlock the budget phone market
A
Microsoft LuMIa 532
tech specs Dimensions | 118.9 x 65.5 x 11.6 mm
t a time when a
latest Windows Phone OS
runs in the new Moto E, has
number of brands
(8.1). Lumia handsets have
1 GB of RAM and 8 GB of
are trying to bring
rarely disappointed when it
internal memory, and upto 128
premium design
comes to daily tasks and this
GB of expandable memory.
Display | 4.0-inch, 800x480p
into their entry-level range of
one does not either. The tiles
It can handle games well but
smartphones, Microsoft seems
interface works and the app
the small screen size is too
Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 200, Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7
to be sticking with the tried
inventory looks handsomely
constricting for serious gaming
RAM | 1 GB
and trusted, even if it looks
populated, with the likes of
or even watching videos. The
Storage | 8 GB
like a blast from the past. The
Star Sports, Skype, Paytm and
5.0 megapixel camera is
Battery | Li-Ion 1,560 mAh
Lumia 532 is a case in point
the usual bevy of Microsoft
not one of its strong points
3G/4G | Yes/No
Weight | 136.3 grams OS | Windows Phone 8.1
- it looks quite similar
and even lacks
BT/WiFi | Yes/Yes
to the Nokia Asha 501,
essential elements
Rear Camera | 5-megapixel
but has a bigger display
like flash and
and is more stoutly built.
touch to focus.
Front Camera | 2-megapixel
The 4.0-inch display
The front camera is
makes it highly compact,
mediocre as well.
but the wide bezels and
A dual SIM device
sharp corners makes it
with 3G, it features
look out of place not just
a 1,560mAh
in the Lumia family that
battery, which
has given us some very
delivers good
good-looking handsets
battery life.
but also in its price segment, which has seen
Conclusion
some really good-looking
Microsoft has
devices of late.
tried to revive old loyalties by going
Decent display with the glance element
back to an old design, but it is up against some very
The display looks better
tough competition.
than Nokia Lumia 530
At Rs. 6,499,
as its viewing angles
the Lumia 532
have improved, even
is up against the
though the screen
likes of new Moto
resolution (800x480)
E, Xiaomi Redmi
and the screen size (4.0 inches) are still the same.
apps including OneDrive that offers 30 GB cloud storage to
For a 4.0-inch screen size
its users and MS Office.
the screen resolution is quite
Fast and powerful
good. The glance display feature which allows users to see all notifications and time without unlocking the display is a handy addition too. The handset runs on the 46 | april 2015
The Lumia 532 works well and did not show any lags. It is powered by a 1.2 GHz Snapdragon 200 quad-core processor- the same one that
Dual SIM | Yes
Price: Rs. 6,499
verdict Looks
07 /10
Features
08 /10
Performance
08 /10
Ease of Use
08 /10
Value For Money
07 /10
OVERALL
76%
Ordinary looking with an outdated design Latest Windows Phone OS, 30 GB cloud storage Good performance, backed by a good battery Compact design, comes with familiar tile based interface Much better devices available at the same price
2 and Lenovo A6000. They all are priced at Rs. 6,999, but in terms of offerings, are way ahead of the Lumia 532. Which makes the Lumia 532 a good option mainly for the die-hard Windows Phone fan crowd on a tight budget. n team@mymobile.co.in
PROS Fast performance, Good battery life
Cons Average camera, Its overpriced
MYMOBILE
Budget Warrior
bloom Globe 4.0 Lite
The Bloom Globe 4.0 Lite fights on price
O
tech specs
ne can get a
the volume rocker and power
and a video player, and music
Dimensions | 126 x 63 x 9.5 mm
smartphone
button, while on top of the
quality is surprisingly good,
Weight | 131 grams
today for well
phone is a micro-USB port
although speaker placement is
OS | Android OS v 4.4
under Rs. 5,000
and a 3.5 mm audio jack. The
odd - the speaker in the phone
Display | 4.0-inch, 480x320p
today, but more often than
phone is compact and is easy
is placed just beside the rear
not these devices come with
to hold. Included in the sales
camera and so always have to
Processor | 1.2 GHz Dual Core Processor
compromises, the most notable
packet is a flip cover, which we
keep the phone face down to
RAM | 256 MB
of which is the display, which
think is a good touch.
get the best sound.
Storage | 512 MB
is often kept at a smaller size.
Battery | Li-Ion 1,500 mAh
Smart connectivity
3G/4G | No/No
decided to tread a different
KiKat flavoured Android
For a low price device, the
BT/WiFi | Yes/Yes
path with their new Globe 4.0
The phone has a 4.0 inch
phone comes with decent
Rear Camera | 2-megapixel
Lite handset which has a 4.0
display with 480 x 320
connectivity options. It comes
Front Camera | 1.3-megapixel
inch screen at a surprisingly
resolution, which is relatively
with dual SIM support, and for
Dual SIM | Yes
low price.
low but is acceptable when
Internet access, has GPRS and
Price: Rs. 2,999
you consider the price of the
EDGE, and also comes with
handset will be available in
device. The display quality is
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. We would
black and white colours. We
good and the icons and UI are
have preferred 3G connectivity,
got the white variant and
very clear. The phone runs on
but again, at this price, this
noticed that the display and
Android KitKat (4.4) and while
is not a bad proposition at all.
the back panel were both made
the UI is more or less standard
Powering the device is a 1.2
of shiny plastic. For an entry
Android, the icons are slightly
GHz dual core processor, while
level smartphone, it has very
different. And in best Android
storage stands at 512 MB
good build quality. The right
tradition you can customise
side of the phone contains
the home screen. There are
Bloom Mobiles has, however,
In the Indian market, the
Looks
08 /10
Features
07 /10
but can be expanded to 32
The device has good specs but lacks 3G connectivity
GB using a memory card. For
Performance
08 /10
Ease of Use
08 /10
Compact design with good build quality, shiny look
Powered with dual-core processor which gives decent performance
photography, the smartphone
for calendar,
comes with a 2.0 megapixel
notes
camera along with flash and
and other
a front facing 1.3 megapixel
utilities also
camera. Both are adequate at
Usual Android interface, easy to use
preloaded on
best. Ensuring that the phone
Value For Money
08 /10
the device,
keeps ticking is a 1,500 mAh
which is
battery which saw us through a
something
day and a half of use, which is
we always
very respectable indeed.
OVERALL
78%
And of
Conclusion
course, there
The Bloom Globe 4.0 Lite is
is the Google
priced at Rs 2,999, which is
Play store for
a very decent price for what
downloading
it offers. Those seeking an
more apps.
alternative can consider the
The phone
Cheers Smart 40 which is also
comes with a
priced at Rs. 2,999. n
music player
www.mymobile.co.in
verdict
some apps
appreciate.
team@mymobile.co.in
Tried & Tested
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Sub entry level phone comes with 2 MP camera and dual-core processor
PROS Decent display, Good touch experience
Cons No 3G, Limited internal memory
april 2015 | 47
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A Different Galaxy Samsung’s Galaxy A5 mixes style and substance
T
he Samsung Galaxy A5 belongs to the troika of good-looking
smartphones in Samsung’s new A series of devices made on similar lines as the nowdiscontinued Galaxy Alpha - premium metal finish, solid build and eye popping colour variants. Unlike the Alpha, which despite its great looks drew flak for its stiff price tag, the Galaxy A5 seems much better placed in its segment. But is the new design ethos going to work for it?
Premium looks Galaxy A5 is a unibody device featuring strong metallic exterior, matte finish and with a fine silver chamfer all along the sides. It comes in four colour variants. Despite the 5.0-inch display, it is compact, sleek and easy to grip. It weighs a mere 123 grams which is lighter than the iPhone 6 and at 6.7mm is thinner than most flagship smartphones. The front features a 5-inch Super AMOLED display, a 5.0 megapixel camera and the trademark oval-shaped home button with a pair of backlit soft keys on either side. The SIM trays are placed on the sides, but comes with the micro SD and nano SIM slot crammed on a single tray, compelling the user to use either of them at a time. Also, the camera juts out quite
48 | april 2015
MYMOBILE
SAmsung Galaxy A5
unusually, making it prone to
full HD resolution and higher
scratches as the phone will
pixel density for less than Rs.
rest on it whenever we place it
20,000, so the Galaxy A5 has
with screen side up.
its task cut out.
Made for camera buffs
4G, but not a spec monster
Weight | 123 grams
else except a few essential
The device boasts of a 13.0
The handset is upto date
OS | Android OS v4.4 Kitkat
apps and services like calling,
megapixel camera with flash
with the latest in tech town including 4G LTE and ANT+
Display | 5.0-inch, 1280x720p
messages, internet, Google
in tow and a number of handy modes to play around with.
support. It runs on Android 4.4
remaining battery lasts and
The pictorial staging, courtesy
with Samsung’s Touchwiz UI
the Touchwiz UI, looks
and boasts of the Galaxy App
Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 410, Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A53
engaging. The camera works
store, besides the Google Play
RAM | 2 GB
Conclusion
fast and we were impressed
store. Apart from the regular
with its image quality too. The
Google apps, it offers Dropbox
5.0 megapixel front camera
cloud storage and a uniquely
is good news for the selfie
designed Flipboard app that
buffs as it does a good job as
flips in a different way and is
well. It can click through voice
coupled with the Homepage.
command and features a wide
When accessed from the app
angle mode that lets you take
drawer it flips upwards and
a shot and move the camera
downwards as usual. Samsung
in all directions and capture
is also offering a significant
more than what many wide
amount of freebies like, free
angle cameras can capture.
subscription, vouchers, travel
The idea is to allow more and
discounts, cashback on
Classy looking device with a fine metallic exterior.
more people to get into a selfie
recharges with the A5 on apps
Features
shot.
like Makemytrip, Magzter,
An AMOLED affair The Galaxy A5 boasts of a 5-inch Super AMOLED display
Voonik, Paytm, Yebhi.com and more. On paper, the Galaxy A5 pales before spec-monsters
can switch on the ultra power saving mode that increases the
tech specs Dimensions | 139.3 x 69.7 x 6.7 mm
Battery | Li-Ion 2,300 mAh 3G/4G | Yes/Yes Rear Camera | 13-megapixel Front Camera | 5-megapixel Dual SIM | Yes
Price: Rs. 25,500
verdict 09 /10
and switches off everything
lasts.
It has the looks and is a very decent performer, but the lower priced than the Alpha, faces stiff competition from the new generation of devices that offer much more at even lower prices. For instance, the likes of the OnePlus One brings more value for money features at this price with a bigger and better display, more processing muscle, more
08 /10
internal memory and a bigger battery at a fairly lower price (Rs. 21,999). Its availability
Performance
09 /10
Ease of Use
08 /10
Its can handle most tasks effortlessly
of the display to grayscale
Galaxy A5, even though much
BT/WiFi | Yes/Yes
Features are commendable but at this price we are hardly impressed
The mode changes the colour
Plus, ensuring that the
Storage | 16 GB
Looks
battery backup significantly.
is the only issue as it is sold only on Amazon.in, whereas, Galaxy A5 is available on most
with 1280x720p screen
like the OnePlus One or the
resolution and pixel density
Moto X (2nd generation) but
Its compact, sleek and easy to grip
of 294ppi. It looks good and
when it comes to handling
Value For Money
is less reflective than most
everyday chores it won’t let
displays we have come across.
you down. Endowed with a
However, it does not look
1.2 GHz Qualcomm quad-core
as crisp as the Moto X (2nd
processor and 2 GB of RAM,
generation) or even the LG
the Galaxy A5 can handle
a 4G device but offers a full
G2, as their pixel density and
most tasks including games
HD display, 3 GB RAM, 13.0
screen resolution is more than
and HD movies quite fluently.
megapixel camera and 16
that of the Galaxy A5. Devices
It has 16 GB internal memory
like the Micromax Canvas
(12 GB available) and it can
Hue offer good AMOLED
take in up to 64 GB external
displays and 720p resolution
memory cards. It is powered
for less than Rs. 15,000 and
by a decent 2,300mAh battery
handsets like Vibe X2 and
offering a day’s backup and
Honor 6 offer displays with
in case you want more you
www.mymobile.co.in
Competition is offering much more at lower prices
Tried & Tested
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retail outlets and online stores. You can also check out the
07 /10
OVERALL
Lenovo Vibe X2 which offers 4G and better features like the full HD display for Rs.
82%
PROS
Cons
Impressive design, Good cameras, Good performance
Expensive for its specs, SIM and microSD card slots combined
19,999, and then there is the Xiaomi Mi4, which is not
GB internal memory for Rs. 19,999, and finally, there is the Honor 6, which offers a full HD display, superb processor, and 13.0-megapixel camera at a mere Rs. 17,999. n team@mymobile.co.in
april 2015 | 49
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Canvas with camera muscle That’s the Mircomax Canvas Selfie
I
t did pack in some very
But will it be enough to make it
base, which reminds us very
might make it a bit long, but
decent front facing
stand tall in the selfie era?
strongly of the Sony Ericsson
it will still fit into most hands
Xperia Vivaz that had been
comfortably. The right, left and
cameras in the Canvas Knight and the Canvas
It looks different
launched almost five years
top of the device are metallic,
Turbo, but the Micromax
The very first thing that strikes
ago. And at a time when most
while the base (the ‘chin’) is
Canvas Selfie sees Micromax
you about the Micromax
phones seem to be getting into
plastic. Flip it around and you
enter the “selfie wars” with
Canvas Selfie is its very distinct
oversize overdrive, the Canvas
have a faux leather finish on
one of the most powerful front
design. The phone comes with
Selfie is relatively compact
the back with the Micromax
facing cameras in the market.
curved and convex top and
- the curved top and base
logo and the speaker grille.
50 | april 2015
MYMOBILE
Micromax Canvas Selfie
No, we have deliberately
and powering the device is a
not mentioned the cameras yet
1.7 GHz MediaTek octa core
because we think they merit
processor, backed up by 2 GB
some space on their own. The
RAM. Storage stands at 16
Canvas Selfie packs in dual
GB and is expandable using
13.0-megapixel shooters - one
one of the two SIM card slots
Dimensions | 147 x 67.5 x 9.5 mm
on the front accompanied
(yes, one of them can be used
Weight | 134 grams
Micromax has also gone for a
by a flash, and one on the
as a microSD card slot too).
OS | Android OS v4.4
UI without an app drawer and
back, accompanied by a dual
Connectivity options include 3G, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and
Display | 4.7-inch, 720x1280p
with bright wallpapers. It works
flash (one on either side of the camera). The camera on
GPS. The phone runs
preferred the more classy one
the back has got to be one
on Android KitKat, with
Processor | Octa-core 1.7 GHz
of the most ornate we have
Micromax’s own UI placed on
seen on a phone for a while,
top of it.
Storage | 16 GB 3G/4G | Yes/No
thrown in a dedicated camera
All about camera power!
button on the right side of the
It performs most tasks
device, but it is rather oddly
decently, although is not
positoned - bang in the middle,
exactly the kind of device you
which not only makes it very
want to play FIFA 15 or the
difficult to use while holding
Asphalt series on, but the
the phone in landscape mode
Canvas Selfie is really all about
(which is quite often), but also
its twin cameras. And both turn
made us keep pressing it for
in very good results indeed.
a while, thinking it was the
The dual flash on the rear
power/display button, which is
camera gives it some much
often located at that position
needed low light muscle, but
in phones (in the case of the
the real surprise is the front
Canvas Selfie, it is located at
facing camera, which delivers
the top). All said and done,
excellent results, although we
this is one of Micromax’s most
would recommend not using
innovative phone designs. Not
the flash that accompanies it
everyone will like it, but no
(even though Micromax calls
one can deny that in a time of
it a ‘soft flash’, we found it
uniformity, the Canvas Selfie
dazzling the subject too often
sticks out from the crowd.
for comfort). Micromax has
surrounded as it is by a large steel ring. Micromax has also
Big cameras, decent hardware
pulled a rabbit of sorts out of its hat by including a very innovative camera UI, which
tech specs
but it certainly is a radically different approach from what we have seen in most camera phones so far and is definitely a welcome one, not least because it actually works.
smoothly enough, although we
RAM | 2 GB
that we had seen on the Turbo. The only two real problem
Battery | Li-Ion 2,300 mAh
areas we encountered in the device were the oddly placed camera button, which we
BT/WiFi | Yes/Yes Rear Camera | 13-megapixel Front Camera | 13-megapixel Dual SIM | Yes
Price: Rs. 15,999
ended up pressing far too many times to wake up the display, and the battery life. Micromax has packed in a 2,300 mAh battery in the Canvas Selfie and it is definitely going to
verdict Looks
08 /10
Features
09 /10
Not sleek, but unlike anything in the market today. Good cameras and decent hardware for the price.
Performance
Rocks in the camera department, although sometimes can lag
Ease of Use
Odd button placement and the camera UI can be confusing.
Value For Money
Very good camera phone for the price
struggle to see out a day of use if you intend using those two cameras heavily.
Conclusion The Micromax Canvas Selfie is available in the market for Rs.
08 /10
15,999, and is pretty much in a zone of its own if your are looking for a very good selfie
07 /10
camera on a tight budget. The only other notable device with as good a front facing
09 /10
OVERALL
camera is the HTC Desire Eye, which costs more than twice as much. Those looking for a
82%
decent selfie camera can also check out the Xiaomi Redmi
The Micromax Canvas Selfie
might appeal to the ladies
Note 4G, which comes with
is mainly about its cameras.
in particular. Instead of the
a good 5.0-megapixel front
Both front and rear cameras
usual options to tweak ISO
facing camera and is priced
have Largan lenses with Sony
and scenes, you actually have
sensors, and both are capable
options that can smoothen
of shooting full HD video as
your skin, whiten your teeth,
well. Micromax has backed
remove oil patches and dark
up the cameras with some
circles and even make your
decent hardware too. The 4.7
eyes appear a trifle larger. No,
inch display is a 720p HD one
it is not everyone’s cup of tea,
www.mymobile.co.in
Tried & Tested
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PROS
Cons
Good cameras, Innovative selfie camera UI, Different design
Battery life, Oddly positioned camera button, Prone to lags
at Rs. 9,999 or the Lumia 730, which comes with a 5.0megapixel front facing camera and also has a very good AMOLED display and is priced at Rs. 13,900 approximately.n team@mymobile.co.in
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The Networked Netbook The HP Stream 11 packs in a lot for not too much
I
n many ways, 2015 has
is made of solid plastic, and
indeed. Unlike some other
a display at almost half the
been the year that has
the area around the keyboard
manufacturers who tend to
weight.
witnessed the return
also comes with a dotted
make cramped keyboards,
of the netbook. These
finish which is very easy on
HP has dropped in a proper
devices had been the rage in
the eye. The whole notebook
keyboard into the Stream 11,
Decent hardware, decent performer
the market from 2007-11, but
has a matte finish, which we
with large keys, a full proper
Like netbooks in the past, the
had then faded away, many
think is an excellent idea, as
row of numbers as well as
HP Stream 11 is not exactly
think because of the arrival
it keeps stains and smudges
function keys. No, no corners
a barnstormer in terms of
of the tablets. However, they
at bay, and has the HP logo
have been cut here. Below
hardware. The 11.6 inch
seem to be coming back in
very prominently in silver in
the keyboard is a decent sized
display has a resolution of
fashion, if recent events are
the centre on the top. On the
trackpad too. The display rests
anything to go by. A number of
right side of the notebook are
on a very solid hinge which
manufacturers have released
two USB ports, an HDMI port
means that there is no shaking
notebooks that run the latest
and the 3.5 mm headphone
while you type and the device
Windows (8.1), are easy to
jack, while on the left are the
is comfortable to use even
carry, and while not being
charging point, and two card
while resting on your lap -
exactly heavy duty in terms of
slots - one for a SIM card and
something that we cannot say
hardware, pack in more than
another for a SD memory
about other notebooks which
enough for most users to carry
expansion card. There are dual
have used fabric covers which
out basic tasks that range from
speaker grilles located on the
tend to wobble in laps. The
simple word processing to Web
arc just below the keyboard.
whole device tips the scale at
browsing to social networking
Open the notebook and
1.3 kgs, which is definitely on
and e-mail. But where does the
you see the 11.6 inch display
the lighter side, although not
HP Stream 11 stand in this
and what we consider to be
as insanely light as the Notion
crowd?
one of the key strengths of the
Ink Cain, which had managed
device - a very good keyboard
to pack in a keyboard and
Feeling blue? Well, in terms of appearance, the Stream 11 does stand out from the routine crowd of netbooks. While other manufacturers have gone in for more traditional looks dominated by grey, black and silver, the Stream 11 is available in only blue in India. There’s no chance that you will mistake this for any other device - it is the only one of its kind as far as we can see and will definitely turn heads. HP also needs to be applauded for using very good materials for the notebook - it
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MYMOBILE
HP Stream 11
1366 x 768, and very notably,
more storage without adding
is not a touchscreen, which
an additional device to it (the
means that you will be using
notebook also comes with 1
the trackpad for a number
TB cloud storage from HP).
of gestures, because this
One of our favourite features
notebook runs Windows 8.1.
is the SIM card slot which
Dimensions | 299.97 x 205.74 x 19.81 mm
Powering it is a 2.16 GHz Intel
allows you to go online without
Weight | 1,242 grams
especially as the touchpad is
Celeron processor, backed
the hassle of connecting a
OS | Windows 8.1
not the greatest we have used
up by 2 GB RAM. Storage
dongle. Also on board are GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 and the
Display | 11.6-inch, 1366x768p
(we recommend investing in
stands at 32 GB, which is a bit on the lower side, but
USB ports are USB 3.0 as
other hand, the keyboard is
then you can plug in a USB
well. Ensuring that the device
Processor | Intel Celeron N2840
storage device into it easily,
keeps ticking is a Lithium Ion
and then there is the SD card
three-cell battery. And yes, the
slot which allows you to add
notebook comes with a year’s
tech specs
routine tasks like Word documents, social networking, Web browsing and e-mail, the
BT/WiFi | Yes/Yes
Stream 11 does a very good
Rear Camera | No
job indeed. However, lags start
Front Camera | Yes
to creep in if you use too many
Dual SIM | No
Price: Rs. 19,990
verdict 09 /10
08 /10
Performance
08 /10
The keyboard is very good, although the touchpad is iffy
Value For Money
A Windows 8.1 notebook for that price? Super!
apps at the same time or if you tax it too heavily - do not expect high definition gaming to work on it and we would certainly not advise you to edit videos on it. The battery is wonderful - you can easily
Features
Ease of Use
excellent and makes typing a joy. When it comes to handling
3G/4G | Yes/No
Can lag in HD territory but rock solid in routine tasks
has. Getting used to Windows
a portable mouse). On the
Battery | 3-Cell Li-Po
USB ports, memory card slots, 3G...it’s all there.
to make the most of what it
might be a task for some,
Storage | 32 GB
A very colourful notebook that stands right out
And the HP Stream 11 seems
8.1 without a touchscreen
RAM | 2 GB
Looks
subscription to Office 365.
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see off close to nine hours on a single charge!
Conclusion Its excellent connectivity options, fantastic keyboard
08 /10
and very good design make the HP Stream 11 a very good option for any person who is
09 /10
OVERALL
looking for a notebook on a tight budget. At Rs. 19,990, it delivers a lot of bang for not
84%
too many bucks, although you will need to get used to using a trackpad for Windows 8 gestures. Those looking for alternatives could consider
www.mymobile.co.in
PROS
Cons
Good looking, Decent performer, 3G connectivity
No touchscreen, Cannot handle heavy duty tasks, Trackpad not the greatest
the Notion Ink Cain which is lighter and has touchscreen as well and is available for Rs. 19,990, although it is not as solidly designed as the HP Stream 11. n team@mymobile.co.in
april 2015 | 53
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Bigger, Faster... But is the new Moto E better than the first one?
T
he first Moto E was a massive success. It came when the budget
segment was afflicted with devices that promised the world at a low price, but often delivered sub-standard performance. The Moto E changed that completely, putting into buyers’ hands an experience they had never seen in a budget smartphone. But the Moto E (2nd Generation) is going to find it hard to fill the shoes of its predecessor as user expectations are relatively higher than a year ago, thanks to the low price- high specs era that it itself triggered off last year.
Well built and handy to use, looks subtly different Though a lot has changed in the new Moto E, the basic design is somewhat still similar. The back panel curves in the same way its predecessor did, making it handy and comfortable to use. The handset is slightly bigger than its predecessor, as it has a 4.5-inch display and a wider bezel on the top. The bezel retains the trademark metal strip that Motorola uses in all Moto smartphones including the second generation Moto G and Moto X. However, instead of two strips, it has just one, on
54 | april 2015
MYMOBILE
the top bezel, serving as not just as the in-call grille but also as the lone speaker. The lower bezel is plain and thin, giving it a slightly better look than its predecessor. Though bigger, it weighs 145 grams and is built on sturdy and compact lines. In an attempt to add something funky to its looks, the Moto E has been given a unibody design with a fixed back but a removable side panel, where you will find the SIM and card slots lined up. Moto is also offering plastic bands which come in multiple eye popping colors and cover the side panels in an attempt to add some colour to the device.
Runs on Android 5.0 The new Moto E runs on Android 5.0 (Lollipop) out of the box with the stock UI and the new material design that Google considers a major design innovation. Although it has been around for a while, Android Lollipop remains a rarity in most phones, especially at this price point. The inventory of pre-loaded apps is limited and includes the usual Google suspects like Play Store, Play News Stand, Maps, Gmail and a few of Motorola’s own like Migrate,
Faces tough completion With a 1.2 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 200 processor, 4.5-inch display with screen
Motorola Moto E (2nd Gen) tech specs
without any hiccups. The sound quality is good in both the speaker and the headset. The display is slightly bigger than the first Moto E, but we
resolution of 960x540, 1
Dimensions | 129.9 x 66.8 x 12.3 mm
GB of RAM, 8 GB internal
Weight | 145 grams
Motorola did not consider
memory (expandable upto 32
OS | Android OS v5.0 Lollipop
increasing its resolution, not
Display | 4.5-inch, 960x540p
both the Xiaomi Redmi 2 and the Lenovo A6000 offer
of its predecessor and any of
Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 200, Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7
the Android One devices, but
RAM | 1 GB
pales when compared with
Storage | 8 GB (expandable)
the likes of Xiaomi Redmi 2
Battery | Li-Ion 2,390 mAh
or the Lenovo A6000. It has
3G/4G | Yes/No
a 0.3 megapixel front-facing
BT/WiFi | Yes/Yes
camera, which is decent
Rear Camera | 5-megapixel
enough for video chats but of
Front Camera | VGA
little use for selfies, which is
Dual SIM | Yes
surprising when you consider
Price: Rs. 6,999
GB using a microSD card) and 2,390mAh battery, the Moto E (2nd generation) is well ahead
the selfie rage gripping the world these days. The rear camera continues to be a 5.0
least when you consider that
07 /10
take good outdoor shots, but
Same old design with minor changes
while autofocus has now been
Features
07 /10
once again, which restricts it indoors. The smartphone
Performance
included, the flash is left out
Bluetooth connectivity. Decent
Impresses with its smooth performance and touchscreen
indeed, but not as impressive
Ease of Use
supports 3G, Wi-Fi, GPS and
as the likes of Xiaomi Redmi 2
Compact and handy to use
and Lenovo A6000 on one slot,
Value For Money
which offer 4G connectivity, even though its availability is limited in India.
Good device, but the competition offers better features at the same price
same price point (although neither offers Gorilla Glass 3 protection as the Moto E does). Some might even find E a little dull as compared to the original, owing to the material design UI. That
verdict
Except Android L most of the features are outdated
bigger 720p displays at the
the display of the new Moto
Looks
megapixel affair, and can
honestly are surprised that
said, the touch experience of the display is excellent. Battery backup is impressive too and at par with other smartphones in this range.
Conclusion It is a very good device for the price and a terrific
09 /10
performer, but the Moto E (2nd generation) fails to impress the way the
08 /10 08 /10
OVERALL
first Moto E did. Yes, it has better features but in the last one year, a lot has changed including people’s expectations. Devices like Xiaomi Redmi 2 or Lenovo
78%
A6000 (both are priced
also boasts of some interesting
A decent performer too
features like the option to
The new Moto E is a great
However, if you have used
read notifications even with
device when it comes to
Moto E and want to stick
the display unlocked, and the
handling day to day tasks,
ability to instantly open the
just like its predecessor. With
camera by a twist of wrist.
the addition of a front-facing
Both features work brilliantly
camera and a more powerful
and have been seen before in
battery, it can cater to a wider
some of the flagship devcies of
audience. It can handle games,
Motorola, like the Moto X.
movies and your daily apps
Help, and Alert. The phone
www.mymobile.co.in
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at Rs. 6,999) come with better hardware than it does.
PROS
Cons
Good battery, Handles tasks well, Compact and handy to use
Screen resolution is low, No flash in camera, Poor frontfacing camera
to the brand, then this is a decent upgrade. Stay tuned also for the better specced 4G edition of Moto E, which is expected to arrive in the coming days. n team@mymobile.co.in
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Super Successor
The Redmi 2 more than fills the shoes of the Redmi 1S
X
iaomi shook
replaced by one with a matte
backed up by 1 GB RAM.
up the Indian
finish which is less prone
Storage is 8 GB (expandable
market last
to smudges and scratches.
using a memory card)
year with
Speaking of which, the
and connectivity options
a series of devices that
4.7 inch display in front
include 4G on both SIM
offered very good hardware
comes with Dragontrail glass
cards, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
at surprisingly low prices.
protection, which Xiaomi
and GPS. The camera on
Perhaps the most popular
claims is very difficult to
the rear remains an 8.0-
of these was the Redmi 1S,
scratch – Hugo Barra actually
megapixel affair but has
which delivered features
invited mediapersons at the
been improved with a
like a 720p HD display,
conference to try and scratch
five-element lens and
8.0-megapixel camera
it. The volume and power/
comes with infrared
and a decent processor
display button on the right
sensor protection
for as little as Rs. 5,999.
remain metallic, the top
for better image
And now the company
houses the 3.5 mm audio
quality.
has followed it up with the
jack, and the base has the
The front
Redmi 2, which claims to
micro USB port. Peeling
facing
have further improved it
off the back reveals dual
camera
while still keeping the price
SIM slots and a memory
has
relatively low. But unlike its
card slot. All in all, we will
been
predecessor, the Redmi 2
not say that the Redmi 2
bumped
goes up against some very
is an outstanding phone
up to 2.0-
stiff competition. How is it
in terms of appearance. It
megapixels,
likely to fare against it?
might even strike people
from the 1.6
as relatively plain, but it is
on the Redmi
reassuringly solid to hold and
1S. And running
Looks subtly different
definitely does not look like
on it is Android
At first glance, the Redmi 2
an inexpensive device. Most
KitKat (4.4) with
might not appear to be too
important of all, it will fit
the latest version of
different from the Redmi 1S
most hands easily.
Xiaomi’s popular MIUI
but hold it for a while and
interface, MIUI 6, right
changes. Yes, Xiaomi has
Packs in serious muscle
resisted the temptation to
In terms of hardware,
go for a bigger display and
the Redmi 2 is a worthy
And works brilliantly
stuck to a 4.7 inch display,
successor to the Redmi 1S.
What, however, has marked
and yet has managed to
It takes the good parts of the
Xiaomi out from the
make the phone thinner,
1S and improves them. The
competition has been the
less wide and shorter than
display remains the same
incredibly good performance
the 2S. At 133 grammes,
size and resolution (720p)
of its devices and in this
it is also remarkably lighter
but seems discernibly
regard, the Redmi 2 is no
than the 2S which weighed
sharper and brighter.
different. MIUI 6 works very
a relatively hefty 155
Powering the device is a 64-
well indeed on it, providing
grammes. Gone too is the
bit quad core Qualcomm
users with a smooth
glossy white back, which is
Snapdragon 410 processor,
experience most of the time.
you will notice the subtle
56 | april 2015
on top of it.
MYMOBILE
Xiaomi Redmi 2
If you find it too complex,
And just as in the Redmi 1S,
you can also opt for a Lite
the Redmi 2’s camera again
mode which has a simplified
sets the benchmark for budget
homescreen and menus. Yes,
shooters. We can easily say
there are times when the odd
that this is the best camera we
Dimensions | 134 x 67.2 x 9.4 mm
lag does creep in, but as long
have seen at this price point in
Weight | 133 grams
good indeed and battery life
as you are careful enough to
terms of handling colours and
OS | Android OS v4.4
is a significant step upwards
not overdo multi-tasking or
details, and it is surprisingly
Display | 4.7 inch, 1280x720p
from the Redmi 1S – we found
Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 410, Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A53
a day of normal use without
RAM | 1 GB
Conclusion
venture too deep into HD gaming territory, you can be assured of a very good user experience indeed.
decent even in low light conditions. Xiaomi has also thrown in some neat interface touches in the selfie camera,
tech specs
including a beautify mode, which makes you look at your best – and yes, the camera will also try to guess your gender and age. Sound quality is very
ourselves being able to see off
Storage | 8 GB Battery | Li-Ion 2,200 mAh 3G/4G | Yes/Yes
any problems whatsoever.
So where does the Redmi 2 stand in the Indian market? Well, unlike the Redmi
BT/WiFi | Yes/Yes Rear Camera | 8-megapixel Front Camera | 2-megapixel Dual SIM | Yes
Price: Rs. 6,999
1S, which was virtually
Tried & Tested
burntest
unchallenged at its price point, it has a number of competitors. The most significant of these are the Moto E (second generation)
verdict Looks
Not a traffic stopper but very compact indeed and smart
Features
Good hardware with MIUI 6 running on top of it.
Performance
Very good camera, and solid performer in other departments
Ease of Use
MIUI 6 remains a very easy to use interface
Value For Money
For that price, this is a staggering deal
08 /10
and the Lenovo A6000, both of which come with similar price tags. While some might not consider the Moto E to be in the same league as it has a
09 /10
lower resolution display, just a 5.0-megapixel camera and no 4G, the fact is that of the three,
09 /10
it alone comes with the latest flavour of Android, Lollipop (5.0). However, in terms of
09 /10
sheer user experience, we must concede that the Redmi 2 is
09 /10
OVERALL
easily one of the best budget propositions for any user who wants a decent smartphone
88%
experience without spending too much. We think its camera and MIUI in particular give it an edge over most of the competition. Those looking for
PROS
Cons
Superb price, Good camera, MIUI 6 interface
Relatively plain design, Can lag in heavy tasks
an alternative could consider the Lenovo A6000, which also features a 720p display, an 8.0-megapixel camera and comes with support for 4G at the same price. n team@mymobile.co.in
www.mymobile.co.in
april 2015 | 57
Tried & Tested
burntest
Alpha performer The Galaxy A7 is the best of the A range
S
amsung had
most in its A series of devices,
pushover in the department.
which light up when you touch
introduced the
the most powerful - and
However, unlike the Galaxy
them. Above it is a speaker
Galaxy Alpha last
thinnest - of which is without
Alpha, which was a more
grille and a 5.0-megapixel
year, reflecting
doubt the A7.
compact device, the Galaxy A7
front facing camera. As in
is an unabashedly large screen
the Alpha, the A7 rests on a
a change in its design philosophy, moving away from
Thin is in
one. The front is dominated
metallic frame, which is very
its plastic-dominated past and
The Galaxy A7 has been
by a 5.5 inch display (the
obvious from its slim sides,
adopting a more contemporary
promoted as being the
Note 4 has a 5.7-inch one),
which are solid metal, and
look, with an accent on metal.
thinnest phone from Samsung
below which is the typical oval
are chamfered, adding a bit
While the Alpha itself has
and at 6.3 mm, it is certainly
shaped home key that is the
of lustre to the device. On
been discontinued, Samsung
almost sliver like and actually
trademark of many Samsung
the left is the volume rocker,
has continued with the design
looks a lot slimmer than the
devices, flanked by two touch
while the display and on/off
makeover, which is reflected
Galaxy Alpha which was no
keys (for menu and black),
button is on the right, just
58 | april 2015
MYMOBILE
Samsung Galaxy A7
below which are SIM card and
one of the dual SIM slots on
memory card slots. Rather
the side (an innovation that
unusually, the top of the device
is being increasingly seen in
is absolutely plain, while on the
many devices and is handy, if
base you have the micro USB
a bit restrictive). Connectivity
port and the 3.5 mm audio
wise, the device comes with
Dimensions | 151 x 76.2 x 6.3 mm
jack. The back has a pearly
4G support, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi,
Weight | 141 grams
thorough a makeover and made
white finish, which looks good,
GPS and NFC. The battery
OS | Android OS v4.4
simpler as HTC Sense was
but we suspect could pick up
has been pumped up to 2600
with the HTC One - we have no
smudges, and right on top of
mAh, which is significantly
Display | 5.5-inch, 1080x1920p
the back is the 13.0-megapixel
more than what we had on the
camera flanked by a flash
Alpha, and the front camera
and (again rather unsually)
is a 5.0-megapixel one while
a speaker grille. All said and
the one of the rear is a 13.0-
done, while the Galaxy A7 did
megapixel affair. The device
not exactly bowl us over with its
runs on Android KitKat 4.4,
looks the way the Galaxy Alpha
with Samsung’s TouchWiz
did, there can be no doubting
interface on top of it.
that it is a very good looking almost half a foot long, it is
And performing well too
not exactly super compact.
The Galaxy A7 turned in a very
Definitely a looker, we think,
decent performance in most
though.
departments. Some might find
device indeed, although at
Packing some serious punch
the Super AMOLED display a bit oversaturated when it comes to handling colours,
The Galaxy A7 also comes with
but it is definitely very easy
perhaps the best hardware
on the eye. Sound quality was
we have seen in the Galaxy
good rather than exceptional,
A series, which many think
and the processor handled all
has replaced the Alpha. The
regular tasks well, although
display is a full HD Super
there was a slight sign of lag
Flipboard, the app that presents news in the form of a
tech specs
Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 615, Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & quadcore 1.0 GHz Cortex-A53 RAM | 2 GB
flippable magazine, also comes preloaded on the device, but we really think that it is time that TouchWiz be given as
complaints about the plethora of features being offered but there is no doubt that these also made the UI a bit overwhelming for the relative
Storage | 16 GB Battery | Li-Ion 2,600 mAh 3G/4G | Yes/Yes
newcomer, especially when you look at the Settings and
BT/WiFi | Yes/Yes
Notifications menus. Battery
Rear Camera | 13-megapixel
life, however, was a bit on the
Front Camera | 5-megapixel
lower side - we found ourselves
Dual SIM | Yes
needing to recharge the
Price: Rs. 30,499
device at least once to get
verdict Looks
Excellent use of metal. Very sleek and eye catching.
Features
Decent hardware and very good display and camera
Performance
Very good camera and display. Solid performer.
Ease of Use
09 /10
through a day with normal usage.
Conclusion At Rs. 30,499, the Samsung Galaxy A7 is priced well below
08 /10
the Galaxy Alpha, and offers better hardware in terms of
08 /10
display and camera. However, we must confess that in the era of devices like the OnePlus
08 /10
One and the Xiaomi Mi 4, it
AMOLED one and has a
when we installed games like
Corning Gorilla Glass 4 coating
FIFA 15 and ICC Pro Cricket
on it to save it from scratches
2015 on it. The cameras on
- it is one of the first devices
the device are very good - the
in the market to come with
rear 13.0-megapixel camera
this version of Gorilla Glass.
took some very good images
It is powered by a 64-bit
in good light conditions and
Qualcomm Snapdragon 615
the 5.0-megapixel front facing
Vibe Z2 Pro, which comes
with two quad core processors
camera is one of the best
with a quad HD display, 3 GB
- a 1.5 Ghz one and a 1.0
‘selfie’ cameras we have seen
RAM and a Snapdragon 801
GHz one - backed up by 2 GB
on a Samsung device. There
RAM, and 16 GB onboard
are number of neat interface
PROS
Cons
said, if one is looking at an
storage. Unlike the Alpha
touches in the TouchWiz UI and multi-window support
memory, the Galaxy A7 comes
comes to the device, allowing
with a memory card slot
you to run two supported
which can take the place of
apps right next to each other.
Expensive Camera juts out on the back, Battery life
uber slim handset that is also
which had no expandable
Good design, Decent hardware, Very good camera
www.mymobile.co.in
Smooth, but the TouchWiz UI takes some getting used to
Value For Money
Expensive for the hardware it offers, compared to others
Tried & Tested
burntest
seems a bit overpriced, as both those devices come with
07 /10
OVERALL
comparable hardware and faster processors at much lower prices. Those willing to
80%
spend a little more could also be tempted by the Lenovo
processor for Rs. 32,999. That
a very good performer, then the Galaxy A7 has got to be one of the best options around. n team@mymobile.co.in
april 2015 | 59
Special
exclusive
New Age Notebooks The Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro and the new MacBook redefine what we expect from mobile computing. We take a closer look at these two dream machines. By Nimish Dubey
W
hen it comes to notebooks, Apple and Lenovo enjoy a special place in most people’s hearts. While Apple has been known for its classy and innovative line of notebooks, Lenovo’s
iconic ThinkPad range has a mass following of its own, and then of course, there is the Yoga range, which surprised many with its sheer flexibility. Well, both companies surprised consumers when they came out with radically designed new notebooks in recent times - while Apple unveiled a new MacBook, Lenovo
added a whole new dimension to the Yoga range with the Yoga 3 Pro.
The sheer flexibility and style of the Yoga Of the two, the Yoga 3 Pro was the first to hit the market, and it certainly made jaws drop with its style quotient. Yes, people had known the fact that the display on the Yoga could revolve a full 360 degrees and actually go all the way back and rest on the back of the keyboard letting you use the device as a tablet, and that thanks to this extremely flexible display, one could use a Yoga device in multiple modes - as a normal notebook, as a tablet, in ‘tented’ mode or in ‘stand’ mode. But what they did not expect was a device that had as premium a design as the Yoga 3 Pro. The first thing that will strike a lot of the people about the Yoga 3 Pro is its hinge which has got to be amongst the most innovative we have seen. Inspired by a watchband, it is crafted out of more than 800 individual pieces of aluminum and steel. The result is one of the most solidly built and good-looking hinges we have seen - the Yoga 3 Pro does not rock or wobble like some notebooks do. And then there is the sheer lightness of it all. Unlike other light notebooks which generally have smaller displays and modest specs, the Yoga 3 Pro pulls no hardware punches. The display is a 13.3 inch quad HD one (3200 x 1800) making it one of the best around on a notebook, and is a touchscreen too. Powering it is an Intel Core M processor with 8 GB of RAM,
60 | april 2015
MYMOBILE
with storage going up to 512 GB SSD. It comes with 2 USB ports,
it runs Apple’s Mac OS X.
JBL speakers and a card reader as well. And all this has been
But perhaps the biggest innovations in the MacBook have not
crammed into a lovely frame that is as thin as a pencil at just 12.8
been in terms of design, but in hardware. Unlike other devices
mm and is incredibly light at 1.17 kgs. It comes with a proper full
which come with multiple ports, the MacBook comes with a single
sized keyboad and touchpad and runs Windows 8.1 Yes, at Rs
port - yes, there is only one port on the device. Called a USB-C
1,14,990, the Yoga 3 Pro does not come cheap, but we reckon it
port, this single port lets you charge the device, exchange data and
is one of the best blends of form and function we have seen and
connect devices using USB 3.0 and also supports HDMI, VGA and
sets a new benchmark for working on the move - not least because
Mini DisplayPort connections. That’s right, one port to do all that.
of a battery that sees off close to eight hours of heavy use.
Some cynics are already saying that this would be too restrictive
The MacBook returns...in style
but in our opinion, this is one of the most radical innovations we have seen in a mobile device for some time.
Many people had thought that Apple had laid its Macbook range
And then there is the little - or rather, very big - matter of the
to rest and would focus on the MacBook Pro and the MacBook Air.
battery. Instead of opting for the normal, rectangular shaped
Well, Apple surprised them when it announced a new MacBook
batteries, Apple has gone and created a new kind of terraced battery
at its ‘Spring Forward’ event. And unlike in the past when the
cell that can fit into any enclosure, ensuring every inch of space
MacBook was actually the most affordable Mac notebook, this
inside the frame of the MacBook is used up. The result? Battery
one is premium. And amazingly innovative.
life that can see through 10 hours of iTunes film playback.
Yes, like most Apple products, the new MacBook is very
Like the Yoga 3 Pro, the MacBook is also not a cheap proposition
good-looking indeed. It is 13.1 mm thin and is actually
- it starts from Rs. 99,900. But like it, it too brings levels of
lighter than the MacBook Air at 0.9 kgs. But no corners have
innovation that have not been seen so far in the relatively steady
been cut for this - the 12-inch display on it is a retina display with
notebook world. We suspect one day in the future all notebooks
a resolution of 2304 x 1440, and next to it is a full sized keyboard
will come with hinges like the one on the Yoga 3 Pro, will be able to
(a new design for some consistent typing, claims Apple, and
swivel around to almost 360 degrees to be used as a tablet, stand
with special backlighting) with a new Force Touch touchpad
or notebook, will come with batteries optimised to fill spaces like
that not only offers the routine navigation and clicking options
in the MacBook, and will have USB-C ports that fulfill multiple
but also comes with the Force Click - a long press down on it
functions, all while retaining the incredible slimness of these two
reveals special information about whatever you have highlighted.
devices, which can slip into a bag with the least disruption. When
It comes with an Intel Core M processor, 8 GB RAM and 256 GB
they do, we will point to these two magnificent devices and say:
and 512 GB storage, and is available in silver, gold and space grey,
they started it all. n
and is an out and out stunner in terms of appearance. Of course,
Special
exclusive
nimishdubey@mymobile.co.in
We suspect that one day all notebooks will be like this awesome twosome. One day.
www.mymobile.co.in
april 2015 | 61
spotlight
The new Government’s first full year budget has been duly presented. And as always, there are a plethora of opinions about it from the mobile industry, ranging from delight to disappointment. We take a look at what the Budget offers to the industry. By Abhijit Ahaskar
T
he
Union
spectrum available, bring in
stress on GST and RuPay debit
supportive budget was expected
Budget 2015
radical tax reforms and offer
cards. Observers feel that these
for the telecom sector.”
was markedly
significant incentives.
all are good moves but that
Rajan S. Mathews, Director
Impact on smartphones and tablets
The core agenda of the
General, COAI believes “While
The tablet market might be
Budget was to make domestic
a few proposals in the Union
slowing down internationally,
the telecom segment, which
manufacturing as lucrative as
Budget may help growth of
but manufacturers continue
had at times (especially on the
possible for local as well as
telecom and broadband,
to think that it has not yet
operator side) had felt hard
international vendors. This
overall, the industry’s concerns
reached its potential in the
done by in the past. Reeling
was reflected in some of the
and submissions have been
Indian market. Indian policy
under financial burden, the
polices like, exemption from
left unanswered. With the
makers since Kapil Sibal’s
telecom sector had been asking
SAD, reduction in basic custom
Government’s thrust on the
era as HRD Minister see it as
the Government to make more
duty on tablets, and increased
Digital India initiative, a more
a great tool of empowerment,
different from its
full year budget of the new
Make In India in focus
Government and expectations were high particularly from
predecessors. It was the first
62 | april 2015
larger issues have been once again swept under the carpet.
MYMOBILE
notwithstanding the mixed
in four years time. Exemption
Yojan and Mobile telephony
response to the Aakash tablet.
on raw materials imported for
(JAM in short) as game
In an attempt to encourage
the manufacture of ITA bound
changing reforms. While GST
manufacturing of tablets in the
items from Special Additional
will set up a state of the art
country, the budget proposes to
Duty (SAD) will also have a
indirect tax system by April 1,
exempt tablet manufacturers
positive effect on domestic
2016, the JAM trinity sets out
from basic custom duty, excise
manufacturing of electronic
to help the Government to pass
duty and additional duty on
goods. Vinod Sharma,
on benefits in a transparent,
components and raw materials
Chairman, Electronics and
cashless and objective manner.
used in the making of tablets.
Computer Software Export
Rajan S. Mathews feels,“This
On the other hand, the excise
Promotion Council says,
is a positive step as it recognizes
duty on imported smartphones
“We have been urging the
and encourages the role of
has been increased from 6 per
Government to withdraw SAD
mobile telephony towards
cent to 12 per cent in case of
on the imported raw materials
facilitating financial inclusion
CENVAT (Central Value Added
and components to address
and will enable well-targeted
Tax) credit to discourage
the inverted tax structure. This
cashless transfers. This will
dependence on imports and
step will help the domestic
help in the uptake of mobile
induce local vendors to set
electronics sector to grow
payment services.” Regarding
up manufacturing within the
faster, which is the need of the
GST, Bhaskar Pramanik,
country. This is likely to inflate
hour.”
chairman, Microsoft India
the smartphone prices unless
For the e-commerce sector,
says, “The Finance Minister
manufacturers decide to absorb
the Government has stressed on
has provided a firm timeline
the expense instead of passing
RuPay debit cards, a domestic
for the implementation of GST,
it on the buyers.
payment gateway system
and this will help companies
S Rajendran, CMO, Acer
developed by National Payment
effectively plan for the next
India has mixed feelings
Corporation of India as an
year. Deferring GAAR by
about these measures. He
alternative to Master card and
two years, and the fact that
says, “While some progress
Visa card. It will work at most
the Government is looking
has been made towards
ATMs and is already accepted
to implement its provisions
addressing the inverted duty
for payment by thousands of
prospectively from 2017, is
structure and dual CENVAT
online stores and merchants.
also a welcome move.”
structure for encouraging local
With all clearances and
manufacture of tablets and
processes taking place in the
development and formation
smartphones, keeping out PCs
country, cashless transactions
of National Skill Mission is
with the attendant increase
will be more affordable. Tapan
also expected to go a long
in excise duty/CENVAT from
Kumar Das, CEO of iTiffin.in,
way in tapping the talent and
12.36 per cent to 12.5 per
feels that bolstering cashless
addressing the prevailing
cent in addition to the jump to
transactions through RuPay
employment crisis in the
14 per cent in service tax bodes
debit cards and reduction of
country.
ill for increasing demand for
tax on royalty fees for technical
Director Marketing, Intex
this category which is already
services by 15 per cent will
Technologies says, “The
suffering from woefully low
be of tremendous help to
National Skill Mission will be
penetration rates.”
e-commerce start-ups.”
a great initiative to develop
Reason for cheer
Emphasis
on
skill
Keshav Bansal,
youth employability, thus
The industry has, however,
The impact of GST and JAM trinity
been unanimous in praising
The Finance minster considers
growth and job creation, it
the reduction in Corporate Tax
goods and services tax (GST)
is sure to drive India’s global
from 30 percent to 25 per cent
and Jandhan Yojana, Aadhar
competitiveness.”
www.mymobile.co.in
contributing to the growth of our country. With focus on
The road ahead But of course, the budget is just a series of proposals. What is promised and planned also has to be delivered. Microsoft’s Bhaskar Parmanik is quick to point this out. “We must hold the Government
In focus
spotlight
accountable for delivering on their budget promises. Many of the announcements made in previous budget, which were geared to resolve transfer pricing litigation are yet to be implemented. It is nice to make a mention of the measures for dispute resolution in the speech, but the key is implementation,” he says. Some feel that interests of domestic players should have been protected better. “To safeguard the interests of the indigenous mobile handset players, the revisions in excise duty structure should have been unrolled gradually to give optimum time to local handset manufacturers to strengthen manufacturing,” points out Pardeep Jain, MD, Karbonn Mobiles. All of which makes Budget 2015 a bit of a mixed bag. While every one has applauded the Make in India initiative, there is some disappointment at some concerns of the telecom sector having been left unaddressed. There is also a feeling that the prices of many smartphones might actually increase in the coming days (Apple has already announced an increased in the prices of its iPhone 6 and 6 Plus from April 1 onwards). But the general mood of the industry seems to be positive. n abhijit@mymobile.co.in
april 2015 | 63
AppyFizz
apptastic
The Lesser Known Social Networks Contrary to what many people think, there is more social networking beyond Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. We take a look at some other useful social networking apps that do not hog the limelight as often as others. By Trisha Dey & Saumya Nigam
U
tter the words “social networking” and most people will assume that
64 | april 2015
Goodreads: For the bookworms
you are talking about Facebook or
If you are a book lover then this is the perfect network for you as this is the world’s
Twitter. A few might even think of the
largest social network for readers. You can find new and interesting books by browsing
likes of Google Plus and LinkedIn but
personalized recommendations based on books you have read and your favorite
beyond that, it is pure geek territory. But
genres. You can also use the barcode scanner when you are in a bookstore and add
that does not mean that social networks
the book to your “to-read” shelf and browse reviews before buying. The app helps
are limited to a handful of apps and
you to search, rate, and review any book and there are more than 12 million books
services. No, scratch the surface of the
in discussion You can see book reviews and updates
social networking revolution and you
from your friends, and comment on them, and can
will come across literally dozens of
also add status updates and
applications that let you connect to
page number updates for
other people and share information
books you are presently
easily. So if you are fed up of Facebook
reading. Bookworm paradise,
and Twitter and want to try out a new
certainly.
social network, here are five social
Google Play, iTunes app store,
networking options worth trying out:
Windows Store
Available From:
MYMOBILE
AppyFizz
apptastic Vine: The mini video parlour Vine is considered by many to be the Instagram of video. The service revolves around small video clips of up to 6 seconds, each called a Vine. You can share, watch and like videos posted by others and explore the happenings which are taking place around the world. You can even send private video messages to a specific person and can even link the app with your Twitter accounts. There are lots of genres to search from- comedy, family, food, news, technology and more. You can either upload the video and customize it accordingly or can shoot a new video and share it easily. The best part? Because the videos are so small in size, they can be viewed even on relatively slow 2G and EDGE connections. Available From: Google Play, iTunes app store, Windows Store
Flickr: Photographers’ paradise Flickr even now remains the social network for those who want to share what they term serious photography. Unlike other social networks like Instagram and Facebook which actually reduce the resolution of the images you upload, Flickr lets you upload images in their original high resolution and comes with a number of handy editing tools ranging from the basic to detailed filters. It also reveals information about the camera and setting used to shoot it. You can like and comment on them and can even see which are the most popular cameras on the social network. Yes, these photographs do tend to be bulky and heavy but then Flickr comes with a titanic 1 TB online storage space. Yes, you need a Yahoo account to be able to use it, but if you really love photography then this is the social network to be on. Available From: Google Play, iTunes app store, Windows Store
Secret: No names mentioned, ever Secret offers a platform that allows users to share their feelings and thoughts, without disclosing their names. Your network is built anonymously too and all that you can find out is whether a comment or post has been made by a person in your contact list or by one of their friends. No names or numbers are disclosed at any stage. You can also easily ask “Yes or No” questions that people can respond to by just hitting a button. You can also chat privately with anyone and make new friends. Some of the content here
might
be
shocking but it is a social network that is rapidly becoming a rage because of the anonymity it offers. Available From: Google Play
Snapchat: For those really short (time) messages Want to share content for a very short time with someone? Well, Snapchat gives you the ability to do just that easily. You can take photos, record videos, edit and add text and even do some sketching over it and can send it. And the best part is that the sender can set a time - say from 1 second to maximum of 10 seconds for the receiver to view it, before it vanishes. Oh yes, once the time set elapses, the image or message will automatically be deleted from the receiver’s window. Small wonder the app is doing very well indeed, as it also saves storage space – no need to keep clearing caches or saved images on your device. Available From: Google Play n trisha@mymobile.co.in saumya@mymobile.co.in
www.mymobile.co.in
april 2015 | 65
In focus
spotlight
Watch Out!
It’s Apple The much-hyped Apple Watch will finally be arriving in late April in select markets. But does it have the potential to redefine the wearables market to the extent that many believe it will? We take a closer look at the product and its potential based on what we know. By Nimish Dubey
A
pple CEO Tim Cook called it the ”most personal
watch faces and the fact that the displays are
product we’ve ever made, because it is designed to be
made of sapphire crystal and Ion-X glass and
worn,” and it certainly is the most innovative device
you get the idea of just how much effort has
to have come out of Cupertino for a while. If the iPod
gone into the watch. Yes, it is not expected to
changed the way we listened to music, the iPhone changed phone
come cheap – prices of the Sport model start
interfaces and usage patterns for good and the iPad made tablets a
at USD 349 and go all the way up to USD
part of our digital existence, the Apple Watch is expected to herald
10,000, but there is no doubt that Apple has
the wearables revolution in the world. The big question, of course,
placed a product that feels right at home in the
is: can it? After all, Google’s Android Wear wearables initiative has
premium watch segment.
not exactly set the market on fire. What can Apple offer in its watch that the competition has not?
It has the looks!
…and the interface and the apps! Of course, all this will be of little use if the watch itself does not deliver in the performance stakes. The
Whatever doubts people might have about its potential, there seem
watch mechanism is by itself incredibly so accurate that
to be utterly none about the design of the Apple Watch. Observers
every Apple Watch in the world is supposed to be in perfect
have been near universal in their acclaim for the device, which has
sync and the watch adjusts automatically as you move across time
managed to stay remarkably watch-like and compact, unlike some
zones. And you don’t only get to choose from several watchfaces
of its clunky and large counterparts in the competition. Be it the
but you can also customize them by deciding what information
Apple Watch, the Sport or the super niche Apple Watch Edition,
they display.
Apple’s first wearable is indeed a sight for sore eyes. The watch will be available in two case sizes: 38 mm and 42
In best smartwatch tradition, you can make and receive phone calls, mails and messages from the Apple Watch, but Apple has
mm and both can be set to work on either hand. The materials
thrown in some interesting spins to it as well. You can actually
used have been premium. Rather than the plastic that we have
sketch something on your watch and send it to another person
seen in most Android Wear devices, Apple has opted to work with custom alloys of steel, aluminium and even 18-carat yellow and rose gold on the higher end. Top that off with a wide variety of straps made of different materials with precision engineered grooves, dozens of classy 66 | april 2015
wearing an Apple Watch and yes, you can also send tap patterns and if you are feeling particularly sentimental, even send your heartbeat. And the interface is very smooth too – you get a light tap on your wrist every time you get a message, and just raising your wrist will
MYMOBILE
show you the message and the sender. The watch will
And then there is the matter of the price – the least expensive of the
also track your fitness data, provide navigation, and let
Apple Watch range is the Sports model which will start at USD 349
you control music and camera functions on your phone.
(about Rs. 22,000 in simple exchange terms), which in itself is
Apple is also believed to have pulled out all stops to get
much more expensive than most of the Android Wear watches (the
developers to make apps for the Apple Watch. Instagram, Twitter,
gorgeous Moto 360 costs Rs. 17,999). Of course, the accusations
Evernote, Shazam and ESPN are already making apps for the
of limited utility and high prices had been levelled at the iPhone
Apple Watch, letting you do everything you can on your phone
and iPad too, but those products succeeded because they were
without actually having to take your phone out.
so incredibly easy and addictive to use. We have a feeling that at
But will it work?
the end of the day, that is what is going to decide the fate of the Apple Watch and perhaps even the whole wearables phenomenon
It has the looks, design, interface and apps, but there is still a
– whether the devices will be easy to use. And actually useful.
considerable amount of cynicism about the prospects of the Apple
Meanwhile, the wait for the Apple Watch has started. It will be
Watch. A lot of concern is being expressed about its battery life
available in select countries on April 24. No, India is not one of
which many say will struggle to see through a day. The fact that it
them. But we are keeping our eyes open. Stay tuned, or should
needs to be constantly connected to an iPhone has also spurred
we say: watch out? n
people to say that it does nothing that the iPhone itself does not.
www.mymobile.co.in
In focus
spotlight exclusive
nimishdubey@mymobile.co.in
april 2015 | 67
Game On
Boredombuster
Jolly Jam
Like Candy Crush, but with a spin
I
t might remind people of Candy
rest of the jellies will fall in places
Crush, but Rovio’s new puzzle
quite willingly, making this one
game Jolly Jam is a trendsetter
of the easiest puzzle games we
in puzzle games bringing an
have played. The game does not
entirely new approach to it. It is
also challenge you the way Candy
lavishly colorful, with a very lively
Crush does - it seems the whole
backdrop to the game. The game
idea is to keep you engaged in a
marks a departure from matching
playful manner with good graphics,
as many candies or jellies in single
sparkling items, and many levels
line works, and instead works by
instead of tiring you down. If the
dragging similar looking jellies
candy crush is too complicated, try
inside a box with the same jellies
the Jolly Jam.
on the opposite corners. This is
Available from: Google Play, iTunes App
even simpler than it sounds as the
Store (Free). n
Real Cricket 2014 World Cup
Old wine in a new bottle
R
68 | april 2015
eal Cricket has been a popular
appeared on the horizon a little late, but
mobile cricket game for a
an offering like this is any day better
while now, one that captures
than the rag tag collection of games that
the nuances of the game quite smartly
try to capture the thrill and excitement
and supplements it with some decent
of the Gentleman’s Game. It offers fully
graphics as well. Small wonder the
licensed players, latest jerseys and the
developer has repeated the formula
entire format of the World Cup without
often, customising it for domestic
charging a dime. There are paid modes
leagues like Aussie T20 Bash. And with
but the World Cup is free to play, which
the arrival of the cricket World Cup,
makes it a must-have for cricket fans.
it was quite natural to expect a World
Available from: Google Play, iTunes App Store
Cup avatar from them. It might have
(Free). n
MYMOBILE
Agent Alice
Find them, detective!
I
t might not get as much attention as endless runners and physics based racers and puzzles, but there is a huge following for the hidden object genre. And Agent Alice is made on similar lines, with
an intricate storyline, highly detailed setting, sultry looking women and the playful yet maddening hide and seek between the criminal and the investigator. The game succeeds but the slow pace and the
Game On
Boredombuster
repetitiveness of the task will bore you out, unless you are really crazy about the genre. The main task is of searching for clues at different locations and making the task more interesting are options like drawing information out of witnesses, using tact or brute force and fighting anyone who stands in the way of the law. The game rewards you with stars and cash and the quicker your detetcive finds the evidence, the higher the star count would be. It is free and although some might find it a little tedious, definitely worth a try, just to discover that there is a gaming genre beyond Temple Run, Cut The Rope and Angry Birds. Available from: Google Play, iTunes App Store (Free). n
Stickman Tennis 2015 Advantage, tennis fans!
T
ennis games are rare on mobile
The game is challenging even on the
platforms, and good tennis
easiest of modes but the freedom to
games are rarer still. Which
create your own player, play against
is why we were so delighted to see
the
a sequel to the fast-paced Stickman
gain experience and
Tennis. A part of the Stickman
improve
franchise, where black sticks shaped
makes it as appealing
characters personify players, Stickman
and comprehensive as
Tennis 2015 once again proves that
a console game. No,
mere basics if applied perfectly can be
the graphics have not
as much fun as high-graphics driven
changed much but
complex games. Besides the expected
there is enough depth
roster of latest players, it has a number
to keep you engaged for
of player reactions, like jumping on
hours. Oh and it remains free!
scoring a point or dropping down with
Available from: Google Play, iTunes App
disappointment on conceding one.
Store (Free). n
www.mymobile.co.in
top
players, ranking
april 2015 | 69
Game On
Boredombuster
Age of Sparta
This is Spaaaartaaa!
A
ge of Sparta, as its name indicates, is the tale of Sparta in the midst of a looming Persian invasion on Greece. The Spartans, being Spartans, take lead and decide to build an army, which is where the
strategist in you is put to test. You enter as a commander entrusted with war preparations, such as adding new industries, building farms, collecting special taxes, hiring soldiers, and equipping them. It is very straightforward till here. The real test begins when you go to combat. A multiplayer game, it won’t move one bit without a fluent Internet connection. Although free to download, the game does command a high price in the form of in-app purchases but raising coins through taxes is not that hard, only time consuming. Use of supernatural and the mythical forces like dragons reminds one of timeless classics like the Age of Mythology. The sheer scale of activities and challenges posed make Age of Sparta an exciting proposition for strategy gamers. Available from: Google Play, iTunes App store, Windows Store (Free). n
Stick Cricket 2
Still simply awesome
S
tick Sports’ Stick Cricket has
game still has a single viewpoint
continued to be one of the
– from behind the batsman – and
most popular titles around,
your attempt even now is to pile on
thanks to its sheer simplicity. It
the shots, but instead of matches
did not have the sort of realistic
you now have targets to achieve in
graphics that other games had and
a number of mini games. Graphics
had not bowling or fielding options,
have been polished with some more
but it made batting incredibly
animations being added, and you
simple and entertaining, and it is
can now also play as a woman, but
after all, a batsman’s game. Well,
the essence of the game remains
the game now has a sequel and to
its incredible simplicity – playing
Stick Sports’ credit, they have stuck
it is as simple as hitting a button
with what works and also thrown
at the right time. Our advice?
in a few interesting tweaks. You
Download and enjoy! It is free too.
still cannot bowl or field, but there
Available from: Google Play, iTunes App
are a number of new strokes and
Store (Free). n abhijit@mymobile.co.in
equipment options available. The
70 | april 2015
MYMOBILE
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MYGUIDE While My Mobile tries to ensure accuracy in the pricing and features any discrepancies that may emerge are beyond our control. Please check with the retailer about features of the phone before buying. The ratings that have been included are from the burn tests of the phones that we have reviewed. Feel free to update us.
(Last updated on March 10, 2015) Devices featured in the My Guide have been segregated into four categories baswed on price and colour-coded as:
Nokia Sub-entry level (up to Rs 2,499) Entry-level (Rs 2,500 - Rs 5,999) Mid-level
(Rs 6,000 - Rs 11,999)
High-level
(Rs 12,000 upwards)
CDMA Tablet Lifestyle
Disclaimer : The prices quoted in My Guide are the Best Buy prices quoted by the respective companies, ex-Delhi. The prices may vary on account of promotional schemes or dealer discretion. M.O.P. mentiond in My Guide are not applicable in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
NR stands for not reviewed M.O.P. stands for Market Operating Price
MYMOBILE
APRIL 2015 I 73
MYGUIDE MICROSOFT
MICROSOFT
MODELS
MICROSOFT
MICROSOFT
PARAMETERS Nokia 220 Dual SIM
Nokia 225
Nokia 206
Nokia Asha 210
Nokia 502
Dimension (mm)
110.4 x 47 x 13.5
116 x 50 x 12.9
116.4 x 50.3 x 13.2
124 x 55.5 x 10.4
116 x 49 x 12.4
111.5 x 60 x 11.8
99.6 x 59.5 x 11.1
Weight (grams)
69.9
78.4
83.4
100.6
91
97.3
100
Nokia 108
Model
Nokia 215
NEW
13.8/600
20/696
24/576
21/648
20/680
12/1104
13.7/576
Screen (colours)/Size (inch)
65,536/1.8
256/2.4
262,144/2.4
262,144/2.8
65,536/2.4
65,536/2.4
262,144/3.0
Inbuilt/Expandable memory
4MB/32GB
8MB/32GB
-/32GB
NA/32GB
64MB/32GB
64MB/32GB
64MB/32GB
Talktime/Standby (hours)
Yes/No
Yes/No
Yes/No
Yes/No
Yes/No
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Camera/Flash/Video
VGA/No/Yes
VGA/No/Yes
2.0MP/No/Yes
2.0MP/No/No
1.3MP/No/Yes
2.0MP/No/Yes
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
Phonebook Capacity
500
1,000
500
Shared
Shared
1,000
Shared
Frequency/Dual SIM
Bluetooth/Wi-Fi
Dual Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Dual SIM/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM
Dual SIM/GSM+GSM
Dual Band/No
GPRS/EDGE/3G
No/No/No
Yes/No/No
Yes/Yes/No
Yes/Yes/No
Yes/Yes/No
Yes/Yes/No
Yes/Yes/No
Operating System
Series 30
Proprietary
Nokia OS
Asha software 1.1
Series 40
Series 40
Asha software 1.5
Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating
Price in Rs.
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Bar/No/No
Bar/No/No
Bar/No/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/No/No
Bar/No/Yes
Bar/Yes/No
NR
NR
NR
NR
82
NR
NR
1,400
2,149
2,400
3,000
3,450
4,400
4,900
MICROSOFT
MICROSOFT
MODELS
MICROSOFT
MICROSOFT
PARAMETERS Model
Nokia Lumia 520
Lumia 435
NEW
Nokia Lumia 530
Lumia 532
NEW
Nokia X2
Nokia Lumia 630
Nokia XL
Dimension (mm)
119.9 x 64 x 9.9
118.1 x 64.7 x 11.7
119.7 x 62.3 x 11.7
118.9 x 65.5 x 11.6
121.7 x 68.3 x 11.1
129.5 x 66.7 x 9.2
141.4 x 77.7 x 10.9
Weight (grams)
124
134.1
129
136.3
150
134
190
14/360
20.9/504
13.4/528
12/528
10/552
16.4/648
16/720
Screen (colours)/Size (inch)
16million/4.0
16million/4.0
16million/4.0
16million/4.0
16million/4.3
16million/4.5
16million/5.0
Inbuilt/Expandable memory
8GB/64GB
8GB/128GB
4GB/128GB
8GB/128GB
4GB/32GB
8GB/128GB
4GB/32GB
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Camera/Flash/Video
5.0MP/No/Yes
2.0MP/No/Yes
5.0MP/No/Yes
5.0MP/No/Yes
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
5.0MP/No/Yes
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
Phonebook Capacity
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Frequency/Dual SIM
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/GSM+GSM
Talktime/Standby (hours)
Bluetooth/Wi-Fi
GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating
Price in Rs 74 I APRIL 2015
Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM
Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSPA
Windows Phone 8
Windows Phone 8.1 Windows Phone 8.1 Windows Phone 8.1
Yes/Yes/HSDPA
Yes/Yes/HSPA+
Yes/Yes/HSPA
Nokia X software platform
Windows Phone 8.1
Nokia X software platform
Yes/No
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
86
NR
78
NR
NR
86
82
5,000
5,849
6,430
6,499
7,200
7,400
7,500
MYMOBILE
MYGUIDE MICROSOFT
MICROSOFT
MODELS
MICROSOFT
MICROSOFT
PARAMETERS Model
Nokia X+
Nokia Lumia 525
Nokia Lumia 638
Nokia Lumia 630
Lumia 535
Nokia Lumia 1320
Nokia Lumia 625
Dimension (mm)
115.5 x 63 x 10.4
119.9 x 64 x 9.9
129.5 x 66.7 x 9.2
129.5 x 66.7 x 9.2
140.2 x 72.4 x 8.8
164.2 x 85.9 x 9.8
133.2 x 72.2 x 9.2
Weight (grams)
128.7
124
136
134
146
220
159
Talktime/Standby (hours)
13.3/408
17/336
16.4/648
16.4/648
11/336
25/672
23.9/768
Screen (colours)/Size (inch)
16million/4.0
16million/4.0
16million/4.5
16million/4.5
16illiom/5.0
16million/6.0
16.7million/4.7
Inbuilt/Expandable memory
4GB/32GB
8GB/64GB
8GB/128GB
8GB/128GB
8GB/128GB
8GB/64GB
8GB/64GB
Bluetooth/Wi-Fi
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Camera/Flash/Video
3.15MP/No/Yes
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
5.0MP/No/Yes
5.0MP/No/Yes
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
Phonebook Capacity
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Frequency/Dual SIM
Quad Band/GSM+GSM
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
GPRS/EDGE/3G/4G
Yes/Yes/HSDPA
Yes/Yes/HSPA+
Yes/Yes/HSPA/Yes
Operating System
Nokia X software platform
Windows Phone 8
Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating
Price in Rs.
Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM
Yes/Yes/HSPA+
Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
Yes/Yes/HSPA+
Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA
Windows Phone 8.1 Windows Phone 8.1 Windows Phone 8.1 Windows Phone 8.1
Windows Phone 8
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
NR
88
NR
86
82
84
82
7,710
7,800
8,000
9,000
9,100
13,600
13,900
MICROSOFT
SUB-ENTRY LEVEL (UP TO Rs 2,499)
MODELS
MICROSOFT
MICROSOFT
PARAMETERS Model
Nokia Lumia 730
Nokia Lumia 830
ADCOM
Nokia Lumia 1020
Nokia Lumia 1520
X14
CELKON X28
A352E
Dimension (mm)
134.7 x 68.5 x 8.7
139.4x70.7x8.5
130.4 x 71.4 x 10.4
162.8 x 85.4 8.7
126 x 55 x 15
127 x 56x 12
115 x 62 x 10.7
Weight (grams)
130
150
158
209
62
72
108
22/600
12.9/528
19.1/384
27.4/768
30/120
30/120
11/96
Screen (colours)/Size (inch)
16.7million/4.7
16million/5.0
16.7million/4.5
16million/6.0
262,144/2.4
256K/2.8
16million/3.5
Inbuilt/Expandable memory
8GB/128GB
16GB/128GB
Yes/Yes
16GB/64GB
32MB/8GB
32MB/8GB
512MB/32Gb
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
32GB/No
Yes/Yes
Yes/No
Yes/No
Yes/Yes
Camera/Flash/Video
6.7MP/Yes/Yes
10.0MP/Yes/Yes
41.0MP/Yes/Yes
20.0MP/Yes/Yes
1.3MP/No/Yes
1.3MP/No/Yes
2.0/No/Yes
Phonebook Capacity
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
150
150
Shared
Frequency/Dual SIM
Quad Band/GSM+GSM
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
Yes/Yes/HSPA+
Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA
Talktime/Standby (hours)
Bluetooth/Wi-Fi
GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating
Price in Rs.
www.mymobile.co.in
Windows Phone 8.1 Windows Phone 8.1
Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM
Yes/Yes/HSPA+
Yes/Yes/HSPA+
Yes/No/N0
Yes/No/No
2G/Yes/Yes
Windows Phone 8
Windows Phone 8
-
No
Android 4.2.2
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/Yes
Bar/No/No
Bar/No/No
Bar/Yes/Yes
84
82
82
82
NR
NR
NR
14,000
21,249
25,000
36,000
1,249
1,299
2,299
APRIL 2015 I 75
MYGUIDE (UP TO Rs 2,499)
(UP TO R s 2,499)
MODELS
(UP TO R s 2,499)
PARAMETERS Model
HITECH Pride 369
I-SMART IS-301i
NEW
LEMON
IS-202i
NEW
B201i
NEW
B191
NEW
B556
NEW
B416
Dimension (mm)
133 x 56 x 9.5
112.32 x 47.7 x 14.52
123.8 x 53 x 14.6
112.3 x 50 x 14
114 x 48 x 13
123 x 51 x 12.8
12.3 x 52 x 11
Weight (grams)
96
70
130
74
70
94
86
Talktime/Standby (hours)
3/230
5/15
8.6/30
7/400
3/NA
10/450
5/NA
Screen (colours)/Size (inch)
262,144/2.8
65,536/1.8
262,144/2.4
65,536/1.8
65,536/1.8
65,523/2.4
65,536/2.4
Inbuilt/Expandable memory
-/32GB
NA/8GB
NA/16GB
NA/16GB
NA/16GB
NA/16GB
NA/16GB
Bluetooth/Wi-Fi
Yes/No
Yes/No
Yes/No
Yes/No
Yes/No
Yes/No
Yes/No
Camera/Flash/Video
VGA/No/No
1.3MP/No/Yes
1.3MP/No/Yes
Yes/No/Yes
Yes/No/Yes
Yes/No/Yes
Yes/No/Yes
Phonebook Capacity
200
300
300
1000
1000
1000
300
Frequency/Dual SIM GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating
Price in Rs.
Dual Band /GSM+GSM Dual Band /GSM+GSM Dual Band /GSM+GSM Dual Band /GSM+GSM Dual Band /GSM+GSM Dual Band /GSM+GSM Dual Band /GSM+GSM
Yes/No/No
Yes/Yes/No
Yes/Yes/No
Yes/No/No
Yes/No/No
Yes/No/No
Yes/No/No
Nucleus
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Bar/No/Yes
Bar/No/No
Bar/No/No
Bar/No/No
Bar/No/No
Bar/No/No
Bar/No/No
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
1,499
950
1,199
1,199
1,150
1,299
1,599
(UP TO Rs 2,499)
ENTRY LEVEL
MODELS
(UP TO R s 2,499)
PARAMETERS Model
LEMON DURA 1820
Guru Music 2
Metro 312
400
110 x 46 x 16
126.6 x 52.6 x 13.7
130 x 56.7 x 9.4
-
112.7 x 46.4 x 13.1
126 x 66 x 13
Weight (grams)
100
188
218
203
74.98
73.7
152
NEW
DURA 2811
ADCOM
128.3 x 55.6 x 11.5
NEW
DURA 2442
SAMSUNG
Dimension (mm)
Talktime/Standby (hours)
B859
OORIE NEW
6/300
22/750
22/750
22/750
11/800
12/NA
11/72
Screen (colours)/Size (inch)
65,536/2.8
65,536/1.77
262,144/2.4
262,144/ 2.8
65,536/2.0
65,536/2.0
16million/4.0
Inbuilt/Expandable memory
NA/16GB
8GB/16GB
8GB/16GB
8GB/16GB
NA/16GB
NA/16GB
512MB/32GB
Bluetooth/Wi-Fi
Yes/No
Yes/No
Yes/No
Yes/No
No/No
Yes/No
Yes/Yes
Camera/Flash/Video
Yes/No/Yes
1.3MP/Yes/Yes
1.3MP/Yes/Yes
1.3/Yes/Yes
No/No/No
VGA/No/Yes
3.2MP/Yes/Yes
Phonebook Capacity
500
Shared
Shared
Shared
NA
1000
Shared
Frequency/Dual SIM GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating
Price in Rs. 76 I APRIL 2015
Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Qual Band/GSM+GSM Qual Band/GSM+GSM Qual Band/GSM+GSM Yes/No/No
Yes/Yes/No
Yes/Yes/No
Yes/Yes/No
No/No/No
No/No/No
Yes/Yes/No
NA
MTK
MTK
MTK
Proprietary
Proprietary
Android OS v4.0
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Bar/No/No
Bar/No/Yes
Bar/No/Yes
Bar/No/Yes
Bar/No/No
Bar/No/No
Bar/Yes/No
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
1,799
1,050
1,500
1,700
1,850
2,450
2,599
MYMOBILE
MYGUIDE (Rs 2,500-5,999)
(Rs 2,500-5,999)
MODELS
ENTRY LEVEL (Rs 2,500-5,999)
ADCOM
PARAMETERS Model
ALCATEL
BLOOM
440Plus
A50
OT 2005D
OT 4007D PIXI
GLOBE B35
GLOBE 3.5 3G
GLOBE 4.0 Lite
Dimension (mm)
136.36 X 66.36 x 8.8
145 x 70 x 9
120 x 50 x 9.95
115 x 62.3 x 12.2
121.5 x 63.7 x 10.5
119 x 61.2 x 10.6
126 x 63 x 9.5
Weight (grams)
135
162
85
118
104
108
131
Talktime/Standby (hours)
11/72
11/72
14/425
13/500
3/100
3/100
3/100
Screen (colours)/Size (inch)
16million/4 inch
16million/5.0
262,155/2.4
262,144/3.5
-/3.5
-/3.5 Inch
-/4.0
Inbuilt/Expandable memory
4GB/32GB
512MB/32GB
128 MB/8GB
512MB/32GB
512MB/32GB
512MB/32GB
512MB/32GB
Bluetooth/Wi-Fi
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/No
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Camera/Flash/Video
3MP/Yes/Yes
3.2MP/Yes/Yes
2.0MP/No/Yes
2.0MP/No/Yes
2.0MP/Yes/Yes
2.0MP/Yes/Yes
2.0MP/Yes/Yes
Phonebook Capacity
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Frequency/Dual SIM
Qual Band/GSM+GSM Qual BandGSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band+GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM
GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating
Price in Rs.
Yes/Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes /No
Yes/Yes/No
Yes/Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes/No
Yes/Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes/No
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.2
NA
Android OS v2.3
Android OS v4.2
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.4
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/No/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
3,499
3,999
2,750
4,933
2,499
2,599
2,999
(Rs 2,500-5,999)
(Rs 2,500-5,999)
MODELS
(Rs 2,500-5,999)
BLOOM
PARAMETERS
CELKON
CHEERS
Model
Globe Lite 3G
GLOBE 4.5 Lite
GLOBE B40 IPS
A354C
A35K
WIN400
MI Smart
Dimension (mm)
126 x 63 x 9.5
138 x 66 x 9.3
126 x 63 x 9.5
115.5 x 61 x 10.3
119 x 63 x 10.7
130 x 59 x 10.0
107 X 51
Weight (grams)
128
152
130
98
104.67
120
74
Talktime/Standby (hours)
100/3
4/120
4/120
10/90
11/96
11/96
7/-
Screen (colours)/Size (inch)
-/4.0
-/4.5
-/4
16million/3.5
16million/3.5
16million/4.0
-/3.5
Inbuilt/Expandable memory
512MB/32GB
512MB/32GB
4GB/32GB
512MB/32
2GB/32GB
4GB/32GB
2GB/32GB
Bluetooth/Wi-Fi
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Camera/Flash/Video
3.0MP/Yes/Yes
3.0MP/Yes/Yes
3.0MP/Yes/Yes
2MP/Yes/Yes
2MP+VGA/Yes/Yes
5MP/Yes/Yes
2.0MP/Yes/Yes
Phonebook Capacity
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
NA
Frequency/Dual SIM GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating
Price in Rs.
www.mymobile.co.in
Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band+GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual BandGSM+GSM Dual BandGSM+GSM
Yes/Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes/No
Yes/Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes/No
Yes/Yes/HSPA
Yes/Yes/HSPA
Yes/No/No
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.4
Android 4OS v.4
Android OS v4.4
Windows Phone 8.1
Android OS v4.2
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/Yes
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
2,999
3,999
3,999
2,570
2,940
4,979
2,999
APRIL 2015 I 77
MYGUIDE (Rs 2,500-5,999)
(Rs 2,500-5,999)
MODELS
(Rs 2,500-5,999)
CHEERS
PARAMETERS
HITECH
Model
Smart 40
Smart X
Smart 5
Smart Turbo
AMAZE S305
Amaze S411
AIR A1
Dimension (mm)
117 X 55
115 X 53
131 X 61
130 X 62
116.8 x 60.9 x 10.7
122 x 63 x 9.5
131 x 66 x 9.7
Weight (grams)
108
106
142
156
102
102
127
Talktime/Standby (hours)
7/
7/
8
8/
4/200
3/180
3/180
Screen (colours)/Size (inch)
-/4.0
4.0
-/5.0
-/5.0
16million/3.5
16million/4
16million/4.5
Inbuilt/Expandable memory
512MB/32GB
4GB/32GB
4GB/32GB
4GB/32GB
512MB/32GB
4GB/32GB
4GB/32GB
Bluetooth/Wi-Fi
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Camera/Flash/Video
5MP/Yes/Yes
3.2MP/Yes/Yes
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
2MP/Yes/Yes
3.2MP/Yes /Yes
5.0MP/Yes /Yes
Phonebook Capacity
-
-
-
-
Shared
1000
1000
Frequency/Dual SIM GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating
Price in Rs.
Dual BandGSM+GSM Dual BandGSM+GSM Dual BandGSM+GSM Dual BandGSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+CDMA Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Yes/Yes/No
Yes/Yes/No
Yes/Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes/Yes
Yes/Rx only/HSPA+
Yes/Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes/Yes
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.2
Android OS v4.2
Android 4.4
Android 4.4
Android 4.2
Android 4.4
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
2,999
3,999
4,999
5,299
2,999
3,299
4,799
(Rs 2,500-5,999)
(Rs 2,500-5,999)
MODELS
(Rs 2,500-5,999)
I-SMART
PARAMETERS Model
A26
A35
S99 Titanium
Sparkle V
356 3G
119.3 x 62.2 x 11.2
125.3 x 63.8 x 12.1
-
-
133 x 66 x 9.7
113x66x10.4
116.9 x 62.5 x 12.6
Weight (grams)
100
135
-
-
130
138
112
NEW
IS-402
LAVA
Dimension (mm)
Talktime/Standby (hours)
IS-305
KARBONN NEW
7.5/NA
7.5/NA
5/200
5/200
5/168
8/160
5/200
Screen (colours)/Size (inch)
16million/3.5
16million/4.0
16million/4.8
16million/4.8
16million/4.0
16million/4.5
16million/3.5
Inbuilt/Expandable memory
512MB/32GB
4GB/32GB
-/32GB
-/32GB
4GB/32GB
4GB/32GB
512MB/32GB
Bluetooth/Wi-Fi
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Camera/Flash/Video
2.0MP/Yes/Yes
3.2MP/Yes/Yes
5MP/Yes/Yes
5MP/Yes/Yes
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
1.3MP/Yes/Yes
Phonebook Capacity
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Frequency/Dual SIM
Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM
GPRS/EDGE/3G
Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA
Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating
Price in Rs. 78 I APRIL 2015
Yes/Yes/No
Yes/Yes/No
Yes/Yes/HSDPA
Yes/Yes/HSDPA
Yes/Yes/Yes
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.1
Android OS v4.0
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.2
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
NR
NR
NR
NR
80
NR
NR
2,899
3,599
4,900
5,100
5,990
5,900
3,900
MYMOBILE
MYGUIDE (Rs 2,500-5,999)
(Rs 2,500-5,999)
MODELS
(Rs 2,500-5,999)
LAVA
PARAMETERS Model
LG
LEMON Ocean 6
OORIE
Optimus L3 II Single
Optimus L3II Dual
Dimension (mm)
124 x 64.5 x 10.3
102.6 x 61.1 x 11.9
102.9 x 61.3 x 11.9
119.6 x 62 x 10.2
126 x 65.7 x 10.2
-
134 X 67 x 8.05
Weight (grams)
-
125
110
106
104
-
118
Talktime/Standby (hours)
Ocean 2
MICROMAX
Iris 406Q
NEW
NEW
Canvas Pep
NEW
Discovery 927B
NEW
-
8/480
16/730
6/240
7/16
6/210
19/520
Screen (colours)/Size (inch)
16illion/4.0
262,144/3.2
262,144/3.2
262,144/3.5
16million/4.0
16million/4.5
16million/4.3
Inbuilt/Expandable memory
4GB/32GB
4GB/32GB
4GB/32GB
NA/32GB
NA/32GB
8GB/32GB
8GB/32GB
Bluetooth/Wi-Fi
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Camera/Flash/Video
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
3.0MP/No/Yes
3.15MP/No/Yes
Yes/Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes/Yes
5.0/Yes/Yes
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
Phonebook Capacity
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Frequency/Dual SIM
Qual Band/GSM+GSM
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/GSM+GSM
Tri Band/GSM+GSM
Tri Band/GSM+GSM
Quad Band/GSM+GSM
Tri Band/GSM+GSM
GPRS/EDGE/3G
Yes/Yes/HSDPA
Yes/Yes/HSDPA
Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA
Yes/Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes/Yes
Operating System
Android OS v4.2
Android OS v4.1
Android OS v4.1
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.4
Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating
Price in Rs.
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/No/Yes
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
NR
NR
78
NR
NR
NR
NR
5,500
5,000
5,900
3,699
4,750
5,999
3,500
(Rs 2,500-5,999)
(Rs 2,500-5,999)
MODELS
(Rs 2,500-5,999)
OORIE
PARAMETERS Model
Discovery 927A
SAMSUNG
SPICE
Champ Neo Duos C3262
Galaxy Star 2
Galaxy Ace NXT
Galaxy Star Pro
Dimension (mm)
134 x 67 x 8.05
96.9 x 54.3 x 13.5
109.8 x 59.9 x 11.8
121.4 x 62.9 x 10.7
121.2 x 62.7 x 10.6
120.4 x 63.2 x 9.7
128.5 x 64.5 x 10.15
Weight (grams)
118
82
107.6
123
121
112
-
Talktime/Standby (hours)
NEW
Z1
NEW
Steller 431
NEW
19/520
14/550
-
-/-
15/370
8/-
-/-
Screen (colours)/Size (inch)
16million/4.3
262,144/2.4
262,144/3.5
16million/4.0
16million/4.0
16million/4.0
16million/4.0
Inbuilt/Expandable memory
8GB/32GB
20MB/32GB
4GB/32GB
4GB/32GB
4GB/32GB
4GB/64GB
4GB/32GB
Bluetooth/Wi-Fi
Yes/Yes
Yes/No
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Camera/Flash/Video
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
VGA/No/Yes
2.0MP/No/Yes
3.5MP/Yes/Yes
2.0MP/No/Yes
3.15MP/Yes/Yes
3.2MP/Yes/Yes
Phonebook Capacity
Shared
NA
NA
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Frequency/Dual SIM
Tri Band/GSM+GSM
GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating
Price in Rs.
www.mymobile.co.in
Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM
Yes/Yes/Yes
Yes/No/No
Yes/Yes/No
Yes/Yes/HSDPA
Yes/Yes/No
Yes/Yes/HSDPA
Yes/Yes/HSDPA
Android 4.4 kitkat
Proprietary
Proprietary
Android v4.4
Android OS v4.1
Tizen OS
Android v4.4
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
4,750
2,700
4,000
4,800
5,000
5,700
3,500
APRIL 2015 I 79
MYGUIDE (Rs 2,500-5,999)
MID LEVEL (Rs 6000-11,999)
MODELS
(Rs 6000-11,999)
SPICE
PARAMETERS
ALCATEL
BLACKBERRY
CELKON
Curve 9320
9720
Q455
Steller 445
Steller 436
OT 8000D
OT 6012D IDOL MINI
Dimension (mm)
125 x 56 x 10.5
125 x 65.8 x 11.5
143 x 78.4 X 9.8
127.1 x 62 x 7.9
109 x 60 x 12.7
114 x 66 x 12
136.5 x 68 x 7.9
Weight (grams)
-
100
163
96
103
120
130
Model
-
4.5/170
16/15
9/540
7/432
7/432
7/432
Screen (colours)/Size (inch)
262,144/4.0
16million/4.0
262,144/NA
16million/4.3
65,536/2.44
262,144/2.8
16million/4.5
Inbuilt/Expandable memory
4GB/32GB
-/32GB
4GB/32 GB
8GB/None
512MB/32GB
512MB/32GB
16GB/64GB
Talktime/Standby (hours)
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Camera/Flash/Video
3.2MP/Yes/Yes
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
3.15MP/Yes/Yes
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
Phonebook Capacity
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
shared
Dual Band/No
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/GSM+GSM
Bluetooth/Wi-Fi
Frequency/Dual SIM
Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM
GPRS/EDGE/3G
Yes/Yes/HSDPA+
Yes/Yes/HSDPA
Yes/Yes/HSDPA
Yes/Yes/HSDPA
Operating System
Android OS v4.3
Android OS v4.2
Android OS v4.1
Android OS v4.1
Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating
Price in Rs.
Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA
BlackBerry OS 7.1
BlackBerry OS 7.1
Yes/Yes/HSPA Android OS v4.4
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/No/Yes
Bar/Yes/Yes
Bar/Yes/No
NR
NR
NR
NR
80
NR
NR
3,800
5,000
9,999
10,900
8,000
10,500
6,999
(R s 6000-11,999)
(Rs 6000-11,999)
MODELS
(R s 6000-11,999)
CELKON
PARAMETERS Model
GIONEE
HITECH
HTC
Q500
Q550
CTRL V5
Air A6
Desire 310 Plus
Desire 516
Dimension (mm)
145.6 x 71.8 x 8
152 x 76 x 8
134.5 x 67.7 x 8.1
147.8 x 72.8 x 7.9
132.4 x 68 x 11.3
140 x 72 x 9.7
139.8 x 69.8 x 9.9
Weight (grams)
149
143.8
103.5
150
140
160
154
15/200
24.4/300
14.5/324
4/300
11/852
9/220
15/622
Screen (colours)/Size (inch)
16million/5.0
16million/5.5
16million/4.7
16million/5.0
16million/4.5
16million/5.0
16million/4.7
Inbuilt/Expandable memory
16GB/32GB
16GB/64GB
8GB/32GB
8GB/32GB
4GB/32GB
4GB/32GB
16GB/32GB
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Camera/Flash/Video
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
Phonebook Capacity
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Talktime/Standby (hours)
Bluetooth/Wi-Fi
Frequency/Dual SIM GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating
Price in Rs. 80 I APRIL 2015
Desire 526G+
NEW
Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Yes/Yes/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM
Yes/Yes/HSPA
Yes/Yes/HSPA+
Yes/Yes/HSDPA
Yes/Yes/HSPA+
Yes/Yes/HSPA
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.4
Android OS, v4.2
Android 4.4
Android OS v4.2
Android OS v4.2
Android OS v4.4
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
76
NR
9,599
9,999
10,999
6,999
9,100
10,400
10,880
Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSPA
MYMOBILE
MYGUIDE (Rs 6000-11,999)
(Rs 6000-11,999)
MODELS
(Rs 6000-11,999)
IDEA
PARAMETERS Model
I-SMART
Aurus III
Whiz II
Aurus IV
Ultra
S5+ Titanium
Titanium Octen
NA
NA
NA
NA
144.5 x 72.1 x 8.5
NA
145.7 x 71.2 x 7.9
Weight (grams)
NA
NA
NA
NA
160
NA
-
Talktime/Standby (hours)
IS-55
KARBONN
Dimension (mm)
NEW
7/350
8.5/NA
7.5/400
16/700
8/NA
NA/NA
-
Screen (colours)/Size (inch)
16million/4.0
262,144/4.0
16million/4.5
16million/5.0
16million/5.0
16million/5.0
16million/5.0
Inbuilt/Expandable memory
4GB/32GB
4GB/32GB
4GB/32GB
4GB/32GB
4GB/64GB
1.4GB/32GB
16GB/32GB
Bluetooth/Wi-Fi
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Camera/Flash/Video
5.0MP/No/Yes
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
5.0MP/No/Yes
8.0MP/No/Yes
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
13MP/Yes/Yes
Phonebook Capacity
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shred
Frequency/Dual SIM
Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Tri Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM
GPRS/EDGE/3G
Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA
Operating System
Android OS v4.1
Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating
Price in Rs.
Android v4.0
Yes/Yes/HSDPA+
Yes/Yes/HSDPA+
Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA
Yes/Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes/HSDPA+
Android OS v4.1
Android OS v4.1
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.1
Android OS v4.4
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
7,790
10,490
8,999
12,500
6,999
7,397
9,990
(Rs 6000-11,999)
(Rs 6000-11,999)
MODELS
(R s 6000-11,999)
KARBONN
PARAMETERS
LAVA
LENOVO
LG
Model
Titanium Octen Plus
Iris X1
Irish 506Q
Iris Fuel 60
Irish X5
A850
Optimus L5 II E450
Dimension (mm)
147.3 x 72.6 x 7.6
134 x 66 x 8.9
143 x 73 x 8.9
144.8 x 72.8 x 10.2
143.5 x 71.5 x 7.7
79.3 x 9.45 x 153.5
117.5 x 62.2 x 9.2
Weight (grams)
-
138
NA
174
134
184
103
Talktime/Standby (hours)
-
9.7/-
5.3/230
32/-
6/200
28.6/490
10/642
Screen (colours)/Size (inch)
16million/5.0
16million/4.5
16million/5.0
16million/5.0
16million/5.0
16million/5.5
16million/4.0
Inbuilt/Expandable memory
16GB/32GB
8GB/32GB
4GB/32GB
8GB/32GB
8GB/32GB
4GB/32GB
4GB/32GB
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Camera/Flash/Video
16MP/Yes/Yes
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
10.0MP/Yes/Yes
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
Phonebook Capacity
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Tri Band/Dual SIM
Quad Band/No
Bluetooth/Wi-Fi
Frequency/Dual SIM
Quad Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM
GPRS/EDGE/3G
Yes/Yes/HSDPA+
Yes/Yes/HSDPA
Yes/Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes/HSDPA
Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA
Yes/Yes/HSDPA
Operating System
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.2
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.2
Android OS v4.1
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
11,900
7,100
8,800
8,888
8,650
10,500
8,050
Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating
Price in Rs.
www.mymobile.co.in
APRIL 2015 I 81
MYGUIDE (Rs 6000-11,999)
(Rs 6000-11,999)
MODELS
(R s 6000-11,999)
LG
PARAMETERS Model
LEMON
Optimus L5 II Dual
L70 D310
Dimension (mm)
117.5 x 62.2 x 9.2
127.2 x 66.8 x 9.5
Weight (grams)
103
126.6
Ocean 101
MICROMAX Canvas Fire 4
A1
Canvas Xpress A99
145 × 73.5 × 11.4
132x67x9.15
132.4 x 64.5 x 8.65
-
-
182
136
143
-
-
NEW
NEW
Canvas Hue
NEW
10/642
4.6/490
10/300
6/160
7/240
7/300
9.3/280
Screen (colours)/Size (inch)
16million/4.0
16million/4.5
16million/5.0
16million/4.5
16million/4.5
16million/4.5
16million/5.0
Inbuilt/Expandable memory
4GB/32GB
4GB/32GB
NA/32GB
4GB/32GB
8GB/32GB
8GB/32GB
8GB/32GB
Talktime/Standby (hours)
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Camera/Flash/Video
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes/Yes
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
Phonebook Capacity
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Bluetooth/Wi-Fi
Frequency/Dual SIM
Quad Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM
Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM
GPRS/EDGE/3G
Yes/Yes/HSDPA
Yes/Yes/HSPA
Yes/Yes/HSPA+
Yes/Yes/HSDPA
Yes/Yes/HSDPA
Yes/Yes/HSDPA
Yes/Yes/HSDPA
Operating System
Android OS v4.1
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v5.0
Android OS v4.4
Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating
Price in Rs.
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
84
8,800
11,800
8,299
6,499
6,500
6,999
9,999
(Rs 6000-11,999)
(Rs 6000-11,999)
MODELS
(Rs 6000-11,999)
SAMSUNG
PARAMETERS
SONY
Model
Galaxy Star 2Plus
Galaxy S duos 3
Galaxy Core 2
Galaxy J1
Galaxy Win
Galaxy Core Prime
E1
Dimension (mm)
129.7 x 65.9 x 9.4
121.4 x 62.9 x 10.8
130.3 x 68 x 9.8
Weight (grams)
-
124
138
129 x 68.2 x 8.9
133.3 x 70.7 x 9.7
130.8 x 67.9 x 8.8
118 x 62.4 x 12
122
143.9
130
120
-/-
7/-
-/-
10/-
11/210
-
8.2/498
Screen (colours)/Size (inch)
65,536/4.3
Inbuilt/Expandable memory
4GB/32GB
16million/4.0
262,144/4.5
16million/4.3
16million/4.7
16million/4.5
16million/4.0
4GB/32GB
4GB/32GB
4GB/128GB
8GB/32GB
8GB/64GB
4GB/32GB
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Camera/Flash/Video
3.5MP/Yes/Yes
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
3.15MP/Yes/Yes
Phonebook Capacity
Shared
SharedQuad
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Frequency/Dual SIM
Quad Band/GSM+GSM
Band/GSM+GSM
Talktime/Standby (hours)
Bluetooth/Wi-Fi
GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating
Price in Rs. 82 I APRIL 2015
Yes/Yes/HSDPA
NEW
Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM
Quad Band/No
Yes/Yes/HSDPA
Yes/Yes/HSDPA
Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA
Yes/Yes/HSPA
Android v4.4
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.4
Android v4.1
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.3
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
6,250
7,050
7,200
7,400
7,680
9,000
6,000
Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA
MYMOBILE
MYGUIDE (Rs 6000-11,999)
(Rs 6000-11,999)
MODELS
(R s 6000-11,999)
SPICE
SONY
PARAMETERS E1 Dual
Xperia M
Xperia E3
Xperia E3 Dual
Xperia M Dual
Steller 509
Stellar Virtuoso Pro Mi 496
Dimension (mm)
118 x 62.4 x 12
124 x 62 x 9.3
137.1 x 69.4 x 8.5
137.1 x 69.4 x 8.5
124 x 62 x 9.3
145x79 x9.5
NA
Weight (grams)
120
115
143
143
115
120
NA
Model
Talktime/Standby (hours)
8.2/498
10.16/498
12.2/70
12.2/70
10.16/498
4/192
NA
Screen (colours)/Size (inch)
16million/4.0
16million/4.0
16million/4.5
16million/4.5
16million/4.0
16million/5.0
16million/4.5
Inbuilt/Expandable memory
4GB/32GB
4GB/32GB
4GB/32GB
4GB/32GB
4GB/32GB
4GB/32GB
NA/32GB
Bluetooth/Wi-Fi
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Camera/Flash/Video
3.15MP/Yes/Yes
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
5.MP/Yes/Yes
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
Phonebook Capacity
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Frequency/Dual SIM
Quad Band/GSM+GSM
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
Yes/Yes/HSPA
Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA
Yes/Yes/HSPA
Yes/Yes/HSPA
Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA
Yes/Yes/HSDPA
Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA
Android OS v4.3
Android OS v4.1
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.1
Android OS v4.2
Android v4.0
GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating
Price in Rs.
Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
6,999
9,000
9,900
10,800
11,000
6,200
6,000
(Rs 6000-11,999)
(R s 6000-11,999)
MODELS
(R s 6000-11,999)
SPICE
PARAMETERS Model
XOLO
Dream UNO Mi
Coolpad MI-515
Q710S
Q1000 Opus
Q900
Opus 3
Omega 5
Dimension (mm)
132x67x9.15
140 x 73 x 9.9
135 x 67 x 8.5
143.3 x 72.9 x 9
137 x 70 x 9.9
143 x 71.3 x 8.8
144 x 72 x 10.5
Weight (grams)
138
161
-
NA
138
-
-
17/160
NA
22/640
18/700
13/384
26/550
22/675
Screen (colours)/Size (inch)
16million/4.5
16million/5.0
16million/4.5
16million/5.0
16million/4.7
16million/5.0
16million/5.0
Inbuilt/Expandable memory
4GB/32GB
4GB/32GB
8GB/32GB
4GB/32GB
4GB/32GB
8GB/Yes/Yes
8GB/32GB
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Camera/Flash/Video
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
8MP/Yes/Yes
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
8MP/Yes/Yes
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
Phonebook Capacity
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Talktime/Standby (hours)
Bluetooth/Wi-Fi
Frequency/Dual SIM
Quad Band/GSM+GSM Tri Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM
GPRS/EDGE/3G
Yes/Yes/HSDPA
Yes/Yes/HSDP+
Yes/Yes/HSPA+
Yes/Yes/HSPA+
Yes/Yes/HSPA+
Operating System
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.1
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.2
Android OS v4.2
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.4
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
6,299
7,500
6,999
6,490
8,600
8,499
8,999
Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating
Price in Rs.
www.mymobile.co.in
Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA
APRIL 2015 I 83
MYGUIDE Rs 12,000 UPWARDS
Rs 12,000 UPWARDS
MODELS
HIGH LEVEL R s 12,000 UPWARDS
ALCATEL
PARAMETERS
APPLE
OT 6030
Idol X+
OT 6033X
Iphone 5C
Iphone 5S
Iphone 6
Iphone 6 Plus
Dimension (mm)
133 x 67.5 x 7.9
140.4 x 69.1 x 7.9
134.4 x 68.5 x 6.4
124.4 x 59.2 8.97
123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6
138.1 x 67 x 6.9
158.1 x 77.8 x 7.1
Weight (grams)
110
130
110
132
112
129
172
Model
7.2/415
12/240
16/700
10/250
10/250
14/250
24/384
Screen (colours)/Size (inch)
16million/NA
16million/5.0
16million/NA
16million/4.0
16million/4.0
16million/4.7
16million/5.5
Inbuilt/Expandable memory
4GB/32GB
16GB/No
16GB/No
16,32/No
16,32,64/No
16,64,128/No
16,64,128/No
Talktime/Standby (hours)
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Camera/Flash/Video
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
13.1/Yes/Yes
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
Phonebook Capacity
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
Bluetooth/Wi-Fi
Frequency/Dual SIM
Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM
Quad Band/No
GPRS/EDGE/3G
Yes/Yes/HSDPA
Yes/Yes/HPSA
Yes/Yes/HSDPA
Operating System
Android OS v4.1
Android OS v4.2
Android OS v4.1
Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating
Price in Rs.
Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA
iOS8
iOS8
iOS8
iOS8
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/No
Yes/No
Yes/No
Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
NR
84
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
13,500
16,999
17,900
41,900/53,500
Rs 12,000 UPWARDS
Rs 12,000 UPWARDS
MODELS
Rs 12,000 UPWARDS
53,500/62,500/73,500 53,500/62,500/71,500 62,500/71,500/80,500
BLACKBERRY
PARAMETERS Q5
Z3
Curve 9360
Z10
Q10
Z30
Dimension (mm)
120 x 66 x 10.8
140 x 72.8 x 9.3
112 x 62 x 14.2
130 x 65.6 x 9
119.6 x 66.8 x 10.4
140.7 x 72 x 9.4
131 x 72.4 x 10.2
Weight (grams)
120
164
130
136
139
170
177
12/336
15.5/384
5/336
10/312
10/NA
25/384
17.10/365
Screen (colours)/Size (inch)
16million/3.1
16million/5.0
262,144/2.44
16million/4.2
16million/3.1
16million/5.0
16million/3.5
Inbuilt/Expandable memory
8GB/32GB
8GB/32GB
256MB/32GB
16GB/64GB
16GB/64GB
16GB/64GB
16GB/128GB
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Camera/Flash/Video
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
Phonebook Capacity
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Frequency/Dual SIM
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
Quad band/No
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
Yes/Yes/HSPA
Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA
Yes/Yes/HDSPA
Model
Talktime/Standby (hours)
Bluetooth/Wi-Fi
GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating
Price in Rs. 84 I APRIL 2015
Classic
NEW
Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA
Yes/Yes/HSPA+
BlackBerry OS 10
BlackBerry OS 10.2
BlackBerry OS 7.0
BlackBerry OS 10
BlackBerry OS 10
Yes/No
Yes/Yes
Yes/No
Yes/No
Yes/No
Yes/No
Yes/Yes
Bar/Yes/Yes
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/No/Yes
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/Yes
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
NR
NR
NR
84
82
NR
82
12,000
12,000
16,990
17,800
24,500
30,000
30,000
Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA
BlackBerry OS 10.2 BlackBerry OS 10.3.1
MYMOBILE
MYGUIDE Rs 12,000 UPWARDS
Rs 12,000 UPWARDS
MODELS
Rs 12,000 UPWARDS
BLACKBERRY
PARAMETERS
GIONEE
Passport
Marathon M3
Elife E5
Elife E7 Mini
Elife S5.5
Elife E6
Elife S5.1
Dimension (mm)
128 x 90.3 x 9.3
144.5 X 71.5 X 10.4
137 X 69 X 6.85
139.8 x 66.2 x 8.6
145.1 x 70.2 x 5.6
142.5 x 69.4 x 7.9
139.8 x 67.4 x 5.1
Weight (grams)
196
1180.3
133.9
142.9
NA
120
97.7
Model
18/432
51/792
NA
18/200
NA
NA/NA
-
Screen (colours)/Size (inch)
16million/4.5
16millon/5.0
16millon/4.8
16million/4.7
16million/5.0
16.7million/5.0
16million/4.8
Inbuilt/Expandable memory
32GB/128GB
8GB/32GB
16GB/NA
16BG/No
16GB/No
32GB/No
16GB/No
Talktime/Standby (hours)
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Camera/Flash/Video
13MP/Yes/Yes
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
13MP/Yes/Yes
13.0MP/Yes/Yes
13.0MP/Yes/Yes
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
Phonebook Capacity
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/GSM+GSM
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA
Yes/Yes/HSPA+
Yes/Yes/HSPA
Yes/Yes/HSPA
Android OS v4.2
Android OS v4.2
Android OS v4.4
Bluetooth/Wi-Fi
Frequency/Dual SIM
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/GSM+GSM
GPRS/EDGE/3G
Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA
Yes/Yes/HSDPA
Operating System
BlackBerry OS 10.3
Android OS v4.4
Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating
Price in Rs.
Android OS v4.2
Android OS v4.2
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Bar/Yes/Yes
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
86
82
82
-
88
82
46,700
13,999
14,800
17,000
20,500
19,000
Rs 12,000 UPWARDS
Rs 12,000 UPWARDS
MODELS
Rs 12,000 UPWARDS
18,999
PARAMETERS Model
GIONEE
HTC
Elife E7
Desire 616
Desire 816G
Desire 601
Desire 820q
Desire 816 G
Desire 820
Dimension (mm)
150.6 x 75 x 9.5
142 x 71.9 x 9.2
156.6 x78.74 x 7.99
134.5 x 66.7 x 9.88
157.7 x 78.7 x 7.7
156.6 x 78.7 x 8
157.7 x 78.7 x 7.7
Weight (grams)
150
150
158
130
155
165
155
Talktime/Standby (hours)
NA
14/700
10/460
12.8/440
22/424
21/737
22/424
Screen (colours)/Size (inch)
16million/5.5
16million/5.0
16million/5.5
16million/4.5
16million/5.5
16million/5.5
16million/5.5
Inbuilt/Expandable memory
16GB/32GB
4GB/64GB
8GB/32GB
8GB/64GB
16GB/128GB
8GB/128GB
16GB/128GB
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Camera/Flash/Video
16MP/Yes/Yes
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
13.0MP/Yes/Yes
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
13MP/Yes/Yes
13.0MP/Yes/Yes
13MP/Yes/Yes
Phonebook Capacity
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Frequency/Dual SIM
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/GSM+GSM Tri Band/GSM+GSM Tri Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM
GPRS/EDGE/3G
Yes/Yes/HSPA+
Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA
Yes/Yes/HSPA+
Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA
Operating System
Android OS v4.2
Android OS v4.2
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.2
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.4
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
84
-
80
82
-
82
82
20,000
12,300
16,800
16,900
20,500
22,200
23,200
Bluetooth/Wi-Fi
Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating
Price in Rs.
www.mymobile.co.in
APRIL 2015 I 85
MYGUIDE Rs 12,000 UPWARDS
Rs 12,000 UPWARDS
MODELS
Rs 12,000 UPWARDS
HTC
PARAMETERS Model Dimension (mm) Weight (grams)
LENOVO
One (E8)
Desire Eye
One (M8 Eye)
One M8
S660
Vibe X S960
Vibe z
146.4 x 70.7 x 9.9
151.7 x 73.8 x 8.5
146.4 x 70.6 x 9.4
146.4 x 70.6 x 9.4
137 x 68.8 x 10
144 x 74 x 6.9 mm
149 x 77 x 7.9
145
154
160
160
151
121
147
26.7/504
20/538
14/271
14/271
36/840
16/288
33/648
Screen (colours)/Size (inch)
16milliom/5.0
16milliom/5.2
16million/5.0
16million/5.0
16million/4.7
16million/5.0
16million/5.5
Inbuilt/Expandable memory
16GB/128GB
16GB/128GB
16GB/128GB
16GB/128GB
8GB/32GB
16GB/No
16GB/No
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
13.0MP/Yes/Yes
13.0MP/Yes/Yes
13.0MP/Yes/Yes
4.0MP/Yes/Yes
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
13.0MP/Yes/Yes
13.0MP/Yes/Yes
Talktime/Standby (hours)
Bluetooth/Wi-Fi Camera/Flash/Video Phonebook Capacity
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Frequency/Dual SIM
Quad Band/GSM+GSM
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
Dual Band/GSM+GSM
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
GPRS/EDGE/3G
Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA
Yes/Yes/HSDPA+
Yes/Yes/HSPA+
Yes/Yes/HSPA+
Yes/Yes/HSDPA
Yes/Yes/HSPA
Yes/Yes/HSPA
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.2
Android OS v4.2
Android OS v4.3
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating
Price in Rs.
86
84
82
82
NR
84
84
31,000
35,000
36,000
39,000
12,700
20,999
23, 000
Rs 12,000 UPWARDS
Rs 12,000 UPWARDS
MODELS
Rs 12,000 UPWARDS
PARAMETERS Model
LENOVO
LG
Vibe z2 Pro
L90 D410
G Pro Lite Dual D686
G3 Beat
G3 Stylus
Nexus 5 16GB/32GB
G2 16GB/32GB
Dimension (mm)
156 x 81.3 x 7.7
131.6 x 66 x 9.7
150.2 x 76.9 x 9.48
137.7 x 69.6 x 10.3
149.3 x 75.9 x 10.2
137.9 x 69.2 x 8.6
138.5 x 70.9 x 8.9
Weight (grams)
179
NA
161
134
163
130
143
Talktime/Standby (hours)
45/948
NA
14.5/845
-/-
25/780
17/300
NA/NA
Screen (colours)/Size (inch)
16million/6.0
16million/4.7
16million/5.5
16million/5.0
16illion/5.5
16million/4.95
16million/5.2
Inbuilt/Expandable memory
32GB/No
8GB/32GB
8GB/32GB
8GB/64GB
8GB/32GB
16GB/No
16GB/No
Bluetooth/Wi-Fi
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Camera/Flash/Video
16.0MP/Yes/Yes
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
13MP/Yes/Yes
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
13.0MP/Yes/Yes
Phonebook Capacity
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Sahred
Qual Band/No
Frequency/Dual SIM
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
Dual Band/GSM+GSM
GPRS/EDGE/3G
Yes/Yes/HSPA+
Yes/Yes/HSPA
Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA
Yes/Yes/HSPA+
Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA
Operating System
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.1
Android OS v4.4
Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating
Price in Rs. 86 I APRIL 2015
Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.4
Quad Band/No Yes/Yes/HSPA+ Android OS v4.2
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/No
Yes/No
Yes/Yes
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
88
NR
84
82
76
84
84
32,999
14,000
14,640
17,000
18,900
24,000/29s,000
25,000/27,000
MYMOBILE
MYGUIDE Rs 12,000 UPWARDS
Rs 12,000 UPWARDS
MODELS
Rs 12,000 UPWARDS
LG
PARAMETERS Model Dimension (mm) Weight (grams)
MICROMAX
G Pro 2
G3 16GB
G3 32GB
G Flex
Canvas Nitro
Canvas XL A119
Canvas 4Plus
157.9 x 81.9 x 8.3
146.3 x 74.6 x 8.9
146.3 x 74.6 x 8.9
160.5 x 81.6 x 7.9
141 x 72 x 9
165 x 84.2 x 10.4
142 x 71 x 7
172
149
149
177
152
180
116
8/270
19/565
19/565
15/720
10/320
9.4/209
7/205
Screen (colours)/Size (inch)
16million/5.9
16million/5.5
16million/5.5
16million/6.0
16million/5.0
16million/6.0
16million/5.0
Inbuilt/Expandable memory
16GB/64GB
16GB/128GB
16GB/128GB
32GB/No
8GB/32GB
4GB/32GB
16GB/32GB
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
13MP/Yes/Yes
13.0MP/Yes/Yes
13.0MP/Yes/Yes
13.0MP/Yes/Yes
13.0MP/Yes/Yes
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
13.0MP/Yes/Yes
Shared
Shared
Shared
Talktime/Standby (hours)
Bluetooth/Wi-Fi Camera/Flash/Video Phonebook Capacity
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Frequency/Dual SIM
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM
GPRS/EDGE/3G
Yes/Yes/HSPA+
Yes/Yes/HSPA+
Yes/Yes/HSPA+
Yes/Yes/HSPA+
Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA
Operating System
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.2
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.2
Android OS v4.4
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
NR
82
14,600
15,800
Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating
Price in Rs.
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
29,500
36,999
39,990
37,500
12,000
Rs 12,000 UPWARDS
Rs 12,000 UPWARDS
MODELS
Rs 12,000 UPWARDS
MICROMAX
PARAMETERS Model
Canvas Selfie
NEW
SAMSUNG Galaxy Grand Neo
Galaxy Grand Prime
Dimension (mm)
-
143.7 x 77.1 x 9.6
144.8 x 72.1 x 8.6
Weight (grams)
-
163
156
Talktime/Standby (hours)
Galaxy S4 mini
Galaxy Grand 2
124.60 x 61.30 x 8.94 146.80 x 75.30 x 8.95 108
163
Galaxy E5
NEW
Galaxy E7
NEW
141.6 x 70.2 x 7.3
151.3 x 77.2 x 7.3
-
141
-/-
11/430
17/-
12/NA
17/370
-/-
18/-
Screen (colours)/Size (inch)
16million/4.7
16million/5.01
16million/5.0
16million/4.3
16million/5.25
16million/5.0
16million/5.5
Inbuilt/Expandable memory
16GB/32GB
8GB/64GB
8GB/64GB
8GB/64GB
8GB/64GB
16GB/64GB
16GB/64GB
Bluetooth/Wi-Fi
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Camera/Flash/Video
13.0MP/Yes/Yes
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
13.0MP/Yes/Yes
Phonebook Capacity
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Frequency/Dual SIM
Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM
GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating
Price in Rs.
www.mymobile.co.in
Yes/Yes/HSDPA
Android OS v4.4
Quad Band/No
Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA
Android OS v4.2
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.2
Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM
Yes/Yes/HSPA+
Yes/Yes/HSDPA
Yes/Yes/HSDPA
Android OS v4.3
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.4
-/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
-
84
NR
NR
84
NR
NR
16,199
12,200
13,300
16,000
16,000
17,900
19,750
APRIL 2015 I 87
MYGUIDE Rs 12,000 UPWARDS
Rs 12,000 UPWARDS
MODELS
Rs 12,000 UPWARDS
SAMSUNG
PARAMETERS Model
Galaxy A3
Galaxy S4
Galaxy Note 3 Neo
Galaxy S5 mini
Galaxy A5
Dimension (mm)
130.1 x 65.5 x 6.9
136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9
148.4 x 77.4 x 8.6
131.1 x 64.8 x 9.1
139.3 x 69.7 x 6.7
Weight (grams)
110.3
130
162.5
120
123
141
115
-
17/370
18/540
10/NA
-
17/-
NA/NA
Screen (colours)/Size (inch)
16million/4.5
16million/5.0
16million/5.5
16million/4.5
16million/5.0
16million/5.5
16million/4.7
Inbuilt/Expandable memory
16GB/64GB
16GB/64GB
16GB/64GB
16GB/64GB
16GB/64GB
16GB/64GB
32GB/No
Talktime/Standby (hours)
Bluetooth/Wi-Fi
Galaxy A7
Galaxy Alpha
NEW
151 x 76.2 x 6.3
132.4 x 65.5 x 6.7
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Camera/Flash/Video
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
13.0MP/Yes/Yes
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
13.0MP/Yes/Yes
13.0MP/Yes/Yes
12MP/Yes/Yes
Phonebook Capacity
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Frequency/Dual SIM
Quad Band/GSM+GSM
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
GPRS/EDGE/3G
Yes/Yes/HSPA+
Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA
Yes/Yes/HSPA+
Operating System
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.2
Android OS v4.3
Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating
Price in Rs.
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM
Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.4
Quad Band/No
Yes/Yes/HSDPA
Yes/Yes/HSPA+
Android OS v4.4
Android OS, v4.4
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
NR
86
NR
NR
NR
NR
82
19,000
19,000
21,900
25,000
25,500
30,200
31,500
Rs 12,000 UPWARDS
Rs 12,000 UPWARDS
MODELS
Rs 12,000 UPWARDS
SAMSUNG
PARAMETERS Model
SONY
Galaxy S5
Galaxy Note 3
Galaxy Note 4
Galaxy Note Edge
Xperia M2
Xperia M2 Dual
Xpiria C3
Dimension (mm)
142 x 72.5 x 8.1
151.2 x 79.2 x 8.3
153.5 X 78.6 X 8.5
151.3 x 82.4 x 8.3
139.7 x 71.1 x 8.6
139.7 x 71.1 x 8.6
156.2 x 78.7 x 7.6
Weight (grams)
145
168
176
174
148
148
149.7
Talktime/Standby (hours)
21/390
20/490
20/-
18/-
13.5/588
11.2/580
11/1040
Screen (colours)/Size (inch)
16million/5.1
16million/5.7
16million/5.7
16million/5.6
16million/4.8
16million/4.8
16milion/5.5
Inbuilt/Expandable memory
16GB/128GB
32GB/64GB
32GB/128GB
32GB/128GB
8GB/32GB
8GB/32GB
8GB/32GB
Bluetooth/Wi-Fi
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Camera/Flash/Video
16MP/Yes/Yes
13.0MP/Yes/Yes
16MP/Yes/Yes
16MP/Yes/Yes
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
Phonebook Capacity
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared Quad Band/No
Frequency/Dual SIM
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/GSM+GSM
GPRS/EDGE/3G
Yes/Yes/HSPA+
Yes/Yes/HSPA+
Yes/Yes/HSPA+
Yes/Yes/HSPA+
Yes/Yes/HSPA+
Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA
Operating System
Android OS, v4.4
Android OS v4.3
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.4
Android OS, v4.3
Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating
Price in Rs. 88 I APRIL 2015
Android OS v4.3
Android OS v4.4
Yes/Yes
Yes/No
Yes/No
Yes/No
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
NR
82
84
-
NR
NR
NR
33,500
34,500
53,000
64,100
13,000
14,500
19,000
MYMOBILE
MYGUIDE Rs 12,000 UPWARDS
Rs 12,000 UPWARDS
MODELS
Rs 12,000 UPWARDS
SONY
PARAMETERS Model Dimension (mm) Weight (grams)
XOLO
Xperia T3
Xperia Z 1 Compact
Xperia Z 1
Xperia Z 2
Xperia Z3 Compact
Xperia Z3
Hive 8X
150.7 x 77 x 7
127 x 64.9 x 9.5
144.4 x 73.9 x 8.5
146.8 x 73.3 x 8.2
127.3x64.9x8.6
146 x 72 x 7.3
140 x 70 x 7.9
148
137
169
163
129
152
-
12.7/639
10/670
14/880
15/690
12/880
14/890
11/352
Screen (colours)/Size (inch)
16million/5.3
16million/4.3
16million/5.0
16million/5.2
16million/4.3
16million/5.2
16million/5.0
Inbuilt/Expandable memory
8GB/32GB
16GB/64GB
16GB/64GB
16BG/128GB
16GB/128GB
16GB/128GB
16GB/32GB
Talktime/Standby (hours)
Bluetooth/Wi-Fi
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Camera/Flash/Video
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
20.7MP/Yes/Yes
20.7MP/Yes/Yes
20.7MP/Yes/Yes
20.7MP/Yes/Yes
20.7MP/Yes/Yes
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
Phonebook Capacity
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Frequency/Dual SIM GPRS/EDGE/3G
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA
Yes/Yes/HSPA+
Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA
Yes/Yes/HSPA+
Yes/Yes/HSDPA+
Yes/Yes/HSDPA+
Yes/Yes/HSDPA+
Android OS v4.1
Android OS v4.3
Android OS v4.2
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.4
Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating
Price in Rs.
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
84
NR
84
82
NR
84
NR
18,000
26,000
30,000
35,500
40,700
44,000
12,500
CDMA
CDMA
MODELS
CDMA
XOLO
PARAMETERS
CDMA
X1000
Samsung B229
MTS Striker C121
MTS Striker C132
Micromax GC222
MTS Mtag 281
MTS Duet
Dimension (mm)
NA
108 x 44.38 x 14.20
106.8×44.7×13.15
115.5 × 47 × 13.5
110 x 45 x 10
104 x 57 x 13.3
NA
Weight (grams)
NA
72
65.5
68.2
80
Model
NA
9.5/336
6.5/720
33/360
17.9/360
4.5/170
10/220
NA/NA
Screen (colours)/Size (inch)
16million/4.7
65,536/1.5
65,536/1.44
65,536/1.77
262,144/1.8
262,144/2.8
242,144/3.5
Inbuilt/Expandable memory
8GB/32GB
450KB/No
450KB/No
1.29MB/No
59KB/4GB
170MB/32GB
4GB/32GB
Talktime/Standby (hours)
Yes/Yes
No/No
No/No
No/No
Yes/No
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Camera/Flash/Video
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
No/No/No
No/No/No
No/No/No
VGS/No/Yes
3.0MP/No/Yes
3.0MP/No/Yes
Phonebook Capacity
Shared
1,000
500
500
300
Shared
Shared
Bluetooth/Wi-Fi
Quad Band/No
CDMA/No
CDMA/No
CDMA/No
CDMA/No
CDMA/No
Dual Band/GSM+CDMA
Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA
No/No/No
No/No/No
Yes/Yes/No
Yes/Yes/No
Yes/Yes/EVDO Rev.0
Yes/Yes/No
Android OS v4.0
BREW
BREW
Brew 3.1.5
Brew 3.1
Android OS v2.3
Android OS v2.3
Frequency/Dual SIM GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating
Price in Rs.
www.mymobile.co.in
Yes/Yes
No/No
No/No
No/No
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/No/No
Bar/No/No
Bar/No/No
Bar/No/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
82
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
13,000
1,100
1,500
1,650
2,289
3,199
5,199
APRIL 2015 I 89
MYGUIDE CDMA
CDMA
MODELS
CDMA
CDMA
PARAMETERS MTS Duet II
Blackberry 8530
Moto G
HTC Desire 516 C
BlackBerry Curve CDMA 9350
HTC Desire XC
HTC Desire 700 C
Dimension (mm)
116.36 x 61.7 x 12.7
109 x 60 x 13.9
129.9 x 65.9 x 11.6
140 x 72 x 9.7
109 x 60 x 11
119.5x 62.3 x 9.4
145.5 x 72 x 10.3
Weight (grams)
NA
105
143
160
99
107
150
Model
10/NA
4.5/252
24/NA
9/220
NA
NA/NA
8/338
Screen (colours)/Size (inch)
262,14/4.0
65,536/NA
16million/4.5
16million/5.0
NA/2.44
16million/4.0
16million/5.0
Inbuilt/Expandable memory
120MB/32GB
256MB/32GB
8GB/No
4GB/32GB
512MB/32GB
4GB/32GB
8GB/64GB
Talktime/Standby (hours)
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Camera/Flash/Video
3.2MP/No/Yes
2.0MP/NA/Yes
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
Phonebook Capacity
Sahred
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Frequency/Dual SIM
Dual Band/GSM+CDMA
CDMA/No
CDMA/N0
Quad Band/GSM+CDMA
CDMA/No
Yes/Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes/No
Yes/Yes/1xEV-DO
Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA
Yes/Yes/No
Yes/Yes/HSDPA
Yes/Yes/HSPA
Android OS v2.3
BlackBerry OS
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.2
BlackBerry OS7
Android OS v4.1
Android OS v4.1
Bluetooth/Wi-Fi
GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY
Dual Band/GSM+CDMA Dual Band/GSM+CDMA
Yes/Yes
Yes/No
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/No
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/No/Yes
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/No/Yes
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
NR
NR
NR
76
NR
NR
84
5,648
12,500
13,490
12,000
17,250
18,190
18,300
Burn test Rating
Price in Rs.
CDMA
TABLET
TABLET
MODELS
CDMA
CDMA
PARAMETERS
APPLE
Desire 816
HTC Desire 600 C
HTC One Dual SIM
HTC One (E8)
iPad Mini Wi-Fi
iPad Mini Wi-Fi with retina display
Dimension (mm)
156.6 x 78.7 x 7.9
134.8 x 67 x 9.26
137.4 x 68.2 x 10.4
146.4 x 70.6 x 9.4
200 x 134.7 x 7.2
200 x 134.7 x 7.5
200 x 134.7 x 7.2
Weight (grams)
165
130
143
160
308
331
312
21/737
11.4/539
27/500
14/271
NA/NA
NA/NA
NA/NA
Screen (colours)/Size (inch)
16million/5.5
16million/4.5
16.7million/4.7
16million/5.0
16 million/7.9
16 million/7.9
16 million/7.9
Inbuilt/Expandable memory
8GB/128GB
8GB/64GB
32GB/No
16GB/128GB
16,32,64GB/No
16,32,64/128GB/No
16,32,64GB/No
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Camera/Flash/Video
13.0MP/Yes/Yes
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
4.0MP/Yes/Yes
13.0MP/Yes/Yes
5.0 MP/No/Yes
5.0 MP/No/Yes
5.0 MP/No/Yes
Phonebook Capacity
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
NA
NA
NA
Quad Band/CDMA
NA/No
NA/No
Quad Band/No
Model
Talktime/Standby (hours)
Bluetooth/Wi-Fi
Frequency/Dual SIM GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating
Price in Rs. 90 I APRIL 2015
Dual Band/GSM+CDMA Dual Band/GSM+CDMA Quad Band/CDMA+GSM
iPad Mini W-Fii+3G
Yes/Yes/HSPA+
No/No/No
No/No/No
Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA
Android OS v4.1
Android OS v4.1
Android OS v4.1
Android OS v4.4
iOS 7
iOS 7
iOS 7
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
No/No
No/No
No/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
84
NR
NR
82
86
NR
NR
24,000
24,000
36,000
39,000
21,900/27,900/33,900
28,900/35,900/42,900/49,900
29,900/35,900/41,900
Yes/Yes/HSPA
Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA
MYMOBILE
MYGUIDE TABLET
TABLET
MODELS
TABLET
APPLE
PARAMETERS
KARBONN
LAVA
MICROMAX
iPad Mini Wi-Fi+3G with retina display
iPad Air Wi-Fi
iPad Air W-Fii+3G
A34 TA-FONE HD
A37 TA-FONE HD
Ivory Tab 702
Canvas P666
Dimension (mm)
200 x 134.7 x 7.5
241.2 x 185.7 x 9.4
241.2 x 185.7 x 9.4
197 x 124 x 12.3
197 x 124 x 12.3
194 X 120.5 X 10.8
194 X 120.5 X 10.8
Weight (grams)
331
652
662
335
335
360
311
Model
Talktime/Standby (hours) Screen (colours)/Size (inch)
NA/NA
NA/NA
NA/NA
8/240
8/240
NA/NA
NA/NA
16 million/7.9
16 million/9.7
16 million/9.7
16million/7.0
262,144/7.0
16milliom/7.0
16milliom/8.0
16,32,64GB/No
16,32,64GB/No
4GB/32GB
4GB/32GB
4GB/32GB
8GB/32GB
Inbuilt/Expandable memory 16,32,64/128GB/No Bluetooth/Wi-Fi
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Camera/Flash/Video
5.0 MP/No/Yes
5.0 MP/No/Yes
5.0 MP/No/Yes
2.0MP/No/Yes
2.0MP/Yes/Yes
2.0MP/No/Yes
5.0MP/No/Yes
Phonebook Capacity
NA
NA
NA
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Frequency/Dual SIM GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY
NA/No
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
No/No/No
No/No/No
Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA
Yes/Yes/No
Yes/Yes/HSDPA
Yes/Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes/HSPA
iOS 7
iOS 7
iOS 7
Android OS v4.0
Android OS v4.1
Android OS v4.1
Android OS v4.4
Quad Band/No
No/No
No/No
No/No
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/No
Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
7,200
8,500
8,700
10,500
Burn test Rating
Price in Rs.
Tri Band/GSM+GSM Tri Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM
37,900/44,900/51,900/58,900
31,900/37,900/43,900 39,900/45,900/51,900
TABLET
TABLET
MODELS
TABLET
LENOVO
PARAMETERS Model
SAMSUNG
Yoga 8
Yoga Tab 2 8.0
Galaxy Tab 3 Neo
Galaxy Tab 4 231
Galaxy Tab 4 331
Galaxy Tab 4 531
Galaxy Tab S 705
Dimension (mm)
213.3 x 114.78 x 7.62
210 x 149 x 7
193.4 x 116.4 x 9.7
186.9 x 107.9 x 9
210 x 124 x 7.9
243.4 x 176.4 x 7.9
212.8 x 125.6 x 6.6
Weight (grams)
401
419
322
276
320
487
345.7
18/NA
18/324
20/NA
10/-
-/-
-/-
-/432
Screen (colours)/Size (inch)
16million/8.0
16million/8.0
16million/7.0
16million/7.0
16milliom/8.0
16million/10.1
16million/8.4
Inbuilt/Expandable memory
16GB/32GB
16GB/64GB
NA/32GB
8GB/32GB
16GB/64GB
16GB/64GB
8GB/128GB
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Camera/Flash/Video
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
VGA/No/Yes
3.15/MP/No/Yes
3.15MP/No/Yes
3.15MP/No/Yes
8.0MP/No/Yes
Phonebook Capacity
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Shared
Frequency/Dual SIM
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
Talktime/Standby (hours)
Bluetooth/Wi-Fi
GPRS/EDGE/3G
Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA
Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating
Price in Rs.
www.mymobile.co.in
Yes/Yes/HSPA
Yes/Yes/HSPA
Yes/Yes/HSPA
Yes/Yes/HSPA+/LTE
Android OS v4.2
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.2
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.4
Yes/No
Yes/No
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
10,599
17,900
23,500
30,498
37,800
88 19,500
20,999
APRIL 2015 I 91
MYGUIDE LIFESTYLE
LIFESTYLE
MODELS
TABLET
CDMA
PARAMETERS Galaxy Tab S 805
Galaxy Note Pro
Xperia Tablet Z
Racer Sport Classic
Meridiist GMT Stainless Steel/Black PVD
Racing Carbon
Link
Dimension (mm)
247.3 x 177.3 x 6.6
204 x 295.6 x 7.95
266 x 172 x 6.9
118 x 64.35 x 15.9
112 x 46 x 15.5
118 x 64.35 x 15.9
118 x 67 x 16.6
Weight (grams)
-
753
495
160
155
160
200
Model
-/432
54/NA
10/890
3/220
7/392
3/220
6.5/336
Screen (colours)/Size (inch)
16million/10.0
16million/12.2
16million/10.1
16 million/3.5
262,144/1.9
16million/3.5
16million/3.5
Inbuilt/Expandable memory
16GB/64GB
32GB/64GB
16GB/64GB
8GB/32GB
NA/NA
8GB/32GB
256MB/8GB
Talktime/Standby (hours)
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/No
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Camera/Flash/Video
3.15MP/No/Yes
8.0MP/Yes/Yes
8.1/Yes/Yes
5.0MP/No/Yes
No/No/No
5.0MP/No/Yes
5.0MP/No/Yes
Phonebook Capacity
Shared
Shared
-
NA
1,000
NA
Shared
Frequency/Dual SIM
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
NA/No
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
Yes/Yes/HSPA
Yes/Yes/HSPA+
No/No/HSPA+
Yes/Yes/HSUPA
Yes/Yes/No
Yes/Yes/HSUPA
Yes/Yes/HSDPA
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.4
Android OS v4.1
Android OS v2.3
NA
Android v2.3
Android OS v2.2
Bluetooth/Wi-Fi
GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating
Price in Rs.
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/No
Yes/No
Yes/No
Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/No/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
44,500
54,999
40,000
Starting 2,06,000+
Starting 2,85,000+
3,15,000
Starting 3,27s,000+
LIFESTYLE
LIFESTYLE
MODELS
LIFESTYLE
CDMA
PARAMETERS Model
Racer Prestige Gold Meridiist Steel & Gold
APPLE Ascent
Constellation Ayxta
Ascent Ti
Constellation Quest
Signature
Dimension (mm)
118 x 64.35 x 15.9
112 x 46 x 15.5
117 x 46 x 19
100 x 48 x 18
115.5 x 49 x 13.1
116 x 60.8 x 12.7
130 x 42 x 13
Weight (grams)
160
155
148
174
160
165 to 185
166
3/220
7/392
4.8/300
6/300
5/300
7.5/349
3.5/300
Screen (colours)/Size (inch)
16million/3.5
262,144/1.9
16million/2.0
16million/2.4
16million/2.0
16million/2.46
16million/2.0
Inbuilt/Expandable memory
8GB/32GB
NA/NA
8GB/32GB
100MB/8GB
4GB/No
8GB/32GB
4GB/No
Yes/Yes
Yes/No
Yes/No
Yes/No
Yes/No
Yes/Yes
Yes/No
Camera/Flash/Video
5.0MP/No/Yes
No/No/No
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
3.15MP/Yes/Yes
3.15MP/Yes/Yes
5.0MP/Yes/Yes
No/No/No
Phonebook Capacity
NA
1,000
2,000
2,000
1,500
Shared
2,000
Frequency/Dual SIM
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
Quad Band/No
GPRS/EDGE/3G
Yes/Yes/HSUPA
Yes/Yes/No
Yes/No/No
Yes/Yes/No
Yes/Yes/R99
Yes/Yes/HSDPA
Yes/Yes/R99
Operating System
Android OS v2.3
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Yes/No
Yes/No
Yes/Yes
Yes/No
Yes/No
Yes/Yes
Yes/No
Bar/Yes/No
Bar/No/No
Bar/No/No
Clamshell/No/No
Bar/No/No
Bar/No/Yes
Bar/No/No
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
4,55,000
Starting 5,45,000+
Starting 2,89,000+
Starting 3,47,000+
Starting 3,75,000+
Starting 3,90,000+
Starting 7,28,000+
Talktime/Standby (hours)
Bluetooth/Wi-Fi
Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating
Price in Rs. 92 I APRIL 2015
MYMOBILE
Software
SMARTAPP S News in Shorts Crisp news summaries
W
e might be getting more news on our devices than ever before but reading it all can be a bit of a problem because, hey, we are getting more news on our
devices than ever before. Which is why apps like News in Shorts are such a good idea for those who feel overwhelmed by all the news around them. The idea of the app is very simple – it just takes the major news items and shrinks them into what it calls crisp summaries spanning about sixty words. It is very simple and incredibly convenient for those who do not want to wade through oceans of text. You can flick through different stories, bookmark them and share them over mail or different social networks. Each news item is basically shrunk into an image and a 60 word summary. No, we could not see any way of customising the subjects or categories of news items, but given the fact that each item is so short, we do not see this being a
Rating
major issue. A very good app for those who want to catch up with the latest in a hurry. Available from: Google Play, iTunes App Store (Free)
The Disney Side Bringing out your Disney side
I
Rating
f Fancy yourself as a Disney film character? Well, the Disney Side app allows you to indulge the Disney side of yourself by letting you impose your face on
a Disney character. That might not sound too special as such things have been attempted before but what makes the Disney Side app distinctly different is just how well the concept has been implemented. The number of characters is limited, but the app allows you to either access the camera directly from within the app or to pick a picture and then fit it into the frame, which is basically the outline of the character’s face. The trick is to place the eyes and mouth of the subject at the appropriate place in the shot and then let the app take over. We ended up with excellent likenesses to members from Pirates of the Caribbean, Frozen, the Star Wars universe and some Disney villains, including Captain Hook and Jaffar, complete with blinking eyes. Yes, we wish there were more character options, but even in its current version, this is a terrific app for Disney fans. Available from: iTunes
App Store (Free)
94 | april 2015
MYMOBILE
Hop Email Messenger Mail in chat mode
T
here are a number of e-mail clients and apps out there, but most of them end up doing pretty much the same thing, with a few interface touches
here and there. What makes the Hop Email Messenger
Software
SMARTAPP S
stand out is its attempt to blend the best of e-mail and chat. Unlike other e-mail apps, it does not worry about subjects, but simply divides all your email into active conversations and everything else. For in this section, which displays mails you send and receive from people with whom you communicate most often, all your mail is displayed just as it would be in a chat or messaging client – the app just focuses on showing you the sender and the first few lines of the mail, rather than the subject, giving a very messenger like feel. You can make groups, sketch, take photos and do a whole lot more right from within the app, which is actually what Hop is all about. Rating
Making mail more conversational and messenger like. Available from: Google Play, iTunes App Store (Free) team@mymobile.co.in
Selfiegram All about selfies
I
Rating
f Selfies are the rage these days so it is hardly surprising that we are seeing a number of apps that are dedicated to them. And one of the most
interesting of them is Selfiegram, which comes from the developers who gave us apps like Instaplace, Instaweather and Instafood. The app is incredibly simple to use – just launch it and well, take a selfie. That done, you can add a number of effects to it or even multiply it into grids of different sizes. You can compress several shots into one compact collage, jazz it up with effects and of course, share it with your friends and followers on differen social networks in a matter of seconds. Yes, we have seen apps that do more, but none quite do it with the sheer simplicity that Selfiegram does it. You can go from taking the snap to sharing it literally in a matter of seconds and the special effects and filters are also a more funky collection than one gets in ‘proper’ image editing apps. The result? An app that we think is a must for all selfie lovers. Available from: Google Play, iTunes App Store (Free)
www.mymobile.co.in
april 2015 | 95
First Look
justin
Lenovo A7000 A sound investment
A
fter the success of the Lenovo A6000, Lenovo has announced its successor, the A7000. The device builds on the core
strengths of the A6000 and comes with a larger 5.5 inch HD display powered by a MediaTek True8Core processor with support for 4G LTE, 2 GB RAM and 8 GB storage (expandable using a memory card). It also has a 8.0-megapixel rear camera and a 5.0-megapixel front facing camera. But what makes it really special is its sound - Lenovo claims that it is the world’s first smartphone to feature Dolby Atmos technology, which makes sounds more vivid and clear. It will run on Android Lollipop 5.0 and comes with a large 2,900mAh battery module. Other features include Dual-SIM, 3G and 4G LTE connectivity in addition to GPS, Bluetooth v4.0 and Wi-Fi support. Quite a proposition, it is expected to arrive in the market in April at a surprisingly low price. After all, it is the successor of the most affordable 4G smartphone in the country. n
Xiaomi Mi Pad Staggering specs, stunning price
X
iaomi surprised everyone when it announced the Mi Pad in the Indian market at the launch of the
Redmi 2. The tablet comes with a 7.9 inch IPS display with a staggering 2048 x 1536 resolution. A mere 8.9 mm thin, it is powered by a 2.2 GHz Quad-core Nvidia Tegra K1 processor, has 2 GB RAM, 16 GB storage (expandable via a memory card up to 128 GB) and runs on Android KitKat 4.4 OS, with Xiaomi’s MIUI interface which has been tweaked for tablets. The tablet which comes with staggeringly high benchmark scores has an 8.0 megapixel rear camera and a 5.0 megapixel front facing camera. It houses a 6,700 mAh Li-Ion Polymer battery and connectivity options include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and WLAN. We left the best for last - you can get all this for just Rs. 12,999. And it is not being sold through the flash sale model but will be available on open sale on Flipkart from March 24. n
96 | april 2015
MYMOBILE
InFocus M2 Fighting on price
U
S based InFocus has launched its smartphone M2 and has surprised everyone with its price.
Manufactured by Foxconn, the world’s largest original
FirstLook
JustIn
equipment mobile phone manufacturer, the device come with very good build quality and has a ceramic matte finish. It runs on Android KitKat 4.4 and has dual 8.0-megapixel cameras (one on the front and another on the back) along with dual flash with front diffused LED for brighter selfies and super bright LED back flash for other photos. The smartphone is powered by 1.3 GHz quad core processor, comes with 1 GB RAM and has a 4.2 inch display with 1280 x 768 resolution. Storage stands at 8 GB and can be expanded, while battery stands at 2,010 mAh. The price? A mere Rs. 4,999. Now that makes it one of the most affordable smartphones around. n
Samsung Galaxy E7 Samsung turns on the style
S
amsung has launched its E series of devices to meet the
expanded using a memory card. And it comes with the typical
challenge posed by new brands that are offering high specced
metallic accents that are part of Samsung’s new design philosophy,
devices at relatively affordable prices. And the most powerful of
as well, as a 2,950 mAh battery. It is available in the market at
the E series so far is the E7, which comes with a 5.5 inch Super
Rs. 23,000. n
AMOLED 720p display, and is powered by a quad core processor
team@mymobile.co.in
backed up by 2 GB of RAM. It comes with a hybrid Dual-SIM that allows the second SIM slot to be used as a microSD card slot. The phone has 13-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and 5-megapixel front camera which can be operated by gestures or by voice commands. Storage stands at 16 GB and can be
www.mymobile.co.in
april 2015 | 97
Expert Speaks
Vantage Point
The Online vs Offline Retail Battle T he retail industry is undergoing a dramatic shift with alternate channels making their presence felt. This
has a marked influence in the Telecom and IT sector,
with consumers being spoilt for choices by all these alternate channels on price and availability. Alternate channels constitute of e-commerce players like Amazon and Flipkart, and TV retailers like Naaptol and Star CJ.
India are venturing into this sector too.
2. Stores like Flipkart and Snapdeal work on the marketplace model i.e. they do not keep inventories with themselves, and sell products to consumers from various vendors registered on their website. This gives them an edge in pricing.
As e-commerce volumes increase, conventional retailers are
3. Physically exploring thousands of products is difficult, but
getting concerned about their shrinking market. For an average
it is feasible online. Online stores provides a huge range of
consumer nothing but sophistication and price matters and if
choices from various brands, manufacturers, colors, sizes
the Internet can provide them, then they will spare no thought in
to product types.
breaking their long time loyalty with the neighborhood retailer.
Advantage, alternate channels
Challenges for alternate channels 1. Indians have traditionally brought products after
1. Until 2010, there were around 200-plus e-commerce
experiencing the product with a live demo or from word
websites in India. Today the number has gone
of mouth. This is one gap that online stores can never fill.
beyond a few thousand, thanks to exponential
Call it an age-old practice or skepticism, consumers like to
increase in number of Internet users and they are increasing every day. Entrepreneurs across
physically inspect a product before spending money. 2. Products bought online take their own time to reach you. So if you are hungry or if you have lost your phone you will certainly not go online, because you need them instantly. However fast logistics get, websites will never be able to compete with traditional retail stores in this regard. 3. People are ready to spare energy (to visit store) and spend extra cash for a smiling face and a pleasant experience, something which a computer algorithm cannot provide. Indians like a salesperson explaining details about the product. Many times, friends and family are also involved in the decision making process of buying. Some might argue that there will be co-existence of alternate and conventional channels in the future but I think it is plain hogwash – one of them has to struggle in the future. Traditional retail stores seem to be a likable choice as per the current scenario. As for the consumers, they can keep their fingers crossed and take advantage of the competition. n Rishi Mehta COO – Krish Telecommerce Inc. Sujoy Chourasia CMO – Krish Telecommerce Inc. (Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the stance of the magazine)
98 | april 2015
MYMOBILE
RNI REG NO./DELENG/2005/15033 DL (ND) - 11/6100/2015-16-17 (Posting Date 19-20 of every month) Publishing Date- 15-03-15