Today’s Unpacked event was all about Samsung’s new Notes and its Galaxy Gear, but there’s good news for folks with older hardware. Turns out, Android 4.3 is coming to the Galaxy S III and Galaxy S 4 in October along with the update that’ll add Galaxy Gear functionality to the GS 4. Let’s hope none of the Nexus gremlins made their way into Samsung’s Galaxy.
Sony has just announced the Xperia Z1, the company’s latest flagship phone at the IFA 2013. It has a 5-inch (1920 x 1080 pixels) Triluminos Display with with X-Reality engine that would offer rich, natural colours, powered by 2.2 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor and runs on Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean). It has a 20.7-megapixel rear camera with Sony G lens with a 27mm wide angle f/2.0 aperture custom 1/2.3″ Sony Exmor RS image sensor, BIONZ image processing engine, , 1080p video recording and a 2-megapixel 1080p front-facing camera. It is 8.5mm thick and weighs 170 grams.
It has IP55 / IP58 rating for dust and water resistance. It comes with range of camera applications including Social live to broadcast live from the phone to Facebook, Info-eye which is a visual search application that offers info about landmarks, books and more from the live camera, the Timeshift burst mode takes 61 images in 2 seconds before and after you press the shutter and the AR effecsts act as a overlay a selection of fun, customizable animation using Sony’s AR augmented reailty tech.
It comes pre-loaded with integrated PlayMemories Online, a cloud-based image and video service, All-Sync feature that offers unlimited instant auto uploads.
Sony Xperia Z1 specifications
The Sony Xperia Z Ultra comes in Black, White and Purple colors. It would go on sale globally from September 2013. No word on pricing yet.
The Xperia Z1 Honami had been leaked several times. Sony released the final teaser of the phone recently, ahead of the September 4th launch. Now more images of the phone has appeared in a Chinese site that are more clearer and offers more information about the device.
The phone has a sealed back similar to the Xperia Z and the Z Ultra. It has Sony and the Xperia branding on the back and NFC.
On the back of the phone, it has the camera details such as 1/2.3″ sensor and 20.7MP resolution etched along with the G Lens branding. Since some leaked images did not have this, it is not clear if the final version would have these details.
There is a large speaker grill on the bottom.
There is a power button, volume rocker, dedicated camera button on the right side. On the other side there are the slots and a dock connector. The official launch is few days away, where we will get to know the complete details of the device.
LG Optimus G Pro was LG’s first Full HD phone which was announced way back in January but only recently launched. The Lenovo K900 was also announced in January and has been available since June in India.
Both the phones are similar in the fact that both of them have a 5.5inch Full HD display. The internals are completely different with the G Pro being powered by a Snapdragon 600 Processor while the Lenovo K900 is powered by Intel Clover Trail dual-core processor.
Lets check out how these phones compete against each other.
Design, Build Quality
The LG Optimus G Pro has a solid glass front and back supported by a solid and heavy metal rim at the center. The Lenovo K900 has an all metal build with a rectangular slab design. The Optimus G Pro is shorter, less wide but considerably thicker than the Lenovo K900 despite the same 5.5inch display. It also weighs 10 grams more than the K900.
On the front of the phones, we have the display, above which we have the earpiece and front cameras along with ambient and proximity sensors on the right side on the G Pro, while the front camera is on the left side of the earpiece on the K900. The earpiece is present on the top edge on the G Pro.
On the Optimus G Pro, we have a physical home button surrounded by LED light with capacitive touch keys on either side, but on the K900, there is no physical key, but all capacitive touch keys with a unique home icon.
The positioning of keys are similar with only the power lock key on the right side on both the phones while on the K900, we have a microSIM card slot also.
The bottom of Optimus G Pro has the micro USB port and the microphone while the K900 has a 3.5mm audio jack in addition to the microUSB port and microphone.
On the left side, we have the volume rocker and the customizable Q-slide key on the G Pro while we have just the volume rocker on the K900.
The top of Optimus G Pro has the 3.5mm audio jack, IR blaster and secondary microphone while there is nothing at the top of K900.
Moving to the back side, we find a lot of difference in terms of design and materials used. On both the phones, there is a 13MP camera along with single LED flash in G Pro and dual LED flash in K900. The secondary microphone is right next to the camera on the K900.
The Optimus G Pro has a removable battery cover and beneath the cover, we find a hot-swappable microSD card slot and microSIM slot.
Overall, the LG Optimus G Pro and K900 have a good finish and solid build quality, but because of the glassy material the Optimus G Pro feels slightly slippery while the K900 feels quite solid because of the rectangular build, but its big footprint makes it tough to hold in the hand.
Display
Display is where things are similar with both the devices sporting a 5.5 inch Full HD display of 401ppi pixel density. The LG Optimus G Pro has a Tru IPS+ display while the K900 has a regular IPS display. Both the displays are sharp, crisp and have amazing colors. The Lenovo K900 has slightly better viewing angles and the colors are much truer in the K900 than on the G Pro. The G Pro seems to have higher brightness, but it looks slightly over-saturated and unreal when compared with K900. The Lenovo K900 has a slightly better display in terms of true color reproduction.
Hardware and Performance
The major differentiating factor between the two phones is the processor – LG Optimus G Pro is powered by a 1.7 GHz QuadCore Snapdragon 600 SoC, has 2GB RAM and Adreno 320 GPU while the Lenovo K900 is powered by a 2 GHz DualCore Intel Atom Z2580, has 2GB RAM and graphics are taken care by PowerVR SGX544 GPU.
The Optimus G Pro has 16/32GB variants(we have the 16GB variant) while the K900 has just 16GB internal storage. Out of the 16GB, Optimus G Pro has 10.11 GB available while the Lenovo K900 has 4.68GB for apps out of which 1.17GB is available and 9.77GB user accessible memory. LG Optimus G Pro has a microSD card slot of expansion of storage which is missing in the K900.
Out of 2GB in both the phones, the G Pro has around 1781MB usable RAM while the K900 has 1.9GB usable and G Pro has 1.2GB RAM free when the device is idle,but the K900 has just 1GB RAM free when the device is idle.
The faster processor and more RAM give the LG Optimus G Pro a big upper hand in terms of performance. Both the phones are super fast and you would hardly notice the difference in day to day usage.
In benchmarks, the measure of performance could not be gauged as Optimus G Pro beat the K900 in few benchmarks like BaseMark X HD(OnScreen), GFX-Bench 2.7 T-Rex HD(OnScreen), LinPack(Single and Multi), Vellamo 2(HTML5) and Quadrant while the K900 beat the G Pro in AnTutu, Vellama 2(Metal), Sunspider Javascript, NenaMark 2 and Basemark X HD(Offscreen).
Camera
Both the phones have a 13MP camera at the back. The Optimus G Pro has a 2.1MP camera at the front while the K900 has a 2MP camera at the front. Both the phones can record 1080p videos at 30fps with stereo sound from both the cameras.
The camera UI is different on both the phones with some skinning from the manufacturers. Both the phones have separate screens for photos and videos. The K900 has a lot of filters compared to the G Pro. Various shooting modes like HDR, Panorama are found in both the devices. In terms of image clarity, the Optimus G Pro was much better with less noise, more details, better contrast and true colors.
Software features
The LG Optimus G Pro runs on Android 4.1.2 and has lot of LG customizations like different UI elements and features like Q-Apps. These Q-apps include browser, calculator, memos and can be placed anywhere on the screen(even inside certain apps). A maximum of 2 Q-apps can be opened at a time. In addition to that, LG also given the G Pro a note taking app that reminds us of Galaxy Note 2′s S-Note app. The G Pro also has an option to support single handed usage in apps like messaging, dialer. Any such customization is absent in the K900 and we get only skinned version of the basic apps. In terms of software, both the LG Optimus G Pro is ahead of the K900 with lots of software goodies.
Gaming
Gaming on the Optimus G Pro is excellent and it is not that smooth in the K900. The Intel Atom processor seems to undermine the performance of the device and there are occasional glitches in the games. The fluidic smoothness of the G Pro is missing in the K900.
Battery and Connectivity
The Optimus G Pro has a 3140mAh battery while the K900 has 2500mAh battery. In terms of battery life, the bigger battery in the G Pro is definitely better.
In terms of connectivity, both the devices are equipped with features like WiFi, Bluetooth, 3G, WiFi Direct and microUSB(MHL) connectivity. NFC and IR blaster are exclusive to G Pro. Also G Pro has support for WiFi 802.11 ac which is not there in K900.
Conclusion
LG Optimus G Pro is very good device overall with great internals and good build while the K900 is an equally, if not better built device, but is slightly on the other side of the line in terms of support for apps as it runs on Intel processor.
The LG Optimus G Pro retails for ₹39,000, while the Lenovo K900 retails for ₹26,000 and the huge difference in the price is unjustifiable. The LG Optimus G Pro offers a better gaming experience, better performance, better camera and has better software features while the relatively cheaper Lenovo K900 is a better built metal device with an excellent display.
Motorola is getting in on the Developer Edition trend too. The Moto X’s “ways to buy” page has been updated to include a version of the flagship handset with an unlockable bootloader and 32GB of storage, as noticed by Droid Life. What’s more, the dev edition will sport a custom look with a gloss black face, white crosshatch battery cover and “DEVELOPER EDITION” engraved on the lower back portion. You might be able to achieve similar results yourself with the Moto Maker, though. It’s also worth noting that the Moto X was available with the aforementioned unlocked bootloader on Sprint, U.S. Cellular and T-Mobile, but perhaps this could open up the unlocked love for Verizon and AT&T. We’ve reached out to Motorola for pricing and availability info and will update this post if we hear back.
BlackBerry has started rolling out BlackBerry OS 10 version 10.0.10.85 OTA update to BlackBerry Z10 that brings several improvements and enhancements, including several improvements for better app performance, improved low-light imaging and optimizations for better battery life.
This update includes
The Over-the-Air (OTA) update is about 150 MB. BlackBerry Z10 users can get the update from Settings> Software Updates> Check for Updates>. It would gradually roll out globally over coming weeks.
BlackBerry is all set to launch it’s latest BlackBerry 10 OS running smartphone- the BlackBerry Z10 in India on February 25 at an event in Mumbai. The smartphone which was launched last month on January 30 along with the new, built-from-scratch BlackBerry 10 OS is already available in the UK, Canada, UAE and some of the European markets.
The response for the device as well as the new operating system from the users has been quite good till now but the only major concern we have with the device is it’s pricing.
It is being speculated that the BlackBerry Z10 would be launched at a price of about Rs.39,000 in India which seems quite steep considering that BlackBerry 10 is a new OS and other smartphones running Android OS offer much better specifications at this price point. The smartphone is already available in some of grey markets at a price of upwards of Rs.50,000, so if you’re looking for exclusivity, you might as well grab one right now!
To quickly remind you about the specifications of the BlackBerry Z10, the smartphone features a 4.2-inch display with 1280 x 768 pixel resolution amounting to a pixel density of 356 pixels per inch. The BlackBerry Z10 is powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core processor paired with 2GB of RAM and the smartphones comes with 16GB of on-board storage which can be expanded using a micro-SD card. The smartphone houses an 8 megapixel camera at the back, a 2 megapixel camera the front and packs-in a 1,850mAh battery.
Though BlackBerry 10 doesn’t need any BlackBerry data plan, but Aircel had already announced that it would be offering the Z10 in India and we expect some other mobile operators to support the device as well.
The BlackBerry Z10 would take-on the likes of Android OS running HTC One X+ and the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 as well as the Windows Phone 8 based Nokia Lumia 920.
BlackBerry launched the Z10, the first BlackBerry 10 few days back, and here we have the unboxing of the phone. The phone has a 4.2 inch multi-touch IPS LCD display at a resolution of 1280 by 768 at 356 PPI pixel density. The Z10 is powered by a dual-core 1.5 GHz dual-core processor. It has 2GB RAM, 16GB internal memory and comes with a microSD expansion slot.
The box has a large Z10 branding. The phone lies at the top, and the box contents are present at the bottom compartment. The box contents include a micro USB cable, wall charger, 1800 mAh battery, Safety information booklet, user manual, headphones and cleaning cloth. There was also a BlackBerry leather holster case in the box, but the box contents may vary based on the market.
The phone weighs just 137 grams and at the same time feels sold in hand. It is 9 mm thick. There is a 2MP font-facing camera with 720p HD video recording.The phone has complete gesture interface with BlackBerry Flow UX and the BlackBerry Hub that offers messages and conversations and messages from the social networking sites at a single place.It also has quick settings toggle.It feature a 8MP auto focus camera with LED flash at the back. It has 5x digital zoom and is capable of recording 1080p Full HD videos. The phone has 4G LTE / HSPA+ wiht global roaming support, Dual Band 802.11 WiFi a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 , NFC and GPS.
Samsung Galaxy Note 2 has received a price cut and is now available for ₹34900. Samsung launched the Galaxy Note 2 at a price tag of ₹39,900 last September. The Samsung Galaxy S3 and the Galaxy S Duos got a price cut earlier today, and the first Samsung Galaxy Note got a price cut back in December.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is the company’s recent flagship device, and it packs a 5.5-inch (1,280 x 720 pixels) HD Super AMOLED display, 1.6 GHz quad-core Exynos processor and runs on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean). It also has a new S Pen and comes with S Pen specific apps such as S Note, S Planner, Email with hand-writing integration and S Pen Keeper.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 received the Android 4.1.2 OTA update that brought several new features including Notification Panel, new Notification Toggles, Option to disable Multi Window, option to disable Brightness Slider from the notification bar and more.
Online retailer Flipkart has already started selling the Galaxy Note 2 at the new price.
The HTC One X launched at the Mobile World Congress 2012 and was heralded as one of the most beautifully designed smartphones ever, while the Nokia Lumia 920, known for its own design too, was launched recently at Nokia World on the 5th of September. Both these devices share several traits and vie for the consumer’s wallets being placed in the same price bracket. So, which will come out on top?
First up, we talk about the design, build quality and the ergonomics of both these devices. The HTC One X has a striking design and was one of the first phone to be a major departure from HTC’s previously bland design philosophy. The One X brought some curves back to the smartphone game and was widely regarded as one of the best designed smartphone devices ever made. The Nokia Lumia 920 on the other hand is based on the Nokia fabula design that was launched with the Nokia N9 and resembles more of the Nokia Lumia 800. Both the phones are made of single piece unibody polycarbonate, machined to accommodate the screen and the other components. Both the One X and the Lumia 920 are well built and well designed, but the differences arise only when we consider the ergonomics.
The One X comes at 8.9 mm thickness and weighs 130g while the Nokia Lumia 920 comes at 10.7mm thickness and weighs a whopping 185g. There is some justification to the weight as the phone packs a lot of technology, but feel wise, it’s not as sleek as the HTC One X and hence, even with a design flaw of the power button at the top of the device, the One X wins our favor in terms of design, build and more importantly ergonomics.
The display is an integral part of any smartphone and these two are no doubt among the best smartphone displays to have ever landed in the market. The One X has a 4.7 inch 16:9 1280×720 SLCD2 screen and was widely regarded as the best displays around the time it launched. The display is closely laminated to the screen and the striking colours and deep blacks are a great advantage to the One X’s interface. Likewise, the Lumia 920 has a 4.5 inch 16:10 15:9 1280×768 LCD screen with a ClearBlack polariser coating and a laminated screen. The colours are very rich and the pixel density a bit higher than the One X. The blacks are very deep and gel with the interface very well, making it impossible to differentiate with the black bezel. The display also packs a lot more features, like the PureMotion HD+ with 60Hz refresh rate that removes motion blur from the display, the software level sharpening along with CBD for outdoor visibility, the high sensitivity for usage with gloves and the new v2 oleo-phobic coating that massively reduces finger prints. There is just too many relevant features on the Lumia 920′s display that make the other displays look devoid of features. That way, the Lumia 920 easily wins out, for having one of the most versatile screens on any smartphone.
The internal hardware of these two devices are almost common except for the type of SoC used. The One X is a quad core 1.5 GHz Quad Core Nvidia Tegra 3 based phone with GeForce ULP graphics, while the Nokia Lumia 920 is a Dual core 1.5 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Plus MSM8960 based phone with Adreno 225 graphics. The Tegra 3 has a companion core to offload unimportant work loads. We are not quite sure if that really works because the battery life seems to be terrible anyways. On paper, the Tegra 3 should be ideally better, with more cores at same frequency, but the Krait architecture on the MSM8960 performs well enough to even beat the Tegra 3 in some benchmarks. The gaming performance though, completely goes to the Tegra 3, which is far superior in terms of quality and performance at similar resolution. And to top it off, exclusive games on the Tegrazone are a bonus. But both phones are very similar when it comes to casual day to day performance and there is nothing much to complain, really. Since Android JellyBean, the OS has been free from the inherent lag that scarred the earlier versions.
The cameras on both these phones are interesting. The One X was the first phone from HTC with a focus on the camera department making it somewhat special. The Image sense chip on the One X helps in a feature called Videopic, which means you can take a photo while recording a video simultaneously, and there was a lot of innovation with the interface too, which we much prefer over the bland Windows Phone camera interface. The camera is a 8 megapixel sensor with a f2.0 lens, supposedly letting you capture low light shots with ease, and there is software stabilisation for the video too. Good enough for a smartphone but the competition has proven to be better in our tests. The Galaxy S III and the iPhone 4S far outpace the One X in terms of camera performance and the Lumia 920 is no doubt ahead of the One X, with its PureView Optical image stabilisation for amazing low light performance in stills and non shaky video. The Lumia 920 has a f2.0 8.7 MP hybrid sensor and can record full HD 1080p video with HAAC mono audio.
It is interesting to note that both these devices have some kind of audio enhancements built into them in terms of hardware as well as software. The One X has beats audio while the Nokia Lumia 920 has Dolby Stereo. Both can be added as an enhancement while playing audio through supported earphones/headphones/speakers. While we believe this feature might excite strict audiophiles, we feel it is of not much use to the casual user. But it exists and we can just acknowledge its presence, let alone compare it.
And finally we get to the software part. As we usually say, this part is highly subjective and it depends on the user and his/her choice of the operating system in question. The One X runs on Android 4.1.1 JellyBean and the Windows Phone 8 OS is the one powering the Nokia Lumia 920. The One X has its own HTC blessed skin over it called the Sense 4+, which tries to do away with the excessive bling associated with Sense. The Nokia on the other hand comes with lots of exclusive apps as the differentiator, with its sprawling choices for mapping solutions, camera related apps and OS utilities, it offers the best Windows Phone experience out of the box. The One X too has some exclusive apps, but they lack finesse and variety.
Android 4.1.1 comes with major improvements such as project butter and Google Now, which is Google’s own voice based artificial intelligence assistant that can help you in a predictive manner, and it massively improves with time. And since it is Android, you get a lot of apps and games, unlike the Windows Phone ecosystem, in which the lack of apps is now considered a major negative. However it is indeed catching up fast, with great quality third party apps but it’s the first party apps that matter and they are still nowhere to be seen, apart from very widely used service like Twitter and FourSquare and some more.
I would like to say that the Nokia Lumia 920 and the HTC One X are very solid devices, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. In the end, it’s upto you to choose which goes best for you and your usage type. The One X might be good for people looking at a nice phone in the Android ecosystem, but only unless they don’t want the Galaxy S3 or other competing devices, but if you are looking at a top end Windows Phone, then the Lumia 920 is the phone to get.
With that said, all the above opinions are strictly ours and we would like to hear from you, on what device you think is the better of the two. So, do let us know your opinions in the comment section below!
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