Digital Indian Gov

It was not long when the US had decided to stop all services of Google to the smartphone brand Huawei. But today, there is news that the ban has been delayed for another three months, during which Huawei is expected to find another option. The existing users of Huawei will still have Google services on their phones until the temporarily extended license is over. Will this solve the problem though? Go here to know more!

Xiaomi has revealed that Redmi Note 7 will be replaced with Redmi Note 7S in India. Redmi Note 7 was launched only in February and will no longer be available in India anymore. However, the exact date of the phase-out of the phone has not been revealed yet. The Redmi Note 7S comes with an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor and Android Pir 9.0 update.

Honor is all set to launch a series of phones soon, which will be called the Honor 20 series smartphones on May 21. Days ahead of the launch, press renders have emerged that have revealed some specifications of the phone. The Honor 20 will come in a White gradient shade as well. Previously, it was revealed that the phone will come in two colours, Midnight Black and Sapphire Blue.

Samsung has announced its upcoming flagship smartphone, Galaxy Note 10 in January, and now, leaks have emerged that show that the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 will come with a vertical camera setup. This setup is available currently on the Galaxy A series. Additionally, the phone will come with a  64MP camera sensor as well. Another leak has also suggested that the phone will have a 4500 mAh battery for the Pro variant.

Vivo Z5x has been spotted and some important specifications have been leaked about the phone. Vivo Z5x has been certified by the 3C certification agency in China. Apparently, the phone will come in four variants: 4GB RAM + 64GB ROM, 6GB RAM + 64GB ROM, 6GB RAM + 128GB ROM, and 8GB RAM + 128GB ROM. Also, the phone will come with an 18 W charger in the box. There are two colors for this phone: Extreme Night Black and Phantom Black.

Infinix is planning to launch the Infinix S4 in India, which will be priced at Rs. 8,999. The phone is available in three colours, Nebula Blue, Twilight Purple, and Space Gray. The phone will be powered by an octa-core MediaTek Helio P22 processor, Android 9.0 Pie update, and a single 32 GB storage variant. Also, there is a triple camera setup on the phone with a quad-LED flash unit and a 4000 mAh battery as well.

. Top IPL 2019 Data Plans | Best IPL Prepaid Plans

All these prepaid plans on the list come with call and SMS benefits including data.

BSNL has announced a special cricket plan which comes with unlimited data and call benefits. Priced at Rs 499, the BSNL cricket plan comes with 1GB daily data benefit, unlimited voice calling, free 100 SMS per day and free Cricket SMS alerts for 90 days.

From Jio, you can go for the 2GB data plan to enjoy the upcoming IPL. At Rs 197 the plan offers daily 2GB data with unlimited internet post FUP at 64kbps for 28 days. The Jio 197 plan comes with free access to Hotstar, unlimited calls (local, STD calls and roaming) and free SMS.

This Vodafone-Idea plan is apt for live IPL experience. The plan comes with 2GB data per day priced at Rs 511. The plan also comes with unlimited calls, 100 SMS and access to live TV from irrespective of Vodafone and Idea for 84 days.

The next Jio plan apt for IPL comes with 3GB data per day. Priced at Rs 299, the plan offers daily 3GB data with unlimited internet post FUP at 64kbps for 28 days. The Jio 299 plan comes with free access to Hotstar, unlimited calls (local, STD calls and roaming) and free SMS.

This Airtel plan is the best fit for live IPL experience. The 249 Airtel plan comes with 2GB data per day priced at Rs 249. The plan also comes with unlimited calls, 100 SMS and access to Airtel TV for 28 days.

The second special BSNL cricket plan also comes with unlimited data and call benefits. Priced at Rs 199, this BSNL cricket plan comes with 1GB daily data benefit, unlimited voice calling, free 100 SMS per day and free Cricket SMS alerts for 28 days.

This Airtel plan offers some extra data. The 448 Airtel plan comes with 1.5GB data per day priced at Rs 448. The plan also comes with unlimited calls, 100 SMS and access to Airtel TV for 82 days.

The Mi 9 SE that was announced last month is currently available only in China. But that may change soon as the smartphone has been listed on Xiaomi Global's compliance page which hints at the company planning to expand its availability.

However, don't get your hopes high just yet as there are some other smartphones listed on this compliance page that never made it outside of China. But in the case of the Mi 9 SE, we have seen earlier evidence leading us to believe this one will.

There's no word from Xiaomi regarding the global availability of Mi 9 SE, so we will have to wait until more information comes in.

The Mi 9 SE is a toned down version of the Mi 9 and is the first smartphone to come with a Snapdragon 712 SoC. It has 6GB RAM and up to 128GB of storage in tow. Other specifications include a 5.97-inch Full-HD+ display, triple rear camera (48MP + 13MP + 8MP), and a 20MP front camera.

The Mi 9 SE features an in-display fingerprint scanner and packs a 3,070 mAh battery with 18W fast charging support.

This Holi, the box office turned Kesari, courtesy Akshay Kumar's recent release.

Based on the Battle of Saragarhi, Kesari is one of the most talked about movies of the year.

Given the palpable excitement for Akshay's war drama, the movie set the box office on fire.

Helmed by Anurag Singh, Kesari created new records at the box office on the first day itself.

After the intriguing trailer left the audience mesmerized, it was expected that Kesari would open to a decent collection.

But much to everyone's surprise, the war drama went on to emerge as the highest opener of the year.

Bollywood trade analyst Taran Adarsh took to Twitter to declare, "Kesari roar. Emerges the biggest opener of 2019 [so far]. Thu Rs. 21.50 cr. India biz".

Furthermore, Kesari went on to become Akshay's second highest opener ever.

The first place is taken by Akshay's 2018 release Gold, which opened to an impressive collection of Rs. 25.25 cr.

While Gold was followed by Akshay-Rajinikanth's 2.0, with the first day collection of Rs. 20.25 crore, it has now been replaced by Kesari.

We wonder how many records Kesari will shatter.

For the uninitiated, Kesari narrated the story of the Battle of Saragarhi, which is said to be one of "the bravest battles ever fought" in the history of the world.

This battle was fought between 21 soldiers of the British Indian Army's Sikh Regiment and 10,000 Afghan tribesmen in September 1897.

The regiment, which was led by Havildar Ishar Singh, fought till their death.

Meanwhile, Kesari became the recent target of piracy giant TamilRockers and was leaked online just a day after its theatrical release. According to media reports, the movie was available for free download in HD quality. Would this affect the movie's collections? Only time will tell.

We heard quite a lot about the Motorola One Vision in the past couple of days. The smartphone paid a visit to Geekbench and later its detailed specs leaked online. It also popped up on Wi-Fi Alliance's website bearing model number XT1970-1 and running Android Pie. Now today, we are treated to an official-looking press render of the One Vision, which shows its design.

This image comes to us courtesy of Tiger Mobiles. It reveals the phone has a punch-hole display with the selfie camera located in the left corner. The display has small bezels on its left, right, and top, with the chin being comparatively larger.

Moving on to the back, we have a dual camera setup placed vertically in the left with a dual-LED flash down below. The cameras also have text to their right which confirms one of them will be a 48MP unit.

The back of the smartphone, which seems to have a glossy finish, is also home to a fingerprint scanner with Motorola's signature bat-wing logo atop, and further down below, we have the Android One branding.

Other things we can ascertain from this image is that the One Vision will come with a USB-C port placed at the bottom which will be flanked by a speaker and a microphone. We don't see the headphone jack which means it's either placed at the top, or Motorola decided to ditch it.

The One Vision has the SIM card slot located on the left, with the volume rocker and power button sitting on the right. The lockscreen of the phone has the date of April 3 which is when it may go official. You can also see the pill-shaped button at the bottom which indicates the phone will run Android Pie out-of-the-box.

The Motorola One Vision looks the same as the P40 that leaked last December. Well, that's because these are likely the same phone which will be launched under different names in different markets. The One Vision is reported to launch in Latin America, India, and Brazil, with the P40 being China-exclusive.

You can head over here to check out the detailed specs of the One Vision. The P40 will likely have the same hardware, but there could be some differences between the two in terms of RAM and onboard storage.

The iPhone 11, or whatever name Apple manages to come up with for this year's release, will reportedly come with Wireless PowerShare support, supply chain sources reveal. Introduced by IDT in 2015, the Qi-based standard for reverse wireless charging (as in, charging other devices off of your smartphone) is supported on the Galaxy S10 series, but the feature was previously available on the Huawei Mate 20 Pro.

In the Apple realm, having Wireless PowerShare will mean, for example, being able to charge your Apple Watch without carrying its own charger around. Additionally, the second edition AirPods, announced this week, are available with a case that can be charged wirelessly - just how convenient it would be if you can do so from your iPhone 11.

The one issue is that present iPhones don't charge all that fast themselves - at least not with the bundled ancient 5V/1A adapter. The company does make an 18W PowerDelivery adapter that it sells separately, for which you need an extra USB-C to Lightning cable, the two costing a total of around $50. Well, word on the street is, that combo will come bundled with the next-gen iPhone, which will retain the Lightning port. It's not as great as having a USB-C port on the phone in the first place, but baby steps is better than no steps at all.

Earlier this month, Honor released an Android Pie-based EMUI 9 update for the 8X in China. Now the company has begun rolling out this update for the phone's global variant.

This Android Pie-based EMUI 9.0.1 update weighs a whopping 3.14GB in size and brings along improved sound recorder, faster app launch times, simplified UI, and Huawei Share 3.0 to the 8X. It is currently rolling out in Macedonia, but we expect a wider rollout soon.

Last week Honor confirmed it would release Android Pie for the 8X in India starting on March 18, but we haven't heard anything on that later. The company has said that it plans to release the update in batches this month so we expect the Indian units to get an update notification anytime now.

Chinese phone maker vivo unveiled the V15 Pro last month and made the V15 official earlier this month. Both these smartphones are already available in a couple of markets, and the latest country they have made their debut in is the Philippines.

The V15 is priced at PHP17,999 ($342) and the Pro variant is priced at PHP23,999 ($456). You can pre-order the V15 until March 29 and the V15 Pro until April 11 with sales starting after those dates.

The V15 is powered by the Helio P70 SoC which is coupled with 6GB RAM. It's built around a 6.53-inch notchless display and has 128GB of storage onboard. The smartphone features a 32MP pop-up selfie camera and boasts a triple camera setup at the back consisting of 12MP, 8MP, and 5MP modules. It comes with a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner and packs a 4,000 mAh battery under the hood.

The V15 Pro is powered by the Snapdragon 675 SoC and has 8GB RAM. It's equipped with a slightly smaller screen (6.39-inch) and battery (3,700 mAh) but rocks a 48MP primary camera at the back instead of the 12MP one on the V15. It also comes with a fingerprint scanner embedded under the display, with the selfie camera and storage remaining the same as V15.

You can head over here for a detailed specs comparison of this V15 duo, and here for our detailed written review of the V15 Pro.

CNET learned from a reliable source that Apple-owned Beats plans to release a new totally wireless update to the PowerBeats sport headphones. Apple’s AIrPods are quickly becoming the most popular pair of Bluetooth earbuds and a new Beats alternative could reportedly launch in April.

Apple recently announced updated AirPods with improved battery life, hands-free “Hey, Siri”, and an updated H1 wireless chip. It is believed that Beats’ new earphones will have the same Hey Siri feature, the updated H1 chip, and perhaps better battery life than the AirPods.

There’s no firm information about how much these Beats earphones would cost, but given the AirPods $160 (or $200 for wireless charging) price tag, they shouldn’t cost too much more. CNET speculates Beats could launch with a $250 price tag but suggests they should be $200 or below. The current PowerBeats 3 Wireless retail for $199 and Apple is Apple so… $250 it is.

The new PowerBeats would be a great alternative to those who don’t like the design of the AirPods or would rather use something sleeker. There are other truly-wireless earbuds out on the market now like the $130 Samsung Galaxy Buds or some of the Chinese alternatives from both Huawei and Xiaomi but for iOS users’ sake, any earphones with the H1 chip will work infinitely better for those on the iOS and/or MacOS ecosystems.

Huawei might as well just call the P30 phones “announced” and get it over with. The latest leak comes from its Singaporean site and does a good job of succinctly listing the best features of the Huawei P30 and P30 Pro as well as detailing the launch promos.

Buying a P30 or P30 Pro on launch day – April 6 – from the VivoCity mall will net you a free Huawei Watch GT and JBL Clip 2 speaker. These freebies are worth a total of SGD 467 ($345/€305). Europe will be getting the watch too (but perhaps not the speaker).

As for the specs (as if we haven’t seen them leaked a thousand times by now), the phones will offer attractive gradient-colored exterior, high-end cameras with great low-light capability and an interesting Dual-View feature.

Dual-View Video will be enabled after launch with an OTA update. It creates split-screen video with two of the rear cameras, showing a wide and a zoomed-in view of the scene.

Other specs include a 40MP “SuperSpectrum Sensor”, capable of shooting at “super high ISO” and low-light video recording. The Huawei P30 Pro will also feature a periscope camera (10x hybrid zoom) with OIS and a ToF sensor.

In Singapore, the new P30 phones will be available through M1, Singtel, StarHub and Lazada.

Geekbench got an interesting visitor - the Samsung Galaxy Fold. The foldable smartphone didn't score quite as high as its Snapdragon 855 and 12GB RAM suggested.

What that suggests is that the software on the unit that ran the benchmark is far from finalized and Samsung still has plenty of work to do before the April 26 launch.

Another interesting bit is the SM-900F naming, which is the international variant of the phone. If that one is using the Qualcomm chip it's a clear confirmation that we are not getting an Exynos version of the Fold.

Recently, the Fold appeared in a leaked video where we got a glimpse of it in both its tablet and phone glory. Not much could be said in terms of its performance though as the video only lasted several seconds and the device was never confirmed to be a retail version.

Have you ever wondered why your phone has a drained battery in the middle of the day? It might have something to do with a faulty application, running scam ads unbeknownst to you. According to fraud detection firm Protected Media, Ad Stacking was spotted in codes, provided by an ad technology company Aniview. Ad Stacking is essentially showing you one ad, but in the background it is playing multiple videos at the same time, destroying your battery life.

This type of fraud hurts not only you, your device and data cap, but also companies who pay for impressions and views, as well as applications and platforms who are buying and selling advertisement real estate for smartphones. Advertisers are told people are watching their clips but there isn’t enough response, so they have to pay even more.

Craig Silverman, a reporter at BuzzFeed News, contacted Israeli company Aniview which runs a video ad technology platform. Alon Carmel, company CEO, denied any involvement and said the code was created by third-party subsidiaries and exploited by another party. In the video above you can see that a pretty much regular banned about McDonald's or Michael Kors actually has multiple videos hidden behind it.

The reporter declined to name the application or its owner, mostly because they were most likely out of the scheme and were just carrier rocket of the scam. If you have issues with battery draining from any of your apps, consider uninstalling it and letting developers know before more people and their smartphones fall victims of such frauds.

According to a recent IDC report, smartphone shipments grew in India by 10 percent. While smartphone shipments globally saw a decline, India continues to grow on the chart. Xiaomi leads the table with 29.9 market share in the country.

This week we have Redmi Note 7 and Vivo V15 Pro on top of the list.

Both the smartphones will launch in the country very soon. With MWC a few days away, soon some top smartphones will go official, including the next OnePlus flagship, Nokia 9 PureView and more. msnTarGet.com

Let’s a take a look at the top trending smartphones this week.

Xiaomi will launch its recently unveiled Redmi Note 7 in India soon. The company was expected to unveil the device in India in February, but according to the latest reports, the Redmi Note 7 launch has been delayed by a month. Apart from Redmi Note 7, the company may launch Redmi Note 7 Pro and Redmi Go in the country, probably in March. Fun2Ind.com

All set to launch on February 20, Vivo will be bringing the V11 Pro successor to India. Vivo V15 Pro is going to take a lot of inspiration from Vivo NEX. The smartphone will have a full-screen display with no notch, a pop up selfie camera, in-display fingerprint sensor, rear triple camera setup and more. The pre-orders start on February 15, and Vivi V15 Pro will go official on February 20. soas.in

Samsung has confirmed the launch of its upcoming Samsung Galaxy S10 series at the Unpacked event on February 20. The South Korean company also confirmed that there’s going to a special Galaxy S10 Plus edition with 12GB RAM and 1TB storage. The company will launch three smartphones at the event: Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10 Plus and Galaxy S10 Lite. mobask.com

As per a recent leak, Oppo will also launch a full screen display smartphone in March in India. It’s the Oppo F11 Pro, and the smartphone may go official next month in the country. Oppo F11 Pro will come with a no notch full screen display, pop up selfie camera, in display fingerprint sensor and a 48MP rear sensor. The smartphone is expected to be priced around it’s upcoming co-branded Vivo V15 Pro.

OnePlus confirmed that it will hold an event at the upcoming MWC. While the rumours are already been topping the lists of upcoming OnePlus 7, many experts say its the OnePlus 5G smartphone. Whatever it be, the upcoming OnePlus flagship is expected to come with some of the latest technologies like a sliding camera module and the 30W Warp fast charging technology.

With a few weeks away from launch, the Huawei P30 smartphones are in the news again. Huawei P30 and Huawei P30 Pro is being tipped to come with at least three rear cameras and a water drop display. Though P30 Pro has been already leaked with a rear quad-camera setup with a case. Huawei P30 will have a 6-inch display, while the P30 Pro may have a larger display. Fun2Ind.com

With couple of weeks left, the Nokia 9 PureView has been leaked in live images with five cameras and a 18:9 widescreen display. The Nokia 9 PureView will come with a no notch 5.99-inch Quad HD+ display. Nokia 9 PureView will go official on February 24 at the MWC 2019. At the same event, we may also get to see the first glimpses of Nokia 6.2 and Nokia 1 Plus.

2019 kick-started with some top smartphones from Xiaomi, Huawei and its sub-brand Honor, Realme and many more. Redmi Note 7 is in the limelight after its China launch. Two new variants of Realme C1 were launched, while Realme 3 is on its way.

February is going to better, and bigger.

We have some top smartphone launches lined up for February, it includes the likes of Redmi Go, the first Android Go phone from Xiaomi, Redmi Note 7, Moto G7 series, Vivo V15 Pro and much more. msnTarGet.com

Check out the top smartphones launching in February in India.

The list comprises of the smartphones expected to launch in the month of February 2019 in India. SoAs.in

Redmi Note 7 launched in China a few weeks back. The company confirmed the India launch this February along with two other smartphones. It’s going to be the first smartphone from Xiaomi to come with a water drop notch display. Redmi Note 7 features a massive 4,000mAh battery, Snapdragon 660, 48MP Samsung sensor, dual cameras in different gradient colours. MobAsk.com

Up next in the upcoming smartphones in February list we have Redmi Go. It’s the first smartphone from Xiaomi built on Android Go. The smartphone is going to be a Redmi 5A rip-off backed by Android Go. The smartphone is expected to launch in India under 4,000 rupees running the latest Android 9 Pie. SoAs.in

Lenovo owned Motorola has confirmed the launch of its Moto G7 smartphones in February. After a global launch on February 7 in Brazil, the company is expected to bring the latest Moto G lineup to India in a month. The latest Moto G7 series will include four smartphones: Moto G7, Moto G7 Plus, Moto G7 Play and Moto G7 Power.

HMD Global has been teasing its next flagship Nokia 9 for long now. Finally the company confirmed the launch date. The smartphone will be unveiled at the MWC 2019 on February 24. Nokia 9 is going to be come with a rear penta camera setup i.e five rear cameras for photography. It will have a 2K PureView HDR display, Snapdragon 845, stock Android with Pie, fast charging and more. Fun2Ind.com

After separating its brand Redmi from the Xiaomi hat, the company is planning to launch a number of smartphones under the new brand. Soon after Redmi Note 7, the company confirmed the launch of Redmi Note 7 Pro. The Pro version of Redmi Note 7 will come with a few updated features like a better processor (Snapdragon 675) and the 48MP Sony IMX 586 sensor.

The Realme CEO Madhav Seth said that the next Realme device will launch by the end of Q1, we expect the renders to show up in February only. The company is expected to launch two successors soon, Realme 3 and Realme 3 Pro. The company hinted at a 48MP camera Realme device as well, which is expected to be the Realme 3 Pro. Fun2Ind.com

The 2019 version of Nokia 6 is expected to launch at the same Nokia 9 event alongside. Being dubbed as Nokia 6.2, the smartphone will come with the latest punch hole display technology. Nokia 6.2 will feature a full-screen display with a cut-out on the top left corner, Snapdragon 632 chipset, Zeiss branded dual cameras, Android One and more. MobAsk.com

As a latest leak, Xiaomi will launch a mid-range Redmi device with an in-display fingerprint sensor and some updated specs. The device is expected to be an entry-level premium smartphone with updated specs and features. Redmi X may launch globally in February along with Xiaomi Mi 9, with an imminent India launch. msnTarGet.com

Chinese smartphone manufacturer will bring its Vivo V11 Pro successor to India in February. The company has officially confirmed the launch and a few key specs. It’s going to carry a lot from Vivo NEX like its pop-up selfie camera and in-display fingerprint sensor. Vivo V15 Pro will cost somewhere around 30,000 rupees in India with an expected rear triple camera setup. MobAsk.com

Finally, summing up the list with a special launch. Samsung will unveil its tenth anniversary Galaxy S10 models this February. The company will announce the smartphones at the Unpacked event on February 20. The lineup will include three smartphones: Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10 Plus and Galaxy S10 Lite. In India, we expect the Galaxy S10 devices by March.

2019 is expected to be a big year for smartphones with new technologies like 5G and foldable design becoming mainstream. Samsung is expected to lead the way with its foldable smartphone while other smartphone makers are expected to introduce their first smartphones with 5G mobile connectivity. msnTarGet.com In a nutshell, all the major smartphones launching in the first half of 2019 are expected to be faster not only in terms of performance but also in terms of data connectivity.

They will also be innovative with flexible displays and support for improved cooling and better image processing. With Mobile World Congress 2019 just a month away, the details regarding some of the key launches at the event have already started surfacing online. Here is a look at some of the premium smartphones to look forward to this year:

Nokia 9 is expected to be the first major smartphone launch of this year. The smartphone was rumored to go official last year, but the launched has been pushed ahead at least a couple of times for some unknown reasons. It seems that HMD Global is skipping the MWC unveil in favor of a dedicated launch for the smartphone. The Nokia 9 will be the first smartphone to jump to as many as five cameras on the back of MsnTarGet.CoM.

Evan Blass tweeted a picture of the device called Nokia 9 Pureview Beholder, which confirms five cameras on the back and dual cameras at the front. The addition of Pureview branding suggests the ZEISS imaging system will be identical to that on the Nokia Lumia lineup. It is expected to feature a 5.99-inch Quad HD+ display with 18:9 aspect ratio, 6GB of RAM, 128GB storage and Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset. This could be a letdown since we will be seeing Snapdragon 855-powered phones next month.

Samsung Galaxy S-series turns ten this year and the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+ are expected to be its biggest design evolution yet. The Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+ are expected to come in multiple screen sizes including an entry-level model with a flat-screen this year. There are also rumors of a mid model with a 6.2-inch curved display and two more models with a 6.44-inch screen and optional support for 5G.

In terms of design, the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+ are expected to feature metal and glass design but at the front, they are expected to feature in-screen dual camera setup. This design will allow for a higher screen-to-body ratio and there are also reports of Samsung adding reverse wireless charging this year. Other features include Snapdragon 855 SoC in the US and China and Exynos 9820 chipset in all other markets. These models are expected to come with up to 8GB of RAM and 512GB storage. With the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+, Samsung is also expected to integrate Qualcomm’s ultrasonic fingerprint sensor.

After launching the P20 and P20 Pro at a separate event in March, Huawei is expected to return to MWC this year with the P30 and P30 Pro smartphones. The P30 series is expected to be an improvement over its predecessor by switching to a taller display design that drops the front-mounted fingerprint sensor in favor of an in-display fingerprint sensor. It is also expected to bring major changes in the camera department.

Evan Blass has confirmed that Huawei P30 will offer triple rear camera setup while the P30 Pro is expected to include four camera sensors and support 10x lossless zoom. The leaks claim that Huawei plans to use a 38-megapixel sensor but it is not clear how the four cameras will work. It is expected to feature a waterdrop notch design at the front and come with Kirin 980 chipset, 8GB RAM and 256GB internal storage.

Samsung will start selling foldable smartphones this year but Vivo will start selling smartphone will dual displays. Vivo NEX Dual Display Edition, the latest smartphone with 10GB of RAM and dual display design and a triple rear camera setup will be launched globally this year. The Vivo NEX Dual Display Edition features a 6.39-inch Ultra FullView display with 91.63 percent screen-to-body ratio.

It also features a secondary Super AMOLED display that measures 5.49-inches and is placed on the back of the device. There is 12-megapixel dual pixel main camera paired with a 2-megapixel depth sensor and time-of-flight sensor. There is under display fingerprint sensor, Funtouch OS 4.5 based on Android 9 Pie and 3,500mAh battery.

Sony could jump Samsung and others to become the first to launch the Snapdragon 855-powered smartphone. The Xperia XZ4 recently appeared on Antutu with a score of 3,95,000 and model number I8134. This indicates that the Xperia XZ4 will be the most powerful smartphone when it becomes official next month.

The leaked CAD renders show that it will feature an extra tall display design with 21:9 aspect ratio. It is expected to feature triple rear camera setup and include a headphone jack and dedicated shutter button for the camera.

OnePlus 7 and its 5G variant is another smartphone that could disrupt the market this year. The OnePlus 6T has already set a bar for mid-range premium smartphones and its next device will have to deliver on its promise of “Never Settle” attitude. The smartphone recently leaked in the form of an internal meeting attended by Pete Lau.

OnePlus 7 is confirmed to come with Snapdragon 855 but the company is set to launch another model with 5G modem support. The MsnTarGet.com OnePlus 5G smartphone is expected to support T-Mobile’s network in the US and EE in the UK. There is not much known beyond this but it could be the 5G smartphone most people will find affordable.

Xiaomi is expected to launch two new flagship smartphones – the Mi 9 and Mi MIX 4 – this year. It is not clear whether both the devices will arrive at the same time but the Mi 9 is likely to debut at MWC next month. Both the devices will be powered by Snapdragon 855 SoC and feature triple rear camera setup msntarget.com.

There are leaks of the Mi MIX 4 getting periscope style camera setup for improved zoom capability. Xiaomi has already begun testing the 5G version of Mi MIX 3 so one can expect that Mi MIX 4 will also support 5G at the time of launch.

2019 is expected to be a big year for smartphones with new technologies like 5G and foldable design becoming mainstream. Samsung is expected to lead the way with its foldable smartphone while other smartphone makers are expected to introduce their first smartphones with 5G mobile connectivity. In a nutshell, all the major smartphones launching in the first half of 2019 are expected to be faster not only in terms of performance but also in terms of data connectivity.

They will also be innovative with flexible displays and support for improved cooling and better image processing. With Mobile World Congress 2019 just a month away, the details regarding some of the key launches at the event have already started surfacing online. Here is a look at some of the premium smartphones to look forward to this year:

Nokia 9 is expected to be the first major smartphone launch of this year. The smartphone was rumored to go official last year, but the launched has been pushed ahead at least a couple of times for some unknown reasons. It seems that HMD Global is skipping the MWC unveil in favor of a dedicated launch for the smartphone. The Nokia 9 will be the first smartphone to jump to as many as five cameras on the back.

Evan Blass tweeted a picture of the device called Nokia 9 Pureview Beholder, which confirms five cameras on the back and dual cameras at the front. The addition of Pureview branding suggests the ZEISS imaging system will be identical to that on the Nokia Lumia lineup. It is expected to feature a 5.99-inch Quad HD+ display with 18:9 aspect ratio, 6GB of RAM, 128GB storage and Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset. This could be a letdown since we will be seeing Snapdragon 855-powered phones next month.

Samsung Galaxy S-series turns ten this year and the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+ are expected to be its biggest design evolution yet. The Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+ are expected to come in multiple screen sizes including an entry-level model with a flat-screen this year. There are also rumors of a mid model with a 6.2-inch curved display and two more models with a 6.44-inch screen and optional support for 5G.

In terms of design, the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+ are expected to feature metal and glass design but at the front, they are expected to feature in-screen dual camera setup. This design will allow for a higher screen-to-body ratio and there are also reports of Samsung adding reverse wireless charging this year. Other features include Snapdragon 855 SoC in the US and China and Exynos 9820 chipset in all other markets. These models are expected to come with up to 8GB of RAM and 512GB storage. With the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+, Samsung is also expected to integrate Qualcomm’s ultrasonic fingerprint sensor.

After launching the P20 and P20 Pro at a separate event in March, Huawei is expected to return to MWC this year with the P30 and P30 Pro smartphones. The P30 series is expected to be an improvement over its predecessor by switching to a taller display design that drops the front-mounted fingerprint sensor in favor of an in-display fingerprint sensor. It is also expected to bring major changes in the camera department.

Evan Blass has confirmed that Huawei P30 will offer triple rear camera setup while the P30 Pro is expected to include four camera sensors and support 10x lossless zoom. The leaks claim that Huawei plans to use a 38-megapixel sensor but it is not clear how the four cameras will work. It is expected to feature a waterdrop notch design at the front and come with Kirin 980 chipset, 8GB RAM and 256GB internal storage.

Samsung will start selling foldable smartphones this year but Vivo will start selling smartphone will dual displays. Vivo NEX Dual Display Edition, the latest smartphone with 10GB of RAM and dual display design and a triple rear camera setup will be launched globally this year. The Vivo NEX Dual Display Edition features a 6.39-inch Ultra FullView display with 91.63 percent screen-to-body ratio.

It also features a secondary Super AMOLED display that measures 5.49-inches and is placed on the back of the device. There is 12-megapixel dual pixel main camera paired with a 2-megapixel depth sensor and time-of-flight sensor. There is under display fingerprint sensor, Funtouch OS 4.5 based on Android 9 Pie and 3,500mAh battery.

Sony could jump Samsung and others to become the first to launch the Snapdragon 855-powered smartphone. The Xperia XZ4 recently appeared on Antutu with a score of 3,95,000 and model number I8134. This indicates that the Xperia XZ4 will be the most powerful smartphone when it becomes official next month.

The leaked CAD renders show that it will feature an extra tall display design with 21:9 aspect ratio. It is expected to feature triple rear camera setup and include a headphone jack and dedicated shutter button for the camera.

OnePlus 7 and its 5G variant is another smartphone that could disrupt the market this year. The OnePlus 6T has already set a bar for mid-range premium smartphones and its next device will have to deliver on its promise of “Never Settle” attitude. The smartphone recently leaked in the form of an internal meeting attended by Pete Lau.

OnePlus 7 is confirmed to come with Snapdragon 855 but the company is set to launch another model with 5G modem support. The OnePlus 5G smartphone is expected to support T-Mobile’s network in the US and EE in the UK. There is not much known beyond this but it could be the 5G smartphone most people will find affordable.

Xiaomi is expected to launch two new flagship smartphones – the Mi 9 and Mi MIX 4 – this year. It is not clear whether both the devices will arrive at the same time but the Mi 9 is likely to debut at MWC next month. Both the devices will be powered by Snapdragon 855 SoC and feature triple rear camera setup.

There are leaks of the Mi MIX 4 getting periscope style camera setup for improved zoom capability. Xiaomi has already begun testing the 5G version of Mi MIX 3 so one can expect that Mi MIX 4 will also support 5G at the time of launch.

After the revolutionary pop-up selfie camera, the next generation Vivo Nex is all set bring in some of the latest innovative technologies. All set to arrive next week, the Vivo Nex 2 is getting a fresh updated look. Vivo Nex was launched in India at a price of Rs 44,990.

Aiming for a full-screen display again, the Vivo Nex 2 will come with dual displays. Similar to ZTE’s Nubia X, the upcoming Vivo Nex 2 will sport two displays for a no-notch full-screen display.

As per the leaked reports, the Vivo Nex 2 specs will come with next-generation technology. Here are some of the leaked top Vivo Nex 2 features:

The Vivo Nex 2 will come with two displays. The smartphone will use the rear cameras to take selfies. Yes, the smartphone will have a 5.5-inch display at the back of Vivo Nex 2 known as back screen. Users will have to use main camera to take selfies and make video calls.

Full Screen Bezel-Less Display With In-Display Fingerprint Sensor

Vivo Nex 2 will sport a 6.5-inch display with no notch. As per the rumours, the smartphone has almost no bezel width. Also, like its predecessor, the upcoming Vivo Nex 2 will have an in-display fingerprint sensor.

The Vivo Nex 2 will come with a special Circular LED Selfie Illumination technology. The illuminator will be used to take selfies. It has a ring-shaped LED surrounding two of the rear camera sensors. The selfie ring on Nex 2 may as a flash ring.

Just like the recent gaming smartphones like Honor Play, Note 9 and Poco F1, the upcoming Vivo Nex 2 will also use liquid cooling technology. It will help the system CPU run at peak speeds helping the platform to cool down whenever needed.

Vivo Nex 2 will only has rear cameras and no front camera. The smartphone will have another display at the back to be used it as a selfie screen. Vivo Nex 2 has a three-sensor camera at the back, of which two will be used for selfies. The camera specs are not out yet, but are expected to same as Oppo R17 Pro.

A listing on a benchmarking site has confirmed that Vivo Nex 2 will come with Snapdragon 845. Under a Vivo model number V1821A, the smartphone is found with a 1.77 GHz Snapdragon 845. Surprisingly the Nex 2 will come with whopping 10GB of RAM. On Geekbench, Vivo Nex 2 achieved a 8467 multi-core score.

Vivo Nex 2 will run on the latest Android version. The smartphone will come with the upgraded Funtouch OS UI running on Android 9 Pie. Users can enjoy the latest Pie and it’s features with regular system updates.

The Vivo Nex 2 India price is expected to be around Rs 45,000. The smartphone is expected to launch in a single variant with 10GB of RAM. Vivo Nex 2 India price may fall somewhere in between OnePlus 6T and the newly launched Oppo R17 Pro.

The Vivo Nex 2 price in India will be almost similar to its Chinese pricing. Vivo Nex was launched in India for Rs 44,990. Vivo Nex 2 price in India may add up to another 5,000 rupees.

The Vivo Nex 2 is being rumored to be announced on December 11. The Vivo Nex 2 India launch is expected to happen sometime later. The Vivo Nex 2 launch in India will primarily depend on the official launch of the smartphone in home market China.

Vivo Nex 2 India launch may happen during the first quarter of 2019. Vivo Nex 2 launch in India is being expected around late January or early February.

It’s no secret that the next product category OnePlus is targeting is smart TV. Now, OnePlus CEO Pete Lau has hinted at a possible India launch timeline for the first OnePlus TV.

In a conversation with ET, Lau hinted that Indian consumers will have to wait till about 2020 to get their hands on a OnePlus TV. It’s been reported that the smart TV will be placed in the flagship category, and the company is taking its time as it wants the product to be the “best there is”.

Lau was further quoted as saying that India will be among the first markets to get the OnePlus TV, and it will be available exclusively via Amazon India. This is the not the first time we are hearing about the partnership between OnePlus and Amazon for the OnePlus TV.

In a conversation with India Today Tech, Amit Agarwal, Senior Vice President & Country Manager, Amazon India said, “Of course, the OnePlus TV will be exclusive to Amazon India when it launches.”

He added, “Television is a growing category for us and we have invested heavily in making sure that people who buy TVs from Amazon India get seamless experience. That is why we have even started ‘install on delivery’ service for TVs. We will be able to utilize all of our expertise in delivering TVs to sell the OnePlus TV whenever it launches.”

Not much is known about the upcoming OnePlus TV. But earlier this year, in a forum post, OnePlus said that the smart TV will boast a “premium flagship design” along with premium “image quality and audio experience”.

It all started with iPhone X last year, and now it's become a trend among the smartphone makers to put a notch on top of the display. It all started with iPhone X last year, and now it’s become a trend among the smartphone makers to put a notch on top of the display. After dual cameras and 18:9 widescreen displays, the latest trend is all about an iPhone X-like notch. Currently, bezel-less displays are one of the most sought-after features on smartphones. After Apple, top Android smartphone makers have blatantly copied the display notch on their flagships. From the recently-launched OnePlus 6 to tri-lensed Huawei P20 Pro to newly launched budget Lenovo Z5, all come with a notch on top of the display. Top 10 Smartphones With Display Notch Here are the top ten such smartphones which come with a notch on top of the display.
1. OnePlus 6 OnePlus is known to deliver top-quality features at an affordable price, and OnePlus 6 is a prime example. OnePlus 6 comes with a Snapdragon 845 process, 16MP + 20MP rear dual camera, a 16 MP front camera with 6GB or 8GB of RAM and 64 or 128GB of internal storage. With a premium glass build on front and back, the OnePlus 6 has a 6.28 inch full HD+ 19:9 elongated Optic AMOLED display with a notch.
2. iPhone X Launched at a price over a lakh, iPhone X was the notch trendsetter. iPhone X still remains the best-notched phone with minimal bezels around. The smartphone comes with a 5.8 inch Super Retina display with the A11 Bionic chip under, a top rated dual camera and a premium built on the. The price remains one of the biggest factors choosing the iPhone X, but if you can afford, it’s one of the flagships available in the market right now.
3. Honor 10 Considered as a OnePlus 6 competitor, Honor 10 comes with a glass sandwich design and a 5.84 inch full HD+ IPS LCD panel with a notch at the top. With 6GB of RAM and 128 GB storage, it packs in a Kirin 970 under with a rear dual camera at the back (16MP + 24MP) and a 24MP up front. The Honor 10 is a complete package with top of the line specifications and a display notch at the top.
4. Huawei P20 Pro The new Huawei flagship comes with Hisilicon Kirin 970, 6GB RAM and 128GB storage, much like Honor 10. But Huawei P20 Pro currently has the best smartphone camera in the world where it features a the rear triple camera module consisting of a 40MP, 20MP and 8MP shooters. Up front, it features a 24MP shooter with a 6-inch full HD+ OLED FullView display and a notch.
5. Nokia X6 Launched in China, the Nokia X6 is the first Nokia smartphone to come with a notch. It features a 5.8 inch Full HD+ IPS LCD 19:9 elongated display with the notch. It houses the sensors and the front camera. The smartphone is powered Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 chipset coupled with 4GB or 6GB of RAM with 32GB or 64GB storage. Nokia X6 is expected to launch in India by the end of June or early July.
6. Vivo V9 The heavily marketed Vivo V9 also features a 6.3 inch 19:9 elongated full HD+ display with a notch at the top of the front panel. With an octa-core Snapdragon 626 under the hood, the Vivo V9 comes with 4GB of RAM, 64GB storage, a rear dual camera setup comprising a 16MP primary sensor coupled with a 5MP depth sensor and a 24MP front camera.
7. Lenovo Z5 The recently-launched Lenovo Z5 is the cheapest notched phone which comes with a 6.2-inch Full HD+ 19:9 elongated display with a screen resolution of 1080 x 2246 pixels with a whopping 90% screen-to-body ratio and a Corning Gorilla glass layer on top. The smartphone comes with a rear dual camera, a Snapdragon 636 chipset coupled with 6GB of RAM, 64GB or 128GB storage and fast charging support.
8. Xiaomi Mi 8 The newly-launched Xiaomi Mi 8 packs a notch on its beautiful 6.21 inch AMOLED Full HD+ 19:9 elongated display with a screen resolution of 1080 x 2248 pixels in an 18.7:9 aspect ratio. Under the hood, it packs in a Snapdragon 845, 6GB of RAM and up to 128GB of storage. Mi 8 also features the latest MIUI 10 and an AI-powered rear dual camera and front camera.
9. Huawei P20 Lite A toned down version of the Huawei flagship P20 Pro, the P20 Lite also comes with a notch on a 5.84 inches IPS LCD full HD+ 19:9 elongated screen at 1080 x 2280 pixels resolution. The P20 Lite doesn’t feature three cameras, but the FullView display has a notch on the top and the device gets powered by an octa-core Kirin 659 processor with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage.
10. Oppo F7 Last on the list, the Oppo F7 also features a notch on the display. The smartphone comes with a 6.23 inch full HD+ IPS 19:9 elongated display with a notch. Apart from the notch, the Oppo F7 features budget internals. Under the hood, the smartphone gets powered by a MediaTek Helio P60 chipset which couples with 6GB of RAM, 64GB internal storage and an AI-powered 25-megapixel front camera.

Vivo is the first smartphone maker to introduce the in-display fingerprint technology in India. The company has launched Vivo X21 smartphone which sports a fingerprint sensor located beneath the display. Priced at Rs 35,990, the smartphone offers dual rear camera setup and HiFi music experience. With this price tag, the smartphone will compete against the recently launched OnePlus 6 as well as with Samsung Galaxy A8+. Wondering which one offers better specifications? We bring you a spec-by-spec comparison of the Vivo X21 vs OnePlus 6 vs Samsung Galaxy A8+...
Display All three smartphones come with bezel-less display, but the Vivo X21 and the OnePlus 6 comes with iPhone X-like notch screen. The Vivo X21 features a 6.28-inch full HD+ AMOLED display with 1080x2280 pixels resolution while the OnePlus 6 houses a 6.28-inch FHD+ Optic AMOLED screen with 19:9 aspect ratio. OnePlus 6 enables users to enable and disable the notch as per their need, while Vivo X21 doesn't offer this feature. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy A8+ sports a 6-inch FHD Super AMOLED Infinity Display of 2220 x 1080p resolution.
Operating system The Vivo X21 and the OnePlus 6 runs Android 8.1 Oreo operating system. As confirmed by both Vivo and OnePlus both the device will receive Android P update as well. Whereas Samsung Galaxy A8+ runs Android 7.0 Nougat operating system.
Processor The Vivo X21 is powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor. This processor is used in many of the mid-segment smartphones. On the other hand, the OnePlus 6 is powered by Qualcomm’s flagship processor Snapdragon 845 which is found in high-end devices. The Galaxy A8+ is powered by company’s own octa-core Exynos 7885 processor.
RAM and storage The Vivo X21 offers 6GB of RAM and 128GB internal storage. While the OnePlus 6 comes in two variants -- 6GB RAM and 64GB internal storage, 8GB RAM and 128GB internal storage. On the other hand, the Galaxy A8+ packs 6GB RAM and 64GB inbuilt storage. All the three handsets offer microSD card support.
Camera The Vivo X21 and the OnePlus 6 feature dual rear camera setup, while the Samsung Galaxy A8+ offers dual selfie camera. The Vivo X21 consists of 12MP+5MP rear camera with LED flash. The front packs a 12MP selfie shooter, whereas 16MP primary and 20MP secondary camera with LED flash and a 16MP selfie shooter. The Galaxy A8+ has 16MP primary camera and 8MP secondary camera on the front and a 16MP shooter at the rear end.
Battery The Vivo X21 houses a 3200 mAh battery with fast charging, while the OnePlus 6 packs a 3300 mAh battery with Dash charging support and the Samsung Galaxy A8+ is backed by a 3800 mAh battery.
Price Vivo X21: Rs 35,990
OnePlus 6 : Price starts at Rs 34,999
Samsung Galaxy A8+: Rs 29,990

Does the X21 manage to live up to the hype, does the in-display fingerprint scanner signal at the evolution of fingerprint scanners? Let’s find out in the comprehensive review of the Vivo X21. Chinese smartphone manufacturer Vivo has taken the market by storm by cracking the under-display fingerprint scanner technology. In doing so, the company has managed to edge out Apple and Samsung as well. Vivo was in the limelight earlier this year when it showcased the Vivo Apex, a concept smartphone where a motorized camera module would pop on the top to achieve that true bezel-less display. Vivo finally launched the X21 in the Indian market, priced at Rs 35,990. Regardless of its price, the device has managed to create considerable hype with its in-display fingerprint technology. Here’s my review.
Familiar design The exterior of the X21 isn’t particularly fancy, as is similar to Vivo’s previous offering, the V9. A few minor tweaks are visible such as the 3.5 mm headphone jack moved to the top of the device, while the fingerprint scanner at the back of the device is now inside the display. Beyond that, the device is identical to the V9. It still continues with microUSB instead of the much expected USB Type-C. The speaker grille and front-facing camera are present in the notch at the top of the display. The microUSB port, SIM tray, microphone and speaker grill are located at the bottom of the device, while the 3.5 mm headphone jack and microphone sit at the top of the device.
The dual camera setup and the LED flash are located on the top left corner on the back of the device. Similar to the V9, the camera setup and the LED flash on the X21 are fixed in a vertical line to match the iPhone X look. The volume rocker and the power button are situated on the right side of the device.
Good display The Vivo X21 comes with a 6.28-inch FHD+ display with Super AMOLED panel, 2280×1080 resolution, and 402 PPI display density. The size and 19:9 aspect ratio of the display does make it a bit difficult to use using only one hand. It is also extremely difficult to reach to the top edge of the diagonally opposite side of the display using thumbs but it is not a deal breaker and quite normal with most smartphones sporting tall display. Vivo X21 comes with a notch on the top and if you are still not a fan of the notch then you will simply have to get habitual to its presence. The display of the device is protected by third generation Corning Gorilla Glass. The display produces bright and vivid colors with deep blacks. The brightness levels do take a hit if we change the viewing angles, but it won’t really affect real-world usage.
Vivo has added an ‘Eye Protection’ in the software to mimic the night mode along with the ability to change font styles a third-party app display ratios to fit the 19:9 aspect ratio. The display managed well under direct sunlight but I still found myself looking for shade because of reflective screen.
Operating system and performance X21 comes with Android 8.1 Oreo-based Funtouch OS 4 with March 2018 Android security patch level. Funtouch OS 4 is a custom skin by Vivo which wanted to mimic iOS as close to it is possible without any trouble from Apple. This iOS inspiration range from the pre-installed system apps (camera UI, clock, music,calendar, app icons, lack of app drawer by default, style of Android notifications, swiping up from the bottom to access quick settings, the settings app and the way all the settings of apps are bundled at the bottom in the settings app. X21 comes with Project Treble but it does not support seamless system updates and the device does come with plenty of bloatware in the form of reinstalled third-party apps including Facebook, WhatsApp, WPS Office, UC Browser, Amazon Store, NewsPoint, PhonePe and other apps by Vivo including vivo.com, Email, vivoCloud, i Manager, i Theme, Bowser and V-Appstore. The company has also added Google apps along with all the bloatware.
Some of the apps were not optimised to the 19:9 aspect ratio in the V9 but it looks like the company has fixed its in-house apps to support the taller aspect ratio. Considering that Funtouch OS 4.0 is a skinned version of Android, the OS does provide a number a vast number of options for its users giving them the option to hide notification previews, show network speed in the status bar, support navigation gestures that are similar to iOS, pack a ‘Game mode’, along with the ‘Do no disturb’ mode, and even settings to manage the always-on display according to the battery level of the device. These things are not present in the stock version of Android and users would end up installing separate apps for all these functions. The OS also offers nifty features such as Wi-Fi Display which I could not test, Smart Split, One-handed mode, App Clone, Smart motion, and Smart click. Smart motion allows users to control the device by interacting with the device according to the orientation of the device, Wi-Fi Display allows users to stream or mirror the device to a Wi-Fi-enabled display, Smart Split allows them to use two apps at the same time and users can manage the screen-split ratio, Picture-in-picture more, One-handed mode allows users to control the device using just one hand including the option to turn on ‘One-handed keyboard’ and ‘mini screen’. App clone allows users to duplicate an app to turn two profiles of the program including two WhatsApp accounts on the same device.
Moving on the performance of the X21, the device performs well overall without no hiccups. The device is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 SoC with an octa-core CPU clocked at 2.2 GHz along with Adreno 512 GPU, 6GB RAM and 128GB internal storage. For users who need more storage, the device comes with a second hybrid SIM slot that can also be used to add a microSD card to expand the storage up to 256GB. The experience of the device was smooth without any lag. I did not face any problems while running heavy games such as Modern Combat 5, Gear.Club or Dead Trigger 2 on the device. X21 did not heat as much during extended gaming sessions and the small amount of heat that was there was evenly spread across the back of the device. So the device performs well despite not packing a Snapdragon 835 or 845 SoC.
That fingerprint scanner The in-display fingerprint scanner is the key highlight of the device and to be honest, the inclusion of this technology in a consumer front device is pretty cool. Though, regardless of how new this technology is, it is still slower than the dedicated fingerprint scanners. The experience of unlocking the device is hit or a miss where the phone may require a second attempt to unlock the device. Another thing is that the in-display fingerprint scanner is located in a particular area in the middle towards the bottom half of the display.
This means that one needs to be precise as to where they keep their finger to unlock the device. Vivo has added an always-on fingerprint symbol to guide the users about where to keep the finger. But making that spot a muscle memory requires some effort. However, regardless of the aid to indicate where the fingerprint scanner is located, the scanner sometimes fails to register the finger. This does indicate that the company needs to work on the technology to make it as flawless as dedicated fingerprint scanners to match the coolness of this new technology with robust performance.
Camera department It comes with a dual camera setup on the back of the device with a 12-megapixel with f/1.8 aperture and a 5-megapixel sensor with f/2.4 aperture. The back camera setup comes with phase detection autofocus technology, and an LED flash while Vivo has opted for a 12-megapixel sensor with f/2.0 aperture for the front of the camera. Both the front as well as the back camera on the smartphone are capable of shooting video in 4K resolution. The back camera took good images in decent lighting conditions while surprising me with its HDR mode. The HDR mode managed to handle complex scenes with extremely bring and dark areas managing to balance the entire scene. There was some noise and the X21 is no Galaxy S9 or Google Pixel 2 when it comes to capturing textures, but it was overall good.
The images shot in low light conditions were not as good and lacked details and texture. The images turned out to be full of noise and muddiness with colors washed out from the scenes. The camera software does manage to give a range of options to control the camera, watermark the images. Both the front as well as the back camera support portrait mode and HDR modes. Users can also shoot ‘Live’ images using the ‘Live Photo’ mode. The device uses AI to separate the background from the subject in the foreground in the portrait mode. The edge detection may not be perfect but it is still pretty good.
Battery life The device is powered by a 3,200 mAh non-removable lithium-ion battery and the battery managed to give a decent backup lasting me about 8-9 hours on heavy usage and 10-11 hours on moderate usage. Heavy usage would include four email accounts on sync, constant emails, gaming for about an hour, WhatsApp messages, 20-25 photos and listening to music for about one and a half hour or so. The battery software also comes with a ‘Low power mode’ that limited the CPU and GPU frequency to conserve power while the automatically limited brightness of the device while disabling Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, touch feedback, Always on Display and enabling portrait screen to unlock. It also comes with ‘Super Power-Saving Mode’ where the user can only access Contacts, Phone, Messages, and the Clock. The system also gives users access to see which apps use more power in the background along with a list of power consumption.
Verdict: Should you buy Vivo X21? Vivo X21 is an all-rounder with good performance, decent camera performance and a snazzy new in-display fingerprint scanning technology at the heart of the device. The device is a testament to what dedicated Research and Development teams can achieve to beat tech titan like Apple and Samsung. However, regardless of how cool the technology is, I can’t help but notice the Rs 35,990 price tag of the device. Considering that the company is aiming audience in a price conscious market such as India, it is difficult to justify its pricing, considering market heavy-weights such as the recently launched OnePlus 6. The sheer performance, specifications, camera performance and design of the OnePlus 6 manages to surpass the X21. If you are a Vivo loyalist or someone who wants to tout that in-display fingerprint scanner before family and friends months before others, then by all means, go ahead and buy this device. However, in case you’re looking at more options, there’s the Samsung Galaxy S8 or the Moto Z2 Force, but they lack the joy of unlocking themselves without a visible fingerprint scanner.