10. Apple iPhone SE
Apple iPhone SE smartphone was launched in March 2016. The phone comes with a 4.00-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 640 pixels by 1136 pixels at a PPI of 326 pixels per inch.
The Apple iPhone SE is powered by A9 processor and it comes with 2GB of RAM. The phone packs 16GB of internal storage cannot be expanded. As far as the cameras are concerned, the Apple iPhone SE packs a 12-megapixel primary camera on the rear and a 1.2-megapixel front shooter for selfies.
The Apple iPhone SE runs iOS 9.3. It measures 123.80 x 58.60 x 7.66 (height x width x thickness) and weighs 113.00 grams.
The Apple iPhone SE is a single SIM (GSM) smartphone that accepts a Nano-SIM. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, NFC, 4G (with support for Band 40 used by some LTE networks in India). Sensors on the phone include Proximity sensor, Ambient light sensor, Accelerometer, and Gyroscope.
About Apple
Founded in a garage in 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne, Apple began as a personal computer pioneer that today makes everything from laptops to portable media players. Headquartered in Cupertino, California, the consumer electronics giant entered the smartphone market with the iPhone in 2007, and the tablet market with the iPad in 2010, and the smartwatch market with the Apple Watch in 2014.
GENERAL
| Release date | March 2016 |
| Form factor | Touchscreen |
| Dimensions (mm) | 123.80 x 58.60 x 7.66 |
| Weight (g) | 113.00 |
| Removable battery | No |
| Colours | Silver, Gold, Space Grey, Rose Gold |
| SAR value | NA |
DISPLAY
| Screen size (inches) | 4.00 |
| Touchscreen | Yes |
| Resolution | 640x1136 pixels |
| Pixels per inch (PPI) | 326 |
HARDWARE
| Processor make | A9 |
| RAM | 2GB |
| Internal storage | 16GB |
CAMERA
| Rear camera | 12-megapixel |
| Flash | Yes |
| Front camera | 1.2-megapixel |
CONNECTIVITY
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
| Wi-Fi standards supported | NA |
| GPS | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes, v 4.20 |
| NFC | Yes |
| Infrared | No |
| USB OTG | No |
| Headphones | 3.5mm |
| FM | No |
| SIM Type | Nano-SIM |
| GSM/ CDMA | GSM |
| 3G | Yes |
| 4G/ LTE | Yes |
| Supports 4G in India (Band 40) | Yes |
SENSORS
| Compass/ Magnetometer | Yes |
| Proximity sensor | Yes |
| Accelerometer | Yes |
| Ambient light sensor | Yes |
| Gyroscope | Yes |
| Barometer | No |
| Temperature sensor | No |
Surprisingly, what I’ve missed about swapping from the 6s to SE is 3D Touch. You know, the pressure-sensitive tech that allows you to preview photos and web pages, and (effectively) right-click on app icons for a list of shortcuts.
That’s useful stuff in its own right, but hardly essential: in the words of one Stuff staffer, “I only use 3D Touch by accident."
9. Vodafone Smart Prime7
A few buyers must have let Vodafone know too, because despite being cheaper than either of those, the Vodafone Smart Prime 7 looks and feels fancier this time around. There’s no magic to this. The phone still uses a pull-off plastic cover, but it now has an almost carbon-fibre-like textured finish rather than an ultra-plain plastic one.
This little tweak turns this from what might be an obvious no-frills phone into one you could easily mistake for a mid-ranger from one of the big names. It’s slim, it’s light and it’s not at all bad-looking.
There’s more to the design upgrade than just the cover, though. Vodafone also wants the Prime 7 to look good on close inspection. Check out the little camera lens ring, for example: it’s real metal. Real metal! On a £75 phone! Is that a flock of pigs I spy overhead?
The extreme edge of the screen is ever-so-slightly curved too, and the screen surround does a pretty good job of convincing you that it curves around smoothly into the sides. There are seams and contours on the Prime 7, but not a single hard edge in sight. Vodafone has new moves, and I like them.
The Smart Prime 7 also has light-up soft keys. You got these in the Prime 6, too, but they’ve been trimmed down a bit to look less like they belong on a toy for 1-3 year olds. Rarely does it seem quite as much like a phone maker has actually read all the criticisms of its phones, and then put the needed fixes in place.
|
NETWORK
|
NETWORK Technology
GSM / HSPA / LTE
LAUNCH Announced
2016, May
Status
Available. Released 2016, May
BODY Dimensions
144 x 72.1 x 8 mm (5.67 x 2.84 x 0.31 in)
Weight
128 g (4.52 oz)
SIM
Micro-SIM
DISPLAY Type
IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
Size
5.0 inches (~66.8% screen-to-body ratio)
Resolution
720 x 1280 pixels (~293 ppi pixel density)
Multitouch
Yes
PLATFORM OS
Android OS, v6.0.1 (Marshmallow)
Chipset
Qualcomm MSM8909 Snapdragon 210
CPU
Quad-core 1.1 GHz Cortex-A7
GPU
Adreno 304
MEMORY Card slot
microSD, up to 256 GB (dedicated slot)
Internal
8 GB, 1 GB RAM
CAMERA Primary
8 MP, autofocus, LED flash
Features
Geo-tagging
Video
1080p@30fps
Secondary
5 MP
SOUND Alert types
Vibration; MP3, WAV ringtones
Loudspeaker
Yes
3.5mm jack
Yes
COMMS WLAN
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, hotspot
Bluetooth
v4.0, A2DP
GPS
Yes, with A-GPS
NFC
Yes
Radio
FM radio
USB
microUSB v2.0
FEATURES Sensors
Accelerometer, proximity, compass
Messaging
SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Mail, IM
Browser
HTML5
Java
No
- MP3/eAAC+ player
- MP4/H.264 player
- Document viewer
- Photo/video editor
BATTERY Li-Ion 2540 mAh battery
Stand-by
Up to 499 h (3G)
Talk time
Up to 9 h (3G)
MISC Colors
Graphite Black, Boron White
|
|
NETWORK
Technology
GSM / HSPA / LTE
LAUNCH
Announced
2016, May
Status
Available. Released 2016, May
BODY
Dimensions
144 x 72.1 x 8 mm (5.67 x 2.84 x 0.31 in)
Weight
128 g (4.52 oz)
SIM
Micro-SIM
DISPLAY
Type
IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
Size
5.0 inches (~66.8% screen-to-body ratio)
Resolution
720 x 1280 pixels (~293 ppi pixel density)
Multitouch
Yes
PLATFORM
OS
Android OS, v6.0.1 (Marshmallow)
Chipset
Qualcomm MSM8909 Snapdragon 210
CPU
Quad-core 1.1 GHz Cortex-A7
GPU
Adreno 304
MEMORY
Card slot
microSD, up to 256 GB (dedicated slot)
Internal
8 GB, 1 GB RAM
CAMERA
Primary
8 MP, autofocus, LED flash
Features
Geo-tagging
Video
1080p@30fps
Secondary
5 MP
SOUND
Alert types
Vibration; MP3, WAV ringtones
Loudspeaker
Yes
3.5mm jack
Yes
COMMS
WLAN
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, hotspot
Bluetooth
v4.0, A2DP
GPS
Yes, with A-GPS
NFC
Yes
Radio
FM radio
USB
microUSB v2.0
FEATURES
Sensors
Accelerometer, proximity, compass
Messaging
SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Mail, IM
Browser
HTML5
Java
No
- MP3/eAAC+ player
- MP4/H.264 player
- Document viewer
- Photo/video editor
BATTERY
Li-Ion 2540 mAh battery
Stand-by
Up to 499 h (3G)
Talk time
Up to 9 h (3G)
MISC
Colors
Graphite Black, Boron White
8. Lenovo Moto G4
Motorola Moto G4 smartphone was launched in May 2016. The phone comes with a 5.50-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 1080 pixels by 1920 pixels at a PPI of 401 pixels per inch. The Motorola Moto G4 is powered by 1.5GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 processor and it comes with 2GB of RAM. The phone packs 16GB of internal storage that can be expanded up to 128GB via a microSD card. As far as the cameras are concerned, the Motorola Moto G4 packs a 13-megapixel primary camera on the rear and a 5-megapixel front shooter for selfies. The Motorola Moto G4 runs Android 6.0.1 and is powered by a 3000mAh non removable battery. It measures 153.00 x 76.60 x 9.80 (height x width x thickness) and weighs 155.00 grams. The Motorola Moto G4 is a dual SIM (GSM and GSM) smartphone that accepts two Micro-SIM. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, FM, 3G, 4G (with support for Band 40 used by some LTE networks in India). Sensors on the phone include Proximity sensor, Ambient light sensor, Accelerometer, and Gyroscope.
About Motorola
Motorola Mobility was established in 2011 following the split of Motorola into two companies, with Motorola Solutions catering to the enterprise segment. Acquired soon after by Google, Motorola Mobility was sold to Lenovo in 2014. Motorola made its first Android smartphone in 2009, and its first Android tablet in 2011.
GENERAL
| Alternate names | XT1624 |
| Release date | May 2016 |
| Form factor | Touchscreen |
| Dimensions (mm) | 153.00 x 76.60 x 9.80 |
| Weight (g) | 155.00 |
| Battery capacity (mAh) | 3000 |
| Removable battery | No |
| Colours | Black, White |
| SAR value | 1.09 |
DISPLAY
| Screen size (inches) | 5.50 |
| Touchscreen | Yes |
| Resolution | 1080x1920 pixels |
| Pixels per inch (PPI) | 401 |
HARDWARE
| Processor | 1.5GHz octa-core |
| Processor make | Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 |
| RAM | 2GB |
| Internal storage | 16GB |
| Expandable storage | Yes |
| Expandable storage type | microSD |
| Expandable storage up to (GB) | 128 |
CAMERA
| Rear camera | 13-megapixel |
| Flash | Yes |
| Front camera | 5-megapixel |
SOFTWARE
| Operating System | Android 6.0.1 |
CONNECTIVITY
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
| Wi-Fi standards supported | 802.11 a/ b/ g/ n |
| GPS | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes, v 4.10 |
| NFC | No |
| Infrared | No |
| USB OTG | Yes |
| Headphones | 3.5mm |
| FM | Yes |
| Number of SIMs | 2 |
| SIM 1 | |
| SIM Type | Micro-SIM |
| GSM/ CDMA | GSM |
| 3G | Yes |
| 4G/ LTE | Yes |
| Supports 4G in India (Band 40) | Yes |
| SIM 2 | |
| SIM Type | Micro-SIM |
| GSM/ CDMA | GSM |
| 3G | Yes |
| 4G/ LTE | Yes |
| Supports 4G in India (Band 40) | Yes |
SENSORS
| Compass/ Magnetometer | No |
| Proximity sensor | Yes |
| Accelerometer | Yes |
| Ambient light sensor | Yes |
| Gyroscope | Yes |
| Barometer | No |
| Temperature sensor | No |
The Moto G phones’ designs have always come across better in person than they do on paper. They’re all pretty thick, chunky things, but their palm-hugging curves make that a non-issue.
Motorola couldn’t afford to try the same trick here though. Thanks to its 5.5in screen the Moto G4 is a flat-out big phone. To compensate, the classic Moto curve on the rear has been flattened, making the phone 9.8mm thick rather than 11.6mm. It’s no waif, but if it hadn’t trimmed down it’d feel like holding a baby hippo. Sort of.
Design standards have been tweaked too. It’s not made of aluminium and unicorn tears, but there’s now a metal-effect trim around the camera and the style of the back cover has been switched from pretty plain plastic to a plastic with a cross-hatched rubberised texture. Like chocolate with salt in it, not everyone’s going to like it from the off, but most will in the end.
That said, there’s one bit I’m not 100 percent sure about: the fake bling. The 'metal' band around the sides of the G4 is actually plastic. In the old Moto G the plastic bits looked like plastic and the metal bits like metal. I liked that. But it does look a bit better.
7. LG G5
LG G5 smartphone was launched in February 2016. The phone comes with a 5.30-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 1440 pixels by 2560 pixels at a PPI of 554 pixels per inch. LG G5 price in India starts from Rs. 39990.
The LG G5 is powered by 2.15GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor and it comes with 4GB of RAM. The phone packs 32GB of internal storage that can be expanded up to 200GB via a microSD card. As far as the cameras are concerned, the LG G5 packs a 16-megapixel primary camera on the rear and a 8-megapixel front shooter for selfies.
The LG G5 runs Android 6.0.1 and is powered by a 2800mAh removable battery. It measures 149.40 x 73.90 x 7.70 (height x width x thickness) and weighs 159.00 grams.
The LG G5 is a dual SIM (GSM and GSM) smartphone that accepts two Nano-SIM. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, NFC, FM, 3G, 4G (with support for Band 40 used by some LTE networks in India). Sensors on the phone include Proximity sensor, Ambient light sensor, Accelerometer, and Gyroscope.
About LG
Founded in Seoul in 1958 as GoldStar, LG Electronics today makes home appliances, mobiles, tablets, and televisions. LG launched its first Android smartphone in 2009, and its first Android tablet in 2011. The company is known for its flagship G series of smartphones and a wide range of products including smart TVs.
GENERAL
| Release date | February 2016 |
| Form factor | Touchscreen |
| Dimensions (mm) | 149.40 x 73.90 x 7.70 |
| Weight (g) | 159.00 |
| Battery capacity (mAh) | 2800 |
| Removable battery | Yes |
| Colours | Silver, Titan, Gold |
| SAR value | 1.40 |
DISPLAY
| Screen size (inches) | 5.30 |
| Touchscreen | Yes |
| Resolution | 1440x2560 pixels |
| Pixels per inch (PPI) | 554 |
HARDWARE
| Processor | 2.15GHz quad-core |
| Processor make | Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 |
| RAM | 4GB |
| Internal storage | 32GB |
| Expandable storage | Yes |
| Expandable storage type | microSD |
| Expandable storage up to (GB) | 200 |
CAMERA
| Rear camera | 16-megapixel |
| Flash | Yes |
| Front camera | 8-megapixel |
SOFTWARE
| Operating System | Android 6.0.1 |
| Skin | Optimus UI 5.0 |
CONNECTIVITY
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
| Wi-Fi standards supported | 802.11 a/ b/ g/ n/ ac |
| GPS | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes, v 4.20 |
| NFC | Yes |
| Infrared | Yes |
| USB OTG | Yes |
| Headphones | 3.5mm |
| FM | Yes |
| Number of SIMs | 2 |
| SIM 1 | |
| SIM Type | Nano-SIM |
| GSM/ CDMA | GSM |
| 3G | Yes |
| 4G/ LTE | Yes |
| Supports 4G in India (Band 40) | Yes |
| SIM 2 | |
| SIM Type | Nano-SIM |
| GSM/ CDMA | GSM |
| 3G | Yes |
| 4G/ LTE | Yes |
| Supports 4G in India (Band 40) | Yes |
SENSORS
| Compass/ Magnetometer | Yes |
| Proximity sensor | Yes |
| Accelerometer | Yes |
| Ambient light sensor | Yes |
| Gyroscope | Yes |
| Barometer | Yes |
| Temperature sensor | No |
There's really nothing wrong with it looks-wise, but it's also fair to say that aesthetics aren't the G5's biggest selling point. After all, its greatest design feature is a button that’ll allow you to rip out its bottom.
Seriously: press down on its lower left-hand edge and you’ll be able to detach the handset’s rear end from its display. Why? So you can lock in LG’s new modular widgets, of course. Until you own one of these gizmos, this mechanism mainly serves as both a crumb magnet and the thing that makes the G5 impossible to waterproof. You see, there’s a very slight gap between the phone’s posterior and the rest of its body that’s prone to collecting any debris you happen to be carrying in your pockets.
Don’t panic - there’s little chance of actually damaging your G5 like this unless you use it in an apocalyptic downpour, and once you get the phone in your hand you’ll be reassured of its quality. At 159g this handset is as light as you’d want it to be, while its curved back is a delight to clasp on to. The G5 sits impeccably well between your fingers and with a thickness of 7.7 mm, it’s ever so slightly thinner than the Samsung Galaxy S7.
6. HTC 10
HTC 10 smartphone was launched in April 2016. The phone comes with a 5.20-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 1440 pixels by 2560 pixels at a PPI of 564 pixels per inch. HTC 10 price in India starts from Rs. 42800.
The HTC 10 is powered by 1.6GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor and it comes with 4GB of RAM. The phone packs 32GB of internal storage that can be expanded up to 2000GB via a microSD card. As far as the cameras are concerned, the HTC 10 packs a 12-Ultrapixel primary camera on the rear and a 5-megapixel front shooter for selfies.
The HTC 10 runs Android 6 and is powered by a 3000mAh non removable battery. It measures 145.90 x 71.90 x 9.00 (height x width x thickness) and weighs 161.00 grams.
The HTC 10 is a single SIM (GSM) smartphone that accepts a Nano-SIM. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, NFC, 4G (with support for Band 40 used by some LTE networks in India). Sensors on the phone include Proximity sensor, Ambient light sensor, Accelerometer, and Gyroscope.
About HTC
Founded in 1997 as a laptop manufacturer, Taiwan-based HTC soon began making smartphones based on Windows Mobile and Brew. It released the first commercial Android smartphone, the HTC Dream, in 2008, and is today a manufacturer of both Android and Windows based smartphones. HTC re-entered the tablet market with the Google Nexus 9 in 2014.
GENERAL
| Release date | April 2016 |
| Form factor | Touchscreen |
| Dimensions (mm) | 145.90 x 71.90 x 9.00 |
| Weight (g) | 161.00 |
| Battery capacity (mAh) | 3000 |
| Removable battery | No |
| SAR value | 0.91 |
DISPLAY
| Screen size (inches) | 5.20 |
| Touchscreen | Yes |
| Resolution | 1440x2560 pixels |
| Pixels per inch (PPI) | 564 |
HARDWARE
| Processor | 1.6GHz quad-core |
| Processor make | Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 |
| RAM | 4GB |
| Internal storage | 32GB |
| Expandable storage | Yes |
| Expandable storage type | microSD |
| Expandable storage up to (GB) | 2000 |
CAMERA
| Rear camera | 12-Ultrapixel |
| Flash | Yes |
| Front camera | 5-megapixel |
SOFTWARE
| Operating System | Android 6 |
| Skin | HTC Sense |
CONNECTIVITY
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
| Wi-Fi standards supported | 802.11 a/ b/ g/ n/ ac |
| GPS | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes, v 4.20 |
| NFC | Yes |
| Infrared | No |
| USB OTG | Yes |
| Headphones | 3.5mm |
| FM | No |
| SIM Type | Nano-SIM |
| GSM/ CDMA | GSM |
| 3G | Yes |
| 4G/ LTE | Yes |
| Supports 4G in India (Band 40) | Yes |
SENSORS
| Compass/ Magnetometer | Yes |
| Proximity sensor | Yes |
| Accelerometer | Yes |
| Ambient light sensor | Yes |
| Gyroscope | Yes |
| Barometer | No |
| Temperature sensor | No |
5. Samsung Galaxy Note 7
Samsung Galaxy Note7 smartphone was launched in August 2016. The phone comes with a 5.70-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 1440 pixels by 2560 pixels at a PPI of 518 pixels per inch.
The Samsung Galaxy Note7 is powered by 1.6GHz octa-core Exynos 8890 processor and it comes with 4GB of RAM. The phone packs 64GB of internal storage that can be expanded up to 256GB via a microSD card. As far as the cameras are concerned, the Samsung Galaxy Note7 packs a 12-megapixel primary camera on the rear and a 5-megapixel front shooter for selfies.
The Samsung Galaxy Note7 runs Android 6.0.1 and is powered by a 3500mAh non removable battery. It measures 153.50 x 73.90 x 7.90 (height x width x thickness) and weighs 169.00 grams.
The Samsung Galaxy Note7 is a dual SIM (GSM and GSM) smartphone that accepts two Nano-SIM. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, NFC, 3G, 4G (with support for Band 40 used by some LTE networks in India). Sensors on the phone include Proximity sensor, Ambient light sensor, Accelerometer, and Gyroscope.
About Samsung
Founded back in 1969 as Samsung Electric Industries, Suwon, South Korea-headquartered Samsung Electronics today makes everything from televisions to semiconductors. It released its first Android smartphone in 2009, and can be credited with the launch of the first Android tablet back in 2010. The company is among the biggest players in the smartphone market in the world. It has recently developed smartphones running Tizen OS, as an alternative to its Android-based smartphones.
You'd be a fool to do so though, because those curves on the Note 7 significantly reduce its footprint (handprint?), making it remarkably easy to hold. Given that it has a whopping 5.7in screen, that's no mean feat.
Indeed, the Note 7 never once felt ungainly, even in my tiny hands, thanks to those curvaceous and slimming edges. It’s like an infinity pool in your palm.
The slim metal frame feels fantastic between your fingers, rivalling the S7 Edge for that 'just right' combination of curves and corners. At 7.9mm it’s super-slim, too - you’ll have no problem sliding it into a pair of skinny jeans.
Looks-wise, it's a stunner. I vaguely recall reading somewhere that as a species, we find symmetry attractive. I can't back that up with any scientific research right now, but I can say this - the Note 7's symmetrical design is absolutely lovely.
The front of the handset is a single slab of curved glass, and gives off strong Galaxy S7 Edge vibes. Unlike the Edge however, the Note 7's rear perfectly mirrors the front, with an identical slab of curved glass wrapping around the back and sides to meet its twin, making for a more comfortable feel in the hands.
The end result is a wonderfully rounded smartphone that almost feels pebble-like when you’re holding it, and its build quality feels as premium and as well-made as we've come to expect from Samsung, and indeed, Apple and HTC.
A quick peek at the bottom shows off a USB-C port - a first for a Samsung flagship, along with, of course, the embedded S Pen.
4. Apple iPhone 7
Apple iPhone 7 smartphone was launched in September 2016. The phone comes with a 4.70-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 750 pixels by 1334 pixels at a PPI of 326 pixels per inch.
The Apple iPhone 7 is powered by quad-core Apple A10 Fusion processor and it 32GB of internal storage cannot be expanded. As far as the cameras are concerned, the Apple iPhone 7 packs a 12-megapixel primary camera on the rear and a 7-megapixel front shooter for selfies.
The Apple iPhone 7 runs iOS 10. It measures 138.30 x 67.10 x 7.10 (height x width x thickness) and weighs 138.00 grams.
The Apple iPhone 7 is a single SIM (GSM) smartphone that accepts a Nano-SIM. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, NFC, 4G (with support for Band 40 used by some LTE networks in India). Sensors on the phone include Proximity sensor, Ambient light sensor, Accelerometer, and Gyroscope.
About Apple
Founded in a garage in 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne, Apple began as a personal computer pioneer that today makes everything from laptops to portable media players. Headquartered in Cupertino, California, the consumer electronics giant entered the smartphone market with the iPhone in 2007, and the tablet market with the iPad in 2010, and the smartwatch market with the Apple Watch in 2014.
The Home button has had a major overhaul - in fact, it’s not actually a button any more. Psych! Instead, it’s now one with the phone and uses Apple’s new Taptic engine (Apple’s fancy word for haptic feedback) to mimic the feel of a button.
It works just like the fancy new MacBook trackpad, which means you can customise how ‘clicky’ you want it, but even so it still takes some getting used to. That’s mainly because clicking isn’t isolated to the button - rather, it feels like you’re clicking the entire bottom of the phone and feel it through the rest of the phone.
This is hardly a deal-breaker, but might throw off long-time Apple fans when they first try it. Still, once you get used to it there are good reasons to be pleased about the new Taptic Home. Apps, for instance, can use the Taptic engine to add force feedback; the Zombie Gunship demo I tried had different vibrations for different weapons, which really adds another dimension to gaming on the go. You even get that nice clicky feedback when you scroll through your list of contacts within WhatsApp. There are going to be a lot more missed bus and train stops once the iPhone 7 arrives.
3. Samsung Galaxy S7
Samsung Galaxy S7 smartphone was launched in February 2016. The phone comes with a 5.10-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 1440 pixels by 2560 pixels at a PPI of 577 pixels per inch. Samsung Galaxy S7 price in India starts from Rs. 42900.
The Samsung Galaxy S7 is powered by 1.6GHz octa-core and it comes with 4GB of RAM. The phone packs 32GB of internal storage that can be expanded up to 200GB via a microSD card. As far as the cameras are concerned, the Samsung Galaxy S7 packs a 12-megapixel primary camera on the rear and a 5-megapixel front shooter for selfies.
The Samsung Galaxy S7 runs Android 6.0 and is powered by a 3000mAh non removable battery. It measures 142.40 x 69.60 x 7.90 (height x width x thickness) and weighs 152.00 grams.
The Samsung Galaxy S7 is a dual SIM (GSM and GSM) smartphone Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, NFC, 3G, 4G (with support for Band 40 used by some LTE networks in India). Sensors on the phone include Proximity sensor, Ambient light sensor, Accelerometer, and Gyroscope.
About Samsung
Founded back in 1969 as Samsung Electric Industries, Suwon, South Korea-headquartered Samsung Electronics today makes everything from televisions to semiconductors. It released its first Android smartphone in 2009, and can be credited with the launch of the first Android tablet back in 2010. The company is among the biggest players in the smartphone market in the world. It has recently developed smartphones running Tizen OS, as an alternative to its Android-based smartphones.
GENERAL
| Release date | February 2016 |
| Form factor | Touchscreen |
| Dimensions (mm) | 142.40 x 69.60 x 7.90 |
| Weight (g) | 152.00 |
| Battery capacity (mAh) | 3000 |
| Removable battery | No |
| SAR value | NA |
DISPLAY
| Screen size (inches) | 5.10 |
| Touchscreen | Yes |
| Resolution | 1440x2560 pixels |
| Pixels per inch (PPI) | 577 |
HARDWARE
| Processor | 1.6GHz octa-core |
| RAM | 4GB |
| Internal storage | 32GB |
| Expandable storage | Yes |
| Expandable storage type | microSD |
| Expandable storage up to (GB) | 200 |
CAMERA
| Rear camera | 12-megapixel |
| Flash | Yes |
| Front camera | 5-megapixel |
SOFTWARE
| Operating System | Android 6.0 |
CONNECTIVITY
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
| Wi-Fi standards supported | 802.11 a/ b/ g/ n/ ac |
| GPS | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes, v 4.20 |
| NFC | Yes |
| Infrared | No |
| USB OTG | Yes |
| Headphones | 3.5mm |
| FM | No |
| Number of SIMs | 2 |
| SIM 1 | |
| GSM/ CDMA | GSM |
| 3G | Yes |
| 4G/ LTE | Yes |
| Supports 4G in India (Band 40) | Yes |
| SIM 2 | |
| GSM/ CDMA | GSM |
| 3G | Yes |
| 4G/ LTE | Yes |
| Supports 4G in India (Band 40) | Yes |
SENSORS
| Compass/ Magnetometer | Yes |
| Proximity sensor | Yes |
| Accelerometer | Yes |
| Ambient light sensor | Yes |
| Gyroscope | Yes |
| Barometer | Yes |
| Temperature sensor | No |
The company that stuck a huge 10x zoom lens on the Galaxy S4, made seven Gear wearables in less than three years and paid Jay-Z US$5 million so that it could release his album for free? Well, those days are over.
The Galaxy S7 heralds the dawn of a new era. Welcome to the age of ‘sensible Samsung’, a smartphone maker of dependable excellence. Its latest flagship handset is the technological equivalent of a Steven Spielberg movie: the whole thing just oozes with quality.
Granted, this is not the most exciting gadget of 2016. Compared to LG’s G5, the Galaxy S7 barely registers on the Richter scale of smartphone innovation. It looks almost identical to last year’s Galaxy S6, but has a better camera and has brought back the Galaxy S5’s water-resistance and microSD card slot.
If this all seems a bit boring to you, then fair enough. The Galaxy S7 doesn’t offer an alternative take on Apple’s pressure-sensitive 3D Touch tech or the ability to upgrade your phone with modular wizardry. This smartphone is single-minded in its pursuit of simplicity, and it’s this lack of bloat or overreach that serves it so.
2. Apple IPhone 7 Plus
Apple iPhone 7 Plus smartphone was launched in September 2016. The phone comes with a 5.50-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 1080 pixels by 1920 pixels at a PPI of 401 pixels per inch.
The Apple iPhone 7 Plus is powered by quad-core Apple A10 Fusion processor and it comes with 3GB of RAM. The phone packs 32GB of internal storage cannot be expanded. As far as the cameras are concerned, the Apple iPhone 7 Plus packs a 12-megapixel primary camera on the rear and a 7-megapixel front shooter for selfies.
The Apple iPhone 7 Plus runs iOS 10 and is powered by a 2900mAh non removable battery. It measures 158.20 x 77.90 x 7.30 (height x width x thickness) and weighs 188.00 grams.
The Apple iPhone 7 Plus is a single SIM (GSM) smartphone that accepts a Nano-SIM. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, 4G (with support for Band 40 used by some LTE networks in India). Sensors on the phone include Proximity sensor, Ambient light sensor, Accelerometer, and Gyroscope.
About Apple
Founded in a garage in 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne, Apple began as a personal computer pioneer that today makes everything from laptops to portable media players. Headquartered in Cupertino, California, the consumer electronics giant entered the smartphone market with the iPhone in 2007, and the tablet market with the iPad in 2010, and the smartwatch market with the Apple Watch in 2014.
Apple iPhone 7 launches in India October 7, and the final prices for the devices are already here. Apple has announced the prices for the iPhone 7 on their official India website. The starting price of the iPhone 7 will be Rs 60,000.
According to Apple’s website, iPhone 7 32GB will retail at Rs 60,000; the 128GB version at Rs 70,000, and the 256GB version at Rs 80,000. The iPhone 7 Plus on the other hand will be priced at Rs 72,000 for the 32GB variant; Rs 82,000 for the 128GB version, and Rs 92,000 for the 256GB phone.
Both versions of the iPhone 7 are running Apple’s new A10 Fusion chipset which the company claims will allow gaming at a console-level. The 4.7-inch iPhone 7 comes with a 12MP rear camera with a bigger f/1.8 aperture and Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS). The 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Plus features Apple’s first dual camera array, which couples a wide-angle lens with a telephoto lens – giving users 2X optical zoom when needed and the ability for 10x digital zoom.
The iPhone 7 also ditches the physical home button in favour of a redesigned home button with haptic feedback. The battery in both devices has also been increased from the previous generation. The new phones will be available in five colour options – Black, Silver, Gold, Rose Gold and Jet Black. The Jet Black colour for the iPhone 7 will only be available with the 128Gb and the 256GB versions of the phone.
1. OnePlus 3
OnePlus 3 smartphone was launched in June 2016. The phone comes with a 5.50-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 1080 pixels by 1920 pixels at a PPI of 401 pixels per inch.
The OnePlus 3 is powered by 1.6GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor and it comes with 6GB of RAM. The phone packs 64GB of internal storage cannot be expanded. As far as the cameras are concerned, the OnePlus 3 packs a 16-megapixel primary camera on the rear and a 8-megapixel front shooter for selfies.
The OnePlus 3 runs Android 6.0.1 and is powered by a 3000mAh non removable battery. It measures 152.70 x 74.70 x 7.35 (height x width x thickness) and weighs 158.00 grams.
The OnePlus 3 is a dual SIM (GSM and GSM) smartphone that accepts two Nano-SIM. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, NFC, 3G, 4G (with support for Band 40 used by some LTE networks in India). Sensors on the phone include Proximity sensor, Ambient light sensor, Accelerometer, and Gyroscope.
About OnePlus
OnePlus is a Shenzhen-based start-up and producer of smartphones founded in December, 2013. The company's claim to fame is its bid to offer flagship-level specs in its smartphones, at affordable prices. OnePlus initially sold its smartphones only through an invite system where customers would be sent an invite to purchase smartphones and they had to make the purchase within a fixed time frame. Of late the company has held open sales of its smartphones too.
GENERAL
| Release date | June 2016 |
| Form factor | Touchscreen |
| Dimensions (mm) | 152.70 x 74.70 x 7.35 |
| Weight (g) | 158.00 |
| Battery capacity (mAh) | 3000 |
| Removable battery | No |
| Colours | Graphite, Soft Gold |
| SAR value | 0.78 |
DISPLAY
| Screen size (inches) | 5.50 |
| Touchscreen | Yes |
| Resolution | 1080x1920 pixels |
| Pixels per inch (PPI) | 401 |
HARDWARE
| Processor | 1.6GHz quad-core |
| Processor make | Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 |
| RAM | 6GB |
| Internal storage | 64GB |
CAMERA
| Rear camera | 16-megapixel |
| Flash | Yes |
| Front camera | 8-megapixel |
SOFTWARE
| Operating System | Android 6.0.1 |
| Skin | OxygenOS 3.1.1 |
CONNECTIVITY
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
| Wi-Fi standards supported | 802.11 a/ b/ g/ n/ ac |
| GPS | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes, v 4.20 |
| NFC | Yes |
| Infrared | No |
| USB OTG | Yes |
| Headphones | 3.5 mm |
| FM | No |
| Number of SIMs | 2 |
| SIM 1 | |
| SIM Type | Nano-SIM |
| GSM/ CDMA | GSM |
| 3G | Yes |
| 4G/ LTE | Yes |
| Supports 4G in India (Band 40) | Yes |
| SIM 2 | |
| SIM Type | Nano-SIM |
| GSM/ CDMA | GSM |
| 3G | Yes |
| 4G/ LTE | Yes |
| Supports 4G in India (Band 40) | Yes |
SENSORS
| Compass/ Magnetometer | Yes |
| Proximity sensor | Yes |
| Accelerometer | Yes |
| Ambient light sensor | Yes |
| Gyroscope | Yes |
| Barometer | No |
| Temperature sensor | No |
This time around there are no choices about the basic spec, though. All OnePlus 3s have 64GB storage, which is loads. And, lest we never forget, four times the amount you'll get from an entry-level iPhone 6s. However, there’s no microSD slot.
In the past I’ve accused phone-makers of digging out card slots to make us want to buy a more expensive version with more memory. But here, well, there isn’t one. OnePlus’s Carl Pei says it’s because that kind of memory card use, where the storage gets sucked into main memory, doesn’t get you a good experience.
With 64GB to play with, I don’t care about the lack of microSD. But if you’re one of the five people hot-swapping 128GB microSD cards in your phone, think twice about the OnePlus 3. At least NFC has finally been added, though.
