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Asus ZenFone Zoom 2024 Review

February 8, 2016 Richard Gomez 5

Innovation tends to reach a saturation point after a while, which bogs down pretty much ever facet of technology. What do you do when those eureka moments start drying up and you find yourself looking for something new to wow your audience with? Putting a fresh spin on old technology seems like one way to go about it. Smartphone cameras with optical zoom have been around ever since Nokia launched the N90, way back when. This didn't exactly catch on since no one likes carrying a bulky camera in their pockets, which is what these phones essentially were.
Samsung has toyed with this idea a bit, with its last attempt being the Galaxy K Zoom over two years ago. The 10X optical zoom was the highlight of this phone but it was still more of a digital camera than a smartphone.
Asus has never known to shy away from experimenting with hybrid devices and its latest incarnation is the ZenFone Zoom. This is its attempt at a smartphone with optical zoom and thankfully, it hasn't compromi..

Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 9.7 LTE Review [year]

Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 9.7 LTE Review 2024

February 11, 2016 Richard Gomez 0

Apple has been king of the hill in the premium tablet segment ever since the original iPad launched back in 2010. We've seen some decent attempts from the Android camp over the years, but none have managed to create that “must-have” craze Apple has so successfully been able to achieve. Samsung wishes to change this with its newly launched Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 tablet. This is the successor to the Galaxy Tab S, which the company launched last year.

In India, Samsung has decided to test the waters first by launching only a single model from the new Galaxy Tab S2 series – the Galaxy Tab S2 9.7 LTE. At Rs 39,400, the tablet goes up against the HTC Google Nexus 9 and the Apple iPad Air 2. So, has Samsung made a product compelling enough for you to choose it over the obvious choice? Let's find out.
Look and Feel
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 gets a much-needed upgrade in the build and aesthetics department. Compared to last year's model, which was made of plastic, the Galaxy Ta..

Asus ZenFone Max 2024 Review

June 25, 2018 Richard Gomez 0

The last few months have seen an increasing focus on battery size, in a bid to answer the growing demand for devices that won't shut down on you before you go to bed every night. Apart from many mid-range and high-end phones offering batteries with capacities in excess of 3000mAh, smartphones such as the Gionee Marathon M5 (Review | Pictures) and Lenovo Vibe P1 (Review | Pictures) have gone above and beyond the norms with 6020mAh and 4900mAh batteries respectively.
Not one to miss out on the current trends, Asus has launched the ZenFone Max, a phone that announced in August last year. This lower mid-range smartphone costs Rs. 9,999 and is distinguishable by its large 5000mAh battery. It's considerably cheaper than the Marathon M5 and Vibe P1, and has a specification sheet that is geared towards achieving maximum power efficiency. Is the ZenFone Max the energy efficient Android smartphone that you need? Let's find out in our review.
Look and feel
The ZenFone range from ..

Gionee Marathon M5 2024 review

February 16, 2017 Richard Gomez 0

Battery life was never a problem back in the pre-smartphone era, but ever since we became slaves to touchscreens, it has been a major concern. Until new technology is developed, we are stuck with Lithium Ion batteries and there's only so much it can deliver. The most obvious way to get more battery life is increase size and capacity, which is exactly what Gionee has been doing with its Marathon series.
We reviewed the Marathon M4 (Review | Pictures) quite recently, which shattered our internal battery life record in a test of continuous video playback. We're expecting the Marathon M5 to do even better, as this time, Gionee has squeezed in two 3010mAh batteries for good measure. But is the Marathon M5 a phone you can actually live with or is it merely a power bank masquerading as a phone? Has Gionee fixed all the issues with its predecessor to make it more likable? Let's find out.
Look and feel
The Marathon M5 features a combination of metal and plastic which feels stu..

Obi Worldphone SF1 – 2024 Review

January 5, 2018 Richard Gomez 0

Obi Mobiles made its debut in India last year as a provider of low-cost Android smartphones. What made this company different from numerous others newcomers is that it had a strong backer; ex-Apple CEO John Sculley to be precise. However, Obi Mobiles seemed like every other company, picking an Original Design Manufacturer (ODM) from China to design and manufacture phones to sell under its own name. The company's debut offering, the Obi Octopus S520 (Review | Pictures) only focused on specifications but failed to address other key areas like aesthetics and user experience.
Cut to 2015 and Obi Mobiles has reemerged as Obi Worldphone. The focus of the company continues to be budget smartphones for emerging markets, but it's now putting the user experience and aesthetics first. The phones and their UI are now designed by a Californian design studio called Ammunition, founded by Robert Brunner, who was the Director of Industrial Design at Apple in the past.
Today, we'll be..

Micromax Canvas 5 – 2024 Review

November 27, 2017 Richard Gomez 0

The Canvas 5 is Micromax's new flagship offering, arriving nearly two years after its predecessor. Priced in the chaotic sub-Rs. 15,000 segment, the Canvas 5 aims to deliver stellar camera performance without costing buyers a whole lot of cash. Let's see if it can make a strong impression on us.
Look and feel
The Micromax Canvas 5 scores some brownie points for its 2.5D curved arc display which saves it from getting lost in a sea of look-alikes. The front is made of Corning Gorilla Glass 3 for protection against scratches. The rest of the phone isn't too exciting to look at and won't be turning heads. The metal frame on the sides offers decent grip and the buttons are well within the reach of your thumb when you hold it. The volume rocker feels a bit stiff but the power button has better response. There's a 3.5mm headphone socket at the top and a Micro-USB port at the bottom.
The back is covered by a textured plastic cover which is removable. However, this is..

HTC One E9s Dual SIM Review

November 18, 2017 Richard Gomez 0

HTC was a major player in the Android smartphone market not too long ago, but has been on a steady decline. It's evident when you see that HTC's share in the India smartphone market is just 1.4 percent, down from 10 percent in Q3 2011. Last year's HTC One (M8) (Review | Pictures) got some praise from us, but this year's flagship HTC One M9+ (Review) left us wanting more. HTC hasn't produced a clear winner in a very long time.

The Taiwanese manufacturer hasn't quite given up just yet, and one of its latest launches in India is the HTC One E9s Dual SIM. The device is a part of the top-end One range of products, but is more affordable than its flagship namesakes. With its plastic body and typically mid-range spec-sheet, the One E9s Dual SIM, on paper, seems like an overpriced mid-range smartphone. We find out if there's more to it in our review.
Look and feel
Although the One E9s Dual SIM is to be considered among the top tier of HTC smartphones, its pl..

OnePlus X 2024 Review

February 20, 2016 Richard Gomez 0

You've probably heard of OnePlus. This small smartphone manufacturer from China was founded less than two years ago by a former vice-president of Oppo and set up shop in India late last year. The company uses an innovative invite-based system for distributing limited quantities of its devices while creating hype and a level of demand that far outstrips the supply. The marketing department of OnePlus is run by absolute geniuses.
Soon after launching this year's 'flagship killer', the OnePlus 2 (Review), the company launched a more budget-friendly model, the Rs. 16,999 OnePlus X. Our initial impressions of the device were that it is essentially a smaller OnePlus One (Review | Pictures). Is this all the 'little' OnePlus is about, or is there more to it? Find out in our review.
Look and feel
Initially (and unofficially) referred to as the OnePlus Mini, the X is smaller and easier to handle than either of the company's previous smartphones. Apart from the ..

Micromax Canvas Selfie 2 Review 2024

February 16, 2016 Richard Gomez 0

Indians, like many others, are obsessed with the selfie and smartphone makers are only happy to oblige. While some feel this menace should be banned, there's no denying that the trend has given birth to niche market for gadgets and accessories to fulfil your selfie appetite. After our recent outing with the Asus Zenfone Selfie (Review | Pictures), which happened to be a pretty decent phone, we have the second generation of Micromax's offering based on the same theme, the Canvas Selfie 2.

Unlike Asus, Micromax is targeting the cash-strapped individual for whom pouting in front of a lens is almost a religion. At Rs. 5,999, it's one of the cheapest 'selfie' smartphones in the market, but is it worth it? Let's find out.
Look and feel
The build and finish of entry-level smartphones have certainly improved over the years. The Canvas Selfie 2 actually has decent construction quality and the plastics used don't feel overly cheap. Micromax has borrowed some..

Nexus 6P Review 2024

February 13, 2016 Richard Gomez 0

Google's Nexus range of devices has become iconic, with a devoted following. In a departure from precedent, this year's Nexus range has two smartphones: the Nexus 5X (Review | Pictures) and the Nexus 6P. The current Nexus device has always been used to show off the newest version of Android, and now Android Marshmallow comes pre-loaded on both new models.
While the polycarbonate Nexus 5X has been designed to appeal to the majority of buyers thanks to its convenient size and lower price, the Huawei-built Nexus 6P is an all-metal powerhouse of a smartphone. Priced at Rs. 39,999 for the 32GB variant and Rs. 42,999 for the 64GB variant, the Nexus 6P is Google's idea of premium. This is a device meant to satisfy the needs of the Android elite; the no-holds-barred smartphone that represents Android in the purest sense. Does the Nexus 6P live up to those expectations? We find out in our review.
Look and feel
The 6P is the flagship product of the Nexus range, and Google has stat..

Moto X Style Review: Falling a Bit Short

February 22, 2016 Richard Gomez 0

Motorola struck a chord with Android purists with the original Moto X back in 2013, and it resonated loud and clear in India too. Since then, the company has been on a winning streak with very successful launches in the budget and upper mid-range phone segments. The company's outgoing flagship, the Moto X (Gen 2) (Review | Pictures), added some much-needed improvements to the camera and battery performance of the original. Today, we have the third generation of the device, but instead of calling it 'Gen 3', Motorola has gone with the name Moto X Style or Pure Edition, as its known in some countries.

The Moto X Style features incremental updates in most areas and fixes one major gripe we had with its predecessor, which was the lack of expandable storage. But is this enough to make it a must-have for those shopping in the Rs 30,000 segment? Motorola's own Google Nexus 6 (Review | Pictures) retails for around the same price point today, and offers very similar specif..