Karbonn S1 Titanium Quad Core Smartphone, Now Open For Pre-booking

Although not officially released, Karbonn has showcased on its website a new quad core smartphone, the S1 Titanium that runs on the Android Jelly Bean platform. We expect the Karbonn S1 Titanium which is open for pre-booking on the manufacturer's site, to be priced around Rs. 13,000.

According to the website, key specifications of the Karbonn S1 Titanium are:

• 4.5 inch Capacitive touchscreen display, 540x960 pixels
• Android Jellybean operating system (version 4.1)
• 1.2 GHz quad core processor
• 5 MP Auto Focus camera
• dual SIM support
• 4GB internal memory; expandable up to 32GB with micro SD card
• Bluetooth, 3G, GSM, GPRS, EDGE, Wi-Fi connectivity supported

Micromax (reportedly released more phablets than Samsung in the last couple of months) is also a player in the budget-priced quad-core smartphone arena, with its Micromax A116 Canvas HD. The A116 one-ups the Titanium S1 on the specifications with its 5" display and dual-cameras including an 8MP rear camera, and is  priced at 11,000.

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Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 P3110 Now Open For Booking In India, Will Arrive In February

The Galaxy Tab 2 3110 is now officially open for pre booking on the Samsung India eStore for Rs 13,900. Galaxy Tab 2 311 is the Wi-Fi-only variant of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 3100.  It sports a 7" display and runs on the Android 4.1 Jellybean platform.

The Galaxy Tab 2 3110 weighs in at a portable 345 grams, and is available in White and Silver colors. Since it does not have a SIM card slot, keep in mind that this 7" tablet won't be able to make voice calls or 3G video calls.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 3110 is expected to be released during the first week of February. Specifications of the device are:

• 7" IPS display, 1024x600 pixels.
• Android 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system.
• Dual-core 1 GHz Processor.
• 3 megapixel rear camera with 720p HD video recording capability; 0.3 mp VGA front camera.
• 1 GB RAM.
• 16 GB internal storage, microSD card slot to add up to 32 GB.
• Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and A-GPS connectivity.
• Face-Unlock feature is part of Jelly Bean.

The Google Nexus 7 tablet (by Asus) is similar in terms of the screen size (7"), connectivity (WiFi-only, minus GSM/3G capabilities) and Android Jelly Bean (version 4.1). But its higher screen resolution, 1.2 GHz quad-core Tegra 3 CPU and ULP Ge Force GPU push up its price to Rs 18,000.

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Three alternatives to the Samsung Galaxy Grand Duos

 

Yes, even though the Samsung Galaxy Grand has a 5-inch display with a paltry 480x800 pixel resolution and a lukewarm 1.2GHz dual-core processor, it is still an impressive device.

At the launch event, the information wasn’t available as to what SoC the Galaxy Grand Duos had under the hood. After quite a bit of digging we found that the device runs on the Broadcom chipset, particularly the 1.2GHz dual-core BCM28155 SoC that is also powering the Samsung Galaxy S II Plus.

In terms of other specifications, the Samsung Galaxy Grand I9082 has 1GB of RAM. It runs on Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean straight out of the box and has Samsung TouchWiz UI. The device is quite slim at 9.6mm and weighs 162 grams. It has 8GB built-in storage expandable up to 64GB via a microSD card. It has an 8MP (BSI sensor) rear camera with the ability to record video in full 1080p HD and a 2MP front facing camera. It has Bluetooth 4.0 and a 2100mAh battery.

Recently, we have also seen the announcement of the Micromax A116 Canvas HD. The Micromax A116 Canvas HD is quad-core powered (a 1.2GHz MediaTek MT 6589 processor), and sports a 5-inch IPS display with a 1280x720 pixel resolution. Under the hood, it has quad-core along with 1GB of RAM. It also shows off a PowerVR SGX5 GPU. The A116 boasts of dual-SIM capabilities. It has 4GB built-in storage expandable up to 32GB via a microSD card. The rear of the device houses an 8MP camera whereas the front has a 0.3MP shooter for video chatting. It also has a 2100mAh battery. 

Both the new 5-inch devices from Samsung and Micromax are quite impressive.

Both these devices will hit store shelves in February. If you are in a rush to pick up a 5-inch phablet today, here are three dual-SIM Android options worth considering.

Lenovo IdeaPhone K860 (Rs. 28,499)

The current king of the quad-core race is the Samsung Galaxy Note II and that is of course the obvious choice, but we want to bring a great underdog to light here. The power under the hood of the K860 is very good. It has an Exynos 4412 quad-core processor clocked at 1.4GHz along with 1GB RAM. It also has Mali 400-MP GPU. The 5-inch display has a 1280 x 720 pixel resolution. The great thing about this device is that it is impressive at multitasking and the display is good for consuming multimedia content. It is premium priced at Rs. 28,499 but it is bang for your buck! It runs on Android 4.0 ICS and there is no information on whether the device will be upgradable to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. It also sports a 2200mAh battery, which is a behemoth. If you have a sub-Rs. 30k budget, you should definitely consider this underdog.

Spice Stellar Horizon (Rs. 12,499)

If you are on sub-Rs. 15k budget you may want to consider the Spice Stellar Horizon. The device may not be one of the first budget phablets to hit store shelves, but it is one worth checking out. It has a better display and louder audio output than others, a good battery life and is good at multitasking despite possessing low RAM. On the down side, the camera isn’t great and the build looks quite bland. The 5-inch display has a 480x800 pixel resolution and under the hood, the Stellar Horizon it has a 1GHz dual-core processor with 512MB of RAM. The RAM may be a bit low, but it gets the job done of running the apps and basic multitasking. The device has a massive 2400mAh battery, which has the potential to last more than a day and that is a very good thing. The display has better viewing angles than its competitors. 

Magicon mNote (Rs. 9,999)

The sub-Rs. 10K price bracket is reserved for those that are looking for their first smart device. It isn’t necessary that these devices are bad, but they may not be the best of performers. But we managed to find an exception to the rule here. It is said, to be the best in the market you need to first copy the best. The Magicon mNote can easily be mistaken for the first generation Samsung Galaxy Note. Why? Well, the design is an absolute replica. Most of you may overlook this device just because of its name, Magicon mNote. But here’s what the device has going for it. In raw performance, its scores best on the benchmarks in the sub 10k category. It runs on Android 4.1, which isn’t there on any of its brethren’s straight out of the box, and it’s a little heavy, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. What goes against it is the fact that it has a brand name that no one has heard of, a lack luster camera. If you are one who is ready to take a risk with a new device and likes a performer, then you can consider picking this one up. Under the hood it has a 1GHz dual-core processor and 512MB of RAM.

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Idea Ivory

After launching two phones with names that sound like those of galaxies (of the space kind) - ID 918 and Aurus - Idea launched its third Android phone, with a more earthly name, 'Ivory', a couple of days back. With the phone having hit the market, the mobile operator held a Bloggers meet to showcase its latest phone in India. TechTree was there to get a feel of this phone.
The dual SIM, 3G Ivory is based on a Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) platform. Despite the Idea branding, the phone can be used with other SIM cards. If you go with Idea, however, you get benefits like 1 GB of free data every month for first 3 months (that should amount to about Rs 100 per month) and internet TV at a price tag of Rs. 150 per month.
The handset is manufacturer by Alcatel and is globally known as the One Touch 930D. I wouldn't complain about this though, as rebranding or rebadging is not objectionable by itself. After all, even the larger manufacturers do not make the entire phone themselves, but source components from a variety of suppliers. Some companies, including the lot of the Indian ones, take this a step further and buy in bulk (and also order a customized model) fully assembled phones.

Design
The phone looks like a run-of-the-mill budget Android device, which it is. Or let's put it this way: it has all the attributes of an entry-level phone such as mediocre plastic quality and faux metal on the sides. The only visible difference (compared to a standard Android phone) I could spot was the additional button placed below the default capacitive Android keys. This tactile button allows you to create a list of your favourite apps for quick access. While the idea sounds good, I didn't find it very useful in real world usage (Android allows you to pin apps to your home screen(s). If this button was customizible for other tasks, it would have been a nifty feature.




Screen And Specs
The phone's 3.5" capacitive screen has pixel dimensions of 320x480. During the testing, I didn't encounter any issue with its touch response. I can live with low-resolution, but the screen's colour reproduction is disappointing, even at this price range. And, no, am not comparing it with AMOLED or IPS panels. This screen looks extremely washed out, and the refresh-rate became very annoying when scrolling through text in the browser. This surely has to be one of the worst screens I've seen on phones after the Spice Stellar Horizon Mi-500. The Ivory is powered by a 1 GHz processor, and has 512 MB of RAM. Apart from that, you get a 3.2 mp camera and 4 GB internal storage. The detailed list of features is placed at the end of this article.


Software
Idea hasn't made many changes to the stock Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), which is a good thing. The 1 GHz CPU and 512 MB RAM do well in keeping the basic operations smooth. I tried multitasking with few apps, and it all went well except for a slight stutter. The default browser offers decent page rendering speed. Idea's 3G connection worked reliably during my brief test. The handset comes preloaded with Facebook, Twitter, Chrome, and Documents To Go. Since indoors photography isn't ideal to judge the camera performance, am not making comments on that front. 




Closing Thoughts
The Idea Ivory is priced at Rs 7400, and is available through major mobile retail stores across the country. The handset is competing in a very crowded entry-level smartphone segment, where Micromax and Lava are offering better spec'd phones for cheaper. For example, Micromax A68 Smarty 4.0 and Lava's Iris N400 offer bigger and better screen for the price tag of around Rs 6500. Even after taking Idea's data offers into consideration, I think it's a rough road ahead for the Ivory unless Idea reduces its price.

Specification:

• 3.5" capacitive screen with 320x480 pixels.
• 1 GHz processor, 512 MB of RAM.
• 4 GB internal storage, MicroSD card slot (supports up to 32 GB).
• 3.2 megapixel front camera, front-facing VGA camera.
• Dual-SIM (GSM), Supports 3G.
• Wi-Fi, A-GPS, Bluetooth.
• 1300 mAh battery.
• Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich).

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Lava Unveils Dual-SIM Iris 501 "Phablet" For Rs 10,000

Lava has started the news year by adding a "phablet" to its smartphone portfolio. The new entrant, called Iris 501, features a 5" screen. Similar to the Zync Cloud Z5 Dual Core handset, this phone also has low pixel density of 187 ppi. The handset comes with dual-SIM (GSM) functionality, with support for 3G. It's powered by a dual-core 1 GHz CPU, and has 512 MB of RAM. For your photography needs, there's a 5 mp camera with autofocus. On the software front, it comes with Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) out of the box. Here's the list of detailed specifications:

• 5.0" capacitive multi-touch screen with pixel dimensions of 480x800.
• 1 GHz dual-core processor, 512 MB of RAM.
• Android 4.0 (ICS)
• 5.0 mp rear camera with autofocus, front-facing 0.3 mp camera.
• Bluetooth ,Wi-Fi, GPS.
• Dual-SIM (GSM), Supports 3G.
• FM radio.
• Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Magnetometer, Ambient Light, Proximity sensor.
• 4 GB internal storage, MicroSD card slot (supports up to 32 GB).
• 2300 mAh Li-Po battery.

The Lava Iris 501 is priced at Rs 10,000, and comes with a some free goodies including an additional back panel and 4 GB microSD card. When compared to recently released Zync Z5 Cloud, this definitely seems like a better deal. In case, you're looking for more options, you can also consider Micromax's A110 Canvas 2, Intex Aqua 5.0, and Mercury Magiq.

Nokia Lumia 920

After much delay, Nokia's latest Lumia phones finally reached Indian shores. Since we have already reviewed the much coveted Nokia Lumia 920, we decided to spend most of our time with its younger sibling — the Nokia Lumia 820. At first glance, the Lumia 820 looks very similar to the 920 except for a relatively smaller screen and flat design. The device's glossy back cover doesn't help with the grip, and chances of the phone slipping from your hand is high. The right side of the device sports a volume rocker, power switch and the dedicated camera button. The buttons were quick to respond, however, they are slightly hard to press (the Nokia spokesperson was quick to point out that unlike the test units, the on sale handsets will be a lot easier to handle; we dont get the logic though).



The handset has an AMOLED display producing deep blacks. The pixel dimensions of 480x800 result in a relatively low pixel density of 217 ppi on its 4.3" screen. Despite this, images appear sharp. The Lumia 820 is powered by the same dual-core 1.5 GHz CPU as is the case with the Lumia 920, giving you a buttery-smooth navigation on the UI. Unlike the flagship Lumia 920 though, the Lumia 820 has a micro-SD card slot which expands the storage capacity to as much as 64 GB. Overall, the performance is great, and on-par with what we experienced in the Lumia 920.

The USP of the Nokia Lumia 820 is its removable back panel. Switching between shells is pretty difficult and chances of breaking it would have been high, had its construction not been sturdy. We noticed that the battery was loose without the back cover, and just flipping over the phone will make it pop out. The Lumia 820 doesn't ship with a wireless charging unit. But you can buy a wireless charging compatible shell seperately.



The phone's 8 mp camera offers images with good detail. However, since it lacks the PureView tech, low-light photographs contain a lot of noise.

The Nokia Lumia 820 has been priced at Rs 26,500 It is a good buy for those who want to customise their phone's appearance and can overlook the absence of the PureView camera tech. However, we'd advise you to wait it out till we do a in-depth review of the smartphone in the coming weeks.

SOURCE TECH TREE