Design and Display

The design of this Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 successor is largely similar to the previous device. But the all-metal body is even now better. It took various steps to deliver the impressive aluminium look the device sports, according to Xiaomi. The Redmi Note 4 is slimmer at 8.4 millimetres and the rear is less slippery. For the display, it rocks a sharp 5.5-inch Full HD (1080p) display for quality images. The IPS touchscreen, which promises great wide-angle viewing, features a 2.5D glass that adds a curvy feel.

Camera

If you are an Instagram addict, you are not likely to be let down by what the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 brings to the table. On the rear is a 13-megapixel shooter with an f/2.0 lens, phase detection autofocus and dual-tone LED flash. This is capable of Full HD video recording. For your selfies, there is a 5-megapixel front-facing snapper also featuring an f/2.0 aperture lens. You can shoot HD (720p) videos with the secondary camera.

Performance and OS

Under the hood, the Redmi Note 4 hides an eight-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor which looks ready for serious business. There is also an option of a 10-core MediaTek Helio X20 chipset. It is offered in three variants in terms of RAM and storage. RAM ranges from 2 GB to 4 GB and storage from 32 GB to 64 GB. It appears there is also a 16GB version. An Adreno 506 GPU crunches graphics on the device. It is safe to say you should expect great performance on the phablet. It runs Xiaomi’s MIUI 8 software, based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow

Sundry Specs and Features

Users are in for super-fast mobile data download speeds with 4G LTE connectivity, which supports voice over LTE. Connectivity features also include Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1 and IR Blaster. There is a fingerprint scanner in the mix for added security. Its humongous 4,100mAh battery offers fast-charging tech for good measure.

Pricing and Availability

The sale of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 has been on for a while. The starting price for the 2GB/32GB model is about $150. This is virtually the same price at which the comparable model of the Redmi Note 3 sold last year. But considering the current foreign exchange situation, you should now expect to pay at least about N70,000 to get a unit of this amazing device. And, of course, variants with greater memory and storage space attract higher prices.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 at a Glance

– All-metal design
– 5.5” Full HD IPS touchscreen
– 13MP PDAF rear and 5MP front cameras
– Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 or deca-core MediaTek Helio X20 processor
– 2GB/3GB/4GB RAM
– 16GB*/32GB/64GB onboard storage
– MIUI 8 (Android 6.0 Marshmallow)
– 4,100mAh battery with fast-charging support
– Fingerprint scanner
– 4G LTE
– IR Blaster

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NDTV

Design and Display

With the 6, it is easy to tell that Nokia, now owned by HMD Global, is still trying to test the waters as it works to re-launch itself into reckoning in the smartphone market. The device sports a chic 6000 series aluminium body – no way you can argue against the quality of material used here. HMD says the chassis was subjected to two different anodising processes. You have a device that not only looks durable, but appealing to the eye. The smartphone sports a 5.5-inch in-cell display with Full HD display. The 2.5D Gorilla Glass-protected screen is said to be designed for enjoyable reading in the sun.

Hardware and Software

The Nokia 6 will be powered by latest generation Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 SoC. This is a decent processor for a device at this price point. The smartphone comes with an impressive 4 GB of RAM and generous 64 GB of onboard storage. Users should expect superior graphics performance, according to its Finnish maker. The configuration looks decent for enjoyable game and movie watching. Out of the box, the device will run on Android 7.0 Nougat operating system.

Other Features

A reliable 16-megapixel primary camera with f/2.0 aperture, dual-tone flash, and phase detection autofocus is provided on the Nokia 6. This is accompanied by an 8-megapixel selfie snapper.

For enjoyable sound, the Nokia 6 comes with dual amplifiers and Dolby Atmos sound tech. The LTE-enabled, dual-SIM smartphone comes with a 3,000mAh non-removable battery.

Pricing and Availability

The price of the Nokia 6 is 1699 Chinese yuan, which converts to a price between N80,000 to N100,000 in Nigeria. If you think the phone offers decent value, another hurdle is that it will be available exclusively in China. It will be sold via the Chinese online retailer JD.

Nokia 6 at a Glance

– 5.5″ Full HD display
– 16MP rear & 8 MP front-facing cameras
– Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 CPU
– 4GB RAM
– 64GB onboard storage
– Android 7.0 Nougat OS
– LTE
– 3,000mAh battery
– Dual SIM

The post Meet Nokia Brand’s First Android Smartphone, Nokia 6 appeared first on Viqta.com.

WhatsApp

As disclosed on its official blog last year, WhatsApp has stopped support for some of the devices that it said it would stop supporting from the end of 2016. Users of some of the other device types on which the messaging app was previously announced to stop working from the beginning of this year will have few more months of grace to enjoy it before being cut off as well.

The devices that are affected at this time include iPhone 3GS and other devices running iOS 6, Android 2.2 (or earlier) and Windows Phone 7 operating systems.

Following the earlier announcement of planned suspension of support, the messaging app company announced that it would extend support for certain devices through the end of June 2017, from the earlier end of 2016. Those using BlackBerry 10, BlackBerry OS, Nokia Symbian S60, and Nokia S40 will still have grace of about six additional months to use the service before the door will be shut on them as well.

The implication of this to you, as a user, is that you now need to mind the devices you buy. This is important if WhatsApp happens to be one of your favorite apps. You risk not being able to use the messaging app for long, or at all, when you buy a device for which support has ended or is about to end. It is particularly important to have this in mind when buying used mobile devices, whether foreign or Nigerian.

Blackberry and Nokia smartphone operating systems were the kings of the market when WhatsApp was launched years ago. They powered more than two-thirds of smart devices at the time. But both have now faded almost into oblivion. Nearly all devices on the market currently use Android, iOS or Windows OS.

WhatsApp, perhaps, considered it unnecessary work creating app versions for platforms not used by many people these days. The company cannot be faulted on those grounds at all. These old devices are also said to be incapable of handling the new features that would be introduced into the app in time to come.

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OnePlus

Design

The design of the OnePlus 3T is unchanged from the first device. It still sports a chassis made of high-quality aluminium and a slim body measuring just about 7.4 millimetres in thickness. The construction ensures this should be comfortable to handle despite the humongous size. But OnePlus has now decided to replace the graphite colour option with a gunmetal variant, and you still have the existing gold option as well. The flagship smartphone retains the same 5.5-inch Optic AMOLED display with 1,080p resolution for very sharp images. Corning Gorilla Glass 4 protection is still offered.

Camera

Looking at the rear of the OnePlus 3T, it might appear nothing has changed in terms of the primary snapper, given you will find the same 16MP Sony sensor used. But a new ‘Intelligent Pixel Technology’ has been introduced to the main camera for dealing with noise in low-light settings. It features a rugged sapphire lens and upgraded electronic image stabilisation (EIS). The selfie shooter has been upgraded from an 8MP sensor to a 16MP Samsung sensor and is now said to support phase detection autofocus. Smile capture is available for selfie-taking.

Power and Performance

A headline upgrade on the OnePlus 3T is the newer Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 chipset it is equipped with, compared to the Snapdragon 820 SoC driving the OP3. The upgraded quad-core CPU is clocked at a speed of 2.35 GHz. It is paired with the same 6GB RAM and an Adreno 530 GPU. You are essentially getting an improvement on already top-notch performance. You should expect cooler performance while enjoying fluid gaming and watching movies. Like the OnePlus 3, this phone will ship with OxygenOS software based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow, but its maker has announced plans to make the latest Android 7.0 Nougat available for it alongside the OP3.

Sundry Features

OnePlus supplies a more powerful battery that is likely to help the OP3T better compete with more expensive heavyweights such as the Edge variant of Samsung Galaxy S7 and Google Pixel XL. The juicer has a capacity of 3,400 mAh, compared to the previous 3,000 mAh. It also supports the super-fast Dash Charge technology that lets you get a day’s worth of power from half-hour charging.

The OnePlus 3T adds a 128GB variant to the single 64GB model available for its predecessor. It has a fingerprint sensor nestled in its Home button. The phone also features a USB Type-C port.

Pricing and Availability

The smartphone goes on sale on 22 November and 28 November in the U.S. and U.K. respectively. The price starts at $439 for the 64GB model. If you want more storage, be ready to pay $479 for the 128GB model. It can be said that the price increase from the OnePlus 3 is modest when you consider the upgrades that were made. The cost of the base converted to around N200,000 in Nigeria.

OnePlus 3 at a Glance

– Slim metal unibody design
– 5.5” Optic AMOLED display
– 16MP PDAF rear and 16MP front cameras
– Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 CPU
– 6GB RAM
– 64GB/128GB onboard storage
– OxygenOS
– 3,400mAh battery
– Dash Charge fast charging technology

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OnePlus

Design and Display

Featuring an ultra-slim design, the OnePlus 3 is a class smartphone. Its maker says the elegant unibody construction features a ‘single slab of premium aluminium.’ It comes in at just about 7.4 millimetres thick, while weighing just about 156 grams. The design makes for good grip. The phone sports a large 5.5-inch Optic AMOLED display with Full HD resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels for a pixel density of about 400 ppi. This is one spectacular touchscreen. It is overlaid with robust Corning Gorilla Glass 4.

Camera and Storage

The main shooter on the OnePlus 3 uses a robust 16-megapixel Sony IMX298 sensor for impressive photography. It is accompanied by phase-detection autofocus (PDAF) and boasts noise-reduction capability. This beast is able to shoot stunning 4K videos. The front-facing shooter is equally impressive at 8 megapixels. The Chinese phone maker provides generous 64 GB of onboard, non-expandable storage, which will definitely suffice for many users of the OnePlus 3.

Power and Performance

Under the hood, the flagship smartphone is equipped with a superb Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor fitting for a device of its status. The robust quad-core Kryo CPU is provided ample support by an Adreno 530 graphics solution and ample 6 GB of RAM. What you have here is a performance beast from all indications. It runs on upgraded OnePlus OxygenOS software based on latest Android operating system version.

Battery Life and Charging

The dual Nano-SIM OnePlus 3 is equipped with a powerful 3,000mAh juicer that looks like one to support multi-hour usage. The battery is backed with a proprietary Dash Charge fast charging technology that uses a special USB Type-C cable. OnePlus says this technology enables you get enough juice to run the phone by charging for just 30 minutes.

Pricing and Availability

This smartphone went on sale in June 2016 at a price of $399, which was the same launch price for the smaller Apple iPhone SE with 16GB of onboard storage. The OnePlus 3 is even cheaper than the base model of the Xiaomi Mi 5, another impressive offering from a rival Chinese phone maker Xiaomi. You are looking at a price of at least about N180,000, going by present exchange rate situation.

OnePlus 3 at a Glance

– Slim metal unibody design
– 5.5” Optic AMOLED display
– 16MP PDAF rear and 8MP front cameras
– Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 CPU
– 6GB RAM
– 64GB onboard storage
– OxygenOS
– 3000mAh battery
– Dash Charge fast charging technology

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Design and Display

While coming in cheaper than the Xiaomi Redmi 4 and its Prime variant, the Redmi 4A boasts similar attractive look. It parades a metal body in gold or rose gold finish. The device comes in at 8.5mm thick and weighs about 132 grams – that is, both slimmer and lighter than the regular Redmi 4. It is also fitted with a 5-inch HD (720p) display for decent picture clarity.

Camera and Storage

Xiaomi equips the Redmi 4A with a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera, which is nestled at an angle at the top rear. It features a 5-lens system and phase-detection autofocus, but has single LED flash. The selfie snapper has a resolution of 5 megapixels and an f/2.2 aperture. You get generous inbuilt storage of 16 GB for keeping your photos and other stuffs. A microSD card with a capacity up to 128 GB is also supported for storage expansion.

Performance and OS

The Xiaomi Redmi 4A is set up to deliver less powerful performance compared to its more expensive brothers. It is kitted with a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 processor clocked at 1.4 GHz. The Cortex-A53 CPU is paired with an Adreno 308 graphics solution and 2 GB of RAM. However, you get to enjoy Xiaomi’s MIUI 8 software, which is based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS, here as well.

Sundry Features

Buyers get a 3,120mAh battery on the Redmi 4A, compared to the colossal 4,100mAh batteries on the Redmi 4 and Redmi 4 Prime. Fast charging is also supported, though. The phone also loses the rear-mounted fingerprint scanner. It features a hybrid dual-SIM slot, which could serve a SIM card or a microSD card. Connectivity features include 4G LTE, Bluetooth 4.1 and Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n.

Pricing and Availability

The Xiaomi Redmi 4A is friendly-priced at 499 yuan, whose equivalent should be somewhere in the region of N35,000 in Nigeria after conversion. Not bad for a metal-clad smartphone with Android 6.0 Marshmallow under the hood.

Xiaomi Redmi 4A at a Glance

– Metal body
– 5″ HD display
– 13MP PDAF rear and 5MP front cameras
– 1.4GHz, quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 processor
– 2GB RAM
– 16GB expandable onboard storage
– Android 6.0 Marshmallow with MIUI 8 skin
– Dual SIM
– 4G LTE
– 3,120mAh battery

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Design and Display

Showing off similar metal body as its predecessor, the Xiaomi Redmi 4 features a unibody design which makes for snug handling. But it is both slightly thicker and heavier than the Redmi 3 at 8.9 millimetres and 156 kilograms respectively – you may not be able to tell the difference, though. It features similar 5-inch display with an HD resolution of 1,280 x 720 pixels as its predecessor. The IPS touchscreen is covered with 2.5D glass, giving it a curvy touch. The phone will also be available in gold, silver and grey colour variants.

Camera and Storage

The Redmi 4 appears unchanged in the camera department, with a 13-megapixel rear unit married to a 5-megapixel front-facing snapper. But the primary shooter is of a different type despite similar resolution, according to GSMArena. Features include a 5-lens arrangement, phase-detection autofocus (PDAF) and dual LED flash. The selfie shooter has an f/2.2 aperture, same as the main camera. For storage, you get 16 GB onboard, expandable up to 128 GB via a microSD card slot.

Performance and OS

The phone retains an octa-core processor under the hood. But this is a more powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 CPU clocked at a faster speed of 1.4 GHz. The chip is backed by RAM of 2 GB and an Adreno 505 GPU for enjoyable graphics and gaming. A newer Android version 6.0 Marshmallow powers the device, compared to the version 5.1 Lollipop on the Redmi 3. The OS is overlaid with a newer MIUI 8 skin.

Sundry Features

Juice will be supplied by the same 4,100mAh battery that came with the Redmi 3 series which also offers fast charging support. There is a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor for added security. The Xiaomi Redmi 4 features hybrid dual-SIM card slots and supports super-fast 4G LTE connectivity. Bluetooth 4.1 and Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n are included among connectivity features.

Pricing and Availability

This smartphone is currently up for pre-order and is to start shipping from Monday Nov. 7. It is priced at 699 yuan, which converts to around N50,000 in Nigeria. Decent value, right?

Xiaomi Redmi 4 at a Glance

– Metal body
– 5″ HD display
– 13MP PDAF rear and 5MP front cameras
– 1.4GHz, octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 processor
– 2GB RAM
– 16GB expandable onboard storage
– Android 6.0 Marshmallow with MIUI 8 skin
– Dual SIM
– 4G LTE
– 4,100mAh battery
– Fingerprint scanner

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Shazam

Shazam Lite is a lightweight version of the popular music-discovery app Shazam built to occupy very little space on your smartphone at a size of less than 1 MB. You can think of it in the same as you would the Facebook Lite app, in comparison to the standard Facebook app.

The new app will not only occupy less space on your Android device, you will find it a better fit in case you are one of the data-pinching types despite the fact that data plans in Nigeria have become a lot cheaper. The app can even work offline helping you to better preserve your precious data.

In addition to Nigeria, Shazam Lite has been launched in some other emerging markets such as India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Venezuela and Vietnam. It is built to work on devices running Android 2.3 or later versions of the Google operating system.

The Lite app can do basically everything the regular Shazam does. It naturally listens to songs in order to help users to identify the songs. In addition to its ability to work offline, the app also saves your most recent searches. Shazam Lite will unsurprisingly not have many of the features you find of the main app, but the most basic ones that have made the music-discovery tool popular will be on board.

The Shazam Lite launch is a sign that tech companies are increasingly seeing potential in emerging markets. It is arguable that Nigeria is a major smartphones market on the African continent. India is an even bigger market for mobile devices. It therefore makes sense for these companies to give these countries special attention.

Iordanis Giannakakis, Shazam’s head of Android engineering, said Shazam Lite was built primarily with users in the emerging markets in mind. Most of the smartphones used in these regions have limited storage and RAM memory, while there is also the problem of poor connectivity. This makes the lightweight app ideal for users in these countries.

Company spokesperson James Pearson told Engadget there is plan to release the Lite app in more countries.

If you wish to check out Shazam Lite, it is now available for download via the Google Play Store.

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Lenovo

Design and Display

Featuring what Lenovo calls a ‘rollcage design,’ the Z2 Plus has all major components mounted on a sturdy frame to enhance ruggedness and heat management. Its elegant Fiber Glass frame is supposedly stronger than metal, even though it is lighter. The smartphone is fitted with an eye-catching 5-inch LCD display boasting Full HD (1,080p) resolution. This is a compact device that should be easy to use with just one hand.

Camera and Storage

The Lenovo Z2 Plus is designed to enable amazing low-light photography. It is fitted with a Samsung-made 13-megapixel ISOCELL sensor with an f/2.2 aperture. You also get a generous 8-megapixel shooter on the front for great wide-angle selfies. The phone features hybrid autofocus (PDAF + CAF) for high shot-taking accuracy. EIS and auxiliary sensor image stabilisation further enhances accuracy. It will be made available in two storage versions: 32GB and 64GB.

Performance and OS

Performance appears to be a major selling point of the Lenovo Z2 Plus. It is powered by flagship-grade Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor. The robust 64-bit chip is paired with an Adreno 530 GPU for smooth graphics when playing games or watching movies. It will be accompanied by either 3GB or 4GB RAM, depending on the model you buy. A near-stock variant of Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow provides the platform to get things going smoothly.

Sundry Specs and Features

This smartphone is packed with enough juice to enable long hours of use on a charge, with a humongous, high-density 3,500mAh Li-Po battery onboard. It is equipped with a speedy fingerprint sensor boasting a self-learning algorithm that enables it adjust to different skin irregularities, including peels and wound. The fingerprint scanner does more than unlocking; Lenovo says it can execute seven different tasks. There are also a variety of other sensors for fitness tracking on the U-Health app.

The Z2 Plus supports LTE (Cat. 6) connectivity, with speeds supposedly up to 600 Mbps. There is also Bluetooth 4.1 and dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac among connectivity options. The phone features a reversible USB Type-C port.

Pricing and Availability

The 3GB/32GB model of the Lenovo Z2 Plus is priced at Rs. 17,999 in India, while the 4GB/64GB variant goes for Rs. 19,999. On the basis of this, you are looking at a price from around N90,000 to a little over N100,000 here in Nigeria. The smartphone went on sale from September 26. Considering the CPU, the device offers impressive value compared to flagships such as the Samsung Galaxy S7 Active and the awesome ZTE Nubia Z11.

Lenovo Z2 Plus at a Glance

– 5″ Full HD LCD display
– 13MP rear & 8MP front cameras
– Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 CPU
– 3GB/4GB RAM
– 32GB/64GB onboard storage
– Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow OS
– 3,500mAh battery
– Fingerprint sensor
– Fitness sensors
– LTE (Cat. 6)
– Hybrid dual SIM

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Gionee

Design and Display

The original Gionee S6 was one elegant smartphone you would be proud of. Its selfie-focused brother didn’t deviate significantly from that chic, premium design either. The body is fabricated with metal and is available in rose gold finish. We find the same huge 5.5-inch IPS display on offer here. However, the Gionee S6s boasts an improved Full HD (1,080p) resolution which is sure to bring out sharper images. It is protected by 2.5D curved edge glass and will come with a protector film.

Camera

The selfie camera is what Gionee certainly banks on the most to move this phone. The S6s sports an 8-megapixel shooter with an f/2.2 aperture on the front. This is accompanied by a dedicated flash module for great selfies in dimly-lit settings. The smartphone also supports screen flash feature. By comparison, the original S6 had a 5-megapixel selfie snapper. You get similar-resolution 13-megapixel rear camera with an f/2.0 aperture and LED flash. It uses a Sony IMX258 sensor.

Hardware and Software

Nothing significant has changed between this one and the first in terms of hardware. Under the hood is an octa-core MediaTek MT6753 processor clocked at 1.3 GHz. The CPU receives decent backing from 3 GB of RAM to ensure games and movies are fluid. Internal storage is 32 GB and is expandable by up to 128 GB using a microSD card. There is newer software onboard as well. The Gionee S6s boots its maker’s Amigo 3.2 OS which is based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow.

Sundry Features

The phone packs a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor for added security. It is powered by a 3,150mAh battery – unchanged from the earlier device. The Gionee S6s offers 4G LTE connectivity and dual-SIM slots, with one of these serving a second SIM or microSD card. Of course, you will also be getting other regular connectivity options, including microUSB, Bluetooth 4.0, and Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n.

Pricing and Availability

You should expect the Gionee S6s to set you back by about N95,000 if you are interested in getting one at this time. It is to start selling on Amazon from August 22 and expected to make its way to other retail outlets in subsequent weeks. This is a nice phone, especially for selfie lovers. But at this price, you may be tempted to opt for the new dual rear camera Cool1 Dual which comes at a more pocket-friendly price instead.

Gionee S6s at a Glance

– Metal body
– 5.5″ Full HD IPS display
– 8MP selfie shooter with flash
– 13MP rear camera
– Octa-core MediaTek 6753 processor
– 3GB RAM
– 32GB expandable storage
– Amigo 3.2 (Android 6.0 Marshmallow)
– 3,150mAh battery
– 4G LTE
– Fingerprint sensor
– Dual SIM

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