First Look : HTC Bolt

The HTC Bolt is the first smartphone on Sprint's network to launch with 3X20 MHz Carrier Aggregation which is supported on Qualcomm's X10 LTE modem. Sprint is calling the HTC Bolt: Sprint's fastest phone ever. Hence the endorsement of Usain Bolt, the world's fastest man.

The HTC Bolt has a large 5.5-inch screen and its design is very derivative of the HTC 10, down to the beveled edge on the back, and even with the same color finishes: Gunmetal and Glacial Silver (The HTC 10's was called Graphite, not Gunmetal). The Bolt is HTC's first fully submersible smartphone built with an aluminum body with an IP57 rating but HTC would not be happy if you "intentionally submerge HTC Bolt" but that goes for most manufacturers of waterproof phones these days.

HTC Bolt at a glance:

• Body: Aluminum unibody, 8.09mm thick, design identical to HTC 10 but with IP57 water-resistance
• Screen: 5.5-inch QHD, Super LCD 3 with 2.5D Gorilla Glass 5
• Chipset: Snapdragon 810 - octa-core CPU up to 2.0GHz
• Audio: Boom Sound Adaptive earbuds, Hi-Res audio certified, three microphones with noise cancelation
• Memory: 3GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, expandable via microSD card tray
• OS: Android Nougat 7.0 with HTC Sense
• Camera: 16MP, 4K video recording
• Camera features: 29.3mm wide angle f/2.0 lens, PDAF, BSI sensor, Hi-res audio recording, OIS, Dual LED flash, Pro controls, RAW support
• Selfie Cam: 8MP, 1080p video capable
• Battery: 3,200mAh battery, Quick Charge 2.0 via USB-C
• Security: Front fingerprint scanner, unlocks in 0.2 seconds
• Connectivity: Cat 9 LTE with LTE band 41 (up to 450Mbps DL speed);Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac 2.5GHz or 5GHz; Bluetooth 4.1; NFC; USB-C.

The HTC Bolt will come with a pair of HTC's BoomSound Adaptive Audio earbuds which have a mic built-in. A sound is sent through the speaker and the ear canal reflects the sound back. The return signal is analyzed to create a custom listening profile. The profile will also check for ambient noise and uses this information to personalize the output even more.

Speaking of the headphones, the HTC Bolt lacks a 3.5mm headphone jack just like the iPhone 7 Plus. The supplied earbuds plug directly into the USB-C port of the phone. It's not the first time we see this, but it's certainly the first time where an adapter to 3.5mm jack is notincluded in the box. Funnily, HTC has pledged to send customers who need an adapter a free one.

The camera included is a 16MP shooter, and we are hoping the images it takes look as good as the HTC 10's photos. Likewise, we'd love to see what HTC's Hi-res audio recording sounds like. At the time of the HTC 10's release, we preferred the sound of the Galaxy S7's mono-audio recording taken on video.

Addressing the elephant in the room, the specs of the phone are somewhat of a mixed bag: HTC is using last year's processor, with last year's 3GB of RAM, and last year's Adreno 430 GPU - in a 2016 body, with IP57 water-resistance, and no headphone jack.

We'll try to remain optimistic, though. HTC is really proud of what it's done with the Bolt. The phone will be available on Sprint starting today and customers can purchase it for $599 outright or $25 per month for 24 months.

Top 5 upcoming smartphones

2016 has certainly been one of the most balanced years in terms of smartphones. Though we know that it is still early to call off the year as there are few launches yet to happen but the majority of the flagships are already in the market if not in India. One of the most important issue we saw get resolved in 2016 is the battery life. This year smartphone manufacturers have been extremely cautious about the battery life with the capacity going up to 5000 mAh. If not the bigger battery, manufacturers like OnePlus introduced Dash charging which is another way to deal poor battery life in smartphones. Keeping that aside, let's just speculate what 2017 will bring in for us in terms of smartphone technology so here are the top upcoming smartphones in 2017.

Samsung Galaxy S8

Samsung's Galaxy S series is one of the most anticipated devices of the year and the next version i.e. the Galaxy S8 is set to launch at the Mobile World Congress 2017 in February 2017. As rumoured before, Samsung will include a new Artificial Intelligence Service in the S8. Further, the next beast in the S series will come with a slick design and an improved camera as it is the case every year. Also, there rumours last month that S8 might come with an optical fingerprint scanner embedded under the display which was later on denied by Android Authority claiming that it will be an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner. In addition to this, the device is expected to come with Snapdragon 830 processor. There hasn't been much out in terms of the specifications but it won't be long until the new upcoming Galaxy S8 starts receiving the leak treatment.

OnePlus 4

OnePlus is not a new company anymore and it was evident when the company launched the OnePlus 3 which is still touted to be the best smartphone of the year for the price. Looking a bit forward, OnePlus 4has already been in the news with a launch speculated to be somewhere around June-July 2017. Regarding the specifications, OnePlus 4 is expected to sport Qualcomm's Snapdragon 830 chipset which has been just released. This chipset is expected to be clocked at 3 GHz and will be coupled with Adreno 620 GPU. The camera is expected to be a 21-megapixel shooter and OnePlus 4 is tipped to come with a massive 8 GB of RAM. Unlike the OnePlus 3 which has 3000 mAh battery, the OnePlus 4 is expected to come with 4000 mAh battery. There have been reports that the next flagship from OnePlus will come with a Quad HD resolution as well. We don't expect OnePlus to provide expandable storage but it will be pretty sweet if it's there.

iPhone 8

If we measure it on the basis of the sheer amount of leaks and rumours, Apple's iPhone tops the list. There has been a lot of rumours about the next year's iPhone already. Nikki from Japan has revealed that Apple might go for 3 size variants next year with an addition of a 5.0-inch model. Further, Apple is likely to revamp the design with all glass ergonomics. There have been also reports about the new Home Button being entirely under the display and that Apple might go for a bezel-less or curved display. While the dual camera set up is expected to stay, the bigger 5.5-inch variant might come with OLED displays. And we are not sure if it will a 7s or 8.

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Xiaomi Redmi 4, Redmi 4 Prime and Redmi 4A smartphones unveiled

Motorola Moto M leaks in more official press materials

After launching Mi Note 2 and Mi Mix smartphones last month, Xiaomi has now launched three different variants Redmi 4 smartphone in China yesterday, named as Xiaomi Redmi 4, Redmi 4 Prime and Redmi 4A. The Redmi 4 and Redmi 4 Prime are priced at CNY 699 (approximately Rs. 6,910) and CNY 899 (approximately Rs. 8,887) respectively and comes in gold, silver, and dark gray colour options. Both Redmi 4 and Redmi 4 Prime are already up for pre-order and will go on sale starting from Monday, November 7. Whereas Redmi 4A is priced at CNY 499 (approximately Rs 4,933) and will go on sale on November 11.

Xiaomi Redmi 4 specifications

The Xiaomi Redmi 4 features a 5-inch HD (1280 x 720 pixels) 2.5D curved glass display and is powered by a 1.4GHz Octa-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 64-bit processor. with Adreno 505 GPU. It comes with 2GB RAM and 16GB internal storage, which can be further expandable up-to 128GB via microSD card. The smartphone runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow operating system wrapped under MIUI 8 and is backed up by a 4,100 mAh powerhouse battery.

The Redmi 4 flaunts a 13-megapixel shooter with dual LED Flash, PDAF, f/2.2 aperture on its back, and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera for selfies. The smartphone also offers a fingerprint scanner, which is placed on its back panel and has Infrared sensor too. Besides, the smartphone offers Hybrid Dual SIM, 4G with VoLTE, WiFi (802.11 a/b/g/n), GPS, Bluetooth 4.1, and a microUSB port. The handset measures 141.3×69.6×8.9mm and weighs around 156 grams.

Xiaomi Redmi 4 Prime specifications

The Xiaomi Redmi 4 Prime offers a 5-inch full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) 2.5D curved glass display and comes equipped with 2GHz Octa-Core Snapdragon 625 processor, clubbed with Adreno 506 GPU. It comes with 3GB RAM and 32GB internal storage, which can be further expandable up-to 128GB via microSD card. The main camera of Redmi 4 Prime comes with a dual-tone dual-LED flash, where as Redmi 4 has dual LED Flash. Rest of the specifications of Redmi 4 Prime are identical to the above listed Redmi 4 smartphone.

Xiaomi Redmi 4A specifications

The Xiaomi Redmi 4A features 5-inch HD display with 720 x 1280 pixels resolution and is powered by a 1.4GHz Snapdragon 425 processor, which is paired with Adreno 308 GPU. It comes with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage, and expandable storage up to 128GB via microSD. The Redmi 4A gets its strength from decent 3,120 mAh battery and runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow operating system wrapped under MIUI 8.

On the camera front, the Redmi 4A sports a 13-megapixel rear camera with PDAF, LED Flash, f/2.2 aperture on its back, and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera for selfies. Besides the smartphone offers Hybrid Dual SIM, 4G with VoLTE, Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n), Bluetooth 4.1, GPS, and a microUSB port. The handset measures 139.5×70.4×8.5mm and weighs 131.5 grams. The Redmi 4A comes in Gold and Rose Gold colour variants.

Reliance Jio may extend the Welcome Offer till March 2017

Earlier last month, Mukesh Ambani officially launched Reliance Jio after gradually expanding it to most of the available 4G VoLTE smartphones. At that time, Reliance Jio introduced the new Welcome Offer in which all the Jio Users get free 4G data (Speed limit up to 4GB per day), Free calls and SMS up to 31st December, 2016.

Further, last week reports suggested that if you are planning to enroll to this Welcome Offer then you need to do it before December 3rd, 2016.

Now, reports from Mint have suggested that Reliance Jio might expand the Welcome offer beyond the December 31 deadline. According to Mind, a spokesperson from Reliance Jio was spotted saying that it would be unfair to charge customers until Jio management is fully satisfied with the quality of service which is why reports now suggests that the offer might be extended to March 2017.

Recently, a lot has been going on between Reliance Jio and other telecom operators such as Airtel, Vodafone etc. Blaming other operators, Reliance Jio has pointed out lack of interconnect points which is eventually causing call drops on a humongous scale. However, Jio finally managed to get support fromTRAI which appealed fellow telecom operators to cooperate with the new entrant.

Lately, Reliance Jio has witnessed a lot of criticism from its users for not providing the promised speed which the company justified by pointing out to the Fair Usage Policy referring to which one is only eligible to use 4GB 4G data per day.

Xiaomi Mi Note 2 launched in China: Full specifications, price, and more

Xiaomi’s new Mi Note 2 flagship smartphone has been launched in Beijing, China. Xiaomi’s Mi Note 2 smartphone comes with a flexible OLED display, and 3D curved glass on both sides. Xiaomi also announced a new Mi VR headset, which will work with its Mi Note 2 and Mi 5 smartphone series. Xiaomi also showcased a new prototype phone called Xiaomi Mix. Here are the top features of the Xiaomi Mi Note 2.

Mi Note 2 comes with a 5.7-inch OLED display curved on both sides, similar to how it looks on the S7 edge. The phone has a rectangular phone button on the front. However, Xiaomi has not specified any functions for the edge display like it is on the S7 series.

Xiaomi says it has used a flexible display on this device, which is more expensive. The Mi Note 2 has a 77.2 per cent screen to body ratio, NTSC 110 percent, and contrast of 100,000: 1 on the display. Xiaomi has used curved 3D Glass on both sides of the phone, with a metal frame in the middle.

Xiaomi’s Mi Note 2 will come in three variants: 4GB RAM + 64GB storage, 6GB RAM + 128GB storage and 6GB RAM + 128GB global version. The 4GB RAM version will cost 2799 RMB (Rs 27,627 on conversion) , the 6GB RAM version is 3299 RMB (Rs 32,562 on conversion), while the global version will cost 3499 RMB (Rs 34,536 approximately).

Mi Note 2 will run the Snapdragon 821 processor clocked 2.35GHz, and comes with a 4070 mAh battery with support for Quick Charge 3.0. It will have HiFi sound quality, SAP high-precision GPS and NFC support in addition to support for global LTE bands: 6 types, 37 bands.

The camera on the Mi Note 2 is 22.56 MP high resolution camera, with EIS ( Electronic Image Stabilization) and not OIS. The camera also supports to 4K resolution for videos. The front camera is 8MP with auto-focus and features like group selfie optimization, which will choose the best selfie from a bunch.

In China, Xiaomi’s Mi Note 2 will have a Virtual SIM card function. This aimed at those travelling abroad in China to give them constant internet connectivity.

Xiaomi’s Mi VR headset will cost 199 RMB, and it comes with a hardware-level motion sensor and a 9-axis inertial motion controller. Xiaomi claims over 200 app developers have come together to create apps for their VR platform.

Xiaomi has not confirmed when the Mi Note 2 will be coming to India.

Xiaomi Mi Mix announced with 6.4 inch edgeless display, 6GB RAM, 4400mAh battery

Alongside Mi Note 2 , Xiaomi has also unveiled Mi MIX at an event in China. It comes in two variants - 4GB RAM and 6GB RAM. The 2GB RAM with 128GB internal storage is priced at 3499 Yuan or approximately Rs 34,512 while the 6GB variant with 256GB internal storage will cost you 3999 Yuan or approximately Rs 39,442. Both variants come with a leather case. The smartphone will be available for sale in China starting from November 4.

The 6GB variant of Xiaomi Mi Mix comes with 18k carat gold finish on the camera lens and fingerprint sensor on the back. It features a ceramic body and comes with a 6.4-inch (2040 x 1080) with a 91.3 percent screen to body ratio and an edgeless display. It is powered by 2.35 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 821 64-bit processor along with Adreno 530 GPU. The dual SIM smartphone runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow operating with MIUI 8 and has a 4400 mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0 technology. The design of the phone has been done by French designer Philippe Starck.

The Xiaomi Mi Mix offers a 16-megapixel autofocus rear camera with dual tone LED flash, PDAF, f/2.0 aperture, 4K video recording and a 5-megapixel front camera. On the connectivity front, the device offers 4G with VoLTE, Bluetooth 4.2, WiFi (802.11 b/g/n), GPS with AGS/GLONASS and USB Type C. The handset measures 158.8 x 81.9 x 7.9mm and weighs 209 grams.No information about its release in India is available right now.

Whatsapp receives the much-awaited video calling feature

Highly anticipated video calling feature has finally made its way to Whatsapp Messenger. Though, as of now the update is only available in a beta version (v2.16.316 onwards) of the messenger. So if you are registered with Whatsapp's Beta Programme you will soon be notified of a new update.

Using this feature is pretty simple. Go to or search a contact and tap the call button and choose 'Video Call'. However, in order to successfully video chat both the Caller and Recipient should be running the latest beta version of Whatsapp. Once in, you will be welcomed with a Face-Time like the interface or else you will get a message saying that your contact needs to update the app.

At the time of writing this story, we didn't receive any update so we are yet to test the new video calling feature. However, critiques across the globe have somewhat mixed reviews.

Whatsapp has had the voice call feature for quite some time now and to be honest it works pretty well even on 2G networks. As far as video calling is concerned, you will definitely need to have a better internet connection.

Nevertheless, Google recently released Google Duo as its go to video calling app and based on our testing, the app showed quite incredible results. We liked how Google managed to shrink down the entire size of the app and still offer all the functionality a video calling app has to offer. Thanks to the simple and no-nonsense user interface.

However, while Google Duo is just a video calling app and Whatsapp Messenger is essentially a messenger with features like voice and video calling feature. And based on facts, though erstwhile, you may get better functionality but having one app for chat, voice and video calls is much more convenient. Stay Tuned for our detailed hands-on review of this new feature.

Google Pixel and Pixel XL goes on sale in India: Here’s all you need to know

The Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones from Google are the first, true flagship devices from the company and considered by many, including us, to be worthy rivals to the iPhone.

If you’re in the market for one, be prepared to shell out a hefty sum for these devices don’t come cheap. The 5-inch Pixel phone goes on sale for Rs 57,000 and the 5.5-inch Pixel XL goes on sale for Rs 67,000. These prices are for the 32GB models of these phones.

The 128GB variants of these phones will be available for Rs 66,000 and Rs 76,000 for the Pixel and Pixel XL respectively. The phones will be available for sale on Flipkart, Reliance Digital, Croma and over a 1000 other stores across the country.

Both phones feature AMOLED screens, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 SoC clocked at 2.15 GHz, 4 GB of RAM, 32 GB and 128 GB storage options, a 12.3 MP f/2.0 rear camera and an 8 MP f/2.4 front camera. Both rear camera units use sensors with 1.55µm pixel sensors and support up to 2160p video at 30fps. Both cameras can also offer up to 240 fps at 720p.

Google claims that the phones are splash and dust resistant, but that doesn’t mean these are waterproof.

In terms of hardware, the only difference between these phones is that the Pixel offers a 5-inch Full HD display while the Pixel XL offers a 5.5-inch 2K display.

The Pixel phones aren’t just about the hardware, however.

Google has tightly integrated Google Assistant into Android 7.1 and the Pixel phones take full advantage of its features. If that wasn’t enough, Google also offers unlimited, full-resolution photo storage on Google Drive with the purchase of every Pixel smartphone. Oh, and there’s Daydream support as well.

Now is that a steal or what?

Samsung announces upgrade program for Galaxy Note7 users

Samsung has announced a new upgrade program for users of its ill-fated Galaxy Note7smartphone. Under the program, dubbed Galaxy Upgrade, those trading in their Note7 unit for either a Galaxy S7 or S7 edge will be able to upgrade to a Galaxy S8 or Note 8 next year.

During the upgrade, customers will only have to shell out 50% of the cost of their Galaxy S7 device. Also included in the upgrade program is a 50% discount on LCD repair costs, that users would be able to avail twice.

Open until November 30 this year, the upgrade program has currently only been announced for South Korea, and those who've already exchanged their Note7 unit for a Galaxy S7/S7 edge will also be eligible for it. Details on how interested users can join the program will be made available soon.

Sadly, there's currently no word on if and when the newly announced Galaxy Upgrade program - or a similar program - will be made available in other markets worldwide.

Huawei releases Huawei Mate 9 teaser for November 3 event

Huawei is preparing to announce its latest Mate lineup, complete with a Pro model that features a curved dual-edge display. Huawei is going to hold its launch even on November 3 in China and it has released a teaser poster on its official Weibo page.

The poster reads “ A step ahead” but that doesn’t really explain anything. Also, Huawei throws us in for a loop with that car-silhouette taking up the center of the poster. We would hope that it is some indication of CPU speed (the Mate 9 is said to feature the company’s newest Kirin 960 CPU) or, perhaps, some new kind of integration with cars.

In any case, the Huawei Mate 9 will feature a 5.9-inch 1080p screen, USB-C port interface, and said to come in two memory configurations with the higher one up to 6GB of RAM with up to 256GB of internal storage. There’s also a dual camera setup with 4X optical zoom.

There’s also word of a Pro model, which is said to feature a dual-edged curved display, as well as an upgraded QHD screen. @evleaks also reports the tricked out Pro model could carry a retail price tag of about $1,300!

Swipe Elite 2 Plus 5-inch display, 4G VoLTE launched at Rs 4,444

Swipe has launched its new 4G budget smartphone under its Elite series, called Swipe Elite 2 Plus. The smartphone is priced at Rs 4,444 and is available for purchase exclusively on Flipkart. The Elite 2 Pluscomes in two different colours, Charcoal Black and Ivory White. The phone is also eligible for Jio Welcome Offer.

The Swipe Elite 2 Plus features a 5-inch FWVGA display with a resolution of 854 x 480 pixels. It is fueled by a 1.5 GHz quad-core (SC9830A) processor, which is paired with 1GB RAM and 8GB of internal storage. The phone can hold expandable storage upto 32GB via microSD card. The smartphone runs on older Android 5.1 Lollipop operating system and is backed up by a 2500mAh battery.

The Elite 2 Plus sports a 5-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera for selfies and video chats. Besides, the smartphone offers Dual SIM, 4G/LTE, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, a microUSB port, G-sensor, Proximity, and Light sensor. The smartphone measures 143 x 72 x 9.8 mm.

Commenting on the launch, Shripal Gandhi, Founder and CEO of Swipe Technologies, said, "Swipe strongly believes in disrupting the market by offering great mobile internet experience at compelling price points. Our latest offering Elite 2 Plus is the most affordable 4G among all 5"/1GB/8GB smartphones available in the market today. At this price point, Elite 2 Plus is going to be a perfect buy for customers during this festive season. We are certain that it will bring a change in the definition of affordable mobile 4G-enabled devices."

"Fulfilling aspirations of aspiring and demanding customers at affordable costs is what differentiates Swipe from other smartphone makers. For us, it is important to live up to our customer's expectations - every time. The new Swipe Elite 2 Plus is an outcome of an in-depth study of the market and consumer preferences that promise the next level 4G smartphone experience!", Shripal Gandhi, further added.

Samsung Galaxy On Nxt available for purchase through Flipkart

Samsung Galaxy On Nxt smartphone, which was released for the Indian market last week for Rs 18,490, is now available for purchase on. The smartphone is available in two different colour options - Black and Gold.

The Samsung Galaxy On Nxt has a full metal unibody design and features a 5.5-inch full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) display with 2.5D Gorilla Glass protection. It is powered by a 1.6 GHz octa-core Exynos 7870 processor, which is paired with ARM Mali T830 MP1 GPU, It comes with 3GB of RAM, and 32 GB of internal storage, which can be further expandable upto 256GB via MicroSD card.

It has a 13-megapixel autofocus primary camera with f/1.9 aperture and LED flash on its back panel, and an 8-megapixel front-facing camera with f/1.9 aperture on its front for selfies and video chats. The smartphone runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow operating system and also houses a fingerprint scanner, which is integrated with its home button.

The phone is powered by a 3,300mAh non-removable battery, which the company claims offer up-to 21 hours of talktime on 3G network. The phone also has Power Planning feature, which lets you manage the battery with features like Reserve Battery, Extend Battery and Call Forwarding on zero battery. Besides, the Galaxy On Nxt offers Dual SIM (Dual Standby), 4G LTE, Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n 2.4GHz), WiFi Direct, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS, Glonass, Beidou, a MicroUSB port, S Secure, Accelerometer, and Proximity Sensor. The handset measures 151.7 x 75.0 x 8.0 mm and weighs 167 grams.