LG V20: Specifications, Features, Pricing and Availability

We know LG as a consumer electronics brand since decades, in this segment it is a great competitor of the tech giant Samsung. However, the same cannot be said when it comes to smartphones as LG has a very low market share and number of devices in each segment when compared to Samsung, but does that mean it lacks the fire of innovation, the urge to rule and the desire to bring quality products to the market. For me the answer is no, if you have any doubt about that then you are missing on the great devices LG has introduced to the world and which are in no way short of any flagship devices of their time. On one side Samsung has had a very bad year in 2016 because of the Note 7 fiasco, on the other LG has just launched its next flagship in India i.e. the #LGV20. We will share all the details about the product we have, if you are short of time and think its too long to read complete post then we would like to inform you that this phone is like a Rajkumar Hirani's movie which is launched in December and grabs many awards for the year.

LG V20

Highlights of the Phone: 

• Secondary Display strip on top of primary display.
• Detachable Battery with a push of button, Detaches itself when shock is sensed.
• Fingerprint sensor at rear which can be pressed to use it as power button.
• Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box.
• Dual rear camera (16 MP + 8 MP), 5 MP front camera.
• 64 GB internal memory, can be extended up to 2TB via micro SD card.
• Incredibly durable-805g military certification.
• B & O play premium earphone worth Rs 18,000/- free for every buyer.

LG V20 boasts of metal body with a very thin bezel design, the device sports a squarish design as opposed to rounded one in in G5, the back cover is also made of aircraft grade aluminium while the top and bottom edges are protected by Silicon Poly Carbonate which is a great shock absorbing material.

Durability of the phone makes it one of the most sturdy phone to carry.

Talking about the durability of the phone, it is quite sturdy and reliable and in fact the LGV20 is US military compliant drop tests. As a witness to the launch event I can assure you that the different techies tried there way to make a crack on the phone with their drop tests but every time when we turned our neck towards a shattering sound we could see the phone safe after being picked up from the floor.

The phone runs on Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 quad core processor coupled with a 4GB RAM which is standard in current generation of smartphones. LGV20 comes with 64 GB of internal memory with UFS (2.0). LG V20 comes with a 5.7 inch primary Quad HD IPS display with a 513 ppi pixel density, the device also comes with a 2.1 inch secondary IPS Quantum Display to check notifications. This can also be seen as functionally implemented the same way as Samsung has implemented its edge display.

The LG V20 comes with wide-angle cameras on both the front and back of the phone. The V20 can take wide-angle photographs with rear-facing 135-degree and front-facing 120-degree lenses. Even more interesting is the Hybrid Auto Focus feature which delivers optimal picture sharpness while Auto Shot simplifies selfies with a face detection feature that triggers the shutter automatically. The phone comes with 3200 mAh removable battery with Quick Charge 3.0 support.

When it comes to video recording, the V20’s Steady Record 2.0 helps neutralize shaky images using both Electronics Image Stabilization (EIS) and Optical Image Stabilization (OIS 2.0) built into Qualcomm Snapdrago 820 processor. Moreover, high quality video wouldn’t be worth watching without an equally high quality of audio. Therefore, the V20 captures audio using formats similar to those used in professional video equipment. The powerhouse smartphone also supports optimal playback, minimizing distortion and noise.

For the Audio Features, LG collaborated with renowned European audio brand B&O Play, under the umbrella of Bang & Olufsen - the manufacturer of a complete line of audio and video products. The fastest-growing stand-alone unit of Bang & Olufsen, takes the audio game of V20 several notches higher, assuring one to ‘Play More’. Hitting the right cords, the new V20 comes with B&O Play headsets for absolutely free.

Detailed Specification of the phone:

• Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 Processor
• Display: Main 5.7-inch QHD IPS Quantum Display (2560 x 1440 / 513ppi) /Secondary IPS Quantum Display (160 x 1040 / 513ppi)
• Memory: 4GB LPDDR4 RAM / 64 GB Internal Memory / microSD(up to 2TB)
• Camera: Front 5MP with F1.9 (Wide Angle) / Dual Real Camera 16MP and 8 MP Wide Angle with F1.8
• Battery: 3200mAh (removable)
• Operating System: Android 7.0 Nougat
• Size: 159.7 x 78.1 x 7.6mm
• Weight: 174g
• Colors: Titan / Silver / Pink
• Others: Hi-Fi Video Recording / Steady Record 2.0 / HD Audio Recorder / Studio Mode / High AOP Mic /Second Screen / 32-bit Hi-Fi Quad DAC / In Apps / Finger Print Scanner / Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0

LG V20 shall be available across India starting 6 th Dec 2016 through Retail stores and online exclusively at Amazon. V20 shall be available at market operating price of INR 54,999.

Exchange Program with LG V20: You can exchange your old smartphone for a minimum value of Rs 20000 when  you upgrade your LGV20.

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Acknowledging the most notable smartphones that we saw in 2016

2016 has been a great year for smartphones. Plenty of new brands made their mark in India and some even called it the Chinese invasion. Selfie was a big thing and phones crossed 6GB in RAM too. Here we take a look at some of the phones that made an impact in the market.

Google Pixel:

Google Pixel and Pixel XL were the first phones to be launched with Google’s own branding. Powered by the most powerful and latest processor Snapdragon 821, Pixel phones emerged as the king of Android smartphones. With a score of 89 from DxoMark, Google Pixel broke all the records of smartphone photography and reserved the top seat on the stack of best smartphone cameras.

Pixel - Phone by Google

 Apple iPhone 7:

iPhone 7 is the latest smartphone from Apple to be launched in 2016. This time Apple came up with a lot of new things such as new camera system, audio experience, removal of a 3.5mm audio jack, and what not. The iPhone 7 Plus also featured a dual rear camera setup, thus setting the trend for other smartphone maker to follow. It is powered by an all new quad-core A10 chipset. iPhone 7 is also first phone from Apple to come with water and dust resistance.

Apple iPhone 7 Plus

OnePlus 3/3T:

OnePlus 3T is the most affordable phone to be powered by the latest Snapdragon 821 processor that too coupled with a massive 6GB of RAM. OnePlus 3T comes with world’s fastest Dash charger which is capable of charging 50% of phone’s battery just within 15 minutes of charging. It also flaunts a 16MP front and back camera, thus offering the best selfie camera in the market. With a very competitive pricing of Rs 29,999, it is near to impossible for any other smartphone to beat the OnePlus 3T.

One Plus 3 

OPPO F1  S:

OPPO is now synonymous to better camera phones, their commercials emphasizes on this fact by calling their products as camera phones. F1 series has honored that image and taken the selfie experience to a new level. Apart from that, it is powered by an Octa-core processor with 3GB RAM and 32GB ROM which can be expanded to 128GB and is also powered by 3075mAh. F1S comes with industry leading 0.22s fingerprint reader. OPPO F1S is priced at Rs 17,990.

OPPO F1S

Moto G4 Plus:

With a price of Rs 14,999, Moto G4 Plus is giving tough competition to all the device priced under 20k. Packed with a great camera and powerful battery, Moto G4 Plus also has a very crisp and bright display. It is powered by Snapdragon 617 couple with a 3GB of RAM. Motorola has also rolled out the Android 7.0 Nougat update for the Moto G4 Plus. With a DxoMark rating of 81, Moto G4 Plus is the first phone to pack such a great camera under this budget.

Moto G4 Plus

Redmi Note 3

It is not just another phone from Xiaomi which needs any introduction. Redmi Note 3 is the highest selling smartphone in India from Xiaomi. The low pricing and really good features do set this phone apart. With a fingerprint scanner, Full HD display and an infrared emitter, Redmi Note 3 kills all other smartphones around its budget rate. This beast is powered by the Snapdragon 430 and comes with two variants of 2GB and 3GB of RAM.

Redmi Note3

These were the best smartphone of 2016 covering all the budget range. Apart from these, we must also acknowledge the aggressive push by Oppo and Vivo into the Indian market. And of course, the Reliance Jio impact coupled with LYF devices.

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10 Reasons To Choose Zenfone 3 Max

The smartphone market in India is full of a variety of options. There are smartphones that look good, have a decent camera or offer a good battery life. However, it is difficult to come across a smartphone that packages all these features and more in one sleek unit. This is where ASUS’ latest addition to the hugely successful Zenfone 3 family, Zenfone 3 Max comes into the picture. Given below are 10 reasons that show the superior capabilities of Zenfone 3 Max:

Design and Construction

Design has become an intrinsic part of a smartphone’s features. It is imperative for a smartphone to have an aesthetic appearance besides offering advanced features. Furthermore, a smartphone needs to be made out of superior quality material in order to look and feel luxurious.

 

ASUS Zenfone3 Max

Zenfone 3 Max sports a sophisticated glass touchscreen in a finely sandblasted full-metal, aluminium alloy-body. Its brilliant diamond cut chamfered edges, anodized to give it an attractive, shiny metallic finish, are matched around the back by a gently curving rear cover that feels natural to hold, giving the phone a sleek and elegant look.

Battery

Smartphones are used for a multitude of tasks such as accessing e-mails, social media accounts, playing games, watching videos and movies and listening to songs. They are no longer the simple gadget meant to make calls and send text messages. As such, it is important for them to sport a battery that can support the user’s requirements without making them look for an alternate source of power to charge their phones.

Equipped with an extremely long-lasting, high capacity 4100mAh lithium-polymer battery, Zenfone 3 Max allows consumers to use the phone for a full working day and beyond. In fact, it also doubles up as a fast-charge power bank for charging other devices and is one of the lightest and most compact smartphones with a battery that is more than 4000 mAh in capacity.

Intelligent Power Modes

While a powerful battery helps in ensuring a smooth functioning of the smartphone and its various features, having different power modes to suit the user’s needs can help in increasing the longevity of the battery even further. This is particularly useful on days when a user anticipates higher than normal mobile usage and needs to conserve the available battery life for important tasks.

To optimize performance, Zenfone 3 Max offers five selectable power modes that enable users to regulate their usage according to their needs - Performance mode, Normal mode, Power saving mode, Super Saving mode and Customized mode.

Camera

A good camera is one of the most basic requirements from a smartphone. Being companion devices, they help the users capture their special moments. Hence, it is important for the smartphone to be able to click flawless pictures that can help the users treasure and cherish these memories forever.

Designed specifically for photography enthusiasts, the two versions of Zenfone 3 Max (5.5 inch & 5.2 inch) feature extraordinary 16 MP and 13 MP cameras respectively that deliver crystal clear images. The PixelMaster cameras capture beautiful, high-resolution photos with zero shutter lag. The smartphones also sport 8 MP (5.5 inch) and 5 MP (5.2 inch) front cameras for flawless selfies.

Camera Modes and Features

Besides providing a good camera specifications, the smartphone should also provide software enhancements to elevate the user’s camera experience. Such features enable the users to click better pictures and even work on the pictures and improve their quality, after they have been captured!

Click image to enlarge

Zenfone 3 Max is packed with powerful camera modes to capture every precious mode. The industry-leading Backlight (Super HDR) mode lets users see clearly through daytime shadow, Super Resolution captures multiple shots simultaneously for a single photograph with stunning 64MP(5.5 inch)/ 52MP(5.2 inch) detail and Low Light mode takes clear and bright photos, even in poor lighting. The 16MP camera of the Zenfone 3 Max (5.5 inch) features an advanced triple technology autofocus system which ensures a superfast focus time of 0.03 seconds.— laser, phase detection and conventional contrast detection for continuous auto-focus. This harmonious system automatically selects the best one depending on the subject, lighting and range. For capturing stunning handheld videos with the 5.5 inch, an electronic image stabilization (EIS) system counteracts hand movements to ensure the resulting videos are stable and shake-free. 

Privacy and Security

Since smartphones have become the primary device for most users, they tend to contain a plethora of personal and professional information, making it extremely important to ensure proper security of the device. An accurate fingerprint sensor comes in handy in such cases. At the same time, it is important for the sensor to be blazing fast in order to allow speedy access to the smartphone.

To ensure the user’s security, Zenfone 3 Max has a fingerprint sensor that is conveniently positioned near the top of the rear panel. The fingerprint sensor allows rapid locking or unlocking of the phone, and can also be used for authentication by other apps. It also registers up to five separate fingerprints, and accurately detects fingerprints regardless of the orientation of the finger on the sensor in as swiftly as 0.03 seconds. 

Display

Smartphones have also become the device of choice for entertainment on-the-go. Busy lifestyles combined with the availability of multiple apps that offer free movies, videos and songs have made the users utilize their phone screens for more than just simple communication, making it mandatory for them to have HD displays. Additionally, it is important for the display to be safe for the user’s eyes and provide adequate blue light filter.

Zenfone 3 Max has a high-definition 5.2/5.5 inch LCD backlit display with a built-in Bluelight filter. The smartphone also features a '2.5D' contoured glass that helps the display fuse seamlessly into the diamond cut metallic chamfered edges, and adds to the premium comfort of holding the phone.

Performance

A smartphone should be able to provide superior performance and support the user’s daily needs. It needs to have good hardware specifications that can aid the users complete their tasks smoothly and without any lags.

Equipped with a powerful processor, Zenfone 3 Max delivers outstanding performance. Together with a 3GB RAM, the smartphone provides a greater responsiveness and ability to run graphically demanding games. While the internal memory of both variants is 32 GB, the 5.5 inch is further expandable to 128GB and the 5.2 inch to 32GB, allowing more than sufficient storage for your images, videos, games, etc.

User Interface

The user interface of a smartphone should be intuitive and easy-to-use. It should not slow down the smartphone and in fact, act in complete synchronization with the various features of the phone. The UI should be light, simple and make the smartphone experience of the user enjoyable.

Zenfone 3 Max runs on the latest version of Google Android 6.0 (Marshmallow), and features the latest ZenUI 3.0 interface. ZenMotion Touch Gesture allows the quick launch of apps from standby simply by writing a letter on the smartphone’s blank screen; GamGenie is a new game supporting app that automatically starts when a game launch is detected which allows users to stream live game screens to social media platforms, and provides an in-game browser useful for finding tips, walkthroughs, guide videos and cheats.

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Find out how Paytm ensures security of your money

With the recent demonetisation move from Indian government online transactions have increased significantly as expected and one of the major beneficiary from this step are the online wallets. Paytm by far has emerged as most widely used and accepted digital wallet. Though government has introduced few other mechanisms to pay cashless, Paytm continues to be number one as it had a strong user base even before this step was taken and they have put in extra resources to monitor the situation and increase awareness about usage of mobile wallets.

Paytm App Password feature

As we move to digital wallets definitely there are many pros such as no need to carry hard cash all the time, pay exact amount without worrying about change, send money remotely etc, but when we look at the other side where cyber crimes are increasing day  by day and the fact that a small hack can cost us a huge amount which we have saved in our wallets or the thought of the cards added in wallets just force many users to take a step back.  To increase confidence in its users Paytm has implemented a number of security measures to ensure that your money is secure.

As a large payments company, Paytm’s servers and infrastructure are closely monitored by in-house security experts. They have round the clock multi-layered security protocol including IDP (Intrusion Detection and Protection) Layer over all our NOC's. Furthermore, they’ve been using bulletproof WAF's to protect our traffic injection. They also have multi-geography 24X7 SOC which constantly monitors the unique challenges that may occur in India. 

Paytm systems are secure to the extent that even with a username and password it is not possible to login anyone's account owing to the multi-layered protection of OTP and device signature, which is also required for logging into the account. 

Paytm continuously educates its existing and prospective users to not share their details with anyone over the phone. All these messages are reiterated through all communication channels to their users.

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ZTE Nubia N1 with octa core Helio P10, 3 GB RAM and 5000 mAh battery launched for Rs 11,999

ZTE's sub brand today announced launch of its much awaited phone Nubia N1 for Rs 11,999/- which will be exclusively available only on Amazon.in from 16th December 2016. For long this price segment is dominated by the likes of Redmi Note 3 Prime, 3S Prime , LeEco 2, Honor 5C etc, with the launch of Nubia N1 consumers now have something new to try which brings something new with the device.

The Nubia N1

The USP of the phone is its High Density battery with a juice of massive 5000 mAH. The company claims it can last up to 1.9 days for heavy users and average users can expect a 3.1 day charge free fuel for their mobile phone. The credit to extra battery life is given to Nubia's new battery technology - NeoPower, excellent system optimization, low power consumption and high performance hardware.

The N1 comes with a 5.5 inch Full HD screen and is powered by Helio P10 octa core chipset clocked at 1.8 GHz with Mali T860 GPU. The device comes with 3GB of RAM which is now a standard for this price range. On the storage front Nubia N1 comes with 32 GB /64 GB options and can be expanded further upto 128 GB via micro SD card.

Commenting on the launch, Eric Hu, Country Manager nubia India said, “The millennial generation is increasingly consuming content on their smartphones & the 5.5" FHD screen on nubia N1 enhances that experience. With capabilities like multitasking with higher memory and advanced processor, one of the largest batteries in the industry for long lasting use and an enhanced camera with PDAF phase focus, a rapid capture speed of 0.2 seconds, the N1 provides a Flagship experience. We are excited to launch N1 which offers a differentiated experience to our consumers for their active lifestyle.”

Front and Rear 13 MP Camera:

At rear there is a 13MP camera with Neo vision 5.9 technology and is equipped with PDAF phase focus and other features such as 3D noise reduction technology, low-light image enhancement, hand-held image stabilization, LTM regional color control, accurate photo color restoration. The front-facing 13 MP camera is equipped real time beautification filter, and intelligent lighting, capturing every detail of beauty. nubia's hand-held electronic aperture comes with Hand-held Image Stabilization technology, which helps one to take professional-quality long-exposure photos without a tripod.

Fingerprint recognition one step ahead of the pack - Equipped with fingerprint recognition, a rapid 0.2 second unlock, the N1 is one step ahead of the competition. It also includes convenient fingerprint screenshot and photo features; a small fingerprint with a wide range of uses. Use your fingerprint to open a whole new world of interactions.

Split your screen whenever you want – nubia’s powerful screen split-up function supports almost all third-party applications. You can quickly and conveniently split the screen into two by swiping up from the bottom of the screen. The screen will be split into the upper and lower sections in portrait mode, and into left and right sections in landscape mode.

nubia N1 supports the world's leading 4G network providers, with a dual Standby SIM access system. It's also been upgraded to support the Cat 6 network and VoLTE high-definition voice call.

nubia UI 4.0 - Smart and colourful immersive design - nubia UI finds a balance between elegant simplicity in flat design and novel Skeuomorphism design, full of bright color and clever interactions, full of life. With completely overhauled system optimization, nubia UI is smoother than ever before.

Metal body cambered design smooth texture and contour - It's made out of an aviation-grade aluminium alloy, and crafted with an integrated metal processing technology. After several rounds of testing and fine-tuning, nubia created the perfect cambered surface that perfectly fits the shape of your hand. You can tangibly feel the superior texture quality of the exquisite metal case in your hand.

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