Nokia eyes return of old glory days with launch of Nokia 6, Nokia 5 and Nokia 3

HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones today launched a new generation of Nokia smartphones in India. The new range combines superior craftsmanship with distinctive and premium design along with powerful entertainment features – all this integrated with a pure and latest Android experience, giving you the ability to use your phone, your way. Nokia 3 goes on sale on 16th of June and will be available across top mobile retailers in India. Consumers can pre-book their Nokia 5 starting July 7 select mobile retail outlets across key cities such as Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Indore, Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad and Calicut and Nokia 6 will be available exclusive on Amazon.in; registrations begin July 14.

At the launch of the new range of smartphones, Ajey Mehta, Vice President India, HMD Global, said, “Nokia is a trusted and well-loved brand across the world and especially in India. Today’s announcement scripts a new chapter for Nokia phones in this country as we set out to capture the hearts and minds of an entirely new generation of fans through an inspiring and purpose-led approach. The new line-up comprising the Nokia 6, Nokia 5 and the Nokia 3 is visually stunning and will always be available out-of-the-box with the latest and pure version of Android. We intend to break the clutter in a market dominated by undifferentiated products by providing a great user experience while living up to the Nokia brand promise of simplicity, trust, reliability and quality.”

Commenting on the partnership with HMD, Manish Tiwary, Vice President, Category Management, Amazon India said, “We are thrilled to be the partner-of-choice for the iconic phone brand - Nokia. We are delighted to offer customers exclusive access to Nokia 6 where, with a single sign-on, Amazon Prime customers can experience the best of Amazon in shipping, shopping, streaming and reading along with an exclusive Daily Deal widget. Smartphones have been a top selling category at Amazon with several exclusive offerings and we continue to expand the selection, providing our customers access to millions of products at the best prices.”

Drawing on the hallmarks of the Nokia phone heritage of quality, simplicity and reliability, the range is designed for a new generation of fans.

Nokia 6

Nokia 6: Powerful entertainment experience and superior craftsmanship; available exclusively on Amazon.in

Nokia 6 comes with 5.5” full HD screen, the unibody of the Nokia 6 is crafted from a single block of 6000 series aluminium and is perfect for those who want a robust phone with outstanding entertainment credentials. The smart audio amplifier with dual speakers allow consumers to experience a deep bass and unmatched clarity, whilst Dolby Atmos® sound delivers a powerfully moving entertainment experience.

With outstanding colour reproduction, the Nokia 6 has a fully laminated display stack delivering excellent sunlight readability without compromising the slim form. Powered by the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 430 mobile platform and the Qualcomm® Adreno™ 505 graphics processor, the Nokia 6 strikes the perfect balance between performance and power consumption, designed   to   deliver   premium   quality   entertainment   with   battery   life   to   spare, maximising your entertainment experience on the go.  The Nokia 6 is available in four distinct colours – Matte Black, Silver, Tempered Blue and Copper – and will be available on Amazon.in at a recommended best buy price of Rs. 14,999/-.

The new Nokia 6 is available with a special offer - Prime members get Rs. 1000 back when they purchase the device using Amazon Pay balance and all Nokia 6 customers get 80% off on Kindle eBooks up to Rs.300. Also on the new Nokia 6, using a single sign-on to pre-installed Amazon apps and deals widget, consumers get easy access to their personalized deals, content, order history, wish list, and shipment update. Amazon Prime Members can also effortlessly access tens of thousands of movies and TV shows, over 3M eBooks, free one and two-day shipping and so much more.

In addition, Vodafone consumers will get 10GB data per month @ Rs. 249** per month for 5 months on their Nokia 6. Consumers will also get Rs. 2500 off (Rs. 1800 on hotels & Rs.700 off on domestic flights) on Makemytrip.com

Nokia 5: Seamless, premium and durable design

The Nokia 5 has been precision engineered out of a single block of 6000 series aluminium to create a perfect pillowed body that flows seamlessly into the laminated 5.2” IPS HD display with sculpted Corning® Gorilla® Glass. Featuring a ground-breaking innovation in antenna design the Nokia 5 brings robust structural integrity, attention to detail and the quality of a high-end flagship. Powered by the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 430 mobile platform, Nokia 5 delivers excellent battery life, improved graphics performance – all in a package that perfectly balances everyday usability with a premium quality design. With additional features including an 8MP, 84-degree wide-angle front facing camera – to squeeze even more scene into your selfie – and excellent sunlight and low light screen visibility, there are plenty of reasons to keep the Nokia 5 out of your pocket and in your hand where it belongs. The Nokia 5 is available in four distinct colours – Matte Black, Silver, Tempered Blue and Copper – and will retail at a recommended best buy price of Rs. 12,899/-. Vodafone consumers will get 5GB data per month @ Rs. 149** per month for 3 months on their Nokia 5. Consumers will also get Rs. 2500 off (Rs. 1800 on hotels & Rs.700 off on domestic flights) on Makemytrip.com

Nokia 3: Superior craftsmanship at an affordable price

This stunning new smartphone is designed to deliver an outstanding experience with unprecedented value.  The Nokia 3 features a precision machined aluminium frame forged out of a single piece of aluminium, offering exceptional structural integrity and protection where it counts. Featuring a fully laminated 5” IPS display with no air gap and sculpted Corning® Gorilla® Glass, the Nokia 3 offers durability and superb clarity delivering a viewing experience that is second to none. With fewer reflections thanks to the polarised screen, the experience is crisp and clear offering unbeatable visibility even in bright sunlight. With seamlessly integrated 8MP wide aperture cameras (front and back), the Nokia 3 packs a truly premium quality smartphone experience into its compact and elegant form. The Nokia 3 is available in four distinct colours – Matte Black, Silver White, Tempered Blue and Copper White – and will retail at a recommended best buy price of Rs. 9,499/-. Vodafone consumers will get 5GB data per month @ Rs. 149** per month for 3 months on their Nokia 3. Consumers will also get Rs. 2500 off (Rs. 1800 on hotels & Rs.700 off on domestic flights) on Makemytrip.com

Always Pure Android

All Nokia smartphones will be shipped with the latest pure Android OS. With guaranteed monthly security updates, Nokia smartphones will always be safe, up-to-date and clutter-free – putting choice at the heart of the consumer experience.  And with the Nougat comes the latest features including Doze, which saves battery life while the phone is in a pocket or bag. The new Nokia smartphones also feature Google’s most recent innovation, the Google Assistant, building further on a great Android experience. Our teams have worked together to ensure conversations with the Google Assistant happen seamlessly on Nokia smartphones.

Channel and after sales strategy:

HMD Global has appointed over 400 distributors in India to support its range of smartphones and feature phones. Through this network, Nokia smartphones and featurephones will be available at more than 80,000 retail outlets across the country.

The company is also investing in a robust after-sales network branded Nokia Mobile Care. By June end, over 300 cities will have a Nokia Mobile Care presence. In addition, consumers will have the opportunity to avail a device pick-up/drop service in 100 more cities. For the new age millennial consumer, we will also have Nokia Mobile Care support in the form of voice and web support.

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Moto Z2 Play : Price, Features and specifications

Motorola (owned by Lenovo) has recently launched Moto Z2 Play in India, Moto Z2 Play is successor of Moto Z Play launched earlier and supports all the Moto Mods available in market till date. The newly launched Moto Z2 Play is priced at Rs 27,999/-. The phone will be available online on Flipkart as expected , it will also be available on physical stores as well.

Moto Z2 Play

Moto Z2 Play comes with 4 GB RAM, 64 GB of storage which can be further expanded upto 2 TB via micro SD card and runs on 2.2 GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 626 processor. The phone comes with 5.5 inch Full HD Super AMOLED display with Corning Gorilla Glass to protect the phone from scratches. The finger print sensor is placed on the front side of the phone which can be used to navigate/swipe screen left and right. Apart from finger print sensor other sensors on board includes Accelerometer, Ambient light, Gyroscope, proximity, magnetometer and Ultra-sonic. Moto Z2 Play comes with 3000 mAh battery and supports turbo charging to charge the phone in less time.

Moto Z2 play comes with 12 MP rear camera with dual autofocus pixel plus laser autofocus to help capture great detailed photos in any lighting conditions. For front the phone comes with 5 MP 1.4 um f/2.2 , wide angle lens camera supported by dual led flash. On connectivity front the phone supports, GSM, 3G, 4G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, A-GPS, GLONASS. The phone isn't water proof but it comes with a water repellent nano coating which makes the phone resistant to seldom splash of water.

he Moto Z2 Play runs on latest Android  7.1.1 Nougat operating system. Also, Moto will pack the Moto Z2 Play with Moto Armor pack which comes with protective accessories to protect the phone.

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Home Credit India Launches Mobile App, will enable Customers to Access Loan and Repayment Details Instantly

Home Credit, one of India's leading NBFC has launched its mobile app in efforts towards meeting today's digital demand and need of engaging with customers closely by providing access on the go.

The app provides customers with a one-stop view of loan details, repayment schedule, and information on amount due and payment date of loans. With an intuitive design and user-friendly interface based on latest mobile payments technology, the app makes loan repayment convenient and faster for customers. Through the app, customers also have the flexibility to either repay loan completely or in small installments.

Announcing the launch, Tomas Hrdlicka, Chief Marketing Officer, Home Credit India, said, “The convergence and adoption of smartphones, mobile internet and digital payments offers a huge opportunity to expand access to financial services for unbanked population. The mobile app is a major step in our journey of introducing seamless and innovative digital solutions to customers, especially who are new to credit. As a responsible lending institution, we are committed to promoting financial inclusion by leveraging technology and contributing to the growth of digital payments architecture in India.”

The app is available on Google Playstore and is compatible with all Android phones. With over44,000 downloads already and nearly Rs. 17 million worth of point-of-sale and cash loans repaid till date, the app is gaining traction among existing Home Credit India customers.

The market leader in the small ticket size loan category (according to CRIF), Home Credit’s offerings primarily consist of providing in-store financing (direct non-cash loans in retail outlets) to qualified customers looking to purchase consumer durable goods such as mobile phones, home appliances, laptop/tablets, electronic goods and two-wheelers.

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Honor 6X receives price cut of Rs 1000 and Rs 2000 on 32 GB and 64 GB variant respectively

Honor 6X, arguably one of the most popular budget smartphones from HTC in recent times has received a significant price cut of INR 1000 on 32 GB (3 GB RAM) variant and INR 2000 on 64 GB (4 GB RAM) variant. nitially retailing at INR 12,999 (32GB) and INR 15,999 (64GB), consumers can now purchase the device for INR 11,999 (32GB) and INR 13,999 (64GB) from 6^th June 2017 onwards exclusively on Amazon.in.

Launched earlier in January in India, the Honor 6X has won several awards at the Consumer Electronics Summit (CES) 2017. The Honor 6X offers true value for money at an attractive price tag, coupled with best in class features has generated a lot of attention from consumers pan India.

“The Honor 6X is one our best sellers that has won many hearts due to its performance and dual camera capabilities, all at a very attractive price. The Honor 6X will now be available at a more attractive price for all Amazon India customers from 6^th June onwards, making the Honor 6X an even more attractive proposition. This is the perfect time for all those who have been waiting to get their hands on the device” said Mr. Allen Wang – Director Product Center, Huawei India Consumer Business Group.

In terms of specifications, Honor 6X features a gorgeous 5.5-inch full HD (1920*1080p) display, the ergonomically designed Honor 6X boasts a full metal slim body (8.2mm thick) with 2.5D glass on the front and curved panel on the back. The smartphone is localized for the Indian users with EMUI availability in 14 local languages (Hindi, Bengali, Telegu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Oriya, Punjabi, Assamese, Maithili and Nepali) and comes with the SOS button which will act as an emergency alarm and send an SMS to preset numbers and also provide location information.

The Honor 6X is available exclusively on Amazon.in and the company has experienced overwhelming customer response with the device going out of stock in a matter of minutes

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Gionee A1 Review: Should you buy a ticket to 'Selfiestan'?

Gionee announced the Gionee A1 at MWC with a super camera and super battery tagline. The company was quick to roll out the product in Indian market after the announcement as the device was officially launched Gionee A1 on 23rd March, 2017. The phone was launched with a grand event and its own 'Selfiestan' song launch featuring Alia Bhatt. The phone as the campaign suggests focus on the Selfie camera along with a super battery. So as a buyer should you dare to buy tickets to land in Selfiestan? Let's find out.

Build and Design:

As it has become a standard now a days, Gionee A1 as well comes with a metallic back and glass front. On the back you can spot antenna lines running on top and bottom of the phone. The 13 MP rear camera is placed right in the middle on the top and dual tone LED flash light sits just below it. However, the most confusing part of the phone is the Brand Logo itself which is placed perfectly in a circle, just below the LED Flash light. Why we say its the most confusing one as this is not the finger print sensor of the device despite of its look and perfect position for the same. While the finger print sensor is placed on Home button in front similar to what we see in Samsung phones. The phone branding comes just above the bottom antenna line and looks elegant.

Gionee A1 - BackSide

Turning the phone to its front side and you will the the glass covering all of it. On the top there is a front flash light and proximity sensor on the left of the ear-piece while the 16 MP camera is placed on the right of the ear-piece. Below that you have 5.5 inch Amoled display which sports a very thin bezel. On the bottom of the display we have a physical 'Home' button with finger print sensor on it. There are two capacitive touch buttons on either side of the Home button, the left one for multi tasking and right for back operations.

Gionee A1 (front side) - click to enlarge

We have a sim tray on the left side of the phone, while the right edge sports a Volume rocker and power button. On the top edge we have a 3.5 mm audio jack while on the bottom edge we have a micro usb slot for data transfer and charging and speaker grill on either sides.

Gionee A1 Bottom Edge 

Overall the phone looks great in hands, with a sturdy built and common yet beautiful design. The phone does feel a bit heavy at 180+ grams when compared to other prominent smartphones in this segment.

Specifications and Features: 

The Gionee A1 runs on a MediaTek Helio P10 MT6755 octa-core processor and Mali-T860M2 GPU coupled with 4 GB of RAM. The phone comes with 64 GB storage on board which can be further expanded upto 128 GB via micro SD card provided you cannot use second sim in that case as the SIM tray is a hybrid one. We have a front flash light for selfies which is a new trend now a days. Finger print sensor is placed in the front on the home button itself. 

The 5.5 inch AMOLED display provides a screen resolution of 1920x1080 pixels, The primary camera at rear is of 13MP and is supported by a dual tone LED flash light, however more weightage is given to the 'Selfie' Camera which comes with a 16 MP sensor and is supported by a Flash light too for selfies.

The phone runs on Amigo 4.0 custom UI based on Android Nougat, the device supports 4G LTE with VoLTE. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n , FM, micro USB with OTG support and 3.5 mm audio jack. 

The phone supports Gestures such as draw 'O' on the lock screen and camera app is launched which can be customized in a number of ways. The phone seems to have taken a lot of inspiration from the iPhones as we see with the icons and the toggle switches which are not present in the Notification drawer instead you need to pull it from the bottom of the screen as we see in iPhones. 

The Finger print sensor does it job well but the oval design of the Home button makes it loose some flexibility on the angles from which it can be unlocked and we personally would have preferred the sensor on the back right where the logo is placed.

The sharp AMOLED display is a plus of this device, which offers a clear picture quality with high saturation levels, the sharpness is as we would have wanted it on a Full HD display. It was able to play full HD movies we threw at it and the over all visual experience was a treat to eyes. Readability under sunlight is another plus. 

Performance:

Running on Mediatek Helio P10 with 4 GB RAM, the Gionee A1 lives up to the expectations and delivers a quality performance in day to day tasks. Switching between apps is quite smooth and we didn't notice any lag while switching between apps. The phone also doesn't heats up in regular use, normally I had calls ranging from 3 to 8 minutes in a day and didn't noticed sudden rise in temperature. However, playing resource intensive games such as Asphalt 8: Airborne for more than 10 minutes, the phone starts heating up due to which you could be forced to leave in another 10 minutes of game. 

The call quality from the device is crisp and clear, the super battery claim lives up as the phone easily lasted for a day and half on a single charge with more than average usage (including several game sessions, YouTube playback, voice calls and internet browsing). The phone also supports quick charging which comes in handy when you have to put in more juice in your phone in less time.

Camera:

The 16 MP front camera is the one touted to be a 'Super Selfie' camera with LED flash, On the rear there is a 13 MP camera with dual LED flash and f/2.0 aperture which is same as the front camera. 

The front cameras have evolved a lot in last 3 years and Gionee A1 camera does its job well in most conditions, the front soft flash helps in low lit conditions and various filters and beautify features makes it fun and satisfying to capture a selfie. 

The rear camera takes great shots in good amount of light however in low light it struggles a bit to reduce the noise and pick up the details. The shutter speed and focus are quick and snaps the image as soon as you click on the shutter button. The rear camera comes with a lot of modes, including panorama, manual, slow motion, card reader, bar code reader and Translator. There are live filters available as well which you can choose while framing your subject. Below are few samples.

Verdict:

As the 'Super Selfie, Super Battery' tagline is justified with the performance of the phone, you have to give it to the design and the display quality to make this phone a desirable one. The specifications are as per the price segment. So if you are a selfie lover and looking for a stylish (not unique though) and sturdy phone, then Gionee A1 should definitely in your wish list.

Gionee is priced at 19,999 Rs, which is a good price when compared to the OPPO F3 Plus, Vivo Selfie focused smartphones. 

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