This week (7 April - 13 April) Indian market witnessed a handful of MNC brands - Samsung and Gionee - as well as domestic vendors, like Lava and Xolo, launching some smartphones globally and some for select regions.
First up is Xolo. The company announced a feature-rich budget Android phone, dubbed as Q1010i, on 7 April in India.
Xolo Q1010i key features:
- 5.0-inch HD (1280x720p) IPS screen with OGS (One Glass Solution) technology
- Android v4.3 Jelly Bean OS with a guarantee of v4.4 KitKat update
- 1.3GHz MediaTek quad-core CPU with 500MHz Mali 400-MP2 and 1GB RAM
- 8.0-megapixel camera with Sony Exmor R lens, full HD video recording, HDR (High Dynamic Range), flash support and a 2.0-megapixel snapper on the front for video chat
- 2250 mAh battery
- Price: ₹13,499 [For more information on Xolo Q1010i specifications, click here]
On the very same day (7 April), Xolo's parent firm Lava International Ltd launched Iris Pro 20 series smartphone.
Lava Iris Pro 20 key features:
- 4.7-inch qHD (960x540p) IPS screen with OGS (One Glass Solution) technology, comes protected by Corning Gorilla Glass shield, metal chassis around the edge
- Android v4.2.1 Jelly Bean
- 1.2GHz quad-core CPU who 1GB RAM
- 8.0megapixel camera with dual-LED flash, HD video recording, digital zoom and a 0.3-megapixel (VGA) front camera for video chat
- 2000 mAh Li-Polymer battery.
- Price: ₹13,999 [For more information on Lava Iris Pro 20 specifications, click here]
On 8 April, Samsung officially announced new smartphone Galaxy Ace Style and it is set to hit stores in global market this month.
Samsun Galaxy Ace Style Key features:
- 4.0-inch WVGA (480x800p) TFT screen
- Android v4.4 KitKat OS (First Samsung budget to ship with the latest Android software)
- 1.2GHz dual-core processor with 512MB RAM
- 5.0-megapixel camera with LED flash support and a 0.3-megapixel (VGA) camera
- 1500 mAh battery [For more information on Samsung Galaxy Ace Style, click here]
Buoyed by the huge reception to Moto G (via Flipkart) in India, network carrier Reliance Communication began selling the popular feature-rich Motorola mid-range smartphone this week.
RCom's Moto G is a SIM-less CDMA model and packs pretty much the same specifications seen inside the normal variant. As of now, the company is offering only 8GB model for ₹13,490. Reliance subscribers can also buy the phone via zero-down payment with 12 months/6-month EMI options.
Motorola Moto G key features:
- 4.5-inch HD (1270x720p) LCD screen with 329 ppi (pixels per inch), comes protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 shield
- Special water-repellant nano coating inside and out
- 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU with 1GB RAM
- 5.0-megapixel camera with LED flash and a 1.3-megapixel camera on the front
- High-capacity 2,070 mAh battery
- Price: Reliance Communication: 8GB: ₹13,490, zero down payment and in Flipkart: 8GB: ₹12,499 & 16GB: ₹13,999 (buyback offer reduces ₹2000 on MRP) [For more information on Motorola Moto G, click here]
On 10 April, Gionee and Samsung launched the Elife E7 Mini and Galaxy S4 Black Edition smartphones respectively.
Gionee Elife E7 Mini key features:
- 4.7-inch HD (720x1280p) IGZO screen
- Android v4.2 Jelly Bean with custom UI Amigo OS v2.0
- 1.7GHz MediaTek Octa-core processor backed by Mali 450MP4 graphics engine and 1GB RAM
- 13.0-megapixel rotating camera with LED flash, auto-focus
- 2200 mAh battery (non-removable)
- Price: ₹19,500 [For more information on Gionee Elife E7 Mini, click here]
Samsung Galaxy S4 Black Edition:
- 5.0-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080p) Super AMOLED display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 Display shield and flaunts black faux leather stitching on the rear-side.
- Android v4.4.2 KitKat OS with Black themed TouchWiz UI along with additional wall-papers and ringtones
- Exynos 5 Octa-core CPU (1.6GHz quad + 1.2GHz quad) with 2GB RAM
- 13.0-megapixel Auto-focus, Flash & BIS sensor and a 2.0-megapixel front camera with full HD video recording ability
- 2600 mAh battery
- Price: ₹29,500 [For more information on Samsung Galaxy S4, click here]
Beside Iris Pro 20, indigenous smartphone maker Lava International Ltd also announced two more budget handsets - Iris 406Q and Iris Colour - in India.
Lava Iris 406Q Key features:
- 4.0-inch WVGA (480x800p) screen with pixel density of 233 ppi (pixels per inch)
- Stock Android v4.3 Jelly Bean OS with v4.4.2 KitKat OS Update guarantee
- 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon quad-core CPU with 400MHz Adreno 302 GPU and 1GB RAM
- 5.0-megapixel camera with LED flash, HDR mode, 4x digital zoom, HD video recording and a 0.3-megapixel (VGA) camera for video chat
- 1700 mAh (Li-Ion) battery
- Price: ₹6,999 [For more information on Lava Iris 406Q, click here]
Lava Iris 450Q key features:
- 4.5-inch FWVGA (854x480p) IPS screen
- Android v4.2 Jelly Bean
- 1.3Ghz dual-core CPU with 512MB RAM
- 5.0-megapixel camera with LED flash, HDR modem HD video recording and 0.3-megapixel (VGA) camera on the front
- 1800 mAh (Li-Ion) battery
- Price: ₹7,999 [For more information on Lava Iris 450 Colour, click here]
On 11 April, world smartphone leader Samsung officially released the flagship phone Galaxy S5 in 125 nations across the globe, including India.
Samsung Galaxy S5 key features:
- 5.1-inch full HD (1920x1080p) super AMOLED screen with pixel density of 440 ppi (pixels per inch)
- Android v4.4.2 KitKat OS with new TouchWiz UI
- Adinos Prime 2 processor (1.9GHz quad-cores + 1.3GHz quad-cores+ XMM6360) with 2GB RAM
- 16.0-megapixel camera with HDR, fast 0.3-second auto-focus (world's fastest), 4K video recording and a 2.1-megapixel front camera with full HD video recording ability
- Finger-print sensor
- Water-and-dust resistant body (IP67 certifications
- 2800 mAh battery (with Ultra Power Saving Mode, phone can run close to 24 hours in with just 10-percent battery power remaining)
- Price: ₹51,500 [For more information on Samsung Galaxy S5, click here]
This weekend, Mumbai-based technology firm iBall also launched a couple of handsets, dubbed Andi 3.5Kke Genius and 3.5Kke Winner.
iBall Andi 3.5Kke Genius and Andi 3.5Kke Winner key features:
- 3.5-inch HVGA (480x320p) screen
- Android v4.2.2 Jelly Bean
- 1.3GHz Dual-core Cortex A7 CPU with 256MB RAM
- 3.2-megapixel camera with LED flash support and a front camera
- 1250 mAh battery
- Only difference between iBall Andi 3.5Kke Genius and Andi 3.5Kke Winner is that the latter boasts 3G network connectivity. [For more information on iBall Andi 3.5Kke Genius and Winner, click here]
iBall Andi 4.5P Glitter key features:
- 4.5-inch FWVGA (854x480p) screen
- Android Jelly Bean v4.2.2 OS
- Quad Core 1.3 GHz Cortex A7 Advanced CPU with 512MB RAM
- 8.0-megapixel camera with LED flash support and front camera
- 1450 mAh battery
- Price: ₹8,299 [For more information on Andi 4.5P Glitter, click here]
Another domestic player, Spice, also launched a budget 3G handset - Stellar Glide Mi-438 - in India this weekend.
Spice Stellar Glide Mi-438 key features:
- 4.0-inch display with OGS (One Glass Solution) technology)
- Android v4.2 Jelly Bean OS
- 1.3GHz dual-core CPU with 512MB RAM
- 2.0-megapixel camera with LED flash and a 1.3-megapixel front camera
- 1,350 mAh battery
- Price: ₹5049 [For more information on Spice Stellar Glide Mi-438, click here]