drmsriram: GADGET GIZMO SPECIAL FLAG SHIPS!

GADGET GIZMO SPECIAL FLAG SHIPS!

When you buy a “flagship“ smartphone, you're investing in a handset that's the best its manufacturers can build: companies use premium materials and pack in top-of-the-line processors, camera optics, sensors, storage options, battery , as well as a host of proprietary features with the sole intent of displaying their engineering capabilities. It's no wonder that each handset in this roundup boasts of serious processing power purring behind those crisp, vibrant, high-definition screens. These devices are capable of clear voice calls, will play back 4K videos and even handle demanding 3D content with ease. They'll multitask without a stutter and will even give you an entire day of use on a single charge. They will replenish their batteries with a couple of hours of charging, and will snap photos and record videos that'll make you dump your point-and-shoot camera.But for everything that they have in common, each of these smartphones has that one defining feature that sets it apart from the others. So read on to find out which one's worth your well-earned money...

Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge | 56,900

WHY: FUTURISTIC DESIGN & TOP-CLASS PERFORMANCE

The S7 Edge is arguably the most powerful smartphone there is it maxed all benchmark and real-world productivity tests and it looks fantastic too. It is fronted by Gorilla Glass that curves along both long edges to meet its metal-alloy frame seamlessly . The curves are not mere aesthetics. Swipe inwards from the right edge, and a two-column sidebar appears with shortcuts to frequently-used apps, contacts and news updates.You can have up to 12 such panels, including for stocks, weather and tasks. You can even glimpse app notifications by running a finger along the curved edge even when the phone is locked.

Its cameras are among the best you'll find in smartphones, though purists might notice that colours appear to be bumped up a fair bit, but this is not a deal breaker.

Notably , this handset is equipped with a built-in heart rate sensor that works to keep a record of your cardiac rhythm and oxygen levels in your blood. Besides, you get a device that's IP68compliant, which means it is resistant to dust and accidental spillage, and for added security , its homescreen button doubles as a fingerprint sensor to unlock the phone and also sign in to web accounts.

Add to this mix a fast-charging battery that gives you almost two days on a single charge, and you get a handset that not only looks futuristic and classy , but also delivers the goods.

Apple iPhone SE | 39,000 (16GB), 49,000 (64GB)

WHY: POWERFUL ALL ROUNDER IN A POCKET-FRIENDLY SIZE

If you're looking for a handset that's easy to operate with a single hand, and which can be discretely slipped into your pocket, the iPhone SE is the smartphone for you. For this device, Apple has gone back to the smaller size that made its iPhone 5 a huge success, but upgraded it internally with the same hardware that's found in the iPhone 6s. To put its processing muscle in perspective, the SE's perfor mance is almost on a par with the Samsung S7 Edge, including its almost 2-day battery life.

Like all iPhones, this one comes with productivity apps for editing documents, spreadsheets and presentations.

You get GarageBand that allows you to compose music, the App Store for access to millions of quality apps that are designed to lever age the handset's hardware capabilities, and iTunes for all the music you could possibly want.

Already , much has been written about the iPhone's cameras, and the dual shooters on this device do not disappoint. Photos and high-definition videos appear clear, crisp and with balanced, natural tones. Apple's personal assistant Siri is as helpful as ever, and `she' even understands our Indian accents.

Now while the SE does not come with a heart sensor like the Samsung S7 Edge, it is designed to work smoothly with compatible third-party apps and wearables to measure your physical activity , sleep patterns and nutrition data on a visual dashboard. Why the Apple SE? Well, because good things also come in small packages.

BlackBerry Priv | 62,999

WHY: KEYBOARD & TOP-NOTCH SECURITY

If you've always wanted an Android smartphone with a physical Qwerty keyboard, the Priv is for you. For those who have been hiding under a rock.

Yes, it's true. BlackBerry has ditched its BB10 OS to give you a handset that runs the latest Android `Marshmallow'.

This means you now get access to the largest collection of apps. No more app envy .

As for the physical Qwerty key board, it allows you to lightly slide on its surface to scroll long web pages and e-mails, just like you would on a touch pad. When typing, you can swipe back to delete the last word and if you swipe down, you get quick access to an onscreen keyboard with special char acters. Of course, it works intuitively , complete with haptic feedback.

When not in use you can slide this keypad behind the Priv's full 5.4-inch display and continue using the device like any other Android smartphone.

Now, the real mainstay of this device is `Privacy', and this is also where the `Priv' gets its name. It comes with DTEK, a service that constantly monitors your phone to let you know when your privacy is at risk and the actions you can take to protect it from unauthorized access by apps and services.

Besides, you also get features like Password Keeper to store secret passwords and notes, `Picture Password' that uses a combination of numbers and picture to unlock the handset, as well as complete data encryption to ensure that all the content on your phone is protected.

Since BlackBerry has always tended to productivity , you get features like the secure BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) for messaging, the BlackBerry Hub that allows you to easily access all your messages, notifications, personal messages, et al from a single screen and you can also swipe from the right side of the screen to get quick access to your calendar, e-mail, to-do lists and contacts. Simply , think of the Priv as a device that promises and delivers a secure Android experience on the solid hardware that BlackBerry is known for.

LeEco Le Max | 32,999 (64GB), 36,999 (128GB)

WHY: EXTRA-LARGE SCREEN WITH DAY-LONG BATTERY

The Le Max boasts of a large 6.3-inch Quad HD screen, and this makes it ideal for watching high-definition videos, playing games, browsing the web, reading e-books and working with documents and in all these tasks, this handset does not disappoint. The Le Max is a spiffy performer.

The device runs eUI, a customized version of Android Lollipop, which is light on the system, and mostly utilitar ian. For instance, the notification area shortcuts are accessible via the capacitive buttons, so you don't have to reach for the top of the screen to enabledisable Wi-Fi, access the flashlight, adjust screen brightness, etc.

On the imaging front, its cameras are capable of ex tremely sharp portraits and close-up shots. You also get a fingerprint sensor to unlock the phone, as well as an IR blaster that can be configured as a remote control for your TV , set-top box, air conditioner, etc.

As far as battery is concerned, you get almost a full day's use on a single charge. Indeed, the LeEco Le Max is a no-nonsense phablet that works superbly as an enter tainment device if you don't mind its super-large size.

Moto X Force | 34,999 (32GB), 37,999 (64GB)

WHY: SUPER-DURABLE DESIGN, GREAT CAMERA & STERLING BATTERY

The Moto X Force is an incredibly rugged handset. It is fronted with what Motorola calls a `ShatterShield' screen: Drop the device onto a solid concrete floor, try to puncture it with keys, or toss it across the room its 5.4-inch display takes all this abuse with barely any damage. In fact, Motorola is so sure about its technology , it gives a four-year warranty on the glass (for accidental damage only).

In keeping with its robust credentials, the X Force sports a solid metal frame, a ballistic nylon rear panel and a water-repellent nano coating all of which work together to make it virtually indestructible.

But that's not all. This handset packs in strong antennas that latch onto both Wi-Fi and 4G networks, a sterling processor, which blazes through tasks, and a quick auto-focus snapper that's capable of surprisingly detailed photographs and even 4K video recording.

Now all of this can be quite demanding on the phone's batteries, and here the X Force is up to the challenge again. It gives you well over a day of average use phone calls, photography , e-mailing, messaging and web browsing on a single charge of its battery , while its Fast Charge technology can juice its cells up to 100% in about an hour's time.

So if you have kids at home or are clumsy with your handset, yet want a premium device that will survive many a drop, the X Force is most definitely the smartphone for you.Specs: 5.4-inch (2560x1440px) AMOLED ShatterShield display | 2GHz Snapdragon 810 octa-core processor | 3GB RAM | 32GB64GB storage, microSD | 21MP (dual-tone LED flash), 5MP (LED flash) cameras | Single SIM | 3760mAh battery

Creo Mark 1 | 19,999

WHY: PREMIUM BUILD & MONTHLY FEATURE UPDATES

The Mark 1 is based on a unique premise: Users are promised new features and optimizations every month. As part of this plan, if you suggest a new feature via its ReFuel app, you will also get a mention in its next update.

Now we're not sure how this will pan out in the long term, but the idea seems promising.

The handset itself runs Fuel OS, a customized UI based on Android Lollipop that comes with useful add-ons such as Sense, which is a universal search feature that can be activated with a simple gesture; a personal answering machine called Echo that records messages when you are too busy to take the call, and Retriever that can track your lost phone's whereabouts. For example, when a new SIM is inserted into the stolen device, Retriever sends a message with location coordinates (based on cell tower triangulation) to your registered e-mail address. You also get the option to customize the capacitive touch buttons to respond differently on a long press and double tap.

Overall, the Mark 1 is fabricated out of premium materials; it looks good, comes with a fantastic Quad HD display , and gives you a full day of battery life, while handling every task you throw at it. Now while this handset is not in the same class as the other flagships here, its promised monthly `feature' updates, make it a standout smartphone in this ever-growing mobile market.

Xiaomi Mi 5 | 24,999

WHY: TOP PERFORMANCE AT FANTASTIC PRICE

The Mi 5 might be Xioami's most expensive handset yet, but for all it packs in the newest Snapdragon 820 processor, 3GB of faster LPDDR4 dual-channel RAM and 32GB internal storage it still manages to be the cheapest flagship smartphone.

The device combines an aluminium alloy frame along with toughened Gorilla Glass 4 for its screen as well as its back panel and this gives the device a sleek and premium look. In overall synthetic benchmark tests for Android devices, its scores were second only to those of the Samsung Galaxy 7 Edge. Needless to say, it's a workhorse that handles each and every process-intensive task without a fuss.

The Mi 5 cameras will give you little cause for complaint, calls quality is clear, you get a built-in call recorder, a fingerprint scanner for added security , an IR blaster that allows you to use the handset as a universal remote for your TV , AC, DVD player, projector and compatible digital cameras. All-in-all, if you want a device that ticks all the right boxes when it comes to performance and looks, but don't want to spend too much, the Mi 5 is something you should seriously consider.

Ashutosh Desai & Savio D'Souza

TOI30APR16

drmsriram

Saturday, May 7, 2016

GADGET GIZMO SPECIAL FLAG SHIPS!

No comments:

About Me