STUFF YOU CAN GET FOR THE PRICE OF ONE FLAGSHIP SMARTPHONE
Almost every premium handset
brand packs its flagship device with the most current processor, gigabytes of
RAM, high quality camera lens, humongous amounts of on-board storage,
high-density batteries with quick charging, proprietary software optimisations,
as well as myriad sensors for geolocation, orientation and security . Now all
these crammed-up technologies push up costs, and the handsets are priced at
anything between Rs 50,000 and Rs 90,000. But do you really need to spend this
much money on a smartphone? Ashutosh Desai and Savio D'Souza suggest some
tried-and-tested alternatives that you can pick for the same amount of moolah.
You can choose the "special packs" they've created, or mix and match
to suit your budget.
FOR THE
BOOK LOVER | `51,900 `72,900
EBOOK READER: Buy the
Kindle Paperwhite that comes with a front-lit touchscreen so you can even read
at night without straining your peepers. You can pick up the basic Wi-Fi model
(`10,999) or a Wi-Fi + 3G version (`13,999) that comes with free connectivity
for the lifetime of the device, allowing you to download books while on the
move.
Or, you could consider the
standard 6-inch, `Wi-Fi only' Kindle (`5,999).
All three devices come with
4GB of storage that is enough to hold thousands of titles, and are backed by
Amazon's ebook store with over eight lakh exclusive titles, more than 30,000
free `classics', and hundreds of books in local languages such as Hindi, Tamil,
Marathi, Gujarati and Malayalam.
The Kindles natively
support e-book formats such as the AZW3, AZW , TXT, PDF, MOBI and PRC so you
can also download titles from other sources on the internet and transfer them
to these readers.
SMARTPHONE: If you want a cheaper option to the OnePlus,
you can consider the Moto G5 Plus (`16,999), which also sports a 5.5-inch Full
HD display and comes with a night mode for strain-free reading.
You get a 3000mAh battery
inside that packs in enough juice for an entire day of productivity, even after
you use it to read e-books during your commutes.
As an added advantage, the
G5 Plus comes with a nano-coating on the outside as well inside the phone
making it resistant to accidental water spillage and splashes.
The OnePlus 3T (`29,999)
works for book lovers and photo enthusiasts.
This Android handset boasts
of a stellar 5.5-inch Full HD display that renders crisp text and vibrant
colours, and also includes a night mode that cuts screen glare to prevent eye
strain when you read in the dark.
You can also make this
smartphone your secondary `digital camera'. Its 16MP rear and front cameras are
responsive, capture details with natural colours and do a pretty good job even
in low light. The OnePlus 3T's camera app is minimalistic and intuitive, with
modes like Auto, Panorama, Time-lapse, Slow Motion and Manual. It comes with
64GB storage, and like it is with all Android handsets, you can back up all
your photographs to your Google Photos (unlimited) account online.
The 32GB Apple iPad
(`28,900) is an all-rounder tablet that
works for book lovers, photo enthusiasts and movie-music buffs, thanks to its
rich App Store offerings. It also helps that its iTunes store has a fantastic
music and movies subscription service; this, besides the third-party apps such
as Amazon Prime Video, BoxTV, Eros Now, Hotstar, NetFlix, SonyLiv, Spuul, Vimeo
and YouTube.
The iPad's large 9.7-inch
(2048x1536px) Retina Display renders sharp text, images, and videos so you can
also browse your free and paid subscriptions to ebook services, international
magazines and comics (from big names like DC, Marvel and Vertigo) that are
rendered on all their colourful glory .
Of course, the iPad's A9
processor is powerful enough to handle all your high-definition photoand
video-editing needs.
FOR THE MOVIE-MUSIC BUFF | `46,000 `65,900
BLUETOOTH SPEAKERS: A good wireless speaker
can do wonders for the music-listening and movie-watching experience on your
smartphone, tablet, or PC. The good news is you can pick these up at a price
that won't break the bank. Here, you can consider the Bose Soundlink Color
(`9,500) or the JBL Flip 3 (`8,000). Both models are available in a variety of
colours; they also support wired connectivity via an aux cable, and can easily
be carried around in your backpack while on travels. The Soundlink Color gives
you around eight hours of use on a single charge, while the Flip 3 gives you 10
hours of usage.Additionally , the latter sports an all-weather rugged build
complete with a durable, splash-proof fabric and you also get a built-in
noiseand echo-cancelling mic that allows you to take hands-free calls when it's
connected to your smartphone.
MUSIC PLAYER: High-end smartphones are usually equipped with
good audioprocessing technology , but a dedicated music player like the
second-gen Fiio X1 (`7,499) still comes out tops when it comes to quality
output. Besides MP3s, the device supports the playback of lossless formats like
APE, FLAC, WA V, WMA and ALAC, while its built-in DAC chip ensures audio
fidelity .
The gizmo itself boasts of
an aluminium alloy body with a 2-inch (320x240px) display and a “touch wheel“
that lets you navigate the menu interface and your playlists very easily. Plus
you get Bluetooth connectivity for wireless listening; a microSD slot (with
support for up to 256GB cards), and a 3.5mm stereo jack that can be configured to
be used with a pair of headphones or as a “line output“ when connecting to an
external amplifier.
HEADPHONES/EARPHONES: A good music player
requires good durable headphones or earphones. In the former, we would suggest
the House of Marley Liberate XL (`6,800) that come with a metal headband and a
braided, tangle-free cable with inline mic and three-button controller.Or, you
could consider the Philips O'Neill Stretch (`3,500) that gets its name from its
tough and extremely flexible headband. Here, also, you get a tangle-free fabric
cord that is built to withstand wear and tear.
In earphones, you could
look at the House of Marley Smile Jamaica (`999), the JBL T110 (`999), the Mee
Audio M6 Pro (`3,500), Jays A-Jays Four+ (`4,999), or the Shure SE215 (`6,999).
The Smile Jamaica, T110 and the A-Jays Four+ come with non-tangle cable, while
the M6 Pro and the SE215 have detachable cords.
All the models mentioned
above are capable of balanced sound and are well suited for all your audio
needs whether you're watching movies or listening to music. In any case, feel
free to explore brands such as Creative, Koss,
Sennheiser and Sony to find a
pair that meets your needs.
TABLET: The iPad is great for streaming multimedia. True. But
transferring movies and music to it via iTunes can be tedious.Instead, you
could take a look at the Samsung Galaxy Tab A T355Y (`16,500). Its 8-inch HD
screen renders vivid colours and is suited for movie playback. You get a single
4G SIM card slot for streaming on the go, 16GB onboard storage and a card slot
(for up to 128GB of flash memory) where you can save your movies and songs
and also a whole bunch of music and video streaming apps from the Play Store.
SMARTPHONE: And since you need a phone, go for the Redmi
Note 4 (`12,999). This budget handset is capable of playing high-definition
video content, and you also get a built-in audio optimisation tool. You can
expect a full day of productivity even with some multimedia use on a single
charge of its battery; plus, you get an IR blaster to control a TV , set top
box, DVD Blu-ray player, et al.
FOR THE PHOTO ENTHUSIAST | `66,000 `92,400
CAMERAS: You can expect to pick an entry-level DSLR like the Canon EOS
1300D (`22,500), which comes with an 18MP sensor, or the Nikon D3400 (`28,600)
with a 24MP sensor. Both cameras come with an 18-55mm stock lens with image
stabilisation and you also get a free camera bag. These DSLRs are a fantastic
option for those who want to learn about manual photography and promise total
control over everything ranging from aperture size, to shutter speed and ISO
sensitivity . Plus you can always add extra lens to your kit, as and when you
need it.
That said, a better bargain
would be the Canon EOS 1300D double-lens package (`31,000) where you get the
standard 18 55mm lens as well as the superzoom 55-250mm lens. Or, the slightly
older Nikon D3300 double-lens kit (`33,500) with an 18-55mm and a 70-300mm
superzoom lens.
Both Nikon cameras also
have a “Guide“ mode to help novices learn the nuances of manual photography .
On the other hand, if
manual photography is not your thing, you could opt for superzoom cameras like
the Nikon Coolpix B700 (`21,100), the Canon Powershot SX540 HS (`21,500), or
the Sony Cybershot DSC-HX400V (`28,000). The Nikon comes with 60x optical zoom,
while the Canon and the Sony models are equipped with a 50x lens. All three
cameras come with a 20MP sensor and superb auto modes that make them ideal
companions on holidays and at parties.
SMARTPHONE: The Honor 6X (`15,999) with its dual rear
cameras that work in tandem to take sharp close-ups with great depth of field
can rival many point-and-shoot cameras.
For selfies, you get a
front camera that auto adjusts exposure and takes detailed pictures.
Its camera app offers
various modes to capture close ups, food, light effects and shooting videos.
Plus, its built-in editing
tool gives you many post-processing options. For instance, you can pixelate
parts of the photo, highlight one colour in a monochrome shot, create a mosaic
effect and more. So if you're “click happy“, this is the photophone to
consider.
All prices listed in this
feature are the best rates at which these devices can be bought online. The
price range for each package is calculated taking the minimum and
maximum-costing devices in the selection.
TNN 1APR17
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