Posts made by Toshi Tandon

Samsung India expands its mid-range tablet segment by launching the Galaxy Tab A7 in the Indian market. The latest addition has got some impressive specs to defend its pricing.

Though Amazon India has given some leaks through its promotional page Samsung India’s website made all the difference.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Specifications:

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 sports a 10.4-inch WUXGA (2000 x 1200) display with symmetric bezels and a premium metal finish. Though it has got a massive 7040mAh battery, the tab A7 is just 7mm thick with 80% screen-to-body ratio (16:10).

Powered by a 2GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 processor and 3GB RAM, the Galaxy Tab A7 provides up to 32GB inbuilt space (further expandable up to 400GB using micro SD card).

It is to be noted that available memory for usage is 19.5GB (out of the total 32GB) due to shortage of the operating system and software.

Quad Speakers & DOLBY ATMOS Support:

The 7040mAh battery along with 15W fast charging support easily powers the device for a day. The quad-speakers setup along with Dolby Atmos brings the content to life just like a theatre.

The website mentions that one doesn’t need a movie ticket. In fact, who wants to go to a movie theatre during this COVID-19 pandemic!

Packed with an 8mp main camera, the tab helps you to capture and share the moments.

Samsung Kids Monitors Digital Journey of the Children:

The best thing about the Galaxy Tab A7 is the Samsung Kids feature. It really helps with the ability to set restrictions on playtime and monitor their activity. Indeed, this is a great feature for the parents who are forced to accept digital learning during COVID-19 pandemic.

Available in 3 colours (Dark Grey, Silver, and Gold), the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 is open for pre-orders through Samsung India website, eCommerce portals, and select retail stores.

The Galaxy Tab A7 has got both Wi-Fi only and LTE variants priced at ₹17,999 and ₹21,999 respectively. However, one can grab it at a lower rate.

Promotional Offer on Purchase of Galaxy Tab A7:

One can avail no-cost EMI for purchasing this mid-range Galaxy Tab A7.

Samsung India has tied up ICICI Bank so that the customer gets an instant cashback of ₹1500 when the purchase is made through ICICI Bank credit and debit cards. This exclusive offer is valid until 30th November 2020.

Similarly, one can get the Tab book cover at just ₹1875 instead of ₹3749. The company says that there’s an instant discount of ₹1874 on the market price of the Tab book cover.

YouTube Premium Offer:

One more promotional offer is being carried out by Samsung. Under this, the purchaser will get YouTube Premium 4-month free trial promotion. This offer is valid till 6th March 2020. At the end of the trial period, the existing individual subscription price (₹129/month) will be charged.

Would you like to try Samsung Galaxy Tab A7? Share your thoughts.

Also Read: Apple Unveils New iPad Air Starting at $599 (with A14 Bionic Chipset)

Ahead of the September 30th event, we got to know the Google 5 full specs. In association with WinFuture and 9to5Google, the new Google Pixel 5 would sport a 6-inch 90Hz refresh rate OLED display.

Hey, if the reported 90Hz refresh rate leak is true then it will definitely beat Apple iPhone 12 that could possibly feature 60Hz refresh rate.

Google Pixel 5 Full Specs:

Leaving it aside, the display comes with 2340 x 1080 pixels (432ppi density and 19.5:9 aspect ratio) protected by Gorilla Glass 6. Moreover, the leaks reveal that Google Pixel will have a narrow bottom bezel.

The Google Pixel 5 reportedly features octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G in line with previous leaks. Don’t know the reason why it ditched 865 series. Paired up with 8GB RAM, the Google handset gets an inbuilt 128GB storage space.

Google Pixel 5 Camera:

On the optics front, the leaks say that it includes a 12.2mp Sony Sensor with an f/1.7 aperture and a 16mp wide-angle lens instead of the telephoto snapper in the Google Pixel 4.

The front cam sports an 8mp shooter with f/2.0 aperture for selfies and videos at 1080p at 30fps.

Going by the Pixel 4 camera performance, it could be a win-win situation as this Sony Sensor can record 4K video at 60fps and 1080p at 240fps.

Google Pixel 5 Battery:

The German tech site has also revealed the internal battery specs. The 4080mAh battery with 18W fast charging and inclusion of reverse wireless charging makes it a good powerhouse.

As usual, Google Pixel 5 is made of 100% recycled aluminium and has got IP68 water and dust resistance certification. The other USP is Google 11 OS booting from day one.

However, one couldn’t make it whether there’s a Face Lock or not. If Google believes that that Face Lock drains battery life, then one has to settle with the reliable fingerprint scanner.

The last thing one could really search for is Google Pixel 5 pricing. As per the European uncovered listings, it could be priced at 629 Euros. However, let’s wait till the launch day, September 30th to be precise.

Do you agree with my opinion? Share your thoughts.

Also Read: OnePlus 8T 5G to Debut on October 14 (with 65W Warp Charging)

The Chinese electronics giant Xiaomi is sincerely trying to make its desi image in the Indian market. Launching Redmi 9A, the company claimed it as India’s new desk ka smartphone.

Here’s all you need to know in reality.

As per the Xiaomi India, 99% of the Xiaomi smartphones are truly Made in India at the manufacturing units located in Sri City and Sriperumbudur.

The Xiaomi Redmi 9A packs a high-performance MediaTek Helio G25 chipset along with 5000mAh battery at just ₹6,799. Indeed, the new phone could put a decent show in the budget segment.

Xiaomi Redmi 9A Specifications:

Coming to the specifications, Redmi 9A sports a 6.53-inch HD+ IPS display (certified by TUV) with 20:9 aspect ratio (dot-notch). Powered by MediaTek Helio G25 Octa-core processor, the Redmi 9A handset has got 2 variants – 2GB RAM + 32GB ROM and 3GB RAM+ 32GB ROM.

One can extend, the internal memory of the phone up to 128GB. The company has got MIUI 12 OS that boots Android 10.

Regarding the optics, Redmi 9A has got a 13-megapixel AI camera at the back and 5-megapixel selfie shooter on the front. This seems to be a downgrade when one compared the dual rear cameras of Redmi 8A but the inclusion of AI is a game-changer.

Redmi 9A with Mammoth Battery:

The Xiaomi’s new budget smartphone packs a 5000mAh battery that can easily last up to 2 days for casual users. The retail box includes a 10W charger. Surprisingly, the handset comes up with a P2i nano-coating that offers splash-proof protection (can bear minor splashes).

Connectivity-wise, the Redmi 9A include dual SIM VoLTE HD calling, VoWiFi, 2.4G Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, and Micro USB port. Both SIM cards can access 4G connectivity simultaneously. The company has ditched the USB Type-C port used in Redmi 8A lineup launched in 2019.

Similarly, the new handset doesn’t include a fingerprint scanner. Instead, you get an AI Face Unlock feature.

Though a budget handset, the Redmi 9A has got inbuilt Reading Mode 2.0 and Dark Mode enabled. Available in Nature Green, Sea Blue and Midnight Black colour variants, the latest smartphone can be purchased starting September 4th on Amazon, Mi.com and Mi Home Store.

One can even expect the offline sale of this budget handset.

What’s Your Opinion?

The Xiaomi Redmi 9A is priced at a competitive price. As said the 2GB+32GB variant costs ₹6,799 and 3GB+32GB ROM variant costs ₹7,499.

The new handset definitely complements the Redmi 9 line up that includes Redmi 9, Redmi 9 Prime, Redmi Note 9, Redmi Note 9 Pro and Redmi Note 9 Pro Max.

If you have purchased the Redmi 9 line up or going to try the new Xiaomi Redmi 9A then share your inputs in the comment section below.

Also Read: Redmi 8 with Dual Cameras & 5000mAh Battery Launched at ₹7999

There seems to be an important update from Jio team.

As per the JioFiber service terms and conditions, there would be 3300 GB limit on all Truly Unlimited Plans. That means the subscriber will get a FUP limit of 3.3TB of data. Post the FUP limit, the speed will be reduced.

However, there is no mention of post FUP speed.

One should keep a note that all JioFiber plans till 300Mbps will have a FUP limit of 3.3TB data. This is similar to Airtel’s Xstream Fiber plans where you get a data benefit of 3.3TB

The other plans featuring higher speeds namely 500Mbps plan or 1Gbps plan do not come under this FUP limitation. They will not have any FUP capping.

The other important to be noted down is regarding voice calls. There is no FUP limit on the number of voice calls.

As expected, Reliance Jio has increased its tariff up to 40%. However, the new tariff plans are almost 25% cheaper when compared to the offerings of the incumbent telecom operators. As per the press release, the new plans will range from ₹199/month to ₹2199/year.

The new tariff unveiled by Reliance Jio Infocomm includes unlimited Jio to Jio calling and daily 1.5GB data instead of 2GB. It is to be noted that the new tariff plans would come into effect from 6th December. Till then, one can queue up advance recharge plans.

Though the Jio portal suggests you to purchase 4 advance recharge plans, you can consider a double-digit number too. Personally, I made a queue of 10 recharge plans that accounts for 840 days of validity.

The New Jio All-In-One plan:

Though the Reliance Jio has hiked its tariff plans up to 40%, the company boasts that it has passed on the benefits of up to 300%. This is mainly due to the inclusion of 3000 non-Jio voice calling minutes in the pack.

Leaving it aside, let us discuss each and every plan being offered by Reliance Jio in the prepaid segment.

Jio Unlimited Packs with 28 days Validity

The most popular ₹149 that offered daily 1.5GB data for 24 days is now revised as ₹199 with daily 1.5GB data, 1000 non-Jio minutes and 28 days validity. If you compare this with Airtel’s 249, Reliance Jio’s offering is still 25% cheaper. Those who are looking for more data can opt ₹249 and ₹349 plans that offer 2GB and 3GB data respectively. All these packs will offer 1000 non-Jio minutes of voice calling.

Jio All-in-One Prepaid Plan	Data Benefit	non-Jio Voice Calling	Validity
₹199	Daily 1.5GB data	1,000 minutes	28 Days
₹249	Daily 2GB data	1,000 minutes	28 Days
₹349	Daily 3GB data	1,000 minutes	28 Days

Jio Unlimited Packs with 56 days Validity

Similarly, if you consider Jio’s All-in-One Plan with 56 days validity, it now offers 2000 non-Jio minutes at ₹399. The ₹444 voucher will now offer 2GB daily data and 2000 non-Jio minutes.

Jio All-in-One Prepaid Plan	Data Benefit	non-Jio Voice Calling	Validity
₹399	Daily 1.5GB data	2,000 minutes	56 Days
₹444	Daily 2GB data	2,000 minutes	56 Days

Jio Unlimited Packs with 84 days Validity

The most popular Jio All-In-One plan ₹444 that offers unlimited Jio-Jio calling and Jio to Non-Jio FUP of 1000 minutes, 100 SMS/day and 2GB data/day with a validity of 84 days will now offer unlimited Jio-Jio calling and Jio to Non-Jio FUP of 3000 minutes, 100 SMS/day and 1.5GB data/day with a validity of 84 days but at a price of ₹555.

Those who are looking for daily 2GB data, unlimited Jio to Jio calling, and 3000 Jio to Non-Jio FUP minutes have to shell out ₹599.

Jio All-in-One Prepaid Plan	Data Benefit	non-Jio Voice Calling	Validity
₹555	Daily 1.5GB data	3,000 minutes	84 Days
₹599	Daily 2GB data	3,000 minutes	84 Days

Jio Long Term Plans:

The long-term plans are also revised in a similar fashion. The ₹2199 pack will now offer 1.5GB daily data, unlimited Jio calls, and 12000 non-Jio voice call minutes with a validity of 365 days.

Jio All-in-One Prepaid Plan	Data Benefit	non-Jio Voice Calling	Validity
₹2199	Daily 1.5GB data	12,000 minutes	365 Days

Affordable & Economical Plan from Reliance Jio:

By reviewing all the plans offered by Reliance Jio, one can easily conclude that ₹555 All-in-One prepaid plan is a must-go plan for moderate data users. This has a validity period of 84 days. As said earlier, the benefits include daily 1.5GB data, unlimited Jio calls, 3000 non-Jio minutes.

If you are using fewer data and more voice calls then 329 plan would be an economical option. In this ₹329 plan, you will be getting just 6GB of data and 3000 non-Jio voice calling minutes with a validity of 84 days. Moreover, the ₹50 discount voucher makes it a value for money pack.

Jio All-in-One Prepaid Plan	Data Benefit	non-Jio Voice Calling	Validity
₹129	2GB data	1,000 minutes	28 Days
₹329	6GB data	3,000 minutes	84 Days
₹1299	24GB data	12,000 minutes	365 Days

Starting October, you might be aware that Jio has started charging voice calls to the rival networks at the rate of 6 paise per minute. In similar lines, both Vodafone Idea and Bharti Airtel has rolled out FUP policy where the subscriber would be charged 6 paise per minute for the calls made to rival networks.

With a subscriber base of 335 million, Reliance Jio has announced a profit of ₹990 crores in October. Shockingly, the combined losses of Vodafone Idea and Bharti Airtel is around ₹74000 crores for the same period.

Considering the recent hike in tariff, the telecom sector could make a good comeback from the debts. Hope this would improve the telco’s Average Revenue Per User (ARPU). However, the established giants Bharti Airtel and Vodafone India are facing adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues over ₹89000 crores to the GoI.

Also Read: Jio - India’s Largest Telecom Operator with 331.3 million Subscribers

The state-run telecom company has revised its popular ₹525 and ₹725 postpaid offerings by allotting more data. With this revision, the BSNL is all set to compete with private telecom companies.

Earlier, the BSNL ₹525 Postpaid Plan offered 15GB of data. Now, the company has revamped its plan to offer 40GB of data. Similarly, the BSNL ₹725 Postpaid plan comes with 70GB data benefit. Though there’s a big change in the data offering, the BSNL is yet to implement “data carry forward” facility in its postpaid plans.

BSNL Rises Data Benefit with No Rollover Facility:

Surprisingly, the BSNL Kolkata Circle is the only area where one gets to see data rollover facility. Don’t know whether the BSNL has any plans to implement this data roll-over facility across India.

Most of the reputed private telecom companies are offering the data carry forward functionality. In reality, it is a marketing gimmick where the data benefit just gets accumulated for the months. Moreover, this whopping data is just used by the youngsters and the adults just pile it up.

If you happen to observe BSNL 525 and BSNL 725 postpaid plans, one can easily understand that these plans are perfectly placed between ₹399 and ₹799 that offer 30GB and 60GB of data respectively.

Amazon Prime Subscription:

Apart from data benefit, the BSNL also offers unlimited voice calling without any FUP limitations. Provision of 100 SMS per day is a welcome change. The other surprising change in BSNL offering is the inclusion of 1-year Amazon Prime Subscription worth ₹999.

Though BSNL - Amazon partnership is last on the cards, the telecom company has proved that it can compete with the private telecom companies. The top operators including Vodafone Idea and Bharti Airtel are offering a whopping 75GB of data with ₹499 plan.

The other benefits are more are less the same with respect to the competition. Some telecom companies are also offering free Netflix subscription with rentals over ₹999.

What’s Your Opinion?

In case of BSNL Prepaid segment, the telecom company now offers FREE EROS NOW subscription on selected plans including ₹333 and ₹444. Indeed, there’s a huge demand for content with the success of Reliance Jio. And thus, the telecom operators are looking for content providers to keep their subscribers happy.

Back to the postpaid segment, the Govt-owned telecom company BSNL has got a good number (about 10) of plans starting from 99 to 1525. Leaving them aside, BSNL is the only telecom company that has to offer 4G services on a PAN-India basis. Once it gets the required infrastructure, BSNL will surely be in a good situation.

Also Read: BSNL Plan Maximum 999 Offers 3.2GB Daily Data for 181 Days

HMD Global has got a stunner Nokia 7 Plus in the mid-range segment. The company tried to extend its dominance in the premium segment by launching Nokia 8 Sirocco. With great design and display, Nokia 8 Sirocco is truly an unconventional flagship phone.

Till date, HMD Global was busy in making news with revitalising feature phone market. All of a sudden, every Nokia lover is enjoying the flagship status. Thanks to its Nokia 7 Plus and Nokia 8 Sirocco. The Android One integration is making wonders for HMD Global. One will definitely get impressed with the Sirocco’s latest screen and camera.

Starting today, Nokia 8 Sirocco will be available both online and offline at a price of ₹49,999. Flipkart and Nokia’s online store has an exclusive deal where one gets an extra ₹3000 off over regular exchange value.

Nokia 8 Sirocco Specifications:

Right out of the box, the Nokia 8 has a 2.5D glass finish design and steel frame. It’s simply solid that you won’t feel the need of a near-bezelless design. Needless to say, that it matches the build quality of Samsung Galaxy S8. With a 5.5-inch QHD display, 1440x2560 pixel resolution, and 534 PPI the screen looks amazingly sharp. Moreover, the flagship phone has topped the IP67 dust/water resistance.

Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC and 6GB RAM and 128GB internal storage, Nokia 8 Sirocco has a powerful machine that can run continuous gaming without any heating issues. However, one would expect Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chip in this price range in spite of a minor practical difference. .

As usual Nokia has partnered with Zeiss Optics to provide a rear dual camera setup. It packs 12-megapixel wide main camera sensor, 13-megapixel telephoto lens and a mere 5-megapixel front camera for selfies. The first-hand report clearly shows that low-lit environment photos are much better when compared to Nokia 8.

Nokia 8 Sirocco Vs Other Flagship Phones:

As a default setting, ‘Auto HDR’ mode is turned on. If you are a PRO, then you can turn off it especially during a shoot with moving objects. The 4K video enthusiasts can even try it at 30 fps on the rear camera. Though the single-SIM Nokia 8 Sirocco is placed to compete with the likes of other flagship phones including Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus, Google Pixel 2, iPhone X, it doesn’t do the full justice in camera department.

With 3260 mAh battery and Quick Charge 4.0, Nokia 8 Sirocco could easily work for a full day. However, it is blamed for slow charging despite of its Quick Charge support. The positive aspect is its integration of Android-One project. The handset boots Android 8.1 Oreo out-of-the-box and will have faster access to Android updates. The LTE Cat 12 600 Mbps provision is a big plus along with other required network connectivity options.

Nokia 8 Sirocco Vs OnePlus 6:

Undoubtedly, Nokia 8 Sirocco has got the best design, specs and battery backup with Android One support. However, one can expect OnePlus 6 to be relatively cheaper. Let’s wait till May 17th before confirming the threat from the new phone.

If HMD Global revises the price and makes it below 40K, then it will be an interesting battle. Till then, Nokia 8 Sirocco could surely be Nokia’s least selling phone of the year.

Also Read: Google Pixel 2 Vs Google Pixel 2 XL: What’s The Difference?

The state-run telecom company has got something exclusive to its subscribers. The teleco has launched a new broadband plan titled BSNL BBG Combo ULD 700 Amaze that packs a free subscription of Amazon Prime.

The latest offering of the BSNL clubbed with Amazon Prime is a new trend setter. Though it is viewed as a plan to combat threat from Reliance JioFiber, the BSNL has been in the business to expand its territory. Earlier, its motto was just limited to serve the rural outfield. Now with increasing awareness, BSNL is luring the customers to retain its subscription base in landline segment too.

As a combo offer, BSNL Broadband has partnered with Amazon India to offer free Amazon Prime Subscription. Starting May 1st, the plan will be on a PAN-India basis.

According to the official information, the BSNL BBG Combo ULD 700 Amaze plan will offer 10 Mbps download speed with a 15GB FUP limit. Post the FUP limit; the download speed will be throttled to 2 Mbps. As a combo offer, one can enjoy 500 minutes of free voice calling of BSNL to BSNL. Apart from this, the subscriber is eligible to enjoy unlimited voice calls between 10.30 PM to 6 AM and on Sundays.

₹ 999 Amazon Prime Subscription for Free:

The USP of the plan is its free Amazon Prime Subscription. Currently, Amazon Prime membership costs ₹ 999 per year. That means, at no extra cost, the BSNL plan offers Amazon Prime membership. Truly, an amazing deal from the Public Sector Unit!

Here, you’ll get access to the latest and exclusive movies, videos, ad-free music and unlimited free and fast delivery of items through Amazon - India’s largest online store. If you are a resident of Bangalore, Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai then you can enjoy same-day delivery as well.

As a special gesture, BSNL is also offering one free email ID and 1GB of space. Perhaps, this is the first of its kind. As a pre-requisite, you need to pay 1-month rental as a security deposit. The same is discounted if the user is opting for annual subscription.

In case of annual subscription, the BSNL subscriber is required to pay BSNL an amount of ₹ 7700 where he gets a discount of 1-month rental. The BSNL BBG Combo ULD 700 Amaze plan is also open for 2 and 3 year period where the user has to pay ₹14,700 and ₹21,000 so as to get a discount for 4-months and 6-months rental respectively.

Undoubtedly, BSNL 2yr and 3 yr advance rental plans are best in the market where one can enjoy a good discount apart from free Amazon Prime Subscription.

What’s Your Opinion?

Interestingly, BSNL is the not the first company to offer free Amazon Prime Subscription. Bharti Airtel started this new deal by making it on long term yearly plans. However, BSNL has taken this to a new height by offering Amazon Prime on monthly rental plans. With PAN-India coverage, BSNL is surely considering all efforts to make its dominance felt.

Though one cannot complain 10 Mbps download speed, surely BSNL’s 15GB FUP limit is not a welcome move. One surely needs a minimum 50GB FUP limit if one has to enjoy the content of Amazon Prime subscription.

Also Read: BSNL Maha 949 Plan Offers Unlimited Calls & 157GB Data

Nokia licensee HMD Global finally launched Nokia 1 Android Oreo (Go Edition) in India at a price tag of ₹5499. Starting 28th March, this handset will be up for sale through all offline stores in Warm Red and Dark Blue colour options.

Probably, Nokia 1 is the cheapest smartphone based on Android Oreo (Go Edition). This ecosystem comprises a lighter version of Google Apps and services including Gmail Go, Google Maps Go.

The G suite will consume lesser data for its services. It has everything on the dashboard including Google Assistant. The USP of Go Edition is it being a lighter version of Android Oreo works on data-saving and smaller file sizes.

Nokia 1 Specifications:

The Nokia 1 sports a 4.5-inch FWVGA IPS display with 480x854 pixel resolution. Powered by 1.1GHz quad-core MediaTek MT673M processor, Mali T720 GPU and 1GB RAM, Nokia 1 handset has an unbuilt 8GB expandable storage space up to 128GB via microSD card.

On optics side, there’s a 5-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and 2-megapixel front camera for selfie enthusiasts.

This is a dual-SIM smartphone with 4G VoLTE connectivity. It provides the other standard connectivity options including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, FM radio, Micro-USB and a 3.5mm audio jack. Backed by a modest 2150mAh battery, the company boasts to deliver up to 9 hours of talk time and 15 days of standby time.

Though a fairly bareboned handset, Nokia 1 is the most affordable smartphone that users can personalize its looks through two-tone polycarbonate Xpress-on covers. These exchangeable covers available in Azure/Gray or Yellow/Pink can be purchased separately for ₹450.

Nokia 1 Launch Offers:

The HMD Global company has partnered with telecom service provider Reliance Jio to offer a cashback of ₹2200 and 60GB additional 4G data on Jio network.

Additionally, the Nokia 1 users will also get 20% off on the first booking ride made through RedBus. Moreover, the users are also eligible for a complimentary 12-month Accident Damage Insurance Protection from Servify. To qualify, the user has to open Kotak 811 savings account and add ₹1000 to it. That’s it!

What’s Your Opinion?

Undoubtedly, these launch offers are sweet enough to tempt. However, if you compare the handset with the Xiaomi Redmi 5A that costs ₹5999, Nokia 1 looks inferior. The affordable Redmi 5A has better specs and thus fully a smartphone rather than Go Edition. Surely, Nokia 1 is an underpowered handset and of course over-priced too!

Also Read: Xiaomi Redmi 5 Launched: Should You Upgrade?

With over 10% market share, the state-run telecom company is not leaving any stone to make its mark. The BSNL has made an important change in its highly successful ₹399 postpaid plan. Without any increase in monthly rental, the BSNL has revised the ₹399-postpaid plan to accommodate free outgoing roaming calls.

The same benefit is also applied to ₹799 plan without any daily or monthly FUP limits. Thus, if you consider ₹399 postpaid plan, it now offers both on-net and off-net voice calls for free. If you are interested in unlimited calling to landlines, then ₹799 postpaid plan is the best fit for you.

Also Read: BSNL Launches ₹99 Unlimited Plan with 26 Days Validity

BSNL ₹499 Postpaid Plan Tariff:

The highly acclaimed ₹399 postpaid plan offers free voice calls (on-net and off-net) with 30GB of mobile data. On the other hand, ₹799 postpaid offers free voice calling benefit to landline numbers too.

Unfortunately, neither ₹799 nor ₹399 plan offers any SMS benefits. This is the only shortcoming when you compare this offering with that of private telecom operators. It is understandable that smartphone users are very much inclined to WhatsApp than traditional SMS.

But still, it would be great if the state-run telecom company makes a bundled plan with at least 100 SMS per billing cycle. Hope the BSNL listens to its subscribers and implement this to all its postpaid plans.

What’s Your Opinion?

When private telecom operators are offering daily 100 SMS, the BSNL should at least make 100 SMS per billing cycle. Isn’t it? If one remembers free incoming during roaming is the first by BSNL and then the other companies followed it. However, BSNL took a big time to offer free roaming outgoing.

With the new step, everyone would definitely hope that BSNL would offer all the benefits at a reasonable price.

Also Read: BSNL ₹499 Postpaid Plan - Unlimited Calls, 45GB Data & Daily 100 SMS

Mi has got something interesting for its fans. The company has launched Mi Exchange program where one can exchange any smartphone and avail instant discount coupon. You can grab the new smartphone from Mi India online store at a lower price.

The procedure is damn simple and straightforward. Just evaluate your old smartphone and get an exchange coupon. Place the new smartphone order and handover the old phone to the delivery executive.

Mi Exchange at Your Doorstep

The Mi Exchange facility is open only for desktop users and only one unit of the phone can be exchanged at a time. Visit the Mi Exchange program at https://www.mi.com/in/miexchange/ and click Evaluate My Phone link.

Also Read: Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Launched Starting at ₹9999 - 100% Made in India

Step 1:

Here, you need to select the brand and model of the smartphone. Say if you want to exchange Redmi Note 3 old phone, just click on it and within no time you will find that the evaluated price of the RN3 is ₹3500.

Just enter the IMEI number of your handset. If you don’t know the IMEI, don’t worry just dial *#06# on your phone. It displays the IMEI number of the handset. Or else, you can even find it on the phone’s original packing.

Step 2:

By entering the IMEI number, you’ll be provided an exchange coupon. Use this discount code on your new purchase of smartphone on Mi India online store. Unfortunately, this code is not valid on the purchase of any other Mi product except smartphone. Similarly, this can’t be redeemed at Mi Homes store.

To the unaware, one can find the similar exchange program at Mi Homes. This is being operated by Cashify .

Step 3:

Once the new order is placed for a smartphone, this Mi Exchange discount can be availed during the check out.

Step 4:

Finally, during the delivery of your new smartphone, the old handset will be collected from your end. That’s it.

Do remember that for qualifying the Mi Exchange program, the old handset should be in good working condition with all screen locks disabled.

What’s Your Opinion?

The Mi Exchange facility is open to all Indians. However, it is currently limited to Android handset users. Starting from Google Pixel to Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus, the exchange discount offer is open to the majority of handset owners. There are over 15 mobile handset companies including Mi, Samsung, Sony, HTC, Motorola, Micromax, Gionee, OPPO, ASUS, Lenovo, OnePlus, Huawei, VIVO, Letv and Google.

Hope Xiaomi considers the iPhone users too for this exchange. Leaving that aside, it’s a win-win situation and sounds awesome from Mi India!

Also Read: Xiaomi Redmi 5 Launched: Should You Upgrade?

Xiaomi launched another mid-range smartphone Redmi 5 in the Indian market. After a gap of 3 months, the Chinese electronics giant launched this budget device for Indian Redmi lovers. Starting at ₹7,999, Redmi 5 has got 3 variants and will be exclusive to Amazon India and Mi.com

Apart from the online retail partners, the new successor to Redmi 4 will also be a part of Mi Home Stores. It seems Xiaomi is making the full of Indian online retailers. Redmi Note 5 is exclusive to Flipkart. The new handset will be on sale from March 20th and is exclusive to Amazon India. A wise strategy!

Xiaomi Redmi 5 Specifications:

Regarding the Redmi 5 specifications, the handset sports a 5.7-inch 720x1440 pixels HD+ display with 18:9 aspect ratio. The screen has got 282-pixel density and an eye protection mode with 450-nit peak brightness. With a metal body and reinforced tapered edges, the smartphone provides a good grip and a comfortable feel in hand.

On the front, there is an upgrade and the back you will not find any major difference. Powered by octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 Soc and Adreno 506 GPU, the Redmi 5 is available in 3 different variants 2GB RAM 16GB ROM, 3GB RAM 32GB ROM, and 4GB 64GB ROM. Remember, the inbuilt storage option is expandable via microSD card.

Redmi 5 Now Packs LED Selfie Light:

Imaging wise, there’s a big upgrade. The selfie lovers will be happy to find LED selfie light, face recognition and Smart Beauty 3.0 app. The handset features the same 1.25µm pixel sensor as Redmi Note 5 to capture brighter photos. It features a 12-megapixel rear camera and 5-megapixel front camera. Camera wise, it’s a big upgrade.

Also Read: Xiaomi Mi A1, the Flagship Android One Phone with Dual Camera at ₹14999

When it comes to battery, Xiaomi has downgraded it to 3300mAh. However, the new chipset architecture with dual pyrolytic graphite sheet enables optimal temperature and better battery life that can easily last for a day. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 SoC is a better chipset and one can take it for granted.

Connectivity wise, the Redmi 5 provides dual SIM with 4G VoLTE and other necessary options including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, 3.5mm audio jack etc. IR Blaster is another addon. Redmi 5 runs on MIUI 9 based on Android Nougat and is available in 4 colour variants Black, Gold, Lake Blue and Rose Gold.

Sticking to its commitment, Xiaomi Redmi 5 is purely a Made in India product. As mentioned the price starts from ₹7999 (2GB RAM). The other two variants cost ₹8999 and ₹10999 respectively.

RAM	Inbuilt Storage	Price in ₹
2GB	16 GB	₹7999
3GB	32 GB	₹8999
4GB	64 GB	₹10999

What’s Your Opinion?

Undoubtedly, Xiaomi is known for better specs with an affordable price tag. The company claims Redmi 5 as a successful successor to Redmi 4. However, our version is mixed. If you are already using Redmi 4 then it is better to purchase Redmi Note 5 or else the beast Redmi Note 5 Pro.

In case, you are straight away looking for a mid-range phone then Xiaomi Redmi 5 is a decent option and you will not go wrong with it.

Also Read: Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Launched Starting at ₹9999 - 100% Made in India

Another Xiaomi flash sale has come and gone. This time it just lasted for a few seconds. The Mi India lovers logged in Flipkart and Mi website only to find Out of Stock board. In the name of Flipkart Mobiles Bonanza Sale 13-15 March, everyone expected a decent flash sale. However, it turned out to be another disappointment.

Also Read: Xiaomi Mi A1, the Flagship Android One Phone with Dual Camera at ₹14999

Now, one can see … Great Response Thank You … Next Sale on 16th March 12 Noon.

Mi LED Smart TV 4A, Another Mi TV Launched:

To the unaware, the Chinese company is following the pre-paid approach. Starting 27th February, the Mi TV 4 has been witnessing a spectacular response. Within seconds, the prospective buyers are facing bitter experience. Realizing the situation, the Xiaomi India took some corrective steps to enhance the shopping experience. It even decided to conduct 2 flash sales a week. One on Tuesday and the other on Friday.

In spite of bi-weekly flash sales, the Xiaomi lovers are unable to make a quick checkout of their favourite Mi LED Smart TV 4 series. Apart from Mi TV 4, the company has also launched Mi LED Smart TV 4A in 2 variants. The new Smart 4A series is available in 43 and 32 inches with a price tag of ₹22,999 and ₹13,999 respectively.

Mi LED Smart TV 4 Specifications:

Xiaomi is following the similar approach that it made with Redmi phones. By offering the high-end specs at an affordable price, Xiaomi is giving a tough competition to Samsung, LG and Sony TV. Undoubtedly, Mi is at its best both in terms of hardware and pricing!

The flagship Mi LED Smart TV 4 55-inch offers ultra HD 4K resolution with Dolby DTS 16W speaker output at just ₹39,999. With ultra-slim frameless display, it has become a new sensation among the TV lovers. Powered by 64-bit quad-core processor and 2GB RAM, one can do multiple tasks without any hiccups. Moreover, it has got Xiaomi’s PatchWall software based on Android OS to offer 5 lakh hours of content.

Though there a few negative reviews on PatchWall as it needs to sideload the other multimedia apps including Amazon Prime, Netflix and YouTube. Hope Xiaomi works on it and makes the UI more user-friendly.

The best thing is its amazing 4K content and IR blaster. Currently, you can’t watch 4K resolution on YouTube. The maximum you can make it 1080p which is definitely not a good sign for 55-inch Smart TV. Leaving that aside, Mi LED Smart TV 4 is the best in the class and will definitely disrupt the TV market along with mobiles.

Another outstanding thing about Mi LED Smart TV is Mi Remote. It has just 11 buttons and can even control the set-top box using the Mi IR cable. Though the company has disclosed that the stock is limited, it didn’t make any official announcement till date. Naturally, the demand is high and thus stock isn’t lasting for a few seconds.

Also Read: Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Launched Starting at ₹9999

@mario-d-souza

That’s a valuable information. Just thought of updating it further.

After submitting the re-verification request, you will get an acknowledgement from your telecom operator. In case of BSNL, the subscriber will receive the following message:

Your request for Re-verification of Customer Record for Mobile Number with Aadhar E-KYC registered.

To confirm SMS “REV YES”.

To cancel “REV NO” to 53734 within 3 days.

No response will be treated as accepted.

You can just ignore the message or else send confirm SMS. Interestingly, you’ll get the same message for the next 2 days.

With an eye to expand 4G services across the nation, Idea Cellular unveiled its LTE services in the tourist towns of Jodhpur and Udaipur. Idea Cellular has now got the 4G footprint in more than 111 towns of Rajasthan.

As per their rapid expansion strategy, Idea Cellular has got more than 2100 4G sites in the state of Rajasthan. If the stats are to be believed, Idea Cellular telecom network has a good base of over 81 lakh subscribers in India’s largest state by area.

Idea 4G in the Land of Kings:

The key areas that witnessed the launch of Idea Cellular 4G services include Ajmer, Alwar, Bharatpur, Bhiwadi, Chomu, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Pushkar, Sikar, and Udaipur. The data shows that Idea Cellular has got a wide coverage across 1300 villages in the land of Rajasthan.

Addressing the launch of Idea 4G, Mr Mukul Khanna, said: “We are happy to launch our world-class, high-speed 4G services for Idea customers in Jodhpur and Udaipur.”

Indeed Idea Cellular telecom network is fast changing from being a pure telecom services provider to an integrated digital services provider to deliver on the Digital India mission.

Digital Idea Suite:

To those unaware, the telecom company is offering Idea Music, Idea Movies and Idea Games – all at one place. Claiming it a Digital Idea suite, the Idea Cellular is satisfying the needs of next generation by providing content and entertainment at one go.

The Aditya Birla Group telecom company has launched attractive offers and packs to push its new 4G in Rajasthan. The telecom is even providing bundled offers on smartphones.

The Idea subscribers can now grab a complimentary 4G SIM by accessing the nearest Idea showroom in Rajasthan. As per the promotional offer, 1GB of 4G data will cost ₹95 and has a validity of 28 days.

There are many promotional offers; however, the one that catches everyone’s attention is 4G handset upgrade offer. As per the 4G handset upgrade offer, the user is entitled to get daily 1GB of 4G data for a period of 84 days at just ₹392. This is a good effort by Idea Cellular to counter Reliance Jio’s 399 plan that offers similar benefits.

Also Read: Idea Cellular Joins the Race with ₹198 Plan to Offer Unlimited Calls and 1GB Data for 28 Days

Good PAN-India Coverage:

As per the estimates, Idea Cellular is the third largest telecom company with 186.4 million subscribers and the merger discussions with Vodafone India are in the last stage.

Incidentally, Idea Cellular has got a good broadband coverage with 24945 4G sites across the nation.
On the 4G front, Idea Cellular has got a good spectrum in 1800 MHz and 2100 MHz frequency band.

Hope the incumbent telecom operator starts the innovative campaign and sheds me-too plans to stay in the business.

@ravikum

Agreed, most of the mobiles under 10K budget segment that provide rich-features are Chinese made.

You need to make a compromise when you are on a tight budget.

However, based on the popularity and user reviews, you can opt Xiaomi Redmi Note 4. Probably, this is the only handset providing the best performance and battery life under 10K budget in India.

The Snapdragon 625 octa-core Processor makes it the best bet.

The state-run telecom company Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) rolled out ₹429 Recharge Plan for its prepaid subscribers. This promotional STV offers both voice and data benefits with a validity of 90 days.

BSNL ₹429 Recharge Plan:

BSNL As per the reports, the BSNL ₹429 Recharge Plan will be available only until October 25, 2017. Both the new and existing BSNL prepaid subscriber can recharge this limited period offer till October 25, 2017.

The BSNL ₹429 recharge plan offers unlimited voice calls and daily 1GB data for a period of 90 days. There is no restriction on voice calling as it offers unlimited calls to any network across India. However, it is sad to note that BSNL’s data is still 3G/2G when its competitors are boasting 4G/3G.

BSNL ₹429 Vs Reliance Jio ₹399 Plan:

If one compares the BSNL ₹429 recharge with that of Reliance Jio’s ₹399 Plan, it has some pros and cons. The Reliance Jio ₹399 plan unlimited voice calls, unlimited SMS and daily 1GB/day of 4G data for 84 days. However, it requires a 4G supported handset.

Also Read: BSNL Sixer 666 Plan Offers Unlimited Calls & 2GB Daily Data for 60 Days

On contrary, the BSNL ₹429 recharge plan is a promotional STV that offers the same benefits with 90 days validity. The 4G deployment is still in the initial phase and thus the Public Sector Unit is facing a tough time with the Jio launch.

Apart from this ₹429 recharge, the state-owned telecom company has also launched a ₹249 plan. Under this plan, one can enjoy unlimited BSNL to BSNL calls and daily 1GB data with a validity of 28 days. This is definitely the best plan from BSNL in terms of data. However, the major drawback as mentioned earlier is its lack of 4G infrastructure.

BSNL ₹249 Vs Reliance Jio ₹149 Plan:

In the prepaid segment, a telecom subscriber will definitely compare BSNL ₹249 with that of Reliance Jio’s ₹149 plan. In case of BSNL, you get daily 1GB of 3G/2G data and unlimited voice calls in its network. On the other hand, Reliance Jio 149 offers unlimited voice calling, 300 SMS and 2GB of 4G data with the same 28 days validity period.

To counter Reliance JioPhone, the BSNL is in talks with domestic mobile handset makers mainly Micromax and Lava. The Public Sector telecom company will launch feature phone around ₹2000 bundled with attractive tariff plans.

BSNL Paisa Vasool Offers:

Gurgaon based YU Televentures launched Yu Yureka 2 as a successor to its popular model Yu Yureka. With the impressive specs and ₹11,999 pricing tag, the gold coloured Yu Yureka 2 can be a potential winner to take on Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 4.

Starting September 20th, the latest entrant will be a Flipkart exclusive and expected to go on sale during the eCommerce’s Big Billion Days Sale. One can expect some exciting offers on the phone as it is part of the online marketplace’s Big Sale.

Also Read: Lenovo K8 Note with Dual Rear Camera Launched, Starting Price ₹12999

Keeping up the current trend, Yu Yureka 2 has full metal unibody making it look sleek. With similar specs and ₹1K less price, it can be expected to throw a big challenge to Redmi Note 4 that costs ₹12,999.

Yu Yureka 2 Specifications:

On the specifications front, the Yu Yureka 2 sports a 5.5-inch Full HD display (1080 x 1920 pixels) and has a 2.5D curved glass on top. Powered by the highly efficient Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 chipset and 4GB RAM, Yu Yureka 2 provides 64GB internal storage. It is expandable up to 128GB using a microSD card slot.

On the optics front, Yu Yureka 2 sports a 16-megapixel primary camera with dual-LED flash and 8-megapixel front shooter for selfie lovers. The user can make use of fingerprint sensor that is easily accessible with an index finger.

Connectivity options include 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, FM Radio, micro USB port and 3.5mm headphone jack. Remember, you only get a dual-SIM hybrid card slot.

The other USP of the Yu Yureka 2 smartphone is its 3930mAh battery that supports Quick Charge 3.0 for fast charging. With efficient Qualcomm SoC and Quick Charge 3.0, you can keep everything running without any compromise.

The only big letdown is its out-dated Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. Though there is no official information about its OS upgrade, one can expect Android 7.1 Nougat for sure.

What’s Your Opinion?

With impressive specs, the Yu Yureka 2 seems to be a tiger of paper. However, the real performance and the after sales support is the decider. It might be a competitor to Redmi Note 4, but I will definitely advocate Xiaomi in the affordable smartphone segment.

Also Read: Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Creates a New Record with Million Units of Sale

The Union Government is finally making it mandatory to link mobile SIM with Aadhaar. The unlinked mobile phones will be deactivated after February 2018.

As per the orders of the honourable Supreme Court in the petition of Lokniti Foundation case, all the mobile subscribers are to be verified within a year from the judgement date. This measure will prevent the misuse of mobile SIM cards by terrorists, fraudsters and criminals.

The prepaid mobile phone subscribers who account for more than 90% of the total mobile subscribers have to link their mobile number with Aadhaar before February 2018. Post the date, the unlinked SIMs will be deactivated.

6th February 2018 Deadline?

Based on the Supreme Court order, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued mandatory guidelines to verify all the mobile connections through Aadhaar based e-KYC process on or before 6th February 2018.

Thus all the existing telecom companies will advertise this mandatory linking of Aadhar with mobile numbers through print/electronic media and get the job done before February 2018.

As per the reports, the telecom operators will not have any access to the personal data of mobile phone users. The biometrics and other personal data collected will be encrypted by the telecom companies and will be sent to UIDAI directly. Any unauthorised access or storage of biometric information by the telecom companies is a criminal offence and punishable up to three years of imprisonment under the Aadhaar Act 2016.

The verification of prepaid mobile SIM connections will weed out the fake identities thereby preventing the misuse of SIM cards by terrorists and criminals.

Aadhar Link to Mobile SIM - A Big Reform?

As per the existing records available with Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), mere 25% of the subscribers are linked to Aadhaar. Out of an estimated 128 crore, mobile phone users, only 33.8 crore subscribers has been linked with Aadhaar. The new entrant Reliance Jio Infocomm is the leader in Aadhaar eKYC linkage as it started issuing the new connections based on Aadhaar itself.

Out of them, 10.78 crore subscribers are from Reliance Jio, 7.55 crore subscribers from Bharti Airtel, 7.99 crore subscribers from Idea Cellular, 4.55 crore subscribers from Vodafone India, 1.16 crore from Aircel are complying so far.

How Safe is Your Digital Identity?

Stating from bank account to PAN and the latest mobile connection, every aspect of an individual is being linked to Aadhaar. Though it is a good measure, storing the world’s biggest biometric database in fully safe and secured manner is the biggest threat faced by the Government.

Also Read: Reliance Jio Data Breached: Company Says Unverified But Probe On

It is not clear whether the Apex court has asked for SIM-Aadhaar linkage or verification of the mobile subscribers. However, the Govt is going ahead with its plan of linking the Aadhar with all the stuff. Hope one day it will also make it mandatory to link the voter ID cards with Aadhaar so as to eradicate the bogus or fake voters that can cleanse the largest democracy of the world.

@Rewati-Baruah

Hey! That’s a big news from Xiaomi. If I’m not wrong the Mi A1 is actually the same Mi 5X that was launched in China. The only difference is ditching the usual MIUI interface.

I’m not against the popular MIUI interface but having the stock pure Android UI on board gives a clear advantage. Recently, the other Chinese telecom giant Lenovo ditched its famous Vibe UI for stock Android.

Instead of relying on the developer OS, the handset will quickly receive OS updates and bug fixes. Moreover, it doesn’t have any bloatware resulting in a clean interface.

Back to the Xiaomi Mi A1, it runs on Android 7.1.1 Nougat out of the box.

Though @Rewati-Baruah is comprehensive, it missed some minor details such as:

1. It has a fingerprint scanner at the back.

2. It is equipped with a 5-megapixel selfie shooter.

3. Along with Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor, it has 4GB RAM and Adreno 506 GPU.

4. The in-built 64GB storage can be further expanded up to 128GB using an external microSD card.

5. The Xiaomi Mi A1 supports 4G VoLTE and has a hybrid SIM card slot with 3.5mm headphone jack.

Though the company claimed iPhone 7 Plus and OnePlus 5 as its competitors, in reality, based on the pricing strategy, it needs to fight with the new players like Nokia 6, Coolpad Cool Play 6 and Moto G5S Plus.

Based on the price, specs offered by Xiaomi, and Google’s stock Android experience, the Xiaomi Mi A1 is a decent buy.