टेक ब्रांड रियलमी ने हाल ही में इंडियन स्मार्टफोन बाजार में दो नए स्मार्टफोन पेश किए हैं जिनमें Realme 3 Pro और Realme C2 शामिल हैं। Realme 3 Pro कंपनी द्वारा पिछले साल लॉन्च किए गए स्मार्टफोन Realme 2 Pro का ही अपडेटेड वर्ज़न है। Realme 3 Pro ने जहां बाजार में आते ही सफलता के नए रिकॉर्ड बनाने शुरू कर दिए हैं वहीं अपने यूजर्स को तोहफा देते हुए कंपनी ने Realme 2 Pro की कीमत में भी कटौती कर दी है। कंपनी की ओर से फोन की कीमत सीधे 1,500 रुपये तक कम की गई है।
Realme की ओर से पिछले महीने भी Realme 2 Pro स्मार्टफोन की कीमतें कम की गई थी। वहीं अब महीने भर के अंदर ही रियलमी 2 प्रो में दूसरा प्राइज़ कट हुआ है। आपको बता दें कि Realme 2 Pro इंडिया में 3 रैम वेरिएंट्स में सेल के लिए उपलब्ध है। जिनमें 4जीबी रैम, 6जीबी रैम और 8जीबी रैम शामिल है। कंपनी द्वारा किए गए प्राइज़ कट के बाद 12,490 रुपये की कीमत पर बिकने वाले Realme 2 Pro के 4जीबी रैम व 64जीबी मैमोरी वेरिएंट को अब 11,490 रुपये में खरीदा जा सकेगा।
इसी तरह रियलमी ने अपने 6जीबी व 8जीबी रैम वेरिएंट की कीमत में 1,500 रुपये की कटौती की है। पिछले महीने हुए प्राइज़ कट के बाद Realme 2 Pro के 6जीबी रैम व 64जीबी मैमोरी वेरिएंट की कीमत जहां 14,490 रुपये हो गई थी वहीं अब इस वेरिएंट को 12,990 रुपये में खरीदा जा सकता है। वहीं अब तक 16,490 रुपये में बिकने वाले 8जीबी रैम व 128जीबी मैमोरी वेरिएंट की नई कीमत 14,990 रुपये हो गई है।
फीचर्स व स्पेसिफिकेशन्स
Realme 2 Pro को 19.5:9 आस्पेक्ट रेशियो पर पेश किया गया है जो 1080 × 2340 पिक्सल रेज्ल्यूशन वाली 6.3-इंच की फुल एचडी+ नॉच डिसप्ले सपोर्ट करता है। यह फोन एंडरॉयड 8.1 ओरियो आधारित कलर ओएस 5.2 पर पेश हुआ था जो 2.2गीगाहर्ट्ज़ क्लॉक स्पीड वाले आक्टाकोर प्रोसेसर के साथ क्वालकॉम के स्नैपड्रैगन 660 चिपसेट पर कार्य करता है। वहीं ग्राफिक्स के लिए इस फोन में एड्रीनो 512 जीपीयू मौजूद है।
फोटोग्राफी सेग्मेंट की बात करें तो Realme 2 Pro डुअल रियर कैमरा सपोर्ट करता है। फोन के बैक पैनल पर एलईडी फ्लैश के साथ 16-मेगापिक्सल का डुअल सेंसर दिया गया है। वहीं सेल्फी के लिए यह फोन एफ/2.0 अपर्चर वाला 16-मेगापिक्सल का फ्रंट कैमरा सपोर्ट करता है। Realme 2 Pro डुअल सिम फोन है जो 4जी एलटीई सपोर्ट करता है। सिक्योरिटी के लिए फोन में रियर फिंगरप्रिंट सेंसर के साथ ही फेस अनलॉक फीचर भी दिया गया है। वहीं पावर बैकअप के लिए यह फोन 3,500एमएएच की बैटरी सपोर्ट करता है।
रियलमी 3 प्रो
लगे हाथ आपको Realme 3 Pro के बारे में भी बता दें। कंपनी की ओर से इस फोन को दो वेरिएंट में लॉन्च किया गया है। रियलमी 3 प्रो के एक वेरिएंट में जहां 6जीबी की पावरफुल रैम के साथ 128जीबी की इंटरनल स्टोरेज दी गई है। वहीं दूसरे वेरिएंट में 4जीबी रैम व 64जीबी इंटरनल मैमोरी मौजूद है। Realme 3 Pro के 6जीबी रैम वेरिएंट की कीमत 16,999 रुपये है तथा 4जीबी रैम वेरिएंट को 13,999 रुपये में लॉन्च किया गया है।
Huawei announces VIP customer service for P30 Pro users in India
Huawei has announced new special VIP services for the P30 Pro customers in India. Under this program, users of the phone can avail a free pick and drop facility across India. Additionally, the Chinese brand also says that there won’t be any token system for P30 Pro customers – instead, it will offer priority services across its exclusive service centres in the country.
Customers can avail the VIP services by booking an appointment through the Hi Care App that is pre-installed on the phone or via the Huawei website or by using the dedicated IVR/ toll-free number which is attended by “expert professionals.” Huawei is currently offering VIP services Huawei Mate20 Prosmartphone in India as well and claims that it has deployed dedicated support agents at Huawei’s contact centre for the VIP services.
Separately, Huawei has recently rolled out a new OTA update to the P30 Pro which brings camera enhancements, fingerprint unlock, audio-video synchronisation, and display improvements and also includes the latest Google security patch for security.
Tornado Pan, Country Manager (Huawei Brand), Consumer Business Group, Huawei India, said, “The VIP service is yet another step on our part to provide the best-in-class service to our esteemed consumers across India. The offer is applicable for all variants of the Huawei P30 Pro devices, irrespective of the purchase method, online or retail. Also, as long as the customers have purchased the specific device model, they are eligible to avail the VIP services within the specified warranty period. India is a very important market for Huawei and such services are the perfect embodiment of our commitment to providing only the very best experience for the Indian market. We would like to further enhance the overall experience of our premium products with exclusive offerings like this.“
A closer look at the Huawei Watch GT Elegant Edition, Smart Eyewear and other accessories
A quick look at all the accessories Huawei announced alongside the P30 and P30 Pro
The Huawei P30 and P30 Pro stole the limelight at the company's big launch event in Paris, but smartphones weren't the only devices announced. Huawei also took the opportunity to unveil two new Watch GT variants, FreeLace earbuds, FreeBuds Lite wireless earbuds, a 40W SuperCharge Power bank, and in a surprise move, smart eyewear in collaboration with Korean sunglass brand Gentle Monster. The FreeBuds Lite weren't displayed at the event, but I got a chance to check out all the other accessories launched by the brand.
The FreeLace wired earphones feature a USB Type-C port which is revealed by separating the right earbud and its cable from the volume buttons, and can be easily paired with Huawei smartphones by plugging them in. They can also be charged by plugging them into the Type-C port of the smartphone directly. The sound quality wasn't available to demo, unfortunately.
The aforementioned 40W power bank comes in blue and white options, and with a 12,000mAh capacity, looks ideal for the P30 Pro users. Huawei hasn't said when these accessories will be available in India, but I expect most of them (barring the smart eyewear) will be launched at some point this year.
Disclaimer: This writer attended the P30 series launch event in Paris on Huawei's invitation
OPPO F11 Pro review: pops out as a compelling, stylish mid-ranger
Our take on OPPO's latest pop-up selfie camera smartphone, the F11 Pro
Expert Ratings
"Our take on OPPO's latest pop-up selfie camera smartphone, the F11 Pro"
In the quest to offer the most screen real estate, smartphone manufacturers launched a campaign against bezels in 2018. And, the biggest hurdle to achieve an all-screen utopia was to reposition the selfie camera in such a way that it didn't take up a huge chunk of space on the front of the device. After some tinkering, smartphone OEMs came up with two clever solutions – to place the selfie camera inside a cutout commonly known as a notch, or to hide it entirely inside a smartphone's chassis, thereby giving rise (no pun intended) to phones with pop-up selfie cameras.
The OPPO F11 Pro which I'll be reviewing today, falls under the second category. The smartphone was recently announced in India and is the newest member in the pop-up camera family of devices. I've been putting it through its paces for over a week and here's what I make of it.
Smartphone manufacturers know how to design a handset inside out and consequently, it's hard to come across a bad-looking device nowadays. However, to come up with a truly gorgeous design takes an extra something and I reckon OPPO has it. The F11 Pro is quite honestly, THE best looking mid-ranger I've laid my eyes on (yet) and everything about the smartphone's design screams posh. In fact, despite a plastic contstruction, the smartphone still manages to out-dazzle competing all-glass devices.
Reason being, the F11 Pro features an enchanting gradient finish on the back which makes the smartphone an instant head turner. I got my hands on the Thunder Black variant of the device which shimmered different shades of violet and blue along diagonally opposite edges. The colours merged in the middle and every time I pulled the smartphone out of my pocket, I could swear that the pattern had shifted ever so slightly, making me drool over the design all over again. It felt like I was stuck in the movie Fifty first dates, but in a good way.
You can also pick up the smartphone in an Aurora Green colourway which looks just as good, but I personally liked the Thunder Black variant of the device more. What's more, the smartphone has a good heft to it and it ships with a chamfered trim which does wonders for the in-hand grip. While the device is most definitively not one-hand friendly, I never felt the need to use it with the bundled plastic case as I was confident I wouldn't drop it. And coming from someone as clumsy as me, this speaks volumes for the device's ergonomics.
Now, I know some of you are still skeptical over the shelf life of the motorised components that enable pop-up cameras. If it helps, the company claims that the motor can be used up to 100 times a day for six years. Moreover, of all the phones launched with motorised components thus far, not one has had a mass-scale issue with the moving components inside its chassis.
Unfortunately, the design of the smartphone is not without its flaws. For starters, the phone's gorgeous gradient-finish back - which I can't stop rambling about - smudges really easily and therefore, you'll have to carry a microfibre cloth on you to keep the device in its pristine condition. What's more, the smartphone lacks a USB Type-C port and instead, ships with a micro-USB port for charging. It's 2019, OPPO. Wake up.
Thankfully, the smartphone rights some wrongs by including a capacitive fingerprint sensor towards the back, which is blazingly fast. I'm glad the company didn't cave into the in-display fingerprint sensor fad with this phone, as a capacitive sensor is still much faster and significantly more reliable. Moreover, you'll also get face unlock with the device, which is just as accurate and dependable as the fingerprint sensor. Lastly, the handset also features a headphone jack towards the bottom which has become somewhat of a rarity nowadays.
Thanks to the pop-up selfie camera, the display on the device is bordered by extremely sleek bezels. So much so, the smartphone claims to offer a staggering 90.3 percent screen-to-body ratio! The panel measures 6.5-inches in size and features FHD+ resolution, making it plenty sharp and plenty big to consume media on the fly. I would've liked if the display got a tad bit brighter, as viewing content on a bright sunny day was a bit difficult on the smartphone. Barring that, the panel on the OPPO F11 Pro is among the best in the biz and buyers opting for the device will find little to complain here.
The OPPO F11 Pro is among the handful of phones launched in India to boast a 48MP rear-facing imaging sensor. Much like the Honor View 20, the 48MP unit on the F11 Pro stitches four adjacent pixels to output a 12MP image under lowlight scenarios. The primary shooter is assisted by a 5MP depth sensor and for selfies, the smartphone offers a 16MP unit up front.
With the specs out of the way, allow me to talk about the handset's camera prowess in the form of bullet points listed below -
2. Barring the smartphone's questionable colour science, the F11 Pro's rear-facing cameras do a pretty good job everywhere else. The cameras are quick to focus, expose a shot evenly and boast decent dynamic range too. Consequently, the device manages to conjure up details from the highlight as well as the shadows effectively.
3. For the most part, the smartphone clicks images in 12MP resolution. However, you can manually switch the resolution to 48MP from within the camera settings to get a crisper shot. The caveat here is that you won't be able to use features like HDR, AI scene recognition and beautification with the resolution set to 48MP. In fact, the smartphone doesn't even let you zoom into the subject if you're leveraging the sensor's full array of pixels. And, to my eyes, there wasn't a significant uptick in the quality or crispiness of the photo when I was shooting in 48MP. Consequently, most of the shots I took with the device were capped at 12MP resolution.
4. If you're wandering the streets at night and get the urge to click a photo, then the F11 Pro's night mode has got you covered. The handset clicks good images at night which capture the essence of the scene without introducing too much noise in the photos.
5. OPPO made a name for itself with its selfie-centric offerings and therefore, it should come as little surprise that the F11 Pro clicks great selfies too. When it's bright and sunny outdoors, the smartphone's 16MP front-facing unit will deliver detailed and gram-worthy selfies. Moreover, in lowlight scenarios, you can turn on the screen flash functionality to get a serviceable image. The device also offers a portrait mode for the front-facing shooter which creates a convincing blur effect, but struggles to separate the subject from the background. Therefore, you'll notice that the edges of the selfies clicked in portrait mode are often blurred.
Here's where things get interesting. The OPPO F11 Pro is backed by MediaTek's Helio P70 processor which has been paired with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of built-in, user-expandable storage. While the P70 is a capable chip, it can also be found on devices like the Realme 3, which cost a fraction of the price of the F11 Pro. It goes without saying that the company had to cut corners somewhere to make its latest pop-up camera smartphone affordable, and I believe they've done so in the performance department.
That said, while the smartphone doesn't offer the most bang for your buck, it still performs admirably. During my time with the device, apps opened swiftly, UI animations felt rapid and thanks to a healthy amount of RAM, multitasking was buttery smooth too. As for gaming, the device held its own and managed to play intensive titles like PUBG and Asphalt 9 on medium to high settings. Interestingly, unlike most other devices, the F11 Pro managed thermals exceptionally well and even after gaming on the smartphone for an hour, the back panel didn't feel too warm to the touch.
As for software, the OPPO F11 Pro boots Android Pie with a custom skin of ColorOS v6 on top. While the custom skin is still a far cry from stock Android, it looks more refined than its previous iterations. The in-app menus appear more minimal, the notifications tray feels simplistic and all in all, the UI feels less cluttered and easy on the eyes. The smartphone still ships with a ton of bloatware but thankfully, most of it can be uninstalled. Moreover, you'll also get a fair share of utilities with the skin including the ability to clone apps, use split screen as well as enhance the in-game performance by turning on Game Space which clears the system's resources whilst running intensive titles on the device.
The OPPO F11 Pro retails for Rs 24,990 and for the price, offers a stunning design, a beautiful bezel-less display and a cool pop-up selfie camera which is a great conversation starter. The handset performs reasonably well, offers a solid battery life, and clicks good pictures with its cameras as well. That said, if you don't care much for the device's pop-up camera, then you can find much better options elsewhere.
Huawei Mate X vs Samsung Galaxy Fold: price and specifications compared
Huawei Mate X, priced at EUR 2,299, is the world's first foldable 5G smartphone and is more impressive when compared to the $1,980 Samsung Galaxy Fold.
"The Mate X foldable smartphone from Huawei will be available in mid-2019"
Huawei has surprised us once again with the unveiling of the Mate X foldable smartphone at its MWC 2019 event in Barcelona. This is Huawei's first foldable smartphone and it is also the first 5G foldable phone in the world. In this comparison, we will look at the differences between the Huawei Mate X and the Samsung Galaxy Fold, in price, design, and specifications.
The Huawei Mate X price is significantly higher than that of the Samsung Galaxy Fold. It is priced at €2,299 (about Rs 1.85 lakh) and features 8GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. When it goes on sale in mid-2019, the Mate X will be available in only one colour option: Interstellar Blue. However, Huawei does plan on releasing the phone in other colours in the future. Of course, the availability of 5G the handset pushes the price up.
On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy Fold will start at $1,980 (about Rs 1.4 lakh) and come with 12GB of RAM with 512GB of onboard storage. You will be able to purchase the phone on April 26th in US and other markets. It will be available in Black, Space Silver, Blue and Green colour options.
Huawei has done an incredible job with the Mate X. It is easily the better looking of the two foldable smartphones. The phone is thinner and much more futuristic looking than the recently launched Galaxy Fold. Unlike the Samsung model, there is no gap when the Mate X is folded - its hinge allows it to close completely flat when folded.
The Mate X and the Galaxy Fold have similar fold-out designs, but they fold differently. On the latter, you 'open up' the phone to reveal the larger screen, like a book. However, the former has the larger screen on the outside and has to be folded back, which means it will have screens on both sides. Of course, the secondary screen is disabled when it is folded, so accidental touches shouldn't be any problem.
While the Galaxy Fold houses the cameras on the inside and outside of the device, the Mate X has it all on the side. Huawei uses a bar that features the 5G antenna, the chipset and the triple-camera setup. Since the screen folds backwards, the rear camera can be used to take selfies as well. This means that you will get amazing selfies and video calls will be exceptional. Now, let's talk about the hardware specifications of both the devices.
Samsung's Galaxy Fold comes with two separate displays and is therefore, much thicker than the Huawei Mate X. It has a 4.6-inch cover display on the front, which has huge bezels all around. The Mate X, meanwhile, has a 6.6-inch edge-to-edge display on the front without any notch and a 6.38-inch display at the back. The front is almost all display, which is impressive.
Inside, the Galaxy Fold has a 7.6-inch display with a notch at one side, which houses the cameras. With the Mate X, you get a larger 8-inch display, once again without any notches, and super slim bezels.
Coming to the hardware, the Huawei Mate X is powered by the Kirin 980 chipset and uses the Balong 5000 5G chipset. It has 8GB of RAM, 512GB of onboard storage, a dual-SIM slot and a 4,500mAh battery. The battery is divided in to two, but supports 55W super fast charging that can charge the phone from 0 to 85 percent in just 30 minutes. The phone also features a LEICA powered triple-rear camera setup with a primary 40-megapixel unit paired with a 16-megapixel ultra wide angle and an 8-megapixel telephoto sensor.
On the other hand, the Galaxy Fold is powered by the Snapdragon 855 chipset, which is paired with 12GB of RAM and 512GB storage. It gets three cameras at the back, with a main 12-megapixel wide-angle camera with dual-aperture and OIS, a 16-megapixel ultra wide sensor, and a 12-megapixel telephoto sensor. On the inside, it has a 10-megapixel wide angle unit paired with an 8-megapixel depth sensor, and there is also a 10-megapixel sensor on the front for selfies. It has a 4,380mAh battery and runs One UI based on Android 9.0 Pie.
Huawei Mate X in pictures: taking us a step closer to a foldable future
Here's a closer look at the futuristic-looking Huawei Mate X
"Foldable phones are coming"
We've been hearing this statement quite a lot in the past couple of years. But 2019 is the year when we'll see the foldable devices coming into existence. While Samsung pioneered this nascent segment earlier this week with the launch of the Galaxy Fold, the Chinese giant Huawei has also taken a stab at such a form factor as it took the stage to showcase the Mate X. It's interesting to see that the brand has taken the opposite route as compared to what Samsung showed. While only time will tell which of these work well with consumers, for now, let's take a closer look at the Huawei Mate X.
As mentioned above, Huawei has taken a different approach than Samsung to achieve a foldable form factor, so let's discuss that first. Instead of a small screen on the outside with a smartphone-like design, which unfolds into a book-like form factor offering a larger screen, the Mate X features dual screens on both the sides, with the one on the front being the primary one. The main display measures 6.6-inches with a resolution of 1,148 x 2,480 pixels and an aspect ratio of 19.5:9, while the one on the rear measures 6.38-inches diagonally and bears 892 x 2,480 pixels (in 25:9 format). Open the device and what you get is almost bezel-less 8.71-inch display with a resolution of 2,200 x 2,480 pixels. There's no cut-out for cameras and considering we using our smartphones in this manner only, the Mate X doesn't need you to change your behaviour (looking at you, Samsung).
Huawei is also touting the fact that the Mate X is quite sleek at 5.4mm when unfolded. The hinge mechanism is being referred to as Falcon Wing and the company states it has filed over 100 patents for the same. While real-life usage will tell how durable the Mate X while folding and unfolding, it does look robust basis the executive demoing the phone (sadly, we couldn't get a chance to check out the device in our hand). The brand has also shown its protective case, which is interesting considering the design challenge.
Worth noting that on the Huawei Mate X, there's a lock that keeps the displays on attached, and upon releasing, you bring the tablet mode. I also think, it's clever to place all the cameras on the rear. The Mate X has been equipped with Leica-branded 40MP (Wide Angle Lens) + 16MP (Ultra Wide Angle Lens) + 8MP (Telephoto) setup and you can use the same setup for capturing selfies too. Interestingly, like the Vivo NEX Dual Display (first impressions), only one of the displays is active, but while capturing photos you can enable the secondary screen too, to show the person how they're looking.
In terms of the software, the Mate X comes with Android 9.0 Pie, which is layered with EMUI skin on top. Basis the demo by the spokesperson, the interface adapts seamlessly for the normal display (which switches to the back one if you hold the device in the other direction), and even when you open it to enjoy the bigger screen. However, there are a lot of questions as to how different apps will work in so many different aspect ratios.
While foldable nature of Huawei's Mate X raises most eyeballs, the smartphone packs in a lot more goodies. It's among the first set of 5G smartphones, and utilises the brand's in-house Balong 5000 modem to offer the support. As far as the performance is concerned, it's handled by 7nm Kirin 980 SoC which works alongside 8GB RAM. Storage stands at 512GB. The device also supports dual-SIM capabilities.
Another calling card of the Mate X is its 55W fast charging support, which is the highest wattage as of now. The company claims that the phone can juice up from 0 to 85 percent levels within just 30 minutes - which is astonishing, considering the device features two batteries, which combine to offer a 4,500mAh pack.
The Huawei Mate X is, simply put, the best implementation for the foldable displays. It's elegant, doesn't change the way we use smartphones. More importantly, unlike the Galaxy Fold, which raises more questions than answers, the Mate X does seem to be ready for a commercial launch – though I couldn't check out the device ourselves, as much as I wanted to. Since its a 5G device, Huawei is also partnering with telcos across the world to launch it by mid-2019. Sadly, that also means that the smartphone might not be arriving on our shores, though with its sticker price of €2,299 (approx. Rs 1,85,000), not many would even have heart to buy it.
Disclosure: this writer attended the launch event on Huawei India's invitation
Samsung Galaxy M30 review: triple-camera goodness in the sub-Rs 15k segment
With features like triple rear cameras and Super AMOLED display, the Galaxy M30 has turned up the heat in the sub-Rs 15k segment
Pros
Crisp Super AMOLED display Versatile triple rear cameras
Good selfie shooter
Great battery life with 15W fast charging
Cons
Performance isn't best in class Not as attractive as glass-back phones Ships with older iteration of Android
A couple of years back, Samsung seemingly followed the mantra "throw everything at the wall, and see what sticks". However, in 2019, I think this could be changed to "throw those things at the wall, which will definitely stick". To say that the Korean behemoth has been under immense pressure – not just from Xiaomi, the current number one smartphone maker in India, but also other players like OPPO, Vivo and the new entrant Realme – would be an understatement. In 2019 however, the Chaebol seems to be taking the fight to the competition in a concerted manner. In fact, Samsung has already launched more than half a dozen smartphones this year and the first quarter of 2019 isn't even over yet. The assault started with the Galaxy M10 and M20 which were part of the brand's strategy to cater to millennials, with the latest offering in the series being the Galaxy M30. Having reviewed the Galaxy M20, I was quite excited to check out its pricier sibling and I have to say that Samsung has managed to impress yet again. Wondering why I'm saying that? Read on to find out in this review of the Samsung Galaxy M30.
Primary camera: 13 MP
Flash: LED Flash
Secondary camera: 16 MP
Considering that the Samsung Galaxy M30 is currently the most affordable smartphone with triple rear cameras, let's start the review by taking a look at the handset's imaging prowess. But before that, here's a look at what the setup includes - a 13-megapixel shooter, an 8MP wide-angle lens and a 5MP sensor for depth-sensing purposes. Of course, you also get an LED flash for shooting in dim settings. At the front, the device ships with a 16-megapixel snapper.
In terms of the camera interface, there's no difference from the one on the M20. That means, all the options are nicely laid out, and switching between normal and wide-angle mode also requires just a single tap.
But of course, you'd be interested in knowing about the picture quality. Well, I'm glad to tell you that the Samsung Galaxy M30 won't disappoint you with its image quality. Images shot in daylight have a high level of detail, and the colours are also reproduced quite accurately. The close-ups are pleasing as well, though the phone struggles in focusing in close quarters and autofocusing isn't blazingly fast either. Sadly, low light isn't the phone's strongest suit as the sensor overexposes light sources, which takes away from the otherwise decent images (unless of course, you zoom in and see the grains). The wide-angle sensor however, is certainly what makes the M30 stand apart from its peers as not many devices can boast of this feature. It can give you a much wider perspective of the scene in front of you, though you need to compromise on sharpness and autofocusing ability in this mode. The fish-eye effect can be fixed with the use of the ‘Shape Correction' option in the Gallery. Then there's the depth sensor that ensures that you get a better depth-of-field effect with the subject being nicely separated from a blurred-out background. You also get the ability to control the amount of blur to ensure that you don't get an artificial-looking image. I'll now let the pictures do the talking, so without further ado, here's a look at the camera samples of the Galaxy M30.
There's no doubt that Samsung's offering will draw most comparisons with Xiaomi's 48-megapixel rear camera-toting Redmi Note 7 Pro, so if you're wondering how these two phones stack up against each other, then I do have an answer for you. In daylight, while the M30 isn't far behind, the shots captured by the Note 7 Pro are simply sharper and more vibrant, and no, you don't need to click in the 48MP resolution to get such a high level of detail. In dim settings, the Sony IMX586 sensor in the Redmi Note 7 Pro does a brilliant job by combining four pixels into one to offer much better sharpness and colour reproduction.
The M30 also loses out on the video recording front when compared to the Note 7 Pro, as the former can only capture up to full HD videos, while the latter supports up to 4k. But the footage is surely quite good and smooth, thanks to the inclusion of EIS. The Galaxy M30 also comes out ahead in selfie capabilities thanks to a better sensor, which ensures well-detailed, natural-looking images. The Live Focus mode to get the depth effect for selfies also works surprisingly well.
Size: 6.4 Inch
Resolution: 1080 x 2280 pixels
Display Type: Super AMOLED
Pixel Density: 394 ppi
In terms of the build quality and looks, the Samsung Galaxy M30 isn't much different from its siblings. You get the same, high screen-to-body ratio, thanks to an Infinity-V display panel and plasticky finish on the rear. That said, there are some subtle differences that make the M30 more attractive.
First and foremost, the South Korean giant has opted for a two-tone gradient finish on the back of the M30 that gives it a distinct characteristic. While you'll find the blue colour on the upper portion – similar to the M10 and M20 – there's a darker shade towards the bottom. The good thing is that the gradient is present on the sides too. Another interesting thing you'll notice is the ring around the secondary camera of the M30, which is a rather nice touch, if you ask me.
Other than that, the M30 has exactly the same design elements as its younger brothers (except for featuring a triple-camera array on the rear). What this also means is that the phone offers good ergonomics, thanks to the slightly curved edges and rounded corners. Along with the fast and accurate fingerprint reader, the device can also be unlocked with your face. While I won't say that the the phone isn't slippery, it certainly offers a better grip than glass-back phones. Not to mention that the Galaxy M30 is also able to keep fingerprints at bay, at least when compared to handsets with glass-sandwich designs.
Samsung Galaxy M30's window to the world is a 6.4-inch screen, which uses a Super AMOLED panel unlike its siblings. Now I don't have to tell you the benefits of the tech. Simply put, you get darker blacks and brighter whites, along with better contrast while being battery efficient. The tiny waterdrop-shaped notch up top also helps deliver an immersive multimedia experience. Plus, you even get the Always-on display feature which negates the need to picking up the phone every time to check your notifications.
CPU: Dual core, 1.8 GHz + Hexa Cor...
GPU: Mali-G71 MP2
RAM: 4 GB
Memory: 64 GB + Up to 512 GB
SIM Slots: Dual SIM , GSM+GSM
Battery: 5000 mAH
This is yet another area where the M30 doesn't differ much from the M20. The phone draws power from the Exynos 7904 chipset, which works in tandem with 4GB / 6GB of RAM. Like I said in my review of the M20, the octa-core processor is more than capable of handling day-to-day tasks and multitasking is good too on the 4GB RAM model I reviewed. And while games like PUBG run fine, the handset does run into frame drops every now and then, and that too with medium graphics settings. Thankfully, thermals are kept in check and the phone only feels slightly warm after gaming for 30 to 40 minutes.
Taking care of your storage needs is 64GB memory onboard, which spares around 50.5GB for the end user. Courtesy a dedicated microSD card slot, you can expand the storage further by up to 512GB.
At the time of the launch of the M10 and M20, the phonemaker hadn't launched smartphones with its new and refreshed One UI. But since then, Samsung has introduced the S10 lineup and the A series, both of which boot One UI out of the box. Which is why, it's perplexing to see the M30 continuing with Experience UI 9.5, which is based on the last-gen Android 8.1 Oreo. As far as pre-installed apps go, you get My Galaxy, Samsung Max, and Galaxy Apps, among others. You also get a prompt to install more apps while setting up the device, but thankfully you can choose not to.
Of course, the battery continues to be the trump card of the M30. Similar to the M20, it comes with a 5,000mAh cell, which ensures that the phone can last more than a day of use and then some more. This reflected in our battery loop test as well, as the smartphone was able to playback an HD video on a loop non-stop for around 17 hours. And when you need to juice it up, you'll be able to do that in a little more than two hours, thanks to the bundled 15W adapter.
To say that Samsung has made a solid comeback in the race would be underplaying the South Korean titan's efforts. Within less than three months into 2019, the company has turned the Indian smartphone market on its head. It's clear that the brand won't let go of the numero uno position out of its sights, and that Chinese brands will have to work harder to grab its market share. The Galaxy M30 continues that stance by bringing never-seen-before features in the sub-Rs 15k segment. With an asking price of Rs 14,999 for its base model, it's a solid all-round offering.
All said and done, the Galaxy M30 has definitely turned up the heat in the Rs 15,000 category and is among the best buys in the category.
