Free Cell Phone and Service | Lifeline Cell Phone Program - Blog

Keep it Big with Micromax Canvas Mega

Micromax has launched yet another smartphone, Micromax Canvas Mega (E353)that falls well in the budget category. The phone comes with 5.5-inch screen size with a resolution of 720 pixels by 1280 pixels. Now the phone has been listed on the top by the company. Micromax Canvas Mega is a dual sim device that successfully runs Android 5.0 Lollipop out of the box. Micromax could have easily shipped the device to Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, but it clearly chose not to.

At the back, it sports 13-megapixel autofocus camera that clicks decent pictures with LED flash, and a 5-megapixel rear camera that in also on board. On the connectivity front, The cell phone offers 3G, GPRS/EDGE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Micro-USB as well as Bluetooth options. It packs sensors such as accelerometer, magnetometer, ambient light sensor and proximity sensor. The not so beautifully curved phone is black in color. Sadly, the dual sim smartphone lacks 4G LTE and incorporates 2820 mAh battery that delivers 10 hours of talk time and up to 600 hours of standby time. Should it be a smartphone any first-time buyer could consider? The below-listed specifications will further clear all your doubts.

The basic specifications include:

Android 5.0 Lollipop
5.5-inch IPS LCD display, 720 x 1,280 pixels, 267 pp
13MP primary camera and 5MP secondary camera
1.4GHz octa-core MediaTek processor, 1GB RAM, 8GB ROM, and microSD card slot (up to 32GB)
Dual-SIM card slot, 3G, Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth v4.0, GPS, microUSB v2.0 port, and 3.5mm headphone jack
Ambient-Light Sensor, Accelerometer, e-Compass, Gyro-Sensor, and Proximity Sensor
2,820 mAh battery

Though the smartphone is good when it comes to performance and value for money but experts aren’t recommending it because there are a lot of worthy alternatives in the market such as Xiomi Mi 4i, Lenovo K3 note, etc. and most importantly the company owns Yu Yureka.

Micromax Bolt Q332: Low Budget Average Phone

Micromax had earlier made waves by introducing its Canvas series and offered a capable smartphone at an affordable price with high-end specifications. Now the company is back with a more powerful phone – the Micromax Bolt Q332. Having dominant processor and better performance, the Bolt Q332 is a “pocket home theater” that comes with inbuilt speakers and offers an aufio output of 96dB.

The phone is dual sim incorporated with a wide 5-inch (480×854) FWVGA IPS display. It sports Android 5.1 Lollipop powered by a 1.3GHz quad-core processor coupled with 512 MB of RAM. You can enjoy an efficient and seamless smartphone experience with aesthetic design and notifications on the lock screen. It is also equipped with faster access by customizing app usage but limited access to apps for external users. In addition, there are some pre-loaded apps such as Amazon shopping, Quickr, and Snapdeal where you can shop till you drop.

The only drawback experienced is less than expected storage. It comes with only 2GB internal storage capacity which is further expandable up to 32GB. The camera too is not up to the mark. The 5MP camera clicks decent pictures, but pixel distortion is noticed when zoomed whereas the secondary camera is 2MP which doesn’t take brilliant selfies. The rear camera comes with some attractive features that include scene detection, face recognition, geotagging, panorama, best shot, smile shot and also HDR options.

On the connectivity front, the smartphone offers rapid 3G, GPRS/EDGE with an uploading speed of 11.2Mbps and downloading speed of 42Mbps. The Wi-Fi is 602.11 b/g/n and also Micro USB and Bluetooth options. Bolt Q332 is packed with an average battery of 2000mAh that can rate up to 6 hours of constant talk time and 225 hours of standby time. But the wide 12.7cm screen allows you to watch videos in stunning motion clarity at 16M color depth. Micromax has never been good with its battery life and this phone is no exception. It weighs 141 grams and measures 141.1x73x9.7mm. Unfortunately, there is no color range and the smartphone comes in black only.

If you are planning to buy a low budget smartphone with music clarity then there is nothing better than Micromax Bolt Q332. A smartphone with brilliant features at an affordable price. But if you think it will fulfill all your basic expectations then your expectations may not be met.

Acer Z630S: Not a Big Surprise

Acer is coming out with many announcements this year. One of them is the Acer Liquid Z630S which hit stores in September of 2015. The Acer Liquid Z630S price is within budget and helps you experience overall enjoyment with its specifications and features, especially the camera.

Display

A comparatively lighter phone, weighing in at 165g, doesn’t have a great design and feel but is easy to handle and use. It supports dual sims and is a wide phone with 5.5-inch screen. Roughly the same design as that of the predecessor, the company has not made any new changes in its look.

Camera

Fortunately, the phone comprises an 8MP rear camera with 3264*2448-pixel autofocus and LED flash that gives crisp and clear pictures. There is good news for selfie lovers as the front camera is also 8MP with features such as geo-tagging, touch focus, face detection, and HDR as well as panorama.

Battery

All the latest phones are expected to include a reliable, long-lasting battery and this smartphone is no exception. It sports a sizeable 4000mAh battery that lasts for a day and a half. Cell phones with good battery life are preferred these days so this phone is surely going to have an edge with its large battery feature.

Specifications and Performance

Few superlative features and specifications have been retained in the smartphone. Most significantly it has a 1.3GHz MediaTek processor. It runs the latest Android 5.1 OS with Wi-Fi standard connectivity of 802.11b/g/n and Bluetooth v 4.00. Not even the operating system yields a great user experience as it seems to be like any other cheap cell phone.

Verdict

The company has been doing well in selling laptops, but their smartphone hasn’t yet gained any popularity. It is still struggling in the smartphone market and the sole reason is that there are innumerable competitors. Although the specifications are average, the price is affordable and the phone is packed with a user-friendly UI, there is still not enough to push wireless subscribers to opt for the new Acer release.

Is IPhone 6s Worth the Upgrade?

In the fast moving world of innovation, the technology industry has become unpredictable. Every other year Apple adds an ‘S’ to the end of its current model, buffs it up with hefty features, calls it the New IPhone, and delivers it to spellbound applause.

IPhone 6s will be the phone of the year as the company has added some clever features, improved camera and of course a faster processor. This is another excellent phone from Apple.

Design and Display

All S phones look similar and this smartphone is no exception. Even the screen size has not been changed or upgraded. Although the colors look natural and 326 pixels per inch is sharp enough. However, it bears to be a successful design. The phone not only looks great but, it is comfortable too. Everything just fits in. But can you guess what is flashy and new? Well, the 3D touch is new. It is similar to Apple Watch’s Force Touch. This touch detects how hard you press the screen, opening interactions for the app developer. There are basically 3 pressure levels – the regular tap, harder tap and further beyond press. Each will trigger a different option altogether.

Camera

The 12MP camera delivers in spades. This year the figures have jumped up and the jump is for good. Crisp clear picture quality is obtained when you click pictures from the phone. There is a new option – the “Live Photo” which enables 1.5-second photo on either side of shot. However, this feels more like a gimmick rather than a needed option.

Specifications

As always, Apple has come up with a chipset A9 and has brought a number of changes with it. Longer battery life is the most drastic and demanded feature which the company has offered in this new smartphone. All this is much better than what we have seen before. The 4-bit system is present but can’t be used properly because 4GB RAM isn’t present. Thankfully, it has 2GB of RAM this time providing a decent snap under the finger.

Verdict

Of all the “S” Apple phones, this is the best yet. Though there are a few upgrades still to make, this one has come up with impressive features as well as performance. Fortunately, the new 3D touch, great camera, and longer battery life offer tangible benefits and is combined with a solid iOS upgrade. The new Apple phone is undoubtedly a decent one.

Huawei Honor 7 First Impression

Huawei is a rising company that is getting more popular by the day in the smartphone market. It has become comparatively easier to visit a street store and buy their products. The company has released a new smartphone, the Huawei Honor 7.

Design

The elegant design is the very first thing that will strike you. The Honor7 has employed a metal design, but the rear cover isn’t removable. The sides of the cellphone are so nicely beveled giving it a good finish that it will make you fall in love with it. The phone weighs approximately 157 grams and is 8.5mm thick. Surprisingly, the Huawei Honor 7 price is quite nominal.

Specifications

The phone rocks 5.2 inches of full HD display that seems to be pretty crisp. The Honor 7 comes with an IPS panel that ensures perfect viewing angles. Color and text appears sharp and vibrant. Similar to its predecessor, the phone houses a Kirin chipset. It incorporates the 5.0 Lollipop version of the Android OS and Wi-Fi 802.11ac. The performance is smooth without any lag and the Huawei Honor 7 reviews are quite good.

Camera and Battery

Most of the Honor phones have impressive cameras. The Honor 7 includes a 20MP rear camera with dual-tone LED flash and 8MP front camera for the selfie lovers. It also supports phase-detect auto focus for quick focusing. The user interface has been carried forward from its predecessor, the Huawei Honor 6 Plus, but there are two additional modes in this phone – the Good Food mode and Light Painting mode. The camera clicks of the phone are quite satisfying.

The Honor 7 has a non-removable 3100mAh battery that promises a day-long battery life. Just like other recently released phones, it also supports fast charging technology.

Conclusion

Huawei has managed to build a reputation in the smartphone market. The company is expecting to sell its new handset in bulk, but there are many other phones in the same price range which it has to compete with. However, pick up this phone if you need a wide screen and stylish design and want to stand out in the crowd.

Oppo Latest Smartphones Are Ambiguous Surprises

Oppo is a reliable brand in the smartphone market. Recently, it took the wraps off its two new phones, the R7 Plus and R7 Lite. The R7 Lite is the successor in the R7 series. The R7 smartphone is comparatively slimmer than the other phones previously launched. Moreover, the cost has also been reduced.

Both the phones are slim and lightweight, which makes them easy to hold. The R7 Lite feels absolutely sleek but fragile whereas the R7 Plus is bigger and wider which makes it difficult to hold and use single-handedly. The feel of the R7 Lite is pleasing over R7 Plus as it is slimmer and easy to hold. The only change Oppo made is that it incorporated a full metal unibody to both of the smartphones, but this didn’t manage to give it a classy feel.

Both of these Oppo smartphones have sensors, earpieces and front camera at the top of the front panel and a loudspeaker at the bottom. Due to the difference in their sizes, the R7 Lite has capacitive touch buttons and the R7 Plus has on screen buttons. On the inside, both the Oppo phones run Android 5.1.1 Lollipop with the smart user interface. However, the notification pop up design makes it appear that Android 4.4 KitKat is being used. On the other hand, a bigger notification panel should have been added in the phone to make way for quick access.

Display

The newest Oppo devices have a crisp and vibrant screen. Out of the two, the R7 Plus, is the clear winner because of its 6-inch full HD display screen and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection. The Oppo R7 Lite has a 5 inch HD resolution screen which is one inch smaller from the R7 Plus, but the screen size doesn’t add an extra advantage over the other. Due to fast, lag free and responsive features these devices have become noticeable. While the R7 Lite sports 2GB of Ram, the R7 Plus has 3GB.

Camera

The camera of both the devices is quite impressive. However, plenty of camera modes are available in these smartphones including Panorama, HDR, Slow Shutter, Ultra HD etc. These phones indeed have an excellent 13MP rear camera with f/2.2 apertures and an 8MP front camera with f/2.4 aperture. Furthermore, R7 Plus has an autofocus property for quick capturing of photos. The only benefits the Oppo R7 Plus has over Oppo R7 Lite is a fingerprint sensor feature as it adds more security to the device.

Battery

The Oppo R7 Plus has a fair battery life of 4100mAh that lasts for a day and a half whereas the R7 Lite has a 2320mAh non-removable battery. These devices charge 75% of the battery within half an hour.

However, most of the features found in these Oppo phones are available in other devices at a much cheaper price but adopters of these devices can receive more RAM, decent selfie camera, metal body and more inbuilt storage. Therefore, the new Oppo phones have a nice design but are unable to compete with other phones with same specifications.

Sony Xperia M5: An Eyebrow Raising Affair

Sony is one of the most sought-after brands in the cellphone market. It is known for its efforts of improving and polishing its products with every new phone that it releases. Specifications of the Sony Xperia M5 is an eyebrow raising affair.

This mid-range phone seems to incorporate better specifications than any other phone in the same budget range, especially Sony Xperia Z+. Moreover, this mid-ranger is much cheaper than Sony’s top-tier smartphones but, is it really as good as it looks?

Design

The smartphone has a normal 5 inch screen with a 1080×1920 LCD display and a pixel density of 441 pixels-per-inch. It strikes a perfect balance of size and resolution. The phablet is big enough to use comfortably and small enough to carry easily.

A glass back coupled with stainless steel corners looks fairly high-end and attractive. With a stylish design, the phone is 7.6mm thick – quite slim.

Camera

It is irresistible to compare with others as its best feature is the camera that incorporates a 21.5 MP rear and a 13MP front shooter. When shot in bright conditions, the phone clicks classy and crystal clear pictures, though it is good at night too.

The megapixels have fulfilled the photographic expectations and also support 4K video and 5x digital zoom without loss of quality. You will definitely fall in love with the camera. In addition, there are plenty of camera modes available that will make it easy for the user to click impressive pictures with professional effects.

Power and Battery

Sony fell short by introducing a 64bit 2.0 GHz octa-core MediaTek Helio X10 processor with 3GB of RAM at the heart of the phone. The phone comprises a 2600mAh powerful battery which lasts for 2 long days with constant usage. The phone has a very good battery life indeed. There isn’t any shortage of connectivity options as well with Wi-Fi, 4G, and Bluetooth 4.1 support.

Verdict

An absolutely promising phone with stylish design, high-end processor, great camera, water resistant quality and long battery life. Sony Xperia M5 reviews by users are quite satisfactory. The only feature where it lags behind it’s competition is its processor and that’s why it isn’t a flagship device. The MediaTek processor isn’t the best choice. Though this is a minor issue as this mid-range smartphone has a lot more features to overpower.

Motorola Moto X Play: Big Battery Big Budget

Motorola has launched another mid-range device offering a better display and more power. Moto G was adored by the audience, but Moto X Play may not get the same response. Last year Moto X was released which and was ignored, mostly due to its poor camera.

The phone has two selling points – a powerful battery and a 21 MP camera. These killer features will definitely help the Moto X Play stand out from the rest of the crowd.

Build and Design

The new Moto phone is stylish when compared to other phones. It is also quite traditional in design apart from the microSD tray that resides on the top edge. Moto X play comes with a 5.5-inch full HD display that looks amazing with perfect viewing angles.

The only disappointment is the lack of the water resistance feature, especially when this feature was liked by everyone on the Moto 3rd Generation. The cellphone does come with a water repellent coating.

Battery life and performance

A smartphone within this price range is expected to run smoothly without any lag, and Play proves to fulfil this expectation. The phone sports an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor with 2GB of RAM. No heating issues are experienced and it comes with a huge 3630mAh battery. Although, the battery will run down at the end of the day. Notably, it performs well while shooting videos and lasts for 12 hours.

Software and Camera

The software of Moto X play is quite similar to Moto G 3 but there is one noticeable feature present in both, which is Moto Assist. Motorola offers virtual assistance to perform simple tasks such as changing notification settings.

Motorola has taken a keen interest in its camera quality this time and delivered a 21 MP rear camera that clicks commendable pictures in the daytime. But at night it fails to find focus and hence the images tend to have some amount of noise in them. The 5MP front camera is satisfactory as well as the videos captured by the cell phone.

Verdict

Except for the camera, there isn’t any other feature that stands out. Despite the massive battery, it doesn’t compete with its peers and doesn’t make way to being an undisputed pick. Moto X Play lacks bells and whistles and didn’t fulfill all expectations. The Moto X Play review ends on a negative note as it incorporates a huge price. Motorola has a brilliant record when it comes to performance and specification but Moto X Play seems to be an exception.

Moto G 3: The Affordable Smartphone that Just Got Better

Over the years Motorola phones have evolved, but did the specifications also improve at the same pace?

Motorola is the definition of what an affordable smartphone should be like. The successor always came up with a better version of its predecessor with the new enhanced advancements. As the technology improved, the hardware and specifications got better. Initially, Motorola’s Moto G was lost in the smartphone crowd but now armed with an improved set of specifications, the phones are worth buying.

Build and Design

The screen is mounted on metal-like plastic and the back has a removable cover that holds the camera. It is simply designed and doesn’t slip off your hands. Both the design and build quality has noticeably improved when compared to last year’s model. The waterproof feature is decent, but its thickness is a bit chunky. The Moto G 3rd generation incorporates a 5-inch screen having a resolution of 720p HD with 294 pixels per inch density.

Specifications

Moto G 3 sports prominent specifications and the key features include:

• Screen size: 5 inch

• Processor: 1.4 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 410

• RAM: 1GB (2GB for 16GB storage)

• Storage capacity: 8/16 GB and expandable up to 32GB

• Camera: Rear 13MP and Front 5MP

• Connectivity: Bluetooth, 4G, Wi-Fi and GPS

• Weight: 155g

• Android: Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop)

Battery Life

The third-generation Motorola has a 1.4GHz quad-core Snapdragon 410 processor and a multitasking menu that brings a bundle of applications. In addition, the battery life lasts for 24 hours with constant sending of emails, playing games, listening to songs and browsing a bit.

Camera

Decent images can be clicked with the rear-facing 13MP camera with good detail and colors. It performs well in low light and is considerably better than other smartphones falling in the same range. An exclusive selfie phone with 5 MP front facing camera clicks crystal clear shots. However, the phone lacks details at full resolution.

Verdict

Moto G 3rd generation is by far the best Motorola phone yet. It has excellent build quality, decent camera, great performance, noticeable specifications and not to forget the reasonable price. It feels amazing in hand and the battery life is also quite powerful. Not many Android phones incorporate so many features in a 5 inch screen size, meaning the phablet is arguably one of the best.

The Latest Xiaomi Phablet Replaces Its Predecessor

Both of the latest released Xiaomi phones can be considered worthy replacements of its predecessor. With the specifications that they are offering, they fall into the “value for money” segment. Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 2 and Redmi Note 2 Prime differ only in their connectivity support, with all the other specifications being the same. On one hand, the Redmi Note 2 Prime features 3G and 4G connectivity, whereas the Redmi Note 2 supports 4G connectivity. The Prime phone comes with 32 GB of inbuilt storage capacity. Both Xiaomi’s smartphones feature large 5.5 inch HD 1080*1920 displays with 401 pixels per inch density.

In addition, Redmi Note 2 is packed with an octa-core processor that incorporates 2GB RAM, while the Redmi Note 2 Prime sports a comparatively higher quad core processor. These handsets are available in two storage variants, one with 16 GB and one with 32 GB, expandable storage of 32GB. It comes with a great battery life of 3060 mAh that lasts for 24 hours and offers quick charging.

Camera

The handset comes packed with a 13MP rear camera with brilliant flash, phase detection autofocus and the shutter speed of 0.1 seconds. It is considered as a decent selfie handset comprising of 5MP front camera with f/2.2. 5 element lens and OmniVision. Other features include geo-tagging, touch focus, face/smile detection, HDR, and panorama click. Video recording sports 1080*30 frames per second. The Redmi Note, which was the predecessor of these two phones got popular amongst the masses due to its camera quality.

Display and Specifications

The Redmi Note 2 is slimmer than its predecessor and is also comparatively lighter. It measures 152*76*8.25 mm and weighs 160 grams. Apart from its 4G connectivity, these smartphones include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 and infrared. Both of these phablets support 4G Micro-SIM cards. One of the most highlighted features is the face recognition in the gallery. Based on Android 5.5 Lollipop, the handsets are worth buying. It delivers tacky sound effects and supports MP3, and WAV formats, having a 3.5mm jack.

Conclusion

The dual phablets can be spotted in white, blue, yellow, pink and mint green vibrant colors. Despite incorporating premium features, both the phones are offered at an affordable price. Either of these two phones are worth buying as they comprise a mind-boggling display, backed by a set of great specifications, including support for 4G connectivity, decent camera quality and powerful battery.