TOP SMARTPHONES RULED 2016

before you read more about them, just a word of caution on their order in this list -- there is no difference between the number 1 and the number 10 here. Because all of them truly delighted the team here at Techmania.

ONE PLUS:

Both the OnePlus 3T and the OnePlus wowed us . Day after day as we used them and got familiarized with their speed, quality of build, screen and the camera that is capable of clicking some brilliant phones, we wondered how OnePlus could sell these two phones at such a low price. And yet, sell it did. OnePlus 3 and the OnePlus 3T are two phones are truly, absolutely the tag of "killer deal" applies. These are the phones that match the ones that sell for almost double in each and almost every aspect. And no, it's not just about the hardware. The OnePlus 3T and the OnePlus 3 are great phones because they are great to use. If you hold them, they often wow people with their sleek and distinct design. These two phones have great screens, absolutely blazing fast performance, and a camera that delights every time you use it. But at the same time, the best and most loved feature of the OnePlus 3T and the OnePlus 3, is the dash charging. It brought a smile on our faces everytime we used it.

GOOGLE PIXEL:

Google's Pixel XL is a phone that in many ways game-changer . The good bit is that it is also one of the best phones when it comes to giving consumers a delightful experience. And that is all because of two things: that sweet sweet Android Nougat software and a camera that absolutely pushes the limit of what a phone camera can do. The software on the Pixel XL -- and its little brother Pixel -- makes it the smartest phone out there. That alone is worth considering it. But then there is this camera inside the Pixel XL. With a large image sensor behind that camera, the Pixel XL clicks photos with rich colours and lot of detail. It is indeed one sharp shooter.

i-PHONE 7:

The iPhone 7 Plus may seem like an iteration of last year's iPhone 6 Plus . But actually it is a bigger deal and despite some of its flaws -- the design can be little unwieldy, the software could have been better -- the iPhone 7 Plus is a the kind of phone that delights users if they can make peace with the iOS 10. The one reason why the iPhone 7 Plus is akin to the perfect phone for many is its second camera. For anyone who is into photographer, the iPhone 7 Plus is a phone that offers, even in limited ways, the brilliance of a 50mm lens. It just slicks photos that are more personal, intimate and striking because of the bigger focal length. We suspect that in 2017 many more phones will have the similar feature but for now the iPhone 7 Plus is winning the hearts of everyone who is into photography.

MOTO Z:

The Moto Z is a modular smartphone, it's a modular smartphone done right. Lenovo's take on modularity is different from a certain Google or LG in that it sticks to the basics. It is undeniably the most premium Moto phone ever: an all-metal phone with 16 magnetic connector pins on the rear. The phone supports several modules that Lenovo calls Moto Mods which snap on to its back via these connector pins. Lenovo has a total of four modules for the Moto Z: one that turns the phone into a Pico projector, one that acts as a portable power pack, and one that adds an extra JBL stereo speaker to it and a true zoom mod, made by Hasselblad that allows for up to 10 X optical zoom on the Moto Z.

HTC 10:

The HTC 10 is, without a doubt, the best phone that HTC has built in forever . It is the kind of phone that long-term HTC fans have always wanted and long-term HTC fans have always deserved. The phone has all the bells and whistles of a high-end flagship, and it's safe to say that it delivers on almost every front as well. It has premium build quality, a sharp display with good viewing angles, a fantastic front-facing camera with OIS, flagship-class performance and decent battery life. The star of the show however has to be the phone's bloat-free Sense UI and its Hi-Res Audio prowess. No other phone comes even close to the HTC 10 in this regard. If you're willing to give the HTC 10's hit and a miss rear camera the benefit of doubt, there's no compelling reason why you shouldn't go for it, even at a (launch) price as high as Rs 52,990.

OCULUS RIFT

Virtual Reality gaming is here in the form of Oculus Rift. This history-defining 3 d headset lets you mentally feel that 

you are actually inside a video game. In the Rift’s virtual world, you could turn your head around with ultra-low 

latency to view the world in high resolution display.

There are premium products in the market that can do the same, but Rift wants you to enjoy the experience at only $300, and the package even comes as a development kit. This is the beginning of the revolution for next-generation gaming.

The timing is perfect as the world is currently bombarded with the virtual reality topic that could also be attributed to Sword Art Online, the anime series featuring the characters playing games in an entirely virtual world. While we’re getting there, it could take a few more years to reach that level of realism. Oculus Rift is our first step.

GIVE YOUR REACTION!!!!!

Gigabyte X99 Ultra Gaming motherboard launched

 Gigabyte, a computer hardware company, has launched its X99-Ultra Gaming motherboard.

 The company claims that the motherboard "not only enhances the gaming experience to a whole other level, but also brings in the best features of Intel's X99 chipset.

Gigabyte X99-Ultra Gaming motherboard is priced at Rs 29,000 and comes with a warranty period of 3 years.
The Gigabyte X99-Ultra Gaming motherboard supports the Intel USB 3.1 controller, which brings transfer speeds of up to 10 Gb/s. The USB 3.1 tech is available via the USB Type-C connectivity and the traditional USB Type-A connector for better compatibility with other devices.

According to the company, users also get better gaming experience because of the inclusion of 'latest' SSDs from Intel, the 2.5" 750 NVMe Series SSD.

Gamers can also change the looks of their PCs using the Ambient Surround LEDs that come along with the motherboard. They can control the colours of LED lights and even customise it to glow according to their music beats.

XIAOMI ENTERS HIS STEPS IN BIKE WORLD

Xiaomi has launched a RMB 2,999 (around Rs 30,000) electric bike called the Mi QiCycle Electric Folding Bike in China.

As the name suggests, the bike is foldable and electric. It also seems to be very compact, with Xiaomi insisting that when folded, the bike can be small enough to fit into the boot of most cars. That price may seem high for a cycle, but electric bikes are apparently very popular in China and Xiaomi’s previous offerings were well received.

The bike is powered by a 250W 36V motor which gets its juice from 20 Panasonic 18650 batteries providing 2,900mAh each. The bike uses a technique that Xiaomi’s calling Torque Measurement Method to determine how much assistance to give the rider when pedalling. Xiaomi claims that the motor can give 45km of range on a single charge. Xiaomi is quick to point out that these are the same batteries used by Tesla in their electric cars.

The bike is apparently festooned with sensors that keep track of the bike’s state and features like GPS navigation are built-in. Even if power runs out, there’s a Shimano 3-speed gearbox to help with power transmission.

Xiaomi has also taken the trouble to incorporate a Battery Management System (BMS) that keeps track of the state of the bike’s battery and to ensure that it’s operating within safety limits.A handlebar-mounted display unit should be able to provide up-to-date information on the state of the bike, distance covered, calories burnt and other such information. A phone call also be paired to the bike via a dedicated app.

What is not clear is exactly how much the bike weighs. In their announcement, Xiaomi has stated that the bike weighs 14.5kgs as well as 7kgs.