Amazon 'unhappy' with latest smartphone data,

Amazon 'unhappy' with latest smartphone data, here's why

NEW DELHIi: Amazonhas contested projections by research firms that the online retailer had a lower share of the smartphone market by both shipments and value and claimed it will trump rivalFlipkart by Diwali.

The Seattle-based companyalleged that a large chunk of Flipkart's smartphone saleswent to traders, unlike its own, where almost all went directly to consumers.

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7 smartphones under Rs 30,000 you can consider

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7 smartphones under Rs 30,000 you can consider

Mid-range smartphones are affordable versions of flagship devices, with almost the same features, but with lower-specced hardware. Even then they are capable of handling high-definition multimedia content, and even advanced games. These handsets, which strike a great balance between price and features, boast of sharp Full-HD Gorilla Glass displays, solid metal builds, biometric security, support for dual-4G SIMs and a day-long battery lives.

Micromax Dual 5

The Dual 5 is a flagship device, that's available at a mid-range price. Notably this handset bakes quite a few security, features into its user interface. You can separate work-related data from personal content by way of a fingerprint, PIN or pattern. An anti-theft feature by Qiku protects your data even if the device is stolen: The Dual 5 is configured to send its location to an alternative phone number that you can set-up as an emergency contact. This mobile number can also be used to lock its memory card, wipe data and more. For photography, you get two 13MP rear shooters, which work in tandem to snap images with good depth of field. The camera app includes modes for GIF animations, time-lapse videos, macro shots, as well as a manual mode for control over shutter speed, white balance and exposure. Images are rendered with neutral colours and a fair amount of detail, provided they are shot in well-lit environs. On the other hand, selfies with the 13MP front cam appear soft, and over-exposed at times. That said, the Dual 5 beat all the other handsets reviewed here in benchmark scores by a significant margin. In real-world use, it multi-tasks flawlessly and you can even expect it to run graphic-intensive games. Call clarity and network reception is perfect, but the audio over headphones can sound a bit harsh at times. The Dual 5 has an additional button, which can be configured to clear memory , launch an app, take a photo, etc. However, while its user interface includes features such as call recording, data security and anti-theft, its onscreen instructions seem like literal translations from Chinese into English, and can be difficult to understand. Still, if you're looking for an all-round performer with good security features, the Dual 5 is well worth your consideration. Besides, it is the only smartphone here with 128GB of onboard storage.

Honor 8 Lite

The Honor 8 Lite is a cheaper version of the flagship Honor 8, but maintains the same aesthetic look and feel. Its customized user interface is snappier and is also highly configurable, when compared to the other devices here. For instance, you can set its fingerprint sensor to take pictures, answer a call, or shut an alarm. You also get a Health app for fitness and an SOS emergency service. On the flip side, it's the only handset here without a Gorilla Glass screen. On the performance front, it is on a par with the Moto G5 Plus; capable of handling mundane productivity tasks as well as demanding 3D games smoothly. Pictures shot with its rear camera appear sharp, with punchy colours and excellent contrast. The camera is responsive but the software takes a second to process captures in dull lighting. On the other hand, its front camera is an average performer when it comes to selfies; it has a panorama option for large group shots, but the process is clunky and not as intuitive as it is on the Oppo F3. Honor devices have always had a feature rich camera app, and the 8 Lite is no different. You get shooting modes like light painting, document scan and Pro Video, which lets you manually set exposure, white balance and light metering. Its built-in editing tool includes functions that let you pixelate parts of the photo, highlight one colour in a monochrome shot and `beautify' pictures with its makeup mode. On the whole, the Honor 8 Lite promises a decent bang for your buck: you get a good-looking handset, a crystal-clear display, Huawei's proprietary amplifier technology for loud audio playback, day-long battery, and network handling that's comparable to the best in the market.

Gionee A1

The Gionee A1 might not have a single standout feature, but still makes for a compelling package.It is second only to the Oppo F3 when it comes to selfies, thanks to its 16MP front camera, while its 13MP rear shooter clicks images with great contrast and vibrant colours. In low-light, picture quality takes a slight hit.Still, you get an interface with options to shoot slow motion videos, business cards, barcodes, and even translate foreign language text. Its home-screen button, which doubles as a fingerprint sensor, recognizes gestures to launch a floating shortcut panel that can be customized to launch features and apps. Plus, you get call recording; gesture recognition to mute or answer calls, and a split screen mode that makes it easier to work with two apps at the same time. The phone works smoothly for most part, but gets unusually warm during prolonged use and while charging. Hopefully, this flaw will be rectified with a firmware update. Notably, the Gionee A1 scores high on the entertainment quotient: an IR blaster on the handset lets you control your TV, AC, set-top box, etc. Then, there's the Peel app, which displays a localized TV programme guide, allowing you to quickly switch to your favourite channels. And you also get the Waves MaxxAudio sound optimizer that boosts the bass in music without overpowering the highs.

Panasonic Eluga Ray Max

The Panasonic Eluga Ray Max is the only handset here that sports a plastic build, and a removable back panel for access to the SIM card and a memory card slots. But it still packs in features like a homescreen button that doubles as a fingerprint sensor, a call recorder, motion recognition and smart gestures to lock the screen, launch apps and make calls. Its rear camera takes decent photographs in well-lit surroundings; it catches some detail in shots, and manages to get the exposure right in shadow areas while keeping noise to a minimum. The front camera is not too bad either, with a simple beautification mode to help subjects appear blemish-free, with larger eyes and a narrower jaw line. On the downside, given its screen's brightness, it sometimes gets difficult to figure out if the subject is in focus when in direct sunlight. The Ray Max is not a performer like the Micromax Dual 5 or a multimedia phone like the Gionee A1. But it is capable of running games like Asphalt 8, though it has limitations when handling heavier workloads and multi-tasking between them. Also, its touch sensor, which can also be used to navigate to the home-screen or one step back, is a bit slow in unlocking the handset when compared to all the devices on review here. On the music front, its Snapdragon Audio+ enhancement amplifies sound across the aural range, yet don't expect nuanced output from this device. Overall, the Ray Max managed to equal the benchmark scores of the Oppo F3 and it even does this at a lesser price. So if you have to choose budget over build quality and better cameras, this is the phone you could consider instead.

Moto G5 Plus

The Moto G5 Plus is a workhorse that gives you two days of mixed usage -- web browsing, music, calls, email, etc -- on a single charge. Also, this is the only phone in this line-up with a water-repellent build. It has a nano-coating -- inside and out -- that protects it from damage caused by spillage and splashes. Owing to its marginally smaller (5.2-inch) screen, the handset feels lighter and easier to operate. Its home-screen button is replaced with a fingerprint sensor that can only be used to unlock the screen; navigation controls are accessible on its touchscreen only. The G5 Plus, which runs Android Nougat OS sans any customization, is very responsive and delivers a lag-free experience. You also get Moto's signature motion gestures that allows you to activate its camera and flashlight; you can flip the phone to mute a call, and swipe to shrink the screen. You can also customize its audio output, depending upon whether you're using its speakers, or listening to music on your headphones. And this brings us to the cameras: the G5's rear shooter is quick to focus and is capable of sharp pictures with a fair amount of detail and excellent colour contrast. Selfies taken with the front camera are not as good as those snapped by the Gionee A1 and Oppo F3, but they are definitely not a cause for complaint. Performance-wise, this phone is on a par with the pricey Samsung Galaxy C7 Pro ­ and handles 3D games and resource-intensive photo-editing apps with ease.

Oppo F3

The Oppo F3 -- touted as an out-and-out selfie phone -- is equipped with dual front-facing cameras: A 16MP snapper for 'regular' selfies and an 8MP shooter for wide-angle shots of larger groups. The 16MP cam is easily one of the best in this round up; it captures sharp mug shots with great detail. The second one -- with its selfie panorama mode -- works just as well with its near 160-degree field of view. The rear camera does well to capture sharp stills with balanced colours and evenly exposed photos. However, details tend to get lost when focusing on objects with similar colour contrast. Oppo's customized interface comes with the options like a fingerprint sensor that can also be configured to lock apps and file folders, a call recorder, gesture recognition and a detailed instruction guide for new users. You also get a cloning feature that allows you to run two instances of compatible apps on the phone. While this worked with WhatsApp, it would not let us clone apps like Amazon, Flipkart, Facebook and Facebook Messenger. The Oppo F3 comes with a Dirac sound optimizer that delivers deep lows, clear mids and crisp highs. You also get the option to individually adjust these levels, or simply apply 'music genre' presets. All in all, the F3 is a middling performer when it comes to productivity tasks and intensive gaming, but there's no denying that this device is built around its fantastic cameras.

Samsung Galaxy C7 Pro

The C7 Pro is probably the best mid-range phone available today for Samsung loyalists. Its large, crisp display is ideal for reading and browsing the internet; you get a good set of cameras, as well as two-day battery life that can be extended with power management tools. It doesn't match up to the Micromax Dual 5's processing muscle, but it is still capable of handling heavy duty tasks, including 3D games like War Robots and Modern Combat 5, without a stutter. Pictures taken with the C7 Pro's rear camera are on a par with the Moto G5 Plus, with vivid colours, details and textures. Some images show a hint of image smoothening, and this is more evident when you use the selfie camera in low-light. You don't get the latest Android Nougat version, but Samsung's customized user interface includes some nifty features: You can hide apps, safeguard work-related data with your fingerprint, use accessibility features for single-handed operation, edit documents with Microsoft's Mobile Office productivity suite, and even work across two apps in a split-screen mode. Audio output over earphones is clear and neutral. Its built-in audio enhancement lets you fine tune the output via presets and a 7-band graphic equalizer. The C7 Pro might not be the best handset at its asking price, but it still remains an attractive proposition due to its balanced mix of build quality, looks, proprietary features and performance.

Flipkart didn't immediately respond to ET's queries. "Some research agencies and articles (media reports) that have quoted certain numbers, which we want to clarify... We have never shared those numbers with them," said Arun Srinivasan, category leader for consumer electronics and smartphones at Amazon India, without naming any agency.

The agencies and reports said Flipkart was No. 1 in the smartphone segment with a huge lead over Amazon.

"According to the feedback from brands, there's very little difference between the two platforms, and giving them some benefit of doubt, there may still be a 10% delta, but that also gets queered by returns, rejects," Srinivasan said.

He added that the two companies were neck-and-neck in the past few months, even though Amazon entered the segment two years ago.

"It's possible that we could cross them on a sustained basis and by Diwali we could be ahead," Srinivasan told ET. Amazon is set to launch models from BlackBerry, Nokia, Lenovo and LG within 10 days.

READ ALSO: Amazon wants to become 'Everything for Everyone'

Flipkart had a 57% share of the online smartphone market in the January to March quarter, while Amazon had 27%, Hong Kong-based Counterpoint Technology Market Research said.

Smartphones are the largest product category by revenue for Flipkart and Amazon and both have started selling refurbished phones. The stakes are high in an extremely competitive and pricesensitive segment.

A larger share is even more critical because the smartphone segment has remained stagnant at one-third of the entire market and sales of these devices are expected to grow at the slowest pace in 2017, as reported by ET on Monday.

Elaborating on the claim that Flipkart's sales were largely to traders, Srinivasan said the number of phones going to resellers on its platform was really small, driven by the fact that it had a lower share of cash-on-delivery orders and stringent norms to identify people who could potentially be sellers by linking customer IDs, besides a cap on monthly orders.

"Anecdotally, we've heard that a large chunk of their sales goes to the trade, but it's difficult for us to triangulate that," he said, referring to Flipkart's shipments. "In our case, 99% is going to genuine customers."