Xolo Win Q900s & Allview Impera I : Twins separated by country!

Xolo Mobiles launched itself into the Windows scenario with the touted “World’s Lightest Windows Smartphone” at just 100gms – the Xolo Win Q900s. This phone was launched exclusively in India and only through an e-commerce website Snapdeal (only pre-orders for 5000 units).

Allview Impera I

Xolo Win Q900s

A couple of days later, a Romanian smartphone manufacturer & retailer Allview Mobiles launched 3 Windows OS 8.1 phones. Amongst them was a mid-range phone named “Allview Impera I”. It pushed the Xolo aby away from the “Lightest” crown because of its feather weight – 98.5gms; which means a whole 1.5gms lighter than the Xolo Win Q900s.

Allview Impera I: Front

Xolo Win Q900s: Front

The shocking fact about both the phones is that they are almost similar in terms of design, hardware specifications, etc. Both the phones boast of a 4.7” IPS Capacitive Display with a Dragontrail Glass overlay, the same MSM8212 - 1.2 GHz Quad Core ARM Cortex A7  processor on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 processor, 1 GB RAM, 8 GB of internal storage, 8MP Primary Camera, 2MP Selfie Camera and other specifications. The design also matches to about 90% extent (except the branding). Both the phones have the speaker grill, camera, flash, power on/off button, volume rocker, 3.5mm stereo headphone jack, micro-USB jack, etc exactly at the same place also.

Allview Impera I: Back

Xolo Win Q900s: Back

Model	Xolo Win Q900s	Allview Impera I
Software
Operating System	Microsoft Windows Phone 8.1 OS	Microsoft Windows Phone 8.1 OS
Preloaded Apps	Yes	Yes
Hardware
Processor	1.2 GHz Quad-core ARM Cortex A7	1.2 GHz Quad-core ARM Cortex A7
Chipset	Qualcomm Snapdragon 200	Qualcomm Snapdragon 200
GPU	Adreno 302	Adreno 302
RAM	1GB	1GB
Sensors	Ambient Light Sensor Proximity Sensor Accelerometer Magnetometer	Ambient Light Sensor Proximity Sensor Accelerometer Magnetometer
Screen Size	4.7 inches	4.7 inches
Display Resolution	1280 X 720 pixels ~ 312 ppi	1280 X 720 pixels ~ 312 ppi
Display Technology	HD IPS Capacitive Touch Screen Display with One Glass Solution Dragontrail Glass overlay	HD IPS Capacitive Touch Screen Display with One Glass Solution Dragontrail Glass overlay
Camera
Rear Camera	8MP	8MP
Front Camera	2MP	2MP
Camera Feature	LED Flash Autofocus PureCelTM sensor Digital Zoom Geo-tagging Touch Focus Video tagging Panorama 1080p @ 30fps video recording	LED Flash Autofocus Digital Zoom Geo-tagging Touch Focus Video tagging Panorama
Storage
Inbuilt Capacity	8GB	8GB
User Available	About 5GB	About 5GB
Expandable Capacity	Upto 32GB via MicroSD card	Upto 32GB via MicroSD card
Mobile Network
Support	2G: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz	2G: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
	3G: WCDMA 2100 MHz	3G: WCDMA 2100 MHz
	GPRS/EDGE (Class 12)	GPRS/EDGE (Class 12)
SIM Card Type	Dual SIM (GSM + WCDMA) Dual Stand-by	Dual SIM (GSM + WCDMA) Dual Stand-by
Internet Speed	Up to 42 Mbps download Up to 5.76 Mbps upload	Up to 42 Mbps download Up to 5.76 Mbps upload
Connectivity
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Hot spot	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Hot spot
Bluetooth	Bluetooth v4.0 with A2DP Profile	Bluetooth v4.0 with A2DP Profile
USB	Micro-USB v2.0	Micro-USB v2.0
Audio Jack	Yes; 3.5mm	Yes; 3.5mm
GPS	Yes; A-GPS	Yes; A-GPS
Audio & Video
FM Radio	Yes	Yes
Audio Playback Format	MP3, AMR-NB, AAC LC	-
Video Playback Format	3GP, MP4, WMV, MPEG4, H.263, H.264	-
Power
Battery	1800mAh Li-ion battery	1750mAh Li-ion battery
Weight
Weight of the Device	100gms	98.5gms

It seems that both Xolo & Allview got their devices mass-manufactured at the same Chinese Unit & thus the similarity. Still, if we compare both the phones, Xolo makes the upper-cut due to the PureCel^TM imaging sensor & a 50mAh extra power only if you don't mind carrying 1.5gms of extra weight!

So, lets wait for the official market entry of both the devices. Till then, Adios! 

Comparison: Micromax Canvas Win W121 v/s Xolo Win Q900s

Windows 8.1 is going desi!!

Yes. You read it right!

Prelude:

When was the last time you though that Windows Phone OS was the OS of your choice? Well, it is now time to go all praises for the OS. Now, Microsoft has brought-in a real competitor to Google’s Android & Apple’s iOS, the Microsoft Windows Phone 8.1 OS! And, it is a tough, mighty chap!!

Earlier, when WP OS was in its v.7 & v.7.5, Samsung & HTC along with Nokia, were the only global WP OEM’s for Microsoft. Later, Samsung & HTC continued to be loyal to Google, and paid no heed to MS. Nokia kept on producing a series of Lumia Windows Phones, but was the sole company to do so. After, MS acquired Nokia; it did something that no one ever thought of! It made some hardware partnerships. India’s homegrown OEM’s Micromax, Xolo, Lava, Karbonn, etc. were the ones to be pleased to do so! 

Micromax Canvas Win W121:

Micromax was crowned to be “World’s First OEM” after Microsoft-owned Nokia Inc. to produce a Windows 8.1 Phone. It came up with two WP 8.1 phones – Micromax Canvas Win W092 & W121. The W121 was a higher specifications phone than the W092. The phone was decently priced according to its decent specifications (read it as “above Nokia Lumia 630”.) The phone had a 1.2 GHz Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 chipset with Adreno 302 GPU. It was pre-viewed on 16^th June, 2014.

Xolo Win Q900s:

On 28^th June, 2014, the premium brand of Lava Mobiles – XOLO, came up with its first Windows OS powered smartphone. The phone is named – Xolo Win Q900s. It is touted to be the “Lightest Smartphone in the World” at just 100gms. Despite its weight, and a meager thickness (read thinness) of just 7.2mm, the phone boasts almost the same specifications as that with the Micromax Canvas Win W121. But, the Xolo phone has a few differences with Micromax’s offering.

Feature Comparison:

1) Screen: The W121 has a 5” HD screen at 293ppi resolution, while Q900s has a 4.7” HD screen at 312ppi resolution. That means, though MMX W121 has a slightly larger screen, Xolo Q900s has a slightly crispier screen. But, Xolo offers Dragontrail Glass on the top of its OGS display. Xolo is a clear winner here.

2) Battery: MMX W121 has a 2000mAh battery as compared to the 1800mAh battery of the Xolo Q900s. Both last for almost the same time due to their screen sizes. No clear winner here, but, the Micromax’s offering is a bit better.

3) Chipset: Both phones have 1.2 GHz Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdrogon 200 processor. This chipset is a battery saving equipment, but is not as powerful as the one provided with Nokia Lumia 630. 

4) GPU: Both phones have the same Adreno 302 GPU running at 400 MHz.

5) Operating System: Both phones come with Windows Phone OS ver.8.1, the latest one. 

6) RAM: Both phones offer 1GB of RAM. 

7) Internal Memory: Both phones have 8GB of Internal Memory (5GB user accessible).

8) Camera: Both phones have 8MP Primary camera & 2MP front camera. But Xolo offers PureCel^TM sensor which helps in bright & clear pictures in both high & low light environment.

Model	Xolo Win Q900s	Micromax Canvas Win W121
Software
Operating System	Microsoft Windows Phone 8.1 OS	Microsoft Windows Phone 8.1 OS
Preloaded Apps	Yes	Yes
Hardware
Processor	1.2 GHz Quad-core ARM Cortex A7	1.2 GHz Quad-core ARM Cortex A7
Chipset	Qualcomm Snapdragon 200	Qualcomm Snapdragon 200
GPU	Adreno 302	Adreno 302
RAM	1GB	1GB
Sensors	Ambient Light Sensor Proximity Sensor Accelerometer Magnetometer	Ambient Light Sensor Proximity Sensor Accelerometer
Screen Size	4.7 inches	5.0 inches
Display Resolution	1280 X 720 pixels ~ 312 ppi	1280 X 720 pixels ~ 293.7 ppi
Display Technology	HD IPS Capacitive Touch Screen Display with One Glass Solution Dragontrail Glass overlay	HD IPS Capacitive Touch Screen Display
Camera
Rear Camera	8MP	8MP
Front Camera	2MP	2MP
Camera Feature	LED Flash Autofocus PureCelTM sensor Digital Zoom Geo-tagging Touch Focus Video tagging Panorama 1080p @ 30fps video recording	LED Flash Autofocus Digital Zoom Geo-tagging Touch Focus Video tagging Panorama 1080p @ 30fps video recording
Storage
Inbuilt Capacity	8GB	8GB
User Available	About 5GB	About 5GB
Expandable Capacity	Upto 32GB via MicroSD card	Upto 32GB via MicroSD card
Mobile Network
Support	2G: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz	2G: GSM 900/1800 MHz
	3G: WCDMA 2100 MHz	3G: WCDMA 2100 MHz
	GPRS/EDGE (Class 12)	GPRS/EDGE (Class 12)
SIM Card Type	Dual SIM (GSM + WCDMA) Dual Stand-by	Dual SIM (GSM + WCDMA) Dual Stand-by
Internet Speed	Up to 42 Mbps download Up to 5.76 Mbps upload	Up to 42 Mbps download Up to 5.76 Mbps upload
Connectivity
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Hot spot	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Hot spot
Bluetooth	Bluetooth v4.0 with A2DP Profile	Bluetooth v4.0 with A2DP Profile
USB	Micro-USB v2.0	Micro-USB v2.0
Audio Jack	Yes; 3.5mm	Yes; 3.5mm
GPS	Yes; A-GPS	Yes; A-GPS
Audio & Video
FM Radio	Yes	Yes
Audio Playback Format	MP3, AMR-NB, AAC LC	MP3, AMR, AAC, WMA
Video Playback Format	3GP, MP4, WMV, MPEG4, H.263, H.264	3GP,MP4, WMV
Power
Battery	1800mAh Li-ion battery	2000mAh Li-ion battery

Price:

Micromax Canvas Win W121 - About INR. 9500/- (declared during launch)

Xolo Win Q900s  - About INR. 11,999/- (declared on its e-launch on Snapdeal.com) But, if pre-ordered on Snapdeal before the official launch, the phone is available at INR.9,999/- (plus discounts!!)

Verdict:

Though both the phones have almost the same specifications on paper, Xolo’s offering is almost INR.2000/- heftier than Micromax’s. But, this is due to the extra-spice of OGS display with scratch-resistant Dragontrail glass overlay, PureCel^TM technology with the camera; and a slim, trim, feather-weight designed body. Both the brands have their pros and cons, so, it all boils down to the consumer’s choice and judgment.