HMD Aura 2 has been announced by the smartphone maker in select international markets such as Australia. The device succeeds the HMD Aura that was launched in May of last year. While the Aura 2 may not be the biggest upgrade in terms of specifications over its predecessor, it does get a refreshed design.

HMD Aura 2: Price, Availability

The HMD Aura 2 comes in three colour options including Midnight Black, Icy Blue, and Electric Purple. It is priced at AUD 169 (approx Rs 9,225) and will go on sale from March 13.

HMD Aura 2: Specifications

The Aura 2 sports a 6.52-inch display with an HD+ resolution of 1280 x 576 pixels. There’s a V-notch housing the front-facing 5MP selfie camera. This, in fact, is a downgraded display over the original HMD Aura which had a bigger panel and a higher resolution. The handset is powered by the Unisoc SC9863A chipset, paired with 4GB RAM and 256GB storage that’s expandable via a microSD card of up to 128GB.

At the rear, the handset has a 13MP main sensor on the back. Connectivity options on the handset include 4G, Hybrid Dual SIM (nano-SIM + nano-SIM/micro-SD), GPS, USB-C, 3.5 mm audio, Wi-Fi 4 (802.11 b/g/n), and Bluetooth v5.2. In addition, it gets a 5000mAh battery with standard 10W charging. It runs on Android 14 (Go Edition) out of the box and will receive two years of security patches. The device is also IP54 rated and features a side-mounted fingerprint sensor.

HMD also launched the HMD Key earlier in January which also runs on the same software as HMD Aura 2 but sports a smaller 4000mAh battery. Furthermore, the device lacks a fingerprint scanner but supports Face Unlock.

The race to create India’s cheapest 5G smartphone is in full swing, aiming to make the latest cellular technology accessible to the masses. But is simply offering the cheapest 5G phone enough to attract consumers, even if it means cutting corners on other key aspects? The short answer is no. Brands like Redmi and Samsung understand this, focusing instead on delivering value-for-money 5G devices that not only keep costs low but also excel in overall performance, ensuring users get the best bang for their buck.

Redmi has two devices one can opt for if one is looking for a budget 5G device, and those are the Redmi A4 5G and the Redmi 14C 5G. On the other hand, the Galaxy F06 5G is Samsung’s contender for 5G phones in the sub-Rs 10,000 price range. Here’s a comparison between the three devices to help you pick one.

Pricing Details: Doesn’t show the bigger picture

The Redmi A4 5G smartphone is priced at Rs 8,499 for the 4GB + 64GB variant and Rs 9,499 for 4GB + 128GB.

The Redmi 14C 5G is priced at Rs 9,999 for the 4GB + 64GB version, while the 6GB + 64GB version costs Rs 10,999 and the 6GB + 128GB model costs Rs 11,999.

The Galaxy F06 5G is priced at Rs 9,999 for the variant with 4GB RAM and 128GB of storage and Rs 11,499 for the 6GB + 128GB model.

While the Redmi A4 5G might appeal to you the most due to its cheaper price tag, it doesn’t show the full picture as price is not the only factor to consider here. Read further to know more.

5G Support: It isn’t as Simple as You Think

All three devices support 5G, but it’s not a black-and-white picture as expected. That’s because the Redmi A4 5G doesn’t support Airtel’s 5G services. That is because the phone only supports standalone (SA) 5G, while Airtel’s network in India uses non-standalone (NSA) 5G. Airtel has announced in the past that it will launch its SA services at some point in future, but the exact timeline remains unconfirmed.

On the other hand, both the Redmi 14C 5G and the Galaxy F06 5G have support for 12 5G bands, not only making them future-proof but also making them compatible with both NSA and SA 5G services.

One should know that the Redmi A4 5G may be the cheapest out of the trio, but it comes with its own limitations that could hamper your experience.

Display: Pick your preference

Both the Redmi devices get a 6.88-inch IPS LCD display with an HD+ resolution of 1640 x 720 pixels, 260 ppi, up to 120Hz refresh rate, up to 240Hz touch sampling rate, 600 nits peak brightness, and DC dimming support.

As for Samsung’s Galaxy F06 5G, it has a 6.7-inch LCD panel with an Infinity-U notch, 800 nits brightness, 90Hz refresh rate, and an HD+ resolution.

While Redmi’s panels are smoother at 120Hz, Samsung’s panel is brighter which means it will provide you with better outdoor readability. Now, it depends on the consumer whether they want to opt for a brighter or smoother panel. The differences between both aspects would be quite visible in real-world use, so choose wisely. If we talk of our experience, we prefer Samsung’s panel based on our usage as they have better viewing angles and colour reproduction.

Software & Performance: Power Vs Longevity

The Redmi A4 5G uses the Snapdragon 4s Gen 2, which is the slowest out of the trio, while the Redmi 14C 5G is equipped with the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2. The Galaxy F06 5G has the Dimensity 6300 chipset, which is better than the 4s Gen 2 but is slightly below the 4 Gen 2 in terms of benchmarks.

While the Redmi 14C 5G is slightly more powerful than the Galaxy F06 5G, the performance gap between the devices is minimal, making software optimization a more crucial factor than raw specifications in determining the user experience. Furthermore, Samsung’s device offers double the storage as Redmi 14C 5G at the same starting price point, which is something one might prefer.

Samsung’s device also runs on One UI 7.0 based on Android 15 out of the box and is all set to get 4 years of OS updates and security patches. The 14C 5G will get two major updates till Android 16 and 3 years of security patches. The Redmi A4 5G will also get two major OS updates and 4 years of patches.

While software is a subjective choice, Samsung’s phone gets you the latest Android version and offers more OS updates, taking home the clear win in this department. This also shows that making the cheapest 5G smartphone doesn’t mean you have to compromise in software, as Samsung’s Galaxy F06 5G comes with the same software as its flagship S25 series out of the box, with obvious differences in terms of features between the two.

Cameras and Battery: Minimal Differences

There is a 5160mAh battery with 18W Fast charging support on the Redmi 14C 5G and the A4 5G. On the rear, the phones sport a dual camera setup, comprising a 50MP primary lens with an f/1.8 Aperture and an AI secondary lens. For selfies, a 5MP f/2.2 front-facing camera is included on the A4 5G while the 14C 5G has an 8MP sensor.

The Galaxy F06 5G packs a 5,000mAh battery with support for 25W fast charging. For optics, it has a 50-megapixel main camera with an f/1.8 Aperture and a 2-megapixel f/2.4 depth sensor. There’s an 8-megapixel f/2.0 front-facing shooter.

The differences in terms of optics are minimal, and so are in the battery department. While the Redmi devices have a slightly bigger battery, the Galaxy F06 5G charges at faster speeds. We’ll give this a tie as we feel the real-world tests would speak better as to which device is the better one. A concern for Samsung buyers would be the lack of a charger within the box, while Redmi’s handsets come with it.

Some additional differences would include an IP54 rating for the Redmi 14C 5G while Samsung’s Galaxy F06 5G has none. Fortunately, all of them come with a 3.5mm Audio Jack and support microSD card storage expansion.

Verdict

If you want to buy the cheapest 5G smartphone from one of these brands, you’ll have to consider some key factors that could make or break your experience. The Redmi A4 5G shouldn’t even be on your list, considering paying only a thousand bucks more would get you a better handset.

As for the comparison between Redmi 14C 5G and the Galaxy F06 5G, the former does provide you with good value, but in our opinion, Samsung’s 5G device is far more reliable in most areas, especially in the software department. It also offers more value in some cases compared to both of Redmi’s devices, hence why we think it’s the device to go for in the sub-Rs 10,000 price segment.

Samsung Galaxy F06 5G has been announced in India with a MediaTek Dimensity Chipset under the hood, an LCD panel, up to 128GB storage, and more. Here are all the details you’d want to know about the device.

Samsung Galaxy F06 5G: Price, Availability

The Galaxy F06 5G is available in Bahama Blue and Lit Violet and is priced at Rs 9,999 for the variant with 4GB RAM and 128GB of storage and Rs 11,499 for the 6GB + 128GB model. There’s a Rs 500 bank cashback customers can avail of on both variants. The device will go on sale via Flipkart and Samsung website on February 20.

Samsung Galaxy F06 5G: Specifications

The Galaxy F06 5G has a 6.74-inch HD+ display, housing an 8MP front-facing camera in a notch. It supports up to 90Hz Refresh Rate and 800 nits of brightness. The device is powered by an octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 6300 processor, which is paired with up to 6GB of LPDDR4X RAM and up to 128GB of storage. The device’s storage can be expanded up to 1TB using a microSD card.

The battery offers a 5000mAh capacity, with 25W Fast charging capability, though the device lacks an in-box charging brick.

It runs on Android 15 with Samsung’s One UI 7.0 on top. The company has confirmed that the device will receive four major Android OS updates along with four years of security patches.

The Galaxy F06 5G sports a 50MP primary camera and a 2MP depth sensor on the back. Security is handled through a side-mounted fingerprint scanner along with one of Samsung’s most innovative security features: Samsung Knox Vault. The hardware-based security system offers comprehensive protection against both hardware and software attacks.

The handset also includes a 3.5mm audio jack, 5G, Wi-Fi 802.11 ac, Bluetooth v5.3, GPS, and a USB Type-C port.

Qualcomm has announced the launch of the Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 chipset for mid-range smartphones, bringing extended battery life and improved performance over the predecessor, along with first-in-series on-device Gen AI support.

“The first smartphone to be powered by Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 chipset will be launched in India,” said Deepu John, senior director of product management, Qualcomm Technologies.

The Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 Mobile Platform is expected to be available in smartphones
from leading OEMs, including realme, OPPO and Honor, in the coming months.

He further added, “The platform has been developed to cater to a wide range of users from gamers seeking 4K visuals and wireless lossless audio with Snapdragon Sound to professionals needing reliable connectivity virtually anywhere, and creators capturing photos and videos with luminous capture day or night.”

Snapdragon 6 Gen 4: Details

Qualcomm’s latest mid-tier chipset, the Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 is built on 4nm TSMC process. It includes an octa-core CPU configuration consisting of one Cortex A720 prime core running at 2.3 GHz, three performance Cortex A720 performance cores running at 2.2 GHz and four Cortex A520 efficiency cores operating at 1.8Ghz. Qualcomm is promising 11% improved CPU performance thanks to the latest Qualcomm Kryo CPU, up to 29% better GPU performance with the Qualcomm Adreno GPU, and 12% power savings to boost user experiences across the board.

The upgraded Hexagon NPU brings Gen AI support for the first time to a 6 series chipset from Qualcomm. Al runs faster and more efficiently with support for INT4—a first in the Snapdragon 6-series. Activity tracking for curated App suggestions from the Qualcomm Sensing Hub and settings adjustments are enabled by the Qualcomm Al Engine. You also get enhanced audio experiences with Al-based noise cancellation, noise reduction, and contextual detection.

“Accomplish everyday tasks and communicate seamlessly with mobile intelligence at your
fingertips, aided by on-device Gen AI support, voice-activated assistants, background noise cancellation during calls, and more, ” Said John.

Read More: Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 SoC Debuts: Qualcomm Further Muddles Its Processor Range

The 6 Gen 4 integrates a 5G modem-RF system, ensuring seamless connectivity. It supports Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth v5.4, enhancing wireless communication capabilities, along with Bluetooth LE, and 6Ghz Wi-Fi Band as well.

In terms of display capabilities, this Chipset supports FHD+ displays with up to 144Hz refresh rate. Aside from that, its 12-bit triple ISPs enable support for up to 64MP single sensor, 32+16MP dual-camera sensors, up to 200MP photo capture, and more.

It also incorporates Snapdragon features, including Snapdragon sound with Qualcomm Aqstic, aptX lossless audio codecs for high-quality, aptx Adaptive, lossless music streaming, and more. It is compatible with up to 16GB LPDDR5 RAM and up to UFS 3.1 storage type.

John also talked about gaming and said a majority of mid-budget phone users love to play games on their mobile, and Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 will not disappoint them. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Elite Gaming features are a part of their processor. They are designed to boost mobile gaming performance and elevate user experience, catering to a wide range of gaming preferences, from puzzles and action-packed adventures to competitive esports.

The latest Snapdragon series has introduced Snapdragon Game Super Resolution, enabling 4K gaming through intelligent visual upscaling. This feature aims to deliver sharper graphics without compromising performance. Additionally, the Adreno HDR Fast Blend technology is engineered to render dynamic and complex scenes up to twice as fast compared to devices lacking Fast Blend capabilities. This improvement is targeted at enhancing graphical responsiveness during high-intensity gameplay.

For smoother visual output, the Adreno Frame Motion Engine doubles frame rates while maintaining power efficiency, reducing battery drain even during extended gaming sessions.

It also has the FastConnect mobile connectivity system, which the company claims ensures fast and reliable wireless connections. It gets dual-frequency GNSS, GPS, Glonass, BeiDou, Galileo, QZSS, and NavIC for location positioning. It is equipped with Quick Charge 4+ technology for fast charging.