As we transition into the second quarter of the year, the global smartphone market is experiencing a noticeable shift. Typically, the market tends to be sluggish during the initial months, but now we’re witnessing a significant change. While April saw a decent number of smartphone releases, the month of May has brought an unprecedented surge in launches. In just the last three weeks, more than 10 new smartphones have been announced, and there are still more anticipated before the month concludes. As we approach June, it’s worth revisiting the top five smartphone releases from May 2023.
Top phones launched in May 2023
Here’s a rundown of all the top phones launched in May 2023:
- Google Pixel 7a
- POCO F5
- Lava Agni 2
- Redmi Note 12S
- Realme 11
Google Pixel 7a
Google’s latest offering in the Indian market under Rs 50,000 is the Google Pixel 7a, which builds upon the success of its predecessor, the Pixel 6a while introducing significant enhancements. The handset boasts a 6.1-inch Full HD+ OLED display with a smooth 90Hz refresh rate, Gorilla Glass 3 protection, HDR10+ support, and a discreet punch-hole cutout housing the front-facing camera. Under the hood, it runs on Google’s in-house Tensor G2 SoC and is accompanied by the Titan M2 chip, offering powerful performance. The Pixel 7a also offers 8GB LPDDR5 RAM and 128GB UFS3.1 storage for seamless multitasking and ample storage capacity.
In the camera department, the Pixel 7a excels with its dual-camera setup on the rear. It features a 64MP primary Sony sensor with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), along with a 13MP ultra-wide-angle sensor. For selfies and video calls, the device is equipped with a 13MP front-facing camera. Additional notable features of the Pixel 7a include dual 5G and 4G LTE connectivity options, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, stereo speakers, an in-display fingerprint sensor for added security, and the latest Android 13 operating system out of the box. The handset is powered by a 4,385mAh battery, which supports both 18W wired charging and 7.5W wireless charging, ensuring a reliable and flexible power solution.
Launch date: May 11th
Price in India: Rs 43,999
More details – https://bit.ly/3LnQcfZ
Detailed review – https://bit.ly/3O0Z26h
POCO F5
POCO has unveiled the POCO F5, positioned as the spiritual successor to the popular POCO F1. The POCO F5 features a large 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a Full HD+ resolution and an impressive 120Hz refresh rate. The handset is designed with gamers in mind and that is reflected in the display specs which include a high PWM figure, a higher instant touch sampling rate, and a dedicated gaming mode. Under the hood, the POCO F5 is powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 SoC and is paired with up to 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 256GB of UFS3.1 storage.
As for photography, the POCO F5 is equipped with a triple-camera setup on the rear. It includes a 64MP primary sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle sensor, and a 2MP macro camera. For selfies and video calls, there is a 16MP front-facing camera discreetly placed within the punch-hole cutout. The POCO F5 comes with an array of features, including a side-mounted fingerprint scanner for convenient unlocking, and an IR blaster for controlling compatible devices, and it runs on the latest Android 13 with MIUI 14 out of the box. The device also offers stereo speakers for an immersive audio experience. Powering the POCO F5 is a sizable 5,000mAh battery, which supports 67W fast charging.
Launch date: May 9th
Price in India: Starts at Rs 29,999
More details – https://bit.ly/3KuQ8vz
Detailed review – https://bit.ly/3qdlCyR
Lava Agni 2
The Lava Agni 2 has emerged as a surprise contender in the smartphone industry this month. This device boasts a large 6.78-inch curved AMOLED display with a Full HD+ resolution and an impressive 120Hz refresh rate. Marketed as an all-rounder, the phone is fueled by the latest MediaTek Dimensity 7050 5G SoC, which is coupled with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.
When it comes to the camera setup, the Lava Agni 2 impresses with its quad-camera configuration on the rear. It comprises a 50MP primary camera, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle sensor, a 2MP macro sensor, and a 2MP depth sensor, offering versatile photography options. For capturing selfies and engaging in video calls, the device relies on a 16MP front-facing camera, conveniently positioned within a centered punch-hole cutout.
The feature list of the Lava Agni 2 is comprehensive, including dual 5G and 4G capability, delivering fast and reliable connectivity options. It also runs on stock Android 13 out of the box, with a promise of receiving two future Android version updates, ensuring a clean and up-to-date software experience. Powering the device is a sizable 4,700mAh battery, which supports rapid 66W fast charging.
Launch date: May 16th
Price in India: Rs 21,999
More details – https://bit.ly/437ORBs
Redmi Note 12S
The Redmi Note 12S is the latest addition to the Note 12 lineup. The handset has been launched in Poland but could make its way to India soon. It features a 6.43-inch AMOLED panel with a Full HD+ resolution and a smooth 90Hz refresh rate. The phone comes powered by the MediaTek Helio G96 SoC which is paired with up to 8GB RAM and up to 256GB of internal storage that can be further extended via a microSD card.
Regarding photography, the Note 12S features a triple rear camera setup, consisting of an impressive 108MP primary lens, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 2MP macro sensor. For capturing selfies and engaging in video calls, there is a 16MP front-facing camera discreetly housed within a punch-hole cutout. Additional features of the Note 12S include a side-mounted fingerprint sensor for convenient unlocking, stereo speakers for immersive audio playback, NFC for contactless payments, dual SIM connectivity for added flexibility, and it runs on MIUI 13 based on Android 12 out of the box, and a sizeable 5,000mAh battery with support for 33W fast charging.
Launch date: May 10th
Price: Polish Zloty 1,499 (Rs 29,500 approx)
More details – https://bit.ly/3OCCSrp
Realme 11
Realme recently introduced its Realme 10 series in India during the previous quarter, but the company has wasted no time in unveiling its latest offering, the Realme 11, in the Chinese market. This smartphone boasts a 6.43-inch AMOLED display with a Full HD+ resolution, a 90Hz refresh rate, an impressive 180Hz touch sampling rate, and a peak brightness of 1,000 nits, ensuring a visually stunning experience. Powering the device is the all-new MediaTek Dimensity 6020 SoC, delivering reliable performance. It is available in configurations of up to 12GB of RAM and up to 256GB of internal storage.
On the optics front, the Realme 11 features a dual-camera setup on the rear, consisting of a 64MP primary camera and a 2MP depth sensor. For capturing selfies, the device offers an 8MP front-facing camera. The Realme 11 represents a significant upgrade from its predecessor, as evidenced by its extensive list of features. These include 5G and 4G LTE connectivity options, the latest Android 13-based Realme UI 4.0 custom skin out of the box, slim bezels surrounding the display, a side-mounted fingerprint scanner for convenient unlocking, and a sizable 5,000mAh battery that supports 33W fast charging.
Launch date: May 16th
Price: RMB 1,599 (Rs 19,000 approx)
More details – https://bit.ly/3OCKIRF