While Xiaomi was launching the Redmi 8 today in India, Motorola was busy showing-off its new offering. Called the One Macro, it’s an affordable phone that’s packed to the brim with features. This segment is very crowded with multiple offerings from Xiaomi, Realme, and Nokia. How is One Macro different?

For starters, it has a triple-rear camera setup that consists of a 13-megapixel primary sensor, a 2-megapixel macro lens, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. Yes, the phone is named after its macro lens and Motorola is hoping this will be enough to sell the phone in such a competitive market.

Motorola claims it can focus from as close as 2cm and the macro shot automatically generates a natural bokeh effect in the background.

On the front is a 6.2-inch HD+ display. A small notch is located on the top that houses an 8-megapixel selfie camera. Powering the phone is a MediaTek Helio P70 processor, paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. You can expand storage via a hybrid card slot — you’ll have to choose between two nano-SIMs or nano-SIM + microSD.

For authentication, a fingerprint scanner is located on the rear along with face unlock support. The One Macro is backed by a 4000mAh battery with support for 10W fast charging. The fast charger is included in the box and connects to the phone via USB-C. Lastly, the phone ships with Android 9 Pie out-of-the-box.

The phone is available in one configuration only and the 4GB+64GB combo costs INR 9,999 (US$ 140). Even color option has been restricted to Space Blue. Sale starts from October 12 via Flipkart.

A couple of weeks back Xiaomi launched the Redmi 8A in India, now the brand is back with a slightly upgraded offering, dubbed the Redmi 8. These phones are extremely crucial for Xiaomi because they account for a majority of the sales.

Being a developing market, demand for affordable phones is maximum. Taking advantage of this, the brand has successfully ruled the segment for quite some time and the Redmi 8 is expected to continue this legacy.

It features a 6.2-inch HD+ display with a tiny notch on top. The screen is protected by Gorilla Glass 5 and the body consists of P2i splash-resistant coating. The corners have been reinforced to offer better drop protection and extended usage-life.

The phone shares its processor with the Redmi 8A — Qualcomm Snapdragon 439. The base option comes with 3GB RAM and 32GB internal storage that is expandable via a microSD card. For authentication, a fingerprint scanner is located on the rear and even face unlock has been included.

Coming to the cameras, the rear sports a 12-megapixel primary sensor along with a 2-megapixel depth sensor. On the front is an 8-megapixel selfie shooter. The software comes preloaded with AI-backed portrait mode and auto-scene recognition.

A key highlight of the phone is its massive 5000mAh battery that supports 18W fast charging via USB-C. A 3.5mm headphone jack has also been included and the phone will be available in Onyx Black, Sapphire Blue, and Ruby Red color options.

The 3GB+32GB base option costs INR 7,999 (US$ 112) and the 4GB+64GB variant costs INR 8,999 (US$ 126). Though, the first 5 million buyers will be able to get the 4GB+64GB option for INR 7,999. Sale stars from October 12 via Flipkart and Mi.com.

TikTok is a wildly popular app in India, with over 100 million monthly active users in the country. It’s quite similar to Vine (RIP), but comes with a host of video editing features that are easy to use and creative.

Facebook’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg admitted that TikTok has grown bigger than Instagram in India. According to the audio recording leaked by The Verge, it’s very evident that Zuckerberg clearly knows what’s happening and how popular TikTok is in developing countries.

Analysing the secret to TikTok’s success, Zuckerberg added that the Chinese company has “married short-form, immersive video with browse. So it’s almost like the ‘Explore Tab’ that we have on Instagram, which is today primarily about feed posts and highlighting different feed posts.”

Further, in order to capitalise on the growing short-video browsing trend, Facebook is said to be trying out new approaches with Instagram, including changing its interface so that ‘Explore’ is more focused on Instagram stories, which are essentially short-video content made by users.

However, he also added that TikTok is growing but it is also spending a huge amount of money in promotions.

In India, TikTok is said to have 120 million monthly active customers, according to last public statement from Bytedance, the parent. Instagram, on the other hand, is believed to have 70 million users. That’s a significant difference, which is definitely something to worry about.