Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, Lava Virat and 3 more: Top smartphones launching in India this July

Smartphone makers are cooking. After a couple of phone launches already, you can expect to see a bunch of new smartphones in the coming days. From the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 to the Lava Virat, here is everything you need to know to get up to speed.

In Short

• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, Z Flip 8 to launch on July 22
• Lava Virat series tipped to debut this month
• Vivo, iQOO, and Realme also planning new launches

July has been a busy week for smartphone makers. 10 days into the month, and we have already had two launches – the Nothing Phone 4b and the Oppo 16 series. But the rest of the month only gets more hectic. Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy Z Fold 8 on July 22, and Lava has announced the new Virat series. Apart from that, the Vivo T5 Lite 5G and the iQOO Z11 Lite are also going to make their debut. Realme too, is not behind, with the Narzo 100x just around the corner.

That is, this month we can expect a variety of smartphones that cover different segments. From high-end foldables to midrangers, the upcoming smartphone launches seem to have everything covered. Here is everything you need to know

1. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8

Samsung has confirmed its next Galaxy Unpacked event for July 22. The phonemaker is expected to launch its next-generation foldables, including a new Galaxy Z “wide” Fold device. Going by recent leaks, the wide bookstyle foldable may be called the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, and may come with a similar form factor to the rumoured iPhone Fold.

You can expect the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra to come with a 7.6-inch inner display with a 4:3 aspect ratio and a 5.5-inch cover screen, with both expected to be high-refresh-rate AMOLED panels. The device is said to weigh around 201g and measure 4.5mm when unfolded and 9.7mm when folded

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and the regular Galaxy Z Fold 8 are expected to come with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. Other upgrades may include a less visible screen, and a bigger battery than last year. The Galaxy Z Flip 8 is also likely to be launched. Reports suggest that the flip phone may come with a familiar design, upgraded internals, a redesigned hinge, a lighter build and a less visible crease.

2. Lava Virat series

Lava has announced the new Virat series of smartphones that target online buyers via Flipkart. The Indian phonemaker states that the Virat series will consist of phones that range from the sub-Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000 price bracket. The Lava Virat range will come with both 4G and 5G models.

While Lava has not detailed any specs of the upcoming Virat phones just yet, the company says that you can expect features like two-day battery life and AI-powered cameras. The company has also claimed that Virat phones may come with best-in-class performance in their segments. As per rumours, the first Virat phone may be launched before the end of this month.

3. Vivo T5 Lite 5G

The Vivo T5 Lite 5G is set to launch in India on July 16. The phonemaker has confirmed that the device will come with a large 6,500mAh battery, with support for 44W wired charging. To give you some context, the T4 Lite 5G had 15W charging support.

Other features include military-grade durability, and an IP65 rating for dust and splash resistance. On the front, you will get a 120Hz display with up to 1,200 nits peak brightness, likely an IPS LCD panel. The Vivo T5 Lite 5G will be powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chipset. Vivo says that the T5 Lite 5G will run Origin OS6 and come with AI features.

You can expect the Vivo T5 Lite 5G to be priced around Rs 15,000 when it launches.

4. iQOO Z11 Lite

Vivo’s sister brand iQOO is also launching a phone later this month. The iQOO Z11 Lite will be launched in India on July 24. The company has confirmed that the Z11 Lite will be powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chipset, with a claimed AnTuTu score of 5,79,900 points.

In terms of design, the iQOO Z11 Lite will feature a multi-colour LED ring light on the back for calls and notifications., along with an IP65 rating. The handset will be offered in Midnight Blue and Solar Flame colour options. Reports suggest that the Z11 Lite may come with a 6,500mAh battery, and a 6.74-inch LCD display. The main camera is expected to be a 50-megapixel unit, paired with a 5-megapixel front sensor.

Like the Vivo T5 Lite 5G, the iQOO Z11 Lite is tipped to start under Rs 15,000 in India.

5. Realme Narzo 100x

While we have covered four phones already, it is the Realme Narzo 100x that will be the first phone in this list to launch in India. The Narzo 100x will launch on July 15 as per the company.

The phone’s main highlight is an 8,000mAh battery, which the company describes as the biggest in the Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 segment. The Narzo 100x has a thickness of 8.8mm, and will support 45W wired charging, as well as reverse wired charging.

The Realme Narzo 100x will be powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 SoC, and offer up to 256GB of storage. The device will come with a 144Hz display, rumoured to be an IPS panel, with up to 1,200 nits of peak brightness. The device will come in two colours: Flash Orange and Midnight Black.

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