The month of May saw the coming of some highly-anticipated flagships and some newcomers to the Indian market. We saw a smartphone launch nearly every day considering the long list ahead of you. So let’s get started. Here are the smartphones for May.

The black version of the HTC One

HTC One
HTC’s long-awaited flagship One was launched in India last month for Rs 42,900. One has a 4.7-inch 1080p display and a Snapdragon 600 SoC. In terms of imaging, the HTC UltraPixel camera is great for low-light shots and the HTC BoomSound experience is unparalleled in smartphones. See our review here.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini
The S4 Mini has a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED display with a qHD resolution. Under the hood, it is powered by a 1.7GHz dual-core processor. The smartphone runs on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean out of the box. The S4 Mini is equipped with an 8 megapixel shooter on the rear and a 1.9 megapixel camera on the front.

Sony Xperia ZR
With a 4.6-inch 720p display and a waterproof and dustproof body, the ZR is a younger sibling of the Xperia Z. It is powered by a 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor by Qualcomm, along with 2GB of RAM. On the camera front, it is equipped with a 13 megapixel camera with Sony's Exmos RS for mobile sensor.

Sony's latest waterproof smartphone, the Xperia ZR

Samsung Galaxy Core
Galaxy Core ships with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and has a 4.3-inch display, along with a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal memory. Thankfully, you can expand it to 64GB by using a micro-SD card.

Celkon Signature A119Q
Celkon A119Q comes with a MediaTek MT6589 SoC with a quad-core CPU running at 1.2GHz and the PowerVR SGX 554 GPU. It runs Android 4.2.1 Jelly Bean, and will hit stores next week for Rs 12,499. The phone’s 12 megapixel rear and 3 megapixel front cameras could give it an advantage over rivals. It also has a 5-inch, WXGA capacitive touchscreen display with a resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels.

Micromax Canvas Doodle A111
The dual-SIM Canvas Doodle has a 5.3-inch capacitive display and comes with a stylus too. In terms of processing power, the Doodle has a 1.2GHz quad-core processor Qualcomm MSM8225Q. Additionally, there’s 512MB of RAM. The smartphone will be running Android 4.1.2 out of the box. Just like the Canvas HD, the Doodle will also have an 8 megapixel camera on the back, accompanied by a VGA shooter on the front. The Doodle has a 2100 mAH battery.

The new BlackBerry Q5

BlackBerry Q5
Targeted at emerging markets, the BlackBerry Q5 is the low-end BlackBerry 10 handset. It has a 3.1-inch touchscreen and the classic BB QWERTY keypad. The Q5 is expected to launch in July. The handset will be powered by a 1.2GHz Snapdragon processor by Qualcomm. Keeping this alive and running will be a massive 2100 mAh non-removable battery that will surely last a long time thanks to the relatively smaller screen size and non-demanding hardware.

Zen Ultrafone 701HD
The Ultrafone 701HD’s 5-inch display has a 1280 x 720 pixel resolution. Powered by a quad-core MediaTek MT6589 processor clocked at 1.2GHz, the smartphone supports dual SIM (GSM + GSM). It has an 8MP rear camera, but offers a 3.2MP front-facing camera. The Ultrafone 701HD runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. It offers 4GB of internal space, which is expandable up to 32GB via the microSD card slot. On the connectivity front, one will find support for 3G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

Micromax Canvas Music A88
The A88 is geared towards music lovers. It comes with a pair of JBL Tempo headsets and has a 4.5-inch display. In terms of processing power, the Canvas Music should chug along fine thanks to the 1GHz dual-core processor. On the back, the smartphone sports a 5 megapixel camera with LED flash.

HTC's midrange Desire 600

HTC Desire 600
Despite being a mid-range handset, the Desire 600 is powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 CPU and has 1GB of RAM. The 8GB of internal storage is expandable via the microSD card slot. On the back is an 8 megapixel BSI camera with f/2.0 lens. The display on the HTC Desire 600 is a 4.5-inch qHD panel.

LG Nexus 4
The LG Nexus 4 made a belated entry to India and there’s a white version in tow, too. It still has the same 4.7-inch 720p display that we saw last year when it was unveiled and the SoC is a high-end Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro, which has a 1.5GHz quad-core processor. Most importantly, the Nexus 4 will get timely updates straight from Google when they are ready for rollout.

Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8
The smaller (relatively) Mega phone, the Galaxy Mega 5.8 is priced at Rs 25,100 and will be in stores this month. Mega 5.8 comes with a 5.8-inch display with a qHD resolution. It runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and is powered by a 1.4GHz dual-core CPU. There’s 1.5GB RAM, 16GB of internal memory, microSD card slot, an 8 megapixel rear snapper and 1.9 megapixel front-facing camera. The Galaxy Mega 5.8 has a large 2600 mAh battery.

The truly mega, Galaxy Mega 6.3

Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3
The bigger Galaxy Mega 6.3 is priced at Rs 31,490 and brings a 720p display. There’s a dual-core 1.7GHz processor ticking away inside. This one too has 1.5GB RAM and 16GB of internal memory, which can be expanded up to 64GB thanks to the microSD card slot. As a nicety, the Galaxy Mega 6.3 gets NFC support for extra wireless capabilities. The 6.3 comes with a massive 3200 mAh battery.

Panasonic P51
The Panasonic P51 smartphone sports a sleek design and brings a 5-inch display with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels. The smartphone is powered by a quad-core MediaTek 1.2GHz processor and runs on Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean). There’s an 8MP camera (auto focus with flash) on the back and a 1.3MP front camera that can shoot 720p videos. The smartphone sports a unibody design and has a thin 8.5 mm waistline and weighs 135 g.

Samsung Galaxy Grand Quattro
The dual-SIM Galaxy Grand Quattro is Samsung’s budget quad-core offering. It has a 1.2GHz quad-core processor and runs Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean. The 4.7-inch (11.9 cm) TFT display has a disappointing WVGA resolution, but there’s 3G and Wi-Fi for connectivity. On the back is a 5 megapixel camera with LED flash while a VGA camera resides on the front. In addition, it has 8GB of internal memory and microSD card support for up to 32GB cards.

Aluminium beast

Nokia Lumia 925

A slight design refresh of the Lumia 920, the Nokia Lumia 925 is decked up in a durable aluminium shell and comes with the latest PureView camera technology and new third-party applications. In terms of specifications, the Lumia 925 is identical to the Lumia 920, which boasts a 4.5-inch 720p display, a Snapdragon SoC with a 1.5GHz dual-core processor and an 8 megapixel camera.

Micromax Canvas 2 Plus
Priced at Rs 12,100, the Canvas 2 Plus is an upgrade to the Canvas 2. It runs Android 4.2.1 Jelly Bean, which is just one peg below the latest version of the OS. The smartphone has a 5-inch display with a disappointing 854 x 480 resolution. Micromax has once again gone with MediaTek’s MT6589 chipset with the processor having a clock speed of 1.2GHz. Internal storage in the dual-SIM phone is restricted to 4GB, but there’s a microSD card slot as always to take in cards up to 32GB in capacity. The Canvas 2 Plus has an 8 megapixel camera with dual LED flash. The front camera is a 2 megapixel unit. The 2000 mAh battery should last long considering the low-res display.

Xolo Q1000
Available for Rs 14,999, the 5-inch Xolo Q1000 has a display resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels. The handset is a GSM+GSM dual-SIM phone. The smartphone runs on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, so the interface should be smooth thanks to Project Butter. The Q1000 gets a low-cost 1.2GHz quad-core processor and 1GB of RAM. On the back is an 8 megapixel camera with a BSI sensor. It also has 4GB of internal memory, which is expandable up to 32GB via the microSD card slot.

Gionee Gpad-G2
Gionee has added a dual-SIM phablet to its smartphone portfolio. The GPad0G2 is a 5.3-inch smartphone and is available for Rs 13,990. It is 9.9 mm thick and is powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core processor of unknown make. The phone has a qHD display—it has a resolution of 960 x 540 pixels, which is exactly one quarter of a full HD (1080p) frame, in a 16:9 aspect ratio. It will ship with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean

Huawei's WP8-running Ascend W1

Spice launches Stellar Horizon Pro Mi 505 smartphone for Rs 8,499

Spice has launched its new handset dubbed the Stellar Horizon Pro Mi 505. It is a dual-SIM smartphone that runs on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and allows for both of the SIM cards to run on 3G. The phone is 9.6 mm thick and sports a 5-inch display with a WVGA resolution. Under the hood is a 1GHz dual-core processor.

It has a 5 megapixel camera on the back along with a 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera. The camera on the handset has a dual-LED flash. For multitasking, it is equipped with 512MB of RAM. Memory wise, it has 4GB of internal memory and a microSD card slot, so memory can be expanded up to 32GB.

The Stellar Horizon Pro Mi-505 allows both SIM cards to run on 3G

Commenting on the launch, CEO T M Ramakrishnan said, “We have received phenomenal success with Stellar Horizon Mi 500 launched last year. We have followed it up with this enhanced version with exciting features at a more attractive price point. We are confident the Horizon Pro will offer best value for money to its users.”

Other features include an FM radio, a G-sensor and a proximity sensor. Keeping all of this alive is a 2100 mAh battery with a quoted 4 hours of talk time and 200 hours of standby time. Connectivity options include GPS for navigation, Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi capabilities. The handset comes with pre-installed apps, including Google’s Play Store and YouTube, an MP3 player, Facebook and a GPS Navigation app.

Celkon launches dual-SIM Signature One A107 and A9+ smartphones

Celkon has added two smartphones to its portfolio with the launch of the Signature One A107 and A9+.Celkon has priced its Signature One A107 at Rs 6,999, while the A9+ is priced at Rs 3,299, making it one of the cheapest Android phones out there. Both are available on Snapdeal.com.

The Celkon Signature One A107 is powered by a 1GHz dual-core processor and ships with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS. The dual-SIM handset has a large 5-inch display. Keeping it powered on is a capacious 2100 mAh battery. The smartphone comes with 512 MB RAM. The Celkon Signature One A107 measures 148 x 77.2 x 9.6 mm.

Runs ICS!

Here's a quick look at the specs of the Celkon Signature One A107:

5-inch capacitive touchscreen display, 480 x 800 pixels WVGA resolution,
GPRS/EDGE, Wi-Fi
Bluetooth
GPS
8MP rear camera and 0.3MP front camera
Memory expandable up to 32GB
FM Radio

The A9+ is also dual-SIM capable; it runs on Android 4.0 OS and is powered by a 1GHz processor. It sports a 3.5-inch display and comes with 256MB RAM. The A9+ has a rather measly 1350 mAh battery.

Celkon launches dual-SIM Signature One A107 and A9+ smartphones

Dual-SIM capable A9+ smartphone

Here's a quick look at the specs of the Celkon A9+ smartphone:

3.5-inch capacitive touchscreen display
EDGE/GPRS, Wi-Fi
Bluetooth
2MP rear camera, VGA front
Memory expandable upto 32GB
FM radio
Low-end Samsung Galaxy Star now available in stores

Samsung has launched the newest member in the Galaxy family. Dubbed the Galaxy Star, the handset is a budget phone that is now available in stores. Curiously, no online stores seem to be listing the device, but you can find a store selling the handset by using Samsung's Store Finder.

The Galaxy Star sports a 3-inch TFT display with a QVGA resolution of 320 x 240 pixels. It is equipped with a 2 megapixel shooter on the back. Keeping all of it alive is a 1200 mAh battery with a quoted talk time of up to 14 hours and standby time of up to 320 hours.

The Samsung Galaxy Star is a low-end dual SIM smartphone

On the connectivity front, it is capable of accessing Wi-Fi and has Bluetooth 4.0, but lacks 3G capabilities. The dual-SIM smartphone is equipped with a 1GHz processor based on ARM's Cortex A5 chip. It also has 512MB of RAM, so performance won't be too bad as long as demanding apps such as high-end games aren't played.

The handset runs on Android Jelly Bean and has access to all the goodies that come with it, including Google Now. It runs on the latest version of Samsung's TouchWiz UX, albeit without some of the features. It does have minor quality-of-life features, such as flipping the phone over on its screen to mute it. It also comes with pre-installed apps, including Samsung's ChatOn, YouTube and Samsung Apps.

Galaxy Fame now available for Rs 11,120 on Samsung eStore

Samsung is known for its desire to get as many smartphones into the market as possible. The Samsung Galaxy Fame, which was announced earlier, is part of that desire, as seen by its positioning as an entry- level smartphone that will cater to the cash-strapped populace looking for a cheaper alternative.

The smartphone is now available on the company’s eStore for Rs 11,120. The Galaxy Fame comes in with the Android Jelly Bean operating system. As noted by a GSM Arena report, the smartphone sports a single-core processor as well as 512MB of RAM, which is a clear step down from most other multi-core smartphones that are available in the market. However, you have to consider the price tag in this respect.

Some of the other features that the phone boasts include a dual-SIM variant as well as a model that supports NFC. There is also a front-facing camera with support for VGA recording. It comes with an on-board memory capacity of 4GB, which can be extended up to 32 GB via microSD cards.

Samsung Galaxy Fame now available in the company eStore

While the Galaxy Fame is a good phone for its price range, it just can’t keep up with the other phones in the market, including the phones that Samsung itself is marketing. In its relentless pursuit to corner the market, it seems like Samsung is bent on plugging every section of the market, with a model for each category in the market demographics.

Be that as it may, there are two things that are going for the Galaxy Fame. The first is its price, which seems affordable for the specifications that the smartphone gives. The other more important point that may well be the saving grace for the phone is the JellyBean operating system that is running the show. As an OS, the JellyBean will give you a decent enough performance, as long as you don’t miss many of the features that more advanced phones offer.

Spice launches 5-inch Smart Flo Pace 2 for Rs 6,999

SMobility recently launched the 5-inch Smart Flo Pace 2 Mi-502 in India. This dual-SIM smartphone runs on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and is powered by a 1GHz dual-core processor. The phone is available for Rs 6,999.

The device has only 512MB of RAM, so multitasking could lead to lags if you're using apps that use lots of resources. On the internal memory side, it has only 512MB but this is expandable up to 32GB as it has a microSD card slot.

The Smart Flo Pace 2 by S Mobility

The Pace 2 is a slim phone and measures only 9.6mm in depth. The handset's 5-inch screen is of the WVGA type. There's a 5-megapixel camera with dual LED flash on the back, along with a 1.3-megapixel front-facing shooter at the front. All of this is powered by a 2,100 mAh battery that has a quoted talk-time of more than five hours and standby time of up to 280 hours. The phone comes with a free leather cover and a screen guard.

It also has all the bells and whistles that one would expect from a smartphone, including connectivity through EDGE/GPRS and Wi-Fi. It also has Bluetooth and proximity sensors. The phone comes with pre-installed apps, including Hoopz, Numbuzz and WhatsApp.

Commenting on the launch, T M Ramakrishnan, CEO of Devices at S Mobility, said, “With the launch of Smart Flo Pace 2, we seek to offer better and advanced features at a competitive price. This product positions itself as a premium budget phone with enhanced features and better than what the competition is offering. We are encouraged by the response to our previous 2G as well as 3G smartphones and this launch reflects our belief in constant innovation and customer delight.”

Mid-range Swipe 9X launched for Rs 8,999

Swipe has added a new smartphone to its portfolio with the announcement of the Swipe 9X phablet. The smartphone is priced at Rs 8,999 and Swipe is also throwing in three additional back panels – Black, White and Blue. There’s even a free Business Navigator (Swipe’s fancypants term for a flip cover) in the whole package.

The Swipe 9X sports a 4.7-inch HD capacitive display of unspecified resolution. Under the hood is a 1GHz dual-core processor along with 512MB of RAM. The company has failed to mention how much internal storage users will get, but there is a microSD card slot that takes in cards up to 32GB.

Swipe 9X

Despite the hardware being capable of running Jelly Bean, the Swipe 9X will ship with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and there’s no mention of whether the latest version of the OS will come to this phablet at all. In terms of imaging, Swipe has packed in an 8 megapixel camera on the back. There’s an LED flash for the occasional low-light photography and can be used as a torch. There’s a 2 megapixel unit on the front. As is the case these days with low-cost Android phones in the country, the Swipe9X is a dual-SIM smartphone that can surf on 2G and 3G networks to hook you up to the Internet. Of course, there’s Wi-Fi connectivity to go along with the cellular network. Mercifully, there’s a capacious 2000 mAh battery to keep you going the whole day, or so we hope.