Brands
LeEco’s Le Max2 outshines Samsung Galaxy S7 & iPhone 6s Plus with CDLA technology
MUMBAI: LeEco’s second generation Superphone, Le Max2 has created substantial buzz in the smartphone industry in India, leaving its competitors far behind. Powered by unmatched specs, sublime aesthetics besides pioneering technology that is futuristic, Le Max2 has a definitive edge against Samsung’s Galaxy S7 and iPhone 6s Plus.
In a fast-paced world where people are 24*7 glued to their smartphones viewing content in some form or the other, a common scenario faced by most people is how they get an enriching experience. With the growth in content consumption on-the-go, millennials demand that the overall video experience on their smartphones is well complemented with the audio. Therefore, not only how content is viewed but also heard on a smartphone becomes critical from a consumer perspective and an area that most smartphone manufacturers have not shifted their focus on. So, here’s LeEco’s Le Max2 that boasts the company’s proprietary and world’s first Continual Digital Lossless Audio (CDLA) technology, which LeEco says enables users to experience digital lossless audio.
What gives Le Max2 a clear edge as compared to Samsung’s Galaxy S7 and iPhone 6s Plus are its superlative specs, one of them being its pioneering CDLA technology. In its second generation Superphone, LeEco has ditched the 3.5mm audio jack, and has instead opted for a USB Type-C port. The new CDLA music standard is all set to redefine the audio experience in smartphones with its breakthrough technology and intelligence.
As competition surges in the smartphone industry, it becomes imperative for phone manufacturers to offer a distinct benefit proposition to users, but minus the hefty premiums that are usually attached to such unique features. Keeping this in mind, players like LeEco have taken impressive steps to ensure that their second generation Superphone Le Max2 that offers users an unmatched audio experience.
An apple-to-apple comparison also shows that Le Max2 wins hands down when it comes to its display and camera quality and storage capacity, in addition to flaunting the Type-C port. Le Max2 also sports a powerful 21-megapixel rear and 8-megapixel front camera, supports PDAF, optical image stabilization (OIS) and has 4K video recording capabilities, way ahead of its peers
Brands
Kwality Wall’s reports standalone losses following strategic HUL demerger
Ice cream major faces Rs 64 crore Ebitda loss amid commodity inflation and muted Q3 sales
MUMBAI: Kwality Wall’s (India) Limited (KWIL) has released its first set of financial results as a standalone entity, revealing a challenging start to its independent journey. Following its successful demerger from Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) on 1st December 2025 and its subsequent listing on 16th February 2026, the company is navigating a transition period marked by structural changes and high input costs.
For the quarter ended 31st December 2025, the company reported revenue of Rs 222 crores. Despite the revenue base, the bottom line was impacted by several factors, resulting in an Ebitda loss of Rs 64.2 crores. When calculated on a Pre-IND AS 116 basis, the Ebitda loss stood at Rs 83.8 crores.
Organic Sales Growth (OSG) declined by 6.5 per cent year-on-year during the quarter. Volume growth, however, saw a marginal increase of 1.2 per cent. The company reported a gross margin of 41.5 per cent. Additionally, exceptional expenses amounting to Rs 94 crores were recorded, primarily linked to non-recurring costs during the transition phase.
Performance across portfolios and channels was mixed. Within the impulse portfolio, brands such as Magnum and Cornetto recorded mid-single digit volume growth, indicating steady demand in on-the-go consumption. However, the in-home portfolio, which includes take-home packs, experienced muted consumption. The company is planning a relaunch of this category with improved offerings ahead of the 2026 season.
Quick commerce (Q-Com) continued to emerge as a strong growth driver, delivering robust double-digit growth during the quarter. Meanwhile, the company also expanded its physical distribution network by increasing the number of company-owned cabinets across markets.
Margin pressure during the quarter was driven by a combination of one-off factors and broader cost inflation. Gross margins were impacted by around 600 basis points due to trade investments made for stock liquidation. Additionally, cocoa price inflation contributed to another 400 basis points of pressure on margins.
Deputy managing director Chitrank Goel attributed the muted performance partly to prolonged monsoons and transitional challenges linked to the GST framework. Operating expenses also increased as the company invested in establishing its standalone supply chain, operational systems and corporate infrastructure following the demerger.
Looking ahead, the management remains focused on a volume-driven growth strategy. To restore profitability, the company has initiated a cost productivity programme aimed at reducing non-consumer-facing costs. It is also working on building regional manufacturing networks to optimise logistics expenses and improve operational efficiency.
The commodity outlook for the near term remains mixed. Dairy prices are expected to remain firm due to tight supply conditions and rising fodder costs. Sugar prices may also move higher following increases in the Minimum Selling Price (MSP). While cocoa prices have moderated recently, currency depreciation has offset some of the potential cost relief for the company.
