Samsung Galaxy S7 to Debut Two Models in January 2016; Flagship Smartphone to Make Curved Screen Standard, Rumors Say!

Samsung appears to be following Apple's footsteps when it comes to releasing flagship smartphone in pairs. Reports have suggested that the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S7 will be launched in two variants by January next year.

Apple released the iPhone 6 and larger version, iPhone 6 Plus in September last year. Last month, the American tech giant released the iPhone 6S and the iPhone 6S Plus.

Digital Spy notes that the latest handset device from the Korean manufacturer will come out in a 5.2-inch variant and a larger 5.7-inch model.

If this is true, then speculations that the phones will be dubbed as Samsung Galaxy S7 and Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge are highly accurate.

Currently, Samsung's Galaxy S6 Edge comes with 5.1-inch display and Samsung S6 Edge+ comes with 5.7-inch display screen although the larger model came out several months later.

According to Stuff, Samsung is marking their upcoming flagship smartphone to be the start of the curved screen standard for the brand.

Unlike the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge which came in regular and curved screen variants, respectively, both models of the Galaxy S7 will reportedly come out in a curved screen as the standard for future devices.

Although this rumor can be taken with a pinch of salt, there is a huge possibility that the tech giant might actually say goodbye to the regular flat screen on their phones and start the trend of curved screens.

Given that the company has been working very hard to deliver a leveled up experience year after year, the death of the regular screen display can actually be a good thing and the possibility that curved screens could transcend to other Samsung phones would make things even better.

Reports say that the smartphone will be released in January 2016 alongside LG's G4 and Motorola's Moto X. Although there are some reports that claim that the Samsung Galaxy S7 will be officially announced in February 2016 and will be available for purchase in April 2016.

The phone will reportedly sport a 20-megapixel rear camera, but some reports claim that it will stick with its 16-megapixel rear cam and just add optical image stabilization features for better image quality.

Apart from the standard connectivity options, the Galaxy S7 is rumored to support USB Type-C port, but the best part about Samsung's latest innovation is that the Force Touch display feature is heavily rumored to be incorporated in the Galaxy S7.

Apple's current flagship devices, the iPhone 6S and the iPhone 6S Plus, currently sport the Force Touch display feature which its users are praising.

According to Venture Capital Post, the forthcoming Samsung smartphone is said to sport a 4K or Ultra HD display with 2160x 3840 resolution. What's more interesting is that the screen of the Galaxy S7 is expected to be protected by a stronger glass called Turtle Glass.

Samsung has been doing its best to amp up their users' experience with every new release. PC Advisor states that the company has been experimenting with a lighter and tougher magnesium-based alloy for its latest flagship phone.

Reports suggest that the phone will pack 4GB of RAM with 64GB of internal memory although some reports claim that it's most likely to remain at 32GB.

The Galaxy S7 will come running with the latest Android 6.0 Marshmallow operating system and will have a removable battery, but it's still unknown if it will have space for a microSD slot for possible memory expansion.

As per International Business Times, the Galaxy S7 will come powered with the Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. Some reports also state that the phone might come powered with the Snapdragon 820 and an Exynos chipset depending on the market of release.

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Source: Samsung Galaxy S7 to Debut Two Models in January 2016; Flagship Smartphone to Make Curved Screen Standard, Rumors Say!

Chinese OEM UMi partnering with Google for a new device?

Chinese manufacturer #UMi has just posted a new teaser on its Facebook page which has sparked off an interesting rumor. While it's common for a manufacturer to post a teaser before a device launch, we're seeing here that the teaser is accompanied by a logo of Google. This tells us that Google might have some sort of a partnership with UMi here for this new flagship handset.

The teaser is supposedly for the upcoming UMi Zero 2 smartphone and it even talks about 3D features on board, suggesting that perhaps there might be some virtual reality elements on offer here. The details are still scarce about what this partnership with Google will be like, so it's anybody's guess right now if this will be a Nexus like device or just something unique that Google is working on.

In any case, we should have further clarification on this front over the coming days. What do you think about a potential Google partnership with UMi?

Source: UMi – Facebook

Via: Android Headlines

Source: Chinese OEM UMi partnering with Google for a new device?

One Plus X revealed: It’s $249 and it’s not a ‘flagship killer’

OnePlus, the Chinese Android startup that's challenging more traditional smartphone makers with its "Never Settle" motto – though, truth be said, it settles all the time – just unveiled a brand-new smartphone. As expected, the rumored OnePlus X is an affordable piece of technology that's supposed to offer impressive performance for its price. However, this isn't a flagship handset from OnePlus, the kind of device that will "kill" 2016 flagships, which is how the company advertises the OnePlus 2.

Interestingly, the OnePlus X does fix one of the problems of the OnePlus 2, the alleged "no-compromise" phone that launched earlier this year and received plenty of criticism for lacking NFC and microSD support.

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Priced at $249 and launching on November 5th in Europe and November 19th in the U.S. via the company's annoying invite system, the OnePlus X does feature more than decent specs that put it on par, and even ahead of, certain mid-range Android devices.

But this isn't a future-proof device. Don't expect a USB Type-C port, or NFC support that would let you use Android Pay and other NFC-related features.

On the other hand, the OnePlus X features a glass and metal design similar to what Apple has done on the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4s or to Samsung's Galaxy S6 series. However, the OnePlus X is a lot thinner than the old iPhone 4 models, looking more like one of Apple's new iPhones.

A version with a Ceramic back will also be available in limited numbers (just 10,000 units), priced at around $369 but launching only in Europe and India on November 24th.

When it comes to hardware, here's what you can expect from the OnePlus X:

Size: 140 x 69 x 6.9 mm

Weight: 138 g (Onyx) or 160 g (Ceramic)

5-inch Full HD AMOLED display (1920 x 1080) with Corning Gorilla Glass 3

Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor

3GB of LPDDR3 RAM

16GB of storage

microSD support up to 128GB

13-megapixel ISOCELL sensor with f/2.2 aperture, Full HD video recording, slow motion video (HD at 120fps)

8-megapixel selfie camera with f/2.4 aperture

802.11a/b/g/n

Bluetooth 4.0

GPS

GLONASS

FM Radio

2,525 mAh battery

OxygenOS (Android 5.1.1 Lollipop)

The full press release follows below.

Powerfully Beautiful: Presenting the OnePlus X

New Smartphone Line Fuses Sleek Design with Flagship­-level Performance

LONDON – October 29, 2015 – OnePlus today announced their brand new smartphone line with the launch of the OnePlus X. Featuring a compact 5″ display and a new range of premium build materials, the OnePlus X, available in Onyx black glass and a limited Ceramic edition, showcases an elevated level of craftsmanship and power for OnePlus.

"Today's smartphone user strives to find the perfect balance of style and performance. The OnePlus X is a design­centric device ­ chic and powerful enough to fit any lifestyle," said OnePlus CEO Pete Lau.

Precision Artwork in Your Hand

The OnePlus X is a work of art. OnePlus has created two separate editions inspired by the exquisite handiwork behind two timeless fields of art ­ glassware and ceramic.

The OnePlus X Onyx is fashioned from black glass on a metal bezel, giving the phone a premium feel in your hand. Every glass backplate is cut to size and polished repeatedly until it achieves a smooth, glossy, mirror­like finish. Slightly rounded edges give the phone a fluid and seamless feel, and at just 4.86 oz, it is the lightest and slimmest OnePlus device to date.

The Ceramic version is crafted in a process totaling 25 days. Starting with a zirconia mold just 0.5 mm thick, the ceramic is fire­baked up to 2,700oF for more than 28 hours before cooling for two full days. Each individual OnePlus X backplate undergoes three meticulous methods of polishing before it is flawless enough for use. Scratch­resistant with a hardness of 8.5H on the Mohs scale and weighing 5.64 oz, the ceramic build is a feat of engineering and design.

A brushed anodized metal frame etched with 17 elegant microcuts surrounds the OnePlus X. A convenient Alert Slider for easy notification adjustments adorns the left side of the device, with the power button and volume rocker located on the right. Intuitively placed buttons combined with subtle curves and ergonomic lines make the OnePlus X easy and natural to use with one

Capture Your World Faster than Ever

The OnePlus X has a 13MP rear camera combined with f/2.2 aperture, perfect for documenting your unique everyday experiences. Optimized white balance and saturation maintain the integrity of the colors of your photos, and a lightning­fast 0.2­second autofocus with phase detection autofocus (PDAF) ­­ our fastest camera yet ­­ means you won't miss a moment. Shoot in Auto, HDR or Clear Image to perfect your image, or switch to the 8MP front­facing camera with supported Beauty Mode to capture a flawless selfie.

Beauty That's More than Skin­deep

Combining the Snapdragon 801 processor with Adreno 330 GPU and 3GB of RAM, the OnePlus X is as powerful as it is stylish. The 5″ 1080p Active Matrix OLED screen is responsive and incredibly bright in direct sunlight, and the 441 PPI resolution keeps the screen sharp without draining your battery.

Notably, the OnePlus X supports two nano SIMs for more network choices and added convenience for people on the go. Even better, one card slot provides optional expandable storage with your own microSD card, allowing a maximum capacity up to 128GB.

Personalize Your Experience

OxygenOS, a custom operating system developed by OnePlus, brings a range of unique features and elements to the OnePlus X.

The AMOLED screen, never before seen in a OnePlus device, allows for an ambient display that will wake in duochrome mode to alert you to new notifications. A proximity sensor, enabled by each individual user, also wakes the screen whenever the OnePlus X is brought out of a pocket or bag.

Along with OxygenOS features such as on­screen gestures, an enhanced file manager and custom quick settings, the OnePlus X also brings FM radio to your smartphone. Broadcast your favorite local stations directly from your phone without having to connect to Wi­Fi or consume data with the new OnePlus Radio.

Pricing and Availability

The OnePlus X Onyx will be available on oneplus.net with an invite in Europe starting November 5 at EUR269.00, with a U.S. version to follow on November 19 for USD249.00. The Ceramic edition will be available with a Ceramic­specific invite in Europe and India starting November 24 for EUR369.00. Only 10,000 OnePlus X Ceramic devices will be available.

About OnePlus

OnePlus is a global startup challenging conventional concepts of technology. Created around the "Never Settle" mantra, OnePlus creates exquisitely designed devices with premium build quality and high performance hardware. OnePlus thrives on cultivating strong bonds and growing together with its community of users and fans. For more information, please visit oneplus.net.

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Source: One Plus X revealed: It's $249 and it's not a 'flagship killer'

Motorola is still Thinking Different and we should all be grateful

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It's very hard being an Android smartphone OEM right now but I'm really glad to see Motorola is still around and kicking. Even more important, I'm happy to see that Motorola hasn't lost its enthusiasm for creating truly useful new innovations that push smartphones forward.

RELATED: Motorola's Droid Turbo 2: Hands-on with the world's first shatterproof smartphone

While I wasn't initially all that excited to hear about the Verizon-exclusive Motorola Droid Turbo 2 yesterday, Motorola instantly grabbed my attention by giving it a "shatterproof" display that features five different layers for added protection. While we haven't put this device under heavy stress testing ourselves yet, early impressions of it are that Motorola has really delivered a display that is insanely difficult to crack.

This is Motorola doing what all good innovators do: Identifying pain points in the typical user experience and finding ways to address them. In this case, Motorola has rightly figured that lots of people out there are terrified of dropping their phones for fear of cracking their screens and it's come up with a really smart solution.

The Moto ShatterShield isn't the only terrific innovation Motorola has brought to the smartphone market in recent years, as its Moto Maker program that gives you an unprecedented level of customization for your device is also worthy of praise. The company has also done some pioneering work when it comes to exclusively selling its flagship phones unlocked directly to consumers who can then choose to bring it to whatever carrier they want without having to put up with carrier branding or bloatware.

At a time when many smartphone makers are doing things the same way over and over again, Motorola is continuing to think different, as the old saying goes. While Motorola isn't going to beat Apple or Samsung in terms of sales anytime soon, I hope it can keep making enough money to fund its next big innovation, whatever that might be. The smartphone market is a better place with Motorola around.

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More from BGR: As a longtime Android user, here are my 3 early gripes about the iPhone 6s

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Source: Motorola is still Thinking Different and we should all be grateful

Low light challenge: Apple iPhone 6s Plus vs Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ vs Motorola Moto X Style

It's that time of the year when all smartphone companies are out with their flagship devices. With Diwali just around the corner, a lot of readers will be pondering over getting some flagship phone or the other, if they have the budget.

While our detailed reviews will be coming out shortly, we decided to try out the low light photography prowess of three flagship phones we have with us at the moment. We have already done a detailed review of the Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ and were impressed with its photography features and image quality. But last week we got two more devices – the Motorola Moto X Style and the Apple iPhone 6s Plus.

While Apple is known for its camera performance over the years, the Moto X Style has bumped up its camera to a 21MP sensor which Motorola claims is capable of shooting great photographs. So we set out to put the cameras on these phones to test on one Mumbai night.

All images were shot on auto mode with the last one shot in HDR mode. Before we start off with the images and our observations, here's a quick primer on which phone has which camera.

Motorola Moto X Style: 21MP rear camera with an f/2.0 aperture and phase-detect AF; no OIS

Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+: 16MP rear camera with an f/1.9 aperture; features OIS

Apple iPhone 6S Plus: 12MP iSight camera with f/2.2 aperture; features OIS

Please note: Click on the images to see the high resolution uncompressed images

The Galaxy S6 edge+ managed to extract more details in this shot despite the harsh light conditions. While the iPhone 6s Plus and Moto X Style just show the lit up hoarding well, Galaxy S6 edge+ was able to show the hoarding as well as some detail of the plastic in the background. It achieves this at the cost of giving a minor halo and dithering around the lit up areas which may not be to everyone's taste. The iPhone 6s Plus is able to control dithering better and gives sharper edges on the logo.

The post processing on the iPhone 6s Plus isn't as aggressive as seen on the Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ which gives an unnaturally smooth output specially along the contours of the floral designs on the fountain. Moto X Style showed the least amount of detail on 100% zooming. The iPhone 6s Plus gave a more natural looking image whereas the Moto X Style tends to add a lot of warmth as compared to the S6 edge+.

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Tags: Apple iPhone 6s Plus camera, Apple iPhone 6s Plus vs Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+, iPhone 6s Plus vs S6 edge+ vs Moto X Style, Low light challenge, Moto X Style camera, Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ camera

Source: Low light challenge: Apple iPhone 6s Plus vs Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ vs Motorola Moto X Style

Apple's 3D Touch Soon To Come In Xiaomi

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Source: Apple's 3D Touch Soon To Come In Xiaomi

Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge And Edge Plus Variants To Launch Concurrently

With October almost coming to an end, we've got only a few months left until Samsung's flagship smartphones for the next year, the Galaxy S7 series is launched. Several bits and pieces of information about the devices have been popping up over the past couple of months and we've managed to uncover quite a bit of information about it. Today there's some more news about the devices' launch date so take a look at it below.

The majority of information that has surfaced related to Samsung's flagship plans so far has surrounded the Galaxy S7. There's been little word on an edge variant of the device coming next year, but today's information manages to add an interesting angle to the mix. After Samsung launched three Galaxy S flagship smartphones this year, with the Samsung Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S6 Edge coming earlier than the S6 Edge Plus, the Korean manufacturer might change things around next year.

According to a source, the Korean manufacturer will be launching three Galaxy S flagship smartphones next year, with all three devices coming at the same time. We've heard rumors about three variants of the Galaxy S7 coming next year with each based on a different chipset and market and if today's information turns out to be true, then Samsung might have a little trouble keeping count of the different Galaxy S7 flagship smartphones out there.

If today's information turns out to be correct then Samsung will be launching three new devices at the start of next year; the Samsung Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge and the Galaxy S7 Edge Plus. These, coupled with rumors of the Exynos 8890, the Exynos 7422 and the Snapdragon 820 coming on the Galaxy S7 make up for a total of nine Galaxy smartphones, making the lineup one of the most customized flagship smartphones out there. While such options work out well in other markets, such differentiation should undoubtedly cause confusion among a lot of users.

The Samsung Galaxy S7 is expected to come with a 20MP rear camera, Samsung's very own pressure based touch interface, an all new audio chip that is expected to further boost the device's multimedia capabilities and USB Type-C on board.  By the looks of things so far, Samsung's next flagship smartphone sounds quite an impressive offering indeed. We should learn more as time passes. Till then, stay tuned and let us know what you think in the comments section below.

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Source: Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge And Edge Plus Variants To Launch Concurrently

Gionee Elife E8: The perfect combo

Chinese handset-maker has Gionee launched its flagship Elife E8 smartphone in partnership with domestic e-commerce player Snapdeal priced at Rs.34,999. We got our hands on the device and here's what we think:

What is good?

The phone has an elegant uni-colour look, its metal sides giving it sturdiness. The phone also comes with a dedicated camera button enabling users to take quicker photos. The positioning of the fingerprint scanner is also good and it is also very fast.

The six-inch wide quad-HD display is amazing to watch movies on. Gaming is also a delight. There were no problems with viewing angles.

Interestingly, the phone comes with 640 pixel support, one of the maximum seen on phones till date. The high pixel density also contributes to more life-like images.

The 64-bit octa-core MediaTek processor, along with a 3GB RAM, can take anything that you throw at it. Switching between apps was very fluid. Gaming was also fun as there were no lags while playing games like WWE Immortals, Nova 3 and Mortal Kombat.

Going by Geekbench 3 scores, the phone has excellent multi-core performance, topping the app chart. On An Tu Tu, the phone scores 49,992 points, taking it very close to other rival flagship devices and above Meizu's MX4. 

The E8's rear 24-megapixel camera is an excellent performer under all light conditions. Pictures taken on the device came out clean with no noise or blur. This time, Gionee has also included a professional mode along with other modes like PicNote, Panoroma and Ultra Pixel and Smart Scene. 

The front eight-megapixel camera takes good pictures in well-lit conditions and is a premium performer for video chats.

Gionee finally took into consideration the need of storage for Indian consumers and has provided a 64 GB internal memory which can be further expanded to 128 GB via a microSD card. This is a first phone which not only has a 64 GB memory but is also expandable.

The device also comes with other features which are common in flagships like NFC, Bluetooth module 4 and Wi-Fi. It also supports dual-SIM 4G-LTE. 

The phone's 3,600 mAH battery is also very impressive, retaining a better part of the charge on heavy usage.

What doesn't work for the phone?

The phone has a bulky design owing to its huge screen size and battery. The back panel is made of plastic which doesn't seem very appropriate and it is a tad heavy as well. The camera button's utility could have been improved if it could also be used to quick launch the camera app. 

The screen-to-body aspect ratio could have been better to gain more advantage from the huge display.

Gionee's decision to go with a MediaTek processor could be a spoiler but the company's decision to stick to MediaTek could be due to the higher price points of Qualcomm Snapdragon processors. Using a Snapdragon would also increase the cost of the device, making it impossible to compete with rival devices in terms of aggressive price points. We would still maintain that a Snapdragon 810 SoC would make the phone one of the best in the market.

Although the E8 scores high points on An Tu Tu, it is nowhere near the Samsung S6 Edge plus which has an unrivalled 69,000 points-plus.

The front camera doesn't capture wide angle pictures, which is a minus for larger groupies.

Verdict: Keeping in mind the price, the features except for a Snapdragon processor, this is the perfect crwod-pleasing combo from Gionee's stable. Sales volume shall speak for the rest. From our end, it is definitely worth a look at before opting a costlier rival which mostly has the same specifications.

Full specifications: Wide Quad HD Display (WQHD) with 640 pixel density | MediaTek 6795 64-bit octa-core processor | 3 GB RAM | 64 GB internal memory (expandable to 128 GB) | Android Lollipop 5.1 | 3,500 mAH battery | NFC | Fingerprint | 4G-LTE support with dual SIM and dual standby.

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Source: Gionee Elife E8: The perfect combo

10 things you must know about LG Nexus 5X and Huawei Nexus 6P

Read this before you make a decision to buy one of these Google smartphones.

Yesterday, two new Google smartphones sporting the Nexus label were unveiled. Two different companies manufactured these two flagship smartphones. These handsets called the LG Nexus 5X and Huawei Nexus 6P are targeted towards different segment and have different hardware configuration that match the price at which they are sold.

The LG Nexus 5X will be priced at Rs 31,900 for the 16GB storage variant and Rs 35,900 for the 32GB variant.

The Huawei Nexus 6P will be offered at a price of Rs 39,999 for the 32GB variant and Rs 42,999 for the 64GB variant. Both these devices will be available on the Google Store.

Clear cut design

Both these handsets look awesome and have some serious power-packed features both in hardware and software segment to demolish any of their rivals in the market.

Between the two smartphones, the Huawei nexus 6P is bigger than the LG Nexus 5X. The dimension of Huawei Nexus 6P is 159.3 x 77.8 x 7.3 mm, whereas the LG measures only 147 x 72.6 x 7.9 mm.

The LG product is also lighter at 136g while the Huawei product weighs at 178g on the scale.

The Huawei Nexus projects a premium looks thanks to its metal casing, whereas the LG Nexus has to do with hard premium plastic with a matte finish on the back for easy holding.

The LG Nexus 5X is available in Carbon Black, Frost White, Ice Blue colours, whereas the Huawei Nexus 6P is available in Frost, Aluminum, Graphite colour options.

Razor sharp display

The displays of both these devices are top-notch, provide extraordinary colour vibrancy and give a fantastic viewing experience. Google has however used two different kind of screens for these handsets.

The Huawei Nexus 6P is bestowed with a 5.7-inch AMOLED touch screen that can render 16M colours and can support images in 1440x2560 pixels resolutions. The body to screen ratio of this smartphone is 71.4 per cent and has a pixel density of 518ppi. The company has provided dual protection for this brilliant screen in the form of the renowned Gorilla Glass 3 scratch proof coating.

In addition, it also has an Oleo phobic coating to keep away the finger print smudges. Compared to Huawei Nexus model, the LG Nexus 5X is provided with a 5.2-inch capacitive full HD touch screen that has a screen to body ratio of 69.8 per cent and can render images in 1080x1920 pixels resolution. The screen supports 16M colours and has a pixel density of 424ppi.

Just like the Huawei Nexus model, the LG touch screen is also provided with dual protection Gorilla Glass 3 and an Oleo phobic coating. The touch sensitivity of both the mobile phones is excellent.

The most exciting software release

These two smartphones being Google flagship devices get the most recent Android M (Marshmallow) OS, which will put them several paces ahead of their other Android rivals in the market. The new Android OS is heavily refurbished and allow you more control over your handset, like allowing or denying permission to any application.

The web surfing experience is better with greater interactive features. The Android M supports Finger Print, so, if your handset has a finger print sensor, you can exploit it to improve the security of the smartphone. The recently released Android also supports Android Pay that will allow users to move towards a more secure cashless purchase environment.

The new Doze feature allows the inbuilt sensors to detect that the smartphone is not in use and then reduces the background process to conserve energy to improve the battery performance. The new OS has a newly designed app manager, RAM manager, plenty of themes for customisation, visual voice mails and an improved 'Google Now' personal assistant.

Both the smartphones have heavily customised UI laid on the top of the stock Android OS to give you a unique and more attractive experience.

Superb performance

The two Google Nexus handsets are equipped with a very powerful processor that allows them to crunch numbers in a flash, which in turn help them to run high end games and applications without any lag.

The Huawei Nexus 6P runs on an Octa core QUALCOMM MSM8994 Snapdragon 810 processor (Quad-core 1.55 GHz Cortex-A53 & Quad-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A57) along with Adreno 430 GPU.

The LG Nexus 5X on the other hand is powered by an Octa core QUALCOMM MSM8992 Snapdragon 808 processor (Quad-core 1.44 GHz Cortex-A53 & dual-core 1.82 GHz Cortex-A57) in conjunction with Adreno 418 GPU.

Powerful shooters

With the race to pack the smartphones with higher and higher pixel sensors gaining ground across the board, the new Nexus devices are not far behind in this segment. Both of them are equipped with two powerful shooters to take both still pictures and shoot high-resolution videos.

The Huawei Nexus 6P is blessed with a 12MP camera at the back with dual LED (dual tone) flash and an 8MP front facing camera for taking selfies and conducting video chats over Skype. The primary camera has a 1.55µm pixel size and come with several additional features like geo-tagging, touch focus, face detection, photo sphere, HDR, dual recording.

This shooter can shoot videos in 2160p@30fps. The front camera on the other hand can shoot pictures in 720p@30fps. The

LG Nexus 5X provides the user with a 12.3MP sensor equipped primary shooter at the back with dual LED dual tone flash with similar capability as the one found in the Nexus 6P. However, the major difference seems to be the front camera segment, where the LG has a less powerful 5MP camera.

Wide connectivity choice

Both the Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X are provided with innumerable connectivity options so that the user has a vast array of options to choose from. These options include 4G, 3G, 2G, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual band Wi-Fi direct Wi-Fi Hotspot, Bluetooth v4.2 LE with A2DP, USB-Type C connector, NFC, GLONASS, GPS and A-GPS.

Memory status

The Huawei Nexus 6P is available in 32/64/128GB internal storage options, whereas the LG Nexus 5X is available in 16/32GB options.

None of the two handsets have any microSD card slot that would have allowed the users to add additional external memory. The Nexus 6P is provided with 3GB of RAM, whereas Nexus 5X is provided with 2GB of RAM. The higher RAM gives the Nexus 6P an edge over the Nexus 5X.

Large number of sensors

Google has packed in a large number of sensors with both these smartphones that allow you to enjoy the powerful new Android 6.0 M OS to its fullest. These sensors include Accelerometer, proximity sensor, Gyro, Compass, Barometer and a finger print sensor.

Powerful batteries

Both these handsets are provided with powerful batteries that provide extended battery life to these handsets. The LG Nexus 5X packs in a 2700mAH battery, whereas because of its bigger screen size, the Huawei Nexus 6P comes with a 3450mAH battery.

Other features

Google has additionally provided its American customers with several goodies, which we believe the company will, in the near future, provide to its worldwide customers also. These features include Nexus Protect plan, which is an extended warranty programme offered by Google that provide for two years of coverage for mechanical breakdown, two years of protection from accidental damage, next business day replacement (if needed) for a premium.

Source: 10 things you must know about LG Nexus 5X and Huawei Nexus 6P

Samsung Galaxy S7 Specifications Rumored To Include ESS Audio Chip For Excellent Sound Quality

The recent leaks and rumors have molded the Samsung Galaxy S7 as the beastly device to look out for in 2016. From a glass/magnesium design to 20 mexapixel primary camera, the handset apparently has everything a potential flagship enthusiast would like to have. Now, a new report from China says, the upcoming flagship device will include the cutting-edge ESS audio chip.

According to China's MyDrivers, Samsung will be focusing more on the audio-related aspects of the Galaxy S7 smartphone. The flagship will reportedly come with a high-end, digital-to-analog converter (aka DAC) like the "ESS SABRE 9018AQ2M" on board.

The ESS SABRE is considered to be one of the most powerful audio chips specific to mobile devices. However, this DAC is apparently not new to the mobile world as some of the high-end phones from Meizu and Vivo have them on board, according to Phone Arena.

In hindsight, Samsung has been using Wolfson DACs in its handsets for quite some time now. However, the reason for switching to ESS DACs is unknown at this point. But rumor has it that Samsung is gearing up to partner with Jay Z's Tidal music service. This service is known for streaming "lossless high-fidelity tunes," Phone Arena notes. Not to forget, Jay Z's recent visit to Samsung's office in California.

Speaking of Samsung Galaxy S7 launch date, earlier reports from Korea said that by cutting down the development cycle, Samsung is planning to introduce the device as early as January 2016.

Moving on to rumored Galaxy S7 specifications and features, Phone Arena says the corners of the device will apparently come wrapped in a magnesium frame with glass front and back panels. Under the hood, Samsung will be utilizing three processors namely Exynos 8890, Exynos 7422 and Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820, based on the region of release.

Other features include a 20 megapixel ISOCELL rear-facing camera unit and a USB Type-C port. Although there is no clear indication on the display size, rumors point to 5.2-inch and 5.7-inch variants, along with 4K resolution and curved-edge display. Nevertheless, readers are advised to take the reported Galaxy S7 specifications with the proverbial pinch of salt as the company has not confirmed any information so far.

Source: Samsung Galaxy S7 Specifications Rumored To Include ESS Audio Chip For Excellent Sound Quality

Can this iPhone lookalike convince Apple fans it's time for Android?

DAILY STAR ONLINE/DAVE SNELLING

LOOKALIKE: HTC's new smartphone has a similar design to the iPhone

There's a new Google-powered Android phone in town...but it wouldn't look out of place in an Apple Store.

The HTC One A9 has just been unveiled by the Taiwanese tech giant and it looks almost identical to the iPhone 6s.

Although on the outside it may have all the hallmarks of an Apple smartphone, there's no sign of the US tech firm when you hit the on button.

HTC is launching the A9 with the latest version of Android Marshmallow and they say they've worked closely with Google to make sure users get the ultimate experience.

Google's latest OS brings plenty of extras to this phone including Android Pay and Google's Now on Tap feature.

This intuitively provides contextual information about whatever is on your screen – look up reviews for a movie from a text, hear a song mentioned in a blog post, or book seats at a restaurant from an email, all at the press of the home button.

DAILY STAR ONLINE/DAVE SNELLING

FULL METAL JACKET: The A9 features a aluminium rear cover and curved edge design

PH

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE: The A9 takes on Apple's iPhone

"Today we're taking that heritage of innovation to the next level"

Cher Wang, chairwoman and CEO, HTC

Other features on this new device include a decent Qualcomm processor, 32GB of expandable memory and a fingerprint scanner.

There's also a 5 inch, Full HD display and 13-megapixel rear camera with Optical Image Stabilisation.

HTC has also worked hard to improve the sound quality on its latest phone with the A9 now featuring Hi-Res audio playback.

Although the A9 has a relatively small battery HTC are boasting that it will give users plenty of life.

Doze automatically turns off power hungry applications when your phone is left idle and HTC reckon its new features are all optimised to maximise battery life throughout the day.

Speaking about the device Cher Wang, chairwoman and CEO, HTC said: "Today we're taking that heritage of innovation to the next level, unveiling a phone that stands apart in a market increasingly dominated by a company which controls every aspect of your phone.

"The HTC One A9 breaks from this trend by offering an incredible design, fantastic performance, cutting-edge software features and the freedom to take full control of your smartphone experience."

DAILY STAR ONLINE/DAVE SNELLING

HTC One A9

Hands-on with HTC One A9

Daily Star Online has had an exclusive hands-on with the HTC One A9 and we've been left surprisingly impressed.

Although it appears an odd decision for HTC to launch another flagship device alongside its current smartphones, the A9 offers something fresh to the range.

The A9 looks and feels just like an iPhone with a soft, curved design and premium metal finish.

However, on the inside there's no sign of Apple.

Running the latest version of Android Marshmallow sets this device apart from most of the competition and with HTC working closely with Google the user experience is fast and fluid.

DAILY STAR ONLINE

GOOGLE-POWER: Users will get Android Marshmallow on the A9

The display is good and with a host of extras such as fingerprint scanner and Hi-Res audio playback there's plenty to get excited about.

We only had a short time with the A9 but our initial impressions are good.

HTC say they are aiming this smartphone at a new younger audience and if the price is right it could go down a storm.

An A9 will be arriving with us shortly and we'll have a full review for you soon.

The HTC One A9 will be available in the UK from the beginning of November 2015.

The device will be available in Carbon Grey, Opal Silver and Topaz Gold and will be stocked by retailers and operators including EE, O2, Vodafone, Carphone Warehouse, John Lewis, Amazon, Mobile Phones Direct.

Prices are yet to be revealed.

Source: Can this iPhone lookalike convince Apple fans it's time for Android?

Best Budget Smartphones Under $500

Over the last few years, the budget smartphone market has exploded. Manufacturers now target their devices in the mass market to those who do not wish to spend in excess of $500 for a smartphone by Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) or Samsung Electronics Co. (OTCMKTS:SSNLF). Budget smartphones may not flaunt the metal design and best displays that are found on flagship devices; however, they still offer decent hardware and good performance that makes them serious contenders for your hard-earned money. Bidness Etc looks at the top-seven smartphones that can be bought for under $500.

7. Microsoft Lumia 735

The Lumia 735 was introduced as the Microsoft Corp.'s (NASDAQ:MSFT) "selfie-phone" when it was announced back in 2014. The device offers a wide-angle 8MP front camera that takes exceptional pictures. It has a beautiful OLED screen that truly makes the device stand out from its budget competitors. The device even offers good battery life with the option of a removable battery. The rear camera of the device is a 12MP shooter with a PureView Lens, coupled with OIS which makes for good pictures in shaky conditions. The phone lacks in performance when compared to high-end phones, but is still a good buy for anyone who wants a Windows phone at a relatively low price.

6. Microsoft Lumia 640XL

Another device from Microsoft that was released in the first half of 2015 has made it to this list. The Lumia 640 XL excels in the battery life department, where most smartphones suffer these days. The phone offers unbeatable battery life as it promises three days on a single charge. There is also the option to replace the battery when you run out of charge. The device, however, does not offer the best hardware specs and this can be seen by the slow performance of the device when it comes to connectivity and multitasking. It has a large display, but it suffers from low resolution, which results in below-par graphics. The Lumia 640 XL also has made its name for being almost unbreakable. The solid build of the device makes it less breakable when it is dropped. Anyone who wants to buy a phablet but does not want to spend a lot of money should go for the Lumia 640 XL.

5. AsusZenfone 5 LTE

The Zenfone 5 is the Asus's attempt to try and bridge the gap between budget smartphones and top-level flagship devices. The phone features an excellent 5-inch screen and even though it uses plastic for most of the device, its design gives it a premium feel. The phone struggles with battery life and the screen might not be as bright as compared to other phones, but it offers the fastest connectivity band in the market: LTE. The design of the device is what makes it sell, as it does not feel cheap and offers a good performance. If you want a budget smartphone that offers fast connectivity and a premium feel, you should buy the Asus Zenfone 5 LTE.

4. Moto G (Second Generation)

The new Motorola G replaces the hugely popular Moto G 2014. The new device looks the same as the older model but it now has 4G connectivity, which has increased the price by a mere $15. The new smartphone has an updated camera and a larger display that has made the device a little heavier as compared to last year's Moto G. The device offers decent hardware specs and the skimmed version of Android on Motorola's devices make sure that the device is fast and fluid in performance. 4G connectivity now available the Moto G offers everything one would expect from a top-level smartphone. At $179 the device is a steal for anyone who wants to invest in a good smartphone that offers above-par performance.

3. One Plus One

The One Plus One is considered by many as the pioneer of budget smartphones. The device was released last year and offers a vibrant 5.5-inch display and specs that trump most high-level smartphones. The device also offers great battery life with a solid build and excellent performance. It falls in to the phablet category because of its massive screen size, though there is no support for expandable storage, and 4G connectivity works only on certain carriers. The device also steps away from the traditional Android OS and has a modified version of Android called Cyanogen Mod that has a very user-friendly interface. Anyone who wants a budget smartphone that offers the closest performance to high-end devices should definitely buy the One Plus One.

2. Sony Xperia M4 Aqua

The Xperia M4 was released by Sony at the Mobile World Congress as the company's first budget handset that offered a beautiful design and water-proof capability. The new Xperia M4 shares the same design elements as Sony's flagship Xperia Z3 and Z3+, and offers good battery life and solid performance. The camera leaves a lot to be desired and there is no option for external storage. The smartphone is still capable to handle day to day tasks without a dip in performance. For someone who wants a budget smartphone that is all about style and also be completely water-proof should opt for the Xperia M4 Aqua.

1. Google Nexus 5X

Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) has taken the lead again in this category with the introduction of the company's latest handset, the Nexus 5X. Made in collaboration with LG, the new device is quite capable to compete with flagship devices from Apple and Samsung, as it offers similar hardware specs for half the price. The device features a new 12MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera, which the company says is the best it has made so far. The security features offer fingerprint scanning, which is used to unlock the phone and assist with Android Pay transactions. The device is made from a matte plastic material that gives the device a premium look and feel. Nexus devices also offer the stock Android experience as the smartphones do not come with manufacturer installed "bloatware," which results in a far better user experience. Anyone who wants the best Android smartphone available at the moment should definitely go for the Nexus 5X.

Source: Best Budget Smartphones Under $500

Moto X Pure Edition review: Motorola's finally found its winning formula

It took three tries for Motorola to make an all-around solid flagship device, but we were patient. With the Moto X Pure Edition, the company made a phone with a decent rear-facing camera, Quad HD display, and a few special software features, all wrapped in a package that you can customize to your liking. It's genius, really, and although the third-generation Moto X may be not be as packed with features as other flagships, at least you can bring home a phone that isn't packed with bloatware. 

A familiar vibe Florence Ion

The Moto X is not overwhelming to hold, despite its 5.7-inch display size.

If you've seen one Motorola phone in the last three years, you've pretty much seen them all. The Moto X Pure Edition looks a lot like last year's Moto X, or this year's Moto G. It's no head turner like the metal-and-glass Galaxy S6 Edge, or even the unibody HTC One M9, but it's a phone made in Motorola's own style and I'm glad to see that the company's stuck to an aesthetic it's made all its own—even if it is getting a little repetitive. And unlike other phones, you can customize the Moto X by choosing from a variety of materials, including real wood and genuine leather backs.

Florence Ion

I went for the purple-hued polymer back for the Moto X Pure Edition, though you can choose from leather or wood, too.

Florence Ion

It's not the thinnest phone on the market, but it won't bulk up my pocket either.

I've always thought the Moto X to be particularly ergonomic, and this year's model is no different. It's comfortable to use for extended periods of time, and even more comfortable to talk on than the larger Nexus 6. The Moto X also has an expansion slot subtly tucked away behind the nano SIM slot, as well as an NFC chip. It does not have a fingerprint scanner, however, which means you won't get the security benefits of the new API that comes bundled with Android 6.0 Marshmallow. 

Motorola opted for dual stereo front-facing speakers with the Moto X Pure Edition. It makes for a much better listening experience if you want to stream the radio or a podcast over TuneIn, and the volume can get pretty loud. It also bumped up the display resolution on its flagship device to a 5.7-inch Quad HD IPS LCD. The screen is a good size for multitasking, though it's not so overwhelmingly large that it doesn't fit in your car's cup holder. I read through my Pocket archive on the Moto X and its screen goes dim enough at night so that it doesn't hurt your eyes, but don't expect the same kind of color saturation you'd get from one of Samsung's Super AMOLED displays.

Too middle-of-the-road for high-end

If you're looking for a powerhouse, the Moto X just isn't it. It runs on a Snapdragon 808 processor with 3GB of RAM, which is substantial enough for the variety of activities you plan to do with your smartphone, but it's not a leader when it comes to benchmarks.

The Moto X delivers Geekbench scores in line with other Snapdragon 808-based devices.

We're not sure why the PCMark score is so high, exactly.

Again, right in line with other Snapdragon 808 devices.

The Moto X Pure Edition performed on par with the LG G4, which runs on the same processor. It passed the G4 a tad bit in PCMark and Geekbench's multi-core benchmarks likely because the Moto X is running near stock Android, while the G4 is running LG's overlay on top of Android. Regardless, if consistency is what you're after, the Moto X is a reliable device and, since it's sold unlocked, you won't have to deal with carrier bloat.

The Moto X performed poorly in synthetic battery tests, but real world use wasn't so dire.

Battery performance is a different story. In our benchmark tests, the Moto X Pure Edition's 3000mAh battery performed well below the G4, which has the same size battery pack, and the Galaxy S6, which has a smaller battery pack. You can squeeze a little more battery life out of the device if you turn down the screen brightness, though. I managed through 8 hours of average use with about 38 percent of battery left in the Moto X. Also, the phone supports quick charge, so you can plug it in and juice up enough in half an hour if the device is dying halfway through the day.

A much better camera than the last

In the past, if anyone asked me if they should bring home a Moto X, I would immediately caution them about the awful camera performance. The last two generations of the Moto X, and the Motorla-made Nexus 6, have had some of the worst performing camera sensors for a flagship phone. I'm glad that with the Moto X Pure Edition, Motorola has finally made camera performance a priority.

The Moto X Pure Edition takes shoots in 4:3 at 21 megapixels. If you go lower than that, it shoots in 16:9. 

The Moto X performs so much better in low-light situations than its predecessors.

This year's flagship features a 21-megapixel rear-facing camera with an f/2.0 lens. It quickly snaps photos in plenty of light, though it's a bit slower in lower light settings. Most of the photos I took came out clear and ready-to-share, though I was hoping for slightly better low-light performance. The Moto X performed fine in the studio, but outside at night and in darker rooms, it performed a notch below the Galaxy S6's f/1.9 lens. 

The Moto X does offer impressive manual focus controls.

That's not to say that I'm not impressed with the Moto X's camera abilities—it's a huge improvement over previous models. You won't be ashamed to post your heavily-edited photos to Instagram with this phone. It's also nice that the Moto X has added in a few manual camera controls. There's a semi-manual mode that lets you adjust the focus and brightness of the photo. It works impeccably, and I liked how quickly it switches between focus subjects in real-time.

Motorola's camera app has always offer a sort of too-plain and slightly finicky camera interface.

I don't like the interface in Motorola's camera app. It's too finicky to use and I hate having to slide my finger from the edge of the screen to bring out the menu. Oftentimes, the interface mistakes my slide as a tap, and then I accidentally shoot a photo I didn't mean to. I still prefer a camera interface similar to what LG, HTC, and Samsung have, rather than Motorola's stock Android camera app knockoff.

Florence Ion

The new Moto X offers front-facing flash.

At least your selfies are safe. I liked the end result of photos taken with the Moto X's 5-megapixel front-facing camera, though I wasn't too keen on the front-facing LED flash nestled next to it. In theory, using flash to take a photo of people in a low-light setting is a good idea because you can capture their faces, but flash makes most people look awful. I'd rather the front-facing camera have a larger aperture for better low-light photos rather than a stark white, bright flashbulb.

That near-stock Android we all love

The Moto X Pure Edition is pretty much stock.

The Moto X runs a slightly edited version of Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. It's fast, it's reliable, and it's almost the same Android you're using on a Nexus device. As with the last Moto X, this generation's device comes equipped with a few software enhancements that Motorola's reserves especially for its flagship handsets. This includes gestures like Moto Display, which enables you to wave your hand over the phone's display to bring up the time and notifications, and features like Moto Voice, which now lets you discreetly call on a command by holding up the phone to your ear. You can also use Moto Voice to do things like make a reminder or post a status update to Facebook without even unlocking your phone.

Motorola also bundles in applications like Connect, which helps you manage external devices like Android Wear watches and headphones, and Migrate, though the company plans to rid of these applications once the device is updated to Marshmallow. Also, I wouldn't worry about when you're getting Marshmallow with this device. Motorola may have nixed support for this year's Moto E and the carrier versions of last year's Moto X, but it's had a pretty solid track record thus far when it comes to software updates on premium phones. And you won't have to wait on your carrier.

An upgrade from its predecessor Florence Ion

The Moto X Pure Edition is great. Just great.

Motorola has a truly solid flagship device to throw into the ring, and though it's not as powerful or as polished as Samsung and LG's respective flagship devices, the Moto X Pure Edition really is a good phone.

It does feel all too familiar, however. Like Motorola's too afraid to take the plunge into new design territory and go to head-to-head with some of its other, more flashy competitors. That's okay for now because what the Moto X has going on works. I just hope whatever's next is a little more extraordinary than ordinary.

Source: Moto X Pure Edition review: Motorola's finally found its winning formula

Samsung Galaxy S7: Smartphone tipped to come equipped with new gen USB port

A file photo showing a row of Galaxy S6 edge smartphones on display at the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event before the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona March 1, 2015REUTERS/Albert Gea

A key feature of the Samsung's 2016 flagship smartphone, Galaxy S7, has surfaced online.

Samsung community blog, SamMobile citing company insiders has revealed Galaxy S7 will boast new age USB Type port.

Key aspect of Type C USB connector is that users need not even worry about orienting the port while plugging the device as its works reverse as well.

Rivals OnePlus 2, Google's newly launched LG Nexus 5X and Huawei made Nexus 6P already boast this feature. So it is not a surprise for many to believe Galaxy S7 will feature the same hardware. It is believed that the USB Type-C port will be an industry standard next year. All devices coming in 2016 will have this output/input port.

In a related development, Samsung has joined hands with Synaptics to develop 'ClearForce' solution, similar to Apple iPhone 6S series' 3D Touch for Galaxy S7.

However, the new ClearForce technology is said to accomplish more functions than the 3D touch feature.

Read more: Samsung Galaxy S7 tipped to boast more advanced display technology than iPhone 6S' 3D Touch

As per recent reports, Samsung Galaxy S7, which is internally known as 'Project Lucky', is expected to sport a QHD (2560x1440p) display, Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS, 4GB RAM, 64GB inbuilt memory, 16mp camera with OIS (Optical Image Stabilisation) and a 5mp front snapper.

Also more: Samsung Galaxy S7 tipped to come in three CPU variants

If all things go as planned, Galaxy S7 is expected to be unveiled in January 2016 and it may hit stores in the following month.

With at least three months left to the launch, many secrets of Galaxy S7 are bound to leak. Stay tuned for more updates.

Article Published: October 18, 2015 11:05 IST

Source: Samsung Galaxy S7: Smartphone tipped to come equipped with new gen USB port

OnePlus One Gets as Close to Perfection as Possible But May not be Right for You

A First Gen Product

The OnePlus One is a good looking and elegant smartphone that offers a solid and smooth experience. It is a first gen product created by a new company but does not look like it. It offers a new benchmark for the features present in an affordable phone. It outperforms many other devices in the same price range and is even better than some of the flagship phones of reputed companies, selling at double the price.

This is a phone from a new start up Chinese company, and its mission is 'Never Settle' and it offers a perfect device.

Design and Display

The chassis is elegant, and the build is of polycarbonate with an arched back. The phone is rather large and comes with a 5.5 inches display screen. It is lighter than the Note 3 from Galaxy by 6 grams. The IPS LCD screen panel has a resolution of 1080 pixels, with 401 ppi. The IPS panel ensures good viewing angles. The color saturation is customizable.  The phone also enjoys protection with Gorilla Glass 3.

Camera

It comes with a 13 MP rear camera and a 5 MP front camera. The rear camera has dual LED flash and a microphone feature noise cancellation.

Customizable Software

The device offers a customizable experience with Android software. Due to the partnership with CyanogenMod, it is 11S build and based on the Android version 4.4.2, which is baked indirectly. The 11S is a custom firmware that has been based on the AOSP. This allows users to make changes to the settings and icons as well as the themes and other aspects of Android. Cyanogen is a third party firmware of Android software, and it offers a great experience on the OnePlus One, as it has been built into the phone. This way, it can offer more optimizations than on other phones.

There are several new features and settings that can be tweaked and is totally customizable. For instance, if you like Samsung's interface or LG's interface, you can download it.

Pros

The OnePlus One offers good value for money. It comes with an excellent display and premium hardware specifications. The firmware is customizable to a great extent.

Cons

Customers might not like the form of the phone. Also, the battery is not removable, and there is no external storage provision. Some of the tasks that are processor intensive stutter at times. The volume of the speaker is also rather low.

Verdict

Though the OnePlus One is as close as possible to perfection and is available at an affordable price, it may not be the right phone for some. However, it is available for $299 and comes with all the flagship features. The specs are top of the shelf, and the firmware is customizable. For the price of $300, no other phone comes near what the device offers. It offers a premium feel and is a high-end phone at a low price.

Source: OnePlus One Gets as Close to Perfection as Possible But May not be Right for You

Samsung Electronics unveils second Tizen-powered smartphone | Reuters

SEOUL Tech giant Samsung Electronics Co Ltd unveiled on Wednesday the second smartphone powered by the its own Tizen operating system, its latest bid to increase the popularity of its own software ecosystem.

Samsung said the Z3 will go on sale in India on Oct. 21 for 8,490 rupees. While this is more expensive than the 5,700 rupees launch price for its predecessor, the Z1, the new phone offers better hardware including a faster processor, a higher quality screen and improved cameras.

The world's top smartphone maker is trying to reduce its dependence on Google Inc, whose Android operating system powers Samsung's flagship Galaxy smartphones. The company has also launched other products this year powered by Tizen, including the Gear S2 smartwatch and premium televisions.

A person with knowledge of the matter told Reuters in June Samsung plans to launch more handsets running on Tizen this year. Samsung needs to attract more smartphone users to the operating system in order to gain more third-party developer support, analysts say.

The Z3's low price could attract buyers in markets like India, where smartphone penetration is still relatively low. Researcher Counterpoint said the predecessor Z1 smartphone was Samsung's best-selling smartphone in India during the second quarter, thanks in part to its low price.

(Reporting by Se Young Lee; Editing by Miral Fahmy)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.

Source: Samsung Electronics unveils second Tizen-powered smartphone | Reuters

Samsung Electronics unveils second Tizen-powered smartphone

POSTED: 14 Oct 2015 17:40

SEOUL: Tech giant Samsung Electronics Co Ltd unveiled on Wednesday the second smartphone powered by the its own Tizen operating system, its latest bid to increase the popularity of its own software ecosystem.

Samsung said the Z3 will go on sale in India on Oct. 21 for 8,490 rupees. While this is more expensive than the 5,700 rupees launch price for its predecessor, the Z1, the new phone offers better hardware including a faster processor, a higher quality screen and improved cameras.

The world's top smartphone maker is trying to reduce its dependence on Google Inc, whose Android operating system powers Samsung's flagship Galaxy smartphones. The company has also launched other products this year powered by Tizen, including the Gear S2 smartwatch and premium televisions.

A person with knowledge of the matter told Reuters in June Samsung plans to launch more handsets running on Tizen this year. Samsung needs to attract more smartphone users to the operating system in order to gain more third-party developer support, analysts say.

The Z3's low price could attract buyers in markets like India, where smartphone penetration is still relatively low. Researcher Counterpoint said the predecessor Z1 smartphone was Samsung's best-selling smartphone in India during the second quarter, thanks in part to its low price.

(Reporting by Se Young Lee; Editing by Miral Fahmy)

- Reuters

Source: Samsung Electronics unveils second Tizen-powered smartphone

Xiaomi may launch Mi 5 smartphone on October 19

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Source: Xiaomi may launch Mi 5 smartphone on October 19

Xiaomi Mi 5 Expected to Launch at October 19 Event

Xiaomi has started sending invites for an event on October 19, where the company is expected to showcase its next-generation flagship smartphone, the Mi 5.

The Chinese company announced the event on Weibo and also shared an image with launch date embedded in it. The teaser image shared by Xiaomi read "The next generation of new conference" (Bing Translation). The company however has not indicated any device launch so far. Xiaomi may also introduce its next-generation Mi Band at the same event as the wearable is also likely to receive an upgrade finally.

Considering that the Xiaomi Mi 4 was unveiled back in July last year; we can expect the company to finally refresh its flagship smartphone. The October 19 launch also corroborates with an earlier report that suggested the Mi 5 will be available in November.

Based on leaks so far, Xiaomi Mi 5 is said to be the first to run on the octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor. However, considering Qualcomm is yet to announce the final release of Snapdragon SoCs; Xiaomi most probably may use the 'more popular' octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 v2.1 SoC, also seen on the Nexus 6P. The Mi 5 may feature 4GB of RAM; Adreno 530 GPU; a 5.3-inch QHD (1440x2560) pixels resolution display with pixel density of 554ppi; arrive in 16GB or 64GB inbuilt storage variants with no option for expandable storage; a 16-megapixel rear camera with dual-LED flash, and be backed by a 3030mAh battery.

A separate report claims that due to delay in Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820 chipsets, Xiaomi may opt for MediaTek deca-core Helio X20 processor - which goes in line with a previous report.

The new report goes on to claim that Snapdragon 820 powered Mi 5 can be expected to ship in early 2016. The MediaTek Helio X20-based Mi 5 is said to be priced at CNY 1,999 (approximately Rs. 20,500).

To recall, the Taiwanese chipmaker had launched its Helio X20 SoC in May and had claimed it to be the 'world's first mobile processor with tri-cluster CPU architecture' and first deca-core SoC for smartphones and tablets.

A recent report also suggested that Xiaomi may use Qualcomm's Snapdragon Sense ID fingerprint scanner technology or also known as the "ultrasonic fingerprint recognition" on its Mi 5 smartphone. To recall, Qualcomm had showcased its all-new ultrasonic fingerprint recognition system at MWC this year which allow devices to create a 3D-mapped fingerprint rather than the flat images captured by commonly used capacitive sensors.

Additionally, the Mi 5, apart from a fingerprint sensor, is expected to include a USB Type-C port, possibly the version 3.0.

Download the Gadgets 360 app for Android and iOS to stay up to date with the latest tech news, product reviews, and exclusive deals on the popular mobiles.

Source: Xiaomi Mi 5 Expected to Launch at October 19 Event

ZTE Flagship Smartphone product strategy

ZTE Flagship Smartphone product strategyMark Peters : October 11th 2015 - 11:15 CET ZTE AXON Flagship Smartphone Product Strategy : ZTE launches new AXON devices, announces flagship product strategy. ZTE, a leading global mobile device maker, held a conference for its AXON flagship device series, during which the company talked about its flagship device strategy for the first time. At the same event, ZTE confirmed the global availability of the AXON mini, including the pressure-sensitive touch and NBA versions, and the AXON Watch for China. For the first time, ZTE discussed its AXON flagship device product line-up, which consists of: AXON, AXON mini, AXON MAX, and the AXON Watch. ZTE also unveiled the AXON MAX - a larger-screen smartphone device with a bigger battery. ZTE AXON mini smartphoneFirst unveiled in July 2015, ZTE's AXON mini became the world's first smartphone to come with a pressure-sensitive touch screen that recognizes different levels of touch pressure for enhanced functions and experience, such as interactive gaming, passwords and more. ZTE's AXON mini boasts a Qualcomm Snapdragon 616 octa-core processor and Adreno 405 GPU, a 2800mAh battery, 3GB RAM, 32GB ROM, and support for up to 128GB SD card expansion. AXON mini sports a 13 megapixel camera at the back with phase detection autofocus (PDAF) that offers a focus time of just 0.1 seconds. At the front, AXON mini features an 8 megapixel camera with a 5P aspherical lens. AXON mini's dual microphones are supported by an AKM4961 Hi-Fi audio chipset, delivering 32 bit high-fidelity (Hi-Fi) audio playback, as well as high quality sound recording. Protect your phone with ZTE Eye-scanWith a body made from Boeing 787 aircraft-grade aluminum-titanium alloy, the AXON mini has both a premium look and feel and is just 3.5mm thin. At just 70mm wide, the AXON mini's 0.85mm thin bezels allow the device to feature a 5.2-inch Super AMOLED FHD 2.5D curved-edge screen. AXON mini's voice search function can be activated within 1.2 seconds. It also comes with voice translation support for English, Chinese, Japanese and Korean, offering real-time voice translation. In addition, the AXON mini supports voice messaging and chat functions. In addition, ZTE AXON mini supports three different biometric authentication options: fingerprint, voice control and eye-scan. The ZTE AXON mini price in Europe is set at 329 Euro. The premium version will retail for 389 Euro. ZTE AXON mini NBA versionThe ZTE AXON mini NBA version comes in a number of design options, featuring NBA images, and are loaded with a number of NBA services. The AXON mini NBA version is a result of a partnership between ZTE, the NBA and Tencent. All versions of the ZTE AXON mini will be available to purchase in China online from ZTE's own MyZTE store and JD.com, as well as offline from major retail outlets. In the coming months, the ZTE AXON mini will also be made available in Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Russia, Japan, India, Australia, France, Germany, Turkey, Spain and Italy. The ZTE AXON mini will be available in three color options: Ion Gold, Chromium Silver and Rose Gold. ZTE AXON WatchUnveiled in July 2015, the ZTE AXON Watch features a 1.4-inch Gorilla Glass screen with sapphire coating and is IP67 certified. It comes with a 300mAh battery, 512 MB of RAM, 4 GB storage and Bluetooth 4.1. Developed by ZTE and Tencent, the smart watch runs on Tencent OS and supports both voice and gesture control. The ZTE AXON Watch can be used for both fitness and health monitoring, and supports a range of other applications, from phone calls to messaging, including the popular instant messaging and social media platforms WeChat and QQ. The ZTE AXON Watch will be available for purchase in China via ZTE's own MyZTE store from 27 October.

Source: ZTE Flagship Smartphone product strategy