ZTE's Axon 7 flagship gets Nougat, Daydream support

The ZTE Axon 7 is set to receive Android 7.0 Nougat, and users of the popular unlocked flagship are in for a Daydream upgrade! 🎉

Nougat is an elusive piece of software for many smartphone owners, including those with the world's most popular Android phones on earth, the Galaxy S7.

But China's ZTE, which claims to be the fourth largest manufacturer by sales volume in the U.S., and second in the unlocked space, can now claim that its flagship is among those few beneficiaries of Google's latest features, including improved notifications, more advanced Doze, and proper multi-window support. The company's Axon 7 flagship is set to receive Android 7.0 Nougat beginning February 7, bringing Daydream support along with it.

As part of the release, ZTE says that users will see a simplified interface that doesn't detract from Google's original intentions, along with numerous bug fixes and performance improvements in its so-called MiFavor interface. The company is also teaming up with Hiya, a platform that helps weed out spam and robocalls before they come through to the user. Available as a third-party app to all Android users, Hiya will be integrated directly into ZTE's dialler app, a first for both companies.

The full change log for the update is below:

Android OS Upgraded from 6.0.1 to 7.0

Axon 7 2017U is Now Daydream Ready! Get a Daydream View to experience VR today.

Camera RAW Implemented in Manual Mode and Enhanced Auto-Focus for Camera.

Google Security Patch Updated to December 2016

Various Device Stability and Security Improvements.

Hiya Caller ID/Blocking added to default dialer.

Miscellaneous Performance Improvements and other Enhancements.

What's your experience been with the Nougat update? Let us know in the comments!

Source: ZTE's Axon 7 flagship gets Nougat, Daydream support

Chinese Smartphone Players Continue To Grow In Oz Market

Recent reports from Taiwan-based component suppliers say that Chinese smartphone player Oppo have raised their smartphone shipment target for the first quarter of 2017 by almost 10% to 30-32 million.

The move comes with Oppo having just brought their refined R9S device to market on the back of a wide-ranging blitz on Australian customers in JB Hi-Fi, Woolworths and Officeworks outlets.

According to IDC numbers, Oppo accounted for 6.8 per cent of the global smartphone market in 2016.

After shipping 99.3 million units in 2016, reports now say Oppo aims to ramp up its shipments by over 20% in 2017.

The company's rapid rise has been enabled by four straight quarters of greater than 100% year-on-year growth.

However, they aren't the only Chinese player making big gains in the local market.

Huawei have also launched their own bold bid to displace Samsung as the premium provider of Android handsets with their new Mate 9.

Last year, Oppo briefly overtook Huawei at one point last year but the latter has now retaken the lead.

According to IDC, Huawei shipped a total of 125.9 million units last year.

Huawei's head of marketing Marc Di Giacomo argues that "the market is naturally moving to that desire for better cameras" – with Huawei jumping at the chance to fulfill that demand and grow their brand.

Meanwhile, Michael Tran (Executive Director at OPPO Mobile Australia) believes OPPO is in the perfect position to capitalise on consumers changing purchasing habits.

He notes that "premium doesn't have to mean pricey and OPPO smartphones are a perfect example of this. Not only do our phones have many of the features of flagship devices but also offer innovative new ones, such as rapid VOOC Flash Charge technology or Touch Access. When consumers get hands on with our devices, they are seeing this first-hand and we're quickly becoming a favourite for price savvy consumers."

"Moving forwards, we expect to see more consumers transition towards OPPO, as they see our devices as premium quality at an affordable price point. We have huge plans in store for 2017 and these results are nothing but encouraging for our growth in the Australian market," Tran says.

Source: Chinese Smartphone Players Continue To Grow In Oz Market

From the Editor's Desk: The 2017 flagship challenge

Tell me why I should care about your phone for more than a couple of months.

The lack of a Samsung Galaxy S8 launch at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona presents an opportunity for everyone else with a smartphone (or smartwatch, or tablet, or whatever) to sell. And sure enough, the mess of press conferences now scheduled for the afternoon of February 26 shows just how many rival manufacturers have stepped in to fill the publicity vacuum. LG, Huawei, Moto and Nokia will all showcase new phones on MWC press day. BlackBerry Mobile does its thing the day before. Sony's going the day after. (To say nothing of Samsung itself, which is expected to show off the long overdue Tab S3 at its own Barcelona event on the 26th.)

Why will I still care about your thing in two months time, when I can go buy a Galaxy S8 or S8 Plus?

It's a great opportunity for these guys to soak up some of the clicks, eyeballs and mindshare normally reserved for a new Galaxy S launch. But everyone intending to unveil a new flagship also has to answer one question: Why will I still care about your thing in two months time, when I can go buy a Galaxy S8 or S8 Plus. If, as reported, Samsung has first dibs on the Snapdragon 835, many of the high-end offerings breaking cover in Barcelona could look decidedly dated not long after launch. The likes of LG and Sony will need to make a strong case for why their thing, running last year's chip, is competitive with Samsung's upcoming thing, using its direct successor.

(That's less of an issue for Huawei, by the way, which is likely to use its own Kirin chips in the P10, expected to break cover on February 26. Vertical integration!)

Squaring up to the GS8 with older hardware isn't an impossible feat, but it certainly is a challenge. Maybe the reason to care is an amazing, unconventional camera, or epic battery life. Or some crazy hitherto unforeseen software feature. I have high hopes for the G6. For LG in recent years, that X-factor has been camera tech, and I'm looking forward to a generational leap forward from the G5 and V20's cameras.

For Sony, the challenge is more about proving why it's still relevant. Its Xperia X series phones were competent enough, but entirely forgettable next to the GS7 and Google Pixel. Sony's killer feature used to be camera tech. It's been a long time since it was the best at that. (Outside of the sensors its imaging division sells to other vendors, of course.) I'm not really sure what Sony can do to make an exciting phone for 2017, given the design and technical path it seems intent on pursuing, and the state of the competition. Hopefully someone in Japan has a better idea.

I'm not really sure what Sony can do to make an exciting phone for 2017.

Like I said earlier, China's Huawei isn't affected by Qualcomm's roadmap as much as everyone else. Despite the fact that it's still getting nowhere in the U.S. (ZDNet's Matt Miller has a good write-up on the challenges for Huawei in the Trump era), an early launch for the P10, with a few important upgrades from the Mate 9, could see it securing a spot as the major Android alternative to Samsung in Western Europe. In the UK, the P9 was picked up by all four major networks, and the product itself stands to be much better this year.

But the P10 needs to be more than just a smaller Mate 9 if it's to avoid being steamrolled by the GS8. Like everyone else, the case for Huawei to make on February 26 is "Yeah, you could wait another two months, but we have something that's just as good today."

A couple of other thoughts this Superb Owl 🦉🏈 weekend.

If the rumor mill is to be believed, we're due new Android Wear 2.0 watches from Google and LG in just a few days. I'm still waiting on a compelling case for running apps on my wrist. (Or really, doing anything besides checking notifications and tracking exercise on my wrist.) We've seen plenty of Wear 2.0 through the developer previews since it was first unveiled last May (!!!), so I'm curious to see how the finished products (both the physical watches and the software) shape up.

In fact, the next three weeks are going to be pretty wild in terms of new Android stuff and awesome content on Android Central — for both obvious and non-obvious reasons. I can't say any more than that yet, but if you like phones and other things that run Android, it's gonna be a bumper month.

That's it for this week. If you are sportsballing this weekend, you'll want to check out Modern Dad's guide to the big game!

Source: From the Editor's Desk: The 2017 flagship challenge

Samsung Galaxy A5 + A3 launch in the UK: Flagship features come to an affordable price point

Glass construction, water resistance, and latest Samsung UI arrive in new 4.7 and 5.2-inch handsets.

Samsung has unleashed the latest devices in its mid-priced A series on the UK, with the arrival of the 2017 variants of the Galaxy A3 and A5. As in previous years, Samsung has brought a smattering of high-end features to a more affordable price point through the pint-sized 4.7-inch A3, and the larger 5.2-inch A5.

Both phones share a similar glass and metal construction, much like Samsung's higher-end offerings, along with the IP68-rated water and dust resistance that comes as standard with the Galaxy S7. In fact, aside from a few differences in port and button placement, the A5 is the spitting image of its more expensive sibling. (In fact, it one-ups the GS7 in one small but notable area, shipping with a more up-to-date USB-C port.)

So the external hardware matches the quality we've come to expect from Samsung's flagships, with a subtle curve to the back panel, and clean joins between the glass and the metal. Other staple Galaxy S features like fingerprint security — which we weren't able to test yet — round off a familiar profile for both devices

Both phones' displays — 720p SuperAMOLED on the smaller A3, bumping up to 1080p on the larger A5 — are bright and vivid, delivering everything we've come to expect from AMOLED in a Samsung phone, with the exception of the extra pixel density you get from a flagship like the S7. And the internal hardware -— Samsung's homemade Exynos 7880 and 7870 chips — do a fine job of powering the Marshmallow-based software.

Category Galaxy A5 (2017) Galaxy A3 (2017) Network LTE Cat 6 LTE Cat 6 Display 5.2-inch FHD 1080p 4.7-inch HD 720p CPU 1.9GHz octa-core 1.6GHz octa-core OS Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow ("Grace" UX) Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow ("Grace" UX) Camera Rear : 16MP (F1.9), Front : 16MP (F1.9) Rear : 13MP (F1.9), Front : 8MP (F1.9) Water resistance IP68 IP68 RAM 3GB 2GB Storage 32GB + SD 16GB + SD Dimensions 146.1 x 71.4 x 7.9mm 135.4 x 66.2 x 7.9mm Battery 3,000mAh, Fast ChargingUSB-C 2,350mAhUSB-C

Although you'll need to make do with an older version of Android than some others in this price category, Samsung has at least brought its latest user experience tweaks to these phones. That means you get the so-called "Grace UX" — the lighter, brighter UI that debuted in the ill-fated Note 7, before making its way to the GS7 in its recent Nougat update. So A3 and A5 buyers will get the latest features from Samsung, even though they'll need to wait a little longer for the latest Android platform update.

That means slick new Dialer, Messaging and Gallery apps, along with a re-tooled Settings menu, re-vamped quick settings and a slicker, brighter interface for just about every bundled application. And both phones also boast Samsung's useful Always-On Display feature, which lets you see the time, pending notifications and even calendar details without unlocking the device. The Galaxy A5 even boasts Samsung's multi-window feature -- although you'll miss out on native multi-window support, meaning fewer apps are supported compared to phones running Android 7.0.

The latest Samsung features, but on an old version of Android.

Along with water resistance and premium construction, Samsung's singling out the A series' cameras as a major tentpole feature this time around. The A5 boasts a 16-megapixel sensor behind an f/1.9 lens on both the front and the back, so selfies should look every bit as good as photos taken with the rear camera. On the A3, you'll step down to 13 megapixels on the back, and eight around the front.

In our limited time testing the camera of the A5, we came away impressed with what Samsung's been able to bring to the table. On paper, the A5's camera sits somewhere between the GS5 and GS6, and that means that in all but very dark conditions you're likely to get great results. Much of Samsung's camera UX has transferred over from the Galaxy S line, and the new A-series phones bring some unique tricks of their own to the table. There's a new "food" mode, which jacks up the saturation and adds a fake depth of focus effect to emphasize the colors of your grub. And an optional floating shutter button makes it easier to take selfies without unnecessary finger strain.

After just a short time with Samsung's new Galaxy A3 and A5 models, it's clear both handsets have a lot to offer. But there are a few major barriers to entry for enthusiasts. The first is Marshmallow. Other phones around the A5's £399 price point, such as the OnePlus 3T, ship with Nougat and significantly higher specs. At £299, the field is a little clearer for the Galaxy A3, however it's still challenged by the likes of the Honor 8, which will soon be getting an upgrade to Android 7.0.

But for buyers who prioritize features above having the latest and greatest software, the Galaxy A series has a lot to offer — and at a significantly lower price point than the manufacturer's higher-end handsets.

See at Vodafone

See at Carphone Warehouse

Source: Samsung Galaxy A5 + A3 launch in the UK: Flagship features come to an affordable price point

LG G6 could come in a unique color model to take on Jet Black iPhone, as this leaked image suggests

This is as close as you're going to look at the LG G6, at least from the backside. The company has taken a different stance as far as the design of its flagship goes because unlike the G5, and G4, the upcoming G6 isn't going to feature a removable battery, as you can clearly see in the image. While that is a disadvantage of purchasing a premium phone with a metal unibody, LG has its reasons for doing so. It has been rumored that the G6 will come with support for wireless charging out of the box and it will also be equivalent to Samsung's flagships in terms of protecting the smartphone from water damage.

That is correct, the new and upcoming G6 according to rumors is going to feature an IP68 certification. The leaked image showed up on Business Insider and the glossy backside of the smartphone shows that the flagship might be ready to take on the Jet Black models of the iPhone. Samsung has also been rumored to release Jet Black versions of its Galaxy S8, so if the rumor ends up being true, then the G6 will compete against that as well.

The dual-camera is nothing different than what we've seen on previous LG smartphones and the position of the fingerprint reader hasn't changed as well. What will be changed are the internals of the smartphone, so let us hope that the company improves it considerably over its previous products.

One rumor stated that the G6 would be priced $50 higher than the G5, but in return, you're getting an IP68 water-resistant certification, a 32-bit DAC, support for wireless charging and a premium body, and if the only possible thing you're losing out on is a removable battery, then a $50 premium does not seem all that much now does it?

Source: LG G6 could come in a unique color model to take on Jet Black iPhone, as this leaked image suggests

T-Mobile prepping to release Android 7.0 Nougat updates for flagship phones

Samsung has already released the Android Nougat OS for the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge but unfortunately, some mobile carriers have yet to make related announcements. When Samsung rolled out the software updates, people expected that networks would soon follow. We haven't heard anything from T-Mobile until this week when a page was discovered containing more information about Android Nougat.

T-Mobile has been working to release the Nougaty update for several flagship phones but right now, we're interested to know more about the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge. It seems that T-Mobile isn't done with the testing coming from the process of manufacturer development.

About a dozen of smartphones are currently being tested for the Nougat software update. Aside from the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, here are other models in the process of T-Mobile certification testing: Samsung Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 edge, Galaxy Note 5, LG V10, LG G5, LG G Pad X 8.0, LG Stylo 2 Plus, HTC One M9, and HTC 10.

The Android 7.0 Nougat will deliver several enhancements and fixes to the Android phones mentioned including 72 new emojis, more customization features, Vulkan API, and multi-window view for multi-tasking among others. T-Mobile will send out notifications to subscribers once their phones' software updates are ready for download.

VIA: IIIZOOPIII P

SOURCE: T-Mobile

Source: T-Mobile prepping to release Android 7.0 Nougat updates for flagship phones

11 best smartphones 2017: our pick of the very best phones

© Courtesy of T3 T3 image Welcome to T3 Elite's roundup of the very best smartphones money can buy. We only include the best phones in this list, so you can be sure you're always geting the very latest cutting edge tech.

The T3.com team has tested every handset under the sun, and this page is designed to provide you with all the key info you need so you can choose the best smartphone for you. And we've listed in order of preference too, so there's no confusion. The first is the best.

So whether you're after the best Android smartphone money can buy, an iPhone upgrade or a new Windows 10 mobile to pair with your laptop, we've seen and extensively tested them all so you don't have to.

Take a look and we guarantee you'll find the best smartphone for you, beginning with the very best phone currently available...

1. Best smartphone - iPhone 7 Plus

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Here we have the iPhone 7 Plus - probably the best-looking smartphone around. Some feel its sheer size does make it tricky to hold, but there's no denying Apple's beautiful 5.5-incher is a winner. If you're an iPhone user and you fancy picking up the best smartphone around, this should definitely be your first choice. Apple has chosen to stick with the iPhone 6S design, improving it with rerouted antenna lines and a more integrated camera bump. There are glorious new colours available, and to top it off, the casing is now water resistant.

Read: iPhone 7 Plus review

It's inside where the iPhone 7 Plus has received the biggest overhaul - now packing Apple's blazing fast A10 Fusion processor. The camera has also received a significant upgrade, now with two 12MP sensors capable of 2x optical zoom. To finish it off, the iPhone 7 Plus comes running iOS 10, Apple's latest and greatest mobile OS.

It is expensive, and may be too large for some, so the standard iPhone 7 with a 4.7-inch display is also worth your consideration.

2. The other best smartphone - Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge

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The Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge is so close to being the best smartphone in the world right now. It boasts the brilliant dual curved display, with the screen bending around on both sides so it looks like no other phone ever made (apart from the S6 Edge last year). Yep, this futuristic smartphone is a looker, and it'll have your friends begging for a chance to play with it.

Read: Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge review

That combined with industry leading power, an amazing display, decent battery life, an excellent camera and amazing performance make it not only the best-looking smartphone, but one of the top two smartphones in the universe. Of course, if you're not a fan of the curved display, the regular S7 is close to perfection as well.

3. Google Pixel XL

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We can't tell you how close it is between the Google Pixel XL, iPhone 7 Plus and S7 Edge for the title of 'best smartphone in the world.' All three are beautiful, but the sleek design, intuitive UI, and leading ecosystem puts the iPhone 7 just in front. The Google Pixel XL is still an amazing smartphone - especially if you adore large screens and virtual assistants.

Read: Google Pixel XL review

Whether it's the excellent camera, the metal-and-glass chassis, the oodles of power involved (from Qualcomm's newest Snapdragon processor) or just the fact that the software and virtual assistant work in perfect harmony with the hardware, Google's got a lot right here and this is a brilliant phone. Of course, if you don't like large screens the 5.0-inch Pixel is also available, which is identical the XL (apart from size).

4. iPhone SE

© Provided by Future Publishing Ltd.

Notice how all of these smartphones have 5+ inch screens? What if you have small hands? You can't reach all four corners of the screen. It's a problem not many of us face, but the truth is -- some people just prefer smaller phones but don't want to sacrifice high-end specs. The iPhone SE is for you. With a 4-inch screen and guts which match the iPhone 6S, including the 12MP rear camera, 2GB RAM, Apple Pay, Retina display, and Apple A9 chipset, this thing is a little pocket rocket.

Read: iPhone SE review

There are a few drawbacks - the design isn't beautifully curvaceous like the iPhone 7 (the SE is based on the iPhone 5), the front-facing camera has fewer megapixels, and the Touch ID fingerprint sensor is older and therefore slower. The best thing about it? Despite its range-topping specs, the iPhone SE is also one of the cheapest smartphones Apple has ever released. What's not to love?

5. OnePlus 3T

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Looking to upset dominance by the big brands is OnePlus, who took the mobile world by storm in 2014 with one goal, to be the flagship killer. It's fourth smartphone, the OnePlus 3T, has finally achieved that goal. With a slightly more expensive price tag of £399, you'll get all the mod-cons of much more expensive handsets, including an HD screen, fingerprint sensor, a decent camera and powerful specs. And, whereas previous OnePlus phones lacked finesse - the OnePlus 3T as a genuine premium feel and the software is rock solid.

Read: OnePlus 3T review

6. Nexus 6P

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The Nexus may have been superseeded by the Google Pixel, but that only makes the highly affordable Nexus 6P a steal. The phone is made by Huawei and includes a 5.7-inch 2K display, 2GB of RAM and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 chipset inside. The battery life is very impressive for a phone this size but sadly there's no wireless camera. The camera offers a 12MP sensor and there's a fingerprint sensor on the back for the very first time.

Read: Google Nexus 6P review

The design is especially lovely this year with a metal back and a rounder design than before - but it may prove too big for some.

7. LG G5

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This phone is aimed at those who want a truly innovative, gadgety smartphone, and while it doesn't look as special as the Galaxy S7 Edge, it does have a kick-ass unique feature. This phone, you see, has a modular design, letting you add optional attachments (such as a camera grip or high-res audio). It's also the only flagship smartphone in 2017 which lets you swap the battery. Sure, it doesn't feel as premium as the Samsung or iPhone, but if you want to make a geeky statement, this is the phone for you.

Read: LG G5 review

With leading specs, an excellent screen and the latest version of Android, this is definitely LG's best smartphone ever and comes highly recommended.

8. HTC 10

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The HTC 10 is a phone that takes the design heritage, DNA and all the other good bits of last year's One M9 and, well, does them again, but better. It's again shown the rest of the competition how to make a premium smartphone, and its camera, battery life and performance is right up there too. HTC has really worked on the criticisms of the previous generation devices, and created their best ever flagship smartphone.

Read: HTC 10 review

It would have been nice to see HTC really push the boat out in terms of design, but the minimal tweaks they've made to stock Android are amazing, making this one of our favourite smartphones in 2017.

9. Huawei Mate 9

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If your budget can't quite stretch to a snazzy California or South Korean-designed smartphone, you may wish to consider a Chinese brand instead. The Huawei Mate 9 is the best smartphone to hail from the People's Republic. It has a great 5.9-inch display, and brilliant battery life thanks to the large 4,000 mAh unit. It's not without its flaws though, the Emotion UI isn't great (although, has been improved over previous generations), and the design just isn't as sleek as its rivals.

10. Sony Z5 Premium

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Sony has just made the world's first ever 4K smartphone, but we're not exactly sure if it's necessary yet. It's a huge 5.5-inch screen with a huge 806 pixels-per-inch as well so is perfect for any phablet lovers out there. There's a new fingerprint sensor running along the side of the phone that works perfectly and then there's a great 23MP camera on the back of the phone.

Read: Sony Xperia Z5 Premium review

The battery life may not be perfect, but this is one of the best phones if you love to have the newest tech first.

11. Motorola Moto X Force

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The Moto X Force is a refreshing phone - rather than trying to be elegant and premium - it's durable and will survive a beating. That's mainly down to the screen, which features a thick, toughened outer layer which won't break - not matter how hard you try. The casing is also pretty rugged, our favourite finish being the 'Ballistic Nylon' back. The specs are pretty powerful, and the battery life is also impressive.

Read:Motorola Moto X-Force review

Android is left close to stock which is also good news. It's not as cutting edge as Samsung's or Apple's latest efforts, but it's a great all-rounder.

Source: 11 best smartphones 2017: our pick of the very best phones