smartphones

566 'smartphones' stories May 2011 - February 2016

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Opinion: BlackBerry PRIV’s bloatware makes Android better [Video]

Cam Bunton Feb 8 2016 - 10:19 am PT

More often than not, when a manufacturer decides to mess with software, adding its own ‘valuable’ take on what we should have on our phones, it ends up being a laggy mess of unused features. Whether its LG with its inefficient launcher, or Samsung with its TouchWiz, no Android OEM gets it right. With BlackBerry’s PRIV, although there are undoubtedly a couple of things I’d change, most of the custom software is very useful and is — dare I say it — better than stock Android…

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Sony Xperia Z5 and Z5 Compact now available in the States, $599 and $499 respectively for sans fingerprint sensor versions

Cam Bunton Feb 8 2016 - 5:02 am PT

As previously announced by the manufacturer, Sony has now started selling the unlocked, fingerprint sensor-free versions of the Xperia Z5 and Z5 Compact in the US for $599 and $499 respectively. They’re available from Amazon, Best Buy and B&H plus a few other popular online retailers from now, although they’re not all selling them at the suggested retail price. Best Buy has already discounted the Compact version by $50.

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OnePlus 2 gets permanent price drop, ‘2016 flagship killer’ now costs $349

Cam Bunton Feb 8 2016 - 4:17 am PT

OnePlus took to its official forums this morning to announce that the 64GB OnePlus 2 is being discounted by $40. The new price for the company’s ‘flagship killer’ is $349, down from $389. The drop in price is permanent and will be reflected internationally. In the UK, as an example, you can snag a OnePlus 2 for just £249. As a gesture of goodwill, OnePlus will retroactively refund the price difference to anyone who has purchased the OP2 over the past 15 days.

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Opinion: BlackBerry PRIV’s keyboards make it one of most accurate & versatile Android-powered communication machines [Video]

Cam Bunton Feb 5 2016 - 8:54 am PT

I’ve almost lost count of the number of Android phones I’ve used over the past few years. Some are more memorable than others, but the one that really sticks in my mind is the original. The very first Android phone, the HTC-made T-Mobile G1.

There was something very unusual about it. It didn’t look like the Windows Mobile PDA-phone crossovers, it was nothing like a BlackBerry or an iPhone. It was that unique quirky factor that gave it its edge. Having a touchscreen which flicked out to reveal a full QWERTY keypad was something we’d only really seen on the Sidekick series.

Fast forward nearly 8 years later, and virtually every Android phone looks like every other smartphone. Of all the devices released over the past 12 months, I’d hazard a guess that 99.9% of them were the standard rectangle, touchscreen and no-keyboard affairs. Some might have curved dual-screen designs, but they’re still all-screen. Until the PRIV, we haven’t seen anything remotely decent with a physical QWERTY keyboard since the days of the G2…

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Huawei has shipped an impressive 10 million P8 Lite smartphones since launch

Cam Bunton Feb 4 2016 - 3:53 am PT

Huawei has announced via a short press release that it has shipped more than 10 million P8 Lite units since it launched last Spring. More interestingly, the manufacturer states that the P8 Lite is its first ever smartphone to be more popular internationally that it is in China, showing that its recent focus on the wider global market is well-placed and working effectively.

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Android 6.0 Marshmallow reportedly rolling out to some Galaxy Note 5 beta testers

Cam Bunton Feb 3 2016 - 2:49 am PT

A few weeks back, Samsung opened up an Android Marshmallow beta testing program for specific carrier models of the Galaxy S6 Edge, S6 Edge+ and the Galaxy Note 5. While we’re undoubtedly still some time away from seeing the OS update land officially for those carrier-locked devices, Samsung has started pushing out the beta-testing software to some users.

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Xiaomi: US Mobile is selling our phones without authorization

Cam Bunton Feb 2 2016 - 3:33 am PT

Update: Looks like US Mobile has pulled the phones from its online store already. A quick search for Xiaomi and Meizu phones reveals no matching products.

As a new month began yesterday, it seemed Xiaomi may have finally started selling its devices in the States, through US Mobile. The small carrier drew attention to the fact it was the first to start selling Xiaomi phones in the States, despite the fact that the models being offered didn’t support its own LTE bands.

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Opinion: With Android Marshmallow, the Moto X Play is born again [Video]

Cam Bunton Feb 1 2016 - 4:50 pm PT

A few months ago, as soon as it was officially launched in the UK, I checked out the Moto X Play. Price and spec-wise it stood halfway between the Moto G and the Moto X Style/Pure. Although it undoubtedly had its positives, there were some elements of the experience that left me disappointed. It intermittently stuttered and lagged during transitions, and very often refused to load data within apps. It wasn’t all the time, but it was enough to leave a less-than-great feeling.

With Android Marshmallow, the experience is so vastly different, it’s pretty difficult to believe. In fact, it’s so much better, I felt the phone should be revisited…

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RIP BB10: BlackBerry may eventually go all-in on Android

Cam Bunton Feb 1 2016 - 5:05 am PT

BlackBerry chief John Chen recently stated that his company is only going to make Android smartphones this year. And if a report from Economic Times is anything to go by, they company might only make Android phones for the foreseeable future, signaling the end of the 3 year-old BB10 platform…

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Leaked Samsung teaser points to Feb 21 Galaxy S7 launch event

Cam Bunton Jan 31 2016 - 1:21 pm PT

A handful of companies have already announced their intention to launch devices during (or before) MWC 2016 in Barcelona in a few weeks’ time. LG and Huawei have both sent out invites, while rumors are that Sony also has something planned. But, Samsung — a company which for the past few years has used the conference to launch its Galaxy S range — has been quiet so far…

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‘White Card’ leak suggests LG Pay mobile payment won’t be smartphone based

Cam Bunton Jan 29 2016 - 6:04 am PT

A report from ETNews in Korea suggests that LG’s mobile payments service will not be smartphone based. At least, not exclusively. A ‘White Card’ has leaked showing a digital credit-card sized device which will be able to store multiple credit/debit cards’ details and enable a user to pay from any account, using just the single LG Pay card. In essence, it’s LG’s version of the Coin card which launched on KickStarter a couple of years back.

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Sony posts $1 billion profit in Q4 2015 despite faltering smartphone sales

Cam Bunton Jan 29 2016 - 3:52 am PT

Sony has published full financial results for its third fiscal quarter (Q4 for everyone else), and things are looking pretty flat for the Japanese tech giant. Overall, the company made just over $1 billion USD in profit in the three months ending on December 31, 2015. Sony saw a significant increase in PS4 software sales, and in its motion picture department. Sadly, a substantial decline in smartphone sales means the company as a whole only increased its revenue by 0.5% on the same quarter a year ago…

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Huawei sends out invites to Mobile World Congress launch event on Feb 21, likely not P9

Cam Bunton Jan 28 2016 - 8:07 am PT

Huawei has just sent out invitations to media for an event taking place in Barcelona on February 21st, the day before MWC 2016 kicks off in earnest. Time hasn’t yet been specified, but the event will take place at the Montjuïc Exhibition Centre, a location the manufacturer has used in the past to announce new products.

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Xiaomi Mi 5 retail packaging leak seemingly reveals design and color options

Cam Bunton Jan 28 2016 - 6:50 am PT

Xiaomi has already confirmed that it will reveal its next flagship smartphone, the Mi 5, at a media event in Barcelona during MWC next month. While we know when the phone will be launched, and that it will be equipped with a Snapdragon 820 processor, little else is close to confirmed. Even the design has been something of a mystery since all we’ve seen so far is a couple of sketchy leaks and a supposed render.

Today, further evidence has risen suggesting the earlier render was accurate. Images posted by well-known leaker Steve Hemmerstoffer show what appears to be a warehouse with multiple empty white boxes stacked on a pallet, seemingly ready for shipment to assembly lines.

The boxes themselves show a device almost identical to the previous renders, and shows them in four different fashionable colors: gold, pink, white and black.

Design-wise, the devices look very much like a Galaxy S6 with its rounded metal frame plus the glass front and back panels. The glass curves towards the edges on the back, similar to the design of the Note 5. As a reminder, these are the earlier leaks which claimed to show the Mi 5’s form factor previously:

While the company has been expectedly vague with any details regarding the Mi 5, we are expecting a device with specs to match most of the top flagship phones for 2016. The SD820-powered device is rumored to feature a Quad HD display, as well as an advanced f/2.2 aperture 16MP camera with 4K video recording. If it’s anything like previous Xiaomi devices, it will cost considerably less than the Galaxy S7, which Samsung is allegedly planning to launch during the first quarter of this year.

Oppo teases ‘groundbreaking power solution’ and ‘unprecedented smartphone camera innovation’ ahead of MWC event

Cam Bunton Jan 28 2016 - 4:19 am PT

With Xiaomi having just announced its intention to announce the Mi 5 during MWC in Barcelona this year, Oppo wasn’t far behind with its own related — albeit incredibly vague — announcement. Oppo sent out a short press release claiming that it will show off a ‘groundbreaking power solution’ as well as an ‘unprecedented smartphone camera innovation’. If you’re looking for answers as to what exactly that means, I have none. It’s a string of buzz words that don’t say anything of substance.

The power solution could be anything from a new high density, high capacity, fast-charging smartphone battery, to a new battery pack. With Oppo having released motorized rotating cameras in the past, there are no shortage of possibilities as to what ‘camera innovation’ means.

Stepping aside from the excessive use of superlatives, Oppo had a fantastic year in 2015. Like Huawei, it saw a huge jump in the number of shipped devices worldwide. It sold 50 million smartphones, which was up 67 percent on the previous year, taking it up to 8th in the list of 2015’s biggest smartphone manufacturers.

Wow the World: OPPO to Unveil Breakthrough Tech at MWC
Shenzhen, Jan. 28, 2016 — The ever-evolving smartphone brand OPPO is heading to Barcelona for Mobile World Congress 2016, where it plans to unveil a groundbreaking power solution and an unprecedented smartphone camera innovation that will offer tomorrow’s consumers a reinvigorated user experience.

“With our commitment to equip everyday consumers with the best technology, OPPO invests great efforts in technological innovation. We have a legacy of bringing new ideas to the industry that we are proud to uphold, such as introducing the world’s first motorized rotating camera, the fast and safe VOOC Flash Charge technology, the first front-facing Screen Flash, and the first selfie beautify function for smartphones,” said Mr. Sky Li, OPPO Vice President and Managing Director of International Mobile Business. “We are excited to present OPPO’s latest breakthroughs at the world-class MWC and look forward to creating even more amazing user experiences.”

In 2015, OPPO sold 50 million units, representing year-on-year growth of 67 percent. The company has broken into the top ten smartphone brands worldwide, ranking eighth in units shipped, according to a recent report by TrendForce.

OnePlus X, one of last year’s best budget phones, is now available invite-free

Cam Bunton Jan 28 2016 - 3:18 am PT

OnePlus has announced via its official forums that the OnePlus X is now available to buy completely invite-free. You no longer need to wait until a Tuesday to buy the device without an invitation, just head to OnePlus.net and add the phone to your basket.

We’re extremely excited to be making the OnePlus X invite-free more quickly this time around. With every device we release, we grow more mature and more adept at handling the demands and expectations of our community. We largely owe our success to your unrelenting support, so we hope that this development will make the process of purchasing your very own OnePlus X as smooth and effortless as it can possibly be.

This marks the quickest time it’s taken any of OnePlus’ devices to go from launch to invite-free. The manufacturer’s original phone, the OnePlus One, wasn’t available to buy without an invite until around one year after it was launched. The OnePlus 2 took four months to achieve the same status, and the OnePlus X took around three months.

The OnePlus X was one of the best affordable phones launched last year. In fact, I kinda wish the company’s flagship phone was just a bigger version of the X with a better camera. At just $249 unlocked, it’s hard to think of a phone as complete and premium-looking for the same price.

With future phone releases, OnePlus would eventually like to reduce the time between launch and completely open sales even further. Perhaps at some point even offering the device for sale right off the bat. As it gets its inventory management under tighter control, that becomes a more likely possibility with every new phone launch.

Xiaomi Mi 5 launch on Feb. 24 will be company’s first at MWC in Barcelona

Cam Bunton Jan 28 2016 - 2:21 am PT

A few days ago, Xiaomi’s global VP Hugo Barra confirmed on Twitter that the company would be releasing the next eagerly-anticipated smartphone on February 24. Just a few hours ago, Barra took to Facebook to announce that a media preview for the Xiaomi Mi 5 will take place in Barcelona during MWC while the launch event takes place in Beijing…

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Huawei predicted to be one of 2016’s smartphone market growth leaders

Cam Bunton Jan 27 2016 - 5:38 am PT

In a report that’s no surprise to anyone who’s followed the smartphone market this past year, DigiTimes‘ industry sources are expecting Huawei to be this year’s biggest growers. The Chinese smartphone maker is predicted to sell 120 million smartphones in 2016, 20% more than it did during 2015.

We think if it follows on from its success this year, there’s no reason why it can’t achieve those figures…

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Report: Galaxy S7 to launch alongside Samsung phone upgrade/rental program

Cam Bunton Jan 27 2016 - 3:44 am PT

According to a report from ETNews in Korea, Samsung is planning to launch a new purchase scheme similar to Apple’s iPhone upgrade program when it releases the Galaxy S7/S7 Edge this Spring. A rumor from months ago suggested Samsung was planning the move, but wasn’t clear when the company was thinking of launching it.

Although the report doesn’t specify exact prices or details of the upgrade scheme, it does say the consumers will be able to pay a monthly rental fee and hand the phone back in after 12 months, swapping it out for the next model…

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Xiaomi Mi 5 will launch on February 24, company VP confirms

Cam Bunton Jan 26 2016 - 2:53 am PT

Following weeks of speculation and leaks, Xiaomi’s global VP, Hugo Barra has confirmed on Twitter that the Mi 5 will launch on February 24. Having already revealed that the Mi 5 will be powered by a Snapdragon 820 processor, it’s clear this device is going to be the company’s flagship smartphone of 2016.

#Mi5 is almost here! Xiaomi’s first product in 2016, launching on Feb. 24. It’s everything you imagined, and more. pic.twitter.com/FTd0KzFrgD

— Hugo Barra (@hbarra) January 26, 2016

Apart from the processor, we know little about the Mi 5 with certainty. One website’s placeholder suggested the device will ship with specs that should compete head-to-head with the Galaxy S7, although it will undoubtedly be cheaper than Samsung’s next flagship smartphone. The Mi 5 listing claimed the smartphone will have a 5.2-inch Quad HD display coated in 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass 4. It also suggested the phone will have a 6-element 16MP camera on the back with f/2.2 aperture and 4K video recording.

Xiaomi is well known for releasing powerful smartphones at competitive prices. The big question for 2016 is whether or not it will launch its upcoming devices in the US and other established western markets. Its biggest competitor, Huawei, made huge strides internationally last year, and will surely extend its lead over Xiaomi if the Mi-makers don’t respond aggressively.

LG plans to launch two flagship phones in 2016 following 4th quarter mobile loss

Cam Bunton Jan 26 2016 - 2:26 am PT

LG announced its Q4 2015 earnings this morning and revealed that although the company as a whole saw growth and profitability, the mobile division made a loss. LG made $308 million in Q4 thanks mostly to strong performance from its Home Appliance and Air Solution Company.

Despite LG’s mobile division making a loss of around $39 million, LG managed to sell 15.3 million smartphones globally in the fourth quarter, bringing its total for 2015 up to 59.7 million units. That’s slightly better than 2014, when LG managed to sell 59.1 million smartphones. Sequentially, fourth quarter sales were up 12% on the third quarter, thanks to strong performance in North America, presumably as a result of launching the V10 flagship smartphone and holiday season sales…

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Lenovo launches K5 Note, an affordable full HD, all-metal phablet

Cam Bunton Jan 25 2016 - 1:26 pm PT

Having recently made comments that it is seeking to make fewer handsets this year than last, Lenovo is making some contradictory moves in the smartphone market. The manufacturer has launched the all-metal K5 Note in China, and the mid-range smartphone makes its way to market in the same month the K4 Note landed in India. Color me confused.

Regardless, the Lenovo K5 Note will cost ¥1,099 (approx $167) when it lands on Chinese store shelves at the beginning of February. For that money, the phone offers some admirable specifications.

As well as being made from aluminum, it has a full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution 5.5-inch screen boasting a pixel density of around 401ppi. It also features a 1.8GHz octa-core MediaTek Helio P10 processor paired with 2GB and 16GB storage (expandable up to 128GB). A 3,500mAh battery should ensure that it goes at least a full day on a single charge.

Other key features include a 13MP f/2.2 rear camera with phase detection auto-focus and 1080p video recording, as well as an 8MP front-facing camera. It runs Android 5.1 Lollipop with Lenovo’s own Vibe UI on top. The device measures 8.5mm thin, making it slightly thicker than most flagship phones, but is by no means bulky. It also has a fingerprint sensor on the back, as is normal with modern smartphones.

With the low-mid tier markets becoming full of metal devices equipped with high-end specs, it’ll be interesting to see who comes out on top this year. Will Lenovo’s devices have a chance of competing with the likes of Huawei, Xiaomi or OnePlus?

OxygenOS 2.1.4 now available officially for OnePlus One

Cam Bunton Jan 22 2016 - 5:16 am PT

When OnePlus launched its second smartphone last year, it opted to do so without the Cyanogen-based operating system found on its first smartphone, the OnePlus One. Instead, it had been developing its own UI called OxygenOS which ended up being the out-of-the-box operating system for both the OnePlus 2 and OnePlus X.

Today, the manufacturer has announced that it has finished building a custom version of OxygenOS for the original OnePlus smartphone, and it’s available to download now…

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Leaked Exynos 8890-powered Galaxy S7 benchmarks show up on Geekbench and AnTuTu

Cam Bunton Jan 21 2016 - 5:59 am PT

galaxy s6

With the Galaxy S7 widely expected to be officially unveiled at an event next month, rumors and leaks are on the rise for Samsung’s next generation flagship smartphone. For some time we’ve been hearing that Sammy is working on both a Snapdragon 820 and Exynos 8890 equipped version of the S7. Over the past couple of days, claimed leaked benchmarks corroborate those rumors, and the others we’ve heard over the past few months.

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