Acer seems to have silently released a new smartphone in its home country – Taiwan. The new smartphone dubbed Acer Liquid Z6 Max was recently showcased during an event Acer organized to honor participants at the 2017 Taiwan Universaide Games held in Taipei. Acer Taiwan’s General Manager reportedly presented 380 special -edition Liquid Z6 Max smartphones to those who participated in the games.
Before now, the Liquid Z6 Max is relatively unheard of, as the tech giant only announced the Acer Liquid Z6 and Z6 Plus at IFA Berlin 2016. So, the Z6 Max is an entirely new addition to the family with a specs lineup that shows it is an upgrade of last year’s Z6 Plus. The device goes maximum with its battery capacity, packing a massive 4,670mAh battery, unlike the 4,080mAh which the Z6 Plus featured.
The Acer Z6 Max is also revealed to feature an Octa-core processor which we believe is an upgraded MediaTek chip over the MT6753 octa-core chip used by the Z6 Plus. The RAM is also increased from 3GB to 4GB RAM and the storage from 32GB to 64GB with a slot for expansion.internal expandable storage. Another major upgrade is in the camera aspect. While the Z6 Plus features a 13MP camera at the back and a 5MP front-facing shooter, the Acer Z6 Max is revealed to pack a 16MP front-facing camera with F2.0 aperture while at the rear is a 13MP main camera with PDAF. The display is a 5.5-inch 1080p panel with 2.5D glass on top.
The Liquid Z6 Max sticks with the 5.5-inch FHD display on its predecessor and has dual SIM slots in which one is a 4G slot while the second is 3G enabled. There is also a separate microSD slot that can take up to a 128GB storage card. There is also a fingerprint sensor at the rear and capacitive keys at the sides. The device features a metal body while there are the Universaide cartoon and the Game’s logo at the back which we believe was included because this is a special edition. The model is said to come with a price hovering around 9,900 TWD (330 USD) which is quite high for such a smartphone. The Z6 Plus was priced around $277 and since this is an upgrade, it just might coming with that price tag.
The Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 is billed to be launched on September 11 and already Xiaomi has released an official poster which confirms that. Ahead of the launched, what could be termed the biggest leak of the Mi Mix 2 has appeared online and it brings along with it a wave of listed specs the device is expected to pack.
The leak comes in form of the Mi Mix screenshot displaying the about phone section and thus revealing a lot about the flagship model. One aspect that would come as a surprise is that the Mi Mix 2 is listed as packing a Snapdragon 836 processor. The SD 836 has featured in several rumors and is actually being expected as a slight upgrade of the SD 835 but no one would have thought the Mi Mix 2 would be among the first, that is if it will not be the first flagship model to utilise the chip.
Apart from Snapdragon 836 processor, the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 is revealed to run on Android’s latest OS – Android 8.0 Oreo with a touch of MIUI 9. Other details we can scoop from the leaked screenshot include a 6.2-inch display with a resolution of 2960 x 1440pixels as well as a 4,400mAh battery and 256GB storage. The screenshot also reveals the Mi Mix 2 will come with 20MP rear camera, perhaps on its main sensor because the Mix 2 is expected to pack a dual camera setup at its rear.
Except Xiaomi is planning to spring up a surprise, the specs sheet doesn’t look feasible. For one, Qualcomm is yet to announce Snapdragon 836 and even Xiaomi’s new MIUI 9 hasn’t got a version based on Android Oreo. So, we’ll keep our fingers crossed while on the look out for more leaks as the launch date approaches.
The rumor mill has started churning out leaked details of the Galaxy S9 smartphone. Yesterday, plenty of information on the Galaxy S9 had appeared. A fresh report coming from South Korea reveals that the Samsung would be debuting the 2018 Galaxy S9 flagship in January next year.
The Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ flagship smartphones were launched in March this year and their sales had started in April this year. However, fresh information suggests that Samsung may launch the successors of the Galaxy S8 duo earlier next year. The Galaxy S9 and S9+ are now speculated to debut in January in the coming year. These flagship phones are expected to go on sale in February.
What could be considering for launching the Galaxy S9 duo earlier next year? Apple is the number one rival of Samsung smartphones. Reports that the launch of the most advanced special edition iPhone dubbed as iPhone 8 could be the reason that is influencing the arrival of Galaxy S9 and S9+. The early arrival of Galaxy S9 duo hints that they would be available in the market around two months earlier than their predecessor models.
The early arrival of the Galaxy S9 is supported but a report that states that Samsung Display is poised to ship OLED panels for the next generation S series smartphones in November. Compared to other components of a smartphone such as camera modules and cases, display panels are shipped earlier. It takes around three months to ship the entire assembly of the phone. Judging by the schedule of phone’s assembly, it appears that the Galaxy S9 may debut at the end of January, to be precise and its global launch could be in mid-February.
Previous reports have also revealed that Samsung has begun the works on Galaxy S9 early this year. The panel development began in April 2016. It appears that the South Korean company is around three to four months ahead of its schedule for the Galaxy S9 and S9+ that are rumored to be respectively codenamed as Star and Star 2. The early arrival of the Galaxy S9 is speculated as a strategy to defend its flagship smartphones against the most special iPhone that is launching next year.
In related news, the South Korean media has revealed that the LG G7 would be also launching it January 2018. Unlike the LG G6, the LG G7 is speculated to arrive flagship specs.
Since the past month, Chinese sources have been revealing information on the upcoming Vivo X20 bezel-less smartphone. Recently, it was spotted on FIFA World Cup 2018 promo posters. The handset seems to have now appeared in two live photos to reveal its front and rear sides.
The design of the bezel-less Vivo phone that has appeared in the new images resembles with the render of the Vivo X20 that appeared on FIFA World Cup 2018 posters. The new images show that the smartphone has a white body with dual rear cameras on its rear panel. It also appears to be sporting a rear-mounted fingerprint reader.
The bezels on the sides of the screen are quite thin and bezels present above and below the display are a bit thicker than the side bezels. The alleged Vivo X20 will deliver a high screen-to-body ratio. It is expected to deliver an aspect ratio of 18:9 which is same as the aspect ratio available on the LG G6 and LG V30 smartphones. It seems that the body of the Vivo X20 will be made up of metal. There is possibility that it may sport metal and glass combination design.
Reports have revealed that there would be a regular model that will launch as Vivo X20 and there would be another variant of the phone that is dubbed as Vivo X20 Plus. However, there is no information available on the differences between Vivo X20 and its Plus variant.
According to previous reports, the Vivo X20 would be fitted with a 5-inch screen that deliver a full HD resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels. The Vivo X20 Plus may feature a larger 5.5-inch or 6-inch FHD screen. The Snapdragon 660 chipset is rumored to power the Vivo X20 and Vivo X20 Plus along with 4 GB of RAM. The X20 is expected to feature a native storage of 64 GB.
In May, Vivo and FIFA had signed a contract to make the Chinese smartphone manufacturer as the official sponsor of the World Cup 2018 that will be held in Russia. Moreover, Vivo is also the official sponsor of the World Cup 2022.
There are no details available on its pricing and launch date. Since the smartphone appears to be ready in the new live photos, Vivo may announce the X20 as early as this month.
There are a bunch of smartphones out there that say they support up to 2TB microSD cards. News flash! There is no 2TB microSD card, neither is there a 1TB microSD card nor a 512GB microSD card. Up until yesterday, the largest capacity you could get was 256GB. Yesterday at IFA Berlin, SanDisk launched a new microSD card slot with a 400GB capacity making it the largest capacity you can get on a microSD card for now.
So while these smartphones may say they do support 2TB cards, there is no way to confirm if it is indeed true.
The SanDisk microSD card has a read speed of up to 100MB/S. Write speeds are lower but you should be able to transfer 4.1GB of photos using a USB 3.0 card reader in a minute.
Recent reports had claimed that Apple would be holding an unveil event on Sept. 12. Now, Apple has officially sent out launch invitations for a launch event that will be held on Sept. 12. It is heavily pegged to unveil three iPhones at the upcoming unveil event.
The “Apple Special Event” will be held at the Steve Jobs Theater for the very first time. The venue is also dubbed as the New Apple Park. The event will begin at 10 AM PDT on Sept. 12. The rumor mill has been consistently saying that the Cupertino company will unveil three iPhones such as iPhone 7S, iPhone 7S Plus and the special edition iPhone 8 or iPhone Pro.
The iPhone 7S and iPhone 7S Plus are expected to arrive refreshed models of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus from last year. The iPhone 8 is speculated as the 10th anniversary special iPhone that will be arriving with some new features.
The alleged iPhone 8 is expected to break cover as the first iPhone with an OLED screen. Leaked information has revealed that it will be housing a 5.8-inch OLED panel and it will be boasting a full screen design with super slim bezels. It will be driven by Apple A11 chipset and the latest iOS 11 operating system.
Touch ID sensor may not be present on the iPhone 8 as it is rumored to be replaced by 3D facial recognition feature. The iPhone 8 is also pegged to carry certain AR features and it is believed to arrive with wireless charging support for charging the newb long lasting “L” shaped battery. It is expected to be available in storages like 64 GB, 256 GB and 512 GB.
The highest storage model of the iPhone 8 is expected to cost around $1,400. After getting unveiled on Sept. 12, the new iPhones may become available on pre-orders on Sept. 15 and their shipments are likely to start on Sept. 22.
Apple will not just showcase the new iPhones at Sept. 12 unveil event, it is also expected to debut an LTE chip enabled Apple Watch 3 smartwatch. Through an embedded, it may allow users to access VOIP services and access without pairing with an iPhone. Speculations are rife that Apple may also uncover a 4K ready Apple TV at the same launch event.
It has been 11 months already since LeEco held its first launch event in the U.S, signaling the official debut of the tech giant in the United States. Obviously, the Chinese company was looking to increase its revenue with the foray into the U.S but it soon hit troubled waters financially, as a result of its huge investment in U.S electric car maker Faraday Future. The financial woes recently led to the resignation of CEO Jia Yueting and also, the company has been cutting down its staff strength gradually.
What we actually weren’t aware of is that LeEco has laid off almost all of its staff strength in the U.S. Engadget’s Richard Lai recently grabbed a couple of photos of Leeco’s U.S office in San Jose, California and it was entirely devoid of activities with much of the offices looking empty. On inquiry, LeEco disclosed that there are only a handful of employees still working for the company in the U.S. LeEco had nearly 325 persons on its payroll in the US before its finances began to dwindle. This has obviously led to the laying off of a large chunk of that number, put at 85% of its U.S workforce. The Chinese company, regarded as the “Netflix of China” because of its prolific video streaming service, now focuses on Chinese speaking customers and that is a small market which its current workforce can handle. The company also acquired Yahoo’s office building in Santa Clara where it hoped to site its U.S headquarters. That property is also likely deserted as well.
This latest discovery is yet another indication that the tech company isn’t anywhere near staging a return to its glory days. The company was discovered to have closed its only shop in Russia and not long before that, Jia Yueting threw in the towel as CEO. The company also recently pulled out of a deal to buy VIZIO, one of the largest TV makers in the world, citing a lack of financial resources to seal the deal. Even in China, LeEco has had to close down some of its service centres apparently to cut down operational cost. We certainly do hope that the innovative and once sprawling tech giant makes a comeback to the scene sometime soon.
The phone industry last year looked to be heading towards the use of curved flexible display but the launch of the bezel-less Mi Mix concept changed the direction. Now, full-screen, bezel-less phones are the rave of the moment. From flagships to mid-rangers, right down to budget models, we have seen quite a number of them coming with a full-screen design. Looks like Meizu is working towards joining the party with its own bezel-less phone.
A new rumor has emerged from Weibo which alleges that Meizu is working on a full-screen phone which is code-named Ocean. The flagship phone is said to fall under the Blue Charm category which means it is going to be a mid-range model. The tipster also hinted that the bezel-less phone will come with a Qualcomm processor. Meizu just recently launched the M6 Note which happens to be its first smartphone with a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. The choice of a Snapdragon 625 SoC on board the M6 Note was sort of a surprise as the company was previously tipped to launch a low-end phone with Qualcomm chip around December.
Since the bezel-less Meizu Ocean belongs to the charm blue division, we really wouldn’t expect it to pack a flagship Qualcomm processor like the Snapdragon 835 or even the SD 821. Qualcomm has got a whole lot of mid-range chip that could feature on the rumored Meizu full-screen phone. Perhaps, we could see the efficient Snapdragon 660 which is one of the latest in Qualcomm’s mid-range segment. Anyway, we certainly can not hold on to this rumor since no information in that regard has emerged from Meizu. But make no mistake, this isn’t the first time Meizu has been rumored to be working on a bezel-less phone. A rumor to that effect had appeared late last year but was later discredited by Meizu as false. So, this is the sort of rumor you take with a pinch of salt until something more tangible leaks. As a bright spot, a similar rumor had appeared months back that Meizu is working on a bezel-less phone which would pack a high-end Qualcomm SoC and would hit the stands next year.
It has been a long time waiting for the official launch of the Moto X4. And tonight, Lenovo (Motorola) has finally made it official. The launch of the Moto X4 can be termed the resurrection of the X series, but after a one year hiatus, things are no longer the same.
Moto X4 Design
The Moto X4 has completely veered of the design path of its predecessors. No longer does it wear the polycarbonate body we were free to customize to our desire using Moto Maker. Instead, it is now cloaked in metal and glass – that is a metallic frame sandwiched in between two sheets of glass.
The design language isn’t too different from what we have seen in other Motorola phones released this year. The front employs the same style – a pill-shaped home button/fingerprint scanner, thick bezels at the top bearing the usual array of camera sensor, earpiece and LED flash; and an equally thick bezel at the bottom.
The power button and volume rocker (split into separate buttons are on the right) and a hybrid dual SIM card slot (nano only) is on the left. There is a dual camera setup on the back with a familiar design. The entire back is covered with a 3D glass that you already know is a fingerprint magnet.
Moto X4 Specifications
The Moto X4 has a 5.2-inch 1080p display covered with a 2.5D glass. It has joined the still very short list of phones powered by the Snapdragon 630 mobile platform. There will be two variants – a 3GB RAM + 32GB ROM version for the US and Europe and a 4GB RAM + 64GB model for other markets.
The Moto X4 comes with some very interesting features. It is the first Motorola phone with Amazon’s Alexa on board. It also has a feature called Wireless Sound System which lets you pair it to multiple audio devices and listen in sync on all of them. The technology is designed by a company called Tempow, and it also lets you control the volume for each one.
Lets also not forget that the Moto X4 is IP68 certified.
For connectivity, the phone has Bluetooth 5.0, WiFi a/b/g/n/ac and supports LTE bands 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/17/20/25/26/28/66 as well as TDD LTE bands 38 and 41. It also has NFC.
The Moto X4 has a 3000mAh battery. There is TurboPower support which should provide 6 hours of power when charged for 15 minutes. A USB type-C port sits at the bottom and flanking it on the right is a 3.5mm audio jack.
The phone runs Android 7.1 Nougat out of the box but should get Android 8.0 Oreo in due time.
Moto X4 Cameras
One of the key features of the Moto X4 is the dual rear cameras. Sitting inside the circular housing with a watch-dial design is a 12MP dual autofocus lens with a f/2.0 aperture and 1.4um pixel size, paired with an 8MP ultra-wide angle lens with a f/2.2 aperture and a 1.12um pixel size.
This configuration allows for ultra-wide angle images but can also take images with depth of field effects. There are additional camera features such as selective black and white, background replacement and landmark recognition. Sitting above the sensors is a dual LED flash.
The front facing camera is a 16MP f/2.0 sensor with LED flash. It has a beautification mode, panorama mode and a professional mode. It also has an adaptive low light mode.
GearBest has started a limited period brand flash sale for OUKITEL through which fans of the Chinese firm can avail its top 10 bestselling smartphones with attractive discounts. It is a limited period offer. Hence, OUKITEL fans are suggested to act soon.
The 10 bestselling OUKITEL phones has started on Aug. 29 and it will be ending on Sept. 5. Here are all the smartphones that are available through amazing discounts during the ongoing sale on GearBest.
These smartphones are well-known for their long-lasting batteries of 10,000mAh capacity. Apart from huge batteries, these smartphones are also packed with impressive specifications. The K10000 Pro and K10000 are now respectively available for $179 and $139 after 18 percent discount on the Chinese retailer site. The company is also working on releasing a new 10,000mAh battery smartphone called OUKITEL K3 in the next month
OUKITEL K6000 Pro and K6000 Plus
The K6000 Pro is now available with a pricing of $138 after a price cut of 16 percent. The K6000 Plus is selling for $169 with a massive discount of 27 percent. These smartphones can be great alternative for people who wish to buy large battery phone but also find the K100000 phones too thick.
OUKITEL U20 Plus and U22
The OUKITEL U20 Plus and U22 are equipped dual cameras for shooting amazing photos and selfies. The Chinese retailer is selling the U20 Plus with a discounted price of $91 after a price cut of 15 percent. The U22 is available for $69 with 20 percent discount.
OUKITEL U15S and U16 Max
These smartphones come with attractive features like big display, large memory and huge storage and more importantly affordable price tags. On GearBest, the OUKITEL U15S can be availed for $125 with 12 percent price cut and the OUKITEL U16 Max can be bought for $121 with a 18 percent discount.
OUKITEL C5 Pro and C5
The C5 Pro and C5 entry-level smartphones offer lag-free performance and come with very low pricing. The OUKITEL C5 Pro and C5 are respectively available with low pricing of $69 and $59.
Dodocool official store promotion that is currently running on AliExpress is something you just may not want to miss as it is offering massive discounts on gadgets like multifaction USB hub, earphones, speakers, chargers, power bank, pc accessories and components, and mobile accessories.
Dodocool has mentioned it on the store promotion page that between Aug. 28 and Sept. 1, a customer who makes the highest payment will be the big winner who will be awarded with a wireless car charger named DA92B. Once the activity is over, Dodocool will contact the customer and send the prize within 7 working days. All the products are listed with low pricing and the retailer is also providing even more discounts though coupons.
During the current Dodocool sale on AliExpress, users can buy 8-in-1 to 4-in-1 USB-C hub with discounted pricing. The mini Bluetooth speaker DA84 is available with a low pricing of $9.64 and a Bluetooth earphone DA104 with features like IPX4 and NFC is available for $13.59.
The sale is also providing irresistible deals on various kinds of chargers such as QC 3.0 wall charger, Qi Fast Charger, Qi wireless charger and power banks with huge backup such as 5000mAh and 4,200mAh.
A 13-inch laptop bag DA130 is available for $9.79. Various PC peripherals like Wi-Fi adapter, network card, and Wi-Fi router are also available with good discounts. A 4.7-inch iPhone 7 case DA116 is listed only for $4.63. Dodocool is also selling credit card holder, desk touch lamp, LED night light, wireless doorbell kit and more with low pricing.
Banggood is celebrating its 11th anniversary and to mark the milestone, it is running a flash sale. One of the items discounted is the MGCOOL Explorer Pro 4K action camera.
The Explorer Pro action camera usually sells for $51.99 (excluding delivery) but is currently priced at $32.99. The offer began on August 29 and runs till September 6 or until the item is out of stock. As at the time of writing there are 206 pieces left, so there is still a chance of grabbing a unit.
The MGCOOL Explorer Pro has a 2-inch touch display which gives it an edge over other action cameras. The display gives you access to a variety of settings and features that you would usually need an app for.
The Explorer Pro has a Sony IMX179 sensor that can record 4K videos at 30fps. It can also record 1080p videos at 60fps, slow-motion and time-lapse videos. It is caapble of taking still images of up to 20MP.
UHANS is now working on a phablet device that will be featuring a 6.44-inch display. This phablet that is expected to launch as UHANS Max 2 will be deliver a comfortable experience for watching videos. The huge screen is also expected to deliver amazing gaming experience.
The 6.44-inch display of the UHANS Max 2 will be supporting full HD resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels with impressive color depth and sharp graphics. The Chinese manufacturer has released a video that shows how exciting the gaming experience will be on the UHANS Max 2.
It goes without saying that a huge screen offers a marvelous viewing experience. As it can be seen in the above video, the handset spots slim bezels on its sides. It provides enough space for hands to hold the device comfortably while playing a game on it. So, whether a user want to play car racing game or multiplayer combat or augmented reality game like Pokemon GO, the UHANS Max 2 with its huge display will provide users with satisfying gaming experience.
Another advantage of having a huge screen smartphone for people who like playing games is that it can provide good view of the incoming scene which in turn will allow users to play the game all the more strategically. There won’t be any annoying instances like blocking the gaming screen with control panel or hands.
UHANS Max 2 will be featuring 4 GB of RAM that will ensure that not games run smoothly on the device. To sum it up, the 6.44-inch UHANS Max 2 is designed mainly for gamers who wish to have the best gaming experience on a smartphone. The smartphone is slated to release in the coming month.
For more information about the pricing of the UHANS Max 2 or promotional offers, readers can visit the official site.
Taiwanese tech giant ASUS was among the early birds who took the stage at IFA 2017 in Berlin to announce the innovative products they came with to Germany. ASUS did not disappoint with its rich lineup of ultra-slim, portable and powerful laptops as well as a new Windows Mixed Reality Headset.
ASUS Windows Mixed Reality Headset
The ASUS Windows Mixed Reality Headset features innovative Microsoft technology to bring immersive real-world and virtual experiences to users. It features a beautifully unique design with a pattern of hundreds of 3D polygons and a glossy tone-on-tone effect. Weighing under 400g and featuring premium antibacterial cushioned materials and a balanced-crown design that reduces pressure on the nose and face, the ASUS Windows Mixed Reality Headset is cool and comfortable to wear for extended periods, letting users enjoy amazingly immersive experiences for longer.
The ASUS Windows Mixed Reality Headset also features innovative inside-out tracking with two built-in front-facing tracking cameras with six-degrees-of-freedom (6DoF) position tracking. Unlike other headsets, the ASUS Windows Mixed Reality Headset doesn’t need external sensors or additional software, making the initial setup simple and getting users up and running in minutes.
ZenBook Flip 14
ZenBook Flip 14 (UX461) is the world’s thinnest 2-in-1 laptop with high-performance discrete graphics. Only 13.9mm thin and weighing just 1.4kg, ZenBook Flip 14 features a 360°-flippable touchscreen and ASUS Pen support, making it a creative powerhouse that goes anywhere. With the latest 8th Generation Intel® Core™ i7 quad-core processor, 16GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce MX150 graphics, a 512GB PCIe x4 SSD, and a Harman Kardon audio system, ZenBook Flip 14 effortlessly empowers users to accomplish any task, and do it quicker. The 14-inch NanoEdge Full HD display has a bezel so thin, ZenBook Flip 14 is able to have the same compact size as traditional 13-inch laptops for a better visual experience and easier portability. With up to 13 hours of battery life, users will enjoy all-day power for their creativity and productivity tasks. ZenBook Flip 14 features Windows 10 and is also equipped with a fingerprint sensor for quick and secure one-touch login with Windows Hello. ZenBook Flip 14 is available in two stylish colors: Icicle Gold and Slate Grey.
ZenBook Flip 15
ZenBook Flip 15
The all-new ZenBook Flip 15 (UX561) is a powerful and versatile 2-in-1 laptop that gives users all the convenience and versatility of a 360°-rotatable 15.6-inch display in a stunning new design that is easy to carry anywhere. ZenBook Flip 15 is the most powerful ZenBook Flip ever, featuring the latest 8th Generation Intel Core i7 processor and up to 16GB of fast, 2400MHz DDR4 RAM to deliver up to 2X faster[1] performance than the previous model. Additionally, ZenBook Flip 15 features gaming-grade NVIDIA GTX1050 graphics, up to a 2TB HDD and 512GB SSD, USB-C™ ports with Thunderbolt™ 3 and a powerful quad-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. Its stunning NanoEdge 4K UHD or Full HD touchscreen display has 178° wide-view technology and precision-stylus support, making ZenBook Flip 15 the perfect laptop for design and creative work. ZenBook Flip 15 is available in two colors: Smoky Grey and Pure Silver.
ZenBook Flip S
ZenBook Flip S
ASUS ZenBook Flip S (UX370) is the world’s thinnest and one of the lightest convertible laptops[2] at just 10.9mm thin and 1.1 kg light. It combines elegant sophistication with the convenience and versatility of a 360°-flippable display, and features an innovative 360° ErgoLift hinge with a dual-action mechanism that lifts and tilts the keyboard into the perfect typing position when the display is opened beyond 135°.
ZenBook Flip S features Windows 10 and is powered by up to an 8th Generation Intel Core i7-8550U processor and an ultrafast 1TB PCIe SSD. A brand-new cooling system with a liquid-crystal-polymer fan impeller that’s just 0.3mm thin keeps ZenBook Flip S comfortably cool. The up to 4K UHD multitouch NanoEdge display supports an active stylus for amazing visuals and intuitive interactivity. ZenBook Flip S also has one of the smallest-ever fingerprint sensors on an ASUS laptop — measuring just 16 x 3.6mm — for instant one-touch login via Windows Hello in either laptop or tablet mode.
VivoBook Flip 14
ASUS VivoBook Flip 14 (TP401) is a 14-inch convertible laptop that can be flipped into laptop, stand, tent or tablet modes — or anything in between. Designed for people on the go, VivoBook Flip is only 15.4mm thin and weighs just 1.5kg. With a NanoEdge design that fits a 14-inch Full HD display with 178˚ wide-view technology into a frame the size of a typical 13-inch laptop, VivoBook Flip 14 has a 74.3 percent screen-to-body ratio and a larger display area for more immersive viewing. A 7th Generation Intel Core i7 processor provides powerful, energy-efficient performance and a clever fanless design keep noise levels down — even at full power — enabling users to conduct presentations or watch movies without distractions. ASUS Pen support enables intuitive interactivity.
Prices
As for their prices, the mixed reality headset will set you back €450 while the Flip 14 costs €800 and the Flip 15 costs €900. The ASUS Vivobook Flip 14 is the cheapest among the lot, coming in at €400.
Sony has finally gone official with its two much-anticipated models, the Xperia XZ1 and Xperia XZ Compact at IFA Berlin. The two Sony models come with a studded hardware lineup which places them in the league of true flagships. The designs which have been in the open before now, are also top notch, with classic finishing. Sony made headlines when it announced the Xperia XZ Premium with a Snapdragon 835 SoC making it one of the first models to have such. The tech giant is also making the headlines with the disclosure that both the Xperia XZ1 and XZ1 Compact would run on Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box.
Sony Xperia XZ1. Photo Credit- The Verge
Design & Specifications
The Sony Xperia XZ1 is the bigger model in terms of size, among the two and it utilizes a metal unibody and a new distinctive antenna design. It holds a thin body with a dimension of 147 x 73.4 x 7.4mm, weighing in at 155-gram and also IP65/68 certified. It sports a 5.2-inch Full HD display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080pixels and Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection. The display is still a TRILUMINOS, X-Reality unit, with HDR support and 138% sRGB coverage. The Xperia XZ1 is fired up by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor bringing along with it 4GB of RAM and there is 64GB of fast UFS 2.1 storage which is expandable via microSD.
Photo Credit- The Verge
Despite the proliferation of dual camera flagships, Sony still retained a single camera on both models. The Xperia XZ1 packs a 19MP rear sensor with Exmor RS, smile triggered predictive capture, autofocus and the ability to capture videos at 960fps. It also sports a 13MP, 1/3.06″, Exmor RS sensor with a 22mm wide angle, f/2.0 lens at the front for selfies. The device also features a side power button which also doubles as the fingerprint sensor. The device is available in four colors: Black, Warm Silver, Moonlit Blue and Venus Pink.
In addition, the Sony Xperia XZ1 possesses an LTE Cat. 16 band, Dual-Band, MIMO Wi-Fi a/c, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC and a USB 3.1 (Type-C) port. Keeping the lights on is a 2,700mAh battery with Qnovo Adaptive charging and Quick Charge 3.0.
Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact. Photo Credit- The Verge
On the other hand, the Xperia XZ1 Compact features a compact design with a display size of just 4.6 inches with a reduced resolution of 720p (HD) without HDR support. The device comes with a dimension of 29 x 64 x 9.3 mm and weight of 140 gram. The design is similar to that of the bigger Xperia XZ1 and both model only seems to be separated in size. It features the same processor and RAM size as the XZ1 but has just 32GB of storage. Other similar features include the same 2,700mAh battery, side mounted fingerprint sensor and IP65/68 rating. However, the device doesn’t come with a metal body but instead features a body manufactured from glass fiber reinforced plastic compound.
On the camera end, the Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact packs a 19MP rear camera just like its bigger sibling but has an 8MP 1/4″ ExmorRS sensor, with a super wide-angle lens up front. It has an FOV of 120 degrees or 12.5mm equivalent for impressive group shots and also an 80-degree FOV (22mm) mode as well. It also comes with a Cat. 15 LTE band, USB 2.0 connection with a Type-C port, NFC, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0. The Xperia XZ1 Compact offers a different color array, coming in Black, Snow Silver, Horizon Blue and Twilight Pink.
Pricing & Availability
Sony is yet to disclose when both flagship models will be sold for as well as their availability. But there are whispers that both models will go on sale in September.
Sony has unveiled a third smartphone in Berlin today. The new Xperia XA1 Plus is a mid-ranger that can best be described as a blend of the Xperia XA1 and Xperia XA1 Ultra announced at MWC in February.
Its 5.5-inch FHD display is for those who want something bigger than the XA1 but smaller than the XA1 Ultra. That is understandable since Sony is currently the king of bezels, so you can imagine what their 6-inch phone looks like.
There is a Helio P20 powering the XA1 Plus just like its siblings. It also keeps their 23MP Exmor RS f/2.0 rear camera but goes with the XA1’s 8MP front facing camera.
The Xperia XA1 Plus will be available with 3GB of RAM in South America and the US, but gets 4GB of RAM in other markets. Storage is 64GB or 32GB depending on the region. There will also be single SIM and dual SIM variants.
In what will come as a surprise, it has a 3430 mAh battery unlike the bigger Ultra which has a measly 2700 mAh battery. The phone also ships with a 16.2W fast charger that supports Quick Charge 3.0 and MediaTek Pump Express Plus 2.0. There is also Qnovo Adaptive Charging that controls the charge current to prevent the battery from damage.
Ulefone T1 is shaping up to be a pretty good mid-range smartphone under $200. The phone has Helio P25 under its hood with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of expandable storage. While the internal specs are the biggest highlight of the T1 flagship, Ulefone wants to show us that the dual camera setup at the back isn’t too bad either.
Small Chinese manufacturers often give us unrealistic camera samples before the phone is officially announced and once you buy the handset, you are disappointed to see the cameras perform no way near as advertised. But with the Ulefone T1, the company wants to show you some realistic samples and the latest video uploaded on its YouTube page reveals some good looking shots from the device.
The video shows us bokeh, as well as regular pictures, and the colors and sharpness, are pretty decent. We can see that the bokeh effect is not really at par with top flagships like Huawei Honor 8, but at its price, the soft focus effect is pretty decent. So, the samples from the 16MP+5MP rear setup should be good enough for sharing with your friends and colleagues on social media. But of course, we’ll have to test it out in detail to check out its real camera quality once we get a unit for review.
Other specs of the Ulefone T1 include 13MP front facing shooter with flash, a large 3680mAh battery with PE+, 5.5-inch display. CNC metal body, and Android 7 Nougat out of the box. In fact, you can read more about the battery life of the Ulefone T1 from here.
At present, the phone can be bought for $199.99 on Aliexpress. If you want a similarly specced smartphone but with rugged features, you can check out the Ulefone Armor 2 with Helio P25, 6GB RAM, and IP68 certification from here.
In addition to launching the Gear Fit2 Pro and IconX earbuds, Samsung also took the wraps off its latest smartwatch which is dubbed Gear Sport. The Gear Sport comes with a similar design as the Gear S3 Frontier and Gear S3 Classic except that it has a slightly smaller display than the Gear S3 models.
The Samsung Gear Sport features a 1.2-inch, circular Super AMOLED display with a 360 x 360pixels screen resolution (302ppi) and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection. The wearable also comes with Full Color Always On Display just as was found on the Gear S3 series, so that you can keep the time and notifications on your wrist to view at any time. It is powered by a 1GHz dual-core processor backed by 768MB of RAM while there is 4GB of internal storage. The device sports a 300mAh battery with wireless charging, 5ATM water resistance (up to 50 meters), and MIL-STD-810G rating for shock protection. The smartwatch also comes with a 20mm strap.
Among the new features, the Gear Sport lets you control Samsung IoT-enabled devices through Samsung Connect and use your Gear Sport as a remote control for even Samsung’s Gear VR headset. The Gear Sport packs a 300mAh battery with wireless charging. The smartwatch comes with NFC, Bluetooth 4.2, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, along with GPS and GLONASS, accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer, heart rate monitor, and the ambient light sensor.
Samsung is yet to announce the price of the Gear Sport or when it would be available to buy.
The BV8000 Pro is an IP68-certified rugged smartphone from Blackview. While most rugged smartphones pack entry-level specs, this features mostly flagship level specifications.
The BV8000 Pro has a 5.0-inch FHD screen, 6GB RAM and 64GB of storage. There is a Helio P25 processor under the hood as well as a 4180mAh battery with 9V/2A fast charging.
For optics, the BV8000 Pro has a 16MP rear camera and an 8MP front facing camera. It also has a side-mounted fingerprint scanner and NFC for card-less payments.
So the specs are awesome but that isn’t the only interesting thing about the phone. It is also a pretty tough device. To prove that, Blackview has made a video showing the phone go through a series of unusual durability tests.
First, we see the BV8000 Pro get used as a hammer to knock some nails into a block of wood without the display getting damaged. Then it is dropped face down from waist-level on to the pointed ends of the nails. There is also a scratch test performed on the display. The phone survives the test thanks to the Gorilla Glass 3 covering the display.
The next test has the BV8000 Pro prove its strength against sheets of tempered glass that are over a centimeter thick. The phone is hurled against the sheets multiple times until they shatter. At the end of the test, the phone survives the abuse without any visible defects.
The weather lately has been one of hurricanes, torrential rains and flooding. To be honest, there is no better time to own a waterproof phone especially in case of an emergency. The Blackview BV4000 is an example of a cheap rugged and waterproof smartphone.
The BV4000 is a budget waterproof phone with one of the most eye-catching designs. It has an octagonal frame that is a blend of metal and rubber that protects the components against shocks from falls and drops of up to 1.5m. While most phones can only be immersed in water of up to a depth of 1.5m for 30 minutes, the BV4000 can survive for one hour. It can also survive extreme temperatures.
The Blackview BV4000 has a 4.7-inch HD display protected by Gorilla Glass 3. It has 1GB of RAM, 8GB of storage with support for expansion, and is powered by a MT6580A processor clocked at 1.3GHz.
There is dual SIM support (3G only) Bluetooth 4.0 and 2.4GHz WiFi support. The Blackview BV4000 also has a FM radio which comes in handy during emergencies for listening to broadcasts. During storms, it is not unusual for cell towers to have been damaged and internet service disrupted, thereby cutting off any means of getting information.
Even though it is a budget rugged phone, it features dual 8MP cameras on the rear for images with the bokeh effect. The front camera is a 2MP sensor. The phone packs a 3680mAh battery with support for 5V/2A fast charging and runs Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box.
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