360 N4 vs Le 2: Check Out Which Helio X20 Mid-Ranger Wins This Battle

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May 9, 2016

360 Mobiles unveiled the brand new 360 N4 mid-ranger earlier today at an amazing official price tag of $138. The phone beats most rivals in its segment and gives tough competition to the Le 2 smartphone that was announced last month. Since they both practically fall in the same mid-range segment and come with Helio X20 chip inside, we decided to compare these two value for money devices to see whether there are any significant differences between the two and whether we can pick out one of these two as the winner in this comparison.

Turns out, there are quite a number of differences between the two smartphones, despite nearly the same pricing. So, let us move to the 360 N4 vs Le 2 comparison.

360 N4 vs Le 2: Design

Like always, we start off with the design of the two smartphones. These two companies have used two different design philosophies on their devices. The Le 2 comes with an all metal design, continuing the tradition set by the first generation Le 1 products. On the other hand, 360 Mobiles have used a plastic body on the N4 which doesn’t look too bad either. While the N4 may not be as premium looking as the Le 2, its design is still simple and elegant and I am sure there would be many readers who like this design.

MEASUREMENTS:

360 N4: 149 x 75.7 x 8.3mm

Le 2: 151.1 x 74.2 x 7.5mm

Weight:

360 N4: 140 grams (plastic keeps the weight down)

Le 2: 153 grams

360 N4 vs Le 2: Specs

While we would have thought that these two devices have very similar specs, that is true only to a certain extent. Both the devices come with Helio X20 deca-core chipset on board, but their clock speeds are different. 360 N4 comes with a slightly underclocked X20 chip at 2GHz, on the other hand, the Le 2 features a 2.3GHz Helio X20 chip. Both have Mali-T880 GPU inside.

360 N4 comes with 4GB of RAM while the Le 2 has just 3GB of LPDDR3 RAM on board. Storages are same on both the devices — 32GB as standard. But only the 360 N4’s storage is expandable via MicroSD (hybrid slot) up to 128GB. Another thing to note here is that the storage on the 360 N4 is eMMC 5.0, while the one on the Le 2 is eMMC 5.1 standard. Both have 5.5-inch FHD 1080p screens with 400+ ppi pixel density.

Coming to the cameras, Le 2 seems to have a slight advantage here. It comes with a 16MP sensor with support for 4K recording and slo-mo videos at 720p @ 120 fps. Then there’s PDAF and dual tone LED flash. Up front, you will find a 8MP f/ 2.2 sensor. On the other hand, the 360 N4 comes with a 13MP sensor with 2K video recording support, f/ 2.0 aperture and single LED flash. On the front, the phone has a 5MP f/2.0 aperture camera.

As for the battery, both have almost similar specs. The 360 N4 comes with 3080mAh capacity battery inside with turbo flash charge which charges to 100% in just 1.5 hours. Even the Le 2 comes with a 3000 capacity battery with fast charge.

Both have fingerprint sensors located at the back. Connectivity features seem to be standard like Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, A-GPS, dual SIM cards etc. However, the Le 2 does have a small addition of an infrared port.

Now, coming to the biggest difference between the two devices, and also a deal breaker for many, the Le 2 does not feature a 3.5mm headphone jack. Instead, the phone uses the CDLA standard (Continuous Digital Lossless Audio) which works with the USB Type-C port at the bottom. On the other hand, the 360 N4 features the standard 3.5mm headphone jack and comes with MicroUSB.

Both run on the new android Marshmallow version with their own UI on top. N4 features the 360 OS while the Le 2 comes with the company’s EUI 5.6.

360 N4 vs Le 2: Pricing

If you read our launch article earlier today, you would know that the 360 N4 is much cheaper. The phone starts at just $138 (899 yuan) for the regular version while the full netcom version retails at $154 (999 Yuan). On the other hand, the Le 2 starts at $170 (1099 Yuan), a bit higher than the N4.

Conclusion:

Well, it looks like you get the exact value for the money you pay. For example, the Le 2 is priced higher, but it comes with a faster-clocked chip, better storage standard (eMMC 5.1) and for most, a better looking metal body. The camera also seems to be better on paper.

But to be honest, the 360 N4 does seem to be the better value for money device here. It comes with the same chip with slight underclocking, 4GB of RAM which is higher than Le 2’s 3GB, MicroSD expansion, and a regular 3.5mm headphone jack. All these for a good $30 cheaper price tag.

But there are many factors that affect a buyer’s decision. For example, 360 Mobiles isn’t as famous as LeEco and is yet to establish a strong presence in the international market. So, it really boils down to the individual buyer’s preference.

So, which one would you pick?

360 N4 With Helio X20 & 4GB RAM Up For Pre-Order On Giztop (Free Shipping, NO TAX)

By

Joel Joseph

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May 9, 2016

360 Mobiles unveiled the brand new mid-ranger, the 360 N4 at an event in China earlier today. Surprisingly, the phone comes with powerful specs for just $138 (official price tag) which includes Helio X20 deca-core processor and 4GB of RAM. There are a lot of readers who seem to be interested in this new device, but unfortunately, you can only purchase the phone at this price in China. Like tradition, Giztop has also listed the new device up for pre-order and anyone interested in getting this device shipped outside of China, read on.

Giztop has listed the 360 N4 32GB model at $199.99. While this is much higher than the official price tag of $138, the retailer informs us that this price includes free shipping of the product to your address. What’s more, you won’t have to pay any VAT or Customs charges on your purchase at this price which makes things a lot whole lot easier for consumers.

Coming to the specs, those who read our launch article would know everything about the device. Still to recap, the 360 N4 comes with the deca-core Helio X20 chip clocked at 2GHz (slightly underclocked as compared to standard version which is clocked at 2.3GHz). There will be 4GB of RAM on board along with 32GB of internal storage as standard. This is further expandable via MicroSD (Hybrid Slot: Uses SIM2). There will be 13MP Sony IMX258 camera at the back with PDAF and single LED flash while up front, you will find an f/ 2.0 5MP shooter. Under the hood, the phone sports a 3080mAh capacity battery which can charge from 0% to 100% in just 1.5 hours. The display is of 5.5-inches with 1080 FHD resolution.

These are some great specs for the price. For now, only the white version seems to be available for pre-order. Check out more details from down below.

Pre-order 360 N4 for $199.99 (Free Shipping + No Customs Tax)

Vernee Reveals How to Use Fingerprint ID On The Thor Efficiently (video)

By

Joel Joseph

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May 9, 2016

Vernee Thor has been up for sale for quite some time. This means that many of the pre-ordered units have already been shipped to its customers and there are many more shipments being delivered right now. Since users have started to get their hands on the first ever Vernee smartphone, the company wants to make sure that their experience is perfect. Now, Vernee has just released a new video via their official YouTube page showing users how to make the most out of the fingerprint sensor on the Vernee Thor smartphone. You can check out the video from down below.

What the video tries to tell the viewers is that the fingerprint recognition works well when you move your fingers and adjust your grip so that edges of your finger are recognized by the sensor at the back. This technique should help users unlock the phone much faster than before. And of course, there is the new OTA update (the first official one from the company) coming soon to further boost the unlocking speeds.

To recap, the Vernee Thor comes with the octa-core MT6753 processor with 3GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage further expandable via MicroSD. The phone features a 13MP rear sensor, 5-inch HD Arc screen and a 2800mAh battery on board.

Vernee Thor is currently available to buy for a price tag of $119.99 via various retailers.

BUY LINKS:

Buy Vernee Thor At Just $119.99 From Gearbest

Buy Vernee Thor At Just $119.99 From Everbuying

Philips 4-level Touch Dimming LED Desk Lamp Review – A Really Cool Desk Lamp!

By

Linus

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May 9, 2016

Today we are looking at Philips LED desk lamp with a 4-level dimmer. It costs just above $50. Learn more if it is worth the price in our full review.

Thanks to Gearbest for sending Philips LED desk lamp for a review.

VIDEO

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSmYh2N0oXA[/embedyt]

UNBOXING

The lamp comes with the power plug as it does not have embedded battery and some paperwork.

DESIGN and FEATURES

As for design, we are looking at a very high-quality piece of hardware.

It is very sturdy and the lamp uses aluminum and quality plastic in its construction.

One of the selling points of this lamp is that it has a 4-level dimmer which is controlled by a simple tap. If you want to turn the lamp off, simply draw a circle.

The LED light consumes just around 5W of power but it provides up to 350LM of natural white light output, which is more than enough for reading or other stuff.

Another cool thing about this lamp is that it foldable in a lot of different ways and it gives you a lot of flexibility. You can adjust arm as well as rotate the light part up to 180 degrees.

Also, you can use a screw driver to adjust the tightness of the arm to your liking.

Finally, this Philips LED desk lamp weighs just above 1kg and it is travel-friendly since you can easily fold it.

CONCLUSIONS

I’ve been using Philips LED desk lamp for a few weeks already every single day and it has been working absolutely fine. It is well-made, the aluminum construction adds a bit of a premium look to it and the lamp is very stable.

Well, it would have been nice if it had an embedded battery but I use it on my desk, which is close to the power socket.

The price tag of just above $50 may sound steep for some but this lamp is made by a well-respected manufacturer and its high-quality construction and a feature set is definitely worth the price in our opinion.

Buy it from Gearbest with a Coupon : Ph007

Other Philips lights (Use 8% OFF coupon: GBLED2016)

360 N4 Officially Released: Helio X20 & 4GB RAM For An Unbelievable Price

By

Joel Joseph

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May 9, 2016

We have been keeping an eye on the upcoming 360 N4 smartphone for the past two weeks. Now, 360 Mobiles has officially unveiled the device. And guess what, the phone comes with pretty powerful specifications including the new Helio X20 deca-core processor which powers some major mid-rangers like Le 2 this year.

Although the 360 N4 is supposed to be a mid-range smartphone, the specifications are more powerful than its competitors. For example, the phone comes with the deca-core Helio x20 chip with 4GB of RAM on board. There will be 32GB of internal storage which can be further expanded up to 128GB via MicroSD. For display, you get a 5.5-inch panel with 1080p resolution.

At the back, the 360 N4 comes with a 13MP Sony IMX258 sensor with f/2.0 aperture and PDAF while up front, you get a 5MP f/ 2.0 front facing shooter. The battery is of 3000mAh capacity which supports flash turbo charging. This tech can reportedly charge the device to full in just 1.5 hours. A simple 10-minute charging should give you three hours of talktime. The phone isn’t the thinnest we have seen, but still the measurements of 149.09 x 75.79 x 8.3mm are pretty average. It weighs 140 grams. As for software, the 360 N4 comes with the company’s own 360 OS. Other features include dual SIM dual standby, fingerprint sensor located at the back (unlocks in 0.4s) and 4G LTE support.

As for the overall design of the 360 N4, it’s similar to the 360 F4 budget phone announced. You will find 2.5D curved glass up front and a plastic body at the back. It isn’t the most attractive looking phone that we have seen at a cheap price, but it isn’t too bad either.

What’s really the highlight of the 360 N4 smartphone is its price tag. The company has priced the device at just 899 Yuan which comes to just $138, which is an amazing price for the specs that you get. The full netcom version retails for 999 Yuan ($154) and comes with additional network support. There will be three colors available, white, yellow and pink.

And guess what, there’s an IP7X version of the 360 N4 in the works which will reportedly be crowdfunded.

Overall, this seems to be one of the best deals that you can get at the moment. Helio X20 (slightly underclocked at 2GHz), 4GB RAM and 32GB storage in just $138 sounds like a great package!

The phone is already up for ~~pre-order~~ reservation and will be on sale on May 13. You can check out the reservation page from here.

So, what do you think?

UPDATE: International buyers can buy the 360 N4 from Giztop for $199.99. The retailer is offering free shipping, No Customs and No VAT Fees at this price. You can read more details from here.

Honor V8 With Dual Camera Setup Spotted in Leaked Images

By

Joel Joseph

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May 9, 2016

Huawei will officially announce the Honor V8 flagship lineup tomorrow in China. The company has been teasing this smartphone and its features for the past few days and we already know a lot about this device. It will come with a dual camera setup without Leica’s branding along with a variant that will sport 2K resolution screen. Now, the same phone has been spotted in leaked pictures, once again revealing the design of the handset.

The first picture confirms the dual camera setup on the device. No Leica branding in sight, so like expected this setup would be without Leica’s certification. We can also see dual tone LED flash as well as what looks like Laser Autofocus just below it. This image also confirms the presence of the fingerprint sensor at the back of the handset.

Along with this image, there’s another picture of the Honor V8 circulating on the internet. While this isn’t as clear as the one before, it reveals the whole body along with the Honor branding near the bottom. The body seems to be made out of metal and to be honest, the phone does look at lot like the Huawei P9 family. If not for the Honor branding at the back, you could have easily mistaken it for the P9 on first glance.

Now, coming to the specs, thanks to the TENAA listing of the Honor V8 a few days back, we know that the phone will come in two versions. The standard one will feature 2.3GHz Kirin 950 chip with 5.5-inch 1080p screen and 32GB storage while the higher-end model comes with a 2.5GHz Kirin 950 chip with 2K resolution display of the same size and 64GB storage. Rest of the specs are similar and include a 3400mAh battery, 12MP dual cameras, and 8MP front camera.

The phone can also reportedly take dynamic 360-degree photos in one picture. We have already seen the first sample of this feature and you can check that out from below.

Check Out These Amazing Photos Captured By Huawei P9’s Dual Cameras

By

Joel Joseph

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May 8, 2016

Huawei made a big deal out of the dual camera setup present on the back of its Huawei P9 flagship, mainly because it was the first Leica certified smartphone camera in the market. Given its Leica certification, we all have very high hopes from the camera of the device. But it takes a real photographer to bring out the best in a smartphone camera, which is why Huawei recently shared a number of pictures taken by three professional photographers in China using Huawei P9’s dual cameras. The resulting set of images have turned out to be quite powerful and you can check them all from down below.

In the dual camera setup of the P9, one camera is capable of capturing RGB (red green blue) information while the other camera captures black and white information. The two information are brought together to create a detailed picture of the object in question. This should deliver better results especially in low light conditions. You can read more about the dual camera setup of the P9 from here.

(Image source: mobile.163.com)

OnePlus 3 Real Images Leaked, Inspired By HTC?

By

Joel Joseph

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May 8, 2016

OnePlus 3 is rumored to be announced around May 18 of this month and released sometime early June. However, as of now, the Chinese smartphone maker has not yet revealed any details of an official event around the above-mentioned date. Now, several alleged pictures of the OnePlus 3 have surfaced online, giving us a first good look at the device.

From the front, the OnePlus 3 seems to have retained the basic shape as the OnePlus 2. However, when you come to the part below the display, things look too familiar. The fingerprint sensor embedded (most likely) home button looks like it’s taken directly from Meizu. Don’t agree with us? Check out the image of the Pro 6’s home button down below and you would notice the similarity.

Coming to the back, the top design looks like inspired by HTC’s earlier One series models. The lines on the top and the bottom are similar to the ones on the HTC One M9. So, overall, the OnePlus 3 leaked today looks like a combination of HTC and Meizu.

OnePlus 3 real image 04 — oneplus 3 old leak

As for the specs, the OnePlus 3 is expected to come with the Snapdragon 820 quad-core chipset in two memory variants, 4GB RAM + 32GB ROM and 6GB RAM + 64GB ROM. At the back, the phone is expected to come with 16MP rear camera and up front, an 8MP selfie shooter. The camera is supposed to take excellent bokeh effect images, an example of which we saw via the company CEO recently. Other possible specs of the phone include 3500mAh battery, OPPO’s 5V 4A low voltage fast charge, and Android 6.0 with Hydrogen OS 2.0.

Pricing is expected to start at 1999 Yuan which comes to just $310. The 6GB RAM + 64GB variant is expected to retail for $384.

Meizu Pro 6 With Exynos 8890 Spotted, Could this be a New Variant?

By

Joel Joseph

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May 8, 2016

Meizu announced the Pro 6 flagship back in April and the phone got mixed response from fans around the world. Some praised the new design and the cheap pricing of the device while some criticized the use of Helio X25 chipset inside. Given that LeEco released the Le 2 Pro variant with Helio X25 for just 1499 yuan ($232), Pro 6 seems like a costly option now. The Meizu flagship starts at 2499 Yuan ($384), almost $150 higher than the Le 2 Pro running on the same chip.

But it looks like the Pro 6 could have a real “Pro” variant, which could take on the top flagships in the market right now. According to a leaked screenshot circulating on the internet, the Meizu Pro 6 flagship was seen running on the Exynos 8890 chipset. Given that Meizu has had a good relationship with Samsung in the past, providing chipsets for a number of Meizu flagships until this year, it is possible that the company decided to use the Samsung’s best chipset yet, the Exynos 8890 inside a powerful variant of the Pro 6. Other features of this variant leaked by the image include 4GB of RAM, 160 grams weight and Android 6.0.

If Meizu is really working on an Exynos 8890 Pro 6 variant, we could see another major upgrade — UFS 2.0 standard. The current version of the Pro 6 had to use eMMC 5.1 storage standard because Mediatek Helio X20 / X25 does not support UFS 2.0. But with a new chip on board, the company could easily upgrade the memory to the new and faster standard.

Unfortunately, this information is derived from a leaked photo online, of which the authenticity cannot be ascertained at the moment. However, we would really like to see an Exynos powered Pro 6 this year, as it would give the new flagship a much-needed power boost.

What do you think? Should Meizu release a Pro 6 variant with Exynos 8890?

Xiaomi CEO Shares Some HD Pictures Of The Xiaomi Max: A True Phablet

By

Joel Joseph

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May 8, 2016

Xiaomi has been teasing its new Xiaomi Max phablet for the past couple of weeks and the company will finally unveil the device this Tuesday, on May 10. Now, the company’s CEO Lei Jun has shared some beautiful pictures of the Xiaomi Max via his official Weibo page, giving us the first official look of the device from the front.

Check out the three new pictures released by the CEO from down below.

There is no doubt that the Xiaomi Max is going to be large. In fact, according to the latest information, the phone is going to come with a massive 6.4-inch display to satisfy the needs of users who crave a large screen. Under the hood, the phone should come with Snapdragon 650 hexa-core chip with 2GB / 3GB RAM variants and 16GB / 32GB storage options. Expect a 16MP rear camera with an 8MP front shooter, 4000mAh+ battery and Android 6 with MIUI 8 on top. All these features for a price tag of around $200 make it a worthy phablet for budget users.

We have been hearing a lot about the phone for the past few days. You can check out our previous coverage from down below.

Xiaomi Max teaser reveals a capable camera onboard

Xiaomi Max hits TENAA

Xiaomi Max Pricing Leaked, Not as cheap as expected

Xiaomi Max To Come With A Large Battery Inside A Slim Body

Craving for more Xiaomi Max News? Then check out this page.

Kernel Source For Vernee Thor To Be Released Soon, First OTA Update On The Way

By

Joel Joseph

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May 6, 2016

Vernee might be a new company in the world of the Chinese smartphone market, but it is making sure that it doesn’t follow the same path as some companies have done in the past. Vernee has just informed us that the company will soon release the Kernel Source for its recently released Vernee Thor mid-range smartphone. The phone has been popular among budget customers for its cheap pricing and good looks, and the company wants to make sure that after sales experience is top notch as well.

The company has also informed us that the first OTA update of the Vernee Thor is on the way. According to the company, the update will optimize some of the Thor’s functions and improves the speed and accuracy of the Thor’s fingerprint sensor to a great extent. So, if you are one of the first customers to have received your Vernee Thor, then you can now wait for the first OTA update.

Vernee has also informed us that it has started the development of its own OS, called as the VOS. You can expect the first beta release of the company’s ROM in the next two to three months.

Vernee Thor main specs:

MT6753 8-core LTE chipset
5.0 inch HD On-cell arc display
3GB LCDDR 3 RAM
16GB eMMC 5.0 ROM
5.0mp front camera
13.0mp rear camera
2800mAh battery

BUY LINKS:

Buy Vernee Thor At Just $119.99 From Gearbest

Buy Vernee Thor At Just $119.99 From Everbuying

New Colorful MIUI 8 Teasers Released, Can You Guess Their Meaning?

By

Joel Joseph

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May 6, 2016

We all know that Xiaomi will release the new version of its popular MIUI OS alongside the Xiaomi Max phablet next week. The company has been teasing some of the features of the device for the past few days, and earlier today, it released a new teaser for the MIUI 8 OS. Now, two more teasers have been released by the official Weibo account of the OS and the company has asked users to guess what they mean.

Check out the teasers from above. Can you guess what the company is trying to hint with these three images?

The company could be adding new color schemes on the new MIUI 8 version and some of them might be revealed in the images above. So, along with new additions in gestures and features, it looks like the new version will also bring a fresh and colorful look to the device. But these images could be hinting at much more than just colors. Some of the users on Weibo say that these posters hint at a dual OS setup, while other say that it is for split-screen multitasking feature. What do you think it indicates?

As mentioned above, the new MIUI 8 OS is not just about design upgrades, but also adds new gesture and feature upgrades. For example, it will add new gestures for calls, notes and even the drop down notification menu is getting a feature and design refresh.

Looks like the new update is going to be interesting. May 10 is less than a week away, so stay tuned for more details.

Huawei Honor V8 Will Be Able To Capture 360 Degree Photos

By

Joel Joseph

-

May 6, 2016

Xiaomi isn’t the only company unveiling an important device on May 10. The company’s direct rival Chinese company, Huawei also has an important event the same day when it will unveil the Honor V8 flagship with dual camera setup. While we are still wondering what all features the new setup will bring to the device, today, the company revealed an interesting feature of the phone.

honor v8 360 degree photo

Honor just posted a new gif image on its official weibo page which reveals that the upcoming Honor V8 will be able to capture 360 degree photos. And from the image posted, it looks like the phone has done a great job capturing a full 360 degree photo of the girl. This must have something to do with the dual camera setup on the back of the device, and we will definitely hear more about this feature during the unveiling conference on May 10.

As for the other specs, the Honor V8 is going to have a high-end variant with 2K display on board, making it the first Huawei smartpone with such high resolution. Both variants will have 5.7-inch displays but the standard one comes with just 1080p resolution. Other features include 4GB of RAM, 32GB / 64GB of memory, 12MP dual cameras, 8MP front shooter, Android 6.0 and 3400mAh battery.

Thge launch is less than a week away and we can expect to hear more details about the phone in the next few days.

Honor Reveals Four New Teasers For the V8 Flagship

Ulefone Future Side Mounted Fingerprint Sensor Performance (Video)

By

Joel Joseph

-

May 6, 2016

Ulefone Future recently went for sale via flash sale method for $199.99. The highlight feature of the phone is the bezel-less 5.5-inch display on board. However, the phone is known for yet another unique feature, its side mounted fingerprint sensor. Today, the company decided to demonstrate the performance of Future’s fingerprint sensor. The placement of the scanner is ideal for many, near the power button. So, it’s easy to reach out and unlock the device whenever you need. You can check out the video from down below.

So, Ulefone admits that the fingerprint sensor on the Future isn’t the fastest one in the market, mainly because of the small surface area available. Since the available area is small, the sensor takes slightly more time to recognize the user’s fingerprint as compared to rivals. But the company adds that this is the latest generation sensor in the market, which means it is highly responsive.

Now that the flash sale is officially over, the Ulefone Future is available for pre-sale via a number of retailers for $239.99. You get seven different accessories bundled with the phone at this price. You can check out more details of the pre-sale of the device from here.

To recap, the Ulefone Future comes with a 2GHz octa-core Helio P10 processor with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. There will be a 3000mAh battery on board which charges within an hour, with stock Android 6.0 experience. At the back, the phone features a 16MP Samsung S5K3P3 sensor with f/2.0 aperture, PDAF and dual tone LED flash. Up front, you get a 5MP selfie camera. Other features of the phone include USB Type-C, LTE etc.

You can read more about the phone from the company’s official website.

ZTE Axon 2 To Come With Top-End 2K Sharp Screen, Perfect For VR

By

Joel Joseph

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May 5, 2016

2K resolution on a smartphone display has always been the topic of discussion, with some believing that there’s no real need for such high-resolution panel, while others stating that 2K is really the future. Huawei’s CEO, Richard Yu has always been a strong criticizer of 2K resolution on smartphones, that is, until recently. A few weeks back, he revealed that although 2K resolution would be unnecessary on a smartphone display of size less than 6.5-inches, it was needed for VR. Hence, even Huawei was going to release a 2K smartphone this year.

Now, ZTE’s CEO Zeng Xuezhong revealed his views on the matter and his comments indicate that the upcoming ZTE Axon 2 flagship is all set to come with a 2K resolution display that’s better than rivals. He revealed late yesterday that ZTE’s Axon flagship is using the top-end panel from Sharp with 2K resolution which makes it amazing. He further revealed that 2K displays were necessary for VR since in a VR headset the screen was too close to the eyes and the image looks enlarged. This is why smartphones need to have at least 2K resolution displays to deliver a good VR experience.

The CEO also revealed a picture of VR (added above), which hints that the company will release some VR related products soon. A VR headset from ZTE won’t be a surprise given that major tech players are all invested in this emerging market. But according to Xuezhong, a good VR experience is not just about 2K resolution screen, as there are a number of other factors involved as well. The experience will also depend on the screen’s color gamut, contrast ratio, response time and power consumption.

zte axon 2 001 — Axon 2 Spotted On TENAA

Considering these comments from the company CEO, it looks like the upcoming ZTE Axon 2 will give these factors due attention to ensure a great VR experience. ZTE is said to be working on VR / AR since 2009 and by 2015, it is said that the company has hundreds of patents under its belt.

Since the CEO has started commenting about VR and Axon flagship, it is possible that we will meet the new device soon. We had already spotted the Axon 2 model recently, you can read more about that from here.

Xiaomi Yi 4K Action Camera 2 Data Transfer Speed Test vs GoPro Hero 4

By

Joel Joseph

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May 5, 2016

Earlier today, we reported that Xiaomi was going to soon announce the new generation Xiaomi Yi 4K Action Camera 2. Then, we got our hands on a test doc of the Yi Camera’s battery life and it showed that the device could record 4K videos at 30 fps for nearly 120 minutes continuously. Now, we have got our hands on another document of the new Yi camera generation, this time testing the data transfer speeds, from the camera to the connected smartphone via its Wi-Fi connection.

So, the Wi-Fi was set at a random channel and the distance between the Yi 4K Action Camera 2 and the connected smartphone was 1 meter. The test was simple. The user first recorded a video of around 500MB on the new camera. Then he downloaded and installed the companion camera app onto his phone and connected the camera via Wi-Fi. There were two phones used for this test, a Xiaomi Mi Note and an iPhone 6S Plus. Further for comparison, the GoPro Hero 4 Black edition was also tested following the same process.

So, the results of the test are as follows:

Model number	band (channel)	Phone	download file size（MB）	download time（s）	download rate（MB/s）
Z16V13LW612-AUS1094059	2.4G (chl 6)	MI NOTE LTE	510	153	3.33
	2.4G (chl 6)	iPhone 6s	510	140	3.64
	5G (chl 153)	MI NOTE LTE	510	155	3.29
	5G (chl 153)	iPhone 6s	510	135	3.78
Z16V13LW612- AUS2624129	2.4G (chl 6)	MI NOTE LTE	510	175	2.91
	2.4G (chl 6)	iPhone 6s	510	210	2.43
	5G (chl 161)	MI NOTE LTE	510	155	3.29
	5G (chl 161)	iPhone 6s	510	135	3.78
Z16V13LW612-AUS3368264	2.4G (chl 6)	MI NOTE LTE	540	177	3.05
	2.4G (chl 6)	iPhone 6s	540	151	3.58
	5G (chl 157)	MI NOTE LTE	540	174	3.10
	5G (chl 157)	iPhone 6s	540	147	3.67
Z16V13LW612-AUS2545843	2.4G (chl 6)	MI NOTE LTE	540	170	3.18
	2.4G (chl 6)	iPhone 6s	540	144	3.75
	5G (chl 149)	MI NOTE LTE	540	172	3.14
	5G (chl 149)	iPhone 6s	540	146	3.70
GoPro HERO4 Black	2.4G (chl 11)	MI NOTE LTE	540	355	1.52
GoPro HERO4 Black	2.4G (chl 11)	iPhone 6s	540	356	1.52

So, there are four samples being tested out here of the new Yi Action camera. Plus, at the end, you can find the GoPro Hero 4 Black for comparison. It looks like the new Yi Camera generation manages to transfer the video at double the speed as compared to the GoPro model.

We hope to get more details about the new Yi camera from our source, including some camera samples. So, stay tuned to gizmochina in the coming days.

360 N4 Teaser Reveals Super Fast Charging, 50% In Just 5 Minutes

By

Joel Joseph

-

May 5, 2016

360 Mobiles, formerly known as QiKu is all set to release their second smartphone in 2016, namely the 360 N4. The company had released the 360 F4 budget smartphone a few weeks back and the new N4 is expected to be the mid-range offering from the company. We have been seeing teasers about the device for the past few days, including one confirming Helio X20 deca-core chip on board.

360 n4 fast charge teaser

Now, the latest teaser from the company reveals something great about the phone’s fast charging capability. According to the gif picture posted today, the 360 N4 should come with super fast charging. In the image, we can see that the phone charges from 0% to 50% in a matter of just 5 minutes, which is really amazing. So, will we be seeing such fast charging tech on the N4? Can’t say, but the teaser does raise our expectations about the phone’s charging tech. Hopefully, we will get to see something extraordinary at the event on May 9.

360 N4 Render

As for the design of the device, earlier renders have shown that the phone should come with a curved body. Coming to the specs, the phone will come with the Helio X20 deca-core chip with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. There will be a 13MP camera at the back and a 5MP front-facing shooter. TENAA also revealed that the phone comes with a 3000mAh battery, 5.5-inch 1080p display and Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS on board. You can read more about the specs from the phone’s TENAA listing.

The company will launch the new device on May 9, which is just a few days away. So, stay tuned for more details.

Cubot Cheetah Goes Into Pre-Sale Stage From Next Week

By

Joel Joseph

-

May 5, 2016

Cubot and Cheetah entered into a partnership recently to release their first flagship smartphone called as the Cubot Cheetah. The phone was showcased back at MWC 2016 in Barcelona, Spain, so we are not new to this device. However, what we were wondering till now was when the new Cheetah phone would go into pre-sale. Now, new information reveals that the Cubot Cheetah phone will start pre-sale sometime next week.

The phone runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS on top, with a highly customizable Cheetah launcher on top. The phone would be running Cheetah mobile’s 3D desktop and comes with all the important apps like Cleaner Master to make the most out of the device. Other software features of the device include a gallery app with Wi-Fi transfer for speedy transfer of photos, Cheetah Mobile’s HD wallpapers and themes.

As for the specs, the Cubot Cheetah is a pretty good smartphone. It comes with a 64-bit octa-core processor clocked at 1.5GHz with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. This storage is further expandable via MicroSD slot, but it is a hybrid one, so you can either use dual SIM cards or a single SIM with MicroSD. There will be a 5.5-inch FHD 1080p display translating into pixel density of 400 ppi. At the back, you get a fingerprint sensor as well, which unlocks in just 0.3 seconds.

The 13MP rear camera is from Samsung (3M2 sensor) with 5P lens and LED flash. Up front, you get an 8
MP front facing shooter. Inside, there is a 3050mAh battery with 5V 2A fast charging tech. The phone comes with support for 4G LTE networks, 5G Wi-Fi transfer speeds, GPS, A-GPS, Bluetooth 4.0, HotKnot and OTG.

The Cubot Cheetah features an aluminum body with 2.5D glass and comes in three colors, namely space gray, gold and rose gold. At MWC, it was said that the phone will go on sale for $220, but let’s wait for the official pre-sale price next week. You can read more about the phone from here.

Xiaomi Max Pricing Exposed, May Not Be As Cheap As Expected

By

Joel Joseph

-

May 5, 2016

It looks like the next few days are going to be flooded with news and leaks about the Xiaomi Max phablet. We already have seen images, and the specs of the device, thanks to the previous leaks. There was even a rumor that the phone was going to be priced at just $200, which would have been awesome. But according to the latest information, the Xiaomi Max’s price could be a bit higher than expected.

Thanks to a leaked image of a PPT presentation found by Mydrivers, it is said that the Xiaomi Max could sell at 2199 yuan which comes to $338. In the image, we can see that the phone comes with Snapdragon 650 chip, 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage.

Now, this makes things really interesting. If you remember, the standard edition of the Xiaomi Mi 5 flagship starts at just 1999 Yuan ($310). This model features the mighty Snapdragon 820 (slightly underclocked) version with 3GB of RAM and a 5.2-inch 1080p display. On the other hand, the Xiaomi Max is expected to come with the much, much slower hexa-core Snapdragon 650 chipset. It’s not even the Snapdragon 652 chip. Considering this information, it really doesn’t make sense for the company to price the new phablet at such a high price. So, you might want to take this leak with a pinch of salt.

Moving on, the phone is said to come with a 6.4-inch 1080p display with 2GB / 3GB RAM and 16GB / 32GB storage variants. There will be a large battery inside, with a capacity of more than 4000mAh (most likely 4500mAh). The phone is also said to come with an infrared port on the top. Other features of the Xiaomi Max include a slim profile, 2.5D glass and a metal body with fingerprint sensor located at the back.

You can read more about the leaked TENAA pictures of the Xiaomi Max from here.

(Mydrivers)

Exclusive: Xiaomi Yi 4K Action Camera 2 Triumphs The GoPro Hero 4 In Battery Life

By

Joel Joseph

-

May 5, 2016

Earlier today, we reported that Xiaomi was going to announce the new generation version of the Xiaomi Yi 4K Action Camera 2 soon, most likely at the May 10 event, alongside the unveiling of the Xiaomi Max phablet. We got a lot of details about the device via pictures posted online, but now we have some exclusive information about the Yi 4K Action Camera 2. Our source has just provided us with a test file of the new Yi Camera which gives us some insight into the device’s battery life.

Like the name suggests, the new generation Yi Action Camera 2 will be able to capture 4K videos at 30 fps. We all know that 4K video recording drains a lot of battery, which is why the manufacturer of the camera decided to test out a few samples for evaluation of its battery life while capturing 4K resolution video at 30 fps.

The test was carried out at an indoor room temperature of 20 degrees celsius, with both Wi-Fi and LCD display turned off. The company has compared the Yi 4K Action Camera 2 with the GoPro Hero 4 Black model, both under same conditions. The Yi Camera comes with a 1400mAh battery which should be good for 8 hours of life under normal usage. On the other hand, the GoPro Hero 4 comes with a slightly smaller 1160mAh battery.

So, here are results of the test. The company tested out five different samples of the new action camera and compared them with one GoPro Hero 4 Black model. On a couple of occasions, the Yi camera managed to record 4K video at 30 fps for a good 120+ minutes. The rest of the samples also provided 110+ minutes of recording.

Coming to the GoPro Hero 4 Black model, it managed to record for just 42 minutes, which is too low as compared to the Yi camera. But in the test, it was noted that the GoPro model shut down automatically during the recording. The model comes with temperature protection, which automatically shuts down the device when the temperature surges beyond a limit. So, the tester couldn’t record 4K video till the battery drained out on this model.

Model No.	Battery Capacity	Power Consumption	Record Time
Z16V13–3368264	3.85V 1400mAh 5.39Wh	523.5mA/5V 2.62W	122 mins
Z16V13–2038921	3.85V 1400mAh 5.39Wh	548.34mA/5V 2.74W	116 mins
Z16V13–2545843	3.85V 1400mAh 5.39Wh	552.6mA/5V 2.77W	114 mins
Z16V13–2624129	3.85V 1400mAh 5.39Wh	524.25mA/5V 2.62W	121 mins
Z16V13–1633742	3.85V 1400mAh 5.39Wh	527.3mA/5V 2.64W	119 mins
Gopro Hero4 Black	3.8V 1160mAh 4.4Wh	766.54mA/5V 3.83W	42 mins

(The first four (Z16V13LW612AUSXXXXXXX) are 4K Yi Action Camera 2 models while the last one is the GoPro Hero 4 model)

You can see that the Yi Camera consumes less power while recording than the GoPro Hero 4, which made sure that it could record in 4K resolution without any overheating worries.

We hope to get hold of other test data from our sources very soon, so stay tuned for more details.

Meanwhile, check out our previous article wherein we have revealed more details about the upcoming action camera from Xiaomi.