Huawei may release Honor Note 4C Sport & 4C Play versions alongside Honor 7

By

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Jun 10, 2015

If latest rumors are to be believed, then Huawei is preparing to launch not one, but three new Honor smartphones later this month. Alongside the new Honor 7 flagship, it is said that two new devices namely Huawei Honor Note 4C Sport and Note 4C Play will be announced at the event on June 24.

While there is very little information about these two new Honor Note handsets, it is said that these devices will feature Huawei’s own Kirin 938 chipset (specs unknown) along with a large 6.2-inch display. Another highlight of the devices will be its premium brushed metal finish as well as a rear placed fingerprint sensor.

We had recently seen a new leaked handset in picture, that kind of fits the description. It is also said that the this could be one of the first handsets designed by Nokia designers after they were hired by Huawei.

As for the Honor 7 flagship, we already have a thorough idea as to what to expect from the device. There is said to be two different version of the flagship, one standard edition and the other high-end edition. The standard edition will come with 3GB of RAM and 16GB of storage, while the high-end edition bumps up the memory to 4GB RAM and 64GB of internal storage. Other specs are expected to be more or less the same, so the phone will feature Kirin 935 chipset, 13MP rear camera and an all metal design. It is even being reported that the phone will feature the company’s own Kirin OS.

The Honor 7 standard edition will reportedly retail for 1999 Yuan ($320) while the high-end edition is expected to cost 2499 Yuan ($402). Expect a lot more information in the coming days, since all the three handsets will most likely debut at the company’s event on June 24.

Xiaomi unveils Wi-Fi Amplifier, Bedside Smart Lamp & A Bluetooth Headset

By

Joel Joseph

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Jun 10, 2015

Xiaomi just unveiled a number of new products earlier today. Of course, the new Xiaomi Mi router was the highlight of the launches, but alongside it, we got to see several other accessories as well.

First up is the Xiaomi Yeelight Bedside Lamp. This smart lamp supports 16 million kinds of color changes. Inside, you get a high-quality OSRAM lamp, which is one of the leading lighting companies in the world. You have touch based controls on top of the lamp, or you can use your smartphone connected via Bluetooth to control the color shades of the bedside lamp. You have multiple color shade options such as cool or warm. The Xiaomi Bedside smart lamp will go on sale for 249 Yuan in the near future.

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Next up is the Xiaomi Wi-Fi Mi Amplifier. Like its name suggests, this particular device works with the Xiaomi Mi router to extent the range of the device. This can come in handy in large homes, where Wi-Fi signal may not reach all the corners. So, to avoid dead signal areas, you can use this Wi-Fi amplifier from Xiaomi.

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The device is pretty easy to use. You can plug into the Xiaomi Router to automatically pair both the devices. Then, all you have to do is connect the amplifier to a USB power source, and your signal strength will be nearly doubled. The device will start at 39 Yuan and will go on sale alongside the Xiaomi Mi Wi-fi Router.

The third accessory released today is the Xiaomi Mi Bluetooth Headset. This particular headset has won the prestigious 2015 German IF Design Award and features a special anti-stain coating in an one piece housing. The overall device measures 56 x 10 x 8mm and weighs just 6.5 grams making it ultra portable. You get 3 medical grade silicone ear caps as well.

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The headset supports the latest Bluetooth 4.1 connection, which reportedly solves the problem of interference with 4G network signals. It comes with automatic noise reduction and can connect to two phones simultaneously. As for talktime, the company claims that the device can run for 5 hours continuously on a single charge. To full charge it from zero percent, it will take about two hours. It boasts of 1 week of standby and can operate at a maximum distance of 10 meters. The Xiaomi Bluetooth headset will go on sale from June 18 for a price tag of 79 Yuan.

Finally, near the end of the event, the company surprisingly made another announcement, this time a set of smart home products for just 199 Yuan. The smart home kit contains a number of smart sensors which can be used to achieve 30 different kinds of functions. For example, the motion detectors along with the gateway can perform functions such as switching on a light at night when it detect motion. Another example would be to use the door sensors and the connected air ventilator to start or stop as you enter or leave your house. The smart home kit will go on sale on June 18 alongside the Bluetooth headset.

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Overall, it looks like Xiaomi wants a product in almost every category, with a special focus on smart home devices. The company already has a ton of products in the market and this should further increase the choices for customers.

Buy Xiaomi Yeelight For Just $58.78

The Next Generation Xiaomi Router Is Here With 6TB Storage And Dual Antennas

By

Joel Joseph

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Jun 10, 2015

Xiaomi has been teasing about a new launch for the past couple of days and as predicted, the company announced a brand new router along with a couple of other products at an event in China.

The company has made a lot of changes in the new Xiaomi router, including its design. Now, the device looks more of a router than a CPU, with a flatter rectangular design. It looks almost as thick as the older generation model, probably due to the massive storage that comes inside.

Like the previous model, this new router comes with 1TB storage. However, those who want to take things to a whole new level can now opt for a 6TB version as well. Yes, the company has finally decided to make this option available for those users who are always in short of storage.

Even under the hood, the Xiaomi router sports some changes. First of all, it will be the first device to feature Broadcom Broadcom 4709C dual-core processor clocked at 1.4Ghz which improves performance by 40% as compared to the previous version. This along with the 512MB RAM on board should ensure seamless connection to the internet as well as consistent access to high-speed internet.

The router comes with 2×2 external PCB dual antenna array with advanced signal tracking technology. The company claims that this ensures better connectivity throughout the home. Moreover, the overall structure is designed to keep the device cool.

As for the features, you can do a lot of things with the 6TB (if you opt for that model) storage inside. You can connect your smartphone, tablet or even laptop to the router and backup all your contents on the device. These photos, videos, and other files are accessible remotely from anywhere in the world, provided you have an internet connection. You can even connect your camera with Wi-Fi to the router to backup all of your photos.

Another important feature is the through the app. Users can download and install the Xiaomi router app from the app store and can search for a number of titles. They can then keep the file for download remotely and the router will start downloading it back at home. So, once the user gets back, he or she can directly access that file.

Finally, the router can block malicious URLs, phishing websites, web adverts and will also help in privacy protection. You can also set permissions for each connected device. Finally, Xiaomi claims that the router has four kinds of network acceleration, which smartly allocates bandwidth to improve web browsing, downloads, gaming and broadband connection on the device.

Overall, an interesting upgrade. The router is actually a multi-purpose storage hub, which can act as an interesting addition to your home as well as office environment.

The 1TB version of the router starts at the same price as the older generation model, i.e. at 699 Yuan. But if you want the 6TB version, you will have to shell out 2999 Yuan.

Honor 7 Could Come With Huawei’s Home Grown Kirin OS

By

Joel Joseph

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Jun 9, 2015

Last month, there were rumors that Huawei was developing its own software for its smartphones. Now, a leaked screenshot reveals the new Kirin OS 1.0 on a device, which the source claims is the new Honor 7 flagship. Yes, if the source is to be believed, then we will probably see this new OS as soon as this month!

Honor 7 will be the company’s first smartphone to run on its own OS. This doesn’t come as a surprising news given the fact that all major manufacturers are now trying to develop their own UI for better user experience. We have already seen Lenovo unveil a new brand called ZUK which will focus on developing new UI (software) for the company.

It is said that Huawei has been developing this new mobile operating system (Kirin OS) for the past three years in its own lab. So, it will be interesting to see how the OS performs as compared to competitors like CyanogenMod and OxygenOS.

However, the company has not revealed anything about a new home grown OS, at least till now. So, take this leak with a pinch of salt. But if the Kirin OS is real and if its coming with the Honor 7, we expect a lot more information in the next couple of weeks. So, stay tuned to the website for more updates.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 Leaked Again In All Metal Body

By

Joel Joseph

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Jun 9, 2015

Its about time we see a new Xiaomi Redmi Note flagship and looks like the launch is nearing. Earlier today, a couple of pictures of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 leaked online once again confirming an all metal design.

It looks like the upcoming Redmi Note 2 will have slightly different looks than the current generation model. The pictures reveal a metal design with a smooth back cover. The overall design looks much more premium especially with that solid metal frame that you can see in the image.

As for the specs, a leaked Xiaomi product roadmap revealed that there will be two different versions of the Redmi Note 2. The regular version will feature Snapdragon 410 with 5.5-inch HD display while the Redmi Note 2 Pro version is said to feature a full HD 5.5-inch panel with Snapdragon 615. Both the models will come with 2GB RAM and 13MP+5MP camera units on the back and the front respectively.

According to the same roadmap, we can expect these models to debut sometime in July, which is just a month away. So, stay tuned for more details.

LeTV Le 1 One S1 X600 Review: Bezel Less Le Superphone

By

Linus

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Jun 9, 2015

LeTV has brought a lot of media attention with their entry into the smartphone market. The company announced not only its entry to the hectic smart devices game, but it also has some huge international expansion plans, which starts in the U.S. LeTV is widely known for its Netflix-like services in its homeland of China, but the most important thing for us tech fans is the new hardware. We have already heard the words that describe LeTV Superphones: bezel less, USB type-C, bleeding edge specs, all-new UI, bill of materials, very low cost for flagship-grade performance and so on. But are the new devices really worth all the hype? Let’s find out in our full review of the LeTV One (S1) Le Superphone.

LeTV Le 1 One S1 X600 Review: VIDEO

Check out a comprehensive video review!

LeTV Le 1 One S1 X600 Review: SPECIFICATIONS

Display	5.5″ 1080p, 403ppi
Processor	Mediatek Helio X10, 64-bit, up to 2.2GHz
RAM	3GB
Camera	5MP Front/13MP Back (f/2.0 aperture)
Connectivity	Bluetooth, 3G, 4G, GPS, WIFI, GSM,EDGE, GPRS, UMTS, HSPA, HSPA+,
Battery	3.000 mAh Li-polimer (non-removable)
Dimensions	147.8 x 74.2 x 9.5mm
OS	LeUI based on Android 5.0 Lolipop
Storage	16, 32 or 64GB (non-expandable)

LeTV Le 1 One S1 X600 Review: UNBOXING

Let me start by taking a very quick look at the presentation of the smartphone. The box is quite simple and as usual, I don’t go too much into details about it. Nevertheless, it has a nice looking minimal design and some specs printed on the bottom side. Leaving the device aside for a moment, you can find a really premium looking presentation. Everything is packed very nicely and it is a pleasure to unbox all the stuff.

The first thing you are going to see in the box is Le Superphone itself.

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The contents that come in the packaging include the USB charging cable, which is not only nicely folded in a convenient little travel box, but it is the first USB Type-C cable on the smartphone in the world. I will get back to this topic a bit later, so stay tuned.

The included charging brick has a great design and can provide 2A of power to charge your device at the decent speed.

The included envelope is something I haven’t seen in any smartphone’s retail box. You have to pull one side, where the SIM ejector tool is located and the user manuals, which are written in Chinese, pop out from the other side. That’s pretty cool.

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Overall, the built quality is top notch. The device looks and feels great in the hand. Even it has 5.5” display and the dimensions of the whole device are 147.8 x 74.2 x 9.5mm, it is easy to handle it with one hand due to tiny bezels on each side. One more thing worth mentioning is that it weighs 170g, which is quite a lot. However, it is a personal choice and I prefer a bit heavier devices that you at least feel something in your hand. Finally, the smartphone is definitely a looker and many people have already asked what kind of phone I have.

LeTV Le 1 One S1 X600 Review: UI

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Let’s talk about the UI a bit. The LeTV One is running the LeUI, which is a highly customised version of Android 5.0 Lolipop. The very first impressions you are going to have once you start navigating through the UI is how clean and simple it looks. Also, it is one of the fastest implementations of Android I’ve seen in a while. Everything is running very smoothly and it is extremely fast.

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Although the OS is running very smoothly, you have to keep in mind that it is designed for Chinese market after all. In addition, it is made mainly to enjoy the LeTV video streaming services. Well, it is definitely useful as you can watch some TV shows and movies, but all the content is in Chinese. Well, unless you are a Chinese or understand this language, it is pretty much useless. The bad thing is that you can’t turn these LeTV services off in the settings menu.

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The good thing is that it is an Android OS after all and you can always install a custom launcher. I’ve tested Nova and Google Now launchers and it works absolutely fine.

Speaking of Google, the LeTV smartphones come without Google Services pre-installed, so you would need to do it yourself. Doing that is really easy and it took me just a few minutes. I may write a separate article or even make a tutorial video on that.

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As usual to the Chinese smartphones, you have tons of customisation options. It all starts with a variety of wallpapers, which come out pre-installed out of the box. Also, there are a lot of themes to chose from both already installed and online.

Although the English translations seem to look fine in general, but there is still some Chinglish left, e.g. Informed management translation sounds weird and you can’t really understand what it is at the first glance.

Speaking of languages, the device comes only with English and some Chinese language options.

As far as the storage goes, the 16GB model is definitely not enough as there are just over 11GB user available storage. I would suggest to go for at least 32GB model.

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The LeUI has clearly taken some inspiration from Apple as scrolling up in the home screen brings a quick search function. Anyway, it is a great feature and works like a charm. Swiping from the top of the screen does not open the quick settings menu, but rather shows you the most important notifications. If you want to access both the recent apps and quick settings menu, you have to press the multitasking key. It it quite unusual way to access it, but you can get used to it quite fast. There are plenty of toggles to choose from and if you don’t like them all, the menu can be customised the way you want.

LeTV Le 1 One S1 X600 Review: PERFORMANCE

As far as the sheer power goes, the LeTV One has a powerful octa-core Mediatek Helio X10 64-bit processor, which is clocked at 2.2GHz and it is supplemented with 3GB of RAM. That’s a lot of power for a low price tag.

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As far as the music player app, it is pretty simple, easy to use and responsive. There are no settings to play around, but you can turn on some Dolby Audio effects to get a little enhanced sound. I can say that these effects really make the sound richer (of course, it may be just some equaliser settings that the app enhances).

The stereo speakers have a great volume output and have maybe not the best, but pretty good sound quality. However, the speaker can get muffled with your finger very easily.

Check out the video review to hear the sound test.

The 1080p video footage looks stunning on a 5.5” display and the device handles high resolution video without any issues. In addition, the pre-installed video player app is very responsive and easy to use.

To have a great Internet browsing experience I suggest you downloading Google Chrome browser since the pre-installed one has too many Chinese aspects in it. The browsing experience using Chrome browser is just flawless as everything is running smoothly.

LeTV Le 1 One S1 X600 Review: CONNECTIVITY

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The call quality is perfect as the voices coming out the earpiece are clear and loud. Also, the people I spoke to could hear me very clearly. In addition, the 4G connectivity worked absolutely fine and the device had full signal bars most of the time.

Other connectivity options like bluetooth, GPS, dual-band Wifi worked just fine, so I have no complaints in this department.

LeTV Le 1 One S1 X600 Review: CAMERA

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As far as the image quality goes, the daylight pictures look sharp, have plenty of resolved detail and colours look natural. In addition, exposure and dynamic range seem to be fine most of the time. What I’ve noticed is that once you use the tap-to-focus technique, the dynamic range or saturation levels become pretty bad, so my advice is just simply trust the auto-focus feature.

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Once you take the device inside where there is plenty of light, you can produce some sharp looking close-up pictures.

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The low-light shots are not as good as daylight, but you can still capture some nice looking images. However, the low-light camera performance is not as good as I expected and it is a bit worse than my vivo Xshot (see the picture comparison vs. vivo Xshot in the video review).

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The shots taken in complete darkness using the dual tone dual LED flash are disappointing. The LED flash is very powerful, but it is not optimised at all. Some of the shots are even completely useless. Hopefully, this is a just a software bug that can be fixed by reducing the LED light output or something.

LeTV Le 1 One S1 X600 Review: FRONT FACING CAMERA

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The 5MP selfie camera does a great job, as it has enough details and overall it will satisfy you with your social media needs. Just keep in mind that the beauty mode is set as default, but if you like putting on some make up, it can be fun playing around with it.

LeTV Le 1 One S1 X600 Review: VIDEO QUALITY

Please check out the video review to see the video samples.

The 1080p video recording is just above average. The footage has natural looking colours, does an okay job with auto-exposure, but it could be definitely sharper and smoother. However, I believe that it will be definitely improved with a software update. For example, the video used in the video review was shoot in the unusual for the high-end smartphones .3gp video format. However, one minor software update changed the format to the .mp4. That means that LeTV has already addressed the issue and we may see some major improvements here since we know what Sony IMX214 sensor is capable of.

The footage is actually not that bad, but I may produce a follow-up video once these software bugs are fixed.

The camcorder woes continue with the 4K video capture. Well, there is good and bad news here. The good thing is that the 4K footage looks very sharp, has plenty of details and it is definitely a high quality material overall.

The bad news is that the footage can be only played on the smartphone. I’ve transferred it to my Mac, tried 3 different players, but the video just got stuck or did not even play. Again, this is a huge software bug and it is impossible that LeTV leaves that as it is.

The slow-motion video can be shot at 720P resolution and I the footage turns out to be pretty good. There is a reasonable amount of detail and I like what I’m seeing overall.

LeTV Le 1 One S1 X600 Review: CONCLUSIONS

So there you have, the LeTV One Le Superphone. The device has a good looking design and outstanding built quality. All of this beauty looks and feels great in the hand and it is comfortable to handle it even with one hand despite its large 5.5” screen.

Speaking of display, it is not completely bezel less as there are clearly visible borders on each side, but the edge-to-edge glass does make a great impression. In addition, the screen is sharp, vivid and has great viewing angles.

The UI is very fast, fluid and has a great design, but still has some weird English translations. Also, you can’t remove the LeTV home button. Still, since it’s Android, you can customise the device the way you want and even install the Google Play services manually without a sweat.

Moreover, The lack of the MicroSD card slot suggests that you would rather buy at least 32GB model if you are a heavy user.

The powerful chip along with 3GB of RAM is a combination you can trust when it comes even to the most demanding tasks like 3D gaming or 4K footage playback or recording.

However, there are some issues in the video recording department, but as I’ve said earlier, there are some high chances that it will be fixed with a software update soon. I may produce a follow-up video on that.

On the other hand, the daylight still camera images look very good and indoor shots are great too. However, the LED flash is simply too bright and hopefully it can be fixed via software update as well.

In addition, you can be sure that the battery will keep the lights on for a good amount of time and you would not have any connectivity issues.

Finally, LeTV One Le Superphone is without a doubt a great device. Despite a few shortcomings, which I strongly believe can be fixed via software updates very soon, it shapes up to be one of the best offerings on the market for the price of under $300 unlocked.

Buy Letv One S1 for $294.99!

ZTE Could Be Working On A New Phone With 4K Display

By

Joel Joseph

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Jun 9, 2015

Its been a while since 2K screens started appearing on flagship devices. Given the immense competition and development in the smartphone market, its about time we see an upgrade in the display resolution (although it may not be needed). Day by day, 4K TVs are gaining popularity and it looks like 4K display smartphones could arrive in the market pretty soon.

We have already seen the 5.5-inch 4K (2160 x 3840 pixel resolution) display from Sharp, translating in a whopping 806 ppi. Now, Chinese media reports that ZTE is planning to use a similar 4K display on its new ZTE Star 3 flagship. In addition to this super resolution display, their source reveals that the TFT Panel will use a special crystal structure which will reduce power consumption as well as improve the strength of the display.

To be honest, its too early to be making conclusions based on such little information. So, take this news with a pinch of salt. We will keep you guys updated if something more conclusive comes up in the coming weeks.

Stay tuned.

The Coolpad Dazen F1 Plus takes on the Redmi 2A with better specs and cheaper price tag

By

Joel Joseph

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Jun 9, 2015

If you ever thought that 499 Yuan ($80) was the cheapest price at which a mainstream company could sell a phone, then you have been proved wrong. Coolpad has just announced a Dazen smartphone that’s better and even cheaper than Xiaomi’s budget Redmi 2A smartphone.

Coolpad is offering its new smartphone at an impressive price tag of 399 Yuan. This is 100 Yuan cheaper than the regular Redmi 2A version. Moreover, if you are interested in getting a 2GB RAM version, you just have to shell out 499 Yuan in total, which equals Redmi 2A’s retail price.

What’s more, you get better specs on the Dazen F1 Plus than Xiaomi’s offering. In fact, Coolpad has made a special infographic to explain that the F1 Plus is better than the Redmi 2A in a number of areas.

The Coolpad phone comes with a 64-bit Snapdragon 410 chip as compared to the 32-bit Leadcore L1860C on Redmi. Other improvements include a larger display (5-inch), a better front camera (5MP instead of 2MP), and a larger battery (2500mAh instead of just 2200mAh). Other features such as 4G LTE connectivity, 1GB RAM and 8GB of ROM remains the same as the Redmi model.

Overall, its looks like Coolpad has released a winner. Its better than the Redmi in many aspects, yet costs 100 Yuan less. What’s even better is that even the 2GB RAM version costs only 499 Yuan. So, customers will definitely be happy to get that option at such a cheap price tag.

S what do you think about the phone? Would you consider buying the Dazen F1 Plus or will you stick with the Redmi 2A model?

[socialpoll id=”2275937″]

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Get the Mlais M9 with MT6592M octa-core chip & 5-inch Gorilla Glass for just $79!

By

Joel Joseph

-

Jun 9, 2015

We have just spotted a great deal on Mlais M9. This particular budget smartphone which usually retails for around $100 is now being offered for an amazing price tag of just $79. The M9 is a great budget smartphone, especially for those who are not willing to spend too much. It offers much more than regular sub-$80 phones, which is why, we thought it may interest our readers. You can read on for more information.

The Mlais M9 comes with the octa-core MT6592M processor clocked at 1.4GHz and 1GB of RAM on board. This combination is pretty good for a super cheap device. You get 8GB of expandable memory inside and a 5-inch 940 x 540 pixel display up front. The surprise here is that the phone is protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass. There will be 2100mAh battery on board. As for software, it will run on the Android 4.4 KitKat version. There will be an 8MP camera at the back along with a 2MP front facing shooter, but don’t expect much from these camera units.

As you can see, this isn’t the latest specs, but its good enough for your everyday basic usage. So, in case you are looking for a second cheap handset or for just basic use, the Mlais M7 should serve the purpose. What’s more, the design looks good and the phone is slim measuring just 7.5mm.

We don’t know how long will this sale last, so make sure to check out the device as soon as you can.

Buy Mlais M9 For Just $79.99

So, what do you think about the phone? Too old specs or is it good enough for $80?

Huawei Honor 7 System Screenshot Leaked: Kirin 935 and 4GB RAM Confirmed

By

Joel Joseph

-

Jun 8, 2015

We recently saw the Huawei Honor 7 hit TENAA which confirmed the rear placed fingerprint sensor as well as the all metal design. However, TENAA failed to reveal the key specifications of the device.

Now, a new leaked system screenshot of the PLK-AL10 model (which is the same one that hit TENAA) reveals a few more details about the phone’s specifications. The model is running on the new Kirin 935 chipset which is the same one that powers the high-end version of the Huawei P8. As for memory, there is 4GB RAM on board and 64GB of internal storage.

This information confirms some of the leaked specifications of the device. So, there will most likely be two versions, one running 3GB RAM and 16GB storage while the other with 4GB and 64GB of memory. The leaked screenshot turns out to be of the high-end version. There will be a full HD display (screen size expected to be around 5-inches) and the phone will run on the Android 5.1 Lollipop version. Fingerprint recognition is also almost confirmed on the device.

As for the pricing, it is said that the low-end version will start at 1999 Yuan ($322) while the high-end version will retail for around 2499 Yuan ($400). Expect the Honor 7 flagship to be launched this month itself, sometime around June 24.

$5 OFF MLAIS M7 With 3GB RAM, Octa-Core Processor & Fingerprint Recognition

By

Joel Joseph

-

Jun 8, 2015

Mlais M7 seems to be a popular option among mid-range buyers. The phone comes with everything that you expect from a new age smartphone, including a fast octa-core processor.

The M7 features the new Mediatek MT6752 octa-core processor. This is the same chip that powers most upper mid-range phones in the market. What’s more, you get 3GB of RAM on board which is more than enough to handle all tasks. Also, there’s 16GB of expandable storage inside. If you have checked out the Elephone P7000 model, it comes with the same configuration. However, the phone is almost $25-$30 pricier than the Mlais M7.

There is one major difference between the two, which probably explains the higher price tag. Mlais M7 comes with a 5.5-inch HD display, on the other hand the P7000 comes with a full HD display. However, if you are trying to save a few bucks, than the M7 definitely turns out to be a great option.

Other specs include a 13MP rear camera with LED flash and autofocus along with a 5MP front facing shooter. The battery will be of 2600mAh capacity and the phone will run on the Android 5.0 Lollipop version. You even get a rear placed fingerprint sensor just below the camera unit for added protection.

Overall a great package for an amazing price tag. For those who are interested, we have got a special coupon for our readers which will further reduce the price tag by $5.

So, instead of $189.99, you just have to pay $184.99 for the device. Just use the coupon: M7coupon to get the discount. Check out the buy now link for more info.

Buy Mlais M7 For Just $185.99

Zeaplus Watch DM360 Review – A Great All-Around Smartwatch on a Budget

By

Linus

-

Jun 8, 2015

Zeaplus is not the company you are going to think when it comes to smartwatches, but it turns out that they have something worth your attention. This time around we are looking at the affordable, yet good looking device – Zeaplus Watch DM360. How good is that? Check out either video or written review to find out.

We wanted to say thank you to ZEAPLUS.com for sending this smartwatch for a review!

VIDEO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sakdsFxuNLI

UNBOXING

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I don’t usually talk a lot about the packaging, but this time we are looking a really nice presentation. The watch is packed in a book style box and all the contents are put very neatly. Overall, I was surprised to see this kind of stuff in this price category of smartwatches.

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The contents include the smartwatch, magnetic charging cable, user manuals and the screen protector.

The magnetic charger is really easy to use. You just have to place it near the watch and the magnets do the rest.

DESIGN

The main features of this device, which costs only $99 include the 1.22” touch screen display, IP53 rating meaning that it is waterproof, dustproof and sweat proof. In addition, it has a heart rate monitor and it is made out of stainless steel.

The strap is made out of leather, which has a smooth touch. The display has great outdoors visibility and viewing angles.

On the back side you can find a charging dock along with the heart rate monitor.

On the right side you can find a power key and the speaker grill, which can be both used for music and the phone calls.

On the left there is only the microphone.

All in all, the watch looks very similar to the Motorola Moto 360 in terms of design. Other than that I’m very surprised with a great built quality as the combination of quality stainless steel and leather gives a great look and feel.

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In addition, the watch feels great on the hand and the leather strap does not irritate the wrist after longer periods of use.

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UI and FEATURES

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Let’s take a look at the UI of the smartwatch. It is a proprietary OS designed by Zeaplus and the whole idea is that the watch should be a companion to your smartphone by connecting via bluetooth. The UI is fast and responsive and you can navigate through the menu either using a touchscreen or turning the device.

An amazing feature is the ability to make or receive the calls directly from the smartwatch. I found the speaker to be great, but it may not be loud enough to speak in noisy environments. On the other hand, people I spoke to did not complain about the my voice clarity at all.

The speaker can be also used to listen to music. It is quite loud and has great sound quality for a smartwatch. Also, you can control the music stored on your smartphone. See the video review to hear a sound test.

It is great that the music can be played on your smartwatch and can be controlled. However, it does not work vice versa meaning that you can’t play music on your smartphone’s speaker and control it. You can only do that when the earphones are connected.

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Moreover, you have to scan the included QR code to download the smartwatch app to be able to use all the features. One of them is the remote shutter control. However, I found it to be completely useless. First of all, it does not work if the smartphone is on the standby mode. Secondly, there is a significant lag on the smartwatch’s viewfinder. Thirdly, it does not use your camera’s stock app. It means that you have to deal with some third party app, which doesn’t even have neither auto nor tap-to-focus features.

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The UI of the app is pretty simple and easy to use. You can track your fitness activity here.

Other features worth mentioning are a sleep manager, where you can track the quality of your sleep. Also, the messages app lets you read the whole message and reply with some pre-installed answers.

Another great thing is the gestures control. The most important one is that the screen lights up once you twist your wrist and it works very well. What is more, the smartwatch has all kinds of languages, so international customers can feel comfortable.

In addition, “Find My Device” feature lets you find your smartphone.

Finally, the included Siri app let’s you do some voice controls. It basically uses Google Now and works most of the time. However, I’m not a huge fan of voice controls, so I don’t use it.

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CONCLUSIONS

All in all, the Zeaplus Watch DM360 is a great device for the price of $99. It offers a lot of features and most of them work pretty good. I found the essential fitness app like pedometer to be working fine, but the heart rate monitor sometimes can take almost a minute to do its thing.

Also, the UI is fast, responsive and has tons of customisation options.

As far as notifications go, they work okay, but you would definitely want to block some apps. For example, the watch notifies you each time you change the song on the music app.

Some apps like remote camera control really disappointed me and I don’t even want to use it. However, I was surprised how well the gesture controls work.

One of the most important things is the battery life and I can say it can last you at least one full day on normal use and even two days on light use.

All in all, despite a few shortcomings it is a great device for the this price category. Of course, there are some better options out there, but they would cost 2 or even 3 times more. I think that it could be a great device for those who need some fitness tracking features and don’t want to miss any, I mean literally, any notification they receive.

Lenovo unveils a new brand ‘ZUK’ in China to focus on building innovative software

By

Joel Joseph

-

Jun 8, 2015

Lenovo has been increasing its presence in the smartphone industry in the past couple of years. From the top PC maker, now its aiming to be one of the best smartphone makers too. In this regard, the company has unveiled a new brand in China, called as ZUK. The company claims that this will operate as an independent brand and will help them focus more on the domestic market and fight competition.

Unlike Lenovo’s smartphone division, which focuses a lot more on hardware to attract customers, ZUK will spend more time developing the software aspect of the device. Of course, this sub-brand plans to release a smartphone of its own in September this year, but as they gain popularity among users, the final aim is to make a mark in the software field.

ZUK will release its first smartphone, called as the ZUK Z1 in September later this year. The device will come with high-end specs as well as a new home grown software UI called as the ZUI. As mentioned above, this new brand aims to attract consumer attention with its innovative and fluid software rather than hardware. In fact, it is said that over the course of time, the company will lessen its focus on hardware.

You can expect to see at least one smartphone in an year from ZUK. So, it could be a new flagship every year. But due to increased competition in the domestic market, they do not rule out the possibility of a second phone launch in a year.

Now, you must be wondering what’s the difference between ZUK and Lenovo and why did they decide to form a brand new company. Well, Lenovo is a pretty large company and it takes time to take and implement decisions. On the other hand, ZUK, being a more focused group will be able to take faster decisions operating independently.

Another difference will be the focus of the company. ZUK will spend a lot of time developing the ZUI Custom ROM for its devices, taking feedback from the users. In fact, out of the 400 employees in the company, 350 will be working on the software. The company aims to engage the heavy users giving them the best hardware and software experience. It will distinguish itself with new and innovative software features.

Unfortunately, the company is yet to reveal more details about its first smartphone, the ZUK Z1. So, we have no idea about the possible specs or even the pricing. Also, the company plans to focus on the domestic market at the moment, so don’t expect it to expand out of China anytime soon.

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Doogee S6000 is a Xiaomi Mi Note Clone with Monster 6000mAh battery

By

Joel Joseph

-

Jun 8, 2015

It looks like Doogee has a number of smartphones in store for its fans in the coming months. We have already seen leaks about the Doogee F3 as well as the Valencia2 Y100 Pro. Now, we have come across another leak from our source which reveals an interesting device, the Doogee S6000.

The selling point of the device will definitely be its looks. The Doogee S6000 takes its design inspiration from the popular Xiaomi Mi Note flagship. So, you get the same 2.5D glass front as well as a slightly curved back on the device. There will be a 3D GLONASS Glass back cover as well as a premium CNC Zinc Titanium frame.

The design even reveals dual speakers at the bottom. Another impressive feat is that the phone measures just 9mm which although is thicker than competitors, its quite slim for a 6000mAh smartphone. The screen to body ratio should be around 75 percent with 2.5mm slim bezels.

The Doogee S6000 is actually lower mid-range device with decent specs. However, it has everything that a smartphone user would want from a phone. One of the highlights of the device is its monster 6000mAh battery. Yes, its not a typo, but our source reveals that the phone will have such a large battery which ensures at least three to four days of usage on the device.

Whats more, the phone support’s Mediatek’s Pump Express fast charging technology which can charge the device up to 75 percent in under 30 minutes. This seems to be a killer deal for anyone who’s not happy with their phone’s battery life.

As for the other specs, the Doogee S6000 is said to come with the MT6735 quad-core chipset clocked at 1.5GHz. Unfortunately, there’s only 1GB RAM on board. For storage, you get 16GB of expandable memory. The display up front will be of 5.5-inches, with 720p resolution.

As for the camera, there is a decent f/2.0 8MP shooter at the back with dual LED flash and up front, there is a 5MP camera unit. The phone will run on the latest Android 5.1 version. Another possible feature could be Wireless Charging, but we are not sure of that.

Overall, its one of the best looking lower mid-range phones in the market. The Xiaomi Mi Note like design will definitely attract a lot of buyers as will the cheap $139.99 price tag. Expect the Doogee S6000 to be announced sometime in August this year.

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The Zeaplus M7 With MT6752, 3GB RAM & Fingerprint Sensor Priced At Just $199

By

Joel Joseph

-

Jun 7, 2015

In the past few weeks, we have covered a couple of articles on the upcoming Zeaplus M7 flagship. The company started off small but later on started making interesting handsets like the M7.

Now, we have the full detailed specifications of the Zeaplus M7 along with the pricing. The smartphone comes with the MT6752 octa-core 64-bit chip which is one of the best mid-range chipsets in the market right now. This along with the 3GB of RAM should provide enough power to handle everything that you throw at it.

As for the display, the phone sports a large 5.5-inch full HD panel with low power consumption tech. This translates into pixel density of an impressive 403 ppi and should display all videos and images with immense clarity. Another smart move by Zeaplus is the large 3800mAh battery on board the M7. This is much bigger than competitors, and should be able to give much more than a day’s usage.

Further the phone features a rear placed fingerprint sensor for securing your apps and documents on the phone. As for the camera, it comes with a 13MP Sony sensor at the back and a 5MP front facing shooters. The Zeaplus M7 runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop and comes with 16GB of expandable storage (up to 64GB via MicroSD).

The Zeaplus M7 is definitely one of the best mid-range flagship that you can buy at the moment! And the company has even priced it lower than competitors like the Ulefone and Elephone, as the M7 will retail for an official price tag of just $199. The phone will go on sale pretty soon and is currently listed as out of stock on the company website.

Meizu MX5 Pro may debut in July with 6-inch 2K display and Samsung 7420

By

Joel Joseph

-

Jun 7, 2015

Since the start of this month, we have been hearing a lot about the upcoming devices from Meizu. We have already spotted the Meizu MX5 on TENAA and even in a video, and it looks like the MX5 Pro version will also debut soon.

New rumors indicate that the MX5 Pro will come with a larger 6-inch display with 2K resolution. As for the processor, expect the same Samsung 7420 chipset that was inside the Samsung Galaxy S6 inside this beast. Along with this powerful chipset, the phone will come with 4GB RAM and an oval shaped home button which will support fingerprint recognition.

As for the camera, expect the same 20MP Sony sensor to end up in the new model. The battery is reportedly larger with 4000mAh capacity, which should easily provide more than a day’s usage. Finally, the phone is rumored to debut in July, which is only a few weeks away.

Meanwhile, you can check out a couple of pictures leaked of the new handset. These alleged pictures of the MX5 Pro reveal a double glass design with a metal frame around it. The phone does look large enough to accommodate a large 6-inch display. As for the front, it looks like the leaked pictures that we saw a couple of days back, could be of the MX5 Pro instead of MX5. Also, there are hardly any bezels on the sides.

Cheapest Way To Buy The WaterProof Cubot X10 With MT6592 & 2GB RAM

By

Joel Joseph

-

Jun 6, 2015

Cubot has come a long way since it first started selling smartphones and its new Cubot X10 handset is one of the best looking models in the market right now. The device boasts of a beautiful design with round edges and a super slim 7.3mm body, making it stand out from the crowd. Despite its attractive design, the real highlight of the phone is its waterproof nature. In fact, the company claims that this is the slimmest water proof phone in the world.

As for the specs, the phone comes with a decent MT6592 octa-core chip clocked at 1.4Ghz. While, this isn’t the latest or the fastest chip we have seen from Mediatek, its good enough to handle anything you throw at it with ease. The 2GB RAM should definitely help out in multi-tasking on the device smoothly.

The display up front is of 5.5-inches with 1280 x 720p resolution, which is quite the standard among mid-range phablets. At the back, there will be a 13MP shooter while on the front, there is a 8MP camera. There will be 16GB of internal storage which can be further expanded via MicroSD. The 2400mAh, although a bit smaller than competitors should be able to give about a day’s usage. As for software, the phone runs on Android 4.4 KitKat.

One disadvantage though is the lack of 4G LTE support. Most phones come with this high speed connectivity, which is why this could be considered as a drawback. However, if you don’t mind HSPA+ speeds, then this phone is definitely a good buy, especially for those who want something that looks attractive too.

Usually, the phone sells around $170+ via online retail stores, but today, we have got a coupon which reduces the price to just $155.99. Yes, Focal Price is offering the device for the above mentioned price, thanks to the coupon: X10.

So, click on the buy now link and during checkout use the coupon: X10 to get $10 OFF the retail price.

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Gionee Elife S8 Leaked In A Video: Fingerprint Sensor & 23MP Cam In All Metal Body

By

Joel Joseph

-

Jun 5, 2015

We have been hearing a lot about the upcoming Gionee Elife S8 flagship, thanks to the numerous leaks and even a TENAA listing. Now, the same phone has finally ended up in front of the camera.

Earlier today, we came across a new video which shows of the new Gionee Elife S8 in full glory. The device shown in the video looks exactly like the one from the leaked pictures. You can particularly see that the phone features an all metal design.

Talking more about the design, the phone looks quite slim, but that’s mainly because of its large profile. In reality, TENAA listing revealed that the phone will measure 9.6mm which is much thicker than the average flagships in the market right now. You can also see the fingerprint sensor at the back, just below the camera unit and a dedicated camera button.

This button once again proves that the company wants this phone to be known for its camera, which is expected to be of an impressive 23MP. Gionee itself has said that the phone will be able to take up to 100MP pictures in resolution, which will be a first for the smartphone camera. The video further shows that the back is removable, but the 3250mAh battery will be built in. So, you can only change MicroSD and SIM cards once you open up the cover.

TENAA has already given us an idea about the specs of the Gionee S8. So, it will feature MT6795 Helio X10 octa-core chip with 3GB RAM and 32GB of expandable storage. There will be a 23MP cam at the back along with a 8MP front facing shooter. As for the display, expect a 6-inch screen with 2K resolution. Finally, for software, the phone will run on Android 5.0 with the company’s own Amigo 3.0 UI on top.

Overall, the Gionee elife S8 turns out to be a great phone, especially for those who are looking for a giant phablet. However, we hope that the company will price it appropriately.

Check Out The Official Meizu M2 Note Camera Samples

By

Joel Joseph

-

Jun 4, 2015

Meizu announced the M2 Note earlier this week. The device comes with a number of upgrades, including a MicroSD card slot, physical home button and a slightly slimmer body. Although the company retained the same 13MP rear camera on the device, the ISP has been improved to deliver faster focus speeds and better performance.

Earlier today, Meizu released a few camera samples from the Meizu M2 Note and they look quite good for a 799 Yuan smartphone. You can see the samples from both the front and the rear camera. The front camera produced very good selfies, which were clear and bright. The same goes with the 13MP rear shooter which managed to click impressive shots. The picture of the sushi that you can see below came out quite well. There is no visible noise, color reproduction is good and image is clear.

As for the night time shot, even that came out quite good. You can see that the camera managed to click a decent image despite the numerous lighting sources that were in the shot. Of course, the picture isn’t highly detailed, but given that the phone costs just 799 Yuan, we can’t really expect anything more than this.

Also remember that these are the official camera samples, which are usually much better than the ones that a normal user would click. So, although these images look good, we can only tell the real camera performance when we review it ourselves.

Doogee X1 May Feature MT6755, Bezelless Display And Eye Recognition At Just $99

By

Joel Joseph

-

Jun 4, 2015

Doogee has been coming up with cost effective smartphones in the past few months. In fact, there are two interesting launches coming up, one of the Doogee F3 and the other, the Doogee Valencia2 Y100 Pro.

But it looks like the company may have another important release by August this year. A new leak states that Doogee is developing a new smartphone called as the Doogee X1, which will reportedly feature a bezelless display. Yes, you heard it right! This low cost Chinese manufacturer is said to be releasing a no bezel design phone, that too at a price tag of just $99.

What’s more, the Doogee X1 is rumored to come with a lot of other top-end features such as wireless charging and even eye recognition. As for the processor, the phone will reportedly feature the brand new MT6755 octa-core chip. The leak also says that there will be another version with MT6753 under the hood. The overall package really looks like a crazy deal which makes it extremely hard to believe. At $99, its rather impossible to incorporate these many high-end technologies but lets wait and watch if Doogee manages to achieve this feat.

The leak states nothing about the RAM, screen size or the camera, but the resolution should be Full HD and you can expect 2.5D glass. Also, the battery is said to be around 3500mAh. Naturally, from what we know till now, Doogee X1 looks like a flagship model. So, its hard to believe that the company will price it at just $99. Maybe, like Elephone, it is planning to release limited number of phones at this price. But as of now, we can’t really say anything, so its better to wait and watch what Doogee has in store for us.

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