Huawei had announced that they planned to release a powerful flagship device called the Huawei Honor 6 plus at the end of 2014. What everyone is mostly concerned about is the price. How expensive could Huawei’s new phone be?
Now, someone posted a very interesting picture of a Pwerpoint slide on an online forum that says that the Huawei Honor 6 Plus will cost at least a whopping 3299 RMB (537.13 USD). Does this mean that Huawei’s Honor subsidiary is planning to release a 4000 RMB (651.27 USD) device? According to the slide, it looks like it. Does this mean that Huawei is targeting the $700 market?
Today, the we will compare the audio performance of the Meizu MX4 Pro with other three devices: the Apple iPhone 6 Plus, Vivo X5, and HiFiMAN HM-901. Like the Meizu MX4 Pro, the Vivo X5 uses ESS9018K2M and has been weel-received by audio enthusiasts, while the HiFiMAN HM-901 was mentioned at Meizu’s launch. This device is a flagship portable music player that uses two standard-level ESS9018 chips.
All three devices have their place in the market. The iPhone 6 Plus is the highest selling phone among them and has great sound quality. The Vivo X5 is the first HiFi cellphone brand there is and its first generation phone also has excellent sound quality. The HiFiMAN HM-901 is a portable music player that has always received the best praise for its sound quality.
Meizu MX4 Pro vs. iPhone 6 Plus
Although the iPhone 6 Plus does not support HiFI, it is still important to mention it due to it being the most popular cellphone around. Besides, its sound quality is pretty good too. It may not be the best, but it is far from the worst.
Whether it’s at mid- and high-frequency or low-frequency, the Meizu MX4 Pro has the edge over the iPhone which has not had any significant improvement when it comes to audio frequency.
Meizu MX4 Pro vs. the Vivo X5
Meizu is not the first company to use the ESS9018 K2M chip. It’s just that the Meizu MX4 Pro is the most well-known one right now. Furthermore, we cannot talk about the ESS9018 K2M without mentioning Vivo. I would even go as far as say that this chip is the reason why Vivo existed in the first place. Unfortunately, the writer on has the Vivo X5 which does not use the ESS9018 K2M chip, but the famous CS4398 chip. This chip is also a popular chip among HiFi manufacturers.
The Vivo X5 is not as different from the Meizu MX4 Pro as the iPhone 6 Plus. Its sound quality is certainly better than the iPhone. The main difference lies in the feeling you get when listening to them, and this really depends on the person.
The Meizu MX4 Pro’s audio sounds more at ease and natural, while Vivo’s is more modern and emphasises more on the performance at the three frequencies and has a grainy sound. The MX4 Pro’s audio sounds a bit more relaxing and has more feeling in it.
Meizu MX4 Pro vs. HiFiMANHM-901
First, let’s discuss the sound quality of both devices at low frequency. The bass is much better in the HM-901 than the MX4 Pro, especially when playing classical orchestra music. When it comes to human voices, the HiFiMAN also has the advantage. There is more emotion in the sound and it sounds like someone is actually singing or talking near you. Pop music fans may like this as it makes it sound as if their favorite singer is right there with them.
At a high frequency, there are not too many differences in the sound quality between the two devices. The HM-901’s audio, though, sounds more real and natural.
Zeaplus is a relatively new company but it has already made headlines with its affordable Zeaplus M4 and the powerful Zeaplus M6.
Today the company announced another product, which is not a smartphone but a smart tracker which helps you to keep a track of your important things.
The device called as the Zeaplus Nut works together with a smartphone app and tracks all the connected
objects. You can control up to 20 objects out of which 6 can be online at a time.
The app allows you to set reminders so that you never forget your device and even if you do, the nut will sound an alarm if the objects goes beyond a certain distance.
Similarly, you can find your phone too using the chip. Just long press on the nut and your phone will start flashing and making a sound, which will help you find your phone.
It comes with rechargeable button battery with 3 months standby time.
As a part of the launch promotion, the company is giving away one free Zeaplus Nut to a lucky winner who shares what they think about the device in their forums.
So, just go to the Zeaplus forum and write what you think and you may win a free Zeaplus nut tracker.
Meanwhile, take a look at this advert from Zeaplus about the new Nut smart tracker.
Full Specs:
Color
White / Mint / Orange
Dimensions
36mm x 36mm x 5.8mm
Weight
10g
Bluetooth
Bluetooth 4.0
Compatible
iPhone5/5c/5s、iPhone6/iPhone 6 Plus、iPad3/4、iPad air、iPad mini
If you have been following the Chinese smartphone market, you would know that things have changed a lot in the past few years. Earlier, Chinese phones were considered to be cheap, low quality products, but now manufacturers like Xiaomi and OPO have proved that even these phones are no less than the phones launched by international manufacturers like Samsung and Sony.
Today, we have plenty of options to choose from, all well built, feature packed and affordable at the same time. And with so many options for the consumers, we decided to take a look at the best Chinese smartphones that you can buy at the moment.
Believe me, you have so many good options, that you’ll have a hard time narrowing down the list to one.
So, without wasting any more of your precious time, we take a look a the best Chinese smartphones to buy in 2014.
NOTE: ( In case you are wondering, the list has no particular order)
MEIZU MX4 PRO
The Meizu MX4 which was released a few weeks back, clearly wasn’t enough for many users out there which meant the company had something better in store for them, the new MX4 Pro.
MX4 Pro comes with a 5.5 inch Sharp 2K display, thereby joining the premium class of smartphones that features resolutions above 2560×1536 pixels. This means the display will be extremely good, and we don’t think you’ll have anything to complain about in this category.
Meizu has incorporated a Samsung Exynos 5430 Octa Core CPU inside its new flagship along with Mali-T628 MP6 GPU and 3GB RAM. So, there’s no doubt that the MX4 Pro will be one of the best smartphones available to buy today.
There are three storage variants to choose from, namely 16GB / 32GB / 64GB. While the smallest storage version will save you a few hundred dollars, note that the device does not come with a MicroSD card slot, so if you like storing a lot of movies, apps and high res pictures on your device, make sure you get atleast the 32GB version.
Even the camera on the MX4 Pro is top of the class. It features a 20.7MP Sony IMX220, f/2.2 camera on the back , which should definitely give you one of the best images captured by an Android device. According to the company, their camera team worked closely with professional photographers to calibrate the rear camera on the device, so color reproduction too should be good.
Finally, coming to the software, you get the new Flyme 4.1 on top of Android 4.4.4 Kikat.
To sum up, Meizu MX4 Pro is truly a Pro version of the MX4 and is currently one of the best Android smartphones that you can get in the market. The device starts at $410 for 16GB, $440 for the 32GB and $510 for the 64GB. However, its still not available to purchase and we’ll update the article shortly once the retailers start accepting pre-orders which should be soon.
Check out our initial impression on the MX4 Pro here.
SUMMARY
Display
5.5 inch 2K
Processor
Samsung Exynos 5430 OctaCore + Mali-T628 MP6 GPU
Memory
3GB RAM + 16/32/64GB Internal storage
Cameras
REAR: 20.7MP Sony IMX220 f/2.2 with 4K Video SupportFRONT: 5MP OV5693 f/2.2
Battery
3,350 mAh (non-removable)
Size and Weight
150.1 x 77 x 9 mm, 158 grams
OS
Android 4.4.4 + FLYME 4.1
Price
$410 – 16GB, $440 – 32GB, $510 – 64GB
Free Gift
None
Xiaomi Mi4
One of the most popular smartphones of 2014, Xiaomi Mi4 managed to exceed all expectations when it launched back in July this year.
The device comes with a beautiful design which some claim is inspired from Apple’s iPhone lineup. You get a 5 inch Full HD screen up front, with a solid metal frame and a glossy back cover.
Inside, you get Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 Soc with a 2.5GHz Quad Core Krait-400 processor. There’s 3GB RAM onboard along with Adreno 330 GPU which makes sure that the device is capable of heavy multi-tasking.
Mi4 runs on Xiaomi’s MIUI on top of Android 4.4 Kitkat. MIUI is considered as one of the best interfaces on Android currently in the market and has extensive support. The UI makes the most out of the Android platform and hence, MIUI would be a great replacement for your traditional stock Android look. You also get a 3080 mAh Li-ion battery on board which can be charged up to 60% within 30 minutes using Quick Charge 2.0
Finally, coming to the price, Xiaomi is known for its affordable and value for money devices, hence, its no surprise that the Xiaomi Mi4 retails for $399. Oppomart has currently listed the device with a $50 discount, so you can head over to the website to buy the device for just $349.
REAR: 13MP 1/3″ sensor with 2K Video SupportFRONT: 8MP with 1080p Video Support
Battery
3,080 mAh (non-removable)
Size and Weight
139.2 x 68.5 x8.9 mm, 149 grams
OS
Android 4.4.4 + MIUI 5.0
Price
$349 – 16GB, $449 – 64GB
Free Gift
None
OnePlus One
Another Chinese smartphone which took the world by storm is the ‘One’ from the company called OnePlus. You may have never heard of their name before ‘One’ became popular, but that doesn’t matter as its flagship is currently regarded as one of the best smartphones of 2014.
OnePlus One (OPO) comes with a 5.5 inch Full HD 1920 x 1080 pixel display which translates into 401 pixels per inch. Just like the Mi4, it comes with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 801 Quad Core processor clocked at 2.5 Ghz. As for the memory, you have 3GB RAM and 16GB/ 64GB internal storage options. Unfortunately, there’s no MiroSD card slot on the device so you have to be careful while choosing the storage variant.
The 13MP rear camera produces some great pictures, and the 3,100 mAh battery makes sure that the device is up and running till the end of the day.
The phone is well designed and well built like a true flagship and is available in Silk White and Sandstone Black finishes.
OPO is available for just $349 which is a great price for a device with such specifications. Like the Mi4, its available on Oppomart for a discount of $50, so you can get it for just $349.
REAR: 13MP 2K Video SupportFRONT: 5MP with 1080p Video Support
Battery
3,100 mAh (non-removable)
Size and Weight
152.9 x 75.90 x 8.90 mm, 162 grams
OS
Android 4.4.4 + CyanogenMod 11S
Price
$349 – 16GB, $429 – 64GB
Free Gift
Official protective cover for each OnePlus One
OPPO N3
OPPO N3 is not just a flagship smartphone, its a remarkable piece of technology. The company is quite famous in China for its well built devices and the latest flagship doesn’t disappoint at all. It comes with top of the line specifications with a beautiful and practical design.
On the front, there’s a 5.5 inch 1080p display, (we would have loved a 2K display given its expensive price tag) which means the screen is more or less like the other competitors available in the market.
Internals too are similar as it comes with a Snapdragon 801 processor clocked at 2.5 Ghz and Adreno 330 GPU along with 2GB RAM.
However, you won’t buy this phone for its internals but for the various special features that it brings to the table. For example, OPPO N3 can charge from 0% to 75% in under 30 minutes, thanks to VOOC charging. This coupled with a large 3000 battery makes sure, you don’t have to carry around a charger wherever you go.
Secondly, it does have a MicroSD card slot, which is something that’s absent from many flagships available today.
Then there’s the interesting 16MP Omnivision rotating camera that acts as the rear as well as the front shooter. So, selfie addicts could definitely use this feature for beautiful shots.
Other features include a fingerprint sensor, O-Click 2.0 Bluetooth Remote and special software features that come with Color OS 2.0.
But you get these features at a price, as OPPO N3 is the second costliest flagship that we have covered in the list.
The device is available for pre-order for $654. That’s almost $200 more than the basic version of MX4 Pro and $300 more than both OPO and Mi4.
So why would you pay this much for a Chinese phone? Well, OPPO is a well established brand, now available in a number of international markets. Chinese consumers love OPPO which is why its not surprising to see that it received more than 2 million pre-orders in the first week itself.
REAR: 16MP OmniVision rotating camera, 1/2.3 inch sensor, 2K Video Support
Battery
3,000 mAh (non-removable)
Size and Weight
161.2 x 77 x 9.9 mm, 192 grams
OS
Android 4.4. + Color OS 2.0.1
Price
$654
Free Gift
None
ZTE NUBIA Z7
The new Nubia Z7 is yet another costly flagship from a well known Chinese manufacturer. In fact, its the costliest phone that we have covered in this list.
For the $699 price tag, it does have some additional features as compared to the Oppo N3. For example, the 5.5 inch display up front features 2K resolution which means, the phone has a pixel density of over 538 PPI.
Moving on, it has an extra gig of RAM as compared to OPPO N3, but its the same as the 3GB RAM found on the earlier three flagships which were much cheaper than this.
It comes with the same processor as other competitors i.e. Snapdragon 801 with 3GB RAM and 32GB ROM. Camera too is of 13MP with OIS. There’s a 3,000 mAh battery on board which coupled with the power efficient processor should last an entire day.
Unfortunately, the device is not yet available for purchase and we’ll update the article as soon as it releases worldwide.
REAR: 13MP OIS camera with 2K Video SupportFront: 5MP
Battery
3,000 mAh (non-removable)
Size and Weight
153.2 x 75.7 x 8.9 mm, (Weight – Undisclosed)
OS
Android 4.4.2 + Nubia UI 2.0
Price
$699 (estimated)
Free Gift
None
HUAWEI HONOR 6
If you are looking for something cheap yet don’t want to settle for less than a flagship, Huawei Honor 6 is probably your best bet. The company is well known, operates in a number of international market and is known to release affordable and well built devices.
The latest Huawei Honor 6 brings all the standard features you would expect from a flagship device at a price that would only get you a mid range device, had it been an a well known international manufacturer like Samsung or Sony.
But this is Huawei we are talking about so you get an Octa Core HiSilicon Kirin processor clocked at 1.7 Ghz. You have 3GB RAM onboard along with 16/32GB internal storage option, which like the OPPO N3 can be expanded using an external MicroSD card slot.
There’s a 13MP rear camera sensor along with a 5MP front shooter, both capable of taking decent pictures.
Heating may be its biggest issue, but most smartphones these day heat up to some extent, hence we don’t feel this should stop you from buying the device.
Remember, this a 5.0 inch 1080p phone just like the Xiaomi Mi4, so if you don’t like phablets, this is a good option.
Huawei Honor 6 is currently available for a discounted price of just $339 on Oppomart instead of the regular $399 .
If you like large devices and by large we mean, even bigger than 5.5 inch phablets like OPO, then you’ll like Lenovo’s VIBE Z2 PRO flagship. It features a large 6 inch 2K screen with a pixel density of 490 PPI. That’s pretty impressive given that the phone is so large that some may even called it a tablet.
The device features a brushed aluminium unibody design which gives it a unique place in the market filled with plastic competitors.
This is yet another Snapdragon 801 device and comes with 3GB RAM onboard along with 32GB internal storage.
It features a 16MP 2K camera and has a large 4,000 mAh battery at the back. This should be more than enough for a day’s usage even with its large and vibrant 6 inch screen up front. Check out our full review of the Lenovo Vibe Z2 Pro here.
IUNI U3 is one of the best value for money devices that you can get at the moment. The device features a metal body with very thin bezels which makes it look like a premium device.
When it comes to specifications too, the U3 shines well ahead of other competitors. Unlike some of the devices we have mentioned here, like the OPO and Honor 6, U3 comes with a 5.5 inch 2K Quad HD display. This translates into an impressive pixel density of 538 PPI.
The processor is the almost as same as other models in the list i.e. Snapdragon 801 clocked at 2.3Ghz and 3GB RAM.
On the back, there’s a 13MP Sony Camera with f2.0 while on the front, you have a 4MP Ultra Pixel camera. Battery’s decent too and at 3,000 mAh, the device should easily last for an entire day.
IUNI U3 is one of the best looking devices in the market at present, which at $399 offers a great deal of features at an amazing pricetag.
REAR: 13MP Sony IMX214 with 1080p Video Support + OISFRONT: 4MP UltraPixel
Battery
3,000 mAh (non-removable)
Size and Weight
145×74.9×10.3mm, 176 grams
OS
Android 4.4.2 + IUNI OS
Price
$399
Free Gift
None
HUAWEI ASCEND MATE 7
If you don’t like Lenovo Vibe Z2 Pro’s brushed metal finish, then you can go for the new Huawei Mate 7. Its the same size as the Vibe Z2 Pro, but features only 1080p resolution as opposed to 2K on Lenovo. However, still at 390 PPI, the screen is bright and vibrant and should display and images with great clarity.
Huawei went with its own Hisilicon Kirin 925 Octa Core CPU and Mali-T628 GPU. For memory, you have two options 2GB for the 16GB internal memory version and 3GB for the 32GB version. Interestingly, the device does have a MicroSD card which supports cards up to 128GB in size.
It comes with the same Sony Exmor EX214 13Mp rear camera as seen on most other flagships in the list along with a 5MP front camera. Huawei has also made sure that the 6 inch phablet lives for more than a day as it comes with the biggest battery pack in the list, a 4,100 mAh.
However, for the larger battery and the bigger screen, you have to pay around $100 extra than other competitors. You can purchase the device directly from Oppomart for $499.
SUMMARY
Display
6 inch 1080p (390 PPI)
Processor
Hisilicon Kirin 925 Octa Core CPU + Mali-T628 GPU
Memory
2GB RAM for 16GB, 3GB RAM for 32GB (MicroSD Card slot: YES)
Cameras
REAR: 13MP Sony IMX214 with 1080p Video SupportFRONT: 5MP
Battery
4,100 mAh (non-removable)
Size and Weight
157 x 81 x 7.9 mm, 185 grams
OS
Android 4.4. + Emotion 3.0 UI
Price
$499 – 16GB, $599 – 32GB
Free Gift
None
Vivo XShot
If you plan to replace your smartphone as your everyday camera, then the new Vivo XShot looks like a good option.
It comes with a 13MP f/1.8 aperture camera with OIS which takes great pictures. The dual tone dual LED flash also makes sure that the color reproduction is also accurate. The front camera too isn’t shabby and at 8MP you can get some great self portraits with it.
Inside, you have a Snapdragon 801 SoC with processor clocked at 2.5Ghz and 3GB RAM on the flagship version but only 2GB on the elite version.
On the front, you have a 5.2 inch screen with 1080p resolution. The battery pack is of 2,600 mAh which should be enough to last for a day with this relatively small screen.
2GB RAM for 16GB, 3GB RAM for 32GB (MicroSD Card slot: YES)
Cameras
REAR: 13MP Sony IMX214 f/1.8 aperture with 2K Video SupportFRONT: 8MP
Battery
2,600 mAh (non-removable)
Size and Weight
146.5 x 73.3 x 8 mm , 149 grams
OS
Android 4.4. + FunTouch OS 1.2
Price
$499 – 16GB, $599 – 32GB
Free Gift
None
OPPO Find 7
Although its been a while since OPPO announced the Find 7, its still one of the best devices in the market. The device comes with the OPPO brand name, which is of value especially in China due to its great build quality and innovative features. It also comes with the fast charging VOOC feature which can charge the phone 4 times faster than other competitors. With this technology, you get 75% charge from 0% in under 30 minutes.
The other specifications are pretty much what you expect from a top end device. You get a 5.5 inch 2K screen, a 2.5Ghz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 Soc with 3GB RAM, Sony Exmor214 13MP rear camera and 3,000 mAh battery which is removable.
So, if you are looking for a well built device from the OPPO family, the Find 7 will suit you well.
REAR: 13MP Sony IMX214 with 2K Video SupportFRONT: 5MP
Battery
3,000 mAh (non-removable)
Size and Weight
152.6 x 75 x 9.2 mm , 171 grams
OS
Android 4.4. + ColorOS UI
Price
$569 – 32GB
Free Gift
Free Official Smart Case with Find 7
ZOPO 3X
We have seen 11 top chinese phones of 2014 till now and we would like to end it with the cheapest device of the list, the ZOPO 3X. Its the mini version of the flagship, ZOPO ZP999, but don’t be deceived by the name as only the internal storage is smaller and all the rest of the goodies found on the top end flagship makes it to this device.
Surprisingly, it is the first Mediatek Powered handset that is on the list as most others have the Snapdragon 801 SoC onboard. It comes with a MediaTek MT6595 octa-core processor clocked at 2.2Ghz along with 3GB RAM and 16GB internal storage. The phone has a memory card slot too, so the low inbuilt storage won’t be a big issue.
On the front, you get a 5.5 inch Full HD screen while on the back lies a 14MP f/2.0 aperture camera. You have a large 2,700 mAh battery too, which should be more than enough for a whole day’s usage.
The best thing about the ZOPO 3X is its pricetag. It is currently available for $299 on Oppomart which is a great price for a device with such specifications. You also get some free goodies like the official leather case and screen protector, which should save you some after purchase cost.
So, if you are looking for a cheap flagship with great specifications, you should consider buying the ZOPO 3X. Check out our full review of the device to get more details.
The women’s cellphone market is full of potential and an increasing number of companies know this. Lenovo has already released several phones aimed at female users like the Lenovo S858 and S90. Now, they released the newest member of it’s a series, the Lenovo A858T, which is also aimed at women.
The Lenovo A858T has a light, slim, and stylish design. Without a protruding front-face camera, this phone would have a thickness of 7.7mm and weigh 130g. This phone comes in black and white, but it also has, among other things in its design, a silver metal mid-frame.
Its specifications are quite common. It has a 5mp/8mp dual-camera that supports beauty enhancement. It is Lenovo’s first cellphone to use the MTK MT6732 quad-core processor and has 1GB RAM, 8GB ROM, a 5-inch 720p OGS display screen, and a 2160mAh battery. It supports 4G/3G internet as well as GSM and dual-SIM.
The Lenovo A858T costs about 1299 RMB (211.68 USD).
Welcome to the age of smartwatches. In 2013—and even before—more companies started releasing different kinds of smart watches. Now, the No.1 G2 smart watch is on sale at Comebuy. That time when watches can only tell time is long and gone. Now, you can use the No.1 G2 to also make calls, send or receive texts, have a contact list, take photos, record audio and videos, play music, etc. It even comes with a heart rate monitor, pedometer, and other kinds of functions to maintain your health.
One of the No.1 G2 smartwatch’s strengths is that it can be connected to smartphones via Bluetooth 4.0 which provides not only the traditional Bluetooth technology, but high-speed performance, and low power consumption. It can also be connected to the iPhone and almost of every kind of Android phone there is. Overall, it can be used with 95% of smartphones on the market! The Samsung Galaxy Gear, on the other hand, can only be used with Galaxy devices that use Android 4.3 and up (Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Note 10.1).
It sports a pretty 1.54-inch screen and a colorful and individualistic design, as well as a simple and easy-to-carry shape. The bands come in all kinds of colors which you can select to individualize your watch. This watch uses a steel case that has a very imposing nature that should immediately get everyone’s attention whether you are at the office or exercising.
As a high-end smart device, a scratch-proof display screen is a must. For this, No.1 decided to use a sapphire glass which has better scratch resistance than the Corning Gorilla Glass. A sapphire glass has a hardness level of 9 and has been used for other high-end smartphone screens and the iPhone 6’s home button. It also has an IP67 rating (water immersion up to 1m).
The No.1 G2 smartwatch, as mentioned before, can help you improve your health and track down any progress made on it. The pedometer can display information about how far you have walked in real time, and can help you meet your workout goals. It can also advise you to stop sitting for so long and to let go of any unhealthy habits. It can also monitor your sleep.
This morning, OnePlus announced the sale of rear covers for the OnePlus One made of different materials such as sandstone black, baby skin, and others. All of them will be released on November 27. But that’s not all.
OnePlus just posted the following message in their official Weibo account: “The theory of evolution applies to all things in the world, including technological devices, so stayed tuned!” The photo attached has the message “It’s time to evolve.”
Could it be that OnePlus is planning to release a next-generation device soon?
A while ago, a new tablet from Xiaomi appeared in GFXBench with the model number 2014811. From its specifications, we can guess that this is either an entry-level tablet or a low-cost version.
Now, this tablet has received its network license in the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s website. According to its MIIT entry, this tablet supports GSM, WCDMA, TD-LTE, and LTE FDD internet. It sports a 9.2-inch 720p display screen and has the 1.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 quad-core CPU, 1GB RAM, 8GB ROM, a dual-camera, and a SIM slot. As of now, no official price has been announced but an insider revealed that it cannot cost more than 599 RMB (97.61 USD).
Huawei recently released new information about their latest phone. According to Huawei, the next phone in their Honor series is called the Huawei Honor 6 Plus, which should be the phone listed under PE-TL10 and PE-UL10 in the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s website. This phone was originally called the Huawei Honor 6X, but it looks like they changed its name to the Huwei Honor 6 Plus.
Its overall specifications are certainly similar to the Huawei Honor 6’s, but it sports a 5.5-inch 1080p display screen, and has a 1.8GHz CPU, 3GB RAM, and 32GB ROM. Moreover, it supports FDD-LTE, TD-LTE, WCDMA, TD-SCDMA , and GSM networks as well as dual-SIM cards. It has a thickness of 7.5mm. It is also said to cost 2499 RMB (407.24 USD). It will reportedly be launched in Shanghai on December 17 or 18.
This Thursday, Coolpad introduced its newest sub-brand, ivvi, and released its first phone, the Coolpad ivvi K1. Today, we go hands-on with their newest release. Even though it still carries Coolpad’s logo, it does not look like any Coolpad phone released before, showing that the ivvi is practically its own brand with its own design style.
The Coolpad ivvi K1 sports a 5-inch 1280 x 720 OGS display screen. The quality of the screen is pretty clear. You cannot see any clear pixels with the naked eye. At the same time, you can watch videos or play games with little problems.
This phone sports a 5mp front-facing camera and comes with all kinds of beautifying features which can help you take great selfie shots.
Compared to the rest of the phone’s design, these three buttons have a rough texture. They do not come with a background light so it is hard to use them at the dark.
The ivvi K1 is a dual-SIM phone and also supports expansion memory cards. Many cellphones today have one tray where you can put two SIM cards, or one SIM card and one TF card. The ivvi K1 does not have that. Instead, it has three card slots on the right side, and you have to put the cards in the right slot. The first two are for the SIM cards with the middle slot for 3G/4G cards, while the third one is for the TF card.
At the bottom are the speaker and Micro USB. This phone uses a double-glass case. It was hard to put a lot of holes on the phone’s bottom so it was best to put the speakers at the bottom. The ivvi K1 has a thickness of only 5.9mm and weighs 110g.
By the lamp, the back of the ivvi K1 emits a beautiful blue light. The glass used for the screen panel and back are scratch-resistant. They are also covered by a anti-fingerprint protector which cannot completely prevent fingerprints.
This phone sports a 8mp rear-facing Sony camera with a F2.0 aperture. Even though it does not have a high pixilation, it can still take good photos.
Although ivvi may be a new sub-brand, it still uses Coolpad’s CoolUI.
The CoolUI’s interface looks really good. The icons and other parts of the OS look more exquisite.
The dial interface.
The ivvi K1’s folder interface.
The camera interface looks very simple but it comes with many features that should satisfy photographers.
Watch out as there is already news of an upgraded version of the Lenovo Vibe X2. Not only is its model number (according to its entry at the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s website) “Lenovo X2Pt5,” it also has the same design style as the original Lenovo Vibe X2.
Recently, the Lenovo X2Pt5 received its networking license. From the photos, you can see that the Lenovo X2Pt5 is thinner, with a thickness of only 6.8mm. Its width is only 71mm while its length is about 146.3mm.
The connectivity specifications have also been upgraded. The upgraded version of the Lenovo Vibe X2 supports TD-LTE, WCDMA, TD-SCDMA, GSM, and FDD-LTE. The Lenovo X2Pt5 also uses a 1.5GHz octa-core CPU and has 2GB RAM, 16GB ROM, and a 13mp camera. It runs the Android 4.44 OS.
Nowadays, people are all talking about 64-bit smartphones, iphone6 and plus, Galaxy Note 4 and Note edge, HTC Desire 820 etc. Over the next couple months, there’s going to be a lot of smartphone companies announcing their 64-bit devices. Eventhough we’re not the early birds, but we’re earlier than majority of the Chinese brands.
On November 19, 2:30 PM, Meizu unveiled the upgraded version of the Meizu MX4—the Meizu MX4 Pro. With its outstanding specifications and impressive craftsmanship, the media and the public all had their eyes on this little device. Here are its specifications.
The Meizu MX4 Pro 4G phone sports a 5.5-inch 2K (2560 x 1536) touch screen. The resolution is quite nice and the quality of the screen is very clear. Also because of the inclusion of a fingerprint scanner on the front, the classic small round Home button has been replaced with a long rectangular one. The scanner is covered by a sapphire cover. This phone also sports a 5mp front-facing camera and 20.7mp rear-facing camera. The latter has its lens covered by sapphire glass. It also comes with dual-LED flash. It also uses the 20nm Samsung Exynos 5430 octa-core chipset and has 3GB RAM. Its operating system is the Flyme 4.1 OS.
Now, let’s get this review started.
Design
The appearance of the Meizu MX4 Pro is not that different from the original MX4, other than the fact that the small round circular button has been replaced with a fingerprint scanner. The Pro’s appearance is based on the Meizu MX4 Silver Wings version, and comes in black, white, and gold. A panda version (black front, white back) will come soon as well.
The Meizu MX4 Pro’s front is made up of a 5.5-inch 2K touchscreen whose sides are 2.8mm thick, making it the slimmest phone with a 2K screen around.
Speaker/front-facing camera
Fingerprint scanner
Volume switch
Earphone jack/power switch
Speaker/micro-USB port
The volume switch is located on the left side while the power button and earphone jack are located on the top. The Micro USB port and speakers are located at the bottom. This phone’s audio components include the ES9018 chip and OPA1612 amplifier.
The back
Other than that, the MX4 Pro has the same design as the MX3. The rear case of the MX4 Pro can fit the palm of your hand. It also has a very comfortable feeling. In addition, it has a 20.7mp camera with a Sony IMX220 Exmor RS sensor, and its lens is covered with sapphire glass. It also comes with dual-LED flash that allows you to take great photos.
Operating System
The Meizu MX4 Pro runs the new Flyme 4.1 operating system (based on the Android 4.4.4) and comes with many new features. For example, you can access apps by designating certain hand movements to it.
Lock screen
The Flyme 4.1’s interface is basically the same as the previous version with no big changes. Once you set the password, you can swipe your finger in any direction in the lock screen to type in your password. Of course, if you just want to take pictures, just press the camera icon on the lower right corner to open the camera interface.
Main interface
When you enter the home interface, you can see that the Flyme 4.1’s design style is still basically the same. A simpler and organized user interface is just right. Of course, if you like installing many apps, you can put together several apps into one group.
App center
Game center
Scroll-down menu/background manager
One of the features of this Meizu MX4 Pro is that you can wake up your phone by just calling it out. That way, you will not have to go through the inconvenience of using your hands to wake up your phone. Not only can you use the default voice command, but you can also set your own.
App encryption
Changing the Home button was one of the biggest changes done for the Meizu MX4 Pro. The classic small round circle was replaced with a rectangular fingerprint scanner, making the Meizu MX4 Pro the first Android phone in the world to have a front-press fingerprint scanner. The panel is covered by a sapphire sheet and the fingerprint sensor has 360 degree readability and can unlock your phone in 0.5 seconds.
The fingerprint scanner
You can use the Meizu MX4 Pro’s fingerprint scanner to do all kinds of encryption. You can lock your apps, files, and the phone itself. Although you need a Flyme account to pay by fingerprint, you can buy things online using it due to the partnership between Meizu and Alibaba.
The Meizu MX4 Pro can register up to 5 fingerprints. This may be a lot for many users. After all, the fingerprint scanner has a high readability rate. Just simply tap your finger on it to unlock your phone.
When you first record your fingerprints, it takes about 15 attempts to get it right. Although this may sound like a pain in the butt, once you get it right, you won’t have to worry about it not recognizing your fingerprints anymore.
Camera
The Meizu MX4 Pro has a 20.7mp rear-facing camera with a 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor. A single pixel can cover up to 1.4um. In addition, not only does it have a feature that allows you to take 30 photos per second, but it can also focus in just .3 seconds. It also supports 4K video recording. The quality is quite excellent. Below is the Meizu MX4 Pro’s camera interface.
Automatic/Macro
Slow motion/Scan mode
Night/Light field
Panorama/beautification
Manual/settings menu
The following samples were taken at night and indoors as it was close to dawn when the phone came. Check out the quality.
100% Zoom
100% Zoom
100% zoom
As you can see from the night shots, the Meizu MX4 Pro’s camera does a good job when it comes to clarity and brightness. Although the photo may be a bit grainier when zoomed 100%, it’s still pretty clear and the outline can still be made out. Overall, those who like to take photos at night should not have much of a problem.
Performance and benchmark scores
The Meizu MX4 Pro uses the 20nm Samsung Exynos 5430 octa-core chipset which can decrease power consumption by 20%. It is worth noting that there are only three of these in the world. Below are the benchmark scores:
AnTuTu: 45818
Quadrant: 9009
Vellamo (HTML5): 2262
Vellamo (Metal): 1377
Linpack (measured by FLOPS or floating-point operations per second): 130.785
As an upgraded version of the Meizu MX4, the Meizu MX4 Pro has undergone so many changes, especially with the inclusion of the fingerprint scanner. Overall, it is certainly worth its 2499 RMB (408.02 USD) price.
Coolpad’s Dashen sub-brand has recently unveiled its newest logo, and its new product and service strategies for its new brands. It was also announced that it will launch the first phone of its flagship “X” series in January next year.
The word “Dazen” in the logo is a combination of Dare and Zenith. The concept of the brand can basically be summed up as “I believe in myself.” It is pretty clear that they are targeting younger users. Besides the X series, Dashen also plans to release the Dashen F and N series.
Today, Vivo revealed in their Weibo account that their new phone, the Vivo X5Max will have a 3.5mm earphone jack. It was previously leaked that this phone would have a thickness of 4.65mm. As you can see in the photo, the earphone jack nearly reaches the ends of the phone.
Furthermore, a Vivo insider also revealed that the Vivo X5Max would also use a Super AMOLED display screen made by Samsung. This screen only has a thickness of 1.36mm.
A Super AMOLED screen is actually pretty expensive as only Samsung has it so we can expect to increase the cost of the Vivo X5Max. We’ll just have to wait and see.
It was recently reported by Digitimes that Finland-based Nokia, Microsoft, and Ericson which have patents to telecommunications technology may declare a patent war against Chinese cellphone manufacturers.
Reports say that Chinese companies like Xiaomi, Coolpad, OPPO, Meizu and Vivo, which do not have sufficient patents, may be vulnerable to patent violation copmplaints as they branch out to the international market.
When these companies only targeted the Chinese market, Nokia, Microsoft, and the other companies were “not really willing” to take any legal action, but now that Chinese cellphones are selling more overseas, these companies may prepare to file suit in courts in the US and Europe.
Huawei, ZTE, and Lenovo may be able to endure such legal action as the first two have a lot of patents to 3G and 4G technology, while Lenovo has managed to buy a lot of patents.
Recently, Baidu’s first smart bike was introduced online—the Baidu DuBike. According to the official website, it has many functions. For example, it can automatically generate electricity with its built-in generator hub, so you would not have to charge it. You can also join a social network for bikers with this bike. You can also connect it to your cellphone using the corresponding App. It also has a real-time locating system and a mapping system that uses Baidu maps. Its GPS system prevents you from getting lost.
The Baidu DuBike may hit stores at the end of the year. No price has been announced.
With the launch of the Meizu MX4 Pro, a lot of news has been coming out regarding Meizu’s latest release. Recently, it received its network license. Now, more importantly, it was announced that the MX4 Pro will hit stores on December 6.
This phone will come in two versions: The Meizu M462, which supports TD-LTE, TD-SCDMA, and GSM, and can use WCDMA and LTE-FDD when abroad or in Hong Kong and Taiwan, and the M462U which supports TD-LTE, LTE-FDD, WCDMA, and GSM. Other than connectivity, both phones have the same specifications. There will be a 16GB version (2499 RMB/408.10 USD), a 32GB version (2699 RMB/440.76 USD), and 64GB version (3099 RMB/506.08 USD).
Yesterday afternoon, Meizu launched its newest flagship phone—the Meizu MX4 Pro. This phone is 2499 RMB (408.09 USD) which is 700 RMB (114.31 USD) more expensive than the original Meizu MX4.
This phone uses the 20nm Samsung Exynos 5430 processor and sports a 5.5-inch 2560 x 1536 display screen. It has 3GB RAM and 16/32/64GB ROM. It also has a 5mp/20.7mp dual-camera and is powered by a 3350mAh battery. It runs the Android 4.4.4-based Flyme 4.1 operating system. Furthermore, the Meizu MX4 PRO is the first Android phone to have a fingerprint scanner on the front (which you can press like a button). Regarding connectivity, it’s basically the same as the original. Both support 2G, 3G, and 4G internet.
Now, enjoy these unboxing photos of the Meizu MX4 Pro.
This afternoon, Coolpad launched its ivvi sub-brand, which is targeted at younger, trendy users, as well as its first cellphone, the ivvi K1.
This cellphone has a double-glass design and its dimensions are 142 x 71 x 5.9mm. It also weighs 110g and is said to be the thinnest double glass cellphone with a 5-inch screen (with 720p resolution) as well as the lightest. It also has the 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8916 quad-core (Snapdragon 410) processor, 1GB RAM, and 8GB ROM (expandable). It also sports a 5mp front-facing camera and 8mp rear-facing camera. This phone is available in black and gold, and costs 1799 RMB.
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