Selfie sticks are old-school already and selfie-drones are here to replace them. One of the products showcased at this year’s on-going Consumer Electronic Show is the Hover Camera Passport (made by Zero Zero Robotics): a selfie-drone that identifies its owner and automatically start recording or taking photos.

The Hover Camera Passport was actually first announced last year. Then, you had to use the companion app to select an object you wanted the drone to track. But now, all you have to do is register your face via the app  during the initial setup and when next you bring out your drone, it scans for your face, locks on to it (and the rest of your body) and starts following and recording you. Want to take a selfie? All you have to do is raise your hand till the LED flashes

Hover Camera Passport Design and Specs

The Hover Camera Passport is lightweight and really portable. It weighs just 238 grams (242g including the battery) and its dimensions are 182 x 132 x 33 mm. Sporting a carbon fiber cage-like design protecting the quad-rotors that keep it airborne, the drone is also foldable and can easily fit into your bag.

There is a Snapdragon 801 SoC clocked at 2.3GHz that powers the drone. The Hover Camera Passport has a f/2.0 13MP camera that can record 4K videos at 30fps but also sports another camera underneath it that is used to calculate it’s speed and position to help it maintain balance while hovering.

The Hover Camera Passport isn’t a perfect device yet. Like most drones, battery life is still on the low side. You can get only 10-minutes of flying time from the 1360mAh battery before you are prompted with a low battery warning.

Hover Camera Passport Price

The Hover Camera Passport is currently priced at $599 which is pricey but the good thing is that it’s available right now and you can purchase one on their official website.

The post Hover Camera Passport: A Selfie Drone That Identifies and Auto-Records Its Owner appeared first on Gizmochina.

It is going to be a serious month for Xiaomi as they are preparing to release new cell phones to compete with other companies. Recently, some photos were posted online. These photos are said to have been taken using the upcoming Xiaomi Mi5.

This afternoon, a staff member of Xiaomi revealed in his Weibo account that Xiaomi’s new flagship phone would be “almost twice as expensive as the Xiaomi Mi4”. In other words, it should cost somewhere around 4000 RMB. Nevertheless, he said that users will definitely flock stores to get their hands on it. This flagship phone is none other than Xiaomi’s upcoming Xiaomi Note (not to be confused with the Xiaomi Red Mi Note).

It has already been confirmed today that Xiaomi named its new phone the “Xiaomi Note.” Now, the question is, how big is its display screen? iSuppli Corp.’s Chinese Studies Director, Kevin Wang, has just posted in his official Weibo account the following message: “The phone’s original name is the Xiaomi Note, but is also called the Midada. It is also bigger than the 6 Plus!” In other words, the Xiaomi Note’s display screen must be more than 5.5 inches. It should be somewhere between 5.5 inches and 6 inches. It is most likely going to be 5.7 inches.

It is important to note, however, that because the iPhone 6 Plus’ screen-to-body ratio is pretty bad, its actual size should surpass other phones with similar display screen sizes. As a result, do not expect the Xiaomi Note’s actual size to surpass it.

As for the specifications, the Xiaomi Note is expected to use a 1080p display screen and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor. It is also said to have 3GB RAM and a 13mp camera. It is also expected to receive a higher benchmark score than the Xiaomi Mi4.

Source: MyDrivers

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We have to admit that the bigger the display screens of smartphones are getting, the harder it gets for people to use them with one hand. The Manta 7X is not the only device that is said to have the best “one-handed” user experience, but it does not have physical buttons, so there must be something special about its user interface.

Regarding the hardware, the Manta 7X uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 quad-core chipset and has 2GB RAM and 32GB ROM. It also sports a 5.5-inch Sharp “Hi colour” 1080p display screen as well as a front-facing 13mp dual-camera with a Sony 214 CMOS and dual-flash. It is powered by a 4200mAh battery and has support for 4G internet.

As said before, the Manta 7X sports a 5.5-inch Sony “Hi Colour” 1080p display screen with a 9H hardness. Not only does it have good color performance, it is also very strong and scratch-resistant.

I scratched a key on the glass to test its durability, and so far, it there has not been any mark.

Here is another view of the front side of the Manta 7X. The 13mp front-facing camera comes with the Sony IMX214 sensor. Overall, the resolution for this camera is pretty good.

Here is a close-up of the base. The curved screen and design of the entire body is reminiscent of the Nexus 4. If you swipe your finger left to right here, you can unlock or wake up the display screen. If you swipe it upwards, you will go back to the Home interface.

This phone is 9.8mm thick.

This phone uses a one-body design with its back made of metal. It is also powered by a 4200mAh battery. Not only does it have the highest battery capacity to date, but can also last for more than two years.

Here’s a close-up of the Manta 7X’s rear-facing camera. You can also see that it comes with dual-LED flash, which can help you take good photos when it is barely dark.

The Manta 7X uses the Android 4.4-based MO7 operating system. One of the things it could do is study how the user operates this OS.

No price and release date has been announced, but based on reports, this phone is heading for the high-end market, so do not expect it to be cheap.

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Here, we take a look at the Xiaomi Mi4 Black Edition smartphone.

Unboxing

The Xiaomi Mi4 uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 CPU which has four Krait 400 cores (2.5GHz). It increases operating speed by 14% and offers stronger performance.

This phone’s GPU is the Adreno 330 which is API-supported, and uses OpenGL ES 3.0, OpenCL, Rederscript Compute, and FlexRender.

The Xiaomi Mi4 sports a SHARP/JDI display screen with a high color saturation. Whether you are browsing photos, watching videos, or using certain Apps, the colors in the screen are well-handled.

The Xiaomi Mi4 is 139.2mm long, 68.5mm wide, and 8.9mm thick. It sports a chassis that is made of stainless steel.

This phone sports a 8mp Sony front-facing camera.

The Xiaomi Mi4’s chassis, especially the black version’s, looks pretty good. On the upper right side of the front is an infrared sensor.

On the right side of the phone are the power and volume switches.

On the lower left corner is a Micro USB port.

Here is the speaker.

The Xiaomi MI4 sports a 13mp Sony rear-facing camera.

On the left side is a Micro-SIM slot.

Operating System

The Xiaomi Mi4 uses the new MIUI V6 OS.

The lock screen interface and the usual icons.

So far, this phone’s OS is the MIUI V6 1.2.0 KXDCNBJ (newest stable version) which is based on the Android 4.4.4.

The Xiaomi Mi4’s notification bar

The one we are reviewing is the 16GB version. After restoring it to factory settings, there is about 13.1GB left. For the regular user, 13.1GB is enough to do a lot of things, but for gamers, this might not be enough. They would be better off getting the 64GB version.

The MIUI V6’s phone call interface. Swipe your finger the icons upwards to receive and cut calls.

Benchmark Scores

The Xiami Mi4 Black Edition received a score of 43288 in the AnTuTU benchmark test, which is not really considered a lot now. It also received a 34255 in the Ludashi benchmark test. In the Ludashi HTML5 benchmark test, it received 25173. Finally, it received 10 points in the Ludashi capactive touch test.

Next is the Ludashi screen brightness test.

During the test, a little bright dot was spotted on the lower right side of the screen.

Here is a close-up of it on the green display.

To ensure that it was not just the test’s problem, the reviewer also tested the screen with the Antutu benchmark. The bright dot was still there. Hopefully, Xiaomi can better inspect their products next time.

It received 6681 in its 3D test.

Camera

Here are some sample photos taken using the Xiaomi Mi4 black.

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The Nubia Z7 was first launched on July 8 along with the Nubia Z7 Max and Mini. The latter two have already been released but its release is only being announced now.

This phone sports a 5.5-inch 2K display screen (2560 x 1550, 538ppi), and has the 2.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, 3GB RAM, and 32GB ROM. It also sports a 5mp/13mp (OIS) dual-camera with dual-LED lights and an F2.0 aperture. Its camera software is the NeoVision 4.0. It also supports dual-SIM card and dual-4G as well as Hi-Fi sound.

The Nubia Z7 reportedly costs 3456 RMB (564.83 USD). Pre-orders started this morning at 10:00 AM and ends at November 27 at 8:00PM. Those who pre-ordered can get their phones the next day at 10:0 AM.

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As the launch of OPPO’s latest flagship device nears (October 29), let us summarize what has been reported so far about the OPPO N3.

Specifications

In early September, it was reported that this device would use a VOOC charger which is 4 times as fast as a regular mobile cellphone charger. It was also reported that this phone will sport a 5.5-inch FHD screen and will run on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor. The phone’s chassis is said to be made of metal. It will also have a new cooling system called the “Ice Nest”

Fingerprint scanner and rotating camera

Perhaps the two biggest pieces of information about the OPPO N3 are that it will have a fingerprint sensor and a rotating camera. A fingerprint sensor is nothing new among Chinese smartphones as the Huawei Mate 7 has one. Recent photos show that the scanner will be located at the back of the phone. The OPPO N3 will also sport a rotating camera with 16mp.

Pre-sale cost

Recently, there were signs outside OPPO stores saying that they were accepting pre-orders of the OPPO N3 for 4298 RMB (702.18 USD) which is far more expensive than the OPPO Find 7.

What do you guys think?

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Today, OPPO released more news about their upcoming OPPO N3 phone (due to be released on October 29). According to the company, the OPPO N3 will sport a 16mp camera with 1 2/3in digital camera sensor. They even posted an exploded view photo of it. However, some netizens think there is something else about the photo. Many netizens point out what appears to be a fingerprint scanner on the back of the OPPO N3. As the photo shows, like many Android phones with fingerprint scanners, the OPPO N3’s fingerprint scanner is located on the back of the cellphone, and like the iPhone 6, you have to press it not rub it with your finger. The OPPO N3 will also have an electronically-controlled rotating camera (16mp) and VOOC rapid charging technology. It will also have a 5.5-in FHD screen and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor.

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Recently,Philips has released more information about its upcoming cellphone in collaboration with YunOS, to make a yunOS phone, Philips I966, which will have the new YunOS 3.0.

A recent promotional poster of the phone shows that the Philips I966 will have a pixel density of more than 534ppi and 2560 x 1440 Quad HD resolution. Since this phone will sport a 5.5-inch screen, it is safe to say that it will use a 5.5-inch 2K screen. This means that this phone will be released as a flagship device.

In addition, the Philips I966 also has support for 4K videos as well as 4G LTE networks. It may also get a fingerprint scanner. Because the use of a 2K screen will require a powerful processor and GPU, it might use MTK’s MT6595 processor or a processor from Qualcomm like the Snapdragon 801.

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       This morning at 10:00 AM, IUNI finally allowed free pre-orders for its 2K screen flagship phone, the IUNI U3. Its actual cost is RMB1999 in China $449.00 at oppomart.com .

The IUNI U3’s middle chassis and interior are made of aluminium and magnalium, but the back is made of Japanese plastic which looks really nice. As for specs, the IUNI U3 has a 5.5-inch 2K screen, the Snapdragon 801 quad-core chipset, the Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8974AB quad-core processor, 3GB RAM, 32GB ROM, a 13mp camera with OIS, a 3000mAh battery, and support for 4G networks and dual-SIM cards. Its operating system is the Android 4.4-customized IUNI OS which has a neat and clean user interface without any pre-installed third-party software.

Make your pre-order here.

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Three months after its launch, the ZTE Nubia Z7 has finally received its network license(which allows to be sold in China) from the Ministry of Industry and Information of China, and it looks like we’ll be seeing it soon. Priced at 3456 RMB (562.96 USD), the Z7 supports TD-LTE, LTE FDD, TD-SCDMA, WCDMA, cdma2000, CDMA 1X, and GSM networks as well as dual-SIM.

Hardware includes a 5.5-inch display screen with 2560 x 1440 resolution with RAM auto-refresh, the Snapdragon 801, 5mp/13mp dual-camera, 3000mAh unchangeable battery, 3GB RAM, and 32GB ROM. It also has support for 2-4G networks. The Z7’s 13mp rear-facing camera comes with a F2.0 aperture and OIS sensor.

Update: Oppomart accept pre-order now, here is the link: nubia z7

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The Coolpad V1-C has attracted many people since it was first listed at the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s website due to its powerful specs. Now, it was leaked online that this phone, under the name “Coolpad Grand 5,” will have a 270 degree revolving camera (Sony’s 20.65mp IM220) and is expected to come out this October.

The V1-C’s MIIT entry does not mention anything about a revolving camera but this does not rule out the possible of Coolpad releasing versions that have one. The leaker also confirmed that its rear case will be made of Kevlar.

Related: Coolpad VC-1 listed in MIIT website; sports 5.98-inch 2K screen, has 3GB RAM, and uses Snapdragon 801

The Grand 5 will also sport a 5.98-inch touchscreen that has a 2560 x 1440 resolution. It will also use the 2.5GHz Snapdragon 801 processor and has 3GB RAM and 32GB ROM (can be expanded to 128GB by memory card). It also supports dual-SIM cards and is compatible with TD-LTE/LTE-FDD/CDMA2000/CDMA 1X/GSM networks. Its OS is the Android 4.4.4.

The post Coolpad Grand 5 (VC-1) leaked with Sony 20 mega-pixel sensor IMX220 rotating camera appeared first on Gizmochina.

Today, a new device from Coolpad has been listed in the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s website. According to its profile, the VC-1 sports a 5.98-inch 2K (2560 x 1440) display screen, uses the 2.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, has 3GB RAM and 32GB ROM (can be expanded up to 128GB), and supports TD-LTE/LTE FDD/CDMA 2000/CDMA 1X/GSM and dual-SIM. Its OS is based on the Android 4.4.4.

Related: Review: Coolpad Y1

This phone’s measurements are 162 x 83.2 x 8.75mm and it weighs 182g. It sports a metal frame and has an amazing screen-to-body ratio. Also its Home button looks very similar to the Meizu’s. Furthermore, it has a dual-camera (pixilation is unknown as of now) and dual-LED.

Some say that this could be the new Coolpad Daguan 5 flagship phone. It is predicted to be launched this October.

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Early this month, the 4G edition of the Smartisan phone received verification from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, thus, clearing the way for its release.

The 4G edition’s model number is SM705 and its specs are pretty much the same as the regular version. It sports a 5-inch 1080p display screen, uses the 2.5GHz Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor, has 2GB RAM, and 16/32GB ROM. As for internet specifications, it supports GSM/WCDMA/TD-SCDMA/TD-LTE networks.

According to Luo Yonghao, mass production will start in October. So, it should also come out that month. The 16GB version will cost 3500 RMB (569.45 USD) while the 32GB edition costs 3650 RMB (593.85 USD).

The post Luo Yonghao: Mass Production of 4G Edition of Smartisan phone to start in October appeared first on Gizmochina.

Hardware: The Moto X G2 (formerly known as the Moto X+1) uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 801 quad-core chipset (2.5GHz). Although it is not the most powerful processor around, it is still enough to let this phone considered to be a flagship device. It also has 2GB RAM and 16GB ROM. It is not clear whether it supports MMC5.0 standard. This phone also sports a 13mp main camera and 2mp front camera.

The Moto X sported a RGB Amoled Advanced display screen, but this time, the Moto X G2 uses a 5.2-inch Amoled display screen with a 1920 x 1080 resolution. The Moto X G2 still follows the Moto’s traditional design during the Google Era, so, of course, its processor is the Android 4.4.4. It is also powered by a 2300mAh battery, which is a bit small for a phone with a 5.2-inch screen.

The post Hands on: Moto X+1/G2 appeared first on Gizmochina.

Design

The best thing about the IUNI U3 is its appearance, especially the front. It sports a 5.5-inch 2K display screen that takes up about 77% of the phone’s body, the highest screen-to-body ratio for a phone with a 2K screen in history. It is also only 10mm thick. Furthermore, its screen is covered by a 2.5D curved glass that is as transparent as a drop of water creating a big visual impact.

From these two close-ups, we can see just how powerful a visual impact the IUNI U3 has as a result of having such a high screen-to-body ratio. Above the screen is a sensor, speaker, and 4mp front camera with an f/2.0 aperture. To put the screen to best use, the U3 uses virtual buttons. Regarding the texture, this phone uses Corning Gorilla 3 Glass and is covered by Canon Optron AF giving this phone a smooth and slippery texture. Overall, the IUNI U3 delivers as it is the only phone out right now that can maintain a high screen-to-body ratio with a 2K screen.

There is a huge contrast between the IUNI U2 and U3, not just regarding the screen but also the way the back has been redesigned. It has been designed with two intertwined fibers that make it comfortable for the user to hold when he carries the phone. The phone’s great curvature makes holding like lying down on a pillow without increase its thickness. The snapshots may make the phone look a bit thick but it is actually very comfortable to hold.

On top middle part at the back of the phone is the U3’s 13mp Sony IMX135 camera. Despite it having lower resolution than the U2’s 16mp camera, many disliked the U2’s “volcano-shaped” camera. The U3 rear camera’s design is much simpler and easier to deal with. It also has F/2.0 aperture and is OIS-supported. It also has a built-in professional imaging algorithm engine from ArcSoft.

Located in the middle of the back is IUNI’s logo. The font is small but imposing, something that many manufacturers seem to be comfortable with. At the bottom is the speaker.

The IUNI U3’s measurements are 145 x 74.9 x 10.3mm. At one side, its thickness is 10.3mm at most which is not really slim, based on the industry’s standard, but its curvy design makes it comfortable for the user when holding it. There are no  buttons on the left side.

On the right side are the power and volume buttons. The part of the side below them is connected to the rear cover.

A 3.5mm earphone jack is located at the top side of the phone. At the bottom are the cable port and microphone. To give the user the best quality for phone calls, the U3’s frame is covered with antennas giving the phone a good 4G signal.

Summary: The best part about the IUNI U3’s design is its front side. Its 5.5-inch 2K screen which covers 77% of the phone’s body enjoys a high quality and clear screen performance. Even though it is only 10.3mm thich, it has a pillow-like texture due to its curved design.

IUNI OS

IUNI U3’s OS has a new App market, music streaming program, memo feature, anti-harassment and spam features, as well as voice assistant feature. These features allow the OS to better meet the user’s needs. As a result, the IUNI OS can be considered to be one of the best Android-based OS right now.

The Time Wallpaper feature allows the phone to automatically change its wallpaper everyday according to the date. This is not even its biggest highlight. The wallpapers provided by the IUNI OS are so beautiful that no matter what theme you prefer, it has it all. The lock wallpaper and desktop wallpaper are not exchangeable though.

Many changes and upgrades were also made for the main screen wallpaper. As the wallpapers shown above show, they have become more diversified. There are now more colors and styles to choose from.

There were not a lot of changes to the IUNI OS’ lock interface. It just has more animated effects when it is recharged.

Like before, the IUNI OS still has only 14 tabs and has a simple but effective design.

These are the scroll-down menu and the background. Shortcuts are integrated into the background’s interface to create more space.

When you scroll your finger left and right on phone dial icon, you can access the voice assistant and all the apps.

The dial interface still looks the same.

Changing the wallpaper lets the OS be more personalized by the user. IUNI U3 makes this processor easier and simpler to do than the MIUI.

The new IUNI OS comes with an app store and can be access after the right software is installed.

The file manager is one of the most used software in the IUNI OS. If you look carefully, then you can see that the IUNI OS does not have an icon for video software. You can only play videos using the file manager.

The settings page is composed of 13 sections are easy to understand and use.

Summary: There is not much to say about the IUNI OS. Not only does it have an interactive design but is a more diligently and carefully done Android OS. Its simple and practical design should make it very useful for everyday use.

13mp Sony IMX135 camera with f/2.0 aperture

       Many people disliked the IUNI U2’s “volcano-shaped” camera, so for the U3, IUNI decided to use a OIS-supported Sony IMX 135 camera at the back with an F/2.0 aperture. It also uses a powerful image algorithm engine from ArcSoft. As for the quality of photos taken by the U3, below are samples taken by the U3’s camera.

Theses photos are pretty good. The brightness and focus can be adjusted separately.

Snapdragon 801

The IUNI U3’s processor is the 2.3GHz 8974AA Snapdragon 801 quad-core chipset. How does it fare?

The IUNI U3 scored 33549 in its benchmark test.

Big games seem to work fine without any problems.

I was able to watch 4K videos without any problem as well.

Conclusion:

       The IUNI U3’s hardware is amazing. Its biggest advantage for the user is the fact that it is the first internet brand phone to use a 2K screen which makes up 77% of the phone’s body. Compare this phone to other phones with a 5.5-inch screen and you will see just how good a phone with a high screen-to-body ratio is. The IUNI OS also helps a create user experience with its simple but varied design.

Overall, the IUNI U3 is an amazing device that nobody should miss.

The post Review: IUNI U3 appeared first on Gizmochina.

Last month, Lenovo launched its new flagship phone, the Vibe Z2 Pro. Its use of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801, 6-inch 2K display screen, and 16mp active lens camera has gotten a lot of attention. Before the launch of the Z2 Pro, Lenovo released the following devices: K800, J860, K860i, K900, and K910. Since the K910, Lenovo has been using metal cases for their phones. The K900 and K910 had not fulfilled Lenovo’s expectations. How does the K910’s follow-up, the Vibe Z2 Pro, fare? Here’s the reviewer’s answer after a two-week trial use.

The Vibe Z2 Pro was named as such after the K-series merged with the Vibe series.

Strong metallic texture is not suitable for holding phone with one hand

The Lenovo Vibe Z2 Pro’s appearance is much different from the K910. This phone made a great impression on me when I first got it. Because of its very slim, it has a high screen ratio although this leaves little space to press the three buttons at the bottom. As a result, it was hard for me to press the buttons of the phone using one hand.

What stands out most about the back of the phone is that the Vibe Z2 Pro sports a 16mp camera. The sides are covered by a red metal. Unfortunately, the camera points out so far that it makes the desktop a bit unstable making it hard to play games or look at the news. It is surrounded is surrounded by an acrylic plate.

The Vibe Z2 Pro is only 7.7mm high but weighs 179g. Overall, the design is pretty good and users should not have a hard time holding it.

There are still some imperfections with the Vibe Z2 Pro’s design. The volume button is located at the top left side of the phone making it hard for the user to press when holding the phone singlehandedly. There is also the SIM card slot. The Z2 supports 4G internet dual-Micro SIM, but it is hard to open the SIM card slot with the pin that came with the device. A longer pin can solve this problem.

2K screen delivers results

Many phones on the market right now have 2K screens. The Vibe Z2 Pro also sports a 6-inch 2K IPS screen. I was quite impressed with its pixels, clarity, and colors. It probably even surpasses the LG G3.

One problem with 2K screens though is that it can hurt the speed and clarity. Furthermore, more power is consumed.

Hardware: Good for games but overheats easily

The Lenovo Vibe Z2 Pro uses the 2.5Ghz Snapdragon 801 chipset and has 3GB RAM and 32GB ROM. It is one of the biggest examples of a mid- to high-end Android phone out right now. Big games can be played on this phone without much difficulty but because of its metal case, its heat release failed to live up to our expectations. Playing games for a long time may cause the phone to overheat. The Z2 Pro managed to score 41999 in the Antutu benchmark test.

OS has a lot of features but not enough improvements

      Lenovo’s UI system has already been upgraded to the Vibe 2.0. Lenovo decided to redesign the icons in this OS. It has a very fashionable flattened interface.

After a while, I got used to cleaning the interface turning off the background when the system is slow. It’s a simple and straightforward process. We can see more icons by pulling down the scroll-down menu.

The most important thing about the Vibe 2.0 is its built-in settings. More interesting is its one-hand micro-screen. Because the Vibe Z2 Pro is bigger, we can do a “C” motion on the app window or shrink the window to make it easier to handle with one hand. This makes it easier to do things like locking the phone.

This OS also includes a multi-task button similar to Apple’s iOS.

Overall, the Vibe Z2 Pro’s UI is not that hard to use and has a lot of functions although there are problems with stability. For example, when I open the photo album, sometimes, it would crash as soon as the photos are loaded. When this happens, I just restart the phone again.

Camera: Samples show great quality although improvements could be done in photo capture

       The Lenovo VIBE Z2 Pro sports a 16mp OIS-supported camera. Users can choose between two types of camera modes, a smart mode or professional mode. In Pro mode, we can see the numerical data on the viewfinder screen such as the degree of light, shutter speed, ISO, and color temperature. These are all automatically adjusted. Below are photos taken using the Z2 Pro.

Overall, the Lenovo Vibe Z2 Pro maintains the high quality of the photos which, when enlarged, look as clear as ever. When shooting a dynamic image, the subject may move too fast for the camera. You can see how the blurry the background is in the photos. I can’t say that I am impressed with the focal distance. The biggest strength of the Vibe Z2 Pro’s camera lies in night photography. Because it has an active lens, you can take photos at night without anything getting blurry no matter how slow the shutter is as long as you hold the phone steady.

Due to 2K screen, phone’s battery can only last for about a day

The Vibe Z2 Pro uses a 4000mAh battery. When the phone is fully charged is connected to 4G, battery seems to die within a day. I made phone calls, accessed WeChat, took photos, etc. I did play any games though. I am not surprised though as the 2K screen consumes a lot of power.

Conclusion: The pros and cons are clear in this expensive phone

After trying out the Vibe Z2 Pro for two weeks, I was very impressed with the phone’s metallic texture and screen although it is best to handle with two hands. The default interface is too flashy and colourful and clashes with its more business-like style. The improvements on the OS are not that great and sometimes apps crash. There are some problems with the photos but, hopefully, they can be improved in the future. It runs out of power in a day which is enough for an Android phone. Don’t forget that the Z2 Pro is 4799 RMB (781.53 USD). Many will be surprised by this so we will just have to wait if it will sell well with the public.

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The 4G edition of the Smartisan phone has just received certification from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

According to MIIT’s website, the Smartisan 4G phone’s model number is SM705 and sports a 5-inch 1080p display screen. Its processor is the Snapdragon 801 quad-core chipset (2.5GHz). It has 2GB RAM and its OS is the Android 4.4.2-based Smartisan OS. The Smartisan 4G phone also sports a 5mp/13mp camera and supports TD-LTE/TD-SCDMA/WCDMA/GSM networks.

The 16GB version will cost 3500 RMB while the 32GB edition will cost 3650 RMB (594.08 USD).

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Early this month, a photo of what appears to be the Coolpad Daguan 5 was leaked online. It was also reported that the Daguan 5 would have a revolving camera although Coolpad later denied this.

Now, we received a rendering of the Daguan 5 which looks very similar to the leaked photo but this time, there is no news about the camera. Most of the new information concerns the Daguan 5’s design and specs.

As the rendering shows, the Daguan 5 has a slimmer but hearty design than the Daguan 4. It has a very narrow frame. Previous reports have stated that it may sport a frameless design.

It was also reported that the Daguan 5’s case would be made of Kevlar, but looking at the phone’s frame in the rendering and according to an insider, it follows a cobwebbed design. This phone is available in black, white, blue and gold.　

According to reports, the Daguan 5 uses the 2.5GHz Snapdragon 801 quad-core chipset and sports a 5.5-inch screen with 2560 x 1440 resolution. Expect more news about the Daguan 5’s specs.

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On May 5, Lenovo launched its new flagship phone, the K920, otherwise known as the VIBE Z2 Pro, and now, a Weibo user revealed that the K920 would cost 4799 RMB. It is also expected to come with a free Bluetooth headset.

Regarding its specs, the K920 sports a 6-inch display screen with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 491 ppi, and 630-nit clarity. Its processor is the Snapdragon 801 quad-core chipset (2.5 GHz). The phone also has 3GB RAM and 32GB ROM, and sports a 5mp/16mp camera. It is fuelled by a 4000mAh battery and supports TD-LTE and LTE FDD dual-4G and dual-SIM card.

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Lei Jun once said, “When many of our counterparts compare themselves to us, then, that means that Xiaomi has already become the gold standard.” In June, the Mi 4 was released keeping Xiaomi as the gold standard. The writer cannot just come to conclusions but the Mi 4’s specs and power consumption are disappointing but also a pleasant surprise. I will not talk about what is disappointing about it for now and just focus on why it is a pleasant surprise.

Just as the title mentions, the pleasant surprise is that the Mi 4 is Quick Charge-supported. Does this function work for the Mi 4 as well as Lei Jun said? Let’s take a look.

Why does the Mi 4 need Quick Charge?

       It makes sense to say that today’s smart phones are growing more powerful at an astronomical rate. Take their processing chips, for example. In just a few years, we have gone from using single-core processors to eight-core processors. Unfortunately, there has not been any real improvement in battery charging.

       Although there has been improvement in cell phone batteries, it has only been limited to battery safety and charge cycles. The level of power supply has none grown a lot. The only way to improve battery performance is to increase the battery supply or use Quick Charge.

Until now, Xiaomi has only used the former but although the Mi 3’s battery supply grew from the 2000mAh in the Mi 2 to 3050mAh, it only grew to 3080mAh for the Mi 4. Only 30mAH! This has not been the most effective method given the limited space provided by the phone. Therefore, adding Quick Charge is necessary.

Can the Mi 4 handle Qualcomm Quick Charge?

The Mi 4’s charger is called the Xiaomi Smart Charger and comes in three standards, 5V, 2A/9V, 1.2A/12V, and 1A. This charger can also be used with other devices as well.

We start charging the phone a 0%. For the first 40 minutes the screen glows and WIFI is turned own. Later, we closed the screen and WIFI but still keep the phone on.

After 13 minutes, we can see that the Mi 4 is already 15% charged. After 25 minutes, setting 10 minutes as the standard, we started calculating the rate at which the battery is charged.

Based on the results, when the screen and WIFI are closed, we can see that the MI 4 can be charged up to 49% in one hour and be fully charged in two hours. When the phone is completely turned off, it can charge up to 60% in one hour and be fully charged in two and a half hours. As the graph shows, the results we got in charging the Mi 4 are close to the official results by Xiaomi.

Conclusion

       As you can see from this test, the Mi 4’s Quick Charge mode goes well with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 and the phone’s power management system, but it might sacrifice battery life. Nevertheless, it will definitely be an asset in future cell phones.

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The Xiaomi Mi 4 runs on the Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor which has 2.5 GHz. It has 2 GB RAM, 16/64 GB flash memory, high performance, and low power consumption. It also sports a 5-inch Sharp/JDI OGS display screen with 1080p and is also a ultra-sensitive touchscreen. It is powered by a 3080 mAh lithium ion polymer battery and sports a 8mp/13mp Sony dual-camera.

The Mi 3, though, uses the 2.3 GHz Snapdragon 800 processor, also sports a 5-inch 1080p display screen that is also ultra-sensitive touchscreen-supported, and has 2GB RAM . Users can choose between a 16 GB and a 32 GB version. The TD version uses the 1.8 GHz Invidia Tegra 4 processor. The Mi 3 also sports a 13mp rear-facing camera and 2mp front facing camera. It has a thickness of 8.1mm and is powered by a 3050 mAh battery. The Mi 3 runs on the Android 4.3-customized MIUI system.

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A recently released video revealed Lenovo’s new flagship phone sporting a 6.0-inch display screen with Quad HD resolution, the Vibe Z2 Pro. This phone has a screen resolution of 490ppi and is 7.7mm thick. It also has a built-in 16mp camera with optical image stabilization and other features to help you take great photos.

Foreign news outlets report that the Vibe Z2 Pro uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 801 processor (2.5Ghz), has 3GB Ram, and supports dual-SIM and LTE internet. It is also powered by a 4000mAh battery. This phone is slated to hit stores this September and will available in black, white, and gold. No price has been announced at this time.

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Tonight, Lenovo formally launched their newest flagship smartphone, the Lenovo K920. The K920 is designed in the same style as the K900, featuring an upright and hearty look. Its case is made of aluminum-magnesium alloy, with a surface made of metal and plastic.

As for its specifications, the Lenovo K920 features top-notch hardware available right now. It sports a 6-inch display screen with 2K resolution, uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor (MSM8974AC), has 3GB RAM, 32GB internal memory space, and a 16mp camera with optimal image stabilization. It is powered by a built-in 4000mah battery and supports TD-LTE and FDD LTE dual-4G network and dual-SIM card.

However, Lenovo did not announce a specific release date or the price of the Lenovo K920 at the launch.

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Today, Antutu released information on the latest phone in Coolpad’s Daguan series, the Daguan 5. Its model number is “Coolpad 9971” and it sports a 2K display screen and the Snapdragon 801 processor.

According to Antutu, the Coopad Daguan 5 uses the 2.5GHz Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor and sports a 5.5-inch display screen with 2560 x 1440 resolution. It also has 3GB RAM, a 5mp front-facing camera, and 13mp main camera. Its operating system is the Android 4.4.2 OS. However, it is also rumoured that the Daguan 5 will actually use a 6-inch display screen and a 20mp camera. It will be a while until we get the truth.

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InFocus releases M810 at the lowest price possible

Today (July 30), InFocus released its new phone as they do every year, the InFocus M810. This device uses the Qualcomm S810 processor (2.5GHz), sports a 5.5-inch FHD IPS display screen, has 16GB ROM, 2GB RAM, and 5mp/13mp camera. It is only 6.9mm thick. Furthermore, in addition to using Taiwan’s LTE network, it also supports CDMA and WCDMA, and so, works with the five main telecommunication operators in Taiwan.

Besides its high specs, the InFocus M810 also boasts a high cost performance ratio. A single phone only costs 9,988 NTD. This phone is set to hit the market on July 31 and will be available in black and gold (the gold version comes out in August).

Sports a sleek metal design with a frame made of aluminium alloy

The InFocus M810 sports an excellent metal design sporting a case made of Gorilla Glass 3 that is covered with anti-fingerprint coating. The rear case is available in black and gold.

The M810 is just 6.99mm thick but because it sports a 5.5-inch screen, it uses a battery that has 2600mAh (undetachable). The phone also uses a frame made of aluminium alloy and the buttons are designed in the way that is similar to Sony’s.

The black version does not let out a very bright flash. Underneath the InFocus logo on the back is an NFC induction zone. Unfortunately, it does not support wireless recharging.

The sides of the phone are made of aluminum alloy and only have a width of 6.99mm.

Right side: These are not SIM card slots. One of them is a microSD memory card slot which can provide up to 64GB.

On the top: Micro USB port, noise-cancelling microphone, and 3.5mm earphone jack.

Left: The volume and power buttons which can be operated by one hand.

5mp/13mp camera

The InFocus M810 uses a Sony Exmor R 5mp/13mp dual camera. The main camera has a F2.2 aperture and can cover a 28mm wide angle. It also has a built-in image processing engine from iCatch. The camera has several features including panorama mode, HDR, etc. It can also record 1080p videos.

The rear-facing camera has 13mp and LED flash.

The front camera has 5mp.

It uses Android KitKat

Regarding the InFocus M810’s software, this phone uses the Android 4.4.2 KitKat for its operating system and the InLife UI for its interface. It can be exchanged for a simpler and more feasible mode for the elderly. Furthermore, this phone has a lot of built in functions. Because it uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor (2.5GHz) and has 2GB RAM, it offers excellent performance, scoring 36583 in the Antutu benchmark exam.

The M810 comes with many third-party apps.

If older users find many of the InFocus M810’s functions too complicated, they could change the interface to simple mode which enlarges the interface’s tabs and font.

The post Quick Review: InFocus M810 uses 2.5GHz processor, sports a 5.5-inch FHD screen, and only costs 9,988 NTD (332.99 USD) appeared first on Gizmochina.

Coolpad’s newest phone was recently revealed by Antutu. Its model number is Coolpad 9971. Based on the name, there is no doubt that it is part of the Daguan series.

The Coolpad 9971 does not have a display screen as big as the Daguan 4’s, measuring only 5.5 inches. However, it has greater resolution (2560 x 1440). It uses the Snapdragon 801 processor (2.5GHZ). It also has 3GB RAM and 5MP/13MP cameras. Its operating system is the Android 4.42. Overall, the screen and memory specs are excellent.

From the specs, everyone may think of the Daguan 5 which had its first snapshot leaked online a while ago. However, unlike the 9971, the Daguan 5 is supposed to use the NVIDIA Tegra K1 processor.

If both are the latest devices in the Daguan series, then there should be a gap between the dates they will be launched. We should find out when the 9971 is coming soon as the Daguan 5 is said to come out this September.

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The Mi 4 vs. mainstream flagship phones      

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Yesterday, Xiaomi’s latest flagship phone, the Mi 4, was finally launched and its specs are as good as expected. It sports a 5-inch IPS display screen with 1920 x 1080 resolution, runs on the 2.5GHz Snapdragon 801 (MSM8247AC) processor, has 3GB RAM, 16GB/64GB ROM, and a 8mp/13mp camera. It is also powered by a 3080mAh battery and its operating system is the Android 4.4-based MIUI V5 OS (The V6 will come out in August). As of now, it costs 1999 RMB (322.33 USD).

During the launch, Lei Jun spent most of the time discussing the materials used to manufacture the Mi 4 and barely said a word about its specs. It looks like Xiaomi had put a lot of effort in creating the right texture for the Mi 4. A lot of improvements were made for its outer design such as increasing its screen ratio. Here are some snapshots of the Mi 4 unboxed.

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Today, the much anticipated Xiaomi Mi 4 was launched in Beijing. Here’s a review of Xiaomi’s latest phone.

Boasting top-knotch specs, the Mi 4 uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801(MSM8974AC) quad-core processor with a main frequency of 2.5GHz. It has 3GB RAM and 16/64GB internal memory space. It also sports a 5-inch 1080p Sharp and JDI display screen made using OGS architecture and an 8mp/13mp Sony dual-camera. It is powered by a 3080mAh battery that can be fully charged in 2.5 hours. The 16GB edition will be sold for 1999 RMB (322.21 USD) while the 64GB edition will be sold for 2499 RMB (402.81 USD).

Appearance

The Mi 4 supports wet finger recognition and offers a glove mode. It also supports technology that can make sure finger movements on the edge won’t be mistakenly read by the phone.

It’s also important to note that the Mi 4 has a width of 67.5mm which is smaller than the Huawei P7, Samsung S4, and HTC M8.

The MIUI OS

The Mi 4 does not have a lot of new features as it is still using the MIUI V5. The new MIUI V6 OS will be introduced around August. As a result, its OS user experience is similar to that of the Mi 3 with a few changes.

Performance test

At the launch event, Lei Jun was unwilling to talk about how the Mi 4 fared in its benchmark tests. Here’s an evaluation of the phone’s performance.

Actually, the Mi 4 scored pretty high in the Antutu benchmark test with 43607 points. Very few phones are able to score this high. This still does not say anything about actual user experience, but we can say that the Mi 4 probably has the most powerful specs out of all the cell phones out right now.

Camera

The Mi 4 sports a 13mp Sony IMX214 camera which has appeared in many new Chinese phones, so it should not be surprising if the Mi 4 has it. It has 6p lens with a F1.8 aperture. Even more interesting is that it comes with a smart flashlight feature. The Mi 4 can also combine two photos that were quickly taken consecutively in a way that can make them look more realistic.

As you can see from the samples above, the Xiaomi Mi 4 takes very good photos thanks to the Sony IMX214. Furthermore, the phone’s camera benefits from its big F1.8 aperture as the amount of light going in increases a lot. Since we have now familiarized ourselves with this new sensor, it is no surprise that the Xiaomi 4 can take high-quality photos.

Conclusion:

It’s pretty clear that Xiaomi is serious in dispelling the notion that the company does not really care about the outer design of their phones with the release of the Mi 4. Even though the outer design of the Mi 4 is not as pretty as phones that are known to have beautiful designs, this is Xiaomi’s most good-looking phone to date. Its specs are also nothing to make fun of. It’s easy to see how much effort Xiaomi has put on their newest phone’s hardware and appearance. However, Xiaomi’s main competitive strength still lies in their MIUI system. When the Mi 4’s OS is upgraded to the MIUI V6, then it will be a force to be reckoned with.

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OnePlus has released more information on their newest release, a OnePlus One phone made of bamboo.

According to OnePlus, the 64 GB limited edition of the bamboo OnePlus One will be sold for 2499.99 RMB. Those who want it can start pre-ordering on August 18 and then get on the 25^th. However, the bamboo case will not be sold separately.

A spokesman for OnePlus said that the phone is made of mao bamboo which is native to China. The material had been processed 28 times before it could be used to make the phone. The spokesman also said that the bamboo case should give the new OnePlus One a unique glossy texture.

The OnePlus One bamboo edition retains all the specs of the original like its 5.5-inch display Screen, the Snapdragon 801, and 3 GB RAM.

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There’s only about a few weeks left until Xiaomi launches their newest installment in the Mi series, the Xiaomi Mi 4. Xiaomi will host a launch event for the Mi 4 along with their other new products on July 22.

In the meantime, new information has come out on the phone’s specs. The Mi 4 uses a 5-inch 1080p display screen. Its processor is the Snapdragon 801 chipset (MSM8974AC) with 2.5GHz. It also sports a 5mp/13mp camera and its operating system is the MIUI V6 OS. The biggest changes in the phone are its mid-size frames and the fact that it was designed with a metal case. Hopefully, the Mi 4 supports 4G internet.

According to previous reports, the Mi 4’s starting price is 1999 RMB.

In addition to the Mi 4, Xiaomi will launch the Hongmi Note 4G edition, Xiaomi Smart Armband, and the MIUI V6.

The post The Xiaomi Mi 4’s specs revealed: has a 5-inch display screen and costs 1999 RMB (322.08 USD) appeared first on Gizmochina.

Yesterday afternoon, Nubia launched three new flagship phones in Beijing, the Nubia Z7 (high-end market), Nubia Z7 Max (mid-end), and Nubia Z7 Mini (mainstream). With the prices of 3456 RMB (557 USD), 1999 RMB (322.18 USD) and 1499 RMB (241.59 USD) respectively, it looks like Nubia’s newest flagship phones cover a very wide scope.

Today, Inpai received the Z7 Max and Mini. With the Max costing 500 RMB more than the Mini, what’s the difference between the both of them?

The Max sports a 5.5-inch 1080p display screen, runs on the 2.5GHz Snapdragon 801 8974AC chipset, has 2GB RAM, 3GB ROM (supports 64GB expansion card), and a 5mp/13mp camera. It supports 4G internet and its OS is the Nubia UI 2.0 which is based on the Android 4.4.2. The Z7 Max also has an infrared transmitter, NFC, etc.

On the other hand, the Nubia Z7 Mini sports a 5-inch 1080p display screen, runs on the 2.0GHz Snapdragon 801 8974AA chipset, has 2GB RAM, 16GB ROM, (supports 64GB expansion card), and a 5mp/13mp camera. It also supports 4G internet and its OS is the Nubia UI 2.0 as well.

Both of them look mostly the same, keeping Nubia’s classic design, including the red “Home” button. Here is a snapshot comparison of both phones.

The Max is bigger than the Mini

Mini version does not have infra-red transmitter

Mini does not have NFC

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Eight months after the release of the Nubia Z5S, Nubia introduced the Nubia Z7 series in Beijing, releasing three devices one after the other. The Z7 Mini boasts its good prices while the flagship Z7 phone is mainly known for its high-end specs. But what about the Z7 Max? What distinguishes it from the other two?

Max editions are usually big-screen low-end versions of flagship products, but the Nubia Z7 Max retains the Z7’s 5.5-inch screen and Snapdragon 801 processor at the cost of just 1999 RMB (322.28). Despite its name, the Nubia Z7 Max is really the third generation of the Big Bull phone. Of course, it would be such a bother to dabble into the name and what it essentially is so let’s just start the review.

Appearance

       The first time you see the Nubia Z7 Max, you may almost mistake it for the Nubia Z5S mini. Considering that the Z5S mini has sold millions, it is easy to understand why its design would serve as the inspiration for the Z7 Max’s and the market seems to be pleased with this.

A comparison of the Z7 Max and Z5S Mini

       The Nubia Z7, like its predecessors, has round edges and the classic red Home button which everyone should be familiar with. This familiarity points out just how famous the Nubia phones are which is important for ZTE than profits made.

Round-edged design

       The most important part about this phone is the fact that it has such a plain and simple design with no marks and a good protective rear cover.

Frosted rear-cover

       The buttons are located at the middle of the right side. The narrow design of the phone’s frames makes it easier and more comfortable to carry the phone on hand.

With a detachable rear cover to properly insert two SIM carts, the Nubia Z7 Max supports 4G internet as well as dual-SIM 4G. 

5.5-inch 1080p display screen

At a time when Apple plans to reject one-hand phone carrying designs for big-screen ones, a screen that is less than 5 inches would already be considered small, while a screen that is over 6 inches would be considered too big which could cause a lot of problems when the phone is used. Therefore, 5.5 inches looks more reasonable for a display screen’s size. 

This phone uses a 1080p Full HD display screen with a pixel density of 401ppi. It has clear graphics and a higher screen ratio which should give the user a nice viewing experience.

There is one slight problem with its built-in wallpapers which are just landscape and color palettes. These roughen up the interface. What Nubia should do is add more simple and plain wallpapers in their next products.

13mp + NeoVision 4.0

The Nubia Z7 Max has a 13mp rear-facing camera and 5mp front-facing camera with a F2.0 aperture which are pretty impressive.

One of the biggest selling points for Nubia’s phones are the the many functions provided by NeoVision. Nubia’s latest phones have the new NeoVision 4.0 which has three main modes, Auto mode, Pro mode, and Fun mode. It also has depth of field preview, and manual focus and many more.

The three main camera modes (Left), With focus and exposure separated (right)

Depth of field preview (left), Fun mode’s very many features (right)

Manual Focus

       As the following samples show, the hue and graphics are clear. They portray the objects very clearly.

Close range

Close range

At a long distance

Nubia’s new UI

The Nubia Z7 Max’s OS is the Nubia UI 2.5 which has a neat and simple appearance and an interface with so many different apps, all organized in a “flattened” manner.

Nubia UI 2.5

       The Nubia UI 2.5 lets you unlock a locked phone by letting you to swipe your hand upwards on the screen, after which, you will be asked whether you want to unlock the phone or use the camera. The shortcuts and notification center are concentrated in a single interface and there are not any big changes on the background and settings menu.

Locked interface (left), Notification interface (right)

Background interface (left), Settings menu (right)

        The best things about the Nubia UI 2.5 are Nubia electronics and Nubia Niudun. With these, you won’t have to download third-party security software.

Nubia electronics (left), Nubia niudun (right)

Infrared remote control, projector, and NFC are all included.

Projector

       The upgrades made in the UI should greatly user experience.

The Snapdragon 801

       Although the existence of the Z7 shows that the Z7 Max is not a flagship phone, it still uses the current processor to date, the 2.5GHz Snapdragon 801 which is compatible with 2GB RAM and 32GB internal memory storage. With a benchmark score of 35560, there is absolutely no need to worry about performance problems.

Information on device (left), Benchmark score (right)

Conclusion:

Nubia has gradually been perfecting the interactive experience of their products. When they include the new Nubia UI 2.5 and their top-notch specs into the Nubia Z7 Max, the result is an excellent cell phone at the cost of 1999 RMB. Whether you are just someone who wants a good cost-performance ratio, or someone who wants a good camera, the Nubia Z7 Max does not disappoint.

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In March 2014, Nubia introduced their big-screen flagship phone, the Nubia Z6. Its top-notch specs and 6.4-inch screen made a big impression on the audience.

Invitation to Nubia’s launch event

Just four months later on July 8, Nubia held a launch event for their summer releases. These products were the Nubia Z7, Z7 Mini, and Z7 Max. Within just half a year, Nubia has released four new phones which is amazing.

Invitation to Nubia’s launch event

Just four months later on July 8, Nubia held a launch event for their summer releases. These products were the Nubia Z7, Z7 Mini, and Z7 Max. Within just half a year, Nubia has released four new phones which is amazing.

All three follow the Nubia Z5S’ footsteps with the Z7 at the top, Max copying the Nubia Z5S’s (Big cow) style, and the Mini continuing the Z5S mini’s style (Big Cow 2). Here, the writer will introduce the Z7 mini smart phone.

Design changes (I)

A good design for a product can be continued in the next generation. Some people may say that you’re out of ideas but who could possibly criticize a reasonable design? Just look at Apple’s iPhone series?

The Z7 mini continues its predecessor’s design

The classic “Home” button

       Like the Nubia Z5S mini, the Z7 mini has a very slender design and follows a black and white color scheme. A completely black edition may be released in the future. The Z7’s red “Home” button is located at the bottom of the screen in the middle of two red buttons.　

The back of the Z7 mini

The Z7 mini’s back is made of frosted glass like the Z5S mini, but its sides are more flexible and hearty. You can clearly see that there are sharp edges on the back of the phone but it doesn’t make any less comfortable to carry the phone.

Design changes (II)

The Z7 mini’s ports and sockets are arranged properly making it a phone that could not possibly sold for a cheap price. The volume and power buttons are located on the right side so that the user can carry the phone using his or her left hand. 

Rear case is detachable but not the battery

Dual-SIM and Micro SD

       As an Android smart phone that costs around 1500 RMB (242.03 USD), the Nubia Z7 mini has a detachable rear cover. After taking the rear case off, we can see that this phone does not have a detachable battery but has a Micro SIM slot and Micro SD port. This design makes it easier to use this phone.

5-inch screen has a smooth texture

       Not a lot of upgrades were done on the Nubia Z7 Mini’s screen. It still has a 5-inch FHD IPS display screen which should actually be go enough for many users.

Camera specs and photo display

       Almost every time Nubia releases a new phone, they seem to make a new breakthrough with their camera specs. Of course, the Nubia Z7 Mini is no exception. Nebula was included in the Mini edition which uses on the new Neo Vision 4.0. Not only does Depth of field preview and hand movements make more fun to take photos using the Z7 mini but also help the photographer take better photos.  

The red area is the field of depth preview

The one photo function that everyone will quickly remember is the field of depth preview feature. When we turn this on and use the phone’s focus function, a lot of red marks will appear on the display screen. Those who do not understand this will think that the camera is broken, when actually this is the Z7 Mini’s newest feature. Those areas marked in red are areas being focused on.

Photo taken in manual focus

       Using the camera on manual focus will also leave a great impression on the user. After selecting macro mode (on manual fuss), you can adjust the distance by yourself and take a photo at the right moment.

Of course, the Nubia Z7 mini has so many great photo features. I won’t describe them all now. Those who want to know about the Neo Vision 4.0’s newest friends can look at the photography taking essay which is coming soon.

Photos taken by the Nubia Z7 Mini

       Although the Nubia Z7’s camera specs are great, for the regular consumer, one can take the most photos using auto mode which is the easiest and simplest to use. It can all be done in just one snap. Here are some photos that I talk using the Z7 Mini in auto mode. What do you think?

Photos taken using the Nubia Z7

       Without using any advanced photo functions, the Nubia Z7 Mini can take excellent photos.

Nubia Z7 mini hardware and benchmark score

       Photography lies in the heart of the Nubia series but it’s also notable for its powerful hardware.  

To attract more customers who wanted powerful hardware, ZTE put in one of the most powerful mobile phone chipsets today in the Nubia Z7 Mini, the Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor (Main frequency, 2.0GHz). This phone also has 2GB RAM and 16GB ROM, and also supports dual-SIM and micro SD expansion card. It is very hard to find a cell phone like this at the 1500 RMB (241.83 USD) price level.

Antutu Benchmark test of the Z7 Mini

       Many say that benchmark scores cannot represent a device’s performance, but they objectively show whether a certain hardware works. The Nubia Z7 was fortunately able to score 31062 points in the Antutu benchmark test. Although this is not really the highest a device has gotten, it is considered average. After all, the phone’s processor has a main frequency of 2.0GHz.

After having powerful hardware, the best way to test a phone’s performance is through its games and video streaming. Below is a snapshot of the Z7 mini streaming a video. Even if the phone’s main frequency was lowered to 2GHz, there wouldn’t be any compression in the video.

Game performance is very good

       The Z7 mini is also very good for gaming. The graphics are excellent and the program runs smoothly.

UI/Conclusion

When the Nubia X6 was first released, we were first introduced to the Nubia UI 2.0 whose flattened icons and personalized design made a deep impression on us. The Z7 mini uses a follow-up to this UI, the Nubia UI 2.5. However, not a lot of changes were made.

The Z7 Mini’s UI

       The purity and simplicity of the Z7 Mini’s UI makes it more comfortable for users to handle. In fact, this is one of the main concepts that Nubia has followed. As Nubia continues to update their UI, their phones become easier and more comfortable to use.

Conclusion:

       1499 RMB is surprisingly affordable for a phone with such powerful features. The Z7 Mini is one of the best phones around the 1500 RMB price level. I believe that after Nubia formally launches the Z7 Mini, it will breathe new life into the market. Let’s wait and see.

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At a launch event in Beijing this afternoon, ZTE Nubia revealed a series of phones in their new Nubia Z7 series. These are the Nubia Z7, Z7 Max, and Z7 Mini. Here’s an analysis on the similarities and difference between the three:

ZTE Nubia Z7

It sports a 5.5-inch 2K screen (2560 x 1440) and 13mp rear-facing camera. It is also the first phone to have a RAM-supported auto-refresh function for its 2K screen.

The Nubia Z7 uses the Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor, not the 805 as previous reports have said. It has a main frequency of 2.5GHz and has 3GB RAM and 32GB internal memory storage. It also quick recharging and supports MHL 3.0.

As for its camera, it has a rear-facing camera with 13mp and supports a f/2.0-f/22 aperture. Its photo software is the new Neo Vision 4.0.

ZTE Nubia Z7 Max and ZTE Nubia Z7 mini

It also sports a 5.5-inch display screen but its resolution has been decreased to just 1080p (HD). The Mini version only has a 1080p screen.

Similarities:

All three use the Snapdragon 801 processor. They support internet networks provided by China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom. They also support TD-LTE, FDD-LTE, TD-SCDMA, WCDMA, EVDO, and GSM internet as well as dual-SIM 4G internet.

The post ZTE Nubia Z7 series released: the Difference Between Nubia Z7, Nubia Z7 max and Nubia Z7 mini appeared first on Gizmochina.

The best part about the Lenovo VIBE Z2 Pro is its 6-inch touch screen with a 2560 x 1440 resolution. Users should be amazed at the quality of videos shown in the screen considering its specs. In addition, the VIBE Z2 Pro’s metal case and other specs are amazing. For example, it uses the 2.5GHz Snapdragon 801 and sports a 16mp camera. It also has an LED flashlight and OIS function. It is 7.7mm thick. It is powered by a 4000mah battery and  supports NFC as well as LTE 4G internet. Also after trying it out, we also discovered that it has a high screen ratio. The price hasn’t been revealed as of now.

The post Take a look at photos of the Lenovo VIBE Z2 Pro: has a 6-inch 2K screen with 1600mp appeared first on Gizmochina.

As earlier reports predicted, today at 12:00 PM, the pitch-black 64 GB edition of the Oneplus One was once again put on sale, this time at the cost of 2299.99 RMB.

OnePlus had previously released a white babyskin edition among others, and said that they have enough of the pitch-black version on stock for everyone that wants it. However, they did not state an exact number.

The OnePlus One sports a 5.5-inch 1080p display screen and uses the 2.5GHz Snapdragon 801 processor. It has 3GB RAM and 5mp/13mp camera (Sony IMX214 second generation stackable sensor), and supports 802.11 b/g/n/ac as well as 2.4GHz/5GHz dual-frequency Wi-Fi, and Blu Ray 4.0. It has a built-in 3100mAh battery and its operating system is the Android 4.3-based Color OS.

The post The pitch-black Oneplus One phone 64 GB edition goes on sale for 2299.99 RMB (370.41 USD) and there is enough for everybody! appeared first on Gizmochina.

       Introduction: When the HTC M8 first hit stores, it received rave reviews, but because of its high price, HTC decided to release the M8Sw. This new phone is covered with a plastic case and replaced the M8’s UltraPixel camera with a 13mp camera. Its CPU was upgraded to the Snapdragon 801 and its price in China Unicom’s official online store (10010.com) as 2999 RMB. We recently managed to get our hands on the M8Sw’s China Unicom version and today, we’ll try it out.

HTC M8S China Unicom Edition

CPU: Qualcomm 8974AC quad-core with 2.5GHz

Operating system: Android 4.4.2

Memory: 2GB RAM/16GB ROM

Display screen: 5-inch screen

Resolution: 1920×1080

Camera: 13mp/5mp

Battery voltage: 2600mha

Internet: TD-LTE/WCDMA/GSM

Price: 2999 RMB

The back is curvy and made of plastic. The M8Sw continues to use the HTC’s classic design.

The HTC M8Sw China Unicom Edition uses a 13mp rear camera and has an LED flashlight.

On the back there’s a notice that says that this is a TD-LTE phone and that it supports TD-LTE 4G internet with 100Mbps internet speed.

It has a 5mp front-facing camera which has greater specs than the rear camera.

The speakers are located at the front just like the HTC M8.

USB and earphone ports are located at the bottom.

Volume switch is located on the right side.

The Power switch is located in the middle at the top.

The HTC M8Sw China Unicom edition has 16GB internal memory storate but also has a TF  card slot on the left side.

It supports 4G dual-SIM along with LTE/WCDMA 3G/4G internet. Its internet speed can go up to 100Mbps. A NanoSIM card needs to be installed.

The designs of the M8Sw’s receiver and speakers are completely different from the original’s.

The M8Sw is made of plastic while the original is made of metal. The former is listed as costing 2999 RMB in China Unicom’s website while the M8 costs up to 5299 RMB (851.21 USD

The M8Sw Unicom Edition has a 13mp main camera.

Like the M8, the M8Sw has a 5mp front camera.  

Both use the HTC sense 6.0 which is modeled after the Android 4.4.

The HTC M8Sw, with its Snapdragon 801, got 36000 in its benchmark test while the M8 only got about 28000.

The Snapdragon 801 has a frequency of 2.5GHz while the M8’s Snapdragon 800 only has 2.3 GHz. Furthermore, both have 2GB RAM.

The HTC M8Sw follows the HTC M8’s design with plastic instead of metal, lowering the price to 2999 RMB. The CPU was upgraded to the Snapdragon 801 making it more powerful than the HTC M8. It also supports China Unicom’s 4G internet with speed that goes up to 100Mbps as well as dual-SIM.

The post Trial use of the HTC M8Sw China Unicom Edition: Uses quad-core Snapdragon 801 and costs 2999 RMB (481.74 USD) appeared first on Gizmochina.

Back on March, we heard the news that Pantech Vega Iron 2 is ready to reelased which powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 SoC processor, and now the phone is exposure again with hands-on picture.

But according to Korean website, the new Pantech Vega Iron 2 will not powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 805, but those phone is only has Snapdragon 801 that already adopt by most flagship smartphone such as Sony, HTC and Samsung smartphone.

The upcoming Pantech smartphone will packs with 5,3 with 1080p AMOLED display and has 7.9mm body thcikness, sports with 3GB of RAM, and powered by 3,140 mAh battery capacity. The phone is runing with Android 4.4 KitKat operating syste, and the phone is continue to uses metal body, it’s look like previous model.

There is no information about the release date, but  according to rumor, this phone “will be released soon”. And now we have a couple pciture before it’s released.

The post Pantech Vega Iron 2 picture is exposure in white color appeared first on Gizmochina.

On April 23, Oneplus had officially released its newest mobile phone.

The Oneplus mobile phone is a top-level configuration present: equipped with a 5.5” 1080p screen, with a 2.5GHz Snap Dragon 801 (MSM8974AC) processor, built-in 3GB RAM, a 5.0 MP front camera, a 13.0 MP rear camera and a 3100mAh battery.

Oneplus comes in two versions, one with 16 GB and the other with 64GB. The prices are 1999.99 yuan ($320) and 2299.99 yuan ($368) respectively. This is also the most cost-effective 3GB cell phone model you could find on the market.

One of the highlight of this mobile phone is the system it employed. It integrated the CM system (based on Android 4.4), which is the world’s largest third party Android complier team product.

The CEO and founder of Oneplus Zuohu Liu had also emphasized the touch feeling of the cell phone is another great attraction of this cell phone.  The cell phone is only weighted in 162g, which is quite portable given its size.

The size of the is in 152.9 X 75.9mm, its thickness is in 8.9mm. Oneplus used a special coating from Japan called the “baby skin” on the phone which makes the phone very smooth in touching.

Oneplus supports multi networks including 4G, 3G, 2G and China Unicom 2G in China.

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