Today, Lenovo Group Vice President Chang Cheng announced the long awaited ZUI 4.0 update for the company’s ZUK series smartphones, including ZUK Z2 Pro, Z2 and ZUK Edge.

He announced that the company will roll out ZUI 4.0 for the ZUK Z2 Pro and ZUK Z2 by the end of this week for beta testing while the same update for the ZUK Edge will start rolling out next week.

Earlier this year, in March, during the Lenovo S5 launch event, Chang Cheng had announced that the company’s newly updated ZUI 4.0 will start rolling out in July. However, the update got delayed and was finally rolled out with Lenovo Z5 in August.

The devices that are compatible with the company’s new ZUI 4.0 update include Lenovo S5, Lenovo K5, K5 Play, Moto Z-series 2018, Moto Z2 Play, and ZUK devices which includes ZUK Edge, ZUK Z2 Pro, and ZUK Z2.

The ZUI 4.0 comes with support for U-touch 4.0 features and full-screen gestures. It also introduces a brand-new function of artificial intelligence-based voice assistance. The company has added a feature called Game Line Network Acceleration that is aimed at providing faster gaming experience.

Read More: Lenovo S5 Pro stunning camera samples released as launch draws near

Further, the update has been optimised to provide faster and better user experience as well as to reduce the power consumption of the system and improve stability.

(Source)

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Lenovo may have finally rested the short-lived but popular ZUK lineup but the company isn’t forgetting the current ZUK smartphones just yet. ZUK CEO Chang Cheng has revealed via his Weibo handle, the release of the ZUI 3.5 UI for the ZUK Z2 Pro flagship smartphone.

Lenovo’s custom ZUK 3.5 is the latest version and it is based on Android 8.0 Oreo operating system. The CEO shared an image containing some details of the new update, although it is written in Chinese. The details include a new UI design, including for calls and text messages, a new Security Center with built-in Blacklist feature, a new U Health app, and a “Personal calendar” function. In addition, the new update brings many bug fixes such as the bug which affected the volume adjustment, loudspeaker, mobile data, media sharing and battery power saving optimization with apps.

Read Also: ZUK Z2 & Z2 PRO ROM Flashing + UNBRICK Guide

The ZUK Z2 Pro was first launched in 2016 running Android 6.0 Marshmallow. The smartphone’s OS was upgraded last year to a new ZUI version, bringing in Android Nougat and now, it is getting the latest Android OS. Presently, this ZUI 3.5 update is only available to ZUK Z2 Pro users in China but hopefully, the official ROM will become available to Z2 Pro owners outside of China soon. For now, you may be lucky to find an unofficial ROM on XDA Forum but that may likely have bugs in it.

(source)

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Lenovo said goodbye to ZUK months ago, just a few months after the official launch of the latest flagship ZUK Edge with Snapdragon 821. Now, the focus on the company’s Moto brand. After redirecting the ZUK website to Motorola.com.cn, late November, the company logos have also been removed from the offices. But this does not mean that the company has completely stopped supporting ZUK devices: indeed, the ZUK Z2 Pro has just been updated to Android 8.0 Oreo in China.

It is still a beta version and it has only arrived in China, but it is an official firmware. The update to Android Oreo on ZUK Z2 Pro includes a new version of the ZUI user interface: 3.5.116, and it brings the Android security patch released by Google on November 5. We still have no info about the changelog of the update. You can see the leaked screenshot of the “Info about device” section below.

While there may not be any future for new ZUK devices, at least, people who bought a ZUK device can be happy that their smartphones are still getting updates.

(source)

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ZUK is a Lenovo-backed company, which makes some great phones at affordable prices. Z2 Pro was released quite a while ago but it still sports some killer specs for the price considering that you can now get ZUK Z2 Pro for as low as $249 from Gearbest.

For less than $250, you get really impressive specifications that are hard to beat. The Snapdragon 820 may sound outdated for some but it is still plenty powerful and it can handle even the most graphically intensive tasks without any issues. If you pair it with 6GB of RAM and whopping 128GB of internal storage, you are looking at a beast of a phone that can be still called a flagship. Remember, the LG G6 was released with the Snapdragon 821, which is basically a slightly more powerful version of the Snapdragon 820 chip.

Since the phone was designed to be a flagship, it has great build quality and it uses premium materials like metal and glass in its construction, metal buttons, and 2.5D display.

Other key specs include a capable 13MP camera with a bright f/1.8 aperture lens, blood oxygen, and heart rate sensors for healthy lifestyle enthusiasts, 5.2″ 1080p display, and 3000mAh battery. The only shortcoming would be the outdated Android 6.0 out of the box but we believe that the phone will receive the Android 7 Nougat update soon.

You can now get the ZUK Z2 Pro for just $249 from Gearbest using a COUPON CODE: Z2SPro

If you consider the overall package you get, this phone is one of the best bangs for the buck. The deal is limited to only 200 units and it will last till July 3rd.

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Lenovo‘s ZUK brand released the ZUK Z2 Pro sometime last year and it came as the world’s first true flagship with 6GB of RAM. The device has since then been one of the hot-selling smartphones, especially in China. Recently, a rather weird price listing for the ZUK Z2 Pro was spotted by an eagle-eyed Netizen.

The listing was spotted on Jingdong and there, the ZUK Z2 Pro with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage was listed with a 2299 Yuan price tag, while the ZUK Z2 Pro version with 6GB RAM + 128GB storage carried a reduced price listing of 2,099 Yuan. Obviously, pegging a cheaper price tag on a version with higher memory isn’t normal because the higher version is supposed to have a higher price tag. But in this case, the 4GB + 64GB version is higher with up to 200 Yuan. Both listings appears to have come from the ZUK official flagship store on Jingdong and not from a third party retailer. Also, the price anomaly only seems to affect the white version.

Related: 6 Unique Features Of the New ZUK Z2 Pro Flagship

The 6GB + 128GB ROM variant of the Lenovo ZUK Z2 Pro started out at 2699 Yuan ($416) and both variants come powered by the Snapdragon 820 chipset and also sport a 5.2-inch 1080p Super AMOLED display. Other specs include a 13MP rear camera, 8MP front shooter and a 3,100mAh battery. There is no better way to explain this than to presume it is an error that will soon be corrected.

via

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If you own a ZUK Z2 Pro you should look forward to receiving the Android Nougat update today as some owners have started receiving it.

The Lenovo owned company had announced last month that it was planning a Nougat update for the ZUK Z2 Pro and ZUK Z1. The update was scheduled to start rolling out before the beginning of the Spring Festival next week. And true to their words, the update has started already.

The update comes as a ZUI 2.5.335 update based on Android Nougat. It will bring new features, security patches and bug fixes. The changelog is listed below:

• System optimization or system stability
• System security patches
• Split screen experience
• Fix system silent problem
• Repair off screen after a period of time to open the screen, WeChat “network connection is not available” problem
• Repair specific scenarios even accidental loud speaker problem
• Repair the occasional system color reversal problem
• A small tool to optimize the file manager performance
• Some basic Android Nougat changes

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Lenovo‘s elite brand ZUK is set to push update ushering in Android 7.0 Nougat to two of its smartphones which are the ZUK Z2 and Z2 Pro. According to a Weibo post by Lenovo’s VP, both the ZUK Z2 and ZUK Z2 Pro will receive update to ZUI 2.5, which will be based on Android 7.0 Nougat.

The Lenovo ZUK Z2 was announced around May last year and it came running ZUI 2.0 based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow. The ZUK Z2 Pro was announced earlier on in March 2016 but packs similar UI and operating system. The ZUI 2.5 is perhaps a new upgrade of the ZUI 2.0 which was available earlier on.

Related: The Most Powerful Phone for the Price? Get the ZUK Z2 for $185.89!

The update is billed to bring in lots of cool features like an optimized system stability, security patch, optimization of split screen experience, and so on.

(source | via)

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The Snapdragon 820 might be a year old already but it is still a powerful processor and since new phones sporting the new Snapdragon 835  processor will soon be released, phones with the older Snapdragon 820 are getting price cuts. One of them is the ZUK Z2 Pro.

Lenovo’s ZUK Z2 Pro is the more powerful variant of the Z2 series. It has a larger 5.2-inch Super AMOLED full HD display, 4GB/6GB of RAM, and 64GB/128GB of storage. The rear camera is a 13MP f/1.8 sensor with OIS, PDAF, and dual LED flash; and there is an 8MP f/2.0 shooter up front. You also get a front-mounted fingerprint scanner and the built-in 3100mAh battery also supports Quick Charge 3.0. Unlike some other flagships released last year, the ZUK Z2 Pro has an audio jack and sports a version 3.1 USB Type-C port.

READ MORE: ZUK Edge Uses Display from Domestic Supplier, Tianma

That’s not all about the device. ZUK has equipped the Z2 Pro with a heart rate sensor and ultra violet sensor and have also announced a Nougat update for it. Now the interesting part is this. When the ZUK Z2 Pro first launched, the 6GB+128GB model was priced at ¥2,699 (over $400 then) but now you can get it for just ¥1,999 (~$288) on Amazon China.

(Source)

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Is it just me or are manufacturers taking updates more seriously now? In the last couple of weeks, we have seen a number of manufacturers roll out Nougat updates to their devices or announce a roll-out plan. Lenovo has joined the ranks and have announced a Nougat update for its ZUK  sub-brand.

The Android 7.0 update will come in form of a new version of their ZUI OS. The new ZUI  2.5 update is scheduled to roll out before the Spring Festival which falls on January 28.

ZUK is also keeping its promise of updating its first flagship, the ZUK Z1 to Android Nougat and will be the first Snapdragon 801 phone to get updated to the latest version of Android. The ZUK Z1 will only receive an open beta version of the update though, and it will be available before the Spring Festival too.

READ MORE: Huawei Announces Roll-Out Plan for Nougat Update

This news will definitely increase the sales of the ZUK Z2 Pro which already has a price cut and is one of the cheapest SD 820 hones in the market as at this moment. We are however surprised that the ZUK Z2 was not mentioned.

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The ZUK Z2 and ZUK Z2 Pro were launched six months ago and both phones have gone through price cut after price cut making them one of the cheapest Snapdragon 820 phones in the market right now.

It appears the Lenovo-owned company isn’t done slashing the price on their flagships as they have announced that the Z2 duo will now sell at a reduced price starting today the 7th, up till the 13th of December.

The AMOLED sporting ZUK Z2 Pro with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of built-in storage gets a ¥600 (~$87) price slash and now sells for ¥2099 ($~305) or you can pick up the 4GB + 64GB model which sells for ¥1999 (~$290).

If you prefer the smaller-sized ZUK Z2, the 4GB + 64GB variant has been slashed down by ¥400 (~$58) and now sells for ¥1399 (~$203).

The sweetest deal is the base version of the ZUK Z2 which has 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage but whose price makes it qualify for the ¥1000 flagship. For the period of the sales, the phone will sell for ¥1099 (~$160) after getting a ¥500(~$73) price cut.

READ MORE: New Image Shows The ZUK Edge in Black and White with Thin Bezels

The Snapdragon 820 chip in each of these phones makes it a good purchase. You also get Quick Charge 3.0, USB Type C 3.1, and an audio jack.

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Next year will be the 10th year since the first iPhone was released into the market. The consensus is that, the next iPhone, which is presumed to be called iPhone 8, will be very different as a way to mark the anniversary.

Rumor has it that the next iPhone will see the return of the glass back which was last seen on the iPhone 5. Earlier today, industry analyst @Kevvin King posted on Weibo that Samsung’s next flagship will also feature a glass back. It appears the number 8 will not be the only thing mutual to both devices.

Earlier this year when the ZUK Z2 Pro was released, Lenovo’s Vice President posted  on Weibo with the handle @Chang Cheng that 3D curved glass back will be the trend for the year. In a recent follow up post, he said that since no other manufacturer has used a 3D glass back like that of the ZUK Z2 Pro, we’ll have to wait for the iPhone 8 to see the design again.

READ MORE: Apple May Team Up with LG on a 3D Camera for The iPhone 8

His post appears to be a hint that the iPhone 8 will sport a 3D curved glass back which will not only make it more pleasing to the eyes but also make it easy to grip.

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Earlier today, Lenovo‘s vice-President released stunning images of the black variant of the ZUK Edge on Weibo. Again, images of the white colored version of the Edge have also leaked online showing the device without the protective casing that prevented us from seeing the rear aspect properly on the black version.

Indeed the device bears semblance with the Xiaomi Mix with the display occupying almost 90% of the entire screen. The device comes with a similar concept design with very thin bezels at the sides. Whatever is being used at the front like the home button cum fingerprint scanner is pushed to both the upper and lower extremes. But for little differences, the design is said to resemble the Lenovo ZUK Z2 Pro also in looks.

Read More: ZUK Z2 Pro Official, World’s First True Flagship With 6GB RAM & A Lot Of Powerful Features

From the enders, the ZUK Edge doesn’t seem to have a curved display but a flat one. The device has been revealed by Lenovo’s VP as launching sometime next week. We are still waiting for official words on the exact date for the launch.

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Antutu usually releases the top 10 phones for each month based on performance and they’ve made the list for the phones that scored the highest in July.

Taking the lead which shouldn’t be a surprise is none other than the OnePlus 3. The OnePlus 3 which scored a total of 140288 points features a Snapdragon 820 processor clocked at 2.2GHz, 6GB of RAM, and 64GB of ROM.

Coming in second is Vivo’s X5 Play Elite with a score of 138706. The X5 Play features the same processor as the OnePlus 3, but it is clocked lower at 2.15GHz. It also features 6GB of RAM but doubles the storage to 128GB and comes with a curved 2K display.

The LeEco Le Max 2 is the third best smartphone scoring almost 700 points less than the Vivo (138026). The LeMax 2 uses the Snapdragon 820 SoC with the same clock speed as the Vivo, 6GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage. There is a 4GB RAM version with 32GB ROM as well and with the same 2K screen as its sibling.

RELATED: Huawei Mate 9 With Android 7 Spotted on GFXBench

ZTE’s Nubia sub-brand comes in at number 4 with the standard edition of the Nubia Z11. The phone scores a total of 137,685 points and is equipped with the same processor as the top 3, but features 4GB of RAM and 64GB of built-in storage.

Other phones that made it to Antutu’s list includes the Lenovo sub-brand ZUK Z2 Pro, Xiaomi’s Mi 5, the Samsung S7 Edge, Apple’s iPhone 6S and the Axon 7. Apple rounds off the list with their most recent phone, the iPhone SE.

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Lenovo today announced the developer open beta ROM for its ZUK range of devices based on Android Marshmallow 6.0.1. The system update will have new ZUI for the ZUK phones and long screen shots apart from other important features. Additionally, ZUK Z2 will also receive exclusive one-button overclocking function which was promised at the launch of ZUK Z2.

Overheating is another pain point in smartphones. With ZUI 2.0, as announced at the time of launch, Lenovo has added a feature that will identify apps that cause overheating accurately and control the app, resulting in no overheating of the device.

The highlight of this update is the much awaited and talked about feature, one click overclocking . This will allow users to overclock the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor clocked at 2.15 Ghz to be overclocked till 2.30 GHz giving the already powerful processor an instant performance boost when needed.

Lenovo additionally has also started a ZUK ZUI 2.0 beta program where beta users will receive a push notification of system updates. ZUK Z2 Pro, ZUK Z2 and ZUK Z1 will begin to receive the final version update ZUI 2.0 upgrade notification by this month itself.

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Last year, the Lenovo backed ZUK entered the market with its brand new ZUK Z1 smartphone. The phone ran the old Snapdragon 801 flagship but it turned out to be quite a successful device, launching in a number of countries internationally, including recently in India. But for a young company, it was necessary to have a great OS, and hence, it partnered up with Cyanogen for using Cyanogen OS on its new device. Given the popularity of Cyanogen, it turned out to be a good decision, since it promised timely updates and new features on the ZUK Z1.

Now, the company has updated the Z series with two new smartphones, the ZUK Z2 and the ZUK Z2 Pro. Both these devices are running the company’s own ZUI 1.9 version out of the box, but that’s for the Chinese version. We haven’t yet heard anything about the international variants of these devices, nor any comments about the OS that will power them. It’s possible that ZUK continues to use Cyanogen OS for their international variants, but the company just launched a ZUI Android website and the site is available in English as well as Chinese. What’s even more interesting is that that the official ZUK forums have threads talking about overseas ROM support. Of course, this doesn’t in any way confirm that ZUK has ditched Cyanogen, but it shows that ZUK is invested in its own OS.

We have seen OnePlus switch to their own OxygenOS (HydrogenOS in China) for its new devices last year and it’s possible that ZUK follows the same route this year. At this moment, nothing is official, and we will have to wait for an official statement from the company to throw some more light on the company’s plans for its international models.

Meanwhile, let’s know if you think it would be a good idea for ZUK to switch to its own OS for international variants as well, instead of Cyanogen.

(via)

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UPDATE: ZUK Z2 Announced! Cheaper Than Expected!

This afternoon, ZUK will officially take the wraps off its second smartphone in the past couple of months, called simply as the ZUK Z2. But before the release, a few posters of the smartphone have been leaked revealing most of the details of the device, including the specs and the design.

Looks wise, like we reported earlier, there will only be a few handful of changes between the ZUK Z2 model and the Z2 Pro that was announced last month. The camera will lie on the top left corner, instead of the center and there will be a few camera-centric features missing from this particular model. The Z2 will also be smaller, featuring a 5-inch display instead of 5.2-inch as found on the Z2 Pro. Also, it seems that the phone will initially come in two colors, black and white.

As for the specs, the ZUK Z2 will continue using Snapdragon 820 quad-core chipset as its elder sibling. Which means this model will be quite powerful as well. To support this powerful processor, the phone will come with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage.m The 5-inch display up front features 1080p resolution. At the back, you get a 13MP Samsung ISOCELL sensor with PDAF and Contrast Autofocus. The battery is quite decent as well, and with a capacity of 3500mAh, it’s larger than most other 5-inch flagships in the market right now.

As for the fingerprint sensor, the ZUK Z2 will come with UTouch 2.0, which is probably the same sensor as the Z2 Pro. This should mean that that the sensor will work even with wet hands. The new model is said to come with six special sensors. It should also support full netcom 3.0 standard. Pricing is expected to be around 1999 Yuan ($308), which, if true, will give tough competition to the Xiaomi Mi 5 flagship which starts at the same price tag.

Since the event is almost underway, we will get more details about the new ZUK Z2 phone in a couple of hours. So, stay tuned!

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Since the debut of the Vivo XPlay 5, the world’s first 6GB RAM smartphone, we have seen a couple of other Chinese manufacturers enter the 6GB RAM market. ZUK is one of these companies and its ZUK Z2 Pro smartphone went on sale today for an amazing price tag of 2699 Yuan which comes to just $412. This makes it one of the cheapest 6GB RAM phones in the market right now. So naturally, when the phone was made available for purchase earlier today, there were lots of buyers interested in the device.

Within a few minutes of the sale, which started at 10:00 AM today, the phone was sold out. Today, the ZUK Z2 Pro White Ceramic version was made available for buyers with 6GB RAM and 128GB internal storage. The company now reveals that this top-end version was sold out within 5 minutes. To be exact, it was out of stock in just 4 minutes and 23 seconds. Unfortunately, the company did not reveal how many total units were offered for sale today.

As for the specs, the ZUK Z2 Pro comes with the Snapdragon 820 chipset with 6GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage. The phone features a 3D glass body and comes with ultra-narrow 1.41mm bezels which makes the display stand out. There are a lot of unique features of the Z2 Pro, which you can read from here. If you are interested in the full specs and features of the device, check out our launch article from here.

RELATED: ZUK Z2 Coming This May End With A Snapdragon Chip Inside

The next flash sale is exactly a week away, i.e. on May 31 and along with this top-end model, the 4GB RAM + 64GB ROM version will also be made available for sale that day. Interestingly, ZUK is yet to reveal a price tag for this version and the company has asked its fans to guess the right price. The company will reveal the price on May 31 and those who get it right will get some discount vouchers.

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Chinese companies seem to be impatient when it comes to launching new smartphones. Traditionally, companies used to wait for a few months at least to launch a new model, but now, every month we are seeing new product launches from the same manufacturer. Meizu unveiled three new phones in a single month, Huawei released two flagship series models in consecutive months and now Lenovo backed ZUK is all set to release their second smartphone this year, called simply as the ZUK Z2. The previous model which was released late April was called as the ZUK Z2 Pro, so considering the name, this should be a slightly toned down version of the flagship model. The 6GB  + 128GB ROM variant of the Z2 Pro is available for sale, but there’s still no word on the 4GB + 64GB version. In fact, the company didn’t reveal any details about the pricing or availability of the second version at the time of the launch. Could ZUK rebrand this 4GB RAM model as the Z2? We aren’t sure, but read on for more details.

Design wise, there aren’t many changes. The new render reveals that the position of the camera module will be different than on the Z2 Pro. Instead of placing everything in the center, the company has positioned the camera sensor on the top left corner. Laser Autofocus seems to be absent on this device. Rest of the design, including the physical rectangular home button, speaker grill and USB port at the bottom and the buttons on the right seem to be exactly as the ZUK Z2 Pro model. In addition to this render, we also got reports that the phone will feature a 2.5D double glass design and will come with the company’s U-Touch fingerprint ID.

RELATED: 6 Unique Features of the ZUK Z2 Pro

This ZUK Z2 model will be announced this month, confirmed the company CEO. While we are unsure of the specs of the device, expect them to be upper mid-range. This should also drive down its cost as compared to the Z2 Pro model which means consumers will have another great mid-range alternative at an affordable price point.

Meanwhile, check out ZUK Z2 Pro vs Le Max 2 vs Xiaomi Mi 5 in this comparison.

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Just when we thought things couldn’t get any better, ZUK Z2 Pro came into the picture. Chinese smartphone manufacturers are really trying to beat the competition by offering powerful specs at an affordable price tag that puts other flagships to shame. Le Max 2 was a powerful flagship coming with 6GB of RAM and Snapdragon 820 for just $386. But today, after ZUK Z2 Pro was announced, it looks like an even better deal. It may be slightly costlier than the Max 2, but it comes with so many features inside, that it actually brings a lot of value to the $416 price tag.

So, let’s take a look at the three major Chinese Snapdragon 820 powered flagships in the market today.

ZUK Z2 Pro vs Le Max 2 vs Xiaomi Mi 5

We are not going to take a look at the design of the three phones because that’s going to be a personal choice. Some like the Mi 5’s design while some like the ZUK Z2 Pro better. So, we leave it up to you to decide which has the best design.

Moving on, let’s look at the specs.

SCREEN:

ZUK Z2 Pro and Xiaomi Mi 5 fall in the category of compact flagships. So, if you are in the market for a small sized device, any of these two could be your best bet. Both come with 1080p resolutions. The Z2 Pro has a 5.2-inch screen while the Mi 5 has a 5.15-inch screen. On the other hand, the Le Max 2 is made for phablet lovers coming with a massive 5.7-inch display with 2K resolution.

SPECS:

All three have Snapdragon 820 chipsets under the hood, making the comparison fair. However, I would like to note that ZUK claims that the Z2 Pro comes with the best version of Snapdragon 820, taking its performance to a 100%. While we aren’t sure how significant will be the performance difference as compared to the other two, we will have to wait for a good review to reserve our judgement.

Coming to the memory department, let’s take a look at the best versions of the three models. The Mi 5 seems a bit left out, coming with just 4GB of RAM on board. So, it has begun, I just said — “just 4GB of RAM“! This is because the other two offer even more, a whopping 6GB of RAM. Both the Z2 Pro and Le Max 2 can make this claim which is really impressive. In the storage department, Mi 5 and Z2 Pro are the real winners with a massive 128GB ROM option. The Le Max 2 comes with a maximum of 64GB, even on the 6GB RAM model.

Now, coming to the camera, the ZUK Z2 Pro features a 13MP rear shooter with f/1.8 aperture lens, 1.34 microns pixel size and pixel isolation tech. You get both OIS and EIS (electronic image stabilization) on the device. Up front, you get an 8MP 1.4micron sensor. As for the Le Max 2, you will find a 21MP Sony IMX230 sensor with OIS and PDAF. Up front, there is an 8MP sensor. Finally, on the Xiaomi Mi 5, you have a 16MP camera, with 4-axis image stabilization tech and PDAF. On the front, it will have a 4MP Ultrapixel camera.

Both the Z2 Pro and Le Max 2 have 3100mAh battery inside. Mi 5 comes with a 3000mAh battery. All three support Quick Charge 3.0 standard, so you can charge your phone in almost an hour. With the larger display and the 2K resolution, the Le Max 2 should be the worst performer of the lot in terms of battery, at least on paper. But let’s wait for an actual review to confirm this.

As for the fingerprint sensor, the Mi 5 comes with a traditional one. The Le Max 2 features Qualcomm’s Ultrasonic sensor, while the Z2 Pro comes with an FPS sensor which works even with wet hands.

Coming to software, all three run on Android 6 Marshmallow on their respective skins. The MIUI is the most popular one, but the EUI isn’t too bad either. What we really want to see is the ZUK 2.0 software on the new flagship as we haven’t tested it out yet to see the features of the new UI.

When it comes to the additional features, the ZUK Z2 Pro does have an edge with 10 different professional sensors including blood oxygen, UV ray and heart rate sensor. You can read more about the unique features of the Z2 Pro from here. Another thing to note is that the Le Max 2 doesn’t come with a 3.5mm headphone jack, instead uses its USB Type-C port for connecting headphones.

PRICING:

All three are priced very close to each other. The new ZUK Z2 Pro 6GB RAM + 128GB storage variant will go on sale for an amazing $416. On the other hand, the 6GB RAM + 64GB ROM version of the Le Max 2 is even cheaper at $386. The Xiaomi Mi 5 looks like the less value for money option right now, coming with 4GB RAM + 128GB ROM for $417.

So, which one of these are you going to pick? In yesterday’s comparison poll, the Le Max 2 was winning quite easily, but I have a feeling that’s going to change after Z2 Pro’s entry.

Pick you favorite from down below.

The post ZUK Z2 Pro vs Le Max 2 vs Xiaomi Mi 5: Snapdragon 820 Flagships Compared! appeared first on Gizmochina.

Surprisingly, ZUK Z2 Pro turned out to be a pretty powerful handset. Last year’s Z1 was not a powerhouse, instead the company offered great performance at an affordable price tag. With the Z2 Pro, the strategy is a bit different, with ZUK trying to incorporate as many high-end features inside the device as possible. In fact, in our launch article, we had mentioned that the Z2 Pro boasts of being first in a number of features.

For example, it is the first phone with a full 3D mirror body design. The phone is also the first one to feature a front camera that can detect the heart rate of a person. There are a lot more features that can be considered as cool for a flagship smartphone of 2016, so let’s look at the top key features of the new ZUK Z2 Pro flagship smartphone.

1. The ZUK Z2 Pro is the first smartphone to use a full 3D Mirror glass body. You can check out some of the pictures from above to see what is meant by this design.
2. The flagship phone boasts of being the first one that comes with a heart rate monitor on the front camera. So, when you are taking selfies, it can display your heart rate besides the photo. Depending upon the situation and the person you are with, the heart rate will change. The company had shown this feature during the announcement event.
3. ZUK claims the Z2 Pro is the first smartphone to actually come with a fingerprint sensor that will work even with wet hands. So, if you want to use the phone besides a pool or after a workout, the phone will be ready for you. The sensor unlocks in 0.1 seconds.
4. Now, coming to an interesting feature. The phone boasts of being the first one with over 10 professional sensors inside. Here’s the entire list of the sensors found inside the flagship: gravity sensor, 3-axis gyroscope, three-axis magnetic sensor, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, heart rate, blood oxygen sensor, a pressure sensor, ultraviolet sensors, and Hall effect sensor.
5. The new flagship also boasts of being the first phone to fully utilize the power of the Snadpragon 820 chipset. With the help of optimizations, the company claims that it could utilize 100% power from the quad-core chipset, which helps it score nearly 145K on the AnTuTu benchmarking app.
6. You can easily sync the data on your Z2 Pro onto the iCloud. So, if you ever have to restore the contents on your device, just restore it directly from the cloud.

So, that was all the important features of the newly announced ZUK Z2 Pro. Just when we thought that the Le Max 2 with its 6GB RAM and Snapdragon 820 chipset was going to rule the market for some time, the Z2 Pro has arrived. It would be interesting to see how these two phones compare against each other. You can read more about the specs of the device from here.

A ZUK Z2 Pro vs Le Max 2 comparison article is coming your way as we speak, so stay tuned!

The post 6 Unique Features Of the New ZUK Z2 Pro Flagship appeared first on Gizmochina.

April has been the month of the Chinese flagships. We have seen so many powerful devices in the past 21 days that it has become hard to keep a track of all the smartphones announced recently. Now, add ZUK Z2 Pro to the list as the company calls it the true flagship smartphone of this year. Why this sudden claim? Well, the phone comes with so many powerful features that it can claim to be the ‘first’ in a lot of things. For example, the phone is reportedly the first on to use a “true 3D mirror body design”. There are a bunch of other firsts, but more about that later.

First up, the phone’s design is unique because of its 3D mirror design. The 3D glass body comes with an arch design. The frame in the middle has gone through 10 processors and 260 steps to ensure durability. Further, it uses a roll cage design for addition protection.

Coming to the screen, the ZUK Z2 Pro will limit the black borders to mere 0.05mm, which is pretty impressive. There will be a Super AMOLED 5.2-inch display with 1080p resolution. Like the Le Max 2, the screen has a maximum brightness of 500 nits and minimum brightness of 1 nit.

Like mentioned above, the phone can boast of a lot of firsts, and among them being the first one to come with 10 different professional sensors. Wondering which are these 10 sensors? Here’s the list:  gravity sensor, 3-axis gyroscope, three-axis magnetic sensor, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, heart rate, blood oxygen sensor, a pressure sensor, ultraviolet sensors, and Hall effect sensor. With the help of the company’s health app, you should be able to keep a thorough check on your body.

Under the hood, the ZUK Z2 Pro comes with the powerful Snapdragon 820. But there’s more, the company claims that this is the first phone to utilize 100% performance from the chipset. Still doubtful? Well, the company has released the AnTuTu score of the device and it gets a good 144,939 on the benchmarking test. One of the best we have seen till date.

But SD820 isn’t just the pick of the hardware. The Z2 Pro comes with a 6GB RAM version as well, joining the likes of Le Max 2 and Vivo XPlay 5 Premium. You get a large 128GB ROM on this version, making sure you never have to worry about storage. There’s another version, 4GB RAM and 64GB ROM, i.e. for those, who want to save a few hundred bucks.

Coming to the camera, there’s serious technology being used inside the Z2 Pro. The phone comes with both OIS and EIS, so dual image stabilization. There is a 13MP rear camera sensor with f/1.8 aperture, 1.34 micron pixel size and pixel isolation technology support. The rear cam supports 4K video recording. As for the front camera, you get an 8MP 1.4 micron sensor with f/2.0 and support for heartrate check. Yes, this is not a mistake, as the ZUK Z2 Pro is probably the first smartphone that can identify your heart rate using the front camera. So, next time you are with a girl for a selfie, make sure you turn this feature off, or else, she’ll know you are nervous.

Now, moving on to the fingerprint sensor, the Z2 Pro claims to be the first fingerprint-enabled phone to work with wet hands. The company has used a self-learning algorithm to ensure that recognition improves with time. You can unlock the device in just 0.1 seconds. As for the connectivity features, the phone supports USB Type-C 3.1, QC 3.0, full netcom 3.0 standard, 4G+ VoLTE, and international roaming. The phone will run on the new ZUK 2.0 system with iCloud which can backup all your data for safe restore at a later time.

Inside, you have a 3100mAh capacity battery with Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 3.0 support.

Now, coming to the most interesting part of the device, the pricing. ZUK Z1 was an affordable device and the company has priced the Z2 Pro on the same lines. The 6GB + 128GB ROM variant will go on sale for just 2699 Yuan ($416). Registrations start on April 22 from 10 AM in China. No word on the pricing of the 4GB  + 64GB ROM version yet.

So, what do you think about the phone? Will you pick the Le Max 2 or the ZUK Z2 Pro?

The post ZUK Z2 Pro Official, World’s First True Flagship With 6GB RAM & A Lot Of Powerful Features appeared first on Gizmochina.

For some reason, Chinese manufacturers have decided to make April an exciting month for fans. After the release of Huawei P9, Meizu Pro 6 and M3 Note, we will soon be seeing Nubia Z11 series phones as well as LeEco devices later this month. Now add ZUK Z2 Pro to the list as the phone is confirmed to meet us on April 21, which is exactly a week away.

Like tradition, ZUK CEO is not wasting any opportunity to promote its upcoming flagship. Last year, CEO Chang Cheng had revealed renders of the ZUK Z1 before launch. Now, continuing with the tradition, he has just revealed a new render for the ZUK Z2 Pro. Design seems to be a different than the previous generation and the phone does look sleeker. However, we hope that doesn’t come at a compromise in the battery capacity since we loved ZUK Z1’s large battery inside.

The new render does reveal some information about the upcoming handset. First of all, it looks like the Z2 Pro will come with 2.5D glass up front. At the back, we can see a camera sensor, dual tone LED flash as well as what looks like Laser Autofocus. One interesting thing is that we don’t see a fingerprint sensor at the back, which most likely means that the phone will come with a home button embedded fingerprint ID up front. Because, in 2016, no manufacturer can afford to skip on an important feature such as a fingerprint sensor.

Now, alongside the render, CEO Chang has written Tremble xx5, x9, xxx6. This is directed at the three important Chinese flagships in the market right now, namely the Xiaomi ‘Mi5’, Huawei ‘P9’ and the Meizu ‘Pro6’. Looks like Cheng believes that the ZUK Z2 Pro can beat these three devices.

As for the specs, the phone should come with Snapdragon 820 with 3GB /4GB RAM options, 32GB storage, 1080p screen and 13MP rear camera. These specs were revealed by yesterday’s AnTuTu listing, but we hope to get more details pretty soon.

So do you like the new design on the Z2 Pro?

The post ZUK Z2 Pro Official Render Revealed, Features Sleek Body & Laser Focus appeared first on Gizmochina.