Author: Sanket Vijay

Phones to Expect at the Mobile World Congress 2016

The Mobile World Congress 2016 will kick off in Barcelona in just a few hours. One of the biggest mobile trade shows in the world will play host to a number of brands who will unveil their new smartphones – some flagships, some not so flagship – that will set the standard for 2016. Here are the phones that will be unveiled at the MWC 2016.

Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge

There have been a lot of rumours and a lot of questions regarding the launch and specs of Samsung’s upcoming flagship Galaxy S7 devices. What everyone is expecting is Samsung to pull out another stunning flagship that pushes the boundaries of design and power, like it did with the Galaxy S6 series.

It’s almost confirmed that the Galaxy S7 will arrive in two variants – one powered by the new Snapdragon 820 chipset and the other by Exynos 8890.

Among the many rumours that have been making the rounds, some that have caught our attention is that the S7 devices will feature Apple’s 3D Touch-like pressure sensitive display called ClearForce that’s being developed by Synaptics. Additionally, the Galaxy S7 will have a Type C USB Port which means the device will charge significantly faster.

The standard Galaxy S7 will likely sport a 5.2-inch Super AMOLED display while the ‘Edge’ variant will come with a 5.5-inch display of the same kind. In terms of design, Samsung is sticking to the S6 design language only upgrading the specs, which we’re not complaining about. The flagship devices are slated to be unveiled today at the MWC ‘Unpacked’ event.

LG G5

The device will sport a 5.3-inch Quad HD display, powered by the new Snapdragon 820 SoC with 3 GB of RAM and an 8 MP front camera. Other specs include a full metal body, SIM and MicroSD slot, heart rate sensor that’s under the camera module, a fingerprint sensor embedded in the power button, a USB Type-C port, bottom firing speaker and an IR blaster on top.

Some recent rumours have suggested a modular design for the LG G5 where the bottom is detachable so as to easily remove the battery pack. This, however, is still a long shot and nothing has been confirmed on that front.

A leaked image also suggests that the LG G5 will sport a dual camera set-up at the back – 16 MP and 8 MP. LG will launch the G5 flagship smartphone today as well. In fact, LG and Huawei will kick off the MWC with their flagships in just a short while from now.

Xiaomi Mi 5

Xiaomi fans have been eagerly awaiting the Mi 5 flagship smartphone, which has been delayed due to the launch of the Snapdragon 820 chipset.

Recent rumours about the specs of the Mi 5 are contradictory with some claiming the Mi 5 will sport a 5.5-inch screen with quad HD (2560×1440) display and the others pointing to a 5.7-inch with Full HD display. What’s almost confirmed is a Snapdragon 820 chipset, 20MP primary camera and an 8MP front cameras. The device will also come with 3,800mAh battery and 4G LTE support. RAM is set at 4GB and the phone will offer 16GB/64GB/128GB storage options.

Lenovo Lemon Plus

Lemon 3 Plus is expected to come with a 5.5-inch Full HD IPS display and a1.5 GH octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 616 processor. It will be paired with 3GB of RAM and Adreno 405 GPU, and will be ship with Android 5.1 Lollipop operating system out of the box.

It will be equipped with 16GB of internal storage, further expandable up-to 128GB via a micro SD card.The cameras on the phone will see a 13-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and a 5-megapixel selfie snapper. It will also include 4G LTE, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB 2.0 and GPS for connectivity.

Cat S60

Cat’s new S60 is the latest in the line of rugged smartphones from the United Kingdom based brand, and it comes with two very unique features. Cat has added a FLIR thermal imaging camera and the first waterproof rating to a depth of 5 meters for up to an hour on this rugged phone.

The Cat S60 features a military-grade thermal imaging C2 camera module from FLIR. This is the same technology used in the Intel-powered Daqri smart helmet, enabling the Cat S60 to show temperature changes.

Other specs of the phone include a 4.7-inch 720p display, Snapdragon 617 with 3GB of RAM and 32GB storage. The phone runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow and offers 4G LTE connectivity. It also comes with a 13MP main camera, 5MP front camera. A massive 3,800mAh battery powers the device.

HP Elite X3

HP is expected to announce the Elite x3 at MWC next week, and as such, it’s not too big of a surprise images and specs of the device have leaked today. The Elite x3 which will be a Windows phone will pit itself against the Microsoft’s Lumia 950 XL in the Windows 10 mobile ecosystem, as it packs some very high-end innards.

The phone will come with a 5.96-inch QHD touchscreen, a 16-megapixel camera at the back, an 8-megapixel camera at the front for clicking selfies. It will be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 SoC paired with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of expandable storage. It will also come with support for USB Type-C and will also support USB 3.0, Qi wireless charging.

The Elite x3 will also house a fingerprint scanner, a fancy iris sensor, a special docking connection, IP67 certification for water and dust resistance, as well as MIL-STD-810G rating for withstanding drops from 1 meter or less. It will also support Microsoft’s Continuum feature. Pretty impressive we say.

Huawei P9

If rumours are to be believed, Huawei will also be present at the event and will be unveiling the Huawei P9 today. We have some renders that tell us what might be the look of the device as well as hints at some new features.

The renders reveal an all-metal design for the Huawei P9. What the images also show us is a dual rear camera setup and a fingerprint scanner at the back. If you look close enough, you’ll also notice a 2.5D curved screen on the front of the device. The bezels look pretty thin on the front while the power button and volume controls fall to the right side. The renders also show possible color options for the P9 in gold, white, pink and gray.

On the specs front, the P9 is likely to come with a Kirin 950 SoC, 4GB of RAM and a 5.2-inch display, none of which have been confirmed yet, of course. Late last month, there were also rumours that the P9 will come in multiple variants. What is expected is that Huawei besides launching its top of the line P9, will also come out with a cheaper P9 Lite, and a phablet the P9 MAX.

The last variant which Huawei plans to bring to the market as a treat for all its fans will be a beefed up variant of the P9, and will come with premium features.

The fourth model is set to offer a display whose size would lie between the P9, and the P9 MAX, with QHD resolution output. It will also feature additional RAM and storage. The fourth variant on top of this will feature an improved camera: a dual lens, dual (12 MP) sensor configuration described as a second-generation technology.

Sony Xperia Z6

Sony Xperia Z5

This last one is the least likely to make an appearance at the MWC since Sony launched the Xperia Z5 only 6 months ago. However, some rumours have suggested that Sony may just unveil the Z6 or may talk about the phone(s) a little.

It is rumoured that a total of six Z6 devices will be launched this year: a 4-inch Xperia Z6 Mini, a 4.6-inch Xperia Z6 Compact, a 5.2-inch Xperia Z6, a 5.8-inch Xperia Z6 Plus, a 6.4-inch Xperia Z6 Ultra, and a 5-inch Z6 Lite. Now, Sony is yet to confirm the rumours, but you can expect some, if not all, to be true.

What you can expect from the Xperia Z6 is a build that’ll reflect the Z5 with a squarer, flatter design rather than the traditional rounded edges that Sony had previously stuck to with the older models. The Z6 will also come with a fingerprint scanner added to the power side button.

The burning question is whether Sony will go for a 2K display with the 5.2-inch Xperia Z6 or will it continue with a Full HD display as it has with the Z5. Doing the former would mean having to sacrifice battery life, which Sony isn’t all too fond of doing at the moment.

February 21, 2016
HTC One M10 Running Sense UI Captured

Over the past few weeks we’ve seen a lot of leaked live images of the HTC One M10, some in a dimly lit setting and one in white. Now, we have the One M10 in black captured in broad daylight, revealing the front of the phone absolutely clearly as well as the Sense UI that the device will come with on top of the Android Marshmallow OS.

The picture pretty much confirms past images of what the device is going to look like. HTC has ditched the M-series design language and has instead embraced the A9-like design with a home button and ditching the BoomSoud dual front speakers. This may not work in HTC’s favour seeing as how the One A9 received poor responses and did not really appear as anything unique for the company in terms of design. We’ll still have to wait and see for the actual unveiling before making a hasty judgement, but the design so far is fairly underwhelming.

The picture also shows the handset running HTC’s Sense UI, which hasn’t undergone any major changes. This is good news for those who have a soft spot for HTC’s custom UI. The HTC One M10 will sport a Snapdragon 820 chipset under the hood along with a powerful graphics card.

Other rumoured features include a Touch ID fingerprint scanner housed inside the home button, 4 GB of RAM with 16 GB and 32 GB internal storage variants and a battery capacity of 3,500 mAh. The device is expected to come out sometime in April.

February 20, 2016
HTC A16 Leaked Image Reveals a Funky New Smartphone

While the world is busy thinking about the One M10, HTC’s upcoming flagship smartphone that is scheduled for an April launch, a new HTC device has just been leaked by popular tipster @evleaks. The device is called A16 and is likely to be one of the mid-range smartphones from the company and could be HTC’s MWC product.

The image posted on Twitter shows the device in six great colour options. The different options combine two to three colours for a very funky looking phone. Apart from that, you get a nice look at the front and back of the device and there’s plenty to see here. What’s more, looking at the A16, there is plenty that isn’t seen in the One M10. The A16 shows a very HTC Desire-like design.

The front shows off some large bezels and the HTC logo on the front. The top and bottom house the BoomSound speakers and the grills look a tad different which isn’t such a bad thing. The right side has the volume rocker and power button. Over on the back, one notices something interesting on the bottom. There are two holes which may just be a third speaker or strap holes though it’s hard to tell at the moment. Meanwhile, the camera is placed at the top left corner with the LED flash just below it.

Now, from what the images reveal, the A16 does look pretty funky and looks to aim a younger demographic with its look. The design of the A16 on first glimpse looks a lot more appealing than what the alleged One M10 renders and live images have revealed. We’re not sure when the A16 will come out yet and we have no detail on its specs. The A16 could be unveiled at the MWC seeing as how the One M10 has been pushed to April.

Source

February 20, 2016

Samsung Galaxy A5 and A7 2016 Review – Steer Clear

Earlier this month, Samsung unveiled the new Galaxy A5 and A7 devices at the Samsung Forum. The mid-range devices come with updated specifications and features including OIS and a fingerprint sensor. The 5.2-inch A5 is priced at Rs 29,400 while the 5.5-inch A7 come with a price tag of Rs 33, 400.

The updated A-series take the S6 glass and metal design language forward this year and introduces them in the Galaxy A7 and A5. The A7 sports a 5.5-inch AMOLED FHD screen with 1920 x 1080p resolution and a 1.6 GHz octa-core processor, 3GB of RAM and 16GB internal storage and 3,300mAh Fast Charging battery.

On the camera front, the A7 features a 13MP primary camera with f/1.9 aperture and OIS. The front camera also features a f/1.9 aperture.

The A5 upgrades to 5.2-inch AMOLED FHD screen with 1080p resolution. 2GB RAM and 16GB storage, octa-core processor and bumps the battery to 2,900mAh as well. A5 packs a 13MP primary camera with OIS and a 5MP front camera.

The highlight of the devices is its new design language that borrows the glass and metal combination seen in last year’s Galaxy S6 flagship. The devices look and feel premium and great in the hand. Both the devices also come with fast charging capabilities, and you’ll get around 3-4 hours in 15 minutes if charge.

The UI of the devices is quick and snappy with little bloatware. All stock Samsung features are available including Flipboard and there’s isn’t anything new to be found here. The only downside here is the pricing of the devices which is now close to the Galaxy S6 flagship, especially the A7. This may lose a lot of potential buyers as those willing to shell out the amount would rather go with the S6 rather than the A7 given a faster processor, fantastic camera and other flagship specs in the former.

Specification	Galaxy A7	Galaxy A5
Display	5.5? FHD Super AMOLED	5.2? FHD Super AMOLED
Processor	1.6GHz Octa-Core Processor	1.6GHz Octa-Core Processor
RAM	3GB	2GB
Front Camera	5.0MP(f1.9)	5.0MP(f1.9)
Rear Camera	13MP(f1.9) AF with LED Flash	13MP (f1.9) AF with LED Flash
Storage	16GB	16GB
Expandability	128GB	128GB
Battery	3,300 mAh, Fast Charging	2,900 mAh, Fast charging
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth® v 4.1, ANT+, USB 2.0, NFC (UICC, eSE)	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth® v 4.1, ANT+, USB 2.0, NFC (UICC, eSE)
Operating System	Android 5.1 (Lollipop)	Android 5.1 (Lollipop)
Price	Rs. 33,400	Rs. 29,400

February 20, 2016

Xiaomi Mi 5 Images Reveal Design and Specifications

The rumours and leaks are coming in hot and fast for LG, Samsung and Xiaomi. These three are the big names that are set to unveil their flagship devices in a couple of days from now at the MWC 2016 in Barcelona. A lot of rumours and leaked images have been surfacing about the Galaxy S7 and the Lg G5 flagships. Today, some new leaked images of the Xiaomi Mi 5 flagship have emerged that reveal design details and some specifications.

The image of the alleged Mi 5 shows it running Xiaomi’s MIUI build 7.6.2.1. interface on top of Android 6 Marshmallow, and the processor is clocked at 2.1 GHz. It also shows that the device feautures 3GB of RAM and 64GB of storage confirming earlier rumours.

Apart from this, the Mi 5 is expected to boast of a 5.2-inch Quad HD display and will be powered by a Snapdragon 820 chipset like many other flagships will be this year. It also suggested the phone will have a 6-element 16MP camera on the back with f/2.2 aperture and 4K video recording.

On the design front, the MI 5 seems to show thinner bezels as opposed to recent renders. It also looks like the phone will not have a 2.5D curved glass. The screen to body ration looks great and you also see a thinner home button at the bottom.

In just a couple of days we’ll know exactly how the Mi 5 as well as the Galaxy S7 and the G5 look and how close the rumours were in terms of specifications. Follow this space for everything on the MWC 2016.

February 19, 2016
Nextbit Robin ‘Cloud Phone’ Goes on Sale

Back in September, we brought you news that Nextbit Robin – the first smartphone to offer cloud storage, which was started as a Kickstarter campaign, had begun pre-orders in India along with a bunch of other regions. The price of the phone is Rs. 26,000 ($399), which excludes shipping charges of Rs. 4,600 ($70). After initially selling the Robin to the first 1000 people who backed the project on February 16, the device is now availble for purchase and is listed on the company’s website.

Nextbit Robin Midnight

Nextbit Robin comes equipped with features sure to woo customers, the highlight of which is the cloud-based storage option. The phone promises no more storage woes by automatically backing up your data to the cloud, and therefore emptying the phone’s inherent storage.

The specifications of Nexbit Robin include a 5.2 inch HD screen along with 1080×1920 p resolution. The plastic body of the phone has Qualcomm hexa-core Snapdragon 808 processor on the inside. 3 GB RAM and 32 GB of in-built non-expandable storage are some of its other specs. The phone also boasts of a fingerprint sensor.

In terms of the two cameras, the phone packs a 13 MP for the main camera and a 5 MP for the front camera. The battery is marked at a 2,689 mAh, and it has a USB Type-C port. The operating system is Android 6.0 Marshmallow. There are two colour variants for the handset: Mint and Midnight.

February 19, 2016
HTC One M10 in White Leaked in Live Image

A couple of weeks ago, popular leaskster Evan Blass leaked a live image, albiet poorly lit live image, of an alleged HTC One M10 in black. Today, Blass posted another image of the device in its white option. The image is a lot clearer and shows off the front really well, although we still do not know what the sides or the back look like apart from some renders.

Right off the bat then, the live image of the HTC One M10 is similar to the previous one and supports rumours that the device is based on the HTC One A9. It’s safe to say that HTC has created an uninspiring new flagship, at least on the design front. The One M10 clearly ditches the BoomSound dual front speakers for a cleaner, bezel-less look, and you also see a physical home button there.

However, it is necessary for HTC to come out with an absolutely special phone if it wants to make a dent in the market, seeing how the One M9 and the One A9 did not fare well. What was expected from the company is an absolutely original design, something unique more along the lines of the One M7. We’re not sure if HTC has played it safe, going with an A9-like design and standard 2016 specifications. We’ll have to wait until April for the company’s standalone event to see just how the One M10 (otherwise called Perfume) will turn out.

The rumoured specs of the One M10 suggest a 5.1-inch QHD AMOLED touchscreen, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 chipset powering the device with 4GB of RAM, 32GB of storage and a microSD card slot. On the camera front lies a 12 MP UltraPixel rear camera with laser autofocus and optical image stabilization. The device will likely run Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow with HTC Sense 8 atop.

Source

February 19, 2016
LG G5’s ‘Magic Slot’ Modules: Here’s What You Need to Know

LG stated a while ago that its upcoming G5 flagship smartphone will come with market distruptive features. For LG to stay true to that promise, it looks like it won’t just rely on the G5 alone but on what the G5 can do with a little help from its friends. The LG G5 is said to launch with a mini-ecosystem of hardware add-ons and accessories collectively known as “G5 and Friends.” Reports claim that these could be a VR camera, a smartphone-controlled robot and, at least, two modular add-ons – for photography and audio – that will fit into the previously rumoured modular design of the G5 that has a removable bottom.

According to popular leakster Evan Blass, one of LG G5’s photography add-ons will include an 1100mAh battery and physical buttons for various camera functions — zoom, flash, shutter release, etc. A recent image of the module shows a large bump on the bottom back of the G5. It could also be that the modules will fit inside the G5 to its modular nature, if rumours are true. LG also recently revealed that the G5 will have an ‘Always On’ mode.

The audio add-on is being made in partnership with Bang & Olufsen, and adds a DAC (digital to analog converter) to the G5 to improve its sounds quality. Blass claims that the audio module is called LG Hi-Fi Plus, while the camera add-on is called LG Cam Plus. Additionally, it is also reported that LG will be launching a spherical camera for capturing 360-degree video and stills, called the LG 360 VR. There’s also a smartphone-controlled robot named the Rolling Bot (along the same lines as Sphero’s BB-8 toy).

We’re just a few days away from the MWC 2016 in Barcelona, where LG wlll unveil the G5. The tag line LG is going for is “Play Begins”, which is what LG plans on giving with the G5, a lot to play with.

February 18, 2016
Canon Unveils 80D Upgrade and PowerShot Updates

Canon has been unveiling a bunch of new cameras in the recent few months. Earlier this month, the company unveiled the 4K-capable EOS-1D X Mark II and today it has unveiled the mid-range EOS 80D DSLR Camera with a versatile EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens, which come alongside the DM-E1 Directional Microphone and the unique PZ-E1 Power Zoom Adapter.

Canon also unveiled two point-and-shoot cameras for those who are looking for more pocket-friendly options. the svelte and powerful PowerShot G7 X Mark II Digital Camera and the compact long-zoom PowerShot SX720 HS Digital Camera. video -The new 80D comes with 24.2MP APS- C CMOS sensor and the DIGIC 6 image processor. Dual Pixel CMOS AF has received a boost for improved focusing accuracy and speed when recording video.

Image quality has been given a bump and the images captured promise exquisite detail and colur.The camera comes with Full HD 1080p at up to 60 fps in the MP4 format, headphone and microphone jacks, and a 3.0” vari-angle touchscreen Clear View II LCD monitor which offers flexible positioning. Additionally, the camera has Wi-Fi with NFC, HDR Movie, Time-Lapse Movie, and Creative Filter options.

Along with this, Canon is offering a EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens which is compatible with APS-C cameras like the 80D. The focal length range goes from 28.8-216mm and allows faster autofocusing than before. The lens also works with PZ-E1 Power Zoom Adapter, allowing users to perform more controlled zooms and making it ideal for video use. The lens comes with Optical Image Stabilizer and a Dynamic IS system.

Canon finally unveiled the DM-E1 Directional Microphone, the DM-E1 which comes with a windjammer to reduce noise and a shock mount to lessen handling noise. It has a frequency response of 50 Hz to 16 kHz and runs on a single button-type lithium cell battery.

Finally, Canon wrapped up the announcement with two new PowerShot cameras.The first one is the PowerShot G7 X Mark II that features the latest DIGIC 7 image processor which powers a high-speed continuous shooting rate of 8 fps with raw or JPEG. It comes with a 20.1MP 1” CMOS sensor and 24-100mm equivalent f/1.8-2.8 lens combination.

PowerShot G7 X Mark II

It has a multi-angle 3.0” 1.04m-dot touchscreen LCD that can flip 180° for selfies. In addition to stills, the G7 X Mark II can record Full HD 1080p video and offers built-in Wi-Fi with NFC for connecting to a mobile device.

PowerShot SX 720HS

The second one is the PowerShot SX720 HS with a 40x optical zoom range and a relatively compact body. It features a 20.3MP CMOS sensor along with the DIGIC 6 image processor to create high-resolution, low-noise images and Full HD 1080p60 video. It also comes equipped with a large 3.0” 922k-dot LCD for easy viewing.

February 18, 2016
Upcoming Smartphones to Look Out For

Last year saw some incredible smartphones that pushed the boundaries of design and specification, making it difficult to pick out just one favourite. This year promises to do the same. We take a look at some of the most anticipated smartphone launches expected in 2016 and what we know about them so far.

iPhone 7

Apple’s iPhone 7 and Samsung’ Galaxy S7 are perhaps the most talked about flagship devices today. There’s just a lot of anticipation attached to the upcoming handsets and along with it a lot of rumours as well. The first round of rumours a few months ago suggested that the iPhone 7 will lose the home button and will sport an OLED display thereby giving up on LCD display that it has relied on so far. Apple followers will know that the Apple Watch is the only Apple device to sport an OLED display currently. Furthermore, the OLED display will either be supplied by LG or Samsung, or both.

Next up, the iPhone 7 is rumoured to be waterproof and will feature 3 GB of RAM. More recently, there have been talks related to Apple’s decision to ditch the headphone jack. This is part of Apple’s plan to improve the quality of music streaming. Furthermore, the loss of a headphone jack means more space for Apple to add a larger battery to the iPhone 7, as well as make the device thinner. We’ll just have to wait and see how this strategy plays out.

Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge

There have been a lot of rumours and a lot of questions regarding the launch and specs of Samsung’s upcoming flagship Galaxy S7 devices. What everyone is expecting is Samsung to pull out another stunning flagship that pushes the boundaries of design and power, like it did with the Galaxy S6 series.

It’s almost confirmed that the Galaxy S7 will arrive in two variants – one powered by the new Snapdragon 820 chipset and the other by Exynos 8890.

Among the many rumours that have been making the rounds, some that have caught our attention is that the S7 devices will feature Apple’s 3D Touch-like pressure sensitive display called ClearForce that’s being developed by Synaptics. Additionally, the Galaxy S7 will have a Type C USB Port which means the device will charge significantly faster.

The flat Galaxy S7 will likely sport a 5.2-inch Super AMOLED display while the ‘Edge’ variant will come with a 5.5-inch display of the same kind. In terms of design, Samsung is sticking to the S6 design language only upgrading the specs, which we’re not complaining about. The flagship devices are slated to be unveiled on February 21 at the MWC ‘Unpacked’ event.

HTC One M10

Being a successor to the One M9, the HTC One M10 will look to improve on specs wherever it can. The new iteration is said to come with a 5.5-inch QHD display. You can expect some bright, crisp colours under a Gorilla Glass 4 protection.

On the design front, the device will have the all-metal, unibody form associated with HTC flagships, along with curved edges and bezels to give it an attractive look. The One M10 will look a lot more like the One A9 than the One M9. From what recent renders tell us, HTC is ditching the BoomSound front speakers as well as the much-hated logo on the front that was found on the One M10. The HTC One M10 will sport a Snapdragon 820 chipset under the hood along with a powerful graphics card.

Other features include a Touch ID fingerprint scanner housed inside the home button, 4 GB of RAM with 16 GB and 32 GB internal storage variants, and a battery capacity of 3,500 mAh. The device is expected to come out sometime in March.

Xiaomi Mi 5

Xiaomi fans have been eagerly awaiting the Mi 5 flagship smartphone, which has been delayed due to the launch of the Snapdragon 820 chipset. Since Samsung has claimed exclusivity of the new chipset for the first quarter, the Mi 5 along with any other device sporting the new, powerful processor will all likely see a post-March release.

Recent rumours about the specs of the Mi 5 are contradictory with some claiming the Mi 5 will sport a 5.5-inch screen with quad HD (2560×1440) display and the others pointing to a 5.7-inch with Full HD display. What’s almost confirmed is a Snapdragon 820 chipset, 20MP primary camera and an 8MP front cameras. The device will also come with 3,800mAh battery and 4G LTE support. RAM is set at 4GB and the phone will offer 16GB/64GB/128GB storage options.

OnePlus 3

OnePlus 3 Render

OnePlus has done so much in so little time. The company, still in its infancy, has already released 3 spectacular devices -OnePlus One, OnePlus 2 and OnePlus X in the span of two years. This year, OnePlus will look to reclaim the title of the ‘flagship killer’ with the upcoming OnePlus 3 smartphone. Not much is known about the third flagship device, and only a couple of leaked renders have appeared giving rise to possible hardware specs.

The image above shows a brushed metal back instead of the usual sandstone panels. The new OnePlus might also feature a front speaker. The render shows that the handset could possibly come in two different colours.

From what we’ve heard so far, the new OnePlus device will sport a 5.5-inch UHD display with 5GB RAM. Sources also reveal a little about the hardware and display citing that the handset could arrive with the Snapdragon 820 chipset and a 1080p display resolution.

LG G5

LG G4

A Redditor recently leaked some specs and images of the LG G5. The device will sport a 5.3-inch Quad HD display, powered by the new Snapdragon 820 SoC with 3 GB of RAM and an 8 MP front camera. Other specs include a full metal body, SIM and MicroSD slot, heart rate sensor that’s under the camera module, a fingerprint sensor embedded in the power button, a USB Type-C port, bottom firing speaker and an IR blaster on top.

Some recent rumours have suggested a modular design for the LG G5 where the bottom is detachable so as to easily remove the battery pack. This, however, is still a long shot and nothing has been confirmed on that front.

A leaked image also suggests that the LG G5 will sport a dual camera set-up at the back – 16 MP and 8 MP. LG will launch the G5 flagship smartphone at the MWC next week.

Sony Xperia Z6

Sony Xperia Z5 Premium

It looks like Sony is planning to launch a slew of devices under the Z6 line. It is rumoured that a total of six Z6 devices will be launched this year: a 4-inch Xperia Z6 Mini, a 4.6-inch Xperia Z6 Compact, a 5.2-inch Xperia Z6, a 5.8-inch Xperia Z6 Plus, a 6.4-inch Xperia Z6 Ultra, and a 5-inch Z6 Lite. Now, Sony is yet to confirm the rumours, but you can expect some, if not all, to be true.

What you can expect from the Xperia Z6 is a build that’ll reflect the Z5 with a squarer, flatter design rather than the traditional rounded edges that Sony had previously stuck to with the older models. The Z6 will also come with a fingerprint scanner added to the power side button.

The burning question is whether Sony will go for a 2K display with the 5.2-inch Xperia Z6 or will it continue with a Full HD display as it has with the Z5. Doing the former would mean having to sacrifice battery life, which Sony isn’t all too fond of doing at the moment.

Nokia C1

Nokia C1 Render

Nokia is all set to make a comeback with a new smartphone. This new device, allegedly called the C1, will be the first flagship device to bear the Nokia logo since the Finnish company was sold to Microsoft a few years ago.

There have been a number of leaked renders that claim the design of the C1, though each source has leaked different designs. One of the more recent renders show a very minimalist and sleek design, which actually looks pretty good, if confirmed as legit. The C1 is also depicted running both Android and well as Windows 10 OS.

Rumours suggest that the Nokia C1 will come in two variants. The first one will sport a 5.5-inch Full HD display and a 13 MP rear camera and 5 MP front camera. The device will also come with 3 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal memory expandable via microSD card slot.

The second variant will have a 5-inch Full HD display and will sport an 8 MP rear camera and 5 MP front camera, 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB of memory.

February 18, 2016
iPhone 7 Could Feature Game Changing Technology

According to new reports, a small start-up company named Energous has partnered with Apple to bring its WattUp technology to the iPhone. Reportedly, Apple will have the exclusive rights to the technology, which allows devices to be charged wirelessly from as far as 15 feet. The Energous chip that is added to the phone is so small that it won’t affect the size of the phone.

The chip works with a transmitter that can be placed anywhere in a room. If the WattUp chip is placed inside the iPhone 7, and you put a transmitter inside your office, your phone will Be able to charge through the day. If you put a transmitter in your bedroom, it will charge wirelessly all night.

Neither Apple not Energous have confirmed these rumours and it may be unlikely that the iPhone 7 may not feature this technology, but it doesn’t rule it out for the iPhone 7s or so.

February 18, 2016
Samsung Galaxy S7 or LG G5: Who Will Win at MWC 2016?

The Mobile World Congress 2016 is just a day away. The technology fest will see some major unveiling and some next-gen tech on display. In the smartphone department, two names have been given a lot of hype for many weeks now, and rightly so. Samsung and LG are both ready to unveil their flagship devices. We’ve heard rumours and leaked renders of both and now it’s time to see which flagship does better based on what we know so far.

Design

Samsung achieved a beautifully crafted phone with the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge and there is no reason why the Korean-based giant would want to steer away from that. From what the renders have told us the upcoming Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge will follow the same design language as their S6 counterparts. Only the standard 5.1-inch S7 will have a curved edge at the back rather than a flat one seen on in the S6. The renders of the devices look great and Samsung may just have another great looking device on their hands.

The LG G5, on the other hand, is likely to go with a more squarish look as compared to the G4. The back may not be as curved as its predecessor. It is also rumoured that LG is incorporating a modular design with the G5. The G5’s modular design, according to rumors, involves a detachable bottom, which will reveal the battery and allow it to simply slide in and out. Not only does this design help in making a thinner looking device, but it also gives easy access to the removable battery. Furthermore, it is also rumoured that the G5 will feature a secondary display above the primary one that will display apps and notifications, similar to the LG V10.

Camera

When it comes to the camera, Samsung has done extremely well in decimating its competition with some superb camera modules in the S-series. The Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge Plus had incredible cameras that won last year. This year, Samsung wants to take its camera up a notch which is why it’s using a new Britecell technology for the Galaxy S7. Rumours peg the rear camera at 12MP with f/1.7 aperture, which means that Samsung is focusing a lot more on quality while the front camera will be at 5MP.

The LG G5 is set to sport a dual camera set-up at the back – 16 MP and 8 MP. Leaked images posted in December show a dual camera fitted under a back panel. There’s also a flash and what looks like a fingerprint sensor below which is also expected to double up as the power button. LG has also done extremely well in the camera department and the V10 is one such phone in LG’s lineup that stands as proof. The cameras on the G5 is said to be developed by Sony.

Hardware

Both the flagship devices are expected to feature top-of-the-line and next-gen specifications. The Samsung Galaxy S7 upon launch is expected to to feature a 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display with Quad HD resolution, a new 12 MP BRITECELL camera with f/1.7 aperture, and a 5 MP secondary camera. Two SoC configurations are expected – one being the new Exynos 8890 and the other being Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820. 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage is expected as well as a MicroSD card slot this time around and the battery is expected to be upwards of 3500mAh. A fingerprint sensor will be housed in the home button.

The LG G5 is rumoured to come equipped with a 5.3-inch QHD display, sporting a Snapdragon 820 processor and 3GB of RAM with 32GB of internal storage. It’s also suggested that LG G5 might include an eye scanner, USB-C connectivity and a fingerprint sensor.

Features

It has been rumoured that Samsung has been working on an Apple 3D Touch-like feature for the Galaxy S7 devices. The pressure sensitive feature, reportedly called ClearForce, is being developed by Synaptics. If this is true, we may just see apps for Android being updated to include pressure sensitive features as well, much like the apps for iOS. Meanwhile, another set of rumours suggest that the S7 will have Apple Live Photos-like feature which makes tiny GIF-like videos.

A recent teaser video posted by Samsung’s Indonesian page showed that the Galaxy S7 will be waterproof to some extent.

LG is planning to launch the G5 with market disrupting specs and features, according to rumours. Now while one unconfirmed feature involves a modular design with a removable bottom, LG has teased some other features as well such as an ‘Always On’ mode which displays notifications on the screen without having to turn the screen on. A dual rear camera setup and a secondary display will be the other highlights of the G5.

February 17, 2016
Huawei P9 Leaked Renders Confirm Dual Camera, Metal Body Design

Samsung and LG are not going to be the only brands at the MWC 2016 next week who will get to show off their flagship devices. If rumours are to be believed, Huawei will also be present at the event and will be unveiling the Huawei P9. We have some renders today to tell us what might be the look of the device as well as hints at some new features.

The renders reveal an all-metal design for the Huawei P9. What the images also show us is a dual rear camera setup and a fingerprint scanner at the back. If you look close enough, you’ll also notice a 2.5D curved screen on the front of the device. The bezels look pretty thin on the front while the power button and volume controls fall to the right side. The renders also show possible color options for the P9 in gold, white, pink and gray.

On the specs front, the P9 is likely to come with a Kirin 950 SoC, 4GB of RAM and a 5.2-inch display, none of which have been confirmed yet, of course. Late last month, there were also rumours that the P9 will come in multiple variants. What is expected is that Huawei besides launching its top of the line P9, will also come out with a cheaper P9 Lite, and a phablet the P9 MAX.

The last variant which Huawei plans to bring to the market as a treat for all its fans will be a beefed up variant of the P9, and will come with premium features.

The fourth model is set to offer a display whose size would lie between the P9, and the P9 MAX, with QHD resolution output. It will also feature additional RAM and storage. The fourth variant on top of this will feature an improved camera: a dual lens, dual (12 MP) sensor configuration described as a second-generation technology.

February 17, 2016
Pilot Takes iPhone Time-Lapse Video of Plane Landing

A pilot has graciously created a time-lapse video on his iPhone showing us an airplane landing at London’s Heathrow airport. The video gives us a glimpse into what a pilot sees just moments before landing, during landing and after. Check out the video embedded below.

Approach to runway 27R .@HeathrowAirport .@visitlondon #approach #london #landing #avgeek #fly #pilot pic.twitter.com/0spnqfDW8D

— the player pilot (@theplayer_pilot) February 11, 2016

The short 25-seconds video was posted on Twitter by @theplayer_pilot, showing the plane approaching runway 27R. “Heathrow is a very busy airport but is straightforward enough, there are no mountains or anything too tricky, but we are always prepared for anything,” the unnamed pilot, who flies to Heathrow around four or five times a month, told GetWestLondon.

He continued, “Flying is amazing, I feel privileged to be a pilot and see the things I do, as pilots we have views of the world only really we get to see. We get to see sunrises and sunsets all over the world and on some night flights at Heathrow it doesn’t even get dark!”

February 17, 2016
iPhone 7 to Sport High-Res Front Camera with 4K Video Capture

In a news that will excite Apple and non-Apple fans alike, the upcoming iPhone 7 will have the most powerful front camera by the Cupertino-based giant yet. The front camera will be able to capture high resolutions stills and 4K video recording as well.

It looks like Apple’s focus on selfies remains high. The company has understood the trend of the hour and wants to deliver the best possible camera for that. With the iPhone 6s, Apple had introduced a whopping 5MP front camera ( a major bump from the 1.2MP of the iPhone 6) with Retina Flash as well as a GIF-like feature with Live Photos.

The Retina Flash feature intelligently lights the subject with a colored flash, calculated by first flashing a neutral white flash by amping up the display, then almost immediately re-flashing the screen with a selected color. The selected color is typically an amber hue as it delivers a more flattering flash than a pure white screen would.

With the iPhone 7, Apple will likely stick to a 5MP front and Retina Flash only the images will get a lot more color, sharpness, and detail with high-res capability, and with 4K recording, selfie videos are going to be the next big thing. We may just see the front camera being the new primary option for photography rather than the rear.

February 17, 2016