HTC launched its big gun, the HTC One M9, at the MWC 2015. The phone is a upgraded version of its predessecor, the HTC One M8. It will be interesting to see how this phone fares against competitors like the Nexus 6, Galaxy S6 or the Apple iPhone 6. But before that, we would like to see the improvements and upgrades of the M9, against its older sibling, the M8.
We compare the spec table of both the handsets, below.
SPECS
HTC M8
HTC M9
Display
5 inch Full HD
5 inch Full HD
Chipset
2.3 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801
64 bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 810
(4 x 2GHz + 4 x 1.5GHz)
RAM
2 GB
3 GB
Storage
16/32 GB
32 GB
Expandable Up to
128 GB
128 GB
Primary Camera
HTC Dual 4 MP Ultrapixel Camera
20 MP
Front Camera
5 MP
HTC UltraPixel
Battery
2600 mAH
2840 mAH
Operating System
Android 4.4.2
Android 5.0.2
HTC One M8
HTC One M8
Watch our exclusive Hands on with the HTC One M9:
Now, you can compare and check out our review of the HTC One M8:
We barely have a day before Samsung officially unveils its flagship smartphone to the world in Barcelona. A lot is at stake here for the Korean manufacturer. The device is supposed to redefine Samsung’s approach to design and features. The Korean electronics giant has really come to struggle in the market in the past couple of years and it is imperative the company comes out with an exceptional device.
The rumors of the upcoming S6 have been encouraging with a continuous onslaught of leaks and teasers, and we’ve gathered it all here in one place.
What can we expect from the new Galaxy S6, here’s a compilation of our calculated prediction as to what can we expect from the next big thing from Samsung.
Rumor mill suggests the upcoming Galaxy S6 will get a Super AMOLED Quad HD display anywhere between 5-5.5 inches with Corning Gorilla Glass 4. The Galaxy S5 sports a 5.1 inch display, and as we’ve seen in the past, large screen sizes are reserved for the Galaxy Note phablet range. Hence we can expect a smaller screen size, something in line with the Galaxy S5.
What about curves, will the Galaxy Edge get a curved edge? Well, going by the most recent leak from T-Mobile, it’s a YES. The picture titled “SIX APPEAL” clearly shows a Note Edge like device. Samsung had hinted before that the S6 will have a curved screen, and the image gives a clear view of the curved display. Some even suggest that Samsung will be extending it to both sides of the device.
The Galaxy Note Edge made quite a stir with its unusual and distinct design, so its a reason good enough for Samsung to bank upon this idea.
NEW DESIGN AND BODY
Plastic or metal, this could be anyone’s guess. Samsung has been flaunting new metal bodied phones, such as the all-metal Samsung Galaxy A5, Galaxy A3 along with the Galaxy A7.
The latest teaser by T-Mobile clearly shows grey metal body visible around the display, hence we can expect the Korean manufacturer to bolster its image with a premium metal clad smartphone.
CAMERA
We saw some awesome camera performance with the Galaxy S5 and the Galaxy Note 4, both of which came with 16 megapixel cameras, though the Galaxy S5 lacked OIS; a significant feature appreciated in the iPhone 6 Plus. So it’s a reason good enough that Samsung would bring this feature in their latest flagships’s camera.
Galaxy S5’s 16-megapixel camera is one of the best smartphone cameras around.
As we’ve seen in the past, Samsung usually increases the megapixel count with their new models. Samsung’s senior VP in a blog post recently stressed upon the fact how they have been constantly working on improving the cameras used in the Galaxy Series. In addition, Jang also stressed on the importance of the selfie cam, and duly noted that it forms an essential part of the whole ecosystem.
A recent report suggested a 20 MP camera sensor along with OIS and a 5 MP front facing shooter on the Galaxy S6 prototype. Both cameras are likely to include sensors from Samsung.
PROCESSOR, MEMORY AND STORAGE
Rumours suggest Samsung may be opting for its in-house Exynos 7420 for the first batch, and probably even make different variants of the phone. The Exynos 7420 is a 64-bit chip with four Cortex-A53 and four Cortex-A57 cores.
The Korean manufacturer plans to ditch Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chips with the Galaxy S6 as it reportedly faces overheating issues. As we’ve seen with its earlier flagships, Samsung will make different variants of the Galaxy S6 with different chipsets for different markets.
On the memory front, the phone is rumoured to come in 32, 64 and 128 GB variants. Samsung is likely to equip the Galaxy S6 with 3GB of RAM, along with a microSD slot that is expandable upto 128 GB.
OS and TouchWiz
TouchWiz sitting atop Android 5.0 Lollipop should be the standard norm of the day. A recent report says Samsung will chuck many of its own programs in its forthcoming TouchWiz user interface. Instead Samsung will bundle Microsoft apps including OneNote, OneDrive, Office Mobile, and Skype.
Samsung’s TouchWiz is getting final touches before its anticipated announcement in Barcelona. And Samsung is apparently being sensible as it’s doing away with its own bloatware which included apps like S Health and S Note.
It’s likely be a toned down version of TouchWiz on the new device, in an attempt to improve the overall performance and responsiveness of the device.
FEATURES
The Galaxy S6 will reportedly get a host of new features. It may feature dual front speakers like the HTC Boomsound. Meanwhile, Samsung itself has dropped a lot of hints about its next-gen flagship. For instance, we can expect the Galaxy S6 to get wireless charging and fast charging capabilities. Rumour also has it that it’ll get a fingerprint sensor.
While, recent reports also suggest that the Galaxy S6 will have support for Gear VR, currently compatible only with the Galaxy Note 4.
MULTIPLE VARIANTS
The Korean giant is expected to launch the Samsung Galaxy S6 flagship along with the anticipated curved-display variant, rumoured to be called Galaxy S6 Edge at the Galaxy Unpacked 2015 event.
Hence we can expect multiple variants of its new flagship, with and without curved displays. Which makes sense as the Galaxy S6 might be akin to a more traditional flagship, while curved could be the model that brings a different flavour to the flagship.
Launch, availability and Price
Samsung has already sent out teasers and invitations for its forthcoming Galaxy Unpacked event on 1st March in Barcelona at MWC. Samsung’s earlier flagship model, the Galaxy S5 was unveiled at MWC 2014. The phone went on sale just a few weeks later, hence we can expect the Korean manufacturer to do the same with its upcoming flagship – the Galaxy S6.
Tentative release date for the Galaxy S6 is rumored to be somewhere between March 22 too April 19. A recent report claims that similar to last year, Samsung will release its flagship champion(s) in the Indian market in early-to-mid April. Indian customers can place pre-orders for the Galaxy S6 starting mid-March.
As far as pricing goes, Samsung tends to stick to the same pricing for its Galaxy Range. Initially, it is expected to be priced exorbitantly, easily above Rs. 60,000, which will likely come down to Rs. 50,000 within months (knowing Samsung). In short, it’s going to cost a lot of money, and we hope it’s worth it for prospective buyers.
A new promotional image of the Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S6 Edge has popped up on the Internet, this time courtesy of a Reddit user. The promotional image does lineup fairly well with the recently leaked images and specifications.
While the images appear rather authentic, there are a few things that do seem a bit out of place. Firstly, the Galaxy Edge is written in both lower and upper case. In the text description, the ‘Edge’ appears in uppercase, while the logo towards the bottom of the ad shows it in lower case. Moreover, the use of ‘GS6’ seems rather odd.
Though one thing the promotional image does confirm is that there are indeed two versions of the flagship – one with the standard screen while the other one is a curved display.
The Mobile World Congress is just around the corner, we’ll have to wait just a little longer before Samsung makes its official announcement.
The fourth instalment in the G series lineup, the G4, is the company’s flagship for 2015. It is expected to trump the present G3, which came quite close to being called flawless. Rumour mills are regularly pushing updates about the upcoming G4; they’re discussing an improved display, camera and other features. Now one more coveted feature has added been added to that list. We have learnt from reliable sources close to iGyaan that the forthcoming G4 may carry an all metal design.
Coming back to the design of the handset, the G4 is expected to come in a bold metallic casing. The overall appeal of the phone will get a boost, making it stand out from the G3 which has a metal-painted plastic body. The new metal design will protect the device from accidental drops, keeping the smartphone intact and at the same time, giving it a premium look and feel.
However, the phone will not make an appearance at the mega event in Barcelona. The flagship will be launched post the Mobile World Congress 2015. Seems like LG plans to disclose the cards after seeing what other big contenders have to offer.
The G4 is speculated to have a slightly smaller 5.3-inch screen, with display quality reaching up to 3K. You will find the screen much wider in the G4 as the phone is anticipated to have reduced bezel size. Powered by 64-bit Snapdragon 810, the G4 will sport 3 GB of RAM and will run on Android Lollipop.
All these facts point out to the direction that LG’s forthcoming phone will be one beast of a device, blending elegance and power. We’re looking forward to the day LG decides to take the curtains off the G4.
We saw amazing camera performances with the Galaxy S5 and the Galaxy Note 4, both came with 16 megapixel cameras. The one major feature the Galaxy S5’s camera lacked was Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS), a significant step that seriously impressed users of the iPhone 6 Plus and Galaxy Note 4. Even without OIS, Galaxy S5’s 16-megapixel camera is one of the best smartphone cameras around. Now it seems the Korean manufacturer has outdone itself yet again when it comes to camera capabilities.
According to sources close to iGyaan, Samsung has apparently spruced up its camera unit with a 21 megapixel count for its forthcoming flagship, and gets the same sensor as the Sony Xperia Z3. In addition, it gets a 5MP front facing shooter and is likely to get OIS with excellent low light capabilities.
Samsung’s first teaser suggested that the forthcoming flagship’s camera experience would be an integral element of the Galaxy S6’s overall appeal. Meanwhile, Samsung’s senior VP in a blog post recently stressed upon the fact how they have been constantly working on improving the cameras used in the Galaxy Series.
Samsung is just a few days away from launching its magnum opus, the Galaxy S6. This will be a make or break device for Samsung. Consumers, as well as industry experts, have been losing their patience with Samsung’s products. Samsung’s claims of having designed the Galaxy S6 from scratch has intrigued the market and now everyone wants to see what the electronics giant means by a complete revamp. We look at some of the features that the Galaxy S6 needs to take on its prime adversary, the iPhone 6 Plus.
Display
Apple’s big boy, the iPhone 6 Plus sports a 5.5 inch Full HD display with a pixel density of 401ppi. Samsung’s previous flagship, the Galaxy S5 too flaunted a Full HD display with a pixel density of 432 ppi. This time around Samsung is expected to go for an increased screen size as well as to introduce a Quad HD (2K) which will be advantageous over the iPhone 6 Plus. Samsung is known for good displays especially on the higher end devices with Super AMOLED panels. So Samsung will have an easy win here. Some reports have also mentioned the possibility of a 4K display, which we hope the company doesn’t abide by as it would be a tremendous waste of resources. A 4K display would consume a lot of battery and processing power and the average users won’t be able to tell the difference anyway.
Design
A design makeover has been in order for a long while now. Samsung has answered the heavy criticisms for plastic based devices by introducing the metal frame design with the Galaxy Alpha series. The company is now expected to go full metal with the new S6, which is a welcoming news. The teaser of the device unveiled by T-mobile also shows a curved edge screen like the Note Edge, but it feels gimmicky and doesn’t have too much use as of now.
Battery
With an increased screen size and the rumored Quad HD display, the Galaxy S6 is bound to get a bigger battery. But what it does need to offer is a prolonged battery life that lasts for at least a week without using features like ultra power saving modes. This, of course, sounds like a heavy demand, but for once we’d rather the company invest in the state of the battery. The iPhone 6 Plus has a great battery backup that can last up to two days, and we hope Samsung has something good in store for us in this arena.
Camera
iPhone 6 Plus undoubtedly has the best camera in the business. Features like Time-lapse, slow-motion shots have made the device a one stop production tool. Samsung has to bring something at least comparable in this aspect. With the Note 4, the company brought wider selfies to its list of camera features, but this fell short of what Apple had to offer. An AnTuTu leak has hinted 20-megapixel rear camera and 5-megapixel selfie snapper for the Galaxy S6, which is decent spec listing. But we are more interested in finding how Samsung makes use of the hardware to provide improved shooting features with the camera.
Software
Galaxy S5 used as illustration
This is one area where Samsung needs to show real promise with the S6. It’s time Samsung shelved the boring TouchWiz UI for good. Samsung has updated the UI a bit over the past few years, but the market now expects a complete makeover. The UI update also needs to add advanced customizability features too so that users shouldn’t have to look for third party launchers or custom ROMs. Samsung has been cutting down on its bloatware too so it’s time it left just the bare essentials so that the user have control over what they choose to install on their device.
To Conclude
Samsung needs to give it all its got to the Galaxy S6. It needs to once and for all prove to the audience that it is still capable of delivering unique innovation to the market. Samsung being one of the pioneers of the smartphone business, has a responsibility to take the market further. If the device is appreciated by the market, Samsung needs to bring the design and feature down its ecosystem and update the new line of devices accordingly. Apple has done a good job with its flagship, now the world is looking at you Samsung, show us what you got!
LG might not be bringing the successor of the G3 at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) this year but it promises to bring something unique. The company will be unveiling a luxury smartwatch called the Watch Urbane at MWC 2015. It is also being reported that the Korean company will be bringing an LTE version of the Urbane that will run on LG’s propriety operating system.
LG has said that it won’t be using Android Wear OS as it has used in its previous device. The company had also showcased a WebOS powered smartwatch during CES 2015 which was brought in collaboration with Audi.
The Watch Urbane is an impressive looking device. LG had recently released the product video for the smartwatch, and it definitely looks like a luxury device. It is powered by a 700 mAh battery. It features NFC along with a barrage of sensors like gyroscope, accelerometer, compass, atmospheric pressure, heartbeat, and GPS.
The LTE variant of the Watch Urbane will be a standalone device that will connect to networks all by itself. It will also work with Android devices. Users can make use of the VoLTE to make calls directly from the device. It also features a walkie-talkie mode through which you can connect to multiple people at once.
Smartwatches and wearables have been touted as the next big consumer electronics offerings, but the response in the market hasn’t matched up to the hype. One of the major obstacles in gaining mass appeal is the battery life of these devices. Consumers would have no issues buying a new device, but they have to offer something unique instead of just being glorified remotes for smartphones. LG will be launching the Watch Urbane in a few days so it’s only then that we’ll know for sure if its features match up to its excellent design.
Samsung’s Galaxy S6 is definitely the most awaited device at the MWC 2015. This launch of this device will be a make or break moment for the Korean giant that has struggled recently to attract the consumers towards its devices. The other major device that will attract a lot of shutterbugs would be HTC’s One M9, successor to the popular M8. Here’s how HTC will introduce a device that attends to all the limits of its previous generation offering.
A Higher Resolution
HTC One M8 was unveiled in the March of 2014. The device featured a 5-inch full-HD display, but a lot has changed in the display department of flagship smartphones since then. LG G3, Nexus 6 and Note 4 have all placed their bets on the Quad HD (2K) displays. If the rumors are to be believed, HTC will continue on with the 1080p display, but there might just be a chance that the company surprises its audience with a higher definition display.
An Amazing Camera
One of the most touted but least appreciated offerings from the HTC One M8 was the dual ultra pixel cameras on the back. HTC realized its folly and released the HTC One M8 Eye with a better camera. This time around as shown by rumors and promotional video, the One M9 will sport a 20 MP camera on the back and an ultrapixel camera on the front.
The Power of the Lollipop
HTC has been at work proactively to provide Android Lollipop updates to its users. The company had set a goal of 90 days from the date of release of Lollipop to provide the update on its devices. Unfortunately, following the report of many bugs with the Lollipop launch, the update has been delayed. It is expected that HTC One M9 will come to the market with Lollipop running out of the box. The user interface as shown in the promotional video clearly shows an HTC Sense like UI with Blinkfeed.
Other Improved Bits
The One M9 will also bring in the Boomsound speakers and advanced photo manipulation tools so that the users can have more fun with the device. HTC also seems to be adding more customization options that are usual offerings of ROMs such as Cyanogen and MIUI. There are a lot of expectations from the M9, but it feels like HTC doesn’t need take a lot of efforts with this new launch. As the One M8 was one of the most appreciated devices of last year, all HTC has to do is take care of a few tweaks, and it will have a promising device,. The HTC One M9 will be unveiled on 1st March, so update your calendar and come check out iGyaan as we’ll be reporting right from the ground at MWC 2015.
The approaching Mobile World Conference (MWC) will witness many new smartphones, tablets and other high-end gadgets, and major companies can’t seem to contain their excitement about the event. Samsung and LG have unwrapped some of their devices ahead of the event, and the latest firm join in is Sony.
Recently, Sony gave a glimpse of its next tablet titled Xperia Z4. As per Xperia blog, a brief description along with an image was accidently posted on the Xperia Lounge app of the company. The statement proudly informs of Sony Xperia Z4’s “2K display” and the “latest ultra fast processor”. It also reads that the tablet has “industry leading battery performance.”
The design of the tablet looks sleek and from the picture, it is evident that volume rockers are placed on the right side. There is one circular key below it which looks like a power button. As the information was accidently slipped, details of the device are still under wraps. But one thing is clear that the phone will make an appearance on 3rd of March in Barcelona.
The Mobile World Congress is just around the corner and as always the expectations from the conference are high. We got together an amazing panel to discuss how MWC 2015 might influence the popular smartphone landscape. We have an excellent panel of Tech expert Ankit Vengurlekar AKA Gadgetwala, fashion blogger Sukhneet Wadhwa AKA Ms Coco Queen and Socialgiri Co-founder Suhail Ahmed Reshi.
Check out this fun panel in action right here on iGyaan.
If you like the video, then share the word around, and if you have any questions or queries, you can drop them in the comment section below or send out a tweet to @iGyaan.
With nearly a week left before HTC officially reveals its flagship smartphone in Barcelona, it seems that the device is already out in the open. MobileGeeks has spotted a German listing for a smartphone that looks strikingly similar to the One M9 images that were spotted last month.
If the leaked images are authentic, we may see just one camera on the rear compared to its predecessor. Images also suggest that HTC has moved some buttons around, we may see the power button right below the volume rockers on the right, unlike the M8 where it was located on top, making it quite a task to reach at times given the size of the M8.
In addition, the BlinkFeed news stream looks slightly different suggesting the possibility of a new software. Even the phone’s outer body appears notably thicker than the One M8.
Though nothing is officially confirmed, we may be in for a few surprises in a week’s time. In the meantime, here’s what we can expect under the hood from HTC’s next flagship:
5-inch Display running at 1080p
20.7 Megapixel rear camera, 4.0 megapixel front camera with HTC’s “Ultrapixel” tech
Android Lollipop 5.0 (with HTC Sense running on top)
2,840mAh battery
3GB of RAM
2Ghz Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 CPU (though some rumors point at 2.8Ghz)
A lot is riding on Samsung’s upcoming flagship, the Galaxy S6. The device is supposed to redefine Samsung’s approach to design. The Korean electronics giant has really come to struggle in the market in the past couple of years and is in desperate need to bring out an exceptional device. The rumors of the upcoming S6 has been encouraging, and a new teaser by T-mobile may give up the first look at the new device.
The Galaxy S6 will be unveiled by the company at the Mobile World Congress 2015 (MWC) in Barcelona. Samsung has said that the device is designed under its project zero initiative to build the device from scratch. The teaser image was tweeted out by T-mobile CEO John Legere.
The picture titled “SIX APPEAL” clearly shows a Note Edge like device. Samsung had hinted before that the S6 will have a curved screen, and the image gives a clear view of the curved display. As anticipated, the grey metal body is also visible on the display, and it makes the device look robust and sturdy.
In another leak by Sammobile, it is being reported that the Galaxy S6 might also sport dual front speakers like the HTC Boomsound or the Moto devices. They also hinted at a three-sided display on the device, but it sounds like a stretch as of now.
The leaked specs and images do present a pleasant image of the device, but it doesn’t feel game-changing yet. The phone launches in about a week so we’ll hold on to our judgements till then. We do hope that the company with the biggest R&D capabilities will do a better job than they did with their previous generation Galaxy S5.
The long awaited event, Mobile World Conference (MWC) is just around the corner and LG Electronics couldn’t resist teasing some of its offerings beforehand. A few days back the company unveiled that it will be using the MWC stage to launch its next-gen classy smartwatch called LG Watch Urbane. Now as per the recent disclosure, LG will launch four “Mid-Range” smartphones in the upcoming show in Barcelona, namely – Magna, Spirit, Leon and Joy.
The new lineup of smartphones by the company is available in both LTE and 3G versions, and is 4 to 5-inch in size. The LG Magna and LG Spirit are distinctive from the other two, and boast a slightly curved display and rounded back for better grip. Both are devices hold in-cell tech technology that offers improved sensitivity with faster touch recognition, better outdoor visibility and crisper images.
Starting with LG Magna, the device sports a 5.0-inch HD (294 ppi) along with a 1.2GHz or 1.3GHz quad-core chipset. It has an 8MP rear snapper and a 5MP front camera. The phone holds a removable battery of 2,540mAh. The LG Spirit, on the other hand, is 4.7-inch handset with identical 1.2GHz or 1.3GHz quad-core chipset. The other device, LG Leon, features a 4.5-inch screen, while LG Joy packs a handy 4-inch screen, which can easily fit in one’s palm. All the phones run on Android 5.0 Lollipop, except LG Joy.
The company is infusing popular UX features onto the phones like Gesture Shot and Glass View, which are otherwise a part of high-end devices only. Further details about the gadgets have been kept under wraps and pricing has been kept secretive as of now. The phones will roll out in select markets this week.
The countdown to the MWC is already in full swing, with prominent manufacturers sending out teasers as to what we can expect from one of the biggest mobile conferences of the year.
Much has already been leaked about Samsung’s upcoming 2015 flagship model. Now, in a blog post on Wednesday, Samsung’s Senior VP and Head of Camera R&D Group talked about how they have been constantly working on improving the cameras used on the Galaxy Series. While talking about the camera on Galaxy smartphones, Senior VP DongHoon Jang admitted that a lot of passion and effort has been put for the release of the 2015 flagship model.
[quote text_size=”small” author=” DongHoon Jang” author_title=” Senior VP and Head of Camera R&D Group, Samsung”]
It will be intelligent and do all the thinking for users, allowing them to take amazing pictures under any conditions, without having to worry about anything more than just pressing the shutter button. It will demonstrate just how far Samsung has advanced smartphone cameras, and once again will open the creative side of our users for new ideas and new possibilities.
[/quote]
In the blog, there’s also a chart that shows camera progress over the years on the flagship Galaxy smartphones including the Galaxy S, Galaxy S II, Galaxy S III, Galaxy S4, and Galaxy S5.
In addition, Jang also stressed on the importance of the selfie cam, and duly noted that it forms an essential part of the whole eco-system. Meanwhile, a recent report suggested a 20 MP camera sensor along with OIS and a 5 MP front facing shooter on the Galaxy S6 prototype. Both cameras are likely to include sensors from Samsung.
The Korean giant is expected to launch the Samsung Galaxy S6 flagship along with the anticipated curved-display variant, rumoured to be called Galaxy S6 Edge at the Galaxy Unpacked 2015 event scheduled for March 1 in Barcelona.
Mobile World Congress (MWC) kicks off on March 2nd in Barcelona. One of the most important events of the tech industry, the event is the biggest mobile phone exhibition on the calendar. There is no doubt that some of the biggest manufacturers will choose to announce new devices the event this year.
MWC 2015 is expected to be every bit as big and there are already rumblings of what might be shown. So, what does MWC 2015 have in store for us? Here’s the round up of the rumours.
1. HTC
It is loud and clear that the Taiwanese smartphone manufacturer will be unveiling ‘what’s next’ for the company. The event invite shows a bright star in the background with the tagline “Utopia in Progress”. HTC is the first amongst major Android phone makers to set a date and time for its next big launch.
There has been various leaks surrounding the company’s new flagship HTC One M9. The expected HTC One M9, which is also referred to as ‘Hima’ is said to feature a 1440X2560 QHD screen, 3GB of RAM and an Octa-core Snapdragon 810 CPU. A recent leak also suggested that HTC might launch two variants of its flagship. Second one, according to the reports is HTC One M9 Plus.
It has also been reported that HTC might enter the wearable industry this year. We won’t be surprised if HTC decides to debuts the wearable device it’s been reportedly working on for sometime now.
2. Samsung S6
Last year, Samsung announced the Samsung Galaxy S5, on the first day of MWC 2014. We’re expecting to hear about the follow-up at MWC 2015 which is likely to be called the Samsung Galaxy S6. Rumours surrounding the new Samsung flagship has been making rounds of the internet for several months now. It is reported that Galaxy S6 is codenamed Project Zero, signifying the development of the device from scratch — putting a lot of thought into its design and materials.
A recent report from Bloomberg suggested that electronic giant, Samsung, will not use Qualcomm processors for the next version of the South Korean technology giant’s flagship Galaxy S smartphone. The report added that the South Korean company will use its own microprocessors in the upcoming flagship.
Another Smartwatch by Samsung?
Samsung is also rumored to be working on a circular smartwatch which is codenamed as Orbis. Recently, there has been leaks which have hinted that Samsung is working on a smartwatch with a rotating bezel ring on the top of the watch.
The functionality of the bezel ring is not clear. Like Apple’s digital crown, features like zooming in and out of pictures and scrolling through lists could be achieved by rotating the ring; it could also allow for functions like selecting the time when setting an alarm.
3. LG
LG enjoyed great success in 2014 with the LG G3. So how do you follow up on the best smartphone of 2014? That’s what LG’s showcase at the MWC 2015 will answer for us, hopefully. The LG G3 is undoubtedly a truly brilliant phone, offering a perfect mixture of usability and cutting edge features, including the first major example of the kind of QHD display that every phone will be sporting in 2015. But there are also rumours that LG will keep up the good work on the look and feel of its flagships, with thinner-than-ever bezels compensating for its larger-than-average screen.
Some other reports have hinted that G4 will come with a Note 4 like stylus. There is also a possibility that the G4 will come with a metallic frame which was one of the few things that was missing in the G3.
Like Samsung and HTC above, MWC 2015 could also see LG announcing a new smartwatch. The key point of interest here is the suggestion that LG’s new watch (dubbed by some as the LG G Watch R2) could come with 4G connectivity.
4. Sony
The Sony Xperia Z2 launched at MWC 2014 so we’re expecting the Sony Xperia Z4 to launch this year. Sony did a great job with the rightly-priced Xperia Z3 and Xperia Z3 Compact. However, recent chatters in the industry has hinted that the company may let the Xperia brand meet the same fate as Vaio.
Anyway, according to the rumors, QHD display and Snapdragon 810 is in the check list for the latest flagship. Also, the smartphone is expected to come with familiar 20.7-megapixel camera. It is also said that we can expect the compact version of Z4.
