Author: chris eilers

Among a lot of handsets in the market right now, Antutu has been able to pick out top 10 cost-effective smartphones. It means that they have excellent performances but do not cost an arm and a leg.

1. LeEco Le 2

First of all, it’s LeEco Le 2 with the highest performance price ratio of 83.7. Moreover, the phone has a great Antutu score of 92,033 thanks to sporting a 5.5-inch Full HD IPS LCD screen, a EUI 5.6 based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS out of the box, a deca-core Helio X20 or octa-core Snapdragon 652 chipset, 32GB ROM (non-expandable), and 3GB RAM.

Additionally, LeEco Le 2 specs include a good combo of 16MP rear-facing (with f/2.0, PDAF, plus dual LED flash) + 8MP front (with f/2.2, 1.4 µm pixel size, plus 1080p) camera to assist users in capturing things, Dolby Atmos technology to create excellent sounds, and a decent 3,000mAh battery supported by Quick Charge 2.0 to fuel the entire device. All you need to pay is 1,099 Yuan or around $165. Cool, huh?!

2. Qiku 360 N4

The second spot belongs to 360 N4, costing 999 Yuan or $150 and scoring 83.4 for the performance price ratio and 83,268 Antutu points. It follows closely behind the Le 2 and claims the top position as well. In terms of 360 N4 specs, there are a 5.5-inch Full HD display, an octa-core 64-bit MediaTek Helio X20 chip set, Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS with 360 OS on top, a 13MP main + 5MP secondary snapper package, a 3,080mAh cell, 4GB of RAM coupled with 32GB of internal memory (expandable up to 128GB).

3. Xiaomi Redmi Note 3

Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 comes at third place, which is not surprising at all. Spec-wise, it packs a 5.5-inch Full HD screen, MIUI 7.0 based on Android 5.0.2 Lollipop OS, a Helio X10 octa-core 2.0GHz chip, a 13MP primary + 5MP selfie shooter set, and 2 choices over ROM and RAM capacity: 16GB + 2GB (899 Yuan or $135) and 32GB + 3GB (1,099 Yuan or $165). Specially, despite being a budget device, Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 offers a generous 4,000mAh batt supported by fast charging tech.

4. Lenovo ZUK Z2

Next is Lenovo ZUK Z2. It is equipped with a handy 5.0-inch Full HD LTPS IPS LCD display, ZUI 2.0 based on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow OS, a Snapdragon 820 chip set, 64GB of internal memory (non-expandable), 4GB RAM, a 3,500mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0, and a package of 13MP rear + 8MP front-facing cam. Those are powerful features for a smartphone and you can count on it to perform all tasks well. Lenovo ZUK Z2 price is 1,799 Yuan or $270.

5. LeEco Le 2 Pro

Continuing the list is another LeEco phone: Le 2 Pro. It boasts a 5.5-inch Full HD screen, Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS with eUI 5.6 UI on top, a Helio X25 deca-core chipset, 32GB of non-expandable ROM, 4GB of RAM, Dolby Atmos technology, and a 3,000mAh cell. Specially, LeEco Le 2 Pro specs contain a gorgeous set of 21MP primary (with  f/2.0, PDAF, and dual LED flash) + 8MP secondary (with f/2.2 and 1080p) shooter to take pictures. Those who love photography should consider this machine as it just costs 1,499 Yuan or $225.

6. 360 N4S

Coming up next is the 360 N4S with performance price ratio of 69 and 83,094 Antutu points. Spec-wise, it is powered by a MediaTek Helio X20 processor, 4GB RAM, 32GB/64GB ROM, a 5.5-inch Full HD IPS display, a massive 5,000mAh battery supporting 9V/1.5A fast charger, 360 2.0 OS based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS, and a 16MP Samsung ISOCELL sensor on the back together with an 8MP one on the front to help take photos. 360 N4S price is 1,199 Yuan or $180.

7. Huawei Honor 5A

Ranking 7th is Huawei Honor 5A, equipped with a 5.5-inch HD screen, EMUI 4.1 based on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow OS, Snapdragon 617 processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB ROM (expandable), a 13MP rear + 8MP front camera combo, and a 3,100mAh batt. This is obviously a mid-ranger, yet it was able to defeat others in its kind to appear in Antutu’s list because of good performances and cost. 699 Yuan or $105 is Huawei Honor 5A price.

8. Xiaomi Mi4C

Xiaomi Mi4C is the 8th smartphone. It packs a 5.0-inch Full HD display, MIUI 7.0 based on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop OS, a Snapdragon 808 chip, and 2 options over ROM and RAM capacity: 16GB + 2GB and 32GB + 3GB. Besides, a 13MP main + 5MP selfie camera package and a 3,080mAh batt are also included in Xiaomi Mi4C specs to take pics and fuel the phone. Xiaomi Mi4C price is $219.99 for those who want to purchase it.

9. LeEco Le Max 2

Yeah, LeEco Le Max 2 is the only 6GB RAM smartphone here and it ranks 9th. Spec-wise, no doubt it houses many stellar features to run the whole machine such as a 5.7-inch 2K LTPS IPS LCD display, eUI 5.6 based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS, a 21MP + 8MP snapper duo, a Snapdragon 820 chip, Dolby Atmos tech, 3,100mAh cell with Quick Charge 2.0, 32/64/128GB of non-expandable ROM, and 4/6GB of RAM. LeEco Le Max 2 price is 2,499 Yuan or $375 for the 6GB RAM + 64GB ROM model and 2,099 Yuan or $315 (or even below due to a price cut in China) for the 4GB + 32GB.

10. Xiaomi Redmi 3S

Last but not least, we’ve got Xiaomi Redmi 3S, with performance price ratio of 57 and 39,744 Antutu points. Spec-wise, it’s got a handy 5.0-inch HD screen, MIUI 8 based on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow OS, a Snapdragon 430 processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB ROM (expandable), a 13MP + 5MP cam set, and a big 4,100mAh battery with fast charging tech. Xiaomi Redmi 3S price is 699 Yuan or $105.

The above smartphones are the best in terms of being cost-effective, according to Antutu. So, if you wanna buy a new machine, take them into consideration. They won’t let you down!

Lately, Samsung Galaxy Note 7’s explosion scandal as caused quite a headache for the Korean giant. It seems that the smartphone exploding trend is continuing. This time, Xiaomi Mi 4c is the next unfortunate product. Let’s find the reason behind this incident.

Xiaomi Mi 4C exploded

Previously, there are many cases in which smartphone exploded and hurt users. It seems that this trend is continuing, and a phone from Xiaomi is involved. As a recent report suggests, the camera security recorded the sudden accident. The man in the video got hurt when his smartphone exploded. The same source states that, the phone in this case is a product from Xiaomi brand – Xiaomi Mi 4C. It exploded in his back pocket and causes him third-degree burns on his hips.

Until now, there are not any confirmations about the main reason behind that incident. However, from what the video suggested, the fire seems to come from the battery of Xiaomi Mi 4C. Surprisingly, Samsung is also facing with battery issue, which causes some Galaxy Note 7 explosion. In July, another Xiaomi phone – Xiaomi Mi 4i also exploded when it was charging.

There is no basis to say that the fault lies with the company yet. However, Xiaomi needs to be very careful, because two Xiaomi phones exploding in the span of 3 months is not something to overlook. For now, we have to wait for official words from the company. Hopefully these are just isolated incidents.

Smartphone exploded: How to protect yourself

Smartphone exploding can happen, and users can get hurt. Thus, you need to follow some tips to prevent your smartphone from exploding. Generally, try not to let your phone overheat. you should refrain from using the phone while charging, stop charging if the phone is too hot, and try not to put the phone in hot places. Hopefully, those tips will be helpful for you.

Recently, BLU announced their new smartphone called BLU Vivo 5R. This could be a “refreshed version” of Vivo 5R from February, with some minor differences. The phone comes with appealing specs: 5.5-icnh, 3GB RAM, and …

BLU Vivo 5R specs: a refreshed version of Vivo 5

First, don’t mistake BLU Vivo brand with Vivo brand! BLU Vivo is an America mobile phone manufacture located in China. The brand produces budget smartphones for users and now, they are back in the budget segment with a new phone: BLU Vivo 5R. The phone will make you remember another BLU phone – Vivo 5. Honestly, BLU Vivo 5R could be a “refreshed version’ of BLU Vivo 5, considering what the phone offers.

This new phone comes with a 5.5-inch screen with Full HD resolution. For photography, it sports a 13 MP rear camera with Sony IMX258 sensor, supported by phase detection autofocus and LED flash. There is an 8 MP front shooter for selfies with LED flash as well. Under the hood, it is powered by 1.3 GHz Octa-core MediaTek MT6753 paired with 3GB RAM. In addition to BLU Vivo 5R specs, it comes with 32GB ROM (extendable), 4G, a 3150 mAh battery, and a fingerprint scanner on the back. It will be working on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow.

Compared to Vivo 5, the Vivo 5R comes with some enhanced specs. One of those is the front camera (8MP >5MP), which allows you to take better selfies. The next feature to be improved over Vivo 5 is fast charging technology, which helps to save time in charging the battery.

BLU ViVO 5R price and release date

BLU Vivo 5R is now available on Amazon for pre-order. The price confirmed on Amazon at $199.99. According to BLU’s plan, this phone will be launched officially on September 21. In addition, you have two color options, Gun Metal Grey and White-Gold. With all decent specs above and affordable price, BLU Vivo 5R is a tough rival in the mid-range segment.

In  smartphone market, there are many segments. You also have various options in each segment. This time, we bring you the best phones in different categories, which are already available in the market. Let’s have a look!

1. Best camera phone: Galaxy S7 Edge

S7 Edge is one of the best smartphones in the market. It is also labeled the best camera phone right now. About the look, this phone sports a stunning dual curved-screen design which has inspired many other smartphone brands since its introduction. In terms of Galaxy S7 Edge specs, the phone comes with 2 chipset versions: a quad-core (2×2.15GHz + 2×1.6GHz) SND 820 SoC and an octa-core (4×2.3GHz + 4×1.6GHz) Exynos 8890 chipset.

This Samsung flagship packs 4GB RAM, paired with 32/64GB of expandable ROM (+up to 256GB). The phone’s 5.5-inch Quad HD display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 4. S7 Edge camera is one of the highlights of this flagship. With a 12MP main cam and a 5MP selfie snapper, you will get the best shots even in the low light condition. S7 Edge is backed up with a 3600mAh cell and runs on Android Marshmallow. Galaxy S7 Edge price is about $663 ~ RM. 2737.

2. Best budget phone: ZTE Zmax Pro

Next is ZTE Zmax Pro. This is one of the best phones in the budget segment. Although ZTE Zmax Pro price is very budget-friendly (about $99 ~ RM. 409), this phone still give you a decent performance. The phone is powered by an octa-core (4×1.5GHz + 4×1.0GHz) SND 617 processor and runs on Android 6.0 OS. It packs 2GB RAM paired with 32GB of ROM (+up to 256GB). The highlight of ZTE Zmax Pro specs is a huge 6-inch FHD display. Besides, the ZTE phone sports a 3400mAh, a 13MP main cam, and a 5MP selfie shooter.

3. Best performance phone: OnePlus 3

With total scores of 140,288, OnePlus 3 has been the King in the Antutu list of best performance smartphones for more than half of this year. It has only been surpassed recently by iPhone 7, but the Apple phone has not been released yet. Under the hood, OnePlus 3 runs on a quad-core (2×2.15GHz + 2×1.6GHz) SND 820 processor paired with a huge 6GB of RAM. There is 64GB of non-expandable storage. Other OnePlus 3 specs include a 5.5-inch FHD display, a 3000mAh cell, a combo of 16MP+8MP cameras, and Android Marshmallow. OnePlus 3 price comes at about $399 ~ RM. 1647.

4. Best phone for music: HTC 10

With stereo speaker (one is at the top of the phone, the other is at the bottom), HTC 10 is one of the best phones for music. In terms of HTC 10 specs, there is a quad-core (2×2.15GHz + 2×1.6GHz) SND 820 processor along with Android 6.0.1 OS, upgradable to 7.0. It has a hefty 4GB of RAM paired with 32/64GB of storage which can be expanded via microSD card of up to 256GB. About HTC 10 camera, the company added a 12MP main cam and a 5MP front shooter to the phone. In addition, there is a 5.2-inch FHD display, as well as a 3000mAh battery. HTC 10 price is quoted at about $700 ~ RM. 2890.

5. Best small phone: iPhone SE

If you’re looking for a small phone which is easy to handle, iPhone SE is one of the best choices for you. The heart of the phone is a 1.84Ghz dual-core A9 processor. This handset comes with 2 versions: 2GB RAM paired with 16/64GB of non-expandable storage. In addition, it has a 4-inch display, a 12MP cam on the back, a 1.2MP snapper on the front, a 1624mAh capacity, and iOS 9. iPhone SE price is about $399 ~ RM. 1647.

Best phones in each category: From camera to processor

Those are the best phones in different categories at this moment. They are good at different categories, from camera, music to processor. Do you agree with our list? Which one is your favorite? Share with us!

The successor of Oppo A59 has just been spotted on TENAA – Oppo A59s. With 4GB RAM and 16MP selfie snapper, this phone could be a tough rival in the market. 

Oppo A59s specs: 4GB RAM, 16MP selfie snapper

Back in June this year, Oppo released its smartphone – Oppo A59. This phone hasn’t brought much success to the company. Now, it seems that this Chinese company continues to bring an upgraded version of this phone to the market – Oppo A59s. Recently, this phone has just been spotted on TENAA with many strong specs.

Under the hood, the phone is powered by a 1.5Ghz octa-core MT6750 processor. This processor is the same with the one from A59. However, this new Oppo phone is still stronger with 4GB of RAM. With its specs, A59s can easily handle any games you want. The original A59 packs 3GB of RAM. Both phones come with 32GB of expandable inbuilt storage.

The new Oppo phone will have a 5.5-inch HD display and a 2980mAh cell which is smaller than 3075mAh from A59. The highlight of Oppo A59s specs is its cameras. These are the most upgraded features of A59s. The company will add a 13MP camera on the back and a 16MP shooter on the front. This phone will run on Android 5.1 Lollipop OS, which is quite surprising, and disappointing if true. Besides, this new Oppo phone will support 4G VolTE.

Oppo A59s: price and release date

With all those specs above, Oppo seems to aim at selfie camera segment again. With 16MP front-facing camera, this Oppo A59 successor will be a tough competitor to the other 16MP smartphones like Galaxy A7 (2017) or Huawei Nova Plus, and even Oppo’s own F1s. It will be available in Rose Gold and Gold. Oppo A59s price, as well as the release date, is not announced yet. However, we expect that this phone will come at the end of this year. Follow us for more information about this phone!

Today let’s have a comparison between Xiaomi Mi 5s vs Asus Zenfone 3 Deluxe (SND 821 version) – the former has just been leaked on TENNA and the latter has just been launched officially!

Xiaomi Mi 5s vs Asus Zenfone 3 Deluxe: 6GB RAM, Snapdragon 821

First of all let’s talk about the similarities between Xiaomi Mi 5s vs Asus Zenfone 3 Deluxe. These two are similar in a few aspects. They both pack a super powerful quad-core Snapdragon 821 chipset with Adreno 530 GPU (Zenfone 3 Deluxe has a dual-core 2.0GHz and a dual-core 2.4GHz CPU, while Mi 5s has four cores clocked at 2.4GHz). Besides, they also have 6GB RAM (the Asus phone also has a 4GB RAM version). For storing purpose, both offer massive space: 256GB of in-built memory (there are also 64/128GB for the Asus phone).

Now let’s move on to the differences between Xiaomi Mi 5s vs Asus Zenfone 3 Deluxe. In terms of photography, the Asus phone is the better choice because it packs a 23MP main camera (phase detection autofocus, laser autofocus, 4 axis OIS and dual LED flash) and an 8MP selfie shooter. On the other hand, Xiaomi Mi 5s is reported to house a 16MP camera with PDAF and 4 axis OIS. There’s no information about its front shooter yet.

Regarding the display, the Asus phone packs a 5.7-inch display with Full HD resolution. Meanwhile, the Xiaomi phone is expected to arrive with a 5.15-inch Full HD screen with Force Touch, which gives it the edge over Zenfone 3 Deluxe. As for the battery, Mi 5s also wins thanks to its 3490mAh cell, equipped with Quick Charging 3.0. Whereas, Zenfone 3 Deluxe is fueled by a 3000mAh battery only (also with Quick Charhing 3.0).

Xiaomi Mi 5s vs Asus Zenfone 3 Deluxe: Which one is the winner?

So overall, both phones are powerful in terms of performance! In terms of photography, the Xiaomi phone cannot compete with the Asus phone. However, regarding the screen and battery, Mi 5s is a bit better than Zenfone 3 Deluxe. What about the price? Asus Zenfone 3 Deluxe price is around $690 (RM. 3200). Meanwhile, Xiaomi Mi 5s price hasn’t been revealed yet, but we expect it would be just around RM 2500. What is your pick guys?

For those who love taking photos with a 21MP camera smartphone, check out the following amazing handsets. Some of them have been available for sale now while some others are on the way…

1. Moto Z Force Droid Edition

Moto Z Force Droid Edition is built with a modular design and well constructed. Spec-wise, it is equipped with many strong specifications such as a Snapdragon 820 chip, a 5.5-inch QHD AMOLED ShatterShield display, Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS out of the box, 4GB RAM and a 21MP rear camera.

Other Moto Z Force Droid specs are also decent to give you convenience in using. Specifically, there are 32/64GB of internal storage (expandable), a 5MP front snapper, a 3,500mAh battery, a water repellent nano-coating, and a USB Type-C port on board. Moto X Force Droid price starts at $720 for those who want to purchase it.

2. Zopo Speed 8

Here we’ve got Zopo Speed 8, known as the world’s first device powered by MediaTek Helio X20 deca-core chipset. Besides that, other Zopo Speed 8 specs are also very good: a 5.5-inch Full HD IPS LCD screen, 4GB of RAM, 32GB of ROM, a 3,600mAh cell, a combo of 21MP main + 8MP secondary shooter, and Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS out of the box. Zopo Speed 8 price is around $450.

3. Liquid Jade Primo

Liquid Jade Primo specs include a 5.5-inch Full HD AMOLED display, a Snapdragon 808 hexa-core processor, a 2,800mAh batt, Windows 10 OS, 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal memory (expandable up to 128GB). For the cameras, Acer has equipped it with a 21MP sensor on the back with dual LED flash and an 8MP one on the front. Lastly, there is a USB Type-C port for charging and Continuum dock to connect the phone to an external display, keyboard, and mouse, which means users can Jade Primo on a big monitor and “get a desktop-like experience on Universal Windows Apps.” Acer Liquid Jade Primo price is $549.

4. Mobiistar Prime X Max

Next is Mobiistar Prime X Max, coming with a strong MediaTek Helio P10 2.0GHz chip set, a fantastic set of 21MP Sony Exmor RS IMX 230 primary + 8MP selfie cam, 32GB ROM coupled with 3GB RAM. Additionally, it has a 5.5-inch Full-HD screen, Android 5.1 Lollipop OS, and a 3,000mAh cell. To get this handset home, you just need to pay around $315.

5. CREO Mark 1

CREO Mark 1 is run by Android 5.1.1 Lollipop OS with Fuel OS on top, a 5.5-inch qHD display, a  dual SIM, a MediaTek Helio X10 1.95GHz chipset paired with 3GB RAM and 32GB ROM (expandable up to 128GB). Besides, under the hood stays a 3,100mAh battery with fast charging tech to fuel the entire machine. However, Mark 1 packs no fingerprint sensor, but that may be just a small minus or even does not matter if you like its snappers: 21MP Sony rear-facing + 8MP front (able to produce 3D photos features and GIF images). CREO Mark 1 price is around $300.

6. Kogan Agora 6 Plus

Number 6 is Kogan Agora 6 Plus, a high-end Australian smartphone. Pay $349 and you can get a device sporting a 5.5-inch Full HD screen, a 21MP Sony main + 8MP selfie camera package, a 2,950mAh batt, a Helio P10 processor, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of expandable ROM, NFC, and a fingerprint sensor. Moreover, the it runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS and boasts lightning-fast 4G LTE networking for streaming, browsing and social media.

7. LG V20

Continuing our 10 of the best 21MP camera smartphones for September list will be LG V20. According to some latest reports, it will carry a 5.7-inch IPS LCD 2K screen, a Snapdragon 820 processor, 4/6GB RAM, and 32/64/128GB of internal storage (expandable). Furthermore, it is said that LG V20 specs will offer a 21MP rear + 8MP front-facing shooter set and Android 7.0 Nougat OS out of the box. Let’s wait and see!

8. Sony Xperia XA Ultra

This phablet is a wonderful camera-centric machine when housing a 21.5MP sensor on the back with f/2.2, PDAF, and LED flash and an up to 16MP one on the front with f/2.0, 1/2.6″ sensor size, autofocus, OIS, plus LED flash to take pictures. Other Sony Xperia XA Ultra specs are also excellent: a big 6.0-inch Full HD screen, Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow OS (upgradable to Android 7.0 Nougat soon), a Helio P10 chip, 16GB of expandable ROM, 3GB of RAM, and a 2,700mAh cell. Sony Xperia XA Ultra price is around $360.

9. OPPO Find 9

Coming up next is OPPO Find 9. It will employ a Gorilla Glass 5 display that can “withstand face-down drops of up to 1.6 meters high in up to 80% of occurrences.” As for the rest of OPPO Find 9 specs, the phone has been said to come with a Snapdragon 821 chip set, a 5.5-inch Quad HD screen, 8GB of RAM,  128GB of ROM, a combo of 21MP dual primary + 16MP secondary snapper, and a massive 4,100mAh battery supported by Super VOOC fast charting tech. Awesome, huh?!

10. Meitu M6

Finally, it’s a Chinese smartphone called Meitu M6. Its design is absolutely interesting and hardware is definitely powerful with a 5.0-inch Full HD AMOLED display, 3GB of RAM, 64GB of internal memory, a MediaTek Helio P10 octa-core 2.0GHz processor, and a 2,900mAh battery. Besides, you also get HiFi audio and a brilliant package of 21MP rear + 21MP front shooter. Wow! If you like taking selfies, Meitu M6 is totally a great option. Meitu M6 price is $457.

Those are 10 of the best smartphones equipped with 21MP main cameras. You just need to click the button and all your moments will be saved in a beautiful way. So, what do you think about them?

Apple this year brought us many new cool iPhone 7 features. However, you can easily see those features on many Android phones. Have a look at our post to know what those features are!

News iPhone 7 features: dual camera, waterproof…

The first feature is a dual camera. This year, Apple equipped iPhone 7 Plus with a dual camera on the back. Thanks to that, 7 Plus is the first iPhone to have a dual rear camera. However, this feature is added on many Android devices (Huawei P9 and LG G5). It even becomes the iconic feature of Huawei. Secondly, Apple borrows the dust + waterproof feature from Samsung and Sony. These brands have many waterproof products like S7 or Aqua M4. While iPhone 7 has waterproof IP67 certification which is the same with Galaxy S5 in 2014, Note 7 is now with IP68.

Thirdly, the AirPods of Apple is borrowed from Gear IconX from Samsung which is already available in the market. Those devices have many things in commons. They’re both charged through a case wirelessly. Users can use their gestures to control those handsets. Fourthly, Apple is not the only brand eliminating the 3.5mm headphone jack. LeEco used to do this before with LeEco Le 2 and Le Max 2. These phones deliver the sound via a USB-Type C port. These phones can do this because they use a new type of audio- Continual Digital Lossless Audio (CDLA).

The fifth feature is stereo speakers. This year, Apple added two speakers to the new iPhones. This makes the phones two times louder than iPhone 6s. You can find on the latest HTC flagship- HTC 10- the same feature. Each speaker of HTC 10 is supported by individual amplifiers. This will make the sound of HTC 10 cleaner and clearer.

iPhone 7 features: not new with Android users

As you can see that many new iPhone 7 features are not new at all. They are new to iPhones, but not new to Android handsets. Although Apple borrows those cool features from Android phones, this brand always knows how to integrate those features together to bring users an amazing experience. So, what do you think of these features?

Zenfone 3 Deluxe has been announced in May, but it has just launched recently, along with SND 821 processor. Today, let’s get a whole story about the Asus top-notch phone.

Asus Zenfone 3 Deluxe SND 821

As you know, the Asus Zenfone 3 series has been announced in May, including the basic version- Asus Zenfone 3, Asus Zenfone 3 Deluxe, Asus Zenfone 3 Ultra, etc. However, Asus Zenfone 3 takes more time than the other to make a debut in the smartphone market. One of the reasons was that the phone is waiting for SnapDragon 821 chipset as the company promised.

Especially, the Qualcomm’s latest chipset includes Quad-core 2.4 GHz CPU, which makes the phone run faster. Along with it is the latest GPU: Adreno 530. Asus Zenfone 3 is available in two options of RAM: 4/6GB and three option of ROM: 64, 128, and 256GB. The phone comes with 5.7-inch display with full HD resolution, 386ppi, and Coring Gorilla Glass 4. Other Asus Zenfone 3 specs are a 3000 mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0 supported (60% in 40 min) and Android 6.0 (upgradable to Android 7.0)

If you are a photo lover, don’t skip the Asus Zenfone 3 Deluxe camera. It houses a 23MP main one with latest camera technologies: phase detection autofocus, OIS (4-axis), and dual-LED flash. On the front, there is an 8MP selfie shooter with f/2.0 aperture.

Asus Zenfone 3 Deluxe SND 821 price and release date

Asus Zenfone 3 Deluxe, in its first debut, comes at $747 for the 64GB version. Now, with an updated feature: SnapDragon 821, the price of the phone could be higher. To be more specific, the first version (4GB RAM + 64GB+Snapdragon 821) might be priced at $820 while the other version (6GB RAM+128GB ROM+ SnapDragon 821) is supposedly $896. With those prices, do you want to get your hands on this phone? Asus Zenfone 3 is the most powerful smartphone from Asus. Most importantly, with a new SND 821 processor, will the latest Asus flagship make a hit this month?

Samsung Galaxy A8 (2016) has just leaked online. With 3GB RAM, a 5.7-inch display, and a beautiful look, this phone will be a tough competitor in the market. 

Samsung Galaxy A8: 5.7-inch FHD, 3GB RAM

While most devices in the Samsung A series version 2016 are already out in the market, Galaxy A8 (2016) is still not. Some of them (Galaxy A7 and A3) even have the 2017 version leaked already. Now, we have words that Galaxy A8 is coming at last. Back in August, some Galaxy A8 specs were leaked on GFXBench. Recently, some renders of this phone are also leaked online.

On the leaked renders, Samsung A8 looks quite stunning. This new phone from Samsung will be the combination of glass and metal. The metallic body of this phone will be coated with glass on the front and the back. On the front, the phone could probably use 2.5D curved glass. This makes A8 look similar to the high-end Galaxy S7.

In terms of Galaxy A8 specs, the handset is expected to be powered by an octa-core (4×2.1GHz + 4×1.5GHz) Exynos 7420 processor. This chipset is the same with a Samsung flagship last year – Galaxy S6. Besides, A8 may pack 3GB of RAM paired with 32GB of inbuilt storage (+up to 256GB). For photography, Samsung could add a 5MP camera on the front and a 16MP shooter on the back. In addition, Samsung A8 might feature a 5.7-inch Full HD display and run on an Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow OS.

Samsung Galaxy A8: price and release date

With those specs above, Samsung A8 (2016) will be much stronger than the original version in 2015. This phone will also be the tough rival to many 3GB phones in the market like Redmi Note 4, BLU Vivo 5R, or Moto G4 Play. Samsung Galaxy A8 price, as well as release date, is still a mystery. We expect the price to be higher than the previous A8 version, which is Rs. 25990 ($389). So, if you want to know more about this phone, just keep following our page!

Dual camera phones are not new in the market. More and more phones come with dual-camera setup. However, not all of dual cameras are for the same purpose! Let’s consider this list to see what to expect from such phones by different manufacturers!

1. LG Optimus 3D and HTC EVO 3D

These are two first dual camera phones in the market! These phones were made for users who want to create their own 3D videos. The two cameras in the setup share the same specs, but they take pictures of the same object from different angles. The pictures then are mixed together to produce a 3D video or images. This feature seems super cool but in fact, the two phones didn’t succeed in the market.

The 3D technology was new and interesting at that time, but it was not something people were dying for. The new camera technology raised LG Optimus 3D price and HTC EVO 3D price so much higher, not to mention that in order to view 3D images and videos, users had to buy 3D glasses. Even 3D TV could not make it in the market. So it’s not surprising that these phones weren’t hits.

2. HTC M8

The HTC seems to have learned from the failure of HTC EVO 3D. With HTC M8, the company has changed the camera technology in the dual set-up. Instead of shooting from different angles, in HTC M8, the secondary camera is to measure the distance between objects and the lens, in order to create photos with blurry background and allow the users to “shoot first, focus later”. This technology was made to produce similar photos to those captured by DSLR camera. However, HTC M8 was also not successful in the market because the blurring effect was not as good as expected. HTC M8 price is currently $530.

3. LG G5 / LG V20

One of the next dual camera phones is LG G5. The secondary snapper in the dual setup of this phone are for wide-angle shooting (135 degree angle). However, that function is quite too much for smartphone camera. It looks like LG is too ambitious, as even DSLR cameras do not support 135 degree angle shooting. Users also don’t want to spend too much for such features (LG G5 price is $490). As a result, LG G5 is not really popular in the market. LG V20 – the latest flagship from LG also shares the same technology. Let’s see will this phone can take “revenge” for its predecessor (LG V20 price is expected to be $649!

4. Huawei P9

Huawei owners seem to be fond of black and white photos! The brand have added a monochrome camera to the main camera setup for black and white photos. The products of this camera is impressive, but after all, users don’t want to spend money for the effect that they already found in free photo-editing apps like VSCO or Instagram (Huawei P9 price is $500). So again, Huawei P9 is not remarkable in the world of smartphone photography. However, thanks to the powerful Huawei P9 specs (HiSilicon Kirin 955, 4GB RAM), this phone is still popular in the market.

5. iPhone 7 Plus

Last but not least, we have Apple iPhone 7 Plus as the latest dual camera phone! Different from other dual camera phones in the market, iPhone 7 Plus comes with a telephoto lens in the setup to produce better beauty shots or close-up photos like portraits, food, pets, etc., which are what users usually take pictures of. Currently iPhone 7 Plus is not available for sale yet, but the technology they feature seems more practical than that in other dual camera phones. iPhone 7 Plus price is expected to start from $769.

What to expect from dual camera phones by different producers?

So that’s our list of differences purposes of dual camera, on different smartphones. Now have you understood the differences between those dual camera phones above? Which one is your favorite? What do you want out of dual camera setup? Share with us!

Phones come with different types of batteries. Each of them has distinct specs differences. Here are the five phone battery technologies that you should know about:

1. Lithium-Ion

The lithium-ion batteries (Li-ion batteries) have lithium ions that go from negative to positive electrodes when the battery is used, and go in opposite direction when the battery is being charged. This type of battery does not have the ‘memory effect’. The ‘memory effect’ implies that a given battery will slowly lose its total battery capacity when the battery isn’t fully discharged when used.

In general, Li-ion batteries use advanced technology, which offers impressively high charge capacities in respect to their actual sizes and weights. On the other hand, this results in lithium-ion batteries having fairly higher price. They are not very compatible with older models of mobile phones, and are used mainly in modern smartphone.

2. Lithium Polymer

The lithium polymer batteries (LiPo batteries) are batteries that use lithium-ion technology inside soft/flexible external container, which is also called “polymer casing”. The battery comes with a plastic container, and it is often in the form of a soft pouch. As a result, the lithium polymer batteries are more lightweight, less rigid, and theoretically slimmer and smaller. These batteries are also safer for usage than other types. Similarly to Li-ion batteries, the LiPo batteries do not suffer from ‘memory effect’. Furthermore, they can have 1.4 times larger capacities than some other phone battery technologies with same sizes (specifically: the nickel cadmium batteries).

3. Nickel Cadmium

The nickel cadmium batteries (Ni-Cd or NiCad batteries) are batteries that have electrodes that use nickel oxide hydroxide and metallic cadmium. Phone producers stopped using the Ni-Cd batteries for two main reasons: memory effect and material toxicity. Firstly, the batteries need to be completely discharged before they can be charged again. If users re-charge when the battery isn’t fully used up, the battery would end up breaking down due to decreases in its capacity and life span. Secondly, the components of nickel cadmium batteries are toxic. Therefore, they need to be treated very carefully when they are being disposed of, which is a problem in itself.

4. Nickel Metal Hydride

Nickel metal hydride baterries (NiMH batteries) are similar to Ni-Cd batteries in the use of nickel oxide hydroxide for positive electrodes, but are different from Ni-Cd batteries in that they use a hydrogen-absorbing alloy for negative electrodes. The NiMH battery can run about 30%-40% longer than a Ni-Cd battery, and it can contain 2 to 3 times as much capacity as a Ni-Cd battery of the same size. It is calculated that a nickel metal hydride battery have energy density close to that of lithium-ion battery. Unfortunately, the NiMH batteries also suffer from the ‘memory effect’ but with smaller degree than Ni-Cd batteries. However, the components aren’t toxic. These batteries are widely used as one of the most affordable and safe phone batteries out there.

5. New Lithium-ion Microbattery

With the phone battery technologies listed above, we can see the general direction that battery technology is heading.  The researchers and developers want batteries that have better capacity, energy density and life span. However, at the same time, they want batteries that are environmentally friendly and affordable. The focus now is on the improvement of lithium-ion batteries by the use of nano-architecture. The new lithium-ion microbatteries are said to be many times stronger and more durable, and built in a smaller size. Some technological prototypes of this concept have been created. However, they are all still in the research and development phases.

Five phone battery technologies

With how the fast-growing and fast-changing technology is, it won’t be a surprise that we will soon witness another technological advancement regarding the phone batteries. Let us know what do you think about the list!