Author: chris eilers

It’s been a while since the Lenovo Vibe X3 launch. We all know the phone sports many top specifications, especially the camera. So, let’s check out its real quality now!

Lenovo Vibe X3 camera: 21MP and what else?

Lenovo Vibe X3 specs include a 21MP rear shooter to assist you in taking photos. Of course, this is an impressive number and according to some Chinese tech sources, it is equipped with a Sony IMX230 sensor, 6 stack lens, PDAF (Phase detection auto focus), f/2.0 aperture and a dual LED flash. Besides, it has interesting apps as well as features that will help you capture things in a more gorgeous way.

Specifically, there is one camera app on the Lenovo Vibe X3 called “Snapit”. When you activate the cam for the first time, the app will automatically set the “Smart Mode” which identify the current light. If you do not want to use this mode, you can touch the yellow “s” to open a regular “auto” mode, or look for the “Pro” mode in menu at the bottom left to take manual control of the cam’s setting.

In general, the X3’s main camera focuses fast and offers great clarity. It is pretty sure you won’t be disappointed with the original shots produced by Lenovo Vibe X3. Moreover, you have a lot of features to use to create your own unique images. Let’s move on to next part to know more about them!

Most interesting apps for your wonderful pics

Furthermore, there is also a Panorama mode with fantastic features such as Art Nightscape (containing City Scape, Moving People, Stage and Indoor Low Light), Artistic HDR (with special options like Automobile, Portrait, Still Life and City), Background Defocus (to set up close to something in the foreground, then the snapper will capture the thing first before capturing the background which can be blurred as much as you want), Panoramic Selfie, Fast Motion/ Slow Motion and Fast and slow video.

(Source: gizchina) 

Huawei P9 is a high-end smartphone by the Chinese Giant that runs on premium Kirin 950 chip set. It has just been revealed that, Huawei is about to launch the P9 soon in early 2016….

Huawei P9 – next high-end Chinese smartphone for 2016

After the success of Huawei P8 – one of the top flagships of 2015 – Huawei was rumored to be working on the next generation Huawei P9. And according to the famous Chinese website Mobile Dad, Huawei is hinting a launch of the P9 in Q1 2016, specifically March – making it almost a year after the Huawei P8 release. This timing is good enough for customers to experience the old version and start looking for updates to a new one.

From what we know about Huawei P9 specs for now, the smartphone will sport a 5.2 inch display, same size with its predecessor Huawei P8, and probably offering a “curved design”. Though there is no further clarification, we are guessing it means a curved display like that of Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge. Also, as a higher end mobile device, Huawei P9 will run on the company’s Kirin 950 and paired with a powerful 4GB RAM.

One special Huawei P9 feature to be looking for is its camera module. It is said to offer an advanced dual rear camera with laser auto focus. Though Huawei did not reveal the sensor, this must imply high resolution cameras of at least 16MP or even more. Seems like the machine will also go with a fingerprint scanner.

Huawei P9 – launching early 2016

Together with the Huawei P9, Huawei will likely launch the P9 Max version with a 6.2 inch display. The P9 release is set to be in March 2016, while the P9 Max will be some months later, as the norm we know of nowadays smartphones. How much do you think is appropriate as Huawei P9 price at its launch date?

Do you want to take many beautiful photos on your holidays? If yes, how about bringing the following gorgeous smartphones with 21MP rear cameras with you? That is a great idea for this December, right?! Check them out now!

1. Meizu PRO 5

Meizu Pro 5 specs include a 5.7-inch Full HD AMOLED display, an Exynos 7420 chip made by Samsung, and 2 versions in terms of RAM and ROM: 3GB/32GB and 4GB/64GB. Besides, there are a fingerprint scanner, a USB Type-C port and fast charging tech coming along with a 3,050mAh battery, allowing the handset to get 65% of energy within 30 minutes. As for the camera, of course it sports a 21MP rear shooter with phase detection, laser autofocus, and a dual LED flash. The front one is also good with 5 megapixels.

To celebrate 2015 year-end season, Samsung has just launched a Winter Special Edition for their latest flagship Galaxy Note 5 with a gigantic 128GB internal storage and…

Samsung Galaxy Note 5 Winter Special Edition: gigantic internal storage

To celebrate 2015 year-end season, Samsung has just launched a Winter Special Edition for their latest flagship Galaxy Note 5 with a gigantic 128GB internal storage and comes in 2 color options: titan grey and titan gold. The special version does not feature any differences in terms of the Galaxy Note 5 specs and design, except for the whooping internal storage of up to 128GB capacity. While the original handset comes with no micrsoSD card slot, a bigger storage can be a great choice for many Note 5 fans.

Specs-wise, Galaxy Note 5 Winter Special Edition still sport a 5.7” AMOLED screen with the best display among all smartphones in the market. Other Galaxy Note 5 specs like 16MP camera, 4GB RAM together with Exynos 7420, 4K video recording or 3,000 mAH battery are still remained the same, except for the expanded 128GB of internal memory for maximum storage. Samsung announced that the edition will go on sale starting December 31 with 2 color options: titan grey and titan gold.

Seems like a bigger internal storage is becoming more and more desirable among smartphones. Earlier we have had Asus launching a Zenfone 2 Deluxe Special Edition and a Zenfone Selfie Special Edition, both coming with 128GB internal storage. For now, we have Galaxy Note 5 by to join in the game. And I hope we could be expecting more in the future.

Samsung Galaxy Note 5 Winter Special Edition

Samsung has announced the Galaxy Note 5 price – for Winter Special Edition as around USD 846 (converted from original price in Korean Won). Although this is not at all of low-end budget, a huge internal storage of up to 128GB, and beautiful casing color could be a exactly what some Galaxy Note 5 fans are looking for!

In this quarter, we have seen many launches of Chinese budget smartphones with pretty good specifications if compared to their costs. Now, check out some of them and tell us which one is the best!

1. OnePlus X

OnePlus X is equipped with a handy 5.0-inch Full HD Active Matrix OLED display, a non-removable lithium-polymer 2,525mAh battery and a 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor. Other OnePlus X specs include 3GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, a 13MP rear f/2.2 snapper with 0.2-second autofocus and phase detection autofocus, and an up to 8MP front-facing shooter. Well, for a budget phone, 8MP selfie cam is really a good deal. Besides, like OP 2, the X also runs on OxygenOS based on Android 5.1 Lollipop, providing useful Dark Mode for nighttime reading.

We all know that Nokia comeback to the smartphone market has been confirmed by Nokia CEO Rajiv. But little were we informed about any specific plan upon their grand event. But Rajiv has just share his personal thought about…

Nokia CEO: smartphone battery should last 10 years

Several weeks earlier, the piece of information we have expected for so long was finally confirmed by Nokia: The Legend is coming back to producing smartphone devices starting 2016. On welcoming this, Former Nokia executive Richard Kerris had said that : “They are also developing more great products. They gave me enough confidence to make me believe that Nokia did not fail.” Such a proud statement is hinting and assuring us that Nokia is planning something real big this time.

When asked about which was his biggest concern about smartphones nowadays, in World Internet Conference closing ceremony, Nokia CEO Rajiv said that : “In the present, because one of the very significant problems of smartphone is the battery, you need to solve the battery problem, let it be over 10 years of life”. Smartphone battery is currently on of the first part to be damaged, and the leader of Nokia hints that it should last much longer.

It is very understandable why Nokia concerns that much about the longevity of smartphone battery, since their mobile devices are known all around the world for the high quality and long lasting feature. Many use a Nokia phone since they were still a teenager, and until adult, though they have changed to several other phone, the Nokia still remains good.

Nokia comeback: to bring a solution for smartphone battery?

Although Rajiv did not imply whether their company will work on the phone battery, by raising the problem for the world to see, we can really expect some improvement coming on the way, either from Nokia or other producers who see the same issue. As 2016 is coming near by, and Nokia is about to launch a new phone, let’s keep calm and wait a bit more to see what it will be. (Source)

What will ASUS bring us next year? Will it be an ASUS ZenFone 3 as what we’ve been hearing a lot so far? Maybe yes! Lately, we’ve just learned ASUS is gearing up to release their third member of the ZenFone lineup…

ASUS ZenFone 3 will be more premium with a fingerprint scanner…

Accordingly, the company is preparing everything to launch a new flagship smartphone in 2016. It can be named ASUS ZenFone 3 as a successor to the famous ASUS ZenFone 2 introduced this year. Good news is that properly ASUS will equip their handset with a fingerprint scanner (FS) to make it more premium. And Elan Microelectronic together with a Chinese company called Goodix will be responsible for making the sensor.

If you remember, some months ago ASUS Chairman Johnny Shih used to reveal the Zen 3 could have a USB Type-C port and claimed that there would be no inflated price tag since they would “eat” the price of a value-enhancing feature if it could satisfy consumers. Actually, we think both FS and USB Type-C are likely to appear in the ASUS ZenFone 3 specs since they are so common nowadays and won’t cost much.

Besides, according to some other news sources, ASUS will be produce up to 30 million units, increasing 50% compared to 20 million ASUS ZenFone 2 units this year. Well, if so, they are really confident of their next smartphone, which also means it’s worth the wait. However, when will the ASUS ZenFone 3 launch occur? Check out the next part for more details.

ASUS ZenFone 3 price and availability

The device is said to appear in May or June, 2016 and it seems ASUS will do everything to keep the ASUS ZenFone 3 price around $300 or $350. And in case of boasting up to 6GB RAM, we are sure that a rise in the cost is absolutely possible and reasonable. But, let’s wait and see!

Lenovo K3 Note has been a successful Lenovo smartphone in the mid-range category. As 2016 is approaching, Lenovo hints the next generation, Lenovo K4 Note, allegedly launched in January 2016

Snapdragon 820 – the premium chip set by Qualcomm is about to launch in 2016 for higher-end flagships. However, rumors are saying that, Samsung is planning to keep it exclusive for their phones in the first 3 months.

Snapdragon 820 – to be exclusively for Samsung Galaxy S7 till April

The release of Snapdragon 820 has promised strong performance for future flagships. Earlier, we have heard that many smartphone producers had already signed up for their upcoming devices to get the new SoC. But as this arising source is suggesting, it seems like Samsung is going to have exclusivity for themselves, at least in the first 3 months of 2016. What does Samsung have in mind for now and which benefits will the Korean company gain with this advantage?

As you may already know, Samsung is getting ready to unveil their next generation of high-end smartphone – aka the successor of Galaxy S6 – the Samsung Galaxy S7. To prepare for this grand event, Samsung already launched their Exynos 8890 chip set for one version and will adopt the Snapdragon 820 for another version of the machine. By having the Snapdragon 820 kept exclusive for only them, Samsung will have the huge advantage of being the first to offer a new technology trend.

If this comes true, what will happen to other companies like Xiaomi and LG with their Xiaomi Mi5 and LG G5 flagships? Since rumors are saying Samsung will hole exclusivity for Snapdragon 820 till the beginning of April 2016. it seems like we won’t see Xiaomi Mi5 release and LG G5 release any time soon until Q2 2016.

Lenovo Vibe X3 was announced in November and ASUS ZenFone Zoom ZX550 in January, but it is said that both of them will go on sale this month. So, let’s take a look at the following comparison to see which one is better!

ASUS ZenFone Zoom vs Lenovo Vibe X3: 21MP is more powerful than 13MP, but…

First, let’s talk about their similarities and differences in specifications. We can easily see that they both have the same screen size and resolution: 5.5 inches and Full HD. For the rest, there are some main important differences we need to know. About processor, ASUS seems to prefer Intel chip to Snapdragon for their products. Specifically, the Zoom uses an Intel Atom Z3580 chipset to run the machine. This is faster and stronger a bit if compared to the X3’s Snapdragon 808 one.

As for the RAM and ROM, the ASUS ZenFone Zoom specs include 16/32/64/128GB ROM (expandable to 64GB) and 2/4GB RAM. Definitely, the ASUS smartphone has more options for consumers than its rival since the Lenovo Vibe X3 specs just contain 32/64GB ROM (expandable up to 128GB) and 3GB RAM. However, if it comes to battery, the Zoom’s 3,000mAh cell has to give in to the X3’s 3,600mAh one equipped with Fast Charging tech to help the handset reach 60% in 30 min.

And the best part is their cameras. The X3 boasts a more excellent cam combo than the Zoom thanks to its 21MP rear and 8MP front shooter. Meanwhile, the Zoom packs a quite common 13MP/5MP set. But, if we don’t mention the resolution, the Zoom’s main cam is really special due to its Japan’s HOYA optics, 3x optical zoom, 12x digital zoom, OIS, and laser focus.

ASUS ZenFone Zoom vs Lenovo Vibe X3: Price and availability

ASUS ZenFone Zoom price is around $433 for a 4GB RAM + 64GB ROM version while Lenovo Vibe X3 price is around $385 for 32GB and $460 for 64GB ver. Overall, the Zoom seems a bit more affordable than the X3 if you like strong RAM and processor. Though, the decision belongs to you. Which one is the winner here? 

After ZTE Axon, which was launched in October and able to draw much people’s attention, the company continues their success by releasing a new member of the Axon series. It is ZTE Axon Max. Check it out now!

ZTE Axon Max launch: The best phablet of the year

Now we do not have to guess anything about the ZTE Axon Max specs because the Axon Max launch just occurred today, revealing all the things you need to know about it. Spec-wise, the handset is powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 chip, 3GB RAM, and 32GB of internal storage. On the front surface, you will see a 6-inch screen with Full HD resolution. Those seem quite common features, right?!

However, if you check its cameras, you may be surprised due to its combo of a 13MP secondary cam and a 16MP main one. This is such a fantastic set for those who love taking photos in general as well as selfies in particular. Moreover, the battery is also perfect for you to use the machine more than just 24 hours. Specifically, it is capable of 4,140mAh. Last but not least, the device runs on Android 5.1 Lollipop OS out of the box, but hopefully Marshmallow update will come next year.

Design-wise, some people think ZTE Axon Max looks very similar to the high-end Huawei Mate 8 run by a HiSilicon Kirin 950 processor. Moreover, the shooter on the back is round, made of metal, and followed by a LED flash and  fingerprint scanner right below. Well, do you agree?

ZTE Axon Max price and availability

So, how much does it cost? Such a wonderful phablet will have a reasonable price tag. And according to the news source, you can pay $460 to purchase a ZTE Axon Max in China. Nonetheless, no word has been made for its international availability. Let’s wait and see!

Most people would love a smartphone having a good front-facing camera equipped with a “beautify” mode, so that they can take many beautiful selfies. Then, the following ones can be great options you can take into consideration.  

1 + 2. OPPO N1 and OPPO N1 Mini

OPPO N1 specs contain a 13MP main camera as well as a 13MP front-facing shooter. But actually, they are not 2 different shooters but just one cam which can swivel round to face the front. Besides, there are a dual-LED flash which radiates a softer light when positioned in the front-facing selfie mode, and many scene options for you such as Portrait, Night and Beautify 2.0. Other OPPO N1’s features are 5.9-inch Full HD screen, a Snapdragon 600 chip, a 3,610mAh batter, 16/32GB ROM and 2GB RAM.

As for the Mini version, the N1’s special camera and 2GB RAM are remained on the N1 Mini, yet other OPPO N1 Mini specs are different. Just like its name, the N1 Mini is smaller than the N1 due to sporting a 5.0-inch HD display, a Snapdragon 400 chip, 16GB ROM and a 2,140mAh battery.