Author: chris eilers

In case of being finding a new smartphone for less than $150 (RM640), you can check out the following devices. They all will not cost much yet their specs can easily meet your basic demands in work, study and entertainment.  

5 super budget smartphones in 2015 for under $150 (RM640)

1. ASUS ZenFone 2 Laser

As what the name suggests, the phone sports a camera supporting laser AF. Besides, other ASUS ZenFone 2 Laser specs include a 3,000mAh battery, a Snapdragon 410 chip, 2GB RAM + 16GB ROM, a 5-inch HD display, and a combo of a 13MP rear and a 5MP front camera. The whole machine runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop OS.

2. YU Yureka Plus

With a simple elegant look, YU Yureka Plus can be a good option in the sub $150 range. YU Yureka Plus specs have a Snapdragon 615 chip, 2GB RAM + 16GB ROM, a 5.5-inch Full HD screen, and a common set of a 13MP and a 5MP cam. Besides, it is run by CM12 OS based on Android Lollipop and a 2,500mAh battery.

3. Lenovo K3 Note

As the word “Note” reminds us of phablets, the Lenovo K3 Note is a real phablet with a 5.5-inch FHD display, 2GB RAM and a 64-bit MT6752 processor to be basic. In addition, a 13MP/5MP snapper combo, a 3,000mAh battery, and Android 5.0 Lollipop are also on-board.

 4. Micromax Canvas Nitro A311

The name of the phone is a bit long and maybe hard to remember. But, the point is that Micromax Canvas Nitro A311 price is under $150 for a package of a Mediatek MT6592 processor, 2GB RAM + 16GB ROM, Android 4.4.2 KitKat OS, a 5-inch HD display and a 2,500mAh batt. As for the shooter, the primary is capable of 13 megapixels and the secondary is of 5 megapixels.

 5. Lava Icon

We know its name is quite strange but the specs are good if compared to the price. Lava Icon specs feature a 3GHz quad-core chipset, 2GB RAM + 16GB ROM, a 5-inch HD screen, a 13MP/5MP cam combo, and a 2,500mAh cell. You can take it with you anywhere.

Those are the 5 super budget smartphones in 2015 for under $150 (RM640). The screen size varies from 5.0 inches to 5.5 inches and they all pack 2GB RAM, which is able to bring you smooth performances in a lot of activities. So, which one would you choose? 

Sony Xperia smartphones are famous for their waterproof feature. But have you heard about a phone that floats, even when dropped deep into a pool of water? This Comet smartphone can do that, and even more, for only USD 249.

Comet smartphone: 1st floating smartphone in the world

According to reports, 82.5 million smartphones have been water damaged or lost when dropped into pools and seas. With Comet, a product made in India, you no longer need to worry about these problem, the phone will find the way back to you. The handset will plunge to the surface and float on water with IPx7 water-resistant technology. All thanks to Comet smartphone special design, adapted from that of a real boat. Such a brilliant idea, don’t you think?

Beside the special feature, other Comet smartphone specs also make sure to impress you: a handy 4.7″ HD AMOLED, strong 4GB RAM with Snapdragon 810 and octa core under the hood. To be more appealing for most users, the Comet has beautiful 16MP dual cameras that come with super trendy modes and functions. Comet also packs a 2,800 mAH battery that lasts through your full day of work, party and excitement. The smartphone is expected to be launched soon in 2016.

If those are not enough to impress you yet, the Comet also has a breakthrough in personal privacy, which are not found very frequently in smartphones: the QLOCK. It is a military grade encryption used to protect your information, making it almost impossible for anyone to spy one and hack your privacy. Convinced, aren’t you?

Comet smartphone: humbled price for an amazing innovation

I am quite sure this Comet smartphone sounds like nothing you have heard before. Impressive as it can be, the Comet smartphone price is as low as $249 if you sign up early. For further information, details and capabilities of the smartphone, please refer to our source here

Recently, a research has shown that developing lithium-oxygen battery could bring the idea of an “ultimate battery” to life. Is it possible in the future?

Li-air battery can be the “ultimate battery” we desire…

Lithium-oxygen (aka Li-air) has energy density benefits that are better than current lithium-ion cells and considered as the base for the “ultimate battery“. Specially, it is able to offer ten times the theoretical energy density of current batts, which means we can see smaller, cheaper and longer lasting ones for some small tools or vehicles powered by batts. If we used to think that a “ultimate battery” was just a dream, now the huge potential benefits of Li-air can change your mind thanks to the researchers of the University of Cambridge.

Yes, they have found a way to demonstrate a new kind of cell known as lithium-oxygen which is 90 percent more efficient and stable than what they tried in some experiments before. In addition, it can be recharged more than 2000 times. How amazing! Yet, we also need to be aware of some difficulties in emerging such battery techs. Obviously, it has to keep pace with the machine’s processor and deal with some energy sapping components inside the gadget in order to prevent a decrease in use time.

Besides, they also found an alternative – post-lithium batteries which are essential to automotive development and green energy storage industries but whether it can help create an “ultimate battery” is another story.

“While there are still plenty of fundamental studies that remain to be done, to iron out some of the mechanistic details, the current results are extremely exciting – we are still very much at the development stage, but we’ve shown that there are solutions to some of the tough problems associated with this technology,” – Professor Clare Grey of Cambridge’s Department of Chemistry

Anyhow, it means “ultimate battery” can come true…

Anyhow, we assume that this is a good sign for the idea “ultimate battery”. There are obstacles but at least the researchers are really trying to solve them. If it comes true, smartphones in particular will possibly last all week with just a single charge. Doesn’t it sound great?

(Source: androidauthority)

Lenovo Vibe series is not strange to us but Lenovo Vibe P series can be. Its two first products have been released and able to impressed a lot of people because of their designs and specs, especially the batteries. We’ve already unboxed the Lenovo Vibe P1, so today it is the P1m’s turn!

Lenovo Vibe P1m – A super powerful medium smartphone

The two first member of the Lenovo Vibe P line-up are Vibe P1 and P1m. Their selling point is their huge batts. If P1’s bigger with a 5.5-inch FHD screen and a 5,000mAh cell, P1m’s smaller with a 5.0-inch HD IPS and a 4,000mAh one. Actually, we think “m” stands for “medium”, hinting that in case of wanting a device to put in your pocket more easily, Vibe P1m will be a great choice. It still has a fantastic battery life which can last 3 days (with normal use) and about 2 days (with heavy use).

The box looks attractive and similar to P1’s one. P1m’s body is mainly made of plastic with an interesting advanced nano-coating technology by P2i for protection which also makes it waterproof and the back removable. Apart from that, Lenovo Vibe P1m specs also have a 64-bit MediaTek MT6735 chip paired with Mali-T720 GPU, 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of ROM (expandable). The whole machine runs on Android 5.1 Lollipop operating system and supports a dual SIM and 4G LTE connectivity.

Well, in the following pictures, you will see a smartphone that perfectly fits your palm. There is no fingerprint scanner or physical home button, which makes Vibe P1m more elegant. However, some people wish that it could be built with an alloy back and an Full HD display resolution. Then, Lenovo Vibe P1m would be much better. Anyhow, it would mean an increase in the price as well.

Lenovo Vibe P1m price and availability

Lenovo Vibe P1m price is $159 (equivalent to RM660), which attracts those who want a big battery device a lot. And of course, you can find one on the Malaysian market at RM599 HERE. And now, it is time for you to see how beautiful Lenovo Vibe P1m is!

(Source: thegioididong)

Now, keep in mind that we are going to find smartphones as strong as Lenovo Vibe X3 but more affordable than the X3 today. In order words, they have to own 3GB RAM and cost under $300 (RM1,300) to become the best Lenovo Vibe X3 rivals this month!

1. OnePlus X – $249

Firstly, we want to introduce a OnePlus product just launched at the end of October: OnePlus X. This time, OnePlus team has really been able to impressed customers. The X has a beautiful design along with a powerful package of specifications. Specifically, OnePlus X specs include a 5.0-inch Full HD screen, a Snapdragon 801, a 13MP rear plus an up to 8MP front camera (a perfect one for selfie lovers), and a 2,525mAh battery. As for the OnePlus X price, you can purchase an X at $249 (RM1,080).

2. UMI Rome – $89

Secondly, we have UMI Rome, a very new smartphone we just have feature recently. We are surprised by its RAM capacity (3GB RAM) and price. With $89 (RM385), UMI Rome price can be the lowest not only here but also on the market in general. Besides the 3GB RAM, UMI Rome specs spota MediaTek MT6753 octa-core 1.3GHz chip, a 5.5-inch HD display, a 2,500mAh battery, Android 5.1 Lollipop OS, a 13MP rear cam with Sony IMX164 sensor and a dual LED flash, and a 2MP front one with a LED flash.

3. LeTV Le1S – $172

This is also a Chinese handset and more budget than Lenovo Vibe X3 price. Moreover, LeTV Le1S specs are excellent if compared to the cost. It boasts an octa-core Mediatek Helio X10 2.2Ghz processor, a high-end fingerprint scanner, a set of 5MP plus 13MP shooter, a USB Type-C port, a 5.5-inch Full HD screen and a 3,000mAh cell supporting super fast charging speeds. So, how much is LeTV Le1S price? It is priced at 1,099 Yuan ($172 or RM750). We guess when Le1S goes on sale in international markets, it can be around $210-220 (RM910-950). Still a good deal, right?!

4. Elephone P6000 PRO – $139

Elephone P6000 PRO specs include a 1.7 GHz Octacore MediaTek MT6753 chipset, a 5.0-inch HD screen, a 13MP main and a 2MP selfie snapper, and a 2,700mAh cell to be basic. With a small size, you can comfortably put the phone in your pocket. Though, the secondary camera does not seem awesome for selfie lovers, right?! But, say, you may still like it when Elephone P6000 PRO price is just $139 (RM600). It can be a useful tool for you to work, study and relax in daily life.

5. Elephone P7000 – $260

If we say with just $260 (RM1,130), you can buy a machine featuring a 5.5-inch FHD display, a 1.7 GHz octa-core MTK6752 64-bit processor, a fingerprint sensor, a 13MP/5MP cam set, and a 3,450mAh battery, do you believe us? That is totally possible if it is Elephone P7000. It is said to have one of the most stunning designs among other devices in its kind and support different custom ROMs like EMUI, Flyme, MIUI, Stock Android Lollipop (coming with it by default). It sounds so great, doesn’t it?

6. Meizu Blue Charm Metal

Meizu Blue Charm Metal specs are said to be a 5.5-inch Full HD screen, an octa-core 2GHz MediaTek Helio X10 chip, 5MP and 13MP cams, and a 3,050mAh battery. Its body is not made of plastic as other previous Meizu products. Instead, a metal one is in charge to make it pretty. Meizu Blue Charm Metal price is around $205 (RM870), which can become as strong rival to not only Lenovo Vibe X3 but also many others with the same 3GB RAM.

The above 6 smartphones are all run by 3GB RAM like Lenovo Vibe X3. In spite of not being able to own a fabulous 21MP back camera as what we see in the Vibe X3, they are still good devices in terms of specifications and prices. Which one do you like most? Share with us!

Not long ago, we heard that Sony could possibly stop producing mobiles in the future but it would not happen. Instead, they are trying to find a way to develop their smartphone division mroe and more. Maybe that is why a Sony chip will be seen soon!

Sony rumored to be developing their own smartphone chip

If that is the case, Sony will be the next giant smartphone manufacturer, after Samsung, Huawei, Apple and LG to have their own Sony smartphone chip. Of course, it will be used for Sony devices first, which will also become an identity for Sony products. During the past time, Qualcomm and MediaTek have been the main processor suppliers for Sony handsets. They are good but sometimes problems occur and Sony cannot do many things to solve them at once. They have to wait for the suppliers’ resolution.

That could be a reason why this Japanese guy wants to produce a chip, so they can control things much more effectively. At the moment, we are wondering what name Sony will give their chipset. Huawei has HiSilicon Kirin; Samsung has Exynos; Apple has Apple A chip series; and even LG is developing their own Nuclun chip. However, in fact, Samsung with the coming Exynos 8890 is kind of more standing out and attracting many people due to its high productivity, especially when it is going to power their next flagship Samsung Galaxy S7. 

As for Sony, we hope they can find a great name for a great chip which will bring the best performance for all Sony smartphones. If so, the company will be able to increase the sales and there will be no rumor like the cancellation of Sony smartphone division anymore. Do you think so?

Should they stay the same or go their own way?

Anyhow, there is another possibility that Sony cannot do it right away, but in the near future, they may design the chip and have another partner mass-produce it. Let’s wait and see! Yet, yould you prefer Sony to stay the same as now or go for a totally new thing like that?

You like taking selfies with your friends and are looking for a device (but not ASUS ZenFone Selfie) around $250 (RM1,080)? OK, this is the right place and you have 5 great options to choose. Check them out!

1. Sony Xperia M4 Aqua

Sony Xperia M4 Aqua was launched in March, 2015 and it has a decent combo very good cameras, including a pretty nice 13MP rear and a 5MP front-facing snapper. Though the resolution is not has high as ASUS ZenFone Selfie’s 13MP secondary shooter, many people have used and agreed that its ability of taking selfies is fantastic. And even when you want to make Skype video calls, you will very pleased with the M4 Aqua’s performance as well.

Other Sony Xperia M4 Aqua specs are 5.0-inch HD screen, a Snapdragon 615 chip, 2GB RAM, 8/16GB ROM, and a 2,400mAh battery. For the Sony Xperia M4 Aqua price, you can purchase one at $282 (RM1,220), which can cost more than the ASUS phone, but we are sure the selfies taken by M4 Aqua will not let you down.

2. Alcatel Onetouch Flash Plus

Next, we have Alcatel OneTouch Flash Plus 2. This is a very budget smartphone which is priced at RM549 here in Malaysia, but its front cam is amazing due to being capable of up to 8 megapixels. Other Alcatel Flash Plus specs also will meet your needs. Check them out in the following table:

3. Blu Selfie

By the name “Selfie”, we are pretty much sure what to expect from this new product. Specifically, it is a smartphone built around the cameras: 13MP cameras on the both surfaces. Apart from that, Blu Selfie is equipped with a MediaTek MT6592 octa-core processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB ROM, a 4.7-inch HD screen and a 2,300mAh battery. So, if you do not choose ASUS ZenFone Selfie, Blu Selfie can be a potential option with Blu Selfie price of $242 (RM1,045).

4. INFOCUS M330

InFocus M330 is another selfie-centric smartphone because it owns an 8MP front shooter. Besides, it has a simple beautiful design and scores ten out of ten when bringing us a palm-friendly feeling and being lag-free, efficient performance and long battery life.

Other than the 8MP snapper, there is a 13MP rear cam with f/2.2. Both of them come with blue glass filter which enables the sensors to see things as our eyes and improve the pic quality a lot. With an Infocus M330 price of $222.2 (RM960), you can get a machine containing a 5.5-inch HD display, 2GB RAM paired with 16GB ROM, a 1.7GHz octa-core chipset, and a 3,100mAh cell.

5. MICROMAX CANVAS SELFIE A255

Last but not least, Micromax Canvas Selfie A255 is also a beast in taking selfies. Along with many inbuilt beauty tools, its combo of 13MP front and rear cameras will make your pics fabulous. To be more specific, on the front, there is a soft flash and  on the back, there is a dual LED flash to help you capture things in low-light conditions.

Other Micromax Canvas Selfie A255 specs are a 4.7-inch display, a 1.7GHz Tru-Octacore processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB ROM, and a 2,300mAh batt. And Micromax Canvas Selfie price is set at $242 (RM1,045).

Well, those are the Top ASUS ZenFone Selfie alternatives for around $250 we found on the market. What do you think about them? Do they match your desire? 

Yes, we are going to talk about the best selfie smartphone ever on the market: Meitu V4. It comes with an up to 21MP front-facing camera with a 78.2-degree wide-angle lens to help you get the greatest selfies. Check it out!

So, do you agree with us to call Meitu V4 the champion of the selfie battle? Being rumored for a long time before it was officially announced, Meitu V4 has not let us down. According to the company, Meitu V4 specs include a 5-inch AMOLED Full HD screen, a MediaTek MT6795 octa-core processor paired with Cortex-A53 and PowerVR G6200 graphics, 3GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. Besides, it supports LTE network and runs on MeiOS 2.5 based on Android 5.1 Lollipop OS. And the best part is that the 21-megapixel camera is located on both the front and rear surface at the same time.

Moreover, Meitu V4 is designed in an interesting way. We have not seen something like it before. It owns a “double V” look and there is a place for the secondary snapper on the top of Meitu V4. You can choose between some color options like Rose Pink, Mint Green and Aurora White color, which are all elegant and beautiful, especially for women.

Apart from the V4, the manufacturer also released a variant with a smaller size called Meitu V4s. It features a 4.7-inch HD display with 312 ppi, a MediaTek MT6752 chip, 3GB of RAM, 64GB of ROM, a combo of a 13MP rear and a 13MP front camera and a 2,160mAh battery. The whole phone will be powered by Android 4.4 Lollipop along with MeiOS2. This is also a fantastic version, right?!

Meitu V4 price and availability

Meitu V4 price is 3,499 Yuan ($548 or RM2,395) and Meitu V4s price is $376 (RM1,640). Wow, we have to say that those are pretty high prices. But, if you have interest in them, you can look forward to November 20, 2015 when will be on sale. Both Meitu V4 and V4s seem super powerful in terms of selfie cam. Though the prices are really an issue we should consider carefully.

What could be more perfect than having a good budget smartphone, which means you do not have to pay too much for it, yet the specifications are pretty decent? Check out the following handsets and tell us which one do like most?  

1. Lenovo Vibe P1m – RM599

2. Alcatel Flash 2 – RM549

3. Meizu M2 – RM549

4. Huawei Honor 4X – RM649

5. Lenovo A7000 Plus – RM647

That’s all we’ve got for today. So, in case of wanting a normal smartphone to work, play and relax everyday, you can totally one of those 5 best budget smartphones which will meet your needs. And moreover, you just have to pay less than RM650. How does it sound?

You need a phablet to play and work and study? You should find a Note. We mean a smartphone containing “Note” in its name can be a good choice. Therefore, today, we would like to introduce 5 most potential ones to you!

VERY BUDGET

1. Xiaomi Redmi Note 2

Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 is a budget flagship from one of our favorite Chinese smartphone makers – Xiaomi. Basically, it sports a 5.5-inch Full HD screen, a Mediatek MT6795 chip, 2GB RAM, and 16/32GB ROM. The whole machine is run by Xiaomi MIUI 7 OS based on Android 5.0 Lollipop and a 3,060mAh battery. As for the camera, there are a 13MP rear and a 5MP front one to help you take photos. The official Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 price in Malaysia has been announced at RM649.

2. Meizu M2 Note

Meizu M2 Note is also a budget flagship from one of Xiaomi’s strong rivals – Meizu. Meizu M2 Note specs include a 5.5-inch Full HD screen, a Mediatek MT6753 chip, 2GB RAM, and 16/32GB ROM. The whole handset is powered by Flyme 4.5 OS based on Android 5.0 Lollipop and a 3,100mAh battery. In terms of camera, a 13MP rear and a 5MP front shooter are on-board to make it easier for you to take beautiful pictures. Meizu M2 Note price in Malaysia starts from RM540.

3. Coolpad Dazen Note 3

So, this could be a strange name in the list but it is not gonna lose to Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 or Meizu M2 Note. Coolpad Dazen Note 3 specs feature a 5.5-inch HD screen, a Mediatek MT6753 chip, 3GB RAM paired with 16GB ROM, Android 5.1 Lollipop, and a 3,000mAh cell. About its ability of capturing pics, a 13MP plus 5MP camera combo will do it for you. Coolpad Dazen Note 3 price is set at around RM830.

MORE PREMIUM

4. Xiaomi Mi Note Pro

This is a beast from Xiaomi company since it has a 5.7-inch 2K screen, a Snapdragon 810 chip, 4GB RAM, 16/64GB ROM, Android 5.0 with MIUI on top and a 3,000mAh battery, pretty similar to Samsung Galaxy Note 5, right?! The main camera is capable of 13 megapixels while the front is of 4 megapixels. At this point, perhaps the Note 5 is better. You can get one Xiaomi Mi Note Pro with 3,299 Yuan (RM1,900).

5. Samsung Galaxy Note 5

On the contrary, Samsung Galaxy Note 5 is a budget smartphone but a premium flagship phone from the Korean giant Samsung. Spec-wise, the Galaxy Note 5 specs contain a 5.7-inch 2K Super AMOLED screen, an Exynos 7420 chipset, 4GB RAM and 32GB ROM. Android 5.1 Lollipop OS and a 3,000mAh battery are in charge to power the device. Besides, there is a combo of a 16MP and a 5MP camera to assist you in becoming a photographer. Samsung Galaxy Note 5 price in Malaysia is from RM2,650.

Well, those are the best Note smartphones we found on the market nowadays. Each of them has its own strengths like the price, RAM, display, etc. Yet, which one do you like most? Share with us your opinions!

Recently, there has been a lot of news which may make you feel excited. First, we’ve got the information related to a Mi4i price drop, Xiaomi Mi5 release date and Redmi Note 2 Pro leaks. It seems Xiaomi is coming back with a big plan…

Xiaomi Mi4i, Mi5 and Redmi Note 2 Pro are in the spotlight!

Firstly, according to the company, Xiaomi Mi4i price for the 16GB version will be reduced to around $180 (RM790) starting from 18 November, 2015 on Mi.com. Besides, the flagship Mi4 is also discounted, which means you can be purchase one with 1,999 Yuan (RM1,374). These price drops are apparently hinting at a release of something new, perhaps the coming flagship Mi5 or the powerful variant of Redmi Note 2 – Redmi Note 2 Pro.

Xiaomi has just sent out an invitation to an event this month where some Xiaomi products will be introduced. Furthermore, two of the most interesting and expected handsets, Xiaomi Mi5 and Redmi Note 2 Pro, are said to come with strong specifications and breathtaking beauty. As for the main Xiaomi Mi5 specs, it will probably sport a 4K display and a Snapdragon 820 chip as its key selling points also.

About Redmi Note 2 Pro, a live picture of it has been spotted lately. The rear reminds us of a Meizu smartphone (Meizu MX5, to be precise) but with a fingerprint scanner which will make Redmi Note 2 Pro the very first machine in the house (of Xiaomi) to have this feature. Other Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 Pro specs may include a 5.5-inch Full HD display, a Helio X10 processor, 2GB RAM, a 13MP primary and a 5MP selfie cam.

Price and Availability

Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 Pro price is believed to be 1,099 Yuan ($170 or RM745) in China and Xiaomi Mi5 price is going to be 1,999 Yuan ($315 or RM1,375). Some adjustments can happen at the event on 24 November, 2015. Anyhow, we are so eager to see what Xiaomi will bring to wrap up a perfect year for them.

It seems more and more smartphone manufacturers have been paying much attention to the sub $100 (RM440) range. Therefore, we are witnessing many launches of such devices these days, including UMI ROME. 

UMI ROME – Premium like Samsung Galaxy Note 5 but much more affordable

UMI is a Chinese smartphone maker and has been attracting a lot of people recently due to their budget but strong and beautiful products. Lately, the company has introduced a smartphone called Rome. Impressively, it looks very similar to the latest flagship of Samsung – Samsung Galaxy Note 5, premium and glossy. The back cover is likely to be made of metal and the color is so sweet. Moreover, the specs are good enough.

Specifically, UMI Rome specs include a MediaTek MT6753 octa-core 1.3GHz chip and 3GB of RAM. Besides, the machine is equipped with a 5.5-inch HD display, a 2,500mAh battery, Android 5.1 Lollipop OS, and 16GB of internal storage. As for the camera, there are a 13MP rear cam with Sony IMX164 sensor and a dual LED flash, and a 2MP front one with a LED flash. So, we really like the 3GB RAM, the octa-core chip and the 13MP Sony snapper. However, some other features are not the top ones, to be honest.

But, you know what, you will be satisfied with this smartphone once knowing UMI Rome price by continuing reading the next part! As we mentioned, it is going to be under $100, which can help UMI Rome beat a lot of competitors such as Cubot X15 and Ulefone Paris. Well, are you excited and ready to take a UMI Rome home?

UMI ROME Price – Super affordable!

In fact, there are handsets out there coming with similar packages of features, but they are usually priced at around $200 (RM880). Meanwhile, the Rome will just cost you $89 (RM390). We would like to give you a big WOW, UMI Rome! Nonetheless, you have to wait a bit more to purchase one Rome for yourself since the company is preparing everything. Probably we can see it before Xmas.