Smartphone

The mobile VR headset arena will soon be heating up as the Gear VR will have to compete with the cheaper Google Daydream. (Source: Wired)

Samsung Gear VR represents over 70% of all VR headsets shipped in 2016

Being the first VR headset out the gate, along with wide availability and low cost, allowed Samsung's headset to ahead of the other headset vendors before their competing devices hit the shelves.

Isaac Brown, 08 Feb 2017 02:43

Samsung Galaxy S8 unofficial render, Bixby/Kestra AI to offer support for up to 8 languages out of the box

Samsung's Bixby to offer support for 7-8 languages at launch

Although this rumor has not been confirmed by Samsung yet, it looks like the virtual assistant expected to arrive with the Galaxy S8 would offer support for up to eight languages out of the box.

Codrut Nistor, 07 Feb 2017 20:19

Asus ZenFone 3s Max Android smartphone with MediaTek processor and 5,000 mAh battery

Asus ZenFone 3s Max launches in India

Three months after the ZenFone 3 Max arrived in India, its successor comes to offer an impressive 5,000 mAh battery, Android Nougat out of the box, a 64-bit MediaTek processor, and 3 GB RAM, all for around $220 USD.

Codrut Nistor, 07 Feb 2017 13:55

BlackBerry smartphones could reach India after being manufactured locally

BlackBerry teams up with Optiemus

The exclusive long-term agreement with Optiemus will bring secure BlackBerry Android handsets, software and services to more markets, including India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal.

Codrut Nistor, 07 Feb 2017 12:10

The additional confirmation we need that HTC is not holding back on the hardware for the next HTC flagship. (Source: The Inquirer)

HTC tests 2017 flagship with Snapdragon 835 on Verizon

Since other smartphones can only release their Snapdragon 835 phones after Samsung does, the inclusion of the chipset means that HTC's flagship may hit the market later in the year than the HTC 10 did in 2016.

Isaac Brown, 07 Feb 2017 07:11

Samsung may no longer source smartphone batteries from China

The South Korean conglomerate will instead look to local and Japanese manufacturers for all of its upcoming Galaxy S8 battery demands.

Allen Ngo, 06 Feb 2017 23:50

Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016) Android handset gets Samsung Pay support in India

Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016) gets Samsung Pay support in India

The latest minor update for this handset in India does not even carry the latest security patches but comes with support for Samsung's mobile payments service.

Codrut Nistor, 06 Feb 2017 22:37

Could Andrasta be the new Cyanogen Inc.? (Source: Andrasta.com)

Cyanogen, Inc. might be renamed to Andrasta

Cyanogen Inc. may be rebranding itself as Andrasta in order to separate future operations from the Cyanogen name.

Sam Medley, 06 Feb 2017 17:40

Unlocked Motorola Moto Z Android smartphone by Lenovo gets Nougat update

Android Nougat hits unlocked Moto Z handsets

As previously promised, the new firmware is now available for all unlocked Moto Z handsets in the US, but it seems the update only includes the November security patches at this time.

Codrut Nistor, 06 Feb 2017 15:40

Samsung Galaxy C5 Pro SM-C501X hits WiFi Alliance and gets WiFi certification

Samsung Galaxy C5 Pro gets its WiFi certification

While the China-exclusive SM-C5010 surfaced in late December, the new Galaxy C5 Pro variant that received its WiFi certification, dubbed SM-C501X, is expected to be available in foreign markets. Sadly, nothing is official yet.

Codrut Nistor, 06 Feb 2017 11:15

Nokia to hold MWC 2017 press conference on February 26th

HMD Global may have a smartphone or two up its sleeve for show at this year's MWC. Rumors are few and far between on what exactly the company has been working on behind curtains.

Allen Ngo, 06 Feb 2017 04:09

More details and leaks suggest higher starting price for the LG G6

Outside from the older Snapdragon 821 SoC, the G6 could also be shipping with a 32-bit quad-DAC module similar to the one used in the V20. New renders point to a 2:1 5.7-inch display and overall smaller dimensions than the LG G5.

Allen Ngo, 05 Feb 2017 20:39

Huawei Mate 9 now available in black

An official third color option joins the original gray and silver. Additional colors like Rose Gold or others have yet to be announced.

Allen Ngo, 05 Feb 2017 20:36

The Google Now Launcher has been a popular option for Android OEMs and users. (Source: Google Play Store)

End of an Era: Google Now Launcher will soon be discontinued

Google plans to delist the Google Now Launcher by the end of March and remove it from the list of approved launchers for use by OEMs.

Sam Medley, 05 Feb 2017 05:33

Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus renders show design and screen size differences

More unofficial images suggest a screen size ratio closer to 2:1 instead of the expected 16:9 on both the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus.

Allen Ngo, 04 Feb 2017 04:22

LG K10 2017 launching in South Korea later this month

The budget-mainstream 5.3-inch K10 will kick off the LG K series and sell for approximately 210 to 240 Euros depending on the storage size. A launch date overseas has not yet been announced.

Allen Ngo, 03 Feb 2017 23:49

ZTE Blade A2 Plus Android smartphone hits India

ZTE Blade A2 Plus hits India

This 5.5-inch handset will go on sale next week exclusively via Flipkart and comes with Android Marshmallow on board, but features a generous 5,000 mAh battery, 4 GB RAM, having a 1.5 GHz octa-core processor under the hood.

Codrut Nistor, 03 Feb 2017 23:10

The graph doesn't tell the whole story; Sony's smartphones are finally making the company money now. (Source: Xperia blog)

Sony revises forecasts downwards after Xperia sales disappoint

Sony's smartphone business has contracted sharply over the past two years as the company restructures to focus on profits. While the company might appear to be struggling, at least they are no longer bleeding cash.

Isaac Brown, 03 Feb 2017 18:34

Huawei Honor 8 Lite Android smartphone color options

Honor 8 Lite spotted in Finland

Although it still has to be officially unveiled, this 5.2-inch handset has been apparently listed as available for pre-order in Finland, being expected to begin shipping on February 17.

Codrut Nistor, 03 Feb 2017 12:50

It may have taken years, but the deal to cut down roaming costs is finally paying off. (Source: Pocket Now)

EU is on the verge of removing roaming charges for good

After June 15, travelers will be able to go anywhere within EU borders without having to pay any extra fees. Everyone will pay the same price, and there will be no exceptions to this rule. Everybody wins.

Isaac Brown, 03 Feb 2017 10:11

Nubia Z11 camera falls short of the latest iPhone and Nexus smartphones

The Sony Exmor RS IMX298 camera in the Z11 is slower with more image noise according to tests from DxOMark.

Allen Ngo, 02 Feb 2017 23:26

Firefox OS and the team behind it are officially gone. (Source: Mozilla)

Mozilla eliminates Firefox OS development team

After discontinuing Firefox OS in September, Mozilla has now disbanded the development team and will be laying off 50 employees.

Sam Medley, 02 Feb 2017 23:06

Huawei P10 Plus Android smartphone/phablet front render

Huawei P10 and P10 Plus renders show up online

This pair of handsets is powered by HiSilicon Kirin chipsets, also coming with Android Nougat on board. The high-end P10 Plus features up to 8 GB RAM and 256 GB internal storage, as well as a dual-camera setup.

Codrut Nistor, 02 Feb 2017 13:55

Samsung Galaxy A5 2017 is already outselling its predecessor in South Korea

The Galaxy A5 is not coming to the U.S. and is only available for pre-order in parts of Europe, but it is already selling like hotcakes in its home region.

Allen Ngo, 02 Feb 2017 06:52

The OnePlus 3T has been found to have cheated on benchmarking tools like AnTuTu. (Source: Phone Arena)

OnePlus and Meizu caught cheating on benchmarks

Both companies' flagships were found to maintain high clock speeds instead of idling based on which app was currently opened. This happened with benchmarking apps like Geekbench and AnTuTu.

Sam Medley, 01 Feb 2017 20:45

Huawei Honor 8 Lite alleged image, launch rumored for March

Alleged Honor 8 Lite images leak online

The unannounced Huawei Honor 8 Lite is expected to show up at MWC, targeting the mid-range sector of the market. This handset would not feature a dual-camera setup or USB Type-C connectivity, claim the rumors.

Codrut Nistor, 01 Feb 2017 16:15

Apple iPhone 6S smartphone, Apple leading the global smartphone market

Apple dominates the smartphone market

Global smartphone shipments reached a record 1.49 billion units back in 2016, while Apple managed to beat Samsung and to grab the leading position in the fourth quarter, thanks to the Note 7 disaster.

Codrut Nistor, 01 Feb 2017 15:25

The source, whose identity remains unknown, managed to grab a few shots of what seems to be a LG prototype. (Android Authority)

LG G6 prototype images may have leaked online

These latest images may offer a glimpse at LG's upcoming flagship. Even though it's still encased in a development shell, the phone's screen size combined with the tiny bezel look very appealing.

Isaac Brown, 01 Feb 2017 05:27

Nintendo made a $569 million profit over the holidays. (Source: Nintendo)

Nintendo financial highlights: Pokemon pays big, hardware sales slow

Nintendo hit it big this holiday season with Pokemon Sun and Moon, while Wii U sales continued to falter. Smartphone app sales were mixed.

Sam Medley, 31 Jan 2017 23:17

Oppo Find 9 may launch in two variants with Snapdragon SoCs

Talk of Oppo's next flagship smartphone is suggesting very thin bezels and multiple SKUs with different Snapdragon SoCs for a starting price of about 550 Euros.

Allen Ngo, 31 Jan 2017 22:46

After February, Coin services will no longer be available. (Source: Coin)

Coin to shut down mobile payment services in February

While their wallet devices will still operate, all app and support services will shut down at the end of next month.

Sam Medley, 31 Jan 2017 22:35

Moto E3 Power Android smartphone will not get Nougat

Moto E3 Power will not get Android 7.0 anymore

Although this 5-inch Android handset has only been around since last September, it will not receive the Nougat update. While this MediaTek-powered smartphone remains stuck to Marshmallow, various older Motorola handsets will receive Android 7.0.

Codrut Nistor, 31 Jan 2017 22:34

Plex acquires news streaming service Watchup

The media streaming service Plex will bring reliable news streaming into the mix with the acquisition of Watchup.

Sam Medley, 31 Jan 2017 21:38

Oppo A57 Android smartphone with 16 MP front camera and Qualcomm Snapdragon 435

Oppo A57 coming to India

This selfie-centric Android handset launched in China back in December 2016 and is scheduled to hit India on February 3. Its specs include a generous 16 MP front camera with f/2.2 aperture.

Codrut Nistor, 31 Jan 2017 20:05

Google Nexus 9 Android tablet will not get 7.1.2 Nougat firmware

No more Nougat updates for Nexus 6 and Nexus 9

Although the Nexus 6 phone and Nexus 9 tablet will no longer get Android updates since Google has confirmed that Android 7.1.2 would not reach them, these devices will continue to get security patches.

Codrut Nistor, 31 Jan 2017 15:50

Nougat Launcher app hits Tizen smartphones

Nougat Launcher hits Tizen Store

The Nougat experience is now available to Tizen smartphones, although it comes from an independent app developer shaped as a basic app that simply launches other apps and then shuts down.

Codrut Nistor, 31 Jan 2017 13:15

Apple has been struggling to compete with the more aggressively-priced smartphones coming out of China. (Source: CNBC)

Oppo R9 replaces iPhone as top selling phone in China

After five years, a mighty titan has been dethroned. Apple's iPhone has finally been supplanted by a fast-growing mid-range smartphone maker Oppo Electronics. Apple will have to impress with the iPhone 7 in order to win Chinese consumers back.

Isaac Brown, 31 Jan 2017 03:12

The Nextbit Robin sought to give users nearly unlimited storage by removing unused local programs and data and uploading them to the cloud. (Source: Nextbit)

Nextbit Robin team acquired by Razer

The Nextbit team, developers of the Robin cloud-based smartphone project, have been acquired by Singaporean gaming hardware company Razer.

Douglas Black, 31 Jan 2017 01:11

The Blackphone 2 from Silent Circle is designed around security. (Source: Blackphone)

Silent killer: Update to Blackphone's Silent OS intentionally breaks unauthorized devices

The makers of the ultra-secure Blackphone have released an update to Silent OS that prevents the operating system from running on phones "identified as unlicensed."

Sam Medley, 30 Jan 2017 23:52

Starbucks' new virtual assistant takes coffee orders via voice

Starbucks has updated their app to include a virtual assistant. Users can now use the app to place orders using either voice commands or a chat interface. The app will also integrate with Alexa.

Sam Medley, 30 Jan 2017 21:51

Samsung Galaxy Grand Neo and J2 Prime get the January 2017 Android security patch

Samsung Galaxy Grand Neo and Galaxy J2 Prime get updated

The factory unlocked variants of these two entry-level Android handsets have just begun to receive the security patch that takes care of 67 common vulnerabilities and exposures.

Codrut Nistor, 30 Jan 2017 21:35

Oppo and Vivo are now the 4th and 5th largest smartphone manufacturers worldwide

Both Lenovo and LG are no longer two of the top five largest smartphone manufacturers while Samsung and Apple continue to dominate the market with over 38 percent of worldwide shipments.

Allen Ngo, 30 Jan 2017 08:06

Satechi USB-C Power Meter accessory for USB Type-C charging devices

Satechi releases a new USB-C Power Meter

This handy accessory allows its users to test the output parameters of their chargers and provides information about their safety, effectiveness, and USB Type-C compatibility.

Codrut Nistor, 29 Jan 2017 23:45

ZTE Hawkeye mid-range crowdsourced Android handset to get a new beginning

ZTE might reboot the Hawkeye project

Since ZTE already decided that the specs of the Hawkeye handset need a bump to draw enough attention on Kickstarter, it might not be a bad idea to change the specs and to start once again, pushing the device into the high-end market sector.

Codrut Nistor, 29 Jan 2017 15:50

Kyocera rafre KYV40 washable smartphone with Android Nougat

Kyocera announces Japan-exclusive washable smartphone

The rafre KYV40 smartphone will be available via KDDI Corporation and is the successor of the world's first "hand-soap-washable smartphone," namely DIGNO rafre. It comes with Nougat on board, as well as a hand gesture-operated cooking app.

Codrut Nistor, 28 Jan 2017 19:45

Lenovo lists Moto smartphones eligible for Android 7.0 OTA updates

The Moto G4, G4 Plus, X Force, and X Play will all begin receiving Android 7.0 upgrades later this February with the Moto X Style, G4 Play, and Z Play to follow shortly thereafter.

Allen Ngo, 28 Jan 2017 05:39

Leaked images of what may be Surface Phones. They have yet to be confirmed, however. (Source: 1redDrop)

Microsoft's Lumia smartphone sales numbers disappoint

Windows Phone may be on its last legs, but Microsoft isn't giving up on smartphones just yet. The upcoming Surface Phone represents all of the company's hopes and dreams when it comes to the mobile market.

Isaac Brown, 28 Jan 2017 03:50

Sony Xperia Z4 tablet with Android, Sony to debut five new devices soon

Sony could launch five devices next month

One of these five devices could be the Xperia XZ2, a top-of-the-line handset with a 5.5-inch 4K display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, 6 GB RAM, and the new Sony IMX400 sensor powering the main camera.

Codrut Nistor, 27 Jan 2017 23:55