Samsung opens new plant to meet Galaxy S6 edge demand

Apparently there can be too much of a good thing, and in Samsung's case the unanticipated high demand for the Galaxy S6 edge lead to shortages in the smartphone's supply. The limiting factor was quoted to be the dual-edge display, but Samsung was quick to address the issue. Industry insiders report that a new manufacturing line has already gone operational, which should bring the production volume to 5 million curved displays a month. That's a substantial increase compared to the previous 2 million units monthly output and should help the company reach the latest forecast of 70 million Galaxy S6/S6 edge device sales. The new plant's planned launch date was set for the month of June, but with the explosion of market demand Samsung managed to pull it off two months ahead of schedule. Owing in no small part to the special screen, the Galaxy S6 edge was reported to be the company's most expensive smartphone to produce. The 64GB Verizon version cost Samsung a whopping $290 for materials and assembly...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_opens_new_plant_to_meet_galaxy_s6_edge_demand-news-12045.php

Sony predicts a $2.5B operating profit for 2015

Sony has updated its operating profit forecast for the 2015 fiscal year, bringing the number up to JPY 300 billion. That translates to $2.52 billion and is four times as much as previous company estimates. The information comes courtesy of Japanese newspaper Nikkei, but no official statement from Sony has been released. If the forecast turns into reality, it will be the company's highest profit since 2008. The reason for the improved figures lies in expectations for higher sales of display sensors for mobile phones, as well as better market performance of the Playstation gaming console. The corporation's smartphone business is not the driving factor though, and persistent reports claim the division may soon be put up for sale. The ongoing restructuring of the company, however, is finally showing results and Sony will attempt to put behind its back several years in the red, brought about by dwindling smartphone and TV...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_predicts_a_25b_operating_profit_for_2015-news-12043.php

Oppo bezelless phone leaked in all its glory

The Oppo bezelless phone has been a regular to the rumor mill and we've seen more than one set of photos, or videos, for that matter. This newest leak however is the most comprehensive one and shows the innovative smartphone from every angle in properly lit photos as well as a hands on video. We know that Oppo has been developing an ingenious technology to provide a bezelless smartphone experience without the added risks of breakage such a design implies. The company came up with a solution that bends the light emitted from the pixels at the edges of the screen towards the user, thus providing the edge-to-edge display illusion. Meanwhile a rim surrounding the panel ensures that rigidity requirements are met. The front glass panel that's the key to the design is also among the subjects in the photos. Oppo bezelless phone As the pictures reveal, the concept appears to work well in practice and the smartphone boast a rather unique look. Or it would have been unique if it wasn't for the ZTE Nubia Z9, which promo material claims to sport a similar design. We are yet to see which device will make it to market first, and whether the Nubia Z9 will indeed be such a bezelless smartphone, or Oppo will hold that crown on its own. It's also unclear if the Oppo offering will be a successor to the R5 or will launch a line of its own. Either way, you can catch a glimpse of the smartphone in action in the video below. Source |...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_bezelless_phone_leaked_in_all_its_glory-news-12044.php

Galaxy S4 mini won't get Android Lollipop update

UK carrier Three has revealed that Samsung's Galaxy S4 mini will not be getting the Android Lollipop update. The revelation was made by the carrier in response to a user's question on Twitter. @barbs_paul Sorry for the delay in replying Paul. There's no plans for Lollipop for the S4 mini due to memory limitation. >DD— ThreeUKSupport (@ThreeUKSupport) April 24, 2015 The reason, according to the carrier is the memory limitation on the S4 mini. When pressed further, Three also revealed they've received an official confirmation for the same from Samsung. @YouMobile Hi there. Yes we've received confirmation from Samsung that this is due to a memory limitation with this device...— ThreeUKSupport (@ThreeUKSupport) April 24, 2015 For those who aren't aware, released back in 2013, Galaxy S4 mini is a more compact, but also less capable variant of that year's Samsung flagship - Galaxy S4. Source |...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/galaxy_s4_mini_wont_get_android_lollipop_update-news-12041.php

Microsoft Lumia 840 expected in the coming months

Microsoft has been hard at work in recent months populating the entry-level and lower midrange with a whole bunch of devices. March saw the unveiling of the Lumia 640 and Lumia 640XL, later followed by the modest Lumia 430 and less than a fortnight ago - the Lumia 540 Dual SIM. This leaves the upper market segment to be updated and we wrote on the possible specs of the expected Lumia 940 and 940XL. A new report now claims that a successor to the Lumia 830 is in the works and we're likely to see it sooner than later. The source states that the Lumia 840 will arrive in the coming months, but won't ship with Windows 10 and will run Windows Phone 8.1 GDR2 instead. The new OS version will apparently be reserved for the flagship Lumia 940, at least for the time being. The Lumia 840 is said to come with a display size around the 5-inch mark like its predecessor, but will carry improvements in other areas. Both cameras will see a bump and the new model will pack a 13-14MP PureView-branded main shooter and a 5MP selfie unit. A more powerful chipset is also to be found in the future smartphone, which may come with dual-SIM support. Further indication of the nearing launch of the Lumia 840 comes from the fact that Microsoft has quietly pulled the current Lumia 830 model off its Indian store. With the stage already half-set, we should expect to see the new smartphone some time...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/microsoft_lumia_840_expected_in_the_coming_months-news-12042.php

Huawei to unveil three new devices on April 28

Just a few days ago, Huawei sent out invites for its event on April 28, clearly indicating that it will announce a mid-range Honor 4C handset. However, if a latest teaser (see image below) posted on Chinese social media is to be believed, the company may announce not one but three new smartphones. The three devices shown in the image above are said to be the Honor 4C Play, 4C Note, and 4C Max. Although the picture isn't very clear, it's easy to figure out that the devices will differ in terms of display sizes. From what is known till now, the Honor 4C Play will be powered by a Kirin 620 chipset with octa-core processor and sport a 5-inch 720p display. It will come with 2GB RAM and 8GB of expandable memory, and will pack in a 2550mAh battery. In terms of camera it will feature a 13MP rear unit and an 5MP front shooter. The device will run Android 5.0 Lollipop and will support 4G LTE networks. Needless to say, none of this has been confirmed by the company, so take it with a pinch of...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_to_unveil_three_new_devices_on_april_28-news-12040.php

ARM's Cortex-A72 CPU core gets fully detailed

The chipmaker ARM spilled all the beans on the recently announced, high-end Cortex-A72 CPU. As expected, the component is faster, more efficient, with a smaller footprint than the Cortex-A57 that precedes it. ARM Cortex-A72 offers 20% better branch prediction than its predecessor. Instructions-per-clock have increased between 20% and 60% over the Cortex-A57 depending on the workload. In terms of energy efficiency, the newcomer is between 18% and 30% better than the previous model. It has been primarily designed for next-generation 14nm and 16nm nodes, though Mediatek and Qualcomm will bring 28nm chipsets with the CPU this year. It is worth noting that the Cortex-A72 offers much bigger gains in performance on 14nm and 16nm nodes. Interestingly, ARM claims that, at the same performance, the Cortex-A72 will use 75% less power than an Inter Broadwell CPU. It is worth noting that Intel's chip is overall significantly more powerful. Source...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/arms_cortexa72_cpu_core_gets_fully_detailed_-news-12039.php

Sony Xperia Z3 is surprisingly back in stock at T-Mobile

Earlier this month T-Mobile decided to discontinue the Sony Xperia Z3, after less than six months since its debut at the magenta carrier. At that point, there was no explanation given - the phone simply vanished from TMo's website. Today, though, the exact opposite has happened. Namely, the Xperia Z3 is once again up for grabs from T-Mobile. Again, there's no explanation for these moves, the handset just showed up in the carrier's online store. Furthermore, it's now a lot cheaper than it used to be. So that will be good news for prospective buyers. The full price you need to pay for the Xperia Z3 is $499.92, down from the previous level of $630. If you choose to use T-Mobile's installment plan, then you pay nothing upfront, followed by 24 monthly payments of $20.83. As always, if you cancel wireless service the remaining balance on the phone becomes due. Sony has already announced the Xperia Z4, but that device may only be launched in the Japanese market. And it's not even a huge upgrade compared to its predecessor, so the Z3 is still a pretty good buy. Source |...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_z3_is_surprisingly_back_in_stock_at_tmobile-news-12038.php

The Asus Nexus 7 (2013) tablet has been discontinued

If you're after a Nexus tablet, from this point on you'll need to be OK with the Nexus 9, because that's the only one that's still up for grabs from Google's official hardware store. The 2013 model of the Nexus 7 made by Asus is no longer available for purchase, as it's been discontinued after a pretty long run - it was announced in July of 2013. You can probably still find some Nexus 7 (2013) units in stock at other retailers, but if you want one of these you should act fast, because once they're gone there will be no more. Otherwise, you can pick the Nexus 9 by HTC, and hope that Google will finally release Android 5.1.x for it...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/the_asus_nexus_7_2013_tablet_has_been_discontinued-news-12037.php

HTC Butterfly 3 has its specs leaked by a benchmark

HTC should launch the Butterfly 3 in the second half of this year, according to past rumors. The device may be exclusive to certain Asian markets, but it will be an interesting offering nevertheless - through specs if nothing else. Previously, we have heard that three color options will be offered in Japan. And now we get a pretty complete list of specs for the Butterfly 3, thanks to a benchmark listing. Someone in possession of a prototype ran CompuBench, and that lists the most important hardware details for all devices that get put through the paces. So, the HTC Butterfly 3 apparently runs Android 5.0.2 Lollipop at the moment, and it has a 5.1-inch (and not 5.2" as rumored at one point) QHD touchscreen, a 20 MP rear camera with LED flash, a 13 MP front snapper, 3GB of RAM, and 32GB of built-in storage. Running things will be Qualcomm's Snapdragon 810 SoC, coming with a CPU with 1.9 GHz maximum clock speed. It will be an octa-core part in a big.LITTLE configuration, with four Cortex-A57 high-performance cores, and four Cortex-A53 power-saving ones. We still don't know anything about the design of the Butterfly 3, but its predecessors were all made out of plastic, so the same could happen once more. Source |...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_butterfly_3_has_its_specs_leaked_by_a_benchmark-news-12036.php

Samsung Galaxy E7 review: Easy touch

In a bid to bring the A series' new-found premium design language to the masses, Samsung's E-lineup has managed to maintain the same looks. Lower-grade hardware and entirely plastic build have helped keep the price down, but if you don't look too hard it's still an upmarket smartphone.



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_e7-review-1243.php

ZTE Nubia Z9 leak shows metal frame, hints at 5.2-ich display

ZTE hasn't exactly managed to keep its next flagship phone a secret. There have been a lot of spills regarding the Nubia Z9, including an alleged live shot of the device. Furthermore, the phone is really bound to come sooner rather than later, considering that ZTE has already made a Nubia Z9 Max and a Nubia Z9 mini official. All that is left in the picture is the standard model. Today, a new set of leaked images of what is said to be the device's frame has surfaced, giving us a few more bits and pieces of information. In the said photos, we see a metal frame, indicating that the ZTE Numia Z9 will spout a pretty premium design. Sadly, however, neither of the two shots shows a clear view of the back side of the frame, making it unclear whether the phone will have the same metal finish on the back, or go with similar design to its siblings, which are metal just along the sides. Even if the frame does get covered by a glass, plastic or perhaps even bamboo finish, as is with the two aforementioned phones, the fact that the phone has a metal cage is pretty indicative of its overall build quality. Another important piece of information that can be deduced from the photos concerns the phone's screen. We can clearly see that the frame is intended to hold a panel, extending pretty much edge-to-edge and if the previously leaked live shot is any indication, it should all add up to a bezelless design. Overall, the approach to the front panel looks quite similar to the one on the Oppo R7. So, perhaps the ZTE Nubia might leverage a similar optical technology to achieve its edge-to-edge effect. There is one more observation to be made. In both photos the frame is placed on top of the Nubia Z9 Max. Considering, that it has a screen size of 5.5-inches, it is safe to assume that ZTE has gone for a 5.2-inch display in the Nubia Z9. This pretty much covers everything we currently know about the Nubia Z9, but it shouldn't be long now until we see more of it, perhaps even an official announcement from ZTE. We will be sure to keep you...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/zte_nubia_z9_leak_shows_metal_body_and_hints_at_52ich_display-news-12035.php

Nokia to make Android phones in 2016, R&D moves to China

Recently we heard rumors about alleged Nokia plans for re-entering the phone market in 2016. We are happy to report those plans are indeed true and Nokia will be marking its return next year with an Android smartphone. Nokia sold its device business to Microsoft a year ago and it signed a non-compete clause preventing the company from producing smartphones under the Nokia brand until December 31, 2015 and feature phones under the Nokia brand for a decade. Nokia used wisely these non-compete clauses and outed the powerful Nokia N1 tablet early this year. The N1 is designed by Nokia, including its Z Launcher for Android, but the rights for the branding, manufacturing, marketing and distributions were licensed to Foxconn. The President of Nokia China confirmed Nokia is working on Android powered smartphones, which will be probably manufactured in factories in Sichuan, China (after further assessment) and will be launched in 2016. He also sheds some light on company's future - the Nokia's R&D center will permanently relocate to Sichuan, China. Looking forward to Nokia's next phone chapter? We certainly are. Source |...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/its_official_nokia_to_make_an_android_phone_rd_moves_to_china-news-12034.php

Apple Watch now available for sale, shipping takes ages

Today, April 24, is the official launch of the long awaited Apple Watch. As we reported yesterday the Watch will be sold exclusively online until Apple can meet the demand. Indeed Apple Watch is only available for purchase online as of today, but it is on backorder. According to Apple Store the first Watch orders will begin shipping in June. This is about two months from now. Fortunately, the Apple Watch is available for testing and exploring at Apple Store Retail, so at least you can see it live before making a decision. Apple also included a detailed sizing guide, for those of you who can't go to an Apple Retail Store. You can learn more about the Apple Watch editions at the official Apple Store page. If you want one, you should hurry up as the shipping may soon change to July or August. Hopefully Apple won't introduce a successor this...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_watch_now_available_for_sale_shipping_takes_ages-news-12031.php

Acer announced two new tablets with quad-core Intel Atom SoC

Yesterday Acer unveiled a wide array of new products at a press conference in New York. Among these were two new tablets - Acer Iconia One 8 (B1-820) and the Iconia Tab 10 (A3-A30). The company also teased a third slate - the gaming-centr Acer Predator Tablet. The Iconia One 8 (B1-820) is a budget-oriented device with an 8-inch displayof the modest 1280 x 800 pixel resolution, a body with a thickness of 9.5mm and a quad-core Intel Atom processor. The amount of RAM is still unknown, but the aforementioned chips, along with Android 5.0 Lollipop should provide ample performance, especially for a budget device. Onboard storage is set at either 16GB or 32GB and the battery should provide up to 8.5 hours of endurance according to official information. The Iconia Tab 10 (A3-A30) is also designed with a specific goal in mind. It is intended for educational use and is set to join the Google Education ecosystem. Like it name suggests, it has a larger 10.1-inch IPS display with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels. RAM is set at 2GB and storage options are abundant with 16GB, 32GB or 64GB. The processor is a quad-core Intel Atom and the device runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop as well. Both devices are equipped with screens based Zero Air Gap technology and leverage Acer Precision Plus for improved touchscreen performance. Both also have 5MP rear cameras and front-facing shooters as well - 0.3 MP on the One 8 and 2MP on the Tab 10, respectively. The full list of specs can be found below. Acer Iconia One 8 B1-820 specifications 8-inch (1280 x 800 pixels) HD IPS display based on Zero Air Gap technology 1.83 GHz quad-core Intel Atom Z3735G processor 1GB RAM, 16GB / 32GB internal memory, expandable memory with microSD Android 5.0 (Lollipop) 5-megapixel rear camera, 88-degree wide angle lens 0.3MP front-facing camera Dimensions: 127.7 x 213.9 x 9.5mm; Weight: 355 grams Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 up to 8.5 hours of battery life Acer Iconia Tab 10 A3-A30 specifications 10.1-inch (1920 x 1200 pixels) FHD IPS display based on Zero Air Gap technology, Corning Gorilla Glass 4 protection 1.83 GHz quad-core Intel Atom Z3735F processor 2GB RAM, 16GB / 32GB / 64GB internal memory, expandable memory up to 64GB with microSD Android 5.0 (Lollipop) 5-megapixel rear camera 2MP front-facing camera Dimensions: 260 x 176 x 9.7 mm; Weight: 540g Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 and NFC up to 7.5 hours of battery life As for the third tablet that Acer teased during the event, it is geared towards the Android gaming market. Not much is currently known about it, but we do have a few photos of the upcoming device. It definitely hits big on looks with four red grills on the front, which, hopefully, all house speakers. As for hardware, everything is still a mystery, except for the screen size, which is 8 inches. Acer also hinted that the Predator tablet will come with some kind of haptic feedback and, much like most console controllers, provides some physical response while gaming. As far as pricing and availability goes, the Iconia One 8 B1-820 should be available in North America in July with a price tag of $145 and by April in EMEA for €179. It will come in a large selection of 10 colors. The bigger Tab 10 A3-A30 should hit stores in North America in May with a price of $299, as well as select EMEA markets for €299. It comes with optional stylus, protective film, bumper case, protective sleeve and wireless keyboard dock. As for the Acer Predator, all we currently know is that it should be coming in Q4 this year. Source 1 | Source...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/acer_announced_two_new_tablets_with_quadcore_intel_atom_soc-news-12029.php

New LG G4 teasers show more on Quantum IPS display, f/1.8 camera

LG has been sharing videos and information about the upcoming flagship G4 legitimately. Lately, we also reported that there will be a dual-SIM version of the G4. Today, LG has shared two teaser videos basically showing how the key components were tested and then included in the phone. The first video is of the Quantum IPS display testing to achieve more natural and accurate colors. In the second video, the f/1.8 camera module with five element lens shows its brilliance. LG G4 will be announced on April 29 and might be costlier than the Galaxy S6....



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/new_lg_g4_teasers_show_more_on_quantum_ips_display_f_18_camera-news-12025.php

Acer to launch tri-SIM Liquid X2 in the US this May

While you can buy Acer computers in the US you have to import its smartphones. This will end in May when the company will launch the Acer Liquid X2. It's a 5.5" phablet with three SIM slots. Three SIM phones are pretty rare, but even dual-SIMs are not that popular in the US. Acer has added a 64-bit octa-core processor, 13MP camera and a massive 4,000mAh battery. The company already has one three-SIM phone, the 5" Acer Liquid E700, but this is clearly a higher-end option. Unfortunately, there's not much more info about the Liquid X2. Acer will be offering Quick Flip covers, which have a tall, narrow window for notification display. The phone is coming in May, hopefully the price tag will arrive a bit...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/acer_to_launch_trisim_liquid_x2_in_the_us_this_may-news-12028.php

New LG G4 teasers show more on Quantum IPS display, f/1.8 camera

LG has been sharing videos and information about the upcoming flagship G4 legitimately. Lately, we also reported that there will be a dual-SIM version of the G4. Today, LG has shared two teaser videos basically showing how the key components were tested and then included in the phone. The first video is of the Quantum IPS display testing to achieve more natural and accurate colors. In the second video, the f/1.8 camera module with five element lens shows its brilliance. LG G4 will be announced on April 29 and might be costlier than the Galaxy S6....



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/new_lg_g4_teaser_show_more_on_quantum_ips_display_f_18_camera-news-12025.php

Microsoft spills the beans on T-mobile Lumia 640 pricing

The Lumia 640, which was announced last month at MWC 2015, made a brief appearance yesterday on the US Microsoft Store website, giving us an idea about the carrier pricing for the device in the country. Although for a short duration of time, the device was listed as "coming soon" for just $89 -- the listing (see image above) has since been pulled by Microsoft. What's worth mentioning here is that this is the no-contract pricing. This comes just a day after Expansys USA started offering the unlocked Lumia 640 LTE (dual-SIM version) for...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/microsoft_spills_the_beans_on_pricing_for_tmobile_lumia_640-news-12027.php

Huawei's P8 smartphone sells out at launch

Huawei's P8 smartphone, which was announced by the company last week, has sold out on its first day of release - the device was launched yesterday in China, where it was made available through the company's online shop Vmall for a price tag of 3,588 CNY ($579). Specs-wise, the handset is powered by a HiSilicon Kirin 930 chipset and sports a 5.2-inch 1080p display. It comes with 3 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal memory, and packs in a 2680 mAh battery. In terms of camera, the P8 features a 13 MP rear unit and an 8 MP front shooter. The 6.4 mm-thin device runs Android 5.0 Lollipop with Huawei's EMUI 3.1 interface on top. The smartphone, which is expected to be released worldwide in May, will cost €499 in Europe, and should set you back around $500 in the...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huaweis_p8_smartphone_sells_out_at_launch-news-12026.php

Lenovo unveils K80, a phone with 4GB RAM and 4,000 mAh battery

Just a few months after Asus announced the ZenFone 2, the world's first smartphone with 4GB RAM, Lenovo has also unveiled a handset with 4 GB of random-access memory. It's worth mentioning that Xiaomi's Mi Note Pro also comes with 4GB RAM. Dubbed K80, the smartphone is powered by a 64-bit Intel Atom chipset with 1.2GHz CPU, and sports a 5.5-inch 1080p display. As already mentioned, it comes with 4GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal memory, and packs in a huge 4000 mAh battery. In terms of camera, the K80 features a 13 MP rear unit with Optical Image Stabilization. The 8.5mm-thin device runs Android Lollipop and comes in black, silver, and red colour options. The handset carries a price tag of 1,799 CNY ($290), and will be available in China starting April 30. A variant with 2GB RAM and 32GB internal memory will also be released. It isn't yet known if and when the K80 will be available in other...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lenovo_unveils_k80_a_phone_with_4gb_ram_and_4000_mah_battery-news-12024.php

Microsoft says it sold 8.6 million Lumia devices in its fiscal Q3

Microsoft has announced its fiscal 2015 Q3 (quarter that ended on March 31) earnings report, revealing that it sold 8.6 million Lumia devices in the quarter, up 18% year-on-year but down 18% compared to the prior quarter. Lumia sales brought in a revenue of $1.4 billion, down 16% compared to the year-ago quarter. Microsoft said the decline was due to a "higher mix of low royalty devices." The software giant also revealed that it sold a total of 24.7 million feature phones in the quarter, down compared to the same quarter last year. "Market for feature phones continues to contract," the company said. Via 1 | Via...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/microsoft_says_it_sold_86_million_lumia_devices_in__its_fiscal_q3-news-12023.php

Samsung pushes Lollipop update to the Galaxy Tab S 8.4

The update to Android 5.0 Lollipop for the Galaxy Tab S 10.5 has been out for a while now, for both the Wi-Fi-only and LTE-capable iterations of that tablet. So it's only natural that Samsung starts pushing the new software to the smaller member of its premium tablet line, the Galaxy Tab S 8.4. After all, both it and the 10.5-inch model were unveiled and launched at the same time. Unfortunately for now the update is confined to the Wi-Fi-only version of the Tab S 8.4. The first country to get Lollipop for this device is, unsurprisingly, Samsung's native South Korea. Over there the update should already be rolling out over-the-air, while also being available to download and install by using Kies, Samsung's desktop PC software. If you're in Korea, after you apply the update you'll be running Android 5.0.2 Lollipop and build T700KXU1BOD4. Now that the cat's out of the bag, let's hope the Lollipop release will quickly make it to Galaxy Tab S 8.4 units sold in other countries, as well as to its LTE-enabled...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_pushes_lollipop_update_to_the_galaxy_tab_s_84-news-12022.php

EE's Harrier line launches with two affordable smartphones

UK operator EE has announced two new own-brand smartphones today. They are the Harrier and the Harrier Mini, continuing EE's habit of naming mobile devices after birds. The Harrier comes with a 5.2-inch 1080p touchscreen, a 13 MP rear camera with LED flash, 2GB of RAM, and a 2,500 mAh battery. At the helm is Qualcomm's 64-bit Snapdragon 615 SoC with an octa-core CPU. The Harrier is just 8.9mm thin, and it runs Android 5.0 Lollipop. EE will sell it for £199.99 on Pay as you go, and it will be free with contracts starting at £21.99 per month. The Harrier Mini is obviously smaller, as its name implies. It's got a 4.7-inch 720p touchscreen, an 8 MP rear camera with LED flash, 1GB of RAM, and a 2,000 mAh battery. It's powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 410 chipset, coming with a 1.2 GHz quad-core CPU. The Mini also runs Android 5.0 Lollipop. It will be offered on Pay as you go for £99.99, and it will be free with contracts starting at £16.99 per month. Both smartphones have support for 4G LTE, as well as Wi-Fi calling. They will be available for purchase on April 28, which is next Tuesday. Source 1 • Source...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/ees_harrier_line_launches_with_two_affordable_smartphones-news-12021.php

Samsung confirms its next smartwatch has round screen

Samsung has released a lot of smartwatches so far, but it's reportedly taking its time with the next one, wanting to get it just right. The device is codenamed Orbis, and will be sold as the Gear A. It will come with a round screen, unlike all of its predecessors. The Orbis (or Gear A) has been leaked a lot so far, but today Samsung has actually confirmed that it will have a round display. The company did the deed through an official press release announcing that the software development kit (SDK) for its next smartwatch will be out before the wearable itself launches. This is done in a bid to convince developers to write apps for the watch, and have as many of those as possible available straight from its release day. Developers who are interested to take part in this effort can sign up at a dedicated website, and then wait for Samsung to contact them with more details. The giveaway is in the image attached to said press release, which features only round app examples. So at least this is clear now. What's left to happen is for Samsung to actually announce the Gear A, and there's currently no telling when that will occur. From past leaks we know that the Gear A may be powered by Samsung's Exynos 7420 chipset, the same one employed by the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge. The smartwatch will get a version with 3G connectivity and voice call support, and it should sport wireless charging. Source |...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_confirms_its_next_smartwatch_will_have_round_display-news-12020.php

LG G4 said to be costlier than Samsung's Galaxy S6, report says

While we already have a pretty good idea of what to expect from the LG's upcoming flagship smartphone, the G4, it wasn't yet clear how much it will cost, but that was until now. According to an LG official quoted by ETnews, the device will be priced in between the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge price points, which means that it will cost more than $795 but less than $910. "Prices are yet to be confirmed, but will stay within that range. The comparison target is Edge because the best camera, natural leather, etc. are used," said the official. Going by the information revealed by SK Telecom, the device is expected to carry a price tag of $825. Via 1 | Via...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_g4_to_be_costlier_than_samsungs_galaxy_s6-news-12018.php

BB Leap now also available in US, France, and Germany

The BlackBerry Leap smartphone, whose global roll-out began last week in the UK, is now also available for purchase in the US, France, and Germany. The device was unveiled last month As for the price, the BlackBerry 10 handset will set you back €289.00 in France as well as Germany, with shipping on April 24, while in the US, it is shipping right now and will cost you $275. Over in the UK, it is priced at £199 The Leap was first announced at the company's MWC 2015 press conference in Barcelona. It is currently listed as coming soon in Canada, India, United Arab Emirates, and Saudi...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/blackberry_leap_now_also_available_in_us_france_and_germany-news-12015.php

Samsung begins updating Galaxy A3 with Android Lollipop

Samsung is now seeding yet another Android Lollipop firmware update - this time around the Galaxy A3 is the lucky smartphone. Samsung previously announced the entire Galaxy A series will be treated to Lollipop, so we expect the Galaxy A5 and Galaxy A7 to follow suit soon. The Galaxy A3 Lollipop update is available both over-the-air and via the Kies suite. The first country to get the new system update is Russia, but barring any issues with the firmware, it will spread globally in the matter of days. The new firmware update for the Samsung Galaxy A3 brings Android 5.0.2 Lollipop OS, performance and stability improvements, better battery life, new TouchWiz UX influenced by the new Material Design, among other features and fixes. If you have a Galaxy A3 you can expect this update to show at your update section very soon. Thank you, Sanay, for the...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_begins_updating_galaxy_a3_with_android_lollipop-news-12014.php

Asus launches ZenFone 2 starting $206 in India

After several teasers, Asus has formally introduced the ZenFone 2 in India with four variants. The new ZenFone 2 variants will be available for pre-order from Flipkart. Asus has skipped the ZenFone 2 ZE500CL model for now and went ahead with other variants. Basically, there are two variants with 2GB of RAM and two variants with 4GB of RAM Those variants bearing 2GB of RAM include the ZenFone 2 ZE550ML model with a 5.5" 720p display, quad-core 1.8GHz Intel Atom Z3560 processor with 2GB of RAM and 16GB built-in storage, which costs INR 12,999. The second variant brings the same CPU but a 5.5" 1080p HD display and is priced at INR14,999. ZenFone 2 ZE551ML with 4GB of comes in two variants - one with 32GB built-in storage for INR19,999 and the 64GB built-in storage for INR23,999. Both of those feature a 5.5" 1080p display and the quad-core 2.3GHz Intel Atom Z3580 chipset. All ZenFone 2 models have some common set of features such as dual-SIM slots with 4G LTE network support. All variants feature a 13MP PixelMaster camera with dual-LED at the back while in the front will be a 5MP camera. These devices will run the Zen UI on top of the Android 5.0 Lollipop and pack 3,000 mAh battery to deliver greater battery...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/asus_launches_zenfone_2_starting_206_in_india-news-12017.php

Lumia flagships are put on hold as budget devices battle it out

It has become abundantly clear that Microsoft has been really working hard to gear its mobile business to the low-end, budget market segment and the strategy has definitely been yielding results. The company has been striking hard on huge emerging markets, such as India, where, according to analysis, around 78 percent of market demand is for phones in the sub $190 range. This has forced Microsoft to put out competitive low-end devices, like the Lumia 520 and Lumia 535 and, rather naturally, neglect the higher-end market. In a recent statement Microsoft Mobile Devices Managing Director in India, Ajey Mehta reiterated that the company's current strategic goals are still targeted to the low-end market and was happy to announce that the Microsoft Lumia 535 has finally surpassed the Lumia 520 as the most-popular Windows phone device ever. Both phones are clearly budget-friendly with a price tag of around $130 and the Lumia 535 is a clear upgrade over the older 520 model. But, even though, it offers a better qHD screen and a dual 5MP camera setup, the Lumia 520 is so vastly popular that dethroning it was considered almost impossible. So, the US company has really settled in nicely in this specific market niche, but that leaves a lot of Windows Phone fans craving for fresh flagship devices. Mehta made it clear that Microsoft understood the need and importance of new premium devices, but made it clear that new high-end offers can be expected only after the official launch of Windows 10. In his own words We believe we have to offer the best possible experience to the consumers. Once we are ready with Windows 10 and our devices, that is the right time to launch. So it appears we won't be seeing any new powerhouse Lumia devices before Windows 10 becomes official, which is expected to happen in the summer. In the meantime, we are left with the knowledge that Microsoft has regained its spot in the top 5 OEMs list in India with a 4.6% market share, which will, hopefully, give the company enough of a boost to really come through with future high-end devices. Source |...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lumia_flagships_are_put_on_hold_as_budget_devices_battle_it_out-news-12012.php

Lenovo A5000 quietly makes its way to India for $162

The competition in the sub-$160 smartphone is really intense and hot. Lenovo is one of the companies aiming to gain ground in that segment, launch a host of models there. After introducing Lenovo A6000, A6000 Plus, and A7000, the company is soon expected to introduce the new A5000 at INR10,250 ($162), as estimated from a retailer Mahesh Telecom's post. Yesterday, the A5000 was introduced in Russia for $227 which is way higher than the price set for India. The A5000 features a 5" 720p display with special nano coating for prevention from water splashes. It is powered by a MediaTek MT6582 SoC with quad-core 1.3GHz CPU, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of storage, 8MP rear snapper with LED flash, 2MP front camera, Bluetooth 4.0 and FM radio. Weighing about 160 grams because of the 4,000 mAh battery, A5000 is a 10mm thick dual-SIM phone with 3G...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lenovo_a5000_quietly_makes_its_way_to_india_for_162-news-12019.php

Qualcomm cuts outlook for fiscal 2015, blames Samsung

Qualcomm has again cut its revenue forecast for fiscal 2015, with the company now expecting a revenue of between $25 billion and $27 billion, compared to $26.3 - $28 billion it was expecting earlier. The chipmaker has also cut its earnings outlook for the year. The warning comes from the company's report on its fiscal second quarter, which saw a 45% decline in its year-on-year earnings. "While we remain confident in the significant growth opportunities ahead, we are reducing our QCT outlook for fiscal 2015, primarily due to the increased impact of customer share shifts within the premium tier and a decline in our share at a large customer," said CEO Steve Mollenkopf. No points for guessing that Mollenkopf was referring to Samsung, which ditched Qualcomm's Snapdragon 810 chipset in favor of its own Exynos 7420 for both new Galaxy models, the S6 and S6 Edge. Mollenkopf also announced that the company will look at ways to cut costs. "In addition to our ongoing expense management initiatives, we have initiated a comprehensive review of our cost structure to identify opportunities to improve operating margins while at the same time extending our technology and product leadership positions," he...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/qualcomm_cuts_outlook_for_fiscal_2015_blames_samsung-news-12009.php

LG G4 dual-SIM version leaks, with extra details and images

A treasure chest of info on the LG G4 has emerged and it shows a dual-SIM version of the phone, details its dimensions, screen and battery with plenty of pictures. One live photo of the phone shows a SIM switch button in the lower right section of the screen, though it seems that both SIM slots were empty. There's a promo image of the LG G4, but it looks like it's an image of the single-SIM version, the other slot appears to be a microSD slot. SIM switch button hints at dual-SIM version • the back of the single-SIM LG G4 Another promo image shows the 3,000mah battery. The battery will support Qi wireless charring and it seems that LG is readying accessories to go with including a dock. It seems plain white, which doesn't really match the leather-bound look of the G4. 3,000mAh battery with Qi charging The camera on the back has been confirmed as a 16MP shooter with a wide f/1.8 aperture. The camera will allegedly support manual controls with an on-screen histogram and showing in RAW (plus RAW+JPG mode). 16MP f/1.8 camera • manual controls and RAW shooting The screen will be a new 5.5" QHD unit, but will use quantum dot tech for improved contrast, brightness and 120% coverage of sRGB colors. The screen is very slightly curved, you can barely see it. The LG G4 will run the latest LG UX 4.0 and the company has already teased some of the new features. There will be new QuickCircle cases too. Keep in mind that these images and specs are not official yet, the LG G4 is expected to go official on April 28. Source (in Persian) |...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_g4_dual_simversion_leaks_with_extra_details_and_images-news-12013.php

The Xiaomi Mi 4i goes official with 5" 1080p screen, 13MP camera

Just moments Xiaomi's latest handset was made official at a dedicated event in New Delhi. Just as expected, the Xperia Mi 4i is a more-affordable alternative to the Xiaomi Mi 4 and comes with a polycarbonate unibody. The Snapdragon 801 has been swapped with a Snapdragon 615, which is less powerful, but does offer an important upgrade over the aforementioned chip - it is 64-bit. The SoC in question is octa-core with Cortex-A53 cores clocked at 1.7 GHz and the other four at 1.1 GHz. The device is equipped with 2GB of RAM an onboard storage is 16GB. Graphics are courtesy of the Adreno 405. The smartphone is built around a 5.0" Full HD OGS IPS display with a density of 441 ppi. The panel comes with adaptive brightness technology, called Sunlight display, which improves its legibility when outdoors. Sony have been using such a technique for quite some time and it essentially boils down to brightening darker areas under direct light. The camera setup is also changed and the Mi 4i now offers 13MP F/2.0 main snapper and a 5MP F/1.8 front-facer. The main camera packs a dual tone dual LED flash for better white balance in low light shots. There are a lot of changes on the software side as well and not just the camera app. Beautify and HDR have received a major overhaul. Low-light quality is improved and the new image filters now come with an array of clever algorithms that are custom-tailored for the best possible results on facial features, based on an estimation of your age and sex. In terms of connectivity the Xiaomi Mi 4i offers dual-SIM slots with 4G support on both of them. There's also dual-band MU-MIMO Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac support - ensuring the fastest local transfer speeds around. Bluetooth version is 4.1, while the microUSB 2.0 port supports USB host mode. The Xiaomi Mi 4i is powered by a 3,120 mAh battery. It will be available in a total of five color choices - white, blue, orange, yellow and pink. It exact dimensions are 138.1 mm x 69.6 mm x 7.8 mm, and weighs in at 130 g, making it smaller and lighter than the Mi 4. On the software side, we find Xiaomi's own MIUI 6. It is based on Android 5.0 Lollipop so you get a really up-to-date experience. Xiaomi has also developed a few interesting new features, like IVR (Interactive Voice Recognition), to simplify annoying service line calls. The most impressive bit about the Xiaomi Mi 4i however is its pricing. The smartphone will cost $205 (INR 12,999) when it launches on April 30 on Flipkart. Registrations start today at 8PM IST. Unfortunately we didn't get anything on international availability. ...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/the_xiaomi_mi_4i_is_official_with_midrange_hardware-news-12016.php

OnePlus One resumes Lollipop update, OK OnePlus in tow

OnePlus has started seeding a new update for the OnePlus One smartphones as promised by the co-founder, Carl Pei. The new Cyanogen OS 12 update is being made available to all supporting countries. The new Cyanogen OS 12 update with build number YNG1TAS17L and weighing about 584MB is being seeded to the One devices. This update packs the long promised ‘OK OnePlus' voice activation feature which works even when the phone is in sleep mode. However, the update only mentions power improvements and security enhancements for the device. The One phone still remains on Cyanogen OS 12 based on the Android 5.0.2...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/oneplus_one_getting_a_new_update_packing_ok_oneplus_feature-news-12008.php

Watch the Xiaomi Mi 4i get unveiled live

Xiaomi is prepping backstage in New Delhi for the Mi 4i event, which starts at 4PM local time or in about an hour. The Xiaomi Mi 4 was unveiled in July last year and boasted flagship specs for the time. From what we've seen from leaks the new Xiaomi Mi 4i will be a more affordable alternative instead of an upgrade. So far it looks like the chipset will be swapped from Snapdragon 801 to a newer but less powerful 615. It packs eight 64-bit Cortex-A53 cores and an Adreno 405 CPU. The imaging department is set to bring the other big change, dropping the 2160p video capture and cutting the selfie camera resolution. No card slot or 64GB version either. The Mi 4i will be getting dual-SIM connectivity though and the Xiaomi Mi 4i will launch with Android 5.0 Lollipop. Again, this is just hearsay, we're on our way there to get the official details first hand. You can watch with us via the livestream below: var CDown = function() { this.state=0;// if initialized this.counts=[];// array holding countdown date objects and id to print to {d:new Date(2013,11,18,18,54,36), id:"countbox1"} this.interval=null;// setInterval object } CDown.prototype = { init: function(){ this.state=1; var self=this; this.interval=window.setInterval(function(){self.tick();}, 1000); }, add: function(date,id){ this.counts.push({d:date,id:id}); this.tick(); if(this.state==0) this.init(); }, expire: function(idxs){ for(var x in idxs) { var now = new Date(); if( ((now.getTime() - this.counts[idxs[x]].d.getTime()) / 60000) < 59 ) this.display(this.counts[idxs[x]], "Now!"); else this.display(this.counts[idxs[x]], "Over"); this.counts.splice(idxs[x], 1); } }, format: function(r){ var out=""; if(r.d != 0){out += r.d +" "+((r.d==1)?"day":"days")+", ";} if(r.h != 0){out += r.h +" "+((r.h==1)?"hour":"hours")+", ";} out += r.m +" "+((r.m==1)?"min":"mins")+", "; out += r.s +" "+((r.s==1)?"sec":"secs")+", "; return out.substr(0,out.length-2); }, math: function(work){ var y=w=d=h=m=s=ms=0; ms=(""+((work%1000)+1000)).substr(1,3); work=Math.floor(work/1000);//kill the "milliseconds" so just secs y=Math.floor(work/31536000);//years (no leapyear support) w=Math.floor(work/604800);//weeks d=Math.floor(work/86400);//days work=work%86400; h=Math.floor(work/3600);//hours work=work%3600; m=Math.floor(work/60);//minutes work=work%60; s=Math.floor(work);//seconds return {y:y,w:w,d:d,h:h,m:m,s:s,ms:ms}; }, tick: function(){ var now=(new Date()).getTime(), expired=[],cnt=0,amount=0; if(this.counts) for(var idx=0,n=this.counts.length;...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/watch_the_xiaomi_mi_4i_get_unveiled_live-news-12010.php

Apple stores won't sell the Watch tomorrow, others will

Tomorrow, April 24 is the launch day of the awaited Apple Watch. The pre-order campaign is now over, sort of, and the first batch of Watches is now slowly starting to ship. Slowly because due to the high demand and limited stock if you order and Apple Watch it will still ship in 4 to 6 weeks. Apparently no Apple Store worldwide will be offering the Watch for a walk-in purchase. You are able to try it at Apple Retail, but it won't be in stock tomorrow, not even a single unit. Eventually, when Apple catches up with the demand, the Watch will arrive in Apple Stores, but there is no information on when this is going to happen. Judging by the massive online delays, it won't be soon. There are six stores, which will be selling the Apple Watch from day one, though. Those are fashion boutiques and were actually advertised before by Apple for the same thing. The six boutiques are scattered around the world, require an appointment and will have a rather limited stock of few hundred units. The six exclusive stores are 10 Corso Como in Milan, Italy; The Corner in Berlin, Germany; Colette in Paris, France; Dover Street Market in London, UK and Tokyo, Japan; and Maxfield in LA, USA. Those fashion boutiques will have the Apple Watch in stock tomorrow for sure. Do you plan of getting an Apple Watch? Share with us your thoughts bellow. Source •...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/you_wont_find_apple_watch_in_apple_stores_tomorrow-news-12011.php

Asus reportedly expecting to ship 30 million ZenFone units this year

Asus has revised its smartphone shipment forecast for the ongoing year, with the company now expecting to ship 30 million units of its ZenFone-series smartphones, up from 25 million it was aiming earlier, according to a Digitimes report. "Shipments of Asustek's new ZenFone 2-series smartphones will reach two million units in May after their launch in March," said sources from the company's upstream supply chain. "The monthly shipments will rise to 2.5-3 million units in June." While the ZenFone 2, which comes in two variants including the one that has 4GB RAM, is powered by Intel Atom chipset, the report says that the Taiwanese company could use Qualcomm's chips in future ZenFone products. In addition, it was also revealed that Asus is expecting to ship around 300,000 to 500,000 units of its VivoWatch- and ZenWatch-series smartwatches this...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/asus_reportedly_expecting_to_ship_30_million_zenfone_units_this_year-news-12007.php

Apple is a potential buyer of Nokia's HERE mapping business

According to a report in Bloomberg, Apple is among the potential buyers for Nokia's HERE mapping business. The Cupertino giant is among the high-profile suitors approached by the Finnish company about interest. Other potential buyers of HERE include Alibaba, Amazon, Facebook, Baidu, and a group of German carmakers among others. A number of private equity firms are also said to be interested. Nokia has been working with a financial advisor on the sale of its mapping unit. The Finnish company is seeking more than €3 billion (about $3.2 billion), with the first bids due to arrive at the end of next week. Nokia has been busy making headlines lately. The company acquired Alcatel-Lucent for €15.6 billion. It is also rumored to return to making phones next year. An acquisition of HERE would make a great deal of sense for Apple, as it will give its own Maps service a welcome boost. Since its launch in 2012, the Cupertino giant's mapping service has failed to catch up to Google Maps. Source...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_is_a_potential_buyer_of_nokias_here_mapping_business-news-12006.php

Bezelless Oppo R7 and R7 Plus might be unveiled on May 20

The upcoming Oppo R7 has been leaking a lot lately, as it's apparently going to feature a pretty unique 'bezelless' touchscreen. Unique, that is, if you don't count the also oft-leaked ZTE Nubia Z9, which will supposedly use a display with minimal lateral bezels as well. One thing we haven't found out so far is when we should expect Oppo to finally make the R7 official. Today a new rumor out of China claims the big unveiling will happen on May 20 (which incidentally is exactly two weeks after the Nubia Z9 will be outed). Furthermore, Oppo is apparently going to present an R7 Plus model alongside the R7. Not much is known right now about the Plus version, but we assume it will be bigger than the vanilla R7. Thus it should fit a higher capacity battery, which should allow for increased autonomy. On the other hand, because of its thin (under 5mm) profile and 4.7-inch screen, the Oppo R7 will only fit a 2,000 mAh battery. Its display resolution is set to be 1080p, and there will be some 2.5D glass on top creating that 'bezelless' effect. It's unclear if we'll find the same tech on the R7 Plus as well. The Oppo R7 is said to feature a 20.7 MP rear camera, and should be powered by MediaTek's 64-bit MT6795 chipset coming with an octa-core processor. Source (in Chinese) |...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/bezelless_oppo_r7_and_r7_plus_might_be_unveiled_on_may_20-news-12005.php

Sony Xperia T2 Ultra and Xperia C3 now receiving Lollipop

Two additional Sony devices are jumping on the Lollipop train starting today: the Xperia T2 Ultra and the Xperia C3. These follow in the footsteps of three generations of Xperia Z flagships, which are already running Android 5.0. The update for the Xperia T2 Ultra was certified last month, and it's now been spotted in the Czech Republic, Germany, and Taiwan. It looks like only the single-SIM model (D5303) is receiving Lollipop at this time. The update should become available globally in the coming days and weeks. For the Xperia C3, the new software is so far only available in Taiwan, but it will certainly make it to more countries soon. In this case too only the single-SIM variant (D2533) is currently getting the new bits. Both smartphones will run Android 5.0.2 Lollipop after applying the update, and both will then be on build 19.3.A.0.470. Source 1 • Source...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_t2_ultra_and_xperia_c3_now_receiving_lollipop-news-12003.php

Project Fi debuts, making Google a carrier in the US

The rumors were actually true, as it turns out. Today Google has basically become a carrier in the United States, with the launch of its new service called Project Fi. Although it will offer mobile services, Google hasn't built its own network for this purpose. Instead, it will act as an MVNO (mobile virtual network operator), using the infrastructure of both Sprint and T-Mobile. This makes Google a pretty unique MVNO - and means devices connected to Project Fi need to support the network bands for both T-Mobile and Sprint. This isn't something every phone out there can do, so for now Google is only allowing Motorola Nexus 6 units to use Project Fi. If you already own a Nexus 6, Google will send you a SIM card. If you don't have the phone, then you can buy one through Project Fi on a 24-month installment plan (with payments of $27.04 for the 32GB model, and $29.12 for the one with 64GB of storage). There's also the option to pay in full - $649 or $699, depending on which storage variant you choose. Project Fi lets you make calls and send and receive texts via Wi-Fi when you're connected to such a network, so even if you encounter no signal areas you can still use your phone as you normally would, provided that you have a usable Wi-Fi connection. Calls are said to transition seamlessly between Wi-Fi and the mobile networks. Google's service has just one plan, and no long-term contract requirement. You pay $20 per month for "The Fi Basics" and then you add a data allowance on top of that. The Fi Basics consist of unlimited domestic talk and text, and unlimited international texts. Data costs $10 per GB, and you can choose bundles in increments of 1GB - from 1GB all the way up to 10GB. Overages are charged at the same $10 per GB rate, so if you go over by 300MB, for example, you'll pay an extra $3. Wi-Fi tethering is built-in, so you don't pay extra for that. The data costs are exactly the same even in more than 120 countries across the world while you're roaming, but in this case your speed will be limited to 256kbps. Obviously in the States you're on Sprint's or T-Mobile's 4G networks, so you should get much more. If you don't use all the data in your allowance in a month, you'll be credited the difference in your Project Fi account, and you can use that towards your next bill. If you pay $20 for 2GB but only use 1.5GB, you'll get $5 back. You can change the data package from month to month, and all account administration is done via a dedicated mobile app which you install on your Nexus 6. The huge caveat right now is that you need an invite to get in on the action. Yes, Google is once again pulling its Gmail trick, so if you want to use Project Fi you have to request an invite from its official website and hope for the...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/project_fi_debuts_making_google_a_carrier_in_the_us-news-12004.php

Lenovo A5000 with 5" HD display launched in Russia for $227

Lenovo has introduced a new affordable smartphone A5000 in Russia for RUB 12,000 ($227). Spotted earlier in February, the Lenovo A5000 brings a massive 4000 mAh battery as its key selling point. The smartphone runs Android 4.4 Kitkat and may get the Lollipop update later, hopefully. As the younger kin to the A6000, we do expect some tradeoffs in the specs. The A5000 features a 5-inch 720p IPS display and comes with a special nano coating to make it resistant to water splashes. Powered with a MediaTek MT6582 SoC with quad-core 1.3GHz CPU, the A5000 packs 1GB of RAM and 8GB on-board expandable storage. At there rear it has a 8MP auto-focus snapper with LED flash and a 2MP fixed-focus camera for clicking selfies. This dual-SIM smartphone supports 3G network in one slot and ropes along other connectivity features such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, FM Radio, and GPS. Weighing 160 grams, A5000 is almost 10 mm thick - understandable given the sizeable battery...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lenovo_a5000_with_5_hd_display_launched_in_russia_for_227-news-12002.php

100,000 Lenovo A6000 Plus units to be available in first flash sale

Lenovo has announced that 100,000 units of the A6000 Plus smartphone, which launched in India late last week, will be available in the first flash sale on Flipkart on April 28 . "Considering the A6000 sold out 300,000 units faster than anticipated, we are expecting the A6000 Plus to see an even greater response," the company said. "The Lenovo A6000 Plus lets you do more in every way seamlessly and outperforms phones that cost a lot more." The handset, which is essentially an improved version of the already existing A6000, carries a price tag of INR 7,499 ($120). Registrations for the sale have already begun, and will close on April...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/100000_units_of_a6000_plus_to_be_available_in_first_flash_sale-news-11999.php

The LG G4 said to feature a slightly curved screen

With the Samsung Galaxy S6, S6 edge and the HTC One M9 already official and hitting consumer markets, it seems that LG is next in line for a major flagship release. The eagerly-anticipated LG G4 is scheduled for a release on April 29 and, naturally, the phone is attracting a lot of attention. Thanks to a few rumors, a big leak, ahead of schedule, and all the official information form LG, we already have a pretty good idea of what to expect from the LG G4, in terms of hardware and design. But a new report from Business Korea throws an unexpected curve-ball in the mix - an allegedly curved display. While listing various features of the eagerly-anticipated smartphone in an article, the author mentions a curvature in the screen and even cites the exact radius, making the information all that more believable. The LG G4 will, allegedly, have a slightly bent screen, but it won't be anything like the Galaxy S6 edge with its double rounded corners, but rather like the LG G Flex 2 - curved along the y-axis. The cited radius of 3000mm, however, makes the curve a lot less pronounced. For example, the one on the aforementioned LG G Flex 2 is with a radius of 700mm. This actually makes the angle so slight that nobody managed to detect it from all the renders and even a few live photos of the device. Truth be told, however, the G4 is obviously curved for better handling, but, we mostly assumed that the bend didn't extend to the screen as well. If the slightly angled display does turn out to be true, it is one more thing that LG can use to set its handset apart from the competition. Unlike the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge, the LG G4 does come with a user-removable battery and also boasts a better camera, at least on paper. The company has been harping about the 16MP rear snapper with f/1.8 aperture for clicking wide-angle images. The rest of the phone's specs highlights include a 5.5" True HD IPS display of QHD resolution and made from Corning Gorilla Glass 4 and a Snapdragon 808 chipset with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of on-board storage. A couple of days ago, LG announced it will offer free screen replacement and free 64GB microSD card for all those who pre-order the G4 in Korea. As you might know LG is also running a LG G4 trial program in few countries to let a select group of people try out the phone before it officially launches. Source |...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/the_lg_g4_might_come_with_a_slightly_curved_screen-news-12001.php

Lumia 940 might come with 5.2-inch display, 25MP cam

Microsoft is expected to announce Lumia 940 later this year and it should be the next Lumia flagship replacing the dated Lumia 930 model. We are yet to learn Microsoft's announcement plans, but we can shed some light on the possible specs. According to the latest report the Microsoft Lumia 940 may pack a 5.2" display, while its Lumia 940 XL sibling will bump the screen estate up to 5.7". The upcoming Windows 10 supports high-end processors, so Microsoft is expected to go after a flagship chipset with an octa-core CPU. Finally, the rear camera will get a new higher resolution 24 or 25 MP sensor, while the front one will be upgraded with a 5 or 8 MP one. Other details of the rumored Lumia 940 include native pen support, iris scanning capabilities and 3D-like interactions. Nokia has been working on the latter for a while before Microsoft's acquisition and Microsoft is prepping a revolution of its own, so this time around those long-postponed innovative feature may finally come to life. The next Microsoft Lumia flagship, most probably Lumia 940, should run natively on Windows 10 and could be announced as early as April 29 at the BUILD conference. We also expect to Microsoft to debut two new mid-range phone as rumored before and one of the could be a dual-SIM flavor of the Lumia 830 as the today's report...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lumia_940_might_come_with_52_display_25mp_cam-news-12000.php

Gionee Pioneer P4S launched in India at $125

Gionee has added yet another smartphone to its entry level lineup - Pioneer P4S. As a successor of the old P4, the new handset supports dual-SIM configuration and will be sold in the Indian market for INR7,799 ($125). Sporting a 4.5-inch WVGA display and is powered by a MediaTek MT6582 chipset with quad-core 1.3GHz CPU and 1GB of RAM. Internal storage is 8GB and photography needs are covered by a 5MP rear snapper and a 2MP front camera. The rear camera packs fancy features such as HDR, panorama, face recognition and others. The 8.7mm thick P4S boasts the HotKnot feature that mimics the function of Near Field Communication. Cellular connectivity features dual-SIM 3G support. Hardly appearing to be an improvement over its predecessor, the P4S runs Android 4.4 KitKat and packs a 1,800 mAh...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/gionee_pioneer_p4s_launched_in_india_at_125-news-11998.php

Gionee Elife E8 allegedly spotted on GFXBench

Ever since the launch of the Gionee Elife S7, the news has been out that the company is already working on a successor. The successor to the fairly popular E-series handset will allegedly be named the Elife E8 and a new GFXBench benchmark page might reveal a big part of its specs sheet. The device will probably feature a 4.6-inch 2560 x 1440 pixel display, which is in tune with previous rumors. It will be powered by an Mediatek MT6795 SoC with octa-core CPU - the same chip that powers the HTC One E9+. And graphics will be courtesy of a PowerVT Rogue G6200 GPU. As far as memory goes, the Elife E8 will probably have 3GB of RAM and 32GB of onboard storage. And the camera setup looks really impressive, at least on paper. The main shooter will be capable of 23MP stills and the front-facing one has an 8MP sensor. There is still no official word on the Elife E8, but Gionee's president William Lu promised to introduce the smartphone in June. Source |...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/gionee_elife_e8_allegedly_spotted_on_gfxbench-news-11997.php

Wait, what? Galaxy S6 sales in S. Korea fall short of expectations

Less than a week after Samsung said that it is expecting to sell over a whopping 70 million units of the Galaxy S6 and S6 Egde this year, there are reports that sales of the devices in the company's home country have fallen short of expectations. According to Yonhap News, although there were a total of 300,000 pre-orders of the S6 and S6 Edge in South Korea, Samsung has managed to sell just over 200,000 units till now. While the possibility of earlier sales forecasts being exaggerated cannot be ruled out, it looks like some other issue is at play here: as per the report, the less-than-expected sales could well be due to carrier's limited subsidies. The initial subsidy given by South Korean carriers was capped at 210,000 won (US$193.9), but the amount has been extended over the previous weekend. "We expect sales will improve soon, as the mobile carriers decided to increase subsidies on the Galaxy S6 series," a local handset retailer said. Via ...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/wait_what_galaxy_s6_sales_in_s_korea_fall_short_of_expectations-news-11995.php

Vivo X5Pro teased in new promo images

Vivo is the final stages of development of its new X5Pro smartphone, as indicated by more and more specific details, that have surfaced online. After we showed you a glimpse of the handset's sleek 2.5D glass corners a few days ago, new info sheds light on some of the X5Pro's features. For starters, the camera will come with phase detection autofocus, a feature so far limited to DSLR cameras and a select few smartphones in the high-end segment, namely the Apple iPhone 6 and the Samsung Galaxy S5. Vivo has been working on the tech for a while, apparently, and what was rumored to be intended for the Xshot sequel will make it's way to the X5Pro. It's not all about imaging though, and one of the slogans in the X5Pro promo images translates into endless music. Together with the "Hi-Fi and smart" motto this leads us to believe the smartphone will feature some serious audio circuitry, targeting audiophiles on the go. The smartphone will boot Android 5.0, hardly a surprise at this time anymore, even less for a premium offering. In typical Vivo fashion, the OS will be skinned with the company's proprietary Funtouch OS in its 2.1 iteration. Camera features • Funtouch OS 2.1 for the Vivo X5Pro So far, that's all that has been revealed on the Vivo X5Pro. The smartphone is to be expected sometime in May so we'll know the whole story sooner rather than later. Source |...



Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/vivo_x5pro_teased_in_new_promo_images-news-11996.php

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