Top 10 trending phones of week 18

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 retained its lead as the most popular phone in our database for a second week in a row. The Chinese phablet is clearly on the short list of a lot of people currently, which helped it keep above the Galaxy J7 once more. The Galaxy J5 and Galaxy J3 (2016) have traded places, but are still here to make it 3 Galaxy J phone in...

Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016) can now be purchased from AT&T too

Yesterday Verizon started selling the Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016). And today Big Red's largest competitor has done the exact same thing, right on the schedule it announced back in April. The phone manages to be $1.99 more expensive if bought from AT&T than if you'd grab one from Verizon, when comparing its full retail price at both carriers. That's...

Asus will announce the ZenFone 3 series on May 30

It's a well known fact that Asus loves announcing new devices during Computex, the expo held each summer in Taipei, Taiwan. And this year will be no different. In fact, we should expect a barrage of Zen-branded products from the Taiwanese company to be showcased at this year's show, which takes place from May 31 to June 4. But before that, on May...

Microsoft Lumia 650 is now available at Cricket for $129.99

Today Cricket has finally started selling the Microsoft Lumia 650. This is an affordable smartphone that was announced back in mid-February, which is also when we first found out that it would be heading to AT&T's prepaid brand. Then last month the release date was unveiled by the carrier as being May 6. And here we are. You can now jump over...

If you're a student you pay 50% less for Apple Music for up to four years

Ahead of its much talked about redesign coming this fall alongside the iOS 10 release, Apple Music has today received a new special pricing tier. The service is now offering half off its monthly subscription rate, but only if you are a student. In the US, this works out to $4.99 per month if you qualify, instead of the usual $9.99 charged by Apple....

Samsung Galaxy S7 active gets shown in leaked images on its way to AT&T

Back in March a few leaks and rumors spoke about Samsung prepping a Galaxy S7 active smartphone, which was supposedly on its way to AT&T. That made sense, since that particular carrier has offered both of Samsung's "Active" versions of its flagships in the past - we're talking about the S6 active and the S5 Active. And today from Vietnam come...

More Galaxy C5 photos leak

Just a day after the Samsung Galaxy C5 leaked in pictures for the first time (showing off its metal body), a new set of images - alleged to be of the same device - has leaked online. Take a look: Giving a more eye-pleasing view, these new images also confirm a metal body (something that has already been rumored before). As for the device's specs,...

Vivo V3Max review: Simplified Chinese

Vivo enjoyed a good run with the X-series in 2015 and even snatched the world's slimmest phone title with the local Chinese version of the X5Max. In 2016, the company is obviously trying to carry that momentum into the midrange with the V-series. Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/vivo_v3max-review-1436.p...

Huawei P9 teardown by iFixit yields 7 out of 10 repairability score

The teardown experts at iFixit are at it again. The handset that's gone through the procedure this time is the Huawei P9. The Chinese company's latest flagship manages to bag a 7 out of 10 repairability score in the end, which is identical to the result of the iPhone 6s. On the other hand, keep in mind that Samsung's Galaxy S7 and S7 edge have only...

Galaxy Note 6 'Lite' rumored with SD820 SoC, 1080p display, and 4GB RAM

Just a couple of weeks ago, there were reports that Samsung is testing two Galaxy Note 6 versions - one with flat screen, and the other with curved edges. While there's no word on which of the two will see the light of the day (or if both will be launched), a new rumor is claiming that a scaled-down variant is in the works as well. Thankfully, the...

New Samsung Gear Fit 2 renders leak showing three color versions

At this point it's pretty much a given that Samsung will launch the Gear Fit 2 in the coming weeks or months. The fitness tracker that's going to be the successor to the original Gear Fit from 2014 has first been leaked last month, followed yesterday by an image of it spotted hanging out on an official Samsung website. And today prolific leaker Evan...

LG's G5 and V10 phones receive NIAP certification for enterprise and military use

LG has announced that its G5 and V10 phones are now certified by the U.S. National Information Assurance Partnership (NIAP). This means that both devices have been deemed fit for use in security-focused environments like enterprise and military. "With the growing importance of higher security in business these days, we believe a firm security platform...

Coolpad Note 3 Plus launched in India

CoolPad has launched the new Note 3 Plus in India. Well, "new" seems a bit of a stretch, since it is essentially the same Coolpad Note 3 but now with a FullHD display. The rest of the phone is identical, with the similarly sized 5.5-inch display, MediaTek MT6753 SoC, 3GB RAM, 16GB storage, 13 megapixel rear camera, fingerprint sensor, and a 3000mAh...

Those who pre-ordered HTC 10 will also get "small token of appreciation"

Pre-ordered the HTC 10? You'll be glad to know that shipments have already begun. However, there's one more good news: your HTC 10 unit will be shortly followed by a "small token of appreciation" from the Taiwanese company. Only those who placed their pre-orders on HTC's official website are eligible for the surprise. Sadly, at the moment, HTC isn't...

Google executive: Android One still drawing interest; more devices coming

Google launched the Android One program back in 2014 with an aim to bring smartphones to the masses. It's 2016 now, and to say the least, the initiative has not been the kind of success the company would have hoped for. However, that doesn't mean Google is giving up on its Android One efforts. According to Mike Hayes, Director, Business Development,...

Verizon releases the Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016), yours for $109.99 sans contract

Today Verizon has started selling a new Samsung smartphone. We're talking about the Galaxy J3 (2016), a device that should also reach AT&T tomorrow, and has been out at Sprint's prepaid brands since January. Big Red has managed to be faster than its main competitor, however. It's offering the phone for fans of prepaid plans, so there's no long-term...

HTC launches the One M9 Prime Camera Edition in Europe

Sure, it has a new flagship smartphone on the way in the 10, but HTC has now decided to launch a new version of last year's top of the line offering. It's called HTC One M9 Prime Camera Edition, and so far it's only surfaced in Poland, where it became official today. This model borrows the looks of the One M9 from 2015, but changes a few of its specs....

HTC 10 isn't doing very well in China

On April 25, HTC started taking pre-reservations for the 10 smartphone in China. And today a new report out of that country claims the company's new handset hasn't been doing well at all. In the first eleven days of the pre-reservation campaign, two of the biggest online commerce platforms in China (JD and TMall) have only managed to achieve a combined...

Netflix intros cellular data usage controls for its Android and iOS apps

Netflix's apps for both Android and iOS have already received updates that bring with them a new and very useful feature. There's a new option to be found in the App Settings section, namely Cellular Data Usage. This basically lets you change the bitrate of your video streams for when you're watching Netflix over your mobile data connection. There...

GSMArena HTC 10 giveaway: the lucky winner has been drawn!

The winner is: Kevin N. A HTC 10 just found its new owner! The flagship is heading off to California where Kevin N. is eagerly awaiting his gift, courtesy of Spigen. We'd like to thank the 3,500+ users who took part in the giveaway with over 24,000 entries. We wish them better luck next time. Those that didn't win can still take advantage of the...

Sony Xperia X Performance might actually make it to the UK

So far Sony's official stance has been that the Xperia X Performance will not be sold in the UK or Germany. Ever. The company hasn't explained this baffling move in any reasonable manner, but the reason for the decision may not matter after all. That's because it turns out that you might actually be able to purchase an Xperia X Performance from the...

Marshmallow starts hitting Verizon's LG G Pad X8.3

Verizon has started rolling out the Marshmallow update to LG G Pad X8.3 units on its network. The update brings Android 6.0, and bumps the software version to VK81522A. The Verizon support page (hit the Source link at the bottom) for the update lists all the changes included in the update such as Now on Tap, Runtime Permissions, Silent Mode, Do Not...

Gear Fit 2 and Gear IconX images have been spotted on Samsung's website

Last month a leak showed us the upcoming Samsung Gear Fit 2 fitness tracker, and also the Gear IconX fully wireless headphones that are probably going to get announced alongside the new Fit. And now it looks like someone was able to spot official images of the two devices on Samsung's own SHealth website. Unfortunately no details about the Gear Fit...

Galaxy C5 leaks in pictures for first time, shows off metal body

Remember the Samsung SM-C5000 (allegedly the Galaxy C5), which has got its specs leaked at-least a couple of times so far? Well, the device has now leaked in live photos, making it the first image leak of the handset. The leaked images clearly show a metallic body, something which is in line with some of the rumors we've heard so far. To recap, the...

Update brings new 'Discover' view on Onedrive for Android and Web

Microsoft has updated the OneDrive for Android and Web with a new 'Discover' view. According to the company, the new feature lets content find you, instead of you looking for it. Basically, the Discover view suggests stuff that's relevant to you, and it does that based on the knowledge of the work you are doing and the people with whom you engage....

Xiaomi Mi Max receives TENAA certification

Just five days before the official announcement, the Xiaomi Mi Max gets the certification green light from TENAA. Alongside it, we also get to see the phone in clear new photos from the front and back. The certification information confirms the specifications we already knew from previous leaks. The phone packs a large 6.4" IPS LCD of 1080p resolution....

Samsung beats Apple again as a smartphone market leader in the US

According to analysts company Counterpoint Research, Samsung is now the top dog in the US smartphone market. The last time Samsung outpaced Apple was 11 months ago, but now thanks to strong sales of the Galaxy S7, the company is again leading. According to the research company, Samsung has a 28.8% market share in March, while Apple is second with...

Opera gets native ad-blocker in latest version

Opera has released version 37 of its desktop and mobile browser and it now includes a native ad-blocker. Now, with a flick of a switch from the settings, you can block all ads within the browser without having to download any extension. Opera claims that since you are not using any extension, the browser uses less memory compared to other browsers....

Vine now available on Windows 10

Twitter has released the Vine app for the Windows 10 platform. This includes all the devices, from smartphones to tablets and even on desktop. Vine has had an app for the Windows Phone platform, but this new version is designed from the grounds up for the newer Windows 10 platform. The app has a black theme throughout, unlike on iOS and Android,...

Oppo R9 Plus' 128GB variant is now available for purchase

While the Oppo R9 Plus, which was unveiled alongside the R9 back in March this year, comes in both 64GB and 12GB storage variants, only the former has been available for purchase so far. However now the 128GB version has also gone on sale. The model is currently available for purchase in China, where it carries a price tag of RMB 3,599, which translates...

Marshmallow beta starts hitting T-Mobile Priv units

While the Priv Marshmallow update has already started rolling out in the US and Canada, T-Mobile is yet to launch the update for units on its network. As the wait is on for the final update, a beta Marshmallow build has meanwhile started hitting those T-Mobile Privs that signed up for the testing program. Specifically, the beta update is currently...

Samsung Galaxy S7 edge (32GB, dual-SIM) currently available for $650 in US

If you recall, back in March, we told you about an eBay deal that took $100 off the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge. In case you missed that deal, here is some good news: the same seller 232tech is back with a new promo, selling the device for just $650 this time. That's again a discount of around $100. However, the model on offer this time is the dual-SIM...

HTC 10 pre-orders have started shipping in the US

Inline with what HTC's Senior Global Online Communications Manager Jeff Gordon said last week, the Taiwanese company has started shipping pre-orders for its newest flagship - the HTC 10 - in the United States. We've got good news: if you pre-ordered an #HTC10, they've now started shipping. We're fulfilling orders as they were received.— HTC USA (@HTCUSA)...

Xperia Z2, Z3 and Z3 Compact getting Marshmallow in India and Canada

Nearly a month after it started rolling out in select regions worldwide including the US, the Marshmallow update for Sony's Xperia Z2, Xperia Z3, and Xperia Z3 Compact smartphones has now started hitting units in India and Canada. Aside from the usual Marshmallow goodies (including Doze, Google Now on Tap, and redesigned app permissions), the update...

HTC 10 storage read/write speeds are below average with other 2016 flagships

When working with the HTC 10, we noticed something peculiar. The time that it took to transfer sample photos from HTC 10 to our PC definitely felt much slower than transferring photos from the LG G5 or the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge. We thought it'd be interesting to measure how these phones perform in reading and writing speeds on the internal memory....

Motorola Moto X Force review: Handle without care

Want a flagship smartphone with all the bells and whistles but you're not good at keeping an expensive piece of equipment out of trouble? Motorola to the rescue. The Moto X Force is a shock and water-proof flagship, with high-performance hardware, impressive camera and a clean Android experience. Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_moto_x...

T-Mobile will offer the rugged Kyocera DuraForce XD from May 11

T-Mobile is getting ready to sell its first rugged Android smartphone, according to a press release put out today by Kyocera, a company that has specialized in exactly such offerings lately. May 11 is when the Kyocera DuraForce XD will make its debut at the magenta carrier. The handset has so far been available from AT&T, which started selling...

Galaxy S7 and S7 edge update on T-Mobile brings FM radio support

T-Mobile has started rolling out a new update for the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge units it's sold. This new release brings with it support for FM radio playback, as well as some bug fixes and performance improvements. Perhaps the most important of those have to do with the functionality of the power and volume keys - bugs in this area should have...

Revamped Apple Music will be introduced at WWDC in June

The Apple Music app for iOS is going to receive a big redesign as well as some new features. The big revamp will be officially introduced during the company's WorldWide Developer Conference (WWDC) in June. The new version of the app will then be released in beta alongside iOS 10 to developers and eager consumers, ahead of its official launch in the...

LG Stylo 2 is headed to Cricket, arrives on May 13

Having already launched at Sprint's prepaid brands (Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile) last month, the LG Stylo 2 is now on its way to AT&T's Cricket brand. As this is also a prepaid carrier, you won't need to sign a long-term contract to grab the phone when it becomes available online and in stores on May 13. The handset is priced at just $169.99....

Save 20% on a Samsung Gear VR headset if you act fast

The newest version of Samsung's Gear VR headset is compatible with all of the company's flagships starting with the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge (and yes, that includes the S7 and S7 edge of course). While the device was offered for free to those who pre-ordered either of the S7 handsets, the pre-order period has long been over. The Gear VR is usually priced...

Lenovo Z1 (ZUK Z1) India launch confirmed for May 10

Turns out the rumors were true - the ZUK Z1 will indeed land in India as Lenovo Z1. This was confirmed by Lenovo in a Facebook post where-in the company also revealed the device's India launch date: May 10. The ZUK moniker, however, hasn't completely been dropped, as the Chinese company is marketing the device in India as 'powered by ZUK.' The image...

Xiaomi Mi Max and Mi Band 2 leak before May 10 launch

Xiaomi is holding its Beijing event in a week, on May 10, where the company will announce the Mi Max smartphone and the Mi Band 2. Photos of the two have emerged showing the devices beforehand. The Xiaomi Mi Max will feature a flat, metal frame and the traditional for the company capacitive buttons under the screen. The specs of the phone include...

Alleged Samsung Galaxy A4 spotted on Zauba

Looks like Samsung may soon update its 'Galaxy A' line-up of smartphones with a new member. A device carrying a model number of SM-A430U has been spotted on India's import tracking website Zauba, with reports alleging that it's the Galaxy A4. Given the fact that the South Korean company usually follows a set format for model numbers (for example,...

Nextbit Robin now available on Amazon, $100 off for limited time

Kickstarter star Nextbit Robin has been available through the company website for some time. Starting today, the phone will also be available through Amazon in the US. As an introductory offer, the phone is being sold at $299, a cool $100 off from the usual price. The offer is only available from May 4 till May 10. Both the colors are available for...

Huawei G9 Lite and MediaPad M2 7.0 go official in China

The Huawei G9 Lite is now official in China, alongside the MediaPad M2 7.0 tablet. The Huawei G9 Lite is a localized version of the P9 Lite for the Chinese market. As such, it sports a 5.2" 1080p screen and is powered by the company's Kirin 650 chipset with a 2.0GHz octa-core CPU and 3GB of RAM. The same configuration is also present on the Honor...

Pebble Time Steel gets £60 price cut in UK

The Pebble Time Steel smartwatch has received a solid price cut in the United Kingdom. The wearable device - which was launched last year, and is a more premium version of the standard Pebble Time - is now listed for £139.99 on Amazon UK. This means the deal saves you a total of £60, as the timepiece is being officially sold by the company for £199.99...

T-Mobile LG G3 Marshmallow update now rolling out OTA as well

If you recall, we told you about the availability of T-Mobile LG G3 Marshmallow update last week, although it was only available through LG's desktop software at that time. The good news is that its over-the-air roll out has begun as well. The change-log posted on the magenta carrier's website, however, doesn't reveal much about the update, except...

Nextbit's cloud-focused Robin to get $100 price cut for a week

If you're planning to purchase Nextbit's cloud-focused Robin smartphone, here's some good news: starting midnight PDT May 4, the device will be available on Amazon for $299, down $100 from the $399 price tag it usually carries. The sale, which comes around a week after Nexbit launched the phone on Amazon, ends May 10. The handset, which comes with...

Production issues force Xiaomi to delay Mi Band 2 launch

For those who are eagerly waiting for the next-gen Mi Band from Xiaomi, there's some bad news: the wearable device's launch has been pushed back. This was announced by none other than the Chinese company's CEO Lei Jun on Weibo. The Mi Band 2 was set to be made official on May 10, alongside the Mi Max and MIUI 8.0. While Xiaomi might still go ahead...