Lenovo Phab2 Plus landing in India next week

The Lenovo Phab2 Plus smartphone, which was unveiled at the company's Tech World event back in June this year, will be launched in India next week - November 8 to be precise. Media invites for the event have been sent and the company has also started teasing the launch on Twitter. Why would you go regular when you can #GoPHAB? Stay tuned to find out how #DifferentLivesBetter on November 8th. pic.twitter.com/f4mFywHCNs— Lenovo India (@Lenovo_in) November 5, 2016 The handset will be launched as an Amazon exclusive in the country. There's, however, currently no information on the price...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lenovo_phab_2_plus_landing_in_india_next_week-news-21475.php

Latest beta update for BlackBerry Priv brings November security patch

BlackBerry has started pushing out a new beta update to its Priv smartphone. The update, which is hitting all Priv units except those on Verizon's network, brings along Android security patch for the month of November. It weighs in at around 98MB and bumps the firmware version to AAH505. Here's the complete statement from the Canadian company: Today's update brings news that AAH505, our candidate to be the official November security patch update, is now available to beta participants on all devices (except Verizon variants) to begin testing. Depending on the build you're coming...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/latest_beta_update_for_blackberry_priv_brings_november_security_patch-news-21473.php

Analyst: No iPhone SE refresh coming in March 2017

Apple won't be releasing an update to the iPhone SE in March 2017, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has stated in a note to investors that AppleInsider got their hands on. Unlike any other major smartphone, the iPhone SE's life will be extended past the usual one year period. As reasoning behind such a decision on Apple's part the analyst (whose predictions in the past have more often than not been right on the money) suggests a push to maximize gross margins and spare the true flagship iPhone 7 from internal competition. All that said, the forecast only covers the second fiscal quarter of 2017...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/analyst_no_iphone_se_refresh_coming_in_march_2017-news-21474.php

Xiaomi launches Mi Sports Bluetooth Headset: IPx4-rated, 7h battery life

Xiaomi has launched a sports Bluetooth headset with the no-nonsense name Mi Sports Bluetooth Headset. A classic in-ear design, the earbuds come with a loop to help them hold on to your earlobes. The left and right part are connected with a wire, so if you do lose them, they're going down together. Xiaomi Mi Sports Bluetooth Headset While the earbuds may look a bit bulky, they weigh in at 17.8g total, while promising up to 7-hour battery life out of the 110mAh battery. Connection to a smartphone takes place over Bluetoth 4.1, and the headset can be paired to 2 devices...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_launches_mi_sports_bluetooth_headset_ipx4rated_7hour_battery_life-news-21478.php

Unreturned Samsung Galaxy Note7 units in New Zealand will soon be disconnected from mobile networks

If you are a Samsung Galaxy Note7 owner in New Zealand who is yet to exchange/return their unit, you are strongly advised to do so withing the next couple of weeks. Reason being, starting November 18, your unit will not be able to access any cellular network in the country. "As part of our commitment to ongoing safety, Samsung would like to make our customers aware of plans to discontinue network service for Note7 devices," the company said in a statement. "From the 18 November, customers still using the Note7 will no longer be able to connect to any New Zealand mobile network...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/unreturned_samsung_galaxy_note7_units_in_new_zealand_will_be_disconnected_from_mobile_networks-news-21470.php

The Uncourage is a keychain to keep you from losing the iPhone 7 3.5mm adapter

Okay, not only 'there's a dongle for that', but now there's a keychain for that dongle. The Uncourage (Apple's #courage, counteracted) is a simple keychain allowing you to carry your iPhone 7/7 Plus Lightning-to-3.5mm adapter around without losing it. The remarkably low-tech solution to a previously non-existent problem consists of a key ring with a 3.5mm plug attached to it, and that's it. It's also priced accordingly - $6 a pop, but getting a 3-pack will run you $12 total, and 10 pieces come at half price, if you're shopping for the entire family (and/or have dozens of...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/the_uncourage_is_a_keychain_to_keep_you_from_losing_the_iphone_7_35mm_adapter-news-21476.php

Verizon starts rolling out Marshmallow update to BlackBerry Priv

Looks like Verizon has started rolling out the Marshmallow update to BlackBerry Priv units on its network. According to the information available, at-least one Verizon Priv unit has received the update. Priv's software update page on Verizon's website doesn't say anything about the Marshmallow update. So, there's currently no confirmation on whether it's a public roll-out or just a soak test, but even if it's the latter, Verizon Priv users will be happy to know that the update is imminent. Source | Via

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/verizon_starts_rolling_out_marshmallow_update_to_blackberry_priv-news-21472.php

Alleged Samsung Gear 360 Pro spotted on Zauba

If you recall, back in September this year, there were reports that Samsung is working on a Pro variant of its Gear 360 camera. Well, the device may have entered India for R&D purposes. A listing on India's import/export tracking website Zauba reveals that a device dubbed "SAMPLE SAMSUNG CAMERA SET" landed in the country earlier this week, and reports say it could well be the Gear 360 Pro. Gear 360 To be fair, the possibility of it being a compact projector (that resembles the Gear 360) is also there - for those who aren't aware, such a device was revealed in a recently-published...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/alleged_samsung_gear_360_pro_spotted_on_zauba-news-21471.php

Samsung says 85% of all faulty Galaxy Note7 units in US have been exchanged/returned

Nearly a month after discontinuing the Galaxy Note7 smartphone, Samsung has revealed that around 85% of all the faulty units sold in the United States have either been returned or exchanged. "As of today, nearly 85 percent of all recalled Galaxy Note7 devices have been replaced through the U.S. Note7 Refund and Exchange Program, with the majority of the participants opting to receive another Samsung smartphone," the South Korean company said in a statement. While that's a decent return rate especially considering that millions of units of the phone were sold in the country, the tech...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_says_85_of_all_faulty_galaxy_note7_units_in_us_have_been_exchanged_returned-news-21469.php

Concept photos? Or actual renders? This could be the long-awaited Surface Phone

Friday, leak master @evleaks posted a few pictures of a windows phone "concept" as the way he tweeted it at first, was very vague and unclear as to whether the photos were of an actual phone or of a conceptual design. "Powered by a laptop-class Intel processor, would this have blown your mind?" he tweets. Powered by a laptop-class Intel processor, would this have blown your mind? pic.twitter.com/0n2yZPvU65— Evan Blass (@evleaks) November 4, 2016 Someone commented that it was a "nice concept" but "nothing more," than that. That's when Evan Blass tweeted some more photos out, this...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/concept_photos_or_actual_renders_this_could_be_the_longawaited_surface_phone-news-21468.php

Is it too early for Black Friday? All Verizon's 2016 Black Friday deals leaked

Black Friday is the one day a year Americans go shop for everything they don't need because many stores and retailers hold sales with heavily discounted items. Many Americans take the opportunity to shop for the holidays on Black Friday. Verizon's Black Friday 4-page spread has already leaked far ahead of schedule. Take a look at the deals mentioned below: An early look at Verizon's Black Friday deals Smartphones Save up to $400 on one of these smartphones. Must be financed with savings credit applied monthly to wireless statement over 24 months. Samsung Galaxy S7...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/is_it_too_early_for_black_friday_all_verizons_2016_black_friday_deals_leaked-news-21467.php

Samsung to start Android Nougat beta program for the Galaxy S7 edge

Samsung is notoriously known for one of the slowest OEMs to release major firmware updates since the company has so many phones, and the phones have so many software modifications. The Korean phone maker is soon launching a beta program (at least for users in the US and UK) with the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge (presumably the S7 as well) where selected users will be able to install the Android Nougat update for beta testing. With a beta program, customers (willing) can try out the latest software, complete with bugs and glitches to in exchange for reporting any inconsistencies in the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_to_start_android_nougat_beta_program_for_the_galaxy_s7_edge-news-21466.php

HTC is giving away a new phone every Friday until December 30

Do you like HTC smartphones? How about getting one for free? That's exactly what the Taiwanese mobile device maker is proposing for people in the US. The company has started a campaign today which will run every Friday until the end of the year. And every single Friday, an HTC smartphone will be given away to one lucky winner. The catch? There doesn't seem to be one. You obviously have to enter your details into a special website set up for this purpose, but that's it. Oh, and you'll most likely want to follow HTC on Twitter and Facebook since those are the places where the winners will be...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_is_giving_away_a_new_phone_every_friday_until_december_30-news-21465.php

T-Mobile Galaxy Note7 units will get the update limiting charge to 60% starting tomorrow

Over the past few weeks Samsung has done a lot to make sure every single Galaxy Note7 unit ever sold is returned, because of the well documented fire hazard they pose. However, the company still hasn't gotten all of the phones back, so now it's trying to force people to do this. A software update that limits charge to 60% has already been sent out to Galaxy Note7 units sold in both South Korea and Europe, and now it's headed to the US. The first devices to get it will be those sold by T-Mobile. Starting tomorrow, the update (with build version N930TUVU2APK1) will be rolling out to all...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/tmobile_galaxy_note7_units_will_get_the_update_limiting_charge_to_60_starting_tomorrow-news-21464.php

Google Home is now available, Chromecast Ultra starts shipping, Daydream View headsets too

Google Home is now available to buy from Walmart, Best Buy, and Target. The smart speaker that's infused with Google Assistant can be yours for $129. It's Google's direct competitor for Amazon's Echo line, which means you shouldn't expect it to ever be sold by the mega-retailer. Google Home is a US-only product for now. Aside from being able to talk to it and ask it various questions, you can also control certain smart home devices (the list of supported ones should grow in the future). The 4K Chromecast Ultra which Google announced alongside the Home speaker has started shipping today,...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/google_home_is_now_available_chromecast_ultra_starts_shipping_daydream_view_headsets_too-news-21463.php

Upcoming HTC 10 evo (Bolt) is shown in black in new leaked press renders

HTC is currently working on a new smartphone that may be sold under the name Bolt or 10 evo. The company could actually end up using both of those names, each restricted to certain markets. We've already seen the Bolt in leaked press renders as well as live images, but so far only in silver. Well, it's time now to take a look at the black version of the upcoming Bolt, thanks to some newly leaked press renders. The device has been rumored to come with a 5.5-inch 1080p touchscreen, an 18 MP rear camera with f/2.0 aperture, 4K video recording, and a dual-LED flash, an 8 MP front-facing...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/upcoming_htc_10_evo_bolt_is_shown_in_black_in_new_leaked_press_renders-news-21462.php

Apple makes USB Type-C adapters cheaper until the end of the year

Apple caused some controversy last week when it finally unveiled the new MacBook Pro models. None of the three laptops have any other ports aside from Thunderbolt 3 infused USB Type-C connectors and the 3.5mm headset jack. No SD card slot, no HDMI out, nothing like that. While USB Type-C may take over the world in the future, at this point in time you probably need a dongle or two, or three, to actually get some work done on your brand-spankin-new MacBook Pro. Sure, there are many of those around the internet, but what if you want to buy direct from Apple and not have any quality...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_makes_usb_typec_adapters_cheaper_until_the_end_of_the_year-news-21461.php

vivo X9 and X9 Plus will be announced on November 16

The much-rumored and oft-leaked vivo X9 and X9 Plus are finally going to become official at an event in Beijing on November 16. The information comes straight from the Chinese company itself, posting the unveiling date through its official Weibo account. That's one day earlier than expected, though we can't say that's a problem. The X9 and X9 Plus will come with a dual camera setup on the front, unlike most smartphones these days which choose to go with such an arrangement on the rear. Through past teasers, vivo has already revealed that one of those selfie units will have 20 MP...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/vivo_x9_and_x9_plus_will_be_announced_on_november_16-news-21460.php

Xiaomi unveils Redmi 4A, Redmi 4 Standard, and Redmi 4 Prime

Xiaomi Redmi 4 is finally official after months-long rumor spree. Xiaomi actually unveiled three different models of the mid-ranger and they target different groups of users. Xiaomi Redmi 4A The Redmi 4A is the cheapest among the Redmi 4 series but still has an all-metal body, even if it looks slightly different from the other two. The phone packs a 5" IPS screen of 720p resolution and runs on the Snapdragon 425 chipset with a quad-core 1.4GHz Cortex-A53 processor, Adreno 308, and 2GB of RAM. Its 13MP main camera sits at the top-left corner of the back, accompanied by a...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_unveils_redmi_4a_redmi_4_standard_and_redmi_4_prime-news-21458.php

Samsung Link is dead, but your content is safe

Samsung Link, previously known as AllShare Play, has been shut down for good. Samsung surprisingly pulled the plug on the service without prior notice, though all saved content is safe and nothing will be deleted. Samsung Link app was used to connect different devices and storage services in one place. It made easy sharing multimedia and docs between the logged devices, remote accessing them, and even connecting smartphones to TVs and streaming various content. Samsung says the Link app is no longer active because of "internal operation policy", whatever this means. There are no...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_link_is_dead_but_your_content_is_safe-news-21453.php

Porsche-less Huawei Mate 9 model might be in the works, to cost less

Yesterday was a big day for Huawei - it introduced the second-generation Leica camera on the 5.9" Huawei Mate 9 phablet and the premium 5.5" Huawei Mate 9 Porsche Design. Both devices are scheduled to launch soon and look beyond promising. Many people saw the Porsche flavor as the better Mate because of the higher-resolution curved AMOLED screen, but its price is hard to swallow - the phone goes for €1400. But we may have some good news for those liking the Porsche model better than the regular Mate 9. A Huawei rep at the event confirmed for komputerswiat.pl that the company wants to...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/porscheless_huawei_mate_9_model_might_be_in_the_works_to_cost_less-news-21455.php

Huawei and Leica talk about the Mate 9's camera

The Huawei Mate 9 and Mate 9 Porsche Design were announced yesterday - you can't have missed it. Products of the continued collaboration between Huawei and world-renowned optics specialists Leica in developing the camera subsystem, started with the Huawei P9, the new devices come with a pair of cameras - a 20MP monochrome sensor and a 12MP RGB sensor, each mated to an f/2.2 aperture lens. After the keynote we had a sit-down with Huawei representatives, a host of Leica engineers and a few of our tech writer colleagues. We attempted to find out more about what's going on under the hood of...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_and_leica_talk_about_the_mate_9s_camera-news-21454.php

Motorola Moto M leaks in more official press materials

We have been catching glimpses of upcoming Motorola Moto M here ant there over the past few months. Seeing how the suggested November 8 release date is mere hours away at this point, it is understandable that more information has started to slip through the cracks. Moto M The latest such leak consists of a rich collection of official-looking banners for the handset. They are all in Chinese and bear a great design and stylistic resemblance to other press materials spotted in the wild. Besides offering the opportunity for a good close-up look of the new Moto M and its metal...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_moto_m_leaks_in_more_official_press_materials-news-21451.php

Zotac VR Go is a backpack PC for VR

Zotac has revealed a new backpack PC that should get rid of one of the biggest annoyances with using VR headsets right now: the dangling cables. Called the VR Go, this backpack PC literally just sits on your back using straps. All your VR cables go into the PC so there is nothing on the floor to impede your movement. The PC has its own removable battery pack that can power itself. The VR Go is powered by an NVIDIA GTX 1070 and a quad-core Intel processor. On the side are a bunch of I/O ports for connecting your VR headset and other accessories. When not being used as a...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/zotac_vr_go_is_a_backpack_pc_for_vr-news-21449.php

First Mi Mix sale ends in just 10 seconds

As you might recall, Xiaomi really managed to get fans excited with the announcement of the Mi Note 2 and Mi Mix flagships and even more so with their quick to follow initial flash sales. The former handset reportedly did great for itself, shattering the company's personal sales records after a 50-second long sales event on November 1. And while we do realize this is a clear-cut case of viral marketing, it is still hard not to acknowledge the Mi Mix and its new sales record. Frankly, it is hardly surprising that interest was so high for Xiaomi's extravagant, nearly bezelless...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/first_mi_mix_sale_ends_in_just_10_seconds-news-21450.php

Twelve South Fermata is a stand for your wireless headphones

Wireless headphones are great, they really are. But one of the hassles of owning a pair of wireless headphones is having to charge them. Ideally you would want them to be charging whenever you are not using them but that just means additional cable clutter on your desk. This is where the Fermata comes in, a headphone stand from accessory maker Twelve South that is designed specifically for wireless headphones. While at the outset the Fermata might look like a standard headphone stand, it includes a charging cable that neatly plugs into the bottom of your wireless headphones while...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/twelve_south_fermata_is_a_stand_for_your_wireless_headphones-news-21448.php

New security update starts hitting Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016)

Samsung has started pushing out a new update to its Galaxy A5 (2016) smartphone. Currently rolling out in Europe and weighing in at over 20MB, the update brings along Android security patch for the month of October. In addition, the change-log for the update reveals that fix for a critical security flaw is also included, although details aren't mentioned. As is usually the case with OTA roll outs, it may take time for the update to hit your device. Meanwhile, if you feel impatient, you can manually check for the update by heading to your handset's Settings menu. Via

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/security_update_starts_hitting_samsung_galaxy_a5_2016-news-21447.php

Some Sprint users say Google Messenger is showing RCS capabilities (Advanced SMS)

According to some users that send SMS with Google Messenger, some are seeing enhanced features enabled on their SMS app. RCS or Rich Communication Services is the answer we need to finally upgrade our outdated SMS platform. RCS offers read receipts, typing notifications, and SMS messaging over a data connection. It also allows for larger file transfers up to 10MB so it doesn't have to over-compress MMS images or Videos. RCS does come with its complications though, as all carriers need to support the feature. Currently, all major US carriers except Verizon support the RCS platform. A...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/some_sprint_users_say_google_messenger_is_showing_rcs_capabilities_advanced_sms-news-21446.php

TCL announces new XESS home tablet, with built-in Amazon Alexa capabilities

TCL, parent company of Alcatel has just announced its next-generation XESS tablet. We went hands-on with last years' model at CES. The TCL XESS tablet is a home-oriented 17.3-inch Android-powered tablet with connected-hub capabilities. Like last year's model, the XESS comes with a network camera that you can set up in your home to check on the kids, pets, or whatever you want to keep an eye on while at home or away. The tablet also comes pre-loaded with a kitchen recipe application, one that will provide you with recipes with accompanying video clips. The XESS tablet also...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/tcl_announces_new_xess_home_tablet_with_builtin_amazon_alexa_capabilities-news-21445.php

AT&T starts taking pre-orders for the Samsung Gear S3 frontier LTE tomorrow

Earlier today Samsung decided to finally share availability details for its Gear S3 smartwatches. That information, however, only applies to the devices that will be sold through big third party retailers such as Amazon and Best Buy, and also by Samsung itself. The Korean company mentioned that the LTE-capable Gear S3 frontier model would be available from AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon as well, but release and pricing details in this case are all up to those carriers. Well, here we are a few hours later and the first one of the three is sharing exactly that information with us. We're talking...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/at_t_starts_taking_preorders_for_the_samsung_gear_s3_frontier_lte_tomorrow-news-21443.php

Here are the first official promo videos for the Huawei Mate 9 and Mate 9 Porsche Design

Earlier today at a special event Huawei took the wraps off its latest flagship phablet, the Mate 9, as well as the incredibly expensive limited edition Mate 9 Porsche Design. If you're interested in either of these devices, don't miss our hands-on impressions brought to you straight from the unveiling ceremony. But what if you're a fan of official promo videos? Well, Huawei has already outed six of those for its two new handsets, and they are all embedded in the playlist below for your viewing pleasure. As you've undoubtedly seen, the videos have touched upon certain features Huawei...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/here_are_the_first_official_promo_videos_for_the_huawei_mate_9_and_mate_9_porsche_design-news-21444.php

Alcatel Idol 4s with Windows 10 will not be sold in Europe

After many rumors and leaks, the Alcatel Idol 4s running Windows 10 Mobile was finally made official a couple of days ago. The smartphone pairs most of the specs of the Android-running Idol 4s with Microsoft's latest mobile operating system, resulting in an intriguing high-end package for fans of Windows 10 Mobile. It will be out in the US at T-Mobile on November 10, priced at $469 full retail. But what if you're in Europe? Are you interested in this handset and wish you'd know when it's expected to hit that particular continent? If so, we have some bad news. It turns out that the Idol 4s...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/alcatel_idol_4s_with_windows_10_will_not_be_sold_in_europe-news-21442.php

Motorola wants you to dream up the next MotoMods

Motorola is still pushing MotoMods, which is both the name of some mobile accessories that are already out for the Moto Z line of smartphones, but also what the company is calling its initiative for bringing more of these to the market. Motorola has already launched the MotoMods Development Kit (MDK) so that eager hardware companies can design their own modular accessories that snap onto the Moto Z's back. Now though it's taking things one step further. Essentially, the company wants you to dream up the next MotoMod. You have until January 31 to enter its MotoMods Developer contest with...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_wants_you_to_dream_up_the_next_motomods_raise_money_via_indiegogo-news-21441.php

Samsung finally makes the W2017 Android flip phone official

Almost exactly one year after unveiling the W2016 high-end Android-powered flip phone in China, Samsung is back again with another such device. The successor for the W2016 is unsurprisingly called W2017, and it's been leaking in one form or another since June. And today it's been announced for the Chinese market. Like the W2016, the new W2017 comes with top of the line specs, packed into the clamshell design that was so popular many years ago. The W2017 is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820, aided by 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage expandable via microSD. Samsung...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_finally_makes_the_w2017_android_flip_phone_official-news-21440.php

Samsung Gear S3 classic and frontier will be available in the US on November 18

More than two months after it made them official at IFA, Samsung is finally ready to launch the Gear S3 classic and Gear S3 frontier in the US. Although we've already seen Best Buy starting pre-orders for the duo, today the Korean company has officially revealed the release details for that particular market. The smartwatches are priced from $349.99, and will be available to buy from Amazon, Macy's, and Samsung's own online store, aside from Best Buy. You'll also find the LTE-capable Gear S3 frontier at AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. The carriers will share their own availability and pricing...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_gear_s3_classic_and_frontier_will_be_available_in_the_us_on_november_18-news-21439.php

OnePlus 3T could launch as soon as November 14

OnePlus could be launching its speedier OnePlus 3T on November 14 if China-side rumors are to be believed. Sadly this recent rumor doesn't shine any more light on what the expected OnePlus 3T brings over the current 3 but there's been some speculation on that too. For starters the OnePlus 3T is expected to cost $479 - that's $80 more than the current model and for that price hike you could be looking at a speedier Snapdragon 821 (currently the OnePlus 3 comes with a SD820). Some rumors suggest the camera will be a Sony IMX398 sensor but still 16MP in resolution. The rest of...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/oneplus_3t_could_launch_as_soon_as_november_14-news-21438.php

Huawei Mate 9 and Mate 9 Porsche Design coverage overview

Huawei's event drew to a close and we finally got to see the official debut of the Huawie Mate 9 and its premium Porsche Design version. In case you've missed anything important here's our complete coverage for you to catch up. .phone-highlight-stage { margin: 0 30px; } .phone-highlight { position: relative; border-bottom: 1px solid #eee; margin-bottom: 30px; min-height: 500px; padding-bottom: 25px; } .phone-highlight img { /* width: 400px; */p } .phone-highlight a:hover img { webkit-animation-name: linesMoveDown; ...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_unveils_the_mate_9_with_dual_leica_camera_kirin_960_chipset-news-21437.php

Xiaomi Mi Mix taken apart easily, but the screen may be hard to swap

The Xiaomi Mi Mix will be remembered as one of the most impressive phones of 2016, but what makes it tick? One brave soul decided to find out. Popping off the back The back is the first to go, with no signs of glue but simple clips instead. That alone is a big boon to repairability (you do have to be careful not to snap the ribbon cables, though). The battery doesn't put up much of a fight, then you're a few plain Phillips screws away from the motherboard (not even the rarer Torx screws). Most removable components seem attached with ribbon cables, so they should be easy to swap...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_mi_mix_taken_apart_easily_but_the_screen_may_be_hard_to_swap-news-21433.php

Strategy Analytics: Android accounts for 88% of smartphones shipped in Q3 2016

'Android is doing better than ever' is the takeaway from a research carried out by Strategy Analytics. Google's OS accounts for a whopping 87.5% of total smartphone shipments in the period spanning July 1 to September 30. The Android share has grown by 3.4 percentage points year on year to the detriment of both iOS and other operating systems. In Q3 2016 iOS commands 12.1% of the market - 1.5pp down from the same period last year. The report doesn't list Windows 10 specifically, but the entire 'Others' category has shrunk to a rather dismal 0.3% - seven times smaller YoY. In...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/strategy_analytics_android_accounts_for_88_of_smartphones_shipped_in_q3_2016-news-21430.php

Huawei Mate 9 & Huawei Fit hands-on: First look

The Mates are the dance partners of the Huawei P series - the P9 leads with a Leica dual camera, now the Huawei Mate 9 follows with an improved version. Thanks to the next-generation chipset, that camera now records 4K 2160p video as well.

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_mate_9_handson-review-1516.php

Huawei gets serious about fitness with the Fit smartwatch

Huawei's big Mate 9 event is underway but a couple of big phones aren't the only gadgets Huawei has in store. The Huawei Fit comes as the company's first truly fitness-aimed smartwatch. Adding credibility to its sporty claims is IP68 water and dust resistance along with 5 ATM (that's atmospheres) of ingress protection - that means that the Huawei Fit can go underneath 50 meter underwater without cracking. The Fit can also withstand being stored at down to -20 degrees and be operational up to 35 degrees Celsius. Huawei Fit The smartwatch is made out of Aluminum with a...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_gets_serious_about_fitness_with_the_fit_smartwatch-news-21434.php

Huawei unveils the Mate 9 with dual Leica camera, Kirin 960 chipset

Huawei Mate 9 was just introduced at a dedicated event held in Munich, Germany. It has leaked numerous times before and we knew almost everything upfront, but we are glad Huawei managed to keep some things under wraps for the event. The Mate 9 is built of metal around a big 5.9" IPS display of 1080p resolution. The screen is covered with a piece of the 2.5D glass. The phablet is just 7.5mm thick and weighs the reasonable 169g. Huawei Mate 9 indeed runs on the new Kirin 960 chipset, which offers a powerful octa-core processor with a quartet of the new Cortex-A73 cores clocked at...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_unveils_the_mate_9_with_dual_leica_camera_kirin_960_chipset-news-21436.php

Huawei Mate 9 Porsche Design has race car looks, a QHD AMOLED screen

Perhaps picking Germany to unveil the new Huawei flagships was not random - the company caught everyone by surprise with the limited edition Huawei Mate 9 Porsche Design. The fashion-focused subsidiary of the legendary car maker is not new to phones, but this is its first partnership with Huawei. A bit of history first - Porsche Design was founded by Ferdinand Porsche's grandson, who also happened to design the Porsche 911 way back in 1963. Then there's Leica, another legendary German brand, this one focused on photography. This phone is loaded to the brim with famous...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_mate_9_porsche_design_has_race_car_looks_an_amoled_screen-news-21435.php

Watch the Huawei Mate 9 event live

Welcome all, ready to watch the Huawei Mate 9 be unveiled? We're on location in Munich, but the company will livestream the event on Periscope so you can watch with us. Huawei's twitter is abuzz with teasers under the #aStepAhead tag. They tout the phone's design, camera, chipset, battery life. The Mate 9 will be out in the open in about half an hour, meanwhile you scroll through the Twitter feed to catch a few glimpses of the flagship phablet. Will the Huawei Mate 9 be alone? Watch and find out! At least you know you won't have to wait long if you decide to pre-order one - pre-sales...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/watch_the_huawei_mate_9_event_live-news-21432.php

Huawei Mate 9 pre-sales to kick-off tomorrow

Excitement seems to be at an all-time high regarding Huawei's upcoming Mate 9 flagship and understandably so, since it is expected to launch in an hour. To sweeten the deal even further, a couple of banners were spotted on the streets of China, stating that the eagerly-anticipated device will go up for pre-sale as early as tomorrow. Huawei Mate 9 pre-sale will commence tomorrow in China! pic.twitter.com/THTCjGcXv7— Playfuldroid! (@playfuldroid) November 3, 2016 This probably relates only to the local market, likely leaving us folks over in the western markets with at least some...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_mate_9_presales_to_kickoff_tomorrow-news-21429.php

Meizu announces Pro 6s with a new main camera and a bigger battery

Meizu Pro 6s was just announced in China. The new flagship is a refined version of its Pro 6 predecessor, with improved camera experience and battery life. Just like the Pro 6, the Pro 6s uses an aluminum unibody with curved edges and the same antenna bands design. The new antenna placement was first introduced by the Meizu Pro 6, but gained popularity with the latest iPhone 7 duo. The Meizu Pro 6s has absolutely the same footprint, look, and is available in the same colors - Gray, Gold, Silver, Rose Gold. It features a 5.2" Super AMOLED screen with 1080p resolution and 3D Press...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/meizu_announces_pro_6s_with_a_new_main_camera_and_a_bigger_battery-news-21431.php

Pixel XL adoption is faster than Nexus 6P, says analytics firm

Google is pushing the Pixel phones much harder than it did any Nexus before it. According to data by Appboy, it's working. The Pixel XL took a week to reach a market share comparable to the Nexus 6P two weeks after launch. And this is with some stock shortages at both Google and Verizon stores. The smaller Pixel is showing some amazing growth too. A week after launch day, its numbers were 274% up. Similarly, the Pixel XL more than doubled its launch day numbers after a week of sales (up 158%). Compare that to the established Galaxy brand - the S7 doubled its numbers a week later,...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/pixel_xl_adoption_is_faster_than_nexus_6p_says_analytics_firm-news-21428.php

Uber redesigns mobile app

Uber has released a new version of its mobile app, featuring the first major redesign since 2012. The first thing you'll notice is the new icon, which ditches the green background of the previous app for a black and white icon. Next, you will also see the app no longer has the splash screen of the previous app, but it doesn't need one anymore because it launches stupid fast (at least on the iPhone 7). Once opened, you will see a completely new map imagery with redesigned car models that scuttle around. The highlight is the Destination bar, which prioritizes your destination over...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/uber_redesigns_mobile_app-news-21427.php

ZTE CYMBAL-T flip phone launched with 3.5-inch display, 5MP camera

ZTE has launched a new smartphone in the US. Dubbed CYMBAL-T, it's a flip phone powered by Snapdragon 210 chipset and sports a 3.5-inch display. It has 1GB RAM and 8GB of internal memory, which can be expanded up to 32GB. In terms of camera, the phone features a 5MP rear unit and a 2MP front shooter. Connectivity options include WiFi, Bluetooth, and GPS. Support for LTE is also there. The handset runs Android 5.0 Lollipop out of the box. As for price, the CYMBAL-T carries a tag of $99.95. You can purchase it from the Home Shopping Network, which is also including a car charger,...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/zte_cymbalt_flip_phone_launched_with_35inch_display_5mp_camera-news-21426.php

Nextbit Robin currently going for $170 in the US

If you are in the United States, and are planning to purchase the cloud-focused Nextbit Robin smartphone, you'll be glad to know that the device is currently going for as low as $170 in the country. Amazon is selling the phone at that price. A quick look at the listing, however, reveals that the price cut is only available on the Midnight color variant of the handset - the Mint variant is listed for $197. Nextbit is officially selling the model for $299, meaning if you purchase the Midnight Robin variant from Amazon, you'll save around $130. Source

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/nextbit_robin_currently_going_for_170_in_the_us-news-21425.php