New Motorola phone with Snapdragon 835 SoC, and Android 7.1.1 spotted on Geekbench

A new Motorola phone has appeared on the Geekbench benchmarking website. Listed as Motorola XT1650, the device - the listing reveals - is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 835 chipset, and has 4GB of RAM. Aside from this, the listing also reveals that the device runs Android Nougat version 7.1.1. Sadly, nothing else is currently known about this flagship at the moment, but given the model number (XT1650), it could well be the Moto Z (2017). Source | Via

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/new_motorola_phone_with_snapdragon_835_soc_4gb_ram_and_android_711_spotted_on_geekbench-news-22900.php

This battery case will give your LG V20 more than 5 days life

The LG V20 has a 3,200 mAh battery that can easily get you through the day without any trouble. But if you are more extreme and power user probably even this wouldn't be enough. And instead of buying a secondary battery, why don't you actually consider the ZeroLemon option. The case company released on Amazon their case at just $60. It comes with a 10,000mAh battery that goes in the same slot where the usual one goes. The removable back metal panel of V20 is substituted by the rubber bumper case that goes around the whole device plus, of course, the enormous...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/this_battery_case_will_give_your_lg_v20_more_than_5_days_life-news-22885.php

Global rollout of Honor 8 Nougat update begins

After rolling out to unlocked units in Japan this week, the Huawei Honor 8 Nougat update has now started hitting units in several other countries as well. It's a heavy update that weighs in at around 2.23GB, and brings along EMUI 5.0, which debuted on the Mate 9. The update that rolled out in Japan was under 2GB in size, and it also included some system-related optimizations, stability-related improvements, and better app versatility. So, while it's currently not known exactly what the global update brings along (aside from EMUI 5.0), it's safe to assume that a lot of other changes are...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/global_roll_out_of_honor_8_nougat_update_begins-news-22898.php

Humongous 18.4-inch Nokia tablet spotted on GFXBench

If you somehow missed the good news, 2017 greeted us with Nokia's long-anticipated return to the smartphone scene. The mid-range Nokia 6 Android handset is already a reality and marks HMD Global's first effort at managing the legendary brand. There is still a lot of mystery surrounding the handset in question, ranging from international availability to possible future software efforts, like an AI assistant. However, one thing is for sure - the Nokia 6 has already stirred up a lot of excitement in the mobile realm, and sparked numerous speculations on other upcoming Nokia phones, like the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/humongous_184inch_nokia_tablet_spotted_on_gfxbench-news-22905.php

Amazon India is currently running some great deals on phones and other tech

Amazon India is now well into the second day of its "Great Indian Sale" promotion and the deals are now arguably at their peak, as far as mobile tech goes. Lenovo and its subsidiary Motorola seem to be at the forefront of the event. You can save a whopping INR 2,000 from a 16GB Moto G4 Plus, which we found to be an excellent budget offer in our review. The Lenovo Z2 Plus appears to be an equally compelling offer, with a price reduction of INR 2,500. Moto G4 Plus - 2GB RAM/16GB storage - INR 11,499 - INR 2,000 off Moto G4 Plus - 3GB RAM/32GB storage - INR 13,999 - INR 1,000...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/amazon_india_is_currently_running_some_great_deals_on_phones_and_other_tech-news-22904.php

Nougat for LG G5 arrives in Philippines

LG has announced that the Nougat update (Android 7.0) for its G5 flagship has now started hitting units in the Philippines. The announcement was made by the South Korean company's Philippines subsidiary on Twitter. Life's good and even made better with the #LGG5 now available in the latest OS, Android 7.0 Nougat. Don't miss out on the sweetest update! pic.twitter.com/LhiaFFhWSF— LG Philippines (@LGPhilippines) January 21, 2017 It's been a while since the G5 Nougat update started rolling out globally. South Korea was the first country to get it, followed by the US, Europe, Brazil,...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/nougat_for_lg_g5_arrives_in_philippines-news-22902.php

Gionee F5L passes TENAA with octa-core CPU, 4,000mAh battery

A new Gionee smartphone has been certified by the Chinese telecommunication authority TENAA. Listed as F5L, the device is powered by an SoC with octa-core, 1.5GHz processor, and sports a 5.3-inch HD display. RAM is 4GB, while internal memory is listed as 32GB. In terms of camera, the phone features a 13MP rear unit and an 8MP front shooter. Measuring 150 × 74.5 × 7.7mm and weighing in at 162g, the F5L runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow, and packs in a large, 4,000mAh battery. Color options include white and gold. Source (translated)

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/gionee_f5l_passes_tenaa_with_octacore_cpu_4000mah_battery-news-22897.php

Huawei Honor launches a smartphone review program for fans

Huawei started a campaign for their Honor 6X branded device in UK. They launched a product review program, giving five lucky fans the opportunity to test and win the Honor 6X. In order to participate, you should register until January 26, explaining why you should be one of the reviewers. Over the course of one month five lucky people will be briefed by Honor to test three key features of the Honor 6X, including the dual-lens camera and the battery time of 2.2 days that Huawei promises. Reviewers also have to be able to put the device to its power limits in order to test the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_honor_launches_a_smartphone_review_program_for_fans-news-22884.php

vivo V5 Plus pre-orders are live in India

The vivo V5 Plus, which was made official just a few days back, is now up for pre-order in India through offline retail stores. According to local retailer retailer Mahesh Telecom, those pre-booking the phone - which costs INR 2,7980 (around $410) - will also get a complementary VR box. New launch Pre -Book the new #Vivo #V5Plus & Get complimentary VR box- MOP Rs.27980/- only pic.twitter.com/aWNtmIkDeV— Mahesh Telecom (@MAHESHTELECOM) January 20, 2017 The handset is set to be officially launched in India on Monday. Specs-wise, the V5 Plus is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 625 SoC...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/vivo_v5_plus_preorders_are_live_in_india-news-22896.php

HTC shows ‘U' how to enable night mode on the HTC U Ultra

HTC announced its new lineup of U devices, including the HTC U Ultra, late last week with a new image for HTC. After concluding its press conference in Taipei, HTC's YouTube account was updated with a few new promo videos with sizzle videos and uplifting footage. Yesterday, another video about the HTC U was uploaded, specifically on how to enable night mode on the HTC U. The video explains it all quite quickly with some questionable acting. We think the best part is after the camera zooms into the phone at 0:12 seconds, the girl in the video had the laptop open to HTC's U Ultra...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_shows_u_how_to_enable_night_mode_on_the_htc_u_ultra_on_youtube-news-22894.php

Low-end LG X230 gets Bluetooth certified

The LG X230, which had appeared in benchmark listings back in October last year, has now been certified by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG). Several models of the handset have been certified, indicating a global release for the device. As is the case usually, the Bluetooth listing for the phone doesn't reveal any of its key specs. However, the Geekbench listing had revealed Mediatek MT6737M chipset, 1GB RAM, and Android 6.0 Marshmallow, suggesting that it's a low-end phone. No information on pricing and availability so far. Via | Geekbench

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lowend_lg_x230_gets_bluetooth_certified-news-22895.php

Android Pay to support PayPal cards and Visa Checkout, v1.13 APK teardown reveals

Android Pay has recently been updated to version 1.13, and while this didn't add many new changes to the payment app's interface or otherwise, an APK teardown reveals more about the future capabilities of Android Pay. The mobile payment app will (at some time in the future) allow users to add their PayPal cards and the ability to support Visa Checkout. Thanks to a deal previously established between PayPal and Discover, places where Discover is normally accepted would enable these terminals with PayPal support. A similar deal returned the favor which allows PayPal access to Discover's...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/android_pay_to_support_paypal_cards_and_visa_checkout_v113_apk_teardown_reveals-news-22893.php

iOS 11 may finally allow group FaceTime video calls

Ever since its introduction in 2010, Apple's FaceTime has only supported video calls between two parties. That, however, might finally change this year. According to a yet-unconfirmed report from Israel, Apple is going to make group FaceTime calls a feature of iOS 11. The new version of the mobile operating system will probably be unveiled, like clockwork, at the company's annual WWDC conference in the summer. It should then go through the usual phase of developer-focused and public betas before being released for everyone in the fall, around the time the new iPhones launch. The...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/ios_11_may_finally_allow_group_facetime_video_calls-news-22892.php

Apple sues Qualcomm for $1 billion over excessive royalties

The news just keeps on getting worse for Qualcomm this week. A couple of days ago the FTC filed a lawsuit against the chip maker alleging that it has engaged in unfair patent licensing practices, and today it's Apple's turn to sue Qualcomm. Apple's lawsuit has to do with what it claims are excessive royalties charged by Qualcomm for use of basic cellular standards that it contributed to developing in the past. Furthermore, Apple says that once it began cooperating with South Korean authorities in their antitrust investigation of Qualcomm, the chip maker withheld $1 billion in...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_sues_qualcomm_for_1_billion_over_excessive_royalties-news-22891.php

LG G6 will have Google Assistant built-in, rumor says

Samsung's Galaxy S8 has long been rumored to feature a revamped virtual assistant called Bixby, and LG's G6 can't afford not to play the AI game. A new rumor out of both companies' home country of South Korea now claims that LG has done something that's pretty surprising in the Android world. Instead of building its own sub-par virtual assistant, LG has apparently turned to Google for help. As such, the G6 will come with the Google Assistant built-in. Previously, the Google Assistant was exclusive to Google's own Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones (at least in the form that's integrated into...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_g6_will_have_google_assistant_builtin_rumor_says-news-22890.php

New Instant Tethering feature is rolling out as part of Google Play Services 10.2 for Android

Google is currently in the process of rolling out the latest version of Play Services, namely 10.2, to all Android devices. As usual, there's nothing you need to do - Play Services updates automatically in the background. Once you get this version, you may also receive a neat new function called Instant Tethering. Here's what it does. Say you have an Android phone and tablet, both connected to the same Google account. You're browsing the internet on the tablet at home, connected to your wireless router's Wi-Fi network. But then, all of a sudden, this becomes unavailable or gets...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/new_instant_tethering_feature_is_rolling_out_as_part_of_google_play_services_102_for_android-news-22889.php

More Huawei P10 renders leak showing curved screen, front fingerprint scanner, dual rear cameras

Huawei will probably make the P10 official at its MWC press conference on February 26 in Barcelona. Thus we're starting to see more and more leaks about this device as we get closer to that date. Today three new renders purportedly depicting Huawei's next flagship smartphone have been outed in China. They show us a handset with a fingerprint scanner on the front, which is important because the placement of that sensor has been highly debated in past rumors. So far we've seen it both on the front (like below), but also on the back. It's thus pretty hard to be sure, even at this late stage...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/more_huawei_p10_renders_leak_showing_curved_screen_front_fingerprint_scanner_dual_rear_cameras-news-22888.php

Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017) to be sold stateside by AT&T, Verizon, and US Cellular

The first member of the Galaxy J (2017) series from Samsung has technically already been launched in the US. We're talking about the Galaxy J3 Emerge for Sprint and its prepaid brands, which is nothing but a rebranded and slightly modified version of the still-unofficial Galaxy J3 (2017). The next phone in that family to get a release stateside seems to be the Galaxy J7 (2017), which has recently been certified by the FCC. One of the models that underwent the certification is clearly headed to Verizon, because its model number is SM-J727V, and that "V" at the end always signifies handsets...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_j7_2017_to_be_sold_stateside_by_at_t_verizon_and_us_cellular-news-22887.php

Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) review: Alphabet soup

A 5.2-inch Super AMOLED display, 14nm Exynos chipset, a body made out of a glass/metal combo, IP68 certification, 16MP f/1.9 cameras front and back - it sure sounds like Samsung's next flagship. Only it's not the flagship we're talking about, but the Galaxy A5 (2017) premium mid-ranger.

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_a5_2017-review-1555.php

New Concept build for the Xperia X brings Night Light, January security update

Sony's Concept for Android program is still going strong on the Xperia X. Those who are running the stock-ish experience can look forward to a new update today, that is currently rolling out for everyone who chose the Experimental track when switching to the Concept builds. The new update comes less than a month after the last one, which brought Android 7.1.1 Nougat with it. Today's release isn't as important, but it does nevertheless contain Google's January security patches. Additionally, you'll get an updated Home launcher and Xperia Transfer Mobile app. But perhaps the most...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/new_concept_build_for_the_xperia_x_brings_night_light_january_security_update-news-22886.php

Asus to launch new Zenfone 4 series smartphones

Asus plans to launch its next generation Zenfones in May. This may sound strange and early because the Zenfone 3 Zoom only debuted at CES two weeks ago with the device hitting shelves in February. Jerry Shen, CEO of the company, announced earlier this week the plan is to double sales in 2017. And apparently increasing the number of available phones is how Asus plans to do it. Sources say though the more realistic goal for the company is to ship over 20M devices and to pull itself out of the red where it resided for the whole 2016. Little has been rumored about any future...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/asus_to_launch_new_zenfone_4_series_smartphones-news-22882.php

Gear S2 and Gear S3 get thousands of new watch faces

WatchMaker is an app that lets you modify the face of your Android Wear smartwatch. Until today the application didn't support other operating systems but the developers announced that this is about to change. WatchMaker will broaden its reach to include Tizen, which powers the Samsung Gear S2 and Gear S3 in the next two weeks. The Kickstarter-funded Ticwatch2 will have also gain WatchMaker in February. The current version of WatchMaker has two options - Free that gives you 6 watch faces plus the watch designer, and Premium for $3.99 with access to over 1000 watches from the G+...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/gear_s2_and_gear_s3_get_thousands_of_new_watch_faces-news-22881.php

Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus renders hint at dual camera, no stereo speakers

We've seen several 3D renders of the Samsung Galaxy S8, but the one render we have of the Galaxy S8 Plus did not show its back. And the back matters - according to rumors, only the Plus model will have a dual camera on the back. Not that these renders show it, but the hole for the camera is suspiciously wide and much wider than that of the vanilla Galaxy S8. Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus: Front • Back (note the camera hole - wide enough for two) The sides of the phone are quite interesting too. Initially, we thought that the Power button moved on the left, but we now see it in its...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s8_plus_renders_hint_at_dual_camera_no_stereo_speakers-news-22880.php

Sony suspends Nougat update for Xperia Z5

The long-awaited Android 7.0 update for the Sony Xperia Z5 family was finally released just days ago, but now it seems it has been pulled, XperiaBlog reports based on user feedback. The OTA, build number 32.3.A.0.372, had shown up for some Z5 owners, but it has since disappeared and is also nowhere to be found on Sony servers. The entire Z5 range is affected, as well as the Z3+, and the Z4 Tablet. It's unclear what caused Sony to pull the update, with reasons ranging from just a temporary halt to issues with the firmware itself that need to be resolved before it's reached mass...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/nougat_update_for_the_sony_xperia_z5_mysteriously_withdrawn-news-22879.php

Google is retiring older versions of many Google mobile apps on April 3

Google's default application suite is currently the centerpiece of productivity tasks on many mobile devices, both Android and iOS. Apparently, the web giant has reached some kind of major cut-off point in the development of many of its apps and is now planning to retire and stop supporting older versions. The switch will be flipped on April 3 and will affect the following application version on Android and iOS, respectively: Google Drive for Android (prior to version 2.4.311) Google Docs for Android (prior to version 1.6.292) Google Sheets for Android (prior to version...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/google_is_retiring_older_versions_of_many_google_mobile_apps_on_april_3-news-22878.php

Sony Xperia E5 getting new security update

The Sony Xperia E5 has started receiving a new update. Arriving as build number 37.0.A.2.156, and currently hitting units in Europe, it's a security update that includes Android fixes for the month of October. It isn't yet known what other changes (if any) the update brings along. As is usually the case with OTA roll outs, it may take some time for the update to hit your device. Meanwhile, if you feel impatient, you can manually check for it by heading to your handset's Settings menu. Via

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_e5_getting_new_security_update-news-22872.php

Samsung Galaxy S8 to use a heat pipe design similar to the S7

The Galaxy S7 was Samsung's first phone to feature a heat pipe and word from the grapevine is that the company will use a similar design for the upcoming Galaxy S8. Allegedly, Samsung considered moving to a two-pipe design, but ultimately decided to stick with the tried and tested setup. Back when the S7 launched, its heat pipe was the thinnest on the market - Samsung worked with its partners to make a pipe just 0.4mm thick. The pipe is responsible for taking heat from the chipset and bringing it to a graphite sheet on the back where it can be dispersed. The heat pipe design of the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s8_to_use_a_heat_pipe_design_similar_to_the_s7-news-22875.php

ZUK Z2 owners also get ZUI 2.5 update based on Nougat

Last week we told you that ZUK Z2 and ZUK Z2 Pro will be getting the newest Android OS and after the Z2 Pro got it, now Lenovo has already started rolling it out to its other sub-rand smartphone. The user interface used in ZUK will be ZUI 2.5 and the first lucky owners will be the Chinese ones. The company even held a special event in China, where it also announced a CNY600 price cut for the Z2 Pro 6GB/128GB version. The device goes down to CNY2,099 or about $304. ZUK Z2 also gets a cheaper price tag - CNY1,399 from CNY1,799 or about 200 US dollars. But there was more at the event. The...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/chinese_zuk_z2_and_z2_pro_owners_to_get_zui_25_update-news-22873.php

Deal: Buy Samsung Galaxy S7/S7 edge and get Gear 360+Gear VR for just €99

Samsung has announced a new promotion for those looking to purchase the company's Galaxy S7 or S7 edge smartphones. They can now get a Gear 360 camera and Gear VR (2016) headset at a discounted price. Listed on the South Korean company's German website, the offer will allow Galaxy S7/S7 edge buyers to purchase the camera and headset for a total of just €99. The devices usually cost €349 and €99, respectively. So that's quite a deal - it's like getting the camera for free. The promo kicks off coming Tuesday (January 24), and you'll have to get your purchase registered online by...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/deal_buy_samsung_galaxy_s7_s7_edge_and_get_gear_360gear_vr2016_for_just_99-news-22870.php

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 currently going for under $350 in US

If you are in the US, and wouldn't mind getting a device that reaching the end of its support life, here's a nice deal. The Galaxy Note 4 has been discounted to $350. The device on offer is a T-Mobile unit but comes unlocked with 32GB internal memory. Color options include black and white. The listing says $399, but the price comes down to $349 when you apply the GALAXYSALE code at checkout. For that you get a 5.7" QHD AMOLED screen, a decently capable even by current standards Snapdragon 805 chipset and a 16MP camera. You also get a microSD expansion slot and a removable battery -...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_note_4_currently_going_for_under_350_in_us-news-22867.php

Samsung Gear VR 2016 discounted to $53

If you are a Samsung owner, and consider getting a Gear VR headset you can now snatch a pretty cool deal on it. The virtual reality helmet is currently going for $52.51. Amazon has the device (international variant) listed on its website for that price. That's a solid price cut given that Samsung is officially selling the new Gear VR for $99.99. The Gear VR is compatible with the Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 edge, Galaxy Note5, Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 edge, and Galaxy S6 edge+. No information on when the deal ends, so act fast if you're interested in availing it. Source

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_gear_vr_2016_currently_going_for_around_50-news-22869.php

Lenovo launches Phab2 Pro 'Tango' smartphone in India

After the US, Europe, and China, Lenovo has now launched its Tango-enabled Phab2 Pro smartphone in India. The device carries a price tag of INR 29,990 (around $440), and is currently a Flipkart exclusive in the country. Not 1, not 2 but FOUR cameras give PHAB 2 Pro true Augmented Reality powers. #GoPHAB at 11:59pm today @Flipkart: https://t.co/BXuxJYOCzX pic.twitter.com/fnrGd5jqU9— Lenovo India (@Lenovo_in) January 19, 2017 Specs-wise, the Phab2 Pro is powered by Snapdragon 652 chipset and sports a massive 6.4-inch QHD display. RAM is 4GB, while internal memory is 64GB. In terms of...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/lenovo_launches_phab2_pro_tango_smartphone_in_india-news-22868.php

Meizu M5 and M5 Note may soon be available outside of China

The Meizu M5 was launched in November last year, while the M5 Note was launch last month. And so far, they are only available in the company's home country of China. This, however, may soon change as both devices have been spotted on Postel (the Indonesian equivalent of the US FCC). Sadly, there's currently no information when exactly the international launch will happen, as well as the price tag the phones will carry in markets outside of China. In China, the M5 Note starts at RMB 900 (around $130), while the M5 starts at RMB 700 (around $100). It's worth mentioning that Meizu has...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/meizu_m5_and_m5_note_may_soon_be_available_outside_of_china-news-22866.php

TAG Heuer to launch a new smartwatch in May this year

Luxury timepiece maker Tag Heuer will launch a new smartwatch in May this year, less than a couple of year's after launching the world's first Android Wear-powered luxury watch (dubbed Connected). This was revealed by the company's CEO Jean-Claude Biver in a recent interview. Biver didn't reveal much about the device, except that it will feature GPS, have a comparatively longer battery life, better reception, as well as an improved display. The watch is expected to run Android Wear 2.0, which is said to be coming next month. The CEO also revealed that the company shipped a total of...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/tag_heuer_to_launch_a_new_smartwatch_in_may_this_year-news-22865.php

Samsung Galaxy S7/S7 edge on AT&T may get Nougat update in couple of months

If you are a Samsung Galaxy S7/S7 edge user on AT&T, and are waiting for your carrier to roll out the Nougat update, here's some news for you: the update may start hitting units in around a couple of months from now. This information came courtesy of an AT&T representative, who revealed that the update is already under beta testing, and there are "very good" chances that the final roll out will happen sometime around "beginning of Spring." Needless to say, don't take this time-frame as an official confirmation from AT&T as we've seen service reps getting it wrong many times in the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s7_s7_edge_on_at_t_may_get_nougat_update_in_couple_of_months-news-22864.php

Samsung will officially reveal Note7 investigation results on Monday in Seoul

Shortly after Reuters reported Samsung's Note7 (alleged) findings before they were officially revealed by Samsung, Samsung announced today that it will be holding a press conference in Seoul regarding the Galaxy Note7 recall findings on Monday, January 23 at 10:00 KST. Samsung Galaxy Note7 Samsung, as well as other independent experts who participated in the investigation of the Note7 incidents will all be sharing their findings with the world. The livestream can be watched in English at www.Samsung.com. Just make sure you convert the time zone correctly. Ever since the Note7...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_will_officially_reveal_note7_findings-news-22863.php

Sony Xperia XZ and X Performance are being updated with the January security patches

Today Sony has issued a new software update for the Xperia XZ and the Xperia X Performance. This contains the January security patches, as released by Google. It might also fix an issue where the phone clock would reset after rebooting, but so far it hasn't been confirmed whether this patch is in as well. That's it, though, no new features or anything like that this time around. That said, this is the third update that these two handsets have seen in the past 30 days or so, following one from the beginning of the year and the one which brought them the December security fixes last month....

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_xz_and_x_performance_are_being_updated_with_the_january_security_patches-news-22862.php

Get a free iPhone SE when you buy an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus on Sprint

Earlier today we told you about a great deal Best Buy currently has going on allowing you to essentially grab a Moto Z Droid on Verizon for free. But what if you don't like Verizon and would prefer to receive a free iPhone SE instead? Well, Best Buy will deliver in this case too. You just need to be OK with having Sprint as your carrier. You must either add two lines, or add one and have another that's eligible for upgrade. The new lines must be on an Unlimited Freedom or Best Buy One plan, by the way. Then when you purchase or lease an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus, you will get a free iPhone...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/get_a_free_iphone_se_when_you_buy_an_iphone_7_or_iphone_7_plus_on_sprint-news-22861.php

New LG G6 leaked renders show it inside a case

We've supposedly seen the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S8 inside a case already, so it's really not surprising that one of its biggest competitors is now getting the same treatment. The LG G6 will be unveiled before the Galaxy S8, with an event planned for February 26. LG's device may also become available earlier than Samsung's latest and greatest, so we would have expected to see more leaks about the G6 these days - then again, the S8 is clearly the more eagerly anticipated phone. The images you can see below come from case maker Ghostek, and they show an upcoming product from that company...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/new_lg_g6_leaked_renders_show_it_inside_a_case-news-22860.php

Verizon and Best Buy are offering the Moto Z for free with device payment plan

There are good deals and then there's free stuff. We've seen our fair share of the former on Verizon's Moto Z, the best being the one that charged only $4.99 per month for the phone when purchased through a 24-month installment plan, effectively making its full price $119.77. That's great, but how about not paying anything (except tax) for a Moto Z? That's now possible thanks to Best Buy and Verizon. But there are some caveats, obviously. Here's what you need to do. Pick up a Moto Z from Best Buy, choose the Verizon device installment plan, and you're set. The carrier will apply bill...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/verizon_and_best_buy_are_offering_the_moto_z_for_free_with_device_payment_plan-news-22859.php

Xiaomi's 2017 Mi Notebook Air will feature ultralight magnesium-lithium chassis

Xiaomi unveiled the Mi Notebook Air in July of last year, and then the 4G-capable model in December. The latter was first rumored to be the successor to the original Mi Notebook Air, but turned out to be nothing but an additional version of it. However, that doesn't mean that the Chinese company isn't actually working on a second-generation Mi Notebook Air. In fact, this should be introduced at some point later this year. And while no specs for it have been leaked yet, a new report claims that it will go with an ultralight magnesium-lithium chassis. This would allow the laptop to be even...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomis_2017_mi_notebook_air_will_feature_ultralight_magnesiumlithium_chassis-news-22858.php

iPhone 8 wireless charging 'confirmed' by a new report

At this point it seems pretty clear that the flagship iPhone of 2017, which may be called iPhone 8 or iPhone X, will come with support for wireless charging. We've heard rumors about this before, and today a new report from the Chinese-language Commercial Times confirms the feature. According to cited "industry sources", Lite-On Semi has entered Apple's supply chain in order to provide half of the required GPP bridge rectifiers, which are needed to make wireless charging work. It's still unclear what company is building the other half. Lite-On Semi refused to comment, as you'd expect....

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/iphone_8_wireless_charging_confirmed_by_a_new_report-news-22857.php

LinkedIn launches major redesign on the web

LinkedIn, that other social network, you know, the one that likes sending spam emails, is announcing a big redesign today. The Microsoft-owned service will be rolling out the new look to all of its users over the coming weeks. This apparently is the largest desktop redesign since LinkedIn's inception. When you look at the new homepage, it may take you a second to realize how much it resembles Facebook, but once you see that, you can't unsee it. Which isn't to say it's a bad thing - LinkedIn's old design was a cluttered mess. This is cleaner, certainly. LinkedIn uses words such as...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/linkedin_launches_major_redesign_on_the_web-news-22856.php

No new iPads until the summer

We already reported that Apple is planning to announce three new iPads this year. The company is expected to announce a 9.7" iPad with an affordable price tag, a new 10.5" iPad and an upgraded 12.9" iPad Pro. Sadly the products are still in planning with the 9.7" device expected to begin manufacturing in Q1 2017 and the other two in the second quarter. The delay is happening because the A10X chipsets for the bigger two devices are still in production and Apple is unlikely to do one-device announcements. Since there's no mini version expected 9.7" iPad will become the entry-level...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/no_new_ipads_until_the_summer-news-22855.php

HTC to show off new games and Mixed Reality at Taipei Game Show 2017

HTC branched off into VR and has been busy cranking out accessories and content for the Vive VR headset. Heading to the Taipei Game Show 2017, HTC will unveil a couple of games plus an exploration into Mixed Reality (MR, similar to Augmented Reality, AR). Fantahorn Studio (which launched Front Defence for the Vive last year) and 2 Bears Studio (developed Arcade Sage for the Vive) will each introduce a new game. There will be other games too, it's just that their developers have not been announced. We'd be curious to see the Mixed Reality tech too - that would put the Vive headset in...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_to_show_off_new_games_and_mixed_reality_at_taipei_game_show_2017-news-22854.php

Huawei roadmap details when midrangers will get Nougat

Huawei launched its EMUI 5.0 launcher based on Android Nougat 7.0 along with the flagship Mate 9 and seeded it to the P9 and P9 Plus and Mate 8 since. The company isn't done yet though as the affordable Huawei smartphones will also get the upgrade shortly. A roadmap leaked on Weibo shows us Huawei Nova will be the first lucky device in March, followed by Huawei Honor Note 8 and Huawei G9 Plus in April. Honor 6X came out two months ago and looks like it needs some time to live along with the previous EMUI before getting the 5.0 upgrade in May. The same month will be the lucky one...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_roadmap_details_when_midrangers_will_get_nougat-news-22852.php

JDI begins mass production of 5" WQHD LCD screens

Japan Display Inc (JDI) started mass production of a new 5" LTPS LCD that will have WQHD resolution (1440x2560) with pixel density over 500 PPI. The company says the new technology reduces power consumption in displays by using new materials. The poly-silicon used in the production of screens allows the panel power consumption to drop down thus improving the image signal. JDI also included 2nd gen Pixel Eyes in-cell technology for thinner borders and deeper black levels. The module has an integrated circuit chip to embed the upscaling function from 1080p to 1440p. This would enable the...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/jdi_begins_mass_production_of_5_wqhd_displays-news-22853.php

Acer Liquid Z6E turns up out of the blue in the Netherlands

It is fairly easy to overlook Acer's budget offers, especially at an event the size of IFA. However, some of you might still remember the Liquid Z6 and Liquid Z6 Plus, that were showcased late last year. Acer Liquid Z6E Both units already come with pretty tantalizing price tags, but the Liquid Z6E, spotted today on a few Dutch online stores, takes things even further. It is a toned-down version of the ordinary Liquid Z6. It still comes with a 5-inch HD display and a 1.3 GHz quad-core CPU, presumably on a MediaTek chipset. RAM is set at 1GB and there are 8GB of expandable...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/unannounced_entrylevel_acer_liquid_z6e_turns_up_out_of_the_blue_in_the_netherlands-news-22850.php

Nextbit Robin with Android 7.1.1 appears on GFXBench

Last we heard, Nextbit was beta testing the Nougat update for its cloud-focused Robin smartphone. That was back in November and the beta update was based on Android 7.0. However, now it looks like the device may get the Android version 7.1.1 instead. The company has in fact already started testing the update as a Robin device running the latest Nougat version has been spotted on the GFXBench benchmarking website. Sadly, there's currently no information on when exactly the update will be rolled out, although reports say that's likely to happen early next month. Here's hoping that...

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/nextbit_robin_with_android_711_appears_on_gfxbench-news-22841.php

Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017) passes FCC certification

Earlier today an unknown Samsung-branded device was approved by the US official certification authority, the FCC. The document doesn't say much but it includes the ID of the device - SM-J727. That's the model number of the Galaxy J7 (2017). Rumors say the device will be powered by Samsung's Exynos chipset and will have 5.5" Full HD display and 3GB RAM. The battery is rumored to be 3,000 mAh which is 10% less than the J7 (2016) so let's hope the chipset and the other components will act better so a difference would be uncanny. Via

Source: http://www.gsmarena.com/galaxy_j7_2017_passes_fcc_certification-news-22846.php