Google's Nexus 5X and the Nexus 6P were announced after much speculation during an event in San Francisco at the end of September 2015.
The Nexus 5X is a 5.2-inch smartphone with a metal frame and a exchangeable polycarbonate rear, while the Nexus 6P is a 5.7-inch handset with a full metal body. Both feature rear fingerprint sensors and they both come with USB Type-C for faster charging and data transfer.
They are good looking devices but sadly, phones aren't brilliant at surviving knocks and drops so if you want to keep your new Nexus looking its best, it's a good idea to get yourself a case to ensure it is as protected as it can be.
If you're planning to get your hands on either the Nexus 5X or the Nexus 6P, or you already have one of them, you've come to the right place.
We have rounded up some of the best Nexus 5X and Nexus
6P cases we have come across so far so you can make sure your new Google
handset is protected. We will be updating this feature as more catch
our eye so keep checking back if none of these tickle your fancy.
It's not often we see an Acer phone - as most of them don't end up in
the UK - but the just-announced Acer Zest Plus has got one really big
thing going for it: a massive 5,000mAh battery capacity.
That's more capacious than even the likes of the Huawei Mate 8's 4,000mAh.
Expect a day and a half of use from that beast, so this Acer could
potentially power through to two full days' use. There's also fast
charging for quick top-ups.
Thing is, at 9.75mm thick, the Zest Plus isn't exactly dinky in order
to hold the battery within. Nor is it the most exciting or
well-specified phone on the planet, with only an "HD" resolution
5.5-inch screen packed into its 154 x 77mm body.
It does go all-out on the camera front,
though, with a tri-focus approach to autofocus. There's laser focusing,
phase-detection AF and contrast-detection AF all working together for
the 13-megapixel rear camera.
It feels like a solid wedge in the hand, similar to some of the budget Motorola handsets as near examples. No snazzy fingerprint scanner or top-tier features to be found here, though, unlike the upcoming (rumoured) Moto G 2016.
We suspect that's all by the by, though, as we doubt the Zest Plus
will ever show face in the UK. So battery fiends, you may just have to
keep wishing.
Microsoft has post its third-quarter fiscal results for 2016, and one thing is clear: its phone business isn't doing so hot.
The company made $3.8 billion in net income on $20.5 billion in
revenue, both of which are down year-over year. Speaking of things going
down, Microsoft only sold 2.3 million Lumia
devices in the period that ended on 30 March. That's a whopping 73 per
cent drop from 8.6 million in the same period last year. For comparison,
Apple sold 13 million iPhone 6Ss its opening weekend.
Microsoft's mobile revenue therefore fell by as much as 46 per cent
Still, the company saw growth from Surfaces. The segment grew by $1.1
billion during the quarter, up 61 per cent year-over-year. Microsoft attributed this growth to Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book sales, but of course it neglected to provide firm numbers for how many tablets and computers it sold in the last three months.
Windows OEM revenue dropped 2 per cent, outperforming the remainder of the PC market.
Microsoft
said it was able to outperform the PC market because of a "higher
consumer premium device mix". It also saw some growth in the cloud
department. Office commercial and cloud services like Office 365 spiked 7 per cent this quarter, while consumer versions of Office went up 6 per cent.
Microsoft now has 22.2 million Office 365 consumer subscriptions. As for server products and cloud services, Microsoft said revenue increased 5 per cent. Azure revenue increased by 120 per cent.
Lenovo-owned Zuk has unveiled a follow-up to the Z1: the Z2 Pro phone.
It has a 5.2-inch 1080p Super Amoled display, runs the top-of-the-line Snapdragon 820 processor, includes a whopping 6GB of RAM,
and offers 128GB of storage. It also has a 13-megapixel rear snapper
with optical image stabilised, as well as a 3100mAh battery, and it
plugs in using USB-C with USB 3.1 support. In other words... this is most definitely a flagship device.
It's also a fun device, as it features a built-in heartbeat sensor, UV sensor, fingerprint reader,
and altimeter. But that's not the coolest part. Zuk has claimed that
the phone syncs with Apple's iCloud, making it easier for iPhone
users to jump ship and try Android. It'll be interesting to see how
Apple responds to this syncing capability however, and whether it'll
kibosh it.
Zuk
Zuk has managed to keep the price down too, as it will put the phone
up for pre-order on 22 April in China for 2,699 yuan ($416/£290).
There's also a trimmed down version that'll be available in May. It
comes with 4GB of RAM as well as 64GB of internal storage.
Oh, and the phone runs Zuk's Android-based ZUI 2.0 We wish the phone had NFC too, because then it would be almost perf.
There's been a jump in leaks and rumours surrounding the next Moto handset, thought to be a fourth-generation Moto G or a potential Moto X, as the company looks to update its offering.
Motorola's mobile arm is now owned and run by Lenovo, and a possible timeframe for the launch of the next Moto handset could have been revealed at the launch of the Lenovo Zuk Z2.
According to reports, Lenovo CEO Yang Yuanqing said that Motorola
would be unveiling a new device on 9 June, but didn't confirm any other
details except that it would be "exciting". This chimes with previous reports from January stating that future releases for the Moto brand would be "more innovative, more attractive".
Fortunately we've seen a flurry of rumours pertaining both to the Moto G and the Moto X, which potentially fit the bill. There's talk of two Moto G devices - one carrying the Plus name suggesting a larger display - perhaps with one offering a fingerprint scanner and one not. The Moto X has also been rumoured, again with a fingerprint scanner in place.
Moto X has been the Motorola flagship for a number of years and it's here we expect to see the excitement; the Moto G is the affordable darling, better known for it's aggressive pricing, rather than excitement.
With Samsung, LG, HTC, Huawei and others refreshing their devices for 2016, it looks like Motorola might be joining the party in June.
Motorola announced a flurry of new smartphones in 2015, including the fifth generation of Moto G and three models of the Moto X. Yes, not one but three, plus a special edition one.
The Moto X Play and the Moto X Style graced us with their presence at the end of July 2015, while the Moto X Force appeared a little later in October. Despite only a few months passing since the Force however, rumours for a new Moto X have already started.
We have rounded up all the rumours and speculation surrounding the 2016 model of the Moto X,
or at least one of, that we have heard so far. As usual, we will be
updating this feature as we hear more, but for now, here is everything
you need to know about Motorola's, or technically now Lenovo's, Moto X (2016).
Motorola Moto X (2016): Release date
Unlike Apple or Samsung, Motorola doesn't really follow a strict release pattern. The original Moto X arrived in August, the 2014 model in September and as we mentioned, the 2015 models were announced in July.
Based on these previous dates, it would be reasonable to suggest the 2016 model of the Moto X
might appear in the summer, probably July or August time again. None of
the predecessors were announced at trade shows, despite IFA being fairly
close, so chances are Motorola will stick to the strategy of a separate event. Slashgear reported in January 2016 that Lenovo's CEO Yang Yuanqing revealed a "more innovative, more attractive" Moto smartphone would be coming in a few months. Although like us, Slashgear believes a few months actually meant July time.
Yuanqing also recently announced a new Motorola smartphone would be
launching on 9 June but he didn't clarify which one this might be. There
have also been rumours floating around about a new Motorola Moto G so 9 June is a date to keep an eye on but don't pin all your hopes on it being the new Moto X.
Whenever the Moto X (2016) does arrive however, it won't be carrying Motorola's name, just Moto, with Lenovo branding instead.
Motorola Moto X (2016): Design
As we said previously, 2015 introduced three Moto X models and currently, many of the rumours are pointing towards one model for 2016. A leaked image on Chinese website Wapvnet suggests there will be a Moto X with a full metal unibody.
The image apparently came from an anonymous source so it is worth
taking with a pinch of salt but with many of Motorola's competitors
opting for metal, it isn't a completely unreasonable suggestion. If
true, we hope the new model is thinner than the current Moto X models or it would be a chunky and probably pretty heavy handset if made from metal.
The device in the image features a raised larger rear camera lens
in the centre of the device, which could suggest a thinner handset. A
handset can only be as slim as its largest component so perhaps Motorola has raised the rear camera lens to allow for this. The signature Motorola
"M" sits below the camera lens but it isn't indented like other models
have been and there are also what is presumably speaker holes at the
bottom of the device, split into two sections.
It is also worth bearing in mind that the leaked image from Wapvnet, if accurate, may only represent one Moto X model released in 2016 - perhaps the top-end model. With three released in 2015, it might be that Motorola
is also planning a cheaper option too which maybe won't come with a
metal build as a metal build would undoubtedly lead to a higher price
point, something which the Moto X has previously tried to avoid.
A report by Android and Me
presents a couple of leaked images, which it suggests could show what
the next Moto devices could look like. There appears to be a metal
device in three colours in one image, while the other shows a curved
handset that looks similar in terms of design to the current Moto X models. Whether this will mean one metal Moto X
device in a series of colours as well as a plastic version is unknown,
as the images could easily refer to the Moto G too, or none of the Moto
handsets at all.
There has also been a leaked image from HelloMotoHK that appears to show what could be the next Moto X
in the wild (shown below). The image is blurry but from what we can make
out, it looks as though a metal build is present, certainly a frame at
least, supporting other reports. There also appears to be a fingerprint
sensor at the bottom and what looks like USB Type-C but the quality of the picture is too distorted to tell for sure.
Chen Xudong, senior vice president of the Lenovo Group and president of the company's China and APAC regions told Tech Sina
there would be less smartphones released in 2016. He also apparently
said Motorola's products would be focusing on the high end, while
Lenovo's Vibe range would take the low-end. If true, this would support
the idea of a metal build, but it would also suggest there may only be
one Moto X arriving and the price could increase. Xudong also told Tech Sina all smartphones released by Motorola this year would have a fingerprint scanner.
HelloMotoHK
Motorola Moto X (2016): Display
There are currently no rumours indicating what display size or resolution the Motorola Moto X (2016) might appear with. The Force has a 5.4-inch display with a Quad HD resolution, the Play has a 5.5-inch Full HD display and the Style has a larger 5.7-inch screen with a Quad HD resolution.
If Motorola opts for just one model for 2016, we would have thought it will come with a Quad HD resolution and sit around the 5.5-inch mark, especially if a metal body is on the cards. Xudong told Tech Sina no Motorola smartphone released in 2016 will be smaller than 5-inches.
Whether the ShatterShield display from the Force will make an
appearance in 2016 remains to be seen but we wouldn't be surprised to
see more than one Moto X in 2016 with different sizes, technologies and resolutions available, even if not as many models as 2015.
Motorola Moto X (2016): Camera
Aside from the image leak on Wapvnet, not much has been said in terms of the Moto X (2016) camera. If the device in the image is even close to accurate, it suggests Motorola will be changing things up in the new model's camera department.
The rear lens in the image is much larger and more prominent than previous Moto X
models, suggesting a different sensor. It is also raised above the rest
of the shell in the image as we mentioned, which is what Apple does on
its iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S. Whether this is for design purposes or camera purposes is not yet clear.
It's all a guessing game at the moment but Motorola put a lot of
emphasis on the camera with all three of the 2015 models so we'd expect
that to continue. All three come with a 21-megapixel rear snapper and a
5-megapixel front camera so we would expect the same if not higher
resolutions for the new device.
Motorola Moto X (2016): Hardware
The Motorola Moto X (2016) is expected to arrive with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chipset but it has also been rumoured to be coming with a heatpipe.
Chinese site Techweb allegedly attained an image of the inside of the new Moto X from an internal source. It shows a heatpipe
in the form of a metal L-shape that could allow heat to be dissipated
away from hot components, such as the CPU. This is something that has
been used in PCs in the past to prevent certain components from
overheating.
Should Motorola go down this path for the new Moto X, it could
suggest it is planning to offer overclocking options that would allow
the chip to run beyond its intended power output levels. Take it with a
pinch of salt for now though as the image isn't exactly crystal clear
and it could be anything.
The 2015 models of Moto X offer between 2GB and 3GB of RAM, as well as between 32GB and 64GB internal storage, all with microSD support. We would expect the new Moto X to come with at least 3GB of RAM and microSD support. With Android Marshmallow, users can combine internal storage and microSD storage into one so it doesn't matter too much which internal storage options are offered if microSD is available.
Battery-wise, the Force has the largest at 3760mAh, with the Play
following closely behind at 3630mAh and the Style a little further
behind with 3000mAh. The Play has been praised for its battery life so
we would hope so see a similar capacity in the new Moto X.
Motorola Moto X (2016): Software
Motorola has always offered a close to vanilla Android experience
when it comes to software. Unlike its competitors, it opts not to add an
entire skin over the top of Android and instead adds just a couple of
extra apps here and there.
Granted, these apps have slowly increased with the release of each
new generation of devices but they are easy to hide away, providing an
experience that is as close to pure Android as you can get without
buying a Nexus.
The Moto X (2016) will more than likely stick to this tradition so expect Android Marshmallow with a couple of extra apps. Xudong told Tech Sina that Lenovo and Motorola would merge the Vibe UI and the Moto UI to create a new one in 2017. If true, which we hope isn't the case, it could mean the 2016 model of the Moto X is the last to offer an almost stock Android experience.
Motorola Moto X (2016): Conclusion
As there are currently only a few rumours floating about for the Motorola Moto X (2016), we are mainly running on guesswork at the moment.
Nothing is certain but we wouldn't be surprised to see a couple of new Moto X models appear towards the middle of 2016, one of which potentially offering a metal build.
We'd expect improvements in most areas as this tends to be the way so a faster processor, more RAM, microSD
support, a larger battery capacity and the latest software would all be
reasonable predictions. We'd also expect the camera to be a big
consideration as it was in 2015.
Honor, the Huawei sub-brand, looks set to unleash a new flagship
smartphone after plenty of specs have leaked including the Huawei P9's
dual-camera system.
The Honor V8, in two forms, has appeared on a Tenaa listing where
plenty of specs were given away. Honor is a brand that offers affordable
handsets with decent specs, or mid-range in the case of the 5X. In the case of the Honor V8 variants it looks like we can expect some impressive hardware.
The top-end Honor V8 is listed with a 5.7-inch QHD display covered in
2.5D glass and measuring 7.7mm thin. This should come with a 2.5GHz
octa-core Kirin 955 backed by 4GB of RAM and 64GB storage plus microSD
expansion. It is also listed with a 12-megapixel dual camera, laser
autofocus and dual tone flash like that found on the Huawei P9. It
should also feature an 8-megapixel selfie snapper, run Android 6.0 Marshmallow and be powered by a 3400mAh battery.
The more affordable variant of the Honor V8 has the same sized
5.7-inch display and looks physically identical but runs at 1080p
resolution. Also it's powered by the lower-end Kirin 950 CPU and
features 32GB of RAM. All the other specs, including 4GB of RAM and dual camera, are identical.
The Honor V8 smartphones are expected to be unveiled on 10 May. The
Honor 7 was priced at £250 so perhaps we can hope for a similar price
for the latest V8 smartphone.
HTC announced a new flagship, the HTC
10, at the beginning of April. It's a new start for the company's
flagship smartphone, dropping both the One name and the M designation.
It comes in to right the wrongs of the HTC One M9, a phone that took an awkward skew for HTC at a time when it needed a new hero. But that's now old news and we're looking at a fresh new phone.
We've pitched the HTC 10 up against the HTC One M9 so you can see exactly where the changes lie and decide for yourself whether HTC has done enough to right the wrongs. This is the HTC 10 vs the HTC One M9.
HTC 10 vs HTC One M9: Design
The HTC One M9 measures 144.6 x 69.7 x 9.6mm and weighs 157g. It features a dual-tone metal build and it is a clear evolution of the HTC
flagships that have gone before it, which unfortunately is what goes
against it. The One M9's build quality is fantastic, but there is only a
minor difference between it and the One M7 that launched two years
before.
The M9 comes complete with BoomSound front-facing speakers and a HTC logo at the bottom of the device on the front. The speakers eat into a lot of space but you do get the sound quality.
The HTC 10 is ever so slightly larger than the One M9
at 145.9 x 71.9mm but it offers a curved rear between 3mm and 9mm,
making it slimmer than its predecessor at its thickest point. A metal
build is still very much present, but HTC has refined the design,
introducing chamfered edges on both the back and front, as well as a
fingerprint sensor on the front, flanked by capacitive buttons.
HTC's new flagship hits the scales at 161g, making it a little heavier than the One M9,
but only very slightly and it doesn't really matter because it is
reassuringly solid. It also ditches the front-facing BoomSound speakers
but don't worry as BoomSound is still supported, it's just called
BoomSound Hi-Fi edition now. Hi-Res Audio is also on board so HTC hasn't forgotten about audio thankfully.
The ditching of the speakers has allowed the front of the HTC 10 to become more elegant and overall, the design is cleaner, more serious and less fussy in the new flagship.
The HTC One M9 features a 5-inch Full HD LCD display, delivering a pixel density of 441ppi. HTC
has always been praised for its displays and its ability to deliver
bright and vibrant colours, as well as white whites and black blacks,
although the M9 wasn't its strongest.
It lacked some of the richness previous HTC handsets offered,
delivering slightly more muted colours than its predecessor. The M9
still offers a great display with good viewing angles, but it isn't
HTC's greatest.
The HTC 10 increases the display size to 5.2-inches, which, given the
only very slight change in measurements, means the screen to body ratio
on the HTC 10 is better than the M9. The resolution also increased to Quad HD, matching the likes of Samsung and LG, and bringing the HTC
10's pixel density to 564ppi. The result is a sharp, detailed display
that can be tuned to warmer or cooler, but again, it isn't one of HTC's
best displays, even if it is better than the One M9 in terms of size, resolution and colours.
In the HTC 10, it's a Super LCD 5 display covered in a single sheet
of Gorilla Glass for a much cleaner finish. The viewing angles aren't
amazing though and the auto-brightness is a little sluggish, which means
the HTC 10 can look a little dim at times.
HTC 10 vs HTC One M9: Camera
The HTC One
M9 features a 20-megapixel rear camera, coupled with an UltraPixel 4MP
front camera. The main camera is capable of 4K video recording and it
comes with an f/2.2 aperture lens and autofocus. The front-facing camera
has a wider aperture at f/2.0 and is capable of 1080p video recording.
It looks good on the spec sheet, but the One M9 isn't the best camera
in its class. It works well in bright conditions, but the rear
camera is weak compared to its rivals. The front camera is good though,
delivering excellent selfie results in daylight and low light too, even
if the latter ends with a slightly pink tinge as things darken.
The HTC 10 offers a 12-megapixel UltraPixel rear camera with 1.55µm
pixels. Laser autofocus is on board, as well as optical image
stabilisation, auto HDR, and a dual tone LED flash. HTC has also widened
the aperture to f/1.8, all of which results in HTC's best camera for a
long time. In good conditions, the rear camera takes consistently good
photos and although the laser autofocus is slower than some other
devices, low-light performance is pretty good too.
A 5-megapixel front-facing camera is on board the HTC 10, offering
1.34µm pixels and an aperture of f/1.8, like the rear. Autofocus is on
board again for the front, as is optical image stabilisation and an
adaptive selfie flash and like the rear camera, it's a good performer.
The HTC 10 offers 4K video capture (among other resolutions), but boosts audio, with 24-bit capture. The HTC 10 outperforms the HTC One M9 camera in all areas.
HTC 10 vs HTC One M9: Hardware
The HTC One M9 features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor under its hood, supported by 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. It has a microSD slot for further storage expansion and its battery capacity sits at 2840mAh, charged via Micro-USB.
It's a good performing handset that is slick and fast in operation,
even if it does get a little warm. The One M9's battery life is similar
to that if the M8, offering around a day of use on a normal day but
requiring a top up mid-afternoon on busier days.
The HTC 10 arrives with the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chip, coupled with 4GB of RAM and 32GB or 64GB of internal storage. The new device once again offers a microSD for further storage expansion, with support for Marshmallow's adoptable storage feature allowing you to combine the phone's internal storage and SD card storage.
As you would expect, the HTC 10 is a hugely powerful phone that once again is slick and fast to use, entirely capable of whatever you throw at it. The fingerprint scanner is excellent and although we found the Wi-Fi connection on the HTC 10 a little weaker, there are no signs of excessive heating like the M9.
HTC has increased the battery capacity in the HTC 10 to 3000mAh, charged via USB Type-C, with full support for Quick Charge 3.0. Despite the increase over the One M9 however, the HTC
10 will still only really last the day before needing a top up. It does
come with a Quick Charge charger in the box though, which is something
that is sold separately for the One M9.
HTC 10 vs HTC One M9: Software
The HTC One M9 launched with Android Lollipop, coupled with HTC Sense 7 which made its debut on the device. It has since been updated to Android 6.0 Marshmallow.
The HTC 10 also launches with Android Marshmallow along with HTC Sense, but it isn't Sense as you know it. Instead, the HTC
10 comes with a much more stripped down version of Sense, which is
closer to its Android origins. Think Marshmallow with the best of Sense
and you get the HTC 10.
HTC's story in the 10 is about optimisation, aiming to give you a slicker, faster, smartphone experience.
The HTC 10 arrives with upgraded hardware in comparison to the One M9, which was to be expected, but it also refines the design and adds a fingerprint sensor, all of which makes HTC exciting again.
Take the design and couple it with a higher resolution display,
excellent sound quality, a big improvement in camera and a power jump
and you have yourself a great successor.
Does the HTC 10 right all the wrongs of the One M9? Maybe not all of them, but certainly the majority. If you're choosing between these two handsets, the HTC 10 is a clear winner. It's the most compelling smartphone from HTC in the past few years.
Samsung has already announced two flagship smartphones this year but
chances are that won't be the last we hear from the company and its
smartphone arm before 2016 is out.
The Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge both debuted at Mobile World
Congress in March, but rumours began floating around for the company's
larger smartphones before the event in Barcelona was even confirmed. Now
it's well and truly over and focus has turned towards what Samsung will
launch next.
The Samsung Galaxy S7 edge+ and the Galaxy Note 6
have both been speculated upon but the latter device is what this
feature is focusing on. This is everything we know about the Galaxy Note 6
so far, but as usual, we will be adding to this feature as more leaks
and rumours appear so keep casting your eyes back for the latest.
Samsung Galaxy Note 6 release date
The Samsung Galaxy
Note 5 launched on 13 August 2015 alongside the Galaxy S6 edge+, but the
Note wasn't destined for European waters in a bid to push the S6 edge+
as the phablet to consider instead.
Reports suggest Samsung considers this to be a mistake though and it has since been suggested that the Galaxy Note 6 will bring the Note device back to the UK in favour of the Galaxy S7 edge+.
Sources claim the Galaxy Note 6
will launch in Europe in August 2016, which fits with the company's
previous release cycle from last year. Previous to 2015, the Note device
used to launch at the beginning of September at IFA.
Samsung Galaxy Note 6 design
The Samsung Galaxy
Note 5 arrived with an all-metal build, moving away from the
faux-leather and plastic materials offered by its predecessors. It
measures 153.2 x 76.1 x 7.6mm, hits the scales at 171g and comes
complete with the S Pen.
The rumours are few and far between when it comes to the Note 6's
design at the moment but we wouldn't expect a dramatic change compared
to the Note 5.
The Samsung S7
and S7 edge both followed the same design lines as the S6 and S6 edge
with a few refinements so chances are this will also be the case for the Note 6 too given the Note 5 saw quite a few changes compared to the Note 4. Both the S7 and S7 edge added IP68 water and dust resistance however, which is something that has now been touted for the Galaxy Note 6.
It has also been claimed an iris scanner will be on board, but details were scarce so it isn't clear if it would be infrared like Fujitsu, a light like the Lumia 950, or something more advanced.
The one feature that will almost certainly appear is the S Pen but other than that, it's a guessing game at the moment. Metal build, some kind of security scanner whether fingerprint or iris, and the classic rectangular Note shape would all be very plausible predictions though.
Samsung Galaxy Note 6 display
The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 arrived with a 5.7-inch display offering a
2560 x 1440 resolution that delivered a pixel density of 515ppi. The
Note series has always been praised for its display, with the AMOLED
technology delivering vibrant, punchy colours and deep blacks.
Rumours suggest the Note 6 will continue the Super AMOLED trend but it looks like the display size could increase very slightly to 5.8-inches. The resolution is said to be sticking to Quad HD
which if all true, would mean a slightly lower pixel density of 506ppi.
This however, will not be noticeable to the human eye so you can still
expect a great display experience from the Note 6.
Sammobile has also reported a 5.8-inch Super AMOLED display with a Quad HD resolution, supporting other rumours but it also suggests a curved display. This could mean the Note 6 takes cues from the S7 edge.
Things may change in this department over the coming months but for now, these rumours seem more than reasonable.
Samsung Galaxy Note 6 camera
The Samsung Galaxy
Note 5 comes with a 16-megapixel main camera and a 5-megapixel
front-facing camera, both of which offer an aperture of f/1.9, which is
wider than the Note 4.
According to a Weibo report, the Note 6
will be coming with a 12-megapixel main camera offering "Super OIS
Plus". The front-facing camera sensor wasn't detailed. Both the Note 4 and 5 were both praised for their camera capabilities so we'd expect the Note 6 to follow suit.
The Galaxy S7 and S7 edge both have 12-megapixel rear cameras and a
5-megapixel front camera so perhaps the company will use the same sensor
for the Note 6.
This would make sense given the praise both the S7 and S7 edge have
received. Both the front and the rear snappers offer an aperture of
f/1.7 to help them excel in low-light conditions so we'd like to see the
same capabilities in the Note 6 at the very least.
That said, there have also been claims to suggest Samsung is working on a new 1/2.3-inch sensor
that will be accompanied by a lens with an aperture of f/1.4, which is
said to offer 17 per cent more light, plus the extra light the bigger
sensor will bring. It isn't clear if this new camera will be ready for
the Note 6 but fingers crossed.
Samsung Galaxy Note 6 hardware
The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 has an octa-core Exynos chipset, 4GB or RAM and 32GB of 64GB of internal memory. The aluminium body means microSD support was removed as was a removable battery, the capacity of which dropped to 3000mAh from the 3200mAh of its predecessor.
The Galaxy Note 6 is said to be coming with either a Qualcomm Snapdragon or Exynos chipset depending on the region, along with 6GB of RAM, according to Weibo. The same site has suggested it will be the Qualcomm Snapdragon 823 chip, which is capable of supporting up to 8GB of RAM.
Samsung's S7 and S7 edge both come in two models, one of which offers
the Qualcomm SD820 chip and the other of which uses the in-house Exynos
Octa 8 processor so the suggestion of two variants depending on region
is plausible, although whether it the support will be 6GB or 8GB of RAM is unclear.
Storage options have been touted as 64GB and 128GB but there was no mention in the Weibo report as to whether microSD support will be reintroduced. It has been on the S7 and S7 edge so here is hoping. Battery capacity has been rumoured to be around 4000mAh, but it isn't clear whether the Note 6 will return to offering a removable battery like previous Note devices before the Note 5.
Samsung Galaxy Note 6 software
The Samsung Note 6 will almost certainly launch with Android
Marshmallow 6.0 along with Samsung's TouchWiz interface over the top and
the various feature extras that complement the S Pen.
We'd suspect a look towards the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge will offer a good indicator as to what we can expect from the Note 6, although no doubt there will be some improvements and refinements.
Samsung Galaxy Note 6 conclusion
Whilst the rumours have started to circulate for the Samsung Galaxy Note 6, they are few and far between at the moment so there is currently a lot of guess work happening.
Based on what we have heard so far, we'd expect the Note 6 to arrive in August 2016 with a similar design to the Note 5 including S Pen functionality.
Hardware specs are likely to improve over the Note 5 including a faster processor, possibly more RAM and an improved camera experience. We will update this feature as more leaks appear so hang tight for now.
Samsung announced the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge at Mobile World Congress in March. The two devices have received huge amounts of praise for their designs, powerful specs and great cameras.
No smartphone is perfect though. There will always be a few specs in
the rumours that never see the light of day, leaving some disappointed
and wanting more.
Rumours are few and far between for the Samsung Galaxy
S8 just yet but it's likely they will pick up soon, even if it's
probably going to be nearly a year before the smartphone is officially
announced. That doesn't mean we can't start speculating ourselves
though, so here is what we hope to see and what we think might appear on
Samsung's 2017 flagship.
Samsung Galaxy S8: Release date
If Samsung follows previous release patterns, chances are we will see the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 edge launch at Mobile World Congress next year.
The show takes place from 27 February to 2 March 2016, which would mean the potential launch date for the Samsung Galaxy
S8 could be 26 February. Of course, Samsung might change everything up
for the S8, but for now, an educated guess would suggest this is the
date to pencil in the diary.
Samsung Galaxy S8: Design
The Samsung Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7
edge followed their predecessors closely when it came to their design. A
couple of refinements were made, including reducing the rear camera
bump in comparison to the S6 and S6 edge but on the whole, the new
flagships are largely the same on the surface.
We'd expect the Samsung Galaxy S8 to change things up a little bit more in the design department in comparison to what the S7 and S7 edge
did. What that will be is difficult to say at the moment, given it's
months and months away but there are a couple of things we'd like to
see.
As USB Type-C was missed off the S7 and S7 edge
spec list, we'd expect to see them on board the the Galaxy S8 and S8
edge and we wouldn't be surprised to see improvements in the audio. Both
LG and HTC
have made moves in this area in their recent handsets so it would be an
obvious feature for Samsung to focus on for its next flagship to keep in
line with competition.
We'd love to see the S8 slim down a little and it would be
interesting to see what an all metal build would offer compared to metal
and glass.
Samsung Galaxy S8: Display
The Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge both offer Quad HD displays for pixel densities of 575ppi and 534ppi, respectively.
The S7 has a 5.1-inch size while the S7 edge has a 5.5-inch size and
we wouldn't expect this to change for the S8, at least not by much. We
might see the screen to body ratios improve slightly, but in terms of
size, we'd expect the same as the S7 and S7 edge, assuming two handsets are announced of course.
Resolution might increase though. With VR becoming more and more popular, higher resolution displays are more important. The Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
might be expensive, but if you're into smartphone-controlled VR, its 4K
display offers a great experience. As Samsung is already in the VR
business, it would make sense to offer a compatible device with a higher
resolution display for the Gear VR or any further VR devices.
Let's just hope that if the resolution is increased for the S8 and S8 edge that battery life wouldn't be compromised.
Samsung Galaxy S8: Camera
The Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge
feature a 12-megaixel rear camera with an aperture of f/1.7 and larger
1.44µm pixels. The front-facing camera is 5-megapixels, also with a
f/1.7 aperture and both are fantastic.
Samsung pulled it out of the bag with the S6 and S6 edge when it came to the camera, improving the capability for the S7 and S7 edge.
Chances are we will see further improvements for the S8 and S8 edge.
We'd like to see OIS on the front camera, following in the path of HTC with its latest flagship.
There has been a rumour to suggest the company is working on a new
1/2.3-inch sensor that will be combined with a f/1.4 aperture. This
would deliver even better low-light capabilities than the current
flagships but whether it will appear on the S8 or S8 edge is unclear
yet. The rumours also claim Samsung's goal is to deliver a 1/1.7-inch
sensor eventually, suggesting it has no intention of stopping
improvements in the camera department.
Samsung Galaxy S8: Hardware
The Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge arrived in two models - one of which sported the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820, while the other had the Exynos Octa 8 chip inside. Both models come with 4GB of RAM and 32GB or 64GB of internal storage with microSD support for further storage expansion. There is a 3000mAh battery inside the S7 and a 3400mAh battery inside the S7 edge.
With every new flagship, comes new hardware. A faster, more powerful
processor will certainly be on board the Galaxy S8 and S8 edge, and
possibly a jump in RAM. The Samsung Note 6 is rumoured to be coming with 6GB of RAM so perhaps the same will apply for the S8.
It's likely Samsung will keep microSD
support on board, as it didn't go down so well when it removed it for
the S6 and S6 edge, but we'd expect the same storage solutions, or the
32GB model on its own given Marshmallow's Flex support allows users to
combine the phone's internal storage with the storage of the SD card.
A bigger battery capacity is always welcomed, but even if the
capacity itself isn't increased for the S8 and S8 edge, we'd like to see
software improvements to help with power management. Samsung already
does a good job in this field but it can always be better when it comes
to battery life.
Samsung Galaxy S8: Software
Samsung's Galaxy S7 and S7 edge both feature Android 6.0 Marshmallow, overlaid with the TouchWiz software.
There are some handy features with TouchWiz, but we would still like
to see some more refinement for the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 edge.
Vanilla Android will probably never happen and that's ok, but it
would be great to see the best of TouchWiz on top of a close to pure
Android experience. HTC
launched it's latest flagship with a refined version of Sense over
Android and it works well, delivering a cleaner experience with less
duplication. We'd love to see Samsung do this too for its next
flagships.
Samsung Galaxy S8: Conclusion
What will appear on the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 edge? Who knows at
the moment. We have months of waiting to do but it would be interesting
to see a change up in design, more improvements in camera capabilities
and software refinements.
There is a good chance of a more powerful processor and more RAM, as well as the potential for a larger battery capacity too, as is normally the case with next-gen flagships.
We will be keeping a close eye on the rumours of the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 edge as and when they appear so keep checking back for updates.
The Microsoft Surface Phone could come packing some world-first specs that blow away anything out there right now. Namely that's 8GB of RAM and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 830 CPU.
Before getting too excited know that these claims are based on a Windows 10 compatibility listing. Found on Microsoft's minimum hardware requirements page is a list of compatible chipsets for Windows 10, and here Forbes found the MSM8998. This is thought to be Qualcomm's next flagship CPU, the Snapdragon 830.
It was from that Snapdragon 830 CPU find that the jump to 8GB of RAM was made, as this chip is expected, by analysts, to support that much.
While all these presumptions require a little hope, that 8GB of RAM is very possible. Microsoft is focusing on a single platform in Windows 10 that works across hardware. Where smartphones are the weakest it makes sense to bulk performance there so Windows 10 can be all it can be in all hardware guises.
Samsung is also rumoured to push out as much as 8GB of RAM in its next Galaxy Note 6 phablet smartphone.
This much RAM, which would put these handsets above some computers
for specs, is starting to make sense for gaming, multitasking and video
editing support. Since Windows 10 can be used with Continuum to make the smartphone a PC, effectively, the more RAM the better.
Expect to see more on the Microsoft Surface phone as the expected announcement in October gets nearer.
Update: The LG V10 is now getting the update to
Marshmallow for those on AT&T as well as athose on Verizon and
T-Mobile. While the Honor 5X is also in for the update soon, according
to the company.
Android Marshmallow is here (for some). There are
battery life improvements, greater app permission controls, standardized
support for fingerprint scanners, more granular volume controls, USB-C
support and new Google Now features, all part of a mix that makes this
an exciting upgrade for users. But is your phone actually going to get
it?
The release process for Android updates is more complicated
than Apple's iOS updates, and just because an update has been launched
that doesn't necessarily mean you'll have access to it.
In fact, you probably won't. It's down to device manufacturers, and
in some countries the carriers too, who spend quite a bit of time with
the new software before releasing it to their devices.
If
you own a Nexus device you're in luck, as not surprisingly Google's new
software has landed on those first – and manufacturers like Motorola
are generally better at getting updates out quickly. But other
manufacturers are a little less predictable.
While
most phones are still waiting on Marshmallow, we are already seeing the
gentle roll out of the Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow update, with new
emojis and a few little bug fixes bundled in for good measure.
To
make the latest Android update less of a mystery, here's our constantly
updated information on when it's likely to land on your phone.
Disclaimer:
This article includes information for the rollout of Android
Marshmallow software, but depending on region, mobile operator and
carrier it can take longer than expected.
