Smartphones

All posts in “Smartphones”

Asus Zenfone 5Z

The notch continues as smartphone manufacturers follow the trend that Apple established. Nevertheless, we have to give credit to the company’s designers who came up with the spun metal finish found on most of its premium products. Just like a badge of quality, the Asus Zenfone 5Z flaunts the same concentric circles on its rear cover. It sits just below the scratch-resistant glass panel. You can get this upscale handset in two elegant shades: Meteor Silver and Midnight Blue.

A side-by-side comparison between the 5 and 5Z reveals that both look exactly the same. However, what makes a big difference lies deep within its luxurious enclosure. At its hearts lies a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 paired with 8GB of RAM on the 256GB variant. Meanwhile, the 128GB and 64GB options get 6GB and 4GB respectively.

Ignoring the notch, that house its 8-megapixel front-facing camera and other sensors, you get a glorious 6.2-inch 2246 x 1080-resolution Super IPS+ display that bordered by slim bezels—the thickest part is located on the chin. Nevertheless, it’s a surprise to learn that it follows an odd 19:9 aspect ratio. Moreover, the touchscreen is protected by a 2.5 Corning Gorilla Glass sheet.

Audio is handled by two 5-magnet speakers with dual NXP Smart Amp technology for superior sound output. Music lovers will dig the Asus Zenfone 5Z’s Hi-Res audio support for lossless music bliss—the standard package even comes with a pair of ZenEar Pro Hi-Res earphones. The 3,300mAh battery charges via the USB Type-C port and offers BoostMaster quick charging tech. To keep your device safe from bumps and scratches, the manufacturer even throws in a clear soft bumper case in the box.

Own it now

Photos courtesy of Asus

November 24, 2018 / Comments Off

398

Sony Xperia XZ3

It’s been a while since Sony made a splash in the smartphone market. Industry experts have long commented about the Japanese tech giant’s failure to catch up to the competition. For example, its past few flagship models sported large bezels, a blocky frame, and still relied on its TRILUMINOS screen technology. Other than the display, the borders and shape started to become an eyesore for most users. That’s why we are glad the tech company finally made some radical changes. This finally makes the Sony Xperia XZ3 a beauty to behold.

Finally catching up to the competition, the XZ3 now flaunts a 6-inch 1440 x 2880 resolution OLED display with HDR support. To keep it on par with its rivals, the smartphone packs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC and 4GB of RAM. However, it would have been even better with at least 6GB or higher. You get a single 19-megapixel camera for its main shooter that can record 1080p slow motion videos at 960 fps and 4K HDR footage. Selfies, on the hand, are delegated to a 13-megapixel front-facing unit.

Sony’s $900 Xperia XZ3 rocks a 3,300mAh battery and 64GB internal memory. The smartphone will run on Android 9 Pie by default and feature a new gimmick called Side Sense. This new function reportedly lets you access regularly-used apps quickly with a double tap of the handset’s sides. Overall, the unit now exudes a cohesive form factor, but the design team could have done a little better to reduce the top and bottom bezels.

Sony Xperia XZ3

Photos courtesy of Sony

November 18, 2018 / Comments Off

326

Pocophone F1 By Xiaomi

Just when we least expected it, major smartphone brands were given a run for their money when so-called flagship-killers came out. The most notable one was, of course, the OnePlus One. It was one of the first models that earned the moniker. You can’t argue the fact that it possessed top-shelf specs that rivaled those premium handsets at almost half the price. Now, a new upstart is eager to take over the market—introducing the Pocophone F1.

Let’s get it straight, the F1 is hardly an outright replacement for the OnePlus 6. Xioami, the company that owns the new brand, plans to target a different market altogether. A majority of users and some tech gurus, describe it as something that belongs in the low-cost range of handsets. Despite being a budget-friendly unit, the build quality and design will make you think otherwise.

Ultimately, what makes this device remarkable is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC. A 6GB or 8GB RAM is available based on the internal storage option. The advanced Liquidcool Technology system included inside keeps performance at its peak for longer periods of time. Now, that’s flagship territory right there, but the list even goes on.

You also get a snazzy aramid Kevlar fiber back panel on the Armored Edition. Its main imaging equipment is a pair of 12-megapixel and 5-megapixel sensors, while selfies rely on a single 20-megapixel unit up front. Power is supplied by a 4,000 mAh battery and should last you more than a day depending on how heavy your usage pattern will be—Quick Charge 3.0 technology is on board as well. The real kicker here is the unbelievable price tag of roughly $300 for the base model.

Own it here

Photos courtesy of Xiaomi

November 13, 2018 / Comments Off

368

Oppo Find X

Apple blew all of us away when it unveiled the final design of the iPhone X. We were immediately drawn to the flawless construction that made it possible to showcase an almost bezel-less OLED display. However, the “notch” that houses its front-facing TrueDepth camera system did not really win everyone’s favor. Moreover, a majority of mobile phones from the competition now sport that bothersome notch. On the flipside, we are so pumped for the Oppo Find X, as it teases an innovative new feature concealed within its svelte frame.

Let’s get this out of the way—the Oppo Find X parades the most attractive craftsmanship we have seen on a flagship smartphone. The way that its screen and back panel seamlessly meld into the polished metal frame is nothing short of perfection. Furthermore, you won’t find unsightly bezels or that annoying notch on this device. Its 6.4-inch Panoramic Arc display touts a 93.8% screen-to-body ratio and is the highest we have ever seen on any handset in the market. However, you might notice something odd about it. That’s right, where are the cameras and how did Oppo manage to achieve such a build?

Simple, it’s a feat of precise engineering that keeps its imaging components hidden within a special mechanism that slides up when you need it. Other than the fancy new gimmick, the Find X is certainly no slouch in the performance department. Inside lies a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset with a whopping 8GB of RAM. The 256GB internal storage should be more than enough for all of your files and multimedia. This Android 8.1 smartphone is powered by a 3.730mAh battery with VOOC flash charge technology.

Find X here

Photos courtesy of Oppo

November 2, 2018 / Comments Off

502

Samsung Galaxy Note 9

It’s been a while since Samsung announced something that sparked excitement among the tech industry. The release of its previous two mobile device models was met with lackluster reviews. Additionally, it failed to meet the company’s sales targets. Now, the gloves are off as the South Korean manufacturer prepares to launch the Samsung Galaxy Note 9.

After the unfortunate battery fiasco that plagued the Note 7 shortly following its launch, people were a little hesitant when it came to the succeeding installations. Samsung wants to put the past behind them and earn our trust yet again. To show that they’re confident with the battery technology in the new phablet, they’ve upped the capacity to 4000mAh this time around.

As expected of a flagship smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 arrives with the best gear in tow. Armed with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC paired with an 8GB RAM, you can expect the speediest experience when it comes to games and productivity. The base model comes with 128GB of internal storage, while a 512GB option is likewise available. Its stunning 6.4-inch Infinity display boasts eye-popping colors and curves beautifully on its edges to meet the metal frame.

Its biggest highlight is the new S-Pen, which uses Bluetooth LE technology. You can now use it to control presentations, the camera, and compatible apps. Fans of the Note series will be happy to know that the fingerprint sensor has finally been relocated just below the rear camera module, which is supposedly more accessible than the one on its predecessor.

Get yours here

Photos courtesy of Samsung

November 2, 2018 / Comments Off

374

Turing Space Industries HubblePhone

It’s been a long journey for smartphone innovation ever since Apple ultimately changed the game with its first mobile phone. What followed was a war between the Cupertino tech company and the horde of OEM manufacturers that relied on the Android platform. Designers and engineers from each side struggled to outdo the competition’s yearly flagship releases with new gimmicks and features. Meanwhile, Turing Space Industries swoops in to blow our minds with the announcement of the HubblePhone.

Current and next-gen smartphones have been using the same template for the longest time, which is the slate form factor. Other than concept proposals that sport various configurations, it seems that most smartphones will continue to conform to the same setup. On the other hand, the Turing Space Industries HubblePhone refuses to follow this trend. Instead, it revives the clamshell template and includes every innovative upgrade it could think of.

Almost every surface of the HubblePhone is an AMOLED touchscreen with Hybrid-Glass-PMMA. The futuristic and sleek frame is crafted from Liquid Metal/Titanium Aluminide and features ornate curves with a physical scroll wheel. The main camera is a 60-megapixel unit with a LED flash ring housed within the cylinder of its pivot point and is capable of a 15x optical zoom. Turing Space Industries plans to launch the ultramodern folder in 2020 with a retail price of $2,749.

HubblePhone

Photos courtesy of Turing Space Industries

October 29, 2018 / Comments Off

395

iPhone XS In Gold

If there’s one adage that best describes how the current world of tech news behaves, it’s that everything gets leaked no matter how hard companies try to keep them under wraps. Even tech juggernaut Apple isn’t immune to this, so it’s no surprise that the iPhone XS, reportedly one of three iPhone X models to be announced this September, just got leaked.

The photo shows two iPhones stacked on top of each other, the lower one being the larger model, and the one top presumably the alleged iPhone XS. Both phones feature edge-to-edge displays just like the iPhone X, with an image of the planet featured on both screens. 9to5Mac was the one who discovered the image, and although they didn’t say how they got it, they claim it’s the real deal and not just a mockup.

The phones featured in the photo are notably in gold, which is an entirely new colorway for the iPhone X lineup. Apple has used that color multiple times for its previous models, but it was missing on last year’s flagship with no clear explanation as to why. Looks like Apple got the hint that people love the gold finish.

As we’ve mentioned, three new iPhone models are expected to be announced later this month, but the leaked image only shows two of them, which reports say will both have OLED screens just like their predecessor. The third model, however, will have an LCD display and be cheaper than those two models pictured above. Specs, pricing, and availability remain unclear, but make sure to check back with Men’s Gear as we learn more.

iPhone XS Leak

September 3, 2018 / Comments Off

480