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Samsung Galaxy S7 edge Glossy Black smiles for the camera

Alexandra Arici
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Samsung recently made available a new version of the Galaxy S7 edge. The new phones take advantage of a color hue which made a debut on the dearly departed Galaxy Note7 – Coral Blue.

Now that the Coral Blue Galaxy S7 edge is out and about, Samsung seems to be planning the release of another version. This time is the Glossy Black one.

Samsung probably wants to offer an alternative to the recently launched Jet Black iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. The folks at Sam Mobile have spotted a few images showcasing the upcoming phone on Samsung’s official Weibo account, which indicates the handset isn’t far from being released.

samsung-galaxy-s7-edge-front-viewThe Glossy Black model is quite akin to the Black Onyx one, except that instead of the matte finish, the back is now coated with a shiny layer of paint.

samsung-galaxy-s7-edge-incomingWe’re not given any extra information of when the Glossy Black model might be expected to arrive in the wild or in which markets. We can only hope the shiny black phone will land in the US, as well and won’t be limited to China and other Asian countries.

Samsung is currently looking to create more interest around the Galaxy S7 edge, in the wake of the Galaxy Note7 demise.

samsung-galaxy-s7-edge-in-boxThe Korean tech giant allows Note7 refugees to exchange their Note7 for a Galaxy S7 edge. And next year those enrolled in the Galaxy Upgrade program will be able to purchase next year’s Galaxy S8 or Note8 at half the price.

samsung-galaxy-s7-edge-backSome Galaxy Note7 owners are still having time renouncing their premium phablet and taking up the slightly older Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge instead. Some users feel like going from the Note7 to the Galaxy S7 qualifies as a downgrade, so they are waiting for the Galaxy S8 next year.

However, a new Galaxy S7 edge Glossy Black model might have the power to attract the eyes of a few customers. Or at least Samsung hopes so. What do you think?

Xiaomi announces CES 2017 presence, will unveil all-new global product [Update]

Alexandra Arici
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Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi has gained quite a reputation over the past few years, which was build on its solid yet affordable smartphones.

Xiaomi is quite big in Asia at the moment, but the company hasn’t officially extended its presence in the US. Sure you can get Xiaomi products from third-party sellers, but the company doesn’t officially sell its smartphones and tablets through an online store.

But that’s about to change soon enough. Xiaomi has just confirmed its first time attendance at CES 2017 which will be hosted in Las Vegas in January. The event is one of the biggest consumer electronics tradeshows in the world, gathering iconic tech giants from around the world.

xiaomi.logo_1Xiaomi has also teased it will announce an “all-new product globally”. Naturally we’re hoping Xiaomi means a smartphone or at least a tablet. However the company produces quite a lot of devices – anything from wearables to Bluetooth speakers, so we can’t be 100% Xiaomi will launch a smartphone in Las Vegas.

Over the years, Xiaomi’s Global VP, Hugo Barra has made a point in saying the company will eventually launch a smartphone in the US. When it’s ready. Barra explained that due to the competitive nature of the American smartphone market, they are not looking to rush things.

ces-2017-flyerWe should remind you that Xiaomi did launch the Mi Box Android TV in the US earlier in 2016, so the company might want to stick to non-smartphone products for now.

Other Chinese companies are not as skittish as Xiaomi. Huawei and OnePlus for example are already offering their products in the country and other more obscure players like ZTE, LeEco or UMi are all trying to make a name for themselves in the States.

Xiaomi has announced their presence at CES 2017 via a Tweet in which it is asking fans to make guesses about the upcoming product to be unveiled at the event. However, the Tweet has been taken down, at the time of writing this article.

Nevertheless, the Xiaomi News Conference event does appear the official CES website and we’re keeping our fingers crossed that Xiaomi unveils a phone.

In recent times, the Chinese device producer unveiled the Mi Note 2 – a phablet that gives off Galaxy Note7 vibes.

xiaomi-mi-note-2-piano-blackThe phone brings to the tablet quite a powerful set of specs including a 5.7-inch display with 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution and a Snapdragon 821 chipset. Other specs include 4GB/6GB of RAM and 64GB/128GB of internal storage, 22.56MP/8MP camera combo and large 4,070 mAh battery.

Hopefully Xiaomi will announce something similar at CES 2017.

[Update]: Xioami has reached out to us to clarify that although some info characterizing the nature of the new product as being global in nature has been shared on Xiaomi’s social channels, the final market availability of said product is yet to be determined. Xiaomi will be offering more information shortly, so keep checking back for updates.

3 unlocked ASUS ZenFone 3 smartphones are now available at Amazon

Alexandra Arici
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Looking for an affordable unlocked handset this holiday season? If none of the Black Friday promotions we shared with you so far inspire you, then maybe you should look to ASUS.

The Taiwanese phone maker just made available three affordable handsets through Amazon. The first one of the three unlocked models is Amazon ZenFone 3 Max. The phone comes with an US warranty and free shipping. Here’s what you can expect to get from it:

ASUS ZenFone 3 Max

  • asus-zenfone-max-front5.2-inch display with 720 x 1280 resolution
  • MediaTek MT6736 processor (quad-core)
  • 2GB of RAM
  • 16GB of internal storage (expandable via microSD)
  • 13MP/5MP camera combo
  • Fingerprint scanner
  • LTE
  • 4,100 mAh battery
  • Android 6.0 Marshmallow
  • $149 price

As you can see the ZenFone 3 Max is quite basic, but it does offer some nifty features like the big battery that will supposedly support 20h of talk time and 18h of Wi-Fi web browsing. The fingerprint scanner onboard can also be used to activate the camera app.

asus-zenfone-max-camerasasus-zenfone-max-fingerprint-sensorasus-zenfone-max-batteryMoving on, we have the ASUS ZenFone 3 Laser which comes with slightly better specs. This is what it offers:

ASUS ZenFone 3 Laser

  • asus-zenfone-3-laser-front5.5-inch display with 1080 x 1920 resolution
  • Snapdragon 430 (octa-core)
  • 2GB of RAM
  • 32GB of internal storage (expandable via microSD)
  • 13MP/8MP camera combo
  • Fingerprint scanner
  • LTE
  • 3,000 mAh battery
  • Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
  • $199 price

asus-zenfone-3-laser-focusasus-zenfone-3-laser-craftmanshipasus-zenfone-3-laser-camerasLast but not least we have the ASUS ZenFone 3 Delux, which is offers the most advanced specs. Naturally it comes at a higher price tag, as well. Here’s what ou can expect:

 ASUS ZenFone 3 Deluxe

  • asus-zenfone-3-deluxe-4k-video5.5-inch display with 1080 x 1920 resolution
  • Snapdragon 625 (octa-core)
  • 4GB of RAM
  • 64GB of internal storage (expandable via microSD)
  • 16MP/8MP camera combo, main camera capable of 4K recording
  • Fingerprint scanner
  • LTE
  • 3,000 mAh battery
  • Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
  • $369 price

asus-zenfone-3-deluxe-gamingasus-zenfone-3-deluxe-processorASUS might not be the most popular smartphone seller out there, but if you’re looking for a phone with big battery or a handset with decent specs, the ZenFone 3 lineup has something to offer.

Come CES 2017 in January, ASUS is looking to launch new products that it hopes will attract customers’ interest.

The rumor mill claims the Taiwanese manufacturing has in plan to unveil a new ZenFone 4 handset and a Project Tango-based ZenFone AR. The second product could prove to be quite interesting, especially since there aren’t many Tango phones available on the market just yet.

Chuwi drops prices by 30% at retailers for holiday shopping

AndroidGuys
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What a time to be a tech shopper. Whether it’s phones, tablets, portable accessories, drones, or something else, this is the best time of the year to make a purchase. Of course you already knew that, what with all of the Black Friday promotions and discounts happening.
Chuwi, a brand we’ve profile a here on multiple occasions, has slashed prices on a number of products as part of its own Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping season. With items that span a variety of device types, there’s something for everyone. In fact, there’s a whole sub-section at AliExpress dedicated to the cause.
hi10-plus
Take the Chuwi Hi10 Plus, for instance. With a 10.8-inch display at 1920 x 1080 pixels, it’s a great size for getting things done around the home. Snap on the keyboard (sold separately), however, and now you’ve boosted your productivity.
Powered by two operating systems, Windows 10 and Android 5.1, it means you can hop from one environment to another. Separate your work from play? This is exactly the sort of thing you’ll want.
  • 10.8″ 1920 X 1280 IPS Full HD 3:2 Ratio Screen
  • Latest 2016 Intel X5 Z8350 Quad Core 64-Bit CPU
  • Windows 10 Redstone + Android 5.1 Dual OS
  • Leather Keyboard Case, Rotary Shaft Keyboard & Stylus Support
Already a bargain at $215 on a regular day, it’s discounted by 30% and now runs a mere $150. That’s a limited time price, of course, so you will want to act fast if you plan to take advantage. Plus, with only so many products on hand, you could also miss out because demand is so high.

But wait, there’s more!

Here’s a list of some other Chuwi products on sale right now. Prices and discounts are shown as are known limited quantities.

  • CHUWI Hi12 12″ Windows 10/Android 5.1 Dual OS 2in1 Stylus Tablet | Special price $229.9, original price $270.5 (15% off, limited to 100 units)
  • CHUWI HiBook Pro 10.1″ 2K 2560*1600 Intel X5 Dual OS 2in1 Tablet| Special price $186.99, original price $233.7 (20% off, limited to 100 units)
  • CHUWI Hi10 Pro 10.1″ Windows 10/Remix OS 2in1 Stylus Tablet | Special price $166.77, original price $200.93 (17% off, limited to 100 units)
  • CHUWI Hi8 8″ 1920*1200 Intel Z3736F Quad Core Dual OS Tablet | Special price $74.9, original price $93.63 (20% off, limited to 100 units)
  • CHUWI Hi10 10.1″ Windows 10/Android 5.1 Dual OS 2in1 Tablet | Special price $157.72, original price $192.34 (18% off, limited to 100 units)
  • CHUWI Hi-Power 10000mAh Two-way 18W Quick Charge 3.0 Power Bank | Special price $19.9, original price $24.9 (20% off, limited to 100 units)

Where and When to Buy

You can get started on any of these products as quickly as you’d like. Really, you should jump as soon as possible, especially for those with really low quantities.

Disclaimer: This article is a sponsored post from Chuwi; AndroidGuys does not claim any responsibility for it beyond the pre-approved links and content.

Geekbuying’s 72 Hour Shopping Carnival kicks off Black Friday

AndroidGuys
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We’re closer than ever to Black Friday and that means the snowball of deals and discounts is turning into an avalanche or sales. Nearly every major retailer, OEM, carrier, or industry player has put together some form of promotion around the shopping weekend. One such company, Geekbuying, has something special in store for the coming days.

Dubbed the 72 Hour Shopping Carnival, it’s a three-day sale that’s home to savings on phones, tablets, 2-in-1’s, wearables, and all sorts of great products at low prices. We probably don’t have to tell you, but we will anyhow; some of the discounts put items at less than half of what they normally run.

Wearables

mi_bandIf you’re looking for an activity tracker, it doesn’t get much cheaper. The Xiaomi Mi Band 1S is only going to cost a mere $9 during the campaign. Yes, that’s it! And it has a heart rate monitor in it, too!

Phones

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Pro

xiaomi-redmi-note-4-pro

In the market for an unlocked phone? There are some downright incredible deals to be had on those, too. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Pro, for instance is only $169.99 and packs a 5.5-inch display, 64GB storage, and a 4100mAh battery. That’s insane!

  • 5.5-inch capacitive screen, 2.5D arc screen, FHD (1920×1080 pixels) screen display,401PPI
  • CPU: Helio X20 MTK6797 deca core 64bit 2.1GHz, GPU: Mali T880 MP4 700MHz
  • MIUI 8 (Base on Android 6.0 OS), 3GB RAM +64GB ROM
  • 5.0MP front camera
  • 13.0MP back camera with PDAF foucus,f2.0 aperture and LED flash.
  • Dual SIM Card Dual Standby
  • Full metal unibody,4100 mAh battery with fast charge
  • Support 4G/3G/GPS/Bluetooth 4.2/multi-language/TOUCH ID/2.4G,5G wifi
  • Networking:2G GSM:900/1800/1900MHz
    • 3G WCDMA:850/900/1900/2100MHz, TD-SCDMA: B34/39
    • 4G FDD-LTE:850/900/1800/2100/2600MHz, TDD-LTE: 38/39/40/41MHz

Redmi 3S only $99!

The Xiaomi Redmi 3S/3S Pro features a 5-inch HD (720×1280 pixels) display and packs an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 processor, with four cores clocked at 1.4GHz, and four cores at 1.1GHz. The handset includes 2GB/3GB of LPDDR3 RAM, Adreno 505 GPU, as well as 16GB/32GB of inbuilt storage that’s expandable via microSD card (up to 128GB). SHOP

What Else?

Thinking about making your TV a little bit smarter? Add a set-top box that’s powered by Android 6.0 and capable of all sorts of great things! The Xiaomi 4K unit runs only $80 and delivers 4K video, Google Cast, Play Store, and all of the media you can shake a remote at.

mi_box

  • Android TV 6.0 Marshmallow
  • CPU Quad-core Cortex-A53 2.0GHz
  • GPU Mali 450 750MHz
  • RAM 2GB DDR3
  • ROM: 8GB eMMC

Worth noting is that this unit doesn’t appear to be available for those of you living in the United States. Sorry, Yankees, this one is more geared to our international readers!

Original Xiaomi VR only $11.99

GPD Win 5.5 inch Gamepad Tablet only $329.99

Xiaoyi YI 4K Action Camera II only $206.99

 

mi_mouseTime for a new mouse for your PC or laptop? Check out the Xiaomi portable mouse which connects via Bluetooth 4.0 or 2.4GHz. With 10 meters range it’s the sort of device you can use for a lean back experience on your set-top box. Moreover, it can be paired to two devices; a button lets the user swap from one unit to the other.  You’ll be able to grab this mouse for a shade over $20 once it goes on sale!

Disclaimer: This article is a sponsored post; AndroidGuys does not claim any responsibility for it beyond the pre-approved links and content.

[LEAKED] Chinese website leaks new Snapdragon chips

Andrew Orr
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Chinese website anzhuo.cn has leaked an image of specs for new Snapdragon chips by Qualcomm. Last week Qualcomm announced the Snapdragon 835, but the image reveals more details – as well as a second chip called Snapdragon 660.

Image credit: anzhuo.cn
Image credit: anzhuo.cn

It sounds like the 835 chip is going to be based on an altered Kryo 200 CPU architecture, which has eight cores – four big, four small – although the clock speeds are anyone’s guess right now. The SoC will also contain an Adreno 540 GPU and Qualcomm’s X16 LTE modem.

This chip uses Samsungs 10nm FinFET manufacturing process, which is entirely brand new and is said to bring a 30% boost in area efficiency and a possible 27% higher performance power at the same usage or 40% lower power consumption at the same performance level. The 835 chip might even work with Qualcomm’s upcoming Quick Charge 4.0.

Qualcomm’s website promises the X16 will be the world’s first gigabit-class modem, with download speeds up to 10 times as fast first generation 4G modems.

x16_gigabit

The 835 chip can also support four-channel LPDDR4X-1866 RAM, working in tandem with the UFS2.1 flash memory. The Snapdragon 835 looks like it will appear on the market in Q1 2017, and might even power the Samsung Galaxy S8.

The Snapdragon 660 SoC looks like it will use Samsung’s 14nm FinFET manufacturing process. It will be another quad-core, with four 2.2GHz cores and four 1.9GHz cores. The chip also uses the Adreno 512 GPU with an X10 LTE modem. Two-channel LPDDR4X-1866 RAM will be used with the 660. It sounds like this chip will replace the Snapdragon 652.

ZTE Axon 7, Axon 7 Mini get hefty discounts starting on Black Friday

AndroidGuys
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Not to be outdone by other smartphone makers, ZTE is discounting two of its phones for Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and beyond. If you’ve had your eye on the Axon 7 or Axon 7 Mini, you will certainly want to pay attention to this weekend’s deal. We’re talking $50 and $100 discounts!

This year’s savings include:

Black Friday, Nov. 25 through Sunday, Nov. 27

  • Axon 7 Mini (Ion Gold) for $199.98 at Best Buy ($100 savings)
  • Axon 7 Mini (Platinum Gray) for $249.98 at Amazon, Best Buy, B&H, Fry’s, Newegg and ZTEUSA.com ($50 savings)

Cyber Monday, Nov. 28 – Sunday, Dec. 4

  • Axon 7 is available for $349.98 at Amazon, Best Buy, B&H, Fry’s, Newegg and zteusa.com ($50 savings)

Pretty tough stuff to pass up if you ask us!

 

Google Pixel learns two new, helpful tricks in latest update

AndroidGuys
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The Google Pixel is getting even smarter and more user friendly thanks to a new software update.  According to reports popping up on Reddit, Pixel owners who subscribe to service on Bell, Public Mobile, and TELUS the update (NPF26J) brings about two new “Moves” for the handset.

pixel_movesWeighing in at around 261MB, the build gives users the ability to double-tap the display to see alerts. Additionally, Pixel owners can raise the phone to wake it for notifications; this is similar to what happens with the Nexus 6P as well as many Motorola models.

Both features appears to be user-defined and easy to toggle on and off. As some of our favorite options in the Pixel and Pixel XL, the Moves give phone owners helpful and quick ways of navigating and using their device.

As great as this stuff sounds, it has not yet rolled out to Pixel owners in other markets. At least not as of the time of this publication.

Mr. Jump makes the leap to Android (review)

AndroidGuys
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Overview

Mr. Jump was a widely popular game on iOS, and it’s finally made its way over to Android. Mr. jump is a simple game with a charming aesthetic and challenging platforming that will surely keep you coming back.

  • Developer: 1Button & ZPLAY
  • Cost: Free

Impressions

Mr. Jump is one of those games that you hear about a lot as an Android user, not privy to those iOS exclusives. It’s a simple, challenging, and addictive platformer that everyone loves and is given heaps of praise. After what seems like all too long, Mr. Jump is finally here on Android, ported over by ZPLAY.

Mr. Jump is a cute, simplistic platformer with one-button controls and a basic premise of getting to then end without dying to advance and unlock the next stage. The game is challenging and does a generally decent job of scaling the difficulty throughout its many levels.

The trick in Mr. Jump is timing and quick thinking, and it can get very difficult in later stages to execute perfectly every time. There are different power-ups in the game as well, to help you navigate the many obstacles, which include jetpacks and infinite jumps. There are also secret areas that allow you to bypass levels and unlock even more.

The secret to Mr. Jump’s success is rooted in simplicity. The graphics are blocky, and feature bright colors and patterns pleasing to the eye. The sounds and music are fun and jaunty without getting distracting, and overall the game looks and feels great without being overly cutesy or too bland.

The developers have really done a good job of making this game play well as well and look good, and it’s evident by the success it has achieved on iOS. Mr. Jump on Android runs well, with no performance issues that I’ve experienced so far. Overall, Mr. Jump is just a very solid game to play.

That being said, I do have an issue with the difficulty scaling in some places. For the most part the game is a decent challenge, but in some levels, including the first one, the game seems unusually hard and I miss jumps that I seem to have timed correctly.

I don’t know if it’s just me or if the game is actually that difficult in places, but sometimes Mr. Jump can get frustrating and make you want to throw your phone in anger. Despite that, I still enjoy Mr. Jump and that challenge certainly encourages you to keep trying, until you finally beat that one level that has been plaguing you for days or weeks.

Conclusion

Mr. Jump is, in my opinion, a perfect example of a mobile game. It’s simple, yet challenging – engaging, yet not overbearing. Most of all, it’s fun and addicting without being a time-consuming mess.

It’s cute and has polish and substance, and just the right amount of infuriating challenge that will bring people back to playing again and again. Mr. Jump checks all the boxes for a great, fun game and I am sure it will find similar success on Android that it has on iOS.

HTC 10 Evo is an international take on Sprint’s HTC Bolt

AndroidGuys
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HTC today announced the 10 Evo as an international version of the Sprint’s most recent smartphone, the HTC Bolt. Slated to go on sale in markets outside of the United States, it essentially drops the three-channel carrier aggregation in favor of the more common LTE bands used in Europe and other countries.

The HTC 10 Evo features a 5.5-inch quad HD display with curved glass and Gorilla Glass 5 protection, a 16-megapixel rear camera with an aperture of f/2.0, and a 3,200mAh battery. Inside we find a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 chip with 3GB and 32GB of storage space. Users who need more capacity can insert a microSD card up to 2TB.

Other specifications include a front-facing 8-megapixel camera with selfie light, USB Type-C charging port with Quick Charge 2.0, and BoomSound Adaptive Audio headphones. Wrapped in a unibody metal chassis, the 10 Evo comes with an IP57 rating to protect against water and dust.

Pricing and exact availability has not yet been made available. Sprint’s HTC Bolt, for what it’s worth, runs about $600 so we might expect something in that realm.

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