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Motorola One Zoom goes official with five cameras

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As anticipated, Motorola has added a new member to its One family of phones, this week introducing the One Zoom. It’s an ambitious one at that, as it features no less than five cameras.

Powered by Android 9 Pie, the One Zoom houses a 6.4-inch display at 2,340 x 1,080 pixel resolution. Similar to other phones with a 19:9 screen aspect ratio, there’s a notch cutout at the top.

The One Zoom gets its performance from a Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 processor with 4GB RAM and storage capacity is pegged at a generous 128GB. Not too shabby for a mid-range phone to be sure.

Housed in a polished aluminum frame, the One Zoom comes in three colors: Electric Grey, Cosmic Purple, and Brushed Bronze. A splash-proof nano-coating ensures the phone can withstand splashes and sprinkles. Oh, and Motorola’s logo lights up on the back.

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The main draw here, of course, is the four camera array on the back of the phone. Indeed, it’s pretty impressive stuff, and should give users plenty to play with when it comes to snapping pictures in a whole array of environments.

The four rear cameras include a 48-megapixel main shooter with 12-megapixel output, OIS, and f/1.7 aperture. It’s bolstered by a 16-megapixel wide angle (117 degree) camera, an 8-megapixel 3x optical zoom camera with OIS, and a depth camera for portrait and bokeh effects.

Between the hardware and a host of software features, the One Zoom will capture accurate colors and details in bright and low-light environments. There are AI tools such as Smart Composition to automatically create and suggest more interesting photos based on the shot you took.

Wrapping up the main hardware are a 25-megapixel front-facing camera, a 4,000mAh battery with turbo charging, USB Type-C, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a fingerprint scanner tucked under the display.

Availability

The One Zoom is available now in Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Europe, and various Latin American countries with a starting MSRP of €429. An Amazon exclusive version with built-in Alexa hands-free is also available in UK, Germany, Spain, Italy, and France.

The Motorola One Zoom is available in the United States exclusively on Motorola.com as a GSM unlocked device and is compatible with AT&T and T-Mobile brands. The starting MSRP is $449.99 US.

Lenovo launches Smart Display 7 and convertible tablets

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Lenovo loves Google Assistant. So much so, in fact, that it has announced three new devices which feature the virtual assistant.

As one of the first brands in the space to introduce Google Assistant-enabled smart displays, Lenovo has started to carve out a decent presence in the space.

New for fall 2019 is the Lenovo Smart Display 7 and a pair of Smart Tab tablets that run Android with deep Google Assistant integration.

Lenovo Smart Display 10 review
Lenovo Smart Clock review

Lenovo Smart Display 7

Similar to its larger brethren, the Smart Display 8 and Smart Display 10, it provides a camera for video calls. The speaker moves from the side of the display to the bottom here, but otherwise it’s the same general experience.

In terms of specifications, the Smart Display 7 offers users a 2-megapixel camera, two 1.5-inch 5W stereo speakers, and a dual microphone array.

The Smart Display 7 will be sold in white and is expected to cost $130 when it launches in October.

As beloved entertainment and media tablets in their own right, the Yoga Smart Tab and Lenovo Smart Tab M8 double as immersive, hands-free smart home hubs with Google Assistant’s Ambient Mode.

Lenovo Smart Tab M8

The Lenovo Smart Tab offers a up a mid-range tablet experience with an 8-inch 1280 x 800 display, 2GB RAM, and a quad-core MediaTek A22 processor. A 5-megapixel camera is found on the back with a 2-megapixel shooter around front.

As a Google take on the Amazon Alexa-based Smart Tab M10, it’s equipped with two far-field microphones that transform it into a smart display when placed into its included dock.

The Ambient Mode for Google Assistant turns the tablet into a smart display, offering up calendar info, weather, reminders, notifications, smart home controls, and more. Similarly, it also turns the tablet into a digital picture frame of sorts.

The Smart Tab M8 will cost $120 when it launches in October.

Lenovo Yoga Smart Tab

The Lenovo Yoga Smart Tab is a unique device in that it has an integrated kickstand, letting one prop it up anywhere. And, thanks to the hole punch, it can even be hung on a wall.

Specifications include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 439 processor with 3 or 4GB RAM with 32 and 64GB internal storage capacities. The 10.1-inch display has a 1920 x 1200 pixel resolution.

The Yoga Smart Tab will have a retail price of $250 with general retail availability expected in September.

Lock in a lifetime of essential project management training for $29

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Stuck in a rut at work, spending your days working for the man? Wouldn’t it be better if you actually were ‘the man”? As you know, many jobs and careers worth pursuing require upper management knows how to organize and run things smoothly. You need to know how to manage projects if you wish to to climb the proverbial ladder.

One way of ensuring candidates are qualified to head up projects or teams is with certification. There are many disciplines to project management and some of them are trusted more than others. Among the key methods are Agile, Jira, and Scrum.

The AndroidGuys Deals Store has a really awesome bundle of training around project management. The Complete Project Management Bundle features 11 courses and some 29.5 hours of instruction to you through the basics of the best approaches.

SEE ALSO: Better understand IT project management for less than $30

Whether it’s Agile, PMP, Scrum, or Six Sigma, this training blows the door wide open on securing certified project manager status and one of the six-figure salaries that come with it.

Features

  • Course 1: Setting Up A Real-World Project In JIRA
  • Course 2: Team Workflows In JIRA
  • Course 3: JIRA Visual Reference: Issue Administration
  • Course 4: Understanding JIRA For Users, Managers & Admins
  • Course 5: Agile Project Management: Scrum Step By Step w/ Examples
  • Course 6: PMP Project Management
  • Course 7: Product Management: Agile Requirements Using Product Backlog
  • Course 8: Project Management: Deliver On Time & Scrum Project Delivery
  • Course 9: Scrum Advanced: Software Development & Program Management
  • Course 10: Kanban: Productivity & Efficiency For Agile Lean Project
  • Course 11: Scrum Certification Prep Training & Agile Scrum Training

Where to Buy

You can Complete Project Management Bundle from the AndroidGuys Deals Store for only $29. With a retail value of around $2,200, it can be yours for a massive 98 percent off.

Think about it, that thirty dollar bundle could change your career, and life! At less than three bucks per course it’s one of the cheapest ways to invest in your future.

Save even more!

In addition to the savings above, when you buy through AndroidGuys Deals, for every $25 spent, you get $1 credit added to your account. What’s more, should you refer the deal via social media or an email that results in a purchase, you’ll earn $10 credit in your account.

If this is your first time buying, then you are also eligible for a further 10% discount when you subscribe for email updates.

How about a freebie?

Not looking to spend any money today? That’s alright, we understand. Why not visit the AndroidGuys section for freebies and take something anyhow? Go ahead, grab two!

Sony Xperia 5 squeezes flagship specs into compact design

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Sony is back with another take on compact smartphones, this week introducing its Xperia 5. Running Android 9 Pie, it’s a smaller take on the flagship experience.

Sony teased a smaller approach to phones earlier this week, promising something that would fit “in the palm of your hand.” Well, it’s smaller than standard Sony phones, yet somehow manages to pack a 6.1-inch (2,560 x 1,080) screen.

The Sony Xperia 5 boasts a number of high-end hardware and signature Sony touches. The phone supports Dolby Atmos and HDR with the ability to upscale stand dynamic range content.

At just 68mm wide, the Xperia 5 is a tall phone that boasts a 21:9 aspect ratio. This leads to an experience that fits more easily in hand.

The Xperia 5 houses a triple-lens camera design with a main 12-megapixel sensor, a telescopic lens, and a wide-angle lens. As far as software goes, Sony says it’s the same eye auto-focus stuff used in its Alpha cameras.

The Sony Xperia 5 has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor with 6GB RAM and 128GB UFS memory. A microSD expansion card slot supports up to 512GB of external media and the 3,140mAh battery provides for USB PD fast charging.

Like other Sony phones, this one is water resistant and protected against dust. The Xperia 5 will be available to pre-order in Europe starting next week, and is expected to be available starting in October. Look for it in four “sophisticated” colors: Blue, Red, Black and Grey.

Where to buy unlocked phones

Consider an unlocked phone? Ask yourself these questions

Sony has all but given up on selling phones in the US through carriers; however, some of its phones are offered unlocked direct to consumers. It’s hard to forecast what Sony plans to do with the Xperia 5, but it’s worth noting it supports many US carrier LTE bands.

Revised Samsung Galaxy Fold goes on sale

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Nearly one half year after its original intended launch, the Samsung Galaxy Fold has gone on sale. Indeed, the revised foldable smartphone has gone on sale in Korea and will make its way to the US in the coming weeks.

We learned from the feedback we received, and not only applied those lessons to the Galaxy Fold’s design, but also took the time to rethink the entire consumer experience from purchase to unboxing and post-purchase service.

Samsung, at IFA this week, confirmed that it has revised the design of its Galaxy Fold and that it will be available in Cosmos Black and Space Silver when it hits the United States.

As part of the device’s launch Samsung is introducing a Galaxy Fold Premier Service which puts users in direct touch with its experts. An optional one-on-one walk through can help guide new consumers so that they better understand how to navigate the phone. It’s said to be available “any time, any day.”

OnePlus 7 Pro review: We lived with the flagship for three months

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The OnePlus 7 Pro hit the scene a little over three months ago to a ton of fanfare. While the phone is undeniably the best device the young company has ever delivered, many people derided for its high price tag.

The $670 initial asking price was far above previous offerings from OnePlus and many consumers were hit with sticker shock. The company had built its reputation by offering budget-friendly phones that didn’t lack in the hardware department.

OnePlus phones were the next best thing to a Nexus. A large segment of enthusiasts looking for such a device after the Nexus program’s untimely demise were intrigued by its phones.

Initial reviews of the 7 Pro had little negative to say about the device. It had all the horsepower and specs one could want in a true flagship device. While it didn’t have every creature comfort (looking at you, wireless charging), it ticked almost every box for someone looking for a device to last the next two or three years.

We’ve been using the OnePlus 7 Pro as our daily driver since it hit the market. Our review unit is the model with 12GB RAM and 256GB of storage, the best combination available.

Here are our thoughts on how the last three months have gone and if the phone is still a good buy.

Build

Almost every flagship device is the same: glass back, aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass on top of the display. The OnePlus 7 Pro is no different, but we do love how the company designed the device. Let’s start with the display.

Display

We’d forgive you for mistaking the device for a Samsung flagship based on how it looks from the front. A 6.67-inch curved display gives the Galaxy impression and we’ve even had multiple people asking us which Samsung device this is. While it may look like a Samsung phone, it certainly is not.

One of the most important factors that differentiates is the display refresh rate. Most phones have a standard 60 frames-per-second refresh rate, but few go above and beyond.

The OnePlus 7 Pro joins a few others like the Razer Phone 2 that exceed this 60 FPS standard, but it’s the only one to do it with an OLED display. And boy does it make a huge difference.

The 90 FPS display on the OnePlus 7 Pro is one of the most pleasing developments in smartphones in years. The fluidity you see while scrolling and with animations is awesome and it’s honestly hard for me to go back to a phone without it.

While writing this review, I have had a Pixel 3 XL sitting next to me and Android 10 was just released. And while I’d love to play with pure Android 10, I just can’t put the OnePlus phone down.

The 7 Pro is also the first OnePlus device to exceed a 1080p panel. Its QHD panel looks fantastic but you do have the option to reduce the resolution to 1080p in settings to save some battery. I did so and didn’t see much of a change, so I stuck with 1080p for the battery gains.

Overall, the display just looks awesome. The colors are great without being massively over-saturated and the impact of the higher refresh display cannot be understated.

I predict by this time next year, all competitive flagships will have 90 FPS or higher displays because it makes that big of a difference. It’s one of those features that is immediately recognizable when you’re looking at phones side-by-side.

I do, however, dislike the curved display. While it may look cool at first and will suck in more potential customers, the usability is garbage. It’s harder to swipe in from the side of the device than on a flat screen. And with Google’s apparent move toward swipe gestures in Android 10, this could cause a problem.

There’s also some discoloration around the edges. Luckily, my brain filters it out after looking it a few hundred times a day for three months, but nevertheless it’s there. Plus, it’s easier to break and harder to hold. I doubt we’ll see OnePlus go back to flat displays any time soon, but I’m ready for the day they rethink this design choice.

Noteworthy Design

 

Flipping the device over reveals one of the nicer designs out there today. The blue gradient that graces the back looks fantastic and has held up to the test of time. I’ve had more compliments about this than pretty much every other phone I’ve ever used. OnePlus hit it out of the park here, and as an added bonus, it’s actually not a fingerprint magnet. Good job, OnePlus.

The buttons on either side of the device are deliciously clicky and the mute switch sticks around and continues to be one of my favorite features of a OnePlus device.

The bottom of the device holds a speaker grill, dual-SIM slot (no microSD support, unfortunately) and charging port.

The headphone jack is non-existent and OnePlus does not include a dongle in the box. But hey, you can buy its (honestly excellent) Bullets 2 Wireless headphones for cheaper than Airpods or Galaxy Buds.

I almost forgot to talk about the complete lack of bezels because it’s just become normal to me now. I’m not a bezel hater and I’m fine using a phone with chunky bezels if the functionality can justify them like the Soli Radar Sensor coming in the Pixel 4.

Three months on, I find myself taking the 7 Pro out of my pocket and just being blown away by how attractive the all-display front is. It feels like the future every time I use my phone.

Performance and Battery Life

Do you want a phone that crushes every task put in front of it? You may want to consider the OnePlus 7 Pro.

I don’t want to gush about this phone because the internet tends to think anyone who has a positive opinion is a shill, but this is the best performing phone I’ve ever used and it’s pretty easy to understand why.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor is a monster and the lean build of Android that comes on board doesn’t get in its way. It’s a recipe for success.

OnePlus includes an eye-popping 12GB RAM in our review unit (and a healthy 6GB in base models) but that’s just a spec sheet stuffer. In 2019, you do not need 12 GB of RAM. You more than likely won’t in 2020 and I doubt you will in 2021 either. But hey, it’s nice to have, I guess.

One of the most underrated features of the OnePlus 7 Pro is the UFS 3.0 storage. UFS 3.0 is a faster flash storage than most devices feature and it’s noticeable here. App loading times are great and there’s nary a stutter in the system as it looks to load from memory.

Battery life, on the other hand, is pretty standard. I truly wish I could say it went above and beyond like with the flash storage, but we’re getting between four and five hours of screen on time with standard usage. No heavy gaming or long Netflix sessions, just surfing the web with several email accounts synced.

When I do get short on battery, I plug the phone into the included Warp charger and watch it go. Warp is the newest proprietary charging standard from OnePlus and is one of the fastest on the market.

I generally don’t charge my phone at night and just throw it on the charger in the morning while I’m getting ready for work and during my 20-minute drive to work. I’m good to go after that for the rest of the day.

Previous OnePlus devices could only fast charge using OnePlus’ chargers, but luckily the 7 Pro can juice up quickly with pretty much any USB-C fast charger (up to 5V at 3A).

Oh, and I almost forgot, the vibration motor in the OnePlus 7 Pro is as good as any other Android device on the market. It still lags behind anything from Apple since the iPhone 8, but it’s fantastic nonetheless.

Software

Playing into the excellent performance of the 7 Pro is the excellent software that it ships with. We still see some device manufacturers like LG and Huawei ship bloated and ugly Android skins that tend to bog systems down. OnePlus’ Oxygen OS is pretty much the opposite of that — a simple and light skin that brings smart features while still sticking to the core of Pure Android.

Before we get into what Oxygen OS does right, let’s point out that it is far from perfect, and in fact, can be really frustrating.

As stated above, our unit comes with 12GB RAM, yet the system never uses above six in my daily usage. I’m not sure what the point in sitting on all that extra RAM is when you could load just about every app on the phone into memory.

Load times are still great so it’s not a huge issue but the system does like to randomly close an app here and there, luckily it’s not while I’m actually using it.

The other massive annoyance is the system sleeping apps that I rely on for timely notifications like email and chat apps. I had to actually move back from Spark to Gmail due to this issue. I just was not getting my notifications in a timely manner and sometimes being forced into going in to check my emails manually.

I know that might sound like a first-world problem, and it is, but this phone has a gigantic battery (4,000 mAh) and there’s really no reason to restrict apps this hardcore, especially after I’ve turned off all battery restrictions in settings.

Those are my two big gripes, but the phone really does a lot right. OnePlus’ launcher is one of the best first-party launchers out there. The ability to choose your accent color is an underrated luxury, and smart additions like second space and app locker are nice to have around.

There’s obviously lot of thought put into the software by OnePlus. The company’s devices started with the OnePlus One shipping with Cyanogenmod and while that relationship went south, the software experience has only gotten better since.

OnePlus has stuck to the same core values. Speed, simplicity, and customization live at the heart of every OnePlus device and the OnePlus 7 Pro is no different.

Camera

Triple camera setups are now the norm and the OnePlus 7 Pro is no different. The rear of the device houses a 48MP f/1.6 wide-angle lens, an 8MP f/2.4 telephoto lens, and a 16MP f/2.2 ultra-wide lens. The wide/zoom/ultra-wide lens is quickly becoming the new default among flagship phones, giving users the versatility needed for every varying situation.

OnePlus has always had great camera hardware. It uses the same camera modules that we see on other devices but is routinely panned for their pictures. While the hardware screams flagship, the pictures normally whisper mid-tier.

As someone who isn’t especially camera-needy, I’ve never really had an issue with OnePlus devices and their cameras, but I do know coming in that they’re always going to be beaten by the Pixels and Galaxy’s of the world.

Unfortunately, not much has changed in 2019. While the hardware is there, OnePlus still seems to lag behind in post-processing. While it’s getting better, and don’t get me wrong, this is the best OnePlus has ever done in this department, it’s still not class-leading. That’s disappointing when OnePlus is asking for even more money this time around.

If you’re a camera nut and you’re looking to spend under $800, would you really go and pick up the OnePlus 7 Pro instead of the Samsung Galaxy 10e? It comes in at a similar price and with similar specs, but a far better photo experience. I don’t think so.

Pictures don’t pop the way they do when taken on other phones. Maybe that’s because the Samsung phones of the world are oversaturating and pumping up the brightness on their pictures, but I don’t think most people care.

Smartphone pictures are mostly used to take quick shots that are shared on social media and through messaging apps, two systems that compress the hell out of pictures. Few people care if colors are accurate in those situations, they just want them to look pretty.

The 7 Pro can also suffer from some focus lag and blurring in the corners of pictures. We also noticed that dynamic range wasn’t especially good and we’d occasionally get some detail lost in shadows in challenging lighting situations.

When lighting is good, however, it’s a different story. Pictures look great and focus is clear most of the time. It’s easy to pull the phone out of your pocket, double click the power button and snap a quick picture due to the fast shutter speed.

Shooting with the wide-angle lens is also a ton of fun. This makes capturing landscapes and busy shots like crowds at a festival way more fun and brings the pictures to life just a little bit more. We were bummed that you couldn’t record video with the super wide-angle lens, but that feature has been added in the Android 10 beta and should make its way to the full release, barring any major bugs.

All in all, the camera is perfectly fine. It’s above average for the smartphone market but below average for premium smartphones. It sits behind the Apple iPhone, Samsung Galaxy series, Pixel lineup, and pretty much everything released by Huawei this year. With that said, you’re still going to get some great shots most of the time.

I wouldn’t warn anyone away from the 7 Pro because of the camera. If you’re that serious about photography, you probably already carry around a dedicated camera or own a Pixel 3.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for the best phone on the market, it’s not a stretch to say you should start with the OnePlus 7 Pro. If you’re looking for the best phone OnePlus has ever produced, you definitely start here.

We’re in a holding pattern where devices release and their predecessor gets a hundred bucks knocked off the price tag. We’re sometimes left wondering what we’re even getting in an upgrade because the market feels so stagnant right now. The OnePlus 7 Pro breaks the mold.

The OnePlus 6T is by far one of my favorite phones of all time and I wasn’t sure OnePlus could really improve on its previous flagship, but it did in almost every way.

The display is not only better, but it’s also one of the best on the market. It’s also probably the fastest phone widely available in the United States right now. And, it’s also one of the best-looking devices ever made.

Those are the headline-grabbing features, but there’s so much else to like here. The software support has gotten better and better as time has gone on. Android 10 Developer Previews have been around for a while and on the day Android 10 dropped, OnePlus was right there with an Open Beta for anyone to install.

Smart, simple, and lightweight features like a theme customizer, a feature to clone social media and messaging apps to make multiple user logins easier, and customizable software buttons make the device feel like your phone instead of just another phone.

Not everything is perfect, such as the lack of a headphone jack or dongle in the box, but I think this is a war that has been decided and consumers are not on the winning side.

As more people move away from wired headphones towards Bluetooth offerings, device makers are going to use the scarce space inside of a phone for something else. Maybe it’s a bigger battery or a better vibration motor, but it’s going to be something else.

When you look at the whole picture- the excellent all display design, the blazing speed, beautiful display, adequate camera, Warp Charging, etc – it’s not hard to make the case that the OnePlus 7 Pro is still the best phone on the market.  Even after the release of the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+.

Then, look at the price tag, starting at $670, and it’s hard to believe you can get a phone this good this cheap. $670 isn’t a little bit of money, but it is for a flagship Android phone in 2019. Hell, you can almost buy two of these for the price of a Note 10+.

Verizon 5G now available in select NFL stadiums

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Verizon on Thursday expanded its mobile 5G network to more than one dozen NFL stadiums just in time for the football season to kick off. As part of the expansion, the Ultra Wideband speeds are available in cities already covered by Verizon as well as a few new ones.

Much like it does for covering cities, Verizon’s 5G isn’t available across entire stadiums, top to bottom. While it’s concentrated in parts of seating areas, users may not find it inside, at concession stands, or in the parking lot.

In some cities the stadium will be the only place with Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband service, offering fans a unique 5G experience they can’t get anywhere else in their local area.

Stadiums with Verizon 5G

  • Bank of America Stadium (Carolina Panthers)
  • Empower Field at Mile High (Denver Broncos)
  • CenturyLink Field (Seattle Seahawks)
  • Ford Field (Detroit Lions)
  • Gillette Stadium (New England Patriots)
  • Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Dolphins)
  • Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis Colts)
  • MetLife Stadium (New York Giants and New York Jets)
  • M&T Bank Stadium (Baltimore Ravens)
  • NRG Stadium (Houston Texans)
  • Soldier Field (Chicago Bears)
  • U.S. Bank Stadium (Minnesota Vikings)

Looking ahead, Verizon plans to bring its 5G service to all 32 NFL stadiums. It also expects to have its 5G network in 30 cities by the end of 2019.

For more information on where Verizon 5G is available, and which phones support it, be sure to check out our primer.

T-Mobile adds Essentials Unlimited 55 plan with discounts for seniors

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T-Mobile on Thursday introduced a new option for its “Unlimited 55” plans for subscribers who are aged 55 or older. They’re much like the standard options available to customers, but about 40% cheaper per month.

The Unlimited 55 plans are available for single and two-line accounts, and include unlimited talk, text, and data. For those who have two lines on a plan, only one of the users need be aged 55 or older to qualify.

EDITOR NOTE: Updated to reflect the Essentials Unlimited 55 being the only new plan.

Standard features for the three plans include a dedicated customer service team and inclusion in T-Mobile Tuesdays.

Essentials Unlimited 55

The newest member of the bunch, the Essentials Unlimited 55 costs $55 for two lines, or $27.50 each. A single line plan would be priced $40 per month.

The best deals available at T-Mobile (September 2019)
T-Mobile gives prospective customers 30-day trial of service

Included in the plan are 3G hotspot speeds, roaming in Mexico and Canada at 2G data speeds, and texting abroad.

Magenta Unlimited 55

The Magenta Unlimited 55 runs $70 per month, or $35 each line. Seniors and boomers going it alone costs $50 per month. Taxes and fees are included in the monthly bill here.

For the money, mobile hotspots are boosted to 4G LTE for the first 3GB and data speeds in Mexico and Canada are at 4G LTE speeds for the first 5GB. International texting and data is also available. Additionally, customers get one hour of in-flight Wi-Fi per month.

Magenta Plus Unlimited 55

Priced $45 per line for two lines ($90 total), taxes and fees are also included. It includes faster international data, HD video streams, unlimited in-flight Wi-Fi, Netflix credits, and voicemail-to-text. Mobile hotposts are boosted to 20GB of 4G LTE.

TCL unveils Alcatel 3X, Alcatel 1V, and other devices at IFA

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TCL Communications on Thursday introduced a pair of new Alcatel smartphones as well as a tablet and an LTE home station. Oh, and it’s also unveiling its own branded phone, too.

The two phones come with a dedicated Google Assistant button and fit in line with the Alcatel brand’s style and experience. Both are also priced competitively, giving consumers Android 9 Pie on a budget.

Alcatel 3X

The Alcatel 3X has a 6.52-inch display at 720 x 1600 pixel resolution with a 20:9 aspect ratio. Internally, the phone is powered by an octa-core Mediatek P23 processor with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage space.

Three cameras are located on the rear, a 16-megapixel, 8-megapixel, and 5-megapixel shooter. Between them are the tools to snap super wide angle (102 degrees) pictures, real-time bokeh, detailed night shots, and artistic shots. Around front is an 8-megapixel camera with LED flash.

Rounding out the specifications are a microSD expansion card slot (up to 128GB), 4000mAh battery, 3.5mm headphone jack, and rear fingerprint scanner.

The Alcatel 3X will be sold in Jewelry Black, Jewelry Green, and Jewelry Rose with prices starting from €149 (about $160 USD). It’s not clear if the US will see this device, but we suspect it, or a variant, will at least come to prepaid and/or MVNOs.

Alcatel 1V

An entry-level phone to be sure, the Alcatel 1V provides users with a 5.5-inch display at 480 x 960 pixel resolution.

Power comes from an octa-core Spreadtrum SC9863A processor with 2GB RAM; storage is pegged at 16GB storage with a microSD expansion card slot for up to 128GB for media, apps, and files.

The rear camera is an 8-megapixel lens interpolated to 13-megapixels with a number of shooting modes. The front-facing shooter allows for 5-megapixel selfies.

Available in Metallic Blue, Anthracite Black, Metallic Rose, and Metallic Gold, the Alcatel 1X will be sold with prices starting from €79.

Alcatel Smart Tab 7

Alcatel’s new tablet is a 7-inch Android 9 Pie experience with a 600 x 1024 pixel resolution. Sold in Prime Black, it has a VGA rear camera and 2-megapixel front-facing shooter.

Other specifications include 1.5GB RAM, 16GB internal storage, with microSD expansion for up to 128GB space. A 2,580mAh battery is reported to allow for three hours video talking time. Pricing is listed at €79, or about $88 USD.

LINKHUB LTE cat7 Home Station

The new connected home station lets users add a 4G-like experience to their home network with 300Mbps download and 100Mbps upload speeds. Pricing is expected to start at €129, or about $140 USD.

TCL launches PLEX, its first branded smartphone

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TCL Communications, the company behind Alcatel’s smartphones, has stepped out from behind the curtain with its own branded device. The company this week announced its first phone, the PLEX.

Running Android 9 Pie, the TCL Plex will be available in select European markets starting in the fourth quarter (Q4’19) with a recommended retail price of €329, or about $360 USD.

“The TCL PLEX is the first of a new range of devices we will be releasing from next year, including our 5G products and devices with foldable displays.”

Customers will get quite the value bundle for the money, starting with the large 6.53-inch display at 1080 x 2340 pixel resolution. A front-facing camera is located in a hole-punch cutout on the top left.

Inside the TCL Plex is an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 processor with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. An external microSD expansion card slot allows for up to 256GB worth of media, files, and apps.

As for cameras, the Plex has a triple-camera setup on the rear, comprised of 48-megapixel, 16-megapixel, and 2-megapixel sensors. A host of photo and video software provide enhancement, shooting modes, effects, and settings.

The 3,820mAh battery should be good enough to last most users well beyond a day; it supports Quick Charge 3.0 and is done via USB Type-C.

TCL doesn’t say much about its Android build or whether it has added much to the user experience. The TCL UI, for its part, will automatically organize apps by function, use folders, and a “Smart Panel” that adapts to your navigation habits.

It also refers to a few custom display modes, including Adaptive Tone, Reading Mode, and Eye Comfort Mode. Each is designed to help in various situations with adjustments like removing blue light.

A “Smart Key” lets users configure a physical button with single, double, and long pressing, making it easier to launch apps, games, or settings.

As far as connectivity is concerned, the phone is unlocked and supports a range of bands.

  • 2G Quadband: 2/3/5/8
  • 3G Bands: 1/2/5/8
  • 4G LTE Bands: 1/3/5/7/8/20/28/38/40
  • 2G data: GPRS/EDGE
  • 3G data: HSPA+ (42M bit/s DL,5.76Mbit/s UL)
  • 4G data: Cat 6 (400Mbit/s DL, 75Mbit/s UL)

The TCL Plex will be sold in two colors, Obsidian Black and Opal White. It’s not certain whether we’ll see the phone sold in the US, however we suspect it may be offered direct to consumers.

  • Obsidian black finish: 3D dual – sided glossy glass, black holographic film and OPVD film on second surface
  • Opal white finish: 3D dual – sided glossy glass, micro S texture and gradient OPVD film on second surface
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