The Nokia 7 Plus has finally been shown off at MWC 2018 as the budget-friendly device from HMD Global that will launch in select markets in April for €399.
Building on what was shown off in the Nokia 7 Plus, the device sports an 18:9 Full HD+ 6-inch IPS LCD panel wrapped in a premium chassis built from 6000 series aluminium making the device feel like a high-end device.
The Nokia 7 Plus joins the Nokia 8 Sirocco in the Android Go initiative that aims to bring bloatware-free Android devices with a focus on a consistent software experience and timely update. Being part of Android Go helps to deliver swift and consistent security updates and unify the Android version across different devices.
The Nokia 7 Plus features a Snapdragon 660 processor with 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, and what HMD claims is 2 days of battery use with average use. There’s also a dual-camera on the rear of the device with a 12-Megapixel and 13-Megapixel telephoto sensor. The front-facing camera is a massive 16-Megapixel with a new Pro camera mode for those who like more granular control over the camera settings.
For those who want a premium feel device at a low-cost price then the Nokia 7 Plus is a great device that aims to put Nokia back on the map in the Android smartphone market.
TCL’s Alcatel brand this past weekend introduced the 1X as the company’s first phone to run Android 8.1 Oreo Go Edition (Android Go). The entry-level device will be offered in single-SIM and dual-SIM variations when it goes on sale in April.
As we might expect for an Android Go phone, the Alcatel 1X features hardware that’s along the lower end of the spectrum. However, thanks to the optimization in the software, it’s designed to run smoothly no matter what the configuration.
Hardware
The Alcatel 1X features a 5.3-inch display at 960 x 480 pixel resolution in an 18:9 aspect ratio. Powered by a quad-core MediaTek 1.28GHz processor, the handset comes with a choice of 1GB and 2GB RAM and 16GB internal storage.
As for cameras, the 1X boasts a 13-megapixel rear shooter with f/2.0 aperture, EIS, and HDR. Around front we locate an 8-megapixel shooter with selfie flash.
Other hardware specifications include a 2,420mAh battery, microUSB charging port, a memory card slot, and support for LTE, Bluetooth, GPS, and Wi-Fi.
Availability
Some variants of the Alcatel 1X will include a fingerprint reader; the phone launches in April with a suggested price of 99,99EUR and 109,99EUR for the single-SIM and dual-SIM configurations, respectively. It’s not clear if, or when, the device could come to the US.
Ever since HMD Global’s acquisition of the naming rights to Nokia, the world has been patiently waiting for the company to release a device that will compete with the likes of Samsung and Google. HMD Global positioned Nokia originally as a budget device manufacturer, and it’s worked as Nokia now officially claim 1% of the Android smartphone market. The wait for the flagship is over as the Nokia 8 Sirocco has been unveiled at MWC 2018.
The Nokia 8 Sirocco features a 5.5-inch edge-to-edge pOLED panel with a 16:9 2560 x 1440 resolution built from Gorilla Glass 5. There’s a dual camera setup on the rear that features a 12-Megapixel and 13-Megapixel telephoto lens with Carl Zeiss optics. The device also features QI wireless charging and IP67 waterproofing. The Nokia 8 is powered by the Snapdragon 835 and 6GB of RAM with 128GB of storage and a 3260mAh battery. Unfortunately, there’s no headphone jack but you’ll get a USB-C converter as standard in the packaging.
The Nokia 8 Sirocco is part of the Android One initiative, which guarantees a bloat-free consistent hardware experience and timely updates. It has Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box with 8.1 presumably on its way not too far behind.
While the now out-of-date chipset means it won’t be competing with the likes of the Galaxy S8, it is a premium device that offers a spec sheet that many Nokia fans will be satisfied with.
Just because you’re not planning to pre-order a new Samsung Galaxy S9 doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the cool wallpapers that come pre-installed on the device. And even if you’re buying the Galaxy S9, perhaps you want to pimp your older Galaxy phone until the new one arrives?
Well, now you can download the official wallpapers by following this link. The package includes a total of 19 wallpapers that are available in high quality.
Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus during a press event at MWC 2018 in Barcelona. Keeping the Galaxy S8 design language intact, the newcomers are more about refinements and small but important changes.
Get the Samsung Galaxy S9 wallpapers on your phone
But while the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus were identical save for size, the Galaxy S9 differentiates itself from the S9 Plus by carrying a single 12-megapixel sensor on the back. In contrast, the Galaxy S9 Plus pairs a 12-megapixel wide-angle lens with a 12-megapixel telephoto lens with dual f/1.5 and f/2.4 apertures.
One of the main highlights of the Samsung Galaxy S9 duo this year is the improved camera technology. The phone comes equipped with variable aperture, so in bright light, the phone will use the f/2.4 aperture and let in less light, while in a darker scenario it will switch to the wider f/1.5 aperture and let in more light.
The two flagships will also be able to shoot at 960 fps at 720p resolution and include a slow-motion auto feature. Basically, as long as you’re shooting video, a slow-motion version will also be recorded.
This year Samsung is also focusing on audio. So the two flagships come equipped with dual bottom and front-facing speakers. Samsung says they are 1.4 times louder than the speakers on the previous flagships.
While the Galaxy S9 duo seems promising, they are bound to be very expensive phones. Obviously not everyone will be able to afford them. But by downloading these free wallpapers you can easily give your phone the Galaxy S9 feel.
Samsung has just announced the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus. So, logically we want to know when we can get our hands on them right?! Luckily, Samsung is making it really easy on us this time around with a global launch and all major US carriers on board.
Samsung
Samsung will sell the phone directly to consumers and is offering a decent promotion to get you to switch. The Trade Up and Save promotion will offer up to $350 in credit for current year flagships like the Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus and others. The Galaxy S9 has a base price of $719.99 and the Galaxy S9 Plus has a base price of $839.99 which means you can get them for as low as $369.99 and $489.99 respectively. Not bad for a brand new flagship.
Here’s the full list of devices you can trade in and their value:
$350 credit: Apple iPhone X, Apple iPhone 8, Apple iPhone 8 Plus, Samsung Galaxy S8, Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus, Samsung Galaxy Note 8
$300 credit: Apple iPhone 7, Apple iPhone 7 Plus, Apple iPhone 6S, Apple iPhone 6S Plus, Google Pixel, Google Pixel XL, Google Pixel 2, Google Pixel 2 XL, LG G6, LG V30, Motorola Moto Z2 Force, Motorola Moto Z Force, Samsung Galaxy S7, Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, Samsung Galaxy S7 Active
$200 credit: Apple iPhone 6, Apple iPhone 6 Plus, HTC 10, LG G5, LG V20, Motorola Moto Z Droid, Motorola Moto Z2 Play, Samsung Galaxy S6, Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge, Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Plus, Samsung Galaxy S6 Active, Samsung Galaxy Note 5
$100 credit: Apple iPhone SE, HTC M9, HTC M9 Plus, LG G4, LG V10, Motorola Moto Z Play, Motorola Moto Turbo 2, Samsung Galaxy S5, Samsung Galaxy Note 4, Samsung Galaxy Note Edge
The Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus will be available for pre-order on March 2 and will hit stores on March 16, 2018. Here are all of your carrier choices for the device.
AT&T will carry the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 as of March 16. You can finance the devices through the AT&T Next installment plan which will run $26.34 for the Galaxy S9 or $30.50 for the Galaxy S9 Plus over 30 months. That works out to $790.20 for the Galaxy S9 and $915 for the Galaxy S9.
AT&T is trying to entice business customers to upgrade to the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus with a $150 activation credit when they buy either device on an installment plan. AT&T points out that the devices support Band 14 and the company’s FirstNet public safety network.
Big Red will sell the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus in Lilac Purple, Midnight Black, and Coral Blue starting March 2. You’ll be able to pick up the Galaxy S9 for $799 or $33.33 per month over 24 months. The Galaxy S9 Plus will run you $929.99 or $38.74 over 24 months.
Verizon is offering extra trade-in promotions that can net you between $100 and $350 in bill credits when you trade in your current device. Customers who switch to Verizon Wireless, port in a line, and trade in an old phone can receive up to $500 in bill credits toward the purchase of the Galaxy S9 or Galaxy S9 Plus.
T-Mobile will also offer the Lilac Purple, Midnight Black, and Coral Blue colors of the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus. The nation’s third-largest carrier is asking for $720 or $30 a month for the Galaxy S9 and $840 or $30 a month with a $120 down payment for the Galaxy S9 Plus.
T-Mobile might have the best promotion on the Galaxy S9. When you trade in an eligible device, you can get 50% off the device. The discount will come in the form of 24 monthly bill credits, but if you cancel your service, the bill credits stop and you’ll owe the full amount remaining on your device. Here are the devices T-Mobile will accept and their trade-in value:
$360 value: Samsung Galaxy S8, Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus, Samsung Galaxy S8 Active, Samsung Galaxy S7, Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, Samsung Galaxy S7 Active, Samsung Galaxy Noite 8, Apple iPhone 8, Apple iPhone 8 Plus, Apple iPhone 7, Apple iPhone 7 Plus, Apple iPhone 6S, Apple iPhone 6S Plus, LG V30, LG V30 Plus
$200 value: Samsung Galaxy S6, Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge, Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Plus, Samsung Galaxy S6 Active, Samsung Galaxy S5, Samsung Galaxy S4, Samsung Galaxy Note 4, Samsung Galaxy Note 5, Apple iPhone 6, Apple iPhone 6 Plus, Apple iPhone 5S, Apple iPhone SE, LG G6, LG G5, LG V20
Sprint will join the other major carriers in offering the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus for pre-order on March 2. The Galaxy S9 will run $33.00 per month with $0 down on the Sprint Flex lease for a total of $792. The Galaxy S9 Plus is priced at $38.00 per month with $0 down for a price of $912. You’ll have color choices of Midnight Black, Coral Blue, and Lilac Purple.
Sprint also offers the Galaxy Forever program that will let owners upgrade to the newest Galaxy device after 12 lease payments on their current device. Essentially, you give your device back to Sprint, they forgive what’s left on your current lease, and you begin a new one on the Galaxy S10. Not a bad deal if you like to upgrade every year and you’re loyal to the Galaxy brand.
Energizer, a company best known for making batteries, is looking to expand its presence in the smartphone market. Present at MWC 2018 in Barcelona, it unveiled the Power Max P16K Pro smartphone, which predictably comes with a huge battery built-in.
Deciding on which new smartphone to buy can be quite a tricky affair. Most of us want a phone with great performance and a decent camera, but battery life is usually among the most important factors to consider.
A hidden MWC jewel
Energizer knows this all too well, so it has equipped the Power Max P16K Pro with a massive 16,000 mAh battery which can supposedly last up to 5 days!!!! The less you use it, the more you’ll be able to prolong its life and the company says you can get up to 40 days of standby time.
Obviously, the biggest caveat here is that the phone is really bulky – it’s almost twice as thick as current flagships.
But despite the huge embedded battery, the Power Max P16K Pro looks pretty modern. It features a 5.99-inch display with 18:9 aspect ratio and slim bezels. It also includes dual cameras on the back (16-megapixel with 13-megapixel) and also on the front (13-megapixel with 5-megapixel). A fingerprint scanner resides on the rear.
The phone draws power from a MediaTek Helio P23 working in concert with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of expandable storage.
Credits: Mashable
Energizer is advertising it as running Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box, which is very good news. The phone is also equipped with a Type-C port and 3.5mm headphone jack.
The producing company says we should expect the phone to hit retail shelves sometime around September for about $500, which is quite affordable.
At this price, we wouldn’t be surprised if the phone manages to attract its fair share of fans, despite its unaesthetic thickness.
Would be willing to give the Power Max P16K Pro a try? Let us know in the comment section below.
The new Samsung Galaxy S9 is too expensive for you? Then you might want to consider purchasing a fine mid-ranger like the Moto X4.
If you think the phone might be suited to your needs, then you’re in luck as Amazon is currently running a very sweet promotion on the device.
The online retailer is selling the phone for a discounted $349.99 (down from the previous $349.99), but for a limited time, buyers can also get a free second-gen Amazon Echo with the purchase. The Echo normally sells for $99.99.
You can grab the phone in either Black or Silver, but the Echo is available only in Charcoal.
Moto X4 + Amazon Echo (2nd-gen) = $350
This is a very nice deal on two great products. The Moto X4 is offered with a 5.2-inch display with 1920 x 1080 resolution with standard 16:9 aspect ratio. It’s powered by a Snapdragon 630 chipset, aided by 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage.
The phone also boasts 12-megapixel+8-megapixel dual rear cameras and a 16-megapixel front-facing camera for great selfies. The product is IP68 rated and already received the update to Android 8.0 Oreo. Sold unlocked, the Moto X4 is compatible with all four major US carriers.
As for the second-gen Echo, this is a smart speaker with Dolby powered by Amazon’s Alexa. The virtual assistant can be used to control smart appliances around the house and do things like stream music, check the weather or order pizza.
We should also remind you that you can grab the Moto X4 from Motorola’s official website for $299.99 (discounted from $399.99) until March 3.
Customers looking to purchase a Moto X4 have quite a few choices right now. But bear in mind that we don’t know when the Amazon promotion expires, so if you want to get the bundle you should hurry up and place your order. Any takers?
Sony today in Barcelona took the wraps off its latest flagships, the Xperia XZ2 and Xperia XZ2 Compact.
The two smartphones represent a big step for Sony, as they finally make the transition to a new design which the Japanese company calls “Ambient Flow”.
The Xperia XZ2 and Xperia XZ2 Compact boast trendy tall displays with 18:9 aspect ratio, while shunning the sharper corners and strict rectangular look of the past. But despite the modernization, the top and bottom bezels are still quite prominent, although to be fair, they’ve been slimmed down quite a bit
Ambient Flow means the physical button located under the display is no more, as the fingerprint scanner now lives on the back of the devices.
What else? Keep reading below to find out more about the two newcomers.
Sony Xperia XZ2
The larger of the two, the Sony Xperia XZ2 offers a Gorilla Glass 5 front and back and an anti-twist metal frame and bezel. It boasts a 5.7-inch display with native FullHD+ resolution. The panel is HDR-certified and supports the BT.2020 standard.
The flagship is based on Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 845 platform, coupled with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of expandable UFS storage. It relies on a 3,180 mAh battery to keep the lights on.
In the photography department, the Xperia XZ2 retains the same 19-megapixel Motion Eye 1/2.3” Sony IMX400 main camera with f/2.0 of the previous Xperia XZ1 family.
Liquid White Sony Xperia XZ2
The camera offers 5-axis stabilization, predictive hybrid laser/phase detection/contrast AF, burst AF, IR sensor for white balance and dedicated hardware shutter key.
But even as the sensor hasn’t changed, there are a few new tricks available to take advantage of. Smartphone users who are into capturing video can now shoot 960p, super-slow-motion video in full HD and thanks to the Snapdragon 845 underneath the hood, the flagship can shoot 4K HDR videos as well.
The new flagship also includes an updated 3D creator mode, which lets users to scan objects with the main camera in order build 3D models for sharing on social media or printing.
Meanwhile, a modest 5-megapixel camera sits on the front from snapping a selfie or two.
Deep Green Sony Xperia XZ2
Sony seems to have really paid attention to audio this year. With this aspect in mind, the Xperia XZ2 comes with support for high-res audio and includes a set of S Force stereo speakers.
Any standout features?
But that’s not all. The Japanese company also included a feature we can refer to as haptic rumble feedback. A new embedded Dynamic Vibration System inside the XZ2 makes your phone rumble along with the media you’re watching or games you’re playing. Sony says the phone will help you “feel your media.”
Fortunately, you can add the vibration intensity for individual apps, or if it’s too much for you, you can disable it completely.
Other specs include IP65/68 rating and wireless charging. Sadly, the flagship duo does not include a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Liquid Black Sony Xperia XZ2
The new Sony Xperia XZ2 arrives with Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box and will be available in Liquid Black, Liquid Silver, Deep Green or Ash Pink. Pricing and availability are yet to be disclosed.
Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact
For those who prefer smaller formats, Sony continues the tradition with the Xperia XZ2 Compact.
The Snapdragon 845 chipset with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage are still on board and so are the cameras and stereo speakers. But the Xperia XZ2 Compact carriers a 5-inch display and is made of a polycarbonate blend instead of glass.
Also, the device does not include the Dynamic Vibration System or wireless charging like it’s larger, more premium brother. It also relies on a much smaller 2,870 mAh battery, which hopefully will be able to meet the demands of the powerful Snapdragon 845 processor.
White Silver Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact
Another difference between the two models is LTE connectivity. The large XZ2 is rated for Cat.18 speeds, while the Compact version is only good for Cat.15 speeds.
Black Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact
The Xperia XZ2 Compact is expected to go on sale in Black, White Silver, Moss Green and Coral Pink. No word on pricing or availability just yet. Although Sony says the XZ2 Compact will be certified for use on Verizon at launch. Strangely, it doesn’t seem like the XZ2 will get the same treatment.
As anticipated, LG came to Barcelona at MWC 2018 to unveil its first AI phone, a new version of its V30 flagship dubbed the LG V30S ThinQ.
Before we go further we should note here that the new phone does not come with a proprietary virtual assistant on board. Instead, it uses AI algorithms to allow users to take better photos.
How is the LG V30S ThinQ different from the V30?
While the specs of the new LG V30S ThinQ remain the same, the phone does take advantage of a few new features. For example, AI CAM adjusts parameters like saturation, sharpness, and contrast based on the scene it “sees”. The phone can recognize up to 8 scenes including Portrait, Animal, City, Flower, Sunrise, Sunset, Food, and Landscape.
Another feature you’ll find on board the new LG V30S ThinQ is QLens. This tool will allow users to search for a certain product on Amazon by taking a photo of it using the phone.
LG also added a new Bright Mode in its latest flagship. The phone switches it on automatically in low-light situations and proceeds to bind four pixels into one for brighter images. The trade-off here is that the photos will have lower resolution due to the pixel binding method.
Last but not least, we should also highlight the fact that ThinQ can communicate with loT, smart appliances around the house like fridges and washing machines.
Current V30 owners will be glad to know that LG is planning to bring the ThinQ platform to the phone soon via a software update.
The LG V30S basically has the same hardware as the LG V30. It includes a 6-inch OLED display with 18:9 aspect ratio and 1440 x 2880 resolution, a Snapdragon 835 processor, IP68 certification and a 3,300 mAh battery.
The only improvement is that the LG V30S now has 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, instead of the 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage in the base V30 model. LG will also be offering the V30+ version which includes 6GB of RAM and 256GB storage. The phone ships with Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box.
Interested parties will be able to get LG’s first AI phone in a couple of new colors: New Moroccan Blue and New Platinum Gray. The flagship is expected to launch sometime next month, but pricing is still unknown at the moment, as is US carrier availability.
Alcatel this weekend introduced the 3 Series of smartphone ahead of Mobile World Congress. Launching as three models at the start, the line adopts the increasingly popular 18:9 aspect ratio for displays.
The 3 Series will be sold in 5.5-inch (3), 5.7-inch (3X), and 6-inch (3V) screen sizes with variable configurations. The Alcatel 3 and 3X come with 1,440 x 720 pixel resolution displays while the 3V bumps up to 2,160 x 1080 (HD+) pictures.
The trio each come with a handful of shared specifications including 5-megapixel front-facing camera with LED flash, 3,000mAh batteries, and microUSB ports. Moreover, they each have 2.5D curved glass atop of the displays.
Let’s take a look at some of the differences between the three 3 phones.
3
The smallest of the new line, this one has a quad-core MediaTek processor at 1.28GHz with 2GB RAM and 16GB internal storage. The rear camera is a 13-megapixel sensor with EIS and HDR. Available in Spectrum Black, Spectrum Blue and Spectrum Gold , the Alcatel 3 runs Android 8 Oreo.
3X
Although it runs the same processor speed as the standard bearer, the 3X comes in two configurations: 2GB RAM and 16GB storage; 3GB RAM with 32GB storage. The backside boasts a dual-camera setup (13-megapixel main sensor with HDR, two-tone LED flash, and EIS, and a 5-megapixel secondary sensor with wide-angle capabilities). Running Android 7.0 Nougat, it will also be sold in Metallic Black, Metallic Blue, Metallic Gold, Spectrum Black, Spectrum Blue, and Spectrum Gold.
3V
The largest of the three phones, it has a quad-core MediaTek processor at a faster 1.45GHz with 2GB of RAM. Storage options include 16GB and 32GB.
The rear camera setup is a dual config with a 12-megapixel main sensor and 2-megapixel secondary sensor. In addition to bokeh, other photographic features include HDR, panorama, EIS, filters, and video stabilization. Sold inSpectrum Black, Spectrum Blue and Spectrum Gold, it runs Android 8 Oreo.
Availability
Alcatel/TCL advises the 3 Series will be sold in select markets starting in April with pricing of around $150 to $225. It’s not immediately clear whether the US will see any of these variations.
