Tag Archives: specs

BlackBerry KEYone – Video Overview & Thoughts + Full Specifications

Android, Tech News, , ,

The BlackBerry KEYone, formally known as the BlackBerry Mercury has now been officially launched at MWC.

The Key Specs / Features

– OS – Android 7.1.1 Nougat
– Display 4.5-inch, 1620×1080, IPS LCD,434ppi
– Processor Snapdragon 625, Adreno 506 GPU,RAM 3GB
– Storage 32GB
– Expandable microSD up to 2TB
– Rear Camera 12MP (1.55 micron) f/2.0, PDAF, dual-tone LED flash, HDR, 4K, 30fps
– Front Camera 8MP f/2.2, 1.12-micron pixels,Selfie flash,1080p/30 video
– Battery 3505 mAh
– Charging Quick Charge 3.0
– USB-C
– BlackBerry Software DTEK security suite, Launcher, Hub & Other Apps
– FIPS 140-2 Full Disk Encryption
– Connectivity Wi-Fi 802.11ac, 5GHz, Bluetooth 4.2 LE, NFC, GPS, GLONASS
– Dimensions – 149.1 mm x 72.39 mm x 9.4 mm
– Weight 180 grams

Video Overview

My Thoughts

The BlackBerry KEYone will go on sale at the beginning of April for £499 in the UK.It is going to be up against the Huawei P10, LG G6, Samsung Galaxy S8 and maybe a few other phones. However, I don’t think this will be an issue as this phone is not trying to compete in the same way.

For starters the keyboard, its the only keyboard on an android phone. Having reviewed many previous BlackBerry’s including the recent DTEK50 and DTEK60, the reliability of regular security updates was re-assuring. The KEYone is going to follow in the same manner. The additional BlackBerry software apps and tweaks will make a difference to the overall experience. The keyboard can have a shortcut assigned to every key. The keyboard also includes a fingerprint sensor and acts as a trackpad. The grippy back is the same that came with the DTEK50, meaning you won’t drop it.

The BlackBerry KEYone looks like a phone that could be used one handedly with ease. It has the same camera sensor as the Google Pixel too.

So whilst the specs may not scream out at you as pure high end flagships ones, I reckon this phone will be great to use, for those that want a keyboard on an android phone, regular security updates and decent battery life.

At £499 it will face a lot of competition so it will be interesting to see how well it sells. For me this is the most exciting BlackBerry in ages!

More information is available at – http://www.blackberryworld.com .

Source – CrackBerry Kevin/YouTube/AndroidCentral

Phones are costing more in the UK – Now its the turn of OnePlus

Tech News, ,

screenshot-2016-11-15-at-21-13-33

OnePlus revealed last night the revised OnePlus 3, called the OnePlus 3T. In the UK the tweaked phone will include a snapdragon 821 processor, 6gb ram, 64gb or 128gb storage and 16mp front and rear cameras. The rear camera features HDR+ and improved video stabilisation. The snapdragon 821 offers improved photography as seen on the Google Pixel Phone. The other specs are the same as the outgoing model. The difference though is the price. The 64gb will cost £399 and the 128gb £439 and will go on sale 28th November 2016 in the UK. The US will be able to order the week before. In the UK, O2 will be selling the OnePlus 3T. The newer model is £70 more expensive than the outgoing version.

So once again, a price increase has hit the smartphone market. Apple, pushed the pricing to over £900 with the top storage mode of the iPhone 7 Plus, Huawei have the crazy priced Huawei Mate 9 Porsche Edition at £1,300 and don’t be surprised if we see more phones costing more than £1,000 in 2017.

Makes the Honor 8 seem such a bargain!

Samsung Note 7 – The Full Specs & My Thoughts – Is it worth £749

Android, Tech News, ,

Note 7

Samsung announced the new Samsung Note 7 yesterday. Judging by the reaction on social media the reaction was low and for a number of reasons.

First lets take a look at the key specs below –
​

  • Android 6.0.1 (Marshmallow)
  • 5.7” dual-edge SAMOLED Quad HD 2560 x 1440 (~518ppi)
  • Octa-core (2.3 GHz quad + 1.6 GHz quad) Samsung Exynos 8890 processor (64 bit, 14 nm process)
  • 4GB RAM (LPDDR4)
  • 64 GB storage / micro SD support
  • 12 MP dual-pixel OIS f/1.7 main camera
  • 5 MP f/1.7 selfie camera
  • Biometric security – fingerprint and iris scanner
  • 3,500 mAh battery – wired & wireless fast charging (Qi, WPC & PMA)
  • NFC for payments with Samsung Pay & Google Wallet
  • Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5GHz)
  • Bluetooth v4.2 / USB Type-C, / GPS with Glonass & Beidou
  • LTE Cat.12 / LTE Cat.10 / LTE Cat.9 *May differ by markets and mobile operators*
  • 153.5 x 73.9 x 7.9 mm / 169 grams
  • IP 67 / 68 water and dust resistant

    • The first thing to strike you is its design. It looks like a Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge with just a few tweaks in the hardware department. But comparing it further with the S7 Edge, there are small but important tweaks. First the glass edges are gently curved now equally on both sides with the Note 7. The Note 7 glass is Gorilla Glass 5 instead of Gorilla Glass 4 found on the S7 Edge. The Note 7 comes with 64gb storage instead of 32gb found in the S7 Edge. The Note 7 has changed the micro USB port for USB Type C port . IP68 carries over to the S Pen, meaning you can take notes underwater. As all the remaining specs are the same as the S7 Edge, actually what you have is a powerhouse of a phone. But is it worth sim free £749?

    There are two ways of looking at this. Samsung have priced this in the same region as an iPhone 6S Plus 64gb. Which of the two phones would you prefer to have? Is the Samsung Note series strong enough to carry a price of £749. I say yes. I would also point out that it excels in both hardware and software. There is not another device like it! Looking at this from the Note series, it has everything now from IP68, 64gb storage plus micro SD card support and so on.

    The other way of looking at it is that it is crazy expensive. This would be the case if you had a S6 or S7 Edge as it doesn’t offer that much. But if you move up from a Note 4 then you are getting all the latest specification. I hear some screams that £749 is a joke. The OnePlus 3 is only £329 and surely the difference isn’t worth £400. Well this all depends on your priorities for a phone. £400 buys you a better screen, camera and the list goes on. Each difference adds up in pounds and pence. So they are not the same, but the experiences between a OnePlus 3 and Note 7 might be both enjoyable. So it boils down to your personal budget and how much you want the Note 7.

    Question is, where do you sit. £749 is fine or is it a rip off when you can buy devices like the OnePlus 3?

    Honor 8 now official with dual-camera setup, up to 4GB of RAM

    Android, Tech News, ,

    Honor 8 now official with dual-camera setup, up to 4GB of RAM.

    “Huawei sub-brand Honor has announced its latest phone, the Honor 8. The phone comes with a fingerprint sensor and a dual-lens rear camera setup. The Honor 8 runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow under the EMUI 4.1 custom software layer. The Honor 8 features a 5.2-inch 1080p display, and is powered by a Kirin 950 processor, with 3GB or 4GB of RAM. It comes with either 32GB or 64GB of internal storage, which can be upgraded with a microSD card. The dual lenses on the back are both 12-megapixel shooters, while the front-facing camera is 8-megapixels. The Honor 8 also has a fingerprint sensor on the back, allowing for easy authentication. The phone has a 3000mAh battery, which can be charged over a USB-C connection. The Honor 8 is currently available for pre-order from a number of Chinese retailers, with the 32GB option with 3GB of RAM running ¥1,999 (around $300), while the 64GB version with 4GB of RAM costs ¥2,499 (around $375). You can get the Honor 8 in Sunrise Gold, Pearl White, Midnight Black, Sakura Pink, or Sapphire Blue.”

    It seems to me that the Huawei and Honor brands and becoming confusing. With the sheer number of phones with slightly varying specs or software additions and or omissions, it is becoming all too complicated. And the price points charged for each brand also seem mis matched versus the specs and what is being offered?

    More at Android Central

    Xiaomi Mi Max – The Goliath Smartphone has arrived

    Android, Reviews, Tech News,

    20160525_145852

    Yesterday my Xiaomi Mi Max arrived. It is a monster.

    – Dimensions – 173.1 x 88.3 x 7.5 mm
    – Weight – 203g
    – SIM Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by / or combo with micro SD)
    – Screen 6.44 inch , 342 ppi , 1080p IPS
    – Gorilla Glass 4
    – 3/4gb ram 32/64/128gb storage
    – IR Blaster
    – Gorilla Glass 4
    – 16 MP, phase detection autofocus, dual-LED (dual tone) flash, 5mp front
    – FM Radio
    – 4,850 mAh battery

    There are many more specs, but lets just say its a beast. Ultra slim, metal unibody that oozes quality. A 4,850mAh battery that lasts forever. Wonderful experience. Screen on time will be in excess of 12 hours.

    So while I prepare my evaluate this beast, let me know if you have any questions.

    And first shot off the camera below. Not bad eh!

    Camera Lens snapped by a #XiaomiMiMax - great shot

    Audioquest Dragonfly RED – The Latest & Greatest DAC the size of a USB stick – review

    Android, Apple, Audio, Reviews, Tech News, Windows, ,

    C360_2016-05-01-17-34-52-092

    Welcome to my review of the Audioquest Dragonfly Red. The Dragonfly Red is a USB DAC, Preamp and Headphone amplifier all squeezed into the size of a USB memory stick.

    The Key Specification

    – USB Stick-Sized Digital-to-Analog Converter
    – Plays all music files: MP3 to high-res
    – Compatible with Apple and Windows PCs, as well as iOS and Android mobile devices (requires Apple Camera Adapter or Made for Android/OTG adaptor)
    – Drives headphones directly
    – Fixed output feeds preamp or AV receiver
    – Asynchronous transfer ensures digital timing integrity
    – High output (2.1 volts) drives almost all headphones, including power-hungry models
    – 32-bit ESS 9016 DAC with minimum-phase filter
    – Bit-perfect digital volume control
    – Firmware upgradeable

    The Sound Quality and Experience

    For the purposes of this review I tested the Dragonfly Red using my iPad, Samsung Galaxy S7 and Macbook. Headphone used were Oppo PM-3, Dunu Titan 5, Sony XBA-1, Sennheiser HD598se and Audio Technica M50x.

    All three source components had no issues functioning with the Dragonfly Red. To use with the iPad I needed to use the Apple Camera adapter and with the Samsung Galaxy S7 an OTG adapter. Samsung include an OTG adapter in the box which is handy.

    Also worth noting on the S7, to get the best experience you must use an app called USB Audio Player Pro. If you listen to the S7 using other music services/apps they don’t connect to the digital direct drive volume so at max levels the volume may not be high enough. With UAPP the volume is immense.

    When using portable devices or your smartphone, the Dragonfly Red does drain the battery of your device faster than normal. This is to be expected as its needs power from somewhere. However, unlike other portable DAC/Headphone amps that have an built in battery, it never goes flat or needs recharging.

    I listened to a number of different genres – dance, classical, jazz, rock and blues. I found the Dragonfly Red provided oodles more power and control than using the source components own headphone jack. Also the layering and delicacy of the music was lovely at times. This was more noticeable with classical and jazz genres. The soundstage improved too with the DAC. Overall the music was clearer, more defined, better layered and provided a decent lift in quality.

    Conclusion

    A remarkable piece of kit from Audioquest. Top notch sound quality bundled in such a small package. Recommended.

    For more information and the latest deals on Amazon UK, click HERE.

    ZTE Nubia X8 – A Chinese Powerhouse – Should other manufacturers worry?

    Android, Tech News, ,

    1 ZTE-Nubia-X8

    ZTE Nubia X8 has got leaked and it looks like it is going to be a monster of a smartphone based on the specs. Specs could include a 4K 6.4-inch screen, Snapdragon 823, 6GB RAM, 128 or 256GB internal storage. Other specs are all top of the line from metal build, slim bezels and a fingerprint scanner.

    And here lies my point. Are these specs for specs sake? Will this phone get full worldwide support on all the network bands. Will this phone get software and security updates and for how long? What if you damage the phone? 4K screen and 6gb ram. This might be needed for Virtual Reality but really isn’t needed for anything else.

    But then there is the other side of the coin. If Chinese manufacturers can keep pushing ahead with inventions will their be a new “Apple” brand but from China? It is not impossible but it will take a mammoth task to beat Apple at marketing and world wide distribution!

    Source – pocketnow.com

    HTC’s new flagship – the HTC 10 – details

    Android, Tech News, ,

    Yesterday more information got leaked regarding the new flagship from HTC. The HTC 10, note no more “One” reveals the following.

    So that’s right, potentially looking at a 5.1 QHD screen, 4gb ram, Snapdragon 820, 12mp camera, USB Type C and more. Now if the 12mp camera has OIS that could be interesting depending on the size of the camera sensor.

    But somehow, I feel very underwhelmed by all these leaked details on the HTC 10. There is nothing standout about the phone in a crowded android market place.

    The LG G5 has a modular system with LG Friends and a unique camera setup. The Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge is gorgeous to look at and is being pushed with its Gear VR headset and dual pixel f/1.7 low light camera. The Xiaomi Mi-5 is top end specs in a lower priced body. And then we come to the HTC 10. Let’s hope HTC has a few surprises up its sleeve.

    Could HTC save the day? Maybe, if they could get their new HTC Vive VR headset to work with the HTC 10. Now that would be cool!

    Vivo Xplay 5 – 6gb ram Snapdragon 820 – Benchmarks and Photos

    Android, Tech News, , ,

    Yesterday I wrote about the new Vivo Xplay 5 that’s about to be revealed in full. 

    This is no budget phone. It is a top flight flagship phone from Vivo based in China. It’s the first phone to have 6gb ram along with the new Snapdragon 820 processor. 

    It’s now been benchmarked and it reveals some awesome figures. 

      
    In addition photos of the new phone have been revealed and I have to admit it looks gorgeous. 

       
     
    So what do you think?

    Sources – talkandroid.com / Gizmochina.com 

    Is the Samsung Galaxy S7 with a 12mp rear camera a wise move? – Editorial

    Android, Tech News, , ,

    With Mobile World Congress just around the corner, new smartphone leaks are everywhere. By now it should come as no surprise that the next Galaxy, the Samsung Galaxy S7 will have a lower resolution camera, dropping from 16mp to 12mp.

    Samsung should be featuring their new “britecell” technology in this new 12mp sensor but I do have some initial concerns. Dropping the mega pixels down to 12mp with a f/1.7 may be a good thing if the pixels are larger and therefore let more light through. The trade off will potentially be with the extra pixel resolution when snapping an outdoor shot in good sunlight. Will you lose the ability to crop tighter into a photo?

    Currently, I am testing the LG V10 which has a great 16mp rear camera. This produces high resolution photos that can be cropped and not lose too much information. At 12mp this option might diminish.

    What Samsung is trading off is the ability to have a 12mp rear camera that will take stunning photos in low light as well as good lighting. In addition photos will be easier to process/share if the file sizes are smaller due to the rear camera just being 12mp and not 16mp.

    So what matters more to you? 16mp or 12mp?