Sony Xperia Z5 Premium Review: 4K Overkill?

Posted on December 23, 2015 by Dragan Petric

The Sony Xperia Z5 Premium sports similar specs as the other phones in the Z5 line, but it has one that sets it apart from every other smartphone on the market: a 4K display.

The three Z5s are virtually identical otherwise. The Sony Z5 Premium, Z5, and Z5 Compact are based on Qualcomm’s octacore Snapdragon 810 processor and ship with Android OS 5.1.1 (Lollipop). The Premium has a larger battery and a high-range finish, however, which shows Sony’s emphasis on making this a super-premium smartphone.

4K Display

Sony Xperia Z5 Premium has a 4k display.

Yes, the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium is a 4K smartphone with a display that features UHD (ultra-high definition) resolution, which consists of 2160 x 3840 pixels. This means it has approximately 8.3 million pixels, which is 4x as many found on a Full HD screen (1080 x 1920), and twice as much as QHD (quad high definition), formerly the highest smartphone display resolution. All of this results in a staggering density of 806 pixels per inch.

Now for the 4K caveat: When users look at their phones from approximately the same distance as they would flip through magazines or read a book, it’s nearly impossible to spot the difference between 4K and QHD in terms of image quality. Even compared to Full HD, the difference is only evident when it comes to native 4K content (media created in 4K, not something shot at a lower resolutions and “upscaled” after the fact), and even then it boils down to cleaner image textures, and not visible details.

This is expected, given that many imaging experts believe average human eye cannot perceive density greater than 350 ppi from an average viewing distance.

So 4K is overkill, right? Not quite. VR technology can certainly benefit from it. Looking at the Gear VR, a Samsung smartphone sits just inches from the eyes, and individual pixels are visible. This mars the VR effect. A 4K resolution would go a long way to improving the experience of VR headsets. Sony will likely reveal its own commercial VR products at CES 2016, and releasing 4K on smartphones prior to this event is a logical and necessary move, even if its targeted primarily at app developers.

The Z5 Premium’s user interface and most of the applications are rendered in Full HD resolution and then upscaled to 4K on the display. While there were initial concerns about how this would affect the imaging, it is clear that the upscaling works well.

The Z5 Premium has the same exceptional IPS display as the other Z5 phones. That means great contrast with rather dark black tones and very bright whites, which is also exceptionally sustainable and features a wide viewing angle. The phone cuts through direct sunlight with ease, especially on the maximum brightness. Sony has a few tiny issues with color interpretation, but Sony offer manual color calibration for those looking to tweak things.

The average user will surely be pleased with the Xperia Z5 Premium’s display, but will only enjoy “true 4K” resolution with videos and photographs, either native or upscaled. Unfortunately, the Premium’s web browser does not support this resolution.

Build & Design

The Sony Xperia Z5 Premium has a great build, but it’s a fingerprint magnet.

Apart from the screen resolution, Sony tried to justify the ‘Premium’ name with an exceptional finish. The device comes in gold, black, or chrome. All three have a metallic effect on the back, but glass covers the whole rear surface, making it seem like a mirror, especially on the chrome version.

It looks great, and is definitely expensive, but the build materials have an adverse effect. It is impossible to hold the Xperia Z5 Premium and not cover it in fingerprints.

The handset has Sony’s recognizable squared design, with slightly rounded corners. The edges are metal, except the corners, which are made of a metallic-colored plastic to protect against drops. The body comes with the IP68 certificate, meaning the phone is waterproof up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes, as well as dustproof.

The front includes the logo and selfie-camera above the screen bezel, with the capacitive keys relegated to the display. Speaker perforations are well hidden along the upper and lower edge of the phone’s front surface. The back includes the 23-megapixel camera lens with a LED flash, as well as Sony, Xperia and NFC logos.

The left side holds the microSD and nano-SIM card slots, covered with a protective flap, while the right side includes the power key with the fingerprint reader, the volume rocker and a special 2-step camera key. The lower side has a phone neck lanyard, as well as the microUSB slot, covered with a waterproof layer.

The upper side has the audio jack, which is protected in the same fashion, as well as a secondary microphone. Weighing 180 grams (6.35 ounces), this is one of the heaviest 5.5-inch phones, but its dimensions (6.08 x 2.98 x 0.31 in.) are average for a 5.5-inch device.

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Lenovo Vibe Shot Review

Posted on December 16, 2015 by Dragan Petric

Manufacturers have noticed increased interest in smartphone camera quality, and it’s evident by camera advancements. With its latest Vibe Shot, Lenovo has taken it a step further. With an impressive 16-megapixel BSI (Back-Side Illuminated) sensor, triple LED flash, infrared autofocus, special dual-step shutter, rocker switching between automatic and manual mode, and a design that accentuates the rear shooter, the Vibe Shot has one of the most impressive cameras on the market. Even the Lenovo Vibe Shot’s 8-megapixel selfie camera is above average.

The camera is not the only area that impresses as the Vibe Shot is above average in many other criteria. It comes with a 5-inch Full HD display, octacore Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 processor, 3GB of RAM and 32GB of memory storage, Android OS 5.1 (Lollipop) with a slightly modified Vibe UI, and a lush battery with the capacity of 3000mAh. This promising list of specifications holds up in everyday use, which is why the shortcomings of this compact camera and smartphone hybrid are hard to spot.

Build & Design

The Lenovo Vibe Shot is bulky for a 5-inch smartphone.

The Vibe Shot has aluminum rims, glass on the front surface and an aluminum-glass combination on the back in order to make its finish equal parts modern, unique and credible. The device looks like a smartphone from the front and a camera from the back, but what is important is that it offers exceptional toughness. It is clear that this is a top-range device. Its dimensions are average for a 5-inch device (142 x 70 x 7.3 mm, or 5.59 x 2.76 x 0.29 inches), while its mass of 145 grams (5.11 oz) is above average. The weight is perfectly understandable as the Vibe Shot features glass and metal construction, as well as an exceptionally large battery. The strictly squared design with just slightly rounded edges offers a modern appearance and provides a firm grip.

Unfortunately, the surfaces of this phone are fingerprint magnets, particularly the back surface. Given that it is made of glass and aluminum, you can easily wipe off smudges, and Lenovo includes a protective plastic cover for the camera lens.

Lenovo Vibe Shot rear aluminum and glass panel.

The aluminum back holds the camera lens, as well as the triple LED flash, the infrared autofocus sensor and the Lenovo logo. Capacitive touchscreen keys are located in the front bezel under the display (Menu, Home and Back), increasing the display’s functional space. This is a praiseworthy, but not typical, detail for Android OS 5.0 devices, and it necessitates a large display bezel on the Vibe Shot. There is a speaker above the display, along with a front-facing selfie camera and the usual set of sensors.

The left side of the Lenovo Vibe Shot holds a slot for two microSIM cards (this is a dual SIM phone) and a microSD card slot. All the physical keys are located on the right side. Apart from the usual power key and the volume rocker, there is also the designated two-step camera shutter button and a tiny rocker that switches between automatic and manual camera modes. It can also be used to wake up the device from stand-by, which is a practical feature for those users who find the Power key to be too low for their liking.

The top side holds the audio jack and the secondary microphone for noise reduction, while the bottom side includes the lanyard loop and a microUSB port with speaker perforations surrounding it.

Display

The 5-inch IPS display on the Lenovo Vibe Shot comes with Full HD resolution (1080 x 1920 pixels), resulting in a 441 ppi pixel density. Such pixel density offers quality image sharpness at a regular viewing distance and individual pixels cannot be spotted even when used close-up. The phone’s IPS display offers highly precise color accuracy with realistic saturation and a comfortable dynamic range, which is particularly suitable for viewing photographs on the phone’s screen. This means that the images observed on Vibe Shot’s display will look almost identical when transferred to a computer with a quality display.

All of this is a result of the screen’s above average contrast, as black tones are indeed dark and white are very light. You may object to inconsistent contrast over the entire surface of the screen, however. The highly reflective screen surface means a portion of the viewing angle is reduced, which is mostly evident when the phone is exposed to direct sunlight. As the device also has a high max brightness, amping it up can help to resolve any issues. Overall, the Vibe Shot’s display is above average compared against other smartphones, especially Android flagships.

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Sony Xperia Z5 Compact Review: A Rare Small Flagship

Posted on December 9, 2015 by Dragan Petric

While other manufacturers have mostly given up on creating compact versions of their flagships, Sony has positioned itself as a leader in this niche by reducing only the size of the handset, but not the hardware specs. Case in point, the Xperia Z5 Compact, which is as powerful as the ‘big’ Sony Xperia Z5, just more “compact.” This makes the Z5 Compact the only sub 5-inch flagship smartphone on the market today.

Sony Xperia Z5 Compact

To be precise, the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact features a 4.6-inch HD screen, and this detail represents the biggest difference between the Compact and Xperia Z5, which has a 5.2-inch Full HD display. In addition, the smaller phone has 2GB of RAM instead of 3GB, its entire edge is plastic, not plastic and metal, and it comes with a physically smaller battery, 2700 mAh compared to 2900 mAh.

Everything else is the same. The device has a Qualcomm octacore Snapdragon 810 chipset, a very powerful 23-megapixel rear camera, 5.1-megapixel selfie-camera and Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop) with the slight Xperia UI. The Z5 Compact is very similar to the full-sized Z5 and therefore shares a lot of the pros and cons, but does all of this in a smaller and cheaper body.

Body & Design

The new Xperia Z5 Compact is not visually that different from its predecessor Xperia Z3 Compact. Sony has not forsaken its square design, but has emphasized the minimalism of its keys. The device almost looks identical from all angles. What Sony has done, just like with the standard Z5, is worked on the handset’s finish, thus it comes with a matte glass cover which offers exceptional protection. In addition to modern design, this results in a premium look, despite its compact dimensions.

Sony Xperia Z5 Compact back panel

Interestingly, the entire rim of the Xperia Z5 Compact is made out of plastic. Only the edges are plastic on the larger model, Xperia Z5, while all four sides are metal. It was clearly not necessary to reinforce the body’s construction with metal on the smaller smartphone, which might give users the feeling that this device won’t survive a fall. But this is not the case. A single material build gives the Z5 Compact a cleaner look.

Of course, such a compact device feels comfortable when held in hand and everything is within a thumb’s reach on the display. It weighs 138 grams (4.97 ounces), which is slightly heavier than the previous model and its dimensions are 127 x 65 x 8.9 mm (5.0 x 2.56 x 0.35 inches). Although it is narrower and shorter than the Xperia Z5, it is evidently thicker, but again, this does not change the feeling of outstanding elegance and modern design.

The display-to-front surface ratio of 68.9 percent is somewhat smaller than on the previous model, but this is not evident unless you focus on the display rims. The front is ‘cleaner’ than on the Xperia Z3 Compact, given that the stereo speaker perforations blend into the upper and bottom parts of the phone. There are no physical keys under the display, while Sony’s logo, the LED signal and the front 5.1-megapixel camera are located above the screen.

There is a neck lanyard loop on the left side, along with a cover which hides the nanoSIM and microSD card slots. The right side holds the power key with the fingerprint scanner, located in the middle, while the exceptionally slim volume rocker and the camera key sit above it. The camera key is particularly useful for taking shots under water (yes, the Z5 Compact is waterproof), when it is not possible to shoot by touching the display. The audio jack is located on the upper side with the secondary microphone for ambient noise reduction, while the lower side holds the primary microphone and a microUSB slot with a waterproof coating. This means that users do not have to open a cover when they wish to recharge their phones, as was the cases with all previous Xperia models.

Sony Xperia Z5 Compact power button

Display

Sony Xperia Z5 Compact edge design

Naturally, the display size and resolution are different between the Xperia Z5 Compact and the Xperia Z5, but the craftsmanship technology and the imaging quality these two handsets offer are the same. The Xperia Z5 Compact brings HD resolution (720 x 1280 pixels) on a 4.6-inch diagonal, resulting in a 323 pixel per inch, compared to 428 ppi featured on the larger model. The difference is moot, given the human eye finds it difficult to spot the difference in imaging sharpness greater than 300 ppi. Everything looks very sharp on the Xperia Z5 Compact’s display, without any visible pixelization. HD resolution is perfectly suitable for a 4.6-inch screen and it is a good thing that Sony has not chosen a greater resolution just to have impressive figures, because it would only additionally burden the chipset and battery.

However the Compact shares many of the same imaging problems with the Z5, The contrast is very sustainable, but shifts a bit to the dark side. The Xperia Z5 Compact displays exceptionally dark black tones, but not exceptionally bright white tones. The vivacious part of the spectrum looks bright and intense, while colder tones are a bit washed out. In the end, this results in very cheerful imaging of colorful contents, like games, but dimmer imaging of more serious content. Keeping this in mind, Sony has added the option of manual calibration of the red, green, and blue color components through its settings, which no other rival offers.

The IPS display comes with all Sony-patented technologies, like the Mobile BRAVIA 2 Engine, Triluminos and X-Reality Engine, which makes imaging maneuvers rather flexible. These specs give the Z5 Compact wider viewing angles and the display holds up even when exposed to direct sunlight.

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Sony Xperia Z5 Smartphone Review

Posted on December 7, 2015 by Dragan Petric

Sony hopes that the Xperia Z5 marks a new start for their flagship smartphone series, and one that will challenge the top phones. After all, not only has Sony failed to make more than a dent in the market, its naming conventions have been muddled with Sony skipping the Z4, which was predecessed by the Z3+.

Sony Xperia Z5

There are three Z5s in total: the Z5, the Z5 Compact, and the Z5 Premium. The Z5 Compact has similar specs as the regular Z5 but in a smaller body, while the Premium has what Sony claims is the world’s first a 4K smartphone display. This review focuses on the standard Xperia Z5, which, at least on paper, offers everything a top-range handset should deliver. Well, everything with some limits.

The Sony Xperia Z5 features a 5.2-inch full HD display in a body with recognizable design. It’s waterproof, with an IP68 certificate, and sports an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 along with 3GB of RAM. The Z5 ships with Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop) and an unobtrusive Xperia launcher.

Its 23-megapixel camera is definitely a highlight, what with the recent market focus on camera quality. Given Sony’s imaging prowess, this high resolution camera certainly looks good on paper. On top of that, the Sony Xperia Z5 has a few other aces up its sleeve.

Build & Design

The Sony Xperia Z5 has a decent display.

Sony uses a minimalist design with the Z5, and one that is similar to the other phones in the Xperia line. The curvature from previous models is gone as the Z5 is very square, which gives it a serious and modern appearance. The phone has a matte glass rear cover that looks like metal, but is far more resilient to scratches. The edges are metal, except for the corners, which are made of polycarbonate –a solid plastic, which helps to cushion the phone if it’s dropped.

To help with screen protection, the rim is slightly elevated compared to the surface of the display and the rear cover. Some users may find this frustrating as it’s not common with smartphones that are typically flat on the display surface. But this solution makes the device feel better in hand.

The Z5 measures 146 x 72 x 7.3 mm (5.75 x 2.83 x 0.29 inches) with a mass of 154 grams (5.43 oz), which is quite a lot for a 5.2-inch phone. Wide bezels lead to a low display-to-surface ratio of 69.6 percent. Clearly, Sony believes the display has become more important than elegant dimensions or weight for most users. However, there is still room for improvement here.

Looking at the front of the Z5 there is a barely visible speaker perforation under the display, along the lower side of the phone, but this space is almost a centimeter wide. The same perforation is also featured above the display; where the sensors, logo and the 5.1-megapixel selfie-camera are located. The upper side of the device reveals an audio-jack with a water-resistant coating and a tiny secondary microphone, while the lower side holds the neck lanyard loop (an odd detail for such a large device) and a microUSB slot with a water-resistant coating. This means that Xperia Z5 is Sony’s first certified waterproof device without rubbery port covers.

There is a rubber cover on the left side with a slot for nanoSIM and microSD card under it (there’s no way to waterproof a card slot without a cover). The right side includes the Power key with a built-in fingerprint scanner. A very slim volume rocker is situated under it, which is elevated a millimeter compared to the phone’s side. The 2-step camera key is located slightly lower and has the same look.

Sony Xperia Z5 SIM/microSD cover

Sony Xperia Z5 camera button, volume rocker, and power button

Sony Xperia Z5 microUSB

Sony Xperia Z5 audio jack

Display

The Z5 features a 5.2-inch IPS screen with ‘just’ full HD resolution. This is a well-thought decision, given that such a resolution and size result in a pixel density of 428 ppi, which provides crystal clear imaging. Those who insist on even greater pixel density can find it with the 4K Xperia Z5 Premium, but the Xperia Z5’s screen offers a solid display with a reasonable resolution for average users. Leave the 4K for devs and VR enthusiasts.

With the Z5 Sony has built in many of its engineering achievements: Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2, Triluminos technology and X-Reality engines. All this results in the best possible contrast, with black tones that are darker than any tones offered by the current competition. On the other hand, white tones are still a bit dirty. This doesn’t impact real-world contrast and visibility of the screen, as the display offers wide viewing angles and can be comfortably used when exposed to direct sunlight.

Still, the contrast shift to ‘the dark side’ can at times cause a feeling of insufficient screen brightness, or it can wash out colder tones. However the warmer part of the spectrum looks very saturated and emphasized; games look particularly appealing.

Keeping all of this in mind, Sony has enabled the X-Reality engine, which expands the dynamic color range and can be toggled on or off. So you can manually balance the red, green and blue tones through the display settings in order attain your preferred color scheme. There is no other device that offers such detailed control over display colors, which is a plus for Sony. The only down side is that you will probably want to adjust these settings manually since the cooler tones aren’t perfect.

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Meizu MX5 Smartphone Review

Posted on November 19, 2015 by Dragan Petric

Meizu’s MX5 separates itself from an upper mid-range smartphone market crowded with reasonably priced devices, with an exceptionally good ratio of display to product size. It comes with a 5.5-inch Full HD AMOLED screen that occupies 74.5 percent of the phone’s surface, offering an outstandingly elegant and ergonomic design that is easy to hold with one hand, despite the size.

The MX5 bears an uncanny resemblance to the iPhone, in both the body and software. The MX5 has a single physical key, with a built-in fingerprint reader, centrally located below the display. Meizu’s Flyme OS 4.5 is built off of Android 5 Lollipop, but the MX5 skin is very similar to iOS. The Meizu MX5 features an octa-core Mediatek Helio X10 chipset, 20.7-megapixel rear camera and a 3150 mAh battery, making it one of the most attractive a devices of the increasingly popular ‘Chinese wave’ of smartphones.

Build & Design

The Meizu MX5 looks an iPhone, but it’s all Android

The 7.6 mm (0.30 inches) thick metal unibody makes the MX5 equally elegant and comfortable. Not many MX5 competitors are able to combine a 5.5-inch screen that can be easily held with one hand, with a premium-class finish. The 5.5-inch screen is even more impressive when considering the 150 x 75 mm (5.90 x 2.94 inches) dimensions, meaning the display makes up 74.5 percent of the phone. The left and right bezels are exceptionally slim while there is just enough room above and under the display for the speaker, the selfie-camera, signal LED light and, the oval home key. The device weighs 149 grams (5.26 oz), which is also a rarity among 5.5-inch metal smartphones.

The bottom of the phone looks like the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s, but does not entirely lack originality: it comes with a secondary microphone (instead of an audio jack), a microUSB hub, and speaker perforations. The Meizu MX5’s audio slot is located on the upper side of the handset, while the power key and the volume rocker are on the right side. The left side includes two nanoSIM card slots, tucked away and accessible by pin key however, there is no microSD card slot, thus the memory of this handset cannot be expanded.

The rear side of the Meizu MX5 includes a 20.7-megapixel camera lens, which is impressive for a mid-range smartphone, and a LED flash under it. The only flaw of the MX5 design is the protruding rear-facing camera. The phone will not lie flat on its back and is more susceptible to scratches or stains of the camera lens. It is hard to blame Meizu for the aforementioned lack of originality in relation to Apple, as the success of the iPhone has bred many copycats.

Display

The Meizu MX5 comes with a 5.5-inch (1080 x 1920) Full HD AMOLED display, with a Gorilla Glass 3 screen, resulting in a solid 401 pixel per inch density. The previous generation MX4 had a poor IPS display that had washed-out and cold colors. By introducing AMOLED to the MX5 the cold and pastel feel is no longer an issue. However this does not mean the images are perfect. AMOLED is famous for overly saturated colors, and these look very bright on the Meizu MX5. This is not a problem for many users, however, as some prefer such a screen on all smartphones. That being said, the MX5 still suffers from a slight color cast with a shift towards the greener part of the palette. No matter how bright and saturated the colors are, at the same time they are not “perfect” due to that unwanted green cast. Again, this will not be a major problem in practice for most people as the Meizu MX5 indeed offers very impressive image quality.

There are no issues when it comes to the contrast and a consistent image quality across the surface of the screen. This device measures up to high-end flagship models in these two criteria, as it offers excellent viewing angles, very dark black tones and solid visibility when directly exposed to sunlight. There is room for improvement when it comes to automatic display brightness, given the MX5 does not perform that well in dark rooms and tends to produce images that is too bright. Clearly, this is a software ‘issue’ that might be resolved with future OS upgrades. Contrast this with the fact that the MX5 also has an underwhelming maximum brightness, making it less than ideal in bright outdoor environments.

The Meizu MX5 has standard Android inputs.

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HTC One A9 Hands-On Preview

Posted on October 20, 2015 by Dragan Petric

Positioning it as its “second flagship,” the HTC One A9 might otherwise be called the One M9 Mini, according to its features, which are actually more impressive than HTC’s “first flagship,” the One M9. The One A9 differs from One M9 with its design, rear camera, chipset and Android version.

The HTC One A 9 looks a lot like an iPhone.

Speaking of the design, HTC has taken quite an unexpected turn in regards to the original, and highly regarded, aesthetics of its flagship models. The One A9 does not look like One M9 (or its predecessors) at all, and instead resembles an Apple iPhone 6/6S. They are almost identical, except that the HTC model is slightly larger, given that it has a 5-inch display instead of the iPhone’s 4.7-inch display.

Despite the unoriginal appearance, the device reveals an exceptionally high level of finish and seems solid. The metal unibody has two slim plastic stripes, covering the back of the device along the upper and bottom sides, which aid the antenna signals. The edges are rounded, as is the display glass, just like the iPhone 6/6S. The similarity with the Apple phone is uncanny even on the bottom side, which includes the speaker perforations, microUSB hub and the audio jack, even though they are in reversed order compared to the iPhone 6/6S.

The HTC One A9 has a metal unibody design.

In addition, HTC introduced a physical key to One A9 and located it under the screen, while the capacitive Back, Home, and Task keys sit along the bottom of the user interface, on the display. The physical key is a hybrid of the Home and Power keys, just like on iPhone, but unlike the Apple device, this button is oval, and apart from the HTC logo, is the only way to tell the Apple and HTC smartphones apart from the front at a glance. Looking at the rear, and the HTC One A9 has its camera lens centered on the upper back portion, and not the side like the iPhone.

Copying the design of an exceptionally successful phone is certainly not a bad idea, and it is clear that those who wish to swiftly migrate from iOS to Android will be happy to consider HTC One A9.

Compared to the HTC One M9, the back-facing camera now has a smaller resolution of 13 instead of 20 megapixels, but it also has optical image stabilization. This should result in far sharper imaging, as well as drastically more realistic exposure, color interpretation and noise level, something we had the opportunity of experiencing while taking a few shots. Compared to the M9, the One A9 undoubtedly has a better camera, which just might rival other flagships like the Note5. The front shooter is still the same 4-UltraPixel camera the M9 has in the front, which is the same the M8 had for its rear camera.

HTC One A9 has familiar speaker placement.

HTC One A9 comes with an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 running a 1.5 GHz clock with Adreno 405 graphics and 3GB of RAM, along with 16GB or 32GB of memory storage (the US is getting the 32GB version). The 5-inch display is AMOLED, not Super LCD3, but it has the same Full HD resolution, resulting in the same density of 441 pixels per inch. This is why One A9 likely won’t be the ‘performance king’ when synthetic benchmarks do their thing, nor does it include a realistically saturated color specter on the display. But when it comes to fluidity and imaging quality, it’s at least above average, and maybe just a step below flagship range. And that’s not a bad thing. We wrote the same thing about the Motorola Moto X Pure Edition.

The HTC One A9 will cost $400 when it launches in the States, so we likely won’t be disappointed with the device’s hardware performance, the less than perfect color dispersion, or somewhat lighter blacks… even if it’s all less than what the powerful smartphones output.

On top of all that, this is the first non-Nexus phone that comes with Android OS 6.0 (Marshmallow). In addition, it supports microSD cards, which can act as internal storage thanks to Android 6.0, as well as all global active LTE frequencies.

The HTC One A9 launches the first week of November. It’s unpretentious and well-rounded tech specs, coupled with its Apple-esque design might do a lot for HTC, at that price.

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Is a 4K Smartphone Overkill? Sony Xperia Z5, Z5 Premium and Z5 Compact Hands On

Posted on September 9, 2015 by Dragan Petric

Sony had the most novel smartphone at IFA 2015, as it revealed the first with a 4K resolution: the 5.5-inch Xperia Z5 Premium phablet. The 3820 x 2160 pixel resolution results in an incredible density of 806 pixels per inch, which unprecedented on any type of display, not just a smartphone or a phablet.

The Sony Xperia Z5 Premium as a 4K display.

Along with this Android handset, Sony also debuted a new increment of its flagship model, the 5.2-inch Xperia Z5, complete with a Full HD IPS display, and the 4.6-inch Xperia Z5 Compact, with an HD resolution. All three devices sport identical hardware, including a Qualcomm octa-core Snapdragon 810 and Adreno 430 graphics. The two larger models have 3GB of RAM, while the compact model has 2GB.

All three Android handsets have a new 23-megapixel rear camera and a 5-megapixel selfie camera, front stereo speakers, STAMINA Power Saving mode, a glass body and a built-in fingerprint reader in the side Power key.

The first thing that caught our attention was that 4K display. The sharpness is unprecedented. Individual pixels cannot be spotted with the naked eye at this resolution, but you also can’t do that with Full HD (1920 x 1080) displays at this size. So the logical thing to ask is, what’s the point of 4K resolution, which also eats at the battery and strains the processor?

Well, there’s definitely a noticeable difference between the 4K and Full HD displays of the same size. We can say that much.

The Sony Xperia Z5 is a more standard flagship Android smartphone.

But it’s ultimately overkill, and better imaging sharpness at this size is not a reasonable argument to purchase the Xperia Z5 Premium. Clearly, Sony aims at specific screen applications, like VR glasses or gaming. It has to. There are too many issues this resolution presents. For example, many apps and online mobile content are not adjusted for it. In fact, Sony uses an upscaling procedure for YouTube videos, which is an additional burden for the hardware.

This is why Xperia Z5 Premium should be seen as Sony’s demonstration of power and a way to regain attention to its flagship Android models.

The ‘regular’ Sony Xperia Z5 has been upgraded from the Xperia Z3 (as well as Z3+ and Z3 Compact). The display’s sharpness, color saturation, brightness and contrast have finally been addressed (these were issues with the device) and can be compared to the rest of the 2015 flagship handsets. What is more, pleasant tonal balance make the Xperia Z5’s screen suitable for everyday work.

The device (still) has a fantastic design with flat keys on the side. The Power key no longer sticks out, but is elongated and flatter, and doubles as a fingerprint reader. Despite its square design, the glass body and aluminum edges with slightly sanded points make the Xperia Z5 feel natural when held in hand, and premium.

We also tried the new 23-megapixel camera. It’s hard to reach a precise conclusion on imaging quality with the lightning conditions at the show, which Sony seems to have adjusted for testing such phones, but clearly this is a decent camera, and could be a major selling point. In addition, Sony has taken the advantage of a new hybrid autofocus technology, and the Xperia Z5 units focus with exceptional speed.

We also toyed with Xperia Z5 Compact. This will be one of the few compact smartphones on the market with flagship hardware. Its reasonable display and relatively large 2700mAh battery could make it a multi-day performer.

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Samsung Gear S2 Hands-On Preview: Better than the Apple Watch (Potentially)

Posted on September 9, 2015 by Dragan Petric

Samsung has always used IFA to launch major products, including the original Galaxy Note phablet. This year, the Gear maker used the event commonly dubbed “European CES” to debut what it hopes will be another trend-setting device, the Gear S2, Samsung’s first round smartwatch.

The Gear S2 will be Samsung’s first round smartwatch.

Based on our time with the Gear S2, it seems Samsung has the potential to accomplish what has eluded it with its Tizen operating system, which is behind the Gear S’s entirely new interface that is based largely around its rotating display. That is, create a compelling product with this X factor.

Gear S2 will ship in two versions, casual and classic, which differ only in band material (silicone or leather) and the stainless steel body design. A 3G casual smartwatch is also available, which comes with an e-SIM card.

The device has a 1.2-inch, 360 x 360-pixel Super AMOLED display, resulting in a pixel density of 302 pixels per inch. The imaging is very sharp (this is clear just by looking at the specifications) with highly saturated colors and a great contrast (a hallmark of AMOLED). The contrast specifically is very important, especially when it comes to watches, given that we tend to look at them from atypical angles and various distances, often outdoors and in bright settings.

Samsung smartphones and tablets have some of the best displays on the market, so it’s no surprise its smartwatch would as well.

Samsung Gear S2 comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 chipset with two cores running a 1GHz clock, 512MB of RAM and 4GB of memory storage. Of course, this is a suitable spec sheet for a smartwatch, and it functioned well during our limited hands-on time with it.

The Samsung Gear S2 pairs with just about any Android smartphone.

The Gear S2 has a 250mAh battery, while the 3G version has a 300mAh battery. Samsung representatives claim this is sufficient for two, or even three full days of autonomy. If true (and manufacturer battery claims are usually exaggerated), this will be another selling point for the watch. Smartwatch battery life is poor across the market, even with the Apple Watch, and most units struggle to last a full day.

Another important novelty which will prove significant for the device’s market success is that Gear S2 can be used with just about any Android OS smartphone, not just a Samsung upper-class handset, as the case was with some of this manufacturer’s previous smartwatches. Still, paired up with Samsung phones, Gear S2 provides certain additional functions, like Samsung Pay support.

On the wrist, Gear S2 looks like a regular watch, especially the casual version, which is reminiscent of a Swatch watch due to the cheerful user interface and vibrant colors of the Super AMOLED display. Of course, the watch’s appearance can be adjusted to personal preference thanks to its various skins and band colors. The device is surprisingly light and slim (the 3G version is slightly heavier and thicker because of the bigger battery and e-SIM) and it does not represent an unnatural bulk on the wrist, as the case may be with too many other smartwatches.

The Samsung Gear S2 looks almost like a Swatch watch.

Perhaps its strongest selling point is its delightful UI. Managing options and navigating by rotating the display edge is exceptionally intuitive. When the user reaches the desired option by rotating it, they only need to tap the display in order to select it, while pressing the Back key on the right exits the chosen option or application.

This rotation takes place smoothly with a slight clicking sound, and is so clear, logical and natural that it raises this question: why didn’t any other device maker of this sooner? No matter how much the circular icon imaging is reminiscent of the Apple Watch interface, Gear S2’s interface is far better. The software was a big drawback to Apple’s wearable, while it could be a selling point for the Gear S2.

Samsung Gear S2 is set to launch globally in October. No word on pricing.

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Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ vs. Apple iPhone 6 Plus: Which is the Best Phablet?

Posted on September 4, 2015 by Dragan Petric

With an excellent camera, chipset, and display, as well as stellar design, Samsung has revealed a direct and serious rival for the Apple iPhone 6 Plus, the new Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+. Yes, Apple is slated to release a follow-up, likely dubbed the iPhone 6S Plus, in a few weeks. But for those that need a phone now, which is the best phablet?

The new Galaxy S6 edge+ from Samsung

The similarity between these two phablets is more than just the shared “six plus” in the name. Samsung’s new Galaxy S6 edge+ is essentially a blown-up version of their Galaxy S6 edge model, much in the same way the iPhone 6 Plus is a larger version of their flagship iPhone 6.

With a unique design and omission of the S Pen, Samsung is heralding the Galaxy S6 edge+ as the true Android alternative to the iPhone 6 Plus. The Galaxy Note5, thanks to the S Pen, has no real iOS competition.

Those that want the best possible phablet for everyday use (and not particularly business use) may struggle to decide between Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ and Apple’s iPhone 6 Plus. Both devices offer exceptional performance, fantastic displays, a modern and enticing design, above average battery life, and cameras that take impressive photographs. Still, there are slight differences when it comes to these features. The question is, are there enough significant differences to proclaim one better than the other?

Build & Design

The fact is that the Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ surpasses the iPhone 6 Plus on both a practical and aesthetical level. Weighing 153 grams (5.40 oz), Samsung’s device is indeed lighter than Apple’s, which weighs 172 grams (6.07 oz). Despite a larger display (5.7 inches compared to iPhone Plus’ 5.5 inches), its dimensions are smaller: 154 x 76 x 6.9 mm (6.08 x 2.98 x 0.27 in) compared to iPhone’s 158 x 78 x 7.1 mm (6.22 x 3.06 x 0.28 in). The iPhone 6 Plus’ screen rims are larger and offer less function (home key, speakers and the front facing camera) than the Samsung display.

The iPhone 6 Plus has an aluminum backing that fuses with the edges.

The S6 edge+’s larger display comes in part from the left and right curved edges, which completely eliminate the display bezel. The familiar Android control keys under the screen, (back and tasks) reside underneath, between the physical home key/fingerprint sensor. The Samsung phone has glass on the front and back with metal edges, while the iPhone 6 Plus has an aluminum back with fused edges. Both designs mean that neither device has an exchangeable battery, nor do they have a microSD cardslot. That said, they both feel well-crafted and reliable, (don’t worry too much about “Bendgate” as it was overhyped).

Unfortunately, these smartphones aren’t waterproof, which is typically an advantage associated with unibody smartphones. It seems that both Apple and Samsung were prepared to compromise, crafting a modern and enticing device that is both sleek and slick. Looking at both, Samsung has had the advantage of 10 months to perfect its device, and the Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ is simply a better looking smartphone, with attractively round edges, svelte weight, and modern appearance.

Display

The iPhone 6 Plus display has 1080 x 1920 pixels.

It is impossible not to be thrilled with the Samsung and Apple phablet screen quality. They each offer exceptional imaging, with industry-best sharpness, contrast, and color saturation, despite the fact that technical specifications show a certain difference. The iPhone 6 Plus has a smaller resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels, compared to 1440 x 2560 for the Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+, resulting in a smaller pixel density of 401 pixels per inch , in relation to Samsung’s 518 ppi. These figures seem arbitrary when comparing the two devices side-by-side, however as both have great displays, with only a few differences.

The Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ brings more powerful color saturation, thanks to its Super AMOLED technology, which is particularly evident with the more vibrant parts of the spectrum, like red and yellow tones. Compared to the screen on iPhone 6 Plus, games and photos taken in daylight that feature these colors are slightly more impressive on the S6 edge+.

On the other hand the iPhone 6 Plus offers a better contrast with whites, as its whites are purer and lighter. Reading website texts or documents is more pleasant on the iPhone 6 Plus.

But again, we are talking about small nuances here and not overtly noticeable differences. Contrast sustainability is very good on both devices, overall, and both the Apple and Samsung phablets offer excellent visibility when exposed to direct sunlight, as well as with wider viewing angles.

Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ could be a better choice for users who play more games and enjoy multimedia content, while those who browse the Internet and work with documents on their phone might find Apple iPhone 6 Plus more pleasant. But keep in mind we are straining to find a difference between what are two of the best displays on the market as of this writing.

Performance

pple A8 chip running a 1.4 GHz clock and a quad-core PowerVR GX6450 graphic system

It is no secret that Android OS devices require a much more modern hardware than iOS devices, in order to provide equal fluidity. Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ comes with a powerful in-house chipset: the Exynos 7420, based on four Cortex-A53 cores running a 1.5 GHz clock and four Cortex-A57 cores running a 2.1 GHz clock. It also includes the Mali-T760MP8 graphic processor and 4 GB of RAM (an additional gigabyte compared to the regular Galaxy S6 edge). It should be noted that Samsung uses the same type of module for memory storage as it does in SSD discs, which is nearly three times faster than classic smartphone memory storage. Furthermore, Galaxy S6 edge+ is available with either 32 or 64GB of storage.

On paper, Apple’s iPhone 6 Plus seems incredibly humble compared to the Samsung handset. It comes with a dual-core Apple A8 chip running a 1.4 GHz clock and a quad-core PowerVR GX6450 graphic system. It is equipped with just 1 GB of DDR3 RAM; but this is not evident in everyday work as all the software runs smoothly. It ultimately leaves users wanting nothing more. Perhaps synthetic benchmarks prove otherwise, but the reality is that the iPhone 6 Plus offers the same performance as the S6 edge+.

Still, Apple’s phablet has an immense flaw which many users will find difficult to forget: the basic version comes with just 16GB of memory storage, which is simply insufficient. Apps now take up more room than they did two or three years ago, we take more pictures at higher resolutions, and emails include larger attachments. That is simply not enough space, and most users will have to opt for the more expensive 64 or 128GB models (there is no 32GB model). This is ultimately what makes the S6 edge+ a better performer overall.

Camera

The S6 edge+ has a 16-megapixel camera.

In the last year, Apple and Samsung both focused on improving the cameras for their newest devices. Apple’s iPhones have long had above-average cameras and the iPhone 6 Plus is the first to have optical image stabilization. With a resolution of 8 megapixels and f/1.9 lens, it takes better photographs than any other Apple device.

The Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ has a camera with twice the resolution, 16 megapixels. It also includes optical image stabilization and a greater aperture size, f/1.8. In the end, photos taken on either device turn out well and are exceptionally exposed most of the time, with plenty of visible details and a low level of noise. Any issues are usually the result of poor lighting conditions.

Generally speaking, the Galaxy S6 edge+ takes better pictures of static objects, while the iPhone 6 Plus access at dynamic objects Due to a highly saturated display, images on the Samsung phablet’s screen appear more lively, and the Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ has the better camera overall.

Software, Battery Life, & Innovations

Samsung Pay could work anywhere that accepts credit and debit cards.

The intuitive and easy-to-use Apple iOS is one of the biggest draws of the iPhone, with some users staying loyal to the Apple brand solely because of it. The iPhone 6 Plus introduces several features, some straight from the iPad, not found on the regular iPhone 6, like a two-column Mail app. Samsung’s phone includes the classic TouchWiz UI with Android 5.1.1 OS, and several additional functions for curved display edges, which are more neat than actually useful. Both have unique features and it is ultimately a matter of personal taste.

The large iPhone supports Apple Pay, while the Samsung S6 edge+ supports Samsung Pay. We’ll hold out on commenting until Samsung Pay launches later this month, but early hype suggests it could prove useful thanks to its support of MST technology. Whereas Apple Pay is limited to NFC terminals, Samsung claims Samsung Pay will work just about anywhere that accepts credit and debit cards.

They devices are also equals when it comes to battery life. Samsung’s phablet has a 3000 mAh battery, while the iPhone 6 Plus comes with a 2915 mAh battery. In practice, both devices will provide the user with two full days of intense use before any need to recharge. Both also charge quickly.

Conclusion

When weighing the specs and features of the two phablets the Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ appears to be a better pick. The edge+ has a better display, memory options, and a slightly better back-facing camera. However, the differences are small enough that users should base any decision on price and operating system. Right now, the S6 edge+ starts at about $800 off contract for the 32GB model, and $900 for the 64GB model. The iPhone 6 Plus costs about $750 for the 16GB model, and $850 for the 64GB model.

It should be noted that the Galaxy S6 edge+ was released almost a year after the iPhone 6 Plus, and Apple’s follow up is set to be announced September 9. Expect to see a 6 Plus price drop, in addition to a new phablet alternative.

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Moto 360 (2015) Hands-On Preview

Posted on September 4, 2015 by Dragan Petric

As expected, Motorola (now owned by Lenovo) announced its second-generation smartwatch, the Moto 360, at IFA in Berlin. Early leaks, and the fact that it is a follow-up to one of the most attractive smartwatches from 2014, suggested that this would be one of the best-designed Android Wear watches on the market. Lenovo and Motorola did not disappoint, and the new Moto 360 arrives with a lot of buzz.

The new Moto 360 looks more like a traditional watch.

Not only does the new Moto 360 have a round and pleasing design, it will arrive in two sizes, as well as a semi-ruggedized sports version: Moto 360 Sport. The Android Wear wearables will all have built-in GPS and be available in more than 300 combinations of materials, colors, looks and other features, all through that the same Moto Maker Motorola offers to customize smartphones. Unlike the 2014 Moto 360, the overall aesthetic bends more to the classic wristwatch than futuristic wearable.

The slim display edge contributes to this, as too do the dimensions, which have been reduced to what the watch industry considers average.

The smaller model with a 1.37-inch display has a display resolution of 360 x 325 pixels, resulting in a density of 263 pixels per inch, while the larger, 1.56-inch Moto 360 sports a 360 x 330 pixel resolution, creating a similar pixel density of 233. For a device this small, this pixel density creates very pleasant and sharp imaging. Reds and yellows definitely pop. We were only able to discern individual pixels with a very close look, and on a particularly slim digital second hand.

The display’s contrast sustainability is average, but that’s a significant improvement over last year’s Moto 360. The viewing angle is wide, and the Moto 360 Sport features what Motorola dubs an AnyLight hybrid display that increases contrast when exposed to direct sunlight.

The new Moto 360’s display contrast is decent.

The “flat tire” detail, as featured on the first-generations Moto 360, is still present, and several lower lines of pixels on the display are not active. This does slightly alter certain Android Wear skins and certain Android Wear apps, and it could be a problem for users. That said, it doesn’t reduce the functionality at all, and it seems a small price to pay for what is otherwise a great-looking smartwatch.

Moto 360 features Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 400 chipset, running a 1.2 GHz clock with Adreno 305 graphic chip, 512 MB of RAM and 4 GB of storage. The watch proved highly responsive in our time with it, and reacts swiftly and precisely to finger swipes across the display

Even the smaller version of the watch provides great response precision, and seemed better than the competing Android Wear watches we’ve tested.

If anything, Moto 360’s challenge will be its battery, just as it is with other smartwatches. The smaller version features a 300 mAh battery, while the bigger has a 400 mAh battery.

Will that be enough to get a user through a full day? We’ll find out when we review the new Moto 360. At first glance though, this smartwatch seems like a decent step in smartwatch market maturity.

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Huawei Mate S Hands-On Preview: Force Touch Comes to Android

Posted on September 3, 2015 by Dragan Petric

The China-based smartphone maker Huawei may only flirt with the US market, but its no also-ran, as evident by its most advanced device to date, which it debuted at IFA in Berlin: the Huawei Mate S. This is a essentially a smaller, 5.5-inch take on the Ascend Mate 7 phablet Huawei debuted one year ago at IFA; however it features several interesting innovations.

Huawei calls their display 2.5D because of the Force Touch technology.

The feature that had IFA attendees buzzing the most is something Huawei calls Force Touch technology, which turns the standard 2D, full HD display into something Huawei dubs a 2.5D display. Force Touch is pressure sensitive touchscreen technology already present in the Apple Watch, which expected in the upcoming iPhone 6S. In regards to smartphones, Huawei seems to have beaten Apple to it.

That said, Force Touch doesn’t seem to bring much to the device when it’s held in hand, at least in our limited hands-on time. The application of this technology, which seemingly has future functional potential, is simply not evident at the IFA debut.

Perhaps the coolest Force Touch feature Huawei demonstrated is the zoom level; the harder you press with your finger, the more the camera zooms. In addition, when positioned on a table, the handset’s display can be used as a scale for smaller objects, which we tested out and found it works with the expected precision. Outside of that, what else can one do with a Force Touch display?

Huawei also placed a lot of emphasis on the improved Knuckle Control technology, which enables the display to recognize the difference between fingertip taps and presses, and finger knuckle drags. For example, “writing” certain letters opens certain apps, like “W” for weather or “C” for camera.

Compared to Ascend Mate 7, Mate S comes with slightly greater pixel density of 401 pixels per inch (same resolution, smaller display), Gorilla Glass 4, and AMOLED technology, making the display is one of its main selling points. The colors look exceptionally convincing, with a sharp edge, and typical AMOLED saturation and brightness. The contrast is highly sustainable, and it enables a large viewing angle with solid black tones, but also slightly dirty whites.

The camera is just as powerful as those found on Samsung’s and Apple’s flagship smartphones.

The device features a 13-megapixel BSI back-facing camera with optical image stabilization

The device features a 13-megapixel BSI back-facing camera with optical image stabilization, which corrects movements up to 1.2 degrees, as well as a f/2.0 lens. 2015 has already seen a lot of great smartphone cameras, and Huawei is still keeping up with the competition. This camera seems to have the best among Huawei’s phones, but seems to lag behind the best in the flagship category when it comes to detail level, exposure precision, noise, and image sharpness. Mate S’s selfie camera sports 8-megapixels and has an f/2.4 lens. That’s a good resolution, though we worry how it might perform in low light.

The device features a chipset based on two quad-core sets, including the manufacturer’s in-house platform called Kirin 935. It also has Mali-T628 graphic processor, 3GB of RAM and 32 or 64GB of memory storage, which can be expanded with microSD cards. The battery has a luxurious capacity of 2700 mAh. In our hands-on time, it performed well and fluidly.

It should be pointed out that Huawei Mate S has an exceptional metal finish, and it feels premium in hand. It’s fingerprint scanner is now faster than it was on the previous version.

Overall, the Mate S is a high-end device, and it seems that the price will follow suit, which is unusual for Huawei. The 32GB Huawei Mate S will cost 649 euros (about $730 US) and the 64GB version will cost 699 euros (about $777 US). It will be available in the second half of September throughout the globe.

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Samsung Galaxy S6 vs. LG G4: Battle of Android’s Best

Posted on July 15, 2015 by Dragan Petric

There isn’t much room for debate that LG and Samsung lead the pack when it comes to the best Android smartphones in 2015. The LG G4 and Samsung Galaxy S6 are not only great devices, but they both dictate market trends and push mobile technology development. In addition to being two of the most convincing and attractive Android smartphones on the market, they feature greater advancements over previous iterations than what rival manufactures managed to produce.

LG G4 vs Samsung Galaxy S6

Curved and large, with an optional leather backing, the LG G4 sits in contrast with the relatively smaller, yet more elegant, Samsung Galaxy S6 and its glass build. Both excel in terms of craftsmanship and design, as well as camera advancements.

So, which is the best Android smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S6 or the LG G4?

Build & Design

Samsung finally ditched the plastic and embraced premium materials (a mandatory component of flagship smartphones these days) with the S6, constructing it out of glass surrounded by a slick metal edge.

Now this gives the Galaxy S6 plenty of credibility, though some of it is sacrificed by a lack of originality. Simply put, it looks a lot like an iPhone. To be specific, the bottom side, which includes the microUSB hub as well as the 3.5mm audio jack and speaker perforations, is almost identical to that of iPhone 6.

Despite this, Galaxy S6 remains the most attractive Samsung smartphone to date, and one of the best looking around. Unfortunately, some function had to be sacrificed to attain such style. Unlike with previous Galaxy S smartphones, the S6 does not feature a removable back panel, nor does it sport a user-replaceable battery. The Galaxy S6 is also not water resistant like its predecessor.

The LG G4 features either a plastic battery cover with a metal finish or a leather back cover. It is also slightly curved. Looking at design, the LG G4 has a touch more of originality that Samsung Galaxy S6 does, while maintaining the same premium feel.

Samsung Galaxy S6 glass build

Samsung Galaxy S6 front panel

LG G4 leather back panel

LG G4 front side

The LG G4 is thicker that Samsung’s flagship (.38 compared to .26 inches), as well as heavier (.34 compared to .3 pounds), but its battery is user-replaceable. Sacrificing such minimal style for increased function makes the LG G4 the better device in this department.

Display

Despite the fact that both devices deliver excellent visuals, Samsung definitively wins. While both the G4 and S6 feature QHD resolution (1400 x 2560 pixels), Samsung’s has a greater pixel density (577 compared to 538 pixels per inch), because it has a smaller screen, 5.1 versus 5.5 inches.

Samsung Galaxy S6 display

Of course, some people prefer a larger display, and Samsung’s superior quality is actually due to its manufacturing technology.

Samsung has just about perfected Super AMOLED smartphone displays, and the S6 features superb brightness, contrast, and color saturation. It’s almost unnatural.

The LG G4 features an almost equally-convincing IPS matrix. But its color reproduction is less surreal and suffers from inferior contrast, which is most noticeable when its exposed to direct and bright sunlight. The brightness controls are also not as precise as they could be, which we found frustrating in our full review.

To be clear, this is a battle of the best display and a very good display, with Samsung coming out on top.

Performance

Samsung played it safe by selecting a homemade octacore Exynos 7420 chipset as the hardware base for Galaxy S6. With a Mali-T760MP8 graphic chip, 3 GB of RAM and 32, 64, or 128GB capacity options, Samsung’s flagship performs exceptionally well and rivals anything else in the mobile market. Unfortunately, Samsung nixed the microSD card slot featured in previous iterations, but the storage options do a bit to alleviate any issues caused by the omission. Furthermore, Samsung turned to some of its exceptional SSD hardware technology for the storage, and it actually proves several times faster than the more common standard found on other smartphones.

The LG G4 sports a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808, which is not the most powerful Snapdragon, but is actually the second in line behind the 810 (rumor has it that overheating issues with the 810 caused LG to go with the 808). The 808 consists of six cores and an Adreno 418 GPU, 3 GB of RAM, and 32 GB of data storage. There are no other capacities offered, but the G4 does have a microSD card slot with support for up to 128GB.

The LG G4 doesn’t top the synthetic benchmark charts and it sometimes overheats more than expected (this is less evident with the leather version). That aside, it is still a very fluid phone that never glitched during our time with it.

Once again, this is a case of good (G4) versus better (S6).

Camera

Samsung Galaxy S6 and LG G4 have two of the best back-facing cameras of any Android OS smartphone. Both shoot 16-megapixel stills, but this is where the similarities stop. When technical features are concerned, LG G4 promises a tad bit more in the back-facing camera department than Samsung Galaxy S6.

The camera on the LG model comes with 3-axis optical image stabilization (instead of 2-axis stabilization featured on Samsung’s model) and f/1.8 (compared to Samsung’s f/1.9). The LG camera also introduces the so-called laser autofocus and the option of saving images as RAW files.

LG G4 camera lens

Samsung Galaxy S6 camera lens

In practice and in almost all situations, the images taken with these two devices are the same. The images are exceptionally good for a smartphone: sharp, properly exposed and saturated with a great level of detail and minimal noise. Still, on rare occasions where there is a difference (we noticed it when tracking moving objects in low light), the LG G4 images are slightly better owing to its slightly more impressive spec sheet.

The LG G4 has the best camera of any smartphone on the market. The Galaxy S6 has a great camera. The difference is slight, but it’s real. The LG G4 is the better of the two.

Software, Battery Life, Innovations…

LG reigned in its Android skin a few years ago, while Samsung finally scaled things back just recently. Both are closer to pure Android Lollipop out of the box, and both are better for it.

In terms of the LG’s hardware, it has the volume rocker and power key centered on the upper portion of the back panel, and the display can be unlocked with a double-tap.

The S6’s additions boil down to a few that offer trendy benefits to users, like health and fitness apps based on built-in hardware sensors and a fingerprint reader.

Finally, when it comes to battery capacity, the phones are on par with one another. Even though LG G4 has a battery with declared capacity of 3000mAh and Samsung a more humble capacity of 2550mAh, there is no clear difference in overall use.

Diving in more specifically, Samsung’s chipset controls the distribution of resources with a bit more complexity between the processor cores. So an S6 balancing time spent between phone calls, internet browsing, and multimedia consumption will likely outpace an LG G4 doing the same. However, the G4 will likely outlast an S6 in time spent almost exclusively browsing the web and media streaming.

Conclusion

LG G4 and Samsung Galaxy S6 are two fantastic smartphones that have raised the bar this year for the competition. Looking at both in detail reveals that one is not really better than the other, but one may be better than the other depending on the user.

The LG G4 is bigger and has a slightly better camera. It also has a removable battery and expandable storage.

The Samsung Galaxy S6 has slightly better performance with the best display going.

Take your pick. Either way, you win.

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HTC One M9 Review: It’s What’s Inside that Counts

Posted on June 19, 2015 by Dragan Petric

Viewed from the outside, the HTC One M9 doesn’t seem much different from last year’s One M8. Take a peek inside, and you’ll see the incremental changes that have become a hallmark of successful smartphone lines.

HTC One M9

So the HTC One M9 looks like the One M8 (and One M7), but includes upgrades to the front and rear cameras, key location, sound quality, and display sharpness, as well as a modernized chipset. Some of these upgrades are stark improvements, while others are a bit underwhelming.

HTC One M9 features a 5-inch Super LCD 3 display with Full HD resolution and the screen surface is covered in Gorilla Glass 4. The phone is equipped with Qualcomm’s most up-to-date chipset, the Snapdragon 810, which consists of two quad-cores: one pair running at 2GHz and the other using a 1.5GHz clock speed. It also has Adreno 430 graphics and 3 GB of RAM, complete with 32 GB of memory storage, which can be expanded via microSD. The front and back cameras have literally switched places compared to the previous model. The rear camera now snaps 20.7-megapixel images, while the 4-UltraPixel camera (using a higher-quality 4-megapixel sensor) is now on the front.

Build and Design

HTC One M9 unibody design

While the device looks identical to previous models, it definitely feels different. In fact, it feels like a premium device. It’s carved out of a single piece of aluminum alloy, however, the textures vary on the back and the sides. Its rear is ‘brushed’, while its sides are smooth. This, along with a slimmer display rim and the a “tougher” feel, make the HTC One M9 feel like a higher-quality piece of hardware as far as Android smartphones are concerned.

Touching up the materials while maintain the design presents issues for HTC. Indeed, the manufacturer is obviously confident in the One (why change something that is exceptionally good?), but with both Apple and Samsung rolling out new looks, HTC seems behind the curve. It seems consumers simply like their new phone to look different from their old one.

Of the changes HTC actually made, moving the power button from the upper portion of the phone to the right side is praiseworthy, as it is now in a far more natural position. The top portrait edge is now covered in a black glass mask, hiding the IR transmitter, as well as several antennas and sensors.

Interestingly, the phone is a millimeter shorter and narrower than its predecessor, as its dimensions are 144 x 70 x 9.6 mm (5.7 x 2.8 x .37 inches). It weighs exactly the same as the One M8 at .34 pounds. The fact that HTC has managed to install a battery with greater capacity is notable, as it now includes a 2900mAh brick, compared to a 2600mAh battery.

Display

HTC One M9 5-inch LCD display

On paper, the display remains unchanged, coming with a pixel density of 441 pixels per inch. But compared side by side with the One M8, there is a noticeable difference. The One M8 offered immaculate image sharpness on static images, but this sharpness was lost when thin, sloped lines moved. It was especially noticeable on thinner fonts and scrolling text. Now this unpleasant effect is gone and the display offers superior detail and clarity in all situations.

The screen contrast is very good, and the screen has a particularly wide viewing angle with very bright white tones and balanced blacks. Overall, the realistic color saturation helps create a pleasant visual experience.

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LG G4 Review: The Best Cameraphone

Posted on June 15, 2015 by Dragan Petric

The LG G4 can be summed up as a modernized version of its predecessor, complete with a unique and recognizable look, and the best smartphone camera as of this writing. LG also pumped up the display technology, though not its battery autonomy or its chipset.

LG G4

It has to be stressed that the display is especially impressive. The LG G4 has a 5.5-inch Quantum IPS screen with QHD resolution (2560 x 1440) and a slightly rounded vertical axis, and is second only to the G4’s back camera in terms of feature excellence. Said back camera is a 16-megapixel shooter with optical stabilization and f/1.8, complemented by an 8-megapixel front selfie camera.

Internally, the G4 has a hexacore Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor with Adreno 418 GPU, 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of memory storage. It’s 3000mAh battery is the same spec as featured in last year’s LG G3.

Build and Design

LG G4 resembles LG G Flex 2 more than it does its predecessors, given that it features a slightly curved display and body. The screen’s concave design isn’t as pronounced as LG G Flex2 and the device is not flexible, but this hardly deters from what is a well-designed and well-built handset.

LG G4 leather back panel

The back panel is available in either plastic with metallic finish or a decoratively stitched leather, each in two exclusive colors. The leather looks more impressive, and is more comfortable to hold. However, past experience with leather smartphones (Motorola offered one recently, and BlackBerry used it a long time ago) suggests it’s too quick to wear, especially on the edges. For its part, LG claims its manufacturing technique ensures significantly tougher leather.

Besides, the LG G4 has a removable back, and users are free to swap to a new back panel. This also means that the LG G4 has a replaceable battery.

The phone is slightly larger and heavier than the previous model, measuring 5.8 x 2.9 x .24-.38 inches (hwd) and weighing .34 pounds, though you’d never know it due to the slightly curved design, modern finish, and quality build materials. The LG G4 feels like a premium device.

In true LG style, the front of the handset does not include any keys, but the entire surface is covered in Gorilla Glass 3. The LG logo sits under the display and the speaker, while the selfie-camera and a set of sensors reside above the display. The power button and volume rocker are on the back panel, centered just under the back panel. This has become an LG design trademark, which proves convenient, though takes some getting used to.

LG G4 camera lens and rear buttons

Apart from being curved along the vertical axis, the back is also curved along the horizontal axis, which contributes to ergonomics and the unique look of the smartphone. The back also includes a speaker perforation, situated at the bottom, while the dual LED flash (two-colored) and the transmitter for the so-caller laser autofocus are located next to the lens. The lenses themselves are slightly prominent compared to the curved back, but those who chose the leather model will not even notice this because the decorative stitching along the middle sticks out enough to prevent any direct contact between the lens glass and a surface.

The left and right edges do not include any keys. The lower side has the primary microphone performation, a microUSB hub, and a 3.5-mm audio jack, while the upper side includes the infrared transmitter and the secondary microphone, intended for reducing ambient noise during talk time.

Display

On paper, LG G4 has the same display as LG G3, but a glance reveals significant improvements. Its 5.5-inch IPS panel boasts a 2560 x 1440 pixels resolution, which results in an excellent 538 pixel-per-inch count. The G4 has what LG dubs Quantum display technology (not to be confused with Quantum Dot technology), which is similar to Sony’s Trilluminos display tech.

This display emphasizes realistic imaging that is not overly saturated, with a sustainable contrast. Overall, it’s a noticeable improvement over the G3, with more vivacious and accurate colors, and a dense and full-blooded contrast, especially in regards to the blacks.

This a flagship display worthy of a flagship device, though there is still room for improvement in terms of screen brightness. It’s bright enough, but it’s tough to set properly. Maximum brightness is too bright, while just going down to 50% brightness is not bright enough. We had to play for too long with wallpapers and the brightness scale to find a comfortable brightness scale.

The post LG G4 Review: The Best Cameraphone appeared first on Brighthand.com.

Huawei P8 Review: Price-to-Performance King

Posted on June 8, 2015 by Dragan Petric

The latest Huawei flagship is best summed up by two improvements from its predecessor: a big jump in craftsmanship and a significant camera upgrade.

Huawei P8 Android smartphone

Simply called the Huawei P8, this smartphone has adopted a trend set by other high-end manufacturers by advancing features that users seem to care about, like the display, chipset, battery, and camera, suggesting that all other technical characteristics already functionally peaked with the previous model.

Of course, the Huawei P8 still retains what is perhaps its best feature: an attractive ratio of price to performance. To be fair, the P8 doesn’t match what most other flagships, like the Galaxy S6 and HTC One M9, offer, at least on paper. But in use, it feels just as enticing as any of those devices, and it’s cheaper to boot.

Some more important specs include an aluminum unibody, 5.2-inch Full HD display, ‘homemade’ eight-core Kirin 930 processor running a 2 GHz clock aided by 3 GB of RAM, 16 GB storage that can be expanded via microSD (Huawei also offers a 64GB version), a 2680 mAh battery, a 13-megapixel back-facing camera with optical stabilization, and an 8-megapixel selfie-camera.

Build and Design

Huawei P8 looks like an iPhone from behind.

The Huawei P8 has an aluminum body, which is an upgrade over the combination of glass back cover and metal rim that made up last year’s model. It actually feels significantly lighter than its .31-pounds. Being .25-inches thick and with a strict square form, it’s simultaneously firm but not particularly ergonomic. It looks great though, and its gripping comfort is a minor gripe given the overall quality.

Obviously, Huawei “borrowed” many design elements from Apple, Samsung, and HTC. In fact, some P8 features are perfectly identical to the latest flagship phones. We can’t help but suspect that this goes hand in hand with Huawei’s decision to remove its logo from the front surface of the white model, which was quite prominent on the P7.

The Huawei P8 has a display-front-surface-ratio is about 78%, and no physical keys. The slight space above the display features the speaker, front-facing 8-megapixel camera, and several sensors. The back includes a 13-megapixel back shooter with a dual-LED flash tucked over the left, and an aluminum strip along the bottom that enables better signals for all built-in antennas, while the Huawei logo is located in the upper center.

From the back, the iPhone resemblance is uncanny.

The left side is bare, while Huawei packed the left with two nanoSIM card slots (for dual-SIM mode), one of which doubles as a microSD slot. It also includes the Power key and the volume keys. The bottom side includes stereo speaker perforations with a microUSB input situated in between. The upper side holds the tiny secondary microphone and a 3.5-mm audio jack.

Display

Huawei P8 display

The Huawei P8 has a 5.2-inch Full HD IPS LCD with a 1080 x 1920-pixel resolution, and a pixel-per-inch count of 424. It perfect exemplifies Huawei’s approach with the P8. It’s not the best, but it’s still pretty darn good.

The display imaging is exceptionally sharp and individual pixels are impossible to discern with the naked eye. The more pixel-dense displays featured on the current flagships appear superior when compared head to head with the P8, but it’s ultimately a case of great versus really great.

The contrast is highly sustainable and the viewing angle is wide. When it comes to colors, darker and colder tones are more pronounced, meaning that the phone has more accurate blacks than whites. Saturation is above average. Interestingly, users can manually set the saturation level, adjusting the tones and specter pronouncement.

The P8 can handle daylight glare and unwanted reflections as well as any premium phone. Though, how well depends specifically on the manual settings. Still, it’s more than capable.

The post Huawei P8 Review: Price-to-Performance King appeared first on Brighthand.com.

Author: Dragan Petric

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Software, Battery Life, & Innovations

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Software, Battery Life, Innovations…

Conclusion

Build and Design

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Build and Design

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