Vivo X5 Pro to Arrive with USB Type-C, Phase-Detection Autofocus Tech

Remember the company that once put out the world’s slimmest smartphone? We’re talking about the Vivo X5 Max, which rolled out with a sleek profile of only 4.75 mm / 0.18 inches.

Well, the company will soon unveil its next model called the Vivo X5 Pro. From what we have seen so far, the phone is shaping up to be quite a monster device. And today, courtesy of the Italian HD Blog, we’re getting the latest info concerning the handset. The X5 Pro will apparently be a mid-range device, but a very interesting one to say the least. According to word on the street, the handset should arrive with a massive 6-inch display (with unknown resolution, probably FHD), a Snapdragon 615 processor inside, plus 3GB of RAM.

What’s more, word on the street claims that Vivo is prepping a heart-stopping 32MP front-facing camera to be implemented into the phone, which will probably be capable of snapping stellar selfies. On top of that, the main camera will benefit from phase-detection auto-focus technology. Even more interesting, the Vivo X5 Pro is poised to be one of the first Android phones to make it out with a new USB Type-C connector out of the box. The phone is also expected to come with a metal frame and a hefty 3,500 mAh battery. If all this info got you excited, then you should be happy to know that the device is poised to be launched sometime in the early days of May, probably on the 6th or 7th day of the month.

Vivo X5 Pro will have USB Type-C

Vivo X5 Pro frontal look

Vivo X5 Pro will sport 6-inch display

Vivo X5 Pro to run on Snapdragon 615
Images credits to HD Blog

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Elephone’s Dual-Boot Windows 10/Android 5.0 Phone Leaks in Official Renders

A few days ago, word surfaced that little known Chinese device maker Elephone was working towards bringing a monster flagship to the market.

The company itself confirmed it would soon launch a phone capable of dual-booting between Android and Windows. We also saw a few images showcasing the upcoming flagship with a gold/white paint job. This week brings us more official renders of the upcoming phone, which should give prospective customers an image of what to look for (as seen at Giz China). Elephone actually plans to release two models of its new flagship, one powered by Android 5.0 Lollipop only and one capable of switching between Windows 10 and Android 5.0 Lollipop. Sounds pretty intriguing, right?

Elephone to challenge the ASUS ZenFone 2 and Lenovo K80

We already know most of the specs of the handset, including the fact that it will ship out with 4GB of RAM and a powerful quad-core processor of Intel origins. Elephone’s high-end device will also come equipped with an impressive 20.7MP Sony camera on the back and 32GB of internal storage. In the display department, the upcoming model will feature a 5.5-inch display with 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution that will be sustained by a hefty 3,800 mAh battery. Elephone itself said that the dual-boot model would most likely launch in June. The other version of the flagship that will only run Android OS will ship out a little bit earlier, towards the beginning of May, so in a few weeks.

Naturally, the phones will only be available for purchase in China, at least in the beginning. So, if we are to believe the rumors, we should be seeing a Windows 10 device launch as soon as June. It’s interesting to see whether Elephone ends up releasing the dual-boot model internationally, but that’s pretty unlikely, given the history with such devices. Back at CES 2014, ASUS introduced a dual-boot tablet/laptop called the Transformer Book Duet, and even if the device received positive initial feedback, Google and Microsoft ended up sabotaging the company’s efforts of putting it on the market.

So the ASUS Transformer Book Duet turned out to be the device that never was. But if the Elephone dual-boot phone safely stays within the borders of China, it has a big chance of actually becoming a real product.

Elephone's new flagship, profile view

Elephone's new flagship in gold

Elephone's new flagship, dual SIM setup

Elephone's new flagship, showing main camera

Elephone's new flagship in gold

Elephone's new flagship frontal view

Elephone's new flagship back view

Elephone's new flagship in white and gold
Images credits to GizChina

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Nokia Officially Denies Any Plans of Launching an Android Smartphone in 2016

Nokia made a lot of waves last week after a few reports surfaced saying that the Finnish company was looking to make a comeback in 2016 with a new Android smartphone.

The initial report cited sources familiar with the matter claiming that Nokia was plotting to make a comeback to the smartphone market next year. Then a few days later, a Chinese newspaper quoted Mike Wang, the President of Nokia China, who apparently revealed that the company was planning to set up a R&D facility in China. Well, not long after these news made rounds online, Nokia posted an official statement on its website refuting all these claims.

Nokia says it has no plans of manufacturing smartphones, yet

According to the Finnish company, we shouldn't be expecting it to come out with any consumer handset in 2016, nor any R&D facilities being set up under the company’s banner in China. Nokia’s statement might disappoint the company’s fans who were hoping to see the phone maker jump back into the smartphone pond. However, we should point out that the company doesn't specifically mention that it has no plans of “designing” smartphones. The statement only refers to the absence of plans related to manufacturing handsets. But that’s the thing, after the acquisition of its mobile division by Microsoft, Nokia is prohibited from licensing its brand on smartphones until the end of 2016 (the third quarter to be more specific).

However, the company can take a slightly different route. It can license its own smartphone designs to third-party manufacturers, a scenario that happened with the N1 tablet. Nokia was in charge of designing the product, but all manufacturing operations went to Foxconn.

All hope is not lost

At this point, it’s very hard to believe we won’t see a Nokia phone arrive in 2016 at all. The company is probably trying to keep things under wraps, as well as build hype around its upcoming product while trying to preserve the veil of mystery as much as it can. It’s not unheard of for companies to deny existing rumors and then, a few months later, to play out the exact scenario prophesized by the rumor mill. It’s a marketing strategy after all.

Nokia's current Android smartphone
Image credits to BGR

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Nokia to Launch an Android Phone in 2016, What Should We Expect?

There has been a lot of fuss about Nokia lately. First off, the Finnish company announced it was purchasing the French telecom equipment maker Alcatel Lucent for the sum of $16.6 / €15.6.

On top of that, Nokia has announced it is in the process of reviewing its HERE Maps business which it might even end up selling. As revealed in recent reports, titans of the industry such as Apple, Facebook and Amazon are looking into the acquisition. But the biggest news came towards the end of this week when Nokia officially confirmed it is planning to release its next Android smartphone in 2016. However, Nokia’s new mobile efforts won’t look anything like its original business. The company will develop in-house products but then license the design and the company’s brand name to a third party manufacturer.

Since Microsoft purchased Nokia back in 2013, the Finnish company is prohibited from licensing its brand on smartphones until the end of 2016.

Nokia is taking up Android smartphone-building once again

Even so, the device maker has come with this work-around for the situation and is actively pushing the development of its next-gen Android smartphone. So what should we expect, when come 2016, Nokia will be ready to take the stage and present us with its first post-Microsoft acquisition era product? As we already told you above, Windows is an option that won’t be used by Nokia anymore. The company already tried its hand at it and failed miserably. So the next logical step is to move towards the Android ecosystem.

Actually Nokia already launched a product in 2014, in the form of the N1 tablet, following the pattern I just described: it licensed the product design and brand name to a third party player. So if we want to imagine Nokia’s mobile future in 2016, we might find some worthy clues if we look at the N1 tablet. The slob arrived with a 7.9-inch display (in the vein of the iPad) with advanced 2046 x 1536 pixel resolution.

Under the hood, Nokia used an Intel Atom Z3580 Silvermont quad-core processor running at 2.3GHz, the same one that is powering ASUS’ new ZenFone 2 smartphone, the first in the world to arrive with 4GB of RAM. The slate also comes with 2GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage and an 8MP rear camera. Arriving on the market with a $259 / €238 price tag, the Nokia N1 quickly became a hit, selling the first 20,000 unit batch in just a few minutes.

Nokia is probably prepping a premium device for 2016

So what conclusions can be draw from looking at the N1? First of all, Nokia will probably step away from the design schematics characteristic of its former Lumia branch. Sure, the Lumias were an atypical bunch of smartphones, but Nokia needs to come up with something new, if it wants to draw customers back in. And the N1 was a good start, arriving with its anodized aluminum body and smooth rounded corners reminiscent of today’s popular tablets.

Nokia might also want to conjure the days of old, by making an Android smartphone that’s sturdy and ever-lasting. After all, endurance was one of the better known characteristics of the Nokia product lineup. Next stop, hopefully we’ll see the Finnish companies keep using great camera technology in their smartphone. The Carl Zeiss partnership allowed Nokia to launch some Lumia models with impressive camera capabilities. But maybe Nokia is looking to start clean in 2016, so Carl Zeiss will be scratched off from the equation. Nevertheless, the camera department is an important aspect to consider and with Nokia’s track record of focusing on embedding advanced snapper tech, we have high hopes.

Although Android is a pretty saturated environment to say the least, Nokia has the advantage of being able to rely on a solid brand recognition. So the transition from Windows Phone to Android should be quite smooth. As we can see the company managed to produce a pretty worthy product already, so we don’t see why an Android smartphone coming out from Nokia wouldn’t have the same faith as the N1 tablet.

Nokia X, the company's first Android phones
Image credits to Sulekh Alive

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Nokia Officially Confirms Its Next Android Smartphones Arrive in 2016

There have been rumors lately that Nokia might launch an Android smartphone sometime in 2016, but the Finnish company did not confirm the information at the time the information leaked online.

However, it looks like Nokia China's president has just confirmed that his company will launch new Android smartphones in 2016, GforGames reports. The information comes directly from China and also claims that Nokia's official also stated that the global R&D center will be relocated in Sichuan, China. The Android smartphones mentioned will be manufactured in the same region too. Since Nokia sold its mobile division to Microsoft, the Finnish company can't release any new smartphones until late December, 2015, which is the main reason the first Android devices will go on sale only next year.

As expected, they will be released with the Nokia brand and will probably included some proprietary software like Z Launcher for example, which is already one of the most popular Android launchers available in Google Play Store. Unfortunately, we don't have any details on specifications, but we expect Nokia to target the emerging markets like China, India and other Asian countries where affordable smartphones are among the most appealing among customers.

They might be announced early next year during trade fairs

Still, we shouldn't rule out the possibility of seeing a flagship smartphone being released as well. Given the fact that Nokia is interested once again if working in the smartphone business, the announcements are like to be made during Consumer Electronic Show (CES) in January, 2016, or Mobile World Congress (MWC) in early March. Are you looking for Nokia's upcoming Android smartphones? Do you think the Finnish company can be competitive on a overcrowded Android market?

While there are still quite a few months until Nokia's reveals, we believe there's room for everyone and that the more devices get released, the more choices consumers will have. Stay tuned for more updates on the matter.

Nokia logo
Image credits to Nokia

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Android 5.0.2 Arrives on Sony T2 Ultra and Sony Xperia C3

Remember when we told you that Sony might not be updating to Android 5.0 Lollipop smartphones outside the Xperia Z line?

Well, scratch that from your mind, because Sony is dedicating its efforts to updating as many models as it can from its smartphone lineup. As Gizmo Bolt reports, this week Sony has started rolling out the Android 5.0.2 update for its Xperia C3 and Xperia T2 Ultra handsets. The new build is reportedly being implemented for users of the T2 Ultra in the Czech Republic, Germany, and Taiwan. For the time being, only the single-SIM variant (D5303) is apparently receiving Lollipop. Like with most updates, this one will probably happen gradually, so don’t be disappointed if the new build hasn’t made it to your smartphone just yet.

As for the Xperia C3, the new update is rolling out only for users in Taiwan, but its availability will certainly extend to other territories as well. In this case too, only the single-SIM variant (D2533) is getting the Lollipop treatment. After the update, both phones will be running on build 19.3.A.0.470.

In case you get tired of waiting to receive a notification, you can also take the proactive route and check if the new build has arrived manually, by going to the Settings section and checking for System updates.

Sony Xperia C3 and Xperia T2 Ultra getting new update
Image credits to Sony Mobile

Sony Xperia C3 is getting Lollipop
Image credits to Gizmobolt

Sony Xperia C3 is getting updated
Image credits to Gizmobolt

Sony Xperia C3 with Lollipop now 
Image credits to Gizmobolt

Sony Xperia C3, multi-window manager
Image credits to Gizmobolt

Xperia T2 Ultra gets Lollipop too
Image credits to Gizmobolt

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This Could Be the Sony Xperia Z5, May Come with USB Type-C Port

Sony’s latest flagship, the Xperia Z4, was quietly announced last week without the Japanese company hosting a big media event or anything of the sort.

We soon found out why that was the case. It’s because Sony plans to market the Xperia Z4 only in Japan, but according to sources familiar with the matter, the company is prepping another flagship which should be rolled out on the global market this summer. A few days ago, word of the Sony Xperia Z5 surfaced online, with the mention that the phone should make a debut by the end of the year. The time frames, however, don’t align, so we have to assume that the Sony Xperia Z5 is not the flagship the phone maker is planning to unleash on the international market following the release of the Xperia Z4, but an entirely different model.

Take a sneak peek at the Sony Xperia Z5

Well, this week, the Xperia Z5 continues to be in the news. The folks over at GSM Dome have managed to dig up a picture from China’s lofty social media website Weibo, which apparently depicts the real-life phone. The image is quite blurry and shows the back of the device, which appears to be metallic. We can also spot the rear camera in the top left position. It’s interesting to note that the post including the photo on Weibo made a reference to Type-C, which probably means the phone will arrive with a USB Type-C port. This isn’t a surprise given that this new standard will end up being implemented on most next-gen mobile devices coming out this year.

Chinese video streaming guru LeTV has already rolled out the first three smartphones taking advantage of USB Type-C. Apple and Google also launched laptops bundling this new port last month. The post also includes the number “9,” which could mean that Sony plans to unleash the phone earlier than it was originally anticipated. Maybe the phone could arrive in September.

Rumored specs of the Xperia Z5

Other rumored specs include a 1440 x 2560 pixel resolution, Qualcomm’s next-gen Snapdragon 820 chip (which will apparently be built by Samsung), an improved main camera (although don’t go thinking it will have OIS), and Qualcomm’s Sense ID fingerprint technology embedded. On top of that, Sony is finally said to be actively working towards designing a new look for the next-gen Xperia Z5. As we have seen, the Xperia Z4 follows the same aesthetic schematics as it predecessors and can be considered only an incremental update compared to the Xperia Z3 that came before it.

This could be the Sony Xperia Z5
Weibo / GSMDome

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Elephone Dual-Boot Smartphone with Windows 10/Android 5.0 Launching in Late June

A few days ago news about a Chinese company that plans to launch a Windows 10 for Phones device made headlines. An unnamed Elephone smartphone has been showcased at a trade fair in Hong Kong and the Chinese company confirmed it will be capable of dual-booting Android and Windows.

Although some of the phone's specs were listed by Elephones and some of the pictures showing the smartphone were also displayed at the trade fair, the actual phone or a prototype wasn't showcased. Today, the folks over at Neowin received new information regarding the upcoming Elephone smartphone. Some of the phone's features and its release date have been confirmed. More pictures have been published as well, so let's see what's coming for both Android and Windows Phone fans. From what we can tell, Elephone's new smartphone is aimed at both Android and Windows Phone users, so those who would want to switch to Microsoft's OS but don't really want to give up Android's advantages will want to choose this particular device.

The Android version of the smartphone may ship in May

Elephone's smatphone will ship with both Android 5.0 Lollipop and Windows 10 for Phones operating systems, and will be capable of dual-boot. We already know the handset packs 4GB of RAM and a powerful quad-core processor provided by Intel. Elephone's high-end device will also boast an impressive 20.7-megapixel Sony camera on the back, as well as 32GB of storage inside. The phone will be powered by a more than 3,800 mAh battery and will sport a 5.5-inch capacitive touchscreen display that supports 2560 x 1440 pixels resolution.

According to Elephone, its dual-boot flagship smartphone will be launched sometime in late June. The other version of its flagship handset that will only run Android OS will ship beginning in May. Obviously, the smartphone will only be available for purchase in China, at least at the beginning. So there you have it folks, a Windows 10 smartphone may be launched as early as June.

Elephone dual-boot flagship
Image credits to Neowin

Elephone Android flagship
Image credits to Neowin

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Gionee’s Elife S8 Flagship Might Beat the Samsung Galaxy S6 at Pixel Density (PPi)

Chinese smartphone maker Gionee attracted attention upon itself when it launched what back then was considered the world’s thinnest smartphone, the S5.5 (it was only 5.6 mm / 0.22 inch thin).

The company currently sits on a lofty portfolio of devices and has received a good response from users, both for hardware and software. Gionee is also in the process of prepping its upcoming flagship, which will probably be dubbed the Elife S8. And now, a new Gionee smartphone has recently been spotted in the GFX Benchmark showing an impressive list of hardware specifications. We’re not 100% sure we’re dealing with the Gionee Elife S8 here, but there's a big chance this is exactly the case, given what this phone packs on the inside.

Gionee Elife S8 could come with an advanced display

The upcoming model appears to sport a relatively small display, of the 4.6-inch variety, with QHD resolution on top (1440 x 2560 pixels). If the benchmark entry is correct, the Gionee Elife S8 will end up boasting one of the most crisp displays on the market with a pixel density of 639ppi. For the time being, the smartphones with the crispest displays on the market are Samsung’s newest darlings, the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge, both of which boast 577ppi. Gionee might be able to jump in front of Samsung for a while when pixel density is concerned, but the Korean tech giant is said to be working on UHD (2,160 x 3,840 pixel resolution) Super AMOLED displays for mobile devices.

Actually, a recent report claimed Samsung might be looking to use such a panel in the upcoming Galaxy Note 5. If the information turns out to be genuine, the Galaxy Note 5 will make a debut with a 5.89-inch display and a whopping 748ppi, thus surpassing Gionee’s offering. In related news, Sharp recently unveiled the world’s first 5.5-inch mobile display with UHD resolution and an outrageous 806ppi.

So, as you can see, pixel density in mobile devices is on the rise and will continue to ascend throughout the year. The benchmark also sheds light on other specs, including a quad-core MediaTek 6795 chipset, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, and a 24MP/8MP camera combo. Sadly, the benchmark listing doesn't say anything about the design of the product, but we have to imagine it will be very sleek.

Gionee’s Elife S8 listed in benchmarks
Image credits to GFX Benchmark

Current Gionee’s Elife S7 flagship

Current Gionee’s Elife S7 front and back
Image credits to Gionee

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Sony Xperia Z4 to Sell Only in Japan, Another Flagship for the Global Market Coming in May

In an unexpected move today, Sony pulled the veil off the Xperia Z4 flagship we have been seeing leak online for the past few months.

We weren't anticipating the phone to be making a debut today, but here it is, boasting a look very similar to the previous Xperia Z3 handset. Which is to say Sony hasn't really toyed with the overall design schematics of the new phone. Naturally, you’re going to see a bunch of subtle improvements, but nothing too out of the ordinary really. The phone has been made a tad lighter and skinnier and there’s the Snapdragon 810 under the hood to juice things up, but apart from it, that’s about it. Anyway, it was pretty puzzling that Sony decided to launch the Xperia Z4 without making a big fuss about it, after all we’re talking about a flagship device.

Sony Xperia Z4 is exclusive to Japan

Well, a new piece of information sheds light on why Sony chose to make a quiet rollout. According to the Russian Hi-Tech.Mail.Ru website, the Sony Xperia Z4 will be marketed only in Japan and won’t be made available on the international market, in this exact configuration. So what about the rest of the world? Will we be left out? Well, it appears that Sony is prepping a different flagship device for the global market with an official announcement date likely scheduled for around May. We’re not sure what these differences are going to be all about, but in all possibility the international Xperia Z4 model might not be all that different from the Japanese version.

On the other hand, Sony could be looking to make some hardcore modifications. Not so long ago we told you that information concerning Sony’s next-gen flagship, the Xperia Z5, had already leaked out into the world. So could there be a connection between Sony’s next international flagship and the Xperia Z5? It could be. Yet, the earlier report said the Xperia Z5 would take advantage of Qualcomm’s next-gen Snapdragon 820 platform, which should be out towards the end of the year.

But given that Sony is poised to roll out a global version for its latest flagship in May, the two pieces of info don’t seem to be adding up. So we’ll just have to wait and see what else surfaces about Sony’s international flagship. We’ll update you when it happens.

Sony Xperia Z4
Image credits to Sony Mobile

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