Sony Xperia Z5 and Z5 Compact Image Reveals Fingerprint Scanners on the Right Side

Previously, we told you that Sony’s Italian Twitter page confirmed that the Japanese device maker would be present at IFA 2015 in Berlin, where it has a press event scheduled for September 2.

We told you that during the event the phone maker would probably take the opportunity to unveil its next-gen Xperia flagship model, the Xperia Z5. And now it appears the phone will come with a fingerprint scanner. Given the fact that the Xperia Z3 and Xperia Z3 Compact made a debut during the event last year, Sony should follow a similar pattern this year. Albeit Sony said at some point that it was planning to cut down on flagship launches this year, it seems the company will still be releasing two models in 2015. The Xperia Z3+ proved to be a fiasco, mainly because Sony didn’t really bring improvements when compared to its predecessor. On top of that, the overheating issues of the Snapdragon 810 didn’t just go away on the Xperia Z3+, even if the company pushed an update that was meant to solve things.

Sony will continue to rely on the Snapdragon 810 for its next flagship

Interestingly enough, Sony doesn’t seem to be bothered by overheating complaints because rumor has it that the company will make use of the same chipset in the Xperia Z5. According to word on the street, the Xperia Z5 will come with a 5.5-inch display with support for full HD resolution (1920 x 1080 pixels), the ill-fated processor under the hood, and 3GB of RAM. On the back, there will be a 20.7MP photo snapper with autofocus, LED flash and 4K video recording capabilities, while in the front there will be a no-less impressive 8MP camera for selfies and video calls.

Today we get another interesting piece of info related to Sony’s new flagship, after tipster @vizileaks shared an image on Twitter which distinctively shows the upcoming Xperia Z5 and Xperia Z5 Compact sitting next to the iPhone 6. What’s interesting is that the two phones are shown with a fingerprint scanner located on the right side of them. This setup has forced Sony to lower the position of the volume rocker, as you can see below. As for as the Xperia Z5 Compact, we don’t really have much information related to its specifications, but when they become available, we’ll be sure to share them with you.

Sony Xperia Z5 and Xperia Z5 Compact spotted in the wild
Image credits to @vizileaks

Sony Xperia Z(TBC) and compact pic.twitter.com/yNTHvYg5dm

— ViziLeaks (@vizileaks) August 3, 2015

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Specs for LG-Made Nexus 5 (2015) and Huawei Nexus Leak

Google might have surprised everyone when it failed to unveil any new Nexus hardware at its I/O 2015 conference. Even so, the common consensus is that the search giant will introduce two new Nexus smartphones later this year, probably when the final version of Android M is ready to be officially launched.

For the first time, Google is going to partner up with Chinese smartphone maker Huawei in order to give birth to a Nexus device with a 5.7-inch display. On top of that, the Mountain View tech giant has decided to continue its partnership with LG, so in 2015, the Korean device maker will launch a second iteration of the popular Nexus 5 which launched back in 2013. While we’ve seen the specs of the Huawei Nexus leak online, we have virtually no information about the LG Nexus 5 (2015), but this week, the folks at Gizmo China have managed to unearth the purported specifications of the upcoming phone. The report also includes some info about the Huawei-made handset.

LG Nexus 5 (2015)

According to the aforementioned report, this year’s Nexus 5 will arrive on the market with a 5.2-inch full HD display with 1080p (1920 x 1080 pixel) resolution, while the yet unannounced Snapdragon 620 (MSM8976) processor will be breathing life into the whole device, in combination with up to 4GB of LPPDR3-1866 RAM and up to 64GB of eMMC 5.1 internal storage. The Snapdragon 620 was spotted making a quick stop in benchmarks and revealed pretty great performance, comparable to the Snapdragon 810. The chip should make it out into the world with four Cortex A72 cores clocked at 1.8GHz, which explains the encouraging results. The other four cores making up the octa-core setup are of 1.2GHz A53 variety.

We’re also told the phone will don a 3,180 mAh non-removable battery, plus a MediaTek MT3188 wireless charging receiver, a Marvell Avastar 88W8897 connectivity chipset for 802.11ac Wi-Fi, NFC and Bluetooth 4.2. More than that, the Nexus 5 marks a first for Google, as the phone will come equipped with an integrated fingerprint sensor. In the photography department, the new Nexus 5 will take advantage of a 13MP rear camera with IMX278 RGBW sensor, a 6-element f/1.8 aperture lens, OIS, laser autofocus and dual-tone LED flash, while in front will sit a 4MP selfie snapper with OV4682 RGB-IR sensor and Iris detection (will the system be used for authentication, too?).

The device will also enjoy the services of stereo speakers, a new USB Type-C connector, and QuickCharge 2.0. Last but not least, it is revealed that the phone will come boasting an aluminum metal frame with chamfered edges and a matte plastic back cover. Its price will be of around $300-$400 / €274-€365.

Huawei Nexus

As for the Huawei Nexus, we’re told that the smartphone will make a debut in the wild with a 5.7-inch AMOLED display with QHD resolution (2,560 x 1,440 pixels), a 21MP main camera with IMX230 sensor, plus Rezence/WiPower wireless charging. It will boast a metal unibody design, so it seems this one will be the more premium product between the two new Nexus models. Previous leaks indicated that the phone might take advantage of a Snapdragon 820 SoC, which is pretty unlikely since devices bundling this architecture are poised to make a debut on the market in March of 2016.

So the most likely scenario seems to be that the handset will make it out with a Snapdragon 810 under the hood. It will also have a fingerprint scanner like the LG Nexus 5.

Google is prepping two Nexus devices this year
Image credits to Mind of the Geek

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Daimler, BMW, Audi Take Over Nokia’s HERE for $3.2 Billion

After selling its Devices and Services unit to Microsoft last year, Nokia is now giving up on the next most valuable asset, the HERE mapping division that’s currently available cross-platform but also bundled into a number of other solutions, such as Garmin devices.

Reuters is reporting that a group of German premium carmakers, including Daimler, BMW, and Audi, agreed to take over the HERE division for $3.2 billion (€2.9 billion) but an announcement in this regard is yet to be provided by any of the involved parties. The deal, however, is not at all surprising, as a consortium of German car manufacturers was said to be involved in HERE takeover negotiations last month, with various reports claiming that Nokia was willing to drop the asking price in order to reach an agreement sometime this summer.

What’s more, some of these carmakers are already using HERE solutions on their mapping services, including BMW, so taking over the whole business would be a long-term investment that would cut licensing prices and make them available on a broader range of car models.

Several interested buyers, price too big

Since Nokia announced its intention to sell the HERE division, several companies have expressed their interest in taking it over, but the price set by the Finnish company was reportedly too big, so most decided to end negotiations because of this. HERE, originally known as NAVTEQ, was purchased by Nokia in 2007 and rebranded as Ovi Maps, and then renamed to Nokia Maps in 2011. The final rebranding to HERE was announced in November 2012, when Nokia was still doing pretty well with Stephen Elop, former Microsoft executive, at the helm of the company.

The HERE app is now available on the majority of mobile platforms, including Windows Phone, Android, and iOS, but also on the web on HERE.com. It’s not clear what will happen with all these apps after the takeover by German car manufacturers, but it’s believed that apps will continue to be available on mobile platforms, while premium services could be offered exclusively on their car models.

Nokia sells HERE for $3 billion
Image credits to Nokia

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Sony Xperia Z5+ Leaks: 5.7-Inch QHD Display, Snapdragon 820 and 4GB of RAM

If all the rumors we’ve been seeing float online these days are true, Sony is bound to launch a second flagship smartphone this year, to wash away the Xperia Z3+ fiasco.

According to word on the street, Sony will soon unveil the Xperia Z5, which is tipped to arrive with a full HD (1080p) resolution. This might have disappointed some of you, since FHD resolution is not the standard for flagship smartphones anymore although some device manufacturers like Huawei continue to push it. As some recent reports suggest, it seems that Sony will launch a variant of its Xperia Z5 flagship with a QHD display after all. The Japanese device maker is also prepping a mini variation of the phone, in the form of the Xperia Z5 Compact.

References to Sony Xperia Z5+ pop up

Fresh info coming out of Mobipicker indicates that Sony is also prepping the Xperia Z5+, which is tipped to arrive with a bezeless 5.7-inch display with 1440 x 2560 pixel resolution and 515ppi pixel density. Under the hood lies a Snapdragon 820, which is good news given the overheating issues the Xperia Z3+ has been faced with ever since it got launched. Given that Xperia Z5+ will be powered by this specific chip architecture, it’s safe to assume Sony will release the phone at a later date. That’s why the report says the handset should arrive sometime in March 2016.

Sony will also pack 4GB of RAM with 32GB of internal storage under the hood of the phone. We’re also going to see a powerful 20.7MP camera on the back, plus an 8MP frontal snapper for taking selfies. More than that, the device will don a fingerprint scanner which will live either on the back or in front, embedded in the home button. And in good accordance with Sony’s practice, the Xperia Z5+ is most likely bound to carry IP certification against dust and water.

As for the Xperia Z5, the smartphone is said to pack a 5.5-inch display with FHD resolution, a Snapdragon 810 processor (like the Xperia Z3+) plus 3GB of RAM. It sounds a lot like the Xperia flagship that’s currently on the market, so maybe we should place our hopes on the Xperia Z5+ instead.

Sony's Xperia Z5 lineup is going to be extensive
Image credits to Sony

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Samsung Galaxy Note 5 Benchmark Leaks: Exynos 7422 CPU, 4GB RAM

Even though we get new details about Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Note 5 phablet on a daily basis, things are still confusing when it comes to specs.

Previous rumors claimed Samsung Galaxy Note 5 will be equipped with a homegrown Exynos 742 chipset inside, the same processor that powers the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge smartphones. The latest live pictures showing a prototype unit of the Galaxy Note 5 also confirm that the phone's S Pen won't be ejectable, so users will have to pull it out manually. Today, a new information sheds some light on the chipset that will be embedded into Samsung's Galaxy Note 5 phablet. The folks over at GSMArena have just got their hands on a screenshot taken from a Galaxy Note 5 benchmark.

The application used, CPU-Z displays the hardware configuration of the Samsung Galaxy Note 5, model number SM-N920F.

We still have no idea whether or not it will come with microSD card slot

According to this benchmark, the Galaxy Note 5 will be equipped with an Exynos 7422 chipset, which is an improved version of the Exynos 7420 processor inside the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge. Aside from that, it also confirms the fact that the phablet will pack 4GB of RAM and 32GB of internal memory. However, we expect Samsung to launch multiple Galaxy Note 5 variants with different storage amounts.

Unfortunately, it's still unclear whether or not Samsung will add a microSD card slot inside the Galaxy Note 5. The good news is we won't have to wait too long to find out more about the phablet, since Samsung is expected to officially unveil the Galaxy Note 5 as early as August 12. If you're waiting for Samsung's flagship to be launched on the market, then you should know that the Galaxy Note 5 will only be available in select markets beginning August 21.

Samsung Galaxy Note 5 benchmark
Image credits to GSMArena

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Galaxy Note 5 Live Pictures Leak Online

Most of you who follow all news about Samsung Galaxy Note 5 remember that the first live pictures of the phablet leaked yesterday.

The pictures revealed the fact that the smartphone won't feature an ejectable S Pen, but a stylus that must be pulled out manually. Apart from that, the Galaxy Note 5 seemed like a slightly enlarged version of the Galaxy S6, but since the back of the smartphone wasn't shown in those pictures we couldn't confirm whether or not it will feature glass coating. Well, it looks like the folks over at SamMobile have another set of pictures of the alleged Galaxy Note 5 and some of the things that we noticed yesterday does not seem to stand now.

For example, the S Pen doesn't feature the small gap in the previous pictures that would allow users to pull out the stylus using their fingernails.

Glass back and standard microUSB port instead of USB Type-C

Also, we can finally have a good look on the Galaxy Note 5's back side, which looks pretty much the same as Galaxy S6's, which means it feature glass coating. Another thing worth noting is the lack of the USB Type-C port that was rumored to be included in the Galaxy Note 5. What we see instead is a standard microUSB port. If you've been dying to learn more about Samsung's upcoming flagship smartphone, you will be pleased to know that the South Korean company is expected to unveil the Galaxy Note 5 on August 12.

Along with the Galaxy Note 5, Samsung is also said to launch the Galaxy S6 edge+ smartphone, both of which will be available for purchase from August 21. However, while Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ will be available worldwide, the Galaxy Note 5 will only be purchasable in select markets.

Samsung Galaxy Note 5
Image credits to SamMobile

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Motorola Moto X (3rd Gen) to Pack 5.5-Inch FHD Display, 21MP Camera, 3,600 mAh Battery

Motorola is rumored to launch a few Android smartphones in the next couple of days and the latest hearsay point to a Moto G (3rd Gen) unveil on July 28.

However, the US-based company might launch its next flagship smartphone as well, the Moto X (3rd Gen) on the same day, or around the same timeframe. Since we've only talked about the upcoming Moto G (3rd Gen) in the last couple of weeks, it's only fair that we now offer Motorola fans some information about Moto X (3rd Gen). The information comes via HelloMotoHK, a group with sources close to Motorola, which offers details on some of the company's upcoming products.

According to this group, Motorola Moto X (3rd Gen) is expected to arrive soon with Android 5.1.1 Lollipop operating system right out of the box. Hardware-wise, Motorola is determined to avoid the controversial Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, which is why the Moto X (3rd Gen) will be equipped with a hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 CPU inside.

No Quad HD display, but a huge battery

Also, the Moto X (3rd Gen) won't be packing a Quad HD (2560 x 1440 pixels) display, instead Motorola is said to have opted for a 5.5-inch display that supports full HD (1080p) resolution. On the back side, the smartphone will feature a 21-megapixel photo snapper, though it's unclear whether or not it will include a Sony sensor. In the front there will be a 5-megapixel selfie camera. But the most appealing piece of hardware inside the Moto X (3rd Gen) is the 3,600 mAh battery, which is said to power the smartphone.

With that high-capacity battery and only a full HD display, the Moto X (3rd Gen) will sure get you through more than one day of full use. Last but not least, the same source confirms Motorola's Moto X (3rd Gen) will surely pack microSD card slot for memory expansion.

Motorola Moto X (3rd Gen)
Image credits to HelloMotoHK

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Sony Xperia Z5 Tipped to Launch in September with 5.5-Inch FHD Display

It looks like Sony will be launching a second flagship smartphone this year, even though the Japanese company initially stated that it will only release one high-end device per year.

The upcoming Sony Xperia Z5, or whatever its name, has been leaked a few times by now and everything points to a Xperia Z3+ copycat in terms of specs. We have recently spotted the smartphone in UAProf and were a bit disappointed to find out that Xperia Z5 will sport display that supports full HD (1080p) resolution. Full HD resolution is not standard for flagship smartphones anymore, but Sony does not seem to be ready to put this type of displays into its devices, even though the Xperia Z4v for Verizon Wireless is an exception. Today, a new report claims that Sony Xperia Z5 will indeed sport a full HD (1080p) display, but what's interesting is the fact that the Japanese company will include a much larger 5.5-inch screen.

The first Sony flagship to enter phablet category

While most of Sony's flagship smartphones pack 5.2-inch screens, it appears that the Xperia Z5 will make the jump into the phablet category thanks to a larger 5.5-inch display, which would have been nice to offer Quad HD (2560 x 1440 pixels) resolution. Apart from that, the same report claims the Xperia Z5 will be powered by the same controversial 64-bit octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor paired with an Adreno 430 graphics processing unit and 3GB of RAM.

On the back, there will be a 20.7-megapixel photo snapper with autofocus, LED flash and 4K video recording, while in the front there will be a no less impressive 8-megapixel camera for selfies and video calls. Last but not least, Sony Xperia Z5 is said to be on track for a September unveil, in order to compete with Samsung Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S6 edge+ and Apple iPhone 6s. It remains to be seen whether or not the specs inside the Xperia Z5 will make it a worthy competitor.

Sony Xperia Z5 teaser
Image credits to Digi-Wo

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Xiaomi Mi5 Leaks in Pictures, Features Edge-to-Edge Display

Xiaomi is currently preparing to launch two new flagship products, which are set to arrive on the market as the Mi 5 and Mi5 Pro.

Specs of the two models have also made their way online, indicating that the first version will be powered by a Snapdragon 810 chipset, while the second will be the first handset to make a debut on the market with a Snapdragon 820 under the hood. If you have been curious to see what the Xiaomi Mi5 will be all about, this week, the folks at Chinese blog Mobile Dad are treating us to a couple of spyshots of the device, which reveal an edge-to-edge display. Following the market trend nowadays, which tends to obliterate bezels, the Mi5 will also arrive with ultra slim, almost imperceptible bezels. Apart from that, Xiaomi maintains the design we are accustomed to, including the trio of capacitive buttons living at the bottom of the device.

Xiaomi Mi5 rumored specs roundup

According to the rumor mill, the Xiaomi Mi5 will be the beneficiary of a 5.2-inch LCD display with Gorilla Glass 2.5 coating and taking advantage of 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution. The device has a 16MP primary camera alongside a very capable 13MP selfie shooter. There aren’t a lot of phones equipped with such a powerful frontal camera available on the market, apart from the Desire EYE from HTC, which boasts a similar configuration. Xiaomi Mi5 is sustained by a 3,000 mAh battery and will take advantage of quick charge support, which will allow users to juice up 30% of the battery in just 40 minutes.

The phone should arrive with Xiaomi’s next MIUI 7 interface based on Android 5.1 Lollipop. There are a few concerns that Xiaomi’s flagship will also suffer from overheating issues, due to the Snapdragon 810 chip on the inside. Previous rumors would have us believe that Xiaomi was thinking of utilizing the Snapdragon 820 for both models, but it appears this is not the case. Qualcomm’s next-gen architecture will start shipping out in December, so it appears Xiaomi will not be unveiling the two phones at the same time.

When should we expect the Mi5 to make an appearance? Maybe on August 16, when the company is poised to announce new products, deals and promotions. We’ll keep an eye out and inform you as soon as more information on the matter is available.

Xiaomi Mi5 leaks

Xiaomi Mi5 has edge-to-edge display
Image credits to Mobile Dad

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Sony Lavander Launching in August as Sony Xperia T4 Ultra

Good news for Sony fans, as the Japanese handset maker has another mid-ranger in the pipeline, the Xperia T4 Ultra. The new smartphone might be launched as early as August for a price that will be disclosed closer to release.

Some of you might remember the Sony Lavander that leaked back in April and never made it to market. Well, it looks like the Lavander will be launched on the market as Sony Xperia T4 Ultra, a new report claims. The smartphone will be announced next month and should cost around $300 if we are to take into consideration the price of the its predecessors. According to the same source, the Xperia T4 Ultra will be Sony's fist device ever released with a “bezel-free” design. Although this sounds more like a marketing line than an actual feature, lets take this as accurate until the smartphone is actually announced.

Furthermore, Sony Lavander or Sony Xperia T4 Ultra will be equipped with a powerful octa-core MediaTek MT6752 processor clocked at 1.7GHz, which will be complemented by 2GB of RAM.

There won't be a 6-inch for the next Xperia Ultra series phone

Unfortunately, there's no mention of storage amount, but we expect the Xperia T4 Ultra to come with microSD card slot for memory expansion. We also know that the smartphone will boast a large 5.5-inch capacitive touchscreen display that supports full HD (1080p) resolution. On the back, the Xperia T4 Ultra should feature a 13-megapixel photo snapper with autofocus, LED flash and full HD (1080p) video recording. Rumor has it the main camera will pack a Sony IMX214 sensor.

Sony Xperia T4 Ultra is said to be powered by Android 5.0 Lollipop, but by the time the smartphone will go on sale it might run a newer version of the OS. Last but not least, the smartphone will come with 4G LTE support, but it will also provide users with dual-SIM support.

Sony Lavander front panel
Image credits to nowhereelse.fr

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