Month: November 2018

HMD Global’s latest Nokia smartphone, the Nokia 7.1, was unveiled last week. Fans of the brand will be excited to know that this one will be available at retailers that sell cell-phones in the US.

The mid-priced Android gadget boasts a durable design, which the brand is well known for, using extruded aluminum that feels like a solid piece of metal.

Let’s check out what this device has to offer:

 

Specifications

The Nokia 7.1 smartphone has a 5.8-inch, 2280 x 1080 HD display that can support high dynamic range content. This means that users can experience greater clarity and color accuracy in images and videos.

In an interview with Forbes, Juho Sarvikas, HMD Global Chief Product Officer, mentions that the device introduces the PureDisplay screen technology that gives users a premium viewing experience. SDR content can be viewed in HDR, which is the brand’s response to the growing trend of mobile video watching among online users.

This phone also comes with Snapdragon 636 SoC. In terms of capacity, buyers have a choice between 32GB with 3GB of RAM or 64GB with 4GB of RAM. Both options should be adequate to run your various apps, although they tend to feel a bit slow if you’re used to a more high-end unit.

The Nokia 7.1 has Android 8.1 Oreo pre-installed, but in succeeding weeks this will be updated to Android Pie.

In contrast to other smartphones with fewer add-ons, with the Nokia 7.1 you get a headphone jack, USB-C port, and a MicroSD slot. The brand has also added a fingerprint reader, and while it’s not the snappiest under the finger, it works well enough to be a convenient feature.

 

Camera Features

Nokia 7.1 has a dual camera setup on its rear, with the primary shooter having an improved light-gathering capacity. The manufacturers say that the camera performs better at low-light photography than its predecessors.

This smartphone has a “bothie” mode where you can use the front and back cameras simultaneously.

Appearance

As with other Nokia builds, this is as durable as you can get. The aluminum frame combined with the glass panel presents a nice, sturdy build. However, the glass picks up fingerprints, marring what would otherwise be a sleek look.

The design features a two-tone color treatment, with the main body either in dark blue or silver, while the edges show either silver or copper accents.

 

Price

With a USD 350 price point, this device is a great option in the US, where not many brands can compete with such an affordable but functional offering. In fact, most phones in this price range have minimal software support and have little design impact to satisfy users.

With a promised software update to Android 9 Pie by the end of October, the Nokia 7.1 will be a stylish, durable, and up-to-date device.

 

The Verdict

As a mid-range option, the Nokia 7.1 is a well-built, practical smartphone with powerful software encased in solid hardware. This is another quality model from the brand, and it can easily be among the best smartphones of the year.

Since August, the entire tech world has set its sights on LG’s newest flagship, the V40 ThinQ. Truth be told, LG’s V series has always made the news because of its prolific launches. The new five-camera flagship phone is definitely no exception.

 

The tech company launched its LG V30S ThinQ just last March. Then, it followed up with its LG G7 ThinQ in May. Then, more recently, it launched the LGV35 ThinQ in June.

 

While LG’s recent mobile strategy indicated it would “row back” on smartphone launches, the company saw critics give its recent releases some positive notes.

 

Without further ado, here is everything we know about LG’s V40 flagship phone set for release this October.

 

The Confirmed Date in October

The LG V40 ThinQ launch is taking place on October 3, 2018. If you’re planning to head to New York for the event, that date’s going to be on a Wednesday.

 

The Verge was the first to announce LG’s V40 ThinQ launch date in New York. However, this was the only date and city announced.

 

LG is likely to host launch events in different other countries – probably one in their home country South Korea, and one in a European country. We’ll have to wait and watch out for other release dates upon their announcement.

 

Will It Cost a Fortune This Time?

The LG V35, its most recent release, had a price of $900 upon going on sale. We don’t think LG will skimp on the price of its newest phone. So, be prepared to shell out some big bucks once again.

 

Tech Advisor UK estimates the price to be around $1000. This is likely to be the amount given that the Samsung Galaxy S9 will cost you around the same amount.

 

Game-Changing Specs We Can Expect

The LG V40 ThinQ had recent advertisements featuring the South Korean boy group BTS showing off its major features, such as the acclaimed 5 cameras in the device.

 

According to Pocket Lint, the LG V40 ThinQ would feature a 6.3 or 6.4-inch QHD+ Display with a 19.5:9 ratio. Just like its predecessor, it would have a P-OLED display.

 

As per its commercial, the cameras will utilize the “ThinQ Moniker,” which makes it easier to take the best selfies and shots.

 

In any case, if you’re thinking twice if it’s worth it to sell tablet units and other devices you were previously using just to buy an LG V40 ThinQ, these specs should urge you to do so:

 

• 6.4in P-OLED, Quad HD+, 19.5:9
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
• 6GB of RAM
• 64/128GB of storage
• 12+16+12Mp rear cameras
• 8+5Mp front cameras
• Quad DAC, Stereo speaker boombox
• 3300mAh
• 159x76x7.8mm
• 169g

 

We believe the V40 surpasses the earlier V35 in many possible ways. Looking at the V35’s specs, you can say the V40 ThinQ’s upgrade is definitely major. This should serve as one of the deciding factors should you consider saving up for this new offering from LG.

 

Every time Apple releases a new iPhone, people go gaga over it. They will line up outside stores that sell iPhones and even make the effort to pre-order the units, regardless of how high the price is or how long the wait would be. They will do anything just to make sure that they will be able to get a hold of the much-coveted gadget.        

Everywhere around the world, thousands of people are iPhone owners and loyalists. Wherever you go, whether it be in business areas, coffee shops, or bus stops, there will always be an iPhone user around. The iPhone obviously still dominates the smartphone industry.   

You might be wondering why people are going crazy over the newest iPhone every year. Here are the top 3 reasons for the yearly iPhone frenzy.   

New Phone Means New Technology

Based on history, iPhone has been known for breaking barriers and breaking the mold. When iPhone came into the picture, it changed the way the world looked at phones. The iPhone became an all-in-one device – a computer, a messaging tool, a source of entertainment, a planner and many more.

In other words, every tool that people needed back then ceased to exist because the iPhone had it all. At that time, it certainly was impressive to be able to give the people everything they needed in a pocket-sized gadget. So it is no wonder that every time Apple releases a new phone, people are all gawking to see the latest technology available.        

 

The Need for Speed

In this digital age, everything happens in super speed mode. The faster your gadget is, the better. The iPhone is still considerably the fastest among all other smartphones. Whether it is used for video editing or for opening a large file, nothing comes close to the speed of the iPhone. When lined up, Samsung Galaxy S9 is the closest to the iPhone, but it is still more than two times slower in speed. Then Google Pixel 2 XL, Samsung Galaxy Note 8 and Samsung Galaxy 8 are trailing far behind in terms of speed.

Nowadays, phones are not only used as a communication tool. People demand for phones that can be used for work and entertainment, with the speed to match it. Apple doesn’t disappoint its fans when it comes to answering these demands. It makes sure that the iPhone is able to deliver all those functions with grace and speed. And every time there’s a new iPhone, it’s safe to say that it will have better speed than its predecessor.          

 

Status Symbol

Whether people admit it or not, the iPhone, with its high-end price tag, is a status symbol. Most iPhone loyalists, when asked what kind of smartphones are available, would say “The iPhone and other phones”. It basically shows a clear distinction between the iPhone compared to all other smartphones, whose names do not even seem to matter when matched with the iPhone.        

The iPhone is quite keen on being able to deliver better technology, super speed, and other favorable benefits to its users, making the iPhone still a top choice when it comes to smartphones. For these reasons, the yearly iPhone frenzy could be expected to continue on.      

 

The ROG Zephyrus S GX531 is currently the world’s thinnest 15-inch gaming laptop. Asus has stripped the title away from the new Razer Blade 15 with its slimmer screen bezels, making it ultra-light and portable. As one can expect from a high-end computer, it features some of the latest technology under its hood. Not to mention, it also comes with a hefty price tag. It might be wise to sell used laptop units before purchasing the new Zephyrus as it will cost quite a bit.

 

Design

The original ROG Zephyrus impressed the tech scene with its thin and light build that did not compromise its performance, but the same thing can be said about the Zephyrus S. Asus reduced the laptop’s screen bezels and thickness, enabling them to cram a 15.6-inch 1080 IPS screen in a compact chassis. It has a 144-Hz refresh rate and a 3ms response time.

The laptop measures 12 x 10.6 x 0.59-0.62 inches while its predecessor features a slightly wider and thicker frame at 14.9 x 10.3 x 10.66-0.7 inches. The Zephyrus S is also lighter than the original laptop, weighing only 4.63 pounds.

Asus made some significant design changes as well. Its keyboard-forward layout leaves no space for palm rests. It has RGB backlighting on the keyboard which can be turned on or off at will using the functions keys from the directional buttons. The Zephyrus S has a hinge-forward design, giving it a rear lip when opened. It also has two little yet noticeable arms that connect the screen from the main body, much like the hinges of the HP Spectre 13. Its all-metal chassis has been put through military-grade durability testing to ensure users that it stands up to the pressures and wear of daily use.

 

Specs

The Zephyrus S features next-generation laptop CPUs from Intel. It comes with the Intel Core i7-8750H, a six-core processor that makes this ultra-thin laptop powerful. It also features the Nvidia GTX 1070 Max-Q graphics card, the same one powering the Razer Blade. Hence, the Zephyrus S shouldn’t disappoint performance-wise. Unfortunately, it won’t be able to support Nvidia’s most powerful mobile GPU, the GTX 1080 Max-Q.

Asus has made it possible for a gaming laptop to be both powerful and ultra-portable through its one-of-a-kind Active Aerodynamic System. It opens the laptop’s bottom and lowers it to encourage airflow. Much like the original Zephyrus, this system activates automatically once the screen lid is opened. However, the gap is slightly smaller than before, now measured at 5 mm. This difference promotes 22% better airflow than standard designs.

 

Price and Availability

An Asus Zephyrus S with an Nvidia GTX 1070 Max-Q graphics card costs $2,199 on Amazon. It will feature an Intel Core i7 processor and 16 GB of RAM. In the U.S., one can opt to get a lower-tier version of the laptop, one with an Nvidia GTX 1060. It will have the same processor and RAM, and it will be available for $2,099. Once the Zephyrus S hits the shelves in the U.K. sometime in mid-October, the lower-tier model will be the only version available.

At Apple’s annual September gathering, they finally unveiled the three highly-anticipated iPhones of 2018. The iPhone XS and XS Max are the latest flagship devices. The entry-level iPhone XR succeeds the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus with its Face ID and edge-to-edge display. Apple wasted no time assuring people of the massive upgrades that are underway. But they didn’t beat around the bush. Apple has made it pretty clear that the updates don’t come cheap.

Before you sell cellphone units you’ve barely used and upgrade to one of these latest devices, let’s have a quick look at each model.

 

iPhone XS and XS Max

Apple’s latest flagship smartphones, the iPhone XS and XS Max, are the exact same device but with different screen sizes. The iPhone XS has a similar design and body as its predecessor. Like the iPhone X, it has a 5.8-inch OLED Multi-Touch display with stainless-steel sides. Its slightly bigger sibling, the XS Max, has a 6.5-inch OLED Multi-Touch display. Apart from that, the smartphones differ in terms of price.

Both smartphones have dual 12-megapixel wide-angle and telephoto rear cameras similar to the iPhone X. They have an IP68 rating. That means the devices can be submerged in water at maximum depths of two meters for up to 30 minutes. They are equipped with Apple’s new A12 Bionic processor, which the tech giant claims to be 15% faster than the A11 chip that’s powering the iPhone X. The smartphones are available in silver, space gray, and gold.

The devices are available in 64 GB, 256 GB, and 512 GB. The iPhone XS starts at $999 while the XS Max starts at $1,099.

Apple’s iPhone XS and XS Max are currently available for preorder. Shipment starts on the 21st of September.

 

iPhone XR

A more affordable and colorful alternative to Apple’s premium smartphone line is the iPhone XR. This entry-level device starts at $749 for 64 GB. It has a 128 GB variant that’s available for $799 and a 256 GB option that costs $899. The iPhone XR is built with a 6.1-inch Liquid Retina display. Unlike the XS and XS Max, its body is made with aluminum and glass.

In terms of tech capabilities, the XR is believed to be somewhere between an iPhone X and iPhone 8. It only has a single rear camera, a 12-megapixel wide-angle shooter. It comes with advanced Face ID. Like the premium iPhone models, it’s powered by the new A12 Bionic chip, making it 15% faster than last year’s flagship device. Its battery also received quite the upgrade. The new model can last 1.5 hours longer than the iPhone 8 Plus.

In addition, the iPhone XR comes in six vibrant colors, reminiscent of the iPhone 5c. The smartphone is available in white, black, coral, yellow, blue, and (PRODUCT)RED.

Preorders for the iPhone XR will begin next month on October 19, and shipment will start on the 26th.