Verykool Maverick SL5550 review: Unlocked phones get another strong contender

You may have not yet heard of the verykool brand, and that’s okay. It’s a startup based out of San Diego. The parent company, InfoSonics Corp, has a past history as a distributor for more known brands (Samsung, LG) before it branched off to do its own thing.

Verykool has quite a few smartphones under its belt now, and the experience shows. We were given its latest, the Maverick SL5550, to review for you guys today.

The SL5550 comes with a considerable 5.5″ screen and is LTE-ready. Verykool thinks it’s packed with all the things you’d need from a top-notch smartphone, at a very cool retail price of $179. Let’s check out if the Maverick SL5550 is the unlocked smartphone for you.

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Design

I’ll cut to the chase about the Maverick SL5550’s design. I was majorly impressed upon opening the box. An asking price of $179 doesn’t beg for high expectations. I was wrong. Budget phones are beginning to offer a lot, and the SL5550 is certainly no exception.

The classy metal frame slapped me in the face when picking up the smartphone for the first time. It looks and feels so good. The finish on the metal is smooth and matte. It’s flanked by shiny chamfers on both sides, which create a lovely contrast. The metal alone gives the phone an appearance way past its price.

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I also like the front of the phone as well. Tempered glass protection dominates the entire front panel, and verykool was considerate with minimizing bezel.

However, with such an aggressive price, something indeed had to give. The back cover doesn’t keep up with the quality feel of the rest of the phone.

The plastic has a cheap feel, and there’s a hollow response when you tap on it. The glossy finish tries to hide the fact, but it can’t really.

I’m not suggesting that the backing won’t hold up, and the fact that it is removable can be a point of redemption. Yes, the battery in this guy is replaceable. Access to the back also provides a microSD card slot and two SIM slots.

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Performance

The SL5550 is powered by a MediaTek MT6735P processor, which consists of four ARM Cortex-A53 cores running at 1.0 GHz. The MT6735P is comparable to the Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 400 SoC (low-mid range). Therefore, you shouldn’t expect mind-blowing performance.

That isn’t to say it won’t get you by. In my experience, the SL5550’s performance was just fine for basic phone functionality (moving through the UI, opening applications, internet browsing, etc.).

What had me most worried was the fact that the processor is bundled with only 1GB of RAM. It is a big risk going with such a low memory capacity (bear in mind that part of it is reserved for the OS). In my opinion, 2GB should be the minimum in this day and age. It may forgivable for a sub-$100 phone, but not at $179. Fortunately, it didn’t show a problem for basic phone functionality. But there can be slowdown when you ask for more from the system (gaming, camera, multi-tasking, etc.).

The SL5550 comes with 16GB of internal storage. That isn’t a lot when you consider that the OS takes up a chunk of that space. However, it’s fantastic that the concern is supplemented by microSD expansion support (up to 64GB of additional storage).

Regarding audio performance, I was pleasantly surprised. The external speaker (bottom-facing) isn’t anything to write home about, but I felt the headphone output was superb for a phone at this price range.

The sound is clear and rich. And where most budget phones I’ve tried make my favorite tunes uninspiring, the SL5550 is engaging and has that articulated oomph from strong-hitting notes in the music.

Display

I’m always worried when powering up a budget phone for the first time. You never know what you’re gonna get with the display. They usually have some kind of standout weakness in the form of color degradation or a washing-out effect.

I was pleasantly surprised with the SL5550’s display. No, it won’t match top-end panels from Samsung or LG, but it’s not far off either (and that’s saying a lot for a budget phone). It most definitely surpasses what you’d expect from this price range. It’s clear that we’re looking at an IPS panel, because blacks are deep and the image quality is maintained at angles (even surprisingly at extreme viewing angles). Colors are neither vivid nor dull; they should be just right for most people.

But what I will red mark is the resolution. At a 5.5″ display size, a 720p resolution (267 ppi) does show weakness. Elements in the images show a slight blur, especially to someone used to seeing a much more pixel dense display (which isn’t hard these days). However, I admit that this is more of a snobby complaint. The display is just fine for general use.

Camera

I’ll cut to the chase and say I wasn’t overly impressed with the camera performance. The capturing speed is what bugged me the most. It can be too slow to focus and take the shot. But don’t get me wrong, it’s not incompetent. I’m speaking from the perspective of snappy shooters in many smartphone cameras these days.

Spec-wise, we’re looking at a 13MP module as the primary camera and a 8MP front shooter. The megapixel count is impressive for a budget device, but the general consumer must know by now that the amount of megapixels don’t determine camera quality.

Rather than just talk about it, I’ll let you be the judge (click the image to go to the collection):

The camera software is verykool’s own implementation. Navigation through it is just fine, and it has the essential functions you’d expect from smartphone camera software (HDR, panorama, picture effects). There’s a feature called Live Photo Mode, which is a gif-like capture (or moving set of pics).

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A minor annoyance in my experience with the camera is the software’s shutter button. You have to hit it right at the center. Many times when I thought I got the picture, it actually only focused where I tapped.

Battery

The SL5550 packs a modestly-sized 2,500 mAh battery. Considering the price and size, I have no complaints over the capacity. The value is also raised by the fact that can buy another battery and swap it out at desperate times (an ability that many phones have now lost).

But how does that 2,500 mAh battery pack perform in the SL5550? In my experience, fabulously. I consistently managed to get over a day. Specifically, it would be around 30% by the time I went to bed.

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This was with being out and about half the day and at home on WiFi. I tried to cover several use cases (internet browsing, music listening, picture taking, and navigation). The SL5550 held up like a champ. Note that although the battery stats say “Use since last full charge”, it doesn’t actually display the complete usage (must be a bug).

A neat feature verykool has implemented to help on battery life is called Standby Intelligent Power Saving. As implied, it helps minimize usage while the phone is in standby. It worked pretty well in my test. I went to bed at 37% and woke up to 32%

However, note that Google baked this kind of battery-saving feature into Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) – Doze. The SL5550 is on Android 5.1 (Lollipop), so it’s generous that verykool has a similar feature in the meantime until Marshmallow comes through.

Software

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Verykool did it right with regard to software in the SL5550. It is practically stock Android (version 5.1, Lollipop). I will always praise when budget phone manufacturers don’t waste their resources in trying to create a standout UI (which end up being fugly) and just let Android be Android. Stock Android has a UI, just use it and put the effort into something that matters.

/rant.

With that said, the SL5550’s software isn’t completely free of verykool’s own touches. I must say that I was extremely worried about the presentation upon the phone’s initial power up. I was taken to a home screen that didn’t look one bit like Android. Fortunately, this only turned out to be a verykool app that launches on startup (not very cool at the slightest).

You have to press the Home button to get into Android. I also need to say that launcher isn’t Google’s own (you won’t find Google Now on the far left panel), but it might as well be. Lollipop transitions, icons, app drawer, and notification shade are present. And the fluidity and animations when moving through the UI is how it should be.

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Final Thoughts

My overall opinion is that verykool did a fine job with the Maverick SL5550. I think the manufacturer is progressing nicely, and it is making the right compromises for the aggressive price target.

The way I give a passing grade to a budget phone is if I could say I could drop my flagship and use it as my daily driver if I really needed to. With the SL5550, I no doubt could. But what keeps me from saying “I totally could” is the 1GB of RAM and sub-par camera performance. I hope that verykool has these refinements on the priority list for the next phone.

Nonetheless, the SL5550 would definitely be one of my top recommendations for someone looking for a sub-$200 smartphone.

Maverick SL5550 product page

Blu Vivo XL review

Blu Products is an American-based (Miami, FL.) smartphone maker who has been around since 2009. With a primary focus on Android and Windows handsets, the company’s bread and butter is unlocked and less expensive alternatives to other, more familiar manufacturers.

As of today, Blu — Bold Like Us –splits its smart phones into three distinct series. The Dash is the most affordable of its models while the Studio is the mid and upper tier stuff. The Vivo line is where you’ll find the high-end and more polished designs.

The Vivo XL Excel, first introduced at CES in early January features a 5.5-inch display, a 13-megapixel rear camera, and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. Powered by an octa-core Mediatek processor, the phone packs 16 gigabytes of storage (ROM) with two gigabytes of memory (RAM). It is not a groundbreaking device by any stretch, however it is a package which most typical smartphone users might consider looking into.

We recently spent a few days with the Vivo XL and have put together the following review for you. Please read on for our impressions and takeaways.

First Impressions

The first thing you notice about the phone is actually the box that it comes in. It’s gold and made of a bit thicker construction than most cardboard boxes.  Coupled with a striking black print, the box sets the tone for a more premium smartphone experience.

Upon taking the handset out we notice that it was thinner and lighter than expected. In terms of overall footprint, the phone is pretty close to what you’ll get with the Nexus 6P. At 5.5-inches it’s just a smidge shorter than the Google handset.

After inserting the battery and putting the back case on, the phone feels not unlike the Samsung Galaxy S3.  Although people are often quick to call this material a plastic design, it is actually more of a polycarbonate or synthetic material. Indeed, the battery cover has some give and bending in it, but the honeycomb print on the inside helps keep it from cracking.

Handing the phone off to a couple of people for a quick reaction, the first things typically said were that it was a “nice feeling phone”, that it “looked more expensive than it is”, and it was “comfy”.  Before going further, I should point out here that the retail price of this phone is only $150. Yep, that is without a contract. And, as if that weren’t enough, the phone supports two SIM cards so you can bounce around from carrier to carrier or mix business and personal lines.

The gold finish on the front somewhat reminds us of the matte gold on the Nexus 6P and it almost borders on the rose gold that you’ll find with the iPhone. The model we reviewed was the Liquid Gold so we imagine the Rose Gold version is even more in line with the Apple counterpart. Other colors offered include Chrome Silver and Midnight Blue.

The battery cover has a pattern printed on it however it is not physically textured. While it certainly looks as if it would have a grip, it is smooth to the touch. Another quick impression before turning on the phone was that this battery cover was quick to pick up fingerprints and smudges. The front however was more forgiving.

But, whereas the rear of the Vivo XL easily picks up finger traces, it is also very easy to wipe down. A simple swipe against a shirt or pant leg and we’re back in business. Were you to put this into a protective case there might be nothing to discuss here — this is somewhat of a non-starter of an issue.

General Details

Powering on the phone we found that it offered up bright and sharp display that was easy on the eyes. Although enthusiasts and early adopters might scoff at the bezel around the display, we’ve seen worse and we are quick to remember the value proposition. Remember, we are not dealing with a phone that runs $500 to $700. It would be unfair to compare the traits and hardware materials to something in that realm.

As mentioned before, the Vivo XL supports two SIM cards. It is worth noting, however, that you will have to remove the battery if you want to swap in or out a SIM card in the first position. The second position is more on the side and is accessible simply by removing the battery cover.

The phone supports a micro SD card for expansion. Should the 16GB of storage not be enough, simply add your memory card to increase it.

The power button is on the right hand side just about half way up with the volume buttons slightly higher up the phone but still on the right. The headphone jack is on the top of the phone and is set off to the left about 25% of the way. On the bottom we find the USB Type C port.

Display

With a resolution of 720 by 1,280 pixels, the image looks better than it sounds on paper. Once you get into that 5 inch and five and a half inch space, anything below this is going to look very pixelated. And, while this doesn’t look nearly as sharp as a 1080p or 2k screen, we had no problems reading text and images we’re still very clear.

The display is very bright with a decent amount of contrast. Also, it is possible to adjust the LCD effect from neutral to cool or warm. What this does is slightly tweak the picture by adding or removing a small degree of color. It is a minimal change, going from one to another and is not something that adversely impacts anything you might do on a daily basis.

As expected, there are options to adjust the brightness level manually. Additionally you can set adaptive brightness to dim and lower light settings or brighten itself when outside or in a place where it is called for. In a related note, there’s also an option to adjust economical backlight which automatically adjusts — wait for it — backlight to save power. Toggling on and off you can see what it does for you in different environments. Do know that messing with these sort of settings can have an impact on your battery life, good or bad.

Performance

The Vivo XL draws power from the MediaTek octa-core processor and 2GB RAM. While not a top-tier device by 2016’s standard, we found that this model still punches above its weight. As devices are treading deeper into the 3GB and 4GB realm of memory, we are sometimes quick to want that from our phones. Maybe it comes from trying to future-proof ourselves with desktop computers or laptops, however we should remember that the average user does not necessarily need that much performance.

To test general usage, we installed a handful of applications and games that a typical smartphone user might enjoy. Examples include various social media apps and casual games. We did not find that the phone was necessarily laggy or unresponsive even when we opened up multiple apps at a time. Moreover, hopping from one app to another went as smoothly as we would expect, and the overall performance was actually better than we had hoped for out of a phone at this price point. In other words, don’t let the 2GB RAM deter you.

We had erroneously anticipated becoming frustrated with the experience. It was thought that at some point during testing we would find a flaw or something specific in its performance to point out that says, “see, this is why the phone only cost this much.” Alas, we did not. There were some quibbles, of course, but nothing that pushes the phone out of its price range.

When it comes to the topic of speakers and sound, the phone could be a touch better.  There are no stereo speakers to be found here. Should you play music or a video, your sound will come from the back of the phone.

The speaker grille is just below the battery and, while it puts out a reasonably loud sound, it did have a little bit of tin to it. Again, we have to give the benefit of the doubt because of the price. We are not paying for dual front facing speakers;  we have heard worse on phones in the past and have been content.

Battery lasted us well into a second day of usage, which is what we’d hope for in a 3,150mAh unit. Once the 6.0 Marshmallow update is pushed out and the Doze feature is added we would expect to squeeze out even more. The USB Type C charger replenished the battery at an average rate – adding roughly 25 percent juice in an hour’s charging.

Camera

One area where the phone comes up a little short is in the aspect of the camera. Although there are plenty of software features and customizations to be found, the overall quality leaves a bit to be desired.

In testing the camera, we notice that it doesn’t handle range as well as other models. But, this is where we remind you to consider the cost of the phone. Bearing that in mind, it still performs as expected. Truth be told, we know people who have smartphones with much better cameras that ultimately take bad photos. For whatever reason, they are content with poorly shot images with blurry subjects and terrible lighting. This wouldn’t fare any worse than what they’re currently putting on Facebook.

Click here to see an entire gallery of photos taken with the Blu Vivo XL (Google Photos)

As you can see from the gallery of images the camera blows out the white. Even in using the HDR and/or playing with the flash, we found that white edges in lighting and on the edge of items don’t look as clear or sharp as we want. This is not to suggest you can’t clean them up or run them through a photo program for sharing on social media or messages. Let’s be honest here, we are not printing out our photos or hanging them on a wall. If that is the type of using you plan to be, then you certainly do not want to look at this phone.

Generally speaking, the camera captured the subjects quickly and without too much time to focus. We were particularly impressed with the speed in which the phone captured and saved photos and HDR mode.

As far as overall options are concerned, the Blu Vivo XL offers more than you’d expect out of a budget-friendly phone. There’s plenty here to play around with (see below) when it comes to filters and settings for unique images.

We could spend paragraph talking about images, however it ultimately comes down to use your preference. If you look at the gallery and think to yourself hey this is sufficient for me, then there you go. But, if your first reaction is to point out picture flaws and where it comes up short, then this is not for you.

Software

Powered by Android 5.1 Lollipop out of the box, Blu promises this will be upgraded to at least 6.0. We don’t know when that will happen so keep that in mind if you are expecting the latest version of Android. Yes, there are handsets coming out with the newer version of Android, but we venture to guess the target demographic doesn’t really know or care that much about the different versions of Android.

As someone who has spent time with all versions of Android, we have become reliant on some of the features that come with marshmallow, but that is just a personal preference and experience. If you need the latest and greatest, then we lost you a while back.

What we like about this phone is that it is essentially a stock Android experience with no major UI customization.  The first time you use the phone you will find a home screen configured with some shortcuts, folders and widgets. Noticeably, the phone does come with Opera installed as a browser option. The app is prominently displayed on the home page right next to the phone, camera, and messaging icons.

Interestingly enough, there is no button to open up any sort of app tray. Instead, your apps and games are accessible by swiping the home screen. For those of you who have spent time with other brands or versions of Android this may feel a little awkward at first — and maybe a nuisance.

We like to install a custom launcher on our devices so our experience is uniform and tailored to suit our specific needs. It helps us when jumping from one model or device to another on a regular basis.

If you prefer a minimal or clean desktop, you may find yourself a little put off by the Blu way of doing things. Download a lot of apps and you potentially have pages or screens full of icons.

The phone does come with Google Mobile Services which means you get all of the standard applications including Gmail, Maps, YouTube, Drive, Hangouts, and the Play Store. This is an important distinction that not all lower price manufacturers offer.

Look around a bit and you’ll discover there are knock off brands and very inexpensive models on the market. On the surface they may appear to be the phone you want, but play with the software and you see where corners are often cut. Rest easy knowing that with the Blu Vivo XL you can get into the Play Store and download all the titles you expect.

In addition to the Google suite of applications, we found the phone was preinstalled with a couple of Amazon titles including the standard Amazon app, Kindle app and one designed to install other apps and games.

Other preinstalled applications worth noting include an FM radio which works when you plug in headphones, a compass, “Torch” (flashlight), and Yahoo weather. McAfee security comes pre-installed on the phone as well and is designed to keep a watchful eye on your mobile experience. If you don’t like it, you can remove it.

In terms of keyboard the phone is set up to use TouchPal 2016 as the default. This means that you can theme your keyboard or customize it with a wide variety of settings. Some of the options here include toggling word gesture, a dedicated number row, auto-correction, and auto-capitalization. You can also switch the keyboard to learn from your messages and import contact names. This is helpful if you have friends or family or the occasional email with a contact that has a unique name. We’re more of a Google keyboard lover, however this was not that difficult to get used to.

The Chameleon application is pretty cool if you are looking to create a custom or handpicked theme. Simply point the camera at an object or room and you’ll be able to select color droplets based on what’s seen. These colors, once applied, will change your wallpaper as well as the various menus and setting screens.

Along the same lines there is a Theme Park application which lets you choose from a variety of wallpapers including static images and live wallpapers. There are also a half-dozen themes to choose from which are essentially bundles based around a common design.

Digging around a little deeper in some of the settings, you will find options to adjust gestures notifications and other personal preferences. It is also possible to set separate ringtones and message tones for the different SIM cards.

Although the Android OS is pretty much untouched, there’s a little bit here that adds to the overall experience. Nothing that should slow down an Android update from rolling out, mind you, but enough to help it stand out from a pure stock build.

Conclusion

We were impressed with the total package of the Vivo XL.  It was not all that long ago that we paid double for lesser phone and felt okay about it.

As more users become acclimated to the concept of buying a phone and then selecting the carrier, devices such as these will stand out. As much as we like a flagship experience like a Samsung Galaxy S6 or LG G4, it is sometimes hard to justify paying that much money every few years. This goes double if you are on a prepaid carrier and do not have the luxury of equipment installation pricing. If you are looking to pay for your phone up front, then you want to get as much bang for your buck as possible. A phone like the Vivo XL truly is bang for the buck.

Unlocked is the way to go. You need to get used to that concept as soon as you can. Blu, one of the emerging brands to watch in this space, only concerns itself with GSM-ready devices free of any carrier influence.

There is peace of mind knowing that you can leave your carrier behind and still use the same phone when you go across the street to a different provider. Tossing the secondary SIM card here and there’s added flexibility for international travel or multiple phone lines.

Also in its favor is the fact that it’s pretty much untouched Android. That’s a big win for people who don’t like custom UI’s or excessive skinning and preloaded applications. Blu hasn’t necessarily proven to be incredibly adept at pushing out software updates, but that could be a non-issue for Average Joe types. As long as it’s supported with security updates and patches any vulnerabilities, we’re okay recommending the 5.1 Lollipop release.

There is peace of mind knowing that you can leave your carrier behind and still use the same phone when you go across the street to a different provider. Tossing the secondary SIM slot and you have flexibility for international travel or multiple phone lines on the same device.

The Vivo XL is thin, sharp looking, and offers a big display at a small price. For a lot of people, that’s all that matters. The camera could be better and the sound could be more robust, but we could also be looking at a $200 phone instead.

In thinking about the target demographic, we  feel that this is more than sufficient enough to get the job done. Heck, there’s even a little bit left over, too.

Where to Buy

Launching today (January 29), the Vivo XL can be had at Best Buy for a downright incredible price of $99. While that’s a $50 savings off its normal cost of $150, it’s only a short time promotional rate. Look for a wider retail and online seller availability in the coming weeks.

A no holds barred review of the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge (Another look)

Three weeks ago I called out many reviewers of the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge with the intention of making sure you readers didn’t buy into the hype of marketing and drop $800 without considering the long term.

I still believe that many reviewers are irresponsible and shortsighted with their reviews, particularly with the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge. The Galaxy lineup is the best selling smartphone in the world. That means those reviews have more impact on how we spend our money and ultimately that sets the direction for other manufacturers to follow. Manufacturers go where the money is. So if “experts” are saying the S7 edge and S7 are just about “perfect” with one week of usage, they’re possibly missing out on a larger part of the review.

After using the $800 Galaxy S7 edge for almost a month now, I am ready to give my no holds barred in depth review.

The Good

• Superior design to anything available now
• Screen to body ratio is perfection for large phones
• Camera is top notch
• Display is second to none
• Expandable memory
• IP68 rating
• Battery life

Design, build, and display are without a doubt the best you can get on any mobile device right now. The sleek lines and high grade aluminum frame sandwiched in between two layers of curved Corning Gorilla glass is stunning. Beyond the good looks is an unmatched feel and comfort that other 5.5″ display phones only dare to dream about.

I have been a proponent of large 5.5″ display phones since the days of the Note, because the added size adds more functionality and makes viewing much easier. It’s quite similar in going from an 11″ laptop display to a 23″ desktop display – it’s easier to do more and you can make text larger which is great for aging eyes like mine.

The big downside to large display phones is the physical size becomes unwieldy at a certain point. The LG V10 comes to mind as a phone that has great specs, but is just too big and too heavy to want to use as a daily driver. The V10 is so massive it feels like I am carrying a shield in my pocket to protect against gunfire. Where the S7 edge excels is having almost no side bezels, due to the curved display, making it one easy smartphone to hold. The Nexus 6P and iPhone 6S Plus, which I have also used, while having great designs, don’t come anywhere near the S7 edge in terms of actual comfort in hand.

The iPhone 6S plus and LG V10 are massive compared to the similar sized display S7 edge.

Samsung has been leading the way when it comes to displays for a couple of years with its famous Super AMOLED 2k panel. Some may argue that it is slightly over saturated, but the clarity, pixel density, brightness, and contrast ratio make this display one to drool over. Other flagships may use Samsung OLED displays too, but none match up to the greatness of the Galaxy displays. I don’t have a scientific explanation as to why Samsung makes their displays better – it could simply be calibration, or it could be something else. I don’t know the answer but I do know the display on the S7 edge is only matched by its older siblings, the Note5 and s6 edge+.

Camera

• Check out Josh Noriega’s S7 edge shootout with the Nexus 6P here

Yes the camera is fantastic. Three-four weeks into its release and I am almost certain you have seen camera comparisons on AndroidGuys amongst many other websites like Android Central and Android Authority. No matter which way you look at it, no smartphone camera is perfect. Sure the S7 edge is close to the best, but there are very few reviewers who are willing to call it the best. There’s no reason to do another sample shooting when you’ve seen many already.

Andrew Martonik from Android Central stated this comment in his review of the S7 edge camera, ” The Galaxy S7 edge still takes really wonderful pictures and can stick with the best of ’em in low light situations in particular, but to see a camera offering that isn’t a complete upgrade from last year is a tough pill to swallow.”

However, most of us do agree that it is a great camera and should make you extremely happy nonetheless.

Most of us also agree that starting up the camera and snapping pics are extremely fast with the S7 edge and those are great features to have. But calling the camera the best of the best is a stretch that almost no one is saying about this camera, and I fully agree. In some scenarios I would take the Nexus 6P or iPhone 6S Plus camera over the S7 edge, but overall it’s hard to be dissatisfied with any of these cameras. My personal favorite smartphone camera to date is the Note5 from last year.

One pain point to take note of is if you are using expandable memory with the camera, and save your photos to your microSD card, you will have to use the Gallery app in order to delete your files. This is a pain point for those of us who use Google Photos as our main photo and video manager, as you will have to use Samsung’s duplicate software just to delete a file. It’s one of the funky quirks in owning a Galaxy device.

IP68 water resistance and dustproof rating

Samsung proved with the S7 edge that all phones should have water resistance and dust proofing built into every smartphone. A few years ago, having an IP67 or IP68 rating may have meant added bulk and ugliness, but with the Galaxy S7 edge you can have the best of both worlds.

Not worrying about spilling water on your $800 device is comfort that we all deserve, and quite frankly, pay for. Stuff happens sometimes. You might drop your phone into a toilet, swimming pool, kitchen sink, and you might surround it with dust on your adventures outside of the home or offive. With the Galaxy S7 edge you’re protected from the elements and that is something all flagships need these days.

It’s especially nice to have when the S7 edge is a fingerprint magnet and you can rinse your phone off under the kitchen sink. Doing so makes your phone look new again and washes off any dirty microbes you may have accumulated throughout the day.

Technically speaking, IP68 means you can leave your S7 edge in 1.5M of water for up to 30 minutes, and it also means it is completely dustproof. You won’t get little specks of dust under your display like some other phones are notorious for getting.

In no way does this mean you should take this phone with you into the pool – it’s not designed for that purpose. The touch display gets confused when you try to use the phone when it is wet. The IP68 rating serves as another layer of protection against daily accidents and should be used with that in mind. Very few flagship smartphones have this added protection, but going forward they need to include it. Samsung proved you can mix beauty with function in terms of design with the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge.

Expandable memory

Expandable memory shouldn’t be listed as a benefit in 2016 considering it has been around for many years now. It’s now listed as a benefit because Samsung opted to leave it out of its flagships in 2015. 32GB of memory is great, but with ~20GB of usable space, many of us need more, especially if we are recording 4k video. Bringing back expandable memory is a win in my book and let’s hope Samsung never does away with it again unless they start giving us 128GB as a new standard.

Battery Life

Samsung opted for a much larger battery this year in the S7 edge increasing it from 3000mAh to 3600mAh. That’s physically more battery than the Nexus 6P, LG V10, iPhone 6S Plus, and even the Galaxy Note5.

While some users have anecdotally claimed 10-11 hours of Screen on Time, I haven’t seen anywhere near that level of performance. Although I do see four to six hours of SoT and that is perfectly fine for me to get through one whole day of standard usage. While I would like more, I have yet to see any other manufacturer give us two days of SoT and asking Samsung to do more is a bit much. With that being said, battery life of one day is standard across the board, and is something I get with the iPhone 6S Plus and Nexus 6P. The LG V10 on the other hand is one of the worst performing phones when it comes to battery life, and since that was my last flagship daily driver, I am happy to get back to a device with a full day of power.

Just don’t expect magic with a larger battery in the S7 edge, and know you will get through a full day of usage.

The Good summary

The S7 edge excels in many areas, and when it does, it is near the top or at the top of the pack in those categories. That’s a good thing, and is appreciated because it makes the competition do better. Just because it does some things really well though, doesn’t mean it does everything well.

The Bad

• Carrier bloat
• Poor software performance
• Micro USB
• 32GB only option
• Price
• Extremely slow software updates

Software performance issues

The Samsung Galaxy S7 edge is no different than one of the Miss Teen USA contestants who fumbled on what seems to be a most basic question.

To some the candidate’s answer might be cute, but for the vast majority of us, all we can say is “WUUUUTTTT?” and then give a good chuckle. (This one question shouldn’t be an indication of who this candidate is as a person – no one is perfect, and being on stage in front of the world is something most of us will never get an opportunity to do, and if we did, I am sure many of us would stumble too.)

While the beauty contestant looks incredibly good, just like the S7 edge, sometimes what’s on the inside is lacking. While the S7 edge does use the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 in the US variant, and does manage to sit atop benchmark tests, real world performance doesn’t live up to what is on paper.

I am frequently running into errors, bugs, and glitches that are nowhere to be found on other Android devices. The S7 edge does run Google’s latest iteration of Android in Marshmallow, but it also runs another layer of customization called TouchWiz.

TouchWiz is specific to Samsung phones and is Samsung’s idea of what Android should be. While some things are good from TouchWiz, the bad things outweigh any benefits TouchWiz offers. For example, Samsung’s new Game control center suddenly showed two versions of itself on my S7 edge. Why? I don’t know and when I turned it off, I was still left with one of the Game control centers open on my phone. Ironically I captured the moment in the image below.

In the background you can see the Game tools are set to Off yet there is another Game tools that is open on top of it.

That’s just one example of a TouchWiz error you won’t find on other Android devices. And the edge display functions are pretty useless and are duplicates of what exist. I turned my edge features off and simply used the edge display for what it is primarily designed for – it’s good looks. Other bugs I encountered were the slow or no response when trying to auto rotate my device into landscape mode, Google Photos and Maps erroring and closing in the background, and slow button responses. There were even times when I thought the touch display wasn’t working, because the lag was so extreme, and it still happens on a regular basis.

You can see TWO game centers on the left side of the screen.

Some may argue that a few of the software errors are pervasive throughout Android, but in my experiences with the LG V10, Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X, I simply do not find that to be true. The errors and software bugs I experience on the S7 edge are limited to it only.

Many reviewers are claiming that TouchWiz is more dialed back than ever, but I don’t find that to be the case. Sure it looks better, but it’s still bad.

Just because TouchWiz was extremely bad three years ago, was just kind of bad last year, doesn’t mean a cleaned up version of it is acceptable this year. It is still buggy and is a reason people might hate this phone a year from now after being stuck with these bugs.

Carrier Bloat

Preinstalled apps from AT&T.

 

If you have read any of my criticisms of Samsung from 2015 and on you would know I can’t stand that carrier bloat they allow on its devices. I know Verizon and AT&T are particularly bad, but Samsung has the ability to tell them no bloat. Samsung just chooses not to as part of whatever agreement they have, and at the end of the day, customers like you and I suffer because of it.

DIRECTV bloat on startup

While we do have the option to turn bloat off, we don’t have the outright option to delete it. It’s almost as if AT&T and Verizon would prefer to have its presence known in a negative light rather than none at all. The saying “bad press is still good press” lives on in the bloat that they install, and outside of rooting our devices, we don’t have a choice otherwise. Samsung doesn’t sell the S7 edge unlocked and free of carriers in the US, and subjects us to wasted storage on our premium, $800 smartphones. Bloatware takes up roughly 2-3GB of memory on my smartphone which works out to three full length movies.

I blame Samsung for letting this happen. They’re big enough to tell carriers to not install bloat, like Apple does with the iPhone, and in this case Apple wins handily over Samsung. iPhones don’t come with crapware installed, and even if they did, Apple still gives its customers the option to buy unlocked.

32GB only option for internal memory

Even though Samsung did us a favor by returning with expandable memory, it didn’t make it adoptable storage like Android M now allows for.

Here’s what adoptable storage is according to Google:

“When external storage media is adopted, it’s formatted and encrypted to only work with a single Android device at a time. Because the media is strongly tied to the Android device that adopted it, it can safely store both apps and private data for all users.

When users insert new storage media (such as an SD card) in an adoptable location, Android asks them how they want to use the media. They can choose to adopt the media, which formats and encrypts it, or they can continue using it as-is for simple file storage. If they choose to adopt, the platform offers to migrate the primary shared storage contents (typically mounted at /sdcard) to the newly adopted media, freeing up valuable space on internal storage.

When a user adopts a new storage device, the platform runs a benchmark and compares its performance against internal storage. If the adopted device is significantly slower than internal storage, the platform warns the user about a possibly degraded experience. This benchmark was derived from the actual I/O behavior of popular Android apps. Currently, the AOSP implementation will only warn users beyond a single threshold, but device manufacturers may adapt this further, such as rejecting adoption completely if the card is extremely slow.”

There’s virtually no reason for Samsung to no opt into making external memory internally adoptable. If the microSD card you choose to use isn’t fast enough to keep up with your daily tasks, Android M will warn you and recommend you don’t do it. Instead Samsung opted to leave external memory as its name describes, which means only certain types of files can be backed up to it. That leaves you with a limited amount of internal storage space and with no other options besides the 32GB Samsung gives you. For some users 64GB or 128GB of internal storage is what they want, but Samsung doesn’t offer those options.

Extremely slow Android updates

I recently wrote about how Samsung Galaxy devices are extremely fragmented and get major updates very slowly. Pure Android Nexus devices, as well as iOS devices destroy Samsung Galaxy phones in the area of software updates.

Samsung is so slow when it comes to updates they won’t even give a schedule of which of its premium flagships will get the next iteration of Android. Instead they pay programmers to give you bloat like S-Voice, a duplicate phone dialer, internet and text messaging app, when they should be giving you software updates.

That leaves your phone vulnerable to security issues and it also shortens the life of the phone as those bugs will slow your phone to a crawl over time.

Read more in depth about Galaxy software updates here.

Price

The price of the S7 edge is outrageous at $800. Three years ago this price was acceptable given that the competition was weak. Sure Apple charges the same price for its phones, but just because someone else is doing it doesn’t make it right.

One phone in particular, the Nexus 6P costs $300 less with an MSRP of $500. Sure it doesn’t have a curved display, but it still has a great build, quality camera, gorgeous 2k AMOLED display, and top notch battery life. It also doesn’t have carrier bloat, and will be the first device to get Android updates, keeping your phone running smooth and up to date with security issues.

Samsung may still have the crown when it comes to the number of devices sold, but the biggest thing holding it back right now is the price it charges for its premium devices. Huawei, Lenovo and Xiaomi will be the new global leaders soon if Samsung doesn’t read the writing on the wall.

The good, the bad – at the end of the day the decision is yours

Looks only go so far with me. I’m not looking to wear my S7 edge as arm candy, take it to a movie, or make it my travelling companion on vacation to the Bahamas. Instead, I need my cellphone to help me in my daily routine. It needs to email, text, browse the web, get me places with GPS, take pictures and help me stay productive with work. While I love the looks of the S7 edge, more than any other phone on the planet right now, the looks only get it so far with me. Software bugs these days are not acceptable like they were five years ago. We’ve moved beyond most of them.

The S7 edge is without question a gorgeous device. But the software and price ruin the whole experience for me, and make me frustrated with Samsung because I know they have the ability to do better. Samsung is so close to getting it right, yet it is so far with the things it does wrong. For that reason I cannot recommend the S7 edge until it comes down a few hundred dollars in six months, or until Samsung gives a clear vision on how and when it will provide software updates to all of its premium devices.

At the end of the day, if looks and build are more important to you than anything else, then go ahead and get the S7 edge. You won’t find anything better. Otherwise, stay away if you need your phone to do more than just look good.

Matt Adams also wrote a review of the S7 edge here.

Nick Scwiwy is sticking with the Nexus 6P over the S7 edge.

Naim Mu-so Qb review: An all-round success

When the original Naim Mu-so launched in 2014, it was received with critical acclaim. Although it’s a physically large bit of kit, it impressed us so much that it took the Pocket-lint Awards gong for best speaker in 2015.

Which sets-up the newer, smaller-scale Mu-so Qb in good stead. This condensed version of the original is almost like a “Mu-so mini”. But just because it’s small doesn’t mean it fails to go big on sound. Indeed, after having one setup for a fortnight in the office, we’re already asking ourselves whether this is perhaps the best £600 speaker 2016 will have to offer?

Naim Mu-so Qb review: Design

Available in a variety of colours (black is standard), the Qb’s exterior mesh panel – which is a removable all-in-one piece, to help prevent unsightly seams between the 90-degree corner angles – continues with the same “wave” form as the original Mu-so, which not only ensures the structure doesn’t look like a boring and rigid cube, but has its own natural form aking to soundwaves (if you’re feeling like a deep-thinker, anyway). That’s contrasted with a more industrial metal-edged rear, similar but less severe than the original Mu-so.

READ: Naim Mu-so review: A sonic sensation

And we think it looks rather smashing (American friends: that’s British for wonderful, seems fair given Naim is a British brand). It’s like a mix of old meets new in many respects, with the physical control wheel up top – which has touch-sensitive control buttons – rotating in a buttery smooth fashion to adjust the volume.

Pocket-lint

Despite its “cube” name, the Qb isn’t quite a perfect cube, measuring 21 x 21.8 x 21.1cm. But it’s pretty darn close. And, at 5.6kgs, it’s a lot lighter than the 13kg behemoth that is the original Mu-so. The Qb fits into everyday life far more easily – we could easily see this smaller chap hanging out in the kitchen, bedroom or, well, anywhere around the house.

Like its bigger brother, the Qb isn’t cutting any corners in terms of build. An aluminium casework ensures everything is rigid, while the transparent base with light-up Naim logo (the brightness is adjustable) gives it a distinct yet familiar design. It certainly looks like part of the family.

Naim Mu-so Qb review: Setup & services

To get the most from Qb you’ll want to download the free app (iOS or Android for the time being). This connects directly via Wi-Fi to the Mu-so Qb to ensure the two components are talking to one another, downloads any necessary firmware updates, and, in our setup experience, was all done and dusted with a few minutes without issue – just like with the original Mu-so.

Within the Naim app are iRadio, UPnP for media servers (we’re connected to Plex), USB/iPod, Bluetooth, Spotify, Tidal, Analogue (3.5mm) and Digital (optical in) sources. A press on any one will switch to that source, without needing to touch the Qb’s touch-sensitive rotational top wheel itself. However you can use this wheel for super smooth adjustment; when adjusting volume it’s accompanied by light-up bars to show the level.

Pocket-lint

The Qb doesn’t come with a remote control like the larger Mu-so, but because of the app we don’t see this being a major flaw, plus the original controller was a bit too plasticky anyway.

Interestingly there’s multi-room functionality too. We’ve got both Mu-so original and Mu-so Qb setup as individual rooms, where it’s possible to send different audio sources to separate devices. We’ve been listening to the radio in the bedroom, while pushing some Asking Alexandria to the office via Plex. It works seamlessly, with individual volume control, although the app could perhaps be a bit more fluid in its transition between devices. You can connect up to five Mu-so products, assuming you’ve got very deep pockets of course!

It’s even possible to pair multiple units together through the app (although not as separate channels, they’re all mono, but each can be independently volume adjusted) for added output.

Naim Mu-so Qb review: Sound

With the front mesh removed it’s clearer to visualise how the Mu-so Qb works. The speakers aren’t arranged flat, as is typical of a speaker, in order to deliver a wider soundstage. The two tweeters, for example, cross over (literally) to ensure sound is projected in a pseudo-stereo arrangement.

Pocket-lint

There’s a 14.5 x 7.6cm woofer, paired with two 14.8 x 8.6cm passive radiators, two 6.4cm-diameter mid-range drivers, and those two 2.5cm-diameter tweeters. Considering just how many drivers there are, it’s actually fairly impressive the Qb is as small as it is.

Naim has maintained Mu-so quality levels in the Qb too. It’s smaller than the original Mu-so, but it’s not cut down on any of the quality you’d expect. Every format you can think of is compatible – WAV, FLAC, AIFF, Apple Lossless all work to 24-bit/192kHz (wired only, it’s capped to 48kHz over wireless); MP3, AAC, OGG and WMA all work to 16-bit/48kHz/320kbps – and work a treat. Although there’s every chance you’ll just be listening via Spotify/Tidal anyway.

We’ve had a multitude of listening experiences to test this speaker to the max. Despite its square shape, it’s an all-round success. From the initial tests sat on the sofa at the Consumer Electronics Show in January 2016 – where we listened through a variety of streamed tracks, from Roger Waters’ solo work to New Order’s Blue Monday – through to podcasts, DJ mixes, rock, pop and everything inbetween, everything sounds grand.

The Mu-so Qb is far from quiet too, as its 300W output makes clear from the off, filling our large office space without cranking things up.

Pocket-lint

But perhaps most substantial is just how capable bass thunders out, without overdoing things. That’s thanks to a dedicated amplifier for the woofer, ensuring plenty of clean low-end rumble. We’ve been listening to Logistics’ new album, Electric Sun, and the bass flows out wonderfully; not quite as broadly as the original Mu-so, but it’s not far off at all.

Verdict

Sure, we’d not call the Qb a budget speaker by any means, but its £595 price point is about as low as we thought we’d ever see from the Naim, um, name.

If you’re looking for high-quality audio at a smaller size and price compared to the original Mu-so then the Qb certainly makes a strong impression. In terms of aesthetics and design it’s second-to-none, with audio as cutting as those stand-out industrial looks. 

As we alluded to at the beginning of this review the Qb is in with a shout of being the home speaker of 2016. For a speaker so square the Qb is an all-round success.

 

 

NASA gives away the data from an Earth-mapping spacecraft

Want to know a whole lot about the Earth’s surface? NASA and the Japanese government are now giving away all the data from the ASTER (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer) instrument… for free. Previously, you had to pay if you wanted anything more than basic topographical maps; now, you get over 16 years’ worth of near-infrared elevation and thermal data. This is mostly helpful if you’re a student or a scientist, but it could be worth a peek if you’ve wanted to see how everything from farms to volcanoes can affect the planet’s surface heat.

Source: NASA, USGS

Homebrew self-driving tech gets millions in backing

George “Geohot” Hotz’s attempt to put cheap, self-driving tech into any existing car raised eyebrows (and Tesla’s ire) when it was revealed late last year. Now, one of Silicon Valley’s most prominent venture capital funds is throwing its wallet behind Hotz’s grand idea. Andreessen Horowitz has written a check for $3.1 million to help Hotz hire engineers and turn his jury-rigged system into a working product. He’s joining some illustrious company, since the fund has previously handed cash to outfits like Oculus VR, Zynga, Instagram, Groupon, Jawbone and something called Twitter.

Those with long memories will know Hotz from his days as Geohot, the hacker that cracked the iPhone and PlayStation 3. The engineer has founded a company, Comma, on the principle that cheap sensors and machine learning makes it possible to make a system for a few thousand bucks. It’s a claim that Tesla was quick to trash, saying that while it’s easy to build a system for a “known stretch of road,” a real self-driving car is a much harder proposition. Still, if the folks at Horowitz are opening their bank accounts, even slightly, then they must feel differently.

Source: Chris Dixon

Samsung Lobbies Indian Government to Deny Apple Request to Sell Used iPhones

Early last month we reported that Apple was planning to sell refurbished iPhones in India and had submitted a formal request to the country’s government in order to allow it to begin importing pre-owned iPhones into the country.

This morning, however, news has surfaced that major smartphone makers in the Indian market including Samsung, Karbonn, Micromax and Intex are actively opposing Apple’s move on environmental grounds.

According to Bloomberg, phone manufacturers argue that elevated electronic waste levels could threaten the viability of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Make in India program, which promotes and encourages local manufacturing. Critics argue that destroying the phones produces toxic materials that could harm the country’s precarious ecological balance, which is already struggling to deal with a massive e-waste problem.

The opposition came in a letter sent to the Indian government by a lobbying group recently set up by India’s Consumer Electronics and Appliances Manufacturers Association (CEAMA). In the letter, manufacturers argued that allowing the sale of used iPhones in India would not only negatively impact the environment, but it would also go against the country’s importation policy.

“Why even consider allowing import of used phones when import of other used goods such as cars are precluded by 300 percent duty levies?” asked Ravinder Zutshi, chairman of the newly formed Mobile and Communications Council, which issued the letter.

Apple’s initial application in 2015 was rejected by the environment ministry. The company’s latest application has gone to “inter-ministerial discussion”, leaving its outcome uncertain, according to the report. If approved, India would be the first territory with used iPhones to be sold directly from Apple.

Earlier in February, Apple was said to be close to opening its own retail locations within India, after having to rely on an “Authorized Mobility Resellers” program due to the country’s strict real estate and zoning laws.

In December of last year, Apple cut the prices of its iPhone 6s and 6s Plus handsets in India by up to 16 percent, following a reported dive in sales. The move quickly followed Apple’s decision to halve the price of iPhone 5s, from 45,500 Rupees ($688) to 24,999 Rupees ($377).

Apple CEO Tim Cook recently praised India’s business environment and stated that the company is putting increasingly more energy into the country, which has the third largest smartphone market in the world, behind China and the U.S.

Apple has less than 2 percent of the market, in which four-fifths of phones cost less than $150. Branded smartphones are available for as little as $35 in India, yet less than one third of the population uses them.

Tag: India
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LG Home 4.0 is available, and a concession for G5 owners

If you hate the default launcher on the G5 and for some reason don’t want to download another from Google Play, LG has its own option available.

LG’s default user interface on the G5 has been, to say the least, polarizing. Those who know a thing or two about launchers (we’re a small but vocal minority, to be sure) haven’t exactly greeted UX 5.0 — with its lack of a proper app drawer — kindly. Sure, you can get a app drawer back with the oversized “EasyHome” option, but most folks under 65 (sorry, Grandpa) aren’t going to go for this option, with its huge fonts. And we could just download any of our favorite home screen replacements from Google Play, but then folks wouldn’t have anything else to complain about.

LG, in a sort of 11th-hour concession, slipped into a promo video for UX 5.0 the addition of a third option — one with a proper app drawer.

It’s here, it’s called LG Home 4.0, and we’ve taken a look at it.

First things first: You’re going to be downloading this from the LG SmartWorld app — LG’s own app store. It’s probably already loaded on your G5, so all you need to do is fire up the app, and search for “LG Home 4.0.” (Or use this link.)

Hit the download button, sit back and let things install, and you’ve got the new LG Home 4.0 option. (It’s worth noting that it’s named different than what was in the LG promo video a week ago.)

Do that, and this is what you get:

Behold — a more traditional Android launcher. You’ve got a 5-by-5 grid atop the static icons. The app drawer button can be moved from the center location to any of the five bottom slots. Hit it, and you’ll find all your apps, with widgets just a tab away. There’s also a search function, and you’ll find sorting options behind the overflow menu. You also can hide and uninstall apps from here, and this is where you’ll also find the Home 4.0 options.

LG’s Smart Bulletin feature (which isn’t turned on by default in any event) works with the new launcher, too.

A long press on the home screen brings up more viewing options and another way to drag apps and widgets onto the home screen. You also can set your wallpaper from here.

Is any of this better than the default UX 5.0 that comes on the G5? That’s subjective, for sure. But I’ve been using the G5 for a few weeks now and prefer a proper app drawer of some sort over a “Springboard”-type paradigm.

And in any event, way too much ink has been spilled over this. Don’t like a phone’s default launcher? Install a new one. LG’s just given us its own alternative here.

LG Home 4.0 is available for the G5, LG Stylus 2 and the LG K8.

And lest you forget what’s being replaced, here it is — the default launcher on the LG G5:

LG G5

• LG G5 hands-on
• LG G5 complete specs
• LG G5 CAM Plus module
• LG G5 B&O Hi-Fi audio module
• Join the LG G5 discussion

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ASUS ZenFone 3 and ZenFone 3 Deluxe renders reveal curved design and USB Type-C

ASUS is slated to unveil the ZenFone 3 and the ZenFone 3 Deluxe later this year at Computex, and thanks to product listings on design site Red Dot 21, we have an idea as to what the phones will look like. The listing showcases renders of the ZenFone 3, revealing 2.5D curved glass at the front and back, as well as USB Type-C connectivity, fingerprint sensor, front LED flash, and laser autofocus at the back. The render also highlights the power button at the back, which will likely house the fingerprint sensor.

As for the ZenFone 3 Deluxe, it looks like the device will feature a full metal design with a physical home button at the front. Not much is mentioned about the device, but it looks like it will forego traditional plastic antenna lines, suggesting ASUS will take a similar approach as Gionee has with the S8.

We’ll get more details on ASUS’ upcoming phones over the coming months. What do you guys think of the design of the ZenFone 3 based on the renders above?

Walmart is discounting the Galaxy S7 by $150

If you’re holding out for a deal on the Galaxy S7, look no further. Walmart is offering a $150 discount on Samsung’s latest flagship device.

The promotion is valid on all in-store purchases bought on monthly installment plans from AT&T, Verizon, or Sprint. If you’re looking to get the device with T-Mobile, you’ll have to look elsewhere. The $150 discount will be reflected as credit on your monthly invoice, according to CNN Money. The promotion itself will be available until the end of June. The retailer is also offering the same discount on last year’s Galaxy S6.

Who’s interested in taking Walmart up on its offer?

Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge

• Galaxy S7 review
• Galaxy S7 edge review
• Galaxy S7 edge with Exynos: A Canadian perspective
• Here are all four Galaxy S7 colors
• Details on the Galaxy S7’s camera
• The SD card is back on the GS7
• Join our Galaxy S7 forums

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