HTC 10 is among the best smartphones to date (Review)
Launched in spring of 2016, the HTC 10 is, at first blush, a simple evolution of the One series introduced a few years back. But, spend some time with the device and you’ll see that it’s not just another trip to the well for HTC. Indeed, this one sprinkles in a bit of revolution, too. The HTC 10 is a surprisingly strong contender for phone of the year.
The target demographic for the HTC 10 is a consumer looking for a powerful experience that offers up some of the latest and greatest in hardware. The specifications for the phone put it right in line with top models such as the Samsung Galaxy S7, LG G5, and Apple’s iPhone 6. If you’re the type who buys based on bullet points and fact tags, the HTC 10 should quickly rise to the top of the heap. In short, the HTC 10 is flagship through and through.
First Impressions
Let’s be honest here. It’s getting harder and harder to create a smartphone that physically stands out or doesn’t resemble every other handset on the market. For some companies that’s not really a problem and coming to market with a lookalike or slight variation on last year’s phone is okay. It seems to work for Apple and Samsung has been guilty of it for a few generations.
The 2016 crop of devices is somewhat different so far in that LG has shaken things up in the G5 and it’s not as similar to the G4 as it could have been. The Galaxy S7, for its part, is a departure from the Galaxy S6. As for HTC, this year’s model looks similar enough to the previous generations that you won’t mistake it for another brand. A few minutes of holding it, though, tells you things are different here, too.
I was pleased to see that the HTC 10 carries over some of the design language of its predecessors. There was nothing wrong with the M7, M7, and M9; they were just a little too close to each other. The HTC 10 brings forth a combination of that line as well as elements introduced in the One A9 last year.
The HTC 10 looks, and feels, like a premium phone. Thanks to a unibody aluminum chassis with chamfered edges, the handset is weighty and durable and has the air of a well thought out design. The brushed finish is a nice touch and plays nicely with any color variation. Pick the phone up and you immediately know that HTC isn’t messing around.
Like the One M models before it, this phone has a tapered design to the rear. It’s comfortable to hold in hand; the pronounced chamfered edges call for attention but also make for an easy grip around the edges. Tossing this into a pocket is fantastic as it simply slides along the curves. A word of caution, though, as it can feel slippery at times.
One of the things I like to do with every new phone is grab it from the ends and sort of twist or apply pressure. It’s here where you’ll sometimes figure out which phone is cheaply built. The HTC 10 did not creak or move, even under moderate pressure.
Design
Again, it’s kind of hard to reinvent yourself each year and there’s only so many ways to design a smartphone before it feels awkward. The HTC 10 doesn’t do anything strange with its button configuration or SIM card placement.
Looking straight on, the right side features the volume rocker about 3/4ths of the way up. Below that is the power button. As is the case with the One A9, the HTC 10’s power button has a textured feel to it. This makes it very easy to feel in the dark as there’s no mistaking it for the volume controls. All three buttons are responsive and let the user know for certain that they’re being pressed.
On the left side of the phone is where you’ll find the memory card and SIM card tray. Located near the top, it pops out to allow for access. Those of you who have a microSD card will be happy to know the HTC 10 supports up to 2 terabytes of external storage.
Down below the display you’ll locate the lone fingerprint reader which doubles as the home button. HTC has opted for capacitive buttons for this year’s model; the “back” is found on the left side while the “multitask” button is on the right. The fingerprint sensor is fast, accurate, and works well even if you’re fingers or the phone is slightly damp. It’s a little cramped down here as the button is ever so closer to the edge of the phone than the display.
At the very top of the front panel is a speaker grille and front-facing camera. There’s no dual-speaker setup this time around. The top is for the BoomSound tweeter while the other speaker is located below the phone next to the charging port.
We appreciate that HTC integrated a USB Type-C charging port for this model as it’s quickly becoming a standard. Moreover, the Quick Charge 3.0 support lets us plug in for fast recharges.
Around back we locate the rear camera with flash and antenna lines. The camera module does jut out from the phone a bit but the sapphire glass keeps things from getting scuffed. Getting back to the unibody design, the rear stays put. You’ll not be able to remove anything here, particularly a battery.
Display
At 5.2-inches, the HTC 10 is a great size for most smartphone users. Sure, we do get spoiled by those models that tread into the 5.5-inch and 5.7-inch space, but those phones are often unwieldy or hard to use with one hand.
The 2,560 x 1,440 pixel display is gorgeous and puts HTC back in the conversation of high resolution screens for a flagship phone. The Super LCD 3 panel is fantastic, represents colors very well, and can be pushed to a really bright image. Indoor, outdoor, it doesn’t really matter where you use it. Taking pictures in broad daylight is no challenge. Thanks to an oleophobic coating, the screen is built to withstand scuffs and scratches.
Call Quality
The model we reviewed was an unlocked variant which supports AT&T and T-Mobile here in the US. We used a T-Mobile SIM for the duration of our testing and found it connected about as good as other phones we’ve used in the same areas. There are spots where we’d see it display less bars on the screen than normal, but calls worked well nonetheless. Unfortunately, there are pockets where T-Mobile doesn’t pick up near the house so we had to rely on WiFi for calls. It seemed we had to use Wi-Fi a little more than other phones as of late but that could also be attributed to more trees and foliage at this time of year.
Sound
Placing a call on speaker phone was a pleasure with sound filling rooms clearly. Inside of an office is one thing, but even outside, with ambient noise and random traffic, worked well.
Whereas BoomSound stereo speakers typically shared the load equally between them, the HTC 10 is different. The top speaker provides the highs while the one below the phone gives the lows. If you’re holding the phone in portrait mode, you may find yourself somewhat covering the a speaker.
Place the phone on a table for music or for watching YouTube videos and you’ll find a loud sound. Playback is clear and crisp and it gets very loud. Speaking of which, you’ll want to keep that in mind when setting alarms. You surely don’t want to wake up to this phone at top levels.
We did find that holding a phone in landscape mode for video can also create a somewhat wonky listening experience. Given we naturally want to hold the edges of our phone, it’s pretty easy to cover half of the sound. Along those lines, it’s sometimes strange to watch longer videos with sound not balancing equally.
Camera
After taking a year off with the M9, HTC is back to using its “UltraPixel” camera for pictures. As some of you know, the number of pixels doesn’t necessarily equate to picture quality. To that end, don’t let the 12-megapixel sensor in the HTC 10 fool you into thinking it’s lesser quality than some other brands and their 16-megapixel, or higher, shooters. The ultra aspect means larger pixels with more light and improved low-light images.
The HTC 10 camera features optical image stabilization and a f/1.8 aperture. What does this mean to you? It means incredible pictures in a whole host of light settings.
We found the HTC 10 camera to be among the absolute best smartphone shooters we’ve ever tested. Time and again we were impressed with the shutter speed, focus, and colors. There are few things that we enjoy more about a handset’s camera than being able to set it on automatic and trust things would work. That’s exactly what we found with the camera in the HTC 10.
Very rarely did we move over to Pro (manual) mode to mess with some of the settings. And, even when we did, the options were clearly presented on the screen and the dials were intuitive. Don’t know what ISO or WB settings are as it pertains to your end result? Play with it a bit and watch how it impacts your picture.
If you’ve used an HTC phone from before, you’ll know that the camera app can be a tad overwhelming. That’s not the case this time around as HTC has trimmed the shooting modes down, rejiggered the layout, and generally simplified the experience. Hopping to and from video is quick; switching to manual mode, panoramic, or Zoe is also in the same place. We especially liked the convenience of toggling on and off the HDR.
The laser assisted focus is lightning fast and we found ourselves capturing the exact moments we wanted. You know that issue with phones where you have to snap the camera a hair sooner than what you really need? That’s not the case here. The HTC 10 grabs the photo you want the moment you take it – even with HDR on.
If we could be picky for a moment, the notifications that pop up for the laser focus can be a tad aggressive. Simply putting your finger up near the lens results in a notification. We get it – we shouldn’t cover it up. Please stop telling us.
Recording video is just as pleasurable; the phone allows for up to 4K capture. We’d recommend sticking to 1080p for your video unless you really wanna show off. Seeing as how not too many of us own 4K televisions yet we don’t see the need for the video. Also, if that’s what you want to do with your phone, make sure you’ve got a sizable external memory source because 4K files are huge.
Battery
At 3,000mAh, the battery is not quite as capacious as it would have been one year ago. We’re now expecting our flagship phones to have this much juice, especially if it’s an internal, non-removable unit.
HTC claims the battery can give users up to two days of normal usage. In our testing we deduced that for most people, this is more than enough capacity to get them through a full day’s use with extra to spare. A more aggressive person who likes to game, or enjoys videos on a regular basis… maybe a day.
As mentioned above, the phone employs support for Quick Charge 3.0. This means you’re going to charge up super quick. We’re talking almost to the point where you’re looking at your phone and watching it tick up.
Get about halfway through your day and need to insure the phone’s going to stay up late with you? Throw it on a charger for a half hour and you’re all set. A typical commute home from work is likely all you need to top off your phone with enough battery to see you through a long night.
You can squeeze more life out of your battery by enabling the Power Saver mode or Ultra Power Saver mode. Each can slow down CPU cycles, reduce screen brightness, adjust vibration settings, and more. One just happens to be way more aggressive than the other. Suffice it to say, we didn’t have to use the Ultra aspect once in the few weeks we’ve tested this device.
Software
Running Android 6.0 Marshmallow, the HTC 10 employs a custom launcher known as Sense UI. Around for the better part of a decade now, it is the handset maker’s way of delivering a user experience that it thinks is right for consumers. In the past it was knocked for being too heavy or bloated. As time went by it didn’t evolve much and became outdated feeling. The idea was right but the execution was not. This is not the case any longer.
The Sense UI is much lighter than it was in the past and doesn’t come across as some branded agenda. You’ll find there’s still traces of customization and HTC-infused features, but nothing you’ll dread. If you’ve ever used an HTC Android phone in the past, we invite you to revisit the Sense experience. For those who have not, we venture to guess you’ll be hard-pressed to discern where stock Android ends and where HTC’s tweaks begin.
Users will have a variety of lock screen behaviors and settings to choose from, each with a slightly different setup. It’s possible to tailor how much information is present on the lock screen, keeping your important details hidden away if that’s your thing. Also present with the lock screen is the shortcut icons to launch quickly into various functions of the phone.
As mentioned before, there’s a fingerprint scanner with the phone so there’s that extra layer of security, too. We trained the sensor to recognize multiple fingerprints; the phone is very quick to recognize the presses. It didn’t take long for us to prefer the fingerprint for unlocking the device.
The first time you load up the phone you’ll find two home screens, one of which is the BlinkFeed (social news aggregator). It’s quite easy to start customizing and tweaking the look and feel as HTC puts options in easy-to-discover places. Want to change the fonts, icons, and widgets? That’s no sweat with HTC’s software. Actually, that leads into the next aspect of the software experience: themes.
Like other recent models from the company, the HTC 10 lets users shop for custom themes. And, rather than sticking to your standard rows and columns, the Freestyle themes let you place stuff exactly where you want, without adhering to grids. The selection of themes has continually improved and there’s something for everyone. Minimal, futuristic, cartoon, professional, or another design, you’ll find a look you love.
There’s a new Boost+ app that comes loaded HTC which is designed to keep the phone running smoothly. With the app you’ll be able to perform quick checks on performance, free up RAM and storage, and uninstall unused apps. Additionally, Boost+ lets HTC 10 owners lock individual apps to where they’re only unlocked via a password or fingerprint.
Performance
Let’s just cut to the chase; the HTC 10 is going to handle anything you ask it to do. Not only that, but it’s gonna do it quickly and without hiccups. This is exactly what you’d expect when you pair 4GB RAM with the latest Qualcomm processor, the Snapdragon 820.
As a daily driver for typical users, the HTC 10 doesn’t even come close to tapping into its potential. Gamers and those who like to push their tech will be pleased with the performance of the handset. Whether it’s a first-person shooter, racing game, or something else with flashy graphics, the phone chews it right up.
One reason the HTC 10 might do so well is that it isn’t full of bloatware that runs in the background. Although we tested an unlocked model with nary a carrier app or service, HTC says the network-branded versions are light on clutter. The less there is sipping at the resources, the better. Oh, and let’s not discount the way Android 6.0 Marshmallow handles processes. All of these things provide a perfect storm, of sorts.
Conclusion
It’s very easy for us to recommend the HTC 10 for your flagship smartphone needs. It’s the perfect balance of performance and beauty; the handset is everything we want.
The metal design, chamfered edges, and brushed finish offer up one of the most physically appealing models available today. It’s somewhat ironic, then, that this phone is mostly an evolution of the previous One M line. There’s just enough different here to bring old M8 and M9 users back.
In previous years HTC was applauded for build quality when other companies were going the cheaper, polycarbonate route. Now that other brands seem to have caught on to using premium materials HTC’s effort might be construed as simply keeping pace. Is that the case? Perhaps. Does it stand out that much over some of the other flagships of the day in terms of build quality? Maybe. It’s a solid phone either way and there’s no denying HTC cared about the overall product. It’s certainly no less quality than any other phone.
We’re really impressed with the way HTC has managed to dial down the Sense UI yet still retain the custom experience. Although we love and prefer stock Android, HTC Sense UI is nowhere near as obnoxious or outdated as it was one or two generations ago. In fact, we’re kinda digging the stuff that’s present. Moreover, we’re not in a hurry to install a custom launcher now that the themes are where they are today.
Sure, we’ve come to love and expect the uniform approach of something like Nova Launcher, but we’re not everyone. The customization that comes with HTC’s themes are well-rounded and feature unique flavors to breathe new life into the UI. Best of all, however, is the simplicity in which they can be installed.
In terms of performance, it’s going to be hard to top the Snapdragon 820 processor and 4GB RAM. As of right now you can’t. There’s so much to love about the HTC 10 and its ability to handle tasks and games. Time and again we were throwing as much as we could at the phone and it never stuttered.
If you’re in the market for something powerful and finely crafted, the HTC 10 should be on your short list. Not everybody wants or needs to spend $500+ for a phone, but for those who do, this one certainly deserves your attention.
Lenovo Phab2 Pro Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
I’m walking around the conference room, aiming my Tango phone at the space between two chairs where Lenovo executives are sitting. A third empty chair, a plush leather one, sits on the carpet. I’m walking around it, seeing how it looks. But it isn’t real: it’s augmented, generated by an app on my phone screen. As I move around, it stays in place convincingly. I think to myself…I could use this to furniture-shop for my living room without even lifting a finger.
If you haven’t used Google’s Project Tango, or don’t even know what it is, let me simplify: it’s a depth-sensing 3D camera system that can scan the world around you and help place virtual objects in the real world. It might be the future of where smart cameras are headed. And it could be a sign of how phones might evolve further into world-scanning powerhouses.
Josh Miller/CNET
Google’s been developing Tango for years as a way to measure distances in 3D space, map out indoor areas, and create virtual and augmented reality, floating virtual objects into real space. Now, Lenovo’s got the world’s first ready-to-buy Tango phone, and it’s calling it the Lenovo Phab2 Pro. And it’ll be available this September.
What Tango can do
CNET’s seen Tango in action many times, doing all sorts of funky things: simulating furniture shopping, navigating museums, diving in giant VR aquariums. Tango has been in a developer-kit tablet for a while, where it was used for lots of experimental ideas. Tango’s chief skills are depth-sensing, location-mapping, and placing virtual objects into reality with a better sense of accuracy. On the tablet, most apps were used in landscape mode. On the Phab2 Pro, most Tango apps are still landscape-mode oriented, too.
The Lenovo Phab2 Pro scans the world around…
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The apps I got to try were varied. One placed virtual furniture in the room I was in, allowing me to experiment with what would fit in real, physical space. Lowe’s is making one of the first potential Tango killer apps with Lowe’s Vision, which measures living space and then can layer in additions, furniture and decor to model in the space. Think Microsoft HoloLens, but instead of floating in front of your face you’re viewing things on your phone screen. The rear trio of Tango-enabled cameras have an infrared depth-sensing, a wide-angle lens, and can track motion.
There was another app where I was able to walk around the room I was in, while the Tango camera started generating a 3D photo-mapped model of where I was. This is Tango’s most amazing feature: with a bunch of these, you could walk around and map out interior spaces in full 3D. Tango’s also unique because it can not only measure, but learn about the shape of areas: where objects begin and end, and where walls and doorways are. At Google I/O, Google said it’s aiming to use this tech to map out interior places with the accuracy of outdoor maps. Maybe it’s to beef up Google Maps’ worldwide database. As an everyday person, however, I’m not still not sure how this would help anyone.
Josh Miller/CNET
That’s the biggest challenge with Tango: it still feels like tech seeking a killer app or purpose. But it definitely has a bunch of clever tricks up its sleeve.
There are a few games, too. I tried running around and shooting at virtual alien-things that hopped around the room I was actually in — the conference table, the chairs — much like some augmented reality phone games have already allowed for years. On Tango, the position tracking is far more accurate. It still feels a little silly. More impressively, I laid virtual dominoes on the nearby table and watched them knock down one by one. I walked around my domino creation, and it mostly stayed put — with a bit of drift that Lenovo says will be corrected by launch. I looked a 3D velociraptor model standing in the corner of the conference room.
Lenovo promises 22 Tango-ready apps for launch this year, and estimates up to 100 apps by the end of 2017. Those numbers may sound conservative. Tango still feels like a development project, in a lot of ways.
Smart cameras are the future (probably)
Tango isn’t the only type of smart camera tech lurking around: Intel’s 3D RealSense cameras have been around for years, and can also track depth. They’re making their way into other devices including helmets. Microsoft’s developed similar positional-tracking tech in the Kinect and in the HoloLens. Amazon tried something similar in spirit with the Fire Phone and its array of cameras. And Apple acquired Primesense, the company that created the Kinect, back in 2013.
Josh Miller/CNET
There have been many attempts at similar tech. Will Tango get it right?
Smarter cameras equipped with more advanced computer vision processing and deep learning could be the magic equation. Face and object recognition, auto navigation, and advanced mixed-reality applications that fuse the virtual and real. If phones get upgraded, smarter cameras, they could be doorways into a new future.
The Tango phone is called the Lenovo Phab2 Pro
Lenovo’s new Phab2 phone line comes in three models, all of them with massive 6.4-inch screens. The one with Google’s new magic Tango cameras — the Phab2 Pro — costs more ($499 unlocked in the US, equivalent to £345 UK or AU$672), and has an extra camera array on the back, arranged down the middle. There’s a wide-angle camera, plus infrared depth sensing and motion tracking.
The Phab2 Pro has a Quad HD-resolution display, 4GB of RAM, and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 processor that’s specifically built for Tango. The phone’s large size means it feels more like a tablet than a phone. But it’s smaller than the previous developer-edition Tango tablet, and more affordable. Plus, it’s a connected phone. For those reasons alone, it’ll likely be the new Tango device of choice. Whether it becomes more depends on apps.
Specs
- 6.4-inch Quad HD (2560×1440) IPS display
- 4GB RAM
- 64GB storage
- microSD up to 128GB
- 4,050mAh battery with fast charging
- Dual SIM slots
- Rear 16MP fast-focus camera with Tango depth sensor and motion tracking
- Front 8MP fixed-focus camera, F2.2 aperture
- Triple-array active noise cancellation
- Dolby Atmos + Dolby Audio Capture 5.1
Motorola Moto Z Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
A gentle snap, a twinkly beep. The Moto Z now has a new function.
Suddenly phones have gone modular. It’s like a throwback to the pre-smartphone days (anyone remember the Handspring?) Motorola’s new flagship high-end phone, the Moto Z, has glass, a metal frame, top-end specs, and a slick look.
But it’s the modular accessories, called Moto Mods, that make the Moto Z interesting by adding optional hardware to the Moto Z and its enhanced, longer-battery sibling, Moto Z Force — like a projector and extended battery. Lenovo, which bought Motorola in 2014, is making its own accessories and partnering with third-party accessory makers to develop these Moto Mod extras. These phones are coming this summer via Verizon in the US, and the Moto Z (but not Force) is going global with unlocked models in September.
Unlike the modular parts in the LG G5 or the conceptual Google Project Ara phones, you can hot-swap the Moto Z’s extra backs without turning off the phone. Popping one on or off takes seconds.
See the Moto Z’s snappy, magnetic personality
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Thin, with flashy extras
The Moto Z is aiming to be Moto’s high-end flagship. Its specs back that up, from a 5.5-inch Quad HD AMOLED display to USB-C charging port, expandable SD card storage, a Snapdragon 820 processor and a fancy glass-and-metal frame. An even more upmarket version, the Moto Z Force, will be a US Verizon exclusive offering more battery life, a stepped-up 21MP camera, shatter-resistant glass, and faster fast charging.
There are customization options including rose gold (of course), and a variety of interchangeable snap-on backs that add some of the old Moto Maker design flair. Wood, fabric, even cork. Without a snap-on back, the Moto Z looks super-thin. But its large rear camera lens juts out a bit.
You don’t need a Mod snapped on at all to enjoy the Moto Z. Without one, the phone has a sleek, attractive design. But it’s almost too thin. With a snap-on back, the phone feels a little more finished — and the rear lens lies flush.
Want a projector? Snap it on!
James Martin/CNET
Meet the Mods
Moto Z’s multipin magnetic connector port (gold-plated to protect against corrosion) can carry a large load, with 6Gbps data transfer. I tried a few different Mod accessories, and they snapped on and off easily, locking into place with strong magnets. But the mods only protect the Moto Z’s back. I worried they’d snap apart if I dropped the phone, but it seemed to hold up in my pocket.
Moto has a few accessories ready to go. The JBL Sound Boost is a speaker snap-on with added battery life and a kickstand. It’s seriously loud.
JBL’s speaker mod, attached.
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The Insta-Share Projector mod has an LED projector that throws a 70-inch screen onto a nearby wall, the same tech that was in the Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Pro.
Incipio is another third-party accessory maker that’s first out of the gate, making battery-pack snap-on back covers with built-in wireless charging (the Moto Z has lots of high-end specs, but no wireless charging in the phone itself.)
The Mods could be used for accessories like VR, or even cameras. Motorola executives have said the team is looking at other areas for expansion, including payment and health care, for different ways to use the accessory port.
Mods could include cameras, VR accessories and more.
James Martin/CNET
Modding the future…with no headphone jack
The Moto Z’s magnetic accessory port will only be as good as the accessories that are made for it, and how widely spread this unique port will be. Motorola/Lenovo representatives wouldn’t commit to this port showing up on other Moto phones when I spoke to them, but did promise that the port would stick around in future Moto Z phones so that the Mod accessories could be used on future products. Of course, I’ll believe that when I see it. The road to the future of modular phones is paved with discarded proprietary detritus.
But the idea of a quick-access, high-speed way to add accessories that make a phone do more sounds great…if the connection port can become a standard.
There’s one reason, however, that I doubt Moto Mods would make much sense for the average person. On the bottom of the Moto Z, there is another even more powerful port that could help it do even more: USB-C. Which, by the way, is the only way you’ll be able to listen to music. A USB-C-to-standard-headphone adapter comes in the Moto Z box, at least. Sounds like the iPhone 7 rumors aren’t so crazy after all.
Specs
- 5.5-inch AMOLED
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
- 4GB RAM
- Android Marshmallow with Moto-enhanced apps
- 32/64GB storage
- microSD card up to 2TB
- 13MP rear camera, optical image stabilization, dual-LED flash
- 5MP front-facing camera with flash
- 2,600mAh battery
- USB-C port
- Fingerprint sensor
Motorola Moto Z Force Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
A phone that won’t break. That’s the dream. And it’s one that became a reality last year when Motorola released the Droid Turbo 2. The phone featured what the company called ShatterShield, which protected the screen from cracking or shattering. Motorola even guaranteed the screen wouldn’t crack for up to four years.
The company is now back with its second shatter-proof phone, the Moto Z Force. The phone is an exclusive to Verizon, and unlike its new sibling, the Moto Z, it isn’t slated to be made available outside of the US or on another carrier. Pricing hasn’t been announced, but the Force is expected to be released sometime mid-summer.
See the Moto Z’s snappy, magnetic personality
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The Force is essentially a souped-up version of the Z, a new flagship phone announced by Lenovo at its Tech World event. It shares the same Quad HD display, speedy processor and promise of snap-on magnetic accessories, but adds an improved 21-megapixel rear camera, a larger battery with faster charging and of course that shatterproof screen. The Force also supports those cool Moto Mods, which connect to the back of the phone to add additional functionality and customization. You can read more about the Moto Z and Moto Mods here.
I got to spend some time with the Force in person. Here are a few things I noticed:
It’s bigger, but not too bulky
The Force is almost 2mm thicker than the Z and weighs about 30 grams more (163g in total), but it didn’t feel too big or too heavy. It’s still lighter than the Moto X Pure and also doesn’t have the slightly curved back the Pure had. The Force is sleek and stylish with a straight back and sturdy metal design. The large camera lens, however, does stick out quite a bit.
The Moto Z (left) compared to the Moto Z Force (right).
James Martin/CNET
Battery life sounds good
The Force is equipped with a big 3,600mAh battery, 900mAh more than the normal Z and 600mAh larger than last year’s Moto X Pure (up to 40 hours of mixed usage, according to Lenovo).
There’s no built-in wireless charging (although you can add it later through a Moto Mod back), but there is very fast charging, faster than the thinner Z: up to 15 hours of usage in only 15 minutes.
A better camera
The Force is equipped with a 21-megapixel rear camera (compared to 13-megapixel on the Z) and a 5-megapixel wide angle lens on the front (with a flash). Motorola has said the camera is its best yet, thanks to new features like laser autofocus and phase detection autofocus, of which the latter is exclusive to the Force. It also includes optical image stabilization and an f/1.8 aperture.
James Martin/CNET
USB-Type C, but no headphone port?
The Z and Force are the first Motorola phones to include USB Type-C, the successor to the microUSB port found in last year’s models.
Oddly enough, however, both the Z and the Force don’t include a 3.5mm headphone jack. Instead you get a 3.5mm to USB C adapter. It looks like Apple won’t be the only one to ditch the headphone jack.
James Martin/CNET
Too bad it’s Verizon only
In the short time I spent with the Force, I became quite fond of it. The shatterproof screen, better camera and longer battery life would appear to make it a worthy upgrade to the Z. It’s just a shame that you have to be on Verizon to get it.
Specs
- 5.5-inch AMOLED display with a 2,560×1440-pixel resolution (535 ppi)
- 2.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 820 processor
- 21-megapixel rear camera with optical image stabilization, phase detection autofocus and laser autofocus
- 5-megapixel wide-angle front camera with flash
- 32GB or 64GB of internal storage
- A microSD card slot to expand storage up to 2TB
- 3,500mAh battery
- 4GB of RAM
- A fingerprint scanner
- USB Type-C (with an included 3.5mm adapter)
- Android Marshmallow
Lenovo Phab 2 Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
The Lenovo Phab 2 has a 13-megapixel rear camera and adds an augmented reality mode.
Lenovo
The Lenovo Phab 2 is the least expensive phone of this second generation of Lenovo phablets, and while it doesn’t incorporate Google’s Project Tango technology (the Phab 2 Pro does) or the dual rear camera found in the Phab 2 Plus, it still offers some augmented reality tricks.
The 13-megapixel rear camera and 5-megapixel front camera have an Augmented Reality (AR) mode that allows you to add different effects and virtual objects to your photos and videos. For example, the AR mode allows you to change backgrounds or add cartoons and drawings to your photos or videos.
Similar to other phones of the Phab 2 series, this phone has a huge 6.4-inch screen, packs Android Marshmallow, a relatively similar design and a 4,050mAh battery that promises a full day of use on one charge.
However, unlike Lenovo’s Project Tango cellphone (Phab 2 Pro) that integrates a QHD resolution screen and the Phab 2 Plus that comes with a full HD, the Lenovo Phab 2 has an HD resolution screen, which makes the experience a bit less pleasant given its big size (6.4-inches).
The Phab 2 integrates the same 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage and has a microSD card slot for up to 128GB.
Lenovo
Unlike the the Lenovo Phab 2 Pro and Phab 2 Plus, the Lenovo Phab 2 does not include a fingerprint sensor, but it does pack sound technology from Dolby Atmos, promising a pleasant surround sound experience.
As to other specs, the Lenovo Phab 2 uses a MediaTek MTK-8735 chip, which is less powerful than other members of its family.
Price and availability
The Lenovo Phab 2 will be available worldwide in September at US$199.
Lenovo
First impression
The Lenovo Phab 2 is different from its competitors — be that a good or bad thing. It’s huge, 6.4-inch screen makes it difficult to hold with one hand or easily fit in your pockets. Its low resolution screen makes photos and videos look good, but not vibrant as in other phablets.
Yet, at a low price of $199 and some augmented reality tricks, it’s a phone that could be fun to use for some photo and video enthusiasts.
Lenovo Phab2 Plus Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
The Lenovo Phab2 Plus has a 6.4-inch screen and a 13-megapixel dual rear camera.
Lenovo
The Lenovo Phab2 Plus does not pack Google’s Project Tango technology (found in the Phab2 Pro) but it is an affordable Android phone that brings some augmented reality tricks.
The Phab2 Plus boasts two rear 13-megapixels cameras with f/1.8 aperture and features Fujitsu Milbeaut, the advanced image processing software found in Leica cameras.
This combination allows the Phab2 Plus render a high photo quality with great detail even in situations of low light, showing high contrast, vibrant and natural colors. The technology also allows great detail in shaded areas and a blurred background that makes main objects protrude further.
Augmented reality on the Lenovo Phab2 Plus comes in the form of a special-effects mode, which allows you to add different objects and effects to photos and videos shot with the camera. This phone’s camera also lets you focus photos after they have been taken and allows you to swap the background of the scene.
Lenovo
The Lenovo Phab2 Plus adds sound technology from Dolby Atmos, promising a pleasant surround-sound experience. It has a 6.4-inch Full HD screen with a 2.5D curved glass, a fingerprint scan on the back and runs Android Marshmallow.
The Phab2 Plus runs on a MediaTek MTK-8783 octa-core processor; has 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage and the possibility to expand it up to 128GB through a microSD chip. Its front camera has an 8-megapixel sensor, runs radio FM and has a 4,050mAh battery that promises a full day of use on one charge.
Price and availability
The Lenovo Phab2 Plus will be sold at $299 and it will be available worldwide in September.
Lenovo
First impression
The Lenovo Phab2 Plus has everything needed to offer a pretty good experience. However, it’s huge, 6.4-inch screen makes it a little too big for an average user and its processor is sluggish when you try to use several apps at a time.
Although Lenovo promises that its double rear camera allows very good photos, this is not the first cell to allow certain features, including focus after shooting them or integrate different effects on photos. We will be putting this phone to test in order to bring you more details about its performance. The good news is that it is a phone with good specs at a relatively low price of $299.
Lenovo PHAB 2, PHAB2 Plus, PHAB2 Pro hands on
It’s a grand old party for Lenovo, who for the longest time, has been manly focused on selling its smartphones abroad –but no longer. Now the time has finally come for the company to tackle the US market, a place that’s still largely uncharted territory for them, despite having acquired Motorola back in 2014.
Anyone can manufacture and sell an Android-based smartphone, but for Lenovo, its success hinges on offering at least a couple key qualities that help to differentiate its stuff from the vast number of players already saturating the market. Thankfully, Lenovo has seemingly delivered just that. Lenovo and Google have been teasing us about what Project Tango is capable of doing for a while now, but at long last, they’ve unveiled the world’s first Tango-enabled smartphone at Lenovo TechWorld 2016.
In addition to the new Tango-powered handset, Lenovo have two other smartphones that are backed with irresistible prices and relatively few compromises considering the asking price. With the unveiling of its new PHAB 2 line, it’ll be interesting to see how much attention Lenovo will get from consumers in the US market.
Design
We have three smartphones in this new line, the Lenovo PHAB2, PHAB2 Plus, and finally, the Tango-ready PHAB2 PRO. For the most part, the trio all share the same fundamental design language. They’re big phones, really big! As the model names imply, they’re phablets meant for people who love big phones – or those who want that bridge form-factor between 7-inch tablets and today’s average sized smartphones.
Part of the reason why they’re all so large is because they’re fashioned with 6.4-inch sized screens, which is plenty of real-estate room to enjoy movies and such. Now, the main differences between them are the materials used for their chassis. Being the entry-level of the bunch, the PHAB2 has a body comprised out of mostly plastic and doesn’t have a fingerprint sensor. A step up from that, the PHAB2 Plus swaps the plastic for metal (aluminum alloy) – while adding that fingerprint sensor as well. And finally, the PHAB2 Pro looks very similar to the PHAB2 Plus, given that it also boasts a metal body, but it has a unibody design with slightly thicker separator lines on the back.
Aesthetically, we wouldn’t say that these designs are necessarily fresh, especially when it looks very much like other metallic phones we’ve seen released this year including the HTC 10, the Huawei P9, and ZTE Axon 7. We’re not drooling over them, but despite that, we’ll give them credit for going with designs that aren’t just ripped directly from Motorola.
Display
As we’ve mentioned already, all three phones boast 6.4-inch sized screens, so there’s a ton of room to enjoy content. Just like their designs, they follow the same premise with their resolutions. With that, you’re going to find a 720p IPS screen with the PHAB2, a better 1080p display with the PHAB2 Plus, and a pixel crunching Quad-HD IPS display with the PHAB2 Pro.
The resolutions directly relate to their sharpness and detail, as the PHAB2’s 720p screen is pretty light on the fine details, while the Quad HD resolution of the PHAB2 Pro looks exquisitely detailed. Not only does it have the best looking screen out of the bunch, but it features what Lenovo refers to as an “Assertive Display,” which is simply means that it can optimize the image quality depending on the ambient lighting and the kind of content that’s being shown.
Hardware
You’ve probably already caught on to the low-mid-high range theme going between these three new smartphones, so don’t be shocked to find the same approach when it comes to processing hardware. The entry-level of the bunch, the PHAB2, features a quad-core MediaTek 8735 processor with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. Next up, the PHAB2 Plus gets a small upgrade in the form of a quad-core MediaTek 8783 chip with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of saving memory. And finally, the PHAB2 Pro leverages the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 SoC coupled with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of base storage.
Thankfully, every one of these devices offers expandable storage thanks to the available microSD card slots they offer. In terms of performance, however, it’s obvious that the PHAB2 Pro has the snappiest operation thanks to the Snapdragon 820 it’s packing, which is needed for it to run many of the Tango features effectively. Conversely, the PHAB2 and PHAB2 Plus might seem like they’ve been overlooked, but don’t worry because they appear to operate relatively fine at least for those with relatively modest needs and expectations.
Camera
Now this is where things really get juicy, mainly because the PHAB2 Pro is fashioned with hardware that makes it Tango-ready. On the back, it’s hard to miss the camera modules and sensors that work hand-in-hand for Tango and the vast augmented reality experiences it’s capable of delivering. There are technically three major components that validate it being Tango-ready: a fisheye camera lens to get a wide view of the space, an RGB camera that helps in sensing what’s around the room, and an IR emitter that sends out an IR grid to measure the time of flight, or in laymen’s terms, its helps to measure distance. Needless to say, we’re really excited about this, but we’ll talk more about the Tango experiences in the next section.
As for the other two phones, they carry 13-megapixel cameras with phase detection auto-focus, but the PHAB2 Plus gets an extra jolt because it’s a dual-camera configuration for post-bokeh effects, and offers an f/2.0 aperture lens, laser auto-focus assist, and 1.34 micro pixels.
Software
Love it or hate it, all three phones are running Lenovo’s custom skin on top of Android 6.0 Marshmallow. That’s not necessarily a bad thing depending on who you talk to, but the more compelling thing here is how the PHAB2 Pro is Tango-ready, giving us a glimpse into the future of augmented reality with our smartphones. While augmented reality is nothing new in the grand scheme of things, Google’s work with Project Tango goes the extra step by giving freedom to AR – no longer restricting it to just a static experience.
What we mean by that is that you can use the PHAB2 Pro in ways that weren’t possible before. We managed to check out some Tango demos, like an upcoming Lowe’s app that provides conceptual ideas of what your future kitchen might look like by visualizing a specific stove, refrigerator, or other appliances right where you intend on putting them in a room. It’s a neat thing if you’re a home decorator especially, since you can visualize where things will go prior to actually buying them.
Another demo was a first person shooter having us destroy these aerial drones floating around the room. Even though we’re still in the early stages of what Tango is capable of, the demo shows us how it can map a room out with its sensors – thus, allowing us to move around the room to track and destroy these aerial drones. It makes us think about the possibility of one day seeing Tango-ready phones strapped into headsets like Google Cardboard, but rather than a stationary experience, we’d be able to move around in space.
We managed to check out several other demos too, like this one demo that allowed us to play and setup dominos in the AR space, and another dinosaur experience that showcases Tango’s ability to scale appropriately as you’re moving around in space. Overall, however, the software here with the PHAB2 Pro and Tango establishes a new experience that we haven’t seen before. As more developers get on board, we can only imagine getting better, more meaningful experiences.
Conclusion so far
Tango might be the big hoopla at Lenovo Tech World, but at the same time, it’s also Lenovo’s official foray into the US smartphone market. Better yet, they’re sticking with a firm strategy with the rollout of its PHAB2 line, just because they’re all priced aggressively – $199, $299, and $499 respectively for the PHAB2, PHAB2 Plus, and PHAB2 Pro. All three will be available globally beginning in September, but most likely earlier for the US.
Price-wise, they all have their value. At $199, you’re getting a mighty big phone that should be ample for most users with the PHAB2. Going up from that, the $299 PHAB2 Plus benefits from having a metal body, a fingerprint sensor, and slightly beefed up specs. And lastly, the $499 PHAB2 Pro is still not too shabby given that it has the same specs as any contemporary flagship right now, but it’s the sole device on the market that brilliantly shows off what Tango is capable of delivering.
Moto Z leaked early, official pic of Moto X replacement and Moto Mods revealed
Lenovo accidentally revealed the full press image of the Moto Z ahead of its official on-stage unveiling at Lenovo Tech World.
In addition, one of the Moto Mods add-on features was also posted on Twitter ahead of the announcement, presumably by mistake.
Few other official details are available at present, but the phone is expected to replace the Moto X devices from years gone.
We’ll be bringing you more on the Moto Z and Motomods as they are revealed in a more official capacity.
The Moto Z Force – transforming your phone into whatever you need…in a snap. #LenovoTechWorld. #MotoMods pic.twitter.com/OfYmisjqjU
— Lenovo (@lenovo) June 9, 2016
For now you can check out our Moto Z rumour round-up here, and the Lenovo Tech World livestream here.
Lenovo also announced the world’s first Project Tango device at the event, the Lenovo Phab2 Pro. It has real-world mapping capabilities for augmented reality applications.
Lenovo unveils the first Tango AR phone, the Phab2
Lenovo has officially announced not one but three Project Tango smartphones.
Called the Phab2 Pro, Phab2 Plus, and Phab2, the phones are made with Google’s Project Tango technology, now just called “Tango”, and touted as the world’s first to feature Google’s AR tech. They will be available at different price points, but they’re all designed to enable augmented-reality experiences.
The Phab2 Pro is the most high-end model. It of course comes with sensors and software that work together to sense and map the phone’s surroundings as well as a power AR experiences. Lenovo said students using it with AR apps can, for instance, “place true-to-scale virtual dinosaurs in their classrooms and enhance their learning through AR data overlays”.
Levono Phab2: You’ve been Tangoed!
Other AR experiences highlighted include the ability to play virtual dominos on a table, raise a digital pet in a bedroom, and fight an alien invasion. The Phab2 Pro can also map indoor spaces, which opens up the door to experiences like AR museum tours via the GuidiGO app or visualised home furnishings in living rooms and kitchens via the new Tango-enabled Lowe’s Vision app.
The metal-unibody phone can measure spaces in your house and use AR apps to place products like appliances and decor in a room. With its positional tracking capabilities and more, it has the power to change how you interact with your surroundings. And with motion tracking, depth perception, and area learning, the premium Phab2 Pro is able to analyse the shape of your world and detect surfaces and obstacles.
The 6.4-inch Phab 2 Pro features a QHD display with 2,560×1,440 resolution. It also has an eight-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 processor with an integrated suite of key modules including a DSP, ISP, and integrated sensor hub. All that means the phone can capture more than 250,000 measurements a second. Other specs include 64GB of built-in storage (expandable via microSD), 4GB of RAM, and 4G LTE connectivity.
Lenovo
Lenovo Phab2: All-new cameras
There’s also a 16-megapixel rear camera, 8-megapixel front camera, depth camera, and a motion camera (the latter two are also on the back). Lenovo said the phone further packs a 4,050mAh battery with 2.4x fast-charging, a gyro, accelerometer, three mics, and support for Dolby Audio Capture 5.1 with Dolby Atmos. That last feature lets you record 5.1-channel surround sound with spatial capture and noise reduction.
As for the Phab2 Plus, it’s the dual-camera model. It has two 13-megapixel rear cameras with F2.0 lenses and a Futjitsu Milbeaut image signal processor that powers the Leica camera. Lenovo claimed this model can grab crisp low-light shots with high contrast, high detail, and accurate colours. The camera software on board also provides a manual mode for shutterbugs along with handy special effects options.
And finally, the full-sized Phab2 smartphone is the budget model in the line. It’s all about offering an affordable AR experience. It has an AR mode, for instance, that allows you to create photos and videos with superimposed effects like virtual backgrounds or cartoons. It also offers a 6.4-inch HD display, 13-megapixel rear camera, and 32GB onboard storage expandable via microSD.
Lenovo Phab2: Price
Lenovo said pricing for the line starts at $199 for the Phab 2, and it goes up to $299 for the Phab2 Plus and $499 for the Phab2 Pro. They will be globally available in September, though in the US, the Phab 2 Pro will be sold in the colours champagne gold and gunmetal grey at select Lowe’s stores and online toward the end of the year.
Each phone will arrive with Android 6.0 Marshmallow pre-loaded. They also all have 4,050mAh batteries and Dolby Atmos audio capabilities.
See Lenovo Phab2 AR phone and more in official videos from Tech World 2016
Lenovo Tech World 2016 is done and dusted.
The company used the event to announce some new smartphones. It wasn’t the most anticipated event of the season, especially since both WWDC and E3 start next week, but we did get to see Lenovo officially launch the world’s first Project Tango AR phone made in partnership with Google. It also unveiled new modular Moto Z phones from Motorola, a company it acquired from Google a few years ago.
So, basically, there were a lot of things shown off and demoed. To help you make sense of it all, we’ve rounded up official videos for all the things unveiled and previewed during Lenovo Tech World 2016. We’ll add more from Google and Motorola if and when they’re published.
Enjoy.
Lenovo Phab 2 Pro – World’s First Smartphone with Tango
Lenovo Phab 2 Pro Product video – World’s First Smartphone with Tango
Lenovo – Torture Tests
Lenovo – Connected Home
Lenovo Techworld – Imagine, Inspire, Innovate
Lenovo – Smart Shoes
Lenovo Tech World Post Show
Introducing Moto Mods – Transform your phone in a snap
Moto Mods Developer Platform – Design Your Own Moto Mods
Tango: See more with a new kind of phone
Turn your world into a Playground
Tango: Re-imagine space around you.
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