ZTE Axon 7 Mini Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

It’s funny when you think anyone could refer to a phone with a 5.2-inch screen as “mini”. But with the ZTE Axon 7 Mini and many other so-called diminutive devices, smallness is about cost and scaled-back hardware goods even more than it is about size.

On the outside, the all-metal 5.5-inch ZTE Axon 7 flagship and this mostly-metal 7 Mini look almost identical. Look closely and you spot a textured plastic material on the double speaker grilles.

Does this Axon 7 Mini look ‘mini’ to you?
See full gallery

1 – 4 of 22

Next
Prev

Inside, the Mini has been almost completely rebuilt. The ZTE-inflected Android software, fingerprint reader (with NFC support) and front-facing camera are the same. Everything else is scaled-back, from the main camera and processor (which won’t support Google Daydream, unlike the Axon 7) to the phone’s battery-charging speed, and yes, the battery capacity itself.

What you get in exchange is a really good-looking device in gold or grey, that will cost €249 when it comes to Europe and China this month (we don’t have prices in RMB) and $300 when it comes to the US in October through direct-to-consumer channels. The price in Euros converts to about £215 and AU$370.

Huawei MediaPad M3 Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

The Huawei MediaPad M3 tablet, unveiled at at IFA 2016 in Berlin, is ostensibly the more pocketable sibling of the MediaPad M2, minus the stylus. It runs Android version 6.0 Marshmallow and features an 8.4-inch, 2,560 by 1,600-pixel LCD display and 4GB of RAM, along with a fingerprint sensor on the bottom.

But where Huawei built the M2 with four speakers to surround users with immersive audio, the M3 appears to have its sights on photographers and video creatives: its dual 8-megapixel front and rear cameras are supported by 64GB of internal storage, with the ability to expand using the microSD slot that pulls out of the bottom bezel. The tray also has room for a SIM card to fire up 4G LTE data access on the go.

Andrew Hoyle/CNET

It’s still part of the MediaPad family, so the company linked up again with sound maven Harman Kardon to build dual speakers on the top and bottom edges. It’s safe to assume the company is trying to mimic stereo surround when the tablet is in landscape mode, but in my testing I wasn’t impressed by the sound quality of either. To its credit, the volume was able to reach relatively loud levels.

The Kirin 950 processor kept pace while I used the tablet with several applications running at once. The touchscreen experience was fluid as well, with accurate gesture responsiveness across the board.

IFA 2016: All of the gadgets from Europe’s…
See full gallery

1 – 4 of 25

Next
Prev

The MediaPad M3 also has an impressive heft to it while keeping its weight down to a manageable 0.7 pounds (318 grams), which makes it just slightly lighter than the Amazon Fire HD 7.

Only European pricing has been announced, with models ranging from Wi-Fi only with 32GB of storage for 349 euros (that converts to around $390, £295 or AU$515), to 64GB storage and 4G LTE for 449 euros ($500, £380 or AU$665). It’s out in Europe on September 26, with dates and prices for the rest of the world yet to be announced.

• See all of CNET’s coverage of IFA 2016 here

Huawei Nova Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

Huawei is taking a new whack at the midrange with two freshly unveiled devices, the Nova and Nova Plus.

In Latin, “nova” means “new”, and this is indeed a new start for Huawei in terms of its very strait-laced and technical naming conventions of phones past. In astronomy terms though, novas are exploding stars, and it’s debatable whether these phones, as polished and well-rounded as they are, will set the world alight, aimed as they are at the busy middle of the market.

The smaller Nova has a 5-inch screen, while the larger Nova Plus (sadly not Supernova) supersizes with a 5.5-inch display. Cast in Huawei’s signature sand-blasted aluminium, the pair have slightly rounded backs that allow them to nestle neatly in your palm. Add together full HD displays, octa-core Snapdragon processors and USB Type-C charger ports, Huawei really has left no key feature wanting when kitting out the Nova range.

Each phone also has an option for filtering out blue colours from the displays — similar to the iPhone’s Night Mode, other Huawei phones and Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7. Plus you can double tap on the screen with your knuckles to take a screenshot, a feature that’s also on other Huawei phones.

Huawei’s Nova and Nova Plus: Slim and (somewhat)…
See full gallery

1 – 4 of 10

Next
Prev

Aside from their slight size difference, the best way of telling them apart is by flipping them over. On the rear the Nova has a round camera set into the top corner of the chassis with a matching circular fingerprint sensor. The Nova Plus, on the other hand, has a more centred square camera module that protrudes from the device with a square fingerprint sensor positioned directly below it.

The Nova’s main camera is slightly bigger than the Nova’s (16 vs. 12 megapixels) with the forward-facing counterparts measuring in at 8 megapixels on both phones. The primary camera modules are capable of face detection focus and contrast focus, as well being able to capture 4K video.

Design differs on these sibling phones.

Andrew Hoyle/CNET

The camera software also features Huawei’s own selfie enhancement tools, with some tweaks that allow you to add more realistic makeup, with contouring to fit the skin, lipsticks and eyeliner effects. Kim Kardashian, eat your heart out.

Rumour has it that Huawei designed these phones with female buyers in mind. The company did not confirm this, but did say that it expected “slightly more” women to buy the phone than men.

On top of Google’s Android Marshmallow software sits a version of Emotion UI, Huawei’s customised Android skin. This edition includes a variety of themes designed specifically for the Nova range. Each version of the phone, which is available in gold, rose gold, silver and grey, has its own dedicated theme that provides colour continuity across hardware and software, but several other choices also come preinstalled. They have names such as “feather”, “sweet” and “wind” and feature ethereal, pastel-hued scenes, with icons to match.

The Nova and Nova Plus will be available in Europe, the Middle East and Asia within the next two months. Dual-SIM versions will be available, depending on the region, and both will be available as 32GB models with expandable storage. Only European pricing has been announced: 399 euros for the Nova and 429 euros for the Nova Plus, which converts to $445, £335 or AU$590, and $480, £360 or AU$635 respectively. US availability is yet to be confirmed.

IFA 2016: All of the gadgets from Europe’s…
See full gallery

1 – 4 of 25

Next
Prev

Huawei Nova: Specs and key features

• 5-inch full HD display
• Fingerprint scanner
• 12-megapixel main camera, 8-megapixel front camera
• USB Type-C
• Octa-core Snapdragon 625 2GHz processor
• 3GB RAM
• 32GB storage, expandable by 128GB with microSD card
• Android Marshmallow
• Dual SIM version in some regions
• 3,020 mAh battery
• 146 grams (5.15 ounces)

Huawei Nova Plus: Specs and key features

• 5.5-inch full HD screen
• Fingerprint scanner
• 16-megapixel main camera with optical image stabilisation, 8-megapixel front camera
• USB Type-C
• Octa-core Snapdragon 625 2GHz processor
• 3GB RAM
• 32GB storage, expandable by 128GB with microSD card
• Android Marshmallow
• Dual SIM version in some regions
• 3,340 mAh battery
• 160 grams (5.64 ounces)

Jabra Elite Sport Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

The Elite Sport ships in late September for $250 (£230), with an Australian launch in late October.

Jabra

Several wireless earbud headphones have trickled into the market in recent months, including the Motorola VerveOnes, Samsung Galaxy Gear IconX, Erato Apollo 7, Earin and Here One.

Now Jabra enters the zero-wire fray with its Elite Sport, which it calls “the most technically advanced, true wireless sports earbuds available.” It’ll be available in the US ($250), UK (£230) and the EU (€250) at the end of October, with an Australian launch slated for later in the year (pricing not yet announced, but US price converts to approximately AU$330).

What makes the Elite Sport so elite? For starters, the ‘buds are fully sweat- and waterproof. There’s also an integrated heart-rate monitor that provides “ground-breaking in-ear fitness analysis” and, as you’d suspect from a Jabra headphone, they work well as a headset for making calls, with built-in noise reduction technology. According to Jabra, the earbuds analyze external sounds and automatically switch to the earbud with least background noise.

I haven’t tried them yet, so I don’t know how they sound or fit, but they certainly look intriguing.

The headphone have an integrated in-ear heart-rate monitor.

Jabra

With in-ear noise-isolating headphones such as these, it’s crucial that you get a tight seal to get the best sound quality. And with “true” wireless earbuds, the ability to maintain a steady, hiccup-free connection will also make or break a product.

Like competing products, battery life isn’t great — they’re rated at just three hours of music listening — but it is easy to get extra juice by slipping them into their charging case, which has an integrated battery.

I’ll put together an in-depth review as soon as I get these in my ears. In the meantime, here are the Sport Elite’s key specs:

• Superior sound with up to three hours of music and calls (plus up to six hours additional charge from the portable charging case)
• Flexible wearing options with single or stereo earbud use
• Advanced heart rate analysis with automatic fitness level testing of VO2 Max, recovery advisor and race predictor
• Two integrated microphones in each earbud
• Background noise reduction
• Audio pass-through allows you to tune in to your surroundings at the touch of a button
• In-ear audio coaching with real-time feedback
• Integrated training management with Jabra Sport Life app
• Three-year warranty against sweat and waterproof to IP67 rating
• Tested to work for at least 30 minutes while submerged in up to 3 feet of water
• Supports all major smartphone operating systems, including Android and iOS
• Support for all leading third-party fitness apps
• $250 exclusively at Best Buy stores on October 30. Preorder on BestBuy.com will begin in late September. £230 in the UK.

Sphero Force Band Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

Have you ever tried using one of Sphero’s cool rolling robots, like BB-8, and wished you didn’t have to connect a phone to use it? Use the Force Band.

The Force Band was announced back at the beginning of the year. It’s a wrist-worn remote control for Sphero’s BB-8 robot, so named because — well, it makes it feel like you’re using the Force. It’s finally arriving September 30, along with a new, pretty awesome battle-worn BB-8. I’ve been using both for a few days now.

Sphero’s Force Band is a whole new way to…
See full gallery

1 – 4 of 37

Next
Prev

For owners of the existing BB-8, the Force Band can be purchased separately for $80 or $AU140 (about £61), or comes packed with a new battle-weathered BB-8 that looks far more movie-realistic than the original. That Special Edition Battle-Weathered BB-8 and Force Band package costs $200 or AU$350, or equivalent to about £152. The band itself looks aged, too; it’s a battle-scarred wearable that looks like it came from a junk heap on Jakku.

It’s basically the Sphero remote and droid I was looking for.

It’s bulky, but that makes it feel more like a Star Wars prop.

Sarah Tew/CNET

Costume jewelry for Star Wars geeks

Force Band is a bulky watch-like thing that has a velcro strap, and a funky design.

It’s not a watch, sadly, but it is a USB-chargeable motion-control wrist thingy. It glows, it talks, it makes Star Wars sounds. Most importantly, it acts as an invisible leash for BB-8, letting you control it with waves of the hand.

The original and new battle-weathered BB-8 plus Force Band, in their packaging.

Sarah Tew/CNET

It’s particularly nice because Sphero’s BB-8, and all the other Sphero robots, previously needed a phone/tablet app as a remote control, which meant you needed to have a phone or tablet nearby. For kids, this isn’t ideal. The Force Band actually works with any Bluetooth LE Sphero, including SPRK+ and the high-speed Ollie.

You still need to set up BB-8 and the Force Band with a phone using a new Star Wars Force Band app (which is also helpful, because you’ll need the force training to practice). After that, you’re set to use the band on its own. A single button on top turns it on and helps reposition the BB-8 if it gets disoriented. The sound effects can be turned off, if you want to be stealthy about your force powers.

Invisible lightsabers.

Sarah Tew/CNET

Force Band as super-remote

At first, my attempts to control BB-8 were a mess. Making BB-8 move takes some practice, but I got the hang of it after a few sessions. I had it following me like a little puppy around the office soon enough, and I think I’m starting to figure out more precise subtle moves. It gets pretty addicting…just give yourself plenty of arm space, and be ready to look ridiculous.

There are other things you can do with the Force Band besides use it to control BB-8. Wear it all day, if you dare, and you can play a Pokemon Go-like mini-game where you collect Holocrons as it buzzes your wrist with clues. It sounds annoying, but I’m not a kid, so who knows?

Other features you can unlock include sound effect packs so you can turn your waving hand into a lightsaber, or make a toy sound like a pew-pew X-Wing. (That was pretty fun.)

Other wearables, like smartwatches, might use gesture controls to operate things in your home someday soon, and Sphero envisions the band gaining functionality in the future. For now, just enjoy waving your wrist and pretending you have magic powers.

Adorable.

Sarah Tew/CNET

BB-8 looks great

By the way, the battle-scarred Special Edition BB-8 looks like a mini movie prop. It’s adorably broken-down looking. As a desktop toy or a collector’s item, I can see the appeal. And if you’re looking to buy the ultimate BB-8 bundle, you’re looking at it.

HP Elite Slice Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

Why buy more PC than you need? Especially if you’re buying a business desktop, or potentially an entire office full of them, and you’re looking to save space or money by skipping extras that aren’t important to you.

The base PC, surrounded by add-on modules.

Sarah Tew/CNET

HP has designed a clever new take on the modular PC idea, called the Elite Slice. It’s a very small desktop, 6.5 inches square, roughly similar in size and shape to Apple’s Mac Mini or even HP’s own Pavilion Mini. But rather than being one-size-fits-all, the Elite Slice can be configured with a series of stackable add-on units that quite literally sit on top of one another.

The base unit, which is under 2 inches tall, can support up to an Intel Core i7 processor, and can include a fingerprint reader for security. To this, you can add the HP Collaboration Cover, which has special touch controls for Skype video and audio calls; an Audio Module, with dual microphones and Bang & Olufsen tuned speakers; an optical disc drive module; and sometime next year, a charging cover for wireless phone charging.

Several optional modules stacked together.

Sarah Tew/CNET

By just ordering the parts you need, you can put together a business desktop that’s tailored to a specific company or task, rather than ordering off the shelf. We don’t have full international pricing yet, but in the US, the HP Elite Slice goes on sale this September, and will cost from $429 to $999, depending on how you slice it. Converted, that starts at about £330 or AU$570.

HP Pavilion Wave Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

When we call something a living room PC, we generally mean it’s smaller than a standard tower desktop, somehow designed to fit into typical living room or entertainment center decor, and it has some special features that make it especially useful for multimedia tasks.

The new HP Pavilion Wave is a compact triangular PC, covered in a grey woven fabric. It reminds me more of a bookshelf speaker than a computer. The look just modern enough to fit in anywhere, and its speaker-like design conveys its abilities.

Sarah Tew/CNET

While this is a standard Windows 10 desktop in many ways, it’s almost more of an audio device than a computer. Like the Amazon Echo, which it vaguely resembles, the central mass is largely taken up with a single top-firing speaker, designed for 360-degree sound. A parabolic reflector on the very top pushes the sound out, and while it won’t replace a big pair of powered bookshelf speakers or your home entertainment surround-sound system, it’s pretty hefty sounding for a small-form-factor desktop, especially as most desktops don’t have built-in speakers at all.

Sarah Tew/CNET

Inside, you’ll find current-gen Intel Core i-series processors, up to 2TB of storage, and even optional AMD graphics for video editing and maybe a little light gaming, plus HP says it’ll drive two 4K monitors at once.

Worldwide pricing and availability has not been announced yet, but the HP Pavilion Wave starts at $529 in the US, and will be available starting September 23.

Libratone Q Adapt On-Ear Headphones Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

The Libratone Q Adapt On-Ear headphones are touch-sensitive so you can take a call or adjust the volume and noise-cancelling level without taking out your phone.

Libratone

Wireless headphones are having a moment as Apple looks like it’s ditching the traditional 3.5mm audio jack. Libratone is one of the manufacturers adapting to this sea change with new Q Adapt headphones, which can be controlled by tapping your ear and paired with a noise-cancellation app to block out the sounds around you.

The Libratone Q Adapt series consists of two sets of headphones: a wireless on-ear pair for £219, and a wired pair of in-ears with a Lightning cable for Apple devices, which cost £159. We don’t have US prices yet, but that converts to around $290 and $210.

Q Adapt On-ear

The wireless Q Adapt On-Ear headphones pack two 40mm drivers and connect to your phone, computer or other device via Bluetooth 4.1, so you can walk around without worrying about tangling up in a cable. They have a microphone built-in for hands-free calls even when your phone is on the other side of the room.

You can also control the ‘phones without your phone. The side of the cans are touch-sensitive, so you simply tap the side of your ear and run your finger over the surface of the earcup to adjust volume, skip tracks or answer a call. You can also mute the music by waving your hand by your ear.

Best wireless Bluetooth headphones for iPhone…
See full gallery

1 – 4 of 23

Next
Prev

Headphones don’t have to shut you away from the world. The Q Adapt cans sync with another pair so you and a friend can listen to the same thing. Handy if you’re watching a movie on a plane, sharing a workout playlist or you just don’t want to talk to each other.

Obviously all these features come at a price, which is that you have to remember to charge the headphones. The battery life is more than 20 hours, which will easily get you through a day or two at work and even a long journey. If the battery does die, they come with a 3.5mm cable to keep listening. The headphones charge from a Micro-USB connection, the same as most phones.

The On-Ears come in white, black or pale pink. They slide neatly into a bag as the ear cups twist sideways so they fold flat.

Q Adapt In-ear

The in-ear earbuds have similar touch controls in an inline control. They’re only for iPhone and other Apple devices, because of the Lightning cable.

The Libratone Q Adapt In-Ear earbuds are just for Apple devices with a Lightning connection.

Libratone

The advantages of using Lightning instead of 3.5mm include the fact that it carries power, so the earbuds don’t need a battery pack. You can also talk to Apple’s voice control system Siri through the hands-free mic on the cable.

The in-ears come in white, black, rose pink and pale pink.

Sound city

Both sets of headphones are matched with a new noise cancellation app called CityMix. Download the app to your Apple or Android phone, and you can adjust how much your headphones block out the outside world. There are four different levels of noise cancelling, each one represented in the app by an picture of a city fading out to different degrees.

So for example, if you like to listen to music while jogging, cycling or on the subway, you can still be aware of your surroundings without having to turn the music right down.

The Q Adapt series will be on sale in mid-to-late October. They’re set to go on sale in the US, UK, China, Europe and the Nordic countries.

• See all of CNET’s coverage of IFA 2016 here

Alcatel Vision Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

VR is spreading through the tech world like red wine through a plush new carpet — but this immersive technology is still complex, and expensive. French phone-maker Alcatel has pulled something a little different out the bag here at IFA 2016 in Berlin, with a VR headset that doesn’t connect to a phone, and a 360-degree camera that does.

Vision VR headset

Unlike, for instance, Samsung’s Gear VR, the Alcatel Vision headset doesn’t rely on a phone plugged into the front to provide virtual reality visuals. Instead the Vision is a standalone piece of kit, with two OLED displays inside.

The headset is wireless, running off a battery rather than mains power. That battery is housed in the rear of the headset to stop the front getting too weighty, and Alcatel reckons you can expect 3 hours of use before the Vision starts crying for its charger. Happily the actual mask area is very roomy, so should work fine if you wear glasses. The headset felt comfortable during my brief hands-on, though we’ll need more time before we can make any solid claims on image quality or comfort over long stretches of time.

That’s a roomy headset.

Andrew Hoyle/CNET

As for what to actually watch, that’s where things get a bit less clear. The lack of VR and 360-degree video is an industry-wide problem, but Alcatel doesn’t have the clout of tech giants like Apple or Samsung, so it’s unlikely you’ll be getting any cutting-edge games or movies coming first to this headset. Alcatel’s partnered with a number of third-party companies to cook up the VR experience, and promises 100 VR-optimised videos and over 50 games to play when the headset goes on sale at the end of the year.

There’s no precise international pricing yet, but Alcatel says to expect the Vision headset to cost roughly 499-599 euros. That converts to about £425-510, $560-670 or AU$740-890. That’s leagues away from cheap, and it only just edges out the much higher-profile Oculus Rift. Fingers crossed the price gets slashed a bit before the Vision hits the shelves.

360-degree cameras

Alcatel isn’t stopping at a headset — it’s also lifted the lid on two 360-degree cameras. While consumer-grade cameras such as the Ricoh Theta S connect to phones wirelessly, Alcatel’s 360 Camera goes a bit more basic by plugging into your mobile directly.

Apart from the design, Alcatel says these two cameras are basically identical.

Andrew Hoyle/CNET

Once attached, you’ll take 360-degree photos and video using an Alcatel app. The image feeds from the two opposing cameras will be automatically stitched together.

Alcatel’s selling this camera in two versions, with the only real difference being the design. One looks like an eyeball, while the other is slimmer, with one lens offset from the other. Alcatel promises that thanks to some clever algorithms this won’t result in weird, badly stitched 360 photography.

Both versions will go on sale around the end of the year, costing roughly 99 euros, which translates to approximately £85, $110 or AU$150. That’s more than half the price of the Theta S, so we’ll be interested to see how picture quality and ease-of-use stack up when the product is final.

DJI Osmo Mobile Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

The same camera stabilization tech that makes video from DJI’s drones look silky smooth, is now available for you to use with your phone.

The $299 Osmo Mobile (AU$519, £225 converted) is a 3-axis motorized gimbal with an adjustable phone mount. The gimbal uses its motors to counteract any shake or movement to keep all your shots steady — whether you’re standing still, riding in a car or chasing your kid down the sideline.

The stabilization in and of itself doesn’t make the Osmo stand out from other phone gimbals. What makes the Osmo Mobile different is the DJI Go mobile app. Once you connect your phone to the Osmo via Bluetooth, the app gives you full control over the camera and a couple extras to take advantage of the stabilizer.

One of those is ActiveTrack, a feature borrowed from DJI’s drones, which lets you follow a subject simply by drawing a box around it with your finger. Once it locks on, the gimbal will pan and tilt automatically to keep the subject in your shot.

ActiveTrack uses the gimbal’s motors to keep your phone’s camera on the subject you choose.

Lori Grunin/CNET

Another feature, this time taken from DJI’s Osmo cameras, is Motion Timelapse. Instead of the static timelapse clips you can capture with other cameras, the Osmo Mobile lets you capture the passing of time while the camera tilts and pans through a scene at the places you choose.

The Osmo Mobile can also take high-resolution panoramas by snapping nine photos as it pans across a scene and then stitches the shots together. The Go app will let you live stream to YouTube and — thanks to the stabilization — take handheld long-exposure shots.

On top of that, you get physical controls like a joystick for panning and tilting the camera and separate record and shutter release buttons. The joystick is customizable, too, with adjustments for sensitivity as well as inverting pan and tilt or locking it to only do one or the other. You can also just manually move the camera with your hand into position so you can set your shot just right.

DJI Osmo Mobile more than just another phone…
See full gallery

1 – 4 of 14

Next
Prev

A trigger on the front falls under your forefinger. Press and hold it and the camera locks position so you can raise and lower your hand while the camera stays aimed on your subject. Double click the trigger and it centers the camera, while a triple tap switches your phone from the back camera to the front for selfies on the fly.

Though there is no tripod mount built into the grip, there is an accessory mount on the left side that works with an extension rod, which in turn can be mounted on a tripod. DJI also sells bike and vehicle mounts that can potentially turn your phone into a stabilized action camera.

A removable battery in the handgrip is rated for up to 4.5 hours of use and can be fully charged in 2.5 hours. An extra battery runs $35, £28 or AU$59.

I’m still testing out the Osmo Mobile. but so far it’s an impressive device and it’s competitively priced against other gimbals that don’t offer near the same amount of features.