The Asus ZenFone 2 Deluxe Special Edition packs 256GB of internal storage
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The amount of internal storage available in a smartphone tends to be a relatively contentious issue for some, and the absence of a microSD slot can make this even more volatile. This tends to stem from the fact phone manufacturers are only offering flagship devices with 32GB or 64GB variants, with a select few offering 128GB version – well, Asus intends to one-up all of these devices and manufacturers by offering a special version of its Asus ZenFone 2 with 256GB internal storage – yes, you read that right.
The Asus ZenFone 2 Deluxe Special Edition was unveiled in Brazil earlier today and for the most part is the same as the stock ZenFone 2 with 5.5-inch 1080p display, Intel Atom processor, 4GB RAM and 3,000mAh battery. Amusingly enough, if 256GB internal storage isn’t enough for you, a microSD slot is still provided, supporting up to 128GB cards – that’s an unprecedented amount of storage possible in a smartphone, but hey, the option is there. It would appear that the Asus ZenFone 2 Deluxe Special Edition is only going to be available in Brazil for the time being, and no pricing has been confirmed, but we’re hoping that Asus brings this one to other markets in the near future.
What do you think about the Asus ZenFone 2 Deluxe Special Edition with 256GB internal storage? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: AsusFanatics via Phone Arena
The post The Asus ZenFone 2 Deluxe Special Edition packs 256GB of internal storage appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
ASUS ZenFone 2 update patches Stagefright vulnerability, adds many improvements
Every manufacturer is working on sending out patches for the Stagefright vulnerability, but so far everything we have seen is very much focused on that specific issue. ASUS is not wasting time as they release the patch update for the ZenFone 2, along with plenty of other improvements.
The latest update takes the software to version 2.20.40.59_20150807. Aside from adding the Stagefright patch, ASUS introduces a bevy of new features with this update. Here are some of them.
New features
- Add Hands up
- As phone is ringing, hold phone in portrait mode and lift to touch the ear to answer the phone.
- Added Mobile Manager app which has six major functions:
- Data usage: Controls the apps’ data usage
- Notifications: Manages annoying notifications
- Auto-start Manager: Manages auto-start apps running in the background
- Boost: Boosts memory
- Power Saver: Provides various battery modes to extend the battery life
- Virus Scanner: Scans virus and malwares
- Add Flip cover function
- Add new Clock theme
- Add VIP icon in Clock view for SMS/email/missed call
- Add timer reminder
- Add charging reminder
- Add Cover View function
- New clock theme
- Allows detail checking of everyday events in Calendar view
- Supports Spotify on Music app
In addition, the manufacturer has included a very long list of bug fixes and optimizations. These include improvements to the UI, launcher, WiFi, camera, and many other elements. You can always refer to ASUS’ official release note to catch all the details.
The update is available to ZenFone users now, so go ahead and check your settings if a notification hasn’t graced your screen yet. Have any of you gotten this update yet? How is it treating you?
Back to school tech guide 2015: the definitive gadget list for work and fun
Summer is coming to an end soon, and it’s that time of the year when young minds around the country mentally prepare for the change from lazy summer days to getting ready for that 8 AM course that you know you should not have taken. It is also the time to splurge on your essential, and not so essential, back to school shopping.
When it comes to your tech needs, we’ve got you covered! Ranging from devices that are a necessity to those that will help just to have some fun, here is our round up of the best back to school tech you can find.
Media streaming
Google Chromecast
The Google Chromecast HDMI streaming stick lets you stream your online video and music to your TV from your smartphone, tablet, or laptop, with support for Android and iOS devices and Chrome for Mac and Windows. Setup is very easy, and all you need to do is plug the device into the HDMI port of the TV, connect it to your Wi-Fi network and follow some very basic setup instructions. There’s also a number of great services that offer support for Chromecast, with tons of new apps and services adding support all the time, and it’s affordable price point of $29.99 currently makes it one of the best media streaming options available.
SEE ALSO: 22 best Chromecast apps for Android
Nexus Player
The Nexus Player is Google’s full-fledged Android-powered set-top box, going beyond what the Chromecast offers. Running the new Android TV platform, this device gives you access to movie, TV, and gaming recommendations based on your history. You can use the included remote to navigate through the menus, or simply voice search from the remote to find what you’re looking for. This device comes Google Cast ready, and if you don’t have your remote, you always have the option to just use your phone. Streaming content also syncs across your phone, tablet, and Nexus Player so you can start a movie on your TV, then finish it in bed on your phone or tablet later. The Nexus Player is currently priced at $69.99.
SEE ALSO: Nexus Player review
Roku 3 (2015 model)
Unlike the other media/gaming devices on the list, the Roku 3 isn’t Android-powered but it does integrate with services like Google Play Movies & TV and arguably provides the very best selection of streaming entertainment anywhere, including both popular premium services as well as free entertainment options. The Roku 3 features an enhanced remote with built-in headphone jack for those times when you want to listen to your shows without interrupting others around you. The Roku 3 enhanced remote also features motion-sensing technology that lets you play games with a simple flick of your wrist, along with game-ready buttons. The Roku Android app lets you use your smartphone or tablet as a remote, and with some devices, also stream local media. A new very useful addition with the 2015 model is voice search, to make navigating through everything much easier. The Roku 3 is priced at $99.
Smartphones
Moto G (3rd Generation)
The latest edition of the Motorola’s affordable smartphone retains some of what made its predecessor so popular, such as its very smooth software experience, while adding a few great extras, including its IPx7 rating for water resistance, better camera, slightly different design elements, and what will likely be its most popular aspect, the ability to customize the device using Moto Maker. The Moto G (3rd generation) is available in two iterations, with the cheaper $179.99 version coming with 8 GB of on-board storage and 1 GB of RAM, with the 16 GB version with 2 GB of RAM setting you back an additional $40, with an additional expense of you are hoping to add an engraving to the device.
SEE ALSO: Moto G (3rd generation) review
Buy now on Amazon
Customize using Moto Maker
Axon Phone by ZTE
Chinese OEMs are slowly but surely breaking into the competitive US market, with some great devices offering excellent bang for your buck. One such smartphone is the Axon Phone by ZTE. While its beautiful design, gorgeous Quad HD display, smooth performance, high-end specifications, fluid software experience, and decent camera isn’t above and beyond what is expected from a current generation high-end flagship, the fact that it is significantly cheaper than the devices it directly competes with, at a price point of $449.98, is what makes the Axon Phone by ZTE a no brainer.
SEE ALSO: Axon Phone by ZTE review
ASUS Zenfone 2
There has been a big focus in the Android world on affordability without compromise, and a great example of this is the ASUS Zenfone 2. The Zenfone 2 caught everyone’s attention with its beautiful Full HD display, solid specifications that offer a smooth and fluid experience, customizable software, and fantastic design and build quality, all at an extremely affordable price point. $199 will get you the version with 16 GB of on-board storage and 2 GB of RAM, but if you’re looking for more, the 64 GB version that packs a whopping 4 GB of RAM is priced at just $299.
SEE ALSO: ASUS Zenfone 2 review
Samsung Galaxy S6
Samsung introduced a major change in terms of design and build quality with its latest S series flagship smartphone, moving away from plastic and going to a beautiful metal and glass unibody design. The device is an absolute powerhouse with its in-house processing package, with the smooth performance helped along by the toned-down software experience. Everything Samsung is known for makes a return here, such as its fantastic Quad HD Super AMOLED display, and one of the best camera experiences around on a smartphone. The Samsung Galaxy S6 is certainly expensive, available at a full price of $599, but you do get to take advantage of the standard subsidized rates with a 2-year contract from the various network carriers in the US.
SEE ALSO:
Protective cases and covers
If you are paying a premium for your smartphone, it’s natural that you’ll want to keep it in a pristine condition for as long as possible, and regardless of what mobile device you have, an extra layer of security is never a bad idea to keep it safe from scratches, and accidental bumps and drops. If you decide to pick up any of the smartphones listed above, you can find great cases for them in the links below, and for any other device, don’t forget to check out our growing database of best cases currently available for a variety of smartphones and tablets, which you can find here.
Moto G (3rd generation) cases
ZTE Axon Phone cases
ASUS Zenfone 2 cases
Samsung Galaxy S6 cases
Android Wear smartwatches
Sony Smartwatch 3
Sony decided to go with Android Wear with its latest smartwatch offering, the Smartwatch 3. What makes the Sony Smartwatch 3 stand out is its onboard GPS module, that lets you track your activities without needing a smartphone, its IP68 rating for resistance to dust and water, and the use of a transflective LCD display, which helps a lot with outdoor visibility. While the device maintains a sporty look and doesn’t try to be like a traditional watch like some other smartwatches out there, this device is ideal for active users who are looking for a simple way to keep a track of their fitness activities. Priced at $173 currently, the Smartwatch 3 is also one of the more affordable options available.
SEE ALSO: Sony Smartwatch 3 review
Moto 360
The Moto 360 was one of the first Android Wear smartwatches announced, and, while it took Motorola more than half a year to release it, the sleek circular device has been well received. Featuring a large circular screen, a sleek brushed metal build, and several replaceable bands, the Moto 360 will look good in just about any occasion. On the inside, the processor is older than the competitors’, while the battery is on the small side, but the device will last a day of usage for all but the most active users, and you get one of the better charging implementations around. The Moto 360 is a great choice if style is your biggest priority, and is currently priced at just $149.
SEE ALSO: Moto 360 review
LG Watch Urbane
LG has been at the forefront of the Android Wear smartwatch evolution, starting from the reference model-like nature of the LG G Watch, to its first round face smartwatch, the G Watch R, culminating to its latest, and most expensive, offering, the Watch Urbane. Featuring a premium design and build quality that gives this device a certain luxury appeal, the Watch Urbane also brings with it improvements in other key areas, like battery life. If you’re looking for a stylish device that is as close to a traditional watch as possible, the LG Watch Urbane is the one for you. The most expensive of the lot, the Watch Urbane is currently priced at $302.
SEE ALSO: LG Watch Urbane review
Fitness trackers
Fitbit Charge HR
The Fitbit brand is popular for a reason, and that’s because their products are extremely great quality. The Fitbit Charge HR is an accurate fitness tracker that gives you useful information like distance traveled, step counts, calories burned, stairs climbed, and much more, while also allowing for continuous, automatic, monitoring of your heart rate. It’s made of a high quality rubber material that won’t wear down over time. It features a small OLED display that gives you notifications, phone calls, and basically anything else that you need to see on your phone. Priced at under $150, the Fitness Charge HR is a great choice to help you stay on top of your fitness activities.
Tablets
Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4
Most of us use tablets for watching movies, reading, and playing games. So it makes sense to go for the very best display you can get, and it’s hard to find anything better than the Galaxy Tab S 8.4. The Tab S 8.4 is one of the few tablets with an AMOLED screen and a super crisp Quad HD at that, with an excellent 359 ppi pixel density. Being AMOLED, the screen will show deep blacks and vivid colors, perfect for games and movies. The portable Tab S 8.4 combines the portability of smaller devices with the screen real estate afforded by larger tablets. If you’re looking for everything that Samsung has to offer in an affordable package, the Galaxy Tab S 8.4 is the best choice for you.
SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 review
Nexus 9
The Nexus 9, from Google and HTC is an Android fanboy’s dream, with it running the purest, most recent version of Android, and always being one of the first to receive future software updates, for at least two years. There are no OEM additions (though stock Android may be a little too minimal for your taste) and therefore nothing to bog down the user experience.The Nexus 9 is just as impressive on the hardware side, featuring 64-bit Tegra processor, a beautiful 1536 x 2048 pixels screen, stereo front speakers (disguised under the protective glass) and a big battery. The device features a utilitarian, yet elegant design, with an aluminum frame that gives it rigidity without adding much heft. The Nexus 9 is still one of the best Android tablets currently available, and is currently priced starting at $349.
SEE ALSO: Nexus 9 review
All-new Kindle Paperwhite
The all-new Kindle Paperwhite may not offer as much terms of features and functionality as the other tablets on this list, but this e-reader lets you do one thing incredibly well, and that is read books. With features that include a higher resolution display with no screen glare, a built-in adjustable light for day and night time reading, and a battery that lasts for weeks instead of days, this is certainly one of the best if you’re in the market for an e-reader. The new Kindle Paperwhite is also priced starting at just $119, making it a very affordable option if all you really need a tablet for is to read books.
Chromebooks
Toshiba Chromebook 2
The successor to the original Toshiba Chromebook brought with it some refinements to the overall design with a sleeker look and a lighter body, a Full HD display, and 4 GB of RAM. The device Powered by a dual-core Intel Celeron processor (with fanless design), and other specs that include a battery rated for 9 hours use, 16 GB storage with 100 GB Google Drive space, and a Skullcandy-branded audio experience. The Toshiba Chromebook 2 may be considered expensive given its competition, but at $279, is still a very budget-friendly option.
Acer Chromebook 15
It is quite difficult to find a Chromebook with a large display, but that search has become a lot easier with the Acer Chromebook 15, with its large 15.6-inch display. The base model, priced at just $219.99 is powered by an Intel Celeron processor and comes with 2 GB RAM, a battery that is rated for 11 hours of use, but the display experience is also hindered by a relatively low 1366 x 768 resolution. You also have the choice to upgrade the processor, and the RAM to 4 GB, which also bumps up the display resolution to Full HD, which would be the better way to go, but will of course, cost more money.
ASUS Chromebook Flip
Finding an inexpensive, capable Chromebook isn’t too difficult nowadays, but if you’re looking for a little more functionality, the ASUS Chromebok Flip could be the device for you. The Flip sports a 10.1-inch IPS LCD display with a 1280 x 800 resolution, a quad-core processor clocked at 1.8GHz, 2 or 4GB of RAM, an aluminum chassis, and a battery that’s supposed to last up to nine hours on a single charge. It also weighs under 2 pounds, measures just 0.6-inches thin and comes with 16GB of on-board storage, which is quite standard fare. The big story with this Chromebook is its ability to be used as a notebook computer or a tablet just by flipping the keyboard around. If you’d like to use it as a tablet, flipping the keyboard around to the back will automatically pull up the on-screen navigation buttons. It’s small display size may not be for everyone, but if you’re looking for an affordable 2-in-1 device, the $229 price of this chromebook is ideal.
Bluetooth speakers
Bose SoundLink 3
While it doesn’t offer the bells and whistles that many of its competitors do, the SoundLink 3 seems to adhere to the philosophy of doing one thing well, when it comes to sheer volume and sound quality, this one is tough to beat. While lack of bass is a common complaint when looking at Bluetooth speakers, that isn’t the case here. This isn’t going to blow a full hi-fi system or car stereo out of the water, but given the size, the depth and presence of the bass is impressive. If you’re looking for a speaker to fill the room at a party, this is going to be your best bet. The only downside here is the price, with the device priced at $299.95.
SEE ALSO: Bose SoundLink 3 review
Creative Sound Blaster Roar
Not only is the Creative Sound Blaster Roar SR20 cheaper than the Bose SoundLink 3, it is absolutely packed with features as well. Apart from just playing music over Bluetooth but it also has a built-in microSD card slot that allows it to function as a standalone music player, a 6,000 mAh battery that can charge your mobile devices, and a voice recorder function. Even with this feature set, the Creative Sound Blaster can be found for a somewhat reasonable price of $149.99.
SEE ALSO: Creative Sound Blaster Roar review
Anker MP141
While Anker is a fairly recognizable brand name, the company has its hands in so many areas that you might not know them for the audio products. It may not stand toe to toe with the other Bluetooth speakers on this list, when it comes to sound quality, given the tiny size and low price, the Anker MP141 is definitely worth a mention. While the heavy-duty look and small size might not be for everyone, the price certainly is, and the 20 hour battery life is another plus, and priced at just $39.99, it’s a no-brainer.
SEE ALSO: Anker MP141 review
Headphones
Bose Quiet Comfort 25
One of the best features of the Bose Quiet Comfort 25 is the active noise cancellation that it offers, and Bose finds the perfect mark between it not working that well, or otherwise resulting in a hissing sound when the noise cancellation is too overbearing. In terms of sound quality and comfort, the QuietComfort 25 is on par with other Bose headphones, which is to say their fairly well balanced, but they don’t go overboard on bass. One common complaint about Bose products is that they’re expensive, and that is certainly the case here with its price tag of $299, but you certainly get what you pay for.
SEE ALSO: Bose Quiet Comfort 25 review
Audio Technica ATH-M50X
Audio Technica is the first name that comes up if you’re looking for precision sound that doesn’t sacrifice an enjoyable listening experience for the sake of accuracy. While some color choices run more expensive, the base models of the ATH-M50x clock in at under $200, and the combination of price, sound quality, and build quality come together in a pair of headphones that are more than the sum of their parts. If you’re looking for some more features, like active noise collection, the headphones listed above may be the better way to go.
SEE ALSO: Audio Technica ATH-M50X review
Monoprice 8323
Like the ATH-M50x headphones, the Monoprice 8323 doesn’t offer much in the way of features, but what they lack in fancy looks or included remotes, they make up for in sound quality. Obviously, to keep the price low some sacrifices had to be made. For example, the build quality isn’t exactly rock solid, but given its price point of of just $33, this is an absolutely great deal for the audio quality you get to enjoy.
SEE ALSO: Monoprice 8323 review
Earphones (Sports)
Jaybird Bluebuds X
One big issue with all earbuds is getting a good fit and this earphone aims to fix that by including a couple of different sized ear tips and wing tips for you to mess around with until you get the fit that’s most comfortable for you. Since their release, the Jaybird Bluebuds X have been the standard for what Bluetooth earbuds should do. They offer about 8 hours of battery life, and on the wire connecting the two buds are the buttons that control everything from answering calls to skipping tracks. With its price point of $143, these earphones are certainly expensive, but worth it, helped along by the lifetime warranty that is available.
SEE ALSO: Jaybird Bluebuds X review
Jabra Sport Pulse
While the other earphones listed are ideal for wearing at the gym, they don’t have any exercise-specific features outside of not falling out of your ears. This pair of earbuds on the other hand, take sport-focused earbuds to a whole new level. Starting with the sound, the Jabra Sport Pulse offers great audio quality – it goes a step beyond, however, in that not only are they sweat-resistant, but they actually have a built-in heart rate meter to track your workouts as you wear them. While on the more expensive side, with its price point of $199, the additional fitness tracking feature may be what you are looking for.
SEE ALSO: Jabra Sport Pulse review
Sol Republic Shadow Wireless
The Sol Republic Shadow Wireless is another great choice if you’re looking for Bluetooth earphones, and along with the availability of 8 hours of battery life, they also sound really good. The Shadow Wireless have Bluetooth 4.0 with aptX which enables them to stream high quality music from your device from up to 30 feet away. Sol offers free ear tip replacement for life. The earphones have three buttons for volume up, volume down, and play/pause/answering phone calls right on the neckband as well. The Sol Republic Shadow Wireless earphones are priced at $99.99.
USB chargers and cables
Aukey Quick Charge 2.0 charger
Officially licensed and certified to use Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 Technology applied to one out of the 5 available ports, the Aukey Quick Charge 2.0 USB Wall Charger allows you the option to charge compatible devices up to 75% faster than a standard charger. Multiple built-in safeguards are available to fully protect against over-current, overcharging, and overheating for safe and fast charging. Of course, this charger can be used to charge older devices as well. While the version with 5 ports is priced at $29.99, and 3 port iteration is also available for a cheaper $22.99.
Aukey Quick Charge 2.0 car charger
Like the wallcharger, the Aukey Quick Charge 2.0 car charger is also officially licensed and certified to use Qualcomm’s fast charging technology, if you do have a device that can take advantage of it, and an additional port is also available two charge two devices simultaneously. Once again, multiple built-in safeguards are available to fully protect against over-current, overcharging, and overheating for safe and fast charging. This car charger is currently priced at $16.99.
Anker tangle free USB cable
This Anker USB cable addresses a few issues users generally have with such cables, keeping them tangle free, and offering some durability, with its nylon braided cord. Anker also claims that this cable allows for charging by up to 7% faster than standard cables, as well as allowing for transfer data speeds up to 480 Mbps. The Anker tangle free USB cable is priced at $5.99.
External Battery
Lumsing 10,400 mAh battery bank
The Lumsing battery bank offers a very high 10,400 mAh capacity, which should be enough to charge your smartphone multiple times, and you can charge two devices simultaneously as well. 4 LED indicators are present to show how much charge the device still holds, and there are protections available to avoid overcharge, overvoltage, overcurrent, and short circuits. Despite the capacity this device offers, the Lumsing battery bank is currently priced at just $19.99.
Anker 2nd generation Astro Mini
The Anker Astro Mini is a very portable, lipstick-sized, battery pack, and is the perfect device to have when in a pinch. It doesn’t offer the highest capacity, but 3,350 mAh should be more than enough to get at least close to a full charge with most smartphones. The Anker Astro Mini is also available with a great deal right now, with the black version of the device priced at just $9.99, with the other color options setting you back an additional $10.
Expandable storage
SanDisk Extreme
The SanDisk Extreme is the USB flash drive for you if you’re device has a USB 3.0 port, allowing you to enjoy fast read and write speeds, ideal for any big file transfers. While the write speeds seem to vary from 55 Mbps to 190 Mbps depending on the capacity, you do get read speed of 245 Mbps across the board. The Extreme is certainly a bit pricey when it comes to flash drives, with the device priced starting at $16.99 for the 16 GB variant, but it is worth it for the extra speed.
SanDisk Cruzer Blade
The SanDisk Cruzer Blade is the cheaper option, if you’re looking for lower capacity options, or if you don’t have a USB 3.0 port to take advantage of. The read and write speeds are admittedly slow, but that is understandable. Starting at just $5.95 for the 4 GB variant, the Cruzer Blade is a great flash drive choice, and with a hole for a keychain ring, you won’t have to worry much about losing it.
Lexar microSD card
The Lexar high-performance microSD card is the premium memory solution for sports camcorders, tablets, and smartphones. It quickly captures, stores, plays back, and transfers media files, including 1080p full HD, 3D, and 4K video, with a transfer speed up to 95 Mbps. While comparatively a bit pricey, with the 32 GB version priced at $24.99, this is ideal for use with devices like GoPro Hero 3 and others.
SanDisk Ultra microSD card
The SanDisk Ultra microSD card is a cheaper alternative to the option above, and is ideal for smartphones and tablets. You get p to 80 Mbps transfer speeds, and it allows for Full HD video recording and playback. The microSD card is temperature proof, shock proof, X-ray proof, and magnet proof, and there is also the Memory Zone app, that lets you auto-manage media and memory for peak phone performance. The SanDisk Ultra microSD card starts at price point of $6.51 for the 8 GB version.
There you go! Our definitive list of gadgets for a great back to school season! Have some suggestions? Drop us a line.
We have the ASUS ZenFone 2E: ask us anything!
There’s plenty of content on the ASUS ZenFone 2 out there, but not everyone knows about the ZenFone 2E. This AT&T prepaid phone was announced with a $119.99 price point, surely a cost that will raise some eyebrows. It’s much cheaper than the average ZenFone 2, which was already considered super affordable!
Is there a catch? Will this phone fulfill your needs? It does sport a nice set of specs for the price, including an Intel Atom processor, 1 GB of RAM and a 5.0-inch screen. It could be the perfect phone for the casual user who doesn’t like contracts.
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Curious about the phone? You will want to keep it tuned to Android Authority. Our very own Joshua Vergara got a hold of this device and is getting ready to put a review together. Meanwhile, we just wanted to take the time and let you ask us anything about the ZenFone 2E. If you want to know any specific details about the handset, just hit up our ASUS ZenFone 2E forum page and shoot us any questions. Josh and other Android Authority team members will be checking in frequently. You can also leave your doubts here and we will do our best to clear them!
Mid-range smackdown: Oppo R7, Samsung A7, Asus ZenFone 2, and Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
OPPO R7, the company’s mid-range champion.
Not too long ago, it was surprisingly difficult to find an unlocked, capable smartphone for an affordable price point. To get a mobile device that worked properly, it wasn’t uncommon that users would need to spend anywhere around $500-$800. Luckily for everyone, a number of device manufacturers have been releasing smartphones that are capable of handling everyday tasks, but still won’t break the bank.
Specifically, lesser known but rapidly growing smartphone companies such as OPPO and Asus have been releasing some great devices, and so have well-known manufacturers like Samsung and Sony. But how do the most prominent mid-tier smartphones from these companies compare? While this is not a complete list by any means, we decided to pit just a few mid-range handsets against one another to see how they fare.
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Specifications
Today we’ll be comparing the OPPO R7, Samsung Galaxy A7, ASUS ZenFone 2, and the Sony Xperia M4 Aqua. It should be noted early on that we haven’t reviewed the Galaxy A7, though given its comparable specifications to the competition, we thought it to be a good device to add to the comparison. Although these smartphones bring somewhat similar specifications and price points to the table, many of them still differ from one another when it comes to overall user experience. Before we get too far into the details, let’s take a look at the specification list below:
| OPPO R7 | Samsung Galaxy A7 (A700FD) | Sony Xperia M4 Aqua | ASUS ZenFone 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 5.0-inch Super AMOLED display with 1080 x 1920 resolution | 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display with 1080 x 1920 resolution | 5.0-inch IPS LCD display with 720 x 1280 resolution | 5.5-inch IPS LCD display with 1080 x 1920 resolution |
| Processor | 1.5 GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 | Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & quad-core 1.0 GHz Cortex-A53 Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 | 1.5 GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 | 2.3GHz quad-core Intel Atom Z3580 (4GB RAM), 1.8GHz quad-core Intel Atom Z3560 (2GB RAM) |
| RAM | 3GB | 2GB | 2GB | 2/4GB |
| Storage | 16GB, expandable up to 128GB | 16GB, expandable up to 64GB | 8/16GB, expandable up to 128GB | 16/32/64GB, expandable up to 64GB |
| GPU | Adreno 305 | Adreno 405 | Adreno 405 | PowerVR G6430 |
| Camera | 13MP rear f/2.2 8MP front-facing f/2.4 |
13MP rear camera 5MP front camera |
13 MP rear camera 5MP front camera |
13MP rear camera 5MP front camera |
| Software | Color OS 2.1, Android 4.4.2 KitKat | Samsung TouchWiz, Android 5.0.2 Lollipop | Android 5.0 Lollipop | Zen UI, Android 5.0 Lollipop |
| Battery | 2,320mAh, non-removable | 2,600mAh, non-removable | 2,400mAh, non-removable | 3,000mAh, non-removable |
| Dimensions | 143 x 71 x 6.3mm, 147g | 151 x 76.2 x 6.3mm, 141g | 145.5 x 72.6 x 7.3mm, 136g | 152.5 x 77.2 x 10.9mm, 170g |
| Fast charging | Yes | No | No | Yes |
Display
Bringing a great price tag and solid specs, the Asus ZenFone 2 is one of the best mid-range options on the market.
To begin, let’s talk about the display. Mid-tier smartphones have come a long way on the display front, with many options now hitting the market with Full HD panels – and that’s true for the ZenFone 2, the Oppo R7 and the Samsung Galaxy A7. The big difference between these displays, however, is that the R7 and A7 both feature Super AMOLED displays instead of an LCD. AMOLED vs. LCD is still an ongoing debate, but much of the time you’ll find more vivid colors with AMOLED technology and there are certainly a number of folks that prefer AMOLED over LCD.
Unfortunately, Sony chose to go with a 5.0-inch 720p panel on their device, which might upset a few users hoping to get the clear 1080p resolution out of their mid-tier smartphone. Even though having a device with a lower resolution display might result in a tad better battery life, we’re sure most users would choose Full HD over this option if given the chance.
Performance
With a Snapdragon 615, the OPPO R7 stands towards the top when it comes to performance.
When it comes to performance, none of these smartphones are particularly poor at handling everyday tasks, though a few still manage to stand out from the rest. The OPPO R7 and ZenFone 2 both performed really well in our full reviews, largely due to their impressive internals.
Featuring 3GB of RAM and a Snapdragon 615 CPU, the R7 is quite the competitor to the ZenFone 2 with 4GB of RAM and Atom Z3580 CPU. Both devices handle gaming quite well, and they do a great job at performing everyday tasks. The Snapdragon 615 found in both the R7 and A7 has proven itself to be quite a capable processor overtime, making both OPPO’s and Samsung’s offerings a great option for those looking for a device with a reliable processor. It should be noted, however, that we have not posted a full review of the A7, so we aren’t as informed on this device as we are with the others. As for the Atom Z3580, while it might perform similarly, Qualcomm processors tend to have better app compatibility and simply have a better rep (810 overheating drama aside).
Last on the list is the Xperia M4 Aqua. While this device features the same 615 processor found in the R7 and A7, our reviews have found that Sony’s offering tends to overheat relatively easily when playing games, which is one of our biggest points of contention with the device.
Camera
The M4 Aqua stands out when it comes to camera performance.
Oddly enough, all four of the devices we’re comparing today feature 13MP rear-facing cameras, though there’s still a big difference when it comes to image quality.
No matter which device you pick out of the lot, you won’t be disappointed in the camera department. But if you want a mid-range smartphone with a camera that stands above the rest, we’d suggest going with the Xperia M4 Aqua. In our full review, Sony’s offering consistently produced shots with great detail and with vivid colors. Sony’s camera app is quite simplistic and doesn’t come with too many features, though more can be downloaded separately.
Next up we have the OPPO R7 and ASUS ZenFone 2, which both produced average shots in our full reviews. Although we haven’t tested the A7’s camera for ourself, Samsung devices in the past have consistently produced well-balanced, accurate photos. Like most other smartphone cameras, these devices perform best in well-lit areas, with a noticeable decline in quality when moved into low-light situations. Ultimately, the R7 struggles in the post-processing department, while the ZenFone 2 fails to provide an acceptable amount of dynamic range.
All of the extras
One of Sony’s signature features is waterproofing, and so it is great to see this present in the Xperia M4 Aqua.
Design and build quality are two big areas where manufacturers are shifting focus in the mid-range market, and all four of these smartphones surely don’t disappoint on that front. Whether you choose to go with the familiar design language of Sony’s Xperia M4 Aqua or the premium-feeling OPPO R7, we’re sure most of you won’t have to sacrifice too much when it comes to overall design.
OEMs are also noticeably focusing on their software experiences, too. All of these devices feature software that’s been toned down significantly throughout the past few months, which has been a big pain point for mid-rangers in the past. OPPO’s simplified ColorOS provides a much smoother overall experience, while the ZenFone 2, Xperia M4 Aqua and Galaxy A7 are much more feature-rich than the others. When it comes to software, it ultimately comes down to which OEM skin you prefer, but you really can’t go wrong with any of these options.
Quick charging? Yes please!
All four of these devices come with non-removable batteries, but that actually may not be a deal breaker. These mid-range offerings can all last around a full day on a single charge, though not much more than that. What’s more, you don’t have to worry about running out of space on your device, because all of them also come with microSD card slots.
The differences begin to really stand out when we take into account other attractive features such as IP68 water and dust resistance or quick charging technology. For instance, I’d much rather recommend the Sony option to anyone who spends the majority of their summer days sitting next to the pool, but I’d rather recommend the OPPO R7 or ZenFone 2 to someone who needs to charge their battery in half the time thanks to integrated quick charging.
Pricing and final thoughts
OPPO R7’s design and performance put it towards the top of the list, though ZenFone 2 and the others follow close behind.
Choosing the right smartphone isn’t always an easy decision, and it can take some time to figure out what best suits your needs. Out of the pack, the OPPO R7 seemingly stands out above the rest if you’re looking for a powerful handset with an ultra-premium build and high-end features like quick charging. The ZenFone 2 certainly follows close behind, though many may be turned off by its choice of an Intel processor and its somewhat less attractive design (though that last point is completely subjective).
The Samsung Galaxy A7 also seems like a capable enough device, though we think it’s price tag may be too high for most users looking for a solid mid-range offering. As for the Sony Xperia M4 Aqua? Special features like waterproofing are great, though we certainly are a bit alarmed by the device’s apparent overheating issues.
Related: Best Android phones (June 2015)
All in all, this post is meant to condense our full reviews down to make it easier for you to decide on which phone is right for you. However, that’s not always the easiest way to get information across, so we’ve also linked our full reviews down below. Feel free to let us know which device you think is worth your hard-earned cash, and why the other smartphones won’t find their way into your pocket anytime soon.
More on these great devices
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Check out our full reviews:
Just XDA things: here’s Windows 7 running on the Asus Zenfone 2
Coaxing software to run on devices that are not supposed to support it is a favorite pastime around some corners of the Internet.
Most recently, we’ve seen stuff like Windows 95 and Macintosh II running on a Samsung Gear Live or Android running on a freaking graphic calculator.
But how about a current desktop operating system running on an off-the-shelf smartphone (and an affordable one to boot)? Oh, yeah, someone got Windows 7 to run on a Zenfone 2.
There’s a fair bit of technical wizardry involved, and XDA-Developer user Yua Ca Van helpfully listed all the required steps here. Put very simply, this is Windows running on a virtual machine on Android. The speed is sluggish, but what really matters is that the installation is fully functional, complete with sound, network access, shared storage access, and more. For all intents and purposes, this is Windows 7 actually working on a consumer smartphone, without modifications.
So, why did Yua Ca Van choose the Zenfone 2 to experiment with Windows 7? Two reasons: the Zenfone 2 runs on an Intel x86 processor, making it easy to virtualize Windows on it; and it has 4GB of RAM, which appears to be enough to load up and run the OS without cracking under pressure. More about the benefits of those gigs of RAM here.
Let this be – another – reminder that we leave in the future.
Just XDA things: here’s Windows 7 running on the Asus Zenfone 2
Coaxing software to run on devices that are not supposed to support it is a favorite pastime around some corners of the Internet.
Most recently, we’ve seen stuff like Windows 95 and Macintosh II running on a Samsung Gear Live or Android running on a freaking graphic calculator.
But how about a current desktop operating system running on an off-the-shelf smartphone (and an affordable one to boot)? Oh, yeah, someone got Windows 7 to run on a Zenfone 2.
There’s a fair bit of technical wizardry involved, and XDA-Developer user Yua Ca Van helpfully listed all the required steps here. Put very simply, this is Windows running on a virtual machine on Android. The speed is sluggish, but what really matters is that the installation is fully functional, complete with sound, network access, shared storage access, and more. For all intents and purposes, this is Windows 7 actually working on a consumer smartphone, without modifications.
So, why did Yua Ca Van choose the Zenfone 2 to experiment with Windows 7? Two reasons: the Zenfone 2 runs on an Intel x86 processor, making it easy to virtualize Windows on it; and it has 4GB of RAM, which appears to be enough to load up and run the OS without cracking under pressure. More about the benefits of those gigs of RAM here.
Let this be – another – reminder that we leave in the future.
Galaxy S6 ranks first in a “real world” speed test
Knowing all about your future smartphone’s potential performance is a useful bit of purchasing information. However synthetic benchmarks have their issues, so perhaps it’s best to look to some real world speed tests to get a feel for how a handset performs in its day-to-day tasks.
TomsGuide has stuck some leading pieces of smartphone hardware up against one other in a range of tests. Here’s the list of the handsets and chip-sets that took part:
- Samsung Galaxy S6 (Exynos 7420)
- HTC One M9 (Snapdragon 810)
- LG G4 (Snapdragon 808)
- Google Nexus 6 (Snapdragon 805)
- Asus ZenFone 2 (Intel Atom Z3580)
- iPhone 6 (Apple A8)
To summarise the results, the Galaxy S6 finished first in the vast majority of the benchmarks, putting in a particularly strong performance in the real world examples, such as PDF loading and camera app opening times. The LG G4 finished second, putting in a good performance in everything but the 3D graphics based categories. The Adreno 418 was always going to have a tougher time pushing pixels to a QHD display, however it only lags 1 frame behind the leading handsets in the Asphalt 8 real world gaming test. Both of these handsets outperform Apple’s iPhone 6 on average throughout.
Perhaps most interestingly, the Snapdragon 810 powered HTC One M9 came in fourth, behind the Snapdragon 808 powered LG G4 and Samsung’s own Exynos 7420. While gaming performance was slightly better in the benchmarks, app opening times, memory and overall benchmarks fell short of the G4, suggesting that LG made a better choice in optingt for Qualcomm’s hexa-core rather than octa-core flagship SoC.
Another contentious point worth noting is that the stock Android Google Nexus 6 game in last in the majority of the real world tests, consistently opening apps much slower than all of the other handsets. The Intel Atom powered Zenfone 2 may have finished last overall, but actually performed faster than the Nexus 6 is a number of scenarios, suggesting rather good performance per dollar from the Asus handset.
Moving back to the winner, the reason for the Galaxy S6’s success doesn’t just come from its SoC package. Samsung has produced a very well-rounded piece of hardware. The company included faster LPDDR4 memory (as does the One M9), as well as UFS 2.0 flash storage for faster read and write speeds in its latest model, which probably explains the faster PDF opening times.
If you’re looking for the best performing smartphone on the market right now, the Samsung Galaxy S6 appears to be the handset for you.
You can now unofficially unlock the ASUS ZenFone 2 bootloader
For those of you who have been waiting patiently to begin tinkering around with the ASUS ZenFone 2, now is your chance. According to a thread on XDA, the ZenFone 2’s bootloader has been unofficially unlocked by the community, and there’s a list of instructions available on the thread that explains how to do it yourself.
First and foremost, you’ll need to be running the latest firmware, version 2.19.40, and your ZenFone 2 needs to be rooted. After typing in a handful of adb commands and downloading a small file, your phone should be unlocked.
Don’t miss: ASUS ZenFone 2 review
Now that the bootloader is unlocked, developers can begin building custom recoveries and ROMs for users to flash on their devices, which is where all of the fun starts. Keep in mind that while this is arguably one of the most enjoyable aspects of Android, unlocking the bootloader isn’t for everyone and can result in a bricked smartphone. If you feel like you’re up for the challenge, however, go ahead and follow the source link below to get all of the details.
Do you own a ZenFone 2? If so, will you be unlocking the bootloader? Be sure to let us know in the comment section.
HERE for Android adds Intel device support
Location company HERE has updated its Android application with support for devices based on Intel’s x86 architecture. Announcing the update on its blog, the company announced that the latest version of its application (version 1.1 on the Google Play Store) now supports the Vietnamese language and will be able to run on devices using Intel’s mobile processors, such as the Asus ZenFone 2.
HERE for Android brings the company’s location services – which includes offline mapping, voice navigation and point of interest information – to the Android platforms and offers a credible alternative to Google’s own Maps solution, which will gain offline mapping later this year. Point of interest info on HERE for Android comes with ratings and reviews from TripAdvisor and LonelyPlanet and also displays 3D indoor maps for popular POIs such as shopping centres and airports to help you find your way around.
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HERE for Android also offers real-time traffic and incident information in over 40 countries around the world, while offline maps are available for over 100 countries and public transport maps and schedules are available for over 20 countries. To download the update, head over to Google Play, Galaxy Apps or the Amazon AppStore.
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