ZTE Axon vs LG G4 quick look
We’re in New York to see ZTE’s new and highly ambitious offering for the US market, the Axon. Combining a striking all-metal design with some of the finest specifications on the market, the Axon deserves your attention in and of itself. But ZTE seems decided to make this device a homerun, which may explain the Axon’s affordable price tag: $500 unlocked.
The Android arena is nothing if not competitive, so can a newcomer (even one with the massive might of ZTE at its back) take on heavyweights like Samsung Galaxy S6, HTC One M9, or the LG G4?
In this quick comparison, we look at how the ZTE Axon compares to LG’s leather-bound G4. Let’s get right to it!
Build quality and design
Two premium looking phones go toe to toe, but the similarities end there. The ZTE Axon stands out through its metallic unibody, which sports a striking design element in the styling of the frontal grilles and the camera panel on the back. While the Axon is relatively attractive, it’s not exactly an original appearance, at least not if you’re familiar with HTC’s 2011 flagship, the One X. The Axon seems to combine the One X’ general shape and grille placement with the metallic construction of the One M series. It’s up to you how you feel about it, but overall we think ZTE’s designers did a solid job.
On the other hand, we have the G4, with its smooth curves and natural leather backing. While some may find the prominent seam dividing the back of the G4 a bit gaudy, there’s no denying that leather is a premium material that just oozes personality. If the leather doesn’t catch your eye, the rear-mounted power button and volume keys just might. It’s a distinctive design element that offers some distinct functionality as well, as having the buttons on the back makes it easier to maneuver the 5.5-inch device.
Speaking of size, both phones have 5.5-inch displays, but due to its front grilles and generally larger bezels, the Axon is visibly larger than G4’s compact flagship. That’s not to say the Axon is unwieldy, though at 175 grams it’s not a light phone either.
The Axon features ZTE’s well-known “circle” home button, flanked by two capacitive keys, while the G4 uses on-screen navigation. One advantage that the Axon offers is the presence of a dedicated shutter button on the side, which is something that few Android smartphones feature these days.
Display
Both competitors offer 5.5-inch screens of Quad HD resolutions, resulting in pixel densities of 534 ppi. However, while the raw specs are similar, there are some differences in the underlying technology.
The LG G4 offers an IPS LCD display dubbed Quantum, which offers a wider color range compared to the previous generation of the G series, as well as more brightness. Looking at the G4’s display, it’s easy to see what LG is talking about: the colors just pop from the screen and there’s little to complain about.
The ZTE Axon is also LCD, but its particularity is the use of Continuous Grain Silicon technology, which increases electron mobility in the display and allows for a thinner and more efficient construction. From our experience with it, the Axon looks fantastic, with great colors, brightness and viewing angles.
Performance
ZTE is pulling no punches with the Axon, even if the decision to include the Snapdragon 810 processor may dismay some people. With that said, while HTC and Sony did have some apparent issues with the inclusion of the hot-tempered Snapdragon 810, there’s no guarantee the Axon will suffer the same fate. Performance-wise, there’s nothing to complain about here, though obviously our brief time with the device is not enough for any real judgement. The UI elements were animated without any stuttering and there was no lag in opening and switching between apps – the 4GB of RAM of the Axon certainly help in this regard, as we’ve seen with the Asus Zenfone 2 before it.
In the opposing corner, LG did not risk using the Snapdragon 810 on the G4, opting instead for the slightly slower Snapdragon 808, coupled with 3GB of RAM. LG’s UI is the fastest it’s ever been on the G4, and that is said to be a result of the optimization work that LG did in collaboration with Qualcomm.
Bottom line, these are two powerful devices that will offer great performance, but the Axon may hold the edge thanks to the extra RAM, especially in multi-tasking situations.
Hardware
In terms of storage, you get 32GB on both devices, but the G4 gets a lead thanks to the presence of a microSD card slot beneath the removable back plate. The Axon, in contrast, does not offer expandable storage, so you will have to rely on the cloud to supplement your 32GB of onboard memory.
ZTE touted the hi-fi audio playback capabilities of the Axon, but even if the dual grilles would have you believe otherwise, there’s only one speaker on the device, on the bottom side of the phone. Still, ZTE says you will be able to hear the difference that hi-fi audio makes, even when listening with a cheap pair of headphones.
The battery size on both phones is 3,000 mAh, but the unit on the G4 is user replaceable.
Camera
The Axon features a dual-camera setup that resembles the Duo Camera setup of the One M8 and other HTC devices, allowing the device to focalize better and faster, as well as offer features like post-shot refocusing. The two cameras are 13MP and 2MP respectively, and they are aided by a dual-LED flash and two microphones, which should eliminate ambient noise when recording in difficult conditions. Meanwhile, selfie lovers will want to hear about the 8MP front shooter. We’ll need time with the Axon to really appraise its camera, but at least on paper, things are looking good.
Things are also looking very good when it comes to the LG G4’s camera, with its laser-assisted focus system and impressive f 1.8 aperture lens allowing it to capture lots of ambient light. Optical image stabilization helps with low light photography and video, and, overall the G4 is one of the finest camera phones you can get right now.
Software
While ZTE phones destined for the Chinese market are not known for their polished and minimalist user interfaces, the situation is slightly different on the Axon. While there are some customizations, ZTE generally kept stock elements from Android 5.1, including the notification dropdown, the quick settings screen and more. There are a handful of pre-installed apps as well, including Argus and Map My Run.
LG chose to simplify the aesthetics of its UI, even if functionality remains relatively stuffy on the G4. There are some questionable features, but also several useful ones, like Knock Code and Multiwindow. LG also worked with Google to put its apps front and center on the device, as opposed to opting for its own apps.
Wrap up
The LG G4 and ZTE Axon are both great devices, but it looks like the newcomer will be able to give the G4 a run for its money, and more than that. At $500, the ZTE Axon is not exactly in the impulse buy territory, but for those who buy their phones unlocked the $150-$250 difference compared to other Android flagships can make a real difference.
We’ll reserve our full judgment for the review, but in the mean time tell us what are your thoughts on the Axon and how it compares with the LG G4?
Android Wear reportedly getting watch-to-watch sharing features
Google is launching brand new watch-to-watch communication features for Android Wear that are not unlike those on Apple’s Watch, according to Phandroid. Users will reportedly be able to send each other doodles, photos, stickers, messages and more using a feature called “Together.” That’s pretty similar to the Apple Watch’s Digital Touch, which allows users to relay tap patterns, drawings and even heartbeats to each other. Oddly, Android Wear users who want to share items may need to use the same the same watchface, as the feature isn’t system-wide. However, Phandroid admitted that its information on that aspect “is quite old.”
The update will also supposedly bring new interactive watch faces and change the functionality associated with a single-tap. Right now, when you tap once, it opens a launch menu for various apps, settings, etc. With the new update, however, tapping on the new interactive watchfaces will cause them to cycle through different states like time, weather, and sports training info. It can also be used to open new activities, which would slide in from the right side of the watch face.
Finally, there’s good news for G Watch R owners, as the smartwatch will finally have WiFi functionality. LG’s device was left out when that feature arrived with Android 5.1.1, but will get it via an over-the-air update soon. As for the other features, Google has reportedly given developers the latest SDK, and the update is set to roll out next month. Treat all of this with some skepticism, however, as Phandroid admitted that some of its information was old and the rumored functions may not make into the final update.
Filed under: Wearables, Google
Source: Phandroid
WSJ: Apple had 92% of smartphone industry’s profits in Q1 2015
Despite the countless advantages of Android, Apple has absolute control over smartphone profits.
According to The Wall Street Journal, there are now approximately a thousand different companies producing smartphones. That number is absolutely staggering, and should without a doubt infer that there are OEMs above and beyond the scope of knowledge of just about anyone.
But Apple it seems, receives almost all of the profits from the industry according to Mike Walkley, Canaccord Genuity managing director. Specifically, in the first quarter of 2015, it earned 92% of the total operating income from the world’s leading 8 OEMs, an impressive 65% increase over the same period last year. Samsung, on the other hand, received only 15%. (Because many companies actually lose money in the smartphone business, the total share of those who profit is bigger than 100%.) In light of all those other manufactures who aren’t mentioned, Canaccord estimates that they are essentially irrelevant (from this perspective) given that they “broke even or lost money.”
Apple’s market
The report explains that Apple “sells less than 20% of smartphones, in terms of unit sales” and that “the disparity reflects its ability to command much higher prices for its phones”, something that is no longer true of Android OEMs as they face an increasingly crowded marketplace. The result is a lack of core differentiation which has forced many companies to slash prices in order to appeal to consumers. This trend is totally alien from Apple’s attention, as last year the iPhone “sold for a global average of $624, compared with $185 for smartphones running Android, according to Strategy Analytics.”
It should be note that Canaccord’s data “doesn’t include privately held companies including Xiaomi and India’s Micromax Informatics Ltd.” however, “Mr. Walkley said those companies’ profits—if any—are unlikely to alter the industry-wide profit picture.” While some might be eager to speak otherwise, given the extremely low retail prices for these OEM’s products, it is basically assumed they are selling them at-or-around production costs, and thus what little profit to be had comes from selling massive numbers of product, or even from value-added services, offers, or accessories.
Google’s gain (as OEMs feel the pain)
While this report may enrage Android fans, especially those with more antagonistic views of Apple, this is little more than a reinforcement of just how profitable Cupertino’s business model is, and exactly why companies like Samsung are so eager to try and break free of Android. Indeed there is a certain element of irony at play here: many view Google’s “open” OS as pro-choice, yet Google’s overall business strategy is largely self serving. In other words, Google makes a lot of money of Android, even if actual most phone makers don’t.
It matters very little who makes Android phones, as long as the phones being made are running Google Play Services
Google wants Android on as many devices as possible, because each one is a potential profit center for the company’s main business: advertising. To Google, it matters very little who makes their phones, as long as the phones being made are running Google Play Services. This fractured reality is exactly why the “China situation” is such a pain in Mountain View’s side, and why it’s looking more likely 2015 will see the release of a Huawei Nexus.
Indeed as Android has gradually matured, Google has sought to exercise tighter control over the OS. Likewise, the once-flourishing sales of Samsung are ultimately of little concern now that Android has achieved its absolute market share dominance. Whereas the Galaxy series was once – arguably – the sole contender against Apple’s iPhone, the tables have turned and now any random would-be OEM can make a pretty decent smartphone.
Each Android phone is a potential profit center for Google’s main business: advertising.
Notice, however, just how rare it is to find any given one (or tablet for that matter) that doesn’t run Google Play Services, something that used to happen on a somewhat frequent basis in the early days of Android and budget-friendly products. This is not to say they don’t exist, not at all, but rather there are just so many smaller-scale tablets that do support Play Services, the problem is nowhere near as pressing as it might once have been.
Profit pictures
Had HTC released the One M9+ as its flagship, perhaps the financial fall-out would have been somewhat lessened…or even staved-off entirely.
As far as key Android OEMs go and their potential for profits, the sad reality is that things don’t look good at all. Samsung had an extremely favorable reception when the Galaxy S6 was announced which prompted almost unreasonable projections of potential sales. Reports began to come in that painted a different picture, and in the more recent past it’s become quite clear that the Korean smartphone manufacturer will ultimately fail to live up to the lofty expectations many had set up. HTC is in a similar boat, largely due to its decision to release the One M9 as its flagship, despite an absolute menagerie of other prime products exclusively available in Asia. LG is also facing scrutiny given that the G4 has, by all accounts so far, failed to live up to its sales potential.
Meanwhile, over in Apple-land, rumblings of rumors couldn’t be more rosy. The WSJ points out that “events last week highlighted the lopsided financial picture [with] Apple…asking suppliers to make a record number of new iPhone models.” Given that the products expected to launch this year, the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus are – based on past releases – going to retain the same design but instead offer upgraded internals, it truly just shows how much power Apple has when it comes to products, purchases, and profits.
Unlike Apple, HTC or Sony can’t get away with releasing iterative products.
HTC by all accounts, did the exact same thing with its One M9 and yet has met with disastrous results. Even Sony has faced intense scrutiny for this strategy given that the Xperia Z4 is basically a retread of the Z3, a reality that has literally forced the company to re-brand it as the Z3+ outside of Japan. How the tables might have turned had HTC at least had the foresight to release the One M9+ as its flagship, or had Sony deemed it fit to launch the Verizon-exclusive Z4v on a global scale.
Forecasting the future
Even were it to feature a teleportation beam, it’s unlikely the upcoming Galaxy Note 5 would ever be able to transport Samsung back to its former finances.
It is unlikely that things will improve for legacy Android OEMs in the future. New rumors are suggesting that Samsung will launch its upcoming Galaxy Note 5 earlier than in the past, simply because it doesn’t want to compete with the iPhone’s juggernaut-strong offensive. Likewise, the company is expected to bring to market a super-sized Galaxy S6 Edge as clear competition for the new iPhone. The Note series has always been a less mainstream affair, and thus it is unlikely to move massive numbers enough to bring Samsung back to positive growth on a mass-scale, the likes of which it used to enjoy on a quarterly basis for year-upon-year in the past.
With even Android’s largest OEM facing slowing sales, the potential for smaller players is all the more marred, baring a major upturning of strategy. In their place will be dozens of companies from China, such as Huawei, Xiaomi, ZTE, who will be the ones to truly take advantage of the world’s emerging markets. These companies are not hell-bent on mass profits, nor do many of them have speculators or investors governing the decisions that go on behind the scenes the way that publicly traded companies do.
Test run paves the way for over-the-air 4K TV
You may not have to pony up for a streaming video service (or any service, for that matter) to get 4K video on your TV in the future. GatesAir, LG and Zenith have started field-testing Futurecast, a system that promises to drag over-the-air TV into the modern era. Thanks to HEVC video compression as well as boosts to overall throughput, the technology can stuff both 4K and two mobile broadcasts into a relatively small 6MHz frequency range. With enough bandwidth, you’d only need a set of rabbit ears to watch at least a few basic channels in Ultra HD.
Don’t rush to snag a 4K TV just yet. So far, Futurecast mostly exists as a bunch of technologies that will hopefully be rolled into the next-generation ATSC 3.0 standard. It’ll take some time before that standard is ready to go, and a while after that before you can buy a supporting set. Still, it’s good to know that plain HD will no longer be as good as it gets when you’re watching for free.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, LG
Source: LG Newsroom
Android Authority this week – July 12, 2015
Hello Android fans, rumors of the next Android superstars are sizzling hot and so is summer in many parts of the world. But we don’t mind, as long as we get our daily dose of Android coolness! Here are some of the top news this week: Galaxy Note 5 specs leaked out, along with the phone’s rumored launch time; we’ve added more features to the OnePlus 2’s portrait; an initial set of specs leaked for the LG G Pro 3; further details surfaced about the Galaxy A8 and the Xiaomi Mi 5; Google launched an updated version of Android M; and talk of a BlackBerry-Android connection heated up.
Inside AA HQ
It’s been a quiet few days for us over here at Android Authority. While we’ve slowed down a bit, it doesn’t mean we’re not working behind the scenes on some cool stuff for the second half of the year. For now we’re looking forward to the OnePlus 2 and, provided recent reports are true, the Note 5, as soon as August. Exciting stuff!
This week we’re putting the excellent LG G4 up for grabs. Visit the Sunday Giveaway page for your chance to win LG’s latest flagship.
The stuff you shouldn’t miss
- Feature: Andrew looks at the biggest trends in mobile technology from the first half of 2015
- Feature: In this video and post, Gary explains machine learning, one of the biggest development in modern computing
- Roundup: The Note 5 rumors are coming in hard, and we’re summarized them all right here
- Comparison: Josh pitches against each other the curved S6 Edge and the waterproof S6 Active
- Review: Looking for a new Android tablet? You may want to look at this Galaxy Tab A review
- Roundup: The other hot device of the moment is OnePlus 2: check out all the rumors
- Guide: Rob rounded up a “who’s who” of mobile camera tech
Top news of the week
Note 5 rumors
- Video allegedly showing the Galaxy Note 5 design shows up
- Report reveals Galaxy S6 Edge Plus, Note 5 specs
- WSJ: Samsung to launch Galaxy Note 5 in mid-August, in order to avoid iPhone overlap
OnePlus 2 getting close
- The OnePlus 2 will cost less than $450, says CEO
- The OnePlus 2 will come with 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM
- OnePlus 2 will feature a big 3300mAh battery
- OnePlus has (overly?) ambitious plans to be a platform that ‘follows us’
LG G Pro 3
Galaxy A8 coming soon
Xiaomi Mi 5 specs
Android M preview #2
- Android M Developer Preview 2 arrives
- Diving into Android M: (re)revamped app drawer and customizing what shows in status bar
BB and Google
Sound off
We always want to hear your feedback. Whether it’s criticism or praise, feel free to tell us what you think about Android Authority’s content, design, and community. Comment here or get in touch with us on our social channels:
Happy Sunday!
LG G4 International Giveaway
Welcome to the Sunday Giveaway, the place where we giveaway a new Android phone or tablet each and every Sunday.
A big congratulations to last week’s winner of the Galaxy S6 giveaway, Filip V., from Romania.
This week we are giving away a new LG G4!
LG’s G4 hits the sweet spot for a lot of potential people with its arguably best in class camera quality, Quantum 2k display, removable battery, microSD support and its interchangeable back. It earned our Editor’s Choice award, and is one of the best smartphones of 2015.
Related links: LG G4 Review | LG G4 cases | LG G4 vs Galaxy S6/edge
Join Now!
Related giveaway: Beats Pill 2.0 bluetooth speaker giveaway at Sound Guys.
Terms & Conditions
- The giveaway is an international giveaway (Except when we can not ship to your Country.)
- If we can not ship to your country, you will be compensated with an online gift card of equal MSRP value to the prize.
- We are not responsible for lost shipments.
- You must be age of majority in your Country of residence.
- We are not responsible for any duties, import taxes that you may incur.
- Only 1 entry per person, do not enter multiple email addresses. We will verify all winners and if we detect multiple email addresses by the same person you will not be eligible to win.
- We reserve all rights to make any changes to this giveaway.
- The prize will ship when it is available to purchase.
Full terms & conditions and FAQ | Past giveaway winners [Gallery]
Good luck, everyone!
More LG G4
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[Deal] Woot selling ‘factory reconditioned’ LG G Watch for $69
Nervous about getting into Android Wear? That’s understandable with any platform that you’ve never invested in or tried. Now, though, is seemingly the time to get into Google’s wearable platform as one retailer has a launch device for less than $100.
On Woot, the LG G Watch is available for $69. While this is not for a brand new model, it is ‘factory reconditioned’ and Woot notes that this means the device is as close to being new as possible. Woot also offers a one-year protection plan for an additional $11.
Come comment on this article: [Deal] Woot selling ‘factory reconditioned’ LG G Watch for $69
[Deal] Woot selling ‘factory reconditioned’ LG G Watch for $69
Nervous about getting into Android Wear? That’s understandable with any platform that you’ve never invested in or tried. Now, though, is seemingly the time to get into Google’s wearable platform as one retailer has a launch device for less than $100.
On Woot, the LG G Watch is available for $69. While this is not for a brand new model, it is ‘factory reconditioned’ and Woot notes that this means the device is as close to being new as possible. Woot also offers a one-year protection plan for an additional $11.
Come comment on this article: [Deal] Woot selling ‘factory reconditioned’ LG G Watch for $69
Google teaming up with Huawei for the new Nexus
We’ve heard numerous times before that various manufactures are in on the new Nexus and one of the most likely has been Huawei. This time, a new report has surfaced that once again puts Huawei behind the hardware for the next Nexus smartphone.
This comes courtesy of ‘The Information‘, which has been reliable in the past when it comes to source leaks, who say that Google will be teaming up with Huawei in a partnership that will benefit both companies.
The next Nexus device is expected to be a 5.7-inch Quad HD device, powered by a Snapdragon 810 processor, and could be only one of two Nexus devices that possibly would be offered in different sizes.
The ‘benefit both companies’ piece revolves around bringing the Chinese manufacturer into the US market and this will inturn help Google bring their Google Play Store to China, a place where it hasn’t had much luck.
In addition to the Huawei-made Nexus 5.7-inch device, LG are also reportedly in talks with Google to bring a smaller 5-inch device, similar to the profile of the Nexus 5, both of which will be running Android M and will be launched in parallel of the new operating system.
The post Google teaming up with Huawei for the new Nexus appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Which monitors are worth buying?
With all the work you do, the games you play and the videos you watch, you spend a lot of time staring at your monitor. So why not do your eyes a favor and make sure you get one that’s got exactly what you need, whether it’s precise colors, fast response time or just a pleasing design? We’ve delved into some of the better monitors currently on the market to let you know which ones give you the best view for the money.
AIVAnet 