Sony Xperia XZ + X Compact specs

Sony’s late-2016 handsets are official — the Xperia XZ, a new flagship-tier phone with the latest Sony camera tech, and the Xperia X Compact, a trimmed down version in a 4.6-inch body. If you’re wondering how both phones stack up in terms of raw specs, we’ve got all the info you need down below.

This $5 Bluetooth speaker will surprise you with its sound

Right now you can pick up Adfilic’s Bluetooth speaker for just $5.50 at Amazon with coupon code BROU46GY. This $6.50 savings drops the price to impulse buy territory, and the reviews indicate that it will be well worth the money you spent. Offering a clean and crisp sound, the speaker is nice and small so you can carry it around with ease. Whether you are looking to play some music while cooking, fishing or working out in the garage, this speaker is one you should check out.

At this price, the deal may not last long, so if you are interested be sure to act quickly. Remember, you need coupon code BROU46GY for the full savings. Will you be picking one up? Let us know in the comments!

See at Amazon

Hands-on with the ZTE Axon 7 mini

ZTE has unveiled today the latest addition to its flagship AXON series, the AXON 7 mini. It looks a lot like the bigger Axon 7, but with a 5.2-inch display. This gives consumers more options, especially those who don’t want to spend a lot of money on a new phone. Watch our hands-on video to see it in action.

ZTE Axon 7 mini specifications

The ZTE Axon 7 mini retains the all-metal unibody design of the Axon 7 with 2.5D curved-edge glass touchscreen, which feels really good in the hand. It has an AMOLED display like the Axon 7, but it has a 1080p resolution instead of 2K. Most won’t notice the difference in sharpness, though. And just like the Axon 7, it has dual front-facing speakers.

Running inside is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 617, 3GB of RAM, and 32GB of internal storage. There’s also a microSD slot if you need more space.

On the back, there’s a 16-megapixel camera with f/1.9 lens. It doesn’t have optical image stabilization like the Axon 7, but there’s electronic stabilization. And if you like taking selfies, there’s an 8-megapixel front-facing camera.

ZTE says the Axon 7 can last a whole day with its 2,705 mAh battery, but that’s going to vary depending on your usage. And if you do run out of battery, the Axon 7 mini supports Quick Charge 2.0 through its USB Type C port. You’ll be able to charge the phone from 0 to 46% in just 30 mins.

The ZTE Axon 7 mini will be available in Russia, Germany, Spain, Poland, Japan, Australia, India, Saudi Arabia and the USA. In markets outside the U.S., it will be available for sale at the end of September at a recommended retail price of 299 Euros.

Are you looking forward to the Axon 7 Mini? Let us know in the comments!

Best Nexus 6P cases

What are the best cases for Nexus 6P?

Picking out a Nexus 6P case for day-to-day use can be challenging. The case needs to be durable and protective enough for your liking without being too thin or overly bulky, the design and colors should speak to your sense of style, and the case’s individual, specific features should jump out at you and draw you in.

As you hunt for the perfect Nexus 6P case, here are a couple of options to help you narrow down your list.

• MoKo Halo Series
• Lizimandu pattern case
• Nexus 6P Folio
• Suensan Leather Elegance cover
• Speck CandyShell Grip

MoKo Halo Series

Lightweight and minimalistic – yet protective – the MoKo Halo Series case for your Nexus 6P is a great option if you’re looking for a basic looking, high-quality phone case.

The MoKo comes with cutouts for all ports and buttons, so you won’t have to remove the case to adjust your volume or charge your Nexus 6P and risk dropping and shattering your screen. But if you do happen to drop your phone while in the MoKo case, a TPU shock-absorbent layer is designed to absorb the majority of the impact with minimal damage to your phone.

While the front portion of the MoKo is clear — including the raised bezel for edge and screen protection — the back of the case is a sleek, stylish matte black with an anti-slip feel to give your phone more security on surfaces and in your hand.

See at Amazon

Lizimandu pattern case

Definitely designed for more creative, colorful people, the Nexus 6P pattern case from Lizimandu is a bright and bold alternative to most plain phone cases out there today.

The Lizimandu case isn’t particularly known for its overall protection, but the case is designed with a rubber bumper to protect your Nexus 6P from breaking. It also comes with a raised bezel, meaning your screen won’t scratch if you lay it down on a flat surface.

The case is snug-fitting, so it won’t slide off easily, and is secured with a hyper-vibrant patterned TPU shell. This particular Lizimandu design comes in eight different styles, including an Africa style, blue flower, colorful puzzle, green fragment, marble black, marble white, mystic compass, and white flower.

See at Amazon

Nexus 6P Folio

Available directly from the Google Store, the Nexus 6P Folio offers a stylish and functional option for your Nexus 6P protected. Available in Carbon or Amber, this case features a polycarbonate shell with leather exterior inlay and flap.

Not only will the front flap keep your Nexus 6P screen protected, simply opening the Folio will wake the screen. Close it and the Nexus 6P screen will go to sleep, ensuring you don’t waste valuable battery life when you’re not looking at your phone. This should help save your battery life as well as make life more convenient. The shell features a raised bezel around the screen for an added layer of drop protection along with large cutouts around all the buttons and ports to help with accessibility.

Also see the regular Nexus 6P case if you’re looking for an official, non-folio case that is also of very high quality. It is increasingly difficult to find, however.

See at Google Store

Suensan Leather Elegance cover

If you’re looking for a classic, elegant, high-quality case for your Nexus 6P, then the Suensan Leather Elegance cover is a timeless option to consider.

The outside of the leather case is made from a smooth, thin leather, while the inside lining is soft and gentle to keep your screen free of scratches. With Suensan’s design, the case has openings for all ports and buttons, so you won’t have to remove your Nexus 6P from its case to charge your phone and run the risk of knocking it off a counter and breaking it.

While the Suensan is a beautiful case for your Nexus 6P, it isn’t the most durable, but the case will give you minimal protection in the event of slight drops. On a more stylish note, the case comes in rich brown, black, or deep red leather.

See at Amazon

Speck CandyShell Grip

Another great case from a proven accessory manufacturer.

The Speck CandyShell has been military-grade drop tested, so it’s not only a neat looking case, it’s also pretty durable. A hard outer shell and rubber stripes across the case protect it from high, perilous falls, while a raised bezel prevents scratches from appearing on your screen if you lay it down flat.

The case only comes in two different color combinations, including black and white/black, making it a minimalist, fashionable Nexus 6P accessory.

See at Amazon

What’s your go-to Nexus 6P case?

What’s the best Nexus 6P case in your honest opinion? We’d love to hear it!

Let us know in the comments below which case your Nexus 6P can’t live without.

Lenovo Miix 510 preview: Is that a Surface? No, but it’s just as serious and more affordable

First glance at the Lenovo Miix 510 and you’ll be looking for the Microsoft logo. But no, this isn’t the Surface 4, this is the Chinese maker’s savvy take on the 2-in-1.

We say savvy because the Miix 510 comes with both the keyboard and stylus included in the box – the Microsoft Surface 3, by comparison, has never offered a keyboard bundled into its box. And it’s that £109+ saving that makes the Lenovo an enticing prospect.

Ok, it might not exactly be original – although the company is more than capable, just take a look at our preview of the awesome Yoga Book – but the form factor of the Miix 510 is exactly the kind of thing consumers are looking to buy right now. Lenovo knows it, as do other makers offering similar products.

Compared to the earlier Miix 700 model, the Miix 510 actually steps things up a notch: it embodies an Intel Core i processor (6th Gen Skylake, not the latest 7th Gen Kaby Lake), not the fanless offering of Core M as found in the Miix 700, which means the 510 needs fan cooling. That’s what those top vents are all about. It also means the new model isn’t silent in operation, but we wouldn’t call it noisy either.

Pocket-lint

Products that ape their peers tend to cut corners, but that doesn’t seem to be the case with the Lenovo Miix 510. It’s just as solid in build as a Microsoft Surface 3, with a metal hinge to the rear that can adjust through almost any given angle you desire and hold rigid – which is ideal for low-slung or high-riding positioning.

Plus Lenovo has thrown in its own design calling card. To the rear of that hinge are watchstrap-like adornments, which not only serve for functionality’s sake, but also look rather snazzy to boot. It’s a bit more boisterous than the Surface in that regard.

In other areas it’s Lenovo that has the upper hand against the Surface in terms of features. In addition to the full-size USB port that both devices offer, the Miix 510 has thrown in an extra USB Type-C port to ensure future proofing, while a separate charging port ensures that neither of these sockets will ever be unnecessarily out of use. There’s a microSD slot too.

Considering the keyboard is included in the Miix 510’s box, too, it’s a decent magnetic clip-on offering. It will contently dangle from the main unit’s base, thanks to a strong magnetic connection, plus that four-pin connection takes no alignment skill or faffing about to pair the two parts. Once connected, everything is ready to go immediately, no waiting around.

Pocket-lint

The keyboard also acts as a case, with a leather-style exterior and embossed Lenovo logo, which looks decent rather than cheap. And while on the subject of price, the Miix 510’s £699 starting price undercuts the Surface 3 and Surface Pro 4 models.

The one area where the Lenovo sits behind the Surface is in screen resolution: its 12.2-inch panel has a 1920 x 1200 pixel resolution, which is more than ample, but can’t knock king Microsoft off its 2-in-1 throne in that regard.

Sony Xperia XZ camera: New tech explained

There’s a new Sony camera in town and that means one thing: there’s a load of new camera tech on-board too.

Having looked to change things up a gear with the Sony Xperia Z5, Sony has announced its 2016 flagship, the Xperia XZ. This phone might look familiar as it is essentially an update of the Z5 with the latest hardware and a slightly tweaked design, but there are some important updates to the camera too. 

It features the same 23-megapixel sensor as the Xperia Z5 – and a host of other Sony phones – but here’s how the changes break down. 

Faster autofocusing, with prediction

Sony made bold claims about the performance of the phase detection autofocus system on the Xperia Z5, but there’s a new tech to make sure you get the shot you’re looking for in the shape of subject tracking.

The subject tracking system looks at the movement of the subject and predicts the movement, meaning that the lens is in the right place to take the photo when you press the button. The aim is to ensure that you don’t take photos that are blurry, because the subject has moved closer to the camera between focusing and taking the photo. 

Phase detection and contrast detection work together, now with predictive motion tracking too.

Laser autofocus joins the party

In addition to those autofocus technologies, Sony has also added laser autofocusing into the mix. Following the lead of companies like LG, there’s a new laser AF sensor on the back, which works to enhance the focusing speed in low light conditions. 

Many cameras have to rely on contrast detection in low light. Often this leads to seeking, where the lens moves back and forth trying to catch the point of focus. Using the laser system the Xperia XZ and X Compact are better able to focus quickly in low light. 

Colour sensor for better white balance

One of the common problems with all types of photography is white balance. If the camera doesn’t know what white is supposed to look like in a particular environment, that can make all the colours wrong. Professional photographers often carry a light meter or white card to set the white balance for the room they are in. 

Smartphones rely on an auto white balance system that is often wrong. It can make shady scenes on a summer’s day too cool, so they take on a blue tinge. It can also make darker scenes too warm, so that evening out ends up looking a little orange. 

So solve these white balance issues, Sony has added a colour sensing through an RGB-IR sensor. This assists the auto white balance system by feeding in more information about the light conditions, so that the colours settle down and look as the scene appears to your eyes. 

5-axis stabilisation

Sony’s Handycams offer a range of stabilisation for video and Sony Mobile has been borrowing the skills from its camcorder line for a couple of years to improve the stability of video on its phones.

We’ve seen it in action before and it’s very effective; on the XZ you now have 5-axis of stabilisation, covering pitch and yaw, roll and now x and y shift. The aim is to smooth out your video, taking into account a full range of movements. 

If it’s anything like Sony’s previous stabilisation, it will be really effective, but as an added bonus, it works on the front camera too, meaning super-smooth selfie videos.

• Sony Xperia XZ preview: Sticking to what it knows
• Sony Xperia XZ: Release date, specs and everything you need to know
• Sony Xperia X Compact: It’s Compact, Jim, but not as we know it
• Sony Xperia XZ vs Xperia Z5: What’s the difference?
• Sony Xperia XZ vs X vs X Performance: What’s the difference?

Super Mario Maker coming to Nintendo 3DS, Pokemon Sun and Moon 2DS consoles announced too

Nintendo has announced that it will be bringing a version of hit Wii U game Super Mario Maker to the Nintendo 3DS.

It will be a similar kind of affair, giving you the ability to create your own 2D platforming levels using characters, enemies and objects from Mario games throughout history. It will also come with 100 pre-made levels from Nintendo itself.

However, some of the user-made levels created on Wii U won’t be available on the 3DS version. Plenty will be able to play through, as will the challenge mode, but it is a slightly cut down game. That said, we suspect it’ll be even better suited to the dual screen handheld.

Super Mario Maker for 3DS comes will be available in the UK from 2 December.

• Super Mario Maker review: Build it and they will come

Nintendo

Nintendo also used its 3DS Direct online showcase to announce a couple of new Nintendo 2DS consoles, one each for Pokemon Sun and Pokemon Moon.

Timed to come out in November alongside the launch of the two new Pokemon chapters, each of the new handhelds will come with one of the two titles, and be styled to match. These are in addition to the New Nintendo 3DS XL Solgaleo and Lunala Limited Edition console previously announced.

Nintendo has yet to announce pricing for any of the products shown during the Direct stream, but you should be able to see them on the Nintendo Store soon.

ICYMI: Improving pesticide’s sticking abilities

Today on In Case You Missed It: MIT researchers created a kind of pesticide that is much more likely to stick on plant leaves because its additives are made of negatively and positively charged polymers that bond together. This means far less pesticide needs to be used for the same effect, and fewer pollutants are likely to get into the water system.

If you’re interested in watching the full dominoes video (and why wouldn’t you be, that stuff is mesmerizing) you can find it here. As always, please share any interesting tech or science videos you find by using the #ICYMI hashtag on Twitter for @mskerryd.