Huawei Watch review
Aiming to create smartwatches that allow for the look and feel of a classic watch, more and more OEMs have been adopting a circular design when it comes to their wearable devices. One such Android Wear smartwatch that has piqued our interest since its introduction has been the smart wearable from Huawei, and the beautifully-designed device is certainly one that a lot of people have been clamoring for. Does this smartwatch manage to be more than just all about looks? We find out, in this comprehensive Huawei Watch review!
More great Android Wear devices
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Design
Not surprisingly, the design of the Huawei Watch is the most important part of the entire experience, and given that the unboxing of the device was also a pretty luxurious affair, its obvious that this is a watch made for both the executive, business dress, as well as for the casual, everyday style.
With a leather strap with the base model and a metal construction, Huawei has definitely hit a lot of the right notes. The screen is completely round, and without any breaks in the shape, and found at the 2 o’ clock position is a single button. The button is nice and solid, with good tactile feedback and a bit of a spring action to it, and while not jarring in its appearance, Huawei certainly hasn’t attempted to hide it away. At the top and bottom are nubs with some curve to them, that houses the standard 18 mm straps this version comes with. Speaking of straps, it is very easy to replace them as well to any of the numerous options that Huawei has available, with the presence of quick release pins.
There’s no doubt that this executive design checks all the right boxes, with the tuxedo color scheme fitting in with everything from suits to a more casual attire. That said, if your getup isn’t all that presentable, the shiny, silver watch may look out of place, and it also quite difficult to take advantage of the fitness capabilities of this Android Wear device, given its more formal design. Another point of note is that while the 42 mm size is pretty standard for watches in general, the thickness, of just over 11 mm, exacerbates its size, and if you have small wrists, it will unfortunately look strange.
As mentioned, there are quite a few different color and strap options available with the Huawei Watch, even if it isn’t at the level as what is possible with the Moto 360 (2nd Gen.) and Moto Maker. Silver, black, or rose gold finishes are coupled with a number of watch bands, ranging from leather, to full deployment clasp metals in different colors. Of course, you will have to shell out a little more to get the look that fits your wants.
We do think that the Huawei Watch is one of the first Android Wear devices to get the classic round watch design right, but that is important only if you really want your smartwatch to look like an old timepiece, but with a whole lot of extra capabilities baked in. To that end, you do get the sense that the Huawei Watch tried just a little too hard to be everything, and while it knows what makes a watch a watch, it then has to contend with the tropes of a smart device. The curves of the top and bottom nubs feel just a touch out of place from the rigidity that is the flat AMOLED display, and the leather watch strap, though a prerequisite of typical luxury, isn’t anything too special.
There’s no denying that the Huawei Watch is one of the new Android Wear devices that melds the worlds of watches and smart devices together in a seamless way, but that looks to result in as many disadvantages as there are positives.
Display
One of the best displays on a smartwatch to date
The Huawei Watch comes with a 1.4-inch AMOLED display, with a 400 x 400 resolution, and allows for one of the best smartwatch display experiences available right now. Sapphire Crystal covers the display, which is another classic timepiece note that Huawei manages to hit. Text is really crisp on this screen, and the high resolution makes the otherwise rather cut and dry Android Wear software look smooth and snappy.
There are also benefits from having the perpetually on screen with an AMOLED display, as it helps keep the watch from using too much power, and the contrast does help things pop. While the screen does make viewing quite great, it does again seem to be trying just a little too hard however. Without an ambient light sensor available, the screen is left at the user defined brightness, which will ultimately require a little more micromanagement of the watch than might be desired. Thankfully, the brightness is otherwise good enough to allow for comfortable outdoor visibility.
Performance
Under the hood, the Huawei Watch packs a Snapdragon 400 processor, backed by 512 MB of RAM, which is pretty standard fare as far as Android Wear devices are concerned. 4 GB of on-board storage is also available for those looking to locally store some music on the watch for phone-less workouts, even though we stand by the fact that a watch like this doesn’t really fit in with gym attire.
It is of course, quite difficult to really push an Android Wear smartwatch through its paces and really test the performance, as there isn’t much to do on one, other than swipe among cards, and occasionally perform some input within installed applications. In our daily usage, there weren’t any problems with getting applications to load, checking or dismissing notifications, and also keeping track of our fitness activities. In a way, one of the benefits of Android Wear is that things remain pretty reliable across the board no matter what watch you get, and the Huawei Watch is no different.
Hardware
Typical Android Wear smartwatch features are found on the hardware side of things as well, including a heart rate sensor on the back, but Huawei tries to make it more accurate by adding a second one. When comparing this to my Polar heart rate monitor, it did stay within a smaller margin of error than what is seen with some other smartwatches out there.
An IP67 certification keeps the watch safe from the elements, and you won’t have to worry about it breaking down under water contact. That said, you will probably feel like taking a watch like this off before any kind of contact with water happens anyway, regardless of the fact that nothing would go wrong with it.
Don’t miss: Huawei Watch unboxing and initial impressions
The built-in microphone is one of the main methods of input for Android Wear, and it performs as well as expected, even if taking to the watch takes some getting used to. Really noisy environments can stifle recognition of your voice however, which can be annoying primarily when in the car, but this isn’t an issue seen with only the Huawei Watch, but most other Android Wear devices out there.
Battery life on the Huawei Watch is very impressive
On the battery front, we have to give the Huawei Watch some credit for being one of the more impressive devices in this aspect. Huawei claimed a day and a half of battery life, and that is what was actually observed in our testing as well. Having to plug in the watch every other night is a marginally better situation to be in, and also a big plus, given the fact that Huawei takes an unfortunate step back with their charging solution.
The Huawei Watch requires usage of a contact-based charger, instead of the more preferred wireless solutions, which means that you have remember to keep this charger on hand, and what is disappointing is that the magnet doesn’t always make the pins line up properly, which can become annoying.
Software
Finally, Android Wear is the cusp of the experience surrounding the Huawei Watch, and as mentioned many times before, this watch manages to check all the right boxes, but without really excelling, or being truly exciting. The is what is expected from the Android Wear experience though. There are cards that require a lot of swiping around, certain shortcuts are available, including voice input, and unless specific applications are installed along with your smartphone apps, that is essentially all there is to it.
Android Wear is still best described as a notification center, and gives you the ability to respond or control plenty of them as they come through. Certain applications, like being able to have directions and maps on your wrist prove the usefulness of Android Wear, but the very nature of looking at and controlling another touchscreen makes it less than ideal for some situations, like when you are driving.
Huawei does try to inject what it can to the typical Android Wear formula, such as the availability of plenty of custom watchfaces, and its own health suite, but ultimately, the general feel is the same, and as far as the software aspect of the Huawei Watch is concerned, it all boils down to whether you love or hate Android Wear.
Gallery
Pricing and final thoughts
As far as the price is concerned, the Huawei Watch does fall at the higher end of the price spectrum, with the potential to get quite expensive depending on which version of the watch you want. The base silver model with the leather band will set you back $349, the addition of a clasping metal band will bring that up to $399, and if you want to go completely gold, $799 is what you will have to spend.
Related: The most expensive Android Wear watch yet is coming on November 9 from Tag Heuer
So there you have it for this in-depth look at the Huawei Watch! A good bit of money will be needed to pick up a watch that does succeed in adding luxury to the equation, but it is otherwise bogged down by what is currently a cut and dry Android Wear platform. The Huawei Watch may be the first device to get the “watch” aspect of a smartwatch right, but it does so at its own peril. Unless you’re really looking for a classic look, this device could actually be a little boring, made only slightly better by one of the other color and watch band options available, which also be more expensive. In an increasingly round smartwatch landscape, Huawei should be lauded for being the first that got it right, but it isn’t going to be alone for much longer, and that might be its biggest problem.
Chromecast 2015 and Chromecast Audio Review
Along with the new flagship Nexus smartphones, the Nexus 6P and the Nexus 5X, Google also unveiled an updated version of the Chromecast HDMI dongle, boasting a new look, multiple color options, and of course, faster hardware and enhancements on the software side of things. That wasn’t the only media streaming device Google launched either, with the company also taking the wraps off Chromecast Audio, which lets you make use of almost any set of speakers out there to cover your audio needs.
Do these new media products remain as compelling an option as the original Chromecast was? We find out, in this Chromecast 2015 and Chromecast Audio review!
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Like the original Chromecast, the latest edition can also directly be plugged into your television or other display via the HDMI port, and requires only a quick initial setup before you are good to go. The Chromecast 2015 does look very different when compared to its predecessor, and at first, there were some concerns with regards to space, but those are all gone now thanks to the revamped design.
Although it may look a bit odd when compared to its predecessor, the new Chromecast does wonders for saving space behind the television. The new design now keeps the dongle away from any walls that could be right behind your TV, which the original Chromecast might have otherwise pressed up against. Additionally, if you have multiple cords plugged into the back of your TV and happen to be short on space, the new Chromecast was designed to fix this problem. The dongle portion of the Chromecast is pretty slim, so if things are at all cluttered, you’ll still be able to plug in your Chromecast without a hitch.
If you’re not short on space, though, the new Chromecast is also magnetic, so you can attach it to itself to stop if from dangling.
Chromecast Audio essentially features the same concept behind the Chromecast, but is an audio-only device. This is the kind of device that you can plug into almost any set of speakers that are lying around, which can then be used as a full-fledged audio streaming service, giving new purpose to any old, regular speakers that you may have. As mentioned, the Chromecast Audio has the same puck design as the Chromecast 2015, and doesn’t have anything sticking out of it, because the cable that you use for audio, can be adapted to other formats. What is included is a regular 3.5 mm audio cable, and of course, it has to be externally powered as well, via a wall plug, or any device with an USB port, like a laptop.
Setting up the Chromecast 2015 and Chromecast Audio requires only one thing, an Android or iOS smartphone. You will have to install the Chromecast application, which has also received its own update that introduces an updated design, and quite a few new features. Not only does this app serve as an aggregation system for all of the different applications that are compatible for use with the Chromecast, but it also comes with a robust recommendation feature, pointing you towards any content that you may be interested in.
Related: Latest Chromecast app update brings content discovery, search functionality and more
There is a little bit more to it as well, with you now having the ability to change the backdrop on the Chromecast this time around, with options that only include pictures that you could get from websites like 500px, but also compatibility with Google Newsstand, to allow for a ticker across the screen to keep you up to date with the latest headlines from around the world. The background image feature is a very pleasant addition, and if you are someone who has their television on all the time, it makes for a nice look when you aren’t using the TV with the Chromecast.
There have been improvements on the performance side of things as well, which is expected, given the updated internals that the Chromecast 2015 packs under the hood. Mainly, the wireless signal has been updated from the 2.4 GHz variety to 5 GHz, which does happen to be a little more opened up, and should make things faster when it comes to buffering the content that you are streaming. In our testing, it does seem to do the trick, but while at the presentation during the launch event, it was mentioned that the content would be pre-loaded in the background as you are selecting it, allowing for almost instantaneous streaming, it’s not really something that we have observed.
When testing performance with HBO Now, as far as the original Chromecast was concerned, you’d notice that it had to try buffering again multiple times, and the content tended to get a little bit fuzzy when going to lower resolutions, to keep up with the speed. With the new Chromecast 2015 however, there have been absolutely no issues with HBO Now, with regards to speed or clarity. It is true that 1080p is the upper limit as far as streaming resolution is concerned, but that isn’t much of a big deal, with the majority of televisions other there are still not of the 2K variety at the moment.
Moving on to Chromecast Audio, it is a device that is a little bit more specialized in its usage, and may be something that will not pique the interest of every user. If there was something similar that you were on the lookout for, Chromecast Audio may just be the perfect device for you. If you do have a set of speakers at your disposal that aren’t being used all that much, this audio-centric media streamer is what will help make these speakers viable once again.
Chromecast Audio allows you to have a singular source for streaming music which won’t get interrupted by all of things that your phone would do on the side. You could still do things on your actual device, while the music is playing on the speaker that Chromecast Audio is connected to. The streaming capabilities with the Chromecast Audio also happen to be pretty instantaneous, especially if you are using a music streaming service. If it was only when playing podcasts, when using something like Pocket Casts, that there was some buffering involved, especially if your starting point was later in the podcast.
See also: Amazon to stop selling Google’s Chromecast, Apple TV and others come October 29
When using something like Bluetooth speakers, any notifications you receive will interrupt the audio that you are streaming through the speaker, but that is no longer a concern with Chromecast Audio. Audio quality from this device is otherwise standard, possibly a little bit above average. Considering the fact that you will be paying $35 for an audio peripheral device, you can’t really expect it to provide the same quality that a high-quality DAC will provide. It is however, a great option for anyone that has a good set of speakers, and needs them to be as smart as our televisions are, with Chromecast.
Probably the best part about the Chromecast 2015 is that it supports both Android and iOS, which means that most smartphone owners will be able to use it, and with an Android device, you can stream the entire screen to your television. If you don’t have either for any reason, you still have the ability to stream content from your computer using the Google Chrome browser, from which you can stream media from not only all of the different streaming services, but also just a Chrome tab, or even the whole desktop. As far as gaming is concerned, the library is still quite bare, but we still look forward to seeing how this second screen experience on Chromecast might be able to benefit the daily user.
So there you have it for this closer look at the Chromecast 2015 and Chromecast Audio! When compared to the other peripherals out there like Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more, the Chromecast remains one of the cheapest devices available for this kind of content streaming, priced at just $35. Another big plus is the fact that it is pretty easy to use, needing minimal setup, and requiring you to just hit a button in the corner of the application to get going.
Buy Chromecast from the Google Store
Buy Chromecast Audio from the Google Store
More of Google’s latest
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Moto X Style / Pure Edition vs Nexus 6
Motorola fans with a desire for as big a screen as possible were given a great option in the Nexus 6 last year. While the phone wasn’t part of the Moto X family, the device featured a lot of Motorola’s typical design flair and, considering how stock Moto’s software generally is, even the software experience was relatively similar. This year, Motorola has released yet another big screen device, this time branding it as the Moto X Pure Edition in the states, and as the Moto X Style elsewhere.
From screen size to even the general aesthetic, the Nexus 6 and Moto X Pure have a number of things in common, though there are certainly plenty of differences a well. So how do these two big smartphones compare? That is what we find out, in this comprehensive look at the Moto X Style / Pure Edition vs Nexus 6!
Design
It’s not surprising that the Moto X Pure Edition and the Nexus 6 both share the same design language, given that both smartphones are manufactured by the same OEM. Both feature the same metal frame that wraps around the sides, the same curves along the corners and the back, as well as the identical placement as far as the button layout, ports, and front-facing speakers are concerned.
The signature Motorola dimple on the back is a differentiating aspect however, with the one on the Nexus 6 more reminiscent of the original Moto X from 2013, while the latest Motorola flagship takes on a new look, with the dimple housed in a metallic strip along with the camera.
The Moto X Pure Edition is also the smaller of the two smartphones, not only courtesy of its slightly smaller display, but also because of the fact that it features thinner bezels along the sides of the display. The Nexus 6 does manage to be slightly thinner, when comparing the two at their thickest points. All said and done, neither smartphone is small by any stretch of the imagination, but the Moto X Pure Edition is definitely the more manageable device, and doesn’t have the same unwieldy feel as the Nexus 6, as far as one-handed usability is concerned.
The biggest difference in design comes when taking a look at the variety and availability of color and other customization options. While the Nexus 6 can be found in a standard white or blue, users get to take advantage of Motorola’s Moto Maker with the Moto X Pure Edition, allowing for choices in colors, accent colors, and back cover materials, along with the ability to add engravings and messages, for an ever more personalized experience.
Display
On the display front, you get a 5.96-inch AMOLED display with the Nexus 6, while the Moto X Pure Edition features a slightly smaller 5.7-inch screen, with Motorola also making the switch to a TFT LCD panel this year. Both boast the same 2560 x 1440 resolution, resulting in pixel densities of 493 ppi and 520 ppi for the Nexus 6 and Moto X Pure Edition, respectively.
Both displays are absolutely gorgeous in their own right, especially with the Quad HD resolution, but if you are someone who is looking for those deep blacks and more vibrant colors that pop, that is something you will get only with the Nexus 6. On the other hand, the Moto X Pure Edition display allows for some great looking colors as well, but with an LCD panel, features like Moto Display unfortunately don’t look as sleek anymore, especially in darker environments, where the entire backlight lighting up is a lot more noticeable. Obviously, the Nexus 6 also has the leg up as far as screen real estate is concerned, but the new Motorola flagship does win out when it comes to overall brightness and outdoor visibility.
Performance
Under the hood, both smartphones are packing Qualcomm processing packages, with the quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor, clocked at 2.7 GHz, and backed by the Adreno 420 GPU and 3 GB of RAM in the case of the Nexus 6, and the hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor, clocked at 1.8 GHz, and backed by the Adreno 418 GPU and also 3 GB of RAM, as far as the Moto X Pure Edition is concerned.
The Snapdragon 805 may be the older of the two, but it certainly isn’t showing its age yet, and is still a very capable processor, helped along by the stock iteration of Android it runs. The performance of the Moto X Pure Edition is fantastic as well, and it is extremely fast and fluid while running everyday tasks. Multi-tasking is a breeze with both smartphones, and neither have any issues with gaming either, made even more enjoyable with the large display real estate and high resolution that both feature. As far as day to day performance is concerned, you will be hard pressed to notice any real difference between these two devices.
With regards to benchmark test scores, with Geekbench, you are looking at a single core score of 1072 and multi-core score of 3425 on the Nexus 6, which is lower than the 1257 and 3572 that the Moto X Pure Edition manages. The newer processing package does mean that the Moto X Pure Edition has the edge in this regard, but the difference isn’t significant, and as mentioned, you’re not going to see or feel a huge disparity when it comes to real world usage.
Hardware
As far as on-board storage is concerned, the Nexus 6 brought with it a pleasant change, with the base storage option going up to 32 GB, with a 64 GB version also available for the power users out there. Like previous Nexus smartphones however, there is no expandable storage to be had. Lack of expandable storage was also true with past generations of the Moto X, but that is no longer the case with the Moto X Pure Edition. Expandable storage via microSD card is now available to further enhance storage by up to 128 GB, in addition to the on-board storage of either 16, 32, or 64GB that the Moto X Pure Edition features.
Where these two devices are complete winners is when it comes to speaker quality, with both the Nexus 6 and the Moto X Pure Edition featuring dual front-facing speakers, which allows for fantastic audio quality when listening to music, watching videos, or playing games. It has to be said though that the speakers of the Moto X Pure Edition sound just a touch louder, along with a little more low end punch, and you also have the option of tweaking the audio settings with the external speakers when using headphones, something which isn’t available with the Nexus 6.
There isn’t a lot of difference when it comes to battery capacities either, with the Nexus 6 packing a slightly larger 3,220 mAh battery, compared to the 3,000 mAh unit of the Moto X Pure Edition. In my experience, both smartphones are perfectly capable of comfortably lasting through a full day of usage, if not more, which is all you can really expect from most current generation smartphones. Both also boast fast-charging capabilities, so it doesn’t take long to get either back up to a hundred percent. The Nexus 6 does also comes with wireless charging as well, something that Motorola continues to keep leaving out with their flagship line.
Camera
Motorola’s biggest weakness with their smartphones historically has always been the camera, which has coincidentally also been a concern that has plagued the Google flagship series. The Nexus 6 broke that mold, and so did the Moto X Pure Edition, with both featuring some drastic improvements to rear and front cameras, and in the case of the Moto X device, Motorola also went as far as to add a front-facing flash, to help avoid any dimly-lit selfies.
Nexus 6 camera samples
With the Moto X Pure Edition, you get a 21 MP primary camera with phase detection autofocus and a dual tone LED flash, while on the Nexus 6, there is a 13 MP rear shooter with optical image stabilization, and a LED ring flash. As far as the megapixels go, the Moto X Pure Edition obviously allows for more zooming and cropping, but as we all know, just the numbers doesn’t allow for the declaration of a clear winner.
Moto X Pure Edition camera samples
When it comes to overall image quality, and if you are just sharing these images on social media, you aren’t going to notice too much of a difference between the two, with both cameras being capable of taking some great looking images with tack sharp focus. Most people will probably find the images taken with the Moto X Pure Edition to be more pleasing however, with their higher contrast and slightly more saturated colors, while the images taken with the Nexus 6 camera are much flatter, but more natural looking. Both perform decently in poorly-lit environments as well, and while the Nexus 6 does tend to hunt for focus quite a bit, the resulting images are typically much cleaner, brighter, and with better white balance, when compared to the Moto X Pure Edition.
Both cameras are also capable of video recording in 4K, but again, the Nexus 6 suffers from the same hunting for focus problem when recording video, and for some reason, the footage isn’t quite as smooth or stable as what you get with the Moto X Pure Edition, even though the Nexus 6 is the one with optical image stabilization.
Software
The real advantage of owning a Nexus smartphone, and one of the key aspects of the program itself, is with regards to software, with the updates coming directly from Google. This means that not only do you get updates quickly, but the software experience itself is as pure as it gets. A lot of Nexus 6 owners will have already received, or will be getting very soon, the official update to Android 6.0 Marshmallow, which introduces a lot of nice improvements, like Google Now on Tap, and Doze, that will bring enhancements to the battery life. In the case of this comparison however, the Nexus 6 is still running Android 5.1.1 Lollipop.
See also: A tour of Android 6.0 Marshmallow
Motorola has historically not been all that far behind with regards to quick software updates however, and in some cases, the company even managed to get updates out to their devices before other Nexus devices. If you are looking for a device that will feature speedy updates, the Moto X Pure Edition is probably one of the best options out there, though obviously the Nexus will still be the absolute best choice.
The Moto X Pure Edition also features a very clean software experience which is as close to stock Android as it gets, but with a few very useful additions baked in, that actually make the experience even better than what you would get with a Nexus device. To name a few, some of these enhancements are Moto Voice, that lets you call upon the device at any time, Moto Actions, that include gestures such as twisting your wrist to quickly open the camera application, or the ability to wake up the display and see any notifications by simply waving your hand over the phone. While some of these features may seem trivial or gimmicky at first, it does make switching to another device that don’t have these quite difficult, once you get used to them.
Specs comparison
| Moto X Style / Pure Edition | Nexus 6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 5.7-inch TFT LCD display Quad HD resolution, 520 ppi |
5.96 AMOLED display Quad HD resolution, 493 ppi |
| Processor | 1.8 GHz hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 Adreno 418 GPU |
2.7 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 Adreno 420 GPU |
| RAM | 3 GB | 3 GB |
| Storage | 16/32/64 GB expandable via microSD up to 128 GB |
32/64 GB no expansion |
| Camera | 21 MP rear camera with phase detection autofocus, dual tone LED flash 5 MP front-facing camera |
13 MP rear camera with OIS and dual ring flash 2 MP front-facing camera |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Bluetooth 4.1 GPS + GLONASS NFC microUSB 2.0 |
a/b/g/n/ac Bluetooth 4.1 GPS + GLONASS NFC microUSB 2.0 |
| Software | Android 5.1.1 Lollipop | Android 5.1.1 Lollipop |
| Battery | 3,000 mAh | 3,220 mAh |
| Dimensions | 153.9 x 76.2 x 11.1 mm 179 grams |
159.3 x 83 x 10.1 mm 184 grams |
Gallery
Pricing and final thoughts
The launch of the Nexus 6 was not without controversy, given the fact that at the time of its release, it was the most expensive Nexus smartphone to be made available, with a price point starting at $650, but the still impressive device can now be picked up for $350 for the 32 GB version (or even as low as $300 on sale), and $400 if you are looking for 64 GB of storage. The Moto X Pure Edition is also quite the bargain, especially for a phone that’s only about a month old at this point. Starting at $400, you can get yourself a 16 GB device with a standard color back, and the price point goes up from there, depending on your storage needs and material choices.
So there you have it for this in-depth look at the Moto X Pure Edition vs Nexus 6! If you want the purest Android experience possible, the guarantee of quick updates, and a large canvas on which to play on, then the Nexus 6 continues to be a great choice, especially given the price drop associated with the launch of its successor. On the other hand, the Moto X Pure Edition also promises a similar software experience, with some great enhancements, along with the availability of microSD expansion. The Moto X Pure Edition holds the edge by virtue of being the newer smartphone, but regardless of which way you decide to go, you are going to come out a winner.
LG G4 dbrand skins review: Perfect fit
The good guys at dbrand were willing to send us a few skins to try out on the LG G4. It’s likely you’ve heard of dbrand before, but if you haven’t, they specialize in making skins for your phone. These can be easily applied and removed with perfect precision. Different themes and color combinations can be used for different areas of the phone, and you can even order a custom sticker if you’re really in the mood for customization. Go have a peek at their website if you’re still confused.
In the box
All dbrand skins come in a desirable plastic sleeve, stuck onto the specialized 3M paper (more on that later). Simple, compact and effective, I could marvel at the packaging the whole day. Yes, it’s that… appealing. You’ll understand if you’re that type of guy that keeps his packaging.
Application
Ignoring the big bold text that recommended to firstly watch the video on how to apply the skin, I went straight ahead and applied it without prior knowledge of what I’m doing. Thankfully, my first application worked out just fine, my only problems were that the skin was slightly misaligned with the speaker grid and that the edges were sticking out a bit.
After then watching the video, I learnt that you have to use a hair dryer to push down the edges and bits that stick up a bit. This stretches it a little bit and activates the stickiness a bit more, meaning the entire skin is flush with the device and that you won’t have pokey corners, instead it’ll curve round the edges more consistently.
dbrand have confidently said that their skins are the most precise on the market. While I have not had experience with other brands, I can certainly back them up here and, barring the speaker cutout, say that every millimeter is on point.
On that point, on the three skins that I had, only one aligned perfectly with the speaker grill, making me think that the problem is not within the skin itself, but rather how it is applied by the user. Perhaps I just need to jack up on my skills.
With the front stickers, you have the option to either have two separate skins for the top and bottom bezel, or have one skin which joins the top and bottom parts with the side bezels. These were the easiest to apply, and aligned perfectly with all the components at the top.
If you want to remove them, you simply pull up a corner somewhere and pull gently. Thanks to the high quality 3M paper that dbrand uses, you won’t find any glue or residual marks left behind. You also may be wondering if it’s possible to reuse skins, and the answer is yes, at least with the G4. You will, however, have to pull it off gently in a way that does not excessively stretch or create tears. Unfortunately, I could not reuse my carbon fibre skin:
Now is also a good time to mention that you cannot apply a skin to a leather back, only the plastic version.
The skins are approximately 0,23mm thick, but provide reasonable protection against scratches and the elements. Their high quality is the epitome of dbrand’s good workmanship.
In case you’re wondering what color to get, I’ll highly recommend the mahogany wood back. It looks better without the accents, though.
Overall, dbrand certainly has some quality products up their sleeves. The excellent customer service, range of skins and product quality is testament to their success in the field.
You can head over here if you want to take a look at G4 skins, or here if you want to go to their main page.
The post LG G4 dbrand skins review: Perfect fit appeared first on AndroidGuys.
PureGear DualTek Pro case for Samsung Note5 review
Choosing smartphone case isn’t a simple task, as we have to sift through a sea of types and brands. Fortunately at AndroidGuys, we get the opportunity to get our hands on great offerings and are able to take closeup, real-world pics and provide usability insight.
PureGear is such case company that keeps up with the latest smartphones and gives us the opportunity to check out. Today, I have an interesting case made for the Note5 – the DualTek Pro. It is PureGear’s latest crack at merging sleekness with robustness. Let’s check it out.
Design
I was surprised when I opened the box up and toured the Dualtek Pro case. It’s different. With cases, we typically see either TPU material (flexible plastic) or hard shell plastic. However, PureGear merged both of these approaches.
From the back it looks and feels like typical hard plastic. But then the perimeter is a mix of clear TPU and that hard plastic that wrapped itself around the sides. Take a look.
Why has PureGear done this? Robustness is a big reason. It can now boast a “Military Tested and Approved” standard. Also, we can have a pad that sits in the middle of the interior for shock absorption.
So then why not just make the whole case hard plastic? Well, PureGear thinks that you don’t want to completely cover up that beauty of a phone. It’s their solution for compromising sleekness and robustness.
I like the choice of finish of the plastic on the back. It’s a matte, smooth and soft feeling plastic. It feels like quality and like it can take a beating.
As expected, there is a lip on the front TPU wrapping, for protection of phone’s front glass.
The TPU material feels as expected from other cases. It’s great how PureGear made the hard plastic and TPU seamless where they meet on the sides.
The buttons are nice and firm. They have a satisfying click and protrude out of the sides slightly to make them easy to locate. They also have an appealing chrome finish on them.
Usability
The smooth-touch plastic on the rear of the DualTek case feels nice in hand. It does well with smudges too. Moisture it initially picks up from your fingers disappears within a couple seconds.
Being that this case carries a Military drop standard, don’t expect it to be the slimmest option. Not that we’re looking at a thick brick either, I’m just saying you’ll certainly notice the extra thickness in your pocket.
That also means that your phone won’t feel fragile anymore. You’ll have a solid grip now. And the case retains the curved-back design of the Note5 for a nice fit in hand.
You’ll naturally grip the phone on soft touch plastic around the sides. This is another reason why it was a nice touch to design the frame this way.
The cutouts for the ports on the bottom of the phone are perfectly done. And there’s plenty of an opening to access the SPen.
I must mention that the fit is tight. I’ve never had so much difficultly getting a case off before. So if you plan to just have one case, then there’s no problem. But if you have several cases you switch between, keep this in mind.
Final Thoughts
PureGear’s DualTek Pro is a great case to consider for your Note5. I’m happy to say that the quality impressed, both from an in-hand feel and robustness perspective.
I would recommend it to anyone who wants a good compromise of protection and slimness. However, keep in mind that the case wants to stay put once it’s installed.
You can find more info about the case at PureGear’s product page or on Amazon
The post PureGear DualTek Pro case for Samsung Note5 review appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Samsung Galaxy S6 vs iPhone 6s
The two biggest giants in the smartphone game go head to head in this comparison, and while it was another “S” year for the Apple device, it did add some interesting features, such as a new form of input, rather than just the general upgrade in specifications. How does the latest from Apple fare against one of the best Android devices currently available? We find out, in this comprehensive look at the Samsung Galaxy S6 vs iPhone 6s!
Note: While the majority of this comparison will involve the regular versions of the Samsung Galaxy S6 and iPhone 6s, other versions, namely the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge, Galaxy S6 Edge+, and the iPhone 6s Plus will be briefly considered in certain aspects.
Design
The design aspect is more of a big deal when it comes to the Samsung devices, with Apple remaining true to the metal construction and design language that has been retained from its predecessor. On the other hand, while the Galaxy S6 does still offer the overall feel of a Samsung smartphone, there have been some drastic shifts in the design language and build quality when compared to the Galaxy S5 last year.
With their latest flagships, Samsung has adopted a unibody design that does away with the back cover, which also unfortunately means a move away from user-replaceable batteries and expandable storage. Dual glass panels are held together with a metal chassis, and the addition of these elements alone signaled a positive change for many users.
That said, much of what we all remember from past Galaxy S series devices returns here, especially with regards to the button layout. The physical home button up front is flanked by the capacitive Back and Recent Apps keys, and the power button and volume rocker are once again found on the right and left sides respectively.
A 5.1-inch display helps with the handling as much as the slim profile, making the Galaxy S6 one of the more accessible devices available on the market today. The handling experience is even better with the Galaxy S6 Edge, however, whose screen curves downwards to meet the hand. Of course, the handling won’t be as comfortable for those who are looking for a big screen, as is available with the Galaxy S6 Edge+ and iPhone 6S Plus, but that is a compromise you are likely already willing to make in favor of a bigger display.
The Samsung flagship comes in a number of different colors, ranging from white, to a very dark blue, as well as a gold version, though you have to keep in mind that the translucent glass on the back might make the color look a little different that what you might expect.
On the other hand is the iPhone 6s, which, like all the other Apple “s” iterations, adds the suffix to a phone that feels completely familiar. Size is the obvious difference here between the S6, with the more modest screen size of making this one of the smaller devices we’ve seen in a while, especially when compared to any of its flagship competition in the Android world (save for the Z5 Compact).
As is the case with the Samsung flagship, the buttons are all in the same place as before, with the power button also on the opposite side of the volume rocker and the silence toggle, with the lone tactile home button up front. The iPhone is a little thinner, but unibody designs have always been their forte, meaning removable batteries and microSD card slots have never a part of an Apple fans’ vocabulary.
The metal wrapping around the device does feel nice, but the thin profile and overall smaller footprint gets most of the credit as far as the good handling experience is concerned. The iPhone 6s is also available in a few color variants, including a new rose gold version, which is what is seen in this comparison.
Design is normally an easy, personal part of these comparisons, but this year has been a great one for Android smartphones, with the Galaxy S6 being one of the most talked about devices in terms of their design changes. Metal is obviously the way to go for both Apple and Samsung, and it does really come down to which one better speaks to you. If handling is really important though, we can’t deny the smaller and highly accessible size of the iPhone. Plenty of people have had great things to say about how either device looks, but the choice always becomes a little harder when you begin to consider what is found underneath the surface.
Display
The spec hungry will start to pick sides starting with the display, as the displays of these devices could not be any more different. The Samsung Galaxy S6 is all about the numbers, with its 5.1-inch display boasting a Quad HD resolution, and a resulting pixel density of a whopping 577 ppi. Couple that with the usual tropes of Super AMOLED technology, including high saturation and its potential power saving features, and you have Samsung’s most forward display offering.
Meanwhile, the iPhone 6s seems quite paltry on paper, with the 4.7-inch IPS LCD display coming with a 1334 x 750 resolution, resulting in a pixel density of 326 ppi. Apple has been adamant for years that higher pixel densities don’t lead to better display experiences, and the iPhone 6s does prove to be a good daily display despite the smaller specifications overall.
There is also the newest, and perhaps biggest addition to the iPhone display, called 3D Touch, with their being sensors right underneath the display that meter how much force is being brought down with your finger. Android has been capable of similar functionality in its own way in various screen technologies, but Apple is trying to fully leverage it for a new input method.
You have to press down pretty hard to get it to work, but the other main aspect of 3D Touch is that in order to trigger certain tasks, like moving the icons around, a lighter, or more normal touch, held down for a noticeable amount of time is required. Otherwise, a press down really hard will trigger 3D Touch. On icons on the homescreen, it will bring up quick shortcuts to functions within the application, which is quite useful, but otherwise, 3D Touch is mostly used to trigger the Live feature in the gallery, if you have it on. Despite Apple’s success in showing how useful 3D Touch can be, it is a very new feature, and we are yet to see a lot of applications for it.
As far as the straight display experience is concerned, Quad HD is certainly great, and if you are a fan of high-res displays, then any 2015 Galaxy smartphone will be your pick. Moving around the respective user interfaces, there is an undeniable sharpness in the Quad HD display over the iPhone screen, which has an obvious smoothening when scrolling and moving among elements. That said, while actual differences between these displays can be observed, the disparity probably won’t be big enough for most users.
Text is still very readable on the iPhone, despite the Galaxy S6 simply trouncing it in pretty much every aspect related to viewing. However, colors aren’t so different on the iPhone, so games and media are still quite enjoyable, unless display size matters a lot to you. We have been pleasantly surprised to see 3D Touch actually work kind of well, but the splash it is making now, though significant, is small.
Performance
Performance is another section where the spec hungry will have a field day, but the vitriol might not be completely justified, because of the fact that we’re talking about two completely different operating systems here, with very different requirements to keep them running.
Under the hood, the Samsung Galaxy S6 features the in-house octa-core Exynos 7420 processor, backed by 3 GB of RAM to take care of all the multi-tasking that this phone can easily perform. Android needs to be a lot of wiggle room for performance, and it can be argued that aspects like RAM management, and even the way applications are built, can cause a slowdown. That is why Android smartphones require higher specifications as time marches on, and Samsung has been able to meet the demand. This processing package is not lacking in power at all, and multi-tasking is robust and usable, apart from whenever any issues on the software side creep up. Gaming is also a joy, further enhanced by the high resolution display.
Apple has steadily raised the bar with their iPhones as well, though the spec sheet might still seem underwhelming when compared to the Galaxy S6. Under the hood is an updated dual-core Apple A9 processor, with 2 GB of RAM to back it up, but before users immediately disregard the iPhone as a good performer, it is important to consider the fact that the iPhone has served as a launchpad for plenty of games and high-functioning applications.
Since Apple only releases a select number of devices, it is much easier for them to provide exceptional software optimization, which in turn means that they require less aggressive specs than their Android rivals. While there are some complaints of stutter and slowdown with iOS and the iPhone family from time to time, the same can be said for TouchWiz, which means that cut and dry specifications are only a part of the story.
It would be different if the app disparity was larger, but it is possible to get virtually the same functionality from either of these devices, regardless of the skin or operating system you choose. Given that either smartphone proves to be as reliable and useful as the other, the performance aspect becomes more equal, or at the very least, more relative.
Hardware
As far as hardware is concerned, this year might be the closest that these phones have ever been. Starting with the Galaxy S6, though plenty of people have commented on how similar the bottom of the Samsung device looks to the iPhone, its unibody design still keeps a number of key features, including the heart rate sensor on the back, that works pretty well with the updated S Health, as well as the fingerprint reader that is embedded into the tactile home button.
With it being on the home button, the fingerprint sensor works quite well, with you required to just leave the finger on the button after pressing it to wake the phone. The Galaxy S6 also packs every connectivity option, including NFC, which can be used with the recently-launched Samsung Pay and Android Pay. Fast charging helps the battery get back to a hundred percent really easily, and the device is also compatible with all forms of wireless charging out of the box.
The iPhone 6s doesn’t offer a lot of extras when it comes to hardware, with no heart rate monitor, and neither fast charging or wireless charging capabilities to be found. Instead, the tropes of the iPhone are ultimately familiar, like the silence toggle that has been around since the beginning, and the fingerprint reader in the home button, that also works very well. Apple claims that the fingerprint reading only requires a slight press now, and it does feel that little bit faster, though in the grand scheme of things, the convenience is about the same.
NFC finally made it into the Apple ecosystem with the iPhone 6, but was used exclusively for Apple Pay. We have yet to put some real world testing to compare the various mobile pay systems from Samsung, Android, and Apple, but thus far, we find that you can use all of these services in most of the same places, with Apple Pay’s foothold proving a little larger than Google’s. Finally, in battery, a 1,715 mAh unit has the benefit of a lower resolution display and a new power saving mode in iOS 9, but like the Samsung Galaxy S6, only around a full day of usage is expected, and anything more happens pretty rarely and only with lower levels of usage.
For users that want to accessorize, Samsung is still a little behind in third-party support, despite it improving greatly since the Galaxy S4. Any users that still have their cases or accessories from the iPhone 6 can use them again with the iPhone 6s, and the third-party support for the iPhone is incredibly widespread. As far as the hardware extras are concerned, many people swear by fast charging, and with the iPhone having a small battery that can lose power before getting home, without fast charging, the iPhone requires a tether to a wall or an external battery most of the time.
Camera
When it comes to the camera, the main story here is Apple’s enhancement to the camera package with the iPhone 6s, with the device now featuring a 12 MP rear camera and 5 MP front-facing unit, compared to the 16 MP primary camera of the Samsung Galaxy S6, with also a 5 MP front-facing camera.
Looking through the images in the video above and the galleries here, it is up to you as to which one you feel is the better performer. We actually found the images from both cameras, regardless of what we were shooting, to be very pleasing. One phone didn’t really win that much more over the other, if at all, and it will depend on which color profiles you prefer. The iPhone does tend to add a warmer tone to everything and also adds more contrast. On the flip side, the Galaxy S6 puts a cooler tone to everything, and its pictures are a little more evened out in their range.
Samsung Galaxy S6 camera samples
The iPhone can now also boast about 4K video recording, but there is no optical image stabilization available with the smaller version. One useful feature the device adds is the ability to use the display as a flash when taking a selfie, but using this does tend to wash out the subject too much.
iPhone 6s camera samples
The camera of the Samsung Galaxy S6 provides a lot of manual control, which is probably what gives this camera the upper hand for us. If you require just a great point and shoot experience however, it is probably not going to get any better than the iPhone 6s. The Auto mode of the Galaxy S6 is pretty good, but Apple has certainly been pioneering that aspect for a long time now.
Software
On the software side of things, making a comparison is quite difficult, considering the fact that these devices feature two completely different ecosystems. With the gap between both iOS and Android – in terms of what apps are available – being incredibly small, it really comes down to how you want your daily usage to fundamentally look.
Samsung’s TouchWiz has gone through a bit of a renaissance of late, with the software actually stripping down not only the incessant tutorials that plagued daily usage, but even some features that had previously proved to be quite useless. The bubbly nature of TouchWiz’s icons and general aesthetic remain, but some Material Design elements of Android Lollipop do make their way over as well.
Otherwise, the experience is nothing more than the general usage of Android, with homescreens that can hold widgets, an app drawer, notification dropdown with Quick Settings, and multi-tasking capabilities. There are certain features that have returned, like S-Window, that shrinks a number of applications, and Multi-Window, which is basically a split-screen capability. While Multi-Window can be useful, most users still focus on switching between apps using the Recent Apps screen instead. S Voice is still available, and you can also use Google Voice Search.
For years, Android has been given the benefit of customization and full user control, and that continues to hold true today. You can install launchers if you don’t like TouchWiz, widgets give users an easy way of making shortcuts and providing information at a glance, and just about any part of the phone can be changed for a different experience.
Apple’s new version of iOS does have a pretty elegant version of split screen multi-tasking as well, but that is available only with the larger Plus model. What we have given Apple credit for in the past is how fluid and smooth iOS tends to look and feel, but that is the benefit that Apple has with having only one or two flagship devices to work with. Android has so many players in the game that an ubiquitous aesthetic is much harder to achieve, though Lollipop and Material Design has done a good job of bringing in some conformity.
The lack of buttons for the iPhone is precisely why its inputs feel a little bit out of the box. Swiping up from the bottom opens the Command Center, which is like quick settings, and double tapping the home button is for the Recent Apps screen. The Recent Apps screen is a perfect example of Apple’s design prowess, as a cover flow way of looking at applications is presented here, but while moving in and out of applications is still smooth, it is a little tougher.
3D Touch is another idea that contends with a lack of input. Without extra buttons, or even the ability to add shortcuts or widgets to the homescreens like you can in Android, adding this new form of input seemed like a necessary step, and we have to give it credit for actually doing a decent job. Siri is the voice-controlled assistant you have in iOS, and it isn’t a terrible one to use by any means. There is the occasional misstep, but it gives the iPhone just about the same amount of capabilities as Google Now does for Android.
Yet, for all the additions that iOS 9 have given the iPhone experience, Apple’s operating system has one main thing going for it, and that is the fact that what you see is what you get. Without the full freedom to cater the experience to what they want, users can pick up an iPhone and basically get going, for both work and play, without a steep learning curve. While you do get the most out of Android, users might have to learn tips and tricks, and perform a number of changes in order to make them happen. While that is exactly why Google has a lot of fans for their huge Android ecosystem, Apple retains an extremely loyal fan base for the opposite reason.
Thankfully, there isn’t a lot of issues with moving between the two. Google applications are also available in the Apple App Store, so performing all of the same tasks can be done, no matter which of these phones you pick. It all comes down to extras, and in the case of multi-tasking, Samsung gets a boost over the iPhone 6s, with widgets and homescreen shortcuts also giving Samsung the edge. If 3D Touch continues to grow however, it could definitely help Apple’s case. Much of what iOS has brought in recent years has, arguably, started in Android, like the notification dropdown, but there are few reasons now to believe that either of these software packages are much better than the other, unless you truly prefer the look and feel of one over the other or absolutely want and need the extra freedom and customization that comes with Android.
Specs comparison
| iPhone 6s | Samsung Galaxy S6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 4.7-inch IPS LCD 1334 x 750 resolution, 326 ppi |
5.1-inch Super AMOLED 2560 x 1440 resolution, 577 ppi |
| Processor | 1.84 GHz dual-core Apple A9 | Exynos 7420 |
| RAM | 2 GB | 3 GB |
| Storage | 32/64/128 GB | 32/64/128 GB |
| Camera | 12 MP rear camera 5 MP front-facing camera |
16 MP rear camera with OIS 5 MP front-facing camera with 90 degree wide angle lens |
| Connectivity | WiFi a/b/g/n/ac Bluetooth 4.0, NFC (Apple Pay only), GPS+GLONASS |
WiFi a/b/g/n/ac Bluetooth 4.1, NFC, GPS+GLONASS |
| Networks | 3G/4G LTE | LTE cat 6 300/50 |
| Battery | 1,715 mAh | 2,550 mAh Fast charging WPC and PMA-compatible wireless charging |
| Software | iOS 9 | Android 5.0 Lollipop |
| Dimensions | 138.3 x 67.1 x 7.1 mm 143 grams |
143.4 x 70.5 x 6.8 mm 138 grams |
| Colors | Space gray, silver, gold, rose gold | Black, white, gold, blue |
Gallery
Pricing and final thoughts
In price, the gap between the Samsung Galaxy S6 and the iPhone 6s is actually quite small. On T-Mobile, for example, $27.50 a month over 2 years is needed for the Galaxy S6, while the iPhone 6s requires $27.09 for the same plan. Both phones will set you back around $650 or more at the full unlocked price, with the higher storage options also requiring quite the premium.
So, there you have it for this in-depth look at the Samsung Galaxy S6 vs iPhone 6s! These two devices are the best of their respective ecosystems, and this time around, may also feel on more even ground than ever before. Samsung used to be able to boast about removable batteries and expandable storage, but without these features, it actually feels like an equal to Apple’s newest smartphone. Even if the iPhone 6s might be an incremental update, it brings enough to the table to close a few key gaps, in the camera, and input methods, with 3D Touch.
The choice here is simple. Do you prefer the customization of Android over the simplicity of iOS? Do you prefer the third party accessory support the iPhone gets over the fragmented Android device market? Do you prefer to be on the cutting edge of specifications at all times? Being in touch with what you truly like as a user will help you make this decision, and even if you jump from one ship to the other, the overall ability to get things done is about the same.
GoGroove RCV Bluetooth Receiver review: Bring your wired setup into the wireless world
GoGroove produces a multitude of accessories that nicely complement your smartphone experience. One of these that caught my eye was the RCV Bluetooth Receiver. You see, the wireless world is a growing one. Like with the move of cars to electric power, we have hybrids to help the transition.
The RCV is a small device that adds wireless capability where it is lacking. And you want to know the cool part? It can route the signal either way, to or from. What does this mean?
Well, you’d probably guess the typically use case for the RCV would be to plug into a computer, speaker, or even car audio and receive tunes to your Bluetooth headphones. You’d be right, that’s the primary purpose of the RCV. But what if you didn’t have Bluetooth headphones?
You can actually interface your wired headphones into the RCV (using a 3.5mm coupler) and the RCV will pick up the audio signal from your smartphone and transmit it to the headphones. Pretty cool, huh?
Design
The RCV has a specific purpose, so there isn’t much to it. It’s a small, egg-shaped device, a little bigger than an average thumb. The build is a fairly standard affair. It’s a common plastic, neither cheap or expensive feeling. It does the job.
There’s a single button on the front (to power on/off and pair). We have tiny rubber feet on the bottom, to help the device stay in place on a surface. However, the RCV is so lightweight that if it wants to move, it will.
A 3.5mm plug extends out of the device, ready to plug into an audio source. The attached cord is a flat cable, which is nice to avoid annoying tangles. The cord length is only 4 inches, but GoGroove supplies an extension cable if that’s too little reach for your particular source.
Usability
The one button provides two functions, either turning the RCV on/off or triggering it to pair via Bluetooth. It was easy to get set up on my Note5. The RCV flashes red/blue rapidly when you initialize Bluetooth pairing, and then just select it on the phone.
The package for the RCV comes with a few helpful accessories.
There’s a 3.5mm coupler (3.5mm-to-3.5mm jack, to transmit audio to the connected headset or speaker), a 3.5mm extension cord (42in. length), an RCA adapter, microUSB cable (for charging via a USB port), and Velcro to stick the RCV on a wall or car dashboard.
GoGroove rates the battery to last through 15 hours of playback. The Bluetooth range starts cutting off at about 40ft.
I was pretty impressed by the sound. It is generally understood that the Bluetooth audio signal is not as good as wired, but I didn’t notice much of a difference in audio quality (streaming via Google Play Music, high quality). I did get a hint of veil-ness in the overall sound clarity when comparing wired to wireless. But the difference was so slight, you shouldn’t notice it unless you’re looking for it.
Final Thoughts
The RCV is an excellent offering by GoGroove. It’s a simple device that has many applications: Bluetooth audio transmission to your car speakers, or from your TV or laptop to your Bluetooth headphones. I can wirelessly transmit audio to my wired earphones and just tuck the RCV in my front shirt pocket.
The RCV also does it’s job well. I barely noticed any degradation in audio quality and the battery lasts a long while. And the Bluetooth range is decent considering its size.
On Amazon, the RCV runs for $30, here
The post GoGroove RCV Bluetooth Receiver review: Bring your wired setup into the wireless world appeared first on AndroidGuys.
ZUK Z1 review
Lenovo’s smartphone strategy is certainly diverse. The company sells phones under its own name, it also sells phones under its Motorola brand, and it is also investing in other smartphone makers, in this case the Hong Kong-based ZUK. And it seems that ZUK isn’t shy about Lenovo’s involvement with the company since the ZUK Z1 comes in a box with Lenovo’s logo on it!
So what does the Lenovo-backed ZUK Z1 have to offer? How does it compare to the bigger brands? We find out, in this in-depth ZUK Z1 review!
Related – Best Cheap Android Phones
Design
The ZUK Z1 features quite a simplistic design language, and in many ways reminds me of the Samsung Galaxy S3, however the Z1 does sport a neatly made metal frame. According to ZUK, the metal frame is made from aviation aluminum and is crafted using 16 CNC manufacturing procedures and 209 machining operations in total. By using a metal frame ZUK have, in part at least, lifted the Z1 above the mediocre, all plastic generic phone design.
The metal frame also helps give the handset a sturdy feel and it is certainly easy to hold in the hand. Looking around the phone, you will find the volume rocker and the power button on the left hand side and the SIM tray opposite, on the right hand side. On the top is the 3.5mm headphone jack, while on the bottom edge is the speaker grill, microphone and the USB Type-C port.
On the front is the 5.5 inch Full HD IPS display, the front facing camera, the ear piece and the home button. The home button has a built-in fingerprint reader and is flanked by two capacitive keys, Recent on the left and Back on the right. Flipping the phone over you will find the rear facing camera, LED flash and the ZUK logo.
Overall the design may not be particularly innovative, but the use of the metal frame helps to notch up the style a little. However, I can’t help feeling that the first impression you will get from the Z1 is that of a generic smartphone. The handset also comes in dark grey, and maybe that version would appear less bland.
Display
The Z1 comes with a 5.5-inch IPS LCD display, with a 1080p resolution, resulting in a pixel density of 401 ppi. Having a Full HD display is a huge plus for a mid-range phone like this, and the good news is that the display is a good performer with s 450 nit peak brightness and 1500:1 contrast ratio.
Since it is an IPS panel the viewing angles are great and overall the display adds to the experience rather than detracts from it. I had no trouble seeing the display indoors or outdoors and the “adaptive brightness” works well. One interesting thing about this display is its “LiveDisplay” feature. When enabled, the display will change its brightness and color temperature depending on the time of day. In day mode the color temperature is set to 6500K, but at night it automatically switches to 4500K (i.e. the colors appear warmer). There is also an “Automatic outdoor mode” which increases the brightness and saturation under bright sunlight.
It is worth mentioning that there is a small black border between the end of the display and the start of the bezels/case. Some users might find this unsatisfactory, though personally it doesn’t bother me at all.
Performance
ZUK have made an interesting choice when it comes to the Z1’s processor. While many handset makers are moving to 64-bit processors from Qualcomm, Samsung or MediaTek, the Z1 packs a 32-bit processor, specifically the Snapdragon 801. In one sense this is a smart move as the Snapdragon 800 and 801 was/is a fantastic processor and has a great track record for performance and reliability. But, from a marketing point of view, some potential buyers might see the Snapdragon 801 as yesterday’s tech. However, the truth is I would rather have the 32-bit Snapdragon 801 than a very low-end 64-bit processor like the Snapdragon 410.
Obviously the Snapdragon 801 is no slouch and Android runs very well on this SoC. The UI is fast and responsive. I didn’t notice any lags or stutters and overall the performance from a user’s point of view is excellent.
Since we are talking about the same SoC which was in the Samsung Galaxy S5, the LG G3, the HTC One (M8) and the One Plus One, the benchmarks are going to be very similar to those devices. My tests show that the Z1 scores 44906 in AnTuTu and a manages frame rate of 52.8 fps from Epic Citadel in High Quality mode. In Ultra High Quality mode the Z1 achieves 48.1 fps. All very decent scores.
Hardware
The Z1 comes with a very generous 64GB of on-board storage, however, there is no microSD card support. There is also 3GB of RAM, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (that is 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz), Bluetooth 4.1 and GPS. The Z1 supports 2G, 3G and 4G LTE. The 4G bands are 1, 3, 7, 28, 29, 40, and 41, while the supported 3G frequencies are 850/900/1900/2100 MHz. The 4G bands are great for Europe, Asia and the Middle East, however the lack of band 20 support might be a problem for some (e.g. 02 in the UK uses band 20, as does “3”). In the USA you will probably be limited to 3G on T-Mobile and AT&T. You should always check with your provider if you are uncertain.
The speaker of on the Z1 is unfortunately average at best. It isn’t bad per say, but it lacks any kind of depth and can sound quite tinny. The situation is partially alleviated by the included AudioFX app which adds an equalizer with various settings like Rock, Folk, Classical, Normal and so on.
The Z1 comes with a massive 4100 mAh non-removable battery, which yields more than an average battery life. According to ZUK’s official figures it will give you a 4G talk time of 38 hours, let you play locally stored music for about 85 hours and let you watch locally stored videos for about 15 hours! I have no reason to doubt these figures. My own tests show that you can watch YouTube, over Wi-Fi, for a least 15 hours on one charge, or play intensive 3D games for around 6 hours. During my testing I charged the phone just once, did all my tests, got 6 hours of screen-on time over roughly 40 hours, and I still had 35% battery left!
The ZUK Z1 includes a fingerprint reader in the home button. Overall the fingerprint scanner is fast and accurate and is on par with devices like the Galaxy S6. You can wake and unlock the phone by pressing and holding the home button. The device will wake, read your fingerprint and unlock in around 1 second. Multiple fingerprints can be stored at a time, and the process of setting it up is simple and takes only a minute or two, involving just repeated presses of the home button. If you are familiar with fingerprint readers on devices like the Note 5 or Mate S, then you won’t be disappointed with the reader on the Z1. However it is worth mentioning that the Z1 doesn’t support NFC, so there are no additional fingerprint reader functions related to payments or other forms of authentication.
Because the home button has a built-in fingerprint reader, it has allowed ZUK to add an extra function to the button. If you press the button it takes you directly to the home screen. If you touch the button (without pressing it) it behaves exactly like the back button.
Like many next generation smartphones, ZUK has opted to include a USB Type-C port on the Z1. I think this is a good move, at least in terms of marketing and future proofing, however ZUK has also been pragmatic in its choice of USB cable. It doesn’t supply a double ended USB Type-C, but rather a cable with a Type-C connector at one end and a standard-A plug at the other end so that you can connect it into a “normal” USB port on your computer, or other charger. Talking of chargers the supplied charger for the Z1 is a fairly standard 5V/2A charger.
Camera
The device comes with a f/2.2 13MP camera which uses a Sony Exmor RS stack sensor. It includes optical image stabilization (OIS) and ZUK boasts that the sensor has a single pixel size of 1.12um and that it has incorporated a 5-element lens. On the front, there is a more run-of-the-mill OV8865 based 8.0MP camera.
For outdoor shots the camera is excellent, the colors are vibrant, the exposure levels are good, the images seem to “pop” without being unrealistic. For indoor and low-light photos, the situation is a little different. For indoor photos with a reasonable level of natural light coming from outside then the photos remain good (see the pictures of the toys in the gallery below), but for low-light situations the noise level can be very high (see the picture of the C-1 microphone in the gallery). Having said that, the picture of the C-1 microphone was taken in a darkened room with the curtains shut and yet the camera did a excellent job of making it appear light and natural.
As far as the camera application is concerned, it is the standard Cyanogen Camera app. You select the different modes like HDR or the different filters by swiping down on the mode name at the top of the screen. The live filters, like Sepia, Negative and so on, are a nice touch, as they show up in the entire viewfinder. Diving in deeper will help you find the settings available for ISO and exposure compensation, as well as the option to even change the codec used for video capture. The pictures are in 4:3 format by standard, but if you want 16:9 then you can change it in the settings, but the number of megapixels will drop to 9.7 MP.
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Software
One of the key features of the Z1 is that it runs Cyanogen OS 12.1, which is based on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, at least outside of China. Cyanogen is fully Google-certified, which means it comes with all of Google’s services and apps including the Play Store. Cyanogen offers lots of different features that can’t be found in stock Android. For example, there is the built-in theme store, better privacy features, and the ability to add on-screen buttons even though the phone has capacitive keys. Also a lot of the stock apps have been replaced with Cyanogen versions, I already mentioned the camera app, but other apps like Calendar and Email apps have also been replaced, in fact in Cyanogen 12, the Calendar and Email apps are provided by Boxer.
Other interesting settings are options for double-tap to wake and also double-tap to sleep; System profile, like Automobile, Default and Silent; Blocked caller list and WhisperPush (for encrypted SMS messages); and even user accounts!
The launcher is highly customizable, and the home screen has several different settings including whether to include a search bar, what scroll effect to use, the gird size, and so on. You can also customize the app drawer. By default the apps are shown in a vertical list but you can change that to a paged mode and also set the effect used between page turns.
If you are at all familiar with Cyanogen or Cyanogenmod, then you will feel right at home with the ZUK Z1.
Related: CyanogenMod 11S – Feature Focus
Specifications
| Display | 5.5-inch IPS LCD display, 1080p, 401 ppi, 1500:1 contrast, 450 nits. |
| Processor | Qualcomm snapdragon 801 (MSM8974AC), 2.5GHz. Adreno 330 3D GPU, 578MHz. |
| Storage | 64 GB |
| RAM | 3 GB |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4GHz and 5.8GHz), Bluetooth 4.1, GPS. |
| Software | Cyanogen OS 12.1 based on Andriod 5.1.1 |
| Camera | Main camera: f/2.2 13MP Sony Exmor RS stack sensor, OIS, single pixel size 1.12um. Front camera: OV8865 8.0MP, single pixel size 1.12um, OmniBSI-2 technology. |
| Battery | 4100 mAh |
| Colors | grey, white |
| Dimensions | 155.7 x 77.3 x 8.8 mm, 175 grams |
Gallery
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Pricing and final thoughts
The ZUK Z1 recently went on sale internationally. Its normal retail price is €374.99, however as part of the launch it can be bought cheaper through the Spanish eBay site for as little as €279.99. This offer will be running until October 6th. If you live elsewhere in Europe, be sure to check out this eBay France listing between October 4th and 11th when another €280 sale is scheduled to take place. For those in the US, the phone isn’t officially available at this time, though it can be found on Ebay for around $350.
So there you have it, the ZUK Z1. The company is backed by Lenovo, the handset runs Cyanogen, and the 4100 mAh battery is excellent, as is the 64GB of on-board storage. The battery isn’t removable, there is no SD card slot, and the design could be seen as bland. However if those aren’t a problem to you then the ZUK Z1 could be a good choice.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
BLU Pure XL review
BLU, the Florida-based company, has largely focused on solid, extremely affordable smartphones, but their latest offering is definitely an exception. Featuring flagship-level specifications but an affordable price point as well, does this new device from BLU prove to be a compelling choice? We find out, in this in-depth BLU Pure XL review!
More great devices from BLU
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Design
With a large 6-inch display, the BLU Pure XL is undeniably a huge phone, with dimensions quite similar to the Nexus 6. This size will certainly taking some getting used to, depending on which device you are switching from, and while the curves on the back do help with the grip and overall handling experience, the size does put it outside the realm of comfortable one-handed use.
Also helping with the grip is the matte finish of the plastic back cover, which also makes it resistant to fingerprints. The cover did collect scuffs in unexpected circumstances however, which was definitely odd and surprising. The back cover is also removable, allowing for access to the dual micro-SIM card slots and a microSD card slot, even though the battery is not user-replaceable.
Don’t miss: BLU Pure XL first impressions: hot damn!
There is an aluminium band that runs along the edges of the phone, resulting in a premium look and feel, while also making the large device easier to hold on to. The angular design of the phone makes for corners that are quite sharp however, and had an unfortunate tendency of digging into the hand. The Pure XL is also on a thicker and heavier side, with a thickness of 9.6 mm and weighing 202 grams, but some heft isn’t a bad thing with a large smartphone, allowing for a very substantial feel while holding the device.
Taking a look around the device, the power button and volume rocker are towards the top on the right side, positioned to be within easy and comfortable reach, and also offer excellent tactile feedback. There is also a dedicated camera shutter button on this side, which lets you launch directly into the camera application with a press, even when the device is locked. The headphone jack and the microUSB port are found up top and at the bottom respectively, and on the back, below the camera setup, is a fingerprint scanner. Up front, you will find three lightly outlined capacitive keys, and there is also a notification LED above the display.
Display
The BLU Pure XL features a 6-inch Super AMOLED display with a Quad HD resolution, resulting in a pixel density of 490 ppi. Everything that we love about AMOLED displays is to be found here, including saturated colors and deep blacks. The display is as sharp as expected given its Quad HD resolution, but the brightness isn’t great, making visibility in direct sunlight a little difficult.
The color temperature also does lean towards the cooler side, but you do have the option to adjust the setting to better suit your tastes. All said and done, you will be hard pressed to find a smartphone with such a high resolution display in this price range, and the screen is easily one of the biggest selling points of this affordable smartphone.
Performance and hardware
Performance is another area in which the Pure XL really shines
Under the hood, the BLU Pure XL comes with an octa-core MediaTek MT6795 Helio X10 processor, clocked at 2 GHz, and backed by the PowerVR G6200 GPU and 3 GB of RAM. Performance is another area in which the Pure XL really shines, with rarely any instances of stutter or lag. The device flies through the elements of the user interface, opening, closing, and switching between applications is a breeze, and overall, everything remains smooth and snappy. The device also handles gaming very well, which hasn’t always been the case with other smartphones with similar processing packages.
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The Pure XL comes with 64 GB of on-board storage, which should be enough to cover the needs of most users. Power users will appreciate the availability of expandable storage via microSD card as well, for an additional 64 GB. The device comes with a standard suite of connectivity options, including 4G LTE support in the US, but is missing support for band 5 for AT&T and band 12 for T-Mobile, which could prove to be an issue for some users, depending on your region.
The Pure XL features Hi-Fi audio and DTS Surround Sound when using the device with a pair of headphones, but while the audio does sound good, there wasn’t a noticeable bump in quality when compared to some other smartphones. The device also comes with a dual stereo speaker setup on the back, which gets plenty loud, and with almost no distortion. The rear-facing placement is unfortunate, but the overall quality of these speakers is definitely above average for the price.
The Pure XL also comes with a fingerprint scanner on the back, which is of the touch type variety. While it was possible to setup the scanner to read the fingerprint, and also use it to encrypt individual files, it unfortunately never worked when attempting to unlock the device. This may be the case only with this particular review unit, and is definitely an issue on the software side, as the scanner works perfectly fine in every other situation, so hopefully BLU has a fix in the works.
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The Pure XL packs a 3,500 mAh non-removable battery, and while that capacity would suggest an impressive battery, this is unfortunately not the case. With the display brightness set to 50% and Wi-Fi off for the majority of the day, the device lasted up to 15 hours, with around two hours and forty-five minutes of screen-on time. While these aren’t terrible numbers, we were certainly expecting a little more out of this battery.
Camera
On the camera side of things, the BLU Pure XL comes with a 24 MP rear shooter with optical image stabilization, phase detection auto focus, and a two-tone LED flash, along with a 8 MP front-facing unit. Of course, megapixel counts isn’t necessarily a good indicator of image quality, but the good news here is that the camera of the Pure XL does perform extremely well, at least in good lighting conditions.
It may not be at par with the high standards set by devices like the Samsung Galaxy S6, but this camera is a really good performer when compared to other devices in this price range, with sharp images with lots of detail and good color reproduction. As expected however, the quality deteriorates considerably in poorly-lit situations.
As far as the camera application is concerned, it may look quite simplistic on the surface, but opening the Modes menu and switching to the Professional mode is where a lot of features pop up. Using this mode allows for manual control over aspects like exposure compensation, ISO, white balance, shutter speed, and focus settings, all packed into a single menu. Overall, it is a very nice app that allows for quick and easy capture when in automatic mode, but also includes more granular control over the settings for those who want it.
Software
As far as the software is concerned, the BLU Pure XL runs Android 5.1 Lollipop with BLU’s CareFree launcher on top. There are some aspects of the user interface that feature familiar Material Design elements, as seen in the lock screen, volume controls, notification center, and multi-tasking screen, but there is a sharp departure from stock Android in other key areas.
For starters, this launcher does not feature an application drawer, leaving users dependent on folders to keep the homescreens from getting too cluttered. The default TouchPal keyboard is unfortunately not an impressive performer, and most system applications and the Settings menu have seen complete re-designs. It is quite difficult to gauge the direction that BLU is taking with their software, with each of their devices seemingly offering entirely different experiences. Of course, there are some interesting and useful additions here as well, including some nifty features like smart gestures, app permissions, and a few general setting options for adjusting things like the notification LED.
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The Pure XL may not ever see Android 6.0 Marshmallow
The big concern with Pure XL, and any smartphone offering from BLU, is with regards to updates to future versions of Android, such as the recently-released Android 6.0 Marshmallow. BLU has claimed to have made software updates a priority, but have failed to deliver on this front, despite promising official Lollipop updates for their last two releases. The Pure XL is certainly one of the best smartphones that BLU has released till date, and can be considered the company’s flagship, which is why there is some hope as far as updates are concerned, but for now, the jury is still out on whether BLU will able to deliver.
Specifications
| Display | 6-inch Super AMOLED display 2560 x 1440 resolution, 490 ppi |
| Processor | 2 GHz octa-core MediaTek Helio X10 processor PowerVR G6200 GPU |
| RAM | 3 GB |
| Storage | 64 GB expandable via microSD card up to 64 GB |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac Bluetooth 4.0 microUSB 2.0 GPS + GLONASS |
| Camera | 24 MP rear camera with dual LED flash 8 MP front-facing camera |
| Software | Android 5.1 Lollipop |
| Battery | 3,500 mAh |
| Dimensions | 164 x 82.2 x 9.6 mm 202 grams |
Gallery
Pricing and final thoughts
The BLU Pure XL is priced at a very reasonable $349, with the available color options including black and gold.
So there you have it for this comprehensive look at the BLU Pure XL! While the Pure XL is not without its flaws, including limited 4G LTE support, disappointing battery life, and a software experience that may never be updated, the device does manage to go beyond what its price point would suggest, with its beautiful, large, Quad HD display, excellent performance, and a very good camera. However, this price category is far less forgiving than the sub-$200 range that BLU is usually a part of, and there are some great options out there, including the Nexus 6, Nexus 5X, ZTE Axon, and the Moto X Style or Pure Edition.
Check out these other affordable devices
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Lumsing Grand A1 compact 13400mAh portable power bank
There are literally hundreds of portable batteries available at Amazon.com and they all serve the same purpose – to charge you portable devices. They come in all shapes and sizes and picking the right one for your needs can be downright confusing. I have a great portable battery to tell you about that should fit just about all of your portable charging needs. The Lumsing Grand A1 compact 13400mAh portable power bank has been in my laptop bag and recently went to San Francisco to attend the Google Nexus press event and kept me going strong.
Lumsing Grand A1 compact portable battery design
For a battery of 13400mAh, you should expect a large sized battery that will make itself noticable in your pocket, at least, from my experience. The Lumsing Grand A1 actually was about 40% smaller than other batteries of identical charging capacity giving this charger a favorable start in this review. Form factor is one of the most important features in a design as you don’t want something bigger than it should be when it comes to portability.
The Grand A1 came encased in a sleek and sturdy black aluminum frame with accents of bright orange plastic to give the battery a distinct and premium look. The orange definitely helped it stand out in my bag making it easy to find. I prefer aluminum for accessories as it can take more abuse, is less prone to fingerprints, and looks and feels better than plastic.
Like many other high-quality designed batteries, the Lumsing Grand A1 also comes with an LED flashlight built-in for times when you need to find something in your bag or purse. There are also two USB out ports for charging two devices at the same time.
Beyond the hardware, the battery comes with smart technology to maximize the charging speed of whatever device you decide to connect to it. It’s all too common these days to have devices with different charging requirements, but Lumsing will figure it out for you. Overall, this battery is as plug and play as it gets. To charge the battery, you just need a standard phone charger and you can use the same microUSB cable you use to charge your phone to charge the battery.
Usage
Like I mentioned earlier, this battery made the trip to the Google press event in San Francisco. Sure there were power outlets available, but I didn’t want to be stuck to a wall charging my Note 5. I took 300 pictures that day, spent hours on my messenger talking with the writers at Androidguys, and I started the day with 20% power since I forgot to charge my phone the night before. The Lumsing Grand A1 more than lived up to my expectations while it kept me going strong during the event.
Considering my Note 5 battery is only 1/4 of the capacity of the power bank, I was left with 75% power which easily powered me through my trip back to San Diego.
Specs
| Weight | 9.24 ounces |
| Size | 98mm*79mm*21mm±0.5mm |
| Capacity | 13400mAh |
| Input | DC 4.8V~DC5.5V |
| Output | DC 4.7V~DC5.1V |
| Product Warranty | 18-month warranty |
Summary
Overall this battery from Lumsing is a great purchase if you need portable power. The build-quality is top notch and is matched with a great price.
If you need a battery now, this is the battery to get especially with free shipping from Amazon.com. It also comes in other colors to match your latest devices.
The post Lumsing Grand A1 compact 13400mAh portable power bank appeared first on AndroidGuys.
AIVAnet 