ZTE rolls out camera updates to Axon and Axon Pro
If you’re the proud owner of an Axon or Axon Pro, ZTE’s pair of 2015 flagship smartphones, then you’re slated for a pretty nice update. Although the spotlight feature to this update is the camera improvements, you’ll also be getting security patches from Google and better wireless connectivity.
The ZTE Axon got a new camera quick launch button that allows you to jump right into photography so you never miss a moment. The camera’s zoom feature has been improved, allowing for less deterioration of resolution when digitally zooming. The Google security patches are always a plus, especially with recent fears surrounding Stagefright and malware, and ZTE also threw in some Qualcomm-issued modem patches to boot. As icing on the cake, you now have the capability of using MetroPCS as an APN.
That’s for the vanilla model of the smartphone. The Axon Pro (both the 32GB and 64GB versions) get everything the vanilla model gets with a few added extras. T-Mobile’s WiFi Calling 2.0 will now be at your fingertips, allowing you to save precious minutes on your cell phone bill by using WiFi connections instead of cellular service, but what’s even more interesting (at least to me) is that the camera has received some adjustments that let it focus faster in low light. There also have been some improvements to the camera’s white balance.
These alterations serve to boost the aspect of the device that we were most disappointed with in our review (namely camera quality) and might even make the Axon a more desirable smartphone option overall. Are you an Axon owner? What are your thoughts regarding this latest update? How have you enjoyed your device so far? Let us know in the comments!
Next: Best Android phones
Fleksy partners with ZTE to put its keyboard on millions of phones worldwide
Among the best keyboard replacements is Fleksy, which was named an Editor’s Choice 2015 by Google. And its quality is met with popularity as more than 1 million people have installed it to date. This morning, Fleksy announced it is ready to push become an international force by partnering with one of the world’s biggest manufacturers of mobile device. ZTE, the Chinese company that is silently the fourth largest smartphone brand in the United States, is helping Fleksy extend its reach internationally by pre-installing the keyboard on devices.
Adam Zeng, CEO of ZTE Mobile Devices, said this about the deal:
“At ZTE, we are constantly listening and working with both our consumers and partners to enhance our smartphone feature offerings. As such, we are delighted to work with Fleksy to incorporate their award winning user typing interface to give our end users the best possible smartphone experience.”
Owners of ZTE devices will gain everything that Fleksy has to offer, including its custom theme builder that presents users with a personalized keyboard visually and in operation.
Fleksy is adding ZTE to a portfolio of partners that already includes Samsung, Xiaomi, and Meizu. With its various partnerships, Fleksy expects that 50 million branded installs to be performed in 2015 alone.
Fleksy partners with ZTE, bringing a great text input option to ZTE customers worldwide!
San Francisco, CA, December 17, 2015 — Fleksy, holder of the Guinness World Record for typing, announces a new partnership with ZTE, a global manufacturer of smartphones and mobile devices.
Fleksy, which provides a unique and powerful user interface, will be providing more than just an award-winning typing experience to ZTE users, it will also bring rich content to users’ finger tips all around the world. Rich content includes thousands of GIFs, stickers and emoji for every occasion.
Partnering with ZTE, one of the largest smartphone manufacturers in China, further extends Fleksy’s international distribution.
“We’re committed to delivering a faster and more expressive input experience for users across the globe,” said Kosta Eleftheriou, CEO and Founder of Fleksy. “ZTE is one of the world’s leading device manufacturers, and we’re pleased to bring Fleksy to their users.”
“At ZTE, we are constantly listening and working with both our consumers and partners to enhance our smartphone feature offerings.” said Adam Zeng, CEO of ZTE Mobile Devices at ZTE Corporation. “As such, we are delighted to work with Fleksy to incorporate their award winning user typing interface to give our end users the best possible smartphone experience.”
Fleksy’s recently launched custom theme builder, which gives users the ability to customize their keyboard with photos, colors, and effects, will also be included in the integration. Allowing ZTE users to make the keyboard look and feel exactly how they like and change it up as frequently as they want.
About Fleksy:
Officially the fastest smartphone keyboard in the world (Guinness World Record, May 2014 & November 2014), Fleksy is already used by millions of people in over 170 countries. It features the world’s most powerful typing technology, an award winning design, and unprecedented customization. Having established partnerships with Samsung, Xiaomi, Meizu and many others, Fleksy is projecting more than 50M branded installs in 2015.
Winner of the CES Award for Design and Engineering, the South by Southwest (SXSW) Award, and a 2014 Golden Stevie Award for Innovation, Fleksy is the world’s most innovative keyboard company. It was the first keyboard to enable blind typing on a smartphone (Access Award by the American Foundation for the Blind), the first keyboard to be deployed on a smartwatch, and the first keyboard to enable typing in a 3D augmented reality platform (Leap Motion).
Fleksy is backed by venture capital including Highland Capital Partners and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers.
Come comment on this article: Fleksy partners with ZTE to put its keyboard on millions of phones worldwide
ZTE’s Axon and Axon Pro get camera improvements, security patches, and more
On Wednesday, ZTE started rolling out a software update to two flagship devices sold in the United States. The Axon and Axon Pro (reviewed here) are getting improvements to their cameras, security patches from Google, and better wireless signals.
Included in the software update is T-Mobile’s WiFi calling, a quick launch button for the camera, faster focus and improved white balance, improved camera zooming, Google-issued security patches, Qualcomm-issued modem patches, and the ability to use MetroPCS as an APN. Not every item, though, is eligible for both the Axon and Axon Pro. The WiFi calling and camera quality updates are only for the Axon Pro while the Axon’s camera gets better zooming. The remaining updates are for both phones.
ZTE has not specified the size of either phone’s update, but both come with at least 32GB of internal storage. And nothing here is particularly substantial. The same probably won’t be said when ZTE rolls out Marshmallow for its Axon devices.
Come comment on this article: ZTE’s Axon and Axon Pro get camera improvements, security patches, and more
Holiday Buying Guide 2015: The best Android phones
We live in a mobility-focused world, and manufacturers from all over the world have risen up to meet this demand. You have Samsung with its new line of premium Galaxy devices, Google revolutionizing the off-contract market with the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P, Motorola’s own off-contract efforts, and even up and comers like Alcatel OneTouch. There are so many different smartphones out there, all for different types of people. With that in mind, it can be difficult to find the perfect handset, especially with how expensive many of these devices are.
Here at Talk Android, we’ve put together a detailed shopping guide on the best smartphones in the market for the holidays. There’s something for everybody on this list, whether it be powerful performance packages that Samsung offers, something more luxury in the Sony Xperia handsets, or even the media production capabilities in many of LG’s new devices.
We’ve taken the liberty of digging through the mire in order to bring you the best Android smartphones for this holiday shopping season. One thing we can guarantee: there’s something for you on this list.
Stocking Stuffers ($99 – $199)
Moto G (2015)
Motorola can make some impressive devices, even with decidedly mid-range specifications. The company created the Moto G with low price points and high performance in mind. It goes without saying, the Moto G delivers.
Motorola equipped the Moto G with a 5-inch 1280 x 720 display, a quad-core Snapdragon 410, 8GB ROM/1GB RAM or 16GB ROM/2GB RAM configurations, a 13-megapixel rear camera, and a 2470mAh battery. The smartphone comes with Android 5.1 straight out of the box with planned upgrades to Android 6.0 down the road.
The specifications may be low, but the off-contract handset is just as slick as many high-end devices. Not only that, but it’s guaranteed to save some money on those outrageous carrier bills by helping you ditch contracts. That’s the big benefit with the Moto G (2015): ditching carrier contracts while not breaking the bank on an off-contract smartphone. As mentioned earlier, even at its low price point, it has great mid-range specifications. In some cases, if you were to put the Moto G and a Galaxy Note 5 side-by-side and navigate the software, you wouldn’t notice much of a difference in speed or smoothness. It’s most definitely a win for the person that wants to get rid of contracts while still having a great smartphone.
The Moto G also has a lot of different accessories available for it, particularly an arsenal of back plates in different colors. Motorola also offers tons of different cases, shells, battery packs, microSD cards, and earphones for the Moto G. And if you’re still on the fence, be sure to check out review of the device. Starting at $179, a mid-range handset truly doesn’t get any better than this.
Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3 (4.7)
Alcatel OneTouch first launched the Idol 3, arguably one of the most impressive off-contract smartphones on the market. But with the demand for smaller devices, Alcatel OneTouch launched a smaller version of the handset, the Idol 3 4.7. It’s notably different in performance, but still delivers.
The Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3 (4.7) features a 4.7-inch 1280 x 720 display, a quad-core Snapdragon 410 processor, 1.5GB of RAM, 8/16GB ROM configurations, a 13-megapixel rear camera, and a 2,000mAh battery. As far as software goes, it’s running Android 5.0. Alcatel OneTouch hasn’t made their plans known to upgrade the device to Android 6.0 yet, which may be something to consider when thinking over your purchase.
The highlight of the Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3 (4.7) certainly isn’t specifications, but providing a truly elegant device in a size that most people prefer. 5.5-inch or 6-inch devices are quickly becoming the norm, but aren’t for everyone. With that in mind, the Idol 3 with the 4.7-inch display is quite literally the perfect fit for those who want something smaller. On the downside, there aren’t a whole lot of accessories beyond your standard third-party cases for this device. However, much like the Moto G (2015) a great plus is that you get a formidable off-contract smartphone on the cheap.
Alcatel OneTouch did an impressive job with the Idol 3 4.7, bringing both performance and elegance in a relatively cheap package. For $179, this handset will break you free of carrier contracts while giving you something to impress your friends with.
[Alcatel OneTouch] [Amazon] [Newegg]
Under the Christmas Tree ($199 – $399)
ZTE Axon Pro
ZTE isn’t very well known in the United States, but the Chinese manufacturer is trying to change that by offering high-end devices at a competitive price point. That said, some might be surprised to see this device under the Christmas tree this year, but won’t live to regret it.
The ZTE Axon Pro (review here) sports a 5.5-inch 2560 x 1440 display, an octa-core Snapdragon 810 processor, 4GB of RAM, 32/64GB ROM configurations, a 13-megapixel rear camera, a 3,000mAh battery, and it’s running Android 5.1 with ZTE’s own skin over top.
ZTE’s Axon Pro is an off-contract smartphone, which might be surprising from the specifications. High-end smartphones are far and few between as far as off-contract devices go. What’s even more surprising is that the Axon Pro is a high-end/flagship smartphone at a cheap price. The specifications are close to that of the Galaxy Note 5, but there’s still a good $400 – $600 difference in price. That makes the Axon Pro a hard one to pass up for the person looking for a flagship device, but still wanting to break free of those sometimes nasty contracts.
ZTE has undoubtedly become one of the leading manufacturers when it comes to producing off-contract and high-end smartphones at a low price points. Not only that, but the company offers an array of decent accessories for the device. Whether you need cases, shells, flip covers, clear cases, Bluetooth speakers or earphones, ZTE has it all available for the Axon Pro through its online store.
Still not sure about the Axon Pro? Check out our review for more details. Starting at $400, what you get from ZTE in the Axon Pro is pure, unadulterated quality.
Moto X Pure Edition
The Moto X Pure Edition is the best of Motorola all in one pretty package. Not only do you get relatively powerful specifications, but you also get to tailor this handset to your likes and dislikes inside the Moto Maker. That last feature is what truly makes the Moto X Pure Edition special–the Moto Maker. Just about anyone can make a great performing smartphone with high-end specifications, but not many give you the ability to customize the device in almost every way possible.
Whether you want a traditional plastic back plate, bamboo, wood, a textured back, the Moto Maker has it all. You can go crazy and make your Moto X Pure Edition pink, neon green or even settle for some more standard colors. Whatever you choose to do, the Moto X Pure Edition is truly tailored to your likes. The customization does have a small downside: the smartphones takes a little longer to get to you. But if you can wait an extra couple of days, the Moto X Pure Edition is well worth having.
Motorola’s Moto X Pure Edition sports a 5.2-inch 2560 x 1440 display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor, 16/32/64GB internal storage configurations, 3GB of RAM, a 21-megapixel rear camera, and a 3,000mAh battery. It’s also running Android 5.1 with plans to upgrade to Android 6.0.
Just like with the Moto G (2015), Motorola offers tons of different accessories for the Moto X Pure Edition, whether it be cases, shells, earphones, and more. Motorola has everything you need available to you, and that kind of service truly makes the Moto X Pure Edition worth having.
For just $399, you not only get a great performance package and the ability to break away from carrier contracts, but you get a device tailored to you.
Nexus 5X
The Nexus 5X is not only the latest and greatest from Google, but also the successor of the famed Nexus 5. Like many devices on this list, the Nexus 5X will break you free from those nasty carrier contracts, and maybe even offer you something better with Project Fi, that is, if coverage is available in your area.
This handset features a 5.2-inch 1920 x 1080 display, a Snapragon 808 processor, 2GB of RAM, 16/32GB ROM configurations, a 12.3-megapixel rear camera, a 2,700mAh battery, and it’s running Android 6.0, the latest version of the mobile operating system.
The Nexus 5X is a hard one to pass up for the tech enthusiast in your life. Being a Nexus device, it’s one of the first devices on the market to get the latest versions of Google’s mobile operating system, which is every tech-savvy individual’s dream. Unfortunately, Google doesn’t offer a lot of accessories for the device, but you do have the option of getting the Nexus 5X Folio from the Google Store as well as a handful of other cases for the handset.
At $299, between the performance and continued support, it’s a difficult device to pass up. But if you have more money to spend, it might be worth passing this one by and looking at the Nexus 6P, which we’ve detailed below.
[Google Store] [Amazon] [Best Buy] [B&H Photo]
For someone special ($399 – $899)
Galaxy Note 5
The Galaxy Note 5 is the latest and greatest from Samsung. It’s not a huge upgrade from last year’s Note 4, but the Galaxy Note 5 takes everything from its predecessor and makes things even better. It has a slightly larger display, more beautiful body, and all-around better improvements. Almost anyone would love to see this behemoth under the tree Christmas morning.
Samsung, being the smartphone giant that it is, has tons of accessories for this device as well, and I mean that in the literal sense. You can get almost anything you need for this device from Samsung, and even things you may not need. There’s S-View flip covers, protective covers, battery charging packs, wireless charging pads, wireless headphones, car accessories, and much, much more.
The handset has a 5.7-inch 2560 x 1440 Super AMOLED display, an octa-core Exynos 7420 processor, 4GB of RAM, 32/64GB ROM configurations, a 16-megapixel rear camera, and a non-removable 3,000mAh battery. It also is running on Android 5.1 (planned upgrade for Android 6.0) with Samsung’s own TouchWiz UI atop.
There’s a couple aspects that make the Galaxy Note 5 the handset to buy this holiday season. Not only does it have high-end specs and a beautiful media package, but it also comes with some extra nifty features, thanks to the S-Pen. Using features like Air Command and Air View with the S-Pen makes this device that much easier to use. And with its massive 5.7-inch display, media doesn’t get any better on a smartphone. If you feel like splurging this holiday season, the Galaxy Note 5 is the device to do it with. Still not sure? Be sure to check out our detailed review–it’s truly the best of Samsung!
Samsung’s Galaxy Note 5 price varies from retailer to retailer, but you can generally get it for $699 outright, $199 on a new two-year contract, or as low as $20/mo on a device payment plan through a carrier.
[Samsung] [Amazon] [Verizon] [AT&T] [T-Mobile] [Sprint] [Newegg]
Galaxy S6 Edge+
With how much of a hit the Galaxy S6 Edge was, it only made sense for Samsung to introduce a successor: the Galaxy S6 Edge+, a cross between its predecessor and the Galaxy Note 4. It’s one of the most premium devices on the market, and is the perfect companion for those that aren’t sure about the S-Pen on the Galaxy Note 5. Not having the S-Pen, you don’t get any of the extra features that come with it, which is a huge benefit for those that don’t actively use styluses; it also frees up some storage space.
This is exactly the same device as the Galaxy Note 5, just without the S-Pen, although there is the inclusion of the “edge” display, which adds some additional functionality that can prove to be useful. Much like the Galaxy Note 5, there’re tons of accessories for this device, whether that be protective shells, S-View flip covers, wireless chargers, and so on. Specifically for the Galaxy S6 Edge+ is also the optional physical keyboard accessory. It makes typing easy and efficient, but the downside is that it takes up way too much screen real estate.
The Galaxy S6 Edge+ is sporting a 5.7-inch 2560 x 1440 Super AMOLED display, an octa-core Exynos 7420 CPU, 4GB of RAM, 32/64GB ROM configurations, a 16-megapixel rear camera, and a non-removable 3,000mAh battery. Similar to the Note 5, it’s running Android 5.1 with a planned upgrade to Android 6.0. With the Galaxy S6 Edge+ (and Galaxy Note 5) Samsung also added a neat feature, allowing users to stream video directly to YouTube. With that in mind, the S6 Edge+ might just be the perfect choice for content creators as well.
The Galaxy S6 Edge+ sits around the same price as the Note 5 at $799 outright, $399 on a new two-year contract, or around $25/mo on a device payment plan. Not sure about making the leap for the device? Talk Android’s very own Justin Herrick put together an all-around solid review on the Galaxy S6 Edge+.
[Samsung] [Amazon] [Verizon] [AT&T] [T-Mobile] [Sprint] [Newegg]
Nexus 6P
Google partnered with up and coming Chinese manufacturer Huawei to make the Nexus 6P. Despite some wild controversy, the handset is one of the best Android experiences we’ve seen from the search giant yet. Not only will it save you a chunk of change by breaking you free of carrier contracts, but it’s also the perfect companion for consuming media, taking pictures, playing games, and even work.
The handset is equipped with a 5.7-inch 2560 x 1440 display, an octa-core Snapdragon 810 processor, 3GB of RAM, 32/64/128GB ROM configurations, a 12.3-megapixel rear camera, and a non removable 3450mAh battery.
Much like the Nexus 5X, there aren’t many accessories for the Nexus 6P, but Google does have their own Folio cases and regular cases available for the device in the Google Store. Not only that, but Google is also advertising a handful of other third-party cases in the Google Store that work well with the handset.
The Nexus 6P is truly the best from Google, and it’ll be officially supported for quite some time. Google is promised monthly security updates for many of its Nexus devices in addition to providing all of the latest versions of Android in a timely manner. If you’re looking for a handset with a beautiful and large display, all while sticking with stock Android, the Nexus 6P might just be right up your alley.
Starting at $399, this is one of the most premium devices you’ll ever get from Google.
[Huawei] [Google Store] [Amazon]
If you’ve got any questions, concerns, have a suggestion for this Holiday Buyer’s Guide, or saw a deal on any of these awesome devices, be sure to let us know in the comments below!
Come comment on this article: Holiday Buying Guide 2015: The best Android phones
10 Android phones you should consider for T-Mobile (December 2015)
Are you in the market for a new smartphone? Is Sprint the service provider you’re considering? You’re in luck! We’re here to help you pick out that next handset. If you’re an existing smartphone owner, picking out an upgrade won’t be too much of a challenge. But, for others, particularly first-time buyers, the idea of buying an Android might make them nervous.
Which is the newest phone? What is the best phone? Which is the one that’s going to give me exactly what I need? We’re here to help you dig mine through the muck and pull out a few gems.
We’ve put together a list of the top 10 Android smartphones you should consider for Sprint this December. Here, in no particular order, are ten Android handsets that you should consider for Sprint if you’re currently contemplating a new device.
Samsung Galaxy Note 5
The fifth generation of Samsung’s plus-sized smartphone experience boasts a gorgeous metal and glass design. The S Pen digital stylus is smarter than ever and works without even powering on the display. Up from previous models, storage options are now 32GB and 64GB. The battery, which comes in at a commendable 3000mAh capacity, allows for fast charging, wireless charging, and even fast wireless charging.
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 at T-Mobile
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+
An almost identical sibling to the aforementioned Galaxy Note 5, this one trades out the stylus for the dual curved display. If you don’t need to jot down notes or mark up documents, consider grabbing the more sexy counterpart.
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ at T-Mobile
Samsung Galaxy S6
Announced in the spring, it’s hard to beat the annual Samsung flagship smartphone. The 5.1-inch Quad HD screen is a stunner and feels oh-so-right in our hands and the premium design includes glass and metal. It’s the first Galaxy S model we’ve wanted to coddle and protect in a long time. It doesn’t hurt that it runs Android 5.0 Lollipop (with an expected 6.0 update), comes with at least 32GB storage, and has 3GB RAM to boost performance.
LG G4
LG continues to impress with a steady stream of flagship models that demand attention. We long ago fell in love with the rear button layout and this year’s version has one of the best camera experiences we’ve ever seen on a smartphone. The specs are top-notch and the screen is a real looker.
LG V10
The newest phone of the bunch, this LG features two displays. Indeed, there is the 5.7-inch quad HD screen which looks gorgeous on its own. However, up at the top you will find a small secondary display which offers quick access to favorite contacts, apps, media player buttons , or an at-a-glance view of your schedule.
But, as if that were not enough, you will also find 64 gigabytes of internal storage with a microSD card that allows for another 200GB of space. The removable 3,000mAh battery is more than enough to get you a day or two of life. The rear offers up a 16-megapixel camera while the front houses a pair of 5-megapixel shooters. One works for close-ups while the other has a wide angle lens for group shots.
HTC One M9
The lone HTC model here is also one of the oldest flagship models to make this list. Don’t let that concern you, though, it’s still a kick-ass phone with a great build. The 5-inch screen looks great and fits well in the hand while the 20-megapixel camera snaps excellent photos. The microSD card keeps media lovers content with room for up to 200GB of external storage. And, perhaps the best part, the included Uh Oh Protection will replace your water damaged or cracked screen for free inside of 12 months.
Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime
Somewhat of a trimmed-down take of the Galaxy S line, this one gives new smartphone users more than enough to learn the ropes. What’s more, it comes at a fraction of the cost of the flagship brand. Specs include a 5-inch HD display, 8-megapixel rear camera, and a front-facing 5-megapixel camera. Powered by Android 5.1 Lollipop, you also get to enjoy expandable memory via microSD slot.
Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime at T-Mobile
ZTE Obsidian
Priced to move, you’ll have a hard time beating the value in the ZTE Obsidian. Those looking to get into the smartphone game should find the 4.5-inch phone meets their needs. The Android 5.1 Lollipop provides the Material Design aesthetic that’s become all the rage; the 8GB storage with microSD expansion (up to 32GB) ought to be enough to store your music, pictures, and other media.
Kyocera Hydro Wave
Does your lifestyle find you spending time around water? Plumbers, lifeguards, and parents of toddlers will enjoy the waterproof Kyocera handset. Not only that, but the Military Standard 810G rating ensures this one can take a beating. Go ahead, drop it, if you can. The non-slip finish won’t make it easy on you.
Kyocera Hydro Wave at T-Mobile
Samsung Galaxy Core Prime
When all you need is the essentials, consider picking up the Samsung Galaxy Core Prime. It’s a pocketable 4.5-inch experience with a 5-megapixel rear camera and front-facing 2-megapixel shooter. The quad-core processor and 1GB RAM won’t set any benchmark records, but what do you expect for about one hundred dollars? Give this one to the kids for their first taste of Android.
Samsung Galaxy Core Prime at T-Mobile
The post 10 Android phones you should consider for T-Mobile (December 2015) appeared first on AndroidGuys.
AT&T GoPhone’s holiday deals cover entry-level phones
GoPhone, a brand owned and operated by AT&T, unveiled its selections for customers seeking out holiday deals. The prepaid brand is taking $40 off entry-level phones from ASUS, Motorola, and ZTE while also giving a free ZTE Maven to customers activating service with a purchase of at least $45 of airtime.
- ASUS Zenfone 2E for $59.99
- Microsoft 640 for $19.99
- Motorola Moto E for $14.99
- ZTE ZMAX 2 for $89.99
- ZTE Maven for free
An end date for these holiday deals hasn’t been specified, but you can head into AT&T stores today to take advantage of them.
[AT&T]
Come comment on this article: AT&T GoPhone’s holiday deals cover entry-level phones
Cricket Wireless discounts ZTE, LG, and Samsung budget smartphones for this holiday season
Cricket Wireless today announced discounts on budget Android smartphones from ZTE, LG, and Samsung for the holiday season. The AT&T pre-paid subsidiary will run these discounts through January 7, 2016.
The subsidiary traditionally offers its discounts through mail-in rebates, but this time around, any price cuts will be applied instantaneously. The three smartphones Cricket Wireless is discounting are as follows:
These budget Android smartphones have an original price tag of $29.99, $99.99, and $149.99, respectively, but are discounted at $9.99, $29.99, and $49.99, in that order.
Once again, keep in mind that these deals start today and will last through January 7, 2016, so you have a little over a month to take advantage of this new promotion from Cricket Wireless.
Anyone interested?
source: Cricket Wireless
Come comment on this article: Cricket Wireless discounts ZTE, LG, and Samsung budget smartphones for this holiday season
More Chinese manufactures are making their own chips
It seems like every manufacture is making their own chips now a days. It used to be just the biggest manufactures like Apple and Samsung making their own chips, but now more and more Chinese manufactures are getting in on the action.
ZTE has just recently received CNY2.4 billion (US$73.8 million) from China’s National IC Industry Investment Fund. This money will be used to help accelerate their mobile chip development.
Xiaomi is another China based manufacture that will be partnering with chip designer Leadcore Technology to co-develop ARM-based SoCs for Xiaomi’s 2016 device line up.
Finally, Huawei already provides chips to many smartphone vendor’s phones. However, they are doing so well that they are becoming a real problem to mainstream chip companies like MediaTek and Qualcomm.
Source: DigiTimes
Via: Pocketnow
Come comment on this article: More Chinese manufactures are making their own chips
ZTE Nubia Z11 to get simultaneous U.S. and China release
Although other big Chinese brands like Huawei and Xiaomi are just now achieving some success at making inroads in the U.S. market, despite success in China and other Asian markets, ZTE has avoided that fate and enjoyed a decent U.S. demand for its devices. The combination of strong sales in both a mature market like the U.S. and a relatively new market like China has led ZTE to the sixth position in the rankings of biggest smartphone manufacturers. ZTE hopes to continue to improve on that position by releasing their next flagship, the Nubia Z11, in both the U.S. and China at the same time.
This move was revealed by ZTE’s Nubia president Ni Fei in statements made last Friday. A release date has not been set and according to sources, slightly differing models will be made available to each market. The overall strategy appears to be similar to what some larger competitors, like Samsung, do when they release a new flagship device. ZTE’s move is not yet to the point of a global release in virtually all markets, but it is going to hit a couple of the largest if carried out.
The Nubia Z11 is the successor to the Nubia Z9 released this past summer. Leaked renders and specs for the device indicate the Nubia Z11 will come with a 5.2-inch screen with round edges, a Snapdragon 820 processor and 4 GB of RAM. In the U.S., ZTE’s latest device is the ZTE Axon Pro, which is not considered a flagship device, but competes with leading devices from the likes of Samsung and LG, but at a much better price point.
source: CNET
image via: GSMArena
Come comment on this article: ZTE Nubia Z11 to get simultaneous U.S. and China release
[Deal] Get the ZTE Axon Mini in the UK for £199.99 this Cyber Monday
Amazon has begun selling the ZTE-made Axon Mini for £199.99 in the UK. The Axon Mini normally retails for £299.99, but it has been discounted by a whopping 33% for this week’s Cyber Monday sales.
Here’s what the Axon Mini has under the hood:
- 5.2-inch Full-HD Display
- Octa-core Snapdragon 615 CPU
- 3GB RAM
- 32GB ROM
- 13-megapixel rear camera
- 2,800mAh battery
- 4G LTE
- Android 5.1
Coming in at £199.99, this smartphone is a hard one to pass up, as you get a fairly premium device outright for insanely cheap. It might be surprising for some, but ZTE makes some extremely great handsets at low price points as well.
That said, this is an all-around great deal, and there’s no telling how long it’ll last. Anyone picking one up?
[Amazon]
Come comment on this article: [Deal] Get the ZTE Axon Mini in the UK for £199.99 this Cyber Monday
AIVAnet 