05/19, 5:17am
How do the US and international versions of the Galaxy S4 stack up?
We have already published our full review of the Galaxy S4 for the US, which ships with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 quad-core processor. In some international markets, the Galaxy S4 ships with Samsung’s own Exynos 5 Octa, an eight-core chip that uses ARM’s big.LITTLE architecture. We have been using one for the past week, putting it through its paces, although our focus here is to see whether US customers are missing out on any performance.
more
05/08, 7:11am
Tegra 4 scores 32000 points on AnTuTu benchmark
Nvidia’s forthcoming Tegra 4 chip may have received an early benchmark if an AnTuTu score that has been posted online is to be believed. According to the post, the Tegra 4 produced a score of over 32,000 points, outgunning the 1.9GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 found in the Samsung Galaxy S4. By comparison, the Galaxy S4’s Snapdragon chip produces a score of 25,000 points, while the HTC One with the same Snapdragon chip clocked at 1.7GHz scores 23,600 points.
more
04/26, 6:49am
Follow-on from Snapdragon 600 to offer 2.3GHz clock speed, 4K playback
Qualcomm is preparing to put the Snapdragon 800 processor into mass production, starting in late May. The system-on-chip follows on from the highly sought-after Snapdragon 600, which has been used in such devices as the LG Optimus G Pro and reportedly had "strong traction" in recent quarterly results, and promises to provide a significant speed boost compared to its 1.7GHz predecessor.
more
04/03, 6:51am
Tablet to switch from Nvidia to Qualcomm processor
Google is said to be launching a revised Nexus 7 tablet by July, according to a report. The new tablet will apparently replace the Nvidia Tegra 3 inside the current generation with a Snapdragon processor from Qualcomm, citing a reduction in power consumption, as well as having a higher resolution screen and thinner bezel, and may also cut the price down to $150.
more
04/02, 3:52pm
New device goes head-to-head against Galaxy S4 at retail
Joining AT&T, Sprint has announced Friday, April 19 as the availability date for the new HTC One smartphone. The new handset is the latest international smartphone from the manufacturer, and will be available for preorder starting April 5 online. The HTC One has an all-aluminum chassis and high resolution 1080p 4.7-inch 468ppi LCD display. It is powered by the same quad-core Snapdragon 600 processor as the North American version of the Galaxy S4.
more
03/17, 11:44am
Four cores clocked at faster speed than 'octo-core' version
Chip manufacturer Qualcomm confirmed on Friday that the US version of the recently announced Galaxy S 4 smartphone will come with a 1.9Ghz quad-core Snapdragon 600 processor, rather than the "octo-core" 8/4 processor Exynos 5 chip used in the international versions. The move is similar to the situation with the Galaxy S III, which in the US is a dual-core processor, with a quad-core model internationally.
more
03/08, 9:30am
Would mark unusual course reversal for Apple
Apple is planning to use a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor in the low-cost iPhone, and manufacture it using TSMC's 28nm production lines, claims an industry watcher quoted by the China Times. The move would be unusual, since Apple currently relies on its own A-series processors for iOS devices, which are produced at a Samsung facility in Texas. The Times' report does say, though, that Apple will continue to use A-series chips in other devices.
more
02/25, 10:37am
ZTE's new Android flagship
ZTE has continued its upmarket push with its new Android flagship, the Grand Memo, which will be one of the first devices to arrive with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 800 processor. We stopped by ZTE's Mobile World Congress booth ahead of the company's press conference to handle the new device ahead of its public launch.
more
02/20, 2:37pm
Charge time reduced by 75 percent
Qualcomm has announced several new Snapdragon technologies ahead of Mobile World Congress, including a voice-wake feature and improvements to Quick Charge. Voice Activation, limited to Snapdragon 800-powered devices, enables a device to wake from standby after hearing a spoken phrase set by the device manufacturer, such as "Hey Snapdragon."
more
02/19, 10:41am
System based on R4 Cortex-A9 CPU
Nvidia has formally introduced its Project Grey chip, which is officially known as the Tegra 4i. Marketed as a superior alternative to Qualcomm's Snapdragon offerings, which have proved extremely popular in the smartphone market, the new chip brings a much smaller footprint than the current Tegra 4 SoC while adding an integrated LTE modem.
more
02/18, 5:09am
LG Optimus G Pro, 5.5-inch display, 400ppi, Snapdragon 600
After giving its latest flagship smartphone an official reveal for the Korean market, LG has announced that the Optimus G Pro will be will be headed to the US market in Q2. The 5.5-inch ‘phablet will also be the first smartphone to feature Qualcomm’s new quad-core Snapdragon 600 processor clocked at 1.7GHz, which incorporates a range of architectural enhancements over the Snapdragon S4 Pro chip. The new chip also brings with it an enhanced Adreno 320 GPU, for better graphics performance.
more
01/07, 9:23pm
Highlights: Snapdragon S4 pro, 13MP Exmor RS HDR camera
As expected, Sony has officially revealed the Xperia Z at the Consumer Electronics Show, its latest Android flagship. The Xperia Z is equipped with a 5-inch FullHD 1080p "Reality Display," Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core processor, 13 megapixel fast-capture back camera and LTE. A global launch is expected for the new smartphone in the first quarter of 2013.
more
11/14, 10:06am
First live image of AT&T-bound Pantech Magnus leaks online
An upcoming smartphone should be close to an official announcement as EVLeaks has, yet again, shared a live photo of the Pantech Magnus. The smartphone previously showed up undergoing FCC testing, so it should be ready for launch, with all indications pointing to AT&T offering it. The phone should be fairly advanced, offering quad-band LTE network support and a dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor.
more
10/26, 12:22pm
50K Xiaomi Phone 2s to go on sale in China on October 30
Chinese phone maker Xiaomi said it will begin selling its Phone 2, or Mi Two, smartphone in its home market starting on October 30. Like in the past, the phone will be sold online, and if the performance of past sales is any indication, the initial 50,000-unit allotment should be sold out in mere minutes. Those who don't get in on the initial batch will get another chance in min-November when 250,000 more of the Mi Two phones are due to go on sale.
more
10/24, 11:40am
LG Nexus 4 expected to be officially unveiled at October 29 event
More photos of the upcoming LG Nexus 4 handset have surfaced online thanks to evleaks. This time around, however, they're not in-the-wild shots, but more official-looking promotional shots that also, for the first time, show the Nexus branding on the rear. These images are a further indication that the handset will launch sometime next week.
more
10/01, 10:49am
Xperia TL will get Android 4.0, 1.5GHz Snapdragon, 13-megapixel camera
A new Xperia phone from Sony, the TL, will arrive at AT&T, the carrier revealed recently. It's being marketed as the official phone of the next James Bond flick, Skyfall, so it will get exclusive ringtones and wallpaper from the movie. The phone's technical specs are fairly impressive on their own, however, with a 4G LTE radio onboard, a 4.6-inch, 1080x720 touchscreen, and a 13-megapixel camera.
more
09/18, 10:59am
HTC Accord leaks ahead of official debut on Wednesday
The HTC Accord that will be known as the Windows Phone 8X when it launches has now been spotted being used, suggesting it will arrive at Verizon and have LTE network support. The phone will be officially unveiled at an event in New York on Wednesday, so more official information regarding carriers and prices is expected then. The source who sent the image to PhoneArena made the LTE claim.
more
09/11, 11:24am
Galaxy S Relay 4G coming to T-Mobile on September 19 for $150
T-Mobile just revealed it will sell the recently introduced Samsung Galaxy S Relay 4G at its online and physical stores starting on September 19. The phone has a 4-inch touchscreen and a horizontally-sliding hardware QWERTY keyboard. It will ship with Android 4.0 onboard and is powered by a dual-core, 1.5GHz Snapdragon processor.
more
09/10, 11:09am
Leaked LG Escape to get Android 4.0, dual-core CPU, large-capacity battery
A new handset from LG has been leaked thanks to EVLeaks. The Android 4.0-powered device reportedly uses a 4.3-inch qHD touchscreen (that's 960x540) and gets a dual-core, 1.2GHz processor of unspecified origin. It's also said there is a five-megapixel main camera, an NFC chip, and a large-capacity, 2,150mAh battery.
more
09/06, 10:56am
Lumia 820 will have optional wireless charging module, same CPU as Lumia 920
Alongside the Lumia 920 flagship released at its Windows Phone 8 event yesterday, Nokia also showed off another handset, the budget-oriented Lumia 820. The previously leaked handset uses a 4.3-inch, 800x480 resolution display and gets the same dual-core, 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 processor as the 920. Otherwise, there is 1GB of RAM onboard and 8GB of storage space complemented by a 32GB microSD memory card slot.
more
09/05, 11:20am
Lumia 920 gets wireless charging as standard, more
At its Windows Phone 8 launch event today, Nokia took the wraps off its new Windows Phone flagship, the Lumia 920. The high-end device sports a curved, 4.5-inch Pure Motion HD+ touchscreen with 720p resolution and is powered by a dual-core, 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 processor. It includes a built-in wireless inductive charging system and an NFC chip for close-proximity, wireless data transfers.
more
08/28, 6:59am
LG Optimus G stakes claim for smartphone crown
LG has made its latest Android flagship smartphone, the Optimus G, official. The Optimus G is the new leading Android smartphone on the market based on its specifications alone and is possibly the most advanced smartphone yet made. It’s 1.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro (APQ8064) with ‘Krait’ architecture is very similar to the Cortex-A15 architecture, but with performance that blows away the quad-core Exynos 4112 based on the older Cortex-A9 architecture used in the international version of the Samsung Galaxy S III.
more
08/25, 7:49pm
13 megapixel camera present, Jelly Bean set for future
Images of a handset identified as the LG Optimus G have appeared online. The leaked images from AndroidMx, who claim to have tried out the handset, are for the same smartphone teased by Qualcomm a few days ago, and is said to be using a 1.5Ghz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor supported by 2GB of RAM.
more
08/24, 9:40am
ZTE Blade III shows up at European retailer before any official announcement
The next smartphone from Chinese company ZTE has been pictured online over at Finnish retailer Verkkokauppa. The device hasn't even been officially confirmed by its maker, but its specs are revealed by the listing. They include a 4.0-inch, 800x480-pixel touchscreen, 1GHz Snapdragon processor, and Android 4.0.
more
08/23, 11:09am
Retailer listing shows ZTE Blade III to have Android 4.0 onboard
The next smartphone from Chinese company ZTE has been pictured online over at Finnish retailer Verkkokauppa. The device hasn't even been officially confirmed by its maker, but its specs are revealed by the listing. They include a 4.0-inch, 800x480-pixel touchscreen, 1GHz Snapdragon processor, and Android 4.0.
more
08/08, 10:18am
Production-ready Sony Xperia T leaked in live photos
Sony has an upcoming handset, the Xperia T, which was just revealed in a number of hands-on photos from Russian site Nixanbal. Along with the generous amount of photos, some of which can be send below, some early tech specs are also revealed. They include a dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, 1GB of RAM, and 16GB of integrated storage.
more
08/07, 12:15pm
Motorola will unveil mystery 4G LTE handset on Facebook this Friday
Motorola has started a Guess the Smartphone game on its Facebook page. The first picture shared online is simply a big question mark, though the company promises to reveal more details on the handset every day this week, with the final and complete reveal coming on Friday. Thus far, the only hint Motorola supplied is that the handset has 4G LTE support.
more
07/20, 3:16pm
Samsung GT-N7100 spotted in benchmark tests, could be the Galaxy Note II
A device called the Samsung GT-N7100 has shown up in the GLBenchmark database, PhoneArena reported. Since the GT-N7000 is the Galaxy Note, many surmise that the new model number indicates the recently rumored Galaxy Note II. The handset compared well to other devices in terms of graphics performance, which run on Snapdragon S4 Pro chips with an Adreno 320 GPU.
more
07/20, 1:44pm
Image confirms mid-range LTE device for Verizon
Another image of the Samsung smartphone codenamed '"Jasper" (SCH-i200) has leaked online. The photo of the Verizon handset appears on the evleaks Twitter feed, with claims of a dual-core Snapdragon MSM8960 processor running at 1.5GHz, a resolution of 800x480, LTE data, and running on Ice Cream Sandwich Android.
more
07/19, 4:28pm
Chipset's popularity slows down Android phone production
Demand for the Snapdragon chipsets that power popular Android devices like Samsung's Galaxy S III and the HTC One X will apparently continue to outstrip manufacturer Qualcomm's ability to produce them. The chip designer confirmed to the BBC that it was unable to fully sate manufacturer demand, but said it was ramping up supply with a number of foundries to try to close the gap.
more
07/19, 2:10pm
Telstra now testing the update for the two HTC smartphones
A web page from Australian provider Telstra indicates that HTC is preparing and update for its One XL and One S smartphones. It would be Android 4.1, though no dates are yet available, with the idea being that the provider has received the software and is now testing it. Exactly how long the carrier will take to approve and/or modify the software remains to be seen.
more
07/05, 7:27am
Samsung releases first quad-core LTE variant of GS3
Samsung’s first quad-core LTE variant of its popular Galaxy S III is headed to Korean carriers on July 9. The US version of the Galaxy S III with LTE uses the fast, but dual-core, Qualcomm Snapdragon S4. The new Korean model uses the same 1.4GHz quad-core Exynos processor on international variants of the Galaxy S III, but which has so far only been made available for 3G networks.
more
07/04, 9:11am
Qualcomm partners with rival Samsung on S4 processor
Demand for Qualcomm’s Snapdragon S4 mobile processors has become so great that it has been forced to partner with mobile processor rival Samsung to produce additional supply. Qualcomm is a fabless chip designer and currently contracts Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC) to build its latest design on its 28nm process. However, as it can’t meet demand, Qualcomm and Samsung have entered into an agreement that will now see Samsung also produce chips for Qualcomm in much the same way it continues to for Apple.
more
06/25, 8:47am
Asus launches high-res Transformer Pad Infinity
The Asus Transformer Pad Infinity TF 700 will go on sale for $499 in July. First seen at the World Mobile Congress, the 10.1-inch tablet incorporate the highest resolution display yet on an Android tablet in this class at 1920x1200. The Wi-Fi-only model is powered by an NVIDIA quad-core Tegra 3 processor while the 4G LTE version is powered a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 ‘Krait’ dual-core processor.
more
06/04, 7:16am
Samsung Galaxy S III to launch on five US carriers
Samsung has detailed its launch plans for the Galaxy S III, bringing its flagship Android handset to five carriers. The Galaxy S III will arrive in June on AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless and U.S. Cellular priced from $199 on contract for the 16GB model. As expected, it will arrive sporting a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor with integrated 4G LTE, not the quad-core Exynos 4412 featured in the international version.
more
05/31, 1:55pm
Second-gen R model adds 4.3
Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy R Style, a Korea-bound handset that appears to serve as a successor to the current Galaxy R. The device packs midrange features, including a 4.3-inch display with 960x540 resolution, a 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 processor, and a five-megapixel camera.
more
05/31, 7:16am
Galaxy S III lands in Australia in white, blue to follow
The Samsung Galaxy S III has gone on sale in Australia with the Exynos 4412 quad-core model on sale initially. The Marble White model in 16GB is available immediately, with the 32GB listed as coming soon. The Pebble Blue model, which Samsung recently confirmed as having issues with its special paint process, is listed as available for pre-order now although shipments won’t start for 10 days. Australians will also soon have the choice of the dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon LTE variant with 2GB with Telstra saying that it is currently negotiating with Samsung to bring it to its new 4G network.
more
05/16, 10:13am
HTC Ville C to be a cheaper version of HTC One S
The specs of an upcoming handset, the HTC Ville C, have been spotted by BriefMobile. They reveal a version of the HTC One S (shown) that is reported to be less costly, mainly thanks to its Snapdragon S3 processor rather than the S4 in the One S. It's being billed as ultra-slim, though exactly how thin isn't known.
more
05/11, 10:19am
New Samsung phone to support LTE, get Android 4.0.4
Yet another Samsung smartphone has been quietly revealed, this time by carrier KT in South Korea. The device, known thus far only by its SHV-E170K model number, would get an LTE radio and sport a dual-core, 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4. It will also ship with Android 4.0.4 onboard, SammyHub reported, but it will have Samsung's TouchWiz custom skin onboard as well.
more
05/11, 8:02am
LG quad-core Snapdragon S4 Eclipse 4G LTE leaks out
An LG smartphone with the designation LS970 has been leaked courtesy of an anonymous Brief Mobile source. The ‘Eclipse 4G LTE’ is notable for its horsepower, which could make it most powerful smartphone on the market when it lands. Under the hood, the device packs a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 ‘Krait’ quad-core chip clocked at 1.5GHz and paired with a generous 2GB of RAM.
more
05/09, 6:26am
Sony reveals new Android speed demons, Xperia GX/SX
Sony Mobile has announced its first LTE handsets powered by Qualcomm’s fast Krait-based Snapdragon S4 dual-core processors. Capable of download speeds up to 75mbps, the Xperia GX and SX will also be the first Sony Xperia handsets to launch with Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) out of the box. Sony also claims that the smaller of the two phones, the Xperia SX is also the world’s lightest LTE smartphone at just 95 grams.
more
05/07, 10:17am
Phone due in coming weeks, prices still to be announced
Verizon has made the Droid Incredible 4G LTE official, though this wasn't a surpsie, since the handset's product page was leaked last month. The 4-inch Super LCD qHD-equipped phone has Android 4.0 onboard with HTC's Sense 4.0 on top and it will connect to Verizon's 4G LTE network for some of the highest mobile broadband speeds available in the industry. The phone is powered by a dual-core, 1.2GHz Snapdragon S4 processor that's also used in the One S.
more
05/04, 12:36pm
Bell now offeirn HTC One V for $0 on a three-year term
The HTC One V smartphone is now available in Canada at provider Bell. On a three-year contract, the phone won't require any up-front payment, though the required voice and data plan is at least $50 CAD ($50.30). Contract-free, the phone is priced at $300 CAD (about $302).
more
05/04, 11:07am
LTE-capable Samsung Mandel spotted in the wild
The first image of Samsung's upcoming Windows Phone smartphone, the SGH-i667, codenamed Mandel, has shown up on Chinese forum WPXAP. While the model number is shared with the Focus S on AT&T, the Mandel supports LTE networks, as revealed by FCC testing in March. It is also likely to arrive at AT&T, though exactly when isn't known.
more
04/29, 6:55pm
Our look at HTC's 2012 Android 4 flagship phone
For HTC, 2011 was sometimes considered a write-off: what looked to be a promising year with an early 4G lead saw the company overwhelmed by Apple and Samsung, and even by its own at times confusing lineup with problematic phones like the Thunderbolt. The One series for 2012 is the reboot, a return to basics with an emphasis on high-end design and even stripping back the custom Sense interface layer. We'll determine in our review of the HTC One X in 4G LTE trim, and to some extent the Evo 4G LTE, whether HTC is back to being a fierce competitor for the iPhone and Galaxy roster.
more
04/27, 9:00pm
Sony Xperia LT29i and LT30i leak, highly specified
More details, including a newly spied photo, have emerged about two forthcoming Sony Xperia smartphones originally listed on the leaked Sony 2012 smartphone roadmap. The LT29i Hayabusa, pictured, will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 and will center on a 4.55-inch HD Reality display. The LT29i will is also expected to be just 7mm thin, yet still pack a high capacity 2200mAh battery.
more
04/27, 11:45am
Budget Android 4.0 handset revealed in new pics
Images anonymously sent to Greek site Techblog have revealed an as yet unannounced addition to Sony's Xperia lineup. Codenamed Tapioca, the Android 4.0 device appears to be a budget-level addition to Sony's handset offerings.
more
04/26, 2:25pm
Galaxy S III detailed for different markets
Samsung officials in Korea have purportedly hinted that the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S III will get different chips for different markets. The comments were made by an unnamed exec after Qualcomm CEO Paul Jacobs admitted that the 28nm MSM chips were facing a supply shortage, The Korea Times reported. Qualcomm chips will only be used in the US, the Samsung exec said, not explaining why.
more
04/25, 1:00pm
HTC One series gets first US launch
T-Mobile as promised has started selling the HTC One S. The first HTC One series phone in the US comes only in Gradient Blue and costs $200 on a contract, albeit only after a $50 rebate. Buyers can opt for it $600 contract-free.
more
04/24, 7:05pm
ZTE Turbine may be cheapest Verizon 4G tablet
Some new tips have pointed to Verizon aiming for the low-cost tablet with more definitive plans for a ZTE tablet. An accessory maker claimed to PocketNow that the seven-inch, unreleased V66 would come to Verizon as the Turbine. It's rumored to be similar to the Optik at Sprint, sharing its dual-core 1.2GHz Snapdragon, but would have the expected much faster 4G LTE data.
more
