Sony has announced two new mid-range devices called the Xperia C5 Ultra and M5, both of which focus on camera more than anything. And they’re definitely interesting devices, both featuring 13MP front facing cameras for the ultimate selfies. If your selfie game is strong enough, you might want to buy one of these.

The Xperia C5 Ultra features dual 13MP cameras, one on the front and one on the back. This means your selfies will be as fresh as your landscape photos. The front facing camera even has a selfie flash. It also features a 6-inch 1080p IPS display, a 1.7GHz octa-core processor, 2GB of RAM, a 2.930 mAh battery, and 4G connectivity. It’s a pretty decent phone. It will also have a microSD slot and and the option for dual SIM.

The Xperia M5 one ups the C5 Ultra by including a 21.5MP rear camera in addition to the 13MP front facing camera. That rear camera has what Sony calls “5x Clear Image Zoom,” which allegedly offers zoom without loss in quality. It features a 5-inch full HD IPS display, a 2GHz octa-core MediaTek Helio X10 processor, 3GB of RAM, and a 2,600 mAh battery. And as the C5 Ultra, it will also come in single SIM and dual SIM variations, both with a microSD slot.

The two devices will be launching mid-August in select markets, though we don’t know if the US will be getting them. What are your thoughts on the selfie focus of these devices? Leave a comment!

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I’ll admit it. I’m a bit of a Bluetooth speaker snob by now. My rave review of the $250 Grain Audio Bluetooth speaker should explain to you how much I value sound quality. But that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy cheap Bluetooth speakers, provided they sound good. The G-Tube costs a measly $40 and doesn’t sound anything like you’d expect.

Overview

Price: $40.00
Battery: 6 hours
Connectivity: Bluetooth 2.1, 3.5mm aux
Extras: IPX5 splash proof, headphone out
Dimensions: 1.9″ x 1.9″ x 5.2″ (WDH)
What’s in the box: Speaker, 3.5mm aux cable, micro USB charging cable, lanyard
Where to buy: G-Project

The front houses two 1.25-inch drivers behind the black metal grille. The center and edges are rubberized for added grip and to keep the speaker standing upright. Actually, the speakers are angled up slightly, which is a nice touch.

The left side has all the buttons, which unlike the speakers, aren’t angled (also a nice touch). There’s a play button, a Bluetooth button for easy pairing, volume up and down buttons, and a power button with G-Project’s classic three LEDs inside.

The right side has a clip on it. But see that hinge there?

Grab that clip and start unscrewing it. This allows the panel to come off, revealing three ports. There is a micro-USB port for charging, an aux jack, and a line out jack (more on that later).

Build quality

The build quality of this speaker is fantastic. No creaks, no flex, no cheap materials. The rubber feels good, the speaker grilles are metal, and the buttons feel high-quality.

The metal screw going through the cover on the right side struck me as an incredibly high-quality touch. Most speakers double or even triple the price use floppy rubber covers to keep water out, while this uses such an awesome system. I love it.

I do have a gripe about the center piece of rubber, though: it spins if you really try to spin it. I’m not sure if that’s intentional or not.

Sound quality

It’s a small, $40 speaker. What can you expect? A lot, apparently. This thing gets shockingly loud, easily filling a room with loud, clear audio. How they got such a small speaker to get this loud is beyond me, but it truly is impressive.

At full volume, there is a bit of distortion. It’s a rugged speaker, so some distortion at full volume for outdoor use is perfectly fine. A few clicks of the volume button and you still get really loud sound, but with perfect clarity.

The bass is also surprisingly strong. You won’t be feeling it, but it produces a nice low-end. The only issue is that the mids aren’t as strong as I’d like them to be. It’s not a perfectly balanced sound, but it’s amazing for $40.

Battery life

A 6 hour battery life rating really isn’t all that great these days. It’s about average. But at this price tag and with such a light weight, it’s fitting and is plenty of time between charges. The G-TUBE definitely gets 6 hours per charge, or even more if you listen at a quieter volume, and it charges pretty quick with a micro-USB cable.

Extras

One of the main features of this little speaker is the IPX5 splash-proof rating. This means it can withstand splashes from any direction, making it shower safe. You won’t be able to submerge it or float it in a pool, but it’ll survive minor run-ins with water.

Another cool feature is the line-out port. Since this speaker is made to take a beating, it may be used in places a smartphone shouldn’t be exposed to. The line out jack allows you to plug your headphones into the speaker, turning them into Bluetooth wireless headphones. You can hike with this little speaker clipped to your backpack strap and your earphones plugged in without your phone ever leaving the safety of your backpack. That’s ot something I’d use, but it’s still cool!

This little speaker has a low price tag and very impressive audio. Not only does it sound good, it gets super loud. It’s also lightweight, portable, rugged, splash-proof, and very well-built. It does it all while looking quite good.

Honestly, at $40, you have to have it. I’m sure you’ll find a great use for it.

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Privacy is a hot topic lately, though few do much about their lack of it. With both government agencies and the average computer nerd hitting random buttons on a keyboard to hack into your phone, everything you do on your technological devices may be seen and logged. Or at least that’s the idea.

The Turing Phone aims to add some security to your life. It features end-to-end mobile authentication to prevent anyone snooping on your data, since it even cuts out the middle man in authentication. It also features a Turing Imitation Key Chipset and a Turing-Unique-Identification X-RFID.

It’s also made out of a material they’re calling Lidquidmorphium. It’s a “liquid metal” alloy which is apparently stronger than both titanium and steel, which should mean this phone is tough. It’s fitting that a phone that’s tough to crack by hackers is also tough to crack by a clumsy owner.

Otherwise, it’s a pretty normal device. It features a 5.5-inch 1080p display, a Snapdragon 801 quad core processor, 3GB of RAM, 16/64/128GB storage, a 3000 mAh battery, and Android 5.1 Lollipop with Turing Æmæth UI on top. And it has a Wallaby Magstream charging port and included cable. The site has reservations open if you want yours!

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It’s August, and Samsung has an event planned where it’s expected that we’ll see the arrival of the Galaxy Note 5. For owners of the Galaxy Note 4 under Sprint’s coverage umbrella, though, an important update is on the way.

The Now Network has begun pushing an over the air (OTA) update for Samsung’s Galaxy Note 4, which includes a few worthwhile tweaks and changes, including bumping up the device to Android 5.1.1. What’s more, the update also includes a fix for the Stagefright exploit that recently made waves throughout the Android community, due to its high impact on a wide range of devices.

The Android 5.1.1 update also includes plenty of the standard bug fixes behind-the-scenes, as well as performance enhancements as well. Lag from pressing the recent menu button, and other issues, has reportedly been fixed as well.

Have you received the update yet?

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Recently, OnePlus officially unveiled the OnePlus 2, a high-end smartphone that the company calls a “flagship killer.” But, just in case that device didn’t pique your interest, the company might have another device on the way that does.

In a new interview with USA Today, the OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei talked about quite a few different things, including the company’s business model, the recently announced OnePlus 2′s lack of NFC support, and also what’s coming next. Pei said that the company does plan on launching another device by the end of 2015, but was coy on whether or not the handset would be more highly-specced than the OnePlus 2.

Pei added that he was having a hard time deciding between that mystery device and the OnePlus 2 as his daily driver, if that’s any indication.

As for the OnePlus 2 and the fact it’s lacking NFC support, something of a strange feature to be missing from a phone these days, Pei says the whole issue is “overblown.” He notes that “very few” people use NFC on their smartphone, and as far as Android Pay is concerned, that support is coming. However, that won’t be for awhile, as apparently OnePlus is waiting for NFC to become a commonly-used feature, rather than just something that exists on a smartphone. Pei added that in “12-18 months,” when that NFC support is more likely, most people will have moved onto a new device.

As far as the OnePlus business model goes, the co-founder says that the company has considered branching out away from just selling smartphones. In fact, Pei notes that the company almost showcased a fitness tracker recently, but decided to skip it because it would go against the company’s “open culture.” Pei added that OnePlus won’t make TVs or even smart scales, either.

What do you think of Pei’s comments? Should the OnePlus 2 feature NFC? Would it be smart for them to launch another high-end phone in just a matter of months?

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The term “flagship killer” has been floating around a lot recently. Recent device announcements like the OnePlus 2 and the Moto X Style might be making you rethink how you’ll fund and where you’ll buy your next device. High-end specs and performance at a more reasonable mid $300 to mid $400 prices makes bringing your own device and going contract-free so much easier to swallow. We know, the companies like OnePlus and Motorola area probably cutting edges somewhere, but everyone is getting so good and making these mobile devices. Do we really need all the bells and whistles?

ZTE officially announced the Axon Pro a couple of weeks ago. We knew it would be made available to purchase around this time. It is available now with its sleek metallic body in Phthalo Blue, Ion Gold, and Chromium Silver colors from zteusa.com as well as Amazon (blue only), Newegg (gold out of stock), and eBay. Every Axon Pro purchase comes with JBL E13 Premium Headphones as well as a 2-year warranty and premium protection plan with a $79.99 deductible. No insurance premiums or monthly fees. Sweet, sweet deal.

What about specs? What is this thing packing for only $449.98?

Dimensions: 6.06″ x 2.9″ x 0.37″
Weight: 6.1 0z.
Display: 5.5″ CGS WQHD with Gorilla Glass 3 (534 ppi)
CPU: Octa-Core 2.0 GHz Qualcomm Snapdraggon 810
Memory: 4GB RAM, 32GB ROM
Battery: 3000mAH with Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0
Rear camera: Dual lens (13MP + 2MP) with dual LED flash, 4K 30fps video capture
Front camera: 8MP
Frequencies: LTE B2/B4/B5/B12/B17/B29/B30
LTE IR B7/B3/B1/B13
USM/HSPA 850/1700/1900/2100 MHz 
GSM/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
CA Band 2/4 + Band 17
Android version: 5.1.1

The specs are impressive. The device looks great. I think this would be a super fun phone to review. I’ve reviewed ZTE phones in the past and I’ve always been impressed with their phone design and premium feel at non-premium prices.

How do you feel about the ZTE Axon Pro? Can it compete with the OnePlus 2 and the Moto X Style on the unlocked phone market? By the looks of it, I think it has a shot. Especially with that 2-year warranty and protection plan. I’m so impressed by a company that can stand behind their product. Let us know your thoughts by commenting below!

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Yesterday we got a sneak peek at the Galaxy Note 5 in the form of a leaked press render, and now we’re getting some details on what exactly is inside of the device thanks to another Note 5 leak.

@evleaks has spilled the details on the specs of the Galaxy Note 5, which features the model number SM-N920. The Note 5 is expected to feature a 5.66-inch 2560×1440 display and 5-megapixel camera on its face, as well as a 16-megapixel shooter around back. Living inside the phone will reportedly be an octa-core Exynos 7420 processor (four cores at 2.1GHz, four cores at 1.5GHz), 4GB of RAM, 32GB of storage (more variants with added storage likely), and Android 5.1.1.

One feature that’s not expected to be included with the Galaxy Note 5 is a microSD slot. While nothing is official until Samsung says it is, we’ve now heard several reports claiming that the Note 5 won’t support expandable storage, so prospective Note 5 buyers may want to prepare themselves for a microSD-less device.

So far, the Note 5 is shaping up to be a pretty beefy phone specs-wise, just like past Notes before it. We’re definitely looking forward to taking it for a spin, especially if it does end up borrowing the design of the Galaxy S6. Thankfully, we won’t have to wait much longer to get our mitts on Samsung’s next big thing.

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Alcatel is back with an amazing deal for the OneTouch Idol 3 and OneTouch Watch. Separately, the Alcatel OneTouch Watch sells for $149.99 and the Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3 goes for $249.99, but if you buy them as a bundle from Amazon you can pick up both for just $299.99. The bundle will only be available from August 1st through August 9th or until supply runs out.

The Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3, with its Snapdragon 615 processor and 1080p 5.5-inch display, has been our favorite mid-range smartphone this year. Not only is it a great phone, but Alcatel’s $249 price point definitely positions it to outsell the competition by offering the best bang for your buck. The Alcatel One Touch Watch isn’t running Android Wear, but it does features notification support for Android and iOS devices, , fitness tracking with heart rate monitor and offers 2-3 days of battery life on a single charge. It’s not our smartwatch choice, but it’s definitely a great deal since it’ll technically only cost you $50.

Happy shopping!

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Earlier this month, some blurry photos claimed to give us a sneak peek at the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 edge+. That was all well and good at the time, but today we’re getting a new leak that offers a much better look at both phones.

Some press renders of the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 edge+ have found their way online courtesy of @evleaks. Both images look legit, and just as past leaks have suggested, the Galaxy Note 5 appears to borrow from the design of the Galaxy S6. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S6 edge+ looks pretty much like a bigger Galaxy S6 edge.

Just in case you missed these elsewhere. http://pic.twitter.com/zOmKkJqQpU

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) August 1, 2015

Samsung is holding an event on August 13, and based on past rumors and the timing of this leak, it’s looking likely that the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 edge+ will both be revealed there. The question is, do you prefer the Galaxy Note 5’s flat display and included S Pen or the Galaxy S6 edge+’s dual curved edge screen?

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In April, Belkin announced and began releasing a whole line of products specifically aimed to make your Samsung Galaxy S6 experience more awesome. We already reviewed Belkin’s new Qi Wireless Charging Pad, which was a part of this new collection. Today we’re sharing the rest of the accessories we were sent for review. Even though these products are marketed with the Galaxy S6 in mind, only the Grip Candy SE case is S6-specific. All the other accessories will work great with any other Android device out there. I used them with a Galaxy S6 and Nexus 6 with typical every day uses. Do they stand out from the saturated mobile accessory crowd? Let’s find out…

Grip Candy SE

The S6 I have been using with this Belkin Grip Candy SE is my wife’s personal device. True story, one of the main reasons she went with a Galaxy S6 when she got a new phone was because the Galaxy series phones get cute cases. Right when she got it she bought a $40 Kate Spade case, and she was pretty happy with it. When I removed the Kate Spade case and put on the Grip Candy SE case, I thought as soon as I was done checking it out and taking pictures with it, the Kate Spade case would go straight back on. But it didn’t. The wife realized how thick the Kate Spade case was and how much she enjoyed how small the Grip Candy SE made the S6 feel. The case feels so nice that it’s still on the phone.

So short story long, the Grip Candy SE is a pretty slim case. It’s not the grippiest, nor do I think it will absorb as much energy in a fall as your typical Amzer or Cruzerlite TPU case, but it’s better than nothing. The case comes in two colors combos: Clear/Backtop and Petal Pink/Pinot. At the time of writing this, Clear/Backtop doesn’t look like it’s available from Belkin’s website. Regardless, it is very expensive for a phone case at $29.99. That said, The holes are the right places and the buttons are easy to to find and access. It’s a very minimal impact case.

Is it worth $30? I’m not sure. I’m a huge cheapskate and don’t like using cases in the first place. Price aside, I would for sure recommend this case. But $30 feels steep.

You can pick up the Belkin Grip Candy SE on Belkin’s website or stores that carry Belkin now.

MIXIT↑™ Metallic Car Charger and Micro-USB Cable

With the Belkin MIXIT Metallic Car Charger and USB cable, I’m mostly going to talk about the feel, construction and look of the mobile accessories. With these, I feel like I need to start off with the price. The car charger will set you back $29.99 and the micro-USB cable, $24.99. There are highly-rated car chargers and cables out there with equivalent or better specs for a fraction of the price, so the only reason I can think of to explain why you would want to buy these MIXIT Metallic accessories at those prices is if you’re super into looks and being matchy-matchy. My wife is way into her gold Galaxy S6 and was stoked to have matching gold charging accessories. If you really really care, the gold of the MIXIT Metallic series is a little more rose gold than the S6, but you’ll still look *so* fancy. If you’re into that sort of thing, these are pretty awesome.

Other than the cool metallic looks, I will say that the car charger and cable feel high quality. The cases for the USB and micro-USB plugs are metal. There’s no play in the plugs. You’re not buying a $3 eBay special.

As for specs, the MIXIT Car Charger is a 2.4 Amp car charger, so it will charge your phone or tablet relatively quickly in the car. It only has one USB port, so only one device can be charged at a time. Belkin claims the charger will take an iPad from no charge to fully charged in 6.2 hours. I did not test this. I don’t have an iPad, nor do I want to leave my car running for 6.2 hours.

When it comes to price, one thing that may attribute to the higher price tag is that the MIXIT charger has intelligent circuitry that Belkin claims wI’ll measure voltage and automatically adjust power output, ensuring that your device stays safe in the event of an unexpected power surge. “The charger is also protected by a Belkin Connected Equipment Warranty. If your device is damaged by an electrical charge while properly connected to the charger, Belkin will repair or replace it up to a value of $2,500.” So, sorry Vertu Signature Touch owners, you’re not fully covered.

The MIXIT Metallic micro-USB cable is available in metallic black, pearl white, gold, silver, and gray. They have matching matte metallic finishes for the car charger and braided cable jackets. Unlike most micro-USB cables, the Belkin MIXIT Metallic cable has aluminum shells to help protect it. You’ll notice it quickly because it feels colder when touching it than your typical plastic cables. Or hotter if it’s left in the sun, I suppose.

The MIXIT cable is also a sync cable. So in addition to sending your device charge, you can connect it to your computer or car and transfer data or music.

Lastly, the cable is 4 feet long, so it should reach anywhere reasonable in your car while charging.

You can purchase the Belkin MIXIT Metallic Car Charger here and micro-usb cable here.

Vent Mount

Out of all the accessories Belkin sent me, this one surprised me the most. Ease of use isn’t great, and I’m on the fence with how safe a vent mount is for your car’s vents, but I REALLY like the position of a vent mount in my vehicles. In my state of residence, California, there are certain places you can legally attach devices to your windshield. So a vent mount provides a nice alternative that is probably within arm’s length and within a normal field of view when operating your vehicle.

The Belkin Vent Mount has a few features that make it work. For starters, it has two different size grips, so Belkin claims it can be used with any vehicle. Once inserted into vents, it can be rotated a full 360 degrees so that you can easily orient your phone to your liking. Additionally, there are cable holders behind the Vent Mount to help with cable management and prevent you from having to search for your charging cable whenever you get in your car. Lastly, the brackets on the mount extend and are forced back together by a spring to securely hold your device. Belkin claims it will fit phones up to 3.3 inches wide. It fit my Nexus just fine.

Now, a few thoughts on the Belkin Vent Mount, some good and some bad:

1. I get nervous about breaking my vents every time I install the Vent Mount. This beef is more for vent mounts in general, not just the Belkin Vent Mount.
2. It fit and worked great with my newer vehicle. However, I took the Vent Mount on a trip home and tried it with my parents’ old truck, and it was not as convenient with the truck’s old floppy vents. Traveling with the Belkin Vent Mount was great because of its small size, but if your vehicle has floppy vents, be wary that a vent mount may be difficult to use.
3. The Belkin Vent Mount was very difficult to install the phone one-handed. Maybe my difficulties stem from trying to install my giant Nexus 6, but there are easier mounts out there for installation. However, phone removal is a piece of cake.
4. The $24.99 price tag feels a little steep. There are very similar vent mounts out there for less. Keep in mind that Belkin is a well-established and trusted brand that provides warranties on their devices.

You can check out and purchase the Belkin Vent Mount here.

Summary

If I could sum up my thoughts on these Belkin mobile accessories, I would say they’re good quality but more expensive than I would like. However, the Mixit Metallic series accessories do come in some pretty cool colors and may be worth the scrilla for the looks. But your opinion is what really matters. What do you think? Do you have your eye on any of these products? Do you already have any of these accesories and think they’re awesome? Think they’re overpriced? Let us know your thoughts and questions by commenting below.

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