It seems as though February is a very big month for smartphones getting updated to Android 6.0 Marshmallow. We’ve seen flagships like the Galaxy S6 getting updated, while other devices have also been receiving their updates throughout the month. Today brings in another device receiving its update to Android 6.0 Marshmallow. ZTE’s Axon Pro update is all set to go and is currently rolling out to customers.

Customers will either receive a notification of the update, or they can head into their settings and manually check for the update. Marshmallow packs in a lot of behind the scenes improvements, such as Doze, which reduces background battery consumption when you don’t use your phone for long periods of time. Users will also see Now On Tap, Android’s easy way to give you information based on what’s on your screen.

The update is quite large, so ZTE has suggested that users download it over Wi-Fi, rather than burning through mobile data allotments.

It should be noted that this update is only for the Axon Pro. ZTE has said that the Axon will also be receiving an update to Android 6.0, but the update has been delayed a bit, so stay tuned for more info on when that update will arrive.

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Despite producing hands down the best camera sensors for mobile devices and designs that catch our eye each year at CES and MWC, Sony largely remains an afterthought in the smartphone market. The extreme budget smartphone market isn’t likely a source of interest for them, but to date they hadn’t targeted the upper-mid range that has become an increasingly contentious market in recent years.

This is precisely where Sony is looking to strike with the trio of X series devices that they have unveiled at MWC. Let’s take a look at the specs on each one and see if Sony has found a winning formula.

Xperia X

• 5-inch 1080p screen
• 23MP f/2.0 rear camera
• 13MP f/2.0 front facing camera
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 650 processor
• 3GB RAM
• 32GB internal storage (microSD support up to 200GB)
• 2620 mAh battery
• Android 6.01

The camera is clearly the highlight feature with the standard X. With many manufacturers scaling back or holding their ground on the megapixel count, Sony is in rare space with a 23MP camera. Sony pushes its Predictive Hybrid Autofocus and Smart Capture as game changers, along with the ability to launch and capture an image in less than 0.6 seconds.

The Xperia X’s design isn’t groundbreaking, but Sony has executed well on the all-metal design that many favor these days. While it doesn’t feature an edge-style screen, the display is curved to create a seamless feel to the device.

Battery is the final feature that Sony is touting on the X, claiming that it will go two days on a charge. I can see how it’s possible given the specs inside the X, but still, I’ll believe it when I see it.

Xperia X Performance

• 5-inch 1080p screen
• 23MP f/2.0 rear camera
• 13MP f/2.0 front facing camera
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
• 3GB RAM
• 32GB internal storage (microSD support up to 200GB)
• 2700 mAh battery
• Android 6.01

Did the Xperia X sound interesting to you? How about if it were faster and waterproof? That’s the sales proposition with the X Performance. On the X Performance, the X’s Snapdragon 650 is swapped out for an 820, the battery is bumped up by 80mAh, and the whole package is now waterproof. Notably, the claims about two-day battery life also drop with the X Performance, so you are paying for that extra power. No word on the price difference between these two at the moment.

Xperia XA

• 5-inch 720p screen
• 13MP rear camera
• 8MP front facing camera
• MediaTek MT6755 processor
• 2GB RAM
• 16GB internal storage (microSD support up to 200GB)
• 2300 mAh battery
• Android 6.01

The XA is the last member of the X series, and it is a definite step down from its siblings in basically every area. The two-day battery life and the edge-to-edge display are the most interesting selling points for the XA. (And presumably the price, but we don’t have that yet.)

The X and X Performance certainly have the potential to be two of the most interesting devices that Sony has put out, but the questions that linger are whether Sony has finally managed to capitalize on its own camera prowess and whether it can price these phones competitively with the likes of the Moto X and OnePlus 2.

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As is typical for this time of year, new phones are starting to get announced left and right. ZTE isn’t missing the boat, either, with a pair of new Android-based smartphones to call their own.

First up is the Blade V7, a handset with a 78.2 percent screen-to-body ratio and a 2.5D curved edge glass on the 5.2-inch display. The Blade V7 features a MT6753 1.3GHz octa-core processor, 2GB of RAM, and 16GB of built-in storage. There’s a 13-megapixel camera on the back with PDAF, double color flash, and ZTE says it takes only 0.3 seconds to focus. There’s a 5-megapixel front-facing camera, and you can use the display as a flash when that selfie needs more light.

ZTE has included Smart Sense intelligent gesture controls, and the battery is measured in at 2500mAh. It’s running Android M right out of the box. ZTE says it will be available in Germany, Spain, South Africa, Ethiopia, and Mexico by summer 2016.

The Blade V7 Lite features a 5-inch display, with the same 2.5D curved design. Under the hood, there’s a quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM. It has 16GB of built-in storage and expandable storage, with a battery measured in at 2500mAh. It’s running Android M. The camera on the back is an 8-megapixel shooter with autofocus, and there’s an 8-megapixel front-facing camera, too. It boasts the same Smart Sense intelligent gesture controls.

The Blade V7 Lite will be available in Russia first, and then roll out to Mexico, Spain, Germany, and Thailand by the spring of this year.

What do you think of ZTE’s new handsets?

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If you’ve been hoping HTC’s Vive VR headset would cost less than the Oculus Rift, even though rumors have said otherwise, we have some bad news for you. HTC has announced the final price of the Vive, saying the device will go on sale in early April for $799.

While $799 may seem like a lot, there is some good news there. Yes it costs $200 more than the Oculus Rift, but it comes with a front-facing awareness camera, two location sensors for a more immersive VR experience and two haptic-enabled motion controllers. Considering Oculus doesn’t even have motion controllers released yet, let alone priced, the Vive may end up being a good deal once everything is said and done. $799 also gets you two games, Job Simulator: The 2050 Archives by Owlchemy Labs and Fantastic Contraption by Northway Games.

As far as availability is concerned, the Vive will go up for pre-order on February 29, and will be in consumer hands by early April.

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Now that the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge have been announced, you’re probably asking yourself when you can get one, where you can get one and what kind of cool stuff do they come with?

So far Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile and Cricket have announced they will carry the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, with all but Cricket announcing pre-orders will open on February 23 with the devices being available March 11.

If you pre-order from the official Samsung website, you will get a free Gear VR bundle that comes with six games. T-Mobile lists the full retail price at $670 and $780 for the S7 and S7 Edge, so you can expect the retail price to be around that price everywhere. Of course, everyone has their own special installment plan program now, so you don’t have to pay that all up front. It’s worth noting that Sprint is selling the S7 buy one, get one half off for a limited time. If that’s your carrier of choice, jump on it.

Pre-order links can be found below

T-Mobile
Verizon S7, Edge
Sprint
Samsung

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Virtual reality is really cool. From Google Cardboard to Gear VR, smartphones and VR headsets are completely changing the way we consume media. Game developers and content producers have been providing more than enough VR content to keep early adopters happy, but as VR makes the shift to mainstream, the next wave of content is right on the horizon: homemade 360 degree video. With many Gear VR headsets sold and many more to come, Samsung is leading the homemade VR content charge with the introduction of the Gear 360 at MWC 2016.

Featuring two 15-megapixel sensors with F2.0 fisheye “Bright Lenses,” the Gear 360 is about the size of a baseball and looks like something out of Portal. The lenses are wide enough so that they overlap for better seamless content, and the entire unit is IP53 certified dust and water resistant.

Samsung is touting the recording experience of the Gear 360, saying it will connect with different Samsung model phones that will work as a live viewer for the Gear 360. Right now the list of devices compatible with the Gear 360 include the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge, Galaxy S6+, Note 5, Galaxy S6 edge and Galaxy S6, but that will change over time. No pricing information on the Gear 360 has been made available, but it will launch by Q2 2016.

Gallery

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This is it, folks. Quite possible the biggest news to come out of Mobile World Congress this year is here, the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge are official.

Both phones will look and sound familiar, as leaks have been bountiful this year, but that doesn’t leave us any less excited. Here is the rundown:

• Android 6.0 (Marshmallow)
• Octa core (2.3GHz Quad + 1.6GHz Quad), 64 bit or Quad core (2.15GHz Dual + 1.6GHz Dual), 64 bit, depending on the market
• 4GB RAM (LPDDR4), 32/64GB (UFS 2.0) + microSD (up to 200GB!)
• 5.1” Quad HD Super AMOLED 2560 X 1440 (577ppi, on the Galaxy S7) 5.5” Quad HD Super AMOLED 2560 X 1440 (534ppi) Edge Screen
• Dual Pixel 12MP (F1.7), Smart OIS rear camera
• Front-facing 5MP (F1.7) camera
• 3,000mAh (Galaxy S7) or 3,600mAh (Edge)
• Faster Charging both on wired and wireless and Wireless Charging compatible with WPC and PMA
• Payment methods include NFC and MST
• WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5GHz), MIMO, Bluetooth 4.2 LE, ANT+, USB 2.0, NFC Fingerprint scanner and Barometer
• IP68 water and dust resistance

As you can see, Samsung has improved its latest Galaxy flagships in just about every way possible. Not only will the S7 and S7 Edge now feature microSD support while still being water and dust resistant, they’ll also have better cameras, an always on display, a new internal cooling system and much more.

We’ll have more on the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge to come, but for now, feast your eyes on the gallery below. The S7 and S7 Edge are expected to launch by mid-March.

Gallery

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LG G5 day is here.

The LG G5 is now officially official, having just been announced at an event in Barcelona. Besides offering improved specs over the LG G4, the G5 boasts a few notable tweaks over its predecessor. The first is that LG has ditched the rear-mounted volume buttons found on the G4 and other phones, opting instead to place them on the G5’s side like many other phones. The G5 also boasts a full metal body, whereas the G4 offers swappable plastic and leather backs.

Perhaps the most notable feature of the G5 is its modular design. The bottom piece of the G5 actually pops off and lets you swap the device’s 2800mAh battery and add modules to enhance the G5’s feature set. LG has announced two modules that can be attach the G5’s bottom. There’s the LG Cam Plus, which gives you added grip and adds physical camera controls as well as an additional 1200mAh battery. LG also announced the Hi-Fi Plus with B&O Play, a Hi-Fi digital audio chip that offers 32-bit 384KHz high-def audio. The Hi-Fi Plus can also be used with any other smartphone or PC.

Moving on to the rest of the G5, LG has equipped its new Android 6.0 flagship with two rear cameras. The first is a traditional 16-megapixel sensor, and the second is an 8-megapixel lens with a wide-angle 135-degree field of view. The G5 also includes camera-specific software features like Pop-out Picture, which will combine images taken with the two rear cameras, and Auto Shot, which will automatically snap a selfie when the camera senses a face in its view. Rounding out the G5’s camera features is an 8-megapixel front shooter.

Another notable feature of the G5 is its display. The 5.3-inch IPS Quantum display has a 2560×1440 resolution and an Always-On feature that’ll show you the time, date, and your notifications, even when the screen is in sleep mode. LG says that the feature won’t have a big impact on battery life because it only uses one-third of the screen. According to LG, the Always-On feature uses 0.8 percent battery life per hour.

The remainder of the LG G5’s spec list looks largely like one that you’d expect from an Android flagship in 2016. There’s an octa-core Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of RAM, NFC, USB Type-C, and Quick Charge 3.0, and LG is also throwing in 32GB of storage. If that’s not enough for you, you can use a microSD card to expand the G5’s storage by up to 2TB.

The LG G5 will be sold in Silver, Titan, Gold, and Pink color options. AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, and US Cellular have all announced plans to carry the G5 in the US, but no real pricing or launch plans have been revealed, with Verizon only saying that the G5 will arrive in the spring.

Along with the G5, LG today showed off a few companion devices that they call the G5’s “friends.” These include:

• LG 360 VR: Virtual reality goggles that can connect to the G5 and let you view content from the LG 360 Cam as well as Google Cardboard content.
• LG 360 Cam: A camera with two 13-megapixel 200-degree wide-angle cameras, 1200mAh battery, and 4GB of storage that can be supplemented with a microSD card. You can capture 2K content and record 5.1 audio, then share it to Google Street View and YouTube360.
• LG Rolling Bot: A rolling robot that includes an 8-megapixel camera for capturing photos and videos. You can live stream from the Rolling Bot to the G5 over Wi-Fi, letting you monitor your home while you’re away.
• LG Tone Platinum: Bluetooth headphones that LG touts have earned Harman Kardon Platinum grade “for superior sound quality.”
• H3 by B&O Play: High-end earphones that are compatible with the LG Hi-Fi Plus module as well as all other Android phones.
• LG Smart Controller: Helps you to easily control “certain drones” using a joystick. You can also watch video from the drone using the G5’s display.

Sources: LG, AT&T, Sprint, Verizon

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After surprising lots of folks with its affordable Idol 3 phones last year, Alcatel is kicking off 2016 with two new models in its Idol lineup.

The Alcatel Idol 4S and Idol 4 were made officially official at MWC in Barcelona today. While the two phones have different spec sheets, they do share some features. For example, both include Alcatel’s Boom Key, which beefs up the experience of using your phone in a few different ways. You can press and hold the Boom Key when the Idol 4 is in standby to quickly activate the camera’s burst mode and capture some photos, press it while recording video to broadcast it out, or press it on the home screen to add a parallax effect and live weather display to the launcher.

The two new Idol 4 phones also include reversible speakers like the ones found on the Idol 3 devices. Combined with software that can adjust itself to the way that you’re holding the phone, this means that you can use the phone upside-down just like you would if you were holding it right side up. Alcatel has also made sure that the sound comes out of the dual speakers correctly no matter which way you’re holding the Idol 4.

Finally, the two Idol 4 phones share similar designs that include fronts and backs made of glass, with a metal frame sandwiched in-between them. The metal frames will be available in four colors: Gold, Rose Gold, Dark Gray, and Metal Silver.

So that’s how the Idol 4S and Idol 4 are similar. Here’s how they differ:

Alcatel Idol 4S specs

• 5.5-inch 2560×1440 AMOLED display
• Octa-core Snapdragon 652 processor
• 16-megapixel rear camera with flash
• 8-megapixel wide-angle front camera with flash
• 32GB of storage (25GB available to the user)
• microSD slot with support for cards up to 512GB
• 3GB of RAM
• 3000mAh battery
• 4G LTE bands 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28A
• Android 6.0
• 153.9 x 75.4 x 6.99mm
• Quick Charge, microUSB, NFC, FM radio, dual stereo speakers
• Packaging doubles as a pair of virtual reality goggles, content can be downloaded from OneTouch VR Store built-in app

Alcatel Idol 4 specs

• 5.2-inch 1920×1080 IPS display
• Octa-core Snapdragon 617 processor
• 13-megapixel rear camera with flash
• 8-megapixel wide-angle front-facing camera with flash
• 16GB of storage (10GB available to the end user)
• microSD slot, supports cards up to 512GB
• 3GB of RAM
• 2610mAh battery
• LTE bands 1, 3, 7, 8 , 20, 28A, 38, 40
• Android 6.0
• 147 x 72.5 x 7.1mm
• Quick Charge, microUSB, NFC, FM radio, dual stereo speakers

Alcatel says that the new Idol 4 phones will debut this summer, but no pricing details have been given. Alcatel priced the Idol 3 phones pretty competitively, though, so hopefully we’ll see some aggressive pricing on the Idol 4 series as well. If they are, Alcatel’s new Idol 4 phones could be contenders in the ever-growing “affordable flagship” category of smartphones.

One other tidbit of news announced today is that Alcatel is dropping the “OneTouch” from its name. The company explains that with its business growing, it feels like the time is right to tweak its branding. Alcatel says that, going forward, it plans to “increase its engagement with millennial customers” and simplify its name, message, and device lineup.

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We have some bad news for the owners of the Motorola DROID Ultra, Maxx, and Mini: The three devices will not be getting updates to Lollipop. If the end of support came today, that would be fine, but Lollipop is quite old and the devices never received it.

To ease the pain, Motorola is offering owners of the DROIDs discounts on a newer Motorola device. No better way to get over the pain of a poorly supported Verizon exclusive device than to buy another one, right? Current owners of the devices may purchase a DROID Turbo 2 for $100 off (down to $524) or a DROID Maxx 2 for $50 off (down to $334). Head to this site if you want to take Motorola up on that offer.

I can’t say that buying another DROID device is a great idea if you value support for updates. Motorola seems to be doing pretty well with its flagships, but the lower-end phones have suffered after the Lenovo buyout. Owners of the DROID Ultra/Maxx/Mini, will you be purchasing another Motorola phone?

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