Smartphones

Best Mobile Phones under £200

Mobile phones have come a long way. They’re not just about making calls or sending messages anymore. Mobile phones help us stay connected to our loved ones, listen to our favourite podcasts, record lectures, read books and generally make our lives easier. Most of the tiny bits of a computer are now squeezed in mobile phones facilitating users with countless features. However, if you are on a tight budget and looking for a decent mobile phone for your family or yourself, we have rounded up some reliable mobile phones under £200 down below:

Huawei P Smart – £179.99

Key Specifications:

Hisilicon Kirin 710, Octa-Core Processor
3GB RAM, 64GB Storage
Huawei full view display with a 6.21-inch 18: 9 screen with smart split-screen
High-spec 13MP + 2 MP dual rear cameras including Bokeh effect, face beauty and gesture shoot
Android 9.0

Churning out a decent performance, Huawei P Smart is equipped with Hisilicon Kirin 710 quad-core processor and 3GB RAM. It powers through basic tasks but slows down when loaded with heavy apps. With 64GB storage, you have got yourself plenty of space for your photos, videos, documents and much more. The storage capacity can be extended up to 512GB with a microSD card. The 13MP + 2MP rear camera takes good quality photos to add to your collection. Besides that, the 6.1” screen is big enough to enjoy your favourite YouTube videos. The 10+ hour battery life is excellent for the price of this mid-ranger.

Huawei Y6 – £109.99

Key Specifications:

MediaTek MT6761 Quad-Core Processor
2GB RAM, 32GB Storage
6.09″ Multi-touch Display (1560 x 720) Resolution
13MP Rear Camera & 8MP Front Camera
Android 9.0 Pie

One of the most affordable phones from the Chinese manufacturer Huawei, Huawei Y6 surprises users with its high performance, incredible photographic capabilities and long-lasting battery. At only £109.99, not much was expected from it but it managed to punch above its weight with the MediaTek MT6761 quad-core processor, 2GB RAM and 32GB storage which can be extended with a microSD card. The 6.09” display gives you plenty of space to read eBooks, watch videos and play light games. It lacks dual or triple camera systems like its fancier, more experience older siblings, yet for its price, it’s an excellent entry-level smartphone.

LG Q60 SIM-Free 4G LTE Smartphone – £179.99

Key Specifications:

Mediatek MT6762 / 2.0GHz Octa-Core Processor
3GB RAM, 64GB Storage
6.26” FullVision Multi-Touch Display (1520 x 720) Resolution
Triple Rear Camera (16MP+5MP+2MP) & 13MP Front Camera
Android 9.0 Pie

LG Q6 is a stylish and sophisticated mid-range smartphone that can handle all your basic tasks. In terms of design, it boasts a gorgeous, glossy plastic back with metal edges, tiny bezels and a small teardrop notch at the front. The 6.26” display sports a resolution of 1520 x 720 pixels which delivers reasonable performance when it comes to viewing movies. While it may not be powered by the best hardware, it gives out a commendable performance given its price.

Alcatel OneTouch Idol 4 – £104.99

Key Specifications:

QUALCOMM SnapdragonTM 617 / 1.5GHz + 1.2GHz Octa-Core Processor
2GB RAM, 16GB eMMC
5.2-inch Multi-Touch Display (1920 x 1080 Resolution)
13MP Rear+ 8MP Front Camera
Android 6.0
Special Offer includes VR Goggles

If you want a super affordable phone without compromising on quality and a wide array of features, Alcatel Idol 4 would be a perfect choice. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 quad-core processor together with the 2GB RAM, lets you stay connected with the world, share photos, watch videos and much more. The 13MP rear camera produces decent shots and interactive 360-degree photos. If you decide to get it now, our special offer also includes VR googles for you to enjoy the virtual world.

Honor 20 Lite – £199.99

Key Specifications:

Hisilicon Kirin 710F / 2.2 GHz Octa-Core Processor
4GB RAM, 128GB Storage
6.21″ Multi-Touch Display (2340 x 1080) Resolution
Triple Rear Camera (24MP+8MP+2MP) & 32MP Front Camera
Android 9.0 Pie with EMUI 9.0.1

Accessible price point, attractive design and adequately decent performance – Honor 20 Lite checks off all the boxes of what you look for in a perfect mid-ranger. Under the hood, you will find Hisilicon Kirin octa-core processor and 4GB RAM to give you the power to manage all sorts of apps, not just the lightweight ones. With the 3,400mAh battery, the longevity is fairly good. It’s safe to say that the Honor 20 Lite is as good on the inside as it is on the inside and investing in this stylish smartphone will be the right choice.

Motorola Moto G4 – £84.99

Key Specifications:

QUALCOMM Snapdragon 617 / 1.5 GHz Octa Core Processor
2GB RAM, 16GB eMMc
5.5-inch Multi-Touch Display (1920 x 1080 Resolution)
13MP Rear+ 5MP Front Camera
Android 6.0 (Marshmallow)

Most of us have been Motorola users at one point in life, for the versatility, affordability and quality of its products. For those of you looking for an affordable smartphone, Motorola Moto G4 has got all the juice to get you through your day. Qualcomm Snapdragon octa-core processor, 2GB RAM and 16GB eMMc allows you to do everything from note-taking, browsing and streaming to light gaming. You can extend the storage capacity up to 128GB with a microSD. Designed to last the whole day and easily fit in your pocket, Motorola Moto G4 will be your trusted companion through the toughest of days.

LG G6 H870 – £124.99

Key Specifications:

Official LG UK Stock
QUALCOMM Snapdragon 821 (2.35Ghz Quad Core) Processor
4GB RAM, 32GB Storage
5.7-inch Multi-Touch QHD+ Display (1440 x 2880 Resolution)
Dual 13MP Rear+ 5MP Front Camera
Android 7.0 Nougat

LG G6 is considered to be an affordable alternative to Samsung’s relatively high-end smartphones and rightly so. The unibody design alone is both fashionable and functional with round edges and an expensive feel to it. LG G6 is dust and water-resistant just like Samsung’s S8 so you don’t have to worry about accidental splashes of water or spilling of coffee. Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 quad-core processor and 4GB RAM give you decent performance. The only bummer for LG fans might be the non-removable battery. Other than that, it is a great phone to invest in.

Visit our website to get your hands on any of these Android mobile phones under £200 now! For those of you who might have a more flexible budget, you can also browse our wide range of mobile phones here.

Please note: All prices are subject to change without notice and all offers are subject to availability.

January 3, 2020 0 comment

Smartphones

Razer smartphone release date, news & rumors

Razer is the latest company to enter the smartphone market, with a handset built for gamers! Are you as excited as we are? The gaming peripherals brand is going to launch its first handset on November 1, and called it their “biggest unveiling of the year” on their site.

Many predicted this early on when Razer acquired the cloud smartphone company Nextbit in early 2017, and the press release stated that Razer “has acquired the majority of the assets of Nextbit Systems Inc. and has brought on board the management and employees of the company.”

We don’t know how soon it will go on sale or the price of the handset, but we’re expecting it to be costly. The name of the phone still hasn’t leaked but there’s one possible picture of it that’s been circling the net. TechByte posted an image of what is rumoured to be Razer’s new smartphone.

It has Razer’s snake logo (but no sign of their much loved green trademark colour) and looks like it has dual cameras with a flash. We’re expecting this smartphone to have high-end specs so this indicates metal/glass exterior rather than plastic.

There’s a lot of theories on the net about the features of the first gaming smartphone, with TechRadar theorising that Razer might allow game streaming from the cloud. There’s rumours it’ll have a huge 8GB of RAM too, so it looks like Razer is jumping into the deep end with its flagship smartphone. It will apparently be a customised version of Android (Nougat), but most Android smartphones only have 4GB RAM, with a few coming with 6GB.

We’re expecting a smartphone that doubles as a brilliant gaming device, along with some impressive smart cloud features built into the operating system. After all, it’s originating from cloud smartphone company ‘Nextbit’.

Check back on www.laptopoutletblog.co.uk for a review of the Razer phone, and more of the latest tech news.

October 30, 2017 0 comment

Smartphones

Blackberry Motion officially announced & available to pre-order

Blackberry smartphones used to be the ‘it’ device from the days of BBM, but had become a thing of the past since the release of iPhone and Samsung smartphones. Great news! They’re making a comeback by ditching the keyboard with their new all-screen smartphone, the Motion. Blackberry announced the Motion on Sunday 8^th October at GITEX Technology Week in Dubai, and pre-orders are officially live in the UAE! It’s the second release in the modern Blackberry range, following their KEYone smartphone which was released in early 2017.

The Motion is an all-screen smartphone, featuring a 5.5-inch display and a Snapdragon 625 SoC platform. The all-screen design is hugely similar to the latest iPhone and Samsung aesthetics (surprise, surprise!). It’s clear that Blackberry are going for a new look because the Motion is missing their trademark keyboard below the screen. The rest of the features are similar to the KEYone and it’s even launching with the same version of Android 7.1 as Blackberry’s previous release.

The smartphone does seem to lack a standout feature that sets it apart from its powerful competitors, so die-hard Blackberry fans are likely to be the ones most interested in this launch. That being said, it does have a number of impressive features (the massive 4000 mAH 3.0 compatible battery and IP67 rating for dust and water resistance) that means it won’t be hiding in the background! The hardware for this device was developed by TCL, and Blackberry is starting to focus more on software as they steered away from hardware development in the past few years.

Eager to get your hands on Blackberry’s latest launch? Unfortunately, it may not be available where you are yet, but it’s available to pre-order soon! The UAE is the first country where pre-orders will go live and Android Central stated, “Middle Eastern markets like the UAE and Saudi Arabia will sell the phone shortly for the equivalent of $460 USD”.

Look out for a full review of the Blackberry Motion and more of the latest tech news at www.laptopoutletblog.co.uk

October 10, 2017 0 comment

Android Google Mobile Reviews Smartphones

Android O and What We Know So Far

The Android O operating system is set to launch later this year, which is exciting news for all Android fans and even those of us that are not fans of the OS, as there are set to be big changes and improvements. The developer preview is already available to designers and developers, so if you want the latest scoop then keep reading for the details on Android O and what we know so far!

The O in Android O…

First and foremost, let’s start off with the most anticipated and fun aspect of the new operating system. Most of us are of course looking forward to the big name reveal and want to know exactly what the O stands for. We already know that Google will almost certainly stick to their theme of naming their operating systems after a dessert, with them going in alphabetical order for example with Cupcake, Jelly Bean and most recently Nougat, however we are yet to see exactly which dessert it will be named after.

Source: Twitter

With Google’s head of Android hinting at the name Oreo on his Twitter, it has been widely rumoured that it will indeed be named after the world’s favourite cookie, however with Android Nutella being teased as Nougat’s name last year we’re not sure how reliable this rumour is!

Image source: Tech Radar

Features – Battery

Android phones are becoming increasingly popular, and with a global market share of 87.5% at the end of last year it has become the most popular with us turning to Google’s Android, instead of the alternatives and this is widely touted to be because of the features that their software gives us.

The key improvement and clear focus for Google with the Android O is with the improved battery life. Having a longer lasting battery is a luxury we could all do with and is the feature that is creating the most buzz for the OS. There’s nothing worse than having a phone with all the latest specs and features that doesn’t last more than a few hours without a recharge or even a few a day!

Android O will let your apps save battery by making them work less in the background when it is unnecessary to do so; this is something which causes a significant amount of battery draining for most smartphones. So for example, when using your map whilst on a different app it will prevent the frequent refresh with the location services which is a common culprit of the unexpected decrease in our battery percentages!

Notifications

Another significant feature comes with the notifications; you will now be able to group them into categories making it easy for you to manage which notifications you want to see and which you don’t. An option to snooze notifications will allow you to select just how long you want to snooze it for with a simple swipe of a finger on the notification itself.

You will also get to set an importance level to your notifications which then customises how notifications appear on your screen whilst you’re on your phone, depending on the level set. The excellent management of your notifications is something which is completely unique and useful to the end user making the UI more customised to every individual.

Picture in picture

Another highlight with the Android O and what we know so far is with the picture in picture capabilities, this means you will now be able to use your smartphone like never before! The new feature will allow you to open a screen within a screen, for amazing multi-tasking capabilities, which means you will be able to continue watching your favourite TV show and attend to the group chat all at the same time!

This is something that we’re mostly used to from our computers, laptops and tablets (you can take a look at our pick of the best tablets under £100 here) but with Google bringing this over to our smartphones, it makes for a more creative and productive smartphone experience.

Adaptive icons

Animated and adaptive app icons will animate based on user interaction making an overall more aesthetically pleasing and interactive user interface!

This will please those of us that have always had our qualms about the overall look of the Android OS, and will satisfy the more organised of us who appreciate the effort of good attention to detail by Google, and it also means we have more customisation options for our home screens.

The best news for every music fan comes from the better audio for wireless systems. The rising popularity of wireless audio accessories like headphones and speakers means most of us want the technology without compromising on sound quality, and now with the help of Sony, Google has been able to provide a richer sound experience.

We will have more details after the 18^th – 20^th of May, and the 3 day event at Google’s annual developer festival ‘Google I/O’ and can expect a release in August this year if Google follow suit from last year. We hope you enjoyed reading the latest on the Android O and what we know so far! What are your guesses for the official name of the new operating system? Comment below and let us know!

April 28, 2017 0 comment

Smartwatch

The redesign of Smartwatches, and what not to expect in 2016

The 3 leading Android Wear manufacturers, LG, Lenovo and Huawei, will not be releasing any new smartwatches this year. They are Google’s biggest smartwatch partners, and Android Wear 2.0 is expected to be released this autumn; however the companies have confirmed to CNET that they will not be releasing any new hardware this year unfortunately. LG is the only manufacturer out of the 3 which has released a new smartwatch previously in the year. There are rumours of a Nexus smartwatch being released; nevertheless it would be a disheartening factor for Google that they will be the only manufacturers of major Android Wear hardware in 2016.

IFA 2016 is usually the platform of choice for companies to announce their newest smartphones; however there was no follow-up of the Moto 360 or the Huawei watch. The manufacturers may have been reluctant to release new Android Wear hardware due to a number of reasons. The research firm CCS Insight has suggested that the reluctance to release smartwatches may be due to the general lack of interest from consumers who find them overpriced and favour cheaper fitness bands, as well as Apple’s inability to inflate the smartwatch industry in terms of consumer popularity as they have done with their other devices. Another factor could be the inability to include an LTE radio without compromising the battery life and bulkiness of a smartwatch –which will not aid its popularity amongst consumers.

Despite these factors, it is inevitable that Google has work to do in terms of enhancing the interest of its Android Wear partners, and encouraging them to produce new hardware. The factors suggested by CCS Insight may have played a part in the manufacturers’ reluctance to produce smartwatches; however they did not stop Samsung or Apple from doing so.

Smartwatches were huge at IFA 2016, and they all featured spectacular designs, hugely different from the smartwatches launched over the past few years –which looked more like complex square-shaped gadgets than actual watches. The circular-faced watch was a huge trend at IFA 2016; although the square face is more developer-friendly, the circular face is much more aesthetically pleasing –and that’s an incredibly important factor when consumers wear it on their wrists. It’s clear from IFA that developers have chosen to incorporate a smartwatch with a classic watch design, which we think is a brilliant direction for the future of smartwatches.

The Samsung Gear S3 and Apple Watch Series 2 were both released a week within each other. The smartwatch releases echo the manufacturers’ attempts to target new feasible revenue streams; however it’s currently unclear whether they will have the success of the iPhone and Galaxy smartphones –in terms of targeting casual consumers.

Samsung Gear S3 (Source: CNET)

The Samsung Gear S3 is a great example of a classically designed smartwatch, and IFA 2016 was the platform for the release of this highly anticipated gadget. The 4^thGeneration Gear S3 smartwatch by Samsung is considerably larger than the previous release, as well as having a 4G enabled mode and a GPS signal. It is available in either classic or frontier design. The Gear S3 Frontier is slightly weightier than the Classic, weighing 62g; however they both have 46 x 49 x 12.9mm dimensions. The smartwatch is also waterproof –which is a signature enhancement on many Samsung devices; it can stay in water up to 5 feet deep for 30 minutes.

ASUS ZenWatch 3 (Source: MobileGeeks)

Another attractive classically designed smartwatch is the ASUS ZenWatch 3 which is certainly a winner in the visual department, and it’s available in three stunning colours: silver, gunmetal and rose gold. Consumers are spoilt for choice with this gadget as it has over 50 customisable watch faces. The ASUS ZenWatch 3 is one of the first wearables to use the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 2100 chipset, so it features impressive HyperCharge technology which allows the battery to charge super quick and last 2 days. The round design is different from the lozenge-style face of the previous ASUS release, and it has a fully circular 1.39-inch OLED display with stunning 400 x 400 screen resolution. Users will enjoy bright and detailed visuals with this impressive device. The premium and much-preferred round style of this smartwatch puts ASUS on the level of popular releases such as the Huawei watch and the Moto 360.

Although the circular style watches were favoured by Samsung and ASUS, Apple stuck to the square face design for the Apple Watch 2 –which may deem unpopular in comparison to the IFA releases. Apple typically waits until after IFA to make their announcements, however the smartwatch release seems a little behind in comparison to the redesign presented by the other manufacturers at IFA. The Apple Watch Series 2 was released alongside the iPhone 7 and the CEO Tim Cook stated that “Apple Watch has changed what people expect from a watch” asserting that the device is now second to Rolex in terms of best-selling watches.

Apple Watch Series 2 (Source: BGR)

The Apple Watch 2 is more durable in comparison to the previous device, and it is also more powerful with a 50% faster dual-core processor. It does have many great features such as the new 1000 nits display, built-in GPS and a new material version. Although, Apple has stuck to the square design, the company has dominated smartwatch sales since the release of the first Apple Watch, so they seem to know what they’re doing –Apple’s past success determines that they can rarely do wrong in terms of new tech, as they company has always been at the height of popularity.

The ‘utilitarian-gadget’ feel of past smartwatches make it unsurprising that male early adopters were the majority of consumers for the gadgets –a fact which Samsung has stated to CNET. Samsung stressed at IFA that their strategy is design first and tech second, and as smartwatches are a visible accessory as well as a tech gadget, we believe this is the way forward –so such gadgets remain popular with all types of consumers. The redesign of smartwatches to also be attractive accessories is an attempt by developers to target the average consumer market, which they have not been successful in so far.

Keep a look out on our blog for in-depth reviews and comparisons of these smartwatches, as well as the latest tech news.

September 20, 2016 0 comment

ASUS Lenovo Samsung Smartphones Smartwatch Sony Toshiba

The best of IFA 2016

IFA is the consumer electronics trade show that takes place in Berlin every year. The show takes place in September, and it has been the platform for a range of major launches including the first generations of Samsung Galaxy Note devices. ASUS has been a stand-out manufacturer at IFA 2016 with the launch of products within their ZenSeries line, along with a number of other companies. As the feature-packed event has now come to an end, we bring you a round-up of the best at IFA this year:

1. Samsung Gear smartwatch –the Gear S3

(Source: Wareable.com)

IFA 2016 was the platform for the release of the highly anticipated Samsung Gear S3 smartwatch. The 4^th generation Gear S3 smartwatch by Samsung is considerably larger than the previous release, as well as having a 4G enabled mode and a GPS signal. It is available in either classic or frontier design. The Gear S3 Frontier is slightly weightier than the Classic, weighing 62g; however they both have 46 x 49 x 12.9mm dimensions. The smartwatch is also waterproof –which is a signature enhancement on many Samsung devices; it can stay in water up to 5 feet deep for 30 minutes.

There are not many significant changes that have taken place in the new smartwatch in comparison to the Samsung Gear S2 –which is a highly acclaimed release; however the longer battery life and larger size are impressive changes. The Always-On Display (AOD) is able to display up to 16 million colours without draining the battery which is a striking plus.

It will be interesting to see how Apple responds with the next release of the Apple Watch, as the Gear S3 looks hard to beat, aside from the fact that the Frontier is considerably heavier than the standard Apple watch. A minority may find the substantial size of the smartwatch troublesome, however the style and skill of the gadget overcomes that.

Release date: October 2016

Price: not confirmed, however is expected to be £249 for the Classic and around £300 for the Frontier.

2. Lenovo Yoga Book tablet

(Source: Notebookcheck.com)

Lenovo announced a new Yoga Book at IFA 2016; it uses the manufacturer’s signature watchband-hinge –one part with the standard touchscreen and the other half with a fascinating touch-sensitive surface. The surface has light-up keys which emulate a keyboard, however it also accepts input as a stylus so can be used as both; it is powered by Wacom.

Lenovo’s new Yoga Book tablet, which the company calls the ‘Create Pad’, has a “halo” touch sensitive keyboard which is great for graphic designers, as it can be used for typing, writing notes or drawing with a stylus pen. The device has another remarkable feature – you can add an ink cartridge into the stylus and take notes on real paper, while the Yoga Book copies them onto the screen. The hinge on the device allows you to swing the screen all the way around so you can even take and record notes while it’s folded.

The device has a 15 hour battery life, so it’s also great for on-the-go use, and it gives users the option of an Android or Windows operating system. In Lenovo’s signature manner, there will be two variants of the device: Android Marshmallow and Windows 10. Both versions will have the stylus included as well as LTE radios.

Lenovo says:

Up until now, we’ve been using tablets in ways we weren’t meant to: for productivity, for example, which becomes painful when typing or applying a stylus onto a touch screen that you’re using on-the-go.

The Yoga Book removes that difficulty by taking the fundamental building blocks from the DNA of what makes a great tablet – namely portability, long battery life and a rich app ecosystem – and entwines it into a strand of creativity and productivity through a suite of powerful new hardware and software features, including:

The instant halo keyboard
The dual-use stylus that writes on paper and screen
The productivity-driven Book UI

Release date: the device will be available to buy in the US from October.

Price: Android Marshmallow version: $499; Windows 10 version: $549

3. Sony Xperia XZ

(Source: Gadgets.ndtv.com)

IFA 2016 saw Sony launch their official flagship X –series device, the Xperia XZ. The XZ differs with the previous Xperia X, with an emphasis on photography and a more refined design. There are evidently a range of great camera improvements from the previous offering, such as the 23 MP sensor which has new white balance technology to improve the colouring of photographs and enhance detail. Sony sensors often indicate issues by displaying fine details, so this is a welcome improvement from the manufacturer.

Sony has also combatted any issues of blurriness with the 5-axis stabilisation technology which ensures clear-cut video quality. The smartphone is available in deep blue, black and silver, and features the highest range of specs ever seen in a Sony device. The Xperia XZ is a great premium handset which marks a return to the waterproof feature for Sony, and it will also be upgraded to Android Nougat soon, so it is essentially the unison of the best features of Sony’s X and Z series of devices.

Executive Vice President, Global Sales and Marketing, Sony Mobile Communications, Hideyuki Furumi says: “With Xperia we want to assist you when and where it matters most, making your everyday lives more convenient, more effortless, more spontaneous.

With Xperia XZ and Xperia X Compact you can capture every moment as you see it, with blur-free images day or night, and with true to life colours thanks to our new triple image sensing technology.”

Release date: early October

Price: expected to be £500 to £600.

4. Acer Predator 21 X

(Source: Business Insider UK)

Acer has revolutionised the gaming scene by breaking the barriers between PC’s and laptops. The Acer Predator 21 X is the first laptop which has a curved screen and is specifically designed to engage gamers. PC gamers may have finally found the device that converts them to laptop gaming, as the Predator 21 X has all the power of a desktop (with the dual NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 graphics card) along with the benefit of portability –so you can take premium gaming with you everywhere!

The fact that laptop manufacturers can now install full-size desktop versions of the NVIDIA GTX 10-series graphics card has also been helpful in the growth of laptop gaming. The device is similarly priced to a standard gaming desktop, so the choice between the both is purely personal preference –although desktop gamers still have the niftiest gadgets available to enhance gaming, such as curved and ultra-wide monitors, which are great for immersive gaming.

The laptop has a 21-inch curved display along with a wide-angle screen so it will be pretty impressive for gaming, and it also has an eye-tracking technology feature which is useful for interacting in games. Weighing only 8kg, it is great for on-the-go use; however it does require two power supplies

Release date: 2017

Price: not confirmed, expected to be upwards of £3800

5. ASUS ZenWatch 3

(Source: Techradar.com)

The launch of this smartwatch by the Taiwanese firm, ASUS, at IFA 2016 was a welcome surprise. ASUS Vice President Eric Chen stated:

“IFA is where we launched our very first smartwatch and we have continued the tradition today with ZenWatch 3.

We deeply appreciate the loyal support from consumers in Europe, and we are excited to bring our new Zenvolution product line-up to the European markets.”

The ASUS ZenWatch 3 is certainly a winner in the visual department, and it’s available in three stunning colours: silver, gunmetal and rose gold. Users are spoilt for choice with this gadget as it has over 50 customisable watch faces. The ASUS ZenWatch 3 is one of the first wearables to use the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 2100 chipset, so it features impressive HyperCharge technology which allows the battery to charge super quick and last 2 days.

The round design is different from the lozenge-style face of the previous ASUS release, and it has a fully circular 1.39-inch OLED display with stunning 400 x 400 screen resolution. Users will enjoy bright and detailed visuals with this impressive device. The premium and much-preferred round style of this smartwatch puts ASUS on the level of popular releases such as the Huawei watch and the Moto 360.

Release date: it will be available in October, first in the US and Germany.

Price: Rubber strap – £190; Leather strap – £210

6. Sony Xperia Ear

(Source: Pocket-lint)

Sony discussed the release date of the Xperia Ear as well as many other members of its Smart Product range, which includes the Xperia Agent and Project. The Xperia Ear was first announced at Mobile World Congress 2016, and it is one of Sony’s trio of future tech.

It is a wireless in-ear audio companion device for Sony’s range of Xperia smartphones; it responds to voice commands and delivers notifications directly without the need to check your phone. The device will essentially act as a mobile ‘Siri’ or ‘Google Now’, and gives real-time weather and news updates, as well as personal schedule reminders; it can also read out directions so you don’t have to look at your phone screen. It has a high level of interaction, such as responding to questions as if you’re conversing with the device.

Sony has acknowledged that users may not always be able to ‘talk’ to the device or may prefer gestures, so the Xperia Ear has impressively been instilled with gesture recognition. For example, shaking your head can indicate ‘no’ to the device. The demos shown suggested that gestures did not need to be exaggerated, so it is an interesting future tech device; however it is questionable if it will be popular with consumers.

Release date: November 2016 in some countries

Price: €200 – UK and US price not announced yet.

7. ASUS ZenScreen

(Source: The Verge)

IFA 2016, this year, saw ASUS launch a series of impressive gadgets –most notably creating the “world’s lightest and slimmest full HD portable monitor”, the ASUS ZenScreen.

The ZenScreen is an innovative device which allows users to transport and enjoy a 15.6” Full HD screen anywhere, revolutionising the idea of standard portable devices which tend to compromise screen size for portability. It is also 60-percent slimmer than the usual portable displays, and has a USB-C connection. The Type-C (USB-C) port supports both power and video transmission for compatibility with any laptop with a USB-C or USB Type-A port.

ASUS Design Centre Director, Jen Chuang says “When computers get smaller, sometimes we feel restricted by the screen size. ZenScreen is designed to enlarge your workspace, so you can multitask with an extended view anywhere you want.”

Release date: not announced yet

Price: approximately $300

8. TomTom Touch

(Source: The Verge)

The TomTom Touch may not appear to be much more than a basic fitness tracker, however it has one stand-out feature –it can calculate body fat.

The touch-sensitive button sends a harmless current through your body to determine the balance between your muscle mass and fat. We’re not certain on whether it will deliver the most precise readings, however this is a unique and impressive feature to have on a fitness tracker.

TomTom has a renowned reputation as a dashboard GPS system manufacturer, however the company’s recent skill for stand-out wearables has given it a well-deserved spot on our round-up of the best gadgets of IFA 2016. The slim waterproof design and Touch feature has put the TomTom Touch in direct competition against the popular Fitbit.

Release date: pre-order from September 7^th

Price: £129.99

9. Philips 55910F OLED TV

(Source: Techradar)

A large number of televisions were showcased at IFA 2016; however one that stood out was the Philips 55910F OLED TV. This 55 inch TV displays the brilliance of Philips’ famous backlighting technology –Ambilight, and it’s been combined with a stunning OLED 4K screen. This is Philip’s first ever OLED TV and it does not disappoint.

This impressive TV will unquestionably deliver an extraordinary viewer experience every time, as the 4K UHD screen displays magnificent vibrant colour quality. The unique Ambilight technology splashes light behind the television so the mood matches the screen –as evident from the image. It’s also an Android TV, so it is expected to be a pricey gadget.

The picture quality immediately engages, and the OLED screen differentiates the darkness of black and vibrancy of colours, resulting in a stunning display.

Philips says: “OLED, Ambilight and Philips PQ technology combine to set a new reference: the world’s only OLED 4K TV with Ambilight!”

Release date: not yet announced

Price: approximately £3,500 or $4,600

We hope you enjoyed our round-up of this exciting event. Keep a look out for full-on reviews for these remarkable product launches on our blog.

September 8, 2016 0 comment

Smartphones

The launch of three new Moto G handsets

The Moto G handsets by Motorola are known to combine good specs and an affordable price, considering the past three generations of the range. Lenovo now owns the company, and has introduced three new devices in its fourth generation handsets, including the Moto G4, the Moto G4 Plus and the Moto G4 Play.

The Moto G4 and Moto G4 Plus – What are the differences?

Both the Moto G and Moto G Plus have the same 5.5-inch full HD displays with Gorilla Glass 3 outerwear, as well as 3000 mAh power packs with TurboPower chargers which can add 6 hours of battery within only 15 minutes. Google’s Android Marshmallow is present in the Moto G and G Plus, with a few added Moto tweaks for better functionality. They both also have Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 Octa-Core processor and a 5MP camera (front-facing), as well as 1080p FHD screens, and colour balancing flash with professional modes. Read below for the slight differences between the two:

Camera: The Moto G4 has a 13 MP rear camera, whereas the G4 Plus has a 16MP one.
Fingerprint sensor: Only the G4 Plus has a front-fitted fingerprint sensor.
Price/Availability: The Moto G 4 will be available from early June 2016 at £169 (Sim-free), and the Moto G Plus arrives late June at £199 (Sim-free).

Moto G4 Play

The Moto G4 Play is the low-end launch by the company; the specs are not as advanced as the Moto G4 and Moto G4 Plus, however the Play delivers ideal performance and features for casual use. The price and availability date of device has not been announced yet.

The G4 Play features:

Android Marshmallow
2GHz Snapdragon 410 Quad Core processor
2GB RAM
2800mAh battery
16GB internal memory
MicroSD slot for up to 128GB added support
5” 720 x 1280 px resolution
No colour balancing flash and professional mode

Stay tuned for more information on the three new Motorola launches!

May 20, 2016 0 comment

Smartphones

Smartphones for under £100

The smartphone market is as extensive as it’s ever been, with leading brands such as Apple, Samsung, Microsoft and LG regularly populating the market with new devices. If you’re looking for a new mobile phone but on a budget-constraint, then you’re in the right place as we will be looking through a range of cheap smartphones for under £100.

Motorola Moto E – £39.99

The Moto E is the perfect budget phone which features a 4.3” display that is protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3 with a pixel density of 256ppi. Giving the phone an extra tough layer of protection, as well as being anti-smudge ensuring smudges are less visible and, the screen being extremely easy to clean.

The device runs Android 4.4 KitKat mobile operating system but can be easily upgraded to the latest OS, Marshmallow. Like most Android smartphones the Moto E comes equipped with pre-installed apps to help assist you with calls, texts, notifications and much more. You will also receive timely software updates ensuring you are up-to-date with the latest security features, performance enhancements and user-interface optimisations.

The 5MP camera quality may be a little disappointing, but the rather strong 24 hour battery life and being splashproof makes up for the let-down, and making this smartphone a strong contender in the £100 bracket.

Motorola Moto G – £57.99

If the Moto E doesn’t quite live up to your standards then the Moto G may be right up your alley. Moto G is designed for all the things you do, from taking and sharing photos, watching videos, getting directions to your location, listening to music, you name it, it can do it – if not more! For just £57.99 you get a 4.5” screen (bigger than Moto E) with 720×1280 Pixels Touch Display, a 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon processor and 1GB of RAM.

The Moto G is definitely designed to impress with its curved rear cover, palm-friendly design and edge-to-edge HD display – allowing you to easily watch, read and browse on a big display with sharp quality. Like the Moto E, it is built to last because of its Corning Gorilla Glass, giving you extra protection from everyday scratches and scrapes, as well as being water-repellent – allowing you to take calls in the dry or wet spells! However the Moto G has a slightly larger-capacity battery than the Moto E at 2070mAh, along with being larger and in higher resolution, which could possibly result in the battery draining much quicker.

Regardless of the minor drawbacks, can you really complain on an incredible price, for a mobile device that does do everything most people want it to do? This sure is one of the best buys in the smartphone industry at a budget price.

KAZAM Trooper 440L – £57.99

Sometimes less is more right? The KAZAM Trooper 440L is designed to give you the ultimate comfort and protection for a price that shouldn’t break the bank. With its 4” Multi-Touch Resolution (480×800) and sleek design, KAZAM offers you Free Screen Replacement (they will fix cracked screens for free!), 3 Year Warranty and KAZAM Rescue (any troubles you have with the phone they will fix for you, cool huh?) What’s not to like about it? For just £57.99, it is a steal at this price!

The Trooper 440L is equipped with a Quad-core processor that can handle the most demanding 4G mobile speed, so you’ll be sure to be getting the latest technology at an incredibly low price. If you’re always busy taking selfies or enjoy watching movies on the go then you’d be happy to know the Trooper 440L has an SD Card allowing you to expand your memory and store multiple photos and movies.

It is clear the Trooper 440L is another great contender in the Android smartphone market, especially at a much affordable price.

KAZAM Trooper2 4.5 – £67.99

KAZAM Trooper2 4.5 is another strong contender from the KAZAM Trooper range, which is slightly bigger in size (4.5”, as it says in the name) than the 440L. It also comes with 1.3GHz dual core processor and 5MP rear camera, providing crisp quality photos on the go.

This impressive device comes with a dual sim feature allowing you to keep up-to-date with your personal and business life both at once. Another great addition to the Trooper2 4.5 is the removable battery, if you are a busy bee you can simply pop in a spare while the other charges or pinch your mate’s!

Regardless of which KAZAM smartphone you decide to buy, KAZAM cares and keeps you protected all the way through, with their offering of the 3 key features – KAZAM Rescue, 3 Year Warranty and Free Screen Replacement always there for you.

If you’re seeking something different have a look through our other range of smartphones: http://www.laptopoutlet.co.uk/mobile-phones.html

May 10, 2016 0 comment

Android Samsung Smartphones Technology

Samsung Galaxy S6 Review

Samsung Galaxy S6 is evidently the best version in their range of smartphones with our prices starting from only £349.99 (RRP £ 479). It is also the best smartphone in the market in many ways. Featuring a new and unique exterior design, and an even more improved camera quality, producing the beautifully vibrant and saturated images which Samsung is already known for. The Samsung Galaxy S6 incorporates all the winning features of Samsung phones as well as improvements; it has the fastest multi-tasking menu compared to any other phone!

Let’s delve into what makes the Samsung Galaxy S6 the best smartphone yet:

Display/Screen: The Samsung Galaxy S6 features a new and innovative exterior design –incorporating the best aspects of each smartphone exterior on the market. The smartphone is easy to hold with curved glass –an improved version of the Samsung Note 4. The metal sides and glass back and front (specifically made with Gorilla Glass 4) are visually pleasing, with a bottom, including the charger port, which is almost identical to the iPhone 6.

The Samsung Galaxy S6 has much better build quality than previous smartphones in the Galaxy range; however the thinner structure has compromised the external battery and micro SD card slot which existed previously. This is a minor disadvantage as storage options vary from 32 and 64GB.

Camera:

The Samsung Galaxy S6 camera features a very impressive 16 megapixel sensor, 4k video and LED flash, making it the best camera in any Android smartphone. It is amongst the best cameras available in any smartphone, alongside the iPhone 6+.

Software:

The Samsung Galaxy S6 retains the TouchWiz custom user interface which is seen in all Samsung smartphones, however new features have been added. The option of customizing settings, the drop-down notification bar and keyboard is available, as well as the inclusion of Microsoft apps (OneNote, OneDrive and Skype) which are already installed. The drop-down notification bar also includes an option to change the brightness, which was not included in the Samsung Galaxy S5 software. Application security and storage maintenance is also provided in the Samsung Galaxy S6, in the form of phone management applications.

Performance:

The Samsung Galaxy S6 features their own Octa-core Exynos 7420 processor with 3GB RAM, rather than the expected Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 Chip. The Octa-core processor ensures the Samsung Galaxy S6 has the fastest multitasking menu compared to any other phone, and the slow gallery issue in the Samsung Galaxy S5 has now been renovated.

Price:

The Samsung Galaxy S6 is available in:

Sapphire Black 32GB – Price: £399.99

White 32GB (unlocked) – Price: £499.99

Sapphire Black 64GB – Price: £599.99

White 64GB – Price: £599.99

Improvements from previous Samsung Galaxy phones:

Improved home button –bigger and more tactile
Fingerprint reader is more responsive, now just a touch can unlock your phone! (A whole swipe is no longer required, which is a welcome improvement from the Galaxy S5)
The display has improved significantly –it big, bright and beautiful, and is narrower than the Galaxy S5.
The picture quality is brilliant, displaying vivid saturated colors, and high-level visibility outdoors. The screen almost looks like paper! Samsung is known for bright displays and exceptional picture quality; however the Samsung Galaxy S6 has an even better camera than the Samsung Note 4.

Pros:

Very thin (6.8mm)
5.1″ Quad HD Super AMOLED display (2560×1440)
Has the latest internals with 128 gigs of storage (non-expandable)
Exynos 7 Octa 7420 / 2.1 GHz ( 8-core )
HD screen resolution (5.1 inch high resolution Quad HD 2560×1440 pixel display with 577 pixels per inch, roughly double the number of pixels on the Samsung Galaxy S5)
Fastest multitasking menu compared to any other phone.
Fast charge (50% in 30 minutes)
Wireless charging built into the phone

Cons:

Inconsistent battery life (2550mAh battery – With moderate usage, the battery could last 17 hours, however if it is being used for a long period of time for entertainment, the battery will die considerably quicker!)
Non-removable battery/SD card.
Cannot change the brightness of the buttons.

Verdict: It is fair to say that the Samsung Galaxy S6 is one of the best smartphones currently available in the market, if not the best! It retains Samsung’s exceptional standard of smartphones, and is a commendable revamp from the Samsung Galaxy S5, due to the many improvements made.

November 6, 2015 0 comment

Android Miscellaneous Smartphones

WIN KAZAM Thunder Q4.5 Smartphone! [Closed]

Here’s your chance to #WIN a KAZAM Thunder Q4.5 Smartphone. All you have to do is simply answer 3 questions revolving around the smartphone and you’re in!

#WinItWednesday

Click here to enter:

Hurry ends tonight, good luck!

October 7, 2015 0 comment

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