Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime review: Mirror shot

The Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime has an ambitious name, but behind it is an ordinary midrange phone. It puts functionality ahead of screen fidelity, throwing all the pixels they could afford at the front facing camera instead. As with other Galaxy Grands, dual-SIM is an option, this one though is the first 64-bit phone in the line.

   
Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime official images

The Galaxy Grand Prime is headed for developing markets where affordable phones with large screens with underwhelming pixel density are in high demand. In this case we're talking a 5" TFT of qHD resolution (540 x 960px) boiling down to 220ppi. 720p has become common in the midrange these days, but don't let tech geeks and sales people overstate how important it is - most laptops and desktop monitors have half that.

Microsoft Lumia 535 Dual SIM review: A first of many

It's a Lumia like the rest of them. A new youth player promoted to the first team, which will have no trouble blending in. It's just a different name on the familiar kit. Microsoft is starting from the bottom up - an entry level handset, no redesign to speak of. Lights will soon be out on Nokia Devices but Redmond isn't in a hurry to challenge the Finnish-made flagships just yet.

Yes, the Lumia 535 is just like the rest of them. Sensible, reliable, affordable. The closest thing to a risk it's taking is screen size. Five inches of screen diagonal isn't unheard of at the low end but it's still a massive step up from the Lumia 520, which is the obvious predecessor.

The Microsoft Lumia 535 does well to up the resolution accordingly. qHD isn't ideal on a 5" screen but the pixel density is effectively matching that of a Lumia 520 - it's what matters after all from a user perspective.

   
Microsoft Lumia 535 official pictures

The Microsoft Lumia 535 probably uses the Nokia Lumia 520's camera and adds an LED flash to it. The predecessor had no front camera whatsoever and the Lumia 535 boasts a wide-angle, high-res selfie cam, as seen on the Nokia Lumia 735. The CPU has got an extra couple of cores - true, it's Qualcomm's cheapest but Windows Phone is known for running smooth on all sorts of hardware.

Here goes the Microsoft Lumia 535 complete package.

Gionee Elife S5.1 review: Johnny Slim

Last time we met, Gionee had quite a flagship to show off with the S5.5. Looking extra sharp and more than decently equipped, we deemed it capable of getting users interested well beyond the traditional Asian markets. Some months later, Gionee has toned some of the specs down but their next phone is looking even more impressive.

The Gionee Elife S5.1 may have lost some screen and camera resolution but it managed to shed some grams and millimeters off the waistline along the way too. It briefly held the world's slimmest smartphone title until Oppo slipped a note under the door, in the form of an R5.

But even without a world title on its resume, the Gionee Elife S5.1 makes a fantastic first impression. An AMOLED screen within an all-glass shell reinforced by a metal frame - a premium combo and a weight of the unbelievable sub-100g.

    
Gionee Elife S5.1 official pictures

On the inside, the Gionee Elife S5.1 is powered by the same Mediatek chipset as the Elife S5.5, with an octa-core processor and a quad-core graphics accelerator. The camera department is more than reasonable too - an 8MP rear and a 5MP selfie cam. Unlike its premium predecessor, the Elife S5.1 launches straight on Android KitKat, skinned with the Amigo launcher we've already seen.

Samsung Galaxy A3 preview: First look

Today, we get to enjoy the company of the most junior representative of the Samsung's metal-clad A team - the Samsung Galaxy A3. Just like the Alpha smartphone, the A3 offers an aluminum frame, which highlights a lightweight design, built around a Super AMOLED display. And let us tell you, this baby does look as nice as it sounds.

    
Samsung Galaxy A3 official pictures

Samsung has been known for churning all-plastic smartphones across its entire portoflio. Pressured to evolve its product design, the company came up with the Galaxy Alpha, a super slim smartphone with an angular metal frame. But Samsung surely likes to spread its design concepts across the entire portfolio and thus the Galaxy A3 and the Galaxy A5 were born.

LG G Watch R review: A full circle

Smartwatches have been around for a long time now, ever so reluctantly trying to infuse the tech spirit into one of the oldest accessories in the history of the world - the time piece. But a wrist watch is meant for more than telling the time - it's also a fashion statement. And as cool as the square smartwatches may be, they can only get you so far. With that in mind, Android Wear has inspired the introduction of the first wave of round smartwatches - the Moto 360 and LG G Watch R.

   
LG G Watch R official photos

Unlike Motorola, LG has managed to make the display on its round smartwatch perfectly round, without the "flat tire" visual effect.

And even though there is no mechanism inside, just like a classic watch, what's on the inside matters. The G Watch R makes use of an interesting combination of parts. If they sound familiar to you, that's no coincidence. Check out what we mean below.

HTC Desire Eye review: Undercover flagship

HTC Desire Eye is the most capable member of the company's mid-range family of smartphones to date. Announced in early October, the smartphone features a rather peculiar camera setup, which consists of a duo of 13MP sensors, each flanked by a two-tone LED flash.

  
HTC Desire Eye official photos

HTC Desire Eye surely looks like a member of the Taiwanese manufacturer's mid-range lineup, though its hardware specifications tell an entirely different story. With a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 SoC, 5.2" 1080p display, IPX7 certification, and BoomSound stereo speakers to go with the unique camera setup, the newcomer is as well-equipped as some of today's Android flagship devices.

Apple iPad mini 3 review: A touch of gold

The iPad Air 2 may have stolen all the spotlight, but that's not because of poor marketing planning. Apple did little to change the third generation of the iPad mini so it got little stage time. But it's not our job to decide which product gets the most fanfare. Our job is to see whether it's worth your money.

  
Apple iPad mini 3 official pictures

The list of the new features of the new iPad mini 3 is one really short list. The Home button now doubles as a Touch ID fingerprint sensor. There is also a new golden paintjob available along with the usual Space Gray and Silver. Oh, and the 32GB model is now axed - you only get to pick from 16, 64 and 128GB options.

Everything else is completely identical to the iPad mini 2 - the 7.9" Retina display, the Apple A7 chipset, the 5MP rear camera, and the thin and light aluminum unibody. No matter how small the hardware bump however the Apple iPad mini 3 remains one really powerful slate, positioned near the top of the food chain as far as tablets go. Let's explore it in detail.

Nokia Lumia 830 review: Shining bright

Nokia Lumia 830 is probably the last smartphone to wear the iconic Nokia logo, five letters with so much history behind. And while it might not be a model as iconic as the original 808 PureView or the Lumia 1020, the Nokia Lumia 830 is destined to go down in history as the end of an era. But let's not write it off just yet, the Lumia 830 is still in the beginning of its journey.

Riding the current wave of smartphones with thin metal frames, this colorful baby comes up with a vivid screen, a PureView camera and a snappy chipset behind an even snappier Windows Phone.

 
Nokia Lumia 830 official pictures

Microsoft has put some serious thought when designing the new Nokia Lumia 830 and you can tell this from the first glimpse - it's a gorgeously looking phone with solid build. The flagship-worthy design incorporates a metal frame, a 2.5D screen glass, exchangeable rear covers in various colors, an OIS-enabled rear camera highlighted with a black glass. The PureView sensor is a key selling point, of course, with 10MP resolution, ZEISS lens and optical image stabilization.

Apple iPad Air 2 review

Another millimeter thinner, the new iPad Air 2 has a body that's even more befitting the ethereal moniker the iPad bears second year in a row. Outside of that little fact however, the changes may not be as easy to spot. And that's hardly a surprise.

Apple's laser focus on making the best tablet there is keeps the entire tablet industry moving forward. But in their camp, large strides are usually followed by baby steps and not all products end up as the breakthroughs we would have liked to see. One thing's for sure though, Apple certainly likes to keep us on the edge of our seats when it comes to what their next gen devices would look or feel like.

This year, the Air 2 is hardly hitting like an airstrike, but it still does a mighty fine job of keeping up the alpha male image. True, besides the slimmer profile the changes are hard to see. A nice exception is the screen, where the specs may sound the same on paper, but improvements are visible to the naked eye in terms of reflectivity and outdoor legibility.

Nokia Lumia 730/735 review

The battle in the midrange has never been so intense and manufacturers have to work harder than ever to climb to prominence. Microsoft is surely feeling the heat from Android with makers, big and small, churning out solid and affordable phones that get the job done and sometimes even exceed expectations - for the price.

 
Nokia Lumia 735 official photos

The Nokia Lumia 735 will definitely try and do just that. It's taking charge of Microsoft's updated Windows Phone midrange with the latest Lumia Denim firmware, an HD screen, LTE and a selfie-centric wide-angle front cam. The Lumia 720 is one of the company's top sellers and it's now been upgraded two-fold by the Lumia 730 and Lumia 735. They share the 4.7" ClearBlack AMOLED screen, the Snapdragon 400 chipset and the imaging department, combining a wide-aperture primary camera with a high-res, Skype-optimized selfie cam.

The Lumia 730 is a dual-SIM package while the Lumia 735 has LTE. That's the only difference between the two - nothing on the outside to set them apart but they'll obviously be offered on very different markets. There is another small difference too, as the Lumia 735 back cover is already wireless charging enabled out of the box, while you would have to get an extra wireless charging back cover to enable this feature on the Lumia 730 Dual SIM.

Samsung Galaxy Note Edge review

Experiments are great but it takes manufacturing prowess to follow them all the way to the retail shelves. Samsung have it - no surprise there - and they pulled it off, bringing the Galaxy Note Edge to stores. Never mind that curved screen looks like a concept. The Galaxy Note 4, which was used as a base, will otherwise continue to offer the flagship experience, sans the experimental features.

   
Samsung Galaxy Note Edge

The Galaxy Note Edge features a 5.6" QHD+ screen - a little smaller than the Galaxy Note 4 screen up front, but with 160px worth of an added strip on the right side of the device. This "Edge screen" is subtly curved outwards but connected with the main screen - in fact, they are one piece in terms of hardware, though the software handles them separately for added functionality.

We'll discuss the software additions in detail, as for the basics you're basically looking at a Galaxy Note 4 with a Snapdragon 805 chipset - this includes everything from the S Pen stylus to the heart rate and SpO2 sensors.

Motorola Nexus 6 review

Nexus 6 by Motorola marks a shift in market positioning for Google's smartphone lineup. Whereas the duo of LG-made devices that precede it cut back on certain features to stay attractively priced, the Nexus 6 is ready to rub shoulders with the best in the Android realm. It is no longer simply an Android reference phone, but a true Google flagship, both on paper and in person.

  
Motorola Nexus 6 official images

Motorola Nexus 6 has a special place in the history of Google's smartphone family. The 6" phablet development took place during Google's ownership of Motorola (the storied manufacturer became a Lenovo company several days ago), so it is as pure in philosophy as it is in terms of OS.

Rumors about a Nexus smartphone by Motorola began to circulate as soon as Google finalized its acquisition of the manufacturer back in 2012. It has been over two years since the deal took place, but, we must admit, it looks like the wait for the handset was well worth it. Motorola Nexus 6 is brimming with the best hardware available for Android today, coupled with a brand new Android version that packs a host of new features.

iPhone 6 Plus vs. Galaxy Note 4

Apple did what was once the unthinkable while predictable Samsung delivers again. Right or wrong, this is a fight of old versus new, the Galaxy Note is in its fourth generation while the iPhone 6 Plus is Apple's first phablet ever.

Samsung's release cadence dictates that the Galaxy Note is the H2 flagship, keen to assert its superiority over an already feature-rich Galaxy S. iPhones come once a year, even the first-time iPhone 6 Plus phablet. The situation is similar though, the Plus is better equipped than the vanilla iPhone 6.

Motorola Droid Turbo review

Motorola Droid Turbo for Verizon Wireless is the latest product of a long and prolific partnership between the storied manufacturer and the largest wireless carrier in the United States. Over the years, Motorola and Verizon have released a number of groundbreaking devices. They include the ultra-thin (for its time) Droid RAZR, through the RAZR MAXX, which had 3,300mAh battery back when 1,800mAh was standard, all the way to the Droid RAZR M that impressed with thin display bezels a year before anyone else.

  
Motorola Droid Turbo official photos

The Droid Turbo is reaching for the crown of the most capable Android smartphone to launch in 2014. Its specs leave no room for compromise - a Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 SoC, a 5.2" QHD AMOLED display, a 21MP camera, and a 3,900mAh battery come straight from the dreams of every Android junkie. The same goes for the device's innovative build materials that include Ballistic Nylon and DuPont Kevlar reinforced by Metallized Glass Fiber.

Meizu MX4 review

While Xiaomi's busy conquering the world with hardly leaving China, and the likes of Oppo and Huawei think globally, as they act locally, Meizu is somewhere in between. Some three years now and several generations of supercharged smartphones to match the flagships of the industry's major players. The Meizu MX4 is the company's latest creation with the fourth generation of the custom Flyme OS.

Built on the same formula as its predecessor, the Meizu MX4 isn't short on premium features. It's got a gorgeous 1080p display with a 5.36-inch diagonal, a single multi-functional capacitive button below it, and Meizu's colorful, almost iOS-like, approach to Android. And it doesn't end there - there's a Sony-made, Meizu-optimized 20.7MP camera on the back capable of 2160p (4K) video recording. Meizu has also worked with Sony on the battery, a 3,100mAh unit no less.

   
Meizu MX4 official photos

To keep things running smoothly Meizu has added an octa-core MediaTek chipset and 2GB of RAM. The ample 3,100mAh battery should power things along nicely and we're eager to see what kind of numbers it puts up. Here's a close look at the full specs.

HTC Nexus 9 review

The Google Nexus 9 will be curiously gazed upon by both Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 owners, as HTC gets back on the roster to take over from Asus and Samsung. The 8.9" beauty is a return for HTC to both the Nexus family and the tablet realm in general. Almost five-years passed since HTC made the Google Nexus One, while its last tablet dates back to 2011.

 
Google Nexus 9 by HTC official photos

The HTC Nexus 9, like the Motorola Nexus 6, also marks a major shift in product strategy for Google. Unlike past Nexus tablets, which cut a few corners in order to keep the price super attractive, the latest iteration makes no compromises. The Nexus 9 is a bona fide powerhouse with highly capable hardware, premium build, and a brand new Android version to boot.