Phones Archives - Page 2 of 2

Rooted vs Unrooted Smartphones

by Shivendra | Mar 1, 2018 | Phones

Android. Is it better with root access, or is it just fine without it? Can anyone be truly happy on Verizon, or does freedom demand sacrifice?

Rooting is Rewarding…

Even if you don’t flash a custom ROM, the root-required apps alone make it worthwhile – Greenify, StickMount, Titanium Backup, Lightflow, WiFi Protect, and especially now with Xposed Installer and all the mods it offers. In fact, I just flashed a custom ROM on my Nexus 5 that is just stock 4.4.4 with root, and used Xposed to install Gravity Box for all the other extras I usually look for in a custom ROM.

The only limit on what you can do with your rooted phone is what developers have actually made. Fortunately, if an app can be written, it probably has.

…But It’s Not Easy

Some devices like the Nexus line have relatively simple methods for gaining full access to your phone, but if you’re not familiar with some of the terminology or how things work, things can go badly real quick. Some peoples learn it the hard way.

After three failed times of trying to root my phone, I’ve given up. The third time bricked it, but Kies was able to get it back to factory shape. All three were supposed to be the latest/easiest/greatest thing to root my phone (a Note). Yeah, it would be nice to get a better backup. But as it is, it works as is for me.

It’s not impossible to learn how to root your phone safely, but it takes time and effort. Being tech-savvy (and especially having a background in using Linux or terminal commands) is helpful, but if it’s a new area to you, expect to spend some time learning what to do. And possibly screwing up.

Rooting Provides a Ton of Customizations…

Customization is typically the name of Android’s game. While you can change a lot without root (like your launcher, keyboard, lock screen, and more), you can change even more with it.

Xposed frameworks gives you the freedom to add all kind of mods to tweak your phone to exactly how you like it. Don’t care for a little quirk that you phone has? Root it and get rid of it.

With root access, you have the option. Even minor things are fair game with things like Xposed. For example, hate the infuriating AT&T logo in the status bar taking up precious screen real estate why, AT&T, why do this? You can remove it. Minor annoyances become less of a problem with root.

…But Very Few Are Totally Necessary

Rooting may provide a ton of customizations, but if the only reason you want it is to tweak some very minor thing, the ratio of effort to reward may not be worth it.

I played around with rooting on my old E4GT and got so pissed off with something always being broken that when I finally did find a build that worked, I stayed with it, even though much newer stuff had come out. It wasn’t the friendliest phone to deal with either, but the whole process of updating/wiping/reinstalling just got to be too much that when I got the Moto X on VZW, I didn’t mess with a thing (that’s not mentioning that I find very little that needs to be tweaked).

Rather than asking whether or not you should root, ask yourself what you want to root for. If the things you want to get from a rooted device are worth the time investment, then go for it. If not, maybe rooting isn’t for you

Rooting is Relatively Risk Free…

To say there are literally no risks to rooting is simply a false statement, but there’s very little you can do to your phone that you can’t undo.

I see no reason not to root. You can easily undo it and security isn’t a big problem as long as you aren’t downloading from some shady developer.

Most things you can do with a root phone can be reverted, particularly if you perform regular backups. Most devices can even be “unrooted” by returning to the stock software. It’s risky to try, but even if you screw up, you have to do something pretty bad to do something you can’t undo

…Except When it Isn’t

The key word in the above section is “most.” Most of the time, you won’t lose data. Most of the time you won’t break something. Most of the time you won’t scream at your device because something horrible happened and it’s going to take all day to fix it. Most of the time. SD Gator found themselves in that minority of other occasions:

I used to root all my phones, but then updates on my Nexus 4 started breaking root and the whole backup/wipe/root/restore thing just got to be too much work. Especially after some game files got munged and all my progress was lost a couple times.

And, of course, all of this assumes that you’re not rooting so you can flash other ROMs. If you decide to venture into ROM-flashing territory, it’s a veritable minefield,

Go to the XDA forums and take a gander at the horror stories about the new ROMs that are not 100% working with the features of your shiny new phone. Or causes it to crash. Or makes it more vulnerable to security risks.

Rooting your phone (and especially flashing custom ROMs) is an affair that demands a high level of personal responsibility. If you’re up for it, go ahead. But there are exactly zero guarantees that nothing will go wrong. You’re probably fine, but if you screw up, you’re on your own.

Then There’s the Warranty Problem

Rooting your phone and especially installing custom ROMs will probably void your warranty. In some cases, you can revert your phone back to normal and no one will be the wiser. Other times, the companies you have to deal with for warranty replacements will have a way of knowing. The community might be able to tell you what the risks are, but at the end of the day, you can’t always know for 100% certain that you’ll still get support after rooting your phone. If you’re okay with that, have at it! If not, though, you may want to reconsider.

5 settings every new Android owner should change

by Shivendra | Feb 22, 2018 | Phones

Whether you’re a newcomer to Android or just upgrading to a newer model, consider tweaking these settings to improve performance and battery life.

New Android phone? Take a peek at its settings. So many categories, so many options within those categories. It’s enough to make your head swim.

And you might find yourself wondering, are the factory settings ideal? Right out of the box, is your new phone really configured for optimal performance, productivity and battery life?

Maybe yes, maybe no. Here are the Android settings you should consider changing right away. (Quick note: with so many different versions of Android out there, the steps outlined here might be slightly different on your phone. For the record, I used a Samsung Galaxy S6 running Android 5.1.1.)

1. Crank down the brightness

Simple math: The brighter your screen, the faster it will consume your battery. That’s why you should lower the brightness setting, and not by a little. Consider dropping it to 50 percent or even less.

Turn the brightness down, and watch your battery life go up.Screenshot by Rick Broida/CNET

Doing so will provide a considerable bump in battery life, and I suspect you’ll barely notice a difference. (The change might seem off-putting initially, but trust me when I say it won’t bother you after a few minutes.)

To adjust brightness level, swipe down from the top (starting just above the screen). If there’s a brightness slider there, use it. If not, you may need to venture into Settings, then tap Display and wallpaper (or whatever is the equivalent on your model). Either way, drag the slider to around the midway mark. (And while you’re at it, turn off auto-brightness, which may raise the levels higher than you need or want.)

2. Crank down the whiteness

Does your phone have an AMOLED screen? (Most Samsung models do.) If so, there’s another way to improve battery life: Choose a black wallpaper. That’s because black pixels don’t need to be illuminated. And considering the wallpaper occupies the entire screen, the power savings could be substantial.

Again, the location of the wallpaper setting tends to vary across models and OS versions, but on most devices you can tap and hold any blank (i.e. unoccupied) area of the home screen, then tap Wallpapers from the menu that appears.

If there’s no basic-black (or simply “no wallpaper,” which results in black) in the available choices, grab the Pure Black Wallpaper from Android Central. Use it for both your lock screen and home screen.

3. Disable new-app shortcuts

Planning to hit up the Google Play Store for a bunch of new apps? Be prepared for a lot of icon clutter on your home screen, because that’s where shortcuts land every time you install something.

This setting will stop adding a new icon to the home screen every time you install an app.Screenshot by Rick Broida/CNET

Thankfully, there’s a simple way out of this: Open the Google Play app, then tap Menu > Settings. Now clear the checkbox next to Add icon to Home screen.

Presto! No more icons when you install new apps. Obviously you can still add shortcuts via the Apps screens, but they won’t clutter up your home screen unless you want them to.

4. Turn on scheduled “Do not disturb”

If your phone routinely spends the night on your nightstand, you probably don’t want it beeping or buzzing every time there’s a call, message or alert — especially when you’re trying to sleep.

Keep your phone quiet while you get some sleep.Screenshot by Rick Broida/CNET

Thankfully, Android offers a “Do not disturb” mode that will keep the phone more or less silent during designated hours.

On some phones, this is referred to as the Downtime setting. On my Galaxy S6, it’s “scheduled” do not disturb. And on my older OnePlus One, the feature is called “Quiet hours.” Bottom line: Head to Settings > Sounds (or Sounds and notifications), then look for something along those lines. Using the feature, you can set up a range of hours (usually nighttime) that you don’t want to be disturbed.

5. Set up “Find my mobile”

Is there anything worse than a lost or stolen phone? Only the knowledge that you could have tracked it down. You can do this using either built-in or third-party apps.

Start with Android Device Manager, which leverages location tracking built right into the OS. The catch: You have to make sure it’s enabled, and that requires a trip into Google Settings (as opposed to regular Settings). Read the Google support page devoted to this topic if you’re not sure where to locate this.

Once enabled, you can head to android.com/devicemanager from any PC or mobile device and sign into your account. Assuming your phone is on and online, you should be able to see its location on a map. From there you can make it ring, lock it out or even remotely wipe the whole thing.

Track down a missing phone by setting up a device manager…before it gets lost.Screenshot by Rick Broida/CNET

Some phones, including the Galaxy S6, incorporate third-party tracking. For example, when you tap Settings > Lock screen and security, you’ll see an option called Find My Mobile. It requires you to create (or register) a Samsung account, at which point you’ll get location options similar to those afforded by Android Device Manager.

Want something a little more robust? Third-party apps like Cerberus were designed expressly with anti-theft in mind. It can secretly snap photos and videos of the thief, record audio from the microphone and more.

Okay, there you have it! What Android settings would you recommend tweaking, and why?

New uses for an old Android device

by Shivendra | Feb 22, 2018 | Phones

Recipe station for the kitchen

No more cookbooks to balance on a stand or worry about ruining the pages with ingredients. Instead, you can use your old Android device — once you load up some recipe apps.

To get started, check out Food Network or Big Oven. If you have a PDF cookbook, use an e-book reader like Google Books or Amazon Kindle to display the recipe on your device.

Music storage for your car

Tired of plugging in or pairing your current device in your car for music? Unless you plug the device in, Bluetooth streaming can really eat into your battery life. Using a separate device means less hassle. The only drawback is that you’ll need to sideload your music, since you won’t be connected for streaming services.

Wireless keyboard or mouse

If your keyboard or mouse suddenly stop working, you can use your old Android as an input device with RemoteDroid. Neither input will be as accommodating as its desktop counterpart, but it will work until you can order or buy new ones.

Digital photo frame

Many of the digital photo frames on the market have lower-quality screens than the old Android devices you’re hanging onto. If you use one of these spare devices, you can connect cloud accounts for access to more photos. Check out Dayframe to turn your Android into a digital photo frame.

E-reader

You might use your current device as an e-reader replacement, but if you are an avid reader, it can take a toll on your battery. If you promote an old device to permanent e-reader status, then you’ll have no more battery woes. Depending on your reader app preference, and whether you sideload books, you may not even need a Wi-Fi connection. For e-reader apps, check out Google Play Books, the Amazon Kindle app, and Aldiko.

Security or nursery camera

No need to spend money on fancy security cameras or nursery monitors — you already have one. With the assistance of IP Webcam on your device and on your computer, you can stream both a video and an audio feed. The setup is easy and the Web interface is useful.

Desk clock and weather station

An Android device can display more information than your average desk clock. You can add personalized backgrounds, weather forecasts, multiple clocks and inbox status. Check out Dock Clock Plus to get started.

Optimize for kids

To protect your new device, it’s best to let your kids play with an older one just in case any accidents happen. Disable all the apps you can, and uninstall all third-party ones. Now you’ll have plenty of space to install some educational apps. Check out this link for the most popular and free apps for kids.

As an added bonus, you can load movies on the device if you want to use it to help keep kids relaxed and entertained in the car.

Donate it

When you’re finished repurposing your device, make it accessible to someone who needs it. Tablets should be donated to schools and phones should go to centers that help people in need. You may need to contact your local donation centers for guidelines, but phones are usually welcome.

The 20 best smartphones 2018

by Shivendra | Feb 21, 2018 | Phones

CONTENT SOURCE : Business Insider

Get ready for a wave of new smartphones.Mobile World Congress, the wireless industry’s annual global confab, is about a month away. Every year MWC kicks off a series of announcements from phone manufacturers about new devices.

In addition to offering consumers new choices, the new devices also typically lead us to revise our list of top phones on the market. In many cases, though, we already have an inkling of what’s coming.

Whether you’re in the market for a phone right now or can wait until after the big show, we’ve got you covered.

Check out our list of the top 20 smartphones you can buy – and our picks for the ones to look forward to.

20. BlackBerry KeyOne

The KeyOne is BlackBerry’s successor to the Priv. Both run Android and feature physical keyboards. But while the Priv’s keyboard slid out from behind its screen, the KeyOne’s is permanently located just below its display.The KeyOne is a great device for those who want both a physical keyboard and access to Google’s apps and services, which aren’t available on other BlackBerry devices.

Price: $518

19. Sony XZ Premium

Jeff Dunn, my former colleague, reviewed this phone for Business Insider and summed it up perfectly:On the one hand, “this is a good phone,” he wrote. “The screen is great, the software is clean, and the whole thing is superfast.”

But on the other, “with its underwhelming battery and slippery, sometimes uncomfortable design, it’s not the device that should reverse Sony’s fortunes.”

Previously priced at $800, the XZ Premium is now available for less than $600 on Amazon, making living with its shortcomings much more palatable.

Price: $550

18. Motorola Moto G5 Plus

The Moto G5 Plus continues to be our favorite budget-friendly Android smartphone. It demonstrates that “good-but-not-great hardware can become [a] strong value at the right price,” as Dunn said in his review.With the G5 Plus, you get a 5.2-inch 1080p screen, a fingerprint scanner, great battery life, a 12-megapixel camera that beats those of other phones in its price range, a nearly pristine version of Android, and a sleek design. All for a mere $200.

Still, the G5 Plus doesn’t have as many features as premium phones. For example, it doesn’t have an NFC antenna, so it can’t be used for mobile payments. And to charge the device, you’ll have to use a microUSB cable; it doesn’t support USB-C, the newer, faster phone-charging standard.

Price: $200

Wait for it: Lenovo’s Motorola unit is expected to announce the Moto G6, the replacement for the G5 Plus, at MWC. Check out the rumors at the end of this list.

17. Motorola Moto G5S Plus

The Moto G5S Plus is an upgrade from the G5 Plus.The newer phone features an all-metal design, whereas the older one has a half-metal, half-plastic case. The G5S Plus also has a bigger screen — a 5.5-inch display versus 5.2-inch one.

But one of the biggest improvements is in its camera. The G5S Plus has a 13-megapixel dual-lens camera system.

Price: $240

16. Motorola Moto Z2 Force

The Moto Z2 Force comes with everything you’d expect from a premium smartphone. As Dunn noted in his review, it’s “very fast, its screen looks good, its cameras are capable of taking nice photos, and it has a razor-thin frame.” And its 5.5-inch AMOLED display is more resistant to cracking than most other smartphones’ screens.However, the Z2 Force is a little too reliant on Motorola’s Mods. Those are the company’s line of snap-on accessories, including external speakers and bigger batteries, that are designed for its Z-series phones. Without such Mods, the Z2 Force doesn’t really measure up to the devices that rank higher on this list.

Price: $720

15. Apple iPhone SE/6S/6S Plus

I grouped all these together because they are all two-years-old, have similar specs, and are still available from Apple. They’re also still amazing smartphones.Last fall, Apple released iOS 11, the latest version of its mobile operating system, and my iPhone 6S Plus still runs great with it.

The SE, 6S, and 6S Plus all feature great cameras and Apple’s Touch ID fingerprint sensor, which allows you to quickly unlock your phone. Another bonus: These are the last iPhones that still have headphone jacks.

These phones are even better if you buy them refurbished from Apple; you’ll get a deep discount if you do.

iPhone SE price: $350

iPhone 6S price: $450

iPhone 6S Plus price: $550

14. HTC U11

The U11 has an excellent camera, an eye-catching reflective back, and speedy performance. And it has a fun feature that allows you to squeeze its edges to open any app you want, including Google Assistant.In most respects, it’s a great Android smartphone. But it has two notable shortcomings — it lacks a headphone jack, and the borders around its display are relatively large, which makes it look old-fashioned.

Price: $650

13. LG G6

The G6 is LG’s best smartphone. With it, LG is finally offering a phone with a premium design and water-resistance — features that put the G6 in the same league as Samsung’s and Apple’s flagship devices.The G6 has a good dual-lens camera and a screen that’s taller than normal, which makes it great for viewing and using apps.

But the G6 has one notable downside: an older processor. Its Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 chip was superseded by the Snapdragon 835 two months after the G6 launched. Unlike the G6, Samsung’s Galaxy S8, one of its chief rivals, has the newer chip.

While the Snapdragon 821 is still a great processor, its likely to become obsolete sooner than its successor, and the G6 is likely to start seeming slower sooner than the Galaxy S8.

Price: $600

Wait for it: LG is expected to release the successor to the G6 at MWC. Check out the rumors at the end of this list.

12. Essential Phone

The Essential Phone is a gorgeous device. It has a nearly edge-to-edge display and a case made of ultrapremium materials — ceramic on the back and titanium on the sides. It also runs a nearly stock version of Android, which I prefer over the heavily modified versions that Samsung and LG phones tend to use.Overall, the Phone is a great first effort from Essential. It’s speedy and takes great photos. It also has two magnetic pins on its back that serve as a connection point for peripherals, including a 360-degree camera and a wireless-charging dock.

Essential recently dropped the price of the Phone to $500 from $700. That’s a great deal for a great phone.

Price: $500

11. Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus

The Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus are among the best-looking smartphones out right now. They’re more attractive than Apple’s iPhone 8 and sleeker than Samsung’s Note 8.With the S8 and S8 Plus, Samsung refined the curved glass design it used with the S7. Meanwhile, the ultranarrow borders around the devices’ screens make them the new standard for premium smartphone design.

In addition to their good looks, the Galaxy S8 phones are full of great features. They’re water-resistant. They have taller-than-average screens, allowing you to see more of your apps or webpages. They support both fast and wireless charging and face and iris recognition.

They have one of the best cameras, and, unlike Apple Pay or Android Pay, Samsung’s Pay wireless-payments service works on pretty much every credit-card reader. And they each have a home button, so it’s easier to adjust to using them than phones that have ditched the feature.

With all those attributes, you’re likely wondering why the S8 phones didn’t make the top of this list. Here’s why: I’m not a fan of TouchWiz, Samsung’s software interface that runs on top of Android. I instead prefer the clean look and features of stock Android.

But it’s more than a simple personal preference. Modifications like TouchWiz almost always prevent the phones running them from installing the latest Android updates when they’re released. And that’s the case here.

The S8 phones rely on TouchWiz for face- and iris-recognition capabilities. But those features are poor compensation for the inability to install timely Android updates.

Galaxy S8 price: $635

Galaxy S8 Plus price: $705

Wait for it: Samsung is expected to release the Galaxy S9 at MWC. Check out the rumors at the end of this list.

10. Apple iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus

The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus are now more than a year old, but for $550 and $670, respectively, they easily beat the Galaxy S8 phones.Apple phones generally offer better apps and a better owner experience than their Android rivals, and the iPhone 7 is no different. The support you get from Apple if something goes wrong is superior to what you get from Android device makers. And unlike on most Android phones, with iPhones you can always get the latest software updates straight from Apple as soon as it releases them.

The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus offer some compelling features, including water-resistant cases, great cameras that perform well in low light, and a powerful processor. The phones also work well with other Apple products, including the company’s wireless AirPods headphones.

The iPhone 7 Plus’ dual-lens camera system is its distinguishing feature. It allows you to take pictures with a professional-looking “bokeh” effect, which blurs the background behind your subject. Additionally, the system allows you to zoom in on your subjects; its second camera offers a 2x optical zoom.

Unlike the digital zoom feature found in other cameras, an optical zoom allows you to enlarge an image of your subject without sacrificing picture quality.

iPhone 7 price: $550

iPhone 7 Plus price: $670

9. Razer Phone

The Phone is marketed as a “gaming” phone, mostly because of its unique display. The Phone can refresh its screen 120 times a second; most phones, by comparison only refresh their screens 60 times a second. The Phone’s faster refresh rate allows it to offer super smooth gameplay.But the Phone doesn’t just use the feature to make games look good. The refresh rate also affects the way it displays apps and its Android interface. It works beautifully; everything you do on the phone is ultrasmooth in a way never seen before on a smartphone. In fact, Razer may have set the standard for how all phone displays should work — not just those on gaming devices.

But there’s more to the Phone than just its screen. It’s also got an eye-catching industrial design that stands out when compared with the sleek and svelte designs of most other Android phones.

The large borders above and below the Phone’s screen may look out of step with the borderless designs of other recent phones. But hiding beneath those borders are the loudest and best speakers we’ve heard on any smartphone.

Price: $700

8. Huawei Mate 10 Pro

The Mate 10 Pro is the most enticing one to date that the Chinese company has offered in the US market. It features a nice, if somewhat generic, design; water resistance; a large, 4,000mAh battery; and a dual-lens camera system.It also runs on a Kirin 970 processor that comes with something called a neural-network processing unit, or NPU. The NPU lets the phone adapt and respond to how you use it. It can adjust the device’s power consumption to offer both the best performance and efficiency.

Combined with the Mate 10 Pro’s jumbo-sized battery, the NPU allows the device to have insane battery life.

Price: $840

7. Samsung Galaxy Note 8

With its gorgeous design, ultrathin borders around its screen, a beautiful display, fast performance, a dual-lens camera system, and fancy stylus-based features, the Note 8 takes the best attributes of Samsung’s Galaxy S and Note smartphone lines and smashes them together into a phone that’s hard to beat.Price: $924

6. OnePlus 5T

If you’re looking for a huge bargain, the OnePlus 5T is the Android phone to get. It’s a fantastic phone that’s only made better by its incredible $500 starting price.It comes with more memory than any other smartphone we’ve tried, guaranteeing top performance. On top of that, its great camera comes with a portrait mode that competes with those of the iPhone X and Google’s Pixel 2. And it has one of my favorite features in an Android phone: It runs a near-stock version of the operating system.

Price: $500

5. Google Pixel 2

The Pixel 2 might not be the most beautiful Android phone you can buy, but it has a secret weapon that vaults it above most of the competition — it runs the latest and purest version of the operating system. Because it’s unadulterated, that version looks and runs better than any of the tweaked takes on Android other phone makers include with their devices.Better yet, because the Pixel 2’s Android is unmodified, you’ll be able to install the latest updates as soon as Google rolls them out. That’s not something you can usually do with other Android phones. But it’s important and, hey, who doesn’t want to get the latest version of Android as soon as it’s available?

But the Pixel 2 has other features that help put it ahead of other Android devices, including an amazing camera, great performance, and outstanding battery life. And unlike its predecessor, the original Pixel, the Pixel 2 is water-resistant. All told, it’s like a smarter —if less attractive — Galaxy phone.

Still, there’s one way the Pixel 2 doesn’t match up to the original Pixel. We rated that device higher than the iPhone 7, which came out at about the same time. But we rate the iPhone 8 higher than the Pixel 2. That’s because the iPhone 8 supports wireless charging and ships with a set of headphones, and the Pixel 2 offers neither.

Price: $650

4. Google Pixel 2 XL

The Pixel 2 XL has nearly the same components and features that make the Pixel 2 great. But it comes in a bigger package with a larger display and a fresher-looking design. The Pixel 2 XL isn’t the best-looking Android phone, but with the narrow borders around its screen, it looks sleeker and more refined than its smaller sibling or its predecessors from last year.And the unadulterated Android experience it offers is unbeatable.

Users and reviewers initially reported encountering several problems with the Pixel 2 XL, mostly with its screen. Some reported that the colors it displayed weren’t as vibrant as those on other top Android phones. Google later issued an update that made colors appear more vibrant.

Price: $850

3. Apple iPhone 8

Google’s original Pixel phones topped last year’s iPhone 7. But now that the new iPhones are here, Apple is back on top.The iPhone 8 comes with a refined glass-and-metal case, a superb camera, and incredible performance. With it, Apple is finally supporting both wireless and fast charging — features that Android phones have long offered but had been missing from previous iPhones.

What pushes the iPhone 8 ahead of the Android pack is its iOS operating system and the broader Apple ecosystem. You can get the latest updates straight from Apple as soon as they’re released, iOS apps are generally better-designed than their Android counterparts, and if something goes wrong with your phone, you can get help at one of the hundreds of Apple Stores.

Price: $700

2. Apple iPhone 8 Plus

The iPhone 8 Plus includes all the best things about the iPhone 8. But it adds to them a bigger, better screen and a dual-lens camera system that features a telephoto lens and the ability to take shots like those you could capture with a professional camera.Price: $800

1. Apple iPhone X

It’s undeniable. The iPhone X is the best smartphone on the market today. It combines Apple’s standout operating system and app store with the best-designed phone we’ve seen.In terms of features, it also matches those of the best Android phones. It’s got an outrageously beautiful OLED display that covers most of its front, and it supports both wireless and fast charging.

The iPhone X will cost you at least $1,000 — but that’s the price of near-perfection when it comes to a smartphone.

Price: $1,000

WAIT FOR IT: Samsung Galaxy S9

At least according to the rumors, the Galaxy S9 sounds like it’s going to look and work a lot like its predecessor, the Galaxy S8.One possible difference could be in the placement of the fingerprint sensor on the new device. We’re hoping the sensor on the S9 won’t be as awkward and difficult to use as it is on the S8.

Another area that could see changes is in the new phone’s camera system. We doubt there will be a major revision. But a few rumors suggest that the Galaxy S9+, the larger version of the device, will come with a dual-lens camera.

We also expect Samsung will use a new chip that will dramatically improve the facial recognition it offered in the S8.

If you’re specifically looking for a top-of-the-line Samsung smartphone, it’s in your best interest to wait for MWC. The latest rumors suggest the company will debut the phone at the show.

WAIT FOR IT: Moto G6

Motorola announced its Moto G5 at last year’s MWC, so we’re expecting the Lenovo-owned company to unveil the device’s successor at this year’s event.According to the latest rumors, the G6 is expected to get a display with an 2:1 aspect ratio, which is in line with other recent Android devices. Apart from that, little else has been rumored about the phone.

WAIT FOR IT: LG G7

WAIT FOR IT: LG G7 — LG announced the G6 at last year’s MWC, so we’re expecting it to unveil the G7 this year.

According to the rumors, LG’s latest flagship phone will sport Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 845 chip. That should allow the G7 to better compete with its rivals on performance than its predecessor.

Apart from that, little else has been rumored about the upcoming phone. Stay tuned.

Top 10 – The Best Bezel-Less Phones of 2018

by Shivendra | Feb 20, 2018 | Phones

It’s 2018 and Edgeless Borderless Bezel-less Smartphones are becoming normal…

Let’s get to it. Here’s our 2018 Top Bezel-less & borderless phones.

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2

The Award Winning Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 has arrived and while it’s not completely bezel-free like early rumours suggested, it’s still another impressive flagship level tri-bezel-less Android Smartphone. It follows on with the 2017 curved corner trend and while the Mi Mix 2 display might not curve around like the Samsung’s Infinity display, it still offers an impressive screen-to-body ratio thanks to the 18:9 form factor. The PPI has bumped up to 403 with an impressive resolution 2160×1080 on the 5.99 inch display. There is still a slight bezel at the top of the device but Xiaomi has positioned the speaker facing upwards to minimise this. Overall, it’s a stunning device! In terms of hardware, it’s packing the latest Snapdragon 835 CPU (Same as the OnePlus 5 & Galaxy S8) and comes as standard with 6GB of RAM (8GB version available) and 64-264GB of storage depending on the model. The Mi Mix 2 uses dual-nano SIM slots but doesn’t offer micro-SD card expansion so pick your version wisely. Tech Specs: 5.99″ 2160 x 1920 18:9 Aspect Ratio, 403 PPI, Sony IMX386, Snapdragon 835, 6-8GB RAM, 128GB Storage, Fast charge 3400mAh battery, Android 7 + MIUI9 with Full UK Support for 3, 7 & 20 bands. 0

OnePlus 5T

(Sandstone White Version Available soon…) OnePlus has become synonymous with the term ‘Flagship Killer’ and for good reason. The OnePlus 5 offers the best available smartphone performance while only costing half the price of a flagship… but… the OP5 does look a little dated… Bring on the OnePlus 5T which moves the fingerprint reader to the back while shrinking the top and bottom bezels and switching to an 18:9 aspect ratio. Why the sudden change? well… to look a little more… 2018… I suppose… Fans who bought the OnePlus 5 are a little disappointed to see the new version being released so soon, but… it’s a step in the right direction towards full screen smartphones. So what does the OnePlus 5T offer? An impressive (albeit not Samsung level) AMOLED Display, the fastest charging in the west and a top level performance all crammed into a light 162 gram aluminium body. What you miss out on compared to the flagships is low light night photography and any type of waterproofing. But at this price… it’s a no-brainer! Tech Specs: 6.01 inch, 2160 x 1920, 18:9 Aspect Ratio, Gorilla Glass 5, 403 PPI, Sony IMX386, Snapdragon 835, 6/8GB RAM, 64/128GB Storage, Super Dash Charge 3300mAh battery, Android 7.1.1 with Full UK Support, 7.3mm thick, 162 grams.

UMiDigi Crystal

With an impressive 88% Screen-to-body ratio, the UMiDigi Crystal certainly has the wow factor! Available in two versions (2GB RAM + 16GB Storage | or | 4GB RAM + 64GB Storage), the Crystal offers a 5.5″ full-HD crisp Sharp display protected by Gorilla Glass 4 and a pure Android 7 experience. Things start to get really impressive when you find out the price at which you can bag yourself the 4GB version for! Too good to be true right? To keep the price down, UMiDigi have opted for a lower-end CPUs, but the 4GB model still comes with the capable Mali-T860 graphics unit. Overall, the Crystal offers fantastic value for money! The focus is on design, an excellent screen and mid-level performance for the 4GB version and budget performance for the 2GB model. It comes with USB-Type-C, SD Card Support / Dual-SIM Support and Dual Samsung Rear Cameras. It’s worth mentioning that Dual-Cameras at this price-point tend to be disappointing and inferior to a single camera lens. So if you’re a serious shutterbug, ye here be warned! 😀 Tech Specs: 5.5″ 1920 x 1080, 401 PPI, Sony IMX386, MTK6750T 8-Core CPU + Mali-T860 GPU, 4GB RAM, 64GB Storage, 3000mAh battery, Android 7 with Full UK Support.

Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus (International)

Xiaomi’s budget Redmi range now has its own high screen-to-body-ration smartphone to show off. It features a modern full HD+ 5.99 inch display panel that’s rocking an 18:9 aspect ratio and the on-trend curved corners. It’s priced firmly in the mid-range making it an exciting alternative to the impressive but dated looking Xiaomi Mi A1. This is definitely going to be a popular smartphone going into 2018. Out of the box, the Redmi 5 Plus is pre-installed with the latest MIUI9 customisable Android skin giving it a performance boost over older Xiaomi phones that haven’t yet had the update. If the Redmi Plus is out of your budget, there is also a Redmi 5 (non-Plus) version that has lower resolution 5.7 inch display and more budget orientated specs. The Redmi 5 Plus is available now in Black, Gold, Rose Gold (Pink) & Light Blue. Tech Specs: 5.99″ 2160 x 1920 18:9 Aspect Ratio, 403 PPI, 12MP Camera, Snapdragon 625, 4GB RAM, 64GB Storage, Fast charge 4000mAh battery, Android 7 + MIUI9.

Elephone S8

The Elephone S8 is our third phone to feature almost bezel-less edges on three of the four sides. With Elephone being no stranger to bezel-less tech, having already released the S3 & S7, it’s great to see them innovating further with S8. Although the S3 & S7 didn’t make it into our Top Bezel-less Smartphones List this time around, you can still find them in our old list by scrolling down. The Elephone S8 has a respectable 4GB’s of RAM and 128GB’s of storage as standard and is available now. Its crowning glory is the huge 6 inch 2K display that comes with an impressive Super-HD resolution of 2560×1440. What’s really exciting is that when smaller manufacturers like Elephone are already reaching 3-border bezel-less 2K displays it forces the bigger manufacturers to play their trump cards early. No more slow feature rolling out for Samsung & Apple. Simply put, the Elephone S8 has it all, a super-high screen-to-body ratio, Super HD Display, Flagship Performance and a Big Battery all for an affordable mid-level price tag. Tech Specs: 6″ 2560×1440, MediaTek Helio X25 CPU, 4GB RAM, 128GB Storage, Quick-charge 4000mAh, 21MP Camera, Android 7.1 Nougat with Full UK network support.

MAZE Alpha

Maze has followed the tri-bezel-less formula by focussing on a super high screen-to-phone ratio (86%) rather than super thin side bezels. It’s a beast at 6 inches and has a full 1920×1080 resolution that uses Gorilla Glass 4 protection. Update: Check out the latest Maze flagship (Maze Alpha X) below. It’s no straggler when it comes to performance either with the MediaTek Helio P25 combined with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage. Powering the dual camera setup (13MP + 5MP, f/2.2) is a Samsung lens that will please the shutterbugs amongst us. If you’ve never heard of Maze before that’s because they are new to smartphone arena with the Maze Alpha being their 2nd smartphone release after the Maze Blade. Before this, Maze partnered with other manufacturers using their expertise in R&D department and production line management.

Tech Specs: 6 inch 1920×1080 Display,

Dual rear camera,

Helio P25 CPU, 4/6GB RAM,

64GB Storage, Quick-charge 4000mAh,

225 grams, AC WiFi,

Android 7.0 Nougat with Full UK network support.

MAZE Alpha X

After aMAZE’ing us all with the Alpha, the Maze team are back with the Alpha X. Featuring a 6 inch LG display panel this time with an 18:9 aspect ratio it’s a mighty impressive phone that fits in your hand easily. Rather than go down the minimalist route of the original, the Alpha X comes in a super reflective glass sandwich design that oozes premium… The newer display manages to give the Alpha X an incredible 89.6% screen-to-body-ratio while still keeping that front facing fingerprint reader. You will have to flip the Alpha X upside down for selfies, but you’re still treated to a headphone jack which is a bonus. In terms of performance, the 6GB of RAM and power efficient mid-range MediaTek CPU will keep things running smoothly. While it doesn’t have flagship level performance, it is priced firmly in the mid-level bracket. There’s also a 128GB storage option, but you can save money on the 64GB as there’s a micro-SD slot available. Tech Specs: 6 inch 1080×2160 Display, Gorilla Glass 5, 403 PPI, Dual rear Sony camera, Helio P25 CPU, 6GB RAM, 64/128GB Storage, Quick-charge 2900mAh, 209 grams, 5GHz + AC WiFi, Android 7 Nougat with Full UK network support.

Doogee Mix 2

Fixing the biggest mistake from the Doogee Mix 1, the Mix 2 comes with a full-HD display using the popular 18:9 aspect ratio. Unfortunately, it drops the Super AMOLED Samsung display that we saw in the Doogee Mix 1, but we’re getting 6 inches of screen at Full HD. It also moves away from the tri-bezelless design but still manages a respectable 78% screen-to-body ratio which is 1% more than the original Doogee Mix 1. In terms of hardware, it’s almost identical using the power efficient Helio P25 CPU coupled with 6GB of RAM but has a much bigger battery at 4060mAh to power the higher resolution display. Design-wise, the Doogee Mix 2 uses a glass sandwich approach with a metal band connecting the two sides. Since there’s now some room at the top for the camera, Doogee has stuck two in there for those dual-lens bokeh effect selfies. It’s a big improvement over the bottom-placed camera on the Doogee Mix 1… but… the Mix 2 doesn’t quite have the wow factor of its little brother! We’ll have a full review of the Doogee Mix 2 available soon. Tech Specs: 6 inch 18:9 IPS 1080 x 2160, 403 PPI, Dual Rear + Dual Selfie cameras, Helio P25 CPU, 6GB RAM, 64GB Storage, Quick-charge 4060mAh, 209 grams, Android 7.1 Nougat with Full UK network support.

Bluboo S1

Joining the tri-bezel smartphone trend is the very affordable Bluboo S1. While the bezels aren’t edge-to-edge you’re still getting an impressive smartphone that’s packing a 5.5″ Sharp full-HD 1920×1080 resolution display. With a 90% screen-to-body ratio, 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage the Bluboo S1 isn’t holding anything back, offering great mid-level specs. Powering the phone is the mid-level MediaTek P25 CPU which won’t be a winning any benchmark awards but will still run the 1080P display and Android 7 OS smoothly. The Bluboo S1 is another great example of mid-range smartphones offering flagship level innovation, albeit thanks to Sharp pushing out their fantastic tri-bezel-less display. The Bluboo S1 should be on your smartphone watch list. Tech Specs: 5.5″ Sharp 1080×1920, 90% Screen-to-body-ratio, Gorilla Glass 4, MediaTek Helio P25 CPU, 4/6GB RAM, 64GB Storage, Android 7, 3500mAh Fast Charge battery, Android 7 with Full UK network support.

Bluboo S8+ (Plus)

As well as the tri-bezel S1 below, Bluboo are soon to release the Bluboo S8 Plus with an infinity display that has an impressive 83% screen-to-body ratio. Following in the footsteps of the Galaxy S8 and LG G6, the S8 will offer a 4-corner curved display that is 5.7 inches and will use an 18:9 aspect ratio. The comparisons to the flagships ends there as the Bluboo S8 will only feature a 1440×720 pixel display and a low-end MediaTek CPU. It will feature a Sony dual-camera setup but in my experience, the low-end dual cameras are more gimmicky than practical. None of this matters though, as the Bluboo S8 will retail at around the $150 making it a real steal. You can get a flagship style screen on a smartphone with average performance for a wallet friendly budget price. Tech Specs: 6 inch Sharp infinity 1440 x 720, Gorilla Glass 4, Dual rear cameras (Sony), MT6750T CPU, 4GB RAM, 64GB Storage, Sony IMX258 16MP + 3MP Dual Cameras, Fast charge 3600mAh Android 7 Nougat with Full UK network support.

More awesome Bezel-less phones below!

The phones below didn’t make it into our new Top 5 bezel-less smartphones this time but there’s still great options to choose from. Another bonus is that if you pick up one of the phones below, you’re likely to grab yourself a borderless bargain. Why? because they’ve all been available for some time now so prices will have dropped considerably.

Xiaomi Mi Mix

If the Xiaomi Mi Mix with its almost non-existent bezels doesn’t get you excited then I don’t know what will. It’s a punch in the face to those who said mobile innovation is dead and will hopefully drive forward bezel-less innovation in 2017. At 6.4″ the Mi Mix OLED Screen sounds enormous, but thanks to not having top or side bezels it isn’t much bigger than a Samsung S7 Edge. When we look at phone to screen ratio, the Mi Mix has a whopping 90% usable surface area which is unheard of before. Where you’ll notice a big difference between the S7 edge and Mi Mix is in its weight with the Mi Mix weighing a hefty 210 grams. Xiaomi has chosen a 1080×2040 OLED screen with rounded corners for both the standard & pro model which looks crisp and has a decent PPI of 361. It would have been nice to see a QHD screen option for the Pro version as this would improve its VR capabilities. Inside, you’ll find a top of the line Snapdragon 821 CPU & either 4GB or 6GB of RAM. The Mi Mix, in my opinion, is one of the best-looking phones of 2016 and has some good, not perfect, specs to match. If bezel-less isn’t your thing then the OnePlus 3T has very similar specifications at a lower price point.

Tech Specs: 6.4″ OLED 1080×2040, 361 PPI, Snapdragon 821 CPU, 4GB/6GB RAM, 128GB/264GB Storage, 4400mAh, USB Type-C, 208 grams, Android 6 (MIUI V8).

Doogee Mix

Doogee are entering the borderless phone arena with the stunning Doogee Mix. The name does sound a little too similar to the Xiaomi Mi Mix for my liking, but I’ll leave that to the IP lawyers. Also similar to the Mi Mix is the 3 sided bezel-less technology that’s gone into the Doogee mobile, although there is more of a top border housing the ear speaker. In terms of specs, the Doogee Mix has everything ticking almost all the boxes… but leaves us feeling a little underwhelmed that the display is only 720P. On the plus side, the display is AMOLED meaning it will feature great black levels. With the screen being 720P, AMOLED technology and the battery already packing a decent 3380mAh I’m expecting some serious battery life from the Doogee Mix. Performance wise, the Mix is using a MediaTek Helio P25 8-core performance CPU and comes with either 4 or 6GBs of RAM to power the set of dual-rear cameras enabling you to snap some serious bokeh. The Doogee Mix is available now and unlike some of the other bezel-less options in this list, it’s priced firmly in the lower mid-range. Its bezels might not be the slimmest but it still has an awesome display-to-phone ratio. Tech Specs: 5.5″ AMOLED 1280 x 720, Dual rear camera, Helio P25 CPU, 4/6GB RAM, 64GB Storage, Quick-charge 3380mAh, 193 grams, Android 7.0 Nougat with Full UK network support.

Nubia Z17

Nubia are no strangers to bezel-less phones. Even as early as 2015, they were rocking the bezel-free Nubia Z9. As the bezel-less pro’s that they are, Nubia focussed in on creating a true flagship specc’d phone with the Z17. Featuring a top of the line Snapdragon 835 chip, 6GBs of RAM, Dual rear cameras (23MP + 12MP) and 128GB storage, the Z17 is competing against the Galaxy S8, OnePlus 5 and iPhone 8. Missing from the list is Quad HD resolution and an OLED screen but, even so, it’s still going to be an excellent flagship smartphone. It’s also rumoured to come with an IP waterproof rating, but we’ll have to confirm closer to release. Tech Specs: 5.5″ IPS 1920×1080, Dual rear cameras, Snapdragon 835, 6GB RAM, 128GB Storage, Qualcomm quick-charge 4+, 3200mAh, 173 grams, Android 7.1 Nougat with Full UK network support.

Bluboo Edge – Super-budget friendly

If you’re looking for a wallet friendly bezel-less phone then the Bluboo Edge should land firmly on your radar. Whilst it’s not as elegant as some of the phones listed above, it does come with a very big positive; the low price-tag. The Bluboo Edge is aimed at light Android users who don’t need buckets of processing power but do want a great screen to view all their media on. The 16GBs of storage is upgradable via a micro-SD card and it also features dual-SIM functionality as well a fingerprint scanner built into the home button. Tech Specs: 5.5″1280 x 720, Gorilla Glass, MediaTek 6737 CPU, 2GB RAM, 16GB Storage, 2600mAh, 206 grams, Android 6 Marshmallow with Full UK network support.

Ulefone Future

No one can deny that the Ulefone Future has borrowed it looks from the all mighty iPhone but it’s taken a step further by offering us a bezel-less screen which makes this phone look nothing short of cutting edge-~~less~~. Add to this, some impressive hardware specifications and a side-placed fingerprint reader and you’re definitely going to get a unique ~~futuristic~~ experience with the Ulefone Future. View our first impressions of the Ulefone Future. Tech Specs: 5.5″ 1920×1080, Gorilla Glass 3, Helio P10 CPU, 4GB RAM, 32GB Storage, Quick-charge 3000mAh, USB Type-C, 185 grams, Android 6 with Full UK network support.

Elephone S3

Elephone have stormed onto the market in the last year and now have 2 bezel-free smartphone offerings. The latest, the Elephone S3 features full UK 4G support and packs a truly edge-less full HD screen that curves around the edges of the phone. Although it’s not packing the latest MediaTek CPU, for day to day use, the Octo-core CPU handles most tasks easily giving you fluid overall experience. What’s great is that this phone is geared up toward to budget friendly mobile user who doesn’t want to compromise on style. Tech Specs: 5.2″ IPS 1920×1080, MediaTek MTK6753 Octa-Core CPU, 3GB RAM, 16GB Storage, Quick-charge 2100mAh, 167 grams, Android 6 with Full UK network support.

Elephone S7

The S7 (soon to be released) is the upcoming flagship model from Elephone which also features a bezel-free display similar to the S3. The specifications available so far are quite limited but we do know that Elephone have said it will feature the top of the range MediaTek Helio X20 CPU that can compete against current flagship phones. On a personal note I’m very happy to see that the Elephone S7 will be released with a front-facing fingerprint sensor. For someone who’s phone spends most of the day flat on a desk, rear fingerprint sensors aren’t very practical. According to our source, Elephone will be releasing two versions of the S7: a light & a Pro version. The light version is expected to drop some of the high-end specs and come in at a lower the price. I’ll update this with more details on the Elephone S7 soon. Tech Specs: 5.5″ 1920×1080, Helio X20 CPU, 3GB RAM, 32GB Storage, Most likely Android 6 with Full UK network support.

Next Entries »

Rooted vs Unrooted Smartphones

Rooting is Rewarding…

…But It’s Not Easy

Rooting Provides a Ton of Customizations…

…But Very Few Are Totally Necessary

Rooting is Relatively Risk Free…

…Except When it Isn’t

Then There’s the Warranty Problem

5 settings every new Android owner should change

1. Crank down the brightness

2. Crank down the whiteness

3. Disable new-app shortcuts

4. Turn on scheduled “Do not disturb”

5. Set up “Find my mobile”

New uses for an old Android device

Recipe station for the kitchen

Music storage for your car

Wireless keyboard or mouse

Digital photo frame

E-reader

Security or nursery camera

Desk clock and weather station

Optimize for kids

Donate it

The 20 best smartphones 2018

Check out our list of the top 20 smartphones you can buy – and our picks for the ones to look forward to.

20. BlackBerry KeyOne

19. Sony XZ Premium

18. Motorola Moto G5 Plus

17. Motorola Moto G5S Plus

16. Motorola Moto Z2 Force

15. Apple iPhone SE/6S/6S Plus

14. HTC U11

13. LG G6

12. Essential Phone

11. Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus

10. Apple iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus

9. Razer Phone

8. Huawei Mate 10 Pro

7. Samsung Galaxy Note 8

6. OnePlus 5T

5. Google Pixel 2

4. Google Pixel 2 XL

3. Apple iPhone 8

2. Apple iPhone 8 Plus

1. Apple iPhone X

WAIT FOR IT: Samsung Galaxy S9

WAIT FOR IT: Moto G6