I'm an avid gamer and a bit of a Ninja when it comes to gadgets and technology. When I'm not busy with the latest Android and iOS games and I can be found writing at Gizchina.com.
The FAEA F1 has been finally launched in China with a retail price of 799 Yuan ($130), making the Meizu MX2 clone one of the most affordable 720p, NFC equipped phones on the market.
FAEA released the F1 last night confirming specification details, pricing and the launch date. As noted yesterday the F1 is a 4.5-inch Android smartphone which has the same design and similar manufacturing process as the Meizu Mx2.
The display is a 720p IPS unit which is driven by a Snapdragon S4 MSM8225Q CPU, 1GB RAM and 4GB ROM. An 8 mega-pixel sits on the back of the phone which is also where you fill find an 1800mAh removable battery, dual SIM support and NFC sensor.
Pre-sales for the 799 Yuan F1 will begin on May 27th. International resellers are likely to receive phones mid June.
Renders leaked on Sina Weibo claim to show the ultra slim Huawei P6 ahead of its launch next month.
Huawei have been talking about launching an ultra thin Android phone now since this year’s CES, and if the current leaked renders, spy photos and specifications are anything to go by they look set to make good on their word.
The latest leak shows us an alleged render of the corner of the Huawei P6. It’s immediately obvious that the P6 has some styling influences from the iPhone 5, such as the broken alloy band circling the phone.
As well as the new image, sources close to the project have been speaking out against rumours that the Huawei P6 will measure just 6.18mm, and claim the production phone will actually be closer to 6.3mm.
Hardware details remain unconfirmed but are thought to include a 4.7-inch 720p display, Huawei K3V2 1.5Ghz CPU, 2GB RAM, 8 mega-pixel rear camera and 5 mega-pixel front.
Qualcomm have been talking about their Mirasol display for years, and now it finally looks ready to launch, at least in some applications.
Mirasol is Qualcomm’s own display technology, which the company have been developing now for years. The major benefit of this new display type is the claimed power consumption advantage if offers overs LED or OLED displays. According to the numbers Mirasol is unto 6x more energy efficient!
So how does Mirasol accomplish this? Well one the main energy-saving features is the display uses an external light source, be it the sun, indoor lighting or even some type of built-in LED system.
Engadget managed to get some hands on time with some mock-ups of the Mirasol display, one a 1.5-inch smart watch display which we should see on the market soon and the other a 5.1-inch smartphone display with an amazing resolution of 2,560 x 1,440 (577ppi), which isn’t quite ready yet for launch.
Nubia is the China only flagship brand of ZTE, which currently has the single model on sale, but an alleged deleted Weibo message could hold the secret of Nubia’s future.
There are a few trends that anyone following the smartphone market will know. There is the growth in screen size, the trend in thinner phones, and then the growing trend in ‘mini’ versions of current phones.
A ‘mini’ version of a phone (see Samsung Galaxy S4 mini) is usually a downsized, downgraded version of a current phone at a more affordable price. A bit of an odd choice as most consumers are actually looking for smaller versions with equal spec…
ZTE owned Nubia could be the next phone maker to launch a mini phone in the shape of the Nubia Z5 mini. The current Z5 has a 5 inch display and costs around 2700 Yuan with a qualcomm S4 pro CPU and 2GB RAM, if we are lucky we could see that great spec crammed in to a smaller 4-4.5 inch display, giving Xiaomi a real headache!
Unfortunately the only ‘proof’ we have of the phone’s existence is a copy of a now deleted Weibo post.
Although the UMi X2 did launch in very limited numbers this month (just 50pc) most hopeful customers are still waiting for the full launch of the phone, but if you just can’t wait any longer we think we might have found the perfect alternative!
A couple of weeks ago we reported that certain Chinese resellers had reported receiving very limited numbers of the UMi X2. 50 pcs to be exact and we imagine it took seconds for them to sell out. The rest of you still waiting might have heard the news that UMi had set batches of UMi X2 phones to more resellers and that the phone should go on sale by May 25th, but what if you just can’t wait that long? Or you just don’t want to risk the wait?
OrientPhone S4 Vs. UMi X2 Youth
While browsing numerous forums and online stores we came across the OrientPhone S4, a self proclaimed Samsung Galaxy S4 alternative and a phone we believe could replace that UMi X2 shaped hole in your life.
Before reading on please be aware that we are comparing the UMi X2 Youth with the Orient Phone S4 as both phones ship with 1GB RAM and both come with the 1.2Ghz quad-core MT6589 (the Turbo UMi X2 will launch should be available mid June Internationally).
OrientPhone S4
Taking a look at the photos here it’s easy to see why the OrientPhone S4 is marketed as a Samung Galaxy S4 alternative. It features the same Samsung styling along with the tell tale Samsung ‘home’ button. Unlike most quad-core phones, the S4 doesn’t have particularly narrow bezels, however the width of the phone is still easily manageable at just 70mm.
Update: OrientDeal have confirmed with us that the rear camera is a 13 mega-pixel sensor. According to the specification the S4 has a 5 mega-pixel front camera and 13 mega-pixel rear. 18 mega-pixel rear which the makers claim to be better than the 13 mega-pixel sensors found on similar phones!
Being a flag-ship MTK phone the S4 has all the bells and whistles including a 5-inch 1920 x 1080 FHD 1080 display, quad-core MT6589 1.2Ghz CPU, 1GB RAM, SD card slot, dual-sim GPS, Electronic compass, Bluetooth, 2500mAh battery and Android 4.2.1 Jelly Bean.
From the prices we have seen of the UMi X2 Youth (which could change) the OrientPhone S4 is slightly more expensive at $259.68, but it comes with 2 x batteries, earphones and a flip cover, making it a bit of a bargain!
The OrientPhone S4 is actually an OEM phone by online reseller OrientDeal, meaning that they should also be able to provide English support as or when you need it.
Design wise the UMi X2 and the OrientPhone S4 are very similar, the only differences being that the S4 has a physical home button and that the X2 is slightly thicker at 8.9mm (the S4 is 8.5mm).
Cameras on the X2 are a 13 mega-pixel rear and 2 mega-pixel front. There are rumours that the manufacturer of the camera is to be changed, from what we are hearing this is not the case and even if it was the first batch of non Turbo X2′s won’t be affected.
The X2 Youth has more ROM than the S4 as standard at 16GB, but the rest of the hardware is the same including the 5-inch FHD display, GPS, Bluetooth, 2500mAh battery and Android 4.2.1 OS.
Online resellers are advertising the UMi X2 Youth at $230+ but with just one battery and no protective case.
From my hands on time with the UMi X2 Youth I can happily say that 1GB RAM and the 1.2Ghz MT6589 CPU works well with a full 1080 display, so the S4 should offer similar performance. From the design of both it really is hard to choose between the two as they are so similar.
However, the OrientPhone S4 is on sale now (we double checked) so there will be no more waiting and delays, on the other hand the UMi X2 should be on sale on the 25th! Which do you choose? Let us know in the comments section below.
Huawei seem to have a bee in their bonnet about Xiaomi and their amazing popularity, so much so that they are releasing phones to directly compete with the Beijing based start-up like the quad-core Huawei G700.
Xiaomi launched their latest entry-level Android phone last month, and since then the phone has been selling like mad. We are of course talking about the Xiaomi M2A, a 4.7-inch Snapdragon 600 phone which packs features even the top-of the range M2S doesn’t have!
Huawei are hoping to steal some of the Xiaomi’s thunder with the Huawei G700, and they could succeed thanks to the phone giants retail and manufacturing power! The G700 is a Mediatek based phone running the 1.2Ghz quad-core MT6589 CPU, with 2GB RAM, 8GB ROM, and 5-inch 720HD display.
Measuring in at 142.5 x 72.5 x 8.95mm the G700 is slightly larger than the M2A and it seems that the inclusion of 2GB RAM and a 5-inch display has eaten in to the camera budget as the main sensor is rumoured to be 5 mega-pixel! This is a serious disappointment as with an 8 mega-pixel shooter the budget Huawei could have been a real Xiaomi alternative!
Way back late last year, Apple released the Apple iPad mini and just hours after the launch Goopad gatecrashed the party with news of the Goopad mini! It’s taken some months but the GooPad mini 7 is finally on sale.
Currently there are more than a handful 7-inch mini tablets on the market and GooPad are bringing not 1 but 2 additional options both packing quad-core Mediatek processores and built-in 3G!
Weighing in at just $190 is the GooPad Mini 7 Standard with 7-inch 1280 x 800 display, 1GB RAM, quad-core MT6589 CPU, single SIM, GPS, AGPS and a single 4,800mAh removable battery!
If you’re the type of user who like to mix business with pleasure then the dual SIM GooPad Mini 7 Plus is the tablet for you. Costing slightly more than the standard at $240, the GooPad Mini 7 Plus version also get’s an additional 4,800mAh battery and a quad-core MT8389 processor.
Both the GooPad mini 7 Standard and Plus feature dual-cameras and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean all packed up in an alloy body measuring 192.4 x 114 x 8.6mm.
Remember that rumour about Neo will be updating the Neo N003 to the newer Mediatek MT6589T processor? Well apparently it isn’t true!
Our sources who are close to Neo have told us that Neo aren’t planning to update the quad-core Neo N003 to the 1.5Ghz MT6589T CPU and that the phone will ship as planned with the original 1.2Ghz non Turbo chip.
The news comes as quite a surprise as we hoped the reason for Neo’s late launch date of the N003 was due to the upgrade!
With a 1080p display, 13 mega-pixel camera, 3000mAh battery, MHL and OTG supper the Neo N003 will still be one of the best equipped phones available in China at such a low price, however how many customers are willing to wait now a processor update isn’t on the cards?
GooPhone have been making their mark on the world of Chinese smartphones thanks to their convincing Apple and Samsung clones. The GooPhone X1 breaks that habit though and focuses on low-price.
GooPhone have priced the GooPhone X1 at just 649 Yuan ($105) for the Chinese phone market, but even at this low price they have managed to include a quad-core MT6589 processor and 4.7-inch display!
To keep costs low the display only offers a resolution of 854 x 480 though and the rear camera is a 5 mega-pixel sensor, but you still get dual-sim standby, SD card expansion, 1GB RAM and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean as standard.
BBK’s Vivo phone brand usually hit the headlines with their high-priced flagship phones, but the company are trying to diversify with a range of new ‘Youth’ phones.
The Vivo Y19 will be the first lower cost Vivo in the new range. Full details haven’t been released but what we do know is that the phone will feature HIFI sounds, quad-core MTK processor and 4.5-inch display.
The main selling point of the Vivo Y19 will be its high specification cameras which are rumoured to have advanced optics along with a high mega-pixel count.
The Xiaomi ‘Red Rice’ has been popping up online for months now, but it finally looks like the budget Android phone will be making an appearance.
Xiaomi customers in China have found evidence that their favourite phone brand will be launching the legendary ‘Red Rice’ via the labelling on certain accessories. Customers buying separate chargers for the Xiaomi M2a phones have found that the labels mention the ‘Red Rice’ phone (小米 = small red).
Xiaomi have yet to confirm the new phone, however sources close to the Beijing based company claim the entry-level Xiaomi will cost just 799 Yuan ($130) and will come equipped with a 1.2Ghz dual-core Cortex A9 CPU, 4.7-inch display, 8 mega-pixel camera and MIUI V5. There are also rumours of a Mediatek powered model version too, but it is not clear which processor would be used.
India’s Micromax are fighting back against the current crop of FHD Chinese phones with the new 5.5-inch Micromax A120 Canvas HD Pro, which will launch this June.
Rumoured to go on sale for around INR20,000 ($385) the A120 Canvas HD Pro packs a 5.5-inch full HD display with a resolution of 192- x 1080, a quad-core Mediatek CPU (either a MT6589 or MT6589T), 2GB RAM, 13 megapixel rear camera and support for up to 64GB SD cards.
The Micromax A120 Canvas HD Pro is likely to go head to head with large screen phablets from Samsung, however if you are in the market for a quad-core phablet with 2GB RAM you might want to look at the Chinese Bigcola 2 (dakele 2) offers a similar spec but with 720p 5.3-inch display and 32GB ROM for over $100 less!
More manufacturers are jumping at the chance of updating current models with the new and improve Mediatek MT6589T. The Mlais MX58 is the latest to get the update, and like UMi, haven’t increased the price!
Two models of the Mlais MX58 are now planned to launch a 720p model at around 899 Yuan and a FHD 1080 version costing slightly more at 1099 Yuan.
Both models will feature 1GB Ram, 4GB ROM and updated 1.5Ghz quad-core MT6589T processors with faster GPU’s for a claimed performance boost of up to 35%. Other details include a 12 mega-pixel rear camera and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean OS.
799 Yuan ($129) isn’t a lot of money for an Android smartphone, however if that is how much you have to spend the Beidou Little Cyclone F9 looks to be quite a steal!
The Little Cyclone F9 isn’t as flashy as some of the phones we are currently watching in China, but at just 799 Yuan this 5-inch handset is likely to be popular. Keeping the F9 under 1000 Yuan has meant the display has been downgraded to a 4.5-inch QHD unit , however the rest of the hardware is on par with phones costing slightly more.
The processor is China’s favourite quad-core MT6589 and there is 1GB RAM along with 4GB ROM. An 8 mega-pixel rear camera should be more than adequate for most users and the 2 mega-pixel front will be fine for video chat applications.
Android 4.2 Jelly Bean will come as standard, plus there is dual SIM support, micro SD card expansion and a 2100mAh battery.
The Beidou F9 is actually very similar to the 5-inch Beidou Chi but offers users a higher resolution display and slightly larger battery.
A number of big name manufacturers have jumped on the Mediatek bandwagon this year, the latest to be spied is the HTC 608T which has just spotted at the Ministry of Equipment in China.
The HTC 608T is a 4.5-inch 720p phone with 1.2Ghz Mediatek MT6589 quad-core CPU and 1GB RAM. The phone features dual sim support for TD-SCDMA and GSM networks which are popular here in China, we also expect to see SD card expansion but this hasn’t been confirmed yet.
The rest of the hardware is typical of a mid-range MTK phone including a PowerVR SGX544 GPU, 8 mega-pixel rear camera and 1.6 mega-pixel front.
