Sony Xperia 12-inch Tablet Rumored to Arrive by 1H 2015

A new report on Digitimes claims that Sony Mobile is looking at launching a new 12-inch tablet device in the first half of next year. This isn’t the first time that we are hearing rumors about a 12-inch Xperia tablet as around a few days back the rumor mills were buzzing about a Sony Xperia Z4 Ultra tablet with mind-boggling specs. Back then, we weren’t quite sure if the rumor could be trusted as the spec-sheet sounded too good to be true, but this new report from Digitimes does further strengthen the previous rumors about the ‘Xperia Z4 Tablet Ultra’.

The report claims that Sony will be starting mass production of the 12-inch tablet soon and launch it by the first half of 2015. The tablet is said to come with a 12.9-inch 3840 x 2400 resolution display, Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, 8MP camera, and a body that’s around 8.6mm thin. Surprisingly, supply chain sources have told Digitimes that the tablet is likely to be priced in excess of $1000, which will make it one of the most expensive tablets in the market. Now, we’re not sure if there really is a market out there for a $1000 Android tablet. Especially when you consider the fact that the most expensive iPad model is on sale for $699 currently. It’s not just Sony that will be jumping into the 12-inch tablet market, Digitimes also claims Apple and other vendors are also all set to enter the premium 12-inch tablet market. This is likely to impact demand for notebook computers next year, although it does remain to be seen if the 12-inch tablets will really be able to affect notebook sales if they are going to be priced much higher than most 10-inch tablets in the market currently.

The earlier rumors about the Xperia Z4 Tablet Ultra claim that the device will sport a 4K resolution 12.9-inch TRILUMINOS IPS display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 chipset, 6GB RAM, 8MP 1/2.3” Exmor RS rear camera with Carl Zeiss f1.8 lens, HDMI 1.4 Input, PlayStation 4 Remote Play, 64GB onboard memory, S-Force Front Surround speakers, Hi-Res Audio support, DSEE HX, Digital Noise Cancellation, 12100mAh battery and a design similar to the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact.

Hurry! Google Nexus 6 Now In Stock On Motorola US Online Store

Google Nexus 6 is one of the most impressive Nexus devices to have ever launched. Except its large physical dimensions, the device is a massive improvement over the Google Nexus 5 and other Nexus devices from the past. Unfortunately though, the device hasn’t been available in stock for long ever since it went on sale, with stocks running out really quick. Finally, Motorola’s online store in US has the Google Nexus 6 back in stock. Both the color options – Midnight Blue and Cloud White are available in 32 and 64GB storage options.

So if you have been waiting to get a new Google Nexus 6 smartphone for yourself for the holiday season, now is the time to place your order. As you can expect, the stocks will most certainly run out pretty quick this time as well, so make sure you are able to get one before Motorola runs out of stock yet again. The prices are the same as earlier – $649.99 for the 32GB model and $699.99 for the 64GB model. No discount deals like the Moto X or Droid Turbo for the Nexus 6 sadly.

The Google Nexus 6 comes with a 5.96-inch 2560 x 1440 Quad-HD Super AMOLED display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 chipset clocked at 2.7GHz with Adreno 420 GPU, 3GB RAM, 32 or 64GB internal storage, 13MP rear camera with f2.0 lens and dual-LED ring flash, 4K video capture, 2MP front-facing camera with 1080p video recording, 3220mAh battery, Qi Wireless charging support, dual front-facing stereo speakers, water resistance, 4G LTE Cat.6, Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac dual-band, Bluetooth 4.1, NFC, and runs Android 5.0.1 Lollipop OS. It also supports quick-charge feature that gives you almost 6 hours of usage out of mere 15 minutes of charging. The quick-charger also lets you charge the huge 3220mAh capacity battery rather quickly; the Nexus 6 is one of the quickest charging smartphones in the market.

To order your Google Nexus 6, head to Motorola’s online store here and choose the color and storage size of your preference.

Samsung Galaxy S6 Release Date Rumored for Q2 2015, Could Come with Curved Display over Both Sides

The Samsung Galaxy S6 release date is right around the corner and, as we are getting closer to it, new rumors of Sammy’s next-gen flagship are starting to surface online. As usual, we are recommending you to take them with a pinch of salt, as there is no way to verify their veracity.

The latest rumors come from Italian publication HDBlog.it and they sound as Samsung is planning to use the best design elements of the Galaxy Note Edge and Galaxy Alpha for their next-gen flagship. According to the aforementioned source, Samsung Galaxy S6 will have an aluminum body and a curved screen. Unlike Note Edge’s screen which is bent over the right edge of the phone, Galaxy S6’s screen will be curved over both sides.

HDBlog.it also claims to have information regarding the Samsung Galaxy S6 release date. According to them, the South Koreans will unveil their new phone sometime early Q2 2015, despite the rumors saying that S6 might be officially introduced to the public at Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, in January 2015. The logic behind the early Galaxy S6 announcement is based on the below-expectations sales of the Galaxy S5.

For the time being, there aren’t any concrete details regarding the technical specifications of the Galaxy S6. If rumors are to be believed, the yet-unannounced Samsung smartphone would arrive with a Quad HD screen of unknown size, while sporting at least 3 GB of RAM, and an updated camera unit. Galaxy S6 might be underpinned by a 64-bit-enabled Snapdragon 810 processor, while certain markets might get a variant powered by a new 64-bit Exynos processor.

I remind you that previous rumors have pointed out that Samsung is planning to redesign the Galaxy S6 from scratch, in an attempt to reinvigorate the sales of the Galaxy S line up. For what it’s worth, Galaxy S6 is known internally as ‘Project Zero’.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Android 4.4.4 KitKat Update Now Available for T-Mobile Users

If you purchased a Galaxy Tab 3 from T-Mobile then you should keep an eye on the notifications panel. According to the Magenta carrier, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Android 4.4.4 KitKat update is now being pushed to users.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Android 4.4.4 KitKat software update is rolled out over-the-air and, as usual, the roll out is being made in phases. This basically means that some users will not be able to download and install the new firmware right away. I remind you that as soon as your tablet becomes eligible to receive the new update, you should be able to notice a system update message in the notifications bar. Tap on it, choose ‘Download now’, wait until the download is completed, and then press ‘Install now.’ Your tablet should reboot and install the new firmware. If the system update notification failed to appear, you would also want to perform a manual check under Settings > About device > Software updates > Check for software updates.

The T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 was still running Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, so the update to Android 4.4.4 KitKat is quite major. You should expect the KitKat-specific goodies such as transparent status and nav bars, white status bar icons, cloud printing, immersive mode, color emoji support, new Location menu and full screen album and movie art in the lock screen, along with Samsung-specific updates such as enhanced Samsung Keyboard, KNOX, and more.

According to the support page on T-Mobile’s website, the new Android 4.4.4 KitKat for Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 will update your baseband to version T217TUVUBNL1. They also mentioned that the update file has a size of 537 MB, so it’s recommended to download it using a Wi-Fi connection in order to avoid damaging your data plan.

New Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4.2 KitKat Update Build Rolls Out on January 6

Samsung and Sprint have announced that that a brand new Android 4.4.2 KitKat official update will be rolled out in the first week of 2015. The new update will probably be the final KitKat build that rolls out for the Sprint Galaxy Note 2 smartphone.

The Android 4.4.2 L900VPUBNK2 KitKat OTA Update brings several new features and bug fixes, as well as stability improvements. Your Sprint Galaxy Note 2 should be faster and smoother than before. This future new firmware will most probably be one of the final builds of Android 4.4.2 KitKat with Samsung and Sprint focusing on Android 5.0 Lollipop integration for some of their newer Samsung models. There is no word on the availability of Android 5.0 Lollipop for Galaxy Note 2, but we can still have hope that the latest Android OS build will be released for it, too.

This new Android 4.4.2 KitKat build with L900VPUBNK2 as its firmware version will bring HD Voice Icon, it enabled ORNL, and it patches various Google Security vulnerabilities such as SSL, TowelRoot and TrustZone. Beside these changes you will get bug fixes and a much more stable KitKat environment. The update will start to roll out in January 6th, 2015 for all the 100% stock Galaxy Note 2 devices.

This future firmware update won’t be released for any Note 2 models that are running custom ROMs. Also, remember that these types of updates will be rolled out in phases and if you own a stock Sprint Galaxy Note 2 phone then you shouldn’t worry if the new OS notification doesn’t arrive on January the 6th.

Android 4.4.2 KitKat OTA Update was first launched for the Sprint Galaxy Note 2 in May 2014 and it was one of the biggest software changes that this device has seen since its release. Now it remains to be seen if Sprint and Samsung will upgrade it with the latest Android 5.0 Lollipop firmware some time in 2015.

AT&T Galaxy Tab 4 8.0 and Tab 4 10.1 Android 4.4.2 OTA Update Released Before Christmas

AT&T has released the Android 4.4.2 KitKat OTA Update for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 8.0 and 10.1 inch tablets. It is not a major upgrade, but it will still add several new features and functions that should make your Android device much more stable.

The new Android 4.4.2 upgrade build is live and it might possibly be the last one with KitKat in its title, as AT&T will most probably start testing the Android 5.0 Lollipop firmware, so that it will be ready for an early 2015 release. Up until Lollipop arrives you should simply confirm the installation of this new Android 4.4.2 UCU1ANK2 build on your tablet.

With Android 4.4.2 UCU1ANK2 you will receive the following new changes: Google Play Store purchases will now be billed on the AT&T Bill for all the postpaid accounts, Kid’s mode is now available using the Galaxy Essential app store. There are no other major changes listed on AT&T’s website, but there are bug fixes and stability improvements added, too.

The update is released via FOTA (firmware over the air) and you will be able to download it using Wi-Fi connections only. Note that the update is rolled out in phases, which means that not all AT&T Galaxy Tab 4 8.0 / Tab 4 10.1 models are updated this week. However, if your tablet is 100% stock, then you will see this update released for it. Note that the update won’t be pushed out for tablets that are running custom ROMs.

In case your Galaxy Tab 4 8.0 / Tab 4 10.1 device doesn’t show the new Android 4.4.2 update notification, then you should manually check for new firmware files by going to Settings> General> About Device> Software Update and tap on ‘check for updates’ button. If there are any new Android 4.4.2 firmware files ready for download, then you should simply confirm the process and your tablet will take care of the rest of the updating process automatically.

Android 4.4.4 KitKat OTA Update Rolling Out for Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 8.0 and 10.1 at Verizon

The official Android 4.4.4 KitKat OTA update is rolling out right now for the 10.1 and 8.0 inch variants of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4. The update has been pushed earlier by Verizon and you should check the tablet’s Notifications panel to see if there are any new firmware files available for download.

Android 4.4.4 KitKat OTA Update for both Galaxy Tab 4 8.0 and Galaxy Tab 4 10.1 features the same firmware versions: VRU2ANK1. The new update is rolling out only for the Verizon variants of these tablets and it comes with the following changes: tablet self activation support, Find My Mobile, Kids Mode Widget, My Verizon 10.0.710 update, Hancom Office with support for reading comments of pdf file, Here & Now widget is no longer present. Besides all these changes you will see that numerous bugs have been fixed; now your tablet should be much more stable than before.

The new Android 4.4.4 update is rolled out by Verizon in phases, so you shouldn’t panic in case the firmware doesn’t arrive today for your device, as the roll out will continue until all the tablets are successfully updated. When your Galaxy Tab 4 8.0 / Tab 4 10.1 device shows the update notification you should simply confirm the download and installation process.

If the update notification isn’t shown by your device, then you should go to Software Updates menu and check manually for it. Remember that these types of updates are only sent out for 100% Stock Galaxy Tab 4 8.0 and 10.1 variants, so you shouldn’t expect to receive any update notifications in case your tablet is running a custom ROM.

The Android 4.4.4 KTU84P VRU2ANK1 firmware update build will probably be the final KitKat, as Samsung along with Verizon will start to work on releasing the first Android 5.0 Lollipop firmware for the Galaxy Tab 4 8.0 and Galaxy Tab 4 10.1 tablets. When the Android 4.4.4 OTA Update notification is shown you should simply confirm the install process and then your tablet will complete the rest of the process by itself. 

Sony Xperia Z4 Picture Leaks Courtesy of Leaked Email

After weeks of spec-sheet rumors and speculations on design, we finally have the first leaked image of the Sony Xperia Z4. The leaked image was found in the leaked inbox of Sony Pictures CEO Michael Lynton that was hacked recently. It isn’t clear if the design shown in the picture will be the final design for the Xperia Z4, but it does seem pretty convincing to us. The overall design doesn’t seem to be vastly different from what we have seen earlier and looks similar to the Xperia Z3 in many ways.

The images of the Xperia Z4 were reportedly emailed to Sony Pictures Entertainment CEO for discussing product placement in the upcoming James Bond flick Spectre. Apart from the one clear render of the device, there are a few other images as well that show off the design of the device. The Xperia Z4 will apparently feature a 1.2mm thin glass panel, mirror front and back finish and resin bezel. There is also an image that seems to show the new UI changes with a unique clock design. A new yellow color option is seen as well, likely to be offered when the device launches next year. However, since it is not clear if this is indeed the final design and when exactly the email was sent, we cannot be sure just yet. What is certain is the fact that these images are definitely the real deal and come directly from Sony Mobile. Overall, it does feel a little disappointing to see that Sony isn’t yet ready to give up its obsession with the Omni-balance design theme and continues to use it for their 2015 flagship as well. The Xperia Z4 will be the fourth flagship device to continue with the same design that we have been seeing since the Xperia Z1 launched last year. Even though the Sony flagship devices are well built and do look quite good, the design is getting long in the tooth now.

The Xperia Z4 isn’t the only unannounced Sony product that can be seen in the leaked images. There is also an image of a smart wearable product. From its appearance, it doesn’t quite seem to be a smartwatch as there doesn’t seem to be a display on it. It could perhaps be a fitness tracker of sorts, similar to the Sony Smartband Talk that was launched recently.

If Sony does market the Xperia Z4 in the next Bond flick, it could be a great opportunity for the company to make a splash in the US market. The company had made a similar effort in the past when it launched the Xperia T in the US market with AT&T with a prominent placement in the movie Skyfall. That didn’t exactly pay off the Xperia T didn’t quite manage to catch the attention of US buyers due to its lackluster hardware. Things might be a little different with the Z4 as it is expected to be a beast with a Quad-HD display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 chipset, 3GB RAM, 20.7MP camera, and bring a few other major improvements over the Xperia Z3 according to recent rumors.

New LG G PAD 8.3 Android 4.4.2 Update Now Available at Verizon, Adds LTE Roaming

For the time being, the G Pad 8.3 is the most powerful LG tablet currently in Verizon’s line-up. If you happen to own an LTE-compatible Verizon LG G Pad 8.3, then you should keep an eye on the notifications panel as a software update might be ready for you.

Verizon announced on their support page that a new LG G Pad 8.3 Android 4.4.2 update is now being rolled out to users. Since G Pad 8.3 VK810 runs Android 4.4.2 out of the box, all the KitKat-specific goodies such as transparent status and nav bars, white status bar icons, new Location menu, color emoji support, cloud printing, immersive mode, or full screen album and movie art came pre-loaded. The new software update only arrives with minor changes. According to the support PDF the new firmware adds 4G LTE roaming support in select markets and brings a fix for power on issues. You should also know that Redbox Instant is no longer supported. It’s also worth noting that the update has software version VK81023A.

Just like any other software update, the LG G Pad 8.3 Android 4.4.2 update is being pushed to users in stages. This means that certain users will not be able to download and install the software right away. As you may know already, when your device becomes eligible to receive the new firmware, you should notice a system update message in the notifications bar. Tap on it, then follow the on-screen instructions. You also have the option to search for the update manually under Settings > About device > Software update > Check for software updates.

Verizon’s support PDF doesn’t mention anything about the size of the new Android 4.4.2 update for LG G Pad 8.3, but it shouldn’t exceed 100 MB. Anyway, it’s recommended to download it using a Wi-Fi network.

Moto G Android 5.0.1 Lollipop Update Reportedly Being Pushed to Users

Over the past couple of weeks, Google rolled out the Android 5.0.1 update for their supported Nexus smartphones and tablets. Now we are hearing that the Android 5.0.1 Lollipop update is rolling out for the Moto G 1st and 2nd generation.

As you may know already, the Moto G Android 5.0.1 Lollipop update will only bring minor changes, but you would definitely want it installed on your handset. Just like any major OS update, Lollipop arrived with a few bugs and Android 5.0.1 is set to fix many of them. For the time being there’s no official changelog available for the Moto G Android 5.0.1 Lollipop update. In fact, there’s no word from Motorola that the new firmware is being rolled out. Just some users reporting that the new update is hitting their devices.

According to the users who already received the update, the Android 5.0.1 update for Moto G 1st gen has system version 220.21.25 and build number LXB22.46-25, while the update for Moto G 2nd gen has system version 22.21.25 and build number LXB22.46-25. You should expect the update to weigh in at below 50 MB, so it’s safe to download it using your mobile data connection without doing too much damage to your data plan.

The Moto G Android 5.0.1 Lollipop OTA update is being pushed to users in stages, which means that some of you would have to wait longer than others. After your terminal becomes eligible to receive the new firmware you should be able to notice a system update message in the notifications bar. Tap on it, choose ‘Download now’, wait until the download is completed, then select ‘Install now’ your smartphone should reboot and install the update. In case the system update notification failed to appear, you would also want to perform a manual check under Settings > About phone > System updates > Check for updates.

Android 5.0 Lollipop for Moto X 2014 Now Available in the UK

Soon after the Android 5.0 Lollipop update has been rolled out for the supported Nexus devices, Motorola issued the update for their Moto X 2014. The new firmware hasn’t been released in all regions, but now we are hearing that the Moto X Android 5.0 Lollipop update is being made available for the users based in the UK.

Therefore, if you are living in the UK and you happen to own a Moto X 2014 you should keep an eye on the notifications panel. As usual, the update is being pushed to users in stages, which means that some of you might not be able to download and install it right away. As you may know already, you should be able to see a system update message in the notifications bar as soon as your Moto X becomes eligible to receive the new firmware. All you need to do is follow the on-screen instructions. If the system update notification failed to appear, you would also want to perform a manual check under Settings > About device > System updates > Check for update.

There’s no mention of the size of the Moto X Android 5.0 Lollipop update. Anyway, expect it to exceed 500 MB, so it’s recommended to download it using a Wi-Fi network in order to avoid damaging your data plan.

I remind you that Lollipop is the most major update Google’s Android has received so far. Android 5.0 Lollipop introduces a new design philosophy called Material Design, multi-user support for phones, revamped notifications bar and Quick Settings, a card-based recent menu, Smart Lock, Screen Pinning, ART instead of Dalvik runtime, dynamic status bar, lock screen notifications, and more.

Alleged Image of Samsung Galaxy S6 Metal Frame Leaks

Looks like the Samsung Galaxy S6 could be the most leaked Samsung Galaxy flagship by the time we get to the actual announcement of the device next year. Earlier today we told you about the Galaxy S6 showing up on Indian import tracking portal Zauba, and now we have yet another Galaxy S6 leak. This time the leak comes from nowhereelse.fr, a website that does seem to have a pretty decent track record with Samsung leaks in the past. They seem to have received a photo of the metal frame that could belong to the Galaxy S6. The website does claim that the leaked image showing the metal frame may not necessarily be used for the Galaxy S6, and might be meant for another unannounced Samsung Galaxy smartphone.

The various images posted on the website show the aluminum frame in different stages of processing. A report on Italian blog HDBlog.it had claimed that the Galaxy S6 will arrive with a full-metal body and dual-sided curved display. So if the metal frame pictured here indeed belongs to the Galaxy S6, it doesn’t look like the Galaxy S6 will really be arriving with a display that is curved on both the sides. The full-metal body does seem to be getting confirmed by these pictures though. However, since the sources of the images don’t seem to be sure about the part belonging to the Galaxy S6, it will be a bit too early to assume that. Also, the metal unibody frame means that users will not be able to replace the battery on the Galaxy S6. While most other Android OEMs do not offer removable back covers on their flagship devices, Samsung has always allowed users the ability to swap batteries on their Galaxy flagship devices. The company’s newest flagship smartphone – Galaxy Note 4 features a metal frame but does offer a user-replaceable battery.

The Galaxy S6 is expected to sport a completely new design and bear no resemblance to its predecessor the Galaxy S5. Even if the leaked metal part doesn’t belong to the Galaxy S6, it does seem pretty certain by now that Samsung is going to use metal in the construction of its next flagship smartphone. One of the main reasons behind the Galaxy S5’s lower than expected sales is its uninspiring design and polycarbonate build quality. Samsung has been losing market share over the past few quarters and analyst data for the past quarter reveals that Samsung continues to slide in the global smartphone and its sales have plummeted further this year. Samsung managed to sell 73.2 million smartphones in Q3 this year, which was down from 80.4 million units for the same period last year. For the same quarter, its market share dropped from 32.1% last year to 24.4% this year. Clearly, Samsung desperately needs the Galaxy S6 to be a major success. A report recently claimed that Samsung could propone the Galaxy S6 announcement to bolster its sales in the high-end segment by gaining the early advantage over other Android OEMs.

Samsung Galaxy Note Edge vs. Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Specs Head to Head

Early September, Samsung announced two new flagship smartphones, both members of the Galaxy Note family. We are talking about the highly anticipated Galaxy Note 4 and the new Galaxy Note Edge with its bent display. Since they are two of the most powerful smartphones on the market we are going to put them head to head in the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge vs. Samsung Galaxy Note 4 specs battle.

There will be ten rounds where we will be judging the performance of the two devices in terms of Display, Dimensions, Connectivity, Memory, Camera, Design, Battery Life, Operating System, and Price. Each round is worth one point and, of course, the smartphone that manages to score most points wins the battle.

Display

Without a doubt, the screen is the main selling point of the two devices. Both phablets come with Quad HD screens.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 features a 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display with Quad HD (1440 x 2560) resolution and a pixel density of 515 ppi. The screen is protected by a Gorilla Glass 4 layer.

On the other hand, Galaxy Edge has a curved edge screen measuring 5.6 inches diagonally and having a total resolution of 1600 x 2560. It has a protective Gorilla Glass 3 layer and a pixel density of 524 ppi.

Even though they are both similar when it comes to resolution and size, Galaxy Note 4’s screen is more appropriate for basic tasks such as web browsing or watching videos. Furthermore, it’s less prone to scratching courtesy of the Gorilla Glass 4 layer. Note 4 win the display round.

Dimensions

We are dealing with two phablets here, so don’t expect anything decent when it comes to dimensions. Both come with 5.5+ inch displays, therefore the body needs to be large enough to accommodate them.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is 153.5 mm tall, 78.6 mm wide, and only 8.3 mm thin, while weighing in at 176 grams. Galaxy Note Edge is 151.3 mm tall, 82.4 mm wide, 8.3 mm thin and weighs in at 174 grams.

As you can see the Galaxy Note Edge is more compact than its cousin. The curved device wins this round.

Connectivity

The connectivity features are fairly similar for the modern smartphones. Let’s see what hides under the hood of Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note Edge.

Connectivity-wise Samsung Galaxy Note 4 arrives with LTE Cat 6 or Cat 4, HSPA, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot, Bluetooth 4.1 Low Energy, NFC, IR blaster, and microUSB 2.0. On the other hand, Galaxy Edge comes with LTE Cat 6 or Cat 4, HSPA, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot, Bluetooth 4.1 Low Energy, NFC, IR blaster, and microUSB 2.0.

Can you spot the difference? No? Well, it’s probably because there’s no difference between the two in terms of connectivity. This round ends as tie.

Memory

Games, apps, your music collection, your favorite TV shows, and lots of photos. All these require a lot of storage, so let’s see how Note Edge and Note 4 perform.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 integrates 32 GB of internal storage and has support for 128 GB microSD cards. Believe it or not, Note Edge also comes with 32 GB storage and a microSD cards that accepts up to 128 GB of external storage.

Android is famous for its multitasking and Samsung took it to another level with Multi Window. Both devices arrive with 3 GB of RAM, so the multitasking experience will be flawless.

As you can see for yourself Samsung Galaxy Note Edge and Galaxy Note 4 are identical when it comes to Memory. The round ends as tie.

Processor

The high-end smartphone market is currently dominated by Qualcomm’s chipsets. Even though Samsung has their proprietary Exynos SoC, the South Koreans are using Qualcomm’s solutions for many of their phones.

Both Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note Edge are underpinned by the exact same chipset. We are talking about a Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor that is based on four Krait 450 cores clocked at 2.5 GHz and an Adreno 420 GPU.

There’s no way to differentiate the two devices when it comes to Processor. Another round ends as tie.

Camera

Samsung’s flagship smartphones have always boasted about great cameras. Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Edge make no exception.

Just like Note 4 and Note Edge have the same processor, they also arrive with the same cameras. They pack 16 MP primary shooters with optical image stabilization, autofocus, and LED flash. They also integrate Dual Shot, Simultaneous HD video and image recording, geo-tagging, touch focus, face/smile detection, panorama, HDR, and support for 4K video recording. The fort-facing units of the two smartphones have 3.7 MP sensors with Wide Selfie feature.

Yes, you are right. The Camera round also ends as tie.

Design

In the past, Samsung received a lot of criticism for the design of their phones, many customers and journalists complaining that their devices aren’t premium-enough. We are glad to see that Samsung is taking huge steps forward towards a premium design.

Starting with Galaxy Alpha, Samsung’s smartphones started using premium materials. Both Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note Edge are building using premium materials and they are fairly similar in design. They both have a metal flame around the body, a faux leather back that feels soft and high-quality, and they both have a slot for the S Pen stylus in the lower left corner. The main camera is placed in the higher end of the phone, centered, and right below it there’s a heart rate monitor. Both have a fingerprint sensor embedded in the Home button.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 continues the design philosophy introduced by its predecessor, the Note 3. It has sharp edges and less rounded corners. Note Edge follows the same design guidelines, but its display is bent over one of the edges. It’s a bit wider than Note 4, but in the same time it’s shorter and slimmer.

Both devices look and feel premium and there’s no way to tell which one looks better. This round is a tie.

Battery Life

Besides sporting big displays, the phablets are also known for having above-average battery life. Let’s see how Note Edge and Note 4 perform when it comes to autonomy.

Samsung Galaxy Note Edge is powered by a Li-Ion 3,000 mAh battery. In our tests the device managed to get through about two days of normal usage on a single charge.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is kept alive by a 3,220 mAh battery using the same Li-Ion technology. We’ve tested the Note 4 and we can say that it’s battery is large enough to keep it awake through about two days of normal usage.

Even though Note 4 has a slightly bigger battery, the two smartphones are similar when it comes to battery life. It’s a tie!

Operating System

Samsung is the largest Android OEM in the world and both Note 4 and Note Edge are underpinned by Google’s mobile OS. They both come pre-loaded with Android 4.4 KitKat.

Both phones have Samsung’s proprietary TouchWiz UI installed on top of Android 4.4.4 KitKat, bringing some neat software features. Just to name a few Smart Select (allows the user to easily select content using the S Pen and share it right away), Photo Note (you can take photos and convert analog text to digital), enhanced Multi Window (you can now resize the windows), Fast Charging (go from 0% to 50% in about 30 minutes), and Ultra Power Saving Mode (shuts down unnecessary processes to dramatically increase battery life).

Besides all the aforementioned features, Galaxy Note Edge has a couple of aces up its sleeve. You can move all the notifications to the Edge screen (side screen) and you can enable it to be always on while sleeping and transform your phone in some sort of alarm clock. You can also customize the information shown on the side screen, place shortcuts there, or have a different background.

The Edge-specific software features are quite intuitive and quite useful and the phone definitely outmatches its cousin when it comes to OS. Galaxy Note Edge wins the operating system round.

Price

We will try to keep it simple in the Price round. The cheaper smartphone wins. And because high-end phones are usually sold on-contract, we will be comparing the on-contract prices of the two devices.

In the US, AT&T and Sprint are the biggest carriers to have the Galaxy Note Edge in their portfolio. AT&T is selling the 32 GB Galaxy Note Edge at a price of $399.99 with a two year-contract, while Sprint is asking $429.99 for the 32 GB model after you sign a two-year agreement with them.

The price of the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is the same whether you purchase it from AT&T or Sprint. The 32 GB variant costs $299.99 with a two-year contract.

Without a doubt, Galaxy Note 4 is the cheaper device. That’s why it wins the Price round.

Conclusions

Here we are at the end of the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge vs. Samsung Galaxy Note 4 specs battle. It’s about time to start counting points and to see which smartphone is the winner.

I will start by saying that not less than six rounds ended as tie. The two devices where equally matched in terms of Memory, Camera, Processor, Connectivity and Design.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 has won the Display and Price rounds. It’s because its screen is more appropriate for basic tasks such as web browsing or watching videos and because it’s cheaper than Galaxy Note Edge.

Samsung Galaxy Note Edge outmatched Galaxy Note 4 in two rounds. It scored two points for winning in Dimensions and Operating System rounds, because it’s more compact and because of the Edge screen-specific software features.

In our opinion, Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note Edge are equally matched, so you can choose any of them without failing. In fact, it’s all about finding the smartphone that fits your needs. Of course, you are entitled to have a different opinion, that’s why we are inviting you to comment in the section below.

Xperia Z3 PlayStation 4 Remote Play Feature Now Available For All Android 4.4+ Devices

One of the main highlights of Sony’s latest Xperia Z3 flagship smartphone is the PlayStation 4 Remote Play functionality. The feature initially debuted with the Xperia Z3 family of devices – Xperia Z3, Xperia Z3 Compact, and Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact, but was also released for the Xperia Z2 and Xperia Z2 Tablet devices as part of a software update recently. Sony initially claimed that the feature will not be able to be ported to other devices as it has included some specific hardware tweaks on the Xperia Z3 family of devices to minimize the input lag on supported devices. However, due to the open nature of the Android platform, it was only a matter of time before an Android developer ported the feature to other devices. That has actually happened finally as XDA developer TheScriptKitty has managed to port the Sony PlayStation 4 Remote Play feature to all Android devices running Android 2.2 or later versions.

The port seems to be quite successful as all the features are currently working except for DualShock 4 controller. However, you can still get the DualShock 4 controller to work with the feature by following two workaround methods that have been detailed by the developer. Surprisingly, the port doesn’t require root access either, so those of you with a completely stock Android smartphone can also try the feature on your device, provided you have a Sony PlayStation 4 at home. The developer has also disabled the root access check and connection speed checks for the app, so you should be able to get the app working even f you have a connection that is slower than what Sony recommends for an optimum experience when using the feature.

A large number of devices are supported currently and many more are expected to be added to the list in the near future. Almost all the Google Nexus devices including the Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7 2012, Nexus 7 2013, Nexus 9, and Nexus 10 are supported. A number of Samsung Galaxy devices like the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1, Note 2, Note 3, Note 4, Mega 6.3, S2, S3, S4, S5, Tab Pro 8.4, Tab Pro 12.2, Tab S 8.4 LTE, Tab S 10.5, Tab 10.1, Tab 2 7.0, Tab 2 10.1, Tab 3 7.0, and Tab 3 10.1 are included as well. LG smartphones that are compatible with the port are the latest G3, G2, GPad 8.3, Optimus F6 and the G Flex. The only Motorola device that seems to be compatible with the port is the Moto X 2013. Other supported devices are the HTC One M8, One M7, Nvidia Tegra Note 7, OnePlus One, Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1, Note 2, Note 3, Note 4, Mega 6.4, S2, S3, S4, S5, Tab Pro 8.4, Tab Pro 12.2, ZTE Nubia Z7 Mini and other recent Sony Xperia smartphones such as the Xperia Z, Xperia M, Xperia Tablet Z, Xperia Z1 Compact, and the Xperia Z Ultra.

To install the Remote Play Feature on your Android smartphone or tablet, download and install the Remote Play port APK file and install it on your device. For most devices this should get the feature up and running. If somehow it doesn’t, then you will need to download the DualShock Manager apk file and move it into /system/app/ directory and change permissions to RW-R-R and reboot your device.