Alleged Sony Xperia Z4 Spotted in Geekbench Running Android 5.0.2

We first heard that the Sony Xperia Z4 could be unveiled at CES in January, and then it was rumored that the flagship might arrive at Mobile World Congress in March. The latest reports are indicating that the Sony Xperia Z4 release date will not be at MWC. But we aren’t hearing to talk about the Smartphone’s launch, but about its latest cameo.

A Sony-made smartphone codenamed 78YB16RC98PW62B1 has been spotted by the folks at blogofmobile.com in Geekbench database. Even though the codename is unusual for a Sony smartphone, all clues point that it’s the yet-unannounced Xperia Z4.

According to the Geekbench entry, the smartphone is running Android 5.0.2 Lollipop, while being underpinned by a Qualcomm processor. The motherboard is marked as “msm8994″ which checks out with the code of the Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 801 chipset. I remind you that the SoC is based on quad-core ARM Cortex A57 and quad-core A53 with 64-bit support and an Adreno 430 GPU. The latest leak also revealed that the smartphone will integrate 3 GB of RAM.

If the rumors prove true, then the Xperia Z4 should have the same screen size and resolution as its predecessor, the Xperia Z3. Design-wise, the new flagship should be similar to the last three members of the Xperia Z tribe.

Unfortunately, there is no way to verify the veracity of the report; therefore we are recommending you to take it with a pinch of salt. After all, nothing is official until Sony says so.

HTC One M9 Plus Full Spec-Sheet Revealed By Upleaks

Notorious leakster @upleaks is back with some new information regarding HTC’s plans for the year. This time the leaker has posted alleged full specifications of the company’s upcoming flagship One M9 Plus smartphone. The One M9 Plus was believed to be the phablet variant of the One M9 flagship with a 5.5-inch Quad HD display. However, the latest report from upleaks claims that the One M9 Plus will not arrive with a 5.5” Quad HD display but instead it will sport a smaller 5.2” Quad HD display.

The One M9 Plus is said to be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 Octa-core 64-bit chipset, just like the regular One M9. However, upleaks claims that there will be two One M9 variants, one with the Snapdragon 810 chip and the other powered by a Mediatek chipset. It hasn’t been specified which exact Mediatek chipset the other variant will come with but apparently that version is going to be sold in the Chinese market. It will also include 3GB of RAM on both variants and 32GB of onboard storage. No mention of whether the memory will be expandable or not, but we do hope that the memory is expandable, just like the One M8 last year.

The major USP of the One M9 Plus and also one of the main differentiating factors between it and the regular One M9 is expected to be the fingerprint scanner. Unlike the HTC One Max, the One M9 Plus is said to include a touch based fingerprint scanner like the TouchID scanner used by Apple. This does seem pretty interesting and will mean that HTC will be on par with Samsung as the Galaxy S6 is also expected to use a more secure touch based fingerprint scanner. The fingerprint scanner will be integrated on a physical home button as seen in the leaked image of the smartphone recently. For those of you who were worried if the physical home button meant the One M9 Plus will miss out on HTC’s excellent BoomSound stereo speakers, the latest report brings great news as the One M9 Plus is reported to include BoomSound stereo speakers on the front and it will also support Hi-Fi audio. We’re not quite sure if that refers to High-Resolution Audio or something else though.

The camera on the back will be another difference between the One M9 and the One M9 Plus. The One M9 Plus will apparently come with a Duo Camera setup at the back, similar to the One M8. Instead of the 4MP UltraPixel and 2.1MP combination last time, the One M9 Plus will include a 20.7MP and 2.1 MP cameras at the back. At the front, the smartphone is rumored to include a 4MP UltraPixel or a 13MP Selfie shooter.

Finally, the smartphone is claimed to support VoLTE and LTE Cat.6 networks for maximum download speeds of up to 300Mbps. Bluetooth 4.1 will be onboard as well, thanks to the Snapdragon 810 chip. The only disappointing part is the battery capacity. According to upleaks, the One M9 Plus will include the same 2,840mAh battery as the regular One M9. This can be quite disappointing as the One M9 Plus comes with a higher Quad HD resolution display instead of 1080p on the One M9.

Samsung Galaxy S6 with Exynos 7420 64-bit Chipset Gets Benchmarked, Reveals Beastly Performance

Unlike in the past, Samsung is expected to use its Exynos 7 Octa-core 64-bit chipset for the upcoming Galaxy S6 flagship smartphone. In the past few weeks we have seen many new reports appear on the web that detail the reasons behind Samsung choosing to stick to its Exynos 7420 chipset for the Galaxy S6. A recent report even claimed that Qualcomm may provide Samsung with a special variant of the Snapdragon 810 for the Galaxy S6. However, it doesn’t look like the use of the Exynos 7420 chip will disappoint anyone as it managed to perform admirably well in the Geekbench benchmark recently.

The Exynos 7420 managed to score impressively high in the Geekbench test with a single-core score of 1520 and multi-core score of 5478. The single-core score is higher than Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 devices, with only the NVIDIA Tegra K1 chipset in the Google Nexus 9 managing a better score than the Exynos 7420. However, in the multi-core test the Exynos 7420 managed to gain a massive lead over all current mobile chipsets, including the NVIDIA Tegra K1 and the Snapdragon 805. The Google Nexus 9 manages a score of around 3200 on the multi-core test while the Snapdragon 805 powered devices like the Google Nexus 6 and the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 can score a shade under 3000. We still do not have any leaked benchmarks of the Snapdragon 810 to go by, but it does look like the Galaxy S6 will be one powerful beast when it launches.

We also need to keep in mind that the device that was run through the Geekbench test is most likely a prototype device running on unfinished software. On final hardware with the updated software, the scores can go up slightly. So all in all we’re looking at one of the most impressive mobile chipsets of the year in the new Exynos 7420. In the Galaxy S4 and the Galaxy S5, the Exynos chipsets didn’t quite manage to bowl us over with the performance, but this year it seems like Samsung has worked really hard on the new Exynos chipsets and it doesn’t seem like anyone will miss the Snapdragon 810 as far as both performance and connectivity goes. Unlike previous Exynos chipsets, the Exynos 7420 is expected to arrive with an integrated LTE Cat.9 modem with Tri-Band Carrier Aggregation like on the recently announced Korean variant of the Galaxy Note 4.

Together with the rumored light TouchWiz version that is expected to debut with the Galaxy S6, the Exynos 7420 chip is likely to ensure butter smooth performance on the Galaxy S6, with none of the performance issues that all Galaxy flagships have suffered from so far.

Amazon Deals: Samsung galaxy S5, HTC One M8 and LG G3 Get Price Cut

Samsung Galaxy S5, HTC One M8, and LG G3 are without a doubt the best-selling Android smartphones of the moment. I know that some of you are looking to buy a new smartphone and if that’s the case, you would be glad to hear that all three smartphones are available at promotional prices on Amazon. All three devices are available on-contract with AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint at prices ranging from $0.01 to $99.99. Of course, the price of the device varies with carrier and plan. In this post, you will find the more information about each device and links that will help you take advantage of the Samsung Galaxy S5, HTC One M8, and LG G3 Amazon deals right away.

Samsung Galaxy S5 is available on Amazon at a price of $79.99. In order to be able to get your hands on the smartphone at this special price, you will be required to sign a two-year contract with AT&T, Verizon, or Sprint. I remind you that Samsung Galaxy S5 is underpinned by a powerful hardware platform, based on a quad-core Snapdragon 801 chipset with quad-core 2.5 GHz Krait 400 CPU and Adreno 330 GPU. The smartphone also arrives with 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB of internal storage, support for microSD cards up to 128 GB, and a 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display with Full HD (1080 x 1920) resolution. Galaxy S5 is kept alive by a 2,800 mAh battery, while boasting about a 16 MP main shooter with phase detection autofocus and 4K video recording, 2 MP secondary cam, heart rate monitor, and fingerprint scanner. It comes pre-loaded with Android 4.4.2 KitKat customized with TouchWiz UI, and it should get upgraded to Android 5.0 Lollipop in the following weeks. You can order the Samsung Galaxy S5 from Amazon using the following links:AT&T, Verizon and Sprint.

HTC One M8 is definitely one of the best-looking smartphones currently on the market. Courtesy of Amazon’s Deals, you will be able to buy it starting at $0.01. The Verizon One M8 32 GB is available for only a penny if you sign a two-year deal with the carrier. The Sprint model costs $29.99 on-contract, while the AT&T variant is the most expensive at $99.99. As a refresher, HTC One M8 comes with a 5.0-inch Super LCD3 screen with Full HD (1080 x 1920) resolution and a quad-core 2.3 GHz Snapdragon 801 processor. Underneath the metal body you will also be able to find 2 GB of RAM, 32 GB of native storage (microSD-expandable), and connectivity features such as Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, or IR blaster. On the back of the phone there’s a Dual 4 MP UltraPixel set-up, while the front panel accommodates a 5 MP shooter. It runs Android 4.4 KitKat out of the box with Sense 6.0 UI. Just like the S5, it should get updated to Lollipop in the coming weeks. You can order it from Amazon using the following links:AT&T, Verizon and Sprint.

The LG G3 is the most powerful device of the three and also the cheapest. All three carriers are selling the LG G3 for only $0.01 if you accept to sign a two-year contract with them. Hardware-wise, LG G3 arrives with an impressive 5.5-inch True HD-IPS + LCD display with Quad HD (1440 x 2560) resolution, a quad-core 2.5 GHz Snapdragon 801 processor, 3 GB of RAM, and 32 GB of native storage with microSD support up to 128 GB. LG G3 also integrates a 3,000 mAh, a 13 MP rear-facing camera with optical image stabilization, laser autofocus, and 4K video recording support, and a 2.1 MP user-facing shooter for your Selfie needs. The device is currently running Android 4.4.2 KitKat, but it should get the Android 5.0 Lollipop update soon. You can use the following links to order the LG G3 from Amazon using the following links: AT&T, Verizon and Sprint.

All three smartphones are currently listed as “in stock” on Amazon’s website. Anyway, we are recommending you to grab one right away, as the deals might only be available for a limited time.

Samsung Galaxy S6 Dual-Edged Display Variant Seemingly Confirmed, Could Include 4GB RAM

The Samsung Galaxy S6 is no doubt going to be one of the biggest smartphone launches of the year. While we know a lot about the Galaxy S6 by now, confusion still remains regarding the Galaxy S6 Edge variant. Some rumors have claimed that the S6 Edge will be launched alongside the Galaxy S6, while others claim the product has been scrapped by Samsung. Now a new report has surfaced courtesy of SamMobile that claims Samsung will indeed launch a Galaxy S6 variant with a curved edge display. What’s interesting is that the Galaxy S6 Edge is said to feature a dual-edged display, instead of the curved edge on just the right side like on the Galaxy Note Edge.

According to SamMobile, the Galaxy S6 double-edged display variant will carry the model number SM-G925. While the model number has been confirmed, it is still unknown if the device will be called the Galaxy S6 Edge like the Note Edge or something else entirely different. The Galaxy S6 Edge is said to feature all the panels that we have seen on the Galaxy Note Edge. These include Finance, News, Pedometer, Sports, Contacts and other panels. These panels will be available for download on the Samsung App Store for the owners of the dual-edge display variant of the Galaxy S6, just like the Galaxy Note Edge. While for the most part the software on the Galaxy S6 Edge is said to be similar to the Galaxy Note Edge, a few notable differences will be seen too. As the Galaxy S6 Edge will have the edge panel on both the right and left curve of the display, you will be able to choose which panel you want to activate, depending on whether you are right-handed or left-handed. The Galaxy S6 Edge is also said to include the Glance Lighting feature that uses the Edge panels as notification lights by lighting up whenever you have any new notifications or an incoming calls and your device is turned over. This feature will include customization options as well, allowing you to choose the color of the light for specific contacts as per your choice.

Yet another report out of Korea also seems to confirm the existence of the Galaxy S6 Edge and claims that the Galaxy S6 may come with 4GB of RAM. The report claims that Samsung may include 4GB of RAM on the curved edge display variant while the main Galaxy S6 variant may include 3GB of RAM. However, since the SM-G925 specifications were leaked on Antutu a few weeks back and we know that it will come with 3GB of RAM, it doesn’t look like the S6 Edge will be the one with 4GB of RAM. Instead, we could see the main Galaxy S6 variant with higher 4GB RAM. Or it could be that the SM-G925 that was leaked on Antutu was an early prototype and both the main variant and the Edge variant of the Samsung Galaxy S6 could launch with 4GB RAM on-board. We will need to wait a few more weeks until Mobile World Congress to find out everything about the Galaxy S6 and its dual-edged display variant.

Possible LG G4 Variant User Agent Profile Leak Confirms Quad HD Resolution

Unlike the other 2015 Android flagship smartphones, we haven’t heard much about the LG G4 at all. However, recently a mysterious LG smartphone with the model number H810 was spotted in a leaked document by MyLGPhones. According to the website, the H810 will be LG’s flagship smartphone offering for this year on the AT&T network. As you can guess, the LG flagship smartphone for 2015 is obviously the much-anticipated LG G4. So the H810 could be the AT&T LG G4 variant.

The leaked User Agent Profile of the LG H810 doesn’t reveal anything much about the device except for its display resolution. The H810 sports 2560 x 1440 Quad HD resolutions, similar to the LG G3. Since the G4 will obviously not see a resolution downgrade and we still do not have 4K resolution panels available for mobile devices, the LG G4 will definitely be running Quad HD resolution.

From earlier leaks, it is believed that the LG G4 will arrive with a smaller 5.3-inch display compared to the 5.5-inch display size of the LG G3. This does seem a bit strange to us as we haven’t really seen many smartphones that come with a smaller display size than their predecessors. However, since LG is an expert when it comes to minimizing the bezels on its flagship smartphones, we can expect the LG G4 to be as compact as most 5-inch smartphones if it does end up with a 5.3-inch display size. The G4 is also said to come with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 64-bit Octa-core chipset, 4GB RAM and a 16MP Samsung ISOCELL rear camera with Optical Image Stabilization. There have also been reports of LG bundling a stylus along with the G4 to take on the Samsung Galaxy Note range of phablets. Since LG has retired its G Pro line of phablets, the idea of the G4 shipping with a stylus doesn’t sound all too crazy now.

The LG G4 is expected to be announced at the Mobile World Congress in March, where we also expect to see other 2015 Android flagship smartphones to go official.

HTC One M9 Specs Detailed

We told you a couple of days ago that HTC sent out invitations for a press event that will be held March 1st in Barcelona. The Taiwanese phone maker is expected to introduce their next-gen flagship smartphone, the HTC One M9 (aka Hima), during the Barcelona-based event. According to a report coming from Bloomberg, HTC will also introduce a smartwatch during the same event.

The reputed publication also revealed that the yet-unannounced HTC smartwatch will come with Under Armor integration, which might be the reason behind the recently signed partnership between the Taiwanese company and the fitness service. For the time being there are no additional details about HTC’s smartwatch, but we are sure we will get to hear more about the device as we get closer to Mobile World Congress tech fair.

The same report also confirms what we have already known: that the HTC One M9 release date has been set for March 1st, also adding that the new terminal will get an upgrade in terms of camera. Bloomberg says, quoting a source that asked “not to be identified because the details aren’t public,” that the One M8 successor will boast a 20 MP primary shooter and an HTC UltraPixel camera in the front for your Selfie needs.

If the rumors are to be believed, HTC One M9 would arrive with an appealing hardware platform. The handset is expected to come with a 64-bit Snapdragon 810 chipset with Adreno 430 GPU, 3 GB of RAM, 5-inch display with 1080 x 1920 resolutions, and a 2,840 mAh battery. It looks like the device will run Android 5.0 Lollipop with Sense 7.0 out of the box.

Even though Bloomberg is a trustworthy source when it comes to reports of unreleased devices, we are advising you to take the information with a pinch of salt. After all nothing is official until HTC says so.

Samsung Galaxy S6 to Arrive with Touch Based Fingerprint Sensor, Says Report

The Samsung Galaxy S6 release date is fast approaching and, as we are getting closer to the launch of the highly-anticipated smartphone, more details about it are starting to hit the web. According to a new report, Sammy’s next-gen flagship might integrate a different fingerprint sensor.

Back in 2013, Apple introduced the iPhone 5S which featured a fingerprint sensor embedded in the home button. Even though the iPhone 5S was not the first smartphone to come with a fingerprint scanner (Motorola’s Atrix had one back in 2011), this feature has become mainstream after Apple launched their iOS 7-powered handset. Customers have begun to wish for fingerprint sensors in their smartphones and Android phone makers didn’t hesitate to include such sensors in their devices.

The Galaxy S5 was the first Samsung smartphone to sport a fingerprint scanner early 2014 and since then, Samsung has equipped devices like Galaxy S5 Mini, Galaxy Alpha, Galaxy Tab S, Galaxy Note 4, or Galaxy Note Edge with similar sensors. Anyway, unlike iPhone 5S’ scanner, the one mounted on Samsung’s smartphones requires you to swipe your finger over it in order to work.

According to a report from trustworthy publication Sammobile, Samsung’s yet-unannounced Galaxy S6 could arrive with a different fingerprint scanner. “Highly-credible sources” have told Sammobile that the South Korean phone maker will no longer use the swipe-based fingerprint scanner, as it will be replaced with a touch-based sensor which would work in a similar way to iPhone 5S’.

Just like its predecessor, the Galaxy S6 will have the touch-based sensor embedded into the Home button. Anyway, it seems that Samsung had to make the home button bigger than the one of Galaxy S5 or Note 4.

I remind you that Samsung Galaxy S6 is expected to arrive with a powerful hardware platform. According to the reports, the terminal could feature a 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display with Quad HD (1440 x 2560) resolution, 64-bit Exynos 7420 / Snapdragon 810 processor (market depended), 3 GB of RAM, and a main camera with optical image stabilization and 16 or 20 MP resolution.

LG G4 Leak Points at 16 MP Main Camera and Snapdragon 810 Processor

The last couple of LG flagships have received a lot of praise from both media outlets and tech enthusiasts. Without a doubt LG’s G series of flagship will get a sequel this year and it will most likely be called LG G4. The LG G4 release date is yet unknown, but we might have some interesting information on the much-anticipated device.

The details on LG G4 come from Greek publicationTechmaniacs.gr and reveal that the next-gen flagship smartphone of the South Korean company might arrive with beastly technical specifications. The Android 5.0 dump reveals evidence of a 16 MP wide camera for the LG G4. In fact, the system dump revealed the resolution of G4’s camera. We are talking about 5312 x 2988 pixels, a resolution that it’s specific for a 16 MP wide camera. Of course, we are expecting G4’s main shooter to also boast about features such as laser autofocus, optical image stabilization, and 4K video recording capabilities.

According to a source close to LG quoted by Techmaniacs.gr, LG G4 should come with a Quad HD screen, 3 GB of RAM, and a 64-bit Octa-core Snapdragon 810 processor with Adreno 430 GPU. I remind you that there are some voices saying that the South Koreans are planning to cut down LG G4’s screen size to 5.3 inches, compared to the 5.5-inch screen of the LG G3.

Unfortunately, there is now way to verify the veracity of the reports, therefore we are advising you to take them with a pinch of salt. After all, nothing is official until LG says so.

As I was mentioning above, the LG G4 release date is yet unknown, but you definitely shouldn’t expect it to arrive in the next couple of months. The G4 might be officially introduced to the public late spring or early summer, just like it happened to its predecessor which was announced in May and released on the market in June.

Sony Xperia Z4 Gets Certified in Japan, It Could Be Launched at MWC 2015

Even though we’ve heard some rumors saying that the Sony Xperia Z4 release date has been set for CES 2015, the Las Vegas-based tech fair brought us no new Sony flagship smartphone. Last year, officials of the Japanese phone maker stated that in order to succeed on the smartphone market one company should release to flagship devices a year. It seems that Sony could be sticking to their usual 6-month release schedule and unveils a new flagship at Mobile World Congress.

Three versions of the much-awaited Sony Xperia Z4 have been certified in Japan. We are talking about model numbers PM-0792-BV, PM-0793-BV and PM-0794-BV each corresponding to a Japanese carrier. Unfortunately, the leak doesn’t bring us any details regarding the hardware platform of the smartphone, but at least we have the certitude that an Xperia sequel is on cards. Of course, the Xperia Z4 will go on sale outside Japan, but, for the time being there is no information regarding other models.

As I was mentioning above, Sony Xperia Z4 is expected to see the light of day at Mobile World Congress in March. For what it’s worth, HTC have already sent out press invitations for their Mobile World Congress event. Anyway, it’s plenty of time left until the Barcelona-based tech fair opens its gates and I am sure that Sony will tease their new flagship as we get closer to its launch event.

Hardware-wise, don’t expect the Sony Xperia Z4 to be a lot more powerful than its predecessor. Maybe we will get to see it boasting about an upgraded processor (probably a 64-bit Snapdragon 810) and an optical image stabilization module for its main camera.

I remind you that the rumor mill also speculates that Sony will introduce an Xperia Z4 Compact. The said device is rumored to pack a 4.7-inch Full HD display and a 3,000 mAh battery.

HTC One M9 Release Date Set for March 1st

Folks, it seems we have the HTC One M9 release date! It’s no longer a mystery that the Taiwan-based company will release a successor for their highly-appreciated HTC One M8. We’ve heard previous rumors about the said device and word has it that it’s known internally as Hima.

Now, the Taiwan-based phone maker started to send in media invitations for a mystery event held Sunday, March 1st. We incline to believe that this is where the HTC One M9 flagship would be officially introduced to the public. The said event will be held in Barcelona. As you may know already, between March 2 – 5, Barcelona will host the Mobile World Congress event. It’s not surprising at all to see that HTC have set the One M9 release date a day before MWC 2015 opens its gates, as it’s typical for companies to try to capture as much attention as possible for their products.

Unfortunately, the press event invitation itself doesn’t reveal to many details about the HTC One M9. It has a starry background, with “utopia in progress” tagline, and information on where and when the event will be held.

If the rumors are to be believed, HTC One M9 (Hima) will arrive with an appealing hardware platform. Even though it was initially reported that the One M8 follow-up might arrive with a 5.5-inch Quad HD screen, the latest leaks are suggesting that it might actually sport a 5-inch Full HD screen. The handset could also integrate a 64-bit Snapdragon 801 processor, 3 GB of RAM, and a 2,840 mAh battery. We’ve heard that One M9 might sport a 20.7 MP main shooter, while the user-facing camera could be either a 13 MP sensor or a 4 MP UltraPixel unit. Hopefully, HTC’s next-gen flagship will be at least as good-looking as its predecessor.

Samsung Galaxy S6 To Feature Nexus-Like Clean Android UI According To New Report

According to a new report published on Business Korea website, Samsung is planning some major changes to its TouchWiz user-interface for its next flagship smartphone the Galaxy S6. The new TouchWiz UI will reportedly arrive first with the Galaxy S6 and then roll out for other newer devices eventually as part of a software update.

According to the sources close to Samsung, the company is working to optimize its custom Android UI and aims to cut down on all the bloatware that has made Samsung’s TouchWiz UI one of the most hated custom Android skins out there. What’s more interesting is that Samsung is apparently looking at slimming down its TouchWiz UI down to the level of Google Nexus devices. The company will reportedly get rid of the many features that it includes as part of its custom UI layer and concentrate on only the most essential features with the next TouchWiz version that will debut with the Galaxy S6 this year. Honestly, it does seem a bit too much to digest for us though, as Samsung has so far been heavily marketing its array of additional software tweaks as part of the TouchWiz UI. While we did see some positive improvements with the TouchWiz version used on the Galaxy Note 4, it is still bloated when compared to many of the other OEM Android skins. So to expect such a drastic change in such a short period of time is not very likely. However, we do hope that the report turns out to be accurate as we aren’t great fans of TouchWiz either, just like almost everyone else.

TouchWiz has been one of the main reasons why Samsung flagship devices have been underwhelming when it comes to system performance and smoothness of the UI. The Galaxy S5 for instance, was significantly less smooth than other rival smartphones that used the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 chipset. The Galaxy Note 4 doesn’t suffer as much as the Galaxy S5 thanks to a lighter TouchWiz skin, but it still does exhibit signs of lag and stutter in the UI occasionally. While it is quite impressive how many features Samsung includes in its Galaxy flagship devices, most of them aren’t quite useful in day-to-day usage and are rarely used by most owners.

HTC Hima Pays Antutu A Visit; Previous Rumored Specs Confirmed

This past month we have heard a lot about HTC’s upcoming flagship smartphone for 2015 – Hima, mainly from reliable HTC leaker upleaks. Upleaks is back again with some fresh new rumors about the Hima, and this time they have an Antutu benchmark screenshot to back up their claims. The Antutu benchmark screenshot lists the model number of the device as HTC6535LVW with the codename Hima.

The benchmark screenshot doesn’t reveal much new apart from confirming what upleaks had revealed about the upcoming device few weeks back. The device sports a 5-inch display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 and comes with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 chipset clocked at 1.96GHz. The 3GB of RAM has been confirmed as well and the device tested seems to be running on Android 5.0.1 Lollipop version. The device packs a 20.7MP rear camera while the front-facing camera comes with a resolution of 13MP. That is great news as it looks like HTC has finally decided to move ahead and ditch its 4MP UltraPixel sensor with the Hima. This is pretty much all the screenshot reveals about the device, although since the upleaks leak from earlier proved to be accurate, we can be almost certain that the other rumored specs of the device will also turn out to be accurate.

In a detailed post last week, upleaks revealed that the device will come with a 2840mAh battery, HTC Sense 7.0 UI and support VoLTE and LTE Cat.6 download speeds. The device reportedly measured 144.3 x 69.4 x 9.56mm and will be made available in three color options – Gray, Silver, Gold and Gunmetal Gold. Interestingly, upleaks also mentioned that HTC will be selling a number of accessories along with the smartphone like an Active Headset, DotView cover, DecoStand Case, Clear Case, Active Case and a premium screen protector.

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’.

New HTC One M9 Hima Details Surface Once More

We still have around two weeks to go before the end of the year, but rumors about 2015 flagship devices seem to be coming in every other day. Be it the Samsung Galaxy S6, HTC One M9 Hima or Sony Xperia Z4, new reports on these devices have been appearing regularly over the past few weeks. The source of the previous HTC Hima leaks upleaks has shared some new info on the HTC 2015 flagship device today. According to the trusty leaker, HTC will be announcing the Hima smartphone at a dedicated event of its own and not at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The launch should still be in March according to upleaks, so there is still around 3 months left for the unveiling.

Apart from the launch timeframe, upleaks also reveals that the Hima will come in three color options – Gray, Silver, and Gold. Strangely that sounds a bit too familiar. That’s right, these are the exact same color options that the Apple iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus come in. It might seem like Apple was slightly inspired by the HTC One design with the new iPhones, and now it seems like HTC has been inspired by Apple’s color choices for its next flagship smartphone. The leaker also reiterates that the 2015 HTC flagship will not be named ‘One M9’. As HTC didn’t change its flagship naming convention this year for the One M8, we were expecting that the Taiwanese smartphone maker will continue with the One M’X’ naming convention next year as well. Not that it is disappointing in any way though, a new name for their flagship will certainly be a welcome change.

As for the rest of the spec-sheet, upleaks is pretty sure that there won’t be any major changes going forward and the 2015 HTC flagship will arrive with a 5-inch display with 1080p resolution and not a bigger display with Quad-HD resolution like most of its rivals are rumored to sport next year. This doesn’t really sound very surprising considering how HTC been a step behind the competition when it comes to adopting larger display sizes on its flagship. The HTC One M7 came with a 4.7” display when its rival’s features 5-inch displays. This year’s One M8 comes with a 5-inch display while most of its competitors come with 5.1 or 5.2-inch + displays. While the display size isn’t likely to be a major problem, the 1080p resolution on a 2015 flagship doesn’t sound very promising and might make Hima seem a bit outdated when compared to rivals from Samsung and other major Android OEMs next year.

The other rumored specs of the device are a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 chipset, 3GB RAM, 20.7MP rear camera, 13MP or 4MP UltraPixel front-facing camera, 2840mAh battery, LTE Cat.6 connectivity, and Android 5.0 Lollipop OS with HTC Sense 7.0 overlay.