Posts Tagged ‘phablets’

New arrivals: HTC Desire EYE phablet and RE camera

Monday, November 24th, 2014

HTC hopes to reinvent mobile photography and imaging with the HTC Desire EYE “double exposure” smartphone, the RE fun camera, EYE Experience imaging software, and enhanced Zoe video editor.

The HTC Desire EYE will be available in Singapore from 27 November at SITEX 2014 at S$728 S$628, through StarHub and M1.

Errattum:

HTC has updated that the price of the HTC Desire EYE in Singapore during SITEX 2014 to S$728 from the S$628 in the original press release.

HTC Desire EYE (left, in White and Coral Red duotone) phablet and HTC RE (in green) camera.

HTC Desire EYE (left, in White and Coral Red duotone) phablet and HTC RE (in green) camera.

HTC has announced two new innovative gadgets which I had the chance to preview last week – the RE fun camera and Desire EYE Android phablet – both of which are water proof.

HTC RE camera

The RE camera will be available from late December onwards. HTC has yet to announce its price tag in Singapore.

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Review: ASUS PadFone S Android smartphone cum tablet combo

Saturday, November 1st, 2014

As a pioneer of 2-in-1 mobile devices, ASUS offers with the PadFone S the portability of the smartphone and the larger screen of a tablet by selling both at the price of one device.

Two colours are available for the ASUS PadFone S - Dark Ruby (shown above) and Pure White.

Two colours are available for the ASUS PadFone S – Dark Ruby (shown above) and Pure White. Photo: ASUS Singapore.

The PadFone S was launched in Singapore on 14 October, 2014 together with 11 other new mobile and computing products.

The PadFone S is a 5-inch Android smartphone that comes with a PadFone S Station.

The PadFone S I reviewed was the Pure White version. Normal retail price: S$449.

The PadFone S I reviewed was the Pure White version. Normal retail price: S$449.

You can use the PadFone S on its own like any smartphone or you can slot it into the back of the PadFone S Station and use the combination as an 8.9-inch tablet, leveraging the larger backlit Super IPS display of the Station.

You can’t use the PadFone S Station on its own though, because it is simply a dumb display with no computer processors within.

Actually, the Station has more – it also includes a 4990mAh Li-Polymer (non-removable) battery to provide the larger energy demands of powering a larger display.

The larger battery can also be used to charge the PadFone S to extend its battery life from 22 hours talk-time (3G) to 64 hours.

The combined PadFone S in the Station felt a little bit hefty though, at a combined weight of 664g.

My view:
I found the ASUS PadFone S provided me with the portability of a smartphone and – only when I need it – a truely larger display and usability of a tablet –> all at the price of a single device (or less).

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Review: LG G3 Android KitKat smartphone with QHD display

Thursday, October 9th, 2014

Following the success of its well-received LG G2, I like the large stunning QHD display of the LG G3 and totally enjoyed using the flagship smartphone over the past few weeks.

The LG G3 is available in Singapore in 32GB (S$868) and 64GB (S$928) models.

The LG G3 is available in Singapore in 32GB (S$868) and 64GB (S$928) models.

The LG G3 is one of the first smartphones to sport a 5.5-inch Quad HD display – other makers are only now beginning to ship QHD on their flagships.

Top edge of the LG G3.

Top edge of the LG G3.

The 538 ppi resolution of the G3 is one of the highest in the market now and is equivalent to four times the resolution of HD and almost two times that of a Full HD display.

The sharper detail was remarkable especially when viewing 4K video on the display. Even Full HD video looked sharper and clearer.

The LG G3 is one of the best smartphones that I’ve used that are currently on the market. Fast and smooth, with great display and excellent camera.

The other thing that impressed me was the camera (sample shots at the end of this review).

The 13-megapixel rear camera comes with OIS+ (Optical Image Stabiliser Plus) and uses an innovative Laser Auto Focus for faster and more accurate focus on the subject.

The LG G3 comes in five colours: Metallic Black, Silk White and Shine Gold, Moon Violet and Burgundy Red.

The LG G3 comes in five colours: Metallic Black, Silk White and Shine Gold, Moon Violet and Burgundy Red.

The result is sharper photos and a faster response time.

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Samsung launches GALAXY Note 4, Note Edge, Gear S and Gear S in Singapore

Wednesday, October 1st, 2014

The GALAXY Note 4 (S$1,088), Gear S (S$498) and Gear Circle (S$168) will reach Singapore on 11 October and but you can register your interest for the Note 4 from noon tomorrow (2 October). The GALAXY Note Edge 4G+ will be available in Q4 2014.

The GALAXY Note 4 4G+ will be available in Singapore from 11 October 2014 in Charcoal Black and Frost White. The Note Edge 4G+ will only be available in Q4 2014.

The GALAXY Note 4 4G+ will be available in Singapore from 11 October 2014 in Charcoal Black and Frost White. The Note Edge 4G+ will only be available in Q4 2014.

The slew of mobile products were first unveiled during IFA 2014.

I first played with these new gadgets when they were brought to Singapore for a preview 2 weeks ago.

They are indeed exciting additions to Samsung’s line of mobile devices.

Recommended retail prices in Singapore are listed below.

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Preview: Samsung Galaxy Note 4, Note Edge, Gear S & Gear Circle

Thursday, September 18th, 2014

Samsung Singapore showcased in Singapore today a few of the devices unveiled during IFA 2014 – namely the Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy Note Edge.

Also available for hands-on were the Gear S smartwatch and Gear Circle Bluetooth wireless earphones.

Samsung Galaxy Note Edge with its innovative curved-edged screen, with Montblanc leather flip covers for the Note 4 in the background.

Samsung Galaxy Note Edge with its innovative curved-edged screen, with Montblanc leather flip covers for the Note 4 in the background.

Both the Galaxy Note 4 and Note Edge now have the same Quad HD (2560 x 1440 pixels) as the LG G3 but on a larger 5.7-inch screen, and the S Pen and S Note have been improved to enhance their functionality and productivity.

Samsung Gear Circle, with the ear buds

Samsung Gear Circle, with the ear buds “stuck” together magnetically, can be worn around the neck like a necklace when not in use.

The rear camera now has 16 megapixels and the front has 3.7 megapixels with an f1.9 lens.

By the way, the processor that’s going to ship to Singapore is the Snapdragon with 3GB RAM.

The Note Edge really does look novel with the sharp display on the curved screen that wraps around the thin right edge of the phablet.

The Gear S smartphone runs on the Tizen OS and has its own nano-SIM slot so you can place and receive calls independently of a smartphone.

It can also store and play music directly and be paired with the Gear Circle.

First Impressions:

Having used the Galaxy S4, Note 3 and now using the S5, I find the Note 4 and Note Edge exciting new additions to the Galaxy flagship devices.

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Sony unveils Xperia E3, Z3 series, SmartBand Talk & SmartWatch 3 at IFA

Thursday, September 4th, 2014

Sony has just announced at IFA 2014 the mid-range Xperia E3 smartphone; Xperia Z3, Z3 Compact phablets & Z3 Tablet Compact tablet; as well as its new SmartWear gadgets – SmartBand Talk and SmartWatch 3.

Update (16 September, 2014):

The slew of products announced during IFA 2014 were showcased at the Xperia Z3 SEA launch event in Singapore.

Local pricing and availability below.

Model / RRP Availability
Xperia Z3

$998

Pre-order on week of 22 September 2014.

Launch on 4 October 2014

 

Xperia Z3 Compact

S$798

Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact

S$TBA

Price and availability to be announced closer to launch date.
Xperia E3

S$298

SmartBand Talk

S$228

End Oct 2014
SmartWatch 3

S$298

The Sony Xperia Z3 series and SmartWear devices. (The Xperia E3 is not shown above - see below).

The Sony Xperia Z3 series and SmartWear devices. (The Xperia E3 is not shown above – see below).

Sony has rolled out a slew of new gadgets – from premium flagships to novel SmartWear devices, whilst keeping an eye on the budget conscious mid-range.

Xperia Z3 series phablets/tablet

All three new members of the Xperia Z3 series run on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor with 2.5 GHz quad-core CPUs and 3G RAM, with fully integrated Qualcomm Adreno 330 GPU.

The Xperia Z3 is 7.3mm thick and is available in white, black, copper or silver green. The Xperia Z3 Compact is 8.6mm thick and weighs 129g, and is available in orange, green, white or black. The Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact (not shown here) is available in white or black.

The Xperia Z3 is 7.3mm thick and is available in white, black, copper or silver green. The Xperia Z3 Compact is 8.6mm thick and weighs 129g, and is available in orange, green, white or black. The Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact (not shown here) is available in white or black.

They are waterproof and dust-tight (IP 65/68)

The Xperia Z3 flagship phablet comes only six months after its Xperia Z2 predecessor.

The screen is of similar size to the Z2 at 5.2 inches, but the Z3 is smaller, thinner and lighter.

Together with the Xperia Z3 Compact, the Z3 has a 20.7-megapixel camera with 1/2.3-inch “Exmor RS for mobile” image sensor, new 25mm “G Lens” and ISO 12800 sensitivity.

A dual SIM variant is also on offer in select markets.

The Xperia Z3 Compact phablet is a smaller version of the Xperia Z3 but with the same CPU and graphics chip.

It is a replacement for the Xperia Z1 Compact. Its 4.6-inch screen is larger than the 4.3 inches in the Z1 Compact.

Sony claims that the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact tablet is the world’s slimmest and lightest compact tablet, at 6.4mm thick and 270g weight.

It features an 8-inch Full HD TRILUMINOS.

Xperia E3 mid-range smartphone

The Xperia E3 sports a 4.5-inch 480 x 854 IPS display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 quad-core 1.2GHz processor, and Adreno 305 graphics, with 1GB of RAM, and 4GB of internal storage.

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Samsung unveils Galaxy Note 4, Note Edge, Gear VR, Gear S and Gear Circle

Wednesday, September 3rd, 2014

Samsung has announced the new Galaxy Note 4 and Note Edge smartphone, the Gear VR mobile VR headset, as well as the Gear S smartwatch and Gear Circle earphones at the Unpacked Episode 2 press conference in Berlin, Germany.

Update (18 September, 2014):

Samsung showcased in Singapore today most of the new devices it unveiled during IFA 2014 in a media preview.

It also displayed accessories that Montblanc has specially designed for the Samsung Galaxy Note 4.

The Galaxy Note 4 will be available in

The Galaxy Note 4 will be available in “Charcoal Black,” “Frost White,” “Bronze Gold,” and “Blossom Pink” in global markets starting in October.

The Galaxy Note 4 and Note Edge are the latest additions to the Galaxy Note family.

Galaxy Note 4 and Note Edge Android smartphones

The Galaxy Note 4 has a 5.7-inch Quad HD (2560×1440) Super AMOLED display and sports the Multi Window feature for multi-tasking.

The Galaxy Note Edge will be available in “Charcoal Black” and “Frost White” in select markets through Samsung’s retail channels, e-commerce and carriers later this year.

Samsung Galaxy Note Edge

It ships with a 16-megapixel rear camera with Smart Optical Image Stabilizer, and a 3.7-megapixel front camera with f1.9 lens with 120 degrees wide angle.

The Note 4 also has a Fingerprint Scanner and a UV sensor.

The Galaxy Note Edge has a 5.6-inch screen that wraps around the right side of the device.

The Galaxy Note Edge will be available in “Charcoal Black” and “Frost White” in select markets through Samsung’s retail channels, e-commerce and carriers later this year.

Gear VR mobile headset

Samsung and Oculus has collaborated to create the mobile VR headset optimised for the Galaxy Note 4.

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New arrivals: ASUS ZenFone 6 Android phablet in Singapore

Saturday, July 12th, 2014

The new ASUS ZenFone 6 will be available at S$329 from today at ASUS brand stores and ASUS Official Online Store. All three local telcos (M1, SingTel and StarHub) will be offering the phone with data bundles.

The ASUS ZenFone 6 will be in 3 colours – Charcoal Black, Pearl White and Cherry Red.

The ASUS ZenFone 6 will be in 3 colours – Charcoal Black, Pearl White and Cherry Red.

With the 6-inch HD (1280 x 720) screen, the ZenFone 6 is the big brother of the ZenFone series.

It runs on an Intel Atom Z2580 processor running at 2.0GHz, and ships with Android Jelly Bean 4.3 (upgradeable to Android 4.4 KitKat) with ASUS ZenUI.

The ZenFone 6 has a 13-megapixel rear camera with image stabilisation and F/2.0 lens, as well as a 2MP front camera (F/2.8).

Weighing 196g and measuring 166.9 x 84.3 x 5.5~9.9 mm, the phablet is powered by an internal 3300 mAh polymer battery.

The ZenFone 6 comes with 2GB RAM, 16GB internal memory, and MicroSD card support up to 64GB. It can accomodate two Micro-SIM cards.

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New arrivals: Sony Xperia T2 Ultra and Xperia T2 Ultra dual

Saturday, May 3rd, 2014

The large Android Xperia T2 Ultra (S$598) and Xperia T2 Ultra dual (S$548) phablets sport large 6-inch HD (720×1280) displays and is now available in Singapore from Sony Stores and Sony Centres.

Prices are without contracts.

Sony Xperia T2 Ultra and Xperia T2 Ultra dual

Sony Xperia T2 Ultra and Xperia T2 Ultra dual

Both phablets ship with Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean) and runs on a Snapdragon Quad-core 1.4 GHz processor with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of on board storage, with a Micro SD slot expandable up to 32GB.

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New arrivals: LG G Pro2 Android 5.9-inch phablet in Singapore

Thursday, March 13th, 2014

The G Pro2 is LG’s latest flagship smartphone and will be available at all M1, Singtel, Starhub and other authorised LG mobile retailers at the end of March this year at a recommended retail price of S$828.

The LG G Pro2 is available in Titan, White and Red; at S$828.

The LG G Pro2 is available in Titan, White and Red; at S$828.

The LG G Pro2 features a large 5.9-inch Full HD IPS display and enhanced User Experience (UX) features.

LG G Pro2
OS Android 4.4 KitKat
Screen 5.9″ IPS Full HD
Resolution 1920 x 1080
Battery 3,200 mAh
Processor 2.26 GHz Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800
Camera Rear: 13MP
Front: 2.1MP
Video 4K ULTRA HD
Memory RAM: 3GB
Int: 32GB
Ext: microSD
Size /mm 157.9 x 81.9 x 8.3
Weight 172 g
Price S$828

It has a slim bezel of 3.3mm and a screen-to-frame ratio of 77.2 percent.

The G Pro2 is driven by a 2.26GHz Quad-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chipset with Qualcomm Technologies Adreno 330 GPU, 3GB DDR3 RAM, 32GB eMMC ROM, and microSD slot for additional external memory.

The smartphone runs on the latest Android 4.4 KitKat OS and is powered by a removable 3,200mAh battery.

The LG G Pro2 offers a richer, high-power 1W Hi-Fi sound that is 30 percent louder than the G Pro, delivering clearer sound with a more powerful bass.

To simplify the powering on and screen unlocking process, LG engineers developed a unique feature called KNOCKcode which makes unlocking and using the LG G Pro2 easier and more convenient.

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