Neo N003 may deliver a 1080p smartphone for $145, but don’t expect miracles

Neo N003 may deliver a 1080p smartphone for $145, we wouldn't expect miracles

Neo is known for building smartphones with price tags so low that a Nexus 4 would seem like a luxury. If GizChina‘s contact (and convenient product render) is accurate, that bang-for-the-buck ratio may grow especially wide in the near future. The N003 will supposedly include a 5-inch, 1080p display and a quad-core processor for a target price of ¥899 ($145) in China for a basic Youth version, and ¥1,499 ($241) for a Premium model — both big deals for the size, we’d reckon. However, there’s little doubt that the N003 at those prices would be slower than a truly high-end phone like the HTC Butterfly, especially considering its pedigree. The N002 uses a MediaTek chip and just 4GB of storage, and earlier rumors have the N003 using MediaTek’s frugal MT6589 alongside either 8GB or 32GB of space for its respective trim levels. Neo hasn’t confirmed the details as of yet, let alone set expectations. Any alignment between the claims and reality could nonetheless see the N003 punching well above its weight, even if most Americans would never feel the impact.

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Via: Unwired View

Source: GizChina

MediaTek plans a tablet-focused processor for Q3

MediaTek plans a tabletfocused processor for Q3

MediaTek may have only just reached quad-core smartphones in earnest, but its aims are expanding — in a more literal sense. The company’s Xie Qingjiang says that plans are underway to build a tablet-specific processor that would ship in the third quarter of the year. While other details are scarce, it’s safe to say the chip will take advantage of all the extra breathing room for more performance. The real questions surround just who will use the new creation: there’s no guarantee that Acer will find a fit for the design inside of its future 8- and 10-inch budget slates, for example. When MediaTek is seemingly making generational leaps in a matter of months, though, we suspect that there won’t be a shortage of customers.

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Via: Unwired View

Source: Sina (translated)

Acer hints at very low-cost, quad-core 8- and 10-inch tablets

Acer Iconia B1-A71

Acer pushed the boundaries of price for major brand tablets with its $150 Iconia B1. It’s not about to quit with just one model under its belt, however. The company’s Greater China head, Linxian Lang, explained to China Times that there should also be 8- and 10-inch tablets on the way with “aggressive” prices. Acer isn’t just adding more glass, either, as it’s looking at quad-core MediaTek processors for a speed jump. There’s no word on just when the larger budget slates might appear, although we wouldn’t count on them coming to the US when the B1 has already been ruled out.

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Via: Notebook Italia (translated)

Source: China Times (translated)

ZTE U956 poses for pics, said to offer a 5-inch 720p screen, quad-core CPU

ZTE's 'affordable' U956 poses for pics, reportedly offers 5inch 720p screen, quadcore CPU, 8megapixel camera

ZTE‘s no stranger to phones that provide more bang for your buck, so it’s hardly surprising to see evidence of a new mid-range phablet from the Chinese outfit. The leaked images may not point towards another world first, but the device apparently runs Android 4.1.2 and is rumored to pack a 5-inch, 1,280 x 720 display and a quad-core MediaTek MT6589 SoC. There’s also support for China’s TD-SCDMA networks, while an 8-megapixel camera joins some China Mobile branding on the back. Some specifications are still missing, but if the pricing is as low as expected, the smartphone could likely be an option for penny-pinchers who can’t afford its designer cousin.

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Via: PhoneArena, GizChina

Source: Sina Weibo

Runbo X5 and X3 rugged Android phones moonlight as walkie-talkies, cost just $320

Runbo X5 and X3 Androids

We’ve seen a handful of rugged Androids in our time, but none are as affordable and as weird as these ones at CES. The backstory here is that a couple of Chinese guys in camouflage gear approached us at our CES stage, and after an awkward conversation, it turned out that they just wanted to show us the three rugged phones they brought all the way from Shenzhen. Starting from the right we have the Runbo (like Rambo?) X1 IP67-certified featurephone cum walkie-talkie, which packs a 2-inch 176 × 144 display, a 0.3-megapixel front-facing camera, a laser pointer, quad-band GSM plus 800MHz CDMA cellular radios, 400 to 470MHz range for the software-configurable walkie-talkie, a surprisingly loud speaker and a 2,200mAh battery. This will be available for ¥980 or about $160 on Taobao online store (the Chinese equivalent of eBay) in the next couple of days, and we’ve been told that there will also be a variant with GPS added.

But the real stars of the show are the two brick-sized vanilla Android 4.0.4 devices. The phone pictured in the middle is the Runbo X5, a device featuring a 1GHz dual-core Cortex-A9 MTK6577 chipset, 1GB RAM, 4GB storage, microSD expansion, a 4.3-inch 800 x 480 IPS display, an app-triggered laser pointer, an eight-megapixel main camera, a 0.3-megapixel front camera, a super loud speaker (again) and a massive removable 3,800mAh battery. And yes, this also comes with a 400 to 470MHz walkie-talkie radio (up to 10km range; with detachable antenna), along with the additional 850/1900/2100 WCDMA radio, two SIM slots (WCDMA plus GSM), WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0 and GPS. These specs are the same for the Runbo X3 on the left, except for the smaller 3.5-inch 800 x 480 IPS panel to make space for the QWERTY keyboard below it. The best part here are the prices: both of these IP67-certified devices are available on Taobao or the official website for just ¥1,999 or about $320, which is a bargain for both the ruggedness and the fact that these double as standard walkie-talkies. US folks can also order directly from eBay for $380, which is also a steal. But does this surprisingly low price reflect the quality? Find out in our hands-on after the break.

Continue reading Runbo X5 and X3 rugged Android phones moonlight as walkie-talkies, cost just $320

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Source: Runbo, eBay

Huawei G520 outed as an inexpensive, quad-core smartphone for China

Huawei G520 outed as an inexpensive, quadcore smartphone for China

Huawei put its best foot forward (twice) last week at CES, but it seems that the company has yet another smartphone up its sleeve: a 4.5-inch Android device known as the G520. According to Gizchina, the phone is said to wield a quad-core 1.2GHz Mediatek MT6589, but its key selling point will be the price — it’s said to be in the neighborhood of ¥1,399 ($225). The specific resolution of the G520 is currently known, and the same is true for the version of Android it’ll ship with. That said, Ice Cream Sandwich seems most plausible, as the smartphone includes just 512MB of RAM. The Huawei G520 also includes a 5-megapixel rear camera and is said to go up for sale on January 21st within China. Hopefully by then, we’ll know a bit more about this one.

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Via: Unwired View

Source: Gizchina

Lenovo IdeaTab A2107 tablet hits AT&T for $199

This week the Lenovo IdeaTab A2107 7-inch tablet has been revealed in its mobile data-connected iteration as carried by AT&T right here in the USA. This device will be appearing in your hands with 3G – UMTS 850/1900 MHz connectivity and the same 7-inch 1024×600 LCD TN (170 ppi) display you’ll get with the wifi-only version. This machine comes with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich inside as well as a MediaTek 6575 1.0 Ghz Cortex- A9 processor (single core) to keep you running smooth.

3T8A2397-lenovo-ifa-2012

We saw and got our hands on the original version of this 7.68 x 4.92 x 0.47 inch, 14.11 oz machine back in August of 2012. Back then our impressions were that Lenovo was taking on the Google Nexus 7, though not exactly directly due to the underpowered nature of the slate. Though the form factor had us impressed, what with its soft-touch rear cover and its friendly size and shape, the innards did not make for a perfectly pleasant software experience.

3T8A2422-lenovo-ifa-2012

Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich is also a bit of a surprise as the bulk of the Android universe is now releasing devices with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean or higher with new hardware across the board. We’ll expect some software updates rather rapidly after the release, but won’t be betting too much cash on that possibility. Lenovo’s Android experience is unique one way or the other though, bringing widgets and cloud connections galore to the game. You’ll be able to pick up the Lenovo IdeaTab A2107 from AT&T for $199.99 with a two-year contract starting right this minute (if not very, very soon).

Have a peek at our Lenovo IdeaTab A2109 review from this past October to see how the software experience treats you. Then head down the Lenovo rabbit hole to see everything you may have missed from this hardware-heavy company over the past week at CES 2013!


Lenovo IdeaTab A2107 tablet hits AT&T for $199 is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Alcatel prepping One Touch Scribe HD phone with quad-core MediaTek chipset

If you remember the MediaTek MT6589 that we recently took for a spin, you might recall that it holds the curious designation as containing the world’s first quad-core Cortex A7 1GHz+ CPU. Interestingly, we’ve just learned that this snappy, efficient chip will be included in Alcatel’s upcoming One Touch Scribe HD smartphone. Alongside that announcement, the company has confirmed to us that it’ll soon debut the One Touch Idol Ultra, which counts as its thinnest smartphone to date, along with a modular tablet that’s dubbed the One Touch Evo7 HD. Not to stop there, Alcatel also promises that a mobile hotspot known as the One Touch Link W800. Other details remain elusive, but we’re hopeful that we’ll learn more in a few days time.

Continue reading Alcatel prepping One Touch Scribe HD phone with quad-core MediaTek chipset

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Via: CNET

ZTE Grand X appears in T-Mobile USA garb at the FCC

ZTE Grand X appears in TMobile USA garb at the FCC

If you were wondering whether or not the ZTE Grand X would cross the oceans to launch in the US, there’s a good chance the mystery is over. An unusually detailed FCC filing has uncovered a V970T variant that’s destined for T-Mobile USA, complete with the carrier branding, Wi-Fi calling and AWS-based 3G data to match. Other details of the Android 4.0 phone are lacking despite the presence of a manual, although the V970 edition we’ve seen elsewhere runs on a dual-core, 1GHz MediaTek MT6577 chip alongside the more familiar 4.3-inch screen and 5-megapixel rear camera. T-Mobile’s release plan is about all that’s left to ponder; knowing the entry-level components, though, any possible launch should come with a low price tag.

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Source: FCC

Sony could introduce cheap quad-core smartphones in 2013 [Rumor]

In case you weren’t aware of this, current Sony Android smartphones are powered by dual-core chipsets, while their competitors such as HTC and Samsung have introduced quad-core smartphones as early as MWC this year. The good news is that if you are looking forward to a quad-core Sony smartphone, come 2013 your wish may come true. While there are rumors of a certain Sony “Odin” handset with a quad-core chipset along with some pretty impressive hardware, word on the street has it that Sony could also be looking at releasing cheap and affordable smartphones in 2013 that will also be quad-core powered. (more…)

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Apple said to have turned to Intel for manufacturing of their mobile chipsets [Rumor], Samsung rumored to have a bunch of new devices in the works,