Next generation smartphones, tablets and smartwatches from the world’s biggest brands near as the IFA 2014 tradeshow kicks off next week. Invitations, taunts and leaks from people in the know has helped the online community shape what products will be launched from Samsung, Sony, Motorola, LG and more. You'll find them all here in the one place, wrapped in a pretty bow.
Samsung
Samsung Galaxy Note 4
IFA has long been the launchpad for Samsung’s Note range of phablets; however Samsung is holding its own Unpacked event to coincide with IFA this year.
The original Note was a surprise hit and has since played a critical role in the development of Samsung’s design language. The next generation Note will not only bundle a plethora of cutting edge specifications, but offer a glimpse into the future of Samsung’s Galaxy range of smartphones.
The faux leather adorning Samsung’s Galaxy S5 and series 9 notebook was introduced on the Note 3. Leaked photos from trusted website GSMArena reveal the big design innovation in the Note 4 is a metal frame complete with chamfered edging. The back panel continues to model a faux leather texture, although it appears Samsung has ditched the tacky look of plastic stitching.
The headlining feature of the Note 4 is a supposed is a 5.7in, 2560x1440 resolution rich screen.
Reported specifications:
• 5.7in, 2560x1440 resolution screen
• 16MP camera
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 chipset with 2.5GHz quad-core CPU or Exynos 5 Octa chipset
• 4GB of RAM
• Synaptic finger scanner
Sources: GSMArena | Trusted reviews
Sony
Aggressive Sony plans on refreshing its flagship smartphones every six months. It is convenient then that the IFA show this year is follows the Mobile World Congress by six months, which just happens to be where Sony showcased its Xperia Z2 flagship.
IFA 2014 should be a big launchpad for Sony as the manufacturer is expected to launch a trio of flagship devices.
Sony Xperia Z3
Sony’s next flagship is expected to be less revolutionary and more of a subtle refresh. Clear changes have been made to the design of the upcoming Z3 with it donning rounded corners, as opposed to the intrusive angled edging of its Xperia Z2 predecessor. Reports claim the internals of the smartphone remain largely unchanged, asides from leaked photos revealing the battery has dropped from 3200 milliamps-hour to 3100 milliamps-hour.
Reported specifications:
• 7mm thin
• Snapdragon 801 chipset
• 3GB of RAM
• 5.15in, 1920x1080 resolution screen
• 20.7 megapixel camera
• 3100 milliamp-hour battery
• IP58 waterproof credentials
Sources: Xperia Blog | GSMArena
Sony Z3 Compact
Pocketable and powerful Android smartphones do not come better than Sony’s Xperia Z1 Compact. Whereas Samsung, HTC and LG’s mini smartphones discount the CPU performance of their smaller variants, Sony’s Compact simply shrinks the powerful innards of its flagship into a more comfortable form factor. Let is be known the Z1 Compact resonates as one of Good Gear Guide’s favourite smartphones of all time, and now, it appears, it will benefit from a revision with the Z3 compact.
The Z3 Compact’s headlining feature will be a reported 4.6in display. The larger display won’t result in a larger body if schematics published by Xperia Blog are to be believed.
Reported specifications
• 4.6in, 1080p display
• Snapdragon 801 chipset
• 3GB RAM
• 20.7 megapixel rear camera
• IP58 waterproof credentials
• 127 x 65 x 9mm
Sources: Xperia Blog | GSMArena
Sony Z3 Tablet Compact
A photo from Sony’s official Facebook account and official Sony documentation reveal Sony is working on a smaller tablet known as the Sony Z3 Tablet Compact. The upcoming tablet is expected to have a screen hovering around the 8-inch mark, waterproof credentials, and hardware in line with its Z3 brethren.
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Reported specifications
• 8in, 1920x1080 display
• Snapdragon 801 chipset
• 3GB RAM
• IP58 waterproof credentials
Sources: GSMArena | PhoneArena
LG
LG G3 Prime
LG leapfrogged the competition this year with its 1440p G3 flagship. Now the company is fine-tuning its market-leading smartphone by giving it a performance boost.
Inside the G3’s Snapdragon 801 chipset and 2.5GHz quad-core CPU will be upgraded with a Snapdragon 805 chipset and a faster 2.7GHz quad-core CPU. The final upgrade is a 4G modem capable of Cat6’s theoretical 300 megabits per second (Mbps) download speeds. Mind you, Vodafone’s leading Cat4 network maxes at a theoretical 150Mbps.
Reports claim the G3 Prime has already been announced in LG’s home country of South Korea, although under the moniker LG G3 Cat.6. The smartphone is expected to retain its G3 Prime moniker when it supposedly rolls out to western countries following its September unveiling.
Reported specifications
• 5.5in, 1440p display
• Snapdragon 805 chipset with 2.7GHz quad-core CPU
• 3GB RAM, 32GB internal storage
• Cat6 LTE modem
• 13 megapixel camera with laser autofocus
Source: LG | Android Pit
LG G3 Stylus
LG’s G3 Stylus is a watered down version of its G3 flagship, apart from the fact the phablet comes with its own stylus. Letting the smartphone down is a low resolution 960x540, 5.5in display, which gives it an alarmingly low 200 pixels-per-inch.
The smartphone represents LG investing in the phablet + stylus category by releasing, what should be, an inexpensive alternative to Samsung’s premium Galaxy Note. LG has announced its G3 Stylus will be released in developing markets, starting with Brazil in September and followed by countries in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and the CIS.
Confirmed specifications
• 5.5in, 960x540 display
• 1.3GHz quad-core CPU
• 1GB RAM, 8GB internal storage, expandable microSD memory
• 3G modem
• 13 megapixel camera
• 3000 milliamp-hour battery
• Proprietary Rubberdium stylus pen
LG G Watch R
The G Watch R will be LG’s first circular watch. Presumably it will run Google’s Android Wear, but little else is known about the smartwatch. Credit goes to LG for keeping the G Watch R a secret; the only signs of its existence involve a promotional video uploaded to the official LG Mobile YouTube account.
Update, 28 Aug: LG G Watch R confirmed
Conforming to the circular form factor of everyday watches makes the Watch R look less like a smartwatch and more like a classical timepiece. The smartwatch has a 1.3in, 320x320 resolution display housed in a stainless steel frame. It is complemented by a 22mm calf skin leather strap that can be interchanged.
Inside is a 1.2GHz Snapdragon CPU, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage and a 410 milliamp-hour battery. It will run Google’s Android Wear platform and come preloaded with tailored LG health and fitness applications.
Additional features include a heart monitor and a tolerance of freshwater one metre deep for thirty minutes.
The LG G Watch R will be released “in key markets early in the fourth quarter of 2014”, the company said in its press release. Local representatives could not confirm if the smartwatch will be launched in Australia before Christmas, in which case it will rival Motorola’s Moto 360.
LG will be officially unveil the G Watch R at next week’s IFA trade show in Berlin.
Nokia
Nokia Lumia 830
Nokia’s Lumia 930 flagship was met with general acclaim following its Australian launch. Now it appears Nokia plans on releasing a lightweight version with the leaked Lumia 830.
Leaked photos of the supposed smartphone reveal a similar metal chassis to that featured in the Lumia 930, along with Nokia’s famed black facade and vibrantly coloured polycarbonate casing on the back.
The Lumia 830’s design is reminiscent of Nokia’s former flagship, the Lumia 925. Discounted hardware positions the rumoured smartphone as a mid-tier device.
Reported specifications
• 4.7in, 1280x720 resolution display
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 chipset
• 1GB RAM, 8GB storage, expandable memory
• 20 megapixel PureView camera
• 5 megapixel front facing camera
• Wireless charging
Motorola
Read more: Tablet sales slide 28 per cent as Android overtakes Apple
Motorola’s penchant for secrecy and its ongoing record of innovation under Google’s tutelage has meant anticipation for its devices are at an all time high. Motorola extended an invitation to journalists hinting at a successor to its Moto X, Moto G and its Moto 360 smartwatch.
Motorola Moto X+1
Famed tipset Evleaks released press renders of the supposed X + 1, which features stereo speakers upfront, along with a pronounced camera. A report originating from GSMArena suggests the camera features optical zoom.
The photos corroborate Android Police leaks of an alleged X+1 prototype, which has a suspected aluminium chassis and dual-LED flashes on either side of camera.
Website DroidLife cite undisclosed sources who claim the X + 1 will be launching with American carrier Verizon on September 25.
Reported specifications
• 5.1in, 1920x1080 resolution screen
• 12 megapixel rear camera with dual-LED flash
• Snapdragon 800 chipset with 2.3GHz quad-core CPU
• 2GB RAM, 32GB storage
Source: Android Police | GSMArena | Droid Life
Motorola Moto G2
Motorola’s G2 has some big shoes to fill considering the Moto G is the company’s highest selling smartphone in the world. Motorola claims the Moto G outsold even the mighty Razr.
Reports indicate the Moto G will begin rolling out on 10 September; however, it is likely sales of the smartphone will follow thereafter in Australia. The headlining feature here is a larger 5in display.
Reported specifications
• 5in, 1280x720 resolution display
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 chipset
• 1GB RAM
• 8 megapixel rear camera
• 5 megapixel front facing camera
Source: GSMArena | Newfrommoto
Motorola Moto 360
No smartwatch is as desirable as the Moto 360 and the wait is almost over. Motorola executives confirmed to <i>GGG</i> the smartwatch will be coming to Australia by Christmas, 2014. Motorola’s invitation hints at the wearable making its debut. Leaked photos have revealed the smartwatch will be compatible with wireless charging, feature a heart monitor and have an IP67 water rating.
Reported specifications
• 1.5in, 320x320 resolution display
• Texas Instrument CPU
• 512MB RAM
• Android Wear
• IP67 water rating
• Qi-wireless charging
• Pedometer
• Interchangeable bands
Source: Mister Gadget | Epoch Times | GGG
