Android rumor roundup
December 29, 2012 - January 4, 2013
Galaxy S4 (January 4, 2013)The first alleged image of the Samsung Galaxy S4 has found its way online, via SamMobile. Rumored to arrive sometime this spring, the photo shows a device that looks equal parts Samsung Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Premier. Considering the level of secrecy that shrouded the release of Samsung's current flagship phone, I would be very surprised if this is the real deal.
Is this the Galaxy S4 or the first of many fakes?
(Credit:
SamMobile)
The rumored flagship HTC smartphone will have a "huge facelift" and a "simple and clean" user experience, according to HTCSource. The HTC blog reports software tweaks that include on-screen volume controls that jump directly to the handset's volume settings. Their source, however, was not able to confirm rumors of on-screen buttons, which also surfaced this week.
In terms of form factor, the M7 supposedly takes design cues from the HTC Droid DNA and features a black shell with a beveled edge along the screen. Flying in the face of previous rumors, the source claims the handset will not offer a unibody aluminum shell.
ZTE is expected to jump into the phablet waters with the P945.
ZTE will jump into the "phablet" game this year and is expected to debut a 5.7-inch experience late in the first quarter. The details, which come from Unwired View, include a 1.2GHz quad-core processor, an 8-megapixel camera, and a 3,000mAh battery.
Unlike other large-screen devices, however, the ZTE P945 will feature a 720p display. The first leaked image render suggests China Mobile will be the first -- and perhaps only -- carrier to offer the smartphone. Presumably, ZTE will announce this handset at Mobile World Congress in late February.
LG Optimus G2 (January 3, 2012)
LG will introduce a 5.5-inch Optimus G2 at CES next week, according to Digitimes. The outlet reports that the LG smartphone will feature a 1080p HD display and a quad-core Snapdragon S4 Prime processor. Digitimes leads aren't always reliable, but for what it's worth, this is the second such LG rumor this week.
December 22-28, 2012
T-Mobile's HTC One S getting Jelly Bean soon (December 26, 2012)
Although Android 4.1 is now available for global HTC One S phones, T-Mobile's version isn't part of the rollout yet. However, it's at the second stage of a beta testing, reports TmoNews. T-Mobile is apparently inviting some users to participate in the Android 4.1 testing. It is unclear how far along the update is, however, this beta may indicate a public rollout is in the near term.
ZTE Grand S (December 27, 2012)
New details for the ZTE Grand S, which we've been following since December 7, suggest the Chinese handset maker is cooking up quite an experience for CES in January. Previously disclosed as being a quad-core device with a 5-inch full HD display, we now have a clearer picture as to what awaits us in but a few short days. A 13-megapixel camera, 2GB RAM, and a 2,500mAh battery are reportedly packed into a svelte, 6.9mm-thick chassis.
Sony 'Yuga,' 'Odin' get names (December 27, 2012)
The long-rumored Sony Yuga and Sony Odin are set to get more formal Xperia models for CES, according to multiple sources. The C660X Yuga is slated to arrive as the Xperia Z, whereas the C650X should debut as the Xperia X. The two models are nearly identical in terms of specs and should make their way to Las Vegas in early 2013, possibly appearing at Sony's January 7 press conference.
December 15-21, 2012
Polaroid IM1836 (December 17, 2012)Polaroid is allegedly working on an Android-based digital camera with interchangeable lenses, according to Photo Rumors. Looking very much like a Nikon 1 J series camera, the Polaroid is reported to feature an 18.1-megapixel sensor. Additional details include Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, a 3.5-inch touch display, a pop-up flash, HDMI-out, and Wi-Fi connectivity.
Polaroid is prepping its own Android-based camera in the form of the IM1836.
(Credit:
Photo Rumors)
New details spilling online for the HTC M7 suggest the phone may be released across multiple carriers. Verizon and Sprint are already tied to the device, and both AT&T and T-Mobile are rumored to be in the running. Presumably offered in one form factor across them all, the M7 will boast a display with a downright ridiculous 468 pixels-per-inch density.
How so? Rather than go with the soon-to-be-popular 5-inch screen size, HTC will opt for the 4.7-inch display size employed in the One X+.
Additional specs uncovered by Unwired View include a second-generation quad-core Qualcomm 1.7GHz processor, 2GB RAM, 32GB internal storage, 4G LTE connectivity, and a 2,300mAh battery. Powered by Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and HTC Sense 5, the M7 could boast a 13-megapixel CCD camera with a f/2.0 lens and improved image sensor (Cinesensor) as well as a Beats amplifier and stereo speakers.
Last week's rumor had HTC hoping to move 4 million to 5 million units of a new device in Q1 2013.
Red Samsung Galaxy Tab 2, Note 10.1 (December 17, 2012)
Samsung will introduce a "garnet red" color for the Galaxy Tab 2 line, says SamMobile. Rumored to arrive before Valentine's Day 2013, it is not clear if this will be exclusive to any carriers or retailers. The new color is tipped for 3G and Wi-Fi tablets flavors of the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0, Galaxy Tab 2 10.1, and Galaxy Note 10.1. Samsung has already given this shade to AT&T exclusively for the Samsung Galaxy S3 smartphone.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 2, Note 10.1 to get a new color option in red.
(Credit:
SamMobile)
In rumors that just won't die, Amazon has tasked Foxconn with building the Kindle Phone, Taiwan Economic News reports. Allegedly expected in mid-2013, Amazon has already ordered 5 million of the smartphones, which are said to run $100 to $200 each. If this is the case, we could anticipate a skinned Android experience which resembles that found on the Kindle Fire.
Huawei Ascend D2 (December 18, 2012)
Huawei will announce a 5-inch Ascend D2 at CES in early January, reports Unwired View. Specifications are par for the course, matching up closely with other currently rumored devices. Hardware for the presumed flagship smartphone should include a 5-inch 1080p display, 1.5GHz CPU, 13-megapixel camera, and 3,000mAh battery.
Acer's next Android tablet could be the B1-A71 Tab.
(Credit:
Engadget)
Acer may soon announce an entry-level B1-A71 Tab if recent benchmarks and FCC documentation are to be believed. The details, picked up by Engadget, point to a 7-inch (1,024x600 pixels) Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean experience with a 1.2GHz dual-core processor and PowerVR SGX 531 GPU. As of now, only a Wi-Fi model appears to be on the horizon.
Samsung Galaxy Young (December 18, 2012)
Samsung will announce a Galaxy Young and Galaxy Young Duos at Mobile World Congress, according to SamMobile. Thus far, only the model numbers (GT-S5360 Galaxy Y, GT-S6102 Galaxy Y Duos, GT-S6312 Galaxy Young Duos) and color options -- grayish blue (yep, that's what they're calling it) and white -- are suggested. Historically, the Duos models are offered internationally as single-SIM and dual-SIM models.
Sony Yuga (December 17, 2012)
The 5-inch Sony Yuga will pick up a more traditional Xperia Z name when it debuts at CES, XperiaBlog suggests. The tech blog points to water- and dust-resistant features as well as an OptiContrast panel for the screen. Other, far-reaching chatter this week say that the phone will have 3GB RAM, 128GB storage, a 16-megapixel camera, and a 3,000mAh battery.
ZTE U887 should be a low-end 5-inch Android experience.
(Credit:
Engadget)
ZTE appears to be cooking up a low-end 5-inch experience in the form of a U887; however, it may only be offered in China. Details gleaned from Gizchina and TENAA's certification database paint a picture of a dual-core 1.2GHz processor, a 5-inch 800x480-pixel display, and 512MB RAM. The U887 is said to feature dual-band support (TD-SCDMA and GSM), and is also expected to include a 5-megapixel rear camera.
December 8-14, 2012
Could LG launch its Optimus G successor so soon?
(Credit:
Josh Miller/CNET)
LG could release a follow-up to the Optimus G, but it's improbable that they'd announce something as soon as CES. Mobile World Congress, which takes place in late February, seems like a more likely time. As to what handset could make for the successor, the E940 could be a likely candidate.
Details picked up in recent benchmarks suggest that LG's next big device should feature a 1080p HD display, a Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, and an Adreno 320 GPU. While the E940 could be bound for AT&T, it's also possible that an international model (F240) may touch down in the Korean market.
Samsung Galaxy S4 (December 6, 2012)
The Galaxy S3's successor will probably be the talk of the Internet over the next few months. Fanboys were treated to a false alarm this week when rumors pointed to an S4 announcement at CES.
The responsible party? A teaser video posted by Samsung promising only "something new" was enough to get the ball rolling. Samsung, for its part, has downplayed the rumors of a CES debut in the past.
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 (December 12, 2012)
Samsung will allegedly offer a 6.3-inch model for its next Note "phablet," according to the Korea Times. Applying a bit of string theory, we've previously heard that Samsung might soon have a Galaxy Note device that falls between the current model and the 10.1-inch tablet. Could these be one and the same?
And also...
- Unbreakable Samsung screen (December 6, 2012): Samsung could debut a flexible and/or rugged screen for the Galaxy S4 or Galaxy S5.
- Samsung Grand Duos GT-I8092 (December 6, 2012): Rumor confirmed! The single-SIM and dual-SIM smartphone became official this week.
- Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 for Verizon (December 6, 2012): This could be a 4G LTE variant of the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean tablet.
- Huawei Ascend Mate (December 6, 2012): A 6.1-inch, Android 4.1 phone for CES.
- ZTE Nubia Z5 (December 7, 2012): ZTE rising? We're looking at a 5-inch quad-core phone with a 13-megapixel camera.
- Pantech Vega IM-A860 (December 10, 2012): 5-inch quad-core phone for AT&T or Verizon, with a full 1,920x1,080-pixel HD screen
- Intel Lexington (December 10, 2012): A basic, Intel-branded smartphone for developing markets.
- Panasonic P-02E (December 12, 2012): Another 1080p HD quad-core experience with Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean.
ZTE is just one of many handset makers readying a 5-inch Android smartphone.
(Credit:
TechKiddy)
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