How to improve smartphone battery life: 10 tips and tricks to make your phone’s battery last longer – is Facebook to blame for poor battery life?
Even in 2015, it’s tough to go much longer than 24 hours without charging your smartphone. Better battery technology simply hasn’t arrived yet, which means it’s down to software and settings to eke out the limited power for as long as possible. See also: the best phones you can buy right now
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https://www.techadvisor.co.uk/
With the proliferation of powerful apps available online (office suites, music apps and email clients to name a few) the Chrome OS platform is becoming robust enough for customers to take Chromebooks seriously. Toshiba has armed the Chromebook 2 CB35 ($330) notebook with a 13.3-inch full-HD display, an Intel Celeron 3215U processor and 4GB of RAM. While those features are on a par with the average Chromebook, the CB35’s lengthy battery life and brilliant, accurate screen make it stand out from the competition.
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https://www.laptopmag.com/reviews/laptops/toshiba-chromebook-2-cb35
While the Nexus 6 received plenty of praise when it debuted last year, it also got its fair share of flack. Why? Because it was just too big. For many, the Nexus 6 was the size of a tiny giant, with its 5.96-inch display and 10.1mm-thick profile that dwarfed smaller hands. Additionally, it started at $649, whereas the previous-gen Nexus 5 cost just $349. Not wanting to disappoint its customers, Google decided to release two handsets instead of one this year: the pricier 5.7-inch Nexus 6P (made by Huawei and starting at $499 for 32GB) for those who do indeed want a larger phone, and the cheaper 5.2-inch 5X (made by LG and starting at $379 for 16GB) for those who wanted a sequel to the original 5. While it may certainly be the smaller and lower-end device of the pair, I found the 5X to be far better than I anticipated, delivering plenty of value for the money.
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https://www.engadget.com/2015/10/19/nexus-5x-review/
TiVo has been in the DVR game for the better part of two decades, and even in the slow-paced TV world, that’s enough time to see lots of change. Surprisingly, with theintroduction of its Bolt DVR (excuse me: Unified Entertainment System) TiVo grabbed a feature from one of its oldest competitors in order to do battle with newer rivals. The company seems to have realized it’s not just trying to beat your cable or satellite company’s half-assed excuse for a set-top box, as Apple, Google, Roku, Amazon and others join game systems and Blu-ray players in a fight for living room dominance. Now, TiVo has a new design and, for the first time, a solution for easily skipping commercials. Still, that might not be enough to make the Bolt (starting at $300) a good buy.
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https://www.engadget.com/2015/10/18/tivo-bolt-review/
Samsung is learning. After a string of smartwatches that failed to became bestsellers, the Korean company decided to reshape its vision of wearables — and I mean literally reshape. Its latest, the Gear S2, is a Tizen-powered watch that finally has a round screen and finally works with phones that Samsung didn’t make. More importantly, the company dreamed up a circular interface with a neat rotating bezel that doesn’t rely as heavily on taps and swipes as its competitors. What we ultimately get in the Gear S2 isn’t a perfect smartwatch — far from it — but a collection of good ideas that can’t quite make up for the shortcomings of its software platform.
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https://www.engadget.com/2015/10/16/samsung-gear-s2-review/
Every year, like clockwork, Google and some popular phone maker cook up a handset to be a standard-bearer for the newest version of Android. Well, maybe not every year: This time around there are two of them. While the LG-made Nexus 5X is a direct successor to the beloved Nexus 5, things aren’t quite as straightforward with Huawei’s Nexus 6P. It’s a sleeker, smaller, more powerful take on the phablet formula Google and Motorola tried to crack with the Nexus 6, and it seems to hit all the right notes. Hell, with a price tag that starts at $499, it’s even cheaper than its predecessor. All that said, there’s never been a better time to be in the market for a new phone — Android or otherwise — which means the Nexus 6P faces some stiff competition.
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https://www.engadget.com/2015/10/19/nexus-6p-review/?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS91cmw_c2E9dCZyY3Q9aiZxPSZlc3JjPXMmc291cmNlPXdlYiZjZD0xNCZ2ZWQ9MmFoVUtFd2lra3QyRW5mUGtBaFdFTkk4S0hZX1BCQ1FRRmpBTmVnUUlBQkFCJnVybD1odHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRnd3dy5lbmdhZGdldC5jb20lMkYyMDE1JTJGMTAlMkYxOSUyRm5leHVzLTZwLXJldmlldyUyRiZ1c2c9QU92VmF3MW5JTDJSY1ZmaGp1am1UMWpqcm1XYg&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAALEur3aDevoZV-GNPkhl_0oFyUVoyimkI7uBtkudTHOMyrnEimDuLiWe9Drzjwp6yL457aGh__X7uzoje_cgmxfO5MoWOONdfufbxx6ki7tpBJRaVnIAS1FntzW0eiJWrW5J2xEo8xwrFwgzuUTrMB2LARl54zAhIWdSLuVUb15-
What makes the Kia Forte so great is both the affordability and the 10-year powertrain warranty. The warranty makes life much easier, as you won’t be shelling out as much money to repair it when there are problems. The slick styling and spacious interior certainly sweeten the pot.
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http://www.carophile.com/
The Bublcam does one thing very well: describe itself – in its name, in its industrial design, and in its product. While several 360-degree “spherical” cameras are already on the market, Bubl Technology have done the best job in creating a device that’s simple to understand and use from start to finish – WITH high-quality results. This device has four cameras, each pointing in a different direction to create videos and photos that are spherical in shape, fully prepared for immersive viewing online and in the new virtual reality ecosystem.
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https://www.slashgear.com/bublcam-review-360-degrees-of-spherical-camera-potential-15409285/
Scion needed a hot hatch on a budget, and so under $20k gets you the 2016 Scion iM and a handful of compromises. If you’re European then you might get a sense of deja-vu from the iM. Scion didn’t look far afield for its donor car, effectively just rebadging the Toyota Auris sold across the Atlantic and slapping a body kit on the outside.
It’s not an ugly car by any means, though I’m not sure the styling additions do it many favors. The 17″ wheels are nice, but the side sills in particular lack finesse. Most of the properly neat detailing, like the squinty headlamps and the sharply protruding rear light clusters are pure Auris.
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https://www.slashgear.com/
Google Chrome is one of the most popular browsers in the world, second only to Internet Explorer by most measures. Why? Lay credit at the feet of Chrome’s vibrant extension catalog, popular app platform, and deep integration with Google services.
It’s a fantastic browser, but just as with Firefox there’s an ideal way to get the most out of Chrome. Here’s how to set up Chrome the right way.
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https://www.techadvisor.co.uk/
Vizio may be best known for making the kind of TVs you buy when trying to maximize an AV budget, but they can go toe-to-toe with the top of the heap in the business, too. That’s the message the outfit is clearly sending with the 120-Inch Vizio Reference Series 4K TV, a crazy-expensive model packing some crazy-advanced tech in a crazy-huge size.
Billed by Vizio as a “TV that has no equal,” they’re tagging it with, pretty much, every superlative that can apply to a living room display device. You know, like “dramatically richer intensity, depth and contrast.” And “exceptional levels of color variety, precision and saturation.” Also, the “most vibrant whites and purest blacks for an awe-inspiring level of contrast.”
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https://www.coolthings.com/vizio-reference-series-120-inch-4k-tv/
In less than a week, HTC is set to unveil a new smartphone. Given the business crisis that the company is undergoing, all eyes will be on whether this is the promised hero product that will save the company. Based on recent leaks, however, that may be somewhat questionable. Almost putting the nail on the coffin, French carrier Orange “accidentally” put up details of the HTC One A9 website, which might disappoint a few hopefuls, with its unoriginal design, mediocre specs, and unapologetically high price tag.
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https://www.slashgear.com/french-carrier-outs-htc-one-a9-and-its-insane-price-15409785/
Audi is ready to launch a special version of the A5 in Europe to celebrate the automakers DTM racing efforts. The car is called the A5 DTM and it is a special version that packs a diesel V6 engine under the hood. That engine should be enough to tell you that the car won’t be coming to the US.
The diesel V6 is a 3.0L TDI making 245hp and 428 lb-ft of torque. As you expect with Audi, the car has the firms Quattro all wheel drive system. The transmission is a 7-speeed wet-clutch S-tronic flappy paddle unit. Audi says that the power from the V6 will send the car from a standstill to 62mph in 5.9 seconds.
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https://www.slashgear.com/audi-a5-dtm-aims-at-europe-only-with-v6-diesel-engine-15409872/
Starting on December 1st, 2015, NVIDIA’s GeForce Experience will require that you provide an email address to download game-ready drivers. For the less enthusiast-based crew of gamers out in the wild, standard drivers will still be available through the GeForce Experience website from NVIDIA. In addition to this, GeForce Experience will have a big jump in quality for GameStream experience – straight up to 4K.
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https://www.slashgear.com/
The BlackBerry Priv might just be around the corner if the company already has a pre-registration system ready, although the exact date is still unknown. Together with the pre-registration page, however, BlackBerry is also giving a few clues about the Android smartphone’s features. Some we’ve already heard about and are confirming this time around. Some are a bit completely new to our ears. Suffice to say, BlackBerry is building up the hype bit by bit for what could be the most interesting Android smartphone this time of the year.
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https://www.slashgear.com/blackberry-priv-pre-registration-confirms-a-few-details-14409788/
Porsche currently has two schools of thought when it comes to power for its cars. One side of the equation wants to turbo everything for more power from smaller engines with better fuel economy. The other side of the equation wants naturally aspirated power for the purist who may want to flog their car at a racetrack where forced induction cars often heat soak and loose power.
Porsche is making cars that call on both sides of that equation with all the 911s getting turbo engines this year save a few. The big NA car for Porsche is the mighty GT3, but soon Porsche will have a car that sits under the GT3 and shares the NA power. The car is tipped to be the 911 R and it is said to come with a naturally aspirated six under the rear bonnet that makes 500hp.
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https://www.slashgear.com/porsche-911-r-to-pack-500-naturally-aspirated-horsepower-and-a-stick-15409868/
Are you pining for a particular ZTE phone but don’t have the funds? The company feels your pain, and has introduced a new leasing program that will let customers pay for it over time — make all the payments, and then it’s yours forever. The program is being launched in the United States, and appears to be an effort to compete with the monthly payment plans that several carriers have introduced.
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https://www.slashgear.com/zte-rolls-out-device-leasing-in-u-s-14409777/
Like any other major iOS release, iOS 9 brought a new set of features to delight users and make their lives more comfortable. Or at least that’s the goal. We’ve seen multi-window multitasking on iPads and the space saving app slicing, for example. But like any other release as well, there are some features that may not always work to the user’s benefit, depending on how you see it. One of those is the Wi-Fi Assist feature, and Apple has now put up a support page to clarify what it does and does not do.
The idea behind Wi-Fi Assist is simple and, in theory, really useful. If you’re connected over Wi-Fi but are getting a poor connection, iOS 9 will automatically switch to using cellular data. Now you will no longer have to suffer slow loading web pages or content just because the Wi-Fi network you’re on sucks. At the expense of eating into your data cap, of course.
Apple assures users of a few things, however. One, Wi-Fi Assist doesn’t activate if you’re on roaming, so you don’t have to worry about exorbitant charges. It also only works on apps that are running in the background, so sneaky apps won’t benefit from your cellular data. It also doesn’t work with third party apps that stream media or download attachments, since those can quickly eat up your 3G or 4G allotment. And finally, it is completely optional.
That last part is important but is also the source of a some consternation. A new feature in iOS 9, Wi-Fi Assist is silently enabled by default. No first use prompt after upgrading. And no immediate way of knowing about. The switch to turn it off is buried at the bottom of the Cellular data settings, which makes it hard to find unless you know what you’re looking for in the first place.
Apple insists that the extra cellular usage is just a small percentage, perhaps even negligible, compared to unassisted data usage. Still, it might have been respectful to first ask the user about such an option, thought it probably goes against Apple’s usability guidelines.
(slashgear.com)
Some Android device manufacturers simply slap Android on their devices and consider the job done. Some even try to make Android almost indistinguishable from Android, sometimes more similar to rival platforms. There are, however, some that try to do right by the Android community and stick as close to the source as possible. In trying to paint itself into that persona, LG announced that its G4 flagship is the first in the world, apart from Google’s own Nexus devices, to receive the Android 6.0 Marshmallow update starting next week.
It’s not hard to imagine how LG was able to pull off a feat that other manufacturers can perhaps only dream of. For one, although it has its own User Experience (UX) flavor, it isn’t as heavy handed compared to something like Samsung’s TouchWiz. This means it is easier to take than and tweak it to be compatible with new Android releases without breaking too much functionality in the process.
It also doesn’t hurt to have a very close working relationship with Google. After all, LG has already made three Nexus smartphones now and the latest, the Nexus 5X, is one of the two first Android 6.0 devices. LG undoubtedly has had a head start versus other device makers, both in getting their hands on the release and the experience of making it work on a device.
Unlike with Lollipop, Google didn’t hype Marshmallow too much, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t get its own fair share of big features. At the top of the list perhaps is the improved App Permissions system, which lets users control security and privacy with more precision. There’s also the new Doze feature which aims to prolong battery life by shutting down even background apps when the phone isn’t being used for a stretch of time. There are also changes under the hood, like official support for fingerprint scanners. Coincidentally, the Nexus 5X is LG’s first smartphone to sport such a sensor.
LG will start the Android 6.0 rollout next week in Poland, the very same market that got the first Android 5.0 update last year, also courtesy of LG. It will be followed by Europe, Asia, and the Americas, though no dates, or even month, has been mentioned. Of course, the LG G4 is hardly the only LG smartphone to receive the update, with the G3, G Stylo, G Pad 10.1 and G Flex2 included in the list.
(slashgear.com)
Sony has updated its RX1R camera with the aptly named RX1R II, a portable camera with high-end features. Among its offerings is a back-illuminated full-frame sensor, a 35mm F2 ZEISS Sonnar T sensor, and a high 42.4 megapixels resolution. Sony boasts that this new model brings with it the highest image quality it has ever offered from a compact model. In addition, the company says the RX1R II features an adjustable optical variable low pass filter, a first in the world of digital cameras.
The Sony RX1R II is a powerhouse stuffed in a tiny camera body. It has an expansive array of features, most of them pushing the limits of what you’d expect to ever get in a pocketable model. Joining the 42.4MP full-frame sensor is a 30-percent increase in auto focus response speed over the RX1 cameras. There’s 399 focal-plane phase-detection AF points that span nearly 45% of a photo’s area. This works in conjunction with 25 contrast AF points, a motion detection algorithm, and up to 5fps of continuous shooting with AF tracking.
The camera is powered by a BIONZ X image processor, of which it provides an ISO range of 100 to 25,600, which can be expanded to 50 to 102,400. Data transmission and output is 3.5x faster than the original model, and there’s a fixed lens; the latter is necessary due to the high resolution and other features. Because Sony elected to use an in-lens shutter, this next-gen model offers 1/2000s flash sync speed.
Other notable features with the RX1R II is support for RAW 14-bit image capture, a retractable XGA OLED viewfinder, HD video recording (up to FHD at 60fps), a tiltable LCD with 1.2 million dots, NFC, WiFi, support for Sony’s PlayMemories Mobile app, and a textured hand grip.
The camera will be available this upcoming December for €3,500.
(slashgear.com)
Another leaked list of Samsung smartphones has leaked with indications for updates to Android 6.0 Marshmallow. This list comes from SamMobile, where they suggest they’ve attained said information from an inside source. Here you’ll find the Samsung Galaxy S5 – the Verizon version along with two Euro editions and a fourth version of the machine. You won’t find the SM-G900T nor the SM-G900A – that is the T-Mobile USA and the AT&T versions of the smartphone. No smartphones older than the Galaxy S5 in Samsung’s collection will be getting an update to Android 6.0 Marshmallow according to this document.
The Samsung Galaxy S5 in several iterations is joined by the Galaxy S5 LTE-A and the Galaxy S5 neo. The Galaxy S6 in all iterations – AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, US Cellular, and even Cricket are included. The Galaxy S6 Edge is also included in what appears to be every different iteration the smartphone has ever been released in – these two devices include international releases as well: KT, LG U+, BELL, KDDI NTT DOCOMO, SoftBank Mobile, and the like.
NOTE: This set of devices from an inside source differs ever-so-slightly from theprevious list we were working with. The Galaxy S5 has either been added by Samsung, or it was always there to begin with and the first list was bunk.
The Samsung Galaxy S6 Plus appears to be getting an update to Android 6.0 Marshmallow in its relatively few releases – few only because so few versions of the device exist in the first place. This includes all US-based carriers.
The Galaxy Note 4 is also on this list in just two editions: Verizon and Euro Open. The Galaxy Note Edge’s Verizon release appears to be getting Marshmallow, too.
Finally you’ll find the full Galaxy Note 5 collection being prepared for Android Marshmallow – at least on all US-based carriers and Euro Open. Sound like a comprehensive list to you? Remember that this list may not end up being entirely final, and that devices could be added (or, though less likely, dropped) at any time!
(slashgear.com)
A few days back Toyota unveiled three new concept cars that will be on display at the Tokyo motor show. Among those cars was the slightly odd looking S-FR sports car. A forum set up specifically for that car now claims to have the specifications for the concept car, how exactly why got them is unclear so salt is needed.
According to the forum, the S-FR will feature a 1.5L four-cylinder engine and will produce 128hp and 109 lb-ft of torque. The engine is said to be the 2NR-FKE, a tuned version of the same engine used in the Japanese Corolla.
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https://www.slashgear.com/toyota-s-fr-tipped-to-pack-1-5l-128hp-four-14409706/
HP and 3M have partnered to produce business laptops with built-in privacy screens, the same sort of screens used at banks, hotels and other businesses to keep the contents on a monitor away from nosy people. These screens are available to purchase as independent items, but must be cut to fit an existing laptop’s display (or, perhaps, taped if you’re not concerned about style).
The idea is that business users might be doing something sensitive on their laptop that requires privacy; working on the plane, in a cafe, or other public places aren’t ideal, then. You could position yourself toward the wall, but that’s not always an option, and it still won’t prevent those who walk nearby from seeing what you’re doing.
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https://www.slashgear.com/hp-3m-team-up-for-laptops-with-built-in-privacy-screens-14409737/
Satechi has introduced and formally launched its new Wireless Gamepad, a Bluetooth gaming controller that works with iOS, Android, and Windows devices. The controller can be used with both smartphones and tablets, featuring a spring holder for attaching phones. The controller brings with it a total of three gaming modes, each of which are tailored to a specific platform.
The game controller, which is available now through Amazon and Satechi, offers a total of two joysticks and 14 buttons, as well as a directional pad. The iCade Mode is for use with iOS, making the controller suitable for “iCade classic games” and a bunch of more modern games. Those with iOS will need to download the “iCade” app from the App Store.
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https://www.slashgear.com/satechi-wireless-gamepad-for-mobile-devices-now-available-14409731/
Polestar Cyan Racing has announced that it plans to enter into the FIA World Touring Car Championship racing series in 2016. The race team will enter the fray with a sweet pair of Volvo S60 Polestar racing cars. The program is a multi-year deal and the announcement comes on the 30th anniversary of Volvo winning the 1985 European Touring Car Championship.
The racing car that will be used for 2016 is the all new Volvo S60 Polestar TC1 racecar. As you would expect, Volvo is mum on the bulk of the specs of the racer. It doesn’t want the competition to know what the car is all about.
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https://www.slashgear.com/polestar-cyan-racing-enters-fia-wtcc-series-with-s60-polestar-racers-14409725/
There’s no doubt that the Surface Book was the most exciting device Microsoft announced last week. The laptop/tablet hybrid features a 13.5-inch display that can be detached and used separately from the keyboard, and is easily one of the most interesting pieces of hardware Microsoft has produced in some time. While the device certainly generated a lot of buzz online, it also seems to have struck a chord with consumers, as pre-orders of every version of the Surface Book are now sold out on Microsoft’s online store.
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https://www.slashgear.com/
Lenovo teamed up with the gang from Cyanogen back in August to develop a new smartphone called the ZUK Z1. That device isn’t Lenovo branded, it’sbranded with the ZUK name and is backed by the Chinese firm. ZUK has now announced that the Z1 smartphone is being sold in Europe via Amazon with the official launch internationally happening yesterday.
We learned that the international launch would happen in October back in August. The Z1 international version is available via Amazon in Spain, Italy, France, UK, and Germany. The promotional price offered now is 299.99 EUR ad ZUK notes that the device sold well during flash sale events via Amazon Italy and Germany.
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https://www.slashgear.com/zuk-z1-cyanogen-os-smartphone-launches-in-europe-14409607/
Following the announcement of what Microsoft is calling a “digital notebook” (that is, not a Surface Pro clone), Toshiba is also unveiling its new Satellite Radius 12 convertible laptop. While such laptops aren’t exactly rare these days, the Satellite Radius 12 boasts of a specific combination that Toshiba claims is a world’s first. To be precise it is the first Windows 10 12..5-inch convertible laptop that boasts of an Ultra High Def resolution of 4K pixels. And the icing on top is a parade of names from some of the most respected brands in visual and audio technology.
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https://www.slashgear.com/toshibal-satellite-radius-12-convertible-laptop-flaunts-4k-14409564/
Earlier this month Ford announced that it would be focusing heavily on SUVs and crossovers at SEMA this year. Ford plans to bring 28 different customized Edge Sport and Explorer Sport SUVs to the show. The company has circled back and offered up more details on some of the SUVs including the All Star Performance Explorer Sport pictured here.
This SUV has some power modifications with a MagnaFlow performance exhaust and a Vortech front mount intercooler. The chassis has a 2.5-inch Traxda lift kit. Wheels are ADV.1 Wheels ADV10R 20×11-inch units shod with Toyo A/T II 305/50R20 tires.
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https://www.slashgear.com/ford-shows-off-all-star-performance-explorer-sport-ahead-of-sema-14409631/
Samsung has tried to reduce its dependence on the Android operating system by rolling its own OS called Tizen. The first Samsung Tizen OS device was the Samsung Z1, which sold well. The latest Tizen-powered smartphone has launched in India and it is called the Samsung Z3. Developing nations like India are the most popular locations for Samsung’s own OS.
The Z3 is a low cost smartphone aimed at buyers on a budget and it packs nice hardware upgrades compared to the Z1. The Z1 and the Z3 look very similar from the front view, but the back is noticeably different with curved edges.
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https://www.slashgear.com/samsung-z3-lands-in-india-packing-tizen-os-14409610/