The Huawei Ascend P2 won't be sporting the full HD display which has previously been reported, with the mid-range handset having to make do with a 720p offering.
Official word came via Huawei's Mobile Division head Richard Yu, who took to Sina Weibo (China's version of Twitter) to confirm the Ascend P2 will feature a 4.7-inch, 720p screen.
Yu added that a 1080p display under 5-inches in size would be pointless, as the human eye wouldn't be able to distinguish the difference between that an a 720p offering - take that HTC One.
On its way
Other rumours suggest the Huawei Ascend P2 will run a 1.5Ghz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, Android Jelly Bean and pack a 13MP camera and sizable 3,000mAh battery.
If the Ascend P2 does become reality it will slide in below the flagship Huawei Ascend D2 which sports a 5-inch, full HD IPS+ display.
We expect to see the Huawei Ascend P2 at MWC 2013 next week, so keep a look out for our hands on review.
There is strong rivalry between Qualcomm and Nvidia on the market but lately the momentum appears to be swinging in the former’s direction. As you might already know, the LG Optimus G Pro and the HTC One are coming with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor. And now, right after Nvidia unveiled their newest chipset, Qualcomm has announced their 200 and 400 chips.
The new chipsets are meant for entry-level and mid-range smartphones, and for the high-end devices the company already introduced the 600 and 800 processors back in January. The newly announced chips are coming with improved battery life, better performance and connectivity.
The Snapdragon 200 is coming with quad ARM Cortex-A5 CPUs which will run at 1.4GHz per core and an Adreno 203 GPU. You will also get support for 8 Megapixel cameras, HD video playback, GPS, and it features better battery life as said earlier and Multi-SIM capabilities, so it see quite a bit of popularity in Asia as well.
The 400 chipset will be available in two configurations: dual Krait CPUs at 1.7GHz per core or quad Cortex A7 at 1.4GHz. You will be able to enjoy 3D gaming with an Adreno 305 GPU and get support for up to a 13.5MP snapper.
According to the company, 55 Snapdragon 800-powered devices should be available by the second half of 2013. No info on which all devices will be powered by the newly announced processors. But we will keep you updated, so stay tuned.
The Samsung Galaxy S4 will see you now, as reports suggest it will come equipped with a S Health app and accessory, but are processor woes forcing the Korean firm to delay the Galaxy S4 release?
S Health isn't a new invention with the Korean firm (quietly) launching the app and accompanying pad for use with the Galaxy S3, allowing users to monitor blood pressure, blood sugar, BMI, weight etc without a trip to the doctors.
Korean site Daum now reports the same set up will be heading to the upcoming Galaxy S4 and Samsung could make a bigger deal of it this time as the technology and been improved.
Snappy Dragon making S4 late
In other Galaxy S4 related news Barron's has spoken to an analyst (so take this with a sizable dosage of salt) who claims the flagship smartphone has been delayed due to problems with the Qualcomm made Snapdragon processor destined for the handset.
Apparently Samsung is lining up the ridiculously sized octo-core chipset for the Galaxy SIV, but power management issues has slowed down development.
Who are you trying to kid here? Credit: MobileFun
Rounding off this Samsung Galaxy S4 sandwich is a highly dubious report from Mobile Fun which claims to have received leaked shots of protective cases for the new handset from a Chinese accessory manufacturer.
We're hardly sold on these shots and we reckon Samsung may employ a more dramatic design overhaul for the Galaxy SIV than the cases suggest, so let's not get carried away. OK?
The LG Optimus G has finally made its way to Europe, but it could be too late for this 4G smartphone to succeed.
LG launched the Optimus G in Korean and then the States last year, but has only just got round to bringing it to Europe now.
It does come with a Jelly Bean trump card though, with the same handset in other regions still running Ice Cream Sandwich.
The Optimus G also offers up a 4.7-inch HD IPS display, 1.5GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, 4G connectivity and a range of enhanced user interface features.
Slide to the right
They enhancements include QSlide which allows you to use multiple apps at the same time, much like Samsung's multi-window option, and you can also have a video playing or other set apps in a smaller window - much like the Pop-up Play feature found on the Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2.
The timing seems all the more odd considering the firm has just announced its natural replacement in the LG Optimus G Pro, which we expect to see in more detail at MWC 2013.
LG has confirmed that the Optimus G will make its European debut in Sweden at the end of February, after which it will head to other markets including France, Germany and Italy.
TechRadar contacted LG about availability in the UK and a spokesperson for the company told us: "We don't yet have further information regarding the availability and ranging of the Optimus G in the UK."
With a cutting-edge camera, a super-slim design and the ability to withstand life's knocks and bumps (and Android Jelly Bean to boot) the Xperia Z is a phone that's got us fired up about Sony Mobile again.
Earlier handsets such as the Sony Xperia S and Sony Xperia T were extremely promising from a brand striking out on its own - but it's with the Xperia Z that Sony is really banking on making a cataclysmic dent in the makeup of the smartphone market.
If you don't believe us, just look at its marketing hype - Valentine's Day saw ads on several, consecutive pages of major newspapers in the UK and you can't pass a billboard without seeing this baby in glorious Technicolor, accompanied by a strong statement that Sony has "reinvented the phone."
The Android Jelly Bean-toting (albeit only 4.2) Sony Xperia Z comes with some of the best specs on the market - and it's one of the most eagerly awaited handsets of recent months. Launching before the HTC One orSamsung Galaxy S4, Sony is clearly hoping to steal an early march on its competitors.
And the early signs it will do so are promising: a quad-core 1.5GHz Snaprdragon Krait processor, 13MP camera, 16GB storage (expandable, woohoo!), 2GB RAM, water and dust-resistant, 1080p HD screen with Bravia Engine, LTE, to name a few. You couldn't make this stuff up - this is the company that had a part in the Satio, after all.
As soon as we took our review unit out of the box, we were mesmerised. This feels and looks like a premium, high quality product. Sony is one of the few manufacturers that can take what is, effectively, a plain black square and make it into something beautiful. Manufactured from piano black, high gloss glass both front and black, it could have come from the same stable as the Google Nexus 4.
Though maybe we are overestimating it, viewing the Sony Xperia Z through geek-tinted goggles - because while we were blown away, others came out with the line that Sony will be hoping doesn't cross too many punters' lips: "looks like every other smartphone out there though, doesn't it?"
One thing the Sony Xperia Z certainly does have in common with every other smartphone out there is the fact that it is a pure magnet for fingerprints. You'll struggle to keep it clean all day long without either surgical gloves or a can of Mr Sheen in your bag.
As is fast becoming the norm, you can expect to pick the Sony Xperia Z up in white too. On top of that, O2 in the UK is exclusively offering a purple variant.
If you're coming from something like a Samsung Galaxy S3, it'll feel similar, if a little larger, in terms of size: the Sony Xperia Z rocks in at 139 x 71 x 7.9mm/5.47 x 2.79 x 0.31 inches, so there's little room for anything else in your hands.
Coming from something smaller like, say, an iPhone 5, you'll certainly notice the difference. But it's amazing how quickly you'll adapt.
At 146g/5.15oz, it's by no means the lightest handset out there - but the Sony Xperia Z exudes a heftiness that belies a quality device. It's on a par with Apple's offering when it comes to the thickness.
The ports are spread out with the headphone jack up top, the SIM slot and volume rocker on the right - either side of a silver standby button - while both the microSD and charging ports are on the left, alongside contacts for accessories. A watertight port covers each.
The front of the Sony Xperia Z is minimalist - showing off only a Sony logo and front-facing camera. The rear is a little busier, with various tech info printed on it, plus the Sony Xperia logo, an NFC badge, camera light and the all-important lens. That back is stuck fast - as is becoming the custom, you'll have no luck if you want to remove the battery.
Turn it on, and you're not disappointed. Coming from the blackness, the 5-inch screen springs into life. Whether or not you'll like it is down to personal choice.
Some who've used the Sony Xperia Z describe the screen as a disappointment because Sony has gone for TFT - albeit with 1080 x 1920 pixels, giving a pixel density of 441ppi, which would explain why it looks a bit washed out. If you've come from a Super AMOLED screen you'll definitely feel the difference.
We're still fans - this is a razor sharp display from one of the world's premier screen manufacturers, although it doesn't have the wow factor of the HTC One's Super LCD 3 screen.
The only thing that lets it down is viewing angles - if you look at the Sony Xperia Z's screen, dead on, it's sharp enough. If you look at it from the side, it has a strange ability to look incredibly washed out. It's no huge problem though - unless you like to look at things side on. In which case, see a doctor.
One of the selling points of the Sony Xperia Z is that it is also water resistant. There's something slightly unnerving about taking a £529 (around US$817/AU$789) phone and dropping it in the sink - but that's exactly what we did. And it worked absolutely fine.
Clearly, you'll need to make sure the ports are covered using those watertight protectors, that much goes without saying.
And at £529 (around US$817/AU$789) in the UK, this is not a cheap handset by any stretch of the imagination. It's actually the same price as the comparable SIM-free 16GB iPhone 5. Now, that's not to say that Apple product prices should set the benchmark, but considering we've often thrown out there that we think iOS devices are hideously overpriced, this is a very brave move from Sony.
Maybe it's trying to be bold and use the price to show it's confident the Sony Xperia Z is better than the iPhone.
In fact, the iPhone 5 is the only real competition in its class for now - with the HTC One X and Samsung Galaxy S3 both starting to show their age. Indeed, until the imminent arrival of the new HTC One or Samsung Galaxy S4, this is probably the most advanced Android smartphone out there.
If you don't want to stump up the cash in one go, monthly contracts are of course available. But again, be willing to sell your grandmother to afford one.
The Sony Xperia Z will not be provided free in the UK unless you sign up for a deal starting at around £37 a month and commit for two years.
The Samsung Galaxy S4 could be used to debut some new camera technology by the Korean firm, which is currently being dubbed as Samsung Orb.
According to AndroidGeeks Samsung is working on a camera feature which will be very similar to the Photo Sphere mode currently found in the stock Android 4.2 Jelly Bean application.
The information apparently comes via a Samsung engineer who is working on the Galaxy S4, although we're not able to confirm the authenticity of this claim.
It looks like there won't be too much difference between Samsung Orb and Photo Sphere, with the Korean firm's offering allowing you to take a 360 degree panorama to give you an almost 3D image.
360 and share
The slight difference seems to be with the sharing options, with Samsung apparently in talks with Facebook to allow Galaxy S4 users to easily share their 360 creations on the social network.
Unsurprisingly the engineer has talked up the Samsung Orb, saying it will offer a better result than Google's Photo Sphere, partly thanks to the superior camera the Galaxy S4 will sport - although we're not taking anything for granted just yet.
Rumours currently point towards the Samsung Galaxy S4 packing a 13MP snapper, putting it on par with the recently announced Sony Xperia Z.
The Samsung Galaxy S4 is expected to be unveiled towards the end of March, with the handset landing in stores in April/May this year.
Details on the Sony Xperia SP have popped up again on the world wide web, with a new source seemingly confirming various mid-range specifications.
The details were sent to XperiaBlog by a 'trusted source', who was apparently able to confirm features such as screen size, case materials and camera on the Xperia SP.
According to the source, the Sony Xperia SP will sport a 4.6-inch 720p display, 8GB of internal storage, 8MP Exmor RS camera and feature an aluminium frame surrounding a plastic rear and glass-covered front.
We've also seen leaked photos claiming to show the Xperia SP sporting a similar design to the flagship Sony Xperia Z, which was launched at CES 2013.
The Sony Xperia SP is expected to be announced at MWC 2013 next week, and TechRadar will be out in force in Barcelona to bring you all the latest from the Japanese firm.
Small enough for a regular phone, bright enough to light up the room
A new Xenon flash that is compact enough to fit into some of the smallest phones may provide a brighter future for their owners who just can't seem to properly light their dim-looking photos.
The slim-phone-friendly capacitor that's still able to store enough energy for a Xenon flash was developed by scientists from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and being produced by Xenon Technologies.
"This project will yield a breakthrough solution for the digital imaging industry, which will be the world's smallest Xenon flash," said Xenon Technologies CEO Jack Tuen in a press release.
"Our customers and consumers at large constantly demand for a proper Xenon flash which can fit into increasingly smaller and beautiful form factor mobile devices. This is the answer which fulfils that need."
Examining the Xenon technology
With the goal of lighting the way to better-looking photos, this Xenon flash on a diet is made from polymers layered together and it contains a capacitor that is at least four times smaller than current electrolytic capacitors.
"The multi-layered polymer capacitor is also able to deliver the same electricity charge needed to power high-intensity Xenon flash light matching those found in digital cameras," said the school in a press release.
This advancement is thanks to the two and a half years of work of the inventor and Associate Professor Lee Pooi See and her team of researchers at NTU's School of Materials Science and Engineering.
"With XT's expertise in developing successful commercial products, we are confident that this collaboration will result in a disruptive innovation," she said in a statement.
"Not just in the area of flash technology, but also in the world of consumer electronics, as all computers and devices requires the use of capacitors in one way or another."
Slim Xenon flash timetable
With funding from Singapore's National Research Foundation Proof-of-Concept grant, the NTU-Xenon team expects to have a commercial prototype ready by September of this year.
But don't put away your Xenon-flash-boasting Nokia 808 PureView just yet.
Tuen told CNET that he was confident that mobile phone manufacturers will take to the new slim Xenon flash - but it won't be in a flash. Instead, look for the new technology in devices sometime in the end of 2014.
Small enough for a regular phone, bright enough to light up the room
A new Xenon flash that is compact enough to fit into some of the smallest phones may provide a brighter future for their owners who just can't seem to properly light their dim-looking photos.
The slim-phone-friendly capacitor that's still able to store enough energy for a Xenon flash was developed by scientists from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and being produced by Xenon Technologies.
"This project will yield a breakthrough solution for the digital imaging industry, which will be the world's smallest Xenon flash," said Xenon Technologies CEO Jack Tuen in a press release.
"Our customers and consumers at large constantly demand for a proper Xenon flash which can fit into increasingly smaller and beautiful form factor mobile devices. This is the answer which fulfils that need."
Examining the Xenon technology
With the goal of lighting the way to better-looking photos, this Xenon flash on a diet is made from polymers layered together and it contains a capacitor that is at least four times smaller than current electrolytic capacitors.
"The multi-layered polymer capacitor is also able to deliver the same electricity charge needed to power high-intensity Xenon flash light matching those found in digital cameras," said the school in a press release.
This advancement is thanks to the two and a half years of work of the inventor and Associate Professor Lee Pooi See and her team of researchers at NTU's School of Materials Science and Engineering.
"With XT's expertise in developing successful commercial products, we are confident that this collaboration will result in a disruptive innovation," she said in a statement.
"Not just in the area of flash technology, but also in the world of consumer electronics, as all computers and devices requires the use of capacitors in one way or another."
Slim Xenon flash timetable
With funding from Singapore's National Research Foundation Proof-of-Concept grant, the NTU-Xenon team expects to have a commercial prototype ready by September of this year.
But don't put away your Xenon-flash-boasting Nokia 808 PureView just yet.
Tuen told CNET that he was confident that mobile phone manufacturers will take to the new slim Xenon flash - but it won't be in a flash. Instead, look for the new technology in devices sometime in the end of 2014.
