Oppo already confirmed that the Find 7 will sport a 2K display
Chinese electronics maker Oppo was more than happy in December to confirm that its Find 7 smartphone will sport a 2K resolution display, but now it seems like there may be a standard HD version in the works as well.
After all, QHD 2K screens pack a lot of pixels in - 2,560 x 1,440, to be precise - and the benefit to consumers has yet to be demonstrated. Having a cheaper version with a 1080p display sure makes a lot of sense.
Now Oppo has posted on the Chinese social and blogging network Weibo saying that multiple Finds are coming - "are," not "is," as CNET points out.
And the site claims that benchmark leaks early in February pegged the Oppo Find 7 with a 1080p display, a spec that's known to be inaccurate - at least for the version of the Find 7 that's been announced.
Doubling down
Either clue might be an error or a mistake in phrasing, but combined they could point to something: a 1080p Find 7 being released in addition to the 2K Find 7.
Oppo may not want to bet all in on 2K screen tech for its next flagship, and having two SKUs would allow it to cover multiple price points while still nailing the wow factor of 2K.
Besides this speculation about the display, little else is know about the Oppo 7, but it's expected it might debut at 798 Art Zone in Beijing on March 19.
The pixel race
Oppo is far from the only company gearing up for the 2K phone race, though.
Samsung confirmed in January that it's working on not only 2K smartphone displays, but absurdly dense 4K smartphone screens as well.
The Moga Ace Power iOS 7 controller has an advantage when it comes to Made For iPhone (MFi) controllers: it's the one that looks most like something a gamer might actually want.
It has everything important to gamers: two triggers and two shoulder buttons, two analog sticks (though they're really more nubs than sticks), and extra juice to power players' phones when they run out of batteries.
With its plethora of buttons, it's already at an advantage against one of its main competitors, the Logitech Powershell, which lacks a second analog input and has only two shoulder buttons.
But despite its obvious advantages, the Moga Ace Power iPhone controller is far from perfect, and it has some major flaws when compared with its other main rival, the SteelSeries Stratus.
Let's break it down.
Design
The Moga Ace Power may have everything that gamers need in a modern controller, but it's probably not going to win any design awards.
Its cheap-feeling plastic body is one big part of the problem. Unlike the Logitech Powershell, the Moga doesn't have any fancy textures or rubberized grips. As a result it feels somewhat like a toy, despite its more robust capabilities.
Of course, that's something the average iOS gamer may or may not care about. As long as it works, who cares if it feels a little cheap? But at $80, consumers might balk.
The Moga's issue problems stem from its split design. The controller is two halves, which slide apart so you can put an iPhone in, but lock together only minimally when it's not in use. This means that the two plastic halves are constantly sliding and rattling loosely against one another, creating noise and moving around inside your bag or pocket.
Not to mention that garish orange hue, which is just brutal on the eyes.
Things get better when it comes to actually getting your iPhone inside the Moga Ace Power. The controller's halves slide apart easily, and then the left side ratchets just a little further, creating ample room to snap your phone into the lightning connector.
Once the iPhone is in, a switch on the back of the controller prevents that left side from sliding away again, ensuring the phone stays in place and doesn't fall out while you're using it.
But another downside is that the Moga Ace Power is the biggest of the three main MFi controllers by far. The Logitech Powershell is much slimmer, while the Stratus is positively tiny. If you're worried about portability that may be an issue.
Controls
The controls are where the Moga Ace Power blows its competitors right out of the water, especially the Logitech Powershell. And for many players who are willing to drop this much money on an iPhone controller, that's going to be the most important factor.
It has a full suite of buttons: dual analog sticks, two triggers, two shoulder buttons, four face buttons (A, B, X, Y), a directional pad, and a pause button. There's also a battery status button that lights up four LED lights to show how much power the Moga has left, a switch that turns the controller's device-charging ability on and off, and a small button on the front-left that activates your phone's lock button.
The dual analog inputs are arguably the most important part, and luckily the Moga Ace Power's nubs are excellent. If you've ever used a Nintendo 3DS you'll know what to expect, and it's high praise to say that the Moga's nubs are close to Nintendo's in terms of quality.
Sadly the same can't be said for the rest of this iPhone controller's buttons. The d-pad is mushy and feels cheap, and the triggers have a bit too much depth, requiring too much time and force to push inward completely.
The face buttons are workable, though they're certainly not exceptional. Same goes for the shoulder buttons, which are perfectly adequate but unremarkable. And the pause button is rather awkwardly placed on the left, whereas most players are probably used to having it on the right or closer to the center.
Unlike the Logitech Powershell, with its awful analog D-pad, the Ace Power won't make your hands tired, even after hours of playing. Likewise you won't feel cramped, unlike with the tiny SteelSeries Stratus.
Connectivity and battery
Like the Logitech Powershell, the Moga Ace Power controller connects easily to your iPhone 5, iPhone 5S, or 5th-gen iPod Touch. Unlike the Powershell, the Ace Power is also compatible with the iPhone 5C.
Unfortunately, any older devices, including the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S, are left in the dust. And given the form of the Moga controller it's also not compatible with the iPad or iPad mini, unlike the SteelSeries Stratus.
But if you have a device that does work with the Moga Ace Power, you'll find it simple and intuitive to slide the controller apart, snap your phone in, and get gaming. Whereas the Stratus requires a sometimes lengthy and often confusing Bluetooth pairing process, the Ace Power, like its competitor from Logitech, is pure plug-in-and-play.
Moga's official documentation claims the Ace Power's battery lasts over 18 hours if you don't use it to charge your phone. We didn't test it for that long, but after about three hours of play and several minutes of charging all four of the controller's battery status LED lights lit up still.
Moga concedes that battery life will vary if you're using the Ace Power to charge your device while you play.
Games
It's difficult to find a comprehensive list of all the games that are compatible with iOS 7 MFi controllers in general, much less for specific controllers. Even the lists put out by the controllers' makers aren't updated frequently and rarely actually include all the games that are compatible.
There is, however, a helpful third party iOS app called Game Controller Apps that lists exactly which games are compatible with MFi controllers.
Using the app it's easy to see all the high profile games that support the Moga Ace Power, including Angry Birds Go, Anomaly 2, Asphalt 8, Bastion, Call of Duty: Strike Team, Dead Trigger 2, Edge, FIFA 14, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Jet Car Stunts 2, Limbo, Minecraft, Oceanhorn, Real Racing 3, Knight of the Old Republic, Sonic 2 and Sonic Racing, The Wolf Among Us, Tomb Raider, The Walking Dead season 2, and dozens of others.
Games that require two analog inputs to be properly played show off the Moga Ace Power's strengths. Playing Minigore 2: Zombies and Dead Trigger 2, two very different zombie shooters that share the need for a second analog stick, is great with the Ace Power.
Playing first-person shooters has never felt right on a touch screen, but thanks to the Ace Power (and its SteelSeries rival, which also has dual control sticks), that's no longer the case. Dead Trigger 2 feels even closer to being a full console game when you're using physical controls, and the Ace Power is perfect for it.
Even games that don't require two analog sticks benefit from the Moga controller's responsive analog nubs. It's easy to steer in driving games like Angry Birds Go and Asphalt 8, and even a smaller game like Death Worm benefits from the physical controls.
When the analog inputs are this good, they're the best option in any game, from Joe Danger Infinity to the classic Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Every game we played with the Moga Ace Power felt better than playing with touch screen controls.
We liked
The Moga Ace Power iPhone controller has every button that modern gamers expect, and its dual analog control nubs in particular are impressively responsive and useful. Every game feels better with the Ace Power than with touch screen controls.
In addition the ability to charge your phone while you're using the controller is great, and the Moga's battery life appears to be impressive as well. And it's nice that your device's lock button is still easily accessible and that the Ace Power is compatible with the iPhone 5C.
There are plenty of games available for it as well, and more and more are being updated with MFi support all the time.
We disliked
Unfortunately Moga skimped a bit on the Ace Power's build quality, and its rattling, jangly plastic will likely get on some players' nerves. In addition, some of the buttons, including the directional pad and the triggers, are not up to snuff. That makes it hard to part with a $80 for this controller.
It's also a shame that the Ace Power is only compatible with iOS devices equipped with lightning connectors, though you can't really fault it for that against its competitors since that's true of Logitech's and SteelSeries' options as well.
However, the SteelSeries Stratus is also compatible with iPads and iPad minis, which gives it a leg up compared to the Moga Ace Power.
Final verdict
The Moga Ace Power is ultimately a solid choice for iOS gaming enthusiasts who don't mind jumping on the MFi bandwagon a bit early. It's certainly a much better choice than the Logitech PowerShell, and now that Moga has dropped the price from $99 to $79 it's a no-brained if you're choosing between the two. As of this writing not every outlet has this updated price, so make sure to shop around so you don't overpay.
However, if you can get over the SteelSeries Stratus's minuscule size, that controller provides many of the same benefits as the Ace Power, with the added bonus of iPad and iPad mini support. So it comes down to this: would you rather have a larger, plastic controller that turns your iPhone into a Game Boy, or something with bluetooth for greater iOS versatility?
First come the whispers, then the spec, size and release date rumors. Now, seemingly right on schedule, come the photos.
Sonny Dickson, who gave us pics of the iPad Air and iPad mini 2 before Apple announced them, is back with what he claimed are photos of the iPhone 6's back casing.
The rear backing is in space gray, stamped with Apple's signature black bitten fruit. It's hard to make out dimensions from the images, but Dickson claimed the new iPhone will have a screen bigger than 4 inches.
He described the iPhone's design as a cross between the new iPad and the iPod touch, and there certainly appear to be elements of each in the limited sample size he's provided us.
Could future Surface tablets run Android apps too?
Microsoft may have a solution in the works for its Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 app deficit, but some inside the company reportedly aren't on board yet.
It's simple: Microsoft's desktop, tablet and smartphone operating systems lack the bustling app ecosystem of a platform like, say, Android - so why not enable Android apps to run on Windows and Windows Phone devices?
That's exactly what the company is considering, according to The Verge, which supposedly spoke with "sources familiar with Microsoft's plans." But these sources report that Microsoft executives are torn, with some of the mindset that the long-term risks might outweigh the benefits.
Besides, as The Verge points out, this has been tried before - by BlackBerry - and it didn't work then. Why would it now?
Forking Android over
Of course, Microsoft is not BlackBerry. That much is obvious.
And if Microsoft is really letting Nokia, which it bought in 2013, go ahead with the Finnish phone maker's "Normandy" Android device, then the Windows company is clearly not totally repulsed by the idea of using Android for its own means.
Of course, the most recent report suggests that the Nokia Android phone will ship without many of the Google apps and services typically found on Android devices - including the Google Play store itself - in favor of Nokia- and Microsoft-built alternatives.
But The Verge's sources say Microsoft doesn't want to deal with the hassle of creating its own "fork" of Android, and that simply enabling Android apps to run on Windows might be an easier solution in the short term.
To that end the site suggests Microsoft might work with BlueStacks, a company that for years has been enable Android apps to run on Windows devices.
Whatever happens, it seems Microsoft is at least considering taking drastic measures to solve its app deficit, which may be a sign of just how desperate things have become for Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8.
Here's what TechRadar thought of Microsoft's latest OS update, Windows 8.1
Oh HTC, how you love to tease us so! Even as the Taiwanese manufacturer announces plans to target the cheaper end of the smartphone spectrum, new images surface from the higher end of that food chain.
PhoneArena reported Wednesday that a pair of new images purported to be the HTC M8 have popped up on the radar, and they come bearing gifts for fans of the company's flagship smartphones.
Also referred to as the HTC One 2 (shouldn't that just be HTC Two?), the handset pictured above surfaced earlier this week on the website HK-Android.info, looking an awful lot like an improved version of the HTC One it's expected to replace.
The most notable change here is the home button is front and center in place of the HTC logo, although this image seems to indicate capacitive touch is being used instead of the on-screen software buttons suggested by earlier rumors.
While those specs don't appear to have changed, the back of the handset seems to indicate big changes ahead for the camera, judging from the dual LED flash clearly on display here.
The sequel to HTC's critically acclaimed One (which won a 2013 Editor's Choice nod from TechRadar) has been rumored to arrive with an improved version of the UltraPixel camera, which theoretically produces higher quality images from a lower megapixel count.
All welcome changes, but there doesn't seem to be anything particularly groundbreaking here, so HTC might want to stay the course on those lower-priced handsets if they want to make it through 2014 unscathed.
No HTC One for you? Check out our review of the latest LG G2 instead!
The Nokia Normandy in its first candid shots (credit: @evleaks)
Rumors of the Nokia Normandy are really heating up and soon it might just be the first of a whole pack of Android-powered phones.
Phone Arena posted a new report talking with an Artesyn Technologies source that says the Finnish phone company will have more Android phones coming this year including several higher-end models.
Supposedly this new slew of phones powered by Google's mobile OS will be revealed sometime between May and June. The source says the phones will come at different price points but there's no word if it will be able to reach the Play Store unlike the Normandy.
Shuffling technology around
The Phone Arena report goes on to say that Microsoft has put Nokia through the chop shop, leaving its new acquisition with the low-end Asha and feature phone departments.
Meanwhile, teams involved with Nokia's more notable hardware bits including PureView Cameras, HAAC microphones, and ClearBlack displays have been moved to Redmond.
Taking these technology shifts into account, its possible that a majority of Nokia's Android phones could come as budget handsets with the Asha overlay – essentially a faux-smartphone tiled, touchscreen interface.
Nokia's Android pathfinder
Thus far, the only Android Nokia handset we know about is the Normandy. The phone set to make its debut at MWC 2014 and its already shaping up to be an abnormal little droid.
Instead of accessing the Play Store, Microsoft plans to supply the handset with their own apps such as Here maps and Mix radio, and Nokia's own shop of Android apps.
Its already odd enough to see the Microsoft-owned company putting anything but a Windows Phone OS on just one of its handset, but we'll let you know if we spot any other goodies from Nokia featuring Google's green bot.
Nokia might have some kind of Android, but the Motorola Moto G has KitKat, check it out in our revie
"Give me some colours" "Green, blue, purple, pink, err, green!"
When Samsung tweeted a teaser for its MWW 2014 Unpacked event this week, most of us believed it was a pretty big hint at the new Touchwiz design coming on the Galaxy S5.
A new screenshot has now appeared that could confirm that we (and the rest of the internet) were on the money.
The picture could either be from a Tizen phone or the Samsung Galaxy S5 itself. Either way, the icon styles match those from the invitation, and two of them – the 'Curiosity' and 'Outdoor' icons – are identical.
Tizen, Tizen, burning bright
We're big fans of these rather funky new flat, circular icons, so here's hoping they do make it into the S5 after all of this.
The handset is also expected to come with a 2.5GHz quad core processor, 3GB of RAM and a 20MP rear camera.
Other hints in the invite suggested Samsung will also be putting more focus on fitness and privacy. Fingerprint scanner ahoy?
Meanwhile we're expecting to hear more about Samsung's Tizen very soon - quite possibly as soon as MWC.
Our top 20 best phones list always draws a bit of controversy. Nobody wants to see their handset of choice left out of the lineup, and the endless power struggle between Apple and Android fans means one side always ends up going home with their feelings hurt.
Still, there can only be one winner.
We saw a lot of movement at the end of last year and after a couple of nice surprises in early 2014, we've revised our list of the best mobiles currently on the market.
In the video below we've cut down our selection to cover just the top 10. So, if you're currently on the lookout for a new phone and are only interested in the best of the best, click the play button and find out which mobile deserves that lonely space in your pocket.
The LG G2 Mini seems locked on for a MWC 2014 unveiling after LG posted a photo of the back of the handset to its Facebook page.
Well, we assume that's what it is, since it's a smaller handset pictured next to a bigger handset and that bigger handset is the LG G2.
It's also joined by a big shoe and a smaller shoe, a big starfish and a smaller starfish and a big cupcake next to a smaller cupcake.
Mini-G
Is there a hidden meaning to these seemingly random items? Will the LG G2 Mini come with a shoe-cleaning peripheral? A starfish fishing app? Or a free cake?
It seems unlikely. Less unlikely is that the handset will feature the G2's funny back-mounted volume slider, a Xenon flash and a camera.
The LG G2's display is a 5.2-inch affair and looking at the difference in size between the two handsets pictured, we'd say there's a good chance that 4.7-inch screen rumour will prove true.
Not too long to wait until we know for sure - the caption under the photo on Facebook says, "Experience the MINI. Mobile World Congress 2014-02-24."
It seems that Samsung is planning on taking a leaf out of Sony's book by making its upcoming flagships both water and dustproof.
Not content with launching niche devices such as Galaxy S4 Active, the Korean firm is looking at ways to bring the selling point to a wider audience.
According to ETNews, Samsung has cancelled an order for 5 million LDS (Laser Direct Structuring) antenna - which are difficult to waterproof - in favour of newer H-IMA (High-performance In-Mold Antenna) technology.
LDS antenna provide far better reception than the waterproof friendly IMA options, but the development of H-IMA means manufacturers can now ensure reception is still good while sealing up their smartphones.
A waterproof Note 4?
Anyone hoping the technology will make it into the Samsung Galaxy S5 will be a little disappointed, as H-IMA isn't ready to go into phones right now.
This means that we could see the H-IMA antenna inside the Galaxy Note 4 or Galaxy S6, or maybe even in the LG G3 later this year, as sources claim that LG suppliers are also embarking on the same antenna development.
If the report is correct it would mean Samsung will be giving the likes of the Sony's Xperia Z1 and Z1 Compact (and the rumoured Xperia Z2?) a swim for their waterproof money.
Let's face it, when it came to phone announcements this year's CES was a little... underwhelming. But MWC 2014 is just around the corner and it's looking a lot more promising.
It all kicks of on February 24, but to tide you over till then here's a rundown of the biggest and best phones that we're expecting (or hoping) to see on the show floor.
The Sony Xperia Z1 Compact was one of the biggest phone announcements at CES and it looks like the Japanese firm plans to top it in Barcelona with the launch of its new flagship, the Sony Xperia Z2.
A tweet from @evleaks claimed the Xperia Z2 was 'tipped' for an MWC debut. That's not quite a confirmation and as the Sony Xperia Z1 only launched at the tail end of last year it would seem rather soon for a new flagship, but then there was less than a year between the Sony Xperia Z and the Z1 so it's not impossible.
So what can you expect from the Xperia Z2? Rumours point to a 5.2-inch 1080p display with a 506ppi, a 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor, 3GB of RAM, 20.7MP camera with Xenon flash and Android 4.4.
It seems a fairly safe bet that the Xperia Z2 will also be water and dust proof, given that its predecessors are.
The HTC One was one of the best phones of last year and really put HTC back on the map, so expectations for the HTC One 2 (Or M8 or Two or whatever it ends up being called) are high.
None of that means MWC of course, and it gives HTC until the end of March to hit that Q1 prediction - and we reckon it'll favour a stand alone launch rather than battling for attention at .
So what do we know about the handset so far? Well, rumours point to a 2.26GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor, either 2 or 3GB of RAM, an UltraPixel camera, Android 4.4 and Sense 6. Of course it will also keep the metal body which was such a big selling point of the One.
Those are certainly some good specs but for our money they're maybe not that big of an upgrade, particularly if it ends up with just 2GB of RAM. Still, if it launches at MWC it could be the star of the show.
Short of a new iPhone the only handset which stands much chance of overshadowing the HTC One 2 is the Samsung Galaxy S5 and there's a chance that it might make an appearance at MWC.
There were conflicting rumours on whether the Galaxy S5 would actually be unveiled at MWC 2014, but after Samsung sent out a teasing invite headlined "Unpacked 5" there seems to be little doubt over the arrival of the firm's next flagship device.
This makes more sense as Samsung has a history of shunning MWC and instead holding its own launch events - but that invite is very, very hard to ignore.
When it does launch we're expecting a 2560 x 1440 AMOLED display, Android 4.4, a 16MP camera and either an Exynos 6 or Snapdragon 805 processor.
While we are all eagerly anticipating the arrival of the much rumoured HTC One 2, that's not the only smartphone the Taiwanese firm appears to be working on.
Chinese site MyDrivers seems to have spilled the beans on a handset dubbed the HTC Desire 8, with a variety of specs and an accompanying image.
The firm is looking to expand its smartphone offering with Jeff Gordon, HTC's Senior Global Online Communications Manager, tweeting, "It's important for HTC to have a complete, competitive range across price points. Lots more to come!"
According to the leak, the Desire 8 will feature a 5.5-inch display, a decent sounding 13MP rear camera and an equally impressive-on-paper 5MP front snapper.
Object of your desire?
If the leaked image is to be believed then the HTC Desire 8 is set to sport a minimalist, clean design - apparently favouring plastic over the metal found on the HTC One, we assume to keep the cost of the handset down.
Clean and simple (Credit: MyDrivers)
There are small front-facing grills, but the Desire 8 may just have the one front facing speaking, with the holes at the top of the handset potentially hiding an earpiece only, instead of the double Boomsound setup we get on the flagship One.
The HTC Desire 8 could be announced at MWC 2014 in Barcelona at the end of February, and we'll be there to bring you all the latest.
Leaked images seem to be the current trend when it comes to the HTC M8 and today has turned out to be no different.
Fitting in with previous leaks, the new front face of the HTC One 2 seems to be pretty legit, and once again proves that the One 2 will be more evolutionary for the Taiwanese brand, rather than completely reinventing its design once more.
But until the M8 is launched only HTC truly knows what is going on and things are always open to change. We are also dealing with an image obtained by @htcfamily_ru, a tipster we aren't overly familiar with.
Pretty as a (photoshopped?) picture
Doubts creep in as this tipster has previously leaked images of a dual flash and dual sensor, work that was deemed photoshop trickery by one of HTC's Regional Directors Mark Moons.
If this is the real deal it seems we are looking at a device that comes with beauty levels more akin to Sylvester Stallone than Helen of Troy. That pretty hefty bezel at the base leaves more than a taste of disappointment, but is expected as HTC keeps its plans of using BoomSound as a selling point alive.
That disappointment may materialise as Phone Arena points out today's image shows the M8 with Taiwanese lettering (one guess as to where HTC is based) suggesting this is likely legit and that small bar next to the camera is has also popped up a few times.
So is this the real deal? And just what is that strange little bar? Let us know your thoughts below.
The Phone Arena report goes on to say that Microsoft has put Nokia through the chop shop, leaving its new acquisition with the low-end Asha and feature phone departments. 
We're big fans of these rather funky new flat, circular icons, so here's hoping they do make it into the S5 after all of this.
