Are Liquidmetal bodies the next big thing in smartphone design? A rumour on Tuesday suggested HTC is looking for a leap on the competition and may launch a smartphone with the tech as soon as this year.
A report from the sometimes hit-and-miss and Digitimes website claimed HTC has teamed up with Taiwanese compatriot and chassis-maker Jabon International to produce the super-strong alloy.
The report claimed HTC could unleash the first Liquidmetal phone, which would likely be stronger and more scratch-proof than current models at somepoint during the second half of the year.
If the rumour, which is to be taken with a pinch, nay, a grain of salt, comes to fruition, HTC would join Apple in the Liquidmetal game.
HTC vs iPhone?
Naturally, Apple is also exploring the tech, potentially for new iPhone models.
Find out what screen will burn my retinas, and then back it off a little bit
It remains unclear as to whether the iPhone 5S or iPhone 6 will be the name of Apple's next iPhone, but rumors suggest its screen will be extremely clear with double the pixel count.
That means the iPhone 5S display could reach a total of 1.5 million pixels, according to the Chinese-language Wei Feng Network.
This would be a vast improvement over the 727,040 pixels found in the current iPhone 5 Retina display, which stands at 640 x 1,136 resolution and 326 pixels per inch.
It would also keep Apple from trailing competitors like Samsung, which recently launched its Galaxy S4 smartphone containing a 1920 x 1080 resolution and 441 ppi.
The iPhone 5S is also said to be taking some design tips from the iPad mini by adopting a much narrower bezel around the screen like its tablet counterpart.
While the all-important iPhone 5S release date and price haven't been confirmed, previous reports suggest that the Apple's 2013 iPhone will enter mass production in June and launch in September.
The iPhone 5S launch should be accompanied by the company's next mobile operating system, the iOS 7, and what's expected to be a flat, skeuomorphic-free design.
While the battle for which company has the better smartphone often devolves into a mere spec war, sometimes it's the simplest features that can help a phone stand out from the competition.
Even though Apple may be outgunned by other manufacturers like HTC and Samsung when it comes to screens, cameras, or raw power, the Cupertino company has arguably always had a leg up on the ease of use over its competitors.
Now, Apple is potentially readying a new feature which could make using the iPhone 5S even more easy and intuitive for its users.
With its latest patent, Apple has created a way for the iPhone to automatically adjust its volume based on the device's proximity to a user's ear.
Hear, hear
According to Apple Insider, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has granted Apple the patent for "Adjustment of acoustic properties based on proximity detection."
Using a variety of sensors in the phone, the software would adjust the volume on the call accordingly based on which of the sensors was covered up or exposed.
As long as a distance could be calculated by the device, both the receiver and speaker volume could be configured with no input from the user.
Additionally, the patent works while the phone is already in use, and could switch the phone from the receiver to the speaker should a person set the phone down during a conversation.
Though the patent doesn't explicitly state when or where Apple might use such a feature, the hardware already exists, so it's entirely possible such an update could come to older iPhones as well as future devices.
Curiously, the patent's approval comes just a short time after the U.S. International Trade Commision (ITC) threw out a sensor-related patent complaint levied by Motorola against Apple.
Now that Apple appears to be free and clear, we could be seeing this patent put to use sooner rather than later.
The latest report coming from Samsung's homeland suggests the next Samsung Galaxy Note III will be powered by Qualcomm's top-notch Snapdragon 800 platform instead of the octa-core Exynos.
If this is true, Samsung either still has some troubles manufacturing its homebrew chipset or it just considers the Snapdragon 800 more powerful and probably cheaper. Unlike the Exynos chipset, the Snapdragon 800 platform has an embedded LTE radio, while Samsung needs a third-party hardware to enable LTE support on Exynos.
The Snapdragon 800 chipset has a quad-core Krait 400 processor that can be clocked up to 2.3GHz. Adreno 330 GPU is in charge of the graphics and it supports up to 4K video playback and recording. Snapdragon 800 also comes with a new generation LTE chip that supports category 4 (Up to 300Mbps downlink, up to 75Mbps uplink) and 7.1-channel sound.
Additionally, Samsung Galaxy Note III is rumored to pack at least 6" Super AMOLED display, 2+ GB of RAM, a 13+ MP camera and naturally, an S-Pen.
We expect Samsung to announce the Galaxy Note III at an UNPACKED event at IFA in Berlin this September and launch it soon after.
LG isn't about to take Samsung's current domination of Android lying down, laying out plans for new tablets and a synchronized worldwide rollout for the Optimus G2.
PhoneArena reported Tuesday that new details have been revealed for LG's product lineup, which includes plans for a return to Android tablets by year's end.
In an interview with Dutch website AllAboutPhone, LG Mobile Vice-President for Europe Wong Kim followed up news of a white Nexus 4 and its forthcoming tablet ambitions by announcing the company plans to roll out its next flagship handset everywhere at once.
Kim also revealed LG plans to introduce a phone powered by something other than Android this year - presumably Firefox OS, since Mozilla lists the Korean manufacturer as one of its partners.
Kim claims "the technology for this is not yet mature enough," while the L9 chipset which powers existing LG televisions also appears to be off the table for mobile devices for now.
That may leave LG treading water for most of the year, but its European VP teased that the best is yet to come thanks to a bigger marketing push and new devices arriving before the calendar rolls over to 2014.
Google's Nexus (ten points to anyone who can tell us if Nexi is the correct plural) smartphones have always set the standard when it comes to a pure Google experience.
The first Nexus One was a true geek device. Sold only through Google directly (apart from a brief flirtation with Vodafone), it never achieved massive sales. But it gave the world the true raw power of Android without the bloatware of other variants. As of January 2010, the ball was well and truly rolling.
We've had several now – and everyone, it seems, had a go: HTC, Samsung, Asus and LG – though strangely, not Motorola, which is now part of Google itself.
Some handsets we look forward to with much anticipation – only to feel deflated when we actually use them. Others, we wait for with little expectation – and they absolutely blow our socks off.
A stealth surprise. We'll lay our proverbial cards on the table here from the outset. The Nexus 4 is one of those rare devices.
LG's not had the best track record of late. Sure, we thought the Optimus 4X HD was a pretty decent offering, but too little, too late compared to what was already out there by the time LG got it to market.
And whereas LG did have good form when it came to innovation back in the day (who remembers the Chocolate, the Shine – and even the dubious widescreen BL40?), the mojo seemed to have passed.
That's not a dig at the South Koreans – far from it. But just to set the scene to show why we weren't expecting much from the Nexus 4.
Perhaps the worst kept secret since the iPhone 5, the Nexus 4 even got left in a bar in true cliché style. And from the pictures, we weren't alone in thinking it looked like a copy of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus.
The difference is, when we took the Samsung model out of its box this time last year, we thought it was nice. When we took the Nexus 4 out of its box last week, we thought it was beautiful.
Size wise, the Nexus 4 comes in at 133.9 x 68.7 x 9.1 mm – which means it is similar to its predecessor. But it is far more stunning to look at and hold.
The front is all glass in piano black. Extra tough too thanks to the Corning Gorilla Glass 2. Think iPhone 4S territory, but just a little nicer looking (we are aware that is a matter of opinion, iFans!)
The whole front is set within a dull chrome bezel and the shininess even extends to the rear of the handset, which has an attractive, though unusual sparkly pattern adorning it - although newer shipments seem to be shorn of that element now.
Think the glittery kind of jacket that you could see Cilla Black, Joan Rivers or Shirley Bassey in at an awards ceremony, and you catch our drift.
Since launch LG has updated the design very slightly on the rear of the Nexus 4, with newer handsets sporting two tiny bumps at the bottom of the phone, which elevates the handset slightly.
This means sound isn't as distorted when played through the rear speaker, plus it stops the shiny glass back of the Nexus 4 scratching on the surface it's sitting on.
At 139g, the Nexus 4 isn't the lightest handset in school – but it's just about solid enough to get away with carrying that extra weight and puts those who say Android devices look like toys firmly in their place.
The screen is invisible when off – but when it lights up, you're treated to 4.7-inches of True HD IPS Plus beauty. That's 768 x 1280 pixels with a pixel density of 318. It is razor sharp – blowing Retina out of the water and we'll venture it is one of the best we've seen on a handset.
Another reason for this is because there is such little space between the glass and the display. So where we berated the Optimus 4X HD for leaving enough room here to park a small car, the Nexus 4 leaves no gap at all.
It exudes a clarity that has to be seen to be believed. Colours look beautiful, icons and text are razor sharp and everything floats perfectly.
We find it hard to see how this could be beaten. When you're looking at icons on a black background (like in the app drawer), you can't even see the black, if that makes sense. It is so deep, that icons just float. Beneath the screen, in the centre, but hidden until needed, lies a pulsating notification light.
Another element worth pointing out here is the way the phone curves at the sides, from the main panel into the bezel. It seems to make the screen look even more realistic and beautiful. It's one of those things you really have to experience to appreciate.
Round the edges, you'll find the usual adornments. A 3.5mm headphone jack on top, volume rocker and micro SIM tray on the left, micro USB port plus a few dubious screws on the bottom, and a perfectly placed lock/unlock/power button on the upper right hand side.
It's just in that sweet spot where it's easy to press with the thumb if you're right handed and not impossible if you're a leftie.
There's no way of getting the back off – so you know what that means, peeps. No removable battery and no expandable storage. The former doesn't faze us too much since the 2,100mAh battery pack is no slouch but the lack of memory card allowance is annoying.
Yes, we know that ever since the Nexus S, expandable memory is out. Google's said that it doesn't offer it because it's confusing. But for those with lots of content who can't or don't want to stream, it's a real pain. We don't quite buy Google's argument.
As for the innards, LG has cut no corners here. Make no mistake, this is a premium handset. DC-HSDPA, the very latest iteration of Jelly Bean 4.2, a Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset, quad-core 1.5GHz processor, A-GPS with GLONASS, NFC and so forth.
But what makes this so sweet is the price. Let's just point out that sim-free, a HTC One X with similar specs will set you back around £320 (around $490/AU$475) and the Samsung Galaxy S3 can now be snapped up for £329 (around $525/AU$503).
And while last year's Galaxy Nexus will leave your wallet £299 (around $477/AU$458) lighter, this brand new model, the Nexus 4 is priced – almost unbelievably – at £239 ($299/AU$349) for the 8GB version and £279 ($349/AU$480) for 16GB. Yes, the newer Nexus is cheaper than the year old Nexus. Word!
We can't overestimate just how revolutionary this is and it leaves us open-mouthed at how Google is doing this. Either it's selling the Nexus 4 at a loss – or the mark-up on handsets is now shown up as being ridiculously high. Whichever it is, it means the Nexus 4 has a distinct advantage over the competition.
Bizarrely, in the UK Google promised O2 that it can sell the Nexus 4 as an exclusive for the first month. We can't understand why – especially because you could end up paying £800 for the device over the course of the contract, but there are loads of these all over Google Play Store these days.
Virgin Mobile has also joined the Nexus 4 brigade by offering LG's handset on a contract - but with prices starting at £31 a month, it's not going to be a decent way to get a cheap Google phone in your hand.
Most people with sense (and a bit of spare cash) will buy the Nexus SIM-free and get themselves a cheap as chips SIM-only plan. The only downside is that LG has been a little slow on actually making these devices, despite Google subsidising the cost of the handset to the tune of hundreds of pounds per device.
HTC hasn't had a big stake in the large-screen market, but that might all be about to change with more leaky information suggesting that the company is about to unleash a new phablet handset.
The infamous evleaks tipped off Twitter that the upcoming phablet "goes by codename T6", which was then backed up by a Linux string discovered by HTCSoku, listing a certain T6 device.
If this code is to be believed, the new device will come in various forms. This includes Cassiopeia, Columba, Delphinus, Crater and Eridanus. Extra points for noticing these are constellations.
T6: Rise of the One
The T6 also had a couple of variations for different carrier networks, covering GSM, CDMA and LTE options which suggests a wide release on a variety of markets is in store.
Previous rumours have suggested that a large version of the HTC One is on its way, with a screen between five and six inches. It seems that this new phablet could be that very device.
As for when we might see the HTC One tablet surface from the depths of the rumour netherworld, your guess is as good as ours right now.
The specifications of the rumored Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 10.1, codenamed Santos 10, have leaked along with the specifications of the next generation Galaxy Ace smartphone, according to a report from Hi-Tech Mail.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 is said to sport a 10.1-inch TFT-LCD display with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels and will be powered by a 1.6 GHz dual-core processor along with 1 GB of RAM. The slate will also feature a 3 megapixel rear camera, 1.3 megapixel front facing camera, 16 or 32 GB inbuilt memory and a 6,800mAh battery.
The Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 measures 243.1 x 176.1 x 7.95mm and weighs 510g. The slate will be available in June and, contrary to previous leaks, is expected to run on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean rather than 4.1.
The report also reveals the specifications of the Samsung Galaxy Ace 3 and according to it, the device will sport a 4-inch TFT-LCD display with a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels. The Ace 3 will be powered by a 1GHz dual-core processor along with 1 GB of RAM and will feature a 5 megapixel rear camera, 0.3 megapixel front-facing camera, 4 GB inbuilt memory and a 1,500mAh battery.
The Samsung Galaxy Ace 3 measures 121.2 x 62.7 x 9.8mm and runs on an as of yet unknown version of Jelly Bean. The device is expected to be priced at 9,900 rubles (about $316).
Despite Samsung's obvious attempts to keep everything under wraps, it's no secret that the Galaxy Note 3 is very much on its way, and now some sources have let slip a few more details – including a few camera enhancements we can allegedly expect.
The third generation Note will pack a 13-megapixel camera with an anti-shake feature, according to the "industry insiders" cited by ETNews.
The elusive inside agents also claimed that Samsung is working to bring optical image stabilisation tech to the next phablet, putting it up against traditional cameras.
Samsung is also said to be considering a 3x zoom optical zoom for the device, but has concerns that including one would add considerable bulk to the phone.
Note this down
Interestingly, this might be the first time Samsung has acknowledged the device's existence. An official from Samsung Electronics allegedly told ETNews said, "we are pondering various technologies at this stage - for example, OIS and shutter functions," but added that nothing could be confirmed.
The inside source, meanwhile, said that no final decisions regarding the camera had been made, but we'd expect that something will be firmed soon. After all, we're expecting a reveal at IFA 2013 - and that's just four months away.
We've contacted Samsung for further comment and will update if we hear more.
Samsung brought a new dimension to the phablets line up with its Mega 6.3 and 5.8 Android phablets. The pricing of the phablets that borrow some of the features from the Galaxy S4 flagship smartphone was not revealed during its announcement, but the pricing details of the phablets are no longer a mystery.
Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8 and Mega 6.3 was officially unveiled in India today and the phablets have been priced at about $445 (INR 24,900) and about $563 (INR 31,490) respectively. The dual-SIM Galaxy Mega 5.8 will up for grabs, starting from June 3, but there is no word on the availability of the Mega 6.3.
Furthermore, Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 is up for pre-order from the Clove website in UK and the SIM-free version is priced at £460 (about $695) and will be available in both white and black color options.
Meanwhile, we have already previewed the Galaxy Mega 6.3 and have got our hands on the Galaxy Mega 5.8. Check out our first impressions here.
Research firm Strategy Analytics posted a report today stating that Samsung has regained the first position as the world's largest smartphone seller. The company managed to outsell Apple in terms of smartphones in the January-March period of this year.
According to the numbers provided by Strategy Analytics, Samsung sold smartphones worth $23.62 billion, a $952 million jump from the previous quarter. In contrast, Apple wasn't doing too bad either, but not as good as the Koreans and sold $22.95 billion worth of phones - a whopping $7.71 billion less than just one quarter ago.
Nokia takes the third spot with sales of $3.64 billion, followed closely by LG Electornics and its $2.95 billion in revenue from mobile phones.
IDC reports that Nokia was outpaced by Samsung even on its home turf in Finland, taking just 33% of the smartphone market, compared to Samsung's 36%, the IDC reports; Apple takes the third spot with 14%.
As far as operating income ratio is concerned, Apple tops this one in Q1 2013 with 31%. Samsung is next with 21.8% and LG is third with 4.1%.
Samsung is expected to keep its place at the top as the Samsung Galaxy S4 is already showing signs of strong market presence. The company's top dog of a smartphone managed to sell in 10 million units in the first month of its market availability. Whereas Apple is still anxiously waited to unveil what its next move on the smartphone chessboard is going to be.
"The next iPhone" rumors are a popular pastime activity on the Internet and they vary wildly in terms of plausibility. This latest batch comes from China's Wei Feng social network and claims Apple is going to double the pixel count for the next iPhone and that the side bezels will be thinner, similar to the iPad mini.
The current iPhone 5 has about 730 thousand pixels and 326ppi pixel density. If the rumor is true, the next iPhone will have a screen with around 1.5 million pixels and 460ppi pixel density (that's assuming the screen size doesn’t change). If Apple decides to match current 5" 1080p droids at 440ppi, the screen size can be increased up to 4.2".
Of course, such a move will be difficult – going from the 3GS to the 4, Apple doubled the pixel count both horizontally and vertically, effectively quadrupling the pixel count. Apps that didn’t support the new resolution were easily upscaled.
From the 4 and 4S to the 5, Apple added an extra 176 pixel rows and apps that don't support the new resolution are just letterboxed with black bars (some still have them).
But to double the pixel count for the next iPhone, Apple will need to multiply the horizontal and the vertical pixel count by a square root of 2 (so the resulting resolution is something like 905 x 1606). Scaling apps to fit will be more difficult this time (or there will be black bars on the sides too), so it's unlikely Apple will go for this solution.
The Samsung Galaxy S4 mini is pretty much nailed to arrive in the next month or so, but Samsung may also be planning a bigger Galaxy S4 to show up with the smaller version.
A render has made its way onto the interweb and apparently shows the Samsung Galaxy S4 flanked by what looks like the S4 mini and another, larger handset going by the name Samsung Galaxy S4 Mega.
Dutch site MobiLeaks posted the render claiming it reveals the Galaxy S4 Mega device, although we're not overly convinced that the unnamed tipster who provided the image isn't trying to pull a fast one with this artist's impression.
Time to take Note
The site claims that the larger handset sports a screen somewhere around the 6-inch mark, which would place it firmly between Samsung's latest giant phones, the Galaxy Mega 5.8 and Galaxy Mega 6.3.
Of course this third device might actually be the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 3 which has been heavily tipped for release during IFA 2013 in Berlin towards the start of September.
We could potentially see this new, bigger S4 at Samsung's June 20 event in London where the Galaxy S4 mini is thought to be headlining - and TechRadar will be in attendance to bring you all the latest from the Korean firm's camp.
According to a report by the Korean ETNews, Samsung is testing a camera with optical image stabilization (OIS) in the upcoming Galaxy Note. III
But that won't be the only feature that the 13MP camera of the Note III will be capable of. According to the source, users will be able to edit photos on the fly with the included S Pen. Another feature that Samsung was reportedly discussing was a 3x optical zoom, but this had made the device thicker than needed, so the idea was rejected.
The newspaper has even quoted a Samsung employee, who states that the company is experimenting with various technologies. Here's the full quote.
We are pondering various technologies at this stage – for example, OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) and shutter functions. But, nothing has yet to be confirmed, so we cannot conclusively say that those functions will be added to the Galaxy Note 3.
Granted, Nokia and HTC have both adopted OIS solutions in selected smartphones, so it won't be at all surprising to see Samsung offer the benefits of the technology in its own upcoming devices. We just feel pessimistic that they would introduce such a cameraphone-centric feature on no other than the Galaxy Note III.
Other than that, rumors have it that the Galaxy Note III will pack a 5.99-inch 1080p Super AMOLED screen with the same pixel structure as the Galaxy S4's display, a higher clocked Exynos 5 Octa chipset and 3GB of RAM. We'll find out more at the IFA 2013 in early September, the event where the last year's Note II was announced.
Despite the general belief that LG Mobile will continue its relationship with Google by building the Nexus 5, the company's European VP has said that this isn't the case.
During a discussion, Kim Wong said that he doesn't believe the company will be building the next Nexus iteration, saying that LG "does not need such a marketing success again".
Oddly, this contradicts a report by The Korea Times earlier this month that LG was working on "another Nexus-branded Google Android smartphone," though of course this could just have been referring to the white Nexus 4, which has just been announced.
As to whether LG would do a Samsung by releasing its own Google-edition phone, Wong said that doing so "has no added value for us without our own skins".
Who's the next contender?
Whether any of this is down to the supply issues that plagued the launch of the Nexus 4, and resulted in both LG and Google blaming one another, is unknown.
However LG has added that even though it is not working on a Nexus 5, it would not turn down the opportunity to work with Google again.
But for now, LG doesn't feel as though it needs the Nexus to survive. But that's ok, because we have a white Nexus 4 that's exactly the same!
Mozilla and Foxconn have announced that the two will be pairing up to debut a new Firefox OS device on June 3.
As for what it might be, Focus Taiwan, which cites an anonymous insider, reckons the new device will be a tablet that could see a budget slate enter the Apple-Android dominated arena.
Of course, Hon Hai (better known here as Foxconn) is Apple's favourite manufacturer for its mobile devices. The new partnership between Foxconn and Mozilla will be announced officially at the announcement next Monday.
Firefox OS offers a whole load of customisation options to manufacturers. And with Firefox not allowed on iOS, Mozilla's decision to be more proactive in the mobile market is unsurprising.
Foxconn will be the 19th company to get on board then Firefox OS project bandwagon when the official announcement happens. Could a more appealing budget tablet be on the horizon?
Cover your phone in all kinds of colours and textures
It was one of the hardest smartphones to get hold of, but with its brilliantly vibrant 4.7-inch display, quad-core power and wireless charging capabilities, the Google Nexus 4 was worth the wait.
With glass on the back and Gorilla glass up front, it's definitely a wise move to add a last line of smartphone defence.
So to make sure your LG-built Android smartphone stays in one piece, here are 10 of the best Google Nexus 4 cases to buy.
1. Flexishield Frost Skin - £9/AU$11/US$11.50
A budget-friendly solution that doesn't entirely hide away the sleek glass body, this durable silicone gel case wraps around the back of the phone and should provide everyday protection against bumps and scratches, all while adding just a few millimetres of thickness. Add in a raised bezel and you've got less to worry about if it drops screen-side up.
An alternative to the official Nexus 4 bumper, the TPU plastic Borderline adds a layer of security and keeps the back and front of the Android smartphone raised and away from surfaces. Buttons for the power and volume control are built into the design that still leaves that glossy glass back on show.
Guarding the back and sides of the Nexus 4 with a crystal clear back leaving the glass back on show, the slip-on case is built with polycarbonate and flexible rubber providing the added grip and a snug fit. The raised bezel keeps the screen off of surfaces, and the edges of the display are in no way impeded, ensuring you have completely unobstructed access to the display.
The official case keeps things relatively simple in the looks department, guarding the edges of your smartphone and adding built-in volume rocker and standby buttons. You've still got have access to charging and headphone ports, while its slightly raised design will also protect that glass chassis when it's on a table in public display.
5. Spigen Ultra Thin Air - £16/US$20 (around AU$25)
Offering a handset-hugging fit, this snap-on case is easy to snap back out again, is built from a tough, durable polycarbonate and sports a glossy matt design. In the box it comes with an Ultra Crystal screen protector and a micro fibre cloth so you can guard that 4.7-inch display and give it a buff to get rid of those fingerprints.
Adding just over 1mm of thickness, the ultra-thin Plextonium case clips onto the back of your Nexus 4, adding a subtle yet effective layer of protection. You can take your pick from a more complementary colour or go for a brighter neon shade and, crucially, all of the snap-on cases leave access to all key ports and the rear-facing snapper.
7. Zenus Masstige Colour Edge Diary case - £25/AU$31/US$35
The chocolate brown folio case with a diary-style body is made from synthetic leather and will hide away your Nexus 4 with a button fastener keeping it secure on the move. There's a pocket inside to hold a few cards and some emergency cash, plus a key cut-out for the rear-facing camera so you don't need to take it out to fire off a snap.
Covering both protective and hands-free viewing bases, the slimline case features a dual layer of shock-absorbing polymer to help soften the blow when dropped. The rubberised coating should make it nicer to grip in the hand, and with a kickstand at the back you can watch films and browse the web in landscape orientation.
9. Ballistic Shell Gel SG Series - £30/AU$40/US$35
Offering high grade levels of smartphone defence from all angles, the triple layered Ballistic Shell Gel SG Series case combines a silicone layer, durable polycarbonate and a Ballistic shock-absorbent polymer to offer more than sufficient armour for the back, sides and corners of the Nexus 4. Up front the lay-on-table design will keep the screen away from harm, which means you have all-round Nexus 4 protection.
Offering rugged, shock-absorbing leather surroundings for your Nexus 4, the vertical flip-style cover opens from the bottom with a latch keeping the device in place. A microsuede interior lining provides soft surroundings for your smartphone, as well as added screen protection when not in use.
No more speculations, the white LG Nexus 4 is now official. By the looks of it nothing but color has changed, the phone still packs a pure Android experience (version 4.2 at the moment), a Snapdragon S4 Pro chipset and a 4.7" True HD IPS Plus display with WXGA resolution (768 x 1280) and 320ppi pixel density.
The Nexus 4 White will launch in Hong Kong first on May 29 and expand from there to select markets in Asia, North America, Europe and the Middle East over the next few weeks.
LG didn’t mention any pricing, so we assume the price will be the same as the one for the black color version.
Well looky here, the much-rumoured Google Nexus 4 has finally been announced by LG, but those hoping for an upgraded handset will be sorely disappointed.
It was hoped that the white Nexus 4 may pop up with a newer version of Google's operating system, with reports suggesting it may be running Android 4.3, but alas it's stuck on the same Android 4.2.2 as its black brother.
On the plus side you shouldn't have too long to wait to get your mitts on it, with the white Nexus 4 hitting shelves in Hong Kong on May 29, while the likes of Asia, North America, Europe and the Middle East following in the next few weeks. We just hope LG has its production sorted out.
More blips!
While you wait for the white LG Nexus 4 to land in a store near you, check out some of our colour-neutral blips.
