HTC has quietly started to push the Android 7.0 Nougat update to the Desire 530 now available at Verizon, You can Check it here how to Update. Launched on the market last year, the HTC Desire 520 wasn’t supposed to be updated to Nougat since it’s rather a budget-friendly smartphone.
Surprisingly, HTC confirmed recently the Verizon Desire 530 is now eligible for an Android 7.0 Nougat upgrade. It even published a very short changelog that contains some of the most important new features and improvements included in the update.
According to HTC, besides Android 7.0 Nougat, the update adds the August security patch, a bit older than what we’ve been expecting, but that will do until the Taiwanese company releases another security update (if ever).
Before proceeding with the update, make sure your phone’s battery is charged to at least 35%. Also, the update should take around 20 minutes and requires around 1.5GB free storage. The smartphone will reboot multiple times during the upgrade process, so don’t worry about that.
Android 7.0 Nougat is likely to be the last major OS update that HTC Desire 530 receives, so if you’re hoping to get Android Oreo in the future you shouldn’t get your hopes up.
Asus has unveiled some impressive hardware this year, including their flagship Zenfone 4 Pro and Zenfone AR, the latter having both Tango and Daydream compatibility baked in. Although better known in the US for their portfolio of laptops, Asus continues to march forward with new Android smartphones, bringing us a Verizon exclusive seemingly out of nowhere – the Zenfone V. Let’s see how it stacks up to the competition.
Design
The Zenfone V looks a lot like the Zenfone 4 and 4 Pro, but has a square camera hump on its glass back. There is a wide, rounded fingerprint sensor/home button on the front and the design seems to have been somewhat inspired by Samsung’s Galaxy S6. Top and bottom bezels are approaching iPhone large, but reasonable side bezels flank a 5.2 inch full HD AMOLED panel. The frame is unfortunately plastic, giving it a less than premium feel in the hand, but it doesn’t feel cheap, either. Contoured front and back 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass help redeem it.
A wide chamfer surrounds the screen, but stops on the right side above the volume rocker and below the power button, with a much smaller chamfer running between them and the screen. It’s a subtle but cool detail.
On the bottom is a single speaker and USB-C port with fast charging (included in the box, Apple), and Asus thankfully didn’t have the courage to ax the headphone jack, which is on the bottom left. A nano SIM/MicroSD tray sits flush on the left side with only a small microphone port on the top.
The fingerprint scanner/home button sits between off-screen capacitive keys and up top, the front facing camera is to the right of the earpiece. Overall, it’s an inoffensive design, if not a bit dated, and comes in only one color, sapphire black (which is more of a dark blue on the back).
Hardware
Performance
Last year, the Zenfone V would’ve had near flagship specs, but a year has passed and we’re now in solid mid-range territory. But phones aren’t automatically obsolete after a year and its aging Snapdragon 820 CPU coupled with 4GB of RAM is still running on all eight cylinders. Apps open quickly and daily tasks (web browsing, email, watching videos, etc.) are fluid and lag free. Demanding games like Asphalt 8 run without hiccup and multitasking is a breeze. Keep in mind that the still formidable Galaxy S7 also has a Snapdragon 820 and 4GB of RAM… It’ll take a lot to slow this Asus down.
The 5.2 inch Full HD AMOLED display is good. Great even. Colors pop and viewing angles are excellent, but it doesn’t get as bright as many competitors this year or even last. Outdoor viewing isn’t terrible, but direct sunlight will have you looking for shade. It does have a “Glove Mode”, however, which is nice during winter months. Samsung’s and Motorola’s recent panels have it beat, but it’s still a very admirable offering given the Zenfone’s price.
The single bottom-firing speaker gets plenty loud and there’s an “Outdoor Mode” that cranks it up even more, but base is lacking and it sounds tinny next to a Galaxy S8’s bottom speaker. According to Asus, there’s a NXP Smart Amp inside for lower distortion and deeper base, but in my experience, that sounds a little better on paper than in actual use. Audiophiles will likely be disappointed. It works great for speakerphone calls, however, and I never had trouble hearing callers on the other end. Overall volume seems to have been the priority here.
Battery
Battery life has been a pleasant surprise. Packing a 3,000 mAh lithium polymer battery, I easily made it through a full day with moderate to heavy use, plugging in at night with around 20% left. If you ever find yourself needing to top up during the day, the phone supports “BoostMaster” quick charging. Clever name or not, it delivers. Asus claims a 60% charge in a half hour and that about matches my experience.
Software
Well, it’s Asus… You’re not getting stock Android. On offer here is Android 7.0 Nougat buried under ZenUI 4, which isn’t all that bad, actually. An app drawer comes standard (unlike many Asian rivals) and if you dive a little into settings, the look and feel can become very familiar.
A long press on the home screen brings up some much appreciated options, such as changing the scroll effect, home screen grid size, icon appearance (with or without frames), animations, folder themes and more. After just a few minutes, my home screens were clean and unencumbered. Tinker a little and it’s an easy skin to live with.
There’s a “ZenMotion” section in settings that allows a variety of gestures to be set, starting with tap to wake and tap to sleep. You can also assign up to six apps with a “letter gesture”, allowing you to draw a letter on the screen (when off) to go directly to that app. For example, drawing a “C” with your finger will open the camera, “e” can open email and so on. It’s a nice addition.
Asus takes battery life seriously and there are several power management options to choose from – High Performance, Normal, Power Saving, Super Saving and Custom. You can maximize performance or all but cripple the phone to squeeze out every last drop of power. It’s great to have options, but I suspect most users will stick with the “Normal” setting. The Zenfone’s specs, coupled with Android 7.0 Nougat, will keep the lights on for a full day and night for most.
Software updates are up in the air, unfortunately. As of late September, it’s still on Android 7.0 (not 7.1.1) and stuck on the August 1 security patch. A future upgrade to 8.0 Oreo is questionable. I’m sure Asus will continue support for at least a year, but don’t expect timely updates. It’s a carrier exclusive, rocking a custom skin and sitting at the lower end of the Asus totem pole. Buy it for what it is today, not what it could be tomorrow.
Camera
The 23 MP rear camera uses a Sony IMX 318 sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS) and it’s proven to be a competent shooter, indoors and out. I was impressed with how well it handled exposure in mixed lighting conditions, not blowing out the sky or burying details in shadows. Colors were vibrant without being oversaturated. We’re not in Galaxy S8 territory, but this one rises above the majority of lower priced phone cameras.
Indoor shots were equally impressive… When there was adequate light. Noise levels were low and the sensor again handled exposure well in mixed lighting conditions.
Digital noise does creep in when indoor lights go down, but not to unacceptable levels. I rarely had exposure problems, although focus tended to be soft, but users who most often email their shots or post to social media will be more than satisfied.
Night shots are acceptable. You won’t be printing out large masterpieces, but for social media and onscreen viewing, they’re perfectly fine. A little noise, but decent overall exposure. There’s also a “Night Mode” setting that lowers the shutter speed to capture more light. You’re warned to keep as still as possible to avoid blurring.
The camera app itself has a surprising number of options, rivaling some of the best smartphones out there. There are full manual controls, including ISO, shutter speed, white balance and focusing, and HDR is onboard. There’s a beauty mode for selfies, low light and night mode (which either drops the resolution or shutter speed), panorama mode and something called “Time Rewind”, which lets you go up to three seconds back (or one second forward) from the moment the shot was taken, just in case someone blinked.
For those who like filters, there’s a smorgasbord that can be applied either before or after the shot is taken.
Video can be shot in 4K and slowed down to 60 frames per second at 1080p. There are again a lot of options in settings, including manual controls, and electronic image stabilization (EIS) does a respectable job at keeping things steady.
The front facing shooter has an 8 MP sensor and can record video at 1080p. If you’re seeing a trend here, it also has a ton of options, including manual controls for exposure, white balance, ISO, etc. Filters and beautification controls are also onboard.
To be clear, this is not a flagship level camera, but like a Chihuahua that barks at Rottweilers, it aspires to be bigger than it is. The level of customization available is impressive for the price and the overall results don’t disappoint. There’s OIS, 4K video, slow motion and full manual controls, all wrapped in a phone that’s half the price of many flagships. If the Zenfone V is the only camera in your pocket, odds are you’ll walk away happy.
Closing
I’ve got a soft spot for mid-rangers that dress in flagship suits. And that’s mostly what we get with the Zenfone V (although it’s wearing sneakers). The Verizon exclusive retails for only $384 or just $16/mo, a far cry from the $756 ($31.50/mo) price of the Galaxy S8 or $549.99 ($22.91/mo) for the aging Pixel. I’m still not sure if the “V” stands for the number five or just Verizon, but whatever the case, it’s the solid, scrappy little brother to the flagship Zenfone 4 Pro.
Is anything missing? Very little, actually. Waterproofing is absent, so don’t take this into the pool and be careful in the rain. There’s no wireless charging, either. The plastic frame and dated design might also turn off design aficionados. NFC, MicroSD and a headphone jack are all present, however, which isn’t always the case for “budget” smartphones.
Would I recommend the Zenfone V for the budget conscious consumer? Absolutely, but… It doesn’t live in a vacuum. For a few dollars more, Verizon’s Moto Z2 Play has a better AMOLED screen, more premium aluminum build and support for a growing number of Moto Mods. Best Buy is currently offering last year’s Galaxy S7 edge for only $14.99/mo, which is a much more premium device for less than the Zenfone V. Unlocked Motorola phones like the Moto G5 Plus are more than $100 less outright (with lesser specs to match).
If you’re a Verizon customer looking for a solid smartphone that won’t break the bank, the Zenfone V is an excellent choice. Just remember to look at all of your options before committing.
An ASUS phone on an American carrier only comes once in a blue moon and there always has to be a catch to it. Remember the PadFone X on AT&T? What fun we had. And then Verizon took on the ZenFone AR — Google Tango phone number two… only to be made to feel obsolete with ARCore technology.
Normal is a unicorn for ASUS phones in the United States. But the “Verizon exclusive” ZenFone V may be the on-ramp that the Taiwanese manufacturer needs to gain some support.
While it does utilize last year’s Snapdragon 820 from Qualcomm, it does have a competitive AMOLED display, USB 3.0 with Type-C and NXP Smart AMP technology on its five-magnet stereo speakers.
All that’s missing is a price tag — Verizon has yet to issue a press release or a product page.
It seems like Google has finally managed to make the Google Daydream View a very appealing product in conjunction to the Pixel. Now, it’s in an ad too.
Google Pixel was released weeks ago and have been reviewed all over the place with overwhelmingly great scores from tech enthusiasts and average consumers. Now, as the Daydream-ready smartphone from Google gets a good show going for itself, the Daydream View is coming with it under the limelight. Even appearing at the same Pixel TV ad for Verizon.
Daydream View launches on November 10 for $79.
Daydream View was the evolution of its virtual reality headset that started with Google Cardboard.
The Pixel lineup is the end of the Nexus Android devices and a start of a new era of Google’s fully self-branded smartphones. And now it’s got some aggressive marketing campaign across a wide range of media like the internet and major TV networks. These advertisements are mainly focused on the Google Pixel and Pixel XL but Daydream View is taking a fraction of the exposure for itself.
In the commercial, also uploaded to Youtube, we can see the Pixel being used with the Daydream View while a voice over narrates that the smartphone can give a stunning VR experience. The characters are even seen asking “how is it possible”. This probably is the majority of the reactions we can get from people who have never tried VR, even once, before.
It’s a good thing for the broader virtual reality industry that Daydream is getting some airtime in a mass media ad campaign like this because it helps the mainstream slowly begin to familiarize themselves with this cutting edge technology.
Samsung’s Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge are in high demand, but the promotional deals from carriers has boosted sales even further. In the US, T-Mobile has given away a free year of Netflix. Verizon is called the Cadillac of Carriers (US, that is) and with good reason: instead of offering just a free Gear VR headset with customer pre-orders (initiated by Samsung), Verizon went one step further: it allowed customers to choose between a 1) free Gear VR headset with a 6-game bundle, or 2) a free Gear S2 smartwatch. We’ve been hearing about Gear VR orders in abundance, and have even seen a letter delaying the delivery of Gear VR headsets due to high demand. Now, unfortunately, it’s Verizon’s turn to disappoint customers.
A letter has been sent out today telling customers about the delay in Gear S2shipments: “Hello [name], Congratulations! Your submission has been approved. We will ship your Samsung Gear S2 to the mailing address you provided when registering for this Offer. Please note that due to the high level of interest in the Verizon Offer promotion, delivery times for Gear S2 are now extending into May and potentially Summer 2016. Once shipped, we will send you an email with your tracking number.”
Verizon Gear S2 promo recipients now join the list of free Gear VR customers who are still waiting for their shipments. In the case of free Gear VR recipients, however, Samsung is awarding a choice: you can 1) wait for your free Gear VR or 2) you can take a $100 credit and use it to buy anything in Samsung’s online retail store atSamsung.com.
The Gear S2 is certainly worth the wait. So far, it is Samsung’s best smartwatch to date, boasting a circular body that mimics the look and feel of luxury watches, Samsung’s trademark Super AMOLED display, a Rotary UI with a rotating bezel (a feature that should be imitated by other OEMs). Recently, Samsung has updated the Gear S2 to add a new ESPN watch face, a new World Clock widget, as well as an auto-open app feature that uses eye detection to open the app you want.
Recipients of Verizon’s Gear S2 should know that they are getting a cellular-data version that can be activated with 3G connectivity for just $5 a month by following the steps on the smartwatch itself.
Verizon free Gear S2 recipients, are you disappointed by the new delay in delivery time for your favorite smartwatch? Do you think it’s worth waiting for? Still glad you picked up the Galaxy S7 or S7 edge?
We reported a few days ago that Gear S2 iOS support is likely to arrive via an update later this month. It was back in December last year when we exclusively confirmed that Samsung has started working on a Gear Manager app for iOS and in January this year Samsung officially confirmed that the Gear S2 will get iOS support in 2016.
Verizon has updated its support page for the Gear S2 to show that an update will be arriving for the smartwatch tomorrow which will bring a fix for a random clock freeze as well as support for iOS and Marshmallow. Software version R730VVRU1BPC1 is what Verizon will release for the Gear S2 and it will enable the smartwatch to be paired with iPhones running iOS 8.4 or later. It remains to be seen if this particular update widely rolls out tomorrow or if Verizon is breaking from tradition and is actually being rather quick about releasing updates.
The Galaxy Note 5 has been out in the market for more than four months now, and you would think the Note 5 would be matching its successor on software version till now. Certainly, Galaxy Note 4 users have been reaping the benefits ofAndroid 5.1.1 for some time, and so have users of the device on three major US carriers – AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile. Well, Verizon is finally jumping on the bandwagon and is starting to update the Note 4 to Android 5.1.1 as well.
Featuring build number N910VVRU2BOK3, the update brings support for Android for Work, upgrades to Samsung KNOX (KNOX is what Android for Work is based on), and removes the preloaded Amazon app and widgets. Verizon doesn’t mention any other changes, but the update should include inherent 5.1.1 goodies, including improved stability, battery fixes and security upgrades. Even if it doesn’t, well, users of the last Galaxy Note flagship to offer removable battery and expandable storage should be happy they can at least flaunt the latest version of Android Lollipop in front of their friends.
The update should be hitting your Galaxy Note 4 in the form of a notification in the status bar. In case it hasn’t shown up yet, take a trip to the Settings » About device » Software update menu and check for it manually. In either case, it shouldn’t be long before Android 5.1.1 comes calling on your phone, and you can let us know once it does by leaving a comment below.
Oh, and don’t ask anything about Android 6.0 for the Note 4. If we’re lucky, Samsung will bring Marshmallow to the device before the second half of this year,even though the company seems to be testing it in full force already.
A lot of Samsung products were heavily discounted during this Black Friday, and the discounts are still running. Currently, 32GB variant of the Galaxy S6 and 128GB variant of the Galaxy S6 edge are being sold for as low as $399 and $599 in the US. These devices are compatible with Verizon’s network, and are available through eBay.
The current non-discount price of the Galaxy S6 (32GB) is being sold for $580 on Verizon’s website, while the price tag of the Galaxy S6 edge (128GB) is $899. This deal also includes free shipping in the US, but only a “limited quantity” of units are available right now, so you better hurry if you got your eyes on them.
Didn’t offer the Galaxy Note 5 in Gold Platinum when the handset first came out a couple of months ago so customers who wanted one either had to purchase an unlocked version from independent retailers or wait on their carrier to bring this color option. T-Mobile started selling the Galaxy Note 5 in Gold Platinum a fortnight back and now both Verizon and AT&T are selling the handset is this color as well.
It’s only the color that’s different
Otherwise it’s the exact same handset that Verizon and AT&T have been selling for months now. Pricing is the same as well, AT&T will sell you the 64GB Galaxy Note 5 in Gold Platinum for $839.99 upfront or with $0 down and $28 per month for 30 months. It’s also selling the device with a conventional two year service contract for $349.99. Verizon has the 32GB Galaxy Note 5 in Gold Platinum for $696 upfront or $0 down and equal monthly installments of $29 for 24 months.
Samsung has officially launched its Android 14 update, One UI 6, with new features, updated design, and more. Here’s everything that’s new, a list of Samsung Galaxy devices getting Android 14, and everything else you’ll need to know.
What’s new in Android 14 on Samsung Galaxy?
Android 14 is, in itself, a not-so-major update, but it does bring some key changes to the world’s most popular smartphone operating system. Those changes, which we’ve previously detailed, include additions such as support for UltraHDR, improvements to the share menu, lockscreen changes, official support for flash notifications, and more.
Many of the features new on Pixel phones, though, have been in place already on Samsung smartphones, such as the new lockscreens. So what’s new on Galaxy?
One UI 6 is Samsung’s latest Android skin, and built on top of Android 14 it brings some notable changes such as the new “Quick Panel” design for Quick Settings, an option to change the wallpaper based on the time of day or certain modes, expansions to the lockscreen customization options, a new camera widget, new weather widgets, as well as new emoji and a new default system font.
Samsung devices with Android 14 – The full list
On October 30, 2023, Samsung officially launched its Android 14 update to its current flagship phones, just 26 days after Google Pixel devices were updated. That’s six days after last year’s release, but much faster given Pixels were updated much earlier in 2022.
Here’s the full list of Samsung Galaxy devices that currently have Android 14.
This list will be continuously updated over the coming months with the latest additions marked in bold text. Check back regularly!
Galaxy S devices with Android 14
In October 2023, Samsung started pushing One UI 6 to the Galaxy S23, S23+, and S23 Ultra in select countries across the globe. This primarily started in Europe, but has since expanded globally including the United States. In mid-November, Samsung expanded the update to the Galaxy S22 series, as well as to the newly-released Galaxy S23 FE, but only on Exynos models, and the update has also shown up on Galaxy S21 devices.
Galaxy S23 – Available globally
Galaxy S23+ – Available globally
Galaxy S23 Ultra – Available globally
Galaxy S23 FE – Exynos models only
Galaxy S22 – Available globally
Galaxy S22+ – Available globally
Galaxy S22Ultra – Available globally
Galaxy S21 – Available in Europe
Galaxy S21+ – Available in Europe
Galaxy S21 Ultra – Available in Europe
Galaxy S21 FE – Available in Europe, US carriers
Galaxy Foldables with Android 14
On November 21, Samsung started rolling out Android 14 to its latest foldables, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5, but only on Verizon Wireless in the US so far.
The first Galaxy A series device to get the One UI 6 update was the Galaxy A54, which picked up the update on AT&T in the US on November 21. A day later, the Galaxy A73 was updated in Iran, and the super-affordable Galaxy A34 and Galaxy A14 5G weren’t too far behind. Samsung has also since released Android 14 for the Galaxy A24 and Galaxy A53.
Galaxy A54 – Available on AT&T US
Galaxy A53 – Available in UK
Galaxy A34 – Available in Europe
Galaxy A24 – Available in Middle East, North Africa
Galaxy A14 – Available globally
Galaxy A73 – Available in Iran
Meanwhile, in Samsung’s Galaxy M series, the Galaxy M53 has been updated in Germany thus far.
Galaxy M53 – Available in Germany
Galaxy Tablets with Android 14
On November 22, Samsung released its first Android 14 update for a tablet, with the Galaxy Tab S9 series now eligible to be updated in most countries, as is the Galaxy Tab S8 series in select regions.
In December, Samsung has also released the One UI 6 update for its newest tablets, the Galaxy Tab S9 FE and Tab S9+ FE, as well as expanding it to other regions on Tab S8.
Galaxy Tab S9 – Available in Europe, US, Canada
Galaxy Tab S9+ – Available in Europe, US, Canada
Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra – Available in Europe, US, Canada
Galaxy Tab S9 FE – Available in Europe
Galaxy Tab S9+ FE – Available in Europe
Galaxy Tab S8 – Available in Europe, US, Korea
Galaxy Tab S8+ – Available in Europe, US, Korea
Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra – Available in Europe, US, Korea
Will my Galaxy device get Android 14?
Of course, not every Samsung smartphone or tablet will get Android 14. The update is being provided in line with Samsung’s current update policy. That means any flagship released since 2021 is eligible, as they all have at least four major Android OS updates. The 2020-released Galaxy S20 series, Galaxy Note 20 series, Galaxy Z Fold 2, and Galaxy Z Flip/5G however, will not be updated as Samsung has confirmed following a slip-up on the company’s part.
Generally speaking, any Samsung smartphone or tablet released in the past two years will be updated to Android 14. For slightly older devices, the update will still be available, but only to the more expensive hardware such as the Galaxy S, Galaxy Z, and Galaxy Tab S lineups.
Samsung Android 14 update schedule
The state of Samsung’s official schedule for Android 14 and One UI 6 updates has been a little hit or miss, with one schedule being removed early on. But, in November, the company posted a pretty official-looking schedule to its Samsung Members app in some countries, which gives us a good idea of what to expect.
The list below is based on Samsung’s official Android 14 schedule, and we’re constantly updating it as new devices are updated.
If last year’s Android 13 update is anything to go by, Samsung will likely blow through its core lineup well before 2024 rings in.