Mobile World Congress 2014 is just around the corner and with just one month to wait, the rumors about what we might expect to see showcased are starting to heat up. The latest device tipped to make an appearance is the LG G Pro 2, the successor to the LG Optimus G Pro. Korea’s Electronic Times is reporting that the handset could make an appearance at next month’s MWC, and it looks like something pretty special.
Robert Triggs / Android Authority
Buying a brand-new smartphone can give you plenty of peace of mind, but it’s not the only option out there. Taking the refurbished route is another viable option, as second-hand phones can still be very capable devices.
Counterpoint Research recently reported 15% year-on-year growth for the global refurbished market in 2021, led by Apple and Samsung. By comparison, new smartphone shipments only grew 4.5% last year.
After months of rumors and speculation, Motorola unveiled the Moto Z2 Force, the Lenovo subsidiary’s flagship smartphone for 2017. Based on the official details, the Moto Z2 Force looks to stand toe-to-toe with the rest of the flagship pack, though its ShatterShield display and Moto Mod support help the phone stand out.
Moto Z2 Force officially announced with a new dual-camera setup, thinner design
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The months of rumored details did have the effect of building up some anticipation for the Moto Z2 Force, and now that the phone is official with a capital O, the question now becomes when and where will it be available.
Think about the last time that you used a phone by LG. While the Korean phone manufacturer has certainly been able to stay afloat within at least the mid-range smartphone market with typically forgettable offerings, memories of great Android devices currently end up with the likes of the Motorola RAZR, the HTC One X, or the current top dog, the Samsung Galaxy S3. At least for me, thinking “LG” often leads me to remember the Chocolate, a very popular phone from a bygone era well before the onset of Android, iOS, and even touchscreens.
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Amazon is holding an Alexa hardware device event on September 24th at 1PM Eastern. It’s only saying that there will be “some news.” The event is invitation-only, so it might not be streamed to the public. Device announcements might be very different during the 2020 pandemic, but that isn’t stopping Amazon from holding its customary fall Alexa event and launching new Echo products. The internet giant has sent invitations to The Verge and others for hardware news on September 24th at 1PM Eastern.
We reported on the Jelly Bean “Easter egg” that comes standard with the latest version of Android a while back. You tap 5 times on the Android version number displayed under about phone or about tablet and you’ll be greeted with a large Jelly Bean. If you then press and hold on said Jelly Bean for a second or two, Jelly Beans fill the screen and you can playfully flick them away.
We have come across a great deal for all the smartphone power users out there who are constantly running out of juice while out and about. Amazon is selling the Poweradd Pilot 2GS power bank with a capacity of 10,000 mAh for $16.99, which is 25% ($7) off the regular price. It’s also $33 under the list price, but that’s not representative for what you would normally pay for the product.
The Poweradd Pilot 2GS features two USB ports, which means that you can charge two devices at the same time.
Much of the tech world is now captivated by the latest Apple announcements (but we know better, right?), but that’s not stopping Samsung from having a little fun and stealing a tiny bit of limelight back — in Belgium at least.
Samsung Belgium has announced a campaign that says for every tweet related to Apple, they’ll donate a pear. The pears will be distributed (free of course) tomorrow at the Brussels-North railway station.
The news isn’t officially confirmed, but we have several trustworthy sources telling us that Sprint and BestBuy will cover all pre-orders made for the EVO 4G LTE by the end of the day. InsideSprintNow has been tipped about Sprint pre-orders, while the guys at AndroidCentral managed to get their hands on a leaked memo from BestBuy, saying that “pre-orders can be fulfilled beginning as soon as inventory arrives”.
If you’ve been one of the first to place your pre-order on Sprint’s or BestBuy’s websites, you should therefore expect to get that tasty EVO 4G LTE package on your doorstep, as soon as this morning.
Late last month, we caught word that Samsung may start selling refurbished high end devices in the US. Sources close to Samsung reported to Reuters that this may come about as early as 2017. However, it looks like Samsung had these plans well in the works by the time news leaked, because the Korean tech titan just launched their Certified Pre-Owned device store.
Although some users may grouse at the idea of using a refurbished smartphone, it’s an excellent option for people who want to experience flagship tier technology but who previously haven’t had to the cash to shell out for them upon release.