From the company that's trying to make green phones an "in" thing comes this new cyan color that is only available in China and Russia for now.
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Update: Apple has sent out invites to its annual fall event, and it's happening on Tuesday, September 12 at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino, California. The iPhone 7S Plus release date, then, is imminent. Join us as we bring you live coverage from the iPhone launch, which begins at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST / 3am Wednesday September 13 AEST.
The iPhone 7S Plus release date just a few weeks away, if you believe all of the Apple rumors. If you're eagerly awaiting a new iPhone and don't want to pay for the undoubtedly expensive iPhone 8, this one is for you.
This 'S' upgrade will be one of three new iPhones for 2017, according to the new rumors that indicate we're looking at a lower-cost iPhone with new features.
And by 'lower-cost', we mean to say the iPhone 7S and iPhone 7S Plus will likely be the same price as previous iPhones – but cheap next to iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus.
That's okay, because we're still expecting Apple's iPhone 7S Plus to be a serious upgrade, one that's faster, has a better screen and a superior dual-lens camera.
Here are the iPhone 7S Plus rumors we've heard and our take on whether or not they sound accurate.
For the last few years Apple has announced new iPhones at the start of September and released the phone later in the month, and that’s exactly when we expect the iPhone 7S Plus to launch in 2017.
In fact, we have about as close to confirmation as we can get: Apple has sent out invites to an event on September 12. It's then we expect to meet the iPhone 7S Plus, the smaller iPhone 7S, and the big reveal of the day: the iPhone 8.
While the iPhone 7S and 7S Plus will likely go on sale a short time after this event, the iPhone 8 is said to be suffering delays due to complications with OLED display production and the fingerprint scanner - which may mean it doesn't appear at the same time as the 7S Plus, if it exists at all.
TechRadar’s take: We're pretty confidant the iPhone 7S Plus will launch in September, and it would make sense for it to go on sale a couple of weeks later.
Hottest leaks:
It terms of the size and resolution of the iPhone 7S Plus display, we expect things to stay the same in this iterative update, with the iPhone 8 more likely to see a bump in quality.
That would mean we're looking at a 5.5-inch screen with a 1080 x 1920 resolution on the 7S Plus, generating a more-than-acceptable pixel density of 401ppi.
Rumor has it Apple wants to upgrade the screen technology to OLED on all of its iPhone models, but demand for the tech is apparently too high, forcing Apple to stick with an LCD panel for the iPhone 7S Plus.
TechRadar's take: It makes sense for Apple to stick to the same size and resolution for the iterative 7S Plus. While having all models jump to OLED in 2017 would give Apple a VR and AR advantage, we don't expect all three models to switch to LCD right away due to supply constraints.
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One of the biggest criticisms of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus was the fact that neither had a new design, but don't expect any big changes from the iPhone 7S Plus.
Apple handsets from the iPhone 6 Plus onward look largely the same, and while big design changes look set to come with the 10th anniversary iPhone 8, the iPhone 7S Plus probably won't get the same treatment.
However, the materials used for it could change, as leaked images supposedly show a dummy unit with a glass back, rather than an aluminum one.
They also show that there might not be any antenna bands, which makes sense, as they wouldn't be needed with a glass back, but that the overall shape, along with the ports and buttons, seem much the same as the iPhone 7 Plus.
Indeed, the diagram below supposedly shows the phone, and the design is similar to its predecessor, but with slightly different dimensions of 158.38 x 78.1mm, where the iPhone 7 Plus was 158.2 x 77.9mm. Oddly, that would actually make the iPhone 7S Plus marginally larger.
And don't read too much into the all-screen front, as it seems that's just not had the details filled in, as the source claims the design is the same as the iPhone 7 Plus.
It's possible that there will be a new color scheme launched for the iPhone 7S Plus though. Apple added red to the mix for the iPhone 7 and it's rumored that a mirror-like finish is in the works for the iPhone 8.
It could be that this shade will be exclusive to the top-end model (for now known as the iPhone 8), but it's also possible that the iPhone 7S Plus and iPhone 7S will get it as well.
TechRadar's take: Don't expect too much to change on the design front for the iPhone 7S Plus. Apple could give it a glass back and make it a hair thicker due to new features like wireless charging, but on the whole we're expecting an almost identical device.
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The new dual-camera was arguably the biggest upgrade for the iPhone 7 Plus, and it set it apart from the single-camera iPhone 7, so we’d expect to see the same photo smarts on the iPhone 7S Plus.
Respected Chinese analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has suggested the dual-lens camera will remain limited to the Plus model, and that both lenses will benefit from optical image stabilization, where currently only the wide-angle lens features OIS on the iPhone 7 Plus.
TechRadar's take: Dual-cameras remain popular in 2017 with the LG G6, Huawei P10, P10 Plus and OnePlus 5 all donning double snappers on the rear and we see no reason why Apple would move away from this on the iPhone 7S Plus.
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Moving onto the iPhone 7S Plus battery size, there's currently little word on what to expect.
However, with the design of the 7S Plus likely to be very similar to its predecessor we wouldn't be surprised if Apple stuck with the same 2,900mAh offering and improved efficiency with a newer chipset and software integration.
There have been suggestions that Apple could introduce wireless charging to its iPhones this year, most notably from the CEO of one of Apple's suppliers, who mentioned the tech was coming, and from the presence of a sound hinting at it in the iOS 11 beta, but this is something which it may save for the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus - or not all.
We've also heard that problems with the software could mean that wireless charging is enabled after the new handsets launch, via a software update.
New X-rays of the device leaked to the web seem to suggest that wireless charging will indeed make it into the phone. As does the fact that it seemingly has a glass back (which works better with wireless chargers than a metal one).
TechRadar's take: Looking at Apple's previous iPhones, it makes sense for the 7S Plus to sport a similar size battery to the iPhone 7 Plus, with improvements in battery life made on a chipset and software level.
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iOS 11 will be ready to run on the iPhone 7S Plus, and we now know a lot about it, as Apple announced the new software at WWDC 2017.
Features include a new look for the App Store, a focus on augmented reality, improvements to Apple Pay and a whole lot more.
In recent years new iPhone launches coincided with the release of the new version of iOS, and there's no reason to believe things will change in 2017.
The iPhone 7 Plus launched with A10 Fusion chipsets, so we’d expect a new quad-core chip on the iPhone 7S Plus and it's likely to be called the A11 Fusion, or just A11.
The iPhone 7S Plus could pack either 3GB again. The 7 Plus has 3GB, while the iPad Pro has 4GB, so there's an outside chance Apple may up things here.
TechRadar's take: A new A11 chipset is almost certain, while a minimum of 3GB of RAM is also highly likely.
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There’s a chance the Smart Connector from the iPad Pro could launch on the iPhone 7S Plus.
The long rumored iPhone 7 Pro was meant to feature the Smart Connector, for accessories such as small keyboards, but Apple may be waiting to launch it on the iPhone 7S Plus instead. Though recent rumors haven't mentioned the connector at all, so we wouldn't count on it.
Other rumors for the iPhone 7S Plus point towards the addition of an iris scanner and facial recognition as ways to further secure your phone.
It’s a technology Samsung has included on the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus, and we wouldn't be surprised if Apple followed suit with it on the iPhone 7S Plus (and iPhone 7S).
TechRadar's take: With Samsung adding more biometrics to its S8 handsets this year, Apple could well offer the same security features with the 7S Plus.
We’d expect a similar price for the iPhone 7S Plus as there was for the iPhone 7 Plus.
The 32GB model costs $769 (£719, AU$1,229), while the 128GB version costs $869 (£819, AU$1,419). If you want an even bigger 256GB version you have to spend $969 (£919, AU$1,569).
TechRadar's take: The iPhone 7S Plus is sure to cost at least as much as the iPhone 7 Plus. This year's price hike is likely coming with the iPhone 8.
Lenovo has something going on with this phone's looks and its style of software. And what a price this Moto X4 goes for. We dig in with our video.
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For a smartphone, when it comes to listening to music, podcasts or watch movies with a good pair of cans on your head, it seems nothing can beat an LG V30.
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Watch today's Pocketnow Daily as we talk bout the rumored iPhone 8 special gestures, LG V30 impressions at IFA 2017 & more
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Last time around, it was zeroing out fees and taxes from T-Mobile One bills. What will CEO John Legere throw at us this time?
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The carrier's CEO announced the news in the hours after the V30's reveal event. Plenty of details remain to be known at this early stage.
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We now know what approximate retail value the LG V30 will have when it becomes available later this fall in the US. Then again, it's all free to us.
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Apple's take on augmented reality (AR) is poised to launch with iOS 11 soon, and we're finally seeing what that means for the iPhone and iPad thanks to ARKit.
While the rest of the mobile industry is obsessed with creating virtual reality (VR) experiences to replace your world, Apple is focusing on augmented reality, which overlays virtual graphics on top of your existing environment.
Think Pokemon Go, but not limited to catching monsters in your neighborhood. Ideas are being teased by household names like IKEA, the Food Network and, yes, even the AMC TV show The Walking Dead.
Apple CEO Tim Cook likes to talk about AR's potential during every earnings call we report on, so there's clearly a big push for it on Apple's campus and a lot of excitement from developers.
Here's what this means for you, days before iOS 11 arrives on your iPhone and iPad.
iOS 11 is about to give Apple the largest AR platform in the world – overnight. Its millions of iPhones and iPads are AR-compatible with a simple software update.
Apple created an augmented reality ecosystem within existing hardware instead of trying to invent a new device based around AR, like we've seen with Google Project Tango (though Google did just announce its own ARCore initiative).
It's an instant boon for augmented reality fans and developers alike. Starting out with a giant install base means more games and AR experiences will be made for the iPhone and iPad. No one wants to make AR for a few thousand devices.
We're now seeing the first iPhone and iPad AR demos outside of what was shown at the WWDC 2017 keynote and 'Introduction to ARKit' session in June.
Here are some videos of iPhone and iPad AR games in action, including from demo from The Walking Dead game developer Next Games courtesy of TechCrunch.
Games drive adoption of new technology, as we've seen in the last decade from Blu-ray (PS3) to the App Store (on PhoneOS 2). They'll again do that for AR this year.
But, don't worry, ARKit has already become a platform for more than just games.
IKEA is bringing its furniture to Apple's iOS 11 ARKit sandbox, letting you place virtual items right next to physical objects. How does that sofa look next to your existing chairs? This app can give you some color and size perspective. Remember when people used to hold up tile samples for perspective?
We also really like the fact that storybooks are being brought to life in the form of apps like The Very Hungry Caterpillar AR, and how animated emojis are about to break into your real life with the help of GIPHY World.
As you can see, there are some practical, educational and goofball AR apps planned for iOS 11.
Apple's iOS 11 augmented reality features are compatible with any iPhone and iPad that has an A9 chip or greater, it was announced at Apple's WWDC.
For tablets, that means any Pro tablet or even the new $329 iPad works with AR games and apps, and the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus works just fine, too.
Best of all, there's no external hardware required. No HTC Vive lighthouses, no Oculus Rift constellation sensors, none of that.
iOS 11 is an exciting jumpstart for mobile AR, and yet its potential far exceeds the existing games and demos we've seen.
That's what should have you most excited about the iOS 11 update.
What could AR's future hold? You could soon be able to find your seats in a crowded stadium with a personalized pathfinder, or track down all of your groceries among a store's many aisles – all by looking through your phone like it's a lens, theorizes veteran Apple analyst Gene Munster.
Solving big problems, and ultimately destroying inane questions of "Where are you?" or "Where do I go?" could be accomplished with an AR dotted line. Apple seems to be on the roadmap, and we'll see its AR vision in a matter of days.
From predictive text to YouTube support, Google is continually making improvements to its keyboard add-on, Gboard.
The latest addition coming to Gboard are two standbys for any fans of illustrating their feelings in a chat: sticker packs and Bitmoji.
Not unlike applications like Facebook Messenger and Google's own Allo, using stickers and Bitmoji is easy: first, you download sticker packs and/or set up a Bitmoji avatar, then link them to Gboard.
From there, stickers and Bitmoji stamps work the same as sprinkling emojis into your text using menu on the bottom of your keyboard, allowing you to sprinkle in cute little reactions, comebacks and more into any app that supports posting images.
At the time of writing, some sticker packs available for Gboard include famous characters and imagery from Google Allo's selfie stickers, Disney, Hello Kitty, Garfield, Star Wars and more.
Gboard's latest features are rolling out now for Android users, and we've contacted Google to learn if iOS users will also be able to get in on this action as well. We will update this story as we learn more.
Well, as mid-range as can be for a €400. It has all the specs it needs to best a predecessor from 2015. Is it priced right, though?
The post Dual cameras, water resistance, Alexa, moderate price tag for Moto X4 appeared first on Pocketnow.
A couple of years ago the Moto X range was Motorola’s flagship line, and while it suddenly stopped to make room for the Moto Z range it's now back from the dead with the brand-new Moto X4.
Despite being the fourth Moto X, this is no longer the flagship line of phones - leave that to the previously launched Moto Z2 Force and sort of the Moto Z2 Play - but it's still an interesting proposition.
Motorola has just announced the Moto X4 at IFA 2017 and below you can find everything you need to know about the new mid-range handset.
After an IFA 2017 press conference debut, the Moto X4 is set to go on sale around the world in September 2017.
An exact release date for the device is currently unclear, but we know for certain it'll be coming to the US and UK by the end of September. Availability in Australia is currently a little less clear, but we'll be sure to update this article when we know more.
The Moto X4 packs a Full HD resolution 5.2-inch screen, which is a similar setup to other devices Motorola has offered in the past.
For the design, Motorola has followed suit of the Honor 9 and HTC U11 with a glass, reflective back that dazzles in bright light. It's an interesting design choice and is a very different choice compared to the Moto Z2 Force or Moto G5.
There is no Motorola Mods compatibility here. To be able to get involved in the modular design you will have to buy one of the Moto Z range devices.
On the bottom edge of the phone, which is made of metal, there's a 3.5mm headphone jack so you can use wired headsets, next to a USB-C port for charging or data transfer to the phone. Just below the screen you'll find a fingerprint scanner.
The Moto X4 is also IP68 waterproof, which means you can run this phone under a tap and it won't fry up the internals.
Motorola has managed to include a dual-lens camera in the X4. There's a 12MP lens working in tandem with an 8MP wide-angle lens.
The 12MP lens has dual autofocus pixels, which Motorola says will allow you to take great photos, while there's also an 8MP lens on the rear that you can use for your wide-angle shots.
The software also includes a few upgrades, like landmark recognition that should be able to pick up if you're pointing your phone at Big Ben or the Eiffel Tower and give you more details about your location.
There's also a scanning mode that means you can take photos of barcodes or business cards and be able to sort through them easily within the camera app.
On the front of the phone there's a whopping 16MP selfie shooter, which should give you some great front-facing camera shots. Perhaps the most interesting feature on the front-camera is a panoramic selfie mode that means you can take in all of your mates on a night out or take self indulgent photos around great landmarks.
There's a 3,000mAh cell in the phone that the company claims will offer all-day life. There's also TurboPower fast charging which should be able to supply six hours of juice in only 15 minutes of charging.
Android 7 software will be running on the Moto X4 at launch and we can safely assume the company will be aiming to update it to the newly launched Android Oreo as soon as possible.
Motorola's own extras will be included in the software so you can do a karate chop motion with your phone to turn the camera on, but apart from that it looks mostly like Google intended.
It's running the mid-range Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 chipset, which should deliver similar performance to the impressive Snapdragon 626 that was included in the Moto Z2 Play.
We know Motorola will be including a 4GB of RAM version of the phone, but the press conference suggested there will also be a 3GB option in the works as well if you're looking for a cheaper alternative.
There are both 32GB and 64GB options of the phone available, but right now we don't know if there will be microSD support and if there is, what storage sizes it will support.
The phone will also be able to support Amazon's Alexa voice assistant for those in the US and UK, and Motorola says you'll be able to use it at the same time as Google Assistant.
You'll likely just have to be very clear what voice assistant you're trying to talk to if you want to use Alexa specifically.
We don't know exact prices for the US, UK or Australia yet, but we do know the phone is set to cost €399 (about $475, £370, AU$600) for the 32GB option.
If you want 64GB of storage it'll cost €439 (about $520, £410, AU$660). Those translated prices will likely be around the right area, but it may cost a little bit more or less when official pricing is announced.
Be sure to read our hands on review of the Moto X4 too.
The augmented reality game features Lenovo's mixed-reality hardware expertise in the Mirage headset. Will it become its own thing?
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Eyebrows were raised when TCL – the firm licensing the BlackBerry name for smartphones – launched the BlackBerry KeyOne at the start of 2017.
It boasts a physical keyboard in a world where mobile devices have almost universally moved to full touchscreen offerings, but the firm believes it’s a form factor that’s here to stay.
TechRadar sat down with Francois Mahieu, BlackBerry's Global Head of Sales at IFA 2017 to talk about the firm’s latest phone, the KeyOne Black Edition, as well as what’s in store for the BlackBerry phone brand going forward.
“The [physical keyboard] form factor is here to stay” Mahieu told us. “I don’t know what [the next phone] will be called, or what specs it’ll have, but the form factor is here to stay for a very, very long time.”
That means we can expect another physical keyboard-toting device bearing the BlackBerry name in the near future, although Mahieu wouldn't be drawn on what else the handset may offer.
What it won’t be though, is a budget BlackBerry phone.
"Adding a keyboard to a phone adds cost to the phone” Mahieu explains.
“There’s a moment in time where you have to think, what am I trying to do here? Am I trying to make a cheap BlackBerry, or am I actually trying to say BlackBerry is here with a certain mindset and DNA.
"We don’t thing we’re expensive, we don’t think we’re cheap... We are in a sweet spot in the market that in a way screams value already, what we call premium smart value. We are not in the mindset of building of a cheap BlackBerry."
Whether or not you agree that the BlackBerry KeyOne, at £499, screams premium value is up to you, and there are fair arguments to say it doesn’t – but BlackBerry remains buoyant about its chances.
In fact, the KeyOne has performed better than the firm was expecting, which has given it encouragement to continue on its way of offering secure productivity devices.
Will physical keyboards on smartphones return to the mainstream? No, not really, but there’s clearly a market who’s enjoying the current offering from BlackBerry and it’ll be interesting to see what comes next.
The BlackBerry KeyOne Black Edition has been officially released at IFA 2017 in Berlin, offering physical keyboard fans a fresh new(ish) look and a bit of extra grunt under the hood.
In terms of design and most of its specs, the new KeyOne Black Edition is identical to the silver variant that launched at the start of 2017, but there are two key upgrades (over and above the stylish, yet understated black finish).
Firstly BlackBerry – or rather TCL, the firm that licenses the brand name to stick on handsets – has upped the RAM from 3GB in the original to 4GB in the Black Edition.
While it gives the Black Edition a little extra zip on screen, you’re unlikely to notice too much difference during day to day usage.
It should mean that the new KeyOne should perform better when it comes to heavy lifting tasks, although we were unable to put it to the test during our brief hands on time.
The second upgrade comes in the form of more space for all your stuff, with 64GB of storage stuffed inside (up from 32GB). It may be a welcome addition for some users, but the fact that both the KeyOne and KeyOne Black Edition both come with microSD slots that support cards up to 2TB in size means the boost here is a little less impressive.
For handsets such as the OnePlus 5 and iPhone 7 that don’t have an expandable storage option, offering different tiers of space makes sense. It’s a little more difficult to justify the move, and additional cost, here.
BlackBerry KeyOne Black Edition hands on gallery
The new color is actually rather nice, and we prefer it over the silver version. The black matte finish is sleek and stylish, which will suit those looking for something a little more understated than the slightly flash, silver KeyOne.
We still have reservations about the physical keyboard though, as typing on it requires a low grip on the phone which can make things a little top heavy and unwieldy in the hand – although there’s still a staunch fan base for physical keys out there.
In terms of the rest of what the KeyOne Black Edition offers, there’s a 4.5-inch full HD display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 chipset, 12MP rear camera, 8MP front facing camera, Android 7.1 and a 3,505mAh battery. Oh, and the physical keyboard with a fingerprint scanner built into the space bar.
It also comes with BlackBerry’s security and privacy features, with additional safety functions built into the software and the inclusion of the DTEK app which helps you control which apps can see your personal data.
So what will the extra RAM and storage, and that new color scheme, set you back? The BackBerry KeyOne Black Edition will go on sale initially in the UK during mid-September with a retail price of £549 (around $700, AU$890).
That’s a small jump from the £499 ($579.99, around AU$730) price tag of the standard KeyOne, and BlackBerry says it’ll roll the handset out to more countries, including the US and Canada, in the weeks following the UK launch.
KeyOne vs KeyOne Black Edition hands on gallery
IFA 2017 is Europe's biggest tech show. The TechRadar team is in Berlin to bring you all the breaking news and hands-on first impressions of new phones, watches and other tech as they're announced.
There's a new color variant of the well-equipped, and surprisingly well-priced Honor 9, although this hue takes the shine off the key selling point as the price increases with the inclusion of extra storage too.
Announced at IFA 2017 in Berlin and dubbed the Honor 9 REB it's not, in fact, a red handset that's fallen victim to a spelling error, rather it stands for 'Robin Egg Blue.'
Other than the limited edition color and an upgraded 128GB of storage space (versus 64GB in the current models), everything else on the handset is the same as the Glacier Grey and Sapphire Blue versions.
That means you get a 5.15-inch full HD display, Kirin 960 chipset, 6GB of RAM, 20MP + 12MP dual rear cameras, 8MP front snapper, 3,200mAh battery and a front facing fingerprint scanner.
All of this is due to set you back £459.99, which is considerably more than the £379 you pay for the grey and blue variants - although the new model does have double the storage.
Want to see a few more shots of the Robin Egg Blue Honor 9? Sure you do, so check out the little gallery below.
IFA 2017 is Europe's biggest tech show. The TechRadar team is in Berlin to bring you all the breaking news and hands-on first impressions of new phones, watches and other tech as they're announced.
Lenovo is all set to launch two more devices in its K Series in India after the launch of the K8 Note earlier this month. The devices set to be launched are the K8 and K8 Plus, which will be aimed at the budget segment.
Lenovo has been teasing the K8 Plus on social media since the launch of the K8 Note earlier this month. Now, the company has confirmed that the device will be launched in India on September 6. The teaser from Lenovo comes with the following tagline “Do you look at your smartphone and always #KraveForMore? It's time to end that with the new and powerful #LenovoK8Plus. Coming soon!”
E-commerce portal Flipkart has also teased the device, mentioning that the K8 Plus will come with a dual camera setup, similar to the K8 Note. It also confirmed that the K8 Plus will be sold exclusively by Flipkart in India. The teaser also highlighted that the device will come with bokeh effect feature, similar to the K8 Note.
As per reports, both the K8 and K8 Plus are scheduled to arrive in India by mid-September. Considering this, we expect both the devices to be launched on the same day. As far as the specifications are concerned, the K8 Plus has been spotted on Geekbench running on Android 7.1.1 Nougat with a 1.69GHz MediaTek Helio P25 processor clubbed with 3GB RAM.
To recall, the Lenovo K8 Note was launched with a 5.5-inch full HD display, Helio X23 processor, 3 / 4 GB RAM, 32 / 64 GB internal storage, 13MP + 5 MP dual camera setup, 13MP front camera and a 4,000mAh battery.
Coming to the pricing, the K8 may be priced lower than the K8 Note as it is under powered compared to it. Considering the pricing of the K8 Note, the K8 Plus may be priced below Rs. 10,000, giving good competition to the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 and the recently launched Micromax Canvas Infinity.
The Sony Xperia XZ Premium will receive improved camera features and a 3D scanning application when its Android Oreo update hits later this year.
Sony confirmed that its 4K-toting smartphone will get the latest version of Android as part of the launch of the new Xperia XZ1 and XZ1 Compact at IFA 2017, and with it the XZ Premium will inherit the features which arrive on its new siblings.
The most interesting addition will be Sony’s new 3D Creator app, which allows you to take 3D scans of faces, heads, food and random objects with your phone and then upload them to social media, apply them to a GIF and even send the scan to a 3D Printer for a physical version of your creation.
Oreo will also bring improvements to the camera on the Xperia XZ Premium, with a smarter predictive capture mode that’s able to detect smiles and take three snaps before you’ve even hit the shutter key, ensuring you never miss a grin.
Then there’s the improved burst mode that uses automatic phase detection to track moving objects as you snap shots at a rate of 10 pics per second, ensuring your subject is always in focus.
Sony was unable to say when exactly the Android Oreo update for the XZ Premium will arrive, but we expect it to hit phones before the end of the year.
IFA 2017 is Europe's biggest tech show. The TechRadar team is in Berlin to bring you all the breaking news and hands-on first impressions of new phones, watches and other tech as they're announced.
In last one year, Indian telecom industry has seen the biggest turnaround of all time. While faster data came for a price and affordability was an issue, arrival of Jio entirely changed the way Indians use mobile internet. The record breaking telecom company is close to completing a year in the country, and it already has more than 125 million customers, thanks to its free unlimited services. Well, who can forget the never-ending queues outside Reliance stores, legal war between telcos and media houses minting page views and TRP on Jio.
Once again, Jio makes a comeback for haunting competing telcos with its alluring data offerings and disrupting existing price trends. Unlike previous announcements, there is no attractive data or voice offer, but it’s the much awaited JioPhone itself.
How much does JioPhone cost?
Technically, JioPhone’s effective price is Rs 0, but users will have to pay a sum of Rs 1500, which is refundable after completion of three years. But in a practical sense, there's hardly anyone keeping the same phone for three long years. Even if someone manages, it’s likely to catch hardware or software issue like most other phones.
Jio has not clarified about the repair cost or warranty of the phone till now. However, we expect the phone to come with at least one of year warranty.
What are JioPhone recharge plans?
JioPhone buyers can recharge with Rs 153 to avail free voice, SMS and unlimited data for a month. There are two more Jio sachet plans at Rs 24 with two days validity and Rs 54 with seven days validity. Users can go for a Rs 309 plan, which allows them to watch video content from the Jio Apps on a bigger screen.
How to buy a JioPhone?
Interested users can choose to pre-book JioPhone from 5:30 PM starting today and pay Rs 500 up front. The rest of the amount, that is Rs 1,000 can be paid at the time of delivery. What’s more is that people will be able to pre-book the handset from Jio’s official retail stores and from the MyJio App.
Those looking to pre-order the handset offline will have to visit a Jio Store where Adhaar details of the user will be taken and they will be provided with a token number. Online booking for the JioPhone will begin on jio.com and users will need to log into their Jio Account.
How and where to pre-register for JioPhone?
To register you can head over to Jio.com and choose the suitable option – individual or business. You can submit your details like name, email, phone number and pin code for individual registration. Businesses can leave their contact name, business name, PAN or GSTN number and the number of devices required.
SMS Booking-
You can also register for a JioPhone via SMS. All you need to do for this is send an SMS in the following format.
JP <PIN CODE> <Store code>
Send the above message to 7021170211.
In the above message, you will have to find and enter the Jio store code by visiting the nearest Jio store or a Reliance Digital outlet.
Offline Booking-
You can also book your JioPhone by visiting the nearest Reliance Digital or Jio store or other authorized Jio retailers. You will have to submit a copy of your Aadhaar card. In some instances, the retailer may not require you to submit your Aadhaar card, but it’s best to carry one just in case.
Why is JioPhone a great deal?
For those who need a perfect secondary phone or a feature phone that has support for 4G and runs essential apps, then JioPhone is the right choice. What makes it unique is its price and data plans, and the TV connectivity feature.
If you do some calculations, JioPhone users are going to get unlimited data and voice by paying just Rs 1853 (153 x 12) over a year. Rs 153 a month plan gets you 500MB of high-speed data, which drops down to 128Kb/s after you exhaust 500Mb. So if you need extra high-speed data, you can always opt for sachet plans we mentioned above. Or the best option is to go for Rs 309 or Rs 509 plan that brings more data and TV cable feature.
So even if you fail to claim your deposit of Rs 1500 after three years, you’ll still be in a win-win situation.
Can you use another network SIM on a JioPhone?
Unlike CDMA phones, the SIM is replaceable, but you can only use a Jio SIM on the phone. So if you already have a Jio SIM, you can certainly use it with your phone, but the plan will have to be upgraded to Rs 153, as it is exclusive only to JioPhone.
So you can’t use any other network on this phone, no matter if it is 2G, 3G or 4G.
Update: It is said that there will be 4-6 variants of JioPhone, out of which, some of them will come with dual SIM support allowing users to access other carrier SIM cards.
What is JioPhone cable tv accessory?
Reliance JioPhone has a cable tv accessory can be used to connect the device to a screen and then stream content from JioTV and JioCinema apps. It is a casting service that can be attached to any TV, including CRTs to reflect their phone’s screen to the big screen.
The concept is pretty similar to Amazon’s Fire Stick TV and Google’s Chromecast. According to the latest report from Business Standard, the device is expected to come with an extra cost of Rs 500.
Can JioPhone replace your set-top box?
If you get a little practical about it, we would say a no because after all, it’s first a phone than a casting device. It’s natural to expect some limitations when you pit it against dedicated TV boxes. If you already have a DTH at your home, you wouldn’t need to use it there. But if you have a different subscription for each room and you spend limited time watching TV, then it makes more sense. On the brighter side, it is a pretty unique feature to be on an affordable device.
We just hope the JioPhone cable TV accessory is portable and easy to carry. Data connectivity will also be a huge factor to look for because poor 4G speed or network issues may limit it to an extent.
What are the features and specifications of JioPhone?
Voice calling will always be free for Jio customers. Jio services integration is lined up with all e-commerce players across the country, and NFC integration will let it make payments just like Samsung Pay.
Like most other feature phones, JioPhone has an alphanumeric keypad, 2.4-inch QVGA display, headphone jack, SD card slot, torch light, four-way navigation system and FM radio. Moreover, it will feature a digital voice assistant, a panic button, and support for 22 Indian languages.
Talking of multimedia capabilities, the Reliance JioPhone can play a wide format of audio and video files with support for up to HD (1280 x 720) movies. The device comes preinstalled with various entertainment apps like JioTV, JioCinema, JioMusic, etc. It also features an SOS function, which gets activated by long pressing 5.
Moving on to the optics, the zero-cost feature phone rocks a 2 MP rear camera and a 0.3 MP Selfie snapper. While there is a LED torch in the handset, it is located at the top and can’t function as a camera flash.
Connectivity options include 4G LTE, VoLTE and ViLTE till Wi-Fi, GPS, NFC, a micro USB 2.0 port and 3.5 mm headphone jack. To power it up, there is a 2000mAh Lithium-Polymer battery that juices up the handset with an expected talk time of 12 hours and 15 days standby.
Which processor will JioPhone feature?
This question is already making rounds on the internet, not just because everyone is excited to know, but also because of the tweets that followed from Qualcomm and Spreadtrum.
On July 21, Qualcomm India tweeted, “Glad to partner with @reliancejio on the new #JioPhone, powered by our #205 mobile platform.” This indicates that the JioPhone will run the Snapdragon 205 processor.
However, another tweet followed up from rival Spreadtrum saying, “Making India digital with #JioPhone. @Spreadtrum is proud to be a part of the digital freedom for #featurephone users. @Reliancejio.”
Under the hood, there is either a Spreadtrum SC9820A SoC or a Snapdragon 205 chipset. Both of them feature dual-core CPUs with Cortex-A7 cores clocked at up to 1.2 GHz each. While Spreadtrum packs a Mali 400 GPU, the Snapdragon chip sports its own Adreno 304 graphics unit.
How much storage do you get on the JioPhone?
The JioPhone offers 512MB of RAM along with 4GB of storage. Additionally, there is support for up to 128GB of micro SD card.
Does JioPhone have hotspot?
Hotspot availability is the biggest suspense surrounding JioPhone. According to various sources, JioPhone may not have the hotspot feature most probably because of its OS. It is being said that the Snapdragon variant will be coming with the hotspot feature but it will be locked for some reason. Since it is still unclear, we cannot give a confirmation on this. Being one of the essential features, we feel that JioPhone should have hotspot to be a competent 4G phone.
Which software does the JioPhone run?
According to revealed details during the JioPhone announcement, it is said that the phone will come with a version of Firefox OS called KaiOS.
Will JioPhone run apps like PayTm, Whatsapp, YouTube or Facebook?
From what we understood, Jio may restrict PayTm and WhatsApp on JioPhone. This may be because the company wants more Jio users to start using JioMoney and JioChat services. But it will most likely run apps like Facebook, Google and more. From what we got to know from the presentation, there’s one app that is guaranteed to be on the phone and it’s none other than Narendra Modi app. It features all the latest updates about the work India’s Prime Minister is up to along with his podcast ’mann ki baat’.
Update: Latest report from Factor Daily signals at talks between Reliance Jio and WhatsApp are in preceding talks. It is also said that Reliance Jio and Facebook, the owner of WhatsApp, have an existing business relationship that gives green signal to the allegations.
Is JioPhone violating net neutrality principles?
Net Neutrality is one of the core tenets of a free and fair internet. Over the last few years, it has come under scrutiny during several incidents in different countries all over the world. In India, the one major event that attracted a lot of debate and activism was Facebook’s Free Basics offering. Another incident that has the possibility of drawing attention is Reliance Jio’s JioPhone.
During the JioPhone announcement, Reliance Jio had revealed that it would be creating its own app store. Light versions of popular apps like Facebook, YouTube and more were said to be made available in this app store.
Incumbent Idea raised concerns that the JioPhone won’t let you install other third-party apps that compete with Jio’s apps. This is little complicated, given the fact that the JioPhone comes with KaiOS. The phone’s hardware is very basic as well, meaning that it won’t be able to run regular apps properly.
If third-party developers optimize their apps to run on the JioPhone, then it comes down to Reliance Jio approving them. Meaning, we cannot say that JioPhone is violating net neutrality principles until complete details about the feature phone are revealed.
What is the significance of JioPhone?
For a cost of Rs 1500, Jio plans to offer a phone that will support 4G services which are impossible to find on any other device. If you look at the presently available feature phones, none of the them offers even the half of the features that are being promised with JioPhone. Soon after Jio’s announcement, analysts across the country went out to predict things. Incumbent service providers, now burdened with the fear of competition are expected to come up with a fresh plan to tackle this unexpected hit coming from Jio.
Analysts expect an overall industry revenue to rebound from its downward graph. Apart form this, Jio’s TV casting feature has affected the stock prices of DTH service providers, though it can never completely take over the segment.
While the disruptive potential of JioPhone is unhealthy for the rivals, it is still a great move to rub-off country’s digital divide. Moreover, we still know very little about Jio’s plans, so it could be just more than what we have imagined to be in near future.
If you are unable to get your hands on the JioPhone, here are the alternates you can consider.
The iPhone 8 isn’t even here yet, but apparently Apple has already started work on the iPhone 9, and the latest rumor suggests that one model will be very, very big indeed.
According to sources speaking to The Investor, Apple plans to launch a 5.85-inch iPhone 9 and a 6.46-inch iPhone 9 Plus. The former is likely to be the same size as the upcoming iPhone 8, while the latter would be larger than even the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.
Supposedly both phones will have an OLED screen sourced from Samsung, and work on them is said to have begun earlier than usual due to funding, facility investment and production plans - possibly to avert any possible supply issues.
The sources added that apparently Apple had originally planned on launching a 5.28-inch iPhone 9 alongside the supersized iPhone 9 Plus, but scrapped the idea due to the growing popularity of massive screens.
As with any rumor this far out from a product launch we’d take all this information with a huge side of salt, as even if it’s accurate plans can change and Apple is known to prototype multiple versions of possible iPhones before deciding on a final form factor.
Surprisingly though this isn’t even the first iPhone 9 rumor we’ve heard, with an earlier leak pointing to a big battery. Again though, with the phone not likely launching for over a year we can’t be confident of anything.
With the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 launched, we're automatically turning our attentions to the Galaxy S9, but the latest rumors suggest it might be a slight disappointment for some super smartphone fans.
According to a source speaking to XDA Developers the Samsung Galaxy S9 will have just 4GB of RAM. That’s the same amount as the Samsung Galaxy S8 and 2GB less than the Galaxy Note 8.
That’s unlikely to be a major issue for the bulk of users, as the Galaxy S8 is a very speedy phone and most flagships are still using 4GB with no issue, but it’s sure to disappoint some buyers.
However, there's something that's going to bother more people: Samsung will apparently be keeping the fingerprint scanner on the back for the Galaxy S9.
This is rather than moving it under the screen, as it’s long been rumored to be working on, or even moving it back to the front or the side, where it would be easier to reach.
However, there is apparently one change coming there, as the fingerprint scanner will apparently be in the center of the back, rather than at the top and near the camera where it's hard to reach.
The source also adds the very obvious fact that the Galaxy S9 will apparently use a Snapdragon 845 chipset, which is likely to be one of the highest-end mobile chips available at that point, and that it will retain the 1,440 x 2,960 QHD+ 18.5:9 aspect ratio display of the S8 and Note 8, though there’s no word on what size it will be.
Finally, the source says that apparently the Galaxy S9 will have an overall similar design to the S8 and will come with 64GB of internal storage and run Android 8.0 Oreo.
It’s worth noting that even if this information is accurate it could be subject to change, as it’s apparently based on a very early prototype of the Samsung Galaxy S9, but it's all thoroughly inline with what we expect.
Although Samsung tends to deliver cutting edge specs, if it thinks 4GB of RAM will get the job done it wouldn’t necessarily pack in more just to tick a box.
The news about the fingerprint scanner is no surprise, as the technology to build it into the display has reportedly been a struggle for multiple tech companies, and moving it anywhere else could mean redesigning the phone.
The rest of the specs listed here are even less surprising - indeed they’re exactly what we’d expect. But with the Samsung Galaxy S9 likely not launching until March or April 2018, there's plenty of time for change as a brand goes through a number of prototypes to see what will be the best option to bring out.
Via Phone Arena
We could be just hours away from the announcement of the Sony Xperia XZ1, as Sony is holding a press conference at IFA 2017 later today, but ahead of that we may have just got a very clear look at the phone, thanks to a series of leaked press photos.
The images, which were obtained by Xperia Blog, don’t show us much that's new, but do match what we’ve seen before, showing a phone with slightly rounded edges, a likely metal build and a plain back with just a small Xperia logo and camera lens.
You can also see the elongated power button that’s typical of Sony handsets and likely houses a fingerprint scanner (unless you’re in the US), and an overall very rectangular design that’s very typical of Sony.
The images don’t reveal any specs, but the few gaps in our specs knowledge have largely been filled in elsewhere, as reliable leaker Roland Quandt has tweeted another few images of the Sony Xperia XZ1, along with claims that it has a 2,700mAh battery, a 5.2-inch 1080p HDR screen, and comes in at 7.4mm thick and 156g.
That would make it slightly thinner and lighter than either the Sony Xperia XZ or Sony Xperia XZs, both of which are 8.1mm thick and 161g, but it would also mean the Xperia XZ1 has a smaller battery, as they have 2,900mAh units.
Still, previous leaks have already revealed that the Xperia XZ1 will supposedly have a 19MP rear camera, a 13MP front-facing one, a Snapdragon 835 chipset and 4GB of RAM, so if that all pans out we’ll be looking at a decidedly high-end phone, though one which still might not quite be a match for the Sony Xperia XZ Premium.
With smartphone owners shooting more video than ever before, video recording capabilities in phones are becoming ever more important. It’s a key feature of the LG V30 – and it’s just got a huge endorsement from a pro film maker.
David Franco, the director of photography for high-profile shows including Game of Thrones and Boardwalk Empire, joined the smartphone on stage at IFA 2017, and couldn’t speak highly enough about it at IFA 2017.
“When I don’t have a camcorder or DSLR I use my smartphone to film, but they often don’t have the quality,” said Franco, on stage at the smartphone’s launch event in Berlin.
“I was intrigued by the V30 having cinematic capabilities, and was able to use it to shoot my daily life – my kids, my family – with the V30 before anyone else.
“I’ve got to say it’s video capability is top notch. It definitely impressed me.”
The V30 makes use of 16MP sensor, with a f/1.6 aperture lens and a 6.0-inch 18:9 ratio OLED display. But it was the software features that really caught Franco’s attention.
Franco gave particular praise to the V30’s Cine Effect mode, which let’s users quickly recolour video shot to a professional quality, spending a considerable chunk of time on stage describing how it let him create clips to his exacting standards.
“With Cine Effect mode you can create rich, high quality videos. It allows users to apply colour palettes to create the kind of colour scheme you see in movies. It can make your video look creepy and dark or as bright and lovely as you like.”
Likewise, the LG V30’s nifty Point Zoom mode impressed the fantasy film maker. LG’s system, despite not having a pro-level hardware zoom lens, is able to let a user pick a zoom point in a scene without as much distortion as you usually find with a digital zoom.
“One of the elements that decrements video quality is zoom. Point Zoom does it smoothly and at a steady pace. It lets you select a zoom focus point that isn’t the centre of the screen too. It’s an impressive tool that anyone can use.”
With Game of Thrones season 7 now wrapped up, could the next season make use of the smartphones for filming? It may seem unlikely, but given Franco’s love for the LG V30, it may well be a greater possibility than before. It’s the sort of “celebrity” endorsement usually reserved for Apple device’s imaging abilities, making it exciting to see what the V30 is capable of.
Visit our LG V30 hands on for more on the new flagship.
Update: LG has unveiled the V30 at IFA 2017. The new flagship smartphone isn't much different than what we heard through the many leaks leading up to its announcement, but there's still plenty to be excited about. Read on below for every bit of info that we know about the LG V30.
The LG V30 is the latest smartphone from the South Korean firm and it's set to take on the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S8 in terms of performance. But when it comes to the sheer amount of features inside, it's peerless.
Like the the LG V10 and LG V20, the V30 is in search for a unique feature that sets it apart from the competition. But given that the same competition has yanked just about everything that was noteworthy of LG's previous attempts, LG is shooting for the moon here.
As such, we have the first LG smartphone with an OLED display in years built into a well-crafted device with an Full Vision Display. It might not have the familiar second screen, but it looks to make up for it with Google Daydream compatibility.
Building onto its dual-camera legacy, the V30 is introducing some nifty software features atop of its impressive camera hardware, including the f/1.6 aperture rear-facing camera.
There's a lot more to break down about this phone, so let's get to it.
The LG V30 has officially launched, yet we're still waiting for details surrounding its global availability.
We say global because LG is finally bringing this multi-talented smartphone to more shores than just those in North America and select countries in Asia. We've been told that this one will be widely available and we expect to hear more information soon.
An internal document supplied to Android Authority suggests the phone will launch in Europe on September 28, and the same source claims you'll be able to pre-order the V30 in the US from September 17.
As far as price goes, this smartphone won’t be cheap. Though this isn’t a flagship in the typical sense, you can expect to shell out flagship prices for the V30.
As the rumors suggested, the LG V30 is a phone most capable. In terms of specs, LG's latest features a Snapdragon 835 (a first for LG) along with 4GB of RAM.
Judging on its looks, the V30 is definitely a chip off the old LG G6 block. You'll find its Full Vision display, which pushes the bezels out to a minimum and widens the screen to make more room for your viewing pleasure.
Around the phone, you'll find a USB-C charging port, 3.5mm headphone jack to supply Hi-Fi sound through, and a fingerprint charger in the same place as you'll find it on the G6. But the V30 is definitely not just a larger G6.
Its 6-inch OLED display is fit into a surprisingly thin and light chassis that is waterproof and meets military standards for durability. Not just that, it supports wireless charging. All of these little implementations make for a very well-rounded smartphone.
We have even more information on the LG V30 display and cameras though, which we've detailed in their own sections below.
To date, one of the key features of LG's V-series smartphones have been their second screen displays which sit atop the main smartphone display.
However, for the LG V30 this hardware feature has been replaced by some new software called "floating bar".
Once the floating bar is switched on, you can move its location at will wherever you'd like across the screen.
It's certainly not the same as having a dedicated second display, but during our hands-on time, it's been swell to have basically the same functionality at will as well as the ability to tuck it away when it's not needed, which likely lends to extending the life of its 3,300mAh battery.
The Gorilla Glass 5-covered OLED display offers more than vivid colors and deep contrast levels, it also comes with the side benefit of offering Google Daydream compatibility – a first for LG.
LG has been busy in the lead-up to the V30 launch teasing that its camera will be a show-stopper, and at least on paper, it does seem to be.
The LG G6 and LG V20 both boast dual rear facing cameras, and the LG V30 will follow suit with a couple of snappers on its rear. But the cameras within its array will be even more capable, with one of them capable of an industry-leading f/1.6 aperture, which should take low-light shooting to a whole new level for smartphones.
In addition to its boost in hardware, we're delighted by LG's commitment to adding clever, new features to its cameras. Standing above all is the Point Zoom option, which instead of a jagged zoom, gets closer to your subject smoothly. It's more akin an effect to something that you've seen used in TV or in a movie.
There's way more to parse through in this department, so check back with our review to see how we're taking advantage of all the new features.
We’re just a couple of hours away from the official launch of the LG V30 and prolific leaker Evan Blass has given us a final teaser of what the latest LG flagship handset could look like, in what seems to be all the possible color options.
Other than the colors, there doesn’t seem to be anything else new shown in the images leaked. What we can see is that the LG V30 could come in a smart black, a really cool dark blue, a silver and what could possibly be a mauve, pink or lavender option.
Lining up with previous rumors, the B&O logo appears on the rear of the handset just below the fingerprint scanner, suggesting a partnership with the high-end audio brand Bang & Olufsen, and re-affirming the V30s focus on its sound quality. That includes an advanced version of the 32-bit Hi-Fi Quad DAC featured in the LG V20.
Of course, the fingerprint sensor is also clearly visible at the back.
The launch will take place at IFA 2017, and is set for 9am Berlin time (7am GMT/5pm AEST/3am ET) and we’ll bring you all the news and updates as soon as the LG V30 is announced.
If you're in the market for a new Galaxy S7 Edge, you might be in for an uphill battle. Some carriers are no longer carrying new units of the Galaxy S7 Edge, and other's don't have the best prices.
If you were hoping to get a quality Samsung experience at a reduced price, you'll want to consider a used or refurbished unit, and we'll include those deals here.
In some cases, if you want a new device, we may have to recommend going with Amazon's great deal on the Galaxy S8 for $574, which can even beat some of the deals on its predecessor.
While some used and refurbished deals on the Galaxy S7 Edge can offer the lowest price, the best deal for a Galaxy S7 Edge is to actual skip right on past it an pick up a Galaxy S8 for $574 on Amazon.
Right now, the best deals from carriers are on used or refurbished models, or actual charge more for the older Galaxy S7 Edge than Amazon is currently charging for the newer, and by all means better, Galaxy S8.
You can check out the rest of the deals to see if any are a better fit for you.
Unless you think it may be a collector's item one day, there's no good reason to buy the Galaxy S7 Edge from AT&T. At $23 a month for 30 months or $694, it costs much more than it ought to.
The Galaxy S8 is newer, faster, and better in just about every way, and can be purchased for over $100 less.
If you really want to save money while sticking with the Galaxy S7 Edge, AT&T does offer a more fairly priced certified pre-owned model for $359.
Sprint makes it easy to get a new Galaxy S7 Edge quickly. It only charges $30 up front and $10 a month after that for 18 months, with the option to upgrade to a new phone after 12 months with an additional fee of $5 per month.
Unfortunately, at the end of the lease, Sprint still wants way too much for the Galaxy S7 Edge. The full price of the device is $694, and to keep the phone at the end of the lease, you'll have to pay the remaining cost.
You can save $50 on service with a promo Sprint is running for a free month of its Unlimited plan, but that still doesn't make the price of a new Galaxy S7 Edge worth it at this point.
If you lost track of the link, you can find the $574 Galaxy S8 deal here. If you were hoping to save a few bucks and get a great Samsung phone brand new, that's probably going to be the best deal for you right now.
If you're looking for bigger savings, used and re-certified Galaxy S7 Edge units are your best bet. You can also look for a better deal from some of the budget mobile carriers below.
Samsung's Galaxy S7 Edge may have made the Galaxy S7 look a little plain, but it could still perform like a flagship phone. And though it may be getting a bit older now, its price is also getting lower.
However, if you intend to buy a new phone from your carrier, you should really reconsider. Right now, carriers aren't offering very good deals on the Galaxy S7. In fact, most of the major carriers are charging more for a new Galaxy S7 than Amazon is charging for a new Galaxy S8.
If you want a Galaxy S7 at a low price, consider looking for a refurbished Galaxy S7.
While a new Samsung Galaxy S7 is cheaper on Verizon right now than it was when it first launched, it's not the best deal.
It was originally $672, and has come down to $576. If you opt for a monthly installment plan, you can pay just $24 a month for this phone.
However, considering the full price tag of the Galaxy S7 with Verizon is $576, Amazon's insane deal on the newer and more powerful Galaxy S8 for $574 unlocked should make the decision for you. If you really want a great Android experience, save yourself an extra $2 and get the Galaxy S8 instead.
AT&T isn't offering any better deals on the Galaxy S7. In fact, for AT&T customers, the deal is even worse.
AT&T offers the Galaxy S7 for $594 upfront or for a 30-month installment plan of $19.84 a month. But once again, the $574 unlocked Galaxy S8 is a better deal, by far, than what AT&T is offering for a new Galaxy S7.
You can save $20 by buying the Galaxy S8 on Amazon, and bring the newer, more powerful, all-around better phone to AT&T.
T-Mobile actually has a proper deal on the Galaxy S7. The price has come down from when it was launched, with T-Mobile charging just $480 for the phone.
For customers with "awesome credit" this can mean just $20 monthly payments over 24 months. It's definitely more affordable than it once was. If you want to snag this phone new with minimal upfront costs, T-Mobile is the way to go.
Like most of the other carriers on this list, Sprint also is charging way too much for the Galaxy S7. It has a total price of $594 for a new Galaxy S7.
While Sprint does offer the device on an installment plan for $24 a month, that plan is a lease that will still require you to pay the remaining value of the device after 18 months in order to keep it.
Once again, we recommend looking at Amazon's killed deal on the newer Galaxy S8 for $574 if you want to get a great Android experience at a reduced price.
You don't have to look closely to see that carriers have pretty bad deals on a new Galaxy S7. If you want to snag one at a low price, check out cheap refurbished Galaxy S7 units on Amazon.
Budget carriers in the US may also have discounts on the Galaxy S7, so look below to see if there's one that catches your eye.
