AT&T updates LG G4 and LG V10 with November security patches

AT&T has issued software updates for the LG G4 and LG V10. The LG G4 has been upgraded to build number version MRA58K, which includes the November security patch and minor updates. The 273MB update is based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow. There are no indications as to when an update to Android Nougat could be released.

A similar update has been released for the LG V10 as well. It too contains the November Android security patch and comes with the build number of MRA58K, at a weight of 29.1MB. The software is based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow, with an update to Nougat allegedly in testing. It should be available by the end of January next year.

Nougat first reached the LG G5 in November. New features brought by the update include a split-screen mode, revamped quick settings and notifications shade, and enhanced Doze mode. It comes as expected that these, and other Android Nougat functionalities will get to the LG G4 and LG V10 as well.

Read More

LG G6 rumor review: design, specs, features, everything we know so far

With 2016 on its way out, and the smartphone rumor mill in full swing as usual, it is time to take a good look at all the information we've got regarding next year's flagships, review it, and sort it out neatly for your reading pleasure and convenience. With the Galaxy S8/S8 Edge out of the way, it is now time to turn our attention toward LG and the successor to this year's modular G5. However, save for the seemingly universal assumption that it will continue LG's flagship naming scheme by moving on to the next digit, rumors regarding the LG G6 have thus far been as contradictory as they have been scarce.

With some reports suggesting that the LG G6 may ditch the modular concept of its predecessor in favor of a less-adventurous, waterproof design with non-removable battery, while others still claiming the battery will be removable despite the added water resistance, even educated guessing is becoming a bit difficult at this point. However, our job here is to present you with all the relevant information regarding next year's flagships, and that's what we are going to do now. With that said, let's take a look at all we know about the LG G6:

Read More

Best Android phones you can buy right now (November 2016)

Looking for a new phone? Of course you are. We, the fans of the smartphone industry, are always on the hunt for the next great gadget that will make its way to our pockets. Provided that you swear by Android, you have quite the selection ahead of you. 

True, there are lots of Android phones you can buy at the moment, but as usual, only a select few are actually good enough for us and all the hardcore fans out there who desire only the very best. Luckily, there always seem to be at least a couple of extremely good Android devices that can satisfy the needs of even the-hardest-to-appeal Android zealots. 

Here's what are some of the best high-end devices you can get in October 2016.

Google Pixel XL

Price: $769 - $869

Turns out that Google's on the right path with its latest attempt to become a mainstream hardware company -- the Pixel XL is undoubtedly among the very best Android devices you can get right now. Aside from the top-of-the-line specs, namely the 5.5" quad HD display, the Snapdragon 821 chip, the 4 gigs of RAM, and the large battery, the Pixel XL also boasts a selection of intriguing software features and services that will remain exclusive ones for the time being. For example, you could technically get the Google Assistant on other Android Nougat devices, but officially, it's only the Pixel XL and the smaller-sized Pixel that have said feature on board.

Prices start at $769 for the base 32GB version and $869 for the 128GB one.

Google Pixel

Price: $649 - $749

In case the Google Pixel XL looks appealing to you but you can't be bothered with large 5.5-inch devices, then you're lucky, since the smaller Google Pixel clocks in at 5 inches only, making up for a more pocketable experience. Apart from the smaller display and battery, the Pixel is otherwise identical to the Pixel XL in terms of hardware. This means you still get a Snapdragon 821, 4GB of RAM, and an exceptional 12.3MP camera, as well as the full scope of novel software features that Google introduced – the Pixel Launcher, the Google Assistant, unlimited photo/video storage on the cloud, Pixel Camera, and 24-hour support over the phone.

OnePlus 3T

Price: $439 - $479

While it's technically not available for purchase yet (OnePlus will let you buy one come November 22), we feel that the OnePlus 3T deserves its place in our Android phone recommendations, much like its predecessor. Getting a OnePlus 3T will get you a Snapdragon 821 chipset, 6GB of RAM, a 3,400mAh battery that charges quite fast, and a set of great front and rear cameras. True, some folks will likely find some issues with that phone if they wish, namely the display that is still Full HD display, but we feel that this device overall is great bang for the buck and should be definitely high on your wishlist for Christmas.

LG V20

Price: $672 - $799

With the Galaxy Note 7 out of the picture, LG has less competition than usual and the rare chance of capturing a larger market share. We feel that with the V20, LG really has a winner up its sleeve - it's a multimedia powerhouse aimed at more advanced users and content creators. It's not merely covering all the bases, but also building on the strong foundation established by the LG V10. Apart from the top-end hardware, the V20 also raises the bar when it comes to high-quality audio playback and sound recording. Oh, and it's worth noting that it has a removable battery despite having a metal body, which is a rarity these days.

Samsung Galaxy S7 edge

Price: $749 - $799 

The larger variant of the Galaxy S7 is not only larger in size, it also arrives with a compelling hardware feature on board - thanks to its curved screen, the phone is considered by many as being among the most visually-appealing ones at the moment. Well, that edge display also allows users to access various features of the phone easily, but that's not as useful as you might think. Regardless, it's an excellent phone with lots of other useful features and pretty good all-around performance. With the very same hardware setup that powers the Galaxy S7, but with a larger, 3,600mAh battery, the S7 edge is the very best Android device right now.

Samsung Galaxy S7

Price: $649.99 - $669.99

Samsung's current flagship smartphone is certainly the very best Android device at the moment. It's an excellent all-around performer that hardly boasts any flaws. With a posh design, excellent build, admirable performance and extremely good camera, the Galaxy S7 is a fan favorite. You can't go wrong with this one. With a top-end Snapdragon chipset (Exynos in non-US markets), 4GB RAM,3.000mAh battery, and a very good Super AMOLED display aboard, the Galaxy S7 has all the bells and whistles that make a good flagship. Add up the waterproof glass/metal body, the microSD card slot, and the excellent 12MP camera at the back, and you have yourself a winner.

LG G5

Price: $624 - $688.99

The LG flagship is pioneering a pretty promising niche in a niche - that of modular smartphones. You can pop off the lower part of the phone and easily swap the battery or employ any of LG's Friends, i.e. additional modules for the handset that range from external DAC to a camera grip. While the concept is pretty appealing, there are still some issues that need to be ironed out. Don't take us wrong, the G5 is an excellent phone, though it falls a bit short compared with the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge. Still, it's a pretty good offering for all those who want a great camera, removable battery, a rather bright display, and reliable fingerprint scanner. Of course, the LG Friends modules are another intriguing selling point, but  we can't call them a "must-have" just yet. 

HTC 10

Price: $549

Although it might seem a bit mundane due to the lack of any "еxciting" feature, the HTC 10 is an excellent all-around device that offers a consistent user experience. Being a flagship, it arrives with excellent hardware and also one of the best Android manufacturer skins around, Sense 8 UI. The official price of the device has been gradually lowered down to $549, which is 150 dollars lower than the initial price tag of $699.

Sony Xperia XZ

Price: $699

The Xperia XZ has some things going for it: it has stylish looks and a clean design, it’s conveniently water-proof and features properly positioned dual front-firing speakers. However, there are just so many places where it falls short, especially compared to the strong competition: its display features bluish and not properly balanced colors, it sometimes stutters, it has a fairly scarce 20GB of user-available storage space, its camera is slow and often counter-intuitive, with images and videos that are not on the same level as the ones from iPhones and Galaxies, it lacks quick charging and in the United States it even ships without a fingerprint scanner.

Read More

LG V20 Review

Introduction

Power user – this is a term associated with individuals who operate a computing device with advanced skills and elevated privileges. In other words, that is someone who knows their gadgets inside out and, more importantly, who knows how to make the most of them. The LG V10 was a phone suitable for that kind of folks. Released about a year ago in a limited number of markets, it was quite the unusual handset – large, rugged, and packed to the brim with outstanding features, including a secondary display, dual front-facing cameras, premium sound hardware, and full manual camera controls.

Fast-forward to present day, and the LG V20 is here to pick up where the V10 left off. Sticking to the same formula, this new and improved model comes with a sizzling-hot specs sheet complemented by a list of goodies to wow the tech crowd. We’re talking about an enhanced secondary screen, dual cameras at the back with full manual controls, a Quad DAC setup for superior sound reproduction capabilities, microphones good enough to record a concert in high fidelity, and all of that sprinkled with a sweet dash of Android 7.0 Nougat. 

To say the least, the LG V20 is a phone that tech enthusiasts, audiophiles, and media creators would be intrigued by, but does it live up to the high expectations that it sets? I spent some time in its company to find out.

Design

Durability over grace is the main theme with this extra-large handset.

When the team and I saw the LG V20 for the first time, it wasn’t a case of love at first sight. The phone appeared tough and manly, but lacked in elegance and sophistication, not unlike the Tumbler Batmobile. And you know what, I’d say that I’m okay with that, now that I’ve used the V20 for a while. Sure, it isn’t gorgeous, but what it lacks in grace, it makes up for in durability. 

Read More

Make me pretty: Samsung Galaxy S7 edge vs LG V20 beauty modes comparison

For the average alien, it doesn't take too long to notice that South Korea is obsessed with physical beauty. How big is this obsession, exactly? According to certain sources, the country has the highest rate of plastic surgeries per capita not only in Asia but in the whole world. 

Influenced by K-Pop, it's already a multiple billion-dollar industry showing zero signs of slowing down. This obsession has long ago penetrated other markets, including our favorite one - smartphones.

For a long time now, phones made by South Korea-based Samsung and LG as well as multiple devices originating from China have had different beautifying modes on the front-facing and sometimes even on the rear cameras. Smoothing the skin, slimming the face, correcting the shape of the face, and even enlarging the eyes of the user are just a few of the manipulations that can be applied to your face as you snap a selfie. Indeed, when have people craved for realism in their self-portraits? 

WE DON'T TAKE SELFIES TO LOOK REALISTIC, WE TAKE SELFIES TO LOOK GOOD ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Although we are not that infatuated with selfies, we still snap a few of these from time to time... for reasons! Given that Samsung and LG are among the more popular smartphone manufacturers out there, we thought it would be nice to show you a comparison between the beautifying modes between two of the best contemporary Samsung and LG devices -- the Galaxy S7 edge and the V20 -- and show you to what extent these two will make your faces a bit more appealing.

What kind of beauty modes the Galaxy S7/S7 edge and the V20 have? 

Now, it's important to notice that the Galaxy S7 edge comes with a tad more beautification features than the V20. We've got:

• Skin Tone, which airbrushes the skin and gets rid of all your blemishes, skin flaws and imperfections;
• Spotlight, which highlights certain aspects of your face
• Slim Face, which... slims your face;
• Large Eyes, which locates your eyes and ever-so-slightly increases their size;
• Shape correction, which prevents image distortions.

Read More

Phones with best battery life (2016 edition)

Battery life: it's often the number one thing that people want to see improved in a modern smartphone.

After all, charging your phone every night is not much fun, and for those times when a workday flows into a night outing, you need your phone to be with you and last, and last.

Not every phone is capable of this, though, and that's why we are measuring battery life on every major flagship that arrives in our office to better figure out how they do in comparative terms. Now, with all important phones for 2016 already out, it's time to sum it all up and see which phone has the best battery life.

First, though, let's say a few words about our testing method: we put all devices on equal grounds by settings the display at 200 nits, a brightness level comfortable for indoor use. Then, we put all phones through a rigorous browser testing that simulates typical smartphone use. With no stand-by time for rest, we get scores that reflect screen-on use. Let's see how this year's best phones do in this test.

Battery life test results for 2016 mainstream phones

Battery life (hours) HIGHER IS BETTER

Apple iPhone 7 Plus9h 5 min (Excellent) Apple iPhone 77h 46 min (Good) Apple iPhone SE7h 41 min (Good) Samsung Galaxy S7 edge7h 18 min (Good) Samsung Galaxy S76h 37 min (Average) Google Pixel XL7h 19 min (Good) Google Pixel7h 45 min (Good) LG V206h 23 min (Average) LG G55h 51 min (Average) Motorola Moto Z Force Droid Edition7h 9 min (Good) Motorola Moto Z Droid Edition5h 52 min (Average) OnePlus 35h 53 min (Average) HTC 107h 10 min (Good) Sony Xperia XZ6h 41 min (Average) Huawei P96h 51 min (Average) Xiaomi Mi 57h 27 min (Good)

Read More