The Zenfone 2 is the world’s first smartphone to equip with a whopping 4GB RAM. Zenfone 2 features a 5.5-inch 1920x1280p full HD IPS display with a wide 178-degree viewing angle. The display features a narrow 3.3mm bezel that gives the device a 72% screen-to-body ratio. Like its predecessor, Zenfone 2 also comes with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection. The ZenFone 2 is powered by an up to 2.3GHz 64-bit Intel Atom Z3580 quad-core processor and has 4GB RAM to convey up to seven times quicker gaming execution than its predecessor.

The device also features 2.3GHz Intel Atom processor and seems to be all set to take over the likes of Xiaomi and other companies who sell their phones via flash sales. The ZenFone 2 will come in Osmium Black, Sheer Gold, Glacier Gray, Glamor Red and Ceramic White hues. Estimating begins at $199 globally.

Highlights of Zenfone 2 are –

• Processor – 1.8/2.3GHz GHz 64-Bit Intel Atom Z3560/Z3580 Quad Core
• RAM – 2GB/4GB LPDDR3
• Display – 5.5 Inch 1080 pixels
• SIM Capacity – Dual Micro SIM
• Rear Camera – 13MP Asus Pixel Master Camera with Dual-Color Real Tone Flash
• Front Camera – 5MP
• Battery – 3000 MAh Battery

LG unveils 5.3 inch smartphone display with a 0.7mm bezel on the sides. The company says that’s the narrowest bezel available for a smartphone screen.

The display panel features a 1920 x 1080 pixel LCD display and uses LG’s new “Neo Edge” technology to keep thing thin as well as LG’s Advanced In-Cell Touch, or AIT touchscreen technology.

Byeong-koo Kim, Vice President and Head of IT/Mobile Development Group at LG Display said -

“With this innovative product having many advantages, ranging from its narrow 0.7mm bezel and high resolution picture quality to its slim design and touch-embedded solutions, LG Display will continue to lead the growing market for large screen smartphones, meeting the expectations of customers and users by enhancing the quality of devices.”

LG isn’t the only company working on ultra-thin bezel technology. Sharp already has its almost bezel-less Aquos Crystal smartphone on the market. LG Display will begin mass production of its new smartphone panel in November and will be supplying customers in China first.

Oppo has launched the all-new Oppo R5, their flagship smartphone, which is the slimmest phone in the world. At only 4.85mm thickness, the Oppo R5 slimmer than the Gionee Elife S5.1 which is 5.1 mm thick.

The Oppo R5 sports a 5.2-inch Full HD AMOLED display and is powered by a 64-bit, octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 processor and 2GB of RAM. The phone runs the Color OS 2.0 that is based on Android 4.4.4 KitKat operating system and supports 4G LTE. The R5 also supports the VOOC rapid charging technology. The Oppo R5 will come in a gold version called the Guided Edition.

Specifications of Oppo R5 are -

• Display – 5.50-inch
• Processor – 1.5GHz
• Front Camera – 5-megapixel
• Resolution – 1080×1920 pixels
• RAM – 2GB
• OS – Android 4.4 KitKat
• Internal Storage – 16GB
• Rear Camera – 13-megapixel
• Battery – 2000mAh
• Dimensions – 148.90 x 74.50 x 4.85mm
• Weight – 155 grams
• Colors Available – Silver and Gold

Indian mobile manufacturer Micromax is likely to launch a CyanogenMod-powered handset soon, said media reports. Cyanogen has signed a deal with Micromax in a bid to establish its base in the Indian market.

It is believed that the device is coming before the end of this year, but the exact launch dates aren’t clear yet. Cyanogen Android customs ROMs are by far the best and extremely popular among tech enthusiasts. Moreover, the company has already teamed up with Oppo to release phones running its OS in China.

The new partnership could further help both companies. Though Cyanogen is popular, it is facing a similar problem as most such companies and popular apps – revenue.

Cyanogen has managed to become so popular because it provides necessary features and customisability without ruining the performance of the device. In fact, it actually improves performance and battery life.

Advantages of using Cyanogen based smart phones -

• The smart phones running on this operating system are extremely light and trendy.
• It provides far better customization option when compared to stock Android based phones.
• Extra features and better performance.
• One will receive security updates more often.

Chinese smartphone company Xiaomi has a new product up its sleeves to monitor your blood pressure. Branded as iHealth, the new dock attaches to a cuff that can measure your blood pressure and heart rate.

The iHealth dock sounds similar to other such devices, such as the Withings Smart Blood Pressure Monitor, which attaches a cuff to your smartphone and uses an app to record and monitor your blood pressure.

Xiaomi spokesperson said -

“The blood pressure monitor can be used on other Android devices, but it is best suited for Xiaomi smartphones.”

Xiaomi had marked its first move to health-related gadgets back in July when the company launched its Mi Band alongside the company’s flagship smartphone, Mi 4.

Finland’s Jolla, the company by ex-Nokia employees, and e-commerce marketplace Snapdeal today announced an exclusive partnership to launch the Jolla smartphone in India. The device, running on an independent operating system Sailfish, has been priced at Rs 16,499.

The Jolla smartphone features a button-less design, and the Sailfish OS for gesture-centric user experience. The main focus of Sailfish OS is on multi-tasking without the need to go in and out of apps. As is it is becoming general nowadays, there is also a spotlight on gestures for easy navigation and selection of content.

Sami Pienimäki, co-founder and CMO of Jolla said -

“The Jolla smartphone with its Sailfish OS offers a true new alternative to the Indian consumers. With most widely-used mobile OS rapidly colonialising the digital world, removing any sort of differentiation and turning the once exciting smartphone business into a hardware battle, Jolla with its open and independent OS, is bringing excitement and freedom back to the smartphone industry.”

Specifications of Jolla Sailfish Smartphone are -

• Display – 4.5-inch
• Resolution – 960 x 450 pixels
• Rear Camera – 8-megapixel
• Front Camera – 2-megapixel
• Internal Storage – 16 GB
• Processor – 1.4GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon
• Ram – 1GB
• Battery – 2100mAh
• Dimensions – 131x68x9.9 mm
• Weight – 141 grams
• Colors Available – Poppy Red, Keira Black and Aloe

Samsung to Launch First Tizen Smartphone in India by November. The South Korean big is reportedly planning to launch a smartphone operating by itself Tizen OS in India, someday after the Diwali pageant by November.

SaTizen is Samsung’s initiative to reduce its dependence on Google and carve out a niche for itself in mobile software and services. The report further goes on saying that the Tizen smartphone would be a budget device and will co-exist with other Android devices.

Tarun Malik said-

“We began late, however we’re very targeted. We are usually not capturing within the wild. This is a recreation that needs to be led by the system producer and never the pipe.”

Samsung Z, the first Tizen powered smartphone was announced in June this year. It is speculated that Samsung SM-Z130E or SM-Z130H might enter India and cost around $200.

Chinese metropolis of Chongqing has created a smartphone sidewalk lane, seemingly providing a path for these too engrossed in messaging and tweeting to observe the place they are going.

Nong Cheng, the advertising official with Meixin Group said -

“There are numerous aged individuals and youngsters in our road, and strolling together with your cellphone might trigger pointless collisions right here.”

The 100 ft-stretch of pavement was specially painted for individuals who have their eyes perma-locked to their screens. Typical behavior includes walking all over the place, variations in speed or sudden stopping, bumping into you because they aren’t looking where they are going (and not apologizing), or talking loudly and gesturing wildly forcing you to get out of the way.

LG will make the L Fino and L Bello smartphones available to customers in Brazil starting from this week. It plans to launch the entry-range handsets to customers in other countries in Latin America, Asia, and the Commonwealth of Independent States in the next several weeks.

LG L Fino features -

• Measures 127.5 x 67.9 x 11.9mm
• 4.5-inch IPS display
• Resolution of 480×800 pixels
• 1.2GHz quad-core processor
• 1GB of RAM
• 4GB of expandable storage
• 8-megapixel main camera
• VGA front camera
• Battery capacity of 1900mAh
• Android 4.4.2 KitKat
• Available in White, Black, Gold, Red, And Green colors

LG L Bello features -

• Measures 138.2 x 70.6 x 10.7mm
• Sporting a 5-inch IPS display
• 480×854 resolution
• Powered by a 1.3GHz quad-core processor
• 1GB of RAM
• 8GB of expandable storage
• 8-megapixel main camera
• 1MP front camera
• Battery capacity is 2540mAh
• Android 4.4.2 KitKat
• Available in White, Black, and Gold

LG did not announce exact pricing and availability, but did say that it will provide more details on both counts when its devices launch.

Nokia has indicated to lower prices of 4G and 3G mobile phones in India to leverage operators’ plans to launch high speed 4G services and boost its market share in the country.

Microsoft’s Mobile Device Sales, Corporate Vice President Chris Weber said -

“We want to continue to push point lower and lower than anything we have today. That’s the statement for both 3G and LTE (4G) because that is the thing which gives us scale of the ecosystem. We are also trying to push price point even lower on LTE devices like 635 to take advantage of that opportunity. The goal is to make sure that we have a full portfolio that plays into that opportunity.”

The company has plans to launch its latest 4G enabled phone Lumia 830 priced at around Rs 26,000 before taxes by October, as per sources. Microsoft Devices also unveiled another 4G enabled handset Lumia 735 priced at around Rs 17,500 but sources were not sure about company’s plan to launch this model in India.

Consumers may get about 10-12 times more Internet speed on mobile phones in 4G compared to average speed they get in 3G services. So things are finally looking bright for consumers.