Waited too long to own a new iPhone but don’t want to play the cards wrong? Torn between the three newly released iPhones?
Well, your waiting is not in vain. Apple brings out its latest flagship phone, the iPhone Xr with its Liquid Retina HD screen display, a first in all iPhones.
After launching iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Max, Apple releases iPhone Xr later in the same month. Many believe it to be the upgraded version of iPhone 8 plus, but they can’t be blamed, the features are almost the same. At least, there’s a visible improvement.
It stands 6.1 inches tall, with an IPS LCD display screen. It ’s dual sim, has a 3 GB RAM, 3 internal storage options (64 GB, 128 GB & 256 GB), and 6 choices of colors.
There’s nothing controversial or life-changing about the iPhone Xr’s camera, but just like the rest of the latest iPhones, its TrueDepth feature will surely satisfy your need for taking simple yet memorable photos.
You can get it at T-mobile for $0.00 down at $20.84/mo (36x mo). You can buy it unlocked starting at $749.99.
The hardware parts of iPhone Xr is made of surgical steel glass and aerospace-grade aluminum. It has earned a rating of IP67; it is splash, water, and dust resistant.
This look is completed by a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating in 6 color finishing choices—black, white, red, yellow, blue, and coral.
The caveat is that it is not pressure sensitive. You can’t customize the sensitivity that you can use in pressing the screen of your smartphone, too bad.
iPhone Xr is supported by an A12 bionic chipset with a hexa-core processor; the latest technology Apple has to power their iPhones. It is remarkably faster than the older iPhone models.
It is supported by a 3GB RAM, which is good, but it’s going to get problematic if you use a lot of heavy apps at the same time. Its new features like TrueDepth, Location assistance, etc would eat up a lot of the phone’s memory capacity and this can slow down the iPhone Xr’s response time and performance.
iPhone Xr surprised many iPhone users because of its switch from Super Retina to Liquid Retina HD display; which means we’re back to good old IPS LCD from OLED.
We liked the fact that iPhone Xs and Xs Max have an OLED screen and it’s such a let down to know that iPhone Xr’s screen technology is IPS LCD. This meant not having brighter images and deep blacks that OLED can offer.
On the other hand, liquid Retina filled the screen of iPhone Xr edge-to-edge, but it still has that iconic notch at the top similar to iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Max.
It also offered a natural, wider color variation in a 326-pixel density.
In terms of cameras, iPhone Xr has a 7MP(front) and 12MP(rear). Not bad, but nothing compared to other Android flagship phones.
The TrueDepth Camera feature gives a much better bokeh effect, depth control, and portrait lighting than the previous iPhones.
The table below shows the notable specs between the previous releases of iPhone compared to their latest.
iPhone Xr
iPhone Xs Max
iPhone 8 plus
Display size
6.1 inches
6.5 inches
5.5 inches
Dimension
5.94 x 2.98 x 0.33 inches (150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3 mm)
6.20 x 3.05 x 0.30 inches (157.5 x 77.4 x 7.7 mm)
6.24 x 3.07 x 0.30 inches (158.4 x 78.1 x 7.5 mm)
Weight
6.84 oz (194 g)
7.34 oz (208 g)
7.13 oz (202 g)
Materials
Main body: Glass; Accents: Aluminum
Main body: Glass; Accents: Stainless steel
Main body: Glass; Accents: Aluminum
Resolution
828 x 1792 pixels
1242 x 2688 pixels
1080 x 1920 pixels
Pixel density
326 ppi
458 ppi
401 ppi
Technology
IPS LCD
OLED
IPS LCD
Camera
7mp(front), 12mp(rear)
7mp(front), 12mp(rear)
7mp(front), 12mp(rear)
RAM
3GB
4GB
3GB
Internal Storage
256 GB
512 GB
256 GB
System Chip
Apple A12 Bionic APL1W81
Apple A12 Bionic APL1W81
Apple A11 Bionic APL1W72
Biometrics
Face ID
Face ID
Fingerprints
GPU
4 core
4 core
3 core
Battery Capacity
2942 mAh
3179 mAh
2691 mAh
iPhone Xr is quoted as the descendant of iPhone 8 plus and really live up to its name. The ‘it -is- iPhone -8 -plus- but- not -really’ vibe is there.
A few upgrades can be seen in this smartphone from a bigger bezel-less display size, system chip, GPU, and biometrics (from fingerprints to Face ID).
However, if you own an iPhone 8 plus, we don’t think the upgrade is enough to make a switch with your current phone yet.
On the other hand, compared to iPhone Xs and Xs Max; iPhone Xr is inferior in both specs and features. Thus, it was justified by its price, since iPhone Xr is more affordable than iPhone Xs and Xs Max.
iPhone Xr is graded lower compared to the other two newest release flagships of Apple- iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Max.
However, if you were a fan of iPhone 8 plus but you want the look of iPhone Xs and Xs max, iPhone Xr is the one for you.
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The authors of this web site are not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the third-party trade mark or third-party registered trade mark owners,
and make no representations about them, their owners, their products or services.
Not having fun with watching movies because of your iPhone’s narrow screen? Thinking of upgrading to phones with bigger and wider screen display?
Then, you should check out iPhone Xs Max! It has a 6.5 inches display, and it’s the biggest smartphone released by Apple, so far. It is crafted with Stainless Steel and Glass that are also available in three different colors—gold, space grey, and silver. The iPhone Xs Max is powered by OLED Super Retina Screen panels which turn up HDR with a sharper display, accurate colors, and notable brightness and contrast.
You’d be shocked to see that the photographs look so natural and subtle in your eyes through their enhanced True Tone feature.
In addition, it has the biggest internal storage so far, with 512 GB; breaking the records of all Apple’s smartphones. However, all good things come at a price, and the iPhone XS Max is no different. Also, we don’t find the price of 64 GB and 256 GB internal storage to be practical. The thought is, Android phones have long had internal storage as big as that and the slight difference in screen size did not do justice to its price.
On the other hand, it has pretty much ticked off every flagship basic: almost bezel-less screen, high pixel density, good front and rear camera with Depth Control, Faster Wireless Charging, and a 4GB RAM.
After the iPhone X was recalled, Apple came back this year with its new smartphones, iPhone Xs Max (6.5″) together with its smaller brother, iPhone Xs (5.8”).
The frame of the new iPhone Xs Max is made mostly with stainless steel, and a Corning Gorilla scratch- free glass; a 180-degree turn from iPhone 8s Plus’ Aluminum glass. Moreover, it is now splash, dust, and water resistant. Good job Apple for catching up.
And through its Oleophobic coating, the screens are fingerprint-free. Can you believe that?
The iPhone 8 Plus’ A11 Bionic Chipset was completely overthrown by A12 Bionic Chipset when it comes to speed and performance. And the later first appeared in iPhone XS, iPhone XS MAX, and iPhone XR, which also operates in a hexa-core CPU for a faster and more battery efficient system.
Performance-wise, having a 4GB RAM is not too impressing at all when compared to other Android phones that aced the contest in RAM into 8GB.
But it’s dual sim feature caters both nano and e-sims, besting other Android phones.
If you’re a selfie addict, you’re gonna like how the iPhone Xs Max offers 12 megapixels rear camera and 7 megapixels front camera.
We are amazed by the captured pictures that looked like it’d pop out of the screen because of the improvement in the TrueDepth dual camera system. It made possible smart adjustments in your selfies’ depth.
The bokeh or background blur really brought life out of the picture.
The FACE ID in iPhone XS MAX also has better algorithms that perform faster and safer.
Honestly, the specs between Xs and Xs Max doesn’t differ much. However, if you like to have a wider view in your phone, and you think it’s within your budget, then, by all means, go for the iPhone Xs Max.
iPhone XS MAX vs LG V40 ThinQ vs Huawei Mate 20
These are the specs of iPhone XS MAX versus two other newly-released Android flagship Phones.
HDR video support, Ambient light sensor, Proximity sensor
Camera
Rear: 12 megapixels
Front: 7 megapixels
12 megapixels
Front: 7 megapixels
12 megapixels
Front: 24 megapixels
Dimensions
6.20 x 3.05 x 0.30 inches (157.5 x 77.4 x 7.7 mm)
6.25 x 2.98 x 0.3 inches (158.8 x 75.7 x 7.6 mm)
6.23 x 3.04 x 0.33 inches (158.2 x 77.2 x 8.3 mm)
Colors
Gold, Silver, Space Grey
Black, Silver, Blue, Red
Black, Gold, Green, Blue
Those phones has its pro’s and con’s, but which is better is up to your interest.
Unlocking iPhone Xs Max: So, does size really matter?
The iPhone Xs Max and iPhone Xs don’t have that much difference at all when it comes to performance and the camera system. For a slightly bigger screen, there’s a $100 difference, and for us, that might not be the wisest choice. Bigger doesn’t always mean better all the time.
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trademarks™ of their respective owners.
The authors of this web site are not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the third-party trade mark or third-party registered trade mark owners,
and make no representations about them, their owners, their products or services.
Having trouble capturing the real and everything about you in the lens of your current phone? Then you should try the iPhone Xs. It is packed with an A12 Bionic Chipset processor, 12 megapixels rear camera, and 7 megapixels front camera. The new upgrades include live wallpapers, faster wireless charging, a 4GB RAM, and a Gigabit- Class LTE. This and its amazing dual- camera system with Depth Control is perfect for taking both professional and simple selfies.
These are just some of the many features you can enjoy in this new smartphone from Apple. It is crusted with a perfect shade of gold and similarly available in silver and space grey colors. It was released last September together with the iPhone XS Max.
You can get it locked from the T-Mobile network. If you go the financed route, you can get it with $0 down at $27.78 per month (36 mos.). You can also buy it outright at $999.
iPhone XS’ camera is an improved version from iPhone X. It has a TrueDepth camera system that supports Face ID. The Face ID security feature is a convenient alternative to the Touch ID, to easily access your email, health, and banking apps.
The iPhone XS’ camera has even more sophisticated bokeh effect, or a background blur, for spectacular focused photographs. The All- New Depth Control feature allows you to adjust the depth of field after you capture the picture.
If you have a passion in making videos or taking photos, the iPhone XS has an HDR feature, that makes the footage clearer and more detailed. It can provide an advanced level of contrast between light and dark images on the screen to create a much realistic image perfect for selfie addicts and model wannabes.
Moreover, it has True tone, a six- channel light sensor subtly adjust the white balance or the brightness on-screen to counterpart the color temperature of the light around you. So, the displayed image looks as natural as on printed page and calmer in your eyes.
iPhone XS’ Build and Design
The smartphone has an edge-to-edge screen that is almost bezel-less, standing 5.8 in tall (diagonal). It has a Super Retina OLED Screen Display with capabilities of adjusting in different lighting conditions.
The screen is definitely bigger than its predecessors, the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus.
This is the sharpest displays we’ve seen so far, with highest pixel density compared to the most iPhone and Android phones. Its frame is mainly made of stainless steel with scratch-free glass protector.
It is splash, dust, and water resistant.
Thank to its Oleophobic materials, you can keep the fingerprints spots off in its glass touchpane.
The Internal storage of iPhone Xs came in three sets—64 GB, 256, GB and 512 GB. For the first time in Apple history, it reached the bracket of 512 GB for internal phone storage. As for RAM, iPhone XS have 4GB that totally topped last year’s released with 3GB RAM such as iPhone X and 8 plus.
The iPhone XS has a wider stereo sound, which means you can better and louder audio experience. Our inner divas and closeted dancing machine like moves will be justly satiated by this.
What I like about all the features of this Smartphone is the upgrade in Apple Pay Services that allows you to pay in stores without using your physical cards, much safer and faster. Very convenient.
We know that the iPhone XS could be easily overshadowed by the iPhone XS Max, but it’s not such a huge difference. The latter has a slightly-better processor, a slightly-bigger battery life and slightly-sharper camera.
And we think that the iPhone XS is more reasonably priced than the iPhone XS Max. In terms of weight, the iPhone XS is 1.10 ounces much lighter than iPhone XS. According to Apple, the A12 Bionic Chipset is fifteen percent (15%) faster than A11 Bionic Chipset that powered the iPhone X last year.
iPhone 8 Plus
iPhone XS
iPhone X Max
Display
5.5’’ diagonally
5.8’’ diagonally
6.5’’ diagonally
Resolution
1080 x 1920 pixels
1080 x 1920 pixels
1242 x 2688 pixels
Pixel Density
401 ppi
459 ppi
451 ppi
Dimensions
6.24 x 3.07 x 0.30 inches (158.4 x 78.1 x 7.5 mm)
5.65 x 2.79 x 0.30 inches (143.6 x 70.9 x 7.7 mm)
6.20 x 3.05 x 0.30 inches (157.5 x 77.4 x 7.7 mm)
Weight
7.13 oz (202 g)
6.24 oz (177 g)
7.34 oz (208 g)
Materials
Aluminum Glass
Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel
Biometrics
Fingerprints
Facial Recognition
Facial Recognition
Dual Sim
Yes
Yes
Color
Gold, Space Grey, Silver, Red
Gold, Space Grey, Silver
Gold, Space Grey, Silver
The iPhone XS and X Max are worth upgrading to if you are owning older models like iPhone 7, iPhone 8 iPhone 8 plus. The iPhone XS’s price starts at $999 for a 64GB model, $1,149 for 256 GB and $1, 349 for 512 GB.
So, is it worth it to upgrade to the iPhone XS? It does feature slightly improved features than iPhone X but it might not be worth the upgrade. It all depends on your personal preferences, but you might also want to check out the iPhone XS Max and the iPhone Xr.
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trademarks™ of their respective owners.
The authors of this web site are not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the third-party trade mark or third-party registered trade mark owners,
and make no representations about them, their owners, their products or services.
What makes iPhone X a critical buy during the holidays?
It is the smartphone of the future considering its futuristic design and overall specs.
It stepped up its game in mobile photography with DSLR-like and face mapping solutions.
It is limited in stocks so buyers may consume everything the moment it’s released.
If you are planning to just upgrade and unlock your iPhone 4S to at least see something new from your device, don’t. In the first place, smartphones are a great investment, a quality device, that is. Hence, despite the price, if you need that much of a phone then you must invest in one. Perhaps, Apple’s anniversary phone, the iPhone X?
Apple has unlocked iPhone X’s extravagant specs earlier this year, and truth be told, it has sent the world abuzz. Well, no wonder! Apple’s known for its quality devices and high technology solutions. Thus, people are anticipating its first official release on November 3. However, if you were to buy the iPhone X, remember not to buy it during the holidays. Why? Here are some of the reasons we’ve observed:
It’s the smartphone of the future, admit it.
Have you seen iPhone X’s design? It’s superb and something to look out for. No, we’re not hyping it up. The iPhone X itself can attest to the fact that its overall design and build is a total upgrade from its predecessors.
Let’s start with its bezel-less panel. Indeed, many are looking forward to iPhone X being a full screen, no buttons needed. Today, as the said device was already introduced to the public, many were captured by its beauty. No bezels meant a full viewing panel and gaming platform!
Moving on, no bezels and home buttons meant: no touch ID. In the iPhone X, Apple seems to experiment with a technology without the power of fingerprints, rather a person’s face through their face ID facial recognition system. Whether this is a wise move or not, only time could tell. However, what’s great about it is that we are moving further into the future of technology – something iPhone X can let people feel in the present time.
Lastly, it’s the era of OLED – a better way to view things through your mobile phone!
Mobile photography has never been this good.
We can’t deny it, but mobile photography via Apple products is just surreal. The lens it uses from the previous products alone was already of high-quality, what more now that it upgraded to the dual lens trend. Let’s break down the details.
A 12MP telephoto camera used for 2x optical zoom. While the telephoto camera was already integrated into the iPhone 8 Plus, the said version in the iPhone X is notably Plus, it features optical image stabilization (OIS) that reduces blurred snaps caused by wobbly hand-induced camera shake.
A 7MP selfie camera with Face ID technology. With the recent popularity of iPhone 8 Plus’ Portrait Mode (snaps only available on the rear camera), it can be expected that the iPhone X will level this up with its integration of facial recognition technology by moving this in the selfie department. Isn’t it great?
Integration of Apple’s exclusively designed image signal processor (ISP). Apple has been making progress in the technologies it uses in its products. One of which is its self-designed ISP, which increases speed and efficiency of pixel processing, low-light autofocus, and noise reduction. Thus, addressing most of the common concerns of mobile photographers in camera specs.
It’s so limited in stocks!
Aside from the high technology solutions that Apple has integrated with its newest super flagship mobile unit, here comes the saddening truth: its limited supply.
It may be common for all iPhones to be limited in stocks upon its first release in the market. However, it seemed that the iPhone X unlocks a new level into the ‘the least number of supply’ in iPhone releases. As explained in Notebook Check’s website, the problem may be due to the difficulty in the supply of Face ID and OLED production. Well, seems valid.
Key Takeaway
There you go! It is undeniable why Apple fans are itching to buy its anniversary phone. It’s the epitome of future on mobiles with the high-tech solutions integrated into the unit, plus the brand’s already proven and tested for quality products. Hence, also why it is critical to purchase the new Apple flagship.
You can always try to purchase one on its official release on November 3 or onwards. You will surely get one if you must, right?
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trademarks™ of their respective owners.
The authors of this web site are not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the third-party trade mark or third-party registered trade mark owners,
and make no representations about them, their owners, their products or services.
A travel platform like Klook for the perfect destinations and activities.
A travel planner like Google Trips for an organized itinerary.
A hotel booking app like Hotels.com for the best hotel deals.
A flight booking app like Hopper for the best plane ticket deals.
An accurate international weather forecast app like Accuweather.
The “unlock my phone“ tip is the most important advice you will need when traveling abroad. Mainly because it makes communicating with your loved ones easier and cheaper. However, if you are done with that and is still having trouble getting your way through different places as you travel abroad, there may be essential smartphone apps that you have been missing for a while now.
Truth be told that there’s a lot of travel apps that you can find in the app store. However, the plethora of options can be tricky for actual use. Hence, here are 5 ideal apps that are useful and proven effective in making the best out of your next travel abroad.
Klook is a growing travel platform that offers travelers the best deals, activities, and attractions that one can book in the simplest way possible. You just need to type in the place in their website’s search bar – whether that’s Hong Kong, Singapore, or South Korea – and they will immediately turn you over into a page full of all suggestions on how you can enjoy the trip wherever you plan to go. Aside from that, they also have a sidebar which lets you browse base on categories that include the following:
Attractions and shows
Tours and sightseeing
Activities and experiences
Food and wellness
Transport services
Wi-Fi connection
These categories are also divided into more specific activities so it isn’t hard to get the right deals.
What more should you look for? With Klook, you will never waste a single penny on your next travel abroad!
If you are a fan of Google products, you will definitely love their travel app named Google Trips. With its aim to create a to-go itinerary for its users that effectively helps them to plan less and see more of their dream destinations, there’s nothing to worry about traveling anymore. You can freely organize your plane tickets and hotel reservations in one place, research the place you are traveling to, and even get free personalized recommendations based on your Google search history. Who would’ve thought traveling could be this easy?
No worries! You don’t need Wi-Fi or data to access your itinerary and your maps. You can download them all to your phone and access them offline. Need we say more?
Hotels.com is one of the most convenient hotel booking app at the app store. It offers users great hotel deals plus all the information you need to book. More so, whether you are using your laptop, tablet, or smartphone, you can easily access the app and site to get the best deals for your next big travel abroad. Furthermore, it also has customer-focus features such as Secret Prices that allows you to get the best, budget-wise hotel deals of all time and Hotels.com Rewards which offers free nights on particular conditions! Who wouldn’t want that?
Hopper is a flight booking app that offers great deals. It guides its customers on when is the best time to buy plane tickets. No regrets, you will definitely score the best deals yet for your next travel destination.
The weather is a significant consideration when traveling, as it can either make or break your travel itinerary. With Accuweather by your side, you will never go wrong with your plans. It gives the most up-to-date weather forecasts – from long-term to at-the-moment type of forecasts on your exact address. A great way to find out whether to bring an umbrella or a sunblock cream, right?
Key Takeaway
Going to a place that’s not familiar to you can be tricky. Though it may be an exciting adventure, hence, it could also be a recipe for a disaster waiting to happen without the right tools. With these apps, you will be able to plan better, organize your destinations, and even get the best deals to further maximize your budget. After all, who wouldn’t want something great for a lesser cost?
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trademarks™ of their respective owners.
The authors of this web site are not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the third-party trade mark or third-party registered trade mark owners,
and make no representations about them, their owners, their products or services.
For iOS phone, simply navigate your phone’s settings and look for Cellular Data Network. If it’s present, then your phone may be unlocked given that this section allows users to manually change their phone’s carrier.
For Android phone, proceed to your phone’s settings and look for the Network Operator option. Scan for networks and select one to try if it works. If it does, your phone may be unlocked.
In general, people try to swap out their SIM cards with a different carrier’s SIM and tries to make a call if it works.
Another alternative way to check your phone’s lock status is through your IMEI number and enter this on an IMEI checker website.
“Having my phone unlocked is the sweetest way to communicate when I travel.” – said every traveler out there. Truth be told, when traveling out of the country, it can be very frustrating to commit to expensive roaming charges. Unlike carrier phones, unlocked phones allow you to swap out your SIM to any local SIM card wherever you are. Furthermore, you get to spend your money for other expenses. However, how would you know if your phone’s unlocked?
Without further ado, here are some amazing ways to figure out if your phone’s unlocked!
How to Figure Out if iOS Phone is Unlocked
In order to check if your iOS phone is unlocked, you may proceed to the cellular setting. While it may not exactly tell you that your phone’s unlocked, it’s a decent indicator that you may not swap out your SIM with a different one. Just make sure to follow these steps:
Go to Settings and look for Cellular.
Select Cellular and scroll to Cellular Data Network.
If the Cellular Data Network option is present, this may indicate that the phone is unlocked. Otherwise, it’s a carrier phone. This is due to the fact that this option allows the user to change carriers.
How to Figure Out if Android Phone is Unlocked
For Android phones, the indication that your phone may be an unlocked phone may seem similar with iOS phones. However, the procedure may depend on the version of the operating system and of course, the manufacturer. For the sole reason that interfaces may vary according to the brand’s customization.
Moving forward, here’s how you can figure out if your Android phone’s unlocked:
Go to Settings and proceed to Network/Mobile Network/Cellular Network (or however your phone refers to Network setting as this may differ with the brand).
Look for Network Operator and Search/Scan for networks.
Wait until it shows you the results.
Once the results show, try connecting on one of the networks and wait if your phone can pick up a signal.
If there is, try making a call.
So, here’s the thing: if your phone showed a list of different networks, it could be that your phone is unlocked. However, there are also cases that your carrier may have had arrangements with other carriers, hence, the connection.
If you are not satisfied with the result, you may still proceed with the general method of figuring out if your phone’s unlocked.
General Method of Figuring Out if Phone is Unlocked?
If you are having trouble figuring out whether your phone’s unlocked or not, you can always refer to this general method of doing so. Maybe then, you will be able to say: “Dude, my phone’s unlocked. ‘Gotta say goodbye to expensive roaming charges!”
First, look or borrow a different carrier’s SIM card. Then, simply swap out your existing SIM with it and then check your phone if it finds the network. This may appear in the form of signal bars or a prompt telling you that a new network has been inserted on your phone. Afterwards, try making a call. If it registers, then your phone’s unlocked. Otherwise, it’s not.
Alternative Way to Figure Out if Phone is Unlocked (via IMEI)
Well, if you are willing to go technical this time, you can move forward with International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) checking. You can get your IMEI information from your phone and enter this on an IMEI checker website to know the lock status of your phone. In order to get your IMEI information, dial *#060#. If this works on your phone, a 15-digit number will appear. Otherwise, you may navigate through your phone Settings and look for About Phone/Device. You may find an IMEI section there, and under it is the 15-digit number.
Here’s a sample video in getting your phone’s IMEI information (for Samsung Galaxy S4):
You may now enter the number in the checker and it will show you the lock status of your phone. However, the thing about this method is that there are websites that won’t be really accurate with the results. Thus, be sure to look for one that can do so.
Key Takeaway
Figuring out if your phone is unlocked can be easy – however way you choose to perform the checking. If a particular method wouldn’t work for you, you can always opt for an alternative.
Now, if you find out that yours is a locked phone, you can always choose to unlock it. There are convenient unlocking services like UnlockBase that will provide you the easiest, fastest, and safest service for unlocking your phone. No, we’re not kidding. Please feel free to contact us for further details!
All products, and company names, logos, and service marks (collectively the "Trademarks") displayed are registered® and/or unregistered
trademarks™ of their respective owners.
The authors of this web site are not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the third-party trade mark or third-party registered trade mark owners,
and make no representations about them, their owners, their products or services.
Consider the operating system whether it’s iOS, Android, or Windows.
Look into the phone’s specifications to determine which suits your needs best.
Filter your choices through the phone’s features and choose what’s useful for you.
Determine which of your options fits best in your budget range.
The competition in the smartphone industry is getting a lot tougher, with the variety of options from locked to unlocked devices courtesy of T-Mobile, Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, and smartphone manufacturers who made these magnificent units possible in the market.
However, along with the variety of options that these carriers and brands have offered in the market, the difficulty in choosing the best smartphone for you might be harder than you thought. Hence, we are offering you four effective tips in choosing your next smartphone, which will definitely lead you to your perfect match!
Consider the Operating System
To better choose what you want for your next smartphone, you may consider the three main types of operating system that’s out in the market.
iOS
Android
Windows
Out of all these three, iOS and Android remains to be the majority’s favorites. Mainly because iOS offers convenience, security, and simplicity of its products. Android, on contrary, offers a variety of options for customization. Of course, Windows remains available on your options, in case you prefer a smartphone that is highly integrated with Microsoft products and high-quality camera lenses.
To be able to check on the operating systems further, we recommend that you try a demo device at their stores.
Look into the Specs
For tech savvy people, phone specifications or specs matters most. Practically, this helps them determine which smartphone is best fitted for their lifestyle: whether they are a gamer, a camera enthusiast, or an artist.
Initially, you can assess a smartphone’s specs from these five key factors: processor, RAM, internal storage, battery life, and the camera quality.
Processor. Basically, a smartphone’s processor is stated based on the number of cores and the speed in gigahertz (GHz). These numbers indicate how powerful and fast the smartphone will be able to run the games and apps that you prefer to install.
Random-access memory (RAM). RAM is measured in gigabytes (GB) and refers to the overall amount of storage the device is capable of multitasking apps. When it comes to RAM, it is true that the higher is better. This comes most necessary if you’re the gamer type of smartphone user as games require more RAM than any other apps.
Internal storage. A device’s internal storage, or memory as some would call it, also plays a huge part in preventing app crashes. This also comes in handy if you are the type of user who loves storing music, videos, photos, and other files.
Battery life. Today, the maximum battery life of smartphones has increased to 5000mAh, providing a longer time for users to play and chat on their phones.
Camera quality. Camera quality isn’t an issue today, given that more and more smartphone brands tend to commercialize better, competitive camera lenses. Typically, camera quality is measured in megapixels (MP), and as long as cameras are concerned, the higher the MP, the better. However, if you are keen on the camera details, you may also go further into the specifics such as the aperture, shutter speed, zoom lens, and others.
However, it would be best not to rely on what is written on the paper. In assessing specs, it is still better to try a demo device or go through phone reviews online for real-world assessment.
Filter via Special Features
Once you have narrowed down your preferred units based on their specs, you can also filter them with what particular features they offer. In the first place, this is where these smartphones remain distinct from each other. It may be the phone’s display, screen size, or the body of the handset.
Today, color also matters to consumers including old rose, gold, and matte black variations to name a few. However, given the tough competition when it comes to features, most well-known brands prefer going for functionality over aesthetics. Thus, the rise of waterproof and shock resistant smartphones – from the 2, 2.5, and 3D glass panel displays, wireless charging, Micro SD slots, removable battery, in-cell navigation buttons display, to the continuously innovating fingerprint technologies that people are looking forward to for a while now.
Determine Which Fits Your Budget Range
Of course, you will need to consider the price range in choosing your smartphone as well. Typically, iOS phones are much more expensive than Android phones. This includes Apple’s iPhones and Samsung’s Galaxy Edge units at the top of the list. If you prefer, however, a lower cost yet phones that run on Android, you may opt for a HTC, Huawei, LG, or Motorola product.
Don’t rush though, since there are a lot of brands to choose from. In addition, a variety of deals from carriers that you can take into your advantage.
Key Takeaway
As highlighted in these tips, it is truly important that you choose a smartphone that fits your preference, lifestyle, and budget perfectly. Through this, you will be able to find satisfaction on your next smartphone.
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trademarks™ of their respective owners.
The authors of this web site are not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the third-party trade mark or third-party registered trade mark owners,
and make no representations about them, their owners, their products or services.
It cannot be denied that today’s generation is particularly all about technology – from the “unlock my phone” era that enables phones to use preferred networks to the newest fingerprint scanning technologies that made accessing phones possible through a tap of your fingertips. Truly, there is a lot to look forward on smartphones.
However, what are they in particular? Here is a list of 2017’s newest smartphones you shouldn’t miss and should think about if you are looking for a new phone!
1. SAMSUNG
Despite having been released at the market on April 21, Samsung is still worth the overview. With the grand launch of the said brand’s most awaited smartphones, the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus, new impressive features have come in addition to Samsung’s renowned ‘edge’ series. Its sleek design and curved edged body further emphasized the handset’s infinite display that measures to 5.8 and 6.2 inches respectively. In addition, given the infinite space at the front, Samsung chose to move the fingerprint scanner at its rear just beside the 30MP camera.
More so, the units also feature Samsung’s very own digital assistant, Bixby, which served as its newest star-feature.
Xiaomi’s popularity over time has extended far and wide, hence, it is pretty much one of the most anticipated brands of 2017. On April 19, Xiaomi Mi 6 has moved the bar to another level with its impressive specifications, more so, on the expected launch of Xiaomi Mi 6 Plus in the latter half of 2017. To date, Xiaomi Mi 6 features a metal chrome that supports its glass back and refined stainless steel structure which is available in blue, black, and silver color. Furthermore, it is sold in 64GB and 128GB and in regular and premium ceramic models. What is great about this brand is it has high-end specs yet is still affordable.
3. LG
LG has been exciting its loyal customers and the world with its newest premium unit, the LG G6. LG G6 was first launched in South Korea but was not available for the rest of the world until April of 2017. The unit features a 5.7-inch FullVision 9:18 display that showcases a larger display given its compact body which is designed with shock and water resistance. In addition, it is running on a Snapdragon 821 processor with 4GB of RAM storage allowing maximum usage on the device.
4. GOOGLE
Being the lead in technology today, Google launches yet another duo that will surely hit the market flawlessly. Aside from its predecessors’ great camera and software experience, Google’s Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 lineup boasts a pure android experience given the brand’s newest version of AI-based Google Assistant. However, Google admits the flaws that appeared in the previous Pixel units – which hopefully, will be addressed upon its launch this year.
5. APPLE
Apple has just launched iPhone 7 last year, but the anticipation over iPhone 8 (or whichever it may be called) has been going on for about a while now. Having this mentioned, there were leaks upon the design of Apple’s newest unit in which according to CNet – will include “…a huge redesign on its OLED display, wireless charging, and of course, its operating system that are expected to feature some high-end AR capabilities.” However, given the latest updates on fingerprint technology, Apple seems to be redesigning their flagship on touch ID as well.
Key Takeaway
With the progress that the recent discoveries in technology have contributed to the world, it is no doubt that there are more to come for smartphones today, tomorrow, and the incoming days. So keep your eyes open for the next smartphone updates and be ready to experience them at its fullest!
All products, and company names, logos, and service marks (collectively the "Trademarks") displayed are registered® and/or unregistered
trademarks™ of their respective owners.
The authors of this web site are not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the third-party trade mark or third-party registered trade mark owners,
and make no representations about them, their owners, their products or services.
If your carrier is unable to provide a SIM network unlock, you can manually unlock your phone through IMEI information, or
Unlock your phone through unlocking service.
Traveling overseas has been a trend today, and more often than not, generating SIM network unlock PIN codes is still an issue for most travelers. Some spend way higher on it than buying unlocked basic phones, or unfamiliar carrier phones may not be available to service in particular countries. With that said, it is only important to be aware of how to unlock your phone – should you need to do so.
But first, we will start with the basics.
Is Your SIM Network Locked?
In most cases, certain mobile phone makers such as ASUS and Alcatel do not sell their phones as locked. Hence, it is only important to start off with the question: how to determine if your phone’s SIM network is locked?
To be able to identify if your phone is locked, you can check its documentation. It can most likely be stated in the invoice or receipt if your phone is unlocked or locked.
Another way to determine if it is locked is through contacting the carrier or inserting another SIM card, which is the easiest way possible. If you tried a different SIM and it didn’t work, then it can most certainly be locked on the original SIM’s network.
You can also note that most likely, phones bought directly from third-party retailers and manufacturers such as Huawei, Samsung, Motorola, or Amazon are unlocked. On the other hand, carriers such as T-Mobile and AT&T are usually selling SIM-locked phones to their respective networks.
Now, if your phone is SIM locked to a specific network, read on to know how to unlock it.
Ask Your Carrier for SIM Network Unlock
Given that you cannot use your preferred SIM network on your phone, ask your carrier for help.
You can call them, tell them you need to unlock your phone for a network change, and eventually, they will give you a code that will help unlock your phone. This code should be entered once the phone asks you for one when you insert a different SIM card on your device. Your phone should be unlocked after the code is entered or after a reboot (if prompted by the device).
However, in most cases, especially those phones that are under a financial contract or “plan,” carriers will not unlock your phone unless it qualifies on the terms that are specified in their unlocking policy. But don’t worry, there is an alternative route around it.
How to Manually Unlock Your Phone
If you can’t get through a carrier service, then you can do it on your own. You’ll just need to perform a few tricks or use an unlocking service to help you with. Refer to the following information below:
Unlocking Through IMEI Information
For Android phones, you will need to confirm the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number first. This number serves as a unique distinction between phones and appears as an identification code of your phone on any given network.
To confirm your IMEI number:
Dial *#06# or directly head on to your Settings
Select About Phone
Scroll to Status and look for your IMEI information (though in some phones, you can immediately see the IMEI information when you open the About Phone page).
By handing over the 15-digit IMEI information, your network should be able to provide you with the PIN code needed to unlock your phone.
It should also be noted that the process may vary from across networks and your newly inserted SIM network may require you to input a particular code to enable its use on that specific carrier.
Additionally, carriers may charge you an additional administrative fee for unlocking your SIM network (except for American carriers as per the law).
One way to walk your way through this is to visit forums to get reliable information regarding unlocking services, and at the very least, get some advice from people who have been in the same case as you.
An example of a reputable service that you can go to is Unlock Base’s Unlock My Phone feature, as aside from their expertise on the niche, there is also a variety of phone brands that they unlock – hence, a higher possibility that yours is included.
Beware: Unlocking Phone App Scamming!
In the process of choosing an unlocking service, you may probably encounter apps that may also do so. Beware! As this does not guarantee an unlocked phone, moreover, it may get your phone in trouble. In particular, cracked apps from download sites or Torrent networks may possibly infect your phone with Trojans and other malicious software. Yikes!
Key Takeaway
Unlocking your phone for easier communication is possible if you choose the safe and legal way. You may spend a bit, but that would be for the good of your phone plus, you get to enjoy the convenience an unlocked device can provide you in your most exciting trips overseas.
All products, and company names, logos, and service marks (collectively the "Trademarks") displayed are registered® and/or unregistered
trademarks™ of their respective owners.
The authors of this web site are not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the third-party trade mark or third-party registered trade mark owners,
and make no representations about them, their owners, their products or services.
Jailbreaking the Apple iOS 9 platform is deliberately not easy. In fact it’s the Twin Towers tightrope walk of jailbreaking in that you have to be either very brave or very determined to break it because it apparently runs a security system dubbed ‘rootless’ and it’s designed to seek out malware, therefore most all attempts to jailbreak it get recognized and promptly stopped.
But now a hacking team from China called Pangu have found a way to jailbreak the iOS 9 platform and prior to this platforms iOS 7.1 to 8.1. But it’s their latest coup that has created a storm of controversy amongst the jailbreaking community, not least because there may well be some industry jealousy that they got there first.
The Pangu jailbreak consists of a Windows software package that allows for what is known as an “untethered” jailbreak. This means your device does not need to be plugged into your computer to run. The jailbreak reportedly works on iPhones, iPads and iPod touch devices running iOS 9 through 9.0.2.
Pangu claim they can jailbreak phones including the iPhone 4s, 5/5c/5s, 6/6 Plus, and 6s/6s Plus as well as the iPad 2, 3 and 4, iPad Air/Air 2, iPad mini, iPad mini 2/3/4, and the 5th and 6th generations of the iPod touch – a long list of both current and older devices.
Once jailbroken, users can install a framework known as Cydia that enables the user to install unofficial packages that can enable your device to run apps or make changes to the iOS operating system which it would otherwise prevent.
About Pangu
Pangu is a team of dedicated cellphone jailbreakers based in China. Working with sponsorship, their first untethered jailbreak tool was Pangu 7, introduced in June 2014. Some of their success has been achieved by Apple users passing on to the expired enterprise certificates to assist them in developing the software. Pangu 7 and 8 has been downloaded by many millions of users around the world, and they have big expectations for Pangu 9. The software developers are currently releasing the Pangu download for free and even sharing details of the tools they are using. This certainly flies in the face of the Apple philosophy to premium price everything they offer.
Should you risk jailbreaking your phone with Pangu?
Well, industry insiders have been quick to be pretty scathing of Pangu’s achievements, claiming that first of all, the jailbreak will void your End User License agreement so that you will receive no further assistance from Apple when things go wrong.
Furthermore, it is claimed that many of the apps which can be installed once your phone is jailbroken still require several tweaks and elimination of bugs before they are ready. But no doubt some brave souls will want to beta test the new jailbreak that Pangu has created.
Meanwhile Apple have been quick to point out that malware such as Keyraider, which affected some 225,000 phones, was aimed specifically at those that had jailbroken their phones. The Keyraider malware attempts to steal account names, passwords, device IDs and more.
There is also a possibility that your phone could experience what is known as the Boot Loop of Death. This is not a new phenomenon, it frequently happens to Playstations when user try to play pirated video games.
In the case of Apple iPhones, the Boot Loop of Death (BLoD) occurs when the phone repeatedly blue screens far more than the three or four times that is normal while installing the Pangu software.
That said it is fixable by restoring your iOS device and does not in any way damage your iOS device beyond a restore. Also, Pangu team does advise you to back-up your phone prior to install in case of problems, even though they state that their jailbreak software is stable, simple and fast.
Want to give it a go? Here’s the Pangu website.
Or start by taking a look at this tutorial from our friend from TheUnlockr.
All products, and company names, logos, and service marks (collectively the "Trademarks") displayed are registered® and/or unregistered
trademarks™ of their respective owners.
The authors of this web site are not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the third-party trade mark or third-party registered trade mark owners,
and make no representations about them, their owners, their products or services.