09 Feb CES 2015: What’s New In Smartphones?
It seems “smartphone” and “innovative” are two words rarely seen in the same sentence anymore.
New smartphone announcements are worth noting, but rarely mind blowing. The focus of late has shifted more towards specs. While a faster processor, sharper screen and better camera are all great, there has been little in the way of real innovation.
Despite this, this year’s Consumer Electronics Show revealed a few interesting gems in the smartphone crowd; A smartphone with more storage than you could ever need, an update to the curved screen trend and a $6000 luxury smartphone from Lamborghini.
Saygus V2
Source: Saygus
Described as a nerd’s wish list, the V2 is the first device from American smartphone start-up Saygus.
Cool Features
The 5 inch waterproof Saygus V2 (pronounced V squared) has an incredible 320GB of potential storage. While the device comes with 64GB of built-in storage, it also includes two microSDXC slots that support up to 128GB of storage each. Who needs a portable hard drive?
The impressive storage space comes in handy when you have a great camera. For the budding photographer, the V2 comes with a 21-megapixel rear camera and a 13-megapixel front camera, both with optical stabilisation.
For the tinkerers, the V2 offers some great customisation features. Individuals or companies can not only change out the user interface or customise the V2’s software, but have root access out-of-the-box.
The Specs:
- 5inch, 1920 x 1080 megapixel, edge-to-edge borderless display
- Sunlight readable screen (Arctic Link III)
- 21 megapixel rear-facing camera with optical image stabilisation
- 13 megapixel front-facing camera with optical image stabilisation
- 3GB RAM
- 5Ghz Quad Core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor
- 64GB internal storage, Dual MicroSDXC slots (256GB of expandable storage).
- Side-mounted fingerprint scanner
- Quad Core 2.5 GHz Snapdragon processer
- 3GB RAM
- Android KitKat 4.4.4, scheduled to be updated to Lollipop soon.
- IPX7 Waterproofing
Availability
The V2 will be available for pre-order in the US shortly, however pricing has not been announced. No word yet on Australian availability.
LG G Flex 2
Source: The Verge
LG’s original attempt at “the world’s first curved smartphone” fell rather flat at last year’s CES. However, LG’s second iteration, the Flex 2 seems much more promising.
Cool Features
Of course, the most notable feature of the G Flex 2 is its concave design. While many would question whether curves are necessary in a smartphone, LG has shown the curved plastic OLED display of the G Flex 2 is more durable than traditionally-shaped smartphones. LG’s head of smartphone planning, Dr. Ram-chan Woo demonstrated this, by sitting on the device at this year’s CES. The device came away injury free.
Continuing with the theme of durability, the G Flex 2 also offers an almost superhero like ability: self-healing. Any light scratches on the second-generation self-healing back cover disappear in as little as 10 seconds.
The back cover retains LG’s unusual design choice: buttons on the rear of the phone. First included in the LG G2, the volume up and down buttons as well as the home button are found just under the camera’s flash on the back cover.
The Specs:
- 5in full-HD, 1080 x 1920 curved Plastic OLED screen
- 2GB or 3GB RAM
- 2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor
- 16GB or 32GB internal storage
- 13 megapixel rear-facing camera
- 1 megapixel front-facing camera
- Android 5.0 Lollipop
Availability
The LG G Flex 2 will be available in Platinum silver and Flamenco red.
LG Australia’s GM for Marketing, Mr Lambo Skropidis is currently negotiating distribution in Australia. Pricing has not been announced.
Lamborghini 88 Tauri
Source: Lamborghini
When you think of Lamborghini, the following probably comes to mind:
Elegance, luxury, beauty, power – and lots of money.
The 88 Tauri smartphone by Lamborghini is no exception (particularly for that last one).
Cool Features
When it comes to premium design, the 88 Tauri does not disappoint.
Crafted from nothing less than calfskin leather and automotive grade stainless steel, the 88 Tauri may be big and a bit chunky, but it screams luxury. There are several colour options for both the calfskin (black, blue, red, orange or brown) and the stainless steel (gold-plated, black, or silver).
Lamborghini will only build 1,947 units of the hand assembled device. Why such a precise number? The number was chosen to honour the year of birth of Tonino Lamborghini, the son of founder Ferruccio Lamborghini.
Perhaps the most notable feature, however, is the device’s price tag. The 88 Tauri will set you back a mere US$6000; pocket change for those with a Lamborghini already in their driveway.
The Specs:
- 5 inch, 1080 x 1920 HD display
- Quad-core 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801
- 3GB RAM
- Android’s KitKat 4.4.4
- 20MP rear-facing camera
- 8MP front-facing camera
- Dual-SIM
- 64GB internal storage, expandable
If you can afford the premium price tag, the 88 Tauri can be purchased online from the Australian Lamborghini store.
While the V2, LG G Flex 2 and the 88 Tauri aren’t likely to be named the best smartphones of 2015, they did offer something a little more interesting to a rather dull smartphone line up at CES 2015.
What was your favourite from CES 2015? Let us know in the comments below.