HTC Desire Eye review

HTC Desire Eye review: Undercover flagship

GSMARENA TEAM, 24 NOVEMBER 2014.

 1. Introduction2. Unboxing, design and build quality, display3. Controls, battery life, connectivity4. User interface 5. Performance6. Phonebook, telephony, messaging, text input7. Gallery, music and video players, audio quality8. Still and video camera9. Web browser, other apps10. ConclusionHTC Desire Eye specificationUser opinions and reviewsReview comments (24)

Introduction

HTC Desire Eye is the most capable member of the company's mid-range family of smartphones to date. Announced in early October, the smartphone features a rather peculiar camera setup, which consists of a duo of 13MP sensors, each flanked by a two-tone LED flash.

  
HTC Desire Eye official photos

HTC Desire Eye surely looks like a member of the Taiwanese manufacturer's mid-range lineup, though its hardware specifications tell an entirely different story. With a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 SoC, 5.2" 1080p display, IPX7 certification, and BoomSound stereo speakers to go with the unique camera setup, the newcomer is as well-equipped as some of today's Android flagship devices.

Key features

• 5.2" 1080p IPS display with 424ppi
• 2.3 GHz quad-core Krait 400 CPU; Adreno 330 GPU; Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 chipset; 2GB of RAM
• 13MP f/2.2 front-facing camera with two-tone, dual-LED flash; 1080p @30fps video recording
• 13MP f/2.0 main camera with two-tone, dual-LED flash; 1080p @30fps video recording; dedicated camera button
• 16GB of built-in memory; microSD card slot
• Cat. 4 LTE connectivity (150Mbps DL)
• Dual-band Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac; Bluetooth 4.0 with aptX; NFC; GPS/GLONASS
• BoomSound front-facing stereo speakers
• IPX7 water and dust resistance certification (up to 1m of depth for 30 min)
• Android 4.4.4 KitKat with HTC Sense 6.0 UI
• 2,400mAh battery

Main disadvantages

• The battery is not user-replaceable
• No 4K video recording or OIS
• No IR port

A quick glance at its key features reveals that the Desire Eye is actually better equipped than the still-standing company's flagship smartphone, the HTC One (M8). Only its plastic body prevents the handset from topping the company's Android family.

The 13MP front-facing camera is a clear nod towards the rapidly growing, selfie-loving crowd - it makes the HTC Desire Eye stand out among its competitors. The 13MP unit on the back is a welcome sight too. We are all but certain that it will take better photos than the underwhelming UltraPixel unit of the One (M8).

The relatively modest 2,400mAh battery seems to be the biggest question mark in the HTC Desire Eye. It is smaller in capacity than the unit found in HTC One (M8), yet it has a bigger display to light up. We will surely keep a close eye on its performance in our battery test.

 
HTC Desire Eye live photos

So, is HTC Desire Eye a capable mid-ranger, or is it the company's flagship in disguise? Read on to find out! As always, we will kick the review off with unboxing, followed by design and hardware inspection.

Apple Ipad Mini 3

Apple iPad mini 3 review: A touch of gold

GSMARENA TEAM, 21 NOVEMBER 2014.

 1. Introduction2. Retail package, design and build quality, controls3. Display, battery life, connectivity4. User interface5. Performance6. Phonebook, FaceTime, iMessage, Mail and keyboard7. Camera and video recording8. Gallery, music and video players, audio quality9. Safari, other apps10. ConclusionApple iPad mini 3 specificationUser opinions and reviewsReview comments (6)

Introduction

The iPad Air 2 may have stolen all the spotlight, but that's not because of poor marketing planning. Apple did little to change the third generation of the iPad mini so it got little stage time. But it's not our job to decide which product gets the most fanfare. Our job is to see whether it's worth your money.

  
Apple iPad mini 3 official pictures

The list of the new features of the new iPad mini 3 is one really short list. The Home button now doubles as a Touch ID fingerprint sensor. There is also a new golden paintjob available along with the usual Space Gray and Silver. Oh, and the 32GB model is now axed - you only get to pick from 16, 64 and 128GB options.

Everything else is completely identical to the iPad mini 2 - the 7.9" Retina display, the Apple A7 chipset, the 5MP rear camera, and the thin and light aluminum unibody. No matter how small the hardware bump however the Apple iPad mini 3 remains one really powerful slate, positioned near the top of the food chain as far as tablets go. Let's explore it in detail.

Key features:

• Metal unibody, 7.5mm slim, 331g of weight
• Optional LTE connectivity (Cat. 4, 150Mbps downlink)
• 7.9" 1,536 x 2,048 LED-backlit IPS LCD with 324 ppi pixel density
• Apple iOS 8
• Dual-core 1.3 GHz Apple A7 chipset, M7 motion co-processor, PowerVR GX6430 GPU, 1GB of RAM
• 5MP autofocus camera, 1080p@30fps, 1.2MP front-facing camera
• 16/64/128GB of built-in storage
• Touch ID fingerprint sensor built into the Home button
• 6,471 mAh battery

Main disadvantages:

• No microSD slot
• Pricey memory upgrades, 32GB version should have been standard
• No NFC connectivity, Apple Pay has limited functionality
• Apple iOS 8 still relies on iTunes for music and file transfers

The Apple iPad mini 3 is a pricey little tablet, but it has powerful hardware and a beautiful screen. It probably isn't worth the upgrade if you are coming from the iPad mini 2, but as a standalone purchase it sure looks attractive.

   
Apple iPad mini 3 live pictures

Quite expectedly, the iPad mini 3 inherits all limitations the previous generation suffered from, but Apple made it clear throughout the years some things will probably never change. So the lack of memory expansion and the non-users replaceable battery shouldn't be a surprise by now.

Nokia N1

Nokia N1 specs review - Back In Black

Posted: 18 Nov 2014, 10:39, by Luis D.

Tags: Nokia+ Android+ Tablets+

It took much shorter than anticipated for Nokia to orchestrate a comeback ceremony after Microsoft acquired its smartphone business. The Nokia N1 is the first tablet from the Finnish manufacturer since the Lumia 2500, and by the looks of it, it has quite a lot to offer for your money. We're talking premium design, cutting edge internals, and Android 5.0! Come on, you didn't think Nokia would resurrect Symbian on a tablet that has to battle the Nexus 9 and iPad Mini 3, did you? Now, let's see how the Nokia N1 is about to begin the next chapter in Nokia's history.

Design

Aluminum unibody design, remarkable thinness, stereo speakers. Ring any bells?

The Nokia N1's design and appearance immediately attracted comparisons to Apple's iPad Mini 3, and for good reason. It's pointless sugar-coating the fact that, for the most part, it looks like a competent clone with little difference in design and dimensions to speak of. However, this is no reason to cry wolf. While Nokia isn't to be respected for closely imitating a fine, successful design, the end result is, unarguably, one sleek Android tablet. And ultimately, this matters to the majority of customers more than enjoying an original creation. Besides, Nokia is in no position to take risks. After Microsoft acquired the company's smartphone business, its hardware venture is, essentially, a startup with the initial advantage of an established brand. We're not saying Nokia should be "forgiven", and neither are we blaming the company in the first place. We're just stating some clean facts - feel welcome to make what you want of them.

Nokia N1

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That aside, let's examine the Nokia N1 a little closer. This is a handsome tablet that measures a compact 7.90 x 5.46 x 0.27 inches (200.7 x 138.6 x 6.9 mm) at a weight of 11.22 oz (318 g). It is constructed from one plate of Aluminum and has the appealing advantage of a fully laminated display that sits completely flush with the body. This gives "unibody construction" a new meaning - the Nokia N1 is literally seamless. It is also comfortable to hold, owing to its portable dimensions and smooth edges. While waterproofing would have served the icing on the cake, the package is truly premium as a whole.

What else is there to point out? The button placement is the same as on the iPad Mini 3 - the power key and volume buttons are on the top right. On the very bottom, you'll find the punctures indicating the presence of 0.5W stereo speakers. There's also a microUSB port of the "reversible" type C kind. We can't tell you how much we want these to become the norm on all USB devices!

The Nokia N1 will be available in Natural Aluminium and Lava Gray finishes. We can't help, but wonder - is the Champagne Gold version coming anytime soon?

Display

A screen that meets this and next year's standards.

Zero-gap design and full lamination isn't all the Nokia N1's 7.9-inch display has to stand out with. We haven't seen the panel is person yet, but its technological profile sounds delightful - IPS LCD panel, 1536x2048 pixels resolution, 324ppi pixel densiy, all of that topped off with Gorilla Glass 3. If Nokia has gotten the colors, viewing angles and brightness levels right, reading, gaming, and multimedia will be awesome on this screen.

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Interface

Nokia's Z Launcher redefines the Android experience.

The fact that Nokia's first tablet in a long while is powered by Android 5.0 is impossible to miss. What's even more interesting is the custom code that runs on top. Meet Z Launcher, quite possibly the simplest, most streamlined Android interface to come from a major brand. It offers a very different user paradigm compared to the typical desktop-like experience. Nokia touts Z Launcher as "the fastest way to access everything on your phone." Expect to see your homescreen dynamically change throughout the day, showing a choice of up to six apps, contacts and websites based on how and when you use your phone. The other interesting nugget is the gesture control that lets you "scribble" a sign or letter with your fingers to activate a certain feature.

Can't wait to see what Nokia is up to? Z Launcher is in beta mode and available freely from the Google Play store. You can download it and test it yourself right this second, if Google Play deems your device compatible. Owners of the Samsung Galaxy S5, Galaxy S4, and Nexus devices have the best chances.

Processor and memory

Intel 64-bit processing and late 2013 PowerVR graphics inside mean business.

The Nokia N1 is a generously spec'd device. It is powered by a an Intel Atom Z3580 (Moorefield) quad-core 2.3GHz 64-bit processor. This is a top of the line processor with similar performance to current flagship solutions such as the Snapdragon 805 and NVIDIA Tegra K1 processors. It is paired with the PowerVR G6430 GPU. This graphics unit was announced back in September 2013, and it went right inside the iPhone 5S and iPad Mini 3. In other words, you are getting a unit that is outperformed by the NVIDIA Tegra K1 chip inside the Nexus 9, but is exactly the same as in the Nokia N1's direct competitor. While PowerVR's latest silicon, which went inside the iPad Air 2, is roughly two times more powerful, this chip will be able to keep up with the best of them a year or two from now on. The RAM memory is 2GB, and the storage space is 32GB (less in reality, due to how file systems address memory). This powerhouse is ran by a 5300mAh battery. Given Intel's energy-efficient processors, the battery life shouldn't disappoint. The lack of GPS and cellular connectivity is a tad disappointing, though.

Camera

An 8-megapixel main camera and 5-megapixel front camera

To old and budding tablet photographers, the Nokia N1 offers an 8-megapixel main camera with autofocus and 1080p video recording capabilities. The front cam is a 5MP unit, which means you'll look great in video chats and selfies. There are no flashes of any kind, though. One has to wonder whether Nokia will be able to bring its imaging expertise from PureView-branded Lumia phones onto the N1 and future products. Hopefully, the Finns will offer something to retain their photographic reputation.

Expectations

If Nokia markets it properly, the Nokia N1 will sell like hotcakes.

Priced at an aggressive $250 before taxes, we expect the Nokia N1 will sell like hotcakes to tablet enthusiasts, assuming the company markets it properly. The Nokia N1 is the fiercest Android competition to the Google Nexus 9 right now, with similar horsepower, but better design and much comfier pricing. However, the question when Nokia will launch this bombshell still looms over our expectations. Only a tentative release timeframe is provided - early 2015. The first country to get the tab will be China, possibly due to Foxconn acting as Nokia's manufacturing partner. If you have a million of these little wonders sitting in a warehouse in China, you might as well go about selling them.

Ahh, it's good to have Nokia back! We think the N1 is a sign of great things to come - especially when the company's contractual obligation to Microsoft to abstain from smartphone making expires. What's your opinion?

Nokia Lumia 830

Nokia Lumia 830 review: Shining bright

GSMARENA TEAM, 19 NOVEMBER 2014.

 1. Introduction2. Retail package, design and build quality, controls3. User interface4. Performance, Cortana5. Phonebook, telephony, messaging6. Gallery, players, FM radio, audio quality7. Camera, image quality, video recording and quality8. Web browser, other applications9. ConclusionNokia Lumia 830 specificationUser opinions and reviewsReview comments (24)

Introduction

Nokia Lumia 830 is probably the last smartphone to wear the iconic Nokia logo, five letters with so much history behind. And while it might not be a model as iconic as the original 808 PureView or the Lumia 1020, the Nokia Lumia 830 is destined to go down in history as the end of an era. But let's not write it off just yet, the Lumia 830 is still in the beginning of its journey.

Riding the current wave of smartphones with thin metal frames, this colorful baby comes up with a vivid screen, a PureView camera and a snappy chipset behind an even snappier Windows Phone.

 
Nokia Lumia 830 official pictures

Microsoft has put some serious thought when designing the new Nokia Lumia 830 and you can tell this from the first glimpse - it's a gorgeously looking phone with solid build. The flagship-worthy design incorporates a metal frame, a 2.5D screen glass, exchangeable rear covers in various colors, an OIS-enabled rear camera highlighted with a black glass. The PureView sensor is a key selling point, of course, with 10MP resolution, ZEISS lens and optical image stabilization.

But there is more - the Lumia 830 is up to date with wireless charging support out of the box, LTE connectivity, NFC, it even supports 128GB microSD memory cards. Nokia Lumia 830 is among the first devices to run natively on the Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1 OS with the latest Lumia Denim enhancements. And don't forget this all-round package is mid-range price!

Key features

• 5" ClearBlack IPS display of 720p resolution, Gorilla Glass 3
• 1.2 GHz quad-core Cortex-A7 CPU, Adreno 305 GPU, Snapdragon 400 chipset, 1GB of RAM
• Windows Phone 8.1 OS Update 1 with Lumia Denim
• 10MP PureView camera with 1080p@30fps video recording, Carl Zeiss optics, optical image stabilization
• 0.9MP front-facing camera with 720p video recording
• 16GB of inbuilt storage, microSD card slot up to 128GB
• Free offline lifetime voice-guided navigation worldwide with Drive+
• 15GB of free OneDrive storage
• FM Radio
• Wireless charging
• Aluminum frame
• Li-Ion 2,200 mAh battery

Main disadvantages

• Snapdragon 400 chipset is somewhat dated now
• No headset included in the box (neither in Europe, nor in the US)

There is very little the Nokia Lumia 830 got wrong. While the Snapdragon 400 chipset delivers a so-so performance on Android smartphones, we already know the lightweight Windows Phone will chug along happily on that sort of hardware. But we'll get into that in a bit.

   
Nokia Lumia 830 at ours

But let's not make the Lumia 830 wait any longer. It's time get it through our traditional hands-on treatment and proceed with the hardware checkup shortly after

Tizen Os ( Samsung )

Tizen OS 2.3 screenshots reaveal a fresh new look

20 NOVEMBER, 2014

New screenshots of Samsung's Tizen 2.3 have surfaced, courtesy of Tizen Indonesia. The latest version of Tizen OS looks a lot more colorful than before with updated icons. Samsung has also used bold color choices throughout the user interface.

Unsurprisingly, blue is still the main color of choice, but in addition there's also a lot of extra throughout the UI. Take a look at the screenshots below and judge for yourself.

Samsung has optimized the user experience for screen resolutions starting at 800 x 480 pixels (WVGA). The low-end device that the company has been hinting to launch by the end of the year will probably sport this resolution.

Other than the fresh coat of paint, there don't seem to be much more functional changes made to how Tizen OS works. It's quite simple and seems to have taken a lot of cues from Android and TouchWiz.

Taesoon Jun, Samsung's chief architect on Tizen, said in an interview last week at the company's developers conference in San Francisco that Tizen is focusing on the low-end and mid-range right now.

Samsung's efforts behind Tizen are a lot more than just having a backup plan in case its relationship with Google goes south. Tizen will also be used by the company to compete against Chinese and Indian smartphone makers of $100 smartphones. It's also going to compete against the Android One participants, as hinted at the conference.

As for the upcoming Tizen-powered smartphone, it's believed to be the Samsung SM-Z130H. According to initial information, it is built around a 5" display and packs a a Spreadtrum SC7727S SoC with a 1.2 GHz dual-core CPU and ARM Mali-400 GPU clocked at 460 MHz, aided by 512MB of RAM.

We're looking forward to what Samsung has in store. Let's just hope that the company's recent plans to cut down smartphone production by 30% in 2015 won't affect its Tizen ambitions.

NOKIA LUMIA 730 / 735

Nokia Lumia 730/735 review: Golden mean

GSMARENA TEAM, 16 NOVEMBER 2014. 1. Introduction2. Nokia Lumia 735 360-degree spin, design and handling, controls3. Display, connectivity, battery life4. User interface5. Performance, Cortana6. Phonebook, telephony, messaging, text input7. Multimedia - gallery, audio and video players, FM radio, audio quality8. Camera, image quality, video recording and quality9. Web browser, pre-installed apps10. ConclusionNokia Lumia 735 specificationNokia Lumia 730 Dual SIM specificationReview comments (40)

Introduction

The battle in the midrange has never been so intense and manufacturers have to work harder than ever to climb to prominence. Microsoft is surely feeling the heat from Android with makers, big and small, churning out solid and affordable phones that get the job done and sometimes even exceed expectations - for the price. Nokia Lumia 735 official photosThe Nokia Lumia 735 will definitely try and do just that. It's taking charge of Microsoft's updated Windows Phone midrange with the latest Lumia Denim firmware, an HD screen, LTE and a selfie-centric wide-angle front cam. The Lumia 720 is one of the company's top sellers and it's now been upgraded two-fold by the Lumia 730 and Lumia 735. They share the 4.7" ClearBlack AMOLED screen, the Snapdragon 400 chipset and the imaging department, combining a wide-aperture primary camera with a high-res, Skype-optimized selfie cam.The Lumia 730 is a dual-SIM package while the Lumia 735 has LTE. That's the only difference between the two - nothing on the outside to set them apart but they'll obviously be offered on very different markets. Let's see what the LTE-capable Lumia 735 has to offer to the budget-conscious smartphone buyer.

Key Features

4.7" 720p (316 ppi) 16M-color ClearBlack AMOLED capacitive touchscreen with Gorilla Glass 3Microsoft Windows Phone 8.1 with latest Denim updateQuad-core 1.2GHz Cortex-A7 CPU, Adreno 305 GPU; Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 chipset, 1GB of RAM6.7MP camera with 1080p video recording @ 30fps, 1/3.4'' sensor size5MP front-facing camera, wide-angle 24mm lens, 1080p video recording8GB of built-in storage, microSD card slot up to 128GB, 15GB free OneDrive storageLTE Cat. 4 (up to 150 Mbps) support, Wi-Fi a/b/g/n, GPS/GLONASS, Bluetooth v4.0NFCStandard 3.5mm audio jackAccelerometer and proximity sensorActive noise cancellation with a dedicated mic2,200mAh Li-Ion battery, wireless charging

Main Disadvantages

Chipset is rather dated nowNo Glance screen functionalityA hardware camera shutter key would've been niceA Snapdragon 400 chipset (with LTE support) with a quad-core CPU and 1GB of RAM used to be the default choice in the midrange, although we are now seeing most OEMs move to 410. The Lumia 735 hops on the selfie bandwagon with a 6.7MP camera at the back and a 5MP wide-angle front-facer, both making good use of the Selfie app, courtesy of the latest firmware. The Lumia 735 is the first phone to launch with the Lumia Denim update to Windows Phone 8.1.Specs aside, the Lumia 735 is simply beautiful - another piece of top-notch hardware with consciously understated finish, as if to emphasize the extra solid build. The fit in the hand is terrific, too.    The Nokia Lumia 735 live photosWe're going to talk more about the build and finish of the Lumia 735 in the following chapter, so let's get cracking.

IPAD AIR 2

Apple iPad Air 2 review: His Airness

GSMARENA TEAM, 17 NOVEMBER 2014. 1. Introduction2. Apple iPad Air 2 retail package, design and handling, controls3. Display, battery life, connectivity4. User interface5. Performance6. Phonebook, FaceTime, iMessage, Mail and keyboard7. Gallery, music and video players, audio quality8. Camera and video recording9. Safari, other apps10. ConclusionApple iPad Air 2 specificationUser opinions and reviewsReview comments (31)

Introduction

Another millimeter thinner, the new iPad Air 2 has a body that's even more befitting the ethereal moniker the iPad bears second year in a row. Outside of that little fact however, the changes may not be as easy to spot. And that's hardly a surprise.Apple's laser focus on making the best tablet there is keeps the entire tablet industry moving forward. But in their camp, large strides are usually followed by baby steps and not all products end up as the breakthroughs we would have liked to see. One thing's for sure though, Apple certainly likes to keep us on the edge of our seats when it comes to what their next gen devices would look or feel like.This year, the Air 2 is hardly hitting like an airstrike, but it still does a mighty fine job of keeping up the alpha male image. True, besides the slimmer profile the changes are hard to see. A nice exception is the screen, where the specs may sound the same on paper, but improvements are visible to the naked eye in terms of reflectivity and outdoor legibility.The iPad Air 2 also has a better camera, an 8 megapixel auto focus unit, for what it's worth on a ten-incher, and as usual, Apple's latest and greatest chipset to make sure things are running faster than ever before.So that about sums up the noteworthy things the iPad Air 2 brings to the table. But here's the cheat sheet of its key specs anyway and what we didn't quite like at first glance.

Key features

3G/LTE 150Mbps model available as an option (comes with GPS/GLONASS)9.7" LED-backlit IPS LCD touchscreen, 1536 x 2048 pixels, ~ 264ppi; scratch-resistant, oleophobic coating, 56% less reflectance claimedThinner than ever at 6.1 mm and lighter at 437gA8X 64-bit chipset (rumored as triple-core, 1.5 GHz SoC) with an M8 motion coprocessor with a barometer, 2GB of RAM16/64/128GB of inbuilt storageiOS 8.1 with Continuity allows you to take iPhone calls and messages on your iPadStereo speakers8MP auto-focus camera, 1080p video recording at 30fps, 120‑fps slo‑mo, Burst mode, Panorama1.2MP 720p front camera with a larger f/2.2 aperture802.11ac Wi Fi connectivityDedicated secondary noise reduction microphone for FaceTime callsTouchID fingerprint sensorFour and five-finger gesturesComes with premium set of free Apple apps - Pages, Numbers, Keynote, iMovie, Garage Band, etc.Available in Gold color option for the first time

Main disadvantages

Hardware Mute/Rotation lock switch is gone for no practical reasonNo microSD slotPricey storage upgrades, 32GB version should be standard for the asking priceNo enhanced resistance to liquids or dust, while the competition has themTied into iTunes for uploading most of the contentiOS UI lacks proper screen size optimizations and looks the same on phones and tabletsNo standard microUSB portWi-Fi-only version lacks a GPS receiverDue to being slimmer, the iPad Air 2 has to make do with a smaller capacity battery. We guess, it's no less than an engineering feat, that Apple is able to offer the same battery life as last year's. But it also forces the question, why not keep last year's battery and offer longer battery life instead. Apple has its ways, we guess, some of their decisions are hard to comprehend by us, mortal users.   The Apple iPad Air 2 at HQAnother change from last year is the intentional crippling of the iPad mini 3. The small and big iPads don't have the same internals anymore so if you are after the best iPad, there's no doubt which one that is. Seems like Apple didn't like the mini eating into the sales of the iPad Air.If you are after an iPad, getting the latest and the biggest in the lineup is a no-brainer really. But before you fork out the cash, we'd like to invite you to watch the iPad Air 2 handle our obstacle course. Enjoy!

HTC Nexus 9

HTC Nexus 9 review: Game on

GSMARENA TEAM, 3 NOVEMBER 2014.

 1. Introduction2. Unboxing, design and build quality, display3. Controls, battery life, connectivity 4. User interface5. Performance6. Contacts, messaging7. Gallery, media players, audio quality 8. Still and video camera9. Web browser, other applications10. ConclusionHTC Nexus 9 specificationUser opinions and reviewsReview comments (62)

Introduction

The Google Nexus 9 will be curiously gazed upon by both Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 owners, as HTC gets back on the roster to take over from Asus and Samsung. The 8.9" beauty is a return for HTC to both the Nexus family and the tablet realm in general. Almost five-years passed since HTC made the Google Nexus One, while its last tablet dates back to 2011.

 
Google Nexus 9 by HTC official photos

The HTC Nexus 9, like the Motorola Nexus 6, also marks a major shift in product strategy for Google. Unlike past Nexus tablets, which cut a few corners in order to keep the price super attractive, the latest iteration makes no compromises. The Nexus 9 is a bona fide powerhouse with highly capable hardware, premium build, and a brand new Android version to boot.

Key features

• Optional quad-band GSM, CDMA, penta-band HSPA, 4G LTE
• 64-bit Nvidia Tegra K1 chipset; 2.3GHz dual-core Denver CPU; Kepler DX1 GPU
• 8.9" QXGA (2048x1536 pixels) IPS display with 4:3 aspect ratio; Corning Gorilla Glass 3
• Android 5.0 Lollipop with material design; brand new ART runtime for improved performance and responsiveness
• 8MP f/2.4 camera with auto-focus and single LED flash; 1080p @30fps video capture
• 1.6MP f/2.4 front-facing unit with 720p video capture
• 16/32GB of built-in memory
• Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac; Bluetooth 4.1 with aptX; NFC; A-GPS; GLONASS; microUSB 2.0
• BoomSound front-facing stereo speakers; dual microphones
• 6,700mAh Li-Po battery
• Premium design and build; three available color options

Main disadvantages

• No memory card slot , doubling the built-in memory is Apple-like expensive , no 64GB memory option
• 3GB of RAM would have fitted the chipset better
• Some might find the new display ratio a tad awkward

Hardware-wise, the Nexus 9 leaves nothing to chance. Its Tegra K1 chipset is the most powerful silicon available for Android tablets. The 8.9" 4:3 QXGA display isn't too shabby either - its brand new ratio puts it squarely against the Apple iPad family, although the choice of size make sure it gets some room to breathe.

Design and build quality have been taken up a notch as well. The Nexus 9 looks and feels as premium as its specs suggest. Its three available colors, like the 4:3 display, are another subtle swing at Cupertino.

However, powerful hardware and premium design are only one part of the picture. The brand new Android 5.0 Lollipop is arguably the biggest piece of news about the Nexus 9. The latest OS build from the search giant brings fresh design, coupled with brand new ART runtime, which promises improved performance and responsiveness.

   
HTC Nexus 9 live photos

As always, we will kick the review off with unboxing of the Nexus 9, followed by design and build quality inspection. Flip to the next page for a closer look at the tablet.