Huawei Enjoy 5S to be unveiled on December 3

Looks like a new variant of the Huawei Enjoy 5 smartphone will be unveiled this week. Dubbed Enjoy 5S, the device will be made official on December 3, according to a new teaser (shown below) posted by the Chinese smartphone manufacturer on Weibo. The image above suggests that the handset will have an all metal body. Another teaser (see below) posted by the company reveals that the smartphone will offer support for dual-SIM, and also feature a MicroSD card slot. As for the other specs, from what is known till now, the Huawei Enjoy 5S will be powered by a Kirin 935 SoC and sport a 5.2-inch FHD display. It will have 3GB RAM and 64GB storage, and feature 13MP rear camera and an 8MP front shooter. The device will run Android 5.1.1 with the company's Emotion UI on...

Windows 10 Mobile for Xiaomi Mi 4 officially launching this week

Windows 10 Mobile for the Xiaomi Mi 4 will be released this week - on December 3, according to a new teaser (shown below) posted by the Chinese company's Founder and President Lin Bin on Weibo. This comes nearly nine months after Microsoft and Xiaomi entered into an agreement to provide support for the Windows 10 Technical Preview on the Mi 4 handset. For those who aren't already aware, the recently unveiled Xiaomi Mi Pad 2 tablet also has a Windows 10 version that comes only in 64GB memory configuration and carries a price tag of around...

Teardown of Blackberry Priv shows screen easily replaceable

YouTuber JerryRigEverything has put out a new video. You've probably heard of him as he was recently covered all over the smartphone blogs for his Nexus 6P bend test videos. Anyway, a video of his went live today tearing down the Blackberry Priv. The battery and screen replacements are quite easy to perform. As with any other repair, we don't recommend you try this if you don't know what you're doing. While we are shown that the battery is easily replaceable, the bigger and better news is that the screen is just as easy to repair, all without even having to disassemble the phone. The YouTuber heated up the edges of the screen and used a business card to break the adhesive all the way around. The display completely comes off (digitizer and panel assembly) once a ribbon cable near the center of the panel is disconnected. Then, all you need to do is reheat the adhesive (or apply new adhesive), reconnect the ribbon cable, and snap the display back into place. All without having to remove the rear panels, motherboards or other components from the body of the phone. We can't wait until the iFixIt team gets its hands on the new Android-powered Blackberry handset and gives it the teardown treatment and repairability...

WhatsApp blocking Telegram links on Android

Facebook-owned popular messaging service WhatsApp has been found blocking links to rival messaging app Telegram. Although you can send/receive Telegram links, they appear as non-clickable (just plain text) and you cannot copy/forward them (see screenshot below). In general, it looks like any link having 'telegram' as a sub-domain is affected. Only WhatsApp's Android app is currently exhibiting this behavior, which was first spotted by users on Reddit. A new update pushed yesterday is said to be the culprit - it didn't bump the app version, which remains at 2.12.367. On its part, Telegram has confirmed the situation, but the company doesn't seem much concerned. "Typically after a media backlash, FB steps back and blames their intelligent filtering for the problem," a Telegram spokesperson said. "We expect the same to happen this time as well." Facebook and WhatsApp are yet to comment. It's worth mentioning that Telegram recently received some bad press over the fact that the company knowingly allowed members of the Islamic State terrorist organization to use the...

Sony Xperia C5 Ultra (US version) now available for $300

When the Sony Xperia C5 Ultra went on sale in the US last week, only international variants were available for purchase. Now, a US version of the device has been listed on Amazon, and is already available at $50 discount. Having a case of #CyberMonday ? The #Xperia C5 Ultra is currently $50 off at Amazon. https://t.co/S8HrxSdJe3 http://pic.twitter.com/V6HzBylO2g— Sony Xperia US (@SonyXperiaUS) November 30, 2015 This means that the selfie-centric handset - which carries a regular price tag of $349.99 on the e-commerce website - can currently be purchased for $299.99. It's also worth mentioning that the smartphone is being sold directly by Amazon. Specs-wise, the Xperia C5 Ultra is powered by a MediaTek MT6752 SoC, and sports a 6-inch 1080p display. It comes with 2GB RAM and 16GB expandable internal memory, and packs in a 2,930 mAh battery. In terms of camera, the device features a 13MP rear as well as front shooter. Source 1...

Updated: Buying Guide: Best workstation: the top enterprise desktops

Desktop Workstations

What comes to mind when we say workstation? If you're thinking some big, spaceship-like contraption, you'd traditionally be right. But these days, workstations are sleek and trendy machines that still provide intelligent performance for most applications. They're useful tools for designers, engineers, financial analysts and researchers running more demanding applications, like rendering complex graphics, financial analysis and computations and digital content creation. There are even a few amazing options that come in laptop form.

But, with so many on the market, what merits do the office "power users" look for when deciding upon which workstation is the best investment for an increase in productivity, limited downtime and improved reliability?

Update: A smartphone can't replace a laptop, let alone a desktop workstation, just yet, but Microsoft's latest Lumias come close. Thanks to a feature called Continuum in the Windows 10 Mobile operating system, the new Lumia 950 and Lumia 950XL allow business users to connect these smartphones to the optional display dock to get a full desktop UI on their monitors. You definitely won't get the power of a desktop, and app support is lacking at this time, but if you work inside Office 365 and live within the Microsoft Edge browser, this could be a lightweight desktop solution for busy business travelers.

Here are a few that we've reviewed that we recommend:

1. Dell Precision T7610

Meet the world's most powerful workstation, so says Dell

CPU: Up to two Intel Xeon processor E5-2600 v2 processors | Graphics: AMD FirePro or Nvidia Quadro | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 3TB, 7200RPM | Ports: 9 USB 2.0, 4 USB 3.0, Serial, RJ45, PS2, SATA, headphone, microphone | Connectivity: Optional | Size: 16.95 x 8.50 x 20.67 inches

See more Precision T7610 deals

Ample expansion

Powerful processor

Bulky and heavy

Limited configuration options

The Dell Precision T7610 is a capable mid-range workstation that is expertly designed, sturdy, powerful and reasonably priced for what it offers.

Read the full review: Precision T7610

2. Fujitsu Celsius W530

An impressive and compact desktop workstation

CPU: 2.6GHz quad-core Intel Core i7-4790 | Graphics: AMD FirePro or Nvidia Quadro | RAM: 32GB | Storage: 256GB SATA III SSD | Ports: 9 USB 2.0, 4 USB 3.0, VGA, DisplayPort, DVI, Serial, RJ45, PS2, eSATA, headphone, microphone | Connectivity: Optional | Size: 6.9 x 16.5 x 15.6 inches

See more Celsius W530 deals

Fast Haswell-based Xeon processor

Nvidia Quadro K2200 graphics

Single processor socket only

No support for DDR4 memory

The W530 is a solid performer which is more than capable of hosting basic CAD/CAM applications, and it represents good value for money.

Read the full review: Celsius W530

3. Boxx Apexx 2

A high-end performance machine

CPU: Quad-core Intel Core i7 | Graphics: Up to two x16 NVIDIA GeForce, NVIDIA Quadro, NVIDIA Tesla AMD FirePro Graphics cards | RAM: 32GB | Storage: 4TB HDD, 7200RPM | Ports: 4 USB 2.0, 6 USB 3.0, VGA, audio, optical, Gigabit | Connectivity: Optional | Size: 6.85 x 14.6 x 16.6 inches

See more Apexx 2 deals

Powerful

CPU is water cooled

Pricey

24/7 support for one year

The Boxx Apexx 2 workstation is what any serious CAD, multimedia, and video designer needs to have in their workplace to increase performance and productivity.

Read the full review: Apexx 2

4. Apple Mac Pro

With a unique design and tremendous power, this is the workstation to beat

CPU: 3GHz octa-core Intel Xeon E5 | Graphics: Dual AMD FirePro D500 | RAM: 64GB | Storage: 1TB SSD | Ports: 4 USB 3.0, 6 Thunderbolt 2.0, dual Gigabit, HDMI 1.4, audio, headphone | Connectivity: 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 | Size: 6.6 x 6.6 x 9.9 inches

See more Mac Pro deals

Lots of expansion ports

Incredible performance

Few internal expansion possibilities

No bundled keyboard or mouse

Not everyone needs the workstation-level power and performance offered by the new Mac Pro, but wouldn't you just love one? It's a masterpiece of engineering and suitably expensive.

Read the full review: Mac Pro

5. Overclockers RENDA PW-E7F

A pro workstation from British component retailer Overclockers

CPU: Intel Core i7 5820K / 5930K Six Core or 5960X Eight Core Processor with Hyperthreading | Graphics: 3 x Nvidia Quadro Series Professional or AMD Firepro Series Professional Graphics | RAM: 64GB | Storage: 3TB SSD | Ports: 10 USB 3.0, SATA 3, SATA Express, M.2, PCI-Express | Connectivity: 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 | Size: 9.1 x 17.3 x 23.1 inches

See more RENDA PW-E7F deals

Blazing overclocked CPU

AMD FirePro W810

Loud under heavy load

Lacks option for Quadro M6000 currently

Well-built and powerful, if you run any kind of professional software, from video editing tools to CAD or CAM, the PW-E7F will not disappoint.

Read the full review: RENDA PW-E7F

Update: If you need to upgrade to a larger solid state drive for your workstation, Samsung's 850 Pro SSD delivers 2TB of capacity to store your most important files, documents, photos and videos. The 2.5-inch SATA drive delivers fast speeds and a long 10-year warranty.

December 01, 2015 at 09:30AM
Gabie Kur

Samsung appoints Dongjin Koh as new president of mobile communications business

Samsung has appointed Dongjin Koh as the new president of the company's mobile communications unit. He was previously the head of the tech giant's mobile research and development division. Koh replaces JK Shin, who has been in charge of Samsung's smartphone business since 2011. While Shin - who is also the co-CEO of Samsung Electronics - is stepping down from his current role, he will continue heading the company's overall mobile division. His new role will include developing new growth businesses and long-term strategy. The change comes as Samsung is struggling to turn around its smartphone business for quite some time now. Presumably, the South Korean company is hoping that a change at the helm will do the...

LG announces global rollout plans for the Zero

LG has announced the global roll out of its first metal-clad smartphone Zero. The company says that the mid-range device will be launched in Taiwan this week, followed by key markets in Europe, Latin America, and Asia. There was, however, no word on how much the device will cost - prices and participating carriers will be announced locally at the time of availability, LG says. Also, no specific launch time frame was mentioned for markets other than Taiwan. For those who aren't aware, the Zero was first launched back in September this year in LG's home country of South Korea, where it carries a different name: Class. It's launch price tag there was around $340. Then, earlier last month, the device was spotted listed on the company's Italy website, carrying a price tag of around $320. While there's no official confirmation on this, the handset is expected to be available on AT&T in the US, although it isn't yet known when and at what...

Oculus has a big announcement planned for Thursday

T-Mobile Galaxy Note 4 and Note Edge getting Android 5.1.1 update

T-Mobile has started rolling out a new software update to the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 (N910) and Galaxy Note Edge (N915) devices on its network. The update bumps the handsets to Android 5.1.1 and brings a couple of new features including Advanced Messaging and T-Mobile Video Calling. If you recall, the carrier started rolling out the Video Calling feature back in September this year, making it available to the Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ and Galaxy Note5 first, followed by the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge. It was promised that more devices will be added to the list by the end of the year, so T-Mobile has made good on the promise. Aside from the aforementioned two features, the update also brings some security, performance, as well as battery life related improvements. If you are a T-Mobile Note 4 or Note Edge owner, and haven't received the update yet, you can also manually check for it by heading to your device's settings. Source 1...

Teardown of Blackberry Priv shows screen very easy to replace

YouTuber JerryRigEverything has put out a new video. You've probably heard of him as he was recently covered all over the smartphone blogs for his Nexus 6P bend test videos. Anyway, a video of his went live today tearing down the Blackberry Priv. The battery and screen replacements are quite easy to perform. As with any other repair, we don't recommend you try this if you don't know what you're doing. While we are shown that the battery is easily replaceable, the bigger and better news is that the screen is just as easy to repair, all without even having to disassemble the phone. The YouTuber heated up the edges of the screen and used a business card to break the adhesive all the way around. The display completely comes off (digitizer and panel assembly) once a ribbon cable near the center of the panel is disconnected. Then, all you need to do is reheat the adhesive (or apply new adhesive), reconnect the ribbon cable, and snap the display back into place. All without having to remove the rear panels, motherboards or other components from the body of the phone. We can't wait until the iFixIt team gets its hands on the new Android-powered Blackberry handset and gives it the teardown treatment and repairability...

Updated: Buying Guide: 10 best monitors and displays on the market 2015

Introduction

Ten years ago, monitors were nothing more than necessary accessories. Today, they can be luxury items that dramatically improve all aspects of computing and content consumption. There are so many types of monitors that suit so many different needs.

Screen resolution, response time, panel weight: everything should be considered when choosing a personal device or an enterprise fleet. Unfortunately, all of these specs can be confusing. We've compiled this roundup to help you sort through the abundance of options available.

Update: We recently reviewed HP's factory-calibrated Z25n display, which delivers accurate colors in a 25-inch format with slim side bezels, making it virtually seamless for a multi-monitor desktop setup.

1. LG UltraWide 34UC97

Great for work, games, and movies – but it's costly

Screen size: 34-inch | Aspect ratio: 21:9 | Resolution: 3440x1440 | Brightness: 300 cd/m2 | Response time: 5ms | Viewing angle: 178/178 | Contrast ratio: 1M:1 (DFC) | Colour support: SRGB 99% | Weight: 19.8 pounds

See more LG UltraWide 34UC97 deals

Good speakers with bass

Great contrast and colour reproduction

Expensive

The LG's curved design, high resolution and huge diagonal make it a high quality replacement for single 4K panels or a pair of 1080p screens, and the form factor means it's tempting for work, games and movies.

Read the full review: 34UC97

2. Acer S277HK

A bezel-less beauty

Screen size: 27-inch | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 3840 x 2160 | Brightness: 300 cd/m2 | Response time: 4ms | Viewing angle: 178/178 | Contrast ratio: 100,000,000:1 | Colour support: SRGB 100% | Weight: 11.9 pounds

See more S277HK deals

Bezel-less design

Refresh rate

No USB ports

Height not adjustable

A gorgeous IPS screen and bezel-free design make the S227HK a stunning display by itself or an even more impressive and immersive member of a multi-monitor setup.

Read the full review: S277HK

3. Viewsonic VP2772

What this professional monitor lacks in style it makes up with exceptional picture quality

Screen size: 27-inch | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 2560 x 1440 | Brightness: 350 cd/m2 | Response time: 12ms | Viewing angle: 178/178 | Contrast ratio: 1000:1 | Colour support: SRGB 100% | Weight: 18.8 pounds

See more VP2772 deals

Bezel-less design

Refresh rate

No USB ports

Height not adjustable

A rich set of features, great picture quality out of the box and hassle-free setup make the VP2772 an attractive monitor.

Read the full review: VP2772

4. Dell UltraSharp UP2414Q

A superb display, but you're paying through the nose for a mere 24-inches

Screen size: 24-inch | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 3840 x 2160 | Brightness: 350 cd/m2 | Response time: 8ms | Viewing angle: 178/178 | Contrast ratio: 1000:1 | Colour support: SRGB 100%; Adobe RGB 99% | Weight: 10.58 pounds

See more UltraSharp UP2414Q deals

Super display

Great features

Very expensive

Just 24-inches

A fantastic monitor that's a little ahead of its time in terms of GPU and operating system support.

Read the full review: UltraSharp UP2414Q

5. LG 34UM95

The first Thunderbolt 2-equipped 21:9 display is a cinematic sight to behold

Screen size: 34-inch | Aspect ratio: 21:9 | Resolution: 3440x1440 | Brightness: 320 cd/m2 | Response time: 5ms | Viewing angle: 178/178 | Contrast ratio: 1000:1 | Colour support: SRGB 99% | Weight: 17 pounds

See more 34UM95 deals

Port selection

Low input lag

No adjustable height

Speakers lack bass

The 34UM95 finally does 21:9 justice, featuring a huge working area free of scaling issues, low input lag and high colour accuracy wrapped up in an attractive design. It's not the cheapest of its kind, but it goes some way to justifying the cost.

Read the full review: 34UM95

6. BenQ BL2710PT

Aimed at CAD/CAM professionals, this feature-packed 27-inch monitor delivers

Screen size: 27-inch | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 3440x1440 | Brightness: 350 cd/m2 | Response time: 12ms | Viewing angle: 178/178 | Contrast ratio: 1000:1 | Colour support: SRGB 99% | Weight: 23.8 pounds

See more BL2710PT deals

Port selection

Flicker-free backlight

Design

Touch controls

A feature-packed and well-connected monitor that offers plenty for the asking price. It may not be exciting to look at and the menu controls suffer from a lack of labeling, but these are minor caveats that don't detract from an overall worthy investment.

Read the full review: BL2710PT

7. Acer B326HUL

Big, bold and accurate colours from a TV-sized monitor

Screen size: 32-inch | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 2560 x 1440 | Brightness: 300 cd/m2 | Response time: 6ms | Viewing angle: 178/178 | Contrast ratio: 100,000,000:1 | Colour support: SRGB 100% | Weight: 15.35 pounds

See more B326HUL deals

Colour accuracy

Port selection

No MHL

Viewing angles

Acer's larger-than-life B326HUL comes with great colour accuracy out-of-the-box, easy-to-use menu controls and good build quality, but its above-average response time, lack of MHL and price point may make you want to look elsewhere.

Read the full review: B326HUL

8. Samsung UD590

An attractive, gaming-focused 4K monitor that's well-suited for general tasks

Screen size: 28-inch | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 3840 x 2160 | Brightness: 370 cd/m2 | Response time: 1ms | Viewing angle: 170/160 | Contrast ratio: 1000:1 | Colour support: SRGB 100% | Weight: 12.43 pounds

See more UD590 deals

Easy to setup

Image quality (once calibrated)

No adjustable height

TN panel

A reasonably-priced 4K monitor with an attractive design, fast response time and decent image quality once you've calibrated it or fiddled with the settings.

Read the full review: UD590

9. Samsung UD970

Get ready for ultra high-def on your desktop

Screen size: 31.5-inch | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 3840 x 2160 | Brightness: 280 cd/m2 | Response time: 8ms | Viewing angle: 178/178 | Contrast ratio: 1000:1 | Colour support: SRGB 100% | Weight: 30.14 pounds

See more UD970 deals

Colour accuracy

Landscape/portrait rotation

Hardware button menu navigation

Cost

A 4K display that's factory-calibrated for great colour accuracy and image quality, which makes it ideal for digital designers, CAD/CAM engineers or videographers who aren't put off by the high-price tag.

Read the full review: UD970

10. Asus PB287Q

Get ready for ultra high-def on your desktop

Screen size: 28-inch | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 3840 x 2160 | Brightness: 300 cd/m2 | Response time: 1ms | Viewing angle: 170/160 | Contrast ratio: 100,000,000:1 | Colour support: SRGB 87% | Weight: 21.1 pounds

See more PB287Q deals

Stunning images

Price

Navigation

Blindspots

This machine isn't perfect, but it produces perfect images, especially if you're nowhere near sunlight. Photographers, designers and videographers will love this unit.

Read the full review: PB287Q

December 01, 2015 at 06:00AM
EZ Bardeguez

In Depth: Here's what Battlefront's Jakku map revealed about the Force Awakens

Best Buy starts selling Nexus 5X online, in stores December 5

BestBuy.com is offering the same Cyber Monday sale as the Google Store: $80 off the 16GB Nexus 5X. When I checked Best Buy's website, it showed availability in-store for the NYC area stores on December 5. The Nexus 5X is currently only available in 16GB black and white configurations on Best Buy's website. Presently, the 32GB models are no longer in stock online. The icy minty color will only be available in a 16GB option. This is a great chance for customers to put the Nexus 5X on their Best Buy store cards. Best Buy offers 6 month no-interest financing on purchases more than $199. Also, you have the option to slap on Best Buy's own Geek Squad Protection plan. Source |...

Apple iPad Pro review: Slate of the art

In the rumor mill for two years, with a probability of near zero for the better part thereof, the iPad Pro was made official in September and is shipping worldwide as we speak. Guess we already know what's been going on under the surface but the bottom line is Apple lets you decide about the optional pencil and keyboard.

Cyber Monday: T-Mobile offering 64GB iPhone 6S and 6S Plus for 16GB price

If you are ready to switch to T-Mobile or if you are an existing T-Mobile customer, now is a great time to switch to the latest iPhone models. T-Mobile is offering the 64GB iPhone 6S or 6S Plus for a full $100 off of the retail price. You can get the 128GB model for the price you'd pay monthly for a 64GB model. The catch for the deal is that a $100 or $200 down-payment is due today, however, you will be reimbursed $100 in 6 - 8 weeks via a prepaid Visa card in the mail. So, essentially, you still pay the monthly price of memory one step below. To break it down: 6S 16GB = $649.99 6S 64GB = $649.99 - $100 down, rebate Visa prepaid card for $100 6S 128GB = $749.99 - $200 down, rebate Visa prepaid card for $100 6S Plus 16GB = $749.99 6S Plus 64GB = $749.99 - $100 down, rebate Visa prepaid card for $100 6S Plus 128 GB = $849.99 - $200 down, rebate Visa prepaid card for $100 This offer is only available online or over the phone. As of 3PM EST, the Silver and Rose Gold 6S 64GB configurations are backordered. For 6S Plus, the Rose Gold and Space Gray 128GB 6S Plus are backordered, and the Silver and Gold 64GB 6S Plus are backordered as well. You can still call customer service and do the order over the phone, just keep your fingers crossed that you'll receive the phone before the...

AT&T begins selling 64GB Variant of Samsung Galaxy S6 Active

The Galaxy S6 has been criticized for only offering about 23GB of usable free space on the 32GB model. Some people will want to opt for a higher capacity phone in order to make do without a micro SD card slot. The problem herein lies with those on AT&T who wish to purchase a Galaxy S6 Active. Until recently, the Active only came in 32GB for all color configurations. Now however AT&T is now offering a larger 64GB memory option for those who wish to purchase a Galaxy S6 Active. It is still unknown if Samsung plans to release the Active variant of the phone outside of the US, though It is a little disappointing that this decision was made so late in the life of the S6's product cycle. The Galaxy S7's rumored release is already around the corner and slated for a Q1 2016 launch and even though the rugged version typically comes out a few month later we still wish we had 64GB from the...

Apple Watch total sales for 2015 might top 12 million

According to Daniel Ives, an analyst at FBR & Co., the Apple Watch is on track to reach 6 million sales in the last quarter of this year. If true, this means that total sales of the wearable for 2015 will reach 12 million. That's not bad at all, especially when you compare how the Apple Watch has been doing with the original iPad. Apple sold 3 million of those in the first 80 days, but the company has revealed that the smartwatch outsold it throughout the first nine weeks of availability. The aforementioned analyst says his information comes from checks with Apple retail stores, which were performed last Friday. Apple itself still hasn't said anything about exactly how many watches it's sold, which is why we need to rely on such predictions made by analysts to get even the vaguest idea of how well the wearable is doing. While not being anywhere near as important to Apple as the iPhone, the smartwatch is dominating the nascent wearable market, and it's also a bet for the future, when such devices will hopefully become even more useful - and get better battery...

Oppo A53 becomes official in China with metal build, mid-range specs

At the beginning of November we spotted a new Oppo smartphone getting certified by TENAA, China's equivalent of the FCC. It was called A53, and we assumed it would get official soon after that. And now it has been listed on Oppo's Chinese website. The A53 is a mid-range handset - like most of what Oppo has produced recently. The company has focused a lot on such offerings lately, for whatever reason. Perhaps the main claim to fame for the Oppo A53 is its metal build. It also comes with 2.5D curved glass on the front. Spec-wise, we're looking at a 5.5-inch 720p touchscreen, a 13 MP rear camera with LED flash, a 5 MP selfie snapper, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 616 SoC at the helm (with a 1.5 GHz octa-core Cortex-A53 CPU), 2GB of RAM, 16GB of expandable storage, 4G LTE, dual-SIM functionality, and a 3,075 mAh battery. It runs Android 5.1 Lollipop underneath Oppo's own Color OS 2.1 layer. Pricing information hasn't been outed yet, nor has an actual release date for this model. And it's unclear if Oppo plans on offering it to markets outside of China as well. Source (in Chinese) |...

Apple may be discontinuing the 11-inch MacBook Air

If you’re in need of a lightweight 15-inch notebook, Apple has got you covered. Rumors have surfaced that Tim Cook’s team is planning to ditch the 11-inch MacBook Air in favor of a larger format laptop.

The rumor, which comes via Chinese news site, Economic Daily News, says Apple will be keeping the 13-inch MacBook Air models, but it will ditch the 11-inch version in order to clear a path for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, according to the news outlet's sources.

Additionally, the next-generation MacBook Air is rumored to feature Intel SkyLake processors, a Retina display, a new battery pack and cooling modules.

What’s in the MacBook Air?

Today’s MacBook Air models come in an 11-inch model starting at $899 (£749, AUS$1,249) and a $999 (£849, AU$1,399) 13-inch variant. Both models come standard with a 1.6GHz Intel Core i5 processor, Intel HD Graphics 6000, 4GB of memory and an 128GB SSD.

The 13-inch MacBook Air comes with 1,400 x 900 resolution screen, and the 11-inch version comes with a 1,366 x 768 screen.

If the 2016 version of the MacBook is updated to a Retina display, the 15-inch version will feature a 2,880x1,800 resolution, and the 13.3-inch model will come with a 2,560 x 1,600 resolution.

Why no 11-inch version?

Apple has gone out of its way to market the iPad Pro as a productivity device that can replace your laptop. Given its dimensions and lightweight, it’s likely Apple views the iPad Pro and the 11-inch MacBook Air as direct competitors.

Rather than produce two devices with similar target demographics, Apple could launch the 15-inch MacBook Air in order to capitalize on notebook users who require large-format screen real estate, but don’t need the premium features included in the high-end MacBook Pro.

• What is the best laptop in the world?

December 01, 2015 at 12:10AM
Juan Martinez