SONY XPERIA Z5 VS SAMSUNG GALAXY S6: WHAT'S THE BEST ANDROID PHONE?

SONY XPERIA Z5 VS SAMSUNG GALAXY S6: PRICE & UK AVAILABILITY

While the Sony Xperia Z5 has only recently gone on sale, and the black UK version still commands £599 (Amazon; the Gold and Green versions will be available on Amazon on 22 October at the official RRP of £549), Samsung's Galaxy S6 has now been on sale six months and is available much more cheaply at £376 SIM-free (Amazon). If you're looking to buy either phone on a contract this price difference will be largely irrelevant. Also see: Sony Xperia Z5 UK release date, price and specs.

It's worth pointing out that you might find better value with the slightly slimmed down but also cheaper Sony Xperia Z5 Compact. To see how it differs from the standard Sony Xperia Z5 and Xperia Z5 premium read our comparison of the Xperia Z5 series.

SONY XPERIA Z5 VS SAMSUNG GALAXY S6: DESIGN & BUILD

The Samsung Galaxy S6 and Sony Xperia Z5 are premium-looking phones with metal frames and stylish glass front and rear covers, with the Xperia Z5 slightly more boxy in its appearance. While the Z5 uses frosted glass at the rear, the S6 has a mirror finish. It's available in black, white, green and gold, and the S6 in black, white, gold and blue. Also see:Best phones 2015.

Both smartphones have fingerprint scanners, but the Xperia Z5's implementation is arguably more user-friendly, built into the power button on the device's right edge and falling naturally under the thumb as you pick up the phone. Samsung's fingerprint scanner is found in the Home button at the front of the device, and a double-tap of it instantly launches the camera app - a nice touch.

While Samsung also includes a heart-rate scanner on the device's rear, which pairs with the S Health app to keep tabs on your health and fitness, Sony has included some extras that could potentially turn the heads of long-term Samsung fans. Also see: Best Android phones 2015.

The Galaxy S6 sits at the top of our best smartphones chart, and we think it's a brilliant Android phone. But Samsung has made some compromises in its design, which has infuriated fans. The S6, unlike its predecessor, is not waterproof, it doesn't feature a removable battery, and there's no support for microSD.

The Xperia Z5's battery isn't removable either (although it is higher in capacity at 2900mAh vs 2550mAh and likely to last longer given the lower-resolution screen - Sony says up to two days for most users), but Sony has included support for IP68 dust- and waterproof protection, plus a microSD slot that can accept memory cards up to 200GB in capacity.

The Samsung Galaxy S6 is smaller, thinner and ligher than the Sony Xperia Z5, measuring 143.4x70.5x6.8mm and weighing 138g against the Z5's 72x146x7.3mm, 154g. This doesn't surprise us, given the aforementioned higher-capacity battery in the Z5, plus the larger screen.

You're unlikely to notice the difference in size between the 5.1in panel on the S6 and the 5.2in panel on the Z5, but what you will notice is the difference in both resolution and appearance. Sony fits a full-HD (1080x1920) Triluminos IPS screen, while Samsung plumps for a Quad-HD (1440x2560) SuperAMOLED panel with a super-high pixel pitch of 432ppi. (If you want a Quad-HD Sony you'll need to look to the more expensive Sony Xperia Z5 Premium.)

Given the differing screen technologies, you will notice a difference in more than just clarity. SuperAMOLED is thinner and more energy efficient, with typically oversaturated colours; IPS is known for its realistic colours and excellent viewing angles. Which you like best is very much down to personal preference. See all phone reviews.

SONY XPERIA Z5 VS SAMSUNG GALAXY S6: HARDWARE & PERFORMANCE

Sony has fitted the Xperia Z5 with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 chip and Adreno 430 GPU originally intended to go in the Samsung Galaxy S6, but overheating concerns led Samsung to instead opt for one of its own chips, the Exynos 7420 (the Z5 doesn't overheat in normal use as did the Xperia Z3+). Both are 64-bit octa-core processors and immensely powerful, especially when backed with 3GB of RAM as they are here - in real-world use you will find neither phone slow.

In our performance benchmarks the Samsung Galaxy S6 outran the Sony Xperia Z5, recording 4438 points in Geekbench 3.0 against the Z5's 4212, 462ms in SunSpider against the Z5's 644ms, and 30- and 14fps in the onscreen elements of T-Rex and Manhattan. The Z5 managed a faster 53- and 26fps in GFXBench, but has far fewer pixels to power. Also see:What's the fastest phone 2015?

For storage both phones come with 32GB built-in, but while the S6 is also available in 64- and 128GB variants the Z5 accepts microSD cards up to 200GB.

As we mentioned earlier the Sony Xperia Z5 has the higher-capacity- and likely longer-lasting battery, but only the Samsung Galaxy S6 supports wireless charging. Quick Charge is possible with either phone.

SONY XPERIA Z5 VS SAMSUNG GALAXY S6: CONNECTIVITY & EXTRAS

Whether you buy your smartphone from Samsung or Sony you'll need a nano-SIM to take advantage of its 4G cellular connectivity. For Wi-Fi they each support dual-band 802.11ac with MIMO, and you'll get Bluetooth 4.1, NFC and GPS.

The Sony Xperia Z5 will offer the better audio experience. While the S6 has a single speaker, found on the device's bottom edge, the Z5 has S-Force front-facing speakers and support for hi-res audio. It also supports PS4 Remote Play.

Of these two Android Lollipop smartphones (both will be upgraded to Marshmallow in time), the Xperia Z5 has the plainer implementation of Android. However, in fairness to Samsung it has stripped back TouchWiz and the user experience is much more friendly here than it was with the S5.

SONY XPERIA Z5 VS SAMSUNG GALAXY S6: CAMERAS

On paper the Sony Xperia Z5 blows away the Samsung Galaxy S6 on the photography front, but more megapixels doesn't necessarily translate to better performance, and in our tests (prior to the Z5's release) we found the Galaxy S6 to be one of the best camera phones on the market. It really is an awesome camera. Also see: Best camera phones 2015.

The Xperia Z5 comes with 1/2.3in 23Mp Sony Exmor RS rear- and 5Mp 25mm wide-angle lens front cameras. The primary camera can focus in 0.03 seconds (and more often than not it did in our tests), and features 5x Clear Image and 8x digital zoom, a Pulse LED flash, a 24mm wide-angle G Lens, SteadyShot stabilisation, and can operate up to ISO 12800 (3200 for video). This camera is capable of 4K video recording, too.

By comparison the Samsung Galaxy S6 matches the 5Mp front camera, but at the rear it has a 16Mp camera with smart optical image stabilisation and an f/1.9 wide-angle lens that allows for better shots in low light. The S6's camera is always on in the background, so it will spring into action and be ready to shoot in just 0.7 seconds. Plus an IR sensor can automatically detect and adjust white balance.

The Z5 camera is very good but while DxO ranks it as the best in the world, we wouldn't go quite so far. It's up there with the best and we'll be updating our best camera phone group test with a detailed comparison with rivals soon.

Read next: Best new phones coming in 2015/2016.

Follow Marie Brewis on Twitter.

SONY XPERIA Z5: SPECS

• Android 5.1 Lollipop
• 5.2in Triluminos Display IPS (1080x1920, 424ppi)
• 2.2GHz Quad-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 CPU
• Adreno 430 GPU
• 3GB RAM
• 32GB internal storage
• microSD slot (up to 200GB)
• 23Mp rear camera AF with LED Flash
• 5Mp front camera
• Video recording at up to 2160p
• Wi-Fi up tp 11.ac
• Bluetooth
• NFC
• 4G LTE Cat 6
• Nano-SIM
• 2900mAh battery
• Dust and waterproof (IP68)
• 72x146x7.3mm
• 154g

OUR VERDICT

If you're buying these phones SIM-free then the Samsung Galaxy S6 wins, more than £200 cheaper, faster, with a higher-resolution screen and an excellent camera. If you're buying on a contract, though, the Galaxy just got some real competition - the Xperia Z5 has the microSD support and waterproofing protection Samsung fans are crying out for, and with better battery life and more impressive audio quality to boot. Of course, it also has an outstanding camera and offers plenty of raw processing power, especially in graphics. Our SIM-free money is on the Galaxy S6, but if you're buying on a contract then you will find it difficult to fault the Xperia Z5.

Dell Venue 8 7000 review

DELL VENUE 8 7000 REVIEW

Dell is the slightly unlikely claimant to the title of world's thinnest tablet with the Venue 8 7000. It's also the first device we've seen with Intel RealSense technology. Here's our full and in-depth Dell Venue 8 7000 review. See also the best tablets of 2014.

DELL VENUE 8 7000 REVIEW: PRICE AND COMPETITION

We've had to wait a fair while for Dell's Android tablet to arrive after it was previewed at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF) last September. Nevertheless, it's finally here and more expensive than we expected.

Dell told us at a briefing back in November that the Venue 8 7000 would cost a similar amount to the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 which cost £319 when it launched. However, Dell's rival tablet will set you back £369 making it a more expensive option, although you can get it for£349 at Amazon which is a bit better.

Not only is it more pricey than the Galaxy Tab S, it's more costly than the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact and iPad mini 3 so it's got some work to do to convince us that it's worth splashing the extra cash on.

DELL VENUE 8 7000 REVIEW: DESIGN AND BUILD

The headline design aspect of the Venue 8 7000 is how thin it is. At just 6 mm it outclasses the Galaxy Tab S 8.4, Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact and iPad Air 2 which are 6.6-, 6.4- and 6.1 mm respectively. One thing is for sure, it feels extremely svelte and lightweight in the hand – although 310 g makes it a little heavier than its Samsung and Sony rivals. We also like the feel of the uni-body metal casing which covers most of the tablet.

Dell has created a stylish design although it does look a little odd with the large bezel at one end of the screen which houses a sizable camera lens and speaker grill. It would look very HTC-like if there was a second speaker at the other end and we're not quite sure why Dell didn't go down this route in order to offer stereo speakers (they are stereo but at one end which defeats the point).

The tablet is designed to be held in portrait orientation with the speaker at the bottom. That's fine and while you can easily hold the Venue 8 7000 one-handed, grasping it this way does mean that the cameras are also at the bottom and get blocked by your hand. Perhaps it was difficult to arrange the components any other way but it still results is a design flaw.

DELL VENUE 8 7000 REVIEW: HARDWARE, SPECS AND PERFORMANCE

On the hardware front it's no surprise to find an Intel Atom processor since the device was unveiled at the firm's developer forum. Increasing numbers of Android tablets are using Intel power but Qualcomm is still the big name.

The Venue 8 7000 uses a quad-core Z3500 Moorefield chip which has PowerVR G6430 graphics and there's 2GB of RAM. Performance is decent across the board and we've only noticed a little bit of lag with things like auto-rotation and launching the camera.

In terms of benchmark results, the Dell Venue 8 7000 keeps up with its Sony and Samsung rivals which all provide similar results. See below for all the results.

The 8.4in OLED screen is stunning with a super high resolution of 2560 x 1600 meaning a pixel density of 359ppi matching the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4. Dell says it has an 'infinity bezel' and although it is relatively small, we can definitely see one.

Like almost any tablet, the Dell Venue 8 7000's screen is glossy and does reflect a lot and although it's very crisp, the Lollipop dropdown menu is a little small.

The power unit and screen are decent but something more interesting is the fact that the tablet is the first to come with Intel RealSense technology. This is one of the main selling points of the Venue 8 7000.

As you can see in the photo, there are a total of three cameras on the back of the tablet. One is 8Mp, and the other two are 1Mp (and shoot 720p video). The main one sits in on its own in the bezel while the other two sit in a strip more central. The idea is that the additional two act like your eyes and capture depth information (up to 10m), a bit like HTC's Duo Camera on the One M8. This can be used to not only refocus the image after you've take in but also measure items within it.

We didn't find the system very good when we first tested the Venue 8 7000 last year and things haven't really changed now we have a final review sample. The tablet does warn that you need good bright conditions for it to work but we've simply found it unreliable at measuring things and the refocus can only be described as atrocious.

This is a shame as Dell promised a software update would fix these problems. In the end it turned out to be something of a broken gimmick and that's on top of the design issue we mentioned earlier where the tablet needs rotating 180 degrees in order to use the cameras anyway.

Other hardware includes 16 GB of internal storage which sounds good but there's only just over 6GB available to the user which is far from ideal. There is a Micro-SD card slot though which you'll likely need to make use of which Dell says supports up to 512GB.

Dell also touts a battery life of up to nine and a half hours and fast charging. Our battery benchmark test yielded a result of nine hours and 11 minutes with a score of 5493 which isn't far off the impressive Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet which managed nine hours and 53 minutes and a score of 5933.

DELL VENUE 8 7000 REVIEW: SOFTWARE AND APPS

The Venue 8 7000 runs Android 4.4 KitKat out of the box but we we're able to update it to Android 5.0.2 Lollipop straight away as Dell promised. Also see: Best Android tablets 2014. Also see: Best Android tablets 2014.

It's getting more common for Android to be left well alone making for a 'vanilla' experience. I.e. as Google intended and like you would get if you purchased a Nexus device.

This is a plus point as it effectively gives you a blank canvas with which to customise the interface how you like. Dell does add a few apps though and as mentioned you must use the firm's Gallery app to take advantage of the RealSense features.

An advantage of this app is the option to store and organise photos and video by GPS position making it easier to show someone only photos taken on a holiday abroad or a particular day trip, for example. You can also view content by person as the device will tag people in your photos and link them to social networks including Facebook and Twitter.

Dell Live Wallpapers give you a parallax effect when you move the tablet around and Dell Cast lets you wirelessly stream content to a larger screen if you buy a Dell Cast Adapter (similar to a Chromcast).

MyDell is more of a full app but really lets you check on things like storage, charge, CPU and memory usage as well as getting online support and sending feedback.

As well as the Dell apps, you'll find things like Evernote, Dropbox, Polaris Office 5, Skitch, McAfee Security and MaxxAudio pre-installed. The list isn't too big but the bad news is that you can't uninstall them – disabling is the best you can do here.

DELL VENUE 8 7000: SPECS

• Android 5.0 Lollipop
• 8.4in OLED, 2560x1600
• Intel Atom Z3580, up to 2.3GHz
• PowerVR G6430
• 2GB RAM
• 16GB storage
• Micro-SD card slot (up to 512GB)
• 8Mp rear camera with Intel RealSense
• 2Mp front camera
• Up to 11ac Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth 4.0
• 124x216x6mm
• 305g

Samsung Galaxy Note 5 release date, rumours, specification

Like many companies, Samsung has an annual product release cycle, which means it's normally pretty easy to guess when we can expect to see a new smartphone announced.

The Galaxy S series takes the beginning of the year, while the Note series tends to fall within the last quarter of the year, so now is the time when the rumour mill start to turn.

As we are still a good few months away from the next Galaxy Note, speculation is still thin on the ground, but we will update this feature as and when new details appear.

Read on to find out everything you need to know about the Galaxy Note 5, or at least everything we have heard so far.

ALSO READ - Samsung Galaxy S6 edge Plus and S6 Plus release date, Specification

                   

                           HTC Aero: Everything we know about HTC's next hero phone

Samsung Galaxy Note 5 release date

The Samsung Galaxy Note series typically launches during IFA, a consumer electronics trade show that takes place in Berlin at the beginning of September.

A handset has recently appeared on the IMEI database thought to be the Galaxy Note 5. It came under the code name Noble with the product name SM-N920F, which is similar to the current Galaxy Note 4 that goes by SM-N910.

There was also the codename Zen that appeared, which was at first considered to be a new variant of the Galaxy S6. Rumours have since suggested that the Zen device was referring to the Note 5 Edge. Samsung has reportedly changed the Zen codename to Project Zero 2.

There has been no official word from Samsung of course, but we would guess the Note 5 and any variant of it will appear around September time again. IFA will run from 4-9 September this year, so expect an announcement before the show kicks off on 2 September. If that is the case, it's likely that a new phablet, or phablets, won't hit stores until October.

Samsung Galaxy Note 5 display

Rumour has it that Samsung is working on a 5.9-inch 4K Ultra HD Super AMOLED panel that could be used in the Galaxy Note 5. It is said to be unveiled in August, which would fit in with the Note release time scale, although if accurate, this would put it into Nexus 6 and Huawei P8 Max-size territory.

Phone Arena claims it was told the display panel will have a 3840 x 2160 resolution and would deliver a pixel density of 746ppi. Mass production will also begin in August, allegedly.

Samsung previously said it would offer Quad HD devices in 2014, which it did with the Note 4 and UHD handsets in 2015, so a 4K display on the Note 5 is plausible.

Phone Arena also claims a dual-edge Note 5 could appear with a 5.78-inch display. There has also been a patent granted to Samsung for a device with curved displays on both sides, which could perhaps be referring to the Zen device, although that is just speculation for now.

Samsung Galaxy Note 5 design

Samsung opted for a metal and glass design for its recently launched Galaxy S6 and some are suggesting the Note 5 will follow the same direction in terms of design.

Phone Arena published some Note 5 renders that were created with the Galaxy S6 as the inspiration. Of course, they are just renders, but they give an idea of what the Note 5 could look like if it takes the same path as the S6. The renders present a 7.9mm-slim handset. More recently, however, we've seen leaked CAD files. Said to be from a reliable source,they suggest that the Note 5 will be close in design to the SGS6.

One thing we can be certain of is that the Note 5 will come with the S Pen stylus the Note series is known for.

However, there's some speculation that a new version of the Note Edge won't be getting the S Pen. We suspect a double-curved display, like the SGS6 edge.

Samsung Galaxy Note 5 camera

The Galaxy Note 4 features a 16-megapixel, OIS-enhanced primary shooter, but Gizbot has claimed the Galaxy Note 5 will take things up a notch with a 18-megapixel rear camera and 5-megapixel front camera. However, Valuewalk is reporting that the camera could be 21 megapixels in resolution, paired with a 6-megapixel front-facing camera.

Incremental increases in resolution don't yield better results, and with Samsung enjoying the successes of the SGS6 cameras, we'd be surprised if there was any change in this department.

Samsung Galaxy Note 5 specs

There haven't been many solid rumours floating around when it comes to the specs, butPhone Arena has suggested up to 128GB of internal storage, USB Type-C port and a fingerprint scanner. However the recent CAD leak clearly shows a Micro-USB in place.

The site also speculated that a 4100mAh battery capacity would appear on the Note 5, while others have claimed a 3900mAh capacity would be powering the handset.

In terms of processor, Gizbot and Valuewalk.com have both suggested the octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, supported by 4GB of RAM. However, GSM Arena has said the Galaxy Note 5 could take the same route as the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge by moving the processor in house.

It has been speculated that an Exynos 7420 chipset will be under the hood instead of Qualcomm's latest, for instance. Some rumours have even dabbled with the Exynos 7422 paired with a chip that combined RAM and storage into one component, and there has also been talk of the Exynos 7430, which is still in development, so we would expect the latter is unlikely for the Note 5.

Indeed, the Exynos 7422 is the one that pops up in speculation the most.

In

A more recent rumour also suggest that leaked schematics show a design that doesn't feature room for a microSD card slot, suggesting that all storage will be housed on the device and it will be unable to expand.

Samsung Galaxy Note 5 pricing

The original Galaxy Note cost £599 including VAT when it launched, while The Galaxy Note 2 cost £550 including VAT. And both the Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Note 4 cost £599 including VAT when they launched.

With that in mind, the Galaxy Note 5 should cost between £550 and £599 including VAT when it launches. It's difficult to say where the Zen device will sit as the Note 4 edge and Galaxy S6 edge were more expensive, but they offered the same flagship specs as the normal variants. If the Zen model takes a hit on the specs, but offers a curve display, it might sit at the same price as the Galaxy Note 5.

Samsung Galaxy S6 edge Plus and S6 Plus release date, Specification

We've heard in the recent past that before it unveils the Galaxy Note 5, expected to be the highlight of its pre-IFA press event in Berlin at the start of September, Samsung will be supersizing its current flagship Android phone. There has been word on the street that a Plus-sized version of the Galaxy S6 is on its way.

But that's not all. More recent rumours have pointed to a Plus version of the Galaxy S6 edge too, bringing that gorgeous wrapped screen design aesthetic to the larger phone market. Indeed, it might be the only of the two to make it into stores.

So we've decided to round-up all of the rumours and speculation so far to give you an idea of what, where and when the Galaxy S6 Plus and/or Galaxy S6 edge Plus might appear.

We'll also regularly update this feature as and when more speculation surfaces.

ALSO READ - Samsung Galaxy S6 edge Plus and S6 Plus release date, Specification

Name

The first mention of a bigger Galaxy S6 called the device the "Grand", as in Galaxy S6 Grand, but more recently alleged sources have taken to call it the Plus.

That first surfaced after reports said that Samsung was working on a device it was calling Project Zero 2, and as both the original SGS6 and SGS6 edge were codenamed Project Zero, it makes sense that the new moniker referred to a larger-sized handset in the same family.

Where the actual "Plus" name came from originally though is unclear.

More recently, a Samsung filing with the US Patent and Trademark Office was found that listed the name "S6 EDGE+", with the symbol rather than the full "plus". The application for the trademark was filed on 26 June and is yet to be approved.

Companies file trademarks all the time on names they never use, but this does suggest that Samsung is considering a larger S6 edge at the very least. Whether that is instead of a standard S6 is yet to be seen.

Release date

At this early stage in the gossip and speculation, there are no actual indications on a release date.

However, considering that Samsung would not want to detract from the impact of a Galaxy Note 5 launch - expected at the beginning of September - it would make sense that a larger SGS6 or edge would have to come out before then. August perhaps.

Display

So far only one indication of how large the display could be on the SGS6 edge Plus (or SGS6 Plus). OnLeaks, the online source for many a phone leak - more often than not genuine - claims that the edge Plus will be 154.5 x 75.80 x 6.85mm. The regular SGS6 edge is 142.1 x 70.1 x 7mm so doing the math the Plus version is 8.7 per cent larger than its current equivalent.

That means that, with the SGS6 edge having a 5.1-inch screen, the SGS6 edge Plus will have a screen around 5.54-inches. You can round that up or down depending on top or bottom bezel. Most are rounding it down to 5.5-inches in reports.

It is likely to be a Quad HD display, much like the current model, regardless of whether we get an SGS6 Plus, SGS6 edge Plus or both.

Design

Apart from either phone's larger form factor, the design is expected to remain the same respectively. OnLeak has tweeted more information on the phone than just its measurements, including images of a dummy version of the Galaxy S6 edge created by a Chinese case manufacturer.

These things can be shady, so take it with a pinch of salt, but you can judge the speculated size against the original in the images posted, at least.

Specs

To be honest, few other details about either Plus-sized phone have emerged so far, but we would doubt that many of the specifications of the original handsets will be altered.

Expect 3GB of RAM, 16-megapixel camera and a 5-megapixel front-facing cam, for example. It is likely that the battery size with be bigger though, as the phone(s) will need to drive a bigger screen.

Also new to this model, at least where the leaks and rumours are concerned, is an indication that Samsung might head back to Qualcomm for the chipset, instead of use the same Exynos processor as before.

Sammobile claims that the edge Plus is likely to adopt the hexa-core Snapdragon 808 instead.

HP ZBOOK 15U G2 LAPTOP REVIEW

HP ZBOOK 15U G2 LAPTOP REVIEW

Tough but portable, HP's ZBook laptop will appeal to a professional audience. We review the HP ZBook 15u G2. 

Now that HP has migrated its mobile workstation laptops from EliteBook to ZBook, we find two distinct version of the 15-inch workhorse from which to choose.

The regular ZBook 15 G2 is closer to the original brick-built EliteBooks, around 40 mm thick and bending the scale needle close to 3 kg – although that’s still a trim and toned-up take on the classic bombproof mobile power laptop.

Coming in at a little over 2.0 kg and just under 25 mm thick, the new HP ZBook 15u is the more fashionable variation of ZBook. The added U in the name seems to point to Ultrabook, Intel’s much abused marketing name for a MacBook Air-style ultraportable running Windows.

The ZBook 15u appears to be in its second generation (G2) although since this is a brand new product we suspect the suffix was added so it wouldn’t look out of date next to the revised G2 version of the ZBook 15. While far from emulating the carry-anywhere sub-20 mm, sub-1.5 kg notebooks of today, it’s relatively compact form puts it alongside other thin and light workstation notebooks such as the 15-inch Apple MacBook Pro and Dell Precision M3800.

HP ZBOOK 15U G2 REVIEW: BUILD AND DESIGN

The case of the ZBook 15u is almost entirely constructed from metal, a lightweight cast alloy for the main chassis, with metal top plate around the keyboard and lid back. The 15.6-inch widescreen display with matt anti-glare finish is available as either a budget TN or higher-grade IPS version, both at 1920 x 1080 resolution. There’s no option for a touchscreen display, arguably a wasteful frippery on a professional mobile workstation. 

On the left side is the exhaust outlet for the single internal cooling fan, a VGA D-Sub video port, two USB 3.0 and a slot for smart cards. Along the right we find a 3.5 mm headset jack, full-size DisplayPort 1.2, another two USB 3.0, gigabit ethernet (with sprung flag, to help fit into the slim edge), DC power inlet, and a proprietary docking slot. There’s no underside docking-station port as you’d find on most business laptop, but HP promises to supply an adaptor to fit this side port with two more digital video outputs. Missing from the port line-up is the Thunderbolt 2 port now found on the non-U ZBook 15 G2.

The entire case bottom is easily removable from one slide-release button, providing access to most of the upgradable components such as memory, storage and wireless connectivity.

Our sample had 16 GB of memory on two 8 GB SO-DIMM modules and a PCIe-attached M.2 SSD, 256 GB in size. You can add a 4G LTE module, access the 802.11ac mini-PCI card and change the 50 Wh battery from here too. Even with the solid-state drive fitted, there’s also space to add a 2.5-inch SATA drive.

For main processor duties, this model had a new Broadwell series 2.6 GHz Intel Core i7-5600U, and unusually for a notebook billed as a professional workstation, this is a dual- rather than quad-core chip. This is the top specification, with an option on the 2.4 GHz version of the same chip (5500U)

HP explains that thermal issues prevented it from fitting a quad-core processor into this relatively thin case. In contrast, both Apple and Dell do use quad-core Intel Core i7 mobile processors in their counterparts, although the latter at least can suffers from cooling issues, requiring its fans to rev up to high speed to keep internal temperatures within limits.

For graphics processor there is a choice of just the integrated Intel HD Graphics 5500 from the Intel CPU, or this with an additional AMD FirePro M4170 dedicated GPU. Unlike the fat ZBook 15, there’s no Nvidia option here.

The AMD FirePro includes 1 GB of GDDR5 memory, and is designed to switch into action when required with AMD’s Enduro Technology, a rebrand of its Dynamic Switching Graphics (DSG) system.

At time of review, the only variants of the ZBook 15u G2 we could find offered from the HP UK website were without discrete AMD graphics, and up to 8 GB of system RAM only. With the lower 2.4 GHz processor, integrated graphics powering the IPS display, and 256 GB Z Turbo Drive (HP’s name for the PCIe-attached SanDisk SSD), the ZBook 15u G2 is priced at £1320 inc VAT.

HP ZBOOK 15U G2: SPECS

• 15.6-inch (1920 x 1080) 141 ppi IPS matt anti-glare (Samsung SDC5344)
• Windows 7 Professional
• 2.6 GHz Intel Core i7-5600U (32. GHz Turbo) 2C, 4T
• AMD FirePro M4170 with 1 GB GDDR5 / Intel HD Graphics 5500
• 16 GB (2x 8 GB) 1600 MHz DDR3 RAM
• 256 GB SSD (SanDisk SD6PP4M-256G-1006)
• gigabit ethernet
• 802.11a/b/g/n/ac 2x2 MIMO (Intel Wireless-AC 7265)
• Bluetooth 4.0
• optional 4G LTE module
• 4x USB 3.0
• 1x DisplayPort 1.2, 1x VGA D-Sub
• Kensington lock slot, HP FingerPrint sensor
• SDXC card slot, smart card reader
• stereo speakers
• 0.9 Mp webcam
• dual mics
• 3.5 mm headset jack
• US tiled, backlit, spill resistant keyboard
• 104 x 65 mm, 2x three buttons, trackpoint
• 50 Wh lithium battery
• 65 W mains charger with C5 inlet
• 375 x 253 x 24.5 mm
• 2045 g

Samsung Galaxy A8 release date, specification

Although the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 edge smartphones are beautiful and undoubtedly the company's finest phones yet, at 6.8 and 7mm respectively they aren't its thinnest. The Galaxy A7 holds that crown with a waistline of 6.3mm.

And that is about to be trumped by its successor, the Galaxy A8, as according to rumours the latest Samsung handset will sport a superthin body of 5.94mm - that will make it the thinnest phone in the company's history.

                      READ: Samsung Galaxy A7 - SPECIFICATION FULL REVIEW

The currently unconfirmed device has been spotted in a filing with China's Telecommunication Equipment Certification Center (TENAA) which has to approved mobile devices before they can be sold in the country, much like the United States' FCC.

The SM-A8000, as it is formally dubbed, also appears in a number of photos on the TENAA website and on a filing with the Federal Communications Commission in the US.

READ: iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus release date, Spec... and all

Also revealed in the reports are a number of key specifications, including the full measurements of 158 x 76.77 x 5.94mm. The phone will sport a 5.7-inch Super AMOLED Full HD display, run Android 5.1, and will be powered by an octa-core 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 processor.

It will have 4G LTE connectivity, a 5-megapixel front-facing camera, 16-megapixel rear camera, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage space (expandable through microSD). There will also be a 3,050mAh battery on board.

As both filings have been approved, you can expect Samsung to formerly announced the Galaxy A8 soon.

SONY XPERIA Z4 TABLET REVIEW, & PRICE

This year Sony has updated is flagship Android tablet so we have a new iPad Air 2 rival. Sony claims it's the world's lightest 10in tablet with a 2K screen so here's our Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet review. Also see: Best tablets 2015.

Last's years Z3 range included one tablet which was Sony's first smaller size, the 8in Z3 Tablet Compact. Instead of replacing that range – which also has the Z3 and Z3 Compact phones – Sony has added to it with the Xperia Z4 Tablet. It's a new 10in device which succeeds the Xperia Z2 Tablet so there is no Xperia Z3 Tablet in a 10in size.

SONY XPERIA Z4 TABLET REVIEW: PRICE AND COMPETITION

We expected the Xperia Z4 Tablet to come in at £399 matching the iPad Air 2 but it costs £100 more than that. Before you panic and run to the Apple store, this is because it comes with the Bluetooth keyboard dock so there is a reason for it.

Sony's main Android rival for the high-end 10in tablet is Samsung's Galaxy Tab S which was £399 but can now be purchased for under £300. It's a long way from being old and decrepit too, so represents quite a saving in comparison to Sony's new tablet.

The more expensive model with additional 4G LTE connectivity will set you back £579 placing it only £60 short of the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 which it is competing against considering the laptop style keyboard dock.

It's a real shame Sony has decided to only sell the tablet this way as many consumers will no doubt want just the tablet and it's not like you can sell the keyboard because other users will have one as standard. Retailers are saying the keyboard is free but it's clearly factored into the price and we hope Sony changes its mind in the future.

SONY XPERIA Z4 TABLET REVIEW: DESIGN AND BUILD

Its predecessor was and still is an impressive tablet and we didn't think Sony could do much to the 6.4 mm, 426 g chassis. However, it has managed to slim it down further to 6.1 mm which isn't much but the weight has dropped to just 392 g.

In comparison with the market leading iPad Air 2, it's the same thickness and a decent 45 g lighter so tops marks to Sony. The Xperia Z4 Tablet feels great in the hand with the weight particularly making it easy to handle. The firm calls it the 'World's lightest 10in tablet with brightest 2K display'.

Sony continues to offer dust- and waterproofing, this time to an IP68 rating which is the highest available. We've got used to the headphone port not needing a cover or flap to keep the moisture out but now the microUSB port doesn't either which is a great addition. Only having one flap for cards is ideal as you rarely need to open it.

Aside from the above changes, the design remains essentially the same. A reasonable bezel runs around the display which doesn't look great but means you can hold any side without needing to touch the screen, leaving your fingers in the way.

The Xperia Z4 Tablet will be available in black and white options but we've only seen black listed at retailers so far.

What we thought was an optional Bluetooth keyboard dock (BKB50) is now bundled with the tablet in the UK. It supports tilt and a trackpad for what Sony calls a 'premium laptop experience'. The Xperia Z4 Tablet slots in easily and then you can adjust the angle or close it like you would a regular laptop.

It all works pretty smoothly and there's a limit to how far back you can tilt the tablet so it doesn't topple over (unlike the Acer Aspire Switch 10). The keyboard is a little flimsy and the keys are small so it's not the optimum experience but you can certainly get a reasonable amount of typing done without pulling your hair out. The trackpad is surprisingly good and using Android with a mouse cursor actually makes a lot of sense.

Some things are awkward but there are many keys dedicated which alleviates this such as navigation, the drop down notification bar and even power. After a while you'll probably find yourself not using the touchscreen but our main issue is that not everyone will benefit from the accessory yet you have to pay for it.

Since there's no physical connection to the tablet, there's no hard drive, extra battery or ports such as USB in the way of features. It simply connects over Bluetooth and charges via micro USB.

SONY XPERIA Z4 TABLET REVIEW: HARDWARE AND PERFORMANCE

The screen size remains at 10.1 in but Sony has improved the resolution to 2560 x 1600 and boosted the brightness to 500cd/m2. That's plenty of brightness on offer and the pixel density of 299 ppi is impressive outpacing the iPad Air 2 which is 264 ppi. The 'Triluminos' screen looks great and the IPS panel means great viewing angles. We really can't fault it and it's up there with the Galaxy Tab S 10.5.

Other hardware upgrades include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor which is both octa-core and 64-bit. There's 3 GB of RAM to accompany it, 32 GB of internal storage and a microSD card slot for adding up to 128 GB more. 

SONY XPERIA Z4 TABLET: SPECS

• Android 5.0 Lollipop
• 10.1in IPS Triluminos screen, 2560x1600, 300ppi, 500cd/m2
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, 64-bit
• 3GB RAM
• 32GB internal storage, microSD card slot (up to 128GB)
• 8.1Mp rear camera with Exmor RS
• 5.1Mp wide angle front camera
• MHL 3.0
• Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n/ac
• NFC
• Bluetooth 4.1
• Nano-SIM (LTE model)
• 6000 mAh battery
• 254x167x6.1mm
• 392g (Wi-Fi), 396g (LTE)
• Black, white