Xiaomi’s Upcoming Mi Pad 2 Rumored to Dual Boot Between Android and Windows 10

Last month, an interesting rumor appeared online. It said that Chinese device maker Xiaomi was working on a new tablet which would reportedly run Window 10 out of the box.

Now, the folks over at Chinese publication Mobile Dad claim that Windows 10 is not all customers are going to get when they purchase the upcoming Mi Pad 2. According to sources familiar with the matter, Xiaomi’s next-gen tablet could be a dual-boot affair capable of switching between Windows 10 and Android Lollipop (or Marshmallow, depending on when it arrives). We’re also given a few tips on what to expect spec-wise, so the Mi Pad 2 could make a debut into the wild with a 9.7-inch QHD display with 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution and draw power from a yet unnamed Intel processor.

The device will work with either 3GB or 4GB of RAM and will utilize the services of a 13MP main camera. Obviously, the dual-boot slate is of the high-end variety, so it’s no wonder the source says we’re dealing with an all-metal product.

To dual boot or not to dual boot?

Still, as is the case with this kind of rumors, you’d better take this one with a grain of salt too. Remember that ASUS tried pulling off the same stunt back in 2014, when it announced the Transformer Book Duet with bells and whistles at IFA 2015. The tablet/laptop hybrid was supposed to be able to switch between Windows and Android in under a few seconds, but the trouble is, the product never made it to the market. We never got an official statement from ASUS, but apparently, Microsoft and Google both opposed the idea of such a product making it onto retail shelves.

But now that we're in 2015, have the two tech giants reconsidered their position? It’s a possibility. On the other hand, Xiaomi is a Chinese device maker and we do know that everything is possible in China. Despite Microsoft’s and Google’s restrictions, Chinese OEMs like Pipo didn’t have any problems releasing dual-boot tablets on the domestic market. Anyway, a few days ago, we saw a set of purported Mi Pad 2 images leak online, revealing a tablet very similar to the 2012 Nexus 10. Good news for those who have been hoping to see a sequel to the device.

Purported Xiaomi Mi Pad 2 frontal view

Purported Xiaomi Mi Pad 2 back view

Purported Xiaomi Mi Pad 2 running Android
Images credits to Mobile Dad

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ZUKZ Z1 Gets Teardown Treatment

The Lenovo-backed ZUK startup announced its first smartphone called the Z1 not so long ago. The original version launched only in China and ships out with Android 5.1.1 Lollipop.

But ZUK decided to bring a slightly different variation of the handset to the international market, one that runs Cyanogen OS out of the box (based on Android 5.1 Lollipop). Anyway, since the smartphone is out and about, some folks already got curious to see what the Z1 hides under the hood, so they did a little teardown of it (as seen at IT168). The phone doesn’t feature a removable battery, so a bunch of tools had to be used to get under its hood. Once in there, we can see that all the parts are neatly arranged and it doesn’t seem like the internal setup is all that atypical. IT168 doesn’t provide a repairability score like iFixit, but you shouldn’t try to open up the phone by yourselves anyway.

Peer inside the ZUK Z1

If you haven’t been paying attention, the ZUK Z1 is a pretty straightforward Android smartphone bundling decent specs and selling for a decent enough price. The device features a 5.5-inch capacitive touchscreen display that supports full HD (1080p) resolution and takes advantage of a pretty outdated quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor fitted with 3GB of RAM and 64GB of internal memory. The ZUK smartphone also features a 13MP photo snapper with autofocus, LED flash and video recording, as well as a secondary 8MP-megapixel camera in front for taking selfies.

The phone’s main camera comes equipped with a Sony IMX214 sensor and features f/2.2 aperture, as well as OIS (optical image stabilization). The front camera has OmniVision for better selfies and videos. Another important aspect of the ZUK Z1 is the brand new USB Type-C port. It also relies on a pretty hefty 4,100 mAh battery, but we’re yet to see how well it will be able to sustain life on board.

It’s also worth mentioning that the Z1 comes with a fingerprint scanner and LTE support. Customers can pick up the phone for $285 / €254, which is pretty decent for a handset specced in this fashion. Teardown images gallery below, click to view larger.

ZUK Z1 gets teardown treatment

ZUK Z1 back view

ZUK Z1 showing USB Type-C

ZUK Z1, upper detail

ZUK Z1 with back off

ZUK Z1 dismantled

ZUK Z1 dismantled

Internal part of ZUK Z1

ZUK Z1 being torn down

ZUK Z1 dismantled

ZUK Z1 dismantled

ZUK Z1 dismantled

ZUK Z1 dismantled

ZUK Z1, frontal view

ZUK Z1, camera unit out

ZUK Z1 part

ZUK Z1 part

ZUK Z1 complete teardown
Images credits to IT168

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Sony Xperia Z5 Guest Stars in Video Alongside the Sleek Xperia Z5 Premium

In a few days, the IFA 2015 tradeshow is going to open its gates, and one of the major device manufacturers expected to host a press event on the grounds there is Sony.

The company is looking to unveil its next-gen Xperia Z5 flagship, which won’t come alone but alongside two other models, the Xperia Z5 Compact and Xperia Z5 Premium. Now, if you can’t wait a few more days and you’re really anxious to see what the new Sony phones look like, GR1 has posted a 3-minute video showcasing the upcoming models in action. In the video there’s even a mention of the mighty Xperia Z5 Premium, which, according to the rumor mill, will probably be the first smartphone in the industry to boast a 4K display. Previous information would have us believe that the Xperia Z5 will make a debut into the wild with a 5.2-inch display with 1080p resolution (1920 x 1080 pixels), while the Xperia Z5 Compact will boast a 4.6-inch screen with only 720p res (1280 x 720 pixels).

The Sony Xperia Z5 Premium will be a total monster

The most impressive of the three will naturally be the Sony Xperia Premium (previously known as the Xperia Z5+), a phone tipped to make an appearance with a 5.5-inch display with amazing 4K resolution (2160 x 3840 pixels) and an insane 800+ ppi count. Apparently, the phone’s display will also be utilized for virtual reality purposes. The three handsets should all benefit from an in-house Sony 23MP camera unit that features a super-fast 0.1-second autofocus, f/1.8 aperture and 1/2.2 inch sensor. The higher-end models in the trio will be powered by a Snapdragon 810 SoC that features an octa-core CPU and Adreno 430 GPU. Hopefully, Sony has found a solution to keep the controversial chipset from overheating inside of its new devices.

Shortly after the Xperia Z3+ was released, we started hearing owners complain about overheating problems. The company tried to solve the issue by pushing out a software update, but it didn’t seem to help that much. We were hoping that Sony would wait for the Snapdragon 820 for its next-gen flagship, but it seems pretty evident at this point that this is not the case.

Sony Xperia Z5 family caught on camera
Image credits to GR1

Sony Xperia Z5

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