Samsung’s finally listened to what we want (well, most of it) with the Galaxy S6. And what an upgrade it is
Price: £599 inc VAT (32GB), £660 inc VAT (64GB)
Rating: 9

The Samsung Galaxy S6 is the company’s best-looking smartphone yet, with Samsung tackling key concerns such as build quality and software. Sure, it’s lost a couple of features, but it’s gained so much more and, right now, is the best Android phone on the UK market. Read our Samsung Galaxy S6 review and watch our video review. Also see: Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge review.

Sony has announced its new flagship smartphone, the Xperia Z4, that will ship in summer in the Japanese market.

The device is clearly meant for global markets as well, since it supports a number of languages besides Japanese, including English, Chinese and some European languages.

The move by Sony comes amid reports that the company was planning to scale down or even pull out of its smartphone business.

The phone, which is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, has a display of 5.2 inches at 1920 X 1080 pixel resolution like its predecessor, the Xperia Z3, and will run Android 5.0 operating system. The Snapdragon 810 processor features 64-bit computing on eight CPU cores.

The Samsung Galaxy S6 is now the benchmark for high-end smartphones running Android, but there are lots of challengers, including the new P8 from Huawei Technologies.

The two smartphone vendors have had many of the same goals when building their respective smartphones, including improving the looks and the cameras. But there are still differences that will likely sway you one way or the other. Here’s a spec comparison between the phones:

We take a look at the phablet version of ZTE’s Blade S6, and it’s not just a little bit bigger
Price: £203.33 (£180.66 with coupon code ZTES6PLUS)
Rating: 8

We were impressed with the ZTE Blade S6, but if you thought the ZTE Blade S6 Plus was merely a larger phabletversion of the mobile phoneyou’d be wrong. Find out why in our ZTE Blade S6 Plus review.Also see:Best phones 2015andbest Android phones 2015.

Galaxy S5 is now the old model but that makes it cheaper
Price: £549 inc VAT
Rating: 8

Samsung is a giant and key player in the Android smartphone market so here’s our Samsung Galaxy S5 review. See also: 26 best smartphones: The best phone you can buy in 2014.

The Korean giant has been hugely successful with its flagship Galaxy S range of smartphones but can the latest edition hold its own against stiff competition. ThePhone 5S remains a great handset and HTC has impressed with the new HTC One M8. There’s also competition from theSony Xperia Z2 and the LG G3 is coming very soon. And let’s not forget Google’s own Nexus 5 and the freshly announcedHuawei Ascend P7 either.Also read about theSamsung Galaxy S5 Prime,Samsung Galaxy S5 mini, andSamsung Galaxy S5 Active.

ZTE’s Blade S6 is a desirable mid-range Android Lollipop phone with 4G LTE connectivity and some smart features
Price: £156.84 from Geekbuying ($30 off coupon code: 0307ZT)
Rating: 8

ZTE‘s Blade S6 is a desirable mid-range Android Lollipop phone with 4G LTE connectivity and some smart features. At a quick glance you might even mistake it for an iPhone 6. Find out more in our ZTE Blade S6 review. (See all mid-range phone reviews.)

Cyanogen just found a new ally in its battle to “take Android away from Google“: Microsoft.

The two companies have struck a deal to integrate popular Microsoft apps into Cyanogen’s operating system, which comes preloaded on phones like the OnePlus One and remains one of the most popular alternative Android ROMs around.

The duo is diving in with both feet, too: Cyanogen OS will include Skype, OneDrive, OneNote, Outlook, Office, and Bing services going forward. Cyanogen’s taking Android away from Google and handing it to Microsoft, it seems.

The story behind the story: Rumors of collaboration between Microsoft and Cyanogen were first tied to Cyanogen’s recent funding round. Microsoft didn’t wind up investing, but today’s announcement confirms that the whispers contained a kernel of truth–and this strategic partnership is a perfect fit for the goals of each company.

Win-win

Since sprouting from humble beginnings as a custom Android ROM, Cyanogen has sprouted into a full-fledged company that is actively seeking partners to preload its OS on phones.

CEO Kirt McMaster has publicly complained about how deeply Google integrates its services into Android. Phone manufacturers have to follow strict rules concerning the prominent placement of Google’s apps on homescreens.

Cyanogen–a fork of Android–stands to differentiate itself from the masses of devices running official Android builds by integrating third-party services, though it remains to be seen if buyers are willing to embrace an Android device without Google apps. Amazon’s Fire Phone was a flop, but it was released in North America, while Cyanogen-powered phones are more likely to appear in developing nations, where Google doesn’t have the stranglehold it commands in the U.S.

Microsoft, meanwhile, has reimagined itself as a “mobile first, cloud first” company since CEO Satya Nadella seized the reins last year, allowing its services to finally break free of its lockstep with Windows. In the months since his elevation to the lead role, Office has landed on Android and iOS, OneNote’s expanded to, well, everywhere, and Microsoft’s even launched a program to quickly test ideas for new Android apps. Nadella’s Microsoft wants you using Microsoft services even if you don’t use Windows.

The new Microsoft is “the productivity and platform company for the mobile-first and cloud-first world,” he said in a letter to employees last July.

This isn’t the first deal Microsoft’s inked to bring its apps to Android devices. Earlier this year, the company announced plans to preload Office on Android tablets from Dell and Samsung, and Samsung’s Galaxy S6 comes with Office, OneDrive, and OneNote preloaded.

HTC One M9 gets Quad HD screen, Duo Camera and fingerprint scanner, in China
Price: £579 inc VAT
Rating: 0

We’re still waiting to see if HTC announces an One M9 mini but in the meantime it has introduced the One M9 . Find out how it compares with the flagship phone in ourHTC One M9 vs One M9 comparison preview. Also see:Best smartphones 2015,best new phones 2015andbest phablets 2015.

The HTC One M9 has been announced in China so please note that it may never get officially launched in the UK. However, we’ve compared to the two anyway to explain the difference. Even if the M9 doesn’t go on sale here in Blighty, you can get your hands on one by importing it. Read our advice on buying grey-market tech.

Note that while we’ve reviewed the One M9, we’ve not seen the M9 in the flesh so we’re comparing specs here.

HTC One M9 vs One M9 comparison preview: Price

As per the above, we can’t really compare the two HTC flagships by price. The One M9 is officially £579 but buying the M9 from China and shipping it over (even with customs charges) may be cheaper. See best HTC One M9 deals

HTC One M9 vs One M9 comparison preview: Design

As you would expect, these two 2015 phones from HTC with almost identical model names look pretty darn similar. The main difference is that physical home button on the front below the screen. (The HTC One E9 is a plastic phablet).

The M9 still uses a metal uni-body and comes in two-tone colours like the regular M9. On the back you’ll notice that it has a Duo Camera like theHTC One M8 which has been dropped on the HTC One M9.

As the name suggests, the M9 is a larger phone to the M9 so it’s understandably heavier at 168 g compared to 158 g. It is around the same thickness at 9.6 mm, though.

HTC One M9 vs One M9 comparison preview: Hardware

With a similar design you might think the specs of the HTC One M9 are the same as the One M9 but it has a bigger screen. Well some things are the same but there are also quite a few differences.

The screen is indeed larger but not quite as much as rumours suggested. It’s 5.2in (not 5.5in) which is only a little bigger than the 5in screen found on the M9. Despite a relatively small change in size, the resolution jumps from Full HD to Quad HD meaning pixel density goes from 441- to 534 ppi.

Storage and memory are identical with 3GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage and a microSD card slot. The two have different processors, though.

The HTC One M9 uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor while the M9 opts for a MediaTek Helio X10. They are both octa-core and 64-bit.

Much of the wireless is the same with 11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1, NFC, GPS and an IR blaster. Part of the reason for that physical home button the M9 is to house a fingerprint scanner which is not found on the M9.

Both have the front facing BoomSound speakers but as mentioned earlier there’s a difference in the camera department. Both have a 20 Mp camera at the rear but while the M9 drops the Duo Camera setup for some reason or another it’s back on the M9 .

The battery capacity is actually the same despite different chassis sizes at 2840mAh so expect better battery life from the regular M9 thanks to its smaller and lower resolution screen. Neither has wireless charging.

HTC One M9 vs One M9 comparison preview: Software

There’s no difference in software with HTC pre-loading both M9 models with Android 5.0 Lollipop and its Sense 7 user interface.

New features of Sense 7.0 include greater customisability with themes and Sense Home which dynamically changes which app icons are shown base on whether you’re at home, work or on the go.

Buying Advice
Although the HTC One M9 isn’t official for the UK we hope this comparison has been helpful. Key things to note are that the M9 has a more impressive 5.2in screen with a Quad HD resolution, the Duo Camera setup and a fingerprint scanner.

Microsoft’s mobile apps will be integrated into a future version of Cyanogen’s Android-based operating system, as CEO Satya Nadella steps up efforts to make the company’s software more popular on Google’s platform.

Cyanogen and Microsoft announced a partnership on Thursday that will result in Bing search, Skype, OneDrive, OneNote, Outlook, and Microsoft Office becoming part of the Cyanogen OS, which uses a heavily modified version of the Android interface.

Exactly what this will look like remains to be seen, but Microsoft said it will create “native integrations” with Cyanogen’s operating system. That hints at integration that goes beyond pre-installed apps and well-placed icons.

Microsoft has been stepping up its efforts to improve the applications the company offers on Android and get them installed on as many devices as possible. Last month, Microsoft announced an expanded partnership with Samsung Electronics, for example. Its apps will be pre-installed on Samsung’s tablets and smartphones.

The effort is very much part of CEO Satya Nadella’s plan to move the company’s whole range of applications beyond Windows and onto other OSes, all kinds of devices and into data centers.

Cyanogen OS is pitched as a more flexible version of Google’s OS. This week Cyanogen released version 12 of its OS, which is based on Android Lollipop and is even more customizable than previous iterations.

The OS is used on smartphones such as the OnePlus One, Alcatel OneTouch’s Hero 2 and the Yureka from Yu (which is owned by Indian smartphone maker Micromax).

Send news tips and comments to mikael_ricknas@idg.com

A sub-£200 Android phone with very good performance and a fingerprint scanner
Price: £199.91 from European Warehouse (no import duty)
Rating: 8

Kingzone isn’t a mobile phone brand we’ve heard of in the UK before, but we definitely want to hear more about it. Find out why in our Kingzone Z1 phablet review. Also see: Best phones 2015 and best Android phones 2015.

It’s not often we’re blown away by a mid-range smartphone. Supplied to us by Coolicool.com, the Z1 has an awful lot going for it. At less than £200 it’s faster than the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and iPhone 6 Plus. It’s also well-built, supports dual-SIM and 4G connectivity, has decent cameras, features some useful gestures, and it even has stereo speakers and a fingerprint scanner.

A swipe- rather than touch-based scanner, it’s not the best reader for your fingerprint, but built into the back of the phone just below the camera you can also use it for scrolling or capturing images from the 8Mp selfie camera. And that’s cool.

With a 5.5in screen the Kingzone Z1 is what we refer to as a phablet – something between a phone and a tablet. But with very slim bezels it’s easy to hold and use in a single hand. See all Android phone reviews.

The JDI IPS screen is perhaps the only area this phone shows its budget price tag, with an HD (1280×720) resolution that works out at just 267ppi. It’s not as crisp as what you’ll find on the iPhone 6 Plus or Note 4, but the display is bright enough and usefully large for playing games or watching video.

Very good-looking for a mid-range phone, the Z1 uses a strong metal frame with a plastic grippy rear cover. This is removable, allowing access to dual-SIM and microSD (up to 64GB) slots, plus an also-removable 3500mAh battery that scored well in our benchmarks.

The Z1 feels pretty tough, but is nevertheless supplied with a flip case that even when closed can reveal the time and date through a window. Opening and closing the case wakes the screen, but you don’t even need to do that to answer and reject calls. If you don’t want this case there’s also a silicone case supplied in the box, plus an OTG adaptor and earphones with in-line remote. Also see: Best phablets 2015.

Kingzone Z1 review: Price and UK availability

The Kingzone Z1 is supplied in the UK via Coolicool.com. This is a Chinese site, so before you buy read up on our grey-market tech buying advice. You have two options: you can buy it from the European warehouse for £199.91 and you won’t be liable for import duty; or you can buy it from the Chinese warehouse for £132.59, but you will be liable for import duty if it’s picked up by Customs (of course, you are liable whether or not you’re caught out). Free shipping is available, or you can pay for faster delivery. You can also save $10 with the coupon codeKZONE10.

Kingzone Z1 review: Design and build

For a mid-range phone the Kingzone Z1 is very good-looking. It’s built around a metal frame that ensures a sturdy, premium feel, and although the rear cover is plastic the up side is the fact it’s removable and reveals an also-removable battery. It’s got a grippy, textured finish that feels good in the hands, much preferable to that found on older Samsung Galaxy smartphones, for example. When correctly attached it won’t creak or flex under pressure either.

The rounded corners look and feel good, although the plastic doesn’t sit entirely flush to the metal frame. We also found a slightly rough edge to the metal on the phone’s right side, but that’s a minor gripe.

There’s a huge 5.5in screen on the front of the Z1, which makes this a phablet. Incredibly slim bezels and a 7.5mm frame mean it’s still comfortable to hold in a single hand. It’s also reasonably light for a phablet at 169g – by comparison the 7.1mm iPhone 6 Plus and 8.5mm Samsung Galaxy Note 4 weigh 172g and 176g respectively. Also see: Best cheap 4G phones 2015.

A key difference here, of course, is the resolution. The Kingzone has an HD resolution of 1280×720 pixels, which means it has a density of 276ppi. That’s not at all unusual at this price, but it does mean it isn’t as sharp as the 401- and 515ppi screens found on the iPhone 6 Plus and Note 4.

Nevertheless, the JDI IPS panel is reasonably bright, with realistic colours and strong viewing angles. It’s also of a good size for enjoying games and media, or whatever you want to do on your phone, including browsing long web pages and e-books.

And that’s where one of our favourite features of the Kingzone Z1 comes in: the rear-mounted fingerprint scanner. This is a swipe- rather than touch-based scanner, and shares the same problems as those found on Samsung phones prior to the S6’s release. As a fingerprint scanner it’s a pain to use, and we gave up trying to get it to register our digits. But used as a scrolling control or a dedicated capture button for the selfie camera it’s a very welcome addition to this phablet, and makes one-handed use so much easier.

Stereo speakers are found on the bottom edge of the handset. We’d like to see them at the front, but their positioning is a good compromise for avoiding sound being fired into and muffled by your palm, and in keeping down the phone’s overall size.

On the right edge is a power button, while separate volume controls are on the left. This positioning can make them difficult to access when using the supplied (to us, at least) flip cover, which features a window for the time and date, automatically wakes or sends to sleep the screen, and allows you to answer calls without flipping open the case. Also in the box is a standard silicone rear cover.

At the top of the Z1 is a Micro USB charging port and a 3.5mm headphone jack. A pair of earphones are supplied in the box, along with a Micro USB cable and, very usefully, an OTG adaptor. The latter allows you to connect the Kingzone Z1 to other USB devices, such as storage devices.

Kingzone Z1 review: Hardware and performance

The Kingzone Z1 uses a 64-bit MediaTek MTK6752 octa-core processor clocked at 1.7GHz. This is paired with Mali-T760 graphics, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage (a microSD slot lets you add another 64GB).

Performance is amazing for a £200 phone. In Geekbench 3.0 we recorded a staggering 3689 points in the multi-core component, making the Kingzone Z1 faster than both the iPhone 6 Plus (2917) and Samsung Galaxy Note 4 (3272). It fared better than the Note 4 in SunSpider, too, with 963ms against its 1367ms, while the iPhone 6 Plus performed spectacularly in usual Apple style (in this benchmark) with 369ms. It’s worth pointing out that using the preinstalled browser the Kingzone Z1 performed even better, with 715ms, but we use Chrome to ensure a fair comparison between devices. Also see: What’s the fastest smartphone 2015.

In GFXBench the Kingzone performed admirably, but those aforementioned phablets took the lead. Despite housing the same Mali-T760 chip as the Samsung Galaxy S6, the Z1 isn’t as fast in graphics performance (other hardware must also be taken into consideration here). In T-Rex the Z1 recorded 21fps, and in Manhattan we saw 11fps. By comparison, the iPhone 6 Plus scored 41fps in T-Rex and 19fps in Manhattan, the Note 4 recorded 25fps in T-Rex and 11fps in Manhattan, and the Galaxy S6 saw 30fps in T-Rex and 14fps in Manhattan.

We’ve recently begun running phones through Geekbench 3.0’s battery life test, although for now we have few results with which to compare devices. The Kingzone Z1 recorded 5 hours 45 minutes with a battery score of 3074 points. By comparison the S6 saw 6 hours 53 mins and 4136 points, while the latest Moto G managed 7 hours 35 minutes but scored just 2024 points. See all smartphone reviews.

In real-life usage we found the Kingzone lasted several days in standby mode, and even with heavy use the 3500mAh removable battery should easily get you through the day.

Kingzone Z1 review: Connectivity

Everything you need is covered on the connectivity front. There’s GPS and GLONASS, NFC, 4G LTE (although it’s supported by only one of the dual-SIM slots, the other maxes out at 3G), dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-FI, USB OTG support and Bluetooth 4.0. This is a dual-standby dual-SIM phone, for more details on what that means see our dual-SIM phones buying advice and best dual-SIM phones 2015.

Kingzone Z1 review: Cameras

As with many slim phones we’ve seen recently, the 13Mp Sony camera on the back of the Z1 does protrude ever so slightly at the rear, so you will get a tiny wobble when used on a flat surface. Used with the case this issue disappears.

It’s a pretty good camera, with an f2.0 aperture, 28mm lens and LED flash. We were pleased with our test shots, which show reasonably good detail and largely realistic colours. You can apply filters at the composition stage, and you’ll find various modes such as multi-angle shot, panorama, motion track, live photo, and picture in picture.

HDR isn’t automatic but, as you’ll see below, makes a big difference.

We also tested the video camera, which supports up to 1080p resolution.

The 8Mp selfie camera at the fromt takes a good picture, but beyond real-time application of filters and the ability to smooth wrinkles and whiten your face there is little in the way of manual control. Also see: Best selfie phones 2015.

Kingzone Z1 review: Software

The Kingzone Z1 runs Android 4.4.4 KitKat with Kingzone’s KOS 1.2 UI. The app icons are squares with rounded edges, but in other respects it will be incredibly familiar to KitKat users. The Z1 will get a wireless upgrade to Android Lollipop, too.

The Z1 features several gestures. A double-tap wakes the screen, but if you want to wake it and unlock the screen you can use a single swipe upward. With the screen on standby you can also draw various letter to launch specific functions, such as C for camera or a V for the flashlight. You can create your own custom options too, pairing the letter O, for example, with any app on the phone.

Read next: Best new phones coming in 2015.

Follow Marie Brewis on Twitter.

Buying Advice
For a £200 phone the Kingzone Z1 is a very decent proposition. It has a nice build, some pleasing connectivity features, and we were astonished to find faster performance than phones that cost three times the price, although cutbacks have been made – notably in the screen and fingerprint sensor, although the latter has other uses beyond security.