ZTE Libra Gingerbread phone unleashed

Android 2.3 action in the Far East

ZTE has detailed its latest Android handset, model number X880 - aka the ZTE Libra.

According to our ZTE peeps, the phone has gone live in Asia this week although as of yet there's no UK operator in place for a launch on these shores.

The Libra isn't, despite the Brightpoint listing, the ZTE Blade (which hit the UK as the Orange San Francisco) and is in fact an entirely new device.

One rocking the latest version of Android Gingerbread - 2.3.4 - no less.

It packs a 600MHz Qualcomm MSM7227 chip, and offers GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz, UMTS 900 / 2100 MHz connectivity as well as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0, an accelerometer, a proximity sensor, a digital compass and assisted GPS.

It has full access to the Android Market and comes pre-loaded with all the official Google goodies.

We'll update you with regards to when we may be seeing the ZTE Libra in the UK as soon as we hear anything further.

Article: RSS via Pocket-lint

Samsung Galaxy S II HD tipped for UK launch

Samsung is apparently bringing the Galaxy S II Skyrocket HD to the UK, as the Galaxy S II HD, a version of its best-selling dual-core smartphone packing a 720p HD capable Super AMOLED HD display. Although not yet officially confirmed by Samsung itself, the non-LTE smartphone briefly cropped up with UK retailer MobiCity where it was spotted by MoDaCo, though no UK pricing, release date or product page are currently available.

However, based on the US and South Korean variants, along with a product page from the retailer's Australian division, we have a good idea what the Samsung Galaxy S II HD will offer. In short, it's just the Galaxy S II we were hoping for: gone is the WVGA display, which although color-rich and with broad viewing angles, was looking short on pixels in comparison to qHD and 720p rivals, replaced by a 4.65-inch 1280 x 720 panel that we're guessing is the same as on the Galaxy Nexus.

There's also a 1,850 mAh battery to keep that display - and the 1.5GHz dual-core Scorpion processor with 1GB of RAM - running all day, and Android 2.3 Gingerbread with Samsung's own TouchWiz tweaks.

In Australia, the Galaxy S II HD will be priced at AU$749 ($780/ 508) and is apparently in-stock now. However it's possible that this is a grey-import of the Korean LTE model; the retailer is using images of that variant on its product page, and the E120s product code is the same as Samsung uses in Korea.