News

LeEco’s Le Pro 3 and Le S3 smartphones invade US

Published

October 20, 2016

Marvin Velasco

After releasing a beast of smartphone in the Le Pro 3 just last month, LeEco is now making its way to the US market, headlined by the aforementioned flagship and the more affordable Le S3.

If you already read up on our initial launch story of the Le Pro 3, note that some things have changed for the US release. There’ll only be one variant available, and it’ll cost $399, which makes it a little more expensive than most of what China is getting.

Here is what’s being offered: a 5.5-inch Full HD 1080p display, Qualcomm’s top-end Snapdragon 821 processor, 4GB of memory with 64GB of storage, a pair of 16-megapixel and 8-megapixel cameras, 4070mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0, and — surprise, surprise — no 3.5mm headphone jack.

[irp posts=”4692″ name=”LeEco’s flagship Le Pro 3 has beastly specs”]

So yes, it’s nowhere near as impressive as the Chinese variants, but the US model is still groundbreaking when you consider how little penetration China-based brands have had in western countries.

The launch is certainly a step up from whatever Xiaomi has accomplished; the former top-five smartphone manufacturer in the world only managed to release the Android-powered Mi Box 4K set-top box in the US this month, with no handsets in sight.

Huawei has also been working hard on a breakthrough in the west. It’s biggest successes have been the Google-supported Nexus 6P and the recently launched Honor 8, but neither have made a grand enough impact to call the company a force worth reckoning with.

Only OnePlus has made enough headlines to count as a threat, but its strategy focuses on creating high-quality devices at low quantities, resulting in fantastic reviews and negligible revenue.

[irp posts=”3385″ name=”OnePlus 3 unboxing and hands-on”]

LeEco’s other smartphone, the Le S3, is actually totally new, and makes an even stronger case for the brand’s case in the US. It’s quite the bargain for $249, especially once you see what it’s capable of.

It’s equipped with the same 5.5-inch Full HD screen as its counterpart, a midrange Snapdragon 652 chipset, 3GB of RAM with 32GB of storage, the same set of cameras, 3000mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0, and no dedicated audio port to speak of.

Both handsets come with Android 6.0 Marshmallow skinned with LeEco’s custom EUI design, along with an aluminum body, rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, and USB Type-C 3.5mm adapter, in case you must use your traditional headphones.

There’ll be a flash sale on November 2, and if you’re quick enough, LeEco will shave off $100 from the retail prices of both phones to make them even cheaper. Now that’s a great way to make your presence known in a foreign land.

Source: LeMall, (2)

News

vivo X300 Ultra goes global with ZEISS Master Lenses

Pro imaging flagship debuts globally

Published

April 16, 2026

GadgetMatch

vivo has officially announced the global launch of the X300 Ultra, marking the first international debut of its top-tier imaging flagship.

The device introduces the ZEISS Master Lenses Collection, featuring triple prime focal lengths at 14mm, 35mm, and 85mm. It supports up to 200MP output across key focal lengths and can extend reach to 200mm and 400mm using optional telephoto extenders.

A 200MP 85mm telephoto camera with gimbal-level stabilization and 60fps AF tracking enables detailed long-range shots. Meanwhile, the 35mm camera uses a large Sony LYTIA sensor for natural perspective and improved low-light performance.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

For video, the X300 Ultra supports multi-focal 4K 120fps recording in both 10-bit Log and Dolby Vision formats. It also introduces Pro Video mode with LUT support and compatibility with ACES workflows for advanced color grading.

The phone runs on Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, paired with a dedicated imaging chip. It packs a 6600mAh battery with 100W wired and 40W wireless charging.

Other features include a 2K ZEISS Master Color Display, quad-mic audio recording system, IP68/IP69 durability, and up to five years of OS updates.

Pricing and availability will depend on the region.

Read more: vivo X300 Ultra wants to beat the iPhone 17 Pro Max in pro video

Enterprise

Allbirds suddenly turns into an AI company

Published

April 16, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Allbirds is an odd shoe company. Though it already enjoyed a cult following in some circles around the world, the brand suddenly expanded its reach everywhere, offering a lighter and more environment-friendly alternative to the usual suspects of the shoe world. Now, getting even odder, Allbirds is ditching the shoes and going barefoot into the world of AI.

It’s one of the oddest transitions in the corporate world. In an official statement, Allbirds has confirmed that it will pivot fully into a “fully integrated GPU-as-a-Service and AI-native cloud solutions provider.” From Allbirds, it will be known as NewBird AI.

It’s not an incredibly abrupt change, though. The shoe brand and its stores won’t disappear overnight. The company will still hold a shareholder vote on May 18. If approved, they will transition into the new brand gradually.

The transition to AI, itself a gremlin of a keyword in today’s financial world, has resulted in the company’s stock value rising up. However, its long-term viability is in question, especially for a company with no experience in a world already drowning in AI.

From last year to today, AI has been the darling child of investors and a plague to consumers. While the former salivates over the short-term gain of AI adoption, the latter ruminates on the technology’s projected effects on the world.

News

vivo X300 FE launches with ZEISS telephoto system

Compact phone with pro zoom

Published

April 16, 2026

GadgetMatch

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

vivo has announced the vivo X300 FE, a compact flagship built around pro-grade imaging, long battery life, and extended software support.

The device features a ZEISS co-engineered camera system, led by a 50MP Super Telephoto camera with up to 200mm equivalent focal length via the all-new Telephoto Extender Gen 2. It also includes a 50MP main camera alongside a 110° ultra-wide lens.

This camera system is designed for flexible shooting across travel, concerts, and street photography.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

AI imaging powers much of the experience, with features like AI True Clarity Engine, Stage Mode for low-light concerts, and AI editing tools such as AI Erase and AI Image Expander. Video capabilities go up to 8K at 30fps and 4K at 120fps.

The X300 FE adopts a compact flat design with a 6.31-inch display, weighing 191g and measuring 7.99mm thin. It comes in Mist Purple, Glow White, Luxe Black, and Urban Olive colorways.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Powering the device is the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5. You should not confuse it though with the more superior Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.

Moreover, it has a 6500mAh battery paired with 90W wired charging plus 40W wireless charging that the newer V70 series lacks.. It also features a vapor chamber cooling system for sustained performance.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

The phone runs OriginOS 6 with cross-device features and promises five years of OS updates, seven years of security patches, and long-term smooth performance.

The vivo X300 FE also carries IP68 and IP69 ratings for dust and water resistance.

Pricing and availability will depend on the region.