Photo: Samsung

Samsung’s new design efforts aren’t just for flagship devices; the South Korean company is also releasing affordable phones with sleek metallic frames. One of them is the Galaxy A3, which has already been announced but hasn’t yet gone on sale. That hasn’t stopped the handset from making its way into the wild, though, and it bears all in the hands-on video below.

HTC is still awaiting the thumbs-up from Google. Image: Google

HTC’s Android 5.0 Lollipop update for the One M7 and One M8 Google Play Edition devices is still being held up by Google. HTC had hoped to finally get it out to users on Monday, but according to the company’s vice president of product management, Mo Versi, the update still hasn’t been given the approval it needs for rollout.

The One M9 will finally deliver a decent camera. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android

HTC’s One handsets have been some of the best Android-powered smartphones we’ve seen in recent years, but they certainly haven’t been without their flaws. The Taiwanese company is looking to address many of those with next year’s One M9, which will be better than its predecessors in almost every way, sources claim.

The Z Ultra gets blessed with Lollipop. Photo: Google

Android 5.0 Lollipop is now rolling out to Sony’s Z Ultra Google Play Edition, according to handset owners. In addition to Material Design and other Lollipop goodness, the release brings a new battery saving mode, and a Smart Lock feature that promises to “protect your privacy more conveniently.”

The G Flex could finally get a refresh in January. Photo: LG

LG is expected to finally launch a second-generation G Flex at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, more than a year after the original brought curved smartphone displays to the masses. The device will be a “major upgrade” over its predecessor, sources claim, and it will maintain the self-healing coating the G Flex has become famous for.