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august 2013
Nokia Lumia 925 Has Nokia finally produced the ultimate Windows Phone 8 device?
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The SOS phone that could save a life See Page 6
Snap decisions Top tips to put some extra fizz into your camera phone shots.
Cameras with phones and phones with cameras. Samsung has us confused.
Speed bumps
Sony Xperia Ultra Z
We treat our EE SIM card to a day out in London to see just how fast the service really is.
Big phone or small tablet? With a 6.5-inch screen the Xperia Ultra Z is a real pocket buster.
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More Windows Phone 8 hints, tips and tricks than you can shake a Nokia at.
August 2013
Getting to know Windows Phone 8
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Help us judge our annual Awards The big news this month is the chance to win one of four of the world’s best smartphones. We’ve got a total of four great £550-plus devices to give away courtesy of our What Mobile Awards headline sponsor Truphone who have donated a couple of brand spanking new iPhone 5’s, a BlackBerry Q10 and a Sony Xperia Z. All you have to do is surf over to www.whatmobile.net (or turn to the What Mobile Awards ad on Page 13), follow the link to the What Mobile Awards survey and start ticking the devices, accessories, networks, retailers, and services of the last 12 months that you think were better than all the rest. We’ll randomly select five voters and send them one of the best smart phones you can buy absolutely free of charge. There are no catches (except you’ll have to insert your own SIM card and pay for your own usage!). This year marks the 10th anniversary of the What Mobile Awards. They celebrate the judgement of you, the customers, and are taken VERY seriously by the big brands. So we’re relying on our readers to continue to make the Awards the most independent and important gongs in the mobile gadgets sector of the consumer electronics industry.
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contents august 2013
contents 38
August 2013 www.whatmobile.net
07 Accessories
More super and silly stuff to make your mobile feel protected, loved and connected.
36 Classic Reading
How to get all the world’s most famous classics absolutely free of charge.
38 Mobile Payments
Wave your phone and get stuff. Nice idea. But will the dream of replacing cash with your phone turn out to be a nightmare?
42 Focus on Photography
Megapixels and Zeiss lenses on your phone don’t count for much if your composition is off. So a word in your ear …
44 Instagram Masterclass 44
Top tips on using the world’s biggest online photo-sharing, and social networking service app.
48 4G Speed Test
EE is the first network to offer blistering mobile data speeds. Our real-world test reveals the reality behind the hype.
52 Windows Phone 8 Guide
If you’re struggling to use a Windows Phone 8 phone we have the know-how to take away the Windows pain (ho ho)
56 Games
The Deus Ex world comes to mobile devices.
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S P E E D OME TER 4 Questions? Head to our online forum at forum.whatmobile.net
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contents august 2013
16
22
16 Nokia Lumia 925
A great design coupled with an excellent camera. What’s not to like?
22 Sony Xperia L
A solid low-end offering with some mid-tier specs.
26 Vodafone Smart 3
Less than £100 for a phone running Android Jelly Bean? The man from Vodafone says ‘yes’.
28 LG Optimus L3
A creaky processor and reduced screen quality takes the shine off LG’s new budget Android offering.
30 First Look: Samsung
Samsung mixes it up with tablets that are computers and phones that are cameras. Or vice versa.
34 First Look: Sony
Sony wants the Smartwatch 2 to be your ‘second screen’
64 Buyer’s Guide
30
Want to know the intimate details of 100 gadgets and phones? It’s all here.
06
win
a doro easyphone 506, TURN TO page 6 TO ENTER
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04-05_Contents_Aug13.indd 5
02/07/2013 15:56
competition doro easyphone 506
WIN THE PHONE THAT COULD SAVE A LIFE!
If you’ve got a vulnerable/elderly relative or family member, the foolproof Doro PhoneEasy 506 offers much peace of mind. An emergency ‘Attention Assist’ call button automatically switches the phone to handsfree speaker mode and dials pre-programmed emergency numbers until a call is answered. Plus the ICE (In Case of Emergency) facility gives first responders quick access to vital medical details such as allergies, blood group and doctor’s contact details. To be in with a chance to win a PhoneEasy 506 just email us your answer to the question below.
WHAT DOES SOS STAND FOR?
A. Save Our Ship B. Save Our Souls C. Morse code for ‘S’ and ‘O’
Email your entry (one only) to
[email protected] Winner’s name will be posted at www.facebook.com/whatmobilemagazine. Terms & Conditions: 1. The promoter of this competition is Clark White Publishing Ltd. 2. The competition is open to all UK residents aged 18 years or over, excluding employees of What Mobile, all participating companies, its agents or families and any company associated with this competition 3. By entering, all entrants will be deemed to have accepted these rules 4. All entry instructions form a part of the terms and conditions 5. Closing date: 8th August 2013 6. Only one entry per email/IP address will be accepted 7. The winning entry will be selected randomly by the administrator of the What Mobile Facebook page who will be sent a SIM-free Doro PhoneEasy 506 and announced via our Facebook page. 8. No cash alternative or other device will be offered 9. No correspondence will be entered into except that the name of the winner will be available upon written request. 11. No SIM is included.
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01/07/2013 16:52
gadgets, gifts and accessories
Gadgets and Accessories The best of the month’s new smartphone and tablet gadgets, accessories and gifts
Jabra Freeway £80, amazon.com The Freeway handsfree speaker allows drivers to make and end calls by speaking; it turns off automatically.
SteelSeries 9H £140, steelseries.com A competitive gaming handset with durable design, Dolby Technology and an advanced USB soundboard.
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Gadgets, Gifts and accessories
Rest and Recharge £40, quirky.com This gadget docking station has four USB docks and is curved to cradle your various gadgets.
S4 Glaze Tempered Shield £30, accessoryvillage.co.uk The Glaze Tempered Shield is a slim S4 screen protector which uses shatterproof Japanese grade 8H glass.
Wahoo Fitness RFLKT £120, wahoofitness.com This lets cyclists wirelessly transmit their cycling app and music data from the iPhone 5 or 4S to the device.
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Doro PhoneEasy ® 612 Stylish and easy to use camera phone • Take and share photos • Direct dials and SMS button • Extra loud and clear sound (HAC) • Charging cradle included
Find your retailer www.doro.co.uk/easy
07-12-Accessories-Aug13.indd 9
02/07/2013 15:54
Gadgets, Gifts and accessories
AQ Audio ColourCovers £8, aqaudio.com These interchangeable covers for the SmartSpeaker A1 and A2 come in green, red, purple and orange.
e-Storm Bluetooth Wireless Speaker £50, bitmore.co.uk The e-Storm speaker is water resistant and features an SD slot; two hours charge gets up to eight hours playback.
10 Questions? Head to our online forum at forum.whatmobile.net
07-12-Accessories-Aug13.indd 10
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Gadgets, Gifts and accessories
Mobile TV (DVB-T) receiver £81, anymode.co.uk For the Samsung Galaxy Tab and Note 10.1, the receiver uses the integrated antenna to watch mobile TV via apps.
Ted Baker iPhone 5 cases £29.95, proporta.co.uk Ted Baker and Proporta have teamed up for their Autumn/ Winter iPhone 5 cases for fashionable gadget protection.
Olloclip Quick-Flip case £50, olloclip.com For iPhone 4 and up, this case turns your device into a mobile photography studio, enabling attachable lenses.
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IN ASSOCIATION WITH
Vote now to win one of four great smartphones provided by The What Mobile Awards 2013 are here. Tell us which products and services have impressed you most over the past 12 months and be in to win one of the world’s top smartphones. We’ve got a Sony Xperia Z, a BlackBerry Q10 and two Apple iPhone 5’s to give away to say ‘thank you’ to five lucky voters.
AWARDS CATEGORIES Smartphone Camera phone Budget phone Specialist phone Tablet
Manufacturer Network MVNO
Online retailer Accessory retailer Readers’ Choice
Recycling service Insurance provider Customer service High-street retailer Service and repair
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01/07/2013 16:40
reviews in this issue
re views
Nokia presents its newest Lumia, complete with improved camera capabilities, but is it as supercharged as Huawei’s ‘world’s fastest smartphone’, the Ascend P2? Read on to find out...
Nokia Lumia 925
16
Sony Xperia L
22 How we review
To show you where a phone or tablet succeeds or fails, we grade each device in five key areas.
Performance
First we fully test the speed and power of each device we review.
Usability
Next we find out how well the device functions in daily use.
Design
Then we rate the style and quality of the overall design.
Features
What kind of unique features and add-ons does it have?
Final verdict “Whilst this is the best Windows Phone yet, it’s unlikely to be the best for very long”
Vodafone Smart III
26
“Everything looked worse on the Smart III than on any other similarly-specced phones”
First Look: Samsung
30
“We’ve seen Android running on Windows tablets before, but this is truly special”
“Billed as a low-end device, but features some fairly impressive mid-tier specs”
LG Optimus L5
28
“Photos were crisp with good colour detail and reasonable clarity in low light”
First Look: Sony
34
“You’re probably itching to get your hands on these, but you’ll have to wait a little longer”
A rating out of five, balancing cost versus performance
Editor’s choice Only the very best devices will win our What Mobile Editor’s Choice award.
editor’s choice
HHHHH
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review nokia lumia 925
Nokia Lumia 925 Is this the perfect Windows Phone experience? Price: £479 Reviewer: Jordan O’Brien
editor’s choice
HHHHH
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Dimensions 129 x 70.6 x 8.5 mm Display 768 x 1280 pixels, 4.5 inches (332 ppi) OS Windows Phone 8 CPU Qualcomm MSM8960 Snapdragon Dual-core 1.5 GHz Krait GPU Adreno 225
Memory 1GB RAM Storage 16GB or 32GB (Vodafone only) Wireless Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, DLNA Camera 8 MP, 3264 x 2448 pixels, Carl Zeiss optics, optical image stabilization, autofocus Battery Li-Ion 2000 mAh
16 Questions? Head to our online forum at forum.whatmobile.net
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review nokia lumia 925
T
he Nokia Lumia 925 is by no means a revolutionary phone, bringing more evolution than revolution to the table, but this should not fool you because this is a phone which has built on the great work of its predecessors. With the Lumia 925 being an increment change from the 920, you shouldn’t be at all surprised that the phones are quite similar, although we think Nokia has made enough changes to ensure the 925 remains in a category all on its own. Whilst the 920 was big and bulky, the 925 is a lot slimmer and lighter, thanks to the aluminium design – which is a first for the Lumia range. Despite all the chopping down, Nokia refused to take out any of the insides of the Lumia 920, with the same innards as its predecessor, plus a few notable upgrades.
“Compared to the Lumia 920, it’s more usable in one hand and less noticeable in your pocket” When picking up the Lumia 925 you straight away notice the difference in both size and weight compared to its predecessor. We have to say that this is the first Lumia we have seen that compares to the lightness and thinness of other phones on the market. Whilst it’s still thicker than a Samsung Galaxy S4, HTC One and even an Xperia Z, it wasn’t all that noticeable. In fact, when compared to an Xperia Z, we’d even argue that it felt less bulky, with the device weighing slightly less in our hands. When compared to the original Lumia 920, which came in at 10.7mm, it’s no contest, with this just being 8.5mm thick, which makes it a lot more usable in one hand, as well as a lot
less noticeable whilst in your pocket. The screen isn’t the largest we’ve seen, at just 4.5 inches, and it isn’t HD, but this is a very different screen from the Lumia 920, with Nokia opting for an AMOLED panel rather than the IPS LCD we saw on the 920. We think that this is around the perfect size for a phone screen, not too big yet not too small. It would be nice to have an HD screen, but as it stands it’s still a vivid display – just like the one we saw on the 920. It also has the same PureMotionHD+ technology, which Nokia claims reduces latency on animations – something we noticed on the 925, as well as the 920, with the Windows Phone UI being very responsive to touch and incredibly fast. One issue we had with the screen is the fact that it simply didn’t replicate colours in the same way as the IPS LCD, despite having excellent colour replication, although we have to say they definitely felt brighter as the AMOLED screen really helped the blacks blend into the bezel, meaning the colourful UI of Windows Phone looked a lot more vibrant.
TRUE COLOURS
The screen looks great, but could be higher res
The PureView branding is now proudly displayed
Wireless charging is no longer in-built
Nokia has also included a setting where you can change your colour profile, just as you would your ringtone. This enables you to change both the temperature of the colours as well as the saturation, with many preinstalled options available to you, as well as the ability to tweak it manually. One issue I find with most smartphones is the inability to read the screen in the sunlight, something that was very much present on other flagships like the Samsung Galaxy S4. With the Lumia 925 I was surprised by how easy it is to see everything on the screen even in incredibly bright direct sunlight. If you loved the ability to use gloves in the Lumia 920, then that is back with the 925, and yes you can even use your keys, although it isn’t advised. Under the screen are the same three soft button we’ve come to expect from all Windows Phones, although we did notice that when our phone had run out of charge, the Windows start button would flash after you plug it in. This flashing logo is something we want to see used a lot more, with it flashing for other events such as notifications – something that is common with Android phones.
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review nokia lumia 925
Keep on top of your storage usage
People have reported that the Lumia 925 has a notification light, as many have noticed that there is a red light in the top right corner, but Nokia has clarified that this is not a light and is simply the proximity sensor. The soft buttons have seen an improvement over the 920 though, with the lights being a lot brighter when illuminated - we did have some issues with this however, as the lights did not always show up, even when in a completely dark room. Turn the device around and you’ll notice a familiar material, something Nokia hasn’t abandoned on the Lumia 925 – despite encasing it in aluminium. We had the white 925 which looked a lot better, but also picked up dirt a lot more, a possible downside to choosing polycarbonate for the rear panel. Issues of dirt aside, the Lumia 925 looks very nice from behind, with everything seemingly well thought out, from the speaker grill to the slight bump on the camera. The camera is definitely an important feature of the 925, with Nokia claiming that it can capture “more than your eyes can see”, something you’ll hear a lot more about later. Also on the back you’ll notice three small dots just above the speaker grill. This is where one of the differences between the 920
You can see the clock even when the phone is locked
FM Radio is back, first with the Lumia 925
“We were incredibly impressed by the clarity of the sound, although it could have been louder” and 925 really stands out – with the Lumia 925 losing its wireless charging capabilities as a standalone device. Now if you want to wirelessly charge your 925 you’ll have to buy a separate case which connects to these three dots – something we’ve seen on similar flagships such as the Samsung Galaxy S4.
BUMPY RIDE As far as design goes, it isn’t challenged aesthetically by those three dots, but one place it is challenged is the inclusion of two bumps on the speaker grill – which were noticeable at first, but as we got used to the device, we didn’t even acknowledge their existence. That said, unlike other flagship devices, the Lumia 925 is nowhere near as flat on its rear, with curves, bumps and indents galore. As for the edges of device, they are all nice and smooth, making it feel a lot nicer to hold, although we thought that Nokia felt a little too passionately about putting all the ports in one place, with them all being on the top rather than spread out. The ports you do get are standard slots for both micro-SIM and Micro-USB as well as a
3.5mm headphone jack. We do have to applaud Nokia for moving the micro-USB slot to the top, as it makes the device a lot more accessible whilst charging, although it was annoyingly positioned being slightly left of centre. There is no microSD card slot on the Lumia 925, with the only remaining features on the side of the device being the buttons for the volume, power and camera functions – something which is also present on every Windows Phone device. As Nokia has chosen to keep both the left side and bottom of the device free, Lumia 920 users may find the 925 a bit of a culture shock, as Nokia has even chosen to put the speakers on the back of the device. This didn’t affect sound too much, although we had to be careful not to cover the grill. As far as sound quality goes, we were incredibly impressed by the clarity of the sound, although we felt that it could have been slightly louder – especially given the 920’s booming speakers. It doesn’t have a quad-core processor, nor does it have eye tracking, but the Lumia 925
18 Questions? Head to our online forum at forum.whatmobile.net
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review nokia lumia 925
More than our eyes can see? Nokia really went all out with the Lumia 925 camera, promising an even better experience than the already sublime Lumia 920. The company even went as far as putting the PureView name in a prominent position just below the camera – something they chose not to do with the Lumia 920, despite it having PureView technology. Whilst there is a promise of an even better camera, it hasn’t changed all that much, with the same 8.7-megapixel camera and LED flash – something we would have liked to have seen change, especially given the US-exclusive Lumia 928 includes a much better Xenon flash. We did get one new thing with the 925 though, with the addition of a sixth lens. Initially we didn’t see any improvements on the Lumia 920’s camera, which is either testament to how good the 920’s camera is, or Nokia hitting a brick wall. For now we’ll say it’s the former. The Lumia 925’s camera is supposedly focused on bringing you a great low-light experience, which we have to admit, it delivered. In our testing, we found that face detail was incredibly easy to pick out even in the darkest of rooms. Whilst there was quite a lot of grain in these conditions we’re willing to forgive it, as it’s heads and shoulders above the competition. Like the Lumia 920, the 925 features Optical Image Stabilisation, which aims to ensure that any movements you do make are compensated for. This works best in video, although we found taking photos on a powerboat in the middle of the Thames very easy as well. With all the improvements of the 925’s camera, we have to admit it was rather hit and miss, with some photos a lot darker than we would expect, something we experienced a lot more on Nokia’s own Smart
Images look simply stunning on the Lumia 925’s camera, especially in daylight
Cam software more than the default Windows Phone camera. The Smart Cam app was a big boost to the Lumia 925, with it being capable of taking up to 10 pictures at a time in quick succession, up from the former limit of five on the Lumia 920’s Smart Shoot app. There are also a lot of other cool things you can do with the Smart Cam app, with users being able to create action shots, choose the best out of the 10, focus on motion, change faces and even remove moving objects, which means no more photobombing. These are features that felt a little gimmicky, with us not actually utilising them very often, although we did find ourselves enjoying some of the effects, so it’s always nice to have them on-hand. The Lumia 925 is the first Lumia to get the Smart Cam app, with others set to get it in the next few months, through the Amber Update. You can set the Smart Cam app as the default camera app for the 925, although this isn’t recommended as there are a few issues with the app, including the fact that it downsizes 8.7-megapixel shots into more workable 5-megapixels. We found that on some occasions we The Lumia 925 features an additional were presented with these dark lines lens when compared to its predecessor. across the screen when trying to shoot, which really disappointed us, as it made taking a photo impossible without it looking truly terrible. You also can’t switch to video very quickly, which is a bummer, so it’s recommended to remain in the normal camera mode. Speaking of video, we were most impressed by what the Lumia 925 managed to capture, with both sound and picture looking incredible, even in low-light conditions. If you want a phone to shoot in both 720p and 1080p with crisp clear images, as well as impeccable sound, then the Lumia 925 is definitely the one to go for.
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review nokia lumia 925
is by no means an unimpressive device when it comes to its ability to perform. In fact, it performs incredibly well, even in benchmark tests with the 925 even coping with some intensive 3D games, such as N.O.V.A. Battery life was also not that terrible; although it didn’t manage to last a full day, it was a notable step up from the Lumia 920. With a 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 processor, the Windows Phone UI didn’t struggle at all, switching between apps incredibly quickly with no latency whatsoever – which was also helped by the 1GB of RAM on-board. It wasn’t all coming up roses for the Lumia 925 HOWEVER, with our review unit suffering crashing to the lockscreen on occasions. Whilst this wasn’t the biggest issue in the world as all apps we were running were still
going, it often became frustrating and on very rare occasions the phone even restarted itself.
Windows Phone Anchor Performance isn’t really a problem on the 925, nor is design, in fact we’d say it’s one of the better phones we’ve seen in these aspects. It is however let down by the lack of apps on Microsoft’s Windows Phone operating system. Those of you who need access to first-party apps from Vine, Instagram or Dropbox will have to look elsewhere as Windows Phone can only offer third party alternatives. Windows Phone is by no means a bad operating system, in fact it’s a completely powerful and intuitive OS. But when you have games which launch months after their Android and iOS counterparts, then you’re into
dangerous territory with many people having already moved onto new games. Despite a lot of third party support across the Windows Phone ecosystem, with apps such as Instance and 6secs, they’re not always as fully featured as their first party counterparts, with apps like Instance missing features such as Instagram’s new video service. It’s great to see the latest Amber update bring back some features we know and love from Windows Phone 7, such as an FM Radio, but it doesn’t go far enough, still behind both iOS and Android, lacking features like a Notification Center or even true multitasking. Recent leaks have suggested that Windows Phone will get these features at some point, which is a positive sign, but when we’ll get them remains up in the air.
Comparing the Lumia range budget
mid-range
Screen Size: 4.3 inches Resolution: 480 x 800 NFC: Yes Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 1GHz dual-core RAM: 512MB Storage: 8 GB expandable to 64GB Camera: 6.7 megapixels Video Resolution: 720p Wireless charging: Optional Weight: 128g Dimensions: 127.9 x 67.5 x 9 mm
Nokia Lumia 920
Nokia Lumia 720
Nokia Lumia 520 Screen Size: 4.0 inches Resolution: 480 x 800 pixels NFC: No Processor: Qualcomm MSM8227 dual-core 1GHz RAM: 512MB Storage: 8 GB expandable up to 64GB Camera: 5 megapixels Video Resolution: 720p Wireless Charging: No Weight: 124g Dimensions: 119.9 x 64 x 9.9 mm
power user
Screen Size: 4.5 inches Resolution: 768x1280 NFC: Yes Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 1.5GHz dual-core RAM: 1GB Storage: 32 GB non-expandable Camera: 8.7 megapixels PureView Video Resolution: 1080p Wireless charging: Yes Weight: 185g Dimensions: 130.3 x 70.8 x 10.7 mm
20 Questions? Head to our online forum at forum.whatmobile.net
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02/07/2013 15:52
review nokia lumia 925
All your standard Windows 8 features are on-board
Gaming is simple on the 925 thanks to its incredible GPU
Windows Phone is all about the people you care about
Windows Phone is definitely on its way up, with many new apps launching on the system every week, and even some apps using this platform to launch. Telefonica, the owner of O2 UK, has also thrown its weight behind Windows Phone, promising to push the operating system even harder than ever – a sign that even the networks are warming up to the OS. Nokia are also continuing to make their tweaks to the OS, including the ability to set Nokia’s own software as the default camera, as well as a new Glance Screen. Glance Screen works pretty well showing
you the time even when the screen is locked. It displays both your battery status and your ringtone profile. We would like for it to display notifications at some point too. If you don’t like the bright white lighting up your room when you’re asleep, then no problem with a dedicated night mode which turns those white pixels into red ones instead.
Nokia’s next flagship which is rumoured to be unveiled at an event in New York on July 11th. It’s not all down to Nokia though, with great hardware constantly being produced. It’s nice to finally have something much lighter and thinner, but Nokia could have done more with that screen, although Windows Phone does not yet support high resolution displays. Whilst this is the best Windows Phone yet, it’s unlikely that it’s going to be the best for very long, with HTC rumoured to already be prepping its next hero device. Windows Phone is definitely preparing for take off, and right now the jet fuel that seems to be fuelling Microsoft is Nokia’s great hardware. All we need to see now is for Microsoft to add a few more features to bring it more in-line with other operating systems.
the best Windows Phone yet? It’s an incremental change but it’s all about refinement and Nokia has done very well here. There are obvious improvements that could be made, something we’ll most likely see with
“Glance Screen works pretty well showing you the time even when the screen is locked”
Incremental changes can sometimes make the world of difference, it doesn’t always have to be a massive change to be something completely new, as seen here with the Lumia 925. A great design coupled with an excellent camera is what you get. It really is the best Windows Phone you can buy, and if you value solid hardware and a great design over software features, then it’s probably your phone of choice. + Less bulky than the Lumia 920 + Impeccable low-light shots + Incredibly responsive UI
– Only 16GB of storage which isn’t expandable – Windows Phone 8 OS isn’t yet feature complete – No built-in wireless charging
OVERALL HHHHH Performance
HHHHH design
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Usability
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HHHHH www.whatmobile.net 21
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02/07/2013 15:52
review sony xperia L
Sony Xperia L If you can’t stretch to the flagship Xperia X, the Xperia L is a good halfway house Price: £249 Reviewer: Alex Walls
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he Xperia L is billed as a low-end device, but features some fairly impressive mid-tier specs. But you’ll pay for the improvement, with the phone costing £249 (SIM-free) The Xperia L is not going to win any design awards. Unlike its big brother the ‘Z’ it doesn’t look like a black monolith. This handset has
wedge ends which slope away to a noticeably arced back cove. It looks odd and is quite chunky at 9.7mm thick, made more so by the odd sandwich look where the plastic bezel changes to a metal bezel and back to a matte plastic cover. The power button sticks out like a small metal pimple. The camera lens is also a giant
crater on the back and I was rather nervous it would be damaged by stuffing into my bag.
ON HOLD The phone is 128.7 by 65mm and weighs 137g and so is comfortable to hold, although the corners will poke into your palm. In fact the Xperia L looks like a PlayStation
Spec sheet Dimensions 128.7x 65 x 9.7mm, 137g Display 4.3 inch, TFT capacitive touchscreen, 480x854 pixels, 228 ppi OS Android 4.1 CPU Qualcomm MSM8230 Snapdragon dual core 1GHz GPU Adreno 305 Memory 1GB RAM Storage 8GB, microSD up to 32GB Wireless Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n Camera 8MP, autofocus, LED flash Battery Up to 9 hours (3G) - accurate
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Power on with this small metallic ‘pimple’ button
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22 Questions? Head to our online forum at forum.whatmobile.net
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02/07/2013 15:50
review sony xperia L
There’s direct access to the PlayStation store but games are limited
phone. The angled ends seem to lend themselves to holding the phone horizontally and playing games like a PlayStation Portable. However, there are issues with the supply of PlayStation games available – see our box out. The 4.3-inch touchscreen has a resolution of 480 by 854 pixels with a pixel density of 228 ppi. This may seem to be a bit miserly but I didn’t have an issue with the Xperia L’s screen. In fact, for a £250 phone the screen resolution is good, with crisp detail and bright colours, although the detail is not as dazzling as on the Xperia Z. But of course the L is half the price of the flagship Z. Movies in particular look good on the Xperia L, with crisp detail and smooth transitions. The scratch-resistant glass did its job; a
Low-light camera performance might not be great, but we’ve seen a lot worse
week of rolling around in various bags resulted in not a scratch, dent or scuff.
Slowly does it A Snapdragon dual core 1GHz processor with 1GB RAM isn’t a huge amount of lift but is respectable for a £250 device. As a comparison the Nokia Lumia 620 runs with a Snapdragon Krait 1GHz chip with 512MB RAM. These are different chipsets, but the L is not embarassed by its engine. It mostly ran without lag. Flicking between apps, browsing the Internet and downloading
apps and updates didn’t result in any freezing or noticeable pauses. There was occasionally some lag in response to screen touches. This was annoying when trying to get on with a task such as searching current locations on Google Maps. The phone also froze between load screens when running graphic-intensive games such as Temple Run 2, although I didn’t have any other issues with playing games which usually eat up power. The Xperia L runs Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean). this isn’t the latest version of Android, but it’ll get what you need done.
“Some of the Sony-installed applications could be considered bloatware”
Sony’s app offerings: TrackID, Smart Connect and Throw One of Sony’s home-grown turning off GPS and data traffic app offerings (available for automatically when the device download on the Play Store) is plugged into a charger. worth taking a look at is The Xperia L has, like most of TrackID, which is Sony’s the Xperia range, the ‘Throw’ version of the better named feature, which plays media, Shazam – it recognises tracks such as movies and music, on after about seven seconds of other DLNA devices. DLNA sound. While it has trouble is a set of interoperability with songs which start slowly, guidelines set up by Sony and and with some classical music devices need to be certified to tracks, TrackID works well use the Throw feature. Such and is fun to play with. Plus, devices include the Samsung if you’re in the gym and hear S3 Mini, but not iPhones (as far a song you like, no need to as we could tell). This is a neat The Throw feature shares media with other DLNA compatible devices. dream wistfully of learning its sounding feature, even if there name – just whip your phone are various alternative media out and point at the speaker. sharing options out there, but it had limited functionality. There’s also Sony’s Smart Connect function which allows you to The Xperia L has the one-touch mirroring capability, which only set cues or timers for given actions or events, such as playing a works with NFC-enabled Bravia TV, again a limited usage. This particular song or playlist when you plug in your headphones or allows you to play pictures and movies through your TV.
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review sony xperia L
PlayStation Certified The Xperia L is PlayStation Certified, meaning you can run games from the PlayStation Store. So why aren’t we jumping for joy? Well, at start-up it declined to open applications downloaded from an ‘unknown source’. There aren’t many games on offer, plus what’s there is pretty expensive; there are only a few free games (one of which includes the Lite version of Lemmings 3D). The lack of Sony-authorised games is also disappointing, particularly for a phone which seems to have been designed to play games. We remember when Sony was famous for leading the way in console games.
Sony’s user interface is overlaid. This has Sony apps such as a music player (Walkman), with links to the PlayNow service for music purchases, a photo viewer (Album) and a video player (Movies). There’s also Music Unlimited, a music library and streaming service which offers free subscription for 30 days (£4.99 per 30 days after this) and offline playlist listening. By running Android, the Xperia L has access to Google’s Play Store. Sony has its own version of various Google apps and sometimes both are offered (Google Music and Movies), so some onboard Sony apps are not necessary.
BATTERY AND MEMORY The Xperia L did well in battery tests, with our light to medium usage including streaming movies, playing games, browsing the Internet, searching on maps, texting, calling and checking email. The phone lasted more than 12 hours, although not much longer; after the 13-hour mark it needed to be plugged in for re-charging. The L lost about half its battery power in about eight hours, with gaming dropping the battery by five per cent after just 10 minutes.
PlayStation Store on the Xperia L; the games have disappeared into a black hole and prices are astronomical
“The camera does OK in low-light but it takes a while to start-up from sleep” Sony reckons it will last nine hours of 3G talk time, so it outlived this, and for a smartphone 12 hours of use is pretty good. The Xperia L comes with 8GB internal storage and microSD expansion options up to 32GB, which is pretty standard for low to midtier devices.
ON Camera The Xperia L has the same 8MP camera as its mid-tier brother, the SP and comes with autofocus and LED flash. For the price the camera quality is good Sony reckons the L can wake from sleep and take a picture in seconds. In fact I found it took considerably longer. The lag means the shutter needs to be pressed a split-second before the picture you wanted, because otherwise it was likely you’d miss it. The camera does okay in low light but not wonderfully, with photos appearing grainy and
A solid low-end offering with some mid-tier specs, the Xperia L is, however, slightly more expensive than other comparable offerings and features some odd design choices. Ultimately it becomes a matter of what you want out of your device
colours washed out. On an overcast day, the Xperia L also showed a tendency to have hazy light and clearly discernible blocks of blurry sunshine. Generally the Xperia L takes crisp, clear photos with good detail and colours.
CONCLUSION The Xperia L costs more than other budget phones such as the Nokia Lumia 620, which outperforms it for £19 less. However, as a Windows phone, the Lumia lacks access to the range of apps on the Play Store and Android’s openess, if that’s your thing. The benchmark at this price level is the Google Nexus 4, which is superfast but has limited storage or personality. All things considered the Xperia L is a decent smartphone. Should you get it or the Lumia? It really comes down to what you want out of your handset – access to lots of apps and more storage versus a great camera, map features and a superfast processor.
OVERALL HHHHH Performance
HHHHH
+ Snappy camera + Good looking screen + Good battery life
– Weird design – PlayStation Mobile lacking – Some lag in screen response
design
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Usability
HHHHH features
HHHHH
24 Questions? Head to our online forum at forum.whatmobile.net
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02/07/2013 15:50
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02/07/2013 15:19
review VODAFONE SMART III
Vodafone Smart III This Android handset is cheap as chips, but have too many cuts been made? Price: £90 Reviewer: Jordan O’Brien
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martphones these days can be incredibly expensive, so it’s refreshing to find one for £90, especially when it runs Android Jelly Bean (albeit not the latest version). Vodafone declined to tell us who makes the Smart III for them (we’d guess it’s either Huawei or HTC). We didn’t expect much from the handset, thinking that it was a budget phone and wouldn’t be able to put up with everything we threw at it. We were wrong. Despite its price, this is an incredibly versatile device with some great features. For example, Kikin gives direct access to search results just by holding your finger over text in the browser. The only disappointment was the fact that it only worked in the built-in browser and not across all apps.
A full-blown Andoid JellyBean phone for £90
COVER UP The design is less than inspiring, resembling an old HTC phone of a few years ago. We’re fairly adept at understanding new stuff. But we had to read the manual to figure out how to even remove the back cover. It’s a complicated two-step system rather than a one click job.. Apparently the idea is to let you slide a piece of paper behind the translucent cover, to write down your details. We don’t really see the point in having skins like this. In fact the translucent back made the phone look better with all the internals being visible. But some people may like the option.
Spec sheet Dimensions 123.2 x 64.4 x 10.9 mm Weight 136g Screen TFT capacitive touchscreen Processor 1 GHz Cortex-A9 RAM 512MB Storage 4GB, expandable up to 32GB Cameras 5 MP, autofocus, LED flash Video Yes Wireless Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC Ports USB 2.0, MicroSD, 3.5mm audio jack Battery life Li-Ion 1700 mAh, 9h (3G) – accurate
The translucent back was complicated to remove as well as constantly sliding when using the device, which made the phone feel even cheaper than its £90 price. Rather than enlarging the 4-inch touchscreen Vodafone decided to have some capacitive buttons at the bottom of the phone. These are exactly the same as the buttons on the Nexus 4 or most other Android phones. They worked well, although there was often a little bit of latency between pressing the buttons and the screen responding, just one sign of this being a budget device. Neither is there easy access to your SIM or MicroSD card slots. You have to completely take the phone apart into its three separate pieces
The screen is a letdown, even at this low price
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26 Questions? Head to our online forum at forum.whatmobile.net
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02/07/2013 15:49
review VODAFONE SMART III
“The screen on the Smart III is where the money has been saved. It’s a let down” before being able to access these. Having a MicroSD card slot is a nice bonus, but it’s a feature that is expected on Android phones. As you’d expect it takes a micro SIM.
Performance Vodafone didn’t build a powerhouse with the Smart III, but for £90, we shouldn’t expect one. A 1GHz single-core processor and 512MB of RAM is present and correct, but this isn’t a speedy device at all. It often became unresponsive and was prone to crashing mostly when starting up. Many of the animations were very sluggish and juddery. Even launching an app took an age to complete after a restart. Performance suffered in the Cut the Rope game bundled with the phone. It was so bad that
completing a level sometimes felt more like hard work than fun. Taking burst shots with the camera also felt a lot more laborious than it should have. There was some latency between shots, as well as it not accurately telling you how many shots were taken. But there was good performance in battery life, with the phone managing to last more than a day on one charge, probably because of the relatively low-spec processor.
5MP CAMERA Budget phones almost inevitably mean a poor camera. The Vodafone Smart III seems to buck that trend producing passable quality pix. This phone has a 5MP camera, so don’t expect
to blow your photos up too large. They did looked quite impressive when transferred to a computer monitor. The image quality is suitable for sharing with your friends on Facebook or Twitter. Most of the detail is captured in the foreground, with the background areas looking washed out in many photos. Video’s are in 720p, which is fine for quick YouTube videos. Snapchat fans will miss a frontfacing camera although they may be able to utilise the back camera, albeit awkwardly.
Screen The screen on the Smart III is where the money has been saved. It’s a let down. Colours are dull with the brightness not going higher than a slight glow. It is also a reflective screen and very difficult to read in direct sunlight. Although we weren’t expecting the highest resolution screen in the world, Vodafone could have done better. Everything looked worse on the Smart III than on any other similarly-priced phones which seem to manage a lot better. It wasn’t just the poor display that rankled. The screen sometimes refused to register taps, which made typing a chore.
Bottom Line
Passable foreground quality for the 5MP camera
The Vodafone Smart III isn’t going to blow you away - it’s no competitor for the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S4 or the Lumia 925. That said, this is a £90 phone so you’re not paying through the nose for these inferior capabilities.
For all the things that are wrong with the Vodafone Smart III, we must remember it is a £90 phone. That’s under £100 for a phone running Android Jelly Bean. At least the camera performed well, giving us better shots than a lot of other budget smartphones out there. If you’re looking for your first Android smartphone to test the waters of the new mobile information superhighway revolution buying the Smart III makes sense. Be warned you’ll probably become a little peeved by the sluggish performance, but you’ll at least get access to the 800,000 apps on Android. So you don’t need to be left out of the latest app craze just because you don’t want to spend £600 on a phone.
OVERALL HHHHH Performance
HHHHH
+ Inexpensive price + Android Jelly Bean OS + Good camera
– Slow processor – Dismal screen – Annoying back cover
design
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HHHHH features
HHHHH www.whatmobile.net 27
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02/07/2013 15:49
review LG Optimus L5 II
LG Optimus L5 II If you want a smartphone at a knock-down price the L5II may have your name on it Price: £129.99 Reviewer: Alex Walls
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G’s reboot of the Optimus L5, the L5 II, is reasonably-priced for a mid-tier offering but is let down by a slow processor. This is the second generation of LG’s Optimus L5 smartphone series first released last year. This second iteration of the L5 has upgraded some of the specs and has produced a better looking phone, with rounded corners and improved screen quality.
SliM ANd LIGHT The L5 II is 117.5 by 62.2 mm and only 9.2mm thick, weighing a very light 103.3g. This is more compact than the first L5 which was 118.3 by 66.5mm, at 9.5mm thick and weighed 125g. It fits between the L3 II and the L7 II in the LG line-up.
In appearance the L5 II can be regarded as a discrete, sleek phone. The design sticks to the usual parameters of a black rectangle with curved corners and a metallic, brushed-steel looking cover; it toes the line between being daringly discrete and disappointingly dull. However, the phone does look sleek and is a comfortable device to hold, fitting snugly into your hand. The plastic cover feels a bit flimsy and creaked a little too easily when we were inserting SIM cards; removing this cover makes you fearful it’s about to crack, but the device survived a week in various bags without a scratch. A note about SIM cards: the L5 device doesn’t take micro SIMs, so you’ll need an
You’ll need an adaptor if you have a micro SIM
adaptor if you want to use an existing one. The screen has been upgraded from the original LG offering, with a 480 x 800 pixel resolution compared with the first L5’s 320 x 480 resolution. This is a a substantial increase in pixel density, with 233 pixels per inch up from 144 ppi. It isn’t the best screen you’ll find, but it is fairly crisp and clear, with colours that pop and define detail.
CHIPS ARE DOWN The LG L5 II is powered by a 1GHz MTK 6575 processor with 512MB RAM. That’s not very much grunt and, wow, does it show. It crawls around the internet even on Wi-Fi and launching apps sometimes took so long I would give up and switch to another phone. Gaming was adequate but there was a small screen spasm when loading the likes of Temple Run 2. Scrolling through apps was lag-free. LG runs Android 4.1, so you have full access to the Play Store and its thousands of apps,
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Spec Weight 103.3 gsheet The plastic cover feels rather cheap and flimsy
Screen IPS LCD capacitive 4 inch touchscreen Resolution of screen 480 x 800 pixels, 233 ppi Processor MTK 6575 1GHz RAM 512MB Storage 4GB, 32GB external Cameras 5 MP autofocus, LED flash Video VGA@30fps Wireless Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Bluetooth 3.0, NFC Ports USB 2.0, MicroSD, 3.5mm audio jack Battery life Li-Ion 1700 mAh, 9h (3G) – accurate
28 Questions? Head to our online forum at forum.whatmobile.net
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02/07/2013 15:49
review LG Optimus L5 II
Optimus interface has some useful additions to Android The L5II has some useful features built in to the Optimus interface LG overlays above Google’s Android operating system. First impressions aren’t great. Icons for Safety Care and SmartWord are rather plain. But one of the useful features of the system lets you change the icon’s pictures. Holding down an app icon on the home screen generates a picture of a small paintbrush icon. This will allow you to select from a number of pictures, or take a photo from the camera or picture gallery, to create your own icon. It’s a little gimmicky, but it can be fun to personalise your phone. You can insert apps into folders by holding them on top of each other, avoiding the need to scroll past several screens of icons to find what you’re looking for. LG’s Cheese Shutter is a voice-activated camera option available when you open the camera application. Photos are taken in camera mode when the user says one of the preset words such as ‘Cheese’, ‘Smile’, ‘LG’ and weirdly, ‘Whisky’. Quick Memo lets you take a memo on the screen. Press a small button on the side of the
Phone and you can write on the screen using your finger. Text will appear on top of whatever screen you were on. An ‘overlay mode’ lets you scroll while keeping the text overlaid on your screen, so you can flick through to your contacts page to add a number with the digits still on screen. Save the memo to your Gallery or email it to yourself. Other Safety Care Features include a Phone Non-Usage notice. This sends your phone’s location via text to a pre-programmed emergency contact when the phone hasn’t been in use for some time or when the battery is low. This could be very useful for elderly users who may be unable to reach a phone for help. A Location Notice sends your location via text message to registered recipients, useful for parents checking up that children really are where they say they are. Emergency Call Forwarding, sends your location via text when making an emergency call. These apps all require a GPS signal, so you must leave your location settings on all the time. Also, LG says the Safety Care feature wouldn’t be available on O2 but didn’t elaborate as to why.
games, books, movies and music.
5MP CAMERA
Safety Care features for elderly or vulnerable users
The L5 II has a 5MP camera and it does a pretty good job. Photos were clear and crisp with good colour detail, and reasonable clarity in low light situations. It didn’t cope well with extreme light differences, such as taking a photo of half shade and half sun light, however. LG claims nine hours on 3G in terms of battery life. In the real world, with light to medium use including streaming videos, making calls, texts, browsing the web and running a few apps, the phone’s charge exceeded this. After 5.5 hours the battery bars showed 66 per cent reserve. With lighter use, the L5 II lasted the full day only dropping to 36 per cent at the end of the day. The LG L5 II ships with 4GB of internal
A fairly solid mid-tier offering let down by a creaking processor, the L5 II has a pretty good price point and some interesting user interface features, as well as a decent camera. However there are cheaper devices out there and the phone doesn’t do itself any favours when it comes to internal storage or interesting designs. + Good price for a mid-tier phone + Useful UI functionalities + Decent camera
– Slow processor – Camera balks at extreme lighting situations – Boring design
storage. This is hardly generous but is fair enough considering you’ll only pay around £130 for the device. And there is an expansion slot for a microSD card to add another 32GB which should be enough for anyone’s needs.
CONCLUSION The L5 II is a solid offering at its price point, which is well below other mid-tier devices. However there are cheaper phones out there with much the same specs. There are some interesting functionalities to its user interface, including some which seem genuinely useful, particularly for elderly or vulnerable users. But the processor creaks when trying to browse the internet and the screen quality and design may have you wishing you splashed out a little bit more on a higher-spec device.
OVERALL HHHHH Performance
HHHHH design
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HHHHH www.whatmobile.net 29
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02/07/2013 15:49
first look samsung
FIRST LOOK
Samsung ups the drool factor with new launch Samsung launched new laptops, tablets and connected cameras last month. We were there to drool. By: Jordan O’Brien
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amsung rolled out the red carpet yet again at London’s Earls Court Exhibition Centre last month, unveiling a plethora of devices aimed at both Windows and Android users. Whilst the Galaxy & ATIV event was a little light on Samsung’s favourite operating system, Android,
with just a couple of devices being announced, there was plenty of news to whet the appetite of Windows 8 fans. In Android Samsung seemed to be targeting the photographers amongst us, with two very cameracentric devices, one being a full DSLR running Jelly Bean, whilst the other being a crossover between
its S4 line of phones and its Galaxy Camera range. On the other side of the fence, Samsung unveiled six new devices running Windows 8. Ranging from ultrabooks to the world’s thinnest Windows 8 tablet and a hybrid which is capable of running Android apps, as well as featuring the world’s highest resolution screen.
30 Questions? Head to our online forum at forum.whatmobile.net
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02/07/2013 15:47
first look samsung
Tab and PC in one S
amsung has released its latest hybrid Windows 8 PC which reminds me somewhat of the Acer Aspire R7, called the ATIV Q. The company is touting the ATIV Q as having the world’s highest resolution screen, with a 13.3-inch QHD+ 3200×1800 display, which means it has a pixel density 2.8 times higher than 1080p. If you thought that was the only thing that made the ATIV Q special, then prepare to be amazed as Samsung has managed to bring the Google Play Store to this Windows 8 tablet. We’ve seen Android running on Windows tablets before, but this implementation by Samsung is something truly special. When we tested out the Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean environment on this device, we found that rather than running the OS completely separately, it’s simply running as a desktop application — although this may not be the case when the device launches to the public. What’s even more impressive about this two OS approach is that Samsung has made it possible to pin any of the 800,000 applications you download from the Google Play Store directly to your start screen.
Many people complain about how bare the Windows Store is looking and we find Samsung’s approach of fixing this by utilising their favourite asset, Android, to be rather positive but also troubling. If Microsoft is having a hard time attracting developers now, then it’s going to have an even harder battle on its hands when all of Samsung’s Windows 8 customers have no need for Windows 8 apps. On the hardware side of the ATIV Q, we’re seeing an incredibly thin and light device, coming in at just 13.9mm thick and weighing just 1.29kg.
STAND AND DELIVER Samsung also took the opportunity to remind us about the Acer Aspire R7 which, like the ATIV Q, can be used in a multitude of ways, with Samsung boasting four modes of use. Those modes are tablet (which is when the screen is rolled all the way back covering the keyboard), floating (which is like tablet mode but hovering in the air), typing (which is utilising the device as if it were a laptop) and stand (which is the same as typing, but with the screen flipped outwards). Unlike the Aspire R7 though, you’ll have to
endure having a tiny ball rather than a full trackpad — even if the R7’s trackpad is behind the keyboard.
SPOT THE BALL Upon using the ATIV Q’s track ball (mouse), we have to say it’s not the nicest experience in the world, but you do have a touchscreen so it shouldn’t be too much of a problem. Under the hood we have an Intel Haswell Core i5 processor with 4GB of DDR3L RAM and a 128GB SSD. On the side of the ATIV Q you’ll find a plethora of ports, but sadly only one USB 3.0, which is coupled with a second USB port, but of the 2.0 variety. There is also HDMI-out, a MicroSD slot, an S-pen and even a port for your ethernet cable — and who said wires are dead? For a device with those kind of heavy specs, as well as having an incredibly high-res screen, you would assume that the battery life would be poor… right? According to Samsung the ATIV Q can run for a full nine hours — although we’ll let you know if that’s the case when we get some quality time with the device when it launches later this year. Pricing is yet to be announced.
Clalimed to have the higest resolution screen
Google Play works on this Windows machine
Three-way display mode
NIne hours between battery charges
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first look samsung
ATIV Tab 3 S
amsung has announced a Windows 8 version of the Galaxy Tab 3, complete with the same plasticky design as the original. The ATIV Tab 3 shares a lot of similarities with its Android brother, including having the exact same design language, but it also has a lot of differences. Samsung has gone and given it an upgraded Intel Atom processor, 64GB of hard drive storage, S-Pen support and even a free copy of Microsoft Office Home and Student. What’s odd about the inclusion of Office is that we have previously heard that Microsoft were only offering free copies to sub 10-inch tablets, and at 10.1 inches, the ATIV Tab 3 definitely does not qualify. If you like the beautiful screen on the ATIV Q, then you won’t find the same on the ATIV Tab 3, as this screen has a much lower resolution of 1366×768, but we’ll forgive it as it is the thinnest Windows 8 tablet — at just 8.2mm thick. Being that thin you don’t expect it to weigh that much, and it doesn’t, coming in at just 550g.
As it’s running Windows 8 pro and not RT, the ATIV Tab 3 can run all the apps you throw at it — although we’ll test just which apps it doesn’t like when we review it later this year. The internals are what you would expect from a Windows 8 tablet, with 2GB RAM and an Intel ATOM Z2760.
Unlike other Windows 8 tablets though, you will only find a micro USB port, but you do get the inclusion of a MicroSD card slot and MicroHDMI-out. Samsung hasn’t announced specific availability or pricing, but we should expect those later this year when it goes on sale.
The thinnest Windows 8 tablet The Galaxy Tab 3 goes all Windows
Galaxy S4 Zoom S
amsung knows how much we all love to take photos with our smartphones, but it also knows how much we hate the quality of those images. So what’s the solution? Could it be that Nokia’s approach of going big with the rumoured 41-megapixel Lumia EOS is the wrong one, and what people really want is to have a 10x optical zoom on their smartphone? Well, Samsung certainly seems to think so, with the announcement of the Galaxy S4 Zoom, which is one part Galaxy S4 mini and one part Galaxy Camera. Now we had a chance to play with the Galaxy S4 Zoom, and we’ve got to say it’s a beast. It’s definitely a long way from the slim and sleek body of the Galaxy S4 and S4 Mini. Although if you value photo quality above all else, then the S4 Zoom will deliver. We didn’t have long with the device, but
we got to see some sample shots, including one of the Tokyo Tower, which had vibrant colours and no noise, despite being far away from the actual tower itself. Compared to an average smartphone camera, it was head and shoulders in front. Despite being a chubby device, it’s not as powerful as one would hope, utilising the S4 Mini’s internals rather than the flagship, although this could be down to ensuring a more reasonable price rather than simply not being able to fit the
more powerful internals inside. Given the S4 Zoom is a fully-fledged phone and not a camera, you have all the usual stuff onboard, including both 3G and 4G LTE. One place where we were let down was the amount of storage that came with the device, with just 5GB usable of the 8GB of internal storage, although that’s expandable to 64GB through the use of a microSD card slot and you get 50GB of free Dropbox storage. The camera on the back of the S4 Zoom features a 24mm wide angle lens, a sensor 1.8x larger than typical smartphone cameras (so not the size of a DSLR camera, but still much larger), optical image stabilisation and Xenon flash. A cool feature about the S4 Zoom is the spinnable lens, which when spun can do a variety of things, such as launch the camera directly from the lockscreen, zoom, or even launch into one of the many preset modes which ensure you get the very best shot.
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first look samsung
Galaxy NK DSLR camera
The first 4G-connected DSLR camera
N
ot content with the Galaxy S4 zoom, Samsung has decided to bring its Android operating system prowess to its professional DSLRs; oh, and 4G LTE has come along for the ride too. The Galaxy NX is the world’s first LTE enabled DSLR camera, which means you can share your photos with the world via Instagram or Twitter, or whatever service tickles your fancy, without the need for cables or Wi-Fi connections. If you don’t live in a 4G-enabled area, no problem as Samsung has managed to pack in 3G as well — although both of these will be utilised just for data, so you don’t have the ability to make or receive phone calls (that is until the next version is released we assume). We don’t all care about having Android onboard, and you’re probably wondering — how good is this camera? Well according to Samsung, it should be just as good as the existing NX range.
Capable of 1080p video and taking 3D inages
BIG light sensor (more important than pixel count)
All the features you expect are present including Optical Image Stabilisation, Advanced Hybrid Auto Focus, a 1/6000 sec shutter speed and 8.6fps of video shooting. Just like on the Galaxy S4 zoom, you can expect the same smart modes, camera studio, photo suggest and even story album access. Whilst megapixels don’t necessarily matter, the Galaxy NX features a 20.3 megapixel APS-C
CMOS sensor, which is powered by a 1.6GHz Quad-Core Processor. The camera is capable of 1080p video, as well as 3D images using Samsung’s True 3D Creator. Users of traditional DSLRs will find it odd that Samsung has decided to put a microSD card slot rather than the traditional SDs, although the microSD will enable you to expand 16GB of internal storage to 64GB. After receiving a beating from users of the Galaxy S4, Samsung has decided to add a little disclaimer regarding the storage, with actual storage numbers being a lot less due to having Android installed. When we played with the device, we found ourselves initially confused about how to get to the homescreen, as there is no home button — although we were quickly shown that all you need to do to go from camera to Android is swipe the 4.8-inch touchscreen. The Galaxy NX will be hitting stores this summer, with specific pricing to be announced.
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first look sony
Sony Xperia Z Ultra We test the waters with the world’s thinnest Full HD smartphone By: Jordan O’Brien
I
f the Xperia Z is slightly too small for you, then Sony has the solution with the announcement of the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean touting Xperia Z Ultra, which will bring a 6.4-inch full HD touchscreen right to your fingertips. It will be the first smartphone to feature what Sony calls the “fastest processor” available, a 2.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800. Whilst the Xperia Z Ultra is supposedly a beefed up version of its baby brother, users who value the 13MP camera on the Xperia Z will sadly find the Ultra a step down, with an 8MP snapper on the rear and 2MP front-facing. The real star of the Xperia Z Ultra show is the gorgeous 6.4-inch full HD screen, which features some cool tech that Sony has borrowed
from its Bravia line of TVs. These features include a Triluminos display, which aims to recreate richer, more vivid colours that other screens can’t reach, and an X-Reality Mobile engine which will allow the phone to optimise the image by recreating pixels that may otherwise have been lost in low resolution content. Like the Xperia Z, you will still get that same robustness we all loved, with it being the only waterproof full HD smartphone on the market. With the 3.5mm headphone jack being waterproof in itself, allowing you to completely submerse the product despite it not having a wetsuit cover.
Whilst many people will find the 6.4-inch size huge, Sony claims it’s the size of a standard passport and can easily be used with just one hand. The design of the Xperia Z Ultra is incredibly thin, at just 6.5mm, with Sony claiming that it has now reached the point where it can’t go any thinner without redesigning the ports. As standard with most smartphones these days, the Ultra will come with LTE onboard, as well as being able to write or sketch using a stylus — much like Samsung’s Galaxy Note range. Availability is currently pegged to Q3 2013, with exact dates varying from market to market.
FIRST LOOK
Sony claims it has the fastest processor around
Submerge the Xperia Z Ultra in up to 1.5m of water
At just 6.5mm, it’s the thinnest full HD phone
Bravia technology helps make this screen stunning
34 Questions? Head to our online forum at forum.whatmobile.net
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first look sony
Sony Smartwatch 2 S
ony has reaffirmed its commitment to ingenuity and Android with the unveiling of its latest smartwatch, the Smartwatch 2. If you run another mobile OS, then you may find yourself out of luck with Sony’s latest product. That’s because the company has said that it was built with Android in mind and it’s vying to become your second screen for your Android-based phone. In stark contrast to the huge 6.4-inch Xperia Z Ultra, the Smartwatch 2 only features a 1.6inch touchscreen, with a resolution of 220×176. That’s not to say it doesn’t have other tricks up its sleeve, with NFC and Bluetooth on-board. Sony has claimed incredible battery life, but given this is a watch, it may seem absurd that you may have to get used to recharging the thing on your wrist every three to four days. Stefan K Persson, Head of Companion Products at Sony Mobile Communications, believes that smartwatches are the way to go, quoting analysts which claim there will be 41 million ‘smart’ watches sold by 2016. As this will only work with Android, Sony has managed to bring apps to the small screen which can interact with the ones Sony has built for your smartphone. The company says that these apps will be available to all Android users, meaning you don’t need to own a Sony phone to read tweets, emails, your Facebook news feed and your calendar all on your arm. You also have the ability to take a photo remotely, which means you can get the perfect selfie even when using the rear-facing cam – so no more arm extensions in photos. If you don’t want to kill the battery on your phone, then you don’t have to have it tethered all the time – with the device acting as a standard digital watch when not connected. Sony has also taken the opportunity to allow you to personalise your smartwatch, with interchangeable wrist bands. You don’t have to buy any special ones, just anything with a 24mm strap. You’re probably itching to get your hands on one of these, but as with everything, you’ll have to wait a little while longer, with the device set to go on sale worldwide in September this year. Pricing is yet to be announced; the original cost £79.99, so expect around that mark.
Read tweets, emails and more all from your wrist
Looks like Android? It’s not, but it only works with Android
Not on Android? Use it as your ordinary watch
Smartwatch 2 can tell the time in a variety of ways
The Smartwatch can be customised with any 24mm strap
41 million Smartwatches could be sold by 2016
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feature the joys of free e-reading
Enjoy a classic holiday - free Take some of the world’s greatest books on your next holiday. And it won’t cost you a penny.
E
veryone is aware of the benefits of e-readers and ebooks: they mean you no longer need to lug fat paperbacks on holiday. Of course, you do have to worry about having yet another expensive electronic device someone else may want to help themselves to on the beach. But ebooks have revolutionised the print and publishing industry. Now you can have a book delivered straight to your eyeballs within seconds from your corporation of choice and sometimes courtesy of ebook sharing communities. Ebooks saw enormous growth in the past few years, slowing to ‘only’ 41 per cent last year, according to the Association of American Publishers.
But one of the big benefits ereaders have brought to book lovers is to offer a whole heap of classics absolutely free of charge. While you may miss rummaging through second-hand book stores for hidden gems, it means you have a classic a few seconds after you think about reading it. Kindle users will already know know about hundreds of classics that are now out of copyright and free for the downloading, but Apple iBooks and Android’s Playstore also has its share of literary bounty; even the world’s best selling non-fiction title is available free of charge, a little something called ‘The Bible’. So here are our pick of the top ten free (classic) e-reads available to blow (or enrich) your mind, with available devices beside:
So many titles! So little time! Classics are generally free due to copyright expiration.
36 Questions? Head to our online forum at forum.whatmobile.net
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feature the joys of free e-reading
1) Pride and Prejudice (Play Books, iBooks) That this romance classic is available for free on most of your given devices is pretty impressive. Still enjoyable years later as evidenced by the multitudinous remakes, parodies and (shudder) fan fictions, Jane Austen’s novel is one of social satire and wonderfully ridiculous characters. The book renders fairly well on Android and, for some reason, very well on iBooks. If you’re an eInk fan, Kindle’s the way to go.
6) Heart of Darkness (Play Books, iBooks, Kindle) If you’ve seen the movie ‘Apocalypse Now’ you’ll know what to expect. A short novel (100 pages) by Joseph Conrad, it leads the reader on a mythical dark journey up the forbidding river in a search for a corrupt trader called Kurtz into a world of insanity and horror.
2) Treasure Island (iBooks, Play Books, Kindle) The rollicking classic from Robert Louis Stevenson, this reportedly originated the pirate habits of a black spot to signify a pirate’s impending removal from leadership (and life). At any rate, the book apparently inspired many other pirate stand bys as well such as X Marks the Spot, maps and parrot-beridden pirates, and it’s certainly the first place I’ve read the ‘Yo Ho Ho’ refrain. A tale of adventure, coming of age, pirates and treasure, the book is still a thoroughly enjoyable read.
8) The Great Gatsby (iBooks) With its second movie remake still on release there can’t be many of us unfamiliar with F.Scott Fitzgerald’s tale of 1922 New York in the prohibition era and the mysterious, party-giving millionaire Jay Gatsby and his hapless cousin, Daisy.
3) Alice in Wonderland (Play Books, iBooks, Kindle) The original tribute to opium, or just Lewis Carroll’s quirkiness, Alice in Wonderland is an intriguing, mind-bending and very clever trip down some very strange rabbit holes. Ostensibly a children’s book, the novel is interesting from a literary point of view: various symbolism has been read into the novel including the recurring metaphors for time and death, as well as just what the Caterpillar might be smoking.
10) The Count of Monet Cristo (Play Books, iBooks) The best revenge book ever. The phrase ‘don’t get mad - get even” underpins Alexandre Dumas’s story of false imprisonment sabotage, betrayal, unrequieted love and retribution. Throwing yourself off the ramparts while in a weighted sack will never be the same again.
7) Wuthering Heights (Play Books, iBooks, Kindle) Emily Bronte’s tragic tale of the the destructive effect that jealousy and vengefulness have on jealous or vengeful individuals and their communities is a powerful story. It may even inspire a pop song. Over here Heathcliffe.
9) The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (iBooks, Kindle) You’ve seen the TV series. Now delve into the 12 stories by Arthur Conan Doyle of the famous detective and his faithful companion Watson, although alas it does not feature the curious incident of the dog which didn’t bark in the night....
4) Dracula (Play Books, iBooks, Kindle) The book that spawned all those wonderful and terrible (and wonderfully terrible) take offs, Bram Stoker’s Dracula is an interesting read from a literary point of view; just what was Stoker implying with his blood sucking Count and the corruption of the Victorian women? 5) Anne of Green Gables (iBooks) Okay, so Anne’s an intensely irritating main character, being all dreamy and gushy and “Oh, it looks as though a fairy in a sequinned dress landed on that flower and danced the polka under the moon’s silvery light while eating candy floss!”. But the book is nevertheless a pleasant and well written read; the characters are engaging, Anne’s enthusiasm and optimism are generally more impressive than oppressive and she does learn a few short sharp and satisfying life lessons as well, so it’s not all fairy dust and singing elves.
Six of the best: free titles that should be in every e-readers collection
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feature mobile payments
Cashing in with your mobile phone Want to buy stuff with a wave of your mobile? Alex Walls shows you how - but you’ll still need cards
I
magine a life without cash. No more fishing in your purse or wallet for notes and coins. In fact, no more wallet or purse at all: just a mobile phone. This is the fast-approaching promised land of mobile payments. ‘Mobile payments’ is an all-encompassing phrase that covers a lot of ground. It covers routine personal banking tasks, online shopping, buying stuff by touching your phone against a terminal and using mobiles to process credit card payments and transactions. It’s all a bit baffling, so give your wallet a rest as we walk you through some of the more popular methods on offer for consumers.
Near Field Communication (NFC) Near Field Communication or NFC was the information transferral method of the future two years ago; right up until Apple failed to put an NFC chip in its iPhone 5. The technology involves transferring information via a radio link almost instantaneously when brought close to another NFC-enabled device (usually through ‘tapping’ the devices together). This information can include mobile payments. If you’ve ever used contactless payments by tapping your credit card against a terminal to pay for something, mobile payments are the same.
Cloud Some mobile payment solutions are based in the cloud. Your details are stored on a server and you log in to shop online. PayPal even lets you sign into your account and pay for pizza at a restaurant.
apps Mobile banking apps let you pay people online and manage basic bank account functions (eg. check balance, set up new payment, transfer money from one account to the other). Barclays’ Pingit is an app that lets you send money by text to anyone with a mobile phone number. You don’t even have to know their bank details. They receive a text telling them to register and claim the funds you have sent.
Plenty of apps let you pay for items using a tablet or phone
Mobile wallets / Barcodes Mobile wallets let you store gift and loyalty card information on your phone, as well as debit and credit card details. Gift cards displaying barcodes can be scanned on your mobile device, debit cards can be used for shopping online. The Starbucks app lets you load up your card’s barcode, Apple has Passbook, and then there’s O2 Wallet and Google Wallet (which at the time of writing was not available in the UK).
38 Questions? Head to our online forum at forum.whatmobile.net
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feature mobile payments
The problem is … Using your phone to make an online bank payment or to buy something off Amazon or eBay are fairly common mobile payment options. But using your phone to pass through a turnstile or pay for a coffee are still fairly alien concepts to most people. Many of the mobile payment services we looked into either had a narrow purview or were due to launch in the United Kingdom soon; the hold up is due to various reasons (see whatmobile.net for more). In terms of physical, in-store, tap-to-pay options, there just doesn’t seem that much out there, but we’ve listed some common options for you to try.
TouchPay & PayTag With registrations closed for the trial with 1,000 mobile banking customers for four months, TouchPay is restricted to NatWest iPhone 4 and 4S users and allows mobile contactless payments via an NFCenabled cover. The service would allow payments for purchases £20 or under at retailers including McDonald’s, Pret and Subway. PayTag is another NFC-enabling option, using a sticker stuck on your phone. You can then make contactless payments for purchases under £20 at retailers including MacDonald’s, Pret and Subway. However it’s restricted to BarclayCard users who have select Visa cards.
INSTANT COFFEE The Starbucks Card on mobile is alive and kicking here in the United Kingdom. Working like a loyalty card stored on your phone, you’ll need to purchase a Starbucks Card and download the Starbucks app onto your Apple, Android or Windows Phone device. Once this is complete, you can sign up for an account online, entering in details such as your date of birth and post code, and then sign in on your app to link your card with the app. Once you’ve done that, you should be set – just make your order at the counter and use the barcode on your app to pay for your coffee.
O2 wallet A free app that’s able to be downloaded onto your Apple, Android or BlackBerry device, O2 Wallet requires an account, which means you’ll need a PC or tablet to enter in your mobile phone number (you receive a code to enter for the next step), address, password and then, create and enter a PIN and password on the app itself. Then, enter in a further code texted to your mobile to link the app with the account. You THEN need to enter in a Visa or Mastercard onto the app before you’re good to go. The wallet lets you shop online with more than 100 retailers including John Lewis, Amazon and Tesco Direct. It also links with O2 Trains, an app which allows you to search and purchase trains using the wallet, as well as receive mTickets with barcodes where available for your purchased journeys. This means at the station you just need to scan the barcode at the gate or show it to the operator to scan. Otherwise, you’ll
be sent a collection code, which you need to use to pick up tickets at a station, as well as inserting a bank card in your name; so, this is a less convenient option. Your card details are reportedly stored on a secure server with the app and the wallet requires a PIN to use and a password to make purchases. Three attempts at the PIN or password results in the wallet being locked.
QuickTap Billed ostensibly as a ‘tap to pay’ service, QuickTap has a very limited audience. An offering from BarclayCard and Orange using NFC, only specific devices could be used which at time of writing, Orange’s website said was just one – the Samsung Galaxy S3. In addition, these phones needed to be purchased directly from Orange for the service to work, it said, which would mean you also received a contactless SIM. The mobile payment solution doesn’t appear to have taken off, given the Barclays press officer What Mobile spoke with didn’t know what ‘QuickTap’ was and given this offering was launched in 2011, but Orange has only made it available to S3 customers. When What Mobile asked whether there were plans to upgrade, Orange would only say there was “exciting news” in the “near future”. The service uses any UK issued MasterCard or Visa debit or credit card and works much the same way as the O2 wallet; you’ll need to register your SIM with Orange, set up an account with Barclays, download the QuickTap Wallet, enter a card and choose a PIN. You can then use your device to pay for anything £20 and under at shops with contactless payment terminals, including Pret a Manger, EAT, MacDonalds and Subway. Security-wise, Orange said it would automatically notify Barclaycard to block the mobile payment account if the device was lost; however to do this, you need to ring Orange (presumably from a phone borrowed from your friend, since yours is missing) and there are two different phone numbers listed for pay monthly and pay as you go customers – confusing. You can also choose to have to enter a PIN before making a payment. To be honest, this option is available to such a narrow audience it defeats the purpose of mobile payments altogether.
A PIZZA THE ACTION PayPal has partnered with Pizza Express to offer customers the option of paying for their meal with the Pizza Express app. The app links to your PayPal account – select ‘Pay Your Bill’, enter the number given to you at the bottom of your bill, and then log into your PayPal account. Once confirming payment (and whether you want to add a tip), you just need to check with the waiting staff that they’ve received the confirmation from PayPal and you’re good to go, while a confirmation is also sent to your registered email address.
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feature mobile payments
Live trial We tested some of the mobile payment solutions available in the UK to see how convenient, simple and quick they are and whether the staff rate them as well.
Starbucks At our local Starbucks at Old St we asked for help from the barista at the counter. She obviously had seen the service used many times as she knew exactly what to do and told us to buy a card. She topped it up and told us to create an account. We used the free Wi-Fi (bonus) to log on to the Starbucks’ site and create an account (this requires your date of birth and address). Then the new account was linked with the mobile app already downloaded, by opening the app and clicking on ‘Card’. It took only a few moments after signing in for the balance to load, complete with a pictogram of the card displayed on the screen of our mobile. We ordered coffee and tapped the ‘Touch to Pay’ sign on the ‘Card’ option. The barista scanned the barcode on the mobile. A few seconds later and the coffee had been paid for, a receipt printed and the balance updated on screen. You can top up your card via the app by registering a credit card, locate stores and collect rewards; Starbucks have tied in the ‘rewards/mobile payments’ incentive already. We then went to another Starbucks across town, using a phone without Internet connection. The app worked perfectly and the staff knew exactly what to do. Initial set up is a bit of a rigmarole, but once you’ve set it up it is easier to use your phone to pay.
Top that: except that it was quicker to pay with a card
PASS Pizza Express The Pizza Express/PayPal option got off to a rocky start when confused staff said we couldn’t pay with the Pizza Express app. When we said ‘mobile’ confusion cleared and we were assured this was fine. To use the Pizza Express app select the ‘Pay Your Bill’ option, enter in the number at the bottom of your receipt, log into your PayPal account and confirm the payment (adding a tip if you wish). PayPal will send a confirmation to Pizza Express. That’s it. This worked like a charm and looks nifty, but it was slower than paying with a card due to all the logging in.
PASS
Coffee in an instant with the Starbucks app and card
O2 Wallet
Browsing various products via the app, comparing prices, then selecting a purchase (to be paid for from your electronic wallet or debit card) worked fine but the O2 train service didn’t. Searching for train tickets was easy, but the app failed to work twice when we tried to purchase the tickets, despite being in an area with 3G coverage and using the correct sign in details (you have to enter your security code and your ‘memorable word’). We had hoped to get an m-ticket and try out scanning it at the barrier, but the error code meant we had to buy the tickets at the station the old-fashioned way.
FAIL If we’d been relying on O2 Wallet to pay our train fare we would have a long walk home
40 Questions? Head to our online forum at forum.whatmobile.net
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03/06/2013 14:36
feature photography technology
Smartphone photography: technology explained
As mobile imaging continues to improve, we sought advice from various photography experts on how to achieve the best results from your phone’s camera
What the sensor really saw In today’s smartphone flagship releases, it often seems like there’s a ‘more megapixels the better’ attitude. But do megapixels really matter when it comes to your smartphone’s camera? Nokia Lumia UK and Ireland product manager James Guion said it wasn’t about how many megapixels you had but what you do with them. Quality of pictures and thus your smartphone camera depended not only upon megapixel ability but also on the optics software, the lenses in use and the sensor size, which may or may not be linked to how many megapixels you have and which affects how much light the device can absorb, he said. Megapixels were just one part of a good quality smartphone camera. “It’s a bit like having a car – you could have a really powerful engine but if you don’t have a good chassis, the right tyres, you’re not going to get the optimal performance out of it.” Prospective buyers should look beyond the megapixels to what lenses the camera used, whether it had advanced features like optical image stabilization and how well these features worked; beyond that, it was important to look at what sorts of things you can do with the camera, Guion said. It was important to be able to capture the moment and share the photos online, which most people wanted to do. Optics company Carl Zeiss, which works with Nokia on its Lumia range,
says on its website that the quality of the camera lens and the sensor are what count when taking digital photos, not just the number of pixels (for a definition of ‘lens’ and ‘sensor’, check out our glossary). Image quality did not depend only on the number of pixels the sensor had but also the quality of each pixel displayed, the size of which changed according to the physical size and properties of the display device. “A high resolution sensor with a low quality lens can only capture low quality pictures in high resolution.”
Nokia 808 PureView Apple iPhone 5
Samsung Galaxy S4
HTC One X
NikonD90 DSLR
Nokia Lumia 920
Image sensor sizes: this is why a proper Digital Single Lens Reflex camera (DSLR) will always outperforms a camera phone.
42 Questions? Head to our online forum at forum.whatmobile.net
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feature photography technology
A glossary of photography terms We researched and spoke to photographer and author of The Weather Observer’s Handbook Stephen Burt and photographer Dali Kaur to get a run down of what these common photography terms actually mean. DSLR Digital Single Lens Reflex cameras are usually the professional-looking ones; they tend to be bigger and heavier than smartphones but generally images are of a higher quality and are displayed as they appear on the viewfinder – so no chopped off heads or lost arms in your pictures. You can also change the lens on a DSLR camera for different types of scenes. Lens The piece of glass or plastic through which light passes into your camera and which bends the light in a specific way to make the object you’re viewing appear on photographic film or on your digital camera. A lens is important to camera quality and it’s the quality of the glass which matters, Burt said. Some low-end smartphones used plastic which was of a lesser quality. Sensor A smartphone’s sensor is the device in your phone which changes the image into an electronic signal; basically, the sensor is your digital camera’s version of film. The sensor uses pixels to trap light and measure the different colours and their intensity to determine how bright they should be, and a picture is formed by interpolating all the information.
Pixel The word ‘pixel’ stands for ‘Picture Element’, and is the smallest unit of information in a digital image generally represented by a square; a digital image is made up of millions of pixels, organised into rows and columns, which is why resolution is described in terms of X by Z pixels. Megapixel A megapixel is one million pixels – simple, really. This is the common number used to describe smartphone cameras by manufacturers. White balance Taking photos in different light can make them look different; more red inside, more blue on a cloudy day. Human eyes automatically correct for this. The camera automatically adjusts this balance of light as our eyes would, to make photos appear as our eyes view the scene. Aperture (f stop) This is how wide the lens can open or close to let in more or less light; apertures are described by the term ‘f-number’ – the larger aperture openings will have lower f-numbers (so f/2.0 is a lesser opening or lets less light in than f/1.4). A smaller aperture gives focus over a wider range of distance, whereas a larger aperture is good for portrait shots. Carl Zeiss lens Nokia tends to mention these lenses quite a bit, so what’s so special about them? Guion said the German optics company Carl Zeiss worked in near-microscopic detail on how to best manage light entering a camera, to capture the clearest, sharpest imagery and detail.
Some simple tips for taking smartphone photos Professional photographer Stephen Burt gave us some simple steps to taking better photos with your smartphone.
images was due to wobbly users, Burt said. 4) Adjust focus for long range photos Generally auto-focus on smartphones was great for short-range photos but not that great for long range photos; on more advanced smartphones you can adjust the focus for a better photo.
1) Make sure your hand isn’t covering the camera It’s difficult to take a good photo of a palm smothering your lens and we’ve all taken photos where an errant thumb is in view; best to double check your camera is clear of digits and limbs.
5) Two is better than one With no more worries about using up film, take two photos; firstly take a quick snap of something you find interesting to capture the moment; then take a more considered approach for your next photo.
2) Clean your lens with a lens cloth, not tissue paper Tissues contain wood fibre and thus can scratch the lens of your camera; instead, use a proper lens cloth to clean delicate coated glass. 3) Hold tight When taking your photo, brace yourself to hold the camera steady for several seconds; the biggest single reason for poor smartphone
Pisa, the Leaning Tower with scattered cumulus and stratocumulus - taken with a HTC Desire C by professional photographer and author of The Weather Observer’s Handbook, Stephen Burt
6) Check composition When you’re lining up your shot, consider the objects in frame – if you move your phone slightly to the left, will that remove a pesky aerial which is making the shot look less picturesque?
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feature instagram
Why the world's gone Instagram crazy
Facebook paid a billion dollars for Instagram. Here's what it is and how to use it.
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ou’ve heard the murmur on the technology breeze and most likely seen various groups of hipsters holding their phones over plates of food or interesting street art; Instagram. So just what is this app-ealing offering in the photography app market and should you be fussed about getting it?
FILTER TIPS Instagram is an app available for free on Android and Apple’s iOS (but to the annoyance of many, not on Windows Phone 8 or BlackBerry World) which
allows you to apply filters to photos and share them with your friends via social media networks. By ‘filters’ we mean effects which are applied to your photos, such as turning them black and white, fading them to look olde time, giving them borders so they look like polaroids, and much more. Launching the app from your homescreen or apps list, you select the camera button as you would for the in-built camera function, line up your shot and once you’ve snapped your memorable moment, the fun begins. You have various editing options, as well as the filters you can apply,
44 Questions? Head to our online forum at forum.whatmobile.net
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The Rockefeller Centre, before and after Instagram filters.
including brightening the photo, rotating it, removing the frame and different areas of fading. Once you’ve jazzed the photo up to your heart’s content, you then give it a title, choose whether to pin it to a map (using your phone’s GPS; others can see this also) and whether to share it on various social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. When you’ve finished the photos are published and anyone using Instagram or on the company’s website can see them. They’re also saved to your phone’s camera roll, so you can access your album to email the photos or move them to a different device. You can view a list of your photos on your profile page, which also displays the number of followers you have and how many people you are following; you can follow Facebook friends by signing in with your Facebook log-ins and selecting who you want.
WHY BOTHER? Instagram says it was created to solve three problems: mobile photos looking mediocre, the difficulty of sharing on multiple platforms and the length of time taken to upload photos. While its filters and sharing options are pretty commonplace these days, with most smartphones coming with pre-loaded editing options which do the same, it’s worth remembering Instagram was launched in 2010, before the advent of specced-out mobile phone cameras and flagships. The service is a popular one, the second most popular photo app on the iTunes store at time of writing, and this year it clocked up more than 30 million accounts, or users - it also added video capabilities. The app has been likened to Twitter with photos; people update their lives via photo instead of status updates. One friend uses Instagram to document her daily routine with one photo a day posted for her to look back on and remember. Other than that, if you’re into a simple photography app which will let you mess around with how your photo looks and apply interesting effects, Instagram is the app for you.
PRIVACY AND ALL THAT JAZZ You can choose to have a ‘Private’ mode on Instagram when you sign up, which means only people you approve as followers can see your pictures. Instagram faced a small uproar recently however, after Facebook purchased the company in 2012 for $US1 billion. Instagram then changed its Terms of Service in December to allow photos uploaded by users to be used in advertising without reference to the owner, with payments going to Instagram. Specifically, the clauses stated “to help us deliver interesting paid or sponsored content or promotions, you agree that a business or other entity may pay us to display your username, likeness, photos (along with any associated metadata), and/or actions you take, in connection with paid or sponsored content or promotions, without any compensation to you.” The only opt-out clause was to not use the service and delete your photos. Mass protest from users resulted in Instagram reverting to its original Terms of Service, but media reported soon after that daily active users of the service had dropped. Analysis of this data was contended by other media outlets and Instagram released their monthly active user numbers in January, which it said clocked it at 90 million, up 10% from December, with 40 million photos shared per day, 8,500 likes per second and 1,000 comments per second.
BAD PRESS Instagram has received a lot of bad press for being clogged with pictures of hipsters in various ironic and culture defying poses. ‘Hipsters’, when defined unsarcastically, are generally youths who follow fashions and trends so cutting-edge no one has ever heard of them, or set the trends themselves by combining hats made of teapots with Wellington boots and a sequinned boa – you get my drift. Worth noting is a comment on one tech website which simply said: “Totally not annoying: constantly complaining about ‘hipsters’. However, Instagram certainly isn’t just about hipsters; there’s a whole slew of things on offer.
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The wide world of Instagram A popular use of Instagram is to document the lives of adorable pets, such as Maru (@marutaro), featured as our main picture, a five year old Shibu Inu from Japan whose followers say makes them smile and who sucked up entire afternoons at What Mobile perusing photos to “find the best one”. There’s also the incredibly cute two year old Manny the Frenchie (@manny_the_frenchie), who has even featured on t-shirts and a combination of both hipster and adorable, in the form of Hamilton the Hipster Cat (@hamilton_the_hipster_cat). Instagram also has a dedicated following of food lovers who post pics of their meals. Dunkin Donuts has an account (@dunkindonuts), although if you’re on a diet, I’d recommend not following them.
Alternative apps for managing and enhancing photos Instance
Flickr
Snapseed
Although there are only 12 filters included, this Windows Phone alternative gives users a chance to Instagram their lives. On the upside, new filters are added to the back-end of the app frequently. The app is also a good looking offering, with a refreshingly clean and functional layout. Loading photos is a breeze; the only problems are the occasional app crash and no discernible way to tag friends.
The now Yahoo!owned Flickr app is a neat offering; it has a nice layout with a photo-filled newsfeed, a whole range of filter options and various ways to keep your photo private or public. There’s also the option to join groups, tag your photo’s location and browse the photos of others, separated into two categories – interesting and nearby. Flickr is free and available on all the major operating systems.
A neat little app which allows you to apply filters but also to edit your photos, such as adjust brightness, contrast, even the frames around your photo, by swiping your fingers on screen. Even cropping is done by using both your thumb and forefinger and you can switch between effects by swiping up or down. While there aren’t too many filters on offer, this is a very simple and good looking Instagram alternative.
46 Questions? Head to our online forum at forum.whatmobile.net
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08/05/2012 15:26
feature 4G Speed test
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By Jordan O’Brien
EE has spent millions on its super-fast 4G network, but is it worth the cost of upgrading? Our real-world London ‘road’ test shows big variations in the speeds achieved
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t’s now been more than eight months since mobile network EE promised to bring faster download and upload speeds to our mobile devices through the use of next-generation technology which had already taken other countries by storm, 4G LTE. Whilst countries like the US boast millions of 4G adopters, we Brits seem a little more anxious when it comes to jumping into the world of faster internet speeds on our mobiles – with the latest figures showing just 500,000 of us are utilising EE’s 4G network. 25 3 0 35 With so few people using it, we sat down 20 15 40 DO WN LO ADS and wondered why. Could it be that the 45 10 network isn’t up to the blazing fast speeds 5 50 0Mbps 55 that EE promises? Or are we just being sceptics? To test this theory, we decided to go on a trip around London testing all corners to find out once and for all: are there any benefits from using 4G? We started the day off in the East of London, bang in the heart of the Canary
Wharf business district. Upon leaving the tube station we immediately fired up a speedtest app and gave it a whirl. As soon as we pressed the test button, the dial immediately shot to the end of the scale, which was something we expected as the scale only went up to a rather conservative 20Mbps. After hitting the end of the dial it eventually began to settle down just below the 20Mbps mark, and we ended up hitting a rather modest 14.9Mbps speed. To put that into perspective, the average fixed broadband speed for that area is just 22Mbps – so this wasn’t a bad start for EE at all. We left Canary Wharf satisfied and headed just across the river to North Greenwich. We expected extremely similar results, after all it was a stone’s throw away. Unfortunately our Galaxy S4 couldn’t quite get a 4G signal. We knew that 4G was by no means perfect, and expected this to happen at several points during the course of the day. A lack of a 4G signal didn’t stop us from testing the speed
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48 Questions? Head to our online forum at forum.whatmobile.net
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though, as it’s always nice to have something to compare it to. We managed to get an EDGE network and fired up our speed testing once again, this time the result was a little disappointing. We were right outside the O2 arena and yet could only manage a creaking 3Mbps – not good enough. Whilst EE 4G coverage in London is pretty complete, there are quite a few patches where you’ll find yourself without 4G – in fact if you live in the South of London you could find yourself in one of those patches. With prices starting at £21 per month for just the SIM, you might want to delay switching to EE 4G until you’re absolutely sure that you can get coverage. EE will soon have 4G Pay As You Go tariffs, so you’ll be able to test your coverage before committing to a contract. If you really want 4G but don’t want to move from your existing network, or even house, do not fret: O2, Vodafone and Three have assured us that their 4G networks will be launching later this year, with O2 promising 98 per cent of population coverage by 2015. Several analysts believe that the hold up can be blamed on the fact that the iPhone 5 will be incompatible with everyone else’s 4G network, with only EE’s network being iPhone 5 compatible, so if you’re really anti-Apple, that’s just one more reason to protest. Of course you do not have to own an iPhone to use 4G. In fact there are many 4G-ready smartphones on the market with HTC, Huawei, Nokia, Samsung, Sony and even Blackberry offering one or more 4G-compatible smartphones in their ranges. EE says that its current 4G network pushes out on average of 8-12Mbps download speed, with the network capable of up to 40Mbps. The next three places we tested showed that 8-12Mbps was the bare minimum of what this network is capable of, with London Victoria Station, Clapham Junction and East Croydon all offering speeds of between 23Mbps and a blistering 44Mbps
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line broadband would get you. In some areas 4G was a massive boost, with huge download and upload speeds in places like East Croydon. Yet we also found that in other areas 4G had little to offer over existing 3G. We continued onwards, as so far we had only done around the South of London and we wanted to accomplish something in all the corners. Our journey took us into Richmond, a nice enough area which seemed to struggle to get a 4G signal. At the station we couldn’t even get a 3G signal, with just 0.16Mbps download speed reported on our speed test, so we couldn’t even get Twitter to load and didn’t even bother trying to tune into the lunchtime news. Just as we were leaving Richmond on the District Line, 4G sprung into life. It did however turn out to be the slowest 4G result so far that day, with it managing to reach just over 12.5Mbps. It wasn’t so bad just outside of Richmond, with our train pulling into Kew Gardens with full 4G in tow. In fact, the 4G was blazingly fast and we were finally able to stream the lunchtime news, as well as upload some photos to Twitter and Facebook, although the upload speed was still a little on the slow side. There was no such upload problem at Heathrow, with a full 19Mbps at our disposal, which meant taking all those photos of the beautiful architecture at Terminal 5 won’t go completely to waste, as you’ll be able to barrage your social networking profiles in lightning quick time. We were also impressed by
the download speed, being the second highest overall throughout the whole day, which means you can waste the time away watching countless TV shows and movies after your flight is inevitably delayed. After spending a few minutes wishing we were flying away to an exotic destination, we finally peeled ourselves away from Heathrow and headed back into London with Ealing Broadway the first stop on our post-Heathrow list. Ealing Broadway had the second worst download speed of the day, although the upload speed was nothing to complain about, something we did find ourselves complaining about at Wembley Stadium when the upload speed test refused to complete, despite not having moved an inch from where we initiated the test. 25 3 0 At this point, the data was conclusive: EE’s 35 20 15 40 4G network is full of inconsistencies. Whilst DO WN LO ADS 45 10 the company claims that 4G is on average 5 50 five times faster than 3G, we couldn’t find 0M bps 55 many places it was. With our 3G results coming out at between 3Mbps and 8Mbps, many places were only just managing EE’s average, with seven of our 4G results reaching over 20Mbps and only three reaching over 30Mbps. So what’s the benefit of upgrading to 4G? Well if you’re lucky enough to live in an area like East Croydon, then the fact that you’ll be reaching speeds well over double that of fixed broadband seems like a good enough reason. Although if you’re not that keen on spending the extra money for the extra oomph, then you might want to wait until other networks show their cards.
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50 Questions? Head to our online forum at forum.whatmobile.net
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The 4G Lottery Getting a good 4G signal is a lottery, there are no guarantees wherever you are. You would expect central London to get the fastest 4G speeds, but that isn’t always the case. You’re actually more likely to get a solid speed just outside central. 4G is a great thing to have, but in some areas it certainly isn’t of great value and much of the speed increases are marginal at best. With London offering so many Wi-Fi hotspots, you’re probably better off nipping into Starbucks or hanging out underground hooked up to Virgin Media’s tube hotspots until the other operators get in on the 4G game and the price comes down. Three has promised its customers that they will not have to pay any more to access its higher ‘Ultra’ 3G service as they are currently paying to access 3G.
As time goes on, we think we’ll be seeing most networks take up a similar stance, especially considering it is one surefire way of catching up with EE, despite the company claiming that it is out of reach for other networks. 4G is set to be the next big thing. Even if the speed isn’t all there across London, it does offer significant benefits in terms of capacity. Networks are currently over capacity, which means your download speeds are directly affected as millions of other people try and cram onto the same data connection. With 4G, space on the network means we shouldn’t see a significant slow down even with a significant uptake in the amount of people adopting this next generation in mobile technology.
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guide windows phone 8
Windows Phone 8: a night on the tiles After Apple’s iOS, Android and BlackBerry 10 comes Microsoft with the Windows Phone 8 oeprating system. Here’s everything you need to know to decide if Windows Phone 8 is for you. By Jordan O’Brien
M
icrosoft famously dropped support for Windows Phone 7 when it announced its next-gen operating system, Windows Phone 8. But was triggering the reset button really worth it? What really changed? Apparently the operating system a phone runs on is important these days and whether it be Android, iOS, BB10 or even Windows Phone, people care about the OS under the hood. It’s not just because of the features of the OS either, it’s also about the apps that support it and the level of customisation it has. Whilst Android and iOS currently dominate the market, with the former gobbling up over half of the smartphone market, Windows Phone 8 is trying hard to be a solid third choice. In many markets, it’s working. Take the UK for example, where Microsoft’s Windows Phones have managed to capture 8.4% of the market, knocking Blackberry into fourth place with just 5.6%. That may sound impressive, but it’s still got a long way to go until app
developers start to take the OS seriously and that’s one of the issues consumers seem to have with Windows Phone 8. Other than that, Windows Phone is a robust operating system with both brains and beauty. Whilst it lacks certain features, it also includes others no other operating system boasts.
It would be easy to believe that only Nokia produce handsets running Windows Phone 8, but other major manufacturers are taking up the OS, such as Samsung with the ATIV S.
52 Questions? Head to our online forum at forum.whatmobile.net
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guide windows phone 8
The Hub of the matter Like the original message with Windows Phone 7, the new operating system’s ethos remains unchanged – people shouldn’t have to go constantly in and out of apps, it should be glance and go. Windows Phone 8 features several hubs which aim to bring all your content into a glanceable view and make it much more manageable. There’s a hub for People, Messaging, Photos, Xbox Music and Video, Games, the Windows Phone Store and Microsoft Office. Hubs work as a central location for everything you could need from a specific function. For instance, in messaging you obviously get your standard SMS option, but you can also continue that conversation using a different method, such as Facebook for example. This works really well as rather than having your chats fragmented between apps, it’s all in one central location, although the Facebook element isn’t always as reliable as one would hope. This works exactly the same way in every hub, with the Photos hub not only showing you the photos you have taken, but also downloaded photos, photos you have stored on Facebook and Skydrive, plus a dedicated photo feed which shows you the latest photos across your various social networks.
In the People hub you once again have your social networks front and centre, but this time it’s not just a feed dedicated to photos, you can have a feed showing all updates from Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, or even go and specify exactly what updates you want to see. Clicking on a contact in the People hub will give you several options, such as calling their phone, messaging them via SMS or Facebook, posting to their Facebook wall, mentioning them on Twitter, mapping their home address and even finding out their birthday – meaning Windows Phone users have no excuse for forgetting. Swiping across will give you the ability to see their latest social networking status updates, their photos (both local and online) and even the conversation history. App developers can actually display their apps in certain hubs, such as Photos, Xbox Music + Videos and Games, which means you don’t have to scour your start screen or your list of apps if you just want to find that one particular music app, or even that photo editor. Hubs is a feature that makes Windows Phone feel a lot more seamless and is something that really puts it above the rest of the competition. We’d like to see it go a lot further, allowing 3rd party app developers to integrate directly within the app, rather than having to launch their app from a hub.
A little bit limiting for customisation If you’re used to the level of customisation on Android and you want something like that again, I advise you not to switch to Windows Phone. Whilst there is some level of customisation, with you being able to change the colour and size of your live tiles, your lockscreen picture and even the notifications which display on the lockscreen, other than that you’re pretty much locked down. There’s no third party keyboards, launchers or even background pictures. If you want to go drastic with your customisation and make it look like no other phone, one solution to this is to set your phone to ‘High Contrast’ mode, which can be found in the accessibility options. Whilst this admittedly makes some of the apps look terrible, you do have quite a cool looking lockscreen that you can guarantee will be different from most other Windows Phone users
CHILDS’ PLAY
Microsoft is billing Windows Phone 8 as the ultimate phone for people with children, with a dedicated feature all for the little ones. Kid’s Corner was designed so you can trust your child to play with your phone without having to worry about them posting a status to Facebook accidentally or even deleting all your important emails. With Kid’s Corner you get a completely separate environment, like you would on a Windows computer when creating a new user. In this environment you can start adding apps from your phone and pinning them to the start screen, you get the same
level of customisation here, with apps being capable of the three sizes you would expect live tiles to be. Microsoft has also said that whilst it was designed with children in mind, the Kid’s Corner feature can easily be renamed by any user so you can create a dedicated Games area, or music, which you can access directly from the lock screen by swiping left. Be warned though, if you like your music loud, then I wouldn’t go setting up everything in Kid’s Corner just for music, as we’ve come across a volume limit of just 13, way under the 30 available in the original environment.
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guide windows phone 8
MILES OF TILES
What would a guide on Windows Phone be without talking about arguably the most important feature of the entire OS: live tiles. If you’re not familiar with live tiles then think of them as icons which show you glanceable information, so more of that ‘glance and go’ type stuff. For instance, if you go and get a notification on Twitter, then that notification will show up on your live tile giving you immediate information without having to go into the app. It’s not only notifications either, you can also do the same with things like the Weather app, which will show the latest forecast directly on the home screen, bypassing the need to actually delve into the app. A cool thing about live tiles is that when some of your Hubs are pinned to your start screen then it will cycle through all kinds of things. Such as Photos showing you randomised pictures from your collection, or people which will cycle through photos of your friends. Live Tiles makes the OS feel a lot more alive, and you can choose how big you want them. You can have them double wide, small or just the ordinary size. If you choose for double wide, you’ll find that many apps will show you even more information; such as the Messaging hub which gives you the ability to read the message directly from your start screen.
NO NOTIFICATION CENTRE
Unlike most other major mobile operating systems, Windows Phone 8 lacks a Notification Centre, much to the pain of its users. Microsoft has said that Windows Phone doesn’t need a notification centre as it has live tiles, although many people have argued back that it’d be nice to have both, as not all notifications are displayed on a live tile. There is a glimmer of hope that Windows Phone will be receiving this functionality in the next major update, although we thought we’d highlight something that you can get now. In true Windows Phone style, third-party app developer Liquid Daffodil, has taken it upon itself to build a dedicated app for showing all your notifications. That app is called Unification. Whilst this is obviously just a stop gap at the moment, with not all apps supporting it, nor having a direct way to get to it from anywhere, it is a positive step towards Windows Phone finally having a hub dedicated to notifications. Unification does have one thing going for it though, as not only can you view notifications from your Windows Phone, but you can also view any notifications that come through Windows 8 as well. This kind of cross platform notification should really be what Microsoft is aiming for in order to push both Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 into the market further.
But what about my choice of apps? Let’s not sugar coat this, Windows Phone 8 has an app problem. At last count, Microsoft only had 145,000 apps available in the Windows Phone store, that’s much less than the 800,000 on Android and the 900,000 on iOS. It’s not even just the number of apps that counts, with Windows Phone missing out on so many of the top apps on Android and iOS. Whilst Microsoft claims it has access to 98 of the top 100 apps from Android and iOS, I would really like to know which apps it classifies as “top apps”. Windows Phone is currently missing Snapchat, Vine, Instagram and many others. It’s even missing some of the many apps Facebook, the company Microsoft holds a large stake in, has developed. This problem isn’t going away, but third party app developers are trying to plug the hole, with apps such as Swapchat, 6sec and Instance all becoming suitable replacements for official apps.
54 Questions? Head to our online forum at forum.whatmobile.net
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guide windows phone 8
MULTITASKING CARD TRICK
If the multitasking in Windows Phone 8 looks familiar, then that’s because it is. The cards view first appeared on WebOS, but unfortunately Microsoft only borrowed the view, whereas Apple in the recent announcement of iOS7, will be using all the functionality that WebOS multitasking brought. That means you will be able to bring up your multitasking menu and then simply swipe away an app when you’re done with it. To open the multitasking menu you currently have to hold the back button, which is fair enough, but unlike other operating systems, there’s no way to actually close these apps directly from this menu. Instead, Windows Phone 8 forces you to click onto an app and then proceed
to press the back button as many times as it’s needed to close the app, which is rather counter intuitive. Another difference between other operating systems and Windows Phone 8 is the fact that apps aren’t even running in the background at all times. The multitasking menu simply acts as a list of apps that you have recently launched, and you are likely going to have to wait for that app to relaunch, much like in iOS. It’s disappointing that Windows Phone would choose a path which excludes true multitasking, as it means when we switch between apps, there’s no guarantee that the app you just switched from will still be running. This makes sense if you want to ensure better battery life and more conservative processor use, but it would be nice to give the users the choice.
CONTROLLING YOUR DATA USAGE
Gone are the days of unlimited data, so a lot of us are forced to tighten our belts and track the amount of data we’re using on our phones. For an operating system like Windows Phone, that isn’t the easiest thing; after all, it’s constantly updating those live tiles, surely that has to use up a whole load of data? Well Microsoft has come up with a handy way to help out, and it’s called Data Sense. Whilst originally Data Sense support had to be switched on by your network, Microsoft has since reversed this decision and enabled it for all Windows Phone users. What Data Sense does is quite genius, giving you a simple to read pie chart of all the data you’ve used over the last 30 days. It doesn’t stop there though, giving you the ability to check on an app-by-app basis, and even limit your mobile data usage, meaning there’s no chance of you going over your allowance.
Nokia GETS UPDATES FIRST
Nokia continues to be the poster child for Windows Phone and amongst all those rumours that Microsoft is planning on buying the Finnish phone giant, it continues to add features to Windows Phone that aren’t available to other rival manufacturers. In the deal that Microsoft and Nokia inked back in 2011, the companies agreed that Nokia would be able to modify the software to its heart’s
content. It seems that we’re finally seeing the fruits of the deal, with Nokia adding in many features in an upcoming software update exclusive to Lumia smartphones. These features include Glance Screen, which keeps the time on the screen even if the device is locked, and FM Radio, which was available in Windows Phone 7 but for some reason removed when Microsoft released Windows Phone 8. Nokia has also made it possible to change the default camera to its own Smart Camera software. If you’re on another Windows Phone, then you may get your FM Radio back in Microsoft’s upcoming GDR2 update, which is set to launch this month, although we have yet to hear exactly what will come from this update.
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reviewS apps and games
August App Reviews What Mobile’s selection of the biggest app releases this month Reviewer: Alex Walls and Jordan O’Brien - for full reviews, check out WhatMobile.net
Meerkat Me Free on Apple IOS toxicmag.co.uk An app for five year olds or those with an equivalent mental age, Meerkat Me involves splicing a photo of your face, onto one of three meerkats – baby, large or… obnoxious? Said monstrosity then dances around to techno while variously insulting you or propping up stereotypes in the case of the ‘fat’ meerkat, occasionally farting or doing the splits. I can see kids thinking it’s hilarious but for adults it's pretty lame.
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BBC Weather
Gmail
Free on Apple iOS and Android bbc.co.uk
Free or £0.79 on Windows Phone As unoffical apps go, Gmail’s foray into Windows Phone is by far the worst we’ve ever seen. This really deserves no stars, with the interface being incredibly clunky and feeling more like a mobile site than a port of the iOS app – something that was evident when we had no internet That said, we realise a lot of people value their Gmail features, so I guess it deserves brownie points there.
A very simply set out weather app which gives you everything you need to know, weather-wise. There are big pictures, highs and lows, plus the forecast for the next four days. There are even added extras such as pollen counts, wind speeds and hourly forecasts in a well-set out functionality. You can search for towns and cities around the world, although smaller cities won't make an appearance, and your choices are grouped into a list.
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Classic Winnie-the-Pooh One story free on Apple iOS, then £1.99 facebook.com/winniethepoohuk Classic Winnie-the-Pooh is an app which allows you to enjoy one free classic Pooh story, with the original illustrations of E.H.Shepard made interactive. Said illustrations are beautiful and the interactions clever; as the story unfolds, you can tickle Pooh or tap Christopher Robin to prompt actions from either. You can choose whether to have the story read out to you or read the story yourself, and the first tale available is that of Pooh deciding to raid a hive for honey by floating up to it on a balloon. You can then buy further Pooh stories for £1.99, which is pretty expensive, but there is a child lock in place.
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56 Questions? Head to our online forum at forum.whatmobile.net
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reviewS apps and games
Instance Free or £1.29 on Windows Phone Instagram is yet to launch on Windows Phone 8, but that doesn’t matter as third-party app developers have taken it upon themselves to launch alternatives. Instance is the effort from app developer Daniel Gary, who also developed the incredibly popular Pinsation app for Windows Phone. Everything you expect from Instagram is there, with a news feed, filters and a way to view all the popular images from across Instagram. We thought the experience Instance gave was even better than the official apps on iOS and Android platforms, although we were let down by the constant crashing. There are fewer filters in Instance, but this wasn’t an issue, with one for every occasion.
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Britain’s Best Walks Free on Apple iOS livefortheoutdoors.com
Britain’s Best Walks is not the prettiest of apps; its layout can be a bit confusing since there’s no explanation of what to do. You can search for walks near you or purchase walks in a given area. There are no free walks, which is disappointing, and searching in the Lake District didn’t turn up anything, surely a tourist hub for walks. However there are details of each walk including public transport, toilets and descriptions so you can probably work it out.
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Everest Free on Apple iOS everest.com Sort of like a life-goal aggregator (or bucket list organiser), Everest is a beautifully laid out app where you can choose to add dreams to achieve (shared publicly or privately as you wish) and the steps to get there. You can also accept challenges such as ‘bike to work’, ‘build a website’ or ‘find a mentor’, or explore the dreams of others. You can set reminders for your steps to achievement which quickly become annoying. Other than that, Everest is a fun way to prioritise your life.
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Rockmelt for Windows 8 Free on Windows 8 and RT rockmelt.com We've all heard of Flipboard and Pulse, but I bet not everyone has heard of Rockmelt, which used to be a browser that included all your social networking bells and whistles front and centre, but was recently rebranded into a content discovery service. With this relaunch, Rockmelt announced at Microsoft's BUILD conference that it is bringing a dedicated app to Windows 8, which works pretty well, serving up all sorts of content directly on the homescreen, from news to videos, to your social networking feeds. If you love discovering new content that you may have missed, then Rockmelt is an incredible companion, with a simple to use, beautiful UI and thousands of different content sources. There literally is somthing for everyone.
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reviewS apps and games
Phasers set to stun Let’s fire up some of this month’s biggest game releases and see what pushes our buttons Reviewer: Alex Walls - for full reviews, check out WhatMobile.net
First LOOK
Deus Ex: The Fall £4.99 on Apple iOS Square Enix/EIDOS Square Enix and EIDOS have brought the Deus Ex world to mobile devices. Protagonist Ben Saxon has been betrayed by his private military employers The Tyrants and is in hiding. However, as a human with special abilities ('augmented'), he needs drugs to survive and must investigate a conspiracy surrounding their supply while on the run. The game graphics are impressive; characters are a little chunky but environments are beautifully designed. Gameplay is extremely smooth and there were no sticky controls when we played through on a tablet; movement is by tapping or thumb-rolling and players can interact with characters, target enemies – all the options from the PC world. Redesigns for mobile include unlimited weapons, automatic running and disappearing bodies after a certain amount of time; one of the neater aspects was the option to perform non-lethal take downs (lethal take downs are pretty brutal). Auto targeting worked well but self-directed targeting showed some issues; tapping to target and shoot sometimes wouldn't work. You can unlock levels without putting money in, however there are options to make in-game purchases and a campaign playthrough takes roughly five to six hours, Square said, and you’d need to play through about three times to see all the game’s content. The game is due for release this summer.
58 Questions? Head to our online forum at forum.whatmobile.net
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reviewS apps and games
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney First two episodes free on Apple iOS and Android; £4 for first game, £5 for next two capcom.co.jp The Nintendo DS and Gameboy Advance classic has you playing as rookie lawyer Phoenix Wright investigating cases and somehow everyone thinking he's amazing. Gameplay involves selecting dialogue options, searching rooms, interviewing witnesses and, our favourite part, shouting ‘OBJECTION!’ in court at whim. It also involves overly emotive anime characters and fairly sexist female representation. Aside from the latter, it’s quite fun to play through and has a fairly good sense of humour, including a dodgy witness called 'Mr Sahwit' (geddit?). The games are fairly expensive for a set, but the first two are free and fun to play, with neat graphics and interesting gameplay.
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Dumb Ways to Die Free on Apple iOS and Android dumbwaystodie.com This game is a joy. Based on the video of the same name released by Metro Trains Melbourne to encourage safety around railway lines, the game features the various characters from in the video attempting to avoid dying in stupid ways, such as inviting a psycho killer inside or using your private parts as piranha bait. You must help them survive in a given time frame or die, with accompanying hilarious graphic. You get three ‘deaths’ before your final score is tallied; higher scores unlock new characters and the video clip the game is based on. The graphics are very cute, the music is catchy and the game is very funny (you get random bonuses ('DUUUUDE: 30 points) or penalties (BOO: -15 points). Importantly, despite all the fun it gives a quietly serious message without preaching: don’t be dumb, be careful around trains.
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Little Luca £0.69 on Apple iOS littlelucagame.com Little Luca is a cute iOS physics puzzler which aims to get a white ball into a gravitational well, using a variety of objects which are able to be manipulated – bouncy hills, adjustable air currents and more. Game play involves tapping the device’s touchscreen and relies upon timing and angles more than anything and the physics is fairly realistic. The graphics are cute, if a little blunt; set in pixellated style as a hat-tip to old school games, and there is a certain nostalgia to playing it. There are 90 levels over three worlds, although these can get fairly boring; but good value for the game’s price and each level is short and sweet. Perfect for public transport.
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buyer’s guide operating systems explained
Operating systems explained One of the most important decisions to make when buying your phone is which operating system to choose. It is the main interface through which you control your device, so finding the right one is critical. We’ve gone in-depth with the top options to help you decide.
android Launched in 2008, Google Android is currently the world’s most popular smartphone OS, running on almost 70 per cent of devices. With its intuitive interface, customisable design and over 500,000 apps, it makes a great choice for anyone that wants to get more from their phone. Android 4.1 Jelly Bean is the latest version, but previous iterations, such as 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, 2.3 Gingerbread and 2.2 Froyo, are still proving popular. As a result they can still be found on many handsets on the market, despite offering a more limited set of core features. With its excellent compatibility with Google services, such as Gmail and Google Docs, as well as its easy customisation and widespread availability on devices at all prices, Android is great for newcomers and experts alike, so it’s no surprise that it’s the current market leader.
Strengths
Weaknesses
• Slick and easy-to-use interface
• Updates can be slow to arrive • Some phones don’t get updated • A fragmented array of versions
• Wide choice of Android handsets • Huge selection of apps on offer
iOS Due to the huge success of the iPhone and iPad, Apple’s iOS operating system is perhaps the most recognisable mobile OS in the business. And thanks to its great design, fantastic usability and market-leading app store, it is by far one of the best operating systems you can currently find. It is not without its flaws, however. Firstly, iOS is only available on Apple’s expensive iPhone and iPad range, making it far less accessible than its rivals. Secondly, Apple imposes fairly strict restrictions on how you can use and customise the OS, so it lacks the freedom of Android. Nevertheless, iOS is still one of the world’s most popular operating systems and with good reason. With its beautifully intuitive interface, great ease of use and an app store which offers a truly comprehensive selection of apps – over 500,000 at the time of writing – it is hard to beat.
Strengths
Weaknesses
• Beautifully intuitive design • No fragmentation of versions • Huge choice of available apps
• Limited customisation options • Very few compatible devices • Hardware is expensive
60 Questions? Head to our online forum at forum.whatmobile.net
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buyer’s guide operating systems explained
Symbian While Nokia’s Symbian and S40 OS are most often seen on feature-phones, a few Symbian smartphones still exist. But while they provide decent usability and functionality, Symbian has long been surpassed by the more advanced iOS, Android and Windows Phone. Symbian Belle – or Nokia Belle, as it’s now known – is the latest version and provides an easy-to-use interface through which to control your phone. It clearly lacks the advanced usability, app support and core functionality of its more popular rivals, however. As a reaction to Symbian’s decreasing popularity, Nokia is making Windows Phone its main priority and phasing Symbian out on its smartphones. But its feature-light Nokia Series 40 OS is still proving popular on feature-phones, so there is life left in Nokia’s software yet.
Strengths • Bright and easy-to-use interface • Available on affordable handsets • Versions to suit a range of budgets
blackBerry 10 The much-awaited BlackBerry 10 operating system saw RIM change its company name to BlackBerry. The new proprietary operating system only available on BlackBerry phones comes with some new bells and whistles that appeals to both its core business customers and the average consumer; these include Hub, a single inbox that collates messages, alerts, emails and social media, Balance which splits the device between a work profile and a personal one, the interactive video and photo app Storyteller and the newly revamped BlackBerry World app store. The new OS looks good, particularly compared with its predecessor. However, the OS has been said to be unoriginal – everything that can be done on BlackBerry 10 can also be done on other operating systems. The OS is also not initially very easy to use, with difficulty in working out how to get devices unlocked.
Weaknesses • Limited choice of apps and games • Usability and features feel dated • Bettered in most areas by its rivals
Windows Phone As one of the most recent operating systems to be launched, Microsoft’s Windows Phone currently occupies a small section of the market. But with its unique design, great social networking features and easy usability, more people are starting to take notice. The key feature of Windows Phone is its intuitive interface. The screen is filled with large tiles for the phone’s apps, which display live updates for your contacts and social networks, among others, making it easy to keep up to date with a glance at your phone. With leading social networks such as Facebook and Twitter perfectly integrated, it’s also easy to post quick updates from a range of places in the OS. And with its bright and colourful design, accessible menus and handy apps, it is a fantastic operating system.
Strengths
Strengths
• Looks good • Functionality for business and consumer • Good predictive keyboard offering
Bright and eye-catching interface Very easy to use for all age groups Great for social networking
Weaknesses
Weaknesses
• Nothing particularly original on offer
• Limited choice of handsets • Not as polished as Android or iOS • Small selection of apps at present
• Not an intuitive interface for beginners • Still lacking app wise
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buyer’s guide phone types explained
Find your perfect phone With such a wide range of phones to choose from, finding the right handset for your needs can be a bit confusing at times. We’re here to help you decide which one will suit you best. From dumb-phones to smartphones and everything in between, you can find it all here.
Smartphone As the flagship devices of the phone world, smartphones are the most powerpacked handsets you can buy. Offering ample features, they bridge the gap between a mobile phone and a portable computer, making them ideal for a range of tasks. Powered by advanced operating systems (page 64) and high-performance technology, smartphones provide power, usability and features normally lacking on entry-level mobile phones, so they are well-equipped to help you work and play on the move. Most modern smartphones use intuitive touchscreen interfaces, to let you control the phone by touch, rather than using buttons. With gesture-controls, such as swiping your fingers across the screen to navigate pages, they are incredibly easy devices to use. Where smartphones really come into their own, however, is the apps you can install on them. Letting you add a huge range of extra features to your phone whenever you like, apps can easily turn your handset into a fully-functioning portable computer. All this power and functionality comes at a price, however, as smartphones are the largest and most expensive phones you can buy. If you want the best, then smartphones are for you. But if you’d prefer simple features at a low price, then look elsewhere.
Feature-phone Feature-phones are devices that sit between the latest top-of-the-range smartphones and the most basic text and call-only mobile phones – or dumbphones, as they’re sometimes called. As such, they provide a good range of features, while keeping prices low. While feature-phones are smaller and less powerful devices than smartphones, they still provide functionality beyond the most rudimentary mobile phone features, so you can take photos, update your social networks, play games and more on them. Due to their limited specifications, however, feature-phones lack the usability, functionality and advanced software and features of a smartphone, making them best suited to anyone that only needs basic phone features, with a few extra bells and whistles. An added benefit of opting for a feature-phone is they can be easier to use, due to their limited features. They are also significantly more affordable than smartphones, making them a great option for children, elderly users and anyone on a budget. As a result, feature-phones remain very popular, with only about half of UK phone owners using smartphones. So if you don’t need the latest features and you want to save money, while still enjoying a great user experience, a featurephone will be ideal. 62 Questions? Head to our online forum at forum.whatmobile.net
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buyer’s guide phone types explained
Phone form-factors Once you’ve chosen the type of phone you want, the next step is to decide which design will be best for you. Whatever your needs there is a phone that will be just right, so we can help you find your perfect fit.
Touchscreen
QWERTY
Thanks to the increasing popularity of smartphones, touchscreen devices are more common than ever. With their intuitive usability they make a great choice for a wide variety of requirements. Touchscreen devices let you navigate and control your phone with a quick tap, swipe or pinch of your fingers. They are very easy to use, but can present a learning curve if you’re not used to their unique controls. Most touchscreen phones don’t feature hardware keypads, so you’ll also need to get used to typing on an onscreen keyboard. But for sheer ease-of-use and unique usability, touchscreen phones are very hard to beat.
When you want the easiest and most natural interface for typing texts and emails or updating your social networks, a QWERTY phone will be your perfect choice. Fitted with a full hardware keyboard, they make speed typing on the move easier than ever before. QWERTY phones are fitted with a large keyboard that features the same layout as you’ll find on your laptop or home PC, so you can type faster and easier than on any other type of handset. The most high-profile QWERTY phones are found in BlackBerry’s range and they are the perfect choice for anyone that needs to type regularly on their phone.
Candybar Also known as bar phones these handsets are easily recognisable, as they use the standard design that was seen for many years before touchscreen, flip, swivel and slider devices hit the phone market. Candybar phones have the benefit of being very small and light devices, so they can fit neatly in your pocket and be easily held and used one-handed, while typing on the keypad with your thumb. Their small size means they often have equally compact screens, so they’re not ideal for playing games, viewing photos and videos or browsing the web. As such, they are best used for basic tasks.
Flip
Swivel
Another design commonly used by manufacturers several years ago, flip – or clamshell – phones are devices that fold neatly into a compact footprint for easy transportation, but can then be flipped open when you need to access the screen or keyboard. As with candybar phones, flip phones have the advantage of being small, light and easy to carry. And when they’re folded up, the primary screen and keyboard are safely protected against damage, or attracting dust and dirt.
An odd-looking and relatively uncommon design, swivel phones are similar to slider phones, in that they are built to accommodate screens that can be rotated to reveal a hardware keyboard beneath. While slider phones feature full QWERTY keyboards, swivel phones tend to only feature smaller alphanumeric keypads, making them more akin to candybar phones, albeit with a larger screen included. As with slider phones, swivel phones can tend to be slightly thicker and heavier than candybar phones. And since they offer few benefits to outweigh this, they are not particularly useful or popular designs and so are rarely seen.
Slider Striking a nice balance between touchscreen and QWERTY devices, slider phones are handsets which feature a full hardware keyboard that smoothly slides out from beneath the main touchscreen for easy typing. By combining these two interfaces you can enjoy the best of both worlds. For example, you can comfortably browse your phone using the touchscreen and then pop out the keyboard to type a quick email or text. The drawback is that slider phones are often thicker and heavier than other phone types, due to the extra space required to implement the sliding mechanism.
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Buyer’s
guide
Buying a new phone or tablet can be exciting, but with so many handsets to choose from it can also be a bit confusing. Our easy-to-understand buying advice can help you find the right device. This covers all the major releases from the last 12 months.
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Phone reviews
92
Tablet reviews
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buyer’s guide reviews archive
editor’s choice
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Alcatel One Touch Idol
Alcatel One Touch Ultra 995 Apple iPhone 3GS
Reviewed: July 2013, price: £300 www.alcatelonetouch.com/uk
Reviewed: July 2012, price: £170 www.alcatelonetouch.com/uk
Reviewed: Sept 2009, price: £319 SIM-free www.apple.com/uk
A slickly-designed device with top-end features, the Alcatel One Touch Idol nevertheless has competition from the Galaxy S3, now available at a comparable price. The OneTouch is cheaper in the USA, too. It features superb screen quality and an excellent camera complete with good imaging software, but only has 4GB of unexpandable memory and its battery doesn’t last long.
Priced at just £150, the Alcatel One Touch Ultra 995 offers good value for money, thanks to to its strong usability and surprisingly capable performance. Where it falls short, however, is its plain design and lack of standout features. But considering the low price and intuitive UI, it still makes a good choice for newcomers to the smartphone market and anyone looking for an easy-to-use handset on a tight budget.
Now free on some contracts, 2009’s iPhone 3GS is still a great phone. Yes, it’s missing the Retina screen, speedy processor and 5-Megapixel camera of the iPhone 4, but it still manages to put most similarly priced phones to shame. The iOS 5 update adds a wealth of new features, some of which show up the old processor, but overall, the iPhone 3GS is a very smart and affordable choice for anyone wanting a cheap iPhone.
Dimensions 133 x 67.5 x 7.9mm Weight 109g Screen 4.66-inch, 540 x 960 pixels Input IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen OS Android 4.1 Jelly Bean CPU Dual-core 1GHz Memory 512MB
OS Android 2.3 Gingerbread Screen 4.3-inch TFT Resolution 480 x 800 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1.4GHz Qualcomm MSM8255T Memory 512MB Storage 4GB, MicroSD Camera 5MP rear-facing, 0.3MP front-facing
OS iOS 6 Screen 3.5-inch TFT Resolution 320 x 480 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 600MHz ARM Cortex-A8 Memory 256MB Storage 8GB, 16GB or 32GB Camera 3MP rear-facing Flash No
Storage 4GB nonexpandable (dual-SIM version) / 4GB, microSD up to 32GB (single SIM version) Wireless Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 4.0 Camera 8MP rear, 3264 x 2448 pixels, LED flash, 2MP front
Flash Yes Video 720p HD Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 360 hours Talk time 14 hours Size 128 x 68 x 10mm Weight 124g
Video 640 x 480-pixels Wireless 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, proprietary Apple connector Standby time 300 hours Talk time 12 hours Size 116 x 62 x 12mm Weight 135g
VERDICT: A slick device with top-end
VERDICT: A surprisingly powerful handset
VERDICT: Updated to iOS 5, the iPhone 3GS
features-at the same price as the S3.
at a good price, but it lacks killer features.
has an extended lifespan at a great price.
Performance Features Usability Design
Performance Features Usability Design
Performance Features Usability Design
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buyer’s guide reviews archive
editor’s choice
editor’s choice
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Apple iPhone 4
Apple iPhone 4S
Apple iPhone 5
Reviewed: December 2010, price: £429 www.apple.com/uk
Reviewed: December 2011, price: £499 www.apple.com/uk
Reviewed: November 2012, price: £529 www.apple.com/uk
Apple signalled a key change in iPhone development with the iPhone 4, adding a better processor which dramatically improves performance for all kinds of apps. The new design is smarter than the curves of the iPhone 3GS but it’s the awe-inspiring Retina display that has rivals running to the drawing board. If you don’t need the extra features of the iPhone 4S and want to enjoy a better price, this is the iPhone for you.
What does the iPhone 4S offer above the iPhone 4? An 8-Megapixel camera and improved images, alongside the Siri voice assistant. The dual-core processor is so powerful it’s at the heart of the iPad 2. And there’s also the option to get a 64GB version, making it ideal for anyone who has an iTunes library made up of high-quality lossless music files. If you crave storage and camera quality, this is a great iPhone.
The iPhone 5 is more of an evolution than the revolution we hoped for. It’s a stunning smartphone and by far the best iPhone yet, but it just can’t quite match the quality offered by Samsung’s Galaxy S III. With that said, though, the iPhone 5 only falls short because the 4S raised the bar so incredibly high, so this is still one of the very best smartphones you can currently buy and a worthy addition to the Apple iPhone range.
OS iOS 6 Screen 3.5-inch TFT Resolution 640 x 960 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1GHz ARM Cortex-A8 Memory 512MB Storage 16/32GB Camera 5MP rear-facing, 0.3MP front-facing
OS iOS 6 Screen 3.5-inch TFT Resolution 640 x 960 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1GHz ARM Cortex-A9 Memory 512MB Storage 16/32/64GB Camera 8MP rear-facing, 0.3MP front-facing
OS iOS 6 Screen 4-inch LED-backlit IPS TFT Resolution 640 x 1136 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1GHz dual-core Memory 1GB Storage 16/32/64GB Camera 8MP rear-facing, 1.2MP front-facing
Flash Yes Video 720p HD Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, proprietary Apple connector Standby time 300 hours Talk time 14 hours Size 115 x 59 x 9mm Weight 137g
Flash Yes Video 1080p HD Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, proprietary Apple connector Standby time 200 hours Talk time 14 hours Size 115 x 59 x 9mm Weight 140g
Flash LED Video 1080p HD at 30fps Wireless 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Apple Lightning port Standby time 225 hours Talk time 8 hours Size 124 x 59 x 8mm Weight 112g
VERDICT: A truly stunning smartphone. And
VERDICT: With its impressive upgrades, the
VERDICT: The best iPhone yet but not quite
now available at a better price than ever.
iPhone 4S is well worth its premium price.
the revolution we had been hoping for.
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BlackBerry Curve 9320
BlackBerry Curve 9380
BlackBerry Torch 9860
Reviewed: July 2012, price: £170 uk.blackberry.com
Reviewed: June 2012, price: £265 uk.blackberry.com
Reviewed: June 2012, price: £320 uk.blackberry.com
Targeted at busy social network users and music lovers, the BlackBerry Curve 9320 is a good, affordable choice for younger users looking for an easy way to stay connected on the move. Unfortunately, its poor build quality and slow start time are painfully obvious and put a crimp in this otherwise likeable device. So while it certainly has plenty to offer, it is a little bit difficult to recommend to serious smartphone users.
Despite its flawed operating system, there’s a charm to the compact design of the Curve 9380. It’s the keyboard skills that will disappoint BlackBerry fans, however. And if you demand speed, the Curve 9380 should not be your next phone. The 806MHz processor and 512MB of memory won’t be enough to handle heavy app requirements, meaning that power users will need to look elsewhere in the wider BlackBerry range.
If you’re a devoted BlackBerry user who wants the full touchscreen experience, the Torch 9860 will not disappoint. While we’re not betting we’ll see queues of iPhone addicts and Android fans wanting to trade, this model is loaded with all kinds of luxuries and accessories. Although owners of the original BlackBerry may find themselevs feeling nostalgic for the simplicity of the original business phone.
OS BlackBerry OS 7 Screen 2.44-inch TFT Resolution 320 x 240 pixels Input Keyboard, trackpad Processor 806MHz Memory 512MB Storage 512MB, MicroSD Camera 3.15MP rear-facing Flash Yes Video Yes
OS BlackBerry OS 7 Screen 3.2-inch TFT Resolution 360 x 480 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen, trackpad Processor 806MHz Memory 512MB Storage 512MB, MicroSD Camera 5MP rear-facing Flash Yes
OS BlackBerry OS 7 Screen 3.7-inch TFT Resolution 480 x 800 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen, trackpad Processor 1.2GHz QC 8655 Memory 768MB Storage 4GB, MicroSD Camera 5MP rear-facing Flash No
Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 432 hours Talk time 7 hours Size 109 x 60 x 13mm Weight 103g
Video 640 x 480-pixels Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 360 hours Talk time 5.5 hours Size 109 x 60 x 11mm Weight 98g
Video 720p HD Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 330 hours Talk time 7 hours Size 120 x 62 x 12mm Weight 135g
VERDICT: Easy-to-use and some good features, but this is not BlackBerry’s best.
VERDICT: A stylish BlackBerry but other
VERDICT: A good specification and large
phones in the range beat it hands down.
touchscreen make for a unique BlackBerry.
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BlackBerry Q10
BlackBerry Z10
CAT B15
Reviewed: July 2013, price: £580 uk.blackberry.com
Reviewed: March 2013, price: £36 p/m uk.blackberry.com
Reviewed: June 2013, price: £299 www.catphones.com
The Q10 will delight BlackBerry fans yearning for a ‘proper’ QWERTY keyboard, however its hefty price tag means it’s hard to recommend over rival, state-of-the-art devices from other manufacturers, which offer more tech at a lower price. The Q10 features a great keyboard, good battery life and a quality display, but falls down on the size of the screen, as well as a poor video and camera experience, plus the high cost.
The first device with the new operating system, BlackBerry 10, the Z10 packs hardware with a bit of grunt and a nice looking screen with high res. While the new OS looks sleek however, its apps have all appeared, in different forms, on other platforms snd the battery life is poor to average. BlackBerry fans may miss the physical keyboard, although the Z10 has a nifty predictive text onscreen version.
While it will never be a mass market phone, the B15 most certainly has a place in the market for anyone who wants a device they can rely on, whatever the environment; aimed at builders and construction workers, this phone stood up to our strength and durability tests and has decent specs to boot. Its let downs include a cumbersome size and a weak camera and video capabilities.
Dimensions 119.6 x 66.8 x 10.4 mm Weight 139g Screen 3.1 inches, Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen Resolution 720 x 720 pixels, 328 PPI Processor Dual-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A9
Networks: 2G, 3G and 4G Dimensions: 130x65.6x9mm Weight: 138g OS: BlackBerry 10 OS Screen: Capacitive touchscreen, 16M colours Resolution: 768x1280px Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon, dual core 1.5GHz Krait.
OS Android 4.1 Jelly Bean Processor MediaTek MT6577 Dual 1GHz CortexTM-A9 Size 125mm x 69.5mm x 14.95mm Weight 170g Screen 4” WVGA 480x800 LCD, Capacitive Multitouch, Gorilla glass, wet
GPU PowerVR SGX544 RAM 2GB Storage 16GB, up to 64GB external Camera 8MP, 3264 x 2448 pixels, autofocus, LED flash Video 1080p@30fps Wireless Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual band, Wi-Fi
Memory: 2GB of RAM Storage: 16GB, MicroSD expandable to 64GB. Camera: Back 8MP, front 2MP, video 1080P. Wireless: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4 Ports: 3.5mm audio jack, MicroUSB, mini-HDMI out, MicroSD.
VERDICT: A good mix of old and new
VERDICT: A lost opportunity; it offers too
BlackBerry but at a (very) high price.
little new and has a confusing UI.
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finger tracking Memory 4GB storage + 512 RAM Camera 5.0 MP Rear, VGA Front Video 720P recording 30 FPS Codecs H.263, H.264/ AVC, mpeg4/SP, VP8 Talk time Up to 9 hours Stand By Up to 9.5 days
VERDICT: A rugged phone for those who need to rely on it in any environment.
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Doro PhoneEasy 505
Doro PhoneEasy 506
Doro PhoneEasy 515
Reviewed: June 2012, price: £40 www.doro.co.uk
Reviewed: July 2013, price: £45 www.doro.co.uk
Reviewed: June 2012, price: £85 www.doro.co.uk
The PhoneEasy 505 is aimed at older phone users and the its main feature is a smart emergency button. Hold it down for several seconds and it will automatically send an SOS message to a list of pre-determined contacts and call them until one answers. The large fonts and simple menu screen are spoiled by a low screen resolution which renders the text grainy. But for its target market, it does everything it sets out to do.
Not a phone for tech-addicts, the Doro PhoneEasy 506 is great for vulnerable or elderly people who need a foolproof device and may need reliable means to summon help or simply keep in touch. It features loud and clear ring tones and volume, call assistance SOS button and stays charged for three weeks or more. It won’t win any beauty contests, however, and has no data connectivity or basic camera.
Designed to provide intuitive usability and a range of handy features to elderly phone users, the Doro PhoneEasy 515 is aimed squarely at a specific market. With its excellent ease-of-use, firm build quality and high-quality screen, it makes a great choice for anyone looking for a no-nonsense handset that does what it says on the tin. And it makes things as easy as possible for even the least tech-savvy phone user.
OS Proprietary Screen 1.5-inch TFT Resolution 96 x 128 pixels Input Keypad Processor N/A Memory N/A Storage N/A Camera No Flash No Video N/A
Dimensions 125.5 x 51 x 15.5 mm Weight 81g Screen 28 x 35mm colour display Battery life 800mAh Li-ion, up to 500 hours standby claimed, 8 hours talk time. Extras Backlit keypad, Assistance button, maximum
OS Proprietary Screen 1.5-inch TFT Resolution 176 x 220 pixels Input Keypad Processor N/A Memory N/A Storage MicroSD Camera 2MP rear-facing Flash No Video No
Wireless No Ports N/A Standby time 500 hours Talk time 8 hours Size 126 x 51 x 16mm Weight 95g
receiving amplification of 35dB, ringer volume up to 83 dB (A) at 1 metre
Wireless Bluetooth 3.0 Ports Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 533 hours Talk time 12 hours Size 118 x 53 x 13mm Weight 82g
VERDICT: A great choice for elderly users,
VERDICT: An affordable phone for
VERDICT: With good features and usability,
packing all the basics and an SOS feature.
vulnerable or elderly people to call for help.
there’s plenty to offer older phone users.
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Doro PhoneEasy 612
Doro PhoneEasy 715
Google Nexus 4
Reviewed: November 2012, price: £125 www.doro.co.uk
Reviewed: December 2012, price: £95 www.doro.co.uk
Reviewed: February 2013, price: £239 www.google.com/nexus/4/
Doro has crafted another well-made and carefully-designed flip-phone for elderly users. Offering easy usability, careful attention to detail and handy features, the PhoneEasy 612 is ideally suited to less tech-savvy buyers. It also suits anyone that wants an easy-to-use phone with great usability and a great range of features aimed at seniors. The only downside is that the price is high and the camera is poor.
Doro has pumped out yet another easy to use feature phone for those less tech savvy. Ostensibly for the elderly, it has a variety of emergency features built in. But, by the same token these devices are useful for anyone who just wants a simple phone with big buttons and a very good battery (a huge 12 hour talk time), and 533 hours on standby. The trade off is the high price, poor camera,and negligible storage.
It looks a bit dull and devoid of personality, plus storage is limited to 4GB... but that’s hardly the point. The Nexus 4 is a tight bit of kit designed to show off Google’s latest version of Android. With a terrific quad-core 1.5Ghz processor and 2GB of RAM - there is nothing out there that will stump this smartphone. The lack of 4G is a disappointment, but the phone is an absolute steal at just £239. One of the best Android handsets available.
OS Proprietary Screen 2.5-inch TFT Resolution 240 x 320 pixels Input Keypad Processor N/A Memory N/A Storage 10MB internal Camera 2MP rear-facing Flash No Video No
os Proprietary screen 2.4-inch (240 x 320) Resolution 320x240 input Keypad processor N/A Storage MicroSD storage 256MB internal camera 2MP rear-facing wireless Bluetooth 3.0 Talk Time 12 hours talk time
OS Android 4.2 Ice Cream Sandwich Screen 4.7-inch LCD Resolution 720x1280 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1.5Ghz quad core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Memory 2GB Storage 4GB, MicroSD Camera 5MP rear-facing
Wireless Bluetooth 3.0 Ports Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 533 hours Talk time 12 hours Size 101 x 52 x 20mm Weight 103g
Standby Time 533 hours size 100 x 50 x 17mm weight103g
Flash No Video Yes Wireless 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time TBC Talk time TBC Size 107 x 61 x 12mm Weight 100g
VERDICT: A great flip-phone ideal for elderly
VERDICT: A well-made and thoughtfully
VERDICT: Dull and devoid of personality, but
users but the price is high for what you get.
designed phone ideal for non power users.
high powered and super, super cheap.
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editor’s choice
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HTC Desire C
HTC Desire X
HTC One
Reviewed: August 2012, price: £180 www.htc.com/uk
Reviewed: December 2012, price: £235 www.htc.com/uk
Reviewed: May 2013, price: £499 www.htc.com/uk
Packing a beautifully stylish design, great usability and loads of features, such as Beats Audio and the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS, HTC’s Desire C is a fantastic entry-level smartphone. Only its slightly limited performance lets it down, but considering it costs less than £200 SIM-free, it’s to be expected, making this fantastic handset the perfect choice for anyone after a great smartphone on a tight budget.
This is a device that pushes no boundaries, and sits straight in the middle of the pack. Its not the most feature packed or most powerful, and its lacking the latest Android version. It is also going to struggle against last years flagship smartphones, all of which are now being released as ‘midrange’ phones on rock bottom contracts. There are better options.
HTC has produced a top shelf phone here – one that is more than capable of taking on Sony, Apple and Samsung. It does most things right, but particular note has to go to the physical design and that screen. The camera is OK, the battery life average and it gets a bit hot.
OS Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich Screen 3.5-inch TFT Resolution 320 x 480 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 600MHz Qualcomm Snapdragon Memory 512MB Storage 4GB, MicroSD Camera 5MP rear-facing
OS Android 4.0 ICS Screen 4-inch Super-LCD Resolution 480 x 800 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1GHz dual-core Memory 768MB Storage 4GB internal, MicroSD up to 32GB Camera 5MP rear-facing Flash LED
Dimensions 137.4 x 68.2 x 9.3 mm, 143 g OS Android 4.2.2 Jellybean Screen Super LCD3 capacitive touchscreen Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 RAM 2GB Storage 32GB/64GB internal, non expandable
Flash No Video Yes Wireless 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time TBC Talk time TBC Size 107 x 61 x 12mm Weight 100g
Video Yes Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Battery 10 hours talk time, 650 hours standby Dimensions 119 x 62 x 9mm Weight 114g
Cameras 4MP ‘Ultrapixel’, LED Flash, optical image stabilisation. Front – 2.1MP. Video 1080P @ 30fps Wireless Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, Infrared Ports Micro USB, 3.5mm audio jack Battery life 2300mAh
VERDICT: A middle of the road performer,
VERDICT: A well designed, top-tier
unbeatable price. A winner all round.
ideal for first time smartphone users.
performer to rival the very best.
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HTC One S
HTC One SV
HTC One V
Reviewed: May 2012, price: £330 www.htc.com/uk
Reviewed: April 2013, price: £315 www.htc.com/uk
Reviewed: June 2012, price: £230 www.htc.com/uk
The HTC One S is less accomplished than the One X, but offers great value to those on a tighter budget. As it’s a slimmer version of the One X, with a dual-core rather than quad-core processor, the battery life throughout the day holds up much better than the One X, yet there is still more than enough power for multi-tasking. Even the aluminium casing feels more premium than the polycarbonate coat of the One X.
The HTC One SV is a great mid-range phone that borrows its styling from the company’s HTC One flagship. Other than an average camera and screen, the One SV performs very well for the price, is 4G and has a very respectable battery life.
The HTC One V is a smaller alternative to the growing range of devices running Android 4.0, but the single-core processor is starting to show its age and can slow down under the weight and power of the latest Android OS. For example, the camera is first class but can slow down when you try and take more than a few shots in quick succession. The upside is that the battery can keep you going for a couple of days.
OS Android 4.0 ICS Screen 4.3-inch SAMOLED Resolution 540 x 960 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1.5GHz Qualcomm MSM8260A Memory 1GB Storage 16GB Camera 8MP rear-facing, 0.3MP front-facing
Dimensions 128 x 66.9 x 9.20 mm, 122g OS 4.04 Screen 4.3” capacitive touchscreen, 217 ppi, 480x800 Processor Qualcomm S4, 1.2GHz, dual core GPU Adreno 305 RAM 1GB LP DDR3 Storage Internal 8GB,
OS Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich Screen 3.7-inch S-LCD Resolution 480 x 800 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1GHz Qualcomm MSM8255 Memory 512MB Storage 4GB, MicroSD Camera 5MP rear-facing
Flash Yes Video 1080p Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time TBC Talk time TBC Size 131 x 65 x 8mm Weight 120g
expandable via MicroSD (up to 32GB) Cameras 5MP & 1.6MP, software stabilisation and single LED flash. 1080P at 30fps (main), 720p @ 30fps (front facing) Wireless 802.11 a/b/g/n, dualband, DLNA & Bluetooth 4.0 Ports USB, MicroSD, 3.5mm
Flash Yes Video 720p HD Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time TBC Talk time TBC Size 120 x 60 x 9mm Weight 115g
VERDICT: Almost as good as the HTC One
VERDICT: A mid-range phone that looks,
VERDICT: A pocketable and stylish Android
X, but for less cash. A great value phone.
feels and often acts like a premium one.
4.0 phone, but performance is lacking.
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HTC One X
HTC One X+
HTC Rhyme
Reviewed: May 2012, price: £380 www.htc.com/uk
Reviewed: January 2013, price: £474 www.htc.com/uk
Reviewed: February 2012, price: £250 www.htc.com/uk
The HTC One X is a trail-blazing Android smartphone. It feels futuristic and packs some game-changing camera features. If Samsung hadn’t got the Galaxy S III so right, this could have become the heir to the S II’s throne. Packing a great range of features and stunning usability into its gorgeous chassis, the HTC One X is one of the best smartphones you can buy right now and is a phone we highly recommend.
The One X+ is a strange beast, a minor update on the already excellent HTC One X. The processor gets boosted to a Tegra 3 Quad-core 1.7GHz, and it gets a newer version of Android, but that’s about it. The jump over its predecssor probably doesn’t justify the price hike.
HTC knows how to do smartphones as boys-toys, but rarely does it try the same for women. Before you opt for the Rhyme, ask yourself these questions. Do you need more power? Then go for the HTC Sensation. More style? The HTC Desire S is for you. Less money? Try the HTC Wildfire S. Nevertheless, the HTC Rhyme’s bright colours, decent specification and unique features make it well worth a look.
OS Android 4.0 ICS Screen 4.7-inch S-LCD 2 Resolution 720 x 1280 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1.5GHz Nvidia Tegra 3 Memory 1GB Storage 32GB Camera 8MP rear-facing, 1.3MP front-facing
Dimensions 134.4x69.9x8.9mm OS Android 4.1 Jellybean Screen 4.7-inch S-LCD 2 Resolution 720x1280 Processor Quad-core 1.7GHz Nvidia Tegra 3 GPU ULP GeForce RAM 1GB Storage 64GB not
Flash Yes Video 1080p HD Wireless 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time TBC Talk time TBC Size 134 x 70 x 9mm Weight 130g
expandable Camera Back 8MP, LED flash; Front 1.6MP Video 1920x1080 Wireless Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS and Glonass Ports Micro USB, HDMI via MHL adaptor Battery 2,100mAh Weight 135g
OS Android 2.3 Gingerbread Screen 3.7-inch S-LCD Resolution 480 x 800 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1GHz Qualcomm MSM8255 Memory 768MB Storage 4GB, MicroSD Camera 5MP rear-facing, 0.3MP front-facing
Flash Yes Video 720p HD Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 340 hours Talk time 10 hours Size 119 x 61 x 11mm Weight 130g
VERDICT: One of the best Android phones
VERDICT: It feels like a placeholder while
VERDICT: An eye-catching Android phone
around. You can safely buy with confidence.
we wait for the next generation of devices.
that has plenty to offer for all requirements.
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HTC Sensation XE
HTC Windows 8S
HTC Windows 8X
Reviewed: February 2012, price: £375 www.htc.com/uk
Reviewed: February 2013, price: £239 www.htc.com/uk
Reviewed: January 2013, price: £399 www.htc.com/uk
It’d be unfair to blame HTC for merely making a modest update of its flagship phone but when the original Sensation wasn’t enough to knock the Samsung Galaxy S II off its top spot, we expected a little more from this update. However, as a music phone it’s superb and the iBeats headphones are worth £89. You won’t find a better pair with any other phone and, in the style stakes, the Sensation XE is a winner.
The odd thing about this phone is that we actually rate it higher than its big brother, the 8X. It is a bit lighter, has a nicer body and fits much easier in the hand. It still has enough grunt under the hood to get all the same tasks done (although has a lower res screen), and its £160 quid cheaper. It doesn’t have a front facing camera (so no proper Skype-ing) and the App store remains limited...
HTC’s first ever Windows Phone 8 device is an excellent device hardware wise - most of the concerns it shares with Nokia’s range of WP8 phones - are there the apps, the media and other add-ons to compete with Google and Apple? Otherwise it has more than enough bells and whistles to make any WP8 user happy - and give Nokia a good scare.
OS Android 2.3 Gingerbread Screen 4.3-inch S-LCD Resolution 540 x 960 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1.5GHz Qualcomm MSM8260 Memory 768MB Storage 4GB, MicroSD Camera 8MP rear-facing, 0.3MP front-facing
Dimensions 120.5 x 63 x 10.3 mm OS Windows Phone 8 Screen 4.0-inch S-LCD Resolution 480x800 Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 1GHz dual-core GPU Adreno 305 RAM 512MB
Dimensions 132x66x10.1mm OS Windows Phone 8 Screen 4.3-inch S-LCD2 capacitive touchscreen Resolution 720x1280 pixels CPU Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual core GPU Adreno 225 Memory 1GB Storage 16GB
Flash Yes Video 1080p HD Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 540 hours Talk time 9 hours Size 126 x 65 x 11mm Weight 151g
Storage 4GB (expandable via microSD) Cameras 5MP rear, LED flash / 720p HD video Wireless Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.1, a-GPS and GLONASS Ports Micro USB, 3.5mm audio Battery life 1,700mAh
Camera 8 MP Video 1920x1080 at 30fps Wireless Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Bluetooth 3.1 Cellular 2G, 3G, HSPA+ Ports Microsim, 3.5mm audio jack, Micro-USB 2.0 Weight 130g Battery Li-Ion 1800mAh
VERDICT: An excellent music phone that
VERDICT: The Windows Phone 8S may well
VERDICT: Excellent integration of WP8, and
packs some of the best headphones around.
be better than the 8X flagship model.
an eye catcher. Something different.
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editor’s choice
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Huawei Ascend G300
Huawei Ascend G330
Huawei Ascend G510
Reviewed: June 2012, price: £100 www.huaweidevice.co.uk
Reviewed: March 2013, price: £199 www.huaweidevice.co.uk
Reviewed: June 2013, price: £130 www.huaweidevice.co.uk
It seems that all the best smartphones are only available on contract at first. So the Huawei Ascend G300 turns convention on its head with specifications to rival the top smartphones of a year ago, while costing just £100. Huawei teamed up with Vodafone to launch this great Android 2.3 device with a 1GHz processor and 4-inch screen, for a price that would have been impossible not so long ago. An amazing budget handset
While the G330 is more expensive than its brother,the G300, it still manages to pack the feature set and performance of a much more expensive phone into a sub £200 price point, with enough grunt to run routine operations and an adequate screen res. However, storage is minimal at 4GB, although it does have a microSD slot. The biggest let down is the battery - be prepared for the phone to die over night.
A somewhat sludgier Samsung Galaxy S2 for half the price and with a bigger screen, the Ascend G510 was the phone of 2011. More than enough for those who don’t have to have the latest thing, the Ascend will handle your casual web browsing, the odd game and photos well. It can feel a little slow however and doesn’t look like much; there are also cheaper phones out there which do much the same.
OS Android 2.3 Gingerbread Screen 4-inch LCD Resolution 480 x 800 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1GHz ARM Cortex-A5 Memory 512MB Storage 4GB, MicroSD Camera 5MP rear-facing Flash Yes
Dimensions 122.5 x 62.6 x 11.2 mm Weight 130g Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon Dual Core 1GHZ Cortex-A5 RAM 512MB Screen 4-inch, 480x800 (233PPI) Storage 4GB, (expandable
OS Android 4.1 Screen 4.5-inch / 480x854 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Camera 5MP, VGA front Video Record / Playback Audio Music player / Stereo Bluetooth / 3.5mm jack Memory 4GB expandable
Video Yes Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 350 hours Talk time 5 hours Size 123 x 63 x 11mm Weight 140g
via Micro-SD to 32GB) Ports Wi-Fi, USB2.0 Camera 5MP, video VGA Battery 1500mAh, talk time claimed up to 5h. This was more around 3 hours
via microSD card Battery 1750mAh
VERDICT: A great phone that represents a
VERDICT: Poor battery life means this is not
new high point for entry-level handsets.
a worthy successor to the G300.
VERDICT: A large budget smartphone which can run slow and doesn’t look like much.
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Huawei Ascend P1
Huawei Honour
LG Optimus 4X HD
Reviewed: October 2012, price: £350 www.huaweidevice.co.uk
Reviewed: July 2012, price: £190 www.huaweidevice.co.uk
Reviewed: November 2012, price: £450 www.lg.com/uk
With the Ascend P1, Huawei has taken a confident step in the right direction and proved you don’t have to spend a fortune to get a good smartphone. Its strong usability capable performance, responsive screen and excellent specification provide great value for money and we found a lot to like during our time with it. The poor camera quality really lets the device down, though, so consider your needs before buying.
Adding to Huawei’s recent range of highquality, affordable Android handsets, the Honor is a great choice for anyone in the market for their first, or even second, smartphone. Effortlessly blending powerful performance, great usability and ample features at a competitive price, there’s loads to like. All in all, the Honor is easy to recommend to anyone looking for a great Android phone at an affordable price.
The Optimus 4X HD is a return to form for LG and a fantastic, feature-packed phone. Its gorgeous screen, capable quad-core power and stylish design put it firmly among the best handsets you can buy at this price. It’s not without fault, though, with its occasional usability issues and tempermental cameras. So while it’s an outstanding smartphone, it can’t quite take the crown away from Samsung and HTC.
os Android 4.0 ICS Screen 4.3-inch S-AMOLED Resolution 540 x 960 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1.5GHz dual-core Memory 1GB Storage 4GB internal, MicroSD up to 32GB Camera 8MP rear-facing, 1.3MP front-facing
OS Android 2.3 Gingerbread Screen 4.0-inch TFT Resolution 480 x 854 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1.4GHz Qualcomm MSM8255T Memory 512MB Storage 1GB, MicroSD Camera 8MP rear-facing, 0.3MP front-facing
os Android 4.0 ICS Screen 4.7-inch TFT Resolution 720 x 1280 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1.5GHz quad-core Memory 1GB Storage 16GB internal, MicroSD up to 64GB Camera 8MP rear-facing, 1.3MP front-facing
Flash Dual LED Video 1080p HD at 30fps Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 336 hours Talk time 6 hours Size 130 × 65 × 9mm Weight 110g
Flash Yes Video 720p HD Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 380 hours Talk time 6 hours Size 122 x 61 x 11mm Weight 140g
Flash LED Video 1080p HD at 30fps Wireless 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi. Bluetooth 4.0 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 686 hours Talk time 10 hours Size 132 x 68 x 9mm Weight 141g
VERDICT: A decent smartphone with good features, but the poor cameras let it down.
VERDICT: Packing usability, features and
VERDICT: A fantastic quad-core smartphone
performance, the Honor is a hit for Huawei.
with only a few minor quirks to speak of.
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LG Prada 3.0
Motorola Defy+
Motorola Defy Mini
Reviewed: February 2012, price: £230 www.lg.com/uk
Reviewed: May 2012, price: £210 www.motorola.co.uk
Reviewed: October 2012, price: £150 www.motorola.co.uk
Even if you stripped away the Prada logo and monochrome Android skin, this would still be one of the best high-end Android phones around. However, it’s fair to say that users will end up paying a premium for the Prada branding. If you’re looking for a topend Android phone, packed with features in a slim body, this more than ticks all the boxes. And it’ll get you some jealous looks from iPhone and Nokia Lumia 800 owners.
The original Defy was a great step forward for ruggedised phones, with more brains than other hard-man phones could manage. But this is such a minor upgrade it feels like a refresh rather than a new phone. There’s a bigger battery, slightly faster processor and a new look for the MotoBlur software. Other than that, it’s business as usual. It’s a sensible, competent phone for those who want one of the toughest handsets around.
By designing a more compact version of its original semi-rugged Defy range, Motorola has produced a good phone for anyone that needs a handset that can stand up to more than just the daily commute. With its splash-resistant, dust-proof chassis and resilient Gorilla Glass screen it ideal for life out in the elements. And with only the lowquality cameras and limited specification holding it back, there’s a lot to like about it.
OS Android 2.3 Gingerbread Screen 4.3-inch LCD Resolution 480 x 800 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1GHz ARM Cortex-A9 Memory 1GB Storage 8GB, MicroSD Camera 8MP rear-facing, 1.3MP front-facing
OS Android 2.3 Gingerbread Screen 3.7-inch TFT Resolution 480 x 854 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1GHz ARM Cortex-A8 Memory 512MB Storage 2GB, MicroSD Camera 5MP rear-facing Flash Yes
os Android 2.3 Gingerbread Screen 3.2-inch TFT Resolution 320 x 480 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 600MHz single-core Memory 512MB Storage 512MB internal, MicroSD up to 32GB Camera 3MP rear-facing, 0.3MP front-facing
Flash Yes Video 1080p HD Wireless 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 330 hours Talk time 5 hours Size 128 x 69 x 9mm Weight 138g
Video Yes Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 384 hours Talk time 7 hours Size 107 x 59 x 13mm Weight 118g
Flash LED Video Yes Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 420 hours Talk time 9 hours Size 109 x 59 x 13mm Weight 107g
VERDICT: Great looks and specifications to
VERDICT: Sensible, tough and ideal for
VERDICT: Touch, small and usable. A good
match, but the branding adds a high price.
rough outdoor use, but a minor upgrade.
phone for demanding physical lifestyles.
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Motorola Motoluxe
Motorola RAZR i
Motorola RAZR HD
Reviewed: May 2012, price: £165 www.motorola.co.uk
Reviewed: November 2012, price: £340 www.motorola.co.uk
Reviewed: April 2013, price: £399 www.motorola.co.uk
While the performance and build of the Motorola Motoluxe is more than enough for your average Android user, the outof-date software and bleak outlook for an update spoil this otherwise impressive allround, mid-range phone. Recent affordable handsets such as the Nokia Lumia 710 and the Huawei Ascend range represent major competition for this stylish but noticeably underpowered Android smartphone.
Intel has finally dismissed concerns of its processors, proving they can power fast phones with no signs of app incompatibility or excessive power drain. But that doesn’t make the RAZR i a must-buy. Its inferior build quality and display make the similarly-specified HTC One S the more appealing option. However, this is still a promising step from Intel and the newly Google-backed Motorola nonetheless.
Starting to show signs of its Google led revival, the Motorola Razr HD has a stunning industrial design and 4G support, but is a victim of its delayed UK release (it came out in the US in September) meaning its specs are out of date, its screen is low resolution and its camera is poor. It doesn’t help that Motorola have priced it so high - otherwise this would be an excellent midrange phone.
OS Android 2.3 Gingerbread Screen 4-inch TFT Resolution 480 x 854 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 800MHz Qualcomm MSM7227A-0 Memory 512MB Storage 1GB, MicroSD Camera 8MP rear-facing, 0.3MP front-facing
OS Android 4.0 ICS Screen 4.3-inch TFT Resolution 540 x 960 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 2GHz single-core Memory 1GB Storage 8GB internal, MicroSD up to 32GB Camera 8MP rear-facing, 0.3MP front-facing
Dimensions 131.9 x 67.9 x 8.4 mm, 146g OS Android 4.1 Jellybean Screen Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 720x1280 (312PPI). Gorilla Glass. Processor dual core 1.5GHz RAM 1GB Storage 16GB internal,
Flash Yes Video Yes Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 450 hours Talk time 6 hours Size 118 x 61 x 10mm Weight 124g
Flash LED Video 1080p HD at 30fps Wireless 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1, NFC Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time TBC Talk time TBC Size 123 x 61 x 8mm Weight 126g
expandable to 32GB via MicroSD Cameras 8MP, LED Flash, image stabilisation. Front 1.3MP. Video 1080P @ 30fps. Wireless Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC. Ports Micro USB, MicroSD, 3.5mm audio jack. Battery 2530mAh
VERDICT: The out of date OS and limited
VERDICT: Not quite enough to put Motorola
VERDICT: A lovely design, but the internals
specs spoil this otherwise decent phone.
back on top, but it’s certainly a good start.
are six months out of date.
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Motorola RAZR MAXX
Nokia 808 PureView
Nokia Asha 201
Reviewed: May 2012, price: £410 www.motorola.co.uk
Reviewed: September 2012, price: £485 www.nokia.com
Reviewed: April 2012, price: £60 www.nokia.com
With the RAZR MAXX, Motorola has aimed high and tried to go head-to-head with the very best smartphones in the business. Unfortunately, despite its excellent battery life, the painfully high price, dated operating system and many frustrating glitches mean it is tough to recommend against similarly priced handsets from Apple, HTC and Samsung, among others. A hard-sell for all but the most ardent Motorola fans.
With its staggering 41-Megapixel camera and unbeatable range of photography features, there’s no denying that Nokia’s 808 PureView is by far the world’s best cameraphone. It’s just a shame that its use of the antiquated Symbian Belle OS and its high price mark this beautiful handset out as an almost guaranteed sales failure. It has whet our appetite for Nokia’s forthcoming PureView Lumia Windows Phones, though.
The Nokia Asha 201 packs a 2.4-inch, 320 x 240 pixel screen and the kind of QWERTY keyboard you might expect from a BlackBerry, but it’s lacking any high-speed connectivity. To keep costs down, there’s no 3G and no Wi-Fi. The Asha 201 deserves to sell by the truckload in developing nations. But in the competitive UK market, you can pick up a fully-fledged BlackBerry or Android device for little more on PAYG.
OS Android 2.3 Gingerbread Screen 4.3-inch SAMOLED Resolution 540 x 960 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1.2GHz ARM Cortex-A9 Memory 1GB Storage 16GB, MicroSD Camera 8MP rear-facing, 1.3MP front-facing
os Nokia Symbian Belle screen 4-inch AMOLED resolution 360 x 640 pixels input capacitive touchscreen processor 1.3GHz ARM11 memory 512MB storage 16GB internal, MicroSD up to 32GB camera 41MP rear-facing, 0.3MP front-facing
OS Nokia Series 40 Screen 2.4-inch TFT Resolution 320 x 240 pixels Input Keyboard Processor TBC Memory 32MB Storage 10MB, MicroSD Camera 2MP rear-facing Flash No Video 176 x 144 pixels
Flash Yes Video 1080p HD Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 607 hours Talk time 17 hours Size 131 x 69 x 9mm Weight 145g
FLASH Xenon video 1080p HD at 30fps wireless 802.11b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0 ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0, Micro HDMI battery 6 hours talk time 540 hours standby size 124 x 60 x 14mm weight 169g
Wireless Bluetooth 2.1 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 888 hours Talk time 7 hours Size 116 x 61 x 14mm Weight 105g
VERDICT: While there is plenty to like, you
VERDICT: The ultimate cameraphone, but its
VERDICT: The keyboard is useful but the
can find better smartphones at this price.
old OS and high price can’t be ignored.
connectivity options are disappointing.
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Nokia Asha 205
Nokia Asha 300
Nokia Asha 302
Reviewed: April 2013, price: £65 www.nokia.com
Reviewed: September 2012, price: £60 www.nokia.com
Reviewed:November 2012, price: £95 www.nokia.com
An interesting enough device that blurs the lines between a feature phone and a low end smartphone, the Asha 205 is let down by its very small on board memory and lack of connectivity options. It remains functional for a low end device, but definitely should not be considered a full blown replacement for a smartphone. Probably destined for third world and budget users.
Easily hitting a great halfway point between the most affordable dumbphones and Nokia’s own Lumia Windows Phone handsets, the Asha 300 packs all the average user will need into a sleek and lightweight design. With its excellent usability, incredibly low price and handy social networking features, it’s a very good deal and easy to recommend. And Angry Birds Lite is even installed out of the box.
While the Nokia Asha 302 won’t win any awards for originality or features, its great build quality, battery life and usability make it ideal for social networking. If you’re looking for a decent feature-phone for easy all-day typing, the Asha 302 could be right for you. And while you can pick up a good smartphone for around this price, the handy QWERTY keyboard is ideal if you’re frequently typing texts and emails.
OS Nokia Series 40 Screen 2.4-inch TFT Resolution 320 x 240 pixels Input Keyboard Processor TBC Memory 32MB Storage 10MB, MicroSD Camera 2MP rear-facing Flash No Video 176 x 144 pixels
OS Nokia Series 40 Screen 2.4-inch LCD Resolution 240 x 320 pixels Input Resistive touchscreen, alphanumeric keypad Processor 1GHz ARM11 Memory 128MB RAM Storage 140MB internal, MicroSD up to 32GB Camera 5MP rear-facing
OS Nokia Series 40 Screen 2.4-inch TFT Resolution 240 x 320 pixels Input QWERTY keyboard Processor 1GHz single-core Memory 128MB Storage 100MB internal, MicroSD up to 32GB Camera 3.2MP rear-facing Flash No
Wireless Bluetooth 2.1 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 888 hours Talk time 7 hours Size 116 x 61 x 14mm Weight 105g
Flash No Video 640 x 480 pixels at 30fps Wireless Bluetooth 2.1 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Battery 7 hours talk time, 597 hours standby Size 113 x 50 x 13mm Weight 85g
Video Yes Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 700 hours Talk time 9 hours Size 117 x 56 x 14mm Weight 99g
VERDICT: A pretty basic, functional feature
VERDICT: Great features for those on a
VERDICT: Great QWERTY usability and an
phone with a few extra goodies.
budget. To that end, few phones can beat it.
impressive battery life at a decent price.
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Nokia Asha 311
Nokia Lumia 520
Nokia Lumia 620
Reviewed: November 2012, price: £110 www.nokia.com
Reviewed: June 2013, price: £99.95 www.nokia.com
Reviewed: March 2013, price: £230 www.nokia.com
The Asha 311 is a high-quality featurephone which packs style, usability and a decent screen. But you can buy a much better smartphone for less. With the excellent Huawei Ascend G300 and Vodafone Smart 2 available for less, the Asha 311 struggles slightly, as while it is a good feature-phone it is crippled by an unrealistically high price tag. Make sure to consider your needs before buying.
A good budget offering from Nokia which is let down by its struggles to handle the tasks required of it. Cheaper than the 620 which nevertheless had less performance issues. The 520 packs a good camera and battery life, however there are both cheaper phones which perform better and more expensive phones which don’t.
Nokia’s newest entry level device, the 620 runs the same OS as its older siblings. With some good grunt under its hood and the addition of Nokia’s more useful apps like Music and Maps, the 620 is a good phone, despite occasional issues with handling the software. The camera lives up to the Lumia name taking crisp shots and the 620, in all, is a good entry level device - on a plan. The SIM free phone has a hefty price tag.
OS Nokia Series 40 Screen 2.4-inch TFT Resolution 240 x 320 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1GHz single-core Memory 128MB Storage 140MB internal, MicroSD up to 32GB Camera 3.2MP rear-facing Flash No
Dimensions 119.9x64x9.9mm Weight 124g Screen IPS super sensitive 4” touch screen Resolution 800 x 480, 235 ppi Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual core 1 GHz RAM 512MB Storage 8GB, 64GB external
Dimensions 115x61x11mm Weight 127g OS Windows Phone 8 Screen 3.8” 800x480 Processor Snapdragon S4 dual-core 1GHz RAM 512 MB Storage: 8GB (to 64GB via MicroSD) Cameras: 5MP main, 640x
Video Yes Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 750 hours Talk time 6 hours Size 106 x 52 x 13mm Weight 95g
Cameras 5 MP, auto focus, f/2.4 (same as Nokia Pureview 808) Video 720p (HD, 1280 x 720) Wireless WLAN IEEE 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0 Ports USB 2.0, MicroSD (CHECK), 3.5mm audio jack Battery life 1430 mAh, 9.6h (3G) - accurate
480p secondary. Video 720p at 30fps. Wireless: WiFi, Near Field Communication, Bluetooth 3.0 Ports: Micro-USB 2.0, data connector Battery life: 1300mAh
VERDICT: A satisfying feature-phone but
VERDICT: A good camera, battery and price
VERDICT: A great little budget device, but a
the high price is a little bit unrealistic.
but the phone can struggle with tasks.
bit expensive.
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Nokia Lumia 720
Nokia Lumia 820
Nokia Lumia 900
Reviewed: July 2013, price: £299 www.nokia.com
Reviewed: March 2013, price: £380 www.nokia.com
Reviewed: July 2012, price: £360 www.nokia.com
A fairly solid mid-tier offering which suffered some setbacks at start up, the 720 features a Carl Zeiss lens and a slightly better looking screen and performing processor. Aside from this, the Lumia 720 isn’t wonderfully different from its lower priced siblings and showed signs of wear and tear after a week, although its camera lives up to the Lumia name. Microsoft’s app store is still fairly limited, however.
The 920’s pragmatic little brother, the 820 runs the same processor and RAM. It lacks some of the high end photography options but still takes good quality pictures and also runs Windows Phone 8. It has the full complement of Nokia apps like Music and Maps (although the Windows Store still struggles for quality in the app department). Battery can be disappointing, however, and some apps only work with WP8 devices.
The latest in Nokia’s range of Windows Phones, the Lumia 900 packs style, usability and features to help it stand out from the crowd. While the present limitations of its operating system, such as a limited selection of apps and an occasionally confusing interface, might deter expert users, it’s still a fantastic choice for anyone after an eye-catching alternative to the huge amount of rival Android handsets.
Dimensions 127.9 x 67.5 x 9mm Weight 128g Screen IPS ClearBlack 4.3” touchscreen Resolution 480 x 800, 217 ppi Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual core 1 GHz RAM 512MB
Dimensions 123.8x68.5x9.9 mm OS Windows Phone 8 Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon S4, dualcore 1.5GHz Screen 4.3” AMOLED. Resolution 800h x 480 RAM 1GB Storage 8GB (MicroSD
Storage 8GB, 64GB external Cameras 6.7 MP, Carl Zeiss lens, auto focus Video 720p @30fps Wireless WLAN IEEE 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0 Ports USB 2.0, MicroSD, 3.5mm audio jack Battery life 2000 mAh, 13h (3G)
to 64GB) Camera: 8.0 MP, LED flash, auto focus Video: 1920x1080, 30fps Wireless: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0 Ports: 3.5mm audio jack, MicoSD, Micro-USB 2.0 Weight: 160g Battery: 1650 mAh
OS Windows Phone 7.5 Screen 4.3-inch AMOLED Resolution 480 x 800 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1.4GHz Qualcomm APQ8055 Memory 512MB Storage 16GB Camera 8MP rear-facing, 1MP front-facing
Flash Yes Video 720p HD Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 300 hours Talk time 7 hours Size 128 x 69 x 12mm Weight 160g
VERDICT: A fairly solid mid-tier device but
VERDICT: Arguably superior to the 920, a
VERDICT: Great usability and features, plus
not too different from lower priced siblings.
few niggles hold it back from greatness.
bags of style, make the Lumia 900 a winner.
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Nokia Lumia 920
Orange San Diego
Prestigio 4500 DUO
Reviewed: January 2013, price: £36p/m www.nokia.com
Reviewed: August 2012, price: £180 www.orange.co.uk
Reviewed: June 2013, price: £179 www.prestigio.com
For now this remains an EE exclusive, so it will be interesting to see how the flagship Windows Phone 8 device fares. A fantastic looking phone with a great interface, grunt under the hood and the best camera phone in the business. A bit heavy and bulky, but outstanding design - a real eye catcher. Like all WP8 devices, the app store is a problem, but this deserves to do well.
As the UK’s first Intel-powered smartphone, the Orange San Diego arrived with heavy expectations. And it delivered well, thanks to its strong performance, great screen and decent battery life. Only the poor implementation of its customised Android UI lets it down slightly, making the interface more awkward to use than it needs to be. Regardless, the San Diego still offers plenty of power and features for your money.
The Prestigio fails to dazzle, offering nothing fresh, but it is a user friendly, well featured and well priced device that ticks all the right boxes for a smartphone. It offers a smooth Android experience in a classic design with a competitive price tag and could go up against the likes of Huawei or HTC’s budget brands. A solid offering from a lesser known brand.
OS: Windows Phone 8.0 Screen: 4.5-inch PureMotion HD+ IPS LCD Resolution: 1280 x 768 Processor: 1.5 GHz Dual Core Snapdragon S4 RAM 1GB Storage 32GB Camera 8.7MP with Pureview sensor
OS Android 2.3 Gingerbread Screen 4-inch LCD Resolution 600 x 1024 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1.6GHz Intel Atom Z2460 Memory 1GB Storage 16GB Camera 8MP rear-facing Flash Yes
OS Android 2.3 Gingerbread Screen 3.5-inch TFT Resolution 480 x 800 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 800MHz Memory 512MB Storage MicroSD Camera 5MP rear-facing Flash Yes Video Yes
Input: Capacitive touchscreen Video: 720p or 1080p, 30fps Storage: 32GB Audio: Music player/FM radio Size: 130 x 70.8 x 10.7mm Weight: 185g Battery: 2000 mAh
Video 1080p HD Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 336 hours Talk time 8 hours Size 123 x 63 x 10mm Weight 117g
Wireless 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 240 hours Talk time 4 hours Size 117 x 59 x 11mm Weight 120g
VERDICT: An fantastic device technically, its
VERDICT: A punchy, competitively-priced
VERDICT: Nothing new but this is a user
success relies on Microsoft’s app store.
device but not without a few small flaws.
friendly, well priced well featured device.
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Samsung Ativ S
Samsung Galaxy Ace 2
Samsung Galaxy Beam
Reviewed: March 2013, price: £439.99 www.samsung.com/uk
Reviewed: October 2012, price: £240 www.samsung.com/uk
Reviewed: November 2012, price: £400 www.samsung.com/uk
Possibly the best looking Windows Phone 8 physically with a good display, and a very usable Windows Phone 8 device, the software is lazy, with a poor selection of apps and what apps there are, can appear less than appealing. However, the user interface is easy to use and the processor can handle whatever is required of it. The phone looks and feels good - it’s just a pity there’s not much to look at, app-wise.
In a year where Samsung crafted one of the world’s best smartphones with the Galaxy S III, it has also created a fantastic mid-level device with its affordably-priced Galaxy Ace 2. Offering a stunning screen, great usability and a strong set of features it packs all that the average smartphone buyer will need. And while it’s a shame that the latest version of Android isn’t installed, you still get unbeatable value or money.
While Samsung’s Galaxy Beam can’t quite compete with the best rivals at this price, it is surprisingly capable and exceeded our expectations. With its decent performance, stunning screen and strong build quality, it ticks many boxes. And the built-in projector is far more useful than we expected, letting you beam photos, videos, work files and more at up to 50-inches in size. For bigscreen images on the move, it’s unbeatable.
Dimensions 137 x 70.5 x 8.7 mm OS Windows Phone 8 Screen 4.8-inch Super AMOLED Resolution 720 x 1280 Processor 1.5GHz dual-core GPU Adreno 255 RAM 1GB Storage 16/32GB
os Android 2.3 Gingerbread Screen 3.8-inch TFT Resolution 480 x 800 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 800MHz dual-core Memory 768MB Storage 4GB internal, MicroSD up to 32GB Camera 5MP rear-facing, 0.3MP front-facing
OS Android 2.3 Gingerbread Screen 4-inch TFT Resolution 480 x 800 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1GHz dual-core Memory 768MB Storage 8GB internal, MicroSD up to 32GB Camera 5MP rear-facing, 1.3MP front-facing
expandable via micro SD Cameras Front 1.9MP camera, rear 8.0MP capable of 1080p HD video Wireless Wi-Fi Ports Micro USB, 3.5mm audio Battery life 2.300mAh
Flash LED Video 720p HD at 30fps Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 670 hours Talk time 16 hours Size 118 x 62 x 11mm Weight 119g
Flash LED Video 720p HD at 30fps Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 760 hours Talk time 9 hours Size 124 x 64 x 13mm Weight 145g
VERDICT: Great WP8 hardware, but the lack
VERDICT: In terms of sheer bang for your
VERDICT: A unique and very well-equipped
of apps means Nokia and HTC still rule.
buck, this great phone is one of the best.
smartphone with a handy built-in projector.
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Samsung Galaxy Fame
Samsung Galaxy Mini 2
Samsung Galaxy Note 2
Reviewed: July 2013, price: £159 www.samsung.com/uk
Reviewed: August 2012, price: £150 www.samsung.com/uk
Reviewed: December 2012, price: £409 www.samsung.com/uk
Don’t look at Samsung for cheap smartphones, but the Fame offers a compact, modern Android experience for only marginally more than other brands. A wee phone which allows you to run your digital life with just your thumb, the Fame sports Android 4.1, a screen that’s just right for some and an attractive price point. Cons include a thick, stubby design, a low res screen and rival phones going cheaper.
With its eye-catching design, decent performance and comfortable usability, the Galaxy Mini 2 is well worth a look for firsttime smartphone buyers on a budget. There are some incredibly high-quality rivals on the market, though, from brands such as HTC and Huawei, among others. So you might want to shop around and check out the competition before handing over your cash, as there are great deals to be had.
The size of Samsung’s Galaxy Note range is a hate it or love it prospect - is it too big to be a phone, or too small to be a tablet? Does a stylus have any place on a smartphone? Either way, it is a brilliant piece of technology, with a whopping great 16 hours of talk time. Its only main flaws are a dull screen and a poor camera - otherwise it comes down to personal preference. Definitely one to try out in store.
OS Android 4.1 Screen 3.5-inch / 320x480 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Camera 5MP, VGA front Video Record / Playback Audio Music player / Stereo Bluetooth / 3.5mm jack Memory 4GB expandable via
OS Android 2.3 Gingerbread Screen 3.27-inch TFT Resolution 320 x 480 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 800MHz Qualcomm MSM7227 Memory 512MB Storage 4GB, MicroSD Camera 3.15MP rear-facing Flash No
OS Android 4.1 Jelly Bean Screen 5.5-inch SAMOLED Resolution 720 x 1280 pixels Input Capacitive screen, stylus Processor 1.6GHz quad-core Memory 2GB Storage 16/32/64GB internal, MicroSD up to 64GB Camera 8MP rear-facing, 1.9MP front-facing
micro SD card Battery 1300mAh
Video 640 x 480 pixels Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 540 hours Talk time 11 hours Size 109 x 59 x 12mm Weight 105g
Flash LED Video 1080p HD at 30fps Wireless 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Battery 16 hours talk time 890 hours standby Dimensions 151 x 81 x 9mm Weight 183g
VERDICT: Not the cheapest out there but a
VERDICT: A good entry-level handset, but
VERDICT: The king of the big screen phone/
compact device which has plenty of appeal.
there are plenty of better deals to be found.
tablets, you’ll either love it or hate it.
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editor’s choice
editor’s choice
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Samsung Galaxy S Advance Samsung Galaxy S2
Samsung Galaxy S3
Reviewed: August 2012, price: £230 www.samsung.com/uk
£330 SIM-free www.samsung.com/uk
Reviewed: July 2012, price: £485 www.samsung.com/uk
While the Samsung Galaxy S Advance doesn’t do much to stake a claim as the best mid-range handset you can buy, it’s still a suitably capable effort, which will suit newcomers to the smartphone market. With that said, though, there are many better options that you can find at this price, so you might want to shop around and see what its rivals have to offer, before choosing this as your main handset.
The Galaxy S II is one of Samsung’s top-end smartphones and was your Phone of the Year 2011, according to reader votes for the What Mobile Awards. It offers blisteringly fast performance, a decent camera, strong battery life and a great screen. Alongside the newer Galaxy S III, it’s the biggest threat Apple has seen since the iPhone launched, and with good reason. Few phones offer such a good user experience.
Matching up to the mighty Galaxy S II was always going to be a tall order, but with the release of the Galaxy S III Samsung has clearly surpassed expectations. With its stunning design, amazing usability, highpowered performance and cutting-edge features, it measures up to the best of the competition and sets a new benchmark for its rivals. If you’re looking for one of the best smartphones you can buy, this is it.
OS Android 2.3 Gingerbread Screen 4-inch SAMOLED Resolution 480 x 800 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1GHz ARM Cortex-A9 Memory 768MB Storage 8/16GB, MicroSD Camera 5MP rear-facing, 1.3MP front-facing
OS Android 2.3 Gingerbread Screen 4.3-inch SAMOLED+ Resolution 480 x 800 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1.2GHz ARM Cortex-A9 Memory 1GB Storage 16/32GB, MicroSD Camera 8MP rear-facing, 2MP front-facing
OS Android 4.0 ICS Screen 4.8-inch SAMOLED Resolution 720 x 1280 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1.4GHz Cortex-A9 Memory 1GB Storage 16/32/64GB, MicroSD Camera 8MP rear-facing, 1.9MP front-facing
Flash Yes Video 720p HD Wireless 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 570 hours Talk time 15 hours Size 123 x 63 x 10mm Weight 120g
Flash Yes Video 1080p HD Wireless 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 710 hours Talk time 18 hours Size 125 x 66 x 9mm Weight 116g
Flash Yes Video 1080p HD Wireless 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 790 hours Talk time 21 hours Size 137 x 71 x 9mm Weight 133g
VERDICT: A decent mid-range device but it
VERDICT: An award-winning Android phone
VERDICT: A masterpiece of design and
offers little to set itself apart from its rivals.
that effortlessly impresses across the board.
usability. This is the benchmark to beat.
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Samsung Galaxy S4
Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini
Samsung Tocco Lite 2
Reviewed: July 2012, price: £550 www.samsung.com/uk
Reviewed: January 2013, price: £300 www.samsung.com/uk
Reviewed: September 2012, price: £99 www.samsung.com/uk
An impressive hardware offering with intriguing new software and camera features but these need to be perfected and integrated into the device as a whole before the S4 can really be called a knock out. While the phone’s processor seemed to struggle with games and the design is pretty same ol’ to the S3, this is a solid offering from Samsung in the flagship race.
Something of a misnomer, this is no relation to its bigger brother, the S III,despite the design similarities. The Mini is little more than a shrunk down Galaxy S II. If users want a budget Galaxy, they are better off pursuring that (former) flagship on a budget plan - this is extortionately expensive for what you get.
Blending neat features with a range of equally noticeable flaws, the Tocco Lite 2 is a real mixed bag. There’s no denying the value it provides, but it’s clear where the corners have been cut, making it hard to recommend. Especially when entry-level smartphones such as the Vodafone Smart 2 can be bought for even less than this feature-phone. If you’re after the most bang for your buck, this isn’t the phone for you.
Dimensions 136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9 mm Weight 130g Screen 5 inch, Super AMOLED capacitive touch screen, 16M colours Resolution 1080 x 1920 CPU Quad-core 1.6 GHz GPU PowerVR SGX 544MP3 RAM 512MB
OS Android Jelly Bean 4.1.1 Screen Super AMOLED Resolution 480 x 800 pixels 4.0 inches 233 PPI Storage 8 or 16 GB, up to 32 GB microSD expandable Camera rear 5MP autofocus, front 0.3MP Video 720P 30fps CPU NovaThor U8420 -1GHz
OS Proprietary Screen 3-inch TFT Resolution 240 x 320 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor N/A Memory N/A Storage 20MB internal, MicroSD up to 32GB Camera 3.2MP rear-facing Flash No
Storage 16/32/64GB, up to 64GB external Cameras 13MP, 4128x3096 pixels, autofocus, LED flash Video 1080p@30fps Wireless Wi-Fi 802.11, Bluetooth 4.0 Ports USB 2.0, MicroSD, 3.5mm audio jack Battery life Li-Ion 2600 mAh
dual-core Memory 1GHz Ram GPU Mali-400/MP4 Connectivity Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, DLNA Ports Micro-USB 3.5m jack Battery Li-Ion 1500 mAh Dimensions: 121.6 x 63 x9.9mm Weight 111.5g
Video Yes Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Battery 14 hours talk time, 625 hours standby Size 102 x 58 x 12mm Weight 96g
VERDICT: An impressive offering with
VERDICT: A cheeky move by Samsung to
VERDICT: It may suit very young users, but
interesting but not integrated new software.
pass this off as a premium device. It’s not.
it’s not a phone we can highly recommend.
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Sony Xperia Go
Sony Xperia J
Sony Xperia P
Reviewed: October 2012, price: £200 www.sonymobile.com
Reviewed: February 2013, price: £149 www.sonymobile.com
Reviewed: October 2012, price: £290 www.mobilephonesdirect.co.uk
When we’ve tested semi-rugged phones before, they’ve often put function firmly over form. But Sony’s Xperia Go blends style and resilience to create a tough device that’s also great to look at. Its waterproof, dust-resistant design keeps it protected against the elements and it’s a fast and pleasingly usable device. And while the old Android 2.3 OS is a disappointment, this is still a good phone for busy outdoor use.
The Xperia J is expensive for what you get - no small feat considering it costs £149. This is a severely stripped down version of its big brothers, the Xperia P, T and S. Its performance is poor, the camera and screen is poor. You’d do much better buying last gen’s flagship phones on a contract, rather than buying this weak cut price performer. Avoid.
The Xperia P works well on so many levels that it’s impossible to ignore. The unique style may not suit all tastes, but it shows a courage to stand out from the crowd that we wish we saw more often. And thanks to its impressive performance, beautiful LEDbacklit screen and excellent features, you get plenty of value for money too.
os Android 2.3 Gingerbread Screen 3.5-inch TFT Resolution 320 x 480 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1GHz dual-core Memory 512MB Storage 8GB internal, MicroSD up to 32GB Camera 5MP rear-facing Flash LED
Dimensions 120.5 x 63 x 10.28 mm OS Windows Phone 8 Screen 4.0-inch S-LCD Resolution 480x800 Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 1GHz dual-core GPU Adreno 305 RAM 512MB
os Android 2.3 Gingerbread Screen 4-inch TFT Resolution 540 x 960 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1GHz dual-core Memory 1GB Storage 16GB internal Camera 8MP rear-facing, 0.3MP front-facing Flash LED
Video 720p HD at 30fps Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 520 hours Talk time 6 hours Size 111 x 60 x 10mm Weight 110g
Storage 4GB expandable via microSD Cameras 5MP rear, LED flash / 720p HD video Wireless Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.1, a-GPS and GLONASS Ports Micro USB, 3.5mm audio Battery life 1,700mAh
Video 1080p HD at 30fps Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0, HDMI Standby time 475 hours Talk time 6 hours Size 122 x 60 x 11mm Weight 120g
VERDICT: If you need a stylish and tough
VERDICT: A bit of a rip off for a low spec,
VERDICT: If you’re looking for a one-of-a-
phone for outdoor use, there’s a lot to like.
poor performing phone.
kind phone, make sure to check it out.
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Sony Xperia S
Sony Xperia SP
Sony Xperia T
Reviewed: February 2012, price: £320 www.sonymobile.com
Reviewed: July 2013, price: £290 www.sonymobile.com
Reviewed: December 2012, price: £400 www.sonymobile.com
The Sony Xperia S has some stellar features, including an excellent 12-Megapixel camera and the ability to record ultrasharp hi-def video in 1080p Full HD. Add a design that capably helps it to stand out from the crowd, as well as the quirky NFC tag accessories, and the Xperia S is by far the best phone in Sony’s Android range. If you’re after a stylish and feature-packed phone, this one should be high on your list.
The Xperia SP has an excellent high definition screen, a fairly solid battery life and an interesting notification system involving a panel at the bottom of the phone which lights up with customisable colours when you get a message. However the phone’s not as powerful as last year’s flagships, is slightly bulky and there are rival phones to be had for less money, particularly if you’re not fussed about 4G.
A minor update of the Xperia S released earlier in the year, the Xperia T remains an elite Android device. With its excellent build quality, gorgeous screen, great camera and a powerful processor it should be a market leader - but for that price. Sony is still reestablishing itself as a smartphone company and can’t command premium pricing - It falls short of its Samsung and HTC rivals, watch for a price drop.
OS Android 2.3 Gingerbread Screen 4.3-inch TFT Resolution 720 x 1280 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1.5GHz Qualcomm MSM8260 Memory 1GB Storage 32GB Camera 12MP rear-facing, 1.3MP front-facing
OS Android 4.1 Screen 4.6inch / 720x1280 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Camera 8MP, VGA front Video Record / Playback Audio Music player / Stereo Bluetooth / 3.5mm jack Memory 8GB expandable via
OS Android 4.0 ICS Screen 4.55-inch TFT Resolution 720 x 1280 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1.5GHz dual-core Memory 1GB Storage 16GB internal, MicroSD up to 32GB Camera 13MP rear-facing, 1.3MP front-facing
Flash Yes Video 1080p HD Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 450 hours Talk time 8 hours Size 128 x 64 x 11mm Weight 144g
micro SD card Battery 2370mAh
Flash LED Video 1080p HD at 30fps Wireless 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.1, NFC Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Battery 7 hours talk time, 450 hours standby Dimensions 129 x 67 x 9mm Weight 139g
VERDICT: A stylish and feature-packed
VERDICT: If 4G LTE isn’t for you, the Xperia
VERDICT: Among the Android smartphone
Android phone with an amazing camera.
SP isn’t quite the bargain it first seems.
elite, but still needs some work.
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Sony Xperia Tipo
Sony Xperia U
Sony Xperia Z
Reviewed: November 2012, price: £130 www.sonymobile.com
Reviewed: September 2012, price: £180 www.sonymobile.com
Reviewed: April 2013, price: £499 www.sonymobile.com
While there is nothing glaringly wrong with the Xperia Tipo, there aren’t any stand-out features either, other than its competitively low price. If you want to grab yourself an Android 4.0 smartphone and are strapped for cash, then it makes a decent entry-level option. But against other budget Android devices, there are many more interesting choices out there, making the Xperia Tipo a tough sell against its high-quality rivals.
The Sony Xperia U is a pleasing device to use, with few notable weaknesses other than its slightly lacklustre camera and limited storage. It would be a decent handset even if it was sold for a higher price, so compared to similarly-priced devices it is way ahead of the game in terms of performance and usability. For that reason, it is a great entry-level Android smartphone and one that we like a lot.
Sony’s latest top shelf flagship smartphone is a powerhouse in every way, let down only by some unusual design decisions. Water, dust and shock resistant, it’s giant screen size will come down to personal preference, as will its unusual design. Otherwise it has all of Sony’s bells and whistles, including some clever use of NFC with NFCs stereos, TVs and laptops.
os ndroid 4.0 ICS Screen 3.2-inch TFT Resolution 320 x 480 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 800MHz single-core Memory 512MB Storage 2.9GB internal, MicroSD up to 32GB Camera 3.2MP rear-facing
OS Android 2.3 Gingerbread Screen 3.5-inch TFT Resolution 480 x 854 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1GHz ARM Cortex-A9 Memory 512MB Storage 4GB internal Camera 5MP rear-facing, 0.3MP front-facing
Dimensions 139 x 71 x 7.9 mm and 146g OS Android 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean). Screen 5 inch, Capacitive touchscreen,1080 x 1920 Processor Qualcomm Krait quad-core 1.5 GHz RAM 2GB RAM Storage 16GB, microSD (to 32GB)
Flash No Video 640 x 480 pixels Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 470 hours Talk time 5 hours Size 103 x 57 x 13mm Weight 99g
Flash LED Video 720p HD at 30fps Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Battery 6 hours talk time 472 hours standby Size 112 x 54 x 12mm Weight 110g
Cameras Main 13.1 MP, 4128x3096 pixels, autofocus, LED flash. Front - 2.2 MP, 1080p@30fps Wireless Wi-Fi 802.11, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC enabled Ports MicroUSB v2.0, MicroSD, 3.5mm audio jack. Battery Li-Ion 2330 mAh battery
VERDICT: A decent Android handset that’s
VERDICT: Packing style, power and a sharp
VERDICT: A powerhouse phone, let down
cheap but cuts a few too many corners.
screen, it provides a great user experience.
only by some design niggles.
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Vodafone Smart 2
ZTE Blade III
ZTE Grand X
Reviewed: September 2012, price: £70 www.vodafone.co.uk
Reviewed: May 2013, price: £69.99 www.ztedevices.co.uk
Reviewed: November 2012, price: £200 www.ztedevices.co.uk
At less than £80 on PAYG, the Vodafone Smart 2 is cheaper than the Samsung Tocco Lite 2 feature-phone, yet packs full smartphone features and better usability. Its strong mobility only adds to the overall package, making it the perfect choice for first-time smartphone owners. For the price it is one of the best we’ve seen, making this a great value handset and one which is well worth the staggeringly low asking price.
It’s hard to argue with a smartphone that can compete with its betters, yet can be purchased for a fraction of the cost. Yes there are flaws and cutbacks to meet the price point, but this is an excellent entry level device for smartphone newbies and pragmatic users who don’t need the latest and greatest.
In terms of raw performance at this price, combined with its excellent pure Android experience, the ZTE Grand X offers great value for money. It lacks the build quality of more premium rivals, however, and over the length of a contract the plasticky feel of the chassis may start to bug you. And don’t forget that the similarly priced HTC One V, which also runs Android 4.0 on a slightly slower processor, is much more of a looker.
OS Android 2.3 Gingerbread Screen 3.2-inch TFT Resolution 320 x 480 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 832MHz ARMv6 Memory 512MB Storage 150MB internal, MicroSD up to 32GB Camera 3.2MP rear-facing Flash LED
Dimensions 123 x 63.5 x 10mm, 130g OS Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich Screen TFT capacitive touchscreen, 256K colors, 480 x 800 pixels, 4.0 inches (233 PPI) Processor Qualcomm single core 1GHz
OS Android 4.0 ICS Screen 4.3-inch TFT Resolution 540 x 960 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1GHz dual-core Memory 512MB Storage 4GB internal, MicroSD up to 32GB Camera 5MP rear-facing, 0.3MP front-facing
Video 640 x 480 pixels at 15fps Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Battery 16 hours talk time, 300 hours standby Size 109 x 58 x 12mm Weight 120g
RAM 512MB Storage 4GB internal, expandable to 32GB via MicroSD Camera 5MP Wireless Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1. Ports Micro USB, MicroSD, 3.5mm audio jack. Battery life 1600mAh
Flash LED Video 1080p HD at 15fps Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time TBC Talk time TBC Size 127 x 65 x 10mm Weight 110g
VERDICT: Few phones are this good at this price. An excellent, value-packed handset.
VERDICT: A real surprise package -
VERDICT: A great no-frills smartphone with
excellent for the money.
a pure Android 4.0 operating system.
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Amazon Kindle Fire
Amazon Kindle Fire HD 8.9” Apple iPad Mini
Reviewed: January 2013, price: £159 www.amazon.co.uk
Reviewed: May 2013, price: £229/259 www.amazon.co.uk
Reviewed: December 2012, price: £269 www.apple.com/uk
While an impressive enough device for its cuthroat-cheap price, the fact that users are locked into Amazon’s App Store (and locked out of the Google Play Store) means that it is only really useful for those who want to do little more than watch movies and read books. The screen isn’t that impressive, and the product is covered in ads to make you consumer Amazon products. If you can put with that, it might be a good budget option.
A good looking e-reader with tablet capabilities, limited by Amazon’s annoying operating system and app eco-system, and an annoyingly slow browser. This device will doubtless be a commercial success, with its branding and ease of use, but for the more serious user there are much better tablets out there.
The iPad Mini represents Apple playing it safe, which is to say:, disappointing. This is little more than an iPad 2, with all its limitations - a low res screen and weak processor power - shrunk down to an odd 7.9-inch size. It is also overpriced, the Google Nexus 7 offers superior performance for £100 less. Despite its luxurious design, you really are paying for little more than 4G support, and Apple’s App Store. Average.
Dimensions 240 x 164 x 8.8 mm OS Customized Android 4.0 Screen 8.9 inch IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen Resolution 1920 x 1200, 254 ppi Processor TI OMAP 4470 dual-core 1.5 GHz
OS iOS 6.0.1 Screen 7.9-inch LED-backlit IPS LCD Resolution 768 x 1024 pixels at 162 pixels per inch Input Capacitive touchscreen CPU Apple A5 1GHz dual core GPU PowerVR SGX543MP2 Memory 512MB Storage 16/32/64GB
Size 193 x 137 x 10.3mm Weight 395 g Screen TFT Capacitive touchscreen Resolution 1280x800, 216 ppi pixel density CPU Dual core, 1200 MHz, ARM Cortex-A9 OS Android Jelly Bean 4.1.1 GPU PowerVR SGX540
Memory 1Gb RAM Storage 16 or 32 GB plus Camera 1.4MP front facing (screen side) only Video 720P Connectivity Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth Ports Micro-USB 3.5m jack Micro HDMI Battery Li-Ion 4,400mAh
Cortex-A9 GPU PowerVR SGX544 RAM 1 GB RAM Storage 16 GB/32 GB Cameras front facing 1.3MP with 720p video Wireless 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band Ports USB 2.0, 3.5mm audio jacks, Bluetooth
Camera 5MP rear facing, 1.2MP front facing Video 1920x1080 (1080P HD) at 30fps. Video stabilised Wireless Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Bluetooth 4.0 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Apple Lightning port (USB 2.0) Size 200 x 134.7 x 7.2mm Weight 308g
VERDICT: A shopping centre for Amazon
VERDICT: A solid, functional tablet which is
VERDICT: Little more than a shrunken iPad
first, and a tablet second. Cheap though.
limited by its Amazon associations.
2 with 4G. Disappointing.
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editor’s choice
editor’s choice
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Apple iPad 3
Apple iPad 4
Archos Titanium 80
Reviewed: April 2012, price: £399 www.apple.com/uk
Reviewed: January 2013, price: £399 www.apple.com/uk
Reviewed: May 2013, price: £150 www.archos.com
The new iPad boasts the highest-resolution display of any tablet, as well as an improved 5MP camera and better connectivity. Not to mention a high-powered new processor which makes it the most powerful iPad ever, too. Though some may resist the upgrade path, the unrivalled Retina display is a subtle but deeply appealing feature which will become more and more desirable. The new iPad is by far the best tablet around
A rather cheeky move by Apple to release the iPad 4 (or ‘iPad with Retina Display’) just months after the iPad 3. All it really adds is a new processor (the iPhone 5’s A6X) and Apple’s new lightning connector. However, this means it remains as the best tablet money can buy - and Apple’s App Store and its 300,000 dedicated tablet apps only make the proposition more enticing.
The Archos Titanium does everything more high spec Android tablets do, and it comes in a relatively attractive package that invites comparisons with the iPad Mini. It has a nice metallic body, if a little more rustic. The screen has a poor resolution, but that is par for the course here. It’s hard to argue with a tablet that’s priced less than half of an iPad Mini yet performs just as well.
OS iOS 5 Screen 9.7-inch TFT Resolution 1536 x 2048 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1GHz Cortex-A9 Memory 1GB Storage 16/32/64GB Camera 5MP rear-facing, 0.3MP front-facing
OS iOS 6.0.1, Screen 9.7 inch LED Resolution 1536 x 2048 pixels at 264 ppi pixel density CPU Apple A6X, Dual-core GPU PowerVR SGX554MP4, Memory 1GB RAM Storage 16/32/64 GB storage Camera 5MP rear facing, 1.2MP front facing
Dimensions 200 x 154 x 10.2mm, 430g OS Android 4.1 Jellybean Screen TFT IPS touchscreen, 768x1024, 8.0 inches (163 PPI) Processor ARM Cortex-A9 dual core 1.6GHz RAM 1GB
Flash No Video 1080p HD Wireless 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, proprietary Apple connector Standby time 720 hours Use time 9 hours Size 241 x 186 x 9mm Weight 662g
VERDICT: There’s simply no contest - the
Video 1080P HD at 30fps Wireless Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 Cellular 4G, 3G, 2G Ports Lightning Connector (USB2.0) and 3.5mm audio jack, Dimensions 241.2 x 185.7 x 9.4 mm Weight 662 g
VERDICT: The best tablet money can buy.
new iPad is the best tablet in the world.
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Storage 8GB internal, expandable to 64GB via MicroSD Cameras 2MP rear, 0.3MP front Wireless Wi-Fi Ports Micro USB, MicroSD, Micro-HDMI, Power, 3.5mm audio jack
VERDICT: A cheap iPad Mini alternative that almost matches up in most respects.
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buyer’s guide reviews archive
editor’s choice
HHHHH
Asus MemoPad
Barnes & Noble Nook HD
Google Nexus 7
Reviewed: May 2013, price: £259 www.asus.com
Reviewed: February 2013, price: £159 www.barnesandnoble.com
Reviewed: September 2012, price: £159 www.google.co.uk/nexus
The Memopad remains a pretty powerful tablet, but the poor screen and hits to battery life make it a tough sell. If you’re going for 10-inches, pay a wee bit more and get a Google Nexus 10. Otherwise, simply go and buy the Google Nexus 7 for £100 less and get the more complete package.
Yet another bookseller getting in on the tablet game, the B&N Nook HD boasts a great screen (much better than the overrated iPad Mini) but unfortunately is hobbled by being tied to its own app store, rather than Google Play. Its hardware is also pretty average, but its physical design looks great. An opportunity that went begging.
Google’s Nexus 7 is a high-quality media consumption device built for gaming, watching videos, browsing the internet and catching up on TV shows that you’ve missed. What it isn’t is an Apple iPad, but at this price it doesn’t need to be. Google has picked what it wanted to do and done it very well - and all at a great price. This excellent device is sure to take tablets to a whole new audience of consumers.
Dimensions 263 x 180.8 x 9.9 mm, 580g OS Android 4.1 Jellybean Screen TFT IPS touchscreen, 1280x800, 10.1-inches (149 PPI) Processor NVidia Tegra 3 Quad core 1.2GHz RAM 1GB Storage 16GB internal,
Dimensions 194x127x11.0mm OS Modified Android 4.0 Screen 7-inch LCD Resolution 1440x900 Processor 1.3 GHz OMAP 4470 Dual-Core Processor GPU PowerVR SGX544 RAM 1GB Storage 8/16GB expandable
expandable to 32GB via MicroSD Cameras 5MP rear, 1.2MP front Wireless Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0 Ports Micro USB (power), MicroSD, Micro-HDMI, 3.5mm audio jack
via microSD Cameras N/A Wireless Wi-Fi Ports HDMI-out via proprietary socket, 3.5mm audio Battery life 10.5 hours reading, 9 hours video
OS Android 4.1 Jelly Bean Screen 7-inch LED-backlit IPS LCD Resolution 800 x 1280 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1.3GHz Cortex-A9 Memory 1GB Storage 8GB/16GB internal Camera 1.2MP front-facing Flash No
Video 720p HD Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi Bluetooth 4.0 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Battery 10 hours use, 300 hours standby Size 199 x 120 x 10mm Weight 340g
VERDICT: Decent, but nothing outstanding
VERDICT: The Nook has a superb screen,
VERDICT: A fantastic device that delivers all
here with better alternatives available.
but locking users to B&N’s store is daft.
you’d want from a tablet, at a great price.
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buyer’s guide reviews archive
editor’s choice
HHHHH
Google Nexus 10
Kobo Arc
Microsoft Surface
Reviewed: February 2013, price: £319 www.google.co.uk/nexus
Reviewed: March 2013, price: £159 www.kobobooks.com
Reviewed: January 2013, price: £399 www.microsoft.com/surface
Finally, the Android tablet everyone’s been waiting for - except Apple. This is a tablet that can go head to head with the best in the Apple iPad stable - it has a powerful processor, a Retina Display quality screen, the latest version of Android. Along with the Nexus 7, this is the best tablet Android users can buy. The only flaws are an uninspired body, and a dearth of tablet specific apps.
The tablet that bested Amazon and Barnes&Nobles’ offerings - the Kobo Arc provides access to Google’s Play store, something its rivals don’t do. Built like an e-reader but with a front facing camera for your Skyping needs, the Kobo Arc has a well thought out content portal. However it’s running an older version of Android at the same price as some updated rivals and the launcher can be a bit laggy.
As much a victom of Microsoft’s hype machine as anything, the Surface is Windows 8/RT’s flagship tablet device. While it is a technologically solid device (a nice screen and decent processor encased in a nice body), it unfortunately doesn’t know if its a laptop or a tablet. The interface is difficult to learn and the app offerings are non-existent.
OS Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) Dimensions 263.9 x 177.6 x 8.9 mm, 603g Screen 10-inches, Gorilla Glass 2, Resolution 2560 x 1600p Input Super PLS TFT capacitive touch-screen CPU Exynos 5, Dual-core ARM Cortex-A15
Dimensions 189 X 120 X 11.5 mm OS Android 4.0 Screen 7-inch LCD Resolution 1280 x 800 Processor 1.5GHz dual-core GPU N/A RAM 1GB Storage 16, 32 or 64G not expandable via Micro SD
Networks None, Wi-Fi only Dimensions 275x172x9.4mm Weight 680g OS Windows RT Screen TFT capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors Resolution 1366 x 768 Processor Nvidia T30 quad core at 1.3GHz Memory 2GB of RAM
RAM 2 GB Cameras 5 MP (main), 1.9 MP (front) Wireless Wi-Fi, Bluetooth NFC Android Beam Storage 16 GB/32 GB Connectivity Micro USB, Micro HDMI, 3.5mm headphone jack Battery 9000 mAh
memory card Cameras Front 1.3MP camera, capable of 720p HD video Wireless Wi-Fi Ports Micro USB, 3.5mm audio Battery life 10 hours reading
GPU GeForce ULP Storage 32GB/64GB, MicroSD (to 64GB) Camera Front and back 1.2MP. Video 720P Wireless Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, Ports 3.5mm audio jack, USB2.0, mini-HDMI out, Battery life 8 hours
VERDICT: The best Android tablet available,
VERDICT: Better than most of its rivals in
VERDICT: Full of potential, but a device let
slips behind the iPad 4 only due to apps.
this space - a rival for the Kindle Fire HD.
down by its poor software, Windows 8/RT.
Performance Features Usability Design
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buyer’s guide reviews archive
editor’s choice
HHHHH
Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 Sony Xperia Tablet Z
Vodafone Smart Tab 2
Reviewed: October 2012, price: £399 www.samsung.com/uk
Reviewed: July 2013, price: £399 www.sony.co.uk
Reviewed: February 2013, price: £149 www.vodafone.co.uk
Arriving in the shadow of the third iPad, it’s to Samsung’s credit that the Galaxy Note 10.1 isn’t completely dwarfed by its rival. Combining a strong specification, unique usability and some excellent features, it is one of the best devices you can buy in the ever-growing tablet market. The problem is it is priced to target the iPad and while it is certainly a great tablet, it’s not quite good enough to rival Apple’s masterpiece device.
The powerhouse tablet offering from Sony, the device matches up to its phone brother, the Xperia Z, in pure power and almost matches up in terms of screen specs. An ultra slim tablet, the only drawbacks include a tendency to attract dust and finger prints like nobody’s business, a so-so camera and quite a high price. But the Xperia Tablet Z is still an impressive offering at a cost comparable to the iPad 4.
The Vodafone Smart Tab 2 isn’t terribly impressive - it has a low res screen, not much power under the hood and average battery performance. It is unfortunately put at the same price point as its much better rivals, such as the Kindle Fire HD, Google Nexus 7, Kobo Arc and iPad Mini. Why pay £149 for something that feels like its two years old? Avoid.
os Android 4.0 ICS Screen 10.1-inch TFT Resolution 800 x 1280 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1.4GHz quad-core Memory 2GB Storage 16/32/64GB internal, MicroSD up to 64GB Camera 5MP rear-facing, 1.9MP front-facing
Dimensions 172 x 266 x 6.9mm Weight 495g Screen 10.1 inch Resolution 1920 x 1200, 224ppi Processor Quad core S4 Pro 1.5GHz RAM 2GB Storage 16GB with
Dimensions 192 x 122 x 11.5mm, 400g Screen 7-inch, 16x9, capacitive TFT multi-touch Resolution 1024 x 600p at 170 PPI CPU ARM Cortex A9, 1GHz GPU MTK6575 Chipset. PowerVR SGX531 Battery Li-Ion 3550 mAh
Flash LED Video 720p HD at 30fps Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 1500 hours Use time 33 hours Size 258 x 175 x 9mm Weight 583g
microSD up to 64GB Camera 8.1MP rear facing Video 1080p@30fps, HDR Wireless Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band Ports Infrared, NFC, Bluetooth, USB Battery life Up to 10h talk time (accurate)
Storage Internal 4GB (user sees 1.7GB) expandable via MicroSD to 4 + 32GB Cameras Front 0.3MP, Rear 2.0 MP no flash Wireless 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, Bluetooth v3.0 Network 3G, GPRS, EDGE Ports Micro USB (2.0) Battery Life 6hrs usage
VERDICT: A fantastic tablet but it can’t
VERDICT: A powerhouse tablet from Sony
VERDICT: A run of the mill budget tablet
quite match up to the latest Apple iPad.
with a great looking screen.
that is overpriced for what you get.
Performance Features Usability Design
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65-96_ReviewsArchive_Aug13.indd 96
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SMARTPHONES.TABLETS.ACCESSORIES
Celebrating 20 years of business
COMPETITIVE PRICES . RAPID WORLDWIDE DELIVERY
NOKIA LUMIA 925
SONY XPERIA SP
• Slim Windows Phone 8 smartphone • 4.5” AMOLED display • 16GB internal storage • 8.7 megapixel PureView camera • Wireless charging (with separate accessory)
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All prices include VAT, but exclude delivery. Prices are correct at time of going to press. Website price always applies. Errors and omissions should be expected.
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