LG Optimus 4X HD
Price: $675
Website: lg.com
The
Optimus 4X HD is a return to form for LG and a fantastic, feature-packed phone.
The Optimus 4X HD is a return to form for
LG and a fantastic, feature-packed phone. It’s 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 temper mental cameras. So while it’s an outstanding smartphone,
it can’t quite take the crown away from Samsung and HTC.
Specifications
·
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 LED
·
Video 1 080p HD at 30fps
·
Wireless 802.1 la/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 132x68x9mm
·
Weight 141g
·
Verdict: a fantastic quad-core smartphone with
only a few minor quirks to speak of.
1G Prada 3.0
Price: $345
Website: lg.com
1G
Prada 3.0
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 top end 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.
Specifications
·
OS Android 2.3 Gingerbread
·
Screen 4.3-inch LCD
·
Resolution 480 x 800 pixels
·
Input Capacitive touchscreen
·
Processor 1 GHz ARM Cortex-A9
·
Memory 1GB
·
Storage 8GB, MicroSD
·
Camera 8MP rear-facing, 1.3MP front-facing
·
Flash Yes
·
Video 1080p HD
·
Wireless 802.11 a/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
·
Verdict: great looks and specifications to
match, but the branding adds a high price.
Motorola Defy+
Price: $315
There’s
a bigger battery, slightly faster processor and a new look for the MotoBlur
software.
The original Defy was a great step forward for
ruggedized 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 Moto Blur 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.
Specifications
·
OS Android 2.3 Gingerbread
·
Screen 3.7-inch TFT
·
Resolution 480 x 854 pixels
·
Input Capacitive touchscreen
·
Processor 1 GHz ARM Cortex-A8
·
Memory 512MB
·
Storage 2GB, MicroSD
·
Camera 5MP rear-facing
·
Flash Yes
·
Video Yes
·
Wireless 802.11 b/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 107x59x13mm
·
Weight 118g
·
Verdict: sensible, tough and ideal for rough
outdoor use, but a minor upgrade.
Motorola Defy Mini
Price: $225
Motorola
Defy Mini
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 low quality
cameras and limited specification holding it back, there’s a lot to like about
it.
Specifications
·
OS Android 2.3 Gingerbread
·
Screen 3.2-inch TFT
·
Resolution 320 x 480 pixels
·
Input Capac touchscreen
·
Processor 600M Hz serial-core
·
Memory 512MB
·
Storage 51 2MB internaI, MicroSD up to 32GB
·
Camera 3MP rear-facing, 0.3MP front-facing
·
Flash LED
·
Video Yes
·
Wireless 802.11 b/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 109x59x13mm
·
Weight 107g
·
Verdict: touch, small and usable. A good phone
for demanding physical lifestyles.
Motorola Motoluxe
Price: $248
Motorola
Motoluxe
While the performance and build of the
Motorola Motoluxe is more than enough for your average Android user, the out-
of-date software and bleak outlook for an update spoil this otherwise
impressive all round, 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.
Specifications
·
OS Android 2.3 Gingerbread
·
Screen 4-inch TFT
·
Resolution 480 x 854 pixels
·
Input Capacitive touchscreen
·
Processor 800MHz Qualcomm MSM7227A-0
·
Memory 51 2MB
·
Storage 1GB, MicroSD
·
Camera 8MP rear-facing, 0.3MP front-facing
·
Flash Yes
·
Video Yes
·
Wireless 802.11 b/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 118x61 xl0mm
·
Weight 124g
·
Verdict: the out of date OS and limited specs
spoil this otherwise decent phone.
Motorola RAZR i
Price: $510
Its
inferior build quality and display make the similarly-specified HTC One S the
more appealing option.
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.
Specifications
·
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
·
Flash LED
·
Video 1080p HO at 30fps
·
Wireless 802.11 a/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 123x61 x8mm
·
Weight 126g
·
Verdict: not quite enough to put Motorola back
on top, but it’s certainly a good start.
Motorola RAZR MAXX
Price: $615
Motorola
RAZR MAXX
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.
Specifications
·
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
·
Flash Yes
·
Video 1080p HO
·
Wireless 802.11 b/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 x69x9mm
·
Weight 145g
·
Verdict: while there is plenty to like, you can
find better smartphones at this price.
Nokia 808 PureView
Price: $728
Website: nokia.com
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.
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 camera phone. 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.
Specifications
·
OS Nokia Symbian Belle
·
SCREEN 4-inch AMOLED
·
RESOLUTION 360 x 640 pixels
·
INPUT Capacitive touchscreen
·
PROCESSOR 1.3GHzARM1 1
·
MEMORY 51 2MB
·
STORAGE 16GB internal, MicroSD up to 32GB
·
CAMERA 41 MP rear-facing, 0.3MP front-facing
·
FLASH Xenon
·
VIDEO lO8Op HO at 3ßfps
·
WIRELESS 802.llb/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0
·
PORTS 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0, Micro
HDMI
·
BATTERY 6 hours talk time 540 hours standby
·
SIZE 124x60 x 14mm
·
WEIGHT 169g
·
Verdict: the ultimate camera phone, but its old
os and high price can’t be ignored.
