MOBILE

4G Has Landed (Part 3) : Apple iPhone 5 4G, Samsung Galaxy S3 4G LTE, HTC One XL, Huawei Ascend Pl LTE

4/25/2013 9:17:36 AM

Has it been a success?

Mr. Allera wouldn’t give us any data on the subscriber uptake on the new network, but did say that the company “is happy where we’re at”, and that the company had seen “significant user interest,” on the back of its high profile media campaign, which has featured ads by Hollywood legend Kevin Bacon. Readers can draw their own conclusions.

“We have seen data growth at around 250%, we’ve invested around $1.5.Sbn over the next three years, and we will invest in spectrum at the auction too to ensure our customers get the best experience possible,” says Allera.

Time, and competition will soon tell, but for now the experience, is mostly exceptional when compared to the existing creaking 3G. Even if you do drop out of 4G reception, it falls back on to 2G/3G quite comfortably, and the devices on offer are of a decent enough quality to make the experience much better than the growing pains experienced by international launches elsewhere.

Apple iPhone 5 4G

Price: $269.9, $54p/m (24 months) — 500JvIB data

It makes no compromise on its electronics to squeeze in 4G compare to some of the other phones here.

It makes no compromise on its electronics to squeeze in 4G compare to some of the other phones here.

There’s very little to add to our review of the iPhone 5 in What Mobile’s November issue it remains a premier smartphone, and thus a premier 4G device. It makes no compromise on its electronics to squeeze in 4G compare to some of the other phones here.

Much of the device’s 4G problems reflect the others on this page namely, there is a significant drop in battery life when using 4G extensively. Users might want to consider switching 4G off when idling, as well as switching off background update downloading.

Otherwise movie streaming, app downloading all work perfectly. Unless you have BT Infinity or high speed Virgin Broadband at home, this 4G will remain the fastest way to download apps, music and movies. You can see a future when iPhones will finally be free of their reliance on computer tethering. BEST BUY Jump two tiers to the 3GB plan ($69p/m) is your best bet (if you think you can use that much) as the handset cost drops to $74.9

Samsung Galaxy S3 4G LTE

From $224.9, $54p/m (24 months) 500MB da ta The Samsung Galaxy S3’s hardware actually changes quite significantly between its 3G only (T999) and 4G (19300) versions which makes a purchase decision a more tricky prospect.

The newer 4G LTE version have completely different chipsets, and less RAM. The 2G/3G only version released here in June has a Qualcomm dual core Snapdragon CPU running at 1.5GHz with 2GB of RAM.

The newer 4G LTE version have completely different chipsets, and less RAM.

The newer 4G LTE version have completely different chipsets, and less RAM.

The new 4G version runs Samsung’s own Exynos Quad Core (1.4Ghz), and just 1GB RAM. It also puts the squeeze on the 2lOOmAh battery. While the new Samsung Quad Core certainly is an efficient beast, I didn’t find it last as long as the 3G version - as much a victim of the stresses of 4G power usage.

Overall, it remains the same brilliant device it was when our July issue.

BEST BUY: The 1GB data plan ($61.5p/m) drops the phone price to $74.9

HTC One XL

From $224.9, $54p/m (24 month plan) - 500MB da ta

The HTC One XL takes a bit of a hit performance wise when compared to its high powered 3G contemporaries, namely the HTC One X reviewed back in May, and even its (slight) upgrade, the HTC One X+ reviewed in this issue. While the One X and X+ both run blazing fast quad core Nvidia Tegra 3 chips (X at 1.5GHz, the X+ at 1.7Ghz), the XL uses the older Qualcomm Snapdragon Krait dual core processor at 1.5Ghz — the same processor used in HTC ‘s Windows Phone 8X (reviewed on page 52) — which is incompatible with EE’s 4G. RAM remains the same across the entire line.

The HTC One XL takes a bit of a hit performance wise when compared to its high powered 3G contemporaries

The HTC One XL takes a bit of a hit performance wise when compared to its high powered 3G contemporaries

Only the One X+ gets a bigger battery (2lOOmAh, the others ail have 1800mAH). Battery wise, this was the poorest performing of all the 4G devices, but otherwise it loads and runs Android much as its predecessors did excellently.

BEST BUY: The 1GB data plan (41pIm) drops the phone price to $74.9

Huawei Ascend Pl LTE

Free on a $54p/m (24 month plan) - 500MB data The Huawei Ascend Pl 4G LTE version is the only phone on this list that remains unchanged horn its non-4G version, released in October. While that phone featured a decent enough processor and was much cheaper than high end models, it suffered from poor video and photo quality. These faults remain in the 4G version, but the more limited 4G phone options available mean this device is well worth a second look. Why? Because it is the cheapest handset on offer namely, its free on a contract.

Because it is the cheapest handset on offer - namely, its free on a contract.

Because it is the cheapest handset on offer - namely, its free on a contract.

Expect EE to shell out a heap of these to drive adoption of the network.

BEST BUY: A free handset means you can play It by ear

Other  
  •  Samsung Phones Through Ages
  •  The Comparison Among 5 Full-HD Screens
  •  Attractive Apps For Black Berry 10 (Part 2)
  •  Attractive Apps For Black Berry 10 (Part 1)
  •  Mobile Phones Buying Guide – April 2013 (Part 8) : Sony Xperia U, Vodatone Smart 2, Sony Xperia Tipo, ZTE Grand X
  •  Mobile Phones Buying Guide – April 2013 (Part 7) : Samsung Galaxy S Advance, Samsung Galaxy S Ill, Sony Xperia Go, Sony Xperia P
  •  Mobile Phones Buying Guide – April 2013 (Part 6) : Orange San Francisco II, Samsung Galaxy Ace 2, Samsung Galaxy Beam
  •  Mobile Phones Buying Guide – April 2013 (Part 5) : Nokia Lumia 710, Nokia Lumia 900, Nokia Lumia 920
  •  Mobile Phones Buying Guide – April 2013 (Part 4) : LG Optimus 4X HD, Motorola RAZR i, Nokia 808 PureView
  •  Mobile Phones Buying Guide – April 2013 (Part 3) : HTC One X+, HTC Windows 8X, Huawei Ascend Pi
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