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.
Alcatel One Touch
Ultra 995
Price: $255
Website: alcatelonetouch.com
Priced at just $225, the Alcatel One Touch
Ultra 995 offers good value for money, thanks 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.
Specifications
·
OS: Android 2.3 Gingerbread
·
Screen: 4.3-inch TFT
·
Resolution: 480 x 800 pixels
·
Input Capacitive: touchscreen
·
Processor: 1.40Hz Qualcomm MSM8255T
·
Memory: 512MB
·
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: 360 hours
·
Talk time: 14 hours
·
Size: 128 x 68 x10mm
·
Weight: 124g
Verdict: A
surprisingly powerful handset at a good price, but it lacks killer features.
Price: $644
Website: apple.com
Apple signaled 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.
Specifications
·
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
·
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
Verdict: A
truly stunning smartphone. And now available at a better price than ever.
Price: $749
Website: www.apple.com
What does the iPhone 4S offer above the
iPhone 4? An 8-Megapixel camera and improved images, alongside the Sin 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.
Specifications
·
OS: iOS6
·
Screen: 3.5-inch TFT
·
Resolution: 640 x 960 pixels
·
Input Capacitive: touchscreen
·
Processor: 1 GHz ARM Cortex-A9
·
Memory: 512MB
·
Storage: 16/32/64GB
·
Camera: 8MP rear-facing, 0.3 MP front-facing
·
Flash: Yes
·
Video: 1080p HD
·
Wireless: 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0
·
Ports: 3.5mm audio jack, proprietary Apple
connector
·
Standby time: 200 hours
·
Talk time: 14 hours
·
Size: 115x59x9mm
·
Weight: 140g
Verdict:
With its impressive upgrades, the iPhone 4S is well worth its premium price.
Price: $794
Website: apple.com
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.
Specifications
·
OS: iOS6
·
Screen: 4-inch LED-backlit IPS TFT
·
Resolution: 640 x 1136 pixels
·
Input Capacitive: touchscreen
·
Processor: 1 GHz dual-core
·
Memory: 1GB
·
Storage: 1 6/32/64GB
·
Camera: 8MP rear-facing, 1.2MP front-facing
·
Flash: LED
·
Video: 1080p HD at 30fps
·
Wireless: 802.11 a/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: The
best iPhone yet but not quite the revolution we are hoping for.
Price: $488
Website: uk.blackberry.com
BlackBerry creator, RIM, has fallen on
troubled times, with deflating shares and its next-generation BlackBerry 05 10
not set to appear until the end of the year. In the meantime it is pushing the
Bold 9790, a slimmer version of its successful QWERTY smartphone for business
professionals. If you demand a BlackBerry, this is the one to get, as its thin
frame, excellent keyboard and sharp screen all add to the package.
Specifications
·
OS: BlackBerry OS 7
·
Screen: 2.45-inch TFT
·
Resolution: 480 x 360 pixels
·
Input Capacitive: touchscreen, keyboard
·
Processor: 1 GHz Marvel Tavor MG1
·
Memory: 168MB
·
Storage: 8GB. MicroSD
·
Camera: 5MP rear-facing
·
Flash: Yes
·
Video: 640 x 480 pixels
·
Wireless: 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1
·
Ports: 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0
·
Standby time: 432 hours
·
Talk time: 5 hours
·
Size: 110 x 60 x 11mm
·
Weight: 107g
Verdict: The
strong usability and sharp screen are perfectly suited to business use.
Price: $383
Website: 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.
Specifications
·
OS: BlackBerry OS 7
·
Screen: 2.44-inch TFT
·
Resolution: 320 x 240 pixels
·
Input: Keyboard, trackpad
·
Processor: 806MHz
·
Memory: 512 MB
·
Storage: 512MB, MicroSD
·
Camera: 3.15MP 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: 432 hours
·
Talk time: 7 hours
·
Size: 109 x 60 x 13mm
·
Weight: 103g
Verdict:
Easy-to-use and some good features, but this is not BlackBerry’s best.
Price: $398
Website: uk.blackberry.com
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 Blackl3erry 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.
Specifications
·
OS: BlackBerry OS 7
·
Screen: 3.2-inch TFT
·
Resolution: 360 x 480 pixels
·
Input capacitive: touchscreen, trackpad
·
Processor: 806MHz
·
Memory: 512MB
·
Storage: 51 2MB, MicroSD
·
Camera: SMP rear-lacing
·
Flash: Yes
·
Video: 640 x 480-pixels
·
Wireless: 802.11 b/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: 109x60x11mm
·
Weight: 98g
Verdict: A
stylish BlackBerry but other phones in the range beat it hands down.
Price: $60
Doro
PhoneEasy 505
The PhoneEasy 505 is aimed at older phone
users and 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.
Specifications
·
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
·
Wireless: No
·
Ports: N/A
·
Standby time: 500 hours
·
Talk time: 8 hours
·
Size: 126x51x46mm
·
Weight: 95g
Verdict: A
great choice for elderly users, packing all the basics and an SOS feature.
