MOBILE

What To Look For When Buying A New Phone Or Tablet (Part 4)

5/5/2013 9:15:56 AM

Huawei Honour

Price:  $285

Adding to Huawei’s recent range of high quality, 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.

Huawei Honour

Specifications

·         OS: Android 2.3 Gingerbread

·         Screen: 4.0-inch TFT

·         Resolution: 480 x 854 pixels

·         Input Capacitive: touchscreen

·         Processor: 1.46Hz Qualcomm MSM8255T

·         Memory: 512MB

·         Storage: 1GB, MicroSD

·         Camera: 8MP rear-facing, 0.3MP front-facing

·         Flash: Yes

·         Video: 720p HD

·         Wireless: 802.11 b/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: 122x61x11mm

·         Weight: 140g

Verdict: Packing usability, features and performance, the Honor is a hit for Huawei.

LG Optimus 4X HD

Price:  $675

Website: lg.com

LG Optimus 4X HD

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 temperamental 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 CS

·         Screen: 4.7-inch TFT

·         Resolution: 720x1280 pixels

·         Input Capacitive: touchscreen

·         Processor: 1.5GHz quad-core

·         Memory: 1GB

·         Storage: 16GB internal,

·         MicroSD up to 64CB

·         Camera: BMP rear-facing, 1 .3MP 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, Micro USB 2.0

·         Standby time: 686 hours

·         Talk time: 10 hours

·         Size: 132 x 68 x 9mm

·         Weight: 141g

Verdict: A fantastic quad-core smartphone with only a few minor quirks to speak of.

LG Prada 3.0

Price:  $345

LG 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

Motorola Defy+

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 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.

Specifications

·         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

·         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: 107 x59x 13mm

·         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 TE

·         Resolution: 320 x 480 pixels

·         Input Capacitive: touchscreen

·         Processor: 600MHz single-core

·         Memory: 512MB

·         Storage: 51 2MB internal, 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 life styles.

Motorola Motoluxe

Price:  $24

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: 800M Hz

·         Qualcomm MSM7227A-0

·         Memory: 512 MB

·         Storage: 1GB, MicroSD

·         Camera: 8MP rear-facing, 0.3 MP 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: 118x61xl0mm

·         Weight: 124g

Verdict: The out of date OS and limited specs spoil this otherwise decent phone.

Motorola RAZR i

Price:  $510

Motorola RAZR i

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 HD 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: 123x61x8mm

·         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: touch screen

·         Processor: 1.2GHz ARM Cortex-A9

·         Memory: 1GB

·         Storage: 16GB, MicroSD

·         Camera: 8MP rear-facing.

·         1.3MP front-facing

·         Flash Yes

·         Video 1080p HD

·         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.

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