MOBILE

What To Look For When Buying A New Phone Or Tablet (Part 7)

5/5/2013 9:16:21 AM

Samsung Galaxy S Ill Mini

Price:  $450

Website: samsung.com

Something of a misnomer, this is no relation to its bigger brother, the S Ill, 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 pursuing that (former) flagship on a budget plan - this is extortionately expensive for what you get.

Samsung Galaxy S Ill Mini

Specifications

·         OS: Android Jelly Bean 4.1.1

·         Screen: Super AMOLED

·         Resolution: 480 x 800 pixels, 4.0 inches 233 PPI

·         Storage: 8 or 16GB, up to32 GB microSD expandable

·         Camera: rear 5MP autofocus, front 0.3MP

·         Video: 720p 30fps

·         CPU NovaThor U8420 - 1GHz dual-core

·         Memory: 1GHz Ram

·         GPU Mali-400/MP4

·         Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, DLNA

·         Ports: Micro-USB 35m jack

·         Battery: Li-Ion 1500mAh

·         Dimensions: 121.6x63x9.9mm

·         Weight: 111.5g

Verdict: A cheeky move by Samsung to pass this off as a premium device. It’s not.

Samsung Galaxy Y

Price:  $165

Website: samsung.com

Samsung Galaxy Y

While Samsung’s Galaxy S II and S III are the cream of the crop, at the other end of the scale we’ve got the Samsung Galaxy Y which aims for the budget market. It’s true that most people interested in this phone won’t be fussed that a newer version of the Android OS is available, but even so it’s hard to recommend this phone. It’s suitably cheap but many rivals can be found which offer so much more for a similar price.

Specifications

·         OS: Android 2.3 Gingerbread

·         Screen: 3-inch TFT

·         Resolution: 240 x 320 pixels

·         Input Capacitive: touch screen

·         Processor: 830MHz ARMv6

·         Memory: 290MB

·         Storage: 180MB, MicroSD

·         Camera: 8MP rear-facing

·         Flash: No

·         Video: 320 x 240 pixels

·         Wireless: 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0

·         Ports: 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0

·         Standby time: 850 hours

·         Talk time: 17 hours

·         Size: 104x58x12mm

·         Weight: 98g

Verdict: Looks nice but fails to match its rivals in terms of sheer quality and value.

Samsung Tocco Lite 2

Price:  $149

Website: samsung.com

Samsung Tocco Lite 2

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.

Specifications

·         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

·         Video: Yes

·         Wireless: 802.11 b/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 x58x 12mm

·         Weight: 96g

Verdict: It may suit very young users, but it’s not a phone we can highly recommend.

Sony Xperia Go

Price:  $300

Website: sonymobile.com

Sony Xperia Go

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.

Specifications

·         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

·         Video: 720p HD at 30fps

·         Wireless: 802.11 b/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: 111x60x10mm

·         Weight: 110g

Verdict: You need a stylish and tough phone for outdoor use, there’s a lot to like.

Sony Xperia J

Price:  $224

Website: sonymobile.com

Sony Xperia J

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.

Specifications

·         Dimensions: 120.5x63x10.28 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

·         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

Sony Xperia P

Price:  $435

Sony Xperia P

While some handsets in Sony’s Xperia range have proved more successful than others, 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 LED-backlit screen and excellent features, you get plenty of value for money.

Specifications

·         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: 1080p HD at 30fps

·         Wireless: 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1

·         Ports: 35mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0, HDMI

·         Standby time: 475 hours

·         Talk time: 6 hours

·         Size: 122x60x11mm

·         Weight: 120g

Verdict: If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind phone, make sure to check it out.

Sony Xperia S

Price: $480

Website: sonymobile.com

Sony Xperia S

The Sony Xperia S has some stellar features, including an excellent 12-Megapixel camera and the ability to record ultra- sharp 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.

Specifications

·         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

·         Flash: Yes

·         Video: 1080p HD

·         Wireless: 802.11 b/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: 128x64x11mm

·         Weight: 144g

Verdict: A stylish and feature-packed Android phone with an amazing camera.

Sony Xperia T

Price: $600

Website: sonymobile.com

Sony Xperia T

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.

Specifications

·         OS: Android 4.0 CS

·         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: LED

·         Video: 1080p HD at 30fps

·         Wireless: 802.11 a/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: Among the Android smartphone elite, but still needs some work.

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