6. Samsung Galaxy S3: best hot deal
Yesterday’s news, some might say, but the
Samsung Galaxy S3 is still undeniably a top smartphone, and for anyone buying
on a budget, it’s the chance to finally pick up a sparkling smartphone for dirt
cheap. Over the next few weeks, retailers will be flogging Samsung Galaxy S3’s
at a cut-price to make room for the Galaxy S4, and it’s not too far from its
successor in real terms. There’s a quad-core processor, HD screen and 8MP
camera (with fancy features like Burst mode) still make it worth considering at
your local phone emporium - and Samsung is still going to be bringing updates
to it as well, so it’s just going to get better with age.
Samsung
Galaxy S3: best hot deal
Samsung Galaxy S3 specs
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4.8in, 720 x 1280 pixel display
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Quad Core 1.4GHz CPU
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8MP camera with 1080p video
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Android 4.0 ICS with TouchWiz
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Manufacturer: Samsung
7. Samsung Galaxy Note 2: best for screen
When the Galaxy Note was announced, we all
chortled. ‘It’s massive! Nobody will buy that!’ the technology community brayed
in Samsung’s face. Millions of sales later, those same people are now eating
Korean humble pie. The Note 2 has such great specs with a whopping 5.5-inch
screen, but it’s the S-Pen that’s the winner. Much more than a stylus, it
enables reams of new apps and makes it so much easier to be creative on a
smartphone. There’s 1,024 levels of pressure, which gives your doodles and
sketches a level of detail that genuinely impresses - or you can spend hours
drawing crude genitalia -it’s your call.
Samsung
Galaxy Note 2: best for screen
Samsung Galaxy Note 2 specs
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5.5in HD amoled screen
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1.6GHz, quad-core processor
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New S Pen stylus with 1024 pressure levels
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2GB RAM
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720 x 1,280 pixel resolution
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Manufacturer: Samsung
8. Nokia Lumia 520: best value
Wait, what? A bottom-end Nokia in a top
smartphones list? Well, what if we told you it could be picked up for $150, but
had many of the features the 920, which costs many times that makes it so much
easier to be creative on a smartphone. There’s 1,024 levels of pressure, which
gives your doodles and sketches a level of detail that genuinely impresses - or
you can spend hours drawing crude genitalia - it’s your call. price? The Lumia
520 might be smaller, but with a 4-inch screen, apps like Nokia Drive and Mix
Radio (for free sat nav and music) and an attractive shell, it’s the cheeky
Smart Car of the phone world: we can’t help but think about getting one for
pootling about town. Windows Phone has grown into a truly impressive OS, which
is capable of running on lower specs than its competitors. That means a good experience
for less money - and Microsoft is going hell-for-leather to ensure it succeeds.
Nokia
Lumia 520: best value
Nokia Lumia 520 specs
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Thickness: 0.39 inches
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Weight: 0.27 pounds
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Form factor: Slab
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Screen size (diagonal): 4 inches
·
Operating system: Windows Phone
·
Launch OS version: 8
9. HTC One S: best build quality
We’ve talked about design a fair bit in
this list, but the One S is different: it’s made of satellite material. You
heard us. Aluminum is struck by tiny bolts of lightning millions of times over
and it makes a surface so smooth you’d think it was ceramic. Aside from the
space age building material, the HTC One S is also delightfully designed. It’s
super thin, has Android 4.1 and runs as swiftly as a gazelle that’s been left
in a Red Bull factory. HTC still knows how to make the classics. It may not
have the head-turning looks of its peers, but when it comes to the essentials:
strength, speed and quality, it wins on all three, and if you’re put off by the
S4’s plastic KY build, the One S could be for you.
HTC
One S: best build quality
HTC One S specs
·
Thickness: 0.31 inches
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Weight: 0.26 pounds
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Form factor: Slab
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Screen size (diagonal): 4.3 inches
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Operating system: Android
·
Launch OS version: 4.0
10. LG Optimus
4X HD: best for video
One of the earlier quad-core smartphones is
now available at a low, low price and brings something different from the rest
of the phones in the list thanks to an ‘alternative’ OS. Things like being able
to zoom in on 1080p footage, a well-crafted chassis and power spraying out of
every corner still make the Optimus 4X HD a winner. It’s been around for a
while though, and LG is currently refreshing its line-up with handsets like the
Optimus G, so you’d be best advised to get it on a shorter term contract, or
try and find a SIM-free deal, but if you’re an LG fan you won’t be disappointed
by the excellent video quality and blistering speeds.
LG
Optimus 4X HD: best for video
LG Optimus 4X HD specs
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4.7-inch display
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Quad-Core 1.4GHz CPU
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8MP camera with 1080p video
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Android 4.0 ICS
·
Manufacturer: LG
