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AUGUST 2013
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First look:
Snap decisions
Top tips to put some extra zz into your camera phone shots.
Cameras with phones and phones with cameras. Samsung has us confused.
Sony Xperia Ultra Z

Big phone or small tablet? With a 6.5-inch screen the Xperia Ultra Z is a real pocket buster.
Speed bumps
We treat our EE SIM card to a day out in London to see just how fast the service really is.
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S P E E D O M E TE R
More Windows Phone 8 hints, tips and tricks than you can shake a Nokia at.
How you can obtain all the worlds best books free of charge
An Android smartphone for less than 200
92 PHONES AND TABLETS Rated In oUR COMPREHENSIVE BUYERs GUIDE
August 2013
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August 2013
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CONTENTS AUGUST 2013
CONTENTS
38
August 2013 www.whatmobile.net
07 Accessories

More super and silly stuff to make your mobile feel protected, loved and connected.
36 Classic Reading
How to get all the worlds most famous classics absolutely free of charge.
38 Mobile Payments
Wave your phone and get stuff. Nice idea. But will the dream of replacing cash with your phone turn out to be a nightmare?
42 Focus on Photography
Megapixels and Zeiss lenses on your phone dont count for much if your composition is off. So a word in your ear
44 Instagram Masterclass
44
Top tips on using the worlds biggest online photo-sharing, and social networking service app.
48 4G Speed Test
EE is the rst network to offer blistering mobile data speeds. Our real-world test reveals the reality behind the hype.
52 Windows Phone 8 Guide

If youre struggling to use a Windows Phone 8 phone we have the know-how to take away the Windows pain (ho ho)
56 Games

The Deus Ex world comes to mobile devices.
25 20 15 10 5 0 Mb p s
30
35 40
48
52
DO WN L OAD S
45 50
55
S P EE D OM ETER
4 Questions? Head to our online forum at forum.whatmobile.net
CONTENTS AUGUST 2013
16
22
16 Nokia Lumia 925

A great design coupled with an excellent camera. Whats not to like?
22 Sony Xperia L
A solid low-end offering with some mid-tier specs.
26 Vodafone Smart 3

Less than 100 for a phone running Android Jelly Bean? The man from Vodafone says yes.
28 LG Optimus L3
A creaky processor and reduced screen quality takes the shine off LGs new budget Android offering.
30 06
30 First Look: Samsung

Samsung mixes it up with tablets that are computers and phones that are cameras. Or vice versa.
34 First Look: Sony

Sony wants the Smartwatch 2 to be your second screen
64 Buyers Guide
Want to know the intimate details of 100 gadgets and phones? Its all here.
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GADGETS, GIFTS AND ACCESSORIES
Gadgets and Accessories

The best of the months new smartphone and tablet gadgets, accessories and gifts
Jabra Freeway
80, amazon.com
The Freeway handsfree speaker allows drivers to make and end calls by speaking; it turns off automatically.
SteelSeries 9H
140, steelseries.com
A competitive gaming handset with durable design, Dolby Technology and an advanced USB soundboard.
www.whatmobile.net 7
GADgETS, GIFTS AND ACCESSORIES
Rest and Recharge

40, quirky.com
This gadget docking station has four USB docks and is curved to cradle your various gadgets.
S4 Glaze Tempered Shield

30, accessoryvillage.co.uk
The Glaze Tempered Shield is a slim S4 screen protector which uses shatterproof Japanese grade 8H glass.
Wahoo Fitness RFLKT

120, wahootness.com
This lets cyclists wirelessly transmit their cycling app and music data from the iPhone 5 or 4S to the device.
Doro PhoneEasy 612

Stylish and easy to use camera phone Take and share photos Direct dials and SMS button Extra loud and clear sound (HAC) Charging cradle included
Find your retailer www.doro.co.uk/easy
AQ Audio ColourCovers
8, aqaudio.com
These interchangeable covers for the SmartSpeaker A1 and A2 come in green, red, purple and orange.
e-Storm Bluetooth Wireless Speaker

50, bitmore.co.uk
The e-Storm speaker is water resistant and features an SD slot; two hours charge gets up to eight hours playback.
Mobile TV (DVB-T) receiver

81, anymode.co.uk
For the Samsung Galaxy Tab and Note 10.1, the receiver uses the integrated antenna to watch mobile TV via apps.
Ted Baker iPhone 5 cases

29.95, proporta.co.uk
Ted Baker and Proporta have teamed up for their Autumn/ Winter iPhone 5 cases for fashionable gadget protection.
Olloclip Quick-Flip case

50, olloclip.com
For iPhone 4 and up, this case turns your device into a mobile photography studio, enabling attachable lenses.
12
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REVIEWS IN THIS ISSUE
Nokia presents its newest Lumia, complete with improved camera capabilities, but is it as supercharged as Huaweis worlds fastest smartphone, the Ascend P2? Read on to nd out...
RE VIEWS
Sony Xperia L
Nokia Lumia 925
16
22 How we review
Performance
To show you where a phone or tablet succeeds or fails, we grade each device in ve key areas. First we fully test the speed and power of each device we review.
Usability
Next we nd out how well the device functions in daily use.
Design
Then we rate the style and quality of the overall design.
Features
What kind of unique features and add-ons does it have?
Final verdict
Whilst this is the best Windows Phone yet, its unlikely to be the best for very long Billed as a low-end device, but features some fairly impressive mid-tier specs
A rating out of ve, balancing cost versus performance
Vodafone Smart III
26 30
LG Optimus L5
28 34
Editors choice
Only the very best devices will win our What Mobile Editors Choice award.
Everything looked worse on the Smart III than on any other similarly-specced phones
Photos were crisp with good colour detail and reasonable clarity in low light
First Look: Samsung
First Look: Sony
eDitoRs cHoice
Weve seen Android running on Windows tablets before, but this is truly special
Youre probably itching to get your hands on these, but youll have to wait a little longer
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REVIEW NOKIA LUMIA 925
Nokia Lumia 925

Is this the perfect Windows Phone experience?
Price: 479 Reviewer: Jordan OBrien
EDITORS CHOICE
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At a glance
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Dimensions 129 x 70.6 x 8.5 mm Display 768 x 1280 pixels, 4.5 inches (332 ppi) OS Windows Phone 8 CPU Qualcomm MSM8960 Snapdragon Dual-core 1.5 GHz Krait GPU Adreno 225
Memory 1GB RAM Storage 16GB or 32GB (Vodafone only) Wireless Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, DLNA Camera 8 MP, 3264 x 2448 pixels, Carl Zeiss optics, optical image stabilization, autofocus Battery Li-Ion 2000 mAh
he Nokia Lumia 925 is by no means a revolutionary phone, bringing more evolution than revolution to the table, but this should not fool you because this is a phone which has built on the great work of its predecessors. With the Lumia 925 being an increment change from the 920, you shouldnt be at all surprised that the phones are quite similar, although we think Nokia has made enough changes to ensure the 925 remains in a category all on its own. Whilst the 920 was big and bulky, the 925 is a lot slimmer and lighter, thanks to the aluminium design which is a rst for the Lumia range. Despite all the chopping down, Nokia refused to take out any of the insides of the Lumia 920, with the same innards as its predecessor, plus a few notable upgrades.
Compared to the Lumia 920, its more usable in one hand and less noticeable in your pocket
When picking up the Lumia 925 you straight away notice the difference in both size and weight compared to its predecessor. We have to say that this is the rst Lumia we have seen that compares to the lightness and thinness of other phones on the market. Whilst its still thicker than a Samsung Galaxy S4, HTC One and even an Xperia Z, it wasnt all that noticeable. In fact, when compared to an Xperia Z, wed even argue that it felt less bulky, with the device weighing slightly less in our hands. When compared to the original Lumia 920, which came in at 10.7mm, its no contest, with this just being 8.5mm thick, which makes it a lot more usable in one hand, as well as a lot less noticeable whilst in your pocket. The screen isnt the largest weve seen, at just 4.5 inches, and it isnt HD, but this is a very different screen from the Lumia 920, with Nokia opting for an AMOLED panel rather than the IPS LCD we saw on the 920. We think that this is around the perfect size for a phone screen, not too big yet not too small. It would be nice to have an HD screen, but as it stands its still a vivid display just like the one we saw on the 920. It also has the same PureMotionHD+ technology, which Nokia claims reduces latency on animations something we noticed on the 925, as well as the 920, with the Windows Phone UI being very responsive to touch and incredibly fast. One issue we had with the screen is the fact that it simply didnt replicate colours in the same way as the IPS LCD, despite having excellent colour replication, although we have to say they denitely felt brighter as the AMOLED screen really helped the blacks blend into the bezel, meaning the colourful UI of Windows Phone looked a lot more vibrant.
TRUE COLOURS
Nokia has also included a setting where you can change your colour prole, just as you would your ringtone. This enables you to change both the temperature of the colours as well as the saturation, with many preinstalled options available to you, as well as the ability to tweak it manually. One issue I nd with most smartphones is the inability to read the screen in the sunlight, something that was very much present on other agships like the Samsung Galaxy S4. With the Lumia 925 I was surprised by how easy it is to see everything on the screen even in incredibly bright direct sunlight. If you loved the ability to use gloves in the Lumia 920, then that is back with the 925, and yes you can even use your keys, although it isnt advised. Under the screen are the same three soft button weve come to expect from all Windows Phones, although we did notice that when our phone had run out of charge, the Windows start button would ash after you plug it in. This ashing logo is something we want to see used a lot more, with it ashing for other events such as notications something that is common with Android phones.
The screen looks great, but could be higher res
The PureView branding is now proudly displayed
Wireless charging is no longer in-built
Keep on top of your storage usage
You can see the clock even when the phone is locked
FM Radio is back, first with the Lumia 925
People have reported that the Lumia 925 has a notication light, as many have noticed that there is a red light in the top right corner, but Nokia has claried that this is not a light and is simply the proximity sensor. The soft buttons have seen an improvement over the 920 though, with the lights being a lot brighter when illuminated - we did have some issues with this however, as the lights did not always show up, even when in a completely dark room. Turn the device around and youll notice a familiar material, something Nokia hasnt abandoned on the Lumia 925 despite encasing it in aluminium. We had the white 925 which looked a lot better, but also picked up dirt a lot more, a possible downside to choosing polycarbonate for the rear panel. Issues of dirt aside, the Lumia 925 looks very nice from behind, with everything seemingly well thought out, from the speaker grill to the slight bump on the camera. The camera is denitely an important feature of the 925, with Nokia claiming that it can capture more than your eyes can see, something youll hear a lot more about later. Also on the back youll notice three small dots just above the speaker grill. This is where one of the differences between the 920
We were incredibly impressed by the clarity of the sound, although it could have been louder
and 925 really stands out with the Lumia 925 losing its wireless charging capabilities as a standalone device. Now if you want to wirelessly charge your 925 youll have to buy a separate case which connects to these three dots something weve seen on similar agships such as the Samsung Galaxy S4. 3.5mm headphone jack. We do have to applaud Nokia for moving the micro-USB slot to the top, as it makes the device a lot more accessible whilst charging, although it was annoyingly positioned being slightly left of centre. There is no microSD card slot on the Lumia 925, with the only remaining features on the side of the device being the buttons for the volume, power and camera functions something which is also present on every Windows Phone device. As Nokia has chosen to keep both the left side and bottom of the device free, Lumia 920 users may nd the 925 a bit of a culture shock, as Nokia has even chosen to put the speakers on the back of the device. This didnt affect sound too much, although we had to be careful not to cover the grill. As far as sound quality goes, we were incredibly impressed by the clarity of the sound, although we felt that it could have been slightly louder especially given the 920s booming speakers. It doesnt have a quad-core processor, nor does it have eye tracking, but the Lumia 925
BUMPY RIDE
As far as design goes, it isnt challenged aesthetically by those three dots, but one place it is challenged is the inclusion of two bumps on the speaker grill which were noticeable at rst, but as we got used to the device, we didnt even acknowledge their existence. That said, unlike other agship devices, the Lumia 925 is nowhere near as at on its rear, with curves, bumps and indents galore. As for the edges of device, they are all nice and smooth, making it feel a lot nicer to hold, although we thought that Nokia felt a little too passionately about putting all the ports in one place, with them all being on the top rather than spread out. The ports you do get are standard slots for both micro-SIM and Micro-USB as well as a
More than our eyes can see?

Nokia really went all out with the Lumia 925 camera, promising an even better experience than the already sublime Lumia 920. The company even went as far as putting the PureView name in a prominent position just below the camera something they chose not to do with the Lumia 920, despite it having PureView technology. Whilst there is a promise of an even better camera, it hasnt changed all that much, with the same 8.7-megapixel camera and LED ash something we would have liked to have seen change, especially given the US-exclusive Lumia 928 includes a much better Xenon ash. We did get one new thing with the 925 though, with the addition of a sixth lens. Initially we didnt see any improvements on the Lumia 920s camera, which is either testament to how good the 920s camera is, or Nokia hitting a brick wall. For now well say its the former. The Lumia 925s camera is supposedly focused on bringing you a great low-light experience, which we have to admit, it delivered. In our testing, we found that face detail was incredibly easy to pick out even in the darkest of rooms. Whilst there was quite a lot of grain in these conditions were willing to forgive it, as its heads and shoulders above the competition. Like the Lumia 920, the 925 features Optical Image Stabilisation, which aims to ensure that any movements you do make are compensated for. This works best in video, although we found taking photos on a powerboat in the middle of the Thames very easy as well. With all the improvements of the 925s camera, we have to admit it was rather hit and miss, with some photos a lot darker than we would expect, something we experienced a lot more on Nokias own Smart
Images look simply stunning on the Lumia 925s camera, especially in daylight
Cam software more than the default Windows Phone camera. The Smart Cam app was a big boost to the Lumia 925, with it being capable of taking up to 10 pictures at a time in quick succession, up from the former limit of ve on the Lumia 920s Smart Shoot app. There are also a lot of other cool things you can do with the Smart Cam app, with users being able to create action shots, choose the best out of the 10, focus on motion, change faces and even remove moving objects, which means no more photobombing. These are features that felt a little gimmicky, with us not actually utilising them very often, although we did nd ourselves enjoying some of the effects, so its always nice to have them on-hand. The Lumia 925 is the rst Lumia to get the Smart Cam app, with others set to get it in the next few months, through the Amber Update. You can set the Smart Cam app as the default camera app for the 925, although this isnt recommended as there are a few issues with the app, including the fact that it downsizes 8.7-megapixel shots into more workable 5-megapixels. We found that on some occasions we The Lumia 925 features an additional were presented with these dark lines lens when compared to its predecessor. across the screen when trying to shoot, which really disappointed us, as it made taking a photo impossible without it looking truly terrible. You also cant switch to video very quickly, which is a bummer, so its recommended to remain in the normal camera mode. Speaking of video, we were most impressed by what the Lumia 925 managed to capture, with both sound and picture looking incredible, even in low-light conditions. If you want a phone to shoot in both 720p and 1080p with crisp clear images, as well as impeccable sound, then the Lumia 925 is denitely the one to go for.
is by no means an unimpressive device when it comes to its ability to perform. In fact, it performs incredibly well, even in benchmark tests with the 925 even coping with some intensive 3D games, such as N.O.V.A. Battery life was also not that terrible; although it didnt manage to last a full day, it was a notable step up from the Lumia 920. With a 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 processor, the Windows Phone UI didnt struggle at all, switching between apps incredibly quickly with no latency whatsoever which was also helped by the 1GB of RAM on-board. It wasnt all coming up roses for the Lumia 925 HOWEVER, with our review unit suffering crashing to the lockscreen on occasions. Whilst this wasnt the biggest issue in the world as all apps we were running were still
going, it often became frustrating and on very rare occasions the phone even restarted itself.
Windows PHonE AncHor

Performance isnt really a problem on the 925, nor is design, in fact wed say its one of the better phones weve seen in these aspects. It is however let down by the lack of apps on Microsofts Windows Phone operating system. Those of you who need access to rst-party apps from Vine, Instagram or Dropbox will have to look elsewhere as Windows Phone can only offer third party alternatives. Windows Phone is by no means a bad operating system, in fact its a completely powerful and intuitive OS. But when you have games which launch months after their Android and iOS counterparts, then youre into
dangerous territory with many people having already moved onto new games. Despite a lot of third party support across the Windows Phone ecosystem, with apps such as Instance and 6secs, theyre not always as fully featured as their rst party counterparts, with apps like Instance missing features such as Instagrams new video service. Its great to see the latest Amber update bring back some features we know and love from Windows Phone 7, such as an FM Radio, but it doesnt go far enough, still behind both iOS and Android, lacking features like a Notication Center or even true multitasking. Recent leaks have suggested that Windows Phone will get these features at some point, which is a positive sign, but when well get them remains up in the air.
Comparing the Lumia range

bUdgET mid-rangE powEr UsEr
Screen Size: 4.0 inches Resolution: 480 x 800 pixels NFC: No Processor: Qualcomm MSM8227 dual-core 1GHz RAM: 512MB Storage: 8 GB expandable up to 64GB Camera: 5 megapixels Video Resolution: 720p Wireless Charging: No Weight: 124g Dimensions: 119.9 x 64 x 9.9 mm
Nokia LUmia 520
Screen Size: 4.3 inches Resolution: 480 x 800 NFC: Yes Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 1GHz dual-core RAM: 512MB Storage: 8 GB expandable to 64GB Camera: 6.7 megapixels Video Resolution: 720p Wireless charging: Optional Weight: 128g Dimensions: 127.9 x 67.5 x 9 mm
Nokia LUmia 720
Screen Size: 4.5 inches Resolution: 768x1280 NFC: Yes Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 1.5GHz dual-core RAM: 1GB Storage: 32 GB non-expandable Camera: 8.7 megapixels PureView Video Resolution: 1080p Wireless charging: Yes Weight: 185g Dimensions: 130.3 x 70.8 x 10.7 mm
Nokia LUmia 920
All your standard Windows 8 features are on-board
Gaming is simple on the 925 thanks to its incredible GPU
Windows Phone is all about the people you care about
Windows Phone is denitely on its way up, with many new apps launching on the system every week, and even some apps using this platform to launch. Telefonica, the owner of O2 UK, has also thrown its weight behind Windows Phone, promising to push the operating system even harder than ever a sign that even the networks are warming up to the OS. Nokia are also continuing to make their tweaks to the OS, including the ability to set Nokias own software as the default camera, as well as a new Glance Screen. Glance Screen works pretty well showing
you the time even when the screen is locked. It displays both your battery status and your ringtone prole. We would like for it to display notications at some point too. If you dont like the bright white lighting up your room when youre asleep, then no problem with a dedicated night mode which turns those white pixels into red ones instead.
THE bEsT Windows PHonE YET?

Its an incremental change but its all about renement and Nokia has done very well here. There are obvious improvements that could be made, something well most likely see with
Glance Screen works pretty well showing you the time even when the screen is locked
Nokias next agship which is rumoured to be unveiled at an event in New York on July 11th. Its not all down to Nokia though, with great hardware constantly being produced. Its nice to nally have something much lighter and thinner, but Nokia could have done more with that screen, although Windows Phone does not yet support high resolution displays. Whilst this is the best Windows Phone yet, its unlikely that its going to be the best for very long, with HTC rumoured to already be prepping its next hero device. Windows Phone is denitely preparing for take off, and right now the jet fuel that seems to be fuelling Microsoft is Nokias great hardware. All we need to see now is for Microsoft to add a few more features to bring it more in-line with other operating systems.
Incremental changes can sometimes make the world of difference, it doesnt always have to be a massive change to be something completely new, as seen here with the Lumia 925. A great design coupled with an excellent camera is what you get. It really is the best Windows Phone you can buy, and if you value solid hardware and a great design over software features, then its probably your phone of choice. + Less bulky than the Lumia 920 + Impeccable low-light shots + Incredibly responsive UI Only 16GB of storage which isnt expandable Windows Phone 8 OS isnt yet feature complete No built-in wireless charging
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fEaTUrEs
REVIEW SONY XPERIA L
Sony Xperia L
If you cant stretch to the flagship Xperia X, the Xperia L is a good halfway house
Price: 249 Reviewer: Alex Walls
he Xperia L is billed as a low-end device, but features some fairly impressive mid-tier specs. But youll pay for the improvement, with the phone costing 249 (SIM-free) The Xperia L is not going to win any design awards. Unlike its big brother the Z it doesnt look like a black monolith. This handset has
wedge ends which slope away to a noticeably arced back cove. It looks odd and is quite chunky at 9.7mm thick, made more so by the odd sandwich look where the plastic bezel changes to a metal bezel and back to a matte plastic cover. The power button sticks out like a small metal pimple. The camera lens is also a giant
crater on the back and I was rather nervous it would be damaged by stufng into my bag.
ON HOLD
The phone is 128.7 by 65mm and weighs 137g and so is comfortable to hold, although the corners will poke into your palm. In fact the Xperia L looks like a PlayStation
Spec sheet
Dimensions 128.7x 65 x 9.7mm, 137g Display 4.3 inch, TFT capacitive touchscreen, 480x854 pixels, 228 ppi OS Android 4.1 CPU Qualcomm MSM8230 Snapdragon dual core 1GHz GPU Adreno 305 Memory 1GB RAM Storage 8GB, microSD up to 32GB Wireless Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n Camera 8MP, autofocus, LED ash Battery Up to 9 hours (3G) - accurate
At a glance
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Screen quality is fair enough for the price
Power on with this small metallic pimple button
The chunky plastic back cover has curved edges
Theres direct access to the PlayStation store but games are limited
Low-light camera performance might not be great, but weve seen a lot worse
phone. The angled ends seem to lend themselves to holding the phone horizontally and playing games like a PlayStation Portable. However, there are issues with the supply of PlayStation games available see our box out. The 4.3-inch touchscreen has a resolution of 480 by 854 pixels with a pixel density of 228 ppi. This may seem to be a bit miserly but I didnt have an issue with the Xperia Ls screen. In fact, for a 250 phone the screen resolution is good, with crisp detail and bright colours, although the detail is not as dazzling as on the Xperia Z. But of course the L is half the price of the agship Z. Movies in particular look good on the Xperia L, with crisp detail and smooth transitions. The scratch-resistant glass did its job; a
week of rolling around in various bags resulted in not a scratch, dent or scuff.
SlowlY doEs IT
A Snapdragon dual core 1GHz processor with 1GB RAM isnt a huge amount of lift but is respectable for a 250 device. As a comparison the Nokia Lumia 620 runs with a Snapdragon Krait 1GHz chip with 512MB RAM. These are different chipsets, but the L is not embarassed by its engine. It mostly ran without lag. Flicking between apps, browsing the Internet and downloading
apps and updates didnt result in any freezing or noticeable pauses. There was occasionally some lag in response to screen touches. This was annoying when trying to get on with a task such as searching current locations on Google Maps. The phone also froze between load screens when running graphic-intensive games such as Temple Run 2, although I didnt have any other issues with playing games which usually eat up power. The Xperia L runs Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean). this isnt the latest version of Android, but itll get what you need done.
Some of the Sony-installed applications could be considered bloatware
Sonys app offerings: TrackID, Smart Connect and Throw

One of Sonys home-grown turning off GPS and data traffic app offerings (available for automatically when the device download on the Play Store) is plugged into a charger. worth taking a look at is The Xperia L has, like most of TrackID, which is Sonys the Xperia range, the Throw version of the better named feature, which plays media, Shazam it recognises tracks such as movies and music, on after about seven seconds of other DLNA devices. DLNA sound. While it has trouble is a set of interoperability with songs which start slowly, guidelines set up by Sony and and with some classical music devices need to be certified to tracks, TrackID works well use the Throw feature. Such and is fun to play with. Plus, devices include the Samsung if youre in the gym and hear S3 Mini, but not iPhones (as far a song you like, no need to as we could tell). This is a neat The Throw feature shares media with other DLNA compatible devices. dream wistfully of learning its sounding feature, even if there name just whip your phone are various alternative media out and point at the speaker. sharing options out there, but it had limited functionality. Theres also Sonys Smart Connect function which allows you to The Xperia L has the one-touch mirroring capability, which only set cues or timers for given actions or events, such as playing a works with NFC-enabled Bravia TV, again a limited usage. This particular song or playlist when you plug in your headphones or allows you to play pictures and movies through your TV.
PlayStation Certied
The Xperia L is PlayStation Certied, meaning you can run games from the PlayStation Store. So why arent we jumping for joy? Well, at start-up it declined to open applications downloaded from an unknown source. There arent many games on offer, plus whats there is pretty expensive; there are only a few free games (one of which includes the Lite version of Lemmings 3D). The lack of Sony-authorised games is also disappointing, particularly for a phone which seems to have been designed to play games. We remember when Sony was famous for leading the way in console games.
PlayStation Store on the Xperia L; the games have disappeared into a black hole and prices are astronomical
Sonys user interface is overlaid. This has Sony apps such as a music player (Walkman), with links to the PlayNow service for music purchases, a photo viewer (Album) and a video player (Movies). Theres also Music Unlimited, a music library and streaming service which offers free subscription for 30 days (4.99 per 30 days after this) and ofine playlist listening. By running Android, the Xperia L has access to Googles Play Store. Sony has its own version of various Google apps and sometimes both are offered (Google Music and Movies), so some onboard Sony apps are not necessary.
The camera does OK in low-light but it takes a while to start-up from sleep
Sony reckons it will last nine hours of 3G talk time, so it outlived this, and for a smartphone 12 hours of use is pretty good. The Xperia L comes with 8GB internal storage and microSD expansion options up to 32GB, which is pretty standard for low to midtier devices. colours washed out. On an overcast day, the Xperia L also showed a tendency to have hazy light and clearly discernible blocks of blurry sunshine. Generally the Xperia L takes crisp, clear photos with good detail and colours.
CONCLUSION
The Xperia L costs more than other budget phones such as the Nokia Lumia 620, which outperforms it for 19 less. However, as a Windows phone, the Lumia lacks access to the range of apps on the Play Store and Androids openess, if thats your thing. The benchmark at this price level is the Google Nexus 4, which is superfast but has limited storage or personality. All things considered the Xperia L is a decent smartphone. Should you get it or the Lumia? It really comes down to what you want out of your handset access to lots of apps and more storage versus a great camera, map features and a superfast processor.
ON CAmErA
The Xperia L has the same 8MP camera as its mid-tier brother, the SP and comes with autofocus and LED ash. For the price the camera quality is good Sony reckons the L can wake from sleep and take a picture in seconds. In fact I found it took considerably longer. The lag means the shutter needs to be pressed a split-second before the picture you wanted, because otherwise it was likely youd miss it. The camera does okay in low light but not wonderfully, with photos appearing grainy and
BATTERY AND MEMORY

The Xperia L did well in battery tests, with our light to medium usage including streaming movies, playing games, browsing the Internet, searching on maps, texting, calling and checking email. The phone lasted more than 12 hours, although not much longer; after the 13-hour mark it needed to be plugged in for re-charging. The L lost about half its battery power in about eight hours, with gaming dropping the battery by ve per cent after just 10 minutes.
A solid low-end offering with some mid-tier specs, the Xperia L is, however, slightly more expensive than other comparable offerings and features some odd design choices. Ultimately it becomes a matter of what you want out of your device
OVERALL HHHHH
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desIgN
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features
UsabIlItY
+ Snappy camera + Good looking screen + Good battery life
Weird design PlayStation Mobile lacking Some lag in screen response
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REVIEW VODAFONE SMART III
Vodafone Smart III

This Android handset is cheap as chips, but have too many cuts been made?
Price: 90 Reviewer: Jordan OBrien
A full-blown Andoid JellyBean phone for 90
martphones these days can be incredibly expensive, so its refreshing to nd one for 90, especially when it runs Android Jelly Bean (albeit not the latest version). Vodafone declined to tell us who makes the Smart III for them (wed guess its either Huawei or HTC). We didnt expect much from the handset, thinking that it was a budget phone and wouldnt be able to put up with everything we threw at it. We were wrong. Despite its price, this is an incredibly versatile device with some great features. For example, Kikin gives direct access to search results just by holding your nger over text in the browser. The only disappointment was the fact that it only worked in the built-in browser and not across all apps.
Spec sheet
Dimensions 123.2 x 64.4 x 10.9 mm Weight 136g Screen TFT capacitive touchscreen Processor 1 GHz Cortex-A9 RAM 512MB Storage 4GB, expandable up to 32GB Cameras 5 MP, autofocus, LED ash Video Yes Wireless Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC Ports USB 2.0, MicroSD, 3.5mm audio jack Battery life Li-Ion 1700 mAh, 9h (3G) accurate
COVER UP
The design is less than inspiring, resembling an old HTC phone of a few years ago. Were fairly adept at understanding new stuff. But we had to read the manual to gure out how to even remove the back cover. Its a complicated two-step system rather than a one click job.. Apparently the idea is to let you slide a piece of paper behind the translucent cover, to write down your details. We dont really see the point in having skins like this. In fact the translucent back made the phone look better with all the internals being visible. But some people may like the option.
The translucent back was complicated to remove as well as constantly sliding when using the device, which made the phone feel even cheaper than its 90 price. Rather than enlarging the 4-inch touchscreen Vodafone decided to have some capacitive buttons at the bottom of the phone. These are exactly the same as the buttons on the Nexus 4 or most other Android phones. They worked well, although there was often a little bit of latency between pressing the buttons and the screen responding, just one sign of this being a budget device. Neither is there easy access to your SIM or MicroSD card slots. You have to completely take the phone apart into its three separate pieces
The screen is a letdown, even at this low price
At a glance
Speed Camera BaTTerY
The back cover comes in two parts, with a translucent sleeve
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REVIEW VODAFONE SMART III
The screen on the Smart III is where the money has been saved. Its a let down
before being able to access these. Having a MicroSD card slot is a nice bonus, but its a feature that is expected on Android phones. As youd expect it takes a micro SIM. completing a level sometimes felt more like hard work than fun. Taking burst shots with the camera also felt a lot more laborious than it should have. There was some latency between shots, as well as it not accurately telling you how many shots were taken. But there was good performance in battery life, with the phone managing to last more than a day on one charge, probably because of the relatively low-spec processor.
PerFormaNce
Vodafone didnt build a powerhouse with the Smart III, but for 90, we shouldnt expect one. A 1GHz single-core processor and 512MB of RAM is present and correct, but this isnt a speedy device at all. It often became unresponsive and was prone to crashing mostly when starting up. Many of the animations were very sluggish and juddery. Even launching an app took an age to complete after a restart. Performance suffered in the Cut the Rope game bundled with the phone. It was so bad that
to blow your photos up too large. They did looked quite impressive when transferred to a computer monitor. The image quality is suitable for sharing with your friends on Facebook or Twitter. Most of the detail is captured in the foreground, with the background areas looking washed out in many photos. Videos are in 720p, which is ne for quick YouTube videos. Snapchat fans will miss a frontfacing camera although they may be able to utilise the back camera, albeit awkwardly.
ScreeN
The screen on the Smart III is where the money has been saved. Its a let down. Colours are dull with the brightness not going higher than a slight glow. It is also a reective screen and very difcult to read in direct sunlight. Although we werent expecting the highest resolution screen in the world, Vodafone could have done better. Everything looked worse on the Smart III than on any other similarly-priced phones which seem to manage a lot better. It wasnt just the poor display that rankled. The screen sometimes refused to register taps, which made typing a chore.
5MP CAMERA
Budget phones almost inevitably mean a poor camera. The Vodafone Smart III seems to buck that trend producing passable quality pix. This phone has a 5MP camera, so dont expect
BoTTom LiNe
For all the things that are wrong with the Vodafone Smart III, we must remember it is a 90 phone. Thats under 100 for a phone running Android Jelly Bean. At least the camera performed well, giving us better shots than a lot of other budget smartphones out there. If youre looking for your rst Android smartphone to test the waters of the new mobile information superhighway revolution buying the Smart III makes sense. Be warned youll probably become a little peeved by the sluggish performance, but youll at least get access to the 800,000 apps on Android. So you dont need to be left out of the latest app craze just because you dont want to spend 600 on a phone.
Passable foreground quality for the 5MP camera
The Vodafone Smart III isnt going to blow you away - its no competitor for the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S4 or the Lumia 925. That said, this is a 90 phone so youre not paying through the nose for these inferior capabilities.
OVERALL HHHHH
PeRfoRmance
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+ Inexpensive price + Android Jelly Bean OS + Good camera
Slow processor Dismal screen Annoying back cover
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featuRes
REVIEW LG OPTIMUS L5 II
LG Optimus L5 II
If you want a smartphone at a knock-down price the L5II may have your name on it
Price: 129.99 Reviewer: Alex Walls
Gs reboot of the Optimus L5, the L5 II, is reasonably-priced for a mid-tier offering but is let down by a slow processor. This is the second generation of LGs Optimus L5 smartphone series rst released last year. This second iteration of the L5 has upgraded some of the specs and has produced a better looking phone, with rounded corners and improved screen quality.
SliM AND LIGHT

The L5 II is 117.5 by 62.2 mm and only 9.2mm thick, weighing a very light 103.3g. This is more compact than the rst L5 which was 118.3 by 66.5mm, at 9.5mm thick and weighed 125g. It ts between the L3 II and the L7 II in the LG line-up.
In appearance the L5 II can be regarded as a discrete, sleek phone. The design sticks to the usual parameters of a black rectangle with curved corners and a metallic, brushed-steel looking cover; it toes the line between being daringly discrete and disappointingly dull. However, the phone does look sleek and is a comfortable device to hold, tting snugly into your hand. The plastic cover feels a bit imsy and creaked a little too easily when we were inserting SIM cards; removing this cover makes you fearful its about to crack, but the device survived a week in various bags without a scratch. A note about SIM cards: the L5 device doesnt take micro SIMs, so youll need an
adaptor if you want to use an existing one. The screen has been upgraded from the original LG offering, with a 480 x 800 pixel resolution compared with the rst L5s 320 x 480 resolution. This is a a substantial increase in pixel density, with 233 pixels per inch up from 144 ppi. It isnt the best screen youll nd, but it is fairly crisp and clear, with colours that pop and dene detail.
CHIPS ARE DOWN

The LG L5 II is powered by a 1GHz MTK 6575 processor with 512MB RAM. Thats not very much grunt and, wow, does it show. It crawls around the internet even on Wi-Fi and launching apps sometimes took so long I would give up and switch to another phone. Gaming was adequate but there was a small screen spasm when loading the likes of Temple Run 2. Scrolling through apps was lag-free. LG runs Android 4.1, so you have full access to the Play Store and its thousands of apps,
Youll need an adaptor if you have a micro SIM
At a glance
SpeeD Camera BatterY
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Screen is crisp and clear with colours that pop
Spec Weight 103.3 gsheet

The plastic cover feels rather cheap and flimsy
Dimensions 117.5 x 62.2 x 9.2 mm Screen IPS LCD capacitive 4 inch touchscreen Resolution of screen 480 x 800 pixels, 233 ppi Processor MTK 6575 1GHz RAM 512MB Storage 4GB, 32GB external Cameras 5 MP autofocus, LED ash Video VGA@30fps Wireless Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Bluetooth 3.0, NFC Ports USB 2.0, MicroSD, 3.5mm audio jack Battery life Li-Ion 1700 mAh, 9h (3G) accurate
REVIEW LG OPTIMUS L5 II
Optimus interface has some useful additions to Android

The L5II has some useful features built in to the Optimus interface LG overlays above Googles Android operating system. First impressions arent great. Icons for Safety Care and SmartWord are rather plain. But one of the useful features of the system lets you change the icons pictures. Holding down an app icon on the home screen generates a picture of a small paintbrush icon. This will allow you to select from a number of pictures, or take a photo from the camera or picture gallery, to create your own icon. Its a little gimmicky, but it can be fun to personalise your phone. You can insert apps into folders by holding them on top of each other, avoiding the need to scroll past several screens of icons to nd what youre looking for. LGs Cheese Shutter is a voice-activated camera option available when you open the camera application. Photos are taken in camera mode when the user says one of the preset words such as Cheese, Smile, LG and weirdly, Whisky. Quick Memo lets you take a memo on the screen. Press a small button on the side of the Phone and you can write on the screen using your nger. Text will appear on top of whatever screen you were on. An overlay mode lets you scroll while keeping the text overlaid on your screen, so you can ick through to your contacts page to add a number with the digits still on screen. Save the memo to your Gallery or email it to yourself. Other Safety Care Features include a Phone Non-Usage notice. This sends your phones location via text to a pre-programmed emergency contact when the phone hasnt been in use for some time or when the battery is low. This could be very useful for elderly users who may be unable to reach a phone for help. A Location Notice sends your location via text message to registered recipients, useful for parents checking up that children really are where they say they are. Emergency Call Forwarding, sends your location via text when making an emergency call. These apps all require a GPS signal, so you must leave your location settings on all the time. Also, LG says the Safety Care feature wouldnt be available on O2 but didnt elaborate as to why.
games, books, movies and music.
5MP CAMERA
The L5 II has a 5MP camera and it does a pretty good job. Photos were clear and crisp with good colour detail, and reasonable clarity in low light situations. It didnt cope well with extreme light differences, such as taking a photo of half shade and half sun light, however. LG claims nine hours on 3G in terms of battery life. In the real world, with light to medium use including streaming videos, making calls, texts, browsing the web and running a few apps, the phones charge exceeded this. After 5.5 hours the battery bars showed 66 per cent reserve. With lighter use, the L5 II lasted the full day only dropping to 36 per cent at the end of the day. The LG L5 II ships with 4GB of internal
storage. This is hardly generous but is fair enough considering youll only pay around 130 for the device. And there is an expansion slot for a microSD card to add another 32GB which should be enough for anyones needs.
CONCLUSION
The L5 II is a solid offering at its price point, which is well below other mid-tier devices. However there are cheaper phones out there with much the same specs. There are some interesting functionalities to its user interface, including some which seem genuinely useful, particularly for elderly or vulnerable users. But the processor creaks when trying to browse the internet and the screen quality and design may have you wishing you splashed out a little bit more on a higher-spec device.
Safety Care features for elderly or vulnerable users
A fairly solid mid-tier offering let down by a creaking processor, the L5 II has a pretty good price point and some interesting user interface features, as well as a decent camera. However there are cheaper devices out there and the phone doesnt do itself any favours when it comes to internal storage or interesting designs. + Good price for a mid-tier phone + Useful UI functionalities + Decent camera Slow processor Camera balks at extreme lighting situations Boring design
OVERALL HHHHH
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FIRST LOOK SAMSUNG
FIRST LOOK
Samsung ups the drool factor with new launch

Samsung launched new laptops, tablets and connected cameras last month. We were there to drool.
By: Jordan OBrien amsung rolled out the red carpet yet again at Londons Earls Court Exhibition Centre last month, unveiling a plethora of devices aimed at both Windows and Android users. Whilst the Galaxy & ATIV event was a little light on Samsungs favourite operating system, Android,
with just a couple of devices being announced, there was plenty of news to whet the appetite of Windows 8 fans. In Android Samsung seemed to be targeting the photographers amongst us, with two very cameracentric devices, one being a full DSLR running Jelly Bean, whilst the other being a crossover between
its S4 line of phones and its Galaxy Camera range. On the other side of the fence, Samsung unveiled six new devices running Windows 8. Ranging from ultrabooks to the worlds thinnest Windows 8 tablet and a hybrid which is capable of running Android apps, as well as featuring the worlds highest resolution screen.
FIRST LOOK SAMSUNG
Tab and PC in one

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amsung has released its latest hybrid Windows 8 PC which reminds me somewhat of the Acer Aspire R7, called the ATIV Q. The company is touting the ATIV Q as having the worlds highest resolution screen, with a 13.3-inch QHD+ 32001800 display, which means it has a pixel density 2.8 times higher than 1080p. If you thought that was the only thing that made the ATIV Q special, then prepare to be amazed as Samsung has managed to bring the Google Play Store to this Windows 8 tablet. Weve seen Android running on Windows tablets before, but this implementation by Samsung is something truly special. When we tested out the Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean environment on this device, we found that rather than running the OS completely separately, its simply running as a desktop application although this may not be the case when the device launches to the public. Whats even more impressive about this two OS approach is that Samsung has made it possible to pin any of the 800,000 applications you download from the Google Play Store directly to your start screen. Many people complain about how bare the Windows Store is looking and we nd Samsungs approach of xing this by utilising their favourite asset, Android, to be rather positive but also troubling. If Microsoft is having a hard time attracting developers now, then its going to have an even harder battle on its hands when all of Samsungs Windows 8 customers have no need for Windows 8 apps. On the hardware side of the ATIV Q, were seeing an incredibly thin and light device, coming in at just 13.9mm thick and weighing just 1.29kg.
endure having a tiny ball rather than a full trackpad even if the R7s trackpad is behind the keyboard.
SPOT THE BALL

Upon using the ATIV Qs track ball (mouse), we have to say its not the nicest experience in the world, but you do have a touchscreen so it shouldnt be too much of a problem. Under the hood we have an Intel Haswell Core i5 processor with 4GB of DDR3L RAM and a 128GB SSD. On the side of the ATIV Q youll nd a plethora of ports, but sadly only one USB 3.0, which is coupled with a second USB port, but of the 2.0 variety. There is also HDMI-out, a MicroSD slot, an S-pen and even a port for your ethernet cable and who said wires are dead? For a device with those kind of heavy specs, as well as having an incredibly high-res screen, you would assume that the battery life would be poor right? According to Samsung the ATIV Q can run for a full nine hours although well let you know if thats the case when we get some quality time with the device when it launches later this year. Pricing is yet to be announced.
STAND AND DELIVER

Samsung also took the opportunity to remind us about the Acer Aspire R7 which, like the ATIV Q, can be used in a multitude of ways, with Samsung boasting four modes of use. Those modes are tablet (which is when the screen is rolled all the way back covering the keyboard), oating (which is like tablet mode but hovering in the air), typing (which is utilising the device as if it were a laptop) and stand (which is the same as typing, but with the screen ipped outwards). Unlike the Aspire R7 though, youll have to
Clalimed to have the higest resolution screen
Google Play works on this Windows machine
Three-way display mode
NIne hours between battery charges
FIRST LOOK SAMSUNG
ATIV Tab 3
amsung has announced a Windows 8 version of the Galaxy Tab 3, complete with the same plasticky design as the original. The ATIV Tab 3 shares a lot of similarities with its Android brother, including having the exact same design language, but it also has a lot of differences. Samsung has gone and given it an upgraded Intel Atom processor, 64GB of hard drive storage, S-Pen support and even a free copy of Microsoft Ofce Home and Student. Whats odd about the inclusion of Ofce is that we have previously heard that Microsoft were only offering free copies to sub 10-inch tablets, and at 10.1 inches, the ATIV Tab 3 denitely does not qualify. If you like the beautiful screen on the ATIV Q, then you wont nd the same on the ATIV Tab 3, as this screen has a much lower resolution of 1366768, but well forgive it as it is the thinnest Windows 8 tablet at just 8.2mm thick. Being that thin you dont expect it to weigh that much, and it doesnt, coming in at just 550g.
As its running Windows 8 pro and not RT, the ATIV Tab 3 can run all the apps you throw at it although well test just which apps it doesnt like when we review it later this year. The internals are what you would expect from a Windows 8 tablet, with 2GB RAM and an Intel ATOM Z2760.
Unlike other Windows 8 tablets though, you will only nd a micro USB port, but you do get the inclusion of a MicroSD card slot and MicroHDMI-out. Samsung hasnt announced specic availability or pricing, but we should expect those later this year when it goes on sale.
The thinnest Windows 8 tablet The Galaxy Tab 3 goes all Windows
Galaxy S4 Zoom
S
amsung knows how much we all love to take photos with our smartphones, but it also knows how much we hate the quality of those images. So whats the solution? Could it be that Nokias approach of going big with the rumoured 41-megapixel Lumia EOS is the wrong one, and what people really want is to have a 10x optical zoom on their smartphone? Well, Samsung certainly seems to think so, with the announcement of the Galaxy S4 Zoom, which is one part Galaxy S4 mini and one part Galaxy Camera. Now we had a chance to play with the Galaxy S4 Zoom, and weve got to say its a beast. Its denitely a long way from the slim and sleek body of the Galaxy S4 and S4 Mini. Although if you value photo quality above all else, then the S4 Zoom will deliver. We didnt have long with the device, but we got to see some sample shots, including one of the Tokyo Tower, which had vibrant colours and no noise, despite being far away from the actual tower itself. Compared to an average smartphone camera, it was head and shoulders in front. Despite being a chubby device, its not as powerful as one would hope, utilising the S4 Minis internals rather than the agship, although this could be down to ensuring a more reasonable price rather than simply not being able to t the more powerful internals inside. Given the S4 Zoom is a fully-edged phone and not a camera, you have all the usual stuff onboard, including both 3G and 4G LTE. One place where we were let down was the amount of storage that came with the device, with just 5GB usable of the 8GB of internal storage, although thats expandable to 64GB through the use of a microSD card slot and you get 50GB of free Dropbox storage. The camera on the back of the S4 Zoom features a 24mm wide angle lens, a sensor 1.8x larger than typical smartphone cameras (so not the size of a DSLR camera, but still much larger), optical image stabilisation and Xenon ash. A cool feature about the S4 Zoom is the spinnable lens, which when spun can do a variety of things, such as launch the camera directly from the lockscreen, zoom, or even launch into one of the many preset modes which ensure you get the very best shot.
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FIRST LOOK SAMSUNG
Galaxy NK DSLR camera
The first 4G-connected DSLR camera
Capable of 1080p video and taking 3D inages
BIG light sensor (more important than pixel count)
ot content with the Galaxy S4 zoom, Samsung has decided to bring its Android operating system prowess to its professional DSLRs; oh, and 4G LTE has come along for the ride too. The Galaxy NX is the worlds rst LTE enabled DSLR camera, which means you can share your photos with the world via Instagram or Twitter, or whatever service tickles your fancy, without the need for cables or Wi-Fi connections. If you dont live in a 4G-enabled area, no problem as Samsung has managed to pack in 3G as well although both of these will be utilised just for data, so you dont have the ability to make or receive phone calls (that is until the next version is released we assume). We dont all care about having Android onboard, and youre probably wondering how good is this camera? Well according to Samsung, it should be just as good as the existing NX range.
All the features you expect are present including Optical Image Stabilisation, Advanced Hybrid Auto Focus, a 1/6000 sec shutter speed and 8.6fps of video shooting. Just like on the Galaxy S4 zoom, you can expect the same smart modes, camera studio, photo suggest and even story album access. Whilst megapixels dont necessarily matter, the Galaxy NX features a 20.3 megapixel APS-C
CMOS sensor, which is powered by a 1.6GHz Quad-Core Processor. The camera is capable of 1080p video, as well as 3D images using Samsungs True 3D Creator. Users of traditional DSLRs will nd it odd that Samsung has decided to put a microSD card slot rather than the traditional SDs, although the microSD will enable you to expand 16GB of internal storage to 64GB. After receiving a beating from users of the Galaxy S4, Samsung has decided to add a little disclaimer regarding the storage, with actual storage numbers being a lot less due to having Android installed. When we played with the device, we found ourselves initially confused about how to get to the homescreen, as there is no home button although we were quickly shown that all you need to do to go from camera to Android is swipe the 4.8-inch touchscreen. The Galaxy NX will be hitting stores this summer, with specic pricing to be announced.
FIRST LOOK SONY
Sony Xperia Z Ultra

We test the waters with the worlds thinnest Full HD smartphone
By: Jordan OBrien
f the Xperia Z is slightly too small for you, then Sony has the solution with the announcement of the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean touting Xperia Z Ultra, which will bring a 6.4-inch full HD touchscreen right to your ngertips. It will be the rst smartphone to feature what Sony calls the fastest processor available, a 2.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800. Whilst the Xperia Z Ultra is supposedly a beefed up version of its baby brother, users who value the 13MP camera on the Xperia Z will sadly nd the Ultra a step down, with an 8MP snapper on the rear and 2MP front-facing. The real star of the Xperia Z Ultra show is the gorgeous 6.4-inch full HD screen, which features some cool tech that Sony has borrowed
from its Bravia line of TVs. These features include a Triluminos display, which aims to recreate richer, more vivid colours that other screens cant reach, and an X-Reality Mobile engine which will allow the phone to optimise the image by recreating pixels that may otherwise have been lost in low resolution content. Like the Xperia Z, you will still get that same robustness we all loved, with it being the only waterproof full HD smartphone on the market. With the 3.5mm headphone jack being waterproof in itself, allowing you to completely submerse the product despite it not having a wetsuit cover.
FIRST LOOK
Whilst many people will nd the 6.4-inch size huge, Sony claims its the size of a standard passport and can easily be used with just one hand. The design of the Xperia Z Ultra is incredibly thin, at just 6.5mm, with Sony claiming that it has now reached the point where it cant go any thinner without redesigning the ports. As standard with most smartphones these days, the Ultra will come with LTE onboard, as well as being able to write or sketch using a stylus much like Samsungs Galaxy Note range. Availability is currently pegged to Q3 2013, with exact dates varying from market to market.
Submerge the Xperia Z Ultra in up to 1.5m of water
Sony claims it has the fastest processor around
At just 6.5mm, its the thinnest full HD phone
Bravia technology helps make this screen stunning
FIRST LOOK SONY
Sony Smartwatch 2
S
ony has reafrmed its commitment to ingenuity and Android with the unveiling of its latest smartwatch, the Smartwatch 2. If you run another mobile OS, then you may nd yourself out of luck with Sonys latest product. Thats because the company has said that it was built with Android in mind and its vying to become your second screen for your Android-based phone. In stark contrast to the huge 6.4-inch Xperia Z Ultra, the Smartwatch 2 only features a 1.6inch touchscreen, with a resolution of 220176. Thats not to say it doesnt have other tricks up its sleeve, with NFC and Bluetooth on-board. Sony has claimed incredible battery life, but given this is a watch, it may seem absurd that you may have to get used to recharging the thing on your wrist every three to four days. Stefan K Persson, Head of Companion Products at Sony Mobile Communications, believes that smartwatches are the way to go, quoting analysts which claim there will be 41 million smart watches sold by 2016. As this will only work with Android, Sony has managed to bring apps to the small screen which can interact with the ones Sony has built for your smartphone. The company says that these apps will be available to all Android users, meaning you dont need to own a Sony phone to read tweets, emails, your Facebook news feed and your calendar all on your arm. You also have the ability to take a photo remotely, which means you can get the perfect sele even when using the rear-facing cam so no more arm extensions in photos. If you dont want to kill the battery on your phone, then you dont have to have it tethered all the time with the device acting as a standard digital watch when not connected. Sony has also taken the opportunity to allow you to personalise your smartwatch, with interchangeable wrist bands. You dont have to buy any special ones, just anything with a 24mm strap. Youre probably itching to get your hands on one of these, but as with everything, youll have to wait a little while longer, with the device set to go on sale worldwide in September this year. Pricing is yet to be announced; the original cost 79.99, so expect around that mark.
Read tweets, emails and more all from your wrist Looks like Android? Its not, but it only works with Android
Not on Android? Use it as your ordinary watch
Smartwatch 2 can tell the time in a variety of ways
The Smartwatch can be customised with any 24mm strap
41 million Smartwatches could be sold by 2016
FEATURE THE JOYS OF FREE E-READING
Enjoy a classic holiday - free

Take some of the worlds greatest books on your next holiday. And it wont cost you a penny.
veryone is aware of the benets of e-readers and ebooks: they mean you no longer need to lug fat paperbacks on holiday. Of course, you do have to worry about having yet another expensive electronic device someone else may want to help themselves to on the beach. But ebooks have revolutionised the print and publishing industry. Now you can have a book delivered straight to your eyeballs within seconds from your corporation of choice and sometimes courtesy of ebook sharing communities. Ebooks saw enormous growth in the past few years, slowing to only 41 per cent last year, according to the Association of American Publishers.
But one of the big benets ereaders have brought to book lovers is to offer a whole heap of classics absolutely free of charge. While you may miss rummaging through second-hand book stores for hidden gems, it means you have a classic a few seconds after you think about reading it. Kindle users will already know know about hundreds of classics that are now out of copyright and free for the downloading, but Apple iBooks and Androids Playstore also has its share of literary bounty; even the worlds best selling non-ction title is available free of charge, a little something called The Bible. So here are our pick of the top ten free (classic) e-reads available to blow (or enrich) your mind, with available devices beside:
So many titles! So little time! Classics are generally free due to copyright expiration.
FEATURE THE JOYS OF FREE E-READING
1) Pride and Prejudice (Play Books, iBooks) That this romance classic is available for free on most of your given devices is pretty impressive. Still enjoyable years later as evidenced by the multitudinous remakes, parodies and (shudder) fan ctions, Jane Austens novel is one of social satire and wonderfully ridiculous characters. The book renders fairly well on Android and, for some reason, very well on iBooks. If youre an eInk fan, Kindles the way to go. 2) Treasure Island (iBooks, Play Books, Kindle) The rollicking classic from Robert Louis Stevenson, this reportedly originated the pirate habits of a black spot to signify a pirates impending removal from leadership (and life). At any rate, the book apparently inspired many other pirate stand bys as well such as X Marks the Spot, maps and parrot-beridden pirates, and its certainly the rst place Ive read the Yo Ho Ho refrain. A tale of adventure, coming of age, pirates and treasure, the book is still a thoroughly enjoyable read. 3) Alice in Wonderland (Play Books, iBooks, Kindle) The original tribute to opium, or just Lewis Carrolls quirkiness, Alice in Wonderland is an intriguing, mind-bending and very clever trip down some very strange rabbit holes. Ostensibly a childrens book, the novel is interesting from a literary point of view: various symbolism has been read into the novel including the recurring metaphors for time and death, as well as just what the Caterpillar might be smoking. 4) Dracula (Play Books, iBooks, Kindle) The book that spawned all those wonderful and terrible (and wonderfully terrible) take offs, Bram Stokers Dracula is an interesting read from a literary point of view; just what was Stoker implying with his blood sucking Count and the corruption of the Victorian women? 5) Anne of Green Gables (iBooks) Okay, so Annes an intensely irritating main character, being all dreamy and gushy and Oh, it looks as though a fairy in a sequinned dress landed on that ower and danced the polka under the moons silvery light while eating candy oss!. But the book is nevertheless a pleasant and well written read; the characters are engaging, Annes enthusiasm and optimism are generally more impressive than oppressive and she does learn a few short sharp and satisfying life lessons as well, so its not all fairy dust and singing elves.
6) Heart of Darkness (Play Books, iBooks, Kindle) If youve seen the movie Apocalypse Now youll know what to expect. A short novel (100 pages) by Joseph Conrad, it leads the reader on a mythical dark journey up the forbidding river in a search for a corrupt trader called Kurtz into a world of insanity and horror. 7) Wuthering Heights (Play Books, iBooks, Kindle) Emily Brontes tragic tale of the the destructive effect that jealousy and vengefulness have on jealous or vengeful individuals and their communities is a powerful story. It may even inspire a pop song. Over here Heathcliffe. 8) The Great Gatsby (iBooks) With its second movie remake still on release there cant be many of us unfamiliar with F.Scott Fitzgeralds tale of 1922 New York in the prohibition era and the mysterious, party-giving millionaire Jay Gatsby and his hapless cousin, Daisy. 9) The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (iBooks, Kindle) Youve seen the TV series. Now delve into the 12 stories by Arthur Conan Doyle of the famous detective and his faithful companion Watson, although alas it does not feature the curious incident of the dog which didnt bark in the night.... 10) The Count of Monet Cristo (Play Books, iBooks) The best revenge book ever. The phrase dont get mad - get even underpins Alexandre Dumass story of false imprisonment sabotage, betrayal, unrequieted love and retribution. Throwing yourself off the ramparts while in a weighted sack will never be the same again.
Six of the best: free titles that should be in every e-readers collection
FEATURE MOBILE PAYMENTS
Cashing in with your mobile phone

Want to buy stuff with a wave of your mobile? Alex Walls shows you how - but youll still need cards
magine a life without cash. No more shing in your purse or wallet for notes and coins. In fact, no more wallet or purse at all: just a mobile phone. This is the fast-approaching promised land of mobile payments. Mobile payments is an all-encompassing phrase that covers a lot of ground. It covers routine personal banking tasks, online shopping, buying stuff by touching your phone against a terminal and using mobiles to process credit card payments and transactions. Its all a bit bafing, so give your wallet a rest as we walk you through some of the more popular methods on offer for consumers.
CLOUD
Some mobile payment solutions are based in the cloud. Your details are stored on a server and you log in to shop online. PayPal even lets you sign into your account and pay for pizza at a restaurant.
APPS
Mobile banking apps let you pay people online and manage basic bank account functions (eg. check balance, set up new payment, transfer money from one account to the other). Barclays Pingit is an app that lets you send money by text to anyone with a mobile phone number. You dont even have to know their bank details. They receive a text telling them to register and claim the funds you have sent.
NEAR FIELD COMMUnIcATIOn (NFC)

Near Field Communication or NFC was the information transferral method of the future two years ago; right up until Apple failed to put an NFC chip in its iPhone 5. The technology involves transferring information via a radio link almost instantaneously when brought close to another NFC-enabled device (usually through tapping the devices together). This information can include mobile payments. If youve ever used contactless payments by tapping your credit card against a terminal to pay for something, mobile payments are the same.
Plenty of apps let you pay for items using a tablet or phone
MOBILE WALLETS / BARcODES

Mobile wallets let you store gift and loyalty card information on your phone, as well as debit and credit card details. Gift cards displaying barcodes can be scanned on your mobile device, debit cards can be used for shopping online. The Starbucks app lets you load up your cards barcode, Apple has Passbook, and then theres O2 Wallet and Google Wallet (which at the time of writing was not available in the UK).
The problem is
Using your phone to make an online bank payment or to buy something off Amazon or eBay are fairly common mobile payment options. But using your phone to pass through a turnstile or pay for a coffee are still fairly alien concepts to most people. Many of the mobile payment services we looked into either had a narrow purview or were due to launch in the United Kingdom soon; the hold up is due to various reasons (see whatmobile.net for more). In terms of physical, in-store, tap-to-pay options, there just doesnt seem that much out there, but weve listed some common options for you to try. be sent a collection code, which you need to use to pick up tickets at a station, as well as inserting a bank card in your name; so, this is a less convenient option. Your card details are reportedly stored on a secure server with the app and the wallet requires a PIN to use and a password to make purchases. Three attempts at the PIN or password results in the wallet being locked.
QUIcKTAP
Billed ostensibly as a tap to pay service, QuickTap has a very limited audience. An offering from BarclayCard and Orange using NFC, only specific devices could be used which at time of writing, Oranges website said was just one the Samsung Galaxy S3. In addition, these phones needed to be purchased directly from Orange for the service to work, it said, which would mean you also received a contactless SIM. The mobile payment solution doesnt appear to have taken off, given the Barclays press officer What Mobile spoke with didnt know what QuickTap was and given this offering was launched in 2011, but Orange has only made it available to S3 customers. When What Mobile asked whether there were plans to upgrade, Orange would only say there was exciting news in the near future. The service uses any UK issued MasterCard or Visa debit or credit card and works much the same way as the O2 wallet; youll need to register your SIM with Orange, set up an account with Barclays, download the QuickTap Wallet, enter a card and choose a PIN. You can then use your device to pay for anything 20 and under at shops with contactless payment terminals, including Pret a Manger, EAT, MacDonalds and Subway. Security-wise, Orange said it would automatically notify Barclaycard to block the mobile payment account if the device was lost; however to do this, you need to ring Orange (presumably from a phone borrowed from your friend, since yours is missing) and there are two different phone numbers listed for pay monthly and pay as you go customers confusing. You can also choose to have to enter a PIN before making a payment. To be honest, this option is available to such a narrow audience it defeats the purpose of mobile payments altogether.
TOUcHPAY & PAYTAG

With registrations closed for the trial with 1,000 mobile banking customers for four months, TouchPay is restricted to NatWest iPhone 4 and 4S users and allows mobile contactless payments via an NFCenabled cover. The service would allow payments for purchases 20 or under at retailers including McDonalds, Pret and Subway. PayTag is another NFC-enabling option, using a sticker stuck on your phone. You can then make contactless payments for purchases under 20 at retailers including MacDonalds, Pret and Subway. However its restricted to BarclayCard users who have select Visa cards.
INSTANT COFFEE
The Starbucks Card on mobile is alive and kicking here in the United Kingdom. Working like a loyalty card stored on your phone, youll need to purchase a Starbucks Card and download the Starbucks app onto your Apple, Android or Windows Phone device. Once this is complete, you can sign up for an account online, entering in details such as your date of birth and post code, and then sign in on your app to link your card with the app. Once youve done that, you should be set just make your order at the counter and use the barcode on your app to pay for your coffee.
O2 WALLET
A free app thats able to be downloaded onto your Apple, Android or BlackBerry device, O2 Wallet requires an account, which means youll need a PC or tablet to enter in your mobile phone number (you receive a code to enter for the next step), address, password and then, create and enter a PIN and password on the app itself. Then, enter in a further code texted to your mobile to link the app with the account. You THEN need to enter in a Visa or Mastercard onto the app before youre good to go. The wallet lets you shop online with more than 100 retailers including John Lewis, Amazon and Tesco Direct. It also links with O2 Trains, an app which allows you to search and purchase trains using the wallet, as well as receive mTickets with barcodes where available for your purchased journeys. This means at the station you just need to scan the barcode at the gate or show it to the operator to scan. Otherwise, youll
A PIZZA THE ACTION

PayPal has partnered with Pizza Express to offer customers the option of paying for their meal with the Pizza Express app. The app links to your PayPal account select Pay Your Bill, enter the number given to you at the bottom of your bill, and then log into your PayPal account. Once confirming payment (and whether you want to add a tip), you just need to check with the waiting staff that theyve received the confirmation from PayPal and youre good to go, while a confirmation is also sent to your registered email address.
Live trial
We tested some of the mobile payment solutions available in the UK to see how convenient, simple and quick they are and whether the staff rate them as well.
STARBUcKS
At our local Starbucks at Old St we asked for help from the barista at the counter. She obviously had seen the service used many times as she knew exactly what to do and told us to buy a card. She topped it up and told us to create an account. We used the free Wi-Fi (bonus) to log on to the Starbucks site and create an account (this requires your date of birth and address). Then the new account was linked with the mobile app already downloaded, by opening the app and clicking on Card. It took only a few moments after signing in for the balance to load, complete with a pictogram of the card displayed on the screen of our mobile. We ordered coffee and tapped the Touch to Pay sign on the Card option. The barista scanned the barcode on the mobile. A few seconds later and the coffee had been paid for, a receipt printed and the balance updated on screen. You can top up your card via the app by registering a credit card, locate stores and collect rewards; Starbucks have tied in the rewards/mobile payments incentive already. We then went to another Starbucks across town, using a phone without Internet connection. The app worked perfectly and the staff knew exactly what to do. Initial set up is a bit of a rigmarole, but once youve set it up it is easier to use your phone to pay.
PASS
Coffee in an instant with the Starbucks app and card
Top that: except that it was quicker to pay with a card
O2 WALLET
PASS
PIzzA EXPRESS
The Pizza Express/PayPal option got off to a rocky start when confused staff said we couldnt pay with the Pizza Express app. When we said mobile confusion cleared and we were assured this was ne. To use the Pizza Express app select the Pay Your Bill option, enter in the number at the bottom of your receipt, log into your PayPal account and conrm the payment (adding a tip if you wish). PayPal will send a conrmation to Pizza Express. Thats it. This worked like a charm and looks nifty, but it was slower than paying with a card due to all the logging in.
Browsing various products via the app, comparing prices, then selecting a purchase (to be paid for from your electronic wallet or debit card) worked fine but the O2 train service didnt. Searching for train tickets was easy, but the app failed to work twice when we tried to purchase the tickets, despite being in an area with 3G coverage and using the correct sign in details (you have to enter your security code and your memorable word). We had hoped to get an m-ticket and try out scanning it at the barrier, but the error code meant we had to buy the tickets at the station the old-fashioned way.
FAIL
If wed been relying on O2 Wallet to pay our train fare we would have a long walk home
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FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHY TECHNOLOGY
Smartphone photography: technology explained
As mobile imaging continues to improve, we sought advice from various photography experts on how to achieve the best results from your phones camera
What the sensor really saw

In todays smartphone agship releases, it often seems like theres a more megapixels the better attitude. But do megapixels really matter when it comes to your smartphones camera? Nokia Lumia UK and Ireland product manager James Guion said it wasnt about how many megapixels you had but what you do with them. Quality of pictures and thus your smartphone camera depended not only upon megapixel ability but also on the optics software, the lenses in use and the sensor size, which may or may not be linked to how many megapixels you have and which affects how much light the device can absorb, he said. Megapixels were just one part of a good quality smartphone camera. Its a bit like having a car you could have a really powerful engine but if you dont have a good chassis, the right tyres, youre not going to get the optimal performance out of it. Prospective buyers should look beyond the megapixels to what lenses the camera used, whether it had advanced features like optical image stabilization and how well these features worked; beyond that, it was important to look at what sorts of things you can do with the camera, Guion said. It was important to be able to capture the moment and share the photos online, which most people wanted to do. Optics company Carl Zeiss, which works with Nokia on its Lumia range, says on its website that the quality of the camera lens and the sensor are what count when taking digital photos, not just the number of pixels (for a denition of lens and sensor, check out our glossary). Image quality did not depend only on the number of pixels the sensor had but also the quality of each pixel displayed, the size of which changed according to the physical size and properties of the display device. A high resolution sensor with a low quality lens can only capture low quality pictures in high resolution.
Nokia 808 PureView Apple iPhone 5 Samsung Galaxy S4
NikonD90 DSLR
HTC One X
Nokia Lumia 920
Image sensor sizes: this is why a proper Digital Single Lens Reex camera (DSLR) will always outperforms a camera phone.
FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHY TECHNOLOGY
A glossary of photography terms

We researched and spoke to photographer and author of The Weather Observers Handbook Stephen Burt and photographer Dali Kaur to get a run down of what these common photography terms actually mean. DSLR Digital Single Lens Reex cameras are usually the professional-looking ones; they tend to be bigger and heavier than smartphones but generally images are of a higher quality and are displayed as they appear on the viewnder so no chopped off heads or lost arms in your pictures. You can also change the lens on a DSLR camera for different types of scenes. Lens The piece of glass or plastic through which light passes into your camera and which bends the light in a specic way to make the object youre viewing appear on photographic lm or on your digital camera. A lens is important to camera quality and its the quality of the glass which matters, Burt said. Some low-end smartphones used plastic which was of a lesser quality. Sensor A smartphones sensor is the device in your phone which changes the image into an electronic signal; basically, the sensor is your digital cameras version of lm. The sensor uses pixels to trap light and measure the different colours and their intensity to determine how bright they should be, and a picture is formed by interpolating all the information. Pixel The word pixel stands for Picture Element, and is the smallest unit of information in a digital image generally represented by a square; a digital image is made up of millions of pixels, organised into rows and columns, which is why resolution is described in terms of X by Z pixels. Megapixel A megapixel is one million pixels simple, really. This is the common number used to describe smartphone cameras by manufacturers. White balance Taking photos in different light can make them look different; more red inside, more blue on a cloudy day. Human eyes automatically correct for this. The camera automatically adjusts this balance of light as our eyes would, to make photos appear as our eyes view the scene. Aperture (f stop) This is how wide the lens can open or close to let in more or less light; apertures are described by the term f-number the larger aperture openings will have lower f-numbers (so f/2.0 is a lesser opening or lets less light in than f/1.4). A smaller aperture gives focus over a wider range of distance, whereas a larger aperture is good for portrait shots. Carl Zeiss lens Nokia tends to mention these lenses quite a bit, so whats so special about them? Guion said the German optics company Carl Zeiss worked in near-microscopic detail on how to best manage light entering a camera, to capture the clearest, sharpest imagery and detail.
Some simple tips for taking smartphone photos

Professional photographer Stephen Burt gave us some simple steps to taking better photos with your smartphone. 1) Make sure your hand isnt covering the camera Its difcult to take a good photo of a palm smothering your lens and weve all taken photos where an errant thumb is in view; best to double check your camera is clear of digits and limbs. 2) Clean your lens with a lens cloth, not tissue paper Tissues contain wood bre and thus can scratch the lens of your camera; instead, use a proper lens cloth to clean delicate coated glass. 3) Hold tight When taking your photo, brace yourself to hold the camera steady for several seconds; the biggest single reason for poor smartphone
Pisa, the Leaning Tower with scattered cumulus and stratocumulus - taken with a HTC Desire C by professional photographer and author of The Weather Observers Handbook, Stephen Burt
images was due to wobbly users, Burt said. 4) Adjust focus for long range photos Generally auto-focus on smartphones was great for short-range photos but not that great for long range photos; on more advanced smartphones you can adjust the focus for a better photo. 5) Two is better than one With no more worries about using up lm, take two photos; rstly take a quick snap of something you nd interesting to capture the moment; then take a more considered approach for your next photo. 6) Check composition When youre lining up your shot, consider the objects in frame if you move your phone slightly to the left, will that remove a pesky aerial which is making the shot look less picturesque?
FEATURE INSTAGRAM
Why the world's gone Instagram crazy
Facebook paid a billion dollars for Instagram. Here's what it is and how to use it.
ouve heard the murmur on the technology breeze and most likely seen various groups of hipsters holding their phones over plates of food or interesting street art; Instagram. So just what is this app-ealing offering in the photography app market and should you be fussed about getting it?
FILTER TIPS
Instagram is an app available for free on Android and Apples iOS (but to the annoyance of many, not on Windows Phone 8 or BlackBerry World) which
allows you to apply lters to photos and share them with your friends via social media networks. By lters we mean effects which are applied to your photos, such as turning them black and white, fading them to look olde time, giving them borders so they look like polaroids, and much more. Launching the app from your homescreen or apps list, you select the camera button as you would for the in-built camera function, line up your shot and once youve snapped your memorable moment, the fun begins. You have various editing options, as well as the lters you can apply,
FEATURE INSTAGRAM
The Rockefeller Centre, before and after Instagram filters.
including brightening the photo, rotating it, removing the frame and different areas of fading. Once youve jazzed the photo up to your hearts content, you then give it a title, choose whether to pin it to a map (using your phones GPS; others can see this also) and whether to share it on various social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. When youve nished the photos are published and anyone using Instagram or on the companys website can see them. Theyre also saved to your phones camera roll, so you can access your album to email the photos or move them to a different device. You can view a list of your photos on your prole page, which also displays the number of followers you have and how many people you are following; you can follow Facebook friends by signing in with your Facebook log-ins and selecting who you want.
PRIVACY AND ALL THAT JAZZ

You can choose to have a Private mode on Instagram when you sign up, which means only people you approve as followers can see your pictures. Instagram faced a small uproar recently however, after Facebook purchased the company in 2012 for $US1 billion. Instagram then changed its Terms of Service in December to allow photos uploaded by users to be used in advertising without reference to the owner, with payments going to Instagram. Specically, the clauses stated to help us deliver interesting paid or sponsored content or promotions, you agree that a business or other entity may pay us to display your username, likeness, photos (along with any associated metadata), and/or actions you take, in connection with paid or sponsored content or promotions, without any compensation to you. The only opt-out clause was to not use the service and delete your photos. Mass protest from users resulted in Instagram reverting to its original Terms of Service, but media reported soon after that daily active users of the service had dropped. Analysis of this data was contended by other media outlets and Instagram released their monthly active user numbers in January, which it said clocked it at 90 million, up 10% from December, with 40 million photos shared per day, 8,500 likes per second and 1,000 comments per second.
WHY BOTHER?
Instagram says it was created to solve three problems: mobile photos looking mediocre, the difculty of sharing on multiple platforms and the length of time taken to upload photos. While its lters and sharing options are pretty commonplace these days, with most smartphones coming with pre-loaded editing options which do the same, its worth remembering Instagram was launched in 2010, before the advent of specced-out mobile phone cameras and agships. The service is a popular one, the second most popular photo app on the iTunes store at time of writing, and this year it clocked up more than 30 million accounts, or users - it also added video capabilities. The app has been likened to Twitter with photos; people update their lives via photo instead of status updates. One friend uses Instagram to document her daily routine with one photo a day posted for her to look back on and remember. Other than that, if youre into a simple photography app which will let you mess around with how your photo looks and apply interesting effects, Instagram is the app for you.
BAD PRESS
Instagram has received a lot of bad press for being clogged with pictures of hipsters in various ironic and culture defying poses. Hipsters, when dened unsarcastically, are generally youths who follow fashions and trends so cutting-edge no one has ever heard of them, or set the trends themselves by combining hats made of teapots with Wellington boots and a sequinned boa you get my drift. Worth noting is a comment on one tech website which simply said: Totally not annoying: constantly complaining about hipsters. However, Instagram certainly isnt just about hipsters; theres a whole slew of things on offer.
FEATURE INSTAGRAM
The wide world of Instagram

A popular use of Instagram is to document the lives of adorable pets, such as Maru (@marutaro), featured as our main picture, a ve year old Shibu Inu from Japan whose followers say makes them smile and who sucked up entire afternoons at What Mobile perusing photos to nd the best one. Theres also the incredibly cute two year old Manny the Frenchie (@manny_the_frenchie), who has even featured on t-shirts and a combination of both hipster and adorable, in the form of Hamilton the Hipster Cat (@hamilton_the_hipster_cat). Instagram also has a dedicated following of food lovers who post pics of their meals. Dunkin Donuts has an account (@dunkindonuts), although if youre on a diet, Id recommend not following them.
Alternative apps for managing and enhancing photos

Instance
Although there are only 12 lters included, this Windows Phone alternative gives users a chance to Instagram their lives. On the upside, new lters are added to the back-end of the app frequently. The app is also a good looking offering, with a refreshingly clean and functional layout. Loading photos is a breeze; the only problems are the occasional app crash and no discernible way to tag friends.
Flickr
The now Yahoo!owned Flickr app is a neat offering; it has a nice layout with a photo-lled newsfeed, a whole range of lter options and various ways to keep your photo private or public. Theres also the option to join groups, tag your photos location and browse the photos of others, separated into two categories interesting and nearby. Flickr is free and available on all the major operating systems.
Snapseed
A neat little app which allows you to apply lters but also to edit your photos, such as adjust brightness, contrast, even the frames around your photo, by swiping your ngers on screen. Even cropping is done by using both your thumb and forenger and you can switch between effects by swiping up or down. While there arent too many lters on offer, this is a very simple and good looking Instagram alternative.
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FEATURE 4G SPEED TEsT
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EE has spent millions on its super-fast 4G network, but is it worth the cost of upgrading? Our real-world London road test shows big variations in the speeds achieved
ts now been more than eight months since mobile network EE promised to bring faster download and upload speeds to our mobile devices through the use of next-generation technology which had already taken other countries by storm, 4G LTE. Whilst countries like the US boast millions of 4G adopters, we Brits seem a little more anxious when it comes to jumping into the world of faster internet speeds on our mobiles with the latest gures showing just 500,000 of us are utilising EEs 4G network. 25 3 0 35 With so few people using it, we sat down 20 15 40 DO WN LO ADS and wondered why. Could it be that the 45 10 network isnt up to the blazing fast speeds 5 50 0M bps 55 that EE promises? Or are we just being sceptics? To test this theory, we decided to go on a trip around London testing all corners to nd out once and for all: are there any benets from using 4G? We started the day off in the East of London, bang in the heart of the Canary
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Wharf business district. Upon leaving the tube station we immediately red up a speedtest app and gave it a whirl. As soon as we pressed the test button, the dial immediately shot to the end of the scale, which was something we expected as the scale only went up to a rather conservative 20Mbps. After hitting the end of the dial it eventually began to settle down just below the 20Mbps mark, and we ended up hitting a rather modest 14.9Mbps speed. To put that into perspective, the average xed broadband speed for that area is just 22Mbps so this wasnt a bad start for EE at all. We left Canary Wharf satised and headed just across the river to North Greenwich. We expected extremely similar results, after all it was a stones throw away. Unfortunately our Galaxy S4 couldnt quite get a 4G signal. We knew that 4G was by no means perfect, and expected this to happen at several points during the course of the day. A lack of a 4G signal didnt stop us from testing the speed
FEATURE 4G SPEED TEST
though, as its always nice to have something to compare it to. We managed to get an EDGE network and red up our speed testing once again, this time the result was a little disappointing. We were right outside the O2 arena and yet could only manage a creaking 3Mbps not good enough. Whilst EE 4G coverage in London is pretty complete, there are quite a few patches where youll nd yourself without 4G in fact if you live in the South of London you could nd yourself in one of those patches. With prices starting at 21 per month for just the SIM, you might want to delay switching to EE 4G until youre absolutely sure that you can get coverage. EE will soon have 4G Pay As You Go tariffs, so youll be able to test your coverage before committing to a contract. If you really want 4G but dont want to move from your existing network, or even house, do not fret: O2, Vodafone and Three have assured us that their 4G networks will be launching later this year, with O2 promising 98 per cent of population coverage by 2015. Several analysts believe that the hold up can be blamed on the fact that the iPhone 5 will be incompatible with everyone elses 4G network, with only EEs network being iPhone 5 compatible, so if youre really anti-Apple, thats just one more reason to protest. Of course you do not have to own an iPhone to use 4G. In fact there are many 4G-ready smartphones on the market with HTC, Huawei, Nokia, Samsung, Sony and even Blackberry offering one or more 4G-compatible smartphones in their ranges. EE says that its current 4G network pushes out on average of 8-12Mbps download speed, with the network capable of up to 40Mbps. The next three places we tested showed that 8-12Mbps was the bare minimum of what this network is capable of, with London Victoria Station, Clapham Junction and East Croydon all offering speeds of between 23Mbps and a blistering 44Mbps
How fast is fast?

An average HD feature lm is 1.4GB. To download it over 8Mb xed broadband would take 23 minutes. An average 4G connection of 13Mb would download the HD movie in around 14 minutes. 25Mbps = ~7 mins
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line broadband would get you. In some areas 4G was a massive boost, with huge download and upload speeds in places like East Croydon. Yet we also found that in other areas 4G had little to offer over existing 3G. We continued onwards, as so far we had only done around the South of London and we wanted to accomplish something in all the corners. Our journey took us into Richmond, a nice enough area which seemed to struggle to get a 4G signal. At the station we couldnt even get a 3G signal, with just 0.16Mbps download speed reported on our speed test, so we couldnt even get Twitter to load and didnt even bother trying to tune into the lunchtime news. Just as we were leaving Richmond on the District Line, 4G sprung into life. It did however turn out to be the slowest 4G result so far that day, with it managing to reach just over 12.5Mbps. It wasnt so bad just outside of Richmond, with our train pulling into Kew Gardens with full 4G in tow. In fact, the 4G was blazingly fast and we were nally able to stream the lunchtime news, as well as upload some photos to Twitter and Facebook, although the upload speed was still a little on the slow side. There was no such upload problem at Heathrow, with a full 19Mbps at our disposal, which meant taking all those photos of the beautiful architecture at Terminal 5 wont go completely to waste, as youll be able to barrage your social networking proles in lightning quick time. We were also impressed by
East Croydon
the download speed, being the second highest overall throughout the whole day, which means you can waste the time away watching countless TV shows and movies after your ight is inevitably delayed. After spending a few minutes wishing we were ying away to an exotic destination, we nally peeled ourselves away from Heathrow and headed back into London with Ealing Broadway the rst stop on our post-Heathrow list. Ealing Broadway had the second worst download speed of the day, although the upload speed was nothing to complain about, something we did nd ourselves complaining about at Wembley Stadium when the upload speed test refused to complete, despite not having moved an inch from where we initiated the test. 25 3 0 At this point, the data was conclusive: EEs 35 20 15 40 4G network is full of inconsistencies. Whilst DO WN LO ADS 45 10 the company claims that 4G is on average 5 50 ve times faster than 3G, we couldnt nd 0M bps 55 many places it was. With our 3G results coming out at between 3Mbps and 8Mbps, many places were only just managing EEs average, with seven of our 4G results reaching over 20Mbps and only three reaching over 30Mbps. So whats the benet of upgrading to 4G? Well if youre lucky enough to live in an area like East Croydon, then the fact that youll be reaching speeds well over double that of xed broadband seems like a good enough reason. Although if youre not that keen on spending the extra money for the extra oomph, then you might want to wait until other networks show their cards.
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The 4G Lottery
Getting a good 4G signal is a lottery, there are no guarantees wherever you are. You would expect central London to get the fastest 4G speeds, but that isnt always the case. Youre actually more likely to get a solid speed just outside central. 4G is a great thing to have, but in some areas it certainly isnt of great value and much of the speed increases are marginal at best. With London offering so many Wi-Fi hotspots, youre probably better off nipping into Starbucks or hanging out underground hooked up to Virgin Medias tube hotspots until the other operators get in on the 4G game and the price comes down. Three has promised its customers that they will not have to pay any more to access its higher Ultra 3G service as they are currently paying to access 3G. As time goes on, we think well be seeing most networks take up a similar stance, especially considering it is one surere way of catching up with EE, despite the company claiming that it is out of reach for other networks. 4G is set to be the next big thing. Even if the speed isnt all there across London, it does offer signicant benets in terms of capacity. Networks are currently over capacity, which means your download speeds are directly affected as millions of other people try and cram onto the same data connection. With 4G, space on the network means we shouldnt see a signicant slow down even with a signicant uptake in the amount of people adopting this next generation in mobile technology.
GUIDE WINDOWS PHONE 8
Windows Phone 8: a night on the tiles

After Apples iOS, Android and BlackBerry 10 comes Microsoft with the Windows Phone 8 oeprating system. Heres everything you need to know to decide if Windows Phone 8 is for you.
By Jordan OBrien
icrosoft famously dropped support for Windows Phone 7 when it announced its next-gen operating system, Windows Phone 8. But was triggering the reset button really worth it? What really changed? Apparently the operating system a phone runs on is important these days and whether it be Android, iOS, BB10 or even Windows Phone, people care about the OS under the hood. Its not just because of the features of the OS either, its also about the apps that support it and the level of customisation it has. Whilst Android and iOS currently dominate the market, with the former gobbling up over half of the smartphone market, Windows Phone 8 is trying hard to be a solid third choice. In many markets, its working. Take the UK for example, where Microsofts Windows Phones have managed to capture 8.4% of the market, knocking Blackberry into fourth place with just 5.6%. That may sound impressive, but its still got a long way to go until app
developers start to take the OS seriously and thats one of the issues consumers seem to have with Windows Phone 8. Other than that, Windows Phone is a robust operating system with both brains and beauty. Whilst it lacks certain features, it also includes others no other operating system boasts.
It would be easy to believe that only Nokia produce handsets running Windows Phone 8, but other major manufacturers are taking up the OS, such as Samsung with the ATIV S.
The Hub of the matter

Like the original message with Windows Phone 7, the new operating systems ethos remains unchanged people shouldnt have to go constantly in and out of apps, it should be glance and go. Windows Phone 8 features several hubs which aim to bring all your content into a glanceable view and make it much more manageable. Theres a hub for People, Messaging, Photos, Xbox Music and Video, Games, the Windows Phone Store and Microsoft Ofce. Hubs work as a central location for everything you could need from a specic function. For instance, in messaging you obviously get your standard SMS option, but you can also continue that conversation using a different method, such as Facebook for example. This works really well as rather than having your chats fragmented between apps, its all in one central location, although the Facebook element isnt always as reliable as one would hope. This works exactly the same way in every hub, with the Photos hub not only showing you the photos you have taken, but also downloaded photos, photos you have stored on Facebook and Skydrive, plus a dedicated photo feed which shows you the latest photos across your various social networks. In the People hub you once again have your social networks front and centre, but this time its not just a feed dedicated to photos, you can have a feed showing all updates from Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, or even go and specify exactly what updates you want to see. Clicking on a contact in the People hub will give you several options, such as calling their phone, messaging them via SMS or Facebook, posting to their Facebook wall, mentioning them on Twitter, mapping their home address and even nding out their birthday meaning Windows Phone users have no excuse for forgetting. Swiping across will give you the ability to see their latest social networking status updates, their photos (both local and online) and even the conversation history. App developers can actually display their apps in certain hubs, such as Photos, Xbox Music + Videos and Games, which means you dont have to scour your start screen or your list of apps if you just want to nd that one particular music app, or even that photo editor. Hubs is a feature that makes Windows Phone feel a lot more seamless and is something that really puts it above the rest of the competition. Wed like to see it go a lot further, allowing 3rd party app developers to integrate directly within the app, rather than having to launch their app from a hub.
A little bit limiting for customisation

If youre used to the level of customisation on Android and you want something like that again, I advise you not to switch to Windows Phone. Whilst there is some level of customisation, with you being able to change the colour and size of your live tiles, your lockscreen picture and even the notications which display on the lockscreen, other than that youre pretty much locked down. Theres no third party keyboards, launchers or even background pictures. If you want to go drastic with your customisation and make it look like no other phone, one solution to this is to set your phone to High Contrast mode, which can be found in the accessibility options. Whilst this admittedly makes some of the apps look terrible, you do have quite a cool looking lockscreen that you can guarantee will be different from most other Windows Phone users
CHILDS PLAY
Microsoft is billing Windows Phone 8 as the ultimate phone for people with children, with a dedicated feature all for the little ones. Kids Corner was designed so you can trust your child to play with your phone without having to worry about them posting a status to Facebook accidentally or even deleting all your important emails. With Kids Corner you get a completely separate environment, like you would on a Windows computer when creating a new user. In this environment you can start adding apps from your phone and pinning them to the start screen, you get the same
level of customisation here, with apps being capable of the three sizes you would expect live tiles to be. Microsoft has also said that whilst it was designed with children in mind, the Kids Corner feature can easily be renamed by any user so you can create a dedicated Games area, or music, which you can access directly from the lock screen by swiping left. Be warned though, if you like your music loud, then I wouldnt go setting up everything in Kids Corner just for music, as weve come across a volume limit of just 13, way under the 30 available in the original environment.
MILES OF TILES
What would a guide on Windows Phone be without talking about arguably the most important feature of the entire OS: live tiles. If youre not familiar with live tiles then think of them as icons which show you glanceable information, so more of that glance and go type stuff. For instance, if you go and get a notication on Twitter, then that notication will show up on your live tile giving you immediate information without having to go into the app. Its not only notications either, you can also do the same with things like the Weather app, which will show the latest forecast directly on the home screen, bypassing the need to actually delve into the app. A cool thing about live tiles is that when some of your Hubs are pinned to your start screen then it will cycle through all kinds of things. Such as Photos showing you randomised pictures from your collection, or people which will cycle through photos of your friends. Live Tiles makes the OS feel a lot more alive, and you can choose how big you want them. You can have them double wide, small or just the ordinary size. If you choose for double wide, youll nd that many apps will show you even more information; such as the Messaging hub which gives you the ability to read the message directly from your start screen.
NO NOTIFICATION CENTRE
Unlike most other major mobile operating systems, Windows Phone 8 lacks a Notication Centre, much to the pain of its users. Microsoft has said that Windows Phone doesnt need a notication centre as it has live tiles, although many people have argued back that itd be nice to have both, as not all notications are displayed on a live tile. There is a glimmer of hope that Windows Phone will be receiving this functionality in the next major update, although we thought wed highlight something that you can get now. In true Windows Phone style, third-party app developer Liquid Daffodil, has taken it upon itself to build a dedicated app for showing all your notications. That app is called Unication. Whilst this is obviously just a stop gap at the moment, with not all apps supporting it, nor having a direct way to get to it from anywhere, it is a positive step towards Windows Phone nally having a hub dedicated to notications. Unication does have one thing going for it though, as not only can you view notications from your Windows Phone, but you can also view any notications that come through Windows 8 as well. This kind of cross platform notication should really be what Microsoft is aiming for in order to push both Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 into the market further.
But what about my choice of apps?

Lets not sugar coat this, Windows Phone 8 has an app problem. At last count, Microsoft only had 145,000 apps available in the Windows Phone store, thats much less than the 800,000 on Android and the 900,000 on iOS. Its not even just the number of apps that counts, with Windows Phone missing out on so many of the top apps on Android and iOS. Whilst Microsoft claims it has access to 98 of the top 100 apps from Android and iOS, I would really like to know which apps it classies as top apps. Windows Phone is currently missing Snapchat, Vine, Instagram and many others. Its even missing some of the many apps Facebook, the company Microsoft holds a large stake in, has developed. This problem isnt going away, but third party app developers are trying to plug the hole, with apps such as Swapchat, 6sec and Instance all becoming suitable replacements for ofcial apps.
MULTITASKING CARD TRICK
If the multitasking in Windows Phone 8 looks familiar, then thats because it is. The cards view rst appeared on WebOS, but unfortunately Microsoft only borrowed the view, whereas Apple in the recent announcement of iOS7, will be using all the functionality that WebOS multitasking brought. That means you will be able to bring up your multitasking menu and then simply swipe away an app when youre done with it. To open the multitasking menu you currently have to hold the back button, which is fair enough, but unlike other operating systems, theres no way to actually close these apps directly from this menu. Instead, Windows Phone 8 forces you to click onto an app and then proceed
to press the back button as many times as its needed to close the app, which is rather counter intuitive. Another difference between other operating systems and Windows Phone 8 is the fact that apps arent even running in the background at all times. The multitasking menu simply acts as a list of apps that you have recently launched, and you are likely going to have to wait for that app to relaunch, much like in iOS. Its disappointing that Windows Phone would choose a path which excludes true multitasking, as it means when we switch between apps, theres no guarantee that the app you just switched from will still be running. This makes sense if you want to ensure better battery life and more conservative processor use, but it would be nice to give the users the choice.
CONTROLLING YOUR DATA USAGE
Gone are the days of unlimited data, so a lot of us are forced to tighten our belts and track the amount of data were using on our phones. For an operating system like Windows Phone, that isnt the easiest thing; after all, its constantly updating those live tiles, surely that has to use up a whole load of data? Well Microsoft has come up with a handy way to help out, and its called Data Sense. Whilst originally Data Sense support had to be switched on by your network, Microsoft has since reversed this decision and enabled it for all Windows Phone users. What Data Sense does is quite genius, giving you a simple to read pie chart of all the data youve used over the last 30 days. It doesnt stop there though, giving you the ability to check on an app-by-app basis, and even limit your mobile data usage, meaning theres no chance of you going over your allowance.
NoKia GETS UPDATES FIRST
Nokia continues to be the poster child for Windows Phone and amongst all those rumours that Microsoft is planning on buying the Finnish phone giant, it continues to add features to Windows Phone that arent available to other rival manufacturers. In the deal that Microsoft and Nokia inked back in 2011, the companies agreed that Nokia would be able to modify the software to its hearts
content. It seems that were nally seeing the fruits of the deal, with Nokia adding in many features in an upcoming software update exclusive to Lumia smartphones. These features include Glance Screen, which keeps the time on the screen even if the device is locked, and FM Radio, which was available in Windows Phone 7 but for some reason removed when Microsoft released Windows Phone 8. Nokia has also made it possible to change the default camera to its own Smart Camera software. If youre on another Windows Phone, then you may get your FM Radio back in Microsofts upcoming GDR2 update, which is set to launch this month, although we have yet to hear exactly what will come from this update.
REVIEWS APPS AND GAMES
August App Reviews

What Mobiles selection of the biggest app releases this month
Reviewer: Alex Walls and Jordan OBrien - for full reviews, check out WhatMobile.net
Meerkat Me
Free on Apple IOS toxicmag.co.uk An app for ve year olds or those with an equivalent mental age, Meerkat Me involves splicing a photo of your face, onto one of three meerkats baby, large or obnoxious? Said monstrosity then dances around to techno while variously insulting you or propping up stereotypes in the case of the fat meerkat, occasionally farting or doing the splits. I can see kids thinking its hilarious but for adults it's pretty lame.
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Gmail
Free or 0.79 on Windows Phone As unofcal apps go, Gmails foray into Windows Phone is by far the worst weve ever seen. This really deserves no stars, with the interface being incredibly clunky and feeling more like a mobile site than a port of the iOS app something that was evident when we had no internet That said, we realise a lot of people value their Gmail features, so I guess it deserves brownie points there.
BBC Weather
Free on Apple iOS and Android bbc.co.uk A very simply set out weather app which gives you everything you need to know, weather-wise. There are big pictures, highs and lows, plus the forecast for the next four days. There are even added extras such as pollen counts, wind speeds and hourly forecasts in a well-set out functionality. You can search for towns and cities around the world, although smaller cities won't make an appearance, and your choices are grouped into a list.
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Classic Winnie-the-Pooh
One story free on Apple iOS, then 1.99 facebook.com/winniethepoohuk Classic Winnie-the-Pooh is an app which allows you to enjoy one free classic Pooh story, with the original illustrations of E.H.Shepard made interactive. Said illustrations are beautiful and the interactions clever; as the story unfolds, you can tickle Pooh or tap Christopher Robin to prompt actions from either. You can choose whether to have the story read out to you or read the story yourself, and the rst tale available is that of Pooh deciding to raid a hive for honey by oating up to it on a balloon. You can then buy further Pooh stories for 1.99, which is pretty expensive, but there is a child lock in place.
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Instance
Free or 1.29 on Windows Phone Instagram is yet to launch on Windows Phone 8, but that doesnt matter as third-party app developers have taken it upon themselves to launch alternatives. Instance is the effort from app developer Daniel Gary, who also developed the incredibly popular Pinsation app for Windows Phone. Everything you expect from Instagram is there, with a news feed, lters and a way to view all the popular images from across Instagram. We thought the experience Instance gave was even better than the ofcial apps on iOS and Android platforms, although we were let down by the constant crashing. There are fewer lters in Instance, but this wasnt an issue, with one for every occasion.
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Britains Best Walks Free on Apple iOS

livefortheoutdoors.com Britains Best Walks is not the prettiest of apps; its layout can be a bit confusing since theres no explanation of what to do. You can search for walks near you or purchase walks in a given area. There are no free walks, which is disappointing, and searching in the Lake District didnt turn up anything, surely a tourist hub for walks. However there are details of each walk including public transport, toilets and descriptions so you can probably work it out.
Everest
Free on Apple iOS everest.com Sort of like a life-goal aggregator (or bucket list organiser), Everest is a beautifully laid out app where you can choose to add dreams to achieve (shared publicly or privately as you wish) and the steps to get there. You can also accept challenges such as bike to work, build a website or nd a mentor, or explore the dreams of others. You can set reminders for your steps to achievement which quickly become annoying. Other than that, Everest is a fun way to prioritise your life.
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Rockmelt for Windows 8

Free on Windows 8 and RT rockmelt.com We've all heard of Flipboard and Pulse, but I bet not everyone has heard of Rockmelt, which used to be a browser that included all your social networking bells and whistles front and centre, but was recently rebranded into a content discovery service. With this relaunch, Rockmelt announced at Microsoft's BUILD conference that it is bringing a dedicated app to Windows 8, which works pretty well, serving up all sorts of content directly on the homescreen, from news to videos, to your social networking feeds. If you love discovering new content that you may have missed, then Rockmelt is an incredible companion, with a simple to use, beautiful UI and thousands of different content sources. There literally is somthing for everyone.
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Phasers set to stun

Lets re up some of this months biggest game releases and see what pushes our buttons
Reviewer: Alex Walls - for full reviews, check out WhatMobile.net
FIRST LOOK
Deus Ex: The Fall

4.99 on Apple iOS Square Enix/EIDOS Square Enix and EIDOS have brought the Deus Ex world to mobile devices. Protagonist Ben Saxon has been betrayed by his private military employers The Tyrants and is in hiding. However, as a human with special abilities ('augmented'), he needs drugs to survive and must investigate a conspiracy surrounding their supply while on the run. The game graphics are impressive; characters are a little chunky but environments are beautifully designed. Gameplay is extremely smooth and there were no sticky controls when we played through on a tablet; movement is by tapping or thumb-rolling and players can interact with characters, target enemies all the options from the PC world. Redesigns for mobile include unlimited weapons, automatic running and disappearing bodies after a certain amount of time; one of the neater aspects was the option to perform non-lethal take downs (lethal take downs are pretty brutal). Auto targeting worked well but self-directed targeting showed some issues; tapping to target and shoot sometimes wouldn't work. You can unlock levels without putting money in, however there are options to make in-game purchases and a campaign playthrough takes roughly ve to six hours, Square said, and youd need to play through about three times to see all the games content. The game is due for release this summer.
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney

First two episodes free on Apple iOS and Android; 4 for rst game, 5 for next two capcom.co.jp The Nintendo DS and Gameboy Advance classic has you playing as rookie lawyer Phoenix Wright investigating cases and somehow everyone thinking he's amazing. Gameplay involves selecting dialogue options, searching rooms, interviewing witnesses and, our favourite part, shouting OBJECTION! in court at whim. It also involves overly emotive anime characters and fairly sexist female representation. Aside from the latter, its quite fun to play through and has a fairly good sense of humour, including a dodgy witness called 'Mr Sahwit' (geddit?). The games are fairly expensive for a set, but the rst two are free and fun to play, with neat graphics and interesting gameplay.
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Dumb Ways to Die

Free on Apple iOS and Android dumbwaystodie.com This game is a joy. Based on the video of the same name released by Metro Trains Melbourne to encourage safety around railway lines, the game features the various characters from in the video attempting to avoid dying in stupid ways, such as inviting a psycho killer inside or using your private parts as piranha bait. You must help them survive in a given time frame or die, with accompanying hilarious graphic. You get three deaths before your nal score is tallied; higher scores unlock new characters and the video clip the game is based on. The graphics are very cute, the music is catchy and the game is very funny (you get random bonuses ('DUUUUDE: 30 points) or penalties (BOO: -15 points). Importantly, despite all the fun it gives a quietly serious message without preaching: dont be dumb, be careful around trains.
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Little Luca
0.69 on Apple iOS littlelucagame.com Little Luca is a cute iOS physics puzzler which aims to get a white ball into a gravitational well, using a variety of objects which are able to be manipulated bouncy hills, adjustable air currents and more. Game play involves tapping the devices touchscreen and relies upon timing and angles more than anything and the physics is fairly realistic. The graphics are cute, if a little blunt; set in pixellated style as a hat-tip to old school games, and there is a certain nostalgia to playing it. There are 90 levels over three worlds, although these can get fairly boring; but good value for the games price and each level is short and sweet. Perfect for public transport.
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BUYERS GUIDE OPERATING SYSTEMS EXPLAINED
Operating systems explained

One of the most important decisions to make when buying your phone is which operating system to choose. It is the main interface through which you control your device, so finding the right one is critical. Weve gone in-depth with the top options to help you decide.
Android
Launched in 2008, Google Android is currently the worlds most popular smartphone OS, running on almost 70 per cent of devices. With its intuitive interface, customisable design and over 500,000 apps, it makes a great choice for anyone that wants to get more from their phone. Android 4.1 Jelly Bean is the latest version, but previous iterations, such as 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, 2.3 Gingerbread and 2.2 Froyo, are still proving popular. As a result they can still be found on many handsets on the market, despite offering a more limited set of core features. With its excellent compatibility with Google services, such as Gmail and Google Docs, as well as its easy customisation and widespread availability on devices at all prices, Android is great for newcomers and experts alike, so its no surprise that its the current market leader.
Strengths
Slick and easy-to-use interface
Weaknesses
Updates can be slow to arrive Some phones dont get updated A fragmented array of versions
Wide choice of Android handsets Huge selection of apps on offer
iOS
Due to the huge success of the iPhone and iPad, Apples iOS operating system is perhaps the most recognisable mobile OS in the business. And thanks to its great design, fantastic usability and market-leading app store, it is by far one of the best operating systems you can currently nd. It is not without its aws, however. Firstly, iOS is only available on Apples expensive iPhone and iPad range, making it far less accessible than its rivals. Secondly, Apple imposes fairly strict restrictions on how you can use and customise the OS, so it lacks the freedom of Android. Nevertheless, iOS is still one of the worlds most popular operating systems and with good reason. With its beautifully intuitive interface, great ease of use and an app store which offers a truly comprehensive selection of apps over 500,000 at the time of writing it is hard to beat.
Strengths
Beautifully intuitive design No fragmentation of versions Huge choice of available apps
Weaknesses
Limited customisation options Very few compatible devices Hardware is expensive
BUYERS GUIDE OPERATING SYSTEMS EXPLAINED
Symbian
While Nokias Symbian and S40 OS are most often seen on feature-phones, a few Symbian smartphones still exist. But while they provide decent usability and functionality, Symbian has long been surpassed by the more advanced iOS, Android and Windows Phone. Symbian Belle or Nokia Belle, as its now known is the latest version and provides an easy-to-use interface through which to control your phone. It clearly lacks the advanced usability, app support and core functionality of its more popular rivals, however. As a reaction to Symbians decreasing popularity, Nokia is making Windows Phone its main priority and phasing Symbian out on its smartphones. But its feature-light Nokia Series 40 OS is still proving popular on feature-phones, so there is life left in Nokias software yet.
Strengths
Bright and easy-to-use interface Available on affordable handsets Versions to suit a range of budgets
BlackBerry 10
The much-awaited BlackBerry 10 operating system saw RIM change its company name to BlackBerry. The new proprietary operating system only available on BlackBerry phones comes with some new bells and whistles that appeals to both its core business customers and the average consumer; these include Hub, a single inbox that collates messages, alerts, emails and social media, Balance which splits the device between a work prole and a personal one, the interactive video and photo app Storyteller and the newly revamped BlackBerry World app store. The new OS looks good, particularly compared with its predecessor. However, the OS has been said to be unoriginal everything that can be done on BlackBerry 10 can also be done on other operating systems. The OS is also not initially very easy to use, with difculty in working out how to get devices unlocked.
Weaknesses
Limited choice of apps and games Usability and features feel dated Bettered in most areas by its rivals
Windows Phone
As one of the most recent operating systems to be launched, Microsofts Windows Phone currently occupies a small section of the market. But with its unique design, great social networking features and easy usability, more people are starting to take notice. The key feature of Windows Phone is its intuitive interface. The screen is lled with large tiles for the phones apps, which display live updates for your contacts and social networks, among others, making it easy to keep up to date with a glance at your phone. With leading social networks such as Facebook and Twitter perfectly integrated, its also easy to post quick updates from a range of places in the OS. And with its bright and colourful design, accessible menus and handy apps, it is a fantastic operating system.
Strengths
Looks good Functionality for business and consumer Good predictive keyboard offering
Strengths
Bright and eye-catching interface Very easy to use for all age groups Great for social networking
Weaknesses
Nothing particularly original on offer
Weaknesses
Limited choice of handsets Not as polished as Android or iOS Small selection of apps at present
Not an intuitive interface for beginners Still lacking app wise
BUYERS GUIDE PHONE TYPES EXPLAINED
Find your perfect phone

With such a wide range of phones to choose from, finding the right handset for your needs can be a bit confusing at times. Were here to help you decide which one will suit you best. From dumb-phones to smartphones and everything in between, you can find it all here.
Smartphone
As the agship devices of the phone world, smartphones are the most powerpacked handsets you can buy. Offering ample features, they bridge the gap between a mobile phone and a portable computer, making them ideal for a range of tasks. Powered by advanced operating systems (page 64) and high-performance technology, smartphones provide power, usability and features normally lacking on entry-level mobile phones, so they are well-equipped to help you work and play on the move. Most modern smartphones use intuitive touchscreen interfaces, to let you control the phone by touch, rather than using buttons. With gesture-controls, such as swiping your ngers across the screen to navigate pages, they are incredibly easy devices to use. Where smartphones really come into their own, however, is the apps you can install on them. Letting you add a huge range of extra features to your phone whenever you like, apps can easily turn your handset into a fully-functioning portable computer. All this power and functionality comes at a price, however, as smartphones are the largest and most expensive phones you can buy. If you want the best, then smartphones are for you. But if youd prefer simple features at a low price, then look elsewhere.
Feature-phone
Feature-phones are devices that sit between the latest top-of-the-range smartphones and the most basic text and call-only mobile phones or dumbphones, as theyre sometimes called. As such, they provide a good range of features, while keeping prices low. While feature-phones are smaller and less powerful devices than smartphones, they still provide functionality beyond the most rudimentary mobile phone features, so you can take photos, update your social networks, play games and more on them. Due to their limited specications, however, feature-phones lack the usability, functionality and advanced software and features of a smartphone, making them best suited to anyone that only needs basic phone features, with a few extra bells and whistles. An added benet of opting for a feature-phone is they can be easier to use, due to their limited features. They are also signicantly more affordable than smartphones, making them a great option for children, elderly users and anyone on a budget. As a result, feature-phones remain very popular, with only about half of UK phone owners using smartphones. So if you dont need the latest features and you want to save money, while still enjoying a great user experience, a featurephone will be ideal.
BUYERS GUIDE PHONE TYPES EXPLAINED
Phone form-factors
Once youve chosen the type of phone you want, the next step is to decide which design will be best for you. Whatever your needs there is a phone that will be just right, so we can help you find your perfect fit.
Touchscreen
Thanks to the increasing popularity of smartphones, touchscreen devices are more common than ever. With their intuitive usability they make a great choice for a wide variety of requirements. Touchscreen devices let you navigate and control your phone with a quick tap, swipe or pinch of your ngers. They are very easy to use, but can present a learning curve if youre not used to their unique controls. Most touchscreen phones dont feature hardware keypads, so youll also need to get used to typing on an onscreen keyboard. But for sheer ease-of-use and unique usability, touchscreen phones are very hard to beat.
QWERTY
When you want the easiest and most natural interface for typing texts and emails or updating your social networks, a QWERTY phone will be your perfect choice. Fitted with a full hardware keyboard, they make speed typing on the move easier than ever before. QWERTY phones are tted with a large keyboard that features the same layout as youll nd on your laptop or home PC, so you can type faster and easier than on any other type of handset. The most high-prole QWERTY phones are found in BlackBerrys range and they are the perfect choice for anyone that needs to type regularly on their phone.
Candybar
Also known as bar phones these handsets are easily recognisable, as they use the standard design that was seen for many years before touchscreen, ip, swivel and slider devices hit the phone market. Candybar phones have the benet of being very small and light devices, so they can t neatly in your pocket and be easily held and used one-handed, while typing on the keypad with your thumb. Their small size means they often have equally compact screens, so theyre not ideal for playing games, viewing photos and videos or browsing the web. As such, they are best used for basic tasks.
Flip
Another design commonly used by manufacturers several years ago, ip or clamshell phones are devices that fold neatly into a compact footprint for easy transportation, but can then be ipped open when you need to access the screen or keyboard. As with candybar phones, ip phones have the advantage of being small, light and easy to carry. And when theyre folded up, the primary screen and keyboard are safely protected against damage, or attracting dust and dirt.
Swivel
An odd-looking and relatively uncommon design, swivel phones are similar to slider phones, in that they are built to accommodate screens that can be rotated to reveal a hardware keyboard beneath. While slider phones feature full QWERTY keyboards, swivel phones tend to only feature smaller alphanumeric keypads, making them more akin to candybar phones, albeit with a larger screen included. As with slider phones, swivel phones can tend to be slightly thicker and heavier than candybar phones. And since they offer few benets to outweigh this, they are not particularly useful or popular designs and so are rarely seen.
Slider
Striking a nice balance between touchscreen and QWERTY devices, slider phones are handsets which feature a full hardware keyboard that smoothly slides out from beneath the main touchscreen for easy typing. By combining these two interfaces you can enjoy the best of both worlds. For example, you can comfortably browse your phone using the touchscreen and then pop out the keyboard to type a quick email or text. The drawback is that slider phones are often thicker and heavier than other phone types, due to the extra space required to implement the sliding mechanism.
BUYERS
GUIDE
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.
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Phone reviews
92
Tablet reviews
BUYERS GUIDE REVIEWS ARCHIVE
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Alcatel One Touch Idol

Reviewed: July 2013, price: 300 www.alcatelonetouch.com/uk
A slickly-designed device with top-end features, the Alcatel One Touch Idol nevertheless has competition from the Galaxy S3, now available at a comparable price. The OneTouch is cheaper in the USA, too. It features superb screen quality and an excellent camera complete with good imaging software, but only has 4GB of unexpandable memory and its battery doesnt last long.
Dimensions 133 x 67.5 x 7.9mm Weight 109g Screen 4.66-inch, 540 x 960 pixels Input IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen OS Android 4.1 Jelly Bean CPU Dual-core 1GHz Memory 512MB Storage 4GB nonexpandable (dual-SIM version) / 4GB, microSD up to 32GB (single SIM version) Wireless Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 4.0 Camera 8MP rear, 3264 x 2448 pixels, LED ash, 2MP front
Alcatel One Touch Ultra 995 Apple iPhone 3GS

Reviewed: July 2012, price: 170 www.alcatelonetouch.com/uk
Priced at just 150, the Alcatel One Touch Ultra 995 offers good value for money, thanks to 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.
OS Android 2.3 Gingerbread Screen 4.3-inch TFT Resolution 480 x 800 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1.4GHz 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 x 10mm Weight 124g
Reviewed: Sept 2009, price: 319 SIM-free www.apple.com/uk

Now free on some contracts, 2009s iPhone 3GS is still a great phone. Yes, its missing the Retina screen, speedy processor and 5-Megapixel camera of the iPhone 4, but it still manages to put most similarly priced phones to shame. The iOS 5 update adds a wealth of new features, some of which show up the old processor, but overall, the iPhone 3GS is a very smart and affordable choice for anyone wanting a cheap iPhone.
OS iOS 6 Screen 3.5-inch TFT Resolution 320 x 480 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 600MHz ARM Cortex-A8 Memory 256MB Storage 8GB, 16GB or 32GB Camera 3MP rear-facing Flash No Video 640 x 480-pixels Wireless 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, proprietary Apple connector Standby time 300 hours Talk time 12 hours Size 116 x 62 x 12mm Weight 135g
VERDICT: A slick device with top-end

features-at the same price as the S3.
VERDICT: A surprisingly powerful handset

at a good price, but it lacks killer features.
VERDICT: Updated to iOS 5, the iPhone 3GS

has an extended lifespan at a great price.
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Apple iPhone 4
Reviewed: December 2010, price: 429 www.apple.com/uk
Apple signalled 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 its the awe-inspiring Retina display that has rivals running to the drawing board. If you dont need the extra features of the iPhone 4S and want to enjoy a better price, this is the iPhone for you.
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
Apple iPhone 4S
What does the iPhone 4S offer above the iPhone 4? An 8-Megapixel camera and improved images, alongside the Siri voice assistant. The dual-core processor is so powerful its at the heart of the iPad 2. And theres 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.
OS iOS 6 Screen 3.5-inch TFT Resolution 640 x 960 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1GHz ARM Cortex-A9 Memory 512MB Storage 16/32/64GB Camera 8MP rear-facing, 0.3MP front-facing Flash Yes Video 1080p HD Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, proprietary Apple connector Standby time 200 hours Talk time 14 hours Size 115 x 59 x 9mm Weight 140g
Apple iPhone 5
Reviewed: November 2012, price: 529 www.apple.com/uk
The iPhone 5 is more of an evolution than the revolution we hoped for. Its a stunning smartphone and by far the best iPhone yet, but it just cant quite match the quality offered by Samsungs 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.
OS iOS 6 Screen 4-inch LED-backlit IPS TFT Resolution 640 x 1136 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1GHz dual-core Memory 1GB Storage 16/32/64GB Camera 8MP rear-facing, 1.2MP front-facing Flash LED Video 1080p HD at 30fps Wireless 802.11a/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: A truly stunning smartphone. And

now available at a better price than ever.
VERDICT: With its impressive upgrades, the

iPhone 4S is well worth its premium price.
VERDICT: The best iPhone yet but not quite

the revolution we had been hoping for.
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BlackBerry Curve 9320

Reviewed: July 2012, price: 170 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.
OS BlackBerry OS 7 Screen 2.44-inch TFT Resolution 320 x 240 pixels Input Keyboard, trackpad Processor 806MHz Memory 512MB Storage 512MB, MicroSD Camera 3.15MP rear-facing Flash Yes Video Yes Wireless 802.11b/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
BlackBerry Curve 9380

Reviewed: June 2012, price: 265 uk.blackberry.com
Despite its flawed operating system, theres a charm to the compact design of the Curve 9380. Its the keyboard skills that will disappoint BlackBerry fans, however. And if you demand speed, the Curve 9380 should not be your next phone. The 806MHz processor and 512MB of memory wont be enough to handle heavy app requirements, meaning that power users will need to look elsewhere in the wider BlackBerry range.
OS BlackBerry OS 7 Screen 3.2-inch TFT Resolution 360 x 480 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen, trackpad Processor 806MHz Memory 512MB Storage 512MB, MicroSD Camera 5MP rear-facing Flash Yes Video 640 x 480-pixels Wireless 802.11b/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 109 x 60 x 11mm Weight 98g
BlackBerry Torch 9860

Reviewed: June 2012, price: 320 uk.blackberry.com
If youre a devoted BlackBerry user who wants the full touchscreen experience, the Torch 9860 will not disappoint. While were not betting well see queues of iPhone addicts and Android fans wanting to trade, this model is loaded with all kinds of luxuries and accessories. Although owners of the original BlackBerry may find themselevs feeling nostalgic for the simplicity of the original business phone.
OS BlackBerry OS 7 Screen 3.7-inch TFT Resolution 480 x 800 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen, trackpad Processor 1.2GHz QC 8655 Memory 768MB Storage 4GB, MicroSD Camera 5MP rear-facing Flash No Video 720p HD Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 330 hours Talk time 7 hours Size 120 x 62 x 12mm Weight 135g
VERDICT: Easy-to-use and some good features, but this is not BlackBerrys best.
VERDICT: A stylish BlackBerry but other

phones in the range beat it hands down.
VERDICT: A good specification and large

touchscreen make for a unique BlackBerry.
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BlackBerry Q10
Reviewed: July 2013, price: 580 uk.blackberry.com
The Q10 will delight BlackBerry fans yearning for a proper QWERTY keyboard, however its hefty price tag means its hard to recommend over rival, state-of-the-art devices from other manufacturers, which offer more tech at a lower price. The Q10 features a great keyboard, good battery life and a quality display, but falls down on the size of the screen, as well as a poor video and camera experience, plus the high cost.
Dimensions 119.6 x 66.8 x 10.4 mm Weight 139g Screen 3.1 inches, Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen Resolution 720 x 720 pixels, 328 PPI Processor Dual-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A9 GPU PowerVR SGX544 RAM 2GB Storage 16GB, up to 64GB external Camera 8MP, 3264 x 2448 pixels, autofocus, LED ash Video 1080p@30fps Wireless Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual band, Wi-Fi
BlackBerry Z10
Reviewed: March 2013, price: 36 p/m uk.blackberry.com
The first device with the new operating system, BlackBerry 10, the Z10 packs hardware with a bit of grunt and a nice looking screen with high res. While the new OS looks sleek however, its apps have all appeared, in different forms, on other platforms snd the battery life is poor to average. BlackBerry fans may miss the physical keyboard, although the Z10 has a nifty predictive text onscreen version.
Networks: 2G, 3G and 4G Dimensions: 130x65.6x9mm Weight: 138g OS: BlackBerry 10 OS Screen: Capacitive touchscreen, 16M colours Resolution: 768x1280px Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon, dual core 1.5GHz Krait. Memory: 2GB of RAM Storage: 16GB, MicroSD expandable to 64GB. Camera: Back 8MP, front 2MP, video 1080P. Wireless: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4 Ports: 3.5mm audio jack, MicroUSB, mini-HDMI out, MicroSD.
CAT B15
Reviewed: June 2013, price: 299 www.catphones.com
While it will never be a mass market phone, the B15 most certainly has a place in the market for anyone who wants a device they can rely on, whatever the environment; aimed at builders and construction workers, this phone stood up to our strength and durability tests and has decent specs to boot. Its let downs include a cumbersome size and a weak camera and video capabilities.
OS Android 4.1 Jelly Bean Processor MediaTek MT6577 Dual 1GHz CortexTM-A9 Size 125mm x 69.5mm x 14.95mm Weight 170g Screen 4 WVGA 480x800 LCD, Capacitive Multitouch, Gorilla glass, wet nger tracking Memory 4GB storage + 512 RAM Camera 5.0 MP Rear, VGA Front Video 720P recording 30 FPS Codecs H.263, H.264/ AVC, mpeg4/SP, VP8 Talk time Up to 9 hours Stand By Up to 9.5 days
VERDICT: A good mix of old and new

BlackBerry but at a (very) high price.
VERDICT: A lost opportunity; it offers too

little new and has a confusing UI.
VERDICT: A rugged phone for those who

need to rely on it in any environment.
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Doro PhoneEasy 505

Reviewed: June 2012, price: 40 www.doro.co.uk
The PhoneEasy 505 is aimed at older phone users and the 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.
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 126 x 51 x 16mm Weight 95g
Doro PhoneEasy 506

Reviewed: July 2013, price: 45 www.doro.co.uk
Not a phone for tech-addicts, the Doro PhoneEasy 506 is great for vulnerable or elderly people who need a foolproof device and may need reliable means to summon help or simply keep in touch. It features loud and clear ring tones and volume, call assistance SOS button and stays charged for three weeks or more. It wont win any beauty contests, however, and has no data connectivity or basic camera.
Dimensions 125.5 x 51 x 15.5 mm Weight 81g Screen 28 x 35mm colour display Battery life 800mAh Li-ion, up to 500 hours standby claimed, 8 hours talk time. Extras Backlit keypad, Assistance button, maximum receiving amplication of 35dB, ringer volume up to 83 dB (A) at 1 metre
Doro PhoneEasy 515

Reviewed: June 2012, price: 85 www.doro.co.uk
Designed to provide intuitive usability and a range of handy features to elderly phone users, the Doro PhoneEasy 515 is aimed squarely at a specific market. With its excellent ease-of-use, firm build quality and high-quality screen, it makes a great choice for anyone looking for a no-nonsense handset that does what it says on the tin. And it makes things as easy as possible for even the least tech-savvy phone user.
OS Proprietary Screen 1.5-inch TFT Resolution 176 x 220 pixels Input Keypad Processor N/A Memory N/A Storage MicroSD Camera 2MP rear-facing Flash No Video No Wireless Bluetooth 3.0 Ports Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 533 hours Talk time 12 hours Size 118 x 53 x 13mm Weight 82g
VERDICT: A great choice for elderly users,

packing all the basics and an SOS feature.
VERDICT: An affordable phone for

vulnerable or elderly people to call for help.
VERDICT: With good features and usability,

theres plenty to offer older phone users.
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Doro PhoneEasy 612

Reviewed: November 2012, price: 125 www.doro.co.uk
Doro has crafted another well-made and carefully-designed flip-phone for elderly users. Offering easy usability, careful attention to detail and handy features, the PhoneEasy 612 is ideally suited to less tech-savvy buyers. It also suits anyone that wants an easy-to-use phone with great usability and a great range of features aimed at seniors. The only downside is that the price is high and the camera is poor.
OS Proprietary Screen 2.5-inch TFT Resolution 240 x 320 pixels Input Keypad Processor N/A Memory N/A Storage 10MB internal Camera 2MP rear-facing Flash No Video No Wireless Bluetooth 3.0 Ports Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 533 hours Talk time 12 hours Size 101 x 52 x 20mm Weight 103g
Doro PhoneEasy 715

Reviewed: December 2012, price: 95 www.doro.co.uk
Doro has pumped out yet another easy to use feature phone for those less tech savvy. Ostensibly for the elderly, it has a variety of emergency features built in. But, by the same token these devices are useful for anyone who just wants a simple phone with big buttons and a very good battery (a huge 12 hour talk time), and 533 hours on standby. The trade off is the high price, poor camera,and negligible storage.
os Proprietary screen 2.4-inch (240 x 320) Resolution 320x240 input Keypad processor N/A Storage MicroSD storage 256MB internal camera 2MP rear-facing wireless Bluetooth 3.0 Talk Time 12 hours talk time Standby Time 533 hours size 100 x 50 x 17mm weight103g
Google Nexus 4
Reviewed: February 2013, price: 239 www.google.com/nexus/4/
It looks a bit dull and devoid of personality, plus storage is limited to 4GB... but thats hardly the point. The Nexus 4 is a tight bit of kit designed to show off Googles latest version of Android. With a terric quad-core 1.5Ghz processor and 2GB of RAM - there is nothing out there that will stump this smartphone. The lack of 4G is a disappointment, but the phone is an absolute steal at just 239. One of the best Android handsets available.
OS Android 4.2 Ice Cream Sandwich Screen 4.7-inch LCD Resolution 720x1280 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1.5Ghz quad core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Memory 2GB Storage 4GB, MicroSD Camera 5MP rear-facing Flash No Video Yes Wireless 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time TBC Talk time TBC Size 107 x 61 x 12mm Weight 100g
VERDICT: A great flip-phone ideal for elderly

users but the price is high for what you get.
VERDICT: A well-made and thoughtfully

designed phone ideal for non power users.
VERDICT: Dull and devoid of personality, but

high powered and super, super cheap.
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HTC Desire C
Reviewed: August 2012, price: 180 www.htc.com/uk
Packing a beautifully stylish design, great usability and loads of features, such as Beats Audio and the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS, HTCs Desire C is a fantastic entry-level smartphone. Only its slightly limited performance lets it down, but considering it costs less than 200 SIM-free, its to be expected, making this fantastic handset the perfect choice for anyone after a great smartphone on a tight budget.
OS Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich Screen 3.5-inch TFT Resolution 320 x 480 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 600MHz Qualcomm Snapdragon Memory 512MB Storage 4GB, MicroSD Camera 5MP rear-facing Flash No Video Yes Wireless 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time TBC Talk time TBC Size 107 x 61 x 12mm Weight 100g
HTC Desire X
Reviewed: December 2012, price: 235 www.htc.com/uk
This is a device that pushes no boundaries, and sits straight in the middle of the pack. Its not the most feature packed or most powerful, and its lacking the latest Android version. It is also going to struggle against last years flagship smartphones, all of which are now being released as midrange phones on rock bottom contracts. There are better options.
OS Android 4.0 ICS Screen 4-inch Super-LCD Resolution 480 x 800 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1GHz dual-core Memory 768MB Storage 4GB internal, MicroSD up to 32GB Camera 5MP rear-facing Flash LED Video Yes Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Battery 10 hours talk time, 650 hours standby Dimensions 119 x 62 x 9mm Weight 114g
HTC One
Reviewed: May 2013, price: 499 www.htc.com/uk
HTC has produced a top shelf phone here one that is more than capable of taking on Sony, Apple and Samsung. It does most things right, but particular note has to go to the physical design and that screen. The camera is OK, the battery life average and it gets a bit hot.
Dimensions 137.4 x 68.2 x 9.3 mm, 143 g OS Android 4.2.2 Jellybean Screen Super LCD3 capacitive touchscreen Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 RAM 2GB Storage 32GB/64GB internal, non expandable
Cameras 4MP Ultrapixel, LED Flash, optical image stabilisation. Front 2.1MP. Video 1080P @ 30fps Wireless Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, Infrared Ports Micro USB, 3.5mm audio jack Battery life 2300mAh
VERDICT: Style, usability and features at an

unbeatable price. A winner all round.
VERDICT: A middle of the road performer,

ideal for first time smartphone users.
VERDICT: A well designed, top-tier

performer to rival the very best.
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HTC One S
The HTC One S is less accomplished than the One X, but offers great value to those on a tighter budget. As its a slimmer version of the One X, with a dual-core rather than quad-core processor, the battery life throughout the day holds up much better than the One X, yet there is still more than enough power for multi-tasking. Even the aluminium casing feels more premium than the polycarbonate coat of the One X.
OS Android 4.0 ICS Screen 4.3-inch SAMOLED Resolution 540 x 960 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1.5GHz Qualcomm MSM8260A Memory 1GB Storage 16GB Camera 8MP rear-facing, 0.3MP front-facing Flash Yes Video 1080p Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time TBC Talk time TBC Size 131 x 65 x 8mm Weight 120g
HTC One SV
Reviewed: April 2013, price: 315 www.htc.com/uk
The HTC One SV is a great mid-range phone that borrows its styling from the companys HTC One flagship. Other than an average camera and screen, the One SV performs very well for the price, is 4G and has a very respectable battery life.
HTC One V
Reviewed: June 2012, price: 230 www.htc.com/uk
The HTC One V is a smaller alternative to the growing range of devices running Android 4.0, but the single-core processor is starting to show its age and can slow down under the weight and power of the latest Android OS. For example, the camera is first class but can slow down when you try and take more than a few shots in quick succession. The upside is that the battery can keep you going for a couple of days.
OS Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich Screen 3.7-inch S-LCD Resolution 480 x 800 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1GHz Qualcomm MSM8255 Memory 512MB Storage 4GB, MicroSD Camera 5MP rear-facing Flash Yes Video 720p HD Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time TBC Talk time TBC Size 120 x 60 x 9mm Weight 115g
Dimensions 128 x 66.9 x 9.20 mm, 122g OS 4.04 Screen 4.3 capacitive touchscreen, 217 ppi, 480x800 Processor Qualcomm S4, 1.2GHz, dual core GPU Adreno 305 RAM 1GB LP DDR3 Storage Internal 8GB,
expandable via MicroSD (up to 32GB) Cameras 5MP & 1.6MP, software stabilisation and single LED ash. 1080P at 30fps (main), 720p @ 30fps (front facing) Wireless 802.11 a/b/g/n, dualband, DLNA & Bluetooth 4.0 Ports USB, MicroSD, 3.5mm
VERDICT: Almost as good as the HTC One

X, but for less cash. A great value phone.
VERDICT: A mid-range phone that looks,

feels and often acts like a premium one.
VERDICT: A pocketable and stylish Android

4.0 phone, but performance is lacking.
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HTC One X
The HTC One X is a trail-blazing Android smartphone. It feels futuristic and packs some game-changing camera features. If Samsung hadnt got the Galaxy S III so right, this could have become the heir to the S IIs throne. Packing a great range of features and stunning usability into its gorgeous chassis, the HTC One X is one of the best smartphones you can buy right now and is a phone we highly recommend.
OS Android 4.0 ICS Screen 4.7-inch S-LCD 2 Resolution 720 x 1280 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1.5GHz Nvidia Tegra 3 Memory 1GB Storage 32GB Camera 8MP rear-facing, 1.3MP front-facing Flash Yes Video 1080p HD Wireless 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time TBC Talk time TBC Size 134 x 70 x 9mm Weight 130g
HTC One X+
Reviewed: January 2013, price: 474 www.htc.com/uk
The One X+ is a strange beast, a minor update on the already excellent HTC One X. The processor gets boosted to a Tegra 3 Quad-core 1.7GHz, and it gets a newer version of Android, but thats about it. The jump over its predecssor probably doesnt justify the price hike.
HTC Rhyme
Reviewed: February 2012, price: 250 www.htc.com/uk
HTC knows how to do smartphones as boys-toys, but rarely does it try the same for women. Before you opt for the Rhyme, ask yourself these questions. Do you need more power? Then go for the HTC Sensation. More style? The HTC Desire S is for you. Less money? Try the HTC Wildfire S. Nevertheless, the HTC Rhymes bright colours, decent specification and unique features make it well worth a look.
OS Android 2.3 Gingerbread Screen 3.7-inch S-LCD Resolution 480 x 800 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1GHz Qualcomm MSM8255 Memory 768MB 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 340 hours Talk time 10 hours Size 119 x 61 x 11mm Weight 130g
Dimensions 134.4x69.9x8.9mm OS Android 4.1 Jellybean Screen 4.7-inch S-LCD 2 Resolution 720x1280 Processor Quad-core 1.7GHz Nvidia Tegra 3 GPU ULP GeForce RAM 1GB Storage 64GB not
expandable Camera Back 8MP, LED ash; Front 1.6MP Video 1920x1080 Wireless Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS and Glonass Ports Micro USB, HDMI via MHL adaptor Battery 2,100mAh Weight 135g
VERDICT: One of the best Android phones

around. You can safely buy with confidence.
VERDICT: It feels like a placeholder while

we wait for the next generation of devices.
VERDICT: An eye-catching Android phone

that has plenty to offer for all requirements.
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HTC Sensation XE
Itd be unfair to blame HTC for merely making a modest update of its flagship phone but when the original Sensation wasnt enough to knock the Samsung Galaxy S II off its top spot, we expected a little more from this update. However, as a music phone its superb and the iBeats headphones are worth 89. You wont find a better pair with any other phone and, in the style stakes, the Sensation XE is a winner.
OS Android 2.3 Gingerbread Screen 4.3-inch S-LCD Resolution 540 x 960 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1.5GHz Qualcomm MSM8260 Memory 768MB Storage 4GB, MicroSD Camera 8MP rear-facing, 0.3MP front-facing Flash Yes Video 1080p HD Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 540 hours Talk time 9 hours Size 126 x 65 x 11mm Weight 151g
HTC Windows 8S
The odd thing about this phone is that we actually rate it higher than its big brother, the 8X. It is a bit lighter, has a nicer body and fits much easier in the hand. It still has enough grunt under the hood to get all the same tasks done (although has a lower res screen), and its 160 quid cheaper. It doesnt have a front facing camera (so no proper Skype-ing) and the App store remains limited...
Dimensions 120.5 x 63 x 10.3 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 ash / 720p HD video Wireless Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.1, a-GPS and GLONASS Ports Micro USB, 3.5mm audio Battery life 1,700mAh
HTC Windows 8X
Reviewed: January 2013, price: 399 www.htc.com/uk
HTCs first ever Windows Phone 8 device is an excellent device hardware wise - most of the concerns it shares with Nokias range of WP8 phones - are there the apps, the media and other add-ons to compete with Google and Apple? Otherwise it has more than enough bells and whistles to make any WP8 user happy - and give Nokia a good scare.
Dimensions 132x66x10.1mm OS Windows Phone 8 Screen 4.3-inch S-LCD2 capacitive touchscreen Resolution 720x1280 pixels CPU Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual core GPU Adreno 225 Memory 1GB Storage 16GB
Camera 8 MP Video 1920x1080 at 30fps Wireless Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Bluetooth 3.1 Cellular 2G, 3G, HSPA+ Ports Microsim, 3.5mm audio jack, Micro-USB 2.0 Weight 130g Battery Li-Ion 1800mAh
VERDICT: An excellent music phone that

packs some of the best headphones around.
VERDICT: The Windows Phone 8S may well

be better than the 8X flagship model.
VERDICT: Excellent integration of WP8, and

an eye catcher. Something different.
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EdItors choIcE
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Huawei Ascend G300

Reviewed: June 2012, price: 100 www.huaweidevice.co.uk
It seems that all the best smartphones are only available on contract at first. So the Huawei Ascend G300 turns convention on its head with specifications to rival the top smartphones of a year ago, while costing just 100. Huawei teamed up with Vodafone to launch this great Android 2.3 device with a 1GHz processor and 4-inch screen, for a price that would have been impossible not so long ago. An amazing budget handset
OS Android 2.3 Gingerbread Screen 4-inch LCD Resolution 480 x 800 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1GHz ARM Cortex-A5 Memory 512MB Storage 4GB, MicroSD Camera 5MP rear-facing Flash Yes Video Yes Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 350 hours Talk time 5 hours Size 123 x 63 x 11mm Weight 140g
Huawei Ascend G330

Reviewed: March 2013, price: 199 www.huaweidevice.co.uk
While the G330 is more expensive than its brother,the G300, it still manages to pack the feature set and performance of a much more expensive phone into a sub 200 price point, with enough grunt to run routine operations and an adequate screen res. However, storage is minimal at 4GB, although it does have a microSD slot. The biggest let down is the battery - be prepared for the phone to die over night.
Dimensions 122.5 x 62.6 x 11.2 mm Weight 130g Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon Dual Core 1GHZ Cortex-A5 RAM 512MB Screen 4-inch, 480x800 (233PPI) Storage 4GB, (expandable via Micro-SD to 32GB) Ports Wi-Fi, USB2.0 Camera 5MP, video VGA Battery 1500mAh, talk time claimed up to 5h. This was more around 3 hours
Huawei Ascend G510

Reviewed: June 2013, price: 130 www.huaweidevice.co.uk
A somewhat sludgier Samsung Galaxy S2 for half the price and with a bigger screen, the Ascend G510 was the phone of 2011. More than enough for those who dont have to have the latest thing, the Ascend will handle your casual web browsing, the odd game and photos well. It can feel a little slow however and doesnt look like much; there are also cheaper phones out there which do much the same.
OS Android 4.1 Screen 4.5-inch / 480x854 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Camera 5MP, VGA front Video Record / Playback Audio Music player / Stereo Bluetooth / 3.5mm jack Memory 4GB expandable via microSD card Battery 1750mAh
VERDICT: A great phone that represents a

new high point for entry-level handsets.
VERDICT: Poor battery life means this is not

a worthy successor to the G300.
VERDICT: A large budget smartphone which can run slow and doesnt look like much.
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Huawei Ascend P1
Reviewed: October 2012, price: 350 www.huaweidevice.co.uk
With the Ascend P1, Huawei has taken a confident step in the right direction and proved you dont have to spend a fortune to get a good smartphone. Its strong usability capable performance, responsive screen and excellent specification provide great value for money and we found a lot to like during our time with it. The poor camera quality really lets the device down, though, so consider your needs before buying.
os Android 4.0 ICS Screen 4.3-inch S-AMOLED Resolution 540 x 960 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1.5GHz dual-core Memory 1GB Storage 4GB internal, MicroSD up to 32GB Camera 8MP rear-facing, 1.3MP front-facing Flash Dual LED Video 1080p HD at 30fps Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 336 hours Talk time 6 hours Size 130 65 9mm Weight 110g
Huawei Honour
Reviewed: July 2012, price: 190 www.huaweidevice.co.uk
Adding to Huaweis recent range of highquality, 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, theres loads to like. All in all, the Honor is easy to recommend to anyone looking for a great Android phone at an affordable price.
OS Android 2.3 Gingerbread Screen 4.0-inch TFT Resolution 480 x 854 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1.4GHz Qualcomm MSM8255T Memory 512MB Storage 1GB, MicroSD Camera 8MP 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, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 380 hours Talk time 6 hours Size 122 x 61 x 11mm Weight 140g
LG Optimus 4X HD
Reviewed: November 2012, price: 450 www.lg.com/uk
The Optimus 4X HD is a return to form for LG and a fantastic, feature-packed phone. Its gorgeous screen, capable quad-core power and stylish design put it firmly among the best handsets you can buy at this price. Its not without fault, though, with its occasional usability issues and tempermental cameras. So while its an outstanding smartphone, it cant quite take the crown away from Samsung and HTC.
os Android 4.0 ICS Screen 4.7-inch TFT Resolution 720 x 1280 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1.5GHz quad-core Memory 1GB Storage 16GB internal, MicroSD up to 64GB Camera 8MP rear-facing, 1.3MP front-facing Flash LED Video 1080p HD at 30fps Wireless 802.11a/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 decent smartphone with good features, but the poor cameras let it down.
VERDICT: Packing usability, features and

performance, the Honor is a hit for Huawei.
VERDICT: A fantastic quad-core smartphone

with only a few minor quirks to speak of.
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LG Prada 3.0
Reviewed: February 2012, price: 230 www.lg.com/uk
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, its fair to say that users will end up paying a premium for the Prada branding. If youre looking for a topend Android phone, packed with features in a slim body, this more than ticks all the boxes. And itll get you some jealous looks from iPhone and Nokia Lumia 800 owners.
OS Android 2.3 Gingerbread Screen 4.3-inch LCD Resolution 480 x 800 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1GHz ARM Cortex-A9 Memory 1GB Storage 8GB, MicroSD Camera 8MP rear-facing, 1.3MP front-facing Flash Yes Video 1080p HD Wireless 802.11a/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
Motorola Defy+
Reviewed: May 2012, price: 210 www.motorola.co.uk
The original Defy was a great step forward for ruggedised 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. Theres a bigger battery, slightly faster processor and a new look for the MotoBlur software. Other than that, its business as usual. Its a sensible, competent phone for those who want one of the toughest handsets around.
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 802.11b/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 x 59 x 13mm Weight 118g
Motorola Defy Mini

Reviewed: October 2012, price: 150 www.motorola.co.uk
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 lowquality cameras and limited specification holding it back, theres a lot to like about it.
os Android 2.3 Gingerbread Screen 3.2-inch TFT Resolution 320 x 480 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 600MHz single-core Memory 512MB Storage 512MB internal, MicroSD up to 32GB Camera 3MP rear-facing, 0.3MP front-facing Flash LED Video Yes Wireless 802.11b/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 109 x 59 x 13mm Weight 107g
VERDICT: Great looks and specifications to

match, but the branding adds a high price.
VERDICT: Sensible, tough and ideal for

rough outdoor use, but a minor upgrade.
VERDICT: Touch, small and usable. A good

phone for demanding physical lifestyles.
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Motorola Motoluxe
While the performance and build of the Motorola Motoluxe is more than enough for your average Android user, the outof-date software and bleak outlook for an update spoil this otherwise impressive allround, 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.
OS Android 2.3 Gingerbread Screen 4-inch TFT Resolution 480 x 854 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 800MHz Qualcomm MSM7227A-0 Memory 512MB Storage 1GB, MicroSD Camera 8MP rear-facing, 0.3MP front-facing Flash Yes Video Yes Wireless 802.11b/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 118 x 61 x 10mm Weight 124g
Motorola RAZR i
Reviewed: November 2012, price: 340 www.motorola.co.uk
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 doesnt 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.
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 802.11a/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 123 x 61 x 8mm Weight 126g
Motorola RAZR HD
Reviewed: April 2013, price: 399 www.motorola.co.uk
Starting to show signs of its Google led revival, the Motorola Razr HD has a stunning industrial design and 4G support, but is a victim of its delayed UK release (it came out in the US in September) meaning its specs are out of date, its screen is low resolution and its camera is poor. It doesnt help that Motorola have priced it so high - otherwise this would be an excellent midrange phone.
Dimensions 131.9 x 67.9 x 8.4 mm, 146g OS Android 4.1 Jellybean Screen Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 720x1280 (312PPI). Gorilla Glass. Processor dual core 1.5GHz RAM 1GB Storage 16GB internal, expandable to 32GB via MicroSD Cameras 8MP, LED Flash, image stabilisation. Front 1.3MP. Video 1080P @ 30fps. Wireless Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC. Ports Micro USB, MicroSD, 3.5mm audio jack. Battery 2530mAh
VERDICT: The out of date OS and limited

specs spoil this otherwise decent phone.
VERDICT: Not quite enough to put Motorola

back on top, but its certainly a good start.
VERDICT: A lovely design, but the internals

are six months out of date.
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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.
OS Android 2.3 Gingerbread Screen 4.3-inch SAMOLED Resolution 540 x 960 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen 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 802.11b/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 x 69 x 9mm Weight 145g
Nokia 808 PureView

Reviewed: September 2012, price: 485 www.nokia.com
With its staggering 41-Megapixel camera and unbeatable range of photography features, theres no denying that Nokias 808 PureView is by far the worlds best cameraphone. Its just a shame that its use of the antiquated Symbian Belle OS and its high price mark this beautiful handset out as an almost guaranteed sales failure. It has whet our appetite for Nokias forthcoming PureView Lumia Windows Phones, though.
os Nokia Symbian Belle screen 4-inch AMOLED resolution 360 x 640 pixels input capacitive touchscreen processor 1.3GHz ARM11 memorY 512MB storage 16GB internal, MicroSD up to 32GB camera 41MP rear-facing, 0.3MP front-facing FLASH Xenon video 1080p HD at 30fps wireless 802.11b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0 ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0, Micro HDMI batterY 6 hours talk time 540 hours standby size 124 x 60 x 14mm weight 169g
Nokia Asha 201

Reviewed: April 2012, price: 60 www.nokia.com
The Nokia Asha 201 packs a 2.4-inch, 320 x 240 pixel screen and the kind of QWERTY keyboard you might expect from a BlackBerry, but its lacking any high-speed connectivity. To keep costs down, theres no 3G and no Wi-Fi. The Asha 201 deserves to sell by the truckload in developing nations. But in the competitive UK market, you can pick up a fully-fledged BlackBerry or Android device for little more on PAYG.
OS Nokia Series 40 Screen 2.4-inch TFT Resolution 320 x 240 pixels Input Keyboard Processor TBC Memory 32MB Storage 10MB, MicroSD Camera 2MP rear-facing Flash No Video 176 x 144 pixels Wireless Bluetooth 2.1 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 888 hours Talk time 7 hours Size 116 x 61 x 14mm Weight 105g
VERDICT: While there is plenty to like, you

can find better smartphones at this price.
VERDICT: The ultimate cameraphone, but its

old OS and high price cant be ignored.
VERDICT: The keyboard is useful but the

connectivity options are disappointing.
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Nokia Asha 205

Reviewed: April 2013, price: 65 www.nokia.com
An interesting enough device that blurs the lines between a feature phone and a low end smartphone, the Asha 205 is let down by its very small on board memory and lack of connectivity options. It remains functional for a low end device, but definitely should not be considered a full blown replacement for a smartphone. Probably destined for third world and budget users.
OS Nokia Series 40 Screen 2.4-inch TFT Resolution 320 x 240 pixels Input Keyboard Processor TBC Memory 32MB Storage 10MB, MicroSD Camera 2MP rear-facing Flash No Video 176 x 144 pixels Wireless Bluetooth 2.1 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 888 hours Talk time 7 hours Size 116 x 61 x 14mm Weight 105g
Nokia Asha 300

Reviewed: September 2012, price: 60 www.nokia.com
Easily hitting a great halfway point between the most affordable dumbphones and Nokias own Lumia Windows Phone handsets, the Asha 300 packs all the average user will need into a sleek and lightweight design. With its excellent usability, incredibly low price and handy social networking features, its a very good deal and easy to recommend. And Angry Birds Lite is even installed out of the box.
OS Nokia Series 40 Screen 2.4-inch LCD Resolution 240 x 320 pixels Input Resistive touchscreen, alphanumeric keypad Processor 1GHz ARM11 Memory 128MB RAM Storage 140MB internal, MicroSD up to 32GB Camera 5MP rear-facing Flash No Video 640 x 480 pixels at 30fps Wireless Bluetooth 2.1 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Battery 7 hours talk time, 597 hours standby Size 113 x 50 x 13mm Weight 85g
Nokia Asha 302

Reviewed:November 2012, price: 95 www.nokia.com
While the Nokia Asha 302 wont win any awards for originality or features, its great build quality, battery life and usability make it ideal for social networking. If youre looking for a decent feature-phone for easy all-day typing, the Asha 302 could be right for you. And while you can pick up a good smartphone for around this price, the handy QWERTY keyboard is ideal if youre frequently typing texts and emails.
OS Nokia Series 40 Screen 2.4-inch TFT Resolution 240 x 320 pixels Input QWERTY keyboard Processor 1GHz single-core Memory 128MB Storage 100MB internal, MicroSD up to 32GB Camera 3.2MP rear-facing Flash No Video Yes Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 700 hours Talk time 9 hours Size 117 x 56 x 14mm Weight 99g
VERDICT: A pretty basic, functional feature

phone with a few extra goodies.
VERDICT: Great features for those on a

budget. To that end, few phones can beat it.
VERDICT: Great QWERTY usability and an

impressive battery life at a decent price.
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Nokia Asha 311

Reviewed: November 2012, price: 110 www.nokia.com
The Asha 311 is a high-quality featurephone which packs style, usability and a decent screen. But you can buy a much better smartphone for less. With the excellent Huawei Ascend G300 and Vodafone Smart 2 available for less, the Asha 311 struggles slightly, as while it is a good feature-phone it is crippled by an unrealistically high price tag. Make sure to consider your needs before buying.
OS Nokia Series 40 Screen 2.4-inch TFT Resolution 240 x 320 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1GHz single-core Memory 128MB Storage 140MB internal, MicroSD up to 32GB Camera 3.2MP rear-facing Flash No Video Yes Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 750 hours Talk time 6 hours Size 106 x 52 x 13mm Weight 95g
Nokia Lumia 520

Reviewed: June 2013, price: 99.95 www.nokia.com
A good budget offering from Nokia which is let down by its struggles to handle the tasks required of it. Cheaper than the 620 which nevertheless had less performance issues. The 520 packs a good camera and battery life, however there are both cheaper phones which perform better and more expensive phones which dont.
Nokia Lumia 620

Reviewed: March 2013, price: 230 www.nokia.com
Nokias newest entry level device, the 620 runs the same OS as its older siblings. With some good grunt under its hood and the addition of Nokias more useful apps like Music and Maps, the 620 is a good phone, despite occasional issues with handling the software. The camera lives up to the Lumia name taking crisp shots and the 620, in all, is a good entry level device - on a plan. The SIM free phone has a hefty price tag.
Dimensions 115x61x11mm Weight 127g OS Windows Phone 8 Screen 3.8 800x480 Processor Snapdragon S4 dual-core 1GHz RAM 512 MB Storage: 8GB (to 64GB via MicroSD) Cameras: 5MP main, 640x 480p secondary. Video 720p at 30fps. Wireless: WiFi, Near Field Communication, Bluetooth 3.0 Ports: Micro-USB 2.0, data connector Battery life: 1300mAh
Dimensions 119.9x64x9.9mm Weight 124g Screen IPS super sensitive 4 touch screen Resolution 800 x 480, 235 ppi Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual core 1 GHz RAM 512MB Storage 8GB, 64GB external
Cameras 5 MP, auto focus, f/2.4 (same as Nokia Pureview 808) Video 720p (HD, 1280 x 720) Wireless WLAN IEEE 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0 Ports USB 2.0, MicroSD (CHECK), 3.5mm audio jack Battery life 1430mAh, 9.6h (3G) - accurate
VERDICT: A satisfying feature-phone but

the high price is a little bit unrealistic.
VERDICT: A good camera, battery and price

but the phone can struggle with tasks.
VERDICT: A great little budget device, but a

bit expensive.
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Nokia Lumia 720

Reviewed: July 2013, price: 299 www.nokia.com
A fairly solid mid-tier offering which suffered some setbacks at start up, the 720 features a Carl Zeiss lens and a slightly better looking screen and performing processor. Aside from this, the Lumia 720 isnt wonderfully different from its lower priced siblings and showed signs of wear and tear after a week, although its camera lives up to the Lumia name. Microsofts app store is still fairly limited, however.
Dimensions 127.9 x 67.5 x 9mm Weight 128g Screen IPS ClearBlack 4.3 touchscreen Resolution 480 x 800, 217 ppi Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual core 1 GHz RAM 512MB Storage 8GB, 64GB external Cameras 6.7 MP, Carl Zeiss lens, auto focus Video 720p @30fps Wireless WLAN IEEE 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0 Ports USB 2.0, MicroSD, 3.5mm audio jack Battery life 2000 mAh, 13h (3G)
Nokia Lumia 820

Reviewed: March 2013, price: 380 www.nokia.com
The 920s pragmatic little brother, the 820 runs the same processor and RAM. It lacks some of the high end photography options but still takes good quality pictures and also runs Windows Phone 8. It has the full complement of Nokia apps like Music and Maps (although the Windows Store still struggles for quality in the app department). Battery can be disappointing, however, and some apps only work with WP8 devices.
Dimensions 123.8x68.5x9.9 mm OS Windows Phone 8 Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon S4, dualcore 1.5GHz Screen 4.3 AMOLED. Resolution 800h x 480 RAM 1GB Storage 8GB (MicroSD to 64GB) Camera: 8.0 MP, LED flash, auto focus Video: 1920x1080, 30fps Wireless: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0 Ports: 3.5mm audio jack, MicoSD, Micro-USB 2.0 Weight: 160g Battery: 1650 mAh
Nokia Lumia 900

Reviewed: July 2012, price: 360 www.nokia.com
The latest in Nokias range of Windows Phones, the Lumia 900 packs style, usability and features to help it stand out from the crowd. While the present limitations of its operating system, such as a limited selection of apps and an occasionally confusing interface, might deter expert users, its still a fantastic choice for anyone after an eye-catching alternative to the huge amount of rival Android handsets.
OS Windows Phone 7.5 Screen 4.3-inch AMOLED Resolution 480 x 800 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1.4GHz Qualcomm APQ8055 Memory 512MB Storage 16GB Camera 8MP rear-facing, 1MP front-facing Flash Yes Video 720p HD Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 300 hours Talk time 7 hours Size 128 x 69 x 12mm Weight 160g
VERDICT: A fairly solid mid-tier device but

not too different from lower priced siblings.
VERDICT: Arguably superior to the 920, a

few niggles hold it back from greatness.
VERDICT: Great usability and features, plus

bags of style, make the Lumia 900 a winner.
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Nokia Lumia 920

Reviewed: January 2013, price: 36p/m www.nokia.com
For now this remains an EE exclusive, so it will be interesting to see how the flagship Windows Phone 8 device fares. A fantastic looking phone with a great interface, grunt under the hood and the best camera phone in the business. A bit heavy and bulky, but outstanding design - a real eye catcher. Like all WP8 devices, the app store is a problem, but this deserves to do well.
OS: Windows Phone 8.0 Screen: 4.5-inch PureMotion HD+ IPS LCD Resolution: 1280 x 768 Processor: 1.5 GHz Dual Core Snapdragon S4 RAM 1GB Storage 32GB Camera 8.7MP with Pureview sensor Input: Capacitive touchscreen Video: 720p or 1080p, 30fps Storage: 32GB Audio: Music player/FM radio Size: 130 x 70.8 x 10.7mm Weight: 185g Battery: 2000 mAh
Orange San Diego

Reviewed: August 2012, price: 180 www.orange.co.uk
As the UKs first Intel-powered smartphone, the Orange San Diego arrived with heavy expectations. And it delivered well, thanks to its strong performance, great screen and decent battery life. Only the poor implementation of its customised Android UI lets it down slightly, making the interface more awkward to use than it needs to be. Regardless, the San Diego still offers plenty of power and features for your money.
OS Android 2.3 Gingerbread Screen 4-inch LCD Resolution 600 x 1024 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1.6GHz Intel Atom Z2460 Memory 1GB Storage 16GB Camera 8MP rear-facing Flash Yes Video 1080p HD Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 336 hours Talk time 8 hours Size 123 x 63 x 10mm Weight 117g
Prestigio 4500 DUO

Reviewed: June 2013, price: 179 www.prestigio.com
The Prestigio fails to dazzle, offering nothing fresh, but it is a user friendly, well featured and well priced device that ticks all the right boxes for a smartphone. It offers a smooth Android experience in a classic design with a competitive price tag and could go up against the likes of Huawei or HTCs budget brands. A solid offering from a lesser known brand.
OS Android 2.3 Gingerbread Screen 3.5-inch TFT Resolution 480 x 800 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 800MHz Memory 512MB Storage MicroSD Camera 5MP rear-facing Flash Yes Video Yes
Wireless 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 240 hours Talk time 4 hours Size 117 x 59 x 11mm Weight 120g
VERDICT: An fantastic device technically, its

success relies on Microsofts app store.
VERDICT: A punchy, competitively-priced

device but not without a few small flaws.
VERDICT: Nothing new but this is a user

friendly, well priced well featured device.
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Samsung Ativ S
Reviewed: March 2013, price: 439.99 www.samsung.com/uk
Possibly the best looking Windows Phone 8 physically with a good display, and a very usable Windows Phone 8 device, the software is lazy, with a poor selection of apps and what apps there are, can appear less than appealing. However, the user interface is easy to use and the processor can handle whatever is required of it. The phone looks and feels good - its just a pity theres not much to look at, app-wise.
Dimensions 137 x 70.5 x 8.7 mm OS Windows Phone 8 Screen 4.8-inch Super AMOLED Resolution 720 x 1280 Processor 1.5GHz dual-core GPU Adreno 255 RAM 1GB Storage 16/32GB expandable via micro SD Cameras Front 1.9MP camera, rear 8.0MP capable of 1080p HD video Wireless Wi-Fi Ports Micro USB, 3.5mm audio Battery life 2.300mAh
Samsung Galaxy Ace 2

Reviewed: October 2012, price: 240 www.samsung.com/uk
In a year where Samsung crafted one of the worlds best smartphones with the Galaxy S III, it has also created a fantastic mid-level device with its affordably-priced Galaxy Ace 2. Offering a stunning screen, great usability and a strong set of features it packs all that the average smartphone buyer will need. And while its a shame that the latest version of Android isnt installed, you still get unbeatable value or money.
os Android 2.3 Gingerbread Screen 3.8-inch TFT Resolution 480 x 800 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 800MHz dual-core Memory 768MB Storage 4GB internal, MicroSD up to 32GB Camera 5MP rear-facing, 0.3MP front-facing Flash LED Video 720p HD at 30fps Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 670 hours Talk time 16 hours Size 118 x 62 x 11mm Weight 119g
Samsung Galaxy Beam

Reviewed: November 2012, price: 400 www.samsung.com/uk
While Samsungs Galaxy Beam cant quite compete with the best rivals at this price, it is surprisingly capable and exceeded our expectations. With its decent performance, stunning screen and strong build quality, it ticks many boxes. And the built-in projector is far more useful than we expected, letting you beam photos, videos, work files and more at up to 50-inches in size. For bigscreen images on the move, its unbeatable.
OS Android 2.3 Gingerbread Screen 4-inch TFT Resolution 480 x 800 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1GHz dual-core Memory 768MB Storage 8GB internal, MicroSD up to 32GB Camera 5MP rear-facing, 1.3MP front-facing Flash LED Video 720p HD at 30fps Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 760 hours Talk time 9 hours Size 124 x 64 x 13mm Weight 145g
VERDICT: Great WP8 hardware, but the lack

of apps means Nokia and HTC still rule.
VERDICT: In terms of sheer bang for your

buck, this great phone is one of the best.
VERDICT: A unique and very well-equipped

smartphone with a handy built-in projector.
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Samsung Galaxy Fame

Reviewed: July 2013, price: 159 www.samsung.com/uk
Dont look at Samsung for cheap smartphones, but the Fame offers a compact, modern Android experience for only marginally more than other brands. A wee phone which allows you to run your digital life with just your thumb, the Fame sports Android 4.1, a screen thats just right for some and an attractive price point. Cons include a thick, stubby design, a low res screen and rival phones going cheaper.
OS Android 4.1 Screen 3.5-inch / 320x480 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Camera 5MP, VGA front Video Record / Playback Audio Music player / Stereo Bluetooth / 3.5mm jack Memory 4GB expandable via micro SD card Battery 1300mAh
Samsung Galaxy Mini 2

Reviewed: August 2012, price: 150 www.samsung.com/uk
With its eye-catching design, decent performance and comfortable usability, the Galaxy Mini 2 is well worth a look for firsttime smartphone buyers on a budget. There are some incredibly high-quality rivals on the market, though, from brands such as HTC and Huawei, among others. So you might want to shop around and check out the competition before handing over your cash, as there are great deals to be had.
OS Android 2.3 Gingerbread Screen 3.27-inch TFT Resolution 320 x 480 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 800MHz Qualcomm MSM7227 Memory 512MB Storage 4GB, MicroSD Camera 3.15MP rear-facing Flash No Video 640 x 480 pixels Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 540 hours Talk time 11 hours Size 109 x 59 x 12mm Weight 105g
Samsung Galaxy Note 2

Reviewed: December 2012, price: 409 www.samsung.com/uk
The size of Samsungs Galaxy Note range is a hate it or love it prospect - is it too big to be a phone, or too small to be a tablet? Does a stylus have any place on a smartphone? Either way, it is a brilliant piece of technology, with a whopping great 16 hours of talk time. Its only main flaws are a dull screen and a poor camera - otherwise it comes down to personal preference. Definitely one to try out in store.
OS Android 4.1 Jelly Bean Screen 5.5-inch SAMOLED Resolution 720 x 1280 pixels Input Capacitive screen, stylus Processor 1.6GHz quad-core Memory 2GB Storage 16/32/64GB internal, MicroSD up to 64GB Camera 8MP rear-facing, 1.9MP front-facing Flash LED Video 1080p HD at 30fps Wireless 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Battery 16 hours talk time 890 hours standby Dimensions 151 x 81 x 9mm Weight 183g
VERDICT: Not the cheapest out there but a

compact device which has plenty of appeal.
VERDICT: A good entry-level handset, but

there are plenty of better deals to be found.
VERDICT: The king of the big screen phone/

tablets, youll either love it or hate it.
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EdItors choIcE
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EdItors choIcE
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Samsung Galaxy S Advance Samsung Galaxy S2

Reviewed: August 2012, price: 230 www.samsung.com/uk
While the Samsung Galaxy S Advance doesnt do much to stake a claim as the best mid-range handset you can buy, its still a suitably capable effort, which will suit newcomers to the smartphone market. With that said, though, there are many better options that you can find at this price, so you might want to shop around and see what its rivals have to offer, before choosing this as your main handset.
OS Android 2.3 Gingerbread Screen 4-inch SAMOLED Resolution 480 x 800 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1GHz ARM Cortex-A9 Memory 768MB Storage 8/16GB, MicroSD Camera 5MP rear-facing, 1.3MP front-facing Flash Yes Video 720p HD Wireless 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 570 hours Talk time 15 hours Size 123 x 63 x 10mm Weight 120g
Samsung Galaxy S3
Matching up to the mighty Galaxy S II was always going to be a tall order, but with the release of the Galaxy S III Samsung has clearly surpassed expectations. With its stunning design, amazing usability, highpowered performance and cutting-edge features, it measures up to the best of the competition and sets a new benchmark for its rivals. If youre looking for one of the best smartphones you can buy, this is it.
OS Android 4.0 ICS Screen 4.8-inch SAMOLED Resolution 720 x 1280 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1.4GHz Cortex-A9 Memory 1GB Storage 16/32/64GB, MicroSD Camera 8MP rear-facing, 1.9MP front-facing Flash Yes Video 1080p HD Wireless 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 790 hours Talk time 21 hours Size 137 x 71 x 9mm Weight 133g
330 SIM-free www.samsung.com/uk

The Galaxy S II is one of Samsungs top-end smartphones and was your Phone of the Year 2011, according to reader votes for the What Mobile Awards. It offers blisteringly fast performance, a decent camera, strong battery life and a great screen. Alongside the newer Galaxy S III, its the biggest threat Apple has seen since the iPhone launched, and with good reason. Few phones offer such a good user experience.
OS Android 2.3 Gingerbread Screen 4.3-inch SAMOLED+ Resolution 480 x 800 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1.2GHz ARM Cortex-A9 Memory 1GB Storage 16/32GB, MicroSD Camera 8MP rear-facing, 2MP front-facing Flash Yes Video 1080p HD Wireless 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 710 hours Talk time 18 hours Size 125 x 66 x 9mm Weight 116g
VERDICT: A decent mid-range device but it

offers little to set itself apart from its rivals.
VERDICT: An award-winning Android phone

that effortlessly impresses across the board.
VERDICT: A masterpiece of design and

usability. This is the benchmark to beat.
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Samsung Galaxy S4
An impressive hardware offering with intriguing new software and camera features but these need to be perfected and integrated into the device as a whole before the S4 can really be called a knock out. While the phones processor seemed to struggle with games and the design is pretty same ol to the S3, this is a solid offering from Samsung in the flagship race.
Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini

Reviewed: January 2013, price: 300 www.samsung.com/uk
Something of a misnomer, this is no relation to its bigger brother, the S III,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 pursuring that (former) flagship on a budget plan - this is extortionately expensive for what you get.
Samsung Tocco Lite 2

Reviewed: September 2012, price: 99 www.samsung.com/uk
Blending neat features with a range of equally noticeable flaws, the Tocco Lite 2 is a real mixed bag. Theres no denying the value it provides, but its 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 youre after the most bang for your buck, this isnt the phone for you.
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 802.11b/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 x 58 x 12mm Weight 96g
Dimensions 136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9 mm Weight 130g Screen 5 inch, Super AMOLED capacitive touch screen, 16M colours Resolution 1080 x 1920 CPU Quad-core 1.6 GHz GPU PowerVR SGX 544MP3 RAM 512MB
Storage 16/32/64GB, up to 64GB external Cameras 13MP, 4128x3096 pixels, autofocus, LED ash Video 1080p@30fps Wireless Wi-Fi 802.11, Bluetooth 4.0 Ports USB 2.0, MicroSD, 3.5mm audio jack Battery life Li-Ion 2600 mAh
OS Android Jelly Bean 4.1.1 Screen Super AMOLED Resolution 480 x 800 pixels 4.0 inches 233 PPI Storage 8 or 16 GB, up to 32 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 3.5m jack Battery Li-Ion 1500 mAh Dimensions: 121.6 x 63 x9.9mm Weight 111.5g
VERDICT: An impressive offering with

interesting but not integrated new software.
VERDICT: A cheeky move by Samsung to

pass this off as a premium device. Its not.
VERDICT: It may suit very young users, but

its not a phone we can highly recommend.
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Sony Xperia Go
Reviewed: October 2012, price: 200 www.sonymobile.com
When weve tested semi-rugged phones before, theyve often put function firmly over form. But Sonys Xperia Go blends style and resilience to create a tough device thats also great to look at. Its waterproof, dust-resistant design keeps it protected against the elements and its 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.
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 802.11b/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 111 x 60 x 10mm Weight 110g
Sony Xperia J
Reviewed: February 2013, price: 149 www.sonymobile.com
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. Youd do much better buying last gens flagship phones on a contract, rather than buying this weak cut price performer. Avoid.
Sony Xperia P
Reviewed: October 2012, price: 290 www.mobilephonesdirect.co.uk
The Xperia P works well on so many levels that its 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 LEDbacklit screen and excellent features, you get plenty of value for money too.
Dimensions 120.5 x 63 x 10.28 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 ash / 720p HD video Wireless Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.1, a-GPS and GLONASS Ports Micro USB, 3.5mm audio Battery life 1,700mAh
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 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0, HDMI Standby time 475 hours Talk time 6 hours Size 122 x 60 x 11mm Weight 120g
VERDICT: If you need a stylish and tough

phone for outdoor use, theres a lot to like.
VERDICT: A bit of a rip off for a low spec,

poor performing phone.
VERDICT: If youre looking for a one-of-akind phone, make sure to check it out.
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Sony Xperia S
Reviewed: February 2012, price: 320 www.sonymobile.com
The Sony Xperia S has some stellar features, including an excellent 12-Megapixel camera and the ability to record ultrasharp 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 Sonys Android range. If youre after a stylish and feature-packed phone, this one should be high on your list.
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 802.11b/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 128 x 64 x 11mm Weight 144g
Sony Xperia SP
Reviewed: July 2013, price: 290 www.sonymobile.com
The Xperia SP has an excellent high definition screen, a fairly solid battery life and an interesting notification system involving a panel at the bottom of the phone which lights up with customisable colours when you get a message. However the phones not as powerful as last years flagships, is slightly bulky and there are rival phones to be had for less money, particularly if youre not fussed about 4G.
OS Android 4.1 Screen 4.6inch / 720x1280 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Camera 8MP, VGA front Video Record / Playback Audio Music player / Stereo Bluetooth / 3.5mm jack Memory 8GB expandable via micro SD card Battery 2370mAh
Sony Xperia T
Reviewed: December 2012, price: 400 www.sonymobile.com
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 cant command premium pricing - It falls short of its Samsung and HTC rivals, watch for a price drop.
OS Android 4.0 ICS 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 802.11a/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: A stylish and feature-packed

Android phone with an amazing camera.
VERDICT: If 4G LTE isnt for you, the Xperia

SP isnt quite the bargain it first seems.
VERDICT: Among the Android smartphone

elite, but still needs some work.
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Sony Xperia Tipo

Reviewed: November 2012, price: 130 www.sonymobile.com
While there is nothing glaringly wrong with the Xperia Tipo, there arent any stand-out features either, other than its competitively low price. If you want to grab yourself an Android 4.0 smartphone and are strapped for cash, then it makes a decent entry-level option. But against other budget Android devices, there are many more interesting choices out there, making the Xperia Tipo a tough sell against its high-quality rivals.
os ndroid 4.0 ICS Screen 3.2-inch TFT Resolution 320 x 480 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 800MHz single-core Memory 512MB Storage 2.9GB internal, MicroSD up to 32GB Camera 3.2MP rear-facing Flash No Video 640 x 480 pixels Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 470 hours Talk time 5 hours Size 103 x 57 x 13mm Weight 99g
Sony Xperia U
Reviewed: September 2012, price: 180 www.sonymobile.com
The Sony Xperia U is a pleasing device to use, with few notable weaknesses other than its slightly lacklustre camera and limited storage. It would be a decent handset even if it was sold for a higher price, so compared to similarly-priced devices it is way ahead of the game in terms of performance and usability. For that reason, it is a great entry-level Android smartphone and one that we like a lot.
OS Android 2.3 Gingerbread Screen 3.5-inch TFT Resolution 480 x 854 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1GHz ARM Cortex-A9 Memory 512MB Storage 4GB internal Camera 5MP rear-facing, 0.3MP front-facing Flash LED Video 720p HD at 30fps Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Battery 6 hours talk time 472 hours standby Size 112 x 54 x 12mm Weight 110g
Sony Xperia Z
Reviewed: April 2013, price: 499 www.sonymobile.com
Sonys latest top shelf flagship smartphone is a powerhouse in every way, let down only by some unusual design decisions. Water, dust and shock resistant, its giant screen size will come down to personal preference, as will its unusual design. Otherwise it has all of Sonys bells and whistles, including some clever use of NFC with NFCs stereos, TVs and laptops.
Dimensions 139 x 71 x 7.9 mm and 146g OS Android 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean). Screen 5 inch, Capacitive touchscreen,1080 x 1920 Processor Qualcomm Krait quad-core 1.5 GHz RAM 2GB RAM Storage 16GB, microSD (to 32GB)
Cameras Main 13.1 MP, 4128x3096 pixels, autofocus, LED ash. Front - 2.2 MP, 1080p@30fps Wireless Wi-Fi 802.11, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC enabled Ports MicroUSB v2.0, MicroSD, 3.5mm audio jack. Battery Li-Ion 2330 mAh battery
VERDICT: A decent Android handset thats

cheap but cuts a few too many corners.
VERDICT: Packing style, power and a sharp

screen, it provides a great user experience.
VERDICT: A powerhouse phone, let down

only by some design niggles.
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Vodafone Smart 2
Reviewed: September 2012, price: 70 www.vodafone.co.uk
At less than 80 on PAYG, the Vodafone Smart 2 is cheaper than the Samsung Tocco Lite 2 feature-phone, yet packs full smartphone features and better usability. Its strong mobility only adds to the overall package, making it the perfect choice for first-time smartphone owners. For the price it is one of the best weve seen, making this a great value handset and one which is well worth the staggeringly low asking price.
OS Android 2.3 Gingerbread Screen 3.2-inch TFT Resolution 320 x 480 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 832MHz ARMv6 Memory 512MB Storage 150MB internal, MicroSD up to 32GB Camera 3.2MP rear-facing Flash LED Video 640 x 480 pixels at 15fps Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Battery 16 hours talk time, 300 hours standby Size 109 x 58 x 12mm Weight 120g
ZTE Blade III

Reviewed: May 2013, price: 69.99 www.ztedevices.co.uk
Its hard to argue with a smartphone that can compete with its betters, yet can be purchased for a fraction of the cost. Yes there are flaws and cutbacks to meet the price point, but this is an excellent entry level device for smartphone newbies and pragmatic users who dont need the latest and greatest.
ZTE Grand X
Reviewed: November 2012, price: 200 www.ztedevices.co.uk
In terms of raw performance at this price, combined with its excellent pure Android experience, the ZTE Grand X offers great value for money. It lacks the build quality of more premium rivals, however, and over the length of a contract the plasticky feel of the chassis may start to bug you. And dont forget that the similarly priced HTC One V, which also runs Android 4.0 on a slightly slower processor, is much more of a looker.
OS Android 4.0 ICS Screen 4.3-inch TFT Resolution 540 x 960 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1GHz dual-core Memory 512MB Storage 4GB internal, MicroSD up to 32GB Camera 5MP rear-facing, 0.3MP front-facing Flash LED Video 1080p HD at 15fps Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time TBC Talk time TBC Size 127 x 65 x 10mm Weight 110g
Dimensions 123 x 63.5 x 10mm, 130g OS Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich Screen TFT capacitive touchscreen, 256K colors, 480 x 800 pixels, 4.0 inches (233 PPI) Processor Qualcomm single core 1GHz
RAM 512MB Storage 4GB internal, expandable to 32GB via MicroSD Camera 5MP Wireless Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1. Ports Micro USB, MicroSD, 3.5mm audio jack. Battery life 1600mAh
VERDICT: Few phones are this good at this price. An excellent, value-packed handset.
VERDICT: A real surprise package excellent for the money.
VERDICT: A great no-frills smartphone with

a pure Android 4.0 operating system.
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Amazon Kindle Fire

Reviewed: January 2013, price: 159 www.amazon.co.uk
While an impressive enough device for its cuthroat-cheap price, the fact that users are locked into Amazons App Store (and locked out of the Google Play Store) means that it is only really useful for those who want to do little more than watch movies and read books. The screen isnt that impressive, and the product is covered in ads to make you consumer Amazon products. If you can put with that, it might be a good budget option.
Size 193 x 137 x 10.3mm Weight 395 g Screen TFT Capacitive touchscreen Resolution 1280x800, 216 ppi pixel density CPU Dual core, 1200 MHz, ARM Cortex-A9 OS Android Jelly Bean 4.1.1 GPU PowerVR SGX540 Memory 1Gb RAM Storage 16 or 32 GB plus Camera 1.4MP front facing (screen side) only Video 720P Connectivity Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth Ports Micro-USB 3.5m jack Micro HDMI Battery Li-Ion 4,400mAh
Amazon Kindle Fire HD 8.9 Apple iPad Mini

Reviewed: May 2013, price: 229/259 www.amazon.co.uk
A good looking e-reader with tablet capabilities, limited by Amazons annoying operating system and app eco-system, and an annoyingly slow browser. This device will doubtless be a commercial success, with its branding and ease of use, but for the more serious user there are much better tablets out there.

The iPad Mini represents Apple playing it safe, which is to say:, disappointing. This is little more than an iPad 2, with all its limitations - a low res screen and weak processor power - shrunk down to an odd 7.9-inch size. It is also overpriced, the Google Nexus 7 offers superior performance for 100 less. Despite its luxurious design, you really are paying for little more than 4G support, and Apples App Store. Average.
OS iOS 6.0.1 Screen 7.9-inch LED-backlit IPS LCD Resolution 768 x 1024 pixels at 162 pixels per inch Input Capacitive touchscreen CPU Apple A5 1GHz dual core GPU PowerVR SGX543MP2 Memory 512MB Storage 16/32/64GB Camera 5MP rear facing, 1.2MP front facing Video 1920x1080 (1080P HD) at 30fps. Video stabilised Wireless Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Bluetooth 4.0 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Apple Lightning port (USB 2.0) Size 200 x 134.7 x 7.2mm Weight 308g
Dimensions 240 x 164 x 8.8 mm OS Customized Android 4.0 Screen 8.9 inch IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen Resolution 1920 x 1200, 254 ppi Processor TI OMAP 4470 dual-core 1.5 GHz
Cortex-A9 GPU PowerVR SGX544 RAM 1 GB RAM Storage 16 GB/32 GB Cameras front facing 1.3MP with 720p video Wireless 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band Ports USB 2.0, 3.5mm audio jacks, Bluetooth
VERDICT: A shopping centre for Amazon

first, and a tablet second. Cheap though.
VERDICT: A solid, functional tablet which is

limited by its Amazon associations.
VERDICT: Little more than a shrunken iPad

2 with 4G. Disappointing.
HHHHH HHHHH HHHHH

EdItors choIcE
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EdItors choIcE
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Apple iPad 3
Reviewed: April 2012, price: 399 www.apple.com/uk
The new iPad boasts the highest-resolution display of any tablet, as well as an improved 5MP camera and better connectivity. Not to mention a high-powered new processor which makes it the most powerful iPad ever, too. Though some may resist the upgrade path, the unrivalled Retina display is a subtle but deeply appealing feature which will become more and more desirable. The new iPad is by far the best tablet around
OS iOS 5 Screen 9.7-inch TFT Resolution 1536 x 2048 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1GHz Cortex-A9 Memory 1GB Storage 16/32/64GB Camera 5MP rear-facing, 0.3MP front-facing Flash No Video 1080p HD Wireless 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, proprietary Apple connector Standby time 720 hours Use time 9 hours Size 241 x 186 x 9mm Weight 662g
Apple iPad 4
Reviewed: January 2013, price: 399 www.apple.com/uk
A rather cheeky move by Apple to release the iPad 4 (or iPad with Retina Display) just months after the iPad 3. All it really adds is a new processor (the iPhone 5s A6X) and Apples new lightning connector. However, this means it remains as the best tablet money can buy - and Apples App Store and its 300,000 dedicated tablet apps only make the proposition more enticing.
Archos Titanium 80
Reviewed: May 2013, price: 150 www.archos.com
The Archos Titanium does everything more high spec Android tablets do, and it comes in a relatively attractive package that invites comparisons with the iPad Mini. It has a nice metallic body, if a little more rustic. The screen has a poor resolution, but that is par for the course here. Its hard to argue with a tablet thats priced less than half of an iPad Mini yet performs just as well.
Dimensions 200 x 154 x 10.2mm, 430g OS Android 4.1 Jellybean Screen TFT IPS touchscreen, 768x1024, 8.0 inches (163 PPI) Processor ARM Cortex-A9 dual core 1.6GHz RAM 1GB Storage 8GB internal, expandable to 64GB via MicroSD Cameras 2MP rear, 0.3MP front Wireless Wi-Fi Ports Micro USB, MicroSD, Micro-HDMI, Power, 3.5mm audio jack
OS iOS 6.0.1, Screen 9.7 inch LED Resolution 1536 x 2048 pixels at 264 ppi pixel density CPU Apple A6X, Dual-core GPU PowerVR SGX554MP4, Memory 1GB RAM Storage 16/32/64 GB storage Camera 5MP rear facing, 1.2MP front facing
Video 1080P HD at 30fps Wireless Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 Cellular 4G, 3G, 2G Ports Lightning Connector (USB2.0) and 3.5mm audio jack, Dimensions 241.2 x 185.7 x 9.4 mm Weight 662 g
VERDICT: Theres simply no contest - the

new iPad is the best tablet in the world.
VERDICT: The best tablet money can buy.
VERDICT: A cheap iPad Mini alternative that

almost matches up in most respects.
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EdItors choIcE
HHHHH
Asus MemoPad
Reviewed: May 2013, price: 259 www.asus.com
The Memopad remains a pretty powerful tablet, but the poor screen and hits to battery life make it a tough sell. If youre going for 10-inches, pay a wee bit more and get a Google Nexus 10. Otherwise, simply go and buy the Google Nexus 7 for 100 less and get the more complete package.
Barnes & Noble Nook HD

Reviewed: February 2013, price: 159 www.barnesandnoble.com
Yet another bookseller getting in on the tablet game, the B&N Nook HD boasts a great screen (much better than the overrated iPad Mini) but unfortunately is hobbled by being tied to its own app store, rather than Google Play. Its hardware is also pretty average, but its physical design looks great. An opportunity that went begging.
Google Nexus 7
Reviewed: September 2012, price: 159 www.google.co.uk/nexus
Googles Nexus 7 is a high-quality media consumption device built for gaming, watching videos, browsing the internet and catching up on TV shows that youve missed. What it isnt is an Apple iPad, but at this price it doesnt need to be. Google has picked what it wanted to do and done it very well - and all at a great price. This excellent device is sure to take tablets to a whole new audience of consumers.
OS Android 4.1 Jelly Bean Screen 7-inch LED-backlit IPS LCD Resolution 800 x 1280 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1.3GHz Cortex-A9 Memory 1GB Storage 8GB/16GB internal Camera 1.2MP front-facing Flash No Video 720p HD Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi Bluetooth 4.0 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Battery 10 hours use, 300 hours standby Size 199 x 120 x 10mm Weight 340g
Dimensions 263 x 180.8 x 9.9 mm, 580g OS Android 4.1 Jellybean Screen TFT IPS touchscreen, 1280x800, 10.1-inches (149 PPI) Processor NVidia Tegra 3 Quad core 1.2GHz RAM 1GB Storage 16GB internal,
expandable to 32GB via MicroSD Cameras 5MP rear, 1.2MP front Wireless Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0 Ports Micro USB (power), MicroSD, Micro-HDMI, 3.5mm audio jack
Dimensions 194x127x11.0mm OS Modied Android 4.0 Screen 7-inch LCD Resolution 1440x900 Processor 1.3 GHz OMAP 4470 Dual-Core Processor GPU PowerVR SGX544 RAM 1GB Storage 8/16GB expandable
via microSD Cameras N/A Wireless Wi-Fi Ports HDMI-out via proprietary socket, 3.5mm audio Battery life 10.5 hours reading, 9 hours video
VERDICT: Decent, but nothing outstanding

here with better alternatives available.
VERDICT: The Nook has a superb screen,

but locking users to B&Ns store is daft.
VERDICT: A fantastic device that delivers all

youd want from a tablet, at a great price.
HHHHH HHHHH HHHHH

EdItors choIcE
HHHHH
Google Nexus 10
Reviewed: February 2013, price: 319 www.google.co.uk/nexus
Finally, the Android tablet everyones been waiting for - except Apple. This is a tablet that can go head to head with the best in the Apple iPad stable - it has a powerful processor, a Retina Display quality screen, the latest version of Android. Along with the Nexus 7, this is the best tablet Android users can buy. The only flaws are an uninspired body, and a dearth of tablet specific apps.
OS Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) Dimensions 263.9 x 177.6 x 8.9 mm, 603g Screen 10-inches, Gorilla Glass 2, Resolution 2560 x 1600p Input Super PLS TFT capacitive touch-screen CPU Exynos 5, Dual-core ARM Cortex-A15 RAM 2 GB Cameras 5 MP (main), 1.9 MP (front) Wireless Wi-Fi, Bluetooth NFC Android Beam Storage 16 GB/32 GB Connectivity Micro USB, Micro HDMI, 3.5mm headphone jack Battery 9000 mAh
Kobo Arc
Reviewed: March 2013, price: 159 www.kobobooks.com
The tablet that bested Amazon and Barnes&Nobles offerings - the Kobo Arc provides access to Googles Play store, something its rivals dont do. Built like an e-reader but with a front facing camera for your Skyping needs, the Kobo Arc has a well thought out content portal. However its running an older version of Android at the same price as some updated rivals and the launcher can be a bit laggy.
Dimensions 189 X 120 X 11.5 mm OS Android 4.0 Screen 7-inch LCD Resolution 1280 x 800 Processor 1.5GHz dual-core GPU N/A RAM 1GB Storage 16, 32 or 64G not expandable via Micro SD memory card Cameras Front 1.3MP camera, capable of 720p HD video Wireless Wi-Fi Ports Micro USB, 3.5mm audio Battery life 10 hours reading
Microsoft Surface
Reviewed: January 2013, price: 399 www.microsoft.com/surface
As much a victom of Microsofts hype machine as anything, the Surface is Windows 8/RTs flagship tablet device. While it is a technologically solid device (a nice screen and decent processor encased in a nice body), it unfortunately doesnt know if its a laptop or a tablet. The interface is difficult to learn and the app offerings are non-existent.
Networks None, Wi-Fi only Dimensions 275x172x9.4mm Weight 680g OS Windows RT Screen TFT capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors Resolution 1366 x 768 Processor Nvidia T30 quad core at 1.3GHz Memory 2GB of RAM
GPU GeForce ULP Storage 32GB/64GB, MicroSD (to 64GB) Camera Front and back 1.2MP. Video 720P Wireless Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, Ports 3.5mm audio jack, USB2.0, mini-HDMI out, Battery life 8 hours
VERDICT: The best Android tablet available,

slips behind the iPad 4 only due to apps.
VERDICT: Better than most of its rivals in

this space - a rival for the Kindle Fire HD.
VERDICT: Full of potential, but a device let

down by its poor software, Windows 8/RT.
HHHHH
HHHHH HHHHH
EdItors choIcE
HHHHH
Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 Sony Xperia Tablet Z

Reviewed: October 2012, price: 399 www.samsung.com/uk
Arriving in the shadow of the third iPad, its to Samsungs credit that the Galaxy Note 10.1 isnt completely dwarfed by its rival. Combining a strong specification, unique usability and some excellent features, it is one of the best devices you can buy in the ever-growing tablet market. The problem is it is priced to target the iPad and while it is certainly a great tablet, its not quite good enough to rival Apples masterpiece device.
os Android 4.0 ICS Screen 10.1-inch TFT Resolution 800 x 1280 pixels Input Capacitive touchscreen Processor 1.4GHz quad-core Memory 2GB Storage 16/32/64GB internal, MicroSD up to 64GB Camera 5MP rear-facing, 1.9MP front-facing Flash LED Video 720p HD at 30fps Wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 Ports 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0 Standby time 1500 hours Use time 33 hours Size 258 x 175 x 9mm Weight 583g
Vodafone Smart Tab 2

Reviewed: February 2013, price: 149 www.vodafone.co.uk
The Vodafone Smart Tab 2 isnt terribly impressive - it has a low res screen, not much power under the hood and average battery performance. It is unfortunately put at the same price point as its much better rivals, such as the Kindle Fire HD, Google Nexus 7, Kobo Arc and iPad Mini. Why pay 149 for something that feels like its two years old? Avoid.
Reviewed: July 2013, price: 399 www.sony.co.uk

The powerhouse tablet offering from Sony, the device matches up to its phone brother, the Xperia Z, in pure power and almost matches up in terms of screen specs. An ultra slim tablet, the only drawbacks include a tendency to attract dust and finger prints like nobodys business, a so-so camera and quite a high price. But the Xperia Tablet Z is still an impressive offering at a cost comparable to the iPad 4.
Dimensions 172 x 266 x 6.9mm Weight 495g Screen 10.1 inch Resolution 1920 x 1200, 224ppi Processor Quad core S4 Pro 1.5GHz RAM 2GB Storage 16GB with microSD up to 64GB Camera 8.1MP rear facing Video 1080p@30fps, HDR Wireless Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band Ports Infrared, NFC, Bluetooth, USB Battery life Up to 10h talk time (accurate)
Dimensions 192 x 122 x 11.5mm, 400g Screen 7-inch, 16x9, capacitive TFT multi-touch Resolution 1024 x 600p at 170 PPI CPU ARM Cortex A9, 1GHz GPU MTK6575 Chipset. PowerVR SGX531 Battery Li-Ion 3550 mAh
Storage Internal 4GB (user sees 1.7GB) expandable via MicroSD to 4 + 32GB Cameras Front 0.3MP, Rear 2.0 MP no ash Wireless 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, Bluetooth v3.0 Network 3G, GPRS, EDGE Ports Micro USB (2.0) Battery Life 6hrs usage
VERDICT: A fantastic tablet but it cant

quite match up to the latest Apple iPad.
VERDICT: A powerhouse tablet from Sony

with a great looking screen.
VERDICT: A run of the mill budget tablet

that is overpriced for what you get.
HHHHH HHHHH HHHHH

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