What Mobile - June 2014 UK

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JUNE 2014
WHATMOBILE.NET
SPECIAL REPORT – HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST MOBILE CONTRACT
ULTIMATE BUYER’S GUIDE: MORE THAN 100 PHONES AND TABLETS TESTED
SONY XPERIA Z2 TABLET
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Which one of these three fitness
bands is the toughest?
Life’s a beach and then you fly.
Sony and Samsung’s latest
‘holiday-proof’ devices
BANDS ON THE RUN
The Gear 2 is a big improvement
but is it worth the money?
SECOND GEAR
June 2014 £4.95
9 771466 065056
0 6
Top tips for staying
in touch without
losing your mobile
FESTIVAL
PHONES
01_Cover_5_June14.indd 1 06/05/2014 17:51
Order by 6.30pm for free next-day delivery*
freephone 0800 888100
@mobile_gossip facebook.com/mobilephonesdirect
original
Introducing
the new
Galaxy S5.
Be one of the frst to own the
brand new Samsung Galaxy S5
by ordering today from:
www.mobilephonesdirect.co.uk
*Subject to status, availability and connection to selected 24 month agreements on a choice of networks. Price correct at time of printing. Order Mon-Fri before 6.30pm for free next working day delivery.
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DIGITAL EDITIONS
PRICES
With tablet and smartphone sales growth slowing this year,
despite the release of a number of high-end devices, you would
be right in thinking that the industry needs a catalyst.
Luckily, innovation can be found in the design aesthetic of two
new flagship products that combine sleek and slender looks with
unprecedented durability.
Despite the fact that rugged handsets and tablets have been
around for a while now, Sony’s Xperia Z2 tablet (reviewed on p20)
and Samsung’s Galaxy S5 smartphone (reviewed p24) combine the
dust- and – in particular – waterproof durability of existing products
with an unprecedented desirability for these types of devices.
At a tiny 6.4mm depth, the Xperia Z2 manages to be lighter and
slimmer than the iPad Air but overtakes it in its superior water
resistance. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S5 may not look like the best
handset on the market but it’s one of few smartphones that can
take a dunk in the bath and survive.
Simply based on their superior functionality, these products have
opened the floodgates for mobility like never before. And with the
widening availability and adoption of 4G mobile broadband – which
comes built-in on both – outdoor connectivity is easier than ever.
With the Great British summer fast approaching, taking your high-
end devices to the beach is now more practical than ever due to the
Galaxy S5 and Xperia Z2 tablet.
Still, high-end devices aren’t ideal for every situation and may not
be to everyone’s taste or fit every consumer’s budget.
Elsewhere in this issue we address why it’s a good idea to leave
your expensive devices at home this festival season, as well as
the alternatives available to buyers who want to look past the all-
consuming pay monthly contract.
The What Mobile team
Samsung and Sony’s water-tight design
shows innovation still exists
Clark White Publishing Ltd
8-10 Godson Street
Islington, London
N1 9GZ
Tel: 020 3122 0870
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.whatmobile.net
Twitter: @whatmobile
Facebook: What Mobile Magazine
NEXT ISSUE ON SALE
12th June
EDITORIAL
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 020 7324 3502

Reporter: Saqib Shah
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 020 3122 068
Reporter: Callum Tennent
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 020 3122 068
Editorial Director: Ian White
ART/PRODUCTION
Art Editor: Andy Hemming
Email: [email protected]
ADVERTISING
Advertising Sales Manager
Kimberley Glover
[email protected]
020 3122 0871
PUBLISHING
Printed by PCP, Telford, TF7 4QQ
Telephone 01952 585 585
Distributed by Inter-Media
What Mobile is published
12 timesa year.
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June 2014
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03_Editorial_June14.indd 6 06/05/2014 17:49
CONTENTS JUNE 2014
06 International Round-up
The best new phones from around the world
10 Patently Obvious
Trawling patent offices for future tech secrets
12 Win
Scoop an Enerplex Kickr IV – worth £110
14 Accessories
Everything you need for office work on the go
20 Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet
Meet Sony’s gorgeous water-resistant tablet
24 Samsung Galaxy S5
Can it live up to our sky-high expectations?
28 BlackBerry Z30
BB makes another touchscreen comeback
30 Alcatel One-Touch Idol X+
Is outsider appeal and decent specs enough?
32 Yezz Andy Phone
A little-known camera phone to snap up
34 Samsung Galaxy Gear 2
Samsung’s smartwatch goes up a gear
36 Fitness Wearables
We judge the best sports and lifestyle trackers
40 Festivals
Surviving a weekend in a field with your tech
44 Contracts
How not renewing your contract can pay off
48 Apps & Games
Plus all the latest titles for handheld consoles
Find out how
much your
old
p o h ne
is worth
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CONTENTS
June 2014
www.whatmobile.net
10
20
24
40
14
58 Buyer’s Guide
108 devices rated and reviewed
04_Contents_June14.indd 4 06/05/2014 17:47
Find out how
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is worth
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04_Contents_June14.indd 5 06/05/2014 17:47

Nokia X
Gionee Elife S5.5
6 www.whatmobile.net
Already a hit in China, where according to Nokia it has a million pre-
orders, the Finnish manufacturer’s latest family of budget handsets
feature a hybrid Android-Windows Phone operating system. The device
allows owners of a Windows Phone handset to download and use
Android applications for the first time.
The Nokia X has a 4-inch screen and a 3-megapixel camera. The
phone and its sibling Nokia X+ are available in green, red, cyan, yellow,
black and white.
The Nokia XL has a 5-inch display, a 5-megapixel rear camera and
a 2-megapixel front-facing camera. All three phones have dual-core
processors and support dual-SIM, allowing users to switch SIM cards.
The phones’ feature Windows Phone ‘live tiles’ that point users
towards Microsoft and Nokia services such as Bing search and Here
maps, rather than Google’s equivalent apps.
The Nokia X costs €89 (£73), whereas the Nokia X+ and Nokia XL are
priced at €99 (£81) and €109 (£90) respectively.
With an increasing number of mobile devices being exclusively
released in the developing world, there is now a barrage of
desirable smartphones, tablets and accessories available beyond
the West.
It is ever more evident that these emerging markets will become the next
battleground for major manufacturers carving out a stake in the global
mobile market.
As developing countries transform themselves from mere third-party
manufacturers to producers of globally recognised brands, the amount
of home-grown products being released is rivalling the output of more
established companies.
That’s not to say electronics giants such as Samsung, Nokia and HTC are
resting on their laurels. All three have made extensive forays into emerging
markets by releasing devices solely in Asia.
Some analysts also claim that even the future success of Apple will
depend on how well it can penetrate the region.
With all this in mind, we have created a new monthly feature, where we
bring you the best devices from around the world.
If you thought the UK and Europe had it made, you’ve got another
think coming.
So, read on to find out our picks of the best devices from across the globe.
We have a feeling it will leave you wanting more.
Chinese manufacturer Gionee has launched what it claims to be the
world’s slimmest smartphone. At 5.6mm, the Elife S5.5 is so thin, the
svelte 7.6mm iPhone is almost 50% thicker. Few people would ever
complain that their smartphone is too thin, so Gionee has given itself a
decent shot at success with this model.
Currently only available in China and India, it comes equipped with
a 5-inch Full HD Super AMOLED Plus screen. The Elife S5.5 sports
an octa-core 1.7GHz processor, 13-megapixel rear camera and a
5-megapixel front camera.
The Android 4.2-powered phone has a 2,300mAh battery, which the
company said will be boosted to 2,450mAh with the next incarnation.
The 3G version of the handset is currently available for pre-order in
China at roughly $370 (£220). With the average cost of smartphones
sold worldwide dropping to $317 (£189) last year, the Elife S5.5 is more
than a little above the median, but with its appealing USP and decent
specs, Gionee could be on to a winner.
INTERNATIONAL ROUND-UP
International round-up
06-08_Tech Trotting_June14.indd 6 06/05/2014 14:27
Much G2
INTERNATIONAL ROUND-UP
ZTE Nubia X6
8 www.whatmobile.net
Little-known Chinese smartphone manufacturer Much has taken aim at
the potentially lucrative mobile gaming market in China with its newest
handset, the G2. The device is a smartphone tailored to handheld
game lovers – think of it as a cross between a Samsung Galaxy and a
PlayStation Vita.
The G2’s clever design is apparent. On top of the phone sits a low-
profile joystick, along with a directional pad and a few physical buttons
along the bottom.
But is it just another gimmicky
handset like the forgotten Sony
Ericsson Xperia Play?
Let’s get the negatives out of the
way first. The 5-inch screen is a bit
of a letdown, packing a paltry 720p
resolution – as is the lack of 4G
connectivity and its slightly bulky
weight.
It does, however, come with a
MediaTek quad-core processor, 16GB
of storage, an 8-megapixel camera
and a huge 4,200mAh battery.
This sort of device requires some
software modification, which means
you’re stuck with the company’s
Android 4.2 skin. But Much has at least come up with a smart TV app
that lets users play games on a big screen.
The device’s crowning glory is its price tag of $161 (£96). This
transforms it from being just a toy into an affordable smartphone for
gaming. And with China recently lifting its console ban, which had
been in place for over 13 years, it could slot nicely into the burgeoning
gaming industry there.
If you like taking selfies, then this may be the smartphone for you.
The ZTE Nubia X6 boasts the world’s first 13-megapixel front-facing
camera. In addition, the device also packs a 6.4-inch screen, the
latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor and a massive
4,250mAh battery.
In case you were wondering, it also has a standard 13-megapixel rear-
facing camera.
The X6’s size strides into phablet territory – a sector that is showing
signs of growth in Asia, and particularly China, as an affordable middle
ground between smartphones and tablets.
Specs include a 1080p-resolution screen that contains 344 pixels per
inch, a sleek aluminium casing, dual speakers, slots for two SIM cards,
and it comes in configurations of either 2GB or 3GB RAM.
The X6’s rear snapper uses an Exmor RS imaging sensor from Sony,
which helps you take pictures in low light.
The phone runs Android 4.3 with ZTE’s Nubia 2.0 user interface. ZTE
has also incorporated a split-screen function so users can view separate
apps at the same time on the large screen.
ZTE has already started taking pre-orders for the device in China. The
good news for the rest of us is that the company will probably roll out
the device to other countries later this year.
Pricing for the X6 starts at 2,999 yuan (£400).
INTERNATIONAL ROUND-UP
06-08_Tech Trotting_June14.indd 8 06/05/2014 14:27
Untitled-16 1 28/03/2014 15:06

Interchangeable lenses
Apple
Flexible battery
Nokia
Extendable stylus
Apple
Camera remote with a screen Apple
10 www.whatmobile.net
We all love the camera on our
smartphone. For some of us,
it is the single biggest factor
when choosing a handset.
Recognising this, Apple
could be set to further boost
photography on the iPhone
after patenting bayonet-
attachable iPhone lenses.
Just like you would do with
a bayonet light bulb – or an
actual digital camera, for that matter – the idea seems to be that the lenses
simply twist on and off your device. The possibilities are endless and would
certainly give the iPhone a jump on photographically advanced competitors
like the Nokia Lumia.
Nokia’s standing might have slipped since its glory days as a dominant mobile
manufacturer, but there’s one area in which it is undeniably a driving force:
batteries. Qi wireless charging has been a major feature of its Lumia range for a
while, but the Finnish phone maker isn’t content to stop there.
One of its patents describes a flexible ‘Swiss roll’ battery. This ‘battery ribbon’
is clearly flexible, meaning it can roll up within itself. The patent is keen to
explain that the technology could be used in any number of areas, but one
is particularly pertinent: wearables. A smart watch, by definition, has to be
curved. The potential to fit a battery inside the strap – or behind a curved
AMOLED display such as in the Samsung Gear Fit – could be a real distinction
for any future Nokia wearable.
This could be huge news
all round. The fact that
Apple has patented
a stylus is massive in
itself, regardless of its
properties.
Of course, every iPad until now has been a strictly finger-and-thumb
controlled device. If Apple intends to build a stylus, then this could give
credence to a much-speculated iPad Pro, with a larger screen offering more
room to write and draw.
This stylus is distinguished from the competition by having what appears to
be a flexible nib. You can imagine how the sensation would vary according to
changes to the length of the nib and pressure applied, Having different tactile
sensations for drawing in the style of a felt-tip pen or painting with a soft brush
would be a real breakthrough for aspiring digital artists.
Camera timers are all well and good, but wouldn’t a
remote be better? We’ve already seen a host of iPhone-
compatible remote accessories made by third parties,
and Apple has noticed too.
This patent details a small device that looks a little
like a sixth generation iPod Nano, with various controls
and even its own screen. We can clearly see both
‘Photo’ and ‘Record’ buttons, meaning it’s obviously
related to camera control. There are also dedicated
playback buttons for video capture and preview. With
all these buttons, perhaps the screen won’t be touch-
capacitive. If you’re looking for a better way to take
selfies or group shots, without having to second-guess
the timer countdown – followed by uncertainty over
whether it’s actually worked – this could turn into a
must-have device.
Flexible batteries? Interchangeable lenses? These are just two of the top-secret tech breakthroughs Apple, Samsung and Nokia are
working on. How did we bring you their closely guarded innovations? Let’s just say patent office websites can be very instructive...
But be quick, these pages are programmed to self-destruct in five minutes...
PATENTLY OBVIOUS
PATENTLY OBVIOUS
10-11_Patents_June14.indd 10 06/05/2014 15:06
VISIT OUR BRAND NEW WEBSITE FOR THE LATEST NEWS AND REVIEWS
All new video content
Web exclusive articles

PATENTLY OBVIOUS
A tablet with a hole in it
Samsung
Unlocking via swipe pattern
Samsung
www.whatmobile.net 11
Your guess is as good
as ours here. This
patent doesn’t have any
complicated dissections
or technical jargon. It’s
just a tablet with a hole
in the frame.
What could it possibly
be used for? Some
special sort of mount?
That’s really our best
guess.
The most interesting thing
about this patent is that it seems to
be announcing a new device.
Top and bottom front-facing speakers are
a new concept for Samsung. If there’s space for a
stylus, it could be a new Galaxy Note. If not, it might be a
new Galaxy Tab.
Unlocking your phone is a hassle.
Pressing a hard button is boring. HTC
and LG already have knock-to-wake,
and now Samsung want in. This patent
details a means of unlocking via swiping
a pattern on the locked screen.
The trick is that you can swipe your
preferred pattern in any orientation
you wish. The technology relies on
recognising where the intersections
in your swipe occur - the picture
provided shows a simple loop,
for example.
We’ve seen similar concepts
elsewhere, with many Android
handsets using a 4 x 4 grid, whose dots must be connected in the
correct order. This patent seems to be like a free-form version of that,
but without the need to awaken the screen first. There’s even the
potential for multiple saved gestures, each launching a different screen.
PATENTLY OBVIOUS
10-11_Patents_June14.indd 11 06/05/2014 15:06
Which major UK music festival is being
sponsored by the mobile network EE
this summer?
A. Glastonbury
B. Reading and Leeds
C. Isle of Wight
Email your entry (one only) to [email protected]
The winner will be posted at: www.facebook.com/whatmobilemagazine
A
£
1
1
0
E
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P
L
E
X

K
IC
K
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IV
S
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Sweating the small stuff: 1. The promoter of this competition is Clark White Publishing Ltd. 2. The competition is open to all UK residents aged 18 years or over, excluding employees of What Mobile, all
participating companies, its agents or families and any company associated with this competition. 3. By entering, all entrants will be deemed to have accepted these rules. 4. All entry instructions form a
part of the terms and conditions. 5. Closing date: 3 June 2014. 6. Only one entry per email/IP address will be accepted. 7. The correct winning entry will be selected randomly by the administrator of the What
Mobile Facebook page. The winner, who must be a UK resident, will be sent an Enerplex Kickr IV and their name announced via our Facebook page. 8. No cash alternative or other device will be offered. 9. No
correspondence will be entered into except that the name of the winner will be available upon written request.
WIN
COMPETITION
The great British summer will soon be upon
us, so what better way to take advantage
of our 10 days of sunshine than with the
Enerplex Kickr IV? It’s a compact solar
charger that is compatible with any device
with a micro-USB, mini-USB or Apple 30-pin
port. You can use it to charge your devices
when you’re out and about, or even to power
a set of portable speakers for wireless music,
wherever you are.
To be in with a chance of winning, simply
answer this question:
12_Competition_May14.indd 10 06/05/2014 17:46
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01
Celluon CellMC1 Projection Keyboard
£90

If you like futuristic tech that’s very portable, take a look at the
Cellulon Magic Cube. This tiny box projects a laser image of a
keyboard onto any flat surface, allowing you to simply tap away
as if the projection were a real keyboard. It’s the ultimate tool to
free you from the office, and it’s compatible with iOS, Android
and Blackberry.
iBoost Signal Booster Repeater Kit
£135

Being trapped somewhere without a mobile signal is a nuisance
at the best of times, but at worst, it could cost you your job. This
portable signal booster ensures that wherever your travels take
you, you’re less likely to miss a phone call or be unable to send vital
documents. It’s 4G compatible and there’s also a version with a
12V car adapter for when you have no access to a wall socket.
14
Who needs an office when you can get so much graft done with your mobile device – and in any
place you fancy? Here’s a selection of handy accessories for the modern worker on the go
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GADGETS, GIFTS AND ACCESSORIES
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VuPoint Solutions Photo Cube
£60

Of all of the devices in the office, is there any more hated
than the printer? The error messages, the noise, the space
it takes up and the ludicrous price of ink cartridges? The
Photo Cube changes all that. Simply dock your iPhone into
the top of the tiny device and you can instantly print off a
photo from your handset. Want to print documents? Just
take a screenshot of them and print the image! It even
works with Android handsets and all sorts of tablets via
USB cable. What’s more, refill cartridges cost only £12 and
slot into the machine with zero fuss.
Akita HandyScan
£80

There was a time when scanners were an office luxury –
massive, ugly beasts that would cost hundreds of quid.
Now we have one you can wield in your hand – and it’s
totally wireless. The Akita HandyScan saves its scans to
microSD card – it even comes with one, surprisingly –
meaning you can scan on the go and then easily transfer
scans to your smartphone or computer later.
Apple Wireless Keyboard
£59

Tablets are great – until you need to get any real work
done on them. Touchscreens are all well and good for text
messaging, but for anything more extensive, you need
something more ergonomic. Apple’s wireless keyboard is
the best on iOS and is compatible with all iPads. It also
features all of the extra functions you’d find on a regular
Mac keyboard, to give you as close to a desktop experience
as possible.
16 www.whatmobile.net 16
GADGETS, GIFTS AND ACCESSORIES
05
04
03
14-17_Acessories_June14.indd 16 06/05/2014 15:13
07
08
i-FlashDrive HD
£100

A flash drive for iOS and Mac OSX devices, the i-FlashDrive HD comes
in four storage configurations, ranging from 8GB to 64GB. The drive can
be plugged into your smartphone or Mac using either the built-in USB
connector or the attached 30-pin connector and a Lightning adaptor for
newer models.
iPad Stand/Desk Organiser
£21

Another multi-function office accessory, this bamboo iPad stand can
hold your iPad and store stationery in its various compartments. Its
bamboo finish also means it will sit comfortably alongside the other
furniture in the home. Additionally, the stand can be used to hold
notebooks or small notepads.
Jawbone Era
£80

This is a small headset that
fits comfortably into the
ear, allowing you to take
hands-free calls on the move.
It’s designed for use with
smartphones and, as a result,
it features more functions
than simple call answering.
You can sync the Era with
your iOS or Android device to
listen to music or podcasts.
By using the Jawbone app,
you can customise the Era
and programme easy access
to Siri or Google Now for
hands-free control. The Era’s
small charging case more than
doubles its 4 hours of talk time,
so you’ll have power, even if
you’re always on the go.
www.whatmobile.net 17
GADGETS, GIFTS AND ACCESSORIES
06
07 08
14-17_Acessories_June14.indd 17 06/05/2014 15:13
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www.whatmobile.net 19
A tablet that likes a dip in the deep blue? Say hello to Sony’s beach-friendly eye candy. Elsewhere
we get our hands on Samsung’s flagship S5 and pray to the phone gods for a BlackBerry revival
24
28
34
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REVIEWS IN THIS ISSUE
REVIEWS
To show you where a phone or
tablet succeeds or fails, we grade
each device in five key areas.
Only the very best devices
will win our What Mobile
Editor’s Choice award.
Usability
Next we find out how well the
device functions in daily use.
Design
Then we rate the style and
quality of the overall design.
Final verdict
A rating out of five, balancing
cost versus performance
“Its sleek design and durability are two factors that don’t often go hand in hand”
“This handset is one of the best around but it
feels like it could have been so much more”
“A well-specced touchscreen smartphone
with flaws inherent in every BlackBerry”
“The Gear 2 is Samsung’s attempt at a higher-
end equivalent to its other wearables”
Performance
First we fully test the speed and
power of each device we review.
Features
What kind of unique features
and add-ons does it have?
How we review Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet
Samsung Galaxy S5
BlackBerry Z30
Samsung Galaxy Gear 2
Editor’s choice
EDITOR’S CHOICE
HHHHH
19_Reviews-Intro.indd 19 06/05/2014 15:12
OS Android OS v4.4.2 (KitKat)
SCREEN 10.1 inches
PROCESSOR Quad-core 2.3 GHz
MEMORY 3GB
STORAGE 16GB, microSD up to 64GB
CAMERA 8.1MP rear, 2.2MP front
BATTERY 6,000mAh
NETWORK Wi-fi connectivity, 4G LTE
SPEC SHEET
20 www.whatmobile.net
T
he Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet arrived
with a fanfare of publicity about
its light weight and supposed
water resistance. Its uniqueness lies in its
combination of sleek design and durability
– two factors that don’t often go hand in
hand. But there’s more to the device than
its innovative design. And there needs to
be, if it’s to compete with lightweight rivals
including the iPad Air and Samsung Tab Pro.
DESIGN
The first impression is of thinness: it has a mere
6.4mm depth. It’s also lighter than an iPad Air. So
for travel, you won’t find a better tablet.
Much like its predecessor, the Xperia Z2 Tablet
also continues Sony’s fascination with rigidly
square corners.
But reductions to weight and size come at a
price: plastic has been used to achieve a lighter
weight, which won’t be to everyone’s taste and
SPEED
CAMERA
BATTERY
AT A GLANCE
Tablet is a mere
6.4mm thick
Water-resistant
up to 1.5m
Large bezel is one
of few negatives
Price: £400
Reviewer: Saqib Shah
While many people drool over the iPad’s sleek looks, Sony’s latest tablet arguably sets the
design bar even higher. It’s not simply skin deep either – the Z2 also packs a punch
Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet
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20-23_Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet_June14.indd 20 06/05/2014 14:29
www.whatmobile.net 21
prompts questions regarding its durability.
The Xperia Z2 Tablet doesn’t look like it can take
rough handling by kids. However,the device’s size
and weight make it ideal for tilt-control gaming, so
children – and adult gamers – are going to love it.
With an impressive IP55/IP58 rating (the standard
for measuring resistance to dust and water), the
Xperia Z2 will take a splash or two. It can function
up to a 1.5-metre depth in water and you can take
pictures in fresh water for up to 30 minutes.
The 4G LTE connectivity adds to its appeal when
it comes to outdoor use.
All the port holes on the Xperia Z2 Tablet are
covered for water-proofing. The covers cannot be
fully removed and look fragile – as if they would
break under slight pressure.
Another minor negative is the large bezel around
the screen, which detracts from its relatively large
10.1-inch screen size, which is larger than the
9.7-inch iPad Air. Still, the display is more than
sufficient for typical tablet tasks.
Elsewhere, the design is minimal. There are
very few physical buttons, just the metallic power
and volume buttons on the left edge. There’s an
inconspicuous 2.1-megapixel front-facing camera,
though the more powerful 8.1-megapixel rear-
facing camera placed on the top right-hand corner
is more noticeable.
DISPLAY
Switch on the Xperia Z2 Tablet, and you can’t
help but be drawn to its display, which doesn’t
disappoint in either screen size, resolution or
brightness. We would recommend turning off
auto-brightness in the settings menu and cranking
the brightness all the way up, as the Xperia Z2
Tablet looks better in all its colourful glory. Despite
a lower screen resolution of 1,920 x 1,200 pixels
than its competitor the Nexus 10, which boasts
2,560 x 1,600 pixels, the Xperia Z2 Tablet can still
compete with its high-end counterpart. The display
produces deeper-hued colours than standard LCD
efforts and avoids the over-saturation of many
AMOLED panels.
Sony has once again used its Live Colour LED
technology, which adds red and green elements
to each LED. This was first seen on the Xperia
Z2 smartphone but it’s the first time it has been
used on a Sony tablet. As a result, the screen’s
vibrant display is more prominent when looking at
colourful images or playing high-end games.
When reading online or simply web browsing,
there is little to discern it from similar products, as
the 1,920 x 1,200-pixel resolution has become the
standard for most superior tablets.
SOFTWARE & APPS
Productivity apps include the Microsoft-aping
OfficeSuite Pro software and a host of built-in apps
that focus on connectivity and synchronisation
with other Sony products.
For fans of Sony, there’s plenty on offer. Otherwise,
just log onto the Google Play store and grab all the
popular apps you need, like Facebook, Twitter and
Pinterest.
It’s worth noting that certain large updates, such
as an Android update, wouldn’t start unless the
battery was at least half full, even when the device
was plugged into the charger.
Also, many of the built-in Sony apps, including
the PlayStation and PlayStation Mobile apps,
required immediate updates. Perhaps a better
method would have been to automatically update
all the apps during initial set-up.
Other features include Sketch, which is an
illustrator/image-editing app – like a playful version
of Microsoft Paint. It offers some decent functions
but is pointless for any demanding creative tasks
without a stylus.
OfficeSuite Pro imitates Microsoft Office, right
down to the icons, with the ability to create simple
text, spreadsheet or presentation documents.
The on-screen keyboard is fully capable of taking
extensive notes. For more structured documents,
however, tablets still cannot compete with a
proper physical keyboard and trackpad or mouse
– even with an external plug-in tablet keyboard.
And Microsoft’s Office software for Android is
better for bigger productivity tasks. The on-screen
keyboard’s magnifying glass and selection tools
REVIEW SONY XPERIA Z2 TABLET
If you’re a fan of Sony, there’s plenty to get your teeth into among Sony’s wide array of entertainment apps and features
The Xperia Lounge and Sony Select apps serve up a selection of video clips, films and music recommendations for you
20-23_Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet_June14.indd 21 06/05/2014 14:29
22 www.whatmobile.net
Even if you’re only after power and practicality,
you have to admit that a thin tablet has its
advantages. After all, what’s not to like about a
slim and sleek device that’s also easier to handle
and carry around? What’s more, you no longer
have to sacrifice power for design, as most slim
devices now pack mighty processors to rival their
bulky competitors.
The tablets on this list are the thinnest and
lightest on the market. In order to keep things
relevant, we’ve chosen only large tablets and
have limited the selection to models that were
released since 2013.
The Apple iPad Air is
the thinnest, lightest
full-sized iPad yet, with
a slim bezel that adds
to the desirability that
goes hand-in-hand with
an Apple product. Its
lightweight build and
feel make it an obvious
choice. But unlike the
past, Apple now has
competition on its
hands. And the iPad is
not the slimmest nor the
lightest tablet out there
– it’s trumped by both
the Xperia Z2 Tablet and
the Amazon Kindle Fire.
It’s amazing just how
light the Fire HDX is.
While the iPad Air is
light and has a larger
screen, Amazon’s
newest tablet is 20%
lighter than the Air.
It also packs in a
higher resolution,
comparable thinness,
dual cameras and great
battery life.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 matches the iPad Air’s thickness
and weight, but the Samsung tablet has the advantage, with its
bigger screen and higher resolution. Despite sporting a thick bezel
and a silver trim that add to its bulky design, the Tab Pro still feels
lightweight. Although it doesn’t come cheap, that money will buy
you an HD display and tons of power.
Despite often being overlooked by consumers, Sony continues to offer
cutting-edge slates that feature super-slim design and unique durability.
Its latest release, the Xperia Z2 Tablet, is no exception. It measures only
0.25 inches thick and weighs a little under a pound. The swift-performing
10.1-inch tablet is also waterproof. Its design alone sets a new standard for
skinny slates.
Skinny love: How does the Xperia Z2
compare to its slender counterparts?
APPLE iPAD AIR SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB PRO 10.1
SONY XPERIA Z2 TABLET
AMAZON KINDLE
FIRE HDX 8.9
REVIEW SONY XPERIA Z2 TABLET
THICKNESS
(inches)
WEIGHT
(pounds)
SCREEN SIZE
(inches)
APPLE
iPAD AIR
0.29 1 9.7
SAMSUNG
GALAXY TAB PRO 10.1
0.29 1 10.1
AMAZON
KINDLE FIRE HDX 8.9
0.31 0.82 8.9
SONY
XPERIA Z2 TABLET
0.25 0.97 10.1
20-23_Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet_June14.indd 22 06/05/2014 14:30
www.whatmobile.net 23
can be a bit glitchy when attempting to select or
edit certain text. The on-screen keyboard also uses
information from your other accounts – Google,
Facebook, Twitter – to personalise the predictive
text input to match your writing style. We didn’t
notice any difference in the text that was being
suggested by the keyboard while typing – apart
from its recognition of personal information such
as email addresses.
A social network newsfeed aggregator
entitled Socialife is included and is similar
to Flipboard and HTC’s superior BlinkFeed.
News aggregator apps are also now
available from Facebook and Yahoo, with
varying degrees of success. Meanwhile,
the Xperia Lounge and Sony Select
apps offer a host of audio-visual
recommendations including video clips,
selected movies and tracks.
The PlayStation connectivity apps are
aimed at PlayStation account holders who
can – via the PlayStation and PlayStation
Mobile apps – access account info, chat with
friends, purchase downloads from the PlayStation
Store and even play a limited amount of arcade-
style titles, including sci-fi shooter Alien Breed and
the classic Lemmings. These apps are not unique
to the Xperia Z2 Tablet and can be downloaded via
the Google Play store onto other Android-powered
devices too. We’re told that the PlayStation Mobile
app in particular may have compatibility issues
with third-party products.
PERFORMANCE
Even if you’re not a gamer, it’s worth trying out
the Xperia Z2 Tablet. Its light weight and thinness
make it extremely easy to use for tilt-control games
such as Real Racing 3, which worked a charm on
the device. Playing online using a wi-fi connection
was a breeze, and the decent-sized screen and
vivid colour display made it all the more immersive.
It really couldn’t be easier for new users to take to
gaming with portable devices such as the Xperia
Z2 Tablet.
The 2.3GHz quad-core processor makes both
gaming and web browsing fast and satisfying.
To put it into context, the Amazon Kindle Fire
HDX 8.9 offers a slightly slower 2.2GHz processor
and the Samsung Tab Pro 10.1 offers exactly the
same chip as the Z2 (for more detailed info about
the Z2’s main competitors see our specs rundown,
opposite).
Popular social networking apps such as Twitter,
Facebook and Instagram – and even video-
streaming apps such as YouTube and Vine – run
perfectly, while HD videos look terrific.
The speakers on the device aren’t the best but
they’re above average. The same goes for audio
while playing music tracks using the built-in Sony
Walkman feature.
It’s hard to imagine any other mobile device
beating the current crop of high-end tablets, that is,
until the rumoured appearance of 4K tablets later
this year.
FEATURES
The 8.1-megapixel camera on the Xperia Z2 Tablet
is standard fare, though it offers the benefit of water
resistance. But who takes photos with such a large
tablet anyway? Especially when the camera is
less powerful than a top smartphone such as the
Galaxy S5 or even the Xperia Z2 phone.
Video is also a standard 1080p resolution and 30
frames per second. As is the case with many of the
additional functionalities and in-built tools on the
Xperia Z2 Tablet, it’s a case of it’s better to have
than to have not.
CONCLUSION
An innovative design and water and dust
resistance make the Xperia Z2 Tablet worthy of
your attention. While the display is impressive,
the screen’s resolution is beaten by the Samsung
Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 and Amazon Kindle Fire HDX
8.9. Its powerful processor is slightly faster than
Amazon’s rival tablet and boosts performance
when gaming, using apps and web browsing.
Other functions including the standard camera
and video playback are pleasant additions, but
they offer little new. It’s a solid all-round tablet
and while the same price could buy you a better
display, its sleek design is a market leader.
PERFORMANCE
HHHHH
USABILITY
HHHHH

DESIGN
HHHHH

FEATURES
HHHHH

OVERALL HHHHH
If looks could kill, Sony just murdered the competition. Add to that a powerful processor and
decent screen size and you have a great new addition to the high-end tablet market.
+ Innovative design
+ Superior dust and water resistance
+ Powerful processor is ideal for gaming
– Resolution can’t compete with rivals
– Built-in apps offer little new
– Camera and sound quality is average
REVIEW SONY XPERIA Z2 TABLET
The Z2 has an impressive camera
compared to other tablets
20-23_Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet_June14.indd 23 06/05/2014 14:30
SPEED
CAMERA
BATTERY
AT A GLANCE
24 www.whatmobile.net
S
amsung is the most popular phone
manufacturer in the world by some
distance. In 2013 alone, one billion
smartphones were shipped, around a third
of which were made by Samsung – nearly
twice that of its closest competitor, Apple.
Samsung makes about half of all Android
handsets sold, more than 50 million of which
are the phone fans’ favourite, the Galaxy
S4. So expectations were sky high for the
Samsung Galaxy S5.
Yet rather than rapturous applause at its unveiling
in March, Samsung’s new device was met with
a resounding “is that it?” The S4 had been such a
popular device that many commentators felt not
enough had been done to build on its success.
This is the problem with the Galaxy S5: Samsung
has only done as much as it needed to to stay
ahead of the field. This handset is one of the best
around but it could have been so much more.
DESIGN
Let’s get the downsides out of the way, because
it would be unfair to leave you with a negative
impression of what is truly an excellent device. And
there is no greater downside to the Galaxy S5 than
its appearance.
Like the Galaxy S handsets before it, the S5 is
made entirely of plastic. Its rivals – notably the
iPhone 5S, the HTC One M8 and the Sony Xperia
Z2 – are constructed from glass and metal. Plastic
feels cheap because it is cheap. When you pay top
dollar, you expect a certain build quality, which the
S5 fails to deliver. It’s not much to look at either.
This is yet another handset from the ‘boring
REVIEW SAMSUNG GALAXY S5
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Plastic case feels cheaper
than rival handsets
Textured rubberised
backing is a new addition
OS Android 4.4 KitKat
PROCESSOR 2.5GHz quad-core
SCREEN 5.1 inches
RESOLUTION 1,920 x 1,080 pixels
MEMORY 2GB RAM
STORAGE 16/32GB
CAMERA 16MP rear-facing, 2MP front-facing
VIDEO 1080p HD
CONNECTIVITY 4G LTE
DIMENSIONS 142 mm x 72.5 mm x 8.1 mm
WEIGHT 145g
BATTERY 2,800mAh
SPEC SHEET
Price: £530
Reviewer: Callum Tennent
A new Galaxy S smartphone is always a big event. Does the S5 measure up to its predecessors?
Samsung Galaxy S5
24-27_Samsung Galaxy S5_June14.indd 24 06/05/2014 15:09
www.whatmobile.net 25
Android slab’ school of design. Its rear casing is
made from a rubberised plastic with a dimpled
texture that gives it a little more traction. The effect
distinguishes it slightly from other generic-looking
handsets. That said, the Galaxy S5 looks largely the
same as the S4.
Fortunately, the choice of plastic does have
an upside. The S5 is remarkably light at 145g,
compared with the 160g of the HTC One M8.
It might not sound like much but you do notice
the difference when you hold it. The light weight
can give the S5 a toy-like feel, but if you favour
portability, you should be pleased.
The rear is an interchangeable plastic cover,
which means the battery can be swapped out. A
replaceable battery is an increasingly rare feature
on flagship smartphones.
SOFTWARE & APPS
TouchWiz UI is Samsung’s take on Google’s
Android operating system, and comes pre-installed
on the S5, as with all Galaxy smartphones before it.
It still looks awful.
After spending time using the HTC One M8
and its equivalent user interface, Sense UI, the
difference is like night and day. HTC Sense is
sophisticated and sleek. TouchWiz feels juvenile
and unintuitive. There might still be a Google
Play Edition of the Galaxy S5, as there was for the
S4, which stripped away Samsung’s operating
system modifications. This would go a long way to
remedying some of its user experience issues.
A large part of the problem with Samsung’s
meddling is the number of pre-installed apps that
are very difficulty to remove. This ‘bloatware’ is
often considered unnecessary or unwanted. Here
we have many Samsung-branded apps that offer
little of real worth. For example, does anyone use
the Samsung App Store instead of the Google
Play Store? Or ChatON instead of WhatsApp? Or
Messages instead of Google Hangouts? The list
goes on, to the tune of roughly 4GB. This is how
much space is rendered unusable on your brand
If you boast that your phone is waterproof, you’d better make sure it is, because journalists like us will
immediately try to run it under the tap. Fortunately, the Galaxy S5 came through working perfectly.
Water way to go
REVIEW SAMSUNG GALAXY S5
The fingerprint sensor on the S5 is somewhat hit and miss The heartrate monitor monitor is good fun, if inconsistent Samsung TouchWhiz user interface can be unintuitive
The intrepid Samsung Galaxy S5 can survive submerged in up to a metre of water for an hour
SPEC SHEET
24-27_Samsung Galaxy S5_June14.indd 25 06/05/2014 15:09
26 www.whatmobile.net
new handset. If you buy the 16GB S5, you will have
roughly 12GB of usable space, while the 32GB
model gives you around 28GB of space. In fairness
to Samsung, you can expand the memory with a
microSD card up to 128GB.
Not all of Samsung’s pre-loaded apps are a
nuisance, though. Gear Manager, which allows
Samsung Gear or Gear 2 smartwatch owners to
connect their handset to their wearable device,
is handy.
There’s also the S Health app, which turns the
S5 into a pedometer, workout tracker and diet
manager. Most interesting is that the flash on
the back camera doubles as a heartbeat monitor.
Cover it with your finger and it will read your pulse,
although it can be erratic in its readings. Take two
pulse readings seconds apart and it can show a
discrepancy of more than 20bpm. Although the
heart rate monitor is a nice feature, its inaccuracy
makes it all but useless.
The S5 also has a fingerprint scanner similar to
that of the iPhone 5S, only less effective. You swipe
down from the base of the screen and over the
home key to unlock your device, but recognising
your fingerprint is hit and miss.
These S5 features often come off as mere
gimmicks due to their half-hearted implementation,
and this is where disappointment with the Galaxy
S5 stems from. Why did Samsung not work on
making the S5 the most technically impressive,
most polished handset possible? Gimmicks detract
from its greatness.
WATER RESISTANCE
One feature that certainly works is the S5’s
waterproofing. The Galaxy S5 is IP65 certified,
meaning you can dunk it to a depth of 1 metre for
an hour, which is undeniably useful. If you drop
your Galaxy S5 in your pint at the pub or put it
through the washing machine, it should emerge
fully functional.
Don’t be surprised if you start to see all leading
smartphones from this point on sporting an
IP65 rating.
CAMERA
Combine the S5’s ruggedness with an excellent
camera and you have two areas in which the S5
beats the HTC One M8.
The S5’s 16-megapixel rear shooter is incredibly
sharp, with a huge array of editing effects and
options for creating the perfect image. These
tweaks, including image stabilisation, face
detection, selective focus, burst shots, HDR and
post-editing options work together to create one of
the best photographic experiences on Android.
SCREEN & PERFORMANCE
A top camera requires a quality screen to show
it off, and the Galaxy S5’s display is the best
we’ve seen. With a 5.1-inch size diagonally and
a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels, it packs in
432 pixels per inch. This figure might sound fairly
standard, but the display uses Super AMOLED
technology rather than LCD, which generates
superb brightness and contrast, putting it ahead of
all other smartphones.
The display is also power efficient, with a very
low minimum brightness level. Combine this
with the handset’s ultra-power saving mode and
its battery can last for hours on a small charge.
Even without engaging this mode, the S5 will
comfortably continue for days on standby, and it
will see you through a working day’s heavy use
without needing a charge before bedtime.
The processor is a top-spec 2.5GHz Qualcomm
Snapdragon 801 processor, the fastest you’ll
find in any current smartphone. It’s only a small
improvement over the S4, which boasted a 2.3GHz
chipset, but it’s enough to put the Galaxy S5 at the
top of the pile. The S5 flies, excelling with resource-
intensive apps. There’s no game too strenuous to
slow it down, and there shouldn’t be for quite some
time yet.
CONCLUSION
Samsung is a victim of its own success. The Galaxy
S5 is an outstanding, class-topping handset, but it
still feels like a missed opportunity for Samsung to
put some distance between itself and its rivals.
As it stands, the S5 has only two true competitors,
the What Mobile Editor’s Choice-awarded HTC
One M8 and the Sony Xperia Z2 (see review next
month). Even the iPhone 5S pales from a technical
standpoint. But had Samsung really put its full
technical focus behind it, the S5 could have been in
a league of its own.
You shouldn’t let that, or the bloatware, deter
you though. Whether or not the S5 is the best
smartphone yet is a matter of personal preference.
If you’re a Samsung Galaxy fan, then you’ll adore
the S5. But if you’re still undecided about which
phone to go for, then you’ve got a seriously tough
choice on your hands.
PERFORMANCE
HHHHH
USABILITY
HHHHH

DESIGN
HHHHH

FEATURES
HHHHH

OVERALL HHHHH
The thing about Galaxy handsets is that their flaws are often matters of personal opinion. If
you don’t mind the samey design, plasticky build and irksome user interface, then the Galaxy
S5 could be the best smartphone yet. But this is a device that should have been even better.
+ Sharpest, brightest display around
+ Beastly processor is never stressed
+ Water-resistant and high-quality camera
– Why pay £570 for a plastic device?
– TouchWiz UI is mostly a hindrance
– Oh, the bloatware!
REVIEW SAMSUNG GALAXY S5
“The S5’s 16MP rear shooter is incredibly sharp,
with a huge array of editing options”
24-27_Samsung Galaxy S5_June14.indd 26 06/05/2014 15:10
www.whatmobile.net 27
The Samsung Galaxy S5 just about
edges out its competitors on the
processor front, but it’s a slim margin.
The S5’s 2.5GHz quad-core processor
is slightly faster than the other phones
on our list, if not by much, so Samsung
takes the gold.
Another clear-cut category and it’s another
win for Samsung. The Galaxy S5 is the only
handset on our list to use a Super AMOLED
display rather than LCD. Samsung has
achieved what was once unthinkable,
advancing the technology to such a level that
it actually betters its LCD counterparts.
The Nokia Lumia, which doesn’t feature on
our list, dominates the camera category, but
otherwise the Sony Xperia Z2 has the most
powerful front-facing and rear-facing snappers.
The S5 pumps out some serious pixel power
and is undeniably a better all-round handset,
but the Lumia has the best camera.
REVIEW SAMSUNG GALAXY S5
A Galaxy of stars
How the S5 measures up against its rivals
Samsung
Galaxy S5
Apple
iPhone 5s
Sony
Xperia Z2
LG
G Flex
HTC
One M8
Processor Quad-core 2.5GHz 64-bit quad-core A7 Quad-core 2.3GHz Quad-core 2.2GHz Quad-core 2.3GHz
Storage 16/32GB 16/32/64GB 16/32GB 32GB 16/32GB
OS Android 4.4.2 iOS 7 Android 4.4 Android 4.2.2 Android 4.4.2
RAM 2GB 1GB 3GB 2GB 2GB
Screen size 5.1 inches 4 inches 5.2 inches 6 inches 5 inches
Resolution 1,080 x 1,920 pixels 630 x 1,136 pixels 1,080 x 1,920 pixels 720 x 1,280 pixels 1,920 x 1,080 pixels
Camera 16MP (rear), 2MP (front) 8MP (rear), 1.2MP (front) 20.7MP (rear), 2.2MP (front) 13MP (rear), 2.1MP (front) 16MP (rear), 2MP (front)
Price £579 £549 £599 £575 £530
Dimensions 142 x 72.5 x 8.1mm 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6mm 146.8 x 73.3 x 8.2mm 160.5 x 81.6 x 7.9mm 146.36 x 70.6 x 9.35mm
Weight 177g 112g 163g 177g 160g
24-27_Samsung Galaxy S5_June14.indd 27 06/05/2014 15:10
F
or better or for worse, BlackBerry
is a name that should be familiar
with even casual tech users.
Once a major player in mobile phones,
BlackBerry’s QWERTY keyboard-equipped
handsets propelled it to a popularity as
great as any iconic brand.
But while the tech world progressed towards
touchscreens and adopted powerful Android and
iOS software, BlackBerry remained sat back. Its
inability, or perhaps refusal, to update its portfolio
led to it slipping from a 50% market share to less
than 3% today.
DESIGN
QWERTY keyboards on a phone were a big deal
10 years ago. Today, they are niche at best, a relic
at worst.
This is why the BlackBerry Z30 is noteworthy.
It’s odd that the big talking point for a flagship
smartphone should be that it features a
touchscreen, but that’s the Z30’s big statement.
It’s a fine looking screen, too – a comfortable 5
diagonal inches of Super AMOLED display, with
a resolution of 1,280 x 720 pixels. That gives it a
pixel density of 295 pixels per inch, which is not
too far off the rather excellent iPhone 5s. After the
Z10, this is BlackBerry’s best attempt at making a
full-sized touchscreen display.
In fact, BlackBerry can be pleased with the
phone’s looks all-round. Considering a failure
to adapt its designs caused BlackBerry to fall
away so dramatically, the Z30 is a very attractive
handset. Many phones are criticised for falling
into the generic ‘black slab’ archetype but the Z30
manages to take an ordinary oblong design and
put an interesting BlackBerry spin on it. The
back casing is a slightly rubberised plastic with a
subtle kevlar pattern running through it, while the
front has a thinner-than-average silver bezel. It’s
available in black or white, too, if you prefer.
SOFTWARE
As the Z30 runs on BlackBerry’s own operating
system, its design is much more minimalist
than you might be used to after years of Android
and iOS.
There’s no dedicated home button on the
device as you’d find on the iPhone, nor is
any valuable screen space taken up by the
an Android-style set of navigation buttons.
Unfortunately, this is where the strengths of
BlackBerry’s operating system end.
One of the greatest strengths of BB10, the latest
version of BlackBerry OS, is that it doesn’t use
dedicated navigation buttons. But it can also be
a nuisance. When inside an app, you minimise
it and return to your homescreen by sliding
your digit up from the bottom of the screen.
This doesn’t always work first time, and if you’re
playing a game, you can do it by accident.
It would be infinitely more useful to have a
button that pauses your app and takes you back
to your homescreen with one press.
The homescreen itself is functional enough, but
there’s simply no room for customisation. While
iOS is often criticised for its restrictive nature, its
presentability can make up for it. BB10 is a bit like
Android, but without customisation. You have one
screen filled with preview windows for all of your
REVIEW BLACKBERRY Z30
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AT A GLANCE
28
Best touchscreen yet
for a BlackBerry
Lack of navigation
button is a problem
Price: £500
Reviewer: Callum Tennent
Had the Z30 come out in 2009, it would have been a hit. Now, it’s too expensive, too little and too late
BlackBerry Z30
OS BlackBerry 10
PROCESSOR Qualcomm 1.7GHz dual-core
SCREEN 5 inches
RESOLUTION 1,280 x 720 pixels
MEMORY 2GB RAM
STORAGE 16GB
CAMERA 8MP rear-racing, 2MP front-facing
VIDEO 1080p resolution
CONNECTIVITY 4G LTE
DIMENSIONS 140.7 mm x 72 mm x 9.4 mm
WEIGHT 170g
BATTERY 2,880mAh non-removable
SPEC SHEET
28-29_BB Z30_June14.indd 28 06/05/2014 15:08
www.whatmobile.net 29
currently running apps, while to the right lies a
series of screens that simply lay out all your apps.
You can put apps in folders, but short of that, the
screens have to remain there, unchanged (again,
this is where Android’s app grid button would
really come in handy to reduce clutter).
Should you swipe to the left, you are taken to
the BlackBerry Hub, a sort of messaging centre
that unifies all of your messages and notifications
from various apps: email, Twitter, BBM, texts
and the like. It’s a nice way of staying on top
of things, and is surely a driving force behind
BlackBerry’s continuing success as a provider of
business phones.
The lock screen is excellent too, providing you
with all of your notifications neatly divided by app,
and you can jump to any one of them by double-
tapping on the preview it provides for you.
APPS
If you plan on using your Z30 as nothing more than
an emailing device or phone, then you’re in luck
because it’s all downhill from there.
BB10’s app store, BlackBerry World, is a ghost
town. The odd big-name game might appear such
as Angry Birds and Real Racing 3, but the lack of
app choice on there is stifling.
Promisingly, we spotted a BBC Sport app. Upon
opening it, though, it simply loaded the BBC Sport
mobile web page. It’s laughable that a corporation
the size of the BBC would pass something like that
off as an app.
There are a few other apps floating around, but
they lack polish. It’s this lack of support from major
developers and trustworthy names that kills the
BB10 app experience.
PERFORMANCE
On the plus side, if you do manage to find an app
worthy of downloading, you should have no trouble
running it.
The Z30 is powerful enough to run the most
demanding of BlackBerry apps without any
trouble. Some may take a while to load – it took 30
seconds for Real Racing 3 to boot up, and waiting
10 seconds for Twitter to kick in is downright
frustrating – but once they’re on their feet, the apps
run well enough.
Transitions between apps and general scrolling
is as smooth as you’ll see on any device, regardless
of operating system. This makes day-to-day use
enjoyable.
PERFORMANCE
HHHHH
USABILITY
HHHHH

DESIGN
HHHHH

FEATURES
HHHHH

OVERALL HHHHH
Perhaps if BlackBerry had focused its efforts on making a phone like this five years ago,
we would be looking at a very different picture now. As it stands, a barren app store, odd
features and a monster price tag may kill what could have been a competitive device.
+ Unique aesthetics
+ Sharp display with smooth animations
+ Better-than-average battery
– Infuriatingly dim screen
– Cripplingly limited app store
– Ultra-high price
SCREEN, BATTERY & CAMERA
One avoidable issue BlackBerry has brought upon
itself is the Z30’s display brightness.
Its screen is maddeningly dim. You can adjust
the brightness, but you might be surprised when
you head to the menu to discover that it’s already
running on full. This is because it operates on a
photo-sensitive auto-brightness that cannot
be disabled.
It’s baffling. Unless you’re using it in direct
sunlight, it will be about as bright as your iPhone
or Samsung on 40% brightness. As a result, what
should have been a vivid display appears to be
constantly dark and dreary, as if you’re trying to
conserve battery.
Perhaps this plays a part in the Z30’s excellent
battery life. It will happily sit idling for days on a
single charge. You could play around with it all day,
too, and not worry about it dying on the commute
home. Once again, BB10 disappoints here,
though, as the homescreen doesn’t show battery
percentage, just an icon. It’s only on the phone’s
lock screen that you can see a percentage, which is
a strange decision.
If its battery life stands out, the Z30’s camera
couldn’t be any more anonymous.
The rear camera has an unremarkable 8
megapixels. It functions just fine, as long as you
don’t attempt to zoom – before or after snapping.
Its auto-focus can struggle indoors with varying
light sources, too, although HDR and burst-fire
options are nice additions.
CONCLUSION
If you’re a die-hard BlackBerry fan, none of these
flaws will matter to you. You’ll regard the Z30 as
BlackBerry’s finest hour (possibly). This is a well-
specced touchscreen smartphone and its flaws are
inherent in almost every BlackBerry handset. If you
could overlook them in the past, you can certainly
overlook them now – except, perhaps, that dreadful
display brightness.
The device looks good, it feels good, and for the
most part, it works as well as any other phone
out there. But if you’re used to an unlimited choice
of apps on Android or iOS, stay away.
REVIEW BLACKBERRY Z30
AT A GLANCE
BlackBerry Hub acts as a messaging centre
combining various apps’ messages
28-29_BB Z30_June14.indd 29 06/05/2014 15:08
30 www.whatmobile.net
F
eature-packed mobile phones are
being driven down in price, and
the signs are that sales of high-
end devices such as Apple’s iPhone 5s are
beginning to suffer.
Increasingly, lesser-known brands are taking the
opportunity to challenge the dominant players with
affordable, powerful handsets.
The upcoming OnePlus One is such a device,
appearing from nowhere with enough internal
power – 2.5GHz processor, 3GB RAM – to instantly
draw the attention of phone fans.
Alcatel will be hoping to do the same with the
One Touch Idol X+.
The Chinese manufacturer’s handset – the
follow-up to its maligned Idol X – boasts
impressive specs on paper. But will it be another
case of unrealised potential?
DESIGN
Alcatel has played it safe with the design on its
latest One Touch, which is not necessarily a bad
thing. As we discussed in What Mobile’s feature on
phone gimmicks in April, far-fetched designs risk
alienating consumers and can quickly find their
way onto the scrap heap.
The Idol X+ is similar in style to its predecessor.
In fact, it doesn’t even offer much of a step up in
specs, but we’ll get to that later.
The black front and back, with a sliver of silver
running along the curved outer edges, make for a
sensible aesthetic with broad appeal. On standby
mode, there is little to discern it from a number
of similar Android handsets such as the Google
Nexus 5 or Motorola Moto X.
On the back you will find the larger 13-megapixel
rear-facing camera and Alcatel’s rather prominent
logo. Meanwhile, the sides contain two slots for
dual-SIM access and the physical volume buttons,
which are oddly placed on the right-hand side
instead of the left.
At 5 inches, the display is the same size as you
would find on the slightly pricier LG Nexus 5 and
larger than the 4-inch screen on the iPhone 5s. This
makes it ideal for browsing through images and
watching videos.
The phone’s swipe-touch controls serve to
REVIEW ALCATEL ONE TOUCH IDOL X+
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AT A GLANCE
“As is generally the case with the Idol X+, a
positive is followed by several negatives”
Screen is an inch larger
than the iPhone 5s
13-megapixel camera
on the rear
Price: £TBC
Reviewer: Saqib Shah
On paper, the Idol X+ has decent specs. In reality, glitches ruin this handset’s outsider appeal
Alcatel One Touch Idol X+
OS Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean)
PROCESSOR Octa-core 2GHz Cortex-A7
SCREEN 5 inches
RESOLUTION 1,080 x 1,920 pixels
MEMORY 2GB RAM
STORAGE 16GB, 32GB optional
CAMERA 13.1MP rear-facing, 2MP front-facing
VIDEO 1080p
CONNECTIVITY Wi-fi, 3G
DIMENSIONS 140.4 x 69.1 x 7.9mm
WEIGHT 130g
BATTERY 2,500mAh
SPEC SHEET
30-31_Alcatel One Touch Idol X+_June14.indd 30 06/05/2014 15:14
www.whatmobile.net 31
enhance its usability. For example, swiping to the
left of the screen brings up the last task you did
and swiping to the right conveniently activates
the camera. However, as is generally the case
with the Idol X+, a positive is usually followed by
several negatives.
In this case, the culprit was the lock screen.
Having locked the phone by tapping the power
button at the top, we were confronted by an
error message when we tried to then unlock and
reactivate it. Despite repeatedly pressing the lock
button, there was no response and the screen
remained blank. After some time, a notification
popped up, telling us that the lock screen was not
responding. Well, we never would have guessed!
We ignored the message and waited. As luck
would have it, a few minutes later the screen
started responding again. As you can imagine, this
was annoying. But the lock screen glitch was just
the tip of the iceberg.
CONNECTIVITY
The biggest issue we faced with the Idol X+ was
connectivity, in particular connecting to wi-fi,
which was near impossible.
Despite trying to connect to the internet
wirelessly in several locations, we tested the
wi-fi connection on other devices including
smartphones, tablets and laptops to find that it
was working perfectly. But we simply had no luck
with the Idol X+, despite the phone stating that the
signal was ‘excellent’.
The only alternative was to connect using
3G, which is not great when cheaper devices with
faster 4G LTE capability such as the EE Kestrel are
available to buy.
This issue may just have been a glitch with our
review handset, so make sure to test one before
parting with your cash. But it was a crippling flaw.
APPS
Alcatel has boasted about the superior sound
quality of the Idol X+, using buzz words such as ‘hi-
fi’ sound and emulating the look of Apple iTunes
with its own music player.
Judged on its own terms, the music player
has a user-friendly interface that allows for easy
navigation through tracks, albums and playlists. If
you enjoy uploading tracks onto your device, rather
than listening to Spotify or other music streaming
apps – which you might have trouble doing on the
Idol X+ anyway – then this device could appeal.
That is, if you’re willing to overlook the other flaws.
Pre-loaded apps on the device include OfficeSuite
Pro, which is fine for opening work documents, but
most users will require something more powerful to
edit and create files.
Adobe Reader and Evernote are also included,
which are handy for professionals and business
users who might opt for the Idol X+.
There were also a number of game demos on
the device, all from developer Gameloft. These
included Real Football and Avengers: Assemble.
Being samples, both ran fine for the short time
we were allowed to play them, but they hardly
tested the device’s supposedly powerful 2GHz
octa-core processor.
On the plus side, the Idol X+ has a user-friendly
on-screen keyboard layout that displays numbers
and symbols simultaneously. If nothing else, it
provided a pleasing respite from all the other
frustrations we were faced with.
PERFORMANCE
HHHHH
USABILITY
HHHHH

DESIGN
HHHHH

FEATURES
HHHHH

OVERALL HHHHH
We usually greet lesser-known brands with open arms here at What Mobile, but never
has one disappointed as much as Alcatel with its One Touch Idol X+. Despite decent
specs, it’s the handset’s flaws that hog the limelight.
+ Decent 13MP front-facing camera
+ Bright interface and good keyboard
+ Music player is user-friendly
– Bad connectivity
– Constant glitches
– Infuriating lock screen
CAMERA
This is one of the categories where mid-range
smartphones are catching up with their more
expensive counterparts.
As was the case with the predecessor Idol X and
the Yezz Andy A5 (see p32), the rear-facing camera
here is 13 megapixels. The 2-megapixel front-
facing camera is also slightly better than the ones
found on other phones of its ilk.
Meanwhile, video records at a standard
1080p resolution.
These are all solid specs and each camera
function performed smoothly.
CONCLUSION
To say the Alcatel One Touch Idol X+ is a
disappointment is an understatement.
It’s hard to imagine anyone wanting to waste
their time with a poor-performing device like this,
especially when entry-level smartphones such as
the Motorola Moto G and older high-end devices
such as the Samsung Galaxy S4 perform basic
functions better.
With the upcoming arrival of so many new mid-
priced handsets including the aforementioned
OnePlus One, the Alcatel Idol X+ looks irrelevant.
REVIEW ALCATEL ONE TOUCH IDOL X+
AT A GLANCE
The 13-megapixel snapper is one of the few plus points on the One Touch Idol X+, producing decent-quality images
30-31_Alcatel One Touch Idol X+_June14.indd 31 06/05/2014 15:15
32 www.whatmobile.net
T
he mid-range smartphone has
changed the face of the mobile
phone market. These days, every
major brand offers an affordable option
for the price-savvy consumer.
It’s easy to see the appeal behind popular
mid-range devices such as the Motorola
Moto – which blew away the competition at
the start of this year – and the Sony Xperia M.
Both come from reliable, well-known brands
and offer all the features most people require
in a smartphone: a decent processor, a solid
camera, 3G mobile broadband and a user-
friendly design.
But can less recognisable brands compete
with bigger rivals in this battleground?
Every major manufacturer has a mid-range
device, excluding Apple (no, the iPhone 5c
doesn’t count). In some cases, they offer a
whole series.
As such, competition is fiercer than ever,
leaving little room for newcomers.
Enter Yezz, a little-known USA manufacturer
trying to break into the UK and US with its
Andy series of unlocked smartphones.
The Yezz Andy A5, like so many other
affordable handsets, is your typical Android
smartphone, only it has an ace up its sleeve: a
13-megapixel rear-facing camera that’s more
powerful than an iPhone and almost as good
as the cameras on the Samsung Galaxy S5 and
HTC One M8.
DESIGN
Design-wise, the Andy A5 offers a mixed bag.
Its plastic back cover is a drawback – but
some corners have to be cut to deliver this
price. Its lack of original design aesthetic will
make it a hard sell.
Practically speaking, using the handset
with one hand is difficult unless you have big
hands, but the large 5-inch screen is ideal
for watching videos, browsing the web and
playing games.
You can’t help but think that a little more
design effort would have gone a long way to
helping the Andy A5 stand out from its more
famous counterparts, which themselves offer
relatively little design innovation.
Small additions such as the red on the
upper speaker on the front bezel hint at
what could have been a more dynamically
designed phone.
PERFORMANCE
The quad-core 1.2GHz processor on the Andy
A5 is the same as you would find on the
cheaper Motorola Moto G, and slower than
the slightly pricier LG Nexus 5. But in most
cases it will do for general tasks such as web
browsing, using social networking apps and
playing games.
We found a very slight delay with images
and videos loading when scrolling through an
image-heavy app such as Instagram using
wi-fi – but nothing fatal.
The same goes for Facebook, which also
suffered slight lag, but that might not be
noticeable to users who have previously
owned a mid-range device.
On the other hand, there was no lag and good
REVIEW YEZZ ANDY A5
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AT A GLANCE
13MP camera is impressive
for a mid-range device
5-inch screen offers a
good viewing experience
Price: £207
Reviewer: Saqib Shah
You might not have heard of the brand but a great price and 13-megapixel camera impressed us
Yezz Andy A5
OS Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean)
PROCESSOR Quad-core 1.2GHz
SCREEN 5 inches
RESOLUTION 540 x 960 pixels
MEMORY 512MB RAM
CAMERA 13MP rear-facing, 2MP front-facing
CONNECTIVITY 3G, wi-fi
DIMENSIONS 144.1 x 73.5 x 8.6mm
WEIGHT 106g
BATTERY 2,000mAh
SPEC SHEET
32-33_Yezz_June14.indd 32 06/05/2014 15:16
www.whatmobile.net 33
quality HD video playback on YouTube.
The only flaw with playback is the sound
quality, which can’t compete with the speakers
on a high-end device such as the iPhone 5s or
the HTC One M8.
APPS
Updating apps is also quick; updates in
the range of 5MB to 10MB can be done in
5 to 10 seconds.
However, when searching for apps on Yezz’s
app store, the A5 was less responsive, to the
point where we were repeatedly hitting the
home button like a defeated wrestler trying to
tap out.
We also encountered slow loading times
on the Google Play store, especially when
browsing image and text-heavy content.
If you manage to navigate the app stores
successfully, you will find games run smoothly
on the A5.
Powerful mainstream titles such as Real
Racing 2 and Dead Trigger – along with
alternative games such as God of Light – all
performed well on the device, with very little
lag and competent load times.
CAMERA
Finally, we arrive at the main attraction,
the camera.
Firstly, in using the Andy A5, we would
advise you to turn off the auto-rotate setting,
especially if you intend to use the camera for
video recordings. Otherwise landscape videos
will playback in portrait mode and you might
find yourself getting a tad irritated by having
to constantly fiddle with the device to get your
intended view.
Apart from that easily avoidable setback, the
rest is plain sailing.
The quality of the camera is as good as you
would expect from better-known brands.
Images look sharp and bright and are packed
with detail.
Unfortunately the camera tool bar contains
no extra functions on top of the standard
editing functions and image hues you would
find on most cameras, and which are now also
readily available through free photography
apps such as Instagram.
Video quality is impressive at 720p-resolution
recording and playback, although this setting
has now become standard for most mid-
range devices.
The simple option to pause videos without
them immediately saving as standalone
recordings also allows for longer, edited videos
to be easily recorded.
Bear in mind that the average sound quality
mentioned earlier also impacts on video
playback. But it will suffice for general use.
PERFORMANCE
HHHHH
USABILITY
HHHHH

DESIGN
HHHHH

FEATURES
HHHHH

OVERALL HHHHH
Fans of camera phones on a tight budget should definitely seek out the Andy A5 for its
affordable price and high-quality camera. If taking photos is not that important to you,
you will probably have seen the dull design and common features a million times before.
+ Powerful 13-megapixel camera
+ Good-quality video recording and playback
+ Decent-sized 5-inch screen
– Average sound quality
– Unoriginal, slightly bulky design
– Slight lag on apps and app stores
CONCLUSION
The Yezz Andy A5 has no glaring faults. But
apart from the camera, there is nothing to
distinguish it from cheaper rivals such as the
Moto G.
Rapidly changing mobile technology also
means it faces competition from affordable
LTE handsets such as the EE Kestrel and the
upcoming Moto G LTE, which offer 4G mobile
broadband speeds at prices that won’t break
the bank.
The Andy A5 could have been a viable
alternative. But while it’s worth a look if you’re
after a solid camera phone, it will struggle to
compete with more bullish counterparts.
REVIEW YEZZ ANDY A5
AT A GLANCE
“Images look sharp and bright and are packed
with detail, while video is impressive at 720p”
32-33_Yezz_June14.indd 33 06/05/2014 15:16
34 www.whatmobile.net
I
t’s rarely a surprise when a new
Samsung product is launched.
Aside from the Galaxy range, the
company is constantly refreshing its
hardware. The appearance now of the
Gear 2 smartwatch a mere year after
its Galaxy Gear predecessor raises
plenty of questions. What exactly
could have been improved upon so
soon? And is this an indication that
the first Gear was not a success?
With the original Gear, Samsung
embraced wearable tech and it has
since been the driving force in getting
wearables into the mainstream.
Sony and Google have similar products,
or are in the process of coming up with
them. Google is collaborating with LG
and Motorola on wearable devices. And,
of course, there is speculation about an
Apple iWatch in the pipeline. So has Samsung
consolidated its lead as an innovator in
wearables with the Gear 2?
DESIGN
A smartwatch is on show on your wrist at all
times, so the design needs to be just right. It
must look fashionable, as well as functional.
With the Gear 2, Samsung has taken a health
and fitness approach. With a large 1.63-inch face
that covers much of your wrist, it’s a bulky beast
to take to the gym or out on a run.
Like the original Gear, the body is made of
brushed metal, with a plastic strap and metal
clasp that’s thinner than the Gear One; this is
because it no longer houses the microphone.
There are no electronics in the strap, which can
be quickly swapped for a range of different strap
colours. A tiny release lever makes changing
straps the work of a few seconds.
Our test model had a chocolate-brown strap
that matched the gold face. But it’s nice to have
the option to replace it.
The addition of a 2-megapixel camera on the
watch face seems pointless. Leaving it out might
have saved some bulk. Samsung’s smaller Gear
Neo looks sleeker, weighs less and has most of
the Gear 2’s health and fitness functions anyway.
The Gear 2 is obviously Samsung’s attempt
at creating a higher-end equivalent to its other
wearables such as the Gear Fit fitness band.
The Gear 2 offers more functions but these
compromise the design.
It’s no wonder there is so much cynicism
about wearable tech when it looks like this. The
upcoming Android Wear range by Google, which
includes the LG G Watch and Motorola Moto 360,
combine classic watch style with smartphone
technology. Perhaps Samsung should rev up its
development and quickly take it to Gear 3.
PERFORMANCE & SOFTWARE
The performance of the Gear 2 is unimpressive.
It only runs built-in apps and does not support
third-party software. That means no Facebook,
Twitter or other app favourites.
The Gear is powered by Samsung’s own Tizen
system rather than Android. A 1GHz processor
runs everything smoothly.
Emails and other notifications come through
at speed and features are quickly navigated by
swiping left to right on the screen.
Swiping down takes you back a screen.
You rearrange the order of apps by holding
them down and dragging them – just like on a
smartphone.
The Gear 2 needs to be synched with a
compatible Samsung device (see Easy Access
box, right), before it can receive emails and
texts. The Gear 2’s 1.63-inch screen is too small
to let you reply to messages with an on-screen
keyboard. But you can open up the message on
your connected Samsung device, choose from
a preset list of replies or use the S Voice digital
voice assistant. The latter is not that accurate, so
be prepared to repeat your commands.
REVIEW SAMSUNG GALAXY GEAR 2
Strap no longer houses
the microphone
Large face spans
1.63 inches
Watch straps are
interchangeable
Price: £250
Reviewer: Saqib Shah
With few improvements on the original Galaxy Gear, this smartwatch could have been slicker
Samsung Galaxy Gear 2
DISPLAY 1.63-inch Super AMOLED (320 x 320)
DIMENSIONS 36.9 x 58.4 x 10.0mm, 68g
PROCESSOR 1GHz dual-core
MEMORY 512MB + 4GB storage
BATTERY 300mAh; 2 to 3 days’ average usage
CONNECTIVITY Bluetooth 4.0, IR
WATER RESISTANCE Rated IP67
CAMERA 2MP, 720p, 30fps video 
OS Tizen-based OS
SPEC SHEET
34-35_Gear 2_June14.indd 34 06/05/2014 15:44
www.whatmobile.net 35
Alongside the health and fitness
trackers, the built-in apps include
a stopwatch, phone dialer, a media
controller and access to contacts and
call logs. There is also a music player,
which allows you to load songs onto
your phone library directly, so you can
listen to them via headphones. There is
4GB of on-board storage so hundreds of
tracks can be crammed in.
HEALTH & FITNESS TRACKING
Samsung has implemented fitness trackers on
its other devices. Like the Galaxy S5, the
Gear 2 has a heart-rate sensor on its rear.
Recording your heart rate can be a useful
addition to your training arsenal. Regard it as
a rev counter to inform you of how fast or slow
your workout needs to be.
The Gear 2 will automatically track your heart
rate, log your runs, walks and cycle rides. Or
use the dedicated heart-rate app to check your
heart rate whenever you want. It produces
accurate results but doesn’t always manage
to detect your heart beat. We had to adjust the
position of the Gear 2 slightly while having to
take multiple measurements. It’s best to strap
the Gear 2 tighter around your wrist than you
usually would before monitoring a workout,
This will ensure skin contact to measure your
heart rate. Unfortunately, this only adds to the
uncomfortable feel of this bulky device.
The Gear 2 also doubles as a pedometer, which
works as well as any fitness band step tracker.
But it also has the faults of other fitness trackers,
such as occasionally recording false steps.
Overall, a few false steps here and there aren’t
going to make that much of a difference to the
outcome of the tracker though.
The Gear 2 uploads all of your health tracking
stats to Samsung’s S Health app, which lets
you analyse your performance and count
your calories.
PERFORMANCE
HHHHH
USABILITY
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DESIGN
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FEATURES
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OVERALL HHHHH
The design needs a rethink but the Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 provides decent fitness
tracking features and a good music player. Trimming down on other functions, however,
would have made for a slimmer and sleeker product.
+ Improved notifications
+ The addition of a music player
+ Solid fitness tracking functions
– Bulky watch face
– Lack of third-party apps
– Minor software glitches
CAMERA
The 2-megapixel camera on the Gear 2 is barely
a step up from the Gear’s 1.9-megapixel camera,
and its weak functionality renders it useless.
Its inclusion is puzzling. It will let you record
720p-resolution videos but it’s best to wear the
device loose around your wrist. Fiddling with
the strap – tight for heart rate, loose for camera –
does become irritating after a while.
CONCLUSION
It would be unfair to say this is a needless
addition to Samsung’s wearables, as it packs a
lot of functions. But it’s an expensive product
that’s hindered by an impractical design and
redundant features.
The Gear 2’s easy synching with Samsung
devices and delivery of real-time notifications
is great for emails and texts at a glance. And as
more app developers write for Tizen OS, it could
develop into a powerful smartwatch.
Should you buy one though? We’d urge you
to wait and see how rival products – such as
the Sony Smartwatch 2, the Pebble and Apple’s
mooted smartwatch – shape up.
The Gear 2 syncs with 20 compatible
Samsung devices including 12 smartphones
and eight tablets. A few rival devices can
also be paired. These include the HTC One
M8 and the Google Nexus 5. But be warned,
pairing with third-party hardware will limit
the amount of features you can sync.
The first step is to download the Gear
Manager app from Samsung Apps. The first
time you switch on the Gear 2, you will
receive its product info in a pop-up. You
will need to register the device on the Gear
Manager. Turn on Bluetooth on your mobile
device to complete the pairing process.
When the devices are connected, the Gear
Manager launches on the mobile device and
the clock screen appears on the Gear 2.
Also remember to download Samsung’s
S Health app in order to sync the fitness
trackers. You are now ready to start using
your Gear 2.
Easy access
REVIEW SAMSUNG GALAXY GEAR 2
Its bulk means it’s not
that gym-friendly
34-35_Gear 2_June14.indd 35 06/05/2014 15:44
F
itness wearables have gone from
poorly designed rarities to must-
have accessories in just a couple
of years.
The good news is that there’s something for
everyone. The bad news is you’ll have to decide
which of these unfamiliar devices is best for you.
How are you to know which one to pick?
Rest easy, because we’ve picked out three of
the most popular models and put them through
their paces. Each has a distinctive focus, so you
should be able to determine which is the right
one for you with little difficulty.
On your marks, get set, go!
REVIEW FITNESS WEARABLES
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NIKE+ FUELBAND SE
Price: £129
Weight: 30g (medium model)
Colours: Volt, Pink Foil, Total Crimson, Black,
Rose Gold (£10 extra)
Compatible operating systems:
iOS (version 6.1 and up)
About the company: If you’re looking
for a familiar brand name, there’s none more
ubiquitous than Nike. The sporting apparel
maker is ranked 126th on the Fortune 500 and
turns over more than $25bn per year worldwide.
Chances are you’ve owned at least one pair
of trainers made by them over the company’s
43-year history.
After testing the waters with the Nike+ app,
which featured as a default app on earlier
versions of the iPhone, it’s finally made the leap
to fully fledged wearable. The FuelBand SE, the
second iteration of the FuelBand, is naturally
geared more towards the sportier individual.
JAWBONE UP24
Price: £125
Weight: 22g (medium model)
Colours: Persimmon, Onyx, Pink Coral
Compatible operating systems:
iOS (on iPhone 4S or newer), Android (version
4.3 and up)
About the company: Founded 15 years
ago to develop noise-cancelling technology,
Jawbone branched out into creating
Bluetooth mobile headsets that would employ
that tech. From there, it further expanded
upon its line of Bluetooth products, creating
speakers and speakerphones. This then led to
the Jawbone UP, one of the first smartphone-
compatible lifestyle wearables.
The UP24 is the company’s second attempt
at a sleek yet functional band, and is geared
more towards general lifestyle and wellbeing
than the outright sporting focus of the
FuelBand SE.
MISFIT SHINE
Price: £99
Weight: 10g (when not attached to strap or clasp)
Colours: Silver, Black, Topaz, Champagne
Compatible operating systems:
iOS (version 6.3.1 and up), Android (version 4.3
and up)
About the company: Misfit defines itself
as a manufacturer of “great wearable
computing products”. It’s a fairly small
operation based in California, with
development and engineering departments
in South Korea and Vietnam. Unsurprisingly
for a company of Misfit’s size, the Shine was
crowd-funded via Indiegogo, with a goal
of generating $100,000. In a little over two
months, it received $846,000.
The Shine clearly impressed with its
simplicity and value for money, without
sacrificing style. It’s most likely to appeal to
you if you’re on a budget.
AT A GLANCE
36-39_Fitness Bands_June14.indd 36 06/05/2014 17:23
www.whatmobile.net 37
NIKE+ FUELBAND SE
The matte black plastic look is apparently very
much in vogue among wearables, and the
FuelBand SE is no exception. Being able to choose
a clasp and trim of your preferred colour is a subtle
touch, although you’ll be hard-pressed to find one
that looks appropriate when worn with a three-
piece suit.
Not that you’d want to - this is a sporty wearable
for sporty individuals. It fits much more like a
bangle than a watch, so it might jangle about on
your forearm, but it doesn’t take long to get used to.
The ability to add and remove little plastic
extensions in the band, like links from a watch, is a
clever way of tailoring it to your fit. It unclasps and
snaps together when you want to take it on and
off, but mind you don’t get your skin caught – it’s
surprisingly easy to do, and rather painful.
The rubberised plastic on the outside of the band
might feel nice, but you’ll notice it looking worse for
wear after as little as a fortnight of use. It attracts
scuffs and smudges surprisingly easily for a band
designed for sport.
Its one button, again a solid feature, has a horribly
low level of tactile feedback. The more you use
it, the harder it is to tell whether or not it has
registered a press.
Still, the retro dot-matrix style display and
rainbow-coloured Fuel bar look great.
For recharging, when you unclasp the band,
it reveals that one end is also a USB connector.
All you need to do is plug it into your desktop or
laptop, or a wall charger when you’re back home,
and it’ll begin to recharge. One charge cycle can
last up to four days.
JAWBONE UP24
With the UP24, you’re offered three very
different colour choices, enabling you to make a
much more bold statement than you could with
the FuelBand SE. The persimmon and pink coral
certainly look nice, if quite garish.
We trialled the black edition and it looks
fantastic. Its distinct squared edges and coiled
shape look vaguely science-fiction, and its outer
surface is raised to form a wavy pattern for
added texture. Combine that with subtle matte
silver trim at each end and you have a device
that’s understated and versatile enough to work
with most outfits.
It comes in multiple sizes, and a firm yet
flexible frame means the band should fit snugly
and securely against your wrist.
If you happen to have a particular preference
or an unusually shaped forearm, you might
bemoan the lack of customisation options,
though.
To charge it, pulling off the silver-faced end
of the band reveals a standard 3.5mm jack.
Packaged with the UP24 is a 3.5mm to USB
adaptor, so you can charge it through any USB
outlet, just like the FuelBand SE. You should get
around a week of charge due to the lack of an
energy-sapping display on the device.
MISFIT SHINE
The aesthetics of the Shine aren’t as clear cut
as its two rivals.
The device is merely a small, flat, round
disc, meaning it can be worn or presented in
a number of ways. There’s a clasp that allows
you to attach it around belt loops or lapel
buttonholes, a necklace, a leather watch strap,
and a plastic sport watch band, which is what
we used while testing.
The device looks completely plain, which is
probably a good thing. Subtlety is most likely
going to be a key factor in the growing success
of wearables, and the fact that the Shine is so
versatile is a major plus.
When worn on the wrist via the sports band,
the average passer-by on the street would be
none the wiser as to its true nature (yep, it’s
another matte black rubberised wristband).
The dozen small, white light-up indicators on
the Shine’s face are equally discrete, but they
add a touch of flair to an otherwise incredibly
plain-looking device.
As for comfort, there’s something for
everybody, although accessories, such as extra
straps or a necklace, do cost extra.
Unlike the other two bands in this review, the
Shine is not rechargeable – it runs on a button
cell battery, more commonly known as a watch
battery. This means that while longevity is
excellent – it can last for over a week – there
is the inconvenience of replacing the battery
when it runs out.
You do this by popping off the back of the
device with the bundled metal flathead, but it
seems an avoidable annoyance.
REVIEW FITNESS WEARABLES
D
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38 www.whatmobile.net
NIKE+ FUELBAND SE
Straight out of the blocks, the FuelBand SE has
one key feature that its two competitors lack: a
full display. This display, activated by pressing the
band’s one button, shows five key figures that you
can cycle through by continually pressing that
same button.
The most useful of these is
its ability to show the time.
If wearable tech is going to
replace your watch, then it has
to fulfil the basic functions of
a watch.
On top of that, you can
also view your steps taken
for the day, calories burned,
‘hours won’ (more on this in a
moment), and ‘Fuel’.
Fuel – a unit used to measure
activity – is what the Nike+
brand is based on. For example,
20 minutes of walking would
earn you roughly 450 Fuel,
whereas more intense activity
during the same amount of
time would earn you more.
Through the device’s app,
you set your Fuel goal for the day, from 2,000 and
upwards, and then try to beat it. You can ‘win’
hours by being active for more than five minutes
out of 60, and can even have the app send you
reminders through your phone if the end of the
hour is approaching and you’re short of your target.
One unfortunate downside is
that the band is incapable of
measuring cycling, an everyday
exercise that’s extrely popular.
It’s also not waterproof,
meaning you can’t take it
swimming with you.
So if you happen to engage
in either of those common
workouts, then the FuelBand
SE won’t be much use.
One thing the FuelBand
SE does feature is
interconnectivity with other
friends using the band. It is
excellent at doing this.
Not only can you add friends
via the app so that you track
each others’ progress and
compare routines, you can also
create groups.
For example, if you and your five-a-side football
team all wear the FuelBand SE, you can set a team
Fuel goal for the upcoming match and try to break
it, and then see who ran the most. It’s great for a
bit of extra motivation, which is really what devices
like this are all about.
You’re also rewarded with trophies for performing
well, for example, setting your best Wednesday
total, or achieving 150% of your total Fuel goal in
one day for the first time.
It might sound silly but it provides an addictive
video game-style incentive that can give you the
little push you need.
Or how about reading the Fuel level on your
band and realising that you’re only 100 away
from winning the day? Try jogging home from the
bus stop instead of walking, and then enjoy your
triumph as your band performs a little LED-dance.
There’s a fairly rigorous statistical breakdown if
you’re interested in that sort of thing, too. It’s handy
for those long gym sessions and working out when
you’re at your peak, and when you begin to slip. Or
you can work out which days of the week you feel
most sluggish on.
If you lead an active lifestyle or are big on sports,
the FuelBand SE is as thorough as you’ll get from a
piece of consumer electronics.
JAWBONE UP24
With just one glance at the UP24, both
the device and its corresponding app, it’s
immediately apparent that it is much more of
a lifestyle monitor than a sporting utility. The
app is a lot more bright and colourful than the
sleek, mean-looking Nike+ FuelBand SE, and
it’s a lot more interactive.
Through the UP app, you can keep track
of your daily dietary routines, which is an
incredibly useful feature. When you sit down
for a meal, just open the app and begin to
type in what you’re eating – you will then be
provided with an enormous list of suggestions,
all with pre-defined nutritional values. Simply
adjust the portion sizes and you get a fairly
accurate measure of how many calories you’re
consuming, along with salt and sugar. This
means the ‘calories burned’ statistic is a lot
more useful.
It also breaks down how you’re burning
calories – into resting burn and active burn.
The UP24’s most impressive feature, though,
is one that takes place without you even
knowing. The band has a sleep cycle monitor,
meaning it can give you a scarily accurate
reading of just how well you slept during the
night. Each night as you
hit the hay, you can press
and hold the smaller end of
the UP24 to activate sleep
mode. When you awaken
the next morning, the app
will tell you how long it took
to fall asleep, how long you
slept for, how many times
you woke up and how much
time was spent in deep
or light sleep. It’s quite
incredible, and most likely
the result of some sort of
witchcraft.
What’s more, you can
set a ‘smart sleep alarm’,
which will only wake you
up once you’re in a state of
light sleep, so you don’t feel
groggy or disoriented.
You inform the app of a
window of time within which you would like
to wake up – for example, anywhere up to 15
minutes before 7:30am – and it will make the
band vibrate to stir you.
Once you use it, you will never go back to a
conventional alarm clock.
When it comes to tracking
physical activity, the UP24
is noticeably less varied
than the FuelBand SE. You
can log different sessions
by choosing from a set list,
although there’s a lack of
variety to them.
Again, this device
isn’t waterproof, nor is it
particularly good at tracking
cycling; the best it can do
is calculate the amount of
effort expended when you
enter in the details of your
workouts after they take
place.
The statistical breakdown
is impressive though, and
it’s useful being able to
compare the correlation
between sleep and activity on any given day.
Presentation is exceptional, and the whole app
is intuitive to use while harbouring a great
deal of information. Using the UP24 can be as
serious or as casual as you like.
REVIEW FITNESS WEARABLES
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36-39_Fitness Bands_June14.indd 38 06/05/2014 17:23
www.whatmobile.net 39
MISFIT SHINE
While you might expect limited functionality from
a device that’s so much cheaper than its rivals, the
Shine actually does a great job of offering two key
functions that neither the UP24 nor the FuelBand
SE provide. Firstly, the Shine is waterproof. Already
that makes the device infinitely more versatile, with
swimming, water polo or any other sort of aquatic
activity now automatically trackable. You can even
take it up to 150 feet underwater, which is pretty
impressive. What’s more, it’s also fully compatible
with cycling. You simply attach it to your ankle and
tell the Shine app that you’re about to set off for a
session and it changes the way it interprets the data.
You can do this for more than just cycling, too.
Swimming, tennis, soccer and basketball are all
included, so before you start, just set the activity
you’re about to undertake through the app. Then
once you triple-tap the face of the device, it begins
logging your activity.
Tapping the face of your Shine also performs
two other important functions. A double-tap will
first show you how much of your goal has been
achieved, before then telling you the time (you can
change which order these two bits of information
are shown, which is a nice touch). The way it does
so is by illuminating the dozen small lights placed
around the edge of the Shine like a watch face.
The closer the circle is to being fully illuminated,
the closer you are to completing your daily target.
For the time, a solid light dictates the current hour,
followed by a flashing light that shows the minute.
It might not sound like much,
but when you’re wearing
the Shine as a watch, it’s a
massive convenience that it
can tell the time.
The design of the Shine
app, much like that of the
device itself, is fairly plain and
minimalistic. You don’t get
as much information relayed
to you as the Nike+ or UP
apps, but what statistics
there are are portrayed clearly
and cleanly. The basics are
all present, such as distance
travelled, steps taken and
calories burned, and you
can also see your activity in
the form of a line graph for
visualisation of your progress
throughout the day.
One measurement that
only the Shine app provides is weight. Of course,
you’ll have to use your own set of scales, but the
app allows you to keep track of your weight loss – a
feature conspicuously absent from the Nike+ and
UP apps, especially as it’s something you would
associate with a fitness tracker.
With a recent update, the Shine
can now also provide sleep
tracking, in a similar fashion to
the UP24. Its capacity for sleep
tracking is a lot more limited
though, and in order to activate
it, you have to remember to go
into the app every evening, set
up an activity tag for ‘Sleep’
and then triple-tap the device
(also remembering to remove it
from your trousers or shirt from
earlier in the day and attaching
it to your wrist, if it wasn’t so
already). It works okay, but
there’s no real way to tell how
accurate it is. The app did seem
to register imaginary steps taken
during periods of long activity
sat stationary at the desk, so that
isn’t exactly encouraging.
REVIEW FITNESS WEARABLES
NIKE+ FUELBAND SE
The Nike+ FuelBand SE is close to being the
perfect sports tracker. Its social capabilities,
combined with numerous features to keep you
motivated, ensure that it will be a mainstay in any
gym addict’s kit bag. You might not be keen on
wearing it every day, though, with its appealing
design being more suited to a sports setting.
Plus, its lack of waterproofing could be a deal
breaker for some.
JAWBONE UP24
If you want a wearable that isn’t just for the
athlete inside of you, but for every aspect of
your life, then the Jawbone UP24 is almost
perfect. It both looks and feels great, and
the app manages to provide incredible
amounts of detail, without being ugly or
overwhelming. Plus, the sleep tracker and
smart alarm are revelatory.
MISFIT SHINE
When considering the
Misfit Shine’s pros and
cons, the price should be
a big factor – remember,
this is a crowd-funded
device that costs at
least £30 less than
its more esteemed
rivals. Still, you
may judge that
the Shine’s
rather limited app
is not worth the
discount. Even so, with
waterproofing, cycling
tracking and versatile
wearability, it still offers
plenty of advantages.
VERDICT
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36-39_Fitness Bands_June14.indd 39 06/05/2014 17:23
FESTIVAL
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40 www.whatmobile.net
FEATURE FESTIVAL SURVIVAL GUIDE
40-43_Festivals_June14.indd 40 06/05/2014 17:14
Hear that whimpering sound in your
pocket? It’s your expensive smartphone
weeping about spending days in a muddy
field with thousands of strangers. But
there are ways to keep your mobile safe
when those around you are losing theirs
– and to use your mobile to get the best
from a festival. Callum Tennent explains.
www.whatmobile.net 41
F
estivals can be perilous places for your expensive
mobile. An event like Glastonbury or Reading should
be the highlight of your summer, and it probably
will be. But it only takes a stolen smartphone to ruin the
whole experience.
Fortunately, we’ve got you covered. Not only can we suggest ways
to keep your precious smartphone safe and sound over a long, muddy
weekend, but there’s also a multitude of apps and accessories to
enhance the event.
First things first, we at What Mobile consider it our civic duty to
recommend that you do not take your pricey smartphone to a festival.
You can employ every safety measure in the book, but there’s always a
risk that the worst happens.
There’s a vast array of budget phones to pick up, unlocked and SIM-
free, that would serve you just fine. Plus, you can keep it again for next
year – if you don’t accidentally smash it to pieces, that is (and if you do,
who cares?)
See overleaf for a few festival stand-ins, all for under £20.
Still, if you’re extra careful, we suppose we could let you take your
smartphone with you. But you’d be foolish not to take every precaution
to ensure it doesn’t get lost, stolen or smashed.
The most basic preventative measure to consider buying is a case. But
not that horrible pink rubber number you’ve got on your iPhone right
now, oh no. We’re thinking bigger than that.
CASE
There are many manufacturers of hard shell cases that offer layered
protection for your smartphone against shock, dust and water, so you’ve
got no excuse for leaving your phone exposed.
We’d suggest you invest in a military-style case that insulates the
entire phone body and screen from the outside world. Brands to
consider include Otterbox, Ballistic, Casemate and Body Glove.
STAY SECURE
Of course, there’s a lot more to protecting your smartphone. Device
security should be paramount when surrounded by thousands of
strangers in a wide-open field.
If you don’t password-lock your phone, please do. If you own an
iPhone, you can upgrade your password from a simple four-digit code
to any alphanumeric string you want. Just go to your device’s settings,
then tap Touch ID & Passcode (or simply Passcode on devices older than
a 5s). In this menu there’s a slider named Simple Passcode; turn it off
and you can create the next Enigma code on your phone.
Should the worst happen and you can’t find your phone, iOS also has a
pretty nifty feature to help you out, as does Android: Find My iPhone and
Android Device Manager. Simply register your device beforehand and
you can track it anywhere in the world.
On Android, this set-up will take place when you create or sign in to
a Google account, registering the device in your name. From here, you
can then go to google.com/android/devicemanager to not only password
lock or erase your phone, but also make it emit a sound too (if you think
it’s probably lost somewhere inside your tent).
There’s also an Android Device Manager app available in the
Google Play store, which will allow you to do all of this from a friend’s
Android device.
Find My iPhone functions in exactly the same way. Simply go to
icloud.com and log in, or download the Find My iPhone app from the iOS
App Store on a friend’s iOS device.
FEATURE FESTIVAL SURVIVAL GUIDE
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42 www.whatmobile.net
LOSS LEADERS
Now that you’ve decided to take a smartphone along with you, and have
taken every preventative measure to ensure it won’t get destroyed or
stolen, why not do the same with your other belongings?
Your smartphone can be your very own personal tracking device. There
are a number of products that can be synchronised with your handset
and then attached to other valuable belongings, ensuring you know
their location at all times.
The Nokia Treasure tag is an outstanding option for Windows Phone
owners. Almost Lego block-like in appearance, it can be looped onto a
chosen valuable – perhaps your wallet or keys – and tracked from the
Nokia Treasure Tag app. Not only can you have multiple tags linked at
once, but should you lose your phone, you can press a button on the tag,
causing your handset to ring. It’s like two trackers in one.
For iOS and Android, StickR TrackR, Duet and Tile are all excellent
options, providing discrete, appealing and affordable ways of keeping
an eye on your valuables, functioning in largely the same way as the
Treasure Tag.
POWER HUNGRY
If you’re a responsible adult who knows how to take care of your
expensive electronics, though, loss and theft won’t be the biggest of
your concerns when it comes to taking your smartphone for a long
weekend in the country. That honour will go to battery life.
We charge our smartphones every night; sometimes we even have to
do it during the day, too. They’re high-powered devices, and all of their
fancy electronic wizardry drains the juice fast.
So what do you do when surrounded by miles of nothing but green
grass and blue skies? Interact with other humans face to face?
Absolutely not. You bring along a handy charger (see box, right).
What’s more, if you’re lucky enough to be going to Glastonbury, EE
has offered a solution. The mobile network is sponsoring the festival;
as such, it’s pretty keen that you keep using your phone as much as
possible while you’re there. That’s why you can purchase a £20 EE
Power Bar from now until 9 June. When you use it at the festival and it
runs out, you can recycle it at an EE recharge tent for free. They’ll then
recharge your old one and pass it on to the next power-hungry punter.
EE is also providing the official Glastonbury app. This means you can
easily stay on top of what’s going on and where, so you needn’t miss
your favourite band or get completely lost again. There’s also official
apps for the Reading & Leeds, iTunes, Wireless, Download and Outlook
festivals, so you should be sorted no matter where you’re headed.
Why stop at official festival apps, though? If you’re going to take your
smartphone along with you, you should be getting the most out of
it. Read on for four apps you shouldn’t leave home without. Now get
downloading, and rock on.
NOKIA 105, £20
It’s enough to make you all misty-
eyed with nostalgia, isn’t it? A
true candybar Nokia handset. It’s
splash-proof and dust-proof, as well
as practically indestructible. While
that’s certainly practical, it’s also
got a battery that can last over a
month on a single charge.
SAMSUNG E1200, £16
An even cheaper handset from
another brand name you can trust.
This Samsung number even has
expandable SD card memory so you
can store and play MP3s. Again, it
has a battery that can outlast any
festival, and will survive a thorough
mud bath with ease.
SAMSUNG E1190I, £15
If you want durability, and to
dazzle your friends, how about this
clamshell handset from Samsung?
You’d have to be actively trying
to scratch or crack the screen to
break it, thanks to its flip-phone
design. Plus its battery can go on
for upwards of three weeks.
DON’T FORGET
You can also pick up any number
of significantly more advanced
handsets for the same price if you
shop around for used devices –
just make sure you don’t sacrifice
ruggedness for functionality, the
handset you choose only needs to
do the bare minimum.
FEATURE FESTIVAL SURVIVAL GUIDE
USE ‘EM AND LOSE ‘EM
40-43_Festivals_June14.indd 42 06/05/2014 17:14
www.whatmobile.net 43
FIRECHAT
An app so specific, but so
incredibly clever, that you want
to download it even if you
never encounter a use for it.
Fortunately, festivals are one
scenario that suit it perfectly.
FireChat makes use of your
iPhone’s Multipeer Connectivity
Framework. Translated into
English, that means it can
communicate with other iPhones
without any external networks
or connections – it talks directly
to the device. Of course, the
radius of communications is
rather small, but as long as your
buddies are within roughly
100 feet of you, you can do just
about everything conventional
chat apps allow such as group
messaging and sending images.
No more getting lost among crowds. No more not being able to find
your tent. No more getting in a round of drinks, only to not be able to
find your way back to the group.
FireChat is also available on Android, although its range is closer to 30
feet. Devices on different OSes cannot communicate with one another.
SHAZAM
If you’ve somehow avoided Shazam until now, your life will never be
the same again. It’s an app that identifies the music playing around
you at the touch of a button. Simply hold your Android or iOS device so
that you’re not blocking the microphone and let it work its magic. Ten
seconds is all the app needs, after which it analyses the recording and
informs you of the name of the track, the artist behind it and the album
it features on. So no more stopping by a random stage or tent, hearing a
catchy tune and then never being able to hunt down the artist when you
return home.
YAHOO WEATHER
It’s a weather app, simple as that. As a Briton, you’re genetically
hardwired to care about the weather, and never is the topic more
pertinent than when you’re out camping. Yahoo’s weather app is
the best of the best, giving you hourly breakdowns of temperature,
conditions and chances of precipitation. Never leave the tent without
your poncho ever again.
STOW 2
You know what comes before all the fun of a festival? All the fun of
packing. You might have the biggest Bergan in the world, but inevitably
there’s always something that gets left behind. Stow aims to correct
that. It’s a packing app, which may sound dull, but it’s really incredibly
useful. It’s essentially a digital to-do list, with all of the essentials
pre-installed. Simply select the trip you’re preparing for and how many
you’re packing for and it’ll offer up all that’s needed. You can add items
and adjust quantities yourself, too.
When it comes to festival charging solutions, you have two clear choices:
ENERPLEX KICKR IV, £110
A charger like no other, the Enerplex Kickr IV is solar-powered, yet compact
enough to fit snugly in your backpack. Simply open it up – it’s only 30cm
unfurled – and plug in any one of your portable devices. It has a USB output so
any adapter will work, and will fully recharge an iPhone in less than 90 minutes,
and a Samsung Galaxy S5 in less than 2.5 hours.
K-TOR POCKET SOCKET 2, £40
If the British summer should, unthinkably, let you down, then there’s always
the manual option. The K-TOR Pocket Socket is the finest hand-crank charger
around. It’s easier on the wallet than the solar-powered alternative, plus you’ll
get a fine workout using it. Ten minutes of cranking should give you roughly
half as many minutes of life for your
smartphone. It’s not a solution you want to
be counting on for an entire day’s charge,
but if you’re careful with your battery and
only need to send the occasional text or
make a quick call, it could really save
your bacon.
FEATURE FESTIVAL SURVIVAL GUIDE
BATTERY BOOSTERS
ESSENTIAL FREE FESTIVAL APPS
40-43_Festivals_June14.indd 43 06/05/2014 17:14
What do you do when you’re mid-contract
and the phone of your dreams is launched?
Saquib Shah has the answer
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44 www.whatmobile.net
W
ith just a couple of months left on our smartphone contract
and countless shiny new handsets vying for our attention,
the only option is to renew and grab the latest high-end
device on an 18 to 24 month agreement. Or is it?
The smartphone sector is increasingly becoming contract-led.
Very few people actually buy flagship handsets outright. Let’s
face it, £500 or above is a lot a wonga to spend in one go, on top
of the cost of data and calls allowance.
But two years is an awfully long time to be tied down to
one phone, especially with the influx of new handsets every
month. And as £300 mid-range smartphones become better
and better, what’s stopping you from simply buying one and
foregoing the hefty monthly bills of a contract? The answer is a
lack of information.
Mobile network operators are concerned with how
much profit they can extract from you. They want to
sign you to the longest contract possible. To tempt you,
they will offer a flagship smartphone such as an iPhone
5s, Galaxy S5 or HTC One M8, and a data and calls
allowance plan that supposedly suits your needs.
But do you know your rights and options at the end
of a contract? Perhaps you’re a first-time buyer, simply
looking for some guidance before you make any long-term
commitments or shelling out your hard-earned cash.
Worry not, we’ve trawled through all the possible
scenarios to bring you an easy-peasy review of your rights
and the choices. Our tips and hints should provide you with
the information you need when choosing your next phone.
SUPPORT ACT
Before we look at the options available aside from contracts, let’s see why a
contract may be the best option for you.
A mobile phone contract could be the best choice if you make more than an
hour of calls a month and you use your phone for data-intensive tasks
such as sending emails or accessing the internet. The sure sign
you need a contract phone is when you find yourself topping up
your pre-pay credit more and more.
There are advantages of having a contract for your mobile
phone, rather than pay as you go (PAYG) or SIM-only. There are
more price packages to choose from, a possible reduction in the
cost of your phone services in comparison with PAYG, and the
ability to get another ‘free’ phone at the end of your contract to get
the latest models.
Remember, with a good-value contract comes great
responsibility. Keep an eye on the small print of the contract and
check your bills throughout its duration.
For example, most of the networks have been criticised for
changing terms and conditions mid-contract and not allowing
subscribers to escape the contract, even though Ofcom says mid-
contract price increases should allow customers to be let out of their
contracts.
Citizens Advice received a staggering 28,000 complaints about
handsets and services last year.
Typical problems included customers finding their provider refused to
release them from their contract despite not receiving a signal in their
area, who were unable to make or receive calls, let alone use
the internet.
FEATURE TO BUY OR NOT TO BUY
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www.whatmobile.net 45
OTHER OPTIONS
You have two other options available to you if
you decide not to opt for a pay monthly contract.
These include PAYG or a SIM-only deal. PAYG is
only really a good option for occasional users.
There are no credit checks or contracts. You
can change your phone, or the way you pay
for it, whenever you like, without a penalty.
However, you’ll need to pay in advance for
the phone, which can be £500 or more for high-
end devices.
A price monitoring service like ‘Bill Monitor’
can also provide some added insight on
comparing PAYG deals.
SIM-only deals can be a cost-efficient
alternative to a contract, depending on
your circumstances.
SIM-only is when you just buy the phone chip
from the network, pay a monthly usage fee for a year, and supply your
own phone.
Calls, texts and data will usually be cheaper than buying the phone and SIM
together from the same network.
Once you’ve chosen your desired smartphone, you simply buy a SIM card on
its own, activate your account, and stick it into your network-unlocked phone.
For example, on a Virgin SIM-only, you can get unlimited minutes, texts and 2GB
data for £15 a month. Even with the upfront cost for the phone factored in, it
still works out cheaper than a contract. For example, if you bought an iPhone 5s
for £550 and put in a £15 a month SIM, the cost over two years would be £860.
As you have paid for the 5s, it is yours to sell whenever you want to buy a new
model. By comparison, a £40 pay monthly deal from O2, which included a ‘free’
iPhone 5s, would cost £960 over two years.
LAST YEAR’S MODEL
Of course, you can offset the cost of your contract by selling your handset to a
recycling company and using the money towards your new device. Another
option is to buy a used handset or a slightly older model.
If you’re not fussed about having the very latest smartphone, you are going to
be able to find much better deals. In fact, you can even make money. How? Well,
when you come to the end of your iPhone 5s contract, or example, the network
will offer you a brand new iPhone 6 for ‘free’ as long as you sign up for another
two years. There is nothing to stop you selling that new ‘free’ iPhone 6 and
continuing to use your obsolete 5s, it’s your choice. The network doesn’t care as
long as you pay the new contract for two years.
There are a number of mid-range options costing between £100 and £200
that will suit most people just as well as a £500 device. Or buy an older model. If
you are happy to use last year’s model, you could save around £20 every month
compared with a contract for the latest model.
Most of us simply want a smartphone to surf the web, take photos and
videos and keep music on. A model launched two years ago will be more than
adequate. Remember the frenzy for the Samsung Galaxy S3 and iPhone 4s when
they were launched?
When going for older models, especially iPhones, they have been improved for
a reason. Older Samsung phones are still able to hold their own, and the iPhone
4s still performs well . But the three-year-old iPhone 4 is now a bit sluggish
compared to today’s top performers.
You have the right to remain silent. At least that’s what most network
operators will have you believe. Of the 82.7 million mobile subscribers
in the UK last year, 67% were subscribed to a contract. It seems they are
the silent majority. Nonetheless, you should be aware of the your rights
a contracted mobile user, whether you choose to exercise them or not.
1. You have seven working days to change your mind
without quibble if you do not ask for the service to
start at the time you buy, if you buy a phone or
take out a pay-as-you-go or pay-monthly contract
online, by mail order or over the phone. This does
not apply to fixed-term contracts.
2. Check your termination rights. Nearly all mobile
phone contracts do not allow you to terminate early. You will be obliged
to pay the monthly payments for the full term of the contract.
3. If you have a two-year contract and your handset
stops working after the 12-month warranty period,
there are two arguments to use:
- If the phone does not last the duration of the
contract it is not “fit for purpose” as it should be under
the Sale of Goods Act 1979.
- Under European Law (EU Directive 1999/44/EC) the
phone has a two-year guarantee so you’re still within
the guarantee period.
4. If your phone signal is poor where you live and
you told the retailer/provider of your address when you took out the
contract, it could mean the phone is not “fit for purpose” – which will be
a breach of the Sale of Goods Act. You can therefore return the phone –
and terminate the contract if you’re feeling dramatic.
5. Complain directly to the network operation if you purchased direct
from them, or the retailer (e.g. Carphone Warehouse
or Phones4U) if you bought in a shop. Networks must
belong to one of two telecoms dispute resolution
schemes: CISAS or the Communication Ombudsman
Services. These are independent schemes that will
investigate your problem about a mobile phone service
provider if you haven’t been able to resolve your issue
with them directly.
According to CISAS, there are two outcomes that
cover 60% of cases: the operator decides to offer settlement, or
the adjudication process finds in favour of the consumer. Different
ombudsmen have different procedures. Each has the power to award
compensation up to £5,000 if your complaint is upheld.
However, there are no guarantees. Outcomes can include simply being
switched to another plan, an explanation of what happened or getting
an apology.
FEATURE TO BUY OR NOT TO BUY
SILENT MAJORITY
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46 www.whatmobile.net
Buying a used smartphone can save you some money, but it obviously involves
a few risks – like making sure it’s in good condition and that it isn’t stolen.
Smartphone makers release new models every year. Since people always
have the itch to upgrade, you can get a fantastic deal on a used smartphone
as long as you’re willing to forego cutting-edge handsets. Still, buying a used
smartphone means you have to be diligent. For one, warranty is usually out of
the question, or it will at least be significantly reduced. Secondly, you need to
ensure everything is working correctly. And finally, based on these, you have to
get the right price. Here are some tips:
DO YOUR RESEARCH
To get the best deal, you need to see how many people are selling that
smartphone right now and at what price. Search for the handset on eBay,
Craigslist and Swappa. You will come across enough listings, but there are a
few things to note:
1. Make sure it’s unlocked. Gumtree and eBay have plenty of people selling
locked smartphones, which cost a little less but won’t allow you to use
multiple SIMS.
2. On eBay, check only the Buy It Now prices, not the current bids.
3. Don’t note the median price, note the prices of what you are looking for. Used
smartphones come in various conditions, so you need to actually click those
links and read the description to know whether the condition meets what you
are looking for.
4. Check the price of what a new phone costs with similar specifications. If
you’re buying a one-year-old smartphone for a price that you can get a similar
new phone, the deal isn’t worth it because you lose out on warranty.
5. Make sure all the accessories are intact. If they aren’t, find out what it would
cost you to buy each accessory and use that as a bargaining chip to reduce
the price.
Think like a smartphone seller when you are looking to buy one. Consider
things like product cycles, location, age and condition to figure out the price of
a device. The same things hold true for the buyer.
WHERE TO BUY
When you buy in person, you can inspect the phone – but you’ll get a much
better selection buying online. Here are some tips for each:
TRY A SOCIAL NETWORK
Your best bet is to find someone selling it on a social network. That’s not to say
you won’t get a great deal online, but having some sort of link with the seller
helps in establishing trust. And this works both ways. A good seller wants a
clean and fair transaction too.
BUY ONLINE
If you’re buying online and can’t meet in person, make sure you buy from
someone with a returns policy in place. A good seller who is confident in their
product will allow it. That said, don’t pick it up online. Whatever photos you
see – even if the other party is willing to do a video call – are not a guarantee
of what you are finally going to receive in the mail. There are plenty of online
scammers, so insist on meeting in person.
NEGOTIATING THE DEAL
Before you meet the seller, negotiate the price based on your research and
how the seller has described the phone. Cosmetics should take a back seat to
functionality in negotiations. So “faint scratches on sides” won’t reduce your
price much, but “scratches on screen” can let you negotiate a bigger price
drop. Also let the person know that you plan to thoroughly check the phone
first, inserting your SIM, checking the cables etc. We have found this to be the
easiest way to weed out an honest seller from someone who’s trying to pull a
fast one. At the end of this negotiation, make sure you tell them this is the price
based only on description, and that it might change once you actually inspect
the device.
The difference between a high-end and entry-level smartphone is on average
£400 these days. But how much more bang for your buck will that get you?
We’ve collected three of the best smartphones within their respective fields
to demonstrate what exactly the difference in price constitutes.
HTC ONE M8 £535
In last month’s issue we gave the HTC One M8 five stars
and our verdict was that it’s the best smartphone on the
market. But to own this kind of cutting-edge tech, you will
have to shell out over £500. For that amount, you get a 4G
LTE-enabled device with a duo camera depth sensor for
quicker focusing and clearer pictures, a metal body, a 5-inch
screen and great quality built-in amplifiers and front-facing
speakers. Not to mention the powerful 2.3GHz processor
that lurks inside.
LG NEXUS 5 £300
For approximately £200 less than the HTC One M8, you
could grab a Nexus 5. Comparatively, you will receive a
lighter smartphone with a One M8-matching processor and
a decent 8-megapixel camera – with less imaging features.
Its web browsing and gaming functions will perform as fast
as a high-end device. But you lose out on design and
camera features.
MOTOROLA MOTO G £110
At almost a third of the price of the Nexus 5, and a fraction
of the price you would pay for the One M8, you could
purchase the popular Moto G entry-level handset. For that
price, you don’t get 4G capability, there’s a weaker 5MP rear-
facing camera and a slower (but still respectable) 1.2GHz
quad-core processor. Specs that should satisfy casual
users but not enough for major web browsing, gaming and
photography enthusiasts.
FEATURE TO BUY OR NOT TO BUY
WHICH MODEL
RANGE SUITS YOU?
HOW TO BUY A USED SMARTPHONE
44-47_Contracts_June14.indd 46 06/05/2014 17:52
www.whatmobile.net 47
If you’re after a high-end smartphone but are unsure about your options
and wary about money, we have you covered. We’ve run the maths
on some of the best deals out there to find you the cheapest Samsung
Galaxy S5 prices around.
As usual, buying the handset on its own and then opting for a monthly
tariff is the cheapest way to go, but the difference is actually not that
much over a 24-month period unless you really shop around for the
cheapest PAYG tariffs.
Also be aware that the pricier contracts include 4G, which is going
to further reduce the price gap. If you can put up with old 3G and are
careful with your minutes, data and text messages, you can save a
few quid.
Phone addicts who regularly hit their limits should consider unlimited
where possible, as going over your limit can prove costly. Best to check
your phone habits first and plan accordingly. Alternatively, you can get
unlimited data and use apps such as WhatsApp, Skype and Facebook
Messenger to cut out text messages and call charges to a certain extent.
HANDSET-ONLY DEALS
Clove is the cheapest deal we could find from a reputable source. £522
including VAT is the price you will have to pay. There is a catch, mind
you. We noticed stock shortages at the time of writing, which means you
may have to wait to get your hands on the handset.
Handtek is the second cheapest vendor of the Samsung Galaxy S5
handset, priced at £545.99 including VAT. Sadly it looks as if you will
have to wait until stock arrives for the black handset. Going direct to
Samsung would cost you £579, so you can save some money if you’re a
little patient.
CONTRACT DEALS
These are the best deals if you are happy to be locked in for 24 months.
We’ve included the main options because you may be governed by more
than just price when it comes to choosing a network.
Vodafone
Not the cheapest option, but Vodafone gives you unlimited calls and
text messages plus 2GB of 3G data for 24 lots of £47. That works out at
£1,128. If you trade your phone in, you can pay 24 lots of £42, totalling
£1,008.
O2
O2 offers 5GB of 4G data and unlimited calls and text messages for £43 a
month over 24 months, equalling £1,032. You can knock up to £230 off if
you trade in your old handset. Alternatively pay £70 for the handset then
£38 for 24 months for the cheaper total of £982.
Tesco Mobile
Nice and simple from Tesco Mobile. You get to piggyback off the O2
network for £34.50 x 24, bringing the total to £1,005. That gets you 1,500
minutes, 5,000 texts and 1GB of 4G data.
Three
Unusually close to the O2 deal, this one. The cheapest Three tariff costs
£29 up front and then £38 for two years. The total cost is £982, which
includes 4G access. This gets you unlimited data, 600 minutes and
unlimited text messages.
Virgin
Say hello to the cheapest deal, providing you are an existing
Virgin Media broadband customer. You can pay £99 up front for the
Samsung Galaxy S5 handset then £29 x 24, bringing the total to an
impressive £795.
Orange and T-Mobile
Not far from being the cheapest is Orange and T-Mobile, if you can
stomach 3G. Spend £230 up front for the handset then £28 a month for
24 months. Grand total: £902.
EE
EE offers 4G Samsung Galaxy S5 goodness for £59 up front then £39.99
for 24 months. That option sets you back £1,189.72. It’s cheaper to front
up £260 for the handset as that brings the 24 monthly repayments down
to £33, costing you £1,052 overall.
FEATURE TO BUY OR NOT TO BUY
CASE STUDY: THE CHEAPEST WAY TO
GET HOLD OF A SAMSUNG GALAXY S5
44-47_Contracts_June14.indd 47 06/05/2014 17:52
48 www.whatmobile.net
Microsoft meets Apple with the arrival of Office on the iPhone, plus all the latest app launches
Download down-low
Reviewer: Saqib Shah and Callum Tennent – for full reviews, check out WhatMobile.net
Random
Free (iOS)

Content-discovery apps are ten-a-penny, but
Random manages to put a fresh spin on the
field. For starters there’s absolutely no sign-up
required, so it’s totally anonymous. What’s
really impressive is how truly ‘random’ the app
actually is - you’ll never see the same thing
twice, be it an article, photo or video.
Microsoft Office Mobile
Free (iOS)

An app that needs little introduction.
Microsoft’s signature Office programs
have comprised the most popular
office suite since the dawn of home
computing. Now, for the first time, they’re
all available on your iOS device. Word,
Excel and PowerPoint are all present and
are completely free! You can view, edit
and create documents/spreadsheets/
presentations to your heart’s content.
Files can also be saved to and accessed
from the cloud, for universal sharing. The
long-standing Android version is now free
as well.
FireChat
Free (iOS)

The chat app marketplace may be
approaching saturation, but FireChat has a
unique draw: it requires neither mobile signal
nor a wi-fi connection. You can communicate
with any other iOS device within an
approximate 30-foot radius using Apple’s
Multipeer Connectivity Framework.
Disconnect Search
Free (Android)

Disconnect Search is the ultimate in
anonymity. An app that Edward Snowden
himself would be proud of, Disconnect Search
allows you to use all the major internet
search engines with complete privacy. The
app encrypts and reroutes your searches so
that you are totally untrackable and totally
untraceable.
REVIEWS APPS AND GAMES
48-51_Apps and Games_June14.indd 48 06/05/2014 17:54
www.whatmobile.net 49
Coursera
Free (iOS, Android)

You know what’s more productive than
spending your daily commute mindlessly
scrolling through Twitter? Literally anything.
Coursera, on the other hand, is probably the
best way you could be spending that free time.
The free app offers over 600 full educational
courses from over 100 renowned educational
institutes such as Stanford and Yale. From
cooking to computer science, there’s a subject
for everyone to better themselves in.
RAR For Android
Free (Android)

WinRAR is the world’s most popular Windows
file compression and extraction tool, and now
it’s finally been adapted for your Android
device. It may not look too pretty (much like
the desktop version), but it has almost the
full functionality of its big brother, and it’s
completely free.
Sesame Recipe Manager
Free (iOS)

Aspiring chefs and fanatical foodies, your
prayers have been answered. Sesame is
the best way to keep track of your favourite
recipes. Not only can it source delicious dishes
from all over the web, but you can also tweak
and edit them to your personal taste. You can
even create shopping lists from ingredients,
and built-in timers make preparing meals
a breeze (provided you can actually do the
cooking).
Auto Finder
Free (Android)

The ultimate car-finder app. No one plans to
forget where they parked but luckily Auto
Finder remembers for you. It’s always running
in the background, with minimal battery drain,
and drops a pin on a map when it senses
you’ve parked up. There’s not even any setup
or Bluetooth pairing required.
Dollarbird
Free (iOS, Android)

Tracking expenses is boring. Dollarbird does
a great job of tackling that head-on, offering
a visually engaging and fantastically intuitive
way for you to keep track of your spending.
Ever wonder where your paycheque goes
every month? You won’t after trying out
Dollarbird, but be warned: finding out you
spend £200 a month on pizza can be quite
depressing.
NFB StopMo Studio
£2.49 (iOS)

Quite simply, it’s a stop-motion studio on your
iOS device! Capture images and time-lapses,
control frame rates, record and mix audio –
every tool you’ll need to make your stop-
motion film present and correct.
REVIEWS APPS AND GAMES
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50 www.whatmobile.net
Another month, another chance to shred zombies – or save cuckoos, if you’re that way inclined
Summer of gaming
Reviewer: Saqib Shah and Callum Tennent – for full reviews, check out WhatMobile.net
Faster than Light
£6.99 (iOS)

This indie spaceship simulator was
previously only available on the PC but
now makes its introduction on the iPad.
In the game, you play the commander
of a spacecraft who must fight enemy
fleets and improve the ship’s crew and
mechanics on a quest to collect vital
military data.
Monument Valley
£2.49 (iOS)

A fluid puzzler built around elegantly
designed levels, Monument Valley surged
to the top of the Apple app store chart
last month. Its success should really
come as no surprise once you witness its
breathtaking visuals, which are a joy to
behold, let alone interact with. The simple
twist-and-drag controls allow you to
manipulate the intricate architecture that
you must navigate as the silent protagonist.
Monument Valley will definitely appeal to
fans of other alternative and indie titles such
as Ico and Fez.
The Quest for Stuff
Free (Android, iOS)

With the bestselling The Simpsons: Tapped
Out topping mobile gaming charts and South
Park: The Stick of Truth doing the same on
consoles, it was only a matter of time till we
saw the release of a Family Guy game. And
here it is: Family Guy: The Quest for Stuff does
a good job at emulating the animation of the
show and contains its familiar adult humour.
Threes
£1.20 (Android)

Already an iOS sensation, Threes has now
made it to Android. A number-crunching
puzzler, Threes is notoriously addictive, with
the developers’ claiming that, on average,
players spend more than 20 minutes in a
play session.
REVIEWS APPS AND GAMES
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Shin Megami Tensei
£5.49 (iOS)

A massive hit in its native Japan, the Shin
Megami Tensei series of RPGs has finally
received an English translation for iOS
devices. This mobile port of the first title in
the series is – like so many animes from the
nineties – set in a demon-infested Tokyo,
where players must recruit monsters to create
the right team, make critical decisions and
fight hundreds of enemies. With an apparent
40 to 60 hour story mode length, it certainly
offers plenty of play time for RPG fans.
Walking Dead season 1
Free (Android)

Already a hugely popular title on PCs, Macs,
consoles, and iOS devices, The Walking Dead
is set in the ‘official’ universe of the comic
books that the TV show is based on. But
this is a parallel story in which you play as a
convicted felon who winds up taking care of
an orphaned girl. As you’d expect, the game
serves up plenty of gory, scary thrills.
Cuckoo Corner
£0.69 (iOS)

This Tamagotchi-style game allows
players to nurture their very own cuckoo
in an open 3D environment. Players
must raise their cuckoo and explore the
in-game world while collecting coins and
solving mini-games. Additionally, Cuckoo
Corner has teamed up with the RSPB so
that 50% of in-app purchase profits from
go to the RSPB’s Birds Without Borders
programme, which helps protect the
endangered cuckoo.
God of Light
Free (Android), £1.49 (iOS)

This bright and colourful title is all about
subtle movements. Starting off in darkness,
players take control of a glowing ball called
Shiny that projects a beam of light that
bounces off various reflective flowers and is
used to find the source of life. God of Light
offers a simple yet refreshing take on the
puzzle genre.
Rollercoaster Tycoon 4
£1.99 (iOS)

For the first time in its history, the latest
iteration in Atari’s long-running PC series
has been released on mobiles. Like its
predecessors, RollerCoaster Tycoon 4 is
a theme park-building simulator. This
new version comes with 20 pre-designed
coasters and also lets you design and
customise your own rides.
QuizUp
Free (Android)

A must-have for fans of trivia games,
QuizUp is now available on Android
devices. The game lets you challenge your
friends or random strangers around the
world to a round of head-to-head action
in just about any category you can think
of. QuizUp is made so inclusive by its vast
array of niches available – players don’t
simply pick ‘TV’ or ‘Music’ (although
those options are available). Instead,
you can choose specific shows like The
Simpsons or Seinfeld, and specific artists
like Justin Bieber or Wu-Tang Clan.
REVIEWS APPS AND GAMES
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52 www.whatmobile.net
Cutesy gaming rules this month, with Mickey Mouse joining the best titles emerging from Japan
Nintendo 3DS
Reviewer: Saqib Shah and Callum Tennent – for full reviews, check out WhatMobile.net
Disney Magical World
£30

A life simulation game akin to Animal
Crossing that incorporates a number
of Disney characters, Disney Magical
World will appeal to fans of the house
of mouse. The game casts you as
yourself – albeit an avatar of you
capable of using magic – and allows
you to become part of the Disney
canon. It then guides you through the
lives and worlds of Disney characters
who are in need of your help. The
main goal during gameplay, beyond
growing a café you are put in charge
of, is to collect Happy Stickers.
Stickers are earned by completing
specific tasks, such as catching fish
or defeating a particular enemy, and
the more Stickers you have, the more
quests become available in the various
Disney-themed worlds.
Professor Layton vs
Phoenix Wright
£34.99

This solid crossover title brings together
two titans of the 3DS world for an
action-packed puzzle game set in a
medieval land. With a long, challenging
story mode that sees you quizzing
suspects as attorney Wright and solving
puzzles as Professor Layton, the game is
full of great comedic writing and quirky
Japanese humour that will definitely
appeal to fans of both franchises. Don’t
be fooled by the title, however, as this
game doesn’t pit these two popular
characters against one another. Instead
the emphasis is on camaraderie as
Layton and Wright team up to battle
the magical spell-casting characters in
this sinister world. Fans of both series’
will be happy to hear that this new title
incorporates the best gameplay features
from its respective predecessors, while
introducing darker themes and more
complex mysteries.
REVIEWS MOBILE GAMING
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Yoshi’s New Island
£29.99

The chalk-inspired graphics and overly
cute characterisation may not be to
everyone’s liking, but Yoshi’s New Island
has plenty of gameplay offerings to keep
both casual and hardcore gamers happy.
After all, nobody does platformers like
Nintendo and Yoshi’s New Island is no
exception. The pace and flow of the
game is everything you’d expect from a
Mario spinoff – and a baby version of the
iconic Italian plumber is included in the
game as your sidekick. You play as the
lovable mini dinosaur Yoshi escorting
Baby Mario through perilous stages.
This adds a distinctive and tense twist
to the traditional platforming aspect of
the game. Yoshi’s unique skill-based
egg attacks, which must be manually
aimed, also add some challenge to
fending off enemies. Unfortunately,
the short multiplayer mini-games feel
tacked on and won’t leave you wanting
more. Despite these inconsistencies, the
overall gameplay is intriguing.
Pokemon Link Battle
£34.99

In this new addition to the long-running Pokemon series, players battle
Pokémon to capture them through fast-paced puzzles. You can create
chains of Pokémon types to attack and catch more than 700 pocket
monsters. However, this contains none of the RPG stylings of the other
games and is more of a puzzler - similar to mobile games such as Candy
Crush, but instead of sweets or jewels, here you have grids made up of
cute Pokémon faces. This isn’t a mere imitation of those mobile titles, as
matching three critters is the means by which you ‘attack’ a wild Pokémon.
Line-up more than three at a time and you’re able to use more advanced
attacks that do things like attack multiple Pokémon at once. Another layer
of strategy is added by the fact that the elemental types of the Pokémon
also factor into things, such as using a water type on a fire for bonuses.
Yumi’s Odd Odyssey
£19.99

Another 3DS title with a uniquely Japanese sensibility that may still
manage to appeal to gamers from all walks of life. Using her fishing
hook, players must guide the game’s protagonist Yumi through a
variety of levels by running, jumping, and throwing her coveted fishing
line. Yumi can use her fishing line to swing between platforms, lower
herself down to other ledges, and even catapult herself great distances
by stretching the line to its breaking point. Although part of a long-
running franchise in its domestic market, this is the first version of
the game to make it to the West. Making it worth a look for that alone.
Not to mention the fact that it is a totally original take on the puzzle-
platforming genre with a surprisingly demanding difficulty level.
REVIEWS MOBILE GAMING
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54 www.whatmobile.net
The Walking Dead is as addictive as ever and Football Manager finally arrives on the handheld
PlayStation Vita
Reviewer: Saqib Shah and Callum Tennent – for full reviews, check out WhatMobile.net
The Walking Dead
Season 2
£3.99 per episode

And now for something completely
different. You don’t need to be a fan
of the cult survival-horror series to
enjoy the cult survival-horror game.
Both Episode 1 (‘All That Remains’)
and Episode 2 (‘A House Divided’) are
now available, with another three still
to come. The series is as good as ever,
and still a unique gaming experience.
Season 2 sees young Clementine
become the protagonist, and in
doing so forces the player to come
to terms with some uncomfortable
existential questions. It’s gritty and
gruesome and it genuinely makes
you think about the consequences
of your actions, both physical and
philosophical. The only downside is
that you’ve got to wait until Season 3
to play more of it.
Football Manager
Classic 2014
£24.99

It’s Football Manager. On your
handheld. Why are you even still reading
this? Oh alright then, we’ll elaborate. In
all honesty, it falls a bit short of its PC
predecessors’ lofty standards. ‘Classic
Mode’ is a fine offering, but it lacks
the unending depth of the full version.
Obviously this has been implemented
to make it more handheld-appropriate
though, and in that regard it just about
works. It’s the first portable version to
feature the 3D match engine too, which
is quite nice, although it can lag at
times. If you’re a fan of the series, you’ve
probably already made your mind up on
whether or not you’re going to buy it. As
for newcomers, there are certainly worse
entry points into what is a dauntingly
expansive title.
REVIEWS MOBILE GAMING
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The Sly Trilogy
£24.99

The Sly Trilogy sees all three of the
classic original PS2 Sly Raccoon
titles ported to the Vita – that means
Sly Raccoon, Sly 2: Band of Thieves
and Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves in
fully remastered HD glory. It’s been
over a year since the release of Sly
4 on the Vita, so if you’re craving
more platform-y, sleuth-y goodness,
then this should keep you satisfied
for another year at least. As the
series progresses, we see a shift
from classic platformer to a more
ensemble-focused, sporadic approach
to gameplay. The sheer variety later
in the series is really something to
behold.
Dynasty Warriors 8 Xtreme Legends –
Complete Edition
£29.99

Baseball isn’t the only sport receiving its annual update – so is slaying
feudal Chinese footsoldiers. Here we have the latest edition of the cult,
evergreen hack ‘n’ slash series, and it’s largely the same as ever. Whether
that’s a good thing or not is up to you – some love its repetition and
formulaic nature, while others deride it for the same reasons.
MLB 14: The Show
£29.99

It’s a baseball simulator. No, wait, come back! It’s a good one! The
best one around, really, although it definitely loses a little of the polish
present on its outstanding home console sibling. All the modes are
present though, including the all-important Road to the Show. You can
even sync save files with your PS3 or PS4 and your Vita so you can
sustain your addiction wherever you are.
REVIEWS MOBILE GAMING
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OS Android 4.2 Jelly Bean
Processor Quad-core 1.5
GHz
Screen 720 x 1280 pixels, 5.7
inches
Memory 1GB RAM
Storage 8GB expandable to
32GB via microSD
Camera 8MP (rear-facing),
2MP (front-facing)
Video 1080p@30fps
Connectivity Wi-Fi,
Bluetooth
Ports Micro USB, micro SD
Dimensions 163 x 83 x 9.6
mm
Weight 195g
Battery Removable Li-Ion
2400 mAh
OS Android v4.2.1 (Jelly
Bean)
PROCESSOR Quad-core
1.2 GHz
SCREEN 540 x 960 pixels,
4.5 inches
MEMORY 1GB RAM
STORAGE 4GB Micro SD
up to 32GB
CAMERA 8MP rear-facing,
2MP front-facing
VIDEO 1,080p@30fps
WIRELESS Wi-fi Bluetooth
3.0
PORTS Micro-USB
DIMENSIONS 131 x 68 x
9.9mm
WEIGHT 140g
BATTERY Li-Ion 2,000 mAh
OS Android v4.2 (Jelly
Bean)
Processor Dual core 1GHz
Screen 320 x 480 pixels, 3.5
inches
Memory 512MB RAM
Storage 4GB; Micro SD up
to 32GB
Camera 3.15 MP rear-
facing
Video Yes
Wireless Wi-Fi Bluetooth
3.0
Ports Micro USB
Dimensions 109 x 60 x
10.4mm 
Weight 120g
Battery Li-Ion 1500 mAh
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
This isn’t the most compelling case for
the Acer’s smartphone’s existence, with
a battery that’s been beaten by smaller
phones and performance that leaves
something to be desired.
Stacked up against recent entries in the
budget market, the Acer Liquid E2 is simply
outdated. It’s a functional Android handset
but the clunky, thick design makes it feel
like you’re holding a toy and the software
doesn’t have any standout features. Acer
will have to seriously raise its game if it’s to
be a contender in the phone market.
While the Z3’s tiny size has immediate
benefits, you’ll soon tire of cramping your
thumbs on too small a screen. Everywhere
else its simply an underwhelming phone,
even with the sub-£100 price tag. Even
with the customisation options for different
audiences, we’d recommend opting for
a normal-sized phone over this fidgety
gadget.
VERDICT: The Liquid S1 is underwhelming
and does not have many features.
VERDICT: A dated, bulky phone saved by its
reasonable price.
VERDICT: It’s far too small to be used for
most apps and is uncomfortable to hold.
Acer Liquid S1 Acer Liquid E2 Acer Liquid Z3
Reviewed: November 2013, price: £280
http://www.acer.co.uk
Reviewed: January 2014, price: £189.99
http://www.acer.co.uk
Reviewed: December 2013, price: £99
http://www.acer.co.uk
BUYER’S GUIDE REVIEWS ARCHIVE
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60 www.whatmobile.net
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
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
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 it’s at the heart of the iPad 2.
And there’s also the option to get a 64GB
version, making it ideal for anyone who has
an iTunes library made up of high-quality
lossless music files. If you crave storage
and camera quality, this is a great iPhone.
VERDICT: With its impressive upgrades, the
iPhone 4S is well worth its premium price.
Apple iPhone 4S
Reviewed: December 2011, price: £499
www.apple.com/uk
OS Android 4.2 (Jelly
Bean)
Processor Quad-core
1.5GHz
Screen 1080x1920, 50
inches
Memory 2GB RAM
Storage 16GB
Camera 13 MP rear-facing,
2.1 MP front-facing
Video 1080p
Wireless Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
4.0
Ports Micro USB
Dimensions 140.4 x 67.5 x
6.9 mm
Weight 130g
Battery Li-Ion 2000 mAh
battery
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
The One Touch X may be an obscure
phone, but it’s price still makes it worth
your consideration given the spec sheet,
which includes a decent camera and
colourful display. It still falls well short of
the competition in terms of design and
software, but this is a modest effort all the
same.
VERDICT: An unambitious phone with a
respectable spec sheet for the price.
Alcatel One Touch Idol X
Reviewed: December 2013, price: £300
www.alcatelonetouch.com/uk
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 non-
expandable (dual-SIM
version) /
4GB, micro SD up to 32GB
(single SIM version)
Wireless Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct,
Bluetooth 4.0
Camera 8MP rear, 3264 x
2448 pixels, LED flash, 2MP
front
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
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
doesn’t last long.
VERDICT: A slick device with top-end
features at the same price as the S3.
Alcatel One Touch Idol
Reviewed: July 2013, price: £300
www.alcatelonetouch.com/uk
BUYER’S GUIDE REVIEWS ARCHIVE
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OS iOS 7
Screen 4-inches
Resolution 1136x640
Processor Dual-core A7
Memory 1GB RAM
Storage 16GB, 32GB, 64GB
Camera 8MP, True Tone
flash, face detection,
5-element lens, panorama
Video 1080p@30fps, slo-mo
Wireless 802.11a/b/g/n
Ports Lightning
Battery Xxx
Weight 112g
Size 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6mm
GPS Assisted GPS,
GLONASS, digital compass
Bluetooth 4.0
Security fingerprint ID
OS iOS 7
Screen 4-inches
Resolution 640 x 1136
Processor Dual-core A6
Memory 1GB RAM
Storage 16/32GB
Camera 8 MP, 5-element
lens,panorama, face
detection
Video 1080p@30fps
Wireless Wi-Fi 802.11
Ports Lightning
Battery 1510 mAh
Size 12.4 x 59.2 x 9 mm
Weight 132g
GPS Assisted GPS,
GLONASS
Bluetooth 4.0
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
With fingerprint identity, 64-bit A7 64-bit
chip delivers up to twice the perfomance of
the iPhone 4 and 5c, many people will opt to
pay the extra £80 or so over the 5c. They’ll
also get an improved camera with 15 per
cent larger sensor and improved low-light
capabilies. The True Tone flash incorporates
two flashes each matched to different
light temperatures so flesh tones are more
natural with flash pictures.
If you need a splash of colour in your life
and you’re already a massive fan of the
iOS operating system, then the iPhone 5c
is much the same as the previous iPhone
5. There’s a slightly upgraded front-facing
camera and 4G will work on any UK
network, but other than that you’re getting
the exact same thing. The iPhone 5c is
simply around for those of you who love
great design without breaking the bank.
VERDICT: The gold standard in user-friendly
smartphones.
VERDICT: It’s the most colourful iPhone to
date, but it’s identical to the iPhone 5.
Apple iPhone 5s Apple iPhone 5c
Reviewed: December 2013, price: £549
(16GB) £629 (32GB) £709 (64GB)
Reviewed: December 2013, price: £469
(16GB) £549 (32GB)
OS Android 4.2 (Jelly
Bean)
Processor Quad-core
MediaTek
Screen 5 inches
Resolution 1,920 x 1,080
pixels
Memory 1GB RAM
Storage 16GB
Camera 13MP
Connectivity Wi-Fi,
Bluetooth, 3G
Dimensions 143 x 70.5 x
9.9mm
Weight 130g
Battery 2,300 mAh
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
With its large, high-definition screen and
powerful hardware, the Archos 50 Oxygen
is a solid mid-priced smartphone. It’s great
for movies with its five-inch screen and can
run demanding games without crashing.
16GB of storage is rather generous too.
There’s nothing unique here, but for £300
it’s worth a look.
VERDICT: A solid entry, but a lack of stand-
out features sees it blend into the pack.
Archos 50 Oxygen
Reviewed: March 2014, price: £300
archos.com
BUYER’S GUIDE REVIEWS ARCHIVE
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EDITOR’S CHOICE
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OS Android v4.0 (Ice Cream
Sandwich
Processor Qualcomm quad-
core 1.5GHz
Screen 720 x 1280 pixels,
4.7 inches
Memory 2GB RAM
Storage 16/32/64GB
Camera 13 MP rear-facing,
1.3 front-facing
Video 1080p@30fps
Wireless Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
4.0
Ports Micro USB
Dimensions 137.9 x 68.9
x 9mm
Weight 135g
Battery Li-Ion 2140 mAh
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
The PadFone 2 offers two devices for
around the price of one but you won’t be
able to use the tablet independently of
the phone. An ideal situation in which to
use the PadFone 2 is if you want to use
the same data allowance for both devices,
and not shell out for a more expensive
3G-enabled tablet. This could almost be
perfect if it had a better screen.
VERDICT: An almost perfect two-for-one
device – if only it had a better screen.
Asus PadFone 2
Reviewed: November 2013, price: £500
www.asus.com/uk
OS Android v4.1 (Jelly Bean)
Processor Intel Atom Z2320
12.GHz
Screen 800 x 1280 pixels,
7 inches
Memory 1GB RAM
Storage 8/16GB
Camera 3 MP rear-facing,
1.2 MP front-facing
Video 720p
Wireless Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Ports Micro USB, micro SD
Dimensions 196.4 x 120.1 x
10.4 mm
Weight 340
Battery Li-Ion 4270 mAh
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
The FonePad is a lot larger than most
phones, so you’re unlikely to want to use
it as your main phone. It does have a great
battery life though, so it’s an ideal back-
up. The large screen makes watching
movies ideal, although its resolution is
unimpressive. The lack of a camera on a
modern smartphone would mean this is
definitely not your main smartphone.
VERDICT: A large screen is great for films
but a lack of camera is a let-down.
Asus FonePad
Reviewed: November 2013, price: £190
www.asus.com/uk
OS Android 4.1.2 ‘Jelly
Bean’
Processor Qualcomm
8225Q Quad Core, 1.2 GHz
Screen 5.3’’ 960 x 540
pixels
Memory 1GB RAM
Storage 4GB expandable
to 64GB via SD card
Camera 8.0 MP (rear
facing) 2.0 MP (front facing)
Video 720p
Connectivity Wifi,
Bluetooth
Ports Micro USB, micro SD
Dimensions 154 x 78 x
9 mm
Weight 190g
Battery 2800 mAh
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
A slow processor and poor sound quality
cripple’s the Archos 53 platinum, despite its
incredibly low price an dual SIM card slots.
The screen isn’t also as sharp as we could
have hoped, with a rather low resolution
of 960 x 540, which is much less than HD.
It is an affordable device, which could be
its saving grace, but you’re still likely to
be disappointed. With other phones at this
price point, you should try elsewhere.
VERDICT: Battery life is fantastic, but that’s
due to the poor performance all around.
Archos 53 Platinum
Reviewed: October 2013, price: £110
archos.com
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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 flash
Video 1080p@30fps 
Wireless Wi-Fi 802.11
a/b/g/n, dual band, Wi-Fi
Dimensions 120 x 66 x
10.8mm
Weight 120g
OS BlackBerry 10
Screen 3.1-inch, 720x720
pixels
Processor Dual-core
1.2GHz
RAM 2GB
Input Capacitive
touchscreen
Camera 5MP, 2MP front
Video Record / Playback
Audio Music player /
Stereo Bluetooth / 3.5mm
jack
Storage 8GB expandable
via micro SD card
Battery 2180mAh
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
The Q10 will delight BlackBerry fans
yearning for a ‘proper’ QWERTY keyboard,
however its hefty price tag means it’s 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.
Despite £200 being knocked off the price
of the Blackberry Q10, you don’t really feel
that this is a bargain device. If you’re in
need of a QWERTY device then Q5 may be
one to consider. When compared against
its competition this is woefully overpriced,
especially considering a similar Nokia
ASHA device will set back only £47. The
build quality on the Q5 also leaves much to
be desired, with a creaking plastic.
VERDICT: A good mix of old and new
BlackBerry but at a (very) high price.
VERDICT: The Q5 is a device for Blackberry
QWERTY fanatics who can’t afford the Q10.
BlackBerry Q10 BlackBerry Q5
Reviewed: July 2013, price: £580
uk.blackberry.com
Reviewed: September 2013, price: £329.99
uk.blackberry.com
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.
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
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.
VERDICT: A lost opportunity; it offers too
little new and has a confusing UI.
BlackBerry Z10
Reviewed: March 2013, price: £36 p/m
uk.blackberry.com
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OS Android 4.1
Processor 1GHz
Screen 53 x 87mm
Resolution 480 x 800 pixels
Memory 512Mb
Storage 32GB on microSD
Camera 5MP
Video 854 x 480 pixels
Connectivity Bluetooth,
wi-fi, 3G, GPS
Dimensions 126 x 66 x
12.5mm
Weight 132g
Battery 1,500 mAh
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
The Liberto 810 has a comfortable design
and a user interface that’s ideal for first-
time smartphone users and impaired
customers. From there, things start to slip.
The screen is buried into the handset,
making it hard to accurately press smaller
buttons, the camera software has some
strange issues and we ran into a few bugs.
It’s a starting point for Doro, but it’s hard to
recommend it.
VERDICT: Seniors may be demanding a
tailored smartphone, but this isn’t it.
Doro Liberto 810
Reviewed: April 2014, price: £145
www.doro.co.uk
Screen 2.2 inches
Resolution 240 x 320
pixels
Camera 3MP
Video 240 x 320 pixels
@30fps
Dimensions 122.94 x 55.88
x 7.6mm
Weight 136g
Battery Li-Ion 1,150 mAh
Ports micro-USB
Waterproof 30 minutes at
1 metre
Fall 1.8 metres
Temperatures -25OC to
55OC
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
The CAT B100 withstands harsh conditions
and jarring blows with a tough outer
shell that absorbs the impact of falls, and
impressive waterproofing. Beyond that, the
phone lacks features games and apps - but
chances are that’s not why you’re buying
this phone. If you need a rugged handset
to take adventuring, though, it’s more than
tough enough.
VERDICT: Tough enough to take into a
warzone, if a little light on actual function.
CAT B100
Reviewed: March 2014, price: £380
www.catphones.com
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 Multi-
touch, Gorilla glass, wet
finger 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
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
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.
VERDICT: A rugged phone for those who
need to rely on it in any environment.
CAT B15
Reviewed: June 2013, price: £299
www.catphones.com
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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 amplification of
35dB, ringer volume up to 83
dB (A) at 1 metre
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
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 won’t win any
beauty contests, however, and has no data
connectivity or basic camera.
VERDICT: An affordable phone for
vulnerable or elderly people to call for help.
Doro PhoneEasy 506
Reviewed: July 2013, price: £45
www.doro.co.uk
OS Doro’s own OS
Screen 320 x 240 pixels
Storage Micro SD up to
32GB
Camera 2MP, LED flash
Wireless Bluetooth
Ports Micro USB, micro
SD, headphone socket
Dimensions 102 x 52 x
19 mm
Weight 104 g
Battery 800mAh Li-ion
(charging cradle and USB
cable included)
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
The Doro PhoneEasy 622 could easily be
considered a museum piece if you have the
slightest understanding of modern mobile
technologies. That said if you’re a complete
novice or want a back-up phone, then this
could be the ideal device. Battery life is
exemplary and ring volume is a lot louder
than you’ll see on modern smartphones, but
the design looks dated and the camera is
only capable of a two megapixel resolution.
VERDICT: The PhoneEasy 622 has a lot to
offer for technophobes, but not for all of us.
Doro PhoneEasy 622
Reviewed: October 2013, price: £110
www.doro.co.uk
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
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
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.
VERDICT: A well-made and thoughtfully
designed phone ideal for non power users.
Doro PhoneEasy 715
Reviewed: December 2012, price: £95
www.doro.co.uk
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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
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
It looks a bit dull and devoid of personality,
plus storage is limited to 4GB... but that’s
hardly the point. The Nexus 4 is a tight bit of
kit designed to show off Google’s latest version
of Android. With a terrific 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.
VERDICT: Dull and devoid of personality, but
high powered and super, super cheap.
Google Nexus 4
Reviewed: February 2013, price: £239
www.google.com/nexus/4/
BUYER’S GUIDE REVIEWS ARCHIVE
OS Android OS v4.1.2 (Jelly
Bean)
PROCESSOR Snapdragon
200 quad-core
SCREEN 480x800 pixels, 4.3
inches
MEMORY 1GB RAM
STORAGE 4GB, up to 64GB
via microSD
CAMERA 8MP rear-facing,
1.6MP front-facing
VIDEO 720@30fps
WIRELESS Wi-fi, Bluetooth
4.0
PORTS Micro-USB
DIMENSIONS 131.8 x 66.9
x 9.9 mm
WEIGHT 123g
BATTERY Li-Ion 1,800 mAh
battery
OS Android 4.2 (Jelly
Bean)
Processor 1.4GHz dual-
core Snapdragon 400
Screen 4.5 inches
Resolution 540 x 960
pixels
Memory 1GB
Storage 8GB, expandable
to 64GB
Camera 5MP (rear),
0.3MP (front)
Video 1080p@30fps
Connectivity 3G, Wi-Fi,
802.11 a/b/g/n
Dimensions 134.5 x 66.7
x 9.88mm
Weight 130g
Battery 2,100 mAH
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
The HTC Desire is a respectable budget
offering from the Taiwanese manufacturer
but it’s been undercut by cheaper phones
with better specifications. You’ll struggle
with limited storage space but it earns
points for a unique design.
4G at an affordable price is the Desire 601’s
big claim (if you regard £240 as affordable).
That’s not enough of a reason alone to buy
it, though. 4G is currently not worth the
premium, nor the price hike over a similarly
specced 3G handset. The trademark HTC
Beats audio still sounds great though, and
its on-board photo editor is handy - if you
can put up with the low-resolution screen.
VERDICT: A solid phone with a price tag on
the wrong side of the Moto G.
VERDICT: A decent phone, but the extra
£100 is not justified by 4G capability alone.
HTC Desire 500 HTC Desire 601
Reviewed: January 2014, price: £199.99
www.htc.com/uk
Reviewed: March 2014, price: £244
www.htc.com/uk
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OS Android 4.4 KitKat
Processor 2.3GHz
quad-core Qualcomm
Snapdragon 801
Screen 5 inches
Resolution 1,920 x 1,080
pixels
Memory 2GB RAM
Storage 16GB/32GB
Camera 4MP HTC UltraPixel
Video 1,080p Full HD
Dimensions 146.36 x 70.6 x
9.35 mm
Weight 160g
Battery 2,600 mAH
OS Android v4.3 (Jelly
Bean)
PROCESSOR Snapdragon
600 quad-core 1.7GHz
SCREEN 1080 x 1920 pixels,
5.9 inches
MEMORY 2GB
STORAGE 16GB/32GB,
expandable to 64GB
CAMERA 4MP rear, 2.1MP
front
VIDEO 1080p
WIRELESS Wi-fi, DLNA,
Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, Infrared
PORTS Micro-USB,
microSD
BATTERY 3,300mAh
DIMENSIONS 164.5 x 82.5
x 10.3mm
WEIGHT 217g
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
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
The HTC One M8 is, in all probability, the
best smartphone ever made. It both looks
and performs better than almost everything
else out there. Features like Blinkfeed and
knock-to-wake are a joy to use. If Apple,
Sony and Samsung weren’t paying attention
before, they certainly are now.
The HTC One Max piggybacks the
reputation of the HTC One, although
nothing much has improved. The high-
quality display is present but HTC has
failed to add processing power and the
fingerprint sensor implementation is very
disappointing.
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.
VERDICT: If you can afford it, buy it. There’s
no better handset on the market.
VERDICT: The HTC One’s design is still a
standout but there’s nothing new here.
VERDICT: A well designed, top-tier
performer to rival the very best.
HTC One M8 HTC One Max HTC One
Reviewed: May 2014, price: £530
www.htc.com/uk
Reviewed: January 2014, price: £599
www.htc.com/uk
Reviewed: May 2013, price: £499
www.htc.com/uk
BUYER’S GUIDE REVIEWS ARCHIVE
EDITOR’S CHOICE
HHHHH
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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
flash / 720p HD video
Wireless Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
3.1, a-GPS and GLONASS
Ports Micro USB, 3.5mm
audio
Battery life 1,700mAh
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
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
doesn’t have a front facing camera (so
no proper Skype-ing) and the App store
remains limited...
VERDICT: The Windows Phone 8S may well
be better than the 8X flagship model.
HTC Windows 8S
Reviewed: February 2013, price: £239
www.htc.com/uk
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 flash. 1080P at
30fps (main), 720p @ 30fps
(front facing)
Wireless 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-
band, DLNA & Bluetooth 4.0
Ports USB, MicroSD, 3.5mm
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
The HTC One SV is a great mid-range
phone that borrows its styling from the
company’s 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.
VERDICT: A mid-range phone that looks,
feels and often acts like a premium one.
HTC One SV
Reviewed: April 2013, price: £315
www.htc.com/uk
OS Android OS, v4.2.2 Jelly
Bean
Processor Dual-core 1.4
GHz Krait 200 Qualcomm
Snapdragon 400
Screen 720 x 1280 pixels, 4.3
inches
Memory 1 GB RAM
Storage 16GB
Camera 4 MP, 2688 x 1520
pixels (rear-facing) 1.6 MP
(front-facing)
Video 1080p@30fps, HDR
Connectivity Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Ports Micro USB, micro SD
Dimensions 132 x 63.2 x 9.3
mm
Weight 122 g
Battery Non-removable Li-Po
1800 mAh
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
The lite version of HTC’s flagship phone
proves to be a big deal, with a high quality
camera, great audio, fast processing speeds
and a unique, refreshing take on Android
4.2. It’s only let down by its lack of internal
memory and short battery life.
VERDICT: A worthwhile alternative to the
bigger model.
HTC One Mini
Reviewed: October 2013, price: £300
www.htc.com/uk
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Dimensions 136.2 x 66.7 x
8.4mm, 122 g
Screen IPS LCD capacitive
touchscreen
Resolution 720 x 1280
pixels, 312 ppi
Processor Huawei K3V2
quad core 1.5 GHz
RAM 1GB RAM
Storage 16GB internal
Camera 13MP, autofocus,
LED flash
Video HDR 1080p@30fps
Wireless Wi-Fi 802.11
a/b/g/n, dual-band,
Bluetooth 4.0, NFC
Ports USB 2.0, 3.5mm
audio jack
Battery Li-Ion 2420 mAh
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
Huawei has delivered a reasonably cheap
device given you’re receiving blazing fast
4G speeds when web browsing. There’s
no microSD card slot and the processor
had a little trouble whilst gaming and
opening apps, but the camera optics were
outstanding. The P2 is capable of recording
video at a resolution of 1080p. For a phone
of this price, that is incredibly impressive.
All-in-all a great budget - mid-range device.
VERDICT: The price speaks for itself, giving
you one of the cheapest 4G devices today.
Huawei Ascend P2
Reviewed: September 2013, price: £340
www.huaweidevice.co.uk
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
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
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 don’t 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 doesn’t look like much;
there are also cheaper phones out there
which do much the same.
VERDICT: A large budget smartphone which
can run slow and doesn’t look like much.
Huawei Ascend G510
Reviewed: June 2013, price: £130
www.huaweidevice.co.uk
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
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
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.
VERDICT: Poor battery life means this is not
a worthy successor to the G300.
Huawei Ascend G330
Reviewed: March 2013, price: £199
www.huaweidevice.co.uk
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OS Android v4.2.2 (Jelly
Bean)
Processor Quad-core 1.5
GHz
Screen 720 x 1280 pixels,
4.7 inches
Memory 2 GB RAM
Storage 8GB – Micro SD
up to 32GB
Camera 8 MP, 3264x2448
pixels, autofocus, LED
flash (rear facing) 5 MP,
720p (front facing)
Video 1080p@30fps
Wireless Wifi, Bluetooth
Ports Micro USB, micro SD
Dimensions 132.7 x 65.5 x
6.2 mm
Weight 120g
Battery Li-Po 2000 mAh
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
It suffers from poor software
implementation and a slow-charging
battery, but at least the P6 looks the part,
with a slim design that makes it more
attractive than many of its rivals. Elsewhere
this is a capable mid-to-high-tier handset
for anyone looking.
VERDICT: It trips up on software and battery
but the slim look is appealing.
Huawei Ascend P6
Reviewed: October 2013, price: £309.95
www.huaweidevice.co.uk
OS Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
Processor Dual-core 1
GHz Cortex-A5 IPS LCD
Screen 480x800 pixels, 4.0
inches
Memory 512MB ram
Storage 4GB – Micro SD
up to 32GB
Camera 5 MP, 2592x1944
pixels, autofocus, LED
flash geo-tagging
Video Yes, 480p@30fps
Wireless Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Ports Micro USB, micro SD
Dimensions 124.5 x 63.8 x
11.2 mm
Weight 130g
Battery Li-Ion 1730 mAh
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
The Y300 isn’t going to blow you away
when looking at the spec sheet, but if
you’re considering dipping your toes into
the smartphone world it could be the
perfect purchase. At less than £70 on pay-
as-you-go you’re getting a pretty fast and
fluid device, which should be able to cope
with most of the things you throw at it. The
feature set is very basic and the camera’s
low-light performance is dismal though.
VERDICT: If you’re dipping your toes into
the smartphone world, this could be perfect.
Huawei Ascend Y300
Reviewed: September 2013, price: £119
www.huaweidevice.co.uk
OS Android 4.2 Jelly Bean
Processor MTK 1.3GHz
quad-core
Screen 4.5 inches
Resolution 854 x 480 pixels
Memory 1GB RAM
Storage 1.74GB
Camera 8 megapixels
Video 8 megapixels
Connectivity 3G
Dimensions 136 x 64.6 x
8.9mm
Weight 137g
Battery 1,800 mAh
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
The Thunder Q4.5 is a sure case of style
over substance, but in the lower-cost
end of the market you’d usually be lucky
to get either. While the phone lacks
standout features it won’t let you down
when it comes to everyday smartphone
functionality. If you’re in the market and
want to try something new, you could
certainly do an awful lot worse.
VERDICT: It may be flawed, but at this price
point you’d be hard pushed to beat it.
Kazam Thunder Q4.5
Reviewed: April 2014, price: £TBC
www.kazam.mobi
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OS Android 4.1.2 (Jelly
Bean)
Processor 1GHz
Qualcomm MSM7225A
Snapdragon
Screen 240 x 320 pixels, 3.2
inches
Memory 512 MB RAM
Storage 4 GB (1.6 GB user
available), microSD, up to
32 GB
Camera 3.15 MP, 2048x1536
pixels (no front facing)
Video Yes, 480p@30fps
Wireless Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Ports Micro USB, micro SD
Dimensions 102.6 x 61.1 x
11.9 mm
Weight 107g
Battery Li-Po 1540 mAh
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
LG has seemingly gone barebones with the
Optimus L3 II, and whilst that’s expected
with a low to mid-range device, LG has
taken out almost everything. The screen is
an incredibly poor resolution which makes
navigating Android Jelly Bean somewhat
of a chore — although it’s a miracle is has
Jelly Bean. The battery life is great and the
device itself is small and lightweight, but it
feels a little fragile.
VERDICT: Great battery but there are better
phones on the market similarly priced.
LG Optimus L3 II
Reviewed: September 2013, price: £89.95
www.lg.com/uk
OS Android 4.2.2
Processor Qualcomm
Snapdragon 800
Screen 6 inches
Resolution 1,280 x 720 pixels
Memory 2GB Ram
Storage 32GB
Camera 13 megapixels
Video 1080p resolution
Connectivity Bluetooth,
wi-fi 802.11
Dimensions 160.5 x 81.6 x
7.9mm
Weight 177g
Battery 3,500 mAh
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
The curved display may add very little, but
with a state-of-the-art spec sheet and a
fantastic display, the LG G Flex nails the
basics of a high-end smartphone. However
the £570 price and so-so camera make
it difficult to recommend - at least when
compared to its cheaper, better rivals. The
Flex just isn’t the innovation LG believe it
to be.
VERDICT: A powerful phone held back by a
steep price for an unnecessary gimmick.
LG G Flex
Reviewed: April 2014, price: £570
www.lg.com/uk
OS Android v4.2.2 (Jelly Bean)
Processor Qualcomm
Snapdragon 800
quad-core 2.2GHz
Screen 1080 x 1920 pixels,
5.2 inches
Memory 2GB RAM
Storage 16/32GB
Camera 13MP rear-facing,
2.1MP front-facing
Video 1080p@60fps
Wireless Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0
Ports Micro USB
Dimensions 138.5 x 70.9 x
8.9 mm
Weight 143g
Battery Li-Po 3000 mAh
battery
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
Despite its impressive performance,
long-lasting battery and excellent screen,
the G2 doesn’t quite hold up next to its
competition. It doesn’t lag behind in
any one area, but it doesn’t truly excel
anywhere else either. It won’t give you any
hassle aside from its heating issues but this
isn’t a best-in-class phone, and that’s what
a flagship from a company like this really
should be.
VERDICT: The G2 is a powerhouse with a
great screen and impressive battery life.
LG G2
Reviewed: November 2013, price: £500
www.lg.com/uk
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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 flash
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
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
A disappointing processor lets down an
otherwise decent mid-tier device. The
option to personalise app icons is a nice
touch and the 5MP megapixel camera
does a good job. However, with other
handsets available with similar features
and a lower price tag, the L5 II isn’t doing
anything to stand out from the crowd. The
underwhelming design and lack of internal
storage doesn’t help matters either.
VERDICT: An OK handset for the price, but a
slow processor undermines performance.
LG Optimus L5 II
Reviewed: August 2013, price: £129.99
www.lg.com/uk
OS Android v4.3 (Jelly Bean)
Processor Snapdragon 400
quad-core
Screen 720 x 1280 pixels, 4.5
inches
Memory 1GB RAM
Storage 8GB/16GB
Camera 5MP rear, 1.3MP
front
Video 720p@30fps
Wireless Wi-fi, Bluetooth
4.0
Ports micro-USB
Dimensions 129.9 x 65.9 x
11.6mm
Weight 143g
Battery 2,070 mAh
OS Android 4.4 (KitKat)
Processor Motorola
X8 Mobile Computing
System
Screen 4.7 inches
Resolution 720 x 1,280
pixels
Memory 2GB RAM
Storage 16GB/32GB
Camera 10MP
Video 1,080p@30fps
Connectivity Wi-Fi, 3G,
4G, Bluetooth 4.0
Dimensions 129.3 x 65.3
x 10.4mm
Weight 130g
Battery Li-Ion 2,200 mAh
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
The Moto G is a budget smartphone done
right. It makes smart and sensible sacrifices
to slash its price to a point that puts its
rivals to shame. For people who don’t
demand the highest specs and best camera
from a phone, the Moto G’s easy-to-use
system and fast speeds make it an ideal
choice.
The Moto X is a rock-solid handset with
unique, helpful features. This is the best
place to experience Google Now, making
voice operation genuinely useful. MIx in a
sleek design, great camera and long battery
life and the £380 price tag is justified. If
you can afford the extra £150 then it makes
for a sterling upper-mid tier upgrade to the
Motorola Moto G.
VERDICT: Currently the best option for
customers on a budget.
VERDICT: For those looking to step up from
the budget tier: your search is over.
Motorola Moto G Motorola Moto X
Reviewed: January 2014, price: £135
www.motorola.co.uk
Reviewed: March 2014, price: £380
www.motorola.co.uk
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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 Wi-
Fi, 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
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
With its staggering 41-Megapixel camera
and unbeatable range of photography
features, there’s no denying that Nokia’s
808 PureView is by far the world’s best
cameraphone. It’s 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 Nokia’s forthcoming
PureView Lumia Windows Phones, though.
VERDICT: The ultimate cameraphone, but its
old OS and high price can’t be ignored.
Nokia 808 PureView
Reviewed: September 2012, price: £485
www.nokia.com
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
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
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.
VERDICT: While there is plenty to like, you
can find better smartphones at this price.
Motorola RAZR MAXX
Reviewed: May 2012, price: £410
www.motorola.co.uk
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
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
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 doesn’t
help that Motorola have priced it so high
- otherwise this would be an excellent mid-
range phone.
VERDICT: A lovely design, but the internals
are six months out of date.
Motorola RAZR HD
Reviewed: April 2013, price: £399
www.motorola.co.uk
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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
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
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.
VERDICT: A pretty basic, functional feature
phone with a few extra goodies.
Nokia Asha 205
Reviewed: April 2013, price: £65
www.nokia.com
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
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
While the Nokia Asha 302 won’t win any
awards for originality or features, its great
build quality, battery life and usability
make it ideal for social networking. If you’re
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 you’re
frequently typing texts and emails.
VERDICT: Great QWERTY usability and an
impressive battery life at a decent price.
Nokia Asha 302
Reviewed:November 2012, price: £95
www.nokia.com
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
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
The Asha 311 is a high-quality feature-
phone 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.
VERDICT: A satisfying feature-phone but
the high price is a little bit unrealistic.
Nokia Asha 311
Reviewed: November 2012, price: £110
www.nokia.com
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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
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
Nokia’s 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 Nokia’s 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.
VERDICT: A great little budget device, but a
bit expensive.
Nokia Lumia 620
Reviewed: March 2013, price: £230
www.nokia.com
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 1430 mAh, 9.6h
(3G) - accurate
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
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 don’t.
VERDICT: A good camera, battery and price
but the phone can struggle with tasks.
Nokia Lumia 520
Reviewed: June 2013, price: £99.95
www.nokia.com
OS Nokia Asha platform
Screen 240 x 320 pixels, 3
inches
Memory 128MB RAM
Storage 4GB, expandable to
32GB via microSD
Camera 5 MP rear-facing
Wireless WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0
Ports micro-USB, microSD
Dimensions 102.6 x 60.6 x
12.7mm
Weight 110.2g
Battery Li-Ion 1,200 mAh
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
Nokia’s Asha 503 is a brilliantly tiny
handset that stays usable despite the
smaller screen. If you want a dirt-cheap
phone then you might be better off with a
sub-£50 handset and its design is a little
spiky. But anyone looking for a phone to
keep them busy for five minutes on a bus
will find plenty to love here.
VERDICT: A good entry into the budget
market that offers more than the basics.
Nokia Asha 503
Reviewed: February 2014, price: £70
www.nokia.com
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OS Microsoft Windows
Phone 8
Processor Dual-core
1.2 GHz Krait Qualcomm
MSM8930 Snapdragon
Screen 480 x 800 pixels, 4.7
inches
Memory 512 MB RAM
Storage 8 GB expandable to
64GB via SD card
Camera 5 MP, 2592x1936
pixels (rear facing) VGA
(front facing)
Video 1080p
Connectivity Wifi, Bluetooth
Ports Micro USB, micro SD
Dimensions 133.3 x 72.3 x
9.2 mm
Weight 159 g
Battery Li-Ion 2000 mAh
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
The sizeable 4.7-inch screen saves the 625
from its disappointingly short battery life
and lack of HD viewing. It’s plagued further
by the Lumia range’s other issues like a
limited app store, but fights back with a
decent camera. As a result it stands as a
viable budget-range phone.
VERDICT: A decent budget smartphone with
its fair share of shortcomings.
Nokia Lumia 625
Reviewed: October 2013, price: £180
www.nokia.com
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)
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
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
isn’t 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. Microsoft’s app
store is still fairly limited, however.
VERDICT: A fairly solid mid-tier device but
not too different from lower priced siblings.
Nokia Lumia 720
Reviewed: July 2013, price: £299
www.nokia.com
Dimensions
123.8x68.5x9.9 mm
OS Windows Phone 8
Processor Qualcomm
Snapdragon S4, dual-
core 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
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
The 920’s 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.
VERDICT: Arguably superior to the 920, a
few niggles hold it back from greatness.
Nokia Lumia 820
Reviewed: March 2013, price: £380
www.nokia.com
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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
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
With the Lumia 925 Nokia haven’t set
out to reinvent the wheel, they’ve just
built on their past achievements to put
together a brilliant phone. A gorgeous
slimmed-down design, high performance
camera and responsive user interface
all set this handset apart from the rest
of the Lumia range and make it a top
level device in the high-end smartphone
market. One of the best out there.
VERDICT: A fantastic camera, slick design
and great user interface make this top dog.
Nokia Lumia 925
Reviewed: August 2013, price: £479
www.nokia.com
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
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
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.
VERDICT: An fantastic device technically, its
success relies on Microsoft’s app store.
Nokia Lumia 920
Reviewed: January 2013, price: £36p/m
www.nokia.com
OS Windows Phone 8
Display 4.5-inch AMOLED
WXGA (1280 x 768 pixels),
2.5 D sculpted Corning Gorilla
Glass 3, PureMotion HD+,
ClearBlack, high brightness
mode, sunlight readability,
super sensitive touch, Nokia
Glance Screen
Battery 2000 mAh battery;
wireless charging
Processor 1.5GHz dual-core
Snapdragon S4
Camera Rear: 41MP
resolution: 7712 x 536; front:
HD 1.2MP wide angle
Memory 2GB RAM
Storage 32GB upgradeable
to 64GB; 7GB free SkyDrive
cloud storage
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
The Lumia 1020 is an ideal smartphone for
those of you who don’t care about apps
and it’s perfect if you love to take great
pictures. It might not be the slimmest
device you can get your hands on but the
1020’s powerful camera is well worth the
extra bulk.
VERDICT: A top smartphone with an
astounding camera – one of the best.
Nokia Lumia 1020
Reviewed: November 2013, price: £639.99
www.nokia.com
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OS Windows Phone 8
Processor Qualcomm
Snapdragon S4
Screen 6 inches
Resolution 1,280 x 720 pixels
Memory 1GB
Storage 8GB (expandable
via microSD)
Camera 5MP rear, VGA front
Video 1080p@30fps
Connectivity LTE
Dimensions 164.2 x 85.9 x
9.8mm
Weight 220g
Battery 3,400 mAh
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
The Lumia 925 and 1020 were large
enough, and the lack of software taking
advantage of the big display, unlike with
the Samsung Galaxy Note, means those
extra inches just leave you looking faintly
ridiculous when answering a call. You’re
better off spending your money on an
Android phablet or Google’s Nexus 5.
VERDICT: A good phone, but the Nexus 5
simply undercuts the competition too well.
Nokia Lumia 1320
Reviewed: April 2014, price: £280
www.nokia.com
OS Android 4.0 (Ice Cream
Sandwich)
Processor Intel Atom
1.2GHz
Screen 960 x 540 pixels, 4.3
inches
Memory 1GB RAM
Storage 4GB
Camera 8MP rear-facing, 0.3
MP front-facing
Video 1080p@30fps
Wireless Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
2.1
Ports Micro USB
Dimensions 126 x 64.7 x
10mm
Weight 140g
Battery 2000 mAh Lion-
Battery
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
The Prestigio is a bland piece of kit that
lacks any real highlights but the 5430
is undoubtedly a capable and efficient
smartphone. Perhaps its best feature is
that it gets the core experience right, if not
groundbreakingly so. The very basics of
what you expect from a smartphone in 2013
are here but there isn’t much else.
VERDICT: Perfectly ordinary – but it’s
positioned as an everyday smartphone.
Prestigio MultiPhone 5430
Reviewed: November 2013, price: £190
www.prestigio.com
OS Windows Phone 8
Processor Qualcomm 8
Snapdragon 2.2GHz
Screen 6 inches, 1,920 x
1,080 pixels, 368PPI
Memory 2GB RAM
Storage 32GB (up to 64GB
with microSD)
Camera 20MP dual-LED flash
(back), 1.2MP (front)
Video 1080p
Ports Micro-USB, 3.5mm
jack
Dimensions 162.8 x 85.4 x
8.7mm
Weight 209g
Battery 3,200mAh
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
Although the Nokia Lumia 1520 weighs
in at a whopping £550 (SIM-free), it could
cost you considerably more to purchase
a standalone camera, camcorder, satnav,
tablet and a laptop computer that can run
Microsoft Office.
VERDICT: A great all-in-one device that
mashes the best of Nokia together.
Nokia Lumia 1520
Reviewed: February 2014, price: £550
www.nokia.com
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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
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
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 - it’s just a pity
there’s not much to look at, app-wise.
VERDICT: Great WP8 hardware, but the lack
of apps means Nokia and HTC still rule.
Samsung Ativ S
Reviewed: March 2013, price: £439.99
www.samsung.com/uk
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
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
In a year where Samsung crafted one of
the world’s 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 it’s a shame that
the latest version of Android isn’t installed,
you still get unbeatable value or money.
VERDICT: In terms of sheer bang for your
buck, this great phone is one of the best.
Samsung Galaxy Ace 2
Reviewed: October 2012, price: £240
www.samsung.com/uk
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
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
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 HTC’s budget brands. A solid offering
from a lesser known brand.
VERDICT: Nothing new but this is a user
friendly, well priced well featured device.
Prestigio 4500 DUO
Reviewed: June 2013, price: £179
www.prestigio.com
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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
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
Don’t 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 that’s just right
for some and an attractive price point. Cons
include a thick, stubby design, a low res
screen and rival phones going cheaper.
VERDICT: Not the cheapest out there but a
compact device which has plenty of appeal.
Samsung Galaxy Fame
Reviewed: July 2013, price: £159
www.samsung.com/uk
OS Android 4.2 (Jelly
Bean)
Processor Dual-core
Qualcomm Snapdragon
400
Screen 4 inches
Resolution 480 x 800
pixels
Memory 1GB RAM
Storage 8GB/16GB
Camera 5MP
Video 720p@30fps
Connectivity Wi-Fi,
Bluetooth 4.0
Dimensions 121.2 x 62.7
x 9.8mm
Weight 115g
Battery Li-Ion 1,500 mAh
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
The Samsung Galaxy Ace 3 is a good
handset that’s been made irrelevant by
cheaper competition. Whilst it packs a
vibrant display and solid specs, similar
phones sit well below the £180 benchmark
set here. Samsung will have to rethink its
pricing. If it weren’t for the Moto G’s release
this would be an emphatic recommendation
- unfortunately Samsung will have to settle
for the silver medal.
VERDICT: Premium build quality and visuals
at a good price - just not a great one.
Samsung Galaxy Ace 3
Reviewed: March 2014, price: £180
www.samsung.com/uk
OS Android v4.2.2 (Jelly
Bean)
Processor Qualcomm
Snapdragon 400 quad-core
1.7 GHz
Screen 720 x 1280 pixels, 6.3
inches
Memory 2 GB RAM
Storage 8GB – Micro SD up
to 32GB
Camera 8 MP rear-facing,
1.9 MP front-facing Video
1080p@30fps
Wireless WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0
Ports Micro USB, micro SD,
IR blaster
Dimensions 167.6 x 88 x
8 mm
Weight 199g
Battery Li-Ion 3200 mAh
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
With a 6.3-inch screen, the Galaxy Mega is
on the verge of falling into phablet territory,
but that doesn’t change the fact that said
screen is hypnotically vibrant. As such,
it’s a great video player and has room for a
sizeable battery. Its resolution, however, is
a minor issue and it doesn’t have enough
internal storage to meet our needs. It will
stick out like a sore thumb but you might
just fall in love with it.
VERDICT: For better or worse it’s all about
the big, vibrant screen with this handset.
Samsung Galaxy Mega
Reviewed: October 2013, price: £440
www.samsung.com/uk
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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
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
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, high-
powered performance and cutting-edge
features, it measures up to the best of the
competition and sets a new benchmark for
its rivals. If you’re looking for one of the
best smartphones you can buy, this is it.
VERDICT: A masterpiece of design and
usability. This is the benchmark to beat.
Samsung Galaxy S3
Reviewed: July 2012, price: £485
www.samsung.com/uk
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
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
While the Samsung Galaxy S Advance
doesn’t do much to stake a claim as the
best mid-range handset you can buy, it’s
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.
VERDICT: A decent mid-range device but it
offers little to set itself apart from its rivals.
Samsung Galaxy S Advance
Reviewed: August 2012, price: £230
www.samsung.com/uk
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
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
The Galaxy S II is one of Samsung’s 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, it’s the biggest
threat Apple has seen since the iPhone
launched, and with good reason. Few
phones offer such a good user experience.
VERDICT: An award-winning Android phone
that effortlessly impresses across the board.
Samsung Galaxy S2
£330 SIM-free
www.samsung.com/uk
BUYER’S GUIDE REVIEWS ARCHIVE
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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
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
Blending neat features with a range of
equally noticeable flaws, the Tocco Lite 2
is a real mixed bag. There’s no denying the
value it provides, but it’s clear where the
corners have been cut, making it hard to
recommend. Especially when entry-level
smartphones such as the Vodafone Smart
2 can be bought for even less than this
feature-phone. If you’re after the most bang
for your buck, this isn’t the phone for you.
VERDICT: It may suit very young users, but
it’s not a phone we can highly recommend.
Samsung Tocco Lite 2
Reviewed: September 2012, price: £99
www.samsung.com/uk
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 flash
Battery Up to 9 hours (3G)
- accurate
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
This device includes some higher end
specs for a low cost handset as well as a
snappy camera, a high quality screen and
impressive battery life. However, the odd
design choices are a distraction and the
screen does suffer from lag issues. Lower
cost devices like the Nokia 620 offer more
at a cheaper price. Access to the Google
Play store potentially gives it an edge over
the 620, if that’s what you’re after.
VERDICT: Not a bad choice for gamers on a
budget, but for others there are better handsets.
Sony Xperia L
Reviewed: August 2013, price: £249
www.sonymobile.com
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
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
When we’ve tested semi-rugged phones
before, they’ve often put function firmly
over form. But Sony’s Xperia Go blends
style and resilience to create a tough device
that’s also great to look at. Its waterproof,
dust-resistant design keeps it protected
against the elements and it’s a fast and
pleasingly usable device. And while the old
Android 2.3 OS is a disappointment, this is
still a good phone for busy outdoor use.
VERDICT: If you need a stylish and tough
phone for outdoor use, there’s a lot to like.
Sony Xperia Go
Reviewed: October 2012, price: £200
www.sonymobile.com
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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
flash / 720p HD video
Wireless Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
3.1, a-GPS and GLONASS
Ports Micro USB, 3.5mm
audio
Battery life 1,700mAh
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
The Xperia J is expensive for what you get
- no small feat considering it costs £149.
This is a severely stripped down version of
its big brothers, the Xperia P, T and S. Its
performance is poor, the camera and screen
is poor. You’d do much better buying last
gen’s flagship phones on a contract, rather
than buying this weak cut price performer.
Avoid.
VERDICT: A bit of a rip off for a low spec,
poor performing phone.
Sony Xperia J
Reviewed: February 2013, price: £149
www.sonymobile.com
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
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
The Xperia P works well on so many levels
that it’s impossible to ignore. The unique
style may not suit all tastes, but it shows a
courage to stand out from the crowd that
we wish we saw more often. And thanks to
its impressive performance, beautiful LED-
backlit screen and excellent features, you
get plenty of value for money too.
VERDICT: If you’re looking for a one-of-a-
kind phone, make sure to check it out.
Sony Xperia P
Reviewed: October 2012, price: £290
www.mobilephonesdirect.co.uk
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
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
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 phone’s not as powerful as last year’s
flagships, is slightly bulky and there are
rival phones to be had for less money,
particularly if you’re not fussed about 4G.
VERDICT: If 4G LTE isn’t for you, the Xperia
SP isn’t quite the bargain it first seems.
Sony Xperia SP
Reviewed: July 2013, price: £290
www.sonymobile.com
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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
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
A minor update of the Xperia S released
earlier in the year, the Xperia T remains an
elite Android device. With its excellent build
quality, gorgeous screen, great camera
and a powerful processor it should be a
market leader - but for that price. Sony is
still reestablishing itself as a smartphone
company and can’t command premium
pricing - It falls short of its Samsung and
HTC rivals, watch for a price drop.
VERDICT: Among the Android smartphone
elite, but still needs some work.
Sony Xperia T
Reviewed: December 2012, price: £400
www.sonymobile.com
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 flash. 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
OS Android 4.2 Jelly Bean
Processor Snapdragon 800
quad-core 2.2GHz
Screen 1080 x 1920 pixels,
5 inches
Memory 2GB RAM
Storage 16GB expandable
up to 64GB via micro SD
Camera 20.7 MP rear-
facing, 2 MP front-facing
Video 1080p
Wireless Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
4.0
Ports micro SD, microUSB
Battery 3000 mAh
Dimensions 144 x 74 x
8.5mm
Weight 170g
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
Sony’s smartphone is a powerhouse in
every way, let down only by some unusual
design decisions. Water, dust and shock
resistant, it’s giant screen size will come
down to personal preference, as will its
unusual design. Otherwise it has all of
Sony’s bells and whistles, including some
clever use of NFC with NFCs stereos, TVs
and laptops.
It’s a little on the large side, but Sony’s
latest handset is rock solid, with powerful
hardware and a unique design. Fans of
the company will be right at home with
the software that stores movies, music
and games you’ve bought across other
platforms. Add in a great camera and
you’ve got a phone that stops just short of
best in class.
VERDICT: A powerhouse phone, let down
only by some design niggles.
VERDICT: Software makes it great for Sony
fans, hardware makes it good for the rest
Sony Xperia Z Sony Xperia Z1
Reviewed: April 2013, price: £499
www.sonymobile.com
Reviewed: December 2013, price: £475
www.sonymobile.com
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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 flash
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
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
While the Vodafone Smart 3 manages
to offer a good 5-megapixel camera and
Android Jelly Bean at a bargain price of
just £90, its slow processor, appalling
screen and poor build quality mean that
that it’s unlikely to be a first choice even
for budget handset shoppers. The screen is
too reflective to use in direct sunlight and
the low spec processor means the device is
sluggish at the best of times.
VERDICT: The price doesn’t alleviate issues
of low screen quality and processing speed.
Vodafone Smart 3
Reviewed: August 2013, price: £90
www.vodafone.co.uk
OS Android 4.3
Processor Qualcomm
Snapdragon 800
Screen 4.3-inch HD
Triluminos
Resolution 720 x 1,280
pixels
Memory 2GB
Storage 16GB, expandable
to 64GB
Camera 20.7MP Exmor RS
Video 720p
Connectivity Wi-Fi, 3G, 4G,
Bluetooth 4.0, NFC
Dimensions 127 x 64.9 x
9.5mm
Weight 137g
Battery 2,300 mAh
OS Android 4.2,
upgradeable to Android 4.3
Processor 2.2GHz
Qualcomm Snapdragon
800
Screen 1080 x 1920 pixels,
6.4 inches
Memory 2GB
Storage 16GB
Camera 8 MP rear-facing,
2 MP front-facing
Video 1080p@30fps
Wireless Bluetooth 4.0,
wi-fi, NFC
Ports MicroSD, Micro-USB
Dimensions 179.4 x 92.2 x
6.5 mm
Weight 212g
Battery 3050 mAh
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
If you hate giant displays and don’t
have the patience for Apple’s iOS and its
restrictive App Store, the Sony Xperia Z1
Compact your only choice, and a great one
at that. Sony have done well to make a
phone with the power to rival the mighty
iPhone in an equally small package. In-built
Sony-branded apps such as Walkman and
PlayStation is an inherent plus, too. Fingers
crossed for a KitKat 4.4 upgrade soon.
Sony’s phablet is a powerful and sleek
piece of kit. The vivid, full HD display is
the perfect place to watch movies and
play games thanks to its gigantic size
and incredible clarity. The camera leaves
something to be desired, and it’s impossible
to use with just one hand, but this is a fine
choice for phablet fans looking for a new
purchase.
VERDICT: The most powerful, best looking
Android available. Simple.
VERDICT: A powerful handset that’s great
for viewing but poor for photo shooting.
Sony Xperia Z1 Compact Sony Xperia Z Ultra
Reviewed: March 2014, price: £449
www.sonymobile.com
Reviewed: December 2013, price: £559
www.sonymobile.com
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Dimensions 115 x 62.3 x
12.2mm
Weight 118
OS Android 4.1.1 Jelly
Bean
Screen 3.5-inch TFT
capacitive touchscreen,
320 x 480 pixels, 165 ppi
Processor 1 GHz
RAM 512MB
Storage 4GB, micro SD slot
Camera 2MP, 1600 x 1200
pixels
Video VGA @ 30 fps
Audio MP3, WMA,
Battery 300h standby, 7h
talktime (3G)
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
The Smart Mini is almost as cheap as chips,
and it shows. Whilst it’s not a bad device,
it’s not a particularly good one either. The
size is great and for the price you couldn’t
go wrong — but you could also spend an
extra tenner and get a whole lot more. The
performance was very sluggish and the
screen had dismal quality, but the battery
just kept on lasting, going several days on a
single charge — a rarity these days.
VERDICT: Extremely cheap which shows
through the sluggish performance,
Vodafone Smart Mini
Reviewed: September 2013, price: £50
www.vodafone.co.uk
OS Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)
Processor Snapdragon
S4 Play
Screen 480 x 800, 4 inches
Memory 1GB RAM
Storage 4GB
Camera 5 MP
Video Yes
Wireless Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
4.0
Ports microUSB, microSD
Dimensions 126 x 64 x 10.9
mm
Weight 130g
Battery Li-Ion 1800 mAh
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
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
A fantastic price makes the ZTE Blade V
easy to recommend for first-time buyers.
Anyone hoping to get the most out of a
smartphone’s apps and snaps should look
elsewhere, but if you don’t want to worry
about a phone for the kids being broken or
stolen, then this is your guy.
It’s 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 don’t need the latest
and greatest.
VERDICT: A great prices makes this
worthwhile for first-time buyers.
VERDICT: A real surprise package -
excellent for the money.
ZTE Blade V ZTE Blade III
Reviewed: February 2014, price: £99.99
www.ztedevices.co.uk
Reviewed: May 2013, price: £69.99
www.ztedevices.co.uk
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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
OS Android Jelly Bean 4.3
Processor Nvidia Tegra 4
Screen 7 inches
Resolution 1,280 x 800 pixels
Memory 1GB RAM
Storage 16GB
Connectivity Wi-fi,
Bluetooth 4.0
Dimensions 119 x 199 x
9.6mm
Weight 320g
Battery 8 hours
Processor Intel® Core™
i5-3339Y processor
(1.5 GHz, 2.0 GHz with
TurboBoost, 3 MB cache)
Operating System
Windows 8
Memory 4GB DDR3
Storage 120 GB SSD
Graphics Intel HD
Graphics 4000
Screen Size 11.6”
Screen Resolution
1366x768
Dimensions 295 x 190 x
10 mm
Weight 790g
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
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PERFORMANCE HHHHH
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A good looking e-reader with tablet
capabilities, limited by Amazon’s 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.
It’s a contender, alright. Aside from some
clunky desing issues, the Advent Vega
Tegra Note 7 is a powerful and punchy
little machine. If you’re after a compact and
affordable tablet its speed sets it aside from
its rivals as a device that’s great for gaming,
customising images and browsing the web.
The P3 suffers from an identity crisis in
trying to be both a tablet and a laptop.
Its thick build makes it an uncomfortable,
bulky slate while the specs fail to live up
to some of its rivals. Still, it’s about as
powerful as the current Windows 8 tablets
get and available at a great price for this
kind of device.
VERDICT: A solid, functional tablet which is
limited by its Amazon associations.
VERDICT: Its speed sets it apart from its
competition. A cheap and capable device.
VERDICT: Too thick to be a tablet but
available at a good price.
Amazon Kindle Fire HD 8.9” Advent Vega Tegra Note 7 Acer Aspire P3
Reviewed: May 2013, price: £229/259
www.amazon.co.uk
Reviewed: April 2014, price: £140
www.nvidia.co.uk
Reviewed: October 2013, price: £550
www.amazon.co.uk
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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
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
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
VERDICT: There’s simply no contest - the
new iPad is the best tablet in the world.
Apple iPad 3
Reviewed: April 2012, price: £399
www.apple.com/uk
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
OS Amazon customised
Android OS, v4.1.2
PROCESSOR Snapdragon
800 2.2GHz quad-core
SCREEN 1902 x 1200 pixels,
7 inches
MEMORY 2GB RAM
STORAGE 16GB, 32GB,
64GB versions available
CAMERA 8MP front-facing
VIDEO 720HD
WIRELESS Wi-fi (optional
Vodafone 4G version)
PORTS microUSB
DIMENSIONS 131.8 x 66.9
x 9.9 mm
WEIGHT 302g
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
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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 Apple’s App Store. Average.
The Kindle Fire HDX is around £100 more
than the Fire but the improved screen and
processor justifies the extra cost. The real
human Help feature will be a boon to tablet
newbies; experienced users will regard it as
a gimmick. The HDX is a top-rate device –
but if you’re not a regular Amazon customer
you’re better off with a Nexus.
VERDICT: Little more than a shrunken iPad
2 with 4G. Disappointing.
VERDICT: A significant update to the Fire
and ideal for Amazon users.
Apple iPad Mini Amazon Kindle Fire HDX
Reviewed: December 2012, price: £269
www.apple.com/uk
Reviewed: January 2014, price: £199-329
www.amazon.co.uk/kindle
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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
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
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 5’s
A6X) and Apple’s new lightning connector.
However, this means it remains as the best
tablet money can buy - and Apple’s App
Store and its 300,000 dedicated tablet apps
only make the proposition more enticing.
VERDICT: The best tablet money can buy.
Apple iPad 4
Reviewed: January 2013, price: £399
www.apple.com/uk
OS Android 4.2 Jelly Bean
Processor Quad-core A9
1.6GHz
Screen 7.85 inches
Resolution 1,024 x 768 pixels
Memory 1GB RAM
Storage 8GB
Camera 2MP rear-facing
Connectivity Wi-fi,
Bluetooth
Dimensions 201 x 137 x 8mm
Weight 366g
Battery Lithium Polymer
OS Android 4.2.2
SCREEN 10.1-inch/1,280 x
800 pixels
CAMERA 2MP rear, 2MP
front
VIDEO Record/playback
AUDIO Music player/3.5mm
jack
MEMORY 16GB expandable
via microSD
DIMENSIONS 273 x 169 x
10.1mm (tablet),
273 x 169 x 5mm (keyboard)
WEIGHT 636g (tablet), 200g
(keyboard)
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
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With so many budget tablets to choose
from the Archos 79 Platinum has no
features or unique selling points to attract
the consumer in a saturated market. Its
hardware is woefully underpowered, its
features are bog standard and it is at least
£10 too expensive. Its attractive looks are
not enough to redeem it. The bottom line is
that it should have never been conceived.
A couple of years ago, the 101 XS would
have has us singing Archos’ praises, but by
today’s standards its processing power and
screen quality fall short. It might, though,
find a home with users limited to spending
£250 on a 10-inch tablet
VERDICT: There is no reason you ever
would, or should, buy it. Avoid, avoid, avoid.
VERDICT: A great price is let down by a
poor screen and cheap build.
Archos 79 Platinum Archos 101 XS 2
Reviewed: April 2014, price: £150
www.archos.com
Reviewed: February 2014, price: £250
www.archos.com
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OS Windows 8
Processor Intel Atom
Z2760 dual-core
Screen 10.1-inch (1366 x
768 pixels) IPS display
Memory 2GB RAM
Storage 64GB SSD
Camera 8 MP rear-facing,
2 MP front-facing
Video 1080p
Connectivity Wi-Fi,
Bluetooth 4.0
Ports Micro HDMI, Micro
SD, Micro USB
Dimensions 262.5 x 171 x
9.7 mm
Weight 580g
Battery Li-Po 6,760 mAH
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
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This delivers on the promise of a being a
Windows 8 PC in tablet form, with access
to powerful apps like Photoshop. Managing
this on a 10-inch tablet is no small feat.
That said, the Intel Atom processor keeps it
from reaching its full potential, struggling
with many of the things you would want to
use a PC for. The lack of storage hinders it
further.
VERDICT: A good attempt at making a PC
tablet, but too underpowered.
Asus VivoPad
Reviewed: October 2013, price: £399
www.asus.com
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
OS Android 4.3 (via an over-
the-air update)
SCREEN 10.1-inch/2,560 x
1,600 pixels
INPUT Capacitive
touchscreen
CAMERA 5MP rear, 1.2MP
front
VIDEO Record/playback
AUDIO Music player/3.5mm
jack
MEMORY 32/64GB
BATTERY Tablet 31Wh, dock
16Wh
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
The Memopad remains a pretty powerful
tablet, but the poor screen and hits to
battery life make it a tough sell. If you’re
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.
The Asus Transformer Pad TF701T packs a
beautiful screen and the keyboard dock is
well thought out. But dated software and
the threat of a Google Nexus 10 sequel
make this a niche device. Do you really
need a keyboard? The iPad mini begs to
differ.
VERDICT: Decent, but nothing outstanding
here with better alternatives available.
VERDICT: It packs fast hardware but can’t
compete with the iPad Air or Nexus range
Asus MemoPad Asus Transformer
Pad TF701T
Reviewed: May 2013, price: £259
www.asus.com
Reviewed: February 2014, price: £429
www.asus.com
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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
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
OS Android 4.1 (Jelly
Bean)
Processor Dual-core 1.6
GHz Cortex-A9
Screen 600 x 1024 pixels,
7.0 inches
Memory 1 GB RAM
Storage 8 GB expandable
to 32GB via SD card
Camera 3.15 MP, 2048x1536
pixel (rear facing) VGA
(front facing)
Video 720p@30fps
Connectivity Wi-Fi,
Bluetooth
Ports Micro USB V2.0
Dimensions 197.1 x 116.1 x
10.7 mm
Weight 372 g
Battery non-removable, 5h
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
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PERFORMANCE HHHHH
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USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
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Google’s Nexus 7 is a high-quality media
consumption device built for gaming,
watching videos, browsing the internet
and catching up on TV shows that you’ve
missed. What it isn’t is an Apple iPad, but
at this price it doesn’t 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.
Finally, the Android tablet everyone’s 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.
The steel frame makes the Slate 7 an
impressive sight and its audio uses Beats
technology to great effect. The fantastic
price will help it to undercut some of its
rivals, though the slow processor and low
quality camera keep it from besting them
elsewhere.
VERDICT: A fantastic device that delivers all
you’d want from a tablet, at a great price.
VERDICT: The best Android tablet available,
slips behind the iPad 4 only due to apps.
VERDICT: Great audio and build, but corners
have been cut to keep costs down.
Google Nexus 7 Google Nexus 10 HP Slate 7
Reviewed: September 2012, price: £159
www.google.co.uk/nexus
Reviewed: February 2013, price: £319
www.google.co.uk/nexus
Reviewed: October 2013, price: £125
www.hp.com
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OS Windows 8
Processor Intel Core i7-
3689Y 1.5GHz
Graphics Intel HD
Graphics 4000
Screen 11.6-inches (1366x
768 pixels) IPS
Memory 8GB DDR3 RAM
Storage 256GB SSD
Connectivity Wi-Fi,
Bluetooth 4.0
Keyboard Full-sized
QWERTY
Ports USB 3.0, USB 2.0, 2x1
card reader,
HDMI-out
Dimensions 297.94 x 203.96
x 17 mm
Weight 1.39 kg
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
The IdeaPad might have a cheesy name but
it excels in almost every other area, with a
fun, quirky design, amazing performance
that’s ideal for gaming and a slew of ports
for accessibility. This comes at the price of
the battery, which won’t make it through a
full day of use, and it’s sometimes awkward
to hold. But if its raw performance you’re
looking for, this delivers.
VERDICT: A fantastic device that offers you
all the power you could ask for in a hybrid.
Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 11S
Reviewed: October 2013, price: £399
www.lenovo.com
OS Windows 8.1
SCREEN 10.6
inches/1,920x1,080 pixels
INPUT Capacitive
touchscreen
CAMERA 720p-resolution
front and rear
VIDEO Record/playback
AUDIO Music player/3.5mm
jack
MEMORY
64GB/128GB/256GB/512GB,
expandable
BATTERY 48Wh
OS Windows 8.1
SCREEN 10.1 inches, 1,920 x
1,080 pixels, 218PPI
processor Qualcomm
Snapdragon 800
MEMORY 2GB
CAMERA 6.7MP with Carl
Zeiss lens
AUDIO Music player/3.5mm
jack
DIMENSIONS 168 x 267 x
8.9mm, 615g
BATTERY 8120 mAh
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
We can’t fault Microsoft’s ambition for
the powerful Surface Pro 2 to become
your all-in-one portable work and play
device. It’s got a great display and solid
hardware but a lack of dedicated apps,
software compromises and stiff - cheaper-
competition make it a tough sell.
The Windows-run Lumia 2520 is a decent
first effort from Nokia - and it’s certainly
one of the more attractive and solid pieces
of tablet hardware on the market. It has a
few issues with the weight and a lackluster
camera but overall we have no trouble
recommending this to Windows 8.1 and
Lumia fans.
VERDICT: Price holds back what is an
otherwise excellent work/play hybrid.
VERDICT: A rock solid first effort from Nokia
in this market with powerful specs.
Microsoft Surface 2 Pro Nokia Lumia 2520
Reviewed: February 2014, price: £720
www.microsoft.com/surface
Reviewed: February 2014, price: £399
www.nokia.com
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OS Android 4.1
Processor Dual-core
1.2GHz
Screen 600 x 1,024 pixels,
7 inches
Memory 1GB RAM
Storage 8GB/16GB,
expandable up to 64GB
Camera 3.15MP (back),
1.3MP (front)
Video 720p@30fps
Wireless WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0
Ports micro-USB, microSD
Dimensions 188 x 111.1 x
9.9mm
Weight 306g
Battery Li-Ion 4,000 mAh
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
The Tab 3 Kids is surprisingly robust, with
a solid camera, great battery, fantastic
educational apps and software to suit kids.
But the premium design doesn’t feel like it
was meant to be enjoyed by young users
and we’d suggest going with a company
that specialises in the market rather than
one that’s testing it out.
VERDICT: A little too premium for the
market it’s aimed at.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Kids
Reviewed: February 2014, price: £250
www.nokia.com
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
OS Android 4.4 KitKat
Processor Octa-core
(1.9GHz + 1.3GHz quad)
Screen 12.2 inches
Resolution 2,560 x 1,600
pixels
Memory 3GB RAM
Storage 32GB/64GB
Camera 8MP rear/2MP
front-facing
Video 1,080p Full HD
Connectivity Wi-fi only
Dimensions 295.6 x 204 x
7.95mm
Weight 750g
Battery 9,500mAh
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
Arriving in the shadow of the third iPad, it’s
to Samsung’s credit that the Galaxy Note
10.1 isn’t 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, it’s not quite good
enough to rival Apple’s masterpiece device.
One of the biggest displays ever seen
on a tablet - at no detriment to quality.
Combine that with solid design and a super
powerful processor to run loads of unique
applications and the NotePRO 12.2 is
arguably the best tablet on the market. It’s
certainly the best Android slate, although
it’s definitely priced as such.
VERDICT: A fantastic tablet but it can’t
quite match up to the latest Apple iPad.
VERDICT: Big, beautiful, functional and
priced to match. Android’s finest.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2
Reviewed: October 2012, price: £399
www.samsung.com/uk
Reviewed: May 2014, price: £649
www.samsung.com/uk
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OS Android 4.2 (Jelly
Bean)
Processor Quad-core A9
Screen 7 inches
Resolution 1,440 x 900
pixels
Memory 1GB RAM
Storage 16GB
Connectivity Wi-Fi,
Bluetooth 4.0
Dimensions 128.8 x 192.8
x 9.85 mm
Weight 370g
Battery 9 hours
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)
OS Android v4.2 (Jelly Bean)
Processor Nvidia Tegra 3
Memory 1GB
Storage 16GB
Screen 1280 x 800 pixels,
10.1 inches
Video HD
Audio Stereo
Dimensions 261.6 x 177.8 x
10.2mm
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
FEATURES HHHHH
USABILITY HHHHH
DESIGN HHHHH
HHHHH
PERFORMANCE HHHHH
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No awards for specs or design, but we can
recommend the Hudl as a family-oriented
tablet. It lets you store pictures, browse
the web and watch movies: It may not be
groundbreaking, but its simplicity is its
greatest strength. That, and its incredible
£119 price. Those looking for anything more
complicated should head elsewhere.
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 nobody’s 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.
The Toshiba Excite Pure’s £250 price is
attractive but its display is far too faded.
It means apps and the like don’t look very
good. It might appeal to families looking for
a cheap way to keep the kids entertained
but little else. Even so, the slow processor
and useless apps force us to recommend
you look elsewhere.
VERDICT: Cheap as cheap can be, with
specs to match. It keeps things simple.
VERDICT: A powerhouse tablet from Sony
with a great looking screen.
VERDICT: It’s got a cheap price tag but the
poor display and tech shows why.
Tesco Hudl Sony Xperia Tablet Z Toshiba Excite Pure
Reviewed: March 2014, price: £119
www.tesco.com/direct/hudl
Reviewed: July 2013, price: £399
www.sony.co.uk
Reviewed: February 2014, price: £250
www.toshiba.co.uk
BUYER’S GUIDE REVIEWS ARCHIVE
59-96_ReviewsArchive_June14.indd 96 06/05/2014 12:54
SONY XPERIA Z2
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