HTC One X+
Price: $711
Website: htc.com
The One X+ is a strange beast, a minor
update on the already excellent HTC One X. The processor gets boosted to a
Tegra 3 Quad-core 1.7GHz, and it gets a newer version of Android, but that’s
about it. The jump over its predecessor probably doesn’t justify the price
hike.
Specifications
·
OS: Android 4.1 Jellybean
·
Screen: 4.7-inch S-LCD 2
·
Resolution: 720x1280
·
Processor: Quad-core 1.7GHz Nvidia Tegra 3
·
GPU ULP GeForce
·
RAM: 1GB
·
Storage: 64G B not expandable
·
Camera: Back 8.0MP, LED flash; Front 1.6MP
·
Video: 1920x1080
·
Wireless: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS and Glonass
·
Ports: Micro USB, HDMI via MHL adaptor
·
Audio: 3.5mm audio
·
Battery: 2,100mAh
Verdict: It
feels like a placeholder while we wait for the next generation of devices.
HTC Rhyme
Price: $375
Website: www.htc.com
HTC knows how to do smartphones as
boys-toys, but rarely does it try the same for women. Before you opt for the
Rhyme, ask yourself these questions. Do you need more power? Then go for the
HTC Sensation. More style? The HTC Desire S is for you. Less money? Try the HTC
Wildfire S. Nevertheless, the HTC Rhyme’s bright colors, decent specification
and unique features make it well worth a look.
Specifications
·
OS: Android 2.3 Gingerbread
·
Screen: 3.7-inch S-LCD
·
Resolution: 480 x 800 pixels
·
Input Capacitive: touchscreen
·
Processor: 1 GHz Qualcomm MSM8255
·
Memory: 768MB
·
Storage: 4GB, MicroSD
·
Camera: 5MP rear-facing, 0.3MP front-facing
·
Flash: Yes
·
Video: 720p HD
·
Wireless: 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fl, Bluetooth 3.0
·
Ports: 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0
·
Standby time: 340 hours
·
Talk time: 10 hours
·
Size: 119x61x11mm
·
Weight: 130g
Verdict: An
eye-catching Android phone that has plenty to offer for all requirements.
HTC Sensation XE
Price: $173
Website: htc.com
It’d be unfair to blame HTC for merely
making a modest update of its flagship phone but when the original Sensation
wasn’t enough to knock the Samsung Galaxy S II off its top spot, we expected a
little more from this update. However, as a music phone it’s superb and the
iBeats headphones are worth $133.5. You won’t find a better pair with any other
phone and, in the style stakes, the Sensation XE is a winner.
Specifications
·
OS: Android 2.3 Gingerbread
·
Screen: 4.3-inch S-LCD
·
Resolution: 540 x 960 pixels
·
Input Capacitive: touchscreen
·
Processor: 1.5GHz Qualcomm MSM8260
·
Memory: 168MB
·
Storage: 4GB, MicroSD
·
Camera: 8MP rear-facing, 0.3MP front-facing
·
Flash: Yes
·
Video: 1080p HD
·
Wireless: 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0
·
Ports: 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0
·
Standby time: 540 hours
·
Talk time: 9 hours
·
Size: 126x65x 11mm
·
Weight: 151g
Verdict: An
excellent music phone that packs some of the best headphones around.
HTC Sensation XL
Price: $525
Website: www.htc.com
It’s big, beautiful and the HTC Sensation
XL sounds as good as it looks, thanks to the Beats Audio enhancements. This is
an undeniably cool phone but there are some disappointments, however. Not least
the absence of a memory card slot, which means that when you’ve filled the 16GB
of storage with video and audio, you can’t add more. And the processor, while
not awful, sometimes feels slower than we’d like.
Specifications
·
OS: Android 2.3 Gingerbread
·
Screen: 4.7-inch S-LCD
·
Resolution: 480 x 800 pixels
·
Input Capacitive: touch screen
·
Processor: 1.5GHz Qualcomm MSM8255
·
Memory: 168MB
·
Storage: 16GB
·
Camera: 8MP rear-facing, 1.3MP front-facing
·
Flash: Yes
·
Video: 720p HD
·
Wireless: 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0
·
Ports: 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0
·
Standby time: 460 hours
·
Talk time: 11 hours
·
Size: 133x71 xl0mm
·
Weight: 163g
Verdict: If
you don’t mind the size of the handset, it’s a very appealing music phone.
HTC Windows 8S
Price: $359
Website: htc.com
The odd thing about this phone is that we
actually rate is 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 $240 quid cheaper. It doesn’t have a front facing camera (so no proper
Skype-ing) and the App store remains limited...
Specifications
·
Dimensions: 120.5 x 63 x 10.3mm
·
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 micro SD)
·
Cameras: 5MP rear, LED flash / 720p HD video
·
Wireless: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth3.1, a-GPS and GLONASS
·
Ports: Micro USB, 3.5mm audio
·
Battery life: 1,700mAh
HTC Windows 8X
Price: $599
Website: www.htc.com
HTC ‘s first ever Windows Phone 8 device is
an excellent device hardware wise - most of the concerns it shares with Nokia’s
range of WP8 phones are there the apps, the media and other add-ons to compete
with Google and Apple? Otherwise it has more than enough bells and whistles to
make any WP8 user happy and give Nokia a good scare.
Specifications
·
OS: Windows Phone 8
·
Screen: 4.3-inch S-LCD2
·
Capacitive: touchscreen
·
Resolution: 720 x 1280 pixels
·
CPU Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual core
·
GPU Adreno 225
·
Memory: 1GB
·
Storage: 16GB
·
Camera: 8 MP
·
Video: 1920x1080 at 30fps
·
Wireless: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band,
Bluetooth 3.1
·
Cellular: 2G, 3G, HSPA+
·
Ports: Microsim, 3.5mmaudio jack, Micro-USB 2.0
·
Dimensions: 132.4 x 66.2 x 10.1 mm
·
Weight: 130g
Verdict:
Excellent integration of WP8, and an eye catcher. Something different.
Huawei Ascend G300
Price: $150
It seems that all the best smartphones are
only available on contract at first. So the Huawei Ascend G300 turns convention
on its head with specifications to rival the top smartphones of a year ago,
while costing just $150. Huawei teamed up with Vodafone to launch this great
Android 2.3 device with a 1GHz processor and 4-inch screen, for a price that
would have been impossible not so long ago. An amazing budget handset
Specifications
·
OS: Android 2.3 Gingerbread
·
Screen: 4-inch LCD
·
Resolution: 480 x 800 pixels
·
Input Capacitive: touchscreen
·
Processor: 1 6Hz ARM Cortex-A5
·
Memory: 512MB
·
Storage: 4GB, MicroSD
·
Camera: 5MP rear-facing
·
Flash: Yes
·
Video: Yes
·
Wireless: 802.11 b/g/n
·
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1
·
Ports: 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0
·
Standby time: 350 hours
·
Talk time: 5 hours
·
Size: 123 x 63 x 11mm
·
Weight: 140g
Verdict: A
great phone that represents a new high point for entry-level handsets.
Huawei Ascend Pl
Price: $525
With the Ascend Pl, Huawei has taken a
confident step in the right direction and proved you don’t have to spend a
fortune to get a good smartphone. Its strong usability capable performance,
responsive screen and excellent specification provide great value for money and
we found a lot to like during our time with it. The poor camera quality really
lets the device down, though, so consider your needs before buying.
Specifications
·
OS: Android 4.0 lCS
·
Screen: 4.3-inch S-AMOLED
·
Resolution: 540 x 960 pixels
·
Input Capacitive: touchscreen
·
Processor: 1.56Hz dual-core
·
Memory: 1GB
·
Storage: 4GB internal, MicroSD up to 32GB
·
Camera: 8MP rear-facing, 1.3MP front-facing
·
Flash: Dual LED
·
Video: 1080p HD at 30fps
·
Wireless: 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0
·
Ports: 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0
·
Standby time: 336 hours
·
Talk time: 6 hours
·
Size: 130x65x9mm
·
Weight: 110g
Verdict: A
decent smartphone with good features, but the poor cameras let it down.
