Price: $285
Adding to Huawei’s recent range of high
quality, affordable Android handsets, the Honor is a great choice for anyone in
the market for their first, or even second, smartphone. Effortlessly blending
powerful performance, great usability and ample features at a competitive
price, there’s loads to like. All in all, the Honor is easy to recommend to
anyone looking for a great Android phone at an affordable price.
Specifications
·
OS: Android 2.3 Gingerbread
·
Screen: 4.0-inch TFT
·
Resolution: 480 x 854 pixels
·
Input Capacitive: touchscreen
·
Processor: 1.46Hz Qualcomm MSM8255T
·
Memory: 512MB
·
Storage: 1GB, MicroSD
·
Camera: 8MP rear-facing, 0.3MP front-facing
·
Flash: Yes
·
Video: 720p HD
·
Wireless: 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1
·
Ports: 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0
·
Standby time: 380 hours
·
Talk time: 6 hours
·
Size: 122x61x11mm
·
Weight: 140g
Verdict:
Packing usability, features and performance, the Honor is a hit for Huawei.
Price: $675
Website: lg.com
The Optimus 4X HD is a return to form for
LG and a fantastic, feature-packed phone. It’s gorgeous screen, capable
quad-core power and stylish design put it firmly among the best handsets you
can buy at this price. It’s not without fault, though, with its occasional
usability issues and temperamental cameras. So while it’s an outstanding smartphone,
it can’t quite take the crown away from Samsung and HTC.
Specifications
·
OS: Android 4.0 CS
·
Screen: 4.7-inch TFT
·
Resolution: 720x1280 pixels
·
Input Capacitive: touchscreen
·
Processor: 1.5GHz quad-core
·
Memory: 1GB
·
Storage: 16GB internal,
·
MicroSD up to 64CB
·
Camera: BMP rear-facing, 1 .3MP front-facing
·
Flash: LED
·
Video: 1080p HD at 30fps
·
Wireless: 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0
·
Ports: 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0
·
Standby time: 686 hours
·
Talk time: 10 hours
·
Size: 132 x 68 x 9mm
·
Weight: 141g
Verdict: A
fantastic quad-core smartphone with only a few minor quirks to speak of.
Price: $345
Even if you stripped away the Prada logo
and monochrome Android skin, this would still be one of the best high-end
Android phones around. However, it’s fair to say that users will end up paying
a premium for the Prada branding. If you’re looking for a top end Android
phone, packed with features in a slim body, this more than ticks all the boxes.
And it’ll get you some jealous looks from iPhone and Nokia Lumia 800 owners.
Specifications
·
OS: Android 2.3 Gingerbread
·
Screen: 4.3-inch LCD
·
Resolution: 480 x 800 pixels
·
Input Capacitive: touchscreen
·
Processor: 1 GHz ARM Cortex-A9
·
Memory: 1GB
·
Storage: 8GB, MicroSD
·
Camera: 8MP rear-facing, 1.3MP front-facing
·
Flash: Yes
·
Video: 1080p HD
·
Wireless: 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0
·
Ports: 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0
·
Standby time: 330 hours
·
Talk time: 5 hours
·
Size: 128 x 69 x 9mm
·
Weight: 138g
Verdict:
Great looks and specifications to match, but the branding adds a high price.
Price: $315
The original Defy was a great step forward
for ruggedized phones, with more brains than other hard-man phones could
manage. But this is such a minor upgrade it feels like a refresh rather than a
new phone. There’s a bigger battery, slightly faster processor and a new look
for the MotoBlur software. Other than that, it’s business as usual. It’s a
sensible, competent phone for those who want one of the toughest handsets
around.
Specifications
·
OS: Android 2.3 Gingerbread
·
Screen: 3.7-inch TFT
·
Resolution: 480 x 854 pixels
·
Input Capacitive: touchscreen
·
Processor: 1GHz ARM Cortex-A8
·
Memory: 512MB
·
Storage: 2GB, MicroSD
·
Camera: 5MP rear-facing
·
Flash: Yes
·
Video: Yes
·
Wireless: 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1
·
Ports: 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0
·
Standby time: 384 hours
·
Talk time: 7 hours
·
Size: 107 x59x 13mm
·
Weight: 118g
Verdict:
Sensible, tough and ideal for rough outdoor use, but a minor upgrade.
Price: $225
By designing a more compact version of its
original semi-rugged Defy range, Motorola has produced a good phone for anyone
that needs a handset that can stand up to more than just the daily commute.
With its splash-resistant, dust-proof chassis and resilient Gorilla Glass
screen it ideal for life out in the elements. And with only the low quality
cameras and limited specification holding it back, there’s a lot to like about
it.
Specifications
·
OS: Android 2.3 Gingerbread
·
Screen: 3.2-inch TE
·
Resolution: 320 x 480 pixels
·
Input Capacitive: touchscreen
·
Processor: 600MHz single-core
·
Memory: 512MB
·
Storage: 51 2MB internal, MicroSD up to 32GB
·
Camera: 3MP rear-facing, 0.3MP front-facing
·
Flash: LED
·
Video: Yes
·
Wireless: 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1
·
Ports: 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0
·
Standby time: 420 hours
·
Talk time: 9 hours
·
Size: 109x59x13mm
·
Weight: 107g
Verdict:
Touch, small and usable. A good phone for demanding physical life styles.
Price: $24
While the performance and build of the
Motorola Motoluxe is more than enough for your average Android user, the out of
date software and bleak outlook for an update spoil this otherwise impressive
all round, mid-range phone. Recent affordable handsets such as the Nokia Lumia
710 and the Huawei Ascend range represent major competition for this stylish
but noticeably underpowered Android smartphone.
Specifications
·
OS: Android 2.3 Gingerbread
·
Screen: 4-inch TFT
·
Resolution: 480 x 854 pixels
·
Input Capacitive: touchscreen
·
Processor: 800M Hz
·
Qualcomm MSM7227A-0
·
Memory: 512 MB
·
Storage: 1GB, MicroSD
·
Camera: 8MP rear-facing, 0.3 MP front-facing
·
Flash: Yes
·
Video: Yes
·
Wireless: 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0
·
Ports: 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0
·
Standby time: 450 hours
·
Talk time: 6 hours
·
Size: 118x61xl0mm
·
Weight: 124g
Verdict: The
out of date OS and limited specs spoil this otherwise decent phone.
Price: $510
Intel has finally dismissed concerns of its
processors, proving they can power fast phones with no signs of app
incompatibility or excessive power drain. But that doesn’t make the RAZR i a
must-buy. Its inferior build quality and display make the similarly-specified
HTC One S the more appealing option. However, this is still a promising step
from Intel and the newly Google-backed Motorola nonetheless.
Specifications
·
OS: Android 4.0 ICS
·
Screen: 4.3-inch TFT
·
Resolution: 540 x 960 pixels
·
Input Capacitive: touchscreen
·
Processor: 2GHz single-core
·
Memory: 1GB
·
Storage: 8GB internal, MicroSD up to 32GB
·
Camera: 8MP rear-facing, 0.3MP front-facing
·
Flash: LED
·
Video: 1080p HD at 30fps
·
Wireless: 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1,
NFC
·
Ports: 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0
·
Standby time: TBC
·
Talk time: TBC
·
Size: 123x61x8mm
·
Weight: 126g
Verdict: Not
quite enough to put Motorola back on top, but it’s certainly a good start.
Price: $615
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.
Specifications
·
OS: Android 2.3 Gingerbread
·
Screen: 4.3-inch SAMOLED
·
Resolution: 540 x 960 pixels
·
Input Capacitive: touch screen
·
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 802.11 b/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 x69x9mm
·
Weight 145g
Verdict:
While there is plenty to like, you can find better smartphones at this price.
