Price: $450
Website: samsung.com
Something of a misnomer, this is no
relation to its bigger brother, the S Ill, despite the design similarities. The
Mini is little more than a shrunk down Galaxy S II. If users want a budget
Galaxy, they are better off pursuing that (former) flagship on a budget plan -
this is extortionately expensive for what you get.
Specifications
·
OS: Android Jelly Bean 4.1.1
·
Screen: Super AMOLED
·
Resolution: 480 x 800 pixels, 4.0 inches 233 PPI
·
Storage: 8 or 16GB, up to32 GB microSD
expandable
·
Camera: rear 5MP autofocus, front 0.3MP
·
Video: 720p 30fps
·
CPU NovaThor U8420 - 1GHz dual-core
·
Memory: 1GHz Ram
·
GPU Mali-400/MP4
·
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, DLNA
·
Ports: Micro-USB 35m jack
·
Battery: Li-Ion 1500mAh
·
Dimensions: 121.6x63x9.9mm
·
Weight: 111.5g
Verdict: A
cheeky move by Samsung to pass this off as a premium device. It’s not.
Price: $165
Website: samsung.com
While Samsung’s Galaxy S II and S III are
the cream of the crop, at the other end of the scale we’ve got the Samsung
Galaxy Y which aims for the budget market. It’s true that most people
interested in this phone won’t be fussed that a newer version of the Android OS
is available, but even so it’s hard to recommend this phone. It’s suitably
cheap but many rivals can be found which offer so much more for a similar
price.
Specifications
·
OS: Android 2.3 Gingerbread
·
Screen: 3-inch TFT
·
Resolution: 240 x 320 pixels
·
Input Capacitive: touch screen
·
Processor: 830MHz ARMv6
·
Memory: 290MB
·
Storage: 180MB, MicroSD
·
Camera: 8MP rear-facing
·
Flash: No
·
Video: 320 x 240 pixels
·
Wireless: 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0
·
Ports: 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0
·
Standby time: 850 hours
·
Talk time: 17 hours
·
Size: 104x58x12mm
·
Weight: 98g
Verdict:
Looks nice but fails to match its rivals in terms of sheer quality and value.
Price: $149
Website: samsung.com
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.
Specifications
·
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: 802.11 b/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 x58x 12mm
·
Weight: 96g
Verdict: It
may suit very young users, but it’s not a phone we can highly recommend.
Price: $300
Website: sonymobile.com
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.
Specifications
·
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: 802.11 b/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: 111x60x10mm
·
Weight: 110g
Verdict: You
need a stylish and tough phone for outdoor use, there’s a lot to like.
Price: $224
Website: sonymobile.com
The Xperia J is expensive for what you get
- no small feat considering it costs $149. This is a severely stripped down
version of its big brothers, the Xperia P, T and S. Its performance is poor,
the camera and screen is poor. You’d do much better buying last gen’s flagship
phones on a contract, rather than buying this weak cut price performer. Avoid.
Specifications
·
Dimensions: 120.5x63x10.28 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
Price: $435
While some handsets in Sony’s Xperia range
have proved more successful than others, 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.
Specifications
·
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: 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1
·
Ports: 35mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0, HDMI
·
Standby time: 475 hours
·
Talk time: 6 hours
·
Size: 122x60x11mm
·
Weight: 120g
Verdict: If
you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind phone, make sure to check it out.
Price: $480
Website: sonymobile.com
The Sony Xperia S has some stellar
features, including an excellent 12-Megapixel camera and the ability to record
ultra- sharp hi-def video in 1080p Full HD. Add a design that capably helps it
to stand out from the crowd, as well as the quirky NFC tag accessories, and the
Xperia S is by far the best phone in Sony’s Android range. If you’re after a
stylish and feature-packed phone, this one should be high on your list.
Specifications
·
OS: Android 2.3 Gingerbread
·
Screen: 4.3-inch TFT
·
Resolution: 720 x 1280 pixels
·
Input Capacitive: touchscreen
·
Processor: 1.5GHz Qualcomm MSM8260
·
Memory: 1GB
·
Storage: 32GB
·
Camera: 12MP rear-facing, 1.3MP front-facing
·
Flash: Yes
·
Video: 1080p HD
·
Wireless: 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1
·
Ports: 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0
·
Standby time: 450 hours
·
Talk time: 8 hours
·
Size: 128x64x11mm
·
Weight: 144g
Verdict: A
stylish and feature-packed Android phone with an amazing camera.
Price: $600
Website: sonymobile.com
A minor update of the Xperia S released
earlier in the year, the Xperia T remains an elite Android device. With its
excellent build quality, gorgeous screen, great camera and a powerful processor
it should be a market leader but for that price. Sony is still reestablishing
itself as a smartphone company and can’t command premium pricing - It falls
short of its Samsung and HTC rivals, watch for a price drop.
Specifications
·
OS: Android 4.0 CS
·
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: 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.1,
NFC
·
Ports: 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB 2.0
·
Battery: 7 hours talk time, 450 hours standby
·
Dimensions: 129 x 67 x 9mm
·
Weight: 139g
Verdict:
Among the Android smartphone elite, but still needs some work.
