- Nokia 3.1
- Network Quad-band GSM All 3G frequencies(dependent on country) All 4G frequencies (dependent on country) Dual SIM available
- Design Touch screen
- L146.3 x W69 x D8.7 mm
- Weight 138 grams
- Display 5.2 inch 1440 x 720 AMOLED
- Camera 13MP auto-focus LED Flash 8MP 2nd forward facing still/video call camera
- Video Camera 1080 HD 30FPS main video camera
- Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V4.2
- CPU Octa-core 1.5 Ghz (Mediatek MT6750N)
- Memory 2 Gig RAM Up to 16 Gig for user Up to 128 Gig microSD expansion
- Features Android ONE Li-Po 2990 mAh battery Up to 14 Days standby for average use.
- Price history Approx $250 AUD October 2018 (Outright)
Author: The Editor
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Nokia 5.1 Review
Welcome to the 2018 Nokia 5.1 smartphone review. We are after a new dual-SIM phone and the latest updated to the Nokia 5 model caught our attention. We liked the original Nokia 5 but at release the price was uncompetitive and not a particularly fast phone to use, great for basic stuff but not for running multiple apps at the same time or switching between them. The new Nokia 5.1 attempted to fix that problem some to have worked. The mid year 2018 Nokia 5.1 is priced around the 200 Euros as a dual SIM version and currently not available worldwide and estimated $400 is Australia if it gets released. In other parts of the world only the single SIM version will be available. In terms of construction the Nokia 5.1 is very good. That is expected since it does has a metal back and high end looking front screen. While the materials are top end the design it's self is not. The design is looking a little old in comparison to the latest smartphones, yet in terms of it's low to mid range class it's competitive. In terms of hardware the Nokia 5.1 is specifications there's a 2.0Ghz Mediatek CPU and 2Gigs of RAM and 16Gigs of memory with a decent 5.5 inch screen and 16 MP camera and wide 9 MP selfie camera. In the end the speciations are not particularly impressive of competitive with other phones int he same price range. The microSD memory card slot is critical if you buy a Nokia 5.1 as is only has tiny 16Gig storage and less than half of is is usable. In terms of use the Nokia 5.1 is not bad considering the hardware specifications. However it's not particularly smooth or fast. However it will run everything except for demanding games. The Nokia 5.1 uses Android One which means that it is comparable with the Pixel phones in functionality and does not have any additional bloatware which means it's running as efficiently as possible to the way Android was supposed to run. It's not bad but the occasional sluggish it's probably due to it's low memory at a mere 16G and much less usable - even Apple doesn't do this any more and Nokia needs to follow suite to be remotely competitive. Sure it's expandable memory is nice but based on our experience 2Gig RAM and 16Gig storage is certainly not enough. Basic Android OS needs around 1 Gig or RAM and up to 8 Gig of storage space is used the system means not much space for anything extra. In conclusion the Nokia 5.1 is a decent phone and will work well for those in need of basic communication like Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Gmail, videos and other messengers. The expandable memory card will help with the storage. However that is all that it will be able to impressively. The faster CPU simply isn't enough to compensate for the low memory specs. For the price there are a few notable options like the Sony Xperia, Samsung Galaxy and other Chinese brands. Note that we didn't include Motorola phones as since we discovered that they no longer offer Android software updates requiring you to buy a new phone if you want the latest Android OS. Specifications- Nokia 5.1
- Network Quad-band GSM All 3G frequencies(dependent on country) All 4G frequencies (dependent on country) Dual SIM available
- Design Touch screen
- L151.1 x W70.7 x D8.3 mm
- Weight 165 grams
- Display 5.5 inch 1,920 x 1080 AMOLED
- Camera 16MP auto-focus LED Flash 8MP 2nd forward facing still/video call camera
- Video Camera 1080 HD 30FPS main video camera
- Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V4.2
- CPU Octa-core 2.0 Ghz (Mediatek MT67555)
- Memory 2Gig RAM Up to 16 Gig for user Up to 128Gig microSD expansion
- Features Fast charging capable A-GPS, GLANOSS, Ambient light, Accelerometer, G sensor, Gyroscope, fingerprint scanner Li-Po 2970 mAh battery Up to 24 Days standby for average use.
- Price history Approx 200E uros August 2018 but Approx $400 AUD (Outright)
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Motorola G5S Plus review
Welcome to the 2018 Motorola G5S Plus review. After checking out the G5S we really had to compare it to the larger G5S Plus. Since both are now in run out to make way for the G6 series they now get our attention. The G5S Plus is the bigger screened version of the regular G5S but there is more changes than. The G5S Plus is currently priced under $350 AUD which is impressive for the spec. In terms of construction the Motorola G5S Plus is just like the G5 which is very good. The styling is old fashioned but 2018 but it still looks good enough be considered mid range. Like the G5 Sthe back panel is not longer removable and as a 2 piece slab style smartphones go it is very well made and certainly no complaints for the price. In terms of hardware the G5S Plus has better specs than the G5S better CPU, bigger screen and so forth. There are no fancy edge to edge screen, or AMOLED even multi-megapixel screen just a reasonable 1080P. Once again due to it's price we have no problems with it parts mix and it is certainly better specified than the Nokia's as an example. In terms of use the Motorola G5S Plus has a stock-ish Android interface that means it works smoothly and fast considering the hardware. We had not complaints about speed or performance in general. We also think the the Snapdragon 625 CPU SOE is probably the ideal budget compromise in terms of operation in 2018. In conclusion the Motorola G5S Plus is a great phone with the spec of a phone that usually sells for $100 more eg. Nokia 7. The G5S Plus is hard to go past when priced at a very affordable $329. Although $50 more than the regular G5S the Plus version is well worth it for the faster CPU and graphics. The G5S Plus is arguably the best value Android based smartphone you can currently buy in mis-2018. However note that Motorola's new owners Lenovo no longer offer regular or if all Android software updates so you're stuck with what ever bugs came with the phone you bought. Hence they will never be recommended by us over a brand that does eg. Nokia. Specifications
- Motorola G5S Plus
- Network Quad-band GSM All 3G frequencies(dependent on country) All 4G frequencies (dependent on country) Dual SIM available
- Design Touch screen
- L153.5 x W76.2 x D8 mm
- Weight 168 grams
- Display 5.5 inch 1,920 x 1080 AMOLED
- Camera 16MP auto-focus LED Flash 5MP 2nd forward facing still/video call camera
- Video Camera 1080 HD 30FPS main video camera
- Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V4.2
- CPU Octa-core 2.0 Ghz (Snapdragon 625) Separate Andreno 506 Graphics CPU
- Memory 4Gig RAM Up to 64 Gig for user Up to 128Gig microSD expansion
- Features Fast charging capable A-GPS, GLANOSS, Compass, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, fingerprint scanner Li-Po 3000 mAh battery Up to 25 hours for average use.
- Price history Approx $329 AUD July 2018 (Outright)
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Motorola G5S Review
Welcome to the 2018 Motorola G5 review. The G5S is the newest entry level phone form Motorola. In 2018 there is so much more competition from less known brands and that make it hard to standout be be considered for purchase. Price, specification then branding are the keys to this market and the Motorola G5S is arguably one of the most known. We like the G5 series as we actually bought one and it still works well. With the release of the G5S it's logical successor of the G5 we decided to have a closer look. The Motorola G5S is priced at $279 AUD which makes it appealing and competitive. In terms of construction the Motorola G5S is just like the G5 which is very good, certainly better than the asking price suggests. However it is unfortunate that it looks like the older model. Overall there isn't anything to complain about considering the price. Of note that aluminium body is a nice touch at such a low price. In terms of hardware the G5S clearly has lower end parts but the upgrade for RAM to 3 Gigs means that its enough to handle multiple apps easily and helps the now Snapdragon CPU equipped some headroom. It has all the usual Android spec of microSD expansion, fingerprints and 1080p HD screen and surprisingly fast charging. Apart from that there is really no other standout features which is fair enough given the price and allows of the higher end G5S Plus some spec updates. In terms of use the Motorola G5S has virtually a stock Android interface that means it works smoothly and fast considering the hardware. Android is fully functional put of the box here days and there is little complain about in terms o fuse. It really reminders us of a PC that doesn't run windows. All the popular Apps will work well despite the low CPU except for graphic intensive games. In conclusion the Motorola G5S is a great little phone with the spec of a phone that usually sells for $50-100 more eg. Nokia 6 and that's why it will be a phone we will always recommend above the lessor or better promoted brands. It's a phone that works well as long as you don't run heavy duty games like Fortnite. If you want a bigger screen and better specs there is always the G5S Plus. Nonetheless as a phone for basics of Whatsapp, Facebook, instgram, banking, web browsing, videos and music it is hard to go past the Motorola G5S for the price of under $300 at the moment but you need to consider the G5S Plus...However note that Motorola's new owners Lenovo no longer offer regular or if all Android software updates so you're stuck with what ever bugs came with the phone you bought. Hence they will never be recommended by us over a brand that does eg. Nokia. Specifications- Motorola G5S
- Network Quad-band GSM All 3G frequencies(dependent on country) All 4G frequencies (dependent on country) Dual SIM version available
- Design Touch screen
- L150 x W73.5 x D8.2 mm
- Weight 157 grams
- Display 5.2 inch 1,920 x 1080
- Camera 16MP auto-focus LED Flash 5MP 2nd forward facing still/video call camera
- Video Camera 1080 HD 30FPS main video camera
- Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V4.2
- CPU Octa-core 1.4 Ghz (Snapdragon 430) Separate Andreno 505 Graphics CPU
- Memory 4Gig RAM Up to 32 Gig for user Up to 128Gig micro-SD expansion
- Features Fast Charging capable A-GPS, GLANOSS, Compass, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, fingerprint scanner Li-Po 3000 mAh battery Up to 25 hours for average use.
- Price history Approx $279 AUD July 2018 (Outright)
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iPhone 6S Review
Welcome to the Apple iPhone 6S review for 2018. The iPhone 6S has been around since late 2015 so it's a pretty old phone but is it with buying in 2018. It is still for sale on the official Apple website and priced relatively cheaper than the iPhone 7 and 8 not to mention the iPhone X. The iPhone 6S is officially priced at $649 in base trim or from $849 for the larger screen 6S Plus as an outright purchase. Don't even think about the regular iPhone 6 unless you have basic requirements or not into modern games. Is the iPhone 6S a budget mobile phone is it worth it? In terms of construction the iPhone 6s is very good. It has a weight to it that feels premium and on the screen side looks great. Unfortunately the rear side of the 6S is looking a little cheap due to the obvious antenna lines. Not many will see it's rear anyway as there will be some sort of case to prevent damage when it is inevitably dropped. Very good overall and definitely a benchmark despite the unsightly lines - surely Steve Jobs would object! It is a bit of a brick in 2018 and it looks exactly like the older iPhone6. In terms of hardware specifications the iPhone 6s can be judged by its technical specifications and the most annoying and obvious part is the screen resolution and display technology. The screen images is dull and the graphics appear faded, only those with rose coloured glasses on, like iPhone fans cannot see it for how school it looks. Although the resolution is not even HD the high density of pixels make the graphics look better than it's resolution suggests. The speaker is a standout that actually sounds great for a tiny one and the real home button is nice to press and the fingerprint scanner works very fast! The low memory capacity is as always disappointing as the entry level 32Gigs is barely usable in 2018. In terms of use the iPhone 6s is still pretty good. After all the operating system and the hardware are designed as a pair. In the past simplicity has been a key factor in it's popularity however there is now 10 times the difficulty. Mind you it still lack the flexibility and functionality of an Android OS based phone. Nonetheless it works really well and mostly smooth until an App requires just a tiny bit extra power. We also noticed that when the iPhone's battery level gets under 30% there is a noticeable drop in stability and performance. Overall a good iPhone that the can most things only limited it's tiny memory. The conclusion is simple, the iPhone 6s is a very good phone and worth buying in 2018 if you're an iPhone convert but for anyone else it is expensive. It's not as slick as the latest iPhones which indicates that the operating system is getting bloated. Efficient systems like the late Windows Phone was amazing and could run on low powered CPUs easily and just a smooth. If you want an iPhone then the 6S is the cheaper alternative but support for it will disappear in the next 12 months so our recommendation to to get there expensive iPhone 8 or 7 if you can still find one. Alternatively the 5SE is worth a look and cheaper. Specifications
- Apple iPhone 6s
- Network All
- Design Touch screen L138.3 x W67.1 x 7.1 mm Weight 143 grams
- Display 4.7 inch LCD 750 x 1334 LCD
- Camera 12 MP auto-focus LED Flash 2nd forward facing video call camera 8MP
- Video Camera 4K 30FPS main video camera 5MP front camera
- Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V4 USB
- CPU A9 1.8 Ghz CPU
- Memory 1 Gig RAM Up to 32 or 128 Gig for user
- Features NFC
- Power 1715 Li-Po mAh battery Up to 10 Days Standby Up to 14 hours Talk Time
- Price history Approx FROM $649 AUD May (Outright)
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Telstra Signature 2 Review
Welcome to the 2018 Telstra Signature 2 smartphone review. The Signature 2 was release in late 2017 and we didn't get around to writing this up till now due the literally massive number of new smartphones and regular phones to be released in 2018. We usually review the worst, niche, best value phones and the Signature 2 definitely fits into this broad category. The Telstra Signature 2 is a Android OS based phone and priced around the $400 AUD price range as an outright purchase. In terms of construction the Telstra Signature 2 is a well built. It's relatively light and solid. However the plastic back feels a little cheap in the hand but at least the glass screen lifts the quality feel. It's may be ironic that it is branded as a 'Signature' which indicates that is what the company aspires to, if you get the meaning ... In terms of hardware the Telstra Signature 2 has a good set specifications. In fact it's the same set as the LG K10 - Android OS based phone. There are a few interesting features not normally found in the price range like the large battery, fingerprint scanner. The screen looks nice and the buttons feel good to use. The Fingerprint scanner on the back frees up smartphone for a larger screen. All the basics are there but it is not a powerful phone, arguably close to entry level. In terms of use the The Telstra Signature 2 is OK. No lag with the navigation, Apps worked pretty fast, response times feeling good. Since it is an Android phone there are so many more ways to customise and use your phone than you can think off. It plays any video, image or music file format you want, it's fully integrated with the Gmail ecosystem and most of all you can manage your files on your phone not needing to temporary download from the 'cloud'. It's nothing fancy that just get the job done. To sum up, the Telstra Signature Premium 2 works really well. Like the original model there are no real problems in the Signature 2. Bear in mind that the specs are good for an entry level phone but the price is not. Specifications
- Telstra Signature 2
- Network 2G/3G/4G LTE
- Design Touch screen L146 W74.8 x D8 mm Weight 142 grams
- Display 5.3 inch 1280 x 720 IPS
- Camera 13MP auto-focus LED Flash 5MP 2nd forward facing video call camera 1080P Video Camera
- Connectivity Wi-Fi, Bluetooth V4, MicroUSB
- CPU 1.5 Ghz Mediatek Octa-core Memory 2Gig RAM Up to 16 Gig for user MicroSD expansion
- Features A-GPS, Compass, Gorilla Glass, Fingerprint, FM Radio with RDS
- Battery Li-Po 2800 mAh battery Up to 12 Days Standby Up to 7 hours Talk Time
- Price history Approx $432 AUD (outright early 2018) or Phone plan
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Game Review – RPG – Eternium Vs KingsRoad
Welcome to the the battle of the Role Playing Game review and comparison. In one corner we have Eternium (formerly called Mage and Minions) vs KingsRoad. Both are free/freemium to play RPGs that are based on the benchmark Diablo series of games and can be played on Android OS and Apple iPhones and tablets.
Eternium is an RPG by Game Primer and MF Making Fun.
Eternium is quick to load and runs well, it also works without connecting the internet and good to look at. There are 3 character classes the Mage, Bounty Hunter and Warrior. The animations and graphics are pretty good and have gotten better over the years. However there are some problems, the 3rd person camera angle occasional block the view with the environment, while the graphics are very detailed it just doesn’t look natural enough. The controls are point and move and responsive, the game progression is clear and suitably progression of hardness. The story is quite basic with the levels described as ‘find the boss and kill it’. Lots of item drops and you can get in game helper characters that mercifully can get pretty powerful. It is definitely not a Diablo I, II or III in many ways.Name: Eternium (Mage and Minions)
One of the oldest 3rd person RPGs available for phones and tablets.
Playability: 9/10 (at time of review)
Longveity: 7/10 (at time of review)
Does it need the Internet data to play: No but required for saves and new items.
How annoying is it without paying: Not annoying just grinding.
Is buy in game stuff worth it: Yes but only for those who are impatient. There’s lots of grinding but lots of loot drops.
Is it worth paying for: Only for certain in game items.
Better on Tablet or Phone: Tablet or large screen phone.
X-Factor: Ability craft and improve virtually any item and the ability to play without an internet connection.
Platform: Android OS and Apple iOSKingsRoad is a RPG by RUMBLE.
The first thing you notice about KingsRoad is that it is a slow loading game and it requires internet data to play and also a stable data transfer rate.These are the most annoying things of the game. In fact the first time I ran it almost gave up! Once up and running things get better. The are lots of things you can do to improve your character, however forging, fusing and evolving items, dragon companions in the game and it does get confusing. Persevere and it’s a complex game. MMORPG element is pretty good dependent on who your companions are. The story is simplistic but better than Eternium but not by much. The associated NPCs are just like the ones in Diablo I,II and III likewise the character graphics and environment. It’s arguably the closest to being a Diablo clone and that’s a good thing. The biggest problem with KingsRoad and play-ability is the limited storage. You need storage to enhance your character and you need to pay for it and for us that’s a deal breaker. Gives us some special items that are worth paying for. This is a pity because apart from that it is really good looking and playing RPG for you tablet or phone.Name: KingsRoad
One of the oldest 3rd person RPGs available for phones and tablets.
Playability: 7/10 (at time of review)
Longveity: 8/10 (at time of review)
Does it need the Internet data to play: No but required for saves and new items.
How annoying is it without paying: Quite annoying as you have so little storage to carry items.
Is buy in game stuff worth it: Yes but only for those who are impatient and you need buy storage.
Is it worth paying for: Only for certain in game items like storage.
Better on Tablet or Phone: Tablet
X-Factor: Confusing enhancement logic.
Platform: Android OS and Apple iOS -
Telstra Tough Max 2 (T85) Review
Welcome to the Telstra Tough Max 2 T85 review for 2018. The Max 2 is the replacement for the original Max model which was a decent enough phone that could handle a bit of rough by being ruggedised - but not as much as it's case suggests. The Telstra Tough Max 2 follow on from the original but now priced outright at $432. In terms of construction the Telstra Tough Max 2 is very good, bearing in mind the toy like materials the case is made from. It is a solid feeling phone in both bend-ability and in the hand feel. It doesn't look like a premium smartphone and that's what you should expect in ant sort of ruggedised phone. The blue colour is disappointing as it can blend in with its surroundings, a yellow or orange scheme would be idea. In terms of hardware specifications the Telstra Tough Max 2 is just slightly higher than an entry level smart phone for 2018. Why? the Max 2 has 3 Gig of RAM, only entry level phones have 2 these days. First thing you notice is how close the screen is to the glass it's impressive and surprising for a cheap phone. Better specs include a 16MP camera and 8Mp front camera. A fingerprint scanner on the back and a dedicated flash light button! Other features include NFC, quick charging and Wireless charging and a good looking Gorilla glass screen. The screen resolution may only be 720 x 1280 but it does look as good. In terms of use the Telstra Tough Max 2 is Android OS based so a very good highly customizable interface and is smooth and fast. Launching apps like the browser is fast and dependent on the website can be quite speedy or slow. The feel in the hand is the expected bulky plastic ridges to prevent slipping out of the hand. It's not a premium feeling but that is expected. The interface is Android 7.1 so everything works as expected. The CPU may only be a 1.4 Ghz quad core but its quite quick when using Facebook, Instagram Whatapp and any other non-game app you can think off. The conclusion is simple, the Telstra Tough Max 2 is a notable improvement from the prior model and still made by ZTE and rebranded as Telstra. Now, we don't think the re-branding is of any good to both brands as past smartphone models in particular have been more cheap and overpriced. In addition all our ZTE/Telstra models have died just after 2 years some due to battery and others just stopped working, maybe we are just unlucky. Regardless the Tough Max 2 works well for it's specification but there are others, in particular the Motorola G5 Plus with a Otterbox case. Overall a good phone and worth a closer look. Specifications
- Telstra Tough Max 2
- Network 3G + 4G + LTE + VoLTE
- Design Touch screen
- L144 x W71.5 x D11 mm Weight 153 grams
- Display 5 inch LCD 720 x 1280 LCD
- Camera 16 MP auto-focus LED Flash 2nd forward facing video call camera 8MP
- Video Camera 1080p 30FPS main video camera
- Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V4 USB
- CPU Octa Core 1.4 Snapdragon 430 Qualcomm Adreno 505
- Memory 3 Gig RAM Up to 32 Gig for user MicroSD expansion
- Features Android OS 7.1.2 Quick charger Qi Wireless charging IP67 toughness FM Radio NFC
- Power 3000 Li-Po mAh battery Up to xx Days Standby Up to xx hours Talk Time
- Price history Approx $432 AUD January 2018 (Outright)
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Nokia 3310 (2017) Review
Welcome to the Nokia 3310 (2017) review. Arguably the most anticipated and widely reported mobile phone release for 2017 is the re-imaged Nokia 3310. The version we tested was the 3G version hence 'series 2'. There are very few known brands that still make entry level mobile phones and the new brand owners have decided to remake the old 3310 essentially a retro phone. The model's release is essentially a marketing ploy by the new Nokia to relaunch the brand and it worked. Every news outlet regardless of specialty covered the release. So every country the original Nokia 3310 was sold in knows about the the new Nokia. In terms of construction the 3310 is very good like the original. It's light and tight in the hand and completely built with a a little dash of shiny plastic or almost matt colors. For a cheap phone it is perfectly acceptable build quality. In terms of hardware it has all the basics that where state of the art 16 years ago. 2.4 inch screen, single 2 Megapixel camera. However modern inclusions include a microSD memory expansion and music player hardware. The updated version with 3G connectivity for sale in some countries or dual sim versions in others is a nice addition to the minimal spec sheet. The only thing missing is WI-Fi but with so little CPU power having that sort of data is pointless for the complex websites everyone seems to have these days. In terms of use the Nokia 3310 is very fast and responsive however any data or internet related functions it is going to be slow as it is using 3G. The physical buttons and old school keypad with predictive text are old school but work if you have patience. All the basics are there including MMS however the internet browser is basic and the low power CPU is incapable of modern webpages. Unless you have some numbers stored on your SIM card you will be busy typing them on the 3310. There is an App store and there are plenty of 'classic' games to choose from but they are relatively basic and don't have the essentials of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp and so forth. The Nokia 3310 (2017) 3G edition is a phone for a niche set of people. Calls and TXT messages are its forte and of course the Snake game. There are a few very basic mobile phones like this still for sale in many parts of the world that don't the data network capability so this is perfect for them. In other parts or the world with high speed mobile data the 3310 is pointless. The 3310 is a retro ornament for a collector or enthusiast. It was great in the day but not in 2017. We'd like to note that the commonly promoted use for the new 3310 is at concerts, parties etc.. where you don't want to damage your main phone, however we all know that this is PR rubbish. We take our good phone to parties and concerts to get good quality selfies for Instagram, pictures of people doing stupid things, for Facebook etc... for posting in real time. Anyone saying or writing this as an excuse to purchase the 3310 is not worthy of your attention. Specifications
- Nokia 3310 (2017)
- Network Quad-band GSM Dual-band 3G (Dependent on country)
- Design Candy bar
- L109.8 x W45 x D11 mm Weight 188 grams
- Display/s 2.4 inch TFT 240 x 320
- Camera 2MP
- Video Camera 640 x 480 pixel @ 15FPS
- Connectivity Bluetooth V3
- CPU ???Mhz
- Memory Up to 64MB available to user 32Gig micro-SD card slot
- Ring tones MIDI, MP3, Video, vibration
- Features JAVA MIDP 2.0 FM radio with RDS Speaker Phone/Hands free USB charging LiPo 1200mAh Up to 30 days Standby Up to 22 hours Talk Time
- Price history Approx $80 AUD 2017 (Outright)
