Category: Mobile Phone Reviews

Mobile Phones, Smart Phones, Cell Phones and anything like them review and comparisons.

  • HTC One X10 review

    Welcome to the HTC One X10 review. This model is not to be confused with the regular range topping HTC 10! The HTC One X10 is a mid-range phone and has finally got our attention, the reasons www didn't bother doing a review is that we where confused at the deceptive model name which implied it was a top end model, in really it is a mid ranger. In terms of construction the HTC One X10 is excellent. Thanks to it's build quality, being metal and glass it does look like a more expensive HTC phone. As result it is put together as well as any other phone especially the iPhone 7 but no where near the standard set by the Galaxy S8! That said HTC have made the One X10 different from the other brands and mid range phones thanks to the rear end decoration and curved. Overall it looks good and high end especially from it's lesser known competitors. In terms of hardware the HTC One X10 packs a 4000mAh battery which by 2017 mobile phone standards is huge! The camera promises lots of features and quality but just class average. Apart form that it is interesting to note the Mediatek CPU rather the the usual Qualcomm which only means it's a cheaper CPU rather than slower performance. Overall there is nothing to really point out about the One X10 in terms of specifications. In terms of use the the HTC One X10 is really good. The interface is smooth there aren't too many time consuming transitions minimal amount of HTC Apps. Speaking of Apps the samples like the 3D car games install worked great, not really speedy when loading but once running works great. It is a typical mid range phone that seems to work as a more expensive one. It would be a great phone if all your into is messaging and social networking. The conclusion is simple, the HTC One X10 is a really good mid-range mobile phone. That fact that we couldn't really fault it in the first 5 minutes is a really test. What would you by an HTC One X10 before any other phone? It looks more premium and QHD Screen. Since their other less known brands have increased their prices and they don't certainly don't look or feel as good. We could even consider buying one if we had't already bought the Motorola G5 Plus. Specifications
    • HTC One X10
    • Network Quad-band GSM Tri-band 3G Tri-band 4G
    • Design Touch screen
    • L153 x W75.6 x D8.2 mm Weight 175 grams
    • Display 5.5 inch LCD 1080 x 1920 QHD LCD
    • Camera 16 MP auto-focus LED Flash 2nd forward facing video call camera 5MP
    • Video Camera 1080p 30FPS main video camera
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V4 USB
    • CPU Octa Core 1.8 Mediatek MT6795 Helio P10 Mali-T860MP2 Graphics CPU
    • Memory 3 Gig RAM Up to Approx 32 Gig for user MicroSD expansion
    • Features Active noise cancellation Up to 370 hours Standby Up to 17 hours Talk Time
    • Power 4000 Li-Po mAh battery Up to 31 Days Standby Up to 24 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Approx $550 AUD June 2017 (Outright)

  • Motorola G5 Plus Review

    Welcome to the 2017 Motorola G5 Plus review. The G5 Plus is the newest budget phone from Motorola and was released along side the G5. The G5 Plus is both different internally and has some external differences. The Motorola G5 Plus is priced at $399 outright in Australia, which is a very good starting price for spec and performance. While the regular G5 is a decent phone in it's own right the G5 Plus adds a number of features that justify the higher price tag and possibly your decision to buy. In terms of construction the Motorola G5 Plus is very good. The body has more metal than the cheaper G5 but still has the removable rear back plate although the frame is plastic. The physical measurements are the same it just feels better to hold. That said the metal is still not truly premium but it's quite good, befitting it's price tag. That sums up the G5 Plus's construction, it's very good just not top end. As a note the premium priced ZTE Axon 7 priced around  $600 or Huawei Mate 9 priced at approx $1000 do not look $300-700 more expensive or work any faster in normal use. So no complaints about the G5 Plus given it's price tag. In terms of hardware the G5 Plus has a mid-range CPU and includes, a decent IPS 1080p screen, dual SIM, finger print, fast charging, decent 2 Ghz Octa-core CPU, and separate graphics CPU, up to 4 Gig of RAM, 32 Gig or program space and microSD card expansion. Except for the omission of NFC, which I haven't seen anyone use it is very mid-range in spec without the price tag. Overall it G5 Plus is a upgrade on the regular G5 and just as good as any other phone of similar priced or higher. In terms of use the Motorola G5 Plus has a virtually stock Android interface that means it works smoothly and fast considering the hardware. There are a few interface tweaks like the multi-function fingerprint scanner for the Android buttons if that is what you prefer. No complaints with the interface and performance easily faster than the Note 4 or Sony Xperia or even iPhone 6. We guess that there is much less system processing required thanks to the streamlined OS. Once again in conclusion it is rare that we post a review of a mobile phone so early in it's release phase and that's because the Motorola G5 Plus is very impressive package. It's a phone as good as any mid-range phone costing more, better than the formerly cheaper brands from China and iPhone 6 and trumps them all with a low purchase price. The G5 Plus is arguably the best budget priced phone on the market right now from any brand. Forget the rest and give it go. Specifications
    • Motorola G5 Plus
    • Network Dual SIM Quad-band GSM All 3G frequencies(dependent on country) All 4G frequencies (dependent on country)
    • Design Touch screen
    • L150.2 x W74 x D9.7 mm
    • Weight 155 grams
    • Display 5.2 inch 1,920 x 1080 AMOLED
    • Camera 12MP 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 3 -4 Gig RAM Up to 16 or 32 Gig for user Up to 128Gig micro-SD expansion
    • Features A-GPS, GLANOSS, Compass, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, fingerprint scanner Li-Po 3000 mAh battery Up to 24 hours at least regular average use.
    • Price history Approx $399 AUD May 2017 (Outright)

  • Motorola G5 Review

    Welcome to the 2017 Motorola G5 review. The G5 is the newest entry level phone form Motorola and was released along side the G5 Plus. In the past we usually combine the review for both phone bearing very similar names for the sake of easy comparison however there is a significant difference in terms of performance that there will be a separate review for the G5 Plus next week! The Motorola G5 is priced at $299 outright in Australia, which is a very good starting price for spec and performance. It is as good as or better than more expensive models from less known brands and manufacturers. Eg. Oppo and ZTE for example. In terms of construction the Motorola G5 is good. The body is mostly plastic and glass but with a metal back plate but despite having a removable back it is very well put together and you wouldn't even know. That said the plastic bits are not noticeable at all but the chrome edge indicates it is not a top range phone of 2017. Overall there isn't anything to complain about considering the price. In terms of hardware the G5 clearly has lower end parts (unlike the the G5 Plus) but it includes a multi-function fingerprint reader, a 1080P HD display that looks really good, a fast charging function, microSD memory expansion and a separate graphics CPU.  You also get a rare bonus of dual SIM capability. Sure it only has an Octa-core 1.4 GHz CPU but is doesn't really feel it until performing intensive tasks like loading complex web pages, but games seem to work quite well. Once again considering the low price this it perfectly acceptable. In terms of use the Motorola G5 has a stock Android interface that means it works smoothly and fast considering the hardware. There are a few interface tweaks like the multi-function fingerprint scanner for the Android buttons. Only intensive web browsing reveal it's average 2GB RAM as games demo'ed seem to work well. Being stock Android everything simply works and you still have the option of customising it with what ever interface apps you want. The G5 feels better and smoother than virtually all the budget and cheap Android phones we've tried to date. In conclusion it is rare that we post a review of a mobile phone so early in it's release phase and that's because Motorola G5 impressed us. It's smooth fast and looks good for an inexpensive phone. The G5 is also cheaper and better than most of the newer phone brands from China we've tried recently and that's a huge complement. The Motorola G5 is a rare phone it's relatively cheap priced at less than $299 and great specifications for the price for the Australian market. Well worth a look if you're for a budget phone. That said do check out the next review on the Motorola G5 Plus which is even better! Specifications
    • Motorola G5
    • Network Quad-band GSM All 3G frequencies(dependent on country) All 4G frequencies (dependent on country)
    • Design Touch screen
    • L144.3 x W73.4 x D9.5 mm
    • Weight 145 grams
    • Display 5 inch 1,920 x 1080 AMOLED
    • Camera 13MP 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
    • CPU Octa-core 1.4 Ghz Snap Dragon 430 Separate Andreno 505 Graphics CPU
    • Memory 2 Gig RAM Up to 16 Gig for user Up to 128Gig micro-SD expansion
    • Features GPS, GLANOSS, accelerometer, ambient light, gyroscope, fingerprint scanner, proximity Li-Po 2800 mAh battery Up to 25 hours for average use.
    • Price history Approx $299 AUD May 2017 (Outright)

  • Telstra Flip 2 – Telstra T21 Review

     
    Welcome to the Telstra Flip 2 or T21 mobile phone review. This is a regular flip phone or clam shell phone running custom version of a non descript OS and hardware for Telstra. (It's made by ZTE) The Flip 2 is for those who only need or want basic essentially voice based communications or perhaps notifications. Yes, there are many people who do not want the full smartphone experience for various reasons. Recommended retail pricing of the Telstra Flip 2 - T21 is $99 but only as a pre-paid. In terms of construction the Telstra Flip 2 or T21 is like any other plastic flip phone. The quality of the plastic looks easily scratched as it is glossy plastic. The flip hinge moves smoothy and gives the impression that it will last a very long time. When closed the clam shell looks like a small make up kit although a little thick and not particularly high end. The main reason for this is that it does not have an additional screen on the cover when closed. When open the keypad actually feels good to press but no more than any other keyed phone in 2017. However overall that's really not much to describe as there it looks just like a nondescript plastic thing that feels reasonably nice to hold. In terms of hardware inside the Telstra Flip 2 is essentially a downgrade for the older Telstra T4 of the original model for the most part. The most glaring downgrade is the small screen that has a lower resolution. The screen size appears smaller too as there is a huge bezel around the screen. The best thing about the Flip 2 is that you can use it as a Wi-Fi hotspot but only if you plug it into a computer. It boasts a 1.1 Ghz CPU unfortunately it doesn't run like run see below. There is a camera included for video calls and quality seemed OK for the price aka a bit low res. In terms of use the Telstra Flip 2 is a trip back to the old days aka 10 years ago. There is not much to write about except for the decent web browser but hampered by the low specs even if it breaks the 1Ghz CPU benchmark. The menus work quickly but there are pauses when running apps. The pauses was a surprise since even an old Nokia handset didn't have them. There are also no games included in the phone. To conclude the Telstra Flip 2 is an entry level flip phone. It covers the basics like text, talk and some email through the web browser nothing more. There are much better entry level phones for the same price. Speaking of price the Flip2 sells at a $99 retail price, is too expensive for this level of functionality. Where is the new Nokia 3310? Specifications
    • Telstra Flip 2 or Telstra T21
    • Network Dual-band 3G 850/2100 Mhz Dual-band GSM 900/1800 MHz 4G - 4 common bands
    • Design Flip L105 x W52 x D18.6 mm Weight 110 grams
    • Display/s Internal TFT 240 x 320 2.4 inch screen
    • Camera Dual cameras 2MP main camera 0.2MP video call camera
    • CPU 1.1 Ghz
    • Connectivity USB Bluetooth V4.1
    • Memory 724MB internal memory
    • Ring tones MP3, MMF, MIDI, Vibration etc..
    • Features Plug for external antenna SMS, MMS, WAP, EMAIL Speaker Phone/Hands free Customizable backgrounds Web browser (Chrome) Video calling Voice memos Calendar, Calculator, Stop watch, timer 240 Hrs Standby, 11 Hours Talk Time 1000mAh Li-Ion
    • Price history 2017 Approx $99 Pre-paid

  • Samsung Galaxy S5 Review

    Welcome to the 2017 Samsung Galaxy S5 review. The Galaxy S5 was original release in early 2014 so is old but it's still being sold because it's replacement the Galaxy S6 was a bit of a flop and the S6 has one key selling feature that Samsung discovered was essential and that was a MicroSD memory expansion slot. The Galaxy S6 didn't have it and sold according while the latest S7 has it and has sold in record numbers. Apart form that, the obvious other key factor was that  the majority of the range topping phones are on two year contracts Samsung needed to keep selling the S5 for another 2 years until the all now 2017 S8 gets released. The Galaxy S5 now features on this website is because it's retail pricing has dropped under $399 and more often than not $369. In terms of construction theGAlaxy  S5 is good. The chrome like frame looks cheap likewise the plastic removable back cover but at least the glass screen has a nice high end pattern running through it. By 2017 standards the Galaxy S5 overall looks a little cheap as a growing number for mobile phones in this price range are now made of aluminum. All that said, it is well put together and feels solid in the hand. Put on a decent cover and no one would know that it's an old design. In terms of hardware features the Galaxy S5 still has everything you could possibly want in 2017. Perhaps the missing fingerprint scanner may disappoint but it was designed back in 2013 for the 2014 release and let's face it no one had it as a feature at the time and more to the point other phones in this price still don't have them. The S5 camera outclassed but top end phones but this camera still beats any phone in this price range easily and any other smart phone except the Nokia N95. The removable back means that you can replace the battery and add in a memory card up to 128Gig memory card for not much more money! Extra features include a infra-red blaster perfect of universal remote control, heart rate monitor, replaceable battery and even a micro SD slot. In terms of use the Galaxy S5 has a feature packed interface. Unfortunately the interface is not as smooth as others in the price range. Apart from that it will run all the latest apps without any problems. There are plenty of old reviews on this phone so won't carry on about the why's and why not after all it was released in 2014,  needless to say that it was ahead of it's time in terms of little things like notifications and multi-tasking that have only arrived recently. The Galaxy S5 is an appealing smartphone in 2017 thanks to the price drop. Sure there are many 2017 models of the same price will be just as good but in a different way and they won't be a Galaxy S5 it's old but it's good. Specifications
    • Samsung Galaxy S5 Active
    • Network Quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900 All 3G frequencies All 4G frequencies
    • Design Touch screen
    • L145.3 x W73.4 x D8.9 mm
    • Weight 170 grams
    • Display 5.1 inch 1,920 x 1080 AMOLED
    • Camera 16MP auto-focus LED Flash 2nd forward facing still/video call camera 2MP
    • Video Camera 2160p high definition 30FPS main video camera 2MP Video phone camera
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V4
    • CPU Quad core 2.5 Ghz Separate Andreno 330 Graphics CPU
    • Memory 2Gig RAM Up to 16 Gig for user Up to 128Gig micro-SD expansion
    • Features A-GPS, GLANOSS, Compass, Accelerometer, Gyroscope Proximity, Ambient Light, Barometer, Heart rate monitor, Infra-red blaster Google Play store and Samsung Store Li-Po 2800 mAh battery Up to 20 Days standby Up to 24 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Approx $369 AUD late 2017 (Outright)

  • ZTE Axon7 and Axon7 Mini Review

    Welcome to the ZTE Axon7 and ZTE Axon7 Mini review. It's been awhile since we tested an ZTE phone of any kind because they weren't exactly enthused with its range of phones despite its link with Telstra. We also think that the Axon7 and Axon7 Mini are mid-range phones but priced on the high side considering their outright prices in their Chinese home market and perhaps the claimed subsides etc...  the only reason the Axon7's are priced this way is it's competitors pricing for similar spec. The Axon7 with the 5.5 inch screen sells for $699 and the Axon7 Mini if you consider a 5.2 inch screen is small or mini sized is priced around $498. These are not cheap phones but can be classified as value for money but we expect them to be cheaper. In terms of construction the Axon 7 and Axon7 Mini are very good, it is rare to find an obviously poorly made phone in 2017. However their build quality still don't stack up to the latest Samsung Galaxy S7 and more importantly A series in quality. Both designs look like last generation HTC which is probably deliberate but made of metal. The metal parts claim to be 'unibody' but if only they used better metal as it is not the quality we're used to being a little too 'shiney' to be called high end. They need to employ some better industrial and graphic people to do their designs. Good effort for the price but we expect more than what we got. In terms of hardware features the ZTE Axon7 has the latest Quad core CPU which performs better than the Octa-cores while the Axon7 Mini uses a slower 1.5Ghz  Octa-core. The Axon7 has a 4K camera which we didn't try but you can expect decent images from both phones. The best feature for the Axon7 is the ability to use it as a dual-SIM phone so you can have 2 numbers on the phone phone but doing that means giving up the micro-SD memory expansion which is disappointing. Both use USB-C as the only connector which is the way of the future and have fast charging which once used you can never go back to waiting 3-4 hours for you phone to charge as per the iPhone. It's all pretty much normal in most respects for mid-range phones in 2017. Although the rest of the brands haven't quite caught up yet as they are lumbered with 2016 models. In terms of use the ZTE Axon7 and Axon7 Mini are identical despite the CPU difference. They are smooth and work as expected, we didn't think much of the UI mods and the additional 'security' software which is ultimately not secure if you get our drift. We have no complaints about speed of functionality for the price. Android OS is definitely the future as there are so many options you can tinker with or leave it in simple mode. The problem though is that ZTE do not seem to release software patches or updates which means their phones won't be any good beyond 12 months especially when spending this much money. In the end the ZTE Axon 7 and Axon 7 Mini are just another well specified mobile phones but priced higher than what it should be especially the Mini version. That said we are judging new phones a little harder from 2017 onwards as there is very little to separate the numerous phone models running the same operating system and similar hardware especially Android based regardless of price. Even with lower end CPUs all the Android phones we've tested are competitive in the system navigation side of things with top end phones, sure it does take a little longer to open apps but what the price difference for a few seconds worth $200 more? Specifications
    • ZTE Axon 7 and Axon 7 Mini
    • Network Dual SIM Quad-band GSM All 3G frequencies All 4G frequencies
    • Design Touch screen
    • L151.7 x W75 x D7.9 mm L147.5 x W71 x D7.8 mm
    • Weight 175 or 153 grams
    • Display 5.5 inch 2,560 x 1440 AMOLED 5.2 inch 1920 x 1080
    • Camera 20MP auto-focus x2 LED Flash 2nd forward facing still/video call camera 2MP
    • Video Camera 1080p high definition 30FPS main video camera 2MP Video phone camera
    • Connectivity USB- C Wi-Fi Bluetooth V4
    • CPU Quad core 2.2 Ghz 820 or Octa-Core 617 Separate Andreno 530 or 405 Graphics CPU
    • Memory 4Gig RAM Up to 64 Gig for user Up to 128Gig micro-SD expansion
    • Features Dual SIM, A-GPS, GLANOSS, Compass, Accelerometer, Gyroscope Proximity, Ambient Light, Barometer, Heart rate monitor Google Play store and Samsung Store Li-Po 3250 mAh battery Up to 15 Days standby Up to 16 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Approx $699 Axon7 $498 Axon7 Mini AUD 2016 (Outright)

  • Sony Xperia XA and XA Ultra Review

     
    Welcome to the 2017 Sony Xperia XA and XA Ultra review. Over the last 12 months Sony have revamped their smartphone lineup and the XA is year another model they introduced. The Sony XA and it larger brother the XA Ultra are the new X Series smart phones targeted at other  mid-range competitors in specification and pricing. The Sony XA Ultra in January 2017 recommended retail is $799 but you'll never pay that unless you are brain dead - basically. Currently the XA Ultra appears to be in run out mode so you will be able to find them for under $450 Outright. The smaller Sony XA in January 2017 usually sells for under $300 which is about right. Note that as always there are cheaper high spec phones from other brands but they are not a Sony. In terms of construction the Sony XA feature an edge to edge bubble screen, metal frame and plastic back plate. It's feels good to hold despite the plastic back and looks good too. The flaps for the microSD and SIM (separately) on the side are typical Sony so no complaints while there are benefits we prefer the tray solution as championed by Samsung. The XA Ultra has a significant increase in the camera and features a 16M selfie and 21MP rear camera the regular XA is quite ordinary in comparison. In terms of hardware the CPU is a cheaper Mediatek P10 and basically means it's a different solution to the usual Qualcomm ones. It is championed as a cheaper solution but is all honestly we didn't pick up any difference. The XA's screen is a 72op IPS not the usually LED Triluminos usually used by Sony but the older BRAVIA engine and you can tell it's not the best image but it's not the worst either much like the iPhone. The XA Ultra has a 1080p HD screen but same image engine. Overall it's a mixed bag of specs. The XA has a reasonable 16MP main and 8MP selfie but the XA has the much better 21MP and 16Mp selfie camera. The Sony 'secret source' rarely  mentioned by main stream reviews is the 'Clear Audio' system on the phones which means bluetooth streaming and music via the ear phones are equal or better to the top end phones even the iPhone. In terms of use the Sony XA is pretty good, smooth and fully functional the best feature is the music processor branded Clear Audio and when turned on works amazingly well for this price point, easily superior to the cheap models from Huawei and Oppo and even iPhone. The Android OS has not been significantly modified so works predictably although the smart apps still bugs us. Overall there's nothing to truly complain about. The Sony XA is a decent mid range phone but a little overpriced however the XA Ultra is much better and for not much more if you shop online. Sure the XA Ultra has a bigger screen hence size but in 2017 the more screen you can see the better your eye site will be in the long run. The Sony XA Ultra is a hidden gem and bargain priced at the moment. Specifications
    • Sony XA and XA Ultra
    • Network Quad-band GSM - All Tri-band 3G - All Tri-band 4G - All
    • Design Touch screen
    • (XA) L143.6 x W66.8 x D7.9 mm (XA Ultra) L164 x W79 x D8.4 mm
    • Weight (XA) 137 grams (XA Ultra) 180 grams
    • Display (XA) 5 inch 1280 x 720 IPS (XA Ultra) 6 inch 1080 x 1920 IPS
    • Camera 21MP auto-focus LED Flash 16MP auto-focus LED Flash 2nd forward facing video call camera 8MP or 16M
    • Video Camera 4K UHD 30FPS main video camera
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi,  NFC, Bluetooth V4
    • CPU Octa-core 2 GHz Mediatek
    • Memory 2 or 3 Gig RAM Up to 16 Gig for user Up to 200 Gig micro-SD expansion
    • Features A-GPS, Compass, Accelerometer,Proximity, Ambient Light Sony Clear Audio system FM Radio with RDS Speaker Phone/Hands free Li-Po 2300 mAh battery or Li-Po 2700 mAh battery Up to 22 Days Standby Up to 17 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Approx (XA) Under $500 ($300 usually) AUD (XA Ultra) Under $799 ($500 usually) January 2017 (Outright)

  • HTC One X9 Review

    2016_htconex9
    Welcome to the HTC One X9 review. It has been awhile since we've looked at any phone made by HTC and that's largely due to the fatally flawed HTC One series and besides none of the lower end smartphones which we like were not up to the same level as the competition. With the release of the HTC One X9 retail pricing is around $700 AUD - which is quite expensive for what is essentially a mid range phone in 2016 we know the price will drop. In terms of construction and design the HTC X9 is very good. The metal feels cool and solid to touch and all the send fit perfectly and edges rounded. The cheapest looking part is the camera surround. In terms of design the most obvious thing is that it looks like an iPhone 6 - why HTC? The iPhone is not a pretty phone to look at. Overall it looks and feels good but is it worth the money - for us no? In terms of hardware the HTC One X9 has a number of features worth pointing out, the first is that it has stereo speakers with Dolby enhancements. It sounds good. It also includes NFC for contactless payments and third the first phone which claims 3Terabyte storage management! Apart from that the One X9 screen and image quality is good equal to the iPhone but no where near Galaxy S5 or S6 good. The specs say 2.2 Ghz processor but it's the value for money version which is perfectly Ok. The HTC One X9 should be cheaper purely because of the CPU. The camera is claimed to be better than prior HTC One models which is not difficult but stored images from other testers show that it's not good indoors with standard lighting or focusing for that matter. One X9 is equipped with a standard LCD display which at this price range is a but low grade. In terms of use the the HTC One X9 claws back some points. The interface is smooth and slick even with some live widgets on the screen. There are some HTC specific enhancements but the only one worth mentioning is the automatic customisations dependent on location - which theoretically useful if you only had one phone for both home and work apart from that nothing worth motioning. Overall the Pne X9 feels as good as any other 2.2 Ghz equipped CPU running Android. The conclusion is once again simple as with any comparison with new smartphone running Android. The HTC One X9 is a good phone but overpriced. There are other cheaper phones and those with less CPU power that work just as well as this one. Specifications
    • HTC One X9
    • Network Quad-band GSM Tri-band 3G Tri-band 4G
    • Design Touch screen
    • L154 x W76 x D8 mm Weight 170 grams
    • Display 5.5 inch 1080 x 1920 QHD LCD
    • Camera 13 MP auto-focus LED Flash 2nd forward facing video call camera 5MP
    • Video Camera 1080p 30FPS main video camera
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V4 USB
    • CPU Octa Core 2.2 Ghz (Mediatek MT6795 Helio X10) Separate PowerVR G6200 Graphics CPU
    • Memory 3 Gig RAM Up to Approx 32 Gig for user MicroSD expansion
    • Features A-GPS, GLONASS BEIDO, Compass, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Ambient Light, Proximity Up to 370 hours Standby Up to 17 hours Talk Time
    • Power 3000 Li-Po mAh battery Up to 31 Days Standby Up to 15 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Approx $700 AUD September 2016 (Outright)

  • Samsung Galaxy Core Prime review

     2015_coreprime
    Welcome to the 2016 Samsung Core Prime mobile phone review. With the introduction of the Galaxy S7 series Samsung is refreshing the entire smartphone line up but have left the unchanged Samsung Galaxy Core Prime as one of the oldest models still available.  Yes, the J1 and the A series have been updated! So what is using the Galaxy Core Prime like? We decide to put up this review. When released the Galaxy Core Prime in late 2014 it was essentially a gap model, between the superseded Galaxy S4 and the top range Galaxy S5 model in the line up so its price was around the $390 mark in 2014 but in 2016 it has dropped to a recommend retail price of  $269. There is nothing wrong with the pricing at the time of posting this review. In terms of construction the Samsung Galaxy Core Prime is the same as the Galaxy S4 so its pretty good.  It also looks like a Galaxy S4. There is literally nothing complain about as it feels great for a relatively inexpensive phone in 2016. In terms of specifications (see below) the Galaxy Core Prime is a perfect example of the Snapdragon platform everything is there for wireless connectivity. The screen resolution is on the low side for a 2016 smartphone but average for the price, like wise the camera quality. There is nothing exceptional of the specifications bar the surprise inclusion of NFC for wireless payments and sync. Strangely the Galaxy Core Prime it is missing an FM radio.  We'd love to be about to write up more but there is anything else to point out. In terms of use the Samsung Galaxy Core Prime is surprising quick. The only lag you may experience is if you have data heavy live widgets but nothing to complain about either. The screen quality and size is more than acceptable and so is the brightness despite the relatively low resolution once again nothing to complain about. The only issue is that not every app can be transferred to the expansion SD card that said all your music and photos can be transferred. Overall the Samsung Galaxy Core Prime is a good phone for the price.  It does everything well and reasonably quick with the only problem with the Galaxy Core Prime is it's tiny standard memory, although expandable. Apart from that it is really it's competitors that make life difficult, the price being a key factor since for a mere $100 more you can get an Oppo R7s with much better specifications and currently our favourite budget smartphone in mid 2016. Specifications
    • Samsung Galaxy Core Prime
    • Network Quad-band GSM Dual-band 3G Dual Band 4G LTE
    • Design Touch screen
    • L131.3 x W68.4 x D8.8 mm Weight 130 grams
    • Display/s External 4.5 Inch TFT 480 x 800
    • Camera 5MP LED Flash Video Camera HD 720p @ 30fps 2MP front camera
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V4
    • CPU Quad-core 1.2 Mhz with 1 Gig RAM
    • Memory Up to 8 Gig available to user MicroSD up to 64Gig
    • Ring tones MIDI, MP3, Video, vibration and others
    • Features NFC A-GPS Proximity, Accelerometer
    • Power 2000 Li-Po mAh battery Up to 12 Days Standby Up to 13 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Under $329 AUD 2016