hyp4mhz.com

Category: Mobile Phone Reviews

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

  • Microsoft Lumia 650 Review

     2016_lumia550_1
    Welcome to the 2016 Microsoft Lumia 650 review. The newest entry in the new four model Lumia range is the 650 and it is arguably the best looking of the range too. The main reason is the high end styling and materials that sets it apart from the any other phone in the Lumia range. The Lumia 650 is essentially the mid range model priced under $300 AUD outright and as a result probably the best value in the range. We like the Lumia phones as they usually have the latest hardware on the inside and a solid operating system and reasonably priced. They are also the most secure, since few would target a essentially unique and a relatively small number of phones. The only problem with the Lumia is that there are not very many main stream Apps in the store. In terms of construction the Lumia 650 is just as good as any other phone in price and and beyond which is great selling point. The removable panel fits perfectly and the screen glossy and hard. There are no complaints about how its built. In terms of hardware the Lumia 650 doesn't have any standout features bellying its mid-range positioning. Unfortunately the world has moved one and what was mid-range is no longer. So the Lumia 650 is mid-range in basically the Lumia range rather than the competition. In the real world the 650 goes up against Android OS phones above entry level. In this context there are a few surprises in the specification that includes the option of dual SIM, expandably memory up to 256Gig, 5 inch OLED display withe Gorilla glass 3 and an FM radio. If you take into account the sub $300 price tag the 650 packs a lot of hardware for the price, bettering most Android OS based phones in the category. In terms of use the Lumia 650 is standard Windows 10, so everything is there and easy to use. Performance is good although apps do take longer to load if you've used a faster phone. Despite the relatively low powered CPU it works very well and smoother than like specified Android phones and the iPhone 5s. The Microsoft Lumia 650 is a very good phone just missing 3rd party Apps. That said if you are into the Microsoft Office, Skype, Onedrive, Minecraft, XBOX  and so forth but can't afford the top end Lumia 950 than the 650 is for you. The best model to get is the Dual SIM version especially if you travel so you can still use you normal number and a local SIM for data and call savings. great phone for those who don't want to get distracted by Pokemon GO! Specifications
    • Microsoft Lumia 650
    • Network Quad-band GSM - All Tri-band 3G - All Tri-band 4G - All
    • Design Touch screen L142 x W70.9 x D6.9 mm
    • Weight  122 grams
    • Display 5 inch 720 x 1280
    • Camera 8MP auto-focus LED Flash 2nd forward facing video call camera 2MP
    • Video Camera 720p 30FPS main video camera
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi, Bluetooth V4
    • CPU Quad-core 1.3 Ghz Snapdragon 212 Separate Andreno 304 Graphics CPU
    • Memory 1Gig RAM Up to 16 Gig for user Up to 256Gig micro-SD expansion
    • Features FM Radio with RDS Li-Po 2000 mAh battery Up to 26 Days Standby Up to 16 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Approx under $300 July 2016 (Outright)

  • iPhone SE Review

     2012_iphone5_1
    Welcome to the Apple iPhone SE review. As usual we start with the same phrase, we love the iPhone and loathe it at the same time. It's a great phone platform because there are plenty of Apps to extend the phone's functionality beyond what Apple even imagined. The support is great at an Apple store and online. However on the flip side hardware specifications are not top of the range and most importantly security problems are hidden until the hackers s[read your personal data over the internet! Anyway the newsiest iPhone is their budget or entry level model now simply called the iPhone SE. The iPhone SE is priced $679 AUD for the entry level 16 Gig model so it is not  exactly bargain priced. Apple fans tend to blame parts manufacturers for short falls in performance but of course anyone with a bit of common sense knows that Apple doesn't use the latest hardware because it costs more. It's purely financial decision. Adding the latest tech and gloss over catchup functionality with very good PR. Since the majority of iPhone users are not usually tech inclined the power of the PR and Brand stands. In terms of construction and design the iPhone SE the description is easy! The iPhone SE is exactly the same as the 4 year old iPhone 5 and iPhone 5S on the outside. It is a good design that's modern and relatively sleek but it does look a little cheap in 2016. Apple calls it timeless we call it by its true name - lost design Mojo. The 1000-ish Apple designers are on holidays and the temps are the accountants which is exactly what the you get...  Regardless in the hand the build quality is excellent and the size is very good if you don't have large hands and good eye sight as the screen is a little small. The image or screen quality is very good too but again it is washed out but it does show that the odd sized 1136 X 640 screen is good enough if the pixel density is at least 326ppi. The iPhone 5S design looks OK in isolation and can only be compared with other iPhones and in that sense it's better looking than the iPhone 6 but not as nice as the iPhone 4s. In terms of hardware the iPhone SE is a mix of iPhone 5S on the outside and iPhone 6S  on the inside. Sure not all 6S hardware is on the inside but the key features are so you get 4K video (with Ok quality) but the new camera hardware exceeds the vast majority of regular 'point and shoot' cameras. A faster CPU helps smooths out the iPhone 5S sluggish performance running the latest version of iOS. No improvement on the call quality side as the microphones and speakers of the iPhone SE are really below the standard set by the Samsung Galaxy series and especially the forgotten Microsoft Lumia phones in this price range. You can easily tell the caller has an iPhone by the muffled call quality. Overall though there is nothing exceptional or truly bad apart from the tiny screen and the biggest problem and flaw with the iPhone SE and the entire range is a measly 16G memory as standard which means less than 8G available for phones, music etc.. In terms of use and features we like Apple PR with 3D touch - holding your finger on the icon to see an extra menu has been around for years only Apple has finally caught up. However developing hardware solution is not a financially sound way of doing things. The iOS interface is really good but it is quite complex these days with lots of things to turn and off but still lags behind Microsoft's Windows 10 for phones. Online storage is expensive but the inclusion of NFC is good and the faster processor does help the growing operating system bloat. Apps are now offering the ability to transfer your Apps via logins so you can move from the iPhone without paying for it again so the lock to Apple is slowly disappearing. Is the iPhone still simple to use? Yes. How can you sell a recycled design and a claimed 1000+ designers employed and have PR say that your company is innovative? The answer is No - yet Apple continues to advertise. Nonetheless the iPhone SE is a great little phone with the right specifications in a compact size. The iPhone SE biggest problem is that it is overpriced especially with so little memory to use, especially when trying to take 4K video or the vast majority of 'essential' Apps as the entry level model. In that sense the iPhone SE is a pricing rip off - it is a great time to try another brand to see if you like it.
    • Apple iPhone SE
    • Network Quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900 Tri-band 3G 850/900/1900/2100 4G LTE All
    • Design Touch screen
    • L123.8 x W58.6 x D7.6mm Weight 113 grams
    • Display/s External TFT 640 x 1136
    • Camera 12MP LED Flash
    • Video Camera 4K 30 fps
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V4
    • CPU A9 Dual Core 1.84 Ghz Graphics: PowerVR GT7600
    • Memory From 16 - 64 Gig Less than 8 Gig for the user.
    • Ring tones Purchase or iStudio only and vibration
    • Features 4K video Battery 1624 mAh Up to 240 hours Standby Up to 14 hours Talk Time
    • Price history From $679 AUS 2012 (Outright 16Gig)

  • Telstra Signature Premium review

    2016_signatureprem
    Welcome to the 2016 Telstra Signature Premium smartphone review. The Signature Premium is as it name implies is not an entry level phone or a mid range but aiming its this model at the top range models. The Signature Premium is an Android OS based, rebranded HTC One A9 with Telstra's  own user interface which looks like the minimal Nexus presentation. The Telstra Signature Premium has a recommend retail price at $648 outright and a small handset fee if you bundle it with a plan. In terms of construction the Telstra Signature Premium is very well built. The body is very slick feeling metal and not gaps or creaks to speak off. It's a good looking phone with refined minimalist design theme that makes it look anonymous in the sea of smart phones in 2016. To be completely honest it does closely resemble an iPhone 6.  The most obvious design choice is to recess the fingerprint scanner which we initially though was broken! Top of the range build quality for the price. In terms of hardware the Telstra Signature Premium has good specifications for a Telstra branded smart phone but it not the complete package. The most obvious issues being the small capacity battery and only 1080p display. The Signature Premium packs in a Octa-core CPU topping out at 1.5 Ghz and a decent GPU. It also features a Dolby Audio hardware which means it should sound good and. Back to the AMOLED display, the screen quality is very good but not top end but it makes the iPhone 6 next to it look washed out. The hardware specifications are good but definitely mid-range+. In terms of use the The Telstra Signature Premium very good too. 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, 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'. The biggest complaint is that the graphics and standard backgrounds images are pretty 'cheap' looking. To sum up, the Telstra Signature Premium works really well. It does feel and work like a top range phone but it's not. Definitely better than the iPhone 6S and a better phone than the cheaper Oppo R7S too but not as good as real top range phones like the Galaxy S7 or Nexus 6P. Nonetheless we can recommend the Signature Premium as a phone choice however the price is a concern, priced at $648 outright it is on the high side for an essentially mid-range phone. If free on any of the phone plans and it becomes the recommended choice. The Signature Premium is the best Telstra branded smartphone to date (mid-2016). Specifications
    • Telstra Signature Premium
    • Network Quad-band GSM 3G - Tri-band 4G - Quad-band
    • Design Touch screen L145.75 W70.8 x D7.3 mm Weight 143 grams
    • Display 5 inch 1080 x 1920 AMOLED
    • Camera 13MP auto-focus LED Flash 2nd forward facing video call camera 8MP Video Camera 4K 30FPS main video camera
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth V4, USB
    • CPU Snapdragon Octo-core 1.5 GHz Andreno 405 Graphics CPU
    • Memory 3Gig RAM Up to 32 Gig for user MicroSD expansion
    • Features Dolby Audio, A-GPS, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Compass, Gorilla Glass, Proximity, Ambient Light, Barometer, Fingerprint
    • Battery Li-Po 2150 mAh battery Up to 18 Days Standby Up to 16 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Approx $648 AUD (outright May 2016) or Phone plan

  • LG Stylus DAB+ Review

    2016_lgstylus
    Welcome to the 2016 LG Stylus DAB+ (LGK520K) review. New for 2016 the LG Stylus DAB+ smartphone has 2 major features that separate it from the rest begin the DAB+ radio a stylus but there is one more surprise and greatly appreciated that being a large 5.7 inch display! We immediately liked the LG Stylus DAB+ sd it sells for a recommended retail price of $449 outright which is a pleasant surprise. Even more usefully is that the Stylus DAB+ is often package as a free phone on he entry level phone pals. (Note that the this is the LG Stylus DAB+ not a LG Stylus 2 with DAB+) In terms of construction the LG Stylus DAB+ is very well built. feels like its got metal frame but it has a plastic back and very thin. It feels very good in the hand which is a surprise given the reasonable price. Mind you its not as good as the Oppo R7s which is our benchmark in terms of feel for a budget smartphone. No complaints at all in this department. In terms of hardware there has been a little sacrifice to add the DAB+ radio to the LG Stylus. The CPU is a cheaper Quad core 1.2 processor and the screen is only 720p compared to the regular LG Stylus model. We wished that the had given it something faster though. Despite lower screen resuloution it still looks good although not as nice as the the more expensive models but at least the large 5.7 inch screen softens the blow. The speaker sound quality is OK but not high end. The integrated stylus may seem like a gimmick but it you have ever used a smartphone for work you will appreciate the addition. Even Apple is selling Stylus' these days. Overall the Stylus DAB+ has OK sort of specs but more entry level than mid range in 2016. In terms of use the Stylus DAB+ is actually quite good considering the spec (again) we don't expect much from any smartphone with a quad core 1.2 Ghz CPU these days but it adequate for normal use. Normal use being call and tact, whatsapp, Facebook, instagram and so forth not really for the latest Android games. The user has access to less than 16G as standard which is annoying but at least it has microSD expansion.  With a few apps there is virtually no lag to complain about. The DAB+ works well if you are stationery but on the move it is unable to keep up with the frequencies. The DAB+ radio included actually worked quite well but the interface is clumsy as opposed to completely useless was other reviews make ti tout to be. Since DAB+ uses no internet data but has many more stations it is genuinely useful just wish that the reception was able to keep up in the car. In the end the LG Stylus DAB+ is an interesting smartphone, not quite entry level and not quite mid range but suitably priced. Would we get one for personal use, yes we would but not for the DAB+ radio but for the large screen and stylus. The Stylus is also being offered for free on a basic phone plan which given the other choices we would still whose the Stylus DAB+. So there you have it a decent suitably price smartphone. Specifications
    • LG Stylus DAB+
    • Network Quad-band GSM 3G - All Tri-band 4G - Dependent on version
    • Design Touch screen L155 W79 x D7.5 mm Weight 148 grams
    • Display 5.7 inch 1280 x 720 AMOLED
    • Camera 13MP auto-focus LED Flash 2nd forward facing video call camera 8MP Video Camera
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi, Bluetooth V4
    • CPU Quad-Core 1.2 Separate Graphics GPU
    • Memory 2Gig RAM Up to 16 Gig for user MicroSD expansion
    • Features DAB+ Radio, FM Radio, A-GPS, Stylus
    • Battery Li-Po 3000 mAh battery Up to 13 Days Standby Up to 7 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Approx $449 AUD (outright May 2016)

  • Oppo R7S Review

     2016_oppor7s
    Welcome to the 2016 Oppo R7s review. The R7S is currently one of our favourite mobile phones and our current recommended budget smart phone.  Oppo is not a well known brand outside of China but is slowly gaining attention along with others like Huawei so it is a legitimate company and brand. We've looked at previous Oppo phones and came away impressed so when we where deciding on which was our best budget phone for the first half of 2016 we included the latest R7S and was the ultimate winner. In terms of construction the Oppo R7S is very well built. It's all metal and glass, feels good and the design itself is good to look at. However it is not completely high end as the chamfered edges and buttons are a little rough and look of the metal is not quite premium in our eyes. The design does lack the design flair of the Galaxy S7 although closer to the iPhone in terms feel. Nonetheless, overall though the R7S appearance is a standout in the price range and is more high end than mid-range too which will easily fool those who don't know the brand. In terms of hardware the Oppo R7S features 5.5 inch AMOLED screen while not the best looking in the market but for the price we have no complaints. For the price it is missing a some features like a fingerprint scanner and NFC but it does feature dual SIM and 4Gig of RAM which is impressive for the price range. The Oppo R7S has all the hardware essentials for the expected lifespan of 2 years. In terms of use the Oppo R7S the Andriod OS has a modified user interface called ColorOS. COlor OS is a interesting variation as it looks flat or ordinary, perhaps a kinder description would be dated. However it is smooth but strangely feels a little sluggish considering its spec list, there are probably some background apps that need to be optimised. Don't expect top range snappy performance but expect 'nothing to complain' about speed for the price. Apart from that it works really well for the price range. The Oppo R7S is a great budget phone as it has all the features you'd expect at a price you wouldn't. The materials and appearance helps so much it making the R7S ownership more desirable. There is very little to really complain about or discard it from any comparison for a decent mobile phone. Specifications
    • Oppo R7S
    • Network Quad-band GSM 3G - All Tri-band 4G - Dependent on version
    • Design Touch screen L159.3 W77.8 x D7.3 mm Weight 178 grams
    • Display 5.5 inch 1080 x 1920 AMOLED
    • Camera 13MP auto-focus LED Flash 2nd forward facing video call camera 8MP Video Camera 4K 30FPS main video camera
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi,  NFC, Bluetooth V4, USB-C
    • CPU Octocore 2 GHz Separate Andreno 405 Graphics CPU
    • Memory 4Gig RAM Up to 32 Gig for user MicroSD expansion
    • Features A-GPS, Accelerometer, Gyroscope Gorilla Glass 4 Proximity, Ambient Light, Barometer, Fingerprint, Barometer Speaker Phone/Hands free
    • Battery Li-Po 3450 mAh battery Up to 18 Days Standby Up to 23 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Approx $450 AUD (outright May 2016)

  • Microsoft Lumia 550 Review

     2016_lumia550_1
    Welcome to the 2016 Microsoft Lumia 550 review. We like the Lumia phones and Windows phone OS, it is simplest of all the operating systems to use and amazingly powerful yet doesn't use much power. The new Lumia 550 uses Windows 10 Phone OS which enhances the core features of the Windows Phone 8.1 this interface is more modern and resembles the desktop PC version. The Lumia 550 priced under $199 outright is one of the cheapest and nicest 4G capable smartphone for sale at the moment. In terms of construction the Lumia 550 is really good, nice and solid and feels like it will take daily punishment without a phone case. Mind you a screen protector would probably help. It's a cheap entry level phone so you don't expect much and you'll be impressed. There is not much on the spec list that's for sure but it is an inexpensive phone. In terms of hardware the Lumia 550 has only one standout out feature and that is the 4.7 inch HD screen. The screen resolution and quality gives it a look that impresses even when compared to phones in the mid-range category.  Apart from that all the usual features including FM radio with RDS is built in along with an expandable memory. The quality of the camera images are really quite good, better than the Samsung Galaxy J1 for example. In terms of use the Lumia 550 is standard Windows 10. It can do anything that other operating systems can do with ease. We think it is the easiest phone to use. Since you can improve functionality by installing the various apps it matches any other phone you can think of. There are lots to choose from but less in number than other other phones. Although the operating system is pretty slick the slower CPU will mean it will take longer to open any App that said it no different to any other phone in the entry level category. Speaking of Apps,while there are plenty to choose from you will still be missing some the key ones and often the latest releases it just a matter of time and marketing. The Microsoft Lumia 550 is a good entry level phone. The key selling point is that the screen makes it look like a more expensive phone. Windows Phone 10 OS means it works great with any Windows 10 PC and is seamless if you use Skype, OneDrive to hotmail/live/outlook email accounts, be it emails or pictures or any other document you've created on your phone. We highly recommend it if you're just starting out with 'smart phones' and not into Apps. Specifications
    • Microsoft Lumia 550
    • Network Quad-band GSM - All Tri-band 3G - All Tri-band 4G - All
    • Design Touch screen L136.1 x W67.8 x D9.9 mm
    • Weight  141 grams
    • Display 4.7 inch 720 x 1080
    • Camera 8MP auto-focus LED Flash 2nd forward facing video call camera 2MP
    • Video Camera 720p FPS main video camera
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi, Bluetooth V4
    • CPU Quad-core 1.1 Ghz Snapdragon 210 Separate Andreno 430 Graphics CPU
    • Memory 1Gig RAM Up to 8 Gig for user Up to 200 Gig micro-SD expansion
    • Features A-GPS, Accelerometer, Proximity, Ambient Light FM Radio with RDS Speaker Phone/Hands free Li-Po 2100 mAh battery Up to 28 Days Standby Up to 17 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Approx under $200 March 2016 (Outright)

  • Sony Xperia Z5 and Z5 Premium Review

     2015_z5premium_1
    Welcome to the 2016 Sony Xperia Z5 review. It's been awhile since our last Sony mobile phone review on the forgotten and underrated Sony Z Ultra. Sony is still in financial trouble but there are signs of life beyond it's now core business of being a 'Playstation' company. It needs a tech hit other than the console that allows people to remember the brand and mobile phones are a perfect fit. Sony mobile phones have always been near the top of the charts in terms of specifications and design and the latest Z5 and more so the larger screened Z5 Premium are perfect examples. The Sony Z5 is priced around the $850 although the RRP is $999 and the Z5 Premium is priced around the $1000 although the RRP is $1200. The Z5 and Z5 Premium are really good phones without a doubt. First of all the difference between them is more than size, the Z5 Premium happens to be the world's first phone with a 4K screen! Regardless of model the images and screen quality are excellent, the best way to describe the quality is better than the washed out colors iPhone 6S but not quite as impressive as the amazingly bright Samsung Galaxy S7. When checking out the 4K screen demo on the Z5 premium it was difficult to pick the difference unless side but side. In terms of construction both have to range build and materials. We cannot fault anything in regards to how the Z5 or the Z5 Premium are put together or feel. The Z5 Premium though does feel and look better especially in silver trim. The standard rectangular shape and reflective surfaces look and feel expensive. In terms of hardware the both have the latest tech but the Z5 Premium is the world's first 4K screen and yes there is a subtle difference. We honestly couldn't find anything critical missing from the spec list except for a missing heart rate monitor (not unusual) and a IR blaster which is an odd omission considering they still sell branded TVs. That said not many phones have them these days. In terms of use the Sony Z5 and Z5 Premium have minimal changes to the stock Android interface. That said there are a ton of additional Sony Apps on board but few are truly useful over the long term. We know because we still use the Z Ultra everyday. The lack of in your face interface modifications unlike other brands means it actually works even better. This is short review since Android based phones like the Z5 and Z5 Premium can literally do everything. The only really differences are construction, brand image and if they have useful functionality out of the box. Both are expensive but you will be happy with either although we prefer the Z5 Premium. It's a pity all that design will probably be hidden beneath a rummer case of some sort. Specifications
    • Sony Z5 and Z5 Premium
    • Network Quad-band GSM - All Tri-band 3G - All Tri-band 4G - All
    • Design Touch screen
    • (Z5) L146 x W72 x D7.3 mm (Z5 Premium) L154.5 x W75.8 x D7.8 mm
    • Weight (Z5) 159 grams (Z5 Premium) 180 grams
    • Display 5.2 inch 1080 x 1920 LED Triluminos 5.5 inch 2160 x 3840 LED Triluminos
    • Camera 23MP auto-focus LED Flash 2nd forward facing video call camera 5MP
    • Video Camera 4K UHD 30FPS main video camera
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi,  NFC, Bluetooth V4
    • CPU Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 + Quad-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A57 Separate Andreno 430 Graphics CPU
    • Memory 3Gig RAM Up to 32 Gig for user Up to 200 Gig micro-SD expansion
    • Features A-GPS, Compass, Accelerometer, Gyroscope Proximity, Ambient Light, Barometer UV, Heart rate, Barometer, RGB, Fingerprint FM Radio with RDS Speaker Phone/Hands free Li-Po 2900 mAh battery or Li-Po 3430 mAh battery Up to 22 Days Standby Up to 17 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Approx (Z5) $850 AUD (Z5 Premium) $1000 March 2016 (Outright)

  • Samsung Galaxy J1 Review

     2015_galaxyj1_1
    Welcome to the 2016 Samsung Galaxy J1 review mobile phone review. Don't you just hate it when your expensive top range mobile phone dies and you can access anything especially if you're on holidays? Regardless of whether you are on a monthly plan or pre-paid in 2016 a mobile phone with data is mostly an essential device and when it breaks...drama. We'll that's happened to one of us and it was quite painful. Although we have plenty of spare phones at various homes it happened on holidays so no spares on hand. It is important to have at least one line of communication open when you are away. Hence the quickest way to get a back in touch with civilization is to purchase a inexpensive outright smartphone and that is how we found the Samsung Galaxy J1. Priced under $180 in most retail outlets it's one of the best spec entry level 4G/LTE  capable smartphones you can buy at the moment. So is the Galaxy J1 any good? In terms of construction the Samsung Galaxy J1 is a very well made phone. Admittedly it only has one detachable rear panel and is similar to the design used on the Galaxy Note 4 so well integrated and tight. The rest of the Galaxy J1 includes a metal like edge and a glass screen! If there is anything a little down market is the un-coated plastic buttons on the side. The under the back cover there is a double decker microSD slot above the SIM card slot is an interesting solution to saving space. Overall the Galaxy J1 construction is perfectly acceptable and no complaints. In terms of specifications the Galaxy J1 is OK for the price. It has a quad-core 1.2 Ghz CPU but no dedicated GPU mentioned. Since the processor is the latest 'System On a Chip' design we assume it has one built in and the main CPU it can be clocked up to 1.5Ghz apparently...! The Galaxy J1 also has a 4G or LTE radio so it is quite speedy when downloading data. The screen resolution appears low at 480 x 800 but you don't really notice it which is the best point to make. The screen is also much brighter than other similar phones and not noticeably recessed from the surface - which means its a modern design. In the end there is nothing to really boast about just the basics really. In terms of use the Samsung Galaxy J1 is surprising quick running Andriod 4.4 KitKat. You'd expect a phone is this price range to be a little sluggish but so far the J1 is acceptable. Sure the J1 does not rival the speed of the older models like the Galaxy S4 but it is faster then the iPhone 4GS in terms of use and those are much more expensive. That said once you start installing Apps so forth you may experience a little  slow down but still more than acceptable for the price. Overall the Samsung Galaxy J1 is a very decent cost effective smartphone. We didn't research the phone before hand only checking out the Samsung website for specification, so it was a lucky purchase! It was a surprise as we didn't expect much. The only real problem with the Galaxy J1 is the tiny 4G free memory so you need an extra memory card to take advantage of the power. The Galaxy J1 will work very well as a main phone for undemanding daily users and perfectly as a spare phone especially if your expensive Galaxy Edge 6+ for example, gets even thinner when trying to act as a door stop. Specifications
    • Samsung Galaxy J1
    • Network Quad-band GSM Dual-band 3G Dual Band 4G LTE
    • Design Touch screen
    • L129 x W68 x D8.9 mm Weight 122 grams
    • Display/s External 4.3 Inch TFT 400 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 768RAM
    • Memory Up to 4Gig available to user MicroSD up to 64Gig
    • Ring tones MIDI, MP3, Video, vibration and others
    • Features A-GPS Proximity, Accelerometer (G-Sensor) FM Radio with RDS and recording
    • Power Li-Po 1850mAh battery Up to  12 Days Standby Up to 9 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Under $180 AUD 2016

  • Microsoft Lumia 950 and 950XL Review

     2016_lumia950_1
    Welcome to the Nokia Lumia 950 and 950 XL review. The Lumia 950 was released over the Christmas 2015 break and a welcome addition to very small Lumia lineup. We counted 6 models the last time which is fine although the specs don't truly differ much until the 950 and 950XL release! The Lumia 950 and 950XL are also assumed to be the top range phone in the lineup which is an interesting assumption. The 950 XL has the larger screen but the same internals. In terms of construction the Lumia 950 is very well made. It should be simple since there are only two parts and that includes the removable back cover which hides the replaceable battery, SIM and microSD expansion. Clearly the 950 and the larger screen 950 XL are not premium to hold but replacing the rear with custom cover will help immensely with in the look and feel department. Since 99% will purchase some sort of cover for the phone it's a kinda of practical and reduces construction costs. Regardless it is a short fall considering how much the Lumia 950 or 950XL models costs. In terms of hardware specifications the Lumia 950 and 950 XL has the lot - multiple CPUs and separate GPUs, AMOLED displays and better then 1080p HD screens with pixel densities that exceed andy Apple or Samsung has to offer, only the Sony Z5 have better resolutions and densities. Standout features include and Iris scanner and even and still useful FM RDS radio!  The best feature is of course the 20MP camera. There are plenty of side by side comparisons of the camera and video quality and the 950 or 950XL to us is the most consistent and realistic results and probably the best out of all current phones. Apart from that the other killer feature is that you can get Dual-SIM versions! In terms of use, like all Windows phones the Lumia 950 and 950 XL runs the latest Windows 10 and yes it is a significant visual upgrade from the version 8 that came before. The difference is that the interface is simple to use, genuinely looks professional aka a genuine graphics designer did. Makes iOS and Android look a little toy like. Using Windows Phone is very similar to the desktop version but closer to the tablet mode version. The interface is genuinely buttery smooth even with the data sucking 'widgets' or live tiles accessing data. To conclude we like the Lumia 950 and 950XL but there are two things that let the side down 1-the case but clearly that can be rectified and customised. 2 - Then there is still the shortage of Apps but then most can be accessed through the web browser. Both are great phones and easily recommended better than the competition is many regards if you can afford them. Specifications
    • Microsoft Lumia 950
    • Network Penta-band GSM Penta-band 3G & 4G & LTE.
    • Design Touch screen
    • L145 x W73.2 x D8.2 mm
    • Weight 150 grams
    • Display/s 5.2 inch External 1440 x 2560 pixels
    • Camera Main - 20MP Face - 5MP
    • Video Camera 2160p HD @ 30 fps main video camera
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V4
    • CPU Dual-Core1.82 Quad core CPU 1.44 Ghz Adreno 418 GPU
    • Memory Up to 32 Gig on board Up to Unlimited cloud storage Up to 200GB MicroSD
    • Ring tones MIDI, MP3, Video, vibration and others
    • Features DUAL-SIM, wireless charging, USB Type C connector. MS-Word, Excel and Powerpoint A-GPS, GLONASS, Accelerometer HERE maps Free off-line navigation FM Radio with RDS
    • Power Li-Po 3000 mAh battery Up to 12 days hours Standby Up to 23 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Lumia 950 Approx $950 AUS 2016 (Outright)
    • Price history Lumia 950 XL Approx $1100 AUS 2016 (Outright)