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Category: Mobile Phone Reviews

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

  • Samsung S5 Active review

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    Welcome to the 2014 Samsung Galaxy S5 Active quick review. Our recent trip to Japan saw us trying out the latest ruggedised phone from Samsung, begin the S5 Active. Now we did much thinking and realised that all the current crop of 'ruggedised' phones should really be how regular phones are designed. That is phones that can be used in doors and outdoors without worrying about a few drops of water or dust and indeed accidentally.  That said the S5 Active is not indestructible but made with real more hard wearing materials than the regular Galaxy S5 and easily better than the iPhone 6 that has the potential to die when you leave your air conditioned car or plane to a humid environment - for instance. In terms of construction the S5 Active looks and feels very good but we feel designed to be held by guy we think its just the colour scheme of the phone we tested which was the  military style camouflage scheme. In a regular grey it stands out as being more like a prop from a sci-fi movie. The S5 Active feels solid yet light enough considering the extra bumper protection system. We're not sure how much actual metal there is on the phone but to be honest it didn't matter. We have no complaints about anything and neither will you and we regard it as one of best made and impressive looking phones available in 2014. In terms of hardware features the S5 Active has everything you could possibly want in 2014. It has things like infra-red blaster perfect of universal remote control, heart rate monitor, replaceable battery and even a micro SD slot. It is superior than the previous Galaxy S4 Active which was short changed on specs compare to the regular S4 of the same time. When compared to the regular Galaxy S5 we think the Active is the better looking phone. Since both have the same top end features In terms of use the Galaxy S5 Active is very good. We didn't find the interface daunting apart from the various update and status notifications seemingly more numerous than other operating systems. In fact the settings screen was more accurately described than on the iPhone OS for instance but Windows Phone 8 OS settings is better than either. Samsung's Andriod OS appeals to those who want flexibility, customisation options and ability to do things that you can only dream of on an iPhone! However it has also become clear that if you want simplicity go for any Windows Phone 8.1 which easily beats the iPhone or Android. The Samsung Galaxy S5 Active is a very appealing smartphone in terms of looks and feel. It also has all the features of a top end smartphone that you can use without worrying too much about weather conditions and in this sense it is unique. All other phones have lower spec hardware and require additional, bulky and largely unattractive cases although admittedly providing very good protection to deal the day to day use. We definitely like the the S5 Active even more because it doesn't come with any PR that goes too far. 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 1,280 x 1080 AMOLED
    • Camera 16MP auto-focus LED Flash 2nd forward facing still/video call camera 2MP
    • Video Camera 1080p 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 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 $800 AUD late 2014 (Outright)

  • Apple iPhone 6 – iPhone 6 Plus – Apple Watch review

    Welcome to the Apple iPhone 6, iPhone6 Plus and Apple Watch review. You've no doubt read all the various opinions aka reviews on the latest release from Apple and already from your own opinion on the latest model. In fact you may already own one but still interested to read why everyone loves your phone but mostly whether there are any new problems and why your views are not shared with so many others who chose other brands. We refer to brands because that appears to be the ultimate strategic direction for Apple. Namely a high profit luxury brand with supposedly gorgeous designs but little else - the iPhone 6 is not even close to the cheapest Vertu which uses real diamonds, rubies, platinum and other exotic materials. It's quite a smart move business wise but you can only fool consumers for so long! Unfortunately the iPhone 6 as a product does not even attempt that. So we take off the gloss and tell it as it is without the hype and shortsightedness of the paid media.

    iPhone 6 review:

    The mobile phone has evolved from literally a mobile phone to a smart phone to what is a small computer. As a software platform the iPhone is equal best (next to Android). It is like the old IBM and Apple of old where they make the hardware and OS but allow 3rd party developers to improve on the platform and make it more  desirable. Summarised, what makes the iPhone so desirable is branding the PR or advertising and of course the Apps, secondary to that is the actual hardware.

    The hardware behind the iPhone 6 is relatively high end but not the leading edge. Instead of spending time making the hardware more efficient Apple has chosen to take the short cut of putting in a larger battery to compensate. As a result so much of so called improvement just marketing spin. The design of the case is nothing special which is disappointing considering that the prior models where reasonably unique designs. The iPhone design peaked with the Steve Jobs directed iPhone 4s and it's been down hill from there.

    The iPhone 6 does look like a Nokia 925 from a couple years ago. The way which the panels are put together are really good but not particularly premium more like just another well made phone. The white plastic edges are not attractive to look at likewise the camera lens juts out from the back and because its on an left edge means it never sits flat. Thankfully the majority of users will get an case for it to compensate of this design flaw. The other telling design problem that proves Apple has made the iPhone 6 down market is the missing metal surround on the headphone socket. Previously it has a nice and shiny metal border, it is missing clearly missing on the 6.  The real Steve Jobs would never approve of this essentially poor design.

    More telling was the the lack of an infrared and better sounding built in speaker system. The fast CPU doesn't really show its self but the screen image quality is among the best of the 2014 range topper smartphones.  The camera hardware is 'claimed' to be significantly improved but will let other dedicated sites determine whether true of just more advertising spin. Recent comparisons show that it doesn't quite match the ultimate photo phone the Nokia 1020 but clearly better than the last one. The pictures the iPhone 6 camera takes requires more software to clean up the image as opposed to being clean from the start. It also shows how some other websites who claimed that iPhone 5s camera was the best clearly shouldn't be believed anymore. As we've said previously iPhone camera wasn't even close to the much older Nokia N8.

    The operating system is the best part of the iPhone and while we didn't see any new functionality that was memorable or worth detailing, even the catchup features of various health monitors and much is hyped Apple Pay system which we think will just like another sub-par addition like Siri and Apple Maps etc... but at least matches what other brands have being doing over the last few years. Apple is once again copying existing ideas. Finally the 16Gig memory for the base model is simply a rip off and something everyone seems to forget.

    The conclusion of this review is that the iPhone 6 is more of the same just bigger and less attention to detail. It would seem perfectly justified not to do too much since they are still making huge profits. Other than the things we pointed out there is nothing wrong with the latest iPhone but there is nothing compelling about it either. Anyone saying anything different is small minded and not promoting tech progress. Regardless the iPhone 6 is the best iPhone to date but that's it. "Pity you can't use it one handed - LOL - sarcasm folks"

    iPhone 6 Plus:

    The largest version of the iPhone 6 follows in the foot steps of what every other brand realized 2 years ago, that people want larger screens. It is fortunate that Apple have released the larger iPhone 6 Plus model because it can now really stop the 'can't use it one handed' PR rubbish one liner which clearly everyone but the Apple faithful believe. As they say let it go...

    Nice large screen makes the 6 Plus the best model to get. Ignoring the failed software update the iPhone 6 Plus does feel less sturdy than the Sony Xperia Z Ultra, which is larger. It may indeed bend simply carrying it in your pocket but I think Apple QA would have tested it properly before release... Or perhaps you are not carrying it the right way...

    Apple Watch

    We didn't expect an Apple watch this year but the version they released was again disappointing. It does nothing that existing watches do accept to cost more. It doesn't actually look any better that current models either.  In fact the Moto 360 will be the benchmark watch to get when it goes on sale. The off repeated one-liner (if actually true?) from the chief designer about the Swiss watch industry will be replaced by the Apple watch is definitely premature and shows how arrogant the company is these days. After all wasn't it Apple with thousands of designers simply copied the design of the Swiss train watch face from in the first place?

    The Swiss watch brand and industry has survived the digital watch invasion, computers, mobile phone and smartphones it will survive the Apple watch. Swiss watches are made in very small numbers and use very intricate parts and materials and usually hand made and unique. They are often not particularly accurate at keeping time but don't need batteries either. Swiss watches are luxury items and truly collectable. 'Swiss made' watches are not made by the millions in China. Swiss watches are everything the Apple Watch is not - thankfully.

    The Apple Watch  has no functionally that does not already exist and after using the Sony Smartwatch2 for the last 6 months, honestly its a nice addition but ultimately the Apple watch will only give the Swatch brand a run for its money (at the most). The Apple Watch will not be ultimately useful or good looking enough to replace even a basic TAG HEUR let alone competing with a Omega or Rolex. It's a disappointment but telling about the fan based pre-release rumors of a benchmark watch design vs the actual release is a let down. People expected a classic design due to so much PR promoting that Apple has sooooo many designers in the company unfortunately the result is forgettable along with changeable wrist bands and a twirling menu dial! Pity the Apple watch will probably break should you be caught in the rain.

    Final thoughts:

    Our favorite stupid and repetitive comment on the iPhone's larger competitors in particular. 'You can't use it one handed' spare us! The truth is by watching the line up for the new iPhone shows that one actually uses their existing iPhone one handed. You see it's really easy to drop and damage the iPhone so no one does. Some Bloggers and Apple PR should get out more if this is the biggest compliant about a larger screen the person who write it needs to get out more. Funny that the same people don't mention anything about that with the now larger iPhone 6.

    The iPhone 6 is very expensive and definitely not value for money. Apart from battery life the 16G memory in the mass market iPhone is tiny in 2014 and usable space is under 12 Gig. How so many claimed pro bloggers and and claimed reputable sites miss this rip off is disappointing.

    Aluminum is not a 'premium' metal, you can buy it in rolls at any grocery store.

    Clearly visible plastic joint lines is not a luxury design choice it's the cheapest choice.

    No one mentions the lower grade materials especially the cheap plastic interior of the headphone socket.

    Apple is incapable of making the iPhone water resistant or vaguely weather proof.

    To prevent the iPhone from bending we will now be told 'we're doing it wrong' just like what happened with the antenna problem with the iPhone 4. Perhaps they shouldn't be kept in pockets after all?

    Only Apple could get away without false advertising of the 'Gold' iPhone is not really made of gold or gold in colour - let's face it it's beige coloured boring beige so get over it.

     

  • LG L70 Review

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    Welcome to the 2014 LG L70 smartphone review. It's been a little while since we've reviewed an LG phone for various reasons. Two main ones was that LG phones where simply lagging behind in the tech, price, design etc. department and their management simply where not quick or smart enough to move with the times. Their rather silly explanations about why their phones were not selling was laughable and not worth repeating. So after being lost in the smartphone wilderness over the last few years, finally we see the LG L70 as a reasonably priced at RRP $190 outright and pre-paid at a little high $180 but will come down in the next few months. We are not going into too much detail since it is another Android OS based phone. To keep this first review concise: In terms of construction and hardware features the L70 is very good for a basic smartphone. It is all plastic and feels light but sturdy enough and looks pretty good for the price. Other competitors leave out features like a camera flash or smaller RAM, smaller screen and so forth, but the LG L70 seems to have it all but admittedly at a lower spec than say the mid-range smartphones. That said it the screen resolution looks more than acceptable. It features a multi focus camera is is rare in the class and should result in decent pictures which we found where OK to look at. In terms of use, out of the box the L70's interface is already quite slick, dependent on how fast your 3G connection speeds are. You should't have any problems running the latest decent games or software on it but a scent sized memory card is essential. Recommended size? 16GB should store all you favourite tunes, pictures until it's time to replace it! Apart from that the L70 has all the benefits and issues of the Android OS. To conclude the L70 model we test, examined the specifications and handling, we think the LG L70 is a model between entry level and midrange at the time of writing this review. It's a good choice as a pre-paid or outright package although anonymous in terms of it's good looks for the price. If your shopping for just a basic mobile phone I think the stretch to the LG L70 is worth considering. Specifications
    • LG L70
    • Network Quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900 Dual-band 3G 850/900/2100 (dependent on version) Dual SIM (dependent on version)
    • Design
    • Touch screen
    • L127.2 x W66.8 x D9.55 mm
    • Weight 124 grams
    • Display 4.5 inch 400 x 800 pixels
    • Camera 5 0r 8 MP auto- multi-focus LED Flash
    • Video Camera 720p high definition 30FPS main video camera
    • VGA Video phone camera
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V4 USB
    • CPU Dual core 1.2 Ghz Separate Andreno 302 Graphics CPU
    • Memory 1 Gig RAM Up to 1.5 Gig for user Up to 32Gig micro-SD expansion
    • Features A-GPS, Accelerometer, Proximity Ring tones: MIDI, MP3, Video, vibration and others FM Radio with RDS Google Play store Free Google Navigator (requires data plan) MS-Word, Excel and Powerpoint, PDF, ZIP compatible Organiser/Calendar SMS, MMS, IM, Email Speaker Phone/Hands free Li-Po 2100 mAh battery Up to 420 hours Standby Up to 8 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Approx $180 AUD July 2014 (Pre-paid) Approx $190 AUD July 2014 (Outright)

  • HTC One M8 review

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    Welcome to the 2014 HTC One M8 otherwise known as version two! The HTC One for 2014 has had another quality bump and this phone looks even more fantastic. The One is one of the best looking and made phones currently available. The HTC One M8 recommended retail is about $850 which makes it very competitive considering it specification but to other top end phones. The only thing that preventing it from heading to the top is mainly marketing and of course the price. Let's face it all the top end smart phones are expensive and this the HTC is no different. In terms of construction the all metal HTC One on first touch is clearly a top of the range model and surpasses the iPhone 5S and even equals our current top rating looker the Lumia Icon/930. The One is lovely to look at and to hold and if we had to fault the construction it would be directed at the brushed 'stainless steel' finish as opposed to a solid color. That said there are other colors to choose from. In terms of hardware the HTC One packs all you'd expect in a top range all metal phone and including a micro-SD card slot! The only thing we could complain about was the screen quality was not as 'wow me' as the Nokia Icon or the Samsung Galaxy S5 which is tested at the same time and easily puts all others including the iPhone 5s screen quality to what we always described as average. The One's speakers are also loud and clear as always and easily louder than any other phone out there. The novel dual camera lens is an interesting solution needs more work. That said the pictures did look OK but clearly to as good as Samsung S5 or iPhone even the old iPhone 4s. It is missing the hardware on the of the Samsung S5 eg. barometer and finger print scanner but naturally these are still nice to have rather than essential or game changing. In terms of use the HTC One works really well. The Zoe home screen is a good solution to being able to see all your social network updates on one screen. We didn't note anything that was particularly special apart from that. It is Android OS based so all the latest Apps can be found in the store.  Finally the speed and smoothness was as good as any other top end smart phone we've tested to date. To conclude our short review, since Android OS based phones are pretty similar these days: we haven't really looked at the HTC phones for a little while since they had problems that really needed to be addressed before they could be taken seriously. It's only the camera quality that is the remaining issue we have with the HTC One which does not appear to be up to the standard of it's competitors. So its definitely a great phone to consider when you're due to renew your contract, after all its a little expensive to buy outright. Specifications
    • HTC One (M8)
    • Network Quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900 Quad-band 3G 850/900/2100 Penta-band 4G 800/900/1800/2600
    • Design Touch screen
    • L146.4 x W70.6 x D9.4 mm
    • Weight 160 grams
    • Display 5 inch 1,280 x 1080
    • Camera Dual 4MP auto-focus Dual LED Flash 5MP 2nd forward facing camera
    • Video Camera 1080p high definition 60FPS main video camera 2MP Video phone camera
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V4 NFC USB
    • CPU Quad core 2.3 Ghz Separate Andreno 330 Graphics CPU
    • Memory 2Gig RAM Up to 32 Gig for user Up to 128Gig micro-SD expansion
    • Features A-GPS, GLONASS, Compass, Accelerometer, Gyroscope Proximity, Ambient Light, Humidity, Temperature Ring tones: MIDI, MP3, Video, vibration and others FM Radio with RDS Google Play store Free Google Navigator (requires data plan) MS-Word, Excel and Powerpoint, PDF, ZIP compatible Organiser/Calendar SMS, MMS, IM, Email Speaker Phone/Hands free Li-Po 2600 mAh battery Up to 496 hours Standby Up to 20 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Approx $850 AUD late 2014 (Outright)

  • Telstra Easy Discovery 4 (T4) Review

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    Welcome to the Telstra Easy Discovery 4 mobile phone review otherwise known as the T4, our first review for 2014. The Easy Touch Discovery 4 was released around Christmas 2013 and is a replacement for the Discovery 3. Like it's predecessor the T4 is a clam shell or flip phone with all the features for text messaging and phone calls. The Discovery 4 is usually  available on a plan or we believe can be purchased out right for approx  $189. Purchasing the Discovery 4 outright of course is not recommended as there are plenty of much better smartphones that can be purchased in the price range! The construction quality of the Easy Discovery 4 is actually very good despite being an entry level mobile phone. The flip mechanism and plastic panels fit tightly and it can even be described as stylish in terms of overall look! That said we think its just due the silver flat color and surround that give it a modern look. The keypad feels very good for traditional keypad and looks great. The case is larger than the older models but so to are the specifications for the internal hardware or circuitry. How the nice exterior will wear over time will be interesting to watch. It also looks better in real life than the pictures! The hardware inside the Telstra Easy Discovery 4 is essentially an upgrade to the T3. The T4 now features a new bigger and higher resolution screen and a noticeably larger external mono-LCD external screen. The 3MP seems to have improved image quality but that's not saying much. The Discovery 4 also has T-Mode or Tele Coil to prevent feedback on hearing aids. There is also the inclusion of GPS hardware that can provide GPS co-ordinates but no navigation software that we could find. The lack of 4G was also missed when using the basic browser. In terms of use the Discovery 4 is as basic as it gets although presented in a good looking higher definition TFT screen. All it's features are very easy to use, for txt, reading emails, MMS, and so forth. However with the small screen, it becomes tiresome to read but clearly that's not what this T4  is all about! The operating speed is good but the old school 3G data download speed is noticeably slow. To conclude the review of the Telstra Easy Discovery 4, we can say that Telstra has addressed almost all the issues we wrote about in the T3 review and can say that it would be a great but basic phone for non-tech older folk and those who want just a basic phone features. Believe it or not there are quite a few people out there on the street that still use these phones! It's also is a robbery deterrent since any would be thief simply wouldn't bother for obvious reasons. However there is still room for improvement! Include a 4G antenna for faster data speeds for download and upload, proper GPS navigation software and we believe the category killer, 4G wireless hotspot technology and you will have a truly desirable phone for the growing number of tablet users! In fact if this feature was included and it was actually advertised and explaining the hotspot feature would probably bring in a few more customers but until then the T4 does not have any unique selling points. So the Telstra Easy Discovery 4 is a decent entry level mobile phone but it's quite expensive. Specifications
    • Telstra Easy Discovery 4 (T4)
    • Network Dual-band 3G 850/2100 Mhz Quad-band GSM 850/900/1800 /1900 MHz
    • Design Flip L107 x W51.5 x D18.4 mm Weight 112.8 grams
    • Display/s Internal TFT 240 x 320 2.4 inch screen
    • Camera Dual cameras 3MP main camera 0.3MP video call camera LED flash!
    • Connectivity USB Bluetooth V2
    • Memory 120MB internal memory 32GB microSD
    • Ring tones MP3, MMF, MIDI, Vibration etc..
    • Features A-GPS FM Radio SMS, MMS, WAP, EMAIL MyWords predictive text JAVA MIDP 2.0 Speaker Phone/Hands free Hearing aid compatible Customizable backgrounds Picture Viewer Video calling Voice memos Calender and organizer 250 Hrs Standby, 180 Minutes Talk Time 900mAh Li-Po
    • Package contents XP/Vista Compatible PC suite Mac OSX Compatible software Personal hands free kit Travel charger USB cable User manual
    • Price history 2014 Approx $180 outright but usually Plan only.

  • Nokia Lumia 925 Review

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    Welcome to the 2013 Nokia Lumia 925 review. The Lumia 925 running Windows Phone 8 at the start of 2013 was the former top end of  Nokia's Windows phone line up designed to compete directly with Samsung S4 and the iPhone 5. Of course this is all history now since Microsoft bought the phone division off Nokia then Apple released the Less than impressive iPhone 5S and Nokia presumably released its last ever range topping smart phone the Lumia 1020 with the world's best camera on a phone. The 925 is now available on various plans and outright purchase for around $500. In terms of design the Lumia 925 is more conventional than other Nokia phone's. It's basically a alloy frame sandwiched between glass front and plastic rear. Unfortunately it is definitely not elegant or stylish compared to other Nokia's but it is very well made. In fact we prefer the plastic or polymer case on other Nokia's of late as it's feels different yet quality and hard wearing that you don't really need as case for protection. The glass touch panel is 'Gorilla' so scratched are hard to come by in normal usage. In terms of hardware, the Lumia 925 is high end and one of the best specs for a Windows Phone 8 that you can get at the moment. Mind you like the iPhone it doesn't need the latest quad core CPU to work smoothly. Unfortunately there are 2 keep features missing from a phone of this class, they are expandable memory and the ability to change batteries on the go. The 4.5 inch screen is a good size in late 2013 and the screen resolution and colors are  excellent. If you see the specifications below, the 925 will work with any network available so not point in being to geek like about it! The camera is also slightly better than any other smartphone to date except for the Lumia 1020 naturally... In terms of software the Lumia 925 has all the key benefits and shortfalls that any Windows Phone 8 based phone. However Nokia have added their own touches that addresses any issues for example, free music streaming, downloadable GPS map data, decent internet browser and so forth. More 3rd party Apps will come in time. We still don't like the requirement to have a a Outlook email address before the Calendar and other functions will work. Sure it is required for every Android and iPhone these days for very good reasons but we don't like it. If you don't mind using Windows Phone 8 you'll be very happy with the Lumia 925. It is a great smart phone all round and better than any other Windows phone at the time of this post anyway (November 2013) but can't help thinking it should be a little cheaper, only because it is an all rounder and no key selling point - which may by the ultimate purpose of the phone? Specifications
    • Nokia Lumia 925
    • Network Quad-band GSM (all of them) Penta-band 3G (all of them) Penta-band 4G LTE (all of them) HSDPA Very fast - dependent on phone company HSUPA Very fast - dependent on phone company
    • Design Touch screen
    • L129 x W70.6 x D8.5 mm
    • Weight 139 grams
    • Display/s 4.5 inch External 1280 x 768
    • Camera 8MP
    • Video Camera 1080p HD pixel main video camera
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V4
    • CPU 1.5 Ghz Dual-Core
    • Memory Up to 16 Gig on board No expandable memory
    • Ring tones MIDI, MP3, Video, vibration and others
    • Features Micro-SIM MS-Word, Excel and Powerpoint A-GPS Accelerometer, Proximity, Ambient Light Windows Mobile Store for Apps Music and Media player Organiser/Calender SMS, MMS, IM, Email FM radio with RDS Speaker Phone/Hands free Li-Po 2000mAh battery Up to 450 hours Standby Up to 18 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Approx $500 AUS November 2013 (Outright)

  • Nokia Lumia 625 Review

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    Welcome to the 2013 Nokia Lumia 625 review. The Lumia 625 released in mid 2013 is the latest Windows OS based phones designed to complete with the low end of the mobile phone market. It also happens to be one of the last from Nokia, now that Microsoft have bought the company. The Recommend retail price of the Lumia 625 is $365 but you can easily find it priced nearer $300 and as low as $199 as part of a pre-paid package. At this of price in 2013 there are very few phones that approach it in terms of functionality and value for money! In terms of construction the Lumia 625 has a soft tactile plastic changeable back and a gorilla glass screen. Thanks to the removable covers it means that you don't really need to purchase a phone case for it. It is durable and dropping the phone is unlikely to damage it. It is solid to hold and not overly big or small. It's actually quite classy compared to any Samsung model and easily more expensive looking and feeling the the iPhone 5c. In terms of hardware specifications the Lumia 625 has a lot of up to date features but at this price point misses out on the best components. The 4.7 inch screen is large and very clear despite only having 480 x 800 pixels is genuinely a good thing, it is not the fuzzy experience you get on Android based phones of similar pricing. Sure the screen resolution be be better especially when you compare it side by side against the 925 series but that's twice the price so for 2013 no complaints against the 625. Ignore the other reports that it is sub-par screen because clearly they haven't used one. The camera, A-GPS, microSD memory slot, FM radio, camera are perfectly acceptable at this price point in 2013. The bonus of extra fast 4G or LTE download speed capability is also an amazing inclusion - at this price. Nokia truly knows its hardware and pricing - pity about the it's previous corporate short sightedness. In terms of use the Windows 8 based Lumia 625 is very slick. The menu navigation is smooth, the apps run pretty quickly in fact there is nothing to really complain about at this price point. It is better than virtually any Android based smart phone around this price. Any complaints can be solely leveled at the various issues with Windows 8 rather than Nokia's implementation. Sure there needs to be more Apps but the competitors store didn't get built in a day either!  Of note and as always is the free Nokia Drive and Maps which allows you to download maps and data for any country and use it as a without using data and as a stand alone navigator for free is a excellent incentive. We liked the Lumia 625 and purchased one as a reference model. It's a great package for the average user who wants an easy to use large screen phone for calls, emails, texts, Skype and the odd game of solitaire. By our own experiences the strangely popular jewel matching games that the vast majority play on the train to work really well on the large screen. Surprisingly, thanks to the smaller viewing angle keeps what we're doing more private than any other mobile phone we've tried to date and yet offering very good image quality! The Lumia 625 is fast and has enough features for the majority of phone users and well worth a look if you want a new mobile phone purchased outright. It is also better than the smaller Lumia 520, one of favorite budget smart phones. In the end the only thing annoying about the phone  was the side located power switch and the separate camera button. Both buttons are convenient but you end up pressing them accidently all the time which is annoying. So if you can live with that you have a truly great value mobile phone the Nokia 625 is the model to get. Specifications
    • Nokia Lumia 625
    • Network Quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900 (Dependent on network) Tri-band 3G 850/900/2100 (Dependent on network) Dual Band LTE 800/1800/2600 (Dependent on network)
    • Design Touch screen
    • L133.3 x W72.3 x D9.2 mm
    • Weight 159 grams
    • Display/s 4.7 inch External 480 x 800
    • Camera 5MP
    • Video Camera 720 HD pixel main video camera
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V4
    • CPU 1.2 Ghz
    • Memory Up to 8 Gig on board Up to 64GB MicroSD
    • Ring tones MIDI, MP3, Video, vibration and others
    • Features Micro-SIM MS-Word, Excel and Powerpoint A-GPS Accelerometer, Proximity, Ambient Light Windows Mobile Store for Apps Music and Media player Organiser/Calender SMS, MMS, IM, Email FM radio with RDS Speaker Phone/Hands free Li-Po 2000mAh battery Up to 550 hours Standby Up to 24 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Approx Less than $300 AUS November 2013 (Outright)

  • Casio G’zone CA-201L Review

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    Welcome to the Casio G'Zone CA-201L 'Commando' preview. We've decided to feature this model because it is the only G'zOne phone that can be used beyond the US or Japan. Yes, declare G'zone is THE toughest smartphone in the world! Released in March 2013 it's still pretty hard to purchase. Collectively we would purchase this phone in a heart beat as its unique and looks great. Casio as a brand is completely unknown quality in the mobile phone world and to the majority and a tiny manufacturer. Only digital watches including G-Shock will anyone recall the manufacturer. Being the only world wide model from Casio anyone who can buy one is onto something pretty good. In terms of construction the Casio G'zone is excellent. It is designed to meet and exceed the usual IP67 hence meeting the military standard MIL STD 810G standard . As a result it would take a very careless owner to really damage the phone. The G'zone is also a very heavy phone but that's what get for the ultimate ruggerized mobile phone you can get to date. It is the exterior design that is the key selling point. This is a futuristic looking phone which you don't need a case for. It is a think fo high tech Halo 4 style phone. Any geek would love to own one if they knew about it. In terms of hardware the Casio G'zone is built with all the latest tech. A fast processor, reasonable camera all the sensors including a themometer and barometer and even includes microSD expansion. In terms of software and usability the G'zone uses Android OS with excellent Casio specific apps and customisation. They are G-Shock themed called the G'zGEAR which covers all the outdoor type activities like the barometer, temperature, tides, Compass, Sun and Moon cycles and Star Gazer. Sound is catered for by front facing loud speaker with Dolby Digital Plus. If you don't mind using Android OS you'll be very happy with the Casio G'zone. The tech spec means it will still be a very decent phone after 18 months. We're sold on the concept and hope that Casio will officially release or make available to more stores. If you can find one buy it! Specifications
    • Casio G'zOne CA-201L
    • Network CDMA - GSM - LTE
    • Design Touch screen
    • L129.9 x W68.1 x D13.7 mm
    • Weight 173 grams
    • Display/s 4 inch External 480 x 800
    • Camera 8MP
    • Video Camera 720 HD pixel main video camera
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V2.1
    • CPU 1.5 Ghz
    • Memory Up to 8 Gig on board Up to 32GB MicroSD
    • Ring tones MIDI, MP3, Video, vibration and others
    • Features IP67 and MIL STD 810G Micro-SIM A-GPS Barometer, Theometer, Compass, Pedometer Accelerometer, Proximity, Ambient Light Music and Media player Organiser/Calender SMS, MMS, IM, Email Google Play store, Maps etc.. Speaker Phone/Hands free Li-Po 18000mAh battery Up to xxx hours Standby Up to xxx hours Talk Time
    • Price history Approx $N/A AUS 2013 (Outright)

  • Huawei Ascend Mate Review

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    Welcome to the 2013 Huawei Ascend Mate review. Released in early-2013 this is the highest spec mobile phone we've seen from the company. The Ascend comes with a quad core CPU along with a bright 6.1 inch screen and hence competes with the Galaxy Note II for your dollars.  However Hauwei Ascend Mate has a killer low price outright purchase price of less than $400 which makes it very tempting! In fact we declare the Ascend mate the best value outright mobile phone you can buy at time of this review! In terms of construction the Huawei Ascend is nothing special but it is well put together. It's straight edges and solid plastic means it looks business like rather than bargain basement or cheap. The rubberised back and assumed Gorilla glass screen lifts the look feel.  In terms of internal hardware the Ascend packs the industry standard sensors. The best part is the usefully large 6.1 screen only those who have really bad eyesight will need glass to read. In terms of use the Ascend Mate is smooth 99% of the time as per any Android based phone. We didn't spot any customised widgets but there did not appear to be any obvious additional modifications or apps to write about. Huawei claims to have implemented their only menu system which can be seen in the selection of icons and short cuts. The inclusion of a fully functioning Word, Excel and Powerpoint editor helps too! The nearest competitor is the Samsung Galaxy Note II which is a great phone and still out specs the Huawei but it's also over $100 more. We don't think the price difference is worth it since you would not notice any speed difference! If you where comparing it against the older Galaxy S3 this would probbaly be a closer match bar the much nigger screen. In the end after testing so many Andriod based phones there are very few models that inspire us to do a write up, so thankfully the low priced large screen Ascend Mate was a revelation. All that said Nokia is leading a resurgence in it Windows 8 phones which are just as good as any iPhone or Android it just doesn't have an App store to match and the Nokia still does not have a 6.1 inch screen. If you want the cheapest big screen mobile phone on the market in mid 2013 without sacrificing much then the Huawei Ascend Mate is the phone to get - easily. Side note: Andriod OS development is progressing along very nciely and approaching genuine desktop OS status even though it is for tablets and mobile phones - watch out Microsoft. Unfortunately the only issue for all Huawei phones is the lingering doubt as to weather it has hidden tech that the military in China can use for whatever purpose. Since the phone has a customised CPU one can wonder what else they have customised. (Nokia managed to hide an FM radio in their Windows phone afterall.) Since Hauwei has reportedly direct  links with China's top military hence politicians in a 'opaque' way does not help its corporate image. Lack of corporate transparency in 2013 does not help the brand image no matter how good the tech is!  regardless this doesn't really bother us since all governments spy on us anyway as proven by Wikileaks and other individuals. We lost privacy once the Internet became commercialised! So don't let that stop you from buying one. What really annoys all of us is stupidity of the patent wars in particular Apple's patent on bouncing screens and shock - curved rectangles. The fact that you can actually patent them is also pathetically sad and shows the complete lack of common sense in the legal system and points to greedy lawyers and excessive corporate greed especially by Apple - more than anything else. By all means protect your overall designs but customers are not stupid and want choice and fair prices. (We love Apple products by the way - just don't like how they've become evil Corporates.) Specifications
    • Hauwei Ascend Mate
    • Network Quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900 Quad-band 3G 850/900/1900/2100
    • Design Touch screen
    • L163.5 x W85.7 x D9.9 mm
    • Weight 198 grams
    • Display/s 6.1 inch 1,280 x 720 AMOLED
    • Camera 8MP auto-focus LED Flash 2nd forward facing video call camera 2MP
    • Video Camera 1080p high definition 30FPS main video camera
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V3
    • CPU 1.5 Ghz Quad core Separate Graphic CPU
    • Memory 1Gig RAM Up to 8Gig for user Up to 64Gig micro-SD expansion
    • Features A-GPS, Compass, Proximeter,Gyroscope, Accelerometer FM Radio with RDS Ring tones: MIDI, MP3, Video, vibration and others AndroidApp store Samsung App store Free Google Navigator (requires data plan) Dolby Digital Music and Media player MS-Word, Excel and Powerpoint, PDF, ZIP compatible Organiser/Calendar SMS, MMS, IM, Email Speaker Phone/Hands free Li-Po 4050 mAh battery Up to N/A hours Standby Up to N/A hours Talk Time
    • Price history Under $400 AUD August 2013 (Outright)