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Category: Mobile Phone Reviews

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

  • Telstra T3 EasyTouch Discovery 3 Review

    hyp4mhz
    Welcome to the Telstra EasyTouch Discovery 3 mobile phone review, the first for 2012. The Easy Touch Discovery 3 is also known as simply the Telstra T3 and was released in late 2011 and is a replacement for the T2. The market positioning for the T3 (at the time of release) is strangely not pre-paid which is a surprise given the feature set. One more thing, despite the name the screen is not a touch screen. The introductory recommended retail price for the T3 is not given as you can only purchase it on a range of selected plans for the time being. The T3 is not a desirable phone and anyway so it is a surprise as to why it is even being offered on a plan basis. The construction quality of the Easy Touch Discovery 3 is old school very 90's being quite large or chunky in the hand. The plastics feel durable, without creaking and reasonably scratch resistant however the T3 does not feel as good as the older T2 version at least on the outside.  Once you flip open the T3 though things do improve.  The keypad is nice and large and the navigation keys actually feel like its made of real metal, although the others are still plastic... The T3's screen size is 2.4 inch but the screen quality is also very good certainly as good as any number of Nokia's currently on the market.  Admittedly the screen is not as good as the older Motorola V3X's screen which is a benchmark in terms of image quality. One last thing - there is a mono-LCD screen on the front which is crammed with status information and the quality is pretty good too, for a mono, As with all the Telstra phones in this class the Easy Touch Discovery 3 uses the same OS but in a different form factor. There is nothing wrong with the way it works and this version is more responsive (faster) than its predecessors. All the menu options and settings can be found logically and precisely activated. It is as good as the leading Nokia's. If only Telstra asked for a more modern case with some design flair it would probably sell better. Judging by the Christmas shopping crowd a lot of older customers would appreciate a nicer looking phone. We did not spend much time with the T3 because there was really no point. There are no exceptional features worth reporting. To conclude the review of the Telstra Easy Touch Discovery 3 we can say that it is a good phone but for basic use. It is in essence a free phone on a plan - but unless your needs are basic you will be wishing for something more useful. Specifications
    • Telstra T3 Easytouch Discovery 3
    • Network Tri-band UMTS 850/1900/2100 Quad-band GSM 850/900/1800 /1900 MHz
    • Design Flip L99.5 x W51.4 x D16.2 mm Weight 105 grams
    • Display/s Intenal TFT 176 x 220
    • Camera Dual cameras 3MP main camera
    • Connectivity USB Bluetooth V2
    • Memory 120MB internal memory 32GB microSD
    • Ring tones MP3, MMF, MIDI, Vibration
    • Features FM Radio SMS, MMS, WAP, EMAIL MyWords predictive text JAVA MIDP 2.0 Speaker Phone/Hands free Customizable backgrounds Picture Viewer Video calling Voice memos Calender and organizer 200 Hrs Standby, 120 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 2012 Approx $xxx (Plan only)

  • Nokia Asha 300 Review

    hyp4mhz
    Welcome to the Nokia Asha 300 review. The new Nokia Asha 300 is part of a series of value for money feature phones that Nokia released to the world in November 2011. To be completely honest we are tired of smartphones that are priced at HUGE amounts of money. Very few of us use all the features that the latest smart phones are capable of and even if we didn't like them they are too expensive to try something else. Like the majority of people on the planet we just want a phone that does calls, text and emails very well followed by internet capability of course comes and next followed by 'Apps'.  Long battery life is also common requirement and most of all we don't want to be tracked! The result is the Asha 300 and it also happens to be one of the nicest regular mobile phone we have tested in the last 6 months. In the hand the Asha 300 is very well made. Although made of plastic there are no creaks, is not too heavy or too light and most of all DOES NOT feel cheap, even the panel shut lines are hair thin. The buttons feel good although a little small but everything is logically placed.  The screen also looks good despite the relatively small and has low tech resistive touch screen, which admittedly helps reduces the problem of obvious finger prints. Highlights include a decent 5Mp camera and quad band 3G, meaning it will work on all phone networks. In terms of operation the latest S40 OS is easy to use with the touch screen a really useful addition to the interface. The customizable standby screen with short cuts to regular contacts and calender entries and so forth work very well. The screen is responsive and works well especially considering it uses cheaper technology and anyone complaining is being pedantic or has never use one. The surprise is that the phone uses a 1GHz CPU which makes the phone as quick as much more expensive models although it does really show when using it for normal functions. Although we think the Asha 300 is a great package for the price but you may miss A-GPS and Wi-Fi but considering it is a fully functional 3G phone you can always use Google Maps for GPS work and the small screen is not really suitable for hard core web browsing anyway. Nokia have included GPS and Wi-Fi in these types of phones before but clearly there are not many buyers hence they don't offer them. However they are missing the halo effect from having these features whether people want to use them or not. With the Asha you are also unlikely to exceed your data plan too quickly. Overall the Nokia Asha 200 is a very good regular phone that works well and feels good. If your needs are reasonably basic than this is the phone to get. It does all the basics of email, Facebook, text, contacts and appoints really well. The in-built Nokia browser is also one of the best in this class of phone with FLASH compatibility. It makes most of the phones in this style and  price bracket like the Telstra/ZTE and the Sony Ericsson Cedar feel and work cheap. We don't have any serious complaints, only one in fact and that is not even related to the Asha - why haven't Nokia made a more stylish (Vertu-ish) but value for money handset like the old 6500 classic without its flaws? - regardless we are considering purchasing one ourselves for benchmarking purposes! Specifications
    • Nokia Asha 300
    • Network Quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900 Quad-band 3G 850/900/1900/2100 HSDPA 10.5 Mbps HSUPA 2 Mbps
    • Design Candybar
    • L112.8 x W49.5 x D12.79.9 mm Weight 85 grams
    • Display/s 2.4 inch TFT 240 x 320 Resistive touch screen
    • Camera 5MP Full focus
    • Video Camera 640 x 480 pixel main video camera 30FPS
    • Connectivity Bluetooth V2.1 Micro-USB
    • CPU 1GhzMhz
    • Memory Up to 140MB available to user MicroSD up to 32Gig
    • Ring tones MIDI, MP3, Video, vibration and others
    • Features JAVA Apps Music and Media player Organiser/Calender SMS, MMS, IM, Email JAVA MIDP 2.0 FM radio Speaker Phone/Hands free 3.5mm AV/headset BP-4U 3.7V 1100mAh Up to 24 days Standby Up to 6.9 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Under $129 AUD MArch 2013 (Outright only) Under $149 AUD November 2011 (Outright only)

  • Huawei Ideos X5 Review

    hyp4mhz
    Welcome to the 2011 Huawei Ideos X5 review page. The Ideos X5 has been around for a little while now but we only recently had a chance to try it out last week. The Ideso X5 was released in various markets but only arrived here recently.  It has a low outright price of under $300 and combined with decent hardware specifications makes it a must try for those wanting a good value Android based smart phone. The X5 is easy to use as any other Android phone. The X5 does not have any OS modifications that we could tell so very easy to customise with numerous theme apps and icon sets.  We only wished it came out with version 2.3 of the software rather than 2.2 which is looking dated. Everything worked quickly with minimal lag although it could do with a faster CPU or additional GPU to make games work better. If you have a Gmail address the you can Sync everything with your account including phone numbers and calender entries. The big question is whether you trust Google with your personal data. Thankfully you can turn off the Google accounts Sync process and use MS Exchange or Outlook. The best bits of the Ideos X5 is the very large screen for its price at 3.8 inches with the standard resolution of 480 x 800.  There is no special screen technology so the image quality is very good for the price category. Apart from that the construction is good although missing a dedicated camera button for photos or movies. The location of the camera lens does help those taking movies. However there is the bonus of exchangeable batteries. The X5 only has the 900/2100Mhz 3G band so it will work with most networks but not Telstra. Overall we are running out of interesting things to say about Android phones - after all they can do everything you want. If it doesn't have the function than you can simply go to the App store for a download. A word of caution with the Apps on the store though. Some Android Apps require excessive permissions which any reasonable person would be shocked. A simple wallpaper or game that wants your phone number and access to your system log is not worth having. Since the privacy policies or promises by the developer essentially means no accountability - Beware - read the permissions before downloading. Likewise for Apps from iTunes and iPhone, since their hidden it is even scarier! Your personal and credit card details are worth more than a throw away App. Overall you can forgive almost any problem with the Ideos X5 because it is now priced very well. That said that is nothing intrinsically wrong or exceptional about the phone.  The X5 is also the logical step up from the Ideos X3 and X1 and Sonic. However the main question that potential owners will need to consider is whether other even cheaper Android based phones such as numerous HTC and Samsung models and others priced the same of even cheaper (with network locked pre-paid) with the same level of features. Our advise is to see which one looks and feels best before purchase. Specifications
    • Huawei Ideos X5 (U8800)
    • Network Quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900 Dual-band 3G 900/2100 HSDPA 7.2 Mbits data speed (download)
    • Design Touch screen
    • L120 x W62 x D11.6 mm Weight 136 grams
    • Display/s External 3.8 Inch TFT 480 x 800
    • Camera 5MP LED Flash
    • Video Camera HD 720P 30 FPS
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V2.1
    • CPU 800Mhz
    • Memory Up to 8Gig available to user MicroSD up to 32Gig
    • Ring tones MIDI, MP3, Video, vibration and others
    • Features A-GPS Proximity Accelerometer (G-Sensor) Light Sensor Music and Media player Organiser/Calender SMS, MMS, IM, Email Speaker Phone/Hands free Li-Po 15000mAh battery
    • Price history Under $280 AUS 2011 (Outright)

  • HTC ChaCha Review

    hyp4mhz
    Welcome to the 2011 HTC ChaCha review page. The new HTC ChaCha is one of the few implementations of the Android OS in a Blackberry style mobile phone.  For a first attempt the ChaCha succeeds at being something that could find a dedicated owner, specifically those whose lives evolve around Facebook.  The convenience of a keypad, touch screen with widgets running updates with the live wallpapers will make them love the phone. The recommended retail price for the HTC ChaCha at release is $199 as a pre-paid package. The construction of the ChaCha is pretty good considering it's position as a reasonably priced mobile phone. The real metal parts and clean design including it's weight makes it feel good to hold, unlike the other all phones in the same price bracket... It is just like the HTC Wildfire S in terms of presentation and that it probably the best made and feeling phone in this class. The ChaCha's hardware is a mixture of high end and low end which makes it hard to categorize, except to say that it is focused at being a mobile connection to social networks, in particular Facebook. The 800Mhz CPU is good like wise the keypad, GPS, Radio, Wi-Fi and everything else you'd need in 2011. The only short falls worth mentioning is the basic spec camera and size of the screen which could have be a bigger, which there is plenty of space for. The only criticism that can be made of the ChaCha is aimed at the Android OS. It is clearly not designed for button pushers and the smaller screen, although works well enough thanks to the touch screen. It reminds use of the Nokia E6 except that the ChaCha is smoother in operation. Furthermore the ChaCha does work better than the Blackberry's. The various apps do not look right on the smaller screen either - which is expected but at least it will last a day or two more than the larger full touch screen phones before needing a full recharge. Overall the HTC ChaCha is a decent well priced mobile phone for those into Facebook. Specifications
    • HTC ChaCha
    • Network Quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900 Dual-band 3G 850/2100 HSDPA 7.2 Mbits data speed (download)
    • Design Touch screen
    • L114.4 x W64.6 x D10.7 mm Weight 124 grams
    • Display/s External 2.6 Inch TFT 480 x 320
    • Camera 5MP LED Flash
    • Video Camera Front and rear
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V3.0
    • CPU 800Mhz
    • Memory Up to 512MB available to user MicroSD up to 32Gig
    • Ring tones MIDI, MP3, Video, vibration and others
    • Features A-GPS Proximity Compass Accelerometer (G-Sensor) Light Sensor FM Radio Music and Media player Organiser/Calender SMS, MMS, IM, Email FM radio Speaker Phone/Hands free Li-Po 1250mAh battery Up to 640 hours Standby Up to 450 minutes Talk Time
    • Price history Under $199 AUS 2010 (Pre-paid)

  • Telstra Indy T50 Review

    hyp4mhz
    Welcome to the 2011 Telstra Indy review otherwise known as the Telstra T50. The Indy T50 model was released in October 2011 and is one of the cheapest qwerty keypad mobile phones you can buy. The Telstra Indy or T50 is a low end model but still a decent phone however it isn't the best value, missing out on some features a number of popular models have, although it does have one or two features not usually found in this price range. All said the Indy T50 has been priced at an introductory price of $69. In terms of construction the all plastic Indy T50 is relatively good for a cheap mobile phone.  Once again the 'enhanced' press pictures do not reflect the the physical device and you must see it first before deciding. The most obvious feature is the touch screen.  We like the idea and it does works well with this type of phone but the implementation needs more polish (just like the other poorly though out Telstra Glide).  Nokia leads the way in this area. Sure other websites think touch screens on these type of phones are a waste but we actually like using them as it is instinctive. The Indy T50's screen quality is class average likewise the size. The buttons lack the feel of more popular brands. The OS that Telstra/ZTE uses is ancient but it is easy enough to use with no instability or speed issues, apart from being a tad slow with the widgets running. The Indy T50 works well for Facebook, Twitter, emails and so forth thanks purely to the keypad.  The browser needs lots of improvement though if you want to use it for anything else apart from the Telstra WAP site. We could not write up much ore about the phone because we seen it all before. Overall The Indy T50 another relatively cheap phone you can seriously consider despite the flaws, however for not much more you can get much better models (specifically from Nokia) and you really need to consider whether you're happy with meeting your needs now or paying a little more for a phone with significantly more capability the will satisfy for longer. Specifications
    • Telstra Indy T50
    • Network Quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900 Tri-band 3G 850/1900/2100 HSDPA 3.6 Mbits data speed (download) Not mentioned data speed (upload)
    • Design Qwerty with Resistive Touch screen
    • L110 x W61 x D12.5 mm Weight 106 grams
    • Display/s External 2.4 Inch TFT 240 x 320 pixels
    • Camera 2 MP
    • Video Camera Yes - no specs
    • Connectivity Bluetooth V2.1
    • CPU xxxMhz
    • Memory Up to 100MB available to user MicroSD up to 32Gig
    • Ring tones MIDI, MP3, vibration and others
    • Features JAVA FM Radio Music and Media player Organiser/Calender SMS, MMS, IM, Email Speaker Phone/Hands free Li-Ion 1000mAh battery Up to 200 hours Standby Up to 160 minutes Talk Time
    • Price history Under $69 AUD 2011 (Pre-paid)

  • Motorola ATRIX Review

    hyp4mhz
    Welcome to the Motorola Atrix review of 2011.  The Atrix was released in early 2011 as a high end model with most of the latest hardware technology that would become common throughout the rest of the year. As a phone the Artix is a very cool design details that require a close up look to appreciate. Unfortunately these details will probably be hidden or 'protected' by some cheap protective case that has become so common these days. In terms of hardware you will find a few things not found on any or very few phones currently for sale (2011). For example the dual-core CPU with a separate graphics processor, biometric security or finger print scanner and the previously mentioned scratch resistant glass. However to balance off the new features there a few things that are not quite up to top spec level. Far example the 4 inch screen size, 5MP camera and missing FM radio. The Atrix has a decent screen but it is not AMOLED but has a higher density of pixels (aka iPhone) which means  it is definitely not quite as nice to look at and the Atrix will have higher battery usage as a result. In terms of construction the Motorola Atrix is very good however still not close to the impressive iPhone or the Nokia N8.  Sure it may not be made of a single piece of aluminum or plastic but the way it has been put together is solid and feels good enough. The carbon fiber like rear cover also looks pretty good close up.  No creaks or rattles and as good as the segment leader the Samsung Galaxy S. If you do get an Atrix remember that the front screen is Gorilla glass which is more scratch resistant than virtually all 'accessory' coverings you could possibly buy. Our Nokia N8 has the same feature and has been without a cover for at least 6 months not a scratch to be seen! In terms of operation the Atrix is very slick despite the Motoblur affected interface. We have no criticisms of any importance apart from those related to the way Android OS or Motoblur works. The web browser allows you to visit any site even with Flash based content - however it will not run complex games like those on Facebook. Final words? Lots of technology in a small package, if you can live with an average sized screen (4 inches ) then go for it. As with all Android phones it all depends on the price as they can basically do the same thing. Great phone but there are so many other great phones too! Specifications
    • Motorola Atrix
    • Network Quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900 Tri-band 3G 850/900/1900/2100 (dependent on country) HSDPA 14.4 Mbps data speed (download) HSUPA 2 Mbps (upload)
    • Design Touch screen slider
    • L190.1 x W120.5 x D12 mm
    • Weight 385 grams
    • Display/s 4 inch 540 x 960
    • Camera 5MP LED Flash 2nd video call camera 1.3MP Forward facing camera for video calls.
    • Video Camera 720P or 1080P dependent on version of Android OS.
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V2.1
    • CPU 1 Ghz Dual core Separate Graphic CPU
    • Memory Up to 16 Gig for user Up to 32Gig micro-SD expansion
    • Ring tones MIDI, MP3, Video, vibration and others
    • Features A-GPS AndroidApp store Free Google Navigator (requires data plan) Compass Accelerometer Dolby Digital Proximity Ambient Light Music and Media player MS-Word, Excel and Powerpoint, PDF, ZIP compatible Organiser/Calender SMS, MMS, IM, Email Speaker Phone/Hands free Li-Po 1950 mAh battery Up to 400 hours Standby Up to 9 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Approx $xxx AUD late 2011 (Outright)

  • Acer Liquid Metal Review

    hyp4mhz
    Welcome to the 2011 Acer Liquid Metal quick review.  Initial released in 2010 the Liquid Metal was not until late 2011 when it was priced under $200 outright. As an Android OS based phone it comes with everything you need for your connected lifestyle.  It has a strange name that implies its made of liquid metal but clearly it isn't. Besides that there are a few other things that Acer have done to Android which are a bit dubious in terms of functionality. Read on if your still interested... In terms of construction the Liquid Metal is pretty good. It is made mostly of metal except for the front display which is a glass like material for a the capacitive touch screen. The back is split into two which is fine considering it has a replaceable battery - yay. It is smooth touch but we came away thinking it was a bit on the chunky side like the original Compaq iPaq (is you can remember what that was). However for the price and of course the hardware its packing on the inside it is forgivable. Although the phone runs Android OS, although Acer has installed it's Breeze UI on top of the the standard interface.  While Breeze UI is impressive to look and play with we think it just reverses the standard screen.  In fact we found the reversal of the touch buttons on the bottom of the screen very annoying. Although you can turn off Breeze you can't change the button order which is a pity. So if you can live with it then this, the Liquid Metal  could be for you. Overall it was stable and fast during during the test period and more impressive than the Huawei Sonic or the HTC Wildfire S. The Liquid Metal has a good CPU that runs at 800Mhz and a separate GPU so it will run any game or app better than most. Most mid range Android mobile phones of late 2010 only have a single CPU which makes this Acer quite a bit better than the rest. The only problem the Liquid Metal has is on the 3G hardware side of things, namely is that it won't work on the Telstra 850Mhz network, but Optus or Vodaphone networks will work just fine! Overall the Acer Liquid Metal is a very good mobile phone for the price, in fact it worked better than the equally price Huawei Sonic we recently tested. (The Sonic is noticeably slower) Regardless we are finding it difficult to write anything new about Android OS based phones as they can basically do anything you want. The only differences are the novel Acer developed interface 'enhancements' and physical design which none to date are standouts. The only other thing we can think of is branding or company history. Acer makes decent hardware so by association the Liquid Metal should be a decent phone until the next round of models releases. Taking all that into account, if you want cheapest and one of the best Android phones then the Acer Liquid metal is a great choice. Specifications
    • Acer Liquid Metal
    • Network Quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900 Dual-band 3G 850/1900/2100 HSDPA 14.4 Mbits data speed (download) 2.2 MBits data speed (upload)
    • Design Touch screen
    • L115 x W63 x D13.5 mm Weight 135 grams
    • Display/s External 3.6 Inch TFT 480 x 800
    • Camera 5MP LED Flash
    • Video Camera 720p video camera 30FPS
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V2.1
    • CPU 800Mhz Separate GPU Adreno 205 running up to 600Mhz
    • Memory Up to 512MB available to user MicroSD up to 32Gig
    • Ring tones MIDI, MP3, Video, vibration and others
    • Features A-GPS Proximity Compass Accelerometer (G-Sensor) Light Sensor Music and Media player Organiser/Calender SMS, MMS, IM, Email Speaker Phone/Hands free Li-Po 1500mAh battery Up to 550 hours Standby Up to 11 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Under $199 AUS 2011 (Approx outright)

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 7 Review

    hyp4mhz
    Welcome to the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7 GT-P1000 review. The Galaxy Tab 7 was released in late 2010 as one of the first phone/tablet to mount a challenge to the Apple iPad. We liked the Galaxy Tab from the start as it was a combination of a huge screen for tablet use and being able to use it as a regular mobile phone. In fact we liked it so much we bought one! However just because one of us uses it as a main phone doesn't mean that its perfect and there are a few things that can be improved. The construction of the Galaxy tab is solid and not too heavy compared to a regular mobile phone and it is quite light compared to other tablets like the iPad. It is made of plastic except for the screen which feels like glass. Down the side are the slots fro the SIM card and microSD while the top has the earphones and the bottom the stereo speakers and multipurpose connector. While the screen is huge and the thick bezel makes it bigger than it should - the latest 2011 HTC Flyer is probably what it should have been like from the start but then the Galaxy TAB is 12 months older. Overall not a bad effort for the first of its kind. In terms of size it is quite big but can easily be put in a satchel or hand bag. (We eventually did appreciate the large bezel because it allows for a place to put your thumbs.) Note that the screen does not use the latest technology like AMOLED and because it is huge and bright you don't really notice the difference. Sure the picture quality may not match the color reproduction of the N8 for example but the Galaxy TAB is still pretty good. The only issue you'll encounter is that the screen is quite reflective in daylight. In terms of OS our version runs Android OS 2.3 Gingerbread which is presumably upgradable with future Android OS for phones. There are rumors that it will be a 3.0 version for tablets, however considering that there isn't any phone functionally in 3.0 it is unlikely - but you never know. Regardless of OS the Galaxy is super responsive and works fast. The Samsung desktop software (KIES) is quite limited in functionality since Andriod is centered on online Google apps for data sync. In terms of every day use the Galaxy Tab is pretty cool, the large screen helps readability and the fully functioning phone software is excellent. The only issue is that you really need the wired headset or an optional bluetooth headset to make use of the phone functions - unless your at home and can use the hand free calling. Call quality is great and likewise signal reception. The integrated Goggle email, calendar and documents work brilliantly and no you don't need to sign up for Gmail to use the basic functions. The web browser works perfectly and quickly and can only improve in the future. The main problem is that if you use Outlook, which most do it is almost impossible to sync the two. The Galaxy Tab comes with a camera and flash for the odd occasion but the image quality is not impressive - it is just passable for a phone though. Strangely missing is a FM radio - we don't know why it's missing considering its size. The Galaxy's TAB battery life is OK but due to the large screen it sucks most of the power dry quite quickly. We estimate 3-4 hours if used on the middle setting. Standby time is 3-4 days since it is also a mobile phone and hence always on. Turn off all wireless and reduce the screen brightness and you could potentially get 6 hours continuous use. As we already said we liked the Galaxy TAB it so much one of us actually bought one and still uses it which speaks highly of the concept.  Unfortunately it relative size will put the masses off buying one - which is fine with us.  These days we carry so much gear that the combination of both tablet and phone works for us.  However for the average user it may just a bit too big to be used as a phone and a little too small for a tablet but to just as many its the perfect compromise. Final words? it is the best 7 inch mobile phone you can get and a pretty good tablet as well. (Much better than the Telstra and Optus offerings) Specifications
    • Samsung Galaxy Tab 7
    • Network Quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900 Tri-band 3G 850/900/1900/2100 (dependent on country) HSDPA 10.2 Mbps data speed (download) HSUPA 2 Mbps (upload)
    • Design Touch screen
    • L190.1 x W120.5 x D12 mm
    • Weight 385 grams
    • Display/s 7 inch 1,024 x 600
    • Camera 8MP LED Flash 2nd video call camera 1.3MP Forward facing camera for video calls.
    • Video Camera 720 x 480 pixel 30FPS main video camera
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V3
    • CPU 1 Ghz Separate Graphic CPU
    • Memory 16 Gig for user Up to 32Gig micro-SD expansion Ring tones MIDI, MP3, Video, vibration and others
    • Features A-GPS AndroidApp store Samsung App store Free Google Navigator (requires data plan) Compass Accelerometer Dolby Digital Proximity Ambient Light Music and Media player MS-Word, Excel and Powerpoint, PDF, ZIP compatible Organiser/Calender SMS, MMS, IM, Email Speaker Phone/Hands free Li-Po 4,000 mAh battery Up to 1000 hours Standby Up to 10 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Approx $500 AUD late 2011 (Outright)

  • Huawei Sonic Review

    hyp4mhz
    Welcome to the Huawei Sonic U8650 phone review. The Sonic has been around for a little while but was un-interesting until it was released as an outright phone available through the big chain department stores like DSE, Big W and Safeway. The Huawei Sonic is a reasonable $188 at most stores but as usual there are a few issues that you should be aware of before you decide to buy. The Sonic is not a known quality in terms of reliability and support.  Admittedly since it is sold by the major retailers you should be able to get your money back if something does go wrong. Note that it only has dual band 3G that works on the Optus/Vodaphone/Virgin etc.. so as long as your with any other carrier except Telstra the Sonic will work properly. In terms of construction the Huawei Sonic is a solid and reasonably looking handset.  It feels good to hold and not too light or cheap. We have no complaints for most Huawei phone since it is quite cheap handset. The Sonics's screen is a capacitive model which is great for the price but with average resolution and size so nothing much to complain about. We feel that Huawei makes better quality mobile handsets than their rival Telstra/ZTE. The Sonic runs Andriod 2.3 OS which is the latest version you can get in mid-2011 and has more than enough features, it also has all the benefits and issues of any other handset that uses the same OS.  However it does have a slower CPU so can get laggy when running lots of apps at the same time. However thanks to the screen tech (mainly) it feels better than phones with similar specifications. The Android store has an increasing number of decent free and paid apps you can try too. Apart from that the standard very good web browser you'll be able to access all the social networks like Facebook, Twitter and so forth without the need for additional apps. You'll be able to do everything even Skype and use Firefox! It also runs Flash files in the browser and videos. Overall we can't say anything bad about the Sonic. It is a very decent phone for the relatively low outright price. We would not rate it higher than the HTC Wildfire S though - which is available on the Telstra network for $199.  Certainly after a taste of the Sonic you may want something faster - but faster models are at least double the price! That said Acer has reduced the price of the Liquid Metal phone to under $199. The Liquid Metal is the better phone than either the Wildfire S or the Sonic. See the review on the website. Specifications
    • Huawei Sonic
    • Network Tri-band GSM 900/1800/1900 Dual-band 3G 900/2100
    • Design Touch screen
    • L116.3mm x W60.5mm x D11.9mm Weight 120 grams
    • Display/s 3.5 inch TFT 320 x 480
    • Camera 3.2 MP
    • Video Camera 640 x 480 pixel main video camera 15FPS
    • Connectivity Bluetooth V2.1 Wi-Fi Micro-USB
    • CPU 600Mhz
    • Memory Up to 512 MB available to user MicroSD up to 32Gig
    • Ring tones ACC, MP3, MIDI, vibration and others
    • Features A-GPS Accelerometer Sensor JAVA Apps Music and Media player Organiser/Calender SMS, MMS, IM, Email JAVA MIDP 2.0 FM radio Speaker Phone/Hands free 3.5mm AV/headset Custom 3.7V 1400mAh Up to 9 days Standby Up to 6 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Under $188 AUD August 2011 (Outright)