Omio News Blog

Mobile Phone Review Round Up: Sony Ericsson XPERIA Neo, HTC Salsa, Vodafone Smart, HTC ChaCha, Nokia E6

TechRadar

Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo review

Verdict:

With a slightly better-lit screen, the media features of the Sony Ericsson XPERIA Neo might have wowed us a little more. As it is, it’s a functional little mite, with high usability and simple, one-handed navigation and operation.

The cost is still a little higher than we’d have liked to see for a phone of this caliber, with £30-£35 per month on a contract quite a lot for some retailers. However, at £300 on PAYG this a much better buy, so we’d recommend you look at it if you’re willing to pay a bit more to lose the hassle of a contract.

- Check out the latest Sony Ericsson XPERIA Neo deals on OMIO!

HTC Salsa review

Verdict:

We love the hardware and HTC’s Sense interface runs exceptionally smoothly on top of Android 2.3, plus the HTC Salsa works very well indeed as a mobile web browser and can handle the demands of Angry Birds’ physics code with ease.

If the camera worked a little more smoothly and if there was a touch (well, a lot) more app storage space, it would be the perfect mid-sized Android phone.

It’s a well-made phone that’s enjoyable to use and a breath of fresh air in the world of bland black slabs – but today’s app-hungry smartphone users will find its lack of on-board memory a daily frustration.

- Take a look at the latest HTC Salsa deals on OMIO!

Cnet.co.uk

Vodafone Smart

Conclusion:

When you consider its astonishingly low price, it’s easy to forgive the Vodafone Smart‘s shortcomings, such as its low-res screen, lack of multi-touch support and relatively weedy processor. After all, it’s about the same price as many far more basic phones — for example, the Motorola Gleam and Nokia C2-01. For those shopping on a shoestring, the Smart is an excellent way to get into the wonderful world of Android.

- See the selection of Vodafone Smart deals on OMIO!

Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo

Conclusion:

The Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo is a thoroughly agreeable smart phone. It more than holds its own in the esteemed company of other mid-range handsets like the HTC Desire S and HTC Salsa.

HTC ChaCha review

Conclusion:

The HTC ChaCha‘s screen takes some getting used to, but the excellent QWERTY keyboard and Facebook button mean it’s a very appealing device. If you already use a phone with a large touchscreen, you may find the transition to the ChaCha too painful to bear, but BlackBerry users looking for a route into Android will be absolutely bowled over by this phone.

- Look at the latest HTC ChaCha deals on OMIO!

Trusted Reviews

HTC ChaCha

Verdict:

The HTC ChaCha has many likeable features. Its keyboard is first class, the Facebook integration is good and the camera is better than you might have expected. However, we’re still not convinced that the messaging form factor works all that well with the Android OS. That said, if we were to pick an Android messaging phone from those currently available, the ChaCha would definitely be the one we’d go for.

Reghardware

Nokia E6

Verdict:

There are a few loose ends, and one potential show-stopper of a bug. My review Nokia E6 didn’t always answer phone calls – with the phone hanging up before I had a chance to answer it. I’m not alone in experiencing this.

Other bugs are cosmetic, but annoying. When you put the phone into Offline mode it will repeatedly tell you: “Conn.lost”. Er… thanks. Then, when you put the phone back into a General (online) profile using the status indicator still tells you the phone is “Offline” – even with the signal indicator showing five bars.

The sun might be setting on Symbian, but the E6 plays to its traditional strengths, and marks a return to form for a product line where battery life and call quality are valued. I can see it going on forever – if Nokia can fix the bugs.

- Check out the latest Nokia E6 deals on OMIO!

Mobile Phone Review Round Up: HTC Salsa, HTC ChaCha, HTC Sensation, LG Optimus 3D

Pocket-Lint.com

HTC Salsa review

Verdict

So let’s get to the nitty-gritty. What is the HTC Salsa – is it a Facebook phone? It is if you want it to be, but then Facebook isn’t exactly alien to the Android world. There isn’t anything here that you can’t do elsewhere. Putting it against the INQ Cloud Touch, the other current “Facebook phone”, is a little unfair.

The Salsa is a higher spec device, offers a better Android experience reflecting HTC’s experience with these types of devices, but the Facebook experience is less cohesive than INQ’s. The INQ Cloud Touch manages to feel unique, whereas the Facebook experience on the HTC Salsa feels familiar, only fractionally removed from their existing features, so it all looks and feels like the adaption of HTC Sense that it is.

But that said the HTC Salsa is a great Android smartphone, a good example of how great the Android experience can be on a mid-range affordable device. It isn’t going to compete on the multimedia front with its bigger brothers, but in the core Android experience it responds well. We prefer it to the HTC Wildfire S, it offers more power and a few interesting tweaks that give you a little more to play with.

We’re not sold on the weird split colouring on the back panel, but otherwise, whether you’re a Facebook fan or not, the HTC Salsa is a great little phone.

HTC ChaCha review

Verdict

When thinking of the HTC ChaCha, it’s worth setting the “Facebook phone” elements to one side. The ChaCha is a more important device than just Facebook and if the button was removed, you’d still have all those features anyway.

You get all the benefits of that connected Android experience, tying into your Google accounts and filling your phone with your contacts, email and calendars. HTC Sense has been sensibly scaled to fit onto this phone and that all works well, but we can’t help feeling that something is lost in the experience. If you have seen Android on larger devices then visually you miss-out with the ChaCha. Android might look cute, but you’ll find yourself struggling for space at times.

But that might be a sacrifice worth making if you crave a proper keyboard. We have a few problems with the keyboard, but none of them are critical. Annoying yes, but it’s still usable. Side-by-side with a BlackBerry and we prefer the keyboard on our Bold and the use of screen space, although much more basic visually, often means that you see a little more of what you are doing.

For those looking to venture into something a little different their BlackBerry then it has a lot of offer. However, the touchscreen experience offered by it’s sister handset the HTC Salsa is difficult to ignore, resulting in a richer experience with the benefit of a much better mobile internet experience.

Techradar.com

Vodafone Smart review

Verdict

If the Vodafone Smart proves anything it proves one thing, it’s that we were oh so right to sing the praises of the Orange San Francisco.

Yes, it’s £29 more, but the difference between £70 for the Vodafone Smart and £99 for Orange’s little lovely is all the difference in the world. Pay the extra and you won’t regret it.

The budget smartphone market is set to become a really fierce battleground in the coming months, so once you’ve broken the £120 price barrier we’re starting to see some really nice handsets indeed for the cash.

While the Vodafone Smart is alright-ish for the money, unless you’re desperate for a back-up Android phone we’d recommend you save up for a month or two more and take a look at something like the Samsung Galaxy Ace too

HTC Sensation review

Verdict

Whether it’s just that we’re getting spoilt by the quality of the HTC range or that the brand simply can’t innovate at the electric pace it managed when it made Android smartphones good enough for the masses, the HTC Sensation doesn’t get our pulses racing like other models in its range have.

HTC Watch needs to a larger range of movies and TV shows before we can even begin to assess whether it’s going to take off or not – and the price seems a little high at this early stage.

We love the Sense UI still, and the ‘Unlock Ring’ is a cool addition to the party – we still want the notifications to be more interactive, but overall it’s still a neat idea.

The design of the phone is different and, in our eyes, pretty premium with the metallic feel and steel grill – the weight feels solid in the hand and the screen size is impressive and sharp.

It’s still not one of HTC’s best, but one we’d definitely recommend over a number of other phones in the marketplace and if you’re an HTC fan or just looking to get one of the cutting-edge dual core devices, we suggest you seriously think about the HTC Sensation.

HTC ChaCha review

Verdict

The ChaCha is not a revolutionary device. Yes, the Facebook button is new and a few of the elements in there are premiered here but ultimately, it’s an evolution, not a revolution.

Having said that, it’s not necessarily a bad thing. You know what you’re getting here – a stable OS with an extra skin on top that has proven to be more than competent. And for the 14-21 year-olds who have their eye on this ‘Facebook phone’, it’ll be enough.

The price certainly is closer to the budget end of the scale, which we really like, and the quirkiness of the phone makes it a real breath of fresh air in a sea of indentikit black-slab touchscreens.

However, with the cramped screen it feels like the HTC ChaCha is a one trick pony at times – get bored of the Facebook integration and you’ll probably start casting envious glances at your friends’ whizzbang phones and thinking ‘do I really love having a keyboard?’

When you turn the ChaCha on, you’re greeted with HTC’s logo and slogan: “Quietly Brilliant”. There’s certainly nothing quiet about the ChaCha – and while ‘brilliant’ may be pushing just a little, it’s certainly not far off for the Facebook generation

Cnet.co.uk

Vodafone Emporia RL1 review

Conclusion

No camera, no Internet, no touchscreen — the Emporia RL1′s specifications read like something from the depths of mobile history. Don’t expect a pay as you go handset to challenge the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Mini and Orange San Francisco -– the RL1 has been designed to please elderly consumers rather than young gadget fiends. We can’t help feeling the relatively high price tag is slightly exploitative, making too much of the phone’s simplicity.

Still, if you favour usability over functionality, this could be your dream handset. But if you feel you’re able to master something a little more demanding, explore some of the other budget options out there, such as the Motorola Gleam or Sony Ericsson Cedar.

HTC Salsa review

Conclusion

The HTC Salsa offers decent power, impressive battery life and a good screen, as well as handy Facebook features. If you’re after a Facebook-focused phone, we reckon the Salsa’s a better bet than the HTC ChaCha and INQ Cloud Touch. Even if you abhor social networking and shun status updates, that friendly blue button is easy enough to ignore when the rest of the package is so appealing.

Samsung Solid Immerse review

Conclusion

The Samsung Solid Immerse is well hard, but it’s let down by its disappointing software, a dismal camera and lacklustre battery life. If you’re deadly serious about acquiring a phone that you can depend on when Mother Nature turns nasty, we’d recommend the Motorola Defy. Should your budget not stretch to a smart phone, the Solid Immerse is a worthy contender — just make sure it’s fully charged before you go for a long walk in the hills alone.

Trusted Reviews

HTC Salsa Review

Verdict

The HTC Salsa may be a smaller, budget device, with Facebook at its core but it’s actually a surprisingly grown up smartphone. It’s smartly styled, speedy in operation, packed full of features, and can get you to Facebook nirvana quicker than you can say toasted Tortilla. Whether your desire for Facebook fripperies is strong enough to overcome the slightly high price is more of a personal preference issue but if you do like the idea then it’s very well executed.

HTC Sensation review

Verdict

The HTC Sensation is a frustrating device. Why? Because it comes so close to perfection but doesn’t quite manage it. The high resolution screen is great but the quality of it lets it down a tad, some of the software tweaks are great but yet video support is poor, and while the performance is amazing, battery life isn’t so much. Nonetheless, if battery life proves to be better once usage has settled down then the screen quality issue is certainly something we can overlook as the rest of the device is so delightful. It’s beautifully made and styled, it’s incredibly fast, the camera’s good, and call quality isn’t half bad either. All told, despite a few niggles, it’s definitely up there with the best dual-core smartphones.

Reghardware

Motorola Atrix dual-core Android smartphone

Verdict

The Motorola Atrix may look standard at first glance, but a feast of features, along with those accessories, offer hidden depths. Whether this mobile gadgetry will set the tone for future, more powerful smartphones remains to be seen. But as far as roadmaps go, Motorola has certainly taken an interesting turn.

LG Optimus 3D dual core Android smartphone

Verdict

The stand-out feature, obviously, is the gimmick that is 3D and it’s very well-executed. And yet the LG Optimus 3D has a lot more going for it, thanks to a great screen, easy connectivity for video playback on a flatscreen TV and a fast dual-core processor. Lest we forget that whopping 4.3in screen means this is a big phone: if you’re one of those people who finds the iPhone largish, this one is a behemoth in comparison. Get it in your hand before you buy – anyway, you’ll want to check the 3D out first, too. If the size suits you, this is a highly attractive phone.

HTC Sensation dual core Android smartphone

Verdict

Another quality handset from HTC and this is the hero of the bunch, with a fast dual core processor, the latest Sense user interface goodies, Android 2.3 and, for once, the company manages to build a half-decent camera.

HTC ChaCha salsa’s its way on to Three

The Android-powered HTC ChaCha phone has arrived on Three, with deep social networking integration and a dedicated Facebook button for quick and easy uploading of photos, videos, sharing music and checking-in to various places.

HTC’s ChaCha provides the best of both worlds for the fast fingered Facebook lovers, with a QWERTY keyboard for text, emailing, chatting with and a multi-touch 2.6-inch touch screen plus 5-megapixel camera to boot.

The mobile has also been pimped up since the handset was announced at Mobile World Congress this year, as the ChaCha now has a 800Mhz CPU from the 600Mhz mobile launched in February.

The HTC ChaCha is available from just £20 a month, whilst for £29 a month on The One Plan you can get all-you-can-eat data, 2,000 any network minutes, 5,000 Three-to-Three minutes and 5,000 texts.

Check out all of the HTC ChaCha deals today on OMIO.

Apple’s new iOS announced

Apple’s iOS 5 update to their iPhone operating system has been launched at their developers conference, with Twitter integration, iMessage, notification center, newsstand, iCloud and arrives later on this year.

Twitter is now built in to the platform and directly into the Photos, Camera, Safari, YouTube and Maps apps. iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch devices running iOS 5 can tweet straight from these twitter enabled pieces of software.

The iCloud is an internet service from Apple with 5GB of storage space that seamlessly and automatically keeps all of the mail, contacts, calendars, photos, apps, books, music up-to-date across devices without ever having to connect to a computer.

Apple’s new iMessage is set to rival BlackBerrry messenger, with a single app that allows sending of text messages, photos and videos between iOS run devices.

There is also a new notification center, which offers a much easier way to view and manage notifications in one place without any interruption – amongst 200 new features appearing in iOS 5.

Missing from Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference this year was a new iPhone, as for the past four years there has always been a new model brought to the event.

Check out all of the iPhone deals at OMIO today!

Mobile Phone Review Round Up: HTC Sensation, LG Optimus Black, HTC HD7, HTC Wildfire S

In a new feature on Omio, we are rounding up all the mobile phone reviews over the past week from the major UK tech titles, in order to bring you an all- inclusive and encompassing view of the opinions of the various handsets reviewed.

TechRadar

HTC Sensation review

Verdict:

Whether it’s just that we’re getting spoilt by the quality of the HTC range or that the brand simply can’t innovate at the electric pace it managed when it made Android smartphones good enough for the masses, the HTC Sensation doesn’t get our pulses racing like other models in its range have.

HTC Watch needs to a larger range of movies and TV shows before we can even begin to assess whether it’s going to take off or not – and the price seems a little high at this early stage.

We love the Sense UI still, and the ‘Unlock Ring’ is a cool addition to the party – we still want the notifications to be more interactive, but overall it’s still a neat idea.

The design of the phone is different and, in our eyes, pretty premium with the metallic feel and steel grill – the weight feels solid in the hand and the screen size is impressive and sharp.

It’s still not one of HTC’s best, but one we’d definitely recommend over a number of other phones in the marketplace and if you’re an HTC fan or just looking to get one of the cutting-edge dual core devices, we suggest you seriously think about the HTC Sensation.

– View HTC Sensation deals on OMIO. –

LG Optimus Black review

Verdict:

If you’re both a fan of the black bar aesthetic that seems to be the current go-to design of smartphones, and a fan of lightweight machinery that does exactly what it ought to, then the LG Optimus Black will suit you great.

While its only truly outstanding feature is the NOVA display screen, it performs well enough in other areas to stand as a competitor to the Apple iPhone 4 for those who prefer Android phones.

– Sign up for LG Optimus Black release information on OMIO. –

—

Cnet

HTC Sensation review

Verdict:

The HTC Sensation looks unassuming, but its hefty aluminium case, hugely powerful processor and fabulously whizzy, customisable software make it feel like a giant among smart phones.

– View HTC Sensation deals on OMIO. –

—

Trusted Reviews

Samsung Galaxy Mini review

Verdict:

It has all the core specs of a top-notch Android phone, with Wi-Fi, GPS and high-speed HSPA on-board, but the 240×320 pixel screen ensures the Galaxy Mini isn’t as desirable as some alternatives. Last year, we’d have given this phone a warm welcome but competition in this budget Android sector is simply too savage.

– View Samsung Galaxy Mini deals on OMIO. –

HTC HD7 review

Verdict:

The HD7 is one of the better looking large screen smartphones and feels speedy to use. We also like the modern looking and straight forward Windows Phone OS. However, the phone feels a bit like a missed opportunity, because what could have been a great entertainment device, is hampered by its disappointing screen and below par battery life.

– View HTC HD7 deals on OMIO. –

Samsung Galaxy Ace S5830 review

Verdict:

The Samsung Galaxy Ace isn’t as spectacular as its name suggests but it is a competent budget smartphone. As ever, the Orange San Francisco makes for a compelling alternative thanks to its larger, higher resolution screen, but the Ace has a nicer design, faster processor and better camera.

– View Samsung Galaxy Ace deals on OMIO. –

—

Reg Hardware

HTC Sensation dual core Android smartphone

Verdict:

Another quality handset from HTC and this is the hero of the bunch, with a fast dual core processor, the latest Sense user interface goodies, Android 2.3 and, for once, the company manages to build a half-decent camera.

– View HTC Sensation deals on OMIO. –

Samsung Solid Immerse rugged phone

Verdict:

If you’re out in the wilds, or even working on a building site, it’s good to know your phone can take a few knocks or a drop in water. Just don’t push it too hard as the Samsung Solid Immerse appears tougher than tests suggest it actually is, but you can’t knock the battery life.

HTC Wildfire S Android smartphone

Verdict:

It’s not top of the range but then it’s not meant to be, and the HTC Wildfire S makes some very reasonable compromises between flash and cash. It’s not that cheap though, and there are a few rival Android handsets offering a similar performance and features that cost less. But it’s still a solidly capable little device, with plenty to entice the Android newbie or smart phone fan on a budget, and who’s not in too much of a hurry.

– View HTC Wildfire S deals on OMIO. –

Orange offers iPad 2 and iPhone 4 for just £99

Orange has starting selling the iPad 2 and iPhone 4 on an even more subsidised ‘combined’ cost, whilst also offering a combined tariff – for both of those Apple products to share, at £65 a month.

The fruit flavoured and coloured network is carrying the 32GB version of iPhone 4, combined with the 16GB iPad 2 for £179; Apple’s 32GB iPad 2 and iPhone 4 costs £229, with the 32GB iPhone and the 64GB iPad has the princely sum attached of £299.

Going down the scale of capacity and costs is the Apple 16GB iPhone 4 paired up with the 32GB iPad 2 at 149 of your English pounds, where the 64GB iPad 2 and 16GB iPhone 4 costs £229.

Part and parcel of these combi deas is that costly £65 monthly contract, which does have an unlimited BT OpenZone websurfing package, an unlimited text message allowance but only a 2GB mobile broadband bundle and 600 anytime minutes.

Check out all the Orange deals at OMIO!

Video Footage Of Upcoming BlackBerry Curve ‘Apollo’ Leaked

Video of the rumoured, yet still unannounced follow up to RIM’s wildly successful Curve 3G, currently being touted as the Curve 9370 ‘Apollo’, has leaked online courtesy of Vietnamese blog tinhte.vn via our friends at electricpig.co.uk.  See the video below, and a run down of what to expect from the newest BlackBerry handset.

What is apparent from the video is the new bodyshape, a smooth more rounded back, and tapered at the top and bottom, which makes the handset feel even thinner than its actual 11mm.  The 3.5 headphone socket has moved to the top, and the side has a volume rocker, camera button and a tiny tiny standby button.  Feel free to ogle it above in all its YouTube glory.

Whilst our Vietnamese is admittedly, um, non existent, an internet translation of the accompanying article does reveal some more interesting tech specs:

The camera has been improved to 5MP, with an LED flash to capture all of those late night/low light moments.  There is also a front facing VGA camera included.  The screen has also been given a pixel bump in line with the higher end BlackBerry models, up to 480 x 360 pixels, from 320 x 240.

The Curve Apollo runs the latest version of BlackBerry OS, version 6.1, and appears to run along smoothly thanks to double the memory (512mb) and a speed bump in the form of an 800MHz Marvell ‘Tavor’ processor.

Fingers crossed that RIM are slightly more cool about early footage of their handsets getting online than Apple were with the iPhone 4.  Lets just hope our guys in Vietnam doesn’t get some steel capped boots knocking at the door any time soon!

Stay posted to Omio for any more official details.  In the meantime, feel free to sign up for alerts on Omio’s deals page, so that the moment we get any indication of pricing or availability for the BlackBerry Curve ‘Apollo’, we’ll let you know!

Samsung Galaxy S II – FREE on T-Mobile from £25 Per Month

Deal hunters rejoice!  Samsung’s newest flagship smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S II, is now available on T-Mobile for absolutely free from £25 per month.

That will get you 600 cross network minutes, 500 texts and 500MB data each month.   Those unwilling to sign on for a 24 month contract can get the same package on an 18 month contract for £19.99 upfront, and £30 per month.

The Galaxy S II is quite simply one of the most powerful and thinnest smartphones on the market… We mean, like stick-insect thin, being a paltry 8.49mm at the narrowest point.

Its diminutive waistline belies the power in the belly of this sexy beast; The Galaxy S II is rocking a top of the line 1.2GHz Dual core processor and 1GB of RAM.

This combined with the latest Android 2.3 software, means the phone is SNAPPY, handling anything that you care to throw at it with ease, including flash browsing unlike some of its other notable rivals, and full 1080p video playback and recording.

The icing on the cake though is the generous 4.3-inch ‘Super AMOLED +’ touchscreen, which put simply is big, bright and colorful and has been universally praised for reproducing images that pop right out at you.

Samsung have come under fire from Apple in recent months over alleged copyright issues regarding the uncanny likeness to iOS, we won’t lie, its a fairly obvious reference to Apple’s layout.

However whilst they pit their best lawyers against each other in a legal bloodbath, for everyone else its something of a win/win. Previous iPhone users who may be wanting to dip their toes into the cool free waters of Android will find themselves at home here, with the added advantage of interface customization, free file handling, and expandable memory upto 32GB.

Alongside the iPhone 4 and HTC Desire HD, this really is one of the top three best smartphones on the market today. So if you fancy treating yourself to something special for less, check out all the deals for the wonderful Galaxy S II on Omio’s deals page.

HTC Sensation Now Available On Vodafone

Vodafone is now exclusively selling HTC’s first ever dual core Sensation mobile phone, on a £35 a month contract.

The HTC Sensation handset runs from the latest Android Gingerbread operating system, with HTC Sense 3.0, a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 1GB memory and an 8-megapixel camera that can record video at 1080p – which viewable on its 4.3-inch 540×960 touch SLCD screen.

Vodafone jointly launched Sensation with HTC, where the mobile phone network was first thought to be the exclusive carrier only now Three will be offering the handset on a contract next month.

The dual core HTC Sensation is available with Vodafone with a 900 minute anytime allowance, an unlimited text message deal along with a 750MB mobile broadband bundle.

Amazon lists two new HTC mobile phones

Pre-ordering of the HTC Salsa and HTC ChaCha ‘FaceBook’ handsets have opened up on Amazon, with an arrival date of 26th June; SIM free and unlocked.

HTC’s ChaCha and Salsa both arrive with the Android Gingerbread versions, with the updated HTC Sense theme and an actual Facebook button that launches access to that social networking website.

The Salsa has a 3.4-inch full touch screen and the ChaCha has a smaller 2.6-inch touch screen, only with a Qwerty keyboard that looks rather like an early BlackBerry Curve or a more recent Bold.

Both handsets run from a 600Mhz CPU, with a 5megapixel camera and more of a low price point than other HTC handsets as the HTC ChaCha runs in at £249.99 and the HTC Salsa is £319.99.

Check out all of the HTC Salsa and ChaCha deals at OMIO today!