Omio News Blog

Mobile Phone Review Round Up: Sony Xperia SP, Samsung Galaxy S4, Motorola Razr HD, Huawei Ascend Mate and LG Optimus L5 II

Omio is rounding up all the mobile phone reviews over the past week from the major tech titles in the UK.

This is all in order to bring you an all-inclusive and encompassing view of the opinions, from the various handset reviewers.

CNET UK

Sony Xperia SP review

The flagship Sony Xperia Z may be busy stealing the limelight with its whopping Full HD screen and waterproof body, but Sony also has some good kit for those with a slightly narrower budget.

The Xperia SP is an upper mid-range mobile packing specs that would have had last year’s dedicated tech nerds hot under the collar. Its 4.6-inch screen has a 720p resolution, it has a speedy dual-core processor, it runs Android Jelly Bean and, best of all, has a colourful glowing light on the outside to annoy your desk-mates.

Conclusion

The Xperia SP’s specs won’t trouble the flagship phones, but it has loads to offer for a more modest price tag. Its 720p screen is sharp, its dual-core processor is enjoyably swift and the crisp white design and flashing notification light will certainly find a few fans.

Its camera didn’t impress in my tests and Sony’s own app stores and controller connections needs some improvement. If you’re looking for a well-performing all rounder though, and don’t want to spend upwards of 600 smackers, the SP is an excellent option to consider.

- Check out all the Sony Xperia SP mobile phone deals on OMIO today!

Samsung Galaxy S4 review

Samsung’s Galaxy S3 was one of the most popular phones of last year, rivalled only by the iPhone. It played a huge role in unseating Apple’s dominance of the mobile world, so all eyes have been on Samsung to see what it will bring to the table with its next super phone.

After months of wild speculation, Samsung finally unveiled the S4 — a phone boasting specs to make even the most ardent tech nerds draw breath. It’s a 5-inch beast, packing a Full HD screen, a searingly powerful quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, a host of Samsung software extras, a 13-megapixel camera and 4G connectivity for super-fast data speeds.

In smart phone Top Trumps, the S4 challenges the competition on every level.

Conclusion

In most respects the S4 has secured its spot at the top of the smart phone ladder. Its 5-inch screen is the best in the business and its quad-core processor delivers absolutely outstanding performance. Couple that with a host of interesting — if not exactly groundbreaking — Samsung software nuggets and you’ve got yourself an absolute beast of a phone.

It’s a shame Samsung hasn’t updated the design much from the S3. It’s difficult to brag about having the latest kit if you can’t tell it apart from old hardware, and the plastic construction does feel quite cheap. If you don’t mind the Playmobil stylings though, the S4 is a superb phone to plonk in your pocket.

- Check out all the Samsung Galaxy S4 mobile phone deals on OMIO today!

Pocket-Lint

Sony Xperia SP review

With Sony getting out of the blocks early, it’s one of the first companies in 2013 to reveal its wider portfolio of devices. The Sony Xperia SP technically slips into what we’d traditionally call the mid-range, but with specs matching 2012′s flagship devices, the Sony Xperia SP doesn’t lack power.

That’s a huge positive, because it means you get a great experience from a device that’s now perhaps £200 cheaper than it might have been 12 months ago.

But is there really any space for this sort of device, lacking the glory of the top spot and falling well into the long shadow of the excellent Sony Xperia Z?

Verdict

The Sony Xperia SP is a good mid-range phone. There’s power and flexibility on board and there’s the performance to back it up, aside from a few minor quirks.

The design of the handset is good too with the metal frame giving the SP a nice solid feel. We’re not sold on the flashing bar however, it just seems a little too much at times, especially when you’re lying awake at night, watching it illuminate your bedroom.

The camera performance isn’t great. Although there’s a lot on offer, it just doesn’t seem to all come together and give you the good shots you’d sometimes expect, with focusing being the thing that frustrated us the most.

However, the Sony Xperia SP is reasonably priced and for that you get a good display and a device that will showcase the fun of Android nicely, with a battery that will get you through the day.

- Check out all the Sony Xperia SP mobile phone deals on OMIO today!

Stuff

Motorola Razr HD Review

The Motorola Razr HD is the latest Moto handset to grace our hands since last year’s Razr i. With a larger 4.7in display, dual-core power and a larger battery that promises all-day performance, can the Razr HD justify it’s fairly hefty price tag?

Motorola Razr HD – verdict

The Motorola Razr HD is a very solid offering from Motorola. Its Kevlar design might suffer from Marmite syndrome, but we personally find it refreshing and very well built.

Its screen might not be the most pixel-packed, but it’s still sharp, bright and colourful, showing off games and movies (which are easily handled by the dual-core processor) well.

Despite a few camera issues, the Razr HD is another solid offering from Motorola. But at nearly £400, you might find it very hard to justify picking it up over the better specced Google Nexus 4, which serves up quad-core power and a super-slick stock Android experience for a ludicrously affordable £240.

The fact that you can pick up the even more powerful Sony Xperia Z (which packs in a 5in Full HD screen) for £460, doesn’t make the Razr HD’s price tag any easier to swallow either. If battery life is important though, then it might just be worth the extra cash.

- Check out all Motorola RAZR HD deals on OMIO today!

TechRadar

Huawei Ascend Mate review

Huawei is the epitome of the challenger brand. With a brand name that no one ever pronounces correctly (even a receptionist at the Mate’s launch event reffered to the company as ‘highway’), the Ascend Mate isn’t going to be on the tips of the tongues of many in the market for a new phone.

To counter this, Huawei is resorting to headline-grabbing specs and features. There’s the 6.1-inch screen, for starters, plus a custom quad-core processor which Huawei is claiming to be fastest in the world. Has we got your attention yet?

Overall

There is definitely a market for the Ascend Mate, but we don’t belong to it. If you are someone who doesn’t mind using two hands to hold a phone, someone who carries their handset in a bag anyway, then it could be the phone for you. You’ll be rewarded with amazing battery life if you decided to choose a Mate.

- Check out all Huawei mobile phone deals on OMIO today!

Trusted Reviews

LG Optimus L5 II E610 review

While its Korean rival Samsung has picked up all the plaudits for its Galaxy range of mobiles, LG has struggled to garner much interest in its Optimus Android handsets. However, the company is hoping that its updated range will change all that and return it to the glory days of popular handsets like the Viewty models. Last year’s L5 suffered from a low resolution screen, but the company has addressed this on the LG Optimus L5 II E610, while also adding a faster processor, bigger battery and better camera. Is it enough to break it out of mediocrity, though?

Verdict

The LG Optimus L5 II is a neat and compact little handset, with a vibrant screen and good battery life. It has some neat features too, including its Quick Memo app and the voice activated shutter for the camera. However, we wish LG had given it a bit more grunt in the performance department, as it can feel a little bit underpowered at times.

- Check out all LG mobile phone deals on OMIO today!

Mobile Phone Review Round Up: BlackBerry Q10

Omio is rounding up all the mobile phone reviews over the past week from the major tech titles in the UK.

This is all in order to bring you an all-inclusive and encompassing view of the opinions, from the various handset reviewers.

CNET UK

BlackBerry Q10 review

BlackBerry has undergone a great number of transitions in a short few years, not all of them good. The company was once synonymous with suited business types, due to push email and full physical Qwerty keyboards on handsets. The low price of BlackBerry Messenger — the subscription-based, unlimited messaging service — meant, however, that BlackBerry phones found their way into the pockets of teens who could chat on the cheap.

The rise of touchscreen phones on rival platforms, along with messaging services like iMessage and WhatsApp, well and truly rubbed the shine off BlackBerry and its keyboards, though. Its big refresh came in the form of the Z10, which sports a full-touchscreen interface.

With its full Qwerty keyboard perched on the bottom, the Q10 is a return to the classic BlackBerry design. Match that with the latest BB10 software, a 3.1-inch Super AMOLED screen, a dual-core processor and an 8-megapixel camera and you’ve got a recipe for a great return to form. But is it worth the astonishing £580 price tag?

Conclusion

If you’re dead set on having a phone with a physical keyboard, the Q10 is the one to get. That’s not strictly speaking a compliment though — there’s so little competition that it comes out on top by default. It’s not a bad phone in general — the keyboard is comfortable, the screen is bold and it has decent battery life. It’s still haunted by some of the software niggles present on the Z10 though and the app store needs some serious love and attention.

- Check out all the BlackBerry Q10 mobile phone deals on OMIO today!

Pocket-Lint

BlackBerry Q10 review

The BlackBerry Q10 is the BlackBerry of BlackBerry users. It retains the keyboard that BB owners know and love, sticking to the tried and tested route, rather than taking on the big rivals from Apple and Samsung with a touch-only device.

With the BlackBerry Z10, that is exactly the aim. A brand new platform, with a brand new device, that looks to offer all the consumer joy of other large-screened devices, while retaining much of what BlackBerry holds important.

The BlackBerry Z10 has some shortcomings: the battery isn’t great, there are some UI holes that make the experience feel a little more fiddly than you might want it to, and there’s nothing that’s really distinct, that you can’t already get on other platforms, all compounded by slow adoption of apps.

The defining moment for BlackBerry may well be in experience of the Q10. For those still loving the BlackBerry Bold, or one of the lower-tier Curves, then BlackBerry Q10 is the obvious device to aspire to.

But is the BlackBerry Q10 the crowning glory of BB10, or has the sun set on the BlackBerry empire?

Verdict

Set alongside the BlackBerry Bold, we’d take the BlackBerry Q10 any time. It’s a step forward for BlackBerry’s Qwerty device, it offers the reassurance of a physical keyboard that’s great to use, with tried and tested shortcuts, and improvements to many areas of the OS.

It’s more up to date, it’s a better performer all round and still delivers the elements we love about BlackBerry. The browser is better, the UI is more sophisticated and the experience is much more comparable with rival smartphones than the last generation of BlackBerry smartphones.

In that it has an advantage over the Z10, which doesn’t bring with it quite the wow factor that you’ll get from the iPhone 5, HTC One or even the Nokia Lumia 820. But the Q10 is different, because it offers you that keyboard experience that’s now extremely rare.

As a pure communicator, we’d take the Q10 over the Z10, because you really can just knuckle down and get on with it. But like the Z10, there’s little here that’s unique besides BBM. As contacts have moved away from the BlackBerry platform, we’ve been using WhatsApp and Skype more and more, and those apps and services excel on other platforms.

In summary, we like the BlackBerry Q10 because it embodies those things that we love best about BlackBerry. We like the design and the keyboard experience, but beyond that communication experience, there’s little that’s unique and BB10 is still some way behind rival offerings.

- Check out all the BlackBerry Q10 mobile phone deals on OMIO today!

TechRadar

BlackBerry Q10 review

The BlackBerry Z10 arrived in a whirlwind of frenzied marketing at the beginning of the year, but that new phone smell is starting to wear off so here’s the second new instalment from the company formerly known as RIM – the BlackBerry Q10.

While the Z10 saw BlackBerry tread new water in the mobile market with its first fully touchscreen device, the Q10 sees a return to more familiar territory with the handset sporting the firm’s famous QWERTY keyboard.

BlackBerry is keen to keep up the premium appeal of its first BlackBerry 10 handsets, with the Q10 sporting an equally lofty price and you can expect it to set you back around £560.

Verdict

Without doubt the BlackBerry Q10 is the best QWERTY keyboard smartphone on the market, which is certainly a bold claim – until you consider, what other high-end smartphones are sporting a full-on keyboard these days? Exactly.

It may be the best, but it’s the best of one. People will buy the Q10 for its QWERTY keyboard, it’s a business tool and in that arena it excels.

However start stacking the Q10 up against handsets which have a similar price tag and you can’t help but think it’s possibly one of the most expensive keyboards on the planet, with little in the way of stand out features to justify its cost.

If you can’t live without a physical keyboard on your phone then you’re more than likely going to buy this phone anyway – and that’s fair enough – but if those buttons are less of an issue you’ll get much more for your money elsewhere.

- Check out all the BlackBerry Q10 mobile phone deals on OMIO today!

T3

BlackBerry Q10 review

The BlackBerry Q10 is the first BlackBerry 10 smartphone with a physical keyboard, something which almost immediately puts it at a disadvantage, especially when you consider the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the HTC One is already impressing many with its Full-HD screen and blindingly fast performance. Both of which don’t have physical keyboards.

This is only a problem of course if you consider the BlackBerry Q10 as a phone that is in the same category as these flagship handsets. It isn’t, and truthfully it never could be. It’s a business phone, it’s BlackBerry’s bread and butter category and it’s looking to make a statement of intent.

BlackBerry Q10: Verdict

Without doubt the BlackBerry Q10 is the best QWERTY keyboard smartphone on the market, which is certainly a bold claim – until you consider, what other high-end smartphones are sporting a full-on keyboard these days? Exactly.

It may be the best, but it’s the best of one. People will buy the Q10 for its QWERTY keyboard, it’s a business tool and in that arena it excels.

However start stacking the Q10 up against handsets which have a similar price tag and you can’t help but think it’s possibly one of the most expensive keyboards on the planet, with little in the way of stand out features to justify its cost.

If you can’t live without a physical keyboard on your phone then you’re more than likely going to buy this phone anyway – and that’s fair enough – but if those buttons are less of an issue you’ll get much more for your money elsewhere.

- Check out all the BlackBerry Q10 mobile phone deals on OMIO today!

Mobile Phone Review Round Up: Samsung Galaxy S4

Omio is rounding up all the mobile phone reviews over the past week from the major tech titles in the UK.

This is all in order to bring you an all-inclusive and encompassing view of the opinions, from the various handset reviewers.

CNET UK

Samsung’s Galaxy S3 was one of the most popular phones of last year, rivalled only by the iPhone. It played a huge role in unseating Apple’s dominance of the mobile world, so all eyes have been on Samsung to see what it will bring to the table with its next super phone

Conclusion

In most respects the S4 has secured its spot at the top of the smart phone ladder. Its 5-inch screen is the best in the business and its quad-core processor delivers absolutely outstanding performance. Couple that with a host of interesting — if not exactly groundbreaking — Samsung software nuggets and you’ve got yourself an absolute beast of a phone.

It’s a shame Samsung hasn’t updated the design much from the S3. It’s difficult to brag about having the latest kit if you can’t tell it apart from old hardware, and the plastic construction does feel quite cheap. If you don’t mind the Playmobil stylings though, the S4 is a superb phone to plonk in your pocket.

- Check out all the Samsung Galaxy S4 mobile phone deals on OMIO today!

Pocket-Lint

It’s one of the most anticipated handsets of the year, it’s the follow-up to one of the best-selling phones of last year, and it has been hyped to the extent that Samsung is starting to look like it’s going to teach Apple a thing or two about generating anticipation. Enter then, the Samsung Galaxy S4.

Verdict

As we type this we have the SGS3 and the SGS4 on our desk. While, superficially, there’s really not a lot of difference between the two, to hold, they couldn’t feel more different. We really like the new, more square-feeling SGS4. At the back, we prefer the SGS3  aesthetically, although the case design of the new phone is nicer – albeit still plastic.

There are a stack more options here. Some we like, and think we might use, others we can see the value in, and some we think are ridiculous. But, if nothing else, Samsung continues to try hard, and work on new features. Many of these are unique and interesting, rather than just copies of other devices.

We are certain that the SGS4 is a better phone than the SGS3. Loads more features, improvements everywhere and very little that has got worse – you might laugh, but this does happen with successful devices sometimes.

On the negative side, we still think the battery life is a problem, and if you switch of the power-draining features, then you’ll end up with the same Android phone as everyone else has, so there’s not much point in that, is there? On the whole though, battery life and management seems better on this phone than the last. With normal use, we can get through the working day, so that’s pretty reasonable.

As always, the sign of a good gadget is one that we don’t want to give back. Our review SGS4 is being returned tomorrow, and the truth is that we’re really going to miss it. It is, therefore, a product we heartily commend.

Stuff

You’d think Samsung’s gameplan for this year would be pretty simple after shifting more than 50 million Galaxy S3s. Make last year’s stonkingly successful phone slightly bigger and slightly better, sell bucketloads, then kick back and blow raspberries at the competition until 2014 rolls around.

Samsung Galaxy S4 review – verdict

The Galaxy S4 isn’t just a phone, it’s a device that wants to track and train you into becoming a Gadgeteer 2.0. Your eyes, your steps, your surroundings, your swipes: it seems that the S4 is always ready and panting at you to turn on features, stick yourself in photos and finesse the right Air Gestures.

And the more you dive into it (and stay patient with the first-generation of this ambitious tech) the more rewarding the S4 becomes. Seriously, at times you’ll wish you could high five your phone, although at others you’ll find yourself taking the easy route and prodding the screen rather than taking the time to consider whether you’ve already got the Air features turned on and whether they’re compatible with the app you’re running.

Let’s remember that these are all extras that you can completely ignore if you want, and if you do the S4 still ticks just about all of the boxes. This is the successor to one of the most popular phones of all time and it’s smarter, faster and sharper-screened. Add the microSD expansion and it’s doing everything the most discerning Android fan could desire.

The fly in the tantalising S4 ointment is the HTC One. To us, the all-aluminium design is sleeker, sexier and more sophisticated, and while it sacrifices 0.3in to the Samsung’s 5in screen, the HTC’s display has greater contrast and more luscious colours.

We’re also keen on HTC’s understated Sense UI, which offers a less-intrusive, smoother and zippier user experience than the Galaxy’s TouchWiz. We know that Samsung is pushing out firmware updates in the coming days and if those cure the S4’s occasional operational hiccups we’ll revise the review accordingly, but for the time being at least, Samsung will have to make do with second place in our Smartphones Top 10. Be under no illusion, though, the Galaxy S4 is still a fantastic device, and one with tech that paves the way for all future phones.

TechRadar

The Samsung Galaxy S4 is the most hotly anticipated smartphone ever from the Korean brand, and with a glut of top end features, it’s the most powerful and desirable device Samsung has created yet.

Verdict

Make no mistake – the Samsung Galaxy S4 is far, far more than a Galaxy S3 ‘S’ – Samsung may be copying Apple according to some people, but it’s not as brazen as the Cupertino brand in flogging the exact same design with a slightly uprated processor and calling it a new phone.

The Galaxy S4 is a great, great device in its own right, re-inventing what it means to own a brilliant smartphone in a number of ways. The gestures are cool, the touch-less experience amazing at times – in short, it’s a wonderful phone you want to pull out of your pocket again and again and again.

The design issue is overblown. Yes, it’s plastic, and yes, compared to the competition you wouldn’t choose to spend £500 on it for the chassis. But it’s a very solid device that belies that exterior and shouldn’t be discounted for it.
TouchWiz is getting a little complex now, though. The simplicity of HTC Sense shines through, and the HTC One is a superior device in many ways because the innovation is based on things users want. Where Samsung brought the ability to wave to move photos, the HTC One made the speaker better.

Where the S4 lets you scroll with your head, the One lets you take photos in low light. The latter feature is slightly offset by the S4′s auto Night Mode, but you get the picture.

But screw all the ‘which phone is better than the other’ notion for now (we’ll get to that in our best mobile phones piece) the Galaxy S4 is a stunning smartphone that won’t let you down for a variety of tasks. There’s no doubt Samsung will have to make a big step forward to keep users interested with the Galaxy S5, but for now we love the S4 and would be proud to have it in our pocket.

T3

It’s here at last, Samsung’s biggest release for a year. The Samsung Galaxy S4 will doubtless be popular but is it the best smartphone of the year, and are the new features – and there are oh, so many of them – worth having?

Samsung Galaxy S4: Verdict

Samsung’s flagship is a real beauty. It feels good, looks smart and does more than previous smartphones have. On the other hand, just as most people only scratch the surface of the capabilities of their home computers, settling for email, word processing and a little light gaming, there are going to be a lot of customers who barely dig into the features here.

Many are gimmicky, some are decidedly niche, but it all still adds up to a phone with so many capabilities, it’s likely there’ll be lots to delight you. There are innovations to show off down the pub and genuinely useful features. Even if you don’t use them, this phone’s performance is so slick it is an appealing combination.

Is it the best Android smartphone yet? Well, it lacks the gorgeous and demure styling of the HTC One, and the Sony Xperia Z edges it for photo skills, but the combination of power and innovation put it towards the top of the tree, a branch or so below the HTC One but outgunning all other rivals.

There’s no doubt it’ll be deeply popular and has a certain wow factor. And it means Apple will have to deliver something special to stay ahead. Meantime, this is easily Samsung’s best yet.

- Check out all the Samsung Galaxy S4 mobile phone deals on OMIO today!

Mobile Phone Review Round Up: Huawei Ascend G510, Nokia Lumia 710, Asus FonPad and Doro PhoneEasy 520X

Omio is rounding up all the mobile phone reviews over the past week from the major tech titles in the UK.

This is all in order to bring you an all-inclusive and encompassing view of the opinions, from the various handset reviewers.

Cnet.co.uk

Huawei Ascend G510 review

If you want a big screen phone to show off your YouTube clips and colourful apps at their best, you generally have to look towards the high-end big boys like the Samsung Galaxy S3. The Huawei Ascend G510, however, boasts a 4.5-inch screen — plenty of room for video — and costs a mere £130 on pay as you go.

It chugs along on a 1.2GHz dual-core processor and runs Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean, which has been heavily skinned by Huawei. You can grab it now from Vodafone on pay as you go or for free on contracts starting at £13 per month

Conclusion

With its plain, chunky design, the Huawei Ascend G510 is evidently going for the gold medal in Ugliest Phone of the Year. The sluggish, awkward interface Huawei has slapped on it doesn’t do it any favours either. It’s only saved from complete damnation by its decent screen and affordable price tag.

If you’re looking for a big phone for a small price, the G510 is an option, but you can find a more enjoyable experience for similar money elsewhere.

- Check out all the Huawei mobile phone deals on OMIO today!

Pocket-Lint

Nokia Lumia 720

Nokia now has a full range of Windows Phone 8 devices, from the flagship Lumia 920 down to the budget Lumia 520, via the quick-step trio of the 820, 720 and 620. Theres no arguing with having the choice, although with devices so tightly packed in, it starts to be a case of examining exactly what you get for your money in this mid-range scrum.

Of all the manufacturers working on Microsofts mobile platform, Nokia is making the loudest noise. Compared to HTC, for example, Nokia is bringing a number of additions to the table, as it fights against strong rival smartphone platforms like Android and iOS.

But is there space for the Nokia Lumia 720 next to the great-value-for-money 620 and the impressive 820?

Verdict

Theres a lot to like about the Nokia Lumia 720. As a device, the design is fantastic and the build quality is great. It might not be the slimmest, or boast the greatest specs, but it is a nice comfortable phone to use day-to-day.

But it sits close to the excellent Lumia 620 in terms of some of the specs, which might be its downfall. Where the Lumia 620 feels like a great performer for the low cost, the Lumia 720 doesn’tt feel like the step-up it perhaps should be. That might not be a problem if youre after a larger display, but youre paying that little extra for it.

That said, theres a lot that the Lumia 720 does well. The camera is great and Nokias additions to Windows Phone 8 make it difficult to ignore.

Overall, if youre in the market for a mid-range Windows Phone, then certainly take a look at the Lumia 720, but see if the Lumia 620 will meet your needs.

- Check out all the Nokia Lumia 720 phone deals on OMIO today!

Stuff

Asus FonePad Review

The Rock, Andre the Giant and the Incredible Hulk: three monstrous behemoths who could happily hold a 7in device to their faces without looking ridiculous. But for the rest of us mere mortals, we have to wonder where a 7in phone-capable tablet (alright, ‘phablet) such as the Asus FonePad might fit into our lives. Is it a viable phone alternative? Perhaps it doesn’t matter. Perhaps what really matters is that this seems to essentially be a Google Nexus 7 (also made by Asus, of course) with added 3G and a couple of other nifty features for just £20 extra. It’s Asus versus Asus, and we’re excited.

Asus FonePad review – verdict

The Asus FonePad’s size makes for a terrible phone. But that’s ok. We see it as a 3G tablet with optional phone abilities, should you ever need them. For a similar price to the non-3G 16GB Nexus 7, the FonePad will give you mobile data and 16GB of expandable storage, which for some is the Nexus 7’s Achilles heel.

While its Intel innards might not score as well in benchmarks, the FonePad never left us wanting for power, handling 3D games and multitasking with ease. Despite not being the sexiest, most well-made tablet around, you’ll be looking long and hard to find another 7-incher that can best it at this price point.

- Check out all the mobile phone deals on OMIO today!

Trusted Reviews

Doro PhoneEasy 520X review

The Doro PhoneEasy 520X is primarily aimed at older people who may struggle to get to grips with today’s feature packed smartphones. It’s a simple phone with easy to read menus and large buttons, but it has a few extra interesting features. You can currently buy it online for a little bit over £100 SIM Free.

Doro PhoneEasy 520X – Verdict

The Doro PhoneEasy 520X isn’t exactly overflowing with features, but it’s nicely designed for its target market of older users thanks to its easy to use menu system and large keypad. We also like some of the extra functions, such as the ICE contacts screen and assistance button on the rear. If you’re looking for a basic, easy to use phone for an older relative, it’s a good buy.

- Check out all the mobile phone deals on OMIO today!

UPDATE: New Samsung Galaxy S3 deals – now free for £15.50 per month (Samsung Galaxy Note II, £20.50)

Online mobile phone retailer buymobilephones.net is now selling the 2012 flagship Samsung Galaxy S3, on contracts for just £15.50 a month.

This is with T-Mobile, and is accompanied with 100 minutes, an unlimited text message bundle, plus a 250MB data allowance.

Another deal sees the Samsung smartphone available with 50 minutes, 250 texts but a hefty 1GB of data at the same £15.50 per month pricepoint.

To put this in context, O2 is carrying the S3 for free on £27 a month tariff; Vodafone, on a £33 deal and with Three, for £32.

T-Mobile and Orange are noticeably absent from that list, as they are only stocking the 4G-ready version of the handset, online.

This could very well be why this deal exists, but it is good value nonetheless.

The Samsung Galaxy S3 comes with a 4.8-inch 1,280 x 720 Super AMOLED screen, while powered by a quad-core 1.4GHz processor, with 1GB of RAM; 16GB of internal storage, support for microSD cards; an 8-megapixel camera and a 1.9MB front-facing version.

It runs from Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, with the company’s Natural UX overlay.

This brings with it features such as Smart Stay, where the phone recognises someone is viewing the screen and prevents it from dimming.

That functionality has been expanded in the upcoming Galaxy S4, by pausing running video, when someone looks away, and offering automatically scrolling of on-screen content.

It is said those features will be coming to older models, such as the S3.

UPDATE:

BuyMobilePhones.net has also lowered the price of the Samsung Galaxy Note II, to £20.50 per month.

Mobile Phone Review Round UP: HTC First and Kogan Agora

Omio is rounding up all the mobile phone reviews over the past week from the major tech titles in the UK.

This is all in order to bring you an all-inclusive and encompassing view of the opinions, from the various handset reviewers.

Cnet.co.uk

HTC First

The First is an intriguing new phone from HTC, sporting a 4.3-inch 720p screen, 4G connectivity and a dual-core Qualcomm processor. Rather average specs there, but it’s not the hardware that makes the First interesting.

It’ll be loaded as standard with Facebook Home, Facebook’s new Android software. Rather than act as a normal app, Home is a launcher for Android, replacing your usual homescreens and backgrounds with a skin showing your Facebook friends’ updates.

Outlook

In hardware terms, the First doesn’t have much to offer over the competition, so I’m hoping it’s going to come with an affordable price. The software is where the excitement lies though, and there’s much to like about Facebook’s Android skin, as long as you’re a heavy user of the social network. It looks neat and it seems a handy way of always being up to date on your friends’ antics.

It’s too early to tell though whether the interface will work as smoothly as Facebook promises. One thing’s for sure — if you’re not that into Facebook, you won’t like this phone.

- Check out all HTC mobile phone deals on OMIO today!

TechRadar

Hands on: HTC First review

Say hello to the HTC First, the first phone to highlight Facebook Home, an Android overlay newly introduced by the social network.

This is not a Facebook phone, nor is it not a Facebook phone. Confusing? Sorry, but what we mean is that this is a phone built by HTC with a quasi-Facebook skin. You can turn Home off, but that sort of defeats the First’s purpose.

Early verdict

This is an HTC phone built in conjunction with Facebook to make you use Facebook on an almost constant basis. If that’s attractive to you, then you’ll like the First.

We hesitate to say "love" because the hardware isn’t overly compelling, though it’s hard to argue with a Jelly Bean handset that costs $99.99.

There are some odd elements, as noted above, that one must accept as part of the Facebook Home overlay experience. Thankfully, there’s choice as to how you use Home, though your options of what stays and what goes is extremely limited.

If you want to leave your social network behind while you’re on vacation, at least you have that option. Of course, the flip side is you can stay pretty much in constant contact while your out of your normal surroundings as well.

We found navigating around the device took some getting used to as it didn’t mesh with the usual Android UI, but since the icons are built on a tactile, spring-inspired principle of movement, eventually we got used to gestures like shooting our profile picture bubble up to access our apps.

Is this a successful first try at baking Facebook into an Android device? We give a reserved yes, though there are definite areas for improvement. Maybe by the time Facebook and HTC gets to the Second (or whatever it’s called), Home will be all figured out.

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Trusted Reviews

Kogan Agora review

Kogan is a brand that’s big down under, but has a similar profile in the UK to that of a minor member of the TOWIE cast. The company flogs low-cost electronics kit direct to consumers via its website to keep its costs low, and while it mostly concentrates on selling budget TVs, it has recently turned its attention to smartphones and tablets too. Here in the UK, Kogan hopes to make a splash with its Agora Android phone, with the main selling points being its massive 5-inch screen, support for dual SIMs and knockdown price of just £120. Does this make it a genuine under-the-radar bargain – or just another cheap filler product for a low-rent TV shopping channel? Let’s take a closer look and find out.

Verdict

In many ways the Agora really is a bargain handset. You get pretty speedy performance from its dual-core processor, it’s got half decent battery life and its call quality is pretty good too. However, the sheer size of the thing will put many people off, especially as the larger screen doesn’t offer a boost in resolution over smaller budget handsets. Nevertheless, there’s no denying that despite a few quirks it represents very, very good value for money.

Mobile Phone Review Round Up: Acer Liquid Z2 review and ZTE Blade III

Omio is rounding up all the mobile phone reviews over the past week from the major tech titles in the UK.

This is all in order to bring you an all-inclusive and encompassing view of the opinions, from the various handset reviewers.

Trusted Reviews

Acer Liquid Z2 review

Acer may be the world’s number one maker of laptops, but it’s fair to say the company has struggled to transfer that success across to smartphones. It’s tried a number of times with high-end and mid-range Android phones, but the results have been somewhat lacking. Now, however, it’s trying its hand at entry-level phones with the Liquid Z2. As a proposition the Z2 looks great on paper as it’s the first sub-£100 handset we’ve seen that comes loaded with the much slicker Jelly Bean version of Android. Does this make it a bit of a budget star?

Verdict

The Acer Liquid Z2′s main attraction is that it runs the Jelly Bean version of Android. This definitely is a big plus as it makes the phone feel quite a bit more responsive than most budget handsets. However, the Liquid Z2 is held back by its small, low-resolution screen and relatively short battery life. As such, it’s a good budget handset, but not a really great one.

What Mobile

ZTE Blade III

As the budget smartphone market has moved further and further east, prices have fallen to previously unforeseeable levels. Historically budget Android phones have been a mixed bag – for the most part not worth the risk. In the last year or so Chinese companies Huawei and ZTE have given all rivals a run for their money, producing some low cost phones that outperform, and underprice their western rivals.

CONCLUSION

If you do want the latest quad-core, top shelf 2013 smartphone this is definitely not the phone for you. What the ZTE Blade III focuses on, and does well, is first time smartphone buyers, teens and pragmatic users that just need a no-frills tool. It doesn’t do 4G – but that is hardly a concern for the low end market.

In this sense, its much easier to give the Blade III a solid review. It has its weaknesses – namely a poor screen, and a processor that struggles with high end apps and games, but this is par for the course when we’re talking about what is an astonishingly cheap device. A bill of just £80 quid all up means this is a very useful device for less fussy markets. By that barometer, it is a great purchase.

- Check out all ZTE mobile phone deals on OMIO today!

Mobile Phone Review Round Up: Motorola RAZR HD and HTC One

Omio is rounding up all the mobile phone reviews over the past week from the major tech titles in the UK.

This is all in order to bring you an all-inclusive and encompassing view of the opinions, from the various handset reviewers.

Cnet uk

Motorola Razr HD review

Motorola’s original Razr phone was a metal clamshell affair that came in a glorious pink hue. It was extremely popular, but several years have past since then — aeons in phone time — and Moto has lost its stylish edge.

Not one to fade into the background, Motorola resurrected the Razr in smart phone form in 2011 and it’s back again with a fresh offering for 2013.

Conclusion

If it was a mid-range mobile, the Motorola Razr HD would be a smashing blower. Its 720p screen is bright and bold, it’s enjoyably swift for a dual-core device, and it has a hefty battery. It’s let down, however, by a needlessly high price that pits it unwisely against the smart phone elite.

For over £100 less you can grab yourself the excellent Google Nexus 4, and for £60 less you can snap up the more powerful Galaxy S3. Unless battery life is an overriding consideration, I’d say those are both much better value for your money.

- Check out all Motorola RAZR HD deals on OMIO today!

Pocket-Lint

Motorola Razr HD review

We’ll be honest. We’ve got HD fatigue, so when the Motorola Razr HD arrived in our office we didn’t jump for joy. HD, we thought, big whoop, everything is HD these days, hell, they even make HD make-up for some reason. So what is Motorola up to here? Is this a phone worth considering, or is the firm just treading water?

Verdict

So there you have it, we have more faith in Motorola’s products than Google CFOs do. While you could argue that the Razr HD isn’t a "wow" device, you can’t really argue that it’s bad, because it isn’t. And honestly, we really like its design and feel. It might not be one of the new generation of giaganto-phones that are all the rage now, but it will suit that audience who want smaller devices, with plenty of scope.

It’s fair to say that the Razr suffers a bit for not having more processor power. It feels, in this regard, like a phone from last year. But let’s not get too depressed about its performance, it does, after all, run Real Racing 3 perfectly and that high-resolution screen might be small, but it’s bright, colourful and detailed.

Our main concern is that this is a premium-priced phone that perhaps is out-performed by Google’s Nexus 4. And that’s a strange problem for Google, as LG made that phone to its specification and has managed to keep the cost far lower than the Razr HD. No doubt, it’s things like that which will hurt sales of the HD, but that shouldn’t put you off. The Razr has that all-important microSD slot for one, and the battery life is better too.

- Check out all Motorola RAZR HD deals on OMIO today!

Stuff

HTC One Review

Samsung and Sony might shout louder but HTC is poised to jump from the shadows with the One, a heady blend of 1080p screen goodness, oodles of quad-core power and an UltraPixel cam. Is this the One we’ve been waiting for?

HTC One review – verdict

The Nexus 4 showed us how Android should be done and the Xperia Z gave us full HD and a sleek – waterproof – build but until the HTC One we’d never really fallen for an Android phone. Until now. The One takes the customisation of Android, the liveliness of Windows 8 (in BlinkFeed and Zoe) and the premium styling of Apple to create a very special smartphone indeed

- Check out all HTC One on OMIO today!

T3

HTC One review

The HTC One is a smartphone that has been built with one purpose, to revive the ailing fortunes of its maker by being not only the best Android smartphone out right now, but also by remaining the best handset in months to come (Samsung Galaxy S4 we’re looking at you).

To even stand a chance of doing this it’ll need to be as fast as the Google Nexus 4, as beautiful to look at as the Sony Xperia Z and then also boast the kind of feature set that we’ve now seen from the Samsung Galaxy S4.

This then all has to be wrapped up in a Full HD package that won’t weigh a tonne but still boasts a build quality that would make the iPhone bow its head in shame. No pressure then.

HTC One: Verdict

The HTC One has placed Samsung in a unique position. When the Samsung Galaxy S3 came out it simply became the best Android smartphone available making it the only true rival to Apple’s iPhone by default.

With the Galaxy S4 however things have changed, HTC has been suffering from declining sales and in order to regain a fraction of its lost market share the company needed to not only create the best phone it has ever made but also the best Android phone.

So while Samsung’s upcoming sequel may appear to be a veritable powerhouse we can confidently say that the HTC One is the best Android smartphone you can buy right now.

- Check out all HTC One on OMIO today!

Samsung Galaxy S4: hands-on review round up

Omio is rounding up all the Samsung Galaxy S4 mobile phone hand-on reviews, from the major tech titles in the UK.

This is all in order to bring you an all-inclusive and encompassing view of the opinions, from the various handset reviewers.

CNET UK

The Samsung Galaxy S4 is the year’s hottest phone, perhaps even more feverishly anticipated than the latest iPhone. It’s the follow-up to the smash-hit Samsung Galaxy S3, probably the best smart phone out there. And Samsung has decided that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it — just turn it up to 11.

With a mindboggling array of features and market-leading specs, the S4 packs a lot of power in your pocket. But is it different enough from the S3 to get us excited?

Outlook

There’s no question the S4 is an absolute beast of a phone. It takes everything you could ask for in a smart phone and punches it up to the limits of modern phone technology, with a glorious screen, powerful processor and top-flight camera.

But just as we’re disappointed every time Apple gives us the smallest update to the iPhone, the phone fan in us would have liked a dash of revolution with our evolution. The S4′s new features are divertingly gimmicky, but not particularly dazzling or useful, and the whole package is wrapped up in a body that’s all too familiar. Still, the S4 is Samsung at the top of its game.

Pocket-Lint

Samsung has finally unveiled its flagship Android phone that has been the subject of much speculation and rumour since, well, the Samsung Galaxy S3 came out. The Samsung Galaxy S4 has been launched officially during the Samsung Unpacked event in New York City and it’s a doozy.

Verdict

But bells and whistles aside, what will sell the Samsung Galaxy S4 more than any other aspect – more even than sheer brand loyalty – is the display. It is as vibrant as ever before seen on a Super AMOLED display, but with full HD (1920 x 1080) crispness to boot. That’s 440ppi, for those that are counting, the same as the Sony Xperia Z.

From our initial play, that’s what has been burnt on to our retinas, for sure. Is it a major step up from the Samsung Galaxy S3? Probably not for many. But there’s certainly enough that’s new to promote it above being the Samsung Galaxy S3S.

Stuff

Samsung’s Galaxy S4 certainly has ‘guns’ in the specs department. With a 5in, 1080p screen and ludicrous processing grunt, it has more than enough power to stand its ground against the likes of the Sony Xperia Z and HTC One.

This we expected. But is the Galaxy S4′s lengthy list of new features enough to make it your favourite new smartphone? We gave it a test-drive at Samsung’s ‘Unpacked’ event to find out.

Samsung Galaxy S4 – Verdict

The Galaxy S4 is one of the best smartphones we’ve seen and a fine riposte to the Sony Xperia Z and HTC One. But its familiar styling and polycarbonate build is a mixed blessing – while the plastic build and curved edges make it comfortable in the hand despite its size, it feels somewhat dated next to the aluminum and glass frames of the HTC One and Apple iPhone 5.

Though those phones are the gold standard for smartphone design, the S4 is leading the way when it comes to new interface technology, with the likes of Air Gesture and Air View. In use, they feel like the kind of innovations Apple is known for – and while they’re not perfect, they feel potentially useful enough to be more than just gimmicks to show the in-laws.

With the processing grunt to keep it future-proofed for a good while and help its battery life cope with ever-burgeoning demands, the S4 certainly has the potential to duke it out for the top spot in our smartphones Top 10. We’ll let you know it it does in a full review very soon.

TechRadar

The Samsung Galaxy S4 brings a huge Full HD screen, an improved camera and faster innards, and fits it all in a chassis the same size as the Galaxy S3.

However, many will struggle to tell the difference between the S4 and its predecessor, as the polycarbonate chassis is still in use, although the metallic banding around the side, while still plastic, is much sturdier and feels more premium.

We’ve already seen a lot of the Samsung Galaxy S4, as it’s been snapped multiple times in leaks – some more accurate than others, it has to be said – and the specs mooted have turned out to be pretty bang on.

But that doesn’t matter – megapixels and gigabytes don’t mean anything if they’re not wrapped up in a decent package, so how much of an improvement is the Samsung Galaxy S4 over the S3, and more importantly, the competition?

Early Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S4 is more evolution than revolution compared to the Galaxy S3 – in some ways, it appears that the Korean firm has taken Apple’s lead and decided it doesn’t have to massively overhaul hardware each time to make a statement.
Buying guide

Perhaps it’s right; after all, the specs are all upgraded, the screen is bigger and better and there’s a host of new features on board to chew over.

But when you pick up the Samsung Galaxy S4 for the first time you won’t be blown away. In fact, you’ll have to check it IS the new phone, rather than another Galaxy S3 that you left on your desk (if you’re so lucky to have both, that is…)

Once you dive into the handset, the new features, the integrated Samsung Hub that brings together all your media, book, gaming and educational needs under one roof, and enhanced camera do impress, but do scream of refinement over big innovation.

The camera has a load of new tricks we can’t see that many people using, but then again it has improved the basics very well, so we’re looking forward to putting that through its paces when we can.
Overall, we were a little nonplussed initially by the Samsung Galaxy S4. It’s superbly impressive that it has crammed so much stuff into a smaller chassis than the Galaxy S3, and while there’s not a lot of difference cosmetically bar beefing up the structural integrity of the device and putting stronger glass on the front (Gorilla Glass 3 isn’t the be sniffed at though), Samsung has tied it all together in a great way.

Will it sell by the bucketload? Undoubtedly. Does it represent a huge step forward for Samsung? No, so it will be interested to see how it’s marketed to consumers, or whether, like the iPhone 5, there will be apathy and a desire to stick with last year’s cheaper model when the phone launches (in the UK) on 26 April.

Wait for our in-depth and overly long full Samsung Galaxy S4 review to see what we really think of the phone – it’s unfair to judge a phone like this based on only spending an hour with it. It’s sleek, powerful and offers innovation, and while it’s cosmetically indifferent, we’re sure many people will just adore it.

Trusted Reviews

The Samsung Galaxy S4 has been officially unveiled following months of leaks and rumours, and we’ve managed to go hands-on with the iPhone 5 rivaling device at the New York launch event.

The most eagerly awaited handset of the year, the Samsung Galaxy S4 has entered the realms of reality as a 5-inch Full HD powerhouse, running Google’s latest Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean OS while boasting the accolade of being the world’s first eight-core smartphone.

First Impressions

Although it’s perhaps not the out-and-out game changer some were expecting, the Samsung Galaxy S4 is, on first impressions at least, certainly a new dominant force on the Android smartphone scene.

Sure to go head-to-head with the likes of the iPhone 5 and HTC One over the coming months, the Samsung Galaxy S4 is set to benefit from a raft of immersive, engaging and performance enhancing features that will complement the improved hardware to create an all-round impressive device.

With the likes of the 13-megapixel snapper’s dual camera mode offering more entertaining usage and the incoming octa-core processor to provide power with battery survival, the Samsung Galaxy S4 looks set to take off exactly where the Samsung Galaxy S3 has made its home, as the market leading Android handset.

T3

The Samsung Galaxy S4 is the latest flagship phone from Samsung and is a step-up from its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy S3. Its large screen means that its size comes close to the Samsung Galaxy Note 2. It has the specs to take on Apple’s iPhone 5 and could well take the Android crown, trumping the likes of the recently announced HTC One and the Sony Xperia Z.

T3 was flown out to meet the new Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean-toting Samsung Galaxy S4 at the launch event in New York City and here are our first impressions.

Samsung Galaxy S4: Verdict

There’s no doubt that the Samsung Galaxy S4 is a significant step-up from the S3. It’s impressive that Samsung has managed to slim-down the device even though it’s added a bigger screen and a host of new goodies.

As with the S3, there are some innovative new features in there, some more useful than others but there’s no doubt that stalwart Galaxy and Android fans will be impressed (not to mention the odd potential iOS defector).

The Samsung Galaxy S4 was the most hotly anticipated Android phone of 2013 and based on what we’ve seen, it’s certainly living up to the hype so far. We’ll bring you a full review as soon as we can…

- Check out all Samsung Galaxy S4 deals at OMIO today!

Mobile Phone Review Round Up: HTC One SV, Asus Padfone 2, ZTE Blade 3 and Sony Xperia Z

Omio is rounding up all the mobile phone reviews over the past week from the major tech titles in the UK.

This is all in order to bring you an all-inclusive and encompassing view of the opinions, from the various handset reviewers.

Cnet.co.uk

HTC One SV review

The HTC One SV is a one of the first mid-range handsets to boast 4G connectivity. It has a 1.2GHz dual core processor with 1GB of RAM, comes with 8GB of internal storage and packs microSD card support. The screen is a 4.3-inch, 480×800-pixel resolution Super LCD2 panel, and around the back there’s a 5-megapixel snapper. The One SV is running Android 4.0 — otherwise known as Ice Cream Sandwich — as well as version 4.1 of HTC’s own Sense user interface skin.

Conclusion

It’s good to see that the selection of 4G phones available in the UK is growing, but the One SV is a very peculiar addition to the roster. Those who crave faster download speeds are likely to be individuals who wish to position themselves at the cutting edge, yet this phone feels like something from 12 months ago. The dual-core processor is weak when compared to rival Android devices, there’s no Jelly Bean on board and the screen is disappointingly low-res.

If you’re massively concerned with getting fast data transfer on your mobile then you’d be much better off investing in a more powerful 4G device, like the Galaxy S3 LTE or HTC One. If 4G doesn’t bother you all that much then you can pick up the very similar HTC One S for less cash, or better still, the brilliant Nexus 4 — again, for less money than this handset.

- Check out all the HTC One SV deals on OMIO today!

Pocket-Lint

Asus Padfone 2 review

The Asus Padfone 2 wants to simplify the smartphone or tablet or conundrum, giving you both sides of the equation, locked into symbiotic coexistence.

It gives you the benefit of both worlds: the big screen when you want it; the powerful pocketable phone when you don’t. There’s no problem with knowing what files are on which device, you don’t need separate data contracts, you only need to sync one device.

But at the same time, you’re compromising. Just how well does having an expanded display work? What happens to apps you’re running on one when you shift to the other? Is the Padfone concept – that of a hybrid device – really one that’s going to take off?

Verdict

The more we’ve lived with the Padfone 2, the more apparent it has become that for every highlight, there’s a simple, regular solution. That leaves the Padfone 2 in something of a tricky situation. It’s well engineered, it’s almost priced right, but you walk away without a hero handset or a hero tablet. You don’t get the both of best worlds, you get something in the middle: a compromise.

Compromises aren’t necessarily bad, as long as you’re getting what you need. In all compromise situations you have to ensure you’re not going to be foresaking something that really matters to you. So the big question is: Will the Padfone concept will really work for you?

We really like the attention to detail on the Padfone, there are some great features, like the smart Wi-Fi switching and the options for batteries and calling, but if you asked us to choose between Padfone 2 and a Nexus 4-Nexus 10 partnering for the same price, we’d choose the latter.

There’s still the feeling that the Asus Padfone is a little niche. It’s a nice enough smartphone with competitive performance, but there are a number of compromises you have to live with on the tablet front should you take this hybrid solution.

- Check out all Asus deals at OMIO today!

Stuff

Asus Padfone 2 Review

It wasn’t too long ago that we were describing the first Padfone as a ‘gadget kangaroo’ and at MWC 2013 the Taiwanese black sheeps over at Asus have announced the third iteration of the wacky phone-tablet hybrid: the full HD Padfone Infinity. Still, that bundle doesn’t even have a release date yet so let’s concentrate our attentions on the middle child, the Padfone 2, instead.

First off, what is it? The Padfone is essentially a smartphone that Asus is bundling with a 10.1in Station. This tablet shell is nothing more than a bigger display, extra battery and extra front camera – when used in tablet mode, the power, processing and data come from the Padfone handset.

Asus Padfone 2 review – verdict

At the risk of repeating ourselves, there’s nothing quite like the Padfone, and if this second model was even £100 cheaper it would be a no-brainer for early adopters and maverick techies. The Padfone bundle is very light indeed but the truth is it still takes up the same amount of room in your bag as two devices, and the full potential of Dynamic Display is yet to be realised.

If you’re considering taking the Padfone plunge, we salute you – just remember that just over £600 can buy you a Nexus 4 and an iPad 4 these days.

- Check out all Asus deals at OMIO today!

TechRadar

ZTE Blade 3 review

The ZTE Blade 3 is the latest smartphone from the Chinese firm intent on bringing customers great value for money at the bottom of the mobile market.

While ZTE and it’s Chinese compatriot Huawei both say they’re targeting the full smartphone spectrum with recent high-end handsets such as the Grand S and Ascend D2, the reality is that they are still primarily considered budget handset manufacturers.

Verdict

The ZTE Blade 3 isn’t a polished offering but we can almost forgive it when we are reminded of its price tag. This is a cheap and cheerful handset aimed at giving people an entry point to the smartphone market.

While it could be tidied up round the edges, made to run a little smoother and upgraded to the latest Jelly Bean version of Android, we are suitably impressed with the Blade 3 as an entry-level device.

- Check out all the ZTE Blade III deals on OMIO today!

Trusted Reviews

Sony Xperia Z review

Having fallen slightly by the wayside in the recent smartphone stakes, Sony is back with its biggest and best handset to date, the 5-inch Sony Xperia Z.

On paper a true rival to the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S3, Google Nexus 4 and iPhone 5, the Sony Xperia Z runs Google’s Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean OS from the box – although a 4.2 update is already on the cards. Pairing a selection of premium innards with a raft of new, consumer appeasing features, the handset plays host to the likes of an IP57 waterproof coating.

Officially unveiled back at CES 2013 ahead of a late February launch, the ‘Z’ hits the high notes on all fronts, with the Sony Xperia Z specs sheet boasting a veritable what’s-what of high-end innards.

Sony Xperia Z Verdict

A mixture of high-end handset supremacy and a few small niggling issues, the Sony Xperia Z takes the Japanese manufacturer so close to smartphone superstardom, only to fall at the final hurdles.

Overall, the Sony Xperia Z is a device that impresses on first use, continues to please over time and which, thanks to its high-end specs collection, will remain future proof well into your two year contract. That said, the battery concerns surrounding the device are hard to overlook.

With the IP57 waterproof coating lining up as an inspired addition that we now covert on all future handsets, the quad-core CPU and 5-inch Full HD display of the Sony Xperia Z take it so close to becoming the next must-have handset. However, struggling to achieve close to a day’s standard use severely knocks the Xperia Z’s footing in our eyes and is an issue that could well be its downfall.

- Check out all the Sony Xperia Z deals on OMIO today!