April 2015 ~ Smartphone Archive

9:46 PM

By Unknown

Sony Xperia Z3 Compact D5803

Price : $ 385

See other product :

* Samsung Galaxy S6                                   * Amazon Fire Phone
* Sony Xperia Z3 Compact D5803           * Motorola Moto G (2nd Generation)
* Samsung Galaxy A5                                     * Samsung Galaxy Young 2
* Samsung Galaxy S3 mini                             * Samsung Galaxy J1
* LG Realm                                           * Nokia Lumia 635
* Nokia Lumia 520                                          * BLU Advance 4.0 A270A
* HTC Desire 510 (A11) white                       * HTC one M9

Sony turned the compact smartphone market upside down the Z1, proving that smaller phones could pack the same punch as their biggest brethren. With the release of the Xperia Z3 Compact, Sony aims to repeat their previous victory. How does the new phone stack up to the competition? Let’s check out the reviews!

For the most part, the Z3 Compact is literally a scaled down version of the Z3. However, there are a couple of differences. The first, and most noted in reviews, is the removable of the metal chassis. While durability seemed excellent in all reviews, most also noted that the plastic and glass design was something they weren’t fond of. CNet stated that the phone “loses the luxury feel of metal found on its big brother and predecessor.”

The other difference is in the memory category. However, with 2GB of RAM to play with, the phone receives outstanding reviews on performance. Forbes called it, “a powerful handset in a wonderfully small package.” The 2.5 GHz quad-core processor is pushing a 4.6-inch IPS display at 1280 by 720 pixels. Digital Spy said, “The Z3 Compact feels virtually as snappy as its Z3 sibling and on a par with a flagship Android smartphone.” Increased brightness and contrast is provided by Sony’s Bravia engine. This brightness was applauded by most reviewers noting how well it performed in bright sunlight.

The choice to use a 720p display was an area of contention with most reviews. While many pointed out how this falls short of most current flagship phones, including the bigger Z3, the display is running a similar resolution to many of the most popular flagships of last year on a smaller display. If you plan to do a lot of reading with your phone, Trusted Review notes that, “the 720p panel lacks the crispness offered by a Full HD display.” The phone also sports a 20.7-megapixel camera, making it one of the most powerful cameras available in current smartphones. TechRadar noted, “We’re pleased with the quality of the photos taken, especially outdoors.” Reviews of the camera were positive overall with many reviews praising the intelligence and ease of use of the auto mode and exceptional low-light performance for a smartphone camera. The dedicated shutter button also will make it easier to take stable, blur-free shots.

All of this is packed into a design that is waterproof for up to 30 minutes in 1.5 meters of water. CNet put this claim to the test and found their test model worked with no problems after a lengthy submersion. Just be sure to check the waterproof flaps before taking the plunge.

The subtle tweaks to screen size and specs also allowed Sony to shave a bit of capacity off the battery. Reviews of battery life were hit and miss. Some testers found the device would last days while others barely pushed a full day’s use. The consensus seems to be that the phone battery is particularly susceptible to video streaming, gaming and other high-demand tasks but that typical usage should net a day free of hunting charge ports. However, CNet notes, “With average use, you should still expect to give it a full charge every night.”

One important feature for gamers is the exclusive PS4 Remote Play feature. Previously only available on the PS Vita, this feature will allow Z3 owners to connect to their PS4 and play games using their mobile as a display. Unfortunately, this feature won’t roll out until late in 2014 so reviews are unavailable.

Overall, the reception of the Z3 Compact is extremely positive. When compared to both the full-size Z3 and the Z1 Compact, reviews of the phone stand on their own. Forbes stated, “The Sony Xperia Z3 provides an alternative to the monster smartphones, with very few compromises in performance or presentation.” The Verge was very happy with the device, stating, “There’s no other phone like it on the market today.”

A small smartphone David comes out to meet the phablet Goliaths

Reviewed.com staff from Reviewed

If you consider a smartphone to be a phone first, the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact is the best of a dying breed. Where most smartphones are leaving some customers in the lurch with rapidly ballooning screen sizes, the Z3 Compact offers a smaller alternative without cutting any corners.

We've seen this strategy elsewhere, and it's one we'd like to see more of. Apple's iPhone 6 is clearly their flagship device, while the 6 Plus is just a bigger version of the smaller phone. The Z3 Compact is the opposite, as it has all the hardware of the larger Xperia Z3 crammed into a tiny, waterproof body.

Though it seems strange to level criticism at a device for being small, you might find that you're looking for a bit more screen real estate if you consume a lot of media on your phone. If you need something smaller or more rugged, however, there's nothing on the market I can in good conscience recommend over this phone.

What the Z3 Compact represents is a choice. How many times have you been excited to try out a new flagship phone only to be turned off because of how large it was? Wouldn't it be great if you could get the same phone, just smaller? That's what the Z3 Compact is. With either Z3 you're getting a heck of a phone; just pick the right size for you.

While it's a little sad that the Z3 Compact is notable for not having a super-sized screen, there simply aren't many smaller top-quality phones left. The Apple iPhone 6 is only a tiny bit bigger, but its battery is nowhere near as good as the Z3 Compact's. The Moto G 2013 is close in size, but it's more of a budget alternative than a first-choice flagship.

There just aren't many alternatives, leaving the Z3 Compact as the undisputed king of small phones. It may be winning by default, but it's a title the Z3 Compact has more than earned.

Read original review at Reviewed.

A really good device

Tim Schiesser from TechSpot

There’s a lot to like about a smaller form factor smartphone with all the power, features and hardware of the larger flagships, especially when that smartphone is the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact. While the device isn’t significantly upgraded over the Z1 Compact that was released earlier this year, it still comes with the same great hardware as the Xperia Z3 in a portable and easy to use chassis.

I was a little disappointed that Sony didn’t bother to give the Compact the same beautiful aluminium body as the upgraded Xperia Z3, but the functional design is still reasonably attractive and ergonomic. It’s always nice to have the peace of mind of water resistance, and although the necessary flap over the USB port can be annoying, the magnetic charging connector comes in handy.

Read original review at TechSpot.

Only high-end, smaller Android phone available
Sascha Segan from PC Magazine

Nobody wants a small, powerful Android phone, except for everyone who does. So Sony hasn't been able to find a carrier to pick up the Z3 Compact. Instead, it's available for $385 unlocked direct from Sony or through electronics stores like Newegg. That will seriously limit its popularity in a nation where people prefer to pay less up front for their phones.

America needs the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact. Smaller doesn't have to mean cheaper. If you want a super-phone that fits easily in one hand, you absolutely must take a look at this device.

Read original review at PC Magazine.

What's good :

Waterproofing
Fast performance
MicroSD card support
Comfortable grip
Good camera

What's bad :

Lack of typical metal Xperia design
Mid-range resolution
Possible battery life concerns for power users

   Price : $ 385

9:11 PM

By Unknown

LG G2 D800 32GB (white)

United States
Price : $ 209

5.2”, 1920 x 1080 True-HD IPS+ LCD display (424 ppi)

Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 SoC

2.3 GHz quad-core CPU, Adreno 330 GPU, 2GB RAM

32 GB internal storage

13 MP camera, BSI sensor, f/2.X lens with OIS, 1080p 60fps video

3,000 mAh, 11.4 Wh battery

LTE, Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC

Android 4.2.2 ‘Jelly Bean’

143 grams, 9.1mm thick

It’s hard to create a flagship smartphone that stands out from the crowd. When you get into a store and see the Samsung Galaxy S4, HTC One, Sony Xperia Z, iPhone 5s, Nokia Lumia 1020, Moto X and others staring back at you, specifications and features blur together, making a decision to buy one more difficult than ever before.

What has LG done to make that purchasing decision easier? They've jam-packed nearly every feature you can imagine into the G2, from a powerful Qualcomm Snadpdragon 800 SoC and a 1080p display, to an optically stabilized camera and finely tuned software. LG has clearly thrown everything they can into this device, and on paper it looks close to a complete handset package.

Even though the G2 may come with a solid list of specifications, a list doesn’t reveal how well the features work together, or how fluid the experience is going to be. Is the LG G2 going to be that ideal competitor to the feature-rich Galaxy S4? Or has LG spent too much time packing in specs and not enough time on refinement?

Design

Let’s start with the most interesting aspect of the LG G2’s design: the strangely-positioned rear buttons. Rather than having the power and volume buttons in their usual positions around the edge of the handset, LG has placed them below the camera on the back panel. The idea is that by removing the buttons from the edge, the display can stretch as far as possible to either side of the device, delivering minimal bezel.

The thinness of the bezel to the left and the right of the display is impressive, and allows the 5.2-inch display to fit into a body that’s effectively the same size of 5-inch devices such as the Samsung Galaxy S4. However by moving the buttons to the rear of the device, it takes a couple of weeks after you first use the G2 to adjust to the odd positioning; without fail you’ll go to press the side or top of the device to turn it on, and not be able to find a button to do so.

After you’ve adjusted to the unusual positioning, it actually becomes really comfortable to use. LG has placed the button in exactly the right spot on the rear panel so that it doesn’t require an awkward hand position to access, and I had no issues trying to find the button without having to see it. For those people who find it annoying to access, LG has packed a software feature that allows you to double-tap the display to turn it on.

The front of the LG G2 appears classy, with a single piece of toughened glass protecting a dominating display. Next to the speaker grill on the top panel there’s a front-facing camera, sensor array, and the ever-useful notification light. Combined with a smooth glass panel, the edge-to-edge display and the lack of a rim around the front panel, the display is an absolute pleasure to use.

The back of the G2 is made of smooth plastic with diagonal highlights, which is disappointing in two ways: the plastic panel is a major fingerprint magnet, while it also looks and feels a little cheap. It doesn’t appear as cheap as the Galaxy S4’s design, but when you have a well-crafted front panel, it’s a little bit of a letdown when the back hasn’t received the same polish.

The handset is comfortable to hold thanks to the curved design. LG wasn’t all that interested in breaking slimness records, with the device measuring 9.1mm thick, but it’s unlikely you’ll feel the size in your hands, or care. Through keeping the device this size, LG has managed to pack in an 11.4 Wh battery, and in most cases it’s preferable to have a large battery rather than a 6mm thin phone.

All the ports on the G2 are found on the bottom edge, with the microUSB port in the middle and the 3.5mm headphone jack to the left. Interestingly there are two speaker grills on this panel as well, although there’s only a speaker behind one of them; the other one is fake, included only for design reasons. The top edge has a small IR LED to facilitate the TV control functionality, along with a microphone.

It’s not the nicest design I’ve seen for a flagship smartphone, but the LG G2 is ergonomic and functional, with the large display fitting snugly into the front panel with minimal bezel. Surprisingly, the rear buttons are easy to use, and it makes an interesting change-up to the standard smartphone layout.

Screen Quality

Having lost points on design, the LG G2’s screen is something of a show stealer, wowing us from the off. The 5.2-inch Full HD IPS display features stunningly sharp 423 pixels per inch density. The streamlined bezel of the G2 further enhances the impressive IPS panel, giving the display added pop and helping to set the handset out from the crowd. Although the phone’s footprint is no bigger than that of the S4, the G2 has a screen 0.2 inches bigger, and this makes a noticeable difference.

The reduced bezel and HD screen turn the LG G2 into a one of a kind device, but we expect to see a number of rival manufacturers follow suit in the near future.

The benefits of the LG G2’s screen are not all about the slimline bezel though. The IPS panel might not be as bright as some AMOLED display hosting rivals, but the colours are truer and less over-exaggerated. The LG G2 screen produces colours that are accurate and do not suffer from the familiar oversaturation issues of some rivals. The screen’s touch panel is responsive, with no undue lag or hesitation meeting any of the gesture commands we threw at it.

A complete package, the 423ppi image density means even the finest of details are pin-sharp and text never appears smudged or soft at the edges. The screen is capable of tackling pages of text and vibrant, detailed HD images with equal aplomb and continues to impress long after it has first grabbed your attention.

Unfortunately, the LG G2 screen quality is not without the odd blemish. The display is a little on the reflective side, with outdoor conditions producing an unwanted amount of glare. Only a slight issue, this problem is far from the same performance depleting leagues of the Huawei Ascend G510. The LG G2's screen quality is so good that we can almost forgive the necessary button placement move fitting in such a large, edge-to-edge display has necessitiated.

Software

The LG G2 is an Android phone with a custom-made LG interface on top. Building on Google’s Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean OS, the LG UX interface has all the features and functions you would want and expect from a high-end phone. The G2’s UI is not as elegant as that on the HTC One, or as overloaded as the Samsung Galaxy S4's, but instead is something of a happy medium that impresses but never really excites.

The LG G2 software is not brimming with masses of filler features. The phone instead plays host to a few neat extras that make the overall user experience simpler, and more pleasant. The first of these to get to grips with is KnockON, a feature that lets you forget about the awkward button placement by using a double tap on-screen to unlock and activate the phone.

Although a far more intuitive way to access your phone than reaching for an out of sight physical key, KnockOn is not always flawless and smooth, proving slightly temperamental during testing. As it requires you to tap the exact same spot twice in very quick succession, we feel a BlackBerry Z10 esque 'slide up to unlock' motion would be a more useful and fool-proof.

Forgoing the eye-tracking filler features of the rival Samsung Galaxy S4, the LG G2's software has a few more useful extras instead. A Guest Mode lets you keep all of your personal data safe when you hand the phone to a friend, while LG’s Plug and Play is a welcome inclusion. Inserting a pair of headphones causes a pop-up menu of app shortcuts to appear, bringing music, video, YouTube and phone apps to the fore. A simple addition, but a real time saver.

The LG G2 might not feature a single killer software feature, but what it does offer is an user experience that is pleasant, engaging and sure to satisfy both hardcore users and smartphone newbies alike. Most importantly, the UI keeps the phone feeling smooth and prompt.

Performance

Having wowed us with its screen, the LG G2’s performance continues the trend, with the 2.26GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor marking the phone out as one of the speediest on the market. It's among the first phones to feature the new Snapdragon CPU, alongside the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and Sony Xperia Z1.

Back to the LG G2, though - the phone was more than capable of handling anything and everything we could throw at it. Strong across the board, the G2 pairs the 2.26GHz CPU with an Adreno 330 GPU and 2GB of DDR3 RAM. Launching apps is a prompt, fuss-free affair with multitasking handled with ease. Jumping from web browsing, to constructing an email, to a casual gaming session in quick succession and the G2 doesn’t break a sweat.

Multitasking is one of the LG G2’s fortes, too. Tackling the issue from multiple angles, three finger swipe multitasking lets you drag across apps running in the background. This proves to be a quick way to move between programs in very easy fashion.

Further multitasking benefits include Q Slide. Having featured in past LG phones, Q Slide lets to pin certain apps (calendar, memo, calculator) over whatever else you’re doing. A transparency slider lets you make content more or less prominent.

On to gaming. Real Racing 3 is a stumbling point for many entry and mid-market phones, but the LG G2’s processor barely misses a beat. The GPU ensures that graphics are on point and, combined with the Full HD IPS screen, overall gaming visuals are second to none. Video content again benefits from the screen and graphics partnership, with motion blur and image lag now a thing of the past.

Camera

The LG G2 camera is a 13-megapixel offering with optical image stabilisation (OIS) thrown in for good measure. Although an impressive camera on paper, in reality, the results fall slightly short of expectations with long focus times and an unreliable white balance bringing the performance quality down. As you would expect from a modern flagship phone, 1080p Full HD video recording is also possible.

The first 13-megapixel smartphone camera to benefit from OIS, the LG G2 is a largely well balanced offering that, like the phone’s software, impresses but doesn’t really excite. Despite having OIS, slightly blurred shots are still an all-too-frequent occurrence, with the image stabilisation features proving more of an occasional improvement than a regular shot saver. It's not as effective as the OIS found in the Nokia Lumia 1020. Despite what LG would have you believe, the G2 camera is not going to stop shots in less than ideal lighting being prone to blurring either. A steady hand is still required to capture strong pictures.

Further enhancing the G2 camera, LG has packed the phone with all manner of shooting modes. Everything from the standard night mode and action shots, to dual camera shooting and LG’s own Photo Sphere rival is included. The result is an array of options capable of tackling most shooting environments. Although it has an LED flash, the LG G2, like most smartphone cameras, is not the best of indoor performers.

The flash is one of the better additions, not completely whiting out your snaps. The G2 camera does generally struggle with its brightness management, though. A bit happy on the whites, shots can end up overexposed

Hardly a game changer, but a fun extra, the ‘Cheese Shutter’ takes a snap when subjects say ‘cheese’ - sure to make the kids happy to get in front of the camera. Giving the physical controls a bit more purpose, the down volume key can be held to launch directly into the camera app from the lock screen. The LG G2’s camera collection is about more than just the 13-megapixel showpiece, with a secondary 2.1-megapixel snapper on the phone’s front.

Shameless selfies will not disappoint. The forward-facing camera is capable of relatively detailed and bright shots. As you would expect, though, depth to images is not the secondary camera’s strong point.

United States
Price : $ 209

11:46 PM

By Unknown

Amazon Fire Phone 32 GB

United States
Price : $ 189

United Kingdom
Price : £299

The Fire is Amazon's first smartphone and launched in September 2014. It has some unique features, including 3D-like visual effects and a visual search which can identify objects using the phone's camera (we'll explain why later on). It uses Amazon's customised Android operating system and offers easy access to all things Amazon.

Amazon Fire Phone review: specs and features

Even at the lower prices, the Fire phone has some tough competition. In terms of hardware, the Fire Phone is very much mid-range. It has a 4.7in IPS display - the same size as the iPhone 6 - with a resolution of 1280x720 pixels, giving it a pixel density of 312ppi. That's good, but not great in the current market. (The iPhone 6 has an unusual resolution of 1334x750 which gives it a slightly higher "Retina" pixel density of 326ppi.) It pairs a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 CPU with 2GB RAM, so performance is decent. As we've said, there's a choice of 32GB or 64GB of stoage but there's no storage expansion slot. An onboard Adreno 330 GPU takes care of graphical duties.

It's a 4G LTE handset, with GPRS, EDGE, 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0, NFC and USB connecivity via a microUSB 2.0 port. It also has stereo speakers and both front and rear-facing cameras. The latter is a 13Mp camera capturing 4128x3096 pixels and has optical image stabilisation, autofocus and an LED flash. It can capture 1080p video at 30fps, and there's a front-facing 2.1Mp camera for selfies and video calls.

Amazon Fire Phone review: build and design

If it had an aluminium band around the edge, the design would be reminiscent of the iPhone 4, since the Fire phone has flush glass front and rear panels. It also has a top-mounted headphone socket and sleep/wake button.

There are no buttons on the right-hand side but on the left are volume and a dual-purpose camera/Firefly button (we'll come to that in a moment). At the bottom is a microUSB port for easy charging and synching, and there's a physical home button below the screen. Stereo speakers hide behind grilles on the top and bottom edges, and produce decent audio with good stereo separation. It's a fairly chunky device, weighing 158g and being - as near as makes no difference - 9mm. The only thing we don't like is that the four courner-mounted sensors - which look just like the front-facing camera - are very obvious, and make the phone a little messy looking.

Amazon Fire Phone review: Fire OS

Although the Fire phone runs a similar operating system to Amazon's Fire tablets, this is basically a new OS in the smartphone world. It's based on Android of course, but you wouldn't know it: there isn't a single icon, button or font that's borrowed from KitKat or Lollipop. If you've used an Amazon Fire tablet, you'll be right at home since navigation is very similar. You get a carousel of recent apps and content, and you swipe upwards to see all your apps. Swiping down from the top brings up a revised control centre and notification area. Selecting an item from the carousel displays context-sensitive options below it. Stop the carousel on the Silk web browser, for example, and you'll see a short list of recently visited websites.

Rotate it to the camera and recent photos are shown, go to a game or app and you might see recent achievements or settings or options. You get the idea. What's not quite as obvious is that you can swipe in from the right-hand side to display upcoming calendar appointments, a weather forecast and your 'VIP' contacts. Swipe in from the left and you get a new version of the menu bar which runs across the top on a Fire tablet, letting you quickly jump to your music, videos, photos, apps, games, documents. Also in the list are Shop and Prime, but they're not the only way Amazon integrates its services. Tap on Books and you'll see a shopping basket icon at the top right: a quick way to jump to the Kindle bookstore. As you'd expect, it's the same in Apps, Games and Audiobooks. Tap on Videos and Amazon's Prime Instant service leaps into life. While Amazon's selection of books and music rivals the best out there, it's a different story with apps and games. The selection is much better than it was a year or two ago, but you'll still find both big-name and more obscure apps missing.

For example, BBC iPlayer, Whatsapp, Real Racing 3, Waze, Just Eat, Fitbit and even the Nest smart thermostat app are all there ready to install for free. However, try to match the full set of apps you have on your iPhone or Android smartphone and you'll quickly find holes. Internet banking apps are scarce, and you won't find any official Google apps such as Maps, Gmail or YouTube. There's still no 4 on Demand app, not ITV Player. If you also have a few smartphone-accessed gadgets, there's a good chance there's not yet an Amazon app available. A few which proved problematic for us included the Nike Fuelband, Y-cam HomeMonitor IP cameras, Parrot's Flower Power (a Bluetooth plant monitor) and the Tado smart thermostat.

Amazon Fire Phone review: Firefly

One feature which you won't find on a Kindle Fire tablet is Firefly. Firefly is the principal reason for the Fire Phone existing, and has been described as 'Shazam for the real world'. Using Firefly you can take pictures of just about anything, and the Fire Phone will extract the useful information in a semantic style. See a product you like, take a picture, and buy it. Firefly uses the camera app to identify music, movies, TV episodes, books, games, DVDs and other products. It can also recognise printed text such as web addresses, email addresses and phone numbers, and let you tap to go directly to the website, send an email or call a number without typing a digit. Firefly tended to work best with book and DVD covers, offering IMDB reviews as well as links to buy the item in Amazon's shop. It was also reliable for URLs and phone numbers.

Amazon Fire phone review: cameras

Camera quality is increasingly important as smartphones take over from traditional digital cameras. The specs are respectable: 13Mp on the rear, with optical stabilisation, and 2.1Mp at the front. While the front snapper is nothing special - it's fine for the odd selfie and Skype chats - the rear is pretty good. Images have realistic colours and are generally sharp and detailed. It's only when you zoom in and scrutinise quality that you'll find a lot of compression and smudgy textures. Plus, the quality in low light isn't great.

The camera app is shared with Firefly, which can be confusing. A long press of the dedicated shutter button starts Firefly, while a short press - even in sleep mode - wakes up the camera app. HDR is suggested automatically based on the scene, and there's a panorama mode too. A strange Lenticular mode allows you to take up to 11 photos from slightly different angles, resulting in a stilted animation which you can only view on the phone itself.

Price : $189