The Z10 is a very important phone for Blackberry. After the name change from Research in Motion, the Blackberry Z10 has a lot on in shoulders. If it fails to pull up the sales, the brand might actually disappear. Let us take a look at what the Blackberry Z10 has for its end-users:

Hardware

The Z10, as expected, is professional look and stylistically muted. Its monochrome body only has a chrome brand logo for a highlight plus some aluminum buttons. One may also notice that the phone has some similarities with the iPhone 5 but the Z10′s face is broken up by a bands on the top and bottom that form the rim of the body.

The Z10 features a removable backplate with a rubberized coating hugging the plastic cover. It may save the phone from slipping but it does not go with the prestige branding the company wants to have for this phone.

Under the hood you have the 1.5GHz MSM8960 Qualcomm dual-core CPU coupled with a 2GB RAM.

The BlackBerry Z10 has a 4.2-inch display with a 1280×768 resolution. It measures at 130 x 66 x 9.3mm. It has a 2MP front-facing camera while the main camera on the rear is a very capable 8MP unit.

Software

The BlackBerry 10 operating system is a big leap fromt eh BB7. It has a very modern feel in most aspects. It relies heavily on gestures to control the user interface and allows for heavy multi-tasking. The apps come up on a grid unlike the iOS that allows for creating folders and re-arranging.

There is also the BlackBerry Hub that lists all of your connectivity options. The list can be quite intimidating at first but after a while, you can make most of it to keep up with everything.

Verdict

The BlackBerry Z10 is a very nice looking and capable phone. Sadly, there is nothing new that will make it stand out from the leader of the segment. Productivity wise, the BB10 OS can make its loyal fan base fall in love with it all over again.

The HTC 8X does not have 4G capabilities and make use of an operating system that may be daunting to a lot of users. The phone is actually the Windows Phone 8X and it is one of the nicest and tactile phones you can get hold of today. This phone joins the HTC 8S and aims to compete with the likes of the Nokia Lumia 820 and the Nokia Lumia 920.

Build

The HTC 8X feels sturdy and solid. It can be considered as one of the best constructed units since the Legend phone. You will not hear any creaking or feel any flexing with this phone. This is somehow due to the battery being sealed inside the phone, so users cannot pop off the back panel. The design allows the battery to be bigger while the phone remains a slim architecture.

It feels smaller than its other competitions with 4.3-inch displays. It will not stretch your hand just like when you hold the Galaxy S2 or the even bigger S3.

Its smoothness, blending the polycarbonate body with the glass screen, will make one mistake it for a worry stone that you can flip and rotate thru your fingers.

Features

The sounds coming from HTC phones are always good since the manufacturer’s partnership with Beats Audio. The HTC 8X comes with an amplifier to boosts its audio and it comes pretty obvious when you are listening to music or watching some video.

The phone also comes with an 8MP main camera and a 2.1MP front camera. HTC phones are well-known for its quick shutter and HD video capabilities.

The 4.3-inch display has a resolution of 1,280 x 800 with 342ppi. That number simply says that its even better than the Retina Display of the iPhone 5 with 326 ppi. The screen is not AMOLED but will not disappoint in terms of color and brightness. The vibrant tiles of the Windows system is also very inviting.

Performance

The HTC 8X sports a dual-core Snapdragon processor. This is the same chip used for the Lumia 920 of Nokia. This is actually enough to run the system without any lag or glitches. The touchscreen is very responsive. HTC was able to make the battery life acceptable.

Affordable luxury. That best defines the DROID RAZR M by Motorola. It follows the footsteps of its successful predecessor, the DROID RAZR that came with a 3300mAh battery. The DROID RAZR M was recently launched during a night of glit and glam together with the DROID RAZR MAXX HD and the DROID RAZR HD. The DROID RAZR M is actually the most affordable among the bunch but the tag price should not deceive you about its capabilities.

The Motorola DROID RAZR M is basically the same as most high end Android phones you can find in the market today. It has a dual core Snapdragon S4 CPU that is identical to what runs the top dogs of the smartphone market in the USA today like the HTC One X and the Samsung Galaxy S III. What we are trying to say is that the DROID RAZR M packs some oomph.

Main Features

• 4.3-inch Super AMOLED touchscreen with 16M colors
• Excellent chassis build with Kevlar coating
• Great ergonomics
• 1.5 GHz Krait CPU, Snapdragon S4 chipset, Adreno 225 graphics
• 8GB of storage with microSD expansion, 1GB of RAM
• 8MP main camera with LED flash
• 1.3MP front camera for video chatting
• 2000 mAh battery
• Customized Ice Cream Sandwich OS

The features are pretty impressive but we can still find some details that is deserving of a thumbsodwn. One, Motorola has to find a better matrix for its screen. Second, the designers could have injected a dedicated button for the camera for ease of use. And third, users cannot replace the battery of the phone in case problems occur. Add to these the tons of bloatware that comes with the phone.

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After parting ways with Ericcson, Japanese manufacturer Sony hit it big with its Xperia line of phones. The range of smarthphones top-billed by the Xperia S has a sibling for the lower end, the Xperia U. The phone features a dual core that is perfect for its segment.

Hardware

When you open the box, you will have the earphones, USB cable, charger, and the of course the Xperia U. The phone measures 4.4×2.1×0.5 inches and tips the scale at 110 grams. This Android device aimed to compete with other midrange phones has a very elegant design. The designers gave the matte plastic casing with a rubberised feel. It also feels good on the grip with its curved back.

The Xperia U has a dual core 1GHz CPU linked with a 400MP GPU. At the back, you have a 5MP camera while the front has a VGA. The phone has a 4 gigabyte storage. It depends on a 1320mAh battery. The smartphone has a good set of features but its non-expandable storage is one of its big thumbs downs. It does not even have a slot for a microSD.

The phone has a 3.5-inch LCD display with 480×854 pixels and a 280 ppi. The viewing angles are quite limited but the display is quite sharp and bright.

Performance

Sony equips the Experia U with its own user interface atop the Gingerbread. Overall, the designers did well in terms of putting some eye candy into the equation without compromising the phone’s performance.

The reception is strong most of the time and the quality of calls are very good.

The refreshed music player of Sony has a very nice layout. It offers some options for its settings and equalizer. The phone supports AVI, 3GP, and MP4. The Bravia Engine specifically for the mobile platform improves the quality of picture. Clearly, this phone is built for watching your favorite movies.

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LG and design house Prada has a history of teaming up to come up with classy phones like their first collaboration which came out around the same time as the original iPhone featuring a slim footprint and a 2MP camera. The Prada II sport a QWERTY keyboard and a 5MP camera. The latest partnership between the two companies is their first attempt on an Android device. The new Prada phone comes with a 4.3-inch display, 8MP camera, and a processor with dual core. This phone has now rolled out in Korea and across Western Europe.

Hardware

The Prada design theme in collaboration with LG has done a good job for this Prada phone. The phone has a removable battery and with a plastic back cover but it feels solid. We can say that the Prada phone is better designed than the Optimus line of phones by LG. The attention put into the details like the metal buttons, cover of the USB port, the capacitive buttons, and the display makes the phone standout from the rest.

The 4.3 inch screen occupies the front plane of the phone together with the Prada branding and the 1.3MP camera. The back cover has the Saffiano pattern which forms part of the Prada branding, and somehow helps the user to keep the grip on the slim phone. The configuration of the buttons is still very LG using the 4-button arrangement, and we are curious how this will be updated in the future.

Overall the design is a bit too safe for a Prada LG collaboration in the time when attractive designs are coming up for smart phones. Perhaps they could have used more of the high end elements or a mental finish instead of the shiny paint job.

Software

The Prada 3.0 also makes use of its own interpretation of the Android environment. Users will still be very comfortable using the system as it has the same feel as the Android Gingerbread just without all the colors. The Prada 3.0 runs on Android 2.3.7 but can be upgraded to Ice Cream Sandwich in the near future. You will not fail to notice the line drawing icons plus some shades of grey for the notification bar. There are also built apps from LG for media streaming and options for the display.

Conclusion

Prada is Prada and it is a brand which can convince anyone. Add to the logo the specs which makes the phone worthy of your hard earned money.

The EVO 4G released in 2010 impressed a lot of mobile phone lovers being the ambassador of WiMAX and a big superphone screen at 4.3 inches. So how will the recently EVO Design 4G compare with its older sibling? If you want to know, read on our review of the EVO Design 4G.

Hardware

In terms of design, this new EVO phone has no wow factor. Do not get us wrong, it feels premium but when you know when you hold it that there should be something better with this HTC. It may lack flair but the soft to the touch rubber, glass, and brushed aluminum gives it a feeling far from cheap. It has a unibody architecture that hugs the 4.3 inch screen and houses its capacitive buttons. It has a dimension of 121x61x12mm and that is a bit thick plus the camera swells on its back.

The LCD display is very crisp even on a smaller screen compared to its predecessor. The 960 by 540 pixel screen displays great color even in unusual angles.
Then 5 megapixel camera is sufficient and should not be counted out. The focusing capability is decently quick even for macro shots. The capture time is also very snappy most times but there can also be washed out images due to the limits of color reproduction.

Software

The EVO Design 4G runs on Gingerbread 2.3.4 and has a design language that replaced the old Sense’s locks, app drawers, home screens, and every layer in between. It looks good but there will be times that its 1.2 Gigahertz processor will be performing rough compared to the smoothness of the Galaxy S II or the iPhone 4. If you will be getting the EVO Design 4G under contract, you can also expect some bloatware to come with it from the provider. HTC though promises an upgrade in the near future to Ice Cream Sandwich.
Performance wise, this phone running on Android will be a lot better if it has a minimum set up of a dual-core brain so it will have the horsepower it needs.

Conclusion

The EVO Design 4G from HTC gives you the best value for your hard earned money. It is well made, nice screen, and very affordable but the phone trying to become a jack of all trades pours in more negativity to its side.

There are a lot of people who love the iPhone but most are not happy about certain aspects of it. The biggest issue that most people have is the way Apple controls what you can do with your phone. This is why people have started to jailbreak them. While this has become a common practice many people still choose not to, there are however good reasons why you should.

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Android is superior when it comes to casino apps is in terms of being able to get access to the newest, most exciting casino apps as soon as they hit the market. Even if iPhone-friendly versions of games like online pokies may be created this will probably not happen until after they have proven a hit with Android users. On the other hand if you are committed to mastering the more challenging casino games it is likely that the high standard iPhone ones will suit you better.

A lot of phone makers add an S to their smart phones to make a new phone of a flagship release plus some minor tweaks. This happens much today barely a few months after releasing a new smartphone. The Xperia Arc by Sony Ericsson is another phone which gets facelifted.

The recently released Xperia Arc S looks like its older sibling when you look at it with the same curvatures which wowed everyone when the Arc was unveiled. Inside, the parts are basically the same except that the Arc S gets a better CUPU with a 1.4GHz Qualcomm brain. Aside from the minor tweak, the Xperia is also the first handset which gets the 3D sweep panorama by Sony which can take 3D pictures for you and view them when you have a compatible TV at home.

Hardware

The Arc S takes the form of a convex profile just like the original Experia Arc. The backing of the phone also seems to be more rigid compared to the older version but it still retains that hmm-whats-that-creeking-i-hear battery cover. Sony Ericsson could have given this smartphone a bigger power button located near the port for the micro-HDMI. The phone still does not come with a camera that faces the front. The three buttons below the 4.2 inch screen might as well serve better with a backlight.

The 4.2 inch screen that runs on a Mobile Bravia technology by Sony is there to impress anyone as it gives you clear and crisp images at 854×480. It also provides a good space for your fingers if you do a lot of browsing or gaming. The 8 megapixel camera using the Exmor R camera sensor works wonders with the updated software that allows more customization choices.

Software

The Xperia Arc S runs on Android Gingerbread. You get the usual feel of Google or Facebook, and there’s also a screen grab feature. The web browser performs well even when you scroll the screen up or down fast. Sony Ericsson also improved the native keyboard for this version making it Swype-ishly responsive.

Performance

According to benchmark tests against the older Xperia Arc, the Arc S scores better primarily due to its improved CPU. The phone works well even when you view a good amount of graphics or browse the web a lot. On normal use involving phone calls, browsing, multimedia playing, the battery of the Ar S can last a day.

Conclusion

The Xperia Arc S is a single-core device which is very reliable. The difference is not much compared to the original Xperia Arc. The 3D Panorama feature is a bonus but it will not be a feature that you will be using much.

The first thing you will notice about the Photon 4G of Motorola is it seems lighter and thinner than how it looks. It looks like a good build that made use the right materials making this phone handsome for the market.

It comes at just 158 grams and 12.2 mm thick. The styling of the Photon 4G veered away from the squarish Droids by Motorola but instead went for curved lines without the corners and the hard edges. The 4.3 inch touch screen is protected by a two-tone coating similar to that of the Mileston XT720 extending to the housing of the mic and the four buttons below the display.

At the back, you will find the 8 MP camera, the LED flash, and the soft-touch plastic covering the battery. There is also secondary microphones and the Motorola emblem in silver. The camera button and the volume rocker are on the right side of the phone while the headphone jack and power key are on the top. On the left side, you get the micro US and micro HDMI connectors.

Specifications-wise, the Photon 4G comes equipped with the Tera 2 1GHz dual-core from NVIDIA, 1GB of RAM, an internal storage of 1GB and the capability to be used in 8 radios. The last feature makes it a true global phone. The call quality is of high standards.

The Photon 4G makes use of the Gingerbread with a Motorola skin. The overall setup makes everything go smoothly with the phone coming in with apps and widgets from Motorola to help the user link with social media networks.

The performance of this phone in terms of speed is quite impressive. The screen display is awesome. So far, this could be the best Motorola handset in the market today.

The HTC Gratia can be considered as a compact, subdued, and old machine but at the same time it manages to be capable, edgy, and new. The HTC Gratia will be the newer version of the HTC Aria that will be rolled out in Europe.

The world of Android consists of screaming big screens which somehow makes it difficult to find something in a small package.

Summary of Features

• 3.2” capacitive HVGA touch screen
• Froyo and Sense UI
• Quad band
• Wi-Fi capable
• 5 MP camera
• microUBS and Bluetooth connectivity
• PDF and Office viewer
• Facebook,  Twitter, and YouTube integration

Some of the down sides of this offering from HTC are the following: sunlight legibility is poor;  there is nosecondary camera for video calls; no dedicated key for the camera; and the card slot located beneath the battery cover.

We cannot say anything about the design lines since it stands out carrying its signature back panel screw. Somehow it has the hints of the HD Minibut still exudes its uniqueness. The user interface too is very usable giving focus on the social media craze these days. Using the Froyo instead of the Éclair also gave the setup a speed boost.

The sound quality of the HTC Gratia is also very crisp with no problem in terms of signal reception.

The HTC Gratia performs well as a mid range smartphone but the Aria still has a better impression overall. The price might also be something people in the old continent might not be pleased with side by side the other droid phones.