April 23, 2013 By 1 Comment

BlackBerry Q10 vs BlackBerry Bold 9900: Comparison Review

A lot has changed since the release of BlackBerry’s last keyboard flagship, the Bold 9900.  The Canadian firm has changed its name from RIM to BlackBerry, it’s launched a new version of BlackBerry OS (10) and its also released its touch screen flagship, the Z10 (read our Z10 review here).

There’s also no hiding the fact that BlackBerry has been through some troubled times. Some may have jumped ship to rival operating systems having grown impatient with BlackBerry’s slow progress, but there are those that have remained loyal and eagerly await BlackBerry’s next keyboard instalment. In this post we’ll have a look at the main differences between the old and new – and try to assist those of you that are pondering an upgrade (or first time purchase) from the Bold 9900 to the BlackBerry Q10.

Before we start, here’s a quick note to clarify the situation. The BlackBerry Q10 and Z10 are devices that run on BlackBerry 10 OS, so this post may sometimes refer to BlackBerry 10 rather than the Q10. Anything said here about BlackBerry 10 software is applicable to both the Q10 and the Z10. The BlackBerry Bold runs on BlackBerry 7, so in some cases we will essentially be comparing BlackBerry OS 7 to BlackBerry OS 10. However, any references made to hardware will be a direct comparison between the Q10 and the Bold 9900.

BlackBerry Q10 vs BlackBerry Bold 9900

 

Keyboard and trackpad

We’ll start with the most significant feature of the two devices and that for which BlackBerry has become so well-known over the years – the keyboard.

BlackBerry has increased the size of the keyboard on the Q10, making rapid typing even easier. The frets (strips separating each row of keys) on the Q10 are larger than those of the 9900, meaning there is more space between each row which therefore makes it easier for your fingers to find the correct key. Increasing the size of the keyboard means that all of the keys on the first three rows are the same size, which BlackBerry says will help with touch typing. In contrast, the keys on the Bold 9900 aren’t consistent in size. Interestingly BlackBerry has switched the keyboard from curved to straight, which may take some getting used to, but suggests that this combined with the larger keys does make typing easier.

Another big change between the two devices is the removal of the optical trackpad and the dedicated send, back and menu keys, which are present on the 9900 but not the Q10. Removing these has enabled BlackBerry to increase the size of the keyboard and screen. Seasoned BlackBerry users may prefer the feel of a trackpad, but the larger, more responsive screen more than makes up for its absence.

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April 17, 2013 By 8 Comments

HTC One vs SGS3: live sound recording comparison

One of the features in the HTC One that is pretty much unrivalled, especially when it comes to Android, is its live sound recording. The HTC One uses a dual-membrane microphone for recording – one for high-level audio and one for low-level audio, which we discuss more in this article. This is great for recording live music, particularly that which is bass heavy.

The first video below from a YouTube user reportedly pits the HTC One against the SGS3. You could expect a similar performance to that of the S3 from any handset that includes only a single membrane microphone, which includes the Samsung Galaxy S4. There is an astounding difference in quality, so much so that the music recorded by the S3 is barely audible.

In the comparison videos, there is such a difference in quality that they sound like different tracks. It’s not a perfect test as it’s not exactly the same clip being recorded on both handsets. However, they are in parts the same, which you can tell from listening closely to the beat. Included below are the individual recordings for each handset to demonstrate this further.  If you listen to the HTC One video you can hear the bass kick in at around 01:55, which from then onwards is the most similar to the SGS3 recording (second video below).

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April 1, 2013 By 15 Comments

HTC One vs Samsung Galaxy S4: Comparison Review

For somebody looking to purchase a new phone, the choice between the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the HTC One will be a tough one. The two are barely separable when it comes to hardware, but both manufacturers have developed some impressive software to differentiate their devices. In this post we’ll focus mainly on comparing the hardware features (on paper) as there are enough new software features across the two handsets that it warrants an entire post to itself.

HTC One Vs Samsung Galaxy S4

Processor

It should be noted that there are two main variants of the Samsung Galaxy S4 – one that comes with the Exynos 5 octa-core processor and another that comes with the Snapdragon 600 quad-core processor. It’s the latter that we’ll be ranging, which has a clock speed of 1.9GHz compared to the One’s 1.7GHz. That’s a negligible difference and both handsets feature 2GB RAM, which is plenty of power for the majority of users.

Battery Life

Battery life is a big consideration when it comes to choosing a new handset and is an area that’s easy to overlook. For this part of the review we’ll look at some third party test results rather than the official spec sheet figures. These are by no means conclusive and battery life does vary depending on your usage pattern, but are a good gauge nonetheless.

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February 13, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Sony Xperia Z v Google Nexus 4 Comparison Review [VIDEO]

We put 2 of the latest smartphones together in a head to head comparison, the Sony Xperia Z and the Google Nexus 4.

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February 10, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Sony Xperia Z Hardware Size Comparison

With the latest smartphones, you are not always able to see them in the shops and get a chance to handle it and see how it compares in size to other devices.

In an effort to assist in this we have put together a short video that compares the physical size of the Xpeira Z to other leading smartphones.

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February 4, 2013 By 3 Comments

Sony Xperia Z v Samsung Galaxy S3 Comparison Review [VIDEO]

Every new smartphone on the market today is competing with some very good competition and the Xperia Z has it tough against the Samsung Galaxy S3.

Which is better? We put them together and took a look at some of the key differences.

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January 22, 2013 By 9 Comments

Sony Xperia Z vs. Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Comparison Review

Sony Xperia Z vs. Samsung Galaxy Note 2

The Samsung Galaxy Note handsets have been best in class since their existence, not only because they are great devices, but also due to the fact that they’ve had no competition. HTC has recently released the Butterfly J/Droid DNA (although not in the UK), which is the first handset to come close to the Galaxy Note II in terms of screen size. The Xperia Z, therefore, will be the first UK handset to offer an alternative to the Galaxy Note 2 for those that want as much real estate as possible.

While the handsets are similar in terms of screen size, there are some big differences that need to be observed if it’s not just screen size that you’re interested in. Let’s see how these two match up on paper.

Unique Selling Points

Before we look at the comparable features of these two handsets, we first need to look at what makes them stand out from the competition. First up, there’s the S Pen functionality of the Note 2. There’s nothing else like this available in the current smartphone market, so if you’re looking for a stylus, there’s no compromise. The split screen multi-tasking that Samsung’s Multi View offers is incredibly powerful and there’s a whole range of other features that the S Pen includes.

However, the Xperia Z has its own trump card to play, and that comes in the form of an IP55 and IP57 protection rating.  This means the handset is water and dust resistant and can be submerged in water up to 3 feet deep. It’s not the first handset to offer these features, but it is the first flagship. Previously you would have had to have settled for a smaller screen on the likes of the Sony Xperia Go or Motorola DEFY. The Z also comes with a small recess enabling you to attach a lanyard, which is a big plus for sporty users.

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January 3, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Nokia Lumia 920 vs Nokia Lumia 820

Hardly comparable I hear you say? to a point yes; but there are some significant differences between the two siblings. Naturally the 920 will be far more superior in certain areas which is to be expected; as it is the ‘top end’  device after all. I am going to briefly compare the differences and the similarities between these two Nokia WP8 Smartphones to help gain a clearer picture for potential users.

Firstly I would like to point out that both the 920 & 820 are in fact operating on the same chipsets (Qualcomm MSM8960 Snapdragon; Adreno 220 GPU). the CPU’s are both Dual-core; and again both are clocked at 1.5GHz and feature 1GB of RAM.

As mentioned previously – both devices are operating on the same chipsets but the 920 still holds the advantage when it comes to speed and all round general smoothness. The 920 features a PureMotion HD+ (increases the refresh rate of the physical screen itself to match up with the 60 frames per second, thereby reducing blur) display, as well as ClearBlack (reduces reflections on the screen and improves visual image quality, especially outdoors). The 820 does not feature PureMotion HD+ therefore it lacks that extra bit of smoothness that the 920 has when it comes to the general speed of the interface operation.

In terms of size; the 920 is significantly larger and weighs approximately 25g more than its predecessor. I personally feel that the 820 feels a lot more natural to hold as the 920 is a fair bit wider and feels some what awkward to hold. Both the 920 & 820 have a polycarbonate finish that really confirm the quality of build of both handsets.

Another issue or let’s say big difference would be the on board memory between the two. The 820 only has an internal memory of up to 8GB but features an expansion slot that can add up to 32GB to your device (albeit on a microSD card of course). The 920 features a generous 32GB of internal memory (7GB of Cloud storage) BUT does not have an expansion slot. Not a massive disadvantage as I guess Windows are trying to push people to the Cloud; but perhaps a slight inconvenience?

Nokia have really produced a very technical line with the Lumia series. The camera tech being one feature that really stands out. Both handsets have excellent photography capabilities; especially for a Smartphone. Both handsets feature 8MP primary cameras with 1080p video capture and both feature Carl Zeiss optics, autofocus & dual LED-flash. The 920 has a few extra features that make it that extra bit special with optical image stabilization and of course the PureView technology.

Using advanced floating lens technology, the PureView camera in the Nokia Lumia 920 takes in five times more light than competing smartphones without using flash, making it possible to capture the best pictures and videos even at night.

So, there you have it, the main differences between the two have been ironed out -fairly significant wouldn’t you say? screen size, screen resolution, storage and of course the superior PureView camera Technology on the Lumia 920. It’s clear that the Lumia 920 is the better option if money is not an issue but that’s not to say that the Lumia 820 is not a good handset. The 820 is a very strong mid range device (if you can call it that) for those that want to stay under the £400 bracket. We want to hear what handset you have opted for and whether this comparison has swayed your opinion/decision at all?

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January 2, 2013 By 1 Comment

Nokia Lumia 920 vs Samsung Ativ S

Let’s take a look at the differences between these two heavyweight Windows phone 8 devices. Granted – the price difference is significant between the two but they are definitely rivals as both Samsung & Nokia have produced high spec Smartphones on WP8.

So what are the main deciding factors between the two? let’s find out..

OS: Right, a fairly straight forward one here as both devices are running on the latest Windows OS (WIndows Phone 8)

Processor: The Lumia 920 is one of the fastest Smartphones that Nokia have ever produced. The 920 is running on a 1.5GHz (1GB RAM) dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 chip. The Ativ S is again clocked at 1.5GHz (1GB RAM) whilst also sporting a Qualcomm chip too BUT.. it is paired alongside an Adreno 225 GPU for a smoother experience without any lag. The Ativ S just shades this one for me.

Display: There’s no surprise that Samsung have produced yet another highly vibrant screen with the Ativ S. A 4.8-inch Super AMOLED screen that operates at a resolution of 720×1280 pixels with a pixel density of 306ppi. The Nokia Lumia 920 has 4.5-inch WXGA IPS LCD operating at a resolution of 768×1280 pixels, with a pixel density of 326ppi. Both feature vibrant and tough screens but the Lumia 920 has the slight advantage here; as the smaller screen gives the user that slightly richer experience.

Storage: The Lumia 920 does NOT have a micro SD card slot for expandable storage but they do soften the blow with a fairly large internal storage of 32GB. Samsung provide an internal storage of 16GB with the option to expand with a Micro SD card slot. Unsurprisingly the Ativ S is the favoured option here.

Camera: Samsung’s Ativ S features an 8-megapixel camera with auto focus, LED flash, image stabilization, geo tagging along wth 1080P video capture. The handset also features a 1.9-megapixel front facing camera for Skype. The Lumia 920 has an 8.7-megapixel PureView camera that features a Carl Zeiss Tessar Lens as well as 1080P video capture. Nokia are leaps and bounds ahead when it comes to camera capabilities, they have given their users a wonderful piece of kit; especially if we are referring to the photography side of things. The Nokia Lumia 920 is the clear winner here.

Design: The Nokia Lumia 920 (130.0mm x 70.8 mm x 10.7 mm; 185g) has a quality build that feels solid in the hand. Samsung have designed something not too dissimilar to previous handsets with the Ativ S (137.2mm x 70.5mm x 8.7mm; 135g). Yes, the Lumia 920 is a fair bit heavier than the Ativ S, but the sheer build and quality of the device is second to none.

Verdict: Nokia have really surprised a lot of people with their Lumia range. The Lumia 920 is bold & beautiful device that really is a going to be remembered for all of the right reasons. The build quality and features outweigh that of the Samsung Ativ S in my opinion. Let’s not get confused; the Samsung Ativ S is a top end WP8 device that offers a lot to it’s potential user but Nokia have really pulled out all of the stops with their first WP8 release.

We would love to hear your opinions on which device you opted for and whether you felt you made the right choice?

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December 21, 2012 By 1 Comment

Nokia Lumia 820 vs HTC 8S

We’re going to compare these two mid range Windows Phone 8 devices. Who has won the battle between the Nokia Lumia 820 & the HTC 8S? we’ll leave it up to you to decide..

OS: Both devices are operating on the latest windows OS; Windows Phone 8. There isn’t too much to draw between the two when it comes to the operating system.

Processor: The two handsets are both running on Qualcomm Series 4 (S4) dual-core chipsets. There is a notable difference with the speed of the processors, the 8S is clocked at 1GHz with 512MB of RAM where the Lumia 820 is a lot faster at 1.5GHz with 1GB of RAM. The difference in processing speed will be a huge deciding factor for many as the difference will be quite noticeable when gaming and running numerous apps at the same time.

Display: The Nokia Lumia 820 features a 4.3-inch AMOLED screen with an 800×480 pixel resolution and 217 pixels-per-inch (PPI) along with their latest technology ‘ClearBlack’ which enhances both contrast and black and dark colour depth. The HTC 8S features a 4-inch super LCD screen with a 800×480 pixel resolution, the 8S has a higher pixel density at 233 (PPI). There really isn’t too much to chose between these two displays as the difference is hardly significant.

Storage: The internal storage may be an issue for some; the Lumia 820 has a capacity of 8GB compared to that of the HTC 8S that only offers 4GB. Both devices have expandable storage for up to 32GB.

Camera: Let’s not forget that these are mid range Smartphones; so the tech won’t be up there with the likes of the SGS3 & the HTC One X (Plus). The Lumia 820 definitely steals the march on the HTC 8S when it comes to camera quality. The 820 features a 8-megapixel camera with the high quality Carl Zeiss lens and dual LED flash along with 1080p video capture. The HTC 8S comes with a 5-megapixel camera along with the standard features but only 720p video capture. There’s only one winner here.

Design: The Lumia 820 (123.8 mm x 68.5 mm x 9.9 mm) is slightly larger than the HTC 8S (120.5 x 63 x 10.28 mm) and is approximately 50 grams heavier. Both devices have rounded edges and a smooth finish. The 820 naturally feels bulkier in the hand compared to that of the 8S but it does come down to personal preference of course.

Conclusion: Personally I feel that the Lumia 820 is the clear winner, Nokia have just edged it with the higher spec and camera qualities. If it came down to the value then the HTC 8S would clearly be the better option – but in terms of overall quality; the Lumia 820 has stolen the mid-range crown!

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