Nokia Lumia 928 Features Leaked on Official Site

May 9th, 2013 Rob

Nokia Lumia 928 handset image

With a press release lined up for the 14th May, Nokia addicts are looking forward to this summer’s hottest release on the Microsoft platform. Though official announcements are yet to be made, a quick scan of the American Nokia website reveals plenty of clues including the URL “Lumia928“. Taking all of this on board, what can we expect from the latest Lumia to hit the market?

 

Nokia Lumia 928 features

Expect the next Lumia to be a slight upgrade to the recently released Nokia Lumia 920. Comparing the two devices at face value, both smartphones offer 4.5 inch displays, the latest Windows Phone 8 operating system and 4G connectivity.  As with the Nokia Lumia 920 release, the 928 looks set to hold a PureView camera lens designed with Carl Zeiss optics.

Key differences appear to be in the design of the Lumia 928. Rather than offer the plastic, vibrant colours of the 920 and 820, the 920 steps up a class with its streamline aluminium body. Though we love the personality of the Lumia series, the Nokia 928 may offer a professional looking alternative which positions the latest Lumia as a business handset.

As Nokia try to find their way in the smartphone market against the forces of Apple and Samsung, their latest video campaigns put their tech head to head with the leaders of the pack.

 

Apple iPhone 5 vs Nokia Lumia 928

Nokia takes on Apple with its impressive camera specs. Though the 928 will have a larger 8.7 megapixel count compared to the iPhone, it’s the quality of footage shot during low light environments which helps to make the Lumia shine. Watch the video below to see both flagship devices in action.

Samsung Galaxy S3 vs Nokia Lumia 928

Another leak on the Nokia website claims that the Lumia 928 will have Distortion-free audio recording. Taking on the Samsung Galaxy S3 in a noisy subway, the Lumia 928 maintains sound quality even when exposed to a high volume of trumpeting buskers. Considering the S3 is now over a year old, the true test will come in the form of Nokia Lumia 928 vs Samsung Galaxy S4.

 

Lumia 928 release date

The results of these head to heads certainly show that the latest Nokia features in the Lumia 928 can take on the likes of the iPhone 5 and Galaxy S3. Will the public be convinced? With the official announcement for the Lumia 928 on the 14th May, we expect to see this handset reach the UK for June or July; just in time to capture your summer snaps. Full handset details and specs to follow shortly after announcement.

Nokia Lumia 928

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Samsung Galaxy S4 vs Samsung Galaxy Note 2 review

April 29th, 2013 Rob

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 vs Samsung Galaxy S4

Confused which smartphone is better? Now that the Samsung Galaxy S4 vs Samsung Galaxy Note 2 are both available to buy, mobile fans are probably a little confused about this manufacturer’s handset tactics.

Back in 2011 when the original Galaxy Note was released, its 5.3 inch display earned it the ‘phablet’ moniker, hinting at the fact that it straddled the line between a phone and a tablet. But with a 5 inch display, the Galaxy S4 comes close to matching its distant relation in terms of raw display real estate.

The Galaxy Note 2 may have a larger 5.5 inch display, but it is still arguably a competitor for the Galaxy S4. To settle things once and for all, here is a faceoff of the Galaxy S4 vs Galaxy Note 2, along with a look at some Galaxy Note 3 rumours which might help to work out how things will change later in the year.

 

Galaxy S4 vs Galaxy Note 2 Hardware

In a hardware duel between the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 2, it is relatively difficult to pick a winner based on the versions that UK customers are able to buy.

Both use quad core processors, with the Galaxy S4′s 1.9GHz clock speed slightly outpacing the 1.6GHz chip found in the Galaxy Note 2. Each uses 2GB of RAM and you can have a maximum internal storage capacity of 64GB, with 64GB more available via microSD card.

In the camera department the Galaxy S4 has the upper hand, since it has a 13 megapixel primary snapper that tops the Galaxy Note 2′s 8 megapixel unit. Both have secondary cameras up front, although again the Galaxy S4 takes pole position thanks to the two megapixel sensor and full HD 1080p video capture capabilities.

Arguably the most interesting part of this face-off centres around the displays. As mentioned above the Galaxy Note 2 has a larger screen, measuring a full 5.55 inches across the diagonal, which gives you a bigger usable area than the 5 inch panel of the Galaxy S4.

However, the Galaxy S4 has a trick up its sleeve, because its Super AMOLED display has a Full HD 1080p resolution, which equates to a pixel density of 441ppi. The Galaxy Note 2′s 720p screen can only manage 267ppi because it has fewer pixels spread over a larger surface area.

This technical jargon basically means that the Galaxy S4 offers a much clearer and crisper viewing experience than its larger sibling.

 

Galaxy S4 vs Galaxy Note 2 Interface

With all this screen real estate on offer you would think that both phones would be a joy to interact with and you would be correct, although the two take quite different approaches to this.

While they both run Android and share the same TouchWiz user interface, which should eventually be updated to be consistent across all of Samsung’s high end devices, you can control the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 2 in two totally different ways.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 comes with the S Pen stylus, which is a pressure-sensitive physical input designed to allow for precise interactions with a variety of applications, many of which have been exclusively created for use with this device. In the Galaxy Note 2 vs S4 battle, it’s clear that the Note 2 wins hands down for creativity.

As well as being able to draw and sketch with the S Pen, you can use it with something called Air View, which is basically a preview function. Air View features the ability to bring up a preview of certain bits of content when you hover the S Pen over them, which means you do not have to launch them to find out what they contain.

While the Galaxy S4 does not come with the S Pen, it does feature eye tracking technology facilitated through the front-facing camera. This lets the phone know where the user’s eyes are pointing and can translate this into onscreen interactions.

The eye-tracking features are best demoed with the Smart Pause feature. When watching a video, if you happen to look away, with 2 seconds the video automatically pauses and will only resume when you bring your eyes back to the Full HD display.

 

Galaxy Note 3 Speculation

As with the previous two generations of the Galaxy Note range, it is expected that the third iteration destined for launch later in 2013 will be based on similar hardware to the equivalent flagship Galaxy S model, which in this instance is the Galaxy S4.

Current Galaxy Note 3 rumours suggest that it will have an eight core CPU as featured on the international version of the Galaxy S4, which should give it plenty of power. It is also reported that the display of the Galaxy Note 3 might either be a 5.9 inch or 6.3 inch panel, which would represent yet another major size increase.

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Note 3

Google is gearing up to launch Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie later this year, presumably before the Galaxy Note 3 goes on sale, so this will also be something that Samsung could integrate.

Once the Galaxy Note 3 arrives it will probably have enough features to help distinguish it both from its predecessor and the Galaxy S4. The good news for consumers is that whichever device you pick, it is difficult to go wrong with a high end Samsung smartphone.

 

Samsung Galaxy S4 vs Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Verdict

With both smartphones delivering premium performance, you won’t regret choosing either one of these handsets. The Samsung Galaxy S4 is the freshest phone on the market, offering stronger specs in the power department. If you love to get creative, we know you’ll just love doodling with the S Pen on the Samsung Galaxy Note 2.

You might like: Reasons to Buy a Samsung Galaxy Note 2.

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Samsung Galaxy S4 review

April 2nd, 2013 Rob

Samsung Galaxy S4 handset image

Pre-order your Samsung Galaxy S4 today to experience the latest Samsung features for yourself.
The rumours surrounding the Galaxy S4 have all been washed away in the torrent of media coverage following Samsung’s official unveiling of the device, but is it actually any good? Here is a comprehensive Samsung Galaxy S4 review of what could be the most important smartphone of 2013.

 

 

Design & Display

You could be forgiven for mistaking the Galaxy S4 for last year’s Galaxy S3, because they share a very similar design.

Curved edges, a slim bezel and an impressively slender chassis are all present and correct, but most impressive of all is the fact that the Galaxy S4 is actually thinner and lighter than its predecessor. Measuring just 7.9mm thick and tipping the scales at 130 grams, it is a real featherweight.

Dominating the front of the Galaxy S4 is a five inch Super AMOLED display with a 1080p HD resolution. It is 0.2 inches larger than that of the Galaxy S3, but more importantly has a pixel density of 441ppi, which dramatically improves the crispness and clarity of onscreen imagery.

There is a lot of deserved hype around the Galaxy S4′s display and it is easily able to make the iPhone 5′s Retina Display look sorely outdated.

 

Performance & Storage

At launch Samsung announced that the Galaxy S4 would enter the history books as the world’s first smartphone to feature an eight-core processor.

However, the version being shipped in the UK will instead use a quad core CPU clocked at 1.9GHz, which may sound like a downgrade but is actually necessary to enable 4G connectivity in the Galaxy S4, which will be covered later in the review.

Coupled with 2GB of RAM, this chip should be able to tear through any task you throw at it and keep everything running smoothly, even with the increased screen resolution putting additional strain on the hardware.

Buyers will have the option to choose a Galaxy S4 with between 16GB and 64GB of internal storage, which is par for the course in today’s market. Should you have a need to expand this there is the obligatory microSD card slot and power users can add up to 64GB more space.

 Android 4.2 - Samsung Galaxy S4.

Software & Interface

Android Jelly Bean 4.2.2 is the operating system of choice for the Galaxy S4, which is unsurprising given Samsung’s long record of success with this platform. In fact without it you could argue that the company might not be in the dominant position that it is today.

Android is faster and more refined than ever, although with all the hardware found onboard the Galaxy S4 it would be surprising if it was not.

What sets this handset apart from its contemporaries is the presence of the TouchWiz user interface, which has been further tweaked by Samsung for its latest release.

As well as having multiple customisable homescreens which can be controlled with the touch sensitive display, the Galaxy S4 gives users a few other ways to interact with the phone.

First up is the return of S Voice, Samsung’s take on the voice-activated personal assistant that was popularised by Apple’s Siri. This is getting more advanced and accurate by the month, allowing you to make appointments, launch apps, compose tweets and engage with many other S4 features.

In addition the S4 features eye tracking using the front-facing secondary camera. This basically means that the phone can work out where a user is looking and use this as a form of hands-free interaction.

The main demonstration of this comes in the form of the ability to have your phone automatically pause a video you are watching when it detects that you have looked away from the screen. This tech can also be used to change the way that the Galaxy S4 handles scrolling.

 

 

Connectivity

You get the full complement of connectivity options on the Samsung Galaxy S4, including vital services like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to more modern additions such as NFC and 4G.

As mentioned earlier in the Samsung Galaxy S4 review, in order to support 4G networking the UK version will not have an eight core CPU, but with the growth of 4G coverage and more providers entering the market later in the year, it is an easy trade-off to justify.

 

 

Camera

There are two cameras onboard the Galaxy S4. The first is a 13 megapixel snapper mounted on the rear, with the second unit found on the front of the device to support video calls and the eye-tracking capabilities noted above.

The primary camera is a real treat, because it can capture much more detail than that found on any of the Galaxy S4′s predecessors. There is also full HD 1080p video recording available, which makes even more sense since the phone’s display can play this back in its native resolution.

Samsung Galaxy S4 - dual camera feature

 

 

Who Should Buy One?

The Galaxy S4 is definitely a worthy replacement for the best-selling Galaxy S3 and the way Samsung deals with upgrades generally involved pushing the technical envelope as far as it can go.

Those who had been hoping for an evolution of the design as well as the hardware might be a little disappointed, although the Galaxy S4 is still a good looking device.

If you are locked into a two year contract with a Galaxy S3 then you might not need to upgrade immediately, but anyone who is looking for the current king of the Android smartphone market should find the Galaxy S4 to be more than worthy.

Pre-order your Galaxy S4 today to experience the latest Samsung features for yourself.

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Samsung Galaxy Note 2 vs HTC One vs Sony Xperia Z

February 18th, 2013 Rob

With smartphone screens getting bigger by the month, it is no longer surprising to see new phones emerging to rival Samsung’s gargantuan Galaxy Note 2. In this face-off the two main contenders at the moment are the Sony Xperia Z and the HTC One. While the former has already been officially revealed, the latter is still being kept under wraps, which means it is necessary to base the comparison on well documented rumours.

So now the gloves are off and it is time to find out whether the Galaxy Note 2 can beat back the pretenders to its title. We shall see who wins in a fight of Samsung vs Sony vs HTC.

 

Looks

The Galaxy Note 2 is a slab of a phone, taking up even more room than its predecessor and weighing in at 180 grams. It is still under a centimetre thick and its styling echoes that of the smaller Galaxy S3, with rounded corners and a physical homekey beneath the display.

Chrome detailing around the edge and a built-in stylus give the Galaxy Note 2 some personality, with different colours available to suit different tastes.

The Xperia Z from Sony is smaller and lighter, using premium materials and going for a standard glossy black finish throughout. It is also the only one of the three that is waterproof and dustproof, which makes it stylish and surprisingly durable.

Leaked images show that the HTC One (M7) will be a little larger than the One X handset that it replaces, as well as benefitting from a quality unibody chassis and a flatter, thinner design than that which came before.

It is quite difficult to separate the three from an aesthetic point of view, in part because this is a subjective decision and also because they are equally well designed.

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 vs HTC One vs Sony Xperia Z

Screen

If you are looking for sheer size, the Galaxy Note 2 is still the big daddy thanks to its 5.55 inch Super AMOLED display. It packs a 720p native resolution, which gives it a healthy pixel density of 267ppi.

However, size is not everything, as demonstrated by both the Xperia Z and the HTC One. Sony’s smartphone has a five inch display with a full HD 1080p resolution, while the HTC handset is a little smaller at 4.7 inches but still has that 1080p pixel count to work in its favour.

This means that the Xperia Z will have a pixel density of 441ppi, which is a good deal higher than that boasted by the Galaxy Note 2. The HTC One will go higher still, although its vital statistics have yet to be revealed.

All these numbers basically mean that in spite of its extra size, the Galaxy Note 2′s display will look a little less crisp and clear when compared to its rivals.

To make up for this the use of Super AMOLED technology means that the colour saturation and brightness on the Galaxy Note 2 will outpace the LCD panels found on the other handsets.

The Xperia Z uses Sony’s Bravia Mobile Engine to improve display performance, which will make a difference, so its higher resolution might still give it the advantage.

Of course the ultimate determining factor might be which one you can actually fit in your pocket or the palm of your hand. And the HTC One is likely to win in that respect.

 

Operating System

All three of these phones run Android Jelly Bean, although only the HTC is likely to land with version 4.2 onboard while Sony and Samsung provide version 4.1 out of the box and promise an update in the future.

It is the manufacturer-concocted interfaces that help to define these handsets. So even if the Android framework is identical, they can provide different experiences.

The Galaxy Note 2 features the latest iteration of Samsung’s TouchWiz and there are of course a number of apps specifically designed for use with the included S-Pen stylus.

Sony’s interface is cleaner and more minimalistic, running as smooth as silk and offering good integration for media playback and social networking.

The HTC One brings with it the promise of Sense 5.0, which is a the firm’s overhauled interface that looks to be a little more grown-up and refined than it has before.

Sony Xperia Z vs HTC One vs Samsung Galaxy Note 2

Power

When it comes to raw power, all of the phones are evenly matched in most respects. They all have quad core processors and clock speeds range from 1.5GHz for the Xperia Z up to 1.7GHz for the One, with the Galaxy Note 2 sitting squarely between them.

You also get 2GB of RAM onboard all three, so things like load times and multitasking should be relatively similar, at least in theory.

The thing that really makes the difference is how well each manufacturer has optimised the software to take advantage of all this processing might. Thankfully there is no weak link here, at least when considering the two phones that have actually been revealed in public.

HTC still has a chance to take the performance crown with the One if it manages to make a good marriage of the hardware and the software.

 

Camera

The Galaxy Note 2 has an eight megapixel camera with full HD video capture, along with a front-facing 1.9 megapixel secondary snapper.

Compared to the 13 megapixel cameras bolted onto both the Sony and HTC handsets, it looks a little outdated. Better low light performance is boasted by the Xperia Z, while you can expect the One to offer simultaneous video recording and still image capture.

 

And the best 5 inch smartphone is…

Buyers will need to pick the phone that best suits their needs and budget, but in this battle of Samsung vs Sony vs HTC, you could argue that it is the Xperia Z that comes out on top.

This 5 inch smartphone hits the sweet spot for display size and processing power, as well as offering a durable design not found elsewhere.

We’ll soon be able to unveil the new HTC One spec.

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Best smartphones for 2013 – iPhone 5S vs Galaxy S4 vs BB Z10 vs Xperia Z

February 12th, 2013 Rob

 Best smartphones for 2013.

The smartphone industry is gearing up to debut the latest and greatest handsets that will appeal to consumers looking to upgrade in 2013. Here are five of the best smartphones for 2013, released or rumoured, to be arriving at some point next year. Take a look and decide for yourself which will make the biggest impact.

 

Apple iPhone 5S

The iPhone 5 may only be a few months old, but there is already talk of Apple’s next mobile landing sooner than anticipated. In the past the iPhone has enjoyed yearly updates, but this annual cycle might be broken, since Apple released the iPad 4 just over half a year after its predecessor went on sale.

The iPhone 5S is likely to be an incremental upgrade rather than a total reworking of the current iPhone 5. This means you can expect it to use the same four-inch Retina Display, along with the slim and stylish design.

The main reason for the quick update is that Apple’s manufacturing partners cannot keep up with the demand for the iPhone 5, which is proving more difficult to make than initially thought. The iPhone 5S should essentially be quicker to build in the large numbers required.

 

Samsung Galaxy S4 - Best smartphones for 2013

 

Samsung Galaxy S4

In 2012 the Samsung Galaxy S3 was the undisputed king of the smartphone market, even managing to outsell the iPhone 5 for a period. Samsung is not one to rest on its laurels and the Galaxy S4 is undoubtedly in development at this very moment.

While nothing official is known about the device, most believe that it will be equipped with a five-inch touchscreen display with a full HD 1080p resolution and Super AMOLED panel. This will easily outstrip the performance of the 4.8-inch 720p screen of the Galaxy S3 in terms of pixel density.

The jury is out on whether the Galaxy S4 will harness a new quad-core processor or take the leap to an eight-core solution. For the moment, the quad-core route seems more sensible, since this is already provides more than enough power for a mobile device and paired with new flash memory technology it should keep the Galaxy S4 feeling pretty quick.

If the best smartphones for 2013 boils down to an Apple iPhone 5 vs Samsung Galaxy S4 head to head, the latter will have the technical upper hand. Even the meagre update of the iPhone 5S will not be enough to stop Samsung asserting its dominance.

If you want to know about the Samsung Galaxy S4 pre-order before your friends, sign up to our mailing list for the official announcement.

 BlackBerry Z10 - Best smartphones for 2013

BlackBerry Z10

2013 will be a bit of a make-or-break year for BlackBerry, but they certainly have brought their best game to the table with their latest flagship; the BlackBerry Z10.

This device runs the new BB 10 operating system, which is based on the software found on RIM’s PlayBook tablet. As such, the phone should have a well-optimised, finger-friendly interface that uses gesture-based controls and offers some of the best multitasking on the market.

The Z10 will buck the BlackBerry trend and feature a touch-only display with no physical keyboard in sight, but it will be accompanied on the market by a more traditional RIM handset that does fulfil all of your QWERTY typing needs. More info on BlackBerry Z10 features.

 

Sony Xperia Z

 

Sony Xperia Z

Samsung’s Galaxy S4 will not be the only device to utilise a full HD screen next year, as the Sony Xperia Z offers similar tech specs to impress.

As well as a high-resolution display, the Xperia Z packs a 1.5GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM and even a 13-megapixel camera, which should give it the edge over the current crop of high-end smartphones.

Best smartphones for 2013

 

Microsoft Surface Phone

Microsoft entered the tablet hardware market with its Surface in the autumn of 2012 and now it looks like it will be pulling the same trick in the smartphone sector.

At the moment the new Windows Phone 8 operating system is being supported by third-party handsets built by Nokia, HTC and Samsung. If Microsoft creates an own-brand smartphone as part of the Surface range, as is currently rumoured, it will compete directly with its manufacturing partners, much to their chagrin.

Of course, Google has proven that putting its name to a smartphone range is a recipe for success, as long as you get the pricing right; the LG-manufactured Nexus 4 is selling faster than it can be produced, with long waiting lists.

The main problem for manufacturers looking to build the best smartphones for 2013 is that people will be focused on Apple iPhone 5 vs Samsung Galaxy S4.

So there’s our round up of the best smartphones for 2013. Which releases are you looking forward to? Who will win between Apple iPhone 5S and Samsung Galaxy S4? It’s an exciting year ahead and we’re glad to be covering it. 

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HTC M7 rumours. Features, specs, price & release date.

February 11th, 2013 Rob

HTC M7 white smartphone.
HTC has been nipping at Samsung’s heels for the past few years, with its various flagship smartphones attempting to topple the Galaxy S range, or at least steal away some of its market share.

In 2013 the phone that HTC hopes will achieve this is a new flagship device currently codenamed the M7. Although it will officially be unveiled during the Mobile World Congress event held this February in Barcelona, a number of leaks and rumours have emerged to give us a fairly good idea of what to expect.

Here is a round-up of the various titbits of information surrounding the HTC M7 features, which might give you pause for thought if you had already set your heart on the Samsung Galaxy S4.

 

Screen

Specs are very important at the top end of the mobile market, because they are the best way of keeping score and often determine whether a phone is a success or a flop.

The HTC M7 features a large display that will reportedly measure 4.7 inches across the diagonal. That makes it the same size as last year’s One X, but with a full HD 1080p resolution, the HTC M7 features much higher pixel density, easily outshining the 326ppi of the iPhone’s Retina Display.

Interestingly the M7 will be going up against a number of 5 inch smartphone handsets, including the Xperia Z from Sony. While its 4.7 inch screen will be a bit smaller, it will still feature the same number of pixels and because they’re squeezed into a more compact area, its display should be even crisper.

It had originally been speculated that the M7 would be a 5 inch smartphone, but clearly HTC believes that this would push the envelope a little bit too far.

 

Hardware & Camera

Although details on the other HTC M7 features remain hazy, it is safe to assume that it will be powered by a quad core processor. Some sources have claimed that this will be clocked at 1.7GHz, which is not an unreasonable expectation to hold.

HTC M7 camera features
Like other modern Android handsets it is also anticipated that there will be 2GB of RAM onboard and at least 16GB of storage, with a microSD card slot letting power users expand this capacity even further.

Photography enthusiasts will be pleased to hear that the M7 rumours will almost certainly sport a 13 megapixel camera, which means we are finally starting to see eight megapixel snappers dying off at the top tier of the smartphone market.

 

Design

A video posted to YouTube by ETrade Supply gave a good overview of what the M7 will look like when it is officially unveiled.

Although the screen size is the same as the One X, the M7 is actually a little longer and wider, as well as doing away with the slight curve to the profile.

HTC has always placed emphasis on building flagship smartphones that have a premium finish and this seems to be an ethos that remains intact for the M7. Unless Samsung really ups its game with the Galaxy S4, HTC will still take the crown when it comes to build quality.

 

Software

As well as running Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, the M7 will come with HTC Sense 5.0. This is the latest and greatest iteration of its in-house interface.

Leaked images show that Sense 5.0 will be a little more sleek and refined than its predecessors, which basically means that the fun chunkiness of icons and fonts has been ditched in favour of a more adult look and feel.

HTC Sense 5.0 should actually tie in more closely with Android’s clean look that Google has been fostering over its recent releases.

 

Connectivity

Now that the UK has 4G networking on tap, it makes sense that manufacturers will finally start to include LTE connectivity in all of their latest releases.

The HTC M7 should be no different in this respect and if you choose a 4G contract and live in an area with decent coverage, you should be able to boast of the best possible mobile internet experience when you go out with mates.

It would be remiss of HTC to ignore the need for things like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, A-GPS and NFC in the connectivity department, so these should all be built into the M7 when it hits stores later this year.

 

Release & Price

If HTC wants to get a lead over its rivals it will hopefully launch the M7 as soon as possible, ideally in the wake of the MWC 2013 unveiling.

Although the HTC M7 price remains a secret, you can expect it to be pitched at a comparable level with other high end 5 inch smartphone devices. That means new buyers will be looking to spend over 500 to buy it SIM free, or around 35 a month on a two year contract.

For a full price list of our HTC smartphones, visit mobiles.co.uk.

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The Galaxy S4 display. Samsung’s best screen yet!

February 7th, 2013 Rob

Samsung Galaxy S4 display screen size
Want to view your video content on the latest Galaxy S4 display? Sign up to receive Samsung Galaxy S4 deals and we’ll let you know as soon as the next Galaxy is available for pre-order.
For most smartphone owners, screen size and resolution are key factors in choosing your next device. Rumoured for a March unveiling, the Samsung Galaxy S4 screen size will be a major discussion point. Just how amazing will the S4 screen resolution look and will there be any other special features to single Samsung out from the crowd?

 

Galaxy S4 Screen Resolution

The upgrade from S3 to Galaxy S4 is sure to see an improvement in the number of pixels on the display. The Samsung Galaxy S3 screen currently offers High Definition in 720p; that’s 720 rows of pixels. Nobody could fault the current Samsung Galaxy display, yet as tech evolves each year, it’s only natural that users crave the latest tech advancements on their smartphone.

Sony Mobile have already challenged Samsung head on with their latest offering, the Sony Xperia Z. Released in February, Sony’s 5 inch smartphone delivers a stunning Full HD screen which displays content in magnificent 1080p. If Samsung wish to maintain their reputation as direct opposition to Apple, the Galaxy S4 display needs to offer the incredible Full HD 1080p resolution.

 

Samsung Galaxy Screen Size

As you would expect, a 1080p display requires more rows of pixels than a 720p display. For now this means a bigger viewing area is required. The smallest Full HD screen we can currently find available is a towering 5 inches. If you fear this means an even bigger handset, you shouldn’t panic just yet. The Galaxy S3 stands tall at a healthy 4.8 inches, so a Full HD Galaxy S4 screen may only require an extra 0.2 inches to be deemed 1080 perfection. If a thinner bezel surrounds the Galaxy S4, the end result could be a bigger screen on a device that’s the same size as the Galaxy S3.

 

A Flexible S4 Display?

Why should Samsung stop at a Full HD Galaxy S4 display though? At CES 2013, Samsung unveiled a flexible display named Youm. This supple OLED display offers a bendable and practically unbreakable screen which if integrated into the Galaxy S4 display, would crown Samsung the kings of innovation.

You may be asking why the Galaxy S4 needs a flexible display? Samsung have demonstrated how this tech could wrap around the handset to create additional space for notification bars or text streams. You could essentially read your Samsung Galaxy S4 screen without picking it up from the desk.

Alternatively, the Galaxy S4 display could flip open like a book to reveal an even larger 1080p display; perfect for those who fancy a smartphone / tablet hybrid. We’re unsure whether flexible displays will make an appearance within the Samsung Galaxy S category. It’s more likely Samsung will market this technology as an entirely new range much like projectors are exclusive to the Galaxy Beam, and S-Pens are exclusive to the Galaxy Note. Should the next Galaxy have this exciting tech, it’s sure to have an impact upon the Samsung Galaxy S4 price.

Samsung Galaxy S4 flexible display

 

Galaxy S4 Screen Prediction

Should the next Samsung Galaxy display arrive without flexible OLED technology, we’re confident the screen resolution and size will still surpass the outstanding detail and clarity of the Galaxy S3.

We predict the Galaxy S4 screen to boast a 4.99 inch smartphone display and 1080p Full High Definition. Whether you love intense gaming, watching HD films or just browsing the web in detail, the rumoured screen upgrade will make using your Galaxy S4 the best smartphone experience yet.

Pre-register for Samsung Galaxy S4 deals and updates from mobiles.co.uk. As soon as the smartphone is available for pre-order be in touch to help you get the latest technology before your friends.

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BlackBerry Q10 smartphone unveiled

February 1st, 2013 Rob

BlackBerry Q10

BlackBerry Q10

If the BlackBerry Z10 is designed to hit at the heart of rival firms by beating them at their own game, the Q10 is a bit of a throwback to the manufacturer’s older devices, because like many models before it you get a full physical QWERTY keypad.

This is relegated to the bottom third of the Q10′s front face, with the rest occupied by a 3.1 inch AMOLED display.

The screen is of course touch sensitive, which means you can interact with BB10 features as you would on the Z10. However, when it comes to entering text, the keypad should make people who own a BlackBerry Bold or Curve feel right at home.

What sets the Q10 apart from its predecessors is that BlackBerry has finally decided to do away with the cluster of navigation keys which usually forced it to dedicate more of the front of the phone to physical keys. Because BB10 is optimised for touchscreens, there is less need for an optical trackpad and call buttons and this new device looks all the better for it.

One advantage of the Q10′s smaller screen is that the pixel density does not take so much of a hit. In fact the BlackBerry Q10 has an iPhone 5-beating 330ppi rating, so what it lacks in pure area it more than makes up for in clarity and definition.

The Q10 may look quite different to the Z10 on the surface, but underneath they are actually rather similar.

You get the same 1.5GHz dual core processor and 2GB of RAM combination that helps the BB10 operating system to feel fluid. There is even an 8 megapixel camera on the back which should take comparably competent snaps while you are out and about.

The Q10 is a little chunkier than its sibling at 10.3mm thick, but it wears its added bulk well and manages to feel light without also coming across as a bit cheap. Some have even suggested that it is actually the better looking of the two new arrivals, although that is a matter of personal taste.

Q10 Specs

  • Display – 3.1 inches (328 pixels per inch)
  • QWERTY keypad
  • 1.5 GHz dual-core processor
  • Camera – 8 megapixel, with secondary camera.
  • Wi-Fi, 3G, BBM, Bluetooth, NFC, microHDMI
  • Internal memory – 16GB storage, 2GB RAM
  • Expandable memory – up to 64GB via microSD
  • Removable Battery – 2100mAh

The BlackBerry 2013 release schedule is set to fill up with even more handsets over the coming weeks, because this is a manufacturer keen to reinstate itself as a major player in a market that had all but deserted it.

Expected for UK release in April, the Q10 will be available soon from mobiles.co.uk. Visit our site for the latest BlackBerry offers.

 

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BlackBerry Z10 features, specs and BB10 software

February 1st, 2013 Rob

BlackBerry Z10 BlackBerry Q10

BlackBerry, the Canadian smartphone manufacturer formerly known as RIM, has just unveiled a pair of new smartphones at a concurrent series of global launch events.

It is so eager to get its new products to market that UK customers are already able to invest in the first of these devices. The BlackBerry 2013 release line up seems to be favouring early releases in Britain, to the point that it feels like we are almost being used as a testing ground before the debut of devices in North America.

To whet your appetite, here is an overview of what the BlackBerry Z10 and it’s Q10 QWERTY cousin have to offer loyal customers who have long awaited their launch. Full BlackBerry Q10 features.

 BlackBerry Z10 features

BlackBerry Z10

The BlackBerry Z10 is one of the only phones that this manufacturer has released which does not feature a physical QWERTY keypad.

In its place is a 4.2 inch touchscreen display with a native resolution of 1280×768. That means that the Z10 can play back high-def video clips without any problem and is also endowed with a high pixel density.

Around the back is an 8 megapixel camera with LED flash and the whole phone is wrapped in a black plastic shell that measures just nine millimetres thick.

The design of the phone is not too far removed from that of the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, in as far as you get black, black and more black throughout. It is not the most visually inspiring phone on the market, but it should sit well with business users. Alternatively, the white variant of the Z10 offers slightly more style.

Power is provided by a dual core 1.5GHz processor and there is a healthy 2GB slab of RAM inside, which makes the Z10 an able performer. 16GB of built in storage may not seem like a lot by modern standards, but unlike the iPhone 5 you can at least add more via a microSD memory card.

On paper, the hardware of the Z10 is suitably competitive and should allow it to rub shoulders with the other flagship devices from rival manufactures. But more important than specifications are the BB10 features that can be expected from the fresh operating system.

BB10 has been adapted from the same QNX software that is found on the PlayBook, which means that the interface is controlled mostly with touchscreen gestures rather than physical buttons.

 

BlackBerry 10 OS Features

One of the homescreens features unique Active Frames, which are basically small windows to which BB10 assigns various recently used apps. They behave a bit like Android widgets or Live Tiles in Windows Phone, since they can update you with info from within an app without forcing you to launch it.

The Z10 comes with all the connectivity capabilities that you would look for in a current generation smartphone. As well as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS and NFC, this is a fully fledged 4G device, so you can browse and download at superfast speeds even when you are away from home or work.

Whatever connection is active, the BB10 web browser found on the Z10 is an impressive bit of coding. It loads and renders sites quick as a flash and the address bar is plonked at the bottom of the screen rather than the top, which gives it a look akin to that of Internet Explorer in a Windows Phone environment.

You can open multiple tabs and even interact with Flash content, which is a welcome feature for anyone who is not quite ready to jump ship and rely entirely on HTML5.

Media fans will applaud the inclusion of an HDMI output as well as DLNA connectivity for streaming, so on early impressions it is difficult not to feel confident that the Z10 will give BlackBerry a fighting chance of winning back some of its customers from Android, iOS and Windows Phone.

 

BlackBerry Z10 Verdict

We applaud BlackBerry for their latest efforts on their new BlackBerry Z10 devices. There are plenty of great features packed within BB10 which runs exceptionally well on this high-tier smartphone. BlackBerry Z10 deals will be arriving to mobiles.co.uk early February. Keep in touch for the latest BlackBerry prices.

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Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie rumours

January 30th, 2013 Rob

Android Key Lime Pie 5.0

Google seems to update its Android operating system more regularly than any of its rivals, with more features and innovations bolted on to each subsequent release. Android Jelly Bean is already being savoured by smartphone users across the world, but what about the next major release: Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie? Here are just a few of the current Android 5.0 rumours that are doing the rounds, along with some predictions about what Key Lime Pie features you can expect.

 

Improved Performance Management

As Android phones become bigger and more powerful, featuring improved connectivity options and more integrated functions, users may find that they have a tougher time managing everything and optimising battery life.

Third-party manufacturers have been attempting to make performance profiles for Android phones recently, but getting this kind of function as standard from Google would be desirable.

This would allow you to switch modes depending on how you are using your phone. For example, you could have a bedtime mode that turns off all but the necessary connections and lets your phone use as little power as possible overnight. If Google builds this into a home-screen widget for Key Lime Pie, Android fans will be pleased as punch.

 

Cross-Device Support

People who use Android phones tend to be a bit more tech savvy than the average consumer, so they probably have more than one gadget that uses Google’s operating system. The problem is that switching between using an Android phone and tablet lacks a level of cohesion that you might expect from modern devices.

This becomes most obvious when trying to watch a video on one gadget and then pick up from where you left off on another; indeed, it cannot be done at the moment unless you are streaming from within the browser. This is another problem that Google needs to remedy for Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie.

 

Social Networking

Android’s open-source nature means that there are plenty of apps and widgets out there to keep social network users in touch with their service of choice. However, this is not something that Google has ever really supported as part of Android’s core functionality.

With Key Lime Pie it is hoped that it will do a better job of building Android around social networks other than its own Google+.

 

Video Calls

This is another case in which Google relies on features to be added by third parties. Most Android phones have front-facing cameras and even the own-brand Nexus devices include this hardware, so why is there no native, unified app for video calling?

Apple has FaceTime and Google needs to create its own equivalent so that the hundreds of millions of Android users have somewhere to chat together. We’re hoping Google take this concept beyond Android 5.0 rumours and turn it into reality.

 

App Demos

Both iOS and Windows Phone make it easy for app developers to give free access to limited versions of their app, using codes or a built-in system for trialling that makes it easy to get a taste of the product before you buy.

Google needs to follow in the footsteps of its rivals, because at the moment its Play store is saturated with ad-supported apps that eat up data and battery life even if they are free to download.

 Google Nexus 5 - Android 5.0 rumours

Android 5.0 Release Date

All these tasty Android 5.0 rumours and potential Key Lime Pie features may sound exciting, but when will users actually be able to get their hands on it?

In 2012 Android 4.1 was launched during the annual IO conference hosted by Google and current reports suggest that Key Lime Pie will make its ddbut at the same event next year.

In 2013 the IO conference is actually being held between the 15th and 17th of May, which is a little earlier than in the past. As such, it is fairly reasonable to predict that this will be the launch window for the next Android update.

Flagship Google smartphones such as the LG Nexus 4,  have the ability to download the latest Android 5.0 features, as they are announced. Visit mobiles.co.uk for the latest Android smartphone releases.

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