Samsung vs Apple vs Nokia vs HTC
Matt Warman looks at four new phones and what they do, how they fare against each other
Samsung Galaxy S2
For a long time, if any technology writer was asked what phone they would recommend to most users, the answer was simple. Even for the least Apple-inclined, 'Get an iPhone' was the only honest answer. It was not perfect, but it was the best on the market bar none.
Since then, devices such as the HTC Desire have provided worthy challengers. Today, the Samsung Galaxy S2 is the only phone that challenges the iPhone 4. That's because it's elegantly designed, has decent battery life and a superb interface, but it also offers features that are unavailable elsewhere.
So whether it is full HD video recording, the Super Amoled 4.3" screen or just general, remarkable speed, the S2 pretty much has everything. Its integration with Google Maps is superb, and it's faster than any other phone to find your location. It offers impressive new apps such as WiFi Direct, to connect to other devices. Buy a Samsung TV and the S2 is the remote control you wish you'd always had. In terms of irritants, the lock-screen design looks cheap and the keyboard could be better. That's small beer. If you want the smartest phone, today's battle is iPhone 4 v Samsung S2.
Score: 4.5 /5
Operating System: Android
Screen: 480x800 4.3"
Processor: Dual core 1200 MHz
Battery (Talk time): 8.4 hours
Camera Resolution:
8 Megapixels
Weight: 116g
Memory: 16gb/32gb Plus Micro SD sot
Apple iPhone 4S
The iPhone is the phone that everybody has heard of because it revolutionised how phones work. Now with the iPhone 4S, Apple has fixed the aerial problems and added a 'personal assistant' called Siri. It lets you speak to the iPhone just as you might to another person, asking it to set alarms, search the web or using it to write email. Apple has shown that it is still at the top of its game, even if the 4S was an evolution from the popular iPhone 4.
That's not to say the iPhone is without flaws, but it is certainly beautifully designed and offers a whole world of entertainment and productivity through its huge app store.
Thanks to a new operating system, iOS5, the iPhone now handles notifications much better and syncs with the iCloud for music, photos, calendars and other information. So whether it's screen, HD video recording or video calling, the iPhone excels. There are software problems relating to the battery life, but it's the sleek interface that makes the iPhone 4 so compelling. The downside is the price and the fact that Apple retains absolute control. Millions regard the former as a bargain price for the latter. It's difficult to disagree, even as competition mounts from Android.
Score: 4.5 /5
Operating System: iOS
Screen: 640x960
Processor: Single core Apple A4 800MHz
Battery (Talk Time): 14 hours
Camera Resolution:
5 megapixels
Weight: 137g
Memory: Built in 16gb/32gb
Nokia Lumia 800
In its latest version, Windows Phone is the best thing Microsoft makes. Sadly, it's never had hardware that really feels like a truly premium product - until now.
The Nokia Lumia 800 is, according to CEO Stephen Elop, "the first real Windows Phone". Although the seamless polycarbonate shell and the solidity of the device are impressive, in fact it's the Windows Phone software that really shines. Teamed with Nokia's excellent design and camera heritage, there's a lot to like, whether it's the Office integration, gaming with Xbox live or simply social network integration. The 3.7" screen offers Super Amoled resolution, and Windows Phone's living tiles really do look impressive; showing you the weather, a boarding pass or a friend's photograph, the display hardware here is as good as this software needs. And the phone's tactile, matte finish means the Lumia is not like the bar of soap that many other phones often seem to be modelled on. It's also pleasingly weighted, at 142g. Unique apps on the Lumia are limited, although satnav and music applications are impressive. There's no front-facing camera either, but the Lumia puts Windows back in the game.
Score: 4 /5
Operating System: Windows Phone 7
Screen: 800 x 480 3.7"
Processor: 1.4GHz
Battery (Talk time): 9.5 hours
Camera Resolution:
8 Megapixel
Weight: 142g
Memory: Built-in 16gb
Google Galaxy Nexus
Google has announced its new phone, the Galaxy Nexus, and also released a new version of its Android phone software. Codenamed Ice Cream Sandwich, Android 4.0 will be available to existing Android users soon and is available to software developers now.
Among the Galaxy Nexus' new features are face recognition, allowing users to unlock their phones simply by looking at the phone's front camera, a redesigned interface, an improved keyboard and a new application using Near-Field Communications that lets two Android handsets share content directly. The phone also replaces all physical buttons with software-based, moveable equivalents. The change allows a larger, 4.65" screen, which like the previous Nexus S model is slightly curved. Running a 1.2Ghz processor, the Galaxy Nexus will be made by Samsung and also offers a high-definition display. Andy Rubin, Google's senior vice-president of mobile, wrote that "Ice Cream Sandwich makes Android simple and beautiful, and takes the smartphone to beyond smart". It's that crucial, improved usability that means Android is finally beginning to match the user experience of the iPhone interface.
Score: 4.5 /5
Operating System: Android 4
Screen: 1280x720 4.65"
Processor: Dual core, 1.2GHz
Battery (Talk time):
6 hours
Camera Resolution:
5 Megapixels
Weight: 135g
Memory: Built-in 16gb
HTC Sensation XL
HTC's Sensation XL is both sensationally good and heavy compared to its main rival, the Samsung Galaxy S2. With the extra bulk you do, however, get the superb HTC Sense interface and audio from Beats by Dr Dre - the distinctive headphones are included in the box. All that makes a real difference and means that this is more than a typical Android phone. Contact information is effortlessly integrated with social networking and you can use HTC's exclusive movie store to buy films direct. With a large screen and full HD, the Sensation is also able to do them justice. It is, in that sense, the logical successor to HTC's hugely popular, superb Desire HD, but with massively improved sound quality.
The Sensation's two problems, however, are its bulkiness and its battery life. The former is not a huge problem per se, but compared to other devices, HTC needs to do better in future. Of more importance is the battery life, which users will notice flags before the end of the day even in casual usage. It is better than the LG Optimus 3D, but then it isn't powering all that 3D wizardry. The feeling with HTC is that this is the company that forced others such as Samsung and Motorola to up their game. Telegraph
Score: 3.5 /5
Operating System: Android Gingerbread
Screen : 480x800 4.7"
Processor: Dual Core 1.5GHz
Battery (Talk time): 8.25 hours
Camera Resolution:
8 Megapixels
Weight: 163g
Memory: 1gb plus
Matt Warman looks at four new phones and what they do, how they fare against each other
Samsung Galaxy S2
For a long time, if any technology writer was asked what phone they would recommend to most users, the answer was simple. Even for the least Apple-inclined, 'Get an iPhone' was the only honest answer. It was not perfect, but it was the best on the market bar none.
Since then, devices such as the HTC Desire have provided worthy challengers. Today, the Samsung Galaxy S2 is the only phone that challenges the iPhone 4. That's because it's elegantly designed, has decent battery life and a superb interface, but it also offers features that are unavailable elsewhere.
So whether it is full HD video recording, the Super Amoled 4.3" screen or just general, remarkable speed, the S2 pretty much has everything. Its integration with Google Maps is superb, and it's faster than any other phone to find your location. It offers impressive new apps such as WiFi Direct, to connect to other devices. Buy a Samsung TV and the S2 is the remote control you wish you'd always had. In terms of irritants, the lock-screen design looks cheap and the keyboard could be better. That's small beer. If you want the smartest phone, today's battle is iPhone 4 v Samsung S2.
Score: 4.5 /5
Operating System: Android
Screen: 480x800 4.3"
Processor: Dual core 1200 MHz
Battery (Talk time): 8.4 hours
Camera Resolution:
8 Megapixels
Weight: 116g
Memory: 16gb/32gb Plus Micro SD sot
Apple iPhone 4S
The iPhone is the phone that everybody has heard of because it revolutionised how phones work. Now with the iPhone 4S, Apple has fixed the aerial problems and added a 'personal assistant' called Siri. It lets you speak to the iPhone just as you might to another person, asking it to set alarms, search the web or using it to write email. Apple has shown that it is still at the top of its game, even if the 4S was an evolution from the popular iPhone 4.
That's not to say the iPhone is without flaws, but it is certainly beautifully designed and offers a whole world of entertainment and productivity through its huge app store.
Thanks to a new operating system, iOS5, the iPhone now handles notifications much better and syncs with the iCloud for music, photos, calendars and other information. So whether it's screen, HD video recording or video calling, the iPhone excels. There are software problems relating to the battery life, but it's the sleek interface that makes the iPhone 4 so compelling. The downside is the price and the fact that Apple retains absolute control. Millions regard the former as a bargain price for the latter. It's difficult to disagree, even as competition mounts from Android.
Score: 4.5 /5
Operating System: iOS
Screen: 640x960
Processor: Single core Apple A4 800MHz
Battery (Talk Time): 14 hours
Camera Resolution:
5 megapixels
Weight: 137g
Memory: Built in 16gb/32gb
Nokia Lumia 800
In its latest version, Windows Phone is the best thing Microsoft makes. Sadly, it's never had hardware that really feels like a truly premium product - until now.
The Nokia Lumia 800 is, according to CEO Stephen Elop, "the first real Windows Phone". Although the seamless polycarbonate shell and the solidity of the device are impressive, in fact it's the Windows Phone software that really shines. Teamed with Nokia's excellent design and camera heritage, there's a lot to like, whether it's the Office integration, gaming with Xbox live or simply social network integration. The 3.7" screen offers Super Amoled resolution, and Windows Phone's living tiles really do look impressive; showing you the weather, a boarding pass or a friend's photograph, the display hardware here is as good as this software needs. And the phone's tactile, matte finish means the Lumia is not like the bar of soap that many other phones often seem to be modelled on. It's also pleasingly weighted, at 142g. Unique apps on the Lumia are limited, although satnav and music applications are impressive. There's no front-facing camera either, but the Lumia puts Windows back in the game.
Score: 4 /5
Operating System: Windows Phone 7
Screen: 800 x 480 3.7"
Processor: 1.4GHz
Battery (Talk time): 9.5 hours
Camera Resolution:
8 Megapixel
Weight: 142g
Memory: Built-in 16gb
Google Galaxy Nexus
Google has announced its new phone, the Galaxy Nexus, and also released a new version of its Android phone software. Codenamed Ice Cream Sandwich, Android 4.0 will be available to existing Android users soon and is available to software developers now.
Among the Galaxy Nexus' new features are face recognition, allowing users to unlock their phones simply by looking at the phone's front camera, a redesigned interface, an improved keyboard and a new application using Near-Field Communications that lets two Android handsets share content directly. The phone also replaces all physical buttons with software-based, moveable equivalents. The change allows a larger, 4.65" screen, which like the previous Nexus S model is slightly curved. Running a 1.2Ghz processor, the Galaxy Nexus will be made by Samsung and also offers a high-definition display. Andy Rubin, Google's senior vice-president of mobile, wrote that "Ice Cream Sandwich makes Android simple and beautiful, and takes the smartphone to beyond smart". It's that crucial, improved usability that means Android is finally beginning to match the user experience of the iPhone interface.
Score: 4.5 /5
Operating System: Android 4
Screen: 1280x720 4.65"
Processor: Dual core, 1.2GHz
Battery (Talk time):
6 hours
Camera Resolution:
5 Megapixels
Weight: 135g
Memory: Built-in 16gb
HTC Sensation XL
HTC's Sensation XL is both sensationally good and heavy compared to its main rival, the Samsung Galaxy S2. With the extra bulk you do, however, get the superb HTC Sense interface and audio from Beats by Dr Dre - the distinctive headphones are included in the box. All that makes a real difference and means that this is more than a typical Android phone. Contact information is effortlessly integrated with social networking and you can use HTC's exclusive movie store to buy films direct. With a large screen and full HD, the Sensation is also able to do them justice. It is, in that sense, the logical successor to HTC's hugely popular, superb Desire HD, but with massively improved sound quality.
The Sensation's two problems, however, are its bulkiness and its battery life. The former is not a huge problem per se, but compared to other devices, HTC needs to do better in future. Of more importance is the battery life, which users will notice flags before the end of the day even in casual usage. It is better than the LG Optimus 3D, but then it isn't powering all that 3D wizardry. The feeling with HTC is that this is the company that forced others such as Samsung and Motorola to up their game. Telegraph
Score: 3.5 /5
Operating System: Android Gingerbread
Screen : 480x800 4.7"
Processor: Dual Core 1.5GHz
Battery (Talk time): 8.25 hours
Camera Resolution:
8 Megapixels
Weight: 163g
Memory: 1gb plus
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