24 TECH-À-TETE
TUESDAY, MAY 3 | 2011
MOTOROLA
XT800
Dimension | 137 gms,
120 x 61.8 x 11.4 mm
Operating system | Android OS, v2.0
(Eclair)
Display | 3.7 inches, TFT,
16 million colours, 480 x 854 pixels,
Gorilla glass
Input | Capacitive touchscreen
Processor | 550MHz Cortex-A8
processor, PowerVR SGX530 GPU, TI
OMAP3430 chipset
Memory | 1GB storage, microSD
(expandable up to 32GB),
256MB RAM
Camera | 5-megapixel camera,
dual-LED flash, VGA
for videoconferencing
Music & video | MP3, WAV, eAAC+,
WMA, MP4, H.263, H.264, WMV
Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g,
Bluetooth v2.1, microUSB v2.0
Price | Best buy Rs 23,990
HTC INCREDIBLE S
Dimension | 135.5 gms, 120 x 64 x 11.7 mm
Operating system | Android OS, v2.2 (Froyo)
with Sense UI
Display | 4.0 inches, LCD, 480 x 800 pixels
Input | Capacitive touchscreen
Processor | 1Ghz Scorpion processor,
Adreno 205 GPU
Memory | 1GB storage, 768MB RAM,
microSD card (expandable up to 32GB)
Camera | 8-megapixel camera, dual-LED
flash, 1.3MP camera for video calls
Music & video | MP3, AAC+, WAV, DivX,
XviD, MP4, H.263, H.264, WMV
Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth
v2.1, microUSB v2.0
Price | Best buy Rs 26,400
T
his third iteration of the ‘Google
phone’ packs a formidable
punch for the tech geek crowd.
For one, it is the only handset (the G1
and Nexus One having been consigned
to history) that will get automatic up-
dates to the latest version of Android.
It will also be the first device to get
the latest versions of any Google ap-
plication for Android and is among
the few to feature a gyroscope as well
as a sensor for Near Field Communi-
cation, which can be used for getting
information as well as making mobile
payments by just pointing it at an
object.
All of this—coupled with the tra-
ditional Android muscle for mail,
social networking and multi-task-
ing—makes it the perfect de-
vice for an app freak, looking
for the latest slice of mobile
T
he one factor that makes the XT800 stand
apart from other Android offerings in
the market is its dual SIM support for
both CDMA and GSM networks. In that sense,
this phone is ideal for people who frequently
travel to countries abroad where CDMA is the
preferred network of choice. Besides, it is also
a good bet for those that use both networks and
therefore carry two phones. Add to this, that
the device runs on Android, and you have all
the goodness the Google OS provides, complete
with tight integration for services such as
Google talk, Gmail and YouTube.
Pros: Dual SIM support for both GSM and
CDMA networks, records high-def video at
24fps, HDMI out that connects to hi-definition
TVs for immediate playback, proximity
sensors for auto turn-off, runs the Android OS
(though an older version), which boasts
myriad downloadable applications as well as
tight integration with Google services.
Cons: Thin backplate radiates considerable
heat during intensive use, the gadget does not
come preinstalled with Swype, the piece we
reviewed was rather stubborn in connecting
to Wi-Fi networks.
Who’s got the smarts?
TOI reviews 10 distinctive touchscreen smartphones to help you decide which one is right for you
H
TC’s Incredible S arguably prom-
ises one of the best Android ex-
perience when it comes to smart-
phones. It is a polished gadget that can
make calls, play media, connect to vir-
tual social networks, and even look good
while doing it all. Newbies to Android
might want to consider this.
The Taiwan-based manufacturer has
customized Android to create a user in-
terface that it calls Sense. For newbies,
this customisation brings together
everything they require in an intuitive
package, while power users will appre-
ciate the tweaking options that it offers.
Pros: Vibrant and sharp LCD screen is
one of the best we have seen on a smart-
phone. Build quality is decent and the
phone feels compact. The 8-megapixel
camera, equipped with dual flash, is a
joy to use and it is safe to say that HTC
has finally got its camera right. Sense
is arguably the boldest and most func-
tional Android UI in the market cur-
rently. Phone feels very fast and re-
sponsive.
Cons: No SD card included, industrial
design may not appeal to those looking
for a sleeker or elegant phone, ships
with Android 2.2 instead of 2.3.
SAMSUNG NEXUS S
Dimension | 129 gms, 123.9 x 63 x 10.88 mm
Operating system | Android OS, v2.3
(Gingerbread)
Display | 4.0 inches, Super Clear LCD,
16 million colours, 480 x 800 pixels
Input | Capacitive touchscreen
Processor | 1GHz Cortex A8 (Hummingbird)
Memory | 16GB storage (non-expandable),
512MB RAM
Camera | 5-megapixel camera,
LED flash, secondary front-facing
camera
Music & video | MP3, WAV, eAAC+,
AC3, FLAC, MP4, DivX, WMV,
H.264, H.263
Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n,
Bluetooth v2.1, microUSB v2.0,
Near Field Communication (NFC)
Price | Best buy Rs 28,500
tech, especially from Google.
Pros: Automatically updated to the lat-
est version of Android, good quality
display, best source for latest Android
apps, good camera and multimedia,
terrific for social networking and mail.
Cons: No slots for expandable memo-
ry, battery needs to be recharged once
a day at least, the odd slightly curved
shape might not be to everyone’s
liking, feels rather ‘plasticky’.
T
body, the gadget is definitely thicker
and heavier than your average
Android phone.
may not have the looks, but it fits well
in the hand and feels compact. Its
TimesCape UI that runs over Android
is slick and has some stylish anima-
tions. Call quality, virtual keyboard and
GPS performance is the kind you would
expect from high-end smartphones.
Play’s gamepad. We are happy to say
that it works as advertised and people
Mahesh Benkar
T
hose looking for a good multi-
media phone might want to
consider the Wave II. The display
on this phone is better than most oth-
er devices, though its Super Clear LCD
screen is no match for the Super-
Amoled display that was found on its
predecessor, the Wave. When it comes
to video, the gadget also supports Xvid
and DivX; formats that other phones
do not. Besides, it performs better than
most of the other devices when it
comes to music playback. The device
is also capable of recording HD video
at 30fps.
Its brushed-metal sturdy build, cou-
pled with Gorilla glass, makes the Wave
T
he Motorola Defy is a phone
that’s meant for someone who
loves the outdoors. The gadget
with its rubberised coating is not only
scratch-resistant, but is also dust-proof
and splash-resistant. Of all the phones
reviewed, this handset had the best feel
to it; and fits snugly in our hands.
Add to it all the advantages of an
Android-based device and you have a
package that promises a good mix of
hardware and software in a rugged and
robust shell.
Now while the device does not have
T
he Mozart is as stylish as
gadgets come, and will appeal to
people who like to flaunt what
they carry. Its unibody shell, comple-
mented with soft rubber, gives the
device an elegant look. Besides, the
fluid Metro user interface of Windows
Phone 7 is likely to impress even
staunchest of Android and Apple fans.
The Metro UI is built around a min-
imalistic approach. Most of the menus
have a clutter-free interface that will
suit those who find the myriad tweak-
ing and setting options on Android
phones a little chaotic for their taste.
Pros: Elegant design, the Metro UI is
he Xperia Play is meant for peo-
ple who love their video games.
With PSP-like buttons built in the
As a phone, the Play is average. It
Of course, the real appeal lies in the
SAMSUNG WAVE II
Dimension | 135 gms,
123.9 x 59.8 x 11.8 mm
Operating system | Bada OS, v1.2
Display | 3.7 inches, Super Clear LCD,
16 million colours, 480 x 800 pixels, Gorilla
glass
Input | Capacitive touchscreen
Processor | 1GHz ARM Cortex-A8
processor, PowerVR SGX540 GPU,
Hummingbird chipset
Memory | 2GB storage, 512MB RAM,
microSD (expandable up to 32GB),
2GB card included
Camera | 5-megapixel camera, LED flash,
secondary cam for video calls
Music & video | MP3, WAV, WMA, eAAC+,
MP4, MKV, H.263, H.264, WMV, Xvid, DivX
Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth
v3.0, microUSB v2.0
Price | Best buy Rs 15,000
II a robust proposition. Add to that the
Bada OS, which borrows extensively
from Android, and you have a package
that’s not only encased in an elegant
shell, but is also intuitive to use. So if
you’re looking for a nice multimedia
phone, the Wave II is worth considering.
Pros: Great display, supports more video
codecs than other devices, robust build,
looks elegant, enough applications and
games for those who’re looking for a ‘fun’
phone.
Cons: Its tall slim form factor does not
allow for a secure grip, the pre-installed
web browser is quite dissapointing,
the Bada OS does not have as many
applications as Android.
MOTOROLA DEFY
Dimension | 118 gms,
107 x 59 x 13.4 mm
Operating system | Android OS, v2.1
(Eclair)
Display | 3.7 inches, TFT,
16 million colours,
480 x 854 pixels, Gorilla glass
Input | Capacitive touchscreen
(with Swype text input)
Processor | 800MHz Cortex-A8
processor, TI OMAP3610 chipset
Memory | 2GB storage, 512MB RAM,
microSD (expandable up to 32GB),
2GB included
Camera | 5-megapixel camera,
LED flash
Music & video | MP3, WAV, WMA,
AAC+, MP4, WMV, H.263, H.264
Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n,
Bluetooth v2.1, microUSB v2.0
Price | Best buy Rs 18,990
the external embellishments that most
other devices boast of, its simple de-
sign seems apt for a gadget that prom-
ises and delivers as a no-nonsense func-
tional smartphone.
Pros: Great build quality, dust-proof
and water-resistant, pre-installed
Swype to type, arguably one of the best-
sized Android smartphones.
Cons: Runs an older version of An-
droid, no front-facing camera for video-
calls, device’s backplate tends to heat
up when processor-intensive applica-
tions are run.
HTC MOZART
Dimension | 130 gms,
119 x 60.2 x 11.9 mm
Operating system | Windows
Phone 7
Display | 3.7 inches, Super LCD,
480 x 800 pixels
Input | Capacitive touchscreen
Processor | 1Ghz Scorpion
processor, Adreno 200 GPU
Memory | 8GB storage,
576MB RAM
Camera | 8-megapixel camera,
Xenon flash
Audio & video | MP3, AAC, WAV,
WMA, MP4, H.263, H.264, WMV,
Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n,
Bluetooth v2.1, microUSB v2.0
Price | Best buy Rs 24,000
fast and beautiful with its 2D layers
and animations, screen is bright and
vibrant, device is a comfortable size
for people who have smaller hands or
for those who find bigger phones a
little difficult to manage.
Cons: No provision for using a microSD
card and 8GB is too less for a high-end
smartphone. Windows Phone 7 in its
current avatar lacks multitasking;
availability of good apps remains a
problem; camera performance is poor;
Bluetooth is supported, but the phone
can only use it to connect with devices
such as hands-free kits and not to
transfer files.
who like to play anything more de-
manding than Angry Birds will appre-
ciate the inclusion of gaming buttons.
Pros: Fast and responsive UI, gamepad,
Android apps, special game store, de-
cent battery life
Cons: Built from cheap and glossy plas-
tic, bad camera performance, lack of
720p video recording, poor screen with
very low brightness, heavier and thick-
er than all high-end Android phones.
Less than perfect video playback.
Reviews by:
JAVED ANWER, NIMISH DUBEY
AND SAVIO D’SOUZA
THE TIMES OF INDIA, BANGALORE
NOKIA E7
Dimension | 176 gms,
123.7 x 62.4 x 13.6 mm
Operating system |
Symbian ^3 OS
Display | 4.0 inches,
Amoled,
T
he E7 will definitely appeal to Nokia loyalists, what
16 million colours,
360 x 640 pixels, with its great build quality and aesthetic looks.
Gorilla glass The device, primarily meant for executives, ably
Input | Capacitive
touchscreen, slider
takes forward the legacy of the ‘Communicator’ series
of business phones that the Finnish giant first
QWERTY keyboard introduced in 1996.
Processor | 680MHz On the entertainment front, the E7’s smooth support
ARM 11 processor, for multimedia leaves little to be desired. Besides, its
Broadcom miniHDMI cable lets you plug into your HDTV for
BCM2727 GPU
direct playback. One of the few devices to support USB
Memory | 16GB On-the-Go, the E7 lets you connect USB drives to your
internal storage, phone just like you can on your laptop.
256MB RAM Tight email integration for services such as Gmail,
Camera | 8-megapixel Hotmail and Yahoo!, as well as social networking serv-
camera, dual-LED ices such as Facebook and Twitter make a nifty package
flash, VGA for for those who want to stay connected when on the move.
videoconferencing
Pros: USB On-the-Go, 16GB internal memory, good
Music & video | MP3,
battery life, sturdy build, great looks, responsive touch-
WAV, eAAC+, WMA,
MP4, H.264, screen, records high-definition video (720p at 25fps), good
H.263, WMV screen resolution, good at multi-tasking, comes with the
Connectivity | Wi-Fi Quickoffice suite (complete with support for .doc, .ppt
802.11 b/g/n, and .xls formats), handles messaging and social
Bluetooth v3.0, networking well.
microUSB v2.0 Cons: No slots for expandable memory, battery cannot
Price | Best buy be replaced by users, camera output leaves a lot to be
Rs 29,999 desired, a bit overpriced.
T
he Dell Venue Pro is cur-
rently the only Windows
Phone device in the
country to feature a touchscreen
as well as full QWERTY key-
board. Given its size and weight,
it is certainly not designed for
the dainty (when the keyboard
slides out, it is over half a foot
long). The build feels solid with
its mix of metal and plastic. And
then there is Windows Phone 7,
which has by far the most at-
tractive interface we have seen
on a smartphone. The OS, how-
ever, does not support ‘cut and
paste’ and multi-tasking. Besides,
there is still no access to apps in
India, but even in this form, it re-
mains one of the most attractive
and easy to use. The spacious
keyboard and lovely touchscreen
make data entry a pleasure. The
DELL VENUE PRO
Venue Pro will weigh down your
pockets but it will turn heads.
Dimension | 192 gms, 121.6 x 64.4 x 14.9 mm Pros: Large AMOLED display
Operating system | Windows Phone 7 with a full Qwerty keyboard,
Display | 4.1 inches, AMOLED, 16 million colours, Windows Phone 7 interface is
480 x 800 pixels, Gorilla glass intuitive and works briskly,
Input | Capacitive touchscreen, vertical
camera and multimedia per-
slide out QWERTY keypad
formance are decent, excellent
Processor | 1GHz Scorpion processor,
Adreno 200 GPU build quality, keyboard sliding
Memory | 16GB storage (non-expandable), out mechanism is smooth.
Cons: No apps for WP7 in India,
512MB RAM
Camera | 5-megapixel camera, LED flash no cut and paste, limited multi-
Music & video | MP3, WAV, WMA, eAAC, tasking, battery needs at least
MP4, H.264, H.263, WMV one recharge a day, a bit on the
Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, bigger side and is heavy, heats
Bluetooth v2.1, microUSB v2.0 up if GPRS is kept running, no
Price | Best buy Rs 31,000 front- facing camera, expensive.
SONY ERICSSON
XPERIA ARC
Dimension | 117 gms, 125.0 x 63.0 x 8.7 mm
Operating system | Android OS, v2.3 (Gingerbread)
Display | 4.2 inches, LCD, 16 million colours,
480 x 854 pixels
Input | Capacitive touchscreen
Processor | 1GHz Scorpion processor,
Adreno 205 GPU
Memory | 1GB storage, 512MB RAM, microSD
(expandable up to 32GB)
Camera | 8.1-megapixel camera, LED flash
Music & video | MP3, eAAC+, WMA, WAV,
MP4, H.263, H.264, WMV
Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth v2.1,
microUSB v2.0
Price | Best buy Rs 28,000
T
he eye-catching Xperia Arc when it comes to getting information
sports a large 4.2-inch display, on the homescreen.
yet it is incredibly slim (8.7 mm) If you are looking for one handset
and light. The build, however, is large- that combines good looks with sheer
ly plastic and not the most solid we performance, the Arc’s got to be it.
have seen. Pros: Large display with Sony Mobile
The gadget runs the latest version Bravia engine, very good looking and
of Android (2.3) and thanks to its incredibly slim, excellent 8.1-megapix-
powerful processor does so very well, el camera, decent battery life, very good
handling mails, social networks and for viewing films and listening to
news updates with ease. Its 8.1- music – with an HDMI port you can
megapixel camera with its CMOS sen- even connect it to your TV.
sor is the best we have ever seen on an Cons: Some might find the frame less
Android phone. than solid, call quality suffers at times
Yes, we wish Sony Ericsson had not with reception becoming weak, Sony
placed its overlay over Android as it is Ericsson’s UI over Android is
not in the same class as HTC Sense thoroughly lacking.
SONY ERICSSON XPERIA PLAY
Dimension | 175 gms, 119 x 62 x 16 mm
Operating system | Android OS, v2.3
(Gingerbread)
with Timescape UI
Display | 4.0 inches, LCD, 480 x 854 pixels
Input | Capacitive touchscreen
Processor | 1Ghz Scorpion processor,
Adreno 205 GPU
Memory | 400MB storage, 512MB RAM,
microSD, 8GB included
Camera | 5-megapixel camera, LED flash,
VGA for videoconferencing
Music & video | MP3, eAAC+, WMA, WAV,
MP4, H.263, H.264, WMV
Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth
v2.1, microUSB v2.0
Price | Best buy Rs 29,999