MobilePhones.org.uk » Reviews

Peek at Showcased Pantech Burst Model

Mobile Phones — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:31:54 +0000

Pantech is well-known for producing inexpensive mobile phones, but the manufacturer has been trying to edge up its reputation into the higher-tech, drooling techno-geek stratosphere. With their new model, the Pantech Burst, Pantech registers some terrific progress toward their goal while still presenting a very affordable price tag.

Overview

Forwarded information, compliments of our US associate, notes the Pantech Burst cost is only $49.99 from AT&T with a two-year contract, and the source stated that she is very impressed with the model she looked at in the store.

The opinions are hers, but the specifications below belong to the manufacturer.

From the email we received:

“I was expecting some scaled-down model for the price, but Pantech offered instead a very pleasant surprise. A good display size tops the in-hand comfort level that is shrouded in a sturdy-feeling case. When you hold the device, you don’t worry about it crumbling to the floor.”

“The bottom-seated capacitive buttons can be inconvenient with accidental activations, and the volume rocker on the side is ‘weird.’”

“I’m not overwhelmingly thrilled by the UI, but I’m not a frilly-tech kind of user. I prefer functionality over frills and a clean, effective presentation. The functionality is definitely there, but colored theme is a bit over the top for me. Thank goodness for customization options!”

“The virtual keyboard is a bit on the small size, so if a user is accustomed to the larger keys, it might be frustrating.”

Specifications

MobilePhones.org.uk staff try our best to find accurate information on your behalf, but the information provided may not be current or accurate. Whenever possible, we mention if its based on rumours or unofficial information.

Dimensions: 126 x 62 x 11 mm / 122 g
Display: 4.0 inches / Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen / 480 x 800 pixels at 233 ppi.
Operating System: Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread
Speed: 1.2 GHz; dual-core.
Memory: 16 GB, expandable via 32 GB microSD or microSDHC card.
Battery: 1650 mAh / Talk: up to 4.5 hours; standby: up to 240 hours.
Camera: rear: 5 MP / LED, autofocus. / Video: 1280 x 720 (720p HD) at 19 fps / Front: 0.3 MP, VGA.
Connectivity: 2G: GSM 850, 900, 1800, 1900 / 3G: UMTS: 850, 1900, 2100 / 4G: LTE 700 MHz Class 17, 1700/2100 MHz / Data: WiFi / HSPA / UMTS / EDGE / GPRS

Features: Global roaming. Unlimited phone book entries. Microsoft Exchange in email options. Google Talk. Dual camera design. Onboard: Facebook, Picasa and Twitter; YouTube is uploadable.

Additional comments: Decent camera but very slow video capture.

Overall opinion: From the email:

“Considering the overall impression and the specs the Burst offers, this might be considered by some as an under-priced, mid-tech model, which is a step up from average Pantech devices.”

New Samsung Galaxy S Advance Reviewed

Mobile Phones — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:14:53 +0000

Announced just a few hours ago, Samsung will be releasing their new mobile phone, the Samsung Galaxy S Advance, on 1 February into the US market. International distribution may be scheduled later.

Thankfully, Samsung disseminated official data on this smartphone, and the handset looks like it has a lot to offer Android fans!

Overview

The RAM capacity might be a little higher, but the smartphone seems to operate well enough on what it has on board.

Slight and slim, the Galaxy S Advance fits well in the user’s hand.

Smartly organised left and right keys easily differentiate lock and unlock functions from the volume control.

This could easily be categorised as a multimedia mobile phone, for it has fairly extensive file type compatibility in both audio and video theatres.

Specifications

Dimensions: 123.2 x 63 x 9.69 mm / 120 g
Display: 4.0 inches / Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen / 480 x 800 pixels at 233 ppi.
Operating System: Android 2.3 Gingerbread.
Speed: 1 GHz, dual-core.
Memory: 768 MB RAM / 16 GB on-board memory, expandable up to 32 GB via microSD or microSDHC card.
Battery: 1500 mAh. Battery life unknown.
Camera: Rear: 5 MP / autofocus / LED Flash / Video: 720p HD at 30 fps. / Front: 1.3 MP
Connectivity: GSM: 850, 900, 1800, 1900 / UMTS: 850, 900, 1900, 2100 / Data: 802.11 b/g/n/a. / HSDPA / GPRS / EDGE / UMTS.

Features: FM Stereo with RDS. MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, WMA audio player. MPEG4, H.263, H.264, DivX, WMV video player. Album, Artists, play lists, album cover artwork. YouTube player (upload); Picasa. Google Talk and ChatON. A-GPS.

Additional comments: No indication one way or another if upgradeable to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich; clarification may come later. Good resolution for screen size.

Overall opinion: Hopefully, the battery life figures will be favourable in talk, standby and media modes. If so, the Samsung Galaxy S Advance seems like a righteous, mid-priced mobile phone.

RIM’s BlackBerry Bold 9790 Reviewed

Mobile Phones — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:36:32 +0000

On 16 January, we mentioned RIM’s BlackBerry Bold 9790 as one of the models granted permission for a payments app. We apologize for the delay, but we’ve finally been able to compose our review on this particular model, and we’re glad to present to you what we found.

The BlackBerry Bold 9790 is also known as the RIM BlackBerry Onyx III and the RIM BlackBerry Bellagio.

Overview

Next-to-the-last mobile phone released by RIM in 2011, the Bold 9790 is a QWERTY supported device that reminds us all of the quality of BlackBerry products.

While the screen is a touch small, its excellent resolution enhances the displayed images, and the optical trackpad on the smartphone sets this mobile device above the majority of the crowd.

Compact in size and weight, the small keys on the mobile might make it awkward for thick-thumbed users, but the raised offset of the keys help defray that inconvenience.

Specifications

Dimensions: 110 x 60 x 11.4 mm / 107 g
Display: 2.45 inches / TFT capacitive touchscreen/ 480 x 360 pixels at 245 ppi
Operating System: BlackBerry OS 7.0
Speed: 1 GHz; Marvel Tavor MG1.
Memory: 768 RAM / 8 GB internal, expandable to 32 GB via microSD card.
Battery: 1230 mAh / Talk: roughly 5.25 hours; standby: 2G: up to 432 hours; 3G: up to 408 hours. / Music play: up to 33 hours.
Camera: 5 MP / 2592 x 1944 pixels / autofocus / LED flash / VGA video-capable.
Connectivity: 2G: GSM 850, 900, 1800, 1900 / 3G: HSDPA 800, 850, 1900, 2100 / Data: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n. / UMA, depending on carrier. / HSDPA / HSUPA / GPRS / EDGE.

Features: Single camera with geo-tagging, face detection and image stabilisation. Extended WiFi capabilities. Audio files supported: MP3 / WMA / WAV / eAAC+ / FLAC. Video files supported: MP4 / H.264 / H.263 / WMV. GPS on board. SMS, MMS, Email, Push mail, BlackBerry IM.

Additional comments: Excellent music play time. NFC technology approved.

Overall opinion: Thumbs-up, RIM. Nice QWERTY model for either business or pleasure.

Preview of the LG Optimus L3 E400

Mobile Phones — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:16:01 +0000

January is always an exciting time in the mobile industry, and this year has been no different. The Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas brought forth a cornucopia of new inventions, mobile technology advancements and new mobile phone models. This year, one of the new mobile phones that LG announced was the LG Optimus L3 E400, a compact smartphone that will undoubtedly find homes rather quickly when the models are released next month.

Overview

We have only partial information in several categories, below, but what we have, you will have, too.

We do know that this model is a compact handset that is centred with wide black bands at the top and bottom of the front facing. Whilst those casing bands for LG’s logo and function button do take up room that the screen might otherwise occupy, it does present a nice screen frame.

None of the specifications or capabilities of this Android mobile phone will knock many socks off, it does fit well technologically and financially in the low-cost, mid-tech range of smartphones.

The audio and video players grant a respectable range of file types, and joined with the social networking integration, we’d tag this as an entertainment mobile phone that fits just about any budget.

Specifications

Dimensions: 101.2 x 59.9 x ? mm / ? g.
Display: 3.2 inches / TFT capacitive touchscreen / 240 x 320 pixels at 125 ppi.
Operating System: Android 2.3 Gingerbread
Speed: Unknown
Memory: Sorry, but we know only that memory is expandable to 32 GB via external microSD slot.
Battery: Unknown
Camera: 3.15 MP / 2048 x 1536 pixels / autofocus / flash, unknown. / Video-capable but specs undisclosed.
Connectivity: 2G: GSM 850, 900, 1800, 1900 / 3G: HSDPA 900 and 2100 / Data: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, Wi-Fi hotspot / HSDPA / GPRS / EDGE.

Features: Single-camera design. WiFi hotspot creator is a terrific feature to have included in a low-priced mobile phone, although we’re not sure if the 802.11 band designations are complete or not. MP4 / H.264 / H.263 / WMV video player; MP3 / W AV / WMA / eAAC+ audio player. SNS integration. Google package. YouTube and Google Talk support. Document viewer. Stereo FM radio.

Additional comments: The battery size and life figures haven’t been released, but rumours state that it will fair quite well for its capacity – whatever that means.

Overall opinion: Not bad for a cheap mobile phone for users who don’t surf on mobiles much. It might even be a decent first-mobile model for the younger crowd.

LG Extravert: A Texting PayGo Mobile Phone

Mobile Phones — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:22:28 +0000

With bills arriving from all the holiday shopping for Christmas, we are very budget-conscious here at MobilePhones.org.uk – both our personal budgets and those of our readers, so we’re bringing you another inexpensive mobile phone, but this one is available without a contract. The pre-pay model to which we refer is the LG Extravert, a model name we just loved.

Overview

This slider smartphone presents a full QWERTY keyboard for easy texting and emailing and posting to your favourite social networks.

The compact, cheap mobile phone has a rather stylish appearance with decent resolution and colour sharpness. We like the distinctive function buttons at the bottom: There’s no mistaking the Talk button for the Home button, et all. Good contrast and isolated areas help prevent the “oops” factor from slipping in.

Specifications

Dimensions: 105 x 53 x 15.7 mm / 122 g
Display: 2.8 inches / TFT touchscreen / 240 x 400 pixels at 167 ppi / Slide QWERTY keyboard.
Operating System: um…Good question. We forgot to ask. Sorry.
Speed: Let’s just say it’s not made with surfing and downloading in mind.
Memory: RAM and Internal specs not found. Does have external card slot for up to 32 GB microSD.
Battery: 1000 mAh / talk: roughly 5.5 hours; standby: about 550 hours.
Camera: 2 MP / 1600 x 1200 pixels. / Video recording: QVGA or QCIF quality.
Connectivity: 2G: CDMA 800 and 1900 / 3G: CDMA2000 1x / Data: CDMA2000 1x, 153 kbs.

Features: Only rear camera. Stereo FM with RDS. MP4 / H.264 video player; MP3 / WMA / eAAC+ audio player. Document viewer. SNS applications. Camera has night mode, self-timer and digital zoom.

Additional comments: This is not a GSM device; it will not work on any GSM network in the world. WiFi potential unknown.

Overall opinion: Tagged as a messaging mobile phone, its designation is ideal for its design. This might be a perfect younger-user model or a smartphone newbie’s starter model. Either way, it’s a decent, cheap mobile phone that is geared for communication and networking for those who want to text over surf.

Preview of the Samsung Galaxy Attain 4G

Mobile Phones — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:19:52 +0000

If an LTE designation is the goal, but tight budgets stands in the way, US users might look toward a MetroPCS mobile phone called the Samsung Galaxy Attain 4G. This smartphone was just announced earlier this month and hasn’t yet been released in the US market, but it has potential as a cheap mobile phone in global markets that have 4G potential.

Overview

We hope you caught the clue in the opening paragraph: “If an LTE designation…” does not state that you will find what we have come to recognize as 4G speeds. MetroPCS was the first network in the States to roll-out an LTE network, but it doesn’t carry the same throw-weight as the larger networks.

What MetroPCS called LTE might be paraphrased as “4G-LiTE” with max speeds clocked not at the 30Mbps we’ve seen but more along the lines of one to two Mpbs with peaks nearing four.

However, before you toss the model aside, remember that it’s a budget mobile phone and that it does have some neat features for a cheap smartphone, which might be seen later outside the MetroPCS network.

Specifications

Since this mobile hasn’t been released yet, these specifications cannot be considered official by any stretch of the imagination.

Dimensions: Unknown
Display: 3.5 inches / LCD capacitive touchscreen / 320 x 480 pixels at 165 ppi
Operating System: Android 2.3 Gingerbread
Speed: 1 GHz
Memory: 512 MB RAM / internal memory unknown but expandable by up to 32 GB via external microSD slot.
Battery: unknown
Camera: Rear: 3.15 MP, 2048 x 1536 pixels /Video-capable / Front: 1.3 MP.
Connectivity: 2G: CDMA 800 and 1900 / 3G: CDMA2000 1xEV-DO / 4G: LTE 1700, 2100 / Data: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi hotspot / Rev-A / LTE.

Features: Dual cameras. – SNS integration, though networks unnamed, if any pre-loaded or just the software support. MP4 / WMV / H.264 / H.263 video player; MP3 / WAV / WMA / eAAC+ audio player. Image and video editor. Google package. YouTube and Picasa integration. Google Talk.

Additional comments: This is not a GSM device and will not work on any GSM network in the world.

Overall opinion: We know this is a compact device, so it can’t hold large dimensions, but the battery size and life would be nice to know. Provided The Samsung Galaxy Attain 4G has a decent battery it in, it looks like a pretty decent, cheap mobile phone.

Sneak Peak at HTC Primo Mobile Phone

Mobile Phones — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:55:37 +0000

HTC has been very secretive about its rumoured Primo model smartphone. However, thanks to a tip to Stuff, we have some reasonably strong – but unofficial – information on this mid-range mobile phone.

Remember, none of this information is official: The handset hasn’t even bee officially announced yet.

Overview

One very interesting capability this smartphone brings to the mobile table is the dual-shutter operation. You can be filming a video, for example, and still have access to still-photo shutter control without disrupting the video. That, alone, will … ahem … capture the attention of shutter bugs everywhere.

Specifications

Dimensions: 9 mm depth.
Display: 3.7 inches / Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen
Operating System: Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
Speed: 1 GHz, dual core Qualcomm chip
Memory: 512 MB RAM / Internal memory unknown but expandable via microSD or MicroSDHC slot.
Battery: Unknown
Camera: Rear: 5 MP / autofocus / Video: 720p HD
Connectivity: (Not sure if GMS or CDMA network bound) / WiFi.

Features: Digital zoom on rear camera, macro mode, night mode, white balance and self-timer. Audio supported is at least MP3; the rest are unknown. Video play capabilities include MPEG4, H.263 and H.264. Capable of streaming both audio and video. YouTube and Picasa on-board support. USB charger, microUSB port. 3.5mm headset jack. Instant messaging via Google Talk.

Corning Gorilla Glass on front display, though it’s probably not the newer, thinner Gorilla Glass 2 announced at the Consumer Electronics Show 2012.

Additional comments: Rumoured to hold a US price tag around $390, this model seems to hold to mid-range, high-ish-tech devices. We believe this has a front camera but that’s conjecture and not fact.

As an Android device, it probably comes with the usual standard Google package, but as a mid-range device, it probably won’t have a document editor, although we may be completely off base with that. The excellent photo and video ops may slide in a good photo editor programme.

Overall opinion: Too much is yet unknown about this mobile phone, but the smartphone seems to have a great deal of promise.

Preview of LG CX2, LG’s 3D/HD Reminder Mobile Phone

Mobile Phones — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:28:28 +0000

The latter half of 2011 saw some major advancements in mobile phone technology, blockbuster sales records from Samsung, a whole slew of new patent lawsuits and the reinforcement of 4G LTE speeds. It’s the latter that seemed to have swept 3D and HD mobile technology onto the back burner. However, don’t worry, 3D and HD fans, it looks like your favs are returning to the limelight during or before the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next month.

Grabbing the bit of remaining 3D/HC momentum from HTC’s EVO 3D and LG’s own Optimus 3D/Thrill 4D, LG is working hard to present its next 3G HD smartphone, the LG CX2, which may claim the later moniker of LG Optimus 3D 2. (We think we can keep it straight, so long as it’s not renamed ‘LG Optimus 3D2O.’ We think we’d develop brain cramps from that!)

Overview

Before we delve into the gathered data on the unannounced mobile phone, let’s just warn you that we – and others who have looked – found little in the specs that blow 3D socks off or even nudge a loose 3D thread, but the smartphone still has a lot to offer once we get beyond expectations from the rumoured market name.

Specifications

Dimensions: Unknown
Display: 4.3 inches / WVGA NOVA
Operating System: (Historically, Android)
Speed: 1GHz, T1 OMAP dual core processor
Memory: 8 GB internal; external, unknown.
Battery: Unknown
Camera: Rear: 5 MP with probable limited video capability / Front: present.
Connectivity: At least 3G speeds; probably GSM device / Data: 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi / HSPA, DLNA / probably GPRS and EDGE.

Features: Dual camera set-up; front camera probably 0.3 MP, based on low MP on rear unit. Bluetooth 3.0.

Additional comments: We’re not sure if this smartphone has an external memory port, but at only 8 GB internal, we hope so.

Overall opinion: Not nearly as impressive as LG’s X3 model just previewed a few days ago, but for mid-level or low-level users, it seems it might be a handy mobile phone.

One of the important nudges this smartphone gives is that 3D-HD mobile technology is far from dead, and we definitely look forward to seeing more info on not only this model, but on all the upcoming 3D surprises this year.

Officially Waterproof Tablet Hits US Market

Mobile Phones — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 17:15:32 +0000

Our US source associate has burned up email and IM waves with news about the Pantech Element, the first waterproof-rate tablet around. We decided to give our ISPs a break and agreed to review the mobile tablet, based on the US excitement and the formality of the tablet’s rating that’s given right in the name.

Yes, the Pantech Element, sold by AT&T, is actually waterproof: It can withstand complete immersion in about one metre of water for 30 minutes and still keep plugging away.

That does deserve some attention!

Overview

Well, it’s hard to follow that waterproof announcement, but the Pantech element still has a lot to offer tablet users. The display could use some attention in the improvements area, but to own a waterproof tablet, the display is a fair compromise for now.

Quite fast with the 1 GHz Snapdragon, dual-core processor, it seems capable of the use-everyday wear and tear that can quickly fade on some tablets.

Just launched, it’s hard to say how the Element will stack against the Galaxy Tab 10.1, for instance, but the two-inch difference in screen size may not make that much of a difference for the additional mobility and reduced humidity and rain aspect the waterproof status brings.

Specifications

Dimensions: 212 x 155 x 11 mm / 470 g
Display: 8.0 inches / TFT capacitive touchscreen / 1024 x 768 pixels at 160 ppi
Operating System: Android 3.2 Honeycomb
Speed: 1 GHz, dual core Snapdragon
Memory: 1024 MB RAM / 16 GB on board, expandable another 16 GB via microSD or microSDHC card.
Battery: 6400 mAh / 25 days on standby (600 hours)
Camera: Rear: 5 MP / autofocus / LED Flash / Video: 720p HD. / Front: 2 MP.
Connectivity: GMS: 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz / UMTS: 850, 1900, 2100 MHz / LTE: 700 MHz Class 17, 1700/2100 MHz / Data: HSPA (unspecified), UMTS, EDGE, GPRS, LTE / Wifi 802.11 b/g/n.

Features: Unlimited phonebook entries. Google package, Google Talk IM. IMAP, POP3, STMP, Microsoft Exchange mail. MP3, AAC, AAC+ audio player; MPEG4, H.263, H.264 video player. Both audio and video streaming-capable.

Additional comments: Below average standby time, 36 days or 856 hours. Use times unknown. Brilliant RAM availability. The expanded total memory figures are the best on the market, but they’re not bad at all.

Overall opinion: We can see why our US friend was excited. The Pantech Element is definitely one to watch for.

LG T565: Tweener Smartphone That’s Easy on the Budget

Mobile Phones — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:25:19 +0000

Few parents are willing to fork over large amounts of cash to get their kids high-end smartphones, but tweens still clamour for them. One inexpensive smartphone joins that “suitable for age range” group, the LG T565, also known as the LG Cookie Friends or the LG Viper in some markets. Note, however, this is not the same mobile phone as the LG Viper on the Sprint network!

Overview

The case is plastic and feels cheap, but this is a low-priced mobile phone. The colour combination we saw of red and black is bold and distinctive.

The case buttons on the device give physical and audible feedback when engaged: Users feel and hear the click, so it’s harder to depress too hard and damage the button connections – a definite plus!

Small and very compact, this model fits easily into the small hand profile of younger users, another plus for the tweener crowd.

Customisable home pages against any of three base backgrounds enhances the “it’s mine, and I’m unique” reinforcement many youngsters need and want.

Let’s see what’s inside the case.

Specifications

Dimensions: 109 x 58.5 x 9.8 mm / 94 g
Display: 2.8 inches / LCD capacitive touchscreen / 240 x 320 pixels at 143 ppi
Operating System: Presumably Windows Phone 7, based on IM capability.
Speed: ? / single-core ARM11 processor.
Memory: 128 MB RAM / 256 MB internal memory, expandable to 8 MB via microSD or microSDHC card
Battery: unknown
Camera: 3 MP / autofocus? / Digital zoom / video-capable
Connectivity: GSM 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz.

Features: Windows Live Messenger IM. Facebook, Twitter integration; YouTube is noted, but preview examiners couldn’t get this to work. Single rear camera. MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, WMA, WAV, AMR, MIDI audio player; MPEG, MPEG4, H.263, 3GPP video player.

Additional comments: LG just announced this model last week, and it’s not on the market yet. However, when it is, it will probably have a flood of potential users looking at it. The social networking integration and IM capabilities alone make this a Probably Want among the tweener crowd.

WiFi connectivity unknown. Presumably a 3G smartphone.

Overall opinion: Excellent, inexpensive mobile phone for the young crowd!