HTC One Max Vs. Samsung Galaxy Note 3

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

First came the smartphones, then the tablets, and now the latest fad is "phablets" - devices that sit somewhere between oversized phones and undersized tablets. 

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The latest phablet from Samsung, the Galaxy Note 3, has had tremendous success on the market, and now HTC is entering the scene with the HTC One Max. 

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Can it stand up against the Note 3? Let's look at the specifics and find out.

Size

When it comes to size, it all depends on whether you're more excited about the phone or the tablet part of the phablet. It makes a difference here, since the One Max is significantly larger and heavier than the Note 3. Samsung's device measures in at 5.95" x 3.12" x 0.33" with a weight of 5.93 oz, while the HTC is a whopping 6.48" x 3.25" x 0.41" and weighs 7.65 oz. If you're on the fence about whether to get a phablet versus a regular smartphone, you probably don't want to start off with the One Max. Its formidable size makes it fall much more solidly in the "tablet" category. If, however, you're looking more for a tablet that can call and text, the One Max's size won't throw you at all. Of course, the Max's 6" screen is a nice bonus when it comes to watching movies or reading text.

Internal Specs

When it comes down to the numbers, the Note 3 easily wins this race, with its 2300 MHz processor and ridiculous amount of RAM - a full 3 GB - trumping the One Max's 1700 MHz processor and 2 GB of memory. In practical use, however, most will not notice the difference. The HTC One Max has enough memory and processing power to effortlessly handle the average user's workload. The Note 3 will be heavily discounted at Sprint Black Friday 2013 sale on November 29. Given the impressive specs, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is a better buy for the holiday shopping.

Input Options

The Galaxy Note 3 was designed to be used with a stylus and even ships with one. This makes it easier to accurately access what you want. The HTC One Max has chosen instead a touchscreen method. Will most people miss the stylus? Maybe not, unless they've gotten used to it on a Note. What the One Max does have that is unique is its fingerprint sensor. Taking its cue from the iPhone 5s, the sensor sits on the back of the device, allowing you to securely unlock your phone with just a touch of the finger, rather than inputting a passcode or something more time-consuming.

Software

Both these devices are up-to-date with Android 4.3, the latest version of Google's Android operating system. Each phablet's manufacturer has put its own user interface on top of Android. Samsung's TouchWiz Nature UX 2.0 offers heavily-advertised features like S Pen functionality and Air Command, while HTC Sense 5.5 includes a feed reader on your homescreen and Zoes, a video clip recorder connected to the camera app.

Which Is Better?

The HTC One Max, in many ways, has just taken its popular HTC One phone and made it larger. The Galaxy Note 3 is more technologically innovative, has better specs, and better demonstrates why a phablet might be preferable to a smartphone. That's not to say the Note 3 is for everyone. The HTC One was an excellent phone and its larger counterpart has many of the same great qualities. If you're set on a phone-tablet combination, however, you can't beat the Note 3 for convenient phablet-centered features.

David Johnson loves to review gadgets and share money saving tips. He recommends buying a new smartphone during Sprint Black Friday sale to get the best price of the season. 

*by andreascy*

HTC One Vs Samsung Galaxy S4: Which One Should You Buy?

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

They’re the two new kids on the smartphone block. But when it comes to picking the difference between the latest offerings from smartphone experts HTC and Samsung, it can be tricky to decide which cool new device is the right one for you. 

The answer really depends on who you are and what you want from your phone. To help you make the decision between these phones that are fresh off the conveyor belt, here is a run down of each of their best features.

For a reputable brand with reliable support: The Samsung Galaxy S4

When we expect so many things from our phones, it is inevitable that not all of these things will work perfectly for the amount of time that we use our device. Smartphones are designed with a short life-span in mind, but sometimes this can be too short.

So, if you’re after a strong support service and a brand you can trust, it is probably best to stick with the Samsung, as it is a larger company with a better reputation for solid customer service. 

For a pretty phone: The HTC One

It sounds really vain to choose a phone on the basis of its looks, but if you (or your teenage daughter) prioritise aesthetics above all other features, than the HTC One is the smartphone for you. Its contoured aluminium edges and pleasing home screen design make for a welcome change from the functionalist, plastic style of the Samsung. The HTC One also comes with a strong metal case, which looks a lot nicer than the flimsy plastic one that comes standard with the Samsung.

For extra storage space: The Samsung Galaxy S4

If you’re the sort of person who needs an SD card full of all of your movies, photos, songs and games sitting in your smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S4 should be your pick. The Samsung has expandable storage, which means that you can keep more of your stuff on your phone, without needing to offload onto a home device (like a laptop or a hard drive.) The HTC One does not allow for expandable storage, so you’re stuck with the 32 or 64GB memory with no opportunity to use additional memory cards.

For a cost-effective solution: Possibly either, but your best bet will probably be the HTC One

If you want the cheapest contract you can get for a high quality smartphone, the HTC One should be the phone that you are enquiring after. Most major phone dealers are offering their cheapest plan for the HTC One at a lower rate than their cheapest plan for the Samsung S4, but it will depend on your provider. 

For great battery life: Either

Both the Samsung and the HTC report similar battery life - unfortunately, neither is that astounding when it comes to the juice in the phone. So, ultimately, it just comes down to which features are the most important to how you use your phone, rather than how long you use it for between charges.

Frances Ward is a tech nerd from Sydney. When she’s not trying to figure out who is the best provider for her managed cloud, she’s comparing smartphones on the internet.

*by andreascy*

Almost Equal - The LG Spectrum vs. The HTC One XL

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description : 

Buying a new mobile phone can be a hefty investment, with top of the line models running in the hundreds of pounds. However, not all phones carry a steep price tag, there are some great mid-range devices out there that are perfectly reasonably priced. Deciding on one can be a little difficult though, since they all seem very similar. 

Today we're comparing the LG Spectrum to the HTC One XL, in a head to head comparison to see which one is better. They're pretty similar phones, even coming in at around the same price point. If we had to judge by appearances, we'd probably take the Spectrum, since it's just a little sleeker and sexier. But choosing a phone should really come down to the specs, so we're going to have to take a closer look at what these two models can do before we can really announce a winner. As it happens, they have similar specs, but one of these devices is better than the other.

The HTC One XL: What it Has to Offer...

The hugest advantage of the HTC lies in its internal storage. Like most of HTC's XL models, the One XL specializes in storage, and comes with a whopping 32 GB of internal memory, rather than the mere 4 GB that come on the Spectrum. That's a massive eight times more music, photos, videos and data that can be stored on your device, which is a pretty big difference. The screen on the XL is bigger too, coming in at 4.7 inches rather than 4.5 inches. And when you're reading a web page, bigger screens are definitely better. 

The other big advantage of the One XL for some people is that it has newer Bluetooth support, coming equipped with Bluetooth 4.0, whereas the Spectrum has only 3.0. For users who frequently connect to Bluetooth devices, such as a hands free set, this means faster data transfer, and that your phone uses less battery power when connecting. 

The HTC also comes in smaller in general, as well as thinner and lighter than the Spectrum, making it more portable. Finally, the One XL is running a newer version of Android's operating system, coming with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, as opposed to the Android 2.3 Gingerbread on the LG. Generally, a newer version of an operating system is faster and more stable than an older version, as carries less risk of your phone freezing and crashing. Oh, and the HTC has a built in FM radio too, not a necessity, but it might be nice to have.

The LG Spectrum: What it Has to Offer...

After all that, the Spectrum doesn't have all that much that it's better at. Both phones run the same processor, so they're equally powerful. The LG's screen has slightly more PPI (pixels per inch), making it a little brighter and sharper, but not terribly so. And that's it.

Which One's the Best?

The HTC One XL gets our vote. We love all that extra storage space, and a bigger screen always gets our vote. The Spectrum is a good phone; it's just not quite as good as the One XL...

RECOMMENDED: Eight Reasons to Buy the iPhone 5c

Go ahead and let us know which one is your favorite.

*by andreascy*

HTC Droid DNA vs LG Optimus G - Smartphone Comparisons

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description : 

These are two of the most powerful smartphones on the market. 

The Droid DNA is the first in the world to have a 5 inch display and Full HD. The LG Optimus G is amongst the forerunners to have a quad-core processor.

Overview

Both phones use the Android operating system. Although the LG runs on Android 4.04 Ice Cream Sandwich, whilst the HTC runs on Android 4.11 Jelly Bean. Both also have very similar specifications. The main spec difference is the 5 inch display of the HTD Droid DNA.

The smartphone market has been dominated to a greater or lesser degree by the Apple iPhone series over the last few years. Apple have sold 45 million in the fourth quarter of 2012 it seems. However Apple is no longer the innovator in this market that it was in 2007 when the company brought out the first iPhone.

With the market ever more competitive, and other manufacturers trying to keep up with Apple, and major new players Google and Microsoft, innovation inside and out is becoming the order of the day. The iPhone it seems is the one to beat.

The HTC Droid DNA in my opinion has done an amazing job. The HTC One X is comparable to the iPhone. The DROID DNA bombs it out of the water. The only negative for me is that the buttons could be more responsive, more pronounced, and better placed.

LG Optimus G

LG has recently been chosen by Google as partner of choice for their Nexus 4 model. The year of innovation and partnership created a great phone.

LG has come on leaps and bounds since their early days, and even in the last 12 months or so. They are getting more advocates in the expert forums stating that they are a real contender to take the market by storm. Their brand is quite innovative, they have a reputation for quality in their other products, and they have the power to reach the market. Their Bluetooth is excellent. Their rear camera is better than the Droid DNA (although the Droid’s front camera is higher spec at 2.1 mp vs 1.3 mp).

Droid DNA

This battle is very close on specs and it is really down to personal preference which you like. In a market that is fierce it is also down to which brand you want to support. After all there is only room for a certain number of those competing at the moment and some will fail. The Blackberry decline is a point in case.

For me it is the Droid DNA. I simply love the phone. It is a great streaming and picture experience and is super-stylish as well. The LG is a real contender and I look forward to their future releases and collaborations with the might that is Google.

IN TREND: The Future Is Now: Self-Healing Phones Hit the Market

I know this comparison is close. What does everyone else think? Who won this battle in your experience of the phones?

*by andreascy*