If you have deep pockets, what smartphones should you be looking at? These are what I think to be the best options at Php20,000 or higher.
All prices posted are for units covered by a manufacturer's warranty.
1. LG Optimus G (Php20,990) - Nexus 4 with LTE
The LG Optimus G is the phone on which the Google Nexus 4 was based. Basically, it is a Nexus 4 with double the storage and LTE, priced ironically a few thousand less.
Quick specifications:
- Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)
- 4.7-inch HD (768 x 1280) display
- 32 GB internal storage, not expandable
- 2 GB RAM
- 1.5 GHz quad core Qualcomm Krait processor
- Adreno 320 graphics
- 13 MP autofocus primary camera with LED Flash
- 1.3 MP front camera
- LTE/HSPA+
- WiFi
- Bluetooth
- A-GPS
- 2100 mAh battery
The LG Optimus G put together the best of 2012 technology. It won't stand up to the best of the 2013 offerings, but if you can get it at a bit over 20K, it is a very good value for money offering.
2. Nokia Lumia 925 (Php21,500 SRP) - Video capture phone for the active user
The Nokia Lumia 920 was the best Windows Phone 8 device in the market. The Nokia Lumia 925 takes all the good features of the Lumia 920, and corrects it shortcomings. makes it even better. The Lumia 925 is a Lumia 920 which is 20% thinner and 30% lighter than the Lumia 920. But there is a catch. Nokia reduced the storage from 32 GB to 16 GB.
The 8 MP primary camera with Carl Zeiss Optics is what this phone is all about. The 8 MP shooter has optical image stabilization (OIS). OIS is only found on Nokia's high end 9 and 10 series phones and the HTC One. OIS uses a gyroscope to detect the motion of the phone and the whole optical assembly moves in the opposite direction to cancel out the movement. That happens 500 times a second. This really does wonders for HD video capture and helps in low light photography. Looks like Nokia also tweaked the software, resulting in the Lumia 925 producing better stills than the Lumia 920.
Quick specifications:
- Windows Phone 8
- 4.5-inch HD (768 x 1280) AMOLED display
- 16 GB internal storage, not expandable
- 1 GB RAM
- 1.5 GHz dual core Qualcomm Krait processor
- Adreno 225 graphics
- 13 MP autofocus primary camera with LED Flash
- 1.3 MP front camera
- LTE/HSPA+
- WiFi
- Bluetooth
- A-GPS
- 2000 mAh battery
3. Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 (Php22,800) - The smartphone and tablet are so last year.
I have never like phablets. I found them too big and too bulky. Funny how making the bigger changed my mind. The massive 6.3-inch display on the Samsung Galaxy Mega is a pleasure to use. Thumb typing has never been so easy. The hardware is modest, but good enough for most people and reasonable for the asking price. A word of advice, get a Bluetooth headset. You are going to look ridiculous holding this thing to your ear.
Quick specifications:
- Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean)
- 6.3inch HD (720 x 1280) display
- 16 GB internal storage, expandable via a Micro SD card
- 1.5 GB RAM
- 1.7 GHz dual core Qualcomm Krait processor
- Adreno 305 graphics
- 8 MP autofocus primary camera with LED Flash
- 1.9 MP front camera
- LTE/HSPA+
- WiFi
- Bluetooth
- A-GPS
- 3200 mAh battery
4. Sony Xperia ZR C5503 LTE (Php23,400) - The smartphone for the thrill seeker
Packing a 2300 mAh battery, it does have excellent battery life (will be posting details on that soon). Best part is the battery is user replaceable.
Quick specifications:
- Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean)
- 4.55-inch HD (720 x 1280) display
- 8 GB internal storage, expandable via a MicroSD card
- 2 GB RAM
- 1.5 GHz quad core Qualcomm Krait processor
- Adreno 320 graphics
- 13 MP autofocus primary camera with LED Flash
- VGA front camera
- LTE/HSPA+
- WiFi
- Bluetooth
- A-GPS
- 2300 mAh battery
If I were in the market right now. This is the one I would buy.
There are very few bad things you can really say about this phone. Some hate the plastic build. The TouchWiz Enhanced has gotten to the point that it feels gimmicky. It is still the best choice for most users.
Quick specifications:
- Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean)
- 5-inch Full HD (1080 x 1920) Super AMOLED display
- 16 GB internal storage, expandable via a MicroSD card
- 2 GB RAM
- 1.9 GHz quad core Qualcomm S600 processor
- Adreno 320 graphics
- 13 MP autofocus primary camera with LED Flash
- 1.3 MP front camera
- LTE/HSPA+
- WiFi
- Bluetooth
- A-GPS
- 2600 mAh battery
Wildcard: Last month the Apple iPhone 5 held this spot, but with a new one to be announced in a week, it would be best to wait for the new iPhone 5S, or for iPhone 5 prices to go down.
Check out my other buyers guides:
Top Five Mid-Ranage Smartphones for September 2013
For those folks who are swimming in pork barrel funds-- er I mean hard-earned cash, I would like to propose an honorable mention: Sony Xperia Z Ultra.
ReplyDeleteIt's the largest phablet in the market at 6.4 inches, and comes with likewise ultra internals: it has a quad core Snapdragon 800 processor, Adreno 330 graphics, 2GB of memory and a 1080p screen.
Also until the Honami/Xperia Z1 comes out it's the only smartphone out there with Sony's Triluminos display... it's an interesting new competitor to the S4's Super AMOLED and HTC One's Super LCD3 displays.
http://www.sonymobile.com/global-en/products/phones/xperia-z-ultra/features/#display
http://blog.gsmarena.com/sony-xperia-z-ultra-triluminos-display-goes-head-to-head-with-the-htc-one-and-galaxy-s4-displays-with-no-clear-winner/
The one big drawback is that it's at least 10k pesos more than the Xperia ZR. But if size does matter and money doesn't matter as much, this is worth a look imo.
Experia Z1 was my first choice. I chose the Note II over the otherwise more impressive (and more waterproof) Experia. The deal breaker was, yes, the lack of LTE. Besides the price on the Note 2 is substantially lower than its introductory price and I don't mind the speed bump offered by Note 3.
DeleteCorrection for xperia zr: it has expandable memory, the sd card slot is underneath the battery
ReplyDelete