New format for Smartphone Buyer's Guides

There have been some discussions with readers of this blog, on how best to revise the buyer's guides on this blog. Right now, I divide it into three categories:

• Entry Level
• Mid-Range
• High End

I have also limited it to not more than 5 phones per category, occasionally throwing in a Wildcard (a niche market phone). The current classification really looks to be insufficient, especially considering the heaviest competition these days is in the lower price ranges.

I was thinking of a new scale which would look something like this:

Entry level (up to Php5K)

- MyPhone Rain, Php2988
- Cherry Mobile Life, Php2,999
- Cherry Mobile 2X, Php4,499
- Cherry Mobile Burst, Php4,699
- Arc Mobile Nitro, Php4,999

Low cost (up to 10K, it is a bit strange calling 720p quad core phones, as entry level)

- Arc Mobile Memo, Php6,150
- Cherry Mobile Apollo, Php6,700
- Nokia Lumia 520, Php7,450
- MyPhone A919i, PHP7,990
- Cherry Mobile Omega, Php8,990
- Cherry Mobile Blaze, Php9,490

Lower Mid-Range (up to 15K)

- Nokia Lumia 620, Php10,800
- Cherry Mobile Cosmos S, Php10,999
- ZTE Grand X, Php11,500
- Cherry Mobile Cosmos X2, Php11,699
- MyPhone Agua Iceberg, Php11,988
- MyPhone Agua Vortex, Php12,388
- Nokia Lumia 625, Php12,200 (LTE on Globe only)
- Lenovo S820
- Nokia Lumia 720, Php12,700
- Lenovo P780, Php13,500
- HTC 8X, Php13,500

Upper Mid-Range (up to 20K)

- Sony Xperia SP, Php15,990
- HTC Desire 600, Php16,390
- Huawei Ascend Mate, Php16,700
- HTC One X 32 GB, Php16,990
- Huawei Ascend P6, Php17,990

High End (up to 25K)

- LG Optimus G, Php20,990
- Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3, Php20,900
- Nokia Lumia 925, Php21,500
- Sony Xperia ZR, Php22,990
- Sony Xperia ZL, Php24,500

Flagship

- LG Optimus G Pro, Php25,550 (LTE on Globe only)
- Sony Xperia Z, Php25,990
- LG G2, Php26,650
- Samsung Galaxy S4, Php28,700
- HTC One, Php30,990
- Nokia Lumia 1020, Php31,990
- Samsung Galaxy Note, Php34,450

This is not the list, just a sampling of contenders. This list has six categories. Maybe five categories (6/12/18/24/24), with three recommendations each for a total of 15 phones might be better? Adding a wildcard per category where appropriate for a maximum of 20 phones. What do you think?

LG G2 now at Globe Telecom free at Plan 1799 - Turning up the heat on the Samsung Galaxy S4

When the Android powered 5.2-inch LG G2 came out last month, it changed our perception of what an Android flagship phone should be. The LG G2 up'ed the ante in terms specifications and lowered the barrier in terms of price. Selling for just Php27,490 and available at zero interested deferred payment plans, the LG G2 undercut the Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One in terms of price, by a good 10%.

At the same time, the LG G2 comes with the new Qualcomm S800 which is faster than the Qualcomm S600 on its Samsung and HTC contenders. The Qualcomm S800 also supports always-on voice monitoring, so it is not only faster but more forward looking. The 13 MP shooter on the LG G2 also has optical image stabilization. With this LG joins HTC and Nokia in this elite club.

Now LG has another coup. It is available on contract with Globe, free at Plan 1799 with a 24 month lock-in, again undercutting cost of ownership as against its rivals.

With the enough hardware to pound the Samsung Galaxy S4 in the ground, and unbeatable price and postpaid options, it looks like Samsung is facing the greatest threat to its Android domination.