High End Smartphone Buyer's Guide for October 2013

For those with deep pockets, these are five offerings I think are worth having a look at. All these phones are fast and have LTE, like many others in the market. As increases in smartphone speed become less relevant to the users, I think focus should be more on features which specific users might find valuable. Better to spend a large wad of cash on something you find useful, rather than just being able to upload screenshots of higher benchmarks. Each of these phones offer something special. 

All prices posted are for units covered by a manufacturer's warranty.

1. Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 (Php20,990) - Productivity

No matter what anyone says about some Androids getting too big, the reality is that many smartphone users find their smartphones too small for extended and productive use. That is why we have tablets. While a 6.3-inch phone may be a bit bulky to carry around, it is a lot more portable than carrying a small phone and a tablet.

The large screen also has other benefits. Miss your old physical QWERTY keyboard? For many users, a touch keyboard still results in slower typing. Thumb typing on a 6.3-inch is an entirely different experience. Give it a look. 

Quick specifications:

• Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean)
• 6.3-inch 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 (user replaceable)

2.  Nokia Lumia 925 (Php21,500) - Video capture 

Nokia has long been known to make good camera phones, and the Nokia Lumia 925 is a continuation of this legacy. The 8 MP primary camera has Carl Zeiss Optics and takes good stills. Taking good pictures is no big deal with a high end smartphone these days. The problem is video.

Those 1080p videos we shoot on our phones look great on a small 5-inch screen. Play them on a LCD TV, and you notice just how much your hands were shaking. The previous video is shaking all over the place. The Nokia Lumia 925 corrects this problem by providing optical image stabilization (OIS). The Nokia Lumia 920 is the cheapest phone on the market equipped with optical image stabilization.

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.

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
• 8 MP autofocus primary camera with OIS and a dual-LED Flash
• 1.3 MP front camera
• LTE/HSPA+
• WiFi
• Bluetooth
• A-GPS
• 2000 mAh battery (not user replaceable)

3. Sony Xperia ZR C5503 LTE (Php22,990) - Adventure

The Sony Xperia ZR is a scaled down version of the top of the line Sony Z seriesL products. Instead of a 5-inch Full HD display, you have a 4.55-inch HD display. Internal storage has also been reduced and the front camera is only a VGA unit. Other than that, the other specifications are unchanged. Most important of this is the IP58 certification for water and dust resistance. This makes an excellent choice for the active user.

You will still want to put your Xperia ZR in a tough case, before your next white water rafting or mountain climbing adventure. This will enhance its water resistance and protect it from physical damage. This is where is smaller size provides another advantage. An Xperia ZR in a touch case is still handy enough.

Adding to the all weather credentials is a dedicated camera button which will also allow you to snap pics in wet conditions. Touchscreens do no work in the wet.

If I was in the market right now, this is the one I would buy.

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 (user replaceable)

4. LG G2 (Php26,650) - Redefining the flagship Android

The first three phones on our list are at the relatively lower price points for higher end devices with older HD/720p displays and older processors. Where is the super phone?  Replacing the Samsung Galaxy S4 on the list is LG G2. The LG G2 comes with Qualcomm's latest S800 chipset with its screaming 2.3 GHz Krait processor. The graphics chip has been improved too, with the newer Adreno 330. The combination gives you the fastest mobile processor and second fastest mobile graphics processor in the world.

But I am not replacing the Samsung Galaxy S4 just because the LG G2 is a bit faster. Really, we are talking milliseconds at this point. The LG G2 takes the crown because it incorporates more next generation technology. The LG G2's 13 MP camera is a fine shooter which integrates OIS for steady video capture and improved low light capability. The Qualcomm S800 chipset supports touchless control. While there are few, if any apps which take advantage of this today, it is nice to future proof. The LG G2 also comes with a 5.2-inch display, putting it into what used to be phablet territory but in a case which is smartphone sized. This was done by making the bezel on this phone really thin.

The Android 4.2.2 operating install is modified by LG. But it is nice and light, and not like Samsung TouchWiz which is really starting to feel like a collection of every single gimmicky feature someone can dream up.

It is not the prettiest looking phone I have seen, and the back buttons will take some getting use to, but the LG G2 is without a doubt the best smartphone in the market and it is surprisingly very reasonably priced.

Quick specifications:

• Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean)
• 5.2-inch Full HD (1080 x 1920) IPS display
• 32 GB internal storage, not expandable
• 2 GB RAM
• 2.3 GHz quad core Qualcomm S800 processor
• Adreno 330 graphics
• 13 MP autofocus primary camera with OIS and a LED Flash
• 1.3 MP front camera
• LTE/HSPA+
• WiFi
• Bluetooth
• A-GPS
• 3000 mAh battery (not user replaceable)

5. Samsung Galaxy Note 3 (Php34,990 but just Php1,999 a month x 24 months from Smart) - Productivity redefined

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 has pretty much the same specifications as LG G2. It does come with more RAM, but the main attraction will really be the larger 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display and the pressure sensitive stylus. You also get an expandable memory and a user replaceable battery. You do lose optical image stabilization as compared to the LG G2.

I am not sure it is worth 8K more than the LG G2. But being offered by local carriers on postpaid plans, it makes it an easy enough choice. On a postpaid plan, like that being offered by Smart Communications, a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 won't cost you more than a Galaxy S4, Lumia 925 or BlackBerry Z10.  

Quick specifications:

• Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean)
• 5.7-inch Full HD (1080 x 1920) Super AMOLED display
• 32 GB internal storage, expandable via a MicroSD card slot
• 3 GB RAM
• 2.3 GHz quad core Qualcomm S800 processor
• Adreno 320 graphics
• 13 MP autofocus primary camera with OIS and a LED Flash
• 2 MP front camera
• LTE/HSPA+
• WiFi
• Bluetooth
• A-GPS
• 3200 mAh battery (user replaceable)