top 10

1. samsung galaxy s4

t's one of the most anticipated handsets of the year, it's the follow-up to one of the best-selling phones of last year, and it has been hyped to the extent that Samsung is starting to look like it's going to teach Apple a thing or two about generating anticipation. Enter then, the Samsung Galaxy S4.

In some ways, this device is more interesting than just a new phone. It marks an intriguing time for Samsung where the development of hardware has hit something of a wall, and this generation of phones is all about software. And so it's here that the company has invested, announcing new features and upgrading the old to look more sleek and modern.

Of course, that's not to say this phone isn't technologically advanced, because it is, and it's just about the most high-tech handset you can buy. But it's interesting to see what Samsung is doing to distance itself from the herd, and to stand out.

But enough small talk, let's look at one of the most hotly anticipated phones of the year.

Design

The good news is that Samsung has managed to do two things: it has kept the successful design of the Galaxy S range, while making it nicer than its predecessors. We really like the way the SGS4 has taken the rounded edges of the SGS3 and flattened them. Visually, it makes almost no difference - at first glance, no one will be able to tell this isn't the SGS3 - but in your hand, it feels better and, crucially, is less likely to fall to the ground.

The body of the phone is still plastic though, and that comes with its own problems. While it's light and cheap, it  doesn't feel as nice as a metal body does. It also attracts marks and fingerprints more readily than other materials and we've found that, on a hot day, sweat can mean Samsung's choice of plastics makes its phones hard to hold.

In terms of layout, nothing much has changed. The home button is in the same place and is pretty much the same shape bar a minor tweak. The power button is a little longer now, but in the same location as before, and the same goes for the volume rocker on the right of the phone. The headphone socket is still at the top, and the Micro-USB socket at the bottom.

Around the back the speaker has moved from near the camera to the bottom of the handset. The flash is now beneath the camera lens, where before it was to the side. We liked the old layout, and think the new back looks cheaper. The camera lens assembly is larger too, but it doesn't upset the design significantly.

Under the rear cover, the removable battery, microSD card and micro SIM are still the same, and in the same places. You can put up to 64GB of extra storage in the SGS4 with an optional SD card, and that goes along with either the 16, 32 or 64GB models available. In all honesty, you'd be crazy to buy a high-capacity phone when microSD cards are so cheap.

The raw numbers say this phone is smaller and lighter than the SGS3, and that's impressive considering it has a larger capacity battery and a larger, higher-resolution, display. It doesn't really feel any different though, and side-by-side with the older phone, there's really nothing significant to choose between them.

It screens quality

There are no two ways about it, 1080p screens on small phones are just the bee's knees. Here, what you get is a 5-inch screen which, at 1920 x 1080 equates to 441 pixels per inch. That's a higher resolution than Apple's iPhone, and it beats pretty much everything else on the market too, although 1080p displays are becoming the norm for high-end Android devices.

Looking at it, you can tell it's special. We found that it looks best when it's allowed to shine brightly. That's something common to AMOLED displays, and at lower brightnesses, things tend to look a bit dull and lifeless. Obviously, running your phone at full brightness will kill the battery more quickly, but it does make for a more fetching device. It's also worth pointing out that in very bright sunlight, this screen can get a little bit swamped. It is possible to see it, but be prepared to hunt for some shade when the sun is brightest. 

Thanks to the crazy quad-core processor, the screen doesn't have to suffer with low-bitrate, rubbish quality, video. Oh no. Throw it a high-bitrate, 1080p MKV file with MP4 encoded video and it's as super-happy as Larry. This is iimpressive, and it means you can use this phone to play media on your TV without the need for any other hardware. Samsung's own TVs have the ability to easily accept mirroring in this way, which is good if you exist in a Samsung-dominated world.

For everything else, the screen is great. The resolution means you can get a lot of webpage on the screen at once. The text will be small though, and while those with keen eyes will find it no problem, those who need larger fonts might find the screen size less than optimal. If that's the case, the Note 2 is an ideal choice for you, with a lower resolution and a bigger screen, it's better set up for the web than the SGS4.

Motion, voice and eye control

At some point, mobile phone manufacturers decided that although we'd all bought touchscreen phones, the absolute last thing we'd ever want to do with them is actually to touch them. So they all set about trying to invent new ways for us to interact with our telephones. Samsung has been a leader here, and while Apple got in first with really solid voice assistant tech, the Korean firm has taken voice and added motion and gestures to its arsenal.

What the Galaxy S4 has is the widest selection of non-touch controls we've seen. Some of them are better than others and all of them consume battery like it's going out of fashion.

Our favorite feature is "quick glance" which gives you key information when you reach toward the phone. We love this on the Note 2 as well, but the problem for us there was that it wasn't sensitive enough. Here, it's much more prepared to light up and tell you things when you go near it. It's ace, and we love that other apps can interact with it too - Outlook can show you when you have new Hotmail/Outlook/Live mail, for example.

We also like "direct call", which calls any contact whose details you have on screen when you raise the phone to your head, and "smart alert", which tells you about calls you missed when you were away from the phone by vibrating when you pick the phone up. It's a bit pointless, but if you're in a rush it's good to know that something worth checking has happened.

While "smart scroll" is impressive enough in theory, in practice it leaves you making some comically over-zealous head movements to get text to scroll. It works really well, but you'll look like a fool using it. Meanwhile "smart stay" which keeps the screen on when you're looking at it, is fine, but hopeless if you look away: it goes off, then you want it to come back on again. When Samsung can turn the screen on when you do that, we'll be impressed.

Our final "smart" thing worth mentioning is the video pause feature. With video playing, if you look away, it will pause and resume when you look back. This worked perfectly for us when we were testing it, and we can see this being of use when we're trying to watch a movie and Mrs Lint wants us for something.

S Voice is still a major part of the "not touching your phone" offering. It works well enough, but we can't think of many reasons to use it apart from when you're in the car - when it's actually very good. Use Samsung's driving mode, and it will sit waiting for you to say "Hi Galaxy" - or your phrase - and you can then issue it commands. For example, ask for directions to a location or, as we did, ask it to find a local petrol station.

We'd say that the accuracy of S Voice is pretty remarkable - it's powered by Nuance software - and while other systems we've tried aren't so good with the road noise in a car, S Voice seemed fine with that and mostly knew what we were on about. Like all voice systems, it performs badly when you say "221b Baker Street, NW1" and you'll usually get some messed up location in Canada or somewhere. But overall, we think it works quite well.

Safety assistant

Perhaps the strangest new feature is "Safety assistant". What it does is allow you to set an emergency state on the phone. To do this, you press both the volume buttons and hold them for 3 seconds. Once you've done this, the phone locates you via GPS, and is then able to send a distress alert to numbers you specify. You can also opt to send photos from the front and back cameras as MMS messages. The messages clearly state where you are, in text - in our test it was a few roads out - and it also sends a link to Google Maps.

While we aren't sure quite how much use any of this will be, the core idea is solid. It could be some use to the elderly, although the two-button pressing thing is a bit fiddly, but the potential here is good. We'd leave it on, with a loved-one's details stored, and then if you're out and see something, or are involved in something, you can quickly send details. You may never use it, but there's really no reason not to set it up. Just warn your loved one that it will happen, and try to stay away from it when you're drunk.

Health board

Here's another solid set of features that we're pleased to see, and think will be popular. Health board brings together all the things you need to stay healthy. There's a step counter, exercise tracker and food-logging system all built in here. Operating in much the same way as a Weight Watchers diet, you can simply log all your food and exercise against each other and use that to keep your total intake lower than your energy use.

The step counter is nice, it's automatic and easy to use. It's the sort of thing that, while you have to rember to turn it on, once it's on you can sort of forget about it. We've used Jawbone's Up, and in some ways we prefer the step counter on the SGS4, because you can switch it off when you're not walking. With Up, it's on all the time, and counts typing and reaching to pick up a remote for the TV as a step.

The food management system is a faff though, to be honest. While we get what Samsung is doing, you really need to have a massive food database like Weight Watchers to make it work properly. You can take photos of your food, which is a good excuse for hipsters, and manually or automatically log calories. There is a database, but it's not as comprehensive as we'd like, and there doesn't seem to be any way to scan barcodes, as you can with Up.

It's a worthwhile system overall, and there's some exciting potential for the future too, especially if Samsung grows its database of foods and pushes people to hit their targets.

Internal storage 

One of the controversies that has arisen since we published this review initially, is about the internal storage capacity of the S4. With all of Samsung's gubbins installed, you get a fairly modest 9GB out of a capacity of 16GB to use for your purposes. 

There are a couple of issues here. The first is that people feel cheated when they buy a phone sold as 16GB but can't use all of it. Is it bad practice for Samsung to do this? Yes it is. Will it stop? Probably not. Given the cost of the phone, and the cost of storage, we think Should add extra space to make up for this, perhaps by adding an extra 12GB of space designed just for the operating system. Of course the other option would be to throw in some kind of microSD card with each phone and claim that's part of the storage. 

And, microSD is the saviour here, because despite the fuss, at least on a Samsung Galaxy S4 you can add as much as 64GB of additional storage. And while very high capacity cards are expensive, you can add 32GB for less than £20. It may still feel like you're being cheated, but you'll still be able to store hours of video and loads of photos and music. 

There's not much new here, and while we understand the frustration of the public, we also see this to some extent with every single phone we test, including the iPhone, although that has about 13GB on a 16GB device, clearly not as bad as the Samsung. 

Dropbox

Although it's a third-party app, we need to say a couple of words about Dropbox because its integration here is so good. What we really like is that in the video section you're able to see any video stored both on the device and on Dropbox. Obviously, the same is true for pictures. We really like this, and find it's one of the first "cloud" solutions that actually works in a meaningful way.

The only slight problem is that video must be transferred to your device to play, and that can take quite a while to achieve, even with quite modestly sized clips. Still, it boosts the storage of your device, and Samsung's deal with Dropbox means you get 50GB free for two years when you sign in with a Galaxy S or other Samsung device.

TouchWiz

After so much generally positive talk about the Galaxy S4 it's time to mention something that's idiotic. The lock screen. By default this has no app icons for fast unlock - they're simple enough to enable - and instead there's a small clock and the words "Life companion" in a carefree font.

That's right. It says "Life companion" on the lock screen.

Once we'd finished vomiting, we were able to configure our own lockscreen message. Quite why you'd want a message on your lock screen eludes us slightly anyway, but, again, you can switch it off with minimal effort.

Elsewhere, TouchWiz has improved a lot, at least visually. Icons are a little less cartoony, and a nicer looking. They do still have a colour palette that you'll either love or hate, but the super-high resolution on this phone seems to have made it something worth looking at. We think "normal" users will get along with the interface fine, and advanced users are free to change pretty much everything, using free apps and themes readily available.

We do like the new clock and weather widget though, and while it's got a bit of a whiff of HTC's new Sense interface about it, it's still a nice design that's clear to use and pleasant to look at.

The two-headed beast

One of the big complaints about Samsung's approach is that it duplicates everything. With the SGS4 you have a choice of two app stores, two video stores and two music stores. Happily, Samsung has amalgamated all of its products into one hub now, and it's also undertaken a massive redesign. We have to say, it now looks great.

Prices seem about right, they're broadly similar to Google Play and iTunes. As always, there are differences, but at least you can do some shopping around - not on iTunes, of course, unless it's music. It's all expensive in our view, but there must be people out there buying this stuff. At least Samsung has TVs, tablets and phones that can all access this video content.

There are some of the usual nonsense restrictions in place, as per the rules of Hollywood. You can only watch films on the phone, or when connected via an HDMI cable with HDCP and some movies will even stop you using Samsung's own AnyCast to shift films to a Samsung TV. Thanks Hollywood, your prattery never ceases to amaze.

To some extent, we agree that the combination of Android and TouchWiz means there are often several ways of doing the same thing. Normal users won't struggle with this, but advanced users might find it a little frustrating. On the plus side, Android settings are now separated into more-logical categories, so tweaking things should be a little easier.

Battery

Here's where things start to become a bit difficult. We always refuse to give battery benchmarks because it's impossible to do properly. We could tell you how long a phone plays 720p video for, but as not a single soul uses a phone like that, it's worthless. What we do is tell you about our experiences.

And here, we've found the now familiar pattern with all Samsung Galaxy S handsets, namely, that the battery doesn't live up to the promises made by the phone. Essentially, The SGS4 has so many amazing features, but to use them all as intended, you'll crunch through the battery in a lot less than a full day.

We did a heavy use test, which involved using the phone to browse the web and tweet for a couple of hours in the morning, followed by two hour-long journeys, one with vanilla satellite navigation, the other with Samsung's "Driving mode" turned on. Doing this, we were down to the last few drops of power by 5pm, having started using the phone at 7am. That's not bad, to be honest, but it's still a bit of a compromise.

On the next day, we used the phone a little bit in the morning, and then on and off throughout the day. Things looked better, but we still didn't make it to bedtime without slipping in some extra juice. This is something of an issue, but these days people are simply getting used to charging their handsets during the day.

At least here you can switch the battery for a new one just by popping the cover off. That's a bit clunky, but it's a solution if you're out and about for long periods.

Camera

Samsung has upped the resolution of the rear camera to 13-megapixels. At Pocket-lint we aren't especially blown away by numbers, and the photos are far more important to us. Happily, the Galaxy S is something quite special in camera terms. Before, we would have argued that the iPhone 5 has just about the best images we've seen from a phone. Now we think Apple has some really stiff competition.

Images have good, solid colour and a really good level of detail. We've seen compact cameras produce images that look worse than the shots from this camera. Zoomed in to 100 per cent and there's little of that "cheap camera smooshing" that crushes detail and leaves a mush of splodges in its place.

It's also worth remembering that the Galaxy S has some utterly solid tricks too: for example, the ability to take five photos quickly, and remove moving objects. This is, quite possibly, one of the most breathtaking things we've seen. This feature is very useful if you're trying to take a nice tourist snap and other tourists keep getting in the way, and what's more, it's really very quick. The five photos happen in reasonably rapid succession, but it gives the camera enough time to capture the scene and enough information to edit out things moving at normal walking pace.

We've tested this a fair bit, and it's really rather good. It won't suit all occasions, but imagine the number of times you've photobombed a tourist in your life, and this feature will get rid of that. The final image quality is also very good indeed, and if you weren't told, it would be quite hard to guess that any processing had taken place at all.

The usual modes are also present, as you'd expect. Panorama, HDR and best photo all earn a spot. It does feel like the camera's user interface has learnt extensively from Samsung's Galaxy Camera, but this is a smart move, as that device was well designed, if perhaps not the best camera we've ever tested.

Call me, maybe?

Some people use their phones to make calls to people. Sometimes they're Canadian pop stars, sometimes it's just their friends and family. Happily, we found the calling quality of the SGS4 to be outstanding. Our house rests in a fairly low signal area, and the phone had very little trouble delivering good quality calls. Sometimes there were some wobbles at the start of the call, but things soon settled down. 

We also noted that the phone's speaker is incredibly loud. In fact, we were quite startled by how much sound it could produce. The big problem with the speaker is that, while it's stereo, there's only one place where the sound escapes from the cover. This makes it incredibly easy to block the speaker and reduce the sound substantially. 

The best suggestion we can give you for getting good sound out of the SGS4 is to use a set of headphones with a built-in microphone. 

The competition

It's worth spending a few minutes to think about the competition. We can ignore the iPhone to some extent, although anyone thinking of making the move from iOS to Android could do a lot worse than pick Samsung as the handset company to defect to.

READ: iPhone 5 review

If you look at these phones through a defector's eyes, iPhone users would be far more likely to go for the HTC One, and would find it a more similar experience to their Apple devices. For a start, the metal construction of the HTC is a very welcome sight, and the way the phone has been designed from a software point of view will please most people looking for a pretty user interface. The Samsung is a contender here, but the HTC does have a slight edge in terms of style, it's just perhaps not as feature-heavy as the SGS now is - and the camera doesn't meet our expectations, honestly. Also, the sound from the One's speakers is in a different league from the SGS. 

READ: HTC One review

The Sony Xperia Z is another possible option. We don't think iPhone deserters would be that keen, but for an Android phone, Sony has done a great job of keeping the feel of Google's OS, while still adding some really nice extra features. Sony's obsession with messing with things has died, and while there are still those duplicates of the Google Play features, it's less marked than it is on Samsung's phone. It is water-resistant, however.

READ: Sony Xperia Z review

And it seems silly not to mention that you could also opt for the Galaxy Note 2. After all, there are lots of shared features, and the Note has some advantages - like, for example, a bigger screen and better battery life.

Verdict

As we type this we have the SGS3 and the SGS4 on our desk. While, superficially, there's really not a lot of difference between the two, to hold, they couldn't feel more different. We really like the new, more square-feeling SGS4. At the back, we prefer the SGS3  aesthetically, although the case design of the new phone is nicer - albeit still plastic.

There are a stack more options here. Some we like, and think we might use, others we can see the value in, and some we think are ridiculous. But, if nothing else, Samsung continues to try hard, and work on new features. Many of these are unique and interesting, rather than just copies of other devices.

We are certain that the SGS4 is a better phone than the SGS3. Loads more features, improvements everywhere and very little that has got worse - you might laugh, but this does happen with successful devices sometimes.

On the negative side, we still think the battery life is a problem, and if you switch of the power-draining features, then you'll end up with the same Android phone as everyone else has, so there's not much point in that, is there? On the whole though, battery life and management seems better on this phone than the last. With normal use, we can get through the working day, so that's pretty reasonable.

As always, the sign of a good gadget is one that we don't want to give back. Our review SGS4 is being returned tomorrow, and the truth is that we're really going to miss it. It is, therefore, a product we heartily commend.

and it only cost £630 

2- iphon 5

Design

We'll begin in the traditional manner: how the thing actually feels in the hand. With the iPhone 5 there will be many types of prospective buyer: the upgrader from the 4 (or more-money-than-sense iPhone 4S upgraders), those tired of their Android handset and those taking their first steps in the smartphone market and want to get one of them iThingies their friend/child has.

Well, all of those picking up the iPhone 5 will have the same reaction: this thing is amazingly light. You've probably heard the numbers by now (20 per cent lighter than the predecessor, as well as beating most of the opposition too at 112g.)

It's an odd sensation, but it actually detracts from the experience when you first pick it up. We've praised the weighty feel of the iPhone in the past, lending it a premium feel in the face of toy-like phones, and it's almost disappointing that Apple decided to join that clan.

However, through extended use this problem quickly disappears. The overall effect of the phone is still a chassis designed for strength, and so it feels solid, if somehow a little hollow; pleasantly, though, it sits more anonymously in the pocket.

You'll obviously see the change in height too – the iPhone 5 stands 123.8mm tall to allow for the larger 4-inch screen. In truth, those not familiar with the iPhone 4S probably wouldn't notice the difference, which is why it's a good move from Apple to include the larger screen if it's not going put people off that hate larger phones.

The decision to stick at 4-inches is Apple's admission that while it recognises people are all over the idea of having more screen real estate to play with it doesn't want to move away from the thumb-friendly nature of the device.

Through a mixture of moving the centre of gravity slightly as well as repositioning the screen within the bezel, it's still possible to scroll your thumb mostly around the whole display one-handed, which Apple is clearly keen to keep hold of.

However, we're not convinced of that argument any more, and it's the first iPhone where comfort to some extent really does depend on the size of your hands. For many people, it is possible to move a thumb around the entire display, albeit with a little more stretching than on previous models; anyone with smaller hands might find the top of the screen out of reach. For everyone, the Home button is harder to access when holding your phone comfortably.

The net result is a curious one: a device that's more pleasant on the eyes and nicer to hold, but frequently more awkward to use than its predecessor. Newcomers might not notice that, but the compromise will be clear for upgraders from the iPhone 4S.

The general construction of the iPhone 5 is excellent, to say the least. We've tested both the ceramic white version and the anodised black, and the two tone effect on the back of the phone is stunning, both visually and under the finger.

It doesn't beat the sheer beauty of the HTC One S, with its micro-arc oxidised back and rounded lines, but it's well-set in second place.

The two sections of pigmented glass at the top and the bottom of the phone add a pleasant effect, and the sapphire glass is meant to be thoroughly durable, to complement the Gorilla Glass on the front.

Apple knows consumers get furious when they drop and iPhone, and is clearly seeking to stop the smashes before they happen with a tougher exterior - although it seems the anodised black version is pretty prone to scratching, with a number of users mentioning chipping on the darker hue.

Phil Schiller, Apple's Senior Vice President of Marketing, reportedly replied to an email from a user pointing out that aluminium will scratch and chip in natural use - and we're also hearing that white iPhone 5 models are being returned through flaking as well.

We kept our black iPhone 5 in a soft pocket in a bag for much of its life, yet saw the following chip with minimal key / coin contact in under a fortnight:

For a device of this premium quality, users will expect it to survive the pocket test, and especially do so for the first two weeks of life. It's a big fail for Apple to expect users to accept that a product can be damaged so easily.

The same industrial band around the outside is in effect again as on the iPhone 4 and 4S, with small sections removed where the antenna joins.

Apple has gone for a more advanced form of antenna here, meaning the days of lost signal are gone, and generally increasing the power of your call connection and GPS lock on too.

There are other big design changes here too: the headphone jack has moved to the bottom of the phone, and the iconic 30-pin connector has been retired in favour of the new Lightning port, giving a headache to all those that have invested in chargers, docks and other accessories over their iPhone lives.

You can buy an adaptor, but it's pricey at £25. And unless you want to keep it permanently attached to the bottom of the iPhone 5 you'll need to buy a few, which is far from ideal.

However, let's not harangue Apple too much for this: a smaller connector is not only easier to use (you can plug the smaller cable in either way round, and the connection feels more solid), but you're rewarded with a thinner and more compact phone to boot.

There's also a small chink of light on the top right hand side of the iPhone 5- when the screen is illuminated, you can see it under the band if you really, really look for it. It's been seen by a number of users, but is hard to actually replicate unless you mask the screen and hold it at the right angle.

It's again a sign of slightly under-par machining from Apple, but in day to day use it's almost completely invisible.

The decision to move the 3.5mm headphone jack to the bottom is an odd one, as while it allows you to slip the phone into the pocket head-first when listening to music, which is a more natural action, it's a real pain in the posterior for some apps that will only work in landscape a certain way up.

Using it this way means your headphones experience will be one of having to jiggle the jack around two fingers.

It's not the most comfortable way to hold a phone, and even when using the phone in portrait mode, the jack gets in the way somewhat. Plus it's miles away from the volume keys, which makes it hard to change the audio level in the pocket if you don't use the dedicated headphones.

There are other smaller design changes to the iPhone 5 too, such as the iSight front-facing camera moving to the middle and the home button being noticeably more robust to help reduce instances of a broken portal to your home screen.

But enough about what the phone looks like - the killer question is how the thing feels in the hand. And we'll sum it up by saying: smooth. Some might find it a little slippery (we were always worried we would drop the darned thing), but unlike the glass-backed iPhone 4S, the iPhone 5's unlikely to make a surprise trip off of a sofa and onto a wooden floor of its own accord.

So beyond the slightly odd form factor for those upgrading, and scratch issues for the black model, the design's again extremely strong. For the most part, the iPhone remains a device suitable for use one-handed, although quibblers might grumble whether it's quite as ultra-high spec as it should be - the lock button remains loose, so you can hear it clicking if you shake the phone.

That undoes some of the premium feel Apple's going for, at least if you take to shaking a phone by your ear; more seriously, this device can have an up-front charge (off contract) of £529-£699, and so we'd argue it should be near perfection and free from noticeable (if admittedly small) blemishes.

And while it looks nice, from the front it doesn't really add much to the design of the iPhone - it's certainly not the same as the jaw-dropping design of the iPhone 4 compared to the 3GS... it's another evolution in the iLine. It's not bad, but for those that hoped the iPhone 5 would be another step change there's a good chance they'll be disappointed about the look... until they feel the lovely back on offer.

There was a real chance here for Apple: remove the bezel and give the front of the screen a look that's similar to the OLED TVs from the likes of Samsung or LG… but instead we're treated to the same lines as before.

You always get the feeling that Apple saves what it can for the next iteration of the iPhone, and while there's nothing wrong with the current construction we can see the edge-to-edge screen becoming something amazing on the iPhone 6 or iPhone 5S.

3-The Sony Xperia Z

Ultra is meant to be a phone - but with a 6.44-inch screen it's pushing the boundaries of what a smartphone can really be.

It's a huge device, there's no doubt about that, but at 6.5mm thick it sits more comfortably in the hand than you might expect and the full HD screen really impresses too.

Spec-fans will be unable to contain their excitement at the thought of the first smartphone with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 800 chip, a quad-core processor clocked to 2.2GHz.

It's also got a magnetic charging port on the side to facilitate, well, magnetic docks that allow charging - it's odd that it takes up so much of the design though, where it's usually more discreet.

The waterproof element to the Sony Xperia Z Ultra is obviously one of the high points, and as such the little doors that seal in the ports are back in force. However, they're intriguingly not used on the headphone jack, with Sony working out how to make it so the water gremlins won't destroy your sound. The design of the Sony Xperia Z Ultra is something that is as much of an acquired taste as the Xperia Z before it. It has the same sharp design, which makes it slightly more difficult to hold in one hand but the rubber exterior does mitigate this to some extent.

The CPU speed certainly shows in general use, as it's as snappy as anything we've played with - both flicking between apps and browsing the internet over Wi-Fi were lightning fast. It's getting to the point where smartphones are faster than you'd ever need them to be, but we're still impressed by the performance here.

The screen quality is definitely improved, with the Triluminous technology at work to improve colours saturation levels in key areas, increasing the palette for a fairly stunning-looking picture. It's also helped by the X Reality engine that's been developed for mobile, which fills in missing pixels in standard definition pictures.

As we mentioned, the videos included to demo the technology are impressive, but overall the screen doesn't live up to the hype bestowed upon it by Sony. It suffers the same as the Xperia Z, in that it has a slightly washed-out tint to it, which is especially telling as it was mentioned as being 'closer to Samsung's Super AMOLED technology' by one of the Sony representatives.

The camera could be improved as well in our eyes, although this could be pre-production sampling getting in the way. The pictures we took were rather grainy and lacked definition, as you can see below.

Sample images

Let's hear it for the battery though: a 3000mAh power pack is what we expected in a phone like this, and we weren't disappointed. Sony is still crowing about its slightly dubious Stamina Mode being a real benefit here, so we're expecting to see big things from the Ultra when it lands for a full review.

Early verdict

The Sony Xperia Z Ultra is a phone that wants to be a tablet. While many will look at the Ultra and recoil in horror at its larger dimensions, those that want the larger screen won't be able to help but desire this handset.

Is it going to win over more of the smartphone market? It's a definite possibility as the power and size combination are currently unique. More importantly for the long-term future of Sony Mobile is that this handset shows that the Japanese brand is keen to show it's at the forefront of technology.

We honestly can't see this being a mainstream device, but it bridges the gap between phone and tablet, both decent devices, marvellously.

4-htc one

Samsung and Apple better beware – the HTC One combines stunning design, a supreme screen and explosive power to offer one of the best smartphones around.

It's got a full HD screen crammed into 4.7-inches, which brings a 468ppi – well above what's needed for the eye to discern, and it does definitely bring sumptuous sharpness throughout the use of the phone.

On top of that there's a CPU and RAM combo that is barely bettered, a more-than-enough 32GB of storage and top-end Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and 3G / 4G connections, all topped off by a completely re-imagined version of HTC Sense. What's not to like?

The HTC One has received a software update to improve the battery life of the phone significantly, as well as allaying other concerns related to Zoe creation. With this in mind, we've promoted it to 5 stars and make it our Editor's Choice.

It's at the sharp end of the smartphone price scale, although can be had for around £34 per month on a two year deal in the UK, which isn't too bad at all compared to the competition. On a SIM free deal, it's actually very impressive: £480 for the phone without having to monkey about with a network.

Given it's over £100 more to get it on a PAYG deal, that's not bad at all.

The design of the HTC One is something that you simply have to experience in the hand. Where those that pick up the Samsung Galaxy S3 will go ' Oh, it's a bit plastic, isn't it? But ooh, it's quite light' and those who encounter theiPhone 5 will, to a person, say 'Ooh, it's very light isn't it? You don't expect it to be that light!' those that try the HTC One will simply intone: 'Oh, that's really nice. Really, really nice.'

And do you know why? Simple: the HTC One is one of the best-designed phones on the planet. Not content with inventing a new machining process to allow the body to be all aluminium, the Taiwanese firm has extended the screen to the edges of the chassis further than ever before, meaning you're getting a 4.7-inch Full HD display without the additional heft you'd probably expect.

It's even thinner than its predecessor, the HTC One X (we know, that naming strategy leaves a lot to be desired) and as such slides nicely in the pocket. It's not light either, weighing more than most of the competition, but rather than feeling overweight, combined with the metallic chassis is oozes a premium build. Samsung is probably hoping not a lot of people hold this phone side-by-side with the new S4 as otherwise the buying choice is going to be a lot more of a worry for the Koreans.

On top of that, there's a whole host of little design wins that delight when you first try the HTC One. For instance, the machined holes that allow sound toe emanate from the dual front-facing speakers (can you say BOOMSOUND?) looks amazing, and the lines on the back of the phone give a nice textured movement to things, helping to break up the constant greyness of the aluminium.

You could argue that straight on it looks far too much like either an iPhone 5, with its chamfered edges, or a BlackBerry Z10 front on, and you'd have a good point as this phone doesn't reinvent the rectangle-with-rounded-edges formula that we're so used to, but in the hand the curved back brings a whole new dimension to things.

There's a zero-gap construction at work here as well, which means that you won't find any gaping distance, holes or light leakages to make you feel like you've not spent your hard-earned cash on something wonderful.

The volume control on the right-hand side of the phone is in the same dazzling metal, and contrasts nicely with the rubber/plastic that makes up the sides. Our sample actually showed a fair amount of wiggle in this area, and slightly detracted from the overall premium feel.

The power button resides on the top, and doubles as the infra-red blaster - however, this is one of the poorer points as it doesn't have a whole lot of travel.

Similarly, the placement of this button, even on a phone that's been shrunk down while accommodating a larger screen, is still a bit inconvenient. We had to shuffle the phone around in the palm to turn it on and off on many occasions, and a lot of the time we couldn't use our thumb to hit the whole of the screen without jiggling the phone up and down.

That's another problem with the design: it's pretty slippery thanks to the metallic chassis. We thankfully only ever suffered two serious drops when we were about a foot off the carpet (basically scrabbling for it to turn off the alarm in the morning) and a more alarming one stepping out of a cab, but there have been a few near misses when trying to manoeuvre around the screen.

If only that power button was on the side, or a physical home button unlocked the phone, this whole issue would be negated for a large part.

But as we mentioned, HTC has wandered away from the physical buttons - where once it put a trackpad in the Nexus One, now it's stripped the capacitive buttons down from three to two, with the multi-tasking option going the way of the dodo. You can still get the same functionality by double tapping the home button, but it's not the same.

Overall though, you can guess we're impressed with the construction and design of the HTC One. We're not even looking at final hardware here - although we appear to have got lucky with our sample, as there are few design flaws in sight - so the chances of metallic chipping ('because that's just what it does....' OK, Apple) are slight to say the least - providing you don't fling it on tarmac. Seriously, we tried that... don't do it.

We thought we'd scuffed it so many times during our test, but each time it was simply a slight amount of dirt or dust that wiped right off. Tick from TechRadar on the design front, HTC.

5-samsung galaxy note 2

How big is too big? Well, if 

you're Samsung, the answer is, "not big enough." After Apple failed to predict the demand for larger devices, Samsung released the Note to huge success. At the time, critics asked, "Who'd you want such a large device?" Well, it turns out a lot of people.

As data speeds get faster and multimedia gets more robust, you can do a lot more on your phone -- and larger canvas makes for a better experience. Riding on that success, the Note 2 is even bigger, further blurring the line between a smartphone and a tablet.

The size isn't for everyone, but you love to watch movies and browse the Web, you won't find a more enjoyable device, unless you go for a full-sized tablet. But then, how would you fit it in your pocket?

What's the Phone?

The Note 2 is made of plastic, to keep the weight down at a still-hefty six and a half ounces. But the built quality just looks cheap compared to premium devices like the HTC One X or iPhone. The high-gloss surface can reflect light too, often in annoying ways.

But Samsung managed to add a larger 5.5-inch display without increasing the size. How? It slimmed down the aspect ratio of the screen to the more common 16:9 standard from 16:10. That allowed it to thin down the bezel, making the Note 2 a smidge narrower and a bit taller at just shy of six inches. It's also skinnier at just 0.4-inches. The more ergonomic shape is easier to grip, but make no mistake, you still need two hands to open apps, browse the Web, take photos and record videos, write texts and e-mails, everything.

The Note 2 looks a bit like the giganticGalaxy S3. It's huge and awkward to hold. When I brought it up to make a call, my face literally disappeared. And every time I'd stretch a thumb across the screen, my palm would accidentally hit other parts of the display, unintentionally launching apps. If you have small hands, try it out in person. Also, slip it in your pocket to test the fit. The size might be an issue. It was for me.

The Super AMOLED display is, predictably, outstanding. Colors are vibrant, though, like all Samsung products, a tinge oversaturated, and blacks are deep. While the 267-pixels per inch isn't as dense as on others devices, you can't tell while watching movies and browsing the Web, which are fantastic. But next to the iPhone, whose famed Retina display boasts 326-pixels per inch, and you can see the lack of fine detail in the 720-by-1,280 resolution. It's bright, too. But outdoors, I had a hard time seeing things in direct sunlight. Overall, the Note 2 has a great display due to sheer size, but the image quality is above average at best.

The 8-megapixel camera takes crisp, vivid photos and 1080p high-definition videos -- comparable to the S3 -- outside and slightly dull indoors. A touch of the display focuses on subjects, and a powerful LED flash illuminates dim environments. All the S3's filters are here, too, like exposure, HDR and ISO settings. You'll also get a facial recognition and panorama apps. But my favorite: the "best faces" function. You can take a series of rapid-fire shots and then choose the best mug for each person before stitching it together for an ideal shot. But I missed a few surprise photo-ops, since the shutter is a bit slow. The front-facing 1.9-megapixel lens lets you video chat, but it's not especially noteworthy, either.

The Note 2 runs on Jelly Bean. Bolstered by Google's "butter" project, Android is now faster, smoother and easier to navigate. Samsung also added a cumbersome TouchWiz interface. Besides an unattractive look and annoying water droplet sounds, it's also clunky, bogging down Android with redundant and buggy apps.

But it also improves on its "S Pen" writing app, transforming the Note 2 into a full-fledged digital notepad. Apple largely sent the stylus to the grave, but Samsung wants to bring it back. The pen -- based on pressure-sensitive technology from Wacom, though a far cry to professional tablets -- is a bit longer and slightly beefier than before, but also more accurate and responsive.

There's a plastic tip at the end, too, giving a bit of tactile resistance. By applying pressure, and choosing nib sizes, you can write with precision or paint in broad strokes. It also captures screenshots that you can scribble on before attaching them to e-mails to send out. You can write notes, make lists and add calendar appointments by hand, the software will convert it all to text. But my favorite: if you're in college and need to jot math formulas, it'll change them into characters, too. It's a handy interface.

But you don't even have to touch the screen. By hovering the pen over the display, you can control the interface, too. You can bring up a preview window simply by pointing the pen at a movie, for example, and I suppose it's useful if you need to show a demo without blocking the view, but it felt like a gimmick since it takes more effort to hover than touch. Really, typing is just faster in most cases.

Jelly Bean also comes with Google Now, a personal assistant app, that's like Siri, but worse. It can organize information on "cards" that you can pull up when you need them. Some are great, like the traffic card, since it uses Google's sophisticated Maps program. But if you want to do more than find your way to an appointment or look at your flight schedule, it's pretty limited.

Voice controls are improved, too, but it's still overly fickle when it comes to spelling. When I said, "Call Mary," for example, I thought I was saying, "Call Merry," and didn't recognize the contact.

The 1.6-gigahertz quad-core chip is one of the fastest on the market. And 2-gigabytes of RAM powers apps smoothly, no matter how many are in the background. For a device built for movies, the 16-gigabytes of storage is puny, and you should pick up a microSD card.

With large displays, power drains quickly -- but not on the Note 2. The whopping 3,100 mAh battery provides plenty of juice, enough to last about two days with moderate use. Short ofMotorola's Maxx HD, it doesn't get any better than that.

You'll Want It If...

You want a bigger display. The Note 2 is a unique product, and while it's a great phone, the tablet functions are its most attractive qualities. It's a great device to consume media on the go and an equally competent Web browser. The stylus makes digital note-taking a pleasure, though S Pen isn't the easiest to use. So if you're a doodler or a scribbler, it's a fun gadget.

But if you want for an everyday phone, the Note 2 is cumbersome. So hold it, slip it in your pocket, try it out -- just make sure you see it in person first.

It's Not My Thing -- What Else Ya Got?

The Note 2 is the best phablet around. Period. If you want another big-screen device, you can check out the LG Intuition, but frankly, it's far worse.

If you prefer a smaller device, you can't go wrong with the S3 -- think of it as a mini-Note. But with such a specialized device, there are few competitors, and even fewer exceptional phablets, that can match the Note 2.

6- nokia lumia 920

 As Leonardo would say, Nokia 

was the king of the world. As the second-largest handset maker for much of the last decade, it dominated by sheer scale on the back of a portfolio of high-, mid- and low-end phones. Then the iPhone came out. And then Android.

Failing to see the shift to smartphones, the company tried to compete, adding better cameras and improving audio. What little experimentation it did with operating systems was confined to the dead-end Symbian platform.

Sensing its do-or-die moment, CEO Stephen Elop went all-in with Windows, working with Microsoft, itself on the ropes, to build a new line of products. Enter the Lumia.

The first-generation products, the 800 and 900, for lack of a better word, flopped -- plagued by shoddy hardware and buggy software. So they went back to the drawing board. The second time around, the 920 fix past mistakes. Nokia does what it does best -- cameras. And the unbeatable 8.7-megapixel lens and top-tier display are one of the best. Period.

That doesn't mean Nokia's going to turn things around. No, while it has a great product, the name of the game is marketing. When you sell largely the same products -- just look at the rows of Android phones on store shelves -- branding your product line, whether its Samsung's Galaxy, HTC's One or Nokia's Lumia, is what sets the winners from the losers. For that, Nokia needs not one, but a string of successes.

Still, you have to start somewhere. And the 920 is a great kick-off to the comeback trail -- if you can make peace with Windows' bare-bones app ecosystem.

What's the Phone?

Designed in brilliant yellow, red and other Technicolor hues, the body is stylish, using an impressive mix of polycarbonate ceramic and glass. It's big, square and slippery to hold, not to mention one of the heavier devices at six and a half ounces. If the iPhone is understated elegance, the Lumia is fun splash of flash. It's hard to compare or contrast different tastes, you'll either love it at first sight or you won't.

The 4.5-inch IPS display is outstanding. Images are crystal-clear, with crisp text and high-definition details. It's even sharper than the iPhone's Retina display -- 332 pixels crammed into every inch, compared to 326. The brightness automatically adjusts, so colors are clear indoors and out. It's simply a wonderful canvas to watch movies and browse the Web on. And if it's cold outside, you can use it with gloves on. If you want to brag to Apple-loving friends, this is the phone to do it with.

Surprise. The 8.7-megapixel camera is even better. The f/2.0 Carl Zeiss lens manages to suck in five times more light than rivals for incredibly sharp and bright photos in low-light. It does it by using a really slow shutter and a heavy dose of noise filtering, and to prevent blur, a "floating lens" helps to stabilize the device. Think of it like a steady-cam that counterbalance movement. I actually had to try to take a blurry photo. If you hate how flash washes out the color in your face, the 920 consistently takes the best photos at night.

Oh, and you'll get three editing options, too: panorama for colorful landscapes, smart shoot to swap faces and remove unwanted objects and Cinemagraph, which lets you animate certain parts of a GIF -- think of those Harry Potter newspaper pictures.

As one of the first devices to runs on Windows 8, you can customize the homescreen with colorful "live" tiles, Microsoft's version of icons. The difference is, they're interactive. Rather than just sit there, they pull up Facebook and Twitter updates, weather reports, breaking news and more. They come in three sizes, each displaying varying amounts of information in a clean and simple layout. It makes Android look like a cluttered mess. If Windows 7 left a bad taste in your mouth, don't be worried -- it's much faster, more refined and easier to use.

But the bigger problem is the app ecosystem. Windows has about 100,000 apps in the online store, which trails Apple and Android, which have 800,000. You'll find major titles like Angry Birds, but a lot of popular ones like Instagram are still missing. Sometimes you'll find knock-offs, but they're pretty bad substitutes.

With the death of Zune, Microsoft uses a music store, called "Taps." And whether you buy songs online or put transfer them from a PC, the sound quality is loud and clear. One feature I really like: Data Sense, which crunches those bytes so you use less data and don't go over your allotted plan.

It runs on a blazing-fast 1.5-gigahertz dual-core chip with 1-gigabyte of RAM, and I didn't notice any hiccups or lag. It also connects to 4G LTE service for super-fast Internet in cities where it's available. The 2,000 mAh battery, meanwhile, is good. Even with 4G LTE on, I lasted through the day. You get a charger, but if you prefer to do it wireless, you can buy a special "pillow," sold separately.

It comes with 32-gigabytes of storage, which is enough for most users, and 7-gigabytes more via SkyDrive online. There's no microSD slot, though, so you'll have to offload files. With NFC, you can literally "tap" two phones together to share data.

You'll Want It If...

You want a stylish Windows device or the best camera around. The Lumia 920 and HTC 8X are the strongest Windows devices. But the 920 beats out the 8X.

The battery life lasts longer, the storage is larger and the screen is more sensitive -- and it's also cheaper. The 920 is simply a gorgeous phone. And the outstanding display and phenomenal camera put it over the top. If you want innovation, look no further. The only question is, are you willing to try Windows?

It's Not My Thing -- What Else Ya Got?

If you want to see how Microsoft pans out, I can't blame you. And there are safer options. The obvious choice, the iPhone, aside, give HTC's One X andSamsung's Galaxy S3 a look -- they're the best of the Android bunch. And if the 920 is a bit out of your budget, the 820 for AT&T, 810 for T-Mobile and 822 for Verizon are excellent mid-range options as well.

HTC also released the 8X and 8S. But you're better off sticking to the 920 and 820 -- they're just better devices. If you're willing to give Microsoft a shot, the 920 is the best out there. 

7-i phone 4

For all the buzz that surrounded 

the iPhone 4, Apple's chief executive Steve Jobs offered few surprises when he unveiled the device after details had leaked out last March.

On the plus side, it boasts a thinner design, a "retina display" that's so sharp that the human eye can't distinguish its individual pixels, and two cameras -- a VGA one on the front for video chatting, called "FaceTime," and a 5-megapixel one on the back for photos. Apple also updated iOS4 with hundreds of minor upgrades, but most notably the ability to now multitask. Something Google phones have been able to do for quite some time.

But there are minuses. First, FaceTime, unfortunately, is limited to only Wi-Fi connections and to other iPhone 4s. It also falls behind the Evo, which has better 8-megapixel camera and fourth-generation, or 4G, connectivity. Also, the exclusive U.S. carrier for the iPhone, AT&T, decided to discontinue its unlimited data plan, so new customers will have to pay by the gigabyte.

But when Jobs wrapped up his presentation, the biggest disappointment to customers was that the event had come and gone with no mention of Verizon. Analysts has speculated that Apple may lose its grip on the iPhone by the end of the year, with new products slated for rivals such as T-Mobile and Verizon coming as early as the beginning of 2011.

When the original iPhone was unveiled in 2007, Apple reinvented the smartphone, combining three products -- a phone, a widescreen iPod with touch controls and the Internet communication of a desktop device -- making competitors scramble to recover. But as many rivals catch up, the iPhone's dominance has begun to wane.

Still, the iPhone 4 is impressive. It's worth a look if you need a fast smartphone with robust features and cutting-edge design. The HTC's Evo 4G and Droid Incredible may offer more in terms of hardware and power but they still pale in comparison to Apple's distinctive styling and robust software.

Design

The iPhone 4 is sandwiched between two glass panels -- the same material the company says is used in the windshields of helicopters and high-speed trains. Chemically strengthened to be 20 times stronger and 30 times harder than plastic, the composite is scratch-resistant, durable and a fingerprint-magnet. When it's kept clean, though, the glossy and sleek exterior gives a refined feel that Apple has come to be known for.

I dropped the iPhone 4 several times from a few feet onto a hard surface. There were no problems. And it survived without a single scratch.

Jobs likes thin. And taking a page from the MacBook Air, the new iPhone 4 is the world's thinnest smartphone, measuring a remarkable 9.3 millimeters thin -- that's over 25 percent thinner than its predecessor, the iPhone 3GS, and HTC's Droid Incredible and Evo 4G devices. Although they all weigh about the same, except the brick-like Evo, which is nearly 30 percent heavier, the iPhone 4 feels denser and sturdier -- more like a quality product than a disposable device.

At first glance, the stainless steel band around the rim seems uncharacteristically Apple, but it's actually there for a reason. It not only offers a ridged structure to withstand the everyday bumps and drops, but also functions as a "multi-band" antenna for stronger Wi-Fi connections and improved cellular reception. The dramatic change represents a radical shift from its predecessors, which hid the antenna under the shell, but also puts out nearly 50 percent more radio-frequency radiation than the 3GS.

The iPhone 4, like the 3GS, has a large 3.5-inch touch screen display, much smaller than the Evo's 4.3-inch behemoth. But the iPhone 4 blows everyone away with outstanding picture quality. Its 640-by-960 pixel resolution "retina display" is over four times sharper than the 3GS.

It has dual cameras -- a high-resolution 5-megapixel one with LED flash on the back for photos, and a second 0.3-megapixel front-facing one for "FaceTime" video-chatting. A backside illumination sensor helps capture beautiful photos in low-light environments.

Around the rim, dual speaker microphones -- one on the top and another on the bottom -- suppress unwanted background noise for improved phone calling. There's also a 3.5-millimeter headphone jack. The side buttons are nice and tactile. And the center button feels snappier. Everything, on the whole, seems better put together.

The original iPhone had an aluminum back plate and felt like a quality product. The 3G and 3GS used plastic, which gave them a cheaper feel. Now the iPhone 4's shiny and beautiful materials brings back a standard that matches its hefty price.

It's shockingly thin and feels great in the hand. You really don't quite notice it until you hold it. It's another sexy design you've come to expect from Apple and, hands down, the best looking phone of the bunch. But just be aware that you'll be constantly wiping it.

Out of the box, the Apple iPhone 4 comes with a standard battery, a USB power adapter, a dock connector to USB cable, earphones with remote and microphone, and customary documentation.

Camera

The iPhone has two cameras. The one on the back, which takes photos and high-definition videos, has a 5-megapixel resolution and a LED flash. Another on the front, which is used for video chatting, is 0.3-megapixels.

The lens is noticeably faster. Photos get captured in an instant and, as expected, come out colorful, vibrant and detailed. There's an LED flash next to the lens, to brighten the dimmest of rooms. And for extra enhancement, the iPhone 4 has a backside illumination sensor, which adds a kick of brightness to low light photos. Additional settings include zoom, tap-to-focus and geo-tagging.

One of the biggest highlights of the iPhone is its ability to record 720p video at 30 frames per second. What does that mean? Videos come out very well in most conditions. While the quality is far from that from a high-definition 1080p camcorder, it does exceptionally well for a phone.

For an additional $5, you can buy iMovie, an Apple app that lets you edit videos, add transitions and music and, basically, throw together video postcards on the handset -- then upload it to YouTube.

The lesser front-facing 0.3-megapixel camera, meanwhile, is used for self-portraits or for two-way video-chatting through Apple's "FaceTime" app. Just press a button, and if the other person accepts the invitation, their image appears in the screen, with your own image showing in the corner. During a video call, you can tap the screen and switch to the rear lens, to show the caller around the room. You can even start a video call as an audio call, push the button, and swap to a Wi-Fi FaceTime call.

It's simple. There is no setup and there's nothing to learn. But, unfortunately, the service is limited to Wi-Fi, not over AT&T's network, and only to another iPhone 4. The HTC Evo version for Verizon, called Qik, works over the carrier's 4G network.

Many smartphones, like the Evo, offer higher-resolution lenses up to 8-megapixels. While the iPhone 4 has one of the better cameras on the market, it's definitely not top-of-the-line. Don't expect it to replace a digital camera or camcorder, because it doesn't.

Video calling is one of this handset's best features, but Wi-Fi- and iPhone 4-only limitations really cripple its usefulness. Apple says it will make the technology free to others and aims to have millions of devices using it in the future.

Basic Features

The iPhone 4 runs on Apple's latest iOS4 mobile operating system, updating the software with hundreds of improvements, but none more significant than multitasking.

In previous iPhones, Apple had allowed some apps to run in the background, but they were largely limited to the company's own programs. But now all apps can be quickly moved to the background, the way Android phones have already done.

The iPhone 4 is incredibly responsive thanks to a blazing-fast 1-gigahertz A4 processor, the same chip on the iPad. Since Apple designed both the hardware and software, the handset doesn't suffer from fragmentation problems that have plagued Windows Mobile and Android devices. That means a more stable device.

After years of complaints, Apple finally added multitasking to the iPhone. It smoothly, with no hiccups or stalls, even with several programs. But that doesn't mean every app can run in the background. To prevent a disastrous power drain on the battery, Apple has allowed only certain apps to multitask, such as streaming music services like Pandora, navigation apps, Internet calling programs.

Sadly, social networking streams from Twitter and Facebook don't update in the background. Apple said constantly grabbing hundreds of updates would drain the battery too quickly. For many users, the company's limited version of multitasking is disappointing.

Apple also claims longer battery life, which Jobs attributed to the improve A4 chip. He said the iPhone 4 has up to seven hours of talk time -- compared to five hours on the previous model -- six hours of browsing, 10 hours of Wi-Fi browsing, 10 hours of video, 40 hours of music and 300 hours of standby. In our tests, the iPhone never reached the warning level in a single day.

Microsoft and Google's devices, which are built by a myriad of handset makers, often suffer from poor integration of hardware and software. But this isn't the case with iPhones. Everything seems to be well designed and tightly fit from both sides. While not much is added with iOS4 -- aside from multitasking which one could argue should have been included earlier -- gives the iPhone 4 a responsive, familiar feel.

Screen

The iPhone 4's 3.5-inch screen, was once considered huge, is now smaller than other smartphones like the Evo's 4.3-inch behemoth. It has the same-sized display as the 3GS. But unlike its predecessor, the iPhone 4 has four times the pixels, 640-by-960 pixels, and a contrast ratio that's four times more vivid, making text appear almost like ink on fine paper.

Apple calls it a "retina display" because the touch screen is so densely packed that Jobs claims human eye can't distinguish the individual dots. That's nothing more than a marketing term. But it isn't an exaggeration. At a whopping 326-pixels per inch, the display is so incredibly sharp that no other phones out there compare, including smartphones from HTC. For comparison, original iPhone had just 163-pixels per inch.

The screen can register multiple touches at once and supports advanced gestures such as pinch-to-zoom, two-finger tap, and more. Familiar features include an accelerometer to change from portrait and landscape views, proximity sensor that turns off the screen when on a call and an ambient light sensor to adjust the brightness level to prolong battery life.

The iPhone 4's screen isn't the biggest one on the block, but it definitely is the sharpest one. Apple has once again pushed touch screen technology by offering an exceptional display that's about as good as it gets.

Audio

The iPhone 4 comes with Apple's latest iTunes music player. Aside from features you may have come to know and love, iOS4 can now create and edit custom playlists on the phone and sync nested folders. Not a whole lot is new since the 3GS, but then again, the iPhone 3GS's music features were significantly more advanced than the next best alternative. Apple just does portable music better than anyone else.

Voice quality is excellent, even on speakerphone calls. That's because it has two microphones, one on the top and another on the bottom, for noise-cancellation and improved call clarity in noisy environments.

Messaging

The iOS4 comes with a new unified inbox that works with popular email providers, including AOL, Gmail and Yahoo, and industry-standard POP3 and IMAP4 systems. You can access each inbox separately or quickly view all incoming messages together. Palm's WebOS had this feature last year, but nonetheless, it's nice to have.

In addition, emails can be "threaded" together in a chain of replies for an easier view of an entire conversation. It supports rich HTML email and attachments such as Microsoft Office documents or PDFs.

The iPhone 4 has a "more intelligent" on-screen keyboard. An improved dictionary makes better predictions, suggestions and corrections of words and punctuation errors. Handy shortcuts include tapping the space bar twice for a period at the end of sentences, double-tapping the screen to cut, copy, or paste, and better overall usability.

The iPhone 4 also adapts its keys and layout for different apps, such as a ".com" key in the browser and a date and time wheel in the calendar. And you can even connect an external Bluetooth wireless keyboard. Overall, small refinements make typing and emailing more convenient.

Entertainment

Apple's iPhones have always been at the forefront of multimedia and entertainment, and the iPhone 4 is no different. You can connect to iTunes to buy songs, TV shows, movies, games and apps from Apple's vast library. If there ever was a strength, this would be it. Others devices just haven't been able to match the range or depth of third-party software for the iPhone.

The new iPhone has a gyroscope for three-dimensional, six-axis, controls. It can now measure pitch, roll, yaw and even rotation, useful in motion gaming.

Apple will be launching a new social-gaming network, called "Game Center," where you'll be able to invite friends to play games, track achievements and compare high scores on a leader board. Game Center will be available on iPhones and iPods running iOS4 later this year.

As an extension to the iPad, the iPhone 4 also includes "iBooks," an app that lets readers download books from its iTunes store. The iPhone 4 syncs with other Apple products, like the iPad, so you can read the same book across all of its devices. But despite the higher-resolution screen, reading an e-book on the iPhone 4's 3.5-inch screen is not very comfortable.

It's quite hard to beat the entertainment features on the iPhone 4. Apple has built a commanding lead by being the leader for third-party apps. Mobile versions of popular games and apps are available from iTunes, as well as favorite TV shows, movies and now books. While Amazon's Kindle has a larger selection of novels, Apple is quickly catching up. Hands down, Apple beats everyone else in fun.

Internet

Apple pioneered pinch-to-zoom technology. And the iPhone 4 has always been in the lead when it comes mobile browsing. Safari is the browser in the mobile market, but the iPhone 4 falls behind in Internet speeds.

One thing to note is that the iPhone 4 does not run on fourth-generation, or 4G, networks. It's just the fourth-generation iPhone. It runs on AT&T's high-speed 3.5G network, using HSDPA technology, and clocks in at around 1 to 1.5 megabit per second, the same as the 3GS. The Evo, a true 4G phone, is more than twice as fast.

Past iPhone owners were plagued by slow network speeds, but AT&T promises that to be a thing of the past. After extensive infrastructure upgrades, and even free Wi-Fi to ease the load in Times Square, AT&T now even allows "tethering," or using the iPhone as a laptop modem -- for an additional $20 a month.

Storage

The iPhone 4 has comes in 16-gigabyte or 32-gigabyte versions, the same as the 3GS. By comparison the Evo has 360-megabytes of internal memory with an 8-gigabyte microSD card. The Incredible has 8-gigabytes of storage with an expansion slot. Unfortunately, you won't be able to add extra memory to the iPhone 4.

If you're a casual user, 16-gigabytes should be enough. That stores around 2,000 songs or hundreds of videos. But if you plan on loading up on apps and movies, 32-gigabytes should probably be a better choice. Something to keep in mind.

Connectivity

Aside from headsets, car-kits and PCs, the iPhone 4 can also connect to a wireless Bluetooth keyboard to type even faster. For a monthly fee, AT&T also lets you use it as a modem for a laptop. But tried-and-true Wi-Fi b, g -- and new "n" band -- is also included.

Conclusion

The iPhone 4 is a combination of style and function. Sleek glass panels give it an elegant look, while the multi-band antenna improves call clarity and rigidity. But the new handset doesn't add as the revolutionary upgrades you've come to expect from Apple.

Aside from design, iOS4, while adding hundreds of minor upgrades, doesn't add many mind-blowing features. Yes, it does now let you multitask, but Google's Android phones have been doing that for some time now.

It also features a brilliant touch screen display -- one that's four times as clear as its predecessor. But again, nothing revolutionary. In fact, many features are rather pedestrian. Its Internet is not all that speedy -- though mostly due to AT&T's network rather than Apple's design -- and its new "FaceTime" chat is severely limiting. The 5-megapixel camera is mediocre, as well. And most disappointing, AT&T discontinued its unlimited data plan, so you'll have to subscribe to plans by the gigabyte.

Apple's new iBooks store lets you buy e-books, but I see this more as a compliment to the iPad, letting you read books on either device, rather than a useful tool to read on the 3.5-inch screen. But all things considered, Apple pushes way ahead of other devices in what it does well. It has tons of apps from third-party developers. The new gyroscope and Game Center platform will surely spawn new and interactive games. And you're just a few swipes away from buying the largest library of content -- music, TV shows, movies and more.

I can't say I'm all that blown-away with the hardware features on the iPhone 4. And perhaps Steve Jobs had spoiled us by introducing revolutionary products in the past. The iPhone 4 is at best, evolutionary. But Apple's strategy from the beginning has been to build a lead in software, which it has done with outside developers and partnerships with music labels, Hollywood studios and now book publishers.

The bottom line is iPhone 4 is a beautiful phone. It has mediocre hardware, decent software and exceptional online services. But then again, it is an iPhone.

8-google nexus 7

Google first tablet market is Nexus 7, an Asus-made device which has impressed us no-end. Updated on 25/06/13.

Wielding Android 4.2 Jelly bean, a 7in IPS screen, a quad-core processor and a bargain price tag of £159, the Nexus 7 is a tablet which, at the least, deserves your consideration.

 See also: Google Nexus 7 tablet vs Apple iPad comparison review.

The Nexus 7 has been on the market for a while now; it's been almost a year since it launched. Over that time a number of rival tablets have arrived, most of which have arguably been copycat efforts.

Despite strong entries from the likes of Amazon with its Kindle Fire HD and Barnes&Noble with its Nook HD, the Nexus 7 is still our top pick for a budget tablet. The Nook HD is a strong contender with a higher resolution display and the recent addition of the Play Store. If you want expandable storage, it's worth taking a look at the Acer Iconia A1. See also: The 7 best tablets with expandable memory: what's the best tablet with an SD card slot?

Of course, if you do not want an Android tablet then the iPad mini is undoubtedly a great choice.

9-

LG Optimus G E975

LG’s Optimus G could possibly be a new ray of hope for the South Korean smartphone maker. The company hasn’t had many ground-breaking successes in the past but all that could change with its new flagship phone. Our initial impressions were good and the phone certainly looked promising. After playing with it for over a week, here’s our final verdict on the Optimus G. 

Design and build 
You’ll either love or hate the blocky design LG has chosen. If you liked the Galaxy S II, then you’ll probably like the Optimus G as well. The chrome trim running along the edge gives it presence and the handset will grab eyeballs whenever you whip it out of your pocket. The glossy finish isn’t just limited to the screen, as the rest of the chassis also gets the same treatment. While this looks nice on display in a store, it’s not very practical. Fingerprints and smudges are a nightmare and you’ll find yourself constantly cleaning the phone. The display can get really smudgy to a point where it becomes difficult to use in sunlight. There’s not a lot of grip on the sides either, which makes the Optimus G very slippery.

Looks classy

The power and volume rocker are placed on the sides and are easy to reach. There’s only one slot for the microSIM card on the side. There’s no option to expand the storage and the back is completely sealed off. LG has used a similar pattern on the back as the Nexus 4 along with a protective glass coating. Here, we also have a 13MP camera and a single LED flash. Overall, we quite liked the design of the phone as compared to its previous offerings, but the same cannot be said about the build quality. The display is well-protected thanks to Gorilla Glass, but the plastic chassis is very vulnerable and gets damaged very easily even with small drops.

The body is very fragile and is prone to scuffs and dents

We accidentally dropped the handset from waist height just twice and the edges chipped off very easily. There were also many scuff marks around the phone and the chrome trim had many dents in it as well. If this can happen after just a week of regular use, it’s scary to think what will happen after a year. We can still gloss over scuff marks due to impact as that’s unavoidable, but bits of the phone chipping off this easily is simply unacceptable.  This is not the first time we’ve had this problem with an LG phone. The Optimus Black nearly disintegrated in front of us during the course of our review. 

Features 
Interface 
The Optimus G comes with 4.1.2 Jelly Bean out-of-the-box along with a re-vamped Optimus UI v3.0. The new user interface is a lot more gown-up and not as colourful as it used to be. The interface is extremely quick and peppy and there isn’t even a slight hint of lag while using it, so kudos to LG on that. The three capacitive buttons work well and the screen is very sensitive to touch. The phone is powered by Qualcomm’s potent APQ8064 SoC, which packs in four Krait CPUs running at 1.5GHz each. This is complemented by Adreno 320 graphics and 2GB of RAM. LG also adds an Eco mode option in settings to dynamically optimise the use of the CPU. There’s also an additional Power Saver mode that kicks in at 30 percent battery and is further customisable.

The updated Optimus UI

The display is a 4.7-inch True HD-IPS+ variety which produces sharp and accurate colours along with very good viewing angles. We also found the sunlight legibility to be very good. In order to set your flagship handset apart from the competition, you need something more than just an impressive spec list and LG has done exactly that. Baked into the new Optimus UI are two new features called QuickMemo and QSlide. These two features are best showcased in the hands-on video, so be sure to watch that. In a nutshell, QuickMemo lets you scribble notes on any screen by simply pressing the volume up and down keys together. After that, you can either save or send the screen grab or continue using the phone while your writing remains as an overlay. This is pretty impressive and is a first we’ve come across. Next, we have QSlide, which takes Samsung’s split screen mode a notch above.

Does well in benchmarks

You can open up to two apps simultaneously as floating windows and if you need to use the menu, instead of closing the apps, you simply increase the transparency, which automatically puts them in the background. This is a very cool feature and shows that LG is really making good use of the four cores as there’s no hint of lag at all while doing this.  

Media 
The new brushed metal theme for the media player looks slick and is feature-rich too with support for FLAC amongst other formats. LG also features Dolby Mobile sound enhancement as well as the usual suite of equaliser presets. The audio quality is pretty good with a decent pair of IEMs. The bass is punchy and the midrange is well defined. Sadly, there’s no lock screen widget  for controlling your music. There’s 32GB of onboard storage, but unfortunately, you can’t expand it.

Good media options

The video player is pretty robust as well and is on par with Samsung’s TouchWiz player. There’s support for DivX HD video format as well and MKV files are also supported. The video player can be used as a QSlide app as well so you can browse the web and watch a video at the same time. Full HD 1080p playback is handled without skipping a beat through the stock player. 

10-i pad 4

The iPad is dead, long live the iPad... although only an incremental upgrade, the new iPad 4 has been released to usurp this model.

Well, in this case it's pretty easy: there's a Retina Display that makes everything looks superbly crisp, an updated A5X processor bringing quad-core graphics and a 5MP camera on the rear with a VGA sensor on the front.

The iPad is dead, long live the iPad... although only an incremental upgrade, the new iPad 4 has been released to usurp this model.

However, at only £359 the iPad 3 is still on sale and still offers a strong experience with the latest version of Apple's operating system, iOS 6.

However, the iPad 3 is a device that from the outside looks remarkably like the iPad 2 but with an overhaul on the innards.

The question most people ask us when it comes to the third iteration is: what's different from the old one?

Well, in this case it's pretty easy: there's a Retina Display that makes everything looks superbly crisp, an updated A5X processor bringing quad-core graphics and a 5MP camera on the rear with a VGA sensor on the front.

• 10 best tablet PCs in the world today
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Oh, and the iPad 3 was also the device that brings iOS 5.1 to the masses (well, it's also on the likes of the iPhone 4S and iPad 2 as well, but hey, we're not reviewing those today.)

The design of the iPad 3 isn't really anything different from the original duo from Apple's tablet range. Actually, while we're thinking about it, it looks almost identical to the iPad 2 – to the point you'd struggle to tell them apart when turned off.

However, in the hand, there's a little bit of a difference, especially when it comes to the weight. The new iPad is nearly 60g heavier than the previous iteration, and while it's not terrible, it does add a little arm strain during a marathon movie session.

Retina Display

Before we get onto all the normal insight over the frame of the new iPad, it's worth talking about the main feature: the Retina Display.

Apple has packed a huge amount more pixels into the 9.7-inch screen - 1536 x 2048 to be exact. However, despite the fact that the Cupertino brand makes a big thing about the 330 PPI density of the iPhone 4, we're looking at a screen that's technically a lot less sharp than its smartphone brethren - around 264PPI.

Apple has got around this fact by stating that the screen is meant to be held at 15 inches from the face, rather than the 10 inches the iPhone is supposed to from your eyes, and as such the sharpness is the same.

Given the fact the term 'Retina Display' really isn't a legally binding term, we don't care. What matters is the effect - and it's one of the most impressive we've seen on a tablet to date. If someone took an iPad, printed out a really hi-res image of an iOS system and stuck it on the front, we'd struggle to tell the difference - it's superb, and even squinting up close you'll be hard pushed to notice any pixelation.

The colour reproduction will also appeal to many, as it's pretty close to reality - it lacks the punch of the Super AMOLED HD screens seen on the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Note for instance, but it will depend on personal preference as to whether that's a good thing.

We like the vivid colours of Samsung's screens, but we know plenty of people that loathe them too.

The main thing is things like internet browsing; photo viewing and movie sessions are all much, much improved over the iPad 2, and is one of the main reasons to pick up the iPad 3.

Check out how the iPad 3 display got on when it went head-to-head with the Asus Transformer Pad Infinity in our video below.

Design

The iPad 3, as we said, is only marginally thicker and a little heavier than the iPad 2, and if you pick it up with no knowledge of the former, you'll likely be mighty impressed.

The rest of the design is premium too - given you can be paying a fair whack for a top end model, it needs to seem like a worthwhile investment, and it does.

The curved edges, the oleophobic scratch-proof glass and the aluminium chassis are all the kind of thing that some Android tablets have tried to ape and failed. Of course, many will prefer the feather-light frames of some of the Samsung models but, like the screen, it really comes down to personal preference.

The buttonry on the iPad 3 is pretty sparse though - we're talking four buttons and that's your lot.

The iconic home button is back once again, despite rumours of its demise, and is easy to reach and hit within the thick bezel.

The rest of the buttons are all clustered tightly together in the top left-hand corner of the device, with the rocker/volume key, the mute/orientation switch and power/lock key all within an inch of one another.

As you can see, Apple has been pretty efficient with the button placement, with all of them performing more than one function. And they say the iPad can't multi-task... tsk.