HTC Radar vs. Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray

We compare HTC's upcoming Mango masterpiece, the Radar, with Sony Ericsson's next-gen Xperia Ray

As Microsoft readies its first major Windows Phone update, Mango, manufacturers prepare to unveil their new devices to the world, based upon the upgraded software. One of the first to be announced was HTC's Radar, a slim, good looking device that aims to capitalise on the virtues of Windows Phone 7.5.
To put the Radar through its paces we've picked out a corking contender in the shape of Sony Ercisson's Xperia Ray, an Android device that has plenty to offer.

Power
The HTC Radar is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset which consists of a 1GHz Scorpion CPU and Adreno 205 GPU, giving the device a nice, even power base from which to run. We'd have liked to see more than the 512MB RAM on offer though, as we can't see it ageing terribly well once the dual-core WP7.5 devices hit the shelves.
The Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray runs on an identical chipset to the Radar, with a 1GHz Scorpion processor sitting beside the self-same Adreno 205 GPU and, like the HTC, the Xperia Ray only offers 512MB RAM, making it Mr. Average in the Android field, as well as this contest.
Both device's do offer internal storage too, with the Radar boasting 8GB of memory, with no support for Micro SD cards, and the Xperia Ray offering 1GB internal and support for up to a 32GB card.
Winner - Draw

Form & Build
HTC Radar - 120.5 x 61.5 x 10.9 mm, 137 g
Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray - 111 x 53 x 9.4 mm, 100 g
The Radar looks every inch the modern HTC device, with minimalist lines, a neat black and grey chassis made of plastics and metal and no hardware keys apart from the power switch.
The device isn't ugly, but it certainly won't win any contests for outstanding beauty, in fact it's a device that's instantly forgettable and we can't decide whether that's a good thing or not, frankly.
The Xperia Ray is another of Sony Ericsson's plastic fantastic Xperia series and you'll be hard pushed to find anything specific to like about it.
From the emaciated, curved back to the clumsily designed key layout on the front, aesthetic appears to have been roundly forgotten on the Ray and the lack of any discernible metallic elements in the construction renders the device a bit of a lightweight overall.
Winner - HTC Radar

Display
The HTC Radar features a 3.8-inch S-LCD screen which operates at a resolution of 480 x 800 and offers up a pixel density of 246ppi, making it captain average once again.
The screen does benefit from a dose of Corning's Gorilla Glass though, so you can rest easy knowing it won't scratch or be otherwise damaged if you give it a bit of general abuse.
The Xperia Ray features a 3.3-inch LED-backlit LCD display which runs at a resolution of 480 x 854 and knocks-out a pixel density of 297ppi, giving a it a pleasing edge over the Radar.
Sony Ericsson hasn't opted to give the device any toughened glass or other perks though, so you'll want to treat it with kid gloves.
Winner - Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray


Software
The HTC Radar is one of the first devices that will run Microsoft's Windows Phone 7.5 aka Mango and the device is all the better for it.
The OS has some smart new features such as unified inbox, greatly upgraded social network integration, Silverlight 4 and Internet Explorer 9.
The platform is still as user friendly as it was in its first incarnation and we're pleased to see Microsoft has expanded the UI to offer more customisation features.
Good job, Microsoft.
The Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray runs on Google's Android platform which has plenty of its own to offer, such as solid security, tons of apps and games (the majority of which are free) and pleasing widgets to keep you up to speed with the information and apps that matter to you.
On the Xperia Ray version 2.3.4 (Gingerbread) is present, overlayed with SE's own TimeScape UI, which brings some much needed eye-candy to the fore, as well as some natty social networking nous in a neat timeline driven UI.
It's impossible to pick a clear winner in this category because it's generally a matter of personal taste. Both Google and Microsoft have created pleasing, productive mobile platforms - so unless you have already, get out there and test them both before making a decision based upon OS.
Winner - Draw

HTC's Radar has taken its first beating. The device is certainly decent quality and it's great to see the company launching a new smartphone to go hand-in-hand with the upgrade to the OS, but why the heck didn't it make the Radar just that little bit more 'updated'.
The only thing new and eye-catching is Mango, and other users will be able to install that to their own devices when it's rolled out.
The Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray is worthy winner today, but it isn't anything to top the charts either.
It's a solid, mid-range Android smartphone which brings together some of Sony Ericsson's key strengths (and some of its notable weaknesses) to give users a device which won't let them down, but don't expect it to excel either.

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Samsung Galaxy S2 vs LG Optimus Q2

We watch as Samsung's Galaxy S2 defends its title against LG's new Optimus Q2

We see how LG’s latest Android phone, the Optimus Q2, compares to Samsung’s well-established Galaxy S2.

Form:
Samsung Galaxy S2 - 125.3x66.1x8.5mm, 116g
LG Optimus Q2 - 123x65x12.3mm,147g
Samsung might not make waves by producing bombastic designs like Nokia and Sony Ericsson, but what the company does well is elegant understatement.
There’s nothing in-your-face about the Galaxy S2, instead its opting for simple, clean lines and eye-pleasing proportions. It’s very squared-off with its stark rectangular silhouette and sharp corners but we think this lends it a premium appearance.
What is slightly less premium is the build quality. It’s not exactly going to fall apart any time soon. But in order to get that wafer thin profile and feather-like weight Samsung has opted for plastic over the aluminium we’re more used to seeing on high-end handsets.
The back panel has a nice, modern-looking ‘carbon fibre’ texture to it to add a bit of panache but it’s not a distracting visual feature by any means.
LG is also well-established as a company which, in the main, makes some very attractive devices – although it has produced a few stinkers of late.
The Q2 has also gone for a minimalist aesthetic but we feel LG has perhaps been a bit overzealous in this regard, crossing the border from unobtrusive chic and into outright bland territory.
The corners are extremely rounded giving an overly soft feel to the phone’s looks.
Where Samsung has kept the details small and discreet, LG has removed them entirely, creating a completely flat and uninterrupted surface.
Winner – Samsung Galaxy S2

Display:
Samsung is well known for producing some pretty spectacular smartphone displays and the Galaxy S2’s is no exception thanks to a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus capacitive touchscreen.
The pixel density is a respectable 217 pixels-per-inch thanks to an 800x480 pixel resolution.
Gorilla Glass has been used for the screen so you don’t have to worry about it taking a bit of a beating.
Built-in accelerometer and gyroscope sensors sort out screen orientation, along with Samsung’s TouchWiz 4.0 user interface (UI) which is overlaid on the Android operating system. The S2’s display supports multi-touch input and features touch-sensitive capacitive buttons under the glass.
LG’s Q2 uses an IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen, it’s slightly smaller than the Samsung’s at 4-inches, but with the same resolution this gives a higher pixel density at 233ppi.
Just like its opponent the Q2 packs both accelerometer and gyro sensors and it also similarly features multi-touch and capacitive controls.
It seems LG has beaten Samsung at it’s own game here. The higher pixel density of the Q2 means you’ll get a much sharper picture.
Samsung’s Super Amoled Plus technology goes some way to compensating for its lower pixel density and it’s still a fine display, but even so, on raw numbers we think the difference is significant enough to grant LG the victory.
Winner – LG Optimus Q2

Storage:
The Galaxy S2 is something of a heavyweight contender when it comes to storage with options for both 16GB and 32GB of internal capacity.
By comparison the Q2 has 8GB onboard, which is nothing to sneeze at of course, but it’s not anywhere near approaching even the lower end Galaxy’s space.
The rest of the storage specs are quite similar between the two, each has 1GB of RAM to support their respective processors and both also feature microSD slots allowing for a further 32GB of external memory.
This is quite an easy victory for the Galaxy’s sledgehammer approach to memory, but that’s not to say the Q2 is exactly lacking, it’s simply dwarfed by the exceptionally generous amount of space on the Samsung.
Winner – Samsung Galaxy S2

Processor:
Both phones are dual core powered devices. Samsung’s baby runs an ARM Cortex-A9 processor clocked at 1.2GHz. It runs the Exynos chipset and packs a powerful Mali-400MP graphics processing unit (GPU) into the bargain.
The LG is on the same level power-wise at an identical 1.2GHz clock speed, however, it’s running NVidia-made hardware on the Tegra 2 chipset.
They’re equally high-powered handsets and you might be hard pushed to discern a performance difference between the two.
Winner - Draw

Operating System:
Each of these handsets is running Google’s Android operating system, the same version too, Android Gingerbread.
As a result, there’s nothing to compare the two here.
Winner - Draw

Camera:
LG has opted for a 5-megapixel primary camera in the Optimus Q2. The resolution comes in at 2592х1944 pixels and there’s also a secondary VGA camera with video calling support.
Autofocus, LED flash and geo-tagging keep the features short but sweet.
Exact information on the video capture quality hasn’t been forthcoming, although we’ve seen plenty of suggestion for 1080p HD, which isn’t too much of a stretch really. We’d say at the very least we’d expect 720p capture from this setup.
The Samsung goes the extra mile though with an 8-megapixel primary at 3264x2448 pixels, boasting 1080p HD video capture, video calling and a video light.
Other features include geo-tagging, touch focus, panoramic capture, face and smile detection, image stabilisation, autofocus and an LED flash. Lastly, the secondary camera is rated at 2-megapixels.
Another easy win for the Samsung with it’s strong-arm approach to in-built cameras.
Winner – Samsung Galaxy S2

Final Thoughts:
This has actually been a pretty tough contest. In some key areas the Q2 has shown itself to be the Galaxy S2’s equal, with an evenly matched processor and sporting the same operating system.
The most surprising result was a win for the LG on display, an area usually dominated by Samsung phones.
Apart from this, however, the Samsung is still as potent as ever with a superior camera, a much greater storage capability and killer looks.
We doubt if many people would find themselves dissatisfied if they get their hands on an LG Optimus Q2 and they’d be getting the better end of the bargain as far as display is concerned.
In many other ways though, the Samsung Galaxy S2 is still top dog, the Q2 proves it’s not so secure on its pedestal, but LG is not quite able to topple it just yet.

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Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 vs Sony Tablet S

We see how Samsung’s big Galaxy Tab 10.1 compares to Sony’s new Tablet S

We see how Samsung’s big Galaxy Tab 10.1 compares to Sony’s new Tablet S.

Form:
Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 - 256.7x175.3x8.6mm, 565g
Sony Tablet S - 241.2x174.3x10.1-20.6mm (tapers), 598g
Samsung’s device is the larger of the two but it is more than a touch lighter thanks to being a mere 8.6mm thin. It sports quite a straightforward and plain design but we think that this works in its favour, we also like how there’s not too much bodywork surrounding the screen, lending the tablet a sleek look. Generally it’s nicely proportioned and very clean, your attention isn’t drawn away by an over-abundance of ports and buttons and even the back panel is reassuringly minimalist.
The Sony Tablet S is a little more in-your-face. It looks inconspicuous enough from the front, again the proportions are nice and the screen to bodywork ratio is good.
However, a little bit of textured panelling at the top of the device drops hints at some of the zanier elements of its design. Essentially, the tablet form is as if someone wrapped a flexible TFT screen around a wedge-shaped piece of billet aluminium, and then nailed it in place. Except the end result is much more elegant than that sounds. It looks pretty snazzy and we like it.
We’d have to say the Sony looks more interesting, however, the lighter and thinner Galaxy Tab has its advantages. We’re calling a draw.
Winner - Draw

Display:
Sony’s Tablet S features a 9.4-inch TFT capacitive touchscreen, the resolution is a hefty 1280x800 pixels giving this display a pixel density of 161 pixels-per-inch (ppi). The usual trio of multi-touch, accelerometer and gyro sensor are all included too.
Against this Samsung brings the titular 10.1-inch touchscreen, it’s a PLS TFT capacitive at the same resolution as its competitor, resulting in a lower pixel density of 149ppi. Gorilla Glass has been used, so it should be a tough nut to crack, the Galaxy Tab also comes equipped with a set of capacitive buttons under the display and Samsung’s TouchWiz UX interface overlaid onto the Android operating system,
Just like the Sony it’s got multi-touch input, an accelerometer and a gyro sensor to help with screen orientation.
We have to side with Sony’s crispier pixel density on this one.
Winner – Sony Tablet S

Storage:
Both tablets have options for 16GB or 32GB of internal storage capacity and come with 1GB of RAM to back up the processor. However, the Samsung has an ace up it’s sleeve, with an additional third option for a much higher 64GB of onboard space.
Sadly, the Galaxy Tab loses out when it comes to external, having none whatsoever. Sony’s Tablet S supports regular SD cards up to 32GB, and while we’d prefer microSD which we can share with most phone handsets it’s certainly a much better option than the Samsung in this regard.
We’d have to call this one a draw because it’s very much a trade off – on the one hand we prefer a larger internal capacity because the read speed is generally quicker than external memory, thus making it preferable for normal use.
However, it’s nice to have external memory as it’s useful for a different purpose entirely, namely the movement of data between devices, and not having it on the Samsung does sting a bit.
Ultimately, neither is perfect, we recognise they both offer a lot but it’s because of this they each leave you a little wanting on memory by not going the extra mile. Much wants more.
Winner - Draw

Processor:
Being Android based tablets both have sensibly seen fit to power through things with some chunky dual core processors, but not only that they’ve actually fitted an identical setup in each. Both devices sport a 1GHz ARM Cortex-A9 on the NVidia Tegra 2 T20 chipset and as part of that particular package you get NVidia’s ULP Geforce graphics processing unit (GPU) too.
Powerful stuff all round then, ARM’s Cortex -9 will take pretty much whatever you can dish out at it and then run a mile. Back that up with 1GB of RAM in each case along with NVidia’s boundary-pushing micro chips and you’ve got something pretty special to say the very least.
There’s nothing to compare the two here though. Moving on.
Winner - Draw

Operating System:
More similarities here, we mentioned both were Android devices and being tablets both are on the tablet-specific Honeycomb build which has been designed to take full advantage of larger screen sizes.
Part of that tailor-made appeal is the very swish tablet interface, it’s designed to compliment the way you typically hold a scaled-up tablet device with tabs, menus and quick buttons placed where your fingers or thumbs would logically be hovering.
The touch keyboard is also much improved from previous Android builds and works really well on larger screens such as these, you can pretty much set it down and use it as a conventional computer keyboard with no issues.
Added OpenGL acceleration and a Renderscript 3D graphics engine, along with in-built multi-core processor support means demanding games absolutely fly on Honeycomb, another plus for devices with larger displays more naturally suited to entertainment.
Another natural tablet task is browsing the web and in Honeycomb it’s the best browser experience Android has had so far. Fully tabbed browsing is now on the cards, along with double tap zoom, pinch zoom and swipe scrolling, all of which work really well.
Android’s notifications bar has been updated and moved down to the bottom-right corner as part of the ‘System Bar’, again it’s next to your thumb, and not only does it display system alerts from your apps but it also streamlines multitasking with a ‘Recent Apps’ button. Tapping this pops up a small menu allowing you to fast-switch between running applications.
Overall it’s a neat system and frankly we can’t wait until Ice Cream Sandwich brings a similar experience to smartphones.
Winner – Draw

Camera:
Samsung’s tablet brings a 3.15-megapixel camera as its primary shooter, with a resolution of 2048x1536 pixels. The Galaxy Tab can capture video in both 1080p HD and 720p HD and supports video calling. Features-wise it’s got an LED flash, autofocus and geo-tagging. There’s also a secondary 2-megapixel camera.
The Sony Tablet S is better catered for thanks to its 5-megapixel primary camera at a higher resolution of 2560х1920 pixels, along with a VGA secondary. Video capture isn’t quite as good as its rival with only a 720p capability, though it still has video calling support. However, the Sony’s camera feature list is a bit more comprehensive with autofocus, touch focus, geo-tagging, image stabilisation and face and smile detection, it is missing one key component though and that’s an LED flash.
Sony’s camera isn’t perfect, but that much higher megapixel count and resolution alone is enough to beat the Samsung’s relatively meagre offering.
Winner – Sony Tablet S

Final Thoughts:
We like the Samsung Galaxy Tab, it’s one of the better Galaxy tablets and one of the better Android tablets all round. However, other company’s are starting to really get into their stride on what constitutes a competitive tablet right now and Sony is one such company. Not only that, but Sony has approached things with typical flair which really lends a great deal of character to the Tablet S.
There are a few areas where Samsung seems to have struggled slightly with the up-scaling of areas where, on phones, the company typically excels.
A prime example is the screen, Samsung normally produce fantastic smartphone screens, but in going for a 10-inch screen size the Galaxy Tab lost out a bit on pixel density, and because of the larger expanse Samsung couldn’t leverage its usual Amoled trump card.
Conversely, Sony has really scored well here by going for a more optimal and slightly smaller screen.
For the most part, there are more similarities than differences here, both tablets equally have quite a lot to offer. The Sony just has a slight advantage with a better display and camera, plus some external storage if that’s a priority for you.

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LG Optimus Q2 vs HTC Sensation XE

We compare HTC's upgraded Sensation XE and LG's keyboard-toting Optimus Q2 to see which device offers users the most complete Android package

LG's Optimus Q2 is a device aimed squarely at the more discerning Android user and with its sliding full Qwerty, slim form factor and powerful processor the device looks set to turn a few heads, but how does this promising pro-Android compare to HTC's new beast, the HTC Sensation XE? Let's find out.

Display
LG's Optimus Q2 features a 4-inch IPS LCD touchscreen that operates at a resolution of 480 x 800 and a pixel density of 223ppi, making it pretty standard Android fare.
HTC's Sensation XE comes in with a 4.3-inch S-LCD qHD display which operates at a resolution of 540 x 960, giving it a subtle edge over the LG, and it beats the Q2 in pixel density too, with 256ppi, which is good but no iPhone 4.
Both devices will do justice to an assortment of media though, and you'll likely find them more than a match for any HD videos and games you might want to run on your device.
Winner - HTC Sensation XE

Form & Build
LG Optimus Q2 - 123x65x12.3mm, 147g
HTC Sensation XE - 126.1x65.4 x11.3mm, 151g
Despite offering a nice, full Qwerty keyboard the Optimus Q2 is still only 12.3mm thick, giving it a real edge over other full keyboard toting Android devices.
You can expect the build to live-up to LG's recent track record, which is to say solid and durable with a pleasant premium feel, and at only 147g you won't feel like you're carrying a lead weight around with you.
The HTC Sensation XE is only 1mm thinner than the Optimus Q2, even without a keyboard, and this doesn't work to the device's favour in this round. The extra input options that a full QWERTY brings are well worth that tiny bit of extra paunch.
Other than that the Sensation XE is good, but unremarkable. It feels a nice weight and the balance is on par with what we've come to expect of a manufacturer with HTC's cachet.
Winner - LG Optimus Q2

Camera
The HTC Sensation XE features the same 8-megapixel camera as the original Sensation and the performance is equally as idiosyncratic.
You get the usual add-ons with the Sensation XE too, such as dual-LED flash, face detection, touch-focus, geo-tagging and instant capture as well as 1080P video capture and a front facing VGA offering, giving the device a nice spec-sheet, but don't expect it to replace your compact.
The LG Optimus Q2 features a standard 5-megapixel snapper with autofocus, LED flash and geo-tagging, as well as a front facing VGA camera for video-calling.
We can't comment on the performance, but we wouldn't expect it to be anything better than what's already on the market.
Winner - HTC Sensation XE

Software
Both of our contenders run on version 2.3.4 of Google's Android platform and more than do the operating system justice.
The Optimus Q2 features LG's custom overlay, which brings some new widgets, apps and other functionality to bear on the already well-stocked OS, though it mightn't be to everyone's liking.
The Sensation XE features HTC's sterling Sense UI overlay, which really gives the Taiwanese manufacturer's devices the edge over virtually every other Android on the market.
Sense brings social networking integration, widgets, apps and eye candy to the device and makes it a breeze to use and a pleasure to look at.
On top of Sense you also get the benefit of the vaunted 'Beats' software (and headphones too!) which offers custom sound profiles and tweaking, and gives the XE exemplary sound quality, so pick yourself one up if you're a muso in training.
Winner - HTC Sensation XE

Power
The Optimus Q2 runs on a dual-core 1.2GHz Tegra 2 CPU, so you can expect the device to run at a fair trot and cope with all the latest apps and games without a hiccup, and while there are faster devices out there you won't find the Q2 wanting.
HTC's Sensation XE is driven by a new 1.5GHz dual-core CPU that makes the device fly. The extra oomph is really noticeable and the inclusion of a larger, 1730mAh battery will keep the slick package running for longer too. This we like.
HTC didn't deem a RAM upgrade necessary though, meaning the device comes with 726MB installed, the same as its forebear. This we don't like.
That aside the Sensation XE is still a blisteringly fast smartphone which performs brilliantly in almost every regard.
Winner - HTC Sensation XE
HTC's Sensation XE takes the tape first in this comparison, and with effort to spare.
Sure, the Optimus Q2 is a contender, and its hardware QWERTY and slim figure will appeal to those message heavy users, but it just isn't as much fun as the obscenely powerful and pretty Sensation XE.
Is the XE worth the upgrade if you already own the original? Well, no, unless you're keen to hammer your credit card or music's more important to you than money, but for those that are looking for a rewarding and powerful Android experience it's the flavour of the week.

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HTC Sensation XE vs Samsung Galaxy Note

We see if HTC's Sensation XE has what it takes to bring down Samsung's behemoth Galaxy Note

We compare the newly announced HTC Sensation XE to Samsung's biggest handset yet – the Galaxy Note.

Form:
HTC Sensation XE - 126.1x65.4x11.3mm, 151g
Samsung Galaxy Note - 146.9x83x9.7mm, 178g
The Sensation XE uses the same outer shell as its vanilla flavoured cousin. The XE is most assuredly some kind of red flavour with little crimson accents in places, most notably the B logo on the lower rear panel signifying the presence of Dr Dre’s Beats audio technology.
It's a thin, slinky design with very little unused space round the screen, and even the swirly monochrome panel setup on the rear of the handset looks nice. It’s all tastefully done and this can only be a good thing.
We can imagine some might find the Samsung Galaxy Note’s design bland and simplistic. We can see where this argument comes from with its raw, slab-like appearance and uncompromisingly sharp lines. It’s an unadulterated rectangle, essentially.
That’s not our view though, we think it’s looking pretty good. Given all the legal tomfoolery that’s been going on recently Samsung probably won’t thank us for saying this, but the Note really does look like a giant iPhone, and we mean that in a good way.
It has a nice clean visual style. It’s also considerably thinner than its rival at a mere 9.7mm to the Sensation’s 11.3mm.
We like both designs here, each has a premium feel and is pleasing to the eye, but they’re both very different.
Winner - Draw

Display:
The Sensation XE uses a 4.3-inch capacitive S-LCD touchscreen with a resolution of 540x960 pixels and an impressive pixel density of 256 pixels-per-inch (ppi).
The HTC Sense user interface (UI) has been overlaid on the Android operating system and the phone features gyro and accelerometer sensors for screen rotation. The Sensation XE’s display also supports multi-touch input.
Samsung’s Note uses the company’s own Super Amoled display technology combined with reinforced Gorilla Glass for its massive 5.3-inch capacitive touchscreen.
A screen that size deserves a tasty resolution, and the Note doesn’t disappoint at 800 x 1280 pixels. To top it off it’s also got a very high pixel density of 285ppi.
The HTC’s display is well up there and is worthy of some respect, but the Note’s is just something else entirely. It’s approaching the smaller end of tablet territory and with such impressive figures on resolution and pixel density, it’s sure to offer a crystal clear picture on its vast expanse of glass.
Winner – Samsung Galaxy Note

Storage:
Storage is one of the Sensation’s weaker areas, it actually has 4GB of internal storage but only 1GB is actually accessible by the user.
A microSD card slot allows an extra 32GB to be stored externally and processing power is backed up by 768MB of RAM.
The Note is much better equipped with options for either 16GB or 32GB of internal space and 1GB of RAM. Card support is the same as the Sensation.
The Samsung outperforms HTC’s handset on all fronts here making it the clear victor.
Winner – Samsung Galaxy Note


Processor:
Both devices are quite similarly specced in the processor department, each is dual core and the Note runs a 1.4GHz block while the Sensation XE packs in a fraction more at 1.5GHz.
In Samsung’s handset you’ve got an ARM Cortex-A9 on the Exynos chipset, featuring a Mali-400MP graphics processing unit (GPU) for some visual flair.
Meanwhile, the HTC sports a Qualcomm MSM 8260 Snapdragon processor with an Adreno 220 GPU.
You’d be hard pushed to find a quicker mobile device right now and we reckon it’d be equally difficult to discern a difference in performance between the two handsets here.
Both will deliver astonishingly fast, smooth and responsive performance consistently whether you’re browsing, multitasking between apps, viewing films or playing games.
Winner - Draw

Operating System:
These are both Android-powered handsets and each runs the most recent build of Google’s operating system, Gingerbread 2.3.
It’s a good system and certainly better than its predecessors but it’s starting to lag behind a little and Ice Cream Sandwich is just round the corner, which both these devices will be eligible for.
There’s nothing to compare the two here so we’ll call it a draw.
Winner - Draw

Camera:
Again plenty of similarities here, each phone boasts an 8-megapixel primary camera at 3264x2448 pixels and capable of 1080p video capture.
Both feature autofocus, touch focus, face detection and image stabilisation and they support video calling.
The HTC has a dual LED flash and instant capture. It also has stereo sound recording for video and a VGA secondary camera.
Samsung has given the Note an LED flash (though not dual), smile detection, panoramic capture, multi-shot, scene editing tools and a 2-megapixel secondary.
As with the processors, there are distinctive differences here but overall the effect of having a well-equipped 8-megapixel primary is the same.
Both are going to give a highly satisfactory camera experience and are capable of producing some excellent quality images and videos.
At a pinch we’d say the extra features on the Note are a better package but it really is swings and roundabouts here and we doubt many would be unhappy with the Sensation’s arrangement.
Winner – Samsung Galaxy Note (but only just)

Final Thoughts:
These are both astonishing phones, but just when it seemed like someone had stepped up to the plate of challenging the Samsung Galaxy S2, Samsung only went and moved the goalposts with the Note.
Okay, in some areas the Note isn’t quite as good as the S2 but it’s not at all far off and we’d say at least they’re in the same league.
Generally we’d say the HTC Sensation XE is also on this level, though we do find the storage somewhat disappointing and it’s the main thing which pulls it back.
With the Note, not only do you get something very close to the S2 in performance but you get that epic expanse of high-quality screen space which is virtually unparalleled in the smartphone world.

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Samsung Galaxy Y vs ZTE Skate

Samsung's Galaxy Y takes on ZTE's Skate this time around, as we aim to see which budget friendly Android smartphone packs the biggest punch

Smartphones are no longer devices reserved for the tech obsessed among us - they're part of most people's every day existence.
Whether it's checking your calendar to keep tabs on a birthday, or killing some time playing a game on your commute, your smartphone keeps you in touch, entertained and organised. And most people can't live without their shiny little box of tricks.
Thankfully this level of general acceptance has led to companies investing time and effort into producing high quality, low cost products, with the aim of allowing people on a budget to embrace the smartphone revolution without breaking the bank.
Two such devices are Samsung's Galaxy Y and ZTE's Skate. The question is - which one represents true value for money?

Screen
Samsung's Galaxy Y ships with a 3-inch TFT capacitive touchscreen that operates at a resolution of 240x320 pixels and displays 256K colours. While we weren't expecting one of Samsung's sterling AMOLED's in a budget conscious device, we were hoping for something a little more potent than what's on offer here.
The ZTE Skate comes with a bit more tech, in the shape of a 4.3-inch TFT touchscreen that operates at a resolution of 480x800, displays 16 million colours and offers an impressive pixel density of 217ppi.
Winner - ZTE Skate

Power
ZTE's Skate runs on an 800MHz single-core CPU, which is sufficient enough to run the OS without any major lag or hiccups but let's be honest, it won't set the world alight (nor is it intended to).
Similarly, the Galaxy Y runs on an 832MHz processor, which offers up a tiny bit more power but, again, don't expect miracles. These processors are intended for the distance, not a sprint.
The ZTE Skate comes with a fairly respectable 512MB RAM, though, which should give the device a more spritely feel when multi-tasking or opening up applications. Samsung's Galaxy Y features a so-far undisclosed amount of RAM, but we wouldn't bet our shirts on it rivalling the Skate in the memory stakes.
Both device's do, however, offer support for Micro SD cards up to 32GB in size, so you shouldn't be stuck for space to store your MP3s and photos.
Winner - ZTE Skate

Form and Build
Samsung Galaxy Y - 104 x 58 x 11.5 mm, 97.5g
ZTE Skate - 125.9 x 67.8 x 10.4 mm, 120g
The Galaxy Y is a neat, pocketable device that isn't heavy or unnecessarily ugly. It's constructed out of lightweight plastics and the level of craftsmanship on offer is vintage Samsung, which is to say, fine, but rather undistinguished.
The ZTE Skate is a larger, more premium looking (and feeling) device, which feels robust and well assembled, though, its extra bulk makes it a little cumbersome at times.
Winner - Draw

Software
Both devices run on version 2.3 of Google's popular Android OS.
The Samsung Galaxy Y features the company's nice UI overlay, TouchWiz, which gives it some nice additions such as widgets, apps and social networking integration.
The ZTE Skate also offers a tweaked UI, with custom widgets and apps and, surprisingly, it's quite intuitive and pleasing to use.
As you'd expect both devices also offer all the other trappings associated with Android, such as apps, games and huge customisation potential and in this respect both are light years ahead of other similarly low priced 'dumb' phones.
Winner - Draw

Camera
Budget conscious smartphones aren't usually known for their photographic prowess but the ZTE Skate does pack a pretty decent 5-megapixel camera, which also offers autofocus, LED flash and geo-tagging.
The Samsung Galaxy Y keeps to tradition with a bog-standard 2-megapixel offering that borders on awful.
Both devices capture video, the Galaxy Y at QVGA (15FPS), while the Skate's capabilities are unconfirmed.
We know these device's aren't going to be made or broken off the back of their photographic chops but if we're talking bang for buck the Skate takes the round, hands down, and the Galaxy Y looks pitiful in comparison.
Winner - ZTE Skate

Verdict
So it's a win for the Chinese-made ZTE Skate, almost with no contest.
If you're looking for a low priced smartphone that offers a decent level of performance you could do far worse than the Skate. Sure, it isn't one of the latest, greatest dual-core beasties, but it works and works well.
The Samsung Galaxy Y on the other hand, is underwhelming in almost every respect.

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Samsung Galaxy Note vs HTC Titan

We compare one of the most talked about Windows Phone 7 up and comers, the HTC Titan, with the next big Android release from Samsung, the Galaxy Note

The battle between Android and Windows Phone 7 is already being furiously fought, but in the next few weeks things are going to hot up even further as Microsoft finally unleash the long awaited 'Mango' update for Windows Phone devices.
One of the first devices to be equipped with this new update will be HTC's Titan – a smartphone aimed at attracting those that crave a little more power from their mobile device.
The good folks at Google aren't likely to be sweating bullets quite yet though, as their good friends over at Samsung have a little surprise up their sleeve, in the form of the Galaxy Note – a dual-core toting Android 2.3 powered beauty.
But which of these new contenders is the one to watch?
Power
Samsung has imbued the Galaxy Note with its hugely powerful Exynos chipset, which consists of a whopping 1.4GHz dual-core chip, a Mali-400MP GPU and fairly future-proof 1GB RAM, making it a contender for the title of 'world's most powerful smartphone'.
HTC's Titan isn't any slouch though and the device packs a pretty hefty punch of its own thanks to its 1.5GHz Scorpion CPU and Adreno 205 GPU. But even with decent specs like these it won't make a dent in the Galaxy Note's armour, and this deficit is exacerbated by the 512MB RAM included.
It will be the most powerful Windows Phone 7 device on the market though, so not all is lost!
Winner - Samsung Galaxy Note
Display
The HTC Titan is fitted with a 4.7-inch S-LCD display which operates at a resolution of 480 x 800 and offers up a pixel density of 199ppi.
The quality of the display can't really be called into question, as it's of a generally high standard but the size may put some folk off.
The Samsung Galaxy Note boasts an enormous 5.3-inch Super AMOLED touchscreen which features a resolution of 800 x 1280 and a pixel density of 285ppi, which is only a hop behind the mighty iPhone 4.
Another bonus of the Galaxy Note is that its screen is covered with Gorilla Glass, so you won't have to wince every time you hear it hit some shrapnel in your pocket!
Winner - Samsung Galaxy Note
Camera
Both of our contenders are more than amply equipped in the photographic department.
The HTC Titan comes with an 8-megapixel primary, which features LED flash, autofocus, geo-tagging and 720P video capture and a decent 1.3-megapixel secondary for video calling.
The Samsung Galaxy Note comes with an 8-megapixel snapper too, though Samsung has given this device a few extra moves to help it on its way, including autofocus, LED flash, geo-tagging, touch focus, face and smile detection and the oh-so important image stabilisation.
In the spirit of one-upmanship the Galaxy Note also offers a 2-megapixel secondary camera and the ability to capture video at 1080P.
Winner - Samsung Galaxy Note
Software
As we mentioned earlier, the HTC Titan is going to be among the first devices to offer the highly anticipated 'Mango' update to Windows Phone 7 and this gives the device a great edge over the competition.
Highlights of the update include improved multi-tasking and social networking integration, hands-free messaging, unified inbox and Internet Explorer 9 among many others.
The platform itself is still as easy to use and pleasing to regard as ever, the amount of apps on offer in the Windows Marketplace is expanding daily and the quality is rising across the board. Also the Titan's extra power will give it some extra zip as well, making the device the benchmark Windows Phone experience.
The Samsung Galaxy Note features version 2.3 of Google's Android platform which means safety, security and speed, as well as access to the countless apps and games available on the Android Market.
The Galaxy Note also benefits from Samsung's own TouchWiz 4.0 overlay, which gives users access to new widgets, increased social networking integration and some new apps and games.
Another point worth noting is that Samsung has given the device support for pretty much every audio and video format there is, so you can make use of that lush 5.3-inch screen with some HD content.
Winner - Samsung Galaxy Note
Form & Build
HTC Titan - 131.5 x 70.7 x 9.9 mm, 160 g
Samsung Galaxy Note - 146.9 x 83 x 9.7 mm, 178 g
Neither of these devices is particularly pocket friendly, but that 5.3-inch display makes the Galaxy Note a particularly awkward device to carry in the pocket, and even to use for those with small hands.
The construction will be vintage Samsung: lightweight, advanced plastics well moulded into a device that costs a lot but feels like a toy from the front of a CBeebies magazine.
The Titan is every bit the HTC though, with metal and plastic in use and rock-solid construction. We hope it  doesn't suffer from the dreaded death-grip which plagued the Desire S and Sensation though, because that's a real passion killer.
Winner - HTC Titan
HTC's Titan has fought bravely but didn't have enough in its locker to overcome the powerful Samsung Galaxy Note.
It mustn't be all doom and gloom though. For those that want to experience Microsoft's platform as the developer intended, the Titan is the obvious choice. It's a powerful, robust and good looking package which raises the Windows Phone 7 bar nicely, and we can't wait to see what devices follow in its foot-steps.
The Samsung Galaxy Note is a stunning, powerful device. If you didn't succumb to the temptation of the Samsung Galaxy S2 and you're in the market for an Android device this should be your go-to smartphone for the time being at least.

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Amazon Tablet vs. Apple iPad: Who Wins?

The Amazon tablet may soon be upon us. And unlike some other tablet manufacturers that tried—and failed—to bend the touch-screen market in their favor, the online retailer has a sizable chance of leaving a lasting impact.

TechCrunch’s MG Siegler recently had an opportunity to play with an early version of the tablet and, in lieu of being able to snap photographs, did his best to describe its capabilities. In addition to a custom Android interface (complete with a tabbed Android Webkit browser and a dock for displaying available books and movies), the device offers a 7-inch screen and 6GB of internal storage for books and applications.
Those hardware features aren’t necessarily enough to rock Apple’s iPad back on its heels or carve out a sizable niche among the Android tablets currently on store shelves. However, Amazon offers an Android applications storefront in addition to a full collection of multimedia offerings, which could allow it to compete head-to-head against Apple’s iTunes and App Store. Other tablet manufacturers have been slow to build robust multimedia hubs, and their products rely on Google’s Android Marketplace for apps.  
Amazon also boasts considerable marketing muscle, and its Kindle efforts have already smoothed the path, so to speak, for people to perceive the retailer as an effective mobile-technology producer.
But the killer app of Amazon’s tablet—which has yet to be officially unveiled—isn’t hardware or software. Nor is it Amazon’s marketing or business skills. It’s the low starting price: $250, which considerably undercuts other tablets currently available.


After Hewlett-Packard announced it would shut down production of its TouchPad tablet and slashed the retail cost to a mere $99, customers turned out in droves to purchase a respectable touch-screen device at a bargain. Amazon seems similarly positioned to feed that hunger for a low-cost, quality tablet.
That’s not to say that Amazon has an easy path to victory in tablets. For one thing, it will have to compete against other Android tablets on the market, offered by some very aggressive and well-funded companies. Also, analysts generally predict that Apple’s iPad will continue to command the lion’s share of the market, which could make things difficult for any upstart trying to establish its own presence—whether or not the upstart in question is produced by one of the most recognizable brands in the world.

Third, based on MG Siegler’s posting, it seems that Amazon is aiming squarely at the consumer market with its tablet offering. That would effectively close off businesses, which represent a growing segment of the tablet-buying population.


Nonetheless, Amazon seems ready to make a splashy entrance into the tablet market. Whether it can score iPad-size sales is more of a question.

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HTC Titan vs Samsung Galaxy S2

Samsung's Galaxy S2 takes on HTC's new Windows Phone 7-powered handset, the aptly named Titan

We pit HTC’s new Titan into battle against the ruling champion, Samsung’s Galaxy S2, to see if it can live up to its imposing name.
Form: HTC Titan - 131.5x70.7x9.9mm, 160g
Samsung Galaxy S2 - 125.3x66.1x8.5mm, 116g
HTC’s latest handset doesn’t deviate much from the standard visuals we’ve come to expect from the company.
That isn’t to say there’s anything wrong with HTC’s often repeated design ethos. It certainly isn’t jarring or offensive to the eye. But equally if you wanted something a little more out-of-the-ordinary you might be in for a disappointing time with the HTC Titan.
It’s pretty much the same ‘candy-bar’ shape as every other HTC phone, a neat rectangle with rounded corners, a shiny black border round the touchscreen and a relatively smooth and minimalist back panel.
If you like HTC’s designs you’ll probably be quite happy here. It’s certainly a thin handset at 9.9mm but the rest of its proportions are on the larger side making for an imposing piece of kit – and it really needs to be to house that 4.7-inch touchscreen.
A side-effect of this is that it’s quite substantial in the hand at 160g and it’s considerably heavier than its opponent.
Compared to the Galaxy S2, however, it offers a much more solid build quality, where the Samsung has opted for lightweight, and slightly flimsy, plastic to keep the weight down to a feather-light 116g, the Titan uses an aluminium unibody construction, so it’s pretty durable.
The S2 also uses the now universally recognisable shape laid-down by the iPhone as its form template. It’s also a fair bit more striking than the Titan thanks to its slightly less pronounced corners and thinner profile at a mere 8.5mm.
It takes an even more minimalist approach than the HTC, if you can believe it, though it does sport a rather racy mesh-like back panel to jazz things up a bit.
We prefer the Titan’s build quality but you pay for it with extra weight and ultimately the Samsung is the better looking of the two by far.
Winner – Samsung Galaxy S2

Display:
Each of these handsets has been fitted with above-average touchscreen technology. On the one hand the Galaxy S2 uses Samsung’s own Super Amoled Plus wizardry for enhanced colours, brightness and power efficiency.
The HTC has opted for Sony’s very similar equivalent S-LCD screen, which pretty much offers the same benefits.
The Galaxy S2’s capacitive touchscreen uses toughened Gorilla Glass, something HTC’s Titan lacks. Apart from this the display features are quite similar with both phones sporting multi-touch control input alongside gyroscope and accelerometer sensors for screen orientation.
Samsung’s handset uses the company’s own TouchWiz UI user interface (UI) overlaid on the Android operating system.
Both phone displays have the same resolution at 800x480 pixels but where the Titan has a sizeable 4.7-inch display the S2 has a smaller 4.3-inches.
This means the corresponding pixel densities are a decent 199 pixels-per-inch (ppi) for the HTC and a more impressive 217ppi for the Samsung.
Of course that gap isn’t huge, the Titan still offers a very high quality picture but the Samsung S2’s visuals should be that little bit sharper – a factor which wins it this round.
Winner – Samsung Galaxy S2

Storage:
The HTC Titan is handsomely kitted out with 16GB of onboard storage and a decent enough 512MB of RAM.
However, Samsung easily sweeps this aside with options for either 16GB or 32GB of internal capacity and twice the RAM of the Titan.
The Samsung also has the upper-hand when it comes to external storage with support for micro SD up to 32GB and shipping with an 8GB card as standard. Against this the HTC Titan is looking a little sheepish with no card slot to be found.
In reality the storage on the Titan is actually a pretty good offering from HTC but the simple fact of the matter is that it’s one of the phones weaker areas, perhaps a testament to how good the phone actually is considering 16GB isn't bad by any means.
By comparison, however, the Galaxy S2 is equipped in such a way that you’ll never be wanting for extra room.
The presence of substantial card support in the Samsung where the Titan is totally lacking and a higher maximum in-built capacity option makes the Galaxy S2 a sure winner here.
Winner – Samsung Galaxy S2

Processor:
Samsung has given the S2 a meaty 1.2GHz dual core processor, it’s an ARM Cortex-A9 power plant running on the Exynos chipset, which also packs a Mali-400MP graphics processing unit (GPU) into the bargain.
Against this the Titan brings a single core processor clocked at an impressive 1.5GHz. This one uses Qualcomm Scorpion technology with the MSM8255 Snapdragon chipset and an Adreno 205 GPU.
Despite the difference between clock speed and number of cores these handsets offer, we'd expect a similar level of performance – and neither will disappoint.
We’re straying into operating system territory here but it does seem to be the case that Android benefits from a more brute force approach via dual core.
Meanwhile, Windows Phone 7 is specifically optimised for a 1GHz minimum on single core, so with the 1.5GHz at its disposal it’s capable of delivering some pretty slick stuff to say the least.
We would say though that the Samsung probably has the edge when it comes to mobile gaming thanks to multiple cores and a more impressive GPU.
Both are more than capable of intense multi-tasking, smooth gameplay and responsive app usage, though.
We think most users would be hard pressed to make these phones break a sweat and are certainly not going to be disappointed with either.
Winner - Draw

Operating System:
HTC’s Titan runs the latest version of Microsoft’s mobile operating system, Windows Phone 7 Mango.
Against this Samsung’s Galaxy S2 uses the most recent smartphone build of Google’s Android platform, version 2.3 Gingerbread.
First let’s take a look at what Windows Phone 7 Mango offers.
Mango brings more than 500 tweaks and changes to Microsoft’s relatively new Windows Phone 7 operating system. Many of these are aimed at plugging functionality gaps users experienced in previous builds.
However, the vast majority are simply expanding the system with new features to offer a richer experience – and it's one that we cannot wait to try.
Previously the system’s Live Tiles were very well received as an innovative and user-friendly method of combining information with effortless navigation.
The Live Tiles haven’t gone anywhere but they have been given a tune-up which allows them to display much more information on the surface.
Not only do the native apps take advantage of being able to display more detailed messages thorough the Live Tiles, but Microsoft has launched developer APIs which should allow third-party app makers to get in on the fun.
In practice this means that, where before a diary app’s Live Tiles might display your next appointment, the new Live Tiles in Mango could show a scrolling ticker of all your events for the rest of the day with full clock and calendar information.
The main thing you’ll notice with Mango is how well integrated everything is, you’re never more than a tap or swipe away from exactly what you want to do.
Social networking, in particular has been given plenty of attention, there’s the native apps for Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn but you’ve also got options for each available from many other parts of the system.
Better still is the ‘People’ hub. For starters it combines all methods of communication into continuous threads, so that’s Facebook,Twitter, instant messaging, email and text (amongst others).
It also tells you when your contacts are online across mediums, so there’s no need to text if you can get them on Google Talk, for example.
Another major convenience of the People hub lies in the name. It lets you create groups of your favourite contacts so when you view said group you get a combined list of all Tweets, messages, texts, Facebook updates and so on.
You can also send a message out to all members of a group across multiple mediums at once.
It’s a thoughtful design aimed at keeping you on the pulse of your social circle.
You’ve now got complete control of your inboxes this time round, email accounts can be combined or separated into their own inboxes and these can be pinned to the start menu for quick access.
Mango will also check incoming mail for event invitations and check any against your calendar info. If you’re at risk of double booking it’ll stick a warning directly into the email text so you don’t miss it.
Gingerbread isn’t quite such an optimised or integrated system. Performance is better than previous builds and the interface has been tweaked to be slicker and more intuitive than before.
Of particular note is the touch keyboard, where previously this was a bit of a mess, you’ve now got a much more usable piece of kit meaning texting and browsing is less of a chore.
On that last point of browsing though things are not exactly peachy, despite sitting on all the goodness that is Chrome, Google has still failed to add tabbed browsing and navigation controls are still not that great.
Multi-tasking is still Android’s golden egg, it handles things effortlessly and will easily run multiple apps simultaneously.
Things are improved further though thanks to a new toolset giving you more control over your active apps.
If you’d rather not play admin though, Gingerbread will do an ample job of keeping things in line by itself.
We like the Android system but Gingerbread probably isn’t the best example and Windows Phone 7 Mango is bringing something very special indeed.
We have to say we’re more impressed with Microsoft this time round.
Winner – HTC Titan

Camera:
These handsets are each fitted with an 8-megapixel primary at 3264x2448 pixels resolution.
They also both have secondary cameras but where the Titan’s is 1.3-megapixels the S2’s is slightly better at 2-megapixels.
Both devices share autofocus, touch focus and geo-tagging, the Titan also has a digital zoom while the S2 instead offers image stabilisation, panoramic capture and face and smile detection features.
Samsung’s Galaxy S2 has an LED flash but the Titan is a bit better off with a dual-LED setup.
The Titan can capture video in 720p HD, but Samsung’s handset goes one better with both 720p HD and 1080p HD.
Both phones support video calling and the Galaxy S2 has a video light.
That extra flash and digital zoom is certainly nice to have in the Titan but all in all we feel the Samsung has a better setup here thanks to better quality video capture and a more extensive and more useful list of additional features.
Winner – Samsung Galaxy S2

Final Thoughts:
In most areas the Samsung still reigns supreme thanks to a staggering hardware line-up.
However, the HTC Titan puts up a very good fight and is still a phone worthy of your attention.
The main point of contention comes in the operating system, where Windows Phone 7 comes out looking better.
This alone can’t win the contest for the Titan and we’re inclined to say the Samsung is the better choice overall, but if you find Windows Phone 7 tempting you probably won’t regret going with the Titan.
At the same time because the Samsung will get an Ice Cream Sandwich update when it hits this will make an already brilliant phone even better.
Basically: it's a tough call either way. Personally, we're waiting for Samsung to unleash a Windows Phone 7 Mango-powered Galaxy S2 device – expect that bad boy sometime before the end of the year.

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Sony Tablet S vs HTC Puccini

HTC's new 10-inch Pucinni, which isn't a variety of pizza, goes head-to-head with Sony's S Tablet

We take a look at HTC’s forthcoming 10.1-inch Honeycomb tablet, the HTC Puccini (also known as the Jetstream), to see how it fares against Sony’s new Tablet S.

Form
HTC Puccini - 251x178x13mm, 709g
Sony Tablet S - 241.2x174.3x10.1-20.6mm (tapers), 598g
The HTC Flyer, the company’s first foray into tablet territory, was garish and unsightly, but it seems lessons have been learned as this newest device is a much more tasteful affair.
The bodywork is sleek, black and shiny and there’s very little border space around the screen – a look we feel works well more often than not.
HTC has also given the Puccini some visual interest with carbon fibre styling on the back panel, while the camera port is subtly integrated in the top corner.
Logos and motifs are also kept unobtrusive which helps the aesthetic considerably.
It’s quite a thick and heavy device though, but visually things are looking good.
Sony’s Tablet S is a little more unconventional as it’s an unusual wedge-shaped device starting at 20mm thick on the top edge and tapering to 10mm thin at the bottom.
The whole front panel of the device appears to curve elegantly over the top edge and round to the back in a continuous line, which is very appealing to the eye, while a textured surface helps things too.
As much as we like the Puccini and think it’s a massive step forward for HTC’s tablets, we also feel Sony’s styling is much more adventurous and that is something to be commended in our book.
Winner - Sony Tablet S

Display
HTC’s Puccini tablet has the larger display size of these two devices, with a 10.1-inch LCD capacitive touchscreen.
The Puccini’s resolution is WXGA at 1280x768 pixels and with a pixel density of 147 pixels-per-inch (ppi). Multi-touch and an accelerometer sensor are par for the course.
The Tablet S is only a bit smaller at 9.4-inches but it boasts a slightly higher resolution of 1280x800 pixels and subsequently a higher pixel density at 161ppi. It’s a TFT capacitive touchscreen display featuring multi-touch, accelerometer and gyro sensors.
The Tablet S's display might be a bit smaller but not by much and the higher resolution and pixel density will make a difference to image clarity. Sony wins this round.
Winner - Sony Tablet S

Storage
Sony’s Tablet S is the more diverse device when it comes to internal storage, with options for both 16GB and 32GB of onboard capacity.
It is, however, a little more limiting for external support with only SD cards catered for rather than the more common, and arguably more useful, micro SD.
External storage is still up to 32GB though which can only be a good thing.
The Puccini has only one fixed internal storage option at the S Tablet’s higher end of 32GB, it’s also got one-up on the Sony by supporting micro SD up to 32GB.
Both devices prop up their respective processors with 1GB of RAM storage.
There’s not much between these two as, at the higher end option for the Sony they’re both equal on internal storage, and in either case they’re even on RAM.
However, we prefer the micro SD support the Puccini brings and that closes the deal as far as we’re concerned.

Winner - HTC Puccini

Processor
We’re dealing with a couple of dual core monsters here: Sony’s offering packs a 1GHz ARM Cortex-A9 processor on Nvidia’s turbo-charged Tegra 2 T20 chipset.
Nvidia also provides the S tablets graphical prowess with a ULP Geforce graphics processing unit (GPU).
Against this HTC has brought something a bit special to the table, opting for Qualcomm technology with a 1.5GHz MSM8260 Scorpion backed up by an Adreno 220 GPU.
There’s no question that each of these tablets is a heavy hitter, easily capable of delivering consistently fast performance in pretty much any tablety task you put them to.
However, that extra half a gig of clock speed on the HTC will certainly make a noticeable difference running Android, which benefits significantly from a more heavy handed approach to processing power.
Winner - HTC Puccini

Operating System
Both tablets run on Google’s Android platform and they’re each sensibly using the tablet specific Honeycomb build.
We’re rather fond of Honeycomb, of course there’s always room for improvement but we feel it certainly made Android a more complete and well-rounded system, at least in terms of what we expect at the most basic level of functionality these days.
It ironed out a lot of the kinks present in previous builds and means everything runs much smoother.
The interface has also had a few intuitive tweaks which make things much easier to use – a new app tray, much like the ones provided by third party launchers, makes switching between apps a breeze.
Multi-tasking never gets left out in the cold on Android and it’s as good as its ever been on Honeycomb.
There’s also all the perks from Gingerbread’s enhanced app management suite and system auto-management facilities, so you not only do you have total hands-on control but if your attention is elsewhere you need never worry about system resources getting hogged.
Android’s much-mimicked notifications bar has returned with a bit of a facelift, this time it shows more detailed text information for each alert as well as displaying relevant pictures so you know exactly what it’s talking about.
All in all it’s the best Android build to date and performance is top-notch on dual core processors such as the ones found here.
Winner - Draw

Camera
The Tablet S is fitted with a 5-megapixel primary at 2560х1920 pixels, plus a VGA secondary. Video capture is 720p and video calling is supported.
Features include autofocus, touch focus, image stabilisation and face and smile detection.
With the Puccini you’ve got a much more impressive setup: the primary camera comes in at 8-megapixels and a 3264x2448 pixel resolution while the secondary is also considerably better than its rival at 1.3-megapixels.
Video capture is also higher quality with 1080p capability and like its opponent the Puccini also supports video calls.
The standard autofocus and geo-tagging are on board along with a dual-LED flash.
Clearly HTC’s Puccini tablet is better equipped when it comes to snapping pics on the go.
Winner - HTC Puccini

Final Thoughts
We really like Sony’s Tablet S but it’s very much outclassed by the HTC on paper and actually that’s a situation we’re more than happy with.
We’re glad to see HTC has upped its game from the frankly disappointing HTC Flyer to offer a much more competent piece of hardware this time round.

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Sony P Tablet vs Sony S Tablet

We compare Sony's two new Android 3.2-powered tablets to see which is most worthy of your time

Sony has gleefully skipped carefree into the tablet world with two very individual devices, which are sure to attract attention – the wedge-shaped S tablet and the quirky clamshell P tablet. We take the time to compare the two and see which comes out on top.

Form:
Sony P Tablet - 180x158x14mm, 370g
Sony S Tablet - 241.2x174.3x10.1-20.6mm (tapers), 598g
The first thing which strikes you looking at both these tablets is how interesting and innovative Sony has been with the shapes and designs.

They couldn’t really be any more different, on the one hand you have the P tablet – a clamshell, split-screen device with a very space-age feel. When closed it looks like the world’s most stylish glasses case with its curved outer surfaces and long profile.

Open it up and you’re presented with two neat touchscreens cleanly surrounded by a shiny black border.
It all looks very prestigious and if you didn’t know it was a tablet you’d wonder what on earth it was as it could easily be mistaken for some kind of bespoke controller for a swanky home entertainment system – and we mean that in a nice way. Not in a Peep Show 'megatron' way.

The S tablet is not so extreme, but it’s still determined to be different.
On the surface it looks much more like a conventional tablet with its rectangular shape and sharp corners. However, a closer look reveals some very purposeful design tweaks which help it stand out from the crowd.
For starters, as we mentioned before it is wedge-shaped. Look at it side on and you’ll see it tapers from 20.6mm thick at the top down to a 10.6mm razor edge.

The devil is in the details here and that thicker edge is rounded-off and carries a continuous curve round the back of the device neatly. Plus it’s made of a snazzy carbon-fibre style material giving it a mean look.
We like the thoughtful design of the S tablet but it doesn’t have the same charm and portability of the P tablet, which is still sizeable when unfolded while being lighter and handier all round.
Winner – Sony P Tablet

Storage:
The P tablet has a fixed internal capacity at 4GB but the S tablet is better equipped with options for either 16GB or 32GB. Both use 1GB of RAM to back up processor tasks.
External storage is similar between the two though not identical. Both support an additional 32GB of data via cards but while the P tablet supports micro SD the S tablet uses full sized SD cards, which could be considered something of a faux-pas on Sony's part.

The S tablet has a lot more space to play with, which automatically makes it a more attractive prospect, however we’re not overly keen on the use of the larger SD format cards.

As tablets often make companions for smartphones, being hindered by potentially non-transferable external storage is not the best setup.

Obviously we’d rather have the internal capacity of the S inside the P tablet but 4GB is still not to be sneezed at and we think on balance we’d take the P’s versatility with micro SD over what the S offers.
Winner – Sony P Tablet

Display:
Again both tablets have very different setups here.
The S tablet once again sports a more traditional approach with a single continuous screen – it’s a 9.4-inch TFT capacitive touchscreen at 1280x800 pixels resolution.

Pixel density is a little less impressive at 161 pixels-per-inch (ppi).

The P tablet is up to some crazy stuff but we love it. It’s got a pair of 5.5-inch TFT capacitive touchscreens in a split arrangement, rather like a Nintendo 3DS, with each clocking in at 1024x480 pixels and a decent 206ppi.

Each tablet has the same run-down of display features – multi-touch input, accelerometer and gyro sensors are all included.

With two 5.5-inch screens you’ve got more room to play with and in a handier package to boot.
Not only this but the pixel density is a lot better than on the S tablet. The P tablet gets our vote this round.
Winner – Sony P Tablet

Processor:
Processing power is identical between the devices. Both are equipped with a 1GHz dual core ARM Cortex-A9 processor running Nvidia’s Tegra 2 T20 chipset.
Visuals are whipped into shape by another bit of Nvidia tech in the form of a GeForce graphics processing unit (GPU).
It’s a stalemate here but each is offering an impressive hardware line-up capable of some nifty performance.
Winner - Draw

Operating System:
Yet more similarities in this category with Sony’s duo of Android devices running the tablet-specific Honeycomb build.
Honeycomb is our favourite build of Android, at least until Ice Cream Sandwich arrives.
It resolves pretty much every gripe we’ve had with previous iterations of the system.
A slicker, faster and more intuitive interface makes it easy to get to grips with and, because they run on dual core processors, there’s not a hint of lag or stuttering.

Web browsing was a continual bugbear in previous builds of Android, but here you’ve got all the glory of Javascript plus fast site loading, tabbed functionality and silky scrolling and pinch zoom navigation.
Intensive apps and games are more viable than ever before thanks to newly added OpenGL graphics acceleration and a bespoke Renderscript 3D graphics engine.

Multi-tasking is as deftly handled as ever and now includes a useful apps tray for quick switching between active programs.

The notifications bar has also been improved to include more text and now image information in each alert.
Winner - Draw

Camera:
Guess what? That’s right, identical setups again, but Sony has taken a thorough approach to the device's imaging compartments, which we appreciate.
Both tablets have 5-megapixel primaries at 2560х1920 pixels and VGA secondary cameras.
Video capture in each case is at 720p and there’s also video calling support.

The features run-down includes autofocus, touch focus, geo-tagging, image stabilisation and face and smile detection.
All in all it's good stuff here.
Winner - Draw

Final Thoughts:
We’re really liking Sony’s efforts here and the company has taken a very thoughtful and unique approach to making two tablets which will really standout from the competition.
Both are highly competitive offerings which should easily please most users.

However, we do have a favourite and that is the P tablet. There’s nothing else quite like it and we can clearly see how usable it would be in daily life.

We feel it brilliantly bridges the gap between the larger 10-inch tablets and the smaller 7-inch versions offered by many other manufacturers.

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Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 vs Apple iPad 2

We take a look at two of the hottest tablets on the market, Samsung's Galaxy Tab 7.7 and Apple's trend setting iPad 2

The tablet market is rapidly becoming as diverse and popular as the smartphone one. Manufacturers are beginning to push boundaries with every release, looking to create the ultimate product.
Two tablets that have come pretty close to perfection are Samsung's Galaxy Tab 7.7 and Apple's iPad 2, and we're here to play a little game of tablet top trumps to see which one has the most to offer.

Screen
Apple's iPad 2 comes equipped with a 9.7-inch LED-backlit IPS TFT touchscreen which operates at resolution of 768x1024 pixels and performs brilliantly. Colours are well represented, responsiveness is good and the overall user experience is pleasing.
Unfortunately the iPad 2 doesn't bring the fabled Retina Display to the tablet market. In fact its pixel density, 136ppi, is lower than average, but studies have shown the quality to be A+ regardless.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 boasts - yep, you guessed it - a 7.7-inch Super AMOLED Plus touchscreen that runs at a resolution of 800x1280.

To put it bluntly, the Galaxy Tab 7.7's display is fantastic. Colours are vivid, responsiveness is excellent, blacks are pitch and the pixel density (196ppi) gives the device a great level of detail.
Winner - Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7
 
Power
Both of our competitors are dual core toting tablets, with the Apple iPad 2 offering up a 1GHz ARM Cortex-A9 and the Galaxy Tab 7.7 a 1.4GHz Cortex A9, giving the Galaxy Tab 7.7 a fair bit more punch.
Both devices offer high performance GPU's too, though, the Galaxy Tab 7.7's Mali-400MP again gives it the edge over the iPad 2's PowerVR SGX543MP2.

It's a similar tale when you look at installed memory too, as the Galaxy Tab 7.7 comes with 1GB and the iPad 2 only 512MB of RAM.

The iPad 2 knows how to use what power it has, but we can't see it being a very future proof device. But we think that could be what Apple wants, so mission accomplished.
Winner - Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7

Software
The iPad 2 runs on Apple's iOS platform and it's as pleasing to use on a tablet as it is on the iPhone.
The OS runs quickly, it's simple and looks great, plus you get access to the Apple App Store which is where the iPad 2 really comes into its own, as you get access to hundreds of thousands of quality apps, not to mention tons designed solely for the iPad.

Samsung's Galaxy Tab 7.7 runs on version 3.2 (Honeycomb) of Google's Android platform, which has been designed with tablets firmly in mind.
As well as plenty of new speed and security enhancements, you're treated to re-designed core apps and a vast array of UI improvements.

Some of those UI tweaks won't be visible at first glance though, because the Galaxy Tab 7.7 comes with Samsung's TouchWiz UX UI - a custom overlay designed to allow the user to get the most out of the tablet.
TouchWiz UX brings new widgets, icons, social networking integration and a whole lot more to-boot, but even with all this third-part finery has been added it still doesn't feel as slick and smooth as the iPad 2.

Winner - Apple iPad 2

Camera
The Galaxy Tab 7.7 comes with a primary 3.15-megapixel camera with LED flash, autofocus and geo-tagging, as well as 720p video capture. The device also offers a 2-megapixel secondary camera.
Apple's iPad 2 is similarly underwhelming in the camera stakes, with a 0.7-megapixel primary offering that captures video at 720p and a paltry VGA secondary for FaceTime duty.
Neither of these devices are going to set tongues wagging based on their photographic capability, but the Galaxy Tab 7.7 is the least disappointing so it takes this round by default.
Winner - Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7

Form and build
The Galaxy Tab 7.7 measures 196.7x133x7.9mm and weighs-in at a respectable 335g, making it a sure-fire hit with those that cart their tablet everywhere with them.
It's constructed largely of plastics with a smattering of metal thrown-in to give it a lightweight yet premium feel.

The iPad 2 measures 241.2x185.7x8.8mm and tips the scale at a comparatively obese 607g, which isn't quite as bad as it sounds, but still a way behind the compact and bijou Galaxy Tab 7.7.
As with all Apple products, the iPad 2 has a neat, premium feel to it and the materials used in construction are top-tier.

One area where the iPad 2 pips the Galaxy Tab 7.7 is battery life, with the iPad 2 offering up to 10 hours of usage thanks to the built-in 6930mAh cell. The Galaxy Tab 7.7 only comes with a 5100mAh battery, so you can expect a bit less. However, only our review will reveal whether that's actually the case.
Winner - Apple iPad 2

Verdict
Samsung's Galaxy Tab 7.7 has taken-on the mighty iPad 2 and beaten it, with a respectable score of 3-2.
If you're after a small, high performance tablet then the Galaxy Tab 7.7 must make your shortlist. It's a wonderful gadget that looks to excel in nearly every area, though it could have done with a better snapper.
The iPad 2 is still, despite its loss, a fantastic tablet and let's not forget it's the follow-up to the device, which re-ignited the tablet trend, makes it something akin to tablet royalty.

The apps on offer are great and the user experience is second-to-none, and they are arguably the most important thing with any device, so you'd be hard pushed to find a better tablet if you're looking to one-up the iPad 2 there.
Overall there can only be one winner though, and the Galaxy Tab 7.7 is a worthy one!

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LG Optimus 3D vs HTC Evo 3D: Which has the better 3D camera?

Your local cinema has 3D, it’s invaded the home, and now it is going for your mobile phone. Both LG and HTC have 3D-ready smartphones on the market: the LG Optimus 3D and the HTC Evo 3D.
They both profess to offer you the ability to capture 3D images and video on the go, and more importantly, both let you play them on the handset without having to wear silly glasses.
So if you’re a fan of 3D, which should you go for when it comes to capture and playback? We decided to put the two together to find out.

The HTC EVO 3D

The HTC EVO 3D comes with a 4.3-inch screen, runs Android with the HTC Sense UI over the top and is powered by a 1.2GHz dual-core MSM8660 Snapdragon processor with 1GB RAM. On the camera front it has dual-5-megapixel rear cameras and a 1.3-megapixel one on the front. It records in 720p resolution for both 2D and 3D.

On the connectivity front, it's 3- or 4G-enabled (depending on where you are in the world), Wi-Fi, DLNA, HDMI, and Bluetooth 3.0.

The LG Optimus 3D

The Optimus 3D also sports a 4.3-inch screen, runs Android with LG's custom skin on the top and is powered by a 1GHz dual-core TI OMAP4430 processor with 512MB RAM. On the camera front it has dual-5-megapixel cameras at the rear and a 0.3-megapixel camera on the front. It records in 1080p (2D) and 720p (3D).

Connectivity wise it has 3G, Wi-Fi, DLNA, HDMI, and Bluetooth 3.0. Beating the HTC EVO 3D it has 8GB of onboard storage.

Testing the 3D cameras

To test the two cameras we took them to the Earls Barton Steam Rally in Northamptonshire, to see what it would be like using them in the field. We'd take a series of photos and video and then enjoy them in the field (literally) as well as back home on an LG LX9900 3D television via the USB-out socket both of them sport.
We haven’t benchmarked them, taken pictures in a controlled environments, or subjected them to the same test after test, because that’s not how you use your phone or your phone's camera in everyday life. This is how they perform in the real world.

Test 1: Using 3D on the go 

With both phones, accessing the 3D camera is very simple. HTC has gone for a hard sliding switch, while LG has picked a hard button. Both are clearly marked, however; HTC’s approach of a 2D/3D switch is clearer in allowing you to see what mode you are in at a glance, even though in reality just looking at the screen is going to tell you.

In addition to pressing the hard 3D button to launch the 3D services, LG has opted for that button to either let you switch from 3D to 2D in the camera mode or via a further software button in the camera app that you can toggle on and off quickly and easily.

Test 2: 3D glasses-free viewing

Before we get to the capture elements, it’s worth covering the screen. After all, that’s what you're going to be viewing your content on, on the go. Both come with a very glossy 4.3-inch display each of which we struggled to view in bright sunlight - especially when in 3D mode.

According to the spec sheets, the HTC screen sports a higher resolution; however, in practice we found that the LG screen, when it came to 3D playback, offered a more rich colour experience. The whites are more yellow compared to the HTC’s bluer tones.

Additionally the LG Optimus 3D has a wider sweet spot that means we found there was greater room for moving your head while watching your captured 3D without losing the effect. That’s something that wasn’t as easy on the HTC Evo 3D.

Interestingly, in 2D, the HTC Evo 3D screen resolution and quality is noticeably sharper and crisper.

Test 3: 3D camera stills performance

Again, the quality of the shot varied massively depending on the photograph. Clean portraits with little in the background proved best on both handsets with the EVO 3D giving a more natural look to the LG's rich colours. Think creams compared to blue whites.

Which one you prefer will depend on whether you like cold or warm photos because, while you can change both to suit your needs (white balance etc), you'll have to bury yourself in the settings panels to do so.

Test shot from the HTC EVO 3D turned into a animated GIF using 3D Porch

Test shot from the LG Optimus 3D turned into a animated GIF using 3D Porch

When it comes to settings, the LG Optimus 3D also has more "3D" options. You can change the focus of the 3D from Border to Centre as well as tinker with the strength of the 3D effect to get the best results.
The HTC Evo 3D settings don't offer any of this. However, it does let you decide from the start which 3D file format you want to save in; .jps or .mpo.

While, on the surface, you'll think that it makes no difference whatsoever, it's the one frustration we did have with the LG Optimus 3D. It doesn't give you the option to choose which file format to save on the first save, opting to save its 3D stills in the .jps file format rather than .mpo.

What does that mean? Well when it came to viewing the images on our 3D TV we weren't able to see the ones taken on the Optimus because our LG TV, strangely, couldn't see that format. Bonkers, we know. The only way we could get it to work was via an HDMI cable as even DLNA between the two didn't work either.

That's likely to be a shame for those keen to share their images on the big screen quickly. With a bit of fiddling - like saving the files to the .mpo format on your phone or your computer within the gallery - you'll get around the problem, but it's annoying that you can't just change the file format and save settings like you can with the HTC EVO 3D at the start. Very silly.

Test 4: 3D video performance

The results of the EVO 3D on a 47-inch television are very much like the results we witnessed on the back of the phones 4.3-inch screen. The recording was cooler in colour than the LG Optimus 3D, and while that gave us a more natural, honest look, we have to say that we preferred the richer tones and colour of the LG 3D smartphone.

Aside from that, though, the quality of both was good. However, both showed plenty of ghosting to the image. This could be, and we suspect it is, down to what and how we filmed. The scene was crowded with plenty of people walking about and, apart from a fence post in the foreground designed to hopefully give a better sense of 3D to the overall footage, we didn't really give the rest of the framing much thought.

That means that the crowd of people standing by the tent is a bit cluttered and certainly for us doesn't work that well in 3D. That said, what does work are the big steam engines slowly rolling past.

On the sound front both phones coped well on what was basically a fairly noisy, windy, wet day, but you'll need some 3D kit if you're hoping to appreciate our test videos.

Test video of the HTC EVO 3D

Test video of the HTC EVO 3D

Test 4: 3D extras

Aside from the capturing of 3D images, the LG Optimus 3D also comes with a greater emphasis on 3D than the Evo. There is a dedicated 3D menu system designed to highlight the 3D content. There are three 3D games from Gamesloft bundled in for free, direct links to YouTube’s 3D video area and even a 3D book - Gulliver’s Travels. Even the Android applications menu has been changed to show the 3D elements the phone has to offer. HTC’s approach is you get a 3D camera and that’s it.

Conclusion

From a quality perspective, we have to say that we prefer the LG Optimus 3D. The colours are richer and the viewing experience on the phone is better and wider. What lets the Optimus down, however, is the inability to save as a .mpo file from the beginning. While this won't affect your playback onscreen on the phone itself, it did mean that sharing the results with a TV, an LG TV even, was harder than with the HTC Evo 3D.
We also preferred the additional 3D content that LG has provided here, making you really feel like you've actually bought a 3D device. The HTC Evo 3D outside of the camera is just a standard, if not very nice, Android smartphone.

It's worth pointing out while the LG Optimus device was superior at 3D the Evo 3D's 2D screen is better. So, which should you buy as a better 3D phone? The LG Optimus 3D, hands down.
          

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Acer W4 vs Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S

We compare the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S with a rumoured Windows Phone 7 Mango known as the Acer W4

As we near the release of Windows Phone 7's Mango update, interest in the platform is rightfully increasing. Many people are keen to see exactly what the operating system has matured into and one device which looks set to show-off the update's capabilities is Acer's Mango powered Acer W4.
In the interest of impartiality we've chosen to pitch the Acer W4 against a little Android competition in the shape of Sony Ericsson's up and coming Xperia Arc S – a device that is looking to build on the solid reputation of its predecessor.
We're operating within the confines of speculation again this week, folks, so do remember that what we're discussing isn't the finished, or even confirmed, article.

Power
If the rumours circulating can be trusted we can expect the Acer W4 to launch with a 1GHz Qualcomm CPU and at least 512MB RAM which, although sufficient for most tasks, isn't going to set the world alight in a market that is anxiously awaiting its first quad-core powered smartphones.
The Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S has a little bit more muscle though, with a 1.4GHz Scorpion CPU, Adreno 205 GPU and 512MB RAM, giving it victory in this opening round.
Winner - Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S

Display
Acer's W4 looks set to include a 3.6-inch WVGA  touchscreen, which will operate at a resolution of 480 x 800 and offer a fairly impressive pixel density of 259ppi.
Sony Ericsson's Xperia Arc S features a 4.2-inch LED-backlit LCD screen that operates at a resolution of 480 x 854 and offers a pixel density of 233ppi, making it a decent choice for those that enjoy watching movies or TV shows on their device.
There's plenty to be said for high quality, smaller screens though and we think people will appreciate the Acer W4 irrespective of it lacking a few millimetres in the screen department.

Winner - Draw

Camera
The Xperia Arc S offers an 8-megapixel primary camera with auto-focus, LED flash, face & smile detection, 3D sweep panorama and Geo-tagging, making it a pretty well rounded package for those that snap a lot of photos on the go.
The device will also feature a secondary, front-facing camera, though we aren't sure what size yet.
The Acer W4 looks set to be outfitted with the bare minimum required of Windows Phone 7 devices, which, of course, is a 5-megapixel sensor with autofocus and LED flash.
There's no word yet on what other camera functionality the device will have, or whether it will feature a secondary video-call camera.
Winner - Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S

Operating System
Sony Ericsson's Xperia Arc S will ship with version 2.3.4 of Google's Android OS, otherwise known as Gingerbread – a pretty well rounded, stable and secure release of the software.
Users can also expect to find Sony Ericsson's own TimeScape UI included too, which brings custom widgets, apps and social networking integration along with a neat timeline driven user interface.

Acer's W4 will launch with the newest iteration of Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 platform, which brings a lot of new features to the platform, such as a new unified inbox for all communications, new and improved multi-tasking and Internet Explorer 9.
Naturally both platforms offer tons of apps and games for download, but Windows Phone 7 has a way to go before it catches up with Android in this respect, giving the Xperia Arc S the edge.
Winner - Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S

Form & Build
There's no word on dimensions for the Acer W4 yet, but we're expecting a device that doesn't deviate terribly from the path set by previous Windows Phone 7 devices.
In terms of materials we're expecting lightweight plastics and a decent build quality, but again it doesn't look anything special.
The Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S measures up at 125 x 63 x 8.7 mm and weighs a modest 117g, making it a fairly pocket-friendly smartphone.
We hope Sony Ericsson has put a little bit more effort into the build quality of the Arc S though, as its predecessor exuded a pound-shop feel which belied the device's underlying quality.
Winner - Draw
And there you have it. A pretty resounding victory for the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S.
The device looks to be a solid addition to the Xperia stable, and a decent upgrade on the previous device. The improved power on offer will make the lag that afflicted the original Arc a thing of the past.
Thankfully the specs for the Acer W4 aren't written in stone. We might see a device that has been nipped, tweaked and updated by the time it reaches market, and we hope that this is the case.
As it stands though, the Acer W4 is a device that looks dated by today's standards and has little of note under the bonnet.
Unless Acer is planning to price the device very aggressively we can't see it making much of a splash.

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