Motorola Razr vs HTC Sensation XL

We're comparing Motorola's new Razr with HTC's Sensation XL this time around, but which of these super-smart Android's will come out on top?

The newest device to drop from Motorola is the Razr – a slim, smart Android-powered phone that firmly has the iPhone 4S in its sights.
But rather than worrying about the newest Apple handset, we wanted to see how the Razr stacked up against some tough Android competition. And they don't come much tougher than HTC's Sensation XL.
Will Motorola's next-gen Razr have what it takes to stand-up to HTC's brutish device? Let's find out.

Power
Motorola's Razr is powered by a Ti-OMAP 4430 chipset consisting of a 1.2GHz dual-core CPU and PowerVR SGX540 GPU and augmented by 1GB RAM.
The running gear on the device performs well, and you'll be hard pressed to tax it to the limit of its capability. We're pleased to see 1GB RAM installed too as it should allow the Razr to age a little more gracefully than some of its peers.
The HTC Sensation XL runs on a single-core Scorpion processor from Qualcomm, clocked to 1.5GHz, and also boasts an Adreno 205 GPU.
With its single-core CPU, the Sensation XL is definitely lacking in comparison to the Razr, but the device can still crunch data with the best of them and will run fast enough for even the most discerning tech-freak.
One concern with the Sensation XL is that the RAM hasn't been upped. It still has the same 768MB as the original Sensation, and while it isn't a massive problem, it does degrade the device's appeal and potential lastability.
Winner - Motorola Razr
Display
HTC's Sensation XL features a 4.7-inch Super LCD screen that operates at a resolution of 480x800 and offers up a pixel density of 199PPI.
Performance is solid enough from the display. It responds well and its colour reproduction is good, but it never rises beyond that.
The Motorola Razr, however, features a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED screen that operates at a resolution of 540x960 and comes in with a much more respectable 256PPI pixel density.
The Super AMOLED is, without wanting to be too blunt, vastly superior to the S-LCD on offer in the Sensation XL.
Colours are much more real, blacks are deep, and the display also draws less power. It also benefits from a Gorilla Glass fronting, to keep it safe from scratches and scrapes.
Winner - Motorola Razr

Software
Both of these devices run on version 2.3 of Android (Gingerbread) and are all the better for it.
Obviously you'll have access to the hundreds of thousands of applications, games and customisations available in the Android Market too.
The dividing factor here is the device's custom UI, with HTC's Sensation XL offering up the tried, tested and loved Sense UI and the Razr weighing-in with its own (though we haven't been given a catchy name for it yet).
Sense UI is a good-looking, powerful addition to the Android platform and offers the user custom-widgets, social networking features and other selected apps and tweaks.
It adds a much needed layer of aesthetic quality to the Google platform and, in our book at least, is still the benchmark custom user interface in the market.
The newly designed UI that features on the Razr is nice too though, with custom widgets, unlock screen and other tweaks you'll definitely feel like you're using a cutting edge device and the addition of features like MotoCast, for streaming media, is a real boon.
Winner - HTC Sensation XL

Form

Motorola Razr - 130.7 x 68.9 x 7.1 mm, 127g
HTC Sensation XL - 132.5 x 70.7 x 9.9 mm, 162.5g

Overall the Sensation XL's vital statistics are good (even without the Cosmopolitan-style half measures). The device is thin, well-built and manages to carry off its large, lustrous screen with aplomb.

The Motorola Razr is similarly fortunate.

The device feels very solid in the hand and, uniquely for such a thin smartphone, has a nice balance when in use.

The aforementioned thinness is odd and worrying at first though, and for the more clumsy among us it may remain so but if you're careful it's a nice feature.

One thing we weren't so keen on was the profile of the Razr. When viewed in profile the device gives off the illusion of a painfully thin person wearing a crash helmet.

Materials on both devices are pleasing, with shades of metal and plastic woven together to create a premium feel (successfully on both counts).

Winner - Draw

Camera

8-megapixel sensors are the order of the day with these two competitors.

The Razr features auto-focus, LED flash, touch-focus, geo-tagging, face detection, image stabilisation and 1080P video capture.

The Sensation XL chips-in with auto-focus, dual-LED flash, geo-tagging and 720P capture.

Both devices feature near identical 1.3-megapixel secondary cameras too, for all your video conferencing needs, and both perform as you would hope.

The Motorola Razr's imagining, despite the high pixel count, is decidely noisey. The XL's on the otherhand was dramatically clearer and thus gets our vote in this aspect of the comparison, despite not being able to shoot 1080p video.

Winner - Sensation XL

It's a win for the new boy!

Motorola's Razr has snatched victory from HTC's big-screened gem, and with real voracity!

If you're in the market for a new Android device make sure you certainly look long and hard at the Motorola Razr, which looks, feels and performs well enough to be held-up against the Galaxy Nexus and Apple's iPhone 4S.

HTC's Sensation XL is, for its defeat today, still a nice smartphone. But it seems to be beleaguered by its averageness.

Come on, HTC! Let's have a device that goes above and beyond, rather than staying within sensible boundaries and parameters!

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HTC Sensation XE v/s Nokia Lumia 800

Choosing between the Nokia Lumia 800 and HTC Sensation XE for your business is far from easy. Both are stunning smartphones, so let’s see how they compare.

The HTC Sensation XE is one of the Taiwanese brand’s latest powerful smartphones, built for pretty much any task – whether it be work or pleasure. The Nokia Lumia 800 is the phone Nokia that hopes will set a new standard in Nokia phones. And, it’s one of Nokia’s fastest yet. But can it cut it in the corporate world? Here’s a side-by-side look at both handsets.

HTC Sensation XE v Nokia Lumia 800: power
For getting things done, both the HTC Sensation XE and Nokia Lumia 800 are worth considering. The HTC Sensation XE sports a very quick 1.5GHz processor. This means that apps, documents and spreadsheets load quickly so that you spend less time waiting around, and more time doing the things that are most important. The Nokia Lumia 800 is just as capable. It has a 1.4GHz processor. Technically that makes it the slower of the pair, but most users will barely notice any difference between the two.

HTC Sensation XE v Nokia Lumia 800: screen
Screen size and quality is pretty important when it comes to using a phone for business. It’s likely you’ll spend a lot of time looking at it, so any screen will need to be large enough, and of high quality. Both the HTC Sensation XE and Nokia Lumia 800’s screens tick all the boxes when it comes to quality. But for that extra bit of screen real estate, the HTC Sensation XE is superior for working on. Its 4.3-inch screen (compared with the 3.7-inches of the Nokia Lumia 800) is great for viewing spreadsheets without having to strain for a closer look.

HTC Sensation XE v Nokia Lumia 800: memory
You’re going to need a healthy amount of storage to get the most out of your handset. Out of the box the Nokia Lumia 800 looks the more attractive proposition. Its 16GB mass memory appears to dwarf the 4GB of the HTC Sensation XE. However, the Lumia 800’s absence of any micro-SD card slot means 16GB is the limit of its storage. The HTC Sensation on the other hand can be upgraded via microSD card to house 32GB of storage – twice that of the Nokia Lumia 800.

HTC Sensation XE v Nokia Lumia 800: camera
Both The HTC Sensation XE and Nokia Lumia 800 carry reputable 8-megapixel cameras. The downside to the Nokia Lumia 800 is that it does not feature a front-facing camera – so video conferencing is out of the question. But if video calls don’t matter to you, the Nokia Lumia 800, with its Carl Zeiss lens, takes the better photos.

HTC Sensation XE v Nokia Lumia 800: operating system
It’s the Android 2.3.4 (Gingerbread) operating system of the HTC Explorer XE versus the Windows 7.5 Mango system of the Nokia Lumia 800. Deciding upon a leader here is tricky. Android has been a mainstay of some of the very best smartphones in recent years. Both Android and Mango are slick, and easy to operate, and both have features and applications that let you work on the move and the ability to sync your calendar for meetings and planning ahead. The Nokia Lumia 800 has Microsoft Office, while the HTC Sensation XE gets Google Docs. Business features-wise, both are on a level playing field. Though it must be said, Windows 7.5 Mango is the more visually appealing operating system.

HTC Sensation XE v Nokia Lumia 800: dimensions
The HTC Explorer XE features a bigger screen, but this comes at the expense of portability, so it will take up more space in your pocket – bigger than the Nokia Lumia 800 in height, width and thickness. It is also the heavier phone – weighing 151 grams compared with the Nokia Lumia 800’s 142 grams.

HTC Sensation XE v Nokia Lumia 800: the winner
Overall, it is difficult to separate the two handsets on business use alone. Both are well powered and fully featured smartphones. However, the HTC Sensation XE comes out on top in nearly every category, besides size. If not being able to fit your phone in your top pocket doesn’t matter to you, the HTC Sensation XE is almost certainly the business phone for you.

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Samsung Galaxy Nexus vs Samsung Galaxy S3 [rumours]

This time around we're comparing the latest and greatest Android device, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, with the rumoured Samsung Galaxy S3, but which of these dual-core monsters will come out on top?

The latest Google-centric device to hit the market is Samsung's Galaxy Nexus, a smartphone which aims to bring together the finest parts of Android, and connect them with cutting edge hardware and build quality.
But how well will this new device fare against what's just around the corner? In an effort to find out we've taken it upon ourselves to compare the Galaxy Nexus with a device that's going to be a sure-fire hit when it's released next year, the Samsung Galaxy S3.
So, will the vanilla Google-toting Galaxy Nexus be the order of the day, or will it be the Samsung Touchwiz-based Galaxy S3?
Before we find out we should stress that here at Know Your Mobile we aren't psychic, and as such we're working from the leaked spec of the Samsung Galaxy S3, meaning that things can, and most likely will change before the device arrives.

PowerSamsung has never been a company to scrimp when it comes to horsepower and thankfully neither of these devices show any sign of bucking that trend.
The Galaxy Nexus runs on a Ti-OMAP 4460 chipset, consisting of a dual-core 1.2GHz Cortex-A9 CPU and a PowerVR SGX540 GPU, which should cope with everything you can throw at it, even if it is a little on the old side.
As you'd expect the Galaxy Nexus comes with 1GB RAM installed, making multi-tasking, switching between apps and general use very spry indeed.
If rumour is to be believed the Galaxy S3 will launch with a Samsung Exynos 4212 chipset that features a dual-core CPU clocked to a massive 1.8GHz. The chipset will also feature a Mali GPU that, quite frankly, makes the PowerVR SGX540 of the Galaxy Nexus appear antiquated.
On top of this top-notch running gear you get 2GB RAM, so not only will the Galaxy S3 run like a whippet with the trots, but it will be at the cutting edge for quite some time, which is something of a rarity in technology.
Both devices come in 16/32GB flavours and support MicroSD cards up to 32GB.
Winner - Samsung Galaxy S3

CameraThe Galaxy S3 is rumoured to feature a 12-megapixel primary camera with autofocus, LED flash, geo-tagging, touch-focus, face and smile detection, image stabilisation and 1080P video capture, and the device will apparently also feature the same 2-megapixel secondary camera as its predecessor the Galaxy S2.
The Galaxy Nexus however, ships with a fairly pedestrian 5-megapixel camera, but a few software tweaks allow the snapper to work surprisingly well.
The camera features autofocus, LED flash, touch-focus, geo-tagging and face detection, as well as 1080P video capture and also, according to Google, has no shutter lag, so what you see is what you snap.
In addition to this the Galaxy Nexus features a 1.3-megapixel secondary camera.
The software tweaks on offer in the Galaxy Nexus are nice but we would have liked to see an upgraded sensor on the device really.
Winner - Samsung Galaxy S3

FormSamsung Galaxy Nexus - 135.5 x 67.9 x 8.9 mm, 135g
Samsung Galaxy S3 - TBC
The Galaxy Nexus continues Samsung's ongoing relationship with the painfully thin, which has both pro and con points.
Needless to say the biggest con is that your device may end up banana shaped if you pop it in your back pocket and sit down without thinking. Other than that its skinniness is a nice feature.
The Galaxy Nexus is a nicely designed and built device though, and the rounded off edges and newly designed back-plate offer a solid hand-hold, which is most welcome as it isn't the narrowest smartphone on the market.
As with the rest of the Galaxy range it's crafted almost entirely from plastics, which is a point that is likely to split opinion. Some like it lightweight, others like to be able to feel some of their hard earned pounds and pence when they handle their device.
The Galaxy S3 is a bit of a mystery in terms of measurements. What we can say with some certainty is that it will be crafted from plastics, as with the rest of its kith and kin, and will be thinner than the Galaxy S2, which at 8.55mm is saying something.
Early indications are that Samsung has rounded off the edges of the chassis and made the form a bit more tasteful too, but time will tell.
Winner - Draw

SoftwareArguably the biggest selling point for the Galaxy Nexus is its operating system, notably the version.

It runs on a stock Android 4.0, otherwise known as Ice Cream Sandwich, and this iteration of the OS is a huge leap forward in terms of design, features and maturity.

With overhauled core apps, a nice new UI and tons of new features, including Face Unlock, a newly designed stock font called 'Roboto', in-app spell checking, native screenshot capture, folders and a super-neat new data management tool!

As well as these new bits and pieces you also get access to the thousands of apps in the Android Market, limitless customisation potential and a platform that is fast becoming the most popular smartphone OS in the world.

Another of Ice Cream Sandwich's selling points is that the UI is set in stone, meaning what Google says, goes. No more will you have to wait for your manufacturer to get its grubby mitts on the software and add eye-candy to it before rolling it out to you.

No, from here on in when the updates roll off Google's production line, they come to you.

With this in mind we assume the Galaxy S3 will also feature this fast, smooth, untarnished version of Android too! Which kind of makes this round moot.

Winner - Draw

DisplaySamsung knows how to make mobile displays, and both the Galaxy Nexus and rumoured Galaxy S3 are very well appointed when it comes to screen technology.

The Galaxy Nexus features a 4.65-inch Super AMOLED display that operates at a resolution of 720 x 1280 and boasts a pixel density of 316PPI, which is as close to 'Retina Display' standard as you're going to get without buying an Apple device.

Thanks to this quality screen the visuals on the Galaxy Nexus are stunning. Colours are rich, blacks are deep and your media will look stunning - and that's a promise.

The Galaxy S3 apparently features a 4.6-inch Super AMOLED Plus display too, though if the leaked specification is to be believed it offers up a slightly higher pixel density of 319PPI and a Gorilla Glass fronting to try and woo you..

Whatever the final spec we can say quite comfortably that the display will be good. We have faith in Samsung.

Winner - Draw

So Samsung's Galaxy S3 has come out on top in this little head-to-head. With more power, a beefier camera and other great features helping it to victory, but the Galaxy Nexus didn't do too badly considering it's available now.

Overall the Galaxy Nexus is a decent device boasting some interesting hardware and software based enhancements, but the changes made to Android strategy seem to have limited the device's appeal before it's even got its feet off the ground.

Better, faster and more able devices will be out soon, and they will share the main source of the Galaxy Nexus' appeal. So don't make any hasty decisions.

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Samsung Galaxy S3 vs Apple iPhone 4S

We're dealing with rumour and hyperbole this time around, as we compare Apple's newly released iPhone 4S with Samsung's Galaxy S3, courtesy of a juicy product leak

Most people are still arranging their upgrades to Apple's new iPhone 4S, but we're already concerning ourselves with what comes next. In this case it's the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S3.
We've recently got our hands on its intended specification via an internet leak. So in this face-off we'll be playing the 'suspected' Galaxy S3 specs off against the iPhone 4S.
How will this new Android powered device measure up to the sweetheart of the smartphone world? Well, let's delve into its  alleged specifications and find out.
It's worth remembering that at this stage in the game this is speculation, and there will no doubt be some changes before the final device hits the shops. But let's forget that and indulge ourselves!


Power
Apple's iPhone 4S packs a decent punch thanks to its dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 chip and PowerVR SGX543MP2 GPU, and as the first dual-core toting Apple smartphone to come to market you can enjoy solid, speedy performance throughout.
The device is equipped with 512MB RAM too, which provides a nice snap to proceedings and allows apps to open in a flash thanks to Apple's meticulous optimisations.
The iPhone 4S comes in 16, 32 and 64GB flavours.
The Galaxy S3 allegedly runs on Samsung's own Exynos 4212 chipset, which includes a huge 1.8GHz dual-core CPU and 2GB RAM (yes, you read that right!), which will have the device whizzing along at a rate previously reserved for laptops and top-end tablets.
In addition to its super powerful CPU, the Galaxy S3 will apparently come in 16 and 32GB flavours with additional support for Micro SD cards up to 32GB in size.
Winner - Samsung Galaxy S3
Display
The Galaxy S3 features a stellar Super AMOLED Plus HD display and rumour has it that it will be 4.6-inches in size and come with the usual array of accoutrements, including Gorilla Glass fronting.
The rumoured pixel density for the Galaxy S3 is 319PPI – only a gnats shy of the iPhone 4S – and if this is correct it will be the most advanced Android device around.
The iPhone 4S features Apple's famed Retina Display technology in the form of a 3.5-inch LED backlit IPS TFT screen, which weighs-in with a pixel density of 330PPI.
Visuals on the iPhone 4S are stunning and it's by far the best mobile display around – at the moment. How it stacks up against the Galaxy S3's Super AMOLED Plus HD in the real world may be cause for a changing of the guard though.
Winner - Apple iPhone 4S

Form
Apple iPhone 4S - 115.2 x 58.6 x 9.3 mm, 140G
Samsung Galaxy S3 - ?
Judging this category is going to be tough as no information has been leaked regarding the Galaxy S3's form and measurements – but we can let our imaginations run for a moment, right? No harm in that.
The iPhone 4S is a sleek, slim device which is constructed out of top quality materials. Design tweaks have all but eradicated 'death grip' concerns and, say what you like about Apple, it knows how to design a good looking piece of tech.
The 4S looks and feels like a finished article whereas in many areas the iPhone 4 did not. The antenna fix for one, then there's Siri and all that new hardware – dual-core CPU, 8-megapixel camera etc.
The Galaxy S3 will likely follow in the footsteps of its brother, the Galaxy S2, and be a big-screened, super skinny device.
We expect it to measure less than its stable-mate's 8.5mm thickness and be crafted from the same blend of plastics that let us down with the S2 as well.
In other areas it seems as though Samsung has chosen to refine things, giving the Galaxy S3 more sweeping edges, rather than the boxy shape its predecessor's boasted.

Related articles

• Samsung and Android continue their bullish run (goandroid.co.in)
• HTC Vivid and Raider Review (tech-gadget.co.in)
• Samsung Galaxy Nexus vs Samsung Galaxy Note (goandroid.co.in)
• Motorola Razr vs Apple iPhone 4S (goandroid.co.in)

Camera

Both devices in this comparison feature primary and secondary cameras.

The iPhone 4S features a very pleasing 8-megapixel primary, which benefits from auto-focus, LED flash, touch-focus, geo-tagging and face detection, and captures video at 1080P.

Its secondary camera is a VGA.

The Samsung Galaxy S3 is rumoured to feature a 12-megapixel primary camera with dual LED flash, geo-tagging, touch focus, face & smile detection and image stabilisation and will capture movies in 1080P too.

It's secondary camera is expected to be the same as the Galaxy S2's 2-megapixel offering.

The jury will stay out on this round until the Galaxy S3 hits our desk, ready for testing. In terms of specification it should best the iPhone 4S, but knowing how well the Apple performs we'll leave that proclamation until we're 100% sure.

Winner - Draw

Software

The iPhone 4S runs on version 5 of Apple's iOS operating system and it's the best iteration of the platform to date.

Its upgrades include a new Notification Centre (which is vaguely reminiscent of Android's own pull-down blind system), iMessage, a new, BBM inspired messaging solution, Newsstand, for keeping up-to-date with all your periodicals and native Twitter integration.

On top of the tweaks you'll still have the very best software QWERTY on the planet, access to the hundreds of thousands of apps available in the Apple App Store and the usual silky, seamless performance that we've come to expect of Apple.

The Galaxy S3 will apparently run on version 4.0 of Android, otherwise known as Ice Cream Sandwich, and the OS has undergone a bit of a face-lift in this iteration.

New features include a whole new visage, a new standard font throughout, giving the platform a much more mature and professional look, in-app spell checking, newly designed core applications, a neat folder system vaguely reminiscent of Apple's iOS system and Face Unlock, which should allow you and only you access to your device (the 'should' is italicised because it didn't quite work like that during Google's grand reveal).

Overall Ice Cream Sandwich looks set to be the most complete version of Android to date. With no more custom overlays delaying updates, and custom UI's draining resources away from the core functionality of the system. 

It will have to be good though, because as it stands iOS 5 is the best mobile platform on the market.

Winner - Apple iPhone 4S

Apple's iPhone 4S has given a good account of itself against its competitor from the future.

Even when held up against a smartphone that is months away from completion the device still looks complete and we can't see many devices having the nous to challenge its superiority until the Galaxy S3 arrives next year.

The aforementioned Galaxy S3 certainly looks to be a powerful and interesting Android device though, and with a few tweaks it could nick the top spot from Apple's baby.

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Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 vs Samsung Galaxy Note

We pit Samsung's new 5.3-inch Galaxy Note smartphone against it's larger cousin, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7


Form
The Galaxy Tab has two faces really, on the screen side you’ve got a stylish shiny black bezel which is evenly spaced round the whole display for a very clean look.
Turn the device over and you’re presented with a much more raw looking surface of brushed silver-coloured aluminium.
Either way you flip it there’s not a lot of noise or disruption going on, Samsung has kept visual clutter to a minimum and the shape is appealing to the eye as its corners are neither too soft nor too angular.
The Galaxy Note immediately looks good thanks to a super thin bezel along two of its edges – a design feature which in our view makes for instant visual flair when applied to any gadget with a screen.
The back panel is particularly nice thanks to a slight curvature and a textured surface, apart from this just like the rest of Samsung’s designs it is quite minimalist, which is a look that works well here.
We think both devices look equally good.
Winner - Draw

DisplayBoth devices feature Samsung’s own Super AMOLED technology for their displays, although it should be noted the Galaxy Tab 7.7 uses the upgraded Super AMOLED Plus version while the Galaxy Note is on the brand new Super AMOLED HD variant.
The Galaxy Tab 7.7 has a cunning clue in its name regarding the size of its capacitive touchscreen, with a 7.7-inch display and an 800x1280 pixel resolution, the Galaxy Tab sports a pixel density of 196 pixels-per-inch (ppi).
It’s loaded with Samsung’s TouchWiz UX user interface (UI), supports multi-touch and is fitted with an accelerometer and gyro sensor for screen rotation.
Samsung’s rather large smartphone, the Galaxy Note, has a slightly smaller capacitive touchscreen at 5.3-inches, made from Gorilla Glass and with multi-touch support.
A modified TouchWiz 4.0 UI is pre-installed and allows for things like split screen menus and app screens, as well as supporting the innovative S Pen stylus included with the device.
It also has accelerometer and gyro sensors built in.
Screen resolution is the same as the larger Galaxy Tab 7.7, but the smaller size means a higher pixel density of 285ppi.
The Galaxy Note’s display is our first choice here thanks to the unique S Pen stylus support and interface tweaks which really make the best use of the vast screen space.
Not only that, but it also has a much higher pixel density and the added bonus of superior Super AMOLED HD.
Winner – Samsung Galaxy Note

StorageSamsung’s 7.7-inch tablet has three internal storage options for 16GB, 32GB and 64GB of space, each with 1GB of RAM and microSD support up to 32GB.
The Galaxy Note is similar, the only difference is it doesn’t have that top-end 64GB onboard storage option.
The Galaxy Tab 7.7 wins this round by having more storage to play with.
Winner – Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7

Processor
Processor setups on these devices are identical – each has a 1.4GHz dual core ARM Cortex A9 processor on the Exynos chipset and running a Mali-400MP graphics processing unit (GPU).

Winner - Draw

Operating System
These are both Android devices, the Samsung Galaxy Note runs Gingerbread 2.3 while the larger Galaxy Tab 7.7 uses the tablet-specific 3.2 Honeycomb build.

Gingerbread is generally showing its age now compared with other operating systems and indeed subsequent Android builds currently on the market.

What is commendable is the multi-tasking and app management capabilities, as well as the performance, which is fantastic on the Galaxy Note.

Apart from this it feels a little lacking in features, the browser doesn’t have tabs which is just plain odd.

However, with the interface modifications made by Samsung specially for the Galaxy Note there’s a lot of interesting stuff happening here.

Web pages are viewed full size and most native app menus and interface features include split screen modes. Generally Samsung has tried to make the best possible use of the vast screen space.

It also has some nifty tricks with the S Pen, including a double-tap Memo feature and a quick-swap overlay to allow you to make notes on top of web pages and documents.

Honeycomb’s native state feels more complete than Gingerbread. Performance wise we’d say it’s on a similar level to Gingerbread, particularly as both devices are equally powerful, you’re probably not going to notice a difference as both will be smooth.

It also features the same great multi-tasking and app control capabilities, but actually has a much better quick app switching feature built into the interface.

One really annoying thing is the touch keyboard, because although it’s good there’s a key to close it right next to the key used to toggle between letters and numbers.

We’re sure you can imagine how frustrating it is to repeatedly have your keyboard close in the middle of typing.

Apart from this, we’d say Honeycomb is better. The Galaxy Tab wins.

Winner – Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7

Camera
Tablets are often slightly lacking in the camera department and sadly this is also the case with the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7.

It packs a 3.15-megapixel primary camera at 2048x1536 pixels and capable of 720p video capture.

It’s video call-friendly and also sports a 2-megapixel secondary camera on the front.

Features include geo-tagging, autofocus and an LED flash.

The Note is far better equipped, but then it is one of Samsung’s top-of-the-range smartphones even if it is approaching tablet size.

It uses an 8-megapixel primary camera at 3264x2448 pixels able to record video at 1080p. It also boasts a 2-megapixel secondary camera with video calling capability.

It’s also loaded with more features than its larger cousin, it has the same LED flash, geo-tagging and autofocus, but stacked on top is touch focus, image stabilisation, multi-shot, face and smile detection and panoramic capture mode.

The Galaxy Note has a clear victory when it comes to cameras.

Winner – Samsung Galaxy Note

Final Thoughts
We’d say overall these are fairly evenly matched devices, particularly when you boil it down to the bare bones with things like the processor setup.

The Galaxy Note has a better camera, a better display and the delights of the unrivalled S Pen stylus.

Meanwhile the Galaxy Tab 7.7 has superior storage capabilities, at least if you buy the 64GB version, and a better ‘vanilla’ operating system.

Though it must be said Samsung’s revamp of Gingerbread for the Galaxy Note is some very persuasive stuff indeed.

The most important thing is that the smaller size, portability and S Pen stylus on the Galaxy Note mean it is a totally different experience from the Galaxy Tab 7.7, which is at the end of the day a regular 7-inch tablet, albeit a rather good one.

Related articles

• Samsung Galaxy Nexus vs Samsung Galaxy Note (goandroid.co.in)

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Samsung Galaxy Note vs HTC Sensation XL

Samsung's Galaxy Note takes on HTC's Sensation XL

We compare a couple of giants this time round as the HTC Sensation XL squares up to Samsung’s new Galaxy Note.

Form
Samsung Galaxy Note - 146.9x83x9.7mm,178g
HTC Sensation XL - 132.5x70.7x9.9mm, 162.5g
If you like small smartphones then you’re definitely out of luck here. These are both heavy hitters which are going to demand larger pockets than your average handset.
The Sensation XL is quite nice looking, although it’s typically curvy as HTC phones often are. It’s also very thin which lends it a sleek silhouette.
We like how the screen goes right out to the edges, the bezel is very narrow which is an attractive visual feature. Most of HTC’s marketing material shows the Sensation XL in white but we have to say it looks nicer in black in our view.
Samsung’s Galaxy Note is a much bigger beast than even the appropriately named Sensation XL, but despite its considerable girth we think it’s a remarkably elegant design.
Once again the display takes up an admirable proportion of the front panel which lends a premium appearance. It’s also quite minimalist thanks to its capacitive buttons and a discreet central home button.
The back panel is slightly curved and has a textured surface but apart from a neat and tidy camera lens it’s a stylishly uninterrupted expanse.
We have to side with the Galaxy Note on this one.
Winner – Samsung Galaxy Note

DisplayThe Sensation XL is one of the bigger smartphones on the market and has a correspondingly large display. It’s the same size as HTC’s big Windows Phone, the Titan, at 4.7-inches.
The Sensation XL uses an S-LCD capacitive touchscreen, produced by Sony, at a 480x800 pixel resolution, giving a pixel density of 199 pixels-per-inch (ppi).
Sony’s screen technology has the same benefits as Samsung’s Amoled displays, which means a brighter and more colourful picture is possible and all with less power than a conventional LCD.
The latest version of HTC’s Sense user interface (UI), version 3.5, is pre-loaded onto the phone and we’ve found it less demanding on processors than earlier builds. Combined with the accelerometer and gyro sensors it allows for screen rotation functionality.
The Sensation XL supports multi-touch input and features four capacitive buttons.
If you think the Sensation XL’s screen is big then brace yourself because the Samsung Galaxy Note really is in another league.
At 5.3-inches it is positively colossal in scale, but Samsung has still managed to stretch its Super Amoled capacitive touchscreen technology to the task.
This means you get all the power efficiency, colour and brightness perks as other Samsung devices, and in this case its HTC opponent, on one massive panel.
The display resolution is a suitably meaty 800x1280 pixels meaning it also packs a sky-high pixel density of 285ppi.
Imagine, videos, pictures and games on the Galaxy Note are quite crispy, to say the least.
The Galaxy Note’s display is also made from reinforced Gorilla Glass, so you don’t have to worry about it cracking any time soon. The usual gyroscope and accelerometer sensors are included and the phone supports multi-touch input.
Samsung’s smartphone and tablet crossbreed is loaded with a customised TouchWiz 4.0 UI. Normally we wouldn’t labour this too much, but in this case it really is relevant as Samsung has  tried to make the best use of such vast screen space.
The main way it achieves this is through some nifty interface configuration – certain apps, for example, have split screen modes and configurable windows.
The other way in which TouchWiz innovates on the Galaxy Note is through the ‘S Pen’ – a stylus that's included with the phone. Stylus pens have a bit of a shaky history and the very mention often raises a few eyebrows.
Admittedly Samsung’s take is not perfect, but it is certainly the best stylus we’ve seen to date and more than usable as it stands currently.
Not everyone is going to like having a huge smartphone, but in this case they’re both quite big, and between the two we much prefer the Galaxy Note.
Winner – Samsung Galaxy Note

Storage
HTC’s device has 16GB of in-built storage and 768MB of RAM. It is lacking a card slot though so there’s no expandable storage via microSD.
Against this, Samsung’s Galaxy Note has both 16GB and 32GB variants and in either case you get 1GB of RAM to play with. It also has microSD support for up to 32GB and a 2GB card included with the standard package.
Quite an easy win for the Galaxy Note this time round.
Winner – Samsung Galaxy Note

Related articles

• Samsung Galaxy Nexus vs Samsung Galaxy Note (tech-gadget.co.in)

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HTC Flyer vs Samsung Galaxy Note

We're concerning ourselves with two devices which can't quite make up their minds what they are this time around, as we compare HTC's Flyer with Samsung's Galaxy Note

If you're in the market for a device with a little more screen space than your average smartphone, this comparison is for you, as we're taking a look at HTC's Flyer, a tiny tablet which packs a punch and Samsung's Galaxy Note, a small but perfectly formed hybrid.
Will bigger turn out to be better or will the Galaxy Note win us over with its diminutive stature and charm? Let's find out!

Processing and memory
HTC's Flyer is powered by a single core 1.5GHz CPU that performs well, and will keep the device running a nice turn of pace even under duress.
The device's drive-train is backed-up by 1GB RAM, which keeps pace with everything else on the market to date, allowing the Flyer to multi-task in a brisk and orderly fashion.
Samsung's Galaxy Note is driven by a fast 1.4GHz dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 CPU and also offers a Mali-400MP GPU, which will make short work of even the most taxing 3D games and visual effects.
Samsung also opted to fit the Galaxy Note with 1GB RAM, which will allow the device to age well.
The HTC Flyer comes with 32GB storage, while the Galaxy Note comes in 16 or 32GB flavours, and both support micro SD cards up to 32GB in size too.
Winner - Samsung Galaxy Note

Form, Build and Portability
HTC Flyer - 195.4x122x13.2 mm, 420.8g
Samsung Galaxy Note - 146.9x83x9.7 mm, 178g
Seeing as we're dealing with two oversized devices here, weight and size are a definite issue.
The HTC Flyer comes in at 420.8g, making it a tad on the heavy side for a tablet of its size. Construction is up to HTC's usual standard though, and the device feels all the better for it.
Size-wise, it isn't too much of a heavy lump and we could quite easily cart it around all day without it feeling like too much of an encumbrance.
The Samsung Galaxy Note is the opposite end of the tablet scale, though - in fact it's more of a smartphone on steroids.
The device weighs a mere 178g, too, which is not much more than the average chunky smartphone and its small form factor make it ideal for carrying around. You wouldn't even notice it was in your jacket pocket unless you thought about it (or have incredibly small pockets).
The Galaxy Note does arguably suffer from Samsung's reliance on plastics and, like most of its brethren, it feels like it should be in a toy shop, rather than alongside bleeding-edge gadgets.
While the HTC Flyer does have the better craftsmanship we still wouldn't choose it over the Galaxy Note, though, simply because it doesn't offer enough to warrant the extra inches and ounces.
Winner - Samsung Galaxy Note

Software
Both of these devices run on Google's Android platform, specifically version 2.3 (Gingerbread), and the OS performs as you'd expect. It's brisk, secure and has oodles of room for customisation. And let's not forget you also get access to the tons of apps and games available in the Android Market.
The Galaxy Note comes with Samsung's TouchWiz UI 4.0 added to the OS, and while it takes a bit of getting used to it is a welcome augmentation, with added social networking features, widgets, apps and other tweaks.
Similarly the Flyer comes with HTC's lauded Sense UI, which brings with it custom apps, eye-candy and social networking functionality.
Both of these custom user interfaces add plenty to the Android foundation, but Sense UI is definitely the more mature of the two and is glorious to look at too! Whereas TouchWiz still has some way to go before it's the well rounded UI that it purports to be.
Winner - HTC Flyer

Screen

The HTC Flyer features a 7-inch LCD touchscreen that operates at a resolution of 600x1024 pixels and has a disappointing pixel density of only 170ppi, which is light-years behind its market leading competitors.

In terms of performance the screen is sound enough, with nice colour reproduction and responsiveness, but it never goes beyond average.

Samsung's Galaxy Note features a lovely 5.3-inch Super AMOLED display that operates at a resolution of 800x1,200 pixels and offers up a pixel density of 285ppi, which is much more up to speed.

What the device lacks in screen size it more than makes up for in clarity, too, thanks to the Super AMOLED's amazing deep blacks and vivid colours.

Winner - Samsung Galaxy Note

Optics

Samsung has imbued the Galaxy Note with two cameras. A primary 8-megapixel, with autofocus, LED flash, geo-tagging, touch focus, face and smile detection and image stabilisation, as well as 1080p video capture.

The secondary camera is a 2-megapixel offering that makes video-calling a really positive experience.

Performance is solid overall and keeps up with Samsung's tradition of producing high functioning smartphone cameras.

HTC's Flyer is also fitted with two cameras. One 5-megapixel primary, which has an autofocus and geo-tagging, as well as a 1.3-megpixel secondary for video-conferencing.

The Flyer's performance is in keeping with HTC's standard, which is to say disappointing. Photos captured in ideal light conditions are nice enough, but overall it isn't something that you could (or would want to) rely upon.

Winner - Samsung Galaxy Note

Final thoughts

Samsung's Galaxy Note has aced this little test without breaking a sweat. It's a solid device that offers a great balance between size and performance.

HTC's Flyer, on the other hand, suffers from its lack of direction and it's a mutt that is too big to throw in a pocket and too small run with the big boys, like Motorola's Xoom and Apple's iPad.

There's nothing majorly wrong with it, but there isn't really anything to shout about either, and for that reason it has been soundly defeated today.

Related articles

• Samsung Galaxy Nexus vs Samsung Galaxy Note (goandroid.co.in)

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Samsung Galaxy Nexus vs Samsung Galaxy Note

We take a look at two of Samsung's smartest devices – the Galaxy Nexus and the Galaxy Note

Samsung's Galaxy Nexus was unveiled last week to much fanfare, and when you take a look at the device it's easy to be impressed. With its vanilla Ice Cream Sandwich (pun not intended) OS and slim futuristic looks it's a smartphone that begs to please.
But beneath all of its good looks and groundbreaking software how does it function? What does it offer that other devices do not? In order to find out we've put the new Galaxy Nexus up against the newly launched Galaxy Note – a 5.3-inch display smartphone/tablet hybrid.

Display
Samsung's Galaxy Nexus features a 4.6-inch Super AMOLED touchscreen that operates at a resolution 720x1280 and offers an incredible pixel density of 316PPI, just a few small blobs short of Apple's iPhone 4S and its pretentiously named Retina Display.
The Galaxy Note, on the other hand, features a whopper of a Super AMOLED display, measuring 5.3-inches and display 800x1280 pixels, with a pixel density of 285PPI.
It's hard to fault Samsung for its choices with either device in this category and fault them we shan't. Both these devices have fantastic, responsive, vivid displays that are tough as old boots thanks to their Gorilla Glass coating.
We would be happy watching either of them every day.
Winner - Draw

Form & Build
Samsung Galaxy Nexus - 135.5 x 67.9 x 8.9 mm, 135 g
Samsung Galaxy Note - 146.9 x 83 x 9.7 mm, 178 g
With its 5.3-inch screen the Galaxy Note isn't exactly pocket-ready, but the device is certainly crafted well enough. The use of plastics adds a bit of a sour note (we'd like to see some metal now and again, Samsung) but overall the device feels solid and durable.
The Galaxy Nexus undoubtedly looks and feels more premium than the Note, though. It's crafted from almost identical materials. The design exudes a far more professional vibe too, which isn't something to be sniffed at.
The device is also smaller, lighter and 100% more pocketable than the Note too, giving it this round.
Winner - Samsung Galaxy Nexus

Camera
Samsung's smartphone camera's are coming on in leaps and bounds and the Galaxy Note's 8-megapixel offering is no exception.
It features LED flash, autofocus, geo-tagging, touch focus, face and smile detection, image stabilisation and 1080P video capture. It'll allow users to snap a more than printable image on the spur of the moment.
A secondary camera is offered too and the 2-megapixel effort, which can also be found on the Galaxy S 2, is far and away the best video-call camera we've used.
Mystifyingly the Galaxy Nexus only has a 5-megapixel primary camera, but what it lacks in pixel count it more than makes up for in software enhancements and performance.
Samsung and Google have got together to ensure that the Galaxy Nexus' primary camera has no shutter lag at all, meaning you get to shoot what you see, not what you saw 3 seconds ago. It's a feature that we hope becomes the norm for other manufacturers too.
In addition to this the camera benefits from an LED flash, touch focus, geo-tagging and face-detection, and as with the Galaxy Note, 1080P video capture.
The secondary camera is a mere 1.3-megapixels but it will ably serve its purpose.
Winner - Draw

Related articles

• Samsung Galaxy Nexus vs HTC Sensation XL (tech-gadget.co.in)

Software

The Galaxy Nexus will ship with the latest version of Android, Ice Cream Sandwich, and this iteration of the OS represents a shift in strategy for Google.

No more custom UI's, no more putting off updates. From here on in what happens to the OS is dictated by Google and that is a decision we are stoked about.

On the practical side this updated operating system is fast, stable and has been richly re-designed to compete with the advances of its competitors. You can expect to see a new font throughout, face recognition, improved core apps and a whole new UI. It's very impressive.

Samsung's Galaxy Note ships with version 2.3 of Google which, while impressive and practical, isn't going to win any contests against the new version of the software.

Yes, you'll still have access to the same myriad of applications from the Android Market. Yes you can still customise, but overall the introduction of Ice Cream Sandwich largely makes previous iterations seem like release candidates.

Samsung's TouchWiz 4.0 overlay does add to the charm of the Galaxy Note though, with custom eye-candy, hubs for social integration, books and games, and custom widgets and apps, but it's a small victory when held up against the future of the platform.

Winner - Samsung Galaxy Nexus

Power

Samsung's Galaxy Nexus is powered by a dual-core 1.2GHz Cortex-A9 CPU which is more than powerful enough for even the most testing tasks, and the running gear is ably assisted by 1GB RAM, which will make slipping in and out of applications seamless.

The Galaxy Note weighs-in even heavier in the guts department though, with a dual-core 1.4GHz Cortex-A9 and Mali-400MP GPU, which affords the user just a smidge more poke when they're in a pinch.

The Galaxy Note also features 1GB RAM, and this fact pushes it up there just beyond the reach of the Galaxy Nexus, giving it a win in this round.

Winner - Samsung Galaxy Note

The mighty Samsung Galaxy Nexus has taken the win, but only by a whisker!

It's a device that offers a glimpse at the future of the Android world, and performs ably across the board but, as with its two forebears, it doesn't really push the envelope in any way shape or form.

The Galaxy Note is to the device what the HTC Desire was the Nexus One, which is to say a superior specimen all but for a few small points (which can be altered by the end-user should they be so intrepid), and as such it's a device which deserves some respect.

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Apple's iTunes vs Microsoft Zune

Which is the best for syncing with a mobile device and for everyday use as a PC-based media player, Apple’s iTunes or Microsoft’s Zune? We investigate

Apple, largely thanks to the success of the iPod and iPhone, is presently enjoying something of a monopoly in the personal music player markets, be it on its iPod devices, iPhones or iPads. And because Apple likes to keep everything connected (or under its control) iTunes has become, for the vast majority of people, the standard PC media player.
And this isn’t all that surprising when you consider that Microsoft’s attempt at an iPod-liked device, known as the Zune player, absolutely bombed upon release. In fact, it wans't even released here in the UK. But one good thing to come out of the ill-fated Zune campaign was Microsoft’s Zune PC software, which is starting to look every bit the iTunes-killer Microsoft fanbois have been saying it was since day one.
Of course to use either you’ll need to first align yourself with either Microsoft or Apple – iPhones won’t work on Zune, for example, which isn’t even available on Macs, and Windows Phone 7 devices won’t work with iTunes. So this is really an article for anyone out there that’s looking to upgrade to a new phone, but can’t decide between going with Apple or Microsoft.

Looks
This aspect of the comparison is pretty subjective as it’s based on looks and has nothing to do with functionality. As we established earlier, everybody knows what Apple’s iTunes looks like. It’s simple, grey, easy-to-use and acts as a portal to Apple’s iTunes Store, where you can buy apps, films and music.

Unlike Apple’s products iTunes isn’t really about looks. It even feels a bit old-hat these days, if we’re honest, as very little about the way it looks has changed that much since the service first launched. It serves it’s purpose and is very straight forward to use, but we think Apple could do something with the UI to make it a bit more attractive.
Microsoft’s Zune, on the other hand, is all about looks with its gorgeous wallpapers and Metro UI. So much so, in fact, that if you hadn’t seen either pieces of software before and had to guess which one was Apple’s, you’d probably assume it was Zune.
Zune will also load up backgrounds of the artist that you’re listening to. So if you’ve got some Mastodon playing you’ll get a lovely collage of Mastodon album covers making up wallpaper. The tiles that make up the wallpaper spin around revealing different images and collections of pictures – it really is a pleasure to look at. Apple doesn’t have anything that compares to this in iTunes.
Winner: Zune

Syncing
During that last month or so, we’ve tested quite a few Windows Phone 7 handsets. This is part of the reason why we’ve become so attached to Zune. It’s also the reason why Microsoft’s software and not iTunes is now the default music player on our PC at home, despite the fact that this scribbler is an iPhone 4S user.
Generally speaking we didn’t experience any issues whatsoever when syncing Zune with our Windows Phone 7 device. You simply connect it via a cable, or over Wi-Fi, and enable the syncing mode. Adding files manually is simple, too – just drag albums, songs or videos onto the phone symbol in the bottom left corner.
One big draw of Zune is that it automatically adds songs to itself once you’ve downloaded them. Apple’s iTunes won’t do this by itself – you’ll have to manually add them or set up a folder. We found this slightly annoying when switching back from Zune to iTunes. Zune also automatically imports your entire iTunes library across as well. Again, iTunes won’t do this by itself. You, once again, have to step in.
Both Zune and iTunes are evenly matched in the syncing stakes. Both support Wi-Fi syncing, for instance, and generally perform above average when updating your device with music, video and media.
Having said that, neither product’s Wi-Fi syncing options are particularly impressive. After trying and failing on numerous occasions with both products we opted back to using a cable – it’s faster and more secure.
One aspect where Microsoft kicks Apple’s ass though is the ease with which Zune updates the software on your Windows Phone handset. We can’t remember one instance where an iOS update has installed on the first go, there’s always at least one failure – always. This could be an issue with the number of people trying to download an update at any one time, but Apple should have rectified this issue by now.
But this isn’t the case with Zune. Both of Microsoft’s recent Windows Phone updates (NoDo and Mango) updated with ease. There were no restarts or no error messages. It was just a case of plugging in the handset and watching it go. Simple.
Of course this difference could be caused by the sheer amount of people accessing Apple’s servers once an update is made available – there is a lot more iPhone users out there after all. But this still doesn’t detract from the general experience: Zune seems better equipped to process and implement software onto handsets.
Winner: Zune

Getting album art work
If you’re anything like us, you hate having black squares where album artwork should be. In both iTunes and Zune this issue too much of a problem, as you can search and download the artwork for specific albums as and when you need it.
But say you’ve got some music that isn’t from Apple’s iTunes store or Microsoft’s Zune Market? It could be your ripped CDs or, god forbid, illegally downloaded – what then?
Well, you can drag and drop artwork from Google into iTunes and that will then become the default artwork for a band, which is always good for obscure artists. However, we’ve noticed some issues with this function in iTunes 10.5. In some instances we just can’t add artwork and this means lots of blank squares in our iPhone’s music application.
In Zune you just right-click and select search for Artist Artwork. That’s it. No Google searches, no magic and, most importantly, there’s no Zune registration required, a simple Hotmail/Live account will suffice. To date Zune has found every piece of album artwork we’ve asked it to – even really tricky ones like Rwake and Wolves in the Throne Room.
Winner: Zune

Buying music
iTunes is the default place to by music for practically every human being in the western world. It’s simple to use, well stocked and, generally speaking, priced accordingly. You can get video, music, books films and applications from inside iTunes. And if you have an iPhone/iPad/iPod, it’s the only way you can get content to and from a device (granted there’s other methods, but these are more of a pain than a solution).

Microsoft is similar to Apple in that to get content from your PC to your Windows Phone device you’ll need to use Zune. But the similarities end here, you see Microsoft lets you buy music via its Zune store but it’s taken a more Spotify-like approach to music consumption, which some users tend to prefer.

Here is what a $14.99 a month Zune Pass gets you, according to Microsoft:

A Zune Music Pass lets you stream and download as many songs as you like from Zune Marketplace and listen to them for as long as your subscription is active. You can get a 1-month Zune Music Pass or save money and get 12 months for the price of 10 by choosing an annual pass.

With an active Zune Music Pass, you can:
Play songs an unlimited number of times.
Download an unlimited number of songs to your computer, and sync them an unlimited number of times to your Windows Phone.
Stream music from Zune Marketplace, from your Xbox 360 using Zune on Xbox LIVE, and from Zune.net. You can also use Smart DJ to listen to spontaneous playlists.

At last count, Microsoft had about 17,000,000 tracks on Zune. That’s a lot of music. The only issue we have with Zune is that it’s reliant on the cloud. For instance, if you wanted to listen to music on the move you’d have to stream it to your device, which requires mobile data – and that costs money.

Zune would be an ideal solution in a world that had coast-to-coast 4G-connectivity and unlimited data plans. Unfortunately neither of these things exist in the UK, so for this reason we have to go with Apple on this one, despite the obvious benefits of Microsoft’s solution.

Winner: Apple

Compatibility
As you'd expect, Zune is compatible with Windows, and only Windows. If you have a Mac, you're left out, unless you opt to download Windows Phone 7 Connector for Mac, which will only sync files, rather than allow you to access your full music collection.

But if you’ve got a Windows PC, you have slightly more options, because iTunes works on PCs and Mac.

We use iTunes to sync our iPhone, for instance, but Zune as our PC media player – that way you get the best of both worlds.

Winner: iTunes

Final thoughts
It’s a pretty clean-cut victory for Zune in this instance. It looks better, performs better and is simpler to use and packs in lots more usual features, such as better syncing. Having said that, to make use of either you will need the appropriate hardware (either an iPhone or a Windows Phone).

In the grand scheme of things neither product is perfect, though. Both have their positives and negatives, but to get a real feel for the main differences (namely the quality of the user experience) we’d recommend using Zune if you haven’t already – it’s streets ahead of iTunes in this respect.

Both, however, suffer greatly on account of just how locked down they are – this is especially evident with Zune, which isn’t even available on Mac.

We’d love to see an OS X version of Zune and Zune support iPhone syncing, it’d be great for consumers – it’d give them a choice. But it won’t happen, so get used to one of the other (or in some instances both) depending on what type of hardware set-up you use.

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Motorola Razr vs Apple iPhone 4S

We compare the iPhone 4S with Motorola's upcoming Razr - an Android device which looks set to make a huge splash

Apple's iPhone 4S was announced recently and immediately set about doing what Apple devices do best: dividing opinion. Some people feel the device isn't much of an upgrade over the iPhone 4, others think it's all part of Apple's grand plan to enslave humanity and others, well, others fell in love with it.
So in the spirit of fair play we've decided to see what all the fuss is about by holding the 4S up against a device which is being lauded as the next big (Android) thing, Motorola's Razr, s device which is almost certain to enjoy a successful launch this November.
Will Apple's iPhone 4S reign supreme, or will Motorola's Razr cut it to pieces?
Let's find out.

Power
The iPhone 4S is the first smartphone from Apple to benefit from a dual-core processor, and the 1GHz ARM Cortex-A9 which powers the device is a great addition to the line.
In addition to the quality CPU you also have a PowerVR SGX543MP2 GPU, which should afford you countless hours of gaming fun, as well as excellent visual effects and top quality movie playback.
For reasons known only to Apple, it opted to leave this newly invigorated release with only a pedestrian 512MB RAM.
Motorola seems to have taken peoples power demands a little more seriously when designing the Razr, giving the device an Ti OMAP 4430 chipset which consists of a 1.2GHz dual-core CPU and PowerVR SGX540 GPU. Sure, it's similar to the iPhone 4S, but the extra oomph will certainly come in handy.
The improvements aren't limited to chipset either, as the Motorola Razr offers up a tidy 1GB RAM.
Winner - Motorola Razr

Display
The iPhone 4S features  Apple's fantastic Retina Display, a 3.5-inch LED-backlit IPS TFT which offers dazzling visual quality. The display operates at a resolution of 640 x 960 and has a pixel count of 330PPI, which is still the highest available on a smartphone (for now).
Motorola's Razr is no shrinking violet though, its 4.3-inch Super AMOLED screen is a superb feature which offers stunning, deep colours and responsive performance.
The display operates at a resolution of 540 x 960 and offers up a pixel count of 256PPI, which. although impressive, is still quite a ways behind the iPhone 4S.
Winner - Apple iPhone 4S

Software
Disappointingly the Motorola Razr runs on version 2.3.4 of Android. We'd hoped that the recent acquisition of the company by Google would have allowed the device to roll-off the production line with Ice Cream Sandwich, but hey, that would have ruined the Galaxy Nexus' exclusivity, right?
It may not be the latest and greatest iteration of the OS but it still performs brilliantly and with Motorola's custom UI additions there's tons of scope for customisation. On top of that there's loads of widgets, nice eye candy and, of course, all the games and apps you can shake a muddy stick at in the Android Market.
Apple's iPhone 4S ships with version 5.0 of the company's hugely impressive iOS and the improvements are noticeable as soon as you fire up the device.
There's improved multi-tasking, an updated notification system (think Android), Twitter integration, iMessage (Think BBM) and, of course, the latest version of Safari; which is better than ever.
On top of all those there's a host of other bits and pieces which help make the platform by far the most user friendly mobile OS on the market. Oh, and there's even more apps and games in Apple's App Store than there is in Android's Market, so there!
Winner - Apple iPhone 4S

Form

Apple iPhone 4S - 115.2 x 58.6 x 9.3 mm, 140g
Motorola Razr - 130.7 x 68.9 x 7.1 mm, 127g

This category is a tough one to judge because both Apple and Motorola have earned solid reputations for building top quality devices.

The iPhone 4S is typical Apple – it's sleek, minimalist and amazingly pretty. Plus at only 9.3mm thick you'll barely notice it in your pocket (we aren't sure whether that's a good thing or a bad thing though).

Motorola's Razr looks to be every bit as robust as the company's previous Android devices, which means you can look forward to a strong, attractive and immensely durable smartphone. It's also super thin at only 7.1mm.

Both devices offers toughened glass covers for their precious screens too, so you needn't worry about coin or key damage!

Winner - Draw

Camera

The Apple iPhone 4S has been given a camera upgrade, and its 8-megapixel primary offering, which also features touch focus, LED flash, geo-tagging and 1080P video capture, is among the best performing smartphone cameras we've ever clapped eyes on.

Shots are clear, captured quickly and easily print worthy.

The iPhone 4S also has a VGA secondary camera for video calling.

Motorola's Razr comes with an 8-megapixel camera too, which offers touch focus, geo-tagging, face detection, image stabilisation, LED flash, auto focus and 1080P video capture.

We can't comment on the quality of the images at this stage, but Motorola's no slouch when it comes to getting good quality images out of its smartphones, so we'd expect photos to be good.

As with the iPhone 4S, the Razr comes fitted with secondary optics for video calling, but Motorola has given the device a 1.3-megpixel front-facing camera, which will offer much better quality for those who need to video call or conference.

Winner - RAZR

Apple's iPhone 4S has taken the win, albeit by a nose.

The device is fast, beautiful, features the best mobile OS around and performs like a dream. What's not to like about that? Well, the price maybe, but other than that nothing.

Motorola's Razr looks to be a contender though, and the iPhone 4S had better watch its back come November, because it may just be the Android smartphone to topple it from its pedestal.

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Samsung Galaxy Nexus vs HTC Sensation XE

Samsung's new Galaxy Nexus takes on HTC's revamped Sensation XE

We see how Samsung’s new Galaxy Nexus compares to HTC’s enhanced Sensation XE.

Form:
Samsung Galaxy Nexus - 135.5x67.9x8.9mm, 135g
HTC Sensation XE - 126.1x65.4x11.3mm, 151g
The Sensation XE is one of HTC’s more attractive looking handsets. It still has the company’s typical rounded-off design but thanks to its lengthy proportions and stylish red accents it ends up looking quite appealing. It is the bulkier handset of the two being 16g heavier and quite a bit thicker than its opponent.
Samsung’s Galaxy Nexus also benefits from an elongated design, it’s similarly curvy on the corners and quite often this can make a handset look peculiar.
The other distinguishing feature is its curved profile which means it sits in the hand quite comfortably and its remarkably thin at only 8.9mm.
As nice as the Sensation XE looks we think the Galaxy Nexus is the more elegant of the two.
Winner – Samsung Galaxy Nexus

Display: Both phone displays are on the larger side, which is always good news as far as we’re concerned. The Sensation XE has a 4.3-inch S-LCD capacitive touchscreen at a resolution of 540x960 pixels, giving a high pixel density of 256 pixels-per-inch (ppi).
Sony’s S-LCD technology is similar to Samsung’s Super Amoled in offering a more energy efficient and brighter display with richer colours.
The Sensation XE comes loaded with the HTC Sense user interface (UI) and supports multi-touch input, while an accelerometer and gyro sensor enable screen rotation.
The Galaxy Nexus’ screen is even bigger at 4.6-inches and has a very impressive resolution of 720x1280 pixels, as a result the pixel density is way above its rival at 316ppi.
Samsung is using its own Super Amoled HD screen tech, which has more or less the same positive properties as its competitors S-LCD display.
The capacitive touchscreen uses curved glass and has an oleophobic coating to repel fingerprints. It also supports multi-touch input. Accelerometer and gyro sensors complete the package.
Screen technology is the Galaxy Nexus’ trump card so it easily wins this round thanks to its large size display, high resolution and amazing pixel density.
Winner – Samsung Galaxy Nexus

Storage: Samsung’s Galaxy Nexus comes in two variants: 16GB or 32GB of in-built storage. In either case there’s 1GB of RAM to help keep things running smoothly.
Unfortunately there’s no card support on the Galaxy Nexus so if you’re looking to expand your storage you’ll be left wanting.
The Sensation XE has 4GB of onboard storage but only a mere 1GB of this is user accessible, but unlike its opponent it has full microSD card support up to 32GB.
At 768MB of RAM it has less than the Galaxy Nexus but should still provide an ample boost to the phone.
Technically, you can get more storage space on the Sensation XE thanks to its card slot, if you use a 32GB card added to the 1GB of onboard.
On the other hand, card storage is slightly slower to read.
Onboard storage is much more stable and a bit faster too and we’d be happier with more internal capacity, so our vote goes for the Galaxy Nexus. However, other users may have the opposite view.
Winner – Samsung Galaxy Nexus

Processor: HTC’s Sensation XE is a powerful specimen, running a dual core Qualcomm processor clocked at 1.5GHz on the MSM8260 Snapdragon chipset, backed up by an Adreno 220 graphics processing unit (GPU).

Considering it was supposed to be a flagship device the Galaxy Nexus’ processing power is a little disappointing.

The Galaxy Nexus uses an ARM Cortex-A9 1.2GHz dual core processor but the chipset and GPU aren’t quite as cutting edge with the TI OMAP 4460 chipset and a PowerVR SGX540 GPU.

It still has a reasonable amount of grunt, enough to allow it to sit comfortably towards the top of the pile as a ‘premium’ handset but it pales in comparison to the Sensation XE and other well equipped phones such as the Galaxy S2.

Winner – HTC Sensation XE

Operating System: These are both Android phones but where the Sensation XE runs 2.3 Gingerbread, the new Galaxy Nexus uses the latest build of Google’s operating system, Ice Cream Sandwich.

Gingerbread offers good performance, particularly on dual core devices such as the Sensation XE, but in terms of features it feels very much like the stepping stone to later versions of Android, Honeycomb 3.0 for tablets and now the new 4.0 for both tablets and phones, which the Galaxy Nexus runs.

One of our major gripes with Gingerbread was the native web browser, which although better than its predecessors in terms of smooth scrolling and pinch zoom, was still a little on the slow side and also lacked any kind of tabbed browsing.

Thankfully, Ice Cream Sandwich’s browser, along with the rest of the system, has brought across the improvements made in 3.0 Honeycomb for tablets.

A particular strength of the Android system across both versions is the multi-tasking, which is efficient, fluid and in the case of Ice Cream Sandwich easy-to-use thanks to some handy app-switching interface controls.

We are, of course, in favour of progress and Ice Cream Sandwich has made plenty of headway over Gingerbread, which by comparison is looking a little dated. Samsung wins this round.

Winner – Samsung Galaxy Nexus

Camera: Samsung’s Galaxy Nexus is surprisingly tame when it comes to the camera setup with a 5-megapixel primary at 2592x1936 pixels. Video calling is supported via the phone’s 1.3-megapixel secondary camera.

On the primary, video capture is 1080p HD quality. Features include LED flash, autofocus, touch focus, face detection and geo-tagging.

The HTC Sensation XE’s primary camera is rated at 8-megapixels and boasts a resolution of 3264x2448 pixels. It also sports a VGA secondary with video calling capability.

Video capture is at 1080p HD and records stereo sound. The phone’s primary camera features autofocus, touch focus, geo-tagging and dual LED flash as well as image stabilisation, face detection and instant capture.

HTC’s handset has a preferable camera setup on this occasion.

Winner – HTC Sensation XE

Final Thoughts: Although the Galaxy Nexus didn’t impress us as much as we’d hoped on launch, it still has a better operating system, a better display and a snazzier design.

Also it has a storage setup which we prefer.

However, in many other areas it feels a little lacking and the Sensation XE is generally more favourable thanks to a few key areas, most notably the processor.

The Sensation XE’s camera is also a strong point and the display, while not as good as the Galaxy Nexus’, is also excellent.

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