Mobile Choice Winter 2016 by Future PLC

120 mobiles tested & rated Apple iPhone 7 | Google Pixel & Pixel XL | Moto Z | Sony XZ What to buy and how to use it

What to buy and how to use it

Phones of the Year

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our 2016 Award winners plus today’s hottest arrivals

The UK’s Only Smartphone & Tablet Buying Guide Huawei Mate 9 Lenovo Moto Z

Apple iPhone 7 Plus Samsung Galaxy S7 edge

Google Pixel XL

Best networks Top deals best contracts

Gift Guide hot tech cool gadgets

Best Note 7 alternatives Pixel XL | iPhone 7 Plus | Mate 9

Top gadgets Connected Home stars

This season’s must-have toys Issue 216

Droids | Drones | VR

editors letter

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Editor Sunetra Chakravarti (@csunetra) email sunetra.chakravarti@futurenet.com Contributors Jay Jay, John McCann, Matt Swider, Stuart Bonner

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Welcome And just like that it is December... We, at Mobile Choice towers LOVE this most wonderful time of the year and are sure you do too. So, rather fittingly, our Genius Guide this issue is all about gifts. Turn to page 51 for a smorgasbord of the best gadgets & tech that will be perfect under the tree. This issue, we have pulled out all stops celebrating the Mobile Choice Consumer Awards 2016 winners. All the winning phones, gadgets, networks and services are laid out from Page 29 onwards. Feast your eyes and go splash the cash! And if you are after in-depth reviews, we have all the heavies on-board, starting with Apple’s iPhone 7 & 7 Plus (pages 6 and 9), Google’s Pixel & Pixel XL (pages 12 and 14) as well as Lenovo’s shape-shifting Moto Z & Moto Z Play (pages 16 and 19). Have a read before you buy! However, if like us, you are still bemoaning the withdrawl of the Samsung Note 7, turn over to page 24 where we have sized up 5 of the rest that can coolly reach the lofty benchmarks set by the sizzling one. Finally, did you know that Mobile Choice is the UK’s only magazine with a comprehensive buying guide of phones, tablets and wearables? Turn to page 65 for the low-down on all phones, tablets, wearables, networks and deals. Until next time…

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Editor Sunetra Chakravarti Email sunetra.chakravarti@futurenet.com

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Mobile Choice 216 | 3

contents First look

Kodak Ektra

Reviews Apple iPhone 7

Apple iPhone 7 Plus

Google Pixel

Google Pixel XL

Lenovo Moto Z

Lenovo Moto Z Play

Sony Xperia XZ

Features

sony xperia xz

lenovo moto z

apple iphone 7 plus microsoft surface pro 4

Note 7 alternatives

How to recycle your phone

The Genius Guide Top tech gifts for all the family

Mobile Choice Consumer Awards 2016

Buying Guide Guide to Operating systems

Guide to smartphones

Guide to tablets

Guide to wearables

Hand-picked contract, SIM-only & PAYG deals

3 | Mobile Choice 216

mobile choice 216 31

the best products, networks and services were crowned at the awards this year... All voted for by the public

Google Pixel xl

Porsche design huawei mate 9

Special edition Battle-worn bb-8 and force band

competition

On The Cover Samsung Galaxy S7 edge Apple iPhone 7 Plus

31 9

Google Pixel XL

Lenovo Moto Z

Huawei Mate 9

Best networks

Gift Guide

Note 7 alternatives

Must-have toys

WIN! a Huawei

Nova Plus turn to page 97 to enter

Mobile Choice 216 | 4

REVIEW // Apple iPhone 7

Lucky number?

Apple’s shiny new iPhone 7 was launched with the full force of iOS 10 and was one of the most hotly anticipated smartphones this year. But has much really changed since the iPhone 6S? The Specs Apple.com Price: £599 for 32GB; £699 for 128GB; £799 for 256GB Operating System: iOS 10 Dimensions: 138.3 x 67.1 x 7.1 mm Weight: 138 g Resolution: 1334x750-pixel resolution at 326 ppi Display: 4.7-inch (diagonal) LEDbacklit widescreen Processor: A10 Fusion chip with 64-bit architecture; Embedded M10 motion coprocessor Camera: 12-MP wide-angle f/1.8 aperture; OIS; Quad-LED True Tone flash; 7-MP selfie camera with 1080p HD video recording. 4K video recording at 30 fps Memory: 32/128/256GB. Jet black is exclusively available in 128GB and 256GB models. Battery: 1960mAH Fingerprint sensor: Yes Misc: IP67; Apple Pay lets you pay with your iPhone using Touch ID in stores, within apps, and on the web; EarPods with Lightning Connector.

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onths of speculations, leaks, and breathless anticipation led to the unveiling of the Apple iPhone 7 and came as it did on the heels of the Samsung Note 7 debacle, not even Apple would have anticipated the rush of customers. Although the iPhone 7 Plus sold more and sold out on the day it landed, the more petite version hasn’t done too badly either... So, what REALLY has changed?

Look & feel

Place the iPhone 7 next to the iPhone 6 or 6S and there is literally no visual difference. Button and slider placements, camera and lens, even down to the antenna lines on the side. The one tiny difference visually is that the pair of antenna lines across the back. They have now slipped down to run along the edges also different is that there is no 3.5mm headphone jack to plug your wired headsets into, just some spare speaker grills. There are, however. two new colour versions to get excited about.

There is the matt black and superglossy jet black. We remember, back when Apple launched the first iPhone, it was an all-glass number and had that one colour option before everyone started clamouring for the white... Apple always knew how to do a proper immersive shade of black and they have swept customers off their feet again. With the two options of the much sought after colour that screams classy like nothing else can. Needless to add, both colours have been out of stock since they went on sale- across all retailers.

Performance

One of the best things about the 7 duo is the fact that both are water resistant. For us, performance isn’t just about how the phone performs tasks but also to do with how it does in a variety of conditions. Up until now Apple’s phones have not just been fragile, (remember ‘bendgate’?), requiring a plethora of ruggedised covers etc. Apple have also been behind on the development curve with phones that keel over at the

slightest contact with water. Joining the fabulous Galaxy S7 and Sony’s Xperia XZ, Apple’s iPhone 7 and 7 Plus are now IP67 rated. So they should be absolutely fine in up to a meter of water for less than 30 minutes. Still not okay to take it snorkeling but a big leap for Apple devices nonetheless. The new chip that Apple is shouting itself hoarse about is no straggler either. The A10 fusion chip is faster and more efficient. Both phones have the same chip onboard leading to not just a non-laggy and non-stuttery experience when gaming but also better battery saving features. During the time we road-tested the 7, we had no problems with hour-long FaceTime calls, long stints playing Sonic Dash or recording 4K video.

Ease of use

Two years back with the iPhone 6 came out, it was considered a palmful. The 5 and 5s had been more petite and the 6 fell firmly into the phablet category. However, the smartphone industry has moved

REVIEW // Apple iPhone 7

swiftly forward from there. Moto Z, Sony XZ, Galaxy S7 and LG G5 are all not only bigger but also wider. So the iPhone 7 seems almost the right size and we are quite relieved that it isn’t any bigger than what it is now. Ease of use also refers to what benefits you get from the phone and one of the biggest ones of the iPhone 7 is LTE Advanced. This means as and when your network switches up to faster internet speeds, with the iPhone 7, you can be rest assured that your phone will be the fastest on the same network as, say, an iPhone 6s. With speeds up to 450 Mbps for data downloads, the iPhone 7 is almost 50 percent faster than iPhone 6s and three times faster than iPhone 6. Not only that, but you will get better audio quality when you have conversations using Voice over LTE — either on Whatsapp or Facebook when out and about. You also get wi-fi calling which makes FaceTime, Duo and Skype easier to use and drop-free. Not sure whether the fact that the

phone does not have a 3.5mm headphone jack should go here but for us the lack of it has gotten rid of a major hassle. Tangled headphone wires have always been a headache and we are, frankly quite happy with the shift to wireless ones. We, at Mobile Choice have been proponents

need the most. So you can send hand-scrawled notes in messages, emojis are bigger, the Home hub allows you to sync all your devices to work seamlessly. Swipe right and you have an area reminiscent of HTC’s Blinkfeed populated with your upcoming

Ease of use on the iPhone 7 is manifold but the biggest benefit here is LTE Advanced. This means you’ll be laughing when your network switches up to faster internet speeds of wireless headphones for some time now and the fact that the iPhone 7 negates the need for wired ones adds to its ease of use.

Features

iOS 10 takes the idea of human communication further by not just making it richer but also amping up the elements that we use daily and

appointments, news, maps and anything you might generally look for, like the weather. Word searches work on photos so type in a location, name of an animal or even ‘kiln’ or ‘aga’ to be given a choice of options that are startlingly accurate. But the crowning glory of iOS is iCloud. The way it can seamlessly

transfer and shares all your bookmarks, documents and apps across all your devices is incredible. Keychain is great for those who forget passwords easily and so you are not tempted to set up easy passwords. Safari suggested foolproof ones can be biometrically and password protected across all your devices, available at the swipe of a finger.

Battery

During a video running test, the iPhone 7 lost 10 percent of charge when we streamed HD content off YouTube over 4G for 30 minutes. This isn’t terrible but anyone who has ever owned an iPhone will own as a part of their arsenal, a fully loaded battery charging pack in their bag. Agreed that the 1960mAH battery is probably the smallest on ANY smartphone priced over £250. But Apple’s new A10 fusion chip has cores designed to improve efficiency, including those of the battery and should work okay but in all honesty cannot compete with the best that

Mobile Choice 212 | 7

REVIEW // Apple iPhone 7

Samsung has to offer or Sony’s XZ with its ‘two-day battery’. Take a look at the mid-range market and specifically at the delightful Honor 8 and OnePlus 3. Both phones come with 3,000mAH batteries as well as the might of Android M’s battery saving Doze feature. And we are not even talking about the (now withdrawn) Samsung Galaxy Note 7 or Galaxy S7 Edge with their 3600mAH batteries. Apple don’t even say exactly what the battery size is on their website. This is perhaps testament to the fact that if you really want the latest iPhone, the diabolical battery life will not concern you...much. As per usual, iPhone 7 had lost almost 50 percent of its battery life by 1pm, which is in the same ballpark as the iPhone 6.

Camera

While it is really the iPhone 7 Plus that steals the camera crown in the tussle between the two, the iPhone 7 isn’t terrible either. There is a 12-MP sensor on the primary snapper and a 7-MP selfie camera. While things are largely unchanged from how the camera was on the iPhone 6S, Apple have made a lot of tweaks under the hood so that low-light photos are a lot brighter and richer in detail than they have

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been previously. This does not mean that it can now compete with the Samsung S7 edge or even the Huawei P9, they are miles ahead. Apple’s cameras have always had certain features that have saved the game for them time and again and here they are the blisteringly fast Optical Image Stabilisation and super-fast focusing. Both work a dream, giving us beautiful images with excellent depth

Should I buy the iPhone 7

If you are after a revolutionary phone, then look elsewhere. Probably towards an Android-totting number because the iPhone 7 ain’t that. The iPhone 7 is, however, a great phone and brings several key functionalities to iOS. The form factor seems jaded and even though Apple have polished the existing chassis, the phone looks exactly like the iPhone 6

PERFORMANCE............. LOOK AND FEEL............ EASE OF USE................. FEATURES...................... BATTERY LIFE................

The 1960mAH battery is the smallest on ANY flagship phone but Apple’s new A10 fusion chip has cores designed to improve battery efficiency & while streaming video of focus everytime. Live pictures make looking back at albums easier and can now be converted into GIFs. As we have said before, the real smarts on the camera app are provided by iOS 10 with the search function and the 4K video recording at 30fps. However, we would have preferred to have certain settings within the app rather than having to deep-dive into the settings area to configure photos and camera. However, this is a tiny niggle on an, otherwise fab camera.

that it released two years back. For the first time the iPhone duo are water resistant and the ‘Home’ button and headphone jack are finally gone. But is it enough? Having used the phone since it went on sale, we are still scratching our heads on whether ther is any REAL difference between the iPhone 7 and 6S. Our recommendation would be to save some cash and buy the 6S or save up and splash the cash on the iPhone 7 Plus. Especially in the Jet Black variant.

Pros Water resistant Stunning design iOS 10 fantastic Improved camera Cons: eeds a headphone adapter N Form factor seems very jaded

Similar to

Samsung Galaxy S7

Also consider Google Pixel

Killer app

With speeds up to 450 Mbps for data downloads, the iPhone 7 is almost 50 percent faster than iPhone 6s

REVIEW // Apple iPhone 7 Plus

Beauty, uninterrupted The iPhone 7 Plus sold out at pre-order stage. Was it the dual cameras, the fluid form factor, the waterproofing or the recall of the Note 7, or was it because it is just an incredible phone? The Specs apple.com rice: £599 for 32GB; £699 for P 128GB; £799 for 256GB Operating System: iOS 10 Dimensions: 158.2 x 77.9 x 7.3 mm Weight: 188g esolution: 1920-by-1080-pixel R resolution at 401 ppi isplay: 5.5-inch (diagonal) LEDD backlit widescreen rocessor: A10 Fusion chip with P 64-bit architecture; Embedded M10 motion coprocessor amera: 12MP wide-angle and C telephoto cameras, f/1.8 aperture; OIS; Quad-LED True Tone flash; 7-MP selfie camera with 1080p HD video recording. 4K video recording at 30 fps Memory: 32/128/256GB Battery: 2900mAH Fingerprint sensor: Yes isc: IP67; Apple Pay lets you pay M with your iPhone using Touch ID in stores, within apps, and on the web; EarPods with Lightning Connector

nwrap the iPhone 7 Plus and you are greeted with the same luxurious unimetal body that we have come to expect from Apple. This time the Cupertino giant has gone further. There are no antenna lines across the back to interrupt the sheet of metal, just the bright and lustrous logo to punctuate it all.

Look & feel

Not much has seemingly changed in iPhone land between the iPhone 6S Plus and iPhone 7 Plus, and as always, the changes are more nuanced than what meets the eye. The size is roughly the same as that on the Samsung Note 7. Even though on the Note 7’s slightly smaller body, Samsung squeezed in .2-inch extra display, the 7 Plus has plenty of tricks to keep Apple fans and those looking for a workhorse phone, happy.

Build quality

A 7000 Series aluminum alloy has been used to manufacture both the 7

series phones. While the matt-finish black version has been made using bead-blasted aluminum, the highgloss jet black finish took a nine-step process of anodization and polishing to get it to gleam that way. However, just so you know...users have taken to Youtube and Twitter bemoaning how quickly the jet black version picks up prints and smudges... exactly like the Samsung Galaxy Note 7. The Home button isn’t a button anymore and initially, we struggled with getting used to it... Apple call it an advanced solid-state button but what it actually is, is just sensory trickery. Apple have added a bit of vibration under the area within the gold circle so everytime you touch or press it, it vibrates, simulating the feel of a physical button. There has been speculation that Apple plan to do away with the Home button in subsequent models and this could well be the way they start getting rid of it. Difficult to get used to but once you get it- that’s it. Although the headphone jack is now gone, there are faux speaker

grills at the bottom of the phone with the lighting connector still in the middle. It makes for a really streamlined and symmetrical look and is, one less port for Apple to make water resistant. However, the on-board speakers are capable of belting out tunes quite loud and without distortion. More on that later... Apple have also moved the antenna bands and they now run along the bottom of the silver, gold and rose gold variants while on the black and jet black versions, you will be hard pressed to find them- they are almost the same colour as the phone. And after years of will they, won’t they, the iPhone 7 duo is finally IP67 rated. This means iPhone 7 Plus can withstand a good amount of dust chucked at it as well as being dunked in upto 1 meter of water for around 30 minutes. Although Samsung’s Note 7 stole a march over it with its IP68 rating which gave it the ability to withstand a dunking for more than 30 minutes, the fact that Apple have

Mobile Choice 212 | 9

REVIEW // Apple iPhone 7 Plus

Audio

finally bowed to market pressure will come as a relief to fans. And while we are discussing looks, Apple have finally polished, refined and fine-tuned their flagship to perfection. This shows in the understated ways the handset gleams and glows as you turn it in your hands. The camera lens doesn’t look stuck-on anymore which some would accuse the previous iterations of. The aluminium body rises up slightly to hold the dual lens in place and doesn’t take away from the look and feel of the phone. Although bezels are still not the thinnest, and you cannot expect the kind of edge-to-edge immersive display that you get on the Galaxy S7, the display is one of the best available in the market to buy right now...

You get a very true to life colour reproduction on the iPhone 7 Plus because Apple have used a wide colour gamut with the same colour space as the digital cinema industry. Images and videos are more vibrantyou see more hues and shades and life-like colours. Often display panels are tuned in a way so they end up looking oversaturated and zingy (OnePlus 3, some Samsung flagships). However during the time we spent using the iPhone 7 Plus, this issue did not surface at all.

Screen & display

vibrant and you see more life-like colours

The 5.5-inch Retina display is the only one that can take on Samsung’s Super AMOLED beauties at their game and not get obliterated. The display panel has a pixel per inch density of 401 with a 1920× 1080 resolution. Even though this isn’t a patch on the luminous and bright Galaxy S7 edge with its curved sides and 534ppi, in reality it makes no difference whatsoever.

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The fact that Apple decided to cut the cord and invest its resources into wireless audio has been reported widely. If you are one of those people who have recently invested in a pair of wired cans, fret not. Apple supply a 3.5mm jack to lightning connector in box and the set of earphones with the phone are wired (lightning) as well. For those of us who have used Bluetooth headphones know that wired versions drain the battery at a slower pace. However, because the

The 5.5-inch Retina display takes on Samsung’s Super AMOLED S7 duo at their game without getting obliterated. Images are

Force-touch was a great innovation when Apple launched it last year on the 6S and 6S Plus and it is present on the 7 and 7 Plus as well. Users get the ability to deep-dive into apps, mail, messages, photos and calendar with just an exaggerated screen press. Not only does this save you time but also battery. Live Photos use this tech too.

iPhone 7 Plus has a massive battery, as well as several battery-saving features, going wire-free is not a shortcut to battery murder. And when you are not using headphones, the stereo speaker at the bottom of the iPhone 7 Plus has all the power to blast out distortion-free music. We played music at its loudest on the phone and Apple’s claim of the

the iPhone 7 Plus being able to deliver audio that was 2x louder than the iPhone 6 family rang true, loud and clear.

Performance

One of the biggest differences between the Apple iPhone 6S Plus and iPhone 7 Plus boils down to internals. By kitting out the 7 Plus with an A10 chip, Apple’s best yet, they have made sure that the phone towers over its competitors. The octa-core chip’s CPU is made up of two sandwiches. One sandwich containing two pairs of highperformance cores and the other comprising of two pairs of highefficiency ones. Apple’s promise of the iPhone 7 Plus running at 2x the speed of the iPhone 6 is fulfilled by the highperformance cores. The highefficiency cores are capable of running at just one-fifth the power of the high-performance cores. The iPhone first got the kind of prominence it did, not just because of the intuitive interface but also because the phones ran without lags. There were no juddery experiences while gaming and you never got the spinning wheel of death while apps loaded up or you switched between

REVIEW // Apple iPhone 7 Plus

windows and apps. And we are happy to report that the streak of brilliance continues with the 7 Plus. Not just processor speeds, but graphics speeds are 3 times faster than previous generations of the iPhone. Furthermore, holding it all together is the 2900mAH battery which is the biggest Apple have done till date. Bolstered by night mode and low-power mode, the battery does last for ages. Our review sample went an entire weekend between charges and we used it extensively to record and stream videos, messaging, calls and FaceTime. In fact, the phone lost slightly less than 5 percent charge over 30 minutes of video streaming over wi-fi with brightness at 100 percent. Memory-wise, the iPhone 7 Plus can only be described as super powerful. There are three storage options available: 32, 128 and 256GB-

so you will never have to keep count of the number of apps, videos, games and selfies on your phone anymore. And because it is all native memory, there is no worry of memory card getting corrupted. The only buff note with this is how little cloud storage Apple offer for free. Anything over 5GB and you have to pay every month. And if you have more than one Apple device- that 5GB gets stretched thinner!

Camera

A lot has been made about the 12-MP dual cameras on the iPhone 7 Plus. The top three features you need to know about are: optical image stabilisation, an ƒ/1.8 aperture and a six-element lens. Apple cameras may not have been best in class historically but they have always had an edge over others in the market in the form of OIS. On the 7

Plus, it is joined by an Apple-designed image signal processor. Built into the A10 Fusion chip, it helps with faster focussing, improved local tone mapping and white balance, making the latest phone one of the best point and shoot devices in the market. The f/1.8 aperture does low-light photography really well but cannot compete with the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge which we ran tests against. Apple also say that the dual cameras offer up better quality zoomed in pictures. Again, during our tests, we found that it couldn’t touch the quality we got with Samsung’s Galaxy S7 edge. This despite that we got only 8x zoom on the Samsung and 10x digital zoom on the 7 Plus. There is a quad-LED True Tone flash onboard which does well to light up colours without burning them off. But the most exciting bit for us was the fact that you can now capture video in 4K. There is a handy guide when you record that tells you how much space it will take up. As long as you have one of the higher storage variants of the phone, you should be okay recording for an extended time. There are also the usual slo-mo video recording capabilities as well as time-lapse videos but they have been on-board Apple’s cameras for a long time and work seamlessly here too.

Should I buy the Apple iPhone 7 Plus?

The iPhone 7 Plus has the biggest batteries of all of Apple’s phones. It has an incredible screen and forcetouch comes into its own on the large amount of real estate you get on the handset. Apple have finally listened to fans and consumers and made the 7 duo dust and water resistant. There is a fantastic dual lens camera and 4K video recording...

However, the phone looks exactly the same as it did three years back. There are speaker grilles instead of a headphone jack, but the footprint has remained the same. With the price an eye-watering £150 more than the version a year back, it might not be enough to convince even the most die-hard Apple fanboy to trade-up.

PERFORMANCE............. LOOK AND FEEL............ EASE OF USE................. FEATURES...................... BATTERY LIFE................

Pros Dual cameras Premium build Water resistant Fantastic battery life Cons: Very expensive No headphone jack Design feels a bit jaded Taptic home button

Similar to

Google Pixel XL

Also consider Huawei Mate 9

Killer app

The dual lens camera is its best feature

Mobile Choice 212 | 11

REVIEW // Google Pixel

best of google

Nexus is dead. Pixel is king. On paper at least, the Pixel looks to be a flagship contender, but can it live up to the hype (and that price tag)? The Specs John Lewis Price: £599.99 perating System: Android O Nougat (v7.1) imensions: 143.8 x 69.5 x 7.4 D mm Weight: 143 g Resolution: 1920 x 1080; 441-ppi isplay: 5-inch AMOLED Full HD D Corning® Gorilla® Glass rocessor: Qualcomm® P Snapdragon™ Snapdragon 821 CAT9-12 with 2.15 GHz + 1.6 GHz, 64-Bit Quad-Core processor and Adreno 530 amera: 12-MP with EIS; 1.55um C big pixel f/2.0; 8-MP selfie camera with HRD+ 4K (30 fps) video capture emory: 32 GB and 128 GB(ROM) M + 4GB(RAM); Unlimited online storage for photos and videos attery: 2,770 mAh lithium-ion B battery Fingerprint sensor: Yes isc: Qualcomm® Quick Charge; M USB Type-C; NFC; Quick Switch Adapter

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oogle created the Pixel handsets to showcase the best of their hardware and software. With a brave new price point, unlike Nexus devices, there’s nowhere to hide.

Look and feel

The design is premium, if slightly odd. There’s a metal body, but Google has added a block of glass on the rear. While this gives the Pixel a unique look, it also does look and feel a little plastic. There’s no water resistance on here – something the S7 and iPhone 7 both boast – which is a little disappointing. It is IP54 rated. With its modest 5-inch display, the dimensions are decidedly palmfriendly. A little chunkier than its rivals, the depth tapers to 7.31mm at the base, making it an easier hold. However, the placement of the fingerprint scanner on the rear is a little frustrating if you want to quickly unlock it. Not limited to unlocking the phone, you can also swipe down on the scanner to pull down the notification bar on-screen. A swipe in the opposite direction closes the bar.

On the base, the USB-C port is flanked by two grilles, although only one of those is a speaker, with the other grille hiding the microphone. You can pick up the Pixel in three colors – Quite Black, Very Silver and Really Blue – with the cheeky names an obvious pop at Apple’s ‘Black’ and ‘Jet Black’ iPhone 7 color options. There’s also good news for audiophiles: Google has kept the headphone jack. Its placement at the top of the handset isn’t our favorite location – but at least it’s there.

Display

A bright and clear full HD screen stretches across five inches. Pleasant to view, everything looks great, with a pixel density of 441ppi so it’s pinsharp and crystal clear. We’ve been using the new iPhone 7 and 7 Plus recently, and moving to the Pixel, we noticed the improved depth of color generated by the latter’s AMOLED display. You also have to consider that the Galaxy S7 and HTC 10 are a touch cheaper, and both pack a QHD display, so it feels like we’ve been short-changed slightly with the Pixel.

Processor

The Pixel is fast, intuitive and can handle anything you throw at it. That’s down to the powerful Snapdragon 821 processor and 4GB of RAM, providing more power than you’ll probably ever need from your smartphone. There are also the slick animations Google has implemented in the software to ensure everything flows before your very eyes. The Pixel runs the very latest software – Android 7.1 Nougat to be exact – and so you get a clean, fussfree interface. With the latest update Google has streamlined this further by removing the app drawer. Google has also tweaked the app icons, so its own apps sport round images, others you download take the shape of their icon. Long-press on an app icon and you may find the Pixel pops up a few quick links for you, triggered just by holding on the icon a little longer.

Media & gaming

With a heap of power under the hood and a decent display, Pixel is nicely set up for all your music, movies and gaming requirements.

REVIEW // Google Pixel As we’ve mentioned earlier, the Pixel has a single speaker on its base, and this kicks out a reasonable volume. Clarity is passable, but it’s not going to wow people at a house party or even a picnic. The Pixel still has a 3.5mm headphone jack on the top of the phone and music playback via headphones is decent. The speaker does hold its own when you want to listen to music in quieter environments. There’s no distortion and it won’t offend your ear, but there’s no booming bass. Fire up a movie or TV show and the 5-inch AMOLED display brings the action to life with vivid colors and smooth playback. Gaming is another area where the Pixel excels, munching through any game you chuck at it. The graphically-intensive Real Racing 3, for example, runs fluidly on the Pixel, with swift load times across the board and no lag/stutter.

Performance

You’ll already have a good idea of just how strong the Google Pixel’s performance is, and it’s no surprise that it scored well in our benchmark test on Geekbench. We ran Geekbench 4 on the Pixel, and it averaged a multi-core score of 4,029. While those are strong figures it still puts the Pixel behind the iPhone 7 (5,311) and Galaxy S7 (6,500) – although in day-to-day use you’re unlikely to notice. The Pixel also copes well when you have multiple apps open in the background, and it is quick and easy to skip between them. A double tap of the multi-tasking button will see you instantly return to the previous app you were viewing. It all makes for an effortless user experience – and it’s that simplicity and ease of use that Google has improved hugely in the most recent Android updates.

Battery life

The battery life is nothing special. If you’re careful with usage you’ll get a full day’s worth. With moderate use, a top-up charge is needed to ensure the battery doesn’t die by bedtime. The Pixel squeezes in a nonremovable 2,770mAH power pack. That’s bigger than the battery in the iPhone 7 (1,960mAH), but smaller than those in the Samsung Galaxy S7 and HTC 10 (3,000mAH on both). It’s not all bad news though, as the new Pixel boasts fast charging, giving you up to seven hours of usage from a 15-minute blast. You’ll need to make sure you have the charger that comes in the box on you though, as a standard USB-C cable and plug block won’t get you

the same rapid recharge action. We put the fast charging to the test, plugging in when we were down to 13% at around 6pm. Fifteen short minutes later the Pixel was up to 27%. The phone achieved a surprising result in our battery video test though. We played a 90-minute full HD video, with 100 percent screen brightness connected to Wi-Fi and syncing multiple accounts in the background. When the 90 minutes were up the Pixel had lost just 15%, which is a very respectable result. That puts the Pixel on a level with the Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge and Moto Z Force – which is certainly esteemed company. It’s just a shame it doesn’t perform as well as those phones throughout a whole day.

Camera

The 12.3-MP rear camera is another big talking point as it holds the title of the highest-rated camera ever on DxO – an industry standard for camera and lens image quality measurements and ratings. That’s quite the claim to fame. It gives Google a strong marketing line, although we’ve found that DxO ratings don’t always translate into great camera performance day-to-day. Things start well for the Pixel, with the straightforward camera app making it easy to snap a quick picture. Shutter speeds are fast in good light, and the autofocus generally does a good job of getting your subject in focus. There are toggles for HDR+, the timer, grid lines, flash and basic white balance settings (cloudy, sunny,

resolution selectors for the front and rear cameras pretty much the only point of note. You can adjust the brightness of your shots though – just place a finger on the screen and slide it up or down. The HDR+ (High Dynamic Range Plus) mode is set to ‘auto’ by default, and we found it worked best at dawn and dusk, when the light isn’t at its most plentiful but total darkness isn’t hampering the camera. Snapping a shot with HDR+ resulted in images looking brighter, but still well detailed. Moving into the night and the Pixel struggled a little, with noticeable blurring and noise in our snaps. It’s certainly not as impressive as the Galaxy S7 range in this scenario. Day-to-day shots are very, very good but the Pixel’s camera doesn’t tend to wow you. You’re unlikely to be disappointed with the shots you take on this phone, but they don’t have the same impact or color palette

With a heap of power under the hood and a good display, the Pixel is nicely set up for all multimedia & gaming needs. Graphics heavy games ran fluidly, with swift load times fluorescent and tungsten) in the top corner, while a slide-out menu on the left provides a few more tools. Slow Motion capture, Panorama and Photo Sphere modes are joined by Lens Blur, which is designed to create a blurred bokeh background effect. Lens Blur mode isn’t new and on the Pixel the digital enhancement works okay, but it’s not a patch on a DSLR or a dual-lens smartphone setup like that on the HTC One M8 or iPhone 7 Plus. We found the Pixel struggled to separate foreground and background elements well enough, resulting in blur bleed between subjects. Dip into the settings and you’ll find an equally humble offering, with

as those from some rival flagships. Round the front, the 8-MP selfie camera is serviceable, and can be accessed by twisting the Pixel twice in your hand – repeating the motion returns to you to rear camera, and it makes one-handed operation easier. Pictures are bright and clear, although we did find that our selfies lacked clarity at times. There’s no beauty mode to speak of, but if anything we’re thankful for that, as those can often be overbearing.

Should I buy the Google Pixel?

The Google Pixel is an excellent flagship phone. It combines a heap of power and a slick interface with a

solid camera and premium design – a combo which will have almost universal appeal. You are paying top dollar for the Google Pixel, and at this price point the competition is fierce. It’s not the best phone around – that honour stays with the Galaxy S7 Edge for now – but the Pixel offers up something a little different for Android thanks to its simplicity. The Pixel is a breath of fresh Android air in a world of overcomplication, and you’ll feel rejuvenated using it.

PERFORMANCE............. LOOK AND FEEL............ EASE OF USE................. FEATURES...................... BATTERY LIFE................

Pros Supremely smooth performance Bright, colorful full HD display Comfortable one-handed use Cons: attery life could be better B Assistant yet to realize potential Expensive

Similar to HTC 10

Also consider Samsung Galaxy S7

Killer app

The Pixel achieved a surprising result in our battery video test that put it at par with the Galaxy S7

Mobile Choice 212 | 13

REVIEW // Google Pixel XL

Larger

than

Life

The Google Pixel XL, along with the Google Pixel, is the first phone ‘made [almost entirely] by Google’, and it’s the best way to experience the latest and greatest that Google and Android have to offer The Specs John Lewis Price: £499.99 perating System: Android O Nougat (v7.1) Dimensions: 154.7 x 75.7 x 7.4 mm Weight: 168g esolution: 2560 x 1440 pixels; R 534ppi isplay: 5.5-inch AMOLED Quad D HD Corning® Gorilla® Glass rocessor: Qualcomm® P Snapdragon™ Snapdragon 821 CAT9-12 with 2.15 GHz + 1.6 GHz, 64-Bit Quad-Core processor and Adreno 530 amera: 12-MP with EIS; 1.55um C big pixel f/2.0; 8-MP selfie camera with HRD+ emory: 32 GB and 128 GB(ROM) M + 4GB(RAM); Unlimited online storage for photos and videos attery: 3450 mAh B lithium-ion battery Fingerprint sensor: Yes isc: Qualcomm® Quick Charge; M USB Type-C; NFC; Quick Switch Adapter

14 | Mobile Choice 212

ixel XL launched with Android 7.1 Nougat, which gives it virtual reality powers when paired with Google’s Daydream View headset.

Design

It’s almost as if Google heard that people like metal phones, and glass phones, so decided to throw in both. The Pixel is an odd, two-toned mix, making it feel like we’re one step away from unwrapping the Neapolitan ice cream of smartphones. The good news is that, as funky as it looks, the materials are solid: strengthened Gorilla Glass 4 for the top third around the rear fingerprint sensor and camera, and polished anodized aluminum on the bottom. Google has thrown a lot into the Pixel XL design. The rear camera is completely flush with the glass plate on the back, a design feat that Apple and Samsung have yet to achieve. Unfortunately, it doesn’t live up to those manufacturers’ waterproofing standards. Its IP53 rating means you can’t get this one wet, never mind

accidentally dunk it! On the front, surrounding the 5.5-inch display is a rather big ‘chin’ for a phone that contains no physical home button. There’s a speaker on the bottom, but while there are two grilles, there’s just one firing out sound.

Display

The Pixel XL further proves why AMOLED displays look the best on smartphones, thanks to its colorful and bright screen that outclasses LCD panels every time. It is vivid, ready for virtual reality on a budget, and one of the key reasons we’d suggest you upgrade from the normal-sized Google Pixel that’s just Full HD or 1080p. If you’re into VR, big phones and more battery life, this one’s for you. If not, save your money. The screen looks better than an iPhone 7 Plus, but it’s missing one key feature we like about Apple’s display and newer Samsung and LG handsets: a rise-to-wake or always-on screen. The rear fingerprint sensor pad (not a button) lights up and unlocks

the phone with authentication, too, but that’s only useful when it’s in your hand, not sitting on a desk. At least give us a double-tap-wake feature to light up the lock screen. An Ambient Display modes does light the screen up in a black-andwhite color palette when notifications come in, but it’s just not the same. Google has finally upgraded its new phone to include a Night Light mode that matches the iOS 9.3 feature. It lacks the adjustable orangeto-blue levels that Apple has, and turns from blue to orange rather abruptly at sunset, but it’s a start. The phone ushers in a lot of firsts: Android 7.1, Google Assistant and the new Snapdragon 821 processor. The idea is that you’re going to have a long-lasting phone and a better experience in the time that you do have it. That’s almost how we feel about the entire package.

Google Assistant

Google Assistant is your personal AI buddy that’s graduating ahead of classmates Siri, Cortana and Google

REVIEW // Google Pixel XL Now for voice commands. It can hold a two-way conversation, and actually understands context. This is the same Google Assistant that’s coming to the Google Home speaker, to take on Amazon Echo and the e-tailer’s Alexa AI. It’s already an amazing rival, but not perfect. The good (and scary) news is that Google controls so much of our search data that it’s likely to anticipate everything we want to know. It’s only going to get smarter, and this is a intriguing start.

Interface & apps

The Pixel XL shows that it’s ready for the future with Android 7.1 Nougat, along with the promise of operating system updates for the next two years and security updates for three years. But this phone is more than a fast pass to early Google updates and a clean interface. This year it debuts a second (literal) front-facing feature: Virtual Reality. We tested out the Google Daydream View headset with it, and got an immersive 360-degree virtual reality experience.

Media & games

We’re increasingly being entertained by our phones, even with big-screen TVs and tablets close by. The Google Pixel XL gets the job done visually. It has that excellent AMOLED display that rocks deep blacks and saturated colors. They make movies and games seem impressive at 5.5-inches. However, we did run into a problem when holding the phone in landscape mode and playing twohanded games. Covering up that one speaker soured our enjoyment just a little bit. Luckily, Google didn’t follow Apple

and Motorola’s trend by killing off the headphone jack, so our quickest solution was a pair of earbuds. What’s really a shame is that the Nexus 6P (which was cheaper and had a bigger 5.7-inch display) included stereo speakers. The omission of dual speakers here seems like a step backward.

Performance

Both the Pixel and Pixel XL see Google introducing Snapdragon 821 instead of sticking with a six-monthold chipset. And that’s part of the reason you’re paying a premium this year for the Pixel duo. This 64-bit quad-core chip runs at 2.15Ghz with 4GB of RAM and an Adreno 530 GPU – one step ahead of its current competition.

Battery life

Google has packed a big 3,450mAh battery into the Pixel XL – and that was a good decision, because the bright and pixel-dense 2K resolution can really drain the phone. We found that we were averaging a day and a quarter of battery life during our week with the phone, using it as we normally do: checking social media every hour, playing games, messaging and making that rare phone call. Watching a 90-minute looped HD video wore it down to a pathetic 68%

from its 100% starting point. That’s technically worse than every other 2016 Android phone, which means two things: 1) The screen brightness is enough to burn a hole in the ozone layer and 2) Google’s software, with Doze 2.0 battery-saving background features, is really efficient when we’re not using the phone outside of the lab. Google, includes a fast charger, and its 18W adapter (only with the Pixel XL) charges the phone in a speedy one hour and 50 minutes.

Thankfully this includes HDR+ on the front, too.

Should I buy it?

This one of the most sure-fire bets this year. It has almost everything you need outside of a waterproof design and stereo speakers, although Google has thrown a little too much into the pot. But if it’s ugly on the outside, it’s far from it inside. What’s more important is that the Android interface remains minimalist and easier to use than ever.

Camera

Every year we’re promised a “the best Nexus camera ever” by Google, and this time, we got teased with

The Pixel XL AMOLED display is vivid and ready for virtual reality on a budget. The deep blacks and saturated colours make movies and games seem impressive something slightly different and even more promising: the best camera on any smartphone. Sure enough, our camera tests showed that the 12.3-MP shooter is outstanding, capturing some of the most highly detailed and colouraccurate photos on a phone. The Pixel XL has vivid colors, and low-light performance is fantastic. Google’s camera forgoes OIS in favor of software-optimised electronic image stabilization (EIS). But we didn’t notice a lack of sharpness in photos shot without a tripod, or issues with video smoothness when playing back footage. The lack of OIS is overblown. We did run into a sun flare anomaly outdoors. The front-facing camera is a different story, however. We shot some of the best-looking 8-MP selfies we’ve seen on a smartphone ever.

PERFORMANCE............. LOOK AND FEEL............ EASE OF USE................. FEATURES...................... BATTERY LIFE................

Pros One of the best phone cameras around Streamlined Android software Google Assistant is promising Cons Expensive waterproofings No stereo speakers

Similar to

Samsung Galaxy S7 edge

Also consider Lenovo Moto Z

Killer app

The AMOLED display is colorful and bright, outclassing LCD panels every time.

Mobile Choice 212 | 15

REVIEW // Lenovo Moto Z

Snap this up!

Modular, stunning and super-thin, Moto Z has everything going for it. Power, looks and brains, it excels in every area. So, is this the breakout smartphone of the year? The Specs John Lewis Price: £499.99 perating System: Android™ O 6.0.1 (Marshmallow) imensions: 155.3 x 75.3 x D 5.19mm Weight: 136g esolution: 2560 x1440 pixels; R 535ppi isplay: 5.5-inch Quad HD D Corning® Gorilla® Glass rocessor: Qualcomm® P Snapdragon™ 820 processor with up to 1.8 GHz Quad-core CPU and Adreno 530 amera: 13-MP with OIS and C laser auto-focus; 5-MP selfie camera with wide-angle lens and LED flash emory: 32GB(ROM) + 4GB(RAM); M Expandable storage upto 2TB Battery: 2600mAh lithium-ion Fingerprint sensor: Yes Misc: Qualcomm® Quick Charge; USB Type-C; NFC; sold with a range of magnetic mods; water resistant

16 | Mobile Choice 212

he word innovation has come to be used freely by mobile phone manufacturers. Everything is termed an innovation whether it is a slimmer form factor or the absence of a headphone jack or even the use of an unusual material. And while most of the claims are indeed innovations, there are few that can be classed as a truly new way of making a mobile phone more powerful and ergonomic than the Moto Z. It is not everyday that a smartphone wins the Most Innovative Device gong at the Mobile Choice Consumer Awards with as much ease as the Moto Z did. Not just the concept, but it was also the quality of finish on the mods that was being judged and Lenovo’s flagship phone delivered all that and more.

Look & feel

Modular- the word that evokes memories of Google’s Project Ara and LG’s much anticipated G5. A classic case of good intentions and bad execution, the G5 didn’t live up

to expectations, neither of the public nor the Korean giant and we all know Google shelved the much anticipated Project Ara. And so when it came to the Moto Z, we were obviously way too excited. During the demo, we were told that this is the ‘thinnest premium smartphone.’ At 5.19mm, it sure looks it! Lenovo have done everything in their power to shave off excess fat including getting rid of the headphone jack. And the phone is super-svelte- if you turn disregard the protruding £1 coin-like large camera lens at the back. The power and the volume buttons are on the right and the SIMcard and the memory card inserted at the top of the phone. For a handset of its size (this is definitely phablet sized!), it is quite light at 136g and because of its slim profile, easy to use one-handed during commutes. The fingerprint sensor is on the home button. The tiny square is one of the smallest ones you will find on any phone. This is barring Sony’s smartphones where it is sited on the

side of the phone- the power button. The Gorilla Glass covered back of the phone picks up prints by the dozens but you don’t really need to worry about that because, also included in the box is a super-slim textured back cover, that you can attach to the phone using strong magnets at the bottom. With the cover on, there are no bumps on the back- it is all one smooth surface. On their website, Lenovo sell not just the ‘Style Shells’ in plastic, but also those covered in fabric, leather and wood in different colours and textures starting at £16. So if ever you are bored of the Moto Z’s looks, you can change it all very cheaply and quickly.

Modular design

Unlike LG, Lenovo have decided to go with magnets to attach the mods. To make sure their mods don’t move once on, at the bottom of the back of the Moto Z, you will find a series of dot connectors that attach very securely to the mod from the thin back protector to the heavy-duty

REVIEW // Lenovo Moto Z

Hasselblad Camera Module. The connection is so strong that once on, you will actually worry how it’s going to come off, but there is a small gap at the bottom so you can pry mods off without worrying about chipping your nails. For now, there are the JBL Sound Boost (£69.98), Insta-share projector (£249.99), Hasselblad Camera Module (£199.99), Incipio offgrid power pack (£59.99) and scores of ‘style shells’, to instantly change the colour and texture of the phone back. Lenovo say they are invested in the idea of modular phones and have started up a Moto Mods Developer platform with an earmarked $1 million that they hope to use towards bringing the best mod ideas to market and amp up all areas of the Moto Z and Moto Z Play. To start off, budding designers need to buy a phone and the Moto Mod Development kit and let their imagination run riot. We were given the Hasselblad True Zoom camera module to review

and our initial reaction is- it is a fantastic camera! The native camera onboard has a 13-MP sensor and includes what’s the most important feature on camera phones: Optical Image Stabilisation. Photos taken on the camera are non-

stabilization and you are also able to shoot videos in 1080p (60fps), 4K video (30fps) and Slow Motion video Video HDR (1080p and 4K).

Display

The 5.5-inch AMOLED display has a

The 5.19mm thickness gives it the title of ‘thinnest premium smartphone’ & Lenovo have tried very hard to shave off excess fat including getting rid of the headphone jack fuzzy and the laser autofocus further sweetens the deal. Furthermore, there is free storage for two years for all photos (in their original size and format) on Google Photos so you don’t have to rush to re-size them. There is 8X digital zoom as well as burst and night modes. Apart from the smarts that you can use for still photos, there is automatic video

1440p Quad HD (2560 x 1440) resolution and a pixel per inch density of 535. Tucked away under Corning® Gorilla® Glass (which also covers the back) is one of the best displays on a smartphone right now, at par with that of the OnePlus 3 and the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge. Accurate colours without added warmth and a fantastic media streaming experience

are guaranteed on the Moto Z.

Performance

As you would expect from a flagship phone of this calibre, the Moto Z is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, backed up by 4GB RAM. This is the same configuration you will find on the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge as well as the Galaxy S7. We ran several benchmark tests on the Moto Z and got a result of 1477 on Geekbench for single-core and 3903 for multi-core and though the Galaxy S7 edge has a 1744 score from it, the Moto Z should not have any issues even when you put it through its paces by running graphics heavy apps, switch between them and stream media continuously. The Moto Z has the brains to rival that of the Samsung S7 edge, that is a fact. However, in terms of battery on-board it isn’t up there. The battery clocks in at 2600mAH and we were nervous that it would keel over in under a day’s use. However, our fears

Mobile Choice 212 | 17

REVIEW // Lenovo Moto Z

were unwarranted as the battery did well to last more than a day. We got almost 2 days’ worth of use out of it on a single charge and an HD video played off Youtube over 4G with 100 percent brightness made the Moto Z lose just 10 percent of power in 30 minutes. Given the size, resolution and type of display, this is quite an impressive result! The Moto Z is charged via a USB-C type charger (in box) and the presence of TurboPower means that 15 minutes of charging gives you up to 7 hours of power. Moto phones have an ace up their sleeve which makes them more desirable than other phones and that is they run pure Android without any complicated overlays. Apart from a Moto Mod app so you can buy more mods, there isn’t anything that jars or takes up precious memory. Pure Android not only means that the user gets the security updates quickly but also that when newer versions of the operating system are released. Moto phones are usually the first ones off the block with updates. There is 32GB worth of memory on-board and that is the only version that’s available. You can use a microSD card to further increase it by 2TB. However, as long as you have apps like Google Drive that can store content on the cloud and work across all your devices, there is hardly any need to be worried about diminishing memory space on your phone.

18 | Mobile Choice 212

Should I buy it?

Lenovo have priced the Moto Z at £499.99, considerably lower than that of other flagships. For reference, the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge (32GB) is £629 and the Apple iPhone 7 (32GB) and Google Pixel both cost £599. The difference in price makes for a very logical argument in favour of buying one or a couple of mods to go with it. The Moto Mods cost between £49 (Incipio battery pack), £199 (Hasselblad Camera Mod) and £249 (Insta-share projector). The difference in price allows you

streaming media off your phone, maybe the projector mod? Apart from the heavies, there are dozens of options available in terms of back covers- from regular plastic to fabric-feel to leather, all available in a plethora of colours. The Lenovo Moto Z is a phone that finally lets you decide what you want from/on your phone- like a build your own pizza. Modular phones have been talked about for a long time and LG did manage to bring it to market with the LG G5 but bad build quality,

The Moto Z is powered by a Qualcomm

for Most Innovative Device proves that it is far ahead in the pack than its peers. Pure Android is another plus as are the fast charge capabilities. This phone is fantastic. Snap it up!

PERFORMANCE............. LOOK AND FEEL............ EASE OF USE................. FEATURES...................... BATTERY LIFE................

Snapdragon 820 processor, backed up by 4GB RAM. This is the same configuration you will find on the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge to work within your budget and accessorise your phone with mods of your choice based on needs and necessities. And Lenovo have confirmed they will keep the form factor of the Moto Z and the Moto Z Play the same to robustly support the Mod Developer program until (atleast) 2018. So, if you tend to use your phone longer between charges, you can get away with buying just the battery mod, the camera mod if you are a keen photographer and if you like

unavailability of modules and LG’s reluctance to build on it meant it was a commercial flop. Lenovo have made all the right noises with the Moto Z and we are floored by it. The display is top notch, this is the thinnest premium phone in the market and the battery is great. However, it might be a bit too big for some and you need an adapter (in the box) to use wired headphones. To be fair, there aren’t really many negatives about it and it’s winning the Mobile Choice Consumer Award 2016

Pros Good battery Fantastic modular design Pure Android Camera works brilliantly Cons: o headphone jack N phablet size not for everyone

Similar to LG G5

Also consider Samsung Galaxy S7 edge

Killer app This is modular design done right!

REVIEW // Lenovo Moto Z Play

Watch me

work

Why have one when you can have two!? Or so Lenovo thought when they created the modular Moto Z AND the Moto Z Play. The latter is a fantastic way to check out the modular concept on a budget The Specs Website: lenovo.com/gb/en Price: £499.99 perating System: Android™ 6.0.1 O (Marshmallow) imensions: 156.40 x 76.40 x D 6.99mm Weight: 165g esolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels; R 403ppi isplay: 5.5-inch Full HD Corning® D Gorilla® Glass rocessor: Qualcomm® P Snapdragon™ 625 (2GHz octacore) amera: 16-MP with OIS and laser C auto-focus; 5-MP selfie camera with wide-angle lens and LED flash emory: 32GB(ROM) + 3GB(RAM); M Expandable storage upto 2TB via MicroSD slot attery: 3510mAH lithium-ion B battery ingerprint sensor: Yes (home F button) isc: Qualcomm® Quick Charge; M USB Type-C; NFC; sold with a range of magnetic mods; water resistant

19 | Mobile Choice 212

he Moto Z Play is almost identical to its other Z line stablemates. The thickness being the only giveaway and that’s no bad thing. Gorilla Glass covers both the front and back, and the phone feels solidly made. We welcome the extra thickness; it gives you something meatier to hold while allowing for a bigger battery and the return of the headphone jack something Moto Z users miss. There’s a Moto Style Shell included in the box, and its texture is that of the nylon/kevlar backing used in last year’s Moto X Force. It is a beautiful alternative to a case, but we found the back cover too easily removable and left it off most of the time. The circular camera bump sits flush when the Style Shell is in place, and the design is very well thought out. Even though this isn’t a Moto flagship, it feels like one. There’s a tiny fingerprint scanning square beneath the home button, and it is quick and accurate. It’s not a home button but placing your finger on it allows the locking and unlocking

of the phone, something we got used to and ended up loving during our time with it. Our only minor niggle with the design is that the power and volume buttons are identically spaced from one another, and they’re the same size. We ended up locking the phone a lot when all we wanted to do was to turn the volume down - it’d have been nice to have a bigger power button.

Modular design

On the back of the Moto Z Play, you will find a series of flat pins ready and waiting for a Moto Mod. Mods are accessories that snap magnetically to the phone, adding features and functionality you traditionally wouldn’t get. Currently, Lenovo offer four Mods, the Hasselblad True Zoom, the JBL SoundBoost speaker, the Moto Insta-share Projector and the Incipio OffGRID power pack. It is the JBL SoundBoost speaker that we road-tested (rather mercilessly) for this review. The JBL SoundBoost mod looks great, especially in the black version

we reviewed. It’s stunningly well made and manages to be substantial without being too beefy. There’s only subtle JBL branding on the orange kickstand - which complements the minimalist design well - and we loved the patterned design on the underside of the speaker. The most attractive thing about this speaker is that it just snaps in place - no pairing, no hassle. The music doesn’t stop when you attach it; it just routes through the speaker instead. We did find the phone impossible to use with the speaker connected, though. The whole package was just too heavy and bulky to be comfortable. Sound quality is more impressive than what you’d get from an equivalently sized Bluetooth speaker. Bass does take emphasis here, and there’s slight distortion at full volume, but it’s perfectly adequate for the party crowd it’s aimed toward.

Display & Camera

The Moto Z Play shares the same AMOLED 5.5-inch display as it’s siblings, albeit with a lower Full HD

REVIEW // Lenovo Moto Z Play

1920 x 1080 resolution. The result, as you would expect with AMOLED, is a vibrant display with colours that pop. Outdoor readability is up there with the Samsung Galaxy S7, even if the screen brightness can’t come close to the blinding Sony Xperia XZ. It’s nice to see Moto pack features that you’d expect on higher-end handsets - especially when this competes in the same price bracket as the OnePlus 3. On the rear, you’ll find a large circular camera bump, about the size of a 10p coin, which holds inside it a 16-MP f/2.0 sensor. There’s both laser and phase detection autofocus tech on board, and colour balancing (read: one orange, one white) LEDs help keep skin tones looking natural when being used - something we missed on the Sony Xperia XZ. Results are detailed, and shots are great in daylight, but it can’t touch the snapper seen on Samsung Galaxy S7 - overall it’s a great camera for this price. Although, we wish it was better!

Performance

Moto is claiming upto 50 hours of mixed use from it’s 3510 mAH battery inside the Z Play - and they’re not far off. This phone has incredible stamina and puts many devices to shame including the Sony Xperia XZ, Moto X Force, Samsung Galaxy S7 and Huawei P9. Moto’s TurboCharging

tech is here too, which gives up to 9 hours of usage in 15 minutes. The inclusion of the power efficient Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 SoC here could well contribute to that impressive battery time, and here it’s paired with 3GB of RAM. Performance is excellent, with only slight lag every so often, but nothing unbearable. We’ve used devices with the Snapdragon 820 processor that have performed worse than the Moto Z Play. Maybe it’s down to the pure Android that Moto deploy, a welcome departure from the heavy skins seen by other manufacturers? Speaking of Android, they’re only

to Moto’s modular concept, and Moto Mods are incredibly well built, executed and thought out. This is the only phone in its class that offers unlimited possibilities with the additional Mods. The Z Play rivals the likes of OnePlus 3 and Honor 8, and you’ll see devices that aren’t nearly as exciting or don’t offer the value for money that the Z Play does. Battery life is fantastic, software is better than pure Android and performance is solid. You could buy the Moto Z for it’s higher resolution display, but it doesn’t have a headphone jack, and its battery is

champagne budget, then the Moto Z Play is your device. We do hope Moto keep making devices like this for years to come because of the level of customisation they afford for users.

PERFORMANCE............. LOOK AND FEEL............ EASE OF USE................. FEATURES...................... BATTERY LIFE................

The design is very well thought out and even though this isn’t a flagship, it feels like one. Battery-wise, the Z Play has incredible stamina and puts many top devices to shame slight customisations like the fabulous active display that allows you to check notifications with just a wave of the hand. Moto promises an upgrade to Android 7.0 and given how bare Moto’s take on Android is, it should be with us very soon.

Should I buy it?

The Moto Z Play brings affordability

smaller. It’s true, this isn’t a powerhouse like the Google Pixel, as sexy as the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge and it might not have the camera of a Huawei Mate 9, but it is a fraction of the price of them all. If you want to taste something truly spectacular in terms of innovation but don’t have a

Pros Fantastic battery Great modular design Pure Android Cons: erformance not great P Phablet size not for everyone

Similar to OnePlus 3

Also consider Honor 8

Killer app

The battery refuses to die!

Mobile Choice 212 | 20

REVIEW // Sony Xperia XZ

There’s a lot riding on the Sony Xperia XZ. After the lukewarm reception of it’s predecessors – the Xperia X and XA, Sony hopes that the XZ can turn its fortunes around

More X and Less Zzz W The Specs

ebsite: www.sonymobile.com/ W global-en/products/phones/ xperia-xz Price: £549

Operating System: Android™ 6.0.1 (Marshmallow) Dimensions: 146 x 72 x 8.1 mm Weight: 161g Resolution: 1920 x 1280 pixels Display: 5.2-inch Full HD display with curved glass Processor: 64-bit octa-core Qualcomm® Snapdragon 820 processor; Adreno 530 GPU; 3GB RAM Camera: 23-MP rear and 13-MP front cameras. 4K video capture Memory: 32GB (Single SIM) and 64GB (Dual SIM) variants; Expandable storage upto 256GB via MicroSD slot Battery: 2,900 mAh lithium-ion battery Fingerprint sensor: Yes (power button) Misc: Qualcomm’s Quick Charge; IP65/IP68; Corning® Gorilla® Glass; High-Resolution Audio

22 | Mobile Choice 212

e loved the Xperia X although we were in the minority. Spec snobs turned their noses up at it before even powering it on. But our experience was different. Using the device was a joy and we are fans of the evolved OmniBalance design. However, it was ultimately difficult to understand and confusing. Sony insiders told us that the device wasn’t a flagship, even though marketing material would have us believe differently. And just when you thought that Z was dead, Sony threw a curveball and brought it right back - and there’s no doubting the flagship pedigree of the new Sony Xperia XZ!

Look & feel

The familiar glass and metal construction of previous Xperia devices is back, with sharp edges making way for subtle, sexy curves. The Endless Loop design language is similar to that seen on previous Nokia Lumia designs, and it looks very beautiful. There are some slight

quirks- our unit’s 3.5mm headphone jack protrudes slightly from its casing, meaning it doesn’t sit flush. There are weird lips at the top and bottom of the Gorilla Glass that we always seem to catch my fingers on. It looks and feels better than Samsung’s S7 edge but doesn’t quite hit the design high of the Huawei P9. The Xperia XZ is available in Forest Blue, Midnight Black and Platinum White. Our Forest Blue sample looks good, although grease and fingerprints need to be constantly wiped off the back. The Platinum White is particularly stunning, especially with the ALKALEIDO metal used here. It catches the light spectacularly and the shine has more depth than an Adele piano ballad. There’s the usual fingerprint scanner on the right side of the device, integrated into the power button – and it’s wonderful. An immeasurable improvement over the scanner on the Xperia X and even more accurate than the S7 edge or the Huawei P9. We were amazed by its ability to pick up our fingerprint

quickly through wet skin and chipshop grease, something every other phone scanners have failed to do. It’s one of our favourite placements of a scanner too, sitting on par with the rear facing ones seen on devices from Huawei, Google and LG. Back on the front of the device, we have a Full HD Triluminos display measuring 5.2-inches. Once again Sony proves that you don’t need to go Quad HD to produce a great display. It is great in bright sunlight and clever Bravia enhancements produce almost AMOLED levels of colour saturation. We’ve been using the Quad HD AMOLED equipped Moto X Force for the last 10 months and there’s not a huge difference in quality here. Above and below the display are front firing speakers which aren’t overwhelming. We appreciate the inclusion of stereo speakers but they’re out of their depth against those seen on the HTC 10. A colleague commented on the tinny sound and we found volume levels lower than the pound after Brexit. Not great in a world of high-res phones!

REVIEW // Sony Xperia XZ Performance

A press on the power button with your registered finger brings the Sony Xperia XZ to life. The bright display shows Sony’s light skin atop of Android 6.0.1. Sony’s take on Android is clean, with subtle enhancements around the OS which make it useful. We are huge fans of customisable quick settings hidden away in the status bar and the ability to clear all open apps. It was missed when we used other Android devices. Sony have promised Android 7.0 for the XZ, and their light and fluffy UX shouldn’t take too long to bake. Performance is as expected from a 2016 flagship. Qualcomm provides the Snapdragon 820 SoC and Sony have paired it with 3GB of RAM to ensure a zippy experience. The XZ has 50% less RAM than the OnePus 3, a phone that costs £329, there was the occasional stutter but it didn’t overwhelm our experience. Battery life on the XZ isn’t going to blow your socks off, it’s just sufficient. You’ll easily get through a day of medium/heavy usage but as with most modern smartphones, you’re probably going to want to throw a spare charger in your bag. Sony claims to have included fast charging here but we had mixed results. On occasion, the bundled quick charger pumped juice at an astounding pace but at other times it was weak and slow – possibly down to the Qnovo adaptive charging which has been in-built in recent Xperia devices. What really sets the XZ apart is the inclusion of Stamina and Ultra Stamina mode which shut off battery intensive features to keep you going for longer. It’s a real life saver during long trips when all we want to do is listen to Ellie Goulding and not use the phone intensively. Word of warning though, it throttles device performance to bare minimal, making for a painful user experience.

Audio & Camera

Sony have always packed loads of top tech from their famed Walkman in their smartphones. There’s the DSEE HX mode which upscales compressed music files to deliver near Hi-Res audio. Listening to Dua Lipa through our Shure SE315’s was punchy and there is definitely a sparkle that we couldn’t hear before. Wired audio is a dream and there’s loads of settings to tinker with, an option you just don’t get with other phones. There’s a real emphasis on photography capabilities with any Xperia device and the XZ is no different. Sony promised blur free photographs on the Xperia X with predictive hybrid autofocus, which tries to predict your movements and

focus accordingly. This returns with the XZ but is now backed with some impressive improvements. Beneath the 23-megapixel sensor – yes the same one we saw on the Xperia Z5 – there are a trio of dots. One is an LED flash but the other two are way more interesting. First up, we have an RGBC-IR sensor which scans the scene and provides life-like colour in shots, or that’s how it’s supposed to go. We took a picture of a beautiful central London flowerbed and the mix of reds and greens, already gleaming from the beaming sunlight, looked artificially saturated and bright - not natural like Sony claims this sensor is for. 30 seconds later, we found a statue of Paddington Bear

although we found the tech on the XZ lacking when compared to the Dual Pixel focussing tech on the Samsung S7. Low light is another area that the S7 leads the way and the XZ does nothing spectacular to try push ahead. Aperture size remains smaller than the S7, meaning less light is available for that sensor and our hopes for a good night-time snap on the XZ faded as the lighting did. Overall we found the XZ camera to be confusing but still something we are really happy to have by our side should we need to take a snap.

Should I buy it?

In short, yes. It’s the best phone Sony have ever made. The screen is vivid

Sony proves you don’t need to go Quad HD to produce a great display. The one on here is great in bright sunlight and clever Bravia enhancements give it good colour saturation with foliage behind it and the XZ handled it exceptionally. The colours were incredibly realistic, natural and vivid. The shot itself was packed with detail and it’s up there with the best shots we’ve ever taken on a smartphone. The other dot – a laser autofocus – allows for super quick focussing no matter the lighting conditions

and usable in bright sunlight, the fingerprint scanner is the best we’ve ever used and the camera, although tricky to get right, provides stunning results in the right conditions. Sony might have taken a rare step backwards in the design department but the monolithic slab is solidly constructed and not tacky – like some others in flashy gold or silver.

PERFORMANCE............. LOOK AND FEEL............ EASE OF USE................. FEATURES...................... BATTERY LIFE................

Pros Audio prowess Flawless fingerprint scanner Impressive camera, mostly Bright, beautiful screen Cons: till not great low light S photography Gets dirty quick Weird unfinished design elements Mediocre battery life

Similar to HTC 10

Also consider Lenovo Moto Z

Killer app

The bright and light screen is perfect for media guzzling

Mobile Choice 212 | 23

feature // flagship group test

Best of thebest Gutted about your dreams of owning a Note 7 going up in (literally) smoke? Fret not. We have handpicked five of the best phones you can buy right now that can seamlessly step up to your exacting & lofty standards without breaking a sweat.

omeone said this is the age of phablets and we would agree. Ever since the first iPhone, almost petite, by today’s standards was released in 2007, phone sizes have crept up to the semi-slates we have now. With the size has come better specs, display and a luxurious look and feel. Metal, glass or metal’n’glass? iOS or Android? Kirin or Snapdragon? The choice is difficult. We pitted the Apple iPhone 7 Plus, Lenovo Moto Z, Huawei Mate 9, Sony Xperia XZ and Google Pixel XL against each other to see how they fared in our test to find the ultimate work and play champion.

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Phones ON TEST…

Huawei Mate 9 Google Pixel XL Apple iPhone 7 Plus Lenovo Moto Z Sony Xperia XZ

Things to consider What to look for when parting with the cash… Memory

Massive amounts of space on-board your phone is good and bad. Good because you are not susceptible to unpredictable microSD cards, bad because on-board memory comes at a premium. With Apple devices, there is a standard 5GB in the cloud for free, whereas with Google Drive, you can have unlimited storage, but are ultimately, dependant on an internet connection for access. Our vote is reserved for the phone that has a comfortable amount on-board and a generous allowance up in the clouds.

Dual SIM

If you are a high-flying traveller, you probably use two phones already. But,

if you had a phone with dual-SIM capabilities, you wouldn’t have to lug two around! Yes, you wouldn’t be able to use the expandable storage (usually 2nd SIMs use the SD slot) but that’s easily sorted by sending pictures up to the cloud.

Biometric security

Fingerprint, Iris recognition, password, passcode or DNA matching? More security layers mean better protected phone content. But when is it too much? We are all au fait with fingerprint sensors, but are we ready for a mouth swab every time we unlock our phones? Or should we hide them away and use smoke signals instead?

Virtual reality ready

One in ten homes in the UK will have VR tech by end-2016 and this is just the start. With Google, Samsung, Sony and HTC leading the way, should Apple be so far behind?

Accessories

The humble case is not what we mean here. Accessories now mean high-end speakers, VR headsets, snap-on cameras and batteries. More modularity, the better it is. So while the Pixel XL is Daydream View ready, the Moto Z comes with an array of snap-on accessories and the iPhone 7 Plus has the fantastic Apple Watch 2 on hand (literally) to help keep things ticking over.

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feature // flagship group test Test 1 Look and feel

Test 2 Screen & display

Huawei’s Mate 9 retains a characteristic all-metal finish complemented by a squarish form factor. The phone is wider than most flagships making it a bit too big for one-handed usage but perfect for media guzzling. It weighs in at 190g which isn’t too different from some of the others in our test. The iPhone 7 Plus, on the other hand, boasts of not one but TWO different finishes to choose from. There is the glossy Jet Black and also a matte Black version. Size and weight have, however, remained the same as previous versions. Furthermore, the home button is no longer ‘clickable’, the headphone jack is gone but it IS water-resistant. Sony’s Xperia XZ features a strong design aesthetic. With sharp edges and subtle curves over a glass and metal finish it has an edge over the S7 Edge in the looks department. Although, the headphone jack doesn’t sit flush and the back isn’t smudge-proof. Dulls the shine a little... The Google Pixel XL might not seem as sleek but the half-n-half look with sandblasted matt metal and glossy Gorilla Glass does give it character and personality. At 5.5-inches, it just make it to the phablet category and looks-wise it is more HTC 10 more than a traditional Google Nexus device. The Lenovo Moto Z is the ‘thinnest premium smartphone in the World’ and in the pursuit of the tag, Lenovo have ditched the headphone jack. The rear camera lens does bulge but it weighs just 136g, making it incredibly light for a phablet. The Gorilla Glass back isn’t smudge-proof but the phone comes with a free textured back cover which keeps the phone safe and covers up the unsightly bulge. You can also choose from a selection of ‘Style Shells’ in fabric, leather and wood in different colours and textures to give the phone a distinctive look to match the occasion or your mood!.

While Pixel XL and Moto Z feature top of the line Quad HD displays, the other three contenders still use Full HD. Although the latter does consume less power, the move also confirms that a 1080p format is, atleast, for the time being, here to stay. The Xperia XZ has a Full HD Triluminos display which works well in harsh lighting conditions and the Bravia engine ensures AMOLED-like colour saturation levels. Although nothing similar to the XZ, the display on the iPhone 7 Plus packs a pixel per inch density of 401. Not quite the same level as that of the Galaxy S7 duo’s 518 ppi, the wide colour gamut allows images and videos to look not just brighter but also vibrant without over-saturation. The Mate 9’s display has a density of 373ppi which is probably the lowest despite the 2.5D curved glass screen. However, the phone won’t cause fuzzy problems even if you were to view HD content on it all day long. The Moto Z, which features a 5.5-inch Quad HD display, has a pixel per inch density of 535, which even surpasses that of the (now withdrawn) Galaxy Note 7. Images and videos onscreen look accurate and bright, resulting in a fantastic media streaming experience. Protected by Gorilla Glass 4, the Pixel XL display is a Quad HD one with a pixel per inch density of 534. Same as the Moto Z, the image and video quality is absolutely the best out there, no matter how refined other Full HD displays boast they are.

Test results Huawei Mate 9.............. Google Pixel XL............

Apple iPhone 7 Plus.... Lenovo Moto Z............. Sony Xperia XZ.............

Test results Huawei Mate 9.............. Google Pixel XL............

Apple iPhone 7 Plus.... Lenovo Moto Z............. Sony Xperia XZ.............

Test 3 Camera

Test 4 Performance & battery

The Sony Xperia XZ has a powerful 23-MP rear cam which, apart from LED flash, also has an RGBCIR sensor and laser autofocus. This lets users capture lifelike, natural and vivid pictures and focus quickly no matter how dark it is. However, it’s aperture is smaller than the Galaxy S7 and the resulting images are good but not at par with its competitors. The iPhone 7 Plus features dual rear cameras with optical image stabilisation, an ƒ/1.8 aperture and a six-element lens. An image signal processor is built into the chip which corrects white balance, local tone mapping and faster focus. The LED True Tone flash works really well and 4K video capturing ability is an added bonus. The Pixel XL has a 12-MP rear cam with an f/2.0 aperture. There is Electronic Image Stabilisation & it clicked some of the best photos we have seen from a cameraphone. An 89% score from DxOMark says it all, especially because this is the highest rating a cameraphone has ever had! This was because the Pixel XL had ‘relatively low levels of noise for every tested lighting condition’. There is a camera mod but the native 13-MP rear camera on the Moto Z has optical image stabilisation and laser autofocus, resulting in non-fuzzy images. Lenovo has further added 8x digital zoom, automatic video stabilisation, 4K video shooting and Slow Motion Video HDR. Leica’s next generation 20-MP and 12-MP rear camera sensors on the Huawei Mate 9 combine monochrome and RGB effects like no other camera and the results are truly incredible. The best part about the cameras is that you can either use them in standalone mode or as a tag team, depending on your preference.

Huawei’s Mate 9 brings in a new Kirin 960 chip with 4GB of RAM to compete with the likes of the brand new Qualcomm Snapdragon 821. The 64GB of storage is plentiful and the 4,000 mAh battery refuses to die. The Moto Z features a Snapdragon 820 chip and 4GB of RAM which, on tests showed that it is well-oiled to let you stream media and run heavy apps seamlessly. The battery isn’t a world beater and one of the smallest on a flagship right now. The on-board storage is 32GB but expandable memory upto 2TB makes up for it. There is no MicroSD on the iPhone 7 Plus but its internal storage options are future-proof. The new A10 chip runs twice as fast as the iPhone 6 Plus and is easy on the battery too. The 2,900 mAh battery comes armed with night-mode and low-power mode which makes it a two-day number. The Pixel XL packs the new Snapdragon 821 chip which promises a 10% bump in performance. This allows for shorter boot times, faster app launch times, and smoother, more responsive user interactions. The Xperia XZ comes with a Snapdragon 820 SoC but features 3GB of RAM instead of 4GB. However, the lack of the extra bit of RAM doesn’t really show during real-time testing as the phone performed all the tasks effortlessly. Like the iPhone 7 Plus, Xperia XZ features a 2,900 mAh battery which is sufficient to make the phone last a day of medium/heavy usage. Two new modesStamina and Ultra Stamina preserve a lot of battery life to make the phone last much longer but the phone’s performance suffers visibly when they are turned on.You’ll get to choose between 32GB and 64GB storage variants but a 256GB MicroSD slot will let you grab the cheaper variant without worrying much.

Test results

Huawei Mate 9.............. Google Pixel XL............

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Apple iPhone 7 Plus.... Lenovo Moto Z............. Sony Xperia XZ.............

Huawei Mate 9.............. Google Pixel XL............

Apple iPhone 7 Plus.... Lenovo Moto Z............. Sony Xperia XZ.............

Feature // flagship group test

Final Verdict If you’re looking for a phone Geekbench, ahead of the iPhone 7 that’s not just a workhorse but and Galaxy S7. The Snapdragon 821 also has a fantastic camera and a LTE chip allows download speeds of distinctive look and feel, look no up to 600 Mbps, and uploads of up to further than the Google Pixel XL. 150 Mbps. Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon Amongst its Android competitors, 821 offers an incredible Pixel XL also has another distinctive performance. There is unlimited advantage- receiving Android fixes cloud storage thrown in and the and updates first. The lack of third Pixel XL is compatible with party bloatware which may affect Google’s Daydream View VR performance (and take up precious headsets making it a winner. on-board memory) is another feather Google’s latest, Android 7.0 Nougat in its multi-plumed hat. The best for is the operating system on-board. The battery life, it takes full advantage of cameras are brilliant, capturing more Android’s Doze feature apart from the natural tones and performing measly IP54 rating is pretty perfect. extremely well in low-light conditions, as well as giving up vivid photographs on that The Pixel XL features top-of-the-line 2K screen. It may not match the Moto specs & introduces Android 7.1 Nougat Z in terms of accessory support or the iPhone 7 Plus to the world. This VR-capable phone pound for pound for looks, but the horsepower on this has a fast processor and a superb phone is unparalleled. The Pixel XL scored over 4,000 in camera, all sandwiched into a funky a multi-core test on

How do they compare? THE SPECS > PRICE >OPERATING SYSTEM

Huawei Mate 9

Lenovo Moto Z

Apple iPhone 7 Plus

Sony Xperia XZ

Google Pixel XL

€699

£499.99

£599

£549

£499.99

Android 7 with EMUI 5.0

Android 6.0.1

iOS 10

Android 6.0.1

Android 7.0 Nougat

156.9 x 78.9 x 7.9mm

155.3 x 75.3 x 5.19mm

158.2 x 77.9 x 7.3 mm

146 x 72 x 8.1 mm

154.7 x 75.7 x 7.4 mm

190g

136g

188g

161g

168g

1920 x 1080, 373ppi

2560 x 1440 pixels; 535ppi

1920 x 1280 pixels; 401ppi

1920 x 1280 pixels

2560 x 1440 pixels; 534ppi

5.9” Full HD

5.5” Quad HD

5.5” Full HD Retina

5.2” Full HD

5.5” Quad HD

Kirin 960 octa-core

Snapdragon 820 octa-core

A10 Fusion chip 64-bit

Snapdragon 820 octa-core

Snapdragon 821 octa-core

>CAMERA

20MP Monochrome + RGB; 8MP

13MP; 5MP

12MP Wide-angle & Telephoto; 7MP

23-MP , 13-MP

12-MP, 8-MP

>MEMORY

64GB plus MicroSD

32GB plus MicroSD

32GB, 128GB & 256GB

32GB & 64GB

32GB, 128GB

>BATTERY

4,000 mAh

2,600 mAh

2,900 mAh

3,450 mAh

>DIMENSIONS >WEIGHT >RESOLUTION >DISPLAY >PROCESSOR

RATINGS >PERFORMANCE >LOOK & FEEL >EASE OF USE >FEATURES >BATTERY LIFE >FINAL VERDICT

Mobile Choice 216 | 27

First look // Kodak Ektra

Say cheese! With its retro-cool looks and inspired name and being, Ektra is a curve-ball. From the leather carry case to the physical shutter button, everything about it begs and demands a second look.

he Kodak Ektra in 1941 was more than a flagship. With rugged good-looks, it packed a punch. So when Bullitt group wanted to revive the Kodak brand, it was the Ektra they turned to. Not just for name inspiration but also to inform their choice of materials that go on the actual smartphone.

Look and feel

The 1941 Ektra weighed over 2 lbs and neither isthe 2016 Ektra a feather-weight. The display is protected by Corning Gorilla glass and the leatherette-clad has a massive

The Specs Website: Kodak.com Price: £449 (32GB) Operating System: Android 6.0 Dimensions: 147.80 x 73.35 x 9.69 mm Weight: 138g Resolution: 441 ppi. 1920 x 1080 Display: 5-inch full HD rocessor: MediaTek Helio X20 P 2.3GHz Decacore processor with 3GB RAM amera: 21-MP fast focus C camera. F2.0, PDAF, OIS, Dual LED Flash, 13-MP Selfie camera with F2.2 PDAF. 4k video recording capabilities emory: 32GB memory, M expandable with MicroSD cards Battery: 3000mAh Fingerprint sensor: No Misc: USB 3.0 Type C fast charger.

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protruding lens. This is counterbalanced by a grippable bump on one of the all-metal sides. There is a power button, volume toggles, a dedicated camera shutter button and a little lanyard loop. In a sea of glass/metal and plastic numbers, it is quite reassuring different in a self-assured way.

Camera

The Ektra is tailored and for a certain type of customer. There is a custom-built camera UI and application suite with software partner Arcsoft creating the Night Shot technology. The primary camera has a 21-MP sensor and the Kodak certified lens makes sure a huge amount of light gets to it. In principle this should mean fantastic low-light photography but we will only be able to say if it is good enough to beat the likes of Galaxy S7 edge and Huawei P9 when we have had more time with it. Kodak have put a dial on the screen to switch between modes and in a throwback to the 1941 Ektra, there is haptic feedback on it. A 2-stage button press on the physical shutter button maks the experience quite interesting. Camera smarts include: Dynamic Focus and Object Tracking as well as automatic Image Noise Reduction, so you can spend more time taking pictures and less time post-editing. The low light mode has been inspired by the ones on Tier 1 vendor smartphones and Snapseed on-board

helps with impactful editing. Having been a long time user of Snapseed, we can confidently say there is no better photo editing software with the layers and options it provides. And keeping with the retro theme, there is a Super 8 Colouration app on video as well as pictures so you can make them look old and perhaps, more interesting. There is the ability to record 720 as well as 4K video on the Kodak Ektra and at set up, the user is given options on Kodak approved photo editing apps including VSCO, prisma, light room and a few other apps from Play Store.

Performance

There is a Mediatek Helio X-20 Decacore processor on-board with 3GB RAM. This should be enough for most high intensity smartphone use. There is Android 6 (Marshmallow) onboard with promises of ramping up to Android 7.0 Nougat imminently. The battery is a 3000mAH number, is non removable and is charged via a USB-C cable and is fast charge capable. While Kodak haven’t tried to reprogram the basic Android structure, there are some apps that come pre-loaded. This includes one you can use to send off your photos for printing, using Kodak’s services. The on-board memory is 32GB. There is a slot to expand the phone’s memory by way of microSD slots so you have enough space for all your fantastic pictures.

Early verdict

The Ektra is for the stylish and discerning customer who loves photogrpahy. It also happens to be a phone. Depends on what you need!

PERFORMANCE............. LOOK AND FEEL............ EASE OF USE................. FEATURES...................... BATTERY LIFE................

Pros Camera Distinctive looks Expandable memory Fast charge Cons: No fingerprint sensor Leatherette look not for all

Similar to

Lenovo Moto Z with Hasselblad Camera Mod

Also consider Huawei P9

Killer app

The camera and the form factor

in its 16th year, mobile choice consumer awards 2016 saw the best products, networks and services crowned. voted for by the public, the award winners are not just the darling of critics but get the ultimate seal of acceptance from our discerning readers as well

Mobile Choice 216 | 30

Phone of the Year The most coveted award of them all is reserved for the best in class and is a crown to be worn with pride and a side of attitude

the shortlist

Huawei P9

Beautifully built, seamless juxtapositioning of metal and glass and the slim and light body cloak a superfast processor on the P9. One of the best fingerprint sensors, great RAM and expandable memory as well as the fantastic camera position it at the top of the Android pecking order. Huawei have hit the ball out of the park with the P9 which isn’t just a step up from the P8 but a reimagined flagship.

HTC 10

HTC did not mess about with the handset they simply called 10- they gave it a unibody metal design with beautiful build quality, upscaled high-res audio capabilities, great camera and best in class processor. And boy, does it shine! The 10 is the best phone HTC has ever made. The smarts don’t end with the odd feature being cranked up… they have been interlinked in a way that is truly intuitive.

30 | Mobile Choice 216

Apple iPhone SE

The iPhone SE is a return to form for Apple. Packing the might of the iPhone 6S, it has the body of the iPhone 5, making it a petite warrior like no other. This is a great little phone and was the first to show off live photos. The smaller albeit retro style will resonate with users who hate large handsets while its premium looks and the keen price-point is bound to wow users.

LG G5

If you’re one of those people who loves the zaniest, wackiest piece of tech and call yourself an ‘early adopter’, then the G5 is the one for you. The phone is a workhorse and it’s real party trick is not the design but the camera and its wide-angle lens. Perfect for capturing sweeping vistas and group pictures, the difference in images captured on the regular lens and this one is quite staggering.

Sony Xperia XA

A bezel-free display in a petite form factor, the XA ticks a lot of boxes for the ultimate geek. Packing Sony’s Bravia display engine- the same as on your tv, it also has a fantastic camera and at a price that is bound to win it many fans. It’s best feature? The super-fast camera, paired with a speedy autofocus that lets you capture any moment without worrying about blur or haze.

the winner

Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge

All the niggles from the Galaxy S6 edge have been ironed out and the S7 edge is now bigger- with more space to show off that seamlessly beautiful curved screen. There is added waterproofing, expandable memory and Samsung have made sure this phone oozes beauty and sophisticationâ&#x20AC;Ś The Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge stands head and shoulders above the crowd because of what it stands for, provides and means. Unique with curved sides, allmetal body and an incredibly high 534ppi, the Quad HD Super AMOLED and the 2560X1440 resolution is the best in the industry. Media guzzling is a joy on this curvy beauty and both sound and visuals are so immersive that you will find it difficult to go back to a more linear phone after using this one. The S7 edge is a keeper.

Mobile Choice 216 | 31

tablet of the Year Slates have evolved since the first iPad burst onto the scene in 2010. Small, large, thin, ruggedised, there is a flavour for everyone

the shortlist

Acer Iconia One 10-inch

It arrived featuring a IPS HD display with MediaTek MiraVision tech & offering HD viewing experiences. It is also light enough to read or catch up on emails while commutinge or streaming at home. The multimedia experience is boosted by DTSHD Premium Sound and the MediaTek Quad-Core processor lets you watch movies without encountering lags. This is a neat little family tablet.

Microsoft Surface Pro 4

One of the more premium competitors, the Surface Pro 4 shines bright with a stock Windows 10 experience, bundled Surface Pen, beautiful display and powerful 6th Gen Intel processors. Featuring a larger display than the Surface Pro 3, it incorporates a robust design, superb performance with a gorgeous display. Our favourite feature? The handy little kick-stand that hides a SD card slot.

32 | Mobile Choice 216

Lenovo Yoga Tab 3

Who doesn’t like yoga? This one features a 10-inch HD display like the Iconia One but it’s unique design lets you place it wherever you want using its tilt, hold, stand and hang capabilities. A powerful battery ensures as long as 18 hours of usage on a single charge and the tablet can recognise any conductive object as a digital pen, letting you draw or take notes on it even if you don’t own a digital pen.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S2

A worthy Android tablet, this is Samsung’s best till date. It is also absolutely gorgeous and features a wafer-thin body, a light-weight frame that doesn’t creak when you give it a press. Galaxy Tab S2 comes with four 1.3 GHz processors to help with browsing as well as four 1.9 GHz processors for high intensity gaming needs. The battery is excellent, and the cameras very good indeed.

Huawei MediaPad M2

When it released, this was the world’s first 8-inch all-metal 4G tablet. Perfect for browsing & enjoying HD content, yet small enough to carry in your (hopefully large) pocket, the unique 99.5% metal body sets a new standard for slates. It also features dual speakers, a 64-bit octacore Kirin processor, a 4,800 mAH battery and super-fast performance. This is an affordable premium tablet.

the winner

Apple iPad Pro 12.9 Appleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first mega-tablet is a joy to behold. Brilliant design, extremely thin form factor, sharp viewing angles, a large battery and four speakers makes this a fantastic multimedia device. The fantastic processor on-board makes this a work and play device. Apple are known for the beautiful and solid craftsmanship on their products and with the iPad Pro, they have driven home the point.

There is also a slightly smaller version of the same tablet, the 9.7, but it is this, the 12.7-inch version that got the award because of its sheer power and usability. While Smart Keyboard, Apple Pencil, split-screen view and Retina display add to its prowess, the all-metal body with the pin sharp screen and superb processing power won over our readers Apple are back on form with it.

Mobile Choice 216 | 33

Best Value Phone £150 under

picking the winner of this category was a tough ask, but seemingly not impossible for our readers, who voted for their favourites!

the shortlist

Samsung Galaxy J5

You wouldn’t find a closer, more similarly-priced competitor to the Xperia M5 than the Samsung Galaxy J5. The 5-inch Super AMOLED display, 13-MP main camera and 2,600 mAH battery offer a lot of promise. With its Super AMOLED display, the Samsung Galaxy J5 further allows you to enjoy a more vivid and richer media experience than ever before, on a budget handset.

Huawei P8 Lite

HTC Desire 530

Very good for basic usage, taking pictures or even as a starter phone, the P8 Lite is a solid handset and quite popular with the paying population. The quick launch camera comes with a range of modes designed to help improve the quality of your photographs, and include: best-photo, HDR panoramic, all-focus, beauty, and even a wide-selfie panorama.

This phone is pretty light on the wallet, but a look at its specs would suggest that HTC didn’t really cut too many corners with the Desire 530. A 5-inch Full HD display, 16GB of storage, NFC for contactless payments, the latest Android 6 OS and a 2,200 mAH battery makes it a strong competitor for the top spot in the sub-£150 price range.

Motorola Moto G 4G (3rd Gen)

Vodafone Smart ultra 7

the winner Sony Xperia M5

A 5-inch Full HD display is flanked by premium glass finish and stainless steel corners, making the M5 a dead ringer for Sony’s flagship Xperias. The fact the M5 boasts IP65 waterproof rating and an IP68 dustproof rating is just the icing on the cake. Spec-wise, the Xperia M5 features a 64-bit 2.0 GHz Octa-core processor, 3GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, 21.5-MP and 13-MP cameras and a 2,600 mAH battery which lasts up to two days. And did we mention the 13-MP selfie camera and 4K video recording capabilities? Thought not!

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Sensible pricing, pure Android, good cameras and no-nonsense build quality coupled with the infinite customisation options make it an almost irresistible budget option. The 13-MP camera is a good point and shoot option and Moto Maker allows you to try out a range of different looks for the phone so you are not stuck with anything that you don’t like.

The Ultra 7 grabbed eyeballs thanks to its pure Android offering, a powerful battery and build quality. Full HD screen and high-quality audio, showed that it was all about a high performance without the high price tag. This is one of the best budget handsets in the market and if it is price that drives your buying decision as well brand trust, then go for it!

Best Value Phone £300 under

What is budget? and how much does a budget phone cost? Obviously, the customer knows best and these are their favourites

the shortlist

Honor 7

Encased in a full metal body, Honor 7 has a fingerprint sensor, great cameras and a just right high-quality display in a size that can be used one-handed. The processor and RAM combo makes it a powerhouse and the 3,100 mAH battery is more than enough for your multimedia needs. The camera is great and has all the apps needed to make your pictures shine.

Alcatel IDOL 3 (4.7)

It offers the comforts of one-handed usage, vast storage space (internal and external), FM radio, decent cameras and a quad-core processor, letting you multitask with ease for an entire day. Add to it a perfectly symmetrical design which means it is 100% reversible: so you can use it either way up and the user interface rotates to match –even to make or receive a call.

Microsoft Lumia 650

The Lumia 650 makes it possible for Windows fans to experience Windows 10 Mobile without being out of pocket. It brings in Continuum, Cortana, Skype and Microsoft Office tools for productivity into the consumer’s hands and combines then with a slim form factor and a good display to be on the shortlist as one of the best mid-range phones around.

the winner Vodafone Smart Platinum 7

Asus ZenFone 6

A 5.5-inch Full HD Super IPS+ display, 4GB of RAM, an octa-core processor and a 16-MP camera makes the ZenFone 3 a powerhouse of a performer at a keen price point. On top of the brilliant specs, the phone also packs a fingerprint sensor, an integrated X9 LTE modem and 802.11ac MU-MIMO Wi-Fi connectivity.

Lenovo VIBE

Lenovo VIBE combines a 5-inch HD display, a large battery, solid cameras and a 1.4 GHz processor to arrive as a yet another decent phone in the mid-range space. The range of colour options will leave you spoilt for choice and the fact it can be bought unlocked is an added advantage.

Stunning looks, brilliant design, good cameras and fast fingerprint sensor makes the Smart Platinum 7 a delight for mid-range phone buyers. The phone comes with an octa-core processor, enough storage, battery power and display surface area to allow consumers to enjoy the comforts of a decent phablet at a fantastic price point. The handset has a fantastic screen that puts it in the same league as the Galaxy S7 and a price that has made the OnePlus 3 the phenomenon that it is.

Mobile Choice 216 | 35

Most Innovative Device features that gives smartphones uniqueness can be innumerable. However if they need to rise above their peer group, they have to offer something different – in short, innovate. These were the best this year

the shortlist Sony Xperia XZ

With one of the best IPS displays available on smartphones right now, the XZ reproduces more than 99 percent of the full RGB colour gamut. Sony’s famed Bravia TV technology means that they know more than a thing (or two!) about displays and have the best R&D in-house. So, their Triluminous Display for Mobile tech basically mashes together Live Colour LED and Live Colour Creation™ for an intensely vivid colour palette, guaranteeing a neither too warm nor too cold viewing experience for the consumer that is just perfect!

Huawei P9

Huawei claim they are reinventing smartphone photography. You have to give it to them for their chutzpah in making the claim, then following it through… The collaboration with Leica has catapulted Huawei to the top of the Android flagship pecking order. Blending superior hardware and software with Leica’s dual lenses, they have guaranteed a fantastic camera on-board. Huawei jumped on the dual lens bandwagon before Apple could AND made sure it was a success.

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ZTE Axon 7 mini

A petite handset with a larger than life audio quality is how we would describe the Axon 7 Mini. The handset includes a dedicated audio processor from sound chip specialists Asahi Kasei Microdevices (AKM) and its Hi-Fi audio output is a result of collaborations with many audio associations including Golden Ears Conservatory of Music. The phone features dual front-facing stereo speakers which, thanks to Dolby Atmos® sound, lets the phone’s audio quality rival that of pricey portable speakers.

the winner

Lâ&#x20AC;&#x160; enovo Moto Z In the past year, modular design has become all the rage but on the Moto Z, modular design has been done right. This is a sliver of a phone with snapon modules, held together by powerful magnets. These modules in turn increase the phoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prowess- whether it is with a snap-on battery pack, a pico projector or a fantastic camera module from one of the oldest names in the business- Hasselblad. And if this is not enough, much like Joseph and his technicolour dreamcoat, the Moto Z can be accessorised with a plethora of back plates- fabric, wood, leather as well as plastic and in an array of textures, colours and finishes. The result is not just aesthetic but also obvious within. It is usually a tiny detail that elevates an okay flagship into a powerhouse and that is what the Moto Z is- a powerhouse device capable of shedding and taking on mods to fit in with the demand of the consumer. This is a true champion. (In-depth review on page 16)

Mobile Choice 216 | 37

Camera Phone of the Year The best camera is the one in your hand. With our top 6, you are guaranteed to never lose an instagrammable moment again

the shortlist

Google Nexus 6P

The camera on-board is one of the best ever on a Google-branded device. So much so that even a year after launch, it still made it to pur list of top 6. The 6P makes easy business of low-light conditions and with the smart Google Photos app, your memories are easy to relive and always at your fingertips.

LG G5

Another dual lens (standard and wide angle) champion, the LG G5 also sports camera and video features like Ultra HD, manual mode and auto shot. Sweeping panoramas are go with the 135 degrees ultra-wide angle lens and its 16-MP camera, picks up a lot more detail, and packs a fantastic manual mode for budding photographers.

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HTC 10

Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) is common on smartphone primary cameras. The HTC 10 was the first to have OIS on both the primary and front-facing cameras. Add to this an UltraPixel sensor and a bright Ć&#x2019;/1.8 lens and you are guaranteed brilliant high-resolution photos even in low-light conditions.

Samsung Galaxy S7

Thanks to a brighter lens (F1.7) and larger pixel image sensor (1.4um) you are guaranteed quality photos. The Galaxy S7 uses dual photodiode sensor technology and instantly focuses on objects and the Dual Pixel 12-MP camera is one of the fastest on the market. And because of that gorgeous display, you can view your photos in great detail, every time!

Sony Xperia X

It has a 23-MP camera with hybrid autofocus. Sony say that the camera can go from standby to capture in less than .6 seconds. And thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not all, there is a 13-MP selfie camera with fantastic lowlight sensors and 4K video recording too. And Smart Capture technology lets you automatically track a person or object so sharp photos are guaranteed.

the winner

H â&#x20AC;&#x160; uawei P9 How do you guarantee guarantee fantastic crisp images and good lowlight photography from your next flagship? Simple, if you are Huawei, you collaborate. And they did, with one of the oldest and most wellknown names in photography- Leica. On the P9, the camera on-board turned headsof tech critics, professional photographers, bloggers and photojournalists. Huawei then created a marketing campaign starring Scarlett Johansson and Henry

Cavill and lapped up all the accolades. The Huawei P9 doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t actually need an elaborate campaign because the phone has enough facets to shine on its own. There are two sensors on-board, one RGB and one monochrome and when you take a photo, the software on the P9 merges the colours taken by the RGB sensor with the detail of the monochrome sensor to give you a staggering result each time, every time, without fail. Cameras have evolved!

Mobile Choice 216 | 39

macOS

Sierra is here... ios10 Essential advice in every issue

Let the experts at macformat be YOUR guides to APPLEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s POWERFUL NEW os

Av a i l a b l e f ro m w w w. m a c fo r m a t . c o m

Headphones of the Year our line-up this year are all about advanced noise cancellation, wireless performance, in-built microphone and storage

the shortlist

Sennheiser PXC 550

Lightweight and comfortable, these offer phenomenal playback and well-balanced clarity. Paird with the app, the PXC 550 pack excellent noise cancellation too.

Parrot Zik 3.0

They feature premium noise cancellation in a uniquely designed steel and leatherette frame. The app is great and the level of customisations offered unparalleled.

the winner

AKG Y50BT

For the price, you get unbeatable sound quality along with quite cool looks. They come to their own when playing music genres like hip hop, rock and metal.

Oppo PM- 3

Classy looks aside, Oppo PM-3 headphones bring in advanced sound experience thanks to planar magnetic technology which is otherwise reserved for in-room music testing by audiophiles. Enter soft, thick pads, a flexible headband and a lightweight design which makes the headphones not just extremely comfortable but also the winner.

Mobile Choice 216 | 41

Best VR Virtual Reality is the hottest tech to sweep the mobile industry and consumers off their feet. These five won our seal of approval

the shortlist the winner HTC Vive

Samsung Gear VR

It’s engineered to fit better than ever before and works seamlessly with Galaxy smartphones. Compatible with Galaxy handsets S6 onwards, Samsung have done more for VR than any other manufacturer by getting the world’s media to strap them on at their S7 launch & getting Mark Zuckerberg on-board the VR train.

Vodafone VR

Free with the Vodafone Smart platinum 7, the VR headset was free to customers who pre-ordered it. Vodafone are the first network to dip their toes into the VR world and the headset is a great first attempt!

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Alcatel VR

The world’s first smartphone + VR goggles package is perfect for enjoying content like games, videos, and other VR apps. The Idol 4S smartphone helps those who cannot afford the likes of the Vive to consume VR content. The headset is very good quality and perfect for those looking to upscale to a more expensive pair.

Google Cardboard

Get it, fold it and look inside to enter the world of Cardboard. There are a variety of options available & they work with all phones upto 6-inches so you are not restricted by manufacturer.

Immerse yourself in a world full of surprises. Walk around freely and explore everything while the Chaperone guidance system keeps you safely within the bounds of your play area. Stunning graphics make it feel real and surreal simultaneously. HD haptic feedback and intuitive gestures mean playing games and interacting with the virtual world comes naturally. Vive’s two wireless controllers feature 24 sensors for unobstructed movement, meaning you can do more in VR than ever before. Be galvanised by new virtual worlds filled with aweinspiring characters, sights and sounds.

Connected Gadget of the Year Bluetooth, NFC, QI or magnets, you cannot ignore connected gadgets. these are the ones that enrich our interactions with tech

the shortlist

Kindle Oasis

The best e-reader money can buy, Amazon’s Kindle Oasis is for the discerning book addict. More caviar than fish ‘n’ chips, this e-reader is one worth saving for. The Oasis features a high-resolution 300 ppi display for crisp text, while a built-in light features 60% more LEDs than any other Kindle. The cover is premium leather and has a discreet battery hidden within. This is an irresistable option for bookworms.

DJI Phantom 4

Eye-wateringly expensive and yet totally worth it, the Phantom 4 can lock onto a subject and track it over a distance. Exquisite detailing and compact design aside, the Phantom 4 boasts an integrated gimbal, refined propellers, and groundbreaking intelligent features such as Obstacle Avoidance, TapFly and ActiveTrack, to make even the most beginner pilot an expert.

GoPro Hero 4

True to its name, this action cam is an absolute hero. Stronger, better, faster and with more smarts, Hero 4 is the ultimate accessory for the extreme sport fanatic. Incredible high-resolution 4K30 and highframe rate 1080p120 video enable stunning, immersive footage. Waterproof to 40m with 12MP photos at a blistering 30 frames per second and improved audio, HERO4 is a must-have.

the winner Hive Active Heating

Netatmo Welcome

Keep an eye on your front door whether you are home or not. Get notifications on your smartwatch/smartphone to say who’s come back home thanks to the facial recognition system on the Welcome. When children pass in front of the camera, it recognizes them thanks to its revolutionary face recognition technology and if it doesnt recognisesomeone, it pings your phone.

Hasselblad True Zoom Moto mod

A Xenon flash with 10x optical zoom and RAW format for true camera connoisseurs are just some of the reasons to get your mitts around this Moto mod. Unleash your creativity with special Hasselblad shooting and scene modes to optimize your images depending on the type of shot you’re trying to capture. Never been easier!

One of the most popular Internet of Things gadgets, Hive has just gotten better with its second version. Controlled by a thermostat that’s almost a design classic by none other than Yves Béhar, Hive Active Heating has become one of the most accessible and easy to use gadgets in the home.

Mobile Choice 216 | 43

Best Network deals based on network submissions, our judges hand-picked the best SIM-only deals available in the market today. in terms of minutes, texts and data, you cannot get better

Best Best Best Network Network Network deal deal deal (under-£15) (under-£25) (under-£40) winner

1000 mins, 5000 texts, 2GB*

winner

Unlimited mins, 2500 mins, unlimited texts, unlimited texts, 15GB & £50 voucher 1GB data, LG G5 to spend on BT and a free TV worth Shop mobile £249.99* phones* *Deals and promotions correct at the time of submission & judging

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winner

Best In-Store Customer Experience Readers were asked to vote on their experience of visiting stores: did they feel welcome? was it a good experience? the stores’ look and feel? and, of course, how were the staff nice?

the shortlist

Carphone Warehouse

They have now integrated larger Dixon’s, Curry’s/PC World and Carphone Warehouse stores into 3-in-1 spaces, giving customers access to even more services and technology under one roof.

Tesco Mobile

Although they work from stands, Tesco Mobile retail staff are not just friendly but also knowledgeable and harbour a true community spirit, known for helping OAPs with their contracts and top-ups.

With the helping hand of owners BT, EE have been increasing their in-store offering. They are trialling new tech too- playing host to a virtual reality showing of a live BT Sport Premier League game in-store.

Virgin Media

Large, very well kitted out and always with lots of goodies for consumers, Virgin Media stores are a hub for those wanting to refresh their quad play digital connections. and get 4G contracts on a budget.

O2 has been experimenting with its Stores of the Future project. O2 stores have also continued to be a great place to go to if you had a question about your phone or a query about your contract.

Vodafone

Vodafone has also been pushing the limits of what a mobile phone store can be and how it can function. The addition of offering a broadband hub in store has given staff another string to their bow.

the winner Winner- Three

This year Three added to its already impressive in-store experience with its Discovery programme. Discovery saw the retailer work with consumers and community groups running free sessions that taught consumers how to use technology better as well as stay safe online.

Our survey takers liked the fact that the emphasis in Three outlets is on two things only: people and products. To aid this, the product range that appears in store is perfectly balanced with great exclusives and the staff are the best in the business when it comes to advice.

Mobile Choice 216 | 45

Best customer care It isn’t just deals that brings in customer loyalty. It is also impeccable attention to detail, a patient ear, communication, and of course, speedy resolutions to issues

the shortlist Three

Three have made a turn around and this year its satisfaction scores continued to rise as it shed the reputation for being just a cheap low-quality network.

BT Mobile

BT’s family package established the brand as one of the market’s new providers to watch. It made the most of its WiFi network and its sports rights to give the customer more.

With particular concern for its customers safety, the network was the only one to carry out additional testing on Samsung’s exploding Note7 devices.

Tesco Mobile

With one of the most interesting, friendly and approachable brand twitter accounts, all customers are guaranteed to find answers with a twist of humour and a good helping of banter.

Virgin Media

It was quality not quantity as Virgin continued to make the right noises and improve their customer care proposition this year.

Vodafone

The brand has committed serious amounts of money to ensure that it fixes its billing issues. It also has some of the most well known freebies associated with their ‘Red’ plans including Now TV.

the winner

O2 as a network is known for taking good care of its customers, from the ever popular O2 rewards through to its Refresh handset programme. The network has continued to innovate around its strongest areas offering a great range of trade-in and second hand offers.

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Best Online Retailer readers who purchased online, rated the service they received. Website design and functionality together with customer experience & satisfaction guaranteed success

the shortlist Amazon

Carphone Warehouse

Great for phones not sold on the high street as well as accessories, Amazon is fast taking over from pure-play online mobile retailers.

Users get a handy comparison tool & the ability to check which network offers what. They are told how much it would cost on iD, their home-grown network and then either chat with their operators online or go in-store to complete the transaction.

With deals from Vodafone, TalkMobile and EE, MPD make sure to again roll out the offers, savings, discounts and bundled deals that customers will find irresistible.

Whether it is SIM-only, contract,

Vodafone With separate areas for personal and business customers, Vodafone have labelled all tariffs on their website well, making sure to point out freebies.

Expansys From Smart Home, wearables & phones to drones and flip cases. They are one of the biggest distributors of mobile products.

One of the biggest networks in the country has an easy to use interface & quick checkout options. Live chat is available if you get stuck with one of their quadplay propositions in your shopping basket.

Mobilephonesdirect. co.uk

O2 accessories or even to recycle your phone, O2â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website has got it all, and in a layout that is very intuitive. They also have a fantastic community where consumers will answer any questions a potential user might still have before buying...

the winner

Mobiles.co.uk

This year's winner has an impressive track history. They were the first website to sell mobile phones in the UK and with over 100 smartphones in stock they feature contracts from most UK networks and promise free next day delivery on your purchases.

Mobile Choice 216 | 47

Best Value Network canny shoppers are always on the look-outnot just for the best, but also the most wallet-friendly network

the shortlist the winner Virgin Media

First off the block in the value network category, Virgin Media have some of the best deals around. Their quad-play customers pay a lower rate and Virgin regularly carries out deals and promotions. Best of them all, is their penchant to break up the pricing of a tariff so a consumer knows exactly how much they are paying per month for the handset AND for the plan. They have also just switched over to 4G.

Giff Gaff

A virtual mobile network that piggybacks off O2, Giff Gaff has made their goody bags or bundles of texts, calls and data synonymous with good value. With no call centres, it has a thriving forum where members help each other out with queries in return for incentives from the network.

Tesco Mobile

Users dont pay extra for 4G, and also get free perks like free minutes/data if they have more than one contract. Customers can add safety buffers to negate bill shock and there is Anytime Upgrade so they can get their mitts on the latest handset midcontract. And don’t forget Clubcard points!

48 | Mobile Choice 216

Newest kid on the block, iD is the baby of Carphone Warehouse and prides itself on being 4G only. The virtual network uses Three’s infrastructure and specialises in ‘shockproof ’ capped plans, free roaming in 21 countries and 4G at no extra cost. Sounds like a win-win plan!

BT Mobile

Piggybacking off EE, pre-existing BT customers get money off for getting on-board. Simple, un-cluttered plans in denominations of £5 lay out the perks and value straight. Plus having the BT Sports Lite app for free & unlimited access to BT Wi-fi hotspots is something else, right?!

Best Network our readers rateD their network based on its internet coverage, quality of voice calls, bespoke deals and benefits they receive

the shortlist

Another steadily successful year for O2 who maintained strong customer numbers in the face of a market where revenues are declining in the handset space.

Tesco Mobile

A strong portfolio of high profile devices and a clear sense of who a Tesco Mobile customer is meant the UK’s largest virtual network maintained its strong showing.

Three

Three continued to lead the way in the areas it always has, on challenging its rivals with what’s best for the consumer and being the number one brand for roaming.

Virgin Media

We love them for being the only retailer that tells customers how much they are paying for each tariff. So they can see the price of minutes/texts/data and the handset every month on their bills. They have also been connecting cities, towns and business parks to their network.

Vodafone

Vodafone’s efforts to improve its network and give its customers access to a broad range of exciting content really shone. They brought 4G to newer places using pioneering technology to provide reliable coverage in rural not-spots.

the winner

They topped almost every network performance test in the market this year. Also able to offer customers exclusives that no-one else had, EE plans included BT Sport and an extended trial of Apple Music. From a customer service perspective, the brand also brought a number of its call centres back to the UK. Our survey respondents said that they liked the fact that EE’s coverage was more comprehensive than its rivals and votes were cast based on EE’s commitment to filling in those pesky coverage blackspots.

Mobile Choice 216 | 49

Manufacturer of the Year The top five have continued to innovate, experiment and reinvent endlessly to bring us seamless, intuitive technology this year

the shortlist the winner Samsung

Apple

From revolutionising the industry to ushering in impressive & (sometimes) mind-boggling changes, Apple has had a very successful year again! The iPhone 7 duo have done roaring business, their MacBooks are best in class and Apple Watch Series 2 has received rave reviews.

Lenovo

With their acquisition of Motorola, Lenovo have come back onto the scene. The Moto G range is still a force to be reckoned with and Lenovo now have an expanded gamut of devices. Moto Z is a fantastic flagship and their smartwatches are amongst the best for usability & affordability.

50 | Mobile Choice 216

Huawei

It has taken Huawei just a few short years to get to the top of the list. In 2016 they turned heads with their range. From the fantastic P9 and the Leica collaboration to the beautiful Windows-totting MateBook hybrid, the Huawei Watch and the Mate series of phones.

Sony

Toned down, but definitely still there, Sony are an industry stalworth. Their phones look, feel and perform fantastically! They are also stuffed full of amazing techBravia engines, incredible camera sensors and groundbreaking camera smarts that redefines cameraphones.

From smartphones to wearables to virtual reality to headphonesâ&#x20AC;Ś There are very few areas within the mobile industry that Samsung have not innovated and won top accolades for. Their dogged determination to get to the top of the popularity chart has seen them tirelessly innovate, improve and enhance their products to such an extent that they now shine at the top of the pecking order. They have won this award for their relentless commitment to the pursuit of excellence.

The

Genius Guide to gifts

Our fabulous guide is packed with the hottest and coolest tech where you are guaranteed to find one (or, two!) gadgets to buy this year

Mobile Choice 216 | 51

PODO £59.99 1

Cuckooland.com Podo is a Bluetooth connected, re-stickable camera that can be controlled with your smartphone. Sticking to glass, bricks, masonry and wood is no problem and you can take pictures at a party/picnic and instantly share on Instagram.

2 iStorage datAshur Pro £69

Amazon This secure flash drive employs PIN code access with military grade AES 256-bit hardware encryption. It can also store up to 64GB worth of phone data. Features include an on-board keypad for authentication, so all your emails & photos are safe from software and hardware-based keyloggers.

Parrot Disco £1,149.99 3

Currys The Disco FPV combines all the latest hightech essentials for flights with exceptional reality. It can reach top speeds of 80 kms/h and offers 45 minutes of flight time and using Parrot Cockpitglasses, you get a really immersive, almost VR-like experience.

Nixon Mission £339 4

WatchShop.com Buying for an extreme sport addict? Mission runs on Android Wear and is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon™ Wear 2100. It has apps tailored for action sports, is 10-ATM (100 metres) water-resistance rated and surfers and riders can get real-time updates on conditions worldwide.

Lava BrightSounds 2 £39.99 5

Lavaaccessories.co.uk This is a handy little speaker and has an ace up its sleeve: an ambient nightlight. The 36-hour battery life means your parties and picnics are guaranteed tunes and guests can charge their phones using the in-built power bank. Did we mention it is water resistant too?

Onkyo H500BT £169.99 Argos Over-ear headphones, you said? This wireless pair offers a premium Hi-Res Audio listening experience in a lightweight design. It has a touch sensing control panel so you can switch easily between music and calls thanks to the built-in microphone.

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The

Genius 7

Special Edition Battle-Worn BB-8 and Force Band

Guide to gifts

ÂŁ179.99

Disney Store This is THE toy to have this season! Like a Jedi Knight, control the BB-8 App-Enabled Droid with just a wave of your hand and brush up your Force Training. Usable by itself, the the band can be used to complete Combat Training for Blasters, Lightsabers, and the Force itself. You can also collect digital holocrons in your environment through Force Awareness. The perfect gift for every Star Wars addict, the Force Band comes with a Battle-Worn BB-8, seemingly, straight from the sands of Jakku. This, very realistic, wearable Astromech Droid reflects the wear and tear of trekking across the galaxy on Resistance missions and is suitably scruffy. Watch your Droid explore autonomously, guide it yourself, or create and view holographic recordings. The Force Band also works with the original BB-8 Droid and other Sphero robots powered by Bluetooth SMART. The Force is strong with this one...

Mobile Choice 216 | 53

o n sale now! available at whsmith, myfavouritemagazines.co.uk or SiMPlY Search for t3 in Your device’S aPP Store

SUBSCRIBE TODAY AND SAVE! SEE www.myfavouritEmagazinES.co.uk/t3

The

Genius Guide to gifts

8 Qwertywriter £299

Qwertywriter.com Connect your tablet/monitor an get writing your next bestseller. It has the same tactile feel of typewriters, and will be a hit with the geek in your life. Qwertywriter connects via Bluetooth and the Return Bar functions as an ENTER key by default. We love it!

B&O PLAY By Bang & Olufsen A1 Portable Bluetooth Speaker £192 9

QVC.com Small enough to take on a mini break, the Play is dust & splash-resistant. 24 hours of music playback and ambient True 360 sound are just some of its other perks.

Fisher Price Code-a-pillar £49.99 10

Smyths Toy Store This fun toy allows programmers of the future to configure the easy-to-connect segments in endless combinations. Once they figure out a sequence that creates a path to reach a target, they get introduced to programming and problem solving.

Knomo Maddox £229 11

Knomo.com This is a classic leather tote that features an internal padded section to hold a laptop up to 15-inches. It has a top zip and features a hidden Slip pocket for easy access to a phone, charger and keys. Additional internal pockets keep everything else organised. Also helps that it is such a beauty!

DNA Genetic Testing & Analysis £125 12

SuperDrug.com The kit allows users to know more about themselves using an at-home kit. It gives a genetic analysis of ancestry, health risk factors, and even tells what percent of DNA comes from the Neanderthals!

Tablet and Remote Control Store £19.00 13

Aplaceforeverything.co.uk With two slots, there is plenty of space for iPad, Kindle, smart phone and TV remotes in this perfect stocking filler. Helps that it isn’t made from tacky plastic but beautiful wood.

Mobile Choice 216 | 55

Google Chromecast £30 14

Google Store Give the gift of a smart TV this Christmas by filling that stocking with Google Chromecast. Simply plug Chromecast into the back of your HDTV, connect to a Wi-Fi network and then begin casting any videos or music from your laptop, tablet or phone onto the screen.

Walli ,The Smart Wallet £89.99 15

Thefowndry.com The wallet is embedded with RFID protection from scanning devices and is built to last with 6 card slots, 2 cash pockets and a hidden coin pocket. Walli requires no charging with the single coin cell battery lasting up to 6 months.

Netatmo Presence £249.99 16

Amazon, JLP, Dixons and Argos This security camera analyses your home environment in real-time. It further notifies the user if something is detected in the monitored area. The integrated floodlight lights up at night while the infrared LED lights allow discreet watching.

Doro 5516 £19.99 on PAYG 17

O2 Perfect starter phone, and ideal as a stocking filler, Doro 5516 offers connectivity to those who are finally switching over to the joys of a smartphone. It has a 2.4-inch screen, a 2-MP camera, direct shortcut keys and enhanced, loud and clear sound.

EE Robin £129.99 18

EE The redesigned Robin comes with a childproof bumper with a carry handle and kickstand, making it ideal for children. It’s 7-inch display is perfect for enjoying crisp, clear videos, playing games, or reviewing images captured on the device’s 2-MP rear-facing camera.

Under Armour health box £349 19

htc.com The Healthbox includes a UA Band, a smart scale and a UA Heart Rate monitor to accurately record your heart rate during workouts. All of these are designed to work together seamlessly as a package to help you look and feel your best.

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Genius Guide to gifts

Porsche Design Huawei Mate 9 £1,399

Porsche Design stores This is the limited edition smartphone of dreams. This stunning Mate 9 version combines Porsche Design’s signature brand aesthetic with Huawei’s mobile engineering expertise, giving high – demanding individuals unprecedented luxury and performance in the palm of their hand. The combination of black Gorilla Glass and a black brushed aluminum unibody gives the phone a striking shine and brilliance. Huawei’s latest Kirin 960 Chipset is bolstered by a 6GB RAM and Leica Summarit dual-lense technology guarantees sharp and colorful pictures in 20/12-MP resolutions. Google’s latest operating system- Android 7 is onboard and offers a smooth user experience. The integrated 256GB flash-memory provides plenty of storage for music, videos and pictures – while optimal viewing and listening pleasure is granted by the high-class HiFi speakers. There is a 4000 mAH battery for power users and the Mate 9 comes with quick charge so a 20-minute-power-charge is sufficient for the day. The Porsche Design Huawei Mate 9 further offers dual SIM capability and a fingerprint sensor for maximum security. This is a powerhouse performer.

Mobile Choice 216 | 57

Star Wars Millennium Falcon Bluetooth Speaker £44.99 21

MobileFun.co.uk The Falcon features powerful drivers that enable your tunes to fill the room with interstellar audio. Sound is punchy, defined & clear. And let’s face it, no other bluetooth speaker can look or sound as cool as this, even if they tried. 22 VerveLoop+ £59.99

Amazon Lightweight, fully waterproof and sweatproof, VerveLoop+ gives up to 12 hours of HD quality sound which is crisp and clear. It is capable of 150 feet of Bluetooth connectivity, is Siri and Google Now compatibility. Plus, it comes in an elegant, sleek, easily pocketable carrying case.

JIMU Robot £109.95 23

Apple stores This is an interactive building block robotics kit that empowers children/teenagers to create and program their own robots. Along the way, they engage in powerful handson learning in STEM and gain 21st-century skills and mind-sets. You can build them into classic robots or even animal forms such as penguins and giraffes!

Daydream View £69 24

Google Store Easy to use and immersive, Daydream lets you explore new worlds, play games and kick back in your personal VR cinema. This is a cost-effective way of exploring new tech, worlds and teleport from anywhere to pretty much everywhere with immersive stories and content from the likes of The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and J.K. Rowling.

Cobra CDR835 Drive HD Dash Cam £79.99 25

Cobraelectronics.co.uk This is an easy out-of-the box solution that is quick and simple to set-up. It uses a 8GB microSD memory card and the dash cam’s parking mode feature provides security while a vehicle is parked, giving peace of mind at all times.

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Genius Guide to gifts

Garmin Forerunner 735XT ÂŁ359.99

Garmin.com This GPS multisport watch is for athletes who want in-depth data as they train and compete. There are built-in activity profiles for running, cycling, swimming, crosscountry skiing, paddle sports, trail running, hiking and strength training. For brick workouts and du/triathlon races, the auto multisport feature lets you switch sports with just 1 button press. All this from a wearable!

Mobile Choice 216 | 59

PRYMA 01 ÂŁ399

Matchesfashion.com Beyonce wore them, in the video for Sandcastles! These luxurious headphones are handmade in Italy with premium materials and expertly engineered by Sonus faber to deliver sumptuous sound. There are interchangeable leather headbands with buckles fashioned from copper and stainless steel making them uniquely customisable. One for the lust list!

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gifts

Honor 8 £26/month (Advanced plan) 28

Three.co.uk Claim two tickets for Marvel’s Doctor Strange when you get the Honor 8 on a Three contract. Even more exciting is that the Honor 8 is included in the three months free deal when you take out a 24 month 2GB data and 600 minutes. You also get 4 Marvel movie downloads for free!

The Gator watch £99; £9/month 29

Maplin This brightly coloured wearable lets children make and receive phone calls to designated numbers. It also contains tracking technology, includes a pedometer, and has an SOS button, which they can instantly hit and be connected with the people most important to them. For parents, there is an app to monitor numbers that children can call, and who can call them.

GoPro Hero5 Session £250 30

Cotswoldoutdoor.com With its 4K video recording and voice control, the Hero5 Session provides a standout performance to capture your adventures. Its rugged waterproof (up to 10m) design means that the camera can go swimming with you, and it’s Bluetooth and Wi-Fi capabilities lets users stay connected wherever they may be.

The Tech Dopp Kit £125 31

Bearandbear.com This is one decadent purchase. Made from leather, the bag has a designated space for each of your tech accessories. With room on both sides to strap down your cords, adapters and headphones, it uses space wisely for prime portability. It also features an internal zip pouch for storing smaller items like SIM cards and SIM adapters.

Kobo Aura One £189.99 32

Kobo.com This is the world’s first waterproof eReader with blue-light reducing front-lit display that allows for night-time reading with no impact on sleep. The (bigger) 7.8-inch screen fits more words to a page and the battery lasts for over one month. It also has an interface that customises book recommendations to suit readers. As long as you have a library card, you can borrow e-books from your library using the Kobo. Isn’t that fantastic!

Mobile Choice 216 | 61

BlackBerry DTEK60 £475 33

Selfridges Blackberry’s latest has a Quad HD display & a smart keyboard designed to learn from users. The Hub app keeps all of your messages in one place and it has great battery life and an expandable memory. The DTE60 is ideal for the workaholic in your life.

34 Misfit Phase £165

Misfit.com Misfit Phase tracks steps, distance, and sleep duration and quality using a 3-axis accelerometer. However, it isn’t just a tracker/notifications monkey. You can use Phase to control your music, take pictures with your phone, or advance slides in a presentation, all with the touch of a button. 35

VQ Retro Mk II £129.99 35

EmmaBridgewater.co.uk An upgrade to the original Retro Radio, this version maintains the vintage style and adds functionality and premium acoustics. You can charge your phone on it and there’s an Apple Lightning Dock. Available in 11 colours, it is Bluetooth & NFC compatible.

Amazon Echo Dot £49.99 36

Tesco It is a hands-free, voice-controlled device that uses Alexa to play music, control smart home devices, provide information, set alarms & more. Directly connect it to speakers with an audio cable or Bluetooth, and add voice-control to your home stereo system. It doesn’t walk the dog, though.

Leef iBridge 3 £39.99 37

Amazon The gadget consigns the dreaded ‘memory full’ pop-up to history. User can effectively lock their iBridge 3, so that it cannot be compromised should it be lost or stolen. Linking with the user’s passcode or Touch ID, it is a simple way to secure precious emails & photos on your phone.

Universe2go £79 38

Universe2go.com Universe2go is a viewmaster-like headset that enables users to see the starry sky, supplemented with a virtual picture replete with extra information and explanation. Users take a trip through space in an astoundingly realistic way.

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House of Marley Get Together Mini £129.99 39

Genius Guide to

gifts

Houseofmarley.co.uk Offering true quality sound, the high-output woofers deliver room filling sound, while the tweeters ensure all details stay crisp and clear. It has a ten hour battery life, so taking your music outside is super easy!

Pebbell Mini GPS Tracker & SOS Alarm £119.99 40

Unforgettable.org Got older relatives who you are worried about? Using a tracker may increase their quality of life by allowing them to remain independent for a longer period of time and may provide, much needed, reassurance to carers and family members alike.

MOOV HR £75 41

Currys So, this is a heart rate monitoring head band. Apparently this is because the skin on the temples is thinner, movement reduced and increased blood flow easier to read. The audio and visual coach further guides users to get to their training targets & goals.

Garmin VIRB Ultra 30 £369.99 42

Garmin.com Compact, lightweight, waterproof and easy to use, VIRB Ultra 30 captures 4K/30fps video and lets users adds to the experience by letting them overlay gauges and graphs with action data. With one touch, you can even live-stream in HD on YouTube to share your footage with the world.

Ricoh SP150 £83.15 43

Box.co.uk This dinky printer allows you to copy, scan or print at the touch of a button via a tablet or phone, at home. It’s the new age alternative to outdated printers, facilitating more productive home working for busy employees today. And its size means it can be hidden away when not in use.

Plantronics Voyager 5200 UC £129 44

Plantronics.com This is a handy little spill, splash, and sweatproof headset which comes with a charging case and a Bluetooth adapter. You can mute a call with a single touch, and access Siri and its ilk when the headset is idle.

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DIY Gamer Kit £70 45

Techwillsaveus.com The Gamer Kit is a games console that kids build and code themselves to learn about electronics and programming. Out of the box, children can play and hack classic games, like snake and flappy birds. Then, code their own following tutorials.

Manfrotto TwistGrip £39.95 46

Manfrotto.co.uk This universal smartphone clamp turns your phone into a more professional photo-taking tool. The TwistGrip features a locking dial to expand the clamp to size, and also a tripod adaptor and attachment for accessories such as a LED light, special lens or a microphone.

Cricut Explore Air 2. £259.99 47

Hobbycraft.co.uk Strictly for the crafty types, the wireless design-and-cut system lets users create projects and designs on a computer, tablet or smartphone. Used with Cricut Design Space (cloud based software), projects can stop and start anywhere and everywhere.

Snakehive Phone case £16.95 48

Snakehive.co.uk Expertly designed in the UK and handcrafted in Europe to meet the very highest standards, these beautiful cases are built to last. The designs keep your phone protected with effortless style and are as beautiful as they are practical by combining your phone and wallet in one

Hozelock Cloud Controller & hub £114.99 49

John Lewis It is not everyday that we feature a RHS Chelsea Garden Product of the Year! The watering system allows you to tend to your garden through an app. Whether at work or on holiday, the Cloud Controller makes sure your garden thrives via your smartphone.

Casio Edifice EQB-500DB £300 50

Edifice-watches.co.uk Classic yet durable, this watch is powered by Tough Solar and connects to your phone via Bluetooth. The distinct interface is housed in a stainless steel case and is framed by scratch resistant mineral glass and is water resistant to 100m.

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Genius 51

Guide to gifts

Anki Overdrive Supertrucks £59.99

Smyths Toys Created by Hollywood car designer Harald Belker, whose vehicle design has been seen in films like Minority Report and Total Recall (2012), these are more than just oversized toy trucks. If you are not familiar with the Anki Overdrive kit, it combines AI, robots and game play with a side of strategy. All controlled effortlessly from your phone. Simply connect your smart phone and the supercars, snap together the magnetic track and et voila. And because it is wireless and durable, you can build your battle track anywhere. The Supertrucks introduce powerful new weapons and exciting game modes that will put your skills to test. You can control them with your smart device and take down opponents with an array of ‘weapons’- from plasma cannons to flame throwers (thankfully, not real!). Like the game Takeover where players start matches with their own supercars but can also take control of their opponent’s vehicle to wreak havoc, on race track only. Beats beer pong!

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Genius Guide to

gifts

Goodmans Heritage Portable £165 52

Goodmans.co.uk This is a fully featured digital radio with a high capacity internal 5000mAh battery for music on the move. It also has Spotify Connect, Bluetooth streaming and Wi-Fi multi-room audio. The latest tech is enclosed in a compact wooden cabinet and delivers tunes anywhere around the home.

Chip, the robot dog £199.99 53

Toys R Us Tis the season of robotic pets and Chip is no different. He/she features a powerful voice recognition system. There is an array of smart toys for it to keep children engaged, including football and after a day of endless fun, Chip can be docked into its special SmartBed for a recharge.

Smanos UFO Panoramic Wi-Fi HD Camera £149, 54

GetSmanos.co.uk The security camera can be mounted on the ceiling, a wall or any flat surface and provides three selectable HD views. By using a smartphone, homeowners can zoom in and out digitally and view the scene anywhere, anytime. The footage can be accessed, shared and archived remotely via the cloud. Distinctive looks help too!

Parrot Pot £129.99 55

Parrot.com Are you guilty of killing your plants? The Parrot Pot has four built-in sensors that monitor light, temperature, soil moisture and fertiliser levels in real time. It then sends out customised recommendations and alerts to your smartphone to help you better care for your plant. Oh, and it tends to your plants while you’re away too! .

EarMoji Over-Ear Headphones £14.99 56

Tesco Kids can now be on-trend with these crowd pleasers. Comfortable to wear, with swivelled earcups and soft ear pads, they are perfectly portable and ideal for use anywhere and come in a choice of 6 designs. Also, being cheap enough, you can buy one each to stop siblings squabbling. Or maybe one for each mood?

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Buying Guide

Moto Z page 16

Sony Xperia XZ page 22

Google Pixel page 12

Apple iPhone 7 Plus page 9

Apple iPhone 7 page 6

more than 120 PHONES AND TABLETS REVIEWED AND RATED

Latest phones

Tablet guide

Starts p71

Starts p86

HOW IT WORKS Each handset in our Buying Guide is rigorously tested and rated according to:

Look and feel • Ease of use • Features • Performance • Battery life All this leads us to the Mobile Choice Verdict in the form of a star rating. Only the best phones and tablets – those which score highly in each of the categories – are awarded five stars

check out more reviews online

OS Guide Your guide to smartphone and tablet operating systems starts overleaf

Mobile Choice 216 | 67

BUYING GUIDE // operating systems

Smartphones

Android

Tizen

Cyanogen

Latest version: 7.0 Nougat

Latest version: 2.4

Latest version: 13.1

• KEY FEATURES

Samsung has worked with Intel to develop Tizen. It is Linux-based platform built from Nokia and Intel’s ditched MeeGo. The fact it is open-source, like Android, means that hardware manufacturers that choose to adopt it are free to tinker with the interface and the UI to make it as unique as they like.

CyanogenMod (pronounced sigh-AN-oh-jen-mod), is based on the Android Open Source Project, designed to increase performance and reliability over Android-based ROMs. CyanogenMod also offers a variety of features & enhancements that are not currently found in these versions of Android.

• KEY FEATURES

File-level encryption will ensure that your files will not be accessible to anyone else even if your phone has been stolen. Silencing notifications from particular apps can be done on the Notifications panel. You can also bundle all notifications from the same app and prioritize them. Multi-Window access will let you view two apps on your screen at the same time. You will also be able to switch between portrait and landscape modes for any app. New Standby Mode will shut down all idle apps to preserve battery life. Updated Doze Mode can now stop functions like searching for e-mails and automatic app updates.

• WORTH CONSIDERING Microsoft’s Windows 10 Mobile’s Continuum feature lets you share files across devices.

• BEST FOR: Picture-in-picture Mode will let you connect your smartphone to your TV and play videos via apps optimised for Android N. Screen size will no longer be a problem.

• GOOD TO KNOW Android 7.0 Nougat lets you install apps 75% faster than Android 6.0 Marshmallow does.

• KEY DEVICE: GOOGLE PIXEL runs stock Android 7.0 Nougat.

Tizen is an open source operating system. Its main feature is its compatibility with multiple mobile platforms; which means that applications made with the Tizen OS is still compatible and may be launched in other OS like the IOS and Android, with a little code change.

• WORTH CONSIDERING Android 5.0 is the most widely used operating system in the World. If unsure about the open source system, hop over to Lollipop!

• BEST FOR: Smart TVs running Tizen have a feature which makes auto-discovery of compatible Galaxy smartphones and tablets in the owner’s household possible. When a compatible device is found the TV will suggest a sync via Samsung’s Wi-Fi Direct, versus previous model which forced the user to hunt down syncable devices.

• GOOD TO KNOW bada is the most popular OS in France, beating the likes of the iPhone and Android.

• KEY DEVICE: SAMSUNG Z3 is the latest Tizen phone and the Samsung Gear S3 is the latest wearable running TizenOS.

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Wi-Fi Hotspot can be automatically turned off after a period of inactivity. You will be able to view battery levels of paired devices on Bluetooth. App’s access to Wi-Fi or cellular data can be restricted. Notification light controls can be implemented in Profiles and Do Not Disturb/Priority Mode. Addition of Snap Camera and Gello browser.

• WORTH CONSIDERING Upgraded 3D Touch in Apple’s iOS 10 3D Touch will let you respond to messages directly, clear all notifications with a tap and also view live data from all apps and add it to widgets.

• BEST FOR: Lockscreen controls which support Weather plugin, enable and disable Blur and new hardware enhancements and APIs.

• GOOD TO KNOW Cyanogen 13 fixes Quadrooter vulnerability which affects most Android devices, especially the ones which affect the Kernel, but some issues still remain.

• KEY DEVICE: OnePlus 3 Cyanogen is back supporting OnePlus devices and Cyanogen 13 supports the new OnePlus 3.

More reviews online at www.mobilechoiceuk.com

A breakdown of the major operating systems and the key benefits

iOS

Ubuntu Touch

Windows Phone

Latest version: iOS 10

Latest version: OTA-11

iOS (originally iPhone OS) is a mobile operating system created and developed by Apple Inc. and distributed exclusively for Apple hardware. It is the operating system that presently powers many of the company’s mobile devices, including the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. It is the second most popular mobile operating system in the world by sales, after Android.

Ubuntu is a Debian-based Linux operating system and distribution for personal computers, smartphones and network servers. It uses Unity as its default user interface and is based on free software and named after the Southern African philosophy of ubuntu (literally, ‘human-ness’), which Canonical Ltd suggests can be loosely translated as “humanity to others” or “I am what I am because of who we all are”.

Latest version: Windows 10 Mobile Anniversary Update

• KEY FEATURES Siri for iPhone now supports a number of third party apps like WeChat, Slack, WhatsApp, Pinterest, Shutterfly, MapMyRun, Funtastic and Runkeeper. New Photos app now lets you see all your photos on a map and the Memories feature will arrange all your photos based on topics. It will show highlights of trips, map of location, related memories and make movies by merging photos and videos. New 3D Touch lets you respond to messages directly, clear all notifications with a tap and also view live data from all apps and add it to widgets. Upgraded Apple Maps lets you slide up from bottom to see suggestions like nearby restaurants and theatres and can choose your favourite restaurants using the Categories menu. Upgraded Messages app will feature rich links, larger pictures and will let you play videos inside messages. The new update also enables handwritten messages and also allows Apple Music links to play inside Messages.

• WORTH CONSIDERING Android 7.0 Nougat is the first Android OS to support VR content on smartphone screens.

• BEST FOR: FaceTime calls and Messages encrypted; split view in Safari on iPads.

• GOOD TO KNOW New Home app shows personalised wallpaper and all smart home accessories and their controls.

• KEY DEVICE: iPhone 7 is the first

• KEY FEATURES OTA 11 lets users run the same files and exchange data on various platforms like PCs, smartphones and tablets thanks to new Convergence feature. Better mouse responsiveness over Bluetooth and the graphics will also be faster and smoother than before. All future Ubuntu phones and tablets will connect with PCs through wireless dongles and will feature wireless displays. LibreOffice 4.4 with support for digitally signed PDFs, Sharepoint and OneDrive and a better IoT support for robots, network switches, mobile base stations, industrial gateways and IoT home hubs. Performance improvements to the Ubuntu M10 tablet like new Bluetooth connectivity, increased speed and easier scrolling.

• WORTH CONSIDERING Cyanogen 3.0 lets you limit app access to cellular or Wi-Fi data and to restrict them altogether if needed.

• BEST FOR: Desktop notifications, client support for mobility and productivity, organising favourite apps, the Ubuntu App Store with hundreds of apps and third party services and simple file browsing, file and folder creation and management.

• KEY DEVICE: Meizu PRO 5 Ubuntu Edition runs the latest Ubuntu

A mobile operating system developed by Microsoft, it is an iteration of the Windows Phone product line and a successor to Windows Phone 8.1. It is marketed as being an edition of Windows 10, Microsoft’s operating system for personal computers, as part of Microsoft’s plans to unify Windows’ application platform across multiple device classes.

• KEY FEATURES A new default wallpaper, smaller notification icons and hero images in notifications. Cortana now supports Spanish, Portuguese and French languages and offers directions postintegration with the upgraded Maps app. A camera button now features in the lock screen and the Bing logo on the lock screen has been updated. The Edge browser will let you swipe to the right and left to go back and forward and features prompts before new downloads takes place. The browser now fields new default notifications like site domain, download status and filenames. You can now prioritize notifications and set times for Windows updates. Refresh rates for Wi-Fi data is faster as well. The updated OS can run up to 16 apps in the background, features a new Emoji set and default Emojis are now yellow instead of Grey.

• WORTH CONSIDERING New Convergence feature in Ubuntu OS lets you share and access files across smartphones, tablets and desktops.

• BEST FOR: You can now take photos using camera app and sent them using Skype. Tap-to-Pay for contactless payments. Deciding which apps can run in the background.

• KEY DEVICE: Microsoft Lumia 950XL is a premium phone running stock Windows 10 Mobile.

OS.

phone to launch with iOS 10.

Mobile Choice 216 | 69

BUYING GUIDE // operating systems

Tablets

Android

Windows

iOS

Latest version: 7.0 Nougat

Latest version: Windows 10 Anniversary Update

Latest version: iOS 10

Android tablets run the same software version as Android phones, with 7.0 Nougat the last upgrade on the powerful Marshmallow operating system. It boasts more powerful contact search, using multiple sources, as well as improved voice search.

• KEY FEATURES: New Multi-window feature will let you view apps in both portrait and landscape modes. It will also let you view two apps placed side-byside. New Vulkan™ API will let you experience high performance 3D graphics while playing games. You can now silence future notifications from an app in a notification itself. You can also change the size of text and icons in your tablet. Software upgrades will take place in the background, saving your time in upgrading your device manually.

• WORTH CONSIDERING: Apple introduced multi-window first with iOS 9 and as well as a much-improved Maps app.

• BEST FOR: Vulcan API will let gamers access tonnes of new 3D gaming apps.

• GOOD TO KNOW Tablets older than Nexus 9 won’t be supported.

• KEY DEVICE: Google Nexus 9 will be the first tablet to get Android 7.0 Nougat OS.

The latest Windows tablets run Windows 10 OS which launched last year. Microsoft is now rolling out Windows 10 Anniversary Update to bring in fixes and performance improvements.

• KEY FEATURES: Windows Ink will allow you to make notes on your device display, make a sketch and draw routes on Maps with your pen. Edge browser is now more power-efficient and will use fewer CPU cycles, consume less memory and lessen the impact of background activity on battery life. You can play, pause or skip music even if your tablet is unlocked thanks to new icons in the lock screen. Windows Defender now works along-side other security apps to offer round-the-clock protection.

• WORTH CONSIDERING: OTA-11 for Ubuntu 15.04 OS lets Ubuntu tablet users run two apps at the same time.

• BEST FOR Cortana is accessible even if the screen is unlocked. It can help with directions, reminders and can play music for you.

• GOOD TO KNOW Developers can now convert apps which haven’t been created on Universal Windows Platform, thus letting you access many more apps on your tablet.

• KEY DEVICE: Microsoft Surface book is the latest and most advanced Windows tablet.

iOS (originally iPhone OS) is a mobile operating system created and developed by Apple Inc. and distributed exclusively for Apple hardware. It is the operating system that currently powers all of the company’s mobile devices, including the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. It is the second most popular mobile operating system in the world by sales, after Android.

• KEY FEATURES Siri now supports a number of third party apps like WeChat, Slack, WhatsApp, Pinterest, Shutterfly, MapMyRun, Funtastic and Runkeeper. New Photos app now lets you see all your photos on a map and the Memories feature will arrange all your photos based on topics. It will show highlights of trips, map of location, related memories and make movies by merging photos and videos. Upgraded Apple Maps lets you slide up from bottom to see suggestions like nearby restaurants and theatres and can choose your favourite restaurants using the Categories menu.

• WORTH CONSIDERING Windows 10 OS lets you access a range of your tablet’s features without having to unlock the screen.

• BEST FOR: split view in Safari on iPads.

• GOOD TO KNOW New Home app shows personalised wallpaper and all smart home accessories and their controls.

• KEY DEVICE: Apple iPad Pro 12.9 is the best tablet featuring Apple’s iOS platform.

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More reviews online at www.mobilechoiceuk.com

Acer Liquid Jade Z

Pros Lightweight, sub £150 price tag, LTE support, 13MP camera, 2300mAH battery Cons Low ROM, 8GB low on-board memory, laggy performance ALSO CONSIDER Motorola Moto G 4G Killer app Priced at under-£150 with beautiful sleek looks and a lightweight form factor, The Jade Z now leads the pack of budget handsets. Verdict A handy little phone with a very well thought out design sensibility and an almost rockstar name. It brings a touch of class, good battery life and great specs to an oft-relegated category. The Moto G until now was the one to watch but it is now the Jade Z that leads the mid-range pack here

Alcatel Idol 4S

Reviewed Issue 210

Available sim-free

www.acer.co.uk price £145 Operating system Android 5.0 Lollipop Size 143.5 x 69.8 x 8mm Weight 110g Display 5.0 inches Resolution 720 x 1280 pixels Processor Quad-Core 1.5 GHz Cortex A53 Storage 8GB Camera 13MP primary; 5MP front Ports 32 GB microSD Battery Non-removable Li-Po 2300 mAh battery Other features Clearer and fuller audio experience via an HD speaker with DTS™ Studio Sound

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Available sim-free Pros Premium looks | good battery | Bundled VR headset | under-£400 | ‘mirrored’ design Cons Processor dampens its otherwise 5-star creds ALSO CONSIDER OnePlus 3 Killer app Premium looks at sub-£400 price range Verdict The processor is slightly underpowered but Alcatel Idol 4S brings in top-class form factor, cameras and battery life at a low price range. Overall, it is a brilliant value for money and more!

Apple iPhone 5S

Cons Screen could be bigger, no NFC, good ol’ iTunes Also consider The HTC One is the iPhone for people who don’t like iPhones – a great operating system wrapped in a quality product Killer app Music Those who have embraced iTunes get easy integration once more Verdict On the face of it, the iPhone 5S is too similar to the original iPhone 5. An improved camera, faster processor and Touch ID are great for those new to the format, but existing iPhone 5 users need not apply

Apple iPhone 6

Reviewed Issue 215 www.alcatel-mobile.com price £389 Operating system Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow Size 153.9mm x 75.4mm x 6.99mm Weight 149 g Display 5.5-inch AMOLED Resolution QHD 2K resolution (2560x1440) 534 ppi Processor Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 652, 64-bit octa-core processor Camera 16-MP camera with auto-focus Sony IMX 298 / Toshiba T4KC3-121 Sensor f/2.0 aperture 75º wide angle lens Dual-tone flash 4K video. 8-MP front camera with flash, 1080p video Ports Micro USB, 3.5mm stereo jack, MicroSD Battery 3,000 mAh Storage 32GB + 3GB RAM Micro SD (up to 200GB) Other features Free upgrade to Windows 10 is one of its key buying points

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

www.apple.com price £228.90 Operating system iOS 7 Size 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6mm Weight 112g Display 4-inch Retina display Resolution 1136 x 640 pixels Processor Apple A6 chip Storage 16-64GB Camera 8-megapixel, 1.2-megapixel front facing Ports Lightning Battery 7 hours video playback Other features Touch ID

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Cons No expandable storage | Can be slippery to hold | Expensive Also consider Samsung Galaxy Alpha Killer app The new iOS 8 software is as snappy and streamlined as any previous version, while the A8 chip boots up Real Racing 3 around 10 seconds faster than the new Sony Xperia Z3 can manage. Apps open equally fast on the iPhone 6 as they do on the LG G3 - goes to show, phone performance isn’t all down to clock speeds, cores and RAM. Verdict The people demanded a larger screen and that’s exactly what they got. Apple took what was great about the iPhone 5s, upgraded every aspect, and added them to the one thing Apple wasn’t offering – a big screen.

Apple iPhone 6 Plus

www.apple.com price £379.99 Operating system iOS 8.02 Size 138.1 x 67 x 6.9mm Weight 129g Storage 16/32/64 GB, 1 GB RAM Display Retina HD display; LED-backlit widescreen Multi‑Touch display with IPS technology Resolution 1334x750-pixel resolution at 326 ppi Ports Nano-SIM Processor 1A8 chip with 64-bit architecture; M8 motion coprocessor Camera New 8-megapixel iSight camera with 1.5µ pixels Battery 7 hours video playback Other features Fingerprint identity sensor built into the Home button

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Cons Very big and sometimes difficult to hold | iOS 8 does little to take advantage of extra space | Expensive | No stylus support Also consider Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Killer app The new Focus Pixel technology, which provides incredibly fast autofocus; there’s also Full HD video recording, 240 frames-per-second slow motion, and a time lapse function. All this adds up to create an industry-leading experience - and proves having more megapixels doesn’t always mean a better camera Verdict There are some software tweaks to take advantage of the bigger screen, but you still can’t run two apps side-by-side, and the screen doesn’t allow you to use anything but the most basic, rubber-ended styluses.

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 208

Available sim-free

Pros Premium look and feel | Gorgeous display | Fast and powerful

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 208

Available sim-free Pros Beautiful design | Improved battery life | Great camera | Excellent performance

VERDICT Reviewed Online

Available Availablesim-free sim-free

Pros Improved processor, crisp and modern iOS 7 interface

VERDICT

www.apple.com price £400 Operating system iOS 8.0.2 Size 158.1 x 677 x 7.1mm Weight 172 g Storage 16/32/64 GB, 1 GB RAM Display Retina HD display; LED-backlit widescreen Multi‑Touch display with IPS technology Resolution 1920x1080-pixel resolution at 401 ppi Ports Nano-SIM Processor A8 chip with 64-bit architecture; M8 motion coprocessor Camera 8-megapixel iSight camera with 1.5µ pixels Battery Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion 2915 mAH battery Other features Fingerprint identity sensor built into the Home button

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

VERDICT

• Go to www.mobilechoiceuk.com for full reviews and the latest news • Tablet Buying Guide starts on page 86 • Prices are provided as a guideline to comparative costs only and are subject to flux

Mobile Choice 216 | 71

BUYING GUIDE // PHONES Apple iPhone 6S

Reviewed online

Available sim-free

ProsiOS 9 great | 3D Touch | Apple Pay | upscaled camera | Selfie camera is pin sharp | Live Photos Cons Expensive Verdict A slight upgrade from the Apple iPhone 6, even though Apple would want us to think otherwise, the iPhone 6S is apparently water-proof, and of course it is the best Apple has to offer right now. It is intuitive, looks great and works a dream. Also consider Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Killer app Camera with OIS, Live Photos, A9 chip, battery life

Apple iPhone 6S Plus

www.apple.com price from £539 Operating system iOS 9 Size 138.3mm x 67.1mm x 7.1mm Weight 143 g Storage 16GB, 64GB, 128GB Display 4.7-inches Retina HD display with 3D Touch Resolution 1334 x 750p (326 ppi) Ports 9mm Headset jack Processor 64-bit A9 chip, Embedded M9 motion coprocessor Camera 12MP iSight primary, 5MP FaceTime HD front camera Battery Lithium-ion battery supporting 14 hours talktime on 3G Other features Live Photos, Siri, Apple Pay, Touch ID

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Reviewed Issue 208

Available sim-free

Pros iOS 9 great | 3D Touch | Brilliant battery life | upscaled camera | Selfie camera is pin sharp | Live Photos great touch Cons Too big for some | expensive Verdict A staggeringly good camera with Optical Image Stabilisation, waterproof design, brilliant display, a great battery life and more intuitive usage thanks to iOS 9.. Also consider Sony Xperia Z5 Premium Killer app Live Photos, 3D Touch, new 12MP iSight Camera

www.apple.com price from £619 Operating system iOS 9 Size 158.2 x 77.9 x 7.3mm Ports 5-mm stereo headphone mini-jack, Lightning connector Weight 192g Storage 16GB, 64GB, 128GB Display 5.5-inch Retina HD display with 3D Touch Resolution 1920 x 1080p at 401ppi Processor 64-bit A9 chip, Embedded M9 motion coprocessor Camera 12MP iSight primary, 5MP FaceTime HD front camera Battery Up to 24 hours on 3G, 12 hours on 4G LTE, 80 hours of audio Other features 4K video capture, NFC, 4G LTE, fingerprint sensor, Siri

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Apple iPhone SE

Available sim-free

Pros Perfect for using one-handed | Incredible performance | Great camera | Price | good battery life Cons Might be too small | no 3D touch Verdict iPhone SE packs all that’s important and worthy in the iPhone 6S into a smaller albeit retro style while still maintaining its premium looks, all at a price-point that will wow many users. Also consider HTC One A9

Apple iPhone 7

www.apple.com price £359/£439 Operating system iOS 9.3 Size 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6mm Weight 113g Storage 16/64 GB internal storage Display 4-inch, retina display Resolution 1136 x 640 pixels (326 ppi) Memory: 16/64 GB internal storage Processor A9 chip with 64-bit architecture; Embedded M9 motion coprocessor Camera 12MP rear camera, 1.2MP front-facing camera; Auto image stabilisation; 4K video recording; Take 8-megapixel still photos while recording 4K video Fingerprint sensor: Yes Battery 1642mAH Other features LTE, Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth 4.2 and GPS

Cons Need an adapter to use wired headphones, form factor seems very jaded. Also consider Google Pixel. Similar to Samsung Galaxy S7. Killer app With speeds up to 450 Mbps for data downloads, the iPhone 7 is almost 50 percent faster than iPhone 6s and three times faster than iPhone 6 Verdict Apple iPhone 7 is not a revolutionary phone, but Apple have done away with the home button and the headphone jack and has brought in water resistance and new features with iOS 10. Those looking for an iPhone should buy an iPhone 6s instead and save some money.

Apple iPhone 7 Plus

www.apple.com price £599 for 32GB; £699 for 128GB; £799 for 256GB Operating system iOS 10 Size 138.3 x 67.1 x 7.1 mm Weight 138 g Display 4.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit widescreen Processor A10 Fusion chip with 64-bit architecture; Embedded M10 motion coprocessor Battery 1960mAH Resolution 1334x750-pixel resolution at 326 ppi Camera 12-MP wide-angle f/1.8 aperture; OIS; Quad-LED True Tone flash; 7-MP selfie camera with 1080p HD video recording. 4K video recording at 30 fps Fingerprint sensor: Yes Memory 32/128/256GB. Jet black is exclusively available in 128GB and 256GB models Other features IP67; Apple Pay; EarPods with Lightning Connector.

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Available sim-free

Pros Dual cameras, Premium build, Water resistant, Fantastic battery life. Cons Very expensive, no headphone jack, design feels a bit faded, Taptic home button is tricky to get used to. Also consider Huawei Mate 9. Similar to Google Pixel XL. Killer app The fantastic camera with dual-lens Verdict The iPhone 7 Plus has the biggest batteries of all of Apple’s phones. There is finally a dual lens camera onboard and 4K video recording. Apple have finally listened to fans and consumers and made the 7 duo dust and water resistant as well.

VERDICT Reviewed online

Available sim-free Pros Water resistant, Stunning design, iOS 10 fantastic, improved camera.

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 214

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Killer app The best Apple can offer at just £359

VERDICT

VERDICT Reviewed online

www.apple.com price £599 for 32GB; £699 for 128GB; £799 for 256GB Operating system iOS 10 Size 158.2 x 77.9 x 7.3 mm Weight 188 g Display 45.5-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit widescreen Fingerprint sensor: Yes Processor A10 Fusion chip with 64-bit architecture; Embedded M10 motion coprocessor Battery 1960mAH Resolution 1920-by-1080-pixel resolution at 401 ppi Camera 12MP wide-angle and telephoto cameras, f/1.8 aperture; OIS; Quad-LED True Tone flash; 7-MP selfie camera with 1080p HD video recording. 4K video recording at 30 fps Memory 32/128/256GB. Other features IP67; Apple Pay; EarPods with Lightning Connector

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

VERDICT

• Go to www.mobilechoiceuk.com for full reviews and the latest news • Tablet Buying Guide starts on page 86 • 72 | Mobile Choice 216

More reviews online at www.mobilechoiceuk.com

BlackBerry DTEK50

Available sim-free

Pros Blackberry enterprise apps | Under-£300 price tag | Incredible security features Cons No fingerprint scanner | 16GB onboard storage | under-average looks |odd setup of keys Also consider Honor 8 Killer app BlackBerry Enterprise software Verdict BlackBerry’s DTEK50 include the company’s enterprise features which offer enhanced security and encryption. The display is great but the camera, audio reproduction quality and battery life could have been better.

Blackberry Priv

Reviewed Issue 215 http://shop.blackberry.com/ price £275 Operating system Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow Display 5.2-inch scratch resistant display1080p IPS LCD Size 147 x 72.5x 7.4mm Resolution 1080p Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels), 424 ppi Weight 135g Processor Snapdragon 617 Octa-Core, 64 bit; 3GB RAM Storage 16 GB, Expandable memory via hot swappable microSD Battery 2,610 mAh Camera 8-MP front camera with flash and 13-MP auto-focus rear camera; 1080p HD video recording at 30 fps Ports Micro USB 2.0, 3.5mm stereo jack, MicroSD Other features Convenience Key; keyboard with contextual auto-correction, next-word prediction and a personalised learning engine

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Available sim-free

Pros Brilliant screen | Superb battery life | Touchscreen keyboard on-point | Mute button godsend for Enterprise customers | Privacy features & Blackberry hub Cons Curved edge doesn’t really have any use | Expensive Verdict Great battery life, BlackBerry security, lots of storage, smooth performance Also consider LG V10

Reviewed Issue 210 www.uk.blackberry.com price £459 Operating system Android 5.1 Lollipop Size 147 (184 opened) x 77.2 x 9.4mm Weight 192 g Display Curved 5.43” WQHD Plastic AMOLED Resolution 2560 x 1440 p (540 ppi) Processor Qualcomm® Snapdragon 808 Hexa-Core, 64 bit, Dual-core 1.8 GHz Cortex-A57 and Quad-core 1.44 GHz CortexA53 Camera 18-MP Auto-Focus, Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS), Phase Detect Auto Focus (PDAF), Fast focus lock, HDR, 6-element f2.2 lens, Back Side Illumination (BSI2) Stacked Sensor 2MP Fixed-Focus, f2.8, Large 1.75um pixel size Ports 9mm Headset jack, microSD slot Storage 32GB Battery Non-removable Li-Po 2515 mAh battery Other features 35 key backlit physical keyboard

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Killer app BB10 security software

BQ Aquarius X5

Available sim-free Pros Attractive price | dual-SIM | expandable memory | very good battery | Security features on Cyanogen great Cons Under-powered camera | locked to O2 | performance is a bit hit/miss | Video and audio recording temperamental Verdict Great battery, good build quality, tiny internal memory, unintuitive camera, O2 exclusive. Also consider Honor 5X

Doro Liberto 820 Mini

Cons Tiny keypad, low-res screen, poor battery life ALSO CONSIDER Amplicomms PowerTel M9000 Killer app Use the My Doro Manager app on your Android or iOS smartphone to adjust all aspects of the 820 Mini- from screen brightness, volume and email addresses to seeing when the phone was last used and at what time Verdict The phone does everything it sets out to be: a smartphone with all the features that someone with special needs or a silver surfer with limited knowledge of tech will need

DORO Liberto 8030

Reviewed Issue 210

www.catphones.com price f rom £99.95 Operating system Android 4.2 Kit Kat Size 126 x 66 x 11mm Weight 132g Display 4inches Resolution 480 x 800 pixels Processor Dual-core 1.3 GHz ARM Cortex-A7 Storage 4GB Camera 5-MP primary Ports 128GB microSD slot Battery Non-removable Lithium-Polymer 1,500 mAh battery Other features Charging cradle

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Cons Doesn’t pack the most upto date software | type pad still tiny | laggy processor Also consider Doro Liberto 820 Killer app Customised camera and music apps for the elderly Verdict Better, more intuitive and easier to use than its predecessors, Doro 8030 will be a worthy companion to those who find themselves alone in their twilight years.

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 214

Available sim-free

Pros Custom features for the elderly | assistance button | loud ring | charging dock | can act as a speakerphone

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 210

Available sim-free

Pros Easy to use interface, My Doro Manager app is excellent, charging dock

VERDICT

BQ.com/uk/ price from £179.90 Operating system Cyanogen OS over Android™ 5.1 Lollipop Size 70.5 X 144.4 X 7.5mm Weight 148g Display 5-inch, Full HD IPS display Resolution 1280 × 720; 294ppi Processor Qualcomm® Snapdragon ™ 412 quad-core platform  2GB RAM Camera 13-MP primary camera with OIS and f2.0; 5-MP selfie camera 2MP Fixed-Focus, f2.8, Large 1.75um pixel size Ports 9mm Headset jack, microSD slot Storage 6 GB internal storage;  expandable storage via MicroSD slot Battery Non-removable Lithium Ion 2,900 mAh battery Other features Dual-SIM; connectivity 4G LTE/3G/2G Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n/ac)

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Killer app microSD slot, dual-SIM, battery life

VERDICT

www.catphones.com/ price from £109.95 Operating system Android 5.1 Lollipop Size 137 x 71 x 10.1mm Weight 142g Display 4.5” 854 x 480p Storage MicroSD 32GB Processor Qualcom MSM8909 Bluetooth 4.0 Camera 5MP Video recording mp4 720p, 480p, MMS (176x144) SIM type: Micro SIM Battery 2,000 mAh Storage: 8GB, MicroSD 32GB Bands: 3G, LTE, GSM In the box: Headset, charging cable, USB cable.

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

VERDICT

Mobile Choice 216 | 73

BUYING GUIDE // PHONES Google Nexus 6

Available sim-free

Pros Unadulterated Android experience, Material design, Big and bold screen Cons Too Big, Middling battery life, Expensive Also consider Motorola Moto X Killer app Pure Android 5.0 Lollipop No bulky overlays, no complicated UIs. Just pure and simple Android, as it was meant to be Verdict Is big always better? Maybe not. But the Nexus 6 definitely is. The 13-MP camera and unadulterated Android experience makes it stand out head and shoulders above the rest. But the lack of the expandable memory baffles us and we have to admit the size is a bit off-putting.

Google Nexus 6P

www.google.com/nexus price (SIM FREE) £410 32GB Operating system Android 5, Lollipop Size 159.3 x 83 x 3.8-10.1mm Weight 184g Display 5.96” AMOLED Resolution 1440 x 2560 pixels Processor 2.7GHz Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 805 with quad-core CPU Camera 13 MP IMX 214 Ports micro USB, microSD Storage 32GB & 64GB Battery 3220 mAh Mixed usage up to 24 hours Other features Water Resistant

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Available sim-free

Pros Solid metal body | powerful processor | Good battery life | Excellent Camera Cons Size not for everyone | May get warm Verdict The pure Android experience is glorious and the camera amazing. Battery life is robust and the build quality solid. The pricing and camera features make it a close competitor to Samsung’s S6 Edge+. Also consider Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ Killer app USB Type-C port, fingerprint scanner, Marshmallow OS, camera

Google Pixel

Reviewed Issue 209

Reviewed Issue 205 www.google.co.uk/nexus/6P price f rom £369.99 Operating system Android 6.0 Marshmallow Size 159.3 x 77.8 x 7.3 mm Weight 136g Display 5.7-inch WQHD Resolution 1920 x 1080 LCD at 423 ppi Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, 2.0 GHz octa-core 64-bit (Adreno 430 GPU) Camera 12.3 MP with f/2.0 aperture, IR laser-assisted autofocus, 4K (30 fps) video capture and Broad-spectrum CRI-90 dual flash. 8-MP selfie camera Ports Headset jack; USB Type-C Storage 16/32GB Battery 3,450 mAh Other features Single USB Type-C, fast charging. Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3, fingerprint scanner

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Google Pixel XL

Cons Expensive, really peculiar design, no stereo speakers or waterproofing. Also consider Lenovo Moto Z Similar to Google Nexus 6P Killer app The AMOLED display is colorful and bright, outclassing LCD panels every time. Verdict Pixel XL has almost everything you need outside of a waterproof design and stereo speakers, although Google’s attempt at an iconic design throws a little too much into the pot. But if it’s ugly on the outside, it’s far from it on the inside.

Honor 6 Plus

www.google.com price £ 599 (32GB) and £699 (128GB) and Pixel XL at £719 (32 GB) and £819 (128GB) Size 138.3 x 67.1 x 7.1 mm Operating system Android 7.0 Display 5-inch AMOLED 1920x1080 and 5.5-inch QHD AMOLED 2560x1440 Resolution 1334x750-pixel resolution at 326 ppi Weight 138g Processor 2.3GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 Camera 12-MP primary camera with f2.0 aperture, 1.55-micron pixel, 8-MP selfie camera Memory 32GB/128GB Fingerprint sensor Yes Battery 2,770mAh and 3450mAh Other features IP53; USB Type-C, Bluetooth 4.2; 2 colours available, cases available to match wallpaper

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

John Lewis price £499.99 Operating system Android Nougat (v7.1) Size 154.7 x 75.7 x 7.4 mm Weight 168g Display 5.5-inch AMOLED Quad HD Corning® Gorilla® Glass Resolution 2560 x 1440 pixels; 534ppi Battery 3450 mAh lithium-ion battery Processor Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ Snapdragon 821 CAT9-12 with 2.15 GHz + 1.6 GHz, 64-Bit Quad-Core processor and Adreno 530 Fingerprint sensor Yes Camera 12-MP with EIS; 1.55um big pixel f/2.0; 8-MP selfie camera with HRD+ Memory 32 GB and 128 GB(ROM) + 4GB(RAM); Unlimited online storage for photos and videos Other features Qualcomm® Quick Charge; USB Type-C; NFC; Quick Switch Adapter

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Cons Still running Android 4.4.2, camera not great, performance can get laggy Also consider Samsung Galaxy A5 Killer app The battery at 3600mAH and the octa-core processor coupled with the 5.5” screen makes it an ideal device for work and play Verdict The large full HD display, dual-SIM capability and the mega sized battery combination for under-£300 is unbeatable. And given that it is a Three exclusive, you get to air the dual-SIM capabilities that the phone rocks on your summer holiday away. Sort of a no-brainer, really!

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 210

Available sim-free Pros Massive battery, dual-SIM, full HD screen, amazing value

VERDICT Reviewed online

Available sim-free

Pros Among the best phone cameras, Streamlined Android software, Google Assistant is promising.

VERDICT Reviewed online

Available sim-free Pros Good build quality, Android N | Google Allo on tap. Cons Battery life could be better, Assistant yet to realize potential, Expensive ALSO CONSIDER HTC 10. ALSO CONSIDER Apple iPhone 7. Killer app Excellent 12-MP and 8-MP cameras have been conferred the highest rating among smartphones by DxOMark for accurate exposures, low levels of noise and very good contrast and white balance. Verdict Pixel has the processing power you would need to be best in class. The 4GB RAM is the perfect size to ramp up the power of Qualcomm’s latest processor the 821 and all that is within its might and the camera looks good and unlimited storage on Google Photos with means you will not miss the absence of adaptive storage.

VERDICT

www.vmall.eu price £429 Operating system Android 4.4.2 Kit Kat Size 150.5 x 75.7 x 7.5mm Weight 165g Display 5.5 inches Resolution 1080 x 1920 pixels Processor Quad-core 1.8 GHz Cortex-A15 Camera 8MP primary; 8MP front Ports 128 GB microSD Storage 16/32GB Battery Non-removable Li-Po 3600 mAh battery Other features Dual-SIM capability

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

VERDICT

• Go to www.mobilechoiceuk.com for full reviews and the latest news • Tablet Buying Guide starts on page 86 • 74 | Mobile Choice 216

More reviews online at www.mobilechoiceuk.com

Honor 7

Available sim-free Pros All metal body, fingerprint sensor, fabulous camera, strikingly beautiful display Cons Slightly too wide, confusing buttons layout Also consider Samsung Galaxy S6 Killer app A premium device for under £250, backed by a major UK network. Almost every aspect of the phone bowled us over. Verdict This is a star phone, a powerhouse of a performer, the phone took everything we threw at it and the kind of specs it boasts of is incredible at the under£250 price tag.

HTC One A9

Reviewed Issue 211 www.VMall.eu/Honor7 price £273.34 Operating system Android 5.0 Size 143.2 x 71.9 x 8.5mm Weight 157g Display 5.2 inches, 423ppi Resolution 1080 x 1920 pixels Processor Q1.5GHz octa-core Hisilicon Kirin 935 Camera 20-megapixel and 8-megapixel RAM 3GB Storage 16GB expandable to 128GB Battery 3100 mAh Skin Emotion UI 3.1

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Available sim-free Pros Beautiful build | Android 6.0 | Good camera Cons Incredibly expensive | Tiny battery Verdict Just £20 cheaper than Nexus 6P, small battery life, great look and feel Also consider Google Nexus 5X Killer app Awesome build quality.

Reviewed Issue 209 www.johnlewis.com price £419.95 Operating system Android 6.0 Marshmallow, HTC Sense UI Size 145.75 x 70.8 x 7.26 mm Weight 143g Display 5-inch Full HD Resolution 1920 x 1080 LCD at 441 ppi Processor Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 617 processor, 1.5 GHz octa-core 64-bit (Adreno 430 GPU) Camera 13 MP with f/2.2 aperture, UltraPixel selfie camera Ports 9mm Headset jack, microSD slot Storage 32GB with 3GB RAM Battery 2,150 mAh Other features Fast charging. Corning® Gorilla® Glass 4, fingerprint scanner, NFC

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Honor 5C

Cons No fingerprint sensor | camera not great | low on-board storage Also consider Lenovo Moto G4 Killer app Powerful 3,000 mAh battery Verdict Honor 5C costs less than other similar phones but lacks a USP to set it apart from any other phone. The rear camera shots are very poor in bright sunlight and the 5.2-inch display isn’t as sharp as expected while playing videos.

Honor 5X

www.vmall.eu price £149.99 Operating system Android 6.0 Marshmallow Size 147x74x8.3mm Weight 156g Display 5.2-inch IPS Resolution 1080p Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) Processor Octa-core 2.0GHz Kirin 650 PORTS Micro USB, 3.5mm stereo jack, USB Type-C Camera 13-MP LED flash. Selfie camera: 8-MP. Video recording: 1080p (30 fps) storage 16 GB internal, up to 128 GB microSD Card support Battery 3,000 mAh fingerprint sensor Yes misc Emotion 4.1 UI over Android 6.0 Marshmallow

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Cons Processor not the best; EMUI- Honor’s skin over Android is dispensable Also consider Oneplus X Killer app Ability to call friends at the touch of a finger by linking a fingerprint with a contact – a feature that works in locked-screen mode. Verdict A fantastic phone for the price, the 5X has a premium build quality, dual-SIM capabilities and enough smarts to compete with the big boys. The under-powered processor sadly rains on its perfect credentials.

Honor 8

www.vmall.eu price £170.97 Operating system Android™ 5.1 (Lollipop) Size 76.2 X 151.3 X 8.2mm Weight 158g Display 5.5-inch, Full HD fully laminated display Resolution 1920 x 1080 pixel Processor Qualcomm® Snapdragon 64-bit octa-core processor 2GB RAM Camera 13-MP primary camera with f2.0; 5-MP selfie camera with 22mm wide-angle lens storage 16 GB internal storage; expandable storage up to 128GB via MicroSD slot Battery 3000 mAh non-removable lithium-ion battery fingerprint sensor Yes misc Dual-SIM; Connectivity: LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Cons Display not brilliant Also consider Vodafone Smart platinum 7 Killer app Stunning build quality alongside the frankly, fantastic specs places it in pole position in a very very competitive premium budget segment Verdict The Honor 8, especially in sapphire blue, tops in build quality and looks. It is also very very capable with the 4GB RAM and dual primary cameras.

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 211

Available sim-free Pros Good battery | dual cameras | Powerful processor

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 213

Available sim-free Pros Superb build quality, fab camera, price

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 213

Available sim-free Pros Value pricing | premium looks | Full HD display

VERDICT

www.vmall.eu price £369 Operating system Android™ 6.0 (EMUI 4.1) Size 145.5mm x 71mm x 7.45mm Weight 153g Display 5.2-inch Full HD Resolution 1920x1080 Processor HiSilicon Kirin 950 (4*Cortex A72 2.3GHz + 4*Cortex A53 1.8GHz); 4GB RAM Camera 12-MPx2 camera main dual camera with separate RGB and monochrome sensor, 1080p video; 8-MP selfie camera Storage 32GB; 4GB RAM Micro SD (up to 200GB) Battery 3000 mAh Fingerprint sensor Yes Misc USB 2.0; Quick charge; ambient light sensor; NFC

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

VERDICT

Mobile Choice 216 | 75

BUYING GUIDE // PHONES HTC Desire Eye

Available sim-free Pros 13MP front and rear cameras. IPx7 rating makes it waterproof without closing the ports. Fantastic processor. Great Battery Cons Gimmicky camera features. Plastic body Also consider Apple iPhone 5c Killer app Super selfie camera 13 megapixel cameras both front and back with a gamut of post-processing options and filters makes this a best in class. Verdict HTC call the Desire Eye a super selfie camera and with 13MP front and rear cameras on board, why wouldn’t they? It is a first for any smartphone to rock same specs on both the front and rear cameras, but I am not convinced if the selfie camera is its best feature. IP67 rating without the ports closed is pretty amazing, as is the beautiful linear design. The robust battery life and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor make it an absolutely cracking deal.

HTC One (M8)

Reviewed online www.htc.com/uk price £350 Operating system Android 4.4.2 KitKat® Size 151.7 x 73.8 x 8.5mm Weight 154g Display 5.2” Resolution 1920 x 1080 pixels Processor 2.3 GHz / Quad Core / Qualcomm® Snapdragon 801 / GPU: Adreno 330 Camera 13 Mpixels / Flash: Dual LED / Front: 13 MP / Video: 1080p @ 30fps Ports micro SD, micro USB Storage 16 GB / RAM: 2 GB / Slot type: microSD / Max. slot capacity: 128 GB Battery 2400 mAh

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Available sim-free Pros Bright, crisp Full HD screen, incredibly loud BoomSound speakers, premium aluminium design, clever dual rear camera Cons Camera resolution lower than rivals, screen could be too large for some, Sense 6 is very different to stock Android Also consider The Sony Xperia Z2. Also an evolution of a 2013 flagship, the Z2 also offers high-end looks with performance and a camera to match Killer app Duo rear camera Add the blurred background, shallow depthof-field effect of an SLR to every photo you take, even after you’ve taken it Verdict A genuine world-beater with the design and build quality of a Swiss watch paired with top-notch performance and a brilliant display

HTCOneM9

Reviewed Issue 206 www.htc.com/uk price £242.17 Operating system Android 4.4.2 KitKat Size 146.4 x 70.6 x 9.4mm Weight 160g Display 5-inch Super LCD3 Resolution 1920 x 1080 pixels Processor 2.3GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 Camera 4.1-megapixel Ultrapixel with depth sensor; 5-megapixel from camera Ports micro USB, microSD Storage 16GB Battery 20 hours 3G talk time, 496 hours 3G standby time Other features NFC, 4G

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Available sim-free Pros Dual-tone metal body, Sapphire lens cover, Dolby Audio, Octa-core CPU, 20-MP camera

VERDICT

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 209

Killer app The two tone uni-body full metal body makes every other phone in the market look like they have been put through a wrangler

www.htc.com price £299.89 Operating system Android 5.0 (Lollipop) Size 144.6 x 69.7 x 9.61mm Weight 157g Display 5.0-Inch Full HD Resolution 1080 x 1920 pixels Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 Octa-core Camera 20MP with Sapphire cover lens, 4K video recording Ports Micro USB, microSD Storage 16GB/32GB Battery 2840mAh Other features HTC Sense Home, Themes, HTC BoomSound with Dolby Audio, Gyro Sensor

Verdict HTC’s One M9 delivers on key needs of the paying public: size, performance, battery, camera and looks. We found its predecessors faultless and we find the latest addition faultless too. One of the biggest transformation is the themes application. It brings in visual transformation to all your real estate on the phone and not just as a front-door makeover.

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Cons Not much of an improvement from its predecessor Also consider Apple iPhone 6

HTC 10

Available sim-free Pros Beautiful build quality | high res audio | Good battery life Cons No always-on display | camera not brilliant Verdict HTC 10 has a beautifully solid metal body, really good audio capabilities and pared back Android and a customisable freestyle theme app. However, the camera lacks oomph when compared with the ones on the Samsung Galaxy S7 and the Huawei P9 or even the LG G5. The phone is also too expensive to compete with similar flagship phones. Also consider LG G5

Huawei Mate S

Reviewed Issue 214 www.htc.com price From £511.98 Operating system Android™ 6.01 Marshmallow with HTC Sense Size 145.9 x 71.9 x 3.0 - 9.0 mm Storage 16GB, 64GB, 128GB Weight 161g Resolution 2560 x 1440, 564PPI Display Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 820, Quad Core, 64bit, up to 2.2GHz 4GB RAM Memory: 32/64 GB internal storage; ?Expandable storage via MicroSD slot Processor Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 820, Quad Core, 64bit, up to 2.2GHz 4GB RAM Camera 12-MP (HTC UltraPixel™ 2 with 1.55µm pixel) ; 5-MP front-facing camera. Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) Fingerprint sensor: Yes Battery 3000mAH Other features NFC, Type C; 4.2 BLE; Wi-Fiac, LTE, Bluetooth 4.2; 4K video recording with Hi-Res audio

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Killer app Chamfered edges; hi-res audio

Available sim-free

Pros Force touch, fingerprint sensor, waterproof, Knuckle Sense 2.0 Cons No app drawer, Emotion UI Also consider Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge + Killer app Force Touch is the same as 3DTouch thats on the latest iPhone 6s and makes an appearance on the 128GB model of this phone. Verdict The curved back makes it super easy to hold and it is incredibly light for its size. I am still not a massive fan of Emotion UI but am happy to overlook it because of the great fingerprint sensor and the sharp display

VERDICT

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 207

https://www.vmall.eu/uk/ price From £329.89 Operating system Android 5.1 Lollipop + EMUI 3.1 Size 149.8 x 75.3 x 7.2mm Weight 156g Display 5.5”, AMOLED, ONCELL, FHD Resolution 1920 x 1080 pixels Processor Hisilicon Kirin 935 (64-bit) Camera 13MP, 8MP Ports microSD Storage 32/64/128GB Battery 2,700 mAh

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

VERDICT

• Go to www.mobilechoiceuk.com for full reviews and the latest news • Tablet Buying Guide starts on page 86 • 76 | Mobile Choice 216

More reviews online at www.mobilechoiceuk.com

Huawei Mate 8

Available sim-free

Pros Well-specced | Fingerprint sensor | premium build and finish Cons Massive size | Old OS | EMUI not great Also consider Oppo R7 Plus Killer app The super-fast fingerprint reader is the best I have encountered. And I have encountered a fair few! It is better than the one on the Samsung Galaxy S7 as well as the one on the Apple iPhone 6s. The placement on the back is better than having it on the home button! Verdict Not just battery, the Mate 8 also has a very good processor, sharp and fast fingerprint scanner and costs a lot less than the other premium phablets out there. Go get one!

Huawei P8

Reviewed Issue 205 www.vmall.eu price £359 Operating system EMUI 4.0 over Android™ 6.0 (Marshmallow) Size 157.1 X 80.6 X 7.9mm Weight 185g Display 6.0”, FHD Screen Resolution 1920X1080, 368ppi Processor Huawei Hisilicon Kirin 950(64-bit,16nm, FinFET) Octa core(4*2.3GHz A72 +4*1.8GHzA53)+i5 co-processor fingerprint sensor Yes Camera 16-MP, F2.0, OIS (Optical image stablisation), Timelapse recording photos max 4608 x 3456 pixels Storage 32/64/128GB Ports microSD video recording 1080p, 60 fps support 720P 120FPS Slo-Mo recording Battery Other features Dual-SIM; Colours: Moonlight Silver, Space Gray, Champagne Gold, Mocha Brown

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Available sim-free Pros SAn efficient battery and an internal storage of 64GB; lightweight; brilliant user interface Cons No quick charging feature; non-replaceable battery; no fingerprint scanner Also consider HTC Desire Eye Killer app Light painting capabilities on the phone makes it incredible for low-light photography Verdict While being heavier than the Ascend P7, the P8 is a sturdy smartphone containing premium specs at a very competitive price. The 5.2 inch Full HD display plus new 4G connectivity combined with a vast internal storage brings in added user experience

Huawei P8 Lite

Cons Still on Android 4 | Underpowered processor | low internal memory Similar to Acer Liquid M220 Killer app The low price while packing some superb design skills makes the Lite stand out in a sea of competition. Verdict: Very good for basic usage, taking pictures or even as a starter phone, the P8 Lite will do well until you need sheer grunt power or better battery life. But for the price it is a solid handset! Verdict Huawei P8 Lite is a very good phone for basic usage but its processor may not be powerful enough for high-intensity HD gaming or long-term multitasking. The phone, however, looks somewhat premium and is competitively priced, ensuring its success in the budget to mid-range market.

Huawei P9

Reviewed Issue 210 Consumer.huawei.com price £259.99 Operating system Android 5.0.2 Lollipop Size 144.9 x 72.1 x 6.4mm Weight 144g Display 5.2 inches Resolution 1080 x 1920 pixels Processor Quad-core 2 GHz Cortex-A53 Camera 13MP primary; 8MP front Ports 128GB microSD Storage 16/64GB Battery Non-removable Li-Po 2680 mAh battery Other features DSLR-level Image Signal Processor

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Available sim-free

Pros Value handset | Underwhelming battery life

Cons Huawei’s custom Android overlay is unnecessary | no fast charge Verdict The first Huawei handset to be ranged by all the networks, P9 offers the best cameraphone experience in the market, one of the best fingerprint sensors, great RAM and expandable memory. Also consider Honor 8 Killer app Dual RGB and Monochrome cameras with Leica technology

Huawei Mate 9

www.vmall.eu price £140 Operating system EMUI 3.0 over Android™ 4.4 Size 143 x 70.6 x 7.7 mm Weight 131g Display 5.0”, IPS Screen Resolution 720X1280, Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 Camera 13-MP, Timelapse recording Video recording 1080p, 30 fps Front camera 5MP, F2.4, Photos: max 3264 x 2448 pixels, Video recording: 1080p, 30 fps Ports 128GB microSD Fingerprint sensor No Storage 2GB RAM+16GB ROM expandable storage via MicroSD slot Battery 2200 mAh non-removable lithium-ion battery Other features Dual-SIM

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Cons Could be too big for some, Emotion UI Also consider Phone 7 Plus Similar to Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Killer app The dual RGB and Monochrome cameras are the best ones in the industry. Verdict Mate 9 arrives with an amped up the processor, camera and the RAM to make itself one of the best value-for-money propositions around. This phone has one of the best cameras right now and could be the answer to the Note 7 sized void in your life.

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 214

http://vmall.eu/ price From £449 Operating system Android™ 6.01 Marshmallow with Emotion UI 4.1 Size 145 x 70.9 x 6.95 mm Weight 144g Resolution 2560 x 1440, 424PPI Display 5.2in full HD LCD Storage 32 GB internal storage; Expandable storage via MicroSD slot Memory: 32 GB internal storage; ?Expandable storage via MicroSD slot Processor Octa-core Huawei Kirin 955; 3GB of RAM Camera 12-MP dual cameras; 8-MP front-facing camera Fingerprint sensor: Yes Battery 3000mAH Other features NFC, Type C; 4.2 BLE; Wi-Fiac, LTE, Bluetooth 4.2, Fingerprint sensor

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

VERDICT Reviewed online

Available sim-free

Pros Camera, premium build quality, massive battery

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 210

Available sim-free Pros Beautiful build quality | Best in class camera | USB-C | Very good screen | Value purchase

VERDICT

vmall.eu price €699 Operating system Android™ 7.0 (Nougat) Emotion UI EMUI 5.0 Size 156.9 x 78.9 x 7.9mm Weight 190g Display 5.9” FHD display 2.5D glass 1080p Resolution 1920 x 1080, 373ppi Processor Kirin 960; Octa-core (4 x 2.4 GHz A73 + 4 x 1.8 GHz A53) + i6 co-processor GPU Mali-G71 MP8 Fingerprint sensor Yes Camera 20-MP Monochrome + 12-MP RGB, F2.2 OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) 4K video; 8-MP selfie camera AF, F1.9 Battery 4000mAh lithium-ion battery Memory 64GB ROM 4GB RAM microSD card slot, support up to 256GB (uses SIM 2 slot) Other features Dual SIM NFC; USB Type C (High Speed USB); Wi-Fi 2.4G/5G,

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

VERDICT

Mobile Choice 216 | 77

BUYING GUIDE // PHONES Kodak Ektra

Available sim-free Pros Camera, Distinctive looks, Expandable memory, Fast Cons No fingerprint sensor | Leatherette look might not please all Also consider Huawei P9 Similar to Lenovo Moto Z with Hasselblad Camera Mod Killer app . The form factor and of course, the camera Verdict This smartphone is for the stylish and discerning customer who wants to be seen with a fantastic looking product encased in a leather carrying case. It also happens to be a phone.

Lenovo Moto G4

Cons Too big | Not waterproof like previous iteration Also consider Obi Worldphone Killer app Using Motomaker, you are able to change everything on the phone, from the colour of the metal on the sides to the face. Verdict The G4 is a very well-rounded smartphone. Sensible pricing, pure android, good cameras and no-nonsense build quality coupled with the infinite customisation options make it an almost irresistible budget option

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Cons No headphone jack, phablet size not for everyone Also consider Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge Similar to LG G5 Killer app This is modular design done right! Verdict A top notch display, the thinnest form factor, a great battery and a modular design makes the Moto Z among the best smartphones to buy, combined with a much lesser price compared to other flagship phones.

Lenovo ZUK Z1

www.motorola.com price £169.99 Operating system Android™ 6.0.1, Marshmallow Size 153 x 76.6 x 7.9-9.8mm Weight 155g Display 5.5” 1080p Full HD, 401 p Resolution 1280 x 720 pixels Processor Snapdragon™ 617 octa-core processor with 550 MHz Adreno 405 GPU rear Camera 13 MP, f/2.0 aperture, 4X zoom, Auto HDR, 1080p videos Storage 16GB Front camera 5 MP, f/2.2 aperture, Wide-angle lens, display flash Battery 3,000 mAh Ports USB, 3.5 mm headset jack Other features Pure Android

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Cons Bulky design | under-powered processor | Camera is iffy | no expandable memory Verdict Poor camera, good display and battery, no expandable storage, no Marshmallow OS. Also consider Microsoft Lumia 950 Killer app 4,100 mAh Battery, octa-core processor, fingerprint sensor

www.lenovo.com/gb/en price £499.99 Operating system Android™ 6.0.1 (Marshmallow) Size 155.3 x 75.3 x 5.19m Weight 136g Fingerprint sensor Yes (home button) Display 5.5-inch Quad HD Corning® Gorilla® Glass Resolution 2560 x 1440 pixels; 535ppi ® Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon™ 820 processor with up to 1.8 GHz Quad-core CPU and Adreno 530 Memory 32GB(ROM) + 4GB(RAM); Expandable storage upto 2TB via MicroSD slot Camera 13-MP with OIS and laser auto-focus; 5-MP selfie camera with wide-angle lens and LED flash Battery 2600mAh lithium-ion battery Other features Qualcomm® Quick Charge; USB Type-C; NFC; sold with a range of magnetic mods; water resistant

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Cons Too large for some, not a true aluminium chassis, Knock-Code needs work Also consider Samsung Galaxy S5. Both offer big screens and big power, but where the Samsung looks like a second-tier handset, the LG has a premium finish Killer app Quad-HD screen With a resolution double that of its rivals, the LG G3’s display is in a league of its own and has to be seen to be believed. Verdict An uncompromising powerhouse of a smartphone, LG has squared up to its better-known rivals and knocked the ball out of the park. The G3 has, by some margin, the best screen of any smartphone and garnishes it with a powerful processor, expandable storage, a removable battery, some clever and intuitive software tweaks, and a camera which focuses literally in the blink of an eye.

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 198

www.zukmobile.cc/zuk-z1-3gb-16gb-mobile.html price £179.99 Operating system CyanogenMod 12.1 over Android 5.1 Lollipop Size 155.7x77.3x8.9mm Weight 175g Display 5.5-inch Full HD resolution 480 x 320 pixels Resolution 480 x 320 pixels Processor 2.5GHz Qualcomm® Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor Camera 13-MP AIMX214 5-lens rear camera with OIS and dual-LED flash, 1080p video recording; 8-MP dual front camera Ports 9mm Headset jack, USB Type-C port storage 64GB eMMC ROM (no microSD slot) Battery 4,100 mAh (non-removable) Other features USB-C; Quick Charge, dual-SIM dual-standby, with 4G on both nano-SIM slots

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 207

Available sim-free Pros Incredible QHD screen, ultra-fast infrared camera focus, premium looks

VERDICT Reviewed online

Available sim-free

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 216

Available sim-free Pros Good battery, Fantastic modular design, Pure Android, Camera works brilliantly

LGG3

Kodak.com price £449 (32GB) Available early Dec-201 Operating system Android 6.0 Size 147.80 x 73.35 x 9.69 mm Weight 138g Resolution 441 ppi. 1920 x 1080 Battery 3000mAH Display 5-inch full HD Fingerprint sensor: No Memory: 32GB memory, expandable with MicroSD cards Processor MediaTek Helio X20 2.3GHz Decacore processor with 3GB RAM Camera 21-MP fast focus camera sensor with F2.0, PDAF, OIS, Dual LED Flash, 13-MP phase detection auto focus front-facing camera with F2.2 PDAF. 4k video recording capabilities Other features USB 3.0 Type C fast charger, Integrated high quality printing app; Bluetooth

Available sim-free

Pros Fully customisable form factor | Great screen | good camera

Lenovo Moto Z

Reviewed Issue 214

www.lg.com price £139.98 Operating system Android 4.4 KitKat Size 146.3 x 74.6 x 8.9mm Weight 149g Display 5.5-inch Quad-HD Resolution 1440 x 2560 pixels Processor 2.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 Camera 13-megapixel rear; 2.1-megapixel front camera Ports micro USB, microSD Storage 16GB Battery 3,000mAh Other features 4G, NFC, laser-guided autofocus

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

VERDICT

• Go to www.mobilechoiceuk.com for full reviews and the latest news • Tablet Buying Guide starts on page 86 • 78 | Mobile Choice 216

More reviews online at www.mobilechoiceuk.com

LG G4c

Available Availablesim-free sim-free Pros Great quality audio, good image quality from front and rear cameras, solid battery Cons Poor internal memory, oversimplified camera settings, little value for money Also consider Oppo R7f Killer app Cameras, Audio quality Verdict The LG G4c is too cut-down and too highly priced to be a strong option for most consumers and apart from the sound quality, it doesn’t really have any stand-out or iconic features past the vague resemblance to its bigger, better brother.

LG G5

Reviewed Issue 211 www.lg.com/uk/smartphones price £123.31 Operating system Android 5.0 (Lollipop) Size 139.7 x 69.8 x 10.2mm Weight 136g Display 5-inch, 720p HD, 294 ppi Resolution 1280 x 720 pixels Processor 1.3GHz Quad-Core, Qualcomm MSM8916 Snapdragon 410 Camera 13MP primary, 5MP front Ports microSD Storage 8GB Battery 2,540 mAh Other features Buetooth 4

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Available sim-free Pros Modular design | accessories available | fantastic camera | always-on display Cons Build quality iffy | accessories pricey | modular concept needs to be fleshed out Verdict If you want a phone with a swappable battery and a modular ‘party trick’ style then the G5 is the answer. However, the iffy build quality might put you off. Also consider HTC 10 Killer app Modular design which can accommodate battery and camera modules

Microsoft Lumia 535

Reviewed Issue 214 www.lg.com/uk/smartphones price £359/£439 Operating system System: Android™ 6.01 Marshmallow Size 149.4 x 73.9 x 7.7 mm Weight 159g Storage 16GB, 64GB, 128GB Display 5.3-inch, QHD display Resolution 2560 x 1440, 554PPI Memory: 32 GB internal storage; ?Expandable storage upto 200GB via MicroSD slot Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 (Quad 2.1 GHz); 4GB RAM Camera 1st – 16MP Normal / 2nd - 8MP 135° Wide angle; 8-MP front-facing camera. Fingerprint sensor: Yes Battery 2800 mAh (removable) Other features NFC, USB 2.0(3.0 Compatible) Type C; 4.2 BLE; Wi-Fi(802.11 a/b/g/n/ac)

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Available SIM-freesim-free Available

Pros Flagship level features, Changeable case and matching accessories available, Incredibly budget-friendly price point

VERDICT

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 209

Killer app Fantastic amount of storage available with the phone. 15GB on cloud, expandable to 128GB with 8GB internal memory. Perfect for all those selfies

www.microsoft.com/en-gb/mobile/phone/lumia535/ price £79.99 Operating system Windows Phone 8.1 with Lumia Denim Size 140.2 x 72.4 x 8.8mm Weight 146g Display 5” (141.9mm) TrueColor Resolution qHD (960 X 540 pixels) Processor 1.2GHz Quad-Core Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 200 Camera Both 5 MP Ports micro-USB 2.0 (5-pin) port Storage 1GB ram; 8 storage plus 128 SD card +16GB free cloud storage Battery 1905mAH Other features Sunlight readability enhancements, Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3, High brightness mode, Scratch resistant glass

Verdict Brilliant price point at under £110 and packing all the features of its pricier stable-mates, Microsoft’s first phone to bear its name is startlingly devoid of punchy new features and tricks. An identikit Lumia phone with a sluggish processor, we had hoped for more… Hopefully, the next one will sweep us off our feet.

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Cons Under-powered processor, No 4G LTE, Known touchscreen bugs, Very average screen Also consider Motorola Moto E

Microsoft Lumia 650

Available sim-free

Pros Slim-line form factor | good display | value handset Cons Super-laggy processor | small battery size | underwhelming camera Verdict Even though it fields Windows 10, Lumia 650 lacks Continuum which may turn off business users. The processor stutters a lot, the battery life isn’t adequate and the camera deserves a miss. Killer app Low-priced Windows 10 offering

Reviewed Issue 214 www.microsoft/en/ price £106 Operating system Windows Mobile 10 Size 142x70.9x6.9 mm Weight 122g Resolution 1280x720; 297ppi Display 5-inch, HD OLED display STORAGE 16 GB internal storage; ?Expandable storage upto 200GB via MicroSD slot Processor Qualcomm® Snapdragon 212 processor quad-core 1300Mhz 1GB RAM Camera 8-MP primary camera; 5-MP wide-angle front-facing camera Battery 2000 mAh Fingerprint sensor: No Other features LTE, Gorilla Glass display. Aluminium frame. Removable battery

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Microsoft Lumia 950 XL

Available sim-free

Pros Good battery | Windows 10 | good camera Cons Cheap plastic body | Juddery and stuttery performance | penchant for freezing mid-task | no fingerprint sensor Verdict Microsoft Lumia 950 XL comes with Windows 10 which has brilliant battery power, camera and the display but if you are not a Windows phone fan, please don’t buy this phone. It is juddery, crashes frequent ly and freezes while switching between apps with such regularity that it will leave you not just exasperated but also wondering how Microsoft can even dream of passing this off as a premium device Also consider LG G5 Killer app Stock Windows 10 Mobile OS

VERDICT

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 214

www.microsoft.com/en-gb/ price £469.99 Operating system Windows 10 Size 151.9 X 78.4 X 8.1 mm RAM 3GB Weight 165g Resolution 2560 x 1440 518 ppi Display 5.7-inch WQHD TrueColor (24-bit/16M) AMOLED, ClearBlack STORAGE 32 GB RAM: 3 GB; Expandable memory upto 200 GB via MicroSD Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 Octa core; 2000 MHz. GPU: Adreno 430 Camera 20-MP with Auto focus & two-stage capture key; 6-lens optics f/1.9 Battery 3340mAH FINGERPRINT SENSOR No Other features Gorilla Glass 4; App and data storage on memory card.

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

VERDICT

Mobile Choice 216 | 79

BUYING GUIDE // PHONES Motorola Moto E (2nd Gen)

Pros Good price, quad core processor, Android Lollipop, great price Cons Bit weighty for its size, only comes in black and white variant, No NFC Also consider Sony Xperia E4g and the HTC Desire 310 Killer app Great price for a 4G handset Verdict IThe Moto E delivers all that you’d expect from any 2nd gen model, but this handset is not just for the cheap handset for the first-time buyer but a proper Android smartphone that us more than capable of being your new day today buddy

Motorola Moto G4 Plus Cons No NFC

Verdict The G4 Plus’ curved back makes it easier to hold and its display is flawless. It is the ultimate budget handset with a brilliant battery, huge storage and RAM and nice cameras. Also consider Vodafone Smart Platinum 7

Cons Not waterproof | no fingerprint scanner | not scratch resistant Verdict Shatterproof screen, pure Android experience, 21MP camera, absence of an IP67 rating. Also consider Sony Xperia X performance Killer app Motorola Moto X Play Killer App: The fact that the screen is the World’s first shatterproof one makes it not just a killer app but also one for the records books!

Reviewed Issue 211

Cons Looks cheap plastic build, size not for everyone Also consider LG G4 is a close competitor Killer app The ginormous battery at 3630mAH means you don’t need to pack a charger when you go on a weekend city break. Verdict At the £269 (16GB version), the Motorola Moto X Play offers solid value for money. It ticks all the boxes for someone who would like a no-frills handset that will take them from work to play without the need to juice up. You get a nearly pure Android experience in a splash-resistant body with expandable memory.

www.motorola.co.uk/products/moto-x-force price £364.99 Operating system Android 6.0 Marshmallow Size 150 x 78 x 7.6mm Weight 169g Display 5.4-inch AMOLED Processor Qualcomm® Snapdragon Octa-core 2.0GHz Camera 21MP; 5MP Resolution 2560 x 1440p Ports 9mm Headset jack, microSD slot Storage 3GBRAM, 32GB (24GB) / 64GB storage; MicroSD slot (up to 2TB) Battery 3,760 mAh Other features 4G LTE, NFC

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Cons Camera not great | OS could be less intrusive | Very laggy performance Verdict The phone comes with a new design concept but both the performance and the cameras are laggy. The can automatically back up its storage on Cloud and is inexpensive, making it a strong alternative. Also consider Microsoft Lumia 650 Killer app Refreshing design that makes it a unique phone

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 211

https://www.motorola.co.uk/products/moto-g price £219.99 Operating system Android 5.0 Lollipop Size 140.8 x 72.4 x 3.8-9.9mm Weight 144g Display 5.2-inch AMOLED, 1080p Full HD, 423ppi Processor 2.5GHz Quad-Core, Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 Camera 13MP primary, 2MP front Resolution 1920 x 1080 pixels Ports micro USB Storage 16GB, 32GB Battery 2300 mAh Other features 4K UHD video capture, NFC, 4G LTE

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Available sim-free Pros Great design | Unique cloud storage features | Inexpensiv

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 211

Available sim-free

Pros No bloatware, brilliant display, ideal screen size for streaming, massive battery

VERDICT

www.motorola.com price from £199Operating system Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow Size 153x 76.6x 7.9 mm to 9.8 mm Weight 155g Display 5.5in 1080p IPS LCD Resolution 1080p Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels), 401 ppi Processor Snapdragon 617 Octa-Core, 64 bit; 2GB/ 4GB RAM Camera 16 MP Laser auto-focus Phase detect auto-focus (PDAF) ƒ/2.0. Selfie camera: 5 MP ƒ / 2.2 aperture Wide-Angle lens. Video recording: 1080p (30 fps) Ports Micro USB 2.0, 3.5mm stereo jack, MicroSD Battery 3,000 mAh Storage 32 GB / 64 GB internal, up to 128 GB microSD Card support Other features Water repellent coating for added water resistance; Ambient light mode; Turbo power charge

Available sim-free

Pros Shatterproof screen | Pure android | Brilliant battery | Solid performance

Nexbit Robin

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Killer app Brilliant display and long battery life

Motorola Moto X Play

www.motorola.co.uk price £79.95 Operating system Android 5.0 Lollipop Size 129.9 x 66.8 x 12.3mm Weight 145g Display 4.5 inches Resolution 540 x 960 pixels Processor 1.2GHz Quad core Storage 8GB Camera 5-megapixels Ports micro USB, microSD Battery 2390 mAh Other features Video capture 720p HD, water resistantcoating, removable Motorola bands

Available sim-free

Pros Fingerprint scanner | Expandable memory | good camera | fingerprint sensor in the sub-£250 category

Motorola Moto X Force

Reviewed Issue 209

Available sim-free

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 214

www.nextbit.com price £350 Operating system Android™ 6.01 Marshmallow with Nextbit OS Size 149 x 72 x 7 mm Storage 32GB, 3GB RAM Weight 144g Resolution 1080 x 1920 pixels Display 5.2-inch 1080p IPS LCD Ports USB Type-C, 3.5mm stereo jack STORAGE 32 GB Onboard; 100 GB Online Processor Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 808 hexa-core processor; 3GB of RAM Camera 13-MP Rear-facing with phase detection autofocus, dual-tone flash 5-MP Front-facing CONNECTIVITY Wi-Fi 80.11ac, Bluetooth 4.0 LE, USB-C Battery 2680 mAh Other features NFC, Bluetooth 4.0 LE Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

VERDICT

• Go to www.mobilechoiceuk.com for full reviews and the latest news • Tablet Buying Guide starts on page 86 • 80 | Mobile Choice 216

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One Plus 3

Available sim-free Pros Reasonably priced | Beautiful build quality | AMOLED screen | turbo charger in box Cons No expandable storage | Camera isn’t great Verdict Fantastic battery life coupled with Dash charge, a superstar processor and a 6GB RAM makes this a device to invest in sharpish. The camera isn’t the best but just very good and there is no expandable storage just 64GB onboard, and despite these, this is a superstar phone Also consider Moto G4 Plus Killer app Brilliant pricing and powerful specifications

Samsung Galaxy A3 2016

Cons No HDMI port; just 1GB RAM not enough for multi-tasking Also consider Motorola Moto G 3rd Gen Killer app Drop-dead gorgeous premium looks Verdict The Samsung Galaxy A3 is a perfect mid-range phone for users who are not too keen on high spec mobile gaming or working on heavy apps. A quad-core processor and extra storage option is negated by a mere 1GB of memory which could put the phone under great strain when used for multitasking

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Cons Runs Android KitKat, small battery, still has old TouchWiz, underpowered Processor, shaky camera output in low-light conditions Also consider Honor 6+ Killer app Incredible display, otherwise found on flagship devices Verdict The Galaxy A5 combines the build quality of the Galaxy Alpha with an affordable piece point. However, the absence of a robust processor, the latest Lollipop OS and a good quality camera are sore misses. It is still a bargain with a sharp display, 4G connectivity and expandable storage at under £300 price tag

Reviewed Issue 210

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Cons Screen resolution could be higher | No expandable storage | Software still feels cluttered Also consider Sony Xperia Z3 Compact and HTC One mini 2 Killer app Two power saving modes are at your disposal to eek every last percentage point from the battery. The most extreme, called Ultra power saving mode, claims to make 50% of charge last an incredible 5.6 days Verdict The Galaxy Alpha is what the Galaxy S5 should have been when it went on sale six months ago; a great-looking phone which blends aesthetics, performance and ergonomics into one desirable package.

Samsung Galaxy Mega

Reviewed Issue 210

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Cons Small internal memory, camera shake on photos, no built-in stylus Also consider The 6.4-inch Sony Xperia Z Ultra is a whopper that comes hilariously close to tablet territory Killer app Massive screen size The screen is large enough to be viewed without being six inches from your face, so its lower pixel count is less of an issue Verdict The Mega lives up to its name by being bigger than even the mighty Note, but it loses the great screen quality and stylus. It’s a good way to consume media, with a great battery life, but loses portability in the process

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 208

www.samsung.com price £269.99 Operating system Android OS, v4.4.4 (KitKat) Size 132.4 x 65.5 x 8.05mm Weight 115g Display 720 x 1280 pixels, 4.7 inches Super AMOLED Resolution 720 x 1280 pixels, 306 ppi Processor Octa-core, 1.8GHz processor Battery Li-Po 1860 mAh battery Ports Nano-SIM Camera 12 MP, 4608 x 2592 pixels, autofocus, LED flash Storage 32 GB, 2 GB RAM Other features S Health fitness tracking app, using the phone’s various sensors and rearmounted heart rate monitor to record your walking, running, jogging and general health - a service which is further enhanced when paired with Samsung’s Gear smartwatc.

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Available sim-free

Pros Huge screen, good battery life, well-priced phablet

VERDICT

www.samsung.com/uk price £264.70 Operating system Android 4.4.4 Kit Kat Size 139.3 x 69.7 x 6.7mm Weight 123g Display 5 inches Resolution 720 x 1280 pixels Processor Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A53 Storage 16GB Camera 13MP primary; 5MP front Ports 64GB microSD Battery Non-removable Li-Po 2300 mAh battery Other features xAnimated Selfie lets you record those longer moments

Available sim-free

Pros Attractive design | Speedy performance | The perfect size and weight

VERDICT

www.samsung.com/uk price £218.75 Operating system Android 4.4.2 Kit Kat Size 130.1 x 65.5 x 6.9mm Weight 110g Display 4.5 inches Resolution 540 x 960 pixels Processor Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A53 Storage 16GB Camera 8MP primary; 5MP front Ports 64GB microSD Battery Non-removable Li-Po 1900 mAh battery Other features Wearable Device Support for Gear Circle, Gear Fit, Gear

Available sim-free

Pros Under £300, beautiful build quality, expandable storage, 4G connectivity

Samsung Galaxy Alpha

www.oneplus.net price from £329 Operating system OxygenOS based on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow Size 152.7 x 74.7 x 7.35 mm Storage 64GB Weight 158g Resolution 1080p Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels), 401 ppi Display 5.5-inch touchscreen Optic AMOLED; Corning® Gorilla® Glass 4 Memory: 32 GB internal storage; ?Expandable storage via MicroSD slot Processor Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 820 Quad Core, Kryo™: 2x 2.2 GHz, 2x 1.6 GHz; 6GB LPDDR4 Ports Micro USB 2.0, Type-C, 3.5mm stereo jack Camera 16-MP, Sony IMX 298 Sensor; OIS; 4K resolution video at 30fps. 8-MP selfie camera Fingerprint sensor: Yes Battery 3,000 mAh Other features Ambient light mode; DASH charge

Available sim-free

Pros 64 GB extra storage option; NFC-enabled; Quad-core CPU

Samsung Galaxy A5 2016

Reviewed Issue 214

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 205

www.samsung.com/mega price £122 Operating system Android 4.2 Jelly Bean Size 167.6 x 88 x 8mm Weight 199g Display 6.3-inch Resolution 1280 x 720 pixels Processor 1.75GHz dual-core Storage 8GB-16GB Camera 8-megapixel, 1.9-megapixel front camera Ports micro USB, microSD Battery 8.5 hours video streaming Other features NFC

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

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Mobile Choice 216 | 81

BUYING GUIDE // PHONES Samsung Galaxy Note 3

Available sim-free

Pros Crisp and vibrant HD screen, smart 13-megapixel camera, incredible power; S-Pen and apps Cons No stunning new features, niche product Also consider Sony’s Xperia Z Ultra is another phablet, with a brilliantly rich and sharp display for media lovers Killer app S-Pen The dinky stylus makes the Galaxy Note one of the best phablets out there, and a must-have for creative users Verdict The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is an upgrade as opposed to an allnew phone, but the 5.7-inch HD screen, 13-megapixel camera and impressive performance all add up, and the S-Pen and creative software are still phablet stand-outs

Samsung Galaxy Note 4

Cons Too big for some | TouchWiz still not perfected | Expensive Also consider Apple iPhone 6 Plus is the closest contender to this super fable Killer app S Pen stylus: Its plastic nib has 2,048 levels of pressure sensitivity and as well as drawing, annotating, taking screenshots and jotting down notes, it acts as a handy way of navigating around the Note’s massive screen Verdict This is the best phablet ever made and it comes from a company which understand the needs of consumers looking for a bigger phone. It offers more than just a big screen; this isn’t merely a bigger version of the Galaxy S5 or Galaxy Alpha - it’s an entirely separate product, thanks to its design, screen resolution

Cons Too wide, curved edge doesn’t really have a purpose, plastic casing Also consider Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Killer app The curved edge Part gimmick, part bedside clock and part instant notifier- it is absolutely great Verdict Work horse of a phone. Work or play - the Note Edge will go every bit of the way

Cons Heart rate monitor feels like a gimmick, TouchWiz can be confusing and cluttered, plastic design looks and feels cheap Also consider HTC One (M8). Both offer a 5-inch Full HD screen, the same processor and storage, but where the Samsung has lightness and waterproofing, the HTC has a more premium look and feel. Killer app Super AMOLED display Overcoming the saturation problems of old Galaxy phones, the S5’s screen is one of the very best on the market; sharp and beautifully bright Verdict A technological tour de force, the Galaxy S5 is Samsung’s best-ever smartphone, but the plastic design won’t be for everyone.

Samsung Galaxy S6

www.samsung.com price £349.99 Operating system Amazon Fire OS v3.5 Ports Micro-SIM (Android based OS) Size 153.5 X 78.6 X 8.5mm Weight 176g Display 5.7” Quad HD Super AMOLED Resolution 720 x 1280 pixels Processor 2.7GHz Quad Core Process Battery 3220mAh Fast Charging Camera Front Camera 3.7MP + F1.9/ Selfie (90º), Wide selfie mode (120º). Rear Camera 16M+ Smart OIS/ Fast AF, Live HDR(Rich Tone) Storage 3GB RAM + 32GB Internal memory and Supports microSD up to 128GB Other features Dolby Digital Plus sound enhancement

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Reviewed Issue 209

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Cons Storage not expandable, No dust/water proofing Also consider HTC One M9 Killer app 577ppi resolution makes it best in class Verdict Finally the phone all Android lovers have been waiting for. Samsung have managed to get the specs right even at the cost of some key features of the S series getting discarded along the way. No IP rating, no expandable memory and full metal jacket will ensure that this is finally going to be the handset that pulls Samsung out of the quagmire.

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 207

www.samsung.com price £239 Operating system Android 4.4.2 KitKat Size 142 x 72.5 x 8.1mm Weight 145g Display 5.1-inch FHD Super AMOLED Resolution 1920 x 1080 pixels Processor 2.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 Camera 16-megapixel, 2-megapixel front camera Ports microUSB, microSD Storage 16/32GB Battery 21 hours talk time, 300 hours standby time Other features 4G, NFC, fingerprint scanner, heart rate monitor

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Available sim-free

Pros Full metal body, Simplified UI overlay on Android 5.0, Choice of colours

VERDICT

www.samsung.com/uk price £499.99 Operating system Android KitKat 4.4.2 Size 151.3 x 82.4 x 8.3mm Weight 174g Display 5.6” Quad HD+ Super AMOLED Resolution 2560 X (1440+160) pixels Processor 2.7 GHz Quad Core Processor Storage 32GB Camera Front Camera 3.7MP; Rear Camera 16M+ Smart OIS/ Fast AF, Live HDR (Rich Tone) Ports micro SD, micro USB Battery 3000mAh Fast Charging Other features S Pen, Gesture control, fingerprint scanner

Available sim-free

Pros Gorgeous screen, fingerprint scanner, removable battery, expandable storage

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 208

Available sim-free

Pros Massive battery, S-Pen stylus, 4G connectivity

Samsung Galaxy S5

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Available sim-free

Pros Premium metal design | Quad HD screen | Camera great in low-light

Samsung Galaxy Note Edge

Reviewed Issue 204 www.samsung.com/uk price £259.99 Operating system Android 4.3 Size 151 x 79 x 8.3mm Weight 168g Display 5.7-inch Super AMOLED Resolution 1080 x 1920 pixels Processor 2.3GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 Camera 13-megapixel, 2-megapixels front facing Storage 32GB/64GB Ports Micro USB, microSD Battery 7 hours media Other features 4G, S-Pen stylus, NFC

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 210

www.samsung.com/uk price £345 Operating system Android 5.0 (Lollipop) Size 143.4 x 70.5 x 6.8mm Weight 138g Display 5.1 Inch Super AMOLED Resolution 2560 x 1440 pixels Processor Quad 2.1GHz + Quad 1.5Ghz, Octacore application processor Camera 16MP OIS(rear), 5MP (front) Storage 32/64/128GB Ports micro-USB Battery 2,550mAh Other features Microsoft Apps(OneDrive 115GB for 2 years, OneNote), Ultra Power Saving Mode Download Booster, S Health 4.0, Samsung Pay

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

VERDICT

• Go to www.mobilechoiceuk.com for full reviews and the latest news • Tablet Buying Guide starts on page 86 • 82 | Mobile Choice 216

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Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge

Available sim-free

Pros Dual-edge screen, Incredible specs, Power-packed phone in a very manageable size, TouchWiz made simpler Cons No IP rating, Non expandable memory Also consider LG G Flex 2 Killer app 577ppi resolution makes it best in class Verdict Dual-edge display makes the phone look more like an infinity pool than a piece of tech, coupled with a razor sharp pixel density – It is the best Android phone in the market

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Plus Cons Incredibly expensive, bulky Also consider Apple iPhone 6Plus Killer app Fast charging

Verdict Samsung have gone beyond what we believe is the norm as far as design and aesthetics are concerned and the S6 range is undoubtedly its best devices ever. Samsung are finally taking Apple on their own turf and matching and bettering everything that Apple have achieved with their phone S6 Edge Plus.

Cons Fingerprint sensor is rubbish Killer app The Samsung flagship is IP68 rated which makes it waterproof upto 1.5 meters for 30 minutes. Similar to Google Nexus 6 Verdict A class act. The Galaxy S7 is a jewel in Samsung’s crown and deserves to be so. Fast, with a superb processor and fantastic camera it is everything a flagship should be and more.

Cons Size maybe too big for some Killer app Gorgeous design, brilliant performance. Similar to Apple iPhone 6s Plus Verdict An absolutely sensational product with the design, display and that wow factor that you would want combined with a phablet-sized display and a large battery which will make consuming media an amazing experience.

www.samsung.com price From £455.99 Operating system Android 5.1.1 Size 154.4 x 75.8 x 6.9mm Weight 153g Display 5.7” Quad HD Super AMOLED Resolution 2560 x 1440 pixels Processor Exynos 7420 Octa core (2.1GHz Quad + 1.5GHz Quad), 64 bit Camera 16MP OIS, Front : 5MP Ports microSD Storage 32GB and 64GB Battery 3000 mAh Other features Fast Charging both on wired and wireless

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Cons Incredibly expensive | Would expect more for the money | Runs Android 5 | Not Dual-SIM | security features not robust enough Verdict Solarin comes with super-premium materials, 24/7 concierge on tap and sapphire crystal screen but what it says it offers is something which most of us covet these days- privacy Also consider Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Killer app Advanced security features

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 204

www.samsung.com/uk price £469.99 Operating system Android™ 6.0.1 (Marshmallow) Size 142.4x69.6x7.9 mm Weight 152g Display 5.1-inch, Quad HD Super AMOLED display Processor Qualcomm® Snapdragon 820 processor (or Samsung Exynos chipset) octa-core 64-bit 4GB RAM Resolution 2,560x1,440; 577ppi Storage 32/64 GB internal storage; Expandable storage upto 200GB via MicroSD slot Camera 12-MP primary camera with OIS and f1.7; 5-MP selfie camera. 4K video capture Battery 3000 mAh lithium-ion battery Fingerprint sensor Yes (home button) Other features IP68 rated; Samsung Pay with NFC, MST (Magnetic Secure Transmission) and Barcode technology

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 204

www.samsung.com/uk price £499.99 Operating system Android™ 6.0.1 (Marshmallow) Size 150.9x72.6x7.7 mm Weight 157g Display 5.5-inch, Quad HD Super AMOLED display Processor Qualcomm® Snapdragon 820 processor (or Samsung Exynos chipset) octa-core 64-bit 4GB RAM Resolution 2,560x1,440 pixels; 534ppi Storage 32/64 GB internal storage; Expandable storage upto 200GB via MicroSD slot Camera 12-MP primary camera with OIS and f1.7; 5-MP selfie camera. 4K video capture Battery 3,600 mAh Fingerprint sensor Yes (home button) Other features IP68 rated; Samsung Pay with NFC, MST (Magnetic Secure Transmission) and Barcode technology, Fingerprint sensor

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Available sim-free

Pros Has a secure profile for texts and calls | beautifully built | Great display | Very good audio capabilities

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 211

Available sim-free

Pros Gorgeous display | Fantastic specs | Wow factor | Epitome of premium

Sirin labs Solarin

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Available sim-free

Pros Superb build quality, fantastic camera, brilliant low-light photos, IP68 rated

Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge

www.samsung.com/uk price £374.99 Operating system Android 5.0 (Lollipop) Size 142.1 x 70.1 x 7.0mm Weight 132g Display 5.1 Inch Super AMOLED, Dual edge Resolution 2560 x 1440 pixels Processor Quad 2.1GHz + Quad 1.5Ghz, Octacore application processor Camera 16MP OIS(rear), 5MP (front) Ports MicroSD, USB 2.0, 3.5mm Storage 2GB Battery 2,550mAh Other features Microsoft Apps(OneDrive 115GB for 2 years, OneNote), Ultra Power Saving Mode, Download Booster, S Health 4.0, Samsung Pay

Available sim-free

Pros Fabulous display, good battery, fast processor

Samsung Galaxy S7

Reviewed Issue 210

VERDICT Issue 214

www.sirinlabs.com price £9500 + VAT Operating system Android™ 5.1.1 Lollipop Size 159.8 X 78 X 11.1 mm Storage 128GB RAM: 4 GB; no expandable memory Weight 243g Resolution 2540 x 1440 538 ppi Display 5.5-inch IPS LCD with PFS LED backlight Memory: 32 GB internal storage; Expandable storage via MicroSD slot Processor Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 810 Octa core; 2GHz. GPU: Adreno 430 Camera 24-MP with Auto focus, Optical image stabilization. 8-MP selfie cam with OIS and aperture: f/2.0 Fingerprint sensor: Yes Battery 4000 mAH Other features Gorilla Glass 4, Quick Charge 2.0; IP54 water and dust resistant; hot swap

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

VERDICT

Mobile Choice 216 | 83

BUYING GUIDE // PHONES Sony Xperia X

Available sim-free Pros Ergonomic design; Good sharp display Cons Laggy, warms up with regularity Verdict Sony Xperia X brings in a stunning screen on which you can browse, chat or text one handed. However, it is expensive and tends to tends to get warm over prolonged usage and the camera doesn’t feature Optical Image Stabilisation as well Also consider Apple iPhone SE Killer app Designed for onehanded usage; stunning screen

Sony Xperia XZ

Reviewed Issue ??? www.sony.co.uk price £459 Operating system Android 6.0 Marshmallow Size 143 x 69 x 7.7mm Storage Up to 32 GB flash memory* (Single SIM) and up to 64 GB flash memory* (Dual SIM): 3 GB RAM; Up to 200 GB microSD card Weight 152g Resolution TRILUMINOS Display for mobile, X-Reality for mobile, Dynamic Contrast Enhancement Display 5.0 inches Ports USB TypeC, MicroSD Memory: 32 GB internal storage; ?Expandable storage via MicroSD slot Processor Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 650, 64-bit Hexa-core processor Camera 23 MP camera with Predictive Hybrid Autofocus; 13 MP front camera for low-light selfies Fingerprint sensor: Yes Battery 2620 mAH Other features Hi Res audio, fingerprint sensor

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Available sim-free Pros Audio prowess, Flawless fingerprint scanner, Impressive camera, mostly, Bright, beautiful screen Cons Still not great low light photography, Gets dirty quick, Weird unfinished design elements, Mediocre battery life Also consider Lenovo Moto Z Similar to HTC 10 Killer app The bright and light screen is perfect for media guzzling Verdict Xperia XZ comes with a brilliant fingerprint sensor, a vivid and bright display and a camera which delivers stunning results. The design may not be new but the phone is solidly contructed and not tacky.

Sony Xperia Z3 Compact Cons Plastic construction | Screen not Full HD Also consider Samsung Galaxy Alpha

Killer app the Z3 Compact boasts a full manual mode for control over exposure, white balance and more, plus timeshift video recording, panoramic photos, augmented reality effects and more. The results are fantastic, with less of the ugly post-processing we saw with the Z2 earlier this year. Verdict A pocket rocket if ever there was one, the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact blends top-end performance, a brilliant camera and shiny new software with solid build quality, an attractive, comfortable design, and waterproofing.

Sony Xperia Z5

Reviewed online www.sonymobile.com/global-en/products/phones/xperia-xz price £549 Operating system Android™ 6.0.1 (Marshmallow) Size 146 x 72 x 8.1 mm Battery 2,900 mAH lithium-ion battery Weight 161g Display 5.2-inch Full HD display with curved glass Resolution 1920 x 1280 pixels ® Processor 64-bit octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor; Adreno 530 GPU; 3GB RAM Memory 32GB (Single SIM) and 64GB (Dual SIM) variants; Expandable storage upto 256GB via MicroSD slot Fingerprint sensor Yes; Iris Sensor Camera 23-MP rear and 13-MP front cameras. 4K video capture Other features Qnovo Adaptive Charging and Qualcomm’s Quick Charge; Forest Blue, Platinum and Mineral Black colour options; IP65/IP68; Corning® Gorilla® Glass; High-Resolution Audio

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Available Available sim-free sim-free

Pros Perfect size to be comfortable | Excellent battery life | Great camera | Waterproof

Cons Slippery, difficult to hold comfortably | Can overheat under stress | Feels like a small update over the Z2 Also consider Apple iPhone 6 Killer app Unique to the Z3 range (including the upcoming Compact Tablet) is Remote Play, which lets you stream games from your PlayStation 4 console to the phone and play them using a connected Duel Force 4 controller. Perfect for when someone else wants to use the television, or you want to play PS4 games in a different room Verdict A real stonker of a smartphone, the Sony Xperia Z3 is a top-end handset with looks, ergonomics and performance to match; it has a Full HD screen, quad-core processor, excellent camera, slim but sturdy design, and market-leading battery life.

Vodafone Smart Platinum 7

www.sonymobile.com price £179.99 Operating system Android v4.4.4 (KitKat) Size 127.3 x 64.9 x 8.6mm Weight 129g Display 720 x 1280 pixels, 4.6 inches Resolution 720 x 1280 pixels Processor Octa-core, 1.8GHz processor Camera 20.7 MP, 5248 х 3936 pixels, autofocus, LED flash Ports Nano-SIM Storage 16 GB, 2 GB RAM Battery Non-removable Li-Ion 2600 mAh battery Other features IP68 certified - dust proof and water resistant over 1 meter and 30 minutes

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Cons Vodafone’s apps | Lurid bright red icons | Fingerprint sensor not the fastest Verdict The phone has a good battery life, a fantastic screen like the Samsung Galaxy S7 but the camera and processor aren’t good enough to make it a premium smartphone Also consider OnePlus 3 Killer app Brilliant pricing and solid design and looks

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 208

www.sonymobile.com/global-en/products/phones/xperia-z price £374.99 Operating system Android v4.4.4 (KitKat) Size 146 x 72 x 7.3mm Weight 129g Display 1080 x 1920 pixels, 5.2 inches Resolution 720 x 1280 pixels Processor Quad-core 2.5 GHz Krait 400 Camera 20.7 MP, 5248 x 3936 pixels, autofocus, LED flash Ports Micro-SIM Storage 16/32 GB, 3 GB RAM Battery Non-removable Li-Ion 3100 mAh battery Other features Dust and water proof

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Available sim-free

Pros Stunning looks | Solid battery life | Good camera

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 208

Available sim-free Pros Great screen | Excellent camera | Market-leading battery life

VERDICT

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 215

www.vodafone.co.uk price from £ 295 Pay as you go or £28 per month (£20 upfront cost) on a Vodafone Red 1GB Bundle, which includes unlimited texts, unlimited minutes, 1GB of UK data and 500MB of inclusive roaming Operating system Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow Battery 3,000 mAh Size 154 x 75.65 x 6.99 mm Weight 155g Ports Micro USB 2.0, Type-C, 3.5mm stereo jack Display 5.5” touchscreen; Gorilla Glass 2.5D Resolution Quad HD AMOLED screen Processor Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 652 octa-core Camera 16-MP, auto-focus, LED flash. 8-MP selfie camera with dual tone LED flash Storage 32 GB flash memory, Up to 200 GB microSD card Other features Quickcharge 3.0; Ambient light mode; Free VR headset

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

VERDICT

• Go to www.mobilechoiceuk.com for full reviews and the latest news • Tablet Buying Guide starts on page 86 • 84 | Mobile Choice 216

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Vodafone Smart Ultra 7

Available sim-free

Pros Low price tag | Near-stock Android | Good build quality | Sound battery life Cons No fingerprint sensor | Camera not good | Vodafone bundled-in apps Also consider Honor 5C Killer app Premium build quality Verdict One of the best budget handsets in the market right now and offers a strong competition to the Moto G4 line. Features like the battery, camera, display and stock Android 6.0 Marshmallow tick all the boxes

Wileyfox Storm

Reviewed Issue 215 www.vodafone.co.uk price £1 Operating system Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow Size 152.2 x 78.12 x 8.68 mm Weight 150g Display 5.5-in 1080p IPS LCD Resolution 1080p Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) Processor 1.0GHz/1.8GHz octa-core MediaTek MT6755M ; 2GB RAM Camera 13 megapixels, auto-focus, LED flash; 5-MP selfie camera Ports Micro USB, 3.5mm stereo jack, MicroSD Battery 2960 mAh Storage 16GB internal, up to 128 GB microSD Card support Other features Vodafone apps to help first-time smartphone users; Pump Express Plus technology helps charge the phone faster

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Reviewed Issue 208

Available sim-free

Pros Fab camera | Expandable memory | HD display Cons Terrible battery | siting of speaker could be better Verdict No charger in the box, great price, under-par battery, brilliant camera and Cyanogen OS, expandable memory, dual SIM capability. Also consider HTC One A9 Killer app Interesting design creds and a great price point makes this a worthy challenger phone

www.wileyfox.com/storm price £218.97 Weight 155g Operating system Cyanogen OS 12.1 based on Android Lollipop 5.1 Lollipop Size 155.6 x 77.3 x 9.2mm Display 5.5-inches Full HD display Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 Chipset, Octa-Core Camera 20MP Rear Camera / 8MP Front Facing with flash and range of shooting features Ports 9mm Headphone jack, microSD slot Resolution 1920×1080 pixels PPI 400 Battery 2,500 mAh MicroSD up to 128GB Storage 32GB ROM + 3GB RAM. Expandable Other features Cyanogen 12.1, Truecaller dialer on-board, apps lined alphabetically

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Wileyfox Swift

Available sim-free

Pros Great screen, good price point, good new features Cons Iffy camera, battery not robust Also consider Motorola Moto G (3rd Gen) Killer app Cyanogen OS 12.1 Verdict This is a very good first attempt by a new manufacturer. Does it knock the competition out cold? No it doesnt. Moto G (2015) and Vodafone’s Smart Ultra 6 will still rule the budget roost, but this is a great alternative who value their privacy and are bored of Android/iOS.

ZTE Axon Mini

Cons Design may not be for some | UI unnecessary Verdict The design is too quirky, the processor too under-powered and the fingerprint scanner too sluggish making me want to look elsewhere. Also consider Vodafone Smart ultra 7 Killer app fingerprint scanner, eye print scanner, dual-SIM; hifi audio chipset

ZTE Axon 7 Mini

http://wileyfox.com/swift/ price £94.99 Operating system Cyanogen OS 12.1 Size 141.15 x 71 x 9.37mm Weight 130g Display 5-inch HD, IPS Resolution 1720 x 1280 pixels Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 Camera 13-megapixel front camera: 5-megapixel Flash Ports 3.5mm headphone jack; microSD Storage 16GB + microSD Battery 2500 mAh Other features 4G, Gorilla Glass 3, Three Year Warranty: £9.99

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Cons Design needs polishing, would have preferred a higher-spec processor Also consider OnePlus 3 Similar to Vodafone Smart Platinum 7 Killer app The dual front-facing stereo speakers replete with Dolby Atmos® sound Verdict For £229.99 you get one of the best phones in the market with a brilliant display, outstanding audio smarts and equally good cameras. It compares well with Vodafone Smart Platinum 7 but if you buy this one, you won’t be tied to the Vodafone network.

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 198

www.aliexpress.com price £307.99 Operating system ColorOS 3.2, Android 5.1 Lollipop Size 143.5 x 70 x 7.9 mm Weight 192g Display 5.2-inch Super AMOLED Display Resolution 1920 x 1080p Processor Snapdragon 616 1.5GHz Octa-core 64-bit Storage 32 GB ROM + 3 GB RAM Camera 13MP with 0.1 Second focus time; 8MP front-facing camera Ports 9mm Headset jack Battery 2,800 mAh Other features fingerprint scanner, eye print scanner, dual-SIM; hifi audio chipset

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Available sim-free

Pros Pricing, Audio prowess, Fantastic screen, Good battery life.

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 211

Available sim-free Pros Pressure-sensitive touchscreen | fingerprint sensor | non-phablet size is great

VERDICT

VERDICT Reviewed online

www.ztedevices.co.uk price £229.99 Operating system Android™ 6.0.1 (Marshmallow) Size 147.5 x 71 x 7.8mm Weight 153g Display 5.2-inch Super AMOLED Display Fingerprint sensor Yes (home button) Resolution 1920 x 1080p Battery 2705mAh lithium-ion battery Display 5.2-inch FHD SUPER AMOLED, 16M Color Processor 64-bit octa-core Snapdragon™ 616; 4x 1.5GHz+ 4x 1.2GHz Camera 16-MP PDAF+8-MP selfie camera Memory 32GB(ROM) + 3GB(RAM); Expandable storage upto 256GB via MicroSD slot Other features Qualcomm® Quick Charge; USB Type-C; NFC; HiFi Dual Speakers; HighResolution Audio

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

VERDICT

Mobile Choice 216 | 85

BUYING GUIDE // TABLETS

Tablets

Tablets are tested and rated for their look and feel, ease of use, features, performance, and battery life. Based on these criteria, we then award each device a Mobile Choice Verdict and overall star rating out of five.

Buying a tablet? Check out our Buying Guide with all the information you need to purchase the best one for you

Kindle Fire HD 8.9

Available sim-free

Pros Fast, easy access to Amazon content, bright, spacious screen, solid build quality, affordable Cons No personalisation, no memory card expansion, hefty Also consider The Nook HD’s unique, friendly, interface makes it a great family tablet with an impressively sharp seven-inch screen Killer app Amazon store There are fewer apps than Google’s Play store, and video streaming requires a LoveFilm account, but Amazon boasts and massive music, book and magazine library Verdict The Amazon Kindle Fire HD 8.9 provides a more spacious viewing area for movies, apps and more compared to the original Kindle Fire HD, and is still a sleek and affordable way to enjoy your media

Amazon Fire HD 6 Kids Edition

Cons Processor not the fastest | Battery life middling Verdict For just £119, the tablet comes with a years’ worth of apps, games and videos from Amazon as well as a 2-year no-hassle return policy. It offers solid value for money for frazzled parents who are looking for a tablet to act as a pacifier. Also consider ASUS ZenPad S 8.0 Killer app Unlimited content and parental control, display and guarantee

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Cons Not very portable, no memory card slot Also consider Creative professionals may prefer the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 with its smart S-Pen stylus Killer app Retina display Still the best reason to pick this tablet over rivals, a perfect means for enjoying media and browsing the web Verdict The Apple iPad (Fourth Generation) has been given a power boost and tweaked with 4G support and a sharper FaceTime camera, but still lacks the portability of many of its rivals

www.amazon.co.uk price £119 Operating system Customised Android Size 192 x 126 x 26.4 mm Weight 360g Display 6-inch Resolution 1280 x 800p, 252pp Processor Quad-Core: 2 @ 1.5 Ghz + 2 @ 1.2 GHz Camera VGA front-facing camera. 2.0 MP rear-facing HD camera Ports SlimPort-enabled USB 2.0 Battery up to 8 hours Storage 8GB/16GB Other features Kindle and Dolby Digital support, Screen Magnifier, Kid-proof casing

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Cons Expensive Also consider Creative professionals may prefer the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 with its smart S-Pen stylus Killer app Brilliant looks and design Verdict The iPad Pro 9.7 is a beast of a device packed into a very premium metal body and the superior camera capabilities of the iPhone 6S. Looks, power, battery and camera all play along nicely to make this one of Apple’s best iPads.

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 199

www.apple.com price £272.99 (16GB) Operating system iOS 6 Size 241 x 186 x 9.4mm Weight 652g Display 9.7-inch Retina IPS Resolution 2048 x 1536 pixels Processor 1.4GHz dual-core A6X Storage 16GB to 64GB Camera 5 megapixels, 1.2-megapixel front camera Ports Lightning port Battery 10 hours general use, 7 hours video Other features GPS, 4G

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Available sim-free

Pros Beautiful build, Great battery life, True Tone display, Fantastic camera

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 201

Available sim-free

Pros Impressive Retina display, surprisingly good battery life, great range of apps, 4G support, updated FaceTime camera

Apple iPad Pro 9.7

www.amazon.co.uk price £149 SIM-free Operating system Android Size 239 x 163 x 9mm Weight 567g Display 8.9-inches Resolution 1920 x 1200 pixels Processor TI OMAP 4470 Storage 16GB/32GB + 1GB RAM Camera Front-facing camera Ports micro USB Battery 320 minutes media streaming Other features N/A

Available sim-free

Pros 2-year breakage guarantee, Fire for Kids Unlimited, Robust parental control, good screen

Apple iPad (Fourth Generation)

Reviewed Issue 201

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 214

www.apple.com price £499-£739 (Wi-fi) and £599-£839 (Wi-fi and cellular) Operating system iOS 9 Size 240 x 169.5 x 6.1 mm Weight 437g and 444g Display 9.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit Multi-Touch display Resolution 2048x1536 resolution at 264 pixels per inch (ppi); True Tone display Processor A9X chip with 64-bit architecture; M9 coprocessor Storage 16GB to 64GB Camera 12-MP iSight camera; ƒ/2.2 aperture; 4K video recording (3840x2160) at 30 fps; 5-MP selfie Battery Built-in 27.5-watt-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery Memory: Wi-Fi models: 32GB/128GB/256GB; Wi-Fi + Cellular models: 32GB/128GB/256GB Other features Four-speaker audio Fingerprint sensor: Yes

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

VERDICT

• Go to www.mobilechoiceuk.com for full reviews and the latest news • Phone Buying Guide starts on page 71 • 86 | Mobile Choice 216

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Apple iPad Pro 12.9

Available sim-free

Pros Beautiful build, Stunning screen, Large screen great for creative industries, Brilliant audio Cons Very expensive | Size can be unwieldy for some | Internal storage not conducive for creative work E.g: Final Cut, Photoshop etc | Keyboard flimsy & difficult to work with, on the go Also consider Microsoft SurfaceBook Killer app Stunning looks and incredible display Verdict Apple will still get my money, just not for the iPad Pro, but for one of their REAL work devices, the MacBook Pro.

Apple iPad mini

www.apple.com price £679 (32GB, wi-fi), £799 (128GB, wi-fi) £899 (128GB, 4G+ wifi) Operating system iOS 9 Size 305.7 X 220.6 X 6.9mm Weight 713g (wi-fi) 723g (wi-fi + 4G) Display 9.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit Multi-Touch display Resolution 2732x20480; 264ppi Display: 12.9-inch, Retina display Processor A9X third-gem chip with 64-bit architecture; M9 motion coprocessor Camera 8-MP primary camera and f2.4; 1.2-MP selfie camera. 1080p HD video recording Battery Built-in 27.5-watt-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery Memory: 32, 128 GB internal storage Fingerprint sensor: Yes Other features Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating; fully laminated display; anti-reflective coating

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Available sim-free

Pros Compact and light, great battery life, bright, colourful screen, excellent App Store Cons Premium price, rival screens are sharper, no expandable storage Also consider If your budget is tight, the Google Nexus 7 by Asus is a fantastic seven-inch quad-core Android tablet must-buy Killer app Size This is Apple’s iPad shrunk down to a manageable and just-as-desirable mini form Verdict The Apple iPad mini provides a far more portable form for the same unbeatable entertainment, making this perfect for travellers demanding movies, apps and games

Apple iPad Air

Reviewed Issue 214

Reviewed Issue 199 www.apple.com price £257.99 (16GB) Operating system iOS 6 Size 200 x 135 x 7.2mm Weight 308g Display 7.9-inch IPS inches Resolution 1024 x 768 pixels Processor Dual-core A5 Storage 16GB, 32GB or 64GB Camera 5 megapixels, 1.2-megapixel front camera Ports Lightning port Battery 10 hours video Other features GPS, 4G

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Available sim-free Pros Light and slender build, zippy A7 processor, sleek new iOS 7, great battery life Cons Not cheap, still no memory card slot, good ol’ iTunes Also consider The Sony Xperia Tablet Z was our Tablet of the Year in 2013 and is a powerful slice of slender tech that packs plenty of power and a HD screen Killer app Lighter frame This iPad’s slim new body is much easier to grip and carry around Verdict The Apple iPad Air is the best iPad yet, with a gorgeous and refreshingly light body packing impressive performance. The Retina screen remains the same but iOS has received a much-needed refresh, making for a brilliant all-round experience

Apple iPad Pro

Cons Very expensive | Size can be unwieldy for some | Internal storage not conducive for creative work E.g: Final Cut, Photoshop etc | Keyboard flimsy & difficult to work with, on the goJUST CHECKING Similar to Microsoft Surface Pro Killer App The beautiful retina display screen makes it a joy to work on, with the Apple Pencil Verdict As beautiful, sturdy and remarkable the iPad Pro is, I am still struggling to think who the tablet has been made for. Not for the regular business user, the Smart KeyBoard angle is too jaunty for comfortable working while travelling. And

Archos 80b Helium

Reviewed Issue 205

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Cons 8GB low on-board memory, under-powered ROM, low pixel density ALSO CONSIDER Asus MemoPad ME572C Killer app 4G ready, metal body Verdict Archos has entered the highly competitive value tablet marketplace with a tablet which isn’t the cheapest or running the latest Android. However, it has some features that make it a good product but the real test will be to see how many sell.

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 205

www.apple.co.uk price £679 (32GB, wi-fi), £799 (128GB, wi-fi) £899 (128GB, 4G+ wifi) Size 305.7 X 220.6 X 6.9mm Operating system iOS 9 Display 12.9-inch, Retina display Weight 713g (wi-fi) 723g (wi-fi + 4G) Storage 32, 128 GB internal storage; Resolution 2048 x 1536 pixels Processor A9X third-gem chip with 64-bit architecture; M9 motion coprocessor Camera8-MP primary camera and f2.4; 1.2-MP selfie camera. 1080p HD video recording Fingerprint sensor Yes Battery 10,307 mAh non-removable lithium-ion battery Other features Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating; fully laminated display; anti-reflective coating

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Available sim-free

Pros 4G connectivity, dual SIM capabilities, expandable storage

VERDICT

www.apple.co.uk price £274.99 Operating system iOS 7 Size 240 x 170 x 7.5mm Weight 469g Display 9.7-inch IPS Retina Resolution 2048 x 1536 pixels Processor Apple A7 Storage 16GB-128GB Camera 5-megapixel, 1.2-megapixel front Ports Lightning Battery 9 hours video Other features 4G (cellular model only)

Available sim-free Pros Beautiful build, Stunning screen, Large screen great for creative industries, Brilliant audio

VERDICT

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 210

www.archos.com/gb price £134.99 Operating system Android 4.4 KitKat Size 210 x 122 x 9.3mm Weight 320g Display 8 inches Resolution 800 x 1280 pixels Processor Mediatek MT8732 / Quad-Core @1.5 GHz Storage 1GB Camera 2MP primary; .3MP front Ports 64GB microSD Battery Non-removable Li-Po 3900 mAh battery Other features Game Mapping tool, GPS

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

VERDICT

• Go to www.mobilechoiceuk.com for full reviews and the latest news • Phone Buying Guide starts on page 71 • Prices are provided as a guideline to comparative costs only and are subject to flux

Mobile Choice 216 | 87

BUYING GUIDE // TABLETS Asus MemoPad ME572C

Available sim-free

Pros Premium looks, full HD screen, sound battery, good processor, expandable memory, primary camera, 4GB RAM and 64GB storage Cons Still Android 4.4.2 Kitkat, too little too late, bloatware heavy Also consider Tesco Hudl 2 Killer app Sleek design and the matt gold finish makes it a head turner and given the price point, the best looking one in its category Verdict Asus MemoPad 7 ME572C is in the same league as the Tesco Hudl 2 (£129) and with better speed, looks and screen, the Asus wins that competition hands down. It brings style to the lower end of the market.

Asus T100 Chi

Reviewed Issue 210 https://www.asus.com/uk/Tablets/ASUS_MeMO_Pad_7_ME572C price £149.95 Operating system Android™ 4.4 Size 114.3 x 200 x 8.3mm Weight 269g Display 7” LED Backlight WUXGA Resolution 1920x1200 pixels Processor Intel® Atom ™ Z3560 Quad-Core, up to 1.83 GHz, 64bit Storage 16GB eMMC Camera 2 MP Front Camera; 5 MP Rear Camera with Auto focus Ports Micro USB; Micro SD Card Reader, up to 64GB Battery 11 hours; 15Wh Li-polymer Battery Other features 5GB Life Time ASUS Webstorage Space with an additional 11GB for the first year

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Available sim-free Pros Impressive value, great battery life, keyboard dock Cons Compact keyboard with dinky touchpad, screen could be brighter, tablet is hefty Also consider Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet is obviously a lot more expensive but could give you the hassle-free travel you crave- without seven devices in tow. Killer app Pre-loaded Office 2013, separable keyboard Verdict Attached, detatched, tented or flipped, the T100 is a great device to have along with you for quickly sorting out work. Not just as your only device.

Asus ZenPad 7

Reviewed Issue 211 http://www.asus.com price £199 Operating system Windows 8.1/8.1 Pro Size 263 x 171 x 10mm Weight 570g Display 10.1-inch Resolution 1366 x 768 pixels Processor Intel® Bay Trail-T Quad Core Z3735 1.33 GHz ~ 1.83 GHz Camera 1.2MP front camera Ports USB 3.0, mini HDMI Storage 32GB Battery 2Cells Polymer Battery 31 Whrs Other features microSD card reader, 2GB RAM, mobile dock

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Available sim-free Pros Great value for money, splendid add-ons Cons Low build quality, low camera spec, low memory Also consider Microsoft 535 Killer app Huge amount of free cloud storage space Verdict This is probably one of the cheapest branded tablets you can buy which rocks full Google Play support. Cheaper than the Hudl 2 and the same priced as the Amazon Fire HD, it is a great option for surfing on the go.

Asus ZenPad S 8.0 Cons Videos seem oversaturated

Verdict Great looks, dual front facing speakers, 2k display, expandable memory and good battery life all make it a great device to own. Yes there is bloatware and you will have to switch off the blur-free video option for the beauty of the display to really shine through but for under £200 you get a really neat device and that is pretty cool. Also consider ZTE Axon Elite Killer app Cameras, memory, design

Dell Venue 8 7840

https://www.asus.com/uk/Tablets/ASUS_ZenPad_C_70_Z170C/specifications/ price From £79 Operating system Android 5.0 Size 189 x 108 x 9.1mm Weight 270g Display 7” LED Backlight, IPS panel Resolution 1028 x 600 pixels Processor Intel Atom x3-C3200 Quad-Core Camera 2MP, 0.3MP Storage 16GB + 5GB Life Time Asus Webstorage Space +100GB Google Drive space for 2 years + upto 128GB via microSD Ports microUSB, microSD Battery 13Wh

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Cons Design is not ergonomic, Camera very iffy, Internal memory only 16GB Verdict Crisp sound, iffy cameras, great form factor, fabulous display Also consider Asus ZenPad 7 Killer app The beautiful almost 3D display had us transfixed!

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 211

www.asus.com/uk/Tablets/ASUS_ZenPad_S_80_Z580CA price from £199 Operating system Android 5.0 Lollipop Size 20.3 x 13.5 x 0.7 cm Weight 299g Display 7” 8.0 inches Resolution 2048 x 1536p Processor Intel octa-core Camera 8MP main camera, 5MP front camera Storage 32GB and 64GB Ports microSD up to 128GB, 3.5 mm stereo audio jack Battery other features

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Available sim-free

Pros Great battery life, Fab screen, premium looks

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 211

Available sim-free

Pros Stylish, compact, Runs Android, Ultra HD display, 4GB RAM, Good camera spec

VERDICT

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 211

www.Amazon.co.uk price £349 Operating system Android 5.0.2 Lollipop Size 6 x 124.4 x 215.8mm Weight 305 g Display 8.4 inch OLED Display with FHD Processor Intel® Atom™ Processor Z3580 (2M Cache, up to 2.3 GHz) Storage 16GB, Up to 512GB via microSD Camera Dual lens 8.3MP, 2MP Ports Headphone and microphone combo jack, microUSB 2.0 Battery Resolution 16GB, Up to 512GB via microSD capacitive touch other features Micro-B USB2.0; Headphone and microphone combo jack; Media Card Reader; Bluetooth 4.0

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

VERDICT

• Go to www.mobilechoiceuk.com for full reviews and the latest news • Phone Buying Guide starts on page 71 • 88 | Mobile Choice 216

More reviews online at www.mobilechoiceuk.com

Dell Venue 10 Pro

Available sim-free

Pros Good battery life | Full windows Cons Very heavy, keypad sold separately Verdict A solid option if you want full Windows in a tablet to work on the go. Shame about the weight and form factor though Also consider Samsung TabPro S Killer app To get full Windows on a tablet this affordable is great

Reviewed Issue 214 www.dell.com price From £379 Operating system Windows 10 Size 262.6 x 9.9 x 175.8mm Weight 656.9g Processor Intel® AtomTM processor Z3735F (up to 1.83GHz Quad-core) Battery 32Whr Lithium Ion battery Fingerprint sensor No Memory 32GB or 64GB eMMC Solid State Storage; 2GB DDR3L Camera Integrated 1.2MP front / 5MP back; 720 p video at 30 FPS Resolution 1280x800 HD & 1920x1200 FHD (for consumer configurations) with touch other features 10 Watt AC adapter (micro USB charging), 6 ft cord

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Google Nexus 7 2012 by Asus

Available sim-free

Pros Unbelievable price, quad-core power, pin-sharp screen, Android Jelly Bean Cons No microSD slot, no rear-facing camera Also consider Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 – these tablets look alike, but the Nexus 7 has more power and the Jelly Bean OS Killer app Price For the cost of most budget tablets, you get a powerful, feature-packed device Verdict The Nexus 7 by Asus is a smart seven-incher perfect for gaming, movies and getting online. It won’t hurt your wallet either, as it’s cheaper than almost every other Android tablet on the market

Google Nexus 10 by Samsung Cons Takes ages to charge, no memory card slot

Also consider Apple iPad (4th gen) – The main difference is Apple’s iPad has the App Store instead of Google Play Killer app Mega-sharp screen With its impressive 2560 x 1600 resolution, the Google Nexus 10’s display is sharper than Apple’s iPad Retina screen Verdict The Google Nexus 10 is a sexy and affordable way to enjoy your movies, games and favourite websites on a big ten-inch screen. The fantastically crisp 1920p HD display is sharper than the Apple iPad’s

Microsoft SurfaceBook

www.google.com/nexus price £119.99 (16GB) Operating system Android 4.2 Size 198.5 x 120 x 10.45mm Weight 340g Display 7 inches Resolution 1280 x 800 pixels Processor 1.3GHz quad-core Storage 8GB/16GB Camera 1.2-megapixel front camera Ports micro USB Battery 9 hours video Other features GPS

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Cons Functionality can be hit/miss, Super expensive, can be quite buggy at times Also consider Apple iPad Pro 12.9 Killer app Beautiful build quality and that gorgeous and mesmerising screen are the real assets of this tablet Verdict This is a great looking laptop with all the features you need (and more!) but it is buggy - as you would expect a first generation kit to be – and Microsoft needs to iron out these issues quickly.

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 200

www.google.com/Nexus10 price £459.99 Operating system Android 4.2 Size 264 x 178 x 8.9mm Weight 603g Display 10-inch PLS Resolution 2560 x 1600 pixels Processor 1.7GHz Dual-core A15 Storage 16/32GB Camera 5 megapixels, 1.9-megapixel front camera Ports micro USB Battery 6 hours video Other features GPS

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Available sim-free

Pros Striking good looks, Windows 10, fantastic processor, brilliant screen | very good battery life

Microsoft Surface Pro 4

Reviewed Issue 197

Available sim-free

Pros Amazing 1920p HD screen, sleek, curvy finish, capable and featurepacked camera, multiple users supported

VERDICT

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 214

Price From £1299 Operating System Windows 10 Pro Dimensions 312.3x 232.1x 13.0 - 22.8mm Weight: From 1,516 grams including keyboard Resolution 3000 x 2000 (267 PPI) Display 13.5” PixelSense™ display Processor 6th Gen Intel® Core™ i5 or i7; 8GB or 16GB RAM; i5: Intel® HD graphics 520 i5/i7: NVIDIA GeForce GPU with 1GB GDDR5 memory Camera 5.0-MP front-facing camera with 1080p HD video; 8.0MP Memory: 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB. Battery Up to 12 hours of video playback Fingerprint sensor No, but it has a retina scanner Other features Two full-size USB 3.0 Full-size SD™ card reader Mini DisplayPort

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Available sim-free

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 214

Killer app Great form factor with a kickstand that actually helps type and work while commuting

www.microsoft.com Price From £749-£1799 Dimensions 292.10 x 201.42 x 8.45 mm Operating System Windows 10 Pro Display 12.3-inch PixelSense touchscreen display Weight 786g Resolution 2,736 x 1,824 (267 PPI) • Aspect Ratio: 3:2 Processor 6th Gen Intel Core m3, i5, or i7CPU @2.4GHz 2.50GHz. 4GB, 8GB or 16GB RAM Camera 5.0 megapixel front-facing HD camera 8.0 megapixel rear-facing Memory Solid state drive (SSD) options: 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB and Full-size USB 3.0 microSD Card reader, Battery Up to 9 hours of video playback Fingerprint sensor No, Retina scanner in place via Microsoft Hello Other features Pen and touch support with 10 touch points

Verdict It is a great tablet but it is also eye-wateringly expensive with the Intel m3 processor (basic model) priced at £749. There are glitches, sudden stops and starts and even though the display is drop-dead gorgeous and the build quality superb, it is the little things will set the users at an edge.

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

VERDICT

• Go to www.mobilechoiceuk.com for full reviews and the latest news • Phone Buying Guide starts on page 71 • Prices are provided as a guideline to comparative costs only and are subject to flux

Mobile Choice 216 | 89

BUYING GUIDE // TABLETS Nokia Lumia 2520

Available sim-free

Pros 4G connectivity, great battery life, bright screen, optional keyboard Cons Not full Windows, app store still a little bare, keyboard costs extra Also consider The Asus Transformer Book T100 runs a full version of Windows 8.1 and can now be snapped up for as little as £339 with its keyboard dock included Killer app 4G Those wishing to get more from the next-gen mobile services will be impressed with the Lumia 2520 Verdict The Nokia Lumia 2520 has a long battery life and 4G connectivity for those who need super-quick access on the go. Shame its attachable keyboard costs extra

Samsung Galaxy Tab A Cons Plastic build quality Also consider Nexus 9

Killer app “Galaxy Gifts” include 3-month trials of Evernote Premium, Audiobooks by Audible and The New York Times, as well as a 6-month trial subscription to The Economist and Blinkist Verdict With some fabulous extras packaged together, the Tab A is a very good value option with expandable memory for those who are not too fussed about premium looks.

Cons Occasionally laggy performance, suspect wireless sharing functionality Killer app Samsung WatchOn Control your TV and get reams of programme information right from the tablet. A second screener’s dream Verdict The Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 is a consummate tablet that offers solid performance with little in the way of added frills. It offers the Samsung brand name for less cost than some of the company’s higher-end tablets, but never really raises itself above the workmanlike in terms of functionality

Cons Battery could have been better Verdict Samsung have not just gotten the design right on an already great device but the stellar display, pared-down UI and new aspect ratio make it a gorgeous device to own and use. Galaxy Tab S2 scores points with its form factor, the beautiful gold colour, expandable memory and 4G and Wi-Fi capabilities. Also consider Apple iPad Pro Killer app Display, camera, fingerprint sensor

Samsung Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 12.2

http://www.samsung.com/uk/galaxy-tab-a/ price £199 Operating system Android 5.0 Lollipop Size 166.8 x 242.5 x 7.5mm Weight 450g Display 9.7 inch TFT Resolution 1024 x 768p, 252ppi Processor 1.2GHz Quad Core Storage 16GB Camera 5.0MP AF + 2.0MP Ports microSD Battery 6,000 mAh Other features S Pen, Parental control, 4:3 aspect ratio

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

www.samsung.com price £149.95 SIM-free Operating system Android Jelly Bean 4.2 Size 8 inches Weight 314g Display 9.4 inches Resolution 800 x 1280 pixels Processor 1.5GHz dual-core Storage 16GB Camera 5-megapixel, 1.3-megapixel front facing Ports USB 2.2, MHL, 3.5mm audio jack Battery 11 hours video Other features A-GPS, GLONASS, Compass

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Cons Poor build quality, expensive, not particularly mobile Also consider Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. Visually almost identical, the Tab 10.1 is cheaper but lacks two inches of screen size and the ability to multitask quite so impressively. Killer app Multitasking Four applications can be open and used simultaneously. No more opening and closing multitasking windows to switch between apps. Verdict We can’t help but be drawn to the Tab Pro 12.2. It’s a big chunk of sleek, shiny technology which catches our attention and makes us want to pick it up. For kicking back and binge-watching Breaking Bad, this Samsung is ideal. The perfect sofa surfer.

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 203

www.samsung.com/uk/consumer/mobile-devices/tablets/galaxy-tab-s/ SM-T815NZDEBTU price £449 Operating system Android(TM) Lollipop 5.1.1 Size 237.3 x 169.0 x 5.6mm Weight 392g Display 8.0-inches Super AMOLED Resolution 2048 x 1536 pixels Processor Octa-Core 1.9GHz, 1.3GHz Storage 32GB Camera CMOS 8-MP and 2.1-MP Ports microSD up to 128GB Battery 5,870 mAh Other features Fingerprint sensor

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Available sim-free

Pros Gorgeous display, true multitasking, hugely powerful

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 203

Available sim-free

Pros Gorgeous build quality, fab display, fingerprint sensor on-point, good camera

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 211

Available sim-free

Pros Light and slim form-factor, decent screen, Samsung native apps

Samsung Galaxy Tab S2

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Available sim-free

Pros Super specs at a super small price, in-app bonuses, Android Lolipop rocking

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8.0

Reviewed Issue 205 www.nokia.com price £219.99 Operating system Windows RT 8.1 Size 168 x 267 x 8.9mm Weight 615g Display 10.1-inch AH-IPS Resolution 1920 x 1080 pixels Processor 2.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 Storage 32GB Camera 6.7-megapixel, 2-megapixel front camera Ports micro USB, microSD, Micro HDMI Battery 10 hours video playback (14 hours with Nokia Power Keyboard) Other features Nokia Here apps

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 207

www.samsung.co.uk price £549 Operating system Android 4.4 KitKat Size 295.6 x 204 x 7.95mm Weight 740g Display 12.2-inch Super LCD Resolution 2560 x 1600 pixels Processor Exynos 5 octa-core (Wi-Fi-only version) Camera 8-megapixel rear; 2-megapixel front camera Ports micro USB , microSD Storage 32/64GB Battery 9.500mAh Other features 4G (optional)

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

VERDICT

• Go to www.mobilechoiceuk.com for full reviews and the latest news • Phone Buying Guide starts on page 71 • 90 | Mobile Choice 216

More reviews online at www.mobilechoiceuk.com

Samsung Galaxy TabPro S

Available sim-free

Pros Chic looks | Bundled-in cover | Windows 10 | Intel M processor Cons Doesn’t have all the ports required | Battery could be better Verdict This tablet looks great and has a gorgeous screen. It is perfect for those who want to work on the go but it would have been elevated to the level of an amazing laptop if it had place for an SD card or even a humble USB. At the end of the day, it leaves you feeling quite frustrated. Also consider Dell Venue 10 Pro Killer app The bundled-in cover is very well made and helps the prospective buyer save almost £100!

Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact

Cons Extraordinary amount of bloatware, expensive Also consider Apple iPad mini 3 Killer app PS4 Remote Play Continue playing your favourite game by switching from your PS4 console to your smartphone or tablet. All you need to do is connect the tablet to your home WI-FI, and play games using the DUALSHOCK4 controller. Verdict Sony’ve brought skinny back. They have squared up with Apple to give their ‘mini’ series real competition. Expandable storage, beautiful form factor, waterproof build and Playstation integration help it stay at the top of the pile

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Cons Very expensive, battery not great, iffy Bluetooth connection Also consider Microsoft 535 Killer app Beautifully designed, laptop replacement Verdict A gorgeous tablet that comes with a host of features that make it excellent for work and play, Sony’s Xperia Z4 Tablet is probably the best Android tablet you can buy right now.

Huawei MateBook

www.sony.co.uk price £349.99 Operating system Google Android 4.4 (Kitkat) Size 213 x 124 x 6.4 mm Weight 270g Display 8” TRILUMINOS™ Display for mobile (1920 x 1200 pixels) Processor 2.3GHz, quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon Camera 8.1 Megapixles with autofocus; 2.2 MP Front-facing camera Ports micro USB , microSD Storage 32/64GB Battery 4500 mAh Resolution 1200 x 1920 Other features Waterproof and dust tight (IP65/68)

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Cons Below average battery life, Disappointing performance, Flimsy keyboard cover Verdict The Huawei MateBook is a perfect example of style without enough substance. The finish of the device is impeccable but it underperforms on power. Due to the posh but flimsy keyboard cover, it’s also a bit more uncomfortable to use on your lap over other slates Also consider Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 Killer app Stunning design and features hold up this tablet in a raft of Windows wannabes

http://www.sonymobile.com/gb/products/tablets/xperia-z4-tablet price From £499 Operating system Android 5.0 Size 167 x 254 x 6.1mm Weight 389g (wifi) 393 (Wifi +3G) Display 10.1” Resolution 2560 x 1600 pixels Processor Snapdragon 810 Storage 32GB + 128GB via microSD Camera 8.1MP, 5.1 MP Ports microSD Battery 6000 mAh Other features IP67 rated

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

Cons White model picks up lots of dirt, storage can only be increased by 32GB, average cameras Also consider Google Nexus 7 Killer app An 8-inch panel with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 and pixel density of 273 per inch means image quality is fantastic. It’s not up there with the likes of the iPad mini with Retina display or the Samsung Galaxy Tab S, but for a tablet costing a third of the price, the Hudl 2 is without fault. Verdict The Tesco tab blends family-friendly design with Full HD screen, intuitive software, powerful components – and subtle with its own product placements; all the Tesco services are there, but they’ve never forced upon you like they can be on Amazon’s Kindle Fire range

VERDICT Reviewed online

www.Vmail.eu price £169.99 Operating system Windows 10 Home/Pro Size 278.8x 194.1 x 6.9mm Weight 640g Display 12-inch 2160x1440 IPS TFT LCD Resolution 2560 x 1600 pixels Processor 6th Gen Intel Core M Processor. dual-core up to 3.1GHz Storage 128/256/512GB Camera 5 MP, f/2.2 aperture, Wide-angle lens, display flash Ports microSD Battery 33.7Wh Other features Mate Pen, wifi, Bluetooth, dual MIC

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 208

Available sim-free Pros Great screen, family friendly design, unmodified Android software

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 211

Available sim-free

Pros Premium materials , Clever fingerprint reader integration, Immaculate screen

VERDICT Reviewed Issue 209

Available sim-free

Pros Solid construction, waterproof, very light

Tesco hudl 2

www.samsung.com price £459 Operating system Windows 10 Home Size 290.3x198.8x6.3mm; Keyboard 290.3x198.8x4.9mm Weight 693g Display 12” Super AMOLED Full HD+ Resolution 2160 × 1440 Processor Intel® Core™ M3 Processor 2.2 GHz Camera 5-MP primary and front-facing. Video recording: FHD (1920X1080); Playback: 4K (3840X2160) Memory 4GB RAM + 128GB SSD; 4GB RAM + 256GB S Connectivity USB Type-C port Battery 5,200mAh Fingerprint sensor Yes Other features Available in White, Graphite Black, Lime Gold, Rose Gold; LTE Cat.6; Type C USB 3.1

Available sim-free

Pros Light as air (almost), Waterproof, Handbag-friendly size, Brilliant battery-life, Playstation Integration

Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet

Reviewed Issue 214

www.tesco.com/direct/hudl price £94.99 Operating system v4.4.4 (KitKat) Size 128 x 224 x 9mm Weight 129g Display 8.3” IPS LCD Resolution 720 x 1280 pixels Processor Quad-core 1.83 GHz Intel Atom Storage 16GB 2GB RAM Camera 5MP, Front-facing 1.2MP 5248 x 3936 pixels, autofocus, LED flash Ports Micro HDMI, MicroSD, micro USB Battery Non-removable Li-Ion 3100 mAh battery Other features Tablets live or die on the strength of The screen. At just £129 the Hudl 2 is a no-brainer.

Look and feel Ease of use Features Performance Battery life

VERDICT

• Go to www.mobilechoiceuk.com for full reviews and the latest news • Phone Buying Guide starts on page 71 • Prices are provided as a guideline to comparative costs only and are subject to flux

Mobile Choice 216 | 91

BUYING GUIDE // COMING SOON Huawei Mate 9

Google Daydream view

Price €699 Size 156.9 x 78.9 x 7.9mm Display 5.9” FHD Processor Intel® Atom™ Processor Kirin 960; Octacore, up to 2.4 GHz Camera 20-MP Monochrome + 12-MP RGB Ports microSD up to 256GB Battery 4000mAh Other features

Dual SIM NFC; USB Type C Wi-Fi 2.4G/5G; support BT4.2 Operating System Android™ 7.0 (Nougat) Emotion UI EMUI 5.0 Weight 190g Resolution 1920 x 1080 resolution Storage 64GB Price £69 Size 166.8 x 106.2 x 98.6mm Battery 220 mAh (controller)

Alcatel Plus 10

Huawei Nova Plus

Price £259 Size 259.3 x 156.2 x 8.35 mm Display 10.1 inch HD IPS Processor Intel® Atom™ Processor 1.8 GHz Quad Core 2GB RAM Camera 5-MP, 2-MP Ports microSD up to 64GB Battery 5830 mAh (tablet) 2580 mAh

(Keyboard) Other features Mini HDMI Media Card Reader; Bluetooth 4.0 Operating System Windows 10 Weight 465g (Tablet), 850g (Tablet & keyboard) Resolution 1280 x 800 pixels Storage 32 GB

Asus ZenWatch 3

Price £TBA (Euros 429 in Europe) Size 151.8 x 75.7 x 7.3mm Display 5.5-inch IPS Processor Snapdragon™ 625 (4xA53@2.0GHz + 4xA53@ 2.0GHz) REAR Camera Rear Camera: 16-MP, OIS, autofocus. Selfie Camera 8-MP, fixed focus;

Ports microSD up to 512GB Battery 3340 mAh Operating System Android™ 6.0.1, Marshmallow with Emotion UI 4.1 Weight 160g Resolution FHD 1920x1080 (401ppi) Storage 16GB Ports 4K UHD camera

Michael Kors Access www.asus.com

www.michaelkors.com

price $229 Size 45 x 45 x 9.95 ~ 10.75 mm Display 1.39-inch AMOLED display Operating system Android Wear Camera NA Memory: 4GB eMMC Flash Battery 340mAh with quick-charge (15 mins for 60% battery) Other features Battery pack: 200mA (optional); IPX67; available in Silver, Gunmetal, Rose Gold

Skagen Hagen Connected www.skagen.com

price £179 Size 45mm; Height: 9.95-10.75mm Display 1.39-inch AMOLED display Operating system Traditional watch Processor Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ Wear 2100 Battery Coin cell battery Other features Runs via phone app; activity, sleep and goal tracking

92 | Mobile Choice 216

Other features USB-C charger and cable; Bluetooth low energy (LE) Weight 220 g 9 axis IMUs for precision tracking

price £179 Size 44.5mm Display Digital Operating system Android Wear Processor Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ Wear 2100 Camera NA Memory: 4GB eMMC Flash Battery All day battery Other features Accelerometer, Gyroscope

Samsung Gear S3 Frontier and Classic

www.samsung.com

price Classic (£249) Frontier (£300) Size Frontier 46 x 49 x 12.9T (62 g) Classic 46 x 49 x 12.9T (57 g) Display 1.3-inch Operating system Tizen Based Wearable OS 2.3.1 Processor Exynos7270(Java-W), Dual 1.0GHz Battery All day battery Other features Accelerometer, Gyroscope, wireless charging, IP68

BUYING GUIDE // WEARABLES Samsung Gear S2 Classic

Reviewed Online

AppleWatch

www.fashtech.uk.com

price From £219 Size 38.6x33.3x10.5mm or 42x 35.9x10mm Display 38/42mm Operating system WatchOS2 Storage 8GB (2GB music; 75MB photos) controls Voice, touchscreen, app camera None Battery Up to 18 hours Other features heart rate, gyroscope, accelerometer; wi-fi, Bluetooth

price £299 Size 39.9x43.6x11.4mm Display 1.2” Operating system Tizen Storage 4GB internal storage + 512MB RAM controls Via watch crown, app and voice control Battery 300mAH and 250mAH Other features Works with Android; NFC; Bluetooth; IP68

Microsoft Band 2

Reviewed Online

Misfit Shine

www.fashtech.uk.com

Reviewed Online

price £99 Size 27.45 x W20 x D8.8mm Display 12 multicolour LEDs Operating system xxxxxxx Storage None controls Via app Battery CR2032 coin cell Other features Bluetooth; water resistant

Asus ZenWatch 2

www.fashtech.uk.com

Online www.fashtech.uk.com

price From £200 Size 35x11.4x46mm, 40x11.4x42mm Display 1.37” and 1.56” Operating system Android Wear Storage 4GB internal storage + 512MB RAM controls Via watch crown, app and voice control Battery 300mAH and 400mAH Other features Works with Android and iOS; IP67; Bluetooth

Prices are provided as a guideline to comparative costs only and are subject to flux

Reviewed Online www.fashtech.uk.com

price From £285 Size 43.2x43.2x12.7mm Display 96x16 pixel OLED display Operating system Martian Notifier Storage None controls Via watch crown, app and voice control Battery 7-day battery life Other features Camera remote control; Bluetooth, silent alarms

Moto 360 (2015)

Reviewed Online www.fashtech.uk.com

price From £149 Size 12.45x44mm, 11.3x42mm Display 1.26x.50-inch Operating system Windows Storage 4GB internal storage + 512MB RAM controls Via watch crown, app and voice control Battery Up to 48 hours Other features Works with Windows, Android and iOS; Bluetooth; UV, skin temperature, capacitive sensor

Guess Connect

Reviewed Online

price £139.99 Size 49.6 x 40.7 x 9.4 ~ 10.9 mm Display 1.63” Operating system Android Wear Storage 512MB RAM; 4GB storage controls Voice, touchscreen Battery 400mAh Other features Curved Gorilla Glass 3; IP67; Bluetooth, Wi-fi

Huawei Watch

Reviewed Online www.fashtech.uk.com

price £220 Size 12.45x44mm, 11.3x42mm Display 1.4” Operating system Android Wear Storage 4GB internal storage + 512MB RAM controls Via watch crown, app and voice contro Battery 300mAH Other features Works with Android and iOS; Bluetooth

Mobile Choice 216 | 93

BUYING GUIDE // CONTRACT TARIFFS Price plan

£ per month

Inclusive stuff

Texts

Minutes

Data

Star phone

Length

Vodafone 10-20

30-Day Network Guarantee

Unlimited

250

500 MB

Vodafone Smart ultra 7

24 months

20-30

Upgrade up to 60 days early

Unlimited

3GB

Lenovo Moto G4 Plus

24 months

30-40

Unlimited inclusive roaming minutes and texts. Includes 6 month Unlimited subscription to NowTV or Spotify or Sky Sports mobile

Unlimited

5GB

Apple iPhone 7 (32GB)

24 months

10-20

500MB personal hotpot

Unlimited

600

500 MB

Honor 8

24 months

20-30

4GB personal hotspot; Feel at home

Unlimited

4GB

Samsung Galaxy A3

24 months

30-40

4GB personal hotspot; Feel at home

Unlimited

12GB

Sony Xperia XA

24 months

10-12

£5 discount for Virgin media customer

Unlimited

5000

3GB

Samsung Galaxy J5

24 months

20-30

£5 discount for Virgin media customers

Unlimited

1000

1GB

Samsung Galaxy S6

24 months

30-40

£5 discount for Virgin media customers

Unlimited

1000

3GB

Samsung Galaxy S7

24 months

10-20

Data rollover

5000

3000

1GB

Google Nexus 5X

24 months

20-30

Roam for free in the following 29 countries

5000

1200

2GB

Apple iPhone SE

24 months

30-40

Roam for free in the following 29 countries

5000

1200

4GB

LG G5

24 months

10-20

Unlimited

1GB

HTC Desire 530

24 months

20-30

Unlimited

1GB

HTC One A9

24 months

30-40

Unlimited

3GB

Sony Xperia X

24 months

Three

Virgin Media

BT 10-20

£5 discount for broadband customers

Unlimited

400

500MB

Apple iPhone 5S

24 months

20-30

£5 discount for broadband customers

Unlimited

1000

3GB

Samsung Galaxy S6

24 months

30-40

£5 discount for broadband customers

Unlimited

15GB

Apple iPhone SE

24 months

94 | Mobile Choice 216

BUYING GUIDE // sim-only TARIFFS Vodafone

£9.50

£19.80

£24.30

£30.00

Minutes

300

Unlimited

Texts

Unlimited

Data

250MB

4GB

6GB

20GB

Extras

4G as standard with 3 months of unlimited data

Pick from NOW TV Entertainment Pass, Spotify Premium, Sky Sports or Netflix

Three

£8.00

£16.00

£24.00

£30.00

Minutes

200

600

Unlimited

Texts

Unlimited

Data

500MB

4GB

Unlimited Free 0800/0808/0500 calls and 1 month contract £27.20

Extras

Free 0800/0808/0500 calls

Free 0800/0808/0500 calls and 1 month contract

£8.92

£15.30

£23.80

Minutes

300

Unlimited

Texts

Unlimited

Data

300MB

2GB

7GB

10GB

Extras

Access to O2 Priority, O2 Guru and O2 account manager app

£5.00

£10.00

£15.00

£20.00

Minutes

250

500

2000

Texts

5000

Data

250MB

1GB

5GB

10GB

Extras

No bill shock

BT Mobile

£5

£10.00

£20.00

Minutes

Unlimited

500

Unlimited

Texts

Unlimited

Data

500MB

2GB

15GB

Extras

Unlimited BT wi-fi

Virgin Media £8.00

£12.00

£15.00

£23.00

Minutes

1250

Unlimited

Texts

Unlimited

Data

500MB

2GB

4GB

8GB

Extras

Unlimited calls to other Virgin Mobile phones

£9.99

£12.99

£17.99

£25.99

Minutes

250

500

Unlimited

Texts

Unlimited

Data

250MB

500MB

4GB

10GB

Extras

Wifi on the underground; tethering and VOIP

GiffGaff

£7.50

£10.00

£18.00

£20.00

Minutes

250

500

2000

Texts

Unlimited

Data

500MB

1GB

6GB

Unlimited

Extras

Free to giffgaff numbers and 4G as standard

Free to giffgaff numbers and 4G as standard Mobile Choice 216 | 95

BUYING GUIDE // PAY-AS-YOU-GO PREPAY TARIFFS Mobile Choice top picks when you spend £250 on a smartphone: O2

Best available plan £15 a month • 2GB data, 2000 texts • 750 minutes

EDITOR’S CHOICE Huawei P9 Like New £219.99

Everything Pack £15 • Everything Pack • 500 minutes • unlimited texts and 2GB 4G data

EDITOR’S CHOICE Microsoft Lumia 650 £99.99

tesco mobile

Best available plan £15 top up • 5000 texts • 500MB and 150 minutes • 139 Club card points

EDITOR’S CHOICE Motorola Moto G (3rd Generation) £139

three

Best available plan 3p a minute • 2p a text • 1p a MB 500MB data, 600 minutes and unlimited texts for £17 a month.

EDITOR’S CHOICE Honor 7 £249.99

Best available plan £20 • top up • 15GB data • Unlimited texts • unlimited minutes

EDITOR’S CHOICE Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016) £279

virgin mobile

Best available plan £15 top up • £15 airtime to use outside of your rewards • 3000 texts • 3GB of dataRewards points.

EDITOR’S CHOICE LG K8 £129.99

vodafone

Big Value Bundles £20 Big Value Bundle- 500 UK minutes, unlimited UK texts, 4GB of 4G UK data and 200 Rewards points. These are the cheapest available prices taken from network stores and multiples. All prices and tariffs correct at press time.

96 | Mobile Choice 216

EDITOR’S CHOICE Apple iPhone 5s 16GB £249

WIN!

COMPETITION

HUAWEI NOVA PLUS The Nova Plus has a incredible, segment-leading 16-MP rear camera with image stabilisation giving photography enthusiasts the tools to capture the perfect moment to share with family and friends. The category-leading 8-MP front camera captures better selfies and documents the world in any lighting condition. Immersive, full HD screens, with the biggest screen to body ratio in the segment, allow users to appreciate a perfect view on their world. Go to:

www.mobilechoiceuk.com/win

lub C s r e b m e M Mobile 216|| 95 97 Mobile Choice Choice 215

feature // phone recycling

OUT WIth THE

OLD

Buying a phone is a breeze. Go into store, ring a network or go online (haggle) and et voila! But what do you do with your old one? Chances are- a few months (years!?) down the line it will still be knocking around at the back of the drawer…

nter, stage left, recycling services who give you cold hard cash (or vouchers, if you prefer) in return for your tired old number. Pop it into a jiffy bag and wait for the money to go into your account. KERCHING! To help you along, here are the best recycling services as voted for by users at the Mobile Choice Consumer Awards 2016... Envirofone won the Best Recycling Service category for good reason. The service boasts 4 million customers, offers a six-month warranty and its website is SSL certified, ensuring that your payment details are secure. Apart from regular phones, Envirofone also accept damaged handsets. However they are not the only ones out there who will gladly take old tech off you in return for cash. If you settle for Music Magpie, you’ll not only be able to sell your used phone to them, but also old CDs, DVDs and games. The best part about this service? Once they’ve quoted you a price, they pay you the same day you hand over your device and also promise to pay the same amount that they quoted. This way, you won’t have to haggle for a good price, sell your used devices quickly then kick back and relax. If you’re an O2 customer, there’s no better way to return your used phone than through O2 Recycle. The website is easy to use, lets you sell your used phone in just a few clicks and pays you within five days. It lets you decide if you want to be paid via cash transfers or be given Amazon vouchers instead.

98 | Mobile Choice 216

Talking about device recycling services in the UK won’t make sense if you didn’t consider Mazuma Mobile. It is amongst one of the best known services out there. Same day deliveries, an offer of expert help for those who may struggle with formatting their phones and avoiding use of middlemen, Mazuma Mobile makes disposing your device very very easy The service also lives up to quoted amounts without indulging in last-minute haggling. Probably the reason why more than a hundred thousand customers have rated it 9.8 on 10 on Trustpilot. While these four services made to our shortlist, there are also others in the market. We are sure other recycling services like EE Reward and Recycle, Asda tech trade-in, Fonebank, Tesco Mobile Recycle and Vodafone Trade In will be able to offer good value for your phones, service quality and speedy payments. Do give them a look if you like the idea of making money off your old gear.

We are guilty of harbouring old blowers at Mobile Choice towers too, boxy iPhones and early Samsungs mostly!

There are an estimated 76.8 million mobile phones lying unused in British homes and these are collectively worth an eye-watering £9.4 billion! Why not donate to charity or recycle them?

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