One of my friend wanted my advice while buying his new phone (thanks to gadgetdost people have started believing in me when it comes to gadgets). So he gave me his requirements, first - no blackberry and second - preferably with qwerty keyboard and last and most important it should be a smart phone. I initially thought it will be half an hour’s job, and I started my R&D. What came out was really surprising. So let’s see what all I’ve found in this search...
This is not a full fledged review but I checked as per my friend’s requirement and came out with the following:
So my first preference was Android Samsung combination, since currently it is the most popular combination in smart phone word. Found two models
1.
Galaxy Ch@t
2.
Galaxy Y Pro Dues
So what is problem with these models? Let me tell you the big plus at the start only both cost about 10K.
So what’s the problem? First is, their average processors. Both models have 850 MHz and 832 MHz processor respectively which is much lower than what we get in touch models. World is going towards dual core processors and what we have in this is not even 1GHz. So the first minus point is the processor. Second bad news is that if you are one of those who like to click on the go and expect good quality pics then both models will disappoint you. Both have 2 MP and 3 MP cameras respectively. Zooming is equivalent to nothing and have VGA video recording. It feels like we are buying second phone. Seriously! One has got 4 GB and the other has got 160 MB internal memory (you read it correct, it’s only 160 MB). Both of these have a 32 GB expandable slot but in Android every App get’s installed on internal memory. It is better not to talk about RAM. Galaxy Ch@t comes with 512 MB. Battery is also around 120 mAh to 1350 mAh. Both are touch and type phones, so battery will also not last much if you are a normal user. So both the phones lack good processing power, internal storage and camera big time. And that ended my search with Samsung. The company that claims to be the No 1 in mobile currently has only two smart phones with qwerty keyboard.
Next on my choice was Motorola, but no match was found here. All qwerty keyboard models were feature phones and not a single one was smart phone.
So let’s go to HTC. Yeah... something encouraging here!
HTC Cha Cha is the model that has qwerty keyboard. Ohh no nothing better than Samsung models. The only plus is its 5 MP camera. Rest of the specs are almost the same as Sansumg, 800 MHz processor, 512 MB RAM, 512 MB internal memory, VGA video recording. And it costs about 12.5K and is out of stock on most of the online shop.
Then I moved to Sony...
Found two model here Xperia Pro and Xperia Mini Pro. Both have slide qwerty
keyboard. Xperia Mini Pro is a little older model and out of sales currently. So how about Xperia Pro? This is the first model in my search that fits all criteria. 1 GHz processor with 512 MB RAM (not so good...). 8.1 MP camera with HD recording. 320 MB internal memory, I am not too happy with this, but you at least get a 8 GB memory card along with handset. 3.7' Display with Android 2.3 loaded and you can upgrade to 4.0.4 (ICS). Other than the internal memory everything fit in my specs. So logically my search should have ended here, but no. For two reasons first it cost 16.5K (my friend had given me a budget of up to 15K) and it has got a slide key board and not the regular one. Also the battery with 1500 mAh for such a big phone with touch screen and full key is little less.
So finally I checked Nokia which I was avoiding it till now since I don't believe Nokia phones are really smart phones other than the Lumia series. But I had no option left. Their are some 5-6 Asha series models in Nokia with qwerty keyboard but they are really not smart phones. The only model that can go close to definition of smart phone is E6. With 680 MHz processor and 8 GB internal memory this was something that I could recommend as a good smart (?) phone with qwerty keyboard. It has 8 MP camera with 0.3 MP front camera. It can record HD movies. 1500 mAh battery is on the lower side but Nokia is known for their battery life. The only negative side of this phone is Apps. There are hardly any Apps for Symbian OS. And that is the only worry point for me. This cost about 17.5K.
After all my research I felt that I have nothing in my hand that I could suggest to my friend. Here is brief specs that could end my search
Processor : 1 GHz at least
RAM : 1 GB minimum
Internal Memory : 4 GB and above
Camera : 5 to 8 MP with HD recording
Keyboard : Regular and not slide
OS : Android
How about the model which have only alpha numeric and symbol keys and all command and action on touch for saving space of keyboard and giving bigger display. Will it be a real innovation in the smart phone world? I know so many people who take touch phone because there is no good qwerty keyboard phone available.
So finally I told my friend that you have to increase the budget if you want Sony Xperia Pro or Nokia E6 or else go for blackberry.
No comments:
Post a Comment