Text and photos by Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla
There’s a wide choice for smartphones that offer something different right now. We look at some of the latest from Apple, Sony, Motorola and LG.
It feels like there’s a new smartphone every week now and while features and specs are always front and centre, certain attributes such as design and user interface are becoming features users care about the most. Here are a few new smartphones that detract from the norm and offer something a little bit different.
Apple iPhone 5c
The colourful iPhone 5c is the cheaper midrange iPhone in the market today and while it doesn’t feature the new A7 processor or the Touch ID that’s made the iPhone 5s so popular, it does feature all the best of the iPhone 5 but in brightly hued new plastic cases. Superbly built and surprisingly robust for a plastic device, the iPhone 5c is a serious performer with a great set of features for the mid-tier smartphone market. It also features a variety of LTE bands. Available in bright shades of blue, red, yellow, green and white, it is the trendiest iPhone yet, and should appeal to the subset of users who want a great all around Apple phone that’s a departure from the norm.
LG G2
LG’s played second fiddle to fellow Korean smartphone maker Samsung for a long time. The LG G2 is the latest attempt to outdo Samsung’s flagship handsets in every way. A large 5.3-inch screen pushes the LG G2 into phablet territory, while a unique rear power and volume button make it ergonomically accessible for left or right handed people. A powerful quad core processor and the ability to play super high-quality music files set the LG G2 apart from the rest. Build quality is laudable and the LG G2 does feel like a true flagship device. The only area that feels lacking is the user interface and LG’s chintzy apps, icons and wallpapers. Still, there’s no denying that the LG G2 is a breed apart.
Moto X
Forget that the Moto X is only available in two colours and from one carrier in Canada. This is, in concept, one of the most innovative products to come out of Motorola even if it is the first to be created under Google’s stewardship. Innovation comes in the form of the Just Talk feature which puts Google in listening mode and all you need to do is call out “Ok, Google Now,” followed by a question or a command. Moto X also has the distinction of allowing users to design the phone’s colours as well as choose the amount of storage. This is only available in the US, however. Canadians get the blase model with just 16GB and only in black or white. What sets this Moto X apart is the long battery life as well as the intuitive voice assistant features.
Sony Xperia Z1
Sony’s been on a tear lately and they have been releasing new smartphone in a frenzied pace. The Xperia Z1 is the latest flagship and improves on every aspect of the Xperia Z1.
A powerful 2.2GHz Quad Core processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage (expandable via microSD) access to faster LTE speeds on networks like Bell Mobility and a cracking camera that boasts a 20 Megapixel sensor and stunning 5-inch Triluminous display with a 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution. It is crisp, fast, responsive, and a treat to watch videos on.
Aside from being a gorgeous smartphone, the Xperia Z is constructed out of steel and glass and it features great dust and water resistance features that enable it to get dunked under water for up to 30 minutes without any issue. A superb 20 megapixel camera is also a feature users will appreciate from Sony’s most ambitious handset yet.
