| ZTE Open C goes on sale with latest version of Firefox OS May 8th 2014, 14:52, by Kate Solomon 
The ZTE Open C is now on sale, and should make for a decent first smartphone for anyone yet to make the jump. The 4-inch handset comes with a 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm processor and is the first to come with the latest version of Firefox OS. Firefox OS is an open operating system that allows its apps to run on other OSes and is compatible with most hardware set-ups - the first Firefox OS phone sold out in three days. ImprovementsThe latest update to the OS has added dual-SIM compatibility, continuous autofocus for the camera, music controls from the lock screen, better app search, advanced Bluetooth sharing and improved messaging functions. While the Open C may not come with a price tag as attractive as the $25 Spreadtrum phone, the fact that it comes in at under $100 and £66 in the UK still makes it pretty affordable.        |  | Interview: Huawei: QHD screens are 'nonsense' May 8th 2014, 14:36, by John McCann 
We've just found out that the LG G3 will sport a 5.5-inch, 538ppi QHD display, but Chinese manufacturer Huawei can't see the point of such a resolution on a smartphone. TechRadar sat down with Huawei boss Richard Yu at the firm's Paris launch of the Ascend P7 to talk about the company's plans and the wider world of mobile tech. The Ascend P7 features a 5-inch full HD display, bringing it in line with the other flagship devices of 2014, and Yu is happy to stick to that resolution for now. "I don't think we need QHD displays on mobiles. Your eyes totally cannot identify between full HD and 2K on a smartphone. You can't distinguish the difference, so it's totally nonsense," Yu told us. Stupid"We can [put a QHD display on a smartphone], but it's very bad for power consumption and it doesn't offer anything in return. "You eyes cannot see the difference, so why should we do that? I think it's a stupid thing." Yu also said that the higher resolution panels would add some additional cost to the handset, but the biggest issue was the increased power consumption. Smartphone power consumption is a hot topic at the moment, with manufacturers aiming for one days use on a single charge. That's hardly the week of battery you'd eke out of a Nokia 3310. Huawei is working on improving battery, although Yu admits that you're unlikely to hit a full three days on a single charge and he says "we need more time" before more than three days becomes a reality. Quick charge quandarySeveral manufacturers are looking to tackle the battery life problem in a different way, introducing quick charging power packs that allow you to get a decent chunk of life back from just a short time connected to a plug. Yu has a problem with this technology though, as he says it negatively "influences the life cycle of the battery," meaning your battery may deteriorate quicker over the lifetime of your phone. That can be especially troublesome if the battery is locked away under the chassis. Unsurprisingly, Yu added, "we're in no hurry to implement quick charging on our devices." Watch out, wearablesHuawei launched its first wearable at MWC 2014 in February, with the Talkband B1 hitting the show floor with a removable earpiece allowing you to take a call without reaching for your phone. It's worth keeping an eye on Huawei in the wearable space too, as Yu said "more is coming" from the firm in this market. Although he didn't go into specifics, when questioned whether the firm is looking into smartwatch devices similar to Samsung's Gear range Yu told us "we have some projects which are ongoing. We're looking at everything. "We're looking to make wearables into something meaningful, and to make the experience much better. "Accessories are very important with smartphones, and they're all about making people's lives more convenient." Is that a Huawei smatchwatch we can smell? Quite possibly.        | | Samsung Galaxy S5 Mini draws ever closer in new benchmarks hint May 8th 2014, 14:25, by James Rogerson 
While the existence of a Samsung Galaxy S5 Mini seems pretty likely there haven't been a huge number of leaks and rumours around. But as if to make up for that a fairly comprehensive specs listing for a device, believed to be the S5 Mini, has now appeared. The specs are listed on GFXBench and include a 4.8 inch 1280 x 720 display, a 1.4GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor, 1.3GB of RAM and 16GB of storage. Mid-range miniThe main camera is listed as being 7 megapixels, while it can shoot 1080p video and has a 2 megapixel front facing snapper. It's also listed as running Android 4.4.2 as expected. That roughly lines up with previous rumours, but it's not an exact match. Earlier leaks pointed to a 4.5 inch screen, while RAM had previously been listed at a slightly higher 1.5GB and an earlier camera rumour pointed to an 8 megapixel lens. Aside from the screen size the differences are pretty minor though. We're still not sure how this is meant to land in the market, as the screen is smaller but the specs are a lot lower than those seen in the Galaxy S5 - so it will be interesting to see how Samsung markets this one. There's no word yet on when the S5 Mini will launch but going on past history it could be with us as soon as next month.        | | Samsung's standalone Gear Solo may see the Dick Tracy dream realised May 8th 2014, 14:17, by Hugh Langley -470-75.JPG)
Samsung may be set to cut the cord on its next smartwatch, with another hint that a standalone Gear Solo is on the horizon. A listing on Indian import site Zauba names a device called the Gear Solo, which has a network receiver and its own embedded SIM. This suggests users will be able to make and receive calls on the watch itself with no smartphone required. The listing price is 12,292 INR, which, as Sammobile points out, suggests the device will be priced similarly to the Gear 2 - so about £250 ($295, AU$350). That's all the detail we've got right now. However, we'd expect the watch to also come running Tizen, following the Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo. I'm breaking freeIt also sounds like the Solo will be an addition to the current lineup rather than a Gear 2 successor. Word of the Gear Solo popped up last month, with a source claiming that the watch will launch in Korea first, with a wider launch to likely follow after. We'll be honest - until we stop giving funny looks to people talking on Bluetooth headsets, we can't see the whole speaking-into-your-watch taking off. But we're ready for Samsung to prove us wrong. - Is the Gear 2 Neo the best smartwatch that money can buy?
       | | Samsung gets new mobile design head as possible S5 Prime image leaks May 8th 2014, 12:43, by James Rogerson 
The design of future Samsung smartphones could be quite different to those on the market today. The company, oft-criticised for its plastic clad handsets and now Chang Dong-hoon, its Head of Mobile Design, has been replaced by Min-hyouk Lee, who was formerly Vice President of the same department. Dong-hoon isn't leaving Samsung though, the change is simply a realignment, which according to a company statement given to Reuters allows him to "focus more on his role as Head of Design Strategy Team, the company's corporate design centre which is responsible for long-term design strategy across all of Samsung Electronics' businesses, including mobile communications." Metal on the mindA change in leadership might, with any luck, usher in a more premium design aesthetic for future Samsung phones. If the rumoured Galaxy S5 Prime is anything to go by it certainly looks like that's a direction which the company is interested in exploring. 
Credit: Reddit A new image purportedly of the super-powered smartphone has been leaked on Reddit, showing what appears to be a metal-clad Galaxy S5. We're not entirely convinced this is for real, it could after all just be a Galaxy S5 in a stylish case, but if we take the leakster at their word then as well as being metal-clad the S5 prime will have a 'bump in all its specs' from the S5, though sadly nothing more specific than that was said. Could this be the start of a shiny new future for Samsung handsets? Only time will tell.        | | Analysis: The LG G3's super screen will make it the flagship phone to beat this summer May 8th 2014, 09:56, by Gareth Beavis 
LG G3 super screenLG has confirmed that it's going to be using a bleedingly sharp screen in its upcoming LG G3 smartphone, and that's caused an outcry. 'It's pointless pixels and it's going to kill my battery!' the panicked smartphone buyers are lamenting, before realising there are more important things to worry about. The fear is that plugging 1.8x more pixels into a 5.5-inch panel (compared to a current Full HD display) will make the LG G3 all glitz and no substance, a phone that can't last three hours on a single charge and has a horrendous viewing experience. While some might question the need for such a high-resolution display (Apple wasn't far wrong when it said its Retina Display in the iPhone 4 was as sharp as the eye could realistically discern) there are other benefits to the new screen technology. The problems LG is facing are huge: integrating a QHD (2560x1440 pixel) display isn't a case of just stuffing in more pixels and hoping for the best, as you've got myriad issues of brightness, battery life and general performance to think about. 
With that level of pixel density (538PPI compared to around 420 in modern Full HD phones), getting the light out of the phone is hard, as essentially each pixel is a tiny window - and those windows need frames, which block light. More frames leads to a darker display. LG reckons it's cracked this problem, a benefit of being the producer of both the screen and the smartphone it's going to be thrust into. It's redesigned the pixel structure to allow more light through - essentially making the frames thinner, which it reckons offers a brightness equivalent to the LG G2. Given that was one of, if not the, best screens on the market in 2013, that's no mean claim - and LG is also stating that it will offer improved colour reproduction and sharpness in viewing text too. Back(plane) to the futureAnother element needed to make the screen bright enough is improving the backplane. This piece of technology sits behind any display and provides all the connections, allowing the phone to tell the screen what to show and how to show it. The current trend is to use something called low temperature polysilicon (LTPS), which is still a relatively new technology to the smartphone world - although widely used, it's a technology that's coming into its own as higher density and larger displays are being used. It allows electrons to flow more efficiently through to the panel, as well as more compact packaging of the components. This technology has been mooted as a good way of improving OLED performance for years, but it's only now starting to be used in high volumes in the smartphone market due to the higher cost of production (and the lack of a need for such a solution in most handsets) and is being used in LCD screens too now. 
The good news is that this tech will also allow for improved battery efficiency - it will need to be combined with a next generation graphics processor to properly push the battery hard, but it's not a foregone conclusion that LG could pull this off and not make consumers choose between a beautiful screen and a phone that powers down three seconds after you've turned it on. If you look at the battery tests in our in-depth mobile phone reviews, LG consistently comes out on top, showing that its handsets are reliably among the most efficient while offering market-leading performance (in the case of the LG G2) or innovation (such as the LG G Flex, with its bendable screen). Heading off the competitionThere's a sub-plot at work here to complement the technological advancement: making sure it wins against arch-rival Samsung. It's no secret that the two firms are both pushing hard in the QHD (and even 4K) space for mobile devices, so both want to be first to market with a device. It looks like LG will get the jump with the G3, which launches on 27 May, but Samsung is heavily rumoured to be creating a premium version of the Galaxy S5 to launch in June as it attempts to stay the pace of innovation. It's also worth noting that LG has announced the Isai, a Japan-only handset that features the same screen technology to be used on the LG G3, and other firms (Vivo and Oppo) have released QHD handsets already. However, with the G3, LG will be bringing a next-gen screen to the world, which comes with issues around manufacturing in the required volumes too. There's more than bragging rights available here though, as both firms also manufacture these displays for other brands, so being first to market (with a decent screen) will enhance the bottom line in other ways beyond selling more smartphones. Of course, all the above could turn out to be moot if the display on the LG G3 isn't up to the required standard. Time and again we've seen manufacturers implement technology for the sake of it, just to be seen as a leader, and that product fail to ignite sales due to poor performance, and only the second or third generation of the technology getting the required level of performance (if there's enough interest in continuing it at all). With all the difficulty involved in making the screens (one of the heavily-rumoured reasons the Samsung Galaxy S5 Prime wasn't launched earlier in the year), LG will either need to have solved this issue or not really care about selling many high-end phones. Given this is a flagship product, LG must be confident it's worked out a way to make a QHD display work in the G3, otherwise it's gambling pretty stupidly on a technology that could make or break the company's fortunes in the smartphone industry this year. - Want to know more about the LG G3? Here's everything we know so far.
       | | Fujitsu and NTT Docomo partner on 5G trials May 8th 2014, 09:52, by Stu Robarts 
Fujitsu and NTT Docomo have announced that they are to work jointly on researching and running experimental trials on 5G mobile network technology. The aim of the partnership is to develop 5G technology and to work towards standardisation. 5G is currently under review and is expected to roll-out to consumers around 2020. The technology is being developed with the potential to handle over 1000 times the capacity currently available and data transfer speeds over 10Gbps in order to cater for the rapid increase in mobile communications traffic and Internet connected devices. Increased potentialUnder their agreement, Fujitsu and Docomo will develop and trial technology to increase the potential capacity of the small base stations used for providing network coverage in busy locations, such as train stations. Trials will begin this year. Fujitsu already produces high-performance wireless base-stations that use some of the world's most efficient amplifiers. It is also developing "high-density wireless base stations" to support LTE-advanced networks. From 2016, Fujitsu will also work on 5G standardisation initiatives. The firm previously took an active role in the industry's 3GPP standardisation efforts, in the LTE standards process and in the LTE-Advanced standardisation process.   | | Has LG just released the LG G3 in disguise? May 8th 2014, 09:52, by James Rogerson 
Last year LG released a phone in Japan called the LG Isai which ended up having almost identical specs to the LG G2, including the same screen, processor, RAM and camera. Now the company has unveiled the LG Isai FL - and, as with last year's model, we don't expect to see it go on sale globally but there's a good chance that it's giving us a look at what to expect from the LG G3. So what are we looking at? The LG Isai FL has a 5.5-inch 2560 x 1440 QHD display with a pixel density of 538 pixels per inch - and we've already had confirmation that the LG G3 will be rocking the same screen. Same but differentMoving under the hood the Isai FL has a Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM. We've heard conflicting rumours as to whether the LG G3 will have 2- or 3GB of RAM - this could settle that, or it may turn out to be an area where the G3 differs from the Isai FL. It's tough to say, at this point. The Isai FL also has a 13.2 megapixel camera, which matches with the majority of the LG G3 camera rumours, while there's also a secondary 1.3 megapixel camera on the front. The handset runs Android 4.4.2 KitKat, has 32GB of storage, and its dimensions are roughly 76 x 145 x 10.5mm. The battery is a 3000 mAh juicepack - but it's worth noting that the dimensions and battery differed slightly between last year's Isai and the LG G2. So how close these specs are to what we'll see on the LG G3 is hard to say, but given the similarities between the original Isai and the G2, we'd say they're pretty close.        | | LG G3 to blow Galaxy S5 out of the water with confirmed QHD display May 8th 2014, 07:58, by Gareth Beavis 
LG has confirmed that its new G3 flagship will be using a QHD display, packing in a huge number more pixels compared to today's smartphones. The new screen, which will be 5.5 inches wide, will stuff in 2560x1440 pixels, compared to the 1920x1080 on offer today, bringing a bleedingly sharp 538PPI. The new phone, which has been the subject of numerous leaks already, looks like it will maintain a smaller frame despite the larger display, as LG has managed to make the new panel only 1.2mm thick with a bezel of 1.15mm – thinner than those used in many current Full HD phones. 
Got this sorted, guysThe new display will be 1.8x sharper than the current Full HD screens, and LG reckons it has made great strides in offsetting the problems with brightness and battery efficiency through its own in house technology. The new LG G3 will be launched later this month on 27 May in several locations around the world, when we'll get our first chance to see if that massive display is actually impressive or a gimmick for LG to use to sell more phones. Want to know all about the LG G3? We've got you covered right here.        | | Huawei Ascend G6 descending Down Under in June May 8th 2014, 05:28, by Rob Edwards 
While there's no word of the Ascend P7 heading Down Under, Huawei has announced that its new selfie-centric 4G smartphone, the Ascend G6, will arrive in Australia in early June. Aiming to harness the seemingly endless popularity of social media self portraits, the Ascend G6 features a 5-megapixel front (or "selfie", according to Huawei) camera. The Ascend G6's smile activation feature means a flash of your pearly whites will get the camera snapping and you can also choose to have your photos accompanied by 10-second audio clips using the voice photo function. Photo-focusedThe G6's front camera is capable of 88 degree wide-angle shots, which Huawei hopes will help users cram in more family and friends, while the 8-megapixel rear camera features multi-shot capture, horizontal shooting and panoramic functions. Taking many of its design cues from last year's Ascend P6, the G6 features a 4.5-inch IPS display, 1.2 GHz processor and 2000 mAh battery. The Ascend G6 will be available from Optus and Vodafone from 2 June and 11 June respectively. Pricing is yet to be confirmed.   | | Octuplet of Samsung devices due for Android 4.4 soon May 7th 2014, 20:52, by JR Bookwalter 
The wait can be long for the latest and greatest version of Android to land on smartphones and tablets, but the platform's biggest OEM is about to unleash a volley of KitKat love on some of its most beloved products. SamMobile reported eight popular Samsung devices are on tap to receive Android 4.4 KitKat over the next month or two, with a trio of them having already wrapped up internal testing and others in various stages of the process. According to the "KOT49H Update Status Report" provided by an anonymous tipster, Samsung's LTE-equipped Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy Note 3 Neo will be the first KitKat upgrades available this month, with the LTE flavor of the Galaxy S3 also on deck for May despite being in the final testing stage. Also reporting a completed status as of the April 25 status report is the LTE model of the Galaxy S4 Mini, although owners of that particular handset will have to wait until June to break off a piece of the update. TouchWiz troubleUnfortunately for owners of the Samsung Galaxy S3 model number GT-I9300, the news is less definitive, with no current status or estimated time of arrival for KitKat. According to a developer report taken from an Android 4.4.2 KitKat test build, something about Samsung's own TouchWiz software appears to be getting in the way of loading system apps, so that upgrade remains on hold until further notice. Three of Samsung's largest phablets - the Galaxy Grand 2, Galaxy Mega 5.8 and Galaxy Mega 6.3 - also remain in testing, although the leaked chart reveals the manufacturer intends to unleash KitKat to owners of those handsets sometime next month. Last but not least, Samsung is said to have already started testing Android 4.4.3 for its latest flagship Galaxy S5, and the tipster cautioned that some of the updates outlined above could be delayed slightly to incorporate the freshest flavor of KitKat.        | | One of the 4.7" iPhone 6 suppliers is settling in for a September launch May 7th 2014, 18:58, by JR Bookwalter 
Summer hasn't even started, and already Asian manufacturers are looking to September and the time when Apple's rumored smaller iPhone 6 is expected to start rolling off the assembly lines. Taiwanese news outlet Commercial Times (via AppleInsider) has word that frequent Apple supplier Pegatron Corporation appears to be adding the next iPhone to its current duties assembling the iPhone 5C and iPhone 4S. The mystery device is apparently none other than the so-called iPhone 6, which is widely believed to be a 4.7-inch successor to the current generation iPhone 5S and the iPhone 5 before it. All told, Pegatron is expected to handle manufacturing chores for upwards of 50 million iPhone models this year, a sharp 40% increase over the 35 million handsets the firm assembled for Apple last year. Eggs in two basketsThe increase appears solely attributed to the addition of a new iPhone 6 model, which lines up nicely against a previous rumor claiming that Pegatron would ramp up production on Apple's next flagship smartphone sometime during the second quarter. That particular rumor, also from the Commercial Times, described the training of "thousands" of new workers at Pegatron's Taiwan-based facilities, who would be solely responsible for the new iPhone 6. Apple is said to be splitting iPhone 6 manufacturing chores across its Asian supply chain, with Pegatron sponging up 15% of the bigger smartphone and the remaining 85% going to Foxconn, who exclusively assembled the iPhone 5S. Although production is ramping up now, Apple isn't expected to actually launch the iPhone 6 until September. A larger 5.5-inch model is also said to be in the cards but will reportedly be released at a later date due to manufacturing issues. - Catch up on our full review of the new iPad Mini 2 with Retina display!
       | | Galaxy S5 Mini to be called 'Galaxy S5 Dx?' Samsung site says yes May 7th 2014, 17:55, by Michael Rougeau 
Once it's on the internet, it's always on the internet. That's a good mantra to live by these days, but luckily it hasn't stopped Samsung from accidentally pushing out a listing of something called the Galaxy S5 Dx. Based on the information we have and everything that's leaked lately, chances are "Dx" is simply the official branding for the Samsung Galaxy S5 Mini. There's no way to be sure at this point, but that's the assumption we're operating under for now. Following the scentThe Galaxy S5 Dx appeared on Samsung.com long enough for professional tipster @evleaks to snap a photo of the page and suggest that the multi-colored Dx is the S5 Mini we've been hearing about. 
The account later posted a second photo of the handset, referring to it just as the Galaxy S5 Dx, and this time the source was unclear. Notably the URL on Samsung's site gave the S5 Dx the model number SM-G800, a number that's been associated with the S5 Mini before, but slightly different from the "SM-G800F" seen in May 6's shipping listing leak. So as usual, the clues are muddled. But let's say this: given all the "mini" devices on the market or slated to arrive soon, including the LG G2 Mini, the iPad mini, the Microsoft Surface Mini, and the HTC One Mini 2, it makes sense for Samsung to consider changing the branding to something else, even if it's just two letters. What's in a name?Interestingly Samsung's Gear and Gear Fit appeared prominently in the S5 Dx listing, sitting in front of the phone itself in the photo. Clearly Samsung will be promoting these devices together. The miniature Samsung Galaxy S5, whatever it's called, is expected to pack a 4.5-inch display, a quad-core Snapdragon 400 chip, 1.5GB of memory, 16GB of storage, an 8-megapixel camera, and the element-resistant protections of the S5. Unfortunately, the most diligent sleuthing - including an obligatory Wikipedia search - has yet to reveal any possible clues in the "Dx" moniker.        | | Buying Guide: Best 4G phones 2014: 10 to choose from May 7th 2014, 16:08, by Gary Cutlack 
Best 4G phonesThe UK saw its first, belated, 4G network appear for use in late 2012 thanks to EE, which managed to wangle approval from regulator Ofcom to launch an LTE service before the other main providers. But since then Vodafone and O2 have launched their new high-speed 4G networks andThree has joined the party in rolling out a 4G network, so your smartphone now gives you quicker uploads and downloads than your home broadband, thanks to these new mobile networks. The downside is that if you haven't upgraded your phone recently you'll probably need a new one to take advantage of these faster connections, as many older mobiles don't have the necessary connectivity to hook into the frequencies used by networks to thrust 4G into your hands. But if you have decided to upgrade, the good news is networks are falling over themselves to offer you a wealth of 4G-enabled handsets these days. In fact most of the latest and greatest phones and even some of the not so good ones now supporting 4G, to the point where you'll have to specifically ask for one that doesn't. That gives you a whole lot of choice when shopping for a new handset, but don't get confused: we've done the hard work for you to sift out the best choices. iPhone 5SiPhone 5S review | Compare iPhone 5S deals The iPhone 5S isn't an enormous update over the previous model, but Apple has managed to squeeze a faster, 64-bit A7 processor inside the chassis, along with an updated camera module and a nifty fingerprint scanner hidden under the home button. Plus there's a sneaky M7 motion co-processor tucked away inside it, which lets it track your steps all day without hitting the battery life much, making it an ideal replacement for a fitness band. Essentially this is a refined version of the iPhone 5 and while we really want to see a redesigned iPhone 6, that's no bad thing. HTC One (M8)
HTC One (M8) review | Compare HTC One (M8) deals The HTC One M8 is a phone which should need no introduction. It's the five star successor to the five star HTC One and with a luxurious build, killer specs and an innovative Duo camera it's got a lot going for it. That's before you get to the crystal clear screen, solid battery life and expandable storage. If you want a phone that will catch the eye of strangers and make friends jealous, this is it and as it supports 4G you'll never be short of excuses to get it out. Samsung Galaxy S5Samsung Galaxy S5 review | Compare Samsung Galaxy S5 deals With the Galaxy S5 Samsung seems to have taken the approach that more is better. Because more is what you get. More power, more battery life, more megapixels and a bigger screen than the Galaxy S4, plus a couple of major new features in the form of a fingerprint scanner and heart rate monitor. All wrapped up in a redesigned though still heavily plastic package. It also has a 'Download Booster' which combines 4G and Wi-Fi when both are available to give you more download speed. More can sometimes mean bloat, but in this case it's hard to deny that more is better. Sony Xperia Z2Sony Xperia Z2 review | Compare Sony Xperia Z2 deals The Sony Xperia Z2 is a great all-rounder with little in the way of flaws. It's a phone that's easy to like but, coming so shortly after the similar Xperia Z1, it can be difficult to love if you're worried about Sony constantly changing its portfolio. Still, there's a whole lot of positive stuff here, from the premium-if-bezel-heavy design, to the powerful innards, class-leading 20.7 megapixel camera, great screen and water and dust resistant build. Like any good flagship it supports 4G, so not only is it fast and powerful when playing games and multi-tasking but it's also slick and speedy for web browsing, streaming and downloading, even when away from a Wi-Fi connection. Google Nexus 5Google Nexus 5 review | Compare Google Nexus 5 deals The Nexus 5 is notable for its price as much as anything else, because at £299 it's very affordable for a high end handset. And it is high end, with a quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM and a full HD 1080 x 1920 display. As a Nexus device it also enjoys stock Android and is likely to get the latest software as soon as it's available, rather than having to wait potentially months like other handsets which need to fuse the OS with their own user interfaces. LG G2LG G2 review | Compare LG G2 deals With its rear facing buttons and otherwise bland design the LG G2 could easily have ended up little more than a niche curiosity, but as an overall handset it wowed us in sufficient measure to warrant a place at our 'recommended' table. It has a superb camera, very good battery life, a top-end display (one of the best out there, thanks to LG's clever in-house technology) and some innovative features like the ability to wake up the phone with a tap of the screen. The LG G3 is looming but that just means the LG G2 is likely to drop in price and become a great, affordable, way to get in on the 4G fun. Nokia Lumia 1520
Nokia Lumia 1520 review | Compare Nokia Lumia 1520 deals With the Lumia 1520 Nokia really got the big guns out, equipping it with a quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM so that it could compete with the best that Android had to offer. That was coupled with a massive Full HD 6-inch screen, a more than capable 20 megapixel camera, a solid build and of course 4G support, to create the best all-round Windows Phone handset yet, at least until the Nokia Lumia 930 launches. iPhone 5C
iPhone 5C review | Compare iPhone 5C deals The iPhone 5C is a bit of an odd handset. Its plastic body, yet slick operation should see it compete with the likes of the HTC One Mini and Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini, but its premium price tag means it prices itself closer to the big brothers - both of which have more features. It does come in some bright colours though. Plus it has the same high quality 4 inch Retina display as the iPhone 5S. In fact if you think of the iPhone 5C as a plastic clad iPhone 5, well...you won't be far wrong. Sony Xperia Z1 Compact
Sony Xperia Z1 Compact review | Compare Sony Xperia Z1 Compact deals Sony isn't alone in shrinking down one of its flagships to a smaller size, but while the likes of HTC and Samsung also slimmed down the specs, Sony kept the power of the Xperia Z1 intact and just packed it into a smaller body. That makes the Xperia Z1 Compact one of only a handful of relatively small phones that also has high end specs. Along with its expensive looking, water and dust resistant body, solid camera and decent battery life that makes this a great option for anyone that wants a high end phone with a smaller 4.3 inch screen. The Z1 Compact has also inherited 4G capabilities from its big brother, so it's lightning fast even when there's no Wi-Fi available. HTC One Mini
HTC One Mini review If you're after the HTC One M8 at a lower price, well, you've got a couple of options. Buy last year's One, or get the HTC One Mini, both of which offer 4G performance. We prefer the latter (although the signs point to an upgrade, with the HTC One Mini 2 rumoured to be coming soon) as it has smaller stylings, the strong and premium metal chassis and that important 4G, all the while costing not a lot of money. Of course, it will probably get even cheaper if a new model replaces it soon, but either way it's a strong choice for a smaller 4G smartphone.   | | Buying Guide: The Best Sony Xperia Z1 Compact deals May 7th 2014, 15:31, by James Rogerson 
Sony's mini marvel is that rare beast: a phone with a fairly small screen but high-end specs. While it won't cost you as much as the Xperia Z2, the fact it's stuffed to the rafters with top end tech means the Xperia Z1 Compact can still be pretty pricey. We're talking a quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, a premium build and a great camera, all stuffed into a 4.3-inch screen that makes it a lot nicer to hold in the hand. But while it's going to be priced towards the upper end of the market wherever you get it, you can still save yourself a substantial chunk of money, or come away with some generous allowances, if you take a look at the following deals. EEEE has a strong Z1 Compact deal right now, which will get you the handset in black or white with unlimited minutes, unlimited texts and 2GB of data for just £29.99 per month and no upfront cost for the handset. It's a 24 month contract, as all these deals are (unless specified otherwise), and comes out at £719.76. 
EE also has the Xperia Z1 Compact in black for even less money: £23.99 per month but it doesn't come with the most generous of allowances. Again, there's no upfront cost but on this deal you only get 500 minutes, 500MB of data and unlimited texts. Over the life of the contract it adds up to £575.76, though, so a pretty cheap way to get a top phone. O2With O2 you can get the Xperia Z1 Compact in black for just £23 per month and no charge for the handset. That amounts to £552 and for that you get 500 minutes, unlimited texts and 500MB of data, which is the same as one of those EE deals except a little cheaper, though bear in mind that EE's 4G coverage is wider and faster. 
Alternatively you can get the phone in black or white with 1GB of data and unlimited texts and minutes for £28 per month with no upfront cost. That totals £672 over 24 months. VodafoneVodafone has a couple of tempting deals for Sony's diminutive darling for under £30 per month. First up: pick up the Z1 Compact in black with 600 minutes, unlimited texts and 500MB of data for just £25 per month, which, as there's no upfront cost, comes out at £600 overall. -420-90.jpg)
Or if you're going to need more data and minutes you can get the smaller Xperia in white with 1GB of data, unlimited minutes and unlimited texts for £29 per month. Once again there's no charge for the handset itself, so the deal works out at £696 for the duration of the contract. Vodafone also has a 12 month tariff which, at £43 per month, isn't exactly cheap, but does give you more flexibility in changing your handset earlier. It comes with unlimited minutes and texts and 1GB of data. That's for the phone in black and there's no upfront cost so it's £516 overall. ThreeThree has a couple of different deals at £38 per month with no upfront cost, so they both add up to £912 after 24 months. On the face of it, that's a lot of money to spend when you can get it £300 cheaper on another network, but you get quite a lot for your money too. One of the deals gives you a choice of the handset in white or black and comes with unlimited data, unlimited texts and 600 minutes, so it's a good choice if you tend to use a lot of mobile data. 
The other deal gives you the Xperia Z1 Compact in black and only comes with 2GB of data, but it includes unlimited minutes and texts, so that's a better bet if you want to be able to make a lot of calls. However, while Three does offer peace of mind with unlimited elements of its deals, it's pretty expensive compared to the others on show here. T-Mobile and OrangeT-Mobile is offering the handset in black or white with 500 minutes, unlimited data and unlimited texts for £27.99 per month with no upfront cost. Overall that's £671.76, which is pretty good value, though remember you only get 3G data with T-Mobile. Last but not least there's Orange, which also offers the Xperia Z1 Compact for £27.99 per month in black or white, so as there's no upfront cost it totals the same £671.76. But here it's with 1000 minutes, unlimited texts and just 500MB of 3G data. We're inclined to say that that's a worse deal overall than the T-Mobile one, but obviously it's a better bet if you value minutes more than data.   | |
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