d3xlabs is back. In the country that is.
My apologies for the lack of updates everyone. I still can't believe the last time I posted was during Chinese New Year! That's a whole month ago! I've been so busy with work, flying in and out of the country that I've not had the time to update my blog as much as I'd like to. The good thing is, I'm back again so I can settle back into life in Beautiful Brunei (and focus a bit on my phone reviews!)
BUT, just to share with you (or satisfy you), I've recently been asked to write brief reviews about the latest phones in the market in a local magazine. It was an honour to been asked to do so. So I've been spending a good amount of time with each of these mobiles, which you'll soon see. But in light of the many models requested for, and the limited space on the magazine, the reviews I've done are short and sweet.
And so I decided, for my blog readers, why not post up the same reviews (with some more added juicy info) onto my blog tonight (!) so that d3xlabs readers can be the first to read it before the magazine is released!
As the Title suggests, let me first begin by adding that these models are the TOP 15 mobiles that are out in the market today. I will begin with Motorola, Samsung, LG, Sony Ericsson and lastly, Nokia. They are not in any order in terms of which are the best, but I will try add some recommendations on whether I think they are worth parting your hard earned cash with.
MOTOROLA
Motorola RAZR V9
Motorola has been synonymous with classic models like StarTac of the 90's and RAZR. Its also been 3 years of touting the RAZR brand. You could say people are getting a bit bored of it. Until now. Motorola has finally introduced the RAZR2. Having big shoes to fill, the RAZR2 V9 is now 1mm thinner than the original RAZR, made of stainless steel and apparently, up to 120 pounds of pressure can be placed on the V9’s hinges. This means that, unlike other fashion wannabe phones out there, you know the V9 is built to last. Stacked with a number of cool features like HSDPA capabilities, a 2-megapixel camera and full Bluetooth support, the Razr2 sets itself apart from the rest with a very eye-catching design. It also sports a 2.2" QVGA resolution display on the inside and a suprisingly large 2" external TFT display on the outside – perhaps the largest found on any clamshell handset on the market. Also on the external screen, touch sensitive music keys with tactile feedback is found. Overall, the RAZR2 V9 is a very impressive successor to the original RAZR.The Motorola V9 is ideal for: Those who appreciate solid stylish flip phones and have remained loyal to the Motorola brand. Remains true to its RAZR style.
Available at all Incomm outlets.Price - BND668-00.
Please use your DST Privilege cards for additonal discounts.
SAMSUNG
Samsung D880
Dual sim phones have so far been present in mostly China made brands, and its popularity in this side of South East Asia have been less than promising. However, now with the introduction of the D880 from giant Samsung, this trend could very well be headed towards a more widely accepted norm in the region. The D880 is now able to hold two sim cards simultaneously and users will also enjoy the 2.3” QVGA display, a 3 megapixels autofocus camera, a document viewer, an increased capacity battery and also a business card recognition feature, all packed into this slider form factor that is synonymous with the brand. Only time will tell if the other mobile giants will be heading in this direction, but for now, at least we know that there is such a model out there in the market should we have the need for one.
The Samsung D880 is ideal for those who travel and dislike carrying 2 mobile phones with 2 different lines wherever they go. "Finally", as some people have expressed.
Available at all Incomm outlets.Price - TBC. Please use your DST Privilege cards for additonal discounts.
LG - LIFE's GOOD
LG KU380
Perhaps little is known about LG and their presence in the market share, but they are no doubt seen as aggressive in developing their product ranges and listening to the needs of the mobile community. The LG KU380 is yet another addition to the pack and is a 3G enabled slider form factor offering which sports a TFT 22k colour screen, 60MB onboard memory, Bluetooth, 1.3 megapixel camera with 15 fps video capturing abilities and an FM radio.
The LG KU380 is ideal for those who want a slider no-nonsense mobile that just does the job and does it well, without all the fancy bells and whistles.
Available at all Incomm outlets.Price - BND258-00, Please use your DST Privilege cards for additonal discounts.
LG KU990 Viewty
Comparing to previous models of old, LG really shows that they take into account user feedback, and are always aiming to develop their product line, both in terms of design and features, from the LG Chocolate to the LG Prada, and now, the LG KU990 Viewty. Under the hood of this feature packed arsenal lies an impressive 3" touchscreen display with 240 x 400 pixels resolution, HSDPA 3.6 Mbps capability, stereo Bluetooth and the most hyped up weapon of choice, the highly intriguing 5 megapixel camera with autofocus, which is also capable of capturing video at 120 fps. The LG KU990 definitely looks set to be a sweeping success. Perhaps a first ever feature, is the ability to edit an image after snapping it, with the gorgeous touchscreen. This will surely be attractive especially for those photo aficionados out there.
The LG KU990 Viewty is ideal for those keen photographers who want that little something extra from their camera phone. K850i and N82 had better keep a watch on their heels, this underdog will be one to watch out for.
Available at all Incomm outlets.
Price - BND898-00.
Please use your DST Privilege cards for additonal discounts.
SONY ERICSSON
Sony Ericsson W890i
We all remember the introduction of the slim and sexy W880i (my old review
here) when it was first launched. However, slim as it was, many could not handle the noticeable letdowns; the tiny keys and lack of FM radio. In comes the W890i. It now addresses the minor flaws of the W880i, with added support for HSDPA, quad-band GSM, the new Sony ericsson SensMe tempo, mood detector, 3.2 megapixel Cyber-shot camera, fast photo browser, finger print resistant body panels AND all this in a still-slim body. This worthy upgrade from Sony Ericsson indeed places it in a position above its predecessor and is set to be a huge seller.
The Sony Ericsson W890i is ideal for those music buffs who like to mix fashion with a bit of fun. Better keypad, better overall experience. Definitely worth the upgrade.
Available at all Incomm outlets.Price - BND668-00. Please use your DST Privilege cards for additonal discounts.
The Sony Ericsson W950i, which was released last year, was considered revolutionary with its 4GB of integrated memory especially in the line up as a Walkman phone. However, its shortcomings with regards to the lack of a camera and Wifi capabilities left users wanting. With that, Sony Ericsson introduced the W960i as a replacement. They have now brought out their big guns with this model, fielding a scorching 8GB of storage space, a large touchscreen 262K color TFT display, a 3 megapixel camera, 3G/Wifi capabilities AND all this in an oh-so-sexy-slim-and-nice-to-touch-body. You just have to hold one to know how it feels. Feature-wise, it resembles more to its smartphone brother, the Sony Ericsson P1 but with the addition of a dedicated Walkman key and 3-touch sensitive keys for controlling the music player. This model is a great choice and will certainly leave music fans drooling and feeling tingly all over.
The Sony Ericsson W960i is ideal for the hardcore music buff that loves having entire music collections on the go.
Available at all Incomm outlets.
Price - BND888-00.
Please use your DST Privilege cards for additonal discounts
Sony Ericsson W910i
The addition of the Sony Ericsson W910 into their Walkman range has only strengthened their position in the music market. This solid performer sports a slim slider form factor, a high quality 2.4” display, supports 3G/HSDPA, improved Walkman 3.0 features (with SensMe and a first ever Shake control feature), FM radio, a 2 megapixel camera, fast photo browser and a decent loudspeaker. To balance it out, the W910i will also garner a lot of lovers as its looks place it in the market as a fashion-savvy phone. However, those expecting to use the W910i as a camera should take note, it does not have autofocus or flash. But at least you’ll look good with the W910 by your side.
The Sony Ericsson W910i is ideal for those who want to look good while enjoying listening to their favourite tunes. Shaking the phone to skip to the next track is definitely fun too, espcially for others to watch.
Available at all Incomm outlets.
Price - BND628-00.
Please use your DST Privilege cards for additonal discounts
Sony Ericsson K850i
With the Cyber-shot name and reputation to uphold, Sony Ericsson called on reinforcements and launched its newest member and big-daddy of the Cyber-shot range, the K850i. Aside from the obvious addition of the Xenon flash and Cyber shot first-ever ISO settings to adapt under different lighting conditions, you’ll also find the standard autofocus, Macro focus, Best Pic technology, new 3 touch soft keys, an experimental tiny square keypad layout and a rather unusual navigation rail. Another worthwhile mention is the inclusion of a dual purpose memory slot; you can use either a Memory Stick Micro or a microSD. This means you will never need to worry about not having enough memory for those special moments. All in all, in such a small and compact size, these features alone make the K850i the closest ANY phone has ever come to matching the standalone digital camera experience.
The Sony Ericsson K850i is ideal for both the snap happy amateurs as well as the serious photographer who don’t want to miss any special moments with their loved ones. Picture quality is unmatched so far!
Available at all Incomm outlets.Price - BND698-00. Please use your DST Privilege cards for additonal discounts.NOKIANOKIA Nokia 2600 Classic
Nokia has been long renowned for meeting the needs of the market with models that are simple and easy for users of all ages. Sporting a TFT 65K colour screen, phonebook capabilities of up to 1000 entries, GPRS/EDGE capabilities, Bluetooth, a VGA camera/video capabilities and colour choices of Blue, Black, Orange and Beige, the 2600 classic is armed with enough features to please those out there with the most basic needs; phone calls and SMS’s, and then some. Most value-for-money model out there.
The Nokia 2600 classic is ideal for those who appreciate the simple things in life; basic phone calls and SMS’s.
Available at all Incomm outlets.Price - BND138-00. Please use your DST Privilege cards for additonal discounts.Nokia N95 8GB
When the Nokia N95 was first released, it was considered as the ultimate smartphone in the market. Packed with a feature list comprising of; Symbian Series 60 v3, HSDPA capabilities, built-in GPS, a 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss lens, DVD quality video, easy to reach music controls in a very neat 2-way slider form factor, it was set to remain on its throne for a long time coming. But, it was all too good to be true. The N95’s power greedy features sucked the soul off the battery life and this was the most major downfall for the N95. Until that is, Nokia decided to reach back into their armoury and pull out yet another trick out of its hat; the introduction of the Nokia N95 8Gb. This new release has now turned evil with its new reincarnation of black styling, a beautiful 2.8” screen, a whopping 8Gb of internal memory and most important of all, the battery life now has soul. The Nokia N95 8Gb will satisfy the needs of all who expect much from it, and best of all, the same features we all remember from the old N95 still remain.
(My review
here)
The Nokia N95 8Gb is ideal for those who want their mobiles to be able to keep up with them in their fast paced lives or even slow down with them in life to appreciate the little things around. The king of smartphones is back in the building.
The launch of the Nokia N81 proved to be a milestone first as it is one of the first handsets to support its re-launched N-Gage gaming platform. Aimed solely at the niche youth market, the N81 8Gb is meant to be the most affordable multimedia device marring music, gaming and imaging all under its hood. Sporting features such as Symbian S60 v3.1, wifi support, dedicated gaming keys, a brilliant 2.4” 16M display, a 2 megapixel camera, dedicated multimedia/music keys (with standard 3.5mm audio jack and over the roof stereo speakers!), a whopping 8Gb internal memory and a touch sensitive Navi wheel all in a compact slider form factor, the Nokia N81 8Gb is all set to thrill. However, it is worth mentioning that those interested in buying this gaming device will need to get used to its newly positioned key layout but all will be quickly forgotten as the N81 truly is an excellent pick-me-up for those moments of sheer boredom.
The Nokia N81 8Gb is ideal for those who are addicted to gaming but refuse to admit it. And the speakers, it just blows your ears away.Available at all Incomm outlets.Price - BND718-00. Please use your DST Privilege cards for additonal discounts.Nokia N82
The Nokia N82, a direct competitor to the Sony Ericsson K850i, is the latest of releases to the N-series range under the Nokia brand. The N82 has all the features that promises to make it a truly best seller, combining smartphone functionality with one of the best camera phones in the market today. Sporting a 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, Xenon flash with active lens cover, a 2.4” 16M color display, Symbian S60 v3 OS, wifi/3G/HSDPA functionalities, auto UI rotation, stereo speakers, built-in GPS, TV-out capabilities, standard 3.5mm audio jack, support up to 8Gb microSD memory and a commendable battery performance, the N82 is a buy that you will hardly ever regret. Perfect especially for those who want to capture those truly special moments without carrying another device, the decision is so simple, N82.
The Nokia N82 is ideal for those who want to capture the shots of their children growing up or special moments with their friends by their sides. And it does a real neat job in keeping your schedules and giving you directions on maps too!
Available at all Incomm outlets.Price - BND798-00. Please use your DST Privilege cards for additonal discounts.Nokia E51
Nokia is renowned for churning out reliable and outstanding business phones, which also cater towards those who would like to mix business with a bit of pleasure. The conservative wolf in sheeps clothing Nokia E51 is one such device. Replacing its predecessor, the E50, the E51 brings functionality to a higher level with the inclusion of Symbian S60 v3.1 OS, 3G/HSDPA/WIFI capabilities, 130MB onboard memory, very comfortable keypad/D-pad, new symbian key icons, a 2 megapixel camera and all this packed into a very very slim 12mm body, making it the thinnest Eseries squad member in the ranks. The also-very stylish Nokia E51 proves to be quite a well-balanced performer that will certainly become an instant bestseller not only for business users, but for regular users too.
The Nokia E51 is ideal for those who want a reasonably priced business phone that can do it all, and look good at the same time.
Available at all Incomm outlets.Price - BND478-00. Please use your DST Privilege cards for additonal discounts.Nokia N800
Perhaps of all the models from Nokia, the one that has not made any huge headlines is the tablet series. From the Nokia 7700 and 7710, demand has not quite been anything to shout about. But this has not stopped Nokia from improving on the series, with the launch of the Nokia N800 internet tablet. It is stacked with features such as a large 4.1” 800x480 touchscreen display, displaying both text and pictures very clearly, WiFi connectivity, Bluetooth, a mini-USB port, and a 3.5mm headphones jack. It runs off a 320Mhz TI CPU, and 128MB RAM, and includes 256MB of flash storage and two SD slots. The most outstanding feature of the N800 is the use of the WiFi capability that makes surfing an extreme joy for those not wanting to carry around a laptop or be restricted to desktop bound PC’s.
The Nokia N800 is ideal for those internet junkies and with the 4.1” screen, need I say more?
Available at all Incomm outlets.Price - BND468-00. Please use your DST Privilege cards for additonal discounts.Nokia 8800 Arte
Nokia has always maintained a stronghold on their flagship 8-series models, focusing more on the essence of premium lifestyles with exclusive and highest quality materials used on each improved model. The Nokia 8800 Arte is a 150 grams of solid steel piece of art and its exclusiveness is good enough reason for people who favour style over function. Some may argue that features such as a 2” 16M colour display, S40 OS with 3G functionality, 3 megapixel camera with autofocus, evolutionary Turn-to-mute technology and a large internal memory is rather basic compared to other similarly priced models from Nokia, but it is easy to forget, comparing the Arte to other handsets will be missing the point. It's just how things are in the small niche of mobile high fashion where Arte’s rub shoulders with the likes of
Armani and Prada.
The Nokia 8800 Arte is ideal for those who prefer style over function, and for those who appreciate owning such exclusive and exquisitely made mobiles.
Available at all Incomm outlets.Price - BND1,688-00. Please use your DST Privilege cards for additonal discounts.
