Best mid-range smartphones for May 2012

At the mid-range, a price range of Php12,000 to Php20,000, there are very decent options these days which make getting a more expensive phone unnecessary. What you loose at this category is the ability to play some of the most demanding games, and the camera's get a downgrade. But for smartphone functions, the more expensive phone do not really do all that much better.

Still there are no Apple iPhone options at this price range, and for those looking for BlackBerry devices, it would really seem to best to wait for the news on BlackBerry 10, which we expect to know more about in a day or two.

Android phones -

1. Samsung Galaxy S Advance

• Cash: Php18,700 with an official Samsung Warranty.
• Postpaid: No options at present.
  

Pros. The specifications tells, it all, it is a downgraded Galaxy S II at Php 4,500 less.

• Android 2.3.6
• 4-inch WVGA (480 x 800) Super AMOLED display
• 8 GB of internal storage expandable via MicroSD card
• 768 MB of RAM
• 1 GHz dual core processor
• Mali-400 graphics
• NovaThor chipset
• 5 MP primary camera with a LED flash
• 1.3 MP secondary camera
• 720p video capture
• HSDPA 14.4 Mbps connectivity
• 1500 mAh battery

Looking at phones at the same price range: the LG Optimus 2X, HTC Incredible S, HTC Desire S, and Samsung Galaxy W, the Galaxy S Advance is clearly the best choice. The NovaThor chip set actually allows the Galaxy S Advance to blow away the Samsung Galaxy S II in browser benchmarks. In pure processing power, the Galaxy S Advance falls far behind the Galaxy S II.

With a Super AMOLED display, Mali-400 graphics and a dual core processor, it is at Php18,700 recommending this phone seems to be a no-brainer.

Cons. It is a bit disappointing to find a brand new phone still coming out with Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) out of the box. If this phone does not get an upgrade to Android 4.0, I will really regret making this recommendation. Also despite being a dual core phone it only shoots 720p video.

2. Huawei U8860 Honor

• Cash: Php13,990 with an official Huawei Warranty.
• Postpaid: No options at present.
  

Pros. The most compelling reason to buy the Huawei U8860 Honor is the large battery.

• Android 2.3 upgradeable to 4.0
• 4-inch WVGA (480 x 854) Super AMOLED display
• 1 GB of internal storage expandable via MicroSD card
• 512 MB of RAM
• 1.4 GHz core processor
• Adreno 205
• Qualcomm MSM8255T chipset
• 8 MP primary camera with a LED flash
• 1.3 MP secondary camera
• 720p video capture
• HSDPA 14.4 Mbps connectivity
• 1930 mAh battery

Cons. Upgrading to Ice Cream Sandwich is difficult. No OTA update of no PC software to guide you through the process.

 

3. HTC One V

• Cash: Php14,000 with an official HTC Warranty.
• Postpaid: No options at present.
  

Pros. You should be pretty familiar with this phones capability. It it basically, a HTC Desire S, in a slimmer case, a better camera but without a front camera sold at the price of a Wildfire S. It comes out of the Box with Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and 25 GB of Dropbox storage for two years. Ice Cream plus the Cloud makes it a true 2012 mid-range device.

• Android 4.0
  
• 3.7-inch WVGA (480 x 800) display
• 4 GB of internal storage (1.1 GB user available) expandable via MicroSD card
• 512 MB of RAM
  
• 1 GHz single core processor
• Adreno 205 graphics
• Qualcomm MSM8255 chipset
  
• 5 MP primary camera with a LED flash
  
• No secondary camera
• 720p video capture
• HSDPA 14.4 Mbps connectivity
• 1500 mAh battery

Cons. The battery is not user replaceable and it does not have a front camera. The Huawei has better specifications for the same money. If the 25 GB of Dropbox storage is not important to you, the Honor looks to be a better choice.

For 14K you get a up to date operating system and decent specifications in a classy aluminum package making it an easy recommendation for those wanting a premium looking handset.

Windows Phones -

Our two Android choice for mid-level phones are not offered on postpaid plans, luckily, on a postpaid plan, there is a pretty interesting Windows Phone 7.5 device.

Nokia Lumia 710

• Cash: None. Smart exclusive for now.
• Postpaid: Php1,450 a month for two years (Special Edition Data Plan 1000 plus Php450 for the phone).
  

Pros. All it all it is a pretty decent phone with a good plan for a total of Php1,450 a month. You get to buy the phone for Php450 payable over 24 installments, for a total of just Php10,800. You do have to subscribe to the Special Edition Data Plan too, but with 500 minutes of calls within the Smart network, 500 SMS to all networks and 1 GB of data I think most people would agree that it is a good value for money plan too.

• Windows 7.5
  
• 3.7-inch WVGA (480 x 800) display
• 8 GB of internal storage non-expandable
• 512 MB of RAM
  
• 1.4 GHz single core processor
• Adreno 205 graphics
• Qualcomm MSM8255 chip set
  
• 5 MP primary camera with a LED flash
  
• No secondary camera
• 720p video capture
• HSDPA 14.4 Mbps connectivity
• 1300 mAh battery

The specifications are pretty similar to the HTC One V actually.

Cons. No front camera.



May 2012 high-end smartphone buyers guide 

May 2012 entry-level smartphone buyers guide