Not all smart phones are created equally. In finding the best value for the cost, it pays to first determine what you want out of your phone. How important are looks, storage capacity, memory and camera functions? These are some of the items to consider when shopping around and comparing different brands and models. Here are a few of the more popular phones for comparison.
Nexus 4
The Nexus 4 has received great reviews from users gaining 4.5 out of 5 possible stars. It not only has some of the best specifications, the price is unbelievably affordable. This smart phone comes with a choice of Android OS including 4.4.4, 4.4.3, 4.4, 4.3, 4.3.3, 4.2.1 and 4.2. The Nexus 4 weighs in at 4.90 oz. Easy to carry, it measures 5.27 x 2.70x 0.36 inches. The glass body design makes it feel a bit slippery for some users, but its appearance is sleek and elegant. The Nexus 4 is one of the most elegant and beautiful looking smart phones on the market.
The display is 4.7 in. with 768 x 1280 pixels and 318 ppi pixel density. IPS LCD combined with these features give the screen a sharp and clear display. The multitouch touch screen, scratch resistant glass, light and proximity sensors.
The camera features 8 megapixels. Other features include face and smile detection, auto focus and ISO control. Digital zoon, panorama and voice activation are also nifty features. The camcorder operates with 1920×1080 (1080p HD) (30 fps). The forward facing camera comes in at 1.3 megapixels and features video calling.
Hardware includes a system chip containing Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro APQ8064. A quad core 1500 MHz Krait processor, Adreno 320 graphics processor, 2048 MB ram and 16 GB built in storage.
The battery time averages 12 hours with a 2100mAh capacity. Nexus 4 features built in wireless charging, Bluetooth connectivity and mobile hotspot connectivity. USB 2.0 with micro USB connector features mass storage device and USB charging with HDMI connection via micro USB. The price range averages between $199 with a contract and $299 without.
Samsung Galaxy S4 Value Edition
Samsung’s design features the Android 4.4.2 OS with a weight of 4.59 oz which is a bit lighter than the Nexus 4. The 5.38 x 2.75 x 0.31 inch size phone boasts a 5 inch display with 1080 x 1920 pixels and a whopping 4.41 ppi. Super AMOLED multitouch screen with light and proximity sensors give the S4 Value edition a slight edge over the Nexus 4. The camera features 13 megapixels, auto focus, face detection, HDR mode and panorama. The camcorder weighs in with 1920×1080 (1080p HD) (30 fps) and 2 megapixels for the front facing camera.$579 without.
The system chip features Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 with a quad core processor and graphics processor of 1900 MHz, 2048 MB of ram and 32 GB of built in storage, expandable up to 64 GB via micro SD/SDHC/SDXC. The battery features 17 hours of talk time with 2600 mAh capacity. Bluetooth and WiFi hotspot connectivity, voice commands and other features are also included. The average price for this phone is $199 with a contract
HTC One Mini
The HTC One Mini is a smart phone that features Android (4.4, 4.2.2) Sense UI OS. The dimensions are 5.20 x 2.49 x 0.36 inches and it weighs in at just 4.30 oz, being the most lightweight in this review. The body is made of aluminum with an overall screen size of 4.3 inches. The display features 720 x 1280 pixels with 341 ppi. S-LCD 3 technology multi touch screen which features proximity and light sensor.
The camera has limited features such as autofocus and a back illuminated sensor. It features 4 megapixels and camcorder with 1920×1080 (1080p HD). It also includes 1.6 megapixels for the front facing camera.
The system chip includes Qualcomm Snapdragon 400, Dual core 1400 MHz processor, Adreno 305 graphics processor and 1024 MB RAM with 16 GB built in storage. The battery features 12.27 hours of talk time with an 1800 mAh capacity. The prices for this phone range from $215 refurbished and $326 new. There is a wide variation in pricing for the various plans offered, which often require $589 upfront.
Conclusion
The Nexus 4 is a popular model that received high marks for elegance, design, functionality and price. The downside which users thought could be improved is the quality of the camera which is not quite up to par with other comparable smart phones. In addition to this, the lack of expandable memory or flash internet, were also negatives. The Samsung Galaxy 4 Value Edition is not as elegant in appearance but definitely outshines the Nexus 4 and HTC Mini One in terms of camera graphics, Built in storage and RAM. The HTC Mini One is a bit expensive when purchased with a plan, and the smaller screen, storage and lack of features make is less of a value for the cost. The Nexus 4 is hands down, the most affordable, but when comparing features with cost, the Samsung Galaxy S4 Value Edition is the most highly functional phone, and when purchased with a contract is also affordable.
