It has been Android’s year so far — with new phones being launched almost every week, there are just too many options. Here are our Android recommendations that would suit you best:
Motorola Flipout
Price: Rs 15,990
With a 2.8-inch capacitive touchscreen and Qwerty physical keyboard that swivels out, lending the phone its name, the Motorola Flipout has a form factor that makes it a clear winner among women professionals. It runs on Android 2.1 and comes with MotoBlur (company-designed user interface) that integrates social network contacts. The 3-megapixel camera features the Kodak ‘Perfect Touch’, which automatically optimises the brightness and contrast of pictures.
If being compact is Flipouts’ USP, we have to say it felt really odd when held in the palm. The keyboard is definitely its best feature. Being able to switch between the actual Qwerty pad and an on-screen one is nice, but the obvious drawback is that the virtual keyboard takes up a good percentage of the display area.
So far as tech specs are concerned, the Flipout gives you 802.11 b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth, a 3.5mm headphones jack, GPS and 3G. There is also an accelerometer, swappable 2GB microSD card, besides ambient light and proximity sensors. The battery lasts about five hours of talk time. If you are someone tickled with freebies, you can enjoy Lakme Salon services worth up to Rs 1,000 on purchase of every Motorola Flipout.
Verdict
It does everything you would expect, but the form factor doesn’t feel right. The keypad is great. If you like to flaunt, this Android device is your the right buy for you.
More From This Section
Sony Ericsson X10 Mini Pro
Price: Rs 15,000
Sony Ericsson makes a valiant attempt in the Android marketplace with the X10 Mini Pro and the company is not pulling a fast one when it claims it is the same size as a credit card. It is a lot thicker but the overall size of this Android phone is tiny. The Xperia X10 Mini Pro incorporates the signature application, Sony Ericsson Timescape, which brings all communication together at one place. So, users can see text messages, missed calls, and Facebook and Twitter updates at a glance, without having to open different applications. Even at 90x52x17mm, the Mini Pro’s Qwerty layout is excellent. Although the rows of letters aren’t quite symmetrical as they are on a BlackBerry, the inclusion of dedicated comma and period keys are welcome as are the left and right cursors for rapidly adjusting text. The Xperia X10 Mini Pro runs the antiquated Android 1.6, which is one of the biggest letdowns of the device (OS update coming soon). It is a delight to use the 5-megapixel camera with LED flash on the Mini Pro, but to watch videos on a 2.55-inch screen can be a tad disappointing experience.
Verdict
If you’re looking for something tiny that will slide into your pocket, Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini Pro has got to be on your list.
LG Optimus GT540
Price: Rs 12,990 (approx)
This is LG’s entry-level shot at giving an Android-based smartphone. But the Optimus operates on Android 1.6 and seems dated when compared to other offerings in the segment (the OS can be upgraded to 2.1 version). The GT540 is powered by a Qualcomm processor running at 600MHz, which is a little off the premium Android phones that use faster 1GHz Snapdragon processors. Yet, the Optimus stands up fine for multitasking. There’s a rather limited, 130MB, of memory for storing apps and files, but you can beef this up by using microSD cards of up to 32GB. The touchscreen, while responsive enough, is still not as slick as the capacitive variety. What’s immediately noticeable about the LG Optimus is the sharpness of the 3-inch display screen. There are two music player apps pre-loaded on the LG Optimus — a standard Android music player and a Media Player app. A 3.5mm jack means you can use any kind of headgear.
Verdict
LG Optimus GT540 is a beginner’s device.
Samsung Galaxy 3 (I5801)
Price: Rs 12,300
Samsung Galaxy 3 (I5801) is one of the most affordable Android phones. It runs the Android 2.1 version and is powered by a 667 MHz processor, which is not too powerful, but enough to let you work flawlessly with 3G applications. It also features a medium-sized 3.2-inch TFT capacitive touchscreen and is among the few Android-powered smartphones with support for DivX/XviD video right out of the box. There are no hiccups in playing a 356 MB divX file and audio through the speakers and headset seem excellent. To top it all, there’s a 3.2-megapixel camera, as well as support for WiFi 802.11n, Bluetooth 3 and HSDPA. With pinch-to-zoom built in, browsing on the Galaxy 3 is smooth and quick. If you don’t feel like typing, you don’t have to, as it provides a voice search. But what we really loved in the Galaxy 3 is the ThinkFree Office which is a free document viewer and editor. So, for the money you pay, the mobile phone becomes your free document editor.
Verdict
The Galaxy 3 has almost all the features one desires in a smartphone. It’s one of the best-buy deals for first-time smartphone users.