The best phones and tablets available in my opinion – late 2012

With the recent Windows Phone 8 launch and the new Nexus 4 announcement recently, I thought I would do a list of the best phones in my opinion. Usually, I’m not a big fan of Android but this has changed recently…

Smartphones

1. HTC Windows Phone 8X (Windows Phone 8)
2. Nokia Lumia 920 (Windows Phone 8)
3. Google/LG Nexus 4 (Android 4.2)
4. Apple iPhone 5 (iOS 6)
5. Samsung Galaxy S3 LTE (Android 4.X)

I’m a big Microsoft fan and I am really integrated into their ecosystem, so WP8 devices are at the top of the list. The Lumia 920 hasn’t yet been reviewed (though it does support LTE in the UK, unlike the 8X) so it may be better than the 8X, but the 8X seems the best at the moment. After those phones, the Android powered Nexus 4 is next. Yes, really. I usually find Android really fragmented and that it does not work well with Microsoft services such as Outlook.com and SkyDrive (though the pretty rubbish Hotmail app and recently released SkyDrive apps can be used), but the Nexus 4 looks great aside from the fact that there is no LTE. I think that is basically unacceptable in late 2012, but I suppose it won’t make a different here in the UK because LTE is pretty rare – you have to be on EE, have a compatible phone and also pay a lot of money. It is certainly not as widespread as in the USA. Next up in the iPhone 5, mainly because of the impressive hardware (though a bigger screen that isn’t just taller would be nice). I find it to be very light, the camera to be awesome and the selection of apps unbeaten, but iOS is just so stale and boring, rubbish compared to Windows Phone and Android 4.2. Maybe the recent changes in iOS management (mainly a head person being sacked) means it will get better. It’s just a question of whether my ageing iPhone 4 will see the hopefull revamp. Last on my list is the GS3 LTE because, mainly, I love the hardware (the big screen is lovely – Apple, take note!) and it is one of the few phones supporting LTE on EE in the UK, alongside the Lumia 920 and a handful of other phones. What I don’t like is the fragmentation and the many OEM customizations - it will be forever before it gets Android 4.2, and I like stock Android thanks a lot. Other phones are not of interest to me at all.

Large tablets

1. Microsoft Surface RT (Windows RT)
2. Samsung Ativ Smart PC Pro (Windows 8)
3. iPad (4th generation, iOS 6)
4. Google/Samsung Nexus 10 (Android 4.2)

Not as much to say here. I love the Surface because of the awesome hardware (I wish the screen res. was higher though) and the even more awesome Windows RT software, especially with Microsoft Office 2013 preinstalled. If you’re going to get one make sure you get a Touch Cover as it’s pretty useless without it. After that is the Samsung Ativ Smart PC Pro, because I think it’s the best PC replacement available. Next is the iPad 4th generation, the version just announced at the recent Apple event. I don’t really like iOS, and the only reason the iPad is really on here is because of the best and large amount of tablet optimized apps – sure, Android has loads, but many are not optimized for a large, ~10 inch screen. Finally, the Nexus 10. The screen looks amazing (a higher dpi than the iPad!!) but it needs more apps to beat the iPad. Another awesome feature of this tablet is multiple users – though Windows 8 and Windows RT handles multiple users better, this is still a welcome feature.

Smaller tablets

1. Amazon Kindle Fire HD
2. Google Nexus 7
3. iPad mini

I’m quite integrated into Amazon’s ecosystem, so I think the Fire HD is the best 7 inch tablet for me. Next up is the Nexus 7 – the hardware seems great and the app selection is decent. The final one is the iPad mini. The good points of this tablet is the sheer amount of apps available – all iPad optimized apps – and the build quality. Bad points include an unreasonably high price, a low screen resolution (it’s significantly lower than the Fire and the Nexus, even though these tablets are nearly an inch smaller) and the fact that iOS is so very stale.

So those are my favourite phones, tablets and smaller tablets. If I could have all of them, I would.

What are your favourite devices at the moment?

The Nexus 4 – a cheap, awesome Android phone that unfortunately lacks LTE

My favourite phone at the moment.

It’s been a busy week for Microsoft – Surface tablets, Windows Phone 8 and more…

It’s been quite a busy week for Microsoft, with them announcing 2 Surface tablets, Windows Phone 8, Windows Phone 7.8 and some more minor news, such as the Audible app finally being released for Windows Phone.

I’m not going to attempt to cover all the information by myself, so here are links to The Verge‘s relevant articles:

• Microsoft Surface tablets announced
• Windows Phone 8 (for new phones out later this year)
• Windows Phone 7.8 (for current phones)

I recommend watching Windows Weekly 256, which will cover most, if not all, of these topics. Paul Thurrott and Mary Jo Foley discuss the latest Microsoft news each week, and this week will be especially interesting. You will be able to watch it at http://twit.tv/ww.

What do you think of this week’s Microsoft news? Are the Surface tablets an iPad killer? Will their launch hurt sales of Dell’s, Asus’ etc. Windows 8/RT tablets? Will you buy one?