Shopping for a great new mobile phone might be exciting, but it can also be very confusing. There are just so many different mobile devices on the market to choose from, and it’s tough knowing which is the best one to go for. Particularly at the top end of the market, you’re going to be spending a lot of money, at least five hundred pounds or so, so you want to know that your money is being wisely spent. And then so many of use are dependent on our mobiles for either professional or personal reasons that getting a good quality and reliable phone is a must. So how are you supposed to decide on the best option? Mobile phones come with something called a spec sheet, which is basically a list of all the features that a phone has. Technically, you should be able to compare spec sheets for different phones and decide which mobile is the best. However, reading spec sheets is tough, there’s a lot of big numbers and a lot of technical language, so the average shopper can be overwhelmed. And that’s why we’re here to help you. We’ve done the research, read the spec sheets, and matched up some of the hottest and best new mobiles in head to head comparisons so that you can easily tell which model is the best buy. Want to know what we’re recommending today? Then read on to find out more….
Big, Big Names…
We have two of the biggest and best known names on the mobile market today: Apple and Samsung. These two brands have been battling it out for the last couple of years to come out with the biggest and best new devices. Representing Apple we have the brand new iPhone 5S, the new flagship phone from the manufacturer. It’s certainly got higher features than any other iPhone that we’ve seen, but the 5S isn’t cheap. Representing Samsung we have another new release, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3. This is a phablet device, which means that it’s a combination of the functionality of a phone and the large screen size of a tablet. It’s big, and it’s got some big specs to match, but is it enough to outdo the all new iPhone 5S?
Big, Big Prices…
Devices like these just don’t come cheap. If you want iPhone offers for the SIM free hand set then you’re going to be paying five hundred and fifty pounds for the most basic 5S model. This is the 16 GB mobile, and if you want more internal memory than that then you’re going to be paying even more. The 64 GB iPhone 5S for example is going to run you over seven hundred pounds. Not all operators have released contract prices on the iPhone 5S yet, so it’s tough to say which will be the best choice. However, generally the best contract iPhone offers tend to be with O2, so you might want to go to them first. The Samsung Galaxy note 3 is going to run you around six hundred and fifty pounds. And if you’re looking for a contract deal then your best bet is going to be with EE. They’ll give you the Note 3 for zero cash down on a £47 a month contract.
Why the Samsung Galaxy Note 3?
The Samsung model does have a few advantages. As a phablet device it obviously has a larger screen, measuring in at 5.7 inches versus the four inch screen on the iPhone 5S. This means a better viewing experience and that you can read web pages and documents without having to scroll around too much, but it also means that you can type far more easily and comfortably on the on screen keyboard. It is an AMOLED screen too, rather than the older LCD type screen seen on the iPhone, so you get better and more vivid colour reproduction. The processor on the Samsung is a little better, it’s a 1600 MHz device rather than the 1500 MHz processor on the iPhone, so you get a little more speed and power. There’s also more RAM on the Galaxy, so the device is more responsive to input and generally better at multi-tasking or running more than one process at a time. And speaking of multi-tasking, the Samsung is an Android device meaning that you can run multiple apps at the same time, surfing the web whilst talking on Skype, for example, and you can’t do that on an iPhone. Finally, if you’re getting the basic 16 GB iPhone 5S model, then you’ll get more memory on the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, since it’s got a 32 GB internal memory, meaning that you’ll be able to store more music, photos, games and other data on your device without slowing it down too much.
Why the iPhone 5S?
There are a couple of advantages to the iPhone 5S though too. Firstly, the screen has around forty per cent more PPI (pixels per inch), which does make it clearer, crisper and generally better defined than that of the Samsung model. The iPhone is lighter too weighing in at just 112 grams versus the 183 gram Galaxy. That’s not really surprising given the big difference in screen size, though it does mean that the iPhone is more portable and easier to carry around with you. And finally, something that you might want to keep in mind is that an iPhone has far more apps and games available than an Android. The iPhone App Store has around thirty per cent more apps available for downloading than the Android App Market has.
Which is Better?
Unless you opt for extra internal memory, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is going to be more expensive. However, we think that it’s worth paying for. The bigger screen, faster processor and more RAM just mean that it’s a better device and therefore better value for money. The iPhone 5S is nice, but the Galaxy wins this round.
The best iPhone offers were something that Phil Turner wanted to consider. He did a quick comparison on sites like uSwitch and found what he needed in seconds.
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