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Large phones in fashion [New Straits Time (Malaysia)](New Straits Time (Malaysia) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) THE bigger the better, so say handphone manufacturers these days. Since Samsung's Galaxy Note became a hit with consumers, oversized smartphones with tablet features are being rolled out at affordable prices. These smartphones not only enable communication but also media consumption and creation with features that are commonly found on ultrabooks and tablets. The industry has labelled these devices phablets (phone and tablet) but the name has not caught on well with consumers. Whatever these devices are called, larger-sized smartphones are here to stay, for now, say industry observers. This week, we bring to you, some of the latest large-screen smartphones. Sony Experia T Ultra Sony Mobile Communications last week introduced the Xperia T Ultra, packed with Sony's imaging and display technologies. Labelled as a mid-range smartphone, it is targeted at emerging markets such as China, the Middle East, Africa and the Asia Pacific rim. The LTE Android smartphone has a large 6-inch HD display which extends to within 2.5 mm of the phone's edges. The phone, no wider than a standard credit card, is 7.6 mm thin and is light - weighing only 123g. The phone might be big but it fits easily into a jacket pocket. Sony addresses the power issue on its big, bright screens by incorporating a battery-efficient processor and a 3000 mAh battery. It also has Sony's Battery STAMINA Mode which automatically turns off functions to save power when you don't need them and restarts them when you do. Xperia T Ultra has a 13 megapixel camera which is loaded with smart features and apps. Users can also share music, photos, videos and movies from Xperia T Ultra with a wide range of NFC-enabled Sony devices, including speakers, SmartWatch, wireless headsets and TVs. Xperia T Ultra Dual Sony is also giving users the option of owning a Xperia T Ultra with dual SIM technology. Both SIM cards can be set up independently with custom ring tones and one-touch switching between SIMs before making calls or sending texts. Both SIM cards can be kept active. Nokia Lumia 1320 The latest large screen from Nokia, the Lumia 1320, has a 6-inch screen. It is said to be the more affordable version of the big- screen Lumia 1520. It has the latest imaging features, like Nokia Camera and Nokia Storyteller, and the global mapping and location services from HERE. The LTE phone supported by Windows 8, has a 5MP camera. For content storage, it can be done on the micro SD card. The phone also supports 7GB free SkyDrive storage. The Nokia Lumia 1320 features a number of high-end Lumia exclusive experiences, including streaming unlimited music for free with Nokia MixRadio without ads or subscription and downloading your favourite playlists for offline enjoyment. For gamers, the smartphone supports the latest games from the Xbox. The Nokia 1320 is available at RM1,199. Lenovo's large screen smartphones Lenovo earlier this month announced four new offerings in this category. Among them is the Vibe Z, Lenovo's first LTE-enabled smartphone. The Android Vibe Z features a 5.5-inch HD display, 2GB of RAM, up to 16GB of internal storage and 13-megapixel rear camera. The Vibe Z is expected to be available in February here for US$549 (about RM1,800). The company also released two phones in its S series - the S930 and the S650. The S930 will be its largest phone with a display measuring 6-inches. However, screen resolution stands only at 720p. It's priced at US$319 (about RM1,051). As for the S650, it has a 4.7-inch screen. Both smartphones will have 8GB internal storage and 8MP cameras. The S650 is priced at about US$229 (RM754). The most affordable among the new releases will be the A859, a 5- inch HD phone. The dual sim card phone has a 8MP rear camera, a front camera and supports 8GB storage. This model is available for US$219 (RM721). (c) 2014 ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved. |