This Motion Sense technology will be appearing on the Verizon-exclusive smartphone Pantech Perception, this device also including several specifications that push it to the top tier smartphone category. The Pantech Perception includes a 4.8-inch touchscreen with HD Super AMOLED technology, its back features an 8 megapixel camera, and its front uses a 2 megapixel camera. Pantech will be delivering this device with a 16GB bit of internal storage as well.

The 3D sensor technology Motion Sense will allow users to wave their hand over the phone without touching it to activate several features. When the Pantech Perception rings for a phone call, the user will be able to wave their hand over the face (without touching it) to answer said call. Users will also be able to scroll through songs in the smartphone’s basic music app, look through photos, or move through contacts with this new technology.

The Pantech Perception will not be delivered with the most recent version of Google’s mobile operating system Android Jelly Bean. Instead the Perception will be delivered with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich with a guarantee from Verizon that it will be upgraded to Jelly Bean “soon”. So says Verizon Wireless representative Albert Aydin along with a note on how this device will be sold for 99 dollars and 99 cents just so long as users agree to 2-year mobile contract and send in a 50 dollar mail-in rebate.

This effort will be appearing in the USA this month, starting no earlier than the 25th day of the month. Have a peek at SlashGear’s Pantech tag portal for more information on what this manufacturer is doing to come in full force to the North American mobile device market with smartphones galore.

This device measures in at 4.96 x 2.53 x 0.48in and weighs in at just 4.94 oz. While this smartphone is not going to be taking on the top tier smartphone line any time soon with its specifications one by one, you’ll still have some excellent oddities to keep you unique. One of these is the MetroPCS joyn app that’ll enable for you some new-age instant messaging as well as photo and video sharing with your other smartphone-carrying friends.

This device is an officially Google licensed smartphone, this meaning you’ve got full access to the Google Play app store, and you’ll be rolling out with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. The display on this machine is indeed 4-inches large with a 480 x 800 pixel resolution covered by a hard pane of Gorilla Glass. Inside you’ve got a 1650 mAh battery quoted at 4 hours of talk time and 160 hours of standby.

Also inside you’ve got 2GB of internal memory and a microSD card slot able to be stacked with 32GB of additional storage space. On the back you’ve got a 5 megapixel camera and the whole package will be coming to your local MetroPCS very, very soon. Expect this device within the next week – if it’s not already in the store you frequent right now!

This device will not be delivered with the newest version of Android, nor will it be winning any “best of 2013″ awards – not a chance. What it will do is deliver to two networks a unique Android experience otherwise reserved for much higher-end devices. Both Net10 and Straight Talk will be getting the Galaxy Discover this year for their own limited mobile networks.

This device will be working with a tiny 2.7GB internal memory and a microSD card slot that’ll support up to 32GB cards – time to expand. Inside you’ll find a removable 1300mAh battery that, with a display this small, will without a doubt be giving you at least a full day’s charge. This smartphone also comes with a 3 megapixel camera on its back, wi-fi connectivity, Bluetooth, and GPS.

Also interesting is the styling this machine is working with – rather Galaxy S III or Galaxy Note-like. With the Galaxy Discover you certainly will be getting a tiny relative of the higher-end lineup. This device does not yet have a final release date or a price, but you can bet it’ll be soon – and for cheap!

[via Samsung; via Sammy Hub]

With the BLU Quattro 4.5 HD you’ll be working with a 4.5-inch HD 326PPI display with what the company calls Advanced Super View technology. This technology is said to bring “spectacular clarity” as well as “rich, natural color” – can’t wait to see it! The Quattro 4.5 HD also has a pane of Corning Gorilla Glass up front to stay tough against scratches and you’ll have an 8 megapixel camera on the back with f/2.4 large aperture lens with 1080p video recording abilities.

Inside the Quattro HD you’ll have 16GB of internal memory as well as 1GB of RAM while your NVIDIA Tegra 3 SoC will be running at 1.5GHz out of the box. This device will be availabe the first week of February, 2013, complete with a $349.99 retail price unlocked. That, again, means no contractual obligations – you’ll be working with quad-band GSM and penta-band 21Mbps HSPA+ connectivity – 1700MHz AWS inside the USA – so you’ll be choosing from brands like AT&T and T-Mobile for your mobile SIM card down the line.

There’s also a Quattro 4.5 (without the HD) coming in at $249.99 USD, also unlocked, here with a 4.5-inch qHD display and a 5 megapixel camera on the back as well as 4GB of internal memory. You’ll be able to expand this device’s memory by 32GB with your own microSD card, on the other hand, while you’ll be jumping off with 1GB of RAM and a launch date essentially the same time as the HD iteration.

Finally there’s the Quattro 5.7 HD, a device with a massive 5.7-inch 1280 x 720 pixel resolution HD display and many of the same specifications as the Quattro 4.5 HD. This Quattro 5.7 HD also works with an 8 megapixel camera and video recording abilities up to 1080p, but you’ll have the same 4GB internal memory as the non-HD Quattro 4.5 – but again here you’ll also have a microSD card slot for memory expansion up to 32GB. The Quattro 5.7 HD will be costing you $299.99 retail unlocked and will be available at the end of March.

Each model sounds pretty enticing! You may find the fact that they’ll all be coming with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich to be less than appealing, but they also include a “planned upgrade to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean as well. We shall see the truth of all of this soon enough! Don’t forget to check out our NVIDIA Tegra hub for more information on the grand expanse of the Tegra mobile processor universe – it’s ever-expanding!

[via HPC Wire]

This video shows Chou showing the device off in a silver edition as well as a white edition, each of these devices appearing to be smaller than the previously rumored 4.7-inches (display-wise). This device will likely make its appearance at the February 19th event along with the other two HTC One devices leaked today. Each of these machines will take the place of the HTC One lineup showed off for the first time last year at Mobile World Congress 2012.

The other two devices that’ve been leaked today come from @evleaks at Unwired View, the first of them being the HTC M4. This device will be appearing with a 4.3-inch display that’s 720p resolution with a 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor under the hood. That seems awfully similar to what we saw last year with the HTC One S, mind you, this time coming with 2GB of RAM, a 13 megapixel camera on the back with f/2.0 and 1080p video recording abilities, and a 1.6 megapixel camera on the front. Inside you’ll find a 1700mAh battery and Android Jelly Bean.

On the low end of this spectrum comes the HTC G2, this machine bringing in a 1.0GHz ARM cortex processor (single core) with a 3.5-inch HVGA display. This device is clearly meant to take on the inexpensive side the the market with 4GB of internal storage, microSD card slot, rear camera at 5 megapixels, 512MB of RAM, and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. This HTC G2 will likely take on the name HTC One G2 to differentiate between itself and the original G2 from a couple of years ago.

Sound like an exciting lineup to you? Stick around our HTC tag portal and our tag for Mobile World Congress 2013 to make sure you’re on top as it all comes down!

[via Engadget; via cnYES]

You’ll be able to pick this Red model up from a variety of retailers, his limited edition version of the tablet limited in its timeframe only, not its retailer shelf space. This tablet builds on the success of the original big-name Galaxy Tab from several years ago, it having been the original Android tablet for the greater bulk of the world. Here we’ve got a 7-inch display with the newest version (nearly) of Google’s mobile operating system with TFT LCD technology in the screen to keep things bright and sharp.

Inside you’ve got Bluetooth 3.0, wi-fi connectivity, and USB 2.0 host abilities as well. You can turn this machine into your full home entertainment controller with its built-in IR blaster (that’s infra-red) with connectivity to essentially any modern television or stereo system you’ve got on-hand. The whole tablet weighs in at just 0.76 lbs and is small enough to toss in your backpack or purse for on-the-go action.

Above: The original Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 came with a black/gray casing and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. This new Garnet Red edition comes with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean right out of the box!

This tablet has been reviewed by SlashGear in its original black casing as well as given the hands-on treatment in its Verizon 4G LTE iteration, it coming here with essentially the same build but upgraded (right out of the box) to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. For more information on that software, have a peek at our original Android Jelly Bean review, and continue looking toward the future in our massive Android hub, too! Will you be picking up this fabulous Garnet Red edition of the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0, especially since it comes with a matching Garnet Red case for no extra rack on your wallet?

Luckily enough, SamMobile’s picture is accompanied by a number of details on the phone. We’re hearing that the Galaxy Pocket Plus will come equipped with a Broadcom BCM21654 processor clocked at 850Mhz, a 1,200mAh battery, Bluetooth 3.0, and a 2MP camera. If you’re taking a look at that picture and think the screen looks small, you’re right on the money – that QVGA TFT display is only 2.8-inches in size.

We probably shouldn’t be surprised by that, considering that Samsung has opted to include the word “Pocket” in the phone’s name. Rest assured, this is probably going to be one tiny phone, so those who struggle with larger screens might find some value in this handset. This phone will reportedly be running Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich behind a downgraded version of Samsung’s TouchWiz interface.

The latest rumors say that Samsung is planning a European launch for this lil’ guy in the first half of 2013, so it’s a distinct possibility that we’ll see it at MWC 2013 in Barcelona next month. Assuming Samsung is indeed shooting for a first half of 2013 launch for the device, it makes sense that Samsung would want to show it off at Mobile World Congress, which is where the device will have the best chance of getting some press attention. We’ll be right there at MWC 2013 reporting live, so keep it tuned here to SlashGear for more.

We saw and got our hands on the original version of this 7.68 x 4.92 x 0.47 inch, 14.11 oz machine back in August of 2012. Back then our impressions were that Lenovo was taking on the Google Nexus 7, though not exactly directly due to the underpowered nature of the slate. Though the form factor had us impressed, what with its soft-touch rear cover and its friendly size and shape, the innards did not make for a perfectly pleasant software experience.

Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich is also a bit of a surprise as the bulk of the Android universe is now releasing devices with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean or higher with new hardware across the board. We’ll expect some software updates rather rapidly after the release, but won’t be betting too much cash on that possibility. Lenovo’s Android experience is unique one way or the other though, bringing widgets and cloud connections galore to the game. You’ll be able to pick up the Lenovo IdeaTab A2107 from AT&T for $199.99 with a two-year contract starting right this minute (if not very, very soon).

Have a peek at our Lenovo IdeaTab A2109 review from this past October to see how the software experience treats you. Then head down the Lenovo rabbit hole to see everything you may have missed from this hardware-heavy company over the past week at CES 2013!

Under the hood of this machine you’ve got dual-core Qualcomm MSM8960 Snapdragon S4 processor, that being the same processor you’ll find in a surprisingly large number of phones (and some tablets!) over the past several months. You’ve got the ability to use NFC to beam URLs and contacts (and other fun stuff) from the Pantech Discover to any other Android device working with the technology as well.

This machine’s main point is to bring you a rather powerful presentation at an extremely low price point. Whether or not you want a smartphone now, with a $50 phone you’ll have a bit more difficult time saying no – or that’s AT&T and Pantech’s intent, anyway. This device does not work with the most recent version of Android, nor does it stagger the masses with highest-level specs in all areas, but the target audience isn’t those that need the best of the best, it’s those that want a fabulous Android phone for $50 USD.

Have a peek at our hands-on video above as well as our hands-on photos above and below to get a hang of this machine before it hits stores rather rapidly. Also be sure to stick around our CES portal all week long for more fun from all angles!

The front of this machine is a 4.8-inch 720p TFT display below a 2 megapixel front-facing camera, inside you’ve got dual 3D surround sound, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, and 16GB of internal memory with a microSD card slot for expansion up to 32GB more. The Pantech Discover works with a lovely 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm MSM8960 Snapdragon S4 Pro (though this configuration has been known for its quad-core action), and you get both NFC and DLNA wireless connectivity.

Inside you’ve got GSM and EDGE as well as HSPA+ and LTE connectivity so we’ll more than likely see this device internationally in some form or another. You’ll be working with 4.76 ounces of smartphone across a 134.2 x 68.6 x 9.1mm (5.3 x 2.7 x 0.36 inches) amalgamation of plastic, metal, and glass, and you get Bluetooth 4.0 as well as GPS (of course).

We’ll be having a hands-on peek at this machine later today at Pantech’s presentation as such, so stick around our Pantech tag portal to see it up close and personal. Also be sure to check in at our CES portal all week long for up to the minute updates as well as hands-on opportunities galore! The timeline you see below shows several of Pantech’s latest moves that’ve lead them straight to this device in time and space.

This machine will cost you a cool $349.99 with no contract involved and will be rocking out with a 4.3-inch Super LCD-2 display up front and a lovely red back – we must imagine that this device will come in more than one color in the end, but for now, red is more than a beast! You’ll be working with a microSD card slot, NFC capabilities, and a 1.6 megapixel camera on the back.

The camera is, like the rest of the HTC One family, ever so slightly enhanced over the commoners of the smartphone universe. This device’s front facing camera has backside illumination as well as an f/2.2 lens, while the back-facing camera also has backside illumination with an f/2.0 lens. You’ve also got the ability to record up to 1080p video with the backside camera.

Inside you’ll be working with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich with Sense 4.0 over the top. This machine will be offered up by Cricket Wireless with its 4G LTE network, this not exactly being the most extensive network in the United States at the moment, but growing steadily nonetheless! You’ll find that every data plan you get with this machine comes with unlimited messaging and unlimited voice, staples in our forward-looking mobile universe.

The tablet has decent hardware with a 1GHz Cortex A8 and 512MB of RAM. There’s 802.11 b/g/n connectivity, a 2MP rear camera, and 8GB of internal storage space, with an SD card expansion slot. The 7-inch display has a resolution of 800 x 480, and supports multi-touch. The PTAB750 runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, and comes pre-loaded with more than 35 full-version apps. It’s priced at $149.99.

The pre-loaded apps include Music Studio, Draw, Kids Cam, and Kids Vids, the last of which is said to help children stream filtered, kid-friendly videos. In addition, apps are filtered via Free Play, which displays only applications that are appropriate for children. In terms of its durability, the PTAB750 has bumpers along its edges to help keep it safe from drops and bumps. Parental controls are integrated, allowing parents or teachers to control what their child can and cannot do.

Polaroid’s President and CEO Scott W. Hardy offered this statement. “Throughout our 75 year history, we’ve been known for creating innovative and easy-to-use products that are fun for all ages. The kids tablet is no exception. It epitomizes the Polaroid brand personality and brings together a host of features that will delight kids and parents alike.” The kid-friendly tablet was named a CES Innovations 2013 Design and Engineering Awards Honoree.

[via Android Community]

Oddly it would appear that this device did not warrant much more than a silent ushering in to the store as HTC focuses its energies on the much more high-class HTC One X+ and it’s Verizon-bound DROID DNA. Here with the HTC One VX you’ve got a 5 megapixel camera, less than the standard 8 megapixels the top-tier expects, but inside you’ve still got the HTC One ImageSense chip that makes for next-level image processing completely aside from the Qualcomm processor’s built-in image savvy.

Inside you’ve got 1GB of RAM and a microSD card slot for memory expansion – good because this machine only comes with 8GB built-in storage. You’ll be working with the AT&T 4G LTE data network, there’s a VGA camera up front, and there’s an 1800 mAh battery inside as well. This device cis able to connect with Bluetooth 4.0 and DLNA as well as Wi-fi and weighs in at 4.37 oz – light!

This device is also available internationally, but has just hit the USA via AT&T this week. Have a peek at the device at your local AT&T retail location and let us know if you plan on picking it up!

The HTC One X+ will be running you $199.99 with a two-year agreement right out the gate while the VX will be popping up for just $49.99 with a two-year agreement. This provides you with the biggest and the smallest, the slightly more costly and the extremely affordable, both of them bringing AT&T 4G LTE and HTC’s own Sense user interface. See our AT&T HTC One X AT&T full review right this minute – and our original HTC One X international edition review as well!

The HTC One VX comes with a 9.19 mm thin body and a 4.5-inch qHD display covered with Corning Gorilla Glass. The back of this device has a 5 megapixel camera able to capture 1080p video backed up with HTC’s own ImageSense processor – a separate processor entirely from the Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor under the hood. THis device also has Adreno 305 graphics, a 0.3 megapixel camera on the front, and a microSD card slot for memory expansion. Built-in storage for this device is 8 GB and you get 1GB of RAM to run the beast.

The HTC One X+ is an upgraded version of the original HTC One X for AT&T, this time coming with the processor that it had in its original international form: the NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core SoC with 4-PLUS-1 technology. This device bears the bragging rights for being the first to market with the combination of the Tegra 3 and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean – the Tegra 3 here being clocked at a massive 1.7GHz per core.

This device has a 4.7-inch 720p HD display and works with an 8 megapixel camera with the same HTC ImageSense chip that the whole of the HTC One series has brought to the market. This device comes in one iteration, bringing with it a massive 64GB of internal memory that, as AT&T puts it, “is non-partitioned to store more high quality photos, video, music, movies and apps however the user wants.”

Expect more HTC action as we hit up the HTC event tomorrow in New York City as well – seeya there bright and early right here on SlashGear!

Having reviewed the original HTC One S earlier this year as well as the HTC One S T-Mobile edition later on, we can say that this machine is just about as awesome as it gets for Android. T-Mobile’s price point is absolutely crazy considering the quality of the hardware, and as our original judgement of the HTC One S stands, this version only brings our recommendation to check it out right back up to the top. The only difference between earlier this year and now is the collection of devices that’ve been released since, and it is that which you’ll need to consider in possibly picking this unit up from your local carrier.

The insides of this device appear to be exactly the same as the original. So similar, in fact, that every benchmark we’ve tested has come in line precisely with the original device. This means, of course, that the only changes that have been made have been in the software – and the original edition’s software updates bring that device up to par with this one just the same. Instead it’s all about that main bulk of metal on the back of this device – cured with Micro Arc Oxidation. Have a peek at this video of our mini-tour of the process as it was displayed at CTIA earlier this year:

Next feel free to see the fire in HTC’s own showing on how the process takes place. This process creates a unique surface on the device, making it more durable than your average device. Don’t expect to be able to cut it with a knife and come away unscathed, but still – it’s pretty hardcore.

Have a peek at the timeline below to see our other hands-on experiences with the HTC One series over the past few months and don’t forget to consider it amongst the rest of the top-tier choices at T-Mobile this Autumn. It’s got the same Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor in it as the Samsung Galaxy S III and Android 4.0.4 right out of the box – that’s Ice Cream Sandwich.

Hardware

It’s strange, the mentality one quickly falls into when it comes to budget handsets. The expectation with inexpensive phones is that they aren’t going to be anything to write home about from both a cosmetic and a hardware perspective. It would be shady of me not to mention that I wasn’t expecting much when I learned I was getting the Optimus L9 in to review – I expected another cheap handset that didn’t perform very well and left me wanting when it came to looks.

Image my surprise, then, when I opened up the box and was greeted by a phone that’s actually pretty sexy. The Optimus L9 certainly has a lot going for it in the looks department – not only is it a sleek device with its black chassis and silver trim, but it’s thin and lightweight to boot. At just 0.36-inches thick, it definitely isn’t the slimmest smartphone we’ve seen, but it’s thin enough. The phone also weighs in a just a hair over 4.4 ounces, and it feels very light in the hand. I was surprised when I was picked it up for the first time, and immediately grabbed my girlfriend’s iPhone 4S and my Atrix HD to compare. The Atrix HD and the iPhone 4S both come in right around 4.8 ounces, and though that isn’t much more than the Optimus L9, the difference in weight in certainly noticeable.

Typically a lightweight and thin design would lend to a fragile feeling, but not with the Optimus L9. It feels like a well-constructed device, and though I’m not willing to begin hurling it across the room, it does feel like it can take a bump or two. There’s also Gorilla Glass 2 covering the display, so it should stand up pretty well against scratches.

Speaking of the display, you’ll be working with a 4.5-inch IPS LCD display that’s running at qHD resolution. That means 960×540, so no, you don’t have an HD display to boast about. That’s okay though, because the display on the Optimus L9 is still colorful, sharp, and surprisingly bright. Before I began my battery test (more on that later), I went to turn the display down to 50% brightness, only to discover it was already there. Cranking it up to 100% results in a display that’s very bright, so 50% should be sufficient for most and serves to conserve battery life at the same time.

Underneath the screen are a set of soft buttons – a back button and a menu button – with a physical home button placed in between them. I’m a sucker for physical buttons, and I think that the home button helps make the Optimus L9 look even better. On the top of the device, there’s a 3.5mm headphone jack, with the power button on the right side and the volume button on the left. On the bottom is where you’ll find the micro USB port. On the back is where the speaker and camera have taken up residence, while the microSD slot has been tucked away behind the removable backing. It isn’t the most convenient place for it, but hey, at least LG included one.

On the inside, we’ve got a dual-core Texas Instruments OMAP 4430 processor clocked a 1GHz. That’s working alongside 1GB of RAM, and while that may not sound like much power, it’s actually enough to keep the Optimus L9 running smooth. Swiping through home screens and the apps menu is fluid and lag-free, so you probably won’t notice the fact that your Optimus L9 is using aging hardware all that often. Sadly, there’s only a rather pitiful 4GB of storage, which in reality is about 1.6GB after the pre-installed apps and operating system are accounted for. In other words, you might want to buy a microSD card alongside your Optimus L9, as it won’t be long before you run out storage.

Software

Starting right off with the operating system, the Optimus L9 is running Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box, so I suppose it was a bit too much to hope for an Android 4.1 install. In any case, Ice Cream Sandwich functions well enough, though it’s covered up by LG’s own interface. Thankfully, that custom interface doesn’t seem to slow anything down, and I actually like the look of it, so I see no need to complain.

T-Mobile, naturally, has included plenty of pre-installed software, and you’re probably not going to use most of what comes pre-installed. You’ve got things like WildTangent Games, Lookout Security, More for Me, Slacker Radio, and T-Mobile TV alongside Google’s typical suite of apps, and T-Mobile has packed the home screens full of widgets and shortcuts, so you’ll definitely want to do some rearranging once you get your Optimus L9 out of the box. Sadly, you can’t delete most of the apps that come pre-installed, so allow me to take this moment to stress once again that you’ll want a microSD card.

Keyboards on mobile phones are typically a crapshoot, but I’m pleased to say that the one on the Optimus L9 works pretty well when you’re using it in landscape mode. Portrait mode will likely be another issue, and the smaller amount of space will probably lead to more typos. T-Mobile and LG have also included their own version of gesture typing, and while it works, I think I’d rather stick with just punching in each letter individually. That’s because the word that was selected for me usually wasn’t the word I had just attempted to type, but it’s worth pointing out that the word I was shooting for was in the list of words that the system suggested for me most of the time.

The Optimus L9 also features gesture zooming, which is pulled off by sliding the browser menu up while you’re looking at a webpage, holding down to the zoom button, and then tilting the phone to zoom in and zoom out. Like gesture typing, it works, but I feel like you’ll have more accuracy if you’re just doing pinch-to-zoom instead. They’re neat little features, don’t get me wrong, but I think regular typing and pinch-to-zoom will suffice for most folks.

Battery

The Optimus L9 comes packing a relatively beefy 2,150mAh battery, and the phone seems to do a good job rationing out its power. It took quite a bit of game playing and video watching to get the battery to dip down below 50%, and even with the screen brightness at 50% (remember, I said earlier that 50% brightness is still quite bright) and Wi-Fi connected all the time, the battery still didn’t drain as quickly as I was expecting it to.

Leaving it connected to the Internet – be it T-Mobile’s mobile data network or my own Wi-Fi connection – while the phone was asleep didn’t do much to drain the battery either. You won’t have a problem getting a full day of use out of a full charge, and if you’re not the type who’s on their phone constantly, you might even have enough juice left over to make it through a second day.

It’s also worth pointing out that the battery is indeed removable, which should be a big win for some folks. As far as I’m concerned, the battery that comes packed in the Optimus L9 is good enough, but if, like all batteries, it begins to have issues holding a charge as time goes on, you’ll be able to swap it out for a new one.

Camera

The Optimus L9 features a rear-facing 5-megapixel camera and a front-facing 1.3-megapixel shooter. The 1.3-megapixel camera will obviously only do for video chatting, but the 5MP rear camera is decent for taking pictures. As with most 5-megapixel cameras, the images aren’t the best, and I’d suggest using an actual camera for taking photos as opposed to the camera on the L9.

The L9’s camera also features a panoramic mode, and while that’s pretty cool, again the quality of the images isn’t any to write home about. Have a look at the sample shots I took to get an idea of what I’m talking about.

Benchmarks

In our benchmark tests, the Optimus L9 performed okay, but as you can imagine, there are plenty of other devices that rank higher. In Quadrant, it was given a score of 3035, which is enough to put it ahead of the Samsung Galaxy Tab, the Galaxy Nexus, and the Nexus S. In AnTuTu it’s more of the same, coming in just below the Samsung Galaxy S II but above the LG Optimus 2X and the original Kindle Fire with a score of 5648.

As far as speed tests are concerned, T-Mobile’s network did decent. It obviously isn’t the fastest around, and your results will vary, but for where I’m at in the world (mid-Michigan), T-Mobile’s network posted some good speeds.

Of course, we knew from the start that the Optimus L9 wasn’t going to be the best handset on the block and that T-Mobile’s network wasn’t going to be fastest around. The Optimus L9 performed within expectations though, so don’t let these seemingly low benchmark scores dissuade you if you’re in the market for a budget handset – the Optimus L9 runs smooth enough, and that’s all that should really matter.

Wrap-Up

What can I say? For a budget handset, the LG Optimus L9 impresses. In no way is the phone the best, but its sleek design, nice screen, and the fact that it runs so smooth with have you thinking otherwise. Be sure that you consider the options before you pick one up, however, because while the Optimus L9 is good enough to be worthy of a recommendation here in 2012, its aging hardware means that probably won’t be the case when you enter the final part of your two-year contract in 2014.

Still, for $80 on contract, the Optimus L9 certainly isn’t a bad phone. It’s perfect for budget-minded consumers who don’t need the very best, but instead just want a phone that runs well and looks good. It’s not likely to win awards in either category, but it gets the job done, and that’s all you can really want in a phone that only costs $80.

In fact, I would go so far as to say that the Optimus L9 is one of the best budget handsets on the market at this moment. If you’ve been thinking of picking up a new phone but don’t have hundreds to drop on the latest and greatest, be sure you take a look at the Optimus L9, as you really are getting a lot of bang for your buck.

Hardware

The 10.1-inch display on this device has 1920 x 1200 pixels and a 16:10 aspect ratio. The tablet is 8.8mm thin and weighs 580g – that’s just a bit heavier than it it seems like it should be given the aesthetics of the device. This just means that the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1, which is 20g heavier than the MediaPad, seems light simply because it’s got plastic on the outside, giant-looking speakers on the front, and a pen built-in. The MediaPad 10 FHD on the other hand does too good a job of hiding it all – but the speakers can certainly be heard loud and clear.

The speakers on this device are nice – Dolby Surround Sound back them up and you do indeed get some impressive blasts when you hold the device the right way or have it propped up with a stand or up against a wall. What I mean is that, like the rest of the past generation of tablets out there, the speakers on this unit are facing the back. Even though we would like them to face the front, they still sound nicer than the vast majority of the smart devices out there – and that includes smartphones.

Above: Huawei MediaPad 10 FHD pictured with its release buddy, the Huawei Ascend D1 quad XL

This device is available in 8, 16, or 32GB internal memory configurations – there’s no microSD slot, so choose wisely on that internal number right out of the box. The battery is 6600 mAh large, you’ll be connecting to the device for charging with a unique port at the bottom. The bottom of this tablet also shows a couple of ports that allow for the keyboard accessory which – sadly – we have not worked with at this time.

The display on this device is relatively sharp at 1920 x 1200 pixels, that placing the pixel density at 224 PPI, well below the iPad 4th gen’s 263.92 PPI and in a different league compared to the Google Nexus 10 which has 300 PPI. If you’ve seen neither of these tablets up close and personal before, you’ll find the MediaTab FHD to be rather bright and sharp.

The tablet is not unlike many, many other high-end tablets on the market right this minute, coming rather close to the original Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 in its appearance and feel – it’s as if Huawei has taken a dash of Apple metal-love and placed it in a mixing pot with the Galaxy Tab 10.1, and out popped the MediaPad we’re looking at today.

Software and Performance

The Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich you see here is ever-so-slightly modified beyond its vanilla state. It’s not the abilities you’ll have added, but the slight side-steps you’ll be taking that really show you where Huawei was going with the user interface here. One example is the complete absence of an apps drawer – you’ll have everything out in the open here like MIUI or iOS rather than home screens and an app drawer separate.

There are also some slight changes in your standard settings in how you’ll be able to work with your device, but nothing to absolutely write home about. This device is not made to be competing directly with the US market for tablet dominance, so it’s not difficult to see why Huawei wouldn’t push too hard on the features list, especially in the software. You can play movies you’ve downloaded or transferred to the tablet with the standard movie playing app, you can play some MP3s if you wish, or you can straight up rely on Google’s suite of media-playing apps, which certainly is a viable option with Google’s family as mature as it is at the moment.

Above you’re seeing the Huawei MediaPad 10 FHD next to the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and a 3rd generation iPad with Retina display. They don’t look or feel all that different from one another when they’ve got their displays turned off, that’s for sure. See if you can name each tablet by their corners and edges!

Then have a peek at a few benchmarks taking note that this tablet works with Huawei’s own quad-core processor (quad-core 1.4GHz Cortex-A9 to be exact) but doesn’t quite beat out the competition in a standardized competition. You’ll be able to run many high-powered applications here but don’t expect much more power than you had with your NVIDIA Tegra 2 tablet – don’t be fooled by a simple addition of a couple cores to the name. Have a peek once more at the hands-on video above to see how well it does in everyday switching between apps and you’ll see the truth.

Camera and Battery

This device works essentially as well as the rest of the top-tier Android universe as far as battery life goes, with a massive 6600mAh battery under the hood to keep you up all night. What happens with a tablet – unless you carry it with you all day long – is that you leave it asleep for the major part of your day. When you do this, the machine gets a relatively unfair advantage over the smartphone you’ve got in your pocket as far as battery life goes because it’s not getting punched in the gut all day long with mobile data. It’s true too with this Huawei tablet: because you’re not prone to using it all day long, you’ll be getting several days of battery life if you use it regularly (or 26 days if you don’t use it at all). If you’re a heavy user, expect as short a battery life as 8 hours.

The camera is OK, certainly nothing to write home about. It’s utterly blown away by competitors such as the HTC Jetstream and the Google Nexus 10 tablet from Samsung. The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1‘s camera takes the Huawei MediaPad 10 FHD to the cleaners even though the Note has 5 megapixels under the hood and the MediaPad has 8 – food for thought. The video it captures, on the other hand, is fairly nice.

Wrap-up

This device is a rather nice addition to the Android tablet universe, and certainly offers up a unique option where otherwise you’d be handling either a Samsung tablet or going over to Apple for an iPad. If you’re thinking about grabbing the highest quality Android tablet on the market today, I would still personally point you toward the Galaxy Note 10.1 simply due to its much more well-rounded ecosystem and matured device family. [See: "Smart Device specs are over, long live the ecosystem" column for more information.]

If on the other hand you want to take a fresh look at the Android tablet and don’t mind that your device looks strikingly similar to an original Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, Huawei is here to back you up. The speaker system is strong, the display is fairly nice, and you’ll definitely be the only one on your block with this tablet, guaranteed. The cost of this device for anyone outside of China will certainly be prohibitive at $600 USD or more, on the other hand, so unless you can get this machine for next-to-nothing, you’ll be better off skipping it and waiting for Huawei to present a more complete package – and a wider release, to boot.

The HTC One S also works with a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor and has a lovely 8-megapixel camera working with HTC’s own ImageSense processor under the hood. This combined with the Snapdragon S4′s dedicated architecture for image processing makes the HTC One S one of the most fabulous camera phones in the world. Once we get the device in for some hands-on time, we’ll do some comparisons to the rest of the modern-day contenders as well.

We have an HTC One S T-Mobile review up from earlier this year and you can expect similar results for this edition coming this week. Some differences here in the present are going to exist in the software department – any One S in the wild today with T-Mobile will have the upgrades present, but here with the MAO edition we’ll have them right out of the box – hot stuff.

You can also take a peek at our original HTC One S review from April of this year to see what this device is like with MAO. As Chris Davies said of the finish back then: “HTC is offering two finishes for the casing, either a graduated metallic green or, as is the case with our review unit, a so-called micro arc oxidized shell that has been heat-treated so as to be scratch resistant. Scrape up the rear panel with your fingernail and the marks just rub straight off, though our previous experience with a One S prototype suggests keys can still leave some noticeable marks if used in earnest against the phone.”

We’ll see if all of that is still true here in this new edition. We’re expecting essentially the same shell as that device back closer to the start of this year – stay tuned!

Design and Build Quality

I have to say, the IdeaTab S2110A looks pretty great. It’s really thin – we’re talking 0.34” – and pretty lightweight to boot. With a weight that sits right around 1 pound, 4 ounces, this 10-incher feels pretty good in the hand, if not a little on the delicate side. It doesn’t feel like it can take a lot of abuse, so if you pick one up, be sure to treat it gently, otherwise it may not be long before you’re flushing your investment down the drain.

Lenovo has opted to go for something of a simplistic design with the S2110, as there aren’t any face buttons. It’s just the 10-inch screen, a black bezel that surrounds the whole thing, and a silver Lenovo logo underneath. On the top (assuming you’re holding the tablet in landscape orientation) is the power button and microphone. On the left side there’s a little more to see, as it’s here that you’ll find a mini HDMI port, the headphone jack, and a SIM card slot you can use for mobile data. On the bottom, the mini USB port for charging, data transfer, and docking has taken up residence, while the volume buttons are the only thing of note on the right side.

You’ve got a nice silver trim on the sides, which goes well with the black. On the back you’ll see another Lenovo logo, but aside from that, the textured surface, and the 5MP camera, there’s isn’t much to see back there. The Lenovo S2110A sure does look sleek, and it’s a good choice if you’re looking for a tablet that’s extremely portable.

We’ll get more into the included keyboard dock a little later, but for now let’s talk about it merely in relation to the overall design of the device. The dock matches the color scheme of the tablet, with a gray, black, and silver scheme that looks really nice. When the tablet is plugged into the dock, you’ve got a miniature laptop that still manages to be incredibly thin, so you may find yourself with the dock on hand at all times. In short, the tablet looks great while connected to the dock, but we’ll talk about the quality of the keyboard later on in the review.

Hold on though, because even though the IdeaTab S2110A is a good looking device, it suffers from some sub-par build quality. Hopefully you’re a fan of pressure spots on your LCD, because you’ll get them whether you like them or not. Just causally holding the device can set these pressure spots off, so it isn’t as if you need to be applying a ton of pressure from the back to get the spots to show up on the LCD screen. Some spots of the tablet seem weaker than others, so these pressure spots won’t be appearing everywhere, but still, the fact that they happen at all is no good.

The pressure spots are bad enough, but the S2110A just feels like a cheaply made product. It seems like it wouldn’t take much to damage this thing, so you’ll need to be careful with it if you pick one up. It’s also worth pointing out that my S2110A had a dead pixel out of the box, but that’s a bit more excusable. After all, dead pixels are going to happen from time to time – that’s just a risk you take when you’re buying products with LCD screens. While the dead pixel is a forgivable issue, the overall build quality is not. I would understand poor build quality in a less expensive tablet, but you’ll spend a considerable amount of dough on the S2110A, and for $400 (at the least), I expect much better build quality.

Hardware

As stated above, the IdeaTab S2110A comes with a 10-inch IPS display, which runs at 1280×800 resolution. I was very impressed with the screen on the S2110A, especially after hearing some less-than-stellar things about the screen on A2190. The viewing angles are really something excellent – it takes a lot to get the screen to appear washed out, which is always a good thing. The screen is bright and colorful too, and on-screen visuals are nice and sharp. I would have preferred a better resolution, but as I said, text and images on screen are still sharp (seriously, reading on this thing is a pleasure), so 1280×800 resolution really isn’t much of a problem.

The screen is glossy, which shouldn’t be a surprise considering that matte screens on tablets (or anything else these days, for that matter) are a rare sight. I don’t know if it’s just me, but the S2110A’s screen seems to attract more fingerprints than other, similar displays. It could just be the fact that the lighting on the IdeaTab’s S2110A screen is really good, but with that black color scheme, finger prints are going to stick out. It’s a problem that can be solved easily with a quick wipe-down, but you’ll want to do that frequently – the screen looks too good to have it covered in ugly fingerprints all the time.

The S2110A is running on a Qualcomm Snapdragon APQ8060A dual-core processor that’s clocked at 1.5GHz, so you’ve got a quick little CPU working under the hood, despite the fact that it’s only a dual-core. The processor is working in tandem with 1GB of RAM, though it might have been a better idea for Lenovo to include 2GB of RAM, just to make the S2110A a bit more fluid. Things can get pretty choppy when transitioning through homescreens and swiping between screens in the settings menu, so know that you’re not going to get an entirely smooth experience if you pick up the S2110A.

You’ve got two internal storage options when it comes to the IdeaTab S2110A: 16GB and 32GB. The model we received for review came with 16GB, and I don’t really have any complaints about that amount of storage. If Lenovo offered an 8GB version of the tablet, you might run into some issues, but 16GB should be more than enough to tide you over for a while. Of course, if you store music or movies on the tablet, you might run out of free space sooner rather than later, but if that happens, the tablet’s dock has a full-size SD slot to take advantage of. It’s important to note that the tablet itself doesn’t have an SD slot to speak of, so if you buy the tablet alone without paying the extra $100 for the dock, the internal memory you have on the S2110A is what you’re stuck with.

The hardware on the S2110A is decent, but there are some things that leave me scratching my head. I’m bummed that you’ll have to purchase the dock to get an SD slot, and even though the hardware is decent, the choppiness is something that will certainly annoy. Still, the hardware this thing comes packing should be able to handle the apps you download from the Google Play Store, and makes the S2110A a tablet that can at least hold its own in the hardware space.

Software

Like most tablets and phones, the IdeaTab S2110A comes with its share of bloatware, and it appears that you can’t uninstall most of it, meaning you’re stuck with the programs whether you like them or not. We’ve got a bunch of card games installed out of the box, including Solitare, Hearts, and Spades, along with rara.com, Papaya Free, and ooVoo. Naturally, all of Google’s apps are there, as are Norton Security and News Republic.

The majority of users probably won’t touch most of those (expect for Google’s stuff), but thankfully, the IdeaTab S2110A comes with some handy apps installed. These include Amazon Kindle, Evernote, Skype, and SugarSync. I was happy to see all of those installed on the IdeaTab S2110A, and I’m sure that a lot of people will appreciate the fact that Evernote and Skype are present from the start.

The IdeaTab S2110A runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, but you’re not getting stock Android with this tablet. Lenovo has put its own home screen layout in place with the S2110A and has filled the screens with its own widgets, which I have feeling contributes to the choppiness you’ll undoubtedly experience at points.

I suppose we shouldn’t be surprised, as manufacturers frequently like to add their own touches to the Android operating system, I just don’t think that decision was for the best this time. In any case, after the operating system and the pre-installed apps are accounted for, you have just about 12GB of free space left on the tablet (remember, we were sent the 16GB model to test), so at least Lenovo hasn’t gone as crazy as some manufacturers do with bloatware.

Keyboard Dock

Lenovo is also offering a keyboard dock alongside the IdeaTab S2110A, and I have to say that the whole package looks really nice once the tablet and the dock are attached. The keyboard dock will help improve battery life, and it actually feels like a solid piece of equipment. The tablet feels a little heavier than the keyboard dock, so as a result, your mini notebook will feel a little top heavy at times – something to watch out for so you can make sure your tablet doesn’t take a spill.

The buttons on the keyboard feel really nice, as does the trackpad, though it’s going to take some time to get used to both. At first, the trackpad feels a little too sensitive, and since Lenovo has crammed a keyboard into such a small space, the keys are not only tiny, but they’re pretty close together too. That’s something I struggled with at first, but that may have more to do with my big hands than anything else. Expect to spend a few days getting used to the keyboard before you can really begin typing up a storm while keeping errors to a minimum.

The dock has a mini USB port for charging, accompanied by two full USB ports so you can use to connect a mouse or jump drive (or any other USB device for that matter). It’s here that you’ll also find the aforementioned SD card slot – it’s a full-size slot too, so microSD cards aren’t going to do you any good unless you have an SD adapter. There’s isn’t too much going on as far as ports on the dock are concerned, but considering that there’s already a number of ports and jacks on the tablet, less is more in this case.

Above the row of number keys is a set of hotkeys that allow you to do all sorts of things on your tablet. You can use these keys to turn on wireless, activate Bluetooth, and lock the tablet, which will help limit the number of times you’ll be reaching for the screen. However, the touchscreen still works while the tablet is connected to the dock, so you’ll have the option of using the S2110A’s touch capabilities if you need to.

I really like the way the whole package looks when the tablet is connected to the dock. The tablet actually locks in place once you connect it to the dock (meaning that you don’t have to worry about it falling out once you’ve connected it), which is definitely a nice touch. In all, I don’t have any major gripes with the dock – yes, it will take some getting used to, but Lenovo actually did a pretty good job considering the small space it had to work with.

Don’t let the fact that the dock with take some getting used to dissuade you though, because in my mind, it’s the dock that really makes this package worth checking out. On its own, the IdeaTab S2110A doesn’t have much to make it stand out from the sea of other tablets out there, but when you’ve got it attached to the dock, you’ve got a solid unit on your hands. It’s a shame that Lenovo isn’t including the dock with every IdeaTab S2110A, because the experience of using the tablet without the dock is vastly different than using it with the dock. If you ask me, it’s worth shelling out that extra $100 for the dock, even if the makes the total price a little difficult to swallow.

Battery

Lenovo has packed the S2110A with a 2 cell Lithium-polymer battery that it says will last for 9-10 hours of surfing with Wi-Fi enabled. Turning the screen down to 50% brightness and using the IdeaTab S2110A to surf, watch video, and play a few games of Solitaire, I was able to get about four hours of use out of a fully charged battery with right around 35% left over. This means that casual users should be able to get right around 6 hours of power out of a full charge, but naturally that all depends on a few variables.

Most importantly, these variables are screen brightness and Wi-Fi. Leaving the Wi-Fi on all the time (as I did) will obviously drain the battery faster, and keeping the tablet on auto brightness will help conserve battery. Aside from auto brightness, the IdeaTab S2110A comes with three brightness settings. The first is a little too dim for my liking, while the second setting, which places it at 50% brightness, is plenty bright. On the third and highest setting, colors will be their most vibrant, but you’ll also drain the battery very fast with the S2110A on that setting.

Lenovo says that you can double the life of the battery by using the dock, and again while those quoted times will vary, getting a full day of heavy use while the tablet is connected to the dock certainly isn’t out of the question. In other words, use the dock, because it makes almost everything about the IdeaTab S2110A much, much better.

Camera

I’ll just say this right away: the five-megapixel rear-facing camera on the IdeaTab S2110A isn’t great, so don’t pick up this tablet expecting to use it as your main-shooter. It also comes equipped with a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera, but that’s really only good for video chat and nothing else. The sample shots taken with the rear-facing camera show us that the snapper on this tablet is nothing to get excited about; there pictures aren’t anything special, merely average in quality. I’m not sure that a camera should be one of the key features in your hunt for a tablet, but if for whatever reason it is, keep on looking.

Benchmarks

In Quad and AnTuTu, the IdeaTab S2110A showed some very promising results. It isn’t at the top of it’s league, but it definitely isn’t near the bottom either. These benchmark results show us that dual-core isn’t dead yet, and indeed, the processor on the S2110A is quite speedy, despite the fact that lag on the home and settings screens suggest otherwise.

In Quad, the IdeaTab S2110A was given a score of 4953, which was enough to beat out the Samsung Galaxy Tab, Galaxy Nexus, and Nexus S all by a wide margin. That may not be all that surprising, considering that all three of those devices aren’t exactly considered young and sexy these days, but it’s worth pointing out that the S2110A more than doubled the score of the Galaxy Tab. That certainly isn’t bad.

In AnTuTu, it’s much the same. The S2110A came in under the Galaxy Note II, HTC One X+, Galaxy S III, and Transformer Prime by a significant amount, but managed to beat other devices like the original Galaxy Note, the Galaxy Nexus, and the Galaxy S II. In other words, don’t expect to be blown away by what’s the under the hood, but at the same time, don’t be tricked into thinking that the S2110A is a slouch.

Wrap-Up

I have to say that I have very mixed feelings about the S2110A. The screen is beautiful, and bright colors, sharp images, and wide viewing angles make the tablet a pleasure to use. The optional keyboard dock is also a winner in my book, and I like it so much that I can’t recommend picking up the S2110A without one. There we run into a problem though: the keyboard dock is an optional accessory, but as far as I’m concerned, it’s an integral part of the S2110A experience.

But then there are some issues with the tablet too. Even though the S2110A looks really nice, it’s obvious from the first time you hold it that someone at Lenovo slacked off when it came to build quality. It definitely doesn’t feel as sturdy as it should, and seeing those inevitable pressure spots on the screen is enough to send anyone into a rage.

For that reason, it’s hard for me to recommend the S2110A. If the stellar keyboard dock came standard, then I might be willing to suggest that users overlook the issues with build quality and go for it. As it is, though, the keyboard dock sends the price of the IdeaTab S2110A up well over $500, and that’s simply too much money for a tablet that, aside from the dock, doesn’t have many qualities to make it worth that price tag. Even without the dock, I think the IdeaTab S2110A is still on the expensive side.

You might be able to live with the build quality issues, and if that’s the case, knock yourself out. For most, however, I think it would be a better idea to look at other tablets before settling on the IdeaTab S2110A. There are instances when the S2110A threatens to be a really nice tablet, but unfortunately, the issues with the device hold it back from greatness each and every time.

The ZTE U950 measures in at 9mm thick, and features a 4.3-inch display and runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Inside you’ll find a 1.3GHz quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor and 1GB of RAM. There’s a rear 5MP camera, and VGA-resolution front camera for video calls. Sadly, the device only has 4GB of internal storage space.

ZTE has been swept up recently in accusations of possible espionage for the Chinese government, which has also been brought against Huawei. The US House Intelligence Committee recommended that ZTE and Huawei both be avoided, saying, “China has the means, opportunity, and motive to use telecommunications companies for malicious purposes.” ZTE responded with the statement, “ZTE has set an unprecedented standard for cooperation by any Chinese company with a congressional investigation.”

While the features are all pretty basic, it’s obviously the processor power-to-cost ratio that makes the phone attention-worthy. The U950 is priced at 999 yuan, which is about $160USD. The handset is slated for release in China next month. There’s no word on whether this cheapo quad-core will be making its way stateside or elsewhere.

[via Engadget]

In case you need a refresher course on the features of the new handset, it packs a 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor, and a 13MP rear-facing camera with a front-facing camera capable of shooting 720p video. It also has NFC built in, and is covered with a 4.6-inch 720p display powered by the company’s Mobile BRAVIA Engine.

The device’s camera comes with a quick launch feature, where it can go from sleep mode to taking the first picture in just 1.5 seconds, according to Sony. We’d want to test this out for ourselves, but it doesn’t sound like a surprising figure at all. We’re sure other handsets could easily match that speed.

The Ice Cream Sandwich-equipped device is the company’s new flagship handset and will also be featured in the upcoming James Bond film Skyfall as “the official Bond phone,” meaning the Xperia TL will be the phone of choice for 007 himself in the upcoming film. The Xperia TL will also come loaded with behind-the-scenes footage from Skyfall, as well as Bond-themed ringtones and wallpapers.

This smartphone comes with a 4.5-inch qHD display with Gorilla Glass 2 across the front for next-level scratch resistance. Inside you’ve got Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and LG’s newest set of user interface enhancements, many of which we’ve seen on the last couple of LG devices on other carriers like the LG Intuition and the massively powerful LG Optimus G.

On the back you’ve got a 5 megapixel camera made to make full use of the lovely new collection of photography features the LG family works with. You can use “Cheese Shot” to take a photo with your voice and panorama photo mode to make with the long shots. The LG Optimus L9 also has rapid-fire shooting with continuous shot and works with a set of apps added by LG, T-Mobile, and Google to make sure you’re ready for action right out of the box.

You’ll have SlackerRadio and Google Music for sweet tunes right out the gate, SmartShare for DLNA-capable devices, and Bluetooth 3.0 for more wireless action. Inside you’ve got a 2,150 mAh battery for long life, connectivity with T-Mobile’s 4G network, and a dual-core Texas Instruments processor to keep you moving smoothly. Have a peek at our timeline below of LG Optimus L9-related fare and get ready for this beast appearing in your local T-Mobile store soon!

By upgrading to Ice Cream Sandwich, Bionic users will get a variety of new features, including the customizable launch bar, Face Unlock, simplified multitasking, improved notifications, and Motorola’s SmartAction app. ICS users will have Direct Access Lock, which lets the users skip directly to either the camera, messages, texts, or unlock. In addition, users will be able to create folders by drag and dropping apps on top of each other.

The Droid Bionic features a 4.3 inch qHD TFT display with a resolution of 960×540, as well as a Gorilla Glass overlay to help protect the screen. The Bionic has both a microUSB and micro HDMI port, as well as a standard 3.5mm headphone port. Its wireless tech includes LTE, EVDO Rev.A, b/g/n Wifi, and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR.

Some of this smartphone’s best features includes its 8MP camera with autofocus and an LED flash, which can record in full HD 1080p, as well as its dual-core 1GHz processor. The Bionic was released in 2011. According to the Verizon Facebook page, it will receive a Jelly Bean update “in the coming months.”

[via Verizon]

Hardware

This device presents the same greatness we saw with the DROID RAZR M with enhancements well surpassing the original DROID RAZR as it was presented many months ago. With the RAZR branding we’ve got a certain amount of excellence that Verizon and Motorola have to live up to, and with the RAZR HD they’ve certainly done it. The display is a massive 720 x 1280 pixels spread across 4.7-inches of Super AMOLED screen, that ringing in at 312 PPI dense. That’s above the Galaxy S III (306 PPI) and just under the Galaxy Nexus (316 PPI) – have a peek at the S III next to the RAZR HD here, bright as they can be.

The front of the device is also covered by a single sheet of Corning Gorilla Glass for maximum protection against scratches and dings. It sits inside a slight rim around the edge that keeps your thumb inside the bounds of the display and makes for an interesting – and unique – feel to the whole device. This rim is hard plastic and will be the same color as whichever color device you so choose – we’ve got white, here. Below that is a ring of metal – aluminum more than likely – then a full back panel made from the same kevlar-weave that each of the previous DROID RAZR devices have had.

This back panel takes over the entirety of the back of the device instead of just sitting inside a pocket as previous DROID RAZRs have, this letting us know that they trust the design now well enough to command the device. It’s a good decision in this case, as the whole smartphone feels comfy to hold and to work with – not to mention hardcore. The front of the smartphone feels a bit fragile only because glass has traditionally been a material that breaks – but with Gorilla Glass sitting here instead, the whole device is tough enough to take a few bangs.

The interior of this device is splash-coated (protected from moisture, that is) as each of the DROID RAZR smartphones have been, and the SIM and microSD slot is kept secure with a pin. With the pin tool you get with the phone (in the box) you can push out (or pull, however you see it) the drawer where you can replace at will. This device has 12GB of storage inside and a microSD slot capable of working with another 32GB of space.

At a slightly massive 131.9 x 67.9 x 8.4 mm, this device would be relatively difficult to hold if it were made of the same slippery materials that the LG Optimus G is – but it’s not. Motorola’s choice to buck the trend of glossy plastic and glass backs on devices makes the RAZR HD an easy to handle unit.

Software

With the RAZR HD we’re getting essentially the same experience we did with the RAZR M in the software department. Same Android version (4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich), same Motorola software modifications, and nearly the same set of applications. Verizon and Motorola (and Google) have clearly agreed here to present a single family feel with the RAZR releases they’ve got on deck this season. Have a peek at our full DROID RAZR M review for another look at how this family functions.

Have a peek at our hands-on with the RAZR HD to see how similar these devices truly are, right down to the speed at which they flip back and forth between home screens. They’re using the same processor too, mind you; the dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4. This is the next-most-powerful Qualcomm processor on the market this Autumn, with the most powerful sitting pretty in the LG Optimus G with four cores instead of two.

You’ve once again got some cool modifications to Android 4.0 starting with Quick Settings that appear all the way to your left alongside your home screens. You’ve also got Smart Actions, a feature that activates certain tasks based on the time of day, your GPS location, or your power level. You’ll have ICS’s Face Unlock as well as a modified unlock screen with Camera, Phone, Texts, and standard to keep you quick. Have a peek at a few benchmark results here as well to see how the Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor performs.

Camera

This device works with an 8 megapixel shooter on the back that’ll keep you in the high definition business, especially since you’re working with a Qualcomm processor that comes with dedicated architecture made specifically for image processing. Here we’ve got a set of photos and a video that’ve been captured with the standard camera for you to glance at and decide for yourself. This device also had a 1.3 megapixel camera on the front for video chat and a single LED flash on the back for photos in the dark.

We’ve also got a couple of nice examples of panorama and HDR modes, both of them able to be expanded at a click here and in the larger gallery at the bottom of this post. The gallery at the bottom of this post also has additional shots for you to peruse.

Battery

Like each of the other devices we’ve tested running the Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor, the battery life you get here really depends on how you’re using the device. If you do nothing but run streaming video over Verizon’s 4G LTE data network, you’ll get a few hours out of it. If you’ve got your display on auto brightness and are only checking email, browsing the web, and using Facebook all day long, you’ll have at least 8 hours at your disposal – at least. For those of you needing more than you get here, there’s always the MAXX version of the smartphone with just a bit more bulk on the back in exchange for a much larger battery.

Notice how the battery life basically flatlines when you’ve got the display off? It’s the display that takes up most of your power here – especially when you’re blasting at full brightness.

Wrap-up

Here we’re working with another winner, with Motorola making full use of their new partnership (ownership) with Google in many fine ways. You can see that this device (as well as the RAZR M, for example) are not the same DROID devices we saw a couple years ago. Here we’ve got a fine example of an Android-running smartphone, to say the least. The hardware is top-notch, the camera takes rather nice photos, and the processor is powerful enough to take on the highest-quality games and apps the Google Play app store has to offer.

The device is also nice to hold, has a bit of grip to it so you wont be losing it right out of your palm any time soon, and looks pretty darn fine too. Be sure to let us know if you’ve got any questions about the device that haven’t been addressed in the review above, and make sure you let us know if you end up picking it up at Verizon soon!

Hardware

The LG Optimus G’s display resolution of 768 x 1280 pixels across 4.7-inches of real-estate rings in at 317.6 PPI, right between the Samsung Galaxy Nexus and the iPhone 5 for pixel density. The iPhone 5 (also the 4/4S, being that they’re all the same) works with 326 PPI, and the Galaxy Nexus is literally the next densest display-toting smartphone in the world on the grand chart of them all at 316 PPI. The Samsung Galaxy S III, just so you know, has a screen density of 306 PPI, while the BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha has the densest display of them all with 355 PPI, (this followed closely by the HTC Rezound with 342 PPI.

But enough of that display hubub – what we really want to know is if LG can back it up with power to make it blast forth! Of course it can, in this case, with Qualcomm‘s Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core processor under the hood. With this beast of a system-on-chip rolling out at a clock speed of 1.5Ghz with 2GB of RAM to devour and the Adreno 320 graphics core, you’ll not be left wanting. This device allows the shutting off of two cores if you like – if you only need two cores for normal everyday action, that is – this allowing you to save a whole heck of a lot of power if you’re just an average power-consuming citizen.

You’ll find that this device is slightly larger than your hand unless you’re a giant. In combination with the glossy front, back, and sides – that are also rounded – you might be dropping this beast more than once before you even turn it on. Beyond that, it’s a gorgeous model of an LG, that’s for sure. There’s a notification light that rings around the power button, the cover that sits above your microSD and SIM card slots is held more securely than we’ve ever seen on a smartphone before, that the back panel is a collection of multi-faceted gems under a panel of polycarbonate (LG calls this “Crystal Reflection”). And it all looks nice, very nice.

You’ll be working with 16GB of internal storage with 16GB additional via your microSD card slot (with a 16GB card in it right out of the box). This slot is able to work with a card that’s up to 64GB large, so go big! You’ve also got NFC, BLuetooth 4.0, and a microUSB port on the bottom center that also doubles as MHL for HDMI if you’ve got the right adapter – through it you’ll be able to play 1080p video like a charm. The single speaker appears at first to be the same delivery as in past devices with the tiniest of slits revealing its energy, but here we’ve got rather loud delivery and balanced sounds on the whole.

You’ll be working with an 8 megapixel camera that’s capable of collecting 1080p HD video on the back while you’re front-facing 1.3 megapixel camera is fairly standard, made best for working with video chat. The battery inside is a lovely 2100mAh and is non-removable. The entire back of the device is non-removable as well, the only access you’ll be given being the door with the cards previously mentioned. This device feels and looks extremely solid and high-quality, top to bottom.

Software

This device comes with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich with LG’s newest and most high-quality user interface over the top. As LG likes to say, it’s more of an integration and pairing with Android’s system than it is an overlay as many devices have had in the past – regardless of manufacturer. Here LG presents a rather unique look at the abilities of Android 4.0 with customization, organization re-arranging, and features that Google hasn’t yet moved to their core system- but you wont be surprised when they do in the future.

The apps that come with this device are abundant, and as AT&T is want to do, you’ve got every single angle on the carrier tip. Telenav-powered AT&T Navigator, AT&T Locker (cloud storage), and AT&T Messages are all welcome additions – they all work extremely well and make me glad to be using an AT&T device specifically. LG also adds a collection of their unique apps and features that’ve been appearing on devices of all kinds over the past few months. One example is QuickMemo, allowing you to take a note on a blank page or a screenshot, this app revealed in all its glory back on the LG Optimus Vu (as reviewed by SlashGear as the Verizon-carried 4G LTE LG Intuition).

The app known as LG Tag+ makes full use of this device’s NFC capabilities with instantly-working profiles based on how each of your NFC stickers (sold separately) have been programmed. We’ve got a tag here programmed for “Office” mode which means we’re on wi-fi and want our mobile network shut off so we’re not using up precious data. You can see this ability working in this first hands-on video below – along with a lot of user interface excellence as well.

Another app is Video Wiz, this being the first time we’ve seen it working like a charm – it’s a rather strange (yet appealing) montage-making app that shows not only how silly the mobile universe has become, but how awesome the video-processing powers of this phone are. Watch the video below to see this as well as a feature called QSlide – here allowing you to watch a video in varying levels of transparency while you do other tasks. It only works for videos that are actually on your device, and has us completely baffled on why it exists at all – if someone can explain why someone would want to have a half-transparency video playing while they do any other task, please let us know.

Of course there is one obvious reason, as it was with the video editing app: QSlide might be best at showing the power of the processor in this device. You’ll also see this power existing in a variety of HD games we’ve got on tap right this minute. Start your gaming journey off right with a bit of the ol’ Asphalt 7 from Gameloft:

Next have a bit more car-on-car action entertainment with Indestructible from glu – it’s all the destroying of automotive with more guns than you’ve ever seen in a racing game before! This would be because it’s not a racing game at all, but a destruction derby with death wishes and wishes for murder ready for hours of fun. And it’s got a collection of rather-smart bots running around in it that not just any processor would be able to handle.

The final game you’ll see here is Wild Blood. This is another game from Gameloft, this time working with the Unreal engine for massive graphics power from top to bottom. Notice the hefty sword wielding and screen utilization – and all the killing of the monsters, to boot!

Benchmarks

This device destroys the competition almost without fail. Qualcomm brought on their Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor earlier this year and it very much appeared to have NVIDIA’s Tegra 3 quad-core processor on the ropes (see the HTC One X AT&T review to see that match-up). Now we’ve got four cores from the same company and they’re burying the rest of the processor architecture left and right. Have a peek at a few examples here.

And of course pay attention to the hands-on videos most of all throughout this review to get a real example of the true power this device has. Benchmarks can say a lot, but it’s the real working and playing that you’ll want to know the most.

Camera

The camera on this device has been changed ever so slightly coming over the sea, with our first look at this smartphone being in its international edition with 13 megapixels backing it up. There is another iteration of this device on a different carrier here in the USA with the same (or a rather similar) 13 megapixel camera as the original, but from what we’ve seen, this 8 megapixel camera is the winner across the board.

Ever so slightly truer colors in low-light and what appears to be a bit more ease in executing a final product – the 13 megapixel camera, needless to say, should not be your deciding factor when deciding between iterations here (data speed should be). The camera here is not perfect on the AT&T version of the device, but it certainly benefits from Qualcomm’s dedicated image processing power in the Snapdragon S4 Pro inside, and you will be able to knock out quality shots along the same lines as your favorite smartphones on the market today.

If you’re looking for the nicest smartphone camera on the market, this isn’t it (it’s the Nokia PureView 808) but you will not be let down if you’re willing to take the time to get the hang of it. For you camera addicts out there heading to AT&T specifically: try this device, the iPhone 5, and the HTC One X+ (or the X if the X+ isn’t out when you get there) to decide between the best. There’s also the Nokia Lumia 920 which we’ve not yet gotten to test – we shall see soon for the final Autumn battle.

Have a peek at a few different sorts of shots here in this section and in the final gallery below as well. There are a vast number of effects and shooting modes you can use, filters, panorama, non-stop shot, and a special feature shooting mode that takes photos “before” you take your final shot – that’s called “Time catch shot” and the only time it’ll come in handy is if you’re standing still and you want to capture the precise moment at which your child is smiling perfectly. Have a peek at this cat example first, then see some standard shots right after, along with some video as well.

Battery

With a quad-core processor and 4G LTE running with an ultra-bright IPS+ LCD display up front, it’s not difficult to see how this device’s 2100mAh battery would have trouble keeping up with day-to-day activities. If you’re worried about how quickly you’ll drain your battery, you can worry yourself right into a less-than-a-few-hours complete drain situation – stream some video, play with some benchmarks, and keep that display at full blast.

If however you’re thinking about conserving your battery, you’ve got several options. This device comes with an Eco mode that’s rather expansive in its options for how your phone will react to you reaching a low battery level. Once you’re down to 30%, for example, you could potentially be using 2 CPU cores instead of 4, your display brightness could be at near-zero, and your app syncing could be turned off entirely. You can also, of course, set your display to automatic brightness (with an added bonus of a brightness base to start with) – all that will do you great favors right alongside Qualcomm’s power-conserving abilities inherent in the S4 Pro – you just have to be smart about it, that’s all.

Wrap-up

This device is the most well-refined package that LG has ever delivered, with a generous amount of processing power, a high-class physical feel, and a final product that finally does justice to the display power LG has been bringing on for months in past devices. This smartphone has a display that’s viewable from all angles – there’s no bad way to see it – and if you’re not against having a glossy front and back, you’ll have a great time feeling like you’ve got a piece of slightly rugged jewelry in your palm.

That’s a bit of the problem though at the same time, with LG appearing to get into a space where they know their design identity, but they’ve not quite perfected setting the device in a human hand. This smartphone is just slightly too wide for my adult male hand, which would be perfectly fine if it weren’t for the gloss across the back and up the sides of the device. With a case or with some grippy backing, this unit will feel great. You’ll certainly be willing to make that extra jump when you see how powerful the heart of this device really is.

With Wild Blood you’ll see the Snapdragon S4 Pro working to keep you on the run between cut-scenes and actual massacring of monsters in no time at all – you’ve got lovely special moves and bashing on your side as well. This game takes a bit of time to load when you first fire it up, otherwise there’s nothing to complain about in the least here on the LG Optimus G. Expect to be waiting a bit longer on devices with only a single core, and for multi-core devices you’ll still want to make sure you’re not pushing any other tasks at the same time – here with the S4 Pro we’ve got no concerns.

Next have a peek at Asphalt 7, a game that if you’re not used to dragging your tail end whilst racing you’ll have a difficult time not crashing into walls with. When you’re playing this game outside an optimized-for-gaming environment, you’ve got definite lag in graphics. Inside the LG Optimus G, everything is smooth as butter.

Finally there’s the many-independent-minds game that is Indestructible. Here we’ve got a Twisted Metal vibe going on with more little vehicles than you’re going to be able to handle. With so many bots coming at you with minds all their own, it’s only your ultra-powerful processor that’s keeping everything working so smoothly.

Stay tuned for more LG Optimus G action as we complete our review this week – the device goes on pre-order for $199 starting tomorrow with AT&T. Will you be picking one up right out of the gate? If you’ve got one whole heck of a lot of questions, be sure to let us know what you need to know in the comments section below! We’ll do our best to answer all queries!

Hardware

This machine is the largest of the several slightly different iterations of the Huawei Ascend D – here with a quad-core processor running at 1.2GHz, an extended battery, and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. We got to experience the Huawei Ascend D Quad at MWC 2012 right after it was first introduced, as well. The biggest differences in the hardware are in the weight and the thickness of the device, of course, with this XL version bringing in the slightly fatter of the two beasts. It being rather light and tall either way makes this a comfortable one-hand smartphone.

You’ve got a 129 x 64 x 10.9 mm device at 150 grams, it utilizing a 4.5-inch IPS+ LCD display with 720 x 1280 pixels across it – that’s 326 PPI, matching the iPhone 5. Of course with this device you also get the extra half an inch of screen real-estate as well, to it’s not absolutely perfect for one-handed use if you’re a petite person, but for most large-handed users, it’s perfect. You’ve got a couple of options for connecting to a larger display with this smartphone as well, including both DLNA and MHL – the latter being HDMI with the proper adapter via the microUSB port at the side of the phone.

This device and its release partner, the Huawei MediaPad 10 FHD both have DOLBY enhanced sound, here with Dolby Mobile 3.0 Plus sound enhancement. This means that the device sounds good even when it’s blasting – and it does live up to that claim. You can certainly trust this smartphone to be your good MP3-playing partner through your standard headphones, without a doubt.

You’ve also got 8GB internal storage, 1GB of RAM, and a microSD card slot that’ll allow you an additional 32GB of storage if you pop your own card in. You’ve also got an 8 megapixel camera on the back as well as a 1.3 megapixel shooter on the front made for video chat. The back-facing camera is quite impressive, making us think twice about how Huawei is handling their image processing with this new quad-core architecture. They appear to have done something quite right.

This device’s overall feel is that of a refined smartphone made by a company that knows what they’re doing in the top-tier business. While we’ve not seen this impressive an offering from Huawei yet on a USA-based carrier, we’re quite encouraged by what’s been delivered here with the Ascend D quad XL.

Software

The basic navigation between home screens and switching back and forth between apps can get a little bit laggy at times – but if you’re switching from a single-core phone, you’ll never notice it. Compared to the Samsung Galaxy S III, this device is lacking quite a bit in the refined user interface department – the same being true of the HTC One X. On the other hand, Huawei does offer up a couple different views for you right out of the box, one of them being standard, the other being their own “3D Home” view.

With the 3D version of Huawei’s look at Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, you’ll see a lovely widget with your clock and weather information, some interesting switching between home screens, and a slightly odd feeling to it all. It reminds one of homescreens from SPB Shell 3D – also appearing on some ViewSonic devices we saw earlier this year at MWC 2012 (in a different iteration, of course). Sadly it would appear that this view doesn’t run as swiftly as standard Android does, so we ended up opting out more than in on the whole.

Otherwise we’ve got a fairly basic view of Android here from Huawei, and for that we’re thankful. They’ve offered up a security app that’ll protect anything you need on the device, bringing with it a lock for the homescreen (in addition to your standard Android lock), one for apps, and another one on top of all that as well. This device’s drivers support DOLBY sound and it does sound rather nice blasting out of its single main speaker on the back – of course as always, we’re looking to get that big beast set up on the front, where all speakers should be, in the end.

Have a peek at some benchmarks below and make your own judgements on how lovely the device functions based on real-world flipping around. Also note that we do have a test device, this meaning that we might not have absolutely final software when it comes down to it. This is a final bit of hardware, on the other hand, so trust it!

Camera

Now that the camera has finally been placed front and center in the quality of smartphones all around the world, Huawei had to make a big jump in effort here in this machine’s main shooter. They’ve done a rather nice job, as it were, with 8 megapixels working to a rather high potential and 1080p video not looking half bad either. This is Huawei’s nicest camera execution, for certain.

Battery and Connectivity

Because we’re not inside the main arena where carriers will be working with this device, we’re not going to be doing any speed tests as such. We can certainly say that it’s connected to wi-fi networks like a champ, running just as fast as any other smartphone or tablet we’ve ever seen come through from anywhere on the planet. Connecting to data using an AT&T SIM card had similar results, reaching OK data speeds never getting quicker than our fastest 3G speeds.

As for the battery – we were certainly expecting a lot from the processor since the increase in battery size is not that giant an issue anymore here in the “future” 2012. WIth processors like the Snapdragon S4 and the NVIDIA Tegra 3 making it clear that battery life can and will be dictated by how well the device’s SoC is managing power needs, Huawei had to step up their game here with their own quad-core chip. As it turns out, they’ve done pretty well. Notice that we still get hammered when the display is on full brightness, but that standby is fairly good and regular daily action doesn’t smash the life out of it as is often the case with lesser phones.

Wrap-up

This device is Huawei’s finest execution of a smartphone yet, and it paves the way for the company to continue delivering lovely Android-toting amalgamations in the future. With Huawei being able to successfully create a beast such as this, we’re encouraged at the company aiming at the USA for releases on US-based carriers for the near future with heroes of their own. If Huawei is able to deliver hero smartphones and tablets up to the quality we’re seeing here with their own brand attached – rather than hidden as it has been for their last several USA-based releases – they’ll have a real shot at expanding in North America.

Be sure to let us know if you’ve got any additional questions about the Huawei Ascend D1 quad XL in a comment below and stay tuned as we continue to check Huawei’s offerings in the future! Also have a peek at the timeline below to see our history with this device family specifically.

Here with this Sony device we’re seeing a complete lack of “Xperia” brand naming and some form shaping unlike anything Sony has delivered before. You can see some styling choices that certainly ring a Sony bell, enough to make us think it’s possible, but the family resemblance with the Galaxy Nexus makes one believe this might be a hybrid. This device has some metal (or plastic that’s made to look metal) on the bottom back, soft plastic up top, and a single LED flash near a large-lensed back-facing camera.

NOTE: If you weren’t already, take an extra grain of salt with this supposed leak. It’s more important at the moment to think about the implications of such a phone rather than assuming this one is real – but keep in mind that it COULD be real, too. You never know until you know!

There’s a single microUSB port on the left of the device along with three pogo-pins for wireless docking. It appears that this device will be released with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich or greater, such is the color scheme in the user interface. The front of the device also has a right-side front-facing camera and two sensors as well. You’ll also notice a lack of any off-screen buttons, the home set of three being rather Nexus-friendly right along the bottom inside the display.

This device, if it is indeed real, could be released at the same time as the LG Nexus 4 (or Nexus G), with more than one manufacturer bringing the heat at the same time to show Google’s power. This is the new vision for Google, a re-imagining of their original Android mission to release a single phone that would be out on every single carrier at once. Will Sony be able to do justice to the next version of Android in a vanilla iteration? We shall see!

[via Xperia Blog]

On the back of this device you’ve got an 8 megapixel shooter with dual-LED flash and autofocus while the front works with a 1.3 megapixel camera for video chat. You’ve got double channel speakers with Dolby Surround Sound that Huawei promises will blow your face off – and what do you know, it’s a surprisingly powerful set of speakers. With a display and speakers combo like this, we’ll certainly be working with Google Movies to make it a lovely night in with popcorn to boot.

This tablet works with a quad-core processor made by Huawei itself, here with 1.5Ghz on its CPU clock rather than 1.2GHz as it was on the smartphone. This device works with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich right out of the box, and measures in at 257.4 × 175.9 width and height. Have a peek at a couple of benchmarks in the gallery below to get an idea of where this tablet stands in the world of Android competitors.

You can get this device in 8, 16, and 32GB internal memory iterations, and you’ve got 2GB of RAM no matter what you choose. We’re working with Bluetooth 3.0 here and have GPS, an Accelerometer, Ambient light sensor, compass, vibration feedback, and a massive 6600mAh batter to keep the device powered all night and day. You’ve got a 3.5mm headphone jack as well and built-in MIC for sound recording.

In some areas of the world you’ll be able to use this device with 4G LTE – we’ll have to wait and see how this adds up as this tablet hits the market soon. Meanwhile we’re going to be giving the Huawei MediaPad 10 FHD a full review right here on SlashGear – let us know if you’ve got any questions as we make this happen, and we’ll do our best to work with everything you need to know!

This device has 8GB of ROM, 1GB of RAM, and connects to your computer or a wall charger with a standard microUSB plug. You’ve got an 8 megapixel camera on the back capable of 1080p video, there’s a secondary camera on the front working at 1.3 megapixels capable of 720p video, and inside you’ve got Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich right out of the box. The biggest reason this device should raise your radar is the processor, of course, it being a quad-core beast from Huawei itself coming in at 1.2GHz.

This quad-core processor appears very much to be doing quite well for itself in our initial benchmark tests, busting up Quadrant Standard with a CPU score of 11373, this just a bit less than the HTC One X and the Transformer Prime. The I/O, on the other hand, is a massive 6494, well outperforming both devices. Of course these tests don’t count for everything, and we’ll be letting our own hands-on everyday use decide what’s best for the average consumer.

It’s important to note that we’re working with a Sample Unit, this meaning that it’s possible that the final product won’t be exactly the same as we’re seeing here. The specifications will likely be pretty much the same, but processor clock speeds, Android version, and firmware builds may be different – we shall see. Also of note is the fact that this device carries a 2600 mAh battery rather than a 1800 mAh, as the original (non-XL) version of the device did.

This device is also relatively heavy, carrying with it a variety of technologies that Huawei appears to have not concentrated on in the weight department. We’ll also see if this trade-off is worth it in our full review, coming up sooner than later! Let us know if you’ve got any questions in comments below for that post as well!

Hardware

This device is 259.8mm x 178mm x 11.65mm (9.3″ x 6.5″ x 0.46″) in size and 570g, that is, just under 1.3lbs. The device is certainly not the lightest 9-inch tablet on the market, nor is it the thinnest – but it sounds great. It’s got 2 stereo speakers with SRS Surround Sound, both of them with ever-so-slightly raised bits of plastic near their grilles to assure sound delivery even if the device is flat.

You’ve got a 1.3 megapixel camera on the front for video chat and a 3.0 megapixel camera on the back that takes OK photos and video – don’t expect to get too many masterpieces from either unit. See a few examples of the quality of this device’s main camera lower in this review. The sound collection quality is surprisingly decent, on the other hand, with one mic hole on the left and the other on the right of the device, this aiding in sound cancellation.

The ports you get around this device are relatively abundant for how expensive the device is, starting with a microUSB port on the right side near a micro-HDMI port for HD video output. The quality of the video you get here to an HDTV (provided you’ve got the right cable) is generally good – not spectacular, but certainly good enough for basic Google Play video and YouTube viewing. You’ve also got a basic combo jack for your headphones and microphone if you’d like, too.

You can get this device in 8GB and 16GB internal storage iterations and right under the top-back panel you’ve got a microSD card slot where you can expand your memory by another 32GB if you wish. The overall build quality of the tablet is rather high, with Lenovo letting us know that they’re not skimping on the construction just because it’s not a laptop or a desktop unit.

The display, on the other hand, is of a surprisingly lower-quality build than the rest of the device. The viewing angles are OK for the most part save – believe it or not – the top angle which does a color-flip once you’re at about 45 degrees. It’s a bummer, but if you’re the kind of person that keeps your tablet flat on the table most of the time, you’ll have a fine time. You’ll want to check this out in the store before you pick it up for this reason alone.

Software

This unit works with Lenovo’s own flavor of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich – this means there are a few modifications in the way you move back and forth between homescreens and you’ve got a vast collection of apps right out of the box. You also have some lovely widgets that are essentially giant folders where you can store your apps, get weather information, access music you’ve got stored on the device, and write notes.

You’ll want to check out our hands-on with the device in the video in this post to see how the software functions – there are a few hiccups here and there due to what we must assume is a firmware build that’ll be updated by Lenovo in the future. Lag here and there and some tiny one-pixel-row skips. Nothing to get too bent out of shape over.

The list of apps that you get in this device, if I’ve not said it enough already, certainly appears large compared to its competition. GO Keyboard, AccuWeather, Amazon Kindle, Lenovo App Shop, Cut the Rope HD, Docs to Go, ES File Explorer, Evernote, GameTanium, Lenovo Registration, LoPokeTALK for low-priced calls (for real, really), News Republic, Norton Security, ooVoo, PrinterShare for Lenovo, Skype, SugarSync, Wi-fi Direct, and Zinio – and these are only the apps added by Lenovo, there’s also the full set of Google apps you get with basically every Android device on the regular – the list also changes based on which region you pick this device up in.

This device is designed for the first-time Android user – one who wants to see what a variety of apps can do without looking for them first on the Google Play app store. If that’s you, you’ll feel perfectly comfortable in this environment. There’s also a lovely app simply called “UI Intro” that shows a video for your benefit – a lovely presentation of the user interface on your device – and it looks nice!

Camera

The camera on the back – all 3 megapixels of it – is in place for basic shooting only. Don’t expect it to perform any miracles. That said, if you’re into the Instagram scene, you’ll have some great success. Have a peek at some examples of highest-definition-possible photos and video.

Battery Life and Benchmarks

With the NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core processor under the hood here with 1.2Ghz clock speed, you’ve got what’s basically the best piece of architecture in the whole device. NVIDIA’s constructed a processor that makes this device run smoothly – for the most part – with its only limits appearing to be the user interface in certain areas which seem to lag upon opening. Having seen the processor in action on several tablets in the past, I’d say these oddities have more to do with the software build than they have to do with the hardware – but in the end it’s always a combination of the two.

Have a peek at the basic benchmarks we’ve run on this device above and check the battery time below as well. This device benefits from the “ninja” 5th core in the processor (the Tegra 3 actually has 5 cores, the 5th only running when the device doesn’t need to be running high-demand tasks) – here the A2109 Lenovo tablet uses this architecture well, with battery life that does great on a regular basis.

Wrap-up

This device is a good effort from Lenovo, but put up in a competition against the rest of the Tegra 3 tablets we’ve seen, it’s just a bit lacking. If you’re looking for a 9-inch tablet with NVIDIA processing power inside it, this is your best bet, that’s for certain – especially if you just want it to be your radio all on its own: the speakers are really worth a listen. The A2109 really does have the power to run next-generation apps too, and you’ll have full access to the NVIDIA TegraZone app collection as well.

This device will run you $299, and for that price you’ll not be finding another tablet like the A2109. You can of course pick up a Nexus 7 for $199 – but that’s smaller than this. You could get an iPad mini (if it does indeed exist in a few weeks), but that won’t have Android, of course, and it certainly wont have a 9-inch display. Basically the final verdict is this: with a unique build, you won’t find Lenovo’s offering here lacking if you want it for a media-delivery system – unless the display will trip you up: check it out in the store, you simply must.

The new update fixes a handful of bugs and improves performance all around, including faster page loading and tabbed browsing in the new web browser, as well as new locking/unlocking features that allow you to unlock your ATRIX 2 directly to a variety of apps like the camera, text messages, or the phone dialer.

Users can now also use Face Unlock, which unlocks your phone using your front-facing camera for facial recognition. You can create folders on your homescreen, and there’s also a new “swipe away” notifications bar. On top of these features, the update is also changing some things around. For instance, the contacts app is being replaced with the new People app, which pulls in information from different sources and gathers it into one place.

AT&T says you can get the update now by going to Settings > About phone > System updates, or you can just wait for a notification that will prompt you to update. Make sure you have access to a WiFi connection, since the update won’t install over a data connection. Check out our full review of the ATRIX 2 for more details about the phone.

This device has a 5 megapixel camera on the back with a collection of LG’s newest and most entertaining features. One example is their “Cheese Shot” which allows you to simply say “cheese” loud enough for the phone to hear when you’ve got the feature activated to take a photo. This device also has panorama photo mode and continuous shot – for rapid-fire shooting.

You’ve got SlackerRadio onboard for radio stations galore, SmartShare for DLNA-capable pushing of your media to HDTVs, and BLuetooth 3.0 for wireless connections as well. This device works with Mobile Hotspot for shared data, Wi-fi calling, and a lovely 2,150 mAh battery under the hood for lots and lots of uptime. The camera on this device also shoots 1080p video for your favorite memory collecting – with simultaneous video and photos too!

The LG Optimus L9 is a continuation of the series of Optimus devices we saw earlier this year at IFA 2012. This collection sizes up LG’s vision for the smartphone with squared edges and an experience that’s just as lovely on one LG as it is on the next – and here with a dual-core 1GHz processor (OMAP from Texas Instruments) and T-Mobile’s 4G network, you’ll be rolling with speed and power. This device will be available “this fall” from T-Mobile – pricing incoming, too!

Inside you’ll find 32GB of internal storage expandable up to 80GB with a microSD card slot that’ll allow up to a 48GB card – you’ll have to buy that separately, of course. This device is slightly different from the international version of the device in that it’s not working with the 13 megapixel camera on the back, here bringing an 8 megapixel shooter to the show. This camera does bring on some features that LG is still very proud of, of course, those including:

• Zero shutter lag
• Live Shot, to capture simultaneous video and still images
• Time Catch Shot, which takes the perfect shot even if the shutter was pressed at the wrong time.

This device has a 4.7-inch True HD IPS Plus display with Live Zooming. You’ll be able to zoom in up to give times while a video is being streamed – strange stuff, for certain. This device also has Dual Screen Dual Play for content sharing with other electronic devices like televisions while you continue to use your device however you like. It’s also got QSlide which allows you to text or browse the internet while you continue to watch a video – split it up!

You’ve got a 2100 mAh battery inside for extra-long battery life, this enhanced by the Snapdragon S4′s battery conservation powers, mind you, too. You’ll also be working with QuickMemo as it was with the LG Optimus Vu, this bringing on your ability to draw on screenshots you’ve just taken. These screenshots can instantly be shared as an attachment or as its own uniquely hosted URL-based image.

Again this device is not yet priced or dated on AT&T’s 4G LTE network – stay tuned for final details as they arrive! Also BONUS: Check our hands-on with the international version of this device, and make sure you NOTE that this is slightly different from the AT&T release we’re speaking of above.

The HTC One X+ has the smaller of the two displays at 4.7-inches, but at that size with its 1280 x 720p Super LCD 2 panel, you get the higher of the two screen resolutions with 312 ppi. Samsung presents a 1280 x 720 HD Super AMOLED display over 4.8-inches, this bringing it up to 306 ppi in the end. Both devices are relatively light, with the One X+ coming in at 4.55 oz while the Galaxy S III weighs in at 4.7 oz. [Check our HTC One X+ hands-on right this minute!]

With the 5.31 x 2.75 x 0.35 inch body of the HTC One X+, you’ve essentially got just about as similar a size as you’re going to get on a different manufacturer with the Galaxy S III measuring in at 5.38 x 2.78 x 0.34 inches. The One X+ has appeared in black thus far while the Galaxy S III is available in blue, white, and garnet red – and again, all of these options either do now exist or will soon exist on AT&T in the USA. The HTC One X+ comes with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean right out of the box and the Galaxy S III currently works with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

The processors in these devices are rather different – though they may very well act rather similar in the end. The One X+ works with the NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core processor as its international iteration does while the Galaxy S III uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor. Have a peek at the battle between HTC One X and HTC One X (with different processors) to get an idea of what we’ll be dealing with here.

Both devices work with NFC, both have an 8 megapixel camera on the back, and the HTC One X+ works with an extra processor made specifically for image processing, just as the rest of the HTC One series has as well. With the HTC One X+ you’ll have Google’s own Voice Assistant and the new Google Now as revealed on the Galaxy Nexus with Jelly Bean – the Galaxy S III works with S-Voice for voice assistance.

Both devices work with a 2100mAh battery though the HTC’s version of it is not able to be removed from the device, while Samsung’s will be able to be switched out at will. The HTC device has 64GB of internal storage while the Galaxy S III on AT&T works with either 16 or 32GB of internal storage and has a microSD card slot for expansion up to an additional 64GB. The One X+ will work with Beats Audio and a built-in FM radio while the Galaxy S III has neither.

The HTC One X+ also works with Sense 4+, a new user interface from HTC, while Samsung works with TouchWiz. Both operating systems are rather interesting and fun to use, and both offer options for media consumption – music and video stores, that is. The pricing for the HTC One X+ has not yet been revealed, but the Galaxy S III will cost you either $199.99 or $249.99 on-contract depending on the internal storage size you want. Check em both out in your local AT&T retail location soon!

A month ago, Jelly Bean was at 1.2-percent, while Ice Cream Sandwich, the previous version, was at 20.9-percent. ICS has now crept up to 23.7-percent, a minor increase, though it’s at the cost of Gingerbread and Honeycomb, rather than any of the older versions of Android.

In fact, with Cupcake, Donut, Eclair, and Froyo all unchanged from the last batch of stats, it seems those devices – and their users – are resolutely fixed on the OS they’re currently running. The only shuffling now is among more recent phones and tablets.

Google’s numbers stand in stark contrast to those of Apple, which saw 15-percent of iOS devices upgrade to iOS 6 within 24 hours of its release. Android fragmentation continues to be an issue in the mobile market, especially given manufacturers – such as HTC, with today’s AT&T One VX – release devices running old software out of the box.

[via Android Community]

The Samsung Galaxy Note II will be coming to AT&T with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean as well as HD Super AMOLED display technology and AT&T-specific software additions. You’ll find the Samsung Galaxy Note II working and looking essentially the same as it is on every other carrier around the world, this being part of Samsung’s new initiative to keep a solid single experience for each hero device they produce from the Galaxy S III forward.

This set of releases includes the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 tablet as well. This device has VPN access for secure business use, a giant 7000 mAh battery for super-long uptime without the need to charge, and Samsung apps galore like Media Hub, Smart Remote (for your HDTV), and AllShare Play. Check our full review of the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 right this minute to see the device in its wi-fi-only form.

The Samsung Galaxy Rugby Pro is a hardcore device made with 810g military specifications. It’s waterproof, shock resistant, and dust proof as well. You’ve got a 4-inch display thats WVGA resolution and Super AMOLED for ultra brightness, and you’ve got a 5 megapixel camera on the back with the ability to record 720p video. This device also includes full device encryption and EAS corporate email support as well as Enhanced Push-to-Talk functionality when the service is launched. This device is a next-generation version of the original which we took a peek at in our Samsung Rugby Smart Review.

Finally there’s the Samsung Galaxy Express a device with a 4.5-inch Super AMOLED Plus display, a 1.5Ghz dual-core processor, 2000 mAh battery, 5 megapixel camera on its back. The Galaxy Express as well as the rest of the devices here will be available from AT&T “in the coming months” – we’ll be getting pricing and release dates soon, very soon!

Hardware

The Samsung Galaxy Stellar offers a 4-inch WVGA touch screen running at 800 x 480 resolution. This means that you won’t see HD listed in a rundown of its features, but to be honest, you can’t really expect HD with a phone that you can get for free. The lack of HD will be a turn off for some, but the screen is still colorful and bright, so those who can live without HD will probably be satisfied with the Stellar’s screen. At 4-inches, it’s a bit smaller than we’re used to seeing with other smartphones, but it still gets the job done. To my surprise, typing on the Stellar’s screen was actually easier than expected, but mistakes will eventually creep in, especially if you’re used to typing on a bigger screen.

On the inside, we have a Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor clocked at 1.2Ghz running the show. Obviously, that isn’t the best processor around, but it still does what it’s intended to do, and it keeps things running along smoothly. Despite a lack of processing power when held up to other smartphones, the Stellar moves along pretty fast – switching between home screens is quick and fluid, and apps open up almost immediately as well. Even though this is a budget handset, Samsung did manage to put a relatively decent processor under the hood, making cuts elsewhere (more on that later), so that’s definitely appreciated.

As far as memory goes, we have 4GB of internal storage, but like most smartphones these days, that can be expanded by with the use of micro SD cards. It would have been nice to see Samsung include 8GB of internal storage, especially considering the pre-loaded apps bring available storage space down to just 1.73GB. Make no mistake, if you’re the type of person who downloads a bunch of apps, you’ll definitely need to pick up a micro SD card to boost storage space. There’s also 1GB of RAM working in tandem with the CPU, doing its part to keep things chugging along at a satisfactory pace. That’s the same amount of RAM that Samsung included in its flagship, the Galaxy S III, in some regions, so there really aren’t any complaints there.

On the outside, we don’t have too much going on. The power button is located on the upper right side of the device, while the volume buttons and micro SD slot have taken up residence on the left side. A mini USB port for charging and data transfer is found on the bottom, and just below the screen, we have the previous, home, recent apps, and menu buttons. The whole unit weighs in at 4.7 ounces, and I have to say that it does feel nice in the hand. The smaller, 4-inch screen lends to a better fit, and even though that tinier screen does have some drawbacks, it means that the Stellar doesn’t feel as bulky as phones with a 4.8 or 4.3-inch screen.

It doesn’t feel all that sturdy, but it does have a little bit of weight to it, so it can withstand some bumps. If you’re clumsy or lead a rough and tumble life, however, you’ll probably want to skip the Galaxy Stellar in favor of something more resilient. The Stellar isn’t going to turn any heads, meaning it isn’t exactly “sexy,” but that’s not to say it looks terrible either. Like everything else about this phone, it sports an average look, and it certainly doesn’t look like it’s an expensive handset. In short, buying this phone with the expectation that it will elicit questions like “oooh, what kind of phone is that?” from your friends will only lead to disappointment (trust me, no one is going to be asking about your phone).

This bad boy comes running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box, and though it would have been nice to see it running Jelly Bean now that we’re more than two months out from release, that was a bit too much to ask, I’m afraid. There isn’t anything wrong with Ice Cream Sandwich, however, and it’s important to keep in mind that this phone isn’t aimed at those who want the latest and greatest as soon as possible. Ice Cream Sandwich will be more than enough for those who will actually buy and use this phone, so Samsung can’t be faulted for not including Jelly Bean.

Software

So, we know by now that the Samsung Galaxy Stellar is a decent, albeit relatively boring smartphone. There is one feature that makes this phone stick out in a sea of other mid-range handsets though: starter mode. We’ve seen starter mode on a couple of other handsets – the Pantech MARAUDER immediately comes to mind – and it’s here in full force with the Stellar as well. For the uninitiated, starter mode allows new users to ease into their new smartphone by offering a simplified set up.

I know some of you are probably chuckling at the thought of someone needing a beginner’s course to Android, but making the jump from a feature phone to a smartphone for the first time can be pretty intimidating for those who aren’t tech savvy. You have to remember that smartphones offer a lot of additional functionality over the feature phones of the past, so it’s easy to understand why someone may need to be slowly introduced to everything that Android has to offer.

Starter mode on the Galaxy Stellar is pretty straightforward: instead of offering a bunch of blank home screens just waiting to be filled with shortcuts, starter mode fills the Stellar’s five default home screens (you can bring the number of home screens up to seven, for the record) with a selection of preset widgets. On the main screen, a widget for your favorite contacts appears right below the time and date. A quick dialer can be found on one of the other home screens, allowing users to just swipe over and begin dialing. Out of all of the preset widgets, this one seems to be the least useful – after all, the default location for the dialer is at the bottom of the main screen, meaning that you only have to touch instead of swipe to begin dialing away. I know I just made the case for those who are intimidated by making the switch to a smartphone for the first time, but bringing up the dialer is the easiest thing you can do on nearly all smartphones (aside from turning it on, I suppose).

One of the screens in starter mode displays your “favorite settings,” which really just allows you to change things like your ringtone, wallpaper, font size, volume, and brightness quickly. Here you can also check your data and battery usage, and you can go straight to the settings screen from here as well. There’s a home screen dedicated to your favorite apps (which you can add to and change), with apps like the Play Store, camera, clock, email, and search in there from the get-go. The final home screen is dedicated to the Amazon apps that come installed on the Stellar. It should be noted that you can still add apps to your home screens while using starter mode, but with the dialer, favorite apps, and favorite settings all taking an up an entire screen each, there isn’t much extra real estate to work with.

Besides the preset widgets, there doesn’t appear to be much difference between starter mode and Standard Mode. In other words, starter mode has all of the functionality of standard mode, but comes with preset widgets to make navigation easier from the start. You’re free to move these widgets around or remove them entirely, and since all of these widgets are available in the widget interface anyway, the only notable difference between the two modes is that starter mode arranges them on the home screens for you. Therefore, there is no reason at all for someone who is already familiar with Android to use starter mode, unless they wanted those widgets on their home screens and wanted to save a little bit of time getting them all in place.

You can also change between starter mode and standard mode at will in the settings, meaning that you can always go back if you try out standard mode and decide you aren’t ready for it yet. That being said, keep in mind that aside from the preset widgets, both modes are practically the same, so most of those who begin their Android journey in starter mode will likely be graduating to standard mode in no time at all.

Interestingly, the Galaxy Stellar comes with a set of Amazon apps pre-installed. Samsung and Verizon actually made a point of mentioning this in advertising for the Stellar, which was a bit confusing at first. After all, you’d think an Android phone would be advertising the suite of Google apps which come standard, but not this time around. In any case, Amazon Kindle, Shop, Music, and Audible apps are right there alongside Google Plus, Google Maps, and the Google Play Store, so no worries there. What it all boils down to is that with the Stellar, you’ll have a number of shopping options at your disposal – good for people with cash to burn and space to fill, bad for the app addicted who probably shouldn’t be spending so much money on software for their phone.

Battery

If there’s one rock star of this show, it’s the battery. The Stellar comes equipped with a beefy 2,100mAh battery, and since there isn’t an HD screen and the processor isn’t necessarily power hungry, the battery lasts longer than most smartphone users are probably used to. Verizon’s 4G LTE does its part in draining the battery, but users who aren’t constantly using their phone should definitely be able to get a few days out of a full charge. Turning down the screen brightness to about 50% will increase battery life while still providing an easy-to-read screen, but even with the screen brightness turned up to about 80%, I was able to play games and surf for about three hours straight and only bring the battery from 100% down to about 77%. Leaving the phone on all night (with WiFi on as well) drained the battery by another 25%, so you’ve got some significant battery life to work with.

Verizon and Samsung say that you can get 17 hours of talk time out of the battery with 4G LTE enabled, but naturally that will fluctuate depending on other variables such as screen brightness and apps that are running in the background. Still, those who wouldn’t let go of their phone even if it were a matter of life and death (you know who you are) should have no problem going an entire day on a full charge.

Camera

While the battery is definitely something to get excited about, the camera most certainly is not. You’ve got a measly 3.2-megapixels in the camera’s main shooter, and as you can imagine, those 3.2-megapixels don’t deliver very pretty pictures. Images do threaten to look decent on the Stellar’s 4-inch screen, but one you get those images on a larger screen, you can see just how unimpressive they are. While it’s easy to recommend the Stellar to certain types of users, I can’t recommend it to anyone who is planning to use it to take a lot of pictures. If you need a phone that can snap a decent picture, you may as well start looking at other options now. Don’t just take my word for it though, as the sample shots taken with the Stellar’s camera say more than I ever could (be sure click the thumbnails at the end of the post to see the full size images).

Benchmarks

As expected, the Stellar isn’t exactly burning up the benchmarks. Results in both AnTuTu and Quadrant aren’t anything to write home about, with the Stellar coming in above devices like the Samsung Galaxy Tab, Nexus S, and Galaxy Nexus in Quadrant. Two of those devices are from 2010, so that should give you a pretty good idea of the caliber of the Stellar’s hardware. In AnTuTu we get similarly underwhelming results, with the Stellar managing to beat out the likes of the HTC EVO 3D, the original Galaxy S, and the Sony Ericsson X10i. In short, this is a true-to-form budget handset.

That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, though. We knew going into this that the Stellar wasn’t going to be posting excellent benchmark results, and despite the fact that its internals can be classified as outdated these days, the Stellar still manages to be a quick smartphone. Response times are low, and swiping through home screens is surprisingly smooth. It shouldn’t have much problem running most of the apps available on the Google Play Store, so as long as you’re not a technophile who needs a phone with sterling innards, you probably won’t have much of a problem with the Stellar.

Wrap-Up

The Samsung Galaxy Stellar is something of an enigma in the smartphone space. You can get the phone for free from Verizon by signing a two year commitment and taking advantage of a $50 mail-in rebate, and “free” is a term we typically associate with bottom-of-the-barrel phones. Even the normal $50 price tag with the contract signing indicates that the Stellar isn’t going to be that great, but the Stellar does manage to defy these notions in a few ways.

Yes, it’s true that the Stellar can’t really be considered “the best” in any way. If you’re a person who is always on the lookout for the best and you’ve made it this far in the review, I’m sorry to say that you’ve just wasted your time. This phone clearly isn’t for those who want to brag about their phone’s specs, nor is for those who want to pull a sexy smartphone out of their pocket and make the lowly masses jealous in doing so. If you’re looking for a budget-priced smartphone that still has some decent hardware though, the Galaxy Stellar is a good choice.

Alternatively, if you’re someone who is hesitant to jump into the realm of smartphones because you’re worried that they may to be too complex, you really can’t go wrong with the Stellar. It’s a phone that will hold your hand as you adjust from using a feature phone to a smartphone, and before long, you’ll be ready to take on the full “Android experience.”

For everyone else, the Galaxy Stellar will more than likely be a pass. Those who have cash to burn on a high-end phone or have been knee deep in the smartphone scene for a while now should definitely look elsewhere – to paraphrase a wise old man, this is not the droid you’re looking for. But that’s okay, because Samsung isn’t targeting you with the Stellar. Instead, it’s targeting those who want a wallet-friendly phone or those who need a device that will make for a good first smartphone. In that respect, the Samsung Galaxy Stellar succeeds with flying colors.

Formerly known as the Ubislate 7+ or the DataWind tablet, this new device isn’t anything extremely impressive or powerful, but it has a capacitive touch display, runs Android, and of course is extremely cheap. The Aakash 2 Tablet will be arriving on the 1 year anniversary as the original starting mid October.

Back in April we heard it was going to get released and then updated to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, and it appears that is still the plan — although it will launch with Gingerbread. The Aakash 2 tablet rocks a 7-Inch display, an ARM Cortex-A8 processor clocked at 1 GHz, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage, front facing camera, and Android 2.3 Gingerbread to keep things somewhat smooth. They’ve even added a SIM slot for phone capabilities, as well as microSD card slot support for expanding storage limits.

We’ve heard talk of more than 200 million of these slates being produced, and today they’ve detailed over 5.5 million orders just over the past few months. Just like the original, the Aakash 2 is being supplied to millions and millions of students completely free, and will run you INR 2000 (approx. $35) at retail stores throughout India. Apparently they’ll also be issuing an update to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich at some point, but when is still unknown.

[via AndroidCommunity]

And what a panel: the RAZR i’s Super AMOLED screen is a vision, a genuinely impressive display with graphics that sit just beneath the fingertip, and brightness and detail that make it perfect for video playback. [Update: Motorola told us 720p resolution at the event; in actual fact it's qHD] It’s a surprisingly light handset too, Motorola eschewing the traditional metal for more of its favored Kevlar, and while the raw-effect back may be a little try-hard in its look, the phone doesn’t feel cheap.

It’s too early to talk performance, though we’ll be putting the RAZR i through its paces in the full review to see how Intel’s 32nm chip keeps up with the ARM processors we’d more typically see in a smartphone. However, Android – Ice Cream Sandwich, sadly, not Jelly Bean – showed no lag in our brief play, and Motorola’s customizations, such as a “Circles” launcher, work smoothly.

There’s also customization in the camera app, with a new HDR mode that automatically suggests turning it on when the RAZR i decides the scene warrants some extra punch. It’s possible to shoot stills while simultaneously recording video, too.

In short, it’s a surprisingly compact handset for those who want a big screen without a pocket compromise; what may end up being the weak link is Intel’s chipset, but we won’t know that until we run it through the gauntlet of daily use.

Motorola RAZR i Hands-on video: