DL Awards 2015 Nominees: Best Smartphones
PUBLISHED ONDecember 19, 2014 8:34 AM
Best Overall Smartphone
Apple iPhone 6 Plus
Continuing its practice of launching two phone models simultaneously, Apple still managed to surprise some, by making both devices larger than its previous versions.
But it is the larger of the two phones - the iPhone 6 Plus - that gets our nod to be shortlisted in the best overall phone category. The features of this phone that caught our eye are its new chipset, a refreshed operating system and optical image stabilisation for the camera.
HTC One (M8)
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There is a reason why the HTC One (M8) has been lauded as one of the best smartphones of the year. It eschews the plastic build of its competitors by going for a metallic frame and introduced a depth of field sensor for the camera, to allow users to refocus images taken.
A refined skin over the Android operating system, together with front-firing speakers, made this one of the hottest phones of the year and into our shortlist.
LG G3
Two highlights of this phone caught our eye. First, it is the first smartphone from a major maker to have a quad high-definition screen on a phone. In other words, the LG G3 sets the current gold standard in phone displays that others have since followed.
Second, it introduced another first, in the form of a hybrid camera autofocus scheme that makes use of infrared light to determine the distance between the phone and the subject.
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 4G+
Samsung raised eyebrows when it first launched its oversized Galaxy Note phones to the market but these days, phones larger than 5.5 inches are the norm.
What is not the norm is Samsung's implementation of its phablet features, with the improved functions of its S Pen stylus and more multitasking features that make the device more of a mini computer than a large phone.
Sony Xperia Z3
The original Sony Xperia Z series phone - the Z1 - introduced a 20-megapixel camera to a smartphone, and it came with built-in water- and dust-proofing.
The Xperia Z3 is the latest guise and it comes with a faster processor in a more rounded aluminium frame.
It also boasts a longer battery life and is one of the few Sony devices that can be linked to the PlayStation 4 game console for remote play, where the phone acts as the TV screen for the console.
Best Android Smartphone
HTC One (M8)
There have been many versions of HTC's One series of devices, but the One (M8) stands out as being the best the Taiwanese company has ever brought to the market.
The phone's metallic shell around its 5-inch screen and front-facing speakers give it a sumptuous look unmatched by competing devices, while updates to HTC's Sense user interface software perks up the usability nicely.
The addition of a depth sensor on the camera also opens up new avenues for photographers.
LG G3
The amazing thing about the display of the LG G3 is not just in how gorgeous this quad high-definition screen is, but also the fact that the South Korean tech giant has managed to fit the 5.5-inch screen into a frame with such a thin bezel.
This makes the phone smaller than it should be. LG also brought out the big guns in the camera department, with a hybrid autofocus system that speeds up focusing, using infrared light.
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 4G+
Building a big phone is more than just bumping up the screen size and Samsung is continuing to show why it is the undisputed leader in the phablet category.
The updated S Pen stylus on this 5.7-inch giant is more sensitive when it comes to writing and drawing, and new software turns it into a PC mouse-like tool that makes multitasking a breeze.
Toss in a quad high-definition screen and a sharp 16MP camera and the Galaxy Note 4 4G+ becomes a great example of what the Android platform is capable of.
Sony Xperia Z3
With its Z series phones, Sony has set the bar high with specifications such as a 20-megapixel camera and 4K video-recording.
The Xperia Z3 improves on the previous iterations with a more refined body, as well as new features that include a higher water- and dust-proof rating, and the ability to play with the PlayStation 4 on the device by using the phone as a screen.
Samsung Galaxy Note Edge 4G+
The Samsung Galaxy Note Edge is almost identical to the Samsung Galaxy Note 4, except for the addition of a 160-pixel curved display on the right edge of the phone, alongside the 5.6-inch quad high- definition screen.
Menu icons are packed neatly on this curved display. Incoming notifications, including phone calls and messages, are displayed on this screen. And they do so without disrupting any activities on the main window.
Best Phablet
Apple iPhone 6 Plus
Though Apple has resisted giving in to the phablet trend until recently, it is clear it has been researching this product genre for quite some time.
The user interface on the iPhone 6 Plus, with a control scheme that still makes it easy to operate this 5.5-inch device with one hand, is testament to its effort.
LG G3
In the land of giant phones, the LG G3 is the most elegant one around. It achieves that without sacrificing screen size, but by paring down the dimensions of the phone body through the use of an extremely thin bezel.
The inclusion of a full suite of multitasking software, one-hand-use software and easy-to-reach buttons make this a phablet that is extremely easy to use.
Oppo N3
One of the biggest problems facing phablet users is the unwieldiness of two-handed use. The Oppo N3 helps with clever features that do away with the need for one-handed operation.
For instance, it has a motorised camera that rotates from the back to the front, to ensure that all photos taken from the same phone have the same consistent look and quality.
Swiping up and down on the screen flips the camera over, and panoramic photos are now easier to shoot in focus, as owners simply have to hold the camera in place, while the motorised camera snaps such a photo in under 30 seconds.
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 4G+
The grandfather of phablet phones continues to show that merely bumping up the screen size is not enough to win the fight.
The Note 4 4G+ comes with features that make one-handed operation easy. It also has new multitasking features that make better use of the screen real estate.
Xiaomi Redmi Note
Giant phones need not always come with a supersized price tag. That is the message from the Chinese brand Xiaomi with the Redmi Note, a 5.5-inch device that costs a fraction of its peers, at just $199.
It may not have a fancy camera, dazzling screen or multitasking prowess, but packing in the best features is not the point. Being affordable and having a sensible mix of hardware is what is enticing about this phablet.
It is also something no other vendors has achieved yet.
Best Phone Camera
Apple iPhone 6 Plus
The camera on Apple's iPhone has long been held in high regard.
The 8-megapixel camera in the iPhone 6 Plus continues in the same vein and adds improvements in useful areas. One is the addition of optical image stabilisation (OIS).
HTC Desire Eye
Smartphones these days all come with two cameras, although the one in the rear usually has a higher resolution sensor compared to the one in the front.
With selfie-taking becoming an increasingly important reason for using a phone's camera, HTC has at last come up with a phone that places equal emphasis on both the front and rear cameras.
The two cameras in the Desire Eye have the same high quality 13MP sensor, with the same dual-LED flash. You can even shoot with both cameras at the same time.
LG G3
Most smartphone cameras borrow from the technologies of dedicated cameras, including their autofocus and HDR schemes.
The LG G3 bucks the trend by introducing a brand new laser autofocus system that uses infrared beams to map the presence and depth of objects.
It combines this with traditional autofocus, to allow its camera to latch on to objects in a much quicker response time, making it easy to snap that decisive moment.
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 4G+
Samsung knows that mere megapixel count is not the final say in determining the prowess of a camera. So, it has spent considerable effort in creating the 16MP camera in its Galaxy Note 4.
With enhancements in colour reproduction, speed and sharpness, and with the inclusion of OIS, the Note 4's camera ups the ante for other phone makers.
Sony Xperia Z3
Camera pixel count may have taken a backseat with some manufacturers, but it remains an important criteria when it comes to rendering details in images.
The 20-megapixel camera on the Sony Z3 provides a lot more details than its competitors. Sony has tweaked its camera software as well, improving the overall speed and performance of the camera.
Furthermore, as the only water- and dust-proof smartphone in this group, it is the only choice for those looking for a top-notch camera phone to bring along to the beach or pool party.
All reports by Oo Gin Lee, Sherwin Loh, Trevor Tan, Vincent Chang, Ebel Tang and Joshua Chen. For a chance to win and to vote, go to www.straitstimes.com/2015DigitalLifeAwards
This article was first published on Dec 17, 2014.
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