Tag: Apple

Are Wearables Still A Thing?

Posted on by ja3techreviews

So the big Apple Event came, it saw, it conquered, more-or-less and left its faithful fan base clamoring for more.  Now that the new iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, iPhone X and the Apple watch, all set to drop either later this month or first part of November, have been unveiled, color me somewhat impressed but highly confused .  All the while, during the marketing, excuse me, press event…Freudian Slip; I kept asking myself a multitude of questions such as:  1) Would anyone really pay $999.00 plus tax for a phone? Come on, that’s like six or seven months worth of groceries.  2) Why is Apple making it seem like they were the first one to do many of these features?  I mean (fill in the blank) did this like (fill in the blank) years ago.  But the most important was, 3) Will the Apple watch actually do well; I mean, are wearables still a thing?  Apparently, Apple still thinks wearables are a thing, and based on previous years sales, they would be foolish not continuing the offering.  However, a question such as this requires more than surface viewing of sales in ascertaining whether wearables are still relevant.

In understanding the essence of this quandary, we must first be honest with ourselves in addressing that the mobile technology industry is utterly stagnant right now.  No longer are the days of 2007 to 2015, where breakthroughs and advancements define whether a device is cutting edge and worthy of consideration.  Now, mobile devices have become more about novelty, convenience, and fashion.  As such, companies are cashing in by placating more to our desires to have the “latest trends” as opposed to a device’s innovations and added value in our lives.  Don’t get me wrong, the usefulness of your cellphone remains a stable, as it is our life line in staying in touch with others, browsing the web for useful (or nonsense) information, or merely conducting your daily business affairs.  And that remains my point, ONE device should be the backbone of our productivity.  Believe me, wearables are slowly becoming their own stand alone entities, but can they replace the array of uses a cellphone offers?  My opinion is these are more a fashionable augmentations, but not necessities, and as such, definitely do not seem overtly relevant.  Doing this article made me think about Google Glass, one of the first major wearable, and how that was supposed to revolutionize the tech industry.  And it did, for a time, but the novelty wore thin as its pragmatism was superseded by the the more multi-purpose smartphone.  Let’s play the anecdote game, if you had a good car, would you buy a motorcycle?  I think many would answer “yes”, but what would be your reason?  Many would probably say, “Because having a motorcycle would be cool and fun.”  That is exactly the point, the motorcycle would be desired more for its novelty and enjoyment, less for its practical replacement of the automobile.  Some situation may cause this to vary, but overall, most would claim this to be the case.

Building off the notion of novelty versus necessity, we find ourselves at the corner of price and usefulness, while walking through these rough city streets searching for answers.  At launch, the Apple Watch 3 will debut with a $399 price tag, respectively, while its iPhone counterparts will start at $699 and $799.  As stellar and impressive as the Apple Watch 3 may be, is it overall utility equal or greater than its phone brethren, and the resounding answer of “no” seems obvious to me.  Though it can make/receive calls, play music, view/send text messages, can you honestly see yourself doing more?  Does writing or responding to an email seem plausible?  Watching video content for any period of time?  Playing a graphic-demanding game?  You probably found yourself with the conclusion of “no” to all or any combination of these questions.  And as such, the $399 price point proves disproportionate to usefulness/functionality comparative to its phone alternatives.  A more feasible price point for wearables would start at $15 (for items such as fitness trackers) and maxing out at the $200 price (for smart watches).  This is just my humble opinion, as it does not make sense for their pricing to be anywhere near that of a more encompassing phone.  My stance remains that until we reach a point when wearable pricing is comparable to its added value in our daily lives, I will continue seeing these as secondary technology, bought only if our wants outweigh our needs.  Or if a rich uncle just kicked the bucket and left us billions of dollars; whichever comes first.

After investigating the facts, the posed question still remains, “Are wearables a thing?” For me, the conclusion is this; they are a thing, but not a very relevant thing.  I have two smart watches still sitting in their packaging, and after playing with them a few times, found no practical uses in my daily grind.  But they do look hella cool!  Due to this, my beastly Huawei Mate 9 and sleek-as-hell LG G6 will continue being two pillars of productivity, sans making money and paying bills.  Oh, wouldn’t that be great if they could (sighs)?  Depending on which economist you read, we are either slowly recovering from a long recession or heading towards a great depression, meaning money is tight. Spend your money sensibly on the items that have more value adds in your life. For me, wearables are a novelty you acquire for the style, the convenience, or the simple enjoyment.  Not something that will make or break you!

Top Smartphones…2016 Edition

Posted on by ja3techreviews

Seriously, the year is already over?!?!  Really?!?!  2016 was a, well, an interesting year, to say the least. From the Note 7 debacle, to the “wtf was that” called the LG G5, the overall dip in consumer spending as a whole, and Microsoft unable to give away phones, we scoured and identified the Top devices of 2016; the best little nuggets, shall we say, and composed this list ranking them.

For all you newbies and faithful alike, I break this down into two categories, well three this year, but more on that later, described as follows: (i) top premier smartphone – smartphones over $399 (ii) top budget smartphone – smartphones at or under $399. Bear with me as these are my honest opinions based on devices reviewed throughout the year. Hopefully you agree, but if not, just sit back and enjoy.

TOP PREMIER SMARTPHONES
1) Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge – You have to tip your hat to a company that learns from its mistakes.  The Galaxy line took some hits in 2015 due to poor battery life, lack of sd card expansion, and overly aggressive RAM management.  Call all problems corrected.  And just as a caveat, I’m not a big Samsung fan, but even I was amazed by the glory that were these two devices.

2) iPhone 7 and 7 Plus – Another bland offering from Apple this year, but what it lacks in that certain “Je ne sais quoi” is surely offset by the continuation of great software optimization, introduction of dust and water resistance (IP-67 certification), outstanding camera, and improved battery.  Again, the design matriculates along the boring scale, so something still to improve on, Tim Cook.

3) Google Pixel and Pixel XL – Didn’t like it and still don’t like it (for my own personal usage) but it still stands as one of the elite devices of 2016 for it’s impeccable camera in all lighting, great software and hardware synergy, and amazing screen.  If it was, say, $360 cheaper, it could arguably be the best device of the year, in my opinion.

4) LG V20 – LG may not be winning in overall popularity among consumers, but year-on-year, they keep cranking out gems.  The V20 does not deviate from that.  The secondary screen continues, and the battery life would make anyone pleased, so another great one from the South Korean maker.

5) OnePlus 3T – Yes, OnePlus devices have finally peaked above the budget threshold.  It was always a matter of time, but the company continues churning out the best “bang-for-your-buck” phones.  A whopping 6GB of RAM, impressive all-day battery life, all inclusive cellular connectivity, dual-sim capable, and sleek design are propelling Carl Pei’s baby to the head of the class in the industry.  For someone who still likes rooting and rom-ing, OnePlus is your ticket to paradise, so pack your bags, we leave tonight.

6) Motorola-Lenovo Moto Z Phones- Modularity done right is a truly splendid thing, and this was done right (take notes G5).  Motorola-Lenovo continues its grasp of fantastic designs and innovations, and I’m excited for what they will showcase in 2017.

7) Xiaomi Mi Mix – Bezzle-less?  Yup, bezzle-less display!  Truly, I don’t know if anything else needs to be said.

8) HTC 10 – So HTC dropped the “One” moniker and the front facing speakers, but kept the smooth, aluminum unibody figure, while improving both software and hardware performance. Still, something was missing from this one, as I could never call it a true “flagship” device, nor worthy of daily driver material.  But the once left for dead company finds itself resurfacing towards relevance….continue that climb young one!

9) HP Elite x3 – Everyone who knows me, or reads my articles, knows I have a certain soft spot in my heart for Windows devices.  Enter the HP Elite x3, a device that got right what the Lumia 950 got wrong.  The hefty $649 price tag keeps this from being an easy recommend, but from performance to style, this was a hot device.

10) Asus Zenfone 3 Deluxe – When the heck did Asus phones get above $300?  Well, this was a year of exceptions, and the Zenfone did not escape those nasty clutches!  I loved testing this devices, as the pillars making a great device were present, but the only pillar I could not accept, the $659.99 price tag.  Much like I stated about the Pixel phones, a steep price reduction would put this in “must buy” territory.

BEST BUDGET SMARTPHONES
1) ZTE Axon 7 – I was over the moon in love with this device and still am (review still coming in a 6-months after format).  Great battery with quick charge capabilities, phenomenal audio experience, great screen quality, fantastic call quality, and outlandish RAM capacity makes this my past, current and future daily driver for awhile.  At the consumer-friendly $379.00 off-contract, you are getting a flagship-like experience for budget-like bucks.

2) ZTE ZMAX Pro – Get the crown out because ZTE cemented itself as most improved manufacturer of the year banging out two elite phones at pauper prices.  The ZTE ZMAX Pro, much like the Axon 7, shares a pleasurably unique user experience with little-to-no sacrifices. Being T-Mobile and MetroPCS exclusives knock down its rating from a potential top placing, but we can hope for the unlocked version, making this a must by for 2017.

3) Alcatel OneTouch Idol 4s – If a girl, or guy for you ladies, can cook, clean, hold you close, buy you presents, and care for you on those down days; they are a keeper.  The same can be said about the Idol 4s, as the attractive build, nice user interface, decent battery, came packaged with a Incipio case, screen protector, JBL Headphones, and VR headset for the low price of $399.00.  Idol 4s, will you marry me? For all you Windows junkies, she has a cute sister too (Idol 4s Windows).

4) Huawei Honor 5x – Building off their Nexus 6p inspired success in the Western Hemisphere, Huawei launched the Honor 5x budget device at CES earlier this year, and what a launch it was. Nice processing power, dual-sim capable, impressive call clarity, and a fingerprint sensor on a sub-$200 device made this an early recommend.  Even today, at retailer discounted prices, I still feel this is one of the better phones of the year.

5) Xiaomi Mi Note 2 – Xiaomi seemingly will be one of the best manufacturers we may never hear about in the US.  Churning out another wonderful device in the Mi Note line was a foregone conclusion for one of the top sellers in China, and during my testing, I was suprised by the zippy iPhone-esque clone.  Again, its radios are tuned for Asia and Eastern Europe, but for a Wi-Fi only device, you could do no wrong getting this.

6) Nextbit Robin – The startup company hoped on making waves in 2016, but instead, sales indicate merely a belly-flopping thud.  Currently going for as low as $179.99, a device sporting a now, only 2-generation old capable processor, front facing speakers, fingerprint sensor, and acclimating cloud storage, this falls in the great budget finds of the year.

7) Huawei Honor 8 – The Honor 8 was the Kat Dennings of phones.  It had the most amazing curves, glorious backside and magnificent display jammed into a nice little frame. But the user experience was more like Cait Jenner, as it was marred by poor (and that is being polite) battery life and and a quirky EMotion user interface.  That being said, if you value style, and a stunning one at that, over substance, the Honor 8 is for you.  And currently going for $299.99 with extras, it’s priced for us all.

8) Motorola-Lenovo Moto G4 and G4 Play – These probably would have fallen in the upper-tier of phones…six years ago, but for 2016, the sub-1080p display and lower-end processors were overcome by the immaculate battery life and zippier than expected performance.  Factor in a price tag under $200, and you just found the recipe for a happy entry-level device or a great backup device.

9) LeEco Le Pro 3 – I wanted to use a Pepe Le Pew pun but I shall refrain.  This newcomer in the US market has been turning heads with its first, yet quality offering.  The launcher and its layout prove problematic for Android experts, but slapping on a new launcher, you have something fabulous all for under $279.99

10) LG K7 – Debuting in January, my initial thoughts were this was merely replacement or interim phone material, but after my testing period, the Snapdragon 210-enabled device performed well above its specs.  Accompanied by LG’s stylistic and durable design for under $100.00….I smell a winner!

My father used to tell me, find the humor in a bad situation.  So folks, I bring you the new category for this year…

MOST ENTERTAINING SMARTPHONES…FOR THE WRONG REASONS

1)  Samsung Galaxy Fireball f/k/a Galaxy Note 7 – Was it going to start a fire or not?  Was it going to singe the hairs on your crotch or legs?  “Probably” was the answer for both these questions, and because of that, it was the most entertaining device of the year.  You may go for your nightly slumber only to wakeup and run screaming for the exits. But you must admit, any phone requiring you keep a fire extinguisher and some burn compound handy makes for good times.

2)  LG G5 – WTF?!?!  I know what LG was attempting, finally making the long awaited modular devices a reality, but this turned into a hot mess from jump.  If the G5 was a person, she would be that one girl who shows up at a party with a combed over weave, purple top with lime green skirt, and some knock off Jordan’s….like I said, a HOT MESS!

Well everyone, that concludes the top smartphones of 2o16.  Tell me what you think in the comments section, whether you agree or disagree.  Thanks and stay tuned for more!

Corning Continues to Shape the Future

Posted on by ja3techreviews

As a child, while watching my favorite sci-fi movies, I would be in awe as the hero hacked into the building mainframe from a 3-D terminal hub, allowing all the doors to open, thus leading to the rescue of the gorgeous damsel in distress, or pressing a button on his watch unveiling a virtual map leading to the treasure.  Well, those once far-fetched ideas are no longer left to the imagination; they are here in the very world around us.  Everything from touch-display buildings, 3-D and virtual reality museums, and interfacing with every facet of our home from a smartphone or tablet, may have seemed impossible then; but let’s face it, the future is present and  incredible.  Spearheading many of these advancements is a company you’ve probably heard, but may not have known how integral their contributions are for the whole.  Today, everyone and their mother own a smartphone, and such, probably heard of this little thing called Gorilla Glass, the protective coverings for the displays, manufactured by Corning.  However, Corning is no one-trick pony, as they are key contributors in numerous design and patent-pending advancements, allowing for the dreams of yesterday to become reality today.  As their website banner states and so appripoaly exacts the premise of this article, “Our glass innovations power the devices that make lives easier, more entertaining, and more rewarding…”

In business since the 19th Century, Corning already has made monumental offerings to current advancements in several industries, and continues to engineer modern progressions in Avionics and Aerospace, communication, architecture, and the mobile electronics.  Two of the most notable contributions are their Gorilla and Willow Glass lines.  Gorilla Glass is a commonplace for many of the mobile devices we use today, serving an integral buffer and touch-capacitive functions to interact with our devices.   However, many underestimate the overall value of such a medium, as I did until researching for this article.  Corning believes the continued advancements within the Gorilla Glass line will be the bridge to a more interactive world.  Not merely an instrument to protect our displays, this glass can be incorporated with our existing structures such as wall, elevators, or direct link capable displays.  The idea is the very information we find on our computers, smartphones and tablets can be expanded into a larger form factor.  The concept of “smart walls” and “smart buildings” remains the underlying goal, and the possibilities and positive impacts to our world are vast.  In the not-so-distant future, elevators will not only serve as a mode of transport between levels, but also as outlets to news and video feeds.  The very walls in hospital offices and patient rooms will be filled with information on treatments, and will allow for improved methodologies of diagnosis and treatment, utilizing the synergy between medical instruments and this glass.  Again, this is readily available now, as Corning reiterates the Gorilla Glass line serves as a principal, in that it can be used as on overlay focusing over the existing walls in a building or home.  I’m fascinated for the day I go to a museum, and while I’m viewing a piece of work, I can touch the surrounding walls and retrieve pertinent facts regarding its origins to bios on the artist.  In my opinion, what Corning has already done and hopes to continue will be a great bridge in the divide between today’s concepts and a truly immersible world.

One other impact offering from Corning proves to be the applications of their Willow Glass line.  Similar to Gorilla Glass, Willow Glass will serve as a principal for OLED and LCD displays.  Unlike its counterpart, Willow Glass is geared more towards curved displays because of its thin, light and pliable characteristics.  Because Gorilla Glass is mass produced in slightly larger form factors, utilizing the “roll-to-roll” production of Willow Glass, much like that of newspapers from a printing press, will allow more cost-effective and quicker production times.  Additionally, Willow Glass can be used in smaller spaces, those the larger Gorilla Glass may not be able to be applied, while still maintaining similar, if not greater resolutions.  Simply put, Corning sees these as a means of producing quality displays where the implementation of larger glass methods may not be accessible.

However the method, it is apparent Corning hopes the continued advancements of these lines, and additional product lines, will continue to shape the interactive world of tomorrow.  I for one am impressed by the technology readily available and challenge designers implement in upcoming projects.   Furthermore, I advise any readers to visit the Corning webpage and YouTube channel to see this and many other current projects that will unlock the future, today.

YouTube Channel for Corning

Corning.com

Gorilla Glass
Gorilla Glass 2 Testing (Image courtesy of Corning.com)
Willow Glass
Willow Glass Image (Image courtesy of Appliancedesign.com)

Best Smartphones of 2015

Posted on by ja3techreviews

Ah yes, winter is finally here, and as we wind down this incredible year, I would like to take a look back at which manufacturers titillated us with their naughtiest and nicest offerings. Share with me as I announce my best smartphones of 2015.

For sake of ease, I broke this down into two categories: (i) best premier smartphone (ii) best budget smartphone – best smartphones at or under $399. Bear with me as these are my honest opinions based on devices I’ve reviewed throughout this year. Once again, these are my OPINIONS predicated on matrices I preset to give quantitative scores for ranking purposes. Hopefully you agree, but if not, sit back and enjoy.

BEST PREMIER SMARTPHONES
1) Samsung Galaxy Note 5 – With its stunning Quad-HD display, incredible S-Pen functions, and everything we loved about the Galaxy S6 (with some minor improvements as well), it’s hard not to rank this as the best smartphone of the year. Rumblings are Samsung already has production set to trump this one; sounds intriguing.

2) iPhone 6s and 6s Plus – I am ranking these together because more-or-less, they are identical devices, sans the size difference and a camera upgrade. Everyone knows I am not a huge fan of Apple, but I must give props to them on a magnificent looking and well performing phone. Did they steal features from previous devices? Yes, but who doesn’t nowadays. If you are not an Android or Windows junkie, the gorgeous build and overly expansive App Store will make you run, not walk, to get this phone.

3) Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge – The “cousin” of both the Note 5 and S6 ranks slightly above the latter due to the ingenious edge display. During my testing did I find much use for it? No, but I can attest the few videos I viewed were enhanced by this design feature. Even though it closely resembles the S6, I found myself just more impressed by this one. Definitely worth an upgrade if you are coming from the S5 or interested in a new Samsung device.

4) LG V10 – Even though it was a recent release, we will give it a pass as it is such an impressive device. It makes me think, if the LG G4 and the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge had a baby, this is what it would look like. Compliments aside, I still wonder why the secondary display is on the top, but as I said in a previous writing, LG knows how to make stunning phones. From the massive yet glorious 5.7” display, to the premium feel, and “yes” SD card storage and removable battery, make this a no-brainer for a converted or long time LG fans.

5) Samsung Galaxy S6 – I remember at the end of last year, Samsung stated a few minor tweaks would be in store for the upcoming S6…a few minor tweaks, huh? Oh yeah, you just dropped the SD card slot, shed the removable battery, changed from a plastic to all glass and metal design, changed the processing chip, and upped the price; but yeah, just a few minor tweaks! Jokes aside, when I first saw this, my jaw dropped to the floor. It is a stunning piece of craftsmanship and I enjoyed my testing time. You ask, why only five on the list then? Well, poor battery life and the very breakable glass design pulled it down from the original #1 spot earlier in the year. It is without a doubt, one of the best devices of the year and a must have upgrade for anyone ready to turn in their S4 or Note 3.

6) Nexus 6P – Over the last two years, I have been thoroughly impressed by such devices as the P8 and Mate 7, and thus, find myself becoming a huge fan of Huawei. This Chinese manufacturer reminds me of LG with its use of nice designs, premium feel in the hand, only diminished by its convoluted user overlay. Nexus 6P shows it’s a boss of a phone and corrects the overlay issue by running Stock Android. So you have a great design, incredible display, front-facing speakers, coupled with the fact you will be first-ish (sorry, Motorola has been the first for Android updates the last year-and-a-half) for OS updates, makes this all the more appealing.

7) LG G4 – The “little brother” to the LG V10, the G4 was the first of many incredible devices to be launched this year. You may ask “…why so low on the list then…” and that has more to do with how many amazing devices came out this year, as opposed to something LG did wrong. From the beautiful display, to the micro sd card slot and removable battery inclusion, and the ingenious application multi-function feature, there is little to disapprove.

8) Motorola Moto X Pure/Style – Whatever the name is, Motorola continues its dominance of putting out simple yet outstanding devices. Utilizing an outstanding design, pure Android OS software, and an understated price tag, you cannot go wrong with the Moto X Pure/Style. And “yes”, for all you who still use your devices to make and receive phone calls, Motorola continues producing cellphones with great reception and call quality. What’s more, Moto-maker adds the icing to the cake, allowing a fully immersive level of customization not present by other manufacturers.

9) OnePlus 2 – Carl Pei, the founder of OnePlus, sought out two (2) years ago to change the game, so to speak, and we’ve witnessed his precision in doing so. A small off-shoot of the OPPO family, OnePlus followed up its success of the OnePlus One to bring an even more outstanding offering in the OnePlus 2. Lack of NFC debate aside, there is little to dislike in this year’s entry.

10) HTC One M9 – Like the saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” HTC held true to this in carrying over many features from the One M8 to the new One M9. From the outrageous boom sound speakers, to the crisp display and expandable storage, there was little to dislike. However, HTC needs to understand, a few tweaks here-and-there will be necessary for next year’s M-series phone to make this list.

HONORABLE MENTION: ZTE Axon Pro, Microsoft Lumia 950/950 XL, Huawei Mate 7, Blackberry Priv, ZTE Nubia N9, Sony Xperia Z5 Premium

BEST BUDGET SMARTPHONES
1) OnePlus 2 – See everything from previous entry about OnePlus 2, and just remind yourself all that for just $389.00 off-contract.

2) Microsoft Lumia 640/640 XL – Since taking over the Lumia moniker from Nokia, Microsoft re-introduced itself into the smartphone race with a solid winner. Although a budget device in every facet, this checked all the boxes of what you want in a great phone. Near crystal clear call quality, adorable display, solid speakers, great camera for the pricing, and a solid OS, make-up for a not-so-stellar but improving App market. For what you get at a sub-$100 price, you won’t be upset

3) Asus Zenfone 2 – If you’ve read my review on this phone, you will realize I want to put this under the Best Premier Smartphones category, but because of the price, it certainly falls under budget, but with a solid asterisk. From the incredible display, large customization options, solid performance, and continual updates from Asus, it’s hard not to call this one of the top-20 best phones of 2015…overall!

4) Nexus 5X – The successor to its famous “little brother” of 2013, the Nexus 5, the Nexus 5X follows in the “family” footsteps with a quality build, great interface, solid performance, and stock Android to boot…bootloader pun intended. It falls at the top of the budget tier line, but several current promotions put it at under $350.00, which I call “budget” in the era of $800 and up premium phones. Little bro can cheerfully say with pride “That’s my brother!”

5) Oppo R7 – What can be called the parent company to OnePlus, Oppo continued making innovative devices this past year. The Oppo R7 without a doubt slides right into one of the best budget devices of the year. Improving on the popular R5, Oppo kept the slim design, re-introduced a 3.5 mm jack, and kept a gorgeous display. Although not a major player in the North American market, tech heads have lauded Oppo due in part to their consistent updates, great options in customization, incredible speaker quality, and snappy performing devices.  Those very reasons are why we find the R7 as one of the best budget smartphones of 2015. Coupled with its current $349.00 promotion price, I say it’s a great product on a budget.

6) Motorola Moto G – Motorola was once the top dog in the emerging smartphone industry back in the mid to late 1990s and early 2000s. Unfortunately, much like the ebb and flows of life, they found themselves on the outside looking in to the likes of new big dogs Samsung, Apple and LG in current 2000s. Since its first introduction two years ago, the Moto G evolves gracefully, while still maintaining its budget status. What’s not to like about a solid offering for under $179? Plus, if you’re still looking for a last minute Christmas gift, several U.S. retailers are offering such an incredible device for as low as $99.00. Not too shabby!

7) Motorola Moto E – Take everything you like about the Moto G, shrink the body a little bit, add LTE bands, and voila, there you have the Moto E. I really tried not to like this device due to my own prejudices based on its price, but couldn’t help falling in love with it. Now, the Moto E shows more function over form, but at such a highly consumer friendly price, you can’t help but pick one up. If you are lucky like me, you may be able to catch another retailer’s blowout sell and nab one for $9.99. Really impressive!

8) BLU Life One X – Although coming out at the tail end of this year, we had to add the BLU Life One X to our listing of great budget offerings. In standard form, BLU continues to pump out impressive, budget friendly offerings, but the Life One X may stand above the crowd in BLU-ville. A solid 1080p, with LTE coverage for some bands, and a well performing MediaTek CPU, the Life One X could challenge as one of the best bang-for-your-buck smartphones for the first part of 2016. Couple a quality device and a $149.00 price tag; it has the makings of everything this list embodies.

9) Alcatel One Touch Idol 3 (5.5”) – Wait a minute…nice looking display, great JBL earphones and sound quality, reversible UI and all under $299.00? No, can’t be! However, Alcatel managed to do just that. I must mention the call quality wasn’t the best during my review, and I also observed some software stuttering, which account for its fall on our list. But, for an already established manufacturer throwing its foray into a competitive mid-tier market, we like what we see.

10) OnePlus X – Oneplus founder, Carl Pei, continues to show he knows the smartphone business. Taking what people liked in the original OnePlus One, modify the body to a breathtaking glass/metal body, and you have another OnePlus hit! Also, marketing it at an insane sub-$250.00 price point won’t hurt in winning over any would-be consumers. You sacrifice NFC and the loss of a few LTE bands, but overall, a premium device for small change won’t make anyone fell like a Grinch this Christmas.

HONORABLE MENTION: BLU Vivo Air LTE, Xiamoi Mi Note Pro, Kyocera Hydro, Huawei P8 Lite, LG G4 Stylus/Stylo

Apple or Samsung…Is There Any Other Choice?

Posted on by ja3techreviews

Apple or Samsung? Chicken or Beef? Actually, I prefer ground turkey due to it’s a leaner meat and less toxins, but I digress. Perhaps, though, this is what has driven me to produce such an article, because my deviation from the predicated conventional norms. Let’s face it, Apple and Samsung dominate the mobile technology, and consequently are the two most consumed and talked about manufacturers. We hear of every press release and upcoming launch event, retailers promote them seemingly around every crevice of their stores (yes, I’m looking at you Best Buy), and we are constantly presented with those witty us versus them commercials reminiscent of a bitter high school rivalry. Apple and Samsung masterfully inject themselves into our daily lives and influence our trending ways. Thus, when it comes time for that new Smartphone, tablet, television, or media player, it seems the majority flock to one or the other. People, let me tell you, you have other choices.

Let me drop some quick knowledge you may or may not know; Apple currently possesses 20.4% of the overall Smartphone sales, while maintaining 92% profits of the overall Smartphone industry. I’ll repeat that in case you missed it, 92% of the overall Smartphone profits. In a landscape encompassing well over 1,000 manufactures, and more popping onto the scene each day, Apple reigns the top dog of profitable companies. Putting further into perspective, roughly 1 of every 5 consumers owns an iPhone and/or Apple product. And that 20% is leading Apple to billions in gross profits. Not to mention the recent successes of Apple TV and Apple Watches. Recent survey analysis relates Apple’s success to its identity. Of those consumers in the market to buy a tech device, over 84% surveyed stated they would buy Apple products based solely on brand recognition. I will repeat, not knowing the functionality of the products, but solely on the fact they have heard the name, people will be inclined to buy Apple devices. That in itself I find truly amazing. The notion of buying something based only because I saw the name on television, or my neighbor bought one, or because it’s the in product baffles me.

Possessing an amazing 19.9% share of Smartphone devices sold last year, and filling in nearly all of the remaining 8% of available market share profits, Samsung remains the other most recognizable force in the industry. 19.9% may not sound like a huge number, but let’s attempt to put that in perspective. Several statistical analysis firms put overall Smartphone sales for 2014 at roughly 1.1 billion sales. This means Samsung accounts for approximately 220 million of those sales. Truly astonishing are those numbers. Following similar analysis, 86% of potential buyers surveyed stated they would buy a Samsung product on name recognition alone. Now that is truly amazing! Please forgive me if it seems I am attempting to minimize Samsung’s impact on the evolution of the industry. That is far from my intentions, as I am a huge fan of their in-house Exynos processor and find myself amazed in the steady improvements of their stunning displays. In the past year I have witnessed three magnificent devices out of the Samsung camp in the Galaxy Note 5, S6 and S6 Edge. All are truly remarkable gadgets showcasing Samsung’s innovation in hardware design language and substantial improvements in their TouchWiz software. Devoid of the poor battery life, the Galaxy line this past year lived up to the moniker of flagship devices. Each of these embodied the strongest, brightest and best offerings and a glimpse of what to expect in the upcoming year. Yet, I still find myself wondering why we gravitate to these products at the cost of other quality and cheaper manufacturers.

In asking myself this question more and more, the conclusion literally hit me in the face one evening. Walking down the street, while simultaneously writing a text message, I ran into a Samsung sidewalk sign outside Best Buy. That sign was closely followed by an Apple banner parlaying news of the recently released iPhone 6s and 6s Plus. The saying “…if you control the media, you can control the masses…” came to mind. I know the context of the quote is intended another way, but let’s face it, Apple and Samsung find ways to dominate our information sources, and because of that earn our money. If all you see is Apple and Samsung on the news, in print, on the radio, you will fixate on that. These tech giants clearly understand this simple concept, and do all they can to insert themselves into our lives. In a consumer-based world, we are lead to believe these two are the “posh” and “in-thing” of our times above all others, and maybe rightfully so. But I repeat, you have other choices.

I challenge you today to record how many times you hear or see the promotions of companies such as LG, Lenovo-Motorola, Huawei, Sony, Oppo, Blackberry or Oneplus. The last may be the exception if you frequent Facebook or Twitter, but my overall notion still stands. These companies rarely promote themselves and rely on the principle we as consumers will learn about their products and gravitate towards them. Unfortunately, we as consumers rarely do this and that is our greatest flaw. We trend towards what we are told is the latest and greatest, or what we see others have, or what’s the best of those readily accessible. In paraphrasing one of my favorite comic book characters, Ben Parker, “With great power comes great responsibility”. As a consumer, you have a responsibility to be informed before you hand over your money. Do your analysis and understand why whatever you buy is the best choice. Now I’m not saying to not to buy Apple or Samsung products. As previously mentioned, I too am an owner of several of their products, but before you spend the $700 to $1,000 full retail price….really, that much? Okay, before you pay my monthly mortgage for a device, make sure you do your homework. I personally have found the offerings of Asus and LG, to name a few very pleasing. Although I purchased the device nearly six months ago, I absolutely love using my Asus Zenfone 2 (the high-end variant) as my daily driver. That’s pretty impressive as I own nearly 15 different phones, three of which are Apple and Samsung products. What is even more impressive is the $299.00 off-contract pricing, not too bad in my opinion. Also, it would take an act of force majeure before I stop using my Nexus 5 from nearly three years ago. Much like a fine wine, it just seems to get better with time. Thus, I implore you to please remember this one message…you have other choices.