Nokia-XL

Nokia XL (Black, Dual SIM)

The 5-inch Nokia XL is the largest in Nokia’s family of affordable Android-running phones, but just like all the rest in the X series, you’d find it hard to recognize it as an Android phone. This is because of Android Nokia X - the company’s own custom version of the platform that brings a Windows Phone-inspired interface and comes without all core Google apps. The Nokia XL does not even have the Google Play Store - instead it comes with Nokia’s own app catalog that lacks even very popular apps like Spotify and Netflix.

The Nokia XL also got quite a few things going on - the large and vivid display, a fairly well-optimized performance, dual-SIM connectivity, and it’s got both a 5-megapixel main camera and a secondary, front cam.

Can all these pros outweigh the cons of a weird Android experience and limited number of apps? Let’s find out.

In the box:

• User Manual
• Wall Charger with non-detachable USB cable
• Headset

Design

The Nokia XL deserves its name - it’s big and unwieldy, larger than most other 5-inch phones.

You can tell just by its name that the Nokia XL is a large device. Knowing that it’s a 5-inch phone actually does not tell too much about the phone - it does not reveal the fact the bezels on it are huge (especially the side ones), and that it all comes in a pretty thick and bulky package. It is the 0.43” (10.9mm) thickness, however, that really contributes to a feeling of a rather unwieldy phone. Not only is it thick, it's also very heavy, measuring 6.7 ounces (190g), more than even most phablets. It is solidly put together, though, and does not screak when you hold it tightly.

Design-wise, the XL follows Nokia’s signature design language with a plastic wrap-around shell. The back is made of matte plastic that feels very similar to the material used in the Moto G, maybe a bit softer, but also very prone to attract oily fingerprints. Up front, there is just one capacitive ‘back’ key, right below the display - an element that reminds of Asha feature phones.

All physical keys are on the right side - the power/lock key in the middle, and the volume rocker above it, and while both are decidedly plastic, they are comfortably within reach of your thumb, and very clicky and easy to press.

 

Xiaomi Mi3

Flip Leather Case with Call Display ID for Xiaomi MI 3 (Black)

Overview

The Mi 3, from Xiaomi, was first available for purchase in September 2013.

The phone runs on the Android operating system, which is the most widely used mobile platform on Earth. MIUI, by Xiaomi, runs on top of Android 4.2 Jelly Bean on this phone, offering users a different experience from Vanilla Android.

Display

The Mi 3 has a 5 inch IPS LCD screen, a little larger than an average smartphone screen.

The screen has a resolution of 1,920 pixels by 1,080 pixels, making it a 1080p HD screen. Display sharpness can be measured in pixels per inch (PPI), and at 441 pixels-per-inch of screen, it's 89% sharper than an average screen.

Battery Life

In terms of battery capacity, which is the best indicator of overall battery life, it holds 3,050 mAh, a massive battery capacity for a smartphone.

Processor and Memory

The Mi 3 houses a quad core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 MSM8274AB processor. Its CPU runs at 2.3 GHz, which is much faster than average for a smartphone CPU.

2,048 MB of RAM means that it has much more memory than what's typical, giving it a significant performance boost over most phones.

Camera

It has a 2 megapixel front camera and a 13 megapixel primary (rear) camera. It can capture 1080p high definition video with its primary camera, which is second only to 4K in terms of recording quality.

Storage

The base model of the Mi 3 offers 16 GB of internal storage, making it a good choice for storing a moderate amount of media.

Dimensions and Design

The phone's body is 144 mm high, 73.6 mm wide, and has a depth of 8.1 mm, 22% thinner than an average smartphone. In fact, it's thin enough to have a case and still be thinner than an average phone.

With a weight of 145 grams, its weight is about average for a smartphone.

The phone uses a touch screen keypad to capture user input, which is standard on most modern smartphones.

BlackBerry Z3 (Black)

BlackBerry Z3 (Black)

A durable, full-featured device built for BlackBerry's biggest fans.

The BlackBerry Z3 is the latest BlackBerry 10 device and was built exclusively for Indonesia. This is the first product of the Foxconn / BlackBerry partnership worked up by John Chen. The time from inception to production on this device was just a matter of months, so it already looks like the deal is paying off.

At launch, the BlackBerry Z3 smartphone will be available in a limited edition model — the BlackBerry Z3 Jakarta Edition — featuring the inscription “Jakarta” on the back of the phone to commemorate the launch of the first BlackBerry smartphone built specifically for the Indonesian market. BlackBerry is all about the people, so the Z3 invites these users to “Be part of We.”
Indonesians are “ultra” BlackBerry users, and as such, BlackBerry is giving a bit back in the form of an exclusive device, just for them. The Z3 Jakarta Edition doesn’t have the latest or greatest specs, but it holds down what BlackBerry users do most — communicate. The Z3 makes the latest hardware accessible to the masses of people that just want to stay connected. It won’t turn out to be a mainstream device by any means, but it will provide those in Indonesia and similar regions the ability to have an awesome BlackBerry 10 phone at a great price with no big compromises.