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Mobile Phone Guide - 2009

Tags: phone

 

Recently, I lost my mobile in the rush of the Mumbai Locals. As it was my official mobile it was an urgent need for me to buy a new one. Hence, on the following day I went to Croma Shop to buy a mobile having similar features of my previous mobile ie camera, mp3, FM etc. I have found lots of the handsets for these features in different budgets. However, as I am having budget constraints as per the reimbursement guidelines of my company, I bought the mobile according to that.

But, I got an idea that why not to write a post to help my readers purchasing handset having specifications of their choice and budget. Hence, I have noted down the features, specifications and prices of many mobiles and started taking reviews amongst my colleagues, friends, shop keepers and other persons who are having these mobiles.

Usually most people don't have an exact idea of what they are going to buy and often end up buying something that the shopkeeper suggests; a suggestion driven more by the commission he would earn than the actual need of the customer. Some persons pick up gadgets by looking at the spec sheet. This, according tome, is one of the most inaccurate ways to judge something.

Here in this blog, I simply wanted to ensure that you buy only the best that is available in your budget. So, I  put together a list of handsets that are the best of the lot as per the reviews I got.

Let me how to go about in this guide. First of all I have categorized phones based on different budgets. Under a specific budget I have picked four phones from four categories; best music phone, best camera phone, best business phone and the best all-round phone. 

So guys, with that out of the way, go through the guide and please don’t forget to give your comments;

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Phones Under Rs. 10,000 /-

Best Music Phone - Nokia 5130 XpressMusic (Rs. 5,800)


This is in fact a younger sibling of the best-selling Nokia 5310 XpressMusic.

It is having a 3.5 mm headphone jack and dedicated music key which makes it highly crystal clear when it comes to playing music.The superb audio quality just confirms it. Further, it is having the display of QVGA quality which a rarity in this segment. This is typically the best music phone that you can buy for as little as Rs. 5,800 and that will finally rid you of having to carry around your iPod. To know more about this mobile click here.

Best Camera Phone - Sony Ericsson C510 (Rs. 10,000)

Having a 3.2 megapixel camera with autofocus, LED flash, lens cover and the Cyber-shot name on top. The Sony Ericsson C510 has all the ingredients that make a good camera phone. The camera performs well even in real life and I found the camera performance the best in the segment. In fact, the camera performance was better than even the more expensive Sony Ericsson phones such as the C903 and even the W995, which only have higher resolution but poor quality. The camera software also has plenty of features such as Smile detection and Face detection. For camera phone lovers there is nothing better that you can buy in this budget. The phone is priced at Rs. 10,000. To know more about this mobile click here.

Best All-round Phone - Samsung Star (Rs. 9,400)

Touch screen phones, in one time, were a expensive  novelty, which now became a common sight. Credit goes to the low-cost touch screen phones like STAR of Samsung. However, low-cost here doesn’t mean high compromise, as it is packed with a fair amount of features.

Its having a 3.0" WQVGA full touch screen display, which hard to find at this price. Also a quad band GSM handset and Bluetooth connectivity. The Star utilizes Samsung's Touch Wiz UI that has features such as widgets, etc. Overall for the price the Samsung Star offers good all-round performance and gets my personal recommendation for the same. To know more about this mobile click here.

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Phones Under Rs. 15,000:

Best Music Phone - Nokia 5800 XpressMusic (Rs. 13,600)

The phone has stereo loudspeakers that are loud and have great quality. It also has a 3.5mm headphone jack, so you can connect any headphones of your choice. The audio quality, almost as good as any dedicated music player out there.

The phone also comes with an 8 GB memory card bundled with the phone, which should be more than enough for all your favorite music and if you need more then the phone also supports up to 16 GB of cards. But that's just for the music. The phone is also packed with other features such as GPS, Wi-Fi and 3G and a full touch screen interface running Symbian S60 5th Edition. Overall, an excellent music phone in this price range. To know more about this mobile click here.

Best Camera Phone - Motorola ZN5 (Rs. 14,800)


Let me be honest with you. Nokia N82, which was on sale sometime before, was  the best camera phone under 15k. But since that is not the case I have to move on to the next best and that is the Motorola ZN5. Now let me be clear here, for still photography the ZN5 is as good as the N82, and may be even better. However, only in video recording N82 trumps over the ZN5.

The ZN5 has an auto-shutter that protects the lens and also starts the camera when slid open. The camera is a having 5 Megapixel with autofocus and a brilliant xenon flash provides assistance under low-light conditions. The ZN5 captures high quality images with great colors and details. The xenon flash makes the ZN5 a great tool for shooting pictures in the dark, such as in a club.

Unfortunately, the video recording quality is poor but that is excusable considering the superb still image quality. Overall a very good camera phone in this price range. To know more about this mobile click here.


Business Phone - Samsung B7320 OmniaPRO (Rs. 14,800)


Just a week ago I would have gladly put the Nokia E63 in this category, but then I got the Samsung OmniaPRO for review last week and the performance that it delivered managed to convince us that in this price range it truly is the best business phone to buy.

The phone covers all aspects from a full QWERTY keypad to connectivity features like 3G, Wi-Fi as well as GPS. It also has support for push mail and all the IM applications. It runs on Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard Edition and can be upgraded to version 6.5 later when it comes out.

The phone also sports a 3.2 Megapixel camera, not that hardcore business users would care much about it. However, they might take exception to the brown color. Still if they are willing to overlook the aesthetics then the Samsung OmniaPRO is an excellent phone for business users. To know more about this mobile click here.


Best All-round phone - Nokia N79 (Rs. 15,000)

The Nokia N79 was a brilliant multimedia phone to begin with, but after the recent price drop, it makes it excellent value as well. The superb 5 Megapixel camera with autofocus and flash is also capable of recording videos in VGA resolution at 30 FPS. Music playback with 3.5mm headphone jack and good audio quality, N-Gage support for high quality games all make it a great buy for multimedia phone buyers, especially at the current price of Rs. 15,000. To know more about this mobile click here.


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Phones Under Rs. 20,000:


Best Music Phone - Samsung M7603 Beat DJ (Rs. 16,100)

Imagine a phone that lets you mix your own tunes and fulfill that little dream of yours to become a DJ someday. Well, you don't need to imagine anymore for Samsung has just the phone for you. The Samsung Beat DJ has a unique Beat DJ application that lets you add various effects to your music as you play it and even scratch the virtual vinyl for the ultimate DJ experience! The audio is provided by Bang & Olufsen, renowned hi-fi audio equipment manufacturer and the phone comes with a brilliant pair of stereo speakers that are very loud and provide great sound quality. The phone also has a 3.5mm headphone jack to allow use of any headphones with it. The phone supports expandable memory up to 16 GB by microSD cards.

Overall, a superb phone for music lovers, especially for those who like to be more creative with their music instead of just listening to it. To know more about this mobile click here.


Best Camera Phone - Samsung Pixon (Rs. 18,100)

The first phone to come to India with an 8 Megapixel sensor, the once expensive Pixon has now seen a major price cut, which brings it under the 20k barrier, making it more accessible than before.

There isn't much to say about the camera except that it's hands down one of the best camera phones you can find in the market today. The only thing we could complain is the lack of a xenon flash as the Pixon deserved more than the standard LED flash it comes equipped with. The phone can also record videos in WVGA (720 x 480) resolution at 30 FPS, the same resolution as that you find in DVD movies. In other words you just cannot get a better camera phone at this price. To know more about this mobile click here.


Best Business Phone - Nokia E71 (Rs. 19,000)

Well its younger brother - the E63 - might have lost the best business phone under Rs. 15,000 title to the OmniPRO, but there is nothing yet out there to challenge the mighty Nokia E71. Despite being in the market for almost a year the Nokia E71 remains unchallenged for its superb performance. Business phones were always known to be thick and bulky with a boring design, however, the E71 changed all that with its slim, stylish metal body. Here was a business phone that people wanted to buy just because of the way it looked and not because it had great business phone features, which it anyway does.

The E71 also has several communication features such as 3G, Wi-Fi and GPS. It has a full QWERTY keypad which is great for typing emails on the go. The E71 runs on Symbian S60 3rd Edition which makes it a great smart phone with a huge application support and the ability to multitask. The browser is possibly one of the best on any mobile phone and makes browsing sites on the go a pleasure.

The Nokia E71 is not just a brilliant business phone but a great phone overall. To know more about this mobile click here.


Best All-round Phone - Samsung Jet (Rs. 20,000)

I recently got my hands on the Samsung Jet and was immensely happy with the way it performed. It has a blistering fast 800 MHz processor, a brilliant 3.1", 480 x 800 pixel OLED display, a 3.5mm headphone jack, DivX/XviD playback and excellent audio quality. You couldn't possible ask for anymore in a multimedia phone. The phone is also priced well at Rs. 21,000, which is great considering the features and performance on offer. To know more about this mobile click here.


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Phones Under Rs. 25,000:

Best Music Phone - Sony Ericsson W995 (Rs. 24,000)

An 8 Megapixel camera in a Walkman phone! Not something you see too often, but Sony Ericsson has made it happen in the new W995. The phone also has a 3.5mm headphone jack, a first on any Walkman phone, along with stereo speakers and dedicated music keys. Sony Ericsson is even kind enough to give you a set of snap-on portable speakers and an 8 GB memory card for all your music. Along with this the phone has a large 2.6" display and a kickstand at the back to support the phone while watching videos. The audio quality is great, the display is brilliant and overall the Sony Ericsson W995 is a superb all-round multimedia device for Rs. 24,000. To know more about this mobile click here.


Best Camera Phone - Samsung Ultra Touch (Rs. 22,000)

One look at the Samsung Ultra Touch and you can tell this is one of those stylish fashion phones that will be all show and no go. However, that can't be farther from the truth in case of the Ultra Touch. The Ultra Touch has the same 8 MP camera found on the Pixon and the INNOV8, which in other words is guaranteed to deliver excellent performance.

Now it might seem odd as to why one would want to spend more over the Pixon to get the Ultra Touch as it has basically the same camera quality. However, for the added price you do get a better design and the fabulous AMOLED display which is far better than the one on the Pixon. So if you want a camera phone in the 20-25 thousand price bracket, then the Samsung Ultra Touch is the one to go for. To know more about this mobile click here.


Best Business Phone - BlackBerry Curve 8900 (Rs. 24,000)

A full QWERTY keypad, the BlackBerry mail service, Wi-Fi and a good web browser, and a document viewer for your office document files. The BlackBerry Curve 8900 has all the right ingredients that make a good business phone. But the 8900 is a pretty decent all-round phone with a nice and attractive design, a high resolution display and impressive multimedia performance, which makes its slightly premium pricing seem pretty decent value. Still, even if you don't care much about the multimedia performance, do remember this is a BlackBerry phone after all and it won't disappoint you when you need to send that important email to someone. To know more about this mobile click here.


Best All-round Phone - Nokia N86 8MP (Rs. 24,000)

The N86's spec sheet speaks for itself about its multimedia capabilities. However, what is more impressive is that its performance manages to stay true to the promises that the spec sheet makes. Easily one of the best all-round phones that you can get today, the multimedia performance of this phone is also nothing short of being impressive. Whether it is the 8 Megapixel camera, the superb display quality, the excellent music playback - thanks to the 3.5mm headphone jack, dedicated music keys and wide audio format support, 8 GB built-in memory or the N-Gage gaming support.

Add to it the fact that it is a smart phone, which means you can install video players for playing more formats than what the phone supports and you have a winner in your hands. And one more thing; there is a little stand at the back to prop up the phone on a table, so you can enjoy your videos at a nice angle. All this for about Rs. 24,000. To know more about this mobile click here.

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Phones Over Rs. 25,000:


Best Music Phones - Apple iPhone 3G (Rs. 31,000)

A list of top mobile phones can hardly be complete without the mention of the Apple iPhone. Sure the iPhone 3G may not have a really high resolution camera or a powerful set of loudspeakers. However, it does have a brilliant, large touch screen display, which makes your photos, videos or album art come to life. The phone has the best audio quality and the music player interface, especially the Cover Flow is a joy to use.
The integrated iTunes store lets you download content such as podcasts, etc. directly to your device. The YouTube app lets you watch your favorite videos online by streaming them to your iPhone. These things make up for what the iPhone might lack in other areas making it one of the best multimedia phones that you can buy today. The Apple iPhone 3G is priced at Rs. 31,000.To know more about this mobile click here.


Best Camera Phone - Samsung Pixon 12 (Rs. 29,990)

The country's only 12 Megapixel phone so far, the Samsung Pixon 12 enjoys some amount of exclusivity. But it isn't just because of the extra megapixels why the Pixon 12 finds a place in this list. The Samsung Pixon 12 has a 28mm wide-angle lens which means you'll be capturing a wider area, great for those landscape shots. The phone also comes armed with an auto lens cover that slides open when the camera starts and a xenon flash for low-light photography.

It also comes armed with the latest in camera software features, which include tracking touch focus, face, smile and blink detection, beauty shot, image stabilization and geo tagging. The phone can also record videos in WVGA (720 x 480) resolution at 30 FPS. Overall, a very high quality camera phone for those who won't settle for anything less. To know more about this mobile click here.


Best Business phone - BlackBerry Bold 9000 (Rs. 33,000)


The big brother of the Curve 8900, the Bold does everything that the 8900 does and more. For starters it has a more spacious keypad than the 8900 which makes it more conducive to typing long messages. It also has a slightly bigger display and more importantly 3G and HSDPA connectivity. The rear cover has a more premium feel thanks to the leather finish. A true blue business phone that also works as a good multimedia phone at a pinch. The BlackBerry Bold 9000 is our choice for the best business phone above Rs. 25,000. To know more about this mobile click here.

Best All-round Phone - Nokia N97 (Rs. 31,000)

The N97 is Nokia's flagship multimedia phone and not without a reason. It incorporates features such as a huge 3.5" touchscreen display, a 5 Megapixel camera with autofocus and flash along with Carl Zeiss optics, 3.5mm headphone jack and stereo speakers for music lovers and a massive 32GB of internal memory and the ability to expand it further by 16 GB to an absurd 48 GB of storage.

But it isn't just multimedia that the N97 is adept at. The full QWERTY keypad which slides out from under the display makes typing emails and SMSs a pleasure and the phone has an excellent web browser that makes the Internet look just like it would on your computer with full Flash support. Then there are other features such as GPS, Wi-Fi and a built-in digital compass.

It would be hard to find a phone with as broad range of talents as the Nokia N97 combining multimedia, business, Internet and navigation all in one phone with absolute ease. And it is for this reason I believe the Nokia N97 is the best all-round phone to buy for those with a budget of more than Rs. 25,000. To know more about this mobile click here.


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So there you have it, the top phones that are available in the country today. I really hope this guide helps you in getting the right phone. In the end all that really matters to us is that our readers make an informed choice when it comes to buying a technological product and enjoy it to the fullest.

Disclaimer : Prices are indicative only, author don’t take the responsibilities of prices and/or the specifications of the products. :)



This post first appeared on Spark Network, please read the originial post: here

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Mobile Phone Guide - 2009

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