Samsung has entered the large screen smartphone market with the launch of the Galaxy Mega 5.8 and Mega 6.3. We recently had the opportunity to comprehensively test the Mega 5.8 for our review (coming soon), and the results were mixed. Put simply, it’s difficult to recommend the Galaxy Mega 5.8. To start with you get better specifications from smartphones in the same price bracket. The camera of the Mega 5.8 is good; it works well as a phone, it comes with Samsung’s ‘S’ shenanigans, however, the display and build of the device feels lacklustre when compared to the competition.
Since we weren’t completely impressed with the Galaxy Mega 5.8, here are some alternatives we felt we should suggest, phablets you can consider if you have a budget of around Rs. 25,000.
1.Huawei Ascend Mate
Priced exactly the same as the Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8, the Huawei Ascend Mate has better specifications. The Ascend Mate runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, has a 1.5GHz Hi-Silicon K3V2 quad-core processor with 2GB of RAM, and a 4050mAh battery. Other specifications include an 6.1-inch 1280×720 pixel IPS display with Magic Touch glove compatibility and Corning Gorilla Glass, Dolby mobile sound enhancement, an 8MP rear-facing autofocus camera with 1080p HD video recording and HDR, a 1MP front-facing 720p camera.
Weighing in at a hefty 198 grams, the Ascend Mate is 9.9mm thick (6.5mm thick at its thinnest). Connectivity options include Wi-Fi a/b/g/n with Direct functionality, Bluetooth 4.0 LE EDR, 3G HSPA, microUSB, and 3.5mm audio jack.
Just like the Sense UI from HTC or TouchWiz UI from Samsung, the OS on the Ascend Mate has the Emotion UI, which tries to bring some features to the table that will distinguish it from the plethora of Android smartphones available in the market. If you aren’t in love with TouchWiz and are open to trying out a new skin, then you can consider the Huawei Ascend Mate for Rs. 24,900
2.Samsung Galaxy S III
If a tried-and-tested Samsung product is what you are looking for, then you need not look any further than the Samsung Galaxy S III, which is currently priced at Rs. 27,500. The S III features a beautiful 4.8-inch 720p display. It has a quad-core CPU and the power under the hood is good enough to comfortably run any of the apps from the Google Play store. The smartphone comes with TouchWiz overlaying the OS and you also have access to the Samsung App store.
The display of the smartphone is really small when compared to the Mega 5.8, but the smartphone is a good performer and it is a treat to consume multimedia on despite having a small display.
3.LG Nexus 4
If a raw Android experience is what you are looking for, then the Nexus 4 is the smartphone for you. For Rs. 25,990, you get a quad-core processor, 4.7-inch 720p display and the smoothest Android experience on a mobile device currently known to man. Sure, the smartphone has a mere 16GB built-in storage and the camera isn’t the best but the package deal is more than enough to attract any Android smartphone lover.
The biggest advantage of owning a Nexus device is that you will be the first one to receive any Android updates as and when Google releases them. As far as multimedia goes, the display is good enough to keep you satisfied. Of course, there are smartphones such as the LG Optimus G, which give you a better display to work with, but then again, it is priced higher as well.
Playing games, watching videos and just using the Nexus as an everyday smartphone is a treat. You may want to invest in a case with this device as the rear is subject to scratches quite easily. Do you already own a Nexus 4? Do check out our feature on the best accessories for the Nexus 4.
4.Samsung Galaxy Note II
If a large screen smartphone/phablet is what you are gunning for, then nothing beats the Galaxy Note II. The phablet shows off a 5.5-inch display with 720p resolution. The device has an Exynos 4412 1.6GHz quad-core processor coupled with 2GB of RAM. The Note II runs on a 3100mAh battery.
There are two main advantages of the Note II. To start with, the display is large and great to consume multimedia content on. The second, is that there are a lot of apps that come preloaded on the Note II that take advantage of the S Pen. You can simply hover the pen over a folder to see its content, use it to write, draw and more on the device. You also have a large number of apps that can run in multi-window on the Note II. This lets you take advantage of the large display of the device. Put simply, the Note II is a worthy contender if a large screen is an absolute requirement.
5.Nokia Lumia 820
If you don’t mind experimenting with a relatively new OS, you can consider the Nokia Lumia 820. The smartphone runs on the Windows Phone 8 OS. The smartphone has looks that will definitely turn heads and the display is good to read text on. Despite having a low resolution, the reproduction of content on the display is quite good.
The 820 has the smallest display of the lot, but the camera on the smartphone is quite impressive. If clicking pictures on the go is a priority for you then you should consider the Lumia 820. The 820 also has wireless charging capabilities just like the Nexus 4, in case that is a feature you are looking for.
For Rs. 24,500, the Lumia 820 gives you a good display and an overall smooth performing smartphone. Sure, the Windows Phone 8 OS may be a little too simple in terms of customizing the smartphone for some people, but if simplicity is something you are looking for, then this is the phone for you.