It’s nearly two more weeks before Christmas, and now is the time to start figuring out what you want to give someone for Christmas.
If you’re planning to give someone a smartphone, then you’re going to find there are so many options available. But which phones should you be wrapping under the tree this Christmas? We’ve chosen six phones for you to consider this Christmas shopping season.
Image: Norman Ma/TechGeek
ON A CONTRACT
iPhone 6/iPhone 6 Plus
This year’s batch of new iPhones get a sizable screen upgrade, with the iPhone 6 now sporting a 4.7-inch display. The iPhone 6 Plus, on the other hand, gets a massive 5.5-inch display. However, both still include what we expect from Apple: beautiful design, a pretty good camera, and great battery life. So, which one should you get? The only main differences between the two phones are the price, the battery life, and – if you are an mobile photography aficionado – optical image stablisation. If you don’t want to spend $1000+ on a gift, I suggest you should get the iPhone 6.
[Apple]Microsoft/Nokia Lumia 930
What can I say about the Lumia 930 that hasn’t already been said by Norman and Stewart in their reviews? Both say that this phone is the best Windows Phone yet, and I have to wholeheartedly agree after using it for a couple of days. It even includes Nokia’s excellent PureView technology, meaning that your photos will look jaw-droppingly good. Before you balk at the idea of buying a Windows Phone, the ecosystem is getting better, though not all apps will be found. But you will be fine if you need Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Snapchat (via third-party).
[Microsoft]Samsung Galaxy Note 4
With a 5.7-inch display, the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is possibly a bit too big for some people. But the Galaxy Note 4 does packs a serious punch with superb hardware, a pretty good camera, and nice software features. However, the main reason why you should consider this phone is the S-Pen. The Galaxy Note 4 delivers one of the best pen experiences on a phablet, making this the perfect gift for someone who is an artist or who likes to write notes a lot.
[Samsung]Sony Xperia Z3
Sony has packed a lot in the Xperia Z3. It has excellent battery life, a crystal-clear 5.2-inch display, powerful hardware, and an impressive 20.7-megapixel camera. The design is also pretty nice with the glass back. For gamers, it also supports PS4 Remote Play – which lets you play your favourite games from your PlayStation 4 console on the phone with the DualShock controller. And, did we mention it is waterproof?
[Sony]ON A BUDGET
Motorola Moto G (second generation)
If you don’t want to spend a lot of money for a decent smartphone, then consider this smartphone. The Moto G does a nice balance between cost and features, giving you the bare essentials. While running on older hardware, it still delivers a smooth experience. While it comes with 8GB of storage, it has a microSD card slot so you can add more when needed. However, it does only support 3G. But for only $270, it is a perfect phone for those on a pre-paid plan.
[Motorola]Microsoft/Nokia Lumia 635
If you’re looking for a decent budget smartphone with 4G connectivity, you cannot go wrong with the Lumia 635. While it features decent hardware specs for a budget phone like a 1.2GHz processor and a 4.5-inch display, the phone still runs fast with Windows Phone. However, the camera and the screen are typical of a budget smartphone (i.e. alright, but not spectacular). But when you consider that you only need it for the bare essentials and accessing your social media profiles, the Lumia 635 comes on top.
[Microsoft]These are just our opinions. If you have any other suggestions, feel free to put them in the comments below.
