Acer M220

A budget Windows Phone that isn’t a Microsoft handset? Can this simple little device compete with the bargains being churned out by the Redmond software giant?

It’s tough being a non-Microsoft handset in a Windows Phone world. The company has inadvertently put a stranglehold on its own OS, producing solid handsets across the entire line that often undercut the competition. This makes outside manufacturers a little weary about developing for the platform, which already sees far less returns to investment versus iOS and Android. Acer is quite brave going in at the deep end, with the Lumia 435 already securing the bargain-bin sector as a fully featured device that can be had for as little as forty quid. On paper it should give it a run for its money, exceeding in some areas while falling behind in others.

HTC Desire 626

HTC is back with a refresh to its budget Desire line. Will it prove to be a worthwhile purchase, or is just a rush job from an under-fire smartphone manufacturer?

HTC made a shock announcement earlier this year by announcing a refresh to its line of mid-range Desire smartphones. With the HTC Desire 620 less than a year old, that’s a quick turnover with regards to technology cycles. This new HTC Desire 626 improves on the original in quite a few areas, though others remain completely unchanged. Can it do enough to truly separate itself from its predecessor?

LG G4c

A solid example of a mid-range phone, the LG G4c could be worse... but it could be better

LG is the fifth biggest smartphone manufacturer in the world and it’s currently competing with Huawei for fourth place after having been outpaced by the Chinese company. The Korean company has been in the smartphone market since the early 2000s and has been releasing new phones on a steady basis since then. LG has been trying to improve since the Optimus embarrassment a few years ago, and it seems to be just about treading water in the market. At first glance, the LG G4c is a solidly midrange smartphone, with a solidly mid-range price of £229.99. The hardware, software, camera and design are all good but lack that last little touch that would mark them excellent. It’s in at about the same price range as the Sony Xperia M4 Aqua or the HTC Desire 860, and while it’s a little more expensive than the Samsung Galaxy J5, which is close to its specs, it’s notably cheaper than the Apple 5C. So, how does the LG G4c shape up?

Sony Xperia Z4

Light, powerful, and smooth, Sony may have got it right with this tablet

Sony’s barely been on the mobile device radar for the past few years, sacrificing its share of the market in favour of better profits for its underperforming Sony Mobile division. While Sony’s higher-model Xperia smartphones tend to sell well, sales have been dropping off in the last year or so, leaving the division with little profit and greater losses in the past few months. With the Xperia Z4, it might be trying to turn that trend around. The Xperia Z4 is a tablet with a processor and RAM that wouldn’t look out of place on a laptop computer. Its cameras are decent quality, and it’s running on the most recent Android operating system. However, its price range is far above its closest competitors, such as Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S or the iPad Air 2.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-CM1

Panasonic’s latest creation is a professional camera with a smartphone thrown in, but is it actually worth the high asking price?

Panasonic is not the most well-known company when it comes to smartphone manufacturing but it’s easy to forget that it used to be a big player pre-2006. The company made the big decision to cease selling smartphones outside of its native Asia but then backtracked in 2011. The company hasn’t exactly made any blistering handsets since then, so it’s a welcome surprise to see it going against the grain with this one.