Three new Android smartphones reviewed

The waves of Android smartphones hitting the market continue unabated, and here we three new models for a variety of needs: the HTC Sensation XL with its 4.7in screen and high-class headphones, Sony Ericsson's 4.2in Xperia Arc S with its 3D camera, and the latest version of Motorola's robust 3.7in phone, the Defy+.

HTC Sensation XL reviewed

By Alex Kidman – January 14, 2012

Smartphones, Reviews

Rating:

HTC's Sensation XL is one of two ‘Beats by Dr Dre’ smartphones that Vodafone’s snapped up as an exclusive and in the case of the XL, it’s named as such because it’s a large phone, with its 4.7in display and a pair of very large Beats headphones bundled in. The latter are exceptionally good for a smartphone, if a little bass-heavy.

Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S reviewed

By Alex Kidman – January 15, 2012

Smartphones, Reviews

Rating:

Sony Ericsson's Xperia Arc S is an upgrade to the original Xperia Arc and that’s not a terribly old phone, all things considered. This hasn’t given Sony Ericsson that much time to alter the Xperia Arc formula. What you get with the Xperia Arc S is a slight processor bump (from 1GHz to 1.4GHz), slight battery bump and the inclusion of a 3D panorama shooting mode. It’s still got the same pleasant-to-hold curved shape of the original Xperia Arc and this is still its best feature.

Motorola Defy+ reviewed

By Alex Kidman – January 15, 2012

Smartphones, Reviews

Rating:

The original Motorola Defy’s selling proposition was that it was a water-resistant, dust-proof and scratch-resistant Android phone. It initially had Telstra’s Blue Tick approval (meaning it should work well in regional Australia), but that was revoked later in its service life. The new Defy+ gets the Blue Tick back, as well as slightly upgraded innards, including a 1GHz processor and Android 2.3.