Buying Guides -> Hardware -> Mobile phones

The Touchables

Team CHIP | 23 April 2009

The Touchables

Touchscreen phones have been all the rage for quite a while now, but with different operating systems and input methods, choosing the right one can be quite a task. Our guide brings you the best value-oriented touchscreen phones.

Mobile handsets are getting more sophisticated these days. The race to be the best and most futuristic while remaining user-friendly handset is going quite bonkers. We’re literally spoiled for choice in today’s growing mobile market. The latest trend in mobile technology that is capturing the consumer’s attention is to have phones with huge touchscreens and no regular keypads. Why are these so popular? Because appeal to users on a level that makes them feel they can quite easily integrate with technology on a very personal level. The mobile phone is becoming an extension of each person, and this means customization and interactivity are becoming much more entertaining, engaging and seamless for users.

Although touchscreen handsets have been around for a few years now, the level of interactivity in the technology itself is getting better and better, and we can all see some definite improvements in the field. From the use of a stylus to completely negating the need for one altogether, touchscreen technology has come a long way. It can still be clearly noted—and we’re not all Apple fans here—that the iPhone is perhaps the definitive handset to discuss when talking about touchscreen technology in mobile phones. The device has exerted a significant amount of influence on competing companies since its launch. So far, at least considering the Indian market and handsets that we can realistically get our hands on, there haven’t been any that can defeat or even sustain a decent battle with the iPhone, at least in terms of its technology. (It is true that the device has been lacking some seemingly basic and commonplace features like copy/paste, MMS, and business card support.)

In today’s fast-paced multimedia world, a touchscreen mobile phone should be that perfect example of futuristic technology, and just to sound a little clichéd, it should also offer a more ‘hands-on’ experience to data access. The phone is only as good as its UI which in turn is only as good as the technology that supports it. It’s the UI that makes the handset appealing, and when it comes to the touchscreen market, there have been some tremendously innovative user interfaces that look attractive enough to get your attention and also manage to aesthetically appeal to both tech-savvy and uninitiated users.

Since there has been so much that has come out of the mobile phone industry in the last year especially with regards to touchscreen technology, we’ve put together a little comparison test for you on budget touchscreen phones in the range of Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000. These handsets cater to the variety of needs that even users with lower budgets have. This guide is aimed at those who are looking to stay up to date with touch technology and features that range form work to play with a little style thrown in. Not everyone has pockets deep enough for the top-end iPhone and BlackBerry Storm, but there are quite a few value-oriented choices available in the Indian market.

Buying Guide

There are a few things one should keep in mind while deciding on the purchase of a touchscreen mobile handset in particular. Consider what exactly you’d require this handset for, which will essentially help determine what kind of operating system best suites that requirement. So aside from the ‘budget’ factor take a look at these tips that should help make things a little easier for you to choose the right mobile that best fits your requirements and won’t make your wallet screams.

Display Size and Input Method

One of the most important features that one needs to take into consideration is the display size of a touchscreen handset. This will determine how easy the device’s OS and UI function when it comes to activating and accessing features. It will also tell you how user-friendly ‘data input’ is going to be with regards to email or simple SMS. In most handsets of this kind, data entry is through onscreen virtual keyboards that usually offer a variety of options from your average mobile phone alphanumeric keypad to a full QWERTY onscreen keyboard and even handwriting recognition.

Your personal preference is the main factor to consider. Most of the entry-level handsets in this range do allow you to enter information sans stylus and simply use your fingers. Some will require you to use one as the primary option for the same activity though. The options should include at least one keypad that allows the use of one-hand typing for when circumstances force the situation, like commuting in crowded public transportation for instance. In these cases, the larger the display, the easier it is to clearly view for reading, watching videos, surfing the web and selecting options, but of course the UI should also be conducive for the same.

One should also keep in mind how sensitive the interface is for activating said features and settings that the handset incorporates. If it employs finger-swipe technology for flicking through pages, menus or images in the gallery, the flow of images should be smooth and lack any sort of lag while changing screens. The level of sensitivity should also be evident when it comes to entering data via the onscreen keyboards—is there a delay after pressing an on-screen key from the letter appearing on the screen is an example of what you should look for when it comes to sensitivity, since this will greatly affect your usage experience.

The presence of a working accelerometer for screen rotation is also a feature to take into account. If present, the rotation should be fluid or at least change orientation with without lag in the system.

Connectivity

Does the phone employ the use of proprietary technology when it comes to using a handsfree kit for listening to audio or even hooking it up a PC via USB. If a handset comes with a standard 3.5mm earphone socket you’ll have the freedom to use a set of earphones of your choice without the use of converters. For USB connectivity standard micro USB or mini USB ports would make things a whole lot simpler for data transfer. This will also enable users to use common cables for multiple devices rather than having to use a specifically designed cable that can only be used with the handset and nothing else. A hot swap slot for a memory card is also very handy. Having to remove the rear panel may not be as painful as having to shut down the handset and remove the battery to access the memory card but having an easily accessible slot on the outside is the obvious way to go.

Other modes of connectivity that a handset should or could come equipped with would be features like Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP so not only will you able to transfer files but use stereo Bluetooth headsets for listening to audio. EDGE and GPRS support are a must with a decent browser that should support basic HTML and make optimum use of the display. Having 3G is not really a prerequisite that one should look for since it’s going to be a while before we see it here in action, but having it for the long run is just something to consider. Wi-Fi is not very necessary to consider either as once again we don’t really have too many free Wi-Fi spots available.

Office Usage

If you’re looking at using the device as an office on the go or an alternative to carting a laptop around, the handset you’re looking for should be loaded with applications that help facilitate this end. First off, you should be able to easily access and download emails while traveling, so Push Mail is a must via EDGE. Secondly, you should be equipped to view, edit and create Word and Excel documents on the fly as well as open PDF and PowerPoint presentations. If you’re an average user who’s not looking to do so much work, the at least a document viewer would be handy to have. You might want to make sure the handset also has support for a voice recorder for voice memos.

Multimedia

When it comes to this particular segment for choosing a handset, personal preference is everything. If you’re a camera buff, the handset’s on-board camera should be equipped with the basic settings that should include Exposure settings, White Balance and at the very least, a Night Mode scene selection.

Other scene modes will only enhance the appeal of course. An LED flash is also helpful for low light areas and can double up as a torch if necessary. A Xenon flash is much better for low light conditions but can’t be used as torch. We’d also like to recommend having a dedicated camera key instead of an onscreen shutter release. Any other settings the handset could have are just a bonus.

Audio quality through the bundled hands-free or personal earphones should be loud and clear enough to drown the city’s ambient sounds. These should not hamper your listening experience… too much. What’s very important to take into account is that the bundled handsfree is not only comfortable to use but also negates the buying of another set of earphones altogether. Video support should include MPEG4 and 3GP file support the FM radio should have decent reception, especially while commuting.

Battery

Many touchscreen handsets may not have really high battery life, but that doesn’t mean they’re simply mediocre. What one should consider in this case is a minimum of 3.5 hours and above of talk time. It’s not necessary to concern yourself with standby time. You should be able to derive at least two days of usage on a single charge with average use of calls, messages, music, a few pictures and a little music.

Additional Accessories

The last bit to take into account is the contents of the package. Considering we’re dealing with devices that are primarily designed with a display in mind, keeping that display as clean and unscathed as possible is a priority.

A case to protect the display while carrying around is always a great accessory to have with any touchscreen handset. This will prevent the display from rubbing against the surface of your pocket and possibly getting scratched by any of the contents in your pockets like keys, coins etc. While you can’t do much about the fingerprint situation, this is something you can avoid as much as possible. 

Memory is also important. In case the handset doesn’t come with too much of on-board memory a memory card should be part of the package content. With a large screen handset, watching videos is an important reason to buy touchscreen phones, so you’ll need more memory for storing videos and of course, audio. If the handset uses a stylus an extra stylus can also be handy as they could get easily misplaced or slip out of their slot. Anything else is again a bonus.

  Nokia’s answer to the iPhone craze was to create a suitable rival for their loyal fan base and the 5800 XpressMusic was what made the cut. Stirring up hype before the official launch and making an appearance in the latest Batman movie, The Dark Knight, made it all the more appealing.

This is not Nokia’s first attempt at a touchscreen device or an operating system for the same. However popular the others were, the 5800 is in a class by itself and has managed to keep users entertained since its launch. It may not be as sleek as the iPhone or as well designed but it does have that certain magical factor about it. It allows for a good grip and even comes with a funky case to protect the display. Nokia has also upped the handset’s value a little more by including a lot of relevant goodies with the packaging—an 8GB memory card, Audio/Video RCA cables for hooking it up to a television, a small stand so you can easily set up the handset for watching videos and even a strap with a plectrum-like stylus..

Bearing a much lower price tag than most other handsets of it’s caliber, the 5800’s appeal is further extended. With the kind of features that the handset employs coupled with it being part of Nokia’s XpressMusic range of handsets that are specifically designed for multimedia, the 5800 is also quite a well rounded handset. Nokia has also thrown in GPS capabilities with Nokia Maps as the primary application for navigation. The handset also offers a decent amount of other functionality in terms of downloadable content, access to social networking arenas, Mail for Exchange capability, and normal Push support too. The 5800 is a great phone for its price although it has a few bugs that need to be ironed out with a firmware update.

Verdict: It doesn’t revolutionize touchscreen technology like the iPhone did, but with a price tag of just Rs 19,990, it’s still a worthy competitor.

For: Well designed and responsive touchscreen, great music player, lots of accessories included.

Against: Accelerometer is too sensitive, camera is just OK, battery could have been better.

The Cookie manages to beat out the S-930, which is the lowest priced model in our comparison, when it comes to overall features and functionality. The reason the KP500 is a great value for money is that it’s a well designed handset that provides users with plenty of basic as well as customized features and settings. The Flash UI is well thought out, simplified and categorized to such an extent that any user would find it easy to navigate.

LG has also employed dual desktops that users can access by flicking their fingers over the display. Not only does it make it easy to customize the phone, but each desktop has been designed to offer users specific utilities. One offers quick access to features and settings while the other has a quick dial menu where users can designate specific contacts to appear on screen. What is also very appealing about the handset is that it’s slimmer than most others. For the multimedia user, it offers a level of comfort to the eyes because of its large display. What would have made it better for audio purposes would have been a standard 3.5mm earphone socket. But it’s not that big a deal. The built-in FM radio works well enough with decent reception in most areas.

For those who download and check email with attachments, the LG Cookie comes equipped with an application for reading document files in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and PDF formats. It also has multiple modes of data entry in the form of various onscreen keyboards—Full QWERTY in landscape, half QWERTY, handwriting recognition using the stylus and even a regular alphanumeric keypad like you’d find on most normal handsets. All this for Rs 13,990 makes it definite value for your money, so give it a little time to grow on you.

Verdict: Even with all its oddities and quirks, it’s a pretty decent handset, and it's loaded with multimedia features for editing videos and images.

For: Great design, well priced, plenty of multimedia editing features, good battery life.

Against: Touch sensitivity and accelerometer are erratic.