Galaxy Note 4 beats iPhone 6 for customer satisfaction
Owners of the Galaxy Note 4 are the most satisfied consumers according to a new survey conducted by the American Satisfaction Index (ACSI). The latest survey from ACSI reveals that the Galaxy Note 4 tops the chart with 86% customer satisfaction while the Galaxy Note 3 comes joint second with the iPhone 6 Plus, Galaxy S5 and iPhone 6.
The survey shows that customers using the Galaxy Note 4 – which was released in October last year – are the most satisfied and despite the handset being several months old, it still ticks all the boxes for customers. Interestingly, the top six positions in the survey are taken by either Samsung or Apple and these two companies top the list for manufacturers.
Looking past the top of the list, both Samsung and Apple still dominate but Motorola, HTC and LG all feature on the list as well. The omission of any Sony devices from the top of the satisfaction survey suggests that Sony’s devices – which are not widely available in the US – don’t satisfy customers as much as its rivals do. Given that Sony’s smartphone sales performance has been dwindling over the past 12 to 18 months, the satisfaction survey reveals that the company has a lot to do to keep the key US market satisfied.
Looking at the list of manufacturers, the swing between Samsung and Apple – resulting in both companies tying for the top spot – could be due to less than stellar Galaxy S5 sales and Apple finally delivering the bigger screen its customers have been asking for.
setTimeout(function()
brightcove.createExperiences();
,
3000);
Motorola‘s third spot shows that the company’s handsets – and in particular the Moto X, which can be customised to your specification through Moto Maker – offer the package that customers are looking for. BlackBerry‘s sales figures have also been steadily declining over the past few years but the company’s customers are the fourth most satisfied in the US.
.rvs_wrapper
width: 350px;
.rvs_wrapper.align_left
float: left;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right
float: right;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center,
.rvs_wrapper.align_none
width: 100%;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center
text-align: center;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center.cbc-latest-videos ul li
float: none;
display: inline-block;
vertical-align: top;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos:not(.align_none) ul li:nth-child(2n+1)
clear: both;
.rvs_title
font-weight: 600 !important;
margin: 0 !important;
font-size: 24px !important;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right .rvs_title
padding-left: 20px;
.rvs_title a
font-family: ‘Roboto Condensed’;
color: #3a3a3a;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul
padding-top: 10px;
.rvs_wrapper.align_left.cbc-latest-videos ul li,
.rvs_wrapper.align_none.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 15px 0 0;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 0 0 15px;
float: right;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 7px;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li > a
font-weight: 400;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li > a .yt-thumbnail
margin-bottom: 0;
@media only screen and (max-width : 480px)
.rvs_wrapper
width: 100%;
text-align: center;
body .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 7px;
display: inline-block;
float: none;
vertical-align: top;
Moving past the top four and HTC and Nokia may not have sold as many devices as their rivals but they came fifth and sixth in the list respectively: for HTC at least it shows that customers certainly do enjoy its HTC One range and for Nokia, it shows that despite Windows Phone being a much smaller OS than Android and iOS, its customers are certainly satisfied.
It’s worth noting that none of the latest flagships – the LG G4, Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge and HTC One M9 – had been released to the market when the survey was conducted, hence why they do not make an appearance on the smartphone list. The next survey will reveal whether Samsung’s switch in design with its latest smartphones will deliver higher satisfaction than Apple’s handsets.
Samsung Galaxy E7 and E5 to be updated to Android 5.0 Lollipop in Q3 2015
Samsung has been busy rolling out Android Lollipop to its high-end devices and now it looks like the company’s mid-rangers are in for the update treatment too. According to SamMobile, the Samsung Galaxy E5 and Galaxy E7 are scheduled for an Android 5.0 Lollipop update sometime in the third quarter of the year.
The Android 5.0 Lollipop update will include all of the Android features and changes found on Samsung high-end products and will also give the smartphones a bit of a face-lift, thanks to Material Design inspired elements found in the new Touchwiz. Speaking of which, Samsung’s latest iteration of its TouchWiz UI seems quite improved over previous versions, and the mid-range E5 and E7 could benefit greatly from Samsung’s performance optimizations. Although we will probably have to wait until Q3 2015 for the full list of changes heading to Samsung’s latest mid-rangers.
The Galaxy E5 and Galaxy E7 were launched by Samsung at the beginning of the year in India and have apparently been selling rather well in emerging markets. Although the handsets don’t pack in all of Samsung’s cutting edge high-end features, the E5 and E7 do include Ultra-Power Saving Mode, Private Mode and Multi screen software features, along with larger Super AMOLED displays and 5MP front facing “selfie” camera sensor hardware.
Although Google’s new Android M operating system will be close to its official release later in the year, it is promising to see that Samsung is intent on providing substantial updates for its full range of smartphones going forward. Perhaps Samsung could have been a little quicker, but Q3 isn’t that long to wait anymore.
Skype flaw causes crash on Android, iOS & Windows
Last week, a flaw in iOS revealed that sending a specific string in a text message would cause the iOS messaging app to completely crash and today, it’s been revealed that Skype also has a flaw that can cause the Skype app on iOS, Android and Windows to completely crash.
While it took a specific string to crash iOS devices, putting Skype out of action is far too easy; simply sending the message “http://:” without the quotes will cause the Skype app to crash. While Skype for Mac appears to be immune from the issue, Skype users on iOS, Windows or Android – such as Galaxy S6 users where Skype is preloaded onto the handset – are all affected in different ways by this flaw:
- Android: this only affects you if you are the recipient of the message
- iOS: this only affects you if you are the recipient of the message
- Windows: app crashes if you’re the sender and completely dies if you’re the recipient of the message
As noted by VentureBeat, the bug causes mobile apps to fall into endless crash loops and if you’re on a Windows desktop, sending the message crashes the app but receiving it puts it into an endless crash loop as well.
Simply deleting the message doesn’t fix the issue as it reappears when Skype downloads your chat history from the server again. Interestingly however, signing in with an account that already has the characters in the chat history doesn’t crash the iOS and Android applications.
.rvs_wrapper
width: 350px;
.rvs_wrapper.align_left
float: left;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right
float: right;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center,
.rvs_wrapper.align_none
width: 100%;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center
text-align: center;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center.cbc-latest-videos ul li
float: none;
display: inline-block;
vertical-align: top;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos:not(.align_none) ul li:nth-child(2n+1)
clear: both;
.rvs_title
font-weight: 600 !important;
margin: 0 !important;
font-size: 24px !important;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right .rvs_title
padding-left: 20px;
.rvs_title a
font-family: ‘Roboto Condensed’;
color: #3a3a3a;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul
padding-top: 10px;
.rvs_wrapper.align_left.cbc-latest-videos ul li,
.rvs_wrapper.align_none.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 15px 0 0;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 0 0 15px;
float: right;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 7px;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li > a
font-weight: 400;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li > a .yt-thumbnail
margin-bottom: 0;
@media only screen and (max-width : 480px)
.rvs_wrapper
width: 100%;
text-align: center;
body .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 7px;
display: inline-block;
float: none;
vertical-align: top;
If you’re affected by this issue, the first thing to do is to ask the sender to delete the message. Then you need to install an older version of Skype and you’ll be able to use it again. On Windows, it’s simple enough to revert back to an older version but on iOS and Android, you’re stuck.
However, Skype has admitted to VentureBeat that it is aware of the issue and it is working on a fix – it’s just a question of how long before its fixed. By comparison, it was several days ago that news of the iPhone bug was revealed but the company still hasn’t issued a fix so it remains to be seen just how complicated it is to fix this issue.
Has this Skype flaw affected you? Did the fix work or is your app still crashing? Let us know your views in the comments below guys!
Apple TV Confirmed as Central Hub for Remotely Controlling HomeKit-Enabled Accessories [iOS Blog]
Apple has added a new support document on its website (via iFun.de) that confirms the third-generation Apple TV or later can be used to control HomeKit-enabled accessories when you are away from home using an iOS device.
After signing in with the same Apple ID on an iOS device and Apple TV, users can use Siri commands to remotely control lights, locks, thermostats, smart plugs and other HomeKit-enabled accessories.
The new support document was added one day after multiple accessory makers announced the first HomeKit-compatible products, including Lutron, iHome, Elgato, Insteon and Ecobee. Many of the accessories are available for purchase or pre-order this week, and others should be unveiled following Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference next week.
It has been known that the Apple TV would serve as a centralized hub for many of these accessories since their original unveiling at CES 2015 in January, while support for the HomeKit framework was quietly included in the Apple TV 7.0 software update last September, but today marks one of the first official confirmations from Apple.
Apple is widely expected to announce a new A8-based Apple TV with an App Store and Siri at WWDC next week. The next-generation set-top box is rumored to feature a “dramatic increase” in internal storage, well beyond the 8GB included in the current model, and the inclusion of Siri will enable users to control HomeKit-enabled accessories using voice commands.
HomeKit was announced at WWDC last year as a software framework for communicating with and controlling connected devices in the home, but the home automation platform experienced delays over the ensuing months and did not officially launch until this month. Apple is expected to provide more details about HomeKit and related accessories during its WWDC keynote on June 8 at 10 AM Pacific.
(Thanks, Marco!)
Apple Watch Owners Take to LEGO & 3D Printing for Homemade Stands [iOS Blog]
The accessory market for the Apple Watch exploded almost immediately after the wearable was announced back in March, with stands specifically becoming the popular announcement of well-known third-party accessory companies like Twelve South and Mophie. Although most of the stands won’t break the bank, some of the cheapest start at around $30, and some of the higher-end alternatives can go as high as $130.
With monetary savings in mind, a few enterprising individuals around the internet have begun to showcase their own homemade alternatives to the big-name Apple Watch stands. Made using materials like LEGO and even a 3D printer, the homemade stands not only look functional but, of course, offer a more unique and personal take on charging Apple’s new wearable device.
Designed and built this Apple Watch stand all by myself like a big boy pic.twitter.com/YADEd0wunY
— ⚡️ Conasaurus Rex ⚡️ (@ConaKBO) May 31, 2015
One of the go-to Apple Watch stand material for homemade construction is LEGO, unsurprisingly, with users posting on Twitter and in the MacRumors forums a few noteworthy constructions perfect for the nightly charging required by the wearable. Ranging in diversity from a highly detailed Guardians of the Galaxy themed design to simple no-frills constructions, those interested may not be able to perfectly re-create their favorite designs, but should no doubt feel a burst of inspiration from looking at others’ builds.
My Apple Watch charging stand is better than yours 😉 #iamgroot #lego @JamesGunn pic.twitter.com/mJRl9jvQmg
— I Am Dan. (@danactual) May 28, 2015
Over in the forums, a few members have showcased unique LEGO creations, as well. A few designs focus on pop culture themes like Minecraft or Star Wars, but others have decided to build their own custom blueprints, as well. One user even took it a step further and crafted a matching Watch/iPhone set.
Although far less popular than the easy-to-obtain LEGO bricks, one lucky MacRumors reader has been able to use a 3D printer to design and print out their own personal Apple Watch stand. The resulting product is arguably a bit rudimentary and rough around the edges, but undeniably cool as an alternative charging method for the Apple Watch. The 3D printed stand was designed with a slot on the back of the stand’s neck and a hole at its base to pass the MagSafe charger, although the poster notes the exact dimension of the MagSafe puck was estimated due to the Watch’s unavailability at the time of posting.
3D Printed Apple Watch stand by MacRumors Forum member Shacky
The stands showcased here today barely scratch the surface of the creative ideas and builds Apple Watch fans have taken to creating since its launch in April. If you’ve already built your own Apple Watch stand, or plan to in the future, be sure to share it with everyone in the Apple Watch accessories forum or by commenting below.
T-Mobile extends its #NeverSettle Trial to June 27th
That loud-mouthed man is at it again, attempting to steal Verizon’s customers and making use of OnePlus’ #NeverSettle hashtag. You guessed tight, T-Mobile’s outspoken CEO, John Legere, is in the news again with his company’s latest campaign to woo customers away from Verizon.
We’re extending the #NeverSettle Trial thru 6/27 because, as predicted, @VerizonWireless customers want better. They want @TMobile !
— John Legere (@JohnLegere) June 2, 2015
As you can see from his tweet above, T-Mobile has extended its #NeverSettle trial which allows Verizon customers to test drive the T-Mobile network before deciding whether to stick or twist. The #NeverSettle trial will now run through to June 27th.
Source: Twitter
Come comment on this article: T-Mobile extends its #NeverSettle Trial to June 27th
Rezence wireless charging coming to devices next year, says Intel
The battle for the future wireless power standard has been a long and complicated one and the market is about to become a whole lot more competitive. The merger between the Alliance for Wireless Power (A4WP) and the Power Matter Alliance (PMA) has become a done deal within the past 24 hours and Intel has confirmed that resonance charging compatible products will finally be heading our way next year.
Some big mobile names are part of the new consortium, including Samsung, Qualcomm, Intel, and MediaTek
Speaking at Computex, Intel’s Kirk Skaugen stated that Rezence wireless charging will be integrated into laptops, keyboards, mice, and other devices beginning next year. Although the laptop market looks set to see the technology first, Skaugen also expects to see resonance-enabled accessories for smartphone next year as well and future mobile devices using its Atom x3 processor line will also include wireless charging.
As a quick recap, Rezence is the standard for resonance charging being promoted by the A4WP. Inductive charging is currently the only technology in the gadget market, supported by the Qi and PWA standards. Although based on the same principle, resonance and inductive charging are quite different when it comes to user cases. While inductive charging allows for single device charging at short distance, resonance charging can be used with multiple devices over slightly longer ranges.
The merger between A4WP and PMA means that the two groups will be sharing and exchanging technologies and ideas. Some big mobile names are part of the new consortium, including Samsung, Qualcomm, Intel, and MediaTek, giving the group some substantial clout.
Intel has been sharing its vision for wireless charging products and workstations for quite some time now. Intel will be teaming up with A4WP members Foxconn and Basecom and manufacturers BYD, Primax and Kokuyo to help push the Rezence charging technology to market in products next year. The video below is from Computex 2014, but serves as a good example of the products that may be heading to market in 2016.
Even last year the company showcased a PC, phone and tablet that were wirelessly powered through a table, and has been working on wireless display transmission technologies for TVs and monitors too, so future PC setups can completely do away with cables. The company seems to believe that all cables, and not just those used for power, will be obsolete in the future.
We are about to enter a more competitive, and possibly transitional, stage between inductive and resonance standards
Going back to wireless power, WiTricity, a member of the A4WP, announced its Alliance for Wireless Power (A4WP) partner program last year also, with the aim of making it easier for other companies to incorporate Rezence specified wireless charging standards into their products. By providing development kits and better access to the technology, we will hopefully see a wider range of supported products in the future and not just from Intel.
We are about to enter a more competitive, and possibly transitional, stage between inductive and resonance standards. You can read more about the differences between the two technologies here.
Check out this amazing Hound demo
SoundHound, the company behind the well-known music recognition app with the same name, caused a big stir with the announcement of Hound yesterday, a virtual assistant app that promises to give Google Now, Siri, and Cortana a run for their money. And more than that.
Nine years in the making, Hound generated positive reactions in the tech press, but without a real hands-on demonstration, it’s hard to understand what the fuss is all about. Well, SoundHound delivered and this video called “Hound internal demo” suggests the hype is entirely deserved.
In case you can’t watch the video, the user asks questions like “What is the population and capital for Japan and China and their area in square miles and square kilometers and also tell me how many people live in India and what is the area code for Germany, France, and Italy?”
And Hound begins answering instantly, without skipping a beat.
It’s important to be cautious here, as we don’t know how this demo was conducted and if the commercial product works nearly as well. It’s possible that the app was trained for the user’s voice (or even specific queries) in advance.
And Hound won’t understand everything you say. The list of supported commands includes categories like travel, weather, or navigation. While the app can understand and answer queries that are phrased in several ways, it looks like there’s a limited number of questions or commands you can ask.
#gallery-1
margin: auto;
#gallery-1 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 25%;
#gallery-1 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-1 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
Even if the average user experience won’t be as smooth and fast as in this demo, Hound looks very impressive. You can try it for yourself, but you need to be a US resident and obtain an invite for the beta program here. SoundHound also offers an SDK called Houndify that lets developers integrate Hound natural language processing in their apps.
Let us know your thoughts!
Best Android Contract Deals in the UK
Smartphones in general have rapidly become very expensive devices and in most countries, most customers buy their new smartphone as part of a pay monthly contract.
In the UK, picking a new contract often means searching through lots of carriers and retailers to find the best deal and then, you have to deal with different warranty policies, delivery charges and other hidden charges that might increase the cost of your plan.
To help you find the best Android contracts in the UK, we’ve picked a few price points and we’re going to compare the different deals available from the four major networks – EE, Vodafone, O2 and Three – and independent retailer Carphone Warehouse and give you our top pick for a combination of handset and inclusive allowances along with an honourable mention at each price point.
£0 – £25.99 per month
The low end of the mark is where OEMs offer the cheapest possible experience in an attempt to capture first-time smartphone users and those on a budget.
Top Pick: HTC Desire 820
Deal details:
- Network: iD (runs on Three)
- Price per month: £25.50
- Upfront cost: £0.00
- Monthly Minutes: 1200
- Monthly SMS: 5000
- Monthly Data: 2GB 4G
- Contract Length: 24 months
-
Inclusive Extras:
- Free roaming in 22 countries around the world
- Retailer (link): Carphone Warehouse
- Review (link): HTC Desire 820 review
setTimeout(function()
brightcove.createExperiences();
,
3000);
Honourable mention: Xperia Z3 Compact
The Xperia Z3 Compact was arguably the best mid-range Android smartphone released last year and nearly a year later, the handset is still one of the best mid-range devices. It borrows most of the specs of its flagship sibling – the Xperia Z3 – and is powered by a quad-core CPU, has a 20MP camera and is dust and water resistant.
Deal details:
- Network: Three UK
- Price per month: £24.00
- Upfront cost: £0.00
- Monthly Minutes: 600
- Monthly SMS: unlimited
- Monthly Data: 1GB 4G
- Contract Length: 24 months
-
Inclusive Extras:
- Free roaming in 18 countries around the world
- Free 0800/0808/0500 calls in the UK
- Retailer (link): Three UK
- Review (link): Xperia Z3 Compact Review
setTimeout(function()
brightcove.createExperiences();
,
3000);
Honourable mention: Honor 6 Plus
Honor might be Huawei’s e-commerce brand but its handsets are certainly impressive and the Honor 6 Plus is no different. It’s a fantastic device that is packed with premium specs at a very competitive and affordable mid-range price point. This deal only came below the Xperia Z3 Compact deal as it has less inclusive monthly data.
Deal details:
- Network: Three UK
- Price per month: £24.00
- Upfront cost: £19.00
- Monthly Minutes: 600
- Monthly SMS: Unlimited
- Monthly Data: 500MB 4G
- Contract Length: 24 months
-
Inclusive Extras:
- Free roaming in 18 countries around the world
- Free 0800/0808/0500 calls in the UK
- Retailer (link): Three UK
- Review (link): Honor 6 Plus review
setTimeout(function()
brightcove.createExperiences();
,
3000);
£26 – £39.99 per month
From the entry-level price point to one of the most fiercely contested as flagships are replaced and drop to this very affordable price. Choosing our picks for this category was arguably the hardest choice of this entire feature, especially when handsets such as the Galaxy S5, Galaxy Note 4 and LG G3 are all available at this price point.
Top Pick: LG G4
The LG G4 is without doubt one of the best Android smartphones on the market and despite only landing on the market a few days ago, it’s available at this excellent price (by comparison, the Galaxy S6 started at over £45 per month as did the iPhone 6. It’s one of my favourite devices of the year and delivers the best alternative to Samsung’s flagships at a much more affordable price point.
Deal details:
- Network: EE
- Price per month: £36.99
- Upfront cost: £39.99
- Monthly Minutes: Unlimited
- Monthly SMS: Unlimited
- Monthly Data: 5GB 4G
- Contract Length: 24 months
-
Inclusive Extras:
- Free calls and texts while roaming in selected European countries
- Double-speed LTE-Advanced 4G (up to 300Mbps)
- Retailer (link): Carphone Warehouse
- Review (link): LG G4 review
setTimeout(function()
brightcove.createExperiences();
,
3000);
Honourable mention: HTC One M9
The HTC One M9 may not be the handset for everyone – I’ve already shared my views on HTC’s latest flagship – but it still offers a compelling package and for a handset that has a recommended price in excess of £500 ($750), this deal is rather good value for money.
Deal details:
- Network: Vodafone
- Price per month: £35.00
- Upfront cost: £79.99
- Monthly Minutes: Unlimited
- Monthly SMS: Unlimited
- Monthly Data: 6GB 4G
- Contract Length: 24 months
-
Inclusive Extras:
- 3 months unlimited internet (Data Test Drive)
- £3 per day roaming in European countries (Vodafone EuroTraveller)
- Retailer (link): Carphone Warehouse
- Review (link): HTC One M9 review
setTimeout(function()
brightcove.createExperiences();
,
3000);
£40 – £49.99 per month
From the mid-range to the flagship and this price point is where most modern flagships enter the market at. If you’re willing to spend this much each month, you’ll pretty much get your own pick of which handset you buy.
Top Pick: Galaxy S6 32GB
Choosing any deal at this price point pretty much includes selecting the Galaxy S6, which is why Samsung’s flagship takes top spot at this price point. While there are other handsets available, as mentioned at the beginning, this comparison takes into account the retail price of the handset, which is why the Galaxy S6 offers a more compelling package at this price.
Samsung’s latest flagship is certainly impressive with a metal and glass build, Quad HD Super AMOLED display, octa-core Exynos 7420 processor, 16MP camera and built-in dual wireless charging. It may not have a removable battery and expandable storage like its chief rival – the LG G4 – but it ticks the other boxes and deserves its top billing. The plans at this price point are all rather similar but Three takes top spot as its the only one to offer unlimited 4G data.
Deal details:
- Network: Three UK
- Price per month: £48.00
- Upfront cost: £0.00
- Monthly Minutes: Unlimited
- Monthly SMS: Unlimited
- Monthly Data: Unlimited 4G
- Contract Length: 24 months
-
Inclusive Extras:
- Free roaming in 18 countries around the world
- Free 0800/0808/0500 calls in the UK
- Retailer (link): Three UK
- Review (link): Galaxy S6 review
setTimeout(function()
brightcove.createExperiences();
,
3000);
Honourable mention: Galaxy Note 4
The Galaxy Note 4 might be a few months old now but Samsung’s phablet still offers one of the best experiences on the market. The premium specs – including a Quad HD display, 16MP camera and quad-core CPU – are coupled with the innovative S-Pen stylus and faux leather cover for a truly impressive handset.
Deal details:
- Network: EE
- Price per month: £49.99
- Upfront cost: £9.99
- Monthly Minutes: Unlimited
- Monthly SMS: Unlimited
- Monthly Data: 10GB 4G
- Contract Length: 24 months
-
Inclusive Extras:
- Free calls and texts while roaming in selected European countries
- Double-speed LTE-Advanced 4G (up to 300Mbps)
- Retailer (link): EE
- Review (link): Galaxy S6 review
setTimeout(function()
brightcove.createExperiences();
,
3000);
Honourable mention: Galaxy S6 32GB
EE’s network is the best in the UK for coverage and data speeds and this plan is certainly made for the heavy data user as it offers a large data allowance and super-fast speeds.
Deal details:
- Network: EE
- Price per month: £49.99
- Upfront cost: £9.99
- Monthly Minutes: Unlimited
- Monthly SMS: Unlimited
- Monthly Data: 10GB 4G
- Contract Length: 24 months
-
Inclusive Extras:
- Free calls and texts while roaming in selected European countries
- Double-speed LTE-Advanced 4G (up to 300Mbps)
- Retailer (link): EE
- Review (link): Galaxy S6 review
£50+ per month
This is the price point where the extremely premium handsets enter the market. Alternatively, this is the price at which you’ll get those insanely large data allowances and just about every package your network provider offers as they tempt you to part with your hard earned money.
Modern smartphones are only increasing in price so it’s only a matter of time before more smartphones enter the market at this price each month. Contracts in the UK a few years ago used to cost this much per month but deals then became affordable and over the past six to twelve months, we’ve seen a trend for monthly prices to increase as smartphone prices increase.
setTimeout(function()
brightcove.createExperiences();
,
3000);
Like the Galaxy S6 above, this section is dominated by the Galaxy S6 Edge, which is arguably Samsung’s true flagship handset. Choosing a deal at this price point was incredibly tough as all the networks offer large data allowances and it came down to perceived value and our experiences with each network (in terms of coverage, speeds and reliability).
Top Pick: Galaxy S6 Edge 64GB
Picking a top deal was certainly interesting as at this price point, most of the deals are rather similar. However, our top pick comes from EE, who are offering the 64GB Galaxy S6 Edge with a large amount of data and a reliable network at a lower price than the competition.
Deal details:
- Network: EE
- Price per month: £54.99
- Upfront cost: £69.99
- Monthly Minutes: Unlimited
- Monthly SMS: Unlimited
- Monthly Data: 20GB 4G
- Contract Length: 24 months
-
Inclusive Extras:
- Free calls and texts while roaming in selected European countries
- Double-speed LTE-Advanced 4G (up to 300Mbps)
- Retailer (link): EE
- Review (link): Galaxy S6 Edge review
setTimeout(function()
brightcove.createExperiences();
,
3000);
Honourable mention: Galaxy S6 Edge 64GB
Choosing an honourable mention was difficult as there were lots to choose from but we settled on the only 12-month contract on our list (the rest are 24 months). Vodafone still offer 12-month contracts and while they have become relatively expensive, they still offer value for money and the ability to change devices more often.
Deal details:
- Network: Vodafone UK
- Price per month: £59.99
- Upfront cost: £279.00
- Monthly Minutes: Unlimited
- Monthly SMS: Unlimited
- Monthly Data: 4GB 4G
- Contract Length: 12 months
-
Inclusive Extras:
- 3 months unlimited internet (Data Test Drive)
- 5GB BT Openzone Wi-Fi
- Free Inclusive calls to the UK from European Zone
- £3 per day roaming in European countries (Vodafone EuroTraveller)
- 6 months inclusive benefit (Now TV, Sky Sports Mobile TV or Spotify Premium)
- Retailer (link): Vodafone UK
- Review (link): Galaxy S6 Edge review
setTimeout(function()
brightcove.createExperiences();
,
3000);
Wrapping Up
Choosing a new smartphone is certainly a challenge with a myriad of networks, retailers, handsets, offers, price plans and allowances to choose from. You may have just been looking for some recommendations on what to spend your money on and we hope that you’ve at least gained some insight into what your monthly budget might get you.
Our top picks for Android deals: which will you buy?
It’s worth remembering that there are hundreds – and even thousands – of pay monthly deals available and while we’ve picked the ones we think are top picks, there are probably others that also suit your needs. Some networks – EE and O2 – allow you to customise your package by paying more upfront and less per month and vice versa so the same deals mentioned above may be available at other prices.
Based in the UK and spotted a deal that you think we’ve missed? Which deal would you choose and why? Have we helped you with our top picks for Android contracts in the UK? Let us know your views in the comments below guys!!
Another picture of the Galaxy S6 Active surfaces
Following on from the leaked photograph and press renders of the Samsung Galaxy S6 Active from last month, Even Blass (aka @evleaks) has posted another shot of the rugged, durable smartphone (see above).
The latest image looks pretty much identical to the other two, heavily suggesting that this is indeed the final design. The more durable case and physical buttons results in a larger overall footprint, as is typical for Samsung’s Active series of smartphones. It also looks like those physical buttons come at the expense of the regular Galaxy S6’s fingerprint scanner, although the heart rate monitor remains placed at the top next to the camera module.
Previously, rumored specifications hinted that the handset will feature a 5.1-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED display, a 14nm Exynos 7420 processor, a 16MP rear-facing camera, a 5MP front-facing camera and a substantial 3500mAh battery. The regular Galaxy S6 only has a 2550mAh battery capacity, so the Active variant could see a large leap in its battery life.
A handset with the model number SM-G870A was spotted passing through the FCC in mid-May, which is likely linked to the handset. As such, we are expecting to hear something official about the Samsung Galaxy S6 Active sometime rather soon, as we are still waiting on price and availability information.
Are you planning on picking one up?
AIVAnet 