The
new school year is drawing closer, so it's time to start thinking about what
school supplies students are going to need. Back in the day, all Little Johnny
or Janie needed was a pencil and some paper, but times have changed. Now a
smartphone is likely to be on the list, especially for college students.
Students
generally need a powerful phone, as it will be their major way of communicating
with friends and family, whether it's by text, IM, or social networking. Plus,
a smartphone can be an invaluable tool for keeping up with a hectic schedule,
or blowing off steam with a game or two. And they might even use it to call
someone at some point.
The
Samsung Galaxy S III comes close to being a laptop that you can fit in your
pocket. Despite its sleek design, it offers a generous 4.8-inch high-res
display. Thanks to Android 4.0 and a powerful 1.5 GHz, dual-core processor, 4G
connectivity, an 8MP camera, and S Voice commands (Samsung's answer to Siri) it
is one powerhouse of a phone.
The
Galaxy S III is offered by every major wireless carrier in the United States,
making it the most broadly available smartphone in this country. And a version
with a quad-core processor is widely available in other countries around the
world.
You
might also want to know how to watch
YouTube on Samsung Galaxy S III, go ahead!
2. Apple iPhone 4S
The
flagship phone from Apple has sold by the million, to the point where it and
its predecessors have become cultural icons. This device has a 3.5-inch Retina
touchscreen, 1GHz dual-core processor, 5MP camera, and 3G,but Apple's
smartphones have never been about cutting-edge specs. Instead, they emphasize
ease of use, simplicity, and an almost astounding number of apps.
While
the iPhone 4S is still popular more than 9 months after its launch, a
replacment is expected in early fall -- those who can afford to wait might want
to do so.
This
model can be fround at AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint.
Have
the need to convert video to
iPhone 4S? right here!
3. HTC One X (U.S. Version)
HTC
released the One X, its new flagship Android smartphone, earlier this year to
rave reviews thanks to its excellent camera, beautiful 4.7-inch display, and a
powerful 1.5 GHz, dual-core processor running the show. Other features include
Beats Audio, HTC's Sense 4 overlay, and 4G LTE connectivity, though it is worth
noting that, like the Galaxy S III, the international version of the phone does
not have LTE, instead swapping out that feature for a more powerful quad-core
processor.
While
our reviewer gave it a slightly higher score than the Galaxy S III, the Samsung
model comes out slightly ahead because it is much more widely available -- at this
point the One X is only offered by AT&T.
4. Motorola Droid RAZR MAXX
The
Motorola Droid RAZR MAXX was released a matter of months after the initial
release of the Droid RAZR, coming on the heels of complaints regarding the
original model's battery life. Motorola more than adequately addressed the
problem, releasing a phone that is marginally thicker than its predecessor, but
also packing a 3300 mAh battery that provides many more hours of battery life.
Combined with high-end specs like a Super AMOLED display and a 1.2 GHz
dual-core processor, the Droid RAZR MAXX took a good phone and made it great.
This
device is a Verizon exclusive.
5. Samsung Galaxy Note
The
Samsung Galaxy Note is something of a polarizing device in that some people may
take issue with its size, while others may laud its roomy, 5.3 inch Super
AMOLED display that allows for the usage of Samsung's S Pen stylus. The device
spawned the term "phablet," as it's big enough to be considered a
smartphone/tablet hybrid, but the it also has more going for it than its
massive size. 4G LTE connectivity and a powerful 1.5 GHz dual-core processor
are some of the Galaxy Note's "noteworthy" features, so if size isn't
an issue for you, this is definitely worth a look.
It
is offered by AT&T now, and will coming to T-Mobile soon.
6. HTC One S
A
more affordable version of the HTC One X, the One S is more modestly specced,
with a slightly slower dual-core processor? and a smaller, lower resolution
(4.3-inch, 540 x 960) display. Nevertheless, the processor of the One S, a
dual-core Qualcomm MSM8260A Snapdragon with two Krait cores running at 1.5 GHz,
performs admirably, to the point where it's almost indistinguishable from that
of the One X. Also appealing is its sexy, slim build, measuring only 7.8 mm
thick, making the One S a cheaper yet almost equally attractive offer as its
big brother.
Currently,
this handset is available only from T-Mobile.
My daughter has been begging for an iPhone, so her father and I finally got her the 4S for her birthday last month. She absolutely loves this phone, and she’s already found several apps that will help her now that she’s off to college in a couple of weeks. For a graduation gift, her father and I have decided to get a Sling Adapter from Dish so that she can watch live TV and our DVR recordings on her iPhone while she’s away. One of my co-workers did the same thing with his son last year, and found it to be cost effective because his son still had TV and movies, which kept him from going out and partying too much.
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