Cell phones

New Nokia lineup spans range of budgets, features

Nokia took the wraps off four cell phones today at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, that run the gamut of entry-level handsets to high-end Windows 8 devices.

With the entry-level Nokia 105, the Finnish handset maker is thinking small. The durable 105 features an itty-bitty 1.5-inch screen and costs 15 euros, or about $20. Created for markets such as China, Indonesia, India, and Nigeria, the Nokia 105 focuses on calls, long battery life, and only a few little extras.

There's no camera, no volume rocker, and the only buttons on this handset are on the central, rubbery … Read more

15 euro Nokia 105 is as cheap as it looks (hands on)

BARCELONA, Spain--You might not think that an electric blue phone with an itty-bitty 1.5-inch screen would appeal to most folks, but Nokia is guessing that its extremely targeted, extremely simple Nokia 105 is going to fit the bill for folks who have 15 euros to spend.

Intentionally created for the entry-level cell phone markets in China, Indonesia, India, and Nigeria, the Nokia 105 focuses on calls, long battery life, and only a few little extras.

The handset comes in black and the now-signature Nokia cyan shade. When I held it in my hands, my first impression was that somebody … Read more

Budget-friendly Nokia Lumia 520 headed to T-Mobile

BARCELONA, Spain--When I first heard the leaked rumors and specs surrounding the Nokia Lumia 520, I was sure I was going to be looking at a handset with a passable chassis that I'd only grudgingly like because of its stellar price. Instead, when Nokia representatives handed me a red and yellow Lumia 520, I had to admit, it looked pretty good (it'll also come in cyan, white, and black).

If you're reading this from the U.S., you should pay extra attention because, in addition to coming to other markets, it'll be available through T-Mobile as … Read more

Budget-friendly Nokia Lumia 520 headed to T-Mobile

CNET UK reviewed the Nokia Lumia 520 on April 15, 2013.

If you're reading this from the U.S., you should pay extra attention because, in addition to … Read more

LG's L series go Jelly Bean, but offer few surprises

BARCELONA, Spain--LG did its best to spread its new devices around at Mobile World Congress. It hit the top of the market with the Optimus Pro G, it went midrange with the Optimus F5 and F7, and it aimed a bit lower with the Optimus L7 II, L5 II, and L3 II.

Like the L-series handsets that LG introduced last year, their designs won't stand out and they deliver no surprise features. Also, all of the phones are 3G-only, which sets them apart in an increasingly LTE world.

Inside, they're all running Android Jelly Bean, which I appreciate … Read more

An affordable Android with fancy audio

BARCELONA, Spain--Acer's new Liquid E1 is proof that an Android Jelly Bean handset doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg. At an unsubsidized price of 199 euros (about $260, or £175), this midrange smartphone comes with a respectable list of components to match its modern software.

Powered by 1GHz dual-core MediaTek processor paired with 1GB of RAM, the Liquid E1 offers a pleasantly quick if not blisteringly swift Android experience. And while its 4.5-inch screen has a lower than average qHD resolution (960x540 pixels), it's large, bright, and uses IPS technology for acceptably … Read more

Acer's Liquid Z2 built for Android newcomers

BARCELONA, Spain- Don't dismiss the Acer Liquid Z2 because of its small stature. This new handset showcased at MWC 2013 may be on the petite side in terms of many Android smartphones, but the gadget manages to squeeze Android 4.1 Jelly Bean plus support for dual-SIM cards in its compact frame.

If you're expecting a massive screen here, the Liquid Z2 will disappoint. That's because the device uses a miniscule 3.5-inch LCD with a low 480x320-pixel resolution. The phone's other components won't prove thrilling to mobile computing mavens, either, such as a 3-megapixel … Read more

Unspectacular Firefox OS is OK for low-end phones (hands-on)

BARCELONA, Spain--Firefox OS is real, and it works.

Mozilla's browser-based phone technology is a credible option for the emerging markets where it'll first arrive starting in the second quarter. The nonprofit debuted the first version of the software at the Mobile World Congress show in front of 700 people curious to see how well it works.

For that mobile-savvy audience, the answer is this: not well enough. For wealthier customers, Firefox OS will have a hard time standing up to the two powerhouses of the mobile market, Google's Android and Apple's iOS.

With Firefox OS, Mozilla … Read more

Alcatel One Touch Star brings Jelly Bean on a budget (hands-on)

BARCELONA, Spain--A Star is born: the Alcatel One Touch Star is a new budget Android phone that brings you Jelly Bean without busting your wallet.

The Star is cute enough, with a slight sheen to the back. The case comes in white, black, or pink. The build quality feels solid and not at all rickety, but plastic does look and feel cheap.

For a budget phone, I was instantly struck by how bright and vibrant the 4-inch AMOLED screen is. Games and apps look colorful and run smoothly thanks to the 1GHz dual-core processor.

It's an Android phone, so … Read more

Asus at MWC 2013: Join us Monday (live blog)

BARCELONA, Spain--Given what else it has had to deal with recently, Spain probably wouldn't be all that shocked if a UFO did indeed land atop Gaudi's famous Sagrada Família in Barcelona, Spain. But rest assured, would-be tourists, that was just a teaser in a brief video Asus released over the Internet in the run-up to Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

Asus' Mobile World Congress press conference

The video ends with an invitation to "join Asus to embrace the metallic miracle" on February 25 at Mobile World Congress. Another tease: the company's Mobile World … Read more