Speed up with a 3G mobile phone
Third-generation handsets offer video calls, music downloads and streaming services. They're generally a bit bigger than their 2G cousins but offer a whole lot more multimedia functionality.
Third-generation handsets offer video calls, music downloads and streaming services. They're generally a bit bigger than their 2G cousins but offer a whole lot more multimedia functionality.
NEC's N600i is a 3G clamshell with a 1.3-megapixel camera that supports a wireless Internet service called i-mode to access to sites such as eBay, Whereis and Citibank from your phone.
- The good
- High-speed i-Mode access with video content
- Detailed menu options
- Large screen
- Nifty external display
- 1.3-megapixel camera takes sharp photos
- The bad
- Too many navigational buttons (13)
- User interface is complex
- Waiting period for some functions and network access
- Inexplicable i-Mode errors
- Slightly bulky build
Exclusive to Vodafone live! with 3G, the Motorola V1050 is a matte black handset with a 1.3-megapixel camera, a 262K-colour screen and an MP3 player. It also supports up to 256MB of removable memory.
- The good
- 1.3-megapixel camera
- Stylish -- if you like black
- External colour display
- Nice loud speaker
- The bad
- Stubby antennae
- Only available through Vodafone
Based on the design of the Motorola RAZR V3, the slightly thicker V3x is a 3G-enabled handset with a 2-megapixel camera, Bluetooth and an MP3 player.
- The good
- Two-way video calls and streaming
- Large internal keypad with clear vivid images
- Robust and stylish
- Decent audio playback
- The bad
- Camera image quality very average unless in strong daylight
- Disappointing battery life
- Fiddly menu design
Australia's first 3-megapixel camera phone, the Sharp 903, is available exlusively on Vodafone's 3G network. It comes with Bluetooth, a 260K-colour LCD and 8MB of internal memory.
- The good
- Great camera
- Superb screen
- Easy to use
- MiniSD cards are easy to swap, thanks to side-mounted slot
- The bad
- Large and heavy
- Music quality is poor
- Too little internal and bundled miniSD memory
The days of the 3G brick are numbered, with Samsung's Z510 joining the Motorola v3x in the slim and sexy category.
- The good
- Slimmest 3G phone around
- Dazzling 262K-colour display
- Comprehensive, straightforward PC software package
- The bad
- Memory not expandable
- Camera only 1.3MP
- One port handles charging, PC synch and headphones