Best O2 4G Smartphones Coming Your Way
O2 has announced the launch of its own 4G service for the 29th August, meaning it wont be a one horse race for EE anymore. In anticipation of this 4G launch, a number of new smartphones which are compatible with this standard are rumoured to be joining O2’s roster of products as soon as they are made available. Here are just a few of the best O2 4G smartphones which should be available in time for this high speed connectivity’s arrival.
Samsung Galaxy Note 3
Samsung found a surprise hit with the original Galaxy Note in 2011 and secured the popularity of the range with the Galaxy Note 2 in 2012. The Galaxy Note 3 is set to make its debut this autumn and once again it will have upped the stakes in terms of technology. As well as sporting 4G network compatibility, the Galaxy Note 3 will include a huge 5.9 inch OLED screen with a full HD 1080p resolution, according to recent reports. This will give it an even larger display area than its predecessors and make browsing the web and streaming video even more engaging. This is relevant because with 4G available to it, the Galaxy Note 3 will be an even better venue for high speed internet access.
Samsung is also thought to have upped the processing power of the Galaxy Note 3 and it could harness an octo-core CPU.
However, the Galaxy S4’s UK iteration features a quad core chip for the sole purpose of making it 4G compatible, so the same pragmatism might be applied to the design of this new device.
Sony Xperia i1
Sony has had a good year so far, thanks to the success of its Xperia Z flagship smartphone, although it has even more tricks up its sleeve over the coming months. The Xperia i1, also codenamed the Honami, has been the subject of a number of leaks online and could be one of the many 4G phones to be offered by O2 before the end of the year. The Xperia i1 will be able to keep pace and even exceed the capabilities of its closest rivals thanks to the presence of a five inch full HD display, a 2.3GHz quad core processor and 2GB of RAM. It will also be a well-equipped camera phone, which is reported to feature a sensor ranging from 16 to 20 megapixels in resolution. Coupled with 32GB of onboard storage and a 4G connection, this could be a real boon for photography fans who want to share their works online.
Both this handset and the Galaxy Note 3 will be based on Google’s Android operating system, although of course Sony and Samsung have their own interfaces which they place over the top to differentiate the user experience.
Apple iPhone 5S
Although Apple’s next-generation iPhone which is destined for launch in 2013 has yet to be revealed, many sources believe that it could well be an incremental upgrade to the iPhone 5 rather than an entirely new piece of hardware. Those who buy the the iPhone 5S on O2 will be able to enjoy the brand new iOS 7 operating system which has been significantly enhanced when compared with previous versions. This includes a new take on the Safari web browser, which has been redesigned to be sleeker and make better use of the available screen space.
The hardware capabilities of the iPhone 5S have yet to be confirmed, but it could well feature the four-inch screen of Apple’s current flagship handset. There have been rumours that the pixel count will be doubled for an even crisper, clearer viewing experience, although this could turn out to be wishful thinking.
The main question now is how good will 4G be on the O2 network, and how will the new O2 4G smartphones perform. Consumer want faster browsing and 4G is yet to provide great connectivity. It is thought that Vodafone should also have their 4G network coverage up and running by early autumn, which is just in time to take advantage of this gaggle of new 4G smartphones that are going to be released in roughly the same period. All eyes are looking to September as the month which defines the future of networking and smartphone hardware in the UK.