Holidays are awesome, there is no denying that. After many months of hard work you get a chance to slow down, relax, and spend some quality time with friends and family. But there always comes that tough moment when you need to go out and fill a shopping cart with presents for all the significant people in your life. And picking the right gifts for your loved ones is not always easy, especially when you are greeted by an avalanche of products screaming “Buy me!” at you once you step into the mall.
But fear not, we've got your back! Welcome to the latest edition of our Holiday gift guide where we select the coolest smartphones and tablets the nation's wireless carriers have in stock. From geeky youngsters that spend most of their time on the web to design-conscious individuals with a taste for shiny things, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile have the gadgets to suit anyone's preferences.
So, instead of blindly going with the first smartphone or tablet you lay your hands on, or spending hours trying to figure out which one is best, read along and see which are the devices that really deserve your attention.
Masterfully crafted out of glass and stainless steel, the iPhone 4S is undoubtedly a gift that anyone would love. Its beautiful Retina Display treats you with a generous dose of eye-candy, and its snappy 8-megapixel camera captures those special moments with great precision. The icing on the cake is iOS 5, which brings along iCloud, iMessage, Siri, and a ton of other tweaks and features that make the iPhone experience complete.
The Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket is a blend between the raw speed of 4G LTE connectivity and the sheer computing power of a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, which makes it a perfect gift for Android enthusiasts. It's also very suitable for surfing the web or watching a flick while on the go as it packs a spacious 4.5-inch WVGA display. If that is not enough, an 8-megapixel camera that can capture 1080p video is thrown in the set, so the smartphone's owner will always have something in their pocket to capture their holiday mischiefs with.
Back in the days (of early 2011), the Motorola ATRIX 4G was marketed as being the world's most powerful smartphone. Well, its successor, the Motorola ATRIX 2 does not brag with such bold claims, yet it hits the sweet spot with its great value for money ratio. For $99 you get a 1GHz dual-core processor, 4.3-inch qHD display, 4G HSPA+ connectivity at up to 21Mbps and an 8-megapixel snapper that can shoot 1080p video. And that is quite a lot of bang for your buck.
Facebook junkies need a smartphone to go along with their social lifestyle, and the HTC Status is surely a worthy candidate. Built with social networking in mind, the HTC Status offers a dedicated Facebook button that serves as a shortcut to your profile page and lets you quickly share your photos, location and status with your online buddies. Besides, the full QWERTY keyboard is there to make typing those messages an effortless process. Sure, its tech specs put it right in the lower mid-range category, but that is compensated by its fair $50 price tag.
Just like the iPhone 4S, the iPad 2 is a gift that clearly nobody would pass on. Sure, if specs is all you look at you may find better tablets on the market, but the iPad's extensive software catalog is something that no other mobile platform is likely to beat in the near future. It is a great gift for couch potatoes who can enjoy watching their favorite TV shows on its crisp 9.7-inch display, and its dual-core A5 chip is powerful enough to satisfy the needs of the casual gamer.
If you have to pick a tablet for someone who hates following the crowd, the Samsung GALAXY Tab 8.9 LTE is what we would recommend. And while it may not have a selection of apps as extensive as the iPad's, it is a whopping 0.2 millimeters thinner than Apple's second-gen slate! Oh, and it also comes with 4G LTE connectivity. Can an iPad do that? No. Well, there is a catch, namely that AT&T's LTE network is available in only a handful of markets, so you better make sure the recipient of your generous gift is covered first.
Apple iPhone 4S
Yes, Apple's pride and joy is gracing Big Red's shelves as well. If you simply cannot decide which smartphone you should get for your loved one, the iPhone 4S would be a safe bet. They will definitely love the 3.5-inch Retina display, which delivers sharp, great-looking visuals thanks to its 326 ppi pixel density. And let's not forget that mighty 8-megapixel camera that captures some really eye-pleasing images, and can do it pretty fast too. Just keep in mind that a lot of iPhone 4S handsets will fly off the shelves this year, so don't wait for the last moment to get one.
Here is the perfect gift for any hardcore Android lover – the Samsung GALAXY Nexus. Not only that it has a speedy 1.2GHz dual-core processor under its hood, a 4.65-inch 720p Super AMOLED display at its front, and an LTE radio for superfast internet speeds, but it is the first device to run Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box, meaning that it delivers the very latest that the platform has to offer. Besides, owning Google's benchmark device is a guarantee that all the latest updates will be delivered to you in a timely manner. Just to keep things clear, the Samsung GALAXY Nexus is not available yet, but chances are that it will get released in time for the holidays.
Need a gift for someone who is crazy about music? Look no further than the HTC Rezound, which happens to be the first smartphone on the market to feature Beats Audio technology for a superior listening experience. In terms of specs, the Rezound is definitely a future-proof device thanks to the 1.5GHz dual-core processor ticking under its hood and the gorgeous 4.3-inch display with 720 by 1280 pixels of resolution. Oh, did we mention that it has a 4G LTE radio as well?
The Motorola DROID RAZR is a fusion between cutting-edge hardware and eye-catching looks, which makes it a fitting choice for someone obsessed with design. It is also the slimmest phone you could possibly find on the market, which is something that would provide the smartphone's owner with bragging rights for quite a while. Add the 4.3-inch qHD Super AMOLED Advanced display, 1.2GHz dual-core processor, and LTE radio to the equation, and you get a smartphone that would make someone very happy if found under the Christmas tree in a box with their name on it.
Looking for a smartphone that a lady would fancy? Check out the elegant HTC Rhyme and its attractive plum outfit! Yes, we know that this Android handset is a clear mid-range offering – it comes with a 3.7-inch WVGA display, 1GHz MSM8655 chipset, and a duo of cameras, 5 and 0.3 megapixels respectively, but that technical mumbo jumbo is something girls rarely pay attention to. That light-up notification charm and the beautiful HTC Sense 3.5 UI, on the other hand, will likely grab their attention.
If having a smartphone makes you cool, having a tablet makes you cooler! Jokes aside, the Samsung GALAXY Tab 10.1 is a great gift for someone in need of a device that will be used primarily for surfing the web, watching videos, and perhaps playing a video game once in a while. It has a spacious 10.1-inch display, which is pretty much as big modern tablets get, and it tips the scale at only 21 ounces making it easy to carry around. And about the LTE part, rest assured that the web will be delivered at your fingertips at the blink of an eye.
Just like we mentioned before, a shiny iPad 2 will make anyone happy if given as a gift. It is slim, sexy, and is likely to make its owner look a lot more sophisticated when checking their email at Starbucks. With a 10-hour battery life, the iPad 2 will surely last through a day of usage, and its portability is guaranteed by its weight of only 613 grams. But on the software side is where the iPad 2 truly shines. You get the joy of using all the goodies iOS 5 has to offer, and a plethora of apps from the App Store are yours to explore.
The Samsung Epic 4G Touch is arguably the most potent smartphone that you can find in Sprint's lineup, and any geeky individual with an affinity for Android would love to find one inside their stockings this year. It is powered by a mighty dual-core processor clocked at 1.2GHz, its back is graced by an 8-megapixel camera capable of shooting 1080p video, and hooking you up to the web is the smartphone's 4G WiMAX radio. Oh, and about the display, those 4.52 inches of Super AMOLED Plus goodness should please anyone's eye.
The Motorola Photon 4G is another powerful Android smartphone with support for 4G WiMAX connectivity from Sprint, and if you have a tech-savvy person in the family, this handset would be the right device for them. It offers a brilliant, 4.3-inch qHD display and a dual-core Tegra 2 processor, which make the smartphone great for surfing the web, watching videos, and playing 3D video games.
The HTC EVO Design 4G is an offering that we would recommend grabbing if $100 is all you can spend. However, that doesn't mean that you will be getting anything less of a decent Android smartphone. What you see on its front is a 4-inch qHD display, and a 5-megapixel camera is situated on its back. Adding a twist to the Android experience is the pretty HTC Sense user interface, while that 4G in the smartphone's title means you will be riding on Sprint's WiMAX airwaves. All of that treats are encased in a sturdy aluminum body.
After a flurry of leaks, rumors, and plain guesses, Sprint officially got a hold of the iPhone 4S this year. However, while it is virtually no different from the AT&T and Verizon models in terms of both hardware and software, what makes the Sprint iPhone 4S special is that you get a truly unlimited data plan along with the device. That being said, the Sprint iPhone 4S would be a suitable present for internet addicts and iPhone lovers alike.
With its portrait-style QWERTY keyboard, the Motorola Admiral, powered by Android 2.3, would be a recommendation for business professionals. At the same time, it is likely to suit the tastes of those who simply cannot stand typing on a virtual keyboard. In terms of hardware, you get a 3.1-inch VGA touchscreen, a 1.2GHz single-core processor, a 5-megapixel camera, and 4 gigs of on-board storage. Last but not least, the Motorola Admiral is resistant to dust, shock, vibration, and extreme temperatures, so it can handle much more abuse than your every-day handset.
Okay, you probably saw this one coming. The fact of the matter is that the Samsung GALAXY S II is one of the most capable smartphones that T-Mobile has to offer, which means that it is suitable for people demanding the very best. Not only that it sports an enormous 4.52-inch Super AMOLED Plus display with a resolution of 480 by 800 pixels and a 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm chipset, but it can fly on T-Mobile's HSPA+ networks at speeds of up to 42Mbps. The icing on the cake is the beautiful TouchWiz UI which comes pre-loaded on top of Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread.
Another T-Mobile smartphone that we absolutely need to include in the list is the Android-flavored HTC Amaze 4G, which brags a lot with its photographic skills. On the back of the device is situated an 8-megapixel camera with a BSI sensor and a f/2.2 aperture size for better low-light performance. But let's not forget that the snapper is virtually free of shutter lag and that is shoots 1080p videos with ease. But besides being a good substitute for a bulky point-and-shotter, the HTC Amaze 4G is a great smartphone as well. It offers a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, a marvellous 4.3-inch qHD screen, and 42Mbps 4G connectivity over HSPA+.
If the one you are searching a gift for has an aversion for supersized Androids, the mid-sized HTC Radar 4G is what they might like. It runs the elegant Windows Phone 7.5 Mango platform and catches the eye with its solid, unibody construction. On its front glows a 3.8-inch Super LCD display and a snappy 5-megapixel camera with f/2.2 aperture resides on its back. Processing power is delivered by a 1GHz single-core processor, which might seem below par at first, but it shouldn't worry you much as the Windows platform is tailored to be run by it without a hitch.
Another Android heavyweight? Why not. The HTC Sensation 4G is both good looking and powerful, so it would be a great gift for both the tech-savvy and the design-conscious. Among the highlights of the device are its eye-pleasing 4.3-inch qHD touchscreen, its speedy 1.2GHz dual-core processor, and an 8-megapixel camera that can capture 1080p video. The Android experience is beautified by the HTC Sense interface, which brings along a ton of eye-candy like 3D animations, masterfully drawn icons, as well as the ability to launch apps straight from the lock screen.
The Samsung GALAXY Tab 7.0 Plus is a tablet that fuses portability and performance together. It weighs only 345 grams so it is really easy to carry around, yet inside it ticks a 1.2GHz dual-core processor for great multitasking performance. But the really cool thing about it is that it offers a 21Mbps HSPA+ radio that can keep the tablet connected to the web even when you are on the go.
Even though it has been on the European market for many months, the Samsung GALAXY S II remains one of the hottest devices your money can buy. And what your money gets you is the performance of a dual-core 1.2GHz processor and the eye-pleasing visuals delivered by a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus display. Oh, and let's not forget that Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich is coming to the GALAXY S II as well, so it is definitely a future-proof device we are talking about here.
Enhanced with Beats Audio, the HTC Sensation XE is the device for those who simply cannot live without their tunes. The iBeats earphones that come in the set are probably the best a smartphone has been equipped with out of the box, and the Beats Audio software profile makes sure they sound their finest. But besides a flashy portable multimedia player, the Sensation XE is a powerful smartphone too. It has a 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm chipset, a gorgeous 4.3-inch qHD display, and an 8-megapixel camera that can shoot video at 1080p.
This list would simply feel incomplete if we don't include the iPhone 4S – a smartphone outstanding both on the inside and on the outside. The iPhone 4S is what you get for someone very special, and presenting it as a gift is like saying: “Thank you for being so awesome! Please, enjoy playing with this shiny gadget!”. Your gift will be accepted with gratitude, and heck, you might even get a kiss after that!
The Nokia Lumia 800 is the company's very first attempt at delivering a Windows Phone device, and our first hand experience with the smartphone showed that Nokia has done a pretty good job. The handset sports a slick design, its front is graced by beautiful screen, and a handful of useful apps like Nokia Maps, Drive and Music come pre-installed out of the box. If you need a gift for someone who would use no other phone but a Nokia, (and we are sure you know someone like that), the Lumia 800 is what we recommend buying.
Being the cutie that it is, the Sony Ericsson Xperia ray would fill the heart of every lady with warmth once it is found laying in their hand. It sports a slim waistline and its petite size is a guarantee it will fit inside the tiniest of handbags. On the ray's front you will see a beautiful 3.3-inch display with a stellar for its size resolution of 480 by 854 pixels, and resting on the device's back is an 8-megapixel camera for capturing those special moments.
If a smartphone simply won't cut the mustard, getting your loved one an iPad 2 is probably the best you can go with. A lot of these are going to fly off the shelves in the forthcoming months, so you might want to jump on the bandwagon as well. The iPad 2 is a great gift for couch potatoes who can enjoy watching their favorite TV shows on its crisp 9.7-inch display, and its dual-core A5 chip is powerful enough to satisfy the needs of the casual gamer.
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