Whoever you’re gift-hunting for this Christmas, there’s bound to be a mobile phone to suit them. We give the rundown on eleven great mobiles for all the family.
By Stephen Jones and Lois Avery
We’ve split this list into phones for kids, teens and parents – and don’t forget to take a look at our guide to claiming cashback to ensure you’re getting your deal as cheap as possible.
Mobile phones for the kids
1. T-Mobile Vibe E200 - Available in pink or black with slide-out QWERTY keypad, a 2-megapixel camera, games, media player and FM radio, the Vibe E200 has plenty to keep the little ones occupied. Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and Bebo are all integrated, allowing easy social networking on the go, and there’s also Bluetooth for wireless swapping of pictures and other files.
2. Nokia C3-01 - Touch or type? With this phone you can do both. The C3-01 offers touch operated scrolling on-screen as well as a keypad. Use the SMS, email and instant messaging to stay connected and access both Facebook and Twitter using 3G and Wi-Fi. The phone also has a 5-megapixel camera and can record video. The memory can be boosted with a MicroSD card, so those who love to download everything they can will be well catered for.
3. Nokia 5228 X Factor Edition - If you’re an X Factor fan then you’ll love this special edition 5228. Get wallpapers and ringtones from your favourite contestants and even tips from the voice coaches. Backstage gossip and X-Factor footage is on hand thanks to the X Factor app and there’s a 2 2-megapixel camera to capture your own star performances. If that’s not enough X Factor, you can get right into the action with the web browser.
4. Samsung Tocco Lite - The Tocco Lite from Samsung is great for keeping in touch with friends with the social network app. Access to the internet is easy with GPRS, and the Tocco Lite also boasts 50MB internal memory. The music functions also have a 3D surround sound effect and the 3" screen is fully touch-sensitive. Unlike most mobile phone cameras the 3-megapixel camera here allows you to capture images with added features including digital zoom, smileshot, editor and the ability to store your own photo albums.
Mobile phones for teens
1. HTC Desire HD – This extremely popular phone has an Android operating system, allowing downloads of new apps and content from the Android Marketplace. Google Maps, Flickr, Facebook and Twitter are just a touch away via 3G technology, and the 5 megapixel camera features autofocus, flash and geo-tagging. What’s more, the internal memory can be expanded up to 32GB and the handset is quad-band for international roaming, while connectivity options include Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
2. Samsung Galaxy Tab – This tablet PC has a 7" display and an Android operating system. This provides Google service such as search, Gmail and Maps with GPS navigation, as well as giving access to the Android Marketplace, where thousands of new applications are available. This tablet also boasts a 3.15-megapixel camera and webcam, as well as an office suite for viewing Word, Excel, PowerPoint & PDF files.
3. Apple iPhone 4 – This is the newest addition to the iPhone range and boasts a 5-megapixel camera, high definition video and video calling. Multi-tasking is now far simpler on the new operating system, which uses the same processor as the iPad, meaning it is easy to flick through applications at speed. On top of all that, the battery is 40 per cent better than the previous model, allowing you to access the internet, emails and apps for longer.
4. Nokia N8 – The 12-megapixel camera makes the Nokia N8 one of the best camera phones on the market. You can now connect to a TV and with on-demand TV channels like National Geographic and CNN supplied with Dolby Digital Plus, you have your own home cinema at your fingertips. The home screen displays updates from social networking sites and for those who are always out and about or travelling there’s a great choice of connectivity platforms, with wireless Bluetooth, quad-band international roaming, Wi-Fi and email messaging.
Mobile phones for Mum or Dad
1. LG Optimus One Navigation Edition - This edition comes with the complete in-car package of a car charger and cradle as well as Google Maps Navigation so you can always find your way from A to B. The Android operating system provides software from Google such as Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail, YouTube and Google Talk and its internet access means you can easily keep up with friends with Facebook and Twitter.
2. Nokia 1661 - This budget handset would suit both personal and business users alike. With a lightweight design of only 80g it’s perfect to carry around easily. The battery provides up to 475 hours of standby and up to 4 hours talk time. A dedicated hot key allows you to access the phone’s FM radio quickly, and large well-spaced keys make text messaging easy. With added extras like the built in flashlight and MP3 ringtones, it’s available from as little as £3.90 on pay-as-you-go. A great mobile to get you started.
3. JCB Tradesman – If you work outside or near water then this phone is tough enough to join you. It’s dust and shock resistant and it floats on water. Features include a built-in torch, FM radio and colour display. The Tradesman also has Bluetooth for connecting to a wireless headset and tri-band reception for use overseas. Custom JCB additions include the traditional yellow and black colour scheme as well as a JCB start-up screen and JCB ringtones.
