'The latest and greatest phone from the company known as "the Apple of the East", the Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 continues the company's trend of offering impressive specifications at astonishingly low prices. '
'The Redmi Note 2 isn't a perfect phone by any means, but it's powerful, reasonably good-looking, has great screen and a fantastic camera - as well as other bonuses such as a MicroSD slot and two SIM slots. '
'Good battery life.'
'When connected to an active external amplifier, the smartphone showed excellently high volume levels and perfectly clean output for one of the best showings out there. . '
'It’s easily the most impressive phone available under $300, and it doesn’t force you to make the compromises that are commonly required by cheap phones. '
'Mesmerizing IPS-based display'
'While the software and audio hardware are great, the Idol 3 is not a smartphone you’ll pick for its visual design. '
'It’s a nice phone, but the only thing that stands out at present is a totally unacceptable overheating problem with the camera. '
'It's a catastrophe for a smartphone maker that prides itself on offering among the best camera experience. '
'On the other hand, we weren't entirely satisfied with the screen's performance under direct sunlight - it seemed washed out and it was difficult sometimes to handle.'
'A rectangular two-sided glass slab held together by a metal frame makes for a premium styling which feels equally nice to look at and handle.'
'The Sony Xperia Z1 looks stunning, it's a distinctive design and there's no questioning the quality of the build. '
'For normal media viewing everything looks great, but you really notice the difference when watching or viewing full HD 1080p content where, as with the Xperia Z, everything takes on an incredible and cinematic, almost 3D-like quality.'
The next level of Sony's Android ambitions or a needless mid-cycle vanity upgrade?
