Smartphone Gift Guide: Bell Mobility

This year Bell seems to have had more exclusive Android phones than any other company. They seem to get them first, and keep them longest. They are also currently the only carrier with the Galaxy Nexus, they were the first with the Galaxy S II and the only one with a HD-LTE device in the LG Optimus Eye. But there are a bunch of other devices we like, so read on to see which one we like the best.

Winner: Galaxy Nexus

If this isn’t the phone to get this winter season, I’m not sure what is. The first device running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, it is thin, attractive and fast. It has a 720×1280 Super AMOLED HD display, a 1.2Ghz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM and a 5MP instant-shutter camera.

It’s also Google’s flagship device, which means that you’re getting a pure Android experience, an unlocked device that can be used on practically any North American carrier, and an improved build quality over the Nexus S.

Check it out for $159.95/$649.95 at Bell. We also have a two-part review (1,2) for your perusing pleasure.

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Runner-up: Samsung Galaxy S II

Even though it is nearly six-months old, the originally Galaxy S II is still one of the best devices on the market. With easily the fastest dual-core processor on the market, an excellent build quality and fantastic 8MP camera it is better than the Galaxy Nexus in many ways.

It has a lower-resolution 800×480 Super AMOLED Plus display, but eschews the PenTile matrix colour configuration for a pure RGB colour palette, meaning that colours are more vivid and text more readable. Even with Samsung’s TouchWIZ Android overlay it performs quickly and is quite stable.

Ultimately it’s biggest liability is that it will rely on Samsung and Bell for updates, which means that unless you are into Android hackery it’s unlikely to see Android 4.0 for many more months.

At $99.95 on a 3-year term, and $599.95 outright, it is a bit cheaper than the flagship Galaxy Nexus, and for many people, especially those who value speed and camera quality over the newest software, it is the right choice. It is also available now in White!

Check out the Galaxy S II at Bell for more information, and our full review.

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Second Runner-Up: LG Optimus LTE

The Optimus LTE is a great device: it is fast, with both a dual-core processor and LTE baseband, and has a 720p screen. It is nice in the hands and definitely a step up from previous LG fare.

For many people it’s going to be easy to overlook the few misgivings we had about it: the lacklustre battery life, poor camera quality and overall sluggishness. The Optimus LTE runs Android 2.3.5 with an LG overlay, and while we enjoyed the extremely fast 40+Mbps download speeds, and the extraordinarily sharp display, we were ultimately left disappointed.

The Optimus LTE is a great phone for someone looking for the absolute newest technologies around, so give it a try.

It is available for $99.95 on a 3-year term and $629.95 outright from Bell. Take a look at our review as well.