Smartphones Gift Guide: TELUS

Not to be the last to the party, we are bringing you our picks for the best smartphones currently available on Telus. Until recently, Telus was thought to have a fairly underwhelming choice of smartphones but they’ve recently augmented that with a couple high-end bangers.

Check out our list below:

Winner: HTC Amaze 4G

The HTC Amaze is one of the best phones of the year, period. It’s fast, more so than the other Android smartphones that use the same chipset. It’s well-constructed without being cumbersome. It’s got a fantastic camera and dedicated shutter buttons for both still and video. It’s got a gorgeous qHD display that, while it doesn’t match the fidelity of HD screen like the Galaxy Nexus, holds its own.

It’s also running Sense 3.0 on top of Android 2.3.5, and without being coy about it, does the job about as well as any other device on the market. While we’ve cooled to HTC’s Sense UI overall, everyone on the Amaze just seems to gel together perfectly, and that’s more than we can say for the majority of smartphones today.

The HTC Amaze is available from Telus for $79.99 on a 3-year term and $599.99 outright.

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Runner-up: Apple iPhone 4S

The iPhone 4S may have been overlooked on the other carriers, but that’s because it is a fairly iterative upgrade over the still-fantastic iPhone 4. However, on Telus it makes sense that the next-best choice for consumers over the Holidays would be Apple’s stunning work of industrial design.

Not only have the processor and camera been given a sizeable upgrade, but iOS 5 improves on the existing software experience with iCloud, an improved notification system and better overall performance.

Though its screen may seem too small next to the HTC Amaze and its ilk, it has one of the sharpest and highest-density LCD displays on the market. And to top it all off, it has the best apps, period.

You can have the iPhone 4S for $159.99 (16GB), $269.99 (32GB) or $369.99 on a 3-year term, or $649/$749/$849 outright, respectively.

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Next Runner-up: Samsung Galaxy S II X

The Galaxy S II X from Samsung was one of the most anticipated devices on Telus’ lineup this year, and for good reason. It took what made the original Galaxy S II and improved it: a bigger 4.5″ screen, faster processor and 42Mbps modem. It’s a bit thicker and heavier than the original, but also slightly more robust, with a thicker, more business-friendly backplate and no physical home button.

With a lower-than-standard resolution of 800×480 it’s hard to recommend the Galaxy S II X if you’re looking for the sharpest screen for reading or movie watching, but it’s Samsung’s Super AMOLED Plus technology that makes the screen so beautiful, with perfect contrast, excellent colour reproduction and awesome whites.

You can grab the Samsung Galaxy S II X from Telus for $49.99 on a 3-year term or $599.99 outright.