I’m now on my second generation of iPhone, which means that I’ve never really ventured around the comfortable realm of Apple products. Android phones have always intrigued me because notoriously, the battery life and the camera are far superior to the former – however sticking with my comfort zone, I opted for an iPhone 5 for my latest upgrade. That was until, Carphone Warehouse got in touch and asked whether I’d like to try their new HTC Mate model which they have stocked – exclusively – in pink. You might be able to guess my response.
With a sleek, feminine design and a large HD screen – it’s everything you could want in a modern smartphone and so much more. Initially the transition from apple to android is a little tricky to grasp, as the shortcuts and taps are slightly differently configured – however once you put this aside, it’s almost like you’ve been an HTC user all along.
I’m not an overly ‘techy’ person so when I read specifications of makes and models, it usually all goes over my head. However, the screen is so crisp and clear that it’s almost like having a mini laptop in your hands and the battery life is so above and beyond Apple’s that I’m seriously considering getting rid of mine and making ‘the big switch’ permanently. The camera on the front is almost as high spec as the one on the back, making this the perfect ‘selfie’ taking phone and the filters that are offered as standard are on par with Instagram’s!
The size and shape of the phone itself means that it’s easy to hold, text and call – without ever feeling like it’s going to slip out of your hand. HTC provide a plain rubber case for the phone for protection however I managed to drop it within a few hours of playing around (typical) and despite suffering a mini heart attack (I hadn’t even photographed it YET) it was right as rain.
The keyboard is so user friendly and the predictive text isn’t as silly as Apple’s – my poor mother received a text from me when visiting my boyfriend in Wales (which admittedly wasn’t proof read before I hit the send button) which said ‘I’m having a great time playing with my new willies’. In actual fact, I was updating her on the status of my new Hunter Wellington boots. It could have been worse I suppose.
Overall, I’m really impressed by this phone. Not only is it girlie and pink (I thought I was over pink phones but after getting extremely excited when this arrived, I realised I wasn’t) but it’s so practical and perfect for blogging on the move. The picture quality is incredible, the navigation is simple (once you get the hang of things) and the speed and battery life is another swaying factor. If you’re on the lookout for an upgrade, or you fancy a change from Apple – I’d seriously recommend you give this a go. It’s sold exclusively in Carphone Warehouse and the contracts are really reasonable (£28 a month for 24 months, with unlimited minutes and texts – free phone).
Have you tried/got this phone? What do you think?
