Android

Samsung offensive. In May, the South Korean group sounded the charge in the categories smartphones and tablets. However, the long awaited Samsung Galaxy S4 top smartphone could not win first place in our top 10. The other devices were not as exciting as the S4. Nevertheless, it was not boring in May.

Big "L". This time around, we are testing the Optimus L7 II, the larger of LG's two new mid-range second-generation Optimus L models. Its smaller sibling was a decent smartphone, albeit a bit unremarkable - does the same hold true for the L7 II as well?

The mainstream "L". LG not only delivers high-end smartphones like the LG Optimus G or the Google nexus 4, the Korean company also produces smartphones for the medium price range. We have a closer look at the new 4-inch mainstream device, the Optimus L5 II.

Bridging the gap. The Galaxy Note 8.0 with its powerful hardware and S Pen is designed to seamlessly integrate into Samsung's Galaxy portfolio and fill the gap between 5.5-inch and 10.1-inch devices. Can Samsung continue their success with this new member and potentially outsell the iPad Mini? We will have to see.

Something new. The Amoi N828 is the manufacturer’s attempt to compete with the established smartphone producers. The successor of the Amoi N821 is on sale as of now and with its 4.5-inch display and quad-core processor, it is supposed to teach its competitors the meaning of fear. Find out in our test if this works out.

Chief and Indians. In April, we reviewed a lot of smartphones and tablets - more than ever before. The HTC One from the Taiwanese company clearly stands out from the huge crowd of mid-range models. The pre-series Sony Xperia Tablet Z is an interesting model too.

Semi-outdoor-tablet. The Stylistic M702 is described by Fujitsu as "semi-ruggedized", and is both water and dust proof in accordance with IPX standards 5, 7 and 8. With the Tegra 3 from Nvidia familiar and potent hardware has been included, but whether or not it is able to come to terms with the harsh conditions of outdoor use remains to be determined.

Evolutionary update of a bestseller. Samsung managed to sell more than 40 million copies of the Galaxy S III. Now the successor has been released, set to trump the flagship of 2012. The Galaxy S4 ships with a Full HD Super AMOLED display, a quad-core CPU and all kinds of gimmicky features. But is this enough to defend the top spot?

Thick all-rounder. The Acer Iconia Tab A211 offers a multitude of ports and reliable hardware in a robust case. Will this tablet be a success or is it destined to fail?

A Mid-range smartphone. The Chinese company TCT has released a new smartphone under the Alcatel branding which carries the features that we typically see in a mid-range smartphone. We evaluate the One Touch 997D which comes with dual-SIM support.

Tablet made in China. The manufacturer Ainol is based in China and is now represented with extremely cheap tablets in the Western hemisphere as well. What does Ainol's Novo 7 Crystal Quad Core have to offer for a price of around 90 Euros (~$116)? And how will it fare in comparison with other low-budget devices?

Product diversity. The Xperia ZL extends Sony's smartphone portfolio at the top of the range, whereby familiar hardware and a 5-inch display with a resolution of 1080x1920 pixels meet a slightly reworked case, all of which is currently available at a price of around 550 Euros (~$715).

Adjusting the price. The Y300 is the cheapest Ascend device from the Chinese company Huawei. You can buy the smartphone for just 149 Euros (~$194) but is it a good deal or should you invest more money?

BlackBerry or Sony. After the mobile World Congress, we are looking forward to seeing the new flagships from HTC and Samsung. In the meantime, the top models from Sony and BlackBerry are fighting for the Smartphone crown. In the tablet world, the entry and middle-class devices are king.

Sharp as a razor. Sony had manufacturing issues with their Tablet S. The brand new Tablet Z is supposed to help get the electronics company back on track - and ahead. We scrutinized this pre-series device. Even its appearance is certainly sharp...

Like a brick on your ear. Samsung's Note kicked off the ongoing wave of large smartphones, aka phablets. Now, Asus joins in with its big 7-inch Fonepad, nominally a tablet to make phone calls. It will definitely attract attention when held to an ear - at least at present.

For the young. The Samsung Galaxy Young is a handy smartphone for novices and the young. As its street price of 125 Euros (~$164) is rather low, you will have to live with several limitations, won't you? We will discover them in our review.

Little star? Affordable, stylish and handy: Samsung's Galaxy Fame is aimed especially at young customers. But perhaps it can also attract other target groups with features like a 5 megapixel camera and NFC.

Familiar devices. More than four months after the launch of the Google Nexus 4 the counterpart from LG is finally available. The specifications are almost identical but the price is much higher. This review will tell you how the South Korean flagship device performs compared to other high-end devices.

Speedy, white, comes with LTE. The Samsung Galaxy Express seems to be made to stir up other mid-range smartphones with its ultrafast 4G internet connection, great battery life and the Samsung Galaxy S3’s fancy chassis. We venture to have a closer look.

A rugged companion. Samsung writes another chapter in the outdoor smartphone success story with their new Galaxy Xcover 2. Even though its inner life received a major overhaul, the end product is still just a mid-class device -- but it is certainly fit for the outdoors.

Lucky number four.Long awaited, incessantly discussed and sold out even faster - Google's latest Nexus device raises the battle cry against other high-performance smartphones with an unrivaled price of 349 Euros (~$450) for the 16 GB version and 299 Euros (~$390) for the 8 GB version.

A new Galaxy. Samsung introduced its smartphone flagship from the latest portfolio at a big event in London. A quad-core SoC based on ARM, a 720p screen, NFC and Android 4.0 ICS belong to the must-haves of this category today. Is Samsung's Galaxy S3 the new category leader in an attractive packaging?

Inexpensive remake. Between the release of the Toshiba AT300 and AT300SE there were just a few months. This can also be seen in the comparison of the technical specifications of the two devices; the main specifications are almost identical. We checked if the 50 Euros (~$65) lower price point of the AT300SE is the deciding factor for a purchase.

Aluminum rocket. The HTC One is the latest high-end smartphone from the Taiwanese manufacturer. A swift Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 Quad-Core-SoC, stereo speakers, a 4.7-inch display with 1080x1920 pixels and the latest software packed in a high-quality aluminum unibody. The new king of smartphones for 680 Euros (~$878)?

Clever and smart? Asus equips its new 10.1-inch tablet with a quad-core processor and special speakers. The tablet is available in three different colors and retails for an affordable 299 Euros (~$380). Is the "Smart" in the name really appropriate?

Low-Budget Mini? The Archos 80 Titanium - another device from the Titanium series - recently became more widely available. With an 8-inch display and an aluminum chassis the Frenchman shows similarities to the iPad Mini. We have a closer look at the performance of the stylish device.