Samsung has announced a new low-end phone aimed at non-North American markets. Called the Samsung Galaxy Ace Plus, the handset brings Android in a compact and affordable package.

By the way, we use the word "compact" subjectively here.  Just a couple years ago, this is how big all smartphones were -- just enough to fill your pocket comfortably.  Heck, the design, shape and general dimensions of this handset are eerily similar to the iPhone 3G.  Yep, we guess Apple's multiple lawsuits aren't quite getting their message across.

Details of the Samsung Galaxy Ace Plus include a 3.65-inch capacitive touchscreen (320 x 480 resolution), a 5.0 megapixel camera module, aGPS, 3G with HSPA, WiFi, Bluetooth, 2GB of storage and microSD card expansion.   Muscle is provided by a modest 1Ghz processor.

It runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread with the familiar TouchWiz on top.  As with other Android phones, it comes with Google's Mobile Services, along with a number of preloaded apps, including ThinkFree Office, Samsung Social Hub, Samsung Music Hub and ChatON.

The Samsung Galaxy Ace Plus will initially be launched in Russia, with markets in China, Africa, the Middle East, Southwest Asia, Latin America, CIS and Europe to follow.   No pricing or exact release dates yet.

[via BGR]

Despite smartphones gaining more market share than ever, Nokia remains a strong entity in the feature phone department.  And their latest, the Nokia X2-02, likely makes that position stronger.

Coming under the music-minded X series, the handset comes with dedicated music keys, special sound processing that boasts "the clearest sound you’ll find at this price" and Play via Radio.  If you're not familiar with that last one, it's a feature that lets users record songs directly from the radio, as well as share playlists with your home system, car stereo or other phones.

A dual SIM phone, the X2-02 supports two active networks at any time.  Even better, it  allows you to swap SIMs without having to turn off your phone, with the handset switching to the new SIM's stored profiles automatically (it can store up to five profiles).  Hardware details include a 2.2-inch display (320 x 240 resolution), a 2.0 megapixel camera module, an FM tuner and microSD card support (up to 32GB).  Onboard battery is rated at up to 9.7 hours of talk time.

The traditional candybar handset measures 113 x 50 x 15 mm and weighs 93g.  It runs the familiar Nokia feature phone OS, so don't expect much in terms of software niceties.  There's also no 3G or WiFi support.

The Nokia X2-02 will be released in five colorways: Bright Red, Orange, Violet, Ocean Blue and Dark Silver.  Likely headed to emerging markets, there are no exact dates for release, but pricing is set at €60 before taxes and subsidies.

[Nokia]

The Gangstar series has gained a good following among iOS-using sandbox action gaming fans.  And the latest in the series, Gangstar Rio: City of Saints, doesn't disappoint, easily positioning itself as the best game of the lot.

While it still isn't perfect, the game is a definite step-up compared to its two predecessors.   The graphics are cleaner, the character system is fuller, and the overall world feels very vibrant.  On the downside, the voice overs remain weak, the story isn't the most compelling and cloud saving still isn't supported.  But those are things you should be able to look past, given how fun the rest of the game is.

Gangstar Rio's gameplay and controls remains similar to the previous incarnations, which means it's a heck of a fun action game. Plus, it's a meaty game with over 60 missions thrown into a pile with random events as sandbox games go, dozens of vehicles to run around in (including helicopters and tanks), and tons of weapons. The addition of a new clothing system based on experience and respect levels, which can enhance some attributes (e.g. some clothes make you luckier when it comes to looting enemies), is much welcome, as it adds an extra level of incentive for actually advancing your character.

The visuals still aren't on the same level as the best graphics in iOS, but it's a marked improvement.  Plus, they fixed a lot of issues with physics and building pop-ups, making games feel much smoother.   If you're using an iPhone 4S, by the way, this thing loads and play fast (not sure about older iPhones, though).

While I'm still waiting for Gangstar to truly live up to its potential, Gangstar Rio is a definite leap in the right direction.  It's a heck of a fun game, too, and is well worth the $6.99 price.

[iTunes]

AT&T just announced a version of the Optimus LTE for their network.  Called the LG Nitro HD, it's the first smartphone in the carrier's roster to feature a screen capable of showing displays in full 720p.

Measuring 5.27 x 2.67 x 0.41 inches, it's long and slender, just like a lot of the bigger premium phones coming out these days.  It features a huge 4.5-inch IPS display with a 1280 x 720 pixel resolution and 500-nit luminance.   According to the press release, the screen offers "unrivaled color accuracy," " true-to-life color rendering" and "clear viewing in direct sunlight."

Details of the Nitro HD include an 8.0 megapixel camera module, a 1.3 megapixel front-facing webcam, aGPS, 4G LTE, HSPA+, WiFi, Bluetooth, DLNA, 4GB of onboard storage and microSD card expansion (up to 32GB).  No word on what version of Android runs, but we're assuming Gingerbread, instead of Ice Cream Sandwich.

Billed as "the ultimate high-performance super phone," the handset comes with more than just a high-res display and LTE broadband speeds.  It also runs a powerful dual-core 1.5GHz Qualcomm processor that allows it to run HD games and movies with relative ease.

The LG Nitro HD will hit AT&T retail stores December 4th, priced at $249.99 with a new two-year agreement.

[via Engadget]

While the touchscreen slate form factor has emerged as the standard for today's smartphones, the Blackberry-style QWERTY candy bar remains a preferred design among a big segment of mobile workers.  And the Motorola Admiral offers one of the better devices for that specific crowd.

Physically, it looks very industrial, despite the rounded corners and curved edges.  It's not a looker, but it does mirror what it's supposed to be -- a workhorse phone.  Construction feels tough, the way phones in this category were always meant to be,  Display is a 3.1-inch capacitive touchscreen (480 x 640 resolution), with a physical QWERTY keyboard right below it.  The screen is good enough, although we wish it held up better under sunlight (as it is, it remains usable, but colors are washed out).   The keyboard is very responsive with a comfortable design.

As a phone, the Admiral makes for good calls.  Everything is clear, although I could have used more volume (in crowded places, you'll need to cover up to hear).  Being a push-to-talk phone, the speaker is very loud, making for great hands-free conversations and, of course, PTT calls.  Battery is great and will likely last moderate users up to two days.

You get all the usual smartphone favors (it runs Android 2.3.5 with Motoblur on top), including a full messaging suite, full set of wireless connectivity (3G, WiFi, GPS, Bluetooth, DLNA), and a good selection of apps.  We particularly like those targeted for business use (there are plenty), since this is a business phone.

With that said, it's a decent media phone, too, and offered good performance with its 1.2GHz Snapdragon S2 processor.  The 5.0 megapixel camera takes great outdoor shots.  Indoors, however, pictures look washed out even with the LED flash in play.  It manages decent 720p videos, as well.

We love the Motorola Admiral for the excellent construction and overall responsiveness.  It serves its workhorse purpose well.  Price is $99.99 with a new two-year agreement from Sprint.

Waiting for the latest Moto Droid to drop?  While it's not yet official, the Motorola Droid 4 has shown up on leaks this week and it looks pretty sweet.

Design bears some similarities to the Droid Razr, although it's not quite as slim.  The extra thickness, of course, comes courtesy of the five-row slide-out keyboard, which looks a bit cramped based on the product images (or maybe it's just the angle).  We do love the white backlighting that appears all around each key, though.

Leaked details of the Motorola Droid 4 include a 4-inch capacitive touchscreen (960 x 540 resolution), an 8.0 megapixel camera (with 1080p video recording), a front-facing video cam, a 4G LTE radio and a 1,785mAh battery.  Processing is handled by a dual-core 1.2GHz CPU, paired with 1GB of RAM.

The handset only runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread, instead of Ice Cream Sandwich.   Other notable features include Moto's slightly modified UI, government-grade encryption for sensitive data (email, calendars and contacts), 1080p mirroring via HDMI and a bunch of Motorola's applications (including Motocast and Smart Actions battery-saver).

Based on the leaked Verizon documents, the Motorola Droid 4 will come out before the year ends, likely within the first two weeks of December.

[Droid-Life]

Verizon has announced a new mid-range Android smartphone.  Called the Samsung Illusion, the handset boasts modest but delectable specs that are bound to attract a good chunk of the current Android crowd.

We have no idea what's up with the "Illusion" name since nothing about this device screams particularly deceptive or tricky.   Or maybe there is and we just don't notice it.  Dun-dun-dun…

Details of the Samsung Illusion include a 3.5-inch capacitive touchscreen display (800 x 480 resolution), a 3.0 megapixel camera module, aGPS, 3G with HSPA, WiFi (with mobile hotspot capability), Bluetooth 3.0 and microSD card expansion (up to 32GB).  Processor is a single-core 1GHz Hummingbird.

The styling is identifiably Samsung, with its rounded corners and familiar face design.  It uses a bunch of environment-friendly materials, too, although the green angle appears to be downplayed in the marketing.  Android 2.3 runs at the helm, boasting all the usual favors like Google Mobile Services, corporate email support and robust messaging.

From today through the 28th, the Samsung Illusion will be available free on contract from Verizon Wireless' website.  It won't hit physical Verizon stores until 2012, so you'll have to order online to get it.  After the 28th, price bumps back up to $79.99.

Motorola has announced a new phone destined for the Taiwanese market.  Called the Motorola XT615, the handset boasts slim lines, a large screen and an affordable price.

While not quite as skinny as the Motorola RAZR, the phone still wears a notably slim shell .  Plus, the light metallic finish of the edges make it look even thinner.  Phone dimensions are 117.7 x 60.5 x 9.85 mm, with a weight of 123.6g.

Details of the Motorola XT615 include a 4-inch capacitive touchscreen (480 x 854 resolution), an 8.0 megapixel camera module (with LED flash), a front-facing VGA webcam, aGPS, 3G with HSPA, WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0, microSD card expansion (up to 32GB) and a 1,390 mAh battery (rated at up to 5 hours of talk time).  Muscle is provided by a modest 800MHz processor, paired with a 1GB of ROM and 512MB of RAM.

It puts Android 2.3 Gingerbread at the helm, with the new Motorola Switch UI on top.  No word on additional software included beyond the usual Google Mobile Services, but we're guessing a lot of Chinese-language stuff, since this is for the Taiwan crowd.

The Motorola XT615 will launch to Taiwan Mobile customers in the middle of December, priced at NTD$10,900 (around $360).  No word yet on whether this will be rolled out in other markets.

[Motorola]

The Samsung Exhibit II 4G isn't the best-looking, most well-constructed phone we've seen.  The specs are good, though, and it's heavy on the features, making for an attractive handset for Android bargain hunters.

Physically, the smartphone bears little resemblance to its predecessor and not in a good way -- the build looks cheaper, decked almost exclusively in hard plastic.  We guess it's acceptable, though, given that this is aimed at the budget crowd.  Plus, the plastic construction keeps it lighter compared to similarly-sized phones.  Display is a 3.7-inch touchscreen with 480 x 800 resolution.  Quality is on par with similar handsets in the same range.

As a phone, the Samsung Exhibit II 4G manages good calls, with clear voices and plenty of volume.  There's a bit of a light background buzz that pops in and out, although it's feint enough that you can ignore it easily.   Speakerphone offered plenty of loudness, although those on the other end reported an irritating tone to my voice.  Battery is rated at 5.5 hours of talk time.

Running Android 2.3 Gingerbread, all the usual set of smartphone features are onboard.   There's a full load of messaging options, a full set of wireless connectivity (HSPA+, 3G, aGPS, Bluetooth, WiFi and DLNA), and a host of updated Google Mobile apps.  Samsung throws in its set of apps, too, including AllShare DLNA, Kies Air syncing and Social Hub, along with numerous additions from T-Mobile.

The 3.0 megapixel camera takes bright and clear outdoor pictures, although colors look a little washed out.  The front-facing VGA camera works fine, too.   Running a 1GHz processor, the handset's overall performance is quite solid, especially for something at this price range.

Available for $29.99 on a two year agreement and $199.99 off-contract, the Samsung Exhibit II 4G offers one of the best price-to-features ratio in the market today.

The Samsung Galaxy Nexus is Google's latest showcase phone, running the revamped version of their Android mobile platform.  We have a separate review of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.  Read that first if you want a clear picture of what the upgraded OS does.

Physically, the handset bears plenty of resemblance to the similarly Samsung-produced Nexus S.  If you liked the overall design of that phone, then you'll get much of the same here.  Except bigger.  It actually feels a bit too big in my hand, although the size and heft are manageable once you get used to it.

Out front sits a huge 4.65-inch Super AMOLED touchscreen, with a 1,280 x 720 resolution.   As you can imagine, this makes for an amazingly expansive display, with intense sharpness, high levels of brightness and vivid colors.  There are no physical buttons on the front panel, making for an even more elegant design.

As a phone, the Galaxy Nexus makes for good calls, with lots of volume and voices coming through clearly.  Those on the other end reported similar performance, although they did report hearing some ambient buzzing at times.   Speakerphone has generous volume, although you'd probably not want to turn it up to max (it's ugly when it gets there).  Battery performed well during the short time we've had to play around with the unlocked phone.  Expect it to last you a day during normal use.

All the smartphone essentials, of course, are onboard.    There a full load of messaging options, email and calendar syncing, a full set of wireless connectivity (4G, 3G, aGPS, Bluetooth and WiFi), and a host of updated Google Mobile apps.   The speaker-independent voice commands allow you to do an expansive range of things, too, provided you use it in a room without a lot of noise.   GPS performed better than most Galaxy devices, likely because of the added barometer for GPS locking.

The main camera is surprisingly only 5.0 megapixels.   It performs well enough, though, with a generously bright flash and zero shutter lag to boot.  HD videos shot on the camera looked crisp, but get blurry fast with motion involved.   There's also a front-facing video cam for conference calls.

For media playback, the large 720p display and 1.2GHz dual-core processor makes for excellent movie viewing.  We do bemoan the lack of a microSD card slot, though, which leaves you limited to the 32GB of onboard storage.

While the Samsung Galaxy Nexus' hardware will probably be eclipsed shortly by newer, faster phones, it's easily one of the best-performing Android handsets we’ve ever used.  If you want the pure Android experience, though, it can't be beat.