If you think that the Apple store is the only place to go for new gadgets, think again. There are plenty of premium-yet-affordable alternatives which could leave you with a bit more cash in your hand. Cries of ‘sell my iPhone!’ or ‘sell my iPad!’ may now become more familiar as savvy users switch allegiances.
Samsung Galaxy S3 versus the iPhone
Believe it or not, the iPhone isn’t perfect. If you want a top-end, less expensive phone with a better display and customisable interface, why not consider a device that runs on an Android operating system, like the Galaxy S3? This slick little number features enviable 4G LTE speeds, good battery life, a generous 4.8 inch screen and an astonishing range of innovative features inside its 0.3 inch-deep frame. Highlights include an 8 megapixel camera that can snap 20 continuous frames, an ability to instantly transfer large files to other S3s and share photographs over Wi-Fi. Recently named Phone of the Year at the annual T3 Gadget Awards, the S3 is a flexible device with an expandable memory and highly adaptable operating system and is a very real competitor for the iPhone.
Must read: 8 Reasons You Should Choose Samsung Galaxy S3 Over iPhone 5
HP Folio 13 versus the MacBook Air
If you’re looking for a featherweight, travel-friendly laptop, an Apple MacBook Air is an attractive option. Visually similar, offering many comparable features, the HP Folio carries a more affordable price tag. With its brushed aluminium finish and backlit keyboard, it is slim and minimalist in design. It’s as thin as other ultrabooks but weighs in a little heavier, possibly to accommodate a battery life that HP says will last up to nine hours. With Bluetooth capability, a generous offering of ports, an Ethernet jack and an SD card slot, this is a well-built and practical machine.
Must read: 5 Reasons Why iPhone Sucks and Android is Better
Nexus 7 versus the iPad
At half the price of its Apple counterpart, the Nexus 7 is possibly the best 7-inch tablet to date, combining state-of-the-art design and quality hardware with Google’s latest Jelly Bean operating system. It is powered by a quad-core Tegra 3 processor with 1GB RAM and comes with either 8GB or 16GB storage. It accommodates a reasonable 216 pixels per inch on its screen and has a 1.2 MP camera, USB port, headphone jack and speaker port and GPS chip, allowing access to Google Maps’ offline mode in the absence of Wi-Fi. Almost half the size of the iPad, the Nexus 7 is brilliantly user-friendly and despite being made from glass and plastic, feels like a premium tablet.
Must read: Which is the Best: iPhone 5 vs Samsung Galaxy S3 vs Nokia Lumia 920?
Samsung Galaxy Player Wi-Fi 5.0 versus the iPod touch
The iPod touch is an impressive piece of kit that transcends the space between portable media player and smart phone. It can be used to surf the internet, listen to music, play games or watch films. There was little to rival the iPod touch until recently, when the Samsung Galaxy Player arrived. It has a 5-inch 800 x 480 pixel touchscreen display, a 1GHz single core CPU, 8GB storage, a micro SD card slot, Android operating system, front and rear camera and Bluetooth, FM Radio and GPS. With an 8-hour battery life, this is the closest thing you’ll get to an iPod.