LTE is something that is really hot right now. Both giant telcos have started to offer them in the limited areas in the country, mostly in the key cities. Recently Smart has started to offer it on prepaid. Check our article about Smart LTE Prepaid here. Currently, it offers up to 42Mbps Internet speed, but on average we get at decent 8-12Mbps on certain areas in Makati, but some has experienced up to 22Mbps.
LTE, an initialism of long-term evolution, marketed as 4G LTE, is a standard for wireless communication of high-speed data for mobile phones and data terminals. It is based on the GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA network technologies, increasing the capacity and speed using a different radio interface together with core network improvements. [Source]
The LTE space is a welcome development to consumers as well as to the Telco. The end-users get to experience fast internet speed, the Telco start to produce LTE-enabled devices which will eventually lower down cost. What I find odd is that LTE pocket WiFi is still priced very high. While Smart has offered it for P6,995 the gray market are still selling it for more than P8,000+. The LTE space is getting filled up, that means the HSPA+ area gets unclogged too.
Let us list the top 10 LTE smartphones currently available in the market today. Brands like Samsung, HTC, Sony, Blackberry, LG and ZTE and Huwaei has their own models. Let us list them down with their specs so that you have better view and option, in case you want to buy anytime soon.
1. Sony Xperia V LTE
Specs: 4.3 inch scratch-resistant TFT touchscreen, Google Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) OS, 1.5 GHz Qualcomm MSM8960 dual core processor, 13MP HD camera, 1GB RAM, 8GB internal storage
2. HTC One SV LTE
Specs: 4.3-inch super LCD-2 touch screen with Corning Gorilla Glass 2, 1G RAM, 8G internal storage, Android OS, v4.0.4 ICS upgradeable to JB
3. Blackberry Z10 LTE
Specs: 4.2-inch LCD capacitive touchscreen, Dual-core 1.5 GHz Qualcomm MSM8960 Snapdragon, 2GB RAM, 16GB internal storage, microSD up to 32GB, 8 MP autofocus rear camera with LED flash, LTE
4. LG Optimus G LTE
Specs: 4.7 inches True HD-IPS + LCD capacitive touchscreen, Snapdragon S4 Pro Quad-core 1.5 GHz processor, 2 GB RAM, Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, 32 GB Internal memory, LTE.
5. ZTE Grand X LTE T82
Specs: 4.3 inches capacitive screen, Android OS, v4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), Snapdragon S4 dual core 1.5 GHz, 8MP camera with LED flash, 1 GB RAM, 4 GB expandable to 32G on microSD.
Specs: Apple A6 chip, 4-inch Retina Display, 8-megapixel rear iSight camera, starts at 16G internal storage,
7. Huawei Ascend D1 LTE
Specs: 4.5-inch 1280×720 display, dual-core 1.5GHz MSM 8960, Android 4.0 ICS OS, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage
8. Sony Xperia Z LTE
Specs: 5-inch full HD display, Qualcomm MDM9215M Snapdragon S4 Krait 1.5GHz quad-core, 2GB RAM, 16GB internal storage expandable to 64GG, Android 4.1.2 Jellybean.
Specs: 4.99-inch display full HD Super AMOLED, 1.9 GHz quad-core processor OR 1.6 GHz Octa-Core processor, 13MP Rear camera, 2G RAM, 16G/32G storage up to 64G on microSD.
10. Nokia Lumia 920 LTE
Specs: 4.5-inch PureMotion HD+, ClearBlack, Dual-core 1.5 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4, 1GM RAM, 32G internal storage, 8.7 MP PureView megapixels camera.
Currently, unofficial S3 and Note 2 LTE are in the gray market. Huawei Ascend P1 is also out. Both Smart and Globe offers about five LTE devices now, its now up to you where you source your LTE smartphone.
