Not everyone is looking for a super star phone, but sometimes it seems that that’s all that’s on the market. Many of us don’t need or want a phone that’s expensive and laden with features that we’re never going to use, some of us just want a reliable device that calls and sends messages and can use the Internet. Fortunately, there are some such devices, and many of them are even free with a lot of mobile phone service providers plans. The Samsung Galaxy Mini 2 and the Sony Xperia Tipo are two such phones. They are both 3.5G devices, and both run an Android operating system. They’re also both widely available with different mobile providers. But which one is the better bargain? We put them to the test and did a direct comparison to find out which of these two devices is a better buy for you. Read on to find out who came out on top…

What Makes the Samsung Galaxy Mini 2 a Good Buy…

There are a few things that we really liked about the Galaxy. The first is that it has a lot more internal storage. It comes with 4 GB of internal memory, as opposed to the 2.9 GB on the Xperia. That means you can store around forty per cent more music, videos, data and games on your device. You also get more talk time on the Galaxy, which averages around 6.8 hours per battery charge cycle as opposed to just five hours on the Xperia, which results in having to charge your phone less often. The Galaxy runs a newer version of the Bluetooth software, coming with Bluetooth 3.0 versus the 2.1 version on the Xperia. If you often use Bluetooth connections, such as a hands free device, this means faster data transfer and that your phone uses less battery power when connecting to such devices. Finally, the Galaxy is around ten per cent thinner than the Xperia.

What Makes the Sony Xperia Tipo a Good Buy…

The Xperia has its own advantages. Firstly, it has faster maximum data speeds, which means quicker downloading and faster opening of web pages. It also gets around ten per cent more stand by time, which if you’re the kind of person who doesn’t use their phone very often can lead to less battery charging. The biggest advantage of the Xperia though lies in its operating system. The Tipo runs Android’s 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich system, whereas the Galaxy runs the older Android 2.3 Gingerbread system. In general, a newer operating system means more speed and more stability, with less chance of your phone crashing or freezing.

Which One is The Better Buy?

These devices have their own unique advantages. We do like to run the more recent operating system on the Xperia, but the extra internal memory on the Galaxy really sways us to favour the Samsung device. In the end, we declare the Samsung Galaxy Mini 2 to be the winner, mostly because we like storing music on our phones.

Phil Turner thinks it is annoying that phone operators insist on putting their name across your phone screen. The worst thing about his current phone is Tesco Phones staring at him every time he picks it up.