Top 5 phones for video

By Joseph Hanlon on 21 September 2009

(Credit: CNET Australia)

Making time to catch up with your favourite TV shows can be tough, especially when your free time is taken up with a long commute to work and back again each day. But with the right phone and a little tech know-how, you can turn a train ride into a trip to the cinema.

Picking the right phone isn't as simple as picking the handset with the biggest screen; however, it's definitely a good place to start. The most important consideration though is file support — the hidden part of this equation. For a phone to play a video file it first has to recognise the file type, or codec. There are literally dozens of codecs and depending on how your files are created or where you source them from, the files may or may not play on your phone. 3GP was a codec created specifically for phones, but has lost popularity to codecs more commonly available for PC video players. LG and Samsung phones are starting to support DivX and XviD files (the files most likely downloaded to PCs) while the iPhone will only play MPEG-4 files encoded with the H.264 codec, or Apple's own QuickTime format.

If this sounds like a foreign language to you, don't be alarmed. The trick is to figure out one or two file types your phone definitely recognises, and then download a freeware video file converter, like the Videora converter from Red Kawa. These converters accept a range of unusual file formats and outputs files best suited to your device.

In addition to choosing a phone with a huge screen and file support, you should also pick a phone with a 3.5mm headphone adapter and plan to splash out on some good headphones. If you are thinking you'll use the phone for video on noisy public transport, consider a pair of headphones with noise cancelling. These will cost more but will heighten your enjoyment of the media considerably.

Below is our list of the best phones for watching video. While some aren't our favourite phones overall, they each feature excellent screens and the all-important headphone socket.

Samsung HD Icon

If you have a desktop hard drive full of media files that you wish you could take with you on the train to work, there is no better phone than the HD Icon.

Editor's rating:8.4 User rating:8.9
     • Full Review • Specs • Images • Video • Where to Buy

  • Good: Excellent AMOLED display • Best media playback options we've seen to date • DLNA and TV-out cable for media sharing • Roadsync for Outlook email • Responsive touchscreen input
  • Bad: Average photo and video recording quality • Standard one-day battery life • No app store to download new tools and games
  • Specs: Touchscreen • Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3G, HSDPA • 8000 MB • Touchscreen • See more specifications
  • RRP: AU$999.00
  • Available plans: 20 plans available starting from $51 to $129

Find the best Samsung HD Icon plans available.

Topics: 3.5mm, codec, mobile phone, screen, video, phone, file, headphone, pick

Related Articles

Comments (15)

  • Marcus commented on 01/10/2009 16:08 Report abuse

    AngusT - Intelligent comments here only please. Ask your boyfriend if you need to say something in future eh!

  • Marcus commented on 01/10/2009 16:06 Report abuse

    Joseph - Perhaps you can do a story/comparison on the reception and call quality - Apple vs. two the two other highest selling PDA's? You know I'd be reading it. Thanks, Marcus.

  • NDT commented on 25/09/2009 15:30 Report abuse

    Couldnt agree more with the poor optus 3gs reception issues. I went from a SE K850i to the iphone and have to say the Sony Ericsson was totally superior in terms of call connectivity. I think when i am in the Sydney CBD with my i phone , incoming calls go straight to messsagebank probably 20% of the time. This NEVER happenned with my SE.

  • Meh commented on 23/09/2009 21:14 Report abuse

    call quality on the samsung icon hd is not great as well

  • AngusT commented on 23/09/2009 18:46 Report abuse

    I used to be on Optus, but in canberra etc it was virtually unusable with an iPhone, super slow data speeds etc. Eventually i upgrade to 3GS and am now on Telstra - reception is better as are call quality and speeds for data, however nothing on my friends BlackBerry Bold and quite a few other phones (Nokia N95 etc)

  • Vlad commented on 23/09/2009 18:44 Report abuse

    Just curious what provider you guys have used?

    I've got a 3GS on optus and I can honestly say that I've had no issues what so ever with reception.

    I do a fair amount of traveling around on trains and use the phone a fair amount so I notice the reception and call quality. I admit there are times when the reception drops to about 3 bars but it is for a very short period of time and very rarely have I been in a place without 3g.

    Granted I've not taken it into outer suburbs and rural areas but otherwise I've had no problems.

    The phones I had before that where a Nokia N95 and an LG Shine and comparing them to the iPhone I've noticed no or negligible differences between them in terms of reception. I'm not 100% sure what people mean by call quality I'm guessing maybe they mean that it's hard to hear or be understood if that's what people mean I can't say I've had that problem ether on the iPhone however I can say that it seems a little quieter on the iPhone compared to the N95.

    Please note I'm not a fanboy of any kind.

  • achlime commented on 22/09/2009 12:08 Report abuse

    I used to have a Nokia E65 and I always had about 3 or 4 bars out of 5 for 3G coverage. I upgraded to a iPhone 3GS... and today it's been searching for a network for 4 hours! I would have to agree, Joseph is correct, the poor 3G reception is a downfall.

    My workplace (where i am atm) is definatly in 3G coverage.

  • Joseph Hanlon commented on 22/09/2009 11:52 Report abuse

    Marcus,
    I absolutely stand by my criticisms of the iPhone's reception. These are problems I've seen for myself as well as heard over and over again from other people disappointed with the coverage they have lost since switching to the iPhone.

  • Marcus commented on 21/09/2009 20:06 Report abuse

    Here you go again, call quality and reception. Bullshit. Samsung and LG are CRAP for call quality. Appple has the best call quality I've ever used. I advise people to get an iPhone who've got signal issues at home/work and every one of them notices a marked improvement once they do. You really are damaging your credibility by re-hashing old reviews Joseph.

  • NIc commented on 21/09/2009 15:38 Report abuse

    The iphone will have to support more formats if im going to use it to play video, for that matter, so will the androids.

Post your own comment

You must read and type the 6 chars within 0..9 and A..F

You must read and type the 6 chars within 0..9 & A..F

Submit

Enter your personal information to the left, or sign in with your Facebook account by clicking the button below.

Connect

The Explain Series

Must read