Welcome to another edition of Android Q&A! As always, we try to answer as many of your great questions as possible. In today’s show, we talk about the best mid-sized Android smartphone, help with game addiction, the best tablet case for protection, and a lot more. Let’s get started!
Question 1
I have a very simple phone and I would like to upgrade to an Android phone, but find them too big for my liking. What is the best medium to small sized Android smartphone? – MikPoptart
Answer
Depending on your budget (and location), a couple of the best mid to small-sized Android smartphones currently available are the Motorola Moto X and Moto G. Featuring budget-friendly price tags, but with a premium feel that we’ve come to expect from our smartphones, both Motorola devices are a great choice.
But, if you’re looking for a compact smartphone which also features flagship specifications, the recently-released Sony Xperia Z1 Compact is the device for you. With its high-end specs, including a quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor, 2 GB RAM, and Sony’s amazing camera technology, all in a relatively compact body compared to other Android flagships, the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact is certainly a game-changer in the “Mini” device category. You can find out relevant videos about the mentioned smartphones in the playlist below.
Moto X Review 
Moto G Review 
Sony Xperia Z1 Compact Unboxing and First Impressions Question 2
Can you please recommend the best case for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 10.1, which is very protective? – Luke Harvey
Answer
Cases for tablets are generally more for style and functionality than protection, so it is often difficult to find really good protective cases for tablets. That being said, luckily there are some great options for the Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 that you can take a look at. If you’re looking for ultimate protection, the Otterbox Defender is the way to go. Featuring triple layer protection, along with a protective shield that doubles as a stand, and an in-built screen protector, the Otterbox Defender provides amazing protection against accidental bumps and falls, along with keeping the device dust and scratch free. Otterbox cases are slightly expensive though, so you can find some other decent alternatives in the list below.
- Otterbox Defender ($47.99) – Buy now on Amazon
- Poetic GraphGrip ($14.95) – Buy now on Amazon
- Bobj Rugged case ($29.75) – Buy now on Amazon
Question 3
Can you help me find more apps like the Power Line, Battery Bar +, and ChargeBar? – BlackBackBook
Answer
The apps in question are battery widgets, or battery monitoring applications. There are a lot of options for battery apps in the Google Play Store. A couple of the good options include Battery Percentage, and Live Battery Free (Status Bar).
Question 4
Is it true that carriers are not allowed to carrier lock Nexus devices? Are they unlocked even if bought from carriers? – Nino
Answer
Unfortunately, the short answer is no. For example, T-Mobile sells both the Nexus 4 and Nexus 5 which are locked to the carrier. It’s almost impossible to pick up an unlocked device from a carrier, as it is in their best interest to keep you locked in to their services. Every carrier does have certain conditions that can be fulfilled before you can request an unlock code from them (you can see an example of these conditions from T-Mobile), but at the time of purchase, the device will be locked to the particular network.
If you’re looking to pick up an unlocked Nexus device, and it isn’t available from the Google Play Store, the next best option is eBay. If you do go this route, make sure that the seller has a high customer satisfaction rating and positive feedback before making the jump.
Question 5
Is there any app available to control game addiction/play usage? Please recommend one. – Crytec
Answer
Instead of an app, what you can check out is a book called “The War of Art,” by Steven Pressfield. As it says on the cover, the book will help you “break through your blocks and win your inner creative battles,” which should inspire you to stop/control your gaming. Other than that, you can check out this list of apps that allow you to control app usage, along with setting time limits to how long an app is used.
As always, keep sending us your questions in the comments section below, in the comments section of the Youtube video, or on Google+, and we’ll try our best to get you the answers you need!