Death match: Apple iPhone 3G VS Samsung Tocco review

iPhone killer: Can the Tocco take down the Apple?

First up in our battle royale of phones is the Samsung Tocco. Touchy, tiny and with a slightly pretentious name, on paper it could take the 3Gesus phone down to Chinatown.

Death Match 1: Price

Samsung Tocco

Available on any network, on O2 for £35 a month, they strap on 400 minutes anytime and 400 free texts and throw in the handset for no pennies.

Apple iPhone

£1000 before you even make a phone call or a text? O2 offer on the £35 a month contact; 600 minutes, 500 free text and you can either fork out £99 for the 8GB or £159 for the 16GB model.

Winner: Samsung Tocco

Death Match 2: Features

Samsung Tocco

This is where the Tocco exels. It trumps the iPhone with a 5MP camera, and comes with a Xenon flash, you can also create and edit videos within the little tech tyke. There's 3G, internet and a fistful of applications, including games, Shazzam and an FM Radio. Other bobbins include Bluetooth 2.0, push email and a music player that plays MP3 and WMA.

Apple iPhone

Ok, so it has 3G, and GPS. The app store is a unique feature on the touchy tablet, turn your blower into a light saber or drink a virtual pint. The 2MP camera is pants and the lack of video and editing leaves Jobsy's baby wanting. Push email is there with Microsoft Exchange, 16GB worth of memory and a better than average-mobile music player.

Winner: Samsung Tocco

Death Match 3: Performance

Samsung Tocco

The haptic feedback and the touch screen on the Tocco is an improvement equal to Sharon Osborne post private trainer. It's response leaves our digits blister free unlike the pain of using the Armani, also by Samsung. 3G connectivity is fast although the slightly smaller screen can leave your eyes squinting. The menu screen is also much simpler than previous Sammy's, but not as impressive as the old iPhone-icus.

When it comes to the camera, the pictures are detailed, but the video can be a little shaky. Maximum recording time is 15 secs, so if you want something get it done fast. Ahem. Video editing is basic, you can cut and add music but that's pretty much it. Don't go thinking that you'll create a BBC documentary with this. At least its got video though eh?

Apple iPhone

It's Captain style, and its performance matches the "Kate Moss" of the phone world's design. 3G and GPS are faster than the time it takes Gordie to find a lavy. The App store is a tech-aholics harem, downloading time is speedy and it's simple. Whizzing through the menu is a breeze and in comparison to the Tocco the larger screen is an obvious bonus. Add to this the pinch zoom and the accelerometer it's as smooth as a coiffured car salesman.

The camera and the lack of MMS messaging is what lets this titan down. Although low on pixels the quality of the pics is pretty good. But no MMS messaging is unforgivable. We couldn't stream the T3 party on this bad boy. Some would say that might be a blessing.

Winner: Apple iPhone

Rating

The Tocco is a stylish phone thats small enough not to cause a scene in the front pocket of your skinny jeans. It's stacked with features that the iPhone lacks, but when it comes to performance, although an improvement on the Armani and the F490, it doesn't have that panache. The iPhone is a style-lovers dream and the performance stacks up too. It does lack some key features such as MMS messaging but the addition of the GPS, 3G and push email means that the Apple still reigns supreme.