Best mobile products of 2012
Mobile is a wide-open category. We narrowed it slightly by excluding mobile PCs from this particular list, but there's plenty else to chew on here. After much consideration, here are the products that the PCWorld and TechHive editors agree are the best that manufacturers had to offer in 2012. This is a subset of theBest 100 Products of 2012. The devices are presented in the order in which the appeared on that list.
Apple iPad with Wi-Fi + 4G 16GB (Third-generation)
We've listed the third-gen iPad here because it had the biggest impact on the tablet market: It was the first to feature Apple's high-resolution Retina display. But if you want to buy a full-size iPad now, get the fourth-gen model: It has a faster processor, better Wi-Fi capabilities, and improved LTE circuitry.
The Paperwhite's best feature is the integrated light that brightly and evenly illuminates the page, even in daylight. But Amazon has made other improvements to its e-reader: The E Ink display boasts higher resolution, the fonts are better, and the underlying software has been significantly overhauled.
Rated: Jun 19, 2012 9:01 PM
You don't get to be the best-selling Android phone by being average, and the Galaxy S III definitely has what it takes to move ahead of the Android pack. With a speedy processor, an eye-catching display, and loads of attractive features, it's our favorite smartphone of 2012.
Rated: Oct 23, 2012 12:00 AM
If you decide to take the plunge into Microsoft's Surface (pun intended), spend the extra ten bucks to buy the Type Cover. It's a tad thicker than the less-expensive Touch Cover, but this keyboard has authentic keys that deliver genuine tactile feedback. Your fingertips will thank you.
Amazon vastly improved its tablet user experience, rendering this 16GB model even more suitable for consuming content from Amazon's vast digital storefront. More important, the company is selling the Kindle Fire HD at an incredibly low price for a tablet with an expensive optically bonded display.
Rated: Jul 3, 2012 12:00 AM
We saw plenty of cheap Android tablets in 2012, but not one that was a worthy contender for this list. Then along came 's Nexus 7, which brought top-flight performance, features, and great design to an inexpensive tablet--along with a lovely, optically bonded display.
It's the best iPhone yet, improving on its predecessors with features such as LTE connectivity, an improved camera, and a larger screen. It might not have the best map program, as you may have heard, but we have no doubt that the iPhone 5 is still one of the best smartphones of 2012.
Barnes & Noble Nook Simple Touch With GlowLight
Rated: Apr 24, 2012 11:02 AM
Thoughtful design and an ethereal yet effective built-in reading light make this e-reader one of the best you can buy. It's also the most flexible, with a MicroSD card slot on board. And unlike Amazon, B&N doesn't charge extra for an AC adapter.
Apple 32GB iPod touch (fifth generation, late 2012)
No other digital media player has managed to knock the iPod off its perch. Now, it's more than a media player: It's also a very good digital camera, camcorder, handheld games device, and, when connected to a Wi-Fi network, a personal digital assistant (Siri).
While it lacks a Retina display, display, Apple's smallish tablet is a joy to use, delivering a higher resolution than the first two generations of iPads. It would rank much higher on the list if its price were closer to that of the Nexus 7.
Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover
If you have an iPad, you need a cover. And if you intend to do serious work on that iPad, you need a real keyboard. Logitech fills both needs with one slick device that adds just 12 ounces to the weight of a bare iPad.
If you decide to take the plunge into Microsoft's Surface (pun intended), spend the extra ten bucks to buy the Type Cover. It's a tad thicker than the less-expensive Touch Cover, but this keyboard has authentic keys that deliver genuine tactile feedback. Your fingertips will thank you.
Rated: Jul 25, 2012 6:00 PM
This is the first truly portable inkjet multifunction, squeezing a sheet-fed scanner into its compact form and including a full battery for on-the-go usage. It's neither fast nor cheap, but its printing and scanning are top-notch. Bluetooth connectivity lets you print from mobile phones and tablets.
Anyone in the market for a better alternative to the navigation software that came with their phone--and we know who you are--should give this app a try. It provides excellent turn-by-turn navigation that takes real-time traffic conditions into account. Scout runs on Android, as well as iOS.
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