Starting off the new year with a deal, Celcom are now offering the Apple iPhone 5C from a more affordable price of RM1888 for the basic 16GB version with, in their own words "no strings attached", which means zero contract. This offer is available from 2 January 2014 to 7 January 2014 but is exclusive to online sign ups only. The other Celcom offer involves the HTC Wildfire S, Nokia Lumia 520 and Sony Xperia U, where Celcom is offering these previous generation entry-level smartphones for FREE provided you sign up for a 12 month or 18 month contract. That deal ends on 31 January 2014. Check out the table and links in the article for more details.

The Samsung Galaxy Ace comes hot on the heels of the sock-evaporating, super stunning Samsung Galaxy S2. However with a different shape and decidedly down-sized specs, it’s clearly not for the same type of audience. Is it worth a look with the HTC Wildfire S around the corner? Let’s find out.

Samsung Galaxy Ace - Design and build quality:

It’s a plastic, Fisher-Price version of the iPhone 4, with identical curved edges, black bezel and metal bands around the side, plus a clicky home button -  though it being Android, you’ll find touch sensitive menu and back buttons on either side of it as well.

We can’t say we’re loving the sense of deja vu the Samsung Galaxy Ace’s case will give you, but it is at least rock solid, with USB and 3.5mm audio ports on the top as they should be, plus a conveniently placed microSD card slot so you can switch out memory without having to pull the battery out.

The HTC Wildfire S is here to take the baton from HTC’s entry-level Android phone for 2010, the hit HTC Wildfire. This time around it’s sporting a spruced up screen, a newer bake of Android and a luvverly metal shell.

Wildfire S - Design and build quality:

If the original Wildfire was a pico-sized version of the hit 2010 HTC Desire Android phone, so the HTC Wildfire S echoes the new look and design of its sequel, the HTC Desire S. Port placements are the same, the trackpad has been ditched in favour of responsive capacitive buttons below the display and it keeps that same beautiful metal build.