Remember the Samsung GamePad? The thing that was announced all the way back in March 2013 but never materialised? Well, it's back, it's changed colour and we've run our fingers all over the new version.

There are many stark differences with this new polished unit from Samsung - namely, the millions (well, three) joystick / d-pads that adorn the front.

Two analogue sticks promise easy use for first person shooters, and the d-pad gives reassurance that you'll be able to pull off those more complex special moves in fighting games.

Samsung has gone all out with the new GamePad, with trigger buttons, a selection of input keys, a 'play' button to instantly get to the mobile gaming section and a generally better-packaged offering.

• How the smartphone is about to beat the console at its own game

The extendable support for the phone is impressive too, with holding the phone in strongly and not giving that heart-stopping wiggle that makes you anxious to rigidly play games over a pile of pillows.

It also allows you to connect to a TV, either through MHL or screen mirroring, theoretically making your powerful little phone into a console to rival the likes of the GameStick.

However, this is the point where things come unstuck - it quickly became apparent during testing that using any Android 4.3-enabled device with this controller isn't going to be a pleasant experience.

Any game (I favoured Sonic the Hedgehog 4 because I really impressed the Samsung engineer with my skills last year - real highlight) shows a huge degree of lag; not only that, but it appears the amount of latency between controller and screen will change, so you can't even feel any consistency.

This was present in the first iteration of the device, and it's maddening that Samsung hasn't fixed it still, especially when dedicated cheap Android consoles have managed the trick.

However, it's a better experience when you use the GamePad to play games on the move, with the latency not an issue when connected by Bluetooth.

Games run fluidly on the top-end hardware Samsung is cranking out, and the ability to use other phones in the dock is welcome - it's important that devices like this have a wide appeal.

The quality of the controller was unimpressive though. The main joystick on the left-hand side of the device was 'crunchy' and made it hard to smoothly transition through worlds - I quickly found myself looking to use the d-pad, which is fine for the older titles, but today's FPS titles need fluidity.

When you consider that the GamePad is a hair-raising £80 (around $130) then such things shouldn't be seen. I tried another model and it was slightly better, but the issue was still there, meaning it would be hard to recommend this to a hardcore mobile gamer.

When you consider equivalent controllers like the Moga Pro are half the cost with similar functionality (albeit without NFC for easy pairing) you'll see why Samsung may have a hard sell with this device.

Early verdict

The suite of dedicated titles for the GamePad is a little low and is unlikely to change in the near future to a drastic degree - mobile gaming still needs a lot of work for it to be a viable tool for developers to connect to.

The GamePad is a well-put together piece of technology, but suffers from an inability to stream games well to a larger screen, poor joystick quality and a high price.

It's a cool idea still, and 2014 is clearly going to be the year when we see some real power come along in the mobile gaming controller space - but the GamePad isn't going to be that device.

Nokia has revealed a significant software update for its range of Lumia Windows Phone 8 devices bringing a host of new features into play for owners of handsets like the Lumia 1020.

The Lumia Black update allows users to group like-minded apps into folders within a single Live Tile on the homescreen, making it easier than ever to customise the Windows Phone Start screen.

Also along for the ride is Nokia's neat Refocus camera app (here, go play with it!) which, like the Lytro camera, allows users to take a picture and then choose the image's point of focus.

For keen photographers there's also the introduction of the new Nokia Camera interface for WP8 users. So far that software has only appeared on the company's PureView handsets. The Storyteller mode, which arranges photos by date and place, is also included.

Nice Beamer

The Lumia Black update, which is rolling out worldwide for Lumia 1020 and Lumia 925 today and "in the coming weeks" soon for other Nokia WP8 devices, also includes the Nokia Beamer screen mirroring tech.

Other new features include Nokia Glance, which gives users a quick indication of pending notifications, while 'Black' will also unlock Bluetooth LE connectivity for all applicable devices.

The update can be downloaded over the air and you can check if it's available yet by heading to Settings > Phone Update.

• 10 Apps to supercharge your Nokia Lumia 925

Ratings in depth

The Nokia Asha 503 is the latest handset in a series of low-cost, feature-packed devices from the Microsoft-owned company.

The Asha 503 is a slightly upgraded version of the Asha 501, with an improved camera and better social integration as default.

Picking up the Nokia Asha 503 SIM-free will set you back about £100. However if you sign up to a pay-as-you-go deal, you should be able to get the 503 for under £80 - an absolute bargain.

The 503 comes equipped with a single rear facing 5MP camera accompanied by an LED flash, which is comparable to the Nokia Lumia 520 and the Motorola Moto G in terms of megapixels.

The downside is the tiny 3-inch screen on 503 feels minute when compared to the likes of the 4.7-inch display you get from the Nokia Lumia 625.

What the Asha 503 lacks in screen size is made up for with solid battery life and it offers most of the features you'd expect from a modern smartphone. Running on Nokia's Asha software platform 1.2, the 503 is smooth to operate without much lag. The operating system is very basic, but that does mean it's easy to use.

The Asha 503 runs on Nokia's Asha software platform, which has replaced the MeeGo software Nokia was developing before it was bought by Microsoft. The Asha OS is a stripped back version of MeeGo, but also an upgrade from the Symbian OS which had been used by other Nokia devices for years.

Within the Asha 503 a 4GB microSD card is included, but that can be upgraded to a maximum of 32GB for all your files and apps.

The phone comes with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0, and a 1200mAh battery which boasts an incredible 35 days of standby time. However, maximum talk time over 3G is a rather average 4.5 hours, and don't expect 4G or even GPS support here.

Measuring only 102.6 x 60.6 x 12.7mm, and weighs in at 110g, what the device lacks in height is certainly made up for in thickness, but it feels comfortable, sturdy and well built in the hand.

Any fragile parts or features have been eliminated from the 503's design, and like older handsets from Nokia - for example the Nokia 5110 - the 503 feels durable.

It is likely that this device could be dropped hundreds of times without breaking it due to its thick and durable plastic case. However, that's unlikely to happen because the 503 fits so snugly in one hand you'll rarely feel it slip.

Around the edge of the Asha 503 you will find the volume controls and the power button to the right, the headphone socket and charging/data port along the top and an opening for the microphone at the bottom. There is also touch operated button under the screen, which provides the back feature.

The colourful rear cover is removable, allowing for replacement or customisation. Nokia has provided the Asha 503 in a handful of colours, including yellow, black, green, red, and blue

Each case has a clear plastic layer that covers the rear, this is what noticeably makes the 503 instantly different from its 501 version. Presumably, this is for added protection, but the corners are quite sharp and the extra clear plastic makes the device unnecessarily bulky.

The protection also extends to the screen which is covered in Gorilla Glass to ensure extra durability.

The 503's screen is far from high definition with only 134 pixels per inch, which gives an obviously pixelated image when compared to any mid-to-high end device.

The viewing experience is less enjoyable as a result, but once you get used to the three-inch display, you start to realise that this weakness gives the Asha 503 strengths in other departments.

If you're looking for a 4G phone which doesn't cost the earth you may want to check out the HTC Desire 601 which has just touched down in the UK.

Rocking 4.5-inch qHD display, 1.4GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage and a 5MP rear camera it's hardly going to set the world alight - but it's the inclusion of 4G which is of real interest.

There are very few 4G enabled smartphones currently on the market which are reasonably priced, but you can now add the Desire 601 to that line up.

Full of HTC

You also get Android 4.2.2 on board, which has been covered in HTC's Sense 5.0 overlay, providing you with an excellent user interface including the firm's BlinkFeed offering as well as HTC Zoe with video highlights and BoomSound speakers.

Update: The Desire 601 can be picked up for £239.99 on PAYG, or for free on two year contracts starting at £17.00 per month.

O2 has an exclusive deal on the Desire 601, so if you're on any other network you'll either need to switch to the bubbly carrier or look at other handsets.

• Find out what we made of the handset in our hands on: HTC Desire 601 review

While people are still flocking to buy the iPhone 5S, Apple is surely already hard at work on the iPhone 6 and it may be taking a shrink ray to the components.

The first photographic evidence of that may have emerged in the form of two blurry pictures of what appears to be a very slim metal smartphone frame.

There's precisely zero proof that these photos are of an iPhone, beyond the fact that Apple leaker C-Tech claims they are, so take it with a huge pinch of salt for now.

Slim pickings

On the other hand it wouldn't be that surprising if they were legitimate. Apple has already slimmed down the iPad for the iPad Air, so it's not unreasonable to think that the Cupertino company might have similar plans for the next iPhone - maybe it'll even call it the iPhone Air.

The size seems about right too, as while it looks bigger than the 4-inch iPhone 5S, other recent reports suggest that Apple is working on 4.7-inch to 5.5-inch handsets.

That's all we have to go on so far, but if Apple really is working on bigger, slimmer handsets then that's a pretty huge change in itself. Anything else will just be the icing on the cake.

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When you're popping over to France this summer to stock up on du vin, du pain and des fromages, you'll be able to use your phone in the Channel Tunnel for the first time.

Only if you're on EE or Vodafone, though, as the rival networks will switch a 3G and 2G network on in March 2014, with EE adding 4G by summer 2014.

Strangely, the networks will only be available in the north tunnel which runs from the UK to France for now, with plans for the south tunnel to be connected at a later date.

En vacances

The Channel Tunnel runs 100m below sea level, so getting signal down there will be no mean feat for EE and Vodafone, both of which have committed to a 10-year agreement with Eurotunnel.

Stuck for ideas of what to do with your new found connectivity for the 35 minutes under the sea? EE has some suggestions: "The time underground can be spent online preparing for meetings, checking emails, planning travel routes, researching a holiday destination or watching streamed movies."

Other internet-based activities are available.

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