Ranked #1 Samsung Galaxy Nexus
Previous Rank – Unranked
Comments: This phone lands at the top of the list because, well, it’s the current Nexus device. If that’s not enough to convince you, look at the bright, colourful Super AMOLED display with its 1280 x 800 resolution – sharp, but not as sharp as it could be because it’s stretched over such a large screen. It’s powered by a dual-core 1.4GHz processor and has 16GB of onboard memory plus the microSD card slot for additional storage. The front facing 2MP camera has higher resolution than most, and the main 8MP camera takes beautiful photos. Currently running Ice Cream Sandwich, it’s hard to pass over the Galaxy Nexus if you’re in the mood to buy a new device.
Specs:
- Network: HSPA+ 21Mbps/HSUPA 5.76Mbps 850/900/1900/1700/2100, EDGE/GPRS 850/900/1800/1900 Specifications above may differ on the LTE version.
- Processor: 1.2 GHz Dual-core Processor (OMAP 4460)
- Display: 4.65-inch 1280×720 HD Super AMOLED
- OS: Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
- Camera: 5MP AF with LED Flash , 1.3MP Front
- Memory: 1GB RAM + 16/32GB Internal memory
- Size: 135.5 x 67.94 x 8.94 mm, 135g
- Battery: Standard battery, Li-on 1750 mAh.
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Ranked #2 Samsung Galaxy Note
Previous Rank – Unranked
Comments: Admittedly, this device seemed like a laugher when it was announced. A 5″ phone? Yes, a 5″ phone, and it’s a great device. The screen is bright and colourful thanks to the Super AMOLED technology and has a 1280 x 800 resolution – sharp but like the Nexus, not as sharp as it could be because it’s stretched over the large screen. It’s powered by a dual-core 1.4GHz processor and has 16GB of storage, plus a microSD card slot if you want more space. Again with the nice 2MP front camera and 8MP rear camera. It runs Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread with an Android 4 ICS update coming soon enough. Don’t make fun of that stylus, it’s really useful on this small tablet phone.
Specs:
- Network: HSPA＋ 21Mbps 850/900/1900/2100 EDGE/GPRS 850/900/1800/1900
- Processor: Dual-core 1.4 GHz ARM Cortex-A9
- Display: 5.3″ WXGA(1280×800, 285 ppi) HD Super AMOLED
- OS: Android 2.3(Gingerbread) with promise for 4.0 ICS
- Camera : 8 MP with LED Flash Front : 2MP Front
- Video : 1080p@24 ~ 30fps, Playing 1080p@30fps
- Memory: 16GB/32GB storage, 1 GB RAM
- Size: 146.9 x 83 x 9.7 mm and weighs 178 g
- Battery: Standard battery, Li-Ion 2500 mAh
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Ranked #3 Motorola Droid Razr Maxx
Previous Rank – Unranked
Comments: You really can’t grasp how great this device is unless you stroll into a Verizon store and hold one in your hand. It has a very unique style, and it’s a very nice phone to use. It’s powered by a dual-core 1.4GHz processor and has 16GB of storage with a microSD slot in tow. The front 2MP camera is nice for video chat while the rear 8MP camera delivers very good quality photos. It runs Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread but an update to Android 4 ICS is in the works.
Specs:
- Network: CDMA 800 / 1900 / CDMA2000 1xEV-DO / LTE 700 MHz Class 13
- Processor: Dual-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A9
- Display: 4.3″ (960×540, 256 ppi) Super AMOLED
- OS: Android OS, v2.3.6 (Gingerbread), upgradable to v4.0
- Camera : 8MP, 3264×2448 pixels : 1.3MP Front
- Video : 1080p@30fps
- Memory: 16GB storage, 1GB RAM
- Size: 130.7 x 68.9 x 9 mm and weighs 145 g
- Battery: Standard battery, Li-Ion 3300 mAh
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Ranked #4 – Samsung Galaxy SII
Previous Rank – Unranked
Comments: Some may not like this phone because of how similar it looks to other devices on the market, but even this old dog is still worthy of consideration. It has a bright, colorful 4.3″ Super AMOLED screen powered by dual core 1.2GHz Cortex A9 processor. Samsung devices have pretty much always been at the front of the image quality pack and the 8MP rear shooter on this phone takes great pictures. It packs the standard 16GB of storage and throws in that microSD slot for additional space. Battery life on this phone isn’t bad and even though it might remind you of some other company’s phone, it’s still a winner.
Specs:
- Network: HSPA+ 21Mbps/ HSUPA 5.76Mbps EDGE/ GPRS Class 12 Quad band GSM 850/900/1800/1900 Quad band UMTS 850/900/1900/2100
- Processor: 1.2GHz Dual Core Cortex A9
- Display: 4.3″ WVGA SUPER AMOLED Plus
- OS: Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), Upgradeable to 4.0 ICS
- Camera: 8MP w/LED Flash, 2MP Front
- Video: 1080p@30fps
- Memory: 16GB storage, 1GB RAM
- Size: 125.3 x 66.1 x 8.5 mm and weighs 116g
- Battery: 1650mAh
Ranked #5 LG Spectrum 4G
Previous Rank – Unranked
Comments: Some in our poll rated this phone a lot lower than the #5 slot, but this is the best phone that LG has ever produced. The screen is impressively bright and colourful thanks to the Super AMOLED technology and it’s stretched 1280×800 resolution could be sharper, but is far from disappointing. It’s powered by a dual core 1.4GHz processor and has 16GB of storage plus that microSD card slot. The front camera is a 2MP video chat cam while the rear is a good quality 8MP. It runs Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread but an Android 4 ICS update has been announced.
Specs:
- Network: CDMA 800 / 1900 . CDMA 2000 1xEV-DO / LTE 700 MHz Class 13
- Processor: Dual-core 1.5 GHz Scorpion
- Display: 4.5″ (720×1280, 326ppi) HD-IPS LCD
- OS: Android OS, v2.3 (Gingerbread)
- Camera Main (Rear) : 8 MP, 3264×2448 pixels : 1.3MP Rear
- Video : 1080p@30fps
- Memory: 4 GB storage, 1GB RAM
- Size: 135.4 x 68.8 x 10.4 mm and weighs 141.5 g
- Battery: Standard battery, Li-Ion 1830 mAh
Ranked #6 – HTC Sensation
Previous Rank – Unranked
Comments: One remark in our in-house poll said “nothing sensational about this phone”, but it’s actually nothing less than another solid device from HTC. It also looks just like every other solid device from HTC. The 1.2GHz dual core processor is speedy, the 768MB of RAM seems to be more than enough. The 4.3″ S-LCD display actually comes in at an impressive 540×960 and a whopping 256ppi. It looks better in white than the standard HTC gray, but hey, this phone ships with a higher capacity battery than the HTC Thunderbolt did. If you can’t hold out for the new HTC One series of devices this phone will do quite nicely, thank you very much.
Specs:
- Network: GSM 900/AWS/2100
- Processor: Dual-core 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon
- Display: 4.3-inch S-LCD capacitive touchscreen
- OS: Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), Upgradeable to 4.0 ICS
- Camera: 8MP w/LED Flash, 1. 2MP Front
- Video: 1080p
- Memory: 8GB storage, 768MB RAM
- Size: 4.96×2.57×0.44 inches and weighs 5.22 ounces
- Battery: 1520mAh
Ranked #7 – Motorola Droid Razr 4G
Previous Rank – Unranked
Comments: Sort of just like the Droid Razr Maxx, only not so much. It has nearly the same specs as the much higher ranked Razr Maxx with the same processor, the same impressive Super AMOLED screen, the same 16GB of storage and the same 1GB of RAM. It has the same camera that captures full 1080p video and and it runs Gingerbread. The Razr Maxx got a 3300mAh battery and this version, well, it’s packing just better than half of that capacity. If you prefer the lower price of this phone, go for it. It has that Razr styling and hey, you can tell people it’s a Maxx. If money isn’t your first concern, go for the Razr Maxx.
Specs:
- Network: CDMA 800, CDMA 1900, LTE B13 700
- Processor: Dual-core 1.2 GHz
- Display: 4.3″ 540×960 Super AMOLED Advanced
- OS: Android OS, v2.3.5 (Gingerbread), upgradable to v4.0
- Camera : 8MP Rear, 1.3MP Front
- Video : 1080p
- Memory: 16GB storage, 1GB RAM
- Size: 130.7 x 68.9 x 7.1 mm and weighs 127 g
- Battery: 1780mAh
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Ranked #8 – Motorola Droid Bionic
Previous Rank – Unranked
Comments: I guess you can tell that we’re starting to get down near the bottom of our top 10 list. The Bionic was last year’s often delayed supermodel Motorola phone in the iconic Droid line, and the waiting is the hardest part. The specs on this phone were really great when word started to filter out that it was coming, but by the time it finally showed up in stores it was just another phone. It can be had on the cheap and it’s certainly no loser, but you can do a lot better. Time kills and the Bionic is the perfect example of it.
Specs:
- Network: CDMA 800, CDMA 1900, LTE B13 700
- Processor: OMAP4430 dual-core
- Display: 4.3″ qHD Display
- OS: Android OS, v2.3.4 (Gingerbread)
- Camera : 8MP Rear, 1.2MP Front
- Video : 1080p@30fps
- Memory: 16GB storage, 1GB RAM
- Size: 5.02 x 2.63 x 0.43 and weighs 5.6oz.
- Battery: 1735mAh
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Ranked #9 – Samsung Galaxy Nexus S
Previous Rank – Unranked
Comments: There was one voter in our in-house poll that put the Nexus S in their top 5, and that’s truly not a bad choice. It might lack a little screen size and RAM of some of the other phones higher up on our list, but it’s a Nexus device and might be the first (and one of the few) 2010 devices to get an update to Android 4 ICS. If you’re a Sprint customer, you can still get this phone new from Amazon Wireless, and it will only set you back a 2 year commitment. And a penny. Pure Android goodness, ICS and the Nexus brand for a penny? How did this phone not make the top 5?
Specs:
- Network: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 HSDPA 900 / 1700 / 2100
- Processor: 1 GHz Cortex-A8
- Display: 4″ Super AMOLED
- OS: Android OS, v2.3 (Gingerbread), upgradable to v4.0
- Camera : 5 MP, 2560 x 1920 pixels, 1.2MP Front
- Video : WVGA@30fps
- Memory: 16GB storage, 512MB RAM
- Size: 123.9 x 63 x 10.9 mm and weighs 129 g
- Battery: 1500mAh
Ranked #10 – HTC EVO 4G
Previous Rank – Unranked
Comments: Like the Nexus S, Sprint customers can still get this phone from Amazon Wireless for a penny and a contract, but this device is absolutely the bottom of the pile. The 4.3″ screen is bright and sharp enough, but the processor, RAM and storage are all a very serious letdown. The images from the 8MP rear camera are acceptable, but fall well below the quality of a lot of devices from its era. If you are a Sprint customer, have to go HTC and you can only spend a penny, there are worse choices that you could make, but do yourself a real favor and buy the Nexus S instead.
Specs:
- Network: CDMA 800 / 1900 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
- Processor: 1 GHz Scorpion
- Display: 4.3″ TFT Capacitive Touch Screen
- OS: Android OS, v2.3 (Gingerbread)
- Camera : 8MP, 3264×2448 pixels, 1.3MP Front
- Video : 720p
- Memory: 1GB storage, 512MB RAM
- Size: 122 x 66 x 13 mm and weighs 170 g
- Battery: 1500mAh