This is a tough category to choose a winner, and pretty much whoever we choose some of our readers are going to have our heads. This year, so many great Android phones were announced and released. We started the year the Xperia Z from Sony, along with the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S4. We also saw the LG Optimus G Pro, LG G2, Samsung Galaxy Note 3, Moto X, Sony Xperia Z Ultra, Sony Xperia Z1 and many more. These are all great devices, and are all pretty popular, of course some more than others. We decided to pick the winner based on hardware, software and carrier availability in the US. Since most of our readers are from the US.
Runner Up: Samsung Galaxy S4/Motorola Moto X
Like I said earlier, it was really hard picking a winner, and even a runner-up. But we decided that the Galaxy S4 and Moto X deserved to be the runner up. The Galaxy S4 was a great device, sure it had some problems at release which Samsung fixed with an OTA. But for most of us, it just didn’t wow us like the Moto X or the winner. Now the Moto X was a pretty awesome device. Now it did surprise us with the specs it was sporting. It has a Snapdragon S4 Pro dual-core processor inside with a 4.7-inch 720p display. So definitely not the top-of-the-line. But being one of those lucky ones that gets to use all the flagships, I felt that the experience on the Moto X was better than the Galaxy S4. Now it might be because a lot of the features Samsung throws in I’d never use, while I would use all the features Motorola threw in. But the Moto X is a solid device, and it is actually my daily driver.
Winner: LG G2
I’d have to say the LG G2 really shocked me this year. Not just with the hardware, but with all the attention it’s getting. The LG G2 took a few chances in a couple of areas. Like throwing the volume rocker and power button onto the back. At first I thought it was a dumb idea. But the more I started looking at how I hold my phone, I realized that is where I always have my fingers, which made it a no brainer. Not to mention the Knock-Knock feature they added on the G2, which makes it easier to turn the device on and off. What also surprised me is LG getting this device on AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon. That I did not expect, given their past device launches. The LG G2 is one of my favorite phones of the year, and it would be my daily driver if it weren’t for the fact that the software UI is just not my taste (I’m a stock Android type of guy).
Who do you think made the best smartphone of 2013?