Best Smartphones of 2013
The average smartphone owner checks his or her device 150 times per day, and that’s not surprising, given how many things today’s handsets do. We use them to post social updates, take and share photos, surf the Web at 4G speeds, check email, play games and a whole lot more. But how do you choose the best smartphone for you?
Although the carrier will likely play a big role in your decision, you’ll want to pay close attention to a smartphone’s operating system, because it defines the user experience. Apple’s iPhone continues to offer the most intuitive interface and tends to get the hottest apps first. Android smartphones, however, offer larger screens, more features and more customization options. Windows Phones are ideal great for smartphone newbies and photographers (see Nokia’s Lumia line), while BlackBerrys are good for productivity and multitasking.Here are the best smartphones for every major carrier and platform available today.
Best Smartphone Overall: Samsung Galaxy S4 (Multiple Carriers)
The Samsung Galaxy S4 stuffs a plethora of innovative features into a lightweight design with a big and beautiful 5-inch display. The 13-MP camera is especially cool; it lets you erase would-be photobombers and shoot using the front and back cameras at the same time. You can also control the S4 using gestures, such as waving your hand in front of the screen to answer a call or flip through photos. Add in a powerful quad-core processor, easy access to settings and a built-in TV remote, and it’s easy to see why the Galaxy S4 is the year’s hottest smartphone.
Best Smartphone for Apps and Camera: Apple iPhone 5 (Multiple Carriers)
The Apple iPhone 5 is the best smartphone for those who want the latest and greatest apps before anyone else. Vine, Mailbox and the Tempo calendar app are just a few of the many iOS exclusives. The iPhone also has the best selection of games, including killer titles such as “Infinity Blade II.” While other smartphones offer more megapixels, the iPhone 5’s 8-MP camera takes the highest-quality photos around. A smarter Siri that can now look up sports and movies, as well as Facebook integration, solidify the iPhone 5 as one of the best smartphones.
Best Smartphone Design and Sound: HTC One (Multiple Carriers)
Most people who see the HTC One for the first time say “Wow,” and we don’t blame them. This flagship Android device sports a gorgeous aluminum body and a very bright and sharp 4.7-inch, 1080p screen. The HTC One sounds as good as it looks, thanks to two front-facing speakers that produce loud and rich audio. A 1.7-GHz quad-core processor makes everything run smoothly, from the slick BlinkFeed interface for keeping up on your favorite topics to the built-in TV remote control. Plus, the Ultrapixel camera takes great photos in low light.
Best Camera Phone: Nokia Lumia 1020 (AT&T)
Shutterbugs will love the Lumia 1020 from Nokia, an AT&T exclusive that packs a 41-megapixel sensor along with six Carl Zeiss lenses. The result is the best smartphone camera ever, complete with the ability to zoom in (or out) on your photos after they’re taken. We also love the Pro Camera app, which lets you tweak exposure, focus and more via nifty slider controls. This is easily the best Windows Phone yet.
Best Waterproof Phone: Samsung Galaxy Active (AT&T)
An Android phone built for those who are rough on their devices, the Samsung Galaxy Active is dust resistant and can withstand 1 meter of water for 30 minutes. In other words, you can get this handset wet without worrying. The Active also sports a bright 5-inch 1080p display and the same zippy 1.9-GHz quad-core processor as the regular S4, plus a lot of the same innovative gesture and camera features. You’ll have to step down to a 8-MP camera and carry a little more weight, but it’s worth it.
Best Big-Screen Smartphone: Galaxy Mega (AT&T)
Now this is a phablet. The Samsung Galaxy Mega sports a ginormous 6.3-inch display for watching movies, playing games and serious multitasking. With the Multi Window feature, you can use two apps side by side on the screen simultaneously. Other pluses include a sharp 8-megapixel camera and a built-in IR blaster for using this Android device as a TV remote. We also like the high-capacity 3,200 mAh battery, which will get you through most of the day. While it lacks some of the fancy gestures and camera features of the GS4, overall the Mega is a very good value at $149.