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According to the latest comScore report, Google’s mobile platform accounts for more than 50 percent of the smartphone market share. That means half of today’s smartphone users are running around with an Android phone in their hand or pocket. It should come as no surprise considering the influx of new handsets released over the past year. And with such a massive lineup to choose from, it can get overwhelming just browsing through the entire batch. Having tested every major phone out, we compiled a collection of the greatest across all four major carriers. So before you go wasting an upgrade on obsolete hardware, we recommend looking over our list of the 10 Best Android Phones Available Now.
10. HTC Rezound
Carrier: Verizon
Price: $200
Big Red subscribers won't see a One variant anytime soon, but they can still bask in its rich audio and UI performance via the Rezound. The first official byproduct of the HTC/Beats By Dre marriage welcomes the bass-blasting sound of Beats Audio technology, Sense 3.5, and a 1.5GHz dual-core built for multimedia performance. A Sense 4.0 upgrade is uncertain for now, but Ice Cream Sandwich is definitely on the radar.
9. Motorola Droid 4
Carrier: Verizon
Price: $200
Fast LTE speeds, solid battery life, great call quality, and an upgraded keyboard—the latest Droid bests its predecessor on nearly every level. Motorola's managed to construct the slimmest QWERTY smartphone on the scene, while including the same energy-saving software and corporate features found in the RAZR entries. The phone’s also compatible with most of Moto’s accessories lineup including the Lapdock, HD Dock, etc.
8. HTC Amaze 4G
Carrier: T-Mobile
Price: $150
Before the One series stomped its way atop the mobile photography echelon, T-Mobile's gem packed the best smartphone camera around. Shooting modes like SweepShot gave photogs the opportunity to take panoramic shots, where BurstShot mode snapped multiple images at once. The Amaze 4G also carries fast 4G speeds, a zippy 1.5GHz dual-core CPU, and good call quality. HTC's also rolled out an Android 4.0 update to give T-Mobile users a taste of Ice Cream Sandwich. Sweet.
7. Samsung Galaxy Note
Carrier: AT&T
Price: $250
As we noted earlier this year, Samsung's mobile experiment is a notable prelude for the "phablet" market. The massive (and marvelous) 5.3-inch HD Super AMOLED display would make you to think it was a full-on tablet, but you'd be foolish to entertain the thought. Instead, the device serves as an enterprise phone with dashing LTE speeds, long battery life, and the new S-Pen, which works great for scribbling notes and updating spreadsheets on the go. Plus the screen makes for a great viewing platform.
6. Motorola Droid Bionic
Carrier: Verizon
Price: $500 (w/o contract)
We’ve hit the 10-month mark since the release of the Droid Bionic, and have still yet to test a device that could match its power and speed. Motorola’s juggernaut pulls off insane performance and LTE benchmarks, both attributed to the carrier’s warp-speed 4G network and handset's dual-core CPU. It’s also one of the only phones available that supports Moto's wide array of accessories (LapDock, battery dock, HD station, etc.). Verizon's out of stock at the moment, so you're only option for grabbing the freakishly powerful phone is by dropping five Benjamins on Motorola's site.
5. HTC Evo 4G LTE
Carrier: Sprint
Price: $200
Take the awesome camera and CPU performance of the One series, introduce an ultramodern design, and HTC's trademark kickstand and you have the next great EVO. Aside from boasting the phenomenal spec sheet of its multi-carrier counterpart, Sprint's exclusive handset offers the better display and shutter time speeds. Though the phone comes LTE-enabled, the Now Network looks to launch its new 4G service in mid-July, so expect swift results real soon.
4. Motorola Droid RAZR Maxx
Carrier: Verizon
Price: $200
With amazing hardware, new energy-conserving Smart Actions feature, and the slimmest form factor of any Android phone ever, Motorola created a near-perfect handset in the Droid RAZR. Three months later, the company launched an updated version branded the Droid RAZR Maxx and bundled it with a larger battery capable of pulling an extra 5 to 10 hours of energy. It also stepped up the call quality and increased the internal memory to satisfy digital hoarders.
3. Samsung Galaxy Nexus
Carriers: Sprint & Verizon
The first official Android 4.0 handset is now available on the Now Network and welcomes one additional feature not found on its Verizon sibling: Google Wallet. With the help of NFC technology, the Google Nexus transforms into a digital wallet allowing you to use Google’s wireless payment service to do your shopping. While Verizon’s model offers the better LTE experience, both versions sport a gorgeous Super AMOLED screen, Ice Cream Sandwich, and a zippy dual-core chip.
2. Samsung Galaxy S III
Carrier: AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, & Verizon
Price: $200, $280 (via T-Mobile)
The One X might have snagged top honors, but it edged out the Galaxy S III by a fragment. Laced with powerful hardware and dope next-gen features, Samsung’s mobile powerhouse embodies its “Next Big Thing” tag line. Heavy on NFC technology, the phone offers great instant-productivity options from its S Beam feature and reprogrammable TecTile tags. Even though the quad-core processor from the U.K. model is absent, Qualcomm's dual-core pulls impressive benchmarks. The camera software, call quality, and battery life also leave a lasting impression.
1. HTC One Series
Carriers: AT&T & T-Mobile
Price: $200 (One X), $49 (One S)
The Taiwanese manufacturer built the greatest camera phone ever. Able to shoot over 4 frames per second and clocking ridiculous shutter speeds of 0.7 seconds, the One Series is a Instagram-users dream. It can also capture videos and photos simultaneously, shoot in numerous modes, and comes with several Instagram-like filters for image enhancement. A sleek design, Sense 4.0, ICS, and Beats By Dre audio integration help place the One series atop of the Android throne.
Read our full reviews on the HTC One X and One S
