Image via Complex Original
The Android market is one that is constantly evolving with the times. So as Google's mobile platform continues to expand, more pressure is falling on today's top smartphone manufacturers to produce the next great revolutionary handset. Needless to say, few have succeeded and the majority remain trapped in the creative bubble. Well, it looks like there's a new group of smartphone visionaries on the scene—talented designers who are creating and showcasing their own radical Android renderings on the Net, and dope ones at that. Now that Google's unleashed its so-called game-changer, the Moto X, we took the liberty of assembling this insane collection of handheld prototypes to see how it fares against the competition. Check out the 10 Hottest Android Smartphone Concepts on the Internet.
Sony Xperia Cybershot
Designer: Esato
Smartphones with massive camera lenses are already becoming the “next big thing.” The recently launched Nokia Lumia 1020 and upcoming Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom can attest to this. This insane rendering combines the sleek frame of the Xperia series with Sony’s popular Cybershot camera technology, practically transforming the handset into a more portable DSLR. Good look right now.
Samsung Galaxy NxT
Designer: Christophe Simeon
Say what you will about QWERTY keyboard phones being so 2008. If Samsung dropped something along the lines of the NxT, you'd probably be the first one lined up to drop six Benjamins on it. The 5.5-inch Full HD phablet measures at 8.6mm and features a sliding keyboard mechanism that doubles as a kickstand for hands-free viewing. It also comes housed in a titanium case with two built-in mics and stereo speakers. Internals supposedly comprise of Exynos 5 Octa processor, 2GB of DDR3 RAM, wireless charging, Bluetooth 4.0, and dual cameras (16MP rear and 3MP front) with infrared illuminator.
Motorola Nexus +
Developer: Cristophe Simeon
The once-rumored Google X might have been killed off in favor of the Moto X, but the leaked renderings of both smartphones don't compare to this beauty. Donning a gorgeous magnesium frame and machined-carbon fiber rear, the Nexus+ comes laced with a number of hi-tech goods including a notifications capacitive pad, dual-front stereo speakers, and infrared port. Other notable specs include a 13MP camera, Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 CPU, and a 5-inch TFT (1920 x 1080) panel. Oh man, what could have been.
HTC Apocalypse
Developer: Rahul Sharma
Powered by Android Key Lime Pie and an AMD quad-core chip with GeForce EVGA GTX GPU, the Apocalypse supports the hardware and software to put the mobile game on smash. Sharma's concept manages to squeeze all that processing power into a 6.65mm frame, alongside other striking upgrades like a 4.8-inch screen with IPS LED technology and oleophobic coating, 21MP SLR-esque HD camera, 2D/3D switching, 64GB and a 3,600 mAh battery for long-lasting power. "Built to Dominate” indeed!
Sony XTRUD
Developer: Francois Rybarczyk
Personalized smartphones will soon become the wave of the future. So as rumors continue to surface on the Moto X promoting hardware upgrade capabilities, designer Francois Rybarczk treats us with his own fully customizable Sony handset. The ability to swap out old displays, cameras, batteries, and possibly mainboards for all new internals only makes it a must have for Androidphiles.
Micromax Canvas HD+
Developer: Suman Chatterjee
The Canvas HD+ carries a 5-inch Super AMOLED Plus HD display, 1.5GHz CPU, 13MP rear camera with dual-LED flash, and 2300 mAh battery. Specs might seem underwhelming, but peep the phone’s version of Android 4.3. Talk about a gorgeous-looking UI.
Nexus 5
Designer: Derek Kopet
Talks of a Nexus 4 successor predate back to CES 2013, though Google never once mentioned plans on releasing such a device. It's still a little mysterious to all of us when considering the universal acclaim and mass appeal the last-gen model garnered. Derek Kopet took on the challenge of assembling his own Nexus 5 concept, one flaunting a metal edge finish, a 5-inch IPS HD display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 CPU, 13Mp camera, 3GB of RAM, and 3,140 mAh battery. And it woudn't be a Nexus without the trademark notification light at the bottom.
Sony Xperia ZX
Designer: Ben Ling
Some feel there’s no room on the market for a six-inch smartphone. It’s debatable. Granted if any manufacturer should step up to the challenge, they might want to consider using Ben Ling’s prototype as a starting point. The Xperia ZX boasts some of the most hi-tech features found on a mobile, spearheaded by its phenomenal 6-inch Full HD Triluminious screen with X Reality technology and Gorilla Glass 3 protection. This thing also features a 14MP camera with HDR and LED flash, which also supports an Exmore RS sensor, 16x digital zoom, and full HD recording. The ZX looks to be powered by a 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon quad-core, 32GB of storage, and 2.5GB of RAM. Oh yea, it comes PlayStation Certified as well.
Nokia Nexus G
Developer: Deepak Ahuja
If Nokia's recent callout of the Windows Phone 8 app market is any indication, expect the company to jump ship and join the Android army in the near future. Designer Deepak Ahuja seems to be two steps ahead with the introduction of the Nexus G prototype. The smartphone highlights a number of hardware facets including a 5-inch panel (1092 x 1320) with 441 ppi, 2GHz quad-core processor, 64/128GB of storage, and a colossal 4,050 mAh battery. Nokia’s 21MP Pureview shooter with Xenon flash, 4.5MP front-facing camera with BSI and CMOS, and Monster Purity sound technology rounds out the Nexus G’s dominant spec sheet.
The "Ultimate Smartphone"
Designer: T3
Take the signature components from every major Android manufacturer and bring it all together into one handset, you have what UK tech site T3 believes to be the “Ultimate Smartphone.” In terms of premiums, the device carries over Nokia’s 41MP PureView camera, Sony’s military certifications (water and dustproof), Samsung’s sharp 5-inch Full-HD display, and HTC’s BoomSound stereo speakers and gorgeous aluminum design. Crazy part is that's all crumbs in comparison to what else lies under the hood.
The phone runs on new quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processors, 16GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage. It all sounds marveling, but find the ability to switch between iOS 7 and the latest Android OS, plus being able to project a laser keyboard on any surface by turning the device on its side to be its biggest selling points. Wouldn't you agree?