The 7 Best Smartphones Unveiled at CES 2012

Check out the hottest handsets announced at the Consumer Electronics Show.

January 14, 2012

Intro

Every year, the Consumer Electronics Show ushers in the new wave of elite smartphones designed to drive the mobile market into a frenzy. Last year, Motorola earned top honors when it unveiled the Atrix 4G and Droid Bionic—two powerhouses that peaked in the top 10 of our 25 Best Smartphones of 2011 list. This year’s show was nothing short of surprising, as curve balls from HTC and Samsung reeled us in with dynamic hardware upgrades, and Nokia proved Microsoft's mobile efforts were here to stay, shocking the tech world with its upcoming Window Phones 7 device. Get familiar with the year’s best by catching up on the 7 Best Smartphones Unveiled At CES 2012.

Sony Xperia Ion

Carrier/Release Date: AT&T, March

Even after hitting the ground hard with the PlayStation-certified Xperia Play, Sony's already ignited a buzz courtesy of its first-ever LTE phone: the Xperia Ion. The mobile is powered by a 1.5GHz Qualcomm dual-core, 16GB of on-board memory, and not one, but two HD cameras (12MP rear and 1.3MP front) capable of shooting 1080p/720p HD clips and switching from standby mode to first shot in 1.5 seconds. Plastered at the fore is a gorgeous 4.6-inch HD Reality display boasting Sony’s new Bravia Engine, enhancing the viewing experience, alongside DLNA, HDMI, Bravia Sync, and NFC support. An Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade is also rumored for Q2 2012.

Samsung Galaxy Note

Samsung expands the Galaxy universe with its smartphone-tablet hybrid: the Galaxy Note. You’re looking at the largest Super AMOLED touchscreen to ever grace an Android phone, measuring 5.3-inches. The Note comes bundled with a stylus referred to as the “S Pen,” which woks together with Samsung’s S Memo app to jot notes, snap images, and capture voice recordings. There’s also the option to edit, draw, and annotate photos after shooting them on the 8MP camera. An Ice Cream Sandwich update is also in the cards. The Note is a freakishly huge handset, especially in comparison to the Galaxy S series, but its light weight and full view presentation make it a dope option for anyone debating between a 4-inch mobile and 7-inch tab.