Many smartphones have come and gone this year, all of which shook up the showground. Some were simply phenomenal, leading them to dominate the battle without difficulty. Many gave a bit of zing to the smartphone competition — those which led critics to spawn judgments that are poles apart. A handful may have even been deemed to be better off in the shelves of history. Tech companies have been launching handsets, both eye-poppers and easily forgotten. But this article honors the handsets that propelled their manufacturers to the most coveted seats in the field.
A common favorite is the HTC One M8, the upgrade of the Taiwanese firm's One M7. IB Times declared HTC's very own as the best Android handset in existence. Its streamlined aluminum body and metal framework are coupled with hardware that renders performance as beautiful and impressive as its looks. PC Advisor lauds HTC's effort in picking up a smartphone that is already a performer and taking it to its frontier. The microSD slot (which was absent from its predecessor) and its Duo Camera are two of the features that make the HTC One M8 stand out. This handset is priced at $540.
Next is an Android smartphone Motorola has crafted, the refresh of last year's Moto X. Thanks to Motorola's magic touch, the Moto X 2014 was made superior and finer. ZDNet says it's one of those Android smartphones that can easily take over the tech war. The Moto X 2014 is immaculate Google experience caked in the nicest Motorola garb. The Moto Voice feature morphs this phone into the digital assistant users have always wanted. This 5.2-inch handset will never fail Android fans. It is available in the market for only $500.
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 also made the list. This device is insanely imposing, considering its older brother Note 3 was already knockout. Being dubbed as Samsung's biggest feat, this handset is one of the South Korean firm's pioneers in plastic-free exterior. Samsung has been criticized for dressing up its rather powerful phones with unflattering shells that diminish their true greatness. But with the metal framing that encases the Note 4, the company proves it can entertain big design changes. This handset, which borders to a tablet, comes with a 5.7-inch screen that renders the best display in a smartphone. That is according to Business Insider. With an array of potent specs packed in the Note flagship, the price tag goes up to $750.
LG G3 is also a smartphone welcomed with gracious reviews and incredibly successful reception. This device is almost like a tablet hybrid, with its 5.5-inch display that renders rich colors and crisp visuals in its sizeable Quad HD screen. Although the enormity is there, the ergonomic feel when gripped and used makes users forget about how big it really is. PC Advisor loves its camera and the laser auto focus that performs. On top of that, its premium build will always make this smartphone an eye candy. The LG G3 can be purchased for $599.
Lastly, almost every review there names the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus as the royalties of the smartphone world. Released back in September, these Apple flagships are the company's first-ever mega-sized handsets. The Cupertino-based firm has always been the leader in streamlined design and it proved once more that the title will always be in its possession by housing ultra impressive specs in the phones' thinnest and sleekest body. The aluminum encrusted iPhones know pure class. 9to5 Google remarked that the iPhone 6 Plus takes the best and high-quality photos. The camera's time-lapse videos, slow motion and HDR are a killer. Furthermore, ZDNet recognizes its "industry-leading app store, vast accessory market and user experience," which make the device the one to watch. The Retina display makes it all the more dominant. Overall, everything about the devices are pretty much spot on.
