The end of the year is fast approaching, and as we move forward, we like to cap off the previous year with a "best of" round-up. This year we are doing it a bit different. Rather than inundate you with Editor's opinions, this year we simply want to hear from you which device was your favorite. To that end, the following is our Top Android Smartphones Master List of 2013.
It doesn't include every phone that launched this year, but covers the primary flagship devices in various categories. Some of these devices have been around for most of the year, while a few didn't hit the retail store shelves until the last part of the year. After the list we will have a poll which will determine what you guys think was the top Android smartphones of the year. Please vote in the poll and sound off in the thread with the reasoning behind your choice. Also, if the phone you liked the most for the year wasn't on this list, please vote other and let us know why you liked it the most in the thread.
Here's the list we compiled in no particular order:
- Motorola Droid MAXX - We chose this one for the list over the Droid Ultra simply because it is the same thing as the Droid Ultra only it includes a superior battery. It's hard not to be enamored by the fantastic battery life and incredible power of this device.
- Google's LG-Made Nexus 5 - The next Nexus device from Google didn't disappoint, other than the fact that it didn't come to Verizon. It has some of the most powerful specs available, including the Snapdragon 800, Adreno 330, and a gorgeous 5-inch display. It also included the first version of Android 4.4 KitKat. What's not to love?
- HTC One - This one came out at the beginning of the year in an attempt to trump the Samsung Galaxy S4. In most respects it did exactly that. With premium build quality, gorgeous aesthetics and impressive front facing speakers, many users fell in love with this device.
- Samsung Galaxy Note 3 - This one may be a phablet, but that certainly didn't detract from its popularity. With a beautiful huge display, functional S Pen and several other enhanced features, the GNote3 is the pinnacle of the Note series. Good luck prying this amazing device away from them.
- HTC One Max - Speaking of phablets. The HTC One Max was introduced at the end of the year as HTC's answer to Samsung's GNote series. It offers up similar quality to the HTC One, and even includes a fingerprint sensor. It wasn't a huge hit in the retail channel, but we suspect fans of this device will defend it vehemently.
- LG G2 - LG's Nexus 5 wasn't the only premium device they launched this year. In fact, they had three. One was the Optimus G Pro, but later on in the year, they trumped themselves with this gem of a device. The G2 was the most advanced smartphone on the planet during the time of its launch. It still offers a tremendous value even now.
- Samsung Galaxy S4 - There's not much to say about Samsung's newest iconic Galaxy device that hasn't already been said. With advanced software features and the massive cache that comes with the Samsung brand, it was the top selling Android smartphone of the year.
- Sony Xperia Z1 - This one didn't see a great deal of popularity outside of Europe and Asia, but don't let that diminish its standing in your eye. With impeccable design and very advanced features including water and shock resistance, it definitely belongs on this list.
- Moto X - Despite this one not quite getting the traction that many of us were hoping for, the Moto X turned out to be the darling of the tech-blog industry. In wasn't as flashy as the others, yet it includes some truly innovative features and pushes the tech envelope further.
