The year 2014 was filled with a lot of exciting tech happenings.
A major place where things changed were in the Smartphone Industry. Major
OEMs like Google (Nexus) and Apple took bold and new steps for the others to
follow. Many emerging companies like Motorola also made a mark on the smartphone
industry by rivaling the bigger ones. But who is the best of the best? What
smartphone is to be awarded with the ‘Phone of the Year’ award? These are some of
the questions that this article will answer….
Well, to be frank, there can never really be one phone which
is the best in the market. Each phone will have something different to offer,
which suits the different needs of different people. The Smartphone industry
has grown to such an extent, that nowadays, you simply can’t go wrong with your
choice. But still, these are some of my favorite picks. These are the smartphones
that I think made a difference in the industry and influenced other OEMs. The
list is not numerical, all 5 phones I have chosen are at par with each other and
one can’t go wrong if he/she chooses one of these devices.
Sony Xperia Z3 Compact – Bigger is not always better
Over the last few years, the general android mantra has been
“Bigger is better”. And with companies like Apple and Microsoft joining the
trend by creating bigger phones, the ‘compact’ smartphone category seemed to
have been limited to the lower end devices. But, with the introduction of the Xperia
Compact lineup, Sony had made a significant mark in the smartphone industry. The
Z3 Compact is a successor to the Z1 and Z2 compact lineup by Sony. These
handsets sport a relatively smaller footprint but offer the same specifications
as that of their flagship counterparts. The Z3 compact sports a Quad Core
Snapdragon 801 SOC, 2 GB ram, 16GB internal storage, a 20.7 MP camera sensor and
a 720p HD Screen. As you can see, it clearly is a flagship device.
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 – the best phablet
Samsung has lately been incurring losses due to their
approach of flooding the market with numerous devices. Its S lineup is losing
its popularity day by day. And their touchwiz UI is frankly not good. But even
after considering all this, you can’t deny the fact that when it comes to
phablets, Samsung does it right. The note line, which was started as an
experiment by Samsung, proved to be one of their most successful offering. Last
year’s note 3 was a classic device with top of the line specs and awesome
battery life. The Note 4, is no exception. And with the addition of a metal
band and a slightly more polished look, one can definitely say, that this is
the best Samsung has to offer. It sports a Quad core Snapdragon 805 SOC, 3 GB
Ram, a 5.7 inch 2K display, and a 16 MP Camera. One may argue that the Nexus 6 and
iPhone 6+ also have similar specs, but Samsung’s touchwiz UI, S-Pen and additional
features such as multiwindow help to use that extra screen real estate. Making
it a serious contender in the phablet market.
Motorola Moto X - proof that OEM skins aren't a necessity
Last year's Moto X turned the Android ecosystem upside down.
An OEM device with a non-existent skin, running stock Android with nothing but
some Moto apps for added functionality. Specs that appeared mid-range on paper,
but performed like a flagship in real world use. And most importantly, system
updates that rivalled even Google's Nexus devices in terms of rollout time.
Last year's Moto X was easily one of the best phones of the year, and this
year's Moto X is no different. Still the same great software experience, upgraded
hardware, and Lollipop alongside Nexus devices. The specs include a Quad Core Snapdragon
801, 2GB Ram, 16 GB internal, 13 MP Camera. The Moto X has proven once again
how great an OEM device can be without a heavily modified skin, and no list
would be complete without it.
HTC One M8 – Awesome design complimented by elegant Software
The original HTC One was one of the most influential devices
of 2013. It showed other OEMs what wonders you can do by creating a unique
design. The all metal construction was one of the highlight features of the M7.
With that, users got the Sense 5 UI, which complimented the hardware like sugar
melts in milk. HTC continues to follow the trend with its One M8. The M8 is a
bit more rounded than the M7 and has a lot more metal in it. The unibody aluminum
casing feels cool in the hand and screams quality. And of course, the Boom
Sound speakers are brought in as well. The new Sense 6 is one of the simplest
yet elegant looking skin on android. It has also been recognized as the second best
option after pure android. The M8 sports a Quad Core Snapdragon 801 SOC, 2 GB
Ram, a 5 inch FHD LCD Screen, 16 GB internal storage, and a 4 MP Ultrapixel
Camera.
iPhone 6 plus – the best iPhone yet
Yes, I know iPhones suck, but please read this. The Apple
iPhone 6 plus is one of the greatest risks that the company has ever taken. By
bumping the screen size by a 1.5 inches, it is a significant move by apple. The
iPhone line has got a long history of abuses, ill comments, etc. by android
users. But one can’t deny the fact that the 6 plus is a great device. The
screen size is great, the resolution (1080p) is remarkable. The camera, though only 8 MP, takes some of
the best shots in any smartphone camera. The processor (A8) is also a good improvement,
and you have 1GB ram, which is sufficient enough for iOS 8 to deliver the best
iPhone experience. The iPhone 6 is also a good alternative if you don’t want a
phablet iPhone, but it has a lower screen resolution and lacks OIS in camera.
So, these were some of my favorite devices of 2014. I would
also like to give the LG G3 and The Nexus 6 (a blown up Moto X with nexus branding)
honorable mentions. Some will definitely disagree with my choices, but with so
many great phones in the market, there would always be people who would
disagree with me no matter what. So feel free to share your own list in the
comments.
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