Top 5 Smartphones of 2013
Despite 2013 being a rather stagnant year for advancements in smartphones, it still managed to spawn some reputable devices that carried the flag somewhat successfully going into to 2014 for their respective companies.
So which handsets turned out to be the best of 2013? Did Apple make a successful effort? Was Samsung's king the Note 3 or the S4? How did the HTC One fare against the competition? Here is our list for the top 5 smartphones of 2013.
5- Moto X
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Motorola made a great effort this year releasing the design innovative Moto X handset. The customizable exterior was something never seen yet in the smartphone market, especially to the extent that the company took it to with Moto Maker. The device features specs that probably would have impressed users more last year such as a 720p display, however, the X8 computing system was a big improvement from past efforts and the many different look options for the device place the Moto X in our fifth position. Even though Motorola hasn't reached the full potential for this line of smartphones, the company still managed to put itself in a good place going into 2014.
4- iPhone 5S
Apple made a great effort this year by introducing the world to the first 64-bit smartphone with the iPhone 5S. The Touch ID fingerprint sensor also helped to land the handset at our number 4 spot for 2013. Aesthetically Apple chose to play it safe by keeping the appearance similar to its predecessor and not changing the screen size. The device packs a more powerful processor than the iPhone 5 and more reliable security than any other smartphone on the market.
3- Galaxy S4
The Galaxy S4 does just about everything a smartphone needs to do and more. The new eye sensor is easily one of the best additions made to the handset market this year despite being slept on by most critics. Scrolling up and down a page has never been easier than it is with the Galaxy S4. Smart Pause also helps for those interruptions that might occur while you watch something as videos will pause until your eyes return to the screen. The display on the device is crisp and the exterior design is slightly improved from its predecessor. Samsung made a stronger effort to innovate with the S4 than most other manufacturers, which lands them in our third position.
2- Galaxy Note 3
The Galaxy Note 3 features just about everything that makes the Galaxy S4 great in a bigger frame with 3GB RAM and a more powerful processor. The newly designed exterior has a plastic leather-like backing that gives Samsung products a classier look going into 2014. Its camera can record video in 4k resolution and the S Pen is more responsive than ever on the new model. The Note 3 is easily Samsung's best of this year that could be the one where the phablet eclipsed the company's flagship handset.
1- HTC One
If the Moto X put Motorola in a good place going into 2014, the HTC One helped its creator solidify itself as one of the best smartphone makers. The HTC One is easily the best Android-powered handset to hit the market in 2013 despite its lukewarm response due to poor marketing and the overshadowing by the Samsung-Apple war. Its screen looks better than any of these other handsets and its response time is also a lot quicker than the Galaxy S4's. It can double as a mini stereo system thanks to Beats Audio and its solid aluminum exterior brings something that was much needed in the Android smartphone market.
