Anna Scantlin expert
Contributing Editor PhoneDog
Anna is a Contributing Editor at PhoneDog.com. She was born and raised in Kansas City, which ironically is not located in Kansas, but in neighboring Missouri. She has an ornery son named Riley, who may or may not be more obsessed with technology than she is. Her passions include writing, drawing, music, and of course - cell phones! She has ghost written over 300 articles, and is a serial cell phone hoarder.
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Anna's current smartphone rankings
Why I made my choices
My rankings this week finally get changed up a little bit, but not my much seeing as my list is still primarily Android with the introduction of the Sony Xperia Z to the list - one of my favorite smartphones to come out this year. On the top of my list is still the HTC One, which I still believe is ever-so-slightly better than the Galaxy S 4 (but both phones remain to be described as fantastic!) The Lumia 928 replaced the Lumia 920 simply because it's a little bit newer, and it just makes more sense to make that minor replacement. The iPhone 5 still sticks as my number 5, as I still haven't the heart to completely nix the iPhone from my Top 5 Smartphone list. After all, it is still a great platform.
Anna's ranking archives
Why I made my choices...
This week's rankings remain unchanged from my previous week's votes. While I did consider switching out the Note II with the BlackBerry Z10 to give the list some variety, ultimately I feel that while Blackberry has done a good job trying to keep up with modern times it's certainly not a better device than the Galaxy Note II.
The HTC One still remains in first, and I often ponder whether I should switch it with the Samsung Galaxy S 4 as I dig both phones about as equally for different reasons. I am a bigger fan of Sense than TouchWiz, and I prefer the look and feel of the One compared to the Galaxy S 4. I like that the Galaxy S 4 has a microSD card slot and a removable battery, but sometimes I wonder if the HTC One's 32GB device (the lowest you can possibly get) would truly suffice when it comes to memory.
The Nokia Lumia 920 is still my top pick for Windows Phone, nothing has changed there. As for the iPhone 5, it's a good device and certainly the best out of the bunch when it comes to iOS so it only makes sense to place that device up there, even over my own iPhone 4S which I still carry.
'Til next week!
The HTC One still remains in first, and I often ponder whether I should switch it with the Samsung Galaxy S 4 as I dig both phones about as equally for different reasons. I am a bigger fan of Sense than TouchWiz, and I prefer the look and feel of the One compared to the Galaxy S 4. I like that the Galaxy S 4 has a microSD card slot and a removable battery, but sometimes I wonder if the HTC One's 32GB device (the lowest you can possibly get) would truly suffice when it comes to memory.
The Nokia Lumia 920 is still my top pick for Windows Phone, nothing has changed there. As for the iPhone 5, it's a good device and certainly the best out of the bunch when it comes to iOS so it only makes sense to place that device up there, even over my own iPhone 4S which I still carry.
'Til next week!
Why I made my choices...
The thing about my smartphone rankings is that once it seems like I have a pretty solid list, it usually stays that way for a while.
Since I first learned about the HTC One and the Galaxy S 4 my OSR list seemed to be coasting along until these babies were released - now that they have been, my list feels a lot more solid than it was before. I'm confident that my list ranks them in a considerably agreeable fashion.
I ultimately decided to place the HTC One over the Galaxy S 4 because of the build quality of the hardware and the design of the software. Combined, it makes for a fantastic phone. The reason the Galaxy S 4 came in second is because while the software of the Galaxy S 4 is great and the features are nice, the hardware is just not up to par with the quality of the HTC One. However, the Galaxy S 4 does have some redeeming qualities like a removable battery and a microSD card slot - this could arguably place it over the HTC One for many people. However, since learning this week that Samsung's TouchWiz ultimately takes up about 7 GB of internal space, the addition of a microSD card slot makes it seem like it was done out of necessity rather than accessibility. But that's just me.
As for the other devices, they pretty much just moved down from my previous weeks. I ended up nixing the Galaxy S III in the end in favor of the Galaxy S 4 (but that doesn't mean it's not still a great phone!) The Nokia Lumia 920 is still my top choice when it comes to Windows Phone and, well, the iPhone is really the only choice you can have when it comes to iPhones.
All in all it's another good week on the Official Smartphone Rankings at PhoneDog!
Since I first learned about the HTC One and the Galaxy S 4 my OSR list seemed to be coasting along until these babies were released - now that they have been, my list feels a lot more solid than it was before. I'm confident that my list ranks them in a considerably agreeable fashion.
I ultimately decided to place the HTC One over the Galaxy S 4 because of the build quality of the hardware and the design of the software. Combined, it makes for a fantastic phone. The reason the Galaxy S 4 came in second is because while the software of the Galaxy S 4 is great and the features are nice, the hardware is just not up to par with the quality of the HTC One. However, the Galaxy S 4 does have some redeeming qualities like a removable battery and a microSD card slot - this could arguably place it over the HTC One for many people. However, since learning this week that Samsung's TouchWiz ultimately takes up about 7 GB of internal space, the addition of a microSD card slot makes it seem like it was done out of necessity rather than accessibility. But that's just me.
As for the other devices, they pretty much just moved down from my previous weeks. I ended up nixing the Galaxy S III in the end in favor of the Galaxy S 4 (but that doesn't mean it's not still a great phone!) The Nokia Lumia 920 is still my top choice when it comes to Windows Phone and, well, the iPhone is really the only choice you can have when it comes to iPhones.
All in all it's another good week on the Official Smartphone Rankings at PhoneDog!
Why I made my choices...
For the first time in a long time, when it comes to this week's Smartphone Rankings I actually had to sit and ponder on what device would be in my number one spot for this week. Would it be the HTC One, the wonder device with the beautiful hardware and software to match? Or would it be the Samsung Galaxy S 4, successor to the Galaxy S III which took the Android market to a whole new level when it comes to expectations?
In the end I decided to roll with the One, which has been in my number one spot for a couple of weeks now. In all actuality if I could, I would have put both on par with each other because there are pros and cons to both, which makes it a very hard decision when trying to figure out which one to purchase as well.
The One has Sense 5, which is a grown up version of the Sense I grew up with. It's beautiful, sleek, and snappy. Alongside that you have the fact that the One has a beautiful unibody aluminum design - you can't go wrong with looks and a personality.
But what about the Galaxy S 4? What does it have that makes it a competitor? Well for one, you have the removable battery. I like knowing that if the initial battery life isn't good enough it's not that hard to find a decent extended battery. Also, the microSD card slot. While the HTC One starts at 32GB and you would think you wouldn't need anything more, you'd be surprised at how quickly you can use up that memory once it's available to you.
In the end both are top contenders and I wouldn't be surprised to find either one in the number one spot.
As for the other three, they basically just moved down to make room for the top two. While I don't have anything new to say about those three, I will say that it is refreshing and exciting to have two new devices to talk about each week!
In the end I decided to roll with the One, which has been in my number one spot for a couple of weeks now. In all actuality if I could, I would have put both on par with each other because there are pros and cons to both, which makes it a very hard decision when trying to figure out which one to purchase as well.
The One has Sense 5, which is a grown up version of the Sense I grew up with. It's beautiful, sleek, and snappy. Alongside that you have the fact that the One has a beautiful unibody aluminum design - you can't go wrong with looks and a personality.
But what about the Galaxy S 4? What does it have that makes it a competitor? Well for one, you have the removable battery. I like knowing that if the initial battery life isn't good enough it's not that hard to find a decent extended battery. Also, the microSD card slot. While the HTC One starts at 32GB and you would think you wouldn't need anything more, you'd be surprised at how quickly you can use up that memory once it's available to you.
In the end both are top contenders and I wouldn't be surprised to find either one in the number one spot.
As for the other three, they basically just moved down to make room for the top two. While I don't have anything new to say about those three, I will say that it is refreshing and exciting to have two new devices to talk about each week!
Why I made my choices...
Ah yes, another week of smartphone rankings. Let's get started, shall we?
The HTC One comes as no surprise as it's one of my favorite devices out right now. It's in direct competition with the Galaxy S 4 which is set to release sometime this week, so perhaps we will soon see an exciting change coming to our smartphone rankings but until now the UltraPixel wonder will remain at number one.
The Galaxy Note II is still right up there. Strange how something as simple as a glorified stylus gives the Galaxy Note II such an advantage over the competition. However, the Galaxy Note II also offers good specs and a great battery life, so that certainly contributes to the phone coming in second place.
The Nokia Lumia 920 is still holding on to it's number three spot - but for how long? The Windows Phone extraordinaire is said to be releasing some pretty stiff competition against itself in the coming months, but until I see exactly what it has to offer the Nokia Lumia 920 and it's fantastic PureView camera will remain at number three for me.
Then we come to the Apple iPhone 5. What is there to say about it? It's the only Apple device worth mentioning at this point in time, despite the fact that it's considered outdated by many. Regardless, the only iPhone with LTE makes it worthy to place anywhere on my top 5 list considering the popularity of the device and the stability of the platform.
As for the Galaxy S III - it's the same as last week. The device is here for one reason only, and that's to serve as a placeholder for the Galaxy S 4. It's still a great device - especially for the price many providers are offering it for - but it's still an older device and will soon be replaced.
The HTC One comes as no surprise as it's one of my favorite devices out right now. It's in direct competition with the Galaxy S 4 which is set to release sometime this week, so perhaps we will soon see an exciting change coming to our smartphone rankings but until now the UltraPixel wonder will remain at number one.
The Galaxy Note II is still right up there. Strange how something as simple as a glorified stylus gives the Galaxy Note II such an advantage over the competition. However, the Galaxy Note II also offers good specs and a great battery life, so that certainly contributes to the phone coming in second place.
The Nokia Lumia 920 is still holding on to it's number three spot - but for how long? The Windows Phone extraordinaire is said to be releasing some pretty stiff competition against itself in the coming months, but until I see exactly what it has to offer the Nokia Lumia 920 and it's fantastic PureView camera will remain at number three for me.
Then we come to the Apple iPhone 5. What is there to say about it? It's the only Apple device worth mentioning at this point in time, despite the fact that it's considered outdated by many. Regardless, the only iPhone with LTE makes it worthy to place anywhere on my top 5 list considering the popularity of the device and the stability of the platform.
As for the Galaxy S III - it's the same as last week. The device is here for one reason only, and that's to serve as a placeholder for the Galaxy S 4. It's still a great device - especially for the price many providers are offering it for - but it's still an older device and will soon be replaced.
Why I made my choices...
Another week of Smartphone Rankings, another week of (almost) the same phones in the same places. What can you do? It's both an exciting and slow time of the year, with the slow part being from the number of new top tier phones that are being released.
The HTC One is the bees knees, simply put. They took a huge chance by dropping out of the megapixel race to show the world that the number of megapixels on your camera doesn't necessarily justify the clarity of the image on the screen. The 4-megapixel (or should I say 'Ultrapixel') camera certainly takes low-light photo ops to a new level. Coupling that with the beautiful hardware of the body makes this device a shoo-in for number one.
Coming in at number once again is the Samsung Galaxy Note II. The Note is still the biggest name for anybody on the market for a phablet and it certainly lives up to it's name as a prime note-taking device with the incorporation of Samsung's S-Pen. While the S-Pen might seem like a glorified stylus (which it kind of is) it's something that many smartphones opted to nix for some strange reason after iOS and Android became popular, therefore giving it a leg up on competition for those who employed the use of styluses in day-to-day use.
The Nokia Lumia 920 remains to be one of the top-selling Windows Phone 8 devices despite having several other devices released after its debut. I have to wonder how long the 920 will stay on my list, however, with the surfacing of newer and more powerful Windows Phone 8 devices from Nokia themselves.
The Apple iPhone 5 actually moved up a rank, but not because the phone got any better. I realized that the Samsung Galaxy S III is literally hanging on by a thread - it's only there as a placeholder until the Samsung Galaxy 4 is available on the Smartphone Rankings list. Since I've seen no confirmation on what the iPhone 5S (or 6, whatever they're going to call it) entails then I thought I might bump it up for a week while we continue to wait for the release of the Galaxy S 4. You know, kind of as a... well, a pity vote. That's all it is. I just kind of feel sorry for it.
Until next week!
The HTC One is the bees knees, simply put. They took a huge chance by dropping out of the megapixel race to show the world that the number of megapixels on your camera doesn't necessarily justify the clarity of the image on the screen. The 4-megapixel (or should I say 'Ultrapixel') camera certainly takes low-light photo ops to a new level. Coupling that with the beautiful hardware of the body makes this device a shoo-in for number one.
Coming in at number once again is the Samsung Galaxy Note II. The Note is still the biggest name for anybody on the market for a phablet and it certainly lives up to it's name as a prime note-taking device with the incorporation of Samsung's S-Pen. While the S-Pen might seem like a glorified stylus (which it kind of is) it's something that many smartphones opted to nix for some strange reason after iOS and Android became popular, therefore giving it a leg up on competition for those who employed the use of styluses in day-to-day use.
The Nokia Lumia 920 remains to be one of the top-selling Windows Phone 8 devices despite having several other devices released after its debut. I have to wonder how long the 920 will stay on my list, however, with the surfacing of newer and more powerful Windows Phone 8 devices from Nokia themselves.
The Apple iPhone 5 actually moved up a rank, but not because the phone got any better. I realized that the Samsung Galaxy S III is literally hanging on by a thread - it's only there as a placeholder until the Samsung Galaxy 4 is available on the Smartphone Rankings list. Since I've seen no confirmation on what the iPhone 5S (or 6, whatever they're going to call it) entails then I thought I might bump it up for a week while we continue to wait for the release of the Galaxy S 4. You know, kind of as a... well, a pity vote. That's all it is. I just kind of feel sorry for it.
Until next week!
Why I made my choices...
Ah yes, once again time to crack my knuckles and talk about why I have chosen to make my smartphone rankings the way I have made them this week.
All in all, not a whole lot has changed. The HTC One is still my number one smartphone, although I'm not sure just how high the success rate will be overall due to lack of advertising. I like the features and specs of the HTC One over any other device, and I'd be lucky to get my hands on one any time in the future.
The Samsung Galaxy Note II is still definitely worthy of being second best, although many would argue that it's phenomenal battery life should place it at the top instead. Unfortunately, the Note II is considerably too large for my comfort and although it was number one on my list for weeks, the HTC One I feel is more deserving.
The Nokia Lumia 920 would be my first choice if I were to choose a Windows Phone 8 device. I even read a story this week where the device got run over by some ridiculously heavy vehicle and still turned on, albeit being cracked all over the place. Yeah, it's thick and made out of polycarbonate, but man if it doesn't make for one tanky phone.
The Apple iPhone 5 and the BlackBerry Z10 both kind of get the pity vote until something better comes along. I don't like sticking my eggs all in one basket and I like to shed a little bit of limelight on each platform if I can, and of course these would be the two top contenders for the other two platforms that have yet to be mentioned in my 'Top 5' this week. While I'm still an avid user of iOS on my iPhone 4S, I would by lying if I said that I didn't often wish for something different to use.
Until next week!
All in all, not a whole lot has changed. The HTC One is still my number one smartphone, although I'm not sure just how high the success rate will be overall due to lack of advertising. I like the features and specs of the HTC One over any other device, and I'd be lucky to get my hands on one any time in the future.
The Samsung Galaxy Note II is still definitely worthy of being second best, although many would argue that it's phenomenal battery life should place it at the top instead. Unfortunately, the Note II is considerably too large for my comfort and although it was number one on my list for weeks, the HTC One I feel is more deserving.
The Nokia Lumia 920 would be my first choice if I were to choose a Windows Phone 8 device. I even read a story this week where the device got run over by some ridiculously heavy vehicle and still turned on, albeit being cracked all over the place. Yeah, it's thick and made out of polycarbonate, but man if it doesn't make for one tanky phone.
The Apple iPhone 5 and the BlackBerry Z10 both kind of get the pity vote until something better comes along. I don't like sticking my eggs all in one basket and I like to shed a little bit of limelight on each platform if I can, and of course these would be the two top contenders for the other two platforms that have yet to be mentioned in my 'Top 5' this week. While I'm still an avid user of iOS on my iPhone 4S, I would by lying if I said that I didn't often wish for something different to use.
Until next week!
Why I made my choices...
My list has carried over this week from last week. Even after the fact that the DROID DNA being taken off of the shelves makes me wary of purchasing any HTC product, the One is still a great device that deserves some recognition. The HTC One addresses issues that Sense had by being more simplistic and less bloated, and also by featuring front-facing speakers.
The Galaxy Note II is still a sure-fire winner for anybody in the phablet market, as the S Pen integration really brings the 'tablet' out in the device aside from the phone being so large. The specs are great and the battery life is one of the best out there for any smartphone (large or small).
The Nokia Lumia 920 is a must have for anybody in the market for a Windows Phone. While the HTC 8X is a good runner-up, the Nokia Lumia has my vote for its phenomenal camera and tanky build quality. I heard that Chuck Norris himself can't defeat the Lumia 920, but I think it's just a rumor.
The Samsung Galaxy S III is kind of in smartphone ranking limbo for me - I want to replace it with the Galaxy S 4 but since it's not available on our rankings it will have to do until it is. Even though the device is now considered 'outdated' it's still one of the most popular smartphone choices on the market.
The Apple iPhone 5 is still in last place, but last place is better than no place. While I think that iOS is overdue for a major refresher, the fact still stands that iOS is arguably one of the most stable mobile platforms that money can buy. It might be boring, but it ultimately gets the job done.
The Galaxy Note II is still a sure-fire winner for anybody in the phablet market, as the S Pen integration really brings the 'tablet' out in the device aside from the phone being so large. The specs are great and the battery life is one of the best out there for any smartphone (large or small).
The Nokia Lumia 920 is a must have for anybody in the market for a Windows Phone. While the HTC 8X is a good runner-up, the Nokia Lumia has my vote for its phenomenal camera and tanky build quality. I heard that Chuck Norris himself can't defeat the Lumia 920, but I think it's just a rumor.
The Samsung Galaxy S III is kind of in smartphone ranking limbo for me - I want to replace it with the Galaxy S 4 but since it's not available on our rankings it will have to do until it is. Even though the device is now considered 'outdated' it's still one of the most popular smartphone choices on the market.
The Apple iPhone 5 is still in last place, but last place is better than no place. While I think that iOS is overdue for a major refresher, the fact still stands that iOS is arguably one of the most stable mobile platforms that money can buy. It might be boring, but it ultimately gets the job done.
Why I made my choices...
Aha! There we go. I knew it was bound to happen at some point, but this week is finally the week that the HTC One appears on my list and dethrones the Galaxy Note II by taking the number one spot.
I've decided to place the HTC One as my number one smartphone because among any new releases coming out, the features and hardware of the HTC One appeal to me the most. I'm really enjoying the review videos I'm seeing, and seeing HTC Zoe in action makes the feature really intriguing to me. When it comes down to it, if somebody asked me whether I would want an HTC One or a Galaxy Note II I'd have to turn down the Galaxy Note II.
But that doesn't mean that the Note II isn't worth anything, and it only got pushed down one rank. The HTC One doesn't take all away from the Note II as it still has enticing features like the S Pen and incredible battery life, among others. The Note II is still the forefront among phablets and is first phablet device that ever considered carrying myself. That says something!
The Lumia 920 still captures my heart with it's amazing camera quality, even in low light situations. The Lumia 920 is a top notch choice for anybody in the market looking for a Windows Phone, and I believe it deserves some recognition for bringing Windows Phone to a whole new level.
The Galaxy S III remains on the list for now since it's still, you know... relevant. It does seem like it's hanging on by a thread since we've seen all the Galaxy S 4 has to offer now, but until the Galaxy S 4 is officially on our Smartphone Rankings list it will have to do.
The iPhone 5 has virtually no competition within it's own line, so it only makes sense to use it to represent any iOS devices. Not much contest there.
Overall it's an exciting week because I finally get to add the HTC One, which is the phone I'm most excited about this year so far. Now we just wait and see how the results show up after the ratings have been calculated to see if others agree!
I've decided to place the HTC One as my number one smartphone because among any new releases coming out, the features and hardware of the HTC One appeal to me the most. I'm really enjoying the review videos I'm seeing, and seeing HTC Zoe in action makes the feature really intriguing to me. When it comes down to it, if somebody asked me whether I would want an HTC One or a Galaxy Note II I'd have to turn down the Galaxy Note II.
But that doesn't mean that the Note II isn't worth anything, and it only got pushed down one rank. The HTC One doesn't take all away from the Note II as it still has enticing features like the S Pen and incredible battery life, among others. The Note II is still the forefront among phablets and is first phablet device that ever considered carrying myself. That says something!
The Lumia 920 still captures my heart with it's amazing camera quality, even in low light situations. The Lumia 920 is a top notch choice for anybody in the market looking for a Windows Phone, and I believe it deserves some recognition for bringing Windows Phone to a whole new level.
The Galaxy S III remains on the list for now since it's still, you know... relevant. It does seem like it's hanging on by a thread since we've seen all the Galaxy S 4 has to offer now, but until the Galaxy S 4 is officially on our Smartphone Rankings list it will have to do.
The iPhone 5 has virtually no competition within it's own line, so it only makes sense to use it to represent any iOS devices. Not much contest there.
Overall it's an exciting week because I finally get to add the HTC One, which is the phone I'm most excited about this year so far. Now we just wait and see how the results show up after the ratings have been calculated to see if others agree!
Why I made my choices...
This week my rankings changed ever so slightly. I'm still waiting for selections like the HTC One and the Galaxy S 4 to show up, but until then we'll base it off of what we have available to us now.
The Samsung Galaxy Note II stays in first as I believe it is still the best of all devices in regards to specs and features. The S Pen is definitely a huge plus - very fitting feature for a huge phone. The Galaxy Note II is the forefront of phablets and even surprises us with great battery life for such a large device. I expect this device to remain at number one until the HTC One comes along.
The Nokia Lumia 920 is my favorite device for the Windows Phone platform spec-wise. The phone also has the body of a tank and the camera of all cameras. The only thing holding the Lumia 920 from taking my number one spot is the lack of app support from the app store compared to Android and iOS.
The HTC 8X actually placed on my list this week because I've been doing a lot of reading about it. This would be my second choice for a phone if I had to pick a new device right now. The vibrant colors coupled with good specs and a simplistic Windows Phone platform makes the device stand out. Having Beats Audio integration is also a plus for music lovers.
The Samsung Galaxy S III was knocked down one rank due to the HTC 8X taking it's place, but it's still a relevant and popular device that would be foolish to ignore as being one of the top smartphones available today.
The Apple iPhone 5 drops back to 5th place as I knocked the BlackBerry Z10 off of my list for the week. It may make a return in the following weeks if my interest in the device resparks, but at the moment I feel like the HTC 8X deserved a place on my list instead of the BlackBerry Z10.
The Samsung Galaxy Note II stays in first as I believe it is still the best of all devices in regards to specs and features. The S Pen is definitely a huge plus - very fitting feature for a huge phone. The Galaxy Note II is the forefront of phablets and even surprises us with great battery life for such a large device. I expect this device to remain at number one until the HTC One comes along.
The Nokia Lumia 920 is my favorite device for the Windows Phone platform spec-wise. The phone also has the body of a tank and the camera of all cameras. The only thing holding the Lumia 920 from taking my number one spot is the lack of app support from the app store compared to Android and iOS.
The HTC 8X actually placed on my list this week because I've been doing a lot of reading about it. This would be my second choice for a phone if I had to pick a new device right now. The vibrant colors coupled with good specs and a simplistic Windows Phone platform makes the device stand out. Having Beats Audio integration is also a plus for music lovers.
The Samsung Galaxy S III was knocked down one rank due to the HTC 8X taking it's place, but it's still a relevant and popular device that would be foolish to ignore as being one of the top smartphones available today.
The Apple iPhone 5 drops back to 5th place as I knocked the BlackBerry Z10 off of my list for the week. It may make a return in the following weeks if my interest in the device resparks, but at the moment I feel like the HTC 8X deserved a place on my list instead of the BlackBerry Z10.
Why I made my choices...
If nothing else, the Galaxy Note II should be on top because we are celebrating our One Year Anniversary of the Weekly OSR here at PhoneDog! And for that it should definitely get some attention - and of course because I think it's the best smartphone available at the moment.
The Lumia 920 continues to tempt me with it's amazing camera, and is certainly the top contender for anybody prospectively looking to purchase a Windows Phone at the moment. It's also a tank of a phone that can take a beating, and having a toddler with a newfound love of throwing anything and everything just to see if it breaks makes this device even more admirable for other parents who might be going through the same thing.
The Galaxy S III is a great device, not to mention many carriers are having sales on the device right now in anticipation of the release of the Galaxy S IV. If you've been thinking about picking up a Galaxy S III and aren't waiting for the latest and greatest, now is a great time to shop around for one as you'll find some of the best deals.
Apple's iPhone 5 still has a place in my heart as I continue to use the iPhone 4S. iOS is a good clean platform and still remains relevant, even if it is a controversial topic just how 'innovative' Apple has been as of late.
The BlackBerry Z10 still gets my pity vote because I wish BlackBerry the best of luck, and I think the device and software still show some promise even if it needs to be honed upon a bit.
The Lumia 920 continues to tempt me with it's amazing camera, and is certainly the top contender for anybody prospectively looking to purchase a Windows Phone at the moment. It's also a tank of a phone that can take a beating, and having a toddler with a newfound love of throwing anything and everything just to see if it breaks makes this device even more admirable for other parents who might be going through the same thing.
The Galaxy S III is a great device, not to mention many carriers are having sales on the device right now in anticipation of the release of the Galaxy S IV. If you've been thinking about picking up a Galaxy S III and aren't waiting for the latest and greatest, now is a great time to shop around for one as you'll find some of the best deals.
Apple's iPhone 5 still has a place in my heart as I continue to use the iPhone 4S. iOS is a good clean platform and still remains relevant, even if it is a controversial topic just how 'innovative' Apple has been as of late.
The BlackBerry Z10 still gets my pity vote because I wish BlackBerry the best of luck, and I think the device and software still show some promise even if it needs to be honed upon a bit.
Why I made my choices...
The Galaxy Note II stays at number one for my smartphone rankings. Nothing has moved since last week as I don't feel the need to move any devices. The Lumia 920 ranks just below the Galaxy Note II although I consider the two extremely close for different reasons. The Nokia Lumia 920 is certainly the cream of the crop for Windows Phone 8 devices, but with Android offering more features and the actual Note II device itself offering the S-Pen there is reason to place it ahead.
The S III is still a decent device but I assume it won't be much longer before the S III is replaced by the Galaxy S IV, and I imagine I may even be placing it over the Note II as the number one smartphone. Only time will tell.
As for the iPhone and the BlackBerry Z10, they're still the winners of my pity votes. The iPhone 5 is actually somewhat deserving of it's number four placement, and the BlackBerry Z10 gets brownie points for keeping BlackBerry afloat, but other than that it's mostly pity votes.
The S III is still a decent device but I assume it won't be much longer before the S III is replaced by the Galaxy S IV, and I imagine I may even be placing it over the Note II as the number one smartphone. Only time will tell.
As for the iPhone and the BlackBerry Z10, they're still the winners of my pity votes. The iPhone 5 is actually somewhat deserving of it's number four placement, and the BlackBerry Z10 gets brownie points for keeping BlackBerry afloat, but other than that it's mostly pity votes.
Why I made my choices...
Some old, same old this week. The Note II has been at number one since it was available on the Smartphone Rankings, and with good reason. The functionality of the phablet makes it a very desirable device. The Lumia 920 still tempts me with its amazing camera, not to mention it's one of the most durable smartphones on the market. The Galaxy S III is still a top-tier phone and will continue to stay on the list for quite a while, I predict. The iPhone 5 still holds a place in my rankings (and in my heart) because even if I do sometimes mock the ways of iOS, as long as I'm using the platform I can't be too critical of it. The BlackBerry Z10 gets a pity vote because a part of me still wants to see BlackBerry step out of the shadows and back into the spotlight, but I don't see that happening. Perhaps my list will change soon after MWC this week? We shall see!
Why I made my choices...
Not much has changed in my list again this week, but the iPhone 5 and the BlackBerry Z10 did switch places. After doing a more careful review of the BlackBerry Z10, I do still like the device but I can't ignore the fact that the specs are still somewhat outdated. My iPhone 4S runs on similar specs so it's not fair to put that device above the iPhone 5. The Note II still remains my number one. I just can't get over how cool of a concept it is and I wish I could get over my frustration of big phones! The S Pen is one of the only styluses that look and feel like a traditional pen and I really dig that. The Lumia 920 still has one of the best cameras on the market for a mobile phone and that's a pretty admirable feature. As for the Galaxy S III in the middle of it all, it's still a popular and timeless device that many people still won't even look at another device because of it - I can respect that, and therefore it can go home with the bronze again this week.
Why I made my choices...
While not much has changed on my list, there is one new device that managed to finagle its way into the number 5 spot this week. That device, of course, is the BlackBerry Z10.
While it didn't feel right moving the other devices down for a device that I (officially) haven't even held in my hand yet, I do think it is a solid device that deserves some recognition. It's a big step up for BlackBerry and I'm glad they seem to be making a conscious effort to move forward in the mobile industry instead of just giving up.
Other than the BlackBerry Z10, however, everything else still basically remains in place. The Galaxy Note II is still going strong, the Lumia 920 still fascinates me with its fantastic camera quality, the Galaxy S III is considered timeless, and the iPhone 5 is, well, the iPhone 5.
Looking forward to when I can add the Sony Xperia Z/ZL!
While it didn't feel right moving the other devices down for a device that I (officially) haven't even held in my hand yet, I do think it is a solid device that deserves some recognition. It's a big step up for BlackBerry and I'm glad they seem to be making a conscious effort to move forward in the mobile industry instead of just giving up.
Other than the BlackBerry Z10, however, everything else still basically remains in place. The Galaxy Note II is still going strong, the Lumia 920 still fascinates me with its fantastic camera quality, the Galaxy S III is considered timeless, and the iPhone 5 is, well, the iPhone 5.
Looking forward to when I can add the Sony Xperia Z/ZL!
Why I made my choices...
For the umpteen millionth week in a row, the Galaxy Note II reigns as king of my top 5 list. With each passing week it seems like it takes forever for some of the devices we anticipate to see this year to be released, particularly as I feel this list has grown quite stale and there's only so many things you can praise about these five phones before sounding entirely redundant. As much as I try to change things up, my list is pretty much set in stone at this point. These phones will continue to stay ranked the same until some outside force comes and throws them off, it seems.
Why I made my choices...
The Galaxy Note II remains at the top of my list, as it's still the only gigantic phone I've ever used that I can honestly say I can look the other way for in regards to the size. The S Pen is the only stylus I've used that feels good in the hand and writes on a device with the precision you would expect from today's technology.
The Lumia 920 is still my favorite Windows Phone 8 device, and I still stand by the fact that if I ever used one that would be the one for me. I love the fact that the phone comes in multiple colors, plus Nokia has recently released patterns for those with 3D printers to create their own skins and cases for the phones. Good guy Nokia, I like the way you think.
The Galaxy S III is still a fair contender with many of the anticipated devices we will see this year have yet to be released. The S III seems to be the go-to phone of the year for 2012, and is still one of the best carrying into 2013.
The HTC DROID DNA is a device that still makes me like HTC. After my experience with the EVO 3D caused my fandom for them to drop like a bag of rocks, but after spending some time with the DROID DNA I have to say I'm impressed with the device, and I think that HTC would have had a better year if they hadn't made the device a one carrier exclusive.
Lastly is the iPhone 5, only because if I put he iPhone 4S I currently use up there I'd have people with torches likely standing outside of my door. While the iPhone 5 doesn't have enough to convince me to switch from my old iPhone model, it's still better than the 4S in terms of specs.
The Lumia 920 is still my favorite Windows Phone 8 device, and I still stand by the fact that if I ever used one that would be the one for me. I love the fact that the phone comes in multiple colors, plus Nokia has recently released patterns for those with 3D printers to create their own skins and cases for the phones. Good guy Nokia, I like the way you think.
The Galaxy S III is still a fair contender with many of the anticipated devices we will see this year have yet to be released. The S III seems to be the go-to phone of the year for 2012, and is still one of the best carrying into 2013.
The HTC DROID DNA is a device that still makes me like HTC. After my experience with the EVO 3D caused my fandom for them to drop like a bag of rocks, but after spending some time with the DROID DNA I have to say I'm impressed with the device, and I think that HTC would have had a better year if they hadn't made the device a one carrier exclusive.
Lastly is the iPhone 5, only because if I put he iPhone 4S I currently use up there I'd have people with torches likely standing outside of my door. While the iPhone 5 doesn't have enough to convince me to switch from my old iPhone model, it's still better than the 4S in terms of specs.
Why I made my choices...
Sometimes I get irritated that my list features so many Android devices. While the top three devices still remain with Android, both the Nokia Lumia 920 and the Apple iPhone 5 are nothing to sneeze at. I'm anxiously awaiting for the release of BlackBerry 10 and some of the new exciting devices we saw showcased at CES this year!
Why I made my choices...
My list switched up a little bit this week - I added in the HTC One X+. While the One X was a good device, clearly the One X+ is the device that should have been on the list the entire time. The rest of my list pretty much remains unchanged, with the exception of the Nokia Lumia 920 which didn't make it this week in favor of the One X+ and the HTC DROID DNA. This week's rankings is overwhelmingly 'Android', and will probably be even more so once the Sony Xperia Z and ZL are released - unless the BlackBerry 10 devices can win me over at the end of this month.
Why I made my choices...
I honestly feel like these last few weeks have just been at a stand-still. I almost always put the same devices in the same spots - nothing changes because there haven't been any new releases. I'm excited for what the New Year will bring us and excited to change this list up for once! Samsung Galaxy Note II is still my pick for the number one spot this week. Apple iPhone 5 still taking one for the team at number five.
Why I made my choices...
I did a little bit more switching this week. The Galaxy Note II and the Lumia 920 are still my two favorites right now. The Samsung Galaxy S III came back on the list because it's still a really boss phone. Other than that, not much has changed. I'm pretty excited for the coming weeks when BlackBerry 10 comes out; I'm hoping to be able to add some flavor to this list again!
Why I made my choices...
I'm still trying to keep it an even mix between all platforms that this point. I find it to be pretty unfair if I only kept it all Android or all Apple when I feel that Windows Phone has some pretty steady contenders in here. The Lumia 920 looks like a great device and would definitely be one of my top two choices if I could get a new phone today. The Optimus G is often overlooked when in reality it's actually a pretty great device - LG is starting to really shine with some of their phones lately. The HTC DROID DNA and the iPhone 5 may be at the bottom of the list, but really I consider all 5 to be top tier devices.
Why I made my choices...
This week I decided to do a little more research, so my list has moved around quite a bit. Although the Note II and the iPhone 5 are still in their same spots, the HTC DROID DNA has moved it's rank up to #2, and the LG Optimus G and the Google Nexus 4 have made its way onto the list. The Samsung Galaxy S III is still a good phone, and it will likely return, but for this week I wanted to shed some spotlight on some of my other top phones this week.
Why I made my choices...
After doing more research, I've decided that I would rather try the HTC DROID DNA over the Nokia Lumia 920, which I think had opposite places last week. I'm still rather fond of iOS, despite how boring it has become, simply due to familiarity and how quick and easy it is for me to access things, which is why the Apple iPhone 5 is still in my top five. Other than the Lumia and the DROID DNA, the ratings have practically been untouched on my end since the previous ratings have been released.
Why I made my choices...
My ratings haven't changed from last week - I still feel the same way about these phones as I did before. I almost considered placing the Nokia Lumia 920 above the Galaxy Note II just for a change-up, but if I was being honest with myself I know that, if given a choice between the two, I would rather have the Galaxy Note II rather than the Lumia 920. This whole list is really just a jumble of all the phones I wish I could have, though. Numbers 1 and 2 are practically tied for each other; the Galaxy S III is second, and the HTC DROID DNA and iPhone 5 are tied for third. I just want them all.
Why I made my choices...
Switched it up a little this week - I have now separated the Samsung Galaxy S III and the Galaxy Note II with the Nokia Lumia 920. Right now the Lumia 920 and the Galaxy Note II are tied for which phone I would like to own most right now. The longer I tinker with either one, the more I would like to have one. The HTC DROID DNA comes in fourth because I am impressed by it's stunning display. The Apple iPhone 5 comes in at number 5 because although I'm not that impressed by it, the specs are nice.
Why I made my choices...
Okay, it's finally the week I bumped my precious iPhone 4S off the list. It had to go in order to make room for the Nokia Lumia 920, which is my new interest when it comes to phones, second only to the Galaxy Note II. I wouldn't have knocked the iPhone 4S off if the iPhone 5 wasn't out, but that's not the case and the phone itself is becoming nothing short of dated when it comes to specs, despite being a perfectly fast, functioning device. I still have a place in my heart for the HTC One line, but that may come to an end once the HTC DROID DNA is available on the rankings list!
Why I made my choices...
I believe this is the third week that I've chosen the same phones to be in the same places, and the reasoning behind that is because simply put, nothing that intriguing has been released yet. I'm awaiting the HTC event on November 13 to see what new (and hopefully hot) phone HTC has to bring to the table this holiday season. At that point either the 4S or the One X will drop off, the One X most likely being the unfortunate victim as I would still have a tiny bit of remorse for kicking my dear sweet 4S off the chart when I still carry it around with me today. Hopefully we will see some changes come to us next week!
Why I made my choices...
I'm pretty sure my list will stay this way until the Nokia Lumia 920 comes out officially. I was pretty impressed by the first impressions given off by the device, and now I'm just waiting to see if it will hold up to my expectations. The Galaxy Note II still intrigues me most out of all of the phones, so it stays king of my list, with the Galaxy S III reigning as queen. The iPhone 5 ranks 3rd solely because I still like my 4S, but clearly the specs on the 5, however minimal, are better than what the 4S has. The One X stays at 4 because I enjoy the Sense interface and it's the best HTC phone out at the moment. The 4S gets a pity vote because it's lucky this week.
Why I made my choices...
The Galaxy Note II is still the current 'apple' of my eye, with the Galaxy S III following closely behind it. I'm not sure if it's because I'm so intrigued by them or the fact that I'm ready for something new, but that Galaxy Note II just keeps looking better and better with each passing week. The real Apples of the bunch are taking the 3 and 4 spots, as I still have a place in my heart for them. The HTC One X is also a pretty great device and if I had the chance I'd definitely use that for a while instead of my 4S if I could, you know, for science. My list didn't change much from last week, so I feel pretty solid about these rankings this week.
Why I made my choices...
I've decided to switch it up a bit this week. The iPhone 4S took quite a jump in my ratings from being number one down to number five. Reason being is I can't be making excuses for it anymore when in regards to being 'the best' smartphone. The iPhone 5 has moved up to number two as it has more and better features, but the Galaxy Note II with it's S-pen and Jelly Bean has won my heart over this week for my number one smartphone ranking.
Why I made my choices...
The iPhone 4S is still at the top of my list, although it is very close to being bumped down to number 2 as I have a new found fascination with the Samsung Galaxy S III. I just couldn't bring myself to bring it down yet. The EVO 4G LTE also found a spot in my heart this week as it is just so similar to the One X, which I also adore, but I had to rank the 4G LTE above the One X as the LTE is with the carrier of my choice. Otherwise I find them almost identical when it comes to how much I like them. The iPhone 5 hasn't moved up since I haven't found any reason to like any more or less since I last ranked my devices.
Why I made my choices...
I still have the iPhone 4S as my number one, simply because I don't see enough of a jump between the iPhone 5 and the iPhone 4S to rank the the iPhone 5 above the 4S. The Samsung Galaxy S III comes to a close second, for if I didn't have my 4S I would definitely be carrying one of these. The Samsung Galaxy Nexus may come as a surprise to many for even making an appearance on my list, but I feel like even though the Nexus has been frequently overshadowed by the release of the HTC One X and the Samsung Galaxy S III, the Galaxy Nexus was a flagship for the carrier I use, Sprint. It's almost too close to call for most of these devices, as they all offer something different to the table, but this list reflect my current views well.
