POLL - The "best" Android Phone

Best "Android" Phone


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QwertyJuan

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Was just reading an article on BGR, and they INSIST on calling the HTC the "best" Android phone in the world. I personally think it was at least as good as anything Samsung had at the time (I still don't consider it BETTER than the S4, but it was IMO at least, just as good if for no other reason than it's made of aluminium and has a good set of speakers.) but to STILL call it the "best" 8-10 months AFTER it was announced is quite a stretch in "tech" years.

So... what do YOU think?? What's, in YOUR opinion, the "best" phone regardless of carrier availability.

P.S. My choice ATM is the Note3, but that's subject to change without notice!!! :D
 
The LG G2 has not sold well. But the hardware is top notch. Battery life is up there with the Droid Maxx. It is a tossup between that and the Moto X. But due to the poor sales (in the US anyway) the price is attractive on the G2, so I picked that one up.

Have to say I am really impressed by the Moto X. The software is finely tuned and it means the less than stellar hardware is allowed to shine. In other cases it seems as if Android phones are being held back by a lack of software optimization. Samsungs, for instance.
 
The LG G2 has not sold well. But the hardware is top notch. Battery life is up there with the Droid Maxx. It is a tossup between that and the Moto X. But due to the poor sales (in the US anyway) the price is attractive on the G2, so I picked that one up.

Have to say I am really impressed by the Moto X. The software is finely tuned and it means the less than stellar hardware is allowed to shine. In other cases it seems as if Android phones are being held back by a lack of software optimization. Samsungs, for instance.

The problem with calling the top LG handsets "top notch" (Flex and G2) is all their screens are/were x720 during a product period where "HD" x1080 screens with higher PPI have been normal. And now there's talk of x1440 screen.

I'd like to get an LG on my next phone upgrade in the fall...as of now their only product are at best a sidegrade from what I have now...and worse the 3rd party ROM support isn't there. Hopefully there's a Nexus phablet soon, I'd be all over it.
 
The LG G2 would get my vote but for the (IMO) poor button design choice, and LG's prolific and ongoing pooch-screwing of camera quality. I absolutely love my Optimus G--the hardware performance is still beyond impressive; except the camera is so bad--so disappointingly bad. The focus-breathing (i.e., the continual auto-focus every 1-2 seconds--which you can't disable in the stock camera app) makes it virtually impossible to capture a good shot. My wife's old S. Galaxy Nexus camera is so much better, and on a phone 2 years older, it's sad. Even with 3rd party camera apps that allow you to turn off the continual auto-focus ('lgCamera' in the Play store is great), non-outdoor-landscape photos are very flat, such as decent-lighting indoor portraits (and there is no optical quality difference between a 5MP capture and a 13MB capture).
 
I haven't used them all, but I've used the following:

Nexus 5:
Bought but returned due to screen turning defective. Solid all-around phone, camera substantially improved over N4, doesn't feel as nice to hold as moto x due to shape/size, but has a nice matte back. This is probably the "best" overall phone at the moment, but I'd still pick the moto x over it.

Moto X:
Current and favorite phone. I love it due to its unique features (small things like being able to simply pick it up and seeing notifications/time) and aesthetics (got it in my favorite color scheme). Best feeling phone in the hand (candy bar shape ala iPhone and curved back and "M" dimple). Its weak point is its camera in indoors/low light settings, which is a huge blow for an otherwise amazing phone.

Galaxy S4 (Stock):
I used my co-worker's phone for calling/navigation. Navi was terrible, robotic, and slow, and it felt like using a laptop preloaded with Samsung crap plastered all over it (I'm only used to stock Android phones). A disappointing experience but the call quality was great at least (Verizon). I imagine I'd have liked the GPE version a lot more.
 
Best Android Phone EVAR~!
picard-android.jpg
 
The problem with calling the top LG handsets "top notch" (Flex and G2) is all their screens are/were x720 during a product period where "HD" x1080 screens with higher PPI have been normal. And now there's talk of x1440 screen.

uhhhhh... the LG G2 has a 1080p screen, not a 720p screen :confused:

and it's not pentile like my current note 3.
 
My main problem with the Nexus 5 is using the darn thing as a phone...

People often cannot hear me due to the piss poor location of the microphone.

I have to hold it like a walkie-talkie/speaker phone with the bottom of the phone pointed at my face.

The smartphone sure is well-designed in terms of "smart," but its "phone" part is idiotic.

My HTC One is a good smartphone in just about every way. It may not be the best in terms of the "stock" experience, but it's not terrible. Not even close to being terrible., it's fast and smooth. And it's phone part is superior. No one was complaining about my voice quality. I don't even need to talk about the audio experience of it cause enough has probably been said about it.
 
uhhhhh... the LG G2 has a 1080p screen, not a 720p screen :confused:

Correct. Though a little bit in the person's defense, LG's naming scheme isn't the most differentiating or intuitive to know which device came first/what spec's. The G line alone: Optimus G, Optimus G Pro, G2 (no optimus), G-Flex. Some are 1080p, others aren't, tough to tell from the names. Even more confusing when there was also an "optimus" line (separate from G line).
 
Its no surprise the top two phones being selected is the Note 3 and the Nexus 5.

The Note 3 is just one well made phone and the Nexus 5 is a damn awesome piece of hardware for the price.
 
Hmmm, I wonder what the author (I think it was Geller himself) would think of our poll? :)
 
moto x big screen with small demension great hardware also didnt have to think twice plus its stock android nothing with touchwiz or sense ui
 
I'm all about screen size and amoled displays. So easily the Note 3 for me. My girlfriend has the Droid Maxx though and I must say I'm very impressed. The build quality is top notch. That or the G2 would be my second pick.
 
The Sony Xperia Z, vastly superior to the S4 and really deserves to sell more than it has.
 
If I had to buy one htc one all the way. The screens are all passable, the hardware is all fast enough. To me sense > touchwiz and lgs touchwizish setup htc phones in my experience have better rom support and the build quality of the one is top notch.
 
My HTC Thunderbolt is a POS. It's heavy giving a false sense of durability but even with full Seidio case on and babied it chipped and pitted. The HTC Touch Pro before that was a POS too and had to be rebooted daily to regain data connectivity. Highly doubt I would consider another HTC.
 
My HTC Thunderbolt is a POS. It's heavy giving a false sense of durability but even with full Seidio case on and babied it chipped and pitted. The HTC Touch Pro before that was a POS too and had to be rebooted daily to regain data connectivity. Highly doubt I would consider another HTC.
you can't use early HTC devices to judge the HTC One. HTC has come a long way since.
 
Past experience makes up for at least 50% of the buying decision. Another big offender of HTC was poor OS updates and it doesn't give confidence that they already announced the One X and X+, which are relatively recent devices, will not get Kit Kat. On average people keep their devices for two years before they're upgrade eligible so not supporting those devices within those two years to maintain loyalty is a big fail.
 
If I had to buy one htc one all the way. The screens are all passable, the hardware is all fast enough. To me sense > touchwiz and lgs touchwizish setup htc phones in my experience have better rom support and the build quality of the one is top notch.

Same here. Wife owned a Droid Incredible and then a Droid DNA. Another family member owns the Incredible 2. They all loved their devices. At the same time I respect those who have experienced first hand the bad HTC phones like the Thunderbolt.
 
G2 is crap, returned it, got a droid maxx, its like the moto x but with amazing battery life, what could be better!
 
Best is probably nexus 5, but HTC One has best build quality IMO. I wish there was more high quality phones like it, plastic be damned!
 
Best is probably nexus 5, but HTC One has best build quality IMO. I wish there was more high quality phones like it, plastic be damned!

Well if build quality == best phone, then yeah... HTC One could very well be the best phone in the world. However, there are more things than build quality IMO that go into a "whole" package before we can determine "best" phone.
 
Past experience makes up for at least 50% of the buying decision. Another big offender of HTC was poor OS updates and it doesn't give confidence that they already announced the One X and X+, which are relatively recent devices, will not get Kit Kat. On average people keep their devices for two years before they're upgrade eligible so not supporting those devices within those two years to maintain loyalty is a big fail.

If you think HTC dropping support for the one X is bad don't you should actually do some homework and see how other manufacturers of things.

Htc gave it nearly 2 years. Good luck getting that from samsung, Motorola, or lg. l
 
If you think HTC dropping support for the one X is bad don't you should actually do some homework and see how other manufacturers of things.

Htc gave it nearly 2 years. Good luck getting that from samsung, Motorola, or lg. l

Actually Samsung is updating their devices as well... my friend has a GS2 (which was introduced nearly 3 years ago) and he's currently running Jelly Bean.
 
I don't think there is such a thing as a "best" Android phone, because I don't think any one manufacturer has hit enough nails on the head to appeal to a truly broad swath of the population (excluding factors like cost, marketing and availability that skew interest).

The best software experience, I'd say, comes from the Moto X. Going near-stock Android keeps the phone very responsive, and makes it easier for Motorola to upgrade the OS. The company also has a radical approach to special features -- they should actually be useful in day-to-day life. They're not gimmicks meant purely to sell phones (see: LG and Samsung). It's the Android phone for the people who hate most Android phones.

Value for money? Nexus 5. It's hard to top a $350 unlocked phone with high-end specs. It'll get OS updates first, too.

And if you're all about specifications uber alles, there's the Galaxy Note 3. I think TouchWiz is overwrought, and Samsung is notoriously bad at low-light photography, but this is the phone you get if you're obsessed with having the most technically capable Android phone, interface (and pocket friendliness) be damned.
 
G2 is crap, returned it, got a droid maxx, its like the moto x but with amazing battery life, what could be better!

...are you actually serious?

I was interested in the maxx, went into the store, looked at the screen and got out of there. something looks really messed up with the screen.

loved the G2 on the other hand. phone of the year.
 
...are you actually serious?

I was interested in the maxx, went into the store, looked at the screen and got out of there. something looks really messed up with the screen.

loved the G2 on the other hand. phone of the year.
This exchange just illustrates why this poll and question was pointless.

You can say what was the most popular phone. That's very different from a public opinion poll on the best phone. Can't argue opinions--what's that they say? Opinions are like assholes...
 
Galaxy note 3 hands down. I don't even get how something like the nexus 5 can seriously have as many votes. Is this pole for the best phone, or the best value? You wouldn't call the venue 8 pro the best windows 8 device would you because its cheap?

Doesn't matter where you go or what you do the galaxy note 3 is the phone everyone compares to. Not only does it beat or trade blows on every important spec, it adds more features that others cant even compete with. Stylus, removable battery, expansion. There is no contest this phone beats everything, the only question is are you willing to pay for it.
 
Galaxy note 3 hands down. I don't even get how something like the nexus 5 can seriously have as many votes. Is this pole for the best phone, or the best value? You wouldn't call the venue 8 pro the best windows 8 device would you because its cheap?

Doesn't matter where you go or what you do the galaxy note 3 is the phone everyone compares to. Not only does it beat or trade blows on every important spec, it adds more features that others cant even compete with. Stylus, removable battery, expansion. There is no contest this phone beats everything, the only question is are you willing to pay for it.
Nexus 5 has a better SoC. Nexus 5 has a better screen, in fact, the best screen scientifically speaking. Nexus 5 out of the box provides a better experience than GN3 out of the box. Plenty of "contests."
 
I have had the LG G2 for a few months and really like it after I rooted and removed all the LG crapware. The camera app really needs some help and that is my only hangup about it.

When I saw the specs of the N5 I was excited and thought it would only take a matter of days to port the rom over but I have still yet to see one that is not in a beta stage with a lot of stuff not working correctly.
 
Nexus 5 has a better SoC. Nexus 5 has a better screen, in fact, the best screen scientifically speaking. Nexus 5 out of the box provides a better experience than GN3 out of the box. Plenty of "contests."

Best screen? The g2 has a better screen than the n5 what gives you the idea that the n5 has the best screen??
 
Best screen? The g2 has a better screen than the n5 what gives you the idea that the n5 has the best screen??
N5 screen has higher pixel density (445 vs 424 ppi), better glass (Gorilla Glass 3 vs GG2), and a higher out of the box score in color accuracy.

G2 has a .2" bigger screen...

Not that it matters that much... just saying Rudy's comment of the Nexus 5 sucks other than price is completely unfounded.
 
I have had the LG G2 for a few months and really like it after I rooted and removed all the LG crapware. The camera app really needs some help and that is my only hangup about it.
I mentioned earlier in this thread--if your issue is the auto-focus 'breathing' that has plagued LG's cameras, check out the app called 'lgCamera' in the play store. The full version is $1.50 (free version is completely functional IIRC, but it just bugs you to buy each time you open the app), and you can disable auto-focus. It's taken me all the way from absolutely hating the camera on my Optimus G to only mildly disliking it (as it has issues beyond the auto-focus-breathing).
 
Galaxy note 3 hands down. I don't even get how something like the nexus 5 can seriously have as many votes. Is this pole for the best phone, or the best value? You wouldn't call the venue 8 pro the best windows 8 device would you because its cheap?

Doesn't matter where you go or what you do the galaxy note 3 is the phone everyone compares to. Not only does it beat or trade blows on every important spec, it adds more features that others cant even compete with. Stylus, removable battery, expansion. There is no contest this phone beats everything, the only question is are you willing to pay for it.

I agree, I've had experience with all the phones and the note 3 is just superior every way. I wouldn't cry if someone gave me a nexus five still.
 
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