10 BEST SMARTPHONES OF 2013

The smartphone industry saw a number of hot launches this year: phones with curved screens, self-healing backs, 13MP cameras and more. While some impressed on specs front others on design.

So, here’s presenting our list of 10 best smartphones of 2013…

Apple iPhone 5S



Apple’s iPhone 5S is among the best smartphones of the year not because it is among the most popular models in the world but because it gives us a glimpse into what the future holds. The 64-bit processor of iPhone 5S shows the next step in mobile computing, where smartphones will be able to process data much faster.

Its fingerprint scanner may be limited to just unlocking the phone, but future technologies will give it broader usage. Apple’s patents show a scenario where the Home button, which houses the fingerprint scanner, could be used as a joystick to navigate the phone. Apple may have a few more surprises up its sleeve.


Samsung Galaxy Note 3



Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is another handset that made waves this year. Featuring a 5.7-inch SuperAMOLED full HD screen, this handset has a stylus called S Pen that allows users to jot down notes, draw, or share contacts. With a maximum of 660nits, Note 3’s screen is among the brightest in the market right now.

The Galaxy Note 3 also has a 13MP rear camera, Android 4.3 operating system and 3,200mAh battery and connectivity options like 4G, Bluetooth 4.0, infrared and microUSB 3.0.


SAMSUNG GALAXY S4



Samsung Galaxy S4, one of the most powerful phones of 2013.
Samsung Galaxy S4 smartphone with 5.00-inch 1080x1920 display powered by 1.6GHz processor alongside 2GB RAM and 13-megapixel rear camera.


Nokia Lumia 520



Lumia 520 deserves a spot in this list because it has played a crucial role in the increasing Nokia’s smartphone sales across the globe. In fact, this compact phone is has consistently been the best selling Windows Phone device in all quarters this year. Nokia Lumia 520 has a 4-inch screen with 800x480p resolution and runs on a 1GHz dual-core processor, coupled with 512MB RAM.



HTC One




The only Android phone in the world that can match an iPhone in build quality, HTC One too is among the best smartphone of 2013. Its key strengths include a 4.7-inch screen, excellent attention to detail in construction and software features like BlinkFeed and Zoe. Other features of the HTC One include a 4MP UltraPixel camera, 32GB internal storage, 1.7GHz quad-core Snapdragon 600 processor, 2GB RAM and 2,300mAh.


Google Nexus 5




Google’s Nexus 5 smartphone offers the best hardware in the market right now at an affordable price tag. Manufactured by LG, Nexus 5 has a 4.95-inch full HD screen and runs on Android 4.4 (KitKat), the latest version of the operating system. It comes with an 8MP rear camera, 32 & 64GB storage options, 2GB RAM and 2,300mAh battery.


Moto X



Moto X is a smartphone that does not compete with top-end models on the basis of specifications. Instead, it focuses on making the overall user experience more intuitive. Some of the proprietary apps that separate it from other smartphones include touchless control, Active Display, Quick Capture and customizable body.

On the hardware side, Moto X has a 4.7-inch HD screen, 10MP ClearPixel camera, 1.7GHz dual-core processor, 16 & 32GB internal storage, 2GB RAM and 2,200mAh battery. It also has a natural language processor and a contextual computing processor. Both these processors compute data better for an improved and intuitive user experience.

LG G Flex

LG G Flex is another cool smartphone that made its debut this year. It is only the second smartphone in the world to have a curved screen that bends along the vertical line. Its 6-inch display has 720p resolution and is made of plastic (instead of glass), thus allowing the phone to flex a little if enough pressure is applied.

G Flex has another novelty feature – its self-healing back; in fact, it is the only phone in the world to have this technology. Other key features of LG G Flex include a 2.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 chipset, Android 4.2 and 13MP rear camera.


Nokia Lumia 1020



Nokia’s Lumia 1020 also finds a spot in the list, being the only smartphone in the world that can take on professional cameras in terms of photo quality. This handset has a 41MP rear camera with Carl Zeiss optics as well as Xenon+LED flash and features technologies like optical image stabilization, Nokia’s PureView and dual capture.

The Lumia 1020 has a 4.5-inch AMOLED screen with PureMotion HD+ technology and 1280x768p resolution. It runs on a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor and has 2GB RAM, 32GB internal storage, 2,000mAh battery and NFC.


Sony Xperia Z1



Sony’s latest top-end smartphone, Xperia Z1 has features like 5-inch full HD display, 20.7MP rear camera with G Lens and water as well as dust-resistant body. It runs on Android 4.2 operating system and is powered by 2.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 chipset, paired with 2GB RAM. The Xperia Z1 has 16GB internal storage, supports microSD cards up to 64GB and is powered by a 2,000mAh battery.