Three months into 2014, and we’ve already had some cracking releases in the smartphone world thanks to some stellar announcements from Mobile World Congress. Add these to the already stunning lineup found towards the end of 2013, and you have yourself a whole bunch of awesome smartphones to choose from right now. Let’s take a look at five of the best.
Samsung Galaxy S5
Perhaps the biggest release of Mobile World Congress, the latest flagship from Samsung blows pretty much everything else out of the water. With a 5.1in 1080p HD Super AMOLED screen, 2.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 CPU and 2GB of RAM, the Samsung Galaxy S5 is an absolute beast.
It runs on the latest version of Android, 4.4 KitKat, and comes with an updated version of Samsung’s interface which is its best so far. A perforated, grip-style design on the back means it won’t be dropped with ease, and the IP67 dust and waterproof feature is a handy touch, making the phone more durable than other competitors.
With a focus on fitness, the S5 has a heart-rate scanner that works in function with Samsug’s other recent releases, the second generation of the Galaxy Gear smartwatches. The phone’s also got a fingerprint scanner for added secrutiy, along with a whopping 16MP super-fast focusing camera that’s able to shoot in 4K. All this weighing in at only 145g, the S5 is definitely one of the best phones on the market today.
LG G2
LG’s best and most surprising phone to date, the G2 comes loaded with a 13MP camera, a 5.2in 1920×1080 display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 CPU, with a 2.26GHz quad-core 400. Memory comes as either 16GB or 32GB, and with 2GB of RAM, multitasking is easy and powerful.
The LG G2 comes cheaper than some competitors, at an almost bargain price of around £300 PAYG now. It runs on Android 4.2, which will likely be upgraded to 4.4 soon enough.
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The button placement puts some off, so go and check it out at a store before you buy, but with a brilliant camera, impressive battery life and a swish-looking design, you can’t really go wrong with a G2.
Xperia Z2
Coming just 5 months after the release of the Xperia Z1, the Z2 struts in with a lovely 5.2in IPS LCD display with beautiful colours and a load of strong features, not to mention is water and dust-proofness.
Running on Android 4.4 KitKat, the Z2 boasts Android’s latest operating system, and it’s one of the first handsets to employ a Qualcomm Snapdragon 901 CPU with 3GB of RAM. It’s beautifully fast, and the camera is one of the best on today’s smartphones – 20.7MP.
Nexus 5
Here is Google’s latest flagship stunner, the Nexus 5. If you want a pure Android device, which you can pick up at a bargain and still get the hardware that competes with its pricier competitors, the Nexus 5 is for you. With a stunning 4.95in HD screen, an 8MP camera and under the bonnet specs that are still top of the range, the Nexus 5 is a great phone with a lot to offer.
It comes in 16GB or 32GB models, and the Snapdragon 8 CPU clocked to 2.25GHz is very fast, letting you enjoy a smooth interface and graphics display. Of course, with Nexus devices, you become the first to get Android updates, months before other smartphones, which is a great plus point if you want to stay ahead of the curve.
HTC One 2 (M8)
The HTC M8, which will be released on Tuesday 24th March at exclusive release shows in London and New York, is HTC’s second attempt at the highly impressive and successful HTC One.
The M8 will boast a 5in full HD 1080p screen, with a 2.3GHz Snapdragon 801 processor and 2GB of RAM. It will sport a 16MP super sensitive camera and run on Android 4.4 KitKat.
It is also rumoured to feature a ‘smart cover’, which handily shows the weather, time and date through a series of holes.
The HTC One M8 will be an improved HTC One (pictured).
