We’ve compiled our 2011 annual list of 10 top Android phones. Lets see which phone rated the best of the best! The list includes Android smartphones released and sold in January 2011 – December 2011 in mostly U.S. Android device recommendations from the experts at AndroidTapp.com.
What once was our #1 six months ago is now #10. The
HTC Thunderbolt (Verizon) lead the way for 4G LTE smartphones on Big Red’s network this year. Despite not having a dual-core processor, it still is pretty speedy under the hood. The rear camera is capable of snapping up to 8 megapixel pics and recording HD video while the front offers video calling via Skype. The screen is HTC signature large and luscious, sports Dolby surround sound, wireless DLNA capability for streaming media to your TV without wires, and you can’t forget the kick stand!
LG Nitro HD (AT&T) slid in recently with amazing technical specs. But that doesn’t really matter to the average consumer. What does matter is the experiential difference they’ll feel with a super fast phone, fast mobile Internet (assuming you live in AT&T’s 4G LTE network coverage), no more carrying a HotSpot device because it’s built into the phone, and that bright and big 4-1/2 inch touch screen. Indeed one of AT&T’s best Android smartphones this year!
HTC Sensation 4G (T-Mobile) dropped a few spots from #6 to #8 on our list, but it still is a multimedia beast of an Android powered smartphone! Though not capable of 4G LTE (as tech pundits will argue), it is capable of 4G (HSPA+) mobile Internet speed on T-Mobile’s network. This doohickey won’t set your pockets back far either as it ranked one of the lowest of our ‘lifetime cost’ metrics. It is a multimedia hog with built-in medium sources like HTC Watch video service, plus it can playback and record full 1080p HD video. HTC upped the ante with dual-core 1.2GHz processors for even faster performance.
T-Mobile G2x (T-Mobile) took a hit from #2 to #7 on the final list but it is still a top Android phone touting NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core 1GHz processors and benchmarks up there with tablets!
Average consumers do not care for all that techno jazz but will benefit from the performance boost. Everything under the hood is top of the line; 4G mobile speedy Internet, gorgeous 4 inch screen, plenty of room for Android apps, 8 megapixel camera which can record up to 1080p full HD video and front camera for video calling, and you can mirror your small screen to the big screen via HDMI cable. Lastly, it offers a pure Google Android user experience.
HTC Rezound (Verizon) pulls you in phonically with Beats Audio by Dre. It doesn’t stop there as the 4.3 inch Super LCD screen impresses plus this multimedia hound allows you to watch video in 720p while you can record video in 1080p. Let’s talk speed… can you say 1.5GHz dual core and blazes on Verizon’s 4G LTE network!
HTC EVO 3D (Sprint) was bumped from #3 to #5… maybe 3D on smartphones is not all the crazy but hype this year. Even still the classic HTC EVO successor trumped everyone in the first quarter of this year by stuffing dual-core 1.2GHz processors inside- making it
one of the fastest phones on the market at the time. It can be a HotSpot for up to 8 devices, and of course capable of Sprint’s fast 4G mobile Internet.
DROID Bionic (Verizon) was a totally different phone at launch than debut at the top of this year at CES 2011. It reset the bar for
superphones. Meaning: dual core processors, 8 megapixel rear plus front camera, 4.3″ or higher touch screen (with an extend acronym name), and 4G LTE capable. This guy does not disappoint in any of these key areas.
Galaxy Nexus (Verizon) … Google’s poster-child of what Android should be. The first (and only phone at the moment) to have Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich). It is not thee top phone on our list as software alone is not the key in our algorithms. Surprisingly we didn’t see the fine quality camera optics you’d expect from Samsung by including a 5 megapixel rear camera. That aside it has some serious hardware… The Galaxy Nexus is able to pull off a huge 4.65 inch Super HD AMOLED touch screen without being too big. Featuring ever-so slight sexy curved and slim contours, 1.2GHz dual core processor, and feels weightless.
Recently released in the U.S. on Verizon it is 4G LTE capable!
Samsung GALAXY S II (Unlocked, AT&T, Sprint, & T-Mobile) went from #7 to #2 on our list as you can not deny Samsung’s successful tactics of getting its flagship phone on virtually every major U.S. carrier (with the exception of Verizon). Our algorithm includes all the variants of this
superphone; including AT&T’s redux with the
Skyrocket.
Though it has Samsung’s Touch Wiz skin atop Android, it still is clean and intuitive (for some at least). The Samsung GALAXY S2 has one of the best mobile cameras capable of 8 megapixel stills and 1080p HD video recording plus front camera for video calling. There is plenty of internal memory storage for Android apps and games, a blazing 1.5GHz dual core processor, one of the best 4-1/2″ Super AMOLED Plus touch screens and 4G capable!
DROID RAZR (Verizon) is our
best Android phone! As one of the thinnest smartphones available, Motorola did not sacrifice any quality in the form factor. We’re talking tough scratch resistant 4.3 inch Super AMOLED Advanced Gorilla glass, woven with Kevlar fiber back, and water proofing inside to protect the guts. Speaking of guts… it goes toe-to-toe with the rest of the upper echelon of this awesome list. Dual core 1.2GHz processor, nice 8 megapixel rear camera (of course 1080p HD capable), 4G LTE capable, and impresses with Motorola’s WebTop software (which turns the phone into a laptop or desktop when connected to
