buyer’s information: the perfect Android phones

After testing each main Android smartphone in 2014, we predict the Samsung Galaxy S5 makes probably the most sense for most people. but there are as a minimum half a dozen nice Android smartphones, each with its own strengths and weaknesses, so it is laborious to decide on just one for everybody. here are the standouts.

must I upgrade from my present telephone?

should you rely on your smartphone throughout the day, and your old one is not serving you smartly anymore, get a brand new one—it is price the cost when you use it continuously. however when you are happy along with your previous phone, hang onto it, particularly if you’re nonetheless throughout the provider contract that subsidizes its value.

when you do get a phone, get the most recent and highest cellphone that you can find the money for, particularly if you are signing a two-year contract. the simpler the telephone you get as of late, the more likely it’s to be usable unless your contract expires. that is why we recommend top-tier Android telephones, slightly than the “free” telephones your provider offers.

Samsung Galaxy S5 (AT&T, sprint, T-mobile, US cellular, Verizon)

The Samsung Galaxy S5 is a balanced phone with many strengths. It has a stupendous 5.1-inch 1080p monitor, nice battery existence, a excellent camera, a detachable battery, and a microSD slot. it can be even water-resistant—it could actually survive being submerged in three feet of water for 1/2 an hour. it’s an extraordinarily practical possibility that’s to be had on each main service, and it can be straightforward to find accessories for it.

On the draw back, the Galaxy S5’s plasticky construct might be a turnoff (except you retain your telephone in a case); its consumer interface is bloated, complicated, and cluttered with apps of dubious value from each Samsung and your service; it has a finicky fingerprint sensor that is inferior to the iPhone’s; and its gimmicky coronary heart-charge reveal isn’t accurate.

The Galaxy S5 isn’t excellent, and it isn’t as smartly-constructed as Apple’s iPhone. but it does the whole thing pretty neatly, and it is not going to die in case you drop it in the toilet, so it is a superb possibility for the general public.

Motorola Moto X 2014 (AT&T, Verizon, T-mobile, US cellular)

In some ways, the 2nd-technology Moto X is one of the best possible Android phones ever made. it’s neatly-built, it has very similar specs to the Galaxy S5, and which you could order it with timber, plastic, and even leather backplates. It feels nice in the hand, and the few device bits that Motorola provides to stock Android are in fact useful, similar to always-on voice-command acceptance and on-screen passive notifications. it is much more exceptional to use than the Galaxy S5—and it costs $a hundred much less. The Galaxy S5 is on a regular basis $200 with a two-12 months contract or $600 without; the Moto X starts at $100 for a two-yr contract and $500 without.

unfortunately, the Moto X’s battery existence and camera don’t seem to be as just right as those of the Galaxy S5; it is not as water-resistant; and it lacks the S5’s detachable battery and microSD slot. nonetheless, it’s nonetheless one of the most easiest telephones that you may buy—unless you might be on dash.

Samsung Galaxy observe 4 (AT&T, Verizon, dash, T-cellular, US mobile)

If you recognize you want a major cellphone—both for getting work done more effectively, or just to have a tremendous monitor—get the Samsung Galaxy observe 4. it is half of an inch taller than the Galaxy S5 or Moto X, and a quarter of an inch wider, so that you must forget about using it one-surpassed. but the upsides are a 5.7-inch 2560×1440 monitor, a lot of power, unbelievable battery life, great cameras, and a stylus. Its tool means that you can use apps aspect-by means of-side so that you could take advantage of the massive screen. The notice four is sturdier and feels more stable than last 12 months’s version, the notice three.

The notice four is costly and large, and like the Galaxy S5 it suffers from Samsung’s bloatware. nevertheless it’s the perfect giant Android telephone for getting work performed, as a result of its tool takes good thing about its large display, not like with most large phones.

Moto G (Unlocked, GSM)

The Moto G is the cheapest decent Android telephone you can get. We recommend the common 4G LTE adaptation from last year. It has a slower processor, much less RAM, and a lower-decision monitor than lately’s extra-pricey phones, but it surely’s a ways better than every other telephone at its price. (This year’s edition has the same processor, however a bigger 5.2-inch display and a microSD slot. however, it lacks LTE, so we desire last yr’s version.) The Moto G additionally runs stock Android 5.0 Lollipop—it’s very uncommon for reasonable Android telephones to have up-to-date instrument, and it’s one of the most issues that units the Moto G aside.

the rest

there are many different nice phones out there, such as the HTC One M8, LG G3, Sony Xperia Z3, and Google Nexus 5 and 6, but every has at the least one or two main weaknesses. you can read more about these phones in our full guide on TheWirecutter.com.

In Closing

most people can be smartly-served by either the Galaxy S5 or Moto X, relying for your priorities. The Galaxy observe 4 is our option for an incredible phone, and the Moto G is the perfect cheap telephone.