With a bit of a break during the past few months, the Android market is once finally starting to deliver the devices which they promise in the beginning of the year.
The devices on this list are devices that are either out on the market or have an official, upcoming release date. So this means that phones like the Droid Incredible 4G LTE for Verizon, the HTC EVO 4G LTE for Sprint and the Samsung Galaxy S III are not eligible.
For now though, let’s focus on what’s the best of the best in terms of the current crop of Android devices.
Here are the five devices that we think are the cream of the Android crop for the month of May, 2012.
HTC One
- HTC-One-S
Specifications: 4.3-inch 540 x 960 Super AMOLED display, dual-core 1.5GHz processor, 1GB of RAM, 8MP rear camera, VGA front-facing camera, 1650mAh battery, Bluetooth 4.0, USB 2.0, gyroscope, HTC Sense 4.0 over Android
Operating System: Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
Carrier: T-Mobile
4G: HSPA+ 42
Release Date: April 25th
Price: $199.99
HTC One X
The HTC One X will be striking AT&T’s 4G LTE network on May 6th, 2012. It features 4G LTE speeds, a spacious display, a speed dual-core S4 processor, a thin design, and all the bells and whistles of a high-end device.
Specifications: 4.7-inch 1280 x 720 S-LCD 2 display, dual-core 1.5GHz processor, 1GB of RAM, 8MP rear camera, 1.3MP front-facing camera, 1800mAh battery, Bluetooth 4.0, USB 2.0, NFC support, gyroscope, accelerometer, HTC Sense 4.0 over Android
Operating System: Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
Carrier: AT&T
4G: LTE
Release Date: May 6th
Price: $149.99
Motorola Droid RAZR MAXX
The Motorola Droid RAZR MAXX is the best selling Android smartphone at Amazon and there’s a reason for that. It has a massive battery that allows for up to 21 hours of continuous talk. The battery is fixed in an extremely thin frame which measures 8.9mm in size.
It only stands to get better when it’s upgraded to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.
Specifications: 4.3-inch Super AMOLED display with advanced qHD resolution, 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 3300mah battery, mobile hotspot support, 1GB of RAM, an 8MP rear camera capable of shooting 1080p video, 8.9mm thin design
Operating System: Android 2.3 Gingerbread
Carrier: Verizon
4G: Yes, LTE
Release Date: January 26th, 2012
Price: $199.99
Samsung Galaxy Nexus
The Samsung Galaxy Nexus, which is possibly the best Android phone ever made, is now available on both Verizon and on Sprint. Both devices offer similar specifications but there are two differences.
One, Verizon’s phone doesn’t work with Google Wallet and Sprint’s does. Secondly, Sprint’s 4G LTE network is miniscule compared to Verizon’s
Specifications: 4.65-inch 1280 x 720 HD Super AMOLED display, dual-core 1.2GHz processor, 1GB of RAM, zero shutter lag 5MP camera with LED flash, 1.3MP front-facing camera, 1750mAh battery, Bluetooth 3.0, USB 2.0, NFC support, gyro, proximity sensor, barometer
Operating System: Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
Carrier: Verizon, Sprint
4G: LTE
Release Date: Verizon – December 15th, Sprint – April 22nd
Price: Verizon – $49.99 , Sprint – $199.99
Samsung Galaxy Note
AT&T’s Samsung Galaxy Note is part smartphone and part tablet. It offers a incredibly large 5-inch display that makes it an extremely versatile device.
We absolutely fell in love with this phone and, like the Droid RAZR MAXX, once it gets Android 4.0, it should become an even better Android option.
Specifications: 5-inch 800 x 1280 Super AMOLED display, dual-core 1.5GHz processor, 1GB of RAM, 8MP rear camera, 2MP front-facing camera, 2500mAh battery, Bluetooth 3.0, USB 2.0, NFC support, stylus support
Operating System: Android 2.3 Gingerbread
Carrier: AT&T
4G: LTE
Release Date: February 19th
Price: $229.99