Top five smartphones of 2012

This year has been a good one for smartphones, and we have seen several manufacturers release very powerful and capable devices which quickly become and integral part of our day to day lives. We recently released an article where we described how the Nokia Lumia 920 was our pick for the best smartphone in the market right now, and there should be no surprise that this device stole the top spot in our list of top five smartphones.

We currently live in an era of multicore processors, powerful full HD cameras and very capable mobile operating systems which can replace our day to day PC use. But which devices took the other covenant spots for 2012? We have a list of our top five smartphones for the year? Check them out below and let us know if you agree.

Number 5 – Samsung Galaxy S III

The Samsung Galaxy S III has been around for quite some time now and there cant be a list of top phones compiled without mention of this device. The Galaxy S III is the current flagship from Samsung featuring a 4.8 inch Super AMOLED HD touch display, up to 64GB of internal storage which can be expanded through microSD, an 8 megapixel camera capable of 1080p HD video capture, a secondary HD camera for video calls and is powered by a 1.4GHz quad-core processor with 1GB of RAM.

The Galaxy S III is widely available through U.S. carriers including the four major ones. It still remains one of the hottest Android handsets in the market and among the best-selling devices with over 30 million users around the world.

PROS: The Galaxy S III has one of the top cameras on a smartphone and one of the best displays. Its fast and snappy processor makes it fly through apps making it a pleasure to use.

CONS: The Galaxy S III build quality can sometimes feel cheap and plasticy. There are users who complain that the case on the device starts cracking over time



Number 4 – HTC Droid DNA

The HTC Droid DNA is the undoubted champion if we compare specs among our top five. This is reason enough to push it past the Galaxy S III on our list. The Droid DNA features a 5 inch full HD touch display with a 1080 x 1920 pixel resolution, an 8 megapixel camera capable of 1080p HD video capture and is powered by a 1.5GHz quad-core processor with 2GB of RAM.

We feel this device is just the beginning of full HD smartphones which will grace 2013, and HTC seems to have gotten it right with their design, which is easy to handle and store in your pocket. The Droid DNA is available in the U.S. through Verizon and globally sold as the HTC Butterfly. A variant of the device was first released in Japan and named the HTC J.

PROS: Currently has the best specifications for a smartphone and an impressive build quality.

CONS: Exclusivity to Verizon makes this device availability limited in the U.S., Lacks a microSD card slot for storage expansion





Number 3 – Google Nexus 4 by LG

The Google Nexus 4 is the fourth smartphone in the Nexus Series and the best smartphone from Google to-date. LG has used their Optimus G as a baseline for this device which features a 4.7 inch HD touch display, up to 16GB of internal storage an 8 megapixel camera capable of 1080p HD video capture and will be powered by a quad-core processor with 2GB of RAM.

Its bad and front are made of  scratch resistant Gorilla Glass, which gives the device a rich feel and contributes to its overall value.

The device is available in the U.S. through T-Mobile and an unlocked variant is sold through the Google Play Store. The unlocked version is sold at just $300 for its 8GB variant, making it one of the cheapest smartphones with such generous specifications.

The Nexus 4 runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, which is the latest version of Google’s mobile operating system. Because this is a Google device the Nexus 4 will always be the first to receive the latest Android updates.

PROS: Great specifications, Pure Google device which will be first to receive Android updates, classy look and feel, wireless charging

CONS: Glass front and back makes it breakable if it falls, camera is good but cannot compete with top competitors, lacks microSD card slot for storage expansion



Number 2 – Apple iPhone 5

Time and time again, the Apple iPhone 5 manages to find its way to the top of almost any smartphone list. The device rarely has the best specifications in the market, but has the advantage of its software being written specifically for its hardware. This makes the iPhone 5 one of the top performers in the smartphone market. The device features a 4-inch Retina touch display, up to 64GB of internal storage, an updated 8 megapixel camera which is capable of 1080p video capture, a secondary 720p HD camera for Facetime video calls and is powered by an Apple A6 dual-core processor.

Apple’s crowing glory is its amazing build quality and top of the line battery life, which propels the newest iPhone to one of the most popular smartphones in the market.

But it’s the unparalleled App Store which keeps this device on top. It has over 700,000 apps as of September 2012 with a list which keeps growing. Apple has provided developers with the tools they need to keep them flocking towards the platform and this results in a strong user-base for iOS devices.

PROS: Best in class design, one of the best smartphone cameras, high quality display, fluid and snappy performance, clean and user friendly UI.

CONS: The body is prone to scratches and dents, lacks microSD storage expansion, proprietary USB connector, same UI since 2007.



Number 1 – Nokia Lumia 920

The Nokia Lumia 920 wins our vote for top smartphone for 2012. The device features a 4.5 inch PureMotion HD+ touch display, up to 32GB of internal storage, an 8 megapixel PureView camera capable of 1080p HD video capture, a secondary camera for video calls, Qi based wireless charging and is powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core processor.

Its display is super sensitive which allows it to be used even when you are wearing gloves. This is a great convenience and time saver, especially if you live in a cold climate.

This device is built to last and while its bulk maybe a disadvantage to some it is capable of taking on the wear and tare of day to day life with a breeze. Its polycarbonate unibody is resistant to scratches and its buttons and decorations are make of a re-enforced ceramic material which is resistant to scratches.

Its most impressive feature is its PureView Phase 2 camera, which makes use of a floating lens technology for optical image stabilization (OIS). This technology results in amazing low light photos and images and video which is not shaky even if captured when you are walking.

The Lumia 920 runs Windows Phone 8 which is one of the fastest and smoothest mobile operating systems in the market right now. This is coupled with a  generous collection of applications from Nokia which improve the end user experience with the device.

PROS: Possibly the best smartphone camera in the market, designed to last everyday usage, fluid and snappy performance, wireless charging,  super sensitive display, several color choices.

CONS: Heavy and bulky compared to its competition, app selection fewer than competitors, lacks microSD storage



If you have any doubts about are top smartphone for 2012, you can check out five reasons why you should switch to a Nokia Lumia 920, and if that’s not enough we have five more reasons to choose the Nokia Lumia 920.

What do you think of our top five smartphones? Leave us a comment below if you have a different device you would prefer on this top five list or if you think the list should be rearranged.