Posted by XperiaJunkie
2013 HAS BEEN A YEAR OF FANTASTIC SMARTPHONES EVERYTHING FROM SONY DOMINATING CES 2013 WITH THE XPERIA Z, BLACKBERRY LAUNCHING ITS BRAND NEW BB10 PLATFORM AND RELEASING THE Z10 ALONG WITH IT. SHORTLY AFTER WE HAVE SEEN THE SUPERB HTC ONE FOLLOWED BY THE GREAT SAMSUNG GALAXY S4.THERE WERE ALSO SOME FANTASTIC DEVICES FROM NOKIA SUCH AS THE LUMIA 925 AND THE CAMERA POWERHOUSE OF THE 1020. IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR THINGS JUST GOT BETTER WITH THE LIKES OF THE XPERIA Z1, GALAXY NOTE 3, LG G2, LG NEXUS 5, iPHONE 5s AND 5c AND THE HTC ONE MAX.
I REALLY DO THINK THIS HAS BEEN THE BEST YEAR EVER OF THE SMARTPHONE.
THE BIG QUESTION IS WHICH IS YOUR PERSONAL FAVORITE AND WHY?
My personal favourite is the Sony Xperia Z1 for a number of reasons.
1. Build Quality
2. Best camera on Android
3. Fantastic quality screen and audio
4. Fully dustproof and waterproof
5. Great UI
6. Very good battery life
[ This Message was edited by: XperiaJunkie on 2013-12-28 09:42 ]
Posted by XperiaJunkie
So by the power of default (since nobody else has left their opinion) the best smartphone of 2013 is "DRUMROLL PLEASE " The Sony Xperia Z1 LOL
[ This Message was edited by: XperiaJunkie on 2013-12-28 07:37 ]
Posted by McKinley
In terms of design, it wins handsdown.
Software wise the Galaxy Note 3 wins in my opinion.
Cameraphone of the year goes to the Xperia Z1 too eventhough I think it underperforms in some occasions.
Yes I have taken the Lumia 1020 into consideration too but for me it performs worse in lowlight and with OIS, it should be a lot smoother in videos too.
Posted by XperiaJunkie
2 out of 3 ain't bad for the Z1. I agree with you on the low light and video quality of the 1020 should be better with the tech it has and the 1020 has for me only one feature worth shouting about and thats the camera take that away and what are you left with another boring Windows phone from Nokia
Posted by mlife
Whaaaaat.... "XperiaJunkie" thinks an Xperia gets phone of the year!?!?! Never saw that coming.
[ This Message was edited by: mlife on 2013-12-28 11:28 ]
Posted by XperiaJunkie
^yeah who would of guessed that ha ha
. Whats your smartphone of the year ?
Posted by randomuser
Z1 indeed is the Best phone of 2013.
Honorable mention would go to the HTC One
Posted by XperiaJunkie
my top 3 if I had to pick would be -
1.Sony Xperia Z1 - Best build quality, best camera on Android, best screen for accuracy in colours loudspeaker could be better though.
2. HTC One - Fantastic screen, build quality and top notch audio, poor camera and non expandable memory let it down in my view
3.LG G2/Samsung Galaxy Note 3 - Great screens on both, great cameras on both shame about cheap plastic build quality and boring design (look to similar).
[ This Message was edited by: XperiaJunkie on 2013-12-28 15:09 ]
Posted by Tsepz_GP
Lol, give it to the Sony, they need to win something
I'd say the Galaxy Note 3 without a doubt thanks to the brilliant S Pen features, 3GB RAM, and the overall well rounded package continuing to show why Samsung dominate and others need to take notes, closely followed by iPhone5S with it's all new Apple A7 based on the brand spanking new ARMv8, the 5S is the 1st of the whole new beasts we will see in 2014 as we are now leaving ARMv7 and going to ARMv8, phones like the Exynos Galaxy S5 and Note4 will be based on this.
The Nokia 1520, LG G2, Galaxy S4, HTC One and Htc One Max also desrve a mention, truly excellent devices if 2013, looking forward to their successors.
Top 3:
Samsung Galaxy Note 3
Apple iPhone5S
Nokia 1520.
For me this year Samsung and Apple proved why they are owning this industry and have shown that other OEMs will have to work a lot harder next year, meaning more exciting devices to come, I just hope the two juggernauts don't get too comfy at the top.
[ This Message was edited by: Tsepz_GP on 2013-12-28 15:09 ]
Posted by badassmam
With Samsung and Apple, they're making the same thing each year but a little faster yet they don't address issues like Galaxy lag. I would look at companies that have made a big step forward like LG with both the Nexus 5 and G2. I would also say the Sony Z1 is a pretty big step forward too for them. The HTC One also put them back in the mix because they needed a top phone this year, hats off for trying the ultra pixel camera too. I feel that Nokia are being held back by Microsoft so I'm still waiting for something a little radical from them.
Posted by XperiaJunkie
@Tsepz_GP
So far this year the Sony Xperia Z won no more that 15 awards possibly more
The Xperia Tablet Z won multiple awards including European tablet of the year
Sony's own QX lenses have won multiple awards including best innovation of the year
Sony Xperia Z1 won best smartphone at IFA 2013
Chances are Sony have been handed more awards for their smartphones and tablets
So yeah give it to Sony they clearly need it lol
No doubt both Samsung and Apple have won many awards aswell this year but surely cant deny this has been a great year for Sony when other major names have struggled like HTC and Blackberry.
[ This Message was edited by: XperiaJunkie on 2013-12-28 16:41 ]
Posted by Tsepz_GP
I wasn't talking about actual awards XperiaJunkie
Posted by XperiaJunkie
All I was pointing out was the fact that Sony have had probably their best year in a long time and those awards kind of prove it and they have made significant strides in catching up to the competition ie Samsung and Apple being the big 2 in brand awareness and sales. Yes there is still a lot of catching up to do but if anyone has done it this year then it has to be Sony. I feel once they have a crack at the American market which is a very hard market to crack then Sony will cement their place as 3rd biggest smartphone brand in the world.
Posted by Tsepz_GP
Number one objective for Sony needs to be Marketing. Their team need to get creative, in 2013 they had two Water and Dust proof mainstream flagships, they had a huge opportunity, nobody else really had this, if Samsung and Apple had this they would've whiped the floor with competitors, I don't count the S4 Active as Samsung pushed the OG GS4 mainly and treated the Active like the redheaded stepchild.
Sony certainly have the tech to beat out both Samsung and Apple, this year they proved that with the Xperia Z1, it just drive me nuts that their execution is forever riddled with stupid mistakes. Until they go full on and show more commitment I won't be nice about them, I hate it when potential is wasted. I want the Xperia Z1S/Z2 to be properly Marketed and no Display lottery, also 32GB variants of flagship models and get the dam Camera FW correct from day one!
Cheers!
Posted by bart
On gsmarena the Z1 is about to lose against a nokia in the best of 2013 contest
Posted by McKinley
I'm absolutely with you there Tsepz_GP.
Marketing is something Sony has to work really hard on and no stupid decisions with silly display lottery and just 16GB onboard memory option. Right now it's like they don't fully believe in themselves.
Thus the lack of presence in the US. T-mobile is the only carrier selling Sony devices and that's barely.
The decision to not try to enter the US market completely is prof how bad their own believes are in themselves and that hurts to say the least.
Posted by randomuser
Never thought I'd say this but
I agree with Tsepz_GP
Posted by Hobbs
I don't have the pleasure of owning one but do have the pleasure of enjoying the software the Note 3 offers on my Note 2 thanks to the XDA's E-Team devs Ditto Note 3 rom. For me smartphone of the year goes to the Samsung Galaxy Note 3
Software wise it has everything including the kitchen sink. (Love Air Command). Hardware wise specs are top notch.Design wise I cant be that bothered because everyone uses cases and the majority of the phone is covered anyway.Looking forward to whats to come in 2014 but chances are I'm gonna upgrade to a Galaxy Note 4.
[ This Message was edited by: Hobbs on 2013-12-29 16:19 ]