Every year, various Android OEMs release hundreds of new Android powered smartphones. However, only a handful of
them sell in millions of units and are truly
worth your hard earned money.
This year was no different with Samsung and
releasing their flagship handsets by the first
half of this year, followed by LG, Sony, Google
and Motorola in the second half. But, which
was the best Android smartphone released
this year? Read our round up below to find
out.

Sony Xperia Z1
The Sony Xperia Z1 might not have been as
successful as the Xperia Z, but the handset
does stand its own against the likes of LG G2
and Note 3. The Z1 packs in everything that a
late-2013 flagship is expected to pack. The
Z1 takes everything that the Z packs and
improvises it, including its waterproof and
dust-resistant body.
The Z1 also includes a 20.7MP camera, which
is in an impressive piece of tech on-paper.
While in real-life the camera is not as good as
the iPhone 5s, it manages to provide a degree
of lose-less digital zoom ala Nokia’s PureView
808 and 1020, a major advantage for many.
The Z1 has its fair share of faults including a
sub-par display, an older version of Android
and other niggling software issues. However,
that does not stop it from barely making it to
our list of the best Android smartphones
released this year, thanks largely to its
waterproof design.

LG G Flex

This year saw the release of two Android
devices with a curved screen – Samsung’s
Galaxy Round and the LG G Flex. While the
former was a prototype with limited launch
markets, the latter saw a wider availability
and feels less like a prototype.
The G Flex sports the same specs as the LG
G2, except for a 6-inch 720p flexible OLED
display that is curved from the top to bottom.
The G Flex really is an impressive piece of
technology, with its flexible display — that
indeed flexes — and a self-healing back.
Below is a video that shows the self-healing
back and the flexible display of G Flex in
action -:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=SphEAlsrRoo&feature=youtu.be
The G Flex display, however, is still not ready
for prime time as it suffers from banding and
image retention issues. The smartphone
makes it into this list purely on its ability of
giving us a glimpse into what flexible displays
might bring to the smartphones in the future.

Samsung Galaxy Note 3

The Note 3 is the only phablet to make it in
this list and is, unarguably, the best out
there.
Samsung has filled the Note 3 to the brim
with features and specs, including 4K video
recording on the Exynos version and a
microUSB 3.0 port. Stylus lovers will also
appreciate all the new S-Pen features that
Samsung has included in the Note 3 as well
There really is nothing wrong with the Galaxy
Note 3. It has a top-notch camera, a microSD
card slot, 2 days worth of battery life and a
removable battery being an additional bonus.
Yet, it does not offer anything unique like its
smaller sibling – the Galaxy S4.
Nevertheless, if you are looking for a phablet,
the Galaxy Note 3 is your best option in the
market right now.