Ninety
percent of Americans own a cellphone, and 58 percent of the population possesses a
smartphone. Each year, a slew of new products enter the marketplace and try to
become the hot new device that everyone must own. Here is a list of the five
best phones from 2014 as well as a preview of the two best upcoming phones for
2015.
Apple iPhone 6
Plus
There is no more divisive topic in the realm of cellphones than Apple's core product, the iPhone. The company's loyalists would never consider changing from Apple to Android. Conversely, people who dislike the company will never buy an iPhone on principle.
People
who are not intransigent were pleased by the latest iPhone device, as the 6
Plus is the first one featuring a larger screen. The 5.5 inch display
represents a nice compromise between standard cellphones and mini-tablets. The
latest cellphone also features a faster processor, an improved camera, and
Apple Pay support.
Samsung Galaxy S5
This device is the company's best-selling smartphone to date, shipping a whopping 10 million units in its first 25 days alone. Phones like the Galaxy S5 have stunning innovation and are the new gold standard in the industry, which explains how every generation of the cellphone thus far has increased sales from the previous iteration. The popularity of the Galaxy series is thanks to its functionality.
These
phones can do so much that most customers have no idea what their device is
capable of doing. For instance, the Galaxy S5 introduced a heart rate scanner,
which only health-focused consumers are likely to utilize. Still, the existence
of such utilities aptly summarizes the device's appeal.
Motorola Moto X
The second generation Moto phone has followed the trend of mega-size screens, as it features a 5.2-inch display. Better yet, the Moto Display functionality means that you can always see the time on your phone, whether you have emails or texts, and caller information even when the phone is in sleep mode. It automatically wakes up when notifications occur.
Despite
being one of the cheaper devices on the market, the Moto X does not scrimp on
processor power. It is driven by a 2.5GHz Snapdragon quad-core that makes it
one of the strongest performers in its class.
HTC One (M8)
Not to be confused with the basic HTC One, the M8 version is the latest release of the company's flagship smartphone series. It too features the Snapdragon series for its processor, but it employs only a 2.2GHz version. This sleek phone features a 90 percent metal chassis that makes it one of the most attractive smart devices in the marketplace.
In
order to compete with other phones that have better cameras, the company added
Duo Camera to the M8. It captures images they call UltraPixels that are twice
the size of a normal photo. The enhanced clarity of these pictures approximates
higher megapixel cameras.
Sony Xperia Z3
After several generations of mediocre cellphones, Sony has finally struck gold with their latest offering, one of the newest devices available. The Xperia Z3 features Android customizations that differentiate the Xperia from most other phones.
The
strongest selling points of the Xperia are its camera, bright screen, and
Remote Play. It features a massive 20.7 megapixel camera, one of the best
available today. Its display employs Triluminos technology to emit color that
is 50 percent better than LCD. Finally, Remote Play allows Sony Playstation 4
owners to play their games right from their phone.
2015 Samsung
Galaxy S6
Given the company's dedication to innovation and continued dominance in cellphone sales, the impending release of the S6 is the most monitored news story in the industry. Details are still up for debate, as two different models have been reported as the next style of the device. Whichever one is ultimately released, it will be among the best reviewed and best-selling cellphones available.
2015 LG G Flex 2
While curved televisions have yet to prove popular, most industry analysts believe that a curved cellphone could be a game-changer. The G Flex 2 will be one of the first phones released with this design style, and it will also feature an octa-core processor, two reasons to make it one of the cellphones to watch in 2015.
While
the cellphone marketplace always feels like a moving target for consumers, if
you pick any of the devices listed here, you can't go wrong.