Best Android Phones in October 2014

Best Android Phones in October 2014

With so many smartphones currently on the market, is pretty hard to choose the one that fits your needs. So, we’ve had a look and listed the best Android phones currently on the market so you won’t have to do it. Our monthly Best Android Smartphones column aims to help you choose the smartphone that is perfect for you.

Anyway, this isn’t a top, as the phones are sorted by OEM. In the Best Android Phones post you will be able to find both high-end and affordable devices, because the budget differs from one customer to another.

We’ve had a look through the offering of the world’s biggest online retailer and we’ve provided links to help you place an order more easily. It’s also worthy noting that prices may change with time. Anyway, if you believe that we’ve left out any device, please let us know in the comments section.

Amazon Fire Phone

We’ve heard about an Amazon phone even before the launch of the first Kindle Fire tablet. It looks that it took several years for Amazon to launch their first smartphone, but it is finally here. Called Amazon Fire Phone, the device packs a handful of interesting features.

The Fire Phone might not be the most powerful Android smartphone on the market, but it’s sure capable of providing an interesting experience. It has 4 front-facing cameras used to provide a 3D dynamic perspective interface, in the same time allowing users to scroll and access different menus and functions without touching the screen. It runs Amazon’s Fire OS v3.5 that is based on Android.

The Amazon Fire Phone integrates a quad-core 2.2 GHz Snapdragon 800 processor paired with 2 GB of RAM, while packing a 720p 4.7-inch IPS LCD screen. It also comes with 32/64 GB of native storage, a 13 MP rear-facing camera with optical image stabilization, and a 2.1 MP secondary cam, while being kept alive by a 2,400 mAh battery. It’s 139.2 mm tall, 66.5 mm wide, 8.9 mm thin, and weighs in at 160 grams.

The connectivity options include LTE, HSPA+, WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0, NFC, and microUSB 2.0.

Amazon’s first phone brings connectivity options such as LTE, HSPA+, WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0, NFC, and microUSB 2.0. On Amazon, you will be able to get the 32 GB Fire Phone for free after you agree to sign a two-year contract with AT&T. The off-contract price has been set at $449.

LG G3

The LG G3 is currently the latest flagship smartphone released by the South Korean company. It was announced in May and it’s available for purchase since June, but it remains on of the most powerful Android smartphones currently on the market.

The LG G3 features a 5.5-inch True HD IPS + LCD display with Quad HD (1440 x 2560) resolution and 534 ppi. It has a weight of 149 grams and it’s quite compact for a 5.5-inch smartphone, measuring 146.3 x 74.6 x 8.9 mm.

The LG G3 is powered by a Snapdragon 801 SoC with quad-core 2.5 GHz Krait 400 CPU and Adreno 330 GPU, has 16 GB storage / 2 GB RAM or 32 GB storage / 3 GB RAM, microSD slot, and a 3,000 mAh battery. On the back of the phone there’s a 13 MP camera with optical image stabilization, laser autofocus, and 4K video recording capabilities, while the front panel accommodates a 2.1 MP camera.

The smartphone runs Android 4.4.2 KitKat out of the box customized with LG’s own skin. In terms of connectivity, it arrives with HSPA+, LTE, WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, IR blaster, and microUSB 2.0.

Amazon is selling the 32 GB LG G3 at $99.99 with Sprint or Verizoncontracts. The AT&T 32 GB variant is available for free after you sign a two-year deal with the carrier.

LG G2

Even though the LG G2 was announced more than a year ago, it’s still a powerful smartphone. As you may already know, it is the successor of the LG G3.

The LG G2 features a Snapdragon 800 chipset with four Krait 400 cores clocked at 2.26 GHz and an Adreno 330 GPU, while boasting about a 1080p 5.2-inch True HD IPS + LCD screen. The technical specifications list also includes 2 GB of RAM, 16/32 GB of native storage, 3,000 mAh battery, and all the connectivity features worthy of a modern smartphone including HSPA+, LTE, WiFi, NFC, IR blaster, and microUSB 2.0.

LG’s 2013 flagship sports a 13 MP main camera with optical image stabilization and 1080p@60fps video recording support, and a 2.1 MP secondary cam. It’s upgradable to Android 4.4.2 KitKat.

The AT&T LG G2 is available on Amazon for free, while the Verizon and Sprint variants are up for grabs at $0.01 with a two-year contract. If signing agreements with carriers is not your thing you can buy it off-contract between $478.99 and $499.99

Samsung Galaxy S5

Samsung’s flagship smartphone for 2014 was released back in April, so you will be able to find it at a discounted price on Amazon.  The AT&T variant is available for free on-contract, while the Verizon and Sprint 16 B models cost $99.99, also on-contract.

Galaxy S5 arrives with a 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display with Full HD resolution, while being powered by a quad-core 2.5 GHz Snapdragon 801 processor. It has 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB of microSD-expandable storage, measures 142 x 72.5 x 8.1 mm, and has a weigh of 145 grams. It also integrates a rear-mounted heart rate monitor and a fingerprint sensor embedded in the Home button.

The terminal also integrates a 16 MP main shooter with phase detection autofocus, LED flash, 1/2.6” sensor size, 1.12 µm pixel size, Dual Shot, Simultaneous HD video and image recording, geo-tagging, touch focus, face and smile detection, HDR, and 4K video recording. The front-facing camera has a 2 MP sensor and it can record 1080p videos.

Connectivity-wise, the Galaxy S5 brings HSDPA, 42.2 Mbps; HSUPA, 5.76 Mbps; LTE, Cat4, 50 Mbps UL, 150 Mbps DL, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth 4.0 LE, NFC, infrared port, and microUSB 3.0. It features a 2,800 mAh battery and runs Android 4.4.2 KitKat out of the box.

Samsung Galaxy S4

Samsung’s Galaxy S4 was introduced back in March 2013 and it became one of the best selling Android phones of 2013. Despite being over one-year old, it’s still a powerful device.

The terminal measures 136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9 mm and weighs in at 130 grams. It sports a 1080p 5.0-inch Super AMOLED screen, has a 13 MP primary cam, 2 MP secondary cam, and 16/32 GB of storage, expandable using microSD cards. The processing tasks are handled by a quad-core Snapdragon 600 processor paired with 2 GB of RAM.

It can be upgraded to Android 4.4.2 KitKat and features connectivity options such as HSPA+, LTE, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.0 LE, NFC, microUSB 2.0, and IR blaster. A 2,600 mAh battery is keeping the lights on.

The Sprint and Verizon variants of the Galaxy S4 are priced at $0.01 with two-year contract. Amazon is offering AT&T mode for free, also with a two-year contract.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is the latest and greatest Android smartphone released by the South Korean company. It was introduced on September 3rd and it’s expected to debut mid-October. Anyway, you can already pre-order the device from Amazon. The 32 GB model is available at a price of $299.99 with AT&T, Sprint, or Verizoncontracts.

Galaxy Note 4 comes pre-loaded with the Android 4.4.4 KitKat, of course, customized with Samsung’s proprietary TouchWiz skin. It has a 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display with Quad HD resolution and Gorilla Glass 3 protection, while being powered by a quad-core 2.7 GHz Snapdragon 805 CPU. It integrates 3 GB of RAM, 32 GB of native storage, microSD slot, and a 3,220 mAh battery.

On the back there’s a 16 MP camera with optical image stabilization, phase detection autofocus, and 4K video recording support. It also has a 3.7 MP user-facing cam with Wide Selfie feature and connectivity options such as HSPA+, LTE, NFC, WiFi, Bluetooth 4.1 Low Energy, IR blaster, and microUSB 2.0. It measures 153.5 x 78.6 x 8.5 mm and has a weight of 176 grams.

Samsung Galaxy Note 3

The Galaxy Note 3 was released about a year ago, but it’s still a smartphone with life in it. Since its successor is here, Amazon is offering massive discounts for it. The AT&T variant is available for $0 down with a two-year contract, while the Verizon and Sprint models have a price of $99.99.

Galaxy Note 3 is 151.2 mm tall, 79.2 mm wide, and 8.3 mm thin, while weighing in at 168 grams. It’s upgradable to Android 4.4.2 KitKat and features a 5.7-inch Full HD Super AMOLED screen. The Note 3 technical specifications list also includes a quad-core 2.3 GHz Snapdragon 800 CPU, 3 GB of RAM, 32 GB storage, and microSD support.

The device packs a removable 3,200 mAh battery, while the faux-leather back is equipped with a 13 MP camera with support for recording 4K videos. Note 3 also brings a 2 MP camera and connectivity features such as LTE, WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0 LE, NFC, infrared port, and microUSB 3.0. Of course, you will also find an S Pen stylus.

HTC One M8

HTC’s One M8 is no doubt one of the best-looking smartphones currently on the market. But the One M8 is not only about the looks, it has brains as well.

HTC One M8 features a Snapdragon 801 SoC with quad-core 2.3 GHz Krait 400 CPU and Adreno 330 GPU, paired with 2 GB of RAM. It also integrates 16/32 GB storage, a microSD slot, and a 5.0-inch SuperLCD3 screen with Full HD resolution. The phone measures 146.4 x 70.6 x 9.4 mm, weighs 160 grams, and integrates a 2,600 mAh battery.

Besides the Dual 4 MP UltraPixel camera with autofocus, dual LED flash, 1/3” sensor size, 2µm pixel size, automatic simultaneous video and image recording, geo-tagging, face and smile detection, HDR, panorama, and 1080p@30fps video recording capabilities fitted on the back, you will also get a front-facing camera with 5 MP sensor. The connectivity features include LTE, HSPA+, WiFi, NFC, IR port, and microUSB 2.0.

On Amazon, the AT&T One M8 model is available for free with a two-year contract. The Sprint variant costs $49.99, while the Verizon 32 GB model is also $99.99.

HTC One M7

The HTC One M7 was made available for purchase more than a year ago, but it’s still a smartphone worth to have in your pocket. Just like its successor, it has an amazing design.

The terminal is sized at 137.4 x 68.2 x 9.3 and has a weight of 143 grams, despite being made of metal. It arrives with a 1080p 4.7-inch Super LCD3 display, while being equipped with 2 GB RAM, 32/64 GB of native storage, and a quad-core 1.7 GHz Snapdragon 600 CPU. It’s upgradable to Android 4.4.3 KitKat with Sense 6.0 UI.

HTC One M7 features a 4 MP UltraPixel sensor that brings autofocus, LED flash, 1/3” sensor size, 2µm pixel size, simultaneous HD video and image recording, geo-tagging, face and smile detection, and support for Full HD video recording and a 2.1 MP user-facing camera. You’ll get WiFi, LTE, HSPA+, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, IR blaster, and microUSB 2.0 when it comes to connectivity. It also integrates a 2,300 mAh battery.

Verizon and Sprint are the only carriers selling the One M7 on Amazon. The on-contract price is $0.01 and it can be order from hereand here, respectively.

HTC One Max

Because HTC wanted to release a competitor for Galaxy Note 3 and this is how the HTC One Max was born. The HTC phablet was announced in October 2013 and it arrives with rear-mounted fingerprint sensor.

HTC One Max boasts about a massive 5.9-inch Super LCD3 display with 1080 x 1920 resolution and a quad-core Snapdragon 600 processor clocked at 1.7 GHz. It also has 2 GB of RAM, 16/32 GB storage, microSD support, and a 3,000 mAh battery. The phablet measures 164.5 x 82.5 x 10.3 mm and integrates a 3,000 mAh battery.

The device is upgradable to Android 4.3 Jelly Bean and comes with a 4 MP UltraPixel camera with autofocus, LED flash, and Full HD video recording capabilities. If also features a 2.1 MP secondary shooter and connectivity features like HSPA+, LTE, NFC, infra red, Bluetooth 4.0, and microUSB 2.0.

On Amazon, the Sprint HTC One Max 32 GB costs $99.99, on-contract. You can also buy the Sprint One Max off-contract at $599.99.

Nexus 5

The Nexus 5 is the latest smartphone co-developed by Google and LG. The device was released late October 2013 and, just like the other members of the Nexus tribe, it’s upgradable to the latest Android version.

LG Nexus 5 is 137.9 mm tall, 69.2 mm wide, and 8.6 thin, while weighing in at 130 grams. The terminal has a 1080p 5.0-inch True HD IPS+ screen, quad-core 2.3 GHz Snapdragon 800 CPU, 2 GB of RAM, 16/32 GB storage, and 2,300 mAh battery.

On the back of the device you will be able to find a 8 MP primary shooter with OIS, HDR+, and Full HD video recording capabilities. It also features a 1.3 MP secondary cam and LTE, WiFi, NFC, microUSB 2.0, and Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy.

Besides bringing quick Android updates, the Nexus 5 is also cheap.Amazon is selling the Sprint model at $0.1 with a two-year contract, or $399.99 no strings attached.

Motorola Moto X 2014

The second-gen Moto X was released on the market last month and it’s already available for purchase. You will be able to get it from Amazon at a price of $99.99 with a two-year Verizon contract, or at$119.99 with an AT&T contract.

Motorola Moto X 2014 measures 140.8 x 72.4 x 10 mm and has a weight of 144 grams, while featuring a 5.2-inch AMOLED display with 1080 x 1920 resolution and 424 ppi pixel density. The device is powered by a quad-core 2.5 GHz Snapdragon 801 processor, has 2 GB of RAM, and 16/32 GB storage.

Moto X 2nd gen has a 13 MP primary camera with dua-LED flash and 4K video recording support and a 2 MP camera with Full HD video recording capabilities. It brings LTE, NFC, WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0 LE, microUSB 2.0, and a 2,300 mAh battery. It runs Android 4.4.4 KitKat out of the box and Motorola promised to upgrade it to Android L

Motorola Moto G 2014

After the success of the first generation Moto G, Motorola has released a successor for its best-selling smartphone. The device is already available for purchase on Amazon at an affordable price. Both the Global GSM and US GSM 8 GB variants are available at a price of only $179.99.

Hardware-wise, the Moto G 2014 comes with a 5.0-inch IPS LCD screen with HD resolution and Gorilla Glass 3 protection, a quad-core 1.2 GHz Snapdragon 400 processor, 1 GB of RAM, and 8/16 GB storage. It also integrates a microSD card slot, 8 MP with 720p video recording, and a 2 MP user-facing camera.

It comes pre-loaded with Android 4.4.4 KitKat and it’s upgradable to Android L. The connectivity features include HSPA+, WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy, and microUSB 2.0. It measures 141.5 x 70.7 x 11 mm and weighs in at 149 grams.

Sony Xperia Z3

The Xperia Z3 is the most powerful Android smartphone in Sony’s portfolio. Just like its predecessors it has a glass back and is both dust proof and water resistant.

The new Xperia Z3 packs a 5.2-inch IPS LCD display with 1080 x 1920 resolution, while being powered by a quad-core 2.5 GHz Snapdragon 801 processor, mated with 3 GB of RAM. It has 16/32 GB storage and support for microSD cards up to 128 GB. The connectivity features include LTE, HSPA+, WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, and microUSB 2.0.

Sony’s flagship brings a 20.7 MP primary shooter with autofocus, LED flash, 1/2.3” sensor size, geo-tagging, touch focus, face detection, HDR, panorama, and 4K video recording support. It also has a 2.2 MP user-facing camera, and a 3,100 mAh battery.

For the time being, the Xperia Z3 is not available at any of the major US carriers. Amazon is selling the 16 GB unlocked model at $699.83.

Sony Xperia Z2

Sony Xperia Z2 was officially announced back in February at Mobile World Congress. The terminal is IP58 certified, meaning that it’s both dust proof and water resistant over 1 meter and 30 minutes.

The hardware platform of the Sony Xperia Z2 is based on a Snapdragon 801 chipset with four Krait 400 cores clocked at 2.3 GHz and Adreno 330 GPU, 3 GB of RAM, and 16 GB of microSD-expandable storage. It features a 20.7 MP primary camera with 4K video recording support, 2.2 MP secondary cam, 3,200 mAh battery, and a 5.2-inch IPS LCD display with 1080 x 1920 resolution.

The terminal runs Android 4.4.2 KitKat out of the box with Sony’s custom skin on top of it. You will be able to purchase it from Amazon, factory unlocked, at a price of $538.98.