If you have any gadget junkies in your life,
maybe they're craving a new smartphone. Whether you're on a tight budget or
have a fat wallet, just take a look at our list of the best and most unique
mobile devices to place under the tree. But that's enough rambling ... start
shopping!
On the cheap
HTC
One X
Fortunately, one of our favorite
smartphones of the year is currently a bargain. The HTC One X of AT&T
combines excellent performance, superb camera and one of the best screens on
the market into one impressive handset. We don't doubt that any gadget fan in
your life will love the One X, which will become even better with the upgrade
to Android 4.1. The same is true for a copy of it on Sprint, EVO 4G LTE, which
is mostly what we like from One X and adds to it a dedicated camera button, a
larger battery, removable storage and a handy kickstand.
Main Specification: 4.7-inch S-LCD HD screen (1280x720), dual-core Snapdragon S4 1.5GHz,
8MP rear-facing camera/1.3MP front-facing camera, 16GB built-in storage,
Android 4.0
Price: $0.01 (AT&T) or $20 (Sprint) at Amazon Wireless.
HTC
One X
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Motorola
Droid RAZR M
The Droid RAZR M is an outright budget
superstar. The phone has a speedy dual-core processor, reliable battery life
and great camera. Yes, it features a sub-premium qHD display and the video
camera is not bright, but with this price, this smartphone is an incredibly
well-rounded smartphone.
Price: $0.01 (Verizon) at Amazon Wireless
Samsung
Galaxy S Blaze 4G
Do not expect it to compete with other
budget rivals, but the Galaxy S Blaze 4G is an excellent value for T-Mobile
customers. The phone offers strong performance, long battery life and excellent
call quality. It also features a truly respectable camera.
Price: $20 (T-Mobile) from Wirefly
Mid-range
Galaxy
S III
While most of us prefer HTC's high-end
offerings at AT&T and Sprint, the Galaxy S III is an excellent smartphone.
It also has the distinct advantage of being available for all of the major
national carriers. The Galaxy S III features a large and beautiful screen,
excellent camera, great performance and stable battery life. Needless to say,
it certainly makes any gadget lover shock. Better still, as the One X, Galaxy S
III will get upgraded to Jelly Bean in the near future.
Main Specification: 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED screen (1280x720), dual-core Snapdragon S4
1.5GHz, 8MP rear-facing camera/2MP front-facing camera, 16GB or 32GB of
built-in storage, Android 4.0
Price: $40 (Sprint), $100 (AT&T) or $60 (Verizon) at Amazon Wireless;
$200 (T-Mobile) from Wirefly.
Samsung
Galaxy S3
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Motorola
Droid RAZR HD
One of the most awaited smartphones to
debut this season's Droid RAZR HD for Verizon Wireless. The device is vast improvement
over the original Droid RAZR, with excellent performance, higher screen
resolution and great battery life.
Price: $150 at Amazon Wireless
Nokia
Lumia 920
The Lumia 920 deserves special
consideration for the shutterbug in your life, with a floating lens and sensor
system offers unparalleled image stabilization and low-light performance. If
the carrier is a problem, we are also big fans of the HTC 8X (on AT & T,
Verizon and T-Mobile).
Price: $70 at Amazon Wireless
Money's no object
iPhone
5
If you are looking for ways to make this
holiday truly memorable with someone, the iPhone 5 is your to-buy device.
Available for AT&T, Sprint, Verizon and many local carriers, Cupertino's
latest ranks among the most sought-after smartphones of the year. It has fast
performance, a top-notch screen, commendable battery life and an excellent
camera - all wrapped in a truly beautiful enclosure. If you are willing to
splurge, be sure to grab either the 32GB or 64GB model, which will allow your
loved ones to fill their phones with their favorite movies, music and photos.
Main Specification: 4-inch Retina IPS display (1136x640), A6 dual-core processor 1.3GHz,
8MP rear-facing camera/1.2MP front-facing camera, 16GB/32GB/64GB built-in
storage, iOS 6
Price: $199 (16GB), $299 (32GB) or $399 (64GB) from Apple
Iphone
5
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Samsung
Galaxy Note II
With a speedy quad-core processor, the Note
II are among those who led the team in terms of performance. It features a nice
and wide HD screen as well as an impressive camera. And then there's the S Pen,
which lets you quickly take notes and annotate photos.
Price: $230 (Sprint), $250 (AT&T) at Amazon Wireless, $280 (Verizon),
$300 (T-Mobile) at Wirefly
Nexus
4
For a pure Android experience, the Nexus 4
is tops. The screen and camera of this unlock phone are miles ahead of the
Galaxy Nexus. It is more expensive than what you often find under the contract,
but the carriers like T-Mobile or Simple Mobile offer pricing incentives for
bringing your own handset.
Price: $299 (8GB) or $349 (16GB) from Google
