Best smartphones to look forward to in 2014
With the pace of smartphone evolution moving so fast, there's always
something waiting in the wings. No sooner have you spied the latest
handset, then there's anticipation of something else, the next big
thing.
We've rounded up the best smartphones for 2014, those we consider to
be the best across all platforms, and we've regularly updated that list
as the smartphone world has evolved over the last year from 2013 in to
2014. You can find those in our Best smartphones 2014 feature.
Here we're looking at those phones that haven't yet launched, those
we know are coming, or are anticipated. Some will be rumour, some will
be fact, but here we'll cut through the speculation to highlight those
phones we really want to see.
We'll be updating this list on a regular basis, with those device
rumours we think are credible and exciting, and devices just announced
but yet to hit the shelves. With Mobile World Congress 2014 bringing us a
number of phones, there's plenty to consider.
HTC M8/new HTC One
We've known since July 2013
that the next HTC flagship handset is referred to internally as the HTC
M8, the successor to the M7, the device that became the HTC One.
With HTC saying that the "One" name is here to stay, it's safe to
predict that the final commercial name will be new HTC One or HTC One
(2014) or something like that.
As for the specs, it looks like HTC will be bringing the M8 up to the
mark with a 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chipset, a 5-inch 1920 x
1080 pixel resolution display and Android 4.4 KitKat with Sense 6.0.
There's little to surprise in there and we suspect most of the attention
will be on the metal body construction as HTC looks to repeat the
luscious looks of the 2013 HTC One.
One change appears to be the addition of an extra camera sensor on
the rear of the handset, designed to improve focusing, low light
shooting and depth of field.
We'll be keeping a close eye on HTC and bringing you any news we hear
on the next HTC handset. The HTC One will be launched on 25 March at an
event in London and New York, so more will be revealed soon.
Samsung Galaxy S5
So many of the rumours weren't true. There's no bump in resolution,
no metal body, no radical change in the UI. Instead there's a
fingerprint scanner and a heart rate sensor, with Samsung eyeing-up
fitness.
But the Samsung Galaxy S5 is still going to be one of the hottest
phones of the year. It has a 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display with a 1920 x
1080 pixel resolution and there's no lack of power with a 2.5GHz
quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 chipset.
Speed is on the agenda with a 16-megapixel camera that will focus
fast, as well as a Download Booster offering to pull in files over Wi-Fi
and 4G simultaneously.
There's a whole collection of smart camera and software features, as
well as a new focus on battery life, with the SGS5 offering a low power
mode to make sure you stay connected for longer. The Samsung Galaxy S5
will be available globally on 11 April.
Sony Xperia Z2
The talk of Mobile World Congress has been the Sony Xperia Z2. It
takes the Xperia Z1 - launched only 6 months ago - and refines it. The
screen expands to 5.2-inches and it gets itself a 2.3GHz quad-core
Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor and 3GB of RAM, so it could be one of
the fastest phones around.
It's large though, as the previous model was, but it's definitely
better. With added software refinement and Android 4.4 KitKat, it's more
polished and offers more features than the previous device.
Most of the rumours were true: there are front-facing speakers to
boost the sound quality, but also noise cancellation through the
supplied headphones. There's 4K video, as well as stabilisation.
There's no confirmed launch date, but we suspect April, although the phone is on pre-order for £599.
LG G3
LG has seen a return to form in 2013, with the LG G2 doing a lot to
restore faith in the company's smartphone ambitions. That, and the new Nexus 5, see growing anticipation for LG's next flagship device, the LG G3.
The LG G3 is said to land with a 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution
display, with a slight increase in size. One of the strengths of the G2
is packing a larger 5.2-inch display into a handset that's smaller than
some rivals (like the Xperia Z1), so we'd expect to see the same again:
more display without the bulk.
There's talk of LG using it's octa-core Odin chipset to power the G3, as well as looking at a fingerprint scanner for security.
LG G Pro 2
LG has now officially launched the LG G Pro 2, although it's
initially a Korean handset only, with no news on whether we'll see it in
other territories.
The LG G Pro 2 has a 5.9-inch 1080 x 1920 resolution display, 2.3GHz
quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chipset, 3GB of RAM, and LTE
connectivity. The G Pro 2 has a 13-megapixel camera with optical image
stabilisation on the rear, capable of 4K video capture.
It looks like a strong competitor for the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and should be a great phablet.
Nokia Lumia Icon
Nokia has been going from strength to strength in 2013, making
Windows Phone a much more attractive proposition over the past 12
months. The best device so far has been the Lumia 1520, as it breaks new ground for Windows Phone, pushing the display resolution up and making better use of the space available.
The Nokia Lumia Icon brings those phablet skills down to a 5-inch
device, but it's a Verizon exclusive. The Lumia Icon has a full HD
display, along with a 20-megapixel PureView camera and a 2.3GHz Qualcomm
Snapdragon chipset. That's something that might grab the attention of
those getting tired of Android.
The Nokia Lumia Icon is now on pre-order, hitting stores on 20 February for $199 on a 2-year Verizon contract.
Nokia X
One of the most leaked phones, the Nokia X is something of an oddity.
It's an Android phone, but has been removed from Google, so that you
can have mixture of apps you'll find familiar from Nokia's Windows
Phone. Falling somewhere between the too, you'll get access to Nokia's
services, but it will also run Android apps.
There's no Google Play, however, but there will be a Nokia Store to
give you apps and you can sideload apps. The biggest thing about the
Nokia X, however, is price. They're affordable devices and although they
won't give you the best of the smartphone experience, they might
connect those who otherwise couldn't afford a smartphone.
Starting at €99, the Nokia X devices are definitely quirky.
Nokia Lumia 930
There's a new Nokia kid on the rumour block called the Lumia 930,
said to be a 4.5-inch update of the 920/925 level of device. It's been
mentioned that it will bring the top specs of the Lumia Icon to the rest
of the world. Previously there was the Lumia 1520V, said to be a
smaller version of the 1520, so we suspect they are the same handset.
The Lumia 930 is said to have a 4.5-inch 1920 x 1080 resolution
display, a quad-core Snapdragon 800 chipset and a 20-megapixel PureView
camera. With the Lumia 925 getting rather old, it sounds like a likely
spec bump for this important flagship space for Nokia.
There's talk of a launch at Mobile World Congress 2014 at the end of February.
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo
The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is undoubtedly a great device. It's king of
the phablets and has been a huge success for the company, helping
remind us why big devices are also beautiful.
But for some, it's just too much. It's too big, it's too expensive
and it's overkill: enter the Neo, to bring the Galaxy Note experience to
a wider audience. Samsung has formally announced the Galaxy Note 3 Neo,
but it looks like Neo won't be coming to the UK or US. Those in Poland,
however, you're in luck.
The Galaxy Note 3 Neo features faux leather back, neatly dressing the
5.5-inch 720p AMOLED display, 1.6GHz quad-core processor and
8-megapixel camera. It sounds like the Note 2 in a new coat and that's
pretty much what it is, with LTE thrown into the mix.
