HTC One $968 (32GB) from HTC Concept Store
Hot: Next to other plastic Android phones, the polished design and sturdy aluminium chassis make this number feel like a million bucks. Sense 5, a new interface, turns your home screen into a very goodlooking news feed, making it a choice option for social media mavens.
Not: The missing menu button may put off some users used to the three button Android interface, and while 32/64GB of space is plenty, there isn’t a micro SD card slot to jack it up.
Samsung Galaxy S4 $998 from Samsung Experience Store
Hot: By far the biggest buzz-maker of the lot, its ramped up specs include a 1.9GHz quad-core, a 13 megapixel rear camera, nine sensors to detect everything from humidity to magnetic fields, as well as an extended battery life, all packed into the same dimensions as its predecessor.
Not: It seems class is lost on the Samsung folk. At nearly $1,000, the Galaxy S4 could’ve done away with the cheap plastic chassis (that’s unfortunately become its signature) for something classier. Instead, they’ve added a whole lot of random features, most of which you’ll probably never find a use for—who needs an atmospheric pressure sensor?
Sony Xperia Z $888 from Sony Store
Hot: Images and videos display beautifully on its 1920×1080 five inch screen coupled with a 13 megapixel camera to take them. But the clear winner here is the glass frame that hugs the hardware so snug; it keeps out water.
Not: It’s a pretty display, but the screen scratches and smudges far too easily. Having a waterproof phone also means the ports are covered with flaps making access a little slower.
Blackberry Q10 $898 from Starhub Shop
Hot: Blackberry diehards can rejoice as its physical keyboards are not being phased out (yet). Combined with the powerful Blackberry 10 operating system which offers over 100,000 apps, this refresher looks set to get its former fans back onboard.
Not: It may be a cinch for existing users to switch over, but touchscreen users will find the keyboard cumbersome at first. Instagram junkies might also have to wait as imaging apps haven’t yet debuted on this OS.
Nokia Lumia 720 $479 from Nokia Shop
Hot: This mid-range all-rounder gives you all the smartphone perks you need without breaking the bank.
Not: The notification bar found in iOS6, Android and even Blackberry 10 is absent. Phone statuses like wifi, reception strength and battery life are shown only if you tap the top of the screen. Unfortunately, this functionality is missing in some apps.
