As the CES device mania dies down, we’ve taken a thorough look through all the latest handsets unveiled at the show, cross-referenced them against the rumoured handsets due for release this year, and put together our list of the top 10 smartphones you should be saving your cash or upgrade for.
So don’t rush off to put in your BYOD request or visit your mobile operator just yet, it might be that the perfect phone for you is coming out in the next few months.
10. Huawei Ascend Mate 2
The Huawei Ascend Mate 2 was one of the first smartphones to debut at this year’s CES, and it certainly managed to get people talking.
The Huawei Ascend Mate 2 was one of the first smartphones to debut at this year’s CES, and it certainly managed to get people talking.With a 6.1in HD display, the Ascend Mate 2 will be one of the largest devices to hit the smartphone market this year. Powering this gigantic screen is a quad-core 1.6GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400processor, and the phone arrives running Google’s Android 4.3 Jelly Bean software, skinned with Huawei’s own custom user interface.
Keen to make an impression, the Huawei Ascend Mate 2 also packs a mammoth 4,050mAh battery, which the firm claims is also capable of charging other devices. It also has 4G LTE support and a 13MP rear-facing camera, paired with a 5MP camera on the front.
A release date for the Huawei Ascend Mate 2 is still to be announced.
9. Sony Xperia Z1 Compact
Sony unwrapped the Xperia Z1 Compact – a miniature version of its flagship Xperia Z1 smartphone – at CES. What really gives this compressed device an edge to compete in the 2014 mobile market with the likes of the iPhone, is that it retains the high-end specifications of its older brother, but for a more affordable SIM-free price of £450.
Sony unwrapped the Xperia Z1 Compact – a miniature version of its flagship Xperia Z1 smartphone – at CES. What really gives this compressed device an edge to compete in the 2014 mobile market with the likes of the iPhone, is that it retains the high-end specifications of its older brother, but for a more affordable SIM-free price of £450.Powered by a 2.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor with 2GB of RAM, this is rare for a smartphone of this size. Boasting the same 20.7MP sensor as its flagship sibling, it is also completely waterproof and loaded with a decent application line-up, including Sony's Walkman and PlayStation companion apps – a bonus for any PS4 fanatics.
8. LG G Flex
The LG G Flex was a noble attempt from the South Korean firm to do something a little different. Under the G Flex's banana-shaped exterior lies a powerful smartphone running a slightly out-of-date 4.2.2 Jelly Bean version of Android. It's backed up by a quad-core Qualcomm processor and boasts a delightfully high-resolution display on a frightfully large 6.1in screen.It's the exterior that's the talking point: the slight curve is more comfortable to hold against your face when making phone calls, and LG's cutting-edge bendable components mean you can genuinely flex the phone, as its name suggests. Of course, there's no real reason to bend the phone, but we suppose it gives the device better rugged credentials, as should its "self-healing" plastic cover.
7. HTC One 2
7. HTC One 2
The HTC One (pictured left) was highly acclaimed when it first launched, with nifty features such as its BlinkFeed news service and impressive camera technology. Sadly for HTC and despite good reviews, it didn’t fly off the shelves and the firm struggled in the face of Samsung's and Apple's dominance.But the firm is set to unveil the confusingly named HTC One 2 in the coming months. We know this in part thanks to a High Court judge who as good as revealed the news during a court battle between HTC and Nokia. Leaks come from the most surprising places.
The device is likely to be shown off around February, possibly at the Mobile World Congress trade show, or later on in March at HTC's own event, when we’ll get to see what HTC has been planning for the flagship device.
cessor – rumoured to be named the Xperia Z2 – should have some impressive design and feature updates. According to the rumours these include a super-slim form factor and a super high resolution of 2560x1440. If true, this would make it higher quality than any iPhone released so far.
Codenamed Sirius, the Xperia Z2 is expected to be announced at Mobile World Congress in February this year. So far, rumoured specs include the same 20.7MP camera sensor as seen on the Xperia Z1, a 3,700mAh battery to avoid the need for a daily charge, and a meaty Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor.
6. Blackphone
Since news of the PRISM spying campaign broke, privacy has been at the forefront of many people's minds. The scandal has made people more concerned than ever about what happens to their data.So secure communications specialist Silent Circle teamed up with hardware engineers at Geeksphone to create a new snoop-busting Blackphone. Due to appear at this year's Mobile World Congress, little is known about the Blackphone past that it will run using a heavily customised, security-focused version of Android, codenamed PrivatOS.
Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) encryption protocol creator and Silent Circle president Phil Zimmermann has lent his support to the phone and promised it will let users securely send and receive data. Even with what little we know so far about the mysterious Blackphone, we can't help but get excited about it.
5. Sony Xperia Z2
If Sony's last flagship smartphone, the Xperia Z1 (pictured left), is anything to go by, its successor – rumoured to be named the Xperia Z2 – should have some impressive design and feature updates. According to the rumours these include a super-slim form factor and a super high resolution of 2560x1440. If true, this would make it higher quality than any iPhone released so far.
If Sony's last flagship smartphone, the Xperia Z1 (pictured left), is anything to go by, its successor – rumoured to be named the Xperia Z2 – should have some impressive design and feature updates. According to the rumours these include a super-slim form factor and a super high resolution of 2560x1440. If true, this would make it higher quality than any iPhone released so far.Codenamed Sirius, the Xperia Z2 is expected to be announced at Mobile World Congress in February this year. So far, rumoured specs include the same 20.7MP camera sensor as seen on the Xperia Z1, a 3,700mAh battery to avoid the need for a daily charge, and a meaty Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor.
4. Nokia Normandy
On the face of things, it seems extremely odd that the Finnish firm, which was snapped up by Microsoft back in September, would start releasing phones running an operating system directly competing with Microsoft's Windows Phone 8.The most recent alleged spy shots from often-accurate rumour monger Evleaks show an interface not entirely unlike the Windows Phone 8, with colourful, large tiles making its Android underbelly almost completely unrecognisable. The Normandy devices are apparently due this year, although quite what specifications they'll have and who they'll be marketed at remains to be seen.
3. Samsung Galaxy S5
3. Samsung Galaxy S5
The Samsung Galaxy S5 is arguably the most anticipated smartphone of 2014, purely because of the number of leaks and rumours surrounding it.If these endless rumours are to be believed, the Galaxy S5 will be available in two versions: a high-end metal model and a cheaper, plastic alternative, with the firm seemingly taking tips from Apple’s iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C launch.
There’s also talk that the device will feature Samsung’s eight-core Exynos 6 chip, a 5in 2K resolution display, Google’s Android 4.4 KitKat operating system, a 20MP rear-facing camera with 4K video capabilities, and a two-day battery life. Some speculation has also suggested that, like the Samsung Galaxy Round, the Galaxy S5 could feature a flexible display.
Expect the Samsung Galaxy S5 to be unveiled in March, with a release to follow in April.
2. Nexus 6
With the Nexus 5 only released in November, little is known about Google's next flagship smartphone, which is commonly referred to as the Nexus 6.
But given the success it has had with its last two LG-made Nexus devices, it's a safe bet it'll be cheap. Both the Nexus 4 and Nexus 5 offered buyers great value for money. With prices starting at a modest £300, the two flagship smartphones offered performance and specifications usually only seen on handsets that cost twice the price.
This tactic has proven a solid hit with buyers and helped both the Nexus 4 and Nexus 5 sell out on the official Google Play Store hours after being made available. Given the success of the two devices, we can't see Google straying too far from its established pattern for the Nexus 6, which is no bad thing.
1. iPhone 6
Apple launched its iPhone 5S last September, and according to its own sales stats the handset was another winner. The firm also unveiled the 5C, a second lower-priced handset with a plastic casing, available in a range of colours.
Apple launched its iPhone 5S last September, and according to its own sales stats the handset was another winner. The firm also unveiled the 5C, a second lower-priced handset with a plastic casing, available in a range of colours.Apple managed to shift nine million iPhone 5S and 5C devices in the first three days of availability. But the firm still faced questions over its lack of innovation. By the time the iPhone 5S went on sale – basically a lighter and thinner version of the previous iPhone 5, but with a faster chip and fingerprint scanner – rival smartphone manufacturers had launched an array of competing handsets offering super-sized screens, bargain price points and fancy software features.
For that reason, we think the iPhone 6 – or 5SS, or whatever Apple ends up calling it – will be the handset to wait for this year. Rumours are that Apple will unveil a larger device with a 5.5in screen, which could help it compete with successful Android handsets such as the S4. While not much else is known about the next premium iPhone, based on Apple's normal release schedule, this handset is likely to feature a more major overhaul than seen between the iPhone 5 and 5S. Whether that's a phablet or mini version, or the addition of tech such as NFC or wireless charging, Apple will need to do something pretty drastic if it's going to overtake Samsung as the top mobile device vendor.
