No phone is the best, one can only be the best for YOU.
Amen. The simple and best answer here.
I see many, many brands of phones every mall I go to. There is no such thing as the perfect phone and the best phone is simply based on personal opinion and what strengths you prioritize MOST from a phone. Stephen Schenck from PocketNow prioritizes on PRICE/VALUE, so Nexus 5 is his daily driver. He simply doesn't want to be stuck on a 2-yr contract or pay north of $450.
I barely rank iPhone 6 on my Top 5. Why? Because while millions love iOS and ecosystem, I don't. My biggest qualm from iPhones is really iOS and the abundant reliance on iTunes to move and delete photos/music. They simply represent the CONTROL FREAK nature of Apple. And iOS simply hasn't matured fast enough for me. It is the same why some will never like Android for being laggy, complicated, or whatever.
I once loved iOS like a high school sweetheart. Back in 2008, iPhone OS 1.1.4 and I had alot of fun. But I grew up the way Android did while Apple's strict parenting stunted iOS' growth. Apple doesn't need to make iOS an open platform. They just need to make it flexible enough for OTHER brands to communicate with. Windows isn't open either but it isn't laced with proprietary handcuffs.
2014
Design
HTC One M8
Display
Samsung Galaxy Note 4
Sound (external)
HTC One M8
Sound (internal)
Sony Xperia Z3 series
Features/Extras
Samsung Galaxy Note 4
Camera
One of the Nokia Lumias...
1020 of last year might still rule!
Battery
Sony Xperia Z3 Compact
Best Value
OnePlus One
Resell Value
Apple iPhone 6 Plus
For me, the best phones -
1. Sony Xperia Z3 series
2. Samsung Galaxy Note 4
3. HTC One M8
4. OnePlus One (best value)
5. Apple iPhone 6/6+ (but barely)
I would throw in the Nokia Lumia 1020 of last year ($320) somewhere in the Top 10 because its photography STILL blows away anything iPhone 5s/6/6 Plus has offered. Some site compared Lumia 1020 vs iPhone 5s vs top of the line DSLR cams last year. Current DSLR cams still surpass our cameraphones by a few years. But 5s was like 9-10 years behind while Lumia 1020 was only 3-6 years behind the best DSLR cams of 2013.
It's when uninformed or inexperienced iPhone reviewers like from The Verge say iPhone 6/6 Plus have the best camera ever on a smartphone is when I start telling myself that more people should try out OTHER brands. Not just compare it from the prev iPhone or from a smartphone they only tested for a week to come to the conclusion that iPhone 6/6+ have THE BEST cameras.
Sony vs Samsung (former #1 vs current #1)
I believe a Sony smartphone is the best (for me) especially for needs like battery life and comfortable size. But I don't believe the Japanese conglomerate is a better brand than the South Korean conglomerate. I checked out the curved Samsung UHD display yesterday. I checked the Sony 4K ones after. I shook my head and said to myself, "DAMN. Sorry, Spider-Man/PlayStation fanboys. You lost." Samsung is simply destroying Sony in the TV market as if Samsung is Godzilla destroying the streets of Akihabara. And this is coming from a Sony fanboy who grew up with Sony products since the 1980's. South Koreans and the Chinese are starting to shed the label of inferior quality to the Japanese. I'm sounding like a Samsung apologist here.
I realized the things I dislike from Samsung is superficial. And it isn't even a race war. I have many great experiences with Japanese and South Koreans people alike. Japan is my favorite country I ever visited but I actually have more friendships with Koreans. Always gracious to me. And Samsung doesn't cater to just "poor" people either. They price a TV for $100K which is like 30X more than the most expensive product Apple offers. If Samsung isn't the TOP brand in tech, they are generally near it. They are generally CONSISTENT in most aspects and areas where they usually get roasted for like design/build quality is improving. And TouchWiz should be an easy fix after HTC and LG revamped their skins.
For smartphones - Sony Xperia Z3/Z3C
Overall better tech brand than most - Samsung
. If I couldn't use that, I'd go for Nokia or Samsung Windows Phone... then maybe an iPhone.
