We know mobile phone users are an opinionated bunch and can argue iOS vs. Android until their faces turn blue. (Trust us, we read the comments.) But what happens when you pull the competing operating system out of the equation and make it all about Android? Which flagship handset from all of the major makers of Android devices is truly the top of the OS class? It can be hard to say for sure because even when phones share a common OS, they can have a very different feel. We put the Samsung Galaxy S4, LG G2, HTC One, Motorola Moto X, and Google Nexus 5 side-by-side (by-side-by-side-by-side) to look at the things we can compare: the specs. Here’s a detailed look at three of the top most important categories, along with a full spec comparison to compare all the little bits.
Performance
Between the Galaxy S4, LG G2, HTC One, and Nexus 5 it’s easy to compare the internals. They all run off a Qualcomm quad-core processor–though the LG G2 and Nexus 5 have the latest and greatest with the Snapdragon 800–and all four have 2GB of RAM. All off them are plenty powerful. The Moto X throws a wrench in the whole thing with its Motorola X8 chipset. The octa-core wins in the “highest number of cores” contest, but does it actually mean anything? Most signs point to yes, but that could be thanks to another benefit the Moto X has: Stock Android without a modified UI. Samsung, LG, and HTC have all modified the user interface of its OS. While it create a unique experience for each device that sets each phone apart from its competitors, it also can bog down the phone with features that you don’t necessarily need. The other Android purist of the bunch, Google’s own Nexus 5, has been reaching high benchmarks on every test thrown its way. It’s also the only device at the moment running Android 4.4, which appears to be an efficient-running version of the OS. Even without the fancy X8 chipset of the Moto X, the Nexus 5 may be the best of the bunch when it comes to power and performance.
Display
The phone made by Motorola–the company purchased by Android provider Google–looks like it’s a bit behind the curve in display. It reaches 720p, which is still a pretty sight to look at, but trails behind all three of the other handsets that reach full 1080p HD. It’s not even the oldest handset out of the group, so the decision to go with 720p was a conscious one. (Even Google’s Nexus 5 is full HD with 1080 x1920 pixel resolution.) It doesn’t stop the display on the Moto X from being darn attractive and enough to show off whatever media you may use it for. That said, if you’re a pixel-obsessive person, you may notice the difference between the 1080p and the Moto X’s 720p. HTC One has the most pixel-dense screen around at 469 pixels per inch, the Nexus 5 reaches 445ppi, the Galaxy S4 has 441 ppi, and the LG G2 comes in at 424 ppi.
Camera
If you love to snap away with your phone and capture everything around you in every way possible, the camera can be a major selling point. We’ve seen a lot of companies pack in the megapixels on their lenses in hopes of upping the photo quality. The Galaxy S4 and G2 are prime examples of this, pumping up the rear camera to 13MP. The Moto X trails just a bit behind at 10MP, and all three of those devices have essentially the same front-facing camera. The Nexus 5 has perhaps the least impressive camera of the bunch at just 8MP, though it does have the additional optical image stabilization. The HTC One is the only one that doesn’t have an issue going with the smaller number in pixel count, opting for 4 ultrapixels. It looks less impressive on the spec sheet but it still takes some great shots, which is really what you’re worried about with your phone camera.
If you’re an Android loyalist or are just getting your first taste of the OS, you can’t really go wrong with any of these handsets. Samsung’s Galaxy S4 clearly has the name recognition at the moment, the Moto X has the impressive new chipset, Google’s Nexus 5 is straight from the OS maker and knows how to get the most out of Android, and the LG G2 and HTC One have both proven to be more than capable of showing off all that the operating system has to offer. We strongly suggest playing around with all four devices to see if a particular UI fits your needs better than others.
Full specs
Which phone has the biggest battery? Which has the latest version of Android? Which is the lightest? These are the smaller questions best left to a proper chart. And we have one for you. (By the way, the answers are the LG G2, Nexus 5, and a three-way tie between the Galaxy S4, Moto X and Nexus 5.)
Galaxy S4 |
LG G2  |
HTC One |
Moto X  |
Nexus 5 |
| Size | 136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9 (mm) | 138.5 x 70.9 x 8.9 (mm) | 137.4 x 68.2 x 9.3 (mm) | 129.3 x 65.3 x 10.4 (mm) | 69.1 x 137.8 x 8.6 (mm) |
| Weight | 130g | 143g | 143g | 130g | 130g |
| Screen | 5.0 inch Super AMOLED | 5.2-inch 1080p LCD | 4.7-inch LCD | 4.7-inch AMOLED | 4.95-inch Full HD IPS Plus |
| Resolution | 1080×1920 pixels | 1080×1920 pixels | 1080×1920 pixels | 720×1280 pixels | 1080 x 1920 pixels |
| OS | Android 4.2.2 with TouchWiz UI | Android 4.2.2 with LG UI | Android 4.3 with Sense 5.0 UI | Android 4.2.2 | Android 4.4 |
| Storage | 16/32/64GB | 16/32GB | 32/64GB | 16/32GB | 16/32GB |
| SD Card Slot | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Processor | Quad-core Snapdragon 600 | Quad-core Snapdragon 800 | Quad-core Snapdragon 600 | Motorola X8 chipset | Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 |
| RAM | 2GB | 2GB | 2GB | 2GB | 2GB |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, HSPA+, NFC | Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, HSPA+, NFC | Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, HSPA+, NFC | Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, HSPA+, NFC | Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, HSPA+, NFC |
| Camera | Front 2MP, Rear 13MP | Front 2.1MP, Rear 13MP | Front 2.1MP, Rear 4UP | Front 2MP, Rear 10MP | Front 1.3MP, Rear 8MP |
| Bluetooth | Yes, version 4.0 | Yes, version 4.0 | Yes, version 4.0 | Yes, version 4.0 | Yes, version 4.0 |
| Battery | 2600mAh | 3000mAh | 2300mAh | 2200mAh | 2300mAh |
| Batt. Removable? | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Quadrant Score | 11,381 | 17,700 | 12,194 | 8,519 | N/A |
| Charger | Micro USB | Micro USB | Micro USB | Micro USB | Micro USB |
| Marketplace | Google Play Store | Google Play Store | Google Play Store | Google Play Store | Google Play Store |
| Ave. Price | $200+ (with 2-year contract) | $100+ (with 2-year contract) | $100+ (with 2-year contract) | $100+ (with 2-year contract) | $350+ (with no contract) |
| Availability | AT&T, Sprint, T-Mob, Verizon, U.S. Cellular | AT&T, Sprint, T-Mob, Verizon | AT&T, Sprint, T-Mob, Verizon | AT&T, Sprint, T-Mob, Verizon, U.S. Cellular | AT&T, Sprint, T-Mob, Google |
Read more: http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/
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