Name your Top-10 devices released this year! - Off-topic

Hey guys,
So, as you already know, the end of 2015 is near and in just a couple of weeks we'll enter 2016, embracing the new devices, new technologies, new chips that will reside in your future phones and tablets, and perhaps will see interesting changes to the manufacturers from around the world as one makes a mistake, while others learn and improve from theirs
Seeing as how this year has been a really interesting one for pretty much every OEM out there, whether the device manufacturedc shipped with Android, iOS, Windows or other operating system, like when Motorola kinda disappointed us with updates for Moto E, LG pumped out great G4 and V10, and Samsung went backwards on the Galaxy S6.
Nevertheless, I think we can all agree that this year everybody found a device to pick up, no matter if its on the low-end pricing model like the Moto G or Xperia E4, or a solid mid-range like Nexus 5X and Motorola X Play, going into the premium-class range of top-devices like Xperia Z5, Galaxy S6, iPhone 6S, Nexus 6P, and many others
But I guess I'll get straight to the point:
What, in your opinion, were the Top-10 best mobile devices released througout 2015?
If you can't put them in a straight-up order - no fear, just list them here and we'll discuss it together
Aaaaaaand GO!

Related

Anyone else upset...

...that there will most likely never ever be an official superphone Nexus 2?
With the online store a relative failure, we will probably have to buy new phones from our carriers (or from the manufacturers God willing) and yea...kinda sucks.
I wish Google REALLY tried to change the game and A) made sure HTC used the absolute BEST materials and hardware for the N1, B) priced it at like 300 without contract and 100 on contract and C) MARKETED THE HELL OUT OF IT
oh well... :-/
I see the Nexus one as a Massive success, personally. Check out all of the newer android phones on the market since it was released.
Compare to the HTC Hero, Samsung Moment, or Moto Droid.
Would definitely be a bummed. I was only going to buy nexus successors, with all the damn new choices all the damn time that would've given some order to my life. Plus its the only reason I renewed with t-mobile. Ill hold out hope at least until January 5th...
Nexus 2
Man that sucks, It would mean that the Nexus 1 is my last Android phone! (I'm waiting on the Nexus 2)
The Nexus One may not have been the insanely high volume sales success of other devices out there. But that doesn't mean it was a failure. In fact, IIRC, Google has come out and said that based on the sales figure, it has technically been a success for them. Whether or not there will be a "Nexus Two" is purely speculation at this point. There's only one way to find out (wait).
And either way, I doubt there will be any disappointment either way. If there is a Nexus Two, then everyone here can go WOOHOO! And if there isn't a Nexus Two, I'm sure something will come out around its ETA that is equally as stunning to those waiting for it.
regardless if there is or isnt going to be a Nexus 2 the Nexus 1 is an amazing phone and has begun aging gracefully. I can say that any Android phone i get in the future i will judge it on how awesome it is/isnt in comparison to my Nexus 1
Did you know that the 2 most discussed device specific sub forums here are the the HD2 and the Nexus sub forums?
What does that tell you?
lorin.bute said:
Did you know that the 2 most discussed device specific sub forums here are the the HD2 and the Nexus sub forums?
What does that tell you?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That we're a bunch of social butterflies and those "other people" are the silent types.
slowz3r said:
regardless if there is or isnt going to be a Nexus 2 the Nexus 1 is an amazing phone and has begun aging gracefully. I can say that any Android phone i get in the future i will judge it on how awesome it is/isnt in comparison to my Nexus 1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1. And, it's nice knowing that updates will continue to come straight from Google while others will be at the mercy of the carriers. I rarely keep a phone for more than 6 months or so, but I can't see giving up my N1 anytime soon.
AvengerBB said:
+1. And, it's nice knowing that updates will continue to come straight from Google while others will be at the mercy of the carriers. I rarely keep a phone for more than 6 months or so, but I can't see giving up my N1 anytime soon.
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I see all these "new" phones coming out with 1Ghz processors and AMOLED screens and such and i always go "been there done that". Phones IMHO are just now catching up to the Nexus.
So unless there is something "new" that my nexus doesn't have then i wont be getting a new phone any time soon. And by something new i dont mean a bigger screen because i should be able to put a phone in my pocket without feeling like its gonna break in half, or it makes it uncomfortable to sit down. *cough cough EVO and Droid*
Erm, I thought you could still buy the nexus one sim free from shops, or at least expansys.
I think we'll be spoilt for choice even if there isn't a "nexus two" because HTC are obviously comitted to android phones and aside from various other brands Samsung seem to have come out with a really nice phone in the Galaxy S.
the main reason I got the N1 was because it's uncluttered from carrier overlays, it's 'pure' android (i switched from an iPhone 3G) - and I prefer being contract free.
I hope there is a N2, although I do like the looks of the Droid X (I'm in Europe though). there's plenty of life left in my N1 ...
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App
I'm not upset in the slightest.
Yes there are other phones out there with similar/better specs...but from the a developers stand point, its there favorite toy at the moment.
I'm glad that the Nexus One came because it set a new standard beyond the 528 MHz Qualcomms that Android devices were stuck on, and even now has barely been eclipsed in terms of speed or features. There are no phones out right now that I would consider a true upgrade from the N1, more of a side-grade.
I agree we will never see a Nexus Two, and yes, it does make me sad.
I HATE carrier provided phones
They're always laden with ****ware.
There will always be an ADP (Android developer phone) It just may not be called Nexus.
Clarkster said:
There will always be an ADP (Android developer phone) It just may not be called Nexus.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But none of the developer phones have supported the AT&T or Rogers 3G bands. I'm afraid that no Nexus 2 means no more AT&T support on developer phones.
Dammit.
where is there a competitive smarthphone today that is $300 unsubsidized period?
Given the business and licensing model of Android, there will always have to be some kind of benchmark. Something that defines the minimum spec needed to run new OS versions. What features are needed, what hardware is required, what level of overhead can developers use for their apps. This wasn't as important when there was only 4 models around, 3 of which were from the same manufacturer.
This benchmark doesn't need to be made available to consumers, see the Android Dev phones released prior to the N1. It does need to exist. However, Google also seems interested in pushing the exterior to look as polished as the guts, so if you're going through the expense of creating hardware, software and a casing, why not sell it?
Besides with the N1 just now becoming available in B&M stores worldwide (Vodafone aside), it's consumer success/failure is just now being decided.
the two main reasons i love the nexus are that it has cutting edge hardware, and i was (still am) hoping a new one would come each year, like the iphone. It would be nice to be able to depend on a yearly upgrade, then i could sit back and enjoy the insanity around me that is the ever evolving, ultra competitive, Android industry...i love it, i just cant keep up with it, i need some sort of order and stability in my life!

The greatest android support for i9000?

hello,
I was wondering if galaxy s has the best android community support for phones ever? because it has 1822 threads with over 600k posts on android development section. And I couldn't find any other phone which would come even close to these numbers. And that's sad on the other hand, because if I would like to buy other phone I would choose one with huge community support, because it means a lot, it makes phone not obsolete and abbandoned. So what other phones (1-2 year old) has that kind of support ?
Merci Well, you not only have to factor in the sales numbers of the phones (Galaxy S certainly didn't lack it, as I recall that it sold 10 million+), you also have to factor in how the manufacturer treats their devices with regards to updates as well as the nature of the device.
For instance, the Galaxy S2, S3 and S4 (i9100,9300,9500) are great sellers, but they all (basically anything with exynos) would be horrible choices because of closed sources with regards to the SoC.
The S1 was a unique case as it is almost an exact copy of the Nexus S Google phone, so there was proper development.
For the highest quality development, look no further than the nexus Series (Galaxy Nexus, nexus 4) which are the easiest for developers to develop with, but they only form a small part of the market niche, so there might not be the sheer volume of development.
Other worthy mentions include the HTC one and Galaxy S4 (i9505) which have Google play editions and are good candidates because of their popularity, especially the S4.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk
Interesting. I keep that in mind buying another phone, however I love my S1, so it won't be soon

Sign The Petition For Official LG Updates!

Hey guys, since 4.1.2 is pretty naff for most LG devices, I've set up, and am trying to launch a petition to get some action on some officialness for some of the flagship devices..
https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/lg-release-official-android-updates-for-flagship-devices#
Sign and share, and post everywhere you can, add to your signatures, I think LG will learn to finally listen and compete with their rivals!
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Sorry but when pointed to this I had to reply
Lg is not going to listen go these change petitions. Anyone who says different is kidding themselves. Either make do with what you have or learn to do it yourself
Sorry to be blunt but it's the truth and that's basically life
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
LG do wath they want. I'm pretty sure that they will update (or not) because they know that have weight for their marketing.
Yeah i think that lg shares updates in subordination of her marketing projects and ther's no way to change this, unluckily
They already stated that they'll be rolling out KitKat not only for the top-of-the-line devices but also the whole L series (2nd gen), including the cheaper L3-II and L4-II (maybe even L1-II), so i think in doing that, LG is not treating it's costumers that bad.
If you want KitKat for the L series (1st gen), you'll have to wait for CM based releases or compile one yourself, we can't ask any brand to eternally update their old line of devices, when the market nowadays calls for a constant stream of new ones.
If any brand gets stuck on updating older generation devices instead of newer ones, they go bankrupt. Updates are free, so brands get $0.00 for it. Selling devices is what keeps them alive.
It's maintaining the balance between these two factors that makes a good user-friendly brand, and LG for now is doing rather well i think. Better than Samsung at least, since they will only update to 4.4 their top of the tops...
JBolho said:
They already stated that they'll be rolling out KitKat not only for the top-of-the-line devices but also the whole L series (2nd gen), including the cheaper L3-II and L4-II (maybe even L1-II), so i think in doing that, LG is not treating it's costumers that bad.
If you want KitKat for the L series (1st gen), you'll have to wait for CM based releases or compile one yourself, we can't ask any brand to eternally update their old line of devices, when the market nowadays calls for a constant stream of new ones.
If any brand gets stuck on updating older generation devices instead of newer ones, they go bankrupt. Updates are free, so brands get $0.00 for it. Selling devices is what keeps them alive.
It's maintaining the balance between these two factors that makes a good user-friendly brand, and LG for now is doing rather well i think. Better than Samsung at least, since they will only update to 4.4 their top of the tops...
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I agree with you on that. LG's doing rather well as a user-friendly brand. I've given up my iPhone in April and only came back to having a smartphone last month by buying an LG and I'm contented with it so far.

A legitimate question I have never seen the answer to.

This is kinda a question and a discussion starter.
The Moto X has allot going for it above other phones:
-It has great battery life
-It has features aimed at the general consumer and keeps the interface looking pretty while doing it
-It has the Moto Maker
-It looks beautiful and unique (wood backs anyone?)
-The price is great for the specs
-The screen is bright and clear despite being only 720p
-Aiming at the everyday consumers not just the geeker consumers
-The marketing budget I think was close to 500 million (I may be wrong)
-It is on all carriers, and has big displays in all their stores (when I was looking around my area at carrier's stores to see if this is true a couple of stores had people actually were looking at the Moto X with delight)
-It has several other small features like fast updates and a decent camera
-Insert other things I forgot to add of what it has going for it
So my question is this. With all these things going for it why wasn't it successful? It is a phone that could have competed with the likes of Samsung and Apple and would have done well doing so, this has always confused me.
Sent from my Moto X which is better than the S4 or HTC One
1. Most people like high end specs which the phone kinda lacks.
2. Not enough exposure in media
Motorola did a great job with moto x. I hope they continue with it.
Sent from my XT1056 using xda app-developers app
I have no idea where they spent that marketing budget but the blame has to rest solely on them. So many tech and industry people agree the Moto X was one of the top devices or the top device of 2013. The engineering team who designed it should be extremely proud of the design and features. It really was a total let down in the advertising department - they really needed to push touchless control and active notifications.
Comes down to sammy and apple, those 2 brands seem to be in peoples minds , cool & hip. If you have neither you're second class. I was offered an s4 from Rogers which would have cost me less but I just preferred the feel of how the moto felt in my hands, nor did I want to follow the herd. bah bah bah bah
Sent on my Gummy running Lenoto X
Here's what I think. While people know about Motorola, they know Samsung and Apple better. Just about everyone I've talked to knows who Samsung is and what they make for the most part. The Galaxy S series is very popular and has a lot of media attention. The Moto X didn't get a lot of this and MotoMaker even less. Apple on the other hand has a loyal crowd. Macintosh is one of the top three operating systems and a good chunk of those that use Macs are going to to pick up an iPhone because it's an Apple product.
I work as an indirect cell phone retailer (basically I sell AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, and a lot of prepaid). When I talk with a customer, almost all of them know about the newest Samsung Galaxy S and/or the newest iPhone. I will also get customers the come in and ask "what's the best phone?" (I love getting asked this) I'll try to ask questions to help find a phone that fits their needs, but most will just pick the phone with the most features, specs, or the simplest to operate.
The thing is, most of us here probably spend a good amount of time looking into the phones we're interested in. We learn what works, doesn't work, how optimized (or not) the system is, and so on. We here are generally the minority of cell phone consumers. Those that have done their "homework" don't come to me asking what phone to get. They generally get the phone themselves and usually off-contract. The majority of consumers will get a familiar named phone that has features and high specs, even if a mid-range phone that's optimized can out perform it.
I think I'm gonna start referring to the iPhone 5S as a midrange device with its 640p screen, dual-core processor, and 1GB of RAM. I don't think 1080p would be beneficial in a 4.7" screen. Offloading the sensor and voice data to tailored DSPs was a smart choice too.
Anyway, it takes time to chip away at the big names like Samsung and Apple.
Where the 2013 Nexus 7 gets praise for its quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro (a rebadged S600), the Moto X gets derided for its dual-core S4 Pro (also using most of the S600 internals). People think it's old hardware, but it's not. That was another uphill battle for Motorola.
A better camera would have resulted in my wife and sister both getting one. I can deal with it, they can't.
However for the first time in years I was asked "what kind of phone is that" by someone. the cashier at home Depot when they were scanning my return email off my phone. "I like the size, it's not huge".
I think moto is (was) off to a great start with a new line of phones with great performance and not huge. Hell the new galaxy s5 is going to be as big as the note at 5.25". What iphoner is going to do that? Not my mom that's for sure. But the x could win those people over over the next few generations of devices.
Sent from my XT1060 using Tapatalk
Yeah...I don't think Motorola failed as much as Samsung and apple succeeded.
People get iPhone and Samsung thrown at them in ads and word of mouth....so that's what they buy.
It will be hard to change that. Very. Look at iPhone. They've made no significant changes in years. Same old thing...just slightly quicker. But people are buying them...cause that's what their friends have. LOL
It may never change. The other makers can just hope to turn a profit at this point.....beating out the two giants will be a long haul.
Sent from my Moto X cellular telephone...
The general public does know about devices like we do. If you asked most people if they knew what was different about the iPhone 5s they would say its gold and has a finger print scanner. Its all word of mouth really. Everybody at my work had I phones but one person bought a galaxy so now everyone else bought a galaxy. Once I go to work with my bamboo back x they will drool.
I have literally owned every smartphone that att has sold plus Nexus's. Moto x blows all of those phones away.
Yeah, I can't even count the number of GS4 and GN3 variants there are internationally. Samsung sells their products EVERYWHERE. They have some serious market penetration, which partially explains their ridiculous sales numbers.
The rest is brand identity. Old Motorola shot themselves in the foot by not offering the same branded phone on every carrier. On Verizon, you could get a Droid RAZR HD, but on AT&T, it was its cousin the Atrix HD. There was no continous brand identity like there is now with the Moto X and Moto G. That helped Samsung build up their Galaxy line too.
Apple and Samsung have its OWN "shiny" stores in malls and stands in Best Buy. Apple was the first one to open cool stores, now Samsung is doing the same.
Moto X arrived in summer without motomaker and was like on 1 or 2 carriers in USA, months later it came to motomaker and was available on all carriers, and now half a year later its available internationally. Half a year is a long time, its already an "old" phone....we got G2, G Flex, and soon S5 coming out.
All I gotta say is... It's a marathon, not a foot race.
Motorola has broken into the smartphone game again, but they need tablets, phablets, laptops and wearables. They need to be competitive in every aspect of people's lives, then and only then will they gain the market share. That my friends will take time and support from us, the true Motorola fans.
MotoX GSM Developer Edition, Bootloader Unlocked, Rooted, Stock 4.4.2 Great Britain on T-Mobile !
Moto_G said:
Only available in USA on initial release is the biggest problem.
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Click to collapse
Only available on AT&T as well. Bad move by Motorola.
Really simple... money.
Samsung can spend tons of money on marketing, Apple doesn't necessarily needs (its just hype), but they also spend a lot...
Motorola have made the perfect phone, but it lacks on money for advertising and distribution...
That's why I'm please with Lenovo acquisition, they got tons and tons of money and, as it appears, they want to keep Motorola as it is but expand the market distribution.
They need to spend billions in ads campaign and have their super bowl commercials. The word "Motorola" doesn't really rhyme with hip. Another factor is the last two Moto phones are made for ergonomic use and price value, it's not the current fad. You can argue Apple is ergonomic, but the MotoX is lost in the sea of Android big screen phones. The current fad is subsidized 2 years contract and a 6" phablet with high end specs and bloatwares with poor software optimization.
Also MotoX and G just came out for a short time, they need more time to build up the 'Moto' name. There are only two devices now (that's how I see it), it's early days, eventually they'll have to make phablet and tablets as well.
sent via my Le Motonovo X
Only one real answer to this question, the rest of the answers like "specs" are not true (most customers don't know). Answer is marketing.
I don't know if that is true. I have seen several commercials about it. I may be wrong though.
Sent from my XT1060 using xda app-developers app
rupterr said:
Only available on AT&T as well. Bad move by Motorola.
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Click to collapse
what are you talking about? moto x is available on pretty much every carrier in the us.
lenovo buying motorola will be very good for moto x sales moving forward. lenovo is the 3rd largest phone manufacturer and make very high quality ones at that. hopefully they only look to improve the moto x not change it.
I'd say marketing (see iPhone) and most people are specs/benchmarks whores.
sicmadek said:
what are you talking about? moto x is available on pretty much every carrier in the us.
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Click to collapse
It was only available thru AT&T in the U.S. when initially released. It took a couple of months for the other carriers to get it. That's where Motorola failed.

Similar device to the 2nd gen Moto X?

I've been thinking of upgrading from my 1st gen Moto G. I eventually settled on the 2nd gen Moto X as a suitable replacement. Unfortunately, due to a horrendous experience with Motorola customer service, that's not going to be happening. I kind of settled on the 4.7" Idol 3 as a replacement (yeah, quite a step down, and more of a sidegrade from a Moto G), but I thought before I pulled the trigger I'd try to crowdsource another option.
Basically, my priorities are:
Length no greater than 140mm (5.5"). So I guess I'm looking at a 5" screen.
Unlocked GSM.
Price range $200-300 (new).
Not terribly old; still available new.
Company with a decent track record of getting OS updates to their devices.
Any opinions on non-Moto options I could look at?
fornax.sh said:
I've been thinking of upgrading from my 1st gen Moto G. I eventually settled on the 2nd gen Moto X as a suitable replacement. Unfortunately, due to a horrendous experience with Motorola customer service, that's not going to be happening. I kind of settled on the 4.7" Idol 3 as a replacement (yeah, quite a step down, and more of a sidegrade from a Moto G), but I thought before I pulled the trigger I'd try to crowdsource another option.
Basically, my priorities are:
Length no greater than 140mm (5.5"). So I guess I'm looking at a 5" screen.
Unlocked GSM.
Price range $200-300 (new).
Not terribly old; still available new.
Company with a decent track record of getting OS updates to their devices.
Any opinions on non-Moto options I could look at?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nexus 5? Close to that price point I'm guessing!
Good luck finding anything, most newer phones are either to big or to expensive or both. The moto x 2014 has its flaws for sure but based on your above specs its STILL your best choice.
https://www.motorola.com/us/motomaker?pid=FLEXR2
Starting at $299 new
Optimusman said:
Nexus 5? Close to that price point I'm guessing!
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Click to collapse
Wow, I didn't actually realize that was in my price range (or close enough, anyway). That's really tempting, but it's almost a 2 year old phone (actually a month older than the phone it would be replacing). I think I'd be concerned about how long it's going to be supported yet. Definitely a step up, though, so I'll consider it. Thanks!
adm1jtg said:
Good luck finding anything, most newer phones are either to big or to expensive or both. The moto x 2014 has its flaws for sure but based on your above specs its STILL your best choice.
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Click to collapse
Yeah, after the experience I just had, I'm voting with my dollars. Moto is out for this one.
I just ran across the Huawei P8 Lite, which is sort of looking interesting at first glance.
maybe wait on the new lg based nexus that should be announced in a few months i think its only 5.5"
adm1jtg said:
maybe wait on the new lg based nexus that should be announced in a few months i think its only 5.5"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you talking about what I've been hearing referred to as the Nexus 5 2015? Will probably be out of my price range at release, and I'm not sure I can wait that long. Thanks for the suggestion, though.
As great as the old Nexus 5 looks, I'm reading about Google putting a 2 year cap on major OS upgrades for the Nexus line, and that's almost up already. So that's out as well.
P8 Lite still looks interesting, except that they're still on KitKat with it. I can probably live with that until someone gets an aftermarket ROM running on it, though... I've only been playing around with Lollipop for a few weeks on my Moto, and I haven't found anything I can't live without.
just be sure you can unlock the bootloader and that there is dev support for that phone. Many of the cheaper phones ESPECIALLY meditek based ones seem to have questionable support and os upgradeability
Yeah although the nexus 5 is 2 years old the snapdragon 800 is similar to the 801 found in the moto x2014! The screen is an HD lcd panel, similar as far as resolution, yet different type of screen, x2014 has an amoled screen! And truthfully the nexus 5 if the bootloader is unlocked and your rooted with custom recovery will have the newest software for a few years to come! Unlike many other oem's which implement there own software into Android therefore guaranteeing very few updates! Look at the nexus 4, runs current 5.1.1, but I'm sure once 6.0 comes out the amazing devs will port roms for Android 6.0, and that phone is ancient lol, but it's a nexus!!! Good luck whatever you choose friend

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