2014 has been a year of mostly gradual evolution in the smartphone space. Which phone reigned supreme?
Image: Beatnik Photos
Is it really that time of year again? I suppose it must be, because in the absence of a really good working time machine app, you can’t stop the hands of time.
If I had to sum up 2014’s crop of smartphones, I’d say that while they got a little faster, a little thinner and generally a little bigger, there weren’t really that many genuine surprises or innovations in store for smartphone buyers this year. That’s a sign of the maturing market in smartphones, but it wasn’t really matched with a general lowering of prices. You can pick up bargains, but they’re generally for last year’s phones or last year’s technology. New smartphones in 2014 saw prices trending upwards, and local carriers seemingly less willing to eat the cost of handsets as part of an overall contract plan.
Let’s have a look at the candidates, shall we? Notable exclusions: I haven’t assessed the Google Nexus 6 as yet, so I won’t pass judgement on it. Equally, Samsung’s been reluctant to send a Galaxy Note 4 or Galaxy Note Edge my way for whatever unspecified reason, so they’re out of the running as well.
Best Small/Mid-Sized Smartphone
Winner:Sony Xperia Z3 Compact Highly commended:Motorola Moto G, Apple iPhone 6
Smartphones are getting larger every year, and with them, the number of truly remarkable small or mid-sized smartphones is, sadly shrinking. Apple’s shift to larger phones has seen it leave the smaller size phone space alone, although the iPhone 6 just squeaks in. It’s not cheap, but it is very good. In the more budget minded space, Motorola’s Moto G LTE is a great overall Android phone. Still, both are outdone by Sony’s very capable Xperia Z3 Compact, which combines solid performance with a small form factor in a way that’s an overall winner.
Best value Smartphone
Winner:Huawei Ascend Mate 7 Highly commended:Motorola Moto G
Value is a subjective term, and it’s not that hard to pick up a capable handset for under $200 these days. If you’re keen, there’s some excellent pickings, especially in the Windows Phone space, although as is usually the case with budget phones, many of them are 2013’s models.
For the asking price Motorola’s Moto G is a excellent proposition, outdone by Huawei’s excellent premium-style but not premium-priced Ascend Mate 7. It’s not an entirely flawless phone, but it’s awfully close, and at a price point that beats out its premium competition by a very significant margin.
Best premium Smartphone
Winner:LG G3 Highly Commended:HTC One M8, Apple iPhone 6
This was close. Very, very close, and even as I’m writing this I keep flipping the winners around in my head, because the truth is that there were a number of really excellent handsets released in 2014. Apple didn’t revolutionise the iPhone model with the iPhone 6 (if you leave the size increase aside), but iterating on what was already an excellent phone produces, to the shock of nobody, an excellent phone.
Likewise, HTC’s One M8 was the followup to my favourite phone of 2013, the HTC One, and it’s a great little unit. LG’s G3 just pips them to the gong, partly because LG didn’t just iterate, but made some significant changes to the LG G3, especially with its superb screen and fast camera that make it a truly compelling proposition.
If you purchased any of these phones you’d have a great phone to use, but the LG G3 also stands out, like the Huawei Ascend Mate 7, for its value proposition. Smartphones, especially those on contracts, got a little more expensive in 2014, but LG bucked that particular trend as well.
Think I’ve got it right, or terribly wrong? Let me know in the comments below!
