Top Smartphones 2013: An Early Shopping Guide To The Finest Handsets In The Market

There have been a number of top smartphones in 2013, and finding the best one to give yourself this holiday season is a rather difficult task. Here's a rundown of the best the phone industry has to offer to the market today. 

Oppo N1

Marketed with a skinned Android OS with option for CyanogenMod operating system, the Oppo N1 is certainly a great phone. But what separates it from the pack is the camera sensor that moves almost 200 degrees, enabling it to serve as both front and back camera. If you are looking for a powerful device that offers great photography features, this one's a good deal. 

HTC One and One max

The Taiwanese manufacturer two top handsets this year, though make no mistake about it - it has also released a number of midrange and entry-level phones. However, only these two Droids have been able to make it to the buzz mill. Bearing similar specs, choosing between the HTC One and One max is just a matter of which screen size you would prefer. However, the bigger One member has a fingerprint sensor at the back which is a neat addition to the already respectable list of features it has. 

LG G2 and G Flex

Released a few days before the IFA event in Berlin in September, the G2 is a powerful device compacted in a nicely-designed chassis. It sports the powerful Snapdragon 800 chipset and added a number of cool gesture features for ease of access. The G Flex, on the other hand, is like a G2 with a curved and flexible screen. Add a self-healing back cover and it's a complete package. However, at over $1000, you would really need to stretch your budget for an Android phone. 

Sony Xperia Z and Z1

Sony is relatively new in the smartphone war after it shed the Ericsson label. The Sony Xperia Z is certainly a move in the right direction, a great leap since the Xperia S last year. But Sony may have overworked itself by working on a phablet and tablet at the same time with the Z1 and Z1 Ultra, the first in company history. The result, they are like completely the same device with the only difference their display size. Still, the Xperia Z1 is among the best and fastest phone in the market. And if you're an camera phone enthusiast, you may include it on your list. 

Motorola Moto X

In spite launching a high-end device, Motorola is still unable to reach its profit goals for the last two quarters of the year. The Google-owned company also released a midranger, the Moto G, and it received good initial treatment from consumers. However, it is still a long way for Motorola to be relevant in the smartphone industry once more. 

Samsung Galaxy S4 and Note 3

Released half of a year ago, the Galaxy S4 is still among the top phones in the market today. However, its number of variations actually hurt its marketability rather than help it. Fortunately for Samsung, they found out the market's interest in water and dust-resistant devices. The Galaxy Note 3, on the other hand does not need such features as it boasts the most powerful chipset the Korean manufacturer has ever produced. Consumers who are eyeing a phone that they can use for the next three to four years would want to check this phone.

Nokia Lumia 1080 and 1520

Launched in June, the Lumia 1080 has the best piece of camera we have ever seen in a phone. Now that it's cheaper, it is definitely an option in case you want to try out Windows Phone OS for a while. The 1520 is a bigger Lumia, and features similar features to the 1080 save for the faster processor and CPU. It stacks up with the HTC One max and Samsung Galaxy Note 3 in terms of competition, but people who want faster and lag-free UI may want to try WP's live tile homescreen. 

Nexus 5

Launched more than a month ago, the Google hero phone remains as the top Android phone and biggest contender against Apple's iPhone. It features similar hardware to some of the phones on this list, but the absence of a custom Android skin makes it snappier than most of them. However, its greatest selling point is Android Kitkat. If you can't wait to try the latest version of Android, then this is a must-buy. 

iPhone 5s

The iPhone 5s is a great buy for people that can afford it. If you are a loyal iOS user and you can't imagine yourself using another OS, buying this Apple handset is a no-brainer. Equipped with a fingerprint sensor home button, it also provides additional security features for users. In case you can't afford the iPhone 5s now, the cheaper iPhone 5c is still an option, though you may need to content yourself with a colored plastic back. 

2013 has been blessed with the top technology in smartphones, and it benefits the market. Just choose among the options above to get your brand new smartphone.