The 9 Best Phones for the New 2014 - 2015 School Year
Everyone is different, right? And that's why we like options in everything we buy--smart phones especially.
Given that summer is almost over -- sorry, but it's true -- it's time to start thinking about gearing up for going back to school. I'm looking at you, students.
We all may be different, but practically everyone "needs" a smartphone these days, and for students, whether in high school or university, staying connected and organized is key.
That being said, let's take a look at some of the best smart phone options available right now.
Okay, we're starting with this phone for those of you budget conscious students out there. The Motorola Moto G 4G has a nearly unbeatable $220 no-contract price. For that amount you still get Android KitKat, a 5 megapixel shooter, quad-core CPU, a 4.5-inch display and 4G data. Not bad.
If you prefer stock Android without any of the carrier's bloatware pre-installed, then look no further. The Nexus 5 is a specs beast at a bargain, considering all that's packed in this sleek ceramic-bodied phone from LG. You get a 5-inch gorgeous screen, a Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor, 8 megapixel camera and best of all you get timely software updates straight from Google. And you get all that starting at just $349.
Hands down one of the year's absolute best phones, and it might still be one of the best smartphones this same time next year. You are essentially getting first-rate specs in every category, from an eye-popping 2560 x 1440-pixel display, a camera that uses a laser to sense distance, expandable storage with microSD and Android 4.4 KitKat onboard.
An entry level phone from Nokia that packs LTE, Windows 8.1 and a brightly colored shell resembling the iPhone 5C to some degree. If you like Windows Phone or are invested in the Microsoft ecosystem and on a budget, look no further.
The phone that saved Motorola -- quite literally. The Moto X was one of last year's surprise hits, and it's one that offers an almost vanilla version of Android, a 4.7-inch screen, dual-core processor and a 10-megapixel camera. But the killer feature of the X is that Motorola allows you to customize your phone with Moto Maker. The Moto X is currently free on a contract, or you can get it from Moto Maker starting at $299 off-contract.
If you like big phones, like so big that they look dumb next to your face when you're on the phone, the Galaxy Note 3 just might be for you. if you're not worried about your budget and you like large screens, this 5.7-inch "phone" is a great option. It has a stylus (the S-Pen) for taking notes, excellent battery life, great call quality and takes amazing photos.
The follow-up to last years hit "M7", the M8 is the most well-built smartphone maybe ever. It has a unibody aluminum design, industry-leading, crisp front-facing speakers, an amazing 5-inch screen, a quad-core processor and runs Android KitKat. If you like metal phones that are awesome, look no further.
No list would be complete without the iPhone. Like the HTC One, it features a beautiful industrial design, retina display, access to the best app ecosystem available in the App Store, a larger 4-inch screen, and is the best iPhone Apple has made yet.
The arms race between Samsung and Apple may have culminated with the Galaxy S5, a spec beast...in a plastic frame. If you don't mind plastic covering your phones, then it's hard to find one with better hardware than the GS5. Android 4.4, a rich display, a blazing-fast quad-core processor, arguably the industry's best camera and runs Samsung's least obnoxious OS to date. Oh, and that plastic body also will allow you to replace the battery and expand the memory.