Rank These Phones And We'll Reveal The Perfect Smartphone
- by William Caruana
- – on
- in Lifestyle
It seems that smartphones have been a part of our everyday lives for forever, yet they are only a couple decades old. From calling our friends to playing with apps to setting an alarm, it is often the first thing that we see in the morning and the last thing that we see at night. We look down on our screens, hidden beneath the table when we need to find something to make us sound smarter at dinner. We use phones to record life-changing moments, break stories and connect with others using social media. It is an important part of our lives in this 21st century.
That being said, some of our earliest cellphones have nowhere near the power or appeal that they once did, and eventually, it comes time to make a change. Thankfully, a number of great new models have been released over the past few years from industry juggernauts and emerging manufacturers, and we are here to lend a helping hand. In this quiz, players will be tasked to pick or pass on 35 different cell phones. They span from the beginning of the phone itself to the past year. Once we take all this information into account, we will recommend a new phone that we are sure will be loved. Have fun!
Pick or Pass on The DynaTac 8000X?
This is one of the most infamous phones ever released. Lovingly referred by many as "The Brick", this phone can call people without the use of a landline. It is not portable, it does not have a touchscreen, it is a phone, through and through. The question is: is it worth a pick or a pass?
What about the Motorola RAZR?
Remember flip phones? You know, the old clamshell phones that covered the keyboard with the screen. They were very popular in the early 2000s, but are less so today. Surprisingly, however, they are still made to this day. One popular line of flip phones back in the day was the Motorola RAZR. Is it worth a pick or a pass now?
The Blackberry Curve?
Remember when Blackberry cell phones were everywhere? Yes, this Canadian brand was once on top of the world, with brilliant phones such as the Curve. However, they encountered difficulties and lost a great deal of their market share. They recovered, however, and are still making cellphones to this day. The Curve was one of their most popular models back in the day, but is it worth considering now?
Pick or pass on the iPhone?
This is the cell phone that, in many regards, started it all. It combined the best aspects of a cell phone and an iPod touch to create one of the very first smartphones in the world. It broke new ground and is still highly regarded over a decade after its release. Is it worth a pick or a pass?
What about the Samsung Galaxy S?
Speaking of starting it all, this cell phone broke new ground for Samsung and was the first in a long line of highly regarded cell phones. It was uniquely designed, powerful, and critically acclaimed, but has started to show its age, especially in light of its successors. Is it worth a pick or a pass today?
The iPhone 3G?
Contrary to what the name of this phone may imply, it is actually the second generation of iPhones. Odd, right. Regardless, this phone features 3G functionality (as its name implies), as well as a number of general improvements over the original iPhone. Is it worth a pick or a pass today?
Pick or pass on the Nokia 1100?
The Nokia 1100 is one of the best selling cellular phones in history. It is a more simplistic model, featuring only the basics, and positioned itself as a more consumer-friendly product. It had worldwide appeal that some other models on this list have failed to have due to its simplicity and low cost. Is it worth a pick or a pass?
What about the Nokia 5230?
Similar to the last phone on the list, the Nokia 5230 is a bit more simplistic than some of the other cellular phones on the market. It succeeded the Nokia 1100, and added additional features such as 3G compatibility and a touch screen, to bring it more in line with other smartphones. Is it worth a pick or a pass?
The iPhone 4?
This newer model of the iPhone family improved on the prior ones in a number of key ways. It introduced the retina display, was thinner than the other models, and featured a camera on the front as well as on the back. It was commercially successful and is considered one of the better phones in the iPhone family. Pick or pass?
Pick or pass on the Samsung Galaxy S II?
This phone had some pretty big shoes to fill, given the success of the first S model. Thankfully, it improved on its predecessor with a slimmer design and greater power. It was received well both critically and commercially and ensured that the Galaxy line would not die out. Is it worth a pick or a pass?
What about the iPhone 4S?
The iPhone 4S was the successor to the iPhone 4, as its name may imply. While a bit more of an incremental upgrade, it still shipped with a wide variety of features not included in prior models, such as a new camera, and, of course, Siri. It was a massive commercial success and made Siri a household name... but is it still worth picking today?
The HTC One M8?
The High Tech Company or HTC for short is no stranger to the smartphone market, having created a number of different phones over the years. Take, for example, the HTC One M8, an Android/Windows phone (dependent on the model) with great power, display and more. High tech indeed, but is it worth a pick or a pass?
Pick or pass on the Samsung Galaxy Note 3?
The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is one of the more popular phones in the Galaxy Note family. It is a perfect middle ground between a phone and a tablet featuring a large HD display with a stylus. While not the most portable, it is truly the best of both worlds in every other regard. That being said, is it worth a pick or a pass?
What about the iPhone 5?
The iPhone 5 improved on the iPhone 4 and the iPhone 4s in a number of different ways. Firstly, as always, the iPhone 5 featured better specs and display. It also featured better charging abilities as well as a larger screen, allowing for more to be seen at a given time. Is it worth a pick or a pass?
The Samsung Galaxy S5?
The Samsung Galaxy S5, was, as its name implies, the fifth generation of the popular Samsung Galaxy S line. It improved upon its predecessors with greater waterproofing and security features added. That being said, many models have been released since, begging the question, is the S5 worth a pick or a pass?
Pick or pass on the iPhone 6?
The iPhone 6 was a large improvement on the prior models, with a number of unique features and higher specs. What was perhaps most unique about the phone, however, was that it allowed users to pay for items with it. This was a relatively new feature that seems to have caught on in a number of major retailers. That being said, is it worth a pick or a pass?
What about the Samsung Galaxy S7?
The Samsung Galaxy S7 improved upon the others in the line with a sleek new design, improved specs and more. An edge variant was also introduced where the edge of the screen is stretched to the sides of the phone, allowing for a more aesthetically pleasing device. That being said, with newer models on the market, is it worth a pick or a pass?
The Google Pixel?
The Google Pixel, was, in their own words, a phone by Google. It featured a number of unique elements that set it apart from the competition, such as seemingly unlimited storage (via the cloud) and the Google assistant. However, the phone received some criticism for the issues that plagued the device after release, as well as some shortcomings in the hardware (such as a lack of waterproof capabilities). Is it worth a pick or a pass?
Pick or pass on the iPhone 7?
The iPhone 7 was one of the more controversial upgrades in the iPhone family. It changed a lot from prior models, which is either good or bad depending on one's view. In particular, a divisive choice was made to remove the headphone jack, leading to many outraged at its absence. Still, Apple stood by their decision, and the iPhone 7 was ultimately a success despite the controversy. Is it worth a pick or a pass?
What about the Huawei Mate SE?
Huawei is one of the leading manufacturers of cell phones, but it took a while for those in North America to even hear of them. What helped was the Huawei Mate SE, a phone branded specifically for the US market with great power at a discount price. It is likely Huawei will prove to be a major disruption in the domestic smartphone market in the coming months. Is the phone worth a pick or a pass?
The Samsung Galaxy S8?
The Samsung Galaxy S8 was a fairly large improvement on its direct predecessor the S7. Like the S7, it featured well as groundbreaking specs and display. However, the S8 switched charging formats, added a curve to every screen similar to the S7 edge, and added a number of security improvements. That being said, with the S9 on the market, is this phone still worth a pick?
Pick or pass on the iPhone 8?
The iPhone 8 features a glass back panel, as well as some minor improvements over the prior models. It is more of a limited improvement on the iPhone 7, and was launched as the discount alternative to the iPhone X. While still a quality phone, it did very little to set itself apart from others in the line, leading to some disappointment. Is it worth a pick or a pass?
What about the Nexus 6P?
The Nexus 6P is one of the latest smartphones in the Google Nexus line. For those that are unaware, the Nexus line of cellular phones features a larger screen size, and are produced by both Huawei and Google, in one of the rare smartphone industry partnerships. Is it worth a pick or a pass?
The Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime?
The Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime is very similar to the other Galaxy phones with a similar design, the Android operating system, and good specs. However, it is not as powerful as some of the other Galaxy phones and is sold at a discount price, making it the perfect starter phone. Is it worth a pick or a pass?
Pick or pass on the Sony Xperia X1?
This phone was the first in the long-running Sony Xperia line of cellular phones. It featured a slide keyboard which was popular at the time and was sold on the promise of greater power, especially for gamers. It certainly delivered, making the phone a must-have for gamers at the time. The question is, is it worth having now?
What about the Microsoft Lumia 435?
Microsoft at one point was heavily invested in making phones. They introduced Windows Phone, an operating system meant to compete with iOS and Android. Sales were not as expected, and Windows Phone was later discontinued. However, over the period of time in which Windows Phone did exist, Microsoft and Nokia created a number of excellent phones, such as the Microsoft Lumia 435. Is the 435 (or any other Lumia phone for that matter) worth a pick or a pass?
The Lenovo K4 Note?
The Lenovo K4 Note was designed by computer manufacturer Lenovo. It was a larger phone that blurs the line between phone and tablet and runs on the Android operating system. It was particularly popular in India, where it was introduced to target the growing market. Is it worth a pick or a pass?
Pick or pass on the BlackBerry KEYone?
The Blackberry KEYone was one of Blackberry's first prolific phones in a long time. It was a marriage of the old and the new, featuring a modified Android operating system and classic Blackberry features such as a keyboard. It was a much-needed hit, and a successor was just recently released. Is it worth a pick or a pass?
What about the HTC U11?
As we mentioned early in this quiz, HTC is no stranger to the smartphone market. One of their newer phones, the HTC U11 delivered top-shelf quality at mid-range prices. It was acclaimed by critics and was a commercial success. The question is, is it worth a pick or are you better off passing?
The Moto G5?
Motorola was one of the largest manufacturers of cell phones back in the mid-2000s but struggled a bit when it came time to adjust to the smartphone market. However, they adapted and started releasing excellent phones, such as the Moto G5, a powerful Android phone released at a bargain price. Is it worth a pick or a pass?
Pick or pass on the Moto Z2 Play?
Motorola also produces the Moto Z2 Play. It is a powerful, low-cost cell phone with a number of unique features such as an HD display, enhanced security and a battery that keeps on going and going. It was very well received by critics, with many feeling it was underpriced for the level of quality. Is it worth a pick or a pass?
What about the Razer Phone?
The Razer Phone is certainly not for the faint of heart. It is quite expensive, but in turn, quite powerful. Razer has always had a strong relationship with the Gaming community, and the Razer Phone was designed to deliver console-level gaming quality on a portable device. Is it worth a pick or a pass?
The Essential Phone?
The Essential Phone is an Android smartphone designed to make the very most of the operating system. This makes sense as one of the lead designers of the OS, Andy Rubin, played a key part in the development of this phone. It combines quantity and quality when it comes to features, and is one to keep on your radar. Is it worth a pick or a pass?
Pick or pass on the ASUS ZenFone 4?
The ASUS ZenFone 4 was designed by computer manufacturer ASUS. It features the company's signature sleek design with an aesthetically pleasing back panel. It received mixed reviews with many praising the quality of the camera and battery while criticizing the price point. Is it worth a pick or a pass?
What about the OnePlus 6?
The OnePlus 6 is the latest smartphone from designer OnePlus. It features plenty of features and a high level of power, as well as a slick but simple design. It was critically acclaimed, with many finding the power at the price level hard to beat. Is it worth a pick or are you better off passing?
