Top 5 Smartphones to Consider Before Buying the iPhone 5s [May, 2014]

With the iPhone 6 release months away, many people are considering the iPhone 5s. It’s a solid smartphone and one that should certainly be considered. However, there are some devices that we think smartphone shoppers definitely need to weigh against the iPhone 5s before coming to a final decision.

For much of 2013, the iPhone 5s existed only in rumors. Rumors suggested that Apple would follow its usual pattern of following up a huge redesign with an ‘S’ version of the iPhone. iPhone ‘S’ models keep the same design but add new features to make them worthy of an upgrade. In the case of the iPhone 5s, those features were its fingerprint reader, its new 64-bit processor and its new camera.

Like the iPhone 5 before it, the iPhone 5s is one of the top smartphones on the market thanks to the all-around package that it possesses. And because it’s considered one of the best smartphones available, many consumers have it on their smartphone shopping list for the month of May and beyond.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve heard from a number of friends, family and readers who are in need of smartphone advice. Most, not all, are interested in Apple’s iPhone 5s. Unfortunately, many of them don’t follow the smartphone market on a daily, weekly or even on a monthly basis so they’re not caught up other devices.

While they are interested in the iPhone 5s, they continually ask about the other devices that they should be looking at. The question typically sounds something like “Well, if I were to get something other than the iPhone, what should I buy?” It’s a good question and we can’t fault them for it.

Many of you are probably asking the same question. So, in an effort to steer as many people as we can in the right direction, we want to take a look at the five devices that we think you need to heavily consider before buying the iPhone 5s.

This list will change from month to month as rumored devices get closer to announcement and announced devices get released. That said, here are the devices that we think prospective iPhone 5s buyers need to weigh against Apple’s device before coming to a final conclusion.

Keep in mind, our list may differ from yours but these are the devices that Gotta Be Mobile editors have selected for recognition this month. We feel like they deliver the best, all-around package at the moment.

Nexus 5

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These iPhone 5s competitors are listed in no particular order but had we ranked them, Google's Nexus 5 would certainly be near the top. The Nexus 5 is Google's current Nexus smartphone. For those that are unfamiliar with the term, Google's Nexus branding means that the device runs stock Android software without the crazy manufacturer user interface, receives updates straight from Google, and comes with an unlocked bootloader which allows for intense customization. Best of all, the Nexus name has come to stand for affordability. Google's Nexus 5 starts at $399 unlocked. By comparison, the iPhone 5s starts at $650. This $250 price difference is notable because the Nexus 5's hardware is extremely powerful, just like the iPhone 5s'. We consider the Nexus 5 one of the premier Android devices on the planet and it's a device that we think you should check out before going with the iPhone 5s. There is a lot to like about it. Those that need to absorb a ton of information would be wise to check out our Nexus 5 review.

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