The 5 Best Android Smartphones [February, 2012]

Every month, we share what we think are the five best Android smartphones that are currently on shelves here in the United States and February is going to be no different. Thing is, Android manufacturers have been relatively silent in the last two months so not much has changed from January’s list. Of course, this is just the calm before a massive storm.

The Mobile World Congress is going to be coming up in just a few days and we should see a good number of devices get introduced with some of them rocking quad-core processors and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich from the get-go.

We’ve heard that those phones could be shipping as soon as this quarter which means we’ll likely see a drastic change as far as next month’s list is concerned.

That being said, let’s take a look at the five best Android phones that are currently out on shelves and available for you to pick up today.

Motorola Droid 4

While there are definitely some things to dislike about the Motorola Droid 4, the non-removable battery and the poor camera quality being two of those things, it makes up for those deficiencies with its physical QWERTY keyboard, its snappy performance and its build quality.

The keyboard is arguably the best ever made and paired with 4G LTE speeds on Verizon’s network, it’s a dream come true for those that can’t stand using a virtual keyboard at all times.

(Read: iPhone 4S vs. Motorola Droid 4.)

(Read: Droid 4 Review: Incredible Keyboard, Awesome Speeds.)

Specifications: 4.0-inch qHD display with scratch and scrape resistant glass, 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of on board storage, 8MP rear facing camera capable of taking 1080p video, 1.3MP front facing camera, 1785mAh battery

Operating System: Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread

Carrier: Verizon

4G: Yes, LTE

Release Date: February 10th, 2012

Price: $100 with New Two-Year Contract – Buy It At Amazon

Motorola Droid RAZR MAXX

You may have heard. 4G LTE Android smartphones don’t get the best battery life. Seems Motorola heard to because it released a phone called the Motorola Droid RAZR MAXX last month that features a gigantic 3,300 mAh battery that offers the best battery life ever found on a 4G LTE smartphone.

So, if you’re a power user and you are constantly running out of juice on your phone, or if you’re just an average user who wants the comfort of a long-lasting device, this is certainly an Android to take a look at.

It’s amazing how Motorola was able to fit such a large battery inside a frame that is only 8.9mm thick at its thinnest point.

(Read: Motorola Droid RAZR MAXX vs. Droid 4.)

(Read: Droid RAZR MAXX Review: Insane Battery Life.)

Specifications: 4.3-inch Super AMOLED display with advanced qHD resolution, 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 3300mah battery, mobile hotspot support, 1GB of RAM, an 8MP rear camera capable of shooting 1080p video, 8.9mm thin design

Operating System: Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread

Carrier: Verizon

4G: Yes, LTE

Release Date: January 26th, 2012

Price: $230 with New Two-Year Contract – Buy It At Amazon

Samsung Epic 4G Touch

Sprint will be getting the Samsung Galaxy Nexus later on its upcoming 4G LTE network later on this year but until then, the Samsung Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch and its WiMax 4G speeds reign supreme on the Now Network.

From its gorgeous display, to its speedy processor, to its large battery, the Epic 4G Touch remains a contender to reckon with, not only on Sprint, but in the world of Android smartphones.

(Read: Samsung Galaxy S II Sprint Epic 4G Touch Review.)

Specifications: 4.52-inch Super AMOLED Plus Display, 1.2GHz Samsung Exynos dual-core processor, 8MP rear camera capable of shooting 1080p video, 2MP front-facing camera, 16GB of on board storage space, 1800mAh battery

Operating System: Android 2.3.4

Carrier: Sprint

4G: Yes, WiMax

Release Date: September 16th

Price: $50 with New Two-Year Contract – Buy It At Amazon

Samsung Galaxy Nexus – Verizon

The Samsung Galaxy Nexus is arguably the best Android smartphone ever made so you shouldn’t be surprised to find it on this list. While the hardware it has on board is nice – massive high-res display, lots of RAM, NFC for use with platforms like Google Wallet, and a quick processor, it’s really the software that matters here.

The Galaxy Nexus is a Nexus device which means you’ll get Android 4.0 out of the box. In addition, it means that owners will be seeing major Android updates before anyone else.

Trust us, that’s huge.

(Read: Galaxy Nexus Review.)

Specifications: 4.65-inch 1280 x 720 HD Super AMOLED display, dual-core 1.2GHz processor, 1GB of RAM, zero shutter lag 5MP camera with LED flash, 1.3MP front-facing camera, 1750mAh battery, Bluetooth 3.0, USB 2.0, NFC support, gyro, proximity sensor, barometer

Operating System: Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich

Carrier: Verizon

4G: LTE

Release Date: December 15th

Price: $100 with New Two-Year Contract – Buy It At Amazon

Samsung Galaxy S II – T-Mobile

Lastly, we again have T-Mobile’s Galaxy S II gracing our list for February with its large and gorgeous display, its speedy processor and its HSPA+ 42 speeds which are the step below those found on a 4G LTE network.

T-Mobile is heavily to be getting new hardware at the Mobile World Congress, so this may be the last time this phone appears on this list, but for now, the Galaxy S II is the top dog on the Magenta carrier.

(Read: T-Mobile’s Samsung Galaxy S II on Video.)

Specifications: 4.52-inch Super AMOLED Plus display, 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of on board storage, 8MP rear facing camera capable of taking 1080p video, 2MP front facing camera

Operating System: Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread

Carrier: T-Mobile

4G: Yes, HSPA+ 42Mpbs

Release Date: October 12th

Price: $200 with New Two-Year Contract – Buy It At Amazon