The 5 Best Android Smartphones [September, 2012]

The next few months will be interesting ones in the world of Android. With the iPhone 5 set for a September 12th launch, Windows Phone 8 due for arrival and numerous next-generation Android devices on the way, the smartphone battlefield will be littered with rivals. However, not everyone can wait a few months for a new phone and that’s why we want to fill you in on what to buy, Android-wise, right now, should you need to make a purchase.

In the next few weeks, Motorola will launch not only the Droid RAZR M, but a device that is said to have an edge-to-edge display, a device that may be the Droid RAZR HD. Additionally, Samsung is primed and ready to launch the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, though, its launch will be coming later this year.

Those that can’t wait for those phones to arrive though will find a host of solid Android smartphones at their disposal.

Our latest edition of our top five Android smartphones on the market features familiar faces once again. However, this will be the last time several of these phones appear on this list and we have noted the reasons in our list below. As for Sprint devices like the Motorola Photon 4G LTE and the HTC EVO 4G LTE, they don’t appear on the list because Sprint’s 4G LTE network is alive in a scarce number of markets.

And even then, some of the markets aren’t big metropolitan areas like San Francisco.

So, without further ado, here are the five devices that we think are the cream of the Android crop for the month of September, 2012.

HTC One X

AT&T’s HTC One X remains on our list of best Android smartphones for a number of reasons. One, it’s still a fantastic phone from a hardware standpoint as it features a top of the line processor and a large display with amazing resolution. It also has a great camera and 4G LTE data support for AT&T’s growing high-speed network.

In addition, HTC has promised Android 4.1 Jelly Bean for the HTC One X which only stands to make it better. There is talk of a new One X launching later this year but for now, this HTC One Series device is worth a look.

Read: HTC One X Review | $199 AT&T 4G LTE.

Read: HTC EVO 4G LTE Vs. HTC One X.

Specifications: 4.7-inch 1280 x 720 S-LCD 2 display, dual-core 1.5GHz processor, 1GB of RAM, 8MP rear camera, 1.3MP front-facing camera, 1800mAh battery, Bluetooth 4.0, USB 2.0, NFC support, gyroscope, accelerometer, HTC Sense 4.0 over Android

Operating System: Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich

Carrier: AT&T

4G: LTE

Release Date: May 6th, 2012

Price: $99 with New Two-Year Contract, Buy It At Amazon

Motorola Droid RAZR MAXX

Until the Motorola Droid RAZR HD and Droid RAZR M are released, presumably in October or November of this year, the Droid RAZR MAXX remains the best Motorola smartphone on the market.

From the 4G LTE speeds to its massive battery that boats 21 hours of continuous talk time to its 4.3-inch display, to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, the Droid RAZR MAXX has it all.

Don’t expect this device to be on the list next month though with Motorola poised to announce new devices tomorrow, September 5th.

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, 8MP rear camera capable of shooting 1080p video, 8.9mm thin design

Operating System: Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich

Carrier: Verizon

4G: LTE

Release Date: January 26th, 2012

Price: $99 with New Two-Year Contract, Buy It At Amazon

Samsung Galaxy S III

Unlike the Motorola Droid RAZR MAXX, the Samsung Galaxy S III won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. It’s available on five of the United States’ mobile carriers and it will soon be getting the upgrade to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

That freedom and that update combined with the rest of the Galaxy S III’s impressive features make it a device that just about every prospective smartphone buyer needs to look at.

Read: Samsung Galaxy S III Review: Editors’ Choice.

Specifications: 4.8-inch Super AMOLED display with 720 x 1280 resolution, dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor (quad-core Exynos processor on international version), 2100mAh battery, 1GB/2GB of RAM, 8MP rear camera capable of shooting 1080p video, NFC, accelerometer, gyroscope, Bluetooth 4.0

Operating System: Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich

Carrier: Various

4G: LTE

Release Date: June, 2012 – T-Mobile/Sprint, July, 2012 – AT&T, Verizon, U.S. Cellular

Price: Various, Buy It At Amazon – AT&T, Sprint, Verizon

Samsung Galaxy Nexus

Just because Android 4.1 Jelly Bean hasn’t arrived yet doesn’t mean the Galaxy Nexus isn’t a great phone. It still is. And once Android 4.1 Jelly Bean touches down, it will be even better.

Of course, it’s likely going to be replaced later this year by another Nexus, or even multiple Nexus’, but that doesn’t change the fact that as of right now, it’s still one of the best Android smartphones on the market.

Read: Galaxy Nexus Review.

Read: Sprint HTC EVO 4G LTE vs Sprint Galaxy Nexus.

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/Unlocked Galaxy Nexus HSPA+ – Android 4.1 Jelly Bean

Carrier: Verizon, Sprint

4G: LTE

Release Date: Verizon – December 15th, 2011, Sprint – April 22nd, 2012

Price: Verizon – $50 with New Two-Year Contract, Buy It At Amazon, Sprint – $80 with New Two-Year Contract, Buy It At Amazon, Google – $349 Unlocked, Buy It At Google

Samsung Galaxy Note

Samsung recently announced the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 but it won’t be released until October and it may not come to the United States until later than that even. That means that the original Galaxy Note, which was promised Android 4.1 Jelly Bean in the near future, still has a home on this list.

Interested parties should be aware that the T-Mobile Galaxy Note is currently out of stock through T-Mobile online and it’s unclear if the device will ever return.

Read: Samsung Galaxy Note Review.

Specifications: 5.3-inch 800 x 1280 Super AMOLED display, dual-core 1.5GHz processor, 1GB of RAM, 8MP rear camera, 2MP front-facing camera, 2500mAh battery, Bluetooth 3.0, USB 2.0, NFC support, stylus support

Operating System: Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich

Carrier: AT&T, T-Mobile

4G: LTE, HSPA+

Release Date: AT&T – February 19th, T-Mobile – August 8th

Price: AT&T – $160 with New Two-Year Contract, Buy It At Amazon