'DNA' Digital: Five best smart phones of the year

Another gadget-filled year has come to a close and it’s that time once again where we look back at some of the best technology of 2012. We start with smartphones as it’s easily one of the most popular and loved pieces of technology the world over, mostly due to the fact that it’s become an indispensable part of our everyday lives. This year, it was all about large screens and quad-cores. While we’ve seen many great phones this year, there’s only room for five in our list. Here’s a look at DNA Digital’s picks for the top five smartphones of 2012 that really made an impact in the mobile world.

Samsung Galaxy Note II
Despite its overwhelming size, the Note II defied all odds by once again becoming a huge success, just like its predecessor. While the size of the phone was dangerously close to that of the tablet, Samsung’s gamble paid off once again as it’s currently one of the best handsets you can buy in the market. The company managed to fix many of the issues from the first handset and tweaked the feature set of the second one to make it a lot more functional and powerful. The massive screen size is still a deterrent for many buyers, but once you make your peace with it, it’s an amazing experience. Apart from the powerful hardware, Samsung has also improved the software. TouchWiz and Jelly Bean work great together, providing an unparalleled experience. The one feature that really draws you is the S Pen. With a heightened sensitivity level, you can now actually draw and sketch as if you would on a notepad.

HTC One X+
HTC really upped the ante when they launched the One series and it showed the bold new direction the company was taking with the Android platform. The recently announced One X+ irons out some of the major creases that were present in the One X to give you a crisper experience. One of the most notable changes was Sense 4+, which made all the difference in the world to the UI. More than the specifications, it was the attention to detail in the build and finish of the chassis. The unibody polycarbonate chassis is truly brilliant and the phone just has a very premium look and feel to it. The One X+ is also blessed with one of the best cameras for motion capture which no other handset has managed to come close to. Plus, the 64GB of onboard memory makes up for the lack of a microSD card slot.

Apple iPhone 5
This may not be the best smartphone of the year, but it’s certainly the best iPhone yet. While the design of Apple’s latest incarnation didn’t take a radical change, it’s still an improvement over the previous models. We finally get what we were waiting for and that’s a larger screen. The iPhone 5 has only grow in height, which means it’s still just as comfortable to hold as the earlier models. It’s also a lot slimmer and lighter now, which is pretty remarkable when you consider it packs in more powerful components and support for LTE while still managing the same battery life. The display on the iPhone 5 continues to be among the best in the business, offering excellent viewing angles and rich colours.

LG Nexus 4 – TBA
The Nexus 4 may not have been officially launched here yet, but that’s still no reason to disregard it as a great phone. The best part about any Nexus device is the pure Android experience and since the latest one is made by LG, we can also expect a very aggressive launch price because that’s what they are famous for. LG hasn’t been having much luck of late when it comes to the high-end segment, but this might just turn their fortunes around. The Nexus 4 is designed along the lines of the Galaxy Nexus, but it’s a lot more powerful. The 4.7-inch HD IPS display produces a lot more accurate colours than an AMOLED display while giving great viewing angles and rich blacks. The Nexus 4 features an upgraded 8MP camera and is powered by a quad-core CPU. It should be priced well under `30K, which makes it incredible value for money.

HTC Windows Phone 8X
When it comes to design and build quality, HTC is easily regarded as one of the best in the business. Every handset of theirs, no matter the price, has always had excellent craftsmanship, and the Windows Phone 8X is no exception. The flagship of the series, the 8X uses the similar unibody polycarbonate shell, but the rubberized texture on the phone is what sets it apart from the rest. With tapering edges and bright bold colours, the 8X looks and feels like a little slab of candy in your hand. While Windows Phone 8 is still a growing platform, it will be some time till the quality and type of apps reach the levels of Android and iOS. The cameras in the 8X are also something worth noting. This is the first phone to have a f/2.0 front-facing camera. This aperture value allows for a lot more light to hit the sensor, thereby giving you much better low light shots. It’s also one of the only phones with an ability to record in Full HD using the front camera.