The 6 most popular smartphones of all time

Android phones have come a long way. Today, they are available in almost any shape and size. After reviewing and using many Android phones over the years, these are my all-time favorites.

1. HTC Google Nexus One

The Google Nexus One was one of the phones that made many people fall in love in 2010. It had a larger 3.7-inch AMOLED screen that most other phones of the time did not have. It has a unique central trackball that helps with navigation, similar to what's on some Blackberry models.

Another thing that made the Nexus One an iconic phone is that it was the first phone to be marketed directly as a Google phone, meaning you get an Android phone the way Google intended. Google.

Besides the software, the Nexus One also has a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, making it quite a powerful device at the time of launch. The Nexus One only has 512MB of storage, but luckily it comes with a microSD slot and a 4GB card, giving you all the space you need to store photos and videos.

2. HTC One (M8)

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HTC released the HTC One (M8) in 2014. At that time, HTC was one of the leading smartphone brands globally. It has a nice 5-inch screen, larger than the iPhone 6 (but smaller than the 6 Plus). All users liked the shape of the body, with a sleek aluminum frame with grilles on top and bottom for the speakers.

This phone is not only beautiful but also very easy to use. It has a nice rear camera with a wide f/2.0 aperture and is one of the few early implementations of a depth sensor that allows for beautiful bokeh effects. It also allows refocusing images after shooting, giving users more space when taking creative photos with their phone.

The only downside was that the rear camera was only 4MP, but that was still more than enough for most people at the time. Besides, a 1/3-inch camera sensor will help capture clearer photos, which is why sensor size is more important than megapixels to some extent.

The combination of slim body style and great camera performance made it one of the most memorable devices of all time. The Snapdragon 801 chip with 2GB RAM also makes it a great device for gaming. And the expandable microSDXC card slot means you'll never run out of space for all the pictures you take.

3. OnePlus One

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Back in 2013, OnePlus was a new brand and the OnePlus One was dubbed the "flagship killer". But what really makes this phone stand out from the crowd is its price - just $350 for the 64GB version, offering top performance at an affordable price. For comparison, the HTC One (M8) costs $649 and the Samsung Galaxy S5 costs nearly $700.

Despite its low price, the OnePlus is still a flagship device: 5.5-inch display with top-of-the-line Snapdragon 801 chip, 64GB storage and 3GB RAM, 13MP f/2.0 rear camera and 5MP front camera, and 3,100 battery mAh. However, its low price means it has had to cut some corners. The OnePlus One uses an IPS screen (instead of AMOLED) and has a back made of several plastic frames instead of aluminum.

OnePlus didn't cut corners on the most important part: Great hardware that delivers a smooth user experience. The OnePlus One showed the world how to make a phone that can beat Apple, Samsung and HTC at half the price.

4. Samsung Galaxy Note 5

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Although there have been other Samsung Galaxy Note models before the Note 5, this is the first to feature an all-glass construction. The included stylus makes the user's life much easier, especially when needing to move or touch small points on the screen by hand.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 has a 16MP camera with a wide f/1.9 aperture and a large 1/2.6-inch sensor, making it a great phone for taking sharp photos. Users also appreciate that simply double-tapping the front button launches the camera and takes a photo instantly. Despite having a glass front and back, the phone's durability is impressive.

5. Google Pixel

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After years of asking other manufacturers to make smartphones for it, Google finally built its first phone in 2016. It had great specs - a 5-inch AMOLED screen, Snapdragon 821 processor, 128GB storage and 4GB RAM - meaning you won't have any performance issues.

However, where this device stands out is in its software. It runs Stock Android, with no slow interfaces or unnecessary space-hogging software. It was also the first device to get a software update and has received OS updates in almost three years since its release.

Another thing people like about the Google Pixel is its great camera quality. It has a fairly fast 12.3 MP sensor with an f/2.0 aperture for great image quality. However, the Google Pixel's image processing is much better than its competitors, which is why some people have switched to Google Pixel after using Samsung for many years.

6. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5

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Samsung is the leader when it comes to foldable phones. However, the first Samsung Galaxy Fold had too many first-generation quirks that prevented it from being called the most popular phone of all time.

But after 5 versions, we can confidently say that the Z Fold 5 is more like a practical phone for daily use. This is truly a smartphone user's delight, with the operating system well equipped for multitasking. Finally, it also solves the unsightly blemish often found in older models.

While most of the hardware in the old Z Fold 4 remains the same, the newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip and improved hinge finally prove the usefulness and practicality of a foldable phone. In 2024, Samsung has further improved its folding phone models and that is evident in the level of love for the new Z Fold 6.

Currently, these are the best Android phones of all time to ever appear on the market. As phone manufacturers release new models every year, there are sure to be more iconic devices.

Marvin Fry

Update 07 August 2024