Promising High-End Smartphones Of 2014 So Far

Check out what biggies such as Samsung, Nokia, HTC, and Sony has to offer this year.

Chandrakant 'CK' Isi
11th Apr 2014

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Promising High-End Smartphones Of 2014 So Far

Last few months have been very happening for the smartphone industry. Biggies such as Samsung, Nokia, HTC, and Sony have unveiled their latest and greatest handsets. What’s missing is here is Apple’s flagship, for which we will have to wait a few months. Till then, let’s check out what’s on offer from the Android and Windows Phone camp.

Sony Xperia Z2
The Xperia Z2 flaunts a premium omnibalance design inspired by its predecessor Z1. The Japs have gone all guns blazing in terms of specs. The Z2 is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 801 processor with 2.3 GHz quad-core Krait CPUs. That and 3 GB RAM should be more than enough to handle Android Kitkat. The phone features a 5.2-inch full-HD IPS display. You get a 20 megapixel camera capable of 4K video recording. All these features are squeezed in an 8.2 mm slim waistline. What’s more, the phone adheres to IP55 & IP58 (Ingress Protection) standards. In simple words, it’s dust and water resistant.

HTC One (M8)
It’s difficult to find a geek who didn’t like the HTC One’s metallic styling. In the new One (knows as M8), HTC has evolved its signature design further. The phone sports a 5-inch Full HD Super LCD screen. At the heart is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800, clocked at 2.5 GHz. Unlike its predecessor, M8 comes with a micro SD card slot. 2 GB of RAM should assure smooth functioning of Android 4.4 Jelly Bean (with HTC Sense UI). One unique aspect about the HTC One is its dual camera lens assembly — 4 MP ultra-pixel shooter coupled with a 2 MP to calculate the depth of field. With the help of some software wizardry, the phone will let you shift focus after snapping a photograph. If this wasn’t enough, those lucky chaps with early access to the device are reporting that it’s waterproof too.

Nokia Lumia 930
At BUILD conference, Nokia also announced the much-awaited successor of the Lumia 920. Dubbed Lumia 930, this handset flaunts a 5-inch Full HD (1920x1080) AMOLED display. The pixel density is 441 ppi. For sunlight legibility, the phone's screen features ClearBlack tech. In the camera department, you get a 20 megapixel camera with Optical Image Stabilisation. It's powered by a quad-core Snapdragon 800 SoC clocked at 2.2 GHz. It has 2 GB RAM and 32 GB of internal storage. The 930 comes with wireless (induction) charging capabilities. Expect the Nokia Lumia 930 to roll out globally in Europe, Asia, Middle East and India around June with Rs 36,000 price tag.

Samsung GALAXY S5
The S5 has already hit the Indian market, but a high-end handset article isn’t complete without its mention. The GALAXY S5 features a 5.1-inch AMOLED screen Full HD resolution. As we all know, Samsung is hard to beat when it comes to screen quality. Like most premium smartphones, the S5 packs in a 2.5 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801. Samsung claims that its 16 megapixel camera has fastest autofocus speed of up to 0.3 seconds. The company has also added Selective Focus feature, which is inspired by Nokia's Refocus app. For those not in the know, this software allows users to focus on a specific object while blurring out the background. The special features include a iPhone 5s-esque biometric scan, heart rate monitor, and water-resistant body.