The smartphone market has boomed extensively in the last few years. New smartphone makers have emerged, while better technology, and beautiful designs have turned the smartphone industry into one of the major drivers of economies.
All over the world, companies that make smartphones and gadgets are recording billions of dollars in profit. Their success is not unexpected. A lot has gone into improving phones in terms of design and functionality in the last one decade. The transformation from the era of the likes of Nokia 3310 to the Nokia Lumia series is a good enough example.
Like previous years, 2014 continued the trend of faster, more beautiful, and smarter phones, and the competition as to which is the best phone is always thick. I don’t believe there is an overall best phone, but I do believe that some smartphones have raised the bar when it comes to design and functionality. In no particular order, we take a look at the top three smartphones that were launched in 2014, and we examine what unique features have set them apart from competition.
iPhone 6
Undoubtedly, Apple is one of the best smartphone makers in the world. In terms of design and functionality, they come out on top every time. The iPhone 6 is Apple’s latest in its line of sleek, lightweight, very fast smartphones. It features Apple’s operating system (iOS) with a faster processor, new design, better battery life and better camera. The iPhone is beautiful and sleek in all its glory, and comes in 16gb, 64gb and 128gb.
The major downside of the iPhone is the price. With or without contract, iPhones are always too pricey. A 16gb iPhone 6 sells for no less than N140, 000.
iPhone 6 Plus
Popularly referred to as the big brother of the iPhone 6, the 5.5 inch iPhone 6 Plus is a bigger version of the iPhone 6. Like its counterpart, it features an A8 64-bit processor, which simply means that your phone works faster, 1gb RAM, and an 8mp camera. Due to the size, the iPhone 6 Plus is more of a hybrid between a phone and a tablet. The iPhone 6 Plus also boasts of a full HD display, and Apple’s iconic sleekness.
As expected, the iPhone 6 Plus is as expensive as its counterpart, in the same price range of N140, 000. This is a downside for Apple, as other manufacturers are coming up with devices that compete in terms of design and functionality, and still sport lower prices than the Apple devices.
Samsung Galaxy Note 4
Bigger, better, sleeker, the latest in the line of Samsung’s Galaxy Note range is the Note 4. At 5.7 inches, the Note 4 is bigger than the iPhone 6 Plus, but with surprisingly firmer grip to it. Considering that it is also a hybrid between a phone and a tablet, the Note 4 is a phone suitable for those who enjoy larger screens. Unlike other Samsung devices like the Duos range, the Note 4 moved away slightly from Samsung’s plastic design. It also sports 16mp rear facing camera, and a finger print scanner. The Galaxy Note 4 is equipped with Samsung’s super AMOLED display.
Even though Samsung is known for averagely priced smartphones, its Galaxy S, and Galaxy Note ranges are quite pricey too, with Note 4 going for an average price of N150, 000.
This is just a tiny fraction of smartphones released in 2014. We watch out for what smartphone makers intend to unveil all through the year 2015.
About the author: Amina Salau is a writer and editor running The Illuminated Pen. You can find her online at www.theilluminatedpen.com and on Twitter (@_Aminah)
