10. The dawn of the superphone
Google really kicked off the era of the superphone with the introduction of the Google Nexus One in January. This brought together all the elements we expect from a superphone: a large, high-resolution screen, fast processor, modern operating system and at least a 5-megapixel camera.
Then a funny thing happened: our expectations for what is a superphone changed as more stellar devices flooded the market. Should access to 4G be a criteria now? If a phone can’t do 720p HD video, should it be considered a superphone? We did a superphone shootout earlier this year and had to do a second round a few short months later because these awesome devices kept on coming.
Of course, we mobile enthusiasts can get into huge arguments over which awesome phone is better than another, but the reality is that there is an excellent smartphone on every major carrier. AT&T has the iPhone and RIM fans can get their BlackBerry Torch fix, Sprint has the EVO 4G and the Epic 4G, Verizon has its Droid lineup (Droid Incredible, Droid X, Droid 2) and T-Mobile’s myTouch 4G doesn’t need to back down from any device. Heck, even the Samsung Galaxy S devices are pretty stellar and you can get one of those on every major carrier. The slate of Windows Phone 7 handsets also have some strong specs and no one can deny the technical prowess of the Nokia N8 or the ambition of the BlackBerry Torch.
So, friends, it’s great to know that we’re in an era of amazing superphones and don’t expect the pace of innovation to slow any time soon. By the time I do this piece next year, I’m sure we’ll have handsets that blow our collective minds.