In the past editions of ZDNET reviews, the Samsung Galaxy S4 was only runner up as best Android smartphone, with the HTC One getting the top honours.

However, for September 2013, the tech Web site pointed specifically to the Samsung Galaxy S3 Google Play Edition as the best Android smartphone because while the model has the same hardware as the S4, it has all the Samsung bells and whistles removed.

Priced at $649, the device features skinless Jelly Bean (Android 4.2.2) that provides the user the same experience as the Nexus, 1.9GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor, 5-inch Super AMOLED high-pixel-density display, 13MP rear camera, 2 MP front shooter, 16GB internal storage and MicroSD slot.

Next on ZDNET's list is the other Samsung Galaxy S4, which the Web site pointed out is very similar to the HTC's new One handset, save for the plastic shell.

On third place is, of course, the HTC One, which is very similar under the hood to the Samsung Galaxy, although it differs in having the Sense, a new user interface that the Taiwanese phone maker loaded into the smartphone, and the famous aluminium shell.

Fourth place goes to the Sony Xperia Z for offering a lot of cool features under the hold, having the sharpest LCD panel and its 13-megapixel camera that is capable of capturing HDR video. A plus factor is its thinness at 7.9 millimetres.

In fifth place is another device from the South Korean tech giant, the Samsung Galaxy Note II, which is a solid handset filled with high-end features, but is mainly for users with either large hands to hold the device or large pockets to keep it.

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