In October, two tech Web sites named the Google Nexus 10 and Nexus 7 as among their list of top 10 devices. For November, another portal included a third Nexus model in its list of 10 best Android smartphones - the newly released KitKat-Powered Nexus 5.

In including the newly release handheld gadget, ZDNET pointed out that the smartphone put uses some of the best components available and offers the purest Android experience, while granting owners access to the latest Android 4.4 KitKat OS. Since owners get updates directly from Google, they don't need to wait for hardware OEMs or carriers to release customised updates.

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ZDNET's Adrian Kingsley-Hughes noted that Nexus-branded hardware is solid and reliable, although he believes Google could still identify potential bugs in the next few weeks.

Besides the latest Android OS, the Nexus 5 features 2.23GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 CPU, 4.95-inch 1920x1080 screen with a pixel density of 445ppi, 8MP rear camera, 1.3MP front shooter and 16/32GB internal storage.

The other nine on ZDNET's list are:

  • Galaxy Note 3 - The sequel to Galaxy Note 2 introduced a lot of improvements and is the only phone or phablet compatible with the new Galaxy Gear smartwatch. It runs of Android 4.3 and features 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor, 5.7=inch 1920x1080 screen with 388ppi, 3 GB RAM and a stylus, plus 13MP back camera and 2 MP front camera.
  • HTC One - Although the Taiwanese firm that made this phone is struggling, its flagship device is not, with its Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 CPU, 2GB RAM and 1080p display, plus the Sense - a new user interface loaded into the smartphone, all in an aluminium case.

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  • Samsung Galaxy S4 - It is considered almost the same as the HTC One, except for its plastic case. But despite that drawback, many are drawn to Samsung's flagship device because of its 1.96GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 CPU, 5-inch Super AMOLED high-pixel density 441ppi screen, and 13 MP rear and 2MP front camera.
  • Sony Xperia Z Ultra - Besides a lot of cool features, this smartphone is noted for having the sharpest LCD panel on the market, yet is very thin in a 6.5-millimetre case. The device is tough because of its tempered glass, making it dustproof and waterproof. Specs include 2.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor, 6.4-inch TFT 1920x1080 screen powered by an updated Sony Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2 with 342ppi, 2 MP front-facing 1080p HD video capture camera and 8 MP back camera. It is compatible with the Sony SmartWatch 2.
  • Samsung Galaxy Note II - Preferred by people with large hands and comes with the S pen. It runs on Android 4.1 and has 1.6GHz quad-core Samsung Exynos processor, 3.5-inch Super AMOLED HD display, 8MP back camera and 1.9MP front-facing shooter.
  • Samsung Galaxy S4, Google Play Edition - Provides a purer Google Android experience minus the Samsung extras. Runs on Skinless Jelly Bean (Android 4.2.2), providing the same experience as the Nexus, and features 1.9GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 CPU, 5-inch Super AMOD high pixel density screen with 441ppi, 13MP back camera and 2 MP front-facing camera.

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  • Motorola Moto X - This smartphone offers a new approach to computation power by providing multiple cores, a total of eight cores spread over four different chips, that speeds us the unit and provides a longer-lasting battery. It runs on Jelly Bean (Android 4.2.2), while its Motorola X8 computing system has a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro dual-core clocked at 1.7GHz, on for natural language and another for contextual computing, 4.7-inch AMOLED HD 720p screen, 2 MP front shooter and 10 MP rear camera.
  • Samsung Galaxy Mega - Could double as a tablet because of its large size, this model feature 1.7GHz dual-core processor, 6.3-inch 1,280x720 screen, 8MP back shooter and 1.9MP front camera.
  • LG G2 - What makes this device different from other smartphones are its hardware buttons are on the back to reduce chances of accidental button presses. It features 2.26GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor, 5.2-inch full HD 1080p IPS screen with 423ppi, 13MP back camera and 2.1MP front shooter.

In case you may have noticed, the list hardly changes with the usual devices made by Samsung, HTC, Sony, LG and Google. The only difference this time is the addition of the newly release Nexus 5.

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