For people deciding to replace their old Android smartphones, making a choice is now more difficult as new models are coming out one after the other with features so enticing.

Replacing old phones no longer means going for an upgrade of the same brand, since tech companies are upping their game by offering more exciting specs enough to make consumers ditch their brand loyalty and shift to newer gadgets with more spectacular features.

While techies' list of recommended smartphones are good guides when buying new units, in the end its still consumers' preference and financial consideration that will prevail, thus ZDNet listed five best Android smartphones without any order of ranking since what may be great for one buyer may not impress another consumer.

By listing consistently good phones based on technical aspects, consumers would have a better understanding of what's available in the market. Besides the experts' opinion, listening to feedback from users of the phones also helps.

Here are the top 5 choice of ZDNet.

  • HTC One - Specs-wise this hot device is not that different from the Samsung Galaxy S4 since it contains the same 1.7 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 CPU, 2GB of RAM and 1080p 4.7-inch screen. What makes it different if the aluminium shell and Sense, the new user interface.

However, for warboat, the nice look of the HTC One is compromised by difficulty holding on to the device; thus, he recommends a case for its slippery aluminium case. He also pointed out the lack of hard menu/options key and the rear camera has only a 4mp sensor, leading him to conclude this hot device gave higher priority to form over function, similar to Apple iPhones.

  • Samsung Galaxy S4 - Among the things that techies like about this much-awaited device are its powerful CPU, sufficient storage space and battery that could be replace, which the HTC does not allow, and its use as a remote control for a DVR. The only drawback for ZDNet is its plastic shell.

timspublic1 wrote that coming from a Galaxy Note, the S4's buttons are finally in the right location.

  • Google Nexus 4 - Although ZDNet reviewer Adrian Kingsley-Hughes considers this phone his best choice, he pointed out that one downside to it is the lack of LTE support. LG, the manufacturer of the Nexus 4, explained that the LTE modem needs a signal amplifier and signal to work, and it excluded those components to maintain the lower cost of the unit, which runs on Jelly Bean and features 1.5GHz quad-core Krait processor, 8 MP rear camera, 1.3MP front camera and 8/16GB internal storage.

Those limitations notwithstanding, ryanme said he switched from an HTC to the Nexus 4 and did not regret the move. "I will never buy another non-Nexus phone again," he wrote.

  • Motorola Razrr i - ZDNet acknowledged that this device may not be the best, but it is a decent, solid smartphone that is quite affordable. It feature the DuPont Kevlar fibre and Corning Gorilla Glass which provides users a good feel in the hand, has an expandable storage through the SD-card slot which the Nexus 4 lacks, but runs on Ice Cream Sandwich. It also features 2GHz Intel Atom Z2460 processor, 4.3-inch Super AMOLED 540x960 display, and 8 MP rear and VGA front camera.

Cornpie has second thoughts before buying another Motorola phone because while his Droid 3 was not a bad phone at all, he is irritated by Motorola abandoning it quickly soon after its release, plus the bloatware, no updates and locked boot loader caused him to switch brands.

  • Samsung Galaxy Note II - While this device is considered a solid handset with high-end features, including the S Pen, one limitation is that it is considered the smartphone for people with large hands to hold it or large pockets to place inside. It has 1.5 GHz quad-core Samsung Exynos processor, 5.5-inch Super AMOLED HP screen, 8 MP rear camera, 1.9MP front camera, 16/32/64GB internal storage and MicroSD slot.

Several commenters noticed Sony's Xperia missing from the list although it has similar top-of-the-line specs and quality design, plus it being water- and dust-proof.

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