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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2013 was the year smartphones became ordinary infrastructure. The important question was no longer whether a phone had a fast processor, but whether it took better pictures, understood context, worked without a carrier contract, or could anchor a new class of accessories. The best products refined familiar ideas exceptionally well; the weakest arrived before their software, pricing, or use cases were ready.
Viewed from the end of 2013, the iPhone 5s was the strongest complete smartphone, the HTC One the most convincing Android design, the Nexus 5 the standout enthusiast value, the Moto G the most consequential budget phone, the Lumia 1020 the camera leader, and the Moto X the clearest experiment in context-aware computing.
Why 2013 mattered
Smartphones had stopped being luxury computers and become everyday consumer infrastructure. Competition moved beyond specifications toward cameras, software polish, sensors, voice control, unlocked pricing, and the relationship between a phone and emerging accessories.
The year tested several ideas at once: fingerprint authentication, 64-bit mobile processors, motion coprocessors, always-listening voice activation, large camera sensors, curved displays, smartwatches, and capable phones sold directly for less than $200. Some ideas solved immediate problems. Others were impressive demonstrations that did not yet justify their cost or inconvenience.
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#1 Best Overall
- Universal unlocked. Compatible with all major U.S. carriers, including Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and other prepaid carriers.
- Super-bright, super-smooth 6.7" display. See your screen clearly even outdoors in sunlight, and enjoy seamless views with a fast-refreshing 120Hz display.*
- AI-powered camera system. Take stunning photos in any light with the 50MP camera**, look your best with a 32MP selfie cam*****, and capture extreme close-ups.
- Superfast 5G performance. Unleash your entertainment at 5G speed*** with the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chipset and up to 12GB of RAM with RAM Boost****.
- Long-lasting battery + TurboPower charging. Power through day after day with a 5200mAh battery, then get hours of power in just minutes.****
A fair retrospective also has to separate editorial judgments from measured facts. “Best” and “worst” below are reasoned awards, not universal industry rankings.
Best overall: iPhone 5s and HTC One
iPhone 5s: the strongest complete product
Apple announced the iPhone 5s on September 10, 2013. Its A7 was marketed as the first smartphone chip with a 64-bit desktop-class architecture, while the M7 motion coprocessor handled motion and fitness data more efficiently. Touch ID put a fingerprint sensor in the home button and made biometric unlocking practical rather than theoretical. iOS 7 supplied the largest visual and functional redesign the iPhone had yet received.
The camera gained a larger sensor, True Tone flash, burst shooting, and 120-frame-per-second slow-motion video. Broad LTE-band support and a mature application ecosystem mattered as much as the headline silicon. These features worked together as a coherent product rather than as isolated demonstrations. Apple’s launch announcement documents the technical claims and launch details.
Its limitations were clear. A 4-inch display looked small beside large Android phones, the industrial design changed little from the iPhone 5, and Touch ID initially served mainly unlocking and Apple purchases instead of becoming a broad identity system. Apple’s U.S. launch prices—$199, $299, and $399 for 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB models—were two-year contract prices, not unlocked retail prices.
HTC One: Android’s most persuasive alternative
HTC’s One combined an aluminum body, front-facing stereo speakers, and a carefully integrated Sense interface. BlinkFeed turned the home screen into a stream of news and social updates, while Zoe made short highlight videos from photos and clips. HTC’s announcement describes the design, BoomSound, BlinkFeed, and Zoe features.
Rank #2
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
Contemporary reviewers frequently treated it as the most polished Android flagship of the year. Its weakness was the “Ultrapixel” camera: larger pixels helped low-light shooting, but the low-resolution output did not consistently beat rivals in daylight. The sealed construction also sacrificed easy battery replacement and repairability, and HTC’s long-term update record was less dependable than Apple’s or Google’s.
The choice between these two winners depended on priorities. The 5s offered the more cohesive platform and biometric transition; the One offered more dramatic hardware design, larger-screen ergonomics, and unusually good built-in audio.
Category winners
| Award | Phone | Why it won | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | iPhone 5s | Balanced hardware, software, camera, security, and ecosystem | Small screen and high contract-dependent pricing |
| Best Android design | HTC One | Aluminum build, stereo speakers, BlinkFeed, and Zoe | Camera and update-support compromises |
| Best enthusiast value | Nexus 5 | Flagship-class performance, clean Android, and low unlocked launch price | Weak initial camera reputation and limited storage |
| Best affordable phone | Moto G | Credible mainstream experience at a $179 off-contract launch signal | No LTE and regional storage/availability differences |
| Best camera | Lumia 1020 | 41-megapixel sensor, stabilization, oversampling, and reframing | Windows Phone’s smaller app ecosystem |
| Most meaningful interaction innovation | Moto X | Contextual voice, motion awareness, and passive notifications | Not the first voice assistant or always-on microphone |
Best value for enthusiasts: Nexus 5
Google and LG positioned the Nexus 5 as a showcase for Android 4.4 KitKat. Its approximately $349 U.S. Google Play starting price for the 16GB model in October 2013 was unusually low for a phone with a high-end processor and sharp display. It also delivered Google’s unmodified Android experience and rapid access to platform updates. Google’s Android announcement records the KitKat positioning.
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The trade-offs explain why it was a value winner rather than the best phone overall: a plastic body, no microSD slot, no removable battery, limited storage tiers, and a camera that drew criticism at launch. The price is a historical figure, not a current resale or refurbished-market quote.
Best budget phone: Moto G
The Moto G made the economic story of 2013 impossible to ignore. Its $179 off-contract positioning showed that a buyer did not necessarily need a carrier subsidy to get responsive performance, useful battery life, and a competent everyday smartphone. That direct-to-consumer approach challenged the assumption that affordable phones had to feel disposable.
Rank #3
- Charger NOT Included, 6.7" Super AMOLED FHD+, 90Hz Refresh Rate, 385 ppi, 800 nits (HBM), 1080x2340px, 5000mAh Battery
- 128GB, 4GB RAM, microSDXC, Exynos 1330 (5nm), Octa-Core, Mali-G68 MP2 or Mali-G57 MC2 GPU
- Rear Camera: 50MP, f/1.8 (wide) + 5MP, f/2.2 (ultrawide) + 2MP, f/2.4 (macro), LED flash, panorama, HDR; Front Camera: 13MP, f/2.0, Android 14, up to 6 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1
- 3G: HSDPA 850/900/1700(AWS)/1900/2100; 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/12/13/14/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/39/40/41/48/66/71, 5G: 2/5/25/41/66/71/77/78 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - Nano-SIM + eSIM
- US Model – Global Connectivity – Compatible with Most GSM Carriers like T-Mobile, AT&T, MetroPCS, etc. Will Also work with CDMA Carriers Such as Verizon, Straight Talk.
It was not universal. The absence of LTE mattered in markets where faster networks were becoming a purchase criterion, and storage and availability varied by region. The $179 figure is a launch-era U.S. signal, not a present-day price.
Best camera: Lumia 1020
Nokia’s Lumia 1020 used a 41-megapixel sensor, optical image stabilization, and Nokia Pro Camera processing. The phone captured a high-resolution image while also producing an oversampled, easier-to-share image; users could reframe photographs later with less loss than ordinary digital zoom. The Microsoft Devices announcement explains the sensor and stabilization approach, while Microsoft’s Windows Experience coverage details the oversampled workflow and U.S. AT&T launch.
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The advantage was not the number 41 by itself. Sensor area, oversampling, stabilization, shutter speed, and computational processing produced detail, low-light potential, and reframing flexibility. A camera grip accessory made the phone more camera-like, but added bulk to an already substantial camera hump. Windows Phone’s app limitations also affected the total ownership experience.
Most meaningful innovation: Moto X
The Moto X’s “OK, Google Now” activation, Active Display notifications, and motion-aware behavior suggested a different direction for smartphones. Dedicated processing allowed voice and sensor tasks without treating every interaction as an app launch. The strategic idea was important: a phone could anticipate a need, show information at the right moment, or respond without demanding a tap.
This was not the invention of voice assistants or always-on microphones. Its contribution was packaging those capabilities into a relatively natural, battery-conscious consumer experience, an approach recognized in contemporary year-end assessments.
Rank #4
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
The biggest disappointments
Samsung Galaxy Gear: an accessory before its purpose
The first Galaxy Gear smartwatch required a compatible Samsung phone or tablet, was bulky for a discreet wearable, and offered limited software. It behaved more like a remote control and notification accessory than an independent computer. Calling it a “failure” overstates the available evidence; the more defensible conclusion is that it was widely judged premature. It asked consumers to pay for another screen before establishing what problem that screen solved.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallCurved phones: technical achievement, weak proposition
Samsung Galaxy Round and LG G Flex demonstrated curved OLED hardware, tilt-based viewing ideas, and, in LG’s case, self-healing surface claims. Their limited availability and high prices made them experiments rather than mainstream products. A curved phone was not the same thing as a flexible or foldable display: bending the finished handset did not automatically create a useful new interaction.
Later coverage treated these models as stepping stones, not proof that all curved-display technology was misguided. The warning visible in 2013 was simpler: novelty in the panel did not compensate for an unclear everyday benefit.
iPhone 5c: a sensible idea with awkward positioning
The iPhone 5c was colorful and competent, using familiar iPhone 5 hardware at a lower contract price than the 5s. Plastic was not inherently the problem. The difficulty was market context. In the subsidized U.S. market, the discount did not feel large enough to create a dramatically cheaper iPhone, while unsubsidized international prices remained high. A buyer could reasonably decide that the 5s was worth the relatively modest additional cost.
Contemporary market discussion emphasized how carrier subsidies changed the perceived gap. The 5c was a lower-priced iPhone, not a genuinely low-cost platform.
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- Carrier: This phone is locked to Tracfone, which means this device can only be used on the Tracfone wireless network. Tracfone plan required, activating is easy, just 3 steps.
- DISPLAY: Immersive viewing on a 6.7-inch super-bright 120Hz display with powerful stereo speakers and Bass Boost for cinematic entertainment.
- CAMERA SYSTEM: Advanced 50MP Quad Pixel camera captures sharp, detailed photos and videos in any lighting condition
- PERFORMANCE: Lightning-fast 5G connectivity paired with a powerful processor and RAM Boost for smooth multitasking.
- BATTERY LIFE: Long-lasting 5000mAh battery with TurboPower charging technology delivers hours of power in minutes.
Windows Phone: good products, insufficient ecosystem
Windows Phone offered a distinctive live-tile interface, smooth performance on modest hardware, attractive Nokia devices, and some of the best camera phones available. It was a credible third ecosystem rather than a technical embarrassment.
Its strategic problems were harder to overcome: slow feature development, fewer applications and weaker developer momentum than Android and iOS, and an upgrade break between Windows Phone 7 and Windows Phone 8 that damaged confidence. Contemporary coverage cited roughly 3.6% global share and more than 200,000 apps, but those figures belong to that source and period, not a current independent measurement. Market-share growth could not by itself prove platform health; installed base, developer interest, app availability, upgrade continuity, and user satisfaction all mattered.
The quieter success: connected accessories
Bluetooth Low Energy attracted less attention than Galaxy Gear but was more practical. Its low power requirements made small sensors, fitness devices, beacons, and other accessories easier to keep connected without quickly exhausting a phone or accessory battery. The lesson was that an enabling standard could matter more than a flashy first product. Accessories needed broad compatibility, low friction, and a clear job before consumers would adopt them.
How to judge a 2013 phone fairly
- Everyday usability: ergonomics, software consistency, notifications, multitasking, and reliability.
- Performance: responsiveness, gaming, app loading, and useful longevity.
- Camera: daylight, low light, stabilization, shutter speed, reframing, and sharing workflow—not megapixels alone.
- Hardware: materials, display, audio, durability, weight, and size.
- Value: contract versus unlocked cost, storage, carrier compatibility, accessories, and ecosystem spending.
- Platform durability: applications, updates, developer support, and accessory compatibility.
- Useful innovation: whether a feature solved a real problem, worked passively, preserved battery life, and could scale beyond one model.
These criteria prevent common historical errors. The best phone and best deal are different awards; the best camera is not automatically the best smartphone; and a contract price cannot be compared casually with an unlocked one. LTE support also depended on the specific model, region, and carrier.
What 2013 signaled about the next phase
The year offered signals rather than guarantees. Biometrics were becoming routine, computational photography was emerging as a system-level advantage, and contextual assistants were moving from demonstrations toward everyday interaction. The Nexus 5 and Moto G showed that unlocked pricing could reshape expectations. Galaxy Gear showed that wearables needed compatibility and a compelling use case. Curved phones suggested that displays would need to become genuinely flexible or functionally valuable before shape alone could win buyers.
2013 also exposed the limits of specification-led coverage. Apple’s 64-bit transition mattered because hardware, operating system, and developer tools aligned. Nokia’s 41-megapixel camera mattered because oversampling and stabilization turned extra capture data into better usable photographs. Conversely, a new form factor or accessory could be technically impressive and still fail to earn a place in daily life.
Final verdict
- Best complete smartphone: iPhone 5s.
- Best Android design: HTC One.
- Best enthusiast value: Nexus 5.
- Best affordable phone: Moto G.
- Best camera: Lumia 1020.
- Most forward-looking interaction model: Moto X.
- Most disappointing platform: Windows Phone.
- Most premature accessory: Galaxy Gear.
- Most questionable trend: first-generation curved phones.
- Most misunderstood product: iPhone 5c.
The central verdict is less about a single winner than about direction. 2013 produced excellent phones, but few wholly new categories. Its lasting importance was showing which refinements—better cameras, invisible sensing, biometric convenience, coherent software, and affordable unlocked hardware—could become normal, and which novelties still needed a reason to exist.
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