10 Smartphones, Tablets to Buy This Summer If iPhone 5S Is a No-Show

By Don Reisinger

The Samsung Galaxy S4 is the Android market’s best smartphone, featuring a 5-inch screen, a quad-core processor, ample storage and a great design. The Galaxy S4 is essentially the product that Apple wishes its iPhone 5S would be, and that alone makes it a worthy contender.

If Apple fans just can’t get enough of the iPhone, why not ditch plans for the iPhone 5S and go with the iPhone 5? Granted, the iPhone 5S will come with updated specs, but as history has shown, any iPhone with an “S” at the end really isn’t that big of an upgrade anyway.

The iPhone 4S is admittedly outdated compared with the latest smartphone models. But that doesn’t mean it should be left off this list. At $99 with a two-year commitment, the device is one of the most affordable smartphones on the market. And since it can still work with all of the apps users want, it’s worth considering.

Samsung’s Galaxy Note is another worthy contender to the long-rumored iPhone 5S. The device comes with a nice, big screen, but perhaps most importantly, works with a stylus, allowing fans of the “phablet” design to have the best of both smartphones and tablets. The Galaxy Note is a great device.

The HTC One is one of the more high-powered Android handsets on the market. The device features a quad-core processor and a big, 4.8-inch screen. Plus, it’s running the latest Android flavor, Jelly Bean, meaning it’ll work with any and all apps available on that operating system. The HTC One is a fine alternative to the Galaxy S4.

Nokia recently announced the Lumia 1020, and the device quickly established itself as a fantastic alternative to the iPhone and any Android device. To achieve that, Nokia bundled a 41-megapixel camera into the Windows Phone handset, making it the best photo-snapping smartphone on the market. If photos matter to would-be iPhone 5S customers, choosing the Lumia 1020 might not be a bad idea.

LG has announced plans to hold a special event in a few weeks to unveil the next device in its flagship Optimus line. All signs point to the device coming with a 5-inch screen, the latest quad-core Snapdragon processor and a design that will blow customers away. Look for the Optimus to possibly unseat the Galaxy S4 as this summer’s best Android handset.

The Motorola Droid Razr Maxx might not be the newest device in this roundup, but it’s still a worthy Android contender. The device comes with a stellar design, and because it’s from Motorola, Google is keeping a close eye on it to ensure it’s properly updated. Is the Razr Maxx the best Android handset in this list? No. But it’s still worth considering.

Current iPhone owners hoping to get their hands on an iPhone 5S this summer should stop looking for a new smartphone and wait. In the meantime, investing in the iPad Mini, which delivers a great design, 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) networking and access to all of the apps they care about, isn’t such a bad idea. For current iPhone owners, waiting on the next handset and getting a small iPad now doesn’t seem like such a bad idea.

Considering that, it also wouldn’t be a bad idea if customers consider investing in the larger iPad. That device likely won’t be updated for several months, leaving customers with the option to get their hands on it now and replace a lightweight notebook or outdated PC. The iPad might not appear to be an iPhone 5S competitor, but when it comes to Apple fans, buying anything to satiate their desire for a new handset is worth it.