Winner: Apple iPhone 4S

This is an obvious one, isn’t it? Apple’s iPhone 4S is the world’s top smartphone in terms of sales, and some might say that with its high-quality iOS software, neat design and dual-core processor, it’s the best in terms of quality.

Not everything can be fun and games for Apple. Although the company has what some consider the best smartphone on the market, it’s also offering an outdated iPhone 3GS. Granted, it’s free, which makes it a cheap option for customers, but at three years old, it’s looking awfully outdated.

The Nokia Lumia 900 might not be able to match some of the more-powerful smartphones in this roundup, but it is the device that proved Windows Phone 7 can compete in the mobile space. The Lumia 900 could very well be looked at as the device that put Microsoft back on the mobile map.

The time has come for RIM to ditch its outdated devices and ideas on software, and offer up something new and innovative. But the fact is that it’s hard to find much value in the BlackBerry Bold 9930. Sure, it’s a reliable device running a stable operating system, but it doesn’t have any appeal to consumers, and based on recent enterprise adoption figures, it’s losing its appeal there, too. The Bold’s best days are behind it.

The Motorola Droid RAZR MAXX might just be one of the top smartphones ever launched. The Android-based device’s 1.2GHz dual-core processor and 4G Long-Term Evolution (LTE) connectivity make it a worthwhile iPhone alternative. And with Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) to boot, it might just be the top Android-based handset on store shelves.

Pantech is one of those companies that has been able to survive in the mobile space for years, but has yet to find a product that will help it thrive. Unfortunately for the company, the Pantech Burst is another one of those devices that falls short. The device’s design lacks originality, and its specifications, while powerful, are not unique. The time has come for Pantech to think outside the box.

The LG Spectrum might be one of the few devices LG has launched in the last few years that has been able to prove that the company truly understands the needs of today’s mobile customers. The handset boasts a 4.5-inch high-definition display, 4G LTE support and an 8MP rear-facing camera. It’s the device that has done the best job of making the iPhone 4S look rather obsolete.

The HTC Status is one of the most confusing smartphones on the market today. The device looks like a BlackBerry launched more than five years ago and comes with a physical keyboard. Of all of the things that HTC knows about the mobile market, doesn’t it realize that such a product design will ensure failure?

Although the HTC Status falls short, the handset maker made up for it with the One X. The handset comes with a brilliant 4.7-inch screen (yes, you read that correctly), and offers 4G LTE support. Add Ice Cream Sandwich and a powerful camera to the handset, and it’s clear why so many people are saying that the One X could very well revive HTC’s handset business if the company can get sufficient stocks to its primary distributor, AT&T.

The BlackBerry Curve has long been a favorite of Research In Motion’s customers. But the fact is RIM hasn’t changed its design much at all over the last several years, making some wonder if it’s time for something fresh. Considering that RIM’s shipments fell 80 percent year-over-year in the last-reported quarter, it seems to indicate that more people view the Curve as a loser than a winner.