smartphones

These days Android phones seem to be in an arms race when it comes to performance, with claims of faster processors, better graphics engines, and more cores. We put a few of the hottest Android phones available today through our rigorous suite of benchmark tests to see which ones live up to the performance hype.

Editor's note: This is the second part of a two-part first look at the Google Nexus Q media streamer. You can read about the unboxing and setup experience in the first part.

Believe it or not, you can get a lot of work done on your smartphone. With the right collection of apps, you could knock out most of your workload on your way to the office. These apps will help you manage meetings, sign contracts, keep track of your expenses, and perhaps even depart early.

Ditch your Nintendo 3DS and leave your Sony PlayStation Vita at home. With these apps, your smartphone can become the only game machine you need. It doesn’t matter if you'd rather blast zombies or slam pigs--these games are sure to suit everyone’s tastes.

HTC's Droid Incredible 4G LTE is not the sexiest smartphone on the market, but it offers great sound and Android 4.0 for a reasonable price.

Who says smartphones have to be all about getting things done? With the right set of apps, your smartphone can become an unlimited source of entertainment. Whether you’re into taking and sharing snapshots or just looking for something to do nearby, these apps will help you stave off boredom while you’re on the go.

Computers and smartphones can store and sift through reams of data. With a bit of help, you can harness that power to manage the information you need, whether it's something hidden away in an obscure email message, a search engine result, or a tidbit that you haven't written down at all. The nine services and applications below can help you become more productive and make better use of the technology you already own. Each offers a free version, too. Thanks to these knowledge managers, your next project may be easier to finish than you might think.

The Intuit GoPayment mobile payment processing system includes a free card reader and apps for iOS 4.0+ devices and most Android phones and tablets. Using this pay-as-you-go service, you can accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover cards for a fee of 2.7 percent of the total sale for swiped transactions, or a 3.5 percent fee for keyed-in transactions. Opt for Intuit's $13-per-month subscription plan, and your fees drop to 1.7 percent per swiped transaction, or 2.7 percent per keyed-in transaction.

It was love at first sight: From the moment I unboxed the HTC One X ($200 with a new two-year contract on AT&T; price as of as of 5/1/2012) I immediately fell for its slim profile and brilliant 4.7-inch display. But it was more than just the phone's good looks that snagged my heart, as the HTC One X came with a tasty serving of Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4) and a long enough battery life to keep me satisfied for hours on end. But like all romances, this one was not without its sour spots, and even the One X's smoking-fast LTE connectivity was not enough for me to overlook the phone's poor call quality and its clunky HTC Sense overlay running over Android.

Remember when cell phones were as big as a brick and required a separate shoulder pack to keep the battery up and running? Yeah, so do we. But we also remember the birth of the smartphone, and since then, they’ve gotten smarter and smarter. With dozens of choices out there now (several iPhone models and carriers, along with multitudes of Android devices), we figure that your gift recipient already has a smartphone. So we’re focusing on some products that can enhance their smartphone, whether it’s a nice case, charging device, Bluetooth headset or other cool accessory. Here’s what we liked this year:

I'm confused. What makes Samsung's Droid Charge (which is finally shipping after a 16-day delay) a Droid?