HTC One kicks off superphone season

We're just a few days away from the introduction of HTC's next superphone, rumored to be called the HTC One, and this should kick off a year of amazing devices. Let's take a look at some of the best phones to look forward to.

BlackBerry Z10

Depending on what you're looking for, the best handset of the year may have already been announced. The BlackBerry Z10 will be landing on the major carriers in March and it should provide die-hard BlackBerry fans with a powerful next step.

The specs on the BlackBerry Z10 aren't going to blow you away but they're decent. You're getting a 4.2-inch screen of a high quality, a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 2GB of RAM, WiFi, 4G LTE and NFC. What really stands out about the Z10 is that it will launch with the BlackBerry 10 operating system. This is a touch-friendly platform that focuses on messaging and communication but still provides a modern experience when it comes to browsing and apps. 

We're still concerned about the learning curve on the Z10 and the app selection is still a bit dodgy. Still, this is the best BlackBerry yet and it will please a certain set out there. 

Please read: BlackBerry Z10 first lookHTC One 

We're expecting HTC to unveil the One next Tuesday and the rumors suggest that it will be quite a device. We're expecting at least a 4.7-inch screen with a 1080p HD resolution, a 1.7GHz processor, 2GB of RAM, WiFi, GPS, NFC, 4G LTE and Bluetooth 4.0. HTC is also teasing the camera on this device and we've heard rumblings of an "Ultrapixel" technology that will provide stellar photos. 

Judging by HTC's track record, we already know that this will be quite a great device to hold and to use. We're curious to see the next version of Sense software on top of Android Jelly Bean, as we think it could be improved. The leaked photo above also indicates a very nice-looking edge-to-edge screen. 

Rumors also suggest that the HTC One will land on AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint March 22 for about $199.99 on a new, two-year contract. We can't wait. 

Please read: HTC One rumors: specs, pricing and launchGalaxy S4

Besides the device below, there is probably nothing that people are anticipating more than the next flagship Galaxy S. The Galaxy S4 should continue to be one of the most popular devices around the globe and we expect Samsung to continue to push the envelope with it. 

We believe the Galaxy S4 will sport an octo-core processor, a 5-inch 1080p HD screen, 4G LTE, WiFi, GPS, NFC, and Bluetooth 4.0. Look for it to launch with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and Samsung will throw in some interesting software features with the next generation of TouchWiz. 

The release date is still up in the air but rumors suggest that we could get an announcement in March with a release in late April. Look for it to come to all the major carriers for about $200 on a new, two-year contract and Samsung will surely include a massive marketing push.  

Please read: Samsung Galaxy S4 - Release date, pricing and specs rumorsiPhone 5S

All eyes will be on what Apple has up its sleeves for 2013, as the company is still immensely popular and profitable but the likes of Samsung are nipping at its heels. 

If things fall into the same historical pattern, we should see an iPhone 5S this year. That means a boosted processor, camera and internals inside what is essentially the same form factor as the iPhone 5. Perhaps more importantly, this will launch with iOS 7 and though we haven't heard much about the new features on this, you can expect improvements in Siri, iCloud and Maps.

There are some other somewhat wild rumors that Apple will introduce an iPhone this year with a much larger screen and/or a cheaper iPhone that could do well in emerging markets. We know that Apple constantly experiments with various form factors and devices but it's too soon to tell if these will actually turn into commerical products. 

Apple has shifted its iPhone launch to later in the year recently, so I'd expect it to follow that same pattern. Look for the iPhone 5S to land on all the major carriers this year (including T-Mobile) for about $200 on contract. 

Please read: iPhone 5S - Release date, pricing and specs rumors