Google develops Android such that anyone can build a device that runs it, but it’s up to the manufacturer to modify it and tailor it to run on the hardware they’re using. This process can take months, and it means that most Android devices out there are generally one or two versions behind. To get the most out of a new Android device, it’s important to know which are the most likely to be updated quickly.

Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean

The latest, and most relevant, version of Android are version 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and 4.1 (Jelly Bean). Ice Cream Sandwich brought all sorts of performance boosts and  new features to Android, and any worthwhile new Android phone should come with Android 4.0 already installed – or at least have an update expected very soon. Jelly Bean, the latest version released just weeks ago, expanded on the feature set of 4.0. If you expect to keep your phone for a couple years, you’ll want to make sure it has a high likelihood of receiving the 4.1 update as well.

Google’s Galaxy Nexus (and Nexus S)

The Nexus line is always the first to receive OS updates. This is because they are the only devices maintained directly by Google. The Galaxy Nexus is currently the only Android phone with Jelly Bean available. The Nexus S (which is well over one and a half years old, now) will likely be the second phone on the market to get the 4.1 update. If you want to stay as current as possible with the Android OS, Nexus devices are the way to go.

Samsung

Samsung started with one of the worst update records, taking ages to update its phones, if it updated them at all; however, Samsung listened to consumers and has completely changed its ways. This makes the Galaxy S III an excellent choice in terms of version longevity. Not only does it come with Android 4.0 out of the box, but should be updated to 4.1 by the end of the year. The Galaxy Note ought to see a 4.1 update around that same time, and the Galaxy S II is even a likely candidate, though the time frame on that may be a bit longer than is practical for a consumer.

HTC

HTC can be a little slow when updating its devices, but it does update most of its devices. The One Series (such as the One X, One S, and EVO LTE) are almost all certain to see a 4.1 update, with the exception of the One V which is a bit less likely since it lacks the power to fully benefit from an update. When will the One Series updates be rolling out? Hopefully before the end of the year. Older HTC devices, like the Sensation 4G and EVO 3D, probably won’t get the 4.1 update, though they have been updated to 4.0.

Motorola

Motorola does a solid job supporting its devices, as long as they’re still popular on the market. The Droid RAZR and RAZR MAXX have already started receiving 4.0 upgrades and should definitely be seeing 4.1 before the end of the year. The Droid Bionic and Droid 4, while still fairly current, likely won’t get a taste of 4.1, but should be upgraded to 4.0 before long.

Sony

While its devices start off great, Sony is disturbingly slow out of the gate. Because it takes so long to launch its products after announcing them, they’re often very behind once they hit the market. Sony’s brand new Xperia Ion is a perfect example. Despite its release on weeks ago, it’s only running Android version 2.3 (Gingerbread, technically 3 generations behind). Fortunately, it will be getting a 4.0 update, but that’s likely it. It doesn’t look like any of Sony’s other phones will be updated.

LG
LG likes to support its top tier devices, so long as they’re not too old. The Optimus 4X HD and Optimus LTE 2 are likely the only LG phones to get the 4.1 update.

Verizon Wireless

Verizon, or Big Red as it’s more amicably known, plays host to a wide variety of excellent smartphones. The best device it currently has to offer (or soon to offer, really) is the Samsung Galaxy S III. With a 4.8-inch 720p Super AMOLED display and 1.5GHz dual-core S4 processor as well as 4G LTE connectivity, this phone is sure to be one of the hottest sellers this summer.

Of course, the Galaxy S III isn’t the only good choice. The Motorola Droid RAZR is a high-quality, super slim phone with many of the same features. Its processor is slightly older and only runs at 1.2GHz; however, its price tag is an agreeable $99 with contract, though you might want to consider the Droid RAZR MAXX which features a much larger battery. A Droid RAZR HD is also due sometime in the near future with beefier specs and an HD display.

Another notable contender is the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, a phone built entirely on input direct from Google and running the purest, latest version of Android. And of course, you can’t forget the iPhone 4S, the latest of Apples iOS phones (though we suggest holding out for the iPhone 5 due later this year).

AT&T

AT&T also has the Galaxy S III; however, it also has a very worthy alternative if you don’t want to wait for the newest Galaxy device to officially launch. The HTC One X is currently alaTest’s top rated phone, featuring a 4.7-inch 720p Super LCD2 display and the same 1.5GHz dual-core S4 processor found in the Galaxy S III. It also has a great 8MP camera and LTE 4G capabilities, and best of all, it’s actually available now.

AT&T also features the iPhone 4S for the iOS aficionados out there, but again, we suggest waiting for the iPhone 5.For WP7 fans, AT&T has the best WP7 device released to date – the Nokia Lumia 900. With its 4.3-inch AMOLED display, 4G LTE, and 1.2GHz processor, it’s the fastest most feature packed WP7 phone on the market, and it’s not even the most expensive.

Sprint

Sprint, of course, will be getting the Galaxy S III as well, but, like AT&T, it has a variant of the HTC One X known as the HTC EVO 4G LTE. It’s really no different from the AT&T model with the exception of a slightly different look and the fact that it’s intended for Sprint’s network.

Sprint’s other great choices include the iPhone 4S and the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. Unlike the Verizon Galaxy Nexus, Sprint’s is a little bit more true to the Nexus name with better Google Voice and Google Wallet integration.

T-Mobile

The Galaxy S III will be coming to T-Mobile as well, but the magenta colored carrier doesn’t have as many compelling alternatives as some of its competitors. The HTC One S is its only device we can really recommend, but it really is a great phone (currently ranked 3^rd on our top phones list). On the inside, it’s exactly the same as its big brother, the One X, and it even features the same 1.5GHz dual-core processor found in the Galaxy S III. The only difference is its smaller 4.3-inch display featuring a slightly lower resolution.

Motorola Droid RAZR

Back in the pre-smartphone days, the RAZR was one of the hottest phones, thanks largely to its half-inch thickness (14mm). Now the RAZR is back, and in smartphone form, sporting Android no less. At 7.1mm thin, the Droid RAZR is currently the slimmest phone on the market, and maintaining its slim figure while sporting a 1.2GHz dual-core processor and LTE 4G capability is even more impressive. On the downside, battery life suffers considerably; however, the Droid RAZR MAXX has a much larger battery though weighs in at 8.99mm thick.

HTC One S

At 7.8mm thin, the One S is one of the thinnest, fastest, globally available GSM smartphones on the market. Its 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor consistently posts top scores on both performance and battery benchmarks. Unlike most super thin phones, the One S actually stands a solid chance of making it through the day on a single charge.

Samsung Galaxy S III

The Galaxy S III is one of the latest smartphones to hit the market, and as expected, it’s quite thin. At 8.6mm, it’s only 1mm thicker than its predecessor, the Galaxy S II, but the extra girth certainly isn’t wasted space. Sporting a 1.4GHz quad-core Exynos processor, the S III stands to be one of the fastest phones on the market. Its 2100mAh battery also bodes well for its battery life.

Samsung Galaxy Nexus

The Galaxy Nexus, Google’s latest “Pure Google” Android phone, is exceptionally striking with sleek lines and a unique concave display. At just 8.9mm thick, it’s also exceptionally thin. It features similar specs to the Droid RAZR (ie: 1.2GHz dual-core processor); however, it has a larger, higher resolution display. The LTE version of the Galaxy Nexus is slightly thicker in order to accommodate a larger battery.

HTC One X

Recently displaced by the Galaxy S III as the worlds more recent smartphone, the One X is still an amazingly powerful device in a very thin shell. Its 8.9mm thickness won’t be any more noticeably thicker than the S III’s 8.6mm, but the One X has the major advantage of already being available in the U.S. Both Sprint and AT&T carry it (as the EVO LTE and One X respectively). Like the S III, the One X features a powerful quad-core processor; however, some U.S. variants feature a similarly powerful dual-core instead (this may turn out to be the case for the Galaxy S III as well).

Now, there are other super thin phones on the market, such as the Sony Xperia GX, Huawei Ascend P1, and Panasonic Eluga DL1 to name a few. We’ve selected only the most popular of them. Plus, with manufacturers like Oppo and ZTE teasing phones down to 6.2mm thin, we might have to revisit this topic in the not so distant future.

Apple iPad 2

The iPad 2 is Apple’s successor to the original iPad, and despite many other tablets offering better specs and features, the iPad line is by far the most popular. Some argue that the entire tablet market simply has no useful place for the general consumer and that it’s Apple’s name alone that causes people to flock to purchase it. Still, it offers very fast hardware, a thin design, and Apple’s familiar iOS operating system. Its biggest shortcoming is its display, featuring a measly 1024×768 resolution, which, compared to the iPhone 4’s Retina Display, is quite disappointing.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 is the iPad’s biggest competition. It 1-ups the iPad 2 in just about every aspect, from processor performance to display quality; it’s even thinner and lighter than the iPad 2, and unlike the original Galaxy Tab (which was a complete flop), this one is based on a version of Android that was meant for tablets – version 3.1 Honeycomb. If you’re in the market for a new tablet and can forego the Apple name, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is an excellent option.

Asus Eee Pad Transformer

Asus’ Eee Pad Transformer is similarly spec’d to Samsung’s Tab 10.1, sporting a 1280×800 resolution display, identical processor, and Android Honeycomb (though it ships with version 3.2), but what sets it apart is its optional Keyboard Dock, which effectively turns this tablet into a functional netbook. The dock not only adds a few USB ports, keyboard, and touch pad, but also ups the battery life from 9.5 hours to 16. The dock does up the overall price slightly, but for anyone concerned about the practicality of a tablet, it’s worth the investment.

Motorola Xoom

The Xoom was the first of the worth-while Android tablets (aka the first with Android Honeycomb). It originally shipped with Android version 3.0 but has since been updated to 3.1 with a 3.2 update in the works. It has the same 1 GHz dual-core Nvidia Tegra 2 processor as the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and Eee Pad Transformer as well as similar 10.1-inch screen and 1280×800 resolution. It has a slightly bulkier design, ideal for those who prefer a sturdy feel to their gadgets.

LG Optimus Pad/G-Slate

The Optimus Pad, also known as the T-Mobile G-Slate, is also a Tegra 2 powered Android Honeycomb based tablet. It comes in a slightly smaller size than its Android brethren, featuring a 1280×768 resolution 8.9-inch display; however, what really sets it apart from the crowd is its dual lens 5MP 3D camera. Yup, it can take 3D photos and video for playback on 3D TVs.

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 and Eee Pad Transformer are both selling quite well, but neither is seeing the sale volume of the iPad 2, despite offering significantly more features. It might take some time for the tablet trend to catch on for other  brand names, but for now, it seems it’s simply an Apple phenomenon.

1: Samsung Galaxy S II

The original Galaxy S was a monumental success for Samsung, selling tens of millions of units worldwide, and in the US, every major carrier had their own version of it as well: the Fascinate on Verizon, Captivate on AT&T, Vibrant on T-Mobile, and Epic 4G on Sprint. Samsung has a similar distribution plan for the Galaxy S II, beginning with its launch in South Korea (Samsung’s home field), which has already happened, then spreading worldwide in the following months. In terms of hardware, the Galaxy S II has a very similar dual-core processor to the iPad 2, except considerably faster. It’s going to be one amazingly fast phone.

2: Sprint EVO 3D

The EVO 3D is essentially a faster, dual-core version of the immensely popular EVO 4G, with the added benefit of a high-resolution glasses free 3D screen and dual-camera design for stereoscopic 3D recording. Just like the original EVO, it’s going to be absolutely ground breaking, bringing the potential for things like 3D effects, 3D homescreen organization and widgets, and an even more immersive 3D gaming experience. It’s expected to be out on Sprint early this summer.

3: HTC Sensation

The HTC Sensation is basically a GSM version of the EVO 3D, minus all of the 3D parts. Now, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. If you’ve ever played with the Nintendo 3DS, you’ve probably noticed that glasses-free 3D screens aren’t exactly the easiest on the eyes, and for 2D content, image quality takes a pretty big hit. The Sensation gives you the blazing speed of the EVO 3D’s dual-core processor, but without the downsides of 3D hardware. It’s expected to launch for T-Mobile on June 8^th this year.

4: Motorola Droid X² (aka X-Squared)

Here’s yet another popular device from last year receiving a significant upgrade. Unlike the new EVO and Galaxy S II, the Droid X-Squared will look almost exactly like its predecessor, the Droid X, but don’t let that fool you. The X-Squared will have the latest dual-core Nvidia Tegra 2 processor (well over twice as fast as the original Droid X). It will also be receiving an upgrade in screen resolution, an improved 8MP camera, and, supposedly, a bump onto Verizon’s super fast 4G LTE network.

5: Samsung Infuse 4G

The Infuse 4G is almost like an experiment in pushing the envelope with regards to smartphone screen sizes. At 4.5-inches, it’s a bit larger than the current “large” phones at 4.3-inches, though the Dell Streak did have a 5-inch screen (it proved to be unpopular). Its hardware isn’t anything revolutionary, but it’s still plenty fast with its 1.2 GHz processor. The Infuse 4G will be out on AT&T on May 15^th.

The Apple iPad

The iPad has been available since November of 2010, and it currently sits at the pinnacle of the tablet world. Its 10-inch XGA resolution (1024×768) screen does well to satisfy your video viewing and web browsing needs, and the iTunes App Store keeps it well stocked with feature rich applications. The hardware, however, leaves something to be desired. In fact, even several months before the iPad’s release, there were already several mobile phones that boasted similar or even more capable hardware, such as Samsung’s Galaxy S phones. With even more powerful tablet devices coming out in the next months, you have to ask yourself, “Is that Apple backbone of the original iPad strong enough to compete?”

The Samsung Galaxy Tab

The Galaxy Tab is almost literally an enlarged version of the top-selling Galaxy S Smartphone. Compared to the iPad, the Galaxy tab is slightly more powerful and has a front and rear facing camera, but it only has a 7-inch display, which does allow it to fit into a pocket, but can be a bit limiting with screen space. Built on the Android Operating System, it has an app store that truly does rival Apple’s; however, the version of Android it uses is a bit premature for Tablet use, giving it manageable functionality while being less than ideal. As it doesn’t share the iPad’s strong Apple roots, the Galaxy Tab is likely on its last legs the upcoming dual-core tablets coming out this year.

The Dell Streak

While technically a Smartphone, its 5-inch display teeters dangerously close to tablet territory, so close in fact, that it’s worth mentioning. The Dell Streak may be smaller and considerably slower than other tablets, but it can do something neither the iPad nor Galaxy Tab can: make and receive phone calls. Still, being built on the Android platform (an even older version than the Galaxy Tab), it suffers from the same non-tablety interface.

A Promising Future Ahead

CES this year was ablaze with tablet announcements. Dual core Tegra 2 (that’s an impressively fast NVIDIA processor btw) tablets were on display, and perhaps even more significant, a Tablet version of Android (known as Honeycomb) was seen on several of them, like the Motorola Xoom. There were also very innovative hybrid devices, like the Tegra 2-powered Motorola Atrix, which is an Android Smartphone with laptop style docking station. The turnout was absolutely impressive, and one thing is for certain: all of these upcoming tablets will put last year’s to shame. Still, if I had to buy a tablet today, I’d go for the iPad.