Samsung's Galaxy Note II continues to top my chart. The device may be too large for some, but the combination of features and software make this smartphone the best on the market at this time. In second place, the Samsung Galaxy S III. While the specs are a bit more outdated, the software is still top-notch and the form factor is ideal for multiple demographics. In third place, the HTC DROID DNA due to a fantastic feature set, 1080p HD display, and 2 GB of RAM - though the fixed 16 GB of internal storage could turn some away. The HTC One X+ takes fourth place due to 64 GB of internal storage (take that, iPhone!), and in fifth place, the Lumia 920 for a fantastic build and great specs.

CES was surprisingly light on phone announcements, but I expect to see a ton of new smartphones at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Stay tuned!

Apple's iPhone 5 features an attractive hardware design as well as 4G LTE connectivity on AT&T, Sprint and Verizon here in the U.S. The iPhone 5 is also offered on C Spire Wireless and Cricket Wireless. Apple's iOS is starting to show its age, but the quality of apps available in the App Store is high. The iPhone 5 also features an 8-megapixel camera that's one of the better shooters available on a smartphone today.

The Samsung Galaxy S III also makes the cut, packing HSPA+ connectivity on T-Mobile and LTE support for AT&T, Cricket, MetroPCS, Sprint, U.S. Cellular and Verizon. The Galaxy S III also has a 720p display and a nice 8-megapixel camera, but it's also got a glossy plastic design that may be a bit of a turn off for some. The AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular and Verizon versions of the Galaxy S III have also been updated to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

Next on my list is the HTC DROID DNA for Verizon. The headline feature of the DNA is its 5-inch 1920x1080 Super LCD 3 display, making it the first smartphone in the U.S. with a 1080p display. That's not the only notable feature of the DNA, though, as it also touts a quad-core processor, 4G LTE and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. However, it's doesn't have a microSD card slot for additional storage or any other versions with more built-in memory, so anyone with a large media collection could find the built-in 16GB storage to be a bit cramped.

Also in my rankings is the Samsung Galaxy Note II. The phone-tablet hybrid has a pretty impressive spec list, including a 5.5-inch 1280x720 HD Super AMOLED display, 1.6GHz quad-core processor, 4G LTE (except on T-Mobile, which doesn't yet have an LTE network) and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. The Note II's size can make it a bit too large for some, so anyone interested in the device may want to try and handle one before buying. The Galaxy Note II is available from AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular and Verizon.

The Nexus 4, the newest Nexus handset from Google, has earned a spot on my list. It boasts a 4.7-inch 1280x768 display, quad-core processor and an 8-megapixel camera that's much improved over the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. Also included is Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, and the fact that the Nexus 4 will be one of the first devices to get the latest Android updates for some time makes it an attractive phone for hardcore fans of the platform. Unfortunately, two features that didn't make the cut are LTE support and a microSD slot (the Nexus 4 comes with 8GB or 16GB built-in storage), which will be a deal breaker for some.

The Galaxy Note II remains at the top of my list, as it's still the only gigantic phone I've ever used that I can honestly say I can look the other way for in regards to the size. The S Pen is the only stylus I've used that feels good in the hand and writes on a device with the precision you would expect from today's technology.

The Lumia 920 is still my favorite Windows Phone 8 device, and I still stand by the fact that if I ever used one that would be the one for me. I love the fact that the phone comes in multiple colors, plus Nokia has recently released patterns for those with 3D printers to create their own skins and cases for the phones. Good guy Nokia, I like the way you think.

The Galaxy S III is still a fair contender with many of the anticipated devices we will see this year have yet to be released. The S III seems to be the go-to phone of the year for 2012, and is still one of the best carrying into 2013.

The HTC DROID DNA is a device that still makes me like HTC. After my experience with the EVO 3D caused my fandom for them to drop like a bag of rocks, but after spending some time with the DROID DNA I have to say I'm impressed with the device, and I think that HTC would have had a better year if they hadn't made the device a one carrier exclusive.

Lastly is the iPhone 5, only because if I put he iPhone 4S I currently use up there I'd have people with torches likely standing outside of my door. While the iPhone 5 doesn't have enough to convince me to switch from my old iPhone model, it's still better than the 4S in terms of specs.