Cell phones have been around for quite some time, and there have been a wide variety of models to fit almost every need imaginable. Smartphones have been around for a while now, too, but they’ve certainly become more prevalent over the last few years. I used a smartphone before 2007, but that was because I was selling phones at the time. Before that? It was just a plain old flip-phone for me, and it wasn’t all that smart.

Our phones today are one of the most important pieces of our daily puzzles. Most people can’t leave the house without it. I’m sure you know some people, just like I do, who would be lost without their phone. Or phones, given some circumstances. This is an inescapable truth, and why it’s so important for us to find a phone that we actually like. A phone that we not only want to take out of our pocket, or bag or wherever else and use, but one that does what we need it to, without much effort on our part.

The manufactures who bring those phones to market try very hard to cram as much as they can into the devices, to try and sell themselves to you. Want a big display? They’ve got that. Want a thin phone? They’ve got that, too. Want a phone that has more ways to takes notes than you can shake a stick at? You’re covered. It’s all in hopes that you choose one device over another. More or less, they’re hoping you fall in love with your phone.

They hope that one of their branded devices becomes one of your favorite devices.

Back in 2008, no one could have expected the surge in Android devices that would eventually come to pass. I can still remember back then that many people thought it wouldn’t stand a chance against the likes of BlackBerry, or against Apple’s growing presence in the smartphone market. But companies like HTC and Samsung saw Android as a tool, and they’ve used it to gain plenty of success since then.

And in that time, a lot of companies have released a lot of phones. Some more than others. But within the rank and file, there are devices that have shined brighter than others. Some that have stood the test of time, and left a soft spot in our hearts. In our memories. A device that, while you may have moved on, you still think about longingly from time to time. That’s why I want to know which Android device has been your favorite to date.

For me? The phone that fits the bill first is HTC’s original Hero. The international version. It was the first device that I ordered from an overseas retailer, and I remember being ridiculously happy to get it. HTC’s TouchFlo user interface had been upgraded to Sense UI, and I loved the changes. Especially in how they made Android look and function. I was in love with the device’s physical aesthetics, too. I got the white version. The screen size was great. And, I’ll be honest with you, I even love the chin. There, I said it.

There are a pair of phones that are tied for second place. The HTC DROID Incredible and Motorola’s original DROID. While the OG DROID came out first, it stood the test of time all the way up to the DROID Incredible’s launch to still warrant a place in my pocket for quite some time. And while the DROID Incredible was a plastic shell, I still loved it. The screen size and overall form factor were great, it was fast, and it was easily accessible from a developer’s standpoint, so adding custom ROMs was a breeze. The same goes for the original DROID, but considering it was running stock Android out of the box in that awesome metal shell, I never saw a reason to throw custom software on there. It was good right out of the gate.

It is HTC’s One that takes the top spot for me, even through all the Android phones of the past. It’s just that good. No, it isn’t perfect, and there are some serious quirks with the Sense software that I’m still having trouble understanding why they exist. But the hardware, screen size, and overall software all make up for the shortcomings in big ways. The positives for the One outweigh the negatives immensely. As I said in my written review for the device, this is the hardware that Android has been waiting for. There’s no doubt in my mind.

So now I want to hear from you. I want to know which Android device, and Android only (for right now) has been your favorite, and why. Was it the hardware that you just fell in love with? Or maybe the software? Or both? Did you find that device that married hardware and software so perfectly for you, that you instantly knew it was going to be a favorite? Which device stands the test of time for you? Let me know!