This year Google tried to capitalize on customer frustrations with wireless-phone manufactures and their multiyear contracts as well as the dominant tech company's brand. Nexus One is the first and only phone designed specifically by Google to take advantage of its Android software platform. Nexus One, which Google called a superphone, wasn't quite the runaway success the search company had hoped for. The phone was ahead of its time but by only months, and even though you could buy it without a contract, you could pick between only AT&T and T-Mobile — and you had to pay a premium to do so. Still, Nexus One owners get updates directly from Google and ahead of other Android phone users.
Price: $529.