In phones, 2010 was the year of the Android. Google's mobile software was installed on slightly more than 9 million smart phones in the third quarter of 2010, according to research firm Canalys. That means 44% of all new smart phones run on Android, up from about 5% a year ago. Among those Android phones, one of the best to be released in 2010 was the Samsung Galaxy S. Unlike the iPhone, the Galaxy S works with a number of carriers and comes in a number of models. The phone's best feature is its screen: it's astonishingly bright, even in daylight. It also is thinner and consumes less power than traditional LCDs, reducing the Galaxy's overall weight and thickness.
Price: $200 to $250, plus service.