This is what I would like to have in my next phone:
- Latest version of Android
- Stock implementation of Android, no bloatware from manufacturer or carrier
- Dual-core CPU (not such a big deal right now, but I expect this will become more important over the next year or so
- Quality materials
- Unlocked/unlockable bootloader
- Non-ugly design
It's a pity that none of the OEMs seem able to deliver all of this. Samsung has the best specs, though I wish they would get over their love of cheap plastic for the physical construction of the phone. The HTC Sensation looks amazing, but HTC seems to be going the way of Motorola with their policy of locked bootloaders, so you might be stuck with HTC Sense and whatever version of Android the phone ships with. Motorola Atrix is cool, but it has a crappy Moto UI and definitely has the locked bootloader. Sony-Ericsson phones have great industrial design and an unlockable bootloader, but seem to be generation behind in terms of hardware (single-core processor on the Arc). The latest LG phones have good specs, but they're physically ugly.
Based on my above preferences, and the fact that I won't need to upgrade for more than a year, I would be most interested in the LG Nexus 3. The SGS2 is also extremely appealing, as is the Sensation, depending on how heavily it's been locked down.
