Another year has gone by, and we are dozens of texting, calling, app-downloading machines the richer for it. Below, we've picked some of our favorite high-end and budget-conscious smartphones that we would be proud to carry into 2012.

High-end winners

Samsung Galaxy S II (Android)

There are few phones, or even objects, I would recommend more heartily than the Galaxy S II. This phone has been a worldwide success, and for good reason: it's speedy, has a fantastic camera and prodigious battery life, and is remarkably easy to type on. Its biggest drawback is that it's not available on all American carriers. But that aside, I was, and am, enamored of it. Here's hoping its transition to Android 4 goes smoothly.

HTC Titan (Windows Phone)

The HTC Titan is a big phone, but it felt the right size in our hands. The non-PenTile screen, smooth operation, and battery life are all standout features in this model. The Titan really shows off what Windows Phone is capable of, and makes us think that the tech world has only scratched the surface of how serious a competitor this mobile operating system is.

Samsung Galaxy Nexus (Android)

Samsung has a good thing going with its Galaxy line, and the Galaxy Nexus is no different. There have been some issues since launch with the phone's battery life and reception, but the experience of Android 4 is a cut above, with new methods of handling multitasking, face unlock, and an overall better user experience. The phone is huge, but your pockets can probably handle it.

Apple iPhone 4S (iOS)

There's no denying the iPhone's juggernaut status, and though the newest iteration had only a few changes, they were significant. The new 8-megapixel camera is fantastic, iOS is smoother than ever, Siri is incredibly helpful (most of the time), and neither Windows Phone nor Android can hold a candle to the selection and quality of Apple's App Store. That could change tomorrow, but Apple has made many a happy customer with the 4S.

Honorable mention: Motorola Droid Razr (Android)

The Droid Razr has been overshadowed by the launch of the Android 4 flagship Galaxy Nexus, but it still holds a place in our hearts. It looks like a hangover feels, but it's super fast and comes with Motorola's Smart Actions app, which allows you to automate things like turning turning off Bluetooth and WiFi when you're out of range of your home network. Smart Actions has a lot of potential, and I still daydream about uses for it.

And two budget-conscious victors

HTC Radar (Windows Phone)

The HTC Radar is a budget-type phone at $100 with a contract, but our experience with it was remarkably positive. Windows Phone may just be adept at extending down to lesser hardware without much of a performance difference, but I found the phone to be snappy despite its modest single-core processor. I also loved the body design. Compared to all other phones, the Radar is the closest you'll come to holding a new puppy.

Motorola Atrix/Atrix 2 (Android)

The Atrix came out much earlier this year, but it won us over then with the speed of its (then unusual) dual-core processor and the (still unfulfilled) potential of the Webtop experience. The first Atrix is now free with a contract, or you can get the Atrix 2 released only a couple of months ago for under $100.