finally able to upgrade my phone thru verizon currently have iphone 5 wanting to switch and try android again...currently the HTC One m8 I really like and maybe the sony xxphria Z 3 but want see what's out there haven't kept up to date with phones. But I know I do not want samsungĀ
If you don't absolutely have to get the latest and greatest I'd consider the Google(LG) Nexus 5. It's still pretty good and perhaps it's a bit less too even on a plan? Android 5.0 is supposed to be coming out very soon and non-Nexus devices usually have to wait months if they get updated at all. I got me one for cash about a month ago and have mostly been pleasantly surprised.
On the other hand if you want something sexier then the Nexus 6 is also supposed to be coming any time now, unless its expected near 6-inch screen is too much (definitely makes it much tougher to use with one hand).
Nexus devices are not for those who need a lot of onboard storage though. That won't change, because Google is Google.
I really like my GS4 but not the bloatware. I tried a GS5 and the touch screen is a lot better and the screens look amazing. I would say a galaxy s or note but maybe try putting cyanogenmod on it, although I have not tried it personally.
i have a note3 and i love it.
I would go with the lg g3 because the specs and build are awesome. The battery life is decent, and lg's skin is quite good in the sense that it is like stock android with actually useful additions like knock on.