Requesting first smartphone suggestions

[dralcohen]

I'm in the market for my first smartphone. I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed by the options and I would greatly appreciate some suggestions.

How I would use it:

• 
  Phone
  Email
  Calendar
  Camera
  Music (occassional)
  GPS navigating (occassional)
  Web search (occassional)

Features I'm looking for:

• 
  Android OS
  A good camera/video
  Can be used overseas (Europoe)
  Good battery life
  wifi
  Mid-sized & mid-weight (I don't want to carry around a very large phone)
  Dependable
  Removable battery (preferable, but I can be talked out of this)
  Exandable memory (preferable, but I can be talked out of this)

I may find new uses once I have it, but I won't be classified as a 'power' user. I'm around a computer and wifi most of the time. I would only use the smartphone capabilities relatively rarely, so I'm not looking for the top of the line.

Carrier & plan:

I'm currently using a t-mobile pre-paid flip-phone without a camera. It usually works for me and I'd keep it but the service is spotty. I live in a mid-sized, US town. I'm told that the Verizon and AT&T networks are the most reliable where I live. I don't have a carrier picked out. I think I currently use less than 100 to 200 talk minutes/month, including my land line. I never text. I don't email photos. I don't use social media. I would only occassionally use data. I'm guessing that a month-by-month, pay-as-you-go, or prepaid would serve me best. A carrier choice is probably a different thread, but I know it is tied up with phone choice.

Thanks in advance.

 

[ozbinder]

Nexus 4, S4 mini or S3

 

[g-unit1111]

I don't think any smart phones anymore have removable battery. A few might have expanded memory but most newer ones have it built in. I'm using an HTC One and this is far and away the best phone that I've ever used.